Mahaba Ni Tongo
Part One: A decision in Paradise
By Shantayna Kyesi Nezazi, Casey Lewis and Josie Lewis
Author's Notes: Hey everyone. It's me Shani with another Friends fic. This time both Casey and her twin sister Josie came up with the idea of this fic. We had a hard time deciding on R&R or C&M. In the end we chose C&M because I always end up writing up the fics anyway cos my English is better than Casey or Josie's (We all speak Swahili!). Anyway the title of this fic is Mahaba Ni Tongo, which is Swahili for Love Is Blind, as I write this story you will see what I mean by Love Is Blind. Plus also as a change of scenery I decided to set this particular story on a vacation in Kenya seeing as I live in the Mount Kenya National Park. This is going to be a two-part fic. As usual r&r or e-mail me Shantayna or Casey.
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Chandler and Monica were asleep in their hotel in Lemek, Kenya. They had decided to take a vacation to Africa because Chandler had been promoted to the board of directors of the company he worked for and he got a massive pay rise. He decided to treat Monica and himself to a three-week vacation in the Masai Mara Game Park in Kenya. It was the most beautiful place. There were free roaming animals, beautiful trees and the sun shone down on the clear waters of the rivers. It was the ideal place to live.
Chandler had his arms wrapped around Monica and she opened her eyes slowly and smiled at Chandler.
"Hey," she whispered.
"Hey sweetie," he whispered back.
"I can't believe we are in Africa. You know although I never really said it I have always wanted to visit Kenya. But I always thought it was a far off distant dream," said Monica, looking into Chandler's eyes which were full of life and wonder.
"Well I bet you're glad you married me," he joked.
"I am I really am. And thank-you for taking me here," she replied.
She got up and put on a robe and crossed to the balcony to look out over the Kenyan Highlands. She could see Mount Kenya and the entire surrounding savannah. Chandler approached her and put his arms around her waist.
"Would you just look at this place," she whispered. "I would love to move here."
"Then why don't we," said Chandler suddenly.
Monica turned around and looked at him. She couldn't believe what he had just said.
"Move here?" she repeated.
"Why not? I would love to start a perfect life in a perfect country," said Chandler. "With a perfect wife and maybe one day a perfect child."
Monica was close to tears. She couldn't believe how sweet Chandler could be. He really was thinking about the future.
"Me too," she said, crying now.
"Well we'll tell the others when we get back to New York. Right now let's get dressed and then catch that bus to the Masai Mara Game Park," said Chandler.
An hour later they were on the tour bus ready to head off to the Masai Mara (A/N: My father is the chief ranger of the Mount Kenya N.P.). As the bus rode through the grasslands Monica leaned her head on Chandler's shoulder. He looked down and smiled. He was so lucky to have her. Not one minute went by in a day without him thinking about the first time he met her or the fact they lived across the hall from each other for years before they got together. He looked to the seat opposite him and saw a member of the Masaai tribe sitting there looking at him. The woman looked at him and smiled. She was relatively young and had a stick with her.
"Hi," he said.
"Jambo. Habari gani?" said the woman.
"Sorry I don't speak Swahili," said Chandler.
"Ah that is okay I speak English as well," said the woman. "My name is A'sharia' Kitambo."
"Chandler Bing." said Chandler. "This is my wife Monica."
"Nice to meet you. So where are you from?" asked A'sharia'
"New York," said Chandler.
A'sharia' smiled and looked out of the window. She looked up and said something to the bus driver in Swahili.
"Okay from here there will be a range rover to take you about the Masaai Mara," said A'sharia'.
Everybody got up and crossed to a waiting car. A'sharia' put her hand on Chandler's shoulder.
"Hey do you want to see a really truly beautiful spot of the Masaai Mara?" asked A'sharia'
"Of course," said Monica. "Where is it?"
"Just follow me it isn't that far," said A'sharia'
Chandler and Monica looked at each other and followed her to a place that was so beautiful that it was breathtaking. It was a hill that overlooked Mount Kenya and there were impala, zebra, wildebeest and antelope all running free across the savannah (A/N: I have climbed Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro and you can see everything including Nairobi J - Shani)
"Oh my God," whispered Monica. "This.. I… I don't know what to say."
"Stay as long as you like," said A'sharia'
"Thank-you," said Chandler.
