ketso

[ketso]

Episode 59

I'm packing lunch boxes for the kids when Ntuthuko attacks me with a huge slap on my ass. I honestly just look at him because really... first of all, why is he walking around topless? He has just his tracksuit pants on. Worse, it's raining. I'm wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt that's tucked into my denim pants.

Secondly, why am I being sexually harassed so early in the morning? I gave him sex last night and this morning. Is he not satisfied?

"Maphumulo, kuyabanda. And you know how you get when you are sick." I say.

"Hai mahn, why are you fighting so early in the morning? After unginike kamnandi so?"

I just laugh.

"Lalela... when is my dad's sick child arriving?"

He gives me a weird look. That's not my brother, please.

"Don't look at me like that! My mother is currently not talking to me because of this shit. So please!"

"The ambulance arrived at King Tau Hospital this morning... just before 2am. I'll go see him after we've dropped the kids off at school. Actually, WE will go see him together." He says.

"Ntuthuko, ungazongifaka mina lapho. Angiyi lapho mina", I say.

"Tamia... I'm your husband and I've spoken."

"And?!" I mean really... he's going to behave like I must yebo baba him now.

"I'm asking you to allow me to lead us with this."

"Ntuthuko, angisho ngivumile ukuthi sisize le ngane? Ngivumile ukuthi usize ubaba ngalamanyala. What more do you want from me?"

He gives me a disapproving look.

"Hai ngeke, Ntuthuko." I say.

My phone rings.

It's my brother, Ntokozo. The one I come after.

I answer the phone and put it on speaker.

He starts eating a sandwich that is MEANT TO BE LUNCH FOR THE KIDS!

I've made him breakfast. Kanti yini vele?

"Ntokozo, hey." I pay attention to my phone.

"Nonkanyiso, kunjani?"

"I'm fine. Unjani wena?"

"Kubi sisi. Mom has been arrested."

"What?!" Me.

Even Ntuthuko stops eating and looks at me with shock. Now we both focus on my phone.

"She went to Ermelo to attack uncane for ncane's child being helped by you and uNtuthuko. Things got out of hand, bashayana. Mom poured ncane with boiling water that had sugar. Apparently, ncane's skin is not only peeling off, but ncane could die. Her burns are really bad and she's in a government hospital."

"Uphi ubaba, Ntokozo?"

"Trying to negotiate with the police to let mom go and possibly make the docket go away."

I actually feel like shit.

"Ntokozo, I'll call you back." I say then hang up.

Ntuthuko tries to comfort me with a hug.

"I knew something like this would happen", I say. And I'm irritated.

"Ubaba is selfish! He's fucken selfish! He knew that Mom wouldn't be okay with him doing this. Ubaba uyakhohlwa ukuthi le vezandlebe yakhe le is a symbol of his WORST betrayal to our family! Now he's dragged all of us into his shit and my mom could be looking at prison time because of this." I keep going off.

"Baby, let me talk to ubaba." He says.

"And say what to him, Ntuthuko? Uzothini kuye? This is just a fucken mess!" I say then finish off lunch boxes and prepare to take the kids to school.

Ntuthuko is driving with us today. I'm just super pissed off. Ntuthuko doesn't know how to be. The kids are having their own conversations at the back. Even Sihle is featuring herself with her developing language.

Bonga: "My teacher says Friday is the all day school trip day."

Thuli: "Oh ja, I heard about that. My grade is going to the royal house's highest court. That's so exciting."

Bonga: "Why is that exciting? Court? Isn't that where people fight a lot and they pay people a lot of money to fight for them?"

Thuli: "They pay lawyers when their rights have been violated. Mama is a lawyer. But mama, how come you don't go to court and fight?"

Ntuthuko and I giggle.

"I'm a corporate attorney, nana", I say.

"What is that?" Thuli asks me.

"I'm a lawyer that helps companies through their deals... I make sure they make their money ethically and that the people they go into business with don't put them in compromising positions legally. Then when companies are being sued, I have to protect them using the law." I say.

"What does sue mean?" Bonga.

"It's when you take people to court to pay you for something that you are not happy with that's related to their product or service. So if I sell ice-cream and you buy ice-cream from me then get sick because of my ice-cream, you can sue me."

Nkosana starts laughing then says, "My teacher's name is Sue. I must tell her that I'll sue her for having such boring classes."

We actually all laugh. But I hope he doesn't do that. Please.

"Nina niyaphi nge-trip yenu, Nkosana?" Ntuthuko.

"To the royal cemetery. They'll be teaching us about the history of the royal leadership in the kingdom, then teaching us about the difference between royal leadership and government leadership." Nkosana.

"Now that's very interesting." I say.

"Ja. My girlfriend asked me to bring enough lunch money for both me and her... and her friends. Mara I told her she's mad." Nkosana.

Bonga is in stitches.

"I don't like that girl." Thuli says.

Ntuthuko is so chuffed by this.

I'm just... concerned.

"Why did you tell her she's mad?" Ntuthuko asks.

"Her friends are not my girlfriends. And naye I'm not married to her. Angisho wena baba you only give mama money and do nice things for her because you are married? So, I'm not married. So I told her that I'll buy her one thing only then the rest of the money is mine. Phela ngisase impohla mina", Nkosana is Ntuthuko’s son.

Ntuthuko and I just burst into laughter.

"Why don't you like her, Thuli?" I ask.

"She's too forward. She doesn't even look like she will pass her subjects at the end of the year. She has ghetto girl mentality." Thuli says.

"What's ghetto girl mentality?" Ntuthuko.

"I once asked her what she brings to the table in her relationship with Nkosana and how she sees herself building with him in the future." Thuli.

"Ay nawe. We are only in grade six, you know?" Nkosana.

"So, I'm in grade seven. But I already know that I'm not trying to be a leech one day." Thuli.

Ntuthuko and I look at each other.

Bonga is just laughing so hard. I wonder what he's finding so funny.

"So what was her answer?" I ask.

"She said she will do her part at being beautiful for her husband. But he needs to make sure that she's well taken care of... like her mom. I asked her why she's in school then if she's going to spend the rest of her life depending on a husband for panties and pads. She told me ukuthi ngiyaqina. Intombi yakho is ghetto, Nkosana. You deserve better." Thuli.

Ntuthuko is almost in disbelief. Then he says, "oksalayo, Nkosana... you can't be in a relationship with someone that doesn't get along with your mother or your sisters. So if udelela usisi wakho omdala, mkhuze or mlahle. Siyezwana?"

Nkosana begrudgingly agrees. But you can just tell that he blames big sister Thuli for the argument or conflict.

-

We've dropped the kids off at school and now we are driving to the hospital. I don't understand why I'm being dragged into this. I don't want any part of it. My mom is still in prison. But someone in her family who is "Team Homewrecking Ncane" sold the story to the media. My mom being the wife of the well-known business giant in Mpumalanga that is closely affiliated to government in South Africa and Tholoana Kingdom... she's trending everywhere right now. I'm just embarrassed and annoyed. Very annoyed to be exact.

Even our car ride is silent.

"I might need to go home", I tell Ntuthuko.

He's silent.

"I have to be there for my mom in court", I say.

"We will all go", he says.

"If ncane dies, this child is not staying with us, Ntuthuko."

He's silent.

"Angidlali." I say.

"Ngiyazi ukuthi awudlali. Kodwa... uthi ayephi, baby? You know very well that your mother doesn't want him. Your mother could leave your dad. Is that what you want?"

"Manje ucabanga ukuthi mina ngiyam'funa?!"

"Tamia, your dad made a mistake many years ago."

"Then he must make a plan! Singenaphi thina kulamanyala wakhe? Why is it a community project to fix his shit that he did willingly without a care in the world about how it would affect his family? Ubaba makawuthwale umvuso wamanyala wakhe."

He's quiet.

"Or maybe he can go and live with all those relatives that hate my mother, got her arrested and are now blasting her all over the media for imali yesinkwa". I say.

Now he gives me a judgy look.

I fold my arms then look out the window.

“I’ll wait in the car”, I say as we park outside the hospital.

“Tamia, ngicela singene phakathi. Please, Sthandwa Sami.”

I look at him.

He kisses me. Then he says, “Please, baby wami”.

I just get out of the car.

…

This is your weekly reminder to NOT HAVE CHILDREN OUT OF WEDLOCK! Especially if you are already married and especially if you know that your woman has an untapped level or potential of crazy that will keep you in a state of “yoh” for longer than twenty-four hours.

My dad is here with us at the hospital. Wandi drove him here. When Tamia saw Wandi and Melo, she left to go chill with them at the hospital entrance area. Anything to avoid dealing with this. I’m glad my dad is here with me because I honestly don’t know what to do.

Uncle Maboko arrives with Khabane as we await to hear some news about Tamia’s brother that Tamia herself doesn’t give a fuck about.

Mess!

This is a mess!

“Any news about the boy?” Uncle Maboko asks.

“We are still waiting. Is it supposed to take this long?” My dad.

“Don’t think like that, pope. Move your mind away from there”, Khabane.

We are quiet.

“Ona and Khotso are in Ermelo. They’ve confirmed that Tamia’s mother is out of prison. So that’s one good thing. But there’s a whole shit storm happening right now.” Uncle Maboko.

“What shit storm?” Me.

“The boy’s mother passed away”, Khabane.

I just hold onto my head.

The worst that could happen in this situation is actually happening.

“Now, the mom’s family is expecting Tamia’s mother to pay for the funeral. And you know that they don’t have much. Tamia’s mother has told Tamia’s dad that if he so much as contributes 10cents to that funeral, she’s leaving him. She has refused to pay and everyone is shit scared to ask his kids to pay.” Khabane.

“Ona thought that maybe we could help… but it has to be Ntuthuko’s call.” Uncle Maboko.

“Hai bo! Why me? I also don’t want that responsibility. I also received threats of my own from my wife.” I say.

“Exactly. Uncle Khotso said that if we help, it will be as if you are helping. So the question is, are you prepared to deal with Tamia after all of that?” Khabane.

I take a deep breath.

This is so difficult. Yerrr!

We finally see a nurse and a doctor approach us.

We all look up at them.

“What’s taking so long?” I ask.

“It was a difficult and long surgery, sir. We are almost there. We just have a slight problem.”

“What problem?” Me.

“He lost a lot of blood and he will need a blood transfusion. We have started looking for donours, but if he has a sibling or family member close by that’s prepared to be tested, it would be helpful.”

Who’s going to go and ask Tamia? Everyone is looking at me as if I’m the one who’s expected to go and ask her. Listen here, I’m a wise man who doesn’t believe in suicide. I’m not that brave!

…

It is 8pm now.

We are at home.

There’s chaos upstairs. This is the loudest hour in my house. Tamia is trying to get these kids bathed and ready for bed. Thuli and Nkosana have an extra hour to stay awake because they have to put in an hour of studying every night. Nkosana once asked Tamia what he must study if he has no tests and knows all his work. Tamia told him to go into her study, get a dictionary or that massive book she calls the Bill of Rights. That book is bigger than two bibles stacked together. Nkosana had something to study every night since that day. I don’t blame him at all. Thuli is the one who likes to read Tamia’s law books. Sometimes, I get the sense that she just might want to be a lawyer one day. What I like is that Tamia encourages her. Tamia buys her legal books that are age-friendly for her. Tamia will make her read the school’s rules and policies then they go over those documents with highlighters and pencils, understanding what each one means and when will one know when a rule has been broken. Kunzima!

Mam’Khumalo is back home. She’s still not talking to Tamia, but at least the brother will live. We paid a lot of money for him to jump the cue and get blood asap. No one was brave enough to ask Tamia for blood, not even Wandi. And Wandi fears nothing. I don’t know what’s going to happen with the funeral. But I’m not getting involved.

My phone rings. It’s a number I don’t recognise.

“Hello?” I answer my phone.

“Ntuthuko, sawubona.”

I’m silent.

It’s Sihle’s mother.

“Injani bandla ingane yami?” She asks me.

“Uright. Uyakhula. Uyaphila.” I say.

“Ngiyabona. Angazi noma ngiyaqina or kanjani… but I was wondering if I could spend the day with her? I’m in Tholoana Kingdom for a funeral of a colleague and we will be here for an extra day after the funeral. If it’s okay, I’d like to see my child and spend the day with her.” She says.

“I don’t think that would be an issue”, I say.

“Are you sure? Because your wife has made us -

“Don’t disrespect my wife. I’ll hang this phone up right now.”

“Ngiyaxolisa. It’s just… I’ve been reduced to this in my daughter’s life. It’s not easy.” She says.

“I’ll speak to Tamia about you getting Sihle for the day. When do you plan on coming through?”

“Tomorrow”, she says.

“She has school.” I remind her.

“Ngiyakucela Ntuthuko. Please. I’m on my knees, begging you.” She says.

“Let me talk to T. I’ll call you back.”

I hang up.

Izinkinga zami azipheli.

-

Tamia was actually not difficult about Sihle’s mother coming over to spend the day with Sihle. I’ve driven the other three to school. I’m headed back home now because I don’t want a street fight breaking out in front of my 3 year old.

As I get to the gate, I see Sihle’s mother standing here already. I also see one of the domestic workers making her way to the gate with a golf cart to fetch her. So Tamia knows she’s here too. I’d offer her a lift to the door, but I’d like to be married still at the end of this episode.

I drive in, park my car, then make my way to the house. I see the golf-cart still strolling into the driveway. Our driveway is quite big and long. The gate is quite far.

I find Tamia already sitting with Sihle in the TV room. She’s actually nervous.

I sit next to her.

I rub her back and kiss her.

“Do you think she will take her back?” Tamia asks me.

“It’s just a visit, baby.” I say, kissing her.

She nods her head.

There’s a knock on the door. Then the domestic worker leads her in.

“Sanibonani”, she greets us, but her eyes are focused on Sihle.

“Hi”, Tamia says with a smile… standing up and heading to her. This, I did not expect. Neither did Khethiwe and I can just see the shock on her face.

Then…

Sihle refuses to leave Tamia’s arms and go to Khethiwe. Khethiwe is so hurt.

“She’s forgot all about me vele?” Khethiwe.

“Just sit down and relax. She will adjust.” Tamia tries to reassure her.

I say nothing.

Khethiwe wants to cry.

“We can maybe have breakfast?” Tamia.

Khethiwe gives half a smile and nods her head.

Tamia gives Sihle to me then heads to the kitchen.

“Ingane yami le, Ntuthuko. Why doesn’t she remember me?” Khethiwe asks me.

“Mnike isikhathi. She hasn’t seen you in a long time. She will remember you.” I say.

“This is unfair.” She says.

She looks different. I can’t put my finger on it, kodwa she’s different.

Tamia walks in with a tray of food. One of our domestic workers are right behind her. Sihle is put in her playpen then us adults eat.

Khethiwe will not take her eyes off Sihle. She’s enjoying watching Sihle play and become more and more sharp.

“So how have you been?” Tamia asks her. She’s trying shame.

“I’ve been okay. Thanks. I also wanted to tell you that I’m getting married.” Khethiwe.

Yoh. Okay.

“That’s nice.” Tamia.

“Ja. He impregnated me, so the church laws state that we must get married to defend isthunzi sengane. He’s one of the leaders at church.”

I have so many questions, but I shall exercise my right to remain silent. I married a lawyer.

“Do you love him?” Tamia asks. She knows nothing about exercising her right to remain silent this one.

Khethiwe shakes her head and says, “Cha. He doesn’t even know that I have Sihle. He thinks this child that I’m carrying is my first.”

Uvele ubone ukuthi weeeeeehhhhh!!!

“Are you going to tell him about Sihle?” Tamia. Why is she entertaining this?

“What would be the point? Sihle is yours now. This baby is my second chance at being a mother. Besides, I’ll be his fourth wife.”

Ai ai ai!

Tamia looks at me.

I’m not getting involved.

“I love my daughter. I always will.” Khethiwe.

“We understand”, Tamia.

She alone understands. I don’t understand but hey, I don’t care.

“You can come and secretly see her anytime.” Tamia.

She must have the same sympathy towards her brother and stop misplacing it namahlanya.

“Ngiyabonga”, Khethiwe.

This is just awkward!

[ketso]

Episode 58

I'm chilling in the dining area of my house, going through some paperwork regarding the new house that my family and I will be moving too. With everything that's been going on, my plans with my family haven't changed. And I've made a decision to not feel bad about it. Thabang and I spoke to our kids about the changes that are about to happen. They are excited - slightly annoyed that they'll be driving a bit further from home to school - but they are fine to downgrade. With my royal house housing benefit, I will not be paying any bond. I will also not be paying for my Hyundai Tuscon. Thabang and I traded in our BMW X7 for a Golf 7. It's cheaper. We were even able to pay it off so we don't pay instalments monthly. This will also help with petrol for Thabang driving up and down.

He has the king's ear about his plan to start his resort. I'm proud of him. No lie. We was able to put a down payment for the land where the resort will be. Now the project to create the resort is what will happen next. We are looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to it for him.

"Morafe", my mom says, touching my shoulder.

I've been deep in thought. Yoh! Deep in thought and reading all this paperwork. My mom and my sister's kids are still here at the house with us.

"Dumela mme", I say.

The kids have gone to school - my kids. Thabang is still serving his notice, so he is possibly at his office.

"I've made us some tea. I thought that we could maybe have a conversation", she says, putting coffee in front of me.

I accept the coffee and say thank you.

She sits down in a chair next to me. She also has her cup of coffee.

"Rafe, I know that you didn't have a good relationship le ausi wahao. And maybe I'm to blame for that because I was much more harder on you than I was on her. I contributed to her being irresponsible while not paying attention to the consequences of that - that one day, she would be your problem. No child deserves to carry the responsibility of parenting another child. And I'm sorry that I didn't do my bit to ensure that Mmaletuka was an independent and self-sufficient woman - especially so that she could look after her children."

I'm still quiet because I need to understand where this is going. Oksalayo, I'm not taking on her kids. It's not happening.

"Morafe, I'm an old woman now. I don't have the strength to look after children anymore. I can't take these kids."

"So who must take them, mama?"

She looks at me.

"I'm going through changes myself. And le nna I've hit rock bottom before. You and Mmaletuka did nothing. I had to dust myself off, take my kids and find a way to carry on. Now I must take on two more kids? I even took your child. I'm raising her for you even though you couldn't raise my kids for me when I needed you to... when I even begged you to. I must show you and Mmaletuka mercy that both of you combined couldn't even show me? I'm not a better or bigger person, mme. From a very long time ago, I had to make a plan to accommodate myself and my two kids. That's all I've ever had room for."

"Morafe, I'm asking you, hle. I'm begging you."

"Mme, put these kids in a boarding school. There are good boarding schools in Tholoana Kingdom with programs that are designed to do what we can't at home. They will visit for holidays. Sometimes they will visit you. Sometimes they can visit us. But they cannot live with me. I don't have the capacity. As it is, I'm moving to a smaller house. Ba tlo robala kai? Or keng? My kids must give up their comfort for bana baMmaletuka? It's not happening. I'll pay for their fees. I can take care of them from that perspective. But more than that, I have nothing mama. I have nothing left to offer them."

"Am I responsible for pelo yahao empi so?" She says.

Now she's offending me. And she needs my money. She seems to be forgetting that.

"You can call me whatever you want to call me. But bana baMmaletuka -

"Ka setso, they are your children now. Are you aware of that?"

"Mme, boarding school or they go and live with you at a house that I find for you. They'll attend school there and re tla bona ho re reyetsa jwang from there. That's my stance. It's up to you to decide what's best."

She shakes her head at me with disgust.

And you know what, it's fine!

...

Two weeks later.

Today, my mom is moving into her new house. Last weekend, we took Mmaletuka's girls to boarding school right here in Taung. They are not far from where my mom is staying. It's an all-girls boarding school. Each grade stays together... so they'll see each other, but they don't live together. I bought them uniform, civilian clothes, luggage bags, toiletries and school bags. They were upset, but they'll get used to it.

Mama yena...

We found a three bedroom simplex in a retirement area. As we are unpacking her things, so many of her neighbours are coming in to greet her and welcome her to the village. They have all day programs here to keep her healthy, fit and entertained. She even has TV in here.

"How will I find a man living in this place?" She asks me.

Meme and I laugh.

"You'll find a rich one here, mama. Not the broke and married ones with unnecessary drama from Maja Perre." Meme says.

We all laugh.

"But can they perform in bed? Are they taught well past their money?" My mom.

Meme and I are so done. We are deep within laughter.

"Maybe I need a Ben10 watsiba... someone who is still flex and can keep a woman like me happy and satisfied." My mom says.

"Mama, you've been through enough. Let us take care of you. See this as an opportunity to retire to a vacation. Sleep late. Wake up even later. Take part in activities. Start golfing. Drive your golf-cart everywhere. Just relax mama. If you meet someone, great. But if you don't, it's okay. Just let us take care of you." I say.

"I need the two of you to promise me that you'll always love and respect each other. Clearly, you are the two children I got right. Please... don't ever turn on each other. Your relationship must never be what it was with Mmaletuka. Ke a le kopa banyana baka." She says to us.

We both just hug her.

We understand where my mom is coming from. She's already lost a daughter... brutally so. We are all she has left.

...

“Motho waka”, Thabang says to me as we settle into our bed, preparing to wish the day goodbye.

“Yes, my love?”

“Are you sure about this? You know, we’d adjust if you really want us to live with Mmaletuka’s kids. I just don’t want you to have any regrets about any of this at a later stage.” He says.

“That’s sweet of you, but I’m sure. Thabang, we are swamped. Where are we supposed to find room and capacity to take on so much more than what we can handle?”

“Love… these things are… it’s one of those things we can never plan for but they just happen. And we deal with them as they happen.” He says.

Now I’m getting irritated.

I look at him.

“What if it were Mosetsana and Tshenolo in these kids’ shoes, baby? Would you want your sister to just -

“First of all, my sister would have done nothing! Absolutely nothing! So don’t sit there and make it seem like I’m ill-treating her children when I’m spending way much more than what she would have to make sure my kids landed okay. Mosetsana and Tshenolo could have easily been in that position. Their father has attempted to murder me multiple times - at times in front of Mosetsana and Tshenolo. Mama knew. Mmaletuka knew. Do you think they did anything about it? They did nothing. They couldn’t even accommodate me in that house that they lived in just so that I could hide my kids from that man. I had to be a mother and find a way to make sure that my kids are fine. Let’s say I did die. Let’s say he succeeded in murdering me. Do you know what would have happened? They wouldn’t have even got that man arrested. They’d have let that man take my kids - probably rape Mosetsana like all the times he had raped me… maybe even let him take them to Zimbabwe and mama as well as Mmaletuka would have been okay with never seeing my kids again. So as far as I’m concerned, I’ve done so much more for her kids than what she did for mine when they needed her… and so much more than what she would have done had it been me that died.”

He stares at me.

“You can judge me all you want, Thabang. I’m not living with those kids.” I say.

“I’m not judging you, baby. I just didn’t realise how much pain you were carrying inside of you - and anger towards your mother and your sister that you cannot let go of.” He says.

“I’m trying my best! I don’t even want to give them R10 yaborotho. Every fibre of my being wants nothing to do with Mmaletuka and her kids. I didn’t even want to spend my money to bury her. I know for a fact that she would have never done for me what is suddenly expected of me to do for her and her kids. But all of you judge me. You make me feel like shit. I wake up each morning with an internal war brewing inside of me because the part of me that wants nothing to do with this is fighting with the part of me that has a duty to deal with this. Do you know how exhausted I am by the time I go to bed because helping my mom and these kids brings me absolutely no peace?! Like, absolutely none! I can’t even sleep at night. I dream about Mmaletuka. She is just looking at me and not saying anything. I’m the one who’s just telling her how much I do not want to do any of these things. I wake up every morning feeling so exhausted. I just… Thabang… anyone who believes I’m a bad person can go to hell.”

He pulls me into a hug.

He cuddles me.

At some point, I fall asleep.

…

Family: the most selfish yet entitled group of people that you’ll ever come across in your life. They are probably the people that are least deserving of your love, kindness and generosity… but they demand it the most. Not just the financial part of it, but your entire spirit and being.

I hate what Morafe is going through… I hate it because I actually truly understand it. Look at where I am with my own family? I admire people who have mastered the art of cutting off family members. Truly, I do. I think that if this were normalised in life, statistics around mental health and murder would go down by more than 60%. I actually am a firm believer that the average person is most likely to be murdered by a family member than by a complete stranger.

A knock on my office door disturbs my intent to phone Morafe and check up on how she’s doing.

I look up.

It’s Mmakabelo.

I thought they were still in prison.

She notices how surprised and annoyed I am to see her.

“I come in peace”, she says.

I look at her.

“Can I come in?” She asks me.

I shrug my shoulders.

She walks in and sits down on an available chair across my table.

“We have signed the divorced papers”, she says as she hands me an envelope.

“We were told that this was the condition from you for you to pay bail for us.” She says.

“I don’t know where you got that from, but I didn’t even pay your bail.” I say.

“Moholo Khotso said -

She realises I genuinely don’t give a fuck.

“Maybe he was just doing Morafe a favour. Morafe is close with his eldest daughter”, I say to break the awkwardness.

“He also said that if we agree to leave Taung and Dithabeng, you and Morafe would drop the charges.” She says.

“Again, I have no idea what you are talking about.” Me.

“We will leave, Thabang. Nna, mama, Mahali and everyone else. Papa will give up the chieftaincy as the royal house has requested. Please just drop the charges. We have kids. They need us.” She says.

“What about Mmaletuka’s children? You know, the ones that you’ve now left without a mother?”

She looks away from me.

I’m still staring at her.

“We messed up, Thabang. We know that we messed up. There’s absolutely nothing that we can say or do that will truly express how sorry and regretful we are. At this point, I’m honestly throwing myself at the feet of your mercy and am asking for forgiveness and mercy on behalf of the family.”

I look at her.

She looks at me.

“What happened, Mmakabelo? You were not this person when we got married. Yeah, it was an arranged marriage and we’ve been through shit. But you were not this thing that I now see before my eyes. What happened?” I ask her.

She actually lets a tear slip out of her beautiful big eyes that just always look curious about something.

“I fell in love with you, Mothipa. The marriage stopped being about duty and started being about so much more. But, you cheated. You were never home. And before I knew it, there was another wife that I had to accept. You stopped touching me and resorted to just fucking me for babies. My body became the Mothipa baby-making machine… so if you couldn’t give me a baby, someone else had to do it. I had to find a way to be dutiful again. And I did find a way. I did. Then Morafe came. And I saw your capability to love. To truly and unreservedly love. I’ve been in so much pain because that love wasn’t with me. The pain became desperation and I’ve been trying to find my way back to being human again ever since. I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the role that I played in all of this. I’m sorry for the role that I played in bringing you to your knees like this.” I say.

She looks at me with so much relief on her face.

I get up from my chair, make my way around my desk, then I hug her… comforting her.

She just cries in my arms… weeps.

I suddenly hear someone clear their throat. It’s Morafe. She’s looking at us. I let go of Mmakabelo.

“I didn’t realise that you were busy”, she says.

“No baby… I… we were just…”

“I’ll see you later.” She says then walks out.

I just feel like shit now.

“Mmakabelo, you have to go.” I say.

She nods her head.

She leaves the divorce papers.

“This is really awkward, but I really need money for -

I just give her an envelope of cash that I find in my desk. There must be about R20k in there. I just need her out of here.

“Kea leboha.” She says then finally leaves.

I couldn’t even think straight for the rest of the day. The minute the clock struck 4pm, I left the office.

I’m arriving at home now.

It’s my kids that greet me first with so much excitement. I return the excitement half-heartedly because I need to talk to their mother.

“Where’s your mother?” I ask them.

“She said she has a headache. She’s sleeping.” Tshenolo says.

Eish.

“Let me go check up on her, okay?” I say.

They excuse me.

As I make my way up the stairs…

“Abuti Thabang”, Meme.

I look at her.

“Mahali was here.”

Fucken hell!

“Did you bail them out of prison then give them R20 000 to leave the country so that they don’t pay for what they did?”

“What?!”

“Morafe told me to pack my stuff. She’s already packed for the kids. She’s busy packing her things now. This is the worst kind of betrayal! We are leaving you.” She says.

Now I sprint, making my way to my main bedroom.

The door is locked.

Yerrrr!

“Morafe!” I loudly say as I bang on this door.

She doesn’t say anything.

“Morafe, open this door!”

Nothing.

“Morafe!”

Nothing.

I break the door and march in.

Bags are all packed vele. She’s not even looking at me.

“Morafe, what’s going on?” I ask her.

She doesn’t even look at me or speak to me. She just paces around the bedroom, packing things.

“Morafe, ke buwa le wena.” I say, grabbing her arm.

“DON’T FUCKEN TOUCH ME! GET YOUR FUCKEN HANDS OFF ME!” She screams at me.

“Morafe, since when do we talk to each other like this?” I ask her. I’m actually hurt that Morafe, of all people, is talking to me like this.

“SINCE YOU GO AROUND HELPING PEOPLE THAT MURDERED MY SISTER, BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN AND LEFT MY MOTHER WITHOUT A HOUSE!”

“I didn’t do any of that.”

“UMAKA! WHY ARE YOU LYING?! I SAW YOU AND YOUR FIRST WIFE IN EACH OTHER’S ARMS, REMINISCING ON WHAT USED TO BE AND FINDING SOLACE IN FINDING EACH OTHER AGAIN!” She’s shouting and crying at the same time. The door is broken down and the kids are at the door watching all of this.

“That’s not what was happening, Morafe.”

“I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!”

“I do love you.”

“YET THAT’S HOW YOU HOLD SOMEONE WHO HAS PUT ME IN THE SITUATION THAT I WAS IN YOUR ARMS CRYING ABOUT JUST LAST NIGHT?!”

I don’t know why, but that statement attacks my soul. It’s not even a true reflection of what was happening.

“I thought I could do this, Thabang. I thought I could be with a polygamous man. Clearly, I can’t. Technically, you did nothing wrong. All your wives deserve what you give me. Mmakabelo is going through a hard time and she needed that hug and the money you gave her. But it hurts. I’m hurting in places I never even knew existed inside of my body. You comforted her over murdering my sister! You were there for her after she left my mother homeless and my nieces orphans. I can’t forgive you for that. I cannot.”

“Morafe, baby… that isn’t what happened. Please. You need to unpack all of this stuff, sit down, calm down and allow me to have a conversation with you about the events of today.”

“I’m done, Thabang. I understand that you have to support them throughout the situation… so I won’t be able to be your wife while you do that. My family suffered here. My family is still suffering. And for the record, I called the police on them. I just received confirmation that they’ve been arrested at the border for violating their bail conditions.”

What a fucken mess!

…

I’m waking up on the couch. I couldn’t stop Morafe last night. She left. She took the kids and left. I drank myself to sleep. If I didn’t drink, my heart would’ve stopped beating. It was just too shattered.

“Ntate Mothipa, you have some guests”, one of the domestic workers say to me.

Before I can even enquire on who my guests are, the guys walk in: Ntuthuko, Senzi and Keith.

“Gents”, I say.

“You look like you’ve been hit by a train”, Ntuthuko.

“I take it you’ve heard”, I say.

“She’s staying at my place while Wandi and I are at my dad’s house”, Senzi.

“Are they okay? Morafe and the kids?” Me.

“Morafe was crying all night. Mme Thabi had to sedate her so she could sleep.” Senzi.

“What?!”

“Look, my dad and Moholo Khotso are talking to her. We know that you didn’t bail those people out of jail. That they can speak to. But the hug and the 20k? What is that about?” Senzi.

Yoh!

“Mmakabelo came to drop off divorce papers”. Me.

“So the hug was to say thank you?” Keith.

“Ndoda, Morafe told Tamia that if she didn’t walk in when she did, you would’ve fucked MmaKB on your desk.” Ntuthuko.

What the hell?!

“How did she reach that conclusion? Mmakabelo was crying in my arms.” Me.

“The words used were ‘the hug was enduring’. Nasi!” Ntuthuko.

“I need to see Morafe.” I say.

“Just let her cool off a bit.” Senzi.

“It’s just… I asked Mmakabelo how she ended up becoming so vindictive. This is not who she was when we first met. She told me I was to blame because I didn’t love her nor did I reciprocate the love that she had for me. I felt bad that I’m the one that fucked her up. And chances are that I did the same to Mahali. So I apologised and comforted her pain.” Me.

“By giving her an enduring hug and almost fucking her on your desk?” Ntuthuko.

“I DID NOT -

I catch the guys laughing. This is not the time for jokes.

“Lalela ndoda… ngeke akulahle lo muntu. But the trust is a bit weirdly strained. What was the 20k for?” Ntuthuko.

“She needed money for a taxi”. I say.

“Taxis cost 20k now?” Keith.

I just look at him.

“You’ll need to just tell her all of this.” Senzi.

“Hai hai hai, eh baba! For what?!” Ntuthuko.

“It’s the truth!” Senzi.

“Ey! All Morafe needs to know is that KB brought divorce papers, uThabang wabonga. The hug was wrong kodwa he was relieved ukuthi konke sekuphelile. Lezi zokuthi they were talking about loving and not loving and not reciprocating what what… unnecessary information! No one you love wants to hear that shit. The 20k was so that his dad, his multiple wives, children and grandchildren could have R500 each to survive until they make another plan. 20k for a taxi will get you divorced, sbali sami. Don’t behave like ushayiwe ngesigcwala mdidi! Lungisa umuzi wakho!” Ntuthuko. I actually agree with him.

“Tell her the truth, Thabang. You did nothing wrong. If you are honest, she will believe you if these people keep coming back and don’t give you peace. She needs to know that she can trust you. If you are honest now when the truth is not pretty, she will not doubt you when the truth is a little nicer.” Senzi.

“I’m with Senzi on this one.” Keith.

“Eh baba… Morafe is not the woman that analyses when the truth is pretty or ugly. You know your wife! Ipantsula leliya elibuya emasimbeni ngamadoda. You don’t deal ne-pantsula using i-curriculum lase-private school… abo ugly truth nabo pretty truth. Don’t over share shit that will be of no benefit to your relationship!” Ntuthuko.

