After a call with his mother where they had a discussion that didn't go as expected, Brian was left with numerous thoughts. He was mentally disturbed, not knowing what action to take next.
It was getting too late, and he needed to prepare dinner. Brian went direct to the kitchen and started the necessary preparation. Praxidis joined him there and requested to assist him handle the task. That was the greatest pleasure for him. Being a lazy man, he usually found it difficult handling the house chores.
A great silence was witnessed. Everyone was busy handling a task he or she best thought of. Brian prepared ugali, a huge one. For Praxidis, she tried her best to prepare a fish stew. Aroma of the stew filled the room, indicating that the food must be delicious. Brian had salivated numerous times and was just waiting to have a taste of the stew. His mind started shifting and was now seeing the girl as an asset. He wished the girl would stay longer with him so that he could enjoy her services.
The two sat at the dining table ready to consume the food. Praxidis served the food hot. Brian immediately grabbed a plate and started eating. He could be seen struggling as the food was too hot for him. Maybe he could have given it time to cool down. For Praxidis, she had to wait for her meal to have convenient temperatures. They ate quietly, no one was talking to each other. The only thing that was too active was the mouth and eyes.
After the meal, Brian had to get the lady into a conversation. He wanted to know more about her and possibly the struggles that she was passing through. Brian had little knowledge about her as she was more of a stranger.
"Let us talk. How did you come to know Mike?" Brian paused, A question. At first, Praxidis was not willing to talk but later gained courage in the conversation. "To be honest, I met Mike yesterday during the party. In fact, we danced together," she said. Brian looks directly into her face and remembers something. The face looked familiar, having interacted with her at the party. "And why have you trusted a man whom you have met once, don't you see he is a stranger?" he added, now trying to go deeper into the conversation.
"Brian, I had no choice but to be glued to him. I have nowhere to go, even a simple roof over my head. I am just looking for a roof over my head. The rest I will work on it", Praxidis emotionally narrated. The man started to sympathize with her. He had a clear picture of what the lady was passing through, a bitter kind of life.
"And where were you staying initially? Where are your relatives or guardians?" Brian continued the conversation which seemed to be guarding. She had lost interest in the conversation, and she was shying away. On persisting, the lady disclosed that she now knew a relative. She had never seen any of her parents and stayed with a woman who happened to be a philanthropist, determined to change her life. The only thing she had been told was that the mother disposed of an pit latrine immediately after birth. She was rescued by people who happened to pass by that place and the woman offered to take care of her. The lady who she recalls as Senje, was very caring and responsible, always ensuring that she got all the necessities she needed.
Praxidis' stay with the well-wisher was good. Their relationship strengthened each passing day. When she finally attained age eighteen, things started changing. The woman became too harsh on her. She endured all, knowing that one day she would find a break through. She narrated how one day she returned home from school only to find her source of hope having relocated to an undisclosed location. Her efforts to trace the guardian bore no fruit. She was now left to roam in the streets of the city, begging. That was the most emotional, real narration that Brian had ever listened to. He comforted her and guaranteed assistance where possible.
After that conversation, the two went to sleep, but they slept separately. Brian had offered to surrender his bed to her. Brian slept on a mat on the floor till morning. Brian had a sleepless night, often thinking about how best he could assist the lady. At eighteen, she was too young for marriage, and converting her to be his spouse would be the worst thing he could think of.
The following day, Praxidis woke up very early in the morning. She was a hardworking lady. She ensured the house was clean, and all things placed in order. She then went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. By the time Brian woke up, everything was in order. They ate breakfast and left the house. Brian wanted to involve the friend in this conversation as they found a genuine solution for the lady. But on reaching there, the friend, Mike, could not respond. He kept knocking at the door but no one was responding, although a voice of conversation was clearly heard from inside. It came to his realization that Mike had intentionally ignored him. What a betrayal! Creating a problem and running away for others to solve, that was exactly what Brian thought. They had no option but to return to the room. This time, they shared a coach, and we were more free for each other.
The gap that had been there between Brian and Praxidis was gradually being sealed. They were getting used to each other every passing second. But Brian was very careful in every step he took. He considered the lady as her younger sister and had to take gently care of her. But now, what would his girlfriend take if he came to know that he was hosting a lady in the room? It would be too dramatic. But now the situation forced him and he had no alternative.