Monica hugged Chandler really tight and they stood there enjoying the view for an hour before they decided to take a walk. They went down to a watering hole and had a drink (Yes I have drunk from Kenyan watering holes. – Casey). Then they stood there and watched the sunset. They had arranged to live in a treehouse hotel for the three weeks they were there. As the sun was going down Chandler put his arm around his wife.
"So are you still serious about moving here?" asked Chandler.
"You had better believe it," replied Monica, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Chandler I'm pregnant."
Chandler looked at his wife just to check what she had said.
"You…you're what?" he asked, just to check that he heard her right.
"I am pregnant," she said. "We're having a baby."
Chandler got a big grin on his face and hugged her. He rolled her onto her back and kissed her passionately.
"That is the bestest news ever," he whispered. "Apart from the fact you are my wife life is so perfect."
She smiled back at him. They enjoyed the rest of the evening in the company of A'sharia' Kitambo before retreating to the hotel. Neither of them could sleep that night because the overwhelming feelings of happiness and serenity were all around them. They were both looking forward to becoming parents. The next morning Chandler woke up early and saw Monica was still asleep. She had her eyes closed and a smile on her face. Chandler kissed her gently on the forehead and hugged her tightly. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled up at her husband.
"Good morning sweetheart," whispered Chandler. "Hey wanna go and watch the sunrise?"
"Okay," said Monica.
They got up and put on robes before crossing to the open space in the tree that was the door (Okay having been on like 100 of these safaris, I have stayed in plenty of hotels like these. There are more in Uganda than Kenya but basically they are big rooms with washing facilities and everything and the local people cook breakfast and other stuff and you go on safari and it is really fun J - Shani)
The sun was beginning to rise over the East African landscape and in the distance birds were beginning to fly off. A lion was stalking in the grasslands and a herd of impala were running towards a watering hole to escape a majestic cheetah. Monica looked up into Chandler's eyes and he looked back down at her. There was a definite something that she wanted to stay in Africa. Something he also shared.
A'sharia' was watching from the other side of the tree. A man appeared beside her. It was her son, Moshoeshoe. He looked at his mother and saw Chandler and Monica. He then looked at his mother again and the board smile she had on her face.
"Mother why did you ever agree to do these safari tours. These people have no respect for the wildlife here especially Americans," said Moshoeshoe angrily.
"Moshoeshoe! How many times have I told you these people are our friends? As long as they don't try to kill any of our wildlife and can respect our tribe then we can all live together in harmony," said A'sharia'
Moshoeshoe looked at his mother again and she shook her head before approaching Chandler and Monica. They turned and smiled.
"Hey there A'sharia'," said Monica.
"Jambo. Listen what have you got planned for today?" asked A'sharia'
"Well we were planning to take a nice long walk and then come back here for lunch," said Chandler.
"Okay," said A'sharia'
Moshoeshoe was still not happy that the Americans were there. He didn't hate all foreigners but he despised the Americans because his grandfather had been traded for slavery back in the 1800's.
Chandler and Monica went back inside their room and began to get dressed. They went down for breakfast with the other tourists. Monica had said she was feeling sick but she felt fine after a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs (I usually have impala.. – Shani) Chandler would never stop worrying about his wife not only because she was pregnant but because he was too in love with her to let anything happen to her. Unusually he couldn't wait for his son or daughter to be born. It was a part of him he never thought he'd see, looking forward to being someone's father. He thought Monica had picked the perfect place to tell him about their child. He had been serious about moving to Kenya. It would be somewhere where they could raise their child in a place of tranquillity and quietude. Chandler knew that the company he worked for had a branch in Nairobi and Monica could easily find a job at one of the restaurants because she had the experience and her food was sooo good!
Later on that day the happy couple went for that long walk near the bottom of Mount Kenya and they couldn't take their eyes off the landscape. The thing that captivated them most was the mountain. It was sheer paradise from where they were sitting near the watering hole. A glistening lake with a zebra drinking from the other side made Monica's eyes light up.
"Wow I can't wait til we can move here," whispered Monica. "Seeing a sight like that every morning we open the drapes will be paradise."
"And not the Bahamas?" joked Chandler.
"Chandler," giggled Monica as she gently hit him on the arm. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," said Chandler. "And don't forget the Little One."
Chandler placed one of his hands on her stomach and she put her hand on top of his."