“The truth is the truth and it shall set you free - no matter how ugly the truth is.” Senzi.

“Mfundisi! Ziphathe kahle! Uzochitha unshado!” Senzi.

They are both just giving me a headache. Honestly.

[ketso]

Episode 57

I’ve dropped Risuna off at school and am now at the Maphumulo house. I’m Mrs Maphumulo’s assistant and the workload is a lot. I thought work at Keith’s office was hectic. Yoh, here?! It’s a lot! But the payment has helped me a lot.

I’ve been asking my mom to quit her job for some time now. She’s old. And this thing of hers cleaning at government hospitals for R4500 a month is not okay. There was a time when I couldn’t help her. But that changed. When Keith got his CEO job, I know he started paying my mom R8000 a month. He refused to send money to his mother though because according to Keith, his mother would starve then send money to his father. And Keith would rather die than support that man. But, Keith’s mother doesn’t work. And this is not okay. It’s just not. She lives on the money that Keith and his brothers give her. And Keith has the highest paying job.

So, I give her money from my salary.

Keith and I are responsible for her groceries. So I buy her groceries online every two weeks and have them delivered to her. Michael and his girlfriend are responsible for rates, taxes, the garden person and the domestic worker. Samuel and his wife are responsible for DSTV, TV license and clothing accounts.

According to Keith, what else does she need money for? That’s why she can afford to give money to the dad. Now that the dad moved back into the house, it’s worse. Keith even wants us to reduce the groceries. Honestly, he must just take one for the team at this point. He cannot NOT look after his mother because of his hatred for that man. Hai bo.

So I’ll generally send her R2500. When she needs money for stuff, she phones me. And I’m happy that she does. Her sons are not prepared to send her money because of the father. And the wives and girlfriends… well, they don’t like her enough to do what I do. And I don’t understand why. Maybe I just understand her better because I grew up just next door her house and she’s always seen a daughter in me.

Now with my significant increase in salary, I give her R5000 every month. Then I’ve added onto my mom’s allowance. So she gets R10 000 from Keith and I collectively. She finally confirmed that she doesn’t work anymore. I’m happy. She also tells me that she takes Keith’s mom out from time to time, which I appreciate. But ja, I don’t know how we are going to work around this situation.

“Moghel!!!!” Wandi comes into my office and says.

We are both super excited to see each other. We jump on each other, hugging and actually making a noise.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you”, she says.

“I’m so excited to see you!!! I feel like we all just don’t see each other unless it’s a funeral or a wedding or something. That’s so wrong guys. We can’t be missing Thebe’s back rooms because of such”, I say.

“I hear you. I definitely agree. We just all have a lot going on. But you are right, we need to make time and just catch up.”

“Yeah. How are you finding being a new mommy?”

“It’s beautiful. I’m very blessed. And I have the best support system seeing me through. Plus, Melo is not a fussy child. So she really favours me in that regard”, she says.

“Well, being a mommy is a stunning look on you. I’m loving it for you!”

“Thank you, gorgeous. And wena? How’s Risuna and Keith?”

“They are good, watsiba. Keith wants another baby even.”

She almost pops her eyes out.

I laugh.

“I kinda want one too. But I think I’ll come off the pill after the wedding. I’m giving Risuna a little more time to be an only child. But even he’s asking me why people around him have siblings and he doesn’t.” I say.

Wandi actually laughs.

I laugh too.

“I’m really happy for you and Keith, Bassie. You know we’ve always held pom-poms for the two of you, but seriously, I’m so happy you guys found each other and knew what to do with this opportunity.” She says.

“Thank you so much, friend. There was honestly a time where I would have never believed anyone who would have told me that Keith and I would be married one day and building a whole family together. When he married that lunatic of his, I genuinely believed that any chance of him and I being together was over. Hell, I was even thinking about giving Sipho a chance.”

“BASETSANA!”

We burst into laughter.

“That guy unofficially adopted my child when his father wanted nothing to do with him - or so I thought at the time. He bought the baby a stroller, a cot and all these other things that I couldn’t afford. Not even he could afford it… he worked extra shifts at the mine just so my baby and I could be okay. Why wouldn’t I give him a chance.”

“Chomi, vele you didn’t find that to be creepy? I mean who does that? And with no guarantee ukuthi that’s your woman vele vele vele? I mean, now, you are with Keith and you haven’t spoken to him in forever. Lapho akhona, how’s he taking the fact that you and Risuna are not in his life and are not his family as he thought would be the case when he was being extra? Phela he surely didn’t do that just nje… there must have been some expectation.”

“I’ve never thought about it like that, watsiba. I just always thought of him as this thoughtful person who really cared enough to pick me up when I was at my lowest.” I say and I’m actually being honest.

“Anyway… he got arrested. Uzwile?” She says.

“Hai wena! For what?”

“Aren’t you still in the WhatsApp group kaThebe for that place?”

“No. I changed phones and lost everything.”

“Yoh! Apparently, police came to fetch him at the rooms. The charges include murder, rape, robbery and assault.”

“WHAT?!” I’m so shocked.

“Ja. Maybe that money he made to buy all of things was not 100% legal.”

My spine honestly has a hectic chill.

“You dodged a bullet, babe. He’s not who we all thought he was. I just found him to be very creepy for being your unofficial husband nje. It was too weird to me.” She says.

“Ja neh. Keith did say that there was something off about him. I just thought that Keith was being jealous.” I say.

“He was being jealous. He could tell that Sipho was off but couldn’t tell that his wife was a dangerous nutcase and a half?”

We look at each other.

We burst into laughter.

“Anyway, let me love and leave you. Melo is with her mkhulu and I don’t want her exhausting him. I’m somewhere around this massive house if you need me or just want to take a quick break nyana.”

“Thanks babe. Enjoy.”

She leaves my office.

Ja neh!

I’m busy for the next few hours in my office. Fifi, my boss, is in and out of my office. She even had a site visit today with the queen. This is really a big project. I feel honoured to be part of it.

It is now 6pm. I decide to call it a day. Fifi is not back from the site visit. She texted me telling me that I can leave. We will catch up telephonically. Vele I miss my child and my husband. I have missed calls from my mother as well. I’ll call her back on my drive back home.

I walk past Wandi, Melo and Mr Maphumulo. Wandi has just made Mr Maphumulo food. So he’s eating. I say goodbye. They all say goodbye. Wandi even says that we will chat. I agree and give her space. She’s being a makoti. I understand.

I’m driving home now. Let me phone Keith first. He is actually away on business. He’s in South Africa, Cape Town.

“Hey my love”, he answers his phone.

“Hey baby. How are you doing?”

“I just miss you. A lot. You should take me with you on your trips.”

“I’d love that. Plus, I’m very horny right now. And only you can solve this problem.”

I actually laugh.

“How’s my boy?” He asks me.

“I’m headed home now, so it will be me and him when I get home. We can video call you after dinner.”

“I have a meeting just after 7pm. As soon as I’m done, I’ll phone you guys.”

“Okay baby. Sure. When are you coming back again?”

“Tomorrow my baby. I honestly cannot wait.”

“We miss you, love.”

“I miss you too, baby.”

“And I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, baby.”

-

My kid is running around the house, driving mzala crazy. What I don’t understand is why mzala is running after him. Upset as she is and yelling at him the way that she is, he’s completely entertained. He’s laughing so hard that he even stops running to catch his breath from laughing and running. My chaos part 2 has started.

“Risuna!” I’m the one who makes him stop this nonsense.

“Mzala! Hai your child!” Mzala is so tired. She’s even sweating. What were they doing?

“Why are you being naughty, Risuna?” I ask.

“I’m not. I’m playing. And mzala is very funny”, he says as he laughs.

“Are you saying your elder is funny?” Mzala.

“Mama, mzala wants me to go bath. I tell her that if she can catch me, I’ll bath. She told me she was an athlete at school so I want to see if she can beat me. When I run, she runs like this” then he imitates her… tongue out… he even splashes water on his face to imitate the sweating. I’m not even joking. It’s the exact sight I saw when I walked in here. I really want to burst into laughter. But mzala is so mad!

Then Risuna bursts into laughter.

“Mzala, you can knock off. I’ll take over from here”. I say.

“Mzala, you must discipline your child! This is no way to treat an elder!”

Okay, now she’s judging me.

“Hawu mzala, I’ll talk to him.”

“Talk to him?! This child needs a hiding! And a serious one! This is not a child! It’s a brat. And I told sesi! She said she’d talk to you.”

That explains the multiple missed calls.

“Mzala, I’ll talk to my son.”

“Wabona wena neh… you are raising a criminal! This one will be in prison before the age of 25. O tlare I didn’t tell you. He doesn’t listen! He doesn’t have respect! His teachers complain about him. I complain about him. All you do is talk to him?! You’ll regret this. You’ll see.”

“Mzala, I don’t appreciate your tone and your uncalled-for prophecy! Keith and I are raising our child as best as we see fit.”

“Keith? Ukai yena? He sees that you are an unfit mother who doesn’t know how to discipline her brat and he’s not here to watch the ship sink right before his eyes. He’s out there with a girlfriend to release his stress.”

“Keith is away on business, mzala.” I say.

“Weh! Watsiba I feel sorry for you. You all go to school to become more and more stupid. Your house is falling apart right before your eyes and you are blinded by what you choose will make you cope. That man doesn’t like you working. He wants you at home, disciplining your little brat and creating a decent human being out of him. He wants you making this child a sibling so that he learns some kind of responsibility, and not see everything to be about him. But wena o rotehile akiri? You want to work and hang out with your friends. You want to hire people to take care of and raise your unruly son. Keith is gone! Yena he will love you and marry you and hide manyala ahaye because he loves you. It’s just your actions that are driving him away. O hopole that you are his second marriage. He’s more seasoned at this than what you are. Even his ability to lie and hide things from you has improved. But nna… I know a well-taken-care-of man when I see one. Kgale ke phila.”

I just look at her.

I choose to not believe her.

I trust my husband.

I trust that my child is not a criminal in the making.

“Goodnight!” And just like that, mzala knocks off.

…

I needed these three days. And Phindi didn’t disappoint at all. She made sure that I’m all the way happy and that no part of my body remains untouched.

I like her. A lot. She explores me. She takes risks with her body alongside mine.

The best part about her is that she’s married too. So she has as much to lose as I do. So I know that she won’t be a lunatic. And this arrangement between us is as good as we want it to be and will last as long as we want it to last. Her husband lives in the UK. She’s here in the kingdom with her three children. She’s a CEO of her business that is also here in the kingdom. We met at a conference that I attended a while back. And honestly, I’ve been captivated ever since. Apparently, so has she.

“We need to get back to the running again, baby. Your wife is over feeding you and your body is aging faster than your actual age. Look at these love handles”, she says to me, running her hands around my waist… removing my towel that I had on since I did just take a shower.

“It’s work stress, baby. You know I barely have time to run or gym.” I say.

“We need to change that. Get a treadmill or something in your house. I don’t want you having a heart attack while we are deep within our shit in bed.”

We both laugh.

“Well, you look really nice.” I tell her. She is looking good. For a mother of three, she looks nothing older than 28. Her long weave is making her look expensive. She has a small body frame. She’s a runner. A committed one at that. She has a personal gym trainer. She has a physiotherapist that she goes to weekly. And she’s a “Saturday mornings are for the spa” kind of woman. I even know that her Saturday mornings are off limits.

“Are we in our love pod this weekend?” I ask her.

She shakes her head, lets go of my body, then gets back to getting dressed. Then she says, “the kids and I are going to see their dad in Manchester. I’ll be there for the next two weeks.”

I nod my head.

“So no contact?” Me.

She shakes her head and says, “None at all. You know he will catch on as soon as you even text me and he will make life difficult for us. Unengane encane, Keith. Uyakudinga. My husband will honestly end it for you. I don’t want your son to suffer because you and I chose to be reckless. I’m even going to leave this phone in SA and use my main line only while I’m away.”

“I understand. I’m going to miss you.” I say.

“I know. But you and I agreed that we wouldn’t be reckless with this. You still need to love and honour your wife. If your marriage changes, it gets better - not worse. If she starts feeling like she’s losing you, we are done, Keith. You and I - it’s just sex. There’s no reason why our kids and partners need to suffer at any point because of this.”

I nod my head.

We finish getting dressed. She’s packed her bag. She double-checks my bag to make sure that there is no evidence of her at all in my stuff. As she does this, I get dressed as well.

I feel her hands on my ass now.

I look at her.

She has her bag in hand… travel bag being pulled with one hand, her handbag is over the shoulder of her other hand.

“Keep well, lover.” She says as she kisses me.

“You too, beautiful.” I say.

She leaves.

…

I arrive at my house just after 4pm. I find a few cars here. So I park my car just outside of my gate.

I take my bag, some flowers and the gifts that I bought for my wife and kid: a new Chanel bag and Dior perfume for my wife, then a new electronic vehicle for my son. The number plates are “RISUNA GP”. It’s a black Range Rover Sport - just like his father’s car.

“Ladies”, I say as I step into my living room.

I see the whole gang is here… Tamia, Bassie, Morafe and Wandi. Their kids are also here, going crazy in Risuna’s playroom. Risuna’s playroom has nice stuff, that I will admit. Then it has a sliding door leading to the garden where he has his jungle gyms, trampolines and other outdoor activity stuff. I really wish he had a sibling to share all of this with.

“Hi Keith”, these ladies greet me.

“How are you doing?” Me.

Bassie walks up to me, smiling from ear to ear. I’m also very happy to see her.

We greet each other with a kiss. I give her flowers and her gift. She thanks me and brushes my dick.

What’s happening?!

“Let me help him get settled. I’ll be right back.” Bassie tells the ladies.

“Take your time.” Tamia slyly says. I just laugh. I wonder what they’ve been talking about.

We get into the bedroom and Bassie is all over me. I’m not sure what’s happening, but she’s never this keen for sex.

But I take advantage.

I undress her.

I put her on the bed.

As I’m about to put my penis in there, she says, “are you cheating on me?”

What the fuck?!

She can’t possibly know. I’ve been careful. Phindi has been extra careful on behalf of both of us.

I just get up.

I sit on the bed.

I try to wrap my head around this question.

“What are you asking me, Basetsana?” I actually even pretend to be offended by the question.

“Mzala says that you are cheating on me.” She says.

Mzala?!

Wow!

“What am I not doing right, Basetsana? What don’t I do for you and Risuna?” I say. I’m even getting angry.

“I’m sorry. It’s just been eating away at me all night. I couldn’t even eat or sleep.”

“Is that why your friends are all over our house? You are discussing our marriage with them and accusing me of shit I don’t even have time to do because I’m so busy working my ass off for you and our son.”

She’s quiet.

I’m quiet.

She then says, “Look Keith, I’m choosing to trust you. I’m choosing to believe that if there’s something wrong that I’m doing or there’s something that you are not happy with when it comes to me, you’ll talk to me and you’ll give us an opportunity to fix it… you won’t run to ejaculate inside another woman. I won’t even go looking for evidence of whether you are cheating on me or not. If you are doing something, it will come to light on its own. And if it does, Keith… I want you to know that I’ll take my son and leave you. I won’t even sit here and listen to your explanations. I won’t even try to fix it or forgive you. We will be done. You are a grown and consenting adult. You know what is acceptable and what isn’t. If you are cheating, I will not accept it as a mistake… and just know that God will deal with you accordingly.”

Then she leaves the room.

I don’t know why I feel so shitty.

I’m in my room now, unpacking my travel bag. I’m mostly putting my stuff in the laundry basket. Bassie is still with her friends and Risuna is still having the time of his life out there.

When I am done, I turn on the TV, lay on my bed and go online to purchase some gym equipment for myself. I think I also need to get into shape again. I’m not a buff guy with a six pack and firm glutes or whatever. The only thing I have going for me is that I’m tall and dark. Noria loved that about me. Bassie seems to love it about me. Oh… and I’m a gifted Tsonga man.

But being with Phindi and watching how she looks after herself… I suppose it won’t hurt to also fix myself up. We actually have a gym in this house that neither Bassie nor myself use. It’s just there. We don’t even have equipment in there.

I order two treadmills, two cycling machines, the rowing machines, a punching bag, boxing gloves for myself and Bassie in case she decides to join me, medicine balls, dumbbells and weights. I notice that there’s a special. Basically this special says because I’ve shopped for more than R10 000, I get someone who will deliver these and set them up for me for free. I just accept the special. Whatever, honestly.

Now, I take my nap. I’ll only see Bassie when the girls remember that they all have husbands to go back home to. I’ll see Risuna later on when he’s done being a host as well.

…

“Hai ngeke mah, kuyabanda la. How does dad live here?” My daughter, Kayla, says. She’s my eldest. And yes, Manchester is cold. Tholoana Kingdom just rains a lot, but compared to Manchester, it’s not that cold.

“You get used to it, Kayla.” My husband says. His name is Harry Wright. Yes, I married a white man and I have three caramelo babies. I’m just proud that they can speak Zulu - it must be because they live with me and are very familiar with my parents’ kraal in Eshowe. They picked up seSotho in Tholoana Kingdom. I’d say that they are very multilingual kids. I’m proud of them.

Kayla - whom I also named Nkanyezi - is my eldest. My second child is my second daughter, Charlotte - whom I also named Nomcobo. My last born is my son, Michael Bhuza Wright. The Zulu names all came from my dad, I swear. I would have gone for something less out of the Shaka Zulu movie.

“Dad, this place is cold. No one can get used to this. We’ve been coming here for two weeks every school holiday and every midterm break, but I’m still not used to this”. Kayla says.

I serve Harry his coffee.

He kisses me as he accepts it, rubbing my lower back.

“I was actually hoping that I’d convince you guys to actually move up here and live with me.” Harry says.

“There’s no way”, Charlotte says.

“That could never be me”, Kayla.

“Dad, why don’t you just move to the kingdom and just come live with us? You and mom are probably the only two married people I know that don’t live together. Don’t married people have needs?” I actually choke on my tea as Charlotte says this.

Harry finds it funny.

“I’ll come live with you, dad. I’m tired of being the only boy anyway”, Mikey says.

“Thanks my boy. But seriously guys… your mom has a business and in my view she can pretty much run it from anywhere. I have a job that I can’t just leave.” Harry says.

“But you can find a job anywhere. Why do you specifically want to work here?” Kayla.

“My family is here.” Harry.

“Mom’s family lives in a different country from us.” Charlotte.

“But it’s a drive away”, Harry.

“Moving to Manchester would make it a flight away.” Kayla.

Harry is quiet.

“Dad, this place is not nice to settle in. It’s always cold. It’s not nice being black here - and here, we are black, not mixed-race. We’d be miserable here”, Kayla.

“How do you know that? You guys haven’t even tried”, Harry.

“Dad -

I intervene and say, “How about we test all these theories before we make a decision? We move up here with dad for a year. We try this out for one year. If we love it, we will move up here permanently. But if we hate it… then babe, you need to come back to the kingdom with us.”

“What about school? And our friends? I actually have a life, you know.” Charlotte.

“You’ll go to a new school here and make new friends. Our schools are great too”, Harry.

“What about my boyfriend?!” Says Kayla, my fourteen year old.

“Lord, help me.” Harry says.

I actually burst into laughter.

“What about mom’s business?” Mikey asks us.

“I’ll have to run it from here then make occasional trips to the kingdom from time to time.” I say.

“Can we actually go with you? Like to actually check on our lives and make sure that we are still relevant? Because I for one know for a fact that I’m not staying here forever”, Charlotte… my twelve year old.

I look at Harry.

He’s not impressed hey.

“I need you guys to give this a chance. It’s important to me. Is that a lot to ask?” Harry.

The kids understand the seriousness of this.

“Dad, we understand that this is important to you. But we also need to be comfortable and you need to also understand what’s important to us too. You are asking us to just uproot our lives and move to a country that doesn’t even like the colour of our skin. Have you thought about what this means for us? We are allowed to have reservations and actually cling on something familiar that makes us happy”, Kayla.

“To be clear… I’m not asking. I’m telling you! And I’m your parent. In fact, I’m the head of this house and family. My word is final.” He’s suddenly scary now.

“What about how we feel?” Charlotte.

“You’ll have to get over it and do as we say”, Harry.

“What if we said no?” Kayla.

He looks at me as if blaming me for this. Did he not hear me suggest we try this out for a year at least?

He walks out of the kitchen as if saying “speak to your kids!”

“Mom, you cannot agree to this! You just cannot!” Kayla.

“And dad is being unfair. He’s being a dictator”, Charlotte.

“I can stay with dad by myself”, Mikey.

“There we go! Problem solved.” Charlotte.

“All my kids stay with me. Mikey goes where I go.” I say.

“It’s the four of us and one of him. If he moves, it’s less of a change than if four people move”, Charlotte.

“Have you guys considered his point of view in this?” I ask.

“We have. Then we realised that he doesn’t care for ours, so why should we care for his? It’s bad enough dealing with this cold for two weeks at a time. Now we must come here forever? Mom, do something”, Kayla.

“You are all moving here! And it’s final!” Harry says. I didn’t even realise that he was back in the kitchen.

The girls are not happy at all.

…

It’s evening. The day was pretty sour after the conversation earlier on.

I’m in bed. I just took a shower. Now I’ve just lotioned myself and am ensuring that I’m warm as I slip into bed. He’s in here, on the phone with his parents and telling them that the kids and I are moving here. The parents sound excited. I’m not excited about moving here. It’s not even about Keith. I don’t love Keith… he’s just black dick after I’ve been having wife dick for thirteen years of marriage. That’s why I encourage him to be a good husband. I don’t want him having ideas of us leaving our partners and families for each other. I love Harry. I just don’t like Manchester. I’m with my kids on this 100%.

Yes, I was living and studying in the UK when I met Harry, married him and had kids with him. I moved from here to the kingdom when I just couldn’t get my business off the ground and the best thing that I could be was Harry’s PA. I am Phindile Wright. I am the daughter of Khombisile and Mlungisi Zwide. I’ve never been destined for the bare minimum. My mother opened her first supermarket when I was four years old. My father started his own farm when I was two. I come from two business geniuses who created their own wealth and self-built their ‘royalty’ status in our community. When people talk about the Zwide family, it’s always with a dose of respect. When Harry came to pay lobola and we had our traditional wedding in Eshowe, people said “of course she married a white man. What black man would be good enough for her?”

Now for all of that to just be Harry’s PA? Who only got the job because I’m his wife? No thanks!

So I packed up my things and my three kids - at the time when I left, they were ages 3, 8 and 10 - and I went to start my empire. And it’s growing!

So moving here, I feel like I’m headed towards a set back. My business will not thrive here. It won’t. I tried. I failed. But you know what… my marriage is worth the shot.

“You okay?” He asks me as he gets into bed.

“Yeah.” I say with a feint smile.

“Thank you for supporting me out there with the three rebels.” I don’t appreciate him calling my kids rebels.

“It’s change. When have you ever known kids to adjust well to change?”

“But still… I wouldn’t have won out there without you. Thanks.” He says.

“So… how will you juggle yourself between us and your other family?” I ask him.

He looks at me.

“I mean… Julie is the one that even your family loves. Her and her kids are the preferred ones. I thought life was easier for you with us being away. Are you ready for the chaos that’s about to come with the kids knowing that you have two kids with your high school sweetheart and your family treats her like your wife and me like your dirty secret?” I say.

“Julie won’t come near my children… or my wife. You guys always come first.” He says.

“I’m sure she was fine with that when we were far away. But if we are here full time… look Harry, I just don’t want issues or drama. You can sleep with her all you want, but I want my dignity and my children’s sanity to be protected and respected at all times.”

He nods his head.

I doubt that this is going to work. But let’s see what happens.

[ketso]

Episode 55

I'm warming Melo's bottle as Khotso has her in his arms. We are still at the royal house as I have to be makoti for I don't know how long. Senzi and Wandi had gone to a funeral and are only coming back today. I don't mind staying with the baby. I never got to do all of this with Wandi. I was arrested before I could even take her home from the hospital as a newborn. I didn't even know how to warm a baby bottle or make one... Khotso taught me. He's so hands-on and teaches me a lot too. But I'm not having another one. I'm sure my eggs are not even okay to have another one. But the way Khotso is sooooo broody! Hai! Then there's also Rena who is obsessed with being an aunt and Moloko who can't wait for this baby to be able to play so he could actually do something with her. Lol! My little family.

"Sanibonani", Wandi and Senzi walk in and greet us.

"Hello", we all greet them happily.

Senzi goes straight to his daughter.

"How is the little princess?" Senzi.

"She's been an absolute gem. She doesn't believe in night sleep though." Khotso says, handing the baby to Senzi.

Senzi and Wandi sit next to each other and bond with their baby. This is so beautiful, man.

"How was the funeral? I heard it went down", Khotso asks them.

"Yoh, baba! Can you believe ukuthi the same community that set that house alight is the same one that was there everyday ukuzodla nokucula amagugu? Abantu kanti banjani?" Wandi.

"I don't think we all have the same level of reasoning capacity nje as people." Khotso.

"Morafe lost it! She completely lost it. I've never seen Morafe like that before. Wabaxosha kabuhlungu kanjani... and she told them that if they even set lemiqonjwane yabo nje at the funeral, she will find them and kill them by setting them alight one-by-one." Wandi.

"UMorafe?!" I'm so shocked.

"Mah! Morafe!" Wandi.

"I was there. I saw and heard it all for myself", Senzi.

"Yoh!" Me.

"So what's going to happen now with that house, her mother and the surviving children? Is it even safe for them to go back and live there after this entire ordeal?" Khotso.

"Heh! Baba... kodwa you didn't hear this from me neh", Wandi mara. Where else would Khotso hear this from?

Khotso and I are already laughing.

"UMmaKB, uMahali and umama kaThabang... baphakathi ejele sikhuluma nje. Baboshiwe nalabantu abatholiwe ukuthi bashisile laphaya." Wandi.

"Umaka wena!" Khotso. I'm just as shocked.

"Modimo keMorena!" Where the hell did Wandi learn that phrase from now? Weh!

"So, according to Morafe... the day that the house was set alight, Thabang’s mother phoned Thabang to inform Thabang about it. But the way in which she delivered this message just made Thabang suspicious that she had something to do with it because the Mothipa family hates Morafe a lot right now. Thabang has served the other two wives with divorce papers because the whole Mothipa family made Thabang’s wives sleep with Thabang’s brother-

"WANDISA, WOAH! My head is spinning right now. What?!" Khotso.

My mouth is still open from one shocking sentence after the other.

Senzi is laughing at our reactions. He even says, "Imagine how I felt when I heard all of this."

"Where did I lose you, baba?" Wandi says. These two and gossip!

Now I see Rena and Moloko walk in.

Yoh, Rena is going to hear such things about her man. Ja neh.

"Let's start at the divorce part." Khotso. He couldn't care less that Rena is here. I'm sure he actually wants her to hear what her man is capable of.

"So, Thabang overheard an argument between MmaKB and Mahali. In this argument, they both confirmed that neither of their kids were Thabang’s kids. And their plan was to ensure that Thabang never found out." Wandi.

"All one million of those kids?" Khotso.

I even giggle.

"Bonke baba! Bonke. Lapho sekuphenyiwa khona ukuthi kahle hle ubani ubaba wezingane, it was found that Thabang has a fertility issue that his wives couldn't bring to his attention, so they brought it to the attention of the family instead. Tumelo was then hired to smash amakhosikazi kamfowabo, then the babies would be Thabang’s."

"Without Thabang’s knowledge?" Khotso.

"Cabanga! And that's not where it gets good! It turns out that Thabang was forced to marry Mahali because she got pregnant. So how is it possible that both her kids are Tumelo’s if she was already pregnant when she got married?"

Khotso starts laughing.

He's proper entertained.

I want to know.

"Turns out that Mahali was sleeping with both brothers at the same time when she and Thabang were just messing around. When moghel got pregnant, Tumelo’s wife was not yet ready to accept a second wife, so the mother decided that she should be Thabang’s wife. But she obviously went back to Tumelo for round two because baby number two came."

Yoh! Yoh! Yoh!

"So Thabang is pretty much done with his family and the wives. They all want Morafe to change his mind. Apparently, the wives did nothing wrong and this is not uncommon when there is a fertility issue. Now Thabang cut all of them off, told Tumelo to deal with all his baby mamas all alone. Mothipas are mad. Mama-Mothipa senior used her influence to go at Morafe's family with the intent to hurt Morafe then get her to do what the family wants her to do. This is where we are now."

"Yeses. We should actually take the chieftaincy away from Mothipa. He doesn't have his own house in order, how is he even leading that community? It's all those fifty million wives that he has. He has too many internal issues to apply himself to being a chief outside of his own house. Now his wife, who's also a legal authority in that community, has committed a crime herself? A cruel one at that against community members, just to settle a score le makoti? Ke masepa fela!" Khotso.

We are all quiet.

"Lefatselabarena, do you see the calibre of people you want to become part of? You've actually insulted us. How do you go from us to that?! And that boyfriend that just sleeps with everyone! Bona jwale wentseng in his own brother's marriage?" Khotso needs to leave Rena alone.

I shake my head at Khotso.

We are all just quiet now.

-

Khotso has been on the phone with Ona all morning discussing the possibility of dethroning Mothipa.

I've just finished showering and getting dressed. I'm meeting up with Thabi, Letlali, Fifi, Sonia and Teboho for lunch to discuss the launch of the school. Thabi decided to name the school Onaleruna Khotso Mohale College: Preparatory and Senior School. As soon as the name was accepted, Thabi unveiled it to Khotso and Ona. They feel honoured. As they should. But now there is even more pressure to open a similar school here in Tholoana Kingdom. Thabi finally decided that she will do it. She will open a similar school here in the kingdom. She has left it in Fifi's hands to lead on the Tholoana Kingdom side. The decision to make it Fifi's baby came from Fifi having such a strong teaching and education management background. She's even hired an assistant already. Wandi recommended Basetsana - one of her friends. With her experience in admin and as an assistant, Fifi found her perfect for the job. Now that her husband finally found a PA and she had become a housewife again, Basetsana embraced the opportunity with both hands and is super excited to be working with Fifi.

Because I'm still in my "dresses and doek" phase of being a Mohale wife, I've decided to wear a beige body-hugging dress that's just above the knee. I wear skin-toned stockings just to make the look is a bit more respectable. I pair this dress with a baby pink knee-length blazer jacket. The jacket's material is pure wool. Yep, it's knitted very beautifully in Italy. I wear my black Versace Pin Pump heels. My doek is beige with brown seshweshwe prints. I just let my 32inch straight wig hang loose underneath it.

"You look so hot, baby", Khotso says to me.

Oh, he's done with his call.

"I'm trying to make the whole seSotho makoti look work", I say.

"Well, its making me want to put you back in bed. Look at me, baby, I'm so hard." He says.

I laugh and say, "tell your soldier to relax. We have things to do."

"Kancane nje, baby. Five minutes. Please."

"No", I say. I laugh then say, "but I'm glad ukwazi nokucela ngesiZulu.”

He laughs then says, "I'll find someone nice to use it on ke. Akere wena hawubatli?!"

I give him a look.

He laughs aloud.

I shake my head.

"So baby, what are you guys going to do about this Mothipa situation?" I ask him, distracting him really so that hard penis of his can calm down.

"Ey, that idiot of an old man." He says. His penis is calming down.

"We will go and see him tomorrow. He's been notified that we've summoned him to his chambers. We will give him an opportunity to respond to our concerns. Then we might decide to take him to council, and other chiefs can vote on whether or not he's still fit to be a chief. We already know that he has allegiances in at least five other chief-run provinces. So we already know that there might be internal wars against the other chief-run provinces who have chiefs that either don't like him or don't support him. We will try to manage the blood bath that may come from the threat of him being dethroned, but if it comes to it, we might loan soldiers to the ones who want him out. Ona and I want him out. But if he risks war, we will banish him from this country should we win... him and his entire family."

"Baby!"

"It's how it works, baby."

"But there are kids involved in this. What about Morafe and her family?"

"We will talk to Thabang. If he's serious about turning his back on his family, we might actually just give the chieftaincy to him if he's interested. If he's not, we will appoint a whole new family. But he will be safe. We plan to make sure of that."

I shake my head.

"But we have other issues, love", he says.

"Other issues such as?" I ask.

"The church", he says.

"Pope is not well. I'm not sure if it's old age or if he's just sick. But he's not good. This thing of his came at a terrible time because..."

"Because...?"

"Our people in Spain are in shit." He says.

"How deep is the shit?"

"Very deep. We can't even go to Miami this time. And that shit... it's put international police, international intelligence and the FBI on our asses. They've started arresting people. And they have an inside person spilling the beans and leading them to us."

I look at him.

"We need another escape plan. We need to run the fuck away and disappear for real." He says.

"Just us?" I ask. I need to understand who I have to think for.

He nods his head. Then he says, "I spoke to Ona. He says he's only taking Thabi."

"And Sonia?" I'm so shocked.

He shakes his head then says, "he suspects that she's the inside person. So, if you find a place baby... it's for our family, Ona and Thabi. Reahile and his family too. That's my kid. Mohato and Zari are Thabi's softest spot, so I think include them too. But us gents... we all spoke. We need to be separated for some time. We agreed."

I nod my head.

Should I even be going out at this point?!

...

Ona, Thabi and I traveled together to Dithabeng. We were driven here in one car. Thabi was actually very pleasant. I think that he's genuinely happy. She and Ona are even more... physical. She hasn't moved back to the kingdom permanently as Ona had asked her, but they seem to be in a much better place... much to the detriment of Ona's marriage to Sonia. I personally believe that Ona is not able to love two women at the same time. He just likes women and he likes as many skirts around him as possible, but he's incapable of keeping more than one woman happy at a time. For Sonia to be happy, Thabi must be mad. For Thabi to be happy, Sonia must be mad. Ai!

"Dumelang", some girl says as we walk into the Mothipa chambers. Thabi is the only person that greets her back - as I said, she's very pleasant. Ona and I ignore her. Who is she again?

"I can show you where to sit", she says, intentionally brushing my dick with her ass. Isn't this harassment?

