it’s 4pm and the light slants halfway into dhon manik skyview where i sit with kaleyge again, awaiting our order which isn’t hedhikaa but rice and a side. kaleyge got money from his father who won big in a draw recently – isn’t that something? he is a generous man if nothing else. and i must say it feels damned good to be around such. i myself am generous in spirit, that is, i will listen to your troubles if you’re willing to buy me a snack or coffee. and here kaleyge is buying me dinner, even if it is four hours early.

‘how long have you been in therapy?’ he asks and i tell him. it’s the least i can do.

‘that’s a long time,’ he remarks and it offends me a little.

is it really? i think. i’m getting my shit sorted out and there’s a ton of it. it’ll help me be the person i want to be goddammit. of course i don’t say this – fellow millennials may understand but gen x-ers here are far too hip to subject their unique minds to any analysis besides their own, which, let me add, they are convinced they are masters of.

but maybe i am being too harsh. i recall the new netflix documentary series i’ve been watching – chimp empire – where our ‘closest cousins’ try to make it in the wilderness of uganda’s ngogo national park. these chimps cannot and do not have peaceful relations with outsiders, that is everyone outside their tribe is definitely an enemy. they should flee or die.

’…maybe xenophobic?’ says kaleyge.

‘hmm?’

‘i said i think i am maybe a bit xenophobic,’ he repeats. ‘and i know it’s a ridiculous thing to admit to, having been a human rights activist.’

‘nah, man. it’s cool,’ i say. ‘i mean it’s really, really nice of you to treat me when god gifted you with unexpected monet for instance.’

‘don’t you mean MONEY?’

‘huh? what did i say?’

‘nothing, never mind.’

and the meal arrives, chicken fried rice and a side of chicken in ginger and chili paste. i sprinkle some chili vinegar onto my plate and look out towards hulhule, now foregrounded against a crisp blue sky.

‘it’s really good,’ says kaleyge. i take a bite and nod my agreement. yes. most good.