CHAPTER 1
It was during late May around 3p.m. when Zahara Thompson walked into the mall, looking cautiously around her as people whizzed past her. She clutched her bag tightly against her and shot cautious glances all around her. When she felt a bit safe, she decided to enter the store. It was a pharmacy and was packed with people.
She glanced around and noticed people giving her curious glances. All of a sudden she felt conscious about her appearance. She was wearing brown baggy pants that reached her toes, flip flops, a white T-shirt and a long, button-less, white wool coat. Her dark hair was left untied, and a few wrinkles could be spotted on her face if looked closer.
Zahara clutched her handbag closer to her chest and licked her lips before she took steps towards the first shelf, searching for her usual medicine.
Minutes passed as she searched, and she couldn’t remember exactly how the bottle of tablets looked or what the name was. She scratched her hair and stole a quick glance at the lady that was standing a few feet away from her, but quickly averted her gaze when the lady caught her staring.
Zahara moved on the next shelf and searched again, feeling completely helpless. The people in the shop didn’t seem to like her, and she noticed how most of them kept their distance. A few of them had witnessed her disdain but didn’t bother helping her.
Giving up, she walked towards the till where a guy stood, and she gave him a small smile. He frowned at her and examined her, scrutinizing her with his eyes. He fixed his reading glasses and cleared his throat. “Mam, what can I do for you?” He asked with a fake smile. Zahara opened her mouth but nothing came out. She tried again, but still, nothing came out. The pharmacist gave her an annoyed look, and she frowned.
An idea popped in her head and she raised her hand, motioning for him to wait, her face softening up. She dug into her bag and her hand roamed in the bag, obviously searching for something. Frustration grazed over her face as she looked into her bag. The pharmacist tapped on his desk impatiently and snapped, “Mam, I don’t have all day! You are holding back the line.” Zahara frowned and turned around to see a long queue of unimpressed customers.
“Move to the back and wait your turn!” The lady in the front sneered at her. Zahara pressed her palms together and gestured at the woman, in a sense of an apology but the woman gave her a smug look. Zahara continued to smile and turned back to the pharmacist, the smile still on her face. She gestured at the pen and paper in front of him, a glee in her eyes, but his features hardened. He started to shout at her, saying incoherent things, and the people in the queue joined him.
Zahara suddenly felt insecure and scared. The people were shouting at her like barking dogs and she didn’t know what to do. She clutched her bag and took a step back. Her face had lost its colour and fear was written all over it. A woman she had spotted when she entered the shop, the only person who had sincerely smiled at her, approached the till, the confusion in her face unmistakable.
“What’s going on here? Mam, are you okay?” The woman asked. Zahara shook her head and pointed at the pharmacist and the woman in front of the queue, who by the way, was still barking.
“This woman here is holding the queue!” The woman had shouted. Zahara held on to her bag and hugged herself. The kind woman furrowed her eyebrows and stared at Zahara, wondering why she hadn’t said anything.
“Mam, are you okay? Do you need help?” She asked and Zahara shook her head and nodded again.
“Don’t you have a mouth?! Can’t you speak?!” The arrogant woman continued barking at Zahara. Zahara flinched and took another step back. The kind woman narrowed her eyes at her. Zahara felt intimidated under her gaze and faced the floor. The woman assessed her with curious eyes, which suddenly widened as realisation hit her. She started speaking in sign language and Zahara’s eyes snapped up from the floor. She stared at the woman in astonishment, not knowing what to say. She just stared at her.
“Are you okay?” The woman signed and Zahara merely nodded after a while. “You don’t look fine to me, what is the matter? Do you need help with anything?” She asked. Zahara hooked her handbag on her shoulder and gave the woman a weak smile.
“No. I am looking for my medicine. Usually, my nurse buys them for me, but she has a family emergency, so I had to come and buy for myself. She said her friend was going to come and help me but I’ve been waiting ever since.” She sighed.
“What medicine?” The woman asked.
“Headache.”
“She needs headache pills.” The woman said to the pharmacist who was red on his face from embarrassment. But he was not the only one; the woman who was barking at Zahara was now admiring the beautiful floor covered in naked white tiles.
The pharmacist searched the shelf behind him and presented a set of bottles. The woman gestured for Zahara to come closer. Zahara took cautious steps towards the counter and placed her handbag.
“Uhm...” The pharmacist cleared his throat. “Do you know how the medicine looks on the outside?” He asked, and Zahara nodded. “Is it this one?” He held up the first bottle and Zahara shook her head. He smiled shyly and held up the next bottle, to which she shook her head. After several attempts, Zahara frowned. Feeling defeated. “And this?” The pharmacist asked. Zahara looked up, looking defeated. She studied the bottle and her eyes lit up, and she nodded.
“This is the bottle!” She gestured to the helpful lady. The lady smiled at her and turned to look at the pharmacist.
“She says that’s the right one.” She told him. “Uhm...you can pay for it.” The lady said to Zahara. Zahara smiled at her and retrieved a card from her purse and slid it across the desk.
“Oh...sorry, mam, cash only.” The pharmacist said. Zahara frowned at him and took her card.
“You have to pay with cash, there’s an ATM outside, you can go there and withdraw and then come back to get your pills.” The lady informed her.
“Yeah, and you don’t have to queue, you can come straight her and I’ll help you.” The pharmacist said, and Zahara nodded and gave him a small smile.
“Come, I’ll show you where it is.” The lady said and led her out of the shop. “My name is Nombuso.” She said. “And you must be Zahara, Zandi’s boss.” Zahara furrowed her eyebrows and nodded.
“How did you know?” She asked and Nombuso laughed.
“Zandi is my friend, she told us a lot about you. She’d asked Lindi, our friend, to take care of you while she was away, but...”
“Oh, you are Zandi’s friend? How is she? And her family?”
“She’s fine, she just feels guilty about leaving you.” Nombuso smiled. They came to a stop, and she showed Zahara where the ATM was. “Here’s the ATM. Just get your cash and get back to the pharmacy to get your meds. Will you manage?” Asked Nombuso.
“Yes, thank you!”
“Nice meeting you, Zahara.” Nombuso said and hugged her. “I am going to ask Zandile for your address and then I’m gonna come and check up on you!” She said. Zahara smiled and waved as she left. She made a note to tell Zandi about her nice friend. Sighing in relief, she walked towards the ATM and joined the queue. It was very long but she didn’t mind.