"Sorry ausi... wetsang?" I ask her. And I'm loud because I want her to feel embarrassed. What the fuck is this?!

Thabi and Ona look at me like I'm crazy. The other chiefs and leaders are also focused on us now.

"Nna?" The lady tries to deny it.

"Do you really want me to spell out what you've just done? And are you really going to lie before a chief leader, a queen and a king?" Me.

"I made a mistake. Ke kopa tshwarelo, Moholo waka", she says.

"Bona mo wena, I'm a married man. A happily married man. I don't appreciate what you've just done and I don't believe that my wife would appreciate what you've just done. Had I done that to you, I'd be accused of sexually harassing you. I don't appreciate this kind of behaviour", I say.

I'm actually very angry hey.

"Ke kopa tshwarelo, moholo. It will never happen again", she says.

I click my tongue in annoyance then move to go find my chair. Ona is with me. Thabi is with that girl. She's mortified, but she will be fine. Maybe she thought that I'd take her to bed instead. Am I really that much of a slut? Do women no longer respect me so much so that when they see me, they see a dick that's a jackpot to their financial challenges?

Nx!

"What did that girl do?" Ona asks me.

We are sitting next to each other.

"She brushed her ass against my dick. Intentionally."

Actually, I'm not angry, I'm embarrassed. I feel... dirty... violated even. I even want to tell my wife so she can come here and deal with her.

"And you are this angry?!" Ona mara.

"Ona, this is not funny. Clearly, that little slut doesn't see a leader in me. She sees a male whore who has a useful dick to her problems... she doesn't see moholo... she sees a thing with a dick that she can violate as she sees fit."

He stops seeing humour in this, and seems slightly more serious.

"Nx!" Me.

Ona let's it go. I think he just doesn't understand.

This meeting finally starts. I'm the one who starts speaking.

"Mothipa, as a nation at large, why do we know more about your shit in your household than what it is that you are doing in this region? Worst of all, the shit in your household has now spilled over into the streets and has resulted to civilians dying because you can't keep your house in order."

He looks at me.

He's actually shocked that I know this.

"To bring everyone up to speed on what has happened -

"No, moholo. Please." He stops.

"Ey madala! Do we look like we are here to play games with you? When we leave here, we need to have decided whether or not you will be kept as a leader in this country... a chief at that! And with all the rumours that are flying around regarding your family that are spreading like wild fire, we need to understand what are facts, what are opinions and what are not true at all. From there, we decide if you are still fit to rule." I say.

Some people agree with what I've said. Some people are a bit difficult to read.

"We need leaders that we can trust with the well-being of our people. Yes, mistakes happen and we all have things that happen in our personal lives that sometimes distract us, but I'm concerned that your challenges in your house are now overpowering what we as a community need to see happen from your house to this community. What concerns us further, chief Mothipa, is that your wife - a chief legal advisor for this community - is one of the main instigators for what happened at the Letuka home. Your wife and your daughters-in-law. That, I cannot forgive nor can I turn a blind eye on", Thabi says.

This man doesn't know how to respond.

Other chiefs also raise their challenges, some challenges that we were not aware of. As these come up, I'm blown away even more. Ona and I keep looking at each other. Thabi is quite annoyed. Her family is also here representing the Merementse chieftaincy house. They actually phoned us and asked us how we'd like them to vote. So they are already on our side.

After three hours of just putting issues forward, we take a break. Thabi, Ona and I are outside discussing this. We don't even trust the water served here.

"What's our plan if we dethrone Mothipa, abuti?" Thabi asks me as Ona and I smoke.

She's complained about our smoking until she realised that she's not going to win. She tried to get Phuthi on it, but Phuthi honestly doesn't care that I smoke. So Thabi let it go.

"Maybe your family can take over this place." I say to her.

Both she and Ona look at me.

"Think about it... Dithabeng and Merementse are relatively close to each other. The Sebata chiefdom will have more land. Your family's council is big enough to run this place and Merementse, plus they'll have funds for both regions." Me.

"They'll be fine with it. They'll actually be happy with it. But do you think Mothipa would go without putting up a fight? Phela this will take away his wealth, his land and possibly the businesses that are sustaining his family." Thabi.

"That idiot's son fucked my daughter and he believed that it wasn't an issue worth addressing. Fuck Mothipa! I'm actually glad that now, I'll really make him and his son pay for that shit that happened with Rena", Ona.

He and I fist-pump each other.

"Vele vele vele Thabang doesn't want to be chief? He's with such an ambitious woman in Morafe. How is he so..." Thabi.

"Maybe his idea of ambition is not being anything like his father. And let's be honest, if your template was Mothipa, you wouldn't want what he has neither", Ona.

We actually laugh at this.

My phone rings. I don't even recognise this number.

"Hello?" Me.

Silence.

"Hello? Speak man... the fuck?!"

"Sawubona", a voice.

Sawubona?! On my phone? I don't know anyone who would ever dream to phone me and say Sawubona.

"Who's this?!" I ask.

Now Thabi and Ona look at me.

"UNkosinathi, mfowethu."

Now I'm quiet. Because the only Nkosinathi I know pisses me off unprovoked. I'm wondering where he would have got my number from and why the hell he would even dream of phoning me.

"Usekhona?" He asks me.

"Ubatlang?!" I ask him.

"We need to talk", he says.

"You and me? About what?!"

"You live with the mother of my daughter, my daughter and my granddaughter... and you don't think we have anything to talk about?"

Yerrr I hate this guy.

"Uskang'tlwayela masepa wena. I live with my wife, my child and my grandchild."

"Eh ndoda, I didn't call you to fight."

"So why did you call me? Because you've already wasted five minutes of my time ka masepa!"

Ona takes my phone and puts it on loudspeaker.

"I'm dying." He says.

Ona, Thabi and I look at each other.

"I've been diagnosed with cancer. I've also decided that I won't be going on any treatment. I'm going to let this thing just do what it needs to do."

"I'm sorry, dude." I say.

"Ngiyabonga. Lalela ndoda, ngiyazi ukuthi ubaphethe kahle oPhuthi benoWandisa noMelokuhle. Ngiyabonga."

"Ke msadi waka, ngwana waka le setloholo saka. I don't need a thanks or acknowledgement for doing what I'm supposed to do."

I'll also speak my sotho as he sticks to his Zulu.

"I didn't mean it that way... I just meant that please continue to do so. I always thought that I'd be their backup plan if you flopped and didn't do right by them." He says.

Dai mahn o ntlwayela masepa.

"But now I'm no longer going to be here if anything goes wrong. All I'm asking is that you continue to look after them like this. You are now the only man in their lives that they have... the head of their house. Please... don't disappoint them."

I'm quiet. Because again, o ntlwayela masepa.

"I also have a favour to ask", he says.

Now we probably get to the core of this call.

"Ja?"

"My sons... Khanya and Khosini."

"What about them?"

"Please look after them. I know that I've messed up so much that they are in this position. Thandeka's new boyfriend is abusive towards Thandeka and probably towards my sons too. I just don't want anything happening to my kids. My sins are punishing me and it's okay, I'm ready to die. But please... if not for me, please do it for Wandi. I know you hate me. But Wandi loves her brothers. And I know that she won't be okay if anything happens to them."

If I'm being honest, I don't need another child in my hands. Let alone two. I have three kids and that's more than enough for me. This one will have to be a "taking care" from a distant.

"Your kids are old, monna. Tell them you are dying so they have a chance to say goodbye. They are also old enough to manage themselves. They'll be fine." I say.

"They still need guidance. All I'm asking is that you be that for them. That's all."

"Ey whatever dude. We will do what we can. I have to go now. Shup."

I hang up.

Ona, Thabi and I look at each other.

I know this is completely distasteful, but we honestly just laugh.

...

[ketso]

Sneak Peek Friday!

Today, I am sharing two chapters out of my upcoming novel with you!

We have said that with the competitions that we have run throughout the posting of this season’s story, some lucky winner will get to win a hardcopy of my new novel that is to be released in October 2023, titled Yeni: A family & its business.

You can still stand a chance to win!

All you need to do to stand a chance to win is:

1. Invite 5 friends or more to this read

2. Share your views of the story (posts, not today’s sneak peek into the novel)

3. Tell us about your favourite characters

The prizes are as follows:

Three people will win customized notebooks;

Two people will win copies of the new novel (snippet being shared in today’s post);

One person will win a collection of all Ketso Madonsela novels (My Worth Crowned You; Nosi & The Church; Mrs Him Book 1; Mrs Him Book 2; Last Wife Standing) PLUS the new novel that is set to launch this October 2023 (snippet being shared in today’s post)

I am looking forward to announcing winners soon and sharing these prizes with you! So please, keep tagging people and inviting them to our reads… keep commenting and telling us what you think… keep telling us about your favourite characters!

For today, happy reading Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of the new and upcoming novel!

…

Chapter 1

"Hello handsome", Ayanda greets her fine godauve of a man, Nathaniel Nel.

It has been a long day for both of them. Nate was in theatre all day performing surgeries, and Ayanda was living the life of an executive PA: making her chief's life a lot easier at the expense of her own sanity.

"Hello gorgeous. You look exhausted. How about I give you a foot massage while you tell me all about your day?" Nate suggests. But it is nothing out of the ordinary. Nate is a thoughtful person, and his love language is literally performing acts of service.

"You are far too sweet, Dr Nel. I had actually planned to come here and cook you a mean meal so that you can tell me all about your surgeries. I couldn’t get hold of you all day. I missed you." Ayanda says as she cuddles into his warm big arms filled with incredible love and passion.

Nate smiles. He loves this woman. They have been together for seven years now and he still looks at her as if he just met her.

Ayanda starts preparing dinner and Nate goes upstairs to dress down into something more comfortable. Ayanda started at her place, so she has already changed out of her heels and tight dress outfit. She is now dressed in short shorts, sneakers and a baggy basketball t-shirt. She pours herself a glass of wine to keep her company while Nate is changing upstairs.

Nate eventually comes down the stairs wearing shorts and no t-shirt. He is a handsome and fine-looking white man. He feasts on gym sessions and his chizzeled body keeps Ayanda’s eyes glued to him as he makes his way back to her. Nate is about twelve years older than Ayanda, but somehow, they make a beautiful couple. He is so tall. Ayanda is up to his chest in height. He loves it though.

"How are the twins?" Nate asks Ayanda as he has her wrapped in his arms.

"They are okay. They are visiting my mom, that's why I'm here without them today." Ayanda explains.

Ayanda has a set of twins who are now eight years old. They are fraternal twins: a boy (named Melusi) and a girl (named Ntandokazi). The father of these twins is not only a worldwide known businessman who is known for his true brilliance and unexplainable charm, but he is also the true love of Ayanda's life.

Ayanda ran away from Gauteng to live in Umhlanga for reasons still unknown to Sakhile Yeni. Ayanda found out about her pregnancy three months into living in Umhlanga. Today, Ayanda can follow his life because someone is always writing about him in the media. He still believes that she just left and never looked back.

Ayanda met Nate when the twins were a couple of months old. He has been helping her raise them ever since.

"I miss them. I bought them a few gifts", Nate says.

"Thank you, baby... not just for the gifts, but for everything. Not a lot of men would raise kids that aren’t theirs", Ayanda.

"Not a lot of men get to call you their better half", Nate.

Ayanda and Nate passionately indulge in an incredible kiss.

"I really want you upstairs and in bed. We will dine out tonight", Nate whispers.

Ayanda jumps on top of him. Nate catches Ayanda with one arm and stretches the other arm to switch off the stove.

He carries Ayanda upstairs and when they get to the bedroom, Nate puts Ayanda down. The pair are now breathing heavily.

"My angel, I want to make love to my fiancé tonight", Nate randomly says between the heavy breathing happening between him and Ayanda.

Huh?

Nate turns Ayanda around and she faces the ring lying on the bed.

She turns around to look at Nate and he is on one bended knee.

"Ayanda Kunene, will you please give me the honour of calling myself your husband? I want to marry you, baby, and I want to adopt the twins. The three of you are my family. I love you. Please marry me. Then tonight, I can make love to you as your fiancé", Nate.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ayanda screams.

With that, they have their first evening in bed as fiancés.

...

Lira is performing at the private dinner reserved for the Yeni family and their partners. Tonight, the Yeni brothers celebrate the engagement of Sakhile Yeni to his beautiful fiancé, Lefika Letuka.

Lefika is a beautiful woman who was born and raised in Dube, Soweto. She is a solutions architect by profession, she is madly in love with Sakhile by favour of the simple things in life.

Lefika and Sakhile are dancing to the melodies of Lira, celebrating what is about to become a powerful couple.

Sakhile's brothers (Thomas and Ntokozo) are also dancing with their wives (Thimna and Zuziwe).

Sakhile is the middle brother. You can imagine the running jokes that came with Ntokozo (the youngest) making it to the altar before he did. However, he was always stuck on the one that got away; the one he had already traditionally married, but could not make it to the altar with where their union would be sealed by a priest and witnesses dressed in their Sunday best.

He still keeps her pictures. His brothers have told him – pleaded with him that it is time he let her go. It has been nine years. If she were ever coming back, she would be back by now. Nevertheless, he always had hope... he had hope that she would come back to Gauteng and they would still have a chance. I guess his engagement to his three-year long girlfriend is his first step to moving on.

"I have something to tell you", Lefika whispers in Sakhile's ear.

"Yeah?" Sakhile.

"I'm pregnant", Lefika says with excitement.

Sakhile spins her around in the air and shouts at the top of his lungs, "She has made me a father! I have definitely made the right decision with this one."

Being a father means everything to Sakhile.

"I'm finally going to have my first child", Sakhile announces.

The following morning, the engagement of Sakhile Yeni and Lefika Letuka is all over the media - social media included. Ayanda bumps into it as she is scrolling through her phone. She is at the office already, preparing the day for the chief that she is an executive PA to. She cries a bit. It is not easy seeing him this happy with someone else.

She starts something that she knows she will never be able to take back. However, it must be done, she thinks to herself.

"Congratulations on your engagement", she dms him on twitter.

After 3 seconds...

"Ayanda Kunene? Is this a prank?" Sakhile replies to the dm.

"No Sax. It's me. I just wanted to say congratulations. Have a good day", Ayanda.

Sakhile knows that Ayanda is the only person who calls him Sax.

"Yanda, please give me a number to contact you on", Sakhile requests.

"082 123 1234", Ayanda replies.

---

A throwback: Yanda & Sax

“Hi, I am Sakhile Yeni. I am the CEO of the company. I thought I’d come down and meet our new Operations Manager”, Sakhile says as he stands in front of Ayanda in her new office.

“I remember you. You were in my last round of interviews. I had no idea that you were the CEO though. Thank you for coming down to meet me. I really appreciate this, Mr Yeni.” Ayanda replies.

“Please, call me Sakhile. You have a very impressive CV. I am confident that you will take this company to the next level. As a founder of any company, you need to know when you have reached your ceiling and can no longer take the company or brand any further. That’s when we start hiring brilliant people such as yourself to take us to the next level”, Sakhile says.

“That is very profound. I am looking forward to serving under you, Sakhile. Leaders such as yourself are very rare.” Ayanda.

“How are you settling in? Do you like your office?” Sakhile says, getting comfortable in Ayanda’s office as she is unpacking her boxes, making her office homey and comfortable.

“My manager has already had a one-on-one with me and dumped three piles of files that I need to get through. It is mostly the company’s progress reports, operational reports and reports for the board and investors. He has already introduced me to the team. They seem great. I believe I will be meeting with more managers later today.” Ayanda explains.

“Wow, Tom is really not giving you a break. Today is your first day. I will talk to him.” Sakhile says.

“No, please don’t do that. He is a cool guy and I knew that this role came with pressure and responsibility. Don’t worry about me. I will be good. I am here to make the company proud.” Ayanda says.

Sakhile smiles at her and says, “I am very happy to hear that. I just don’t want the company to be the reason you start having problems with your husband.”

“That should not be your problem, sir. I am here to work. My personal life should be the last thing that you worry about”, Ayanda.

Sakhile nods his head.

“Have a great first day, Mrs Kunene. I will be on my way now.” Sakhile says, standing up and making his way to the door.

“It is actually Miss Kunene. But, you can call me Ayanda.” Ayanda says. Sakhile nods and leaves Ayanda’s office.

…

9pm

Ayanda is still in her office reading the files that Thomas gave to her and making notes for her team meeting scheduled for 11am tomorrow. It is raining. Ayanda told herself that she will work until the rain calms down. Sakhile has just knocked off himself and as he makes his way to his car, he notices that the light in Ayanda’s office is on. He knocks on Ayanda’s door and lets himself in.

“It is 9pm, Ayanda”, Sakhile says. He is standing at the door and looking at Ayanda.

“I am very much aware of that, Sakhile.” Ayanda says, raising her head to smile at him.

“You should be home by now. Thomas, your boss, left the office at 4pm.” Sakhile states.

Ayanda closes the file and looks at Sakhile. Sakhile sees this as a sign to come into the office and get comfortable. He closes the door.

“I need to be on top of my game. I have a meeting with my team tomorrow and there is a lot that I need to get through before that meeting.” Ayanda explains.

“We don’t expect you to overwork yourself like this. You know that, right?” Sakhile says to her.

“What is it exactly that you expect me to do? You are paying me a lot of money as an investment in my talent. Surely you expect an ROI on that.” Ayanda tells him.

“Awusho, don’t you have a family? A steady partner? Kids?” Sakhile asks her.

“I could ask you the same question. Or is it only men that are allowed to work into the still of the night while a family waits for him at home?” Ayanda.

“Well, I am a CEO. However, I do not have a wife or kids. I have a girlfriend, but she understands how hard I need to work for her to live the life that I give her. My mother lives in KZN, my eldest brother is married, and my youngest brother is whipped by his new girlfriend. That’s why they are usually out of here by 4pm.” Sakhile explains.

“Maybe you should marry your girlfriend and make sure that you follow their example”, Ayanda comments.

“There’s a reason why I am the CEO. Whoever I marry needs to understand that this is how it will always be. Our plans are to grow this business and nothing else. We started from nothing and our goal is to not end up with nothing when all is said and done. I don’t think my girlfriend understands that.” Sakhile states.

Ayanda nods her head.

“So, what about you? A steady partner? Children?” Sakhile enquires.

“I don’t have a husband, a steady partner or children. My career is very demanding and I demand a lot from myself. I left the country upon my undergraduate graduation to further my studies and work abroad. I had a dude there, but I always knew that I was never going to marry him. I spent two years in LA then moved to London. I worked a bit there while completing my Masters Degree. My LA guy was still hopeful about our relationship. I felt bad about having given up on him already, so I decided to be a nice person and not cheat on him.”

Sakhile laughs at this comment that Ayanda makes. Ayanda smiles.

“He had money to travel between the countries, so I let him. Then I came back to South Africa and ghosted him. So here I am, single and able to do my job until whatever time I see fit, and no one will ask me crap about it.” Ayanda concludes.

Sakhile laughs, taking in how free Ayanda’s spirit is.

“Your parents must have missed you while you were away”, Sakhile says.

“Not really. We were used to being apart. I am an only child. My mother practiced nursing in the UK from when I was six. My dad passed away. I have been in boarding school since grade three. It’s just how we are. My mom returns from the UK next year. She is retiring. I am thinking of buying her a house in KZN, Umhlanga. We are from eMlazi anyway, so I think she will appreciate staying in KZN. I could never live with her. I have never had to and starting at this grown age might ruin our relationship. My mom and I are closer when we live apart.” Ayanda says.

“I see. You really are a breath of fresh air.” Sakhile.

“Thank you. Now that you have finally interviewed me, may I get back to my work?” Ayanda says.

Sakhile chuckles.

“I have a bit to do as well for this evening. How about I get us some food then we can work in my office? It is bigger and more comfortable. I am sure you haven’t eaten.” Sakhile suggests.

“You don’t have to –

“I insist. Please. It’s just the two of us here. I am sure it is only decent that sihlale sobabili as we burn the midnight oil. Come on.” Sakhile insists.

“Okay. Please get me Chicken Licken hot wings, McDonald’s fries and a McDonald’s Mango frappe. Thanks.” Ayanda places her order and starts packing her bag.

Sakhile chuckles and shakes his head.

…The beginning…

…

Chapter 2

Tonight is Ayanda's and Nate's engagement party. First, they have to get the Friday at work out of the way. Ayanda has been complimented all week for her beautiful engagement ring.

"I can't believe you are getting married to a white boy", Nomzamo said to her on Monday when Ayanda announced her engagement. Nomzamo is also a PA in the same company. She and Ayanda have become good friends.

"Well, who did you want me to get married to? You know I love me some Dr Nate Nel", Ayanda.

"I thought you would have fixed things with baby-daddy by now", Nomzamo.

"You do know that he is getting married, right?" Ayanda.

"You are still the mother of his twins – his first children may I add. All you have to do is object that those two people should be married, and you know for a fact that you will have him back", Nomzamo.

Ayanda simply looked at her and did not comment.

"Anyway, congratulations my friend", Nomzamo concluded the conversation.

"Aya, may I please have a minute with Titus?" one of the executive heads disturbs Ayanda's thoughts as she stands at Ayanda's desk requesting time with the chief that Ayanda assists.

"May I ask what the meeting is about?" Ayanda asks as per her usual routine to determine the level of priority of each meeting. Titus is a very busy man and the key part of Ayanda's job is to ensure that matters are prioritised appropriately.

"It's important, that's all you need you know", Charmaine responds.

Charmaine has a reputation of being the cow in the office. Even Titus himself has an issue with her behaviour and attitude. However, that does not stop him from sleeping with her.

"Charmaine, I cannot help you if you do not give me information. You know how this works", Ayanda softly says, careful to not draw attention.

"The problem with you PAs is that you have appointed yourselves as CEOs. I am not asking you to schedule time for me to see Titus, I AM TELLING YOU THAT I NEED TO SEE TITUS AND I NEED TO SEE HIM NOW!" Charmaine speaks at the top of her voice. Now the entire open-plan office space is staring at these two women who look like they are fighting for a man.

Ayanda gives her one look then puts earphones on and carries on with her work.

The thing is, Ayanda is an educated young woman. When she still lived in Johannesburg and worked in the company that was owned by the Yeni brothers, she was a manager for operations. She became a PA to Titus, but she is also heavily involved in operations at the company that she is currently working in. She consults on massive projects. Senior management loves her. They wanted to give her the position of COO (Chief Operations Officer), but she declined it because she wanted to keep a low profile and not be all over the news. She did not want Sakhile Yeni to find her or her children. Charmaine is the outlier that seems to have a gripe against Ayanda.

Charmaine slams her fist against Ayanda's table and yells, "TELL TITUS I AM HERE TO SEE HIM AND HE MUST MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE".

Ayanda whispers to Charmaine, "You are sleeping with Titus, not me. Kindly refrain from disrespecting me. You do this nonsense at his house, not on my desk. Titus is not available. Now be a professional and get back to work".

Charmaine is shocked. Didn't she get the memo? PAs know everything. PAs book all your hotel stays, honey.

Charmaine walks away in shame, but grateful that Ayanda is matured enough to not make that announcement to the entire office. The truth is that Titus is in his office with his wife. Even if he wanted to be disturbed, Ayanda knows better than to let his pregnant mistress walk in while he is with his wife.

...

"I am so excited about going to Paris, my goodness", Lefika is excited to go to Paris to celebrate hers and Sakhile's engagement. Sakhile has not exactly reached out to Ayanda yet, but he has been thinking about her a lot. He is thinking about her as he always thought about her when she had just left. He is thinking about her with hope in his heart. Sakhile is back at that dangerous place of wanting to find her again.

"Babe, ushup?" Lefika asks non-responsive and non-excited Sakhile.

"You know my love, Tom, NTK and I were talking. The business needs all three of us right now, so we cannot leave. I will not be able to go to Paris with you, but you are welcome to take Thimna and Zu", Sakhile.

"Ok, kodwa Sakhile I am not engaged to Thimna and Zuziwe, I am engaged to you. I also have a career, but I have taken leave so that I can enjoy my engagement to the man that I love. Why am I not put first in your life?" Lefika.

"Lee, this is not a good time for me to be on holiday in Paris. I told you this when you were booking your tickets. I am running a business. I cannot just take leave like I am some employee who has no real responsibility to the company", Sakhile frustratingly says.

"Are you being serious right now?" Lefika.

"I am not going to Paris, end of story", Sakhile.

With this, Sakhile leaves the bedroom and heads to the bar. He pours himself a stiff drink then goes into his study.

"It is 8pm now. What could she be doing? Probably sleeping. Nope. She was never the type to sleep early. That girl works hard." He thinks to himself.

Sakhile pulls out his phone and gazes at her cellphone number on his cellphone screen. He dials the number.

Ayanda is slow-dancing to mood music and enjoying her engagement party. Her cellphone vibrates in her clutch bag, which is somewhere in Nate's parents' house. It does not help that Sakhile is calling with a private number because now Ayanda cannot return the call when she sees that she has a missed call.

---

A throwback: Yanda & Sax

"So -

"Sir, I'm literally emailing you the report you asked for, right now", Ayanda says, interrupting Sakhile as he had walked into her office to say something.

"Report?" Sakhile enquires.

"The one the board asked for. Tom said I should send it to you, him and NTK before I go home", Ayanda explains.

"Oh. Do you mind just taking me through it now on your laptop?" Sakhile.

"Sure", Ayanda.

They spend two hours going through the report and making the necessary changes. After the two hours, Sakhile thanks Ayanda for her dedication to the company.

"A friend of mine has invited me to his place for a braai and some drinks. It's his wife's birthday so after taking her out all day, he invited a few people to come by and hang out", Sakhile.

"Okay. Have fun", Ayanda.

"I was hoping you'd come with me", Sakhile.

Ayanda looks at Sakhile. She sighs. Then she says, "Listen, this is not going to end well. I've seen how you look at me and I know that you don't invite everyone to work in your office after hours. But you are my boss. I don't want to sleep my way to the top."

"You are a beautiful woman. And yes, I do like you. Our time will come for us to explore this chemistry between us further. But tonight, it's just drinks." Sakhile explains himself.

"Okay then. In that case, let me make my way home so I can change out of these clothes and get into something more comfortable". Ayanda.

"I'll pick you up at 8pm."

"It's 7pm right now."

"How much time do you need?"

"Come at 8:30. I'll send you my location at 8pm", Ayanda says with a threatening eye.

Sakhile laughs.

...

Ayanda just looks simple, but beautiful. There is a natural beauty about her that just cannot be denied. Her spirit is out of this world. She is wearing blue jeans, torn at the knees, and a t-shirt torn in rows at the back, but she looks beautiful. Her sneakers are cool too. Sakhile definitely notices her chilled side too, but even in that, she is as hot as she is in the office with her heels and professional wear. Her block braids make her look gorgeous and bring out her hoop earrings well.

"A punctual man? I'm impressed", Ayanda says as she settles in the front seat of Sakhile's BMW X5.

"I couldn't wait to see your gorgeous self. I have been waiting for that location to arrive on my phone. You definitely didn't disappoint. You look gorgeous." Sakhile tells Ayanda, driving away from Ayanda's complex in Sunninghill and making his way to his friend's house in Midrand.

The drive to Midrand is nice. Ayanda and Sakhile are chatting and laughing away. It started off as a conversation about work then it turned to a "getting to know each other better" conversation. There is some singing here and there to old skool jams that are playing on the radio. When they arrive, Ayanda puts her handbag in the boot then she and Sakhile walk in.

The friends are excited to see Sakhile. They welcome Ayanda beautifully and she likes it.

"It’s nice to finally see this guy with a girlfriend. And such a gorgeous one, I am proud", his friend the host says. His name is Kwanele.

"Girlfriend? He told you that I'm his girlfriend?" Ayanda says, making Kwanele, Sakhile and Kwanele's wife, Zakithi, uncomfortable.

"Are you not his girlfriend?" Kwanele.

"Well if I am, then your boy really lacks game. Can you believe that he has never laid his lips on mine?" Ayanda.

The smiles come back on everyone's faces.

"Sakhile, come on. Such a beautiful woman? How?" Kwanele.

Right there and then, Sakhile gently pulls Ayanda in by her waist and kisses her. Ayanda returns the kiss.

"And now? Am I your boyfriend now?" Sakhile says, eyes still closed from the enduring kiss.

"Pending", Ayanda.

The laughter fills the moment. Ayanda comes out of Sakhile's arms.

"It's lovely to meet you Ayanda and I look forward to attending yours and Sakhile's wedding. You are family now". Kwanele.

...

Saturday morning at 9am, Sakhile calls Ayanda. He dropped her off at home just after 4am this morning. The braai at the friend’s place was a lot of fun and ended quite late. After the braai, an after party of some sort was attended in Tembisa. Ayanda and Zakithi hit it off really well and in Tembisa, they brought Durban to GP after a few drinks. The men had beer and definitely enjoyed watching their women unwind - especially Sakhile.

It takes a few rings before Ayanda answers her phone. She is deep in her sleep.

"Hello", Ayanda answers her phone. She is still drunk on sleep.

"Good morning to you too, lovely lady", Sakhile.

"How and why are you awake and so chirpy?" Ayanda.

"I'm at your gate and your security has been trying to call you. Please ask them to let me in", Sakhile.

"Okay", Ayanda.

Ayanda rolls out of bed. She is wearing bumshorts and a lingerie vest. Security phones her again to let her know that she has a guest. She instructs security to let Sakhile in. She walks to the door to unlock the door then she goes back to her room to make the bed. She checks the time and is slightly annoyed.

Sakhile walks in as Ayanda goes back into her TV room.

"Hello sexy", Sakhile.

"I'm just tired and hung over", Ayanda.

"I was hoping you'd pack a bag and go spend the day and evening with me somewhere nice. Our flight takes off to Cape Town in a few hours", Sakhile.

"What the fuck, dude? I'm still recovering from yesterday. And who just wakes up and decides to go to Cape Town?" Ayanda.

Sakhile laughs.

"If it’s any consolation. It is a business meeting that I need to attend. You and I will have fun afterwards. Please shower and pack an overnight bag. Please?" Sakhile.

Ayanda looks at Sakhile for a minute then goes to pack her bags. Sakhile watches some sports channel.

After Ayanda is all packed up, she takes a shower. This time, she wears a sporty dress with Jordan four retro sneakers. She wears a cap over her braids and packs some stuff into her handbag.

Sakhile holds her overnight bag for her then they leave Ayanda's place. Ayanda is still drinking cold water.

After their two-hour flight, Sakhile and Ayanda make their way to their hotel. They are staying in two separate rooms. The first thing Ayanda does is pass out. She just throws herself on her bed and sleeps. Luckily, Sakhile has business meetings to attend in Cape Town. However, upon his return, Ayanda is dressed up and ready for dinner.

She is determined to return to Sakhile's room and solve this sexual tension issue between the two of them. Plus, she has been starving for some time now.

The dress of the night is a red body-hugging strapless dress. Underneath the dress is beige lingerie.

Dinner is exciting. As expected, they walk back to their hotel rooms hand-in-hand.

"I thought we could chat some more in your room before I retire to mine?" Ayanda.

"I'm not going to say no to that", Sakhile says as he leads Ayanda to his room. Ayanda walks in after Sakhile.

"May I use your restroom?" Ayanda.

"Sure. If you don't mind, I'll just change into something more comfortable", Sakhile.

"I plan to do the same", Ayanda.

She disappears into the restroom, leaving Sakhile confused. What is she changing into? Her clothes are in her hotel room, not Sakhile’s. He changes into shorts and a t-shirt while Ayanda is now just in her lingerie and touching up her braids and make-up.

She parades into the bedroom, finding Sakhile on his bed drinking a glass of whiskey. He takes one look at Ayanda and he drops his glass. The glass breaks and whiskey spills.

"I hope you don't plan to break my heart like that", Ayanda seductively says.

"Ayanda -

"Sakhile, just kiss me", Ayanda says now that she is lying on top of him.

She kisses Sakhile.

Sakhile is too shocked to respond. He is still. Ayanda climbs on top of him, now sitting on his erect penis.

"If I'm wrong about our chemistry, I'll put on my dress and leave. I promise you, there'll be no hard feelings. But if I'm not wrong, I need you to show me or I will walk away and never look back", Ayanda says.

"I just don't want you to feel as if I expect this from you. I enjoy spending time with you. I like you a lot. I definitely want to see where this goes. But I am happy to wait for you if you are not ready", Sakhile.

"You are such a gentleman. It's just unfortunate that tonight, I don't want a gentleman. I want my CEO in bed, giving me one hell of a night to remember. You think you can be my beast tonight? Or are you the type that generally requires some motivation?" Ayanda.

Sakhile has flipped her onto her back and is ripping the lingerie off her body. The rest of the evening is...

Well...

Between the two of them and the walls that surround them.

[ketso]

Episode 54

We are all here in Maja Perre where Morafe's mother's house used to be. It's literally in ashes. Literally. We all arrived two days ago when Morafe told us what happened. We are all living at the lodge that we stayed at when we came for her wedding. Our kids are at home with nannies because it's school. I just brought Sihle with me because she can afford to miss creche. She’s forever on my back. I don’t even let her run to the gate. I don’t trust people in this community who just turn people into biltong because they are prostitutes. They'll steal my child to prove a point. I take her off my back to feed her, bath her or if we are at the lodge and in our room. There she is as free as she wants to be. She also seems fine with our arrangement. She lets no one take her off my back.

Love her!

The guys will go fetch the kids on Friday, together with Morafe's mother. She's still in hospital, but she's getting better.

We put up a huge glass tent here. Inside, we've put a carpet in and some tables and chairs. This is where we are cooking, arranging and just letting the community come and do their thing. Mmaletuka's kids, Palesa and Thato, are here as well. They are not going to school. Morafe was telling us that they'll have to change schools because who will they live here with? She hasn't yet uttered the words "they will live with me", but she's moving like it's happening. She doesn't want to live with them. You can see it. But eish.

Today is raining and it's kak cold. The guys are in overalls, drinking beer and eating anything and everything that wreaks of cholesterol nje, while working outside in the rain. Our tent is super full. And it's such a big tent.

Sihle has a raincoat on with a hoodie and everything. She's watching a show from my cellphone.

