I've been contemplating my life recently...
I guess it's because I've just been through so much lately.. And I've realised I've been telling a lot of white lies to cover up my mistakes and make sure people who are close to me don't get hurt.
I was thinking of making this post a confession but then I realised way too many people would have access. So instead I'm going to tell you all about Ali...
Basharat Ali is a guy who is approximately double my age and he first met me 3 years ago around the time I met 2 of my exes... I was working for my uncle in the December holidays and he happened to have a shop in the same centre and since he's Pakistani I can bet you can immediately figure out what kind of shop he had.... "Ali's sellfone and electric shop" (repairs done)
I think the thing that stood out most for me was the sign advertising a "Kettel" for R100. I wish I had a picture to share.
I remember when Julie the manager first told me about this older guy who was apparently interested in me! I was outraged I was only 16 years old!!! And I felt slimy and I thought he looked a little bit like Shrek and paid him no attention even though he used to send me chocolates and a buddy coke everyday. I always sent it back but I suspected that his worker made use of it so he thought I accepted his gifts. The biggest shock at the time came when he asked for my number on a note he wrote and sent with a gold heart shape pendent and necklace from American Swiss. It's safe to assume that I sent this back and refused to give him my number!
The ladies that worked with me took full advantage for his generosity. Asking him for airtime, cellphone covers and earphones etc... He gave it to them willingly thinking I was asking for it. Once I left work to start school again I assumed I'd never see or hear from him and I didn't for quite a while.
Around June I received an SMS saying hello, with an airtime voucher number I assumed it was from my aunt using another number since she was wholesaling airtime at the time (she even supplied Ali). But it wasn't her in fact it was Ali he'd send me R12 every single day and eventually I thought to myself he can't be doing this for no reason so I asked him where he'd got my number from and what were his intentions. He told me Julie the manager gave it to him which made sense and he really liked me and wanted to be my friend. I honestly took him as a joke and told all my friends about him and we'd laugh at his misfortunes and his funny accent we even once prank called him and his reply to our girlish laughs and silly jokes on the phone was, "don't be joke" which I assumed meant stop pranking me. I wanted to see how far he'd go to become my friend and around the time of my birthday I asked him to buy me and iPod touch and he did!!!! He insisted i come to pick it up. I was scared so on my birthday I made my really close and special cousin pick it up for me, pretending to be me. He immediately knew it wasn't me and even citied her as my cousin and told her she's welcome to visit his shop at any time. Besides the iPod he sent flowers (a bunch of half dead daisies) and about 5 large packets of Simba chips. It was rather strange but I accepted it because I was a horrible selfish brat, but I don't think I really didn't have a conscience because I always felt really bad using the iPod and eventually gave it to my brother and then it landed up with my niece.
I didn't want Ali to get the wrong idea because they'd never be anything between us we were from different worlds and he was way too old. So I made my aunt tell him I had a really strict father and uncle and they'd never allow it. This was true, but it never stopped him from trying he still bought me gifts which he insisted I pick up (I never did) and when I didn't he insisted my aunt take them for me. She didn't either although she did identify two items for me a Sh'zen manicure set and shoes (god knows if they were even my size).
The only way I eventually got rid of him was lying to him that I was getting married. So I guess it was that little white lie that got rid of something that would never have a future.
Well wherever Ali is today I hope he's well and thank him for my iPod;)
XX