by Selah Gaomi
Mzee Juma was a man who had seen it all – from the highs of laughter to the lows of heartbreak. He had given everything for love, believing each time that he had found his true soulmate. As a young man, he courted Mariam, the beautiful daughter of the village chief, with jokes and laughter. He serenaded her under the moonlight, promising her the world. But Mariam’s heart belonged to another, leaving Mzee Juma with nothing but his humor to mend his broken heart.
Undeterred, he ventured into the bustling streets of the city, where he met Aisha, a lively and vivacious woman who captured his heart with her infectious laughter. They danced through the nights, sharing dreams of a future together. But as quickly as she came into his life, Aisha left, leaving Mzee Juma drowning in melancholy. With each heartbreak, Mzee Juma’s humor became his armor, shielding him from the pain. He found solace in making others laugh, yet deep down, the ache of loneliness lingered. But fate had more in store for Mzee Juma. One day, amidst the chaos of the city, he stumbled upon Salma, a gentle soul with eyes that mirrored his own loneliness. They shared stories of their pasts, finding comfort in each other’s pain.
Their love bloomed slowly, like a delicate flower in the desert. Through laughter and tears, they built a life together, weathering the storms that life threw their way. Years passed, and Mzee Juma found himself looking into Salma’s eyes, realizing that he had finally found his true love. Their journey had been filled with both joy and sorrow, but through it all, they had found each other. As they sat together under the African sky, Mzee Juma whispered words of love in Swahili, promising Salma that their love would endure for eternity.
With tears in his eyes, he looked up to heaven and whispered, “Kwa wale wanaotafuta upendo na kuishia kupoteza, kamwe msikate tamaa. Mimi nimependwa na vivyo hivyo nawe pia. Hakuna mtu asiye na uwezo wa kupendwa. Siku moja utapata upendo.” To those looking for love and always failing, never give up. I have been loved, and so will you. No one cannot be loved. One day you will be loved. At that moment of vulnerability and strength, Mzee Juma felt the weight of his journey lift from his shoulders. The tears that flowed were not just tears of sadness, but tears of gratitude for the love he had finally found. As he held Salma’s hand tightly, he knew that their love was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through laughter and tears, they had persevered, and now, they stood together as proof that love always finds a way. And so, with tears in his eyes and laughter in his heart, Mzee Juma whispered once more, “Siku moja utapata upendo.” One day you will find love.
© Selah Gaomi 2024-05-09