Us ladies all have raincoats on as well because there are gas stoves in here... and with people in this community turning people into biltong just nje, we keep the doors of the tent wide open.

WIDE OPEN!

The meat is being cooked outside.

Wandi and I are cooking the dumplings, rice, pap and ting in the tent. Morafe and Bassie are outside within the meat. There are some mamas here who are also peeling and cooking stuff nje around. These are Morafe's mother's sister.

"Thato. Palesa. Le jile?" Morafe asks the kids.

"Eya, mamane. Re jile. It's cold.”

“Where are your jackets?"

"In the car."

"Please fetch them tu. Ke a kopa." Morafe.

They actually don't give her a hard time. They just go.

"I don't even know what all of these people are doing here because they are the cause of all of this. Or keng? They came to verify?!" Morafe is so loud that time. Some people in the tent caught that and now the chatting has died down. Focus is on Morafe. Is she really going to do this?

"Morafe, aowa nnana. These people are here ho tlo tsidisa hle." One of the aunts.

"Ho tsidisa eng? Ho tsidisa mang? Ke bona akere that burned the house down, killed my sisters and her kids! Two children are orphans now because of them. Next thing ba tlo re tina mo! They wake up, come here and sit all day. We must feed them breakfast, lunch and supper... even serve them alcohol! After what they've done? Ba na le sibiti sa ho nyofa all day! I don't know why we don't just poison this food so they all die like flies! Just like they did to my sister and my nieces! Kapa re kwale monyako oe and set this tent alight so they all die the painful death that they made my family experience!"

"MORAFE!" The aunt.

"Hai mam'holo."

Now she faces the people staring at her.

"LE BATLANG LONA MO?! KENG?! ARE YOU LOST?! OR YOU ARE SO HUNGRY LE TLO NYOFA MO LE BOLAYILENG TENG?! SIES!" She shouts at them.

I just see Thabang next to her and I pray he's going to stop this. Our men are also in the tent now, hectically wet.

"Bona mo, wena! Ngwana wasefebe!" Some person in the crowd.

"Oh... so you do know that mme waka le ausi ke de febe! De febe that you killed. Mara le mo! To do what?! For ngwana wasefebe to feed you?!" Yoh Morafe.

These people try to cause a riot, possibly throw shit at Morafe.

Guns come out of the men we've arrived with chile! I've never seen black people duck so quickly in my life! The whoooooo that came with it!

I take Sihle off my back and hold her in my front. She's trying to focus on the real life drama, but I keep redirecting her face to the phone. She even looks at me as if she wants to ask me what's wrong with me. Wandi is now next to me with Thato and Palesa. We are also trying to keep them away from this, but shame... they also want justice for what happened.

"LISTEN HERE! ALL OF YOU PATHETIC DOGS! JUST BECAUSE SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, IT DOESN'T MAKE THE REST OF YOU INNOCENT. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE! NOR ARE YOU WELCOME TO THE FUNERAL! IF I EVEN SPOT MI-KENKE EWU YA LONA AROUND ME IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I WILL LOOK FOR YOU... I WILL FIND YOU... AND I WILL PERSONALLY SET YOU ALIGHT ONE BY ONE... JUST LIKE YOU DID WITH MY MOTHER, MY SISTER AND MY NIECES. HA LE TLO NYOFA MO KA DI PELO TSE TSALONA TSEDIMPI, SERVED BY NNA WHO YOU'VE TAKEN FROM! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! KE TLO LE BOLAYA HHE NNA, AFTER I'VE MADE YOU BURY YOUR MOTHERS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIKE YOU HAVE MADE ME DO. THE HURT THAT MY NIECES AND I ARE FEELING, YOU WILL FEEL IT TOO. IT WILL NOT END WITH US! NOW VOETSEK OUT OF THIS PLACE!"

These people sprint so fast, there's even a whole stampede and we hear people yelling in pain. As they try to nurse their pain, Morafe grabs Ntuthuko’s gun and shoots it in the air. Ntuthuko grabs that gun right back and holds Morafe. These people carry their injuries with them and nurse them somewhere else.

Then I just see Morafe fall apart. Yaz, even Palesa - the coldest child towards her - hugs her, saying sorry. Our friend is in pain.

It's about 7pm now. We have all this food that we have cooked. We decided that we'd call a home not too far from here that is supported by the Mothipa royal house and they can come have supper here. So we've dished up for them, they are eating and we are chilling outside in the rain so we give them space to eat. They came in their bus. The neighbours, who also currently don't have electricity because these are those places where you wake up when the sun rises and sleep when the sun sets - zero investment in electricity - these neighbours are looking over into our yard and eating with their hearts. Ngathi bangaletha net i-plate just for a scoop of something. They haven't cooked shame. But we just sitting out here under various garden umbrellas. I have a blanket over Sihle who has on a tracksuit, a beanie and her raincoat. She's still watching her show while my phone charges on a PowerBar. We have giant loadshedding lights so our yard is also quite bright. Ntuthuko tried to take Sihle from me, but she said no.

"Heh guys, did I tell you that Noria is apparently kidnapped from prison?" I actually thank Bassie from her drama. Morafe is the first one to laugh and I'm thankful. She has Thato covered with a blanket on her. She gave Palesa a blanket to keep herself warm. Palesa is sitting next to her, listening to our conversations nje. Thato is watching something on an iPad that Morafe gave to her.

"Stru!" Bassie continues with her story.

The guys are not sitting too far away from us. But they are also talking about their own nonsense.

"Here comes her mzala mos - who by the way worked for Keith!" Bassie.

"How are you not writing a book? Drama ekana? You'd sell those books like hot cakes." Wandi.

We all laugh.

"Watsiba, I should write that book. Because yoh, ke mehlolo after mehlolo."

I feel like we are traumatising Palesa. She's only twelve. And Bassie's stories are scary. Morafe even steals looks at Palesa, then our eyes connect, then we laugh.

"So moghel comes to Keith's office telling my man to help the family find Noria because they've always been good to him before I wrecked their home. I just felt nje that I'm being tested. Only to find that this mzala wa teng is makhwapheni wa one of Keith's brothers and she's a crazy and stalking makhwapeni."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT?!" We all say.

The guys even look at us.

We all burst into laughter! Even Palesa.

Guys! I just see Thulisa when I look at this girl. Thulisa is not ready to hear such.

"Do you want to go sit there le bo papa?" Morafe asks her.

"No mamane. Ke shup mo", Palesa says, zooming into Bassie and her story.

Wandi just laughs at Morafe. I'm also chuckling. Kodwa wow.

"I wish that family could just leave us alone. Nna ke kgathetsi ke bona. Honestly." Bassie.

"Mara chommie, at least you've never left your house. Tamia la... packed her bags and got the fuck out of there because of baby-mamas", Wandi.

"Girl, vele what happened? You never told us", Morafe.

"These baby-mamas were demanding houses from my man and he was actually prepared to buy the houses for them."

All their jaws drop. Literally. Even Palesa's. Then they all look at Ntuthuko as if rehearsed.

"Yini manje?" Ntuthuko says.

Now they guys get up as if coming to sit with us.

"Hai Hai Hai! Stay there!" We all say at the same time.

They don't know what to do.

We all look at each other. Then we all laugh. We are so crazy, man.

After we've all settled down, I tell them, "I needed to make the boundaries clear. Fortunately, Ntuthuko finally heard me. So we were able to fix things. Then the mothers decided that they cannot look after these kids without our help. So they gave us the kids but wanted R10 000 in return."

"For what?!" They all say.

"Like chommie, they sold their kids to you for R10 000?" Morafe.

I take a deep breath then say, "I offered them R50 000 each to sign over all their parental rights to me. For R50 000 each, plus their transport costs to bring the kids to us, they'd no longer be recognised as their mothers before the law and therefore have no rights at all or decision making powers when it comes to these kids. They are mine. Simple."

"Chommie!" Bassie says with a stuttering voice.

"What did they say?" Morafe says, almost whispering.

"They signed the papers and took the money", I say.

They all hold their heads.

"Serious?" Palesa. Imagine!

We all look at her. She's so shocked.

We just laugh. Ja neh.

...

Saturday, 6am. The funeral.

Last night, we had a night vigil for the three bodies that arrived here to leave from here headed to their final resting place. We actually thought it would be a small funeral because Morafe banned the entire community from coming here. But Morafe and Thabang organised for the mom's entire family to come here all the way from Lesotho. Two busses arrived on Thursday. They actually set up and slept in the tent. They just closed the door and slept. Lol! Even when Morafe's mom arrived on Friday, a mattress was set up for her right here in the tent and she's been on it since.

I arranged for curtains and two more tents. This yard is huge. The curtains give the tent that home and privacy feel. The community really just walk past the gate because they are not allowed in here. Ntuthuko took Sihle back home. The nanny is there. The only kids that are here are Morafe's kids and it's understandable as to why they have to be here. Then there are all these other cousins that have come from Lesotho. It's actually quite packed. From 1am, we sent people to the lodge to go shower and get dressed. Some just got dishes and bathed right in these tents. You know what!!!

At 4am, the decor company was here to set up. Couches have been put up across the tent, accommodating 300 people. Apparently some people are friends. Even yena, Mmaletuka, had a lot of friends that have come. The kids... their school mates, school choirs and school teachers have come. The colour of the day is absolute black! And you know what, it's beautiful. I take my hat off to Morafe. Every couch is black... pure black. Every carpet is black. The pulpit and stage where the priests will be are all black. Each couch has two blankets because it's really cold. The blankets are black! Stunning!

Even the family... Morafe dressed them up so well. The mother, the chief mourner, is dressed in a black dress. It's a very stylishly designed black maxi dress with beading. Her shawl that she's wearing over her shoulders is black fur. Yerrr! Her shoe! I didn't even know her mother could rock a stiletto heel like that... a black Steve Madden Vala Court stiletto heel. Beautiful! She has on a black doek, which I like. Not those take me to the grave hats. The doek is made with a black and grey sanna marena blanket. Lalela! Muhle lo mama! The look is sealed with a stylish pair of Versace sunglasses. She has a Versace black handbag right there with her. Morafe and Meme are also wearing designer dresses. Meme's dress flares out at her hips and it looks really pretty. She's wearing black stockings because that dress is above her knee in length. She is also wearing black stiletto heels. She's also wearing a black doek... plain black. Then she has a black sanna marena blanket over her shoulders. Morafe's dress is a body hugging dress. And I don't blame her. My friend has ass for days. She has black stockings on, black Christian Louboutin stiletto heels, a black doek and a jacket made out of a black and grey sanna marena blanket. The jacket is slightly longer than her dress. Thabang is not letting her out of his sight. I wouldn't neither.

All the kids are dressed very well- in all black - and with black and grey sanna marena blankets. Little Tshenolo has a suit on and his suit jacket is in a sanna marena blanket. He's matching with his dad. It's just cute. Morafe, Palesa, Thato, Meme and Mosetsana are all wearing black Louis Vuitton sunglasses. No guys, the family is giving! It's giving.

The service starts at 7am. We are all comfortably seated, no matter where you are in the tent. The community that has been banned from the funeral is outside the gate with their umbrellas watching the funeral from there. The caskets are so beautiful. I'm proud of Morafe. Begrudgingly or not, she did a good job with this send off. It is so dignified. Her sister's coffin is black. The children's coffins are white. Their pictures are sized A3 in front of their coffins respectively.

I put my head on Ntuthuko’s shoulder. He puts his arm out then puts his arm around me, kissing my forehead.

He smells so good. Our vacant hands hold onto each other. Senzi and Wandi are sitting with us on this couch. They are sitting in the middle. We sit on their left. Bassie and Keith sit on their right. Each couch accommodates six to eight people.

By 9am, we are leaving for the cemetery.

The family leaves first. The coffins are put into three different V300 vehicles. Black. The family cars are all Mercedes Benz vehicles. It is ten V300 vehicles. The first vehicle has Morafe, her mother, her sister, the four kids and Thabang. The family fights with themselves to find themselves in the other family cars. We even laugh a bit because it's actually funny to watch. Family will embarrass you shame. Those who didn't get a car go back into the busses they came in.

Wandi, Bassie and I stay behind with catering to make sure that everything is sorted for the return of all these people. But our guys left in one car to go represent us there emathuneni. Some family members stayed with us shame.

As soon as everyone has left, decor is back, setting up for people to be able to eat. This rain is really not letting us be great. It's terrible. We wear rain boots and take off our heels. We position tables and seats.

We hear the community people ask if they could at least come for lunch. Kanti la bantu banjani laba? Yazi, ukulamba kubuhlungu!

Six dishing stations are set up inside the yard but outside of the tent. The bars are set up in the yard but outside the tent.

By the time these people are done, this place looks like a restaurant.

I really take my hat off to Morafe and Thabang. What they've done here cannot be undone.

...

Ey madoda, ngiphakathi kwama-garafu wabomagosha this very moment... ngenxa yomshado. Hai khona. Sizoli bona nje iZulu sesingcwaba oMary Magdeline nezingane zabo? Kumele nje umuntu athandaze la asho ukuthi "Bawo, you commanded us to be loving husbands. That's all I'm doing right now."

School choirs are singing as we are within putting soil in these three wholes next to each other. This is so painful. So painful. Imagine if this is your child. As a parent, I don't ever want to bury my kids. Ever! As a husband, I don't ever want to bury my wife. I feel for Morafe's mother. She was so emotional, she actually fell into this grave - Mmaletuka's one. Senzi, Keith and I had to pull her out. Now she's been sitting and crying there between Meme and Morafe. Tshenolo is sitting on top of Morafe. Palesa, Thato and Mosetsana are all sitting on the carpet in front of Morafe's, Meme's and the granny's legs. They were crying, but they are all now just chatting between the three of them. Thabang is right here working with us. Then there are men who are either brothers or cousins to Morafe's mom... and some are Morafe's cousins. We are working hard here. Yerrr! And we have to do this in suit jackets. These are so restricting. Also the rain Nkulunkulu Bawo! Sisebenza kabuhlungu la.

We finally finish closing the wholes. My arms! Angifuni nix!

We move from here because there's also going to be an unveiling of the tombstone heads.

As we move, there are hostesses offering us water, beer or coffee. Coffee? After hard labour like that?! Hai! These are jokes.

We all actually take beer.

Thabang decides that he's not sitting next to Morafe anymore, so he stands next to us. All these men do. We are in this together.

Morafe, her mother, Meme, Palesa, Thato, Mosetsana and Tshenolo all then walk to the tombstones. The funeral service people help the kids unveil the tombstone.

Wow!

These are beautiful! They are black with gold writing. Yoh, these are nice!

There is a huge shelter across each grave. The shelter is gold and it has "LETUKA" written across it in black.

Beautiful!

The plate on the left, covering one grave, is written - as Mosetsana reads it - "in loving memory of our sister, granddaughter and niece, Reabetsoe Patience."

The plate on the right, covering the other grave, is written - as Thato reads it - "in loving memory of our sister, granddaughter and niece, Patience Mmamoleko." And the middle plate reads, as Palesa reads it, "in loving memory of our mother, sister and daughter, Mmaletuka."

There is then a bottom slate connecting all three pillars. It matches the top shelter thing and its also gold with black writing. Meme reads it and says, "You've only left this world, but you have not left us. Robalang ka khotso, lona Mosia. We will take it from here and make sure that your struggles were not for nothing."

This is so sad.

...

The chaos in this street. Are people aware that it's raining?

My wife finds me in this sphithiphithi, pulls me to our car. As soon as we are inside, she gives me food. She even has a six pack of Castle Light for me. I actually kiss her.

When she sees how soaking wet I am, she takes my food and makes me take off these wet clothes. She switches on the heater in the car. She heads to the boot and gives me the extra black clothes we brought... it's as if she knew that I'd need to change.

Now we both eat. She has wine that she's eating her food with.

"Umzababa womngcwabo phela lo. Ngathi umshado", I say.

"Ja. I'm proud of Morafe. This was quite a difficult time for her. And I can just imagine how much more difficult it was for her knowing ukuthi she wasn't on good terms nodadewabo at the time of her passing. Kwa even the kids... she's struggling to accept that they are hers now."

Hai bo!

"Ube bangani nodadewabo?" I enquire.

"Eish babe... entitlement, I suppose."

Women and this 'entitlement' word. I hate that word so much!

"Entitlement?" I need her to explain.

"Yeah. UMmaletuka felt entitled to Morafe's success and had unrealistic expectations from her. When Morafe said no, Mmaletuka decided that Morafe is selfish and their relationship went south."

"What kind of expectations?" I ask.

She looks at me. She takes a bite of her meat then says, "uMorafe wahamba yena la kubo. And when she was in South Africa, ubehlupheka, but she pulled through. Ubengahluphi muntu. Ube qhubeka ngempilo yakhe in a backroom elokshini with her two kids and her very abusive baby-daddy. Umah wakhe nodadewabo knew ukuthi uMorafe ubephila njani. But they didn't help her. They were in a position to help her, but they didn't. Even when she came back home... she didn't move back into her mother's house. She simply came back and made her own plans ukuthi abe-shup. Her luck simply turned lana in Tholoana Kingdom. The minute it turned, her sister wanted her to take her kids and raise them. Morafe said no. And she had every right to. Her own kids were still adjusting after trauma from their life in South Africa. On top of that, she took on her sister to help her be in a better position than all of them. What was she going to do with Mmaletuka's four children on top of everything else she had taken responsibility for? While still finding her feet? Kodwa uMmaletuka just felt ukuthi Morafe is selfish. So inxabano yabo kwaba yileyo eyingapheli waze washona."

Ja neh... to be a black person in life nje.

I reply to her saying, "Yaz, sthandwa sami... if you pay some attention to how families are set up neh... there will always be your wealthy ones and your poor ones. The richest person in the country and the poorest person in the country can come from one family. And I don't believe that it has anything to do with who works the hardest or who is the smartest. Because you do find that the poorer you are, the harder you work. A domestic worker leaves her house and kids at 4am every morning to clean for kids and look after them all day, then only go back home at 10pm with R500 to feed herself and her children who are fast asleep by the time she gets home. So mina, as uNtuthuko Maphumulo, I don't believe that being rich has everything to do with hard work. I think God or the universe or a higher purpose puts people in positions to be able to help or uplift others then sees what they do with those blessings. It's probably a test of who you are and what you do with riches planted in your hands. Yes, poor people come across as entitled and whatever other words people use to describe their cries for help. But I don't blame them. No one wants to be poor. I've also never met a pleasant poor person. I'm angry if I can't find something I want. I can't imagine what it's like to wake up and not know if you'll go to sleep well-fed. There's no way that you'll be pleasant."

"So Morafe was wrong?"

"No, don't put words in my mouth. And don't judge what I'm saying against your friend's situation. Mina I'm speaking generally. I do believe that Morafe should not punish Thato and Palesa for whatever happened between herself and her sister. She's the best person to take over as their mother. And I think she should, without reservation. Kusazokwanda okuhle for yena. And she needs to get her mother out of this prostitution business. Usekhulile phela manje. Hai bo."

We look at each other. We burst into laughter.

The food is done.

I open a bottle of beer. She pours herself wine. This rain is still fighting. It's actually dark now. Driving at this point would be very dangerous. Further to this, there's thunder and lightning. Tamia has a weird fear for lightning. So let me distract her.

"So baby..." me.

"Yebo?"

"Your dad and I have been talking... a lot..."

"Okay. About?"

"Khaya."

"Ubani uKhaya?"

Hai bo!

"Your brother."

The look she gives me!

"Tamia -

"Ubaba ukhuluma lowo doti nawe?"

"Doti? Tamia, umfowenu lona."

"Hai Hai Hai! I have three brothers mina. Angibasweli nix obhuti mina."

Ja, the dad did say that this is not going to be easy.

"Baby -

"Ntuthuko, do you know ukuthi you'll send my mother to her grave from a heart attack if you ever even bring this up?"

"Yes, I know. And so does ubaba. That's why he reached out to me about this. I'm the one that is neutral about it."

"Neutral?"

"Yebo. All of you have turned on him. Your brothers even beat him up? Baby! Can you imagine Senzi, Akwande and I trying to beat Shaka Maphumulo up? Hai guys."

"Yaz ubaba is very devious for doing this. He slept with my mother's sister and made a baby with her. How is he a victim? Kwa yena uncane nje... she just wanted my mom's life. She thought my mom would leave my dad then she would have everything that my mom has. Uyalayeka! She deserves everything that she's going through! This didn't end in her favour."

"Okay shup, baby. I hear you. Ingane yona? Cabanga ukuthi wena ukhule njani. Yena ufunde in no-fee schools, living off feeding schemes from school and donations. He's option for health is public hospitals. Baby, yena wenzeni?"

"He's being punished for his parents' actions." She says.

"Tamia, igazi lakho leli. You have to feel something."

"Uncane naye, igazi likamah. What did she feel when she opened her legs to her sister's husband?"

Yoh!

I'm learning that when it comes to cheating, women are their most evil and non-empathetic.

"Why is ubaba having this conversation with you exactly? Kumele wenzeni wena? Bring the siblings together?" She sarcastically says. I would've never agreed to that. My wife is not stable.

"Khaya is sick. Very sick. Government hospitals do not have the facilities or equipment to help him. He can only be treated at a private hospital. But his mother cannot afford the rates."

"How does ubaba know that? It was made clear to him that he may no longer talk to uncane." That’s what she's really worried about?!

"Omalume spoke to him and told him. There was no conversation with ncane." I say.

She gives me a look that I cannot read.

I continue, "ubaba says he cannot take out the money for him because if he does, your mother will divorce him. And he doesn't want to lose her. So he asked me to look after Khaya."

"Heh!" She yells and claps once.

I don't know what this means.

"So, he doesn't want to lose his wife. But you must risk losing yours?"

"Why would I lose you? Khaya is not my son!" I'm genuinely confused.

"This is my mother that we are talking about. My mother! That might have meant nothing to my father makafeba noncane, but it will always mean everything to me. Why the hell would I agree to betraying my own mother like that?! Yini? Uncane uphelelwe amadoda anemali ukuthi abavulele amathanga for imali? Uphelelwe manje? She can't even make a plan as a mother ukusiza the consequences of amanyala wakhe?!"

You know, I'm so glad that I didn't have children behind her back while married to her. Because truly, those kids would suffer. Tamia feels nothing for her sick brother. Actually, less than nothing. But the hatred that she feels for Khaya's mother has consumed every bit of energy that she invests in this situation. Yoh yoh yoh! I'm actually blown away.

"Ngizothini mina kumama? Because I'm not doing this behind her back. She doesn't deserve this. And ubaba is a piece of shit for putting you in this position."

"Tamia, ubaba wakho lo. Please, do not disrespect him in my presence. Please. I want to help Khaya. I'm asking you to give me permission to do so. I did tell ubaba that I was never going to do this behind your back."

"Ncane is going to win... again!"

Her focus is really on the wrong person here. I'm just saying.

"Fine. Kodwa he will be treated here in the kingdom. Uncane ngimazi kahle. I'm not leaving her to have moments with her baby-daddy behind my mom's back, bonding over their brat's suffering. Khaya will come here. Alone. If uncane wants to come to the kingdom, uzozifikela and she will sort out her own accommodation. You will help her in no way!"

"Kodwa baby -

"Kodwa baby nix! I'm trying to be accommodative here. Meet me half way!"

Eh!

"I'm going to have to tell umama. She's going to be hurt. She really is."

I understand her loyalty to her mother hey.

"When Khaya is healed, he goes back home and you stop helping my dad put a bandaid of money over amanyala wakhe!"

"Ubhuti wakho, baby. Stop calling him amanyala. Hai bo."

"If you do to me what my dad did to my mom njengoba kuzoba noKhaya nje... Ntuthuko!"

Trust me, I know.

"Baby, my dick only rises for you. I don't even dream about stepping out on our marriage."

"Good! Because I'm not my mom. I'd never be as kind as my mom has been about this entire situation."

Kind?! She calls this kind?!

"Kodwa uncane yena... hmmm... usazong'thola kahle lo nonkroyi lo." She says under breath. But I heard her.

I almost feel so bad for this ncane hey.

[ketso]

Episode 53

Today, I'm having lunch with my sister wives. They invited me to lunch because we apparently need to talk. Thabang has seriously axed them. I thought that he would've calmed down by now, but he's even shocking me at how unforgiving he is about this situation. I was more shocked when the sister wives phoned me, telling me that they'd like us to meet up and chat. Imagine. I just don't want trouble. I really don't. So I hope this isn't some shit.

I've dropped my kids off at school. I've been working since 4am this morning, so I'm in a good position to take lunch today.

I arrive at Reahile just after 1pm.

They haven't arrived yet. I order myself a glass of wine then phone my husband to check in.

"My love", he answers his phone.

"Hey you. Ujwang?"

"Ke shup, my baby. How are you?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to check in. I miss you a bit. It’s as if I didn't wake up next to you this morning."

He laughs a bit.

I giggle.

"I’m serious." I say.

He's still laughing. Then he says, "do you want to come by my office?"

"You not busy?" I ask.

"I am. But I'll always make time for you."

"You sure? I mean, I deliberately stay away from places you don't invite me to because I don't want to find myself bumping into women you are busy with."

"Morafe, I'm not cheating on you."

"Would you admit it if you were?"

"I'd tell you. Yes."

"Do you intend to cheat on me?"

"No. You are enough for me. I mean that."

I'm quiet.

My wine arrives. I thank the waiter. I return to my call.

"Love", me.

"Where are you, baby?"

I didn't tell him about this meeting.

"I'm having lunch at Reahile." I say.

"With?"

"Mmakabelo and Mahali."

"Why, Morafe? Why?"

"They asked to see me. With everything going on, I thought I'd just hear them out."

"Morafe"

"My baby, I'll come by your office when I'm done. I'll even bring you some... you know... di-sweets."

He laughs.

I chuckle too.

I see Mmakabelo and Mahali walk into the restaurant.

"Babe, they've arrived. I have to go." I say.

"Phone me as soon as you are done there."

"I will."

They get to the table.

"I love you, Morafe." He says.

"I love you too, baby." I say.

They seem hurt. They look at each other. They sit down. I hang up.

"We apologise for being late. We had to take taxis", Mahali says.

A lot of people take taxis. They won't die. So, I'm not moved by that statement.

They order water.

Are they broke too?

But I just look at them, I don't show any emotion towards what's happening.

The waiter leaves.

"Morafe, we cannot continue to live with Thabang’s mother. It's just a lot and we are not coping. Mama is... a lot. And we don't have anything. The Mothipas are not looking after us at all. Our kids are in village schools. Tumelo cannot do anything. He's in prison. Kgomotso, who is currently in control of his estate because Thabang handed over everything to her in him wanting nothing to do with all of us, she has shut us out completely. She only helps her house and Tumelo’s second wife. She doesn't even look at us or our kids." Mmakabelo explains.

This is a lot.

But I'm still confused about what is required of me here.

"We tried to go see Tumelo in prison. But Kgomotso cut us off his visitor's list and banned us from seeing him." Mahali.

I like Kgomotso. She's crazy and no one can do anything about it.

I'm still looking at them.

"Re kopa thuso, Morafe." Mmakabelo.

"What kind of help, exactly?" I ask.

"We know that you can get us a visit with Tumelo. Please help us get a visit with him. We need to talk to him to talk to a lawyer so that Kgomotso doesn't have this kind of power over his money because our kids are suffering and it's not fair. They are his kids too." Mmakabelo. These two really know how to look out for themselves.

"Why don't you just go to a lawyer and get that lawyer to help divide his estate?" I ask.

"With what money, Morafe?" Mahali.

"Nna, I don't want to get involved. I actually have a decent relationship with Kgomotso and I'm not trying to ruin that because the two of you are down and out after betraying her."

"Betraying her?!" They collectively say.

"Or whatever you call it. I'm not getting involved."

"Morafe, do you think we'd be here begging you for help if we had options? You are our only hope! Our last hope! Please Morafe. Thabang has completely cut us off. He even served us with divorce papers." Mahali.

"So you want a meeting with Tumelo that you want me to arrange?" I ask, ensuring that I'm clear.

They nod their heads. Then Mmakabelo says, "and a better divorce settlement from Thabang."

I actually laugh.

"Morafe, he wants to leave us with nothing." Mahali.

"Well, what did you come into this marriage with? What did you accumulate in this marriage?" I ask.

"Who do you think you are?!" Mahali.

"You called me here. I'm okay without the regular update of what's happening in your lives. You don't need to update me and keep bothering me for whatever help you need. Are you that arrogant to assume that I'll just help just nje? Because you said so?" I say.

"Thabang can afford to look after us. We know he can."

"It doesn't mean he has to", I say.

"What happened was not out of malicious intent." Mmakabelo.

"To be honest with you, I'm getting tired of listening to this. I've heard the story and I'm tired of hearing it on repeat as if there's a point that I've missed somewhere. You can either get a lawyer and fight this legally, or just let it be!" I say.

They are taken aback.

"Are we done here?" I ask.

They are silent... but hurt.

"Guys, I'm sorry. I don't know what to tell you and I don't know how to help you. Thabang is my husband and he's deeply hurt by this. And he feels unseen in all of it. Everyone is telling him what to do, but no one is acknowledging how he feels. He feels unprotected. You guys have the family protecting you. I'm all he has. Right now, I cannot be anything that contradicts his emotional and psychological security. Askies. I really cannot help you." I say.

"You are enjoying this, aren't you? The wife that Thabang has and can lean on... the last wife standing... the one who didn't betray him. This is all good for you." Mahali.

"First of all, I didn't ask you guys to sleep with your husband's brother instead of talking to him about what the problem was. I'm not going to apologise for being someone that he can trust. And secondly, my husband is hurting. I lie next to him everyday. I wake up next to him everyday. I'm the one witnessing him processing all of this and coming to terms with the fact that his life is not what he thought it was. I love him. This has never been a competition for me. You know, I'd feel better if he were just being unreasonable and being an absolute asshole. Then, I'd even help you without him knowing it. At least he wouldn't be hurting. But you are all so committed to being right that no one can acknowledge what your actions have done to him. My house right now is not one big party, celebrating this mess. My kids try everyday to make this a little bit better for him even though they have no idea what's going on. I'm hugging him even when I'm not sure what he needs so that all of this can be okay. Thabang is hurt!

If you feel anything at all for him... anything... you'll at least acknowledge his wound. You'll at least acknowledge what it has done to him and you'll acknowledge that to him, it hurts... whether you believe you were wrong or not. Maybe that's the breakthrough that you need to get through to him and tell him what you need."

They actually look at each other.

"I really have to go. But seriously guys... good luck. I truly mean that." I say, leaving R4500 on the table. My wine glass was only R750. They can decide what they do with the rest of the money.

...

I arrive at Thabang’s office just after 3pm. I went to a lingerie store and bought something cute to wear underneath my button dress. I’ll just distract him a little bit, but not go all the way. His office is all the way transparent - glass walls and a glass door. So he has a view of everything happening on his floor, and his staff has full view of what’s happening in his office. Thankfully, its sound proof though. So real privacy is actually in his insuite restroom. I'll probably just work from here for the rest of the day. His office is big enough. Plus, I need to do my debrief with Mofomahadi today. She's still in South Africa, but she comes around to the kingdom on a much more regular basis now that the school is almost up and running. I'll be assisting with shortlisting staff and school children. The applications we've received and continue to receive are insane. There are even campaigns for a similar school to be open here in the kingdom. Ja neh...

As I make my way up the elevator taking me to my husband's office, I get a call from Mosetsana.

"Hey baby girl", I answer my phone.

"Mama, I'm just telling you that we are all home now. That's why I have my phone. So if you see me online anywhere, just know that I'm home and I didn't take my phone to school."

I want to laugh neh.

"Thank you, my baby. Thank you for being such an obedient child. I love you so much."

"I love you too, mommy. When will you and papa be home?"

"Before 7pm. We will all have dinner together." I say.

"Okay. Perfect."

"How's your brother? And how's Meme?"

"We are all fine. Mamane Meme is making us lunch then it's homework time", she says.

"Okay baby. I'll check homework and all books when I get home. I love you guys. Give your brother a big kiss for me."

"I will. Bye. I need to save my airtime." Ngwana oe!

"Bye nana", I say.

She's already hung up.

I just find myself laughing to myself.

I walk into the office open plan floor. Some people are chatting, and some are focused on their laptop screens. I briefly greet everyone, then I head straight to my man's office. His PA doesn't like me. And it's fine. She doesn't have to like me. I don't need her to like me. I just simply don't acknowledge her and she hates that the most about me. She can actually fuck off. Mahali once told me that she used to fuck Thabang. Of course I'm not going to recognise her as a person. And if she even rubs my skin up the wrong way, I'll have her fired. And I think she knows it. Everyone in this office knows it.

"Sphalaphala", Thabang says as I walk into his office. He gets up from his seat and makes his way to embrace me. I catch the PA getting mad from the corner of my eye. I also catch the entire open plan watch her die inside. Let me make this good.

"Hello, my handsome husband. Ujwang?" Me, all over my man, even feeling his dick get hard as he presses himself against me. I unbutton five buttons from my dress and he cannot even hide that he wants me... right here! Right now! His kisses start becoming sexual. Then I'm after I'm satisfied that the PA bitch has got the message, I stop my man saying, "love... your office is watching."

"Let the watch. My guy is excited. What am I supposed to tell him? Come on, baby. Okay, I'll only put in the head."

I laugh and say, "Thabang, no. Come, sit with me."

"Okay let's go to the toilet", he says.

Now I'm in stitches.

Let me turn this down a notch.

"Where you used to fuck that PA who disrespects me so much? No thanks. We are not the same calibre of woman. Please don't treat us as such."

Now he feels... I don't know.

He's still so hard that he limps back to his chair, but at least he's left me alone. Good!

I decide to sit on top of him on this chair. It's my way of saying, I'm not angry but don't ever touch that bitch again. He lets me. He even sits back and puts his hands behind his head.

"So, ujwang?" I ask him.

"Ai, I'm just..."

"Keng? Talk to me, love."

"I think my father told the board about what's going on and they've definitely lost faith in me as their CEO. It's just not pleasant working here anymore. I just want to get the fuck out of here, Mo."

