English · Thriller
Secret Wealth
A gripping commercial novel 'Secret Wealth' by Idris Mwangaza.
The story
chapters
01Borrowing PovertyHamisi yanked the power cord of the new flat-screen television from the wall socket as if disabling a device on the verge of detonating.→02The Child’s SentenceAuntie Saada stepped across the threshold first, carrying a cloth bag of dried tea leaves in one hand and wearing a knowing smirk that announced she had already decided what this house was allowed to look like.→03The Lie Reaches SchoolOn Monday afternoon, Leila pulled up to the gates of Malik’s primary school seven minutes before the final dismissal bell.→04The Branded VanOn Tuesday morning, the gravel yard of Pwani Table & Tent reverberated with the clang of tubular metal, the rumble of handcarts, and the shouted tallies of warehouse workers counting inventory.→05The Name on the ContractThat night, Leila refused to have the discussion in their living room.→06Three Days of TruthOn Wednesday night, after Malik and Hana were sound asleep, Leila laid two thick spiral notebooks on the dining room table.→07What Did We Pay For You?On Thursday afternoon, Hamisi sat on a weathered plastic chair behind the Pwani Table & Tent office container, his smartphone propped against a ceramic mug of spiced coastal tea.→08A Real Need, An Inflated RequestOn Friday morning, Hamisi gave Yusuf no advance notice that he was headed to the market.→09The Red MonthOn Friday afternoon, Musa Kenga’s modest accounting office was cooled by a humming split-unit air conditioner that fought gallantly against the humid coastal furnace outside.→10Family Voice NotesOn Saturday morning, Hamisi was jolted awake by the violent, persistent buzzing of his smartphone long before his morning alarm sounded.→11The First NoOn Sunday afternoon, Auntie Saada’s dusty courtyard was packed with mismatching plastic lawn chairs hauled from her parlor, veranda, and storage shed.→12Mariam’s DebtOn Sunday evening, as dusk settled over the coastal palms, Mariam led Hamisi into the dusty rear storeroom of the ancestral family home.→13Everything on the TableOn Monday evening, the Indian Ocean was tranquil, its gentle swell lapping peacefully against the seawall in stark contrast to the storm that had battered their marriage over the past seven days.→14A Real EmergencyOn Tuesday afternoon, Leila received a blurry digital photo of an urgent hospital invoice seconds before Mariam’s audio note could land in her notifications.→15Business Money Is Not a Personal PurseThe low hum of the desktop computer fan vibrated against the veneer desk in Hamisi’s small management office at the Kariakoo distribution warehouse.→16The Clan BudgetOn Thursday evening, the modest meeting room of the community center was lit by two flickering fluorescent tubes, with metal folding chairs arranged in an imperfect circle.→17The Unhideable WeddingOn Saturday evening, the manicured lawns of the seaside wedding venue glowed warmly under hundreds of strung bistro lights, surrounded by the lively hum of a soundcheck and the irresistible aroma of spiced coastal pilau.→18Truth Needs No SlipcoverSix weeks later, the Jengo household was filled with its familiar evening rhythm: Hana’s small stainless-steel spoon clattered rhythmically against her ceramic porridge bowl, Malik rustled through his school backpack searching for a wooden ruler to finish his geometry homework, Leila sat by the dining table methodically ticking off confirmed dates in the quarterly catering bookings calendar, and Hamisi struggled with a stubbornly sealed glass jar of homemade chili paste.→