The Sunday Mail
THE moment I saw petals flying, my friend racing down the stairs before the door violently slammed shut after him I knew that his gamble of paying Lucia an unannounced visit had backfired spectacularly.
In the twinkling of an eye, his hopes of planting some kisses on the voluptuous lass’ temptingly large lips had been dashed.
Luckily for him, I had not yet left and had to drive him on his shameful trip back into town.
Fearing to add insult to injury, I did not broach the subject, yet I knew deep down he was hurting.
While intrigue and surprise can keep the fire burning in a relationship, it doesn’t always work in one’s favour.
Nothing can be more painful than being told off in the presence of an acquaintance or friend.
“Hey, come on, who told you that you can come any time here when I least expect you? What if my father is around? Unemari yekundiroora here iwe kana zvaipa?” I heard the woman shout, but I pretended I had not heard anything.
To imagine Taurai had borrowed the flowers that were thrown in his face barely 30 minutes before the incident and was literally in debt, left me thinking how callous members of the fairer sex can be.
Such are the challenges men go through to win a woman’s heart.
Some have even been ridiculed publicly to the point of taking their own lives in shame.
There are countless men who have had roasted sausages and other gifts thrown at them by women who claim to be fed up with their public display of affection.
It is even worse for those who do not have the guts to propose love to a woman and are only dating because of the intercession of third parties.
The incidents are unbearably embarrassing if they play out in front of workmates, friends and relatives.
But why do women do this?
“Mudhara, there is nothing as disturbing as getting a knock on my door from someone who is obviously trying to impress me with a bouquet of borrowed flowers when I do not even have something to eat.
“What makes the situation worse is that in most cases these guys do not even care to ask what I want.
“Some of the flowers they foist on us will even be the wrong colours.
“Do you know that there are flowers which cause headaches and invite bees in the home? Ngatimbodanana zvisina maruva mukati,” a lady who identified herself as Aletta Zinyegere of Domboshava said.
She said the length to which some men go trying to win them over is absolutely unnecessary.
Jessica Mwendamberi of Mvuma similarly took exception to men who make unannounced visits.
“How can someone just come to my father’s house unannounced. This is a sure sign that the guy has an inferiority complex and lacks trust.
“The fact that I live under my father’s roof means I have to conform to certain rules and regulations.
“Do you know that cheats are the ones who want to appear with all sorts of surprises just to ensure they know whether or not you are at home?” she said while throwing her hands about in disgust.
Faith Nhari of Mverechena in Domboshava is of the same view.
“That is unheard of and unacceptable in the world in which I live. Why would a guy want to visit me unannounced? It shows he will be lacking trust and will be after discovering something . . . Pasi nekunyangirana.”
Men, however, believe there is nothing wrong in showing affection.
“If I fall in love with a woman, I start having doubts if they express reservations on being paid surprise visits.
“Naturally, women have their fathers and brothers, but this must never stop me from expressing my love unhindered. Love is a tree that grows well with proper weeding and watering in the form of gifts. Women must accept to be loved and shown love,” said Mr Oscar Mashiripiti of Mbare.
He said while cases of women who chase away boyfriends at their homes abound, this was a bad sign because a woman with nothing to hide would be happy being shown love.
Norman Tagarira of Glen Norah claims that people in love must never set boundaries for each other.
“Ndinoda kupa munhu rudo zvazviri without any challenges. A woman must never set terms for me because hapana muvhimi anopimirwa sango. If love is to triumph, women must accept our gifts and not frown each time we try to show them love,” he said.
The road to love has always been a bumpy ride but some people are surely not getting it easy.
Inotambika mughetto!