"So, baby, why don't you leave? What are you still sitting around here for?" I ask him.

"My love, we have responsibilities. I can't just stop working."

"Thabang, le wena you like expensive responsibilities. You are more than able to stop working here, and actually do something that will bring you genuine joy."

"What do you mean?"

"T, do you know where I lived before I moved back home?"

He looks at me.

"I lived in a backroom... in a shady township that had thugs roaming around like it was paradise. The rooms next to me was occupied with people who were formally employed but were earning next to nothing, people who lived on piece jobs, and criminals. There was no vetting of tenants there. If you could afford to pay your R800 rent at the end of the month as well as your R1500 non-refundable deposit, you could stay there. In that one backroom that I stayed in, I had curtains to divide a one room into a bedroom, a dining room and kitchen. I had to buy my own two-plate stove to create that kitchen-nyana. And that backroom, T, was smaller than this very office. I lived in there with two kids and an abusive man that I wanted to run away from every moment that I was breathing."

He looks at me as if amazed how anyone could live under those conditions.

"My point is, Thabang, I didn't even think that I was suffering because there were people who still had it worse than me. So if you are too afraid to follow your heart and your dreams because you don't want us to suffer, you married someone who has a PhD in suffering and I can tell you right now that we will not suffer. We will definitely downsize because truly speaking, we don't need all of this. We can sell that house that we live in and get something nice, smaller, and fitting for our kids and us. We can have one domestic worker who comes in ho seng then knocks off at the end of the day. We don't need three stay in domestic workers. I have a great stipend for a house at the royal house. We can get something decent. We can sell our cars. We don't need this many cars. I have one car that's fully paid for by the royal house. We can afford another car so we have two vehicles. We will do our own school runs. We don't need drivers. The royal house pays for school fees. With all that money from selling the house and cars, plus the money we will make from savings by not having so much staff around us all the time, plus the money you'll get when you resign from here, you can start your dream... whatever it is. I have a salary... a very good one. There are hosueholds with a joint income that doesn't even amount to what I make. I'll carry us until your dream is standing. Plus, I also have savings because you told me to not overspend with my salary. I could also chip in. My point is... I'm not a responsibility or a liability in your life, T. I'm your wife. Ke molikane wahao.... your partner. Your equal. I don't love your money. I love you. And I want you to be happy. Everything we build for our kids and for ourselves is built by both of us. I don't expect all of this to fall on your shoulders alone. Ke teng, motho waka. And I'm not just here for the sex. I'm here for real."

He looks at me. He's even crying.

...

"How did I get so lucky?" I ask her.

She smiles at me.

"Why didn't you come into my life a lot earlier, Morafe? Why?"

"I don't know, baby. But I'm here now. Let's do this." She says.

"I don't know where to start." I honestly become vulnerable with her.

"Okay... let's say that I came into your life when we were still teenagers... when you were still this fat and chubby little guy with a big bum that had a school bag as wide as an old man's shoulders that always sat on the top part of your ass."

I'm in stitches!

Morafe o ntlwayelo masepa if I'm being honest.

She's also laughing.

"Let's say I agreed to be your girlfriend then. How would you imagine that our lives would have turned out?" She says.

After laughing, I actually think about this. I allow myself to go there, then I tell her...

"I would've married you the minute you turned eighteen and matriculated. Then I would've taken you away from the madness and captivity that comes with being born into a royal family. Because the shit never ends. And I loved you so much - I still love you so much that I do not want you to think that's acceptable. Just look at what we've been through."

"Don't digress. Let's stay on our journey as young Mr and Mrs Mothipa." She says.

I smile.

"Where would you have taken me?" She asks me.

"Taung. Definitely. I love this city. But I'd move us to the more quiet side of it, you know. Where the royal house is. I'd buy us land, and I'd build you the kind of house you would've wanted regardless of where we ended up living. Then I'd open a game reserve lodge."

"A game reserve lodge?" She's so shocked.

"Yeah. The accommodation rooms would be a rondavel, you know the ones we have ko mahayeng?"

"Ja..." She's really interested. No one has ever been this interested in my dream.

"Yeah... but inside, it's a five-star hotel room... all white... with a shower located outside so that they shower privately, but in the bush."

"And what happens in winter? Because Tholoana Kingdom plus it's rain... this place gets shit cold in the winter." She says.

"We will have an option to close just the shower area to trap heat in while the people take a shower."

She gives me an impressed look.

"We will have entertainment, definitely. But the main attraction will be our kingdom itself. How the black man and black woman is designed to win in this kingdom. We have a template that the world is dying to copy. What better way to show them while accommodating them, hosting their conferences and stays in our very land? Our game drives will not only include seeing animals and learning about the kingdom, but we will have higher packages that include meeting business owners of Tholoana Kingdom and their journeys in this kingdom of ours. Our highest package would be a meeting with the king and queen themselves. And they'll give us a tour of why our country is Morafe."

"Morafe?"

"Yeah. That's what I also want to call my lodge. Not only because I love you so much, but because your name is so powerful, Morafe. When we talk about Morafe, we talk about people who are of ancestors of land and will one day become ancestors to the next people. It's not only royalty based. It's everyone. My lodge is for everyone and they'll be treated as we should treat ancestors because when they leave this earth, they bless the generations that remain. That's how our kingdom prospers. The royal family will talk about Morafe wabona. Because Morafe wabona has led us through centuries, and small and poor as we may be as a kingdom, we are rich in things that many other countries are still trying to win at. I want my reserve and the experience there to depict that."

She looks blown away.

She holds my hands then says, "today, you will hand in your resignation. While you serve your six months notice, we will look for a new home in Taung royal lands then start preparing to move there. I'll chat to Mofomahadi as well and ask her for a meeting with herself and the king. Then you will go in there and pitch this miracle that you've just pitched for me. I'll help you. And I have it on good authority that the king will be putting some land up for sale soon. Let's meet him before it goes out."

"You serious?" I ask her.

"It's our dream now, Mr Mothipa. It's our legacy now. We can do this. And if you want a quick win, get involved in this school business that Mofomahadi is so invested in. You'll win them over instantly, especially Mofomahadi. And if she says yes, she will do the rest of the work for us le morena."

I just kiss her.

I wish we could have sex.

I love her so much. I feel like I've finally found the substance that we are taught we will find in marriage. I've found it three wives later. Now I just need to make sure that those other two sign the damn divorce papers so that I can rebuild - without them!

Morafe decided that she would work from my office for the rest of the day. I'm honestly inspired by how happy she is in her job and how well she connects with Mofomahadi. I've been listening to her calls and she's really amazing as the queen's assistant. I can see how the queen only wants her. I heard that the queen even fired the king's assistant and now Morafe works for the both of them. It came with a handsome bump in her salary. But she's good. They are not blowing steam up her ass, she's amazing at this.

I've also typed up my resignation letter and I have sent it about five minutes ago. I'm making the right decision. I have the perfect support by my side. I'm going to be okay.

Morafe finishes her meeting with Mofomahadi and Morena at 6pm. I heard her commit to working on something tonight, so I know she's having a late night. I decide that I'm going to work on my proposal for my game reserve lodge. I won't get a chance this weekend because I heard that we are having a kids' day what-what with Morafe's friends and their men and kids at Tholoana World - our very own African Disney World. It will be an all day affair from what I understand. It will be Wandi, Senzi and their new baby. There will be Basetsana, Keith and their son - Risuna. There will be Tamia, Ntuthuko and all all four of their kids. Then it will be Morafe, myself and our three kids - Meme, Mosetsana and Tshenolo. I'm just happy that I'm cool with these guys. These women love each other too much. They've forced a friendship amongst the kids. So us guys have just got with the program.

Morafe and I drive home, following each other because we came here with different cars. I'm being driven and she's driving herself.

I get a call from my mother. Ey! I wonder.

"Hi mah."

"So you and Morafe first threaten us to make sure that you don't lose the businesses that you've been looking after, only for you to just throw it back in our faces by resigning? What game are you planning exactly?" She's already spitting anger.

"Mah, I'm just returning what's rightfully yours. You and papa were right. I shouldn't have a right to things you've worked hard for if I'm not prepared to play ball with what you require of me. And I'll never play ball with what's required of me at the moment... to raise kids that are a significant reminder of how my entire family betrayed me and how my own brother ang'jetsi direte."

"Thabang -

"So mama, I'm giving it all back to you because I don't want there to ever be a day where you ever hold anything over my head and tell me to be grateful because you made me. I'll have my own things- things that all of you in that kraal will have no claim over. I'll be okay. My family and I will be fine."

"Do you think Morafe will stay with you when you are broke?"

"Fortunately for me, Morafe is nothing like the women that you all chose for me and decided to call my wives. Whatever happens, we will be okay."

"Then maybe she must treat her family better as she climbs off that high horse of hers."

"Excuse me?" Me.

"Ja. Her mother, sister and sister's children are in hospital. The community burned their house down because of this thing they call a job. No one appreciates their husband sleeping in that house with those over-used and abused vaginas. So the community taught them a lesson. In fact, I hear that one of the sister's children is in a very critical and unstable condition. Anything could happen to that child at any time."

"And you just let that happen?"

"What did you want me to do? Am I the one who told them to go and be village bicycles? To go tare down people's families?"

"No, you are not. But you are a leader... an upholder of the law in that community. If I remember correctly, you took an oath to be for the people regardless of how you feel about them. Now I'm sitting here thinking that you probably incited that violence to try and get back at Morafe."

"Would you blame me? She took my child away from me. My family is falling apart because of her, after I trusted her with you. Now that I think about it, she's exactly like her mother and her sister. Coming between families is their specialty and they are so skilled at doing it. The other two just use their vaginas with different men. Morafe solely focuses her vagina on you."

"Where would you prefer her to focus her vagina? On my brother? Like you told my other wives to focus their vaginas?"

Now she's quiet.

"If I find out that you had anything to do with the burning down of the Letuka family home, I will personally report you to the police and you'll share a home with Tumelo behind bars. That's a promise."

She giggles then says, "please! I'm your mother! You would never do that to someone who gave birth to you."

"Would you like to put some money on that? If you are behind this, you've gone too far! And you will pay for it."

I hang up.

I make some calls and organise for Morafe's family to be moved to a private hospital here in Taung. I'm given confirmation that they'll be here by midnight.

I don't know how I'm going to tell Morafe about this.

Yoh!

I do however, phone a PI that I trust... that not even my family knows and I ask him to investigate what happened at that house and who is responsible for that fire.

...

Midnight

Morafe and I are in the waiting area. One of Mmaletuka's kids managed to run away on time. The seven year old. I don't know how she processed all of this so quickly. She's the youngest of the four kids. The two middle ones are really bad. We don't know where the eldest one is. Apparently, she wasn't even in the house. The youngest one was found by the police. So she's just getting checked to make sure that she's fine fine. It’s the kind of checks that don't happen in government hospitals. In government hospitals, if you don't have visible burns, you can go. People need your bed. Here, they even check your emotions. But she should be coming home with us tonight. Meme is here with us, so Mosetsana and Tshenolo are asleep at home with the nanny. Meme and Morafe are shaking. I've given them coffee. I'm not sure what else to give them.

The mom looks like she's going to make it. The doctors even say that she's out of danger. The sister... eish... she was apparently beaten up really badly before she was set alight, thrown into the house then burnt up with the house. She was even found with her ass in the air in some woman's house with that woman's husband as well as three other men who are husbands to women in that community. She hosted a whole orgy in another woman's main bedroom. Imagine! If that girl was operating in another place, she'd be rich... living in some mansion and flaunting the Instagram dream life. If she's that brave with her vagina, a lot of men would be more than happy to sponsor the good life for her. But she didn't have access to the right places and the right connections. Shame man. I'm sure those she did that shit for will never experience such again at the rate that Mmaletuka was charging. The doctor told us that her still being alive right now is a miracle. But it's not looking good.

"Yoh bathung, mamane. What happened?" The eldest one comes running into the hospital. She looks like she just left a party. She's in heels, a very short skirt, an uncomfortably tight top that exposes her entire stomach... her makeup is very weird. Her hair is... actually, she looks like she just had sex. And she's with some guy. I know this boy. He's a son to one of my business clients.

"O tswa kai wena?!" Morafe is already being a parent.

"I went out with my boyfriend. Mama had given me permission", the girl replies. She seems scared of Morafe, but she also seems like she will give us shit.

Morafe stares at her. I can tell that Morafe is judging her sister's parenting this very moment.

"Mamane, what happened hle?" The girl asks.

"The community set the house alight. Thato was able to run away. So she's fine. She's being checked out. Mama - well, koko wahao - she's looking okay. Apparently, she's out of danger. Mmaletuka... she might not make it. Yena as well as your other two sisters... it's bad." Meme tells her.

She looks like she's about to pass out. Her boyfriend is comforting her though.

"Where are we going to live? What about all of our stuff that's in that house? So we have nothing? And why did they do this? Why?!" She keeps saying.

"Sit down, Palesa. There's nothing anyone can do. We just have to wait." Meme.

"Mamane doesn't want us. Mama told us. If Mama dies, nna leThato re tloya kai?" Palesa says.

"Just sit down and keep quiet. It's that mouth that will have you homeless." Meme tells her.

Ja neh, we are going to have our hands full mo.

"Yoh maweh! Yoh yoh yoh! Modimo waka." She keeps saying. She's even crying now. She's gone from shock to realising that this is really happening.

From what I've gathered, Palesa - Mmaletuka's eldest - is twelve. So I understand why Morafe is judging Mmaletuka for letting her twelve year old go out with a boyfriend on a school night... a boyfriend that's licensed to drive and is in matric. Hai. Then the middle two are aged ten and eleven. Ja, Mmaletuka doesn't play. Thato then came last and she's seven. All four girls are not too far off in age.

The doctor comes by with Thato. Thato is wide awake and even bouncing around.

"Yoh nana", Palesa is so happy to see her sister. They hug each other. I catch Morafe smiling at them.

"U shup?" Palesa asks Thato.

Thato just cuddles her sister. She's traumatised this one.

The doctor explains to us that she's fine. But she will probably need counselling. She gives us some meds in case she struggles to sleep.

"What about my mom? And my other two sisters?" Palesa immediately asks the doctor.

The doctor looks at Morafe and I as if enquiring if Palesa should be asking questions.

"She's my niece. It's okay. She can be here for all updates", Morafe says.

The doctor nods her head then says, "I'm sorry, Mrs Mothipa. We tried our best. But Mmaletuka Letuka has passed away."

I see a tear slip out of Morafe's eyes. I hold her. Palesa is screaming and has thrown herself on the floor. Thato is comforting her.

The doctor now focuses on me. I'm the only one that's not falling apart.

"Reabetsoe Letuka passed away in the ambulance on their way here", the doctor.

Now Morafe is shaking. I'm assuming Reabetsoe is one of the other daughters.

"And Precious Letuka... we lost her on the operating table. I'm really really sorry." She says.

Now Morafe folds into my arms and let's me be her pillar. I hold her tightly and give her her right to mourn. It feels as if Palesa had taken that away. I'm giving it back to her. Regardless of their relationship, Mmaletuka was her sister. And no matter what anyone says, we basically have two more kids in our hands - one of which has just sworn on her mother's life to give us hell and show us teenage flames. My wife needs to mourn right now. Because after this moment, everything... and I mean everything, will be in her hands. From these kids, to her mother, to what happens next for them.

We get home just after 2am. We had to call an undertaker to come collect the three bodies after Morafe viewed them. The hospital does not have a mortuary because it's a private hospital and I don't know what else. Morafe and I had to tell her mother and she was so hysterical that she was sedated back to sleep.

Morafe is the one that takes Palesa and Thato to their rooms - the vacant guest bedrooms. She also gives them some pyjamas. She tells them to shower then sleep.

I'm downstairs drinking some hard liquor.

My PI phones me.

"Sho", I answer.

"Mr Mothipa... it was a good idea to have everyone involved in this arrested. They sang like birds and even provided evidence of the fact that your mother, Mmakabelo and Mahali are all behind this. They've been planning this... talking to people for the past two weeks. Then they started the protest. Mmakabelo is the one who set the house on fire."

I take a deep breath. How am I going to tell this to Morafe?! My family is the reason why hers is in this state?! Yerrrr!

"What do you want me to do, Mr Mothipa?" He asks me.

"Arrest them. I'll deal with them tomorrow. I need to be here for my wife tonight."

"Are you sure? I mean... it's your mother and your wives."

"Arrest them. They've committed a crime. And make sure that they are separated. But each one must be in a populated cell of people awaiting trial."

"Yoh, Mr Mothipa."

"Ja. We don't need them putting stories together or devising how to get out. They must be treated like prisoners. No mercy."

"Sho."

"Bye."

I hang up.

"Who is getting arrested, Thabang?" Morafe.

I didn't see her standing behind me.

I actually get a fright.

She's looking me straight in the eye.

I take a deep breath.

"Thabang?"

"Mmakabelo. Mahali. Mama."

She wipes tears off her face. She looks away. Then she looks at me.

"Did they do this?" She asks me.

I nod my head.

I can't even describe the look on her face.

"Why?" She's so broken.

I just hug her.

I don't know what else to do.

[ketso]

Episode 52

This week, Michael and Samuel (Keith's brothers) are coming to visit us. Coming to our place is a road trip, so hey... they are coming with their wives and children. Michael's girlfriend - whom I haven't yet met - gave birth to a baby girl four months ago. So now, the two of them are coming with their son and daughter - both who have driven Masingita up the wall of all walls. Samuel is coming with his wife who's always angry at the world. She hates me so much, so I don't understand how she will be in my house. They have older-ish kids compared to Michael and Keith.

Risuna is on midterm break and he's very happy that his cousins are coming over. We let mzala go home to be with her kids for the week. Keith and I took leave. But obviously we have to be on standby.

I've fixed the bedrooms that they'll be staying in. We put up Risuna’s baby cot in the room that Michael and his girlfriend will be staying in to accommodate their baby girl. Risuna’s bedroom has a bunk bed themed and shaped in a formula 1 car... it has a top bunk and a bottom bunk. I've been trying to get rid of that bed and give him a proper bed, but he wants his bed. His dad said he will tell us when he is ready to let it go. The third guest bedroom is fixed for Samuel's kids. They are older and they are girls. They'll need their space. I had to go shopping for some more linen because I know I'll be judged. So I might as well make this a near-hotel experience.

"Baby", I hear Keith call for me.

"Baby!" Risuna.

I actually just laugh.

"Ey, she's mommy to you. She's my wife." I hear Keith say through his light giggles.

Risuna just laughs.

They find me fixing the last bedroom.

"The rooms look really nice. Thank you for this." He says.

"No problem. I hope we have fun. Samuel's wife is never in a good mood around us. I hope that she doesn't ruin the week for us." I say.

"Michael and I told Samuel to control his wife this weekend otherwise we are kicking them out. Apparently she slapped Zama."

"Ke mang Zama?"

"The girlfriend... Michael's girlfriend."

Oh. I didn't know her name. I just referred to her as the girlfriend that drove Masingita crazy.

"Why did she slap Zama?"

"It was at the welcome ceremony for Nsuku - Michael's daughter - the one we couldn't attend. No one knows how or why their fight started. But Carol slapped Zama and Zama had her arrested."

I cannot believe what I'm hearing.

"Jwale if they start hitting each other here?" I ask.

He looks at me, trying very hard to not laugh.

"There'll be kids here. They mustn't do that crap here. But apparently the issue here is that she's still team Noria and Masingita. That's why she doesn't get along with you and Zama."

"She better not do that or come here with that energy. In my house? Le nna ke tla mo tlapa", I say.

"Baby, we want a peaceful visit. Please."

"Ja, and she must stay within her limits. A re dlali le yena!"

Keith shakes his head at me.

"Can I go swim?" Risuna asks his dad.

"Risuna, it's cold. It's about to rain. You are going to get sick", I say.

"But it's not raining yet. I'll swim for five seconds." Risuna.

"Risuna, no." Me.

"Okay, I'll heat the pool."

"RISUNA!" Now I snap. I don't know why this child chances so much.

His dad looks at me like I'm being too strict. He always gives me this look when I say no to stuff then Risuna sulks for ten minutes straight until he forgets what he's sulking about.

The gate buzzer goes off and security calls on Keith's phone.

"Is it my cousins?" Risuna.

I just pick him up and not answer him.

Keith instructs the gate to "open for them" then hangs up.

"Is it my cousins?" Risuna asks his dad.

"Yes. And your uncles and aunts." Keith.

"YES!!!!"

"Do we bore you? Don't you like hanging out with us?" I ask Risuna.

"I just get bored playing by myself. And everyone has brothers and sisters. How come I don't have one?"

Keith bursts into laughter. I'm just shocked.

"Let's go meet the rest outside", Keith says, distracting this child with big questions.

"COUSIN!" MJ says to Risuna.

"COUSIN! LONG TIME NO SEE!" Risuna mara!

We all actually laugh.

He climbs out of my arms and runs to his cousin. They are so happy to see each other.

"Absheni", Samuel's daughters greet us.

We greet them back. I greet back with a simple hi and hug. Keith goes all deep in Xitsonga with them.

Zama and I greet each other. She has her baby girl with her.

"She's so cute. She's making my ovaries super excited", I say.

"Really?" Keith.

"Hai Keith. Hai!" Me.

Everyone laughs.

We all now greet each other then make our way into the house. I have baby Nsuku in my arms. Samuel's wife doesn’t really mingle with us.

We settle in the TV room. The TV is off, we just have background music playing... a nice African rnb Playlist. Obviously, I put it together. Keith takes Nsuku from me.

"I'm going to prepare us some cheeseboards while the gentlemen take your bags to your respective rooms upstairs. Babe, will you show them where they are staying?" Me.

"Sure, my love." Keith.

"I can help with the cheeseboards", Zama offers.

"Sure. Let's go." I say.

The guys head upstairs, then Zama and I head to the kitchen. I don't know where Carol goes.

"And then? Madam?" Zama starts. Lol!

I shrug my shoulders then say, "She's always been like this since I met her. I've never seen her not be like this. She has her own demons this one - demons that have got nothing to do with us." I say.

"Yoh, she's very rude."

"She's just used to the original wives - Noria and Masingita. You know how that's like... we see it all the time on these reality shows. The OGs never mingle with the newbies. They never like us." I say.

We are now cutting and setting up the boards.

"But is it our fault that these men chose us?"

Zama mustn't think we are sisters in ho-ism. Because we are not.

"Look, Zama. I'm not proud of how I got Keith. Yes, I love him. A lot. I loved him before he even met Noria or before he even married her. But I lost him to her and I had to move on with my life. Which I did do. I never intended to come between them."

"So what happened?" She asks me.

"Noria couldn't have kids. Keith really wanted kids. So they asked me to be their surrogate. I had no issues with that. It was for Keith. There isn't a thing that I wouldn't do for him. When we got to the fertility clinic, they found that Noria's body wasn't producing eggs. So, I was further asked to donate an egg. My egg would be fused with Keith's sperm, then I'd carry the baby."

"Ibhadi elingaka?! That girl... Hai khona! Kuyasho nje ukuthi idlozi belimujikele", I actually don't like Zama.

"Manje ntombo, wangena ke wena intombi yom'suthu, wathatha indoda kanjalo nje?" She continues.

"Cha. When I was six months pregnant, Noria decided ukuthi yena she doesn't want the child anymore."

"Shembe! Manje wena wenzeni ke ngengane?! Eyacelwa uyena nokwenza?!"

"I struggled. She cut all communication between Keith and I. She gave me a lot of money to kill my baby. I took the money because I needed it. But I didn't kill my child. Little did I know that Keith still wanted his child. I guess when Noria found out that I didn't kill the child and that Keith still wanted the child, she got angry. She started stalking me, then one day she attacked. She hurt me so badly that I went into labour and gave birth to a premature baby. Keith was still in hiding about him wanting this child, so he was helping me behind Noria's back. When my son was strong enough to come home, we went to stay with my mother a bit. That's where Keith and I reconnected, he connected with his son, then the downfall of his marriage began."

"Yoh! Kodwa naye lebantinti lakhe uhlanyo! It's as if she just makes decisions without thinking, then does away with them if the consequences of her decisions aren't something that she likes. Besides, Michael told me that Keith never loved her. He loved what she did for him and how she changed his life, but not her. Michael says that you've always been the love of Keith's life."

I'm flattered. This is nice to hear.

"So wena and Michael? How did the two of you happen?" I ask. Keith never tells me the truth about these two. Might as well hear it from the horse's mouth.

"Ay, ntombo... I don't come from much. After my father died, my mom and I got kicked out of amagceke wakwaMkhize - my dad's family. My mom married him then went to live in their homestead. But when he died, she and I got kicked out. We lived with my aunt for a while, my mom's sister. But my mom had an affair with her husband. When my aunt found out, she kicked us out again. The husband felt enough for my mom to actually give her money to carry us until we could find our feet. So we got onto a taxi and came to Gauteng. We've lived in shacks since we got here. I was only nine when we got to Gauteng. But we lived in shacks since. My mom did piece jobs nje so we could get by. Fortunately, I went to no-fee schools that had feeding scheme programs. Those helped us a lot. After I matriculated, my mom found me work where she was working. It was domestic work. The pay would help because hey, two domestic work paychecks are better than one. So I went to work with my mom. We arrived at this company where she worked, and I was assigned to the floor that I had to clean."

She smiles to herself.

"I remember hearing his laughter before seeing his face. It was a laughter that came from such a deep and euphoric place. It was contagious. It was beautiful. I looked up. He walked through the door. His smile matched his laughter perfectly. I had an instant crush on him."

Now I'm enjoying this story. I'm even smiling at her.

"He didn't notice me at first. And I understand. When he saw me, I was either cleaning his working station or cleaning the toilet he'd piss in. But one day, he was working late. My shift was usually 2pm to 11pm, so I was there too. He was making coffee while I was washing the dishes. And we spoke. Yaz, we really spoke. Ngamubona man ukuthi umuntu lo. From that day, we'd greet each other and chat about basic things when we'd bump into each other. Then he started having issues with his wife. And he'd tell me about it. One day, he told me about it close to a water-cooler... then before I knew it, we needed to discuss it in a more private area. So we went to hotels to talk... and we obviously started having sex."

I look at her.

"I know that I'm probably going to hell for coming between him and Masingita. Kodwa angizisoli. I have a beautiful family with him. We are happy. And my mom no longer lives in a shack. I was able to build her a house in KZN and she can be there now without being bullied or feeling ashamed. I wouldn't exchange that for anything."

Hai ke... as long as she's at peace.

We are chilling with the guys now in the TV room. Carol and her daughters are not here. MJ and Risuna are running around and causing havoc.

"Where is Carol?” I enquire.

"She said that she was feeling tired, so she wanted to take a nap." Samuel tells me.

"Okay. Maybe I can take a cheeseboard up to her?" Me.

"That would be nice. Thanks." Samuel says.

I head upstairs to give her a cheeseboard.

After a slight knock and a come in, I open the door and walk in. She's watching some soapie with her daughter.

"I thought I'd bring you guys something to snack on", I say.

"Thank you, Aunt Bassie."

At least her kids have manners.

"Would you like anything to drink?" I offer.

"This should be fine. Thanks." Carol says.

"Okay. Well, we are all downstairs if you need anything." I say.

She just nods her head at me.

I leave.

Ja neh.

We are all just chilling and chatting away! We even debate about what to eat. No one wants to cook or braai. So I decide to order food.

Carol walks in mid-laughter and mid-conversations.

She has a phone in her hand. She looks angry. We all look at her.

"Samuel, your slut is on the line, holding for you."

We all look at Samuel.

"Mama, what's a slut?" Risuna asks me.

"A very bad word. Don't ever say it again." I say.

"It's what your mothers are! It's what your uncle wants to leave me for!" This woman says this to our kids.

"Risuna! MJ! Go upstairs!" I demand.

They quickly get up and move.

"What?! You don't want your kids to know what you are?! You do these things shamelessly, kanti you want to hide it from your kids?!" She's yelling.

"Risuna! You are still here?!" I yell.

He runs off. MJ is right behind him.

"LET RISUNA AND MJ STAY! LET THEM STAY AND LEARN THE NKUNA WAY! THIS IS WHAT NKUNA MEN DO! RISUNA! MJ! COME LEARN YOUR FATHERS' WAYS!"

I slap her!

Now all the men are on their feet. Baby Nsuku is now in Risuna’s playpen.

"O so hlanya?! Are those conversations you really want to have with children?!" Me.

"Why not?! Am I lying?! These kids must know the truth! That Nkuna men toss people to the side and find sluts to replace them with. Keith, where's Noria?! Huh?! Michael, where's Masingita?! Huh?! I'm sitting here with your sluts and your brother is about to leave me too. YOU ALL HAVE YOUR FATHER'S CURSE! ALL OF YOU! AND IT'S A CURSE THAT YOUR SONS WILL INHERIT TOO! YOU LEAVE GOOD WOMEN FOR LOOSE SLUTS! I THOUGHT IT WAS A CHILD THING. BUT SAMUEL, I PUSHED TWO KIDS OUT OF MY VAGINA FOR YOU! TWO! AND I GET TOSSED ASIDE FOR A SLUT TOO?! YOU ARE LEAVING ME FOR A SLUT TOO?! NISAZOSOKOLA NINA BAKWANKUNA! OUR TEARS ARE NOT FALLING ON THE FLOOR! I'M CURSING YOU ALL! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS! IF NOT YOU, MAY YOUR KIDS PAY FOR THE KIND OF MEN THAT YOU ARE!"

She leaves the TV room, leaving us all... speechless.

...

It is 2am.

My brothers and I are chilling in my bar, drinking and talking.

"I didn't even know that shit was real between you and Carol. What happened?" I ask.

"I also knew nothing. I seriously thought that of the three of us, you are the one that got it right." Michael.

"I made a mistake. I swear. I fucked around. I'm not proud of it at all. And I certainly don't want to lose my family over it. My girls - my wife and my daughters - they are my world. I'd never leave them for anything or anyone. She just refuses to forgive me." Samuel explains.

"What exactly happened?" Michael enquires.

Sam is actually crying. He's just not hysterical. But there are tears that he wipes before he tells us that, "I met this girl while I was away on a work trip in the Northwest. She was there with her friends. She came onto me and if I'm being honest, she's hot. As she and I get talking, we realise that we both want to smash... smash and pass. No strings attached. It was that one weekend. Then this bitch just became a lunatic. She started stalking Carol, threatening me and shit, telling me that she's not the kind of woman that a man just smashes and passes."

"But you guys agreed that's all you are doing." Michael.

"That’s what I also thought. But clearly, she wasn't capable of that. Yerrr! That girl then started sending pictures and videos to Carol of me and her fucking." Sam.

"So she actually took pictures and videos of you on that day? Doesn't this sound like a set up to you?" I say.

"Yoh. She's been a fucken nightmare in my life. And now Carol won't even believe me when I tell her what I'm telling you guys. Sure, I fucked up. But, I don't want a divorce." Sam.

"So, now that Carol knows, what's this girl blackmailing you about now?" Michael asks him.

"She's upset that Carol didn't leave me. Now she's threatening to leak the photos and the videos to the public." Sam.

"Why isn't this woman in prison? Why haven't you reported her crazy ass to the officials? She took a video of you without your consent. She took pictures of you without your consent. You have laws that protect you in all of this and can have her ass locked up with many people who are like her. Why is she still walking?" Michael.

"You actually have a good point. I never thought about that." Sam.

I give him my phone.

"Phone a lawyer and have them sort this out right now", I say.

He takes my phone.

He makes the call.

...

Bassie was fast asleep when I got to bed. Now, she's up and has already left the bed, so I'm waking up in an empty bed. Hosting neh.

My bedroom door opens.

I look up.

It's Risuna.

He climbs onto the bed.

"Good morning, boy." I say.

"Hello, papa." He rests his head on my chest.

"Did you sleep okay?" I ask him.

"I did. But cousin is still sleeping. Mommy said it's rude to wake people up from their sleep just to play. So I came to sit with you. Mommy kicked me out of the kitchen and said she'd burn me with food."

My boy... I love this guy.

I feel like he's my best friend - after his mother of course.

"Well, you can sit with me. Who is mommy sitting with in the kitchen?" I ask him.

"Auntie Carol”.

I'm shocked. He lifts his head and look at me. Maybe he felt my sudden movement.

"They are not fighting. They drinking mom-juice". He says.

Mom-juice is wine.

"Do you want to watch TV in here while you wait for cousin to wake up?"

He gets excited and nods his head. He loves watching TV in here because his mother never lets him watch TV for too long.

I put in his favourite show and tell him that I'm coming back.

I get out of bed then wear a t-shirt and pants.

"Papa."

"Yes boy?"

"How come, I must sleep in pyjamas, but you sleep naked with mommy?"

Yoh!

"Because we are old. So when you are old, your body gets hot very easily. So, we keep our bodies cool that way."

He nods his head, I hope he's accepting my answer, then continues watching his show.

I walk downstairs. I see Samuel sitting just outside the kitchen. Ja, he's also here to make sure that these two don't set my house alight. I grab a chair too. I sit at the door. Sam and I nod at each other.

Carol: "He keeps saying that it was a mistake."

Bassie: "you sound like you don't believe him."

Carol: "I don't."

Bassie: "Why not? Because Michael left Masingita for Zama? Because Keith left Noria for me?"

Carol: "Yes! It's like they just do this just because they can."

Bassie: "You know Carol, I don't like you. At all. I think you are rude and unnecessary. So trust me, I'd do anything right now to tell you how much you deserve this and that it's nice to see that your marriage isn't as perfect as you think. But... I have to be honest. I think you are too invested in the issues of marriages around you, that you are now internalising their issues and making them yours. And that's not fair on you, your husband and your family. You need to look at your marriage in its own light and in light of its own experience, then judge the said mistake against that. Now I'm not saying that you should stay with Sam if you want to leave him. What I'm saying is that if you must leave him, leave him because he had a moment of weakness and ended up entertaining a lunatic when he was supposed to be faithful to you. Be mad because he slept with someone while his penis was supposed to be reserved for you. But leave Masingita and Noria out of it. Because the versions of their stories that you know are the versions that are the most suitable for whoever told you their side of their story. It doesn't mean that you know the whole story."

