WHEN news first broke that socialites Denzel (Denzel Tadiwa Maveve) and Mello (Melissa Mutunzi, the daughter of businesswoman Zodzwa Mkandla) were an item, the internet went into a full-scale meltdown.
Social media timelines were flooded with mixed reactions.
There was excitement, there was envy and mostly there was sheer disbelief.
For many, it was the ultimate crossover episode.
We are talking about the collision of two different worlds: the glittering, opulent universe of the Mello family and the humble, struggling beginnings of Denzel.
For the young man, this was like the Zimbabwean edition of the Cinderella story, only this time, Cinderella was a cool, handsome dude with a killer dress sense.
Let us be honest, vanhu vaMwari.
No offence to Denzel, but getting hitched to a rich family is probably the cheapest meal ticket in town.
It is the modern-day lottery win where you do not even have to buy a ticket; you just have to be charming.
You must, however, give it to the young man.
He is handsome, no doubt.
He knows how to clean up and dress up.
When he steps out, he looks like a million bucks, even if his wallet has nothing more than business cards.
He was the crush of many young girls, the kind of guy who turns heads in the streets of Harare.
But while he had the looks that could kill, he unfortunately lacked where it mattered the most: the pocket.
We all knew — and let us not pretend otherwise — that he did not have the money to keep that relationship going.
Forget that quixotic fairytale yada yada that “money ain’t a thing when it comes to relationships”.
Well, it is. Money is very much a thing.
In the real world, love is sweet, but it does not pay the bills or fuel the private jets.
The disparity in their financial statuses was the elephant in the room that nobody wanted to address until the room got too crowded.
So, when the relationship inexorably broke down, it was not quite a surprise to those of us who understand the dynamics of these things.
It was inevitable.
While we might not know the exact circumstances that led to the collapse of the relationship, the grapevine is working overtime.
Rumours point to a scam that had to do with money.
Denzel learnt the hard way: he wanted to pluck the most plum mango from the tallest tree and fell with a thud.
It is painful to watch, really.
It did not help that in his foolishness he rubbed the fledgling relationship in everyone’s faces.
He was too loud, too proud, suggesting he was above the programme.
He acted as if he had arrived, forgetting that the bridge he was standing on was borrowed.
But, as he painfully found out, he was not above the programme.
Nobody is.
Mai Juju has a word of advice for the young man: in future, please tamper your expectations and know your limits.
There is nothing wrong with aiming high, but you must ensure your ladder is long enough to reach the top.
Do not let the glitz and glamour blind you to the reality of your situation.
If you are dating into serious money, know that you are entering a different league.
If you cannot sustain the lifestyle, do not start the fire if you cannot handle the heat.
It is better to build your own kingdom than to be a jester in someone else’s castle.
Next time, Denzel, aim for a mango you can actually reach.
Ndikoko!
