AN EYE FOR AN EYE

That's the thing about this city. You'll never find it deserted. It is always full of life no matter the time of the day. Even in the wee hours of the night or in the chilling winter cold, you will always find people moving up and about the hustle and bustle of the city. From the newspaper vendors standing at the junction of major roads ,to buses and cabs hooting in an attempt to call passengers, the tea and coffee sellers in kiosks along busy streets, women and men selling fruits and vegetables and hawkers holding carton boxes full of sweets and snacks. All trying to make a living out of the city.

This particular day, I am standing on the side of one of the busiest avenues in the city. It is already twelve past midnight and am more than determined to accomplish what brought me here tonight. My skin has already developed goosebumps in response to the chilling weather but am not relenting. I have to complete my mission. It gives me a course and purpose for living. I am decently dressed but sexy enough to fit in.

Suddenly, a group of girls emerge from a poorly lit corridor on the opposite side of the road and line up at the entrance of one of the busiest clubs along the street. From how they are dressed, I can tell they are what am looking for. Their dress code is in total disregard of the weather. Miniskirts and micro dresses, booty shorts and hot pants that leave little or nothing to imagination.

I quickly grab my backpack from the ground and head for them but am caught in my tracks by a speedily approaching police patrol car. I retreat and wait for it to pass. A few meters ahead, it screeches and comes to a halt, parking in front of another club on my side.

I am surprised to see a stream of call girls flowing from all directions, hurriedly moving towards the parked police car. In this country, you see a policeman and run, it is the norm. Our police shoot and then ask or look for evidence to incriminate suspects instead of evidence to catch the real culprit. That is why this gets me by surprise. I get dumbstruck for a minute as I watch the near stampede of the women pulling and pushing each other each of them wishing to be noticed and picked. Then, I come back to my senses and follow them as they surround the police van like ants on a fallen piece of food.

As I get closer, the policeman on the passenger side points at one of the girls and ushers her to sit on the back. She looks like she is the youngest in the group. I force my way through. I must hand her the gift before she closes the door. Once I get close enough, I hand her three packets of condoms which she receives with a smile and eases herself into the seat then bangs the door closed. I also hand whoever cares to pick my gifts enough packs as I remind them that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. I remind them that their lives can change for the better if they accept salvation. They then disperse, vividly disappointed they never got a chance to be picked. However, some few others are still left behind maybe hoping they will get a chance with the police driver.

I am on a mission to encourage safe sex among commercial sex workers and trying to stop or reduce the rates of transmission of HIV and AIDS. I am trying to change lives in the city in my own little way by issuing free condoms to these women. Today, my work has been made much easier. They have come to me and I won't have to walk all around the street looking for them in their hide outs.

My business is done here and I have to move on to the next street. I am about to leave when I feel a strong hand grasp my shoulder from behind. The street is dimly lit by the street lights but the light is enough for me to make out the figure of the tall dark and very handsome man in uniform when I look back. His eyes are looking down on me in the most seductive ways I haven't been looked at for a very long time. His side beards are neatly shaved in a line that runs down his cheeks. His well built muscles are also clearly visible behind that police shirt.

"I am not a call girl!" I nearly shout at him, angry that he couldn't notice the difference between my dress code and that of the others.

"I noticed," he proudly responds

"Then you should know that you are approaching the wrong person," I tell him as I shrug his hand off my shoulder.

"The wrong person that I really like," he responds with a smile on his face.

"I am married," I tell him as I proudly flash my ring finger across his face.

"Yes. I noticed that too," he answers, not the least affected with my sarcastic laugh.

Angry that he seems not to get a word I say, I take a step back and start leaving but he holds my hand tight and pulls me to him. 

"Let go of me!" I exclaim almost shouting at him "I really have to go. I've got work to complete before dawn. You see these," I show him a pack and then continue, " I have to distribute all of them to more than a hundred commercial sex workers before dawn. The more you keep me here, the higher the chances are that two people are having unprotected sex somewhere and that one of them is getting infected. That person will probably infect you next when you come for a round".

" I am sorry. Its just that you are so beautiful. I really like you and please do not mistake me. I only drove my friend here but I usually don't do call girls. I will let you go but please have my card, just in case you change your mind," he says as let's go of my hand and gives me a card.

"If it gets you off me," I say sarcastically as I aimlessly throw the card onto the side pocket of my backpack and head out fast. As I cross the road headed to the next street, I can feel his eyes all over my back but that is the least of my worries as I will soon get lost in the crowd of people never to see him again.

I walk for about five hundred metres before I find another group of girls lined up along the street. I head towards them and as usual, these ones are so happy to see me. They know that every time I happen to pass by, they won't have to dig into their pockets at least for the next few days to buy protection. I hand each of them enough as per their requests. Then they quickly say their thankyous and goodbyes before I can start telling them about Jesus and salvation but I say it anyway and head off to the next street.

This will be my last one.It is now 2.30 am but my bag is almost empty. Today, I have finished earlier than usual and I have no idea what I will be doing the rest of the time as I wait to catch the first bus home.