There is silence.

After some silence, Carol says: "I'm sorry for how I've treated you all of this time."

Bassie: "You are loyal to a fault. I respect that, it just was to my detriment in this case."

Carol: "For what it's worth, I like you better than Zama. She's ghetto and lacks class. And she needs to learn when to shut up."

Even Sam and I giggle, because this is very true. But Michael loves her as she is.

After these ladies have laughed about this, Carol says: "How did you forgive him?"

Bassie: "Who?"

Carol: "Keith. How did you forgive him?"

What the hell did I need to be forgiven for?!

Bassie: "For what?"

At least I'm not the only one that's lost.

Carol: "I mean... you guys have been in love with each other since childhood. You lost your virginity to him. He still chose another woman over you. You watched him marry her and give her everything that you had earned based on the relationship that the two of you had. You were prepared to be his surrogate with a woman that he chose over you. And he still treated you like disposable shit."

Why is this woman giving my wife ideas?

Bassie: "I guess I had years to be mad at him. I spent so much time being hurt, crying over the decisions that he made of not choosing me. When the time came for us to be together, I loved him more than I hated him. And my son deserved a chance to grow up in stability, with both parents, and in a loving home... not a blended or a broken family because I wanted to punish Keith, yet I know that my heart has only ever belonged to him."

Carol: "And if he were to cheat on you now? Would you forgive him?"

Bassie: "I don't know. But I hope that I never have to find out. There's a part of me that feels like I'd never allow another woman to kick me out of my marriage. No woman alive deserves that kind of satisfaction from my marriage. But there's also a part of me that feels like if Keith finds another woman worthy to pull our marriage apart, then it's not on me for giving up on this marriage. He's a grown man and I do expect him to control himself. If he can't do that, then he's not who I think he is and that's not the kind of influence I want around my son. I'm raising someone's future husband. That's not what I'm trying to teach my son. And if I have a daughter, that's not the kind of behaviour I want her to believe that is okay to accept."

I felt that. I feel like she wanted me to hear that.

"Girl, let's set up the table and call everyone down for breakfast", Bassie.

...

We've decided to take everyone out to the animal park. It's really a treat for the kids more than anything, but it's also something that Bassie and I haven't done since we got here. We thought it would be nice if we all went together.

We have a game drive car assigned to just us. Well, we are quite a big bunch. The mothers all have jerseys. It's a three hour drive and we are starting fairly late. When we left the house, it was warm, but there were rain threats. So the mothers thought fast.

Sam sits at the back with Carol and one of their daughters. The second daughter sits in the seat in front of them with Zama and Bassie. Right in the front sits Michael and I with the two cousins, Risuna and MJ. Zama has Nsuku in her arms, covered in a blanket. Bassie looks at Nsuku with eyes that tell me that she's ready for number two. I even asked her if she'd like a second one. This time, it wasn't a downright no. I'm making progress.

The game drive starts.

It's actually a very nice drive. The kids are the ones asking the most questions. At some point, I even see Sam and his wife cuddle - which is a very good thing right now. We actually see the entire big five. And the boys were more than excited, even the girls. Then it starts to rain.

Bassie gives me a sweater for me and a sweater for Risuna. Risuna climbs on top of me, becoming a baby nje. I think he's tired. He didn't take a nap at all today. Bassie gives us a fleece blanket. She gives a second one to Michael, who then cuddles MJ with that blanket. A third fleece blanket is whipped out and she gives it to Sam, Carol and their daughter. The three of them cuddle together. The last fleece blanket she uses for herself, Zama and Sam's elder daughter who is sitting next to them.

"Do you sell fleece blankets or something? Where did you get so many from? And they are all just packed and ready for action?" Sam.

We all laugh.

"I'm scared of the cold. And I've been in this kingdom long enough to know that rain and the cold is a thing here. I'm always prepared", Bassie says.

"We must take some for ourselves. Please." Michael.

"Noooooooo", I say.

We all laugh. It's not my fault that my wife is a woman with a plan.

It takes another hour for this game drive to be over. MJ and Risuna are now sleeping. Nsuku is also asleep. The rain is hitting so beautifully against the vehicle we are in. There are some windows here, but they don't cover everything so it's really helping that we have these big fleece blankets here.

After our game drive, we go to the bush restaurant that's on this animal farm, but safe... far away from the animals. There are gas heaters lit everywhere so it's a bit warm.

Nsuku is now in Bassie's arms. This mom thing looks amazing on her. I will not lie.

Our food arrives and we all start eating. The rain is POURING now. We have a live view of it because we are outside, but have good shade over us.

I sit next to Bassie. Risuna is sitting on top of me.

I kiss Bassie's cheek. She's so in love with Nsuku.

"Let's make another one", I whisper to her.

"Okay." She finally says.

We smile at each other.

Now I just want to take her home.

"But you must find a PA quickly, because I can't be the kind of home who's at home with a new baby for five minutes then head back to work before my baby even knows who I am." She says.

"I hear you. I'll definitely make a plan to get HR to expedite this faster."

"Make sure it's a gay man", she says.

I laugh aloud.

"Hello my love", we hear a voice. Its Diana.

And who's her love? Because it's definitely not me.

We all follow the direction of her eyes.

She's looking at Sam.

"Diana?" Sam.

"That’s not what you called me in bed. Come on, babe." Diana says.

There is absolutely no way... no way at all, that this is Sam's lunatic. What?!

"I received your restraining order. You want to get me arrested now, babe? Why?! How am I a danger to you and your little family?" Diana.

"I'm calling the police." Carol.

"Vir wat?!" Diana snaps.

"You are violating your restraining order! In front of my children, you shameless woman!" Carol.

"Whooo! This woman must not try me! Aseblief?! Who is she calling a shameless woman?"

Carol is already on the phone.

We see Diana trying to jump over the table and grab Carol. But Zama is up, pushing her away, restraining her really. Bassie gives Nsuku to me. Even Risuna is a bit protective of her. I'm carrying both of them in my arms now.

Bassie runs to the inside of the restaurant.

In no time, she's back with security guards, pointing at Diana.

The security guards handcuff her... also cuff her feet. She looks like a prisoner and she's shouting her lungs out, bringing attention towards us. Our kids are actually scared. Carol is crying. Sam feels and looks like shit. You can just see that it's hitting him now how much he has really messed up.

Nsuku is back in Zama's arms. Risuna is in Bassie's arms. Bassie is also comforting MJ.

The girls are who I feel the most sorry for. They are crying next to their mother. Us Nkuna brothers stand together, not knowing what to do.

The police finally arrive. Diana is now crying.

"Sam, why would you do this to me?! What did I ever do to you? I could lose my job. Sam, please make this stop! Keith! Do something!" Diana will not stop yelling. She's finally taken away.

The drive back home is super quiet. Yoh!

[ketso]

Episode 50

I’m at home this weekend. This is the weekend that the Mohales will be paying my lobola for me. Now that my dad is well again, stronger and able to see this through, we can finally do this. Wandisa can pretty much give birth any time. She won’t be coming this side for the Gauteng celebrations because she can no longer travel, but she will be present for the celebrations that will be happening at the royal house. Rena and Moloko stayed behind with her. Senzi is coming down with Reahile and his family. Khotso told me that he will be coming with quite a few people.

This house is full of people from my dad’s side of the family that I’ve never even met before. I wonder where they said they were going when they coming here because to be honest, they’ve never known me to say “we are going to Phuthi’s wedding.” I don’t know if they are close enough with my father to say “we are going to Tobias’ daughter’s wedding.”

Some names, I came across for the first time when my dad gave me a list of who should fly to the kingdom for the wedding. I honestly just felt like I was being sponged off here. But Khotso told me that we are doing this once then never again. I was feeling too petty to let them fly first class, so I put some of them in economy, and some on a bus. My dad said I was being stingy. At least I let him pick ten people who would fly. He’s flying first class with Mam’Celia.

I arrived here yesterday, on Thursday.

I did that intentionally because today, I want to go to my mother’s tomb.

As I head out, my dad stops me and asks, “Uyaphi, ntombi yami?”

He’s with Mam’Celia and someone from his side of his family.

“Ngisaya ethuneni likamama”, I say.

I see his energy drop a bit.

“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t think you’d want to go. And I understand ukuthi that’s not something you want to do. Kodwa she was my mother, and I need to tell her about umsebenzi ozokwenzeka over this weekend. I also need to tell her why none of her family members will be there… why I don’t want them there.”

He nods his head then says, “I can go with you. If that’s okay.”

“You don’t have to, baba. I really understand.” I say.

“I want to.” He says.

“Okay. We leave in five minutes. I want to stop at a shop and get some flowers for her.” I say.

He nods his head then heads to the bedroom to change I suppose.

“Maphuthi, kungani ungafuni umndeni kamama wakho la?” Some random says. Apparently she’s family.

“And who are you konje?” I ask her.

She takes offence.

“Ngimangele nje ukuthi something I discussed and concluded with my father, you are now questioning me about with so much audacity. I mean really!”

“Yaze yadelela bo ingane kabhuti!” The lady. Oh, she’s an aunt.

“Banje vele when they get money”, another random says.

I just roll my eyes.

“Manje sisi awusho, thina sinjani that are not going to be travelling with an aeroplane to accompany you to Tholoana Kingdom? Why thina sihamba nge-bus?” The other random.

“Because I’m paying for it! And I don’t appreciate being told what to do with my money. So unless you are giving me money to make travel arrangements for you, don’t annoy me. I’m paying for your travel, your accommodation and everything that you’ll be eating when you are there. I’m expecting a thank you, not to be questioned. Nx!”

They all just keep quiet and scratch their heads.

“Mam’Celia, please tell ubaba that he will find me in the car. Ngizamulinda khona”, I say then head to the hired Jaguar F-Pace that I hired for while I’m this side.

My father and I are driving to my mom’s tomb now. I’m driving. He’s in the passenger seat.

“I don’t even know where she’s buried. I’ll be going for the first time.” He says.

I look at him. He looks sad. Why? Wasn’t she a cow towards him? Does he miss her or something?

“Is it something that you care about?” I ask him.

“She’s the only wife I’ve ever had. I never even got the opportunity to bury her. Ngahambisa izinkomo esibayeni sakubo. She’s the mother of the only child that I have. Despite our issues, I loved her. She’s played the biggest role in my life that any other woman has ever played in my life.” He just went all deep on me.

“Why didn’t you guys just divorce?” I ask him.

“I loved her. She never initiated the divorce. Neither did I. Maybe I had hope that we’d fix things again. Maybe that’s why I’ve also been struggling to commit to Celia. Maybe this visit to her tomb is something that I need.” He says.

Ja neh.

Heartbreak is actually sad on old people.

“Look at the beautiful daughter that she blessed me with. How can I not love her?” Now he’s getting emotional.

Let me change the subject.

“Baba, ngiyabonga ukuthi azange umeme abantu bakwaNyawose.” I say.

“I have nothing to say to them. They’ve genuinely hurt me with how they hurt you.”

I nod my head.

“Kodwa sengikhona. Akusena muntu that will still hurt you. Ngisho nomkhwenyana njalo.”

I laugh.

“Khotso won’t hurt me, baba. Ungakhululeka.” I say.

“Nawe don’t hurt him. Don’t hurt him the way that your mother has hurt me.” He says.

Eish. Ja, what my mom did was not okay.

“Did she suffer when she died?” He asks me.

“I don’t know, baba. I was in jail. The officials came to tell me in my cell that she had passed. I applied to be allowed to go to her funeral. Fortunately, I was able to do that. UKhotso nomndeni wakhe paid for the funeral and the tombstone because you know ukuthi kwaNyawose nje they have nothing. I was in jail but they still expected me to finance everything.” I say. I can’t exactly say that the church helped me bury my mother.

“Lo Khotso lo, kudala niyazana?”

I nod my head and say, “Yebo. Before I even went to jail.”

“Kudala nithandana?” He asks me.

“At the time, ngangithandana noNkosinathi… ubaba kaWandisa. Kodwa ke, he broke my heart into pieces I never thought I’d ever stop picking up. Futhi he was married. He told me that his marriage was practically over, kodwa ubeqamb’ amanga. I learned at that time ukuthi unless a man has signed divorce papers, akahlukene nomkakhe. I paid a heavy price for that… the biggest price being the instability that my daughter had to grow up in because ubaba wakhe didn’t want her. He insisted that she represented his betrayal to his wife. Yena nomkakhe bamuhambisa uWandisa, bamuyisa kwaNyawose. Ingane yami was raped, just like me, under those people’s watch. Ngiyabazonda baba. All of them. I’m sure if I could see them, I’d kill them. I don’t think they’ve paid enough for what they’ve done to my daughter and I.”

I even feel my hand and body shaking.

“Ngiyaxolisa ngane yami. Ngempela Ngiyaxolisa.” He says.

“But to answer your question… mah came to my court appearances. I just pleaded guilty because I just couldn’t stand the media in my face every time I had to be in court. And mah suffered. She came to court with Wandisa and Wandisa was just a baby. I didn’t want to see my mother and child attacked like that by the media, so I made the stint as short as possible. I cooperated. I took a plea deal and that was the last time I saw mah. She didn’t have money to come see me all the time. I didn’t even know that she was sick. At her funeral, bachazile ukuthi she suffered a lot. The cancer really attacked her slowly but painfully. She eventually gave in. Kodwa mina I didn’t see her, and I don’t exactly trust her family to be honest about anything. So angazi. Nabo nje I don’t know how they knew that she suffered because they all stopped seeing each other when I was in university. Abantu nje that like to be seen kodwa bayenz’amanyala behind closed doors. So I guess I’ll just never know the answer to your question.”

We are both silent for a while until we get to the mall.

I quickly buy a bunch of flowers then let my father take a bunch too. From here, we leave then head to the graveyard.

We are now here. I thought I’d be the one to fall apart. But it’s my father who breaks down and falls onto the tombstone. Yoh! I did not see this one coming. I try to be rub his back and not be awkward about this, but shame, he falls onto the body of the tombstone and just falls apart - completely.

I just stand here and let him have this moment. He clearly needs it more than I do. He cries and cries - weeps actually. It’s tense!

But after a good thirty minutes, he pulls himself together.

I’m thinking that I’m the one who should talk, but nope… he’s the one who goes for it.

“MaNyawose sthandwa senhliziyo yami… maGasa, mama we ngane yami okuyiyo yodwa enginayo. MaPhingoshe nkosikazi wami… Ngempela ngempela awusekho? I never thought that a day would come where I’d speaking to you as idlozi. I know that we promised each other that only death could do us part… kodwa I didn’t think that death would knock on our door while life was still keeping you away from me. Phela life stole you away from me first, before death did its part.”

He starts crying again. Now I’m getting emotional.

“Ngiyaxolisa Mangamahle. Ngiyaxolisa Singila! Meyiwa omalala ngokulala bavuka bakhomba ilanga, Nina enehla ngomzungulu wasala wabola, Nina bakwa gcogcobala, Amakhosi amakhulu asezilozini ezibuka umuntu engathi ziyamjamela, Abakanyoni ezimnyama ezimaphik'abomvu! I didn’t know that ngelinye ilanga ngizokhuluma nawe uyidlozi. Had I known, I would have never allowed you to kick me out of our home. I would have spent a little bit more time with you and our daughter. Maybe we could’ve even prevented her from going to prison, ntombenhle.”

This is so sad.

He sniffs then continues, “khona manje kuthiwa umfowenu raped our daughter!”

Okay, I’m crying.

“I should’ve stayed and protected my family. Kodwa akusenani ntombenhle. Our daughter found me again. I’m trying again to be her father, to be our granddaughter’s grandfather and soon, I’ll be a great-grandfather. Ngizobavikela from things that I couldn’t protect you from. I’ll make it right with them.”

He finally signals to me that I can now talk to my mother.

I kneel down next to her tombstone.

“Mama, it’s me… uMaphuthi. Ngihamba nobaba la, umyeni wakho, uBab’Tobias Ngwenya. Mah, I’m here to tell you ukuthi ngiyashada. Kukhona indoda yakwaMohale that I’ve met and we’ve decided to spend the rest of our lives together. Igama lakhe uKhotso Mohale. Njengoba ushone uwazi, nginendodakazi, uWandisa. We had a ritual for her esemncane ukuthi abizwe ngowakwaButhelezi, abantu bakubo babakhe. She has since got married. Ushadele kwaMaphumulo and she’s about to have a child herself. UKhotso naye uletha izingan’ ezimbili. A daughter named Lefatselabarena and a son named Moloko. Umama wabo washona. I have now stepped up and have become their mother. Ngakho-ke, uwena ugogo wabo. UMaphuthi wakho has three children now, not just one. I also have umkhwenyana, uSenzangakhona wakwaMaphumulo… so that’s four children. Ngicela ube idlozi elihle kubo bonke abantwana bami.”

I take a deep breath. Then I continue, “mama, ukushona kwakho, you knew that I don’t wish for a relationship with your family, oNyawose. You are aware futhi ukuthi umalume raped me repeatedly. You also knew that the whole family protected him and I couldn’t even get the help that I needed. Mah, you are also aware that Wandisa was raped under the guardianship of those people. So mah, I can’t have them around me or my child. Ngiyabazonda with every fibre of my being. The only way that they can stay alive is if they stay far away from me. Ngakho-ke mah, they are not going to be part of the proceedings of my wedding. Wena as idlozi lami, you’ll be the only one from kwaNyawose who will be present in spirit. Please make sure that konke kuhamba kahle. I love that man, ngidinga ukuthi konke kuhambe kahle. Once everything has been concluded, my surname will be Mohale. Ingakulahli leyo nto ke when I’m called Maphuthi Mohale, kakhulu ebukhosini bakwaMohale eTholoana Kingdom.”

My dad and I spend another thirty minutes just cleaning her tombstone. After we are done, we tell her that we are leaving, then we leave.

As soon as we get to the house, it’s super full. I just find my way to my bedroom. I don’t know where my dad goes to, but he’s also just as emotional to be dealing with the chaos here.

Now, that I’m in my bedroom, I decide to FaceTime Khotso. I miss him a lot anyway.

“Yo!” It’s Ona who answers his phone.

Where’s my man?!

“Hey. How are you?”

There’s such a noise where they are. It looks like a party.

“I’m good.” He says.

“Are you guys having a bachelor party or something?” I ask.

I start seeing naked girls around them.

He’s now talking to someone. He’s forgotten that I’m on the line.

I hang up.

I phone Teboho.

“Hey girl”, she answers her phone.

“Hey girl. Are these guys having a bachelor party or something? I��m trying to reach Khotso, but Ona answered his phone and I saw a bunch of naked girls all around them.”

“What?!”

“I’ll actually call of this entire wedding if Khotso doesn’t act right. I’m not even joking.” I say.

“Phuthi, I’ll phone you back.” She says and hangs up.

Heh!

“Maphuthi!” Someone yells for me.

I have my own stress please. My husband-to-be could be cheating on me.

“Maphuthi!” This person though!

Now she barges into my room.

“Do you not hear me calling you?” She barks at me.

“What do you want?” I ask her.

“We have to go and advise you. The women who will be advising you are here.”

“Advise me to do what?”

“On how to be a wife!”

“I don’t need your advice. Ngiyabonga.”

She stands there in shock.

She walks out.

I text Khotso, “You are busy with naked sluts a day before you pay lobola for me? Seriously? Aren’t you too old for that shit?!”

He doesn’t reply. It just says the message is delivered, but it hasn’t been read.

I send another one, “You know what, the wedding is off!”

Now I switch off my phone.

There’s a knock on my door.

All of a sudden I’m just so angry.

“WHAT?!” I yell.

Mam’Celia opens the door and walks in.

“Are you okay?” She gently asks me.

Now I feel bad.

“I’m fine.” I say, just as gently.

She walks in and sits on my bed next to me.

“Lalela Phuthi, I know that I’m not your mother, ngane yami… but I appreciate everything that you do for your father and me. So nami I thought I’d take it upon myself to do something motherly for you. I invited my friends from the neighbourhood to come and advise you, sisi. I’m so happy for you, ngane yami enhle. I know ukuthi lapho uyakhona, they are so lucky to have you as umakoti wabo. Ngicela usivumele sthandwa sami ukuthi nathi we gift you, we advise you and we do our part to make sure ukuthi uhamba izindlela zonke zihambiwe.” She says.

She’s not like that rude fuck that came in here.

“Okay. Ngiyabonga mama. Let me cover my shoulders.” I say.

After this, I leave my phone on the bed then follow her to the outside room that has been set up for me to be advised.

To be honest, I’m old. I’m not a young thing getting married wet behind my ears. But shame, let me let her have her moment amongst her township friends.

…

“Ke masipa fela! Le di topile kai difebe tse?!” Tebza has been going at us for the past hour. Thabi and Moringa have been helping her. Sonia has been draining our alcohol while these ones have been shitting on us. They literally threw people out… the strippers… that they keep calling whores. They even called them whores to their faces.

“And wena Khotso, Phuthi is so angry that she wants to call off the wedding.” Moringa says.

Okay, now I’m worried.

“Why?” I ask.

She looks at me like I should know.

“She FaceTimed you while you guys were out getting ice. She saw the strippers”, Ona tells me. Like only now?! Really?!

“And she phoned me! So well done, makoti wahao is about to end the wedding before it even starts. I hope you are happy.” Teboho.

I take my phone from Ona and look through it.

I see fifteen missed calls from Phuthi and messages… threatening me even. There’s even one that says that she’s calling off the wedding.

I get up and leave this session of wives shitting on us, trying to call my woman. I did absolutely nothing wrong. Zero!

Her phone is off!

Fucken hell!

I keep trying her phone as if it will be switched on the more I try it. Nothing.

I send her a message, “Baby, please call me. We are boarding our flight in the next two hours. There will be a wedding! I love you and I didn’t cheat on you. I was out getting ice when Ona answered my phone. I didn’t even have one stripper dance on me! Please Phuthi, don’t do this to me. Call me, baby.”

I take a deep breath.

I dial Wandi. I know she didn’t go, but maybe she can give me Celia’s number. Celia is on my team. She will make Phuthi talk to me.

“Hi Bab’Khotso”, Wandi answers her phone.

“Hey baby girl. How are you?”

“I’m good. Wena?”

“I’m fine. I’m trying to reach your mother, but her phone is off.”

“Ja, the last time I spoke to her, she was preparing for the advising process by the old mamas in the township. Maybe they are still busy.” She says.

Okay, that means she hasn’t told anyone that the wedding is off.

“Okay baby girl. I just wanted to talk to her before I boarded my flight. But I’ll leave her a message.”

“Okay. Nami if I find her within the next hour or two, I’ll tell her to phone you.”

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

“Don’t stress. You’ll come back with your wife. Phela you promised me a wedding. If you break promises to a pregnant person, it’s bad luck.” She says.

I laugh. She laughs too.

“Travel safely, baba.”

“Thanks baby girl. I’ll see you as soon as we get back okay?”

“Shup.”

We hang up.

My people and I are now boarding our flight. I still haven’t spoken to Phuthi. Her phone is back on now, but she’s just not answering my calls. I didn’t even want to have this bachelor party. This was more for the guys that just wanted the entertainment. Now I’m in shit. I keep calling her and only now she finally answers her phone.

“Khotso”, she answers her phone.

“Baby, why are you scaring me like this?”

“Scaring you like what? You are out here partying with naked sluts a day before we start our marriage journey and that’s completely normal to you? Do you know how hard I’ve had to restrain myself? I’m from prison, Khotso! We don’t exercise restraint too well. Patience is too low for bullshit.”

“Baby, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t even want this party.”

“Did anyone dance on you naked?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie to me, Khotso!”

“I’m not lying. I’ve literally been going out and getting stuff. I haven’t even seen five minutes of the party.”

She takes a deep breath.

“Phuthi, ke rata wena. No one else. I’m boarding my flight now so that I can ensure that I spend the rest of my life with you. I’m sorry this shit ever happened.”

She’s still quiet.

“Baby, please… don’t do this. In a few hours, I’ll be landing there. Tomorrow, you’ll be my wife. Let’s not start this with a fight. I’m begging you.”

“So you’d rather we start it off with naked women dancing all over you?! I asked you, Khotso… I asked you if you still wanted other women. You told me I’m enough.”

“And I’m still saying that. Since you and I got serious, you are all I’ve ever had. I promise you, baby. And that won’t change. Ke batla wena fela, baby. I mean it.”

“Khotso, I’m not scared of jail. You can tell that to your sluts. I’ll murder them! Your penis better know where home is and stop eating in outside dustbins”, she says.

Yoh, these threats!

“I know baby. I’d never put you in that position. I love you.”

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Le nna kea o rata”, she says with the weirdest accent ever. I just laugh. But I feel less stressed.

“I’ll phone you when we land”, I tell her.

“No strippers in the plane?”

“None, I promise.”

“Okay. Travel safely. Kea o rata, Mohale.”

“Le nna kea o rata, Mme Mohale.”

We hang up.

“Are you good now?” Ona asks me.

“Ja. Yoh! Phela Phuthi wahlanya. She would call off the wedding.” I say.

We both laugh.

…

Saturday, 05:30am.

Ona and I are in the car, watching my poor team of negotiators yell Ngwenya clan names at the gate I actually paid for. Pope is leading them. He is with Senzi, Ntuthuko, and two of my Mohale elders. We got the Maphumulos involved because as far as Nguni venac is concerned, they are the champions.

Tamia stayed in the kingdom with Wandi. Well, the whole squad stayed behind. They are with Rena and Moloko. Rena is driving me crazy lately. So I’m glad she has Wandi. Wandi has her mother’s tolerance for masepa… it’s very low. But she has the gift of telling you to fuck off in the most gentle way possible. So she’s good for Rena right now.

My people are only let in at 6:15am. Ja neh.

Ona and I are chilling in this car with Maboko and Zithulele.

“You know… if there’s one thing I’m praying for it’s that I don’t bury her. I’m not going to survive another love of my life just dying on me”, I say.

They all look at me. They know what I mean.

“We are praying with you, bafo”, Zithulele says.

“So how did you end up with her? I mean, you fucked quite a lot of women. How did you decide that she’s the one?” Maboko asks me.

“Well, with Phuthi it was so much more than just sex.” I say.

“That’s what we say when the sex is not good”, Ona says.

We all laugh.

“No man. Phuthi is explosive in bed. There’s shit that she’s still teaching me. Like yoh! She shows me things in bed. In the beginning of our relationship, when I was still tapping other people, she made me find the others boring… others younger than her, bro. Yoh, she’s fit. That ass… it delivers.” I say.

“For real?” Maboko.

Zithulele is just laughing.

“Monna! Yerrrr!” I say.

They all think about it. It’s Zithulele’s laugh that makes us all laugh.

“What are you laughing at, monna?” I ask him.

“Because if my wife heard this conversation, I’d be a divorced man in the morning.”

We all laugh at him. Moringa is hectic! I actually believe him.

“Does she know about your son? Tsitsi’s kid?” Ona asks him.

“Ndoda, I don’t want to lose Tlali. If she finds out that I cheated on her and had a whole child on top of that… she’d leave me. So no, she doesn’t know. I can’t do that to my family.” He says.

“So what’s going to happen? I mean Tsitsi is dead now.” Me.

“She had to die. She was threatening to tell Letlali because I ended the affair. She’s not worth me losing my family over.”

“But now your son doesn’t have a mother… or you… I mean, Moringa will be mad, but it helps that Tsitsi is dead. Right? She will forgive you eventually.” Maboko.

“Do you know Letlali? That girl knows how to hold a grudge. Regodise went to the grave with Tlali being mad at her”, Ona.

“Remember that Nothile was pregnant?” Zithulele.

“Yeah?” We all say, looking at him because we are all interested with where he is going with this.

“Her child died at birth. I gave her my son. I buried her kid. She doesn’t know. No one knows. I just did what I had to. That way, when he visits, Letlali loves him and helps Nothile raise him. And because Nothile is a single mother, I play a father role. Nothile’s son, Phakathwayo, is my son.”

We are all blown away! The shock!

The lengths that he went through to make sure that his wife never finds out that he stepped out… and still kept his son around.

“Legoa, please tell us that you didn’t kill Nothile’s child at least.” Ona says. Actually, now I’m also… this is too convenient.

“Nah. Her child was a girl. She had a whole in her heart. She didn’t make it past the first night.” He says.

“But didn’t Nothile see that she gave birth to a girl, then suddenly she has a son?” Maboko.

“She went into a coma during birth. So she was out for two days. I just had Tsitsi pulled to the same hospital the same day that Nothile’s daughter passed away. Then I had her induced. They delivered the kid then killed her. I spoke to the doctor and nurses to make sure that Phakathwayo is Nothile’s son. It’s even easy to explain why he looks like Banathi and Mnqobi so much. I buried the daughter and pleaded with the ancestors to let Phakathwayo and Nothile be close… grow together… all of it.”

We are all honestly blown away.

He does look sad about it, not proud at all. Damn!

“So ja, Tlali can never find out about this.” He says.

“Well, I haven’t said a damn thing to Tebza.” Maboko.

“I also haven’t said anything to Phuthi.” I say.

“And I’ve said nothing to Thabi and Sonia.” Ona.

Legoa nods his head.

“How are things with Thabi now?” Maboko asks Ona, redirecting the conversation.

We all look at Ona.

“Yoh, it’s more difficult than I thought hey. She’s so… distant. Even when we have sex… her mind seems miles away - almost like how it was when she was having an affair with that stupid soccer player.” He says.

We all give him a look. Is he saying what we think he’s saying?

“I checked. She’s not cheating. Which kind of hurts a bit more. It means she’s really done with me emotionally. And now I’m also in shit with Sonia.”

“What the hell for?” Maboko.

“She says I’m prioritising Thabi over her and the kids”, Ona.

“Does Sonia understand that she’s vrou number two… that vrou number one takes preference? Or your dick is so good that it made her forget who she is in this marriage?” Legoa.

“She’s also mad that I kicked her out of the royal house.” Ona says.

“You what?!” We all say at the same time.

Then we laugh.

“Ja… I mean, if a wife has to live there, it should rightfully be Thabi. She’s my first wife and she’s the queen. But what she did by kicking Rena and Moloko out was just bullshit. So I decided to buy her a house too. The royal house will house the Mohale elders. None of my wives will live there. I’ll also go there for council meetings. Then any of our kids can go there. I told this to Thabi. She was happy, but it still wasn’t enough.” Ona.

“So what exactly does Thabi want?” I ask him.

“She says that I know what she wants. And she’s not going to tell me. If after all this time I still have no idea what to do to keep her, then we shouldn’t be married. Nna ke tsibela kai? Because I genuinely don’t know what she wants.”

“Yoh! Izinkinga zakho, bafo… zidlula ikhanda.” Legoa.

“So what are you going to do?” I ask him.

“A ke tsebe. Maybe I must just take on a third wife.” Ona.

We actually laugh.

He actually cannot be serious about this right now. He also laughs.

At about 8am, we hear ululating. My squad of negotiators come out, walking towards us.

“We are done, baba. Come get your wife.” Ntuthuko says to me.

We all climb out of the car. I just see the family coming out singing about. I also notice that some people are already headed for the tent to reserve their seats I suppose. I hope whatever will be happening in the tent is not going to take a long time.

Phuthi finally comes out of the house.

She has on a really nice dress. The dress is beaded, heavily beaded, then finished off with the brown and white animal skin that you’d find on Zulu male gear. She has a doek on then the look is completed with beaded sandals. She looks incredible. Absolutely breathtaking. We all also notice just how short she is. She lives in heels. Even her slippers have a heel nyana. Now she’s here in flats and she’s below my shoulder in height.

We meet each other halfway. She wants to take my hand and lead me to the tent. But I just attack her with a kiss. I’ve missed her so much.

She laughs.

Now we can walk and do whatever it is that she wants me to do.

-

The day is finished off at about 7pm. Now it’s just an after party.

I ask Phuthi to come with me to the hotel. She tells me that her dad and Celia gave her strict instructions to not do that.

But we fly to the kingdom tomorrow. The people taking the bus are leaving at 10pm tonight. Day after tomorrow is the actual wedding and it’s happening at the royal house.

“See you day after tomorrow, my love.” She says to me.

I kiss her.

“Dream about me”, I say.

“Always. Le wena dream about me. And no strippers.” She says.

I laugh then say, “I promise. Quickie nyana? I’m starving. It’s been three days.”

“I’ll make it worth your wait. I promise. I bought a new lingerie set.”

“Oh yea?”

“And in purple… the royal colour.”

I smile at her.

“I’ll send you some pictures tonight after you’ve confirmed that you guys are at the hotel and are safe.”

I kiss her.

“I love you.” I tell her.

“I love you. And I don’t want anything happening to you… to us.” She says.

“Nothing will happen to us.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

We kiss.

“I’m going to FaceTime the kids. Text me when you get to the hotel.” She says.

“You are an amazing mother”, I say.

“And you are an even better father.”

I know that’s a lie. She’s the better parent between the two of us. That’s the truth. But I just kiss her.

“Asambe ndoda.” Pope says to me.

We finally leave.

[ketso]

Episode 49

I just got into my office this morning. I’m still living in a hotel. I miss my husband… a lot. I’m actually ready to just go back to him and have him love me again.

I set up my office so that I could get the day started. I miss those kids everyday… and I’m beginning to accept that they are never coming back. I must just phone their schools and have their admissions terminated.

There’s a knock on my door.

I look up.

It’s him.

“Hey.” I say as I smile at him.

He walks in.

He walks up to me.

He stands in front of me.

“I want to come home”, I say.

“Manje why ungabuyi?”

“I don’t know”, I say. I even add tears so that he won’t be too mean to me.

He has his hands in his tracksuit pockets.

He looks up.

I can’t really tell what’s happening on his face. He’s really tall. I’m only up to the bottom of is chest in height.

I wrap my arms around him.

He looks at me again.

He puts his arms around me.

We hug.

He holds me tightly, swinging me from side to side. I hug him, allowing myself to be vulnerable in his arms.