"Well we have another 7 months of waiting before the Little One is born," said Monica. "I know this might sound silly but if we have a girl I wanna call her Kenya."
"What about if we have a son?" asked Chandler.
"Simba," she replied simply. "We'll call him Simba after the lions. I mean his dad reminds me of a lion. So strong and handsome."
Chandler blushed and kissed Monica. The next three weeks passed quickly and soon it was time to go home. Chandler and Monica decided to inform the gang of their decision to move when they got home.
As the plane touched down in New York, Monica felt a little depressed. Here she was back into the bustle and hustle of the United States and all she wanted was the quiet Kenyan countryside. Chandler could sense she was depressed and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. She smiled and got up followed by Chandler. She was feeling jet lagged but in a sense happy to be home because she had missed Ben, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe and Joey not forgetting her little 1 year old niece Daniela. The gang was waiting at the terminal to meet them. Rachel held Daniela in her arms and her face lit up immediately when she saw Monica and Chandler.
"Auntie Monica!" yelled Daniela.
"Hey guys," said Joey. "How was Africa?"
"Amazing," said Chandler. "It's the most beautiful place I've ever been to with my wife, my pregnant wife I might add."
Everyone looked at him wide eyed.
"Oh my God! You're pregnant?" gasped Ross.
"Yeah," said Monica. "I am."
"Oh my God! Congratulations!" shrieked Rachel. "Hear that Danni? You're gonna get a cousin."
Daniela smiled and wanted to be let down so Rachel did. They all had a group hug and congratulated the happy couple.
"But there's something else, we'll tell you back at the apartment," said Chandler.
They got a cab and went back to the apartment. Monica and Chandler collapsed on the couch in a sigh of happiness. Ross sat next to Chandler and Rachel next to Monica. Phoebe and Joey sat together in the big chair and Daniela was colouring in her colouring book at the coffee table.
"So what else is there?" asked Phoebe.
"Well after spending three whole weeks in Kenya we've decided we want to move there," said Monica.
"What?" cried Joey. "You can't move! I'll starve in the mornings!"
"Joe it's something both me and Monica want," said Chandler kindly. "I mean we have the perfect opportunity to start a new life in a new country with a new baby."
"Let's talk about this in the morning,:" said Monica. "I need my rest, after all I am resting for two now."
Chandler saw the tiredness in her eyes and realised she was right. The guys said good night and Monica went into the bedroom and got changed into a t-shirt and sweatpants and Chandler into boxers and t-shirt. He sighed as he lay down. Monica sat on the side of the bed, her eyes filling with tears.
"Hey, hey what's wrong?" asked Chandler worriedly.
"I don't know. Everything is just a bit overwhelming," sobbed Monica. "First of all I had a great vacation with my wonderful husband, I find out I am gonna be a mom and now the gang not being happy for us moving to Kenya."
"Aww sweetie, there's no need to cry over that," said Chandler, holding her close and gently rubbing her back.
She sniffed and smiled. Chandler wiped away some of her tears and kissed her forehead.
"Listen it's probably going to take ages for me to get a transfer so let's delay moving until after our baby is born," said Chandler.
"I like that idea," said Monica with a broad smile on her face.
Chandler held her closer and rested one of his hands on her stomach. They just lay there for about half an hour, enjoying each other's wonderful company. After a while, sleep overcame Monica and she was soon sleeping peacefully in Chandler's arms. Chandler ever so gently kissed her lips and she smiled in her sleep. Knowing that she loved him so much made the time he spent away at work just about bearable. Before Monica became his girlfriend, she had been the bestest friend a guy could ask for. Then he though for a minute about something A'sharia' Kitambo had told him "Mahaba Ni Tongo" translated means love is blind in Swahili. For love had been blind before Chandler finally realised after all these years of searching Monica was destined to be his soul mate.
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Author's notes: Okay I am gonna be cruel and leave it there. I would love people to r&r or e-mail me Shantayna shani_kyesi_nezazi@ananzi.co.za or Casey and Josie at Casey_Kewl_Girl@ananzi.co.za Please note I know in my first fic "TOW Chandler Makes a Decision" I named Monica and Chandler's daughter Kenya but it's my fic and I can name their kids whatever I want, sorry WE can name the kid whatever we want (Casey's poking me with a ruler) Anyway next part will be up ASAP and please be kind as we are all rubbish at English and excel in Swahili J Shani, Casey and Josie