I am issuing the last batch of girls with their gifts when something catches my eye. My legs start trembling and my hands shake such that the last girl has to pick her packs from the ground after I dropped them unconsciously. I wipe the tears starting to well up in my eyes and then move closer to make sure am not hallucinating. Yes. I am not hallucinating. It is my husband's car. Mike, my husband is supposed to be on official duty out of town today and I couldn't get the slightest idea what his car is doing here at this time. I move a bit closer and to my dismay, I make out two figures tightly clinging to each other in the back seat. This street is a bit dark and I can not tell clearly who is in there so I move much closer. A man, my husband and a woman that I don't know are there passionately kissing and caressing each other.

These two are too busy and lost in their own worlds to even think that someone is watching them from the outside.I feel confused and do not know what to do. Should I knock on the window and make my husband answer my million questions right now or should I just stand and watch this drama as it unfolds?. My husband of eight years, the father of our two lovely babies, the man I have always considered the love of my life, is having an affair. He is about to have sex with another woman as I watch. I can see everything from here. This woman is beautiful! Much more beautiful than I was when I met Mike and jealousy is all I can feel. I watch as my husband's hands run all the way from caressing her thighs then up her belly to her chest. He meticulously and expertly unbuttons her silk blouse with one hand as the other holds the back of her head to support her as they kiss. He then uncaps her bra and her big round boobs fall off in one sudden move. His hands run for the nipples and I can hear her make little moans from the passion of a soft male touch. Her hand runs for his zip and then into his boxers. These two are having a time of their life and they are realy enjoying it!. I can see the fire blazing between them as the lady jumps onto mikes laps.

Will I stand here and watch this like a fool? I step forward to the side of the car and am about to knock on the window when a thought comes to my mind. I have never told Mike of my little "change the world mission". How would I explain my being here at this time of the night. What would I tell him when he comes out. I knew from the beginning he would never approve of me going around the city at night and that is why I have never told him. He has been having all the reasons in the world not to come home for the past few months. Business seminars, Chess competitions, watching a live soccer match out of town you name it. I have never had a reason not to believe him and so, I have always accepted his excuses without question. I have trusted this man with my life. I even quit employment when he requested me to stay at home and raise our children. He has always provided for us and I have never lacked. He even takes us on vacations to the most expensive holiday destinations whenever he has time. He has been the perfect husband and father.However, for the past few months, he has become absent at home. Every now an then he has an excuse not to come home which made me feel lonely and started my mission to supply commercial sex workers with condoms every time he is not around. This has given me a purpose and a course to live for other than prepare our children for school, do laundry and housework year in and year out.

Now, standing here and watching the ponography that is about to happen gives me the true meaning of the "business meetings" and "seminars" he has been attending. For how many times has he done this and then came home and kissed and made love to me? For how long has this been happening? These questions linger in my mind as the lady starts her up and down movements on my husband's lap. My head starts to spin and I want to vomit. I quickly rush to a nearby bin and vomit until my ribs ache. My legs are weak and am about to fall when I feel a hand hold me around my waist and a voice, "Maybe this might help," as a hand passes me a bottle of water.

"Thanks," I mutter as I down the whole bottle in one breath.

He holds me firmly, walks me to the waiting police patrol car and opens the door for me which I enter without objection.

As if reading my mind, he says "My partner is having a moment with his girl at a guest room, I will pick him later".

I just look at him but I do not respond. At this point, I am not myself and all I wish for is a private place where I can cry my lungs out and bang something. I feel so angry and betrayed. He drives a few meters ahead then makes a right turn then another left turn and parks in front of a deserted hotel. He opens my door, holds my hand and leads me inside.

" A cup of coffee will do you good," he says as he pulls a chair for me.

                   ****************

Two hours later, we are still making love. Breathing and panting loudly like hunting dogs. We make out in the bathroom, on the bed, on the floor, along the walls. We are having a crazy moment of passion. Angry vindictive love making for me but passionate sex for Johny. Sometimes, am worried he will notice the stretch marks on my tummy and breasts or my cracked heels when he takes me from the back but the way he moans and groans just means that those are his very least of concerns. 

"You are one sexy and beautiful ass of a woman!" He finally says as he spanks me lightly when I bend to pull up my pants.

"I have to go. Its already morning and I have to get my children ready for school," I excuse myself.

He pulls me closer and kisses me deeply as we tightly hug and I have to shove him off when he starts leading me towards the bed. 

"Bye," I tell him and rush for the door and to the waiting taxi outside.

As I lean back in the taxi's back seat, I can't help but fantasise how Johnny has made me feel. In a very long time, I haven't felt so wanted, so loved and appreciated. Mike has not made me feel this feminine in a long time. I haven't had so passionate sex in God knows how long and Johny has just brought out the little teenage in me back to life. He was so sweet and I don't blame my husband for cheating if that is how it makes him feel. The way Johny looked at me as I left, I am confident we are going to meet again and my husband can have his seminars every day if he likes.