He sits down on my office chair.

I sit on top of him.

He pulls my wedding ring out of his pocket. He holds it at me. I give him my hand. He slides it back on.

“Tamia”, him.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t ever take that ring off ever again! Do you understand me?” He firmly says.

“I’m sorry I ever did.” I say.

“Tamia, you can’t disrespect our marriage like this. You just can’t. You move out of our house. You take off your ring… yini? Umdlalo le nto kuwe?”

“Cha. It’s not. It’s serious to me.”

“Manje how are we fighting like this because of abantu bangaphandle?”

“I just felt so… unseen. Disrespected. Disregarded nje. I felt so… unimportant empilweni yakho. I felt like you and your family chose the mothers of your kids over me, your wife.”

“I hear you, T. And I’m sorry for that. That has never been my intention and it’s important to me that you understand that. I’m just disappointed because I do believe that you could’ve managed this situation without leaving our house and taking off your wedding ring. It’s as if you rejected me! You rejected our marriage! And that really hurt me.”

I hug him. I fall in his arms and just hug him.

“I’m sorry, baby.” I say to him.

He holds me too. He’s really feeling down.

“Knock knock”, we hear a voice. We look up. Thulisa and Bonga run to us. They hug us. Nkosana is holding Sihle and he walks to us. I get up from Ntuthuko’s lap and I hug them. Sihle dives straight to my arms. I pick her up and I squeeze her.

Baby-mama number one is at our door looking at us.

Ntuthuko is equally confused so I know he also knows nothing.

“And then?” Ntuthuko asks baby mama number one… Mbali.

“Singakhuluma?” She says, looking at both Ntuthuko and me.

Ntuthuko and I look at each other.

“We can chat in your office”, I say, looking at Ntuthuko.

I get the kids settled in my office, behind my laptop, desktop and iPad. I tell them to not delete anything. They at least understand what that means now. A few months ago, I wouldn’t be this trusting.

They get settled.

Us adults leave for Ntuthuko’s office.

She doesn’t look too great.

“Can I get you some breakfast?” I offer.

“That would be nice. And something to go as well please.” She says.

“Any allergies?” I ask.

She shakes her head.

I place an order with my cellphone via WhatsApp. I text the restaurant downstairs. I also order for the kids because if she is like this, what must these kids be like?

As we wait for breakfast…

“What’s going on, Mbali?” Ntuthuko gets to it.

“We’ve decided that we will hand the kids over to you and Tamia. We can’t afford to look after them. We don’t have a choice.” She says.

Ntuthuko and I look at each other.

“What are your terms and conditions?” I enquire.

“When we are around here, can we be able to see them? And please, make sure they don’t forget about us.” She says.

“It was never our intention to delete you from their memories as their mothers. Like ever. So I’ll never do that. They’ll always know who you are.” I say.

She doesn’t seem to believe me.

“And one more thing”, she says.

“Ja?” Ntuthuko.

“We need ten thousand rands each.”

“For what?” I ask.

She looks at Ntuthuko.

“Answer her”, Ntuthuko says.

“We traveled here. We need to pay the driver for bringing us and taking us back. The other ladies couldn’t come up and do this, but, we need the money. It’s the last that we are ever asking of you. The kids were all crying for you… every night. They wanted mama-Tamia. So we didn’t want to bother you to ask you to come fetch them. And it’s a long way here.”

“Ten thousand yonke pho?” Me.

“Each. So it’s forty thousand, baby.” Ntuthuko.

“Am I correct in assuming that you are selling these kids to us?” I ask.

She’s quiet.

The breakfast finally arrives.

I signal to the waitress to serve baby mama number one. I tell her to wrap up another four to go, including the driver who brought them here. I ask her if the kids are sorted. She tells me that they are eating around my meeting table.

I say thanks and she leaves.

“I’ll personally give you R100 000. That’s R25 000 for each and every one of you.” I say.

She’s even shocked.

Ntuthuko is more shocked.

“But I want each and everyone of you to sign your rights over to me. I’m now the legal guardian of these kids and you no longer have rights as mothers when it comes to them. Sign your rights over to me, and you walk away with the R100 000.”

She actually thinks about it.

Ntuthuko and I look at each other.

“Can I go ask them? They are in the car.” She says.

“Sure. Take them their breakfast even. Just give me five minute to print out the agreements. While you discuss it, I’ll go withdraw the cash. If my papers come back signed, the cash is all yours.” I say.

She’s really shocked.

“Actually, I’ll make it R200 000.” I say.

“Baby!?” Ntuthuko.

“Serious?” The baby mama.

“Fifty thousand rands each… and I’ll pay your driver… so the cash is all yours. Sign the papers. Give up your rights. Give me your kids. That’s it.”

She breaths.

I’ll go print the paperwork.

-

They took the money. I took my kids. They signed the papers and took the money. Even Ntuthuko was both shocked and hurt. They proved what I’ve been telling him all of this time.

We are in my office with the kids now.

“Ushup?” I ask Ntuthuko.

He looks at me.

I look at him.

“Ungaphinde ung’shiye, Tamia Maphumulo. I mean it.” He says.

“Ngeke. I promise”, I say.

We kiss.

“Baba, you are not allowed to do that”, Nkosana says.

“Why? Unkosikazi wami lo.” Ntuthuko.

“You just not allowed.” He says.

I find myself in his arms, hugging him.

I have my family back.

I’m happy.

“Let me get them home. I’ll have them rested and fed before the tutors come in. They’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” I say to him.

He laughs then says, “Just remember that they are kids. Don’t overwork them.”

“I’ll try my best.” I say.

“Mama, does that mean we can go to camp now?” Thulisa asks me.

“Yes, but we still have time before your camp. You must catch up on your work first”, I say.

“Okay.” She says.

“Are we also going on camp?” Bonga says.

“Only Mbali and Nkosana. But baba and I will take you and Sihle on holiday when Mbali and Nkosana go on their camp. How’s that?” Me.

His entire face lights up.

“Let me get going, love. I still need to fetch my things from the hotel.” I say.

“No, I’ll fetch those things. Go home. I’ll sort everything else out.” He says.

“You sure?”

He nods his head.

“Baby”, me.

“Hmm?”

“Do you forgive me?”

He kisses me then says, “Yes. I do. Do you forgive me?”

“I do.” I say.

We kiss.

“Baba!” Nkosana.

“I’m sorry!” Ntuthuko.

Lol!

“Okay, can we use your car? There’s five of us and one of you.” I say.

He laughs and says, “this car is my gift!”

“Please!” I say.

He gives me his keys.

I give him my GLC keys and my hotel room key card.

The kids and I finally leave.

The minute we get home, they go crazy. The idea was to get them bathed, rested and ready for their tutors. But they run to their bedrooms and they are super excited to be back.

“Guys, please bath. Then come back downstairs for lunch. Your tutors are coming after lunch.” I say.

“Why? We are tired.” Thulisa.

Ey, this one.

“You have to catch up, baby. You go back to school next week.” I say.

“We can be with tutors tomorrow”, Bonga.

“Today, babies. Please babies. I’m asking.” I say.

“Fine.” They all say and head up.

“Bonga, I’ll come help you now.” I say.

“What about Sihle?” He asks me.

“I’ll bath her when you guys are busy with your tutors”, I say. The way this boy doesn’t even want to be a baby nje.

The bathing and lunch prep is a bit easy. I have Sihle on my back and everything is just working out smoothly. My domestic workers are also busy in the house. You can tell that they want to ask me where I’ve been. But it’s none of their business. I’m their boss. I ask them to set up for the tutors on the third floor… that area vele is for work like this.

For lunch, they have chips, burgers and juice. They actually enjoy it. Sihle still has her mash potatoes with skinless chicken. The tutors arrive after lunch and the three go up to attend to their books. I head to bath Sihle.

Now that she’s all bathed up and fed, it’s easy putting her to sleep. And she sleeps. I put her in her room, then I go set up my laptop in the living room and work.

At 5pm, Ntuthuko arrives.

I’m given a kiss to let me know that’s he’s in the house.

“Hey baby.” I greet him.

“Kunjani?” Him.

“I’m okay. The kids are all busy with school. They tried to complain about school… but they got their head around it.” I tell him.

“They went up against an advocate. They were never going to win.”

We both laugh.

“Sihle is asleep. She was tired, shame. She ate and bathed… then she was out like a light.” I tell him.

“So that means that we have some time to miss each other. It’s been a dry two weeks, baby.” He says.

I’m already leading him upstairs. And we. Actually spend over an hour just fucking each other.

“I missed you, fuck!” He says.

We are still in each others’ arms, absolutely naked.

“I missed you too. I’m not leaving you again, baby.” I tell him.

He kisses me then gives me another round of good sex.

-

“Have you spoken to your parents and MaNdlovu yet?” I ask him.

“My parents know that the kids are back and you paid off the mothers. MaNdlovu too.”

“And?”

“My parents are happy you are back. MaNdlovu is still herself. But this is over. We are not dealing with this again.” He says.

“I don’t see myself going to eMtubatuba again.” I say.

“No, don’t say that. We will manage this. No one will ever hurt you again. I promise.” He says.

“I spoke to Mam’Fifi.” I say.

And?”

“I know I have to make this right. And I will. But not with MaNdlovu.”

He laughs.

“And… I have an awards event tomorrow night. It’s a black tie event. I have tickets for your parents, us two, Wandi and Senzi.”

“Black tie? Yoh baby, the first and last time I wore a suit was at our wedding, please.”

I laugh and say, “you married an attorney. Please baby.”

“Yoh baby. Hai mfwethu.” He keeps complaining.

“Come on love. It’s my small way of making it up to everyone. We’ve been through a lot. Please love. The evening is on me. And it will be a nice environment for me to apologise.”

“Only because I love you.” He says.

“And I love you too, papi.” I say.

We conclude this with another round of sex.

…

Tonight is this awards evening thing kaTamia. Ukuthi mina ngiyaphi, ngeke ngikutshele. Angiyena ummeli. But having my dad and my brother here is making all the difference. We are all dressed up in suits, drinking whiskey in my living room while the women are getting their hair and makeup done upstairs. Tamia really did apologise to my parents, shame. She bought my dad a fifty year old Macallan whiskey. Shame, uhlawulile ubaby. But my dad is busy drinking my whiskey here and is not prepared to share his bottle that he’s just been gifted. He is so happy. I’m happy for him. But I want some of that whiskey. She bought my mom some expensive bottle of wine as well. I don’t know what it’s called. But even she is scared to open her own bottle of alcohol. Ay, inhlawulo lo’tshwala. Buyaphuzwa!

But hey…

“I think Akwande is having sex”, my dad says.

Senzi and I look at each other. Then we look at him. Then we laugh.

He also laughs then says, “I’m serious. I watched him pee the other day.”

“Why would you do that?” Senzi.

“Because I needed to know.” My dad.

We continue to laugh.

“Okay, what made you suspect him to begin with?” I ask him.

“His mother was upset because she found blood in his sheets when she was sorting out laundry for usisi osisizayo endlini. She shat on me, saying I need to speak to Akwande because akafuni ukuthi alale namantombazane right now… he’s too young.”

We actually cannot help but laugh.

“The only issue is that I don’t want is him having kids. He’s still in high school. I also don’t want him catching a disease. But I mean… at his age, I was already having sex.” My dad says.

Now Senzi and I are in stitches.

“So, I first asked him… straight up. I asked him if he’s having sex. He denied it. But I didn’t believe him. I told him that he better not be having sex in my house because if I ever catch him having sex in my house, I will kick him out of my house. He got a bit scared there. You know your brother is more soft than the two of you. Then I told him to pee in front of me.”

“How does that help?” I ask.

He looks at us.

“Call Nkosana or Bonga.” My dad.

Senzi and I look at each other.

“Trust me. Call them.” He says.

“Nkosana!” I call my son.

“Yes?” He yells back.

“Come here”, I say.

I hear him running down. At least he runs down alone. I don’t know what I would’ve said if Thulisa ran down too because I don’t even know what my dad wants to show us.

“Kunjani boy?” My dad.

“Ngikhona mkhulu.” Nkosana.

“I need a favour. I want to show your dads something.”

“Okay.”

“I want you to pee.”

Nkosana laughs.

This just makes Senzi and I laugh.

“I’m serious. You are going to pee. Then your dad is going to pee.” My dad.

“I must pee while you guys look at me?” Nkosana asks a very relevant question. I also don’t know how I feel about this.

“Yep. Then your dad will pee while we all look at him.”

Nkosana laughs.

We all laugh.

“Come, let’s go try.” My dad.

We go to one of the half bathrooms down here.

Nkosana pees first. He’s not able to control his dick properly yet. But he’s also laughing so that’s a contributing factor to the mess he’s kind of making. When he’s done, I remind him to wipe the toilet seat. He does then flushes.

“Baba, it’s your turn now.” Nkosana says.

I give Senzi my drink.

I pee.

It’s weird as fuck, but hey.

When I’m done, my dad says, “uyabonakala ukuthi wena uyasebenza. Your pee is closer towards you. UNkosana pees far from him. That’s how you tell if a man is busy or not. That’s how you test a man’s virginity. If he still pees far, that’s still a boy. When he pees closer towards him, that’s a man.”

Oh shit.

Senzi and I have been schooled.

“So what’s Akwande?” Senzi asks.

“A man.” My dad.

Yoh!

“Can I go now?” Nkosana.

We actually forgot that he’s still here.

We laugh.

Senzi reminds him to wash his hands. He does, then he leaves.

“Why are you all in a toilet?” Tamia asks us.

We look at each other.

“Nkosana.” Tamia.

“Yes mama?”

“What were you doing here?” Tamia.

“Hai hai hai hai hai!” The three of us say at the same time. Nkosana laughs.

“Nkosana, upstairs”, I say.

He laughs then leaves.

“What’s going on?” Wandi asks.

“Dad was just teaching us something new about our bodies as men.” Senzi says.

The women look at each other, not convinced.

“Are you guys ready?” I ask, kissing Tamia.

She looks amazing. They all do.

“Yeah. We are all ready. And the car is here.” Tamia says.

I see my dad and my brother wrapped around their wives too.

“Shall we?” My dad.

Mam’Fifi smiles.

We all leave.

We are travelling in a luxury V300 to this event.

These women look nice. So beautiful. We have a nanny looking after the kids. Akwande was also meant to come over, but apparently he said he was studying tonight. After what my dad told us, I’m not so sure anymore if that’s all he does when he’s home alone.

“So what kind of awards do you guys get at such events? Biggest liar of the year or?” My dad.

We all actually laugh. Even Tamia. She’s never offended by my dad’s lawyer jokes.

She explains that the awards evening is acknowledging the work that legal has in communities and in society at large. She’s in legal, but works with companies. So she’s the legal head for any company going into business or operating in general. The award that she has been nominated for is something to do with the kind of money she’s brought in for companies and as well as the impact that she’s had for NGOs that she has consulted for.

“So if I wanted to get you to have a look at some of my company documents, how much are we looking at as far as your rate is concerned?” My dad.

My dad better not put my wife in the church. Please.

“As a full time employee or just as a part time consultant?” Tamia asks.

“Let’s say as a full time employee?” My dad.

“Your HR and I can talk. I might have to resign anyway from the law firm because my plate is quite full with the kids and the work that I have to do with the alternative energy company. If you are cool with me still running a company on the side, we can definitely talk.” Tamia.

I’m not sure how I feel about this.

My dad nods his head.

The red carpet is completely annoying. I want to slap every camera in front of me right now. I’m holding my wife’s hand - as every man here is - and it’s probably the only thing keeping us sane. I hate this shit. We make it into the venue. We are offered champagne. I look at the glass.

“Could we possibly get whiskey for the gentlemen, please?” My wife asks. She knows that I was never going to drink champagne.

A tray of whiskey is brought out then offered to Senzi, my dad and myself. Now all these men are approaching our area wanting whiskey. Bebathuleleni sonke lesikhathi?

We are led to our table. Tamia’s parents are here. They came with Tamia’s brothers and their wives. We all greet them before we all sit down. We are all sitting at the same table. Tamia’s relationship with her sisters-in-law is very on and off. To me, it’s funny. But when shit pops off in front of you, you want to run away a bit.

The ceremony starts. I see that even the king himself is here. He even has a speech that he’s delivering. His queen is here too, doing her speech after the king. So the companies here are located in more than five African countries. The president who sits on the board of the organisation hosting tonight’s awards ceremony is now delivering a keynote… talking about the importance of these awards. Tamia is so nervous, she’s actually shaking. I hold her hand. Everyone at our table notices.

“I’ve been nominated three times in the past, but I’ve never won. I really want to win this year.” She tells me.

I kiss her hand.

There is now a live performance by some really big international jazz artist while starters are being served.

After we’ve enjoyed the starters - and shame they were so nice. I don’t even know what we were eating, but it was nice - the main course is brought immediately. Tamia returns her dish and Wandi’s dish. She explains that she’s allergic to fish and Wandi is pregnant. So they are asked if they’d like a chicken or beef alternative. They both say chicken. I would have also returned my dish because I’d take beef or chicken over fish any day, kodwa this fish looks very interesting.

The two chicken plates finally arrive. And their plates look good too. Both Senzi and I offer to help them with the chicken dishes. The people at the table actually laugh. Ja no, this food is good.

Finally, the programme resumes.

Some judge is brought to the stage to present the first few awards. Then Ona, the king, is called up to present the next batch of awards. We just see nje with Tamia’s change in aura that these are the ones that she’s actually waiting for. A few people are called for awards. I see her becoming more and more down.

Her name is finally called. I’m the first to stand up and applaud her. The whole table stands and applauds her too. I don’t even know what this award is for, but I just heard Nonkanyiso Tamia Maphumulo and I stood up and clapped.

She comes back. Before she can even hug and kiss me, she is called up to collect another award. By the time that she’s called up to collect her third award, the entire venue is standing up and applauding her. I’m so proud man.

Lapho sesithi siqedile khona, she’s called up for a fourth award. Hai, now she’s an over-achiever and I’m tired. But we clap. Lol!

After we’ve had dessert, taken pictures, and been introduced to half of the legal world while we are actually the enemy of their progress across the world, we head back home.

-

We walk into our house - just me and her - and find our kids watching a movie with their nanny. Tamia speaks to her first before letting her go. The nanny explains that the kids are bathed and fed. They have twenty more minutes of TV time, then it’s bed time. But Sihle sees Tamia and she’s done with TV. She just wants Tamia’s hands.

Tamia negotiates with her to let her go shower, then she will give her attention. She agrees, but is not happy with it.

Tamia and I shower together. Now that we are done and we are in pyjamas, she says…

“I want to cash my cheques tomorrow”.

“Cheques?”

“Yeah. Each award comes with a cash reward of two million.” She says.

“Two million points for something?”

“Rands.”

“What for? You already have a gold thing you hold with your hand, a certificate and recognition.”

She laughs.

“Ey inemali le-industry yenu.” I tell her.

“I want to cash the money then head to a private bank and open trusts for the kids. Each account will be open with one million for each of them… then I’ll put the other four million in our safe.”

She’s dropped some hectic bombs on me. She sees me.

“They are also my kids, right?” She says.

“Yeah… kodwa…” I’m actually getting emotional.

“I want them to be okay even after we are no longer on this earth to ensure it.” She says.

“Ngiyakuthanda nkosikazi wami. Kakhulu futhi.” I tell her.

“We will need one more person to sign for the trust. It will be you and me - the parents… then we need one more person who we regard as a guardian. If we both die before they turn twenty-one, they’ll need an adult to sign for their trust. Do you have someone in mind?”

“Senzi. Definitely. Him and Khabane.”

I trust those two very much.

“Okay. Can you get them to come with us and sign with us?”

“Sure. I’ll phone them.”

“Then I’ll have debit orders go off from my account every month to those trusts. Ten thousand rands for each account every month should do it.”

“If those little people grow up to be useless and blow that money on nonsense, ngizobapokela. Nasi!” And I’m being very serious shame, though she’s in stitches! Lol!

“Also, you know we have a safe in the house, right?” She says.

How would I know that? She’s never showed it to me.

I shake my head.

“Woza”, she says to me. I follow her to our walk-in cupboard.

She opens one mirror door. There’s another door behind it. She unlocks it with a code. She even tells me the code.

When did she set this all up?

That door leads to a metal door. It’s a big door.

“This is our safe. My dad told me what you guys do for a living. I know all about the church and it’s dangers. I know that one day, we could be required to run just nje out of nowhere. So, we run through here.”

I’m actually in shock.

She unlocks the safe, showing me the code to open.

I’m still stuck and confused.

As the door opens, I see two HUGE travel bags. She pulls the bags out. The first bag she opens has clothes. Brand new clothes. It’s clothes for me, her and the kids. This bag is packed to capacity. The second bag only has money. A shit load of money.

“There’s already ten million rands in here. I’ll add the four million tomorrow. We lock the money in this bag.” She says.

Yaz, I’m shocked.

“Uyithathepi le mali?” I ask her.

“Some is my payout from work. Most are my savings. The other bit is money I take from my salaries every month and put away for this. I keep this locked with a padlock. Isikhiya sakhona is in here”, she says, pulling out her handbag. There’s a handbag in here. The handbag has passports, a purse for me and her, more money and more keys. Each key has a tag. She explains by saying, “these keys are houses that we have overseas. Should we go on the run, these are hiding places that we have. All documents concerning those houses are also in this bag.”

Yaz ngithukile.

“Tamia… sthandwa sami, how are you this strategic?” I ask her.

“I’m a lawyer. And you shouldn’t want to marry me or have me be your wife if I’m not a woman with a plan.” She says.

I’m so turned on.

We close the bags, lock them, put keys in this handbag of hers, then put them back in place.

Then she says, “Woza”.

I follow her into the safe.

Deep in the safe, there’s a flight of stairs. We go down those stairs. We come into a longer passage. We walk through it. At the end of the passage, there is a door. She opens it. It’s a door leading to our very back gate. No one ever thinks about this gate. Like ever!

“Then siphuma la. And we are out of the house.” She says.

I actually grab her, kiss her, and make love to her right here.

Wow!

What or who did I marry?!

[ketso]

Episode 48

Yoh, the work here at Keith’s office! It’s a lot! And with him still scouting a PA, I’m also that too. We had to phone mzala to come stay with us for a while so she could help us with Risuna. My mom said she’d come up, but she still has work. Mzala needs the money. Now my mom lives with Mzala’s kids while mzala is here helping us with Risuna. We work longer hours and the board meeting preps are insane. Last week, I made notes and talking points for Keith for his first board meeting, and he had their faith instantly. Now, he wants me to do that with all his meetings. People actually like me around here. I have a desk where I sit with everyone else in the open plan. But Keith obviously calls me into his office sometimes for love, hugs and sex. People say he’s more bearable when I’m here. His executives love how I manage his time and his office. So there have been no complaints about me being here. There was even a vote about me getting paid. So now, I get a nice salary shame. But I don’t want this job permanently. I don’t even want to lie. It’s a lot. And I really miss my son.

I’m at my desk right now doing some heavy admin exercise that needs to be submitted by 4pm today. I’d work in Keith’s office for peace, but he’d be undressing me by now. Our sexual appetite for each other has shot up and I don’t understand why. I once read that a couple working together is not good for marriage… but us… we’ve become closer and more sexual with each other. I keep telling him that he will impregnate me again. He just laughs and says that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

“Mrs N”, Leticia says to me.

She’s Keith’s secretary. The PA is gone. She’s someone else’s problem now. So Leticia and I now figure out a way to fill her role while recruiters look for another PA for Keith. I’m kind of the PA for now.

“Yes darling?”

“I’ve put together some brief files for Mr N for his meeting with his executives. Please give these a second pair of eyes before I take these to him?”

“Sure babe”, I say.

Keith is not nice at work. But I try not to tell him how to be a boss. He’s run a successful company before. So he clearly knows what he’s doing. But people are so scared of him. Now, I’m their vetting board. Things go through me before they go to him. And this just adds on unnecessary work for me.

I’m going through these files and putting together some corrections when some HOT lady walks right past me, headed to Keith’s office. I’m instantly intimidated. I will not lie.

“Excuse me! Can I help you?” I say.

“I’m here to see Keith.” She says.

“Do you have an appointment? Is he expecting you?” I ask.

Everyone is looking at us and the looks that they are giving us tells me that ho na le taba mo.

“I’ve heard about you… the rude PA that doesn’t even deserve to be here. You were just hired because you are a board member’s blessee. Surely, you are not expecting me to take you seriously as a human being.” This woman says.

“That would be the previous PA. She’s already moved on. I made sure of it. I am Keith’s wife, Basetsana Nkuna… and unless you want me to make sure that you move on to, you’ll tow the line a little bit.”

She stares at me in shock.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realise -

The people around us are giggling.

“I’m sure you didn’t. I wouldn’t expect you to. Now, do you have an appointment to see Keith?”

She clears her throat and says, “It can wait.”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t have to. I’m sure you didn’t come all the way here in your short dress and designer heels for nothing. I’ll just let him know that you are here and have an urgent matter to discuss with him. Who are you again?”

She clears her throat, suddenly pulling down her dress and holding herself as if uncomfortable. Then she says, “Diana.”

I nod my head then head to Keith’s office.

Luckily, he’s not in a call. But he is focused on something.

“My love”, he says.

“Diana is here to see you.” I say.

He also gets uncomfortable.

“So ujola komsebetseng now?” I ask him.

“Jola? No baby. It’s nothing like that.”

“So what’s it like?” I ask him.

“Maybe we can both meet with her. You’ll understand.”

“I don’t want to be blindsided. Ke mang motho oe? And why is she coming to see you in short dresses and designer heels?”

He takes a deep breath.

“Well?”

“She’s Noria’s cousin.” He says.

My eyes!

My heart!

My disbelief!

I need to sit down.

“And you hired her?!” I ask him.

“She was already staff when I joined.” He says.

“And you didn’t tell me?!”

He’s silent. Now he has nothing to say.

I see him going to call that woman in.

They walk back in together. She sits on another vacant chair in here. Keith sits in his chair. I straighten my face and not let this woman see me sweat. She doesn’t deserve to see me worried or sweat.

“Diana, I see that you’ve met my wife.” Keith says.

“I have. And I’m sorry about the way that I spoke to you. I genuinely did not mean to disrespect you. I had no idea that you are Keith’s wife.”

I just look at her. And my look makes it very clear that we are not going to be friends.

“How can I help you, Diana?” Keith.

Diana clears her throat.

“Whatever you have to say, you can say it with my wife present. We are partners in every sense of the word.” Keith says.

Diana nods her head then says, “I have been speaking to my aunt, Ria’s mother.”

I look at her.

She looks at me.

Keith is looking at both of us.

“What does this have to do with Keith?” I ask her. Because really, why must Keith know that?

“I think it’s something that the both of you need to know.” Diana says.

I look at her.

“Ria has been kidnapped.” She says.

Heh!

“Kidnapped or she escaped from prison?” Me.

Diana takes offence then says, “my cousin could be in danger! She’s not a hardened criminal, you know! She’s been kidnapped by someone who kidnaps female prisoners for zama-zama miners to rape and sexually enslave. I know you don’t like her, but some sympathy would be nice.”

Hai khona!

“Isn’t your cousin the same person that kidnapped my son from an accident scene? The same person who’s been charged with more than five accounts of murder? That’s not a hardened criminal to you? That’s not someone who is capable of practically staging a kidnap whereas she actually escaped from prison?”

She looks at me with so much anger.

“The point is, Keith, she’s in trouble. We don’t even know if she’s dead or alive. And with her father in prison, he can’t even use his connections to try and find her or help her.”

“So what do you want Keith to do? Because my husband is not lifting a finger to help that animal!” I say.

“Keith, can we have this conversation without her?” Diana.

“Askies?! SIBITI!” Me.

Now there’s silence.

“I’m sorry this has happened to Noria, Diana. I really am. But I have to echo my wife’s question here… what do you want me to do?” Keith.

“After everything that our family has done for you, Keith? You can’t even help us when we tell you that a woman you were married to - before this black witch came along - could die in the hands of danger?!”

“Who are you calling a black witch, wena?!”

“You! You sleep with my sister’s husband, use a bastard of a child to separate them, and now you pounce around here like the queen of Sheba, sitting on your high horse and judging my cousin! Who do you think you are?!”

“Keith! Kgalemela ntja eh! Before ke mo bontsa sibunu!” I’m actually angry now.

“Keith, phone a contact or two and help us find Ria! Please! She could be anywhere! And she could be in serious danger! Anyone who can kidnap someone out of a prison without anyone seeing anything is clearly dangerous! And yes, that prison warden is now arrested, but he can’t even tell authorities where he took Ria and what happened to her! She could be trafficked for all we know. Please, Keith! This family has never asked you for anything before. This is the one thing that we are asking. We are asking for your help to find Ria. Please! Even her father is on his knees on this one, begging you. He specifically asked me to beg you himself. And you know my uncle doesn’t beg. He’s too proud. We can’t lose Ria, Keith. Aseblief.” She says.

I look at Keith.

“I need to talk to my wife, Diana.” Keith says.

“Every three seconds, a woman across the world is being trafficked or raped. Noria Nkuna - a woman you once loved and probably still love… she’s now become a statistic, Keith. There’s no time on our side. She could die. Surely, whatever hatred you feel for her doesn’t run deep enough for you to wish her death, or allow life to kill her.” Diana.

“It will be good karma for the families that have mourned their loved ones because of her. I say good riddance to bad rubbish. This will probably make the world 2% better than what it was when she was fully operational and untouchable.” I say.

I don’t know what to make of Keith’s reaction. But Diana is on her feet ready to attack me.

“Just so we are clear… if you ever put your hands on me, I’ll use the connections that you expect us to use to find your sister, to make sure that you join her at whatever rape camp that she’s at. Am I clear?” I say.

She’s instantly scared.

Even Keith is a bit…

“Le ntlwayela masepa le dushu le!” I say as I get up and leave this office.

…

I’d be lying if I said that I’m not worried about Noria. Truly. Diana is not lying when she is saying that their family did a lot for me. They did!

I didn’t exactly come from a background of unending opportunities or an education that set me up for life. When I met Noria, I was the son of a drunk man and an abused woman. They’ve both never really had formal employment, so the education that I did have is the best that my mother could do on the salary of a temp worker and sometimes donations from people who were kind enough to remember us. My father had no interest in supporting us, so one cannot even include the peanuts that he got paid in my upbringing.

Noria and her father put me through formal university education - I even did a course at Harvard University. Yes, I lived there and all with Noria. They made Keith Nkuna, the reputable CEO. I owe them a lot.

But telling this to Bassie would be pointless. When it comes to Noria, Bassie hears nothing.

And I understand Bassie’s position. Noria not only hates Bassie and is not afraid to show it, but she also kidnapped our son. I understand why Bassie doesn’t want us to have anything to do with this mess. Noria should be in prison. And if she finds the slightest way to be safe and out of prison, she could come for Bassie and me.

When I was with Noria and I knew that Bassie needed my help, I helped Bassie without Noria’s knowledge. But I don’t know if I’d get away with it if I helped Noria behind Bassie’s back. Also, it just doesn’t feel right.

“I’m going home. I want to catch Risuna before bedtime”, Bassie says, peeping through my door. I check the time. It’s 7pm.

“We drove here together though”, I say.

“I’ll request a private taxi.” She says.

“Can you give me ten minutes? I’ll leave with you.”

She nods her head then closes my door.

She’s distant. Off even. I just know that this has everything to do with Diana’s request.

I pack up my bags and shut down my system, preparing to go home.

After a few minutes, I’m ready to leave.

I leave my office.

Bassie is already waiting for me, chatting on her phone. She’s probably on the WhatsApp group with her friends where they interact and gossip everyday.

The drive home is a bit quiet. She’s still busy on the WhatsApp group.

“Your day is quite busy tomorrow. Your meeting with the supplier CEOs will only end at 8pm.” She tells me.

“Thanks for sorting that out for me.” I say.

“Ja, but I’ll use a different car tomorrow. That way, I can still make it home early. How long until they find a PA for you?” She asks me.

“You don’t want to work with me anymore?” I ask her.

“It’s not that. It’s just that… I don’t want to see the Dianas of the world coming and going as they please in your office. I don’t enjoy the humiliation”, she says.

I’m silent.

“So maybe we should just be husband and wife… nothing more than that.” She says.

“Bassie, I try my best to be a good husband to you. Where am I not doing okay?” I ask her.

“I didn’t say that you were a bad husband. Those words have never come out of my mouth. Ever!”

“Ja… it’s just the treatment that you give me. I mean, what did I do wrong today? Why am I being punished?”

“I’m just telling you that I don’t want to bump into women walking in and out of your office dressed in short dresses and heels. Being a jealous wife is not professional. So I shouldn’t put myself in those positions because I cannot help myself. Then to find out that you are working there with your ex’s relatives? I’m just not prepared for such things… especially at a work place. People don’t even look at me professionally. It’s as if people are waiting to see how long it takes for me to snap and react at the nonsense that no wife would tolerate in that setting.” She says.

I take a deep breath.

We just drive on.

We get home. She puts her bags down and makes her way to Risuna who is just laughing as he speaks to mzala while eating.

“Mzala, ujwang?” Bassie greets mzala as she picks up Risuna and smothers him with hugs and kisses.

“Ke shup mzala. Wena?”

“I’m good thanks. I just missed my little boy so much! Hello baby! Hello wena handsome one”, Bassie goes at Risuna. I watch them, falling in love with her all over again. Risuna is laughing and happy to see his mother too.

“Mzala, ushup?” Me.

“Ke shup, mzala.”

“You can knock off now. We will take it from here. Thank you for everything, mzala.” I say.

She smiles, says thank you then retires to her nanny flat.

I chill with Bassie and Risuna. He’s in his playpen. Bassie is outside of the playpen playing with him. I sit on the other side of the playpen and join in the fun.

Bassie looks at me with a smile. I smile at her too.

“We made an incredible human being, hey”, she says.

I laugh and say, “we did. We should make more.”

She just shakes her head.

“How was school, papa?” She asks Risuna.

“School is always boring. But at least I have friends now.” He says.

“Really? Who are your friends?” I ask.

“Ryan the naughty monkey. Jarred the dirty dog. Lethabo the weird one.”

And then? The adjectives?

“Risuna, why are you calling people monkeys, dogs and weird?” Bassie.

“It’s not me. It’s our teacher. She calls people these names when she shouts at them. She even calls me Risuna the thief.”

I see Bassie get angry instantly.

“You are not a thief. And don’t ever allow anyone to call you that.” I say.

“Can I tell that to my teacher?”

“Yes. In fact, I insist you tell that to your teacher!” Bassie.

“I won’t get into trouble?”

“Not with us, no.” I say.

“And I’m going to talk to your teacher and your principal tomorrow morning.” Bassie.

Okay, it’s going down at the school tomorrow. She will probably even ask for the teacher to get fired.

…

I’m living in a house that houses prostitutes. I’m not a prostitute though, thank goodness for that. I just need a hideout place. What better place to hide than a hijacked house owned by someone who’s not even legally in this country, housing people that are also not legally here and are selling sex? Plus, they have cops on payroll to not raid this place. They sell drugs and sex here.

I ended up living here because I deliberately went into Durban town and looked for a sex work kind of place. When I found it, I asked to see the owner of the house. After hassles and jumping through hoops, I finally met him. His name is Immi. I don’t know what his real name is and I frankly don’t care. I asked him if I could rent a room in his house. He asked me how I’d pay for the room. I told him I had the money. I have enough money that could pay rent for two years. He took a long stare at me then said, give me six months rent upfront then. I gave him the whole year’s rent up front. He gave me the second biggest room in this house and it has its own bathroom. He has the biggest room. I’ve never been in there, but I know that a lot of shit happens in there.

So I’m staying here until I figure out my next move. I’ve obviously hid my money. I’m living in a drug and whore house. Of course my money is not protected, especially because they know that I have it. But I try to “buy” my protection. Like I buy groceries and I cook for everyone every day. Which I don’t mind. I love cooking and I miss cooking for my family and Keith. So here, it goes a long way. When people are out during the day, I clean the house. I clean the common areas but stay out of the bedrooms. Yerrr! These people live in filth. Ha!

Then when they get to work, I lock myself up in my room. I have a TV in here. I bought it off one of Immi’s friends. He even illegally connected DSTV for me so trust me, it keeps me entertained.

Yoh, I miss Keith so much.

Also, my escape from prison is nowhere on the media. I knew they’d delay putting it out there to the public, but this is too quiet. I wonder why… are they really THAT committed to not exposing their corrupt prison official who let me out in the first place?

I’m in disbelief!

There’s a knock on my door as I’m in bed, in blankets and watching some movie.

“Natasha, it’s me.” It’s Kim. She’s one of the prostitutes that live here. And yes, I told everyone that my name is Natasha.

I get out of bed and walk to the door, I unlock my door.

My door is always locked. Always. I paid Immi to buy my own locks so that I could have my safety guaranteed. So you literally have to drill this door down to enter. Yes, I got a new door too. The men that come into this place sometimes get too lost around here. I don’t play those games.

“Hey girl”, she says as she walks in.

“Hey. You not working tonight?” I ask her.

“My last client just left. I just thought that I’d come chill up here at five star with you.”

The girls call my room five star. It’s just clean, unlike their rooms. And I stay alone, I’m not sharing with five other people like them. I kid you not… one bedroom houses six to ten girls. It’s crazy. Even I don’t know how they do the dirty with a million of them in there.

I let Kim in then lock my door.

I wound say that she’s my friend. I don’t have friends here. But of everyone in this house, she’s the one girl that I can trust.

“I want out of this prostitution life hey”, she tells me.

She must not start. I’m not here for her like that. Please! I also have my own issues.

“But I don’t have a plan. I have to send money back to Nigeria every month for my children, my sick mother and my sister. Even the peanuts I make here don’t really help me. I’ve tried to go to shops and apply for work, but they pay even less than the sex work. It’s probably because I’m a foreigner and I’m desperate because I don’t have the papers to be here. I’m easily cheap labour. The loan sharks don’t even give us money. They say we don’t have enough collateral.”

“Kim, are you asking me for money?” Because really, this PowerPoint is unnecessary.

“Eh eh! I’m just sharing now!”

I roll my eyes.

“But if you do have money, my friend -

“I don’t have money. You can see that I spent my money on my room and rent. I help you guys around here with groceries as well. And unlike you, I don’t have a job.”

“You got a blesser neh?”

“Kim, if I had a blesser, would I be living here? I mean really.”

“So where does your money come from?”

“You don’t need to know that. Ask Immi for money.” I say.

“Ah ah! Are you mad?!”

“You are bitching and moaning here! I’m coming up with solutions. I don’t hear you coming up with solutions.”

“Does Immi give you money, my friend? How much? And what do you do for him? I mean… he gives you the nicest room and you live alone in a mansion of a room.”

“Go ask him yourself.”

“You want Immi to kill me now? Eh eh eh!”

I’m tired of this girl already.

“Why don’t you open a business? Loan people like us money. No one in South Africa wants to loan us money. If you loan illegal foreigners money, you could make money.”

“I’m not going to do that because I’m not stupid. You are all undocumented. There’s a reason why even illegal financial service providers won’t touch you. And I don’t have money to hire hitmen to kill you if you refuse to pay me back.”

“Just think about it, my friend. You’ll even monopolise this thing… have an interest of your own… then while you live here, you know you have an income. Eh?! Come on now.”

I just look at her.

“I want to sleep, Kim.” I say.

“Let me sleep here with you for one night, please.”

“No! Bye!”

I don’t trust anyone here enough to share a bed with them. The hell?!

…

It’s the silence that wakes me up. You know it’s the next morning around here when there is absolute silence. The unfaithful men who paid big money to cheat on their families with the likes of Basetsana have gone back to their homes to paint the perfect family picture before the public eye. Immi has been paid his money for the night. And the ladies are fast asleep… sleeping away the secrets of most men in this country, resting so that they can wake up later today and make Immi even more money.

I stretch as I get out of bed. I make my bed, check that the only bag that I have is safely packed away. I don’t have anything in cupboards. I’m not stupid. Any day, a raid can happen here. I need to be ready to LEAVE! When I went to go buy myself some more clothes in these dodge CBD shops that sell clothes for R15 and the most expensive item is R150, I bought myself a bigger overnight bag. It’s actually a nice bag… a whole LV bag. And it’s the real deal. Sold for R150? Either these people don’t know LV, or the owner was probably mugged and the bag is literally a steal.

I finally found the time to count the money that I stole from those miners. I actually have R100k on me. I don’t understand how mere miners would have that kind of money. Maybe they are zama-zamas. But anyway, I packed the money all the way at the bottom of the bag. I put some money in the inner side pocket. That would be transport money should I need to run. Then my clothes are all on top of the money.

As soon as I’m done showering, I put my toiletries in my bag. The only things that are not in here are my wet underwear and wet face cloth.

I quickly get dressed, put my bag under the bed, then head to the kitchen. My plan is to make breakfast, but I’m distracted by seeing police vans and inyalas parking outside the gate of this house.

What if these people are here for me?

I’m instantly shaking!

I head to the bedroom and grab my bag, put my face cloth and wet underwear in there. I check the back… there are no cars or cops in there. I use the back door to leave the house. I jump the fence and find myself in a block of flats. I keep moving. None of these flats are supervised. Like zero!

I go into some Chinese shop. I buy a cheap phone nyana and pay for it. I buy airtime and data. Then, I head to a taxi rank.

“Uyaphi sisi?” A driver asks me.

Now I actually need to have a plan.

“Bloemfontein”, I say.

“Okay sisi, it’s two taxis ahead.” He says.

I walk to the taxi.

There are a few people here, but it still needs more people before it’s full.

I sit at the back, next to some woman. I’m in the middle again. Perfect.

I switch on this phone. I load the airtime and data that I bought. I put this phone on silent.

I check twitter. Maybe I’ll see what’s happening at that house.

I check what’s trending.

Nothing about that house.

Some two ladies come in with a bunch of kids, so the taxi is now full.

“Sisi, do you have R50? Ngiyashoda tu.” the lady next to me says.

“I’ll pay for you. It’s fine.” I say. I take out enough money for two people then I give it to the person in front of me.

In no time, people have paid and the taxi is moving.

Someone starts, “Did you see that the police did a raid at the prostitution houses?” Someone in the taxi says.

“About time! Yoh!”

“There’s a specific drug lord that they were looking for. Phela they raided them all at once. So many prostitutes and people found in the houses got arrested.”

“Kuyafana! They will be released in no time. Umuntu nje must just move to Tholoana Kingdom. That’s the only place where amanyala anjena don’t happen. And if they do, they make sure that the people involved are dealt with. Manje thina la… we have too many rights! And we probably have government officials that are on the payroll of these people. That’s why they are forever getting away with it!”

This conversation goes on for a while.

I decide to phone my mom while the conversation is on-going, hoping no one will pay attention to me.

“Hello? It’s Cheryl speaking.”

“Mommy. Is ek.”

She’s silent. She even sobs.

“I’ve been worried sick about you! The police say that you were kidnapped!”

“Huh?!”

“Ja. They said a prison warden who’s just been arrested for kidnapping female prisoners and feeding them to zama-zamas took you and there’s no guarantee that I’d ever get you back! Where are you?!”

I just breathe.

“Are you at least okay?”

“I’m okay, mommy. I miss Keith so badly.” I find myself saying, then I even start crying.

“Keith has moved on, Noria. And I strongly suggest that you do the same.”

“It’s so difficult, mommy. I miss him so badly.”

“Look, your father is coming out of prison soon.”

“How?”

“He has his ways and his connections. When he comes out, what’s left of our family is getting on a private plane and we are moving to the UK. Noria, come with us. Aseblief my babatjie.”

This is actually not a bad idea at all.

“Okay.” I say.

“Dankie Lord! Dankie! We leave from Cape Town. Can you get to ouma’s house by tomorrow evening? We fly out at 10pm.”

“Okay.”

“Good. Ek is lief vir jou, my babatjie.”

“Ek is lief vir jou, mommy.”

We hang up.

I wipe my tears.

They are still talking about the prostitutes and their arrest.

I take a deep breath.

I think about calling Keith. But that could be my downfall. Honestly. He could throw the cops on my scent. I just want to say goodbye. But with him, maybe I must just say goodbye in my heart.

Goodbye my Keith. I hope wherever you are, you’ve found your happiness. I’ll always love you, my Mr Nkuna.

[ketso]

Episode 47

My family and I have just come back from the Maldives. We actually had so much fun there. It was a good break for Meme and a well-needed holiday for Thabang. We actually saw him laugh and let loose again. Now we are all back in the kingdom and we are legitimately looking forward to some rest before kids go back to school and I go back to work.

“Guys, all bags in the laundry please. Sisi will help us by washing our clothes and unpacking for us”, I announce.

“Yes mommy”, they all say.

“Yes love”, Thabang says, attacking me with a kiss.

“I’m worried about you”, I tell him.

“Why?” He asks me.

“You are ignoring their calls. And I know this issue is hanging over your head”, I say.

“I’m fine with you. I’m happy with you.”

“I know. But it doesn’t mean that you aren’t hurting.”

We look at each other.

“Come here”, I say, hugging him.

“Let me charge my phone”, I say. I had forgot my charger, so my phone has been off all holiday.

“Okay babe”, he says.

“Then I’ll just put a snack together for everyone. I’m a bit hungry.” I say.

“Will you give me dessert?”

“Are you not tired? My vagina can’t stand me right now. It’s mad at me.”

He laughs. No wonder he has three wives. His appetite! Yoh!

“But you are hot! Am I just supposed to look at you and do nothing?” He says.

I just laugh.

He smiles at me.

I’m in the kitchen preparing some lunch for my family. I know Thabang is in the bedroom lazing on the bed and probably watching some TV. Meme, Mosetsana and Tshenolo are freshening up. It was a long flight. We all feel tired and sticky. I’m preparing chicken burgers and some chips for them.

My domestic workers are busy in the house. I see laundry being done and some cleaning happening as well.

As soon as I’m done with the burgers and chips, I put them on our dining table. I call everyone to come down and eat.

Thabang comes down with Tshenolo. They are chatting and laughing about. Mosetsana and Meme come down together.

We all sit at the table.

There’s chatter while we all eat away.

Thabang is laughing and engaging and all, but I’m worried about him. This thing that has happened is honestly weighing on him. It’s weighing on me if I’m being honest, so I cannot imagine how this is not weighing on him.

“Dumelang”, we hear a voice say.

It’s his mother. I forget that she has keys and access to all our houses. One day, she must find us having sex in the kitchen. That way, she will learn to not just show up at people’s houses unannounced.

Everyone happily greets her - my kids included.

She joins us at the table, grabbing a burger and enjoying.

She asks us about our trip and the kids are more than excited to share all of these details with her. Thabang and I chip in here and there, but really… the trip was theirs and they loved it! I enjoyed it too. It was both a family trip as well as a honeymoon. And we really did do a lot of honeymooning. It was nice.

When the burgers are finished, Mme says, “Morafe, I need to speak to you please.”

“About?” Thabang enquires.

“It’s between Morafe and I for now, Thabang.” The mom says.

“Morafe is my wife. And unlike the other wives that I have, she actually knows what that means.” There’s that anger in Thabang coming out.

“Thabang, I’m here to speak to Morafe. Please let me speak to Morafe.”

“Alone? Considering everything that’s going on, I’d imagine that you are here to manipulate her and get her to do what you want her to do so that I do what you want me to do.”

She’s quiet. She actually seems hurt.

“Baby, it’s okay. Let me speak to mme. I’ll be fine, I promise.” I say.

Even my kids are uncomfortable.

Thabang gets up from the table and leaves the dining room. The kids get up and follow him, moving as fast as they can.

Now, it’s just mme and me.

I look at her.

“Thabang cannot divorce Mmakabelo and Mahali.” She says to me.

“I never asked him to. I never even suggested that he does.” I say.

“But you didn’t stop him from cutting them off. He sold their houses and their cars. How could you let that happen?”

“What exactly do you want me to do, mama? I’m very confused. Because no one ever spoke to me about whatever is going on here. In fact, I’m still in the dark. But apparently, I must tell Thabang what to do and when to do it with things that belong to him… about things that I know nothing about.”

“Your role is to not cause havoc in this family!”

“How have I done that? I’m not the one who lied to him about the paternity of children that he believed were his all this time. Why is it my fault that he has reacted the way that he has about a situation that I had nothing to do with?!”

She looks at me.

I look at her.

She’s honestly being unfair and I’m not going to sit here and just take whatever she’s giving me. No ways!

“Morafe, the family did what they believed was best. Thabang couldn’t have any children. Mmakabelo and Mahali did what the family instructed them to do. They did nothing wrong.” She says.

“From what I understand, Mahali married Thabang because she got pregnant. Was the family involved in that too?” I ask.

“Morafe, no one in this family answers to you.”

“But you are here, asking for my help.”

“Because you are the only person who can talk some sense into Thabang right now.”

“But none of this makes sense to me, so how would I speak it as sense to Thabang?”

She looks at me like she wants to slap me. I don’t back down. I stare right back at her.

“There’s going to be a meeting tonight in Dithabneg to discuss this. Make sure that Thabang is there.” She says.

“I’ll let him know, but I’m not forcing him to do anything.” I say.

“Morafe!”

“No mama, this is not how this works. You want my help, you tell me everything. If no one answers to me, it’s fine. But then no one has the right to bully me into doing things for them for their benefit… especially at the expense of my husband’s hurt. Thabang matters to me. Clearly, no one else is thinking about him in all of this that’s going on. So I’ll protect him. And with the information that I have, I don’t think I have enough information to make him bekezela for rubbish.”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll make sure that Thabang is at that meeting.” She says, threatening me actually.

“Like I said, I’ll let him know about the meeting.” I say.

She just turns around and walks away.

…

8pm

Thabang insisted that I attend this meeting with him. I don’t want to be here. His mother and his other wives don’t want me here. Every time they’ve kicked me out, Thabang got up and left with me. So now, we all have no choice. If we want Thabang here, I have to be here. My kids are at home. Thabang and I drove down here together. I had to drive because Thabang was trying to kill us nje.

So many people are here at this meeting: his parents, the wives, their families, some uncles that I recognise as they are the ones who negotiated my lobola, Tumelo’s two wives (I’m not sure why they are here), then me and Thabang.

Le tona is the one who breaks the awkward silence that has now occurred.

“Thabang, I believe that you have kicked your first and second wife out of their houses. You’ve even gone to the extent of selling their houses and cars.”

“That’s very true, le tona”, Thabang.

“My question is, why?” Le tona.

“Both Mmakabelo and Mahali made it clear that the kids I believed were mine all this time are not my kids. I found them fighting like witches with a failed plan, arguing about how they need to ensure that I never find out about the paternity of their kids. This is not something that I heard on the streets, I heard it from their own mouths.” Thabang.

The other two wives are giving me quite the look.

“Those kids are yours, Thabang.” Le tona.

“They are not.”

“The family made a plan. There had to be kids that came from your household. Your wives came to us to inform us that you were unable to produce kids. As a family, we did what we needed to do.” Le tona.

“Without talking to me? Really?! And Mahali yena? I married her because she became pregnant. How did she become pregnant before she could come to the family and express my infertility?” Thabang.

There’s silence.

“Well?” Thabang.

“Thabang, please my son. I’m asking you to please be reasonable.” The mom.

“If you are not going to answer my question, I will leave this meeting then moving forward, you’ll deal with my lawyers. I will not sit here and listen to this shit while I get no answers out of it.” Thabang says.

“When we were dating, I made a mistake with someone else. But he was married and his wife, at the time, was not prepared to accept a second wife. So the elders decided that I’d marry you for the sake of not having conflict”, Mahali says.

“Who exactly is the father of these kids?” Thabang.

I’m still picking up my bottom lip from the ground from what Mahali has just told us.

The mother, Mmakabelo and Mahali look uncomfortable. Everyone else looks at them.

“This is a fucken waste of my time. Baby, let’s go home”, Thabang says, standing up.

“Tumelo! Ke Tumelo. He’s the father of all our kids.” Mmakabelo says.

“MANG?!” Kgomotso, Tumelo’s first wife, barks.

This situation is worse than I thought.

“Kgomotso, please!” The mother.

Kgomotso is already on her feet and has somehow smashed Mahali’s and Mmakabelo’s heads together. This girl ke wa straata hle!

The other two try to fight back, but Tumelo’s second wife is also involved in the fight now.

My husband is actually heartbroken. He was disappointed with his wives… but his brother? That, he didn’t expect. He’s just hurt.

I hold his hand.

He kisses my hand.

Finally, people calm down. Clothes are torn, mzala. There’s blood here and there. I don’t even know who is bleeding.

“Thabang, we did what we believed was best. You have to believe us”, the mom.

“Best for who, mama? For who?!”

“For the family.” The mother.

“Did anyone ever think about what this would mean for me? How I would feel about this?”

Silence.

“You know what…? I’ve heard enough. I’ll be in contact with my lawyers and you’ll be in touch with them moving forward.” Thabang.

“You’ll do no such thing! Calm down! And stop being selfish!” Le tona.

“I’m not taking these women back. I’m most certainly not going to be looking after kids that are not mine! Never!”

“Let me remind you, Thabang Mothipa… those businesses you’ll be using to pay your little lawyers are Mothipa family businesses. If you walk out, divorce these women and not do your part in protecting this family, I’ll take it all away from you, including that house you live in with Morafe oe wahao! We’ve accepted her children, but you want to spit on Mothipa blood?! Boy, I will end you!” Le tona.

I actually unintentionally laugh.

Everyone looks at me.

“Something funny?” The mother.

“Your audacity is what makes me laugh.” I say.

Everyone is shocked.

“Excuse me?” Le tona.

“I have a job… an actual paying job. I’m not the housewife who was sitting at home and lying to my husband while he looks after me.”

“O reng wena?!” Mmakabelo.

“Don’t interrupt me. I’m not done talking”, I say.

“Bathung!” Mahali.

“Thabang and I will not starve. And that house you speak of is in my name. You can’t do shit to it.” Me.

“Morafe, you are out of your limits now.” Le tona.

“With all due respect, le tona… I have connections too - connections higher than this royal home. Your forget my connections to the Mohale throne and you forget that Tumelo’s safety in prison is a favour to me that I personally asked for after you failed to reach an agreement without me with the king. If you cut my husband off, just know that I no longer have loyalty to this family… and I’ll personally tell the king that he can do as he pleases to the baby daddy to every woman in this room. With all these revelations, I’m sure you need him out faster than his sentence, so I’d highly advise against testing me.”

There’s silence.

Thabang holds my hand.

“Is this what that prostitute of a mother and sister taught you? This is how your family taught you to behave in your in-law’s home?” Le tona.

“I love Thabang. To me, Thabang comes first. No one else and nothing else. If you think you can treat the man that I love like this, then you leave me no choice. You put everyone in this position, and now you are upset that Thabang is not aligned with you brilliant plan? Did you really underestimate his manhood to the extent that you played God over his life and marriages? Well, the buck stops here! It stops with me. You are done hurting my husband. Try me! Just test what I will do to protect my husband from all you! Try me! I dare you!” I say.

With this, Thabang stands up, takes my hand, and he leads me out of the house.

I’m actually shaking!

I also don’t know where that bravery came from.

…

Today, I woke up and appreciated my family. I started with my wife - she who fights for me as hard as I fight for her… she who protects me as much as I protect her… she who loves me as I love her. My equal. My best friend. The love of my life. Then I appreciated my kids. They think I’m their world. I’m their giant and it is on my shoulders that they stand on. They know that I’m not their birth father… they know. But to them, blood couldn’t make us any closer. I love them. And our relationship is honest, more than anything.

Yesterday, Morafe and I went to a fertility clinic. We spoke to a fertility specialist about my issue. He took some of my blood then he also needed a good sample of my semen. So, he told us that I could either jerk off to porn or I could fuck my wife, but I’d have to use a condom so I cum in the condom and they could use it/test it. Obviously, I fucked my stunning wife. And I released cum that was far much more needed. Lol!

So now we wait for the results.

On our drive back home, I asked her if she’d have kids with me - even if it’s just one child - should my problem be fixable. I know that we agreed that we wouldn’t have kids together. But I need this. I need at least one child that’s of my semen. She raised concerns about what that would mean for my relationship with Mosetsana and Tshenolo. I promised her that things won’t change. I love those kids. They are mine. I just need to have this one child that I can say, “ja, ke monna.” She actually said yes. She promised me that she’d birth my baby if I can fix whatever is wrong with me.

Now, I’m at this prison to see my brother. It’s not a day for visitations, but I asked for a favour. I’m here. I need to talk to my brother. I have a few things that I seriously need to understand.

I’m sitting in the seat I’m told to sit in.

In no time, he walks out in his grey prison overalls.

We look at each other. He’s looking at me like he already knows why I’m here. I guess my dad briefed him already… or maybe it was my mom, I don’t know.

He sits in the seat opposite me.

He leans against his chair, arrogantly so.

“Sho”, he says.

“Sho”, I say.

“Di ntsang?” He says.

“You smashed my wives?” I get straight to the point.

“Mmakabelo, the family asked me to intervene. Mahali… I didn’t know the two of you were vibing when I was tapping her on the side. That’s the truth. When I found out, we literally stopped talking. That’s why she and I never talk. Like ever. The first kid was my bad. But the second kid, the family asked me for that one.” He says.

“I really thought that I could trust you. I trusted you more than anyone that’s walking this earth, Tumelo. How could you? And then you hide something like this from me? You guys didn’t even give me an opportunity to at least go and get myself checked out. You just decided and went with it? What kind of people are you?”

“Why do you think that I never wanted you to get with Morafe? One, I hated what I was doing. Two, I hated going behind your back like that. And three, I know that you love Morafe more than life. If you guys wanted to have kids, I’d have to smash there and with Morafe, I knew you’d murder me. We were all scared that with Morafe, you’d find out about the paternity situation and we’d all be fucked. You don’t think we know that we messed up? We all didn’t want Morafe around because -

“Stop putting this on Morafe. Stop it! And you would have never touched Morafe because she would have never hurt me like this!”

“Are you sure about that?”

“You know what, I actually am! And you are all right… she would have come to me and we would have had the necessary conversations, possibly go see doctors and try to fix this. She wouldn’t have betrayed me the way that all of you did.”

“That’s because you’ve given her the allowance to do that. You’ve given her a safe space to talk to you and engage you like that. Do you ever think about the safe space that you give Mmakabelo and Mahali? Do you ever ask yourself why they couldn’t come to you? Why they couldn’t talk to you about this? Do you ever ask yourself why they don’t feel as safe as Morafe does with you?”

“You can say whatever you want, Tumelo. They did this shit! They chose what they chose. So did you! So did mom! So did Le tona!”

“Thabang, stop being so pussy-whipped, man! I get it, Morafe is the shit. But you know very well the responsibilities that come with being born into this family. You know very well that you can’t divorce Mmakabelo and Mahali because of this shit! You know this! Now you have Morafe talking shit to our parents and blackmailing them because they are holding you accountable to what needs to happen? You acting like you are the first person to go through something like this? You know damn well that if the roles were reversed, you’d have to impregnate my wives so that each household is fulfilled! Just like you are currently looking after my wives right now while I’m locked up in here.”

“I’m not fucking your wives! Unlike you, I am very clear where my duty ends and where my loyalty begins. I’m not going to apologise that I have at least one person who’s in my corner because you and that whole family have no fucking clue where loyalty begins. But it’s fine… I see that you are not remorseful for any of this. None of you are.”

“We did nothing wrong!”

“I hope you remember that for the rest of your lives!” I say then leave this prison.

-

I get home and Morafe is not here. She did say that she would be busy at work all day. Let me phone her.

“Hey baby”, she answers her phone.

“Hey my love.”

“You okay? How did the prison visit go?”

“I’m okay. He’s not even remorseful, baby. None of them are.”

“Askies hle, baby. I’m so sorry. Your mom also came to see me.” She says.

“What does she want?”

“She was telling me that Mmakabelo and Mahali now live with her until further notice… with all the kids.”

“And what’s that got to do with you?”

“She wants me to stop you from divorcing them. She even slapped me for disagreeing with her.”

“She what?!”

“I’m okay baby. I just don’t appreciate being hit like I’m such child.”

“I’ll speak to her”, I say.

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that. Because next time, I’ll have her arrested for assault.”

I’m just quiet because I feel like she’s being unnecessary right now.

“Do you think I’m being unreasonable?” I ask her.

“With what, baby?”

“The divorce.” I say.

“I don’t know, love. I really don’t. I’m not in your shoes. I know you are upset and I know you are hurting. I’m just not sure about the depth of the pain. Your mom says I must tell you that you are wrong. That you are unreasonable. And that you must stop this. But I’m the one who sleeps next to you every night. I’m the one who hears you cry at night when you think I’m fast asleep. I’m the one who holds you, and I feel and see you fall apart. Of everyone, I’m the one who sees what you are going through. I may not feel it in its entirety, but I know that you are not okay. And when you are not okay, I’m not okay. So it’s difficult for me to tell you to make a decision that I know will keep you unhappy. No one has the right to tell you how to feel or how to deal with this. Only you know what will make this more bearable for you, helping you put this behind you.”

“You know that I love you, right?” I tell her.

“I love you too, baby. I really do. And I’m here for you, T. No matter what, I’m here for you.”

“Okay baby. I’ll see you when you get home.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

We hang up.

“Ntate Mothipa”, I hear a voice. I turn around to see who’s there.

Yey! Yey! Yey! What the hell is this?! Why is this domestic worker in lingerie?!

“Keng wena?!” I respond with aggression. Because I will tell Morafe and let Morafe deal with her. She clearly hasn’t seen Morafe in action.

“I thought I’d keep you company while Mme Mothipa asiyo.”

“Ke bo febe bo jwang bona bo?! I love my wife, wena! What could I possibly want from you?!”

She instantly feels uncomfortable. She suddenly wants to cover herself up with a jacket or something, but there’s not one in sight.

“I want you to leave this house and never come back! Do you understand me? If I ever see you here again, I’ll tell Morafe what you’ve done and I’ll let her deal with you! Do you understand me?!”

“Ntate Mothipa, please don’t fire me. I’m begging you. I really need this job. I only did this because Mme Mahali, Mme Mmakabelo and your mother told me to do this. They even put a camera up, look…” she says, pointing at some camera.

What’s wrong with these people?!

“Get the fuck out of my face!” I tell her.

“I can’t lose my job, sir. I’m begging you. Please don’t tell Mme Mothipa. I’m really scared of her.” She says.

“I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY FACE!” I yell. She sprints out of here.

Now I dial my mother…

“Thabang”, she answers her phone.

“Do you want to lose me forever? Do you want me so out of this family that I practically declare you dead to me?”

“Ey wena! You phoned me for nonsense?”

“Not only are you going around slapping my wife, you are also paying domestic workers to seduce me in my wife’s house? What exactly do you want to see happen, Mme?”

She’s quiet.

“To be clear, the next time you put your hands on my wife again, I’ll personally have you arrested!”

“Thabang!”

“And the next time you pay or ask anyone to seduce me again, I will tell Morafe and I’ll allow her to do whatever the hell she wants to do with all of you.”

“What did this girl feed you?”

“Feed me? Le yetsa manyala and when I disagree with your shit le re ke jesitswe? Ema pele!”

“Thabang, ke kopa re buwe, ngwana waka. Please.”

“I’m done talking. Respect my marriage! It’s the least that you can do at this point. If that’s going to be difficult for you, you’ll leave me no choice but to want nothing to do with the Mothipa family ever again.”

With this I hang up!

Let me actually go and take a nap!

[ketso]

Episode 46

My mom and my step-father bought us a house. I’m so excited it’s not even funny. Senzi is equally excited! We are living with Akwande for a while. Mam’Fifi is flying in and out of the kingdom everyday to help the queen set up a new school.

Seeing that everyone is away and busy on this project, we asked Ntuthuko and Tamia to help us move in. The movers are helping us move the furniture in. We have helpers packing our clothes in the cupboards as we instruct them. Tamia and I are now unpacking cutlery and crockery in the kitchen. I’m not sure what Ntuthuko, Akwande and Senzi are doing.

Tamia keeps stealing looks at Senzi.

I know things are really tense between them right now.

“You are allowed to speak to him, you know.” I say to her.

“I miss him so much.” She tells me.

“Manje why don’t you just give him a hug and tell him that?”

“We are not there yet.”

“Tamia, nishadile. You are way over that stage.”

“It’s just… I feel so bad.”

“About what?”

“In as much as I’m mad at his family and him, the kids are the ones that are suffering. We worked so hard to get them to adjust to what we were offering them… the new schools, the new home… and now they are gone. They are back to that place that was difficult for them to come out of in the first place.”

I hug her.

“I just want us to fix this, Wandi.” She says.

“Nami nje I want to fix this, sthandwa sami.” We hear a voice. We come out of our hug. Ntuthuko is at the kitchen entrance.

I step out of the kitchen and give them space.

But I stand at the door to listen in a bit.

“Baby… things don’t have to be like this.” Ntuthuko says.

“I won’t be disrespected by your family, Ntuthuko. And I certainly won’t be disrespected by your baby-mamas. It’s not going to happen.”

“I don’t know what you want me to do to make this right. I love you.”

“Then show me. Defend me. MaNdlovu was never supposed to put me in that position. She was never supposed to attack me for the decision that I made. It’s not unreasonable for me to hold you loyal and accountable to your kids ONLY - you owe your baby-mamas nothing!”

“I know that.”

“So why aren’t you saying it? Why aren’t you telling her and everyone else in your family that’s treating me like crap because of all of this? Why do you let them do this to me? Am I honestly wrong for loving those kids? For everything that I’ve done for them? Ngimoshe kuphi?”

Ntuthuko takes a deep breath then says, “My love… just come home. I’m begging you. Come home. Wear your ring again. And let’s fix this together.”

“Angilahlwanga mina ekhaya. I won’t stand for abuse anywhere ngiyazi kahle mina ukuthi ngangiphathwa njani ekhaya.” Tamia.

That’s a bit unfair.

Why would she say that?

“I’m sorry, T. I’m really sorry. Please come home. Please sthandwa sami. Ngiyakucela ndl’enkulu.”

Ntuthuko is very patient shame.

Ntuthuko’s cellphone rings.

“Hello?” Ntuthuko.

“Hi. Is this Mr Ntuthuko Maphumulo?”

I think Ntuthuko has his phone on speaker. Clearly, he’s scared of Tamia like that.

“Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Sir, you are speaking to Lorielle Jacobs. I’m a social worker that’s been assigned to the case regarding the living conditions of your children. Sir, your children are with us now at our facilities. They’ll be in our custody until you and Mrs Maphumulo get here to discuss the matter further with us.”

“I don’t understand what you are saying.” Ntuthuko.

“Sir, your children cannot be in the custody of their mothers right now. We have now taken them from their mothers. We’ve been advised that we can only release these kids into yours and your wife’s custody. Until you come to our facility, your children will be in our custody.”

“What are the details of your facility?” Tamia enquires.

The lady shares the details of the facility.

In no time, Ntuthuko and Tamia are rushing off together to attend to this matter. We would’ve left with them… but it’s all the way in KZN. I’m pregnant and I need to unpack this house.

It is about 6pm now. Tamia or Ntuthuko have not phoned us yet to tell us what’s going on. Senzi is a bit stressed about this. He even phoned his dad and told him about the phone call. I know his dad is not too impressed with Tamia right now. The way she handled that entire family meeting nje… Bab’Shaka basically called her spoiled and disrespectful. And he was even more pissed off that her family allowed her to speak to adults that way. Mam’Fifi was team Tamia all the way. She told Bab’Shaka that he’s the last person to say that about Tamia. Tamia had every right to be upset and to stand up for herself because MaNdlovu was wrong - very wrong… and no one was prepared to tell her that. After the way that Tamia’s family treats Ntuthuko… after how they welcomed them… after how Tamia fought for her family to accept and love Ntuthuko - four kids and all - the Maphumulo family has no right to treat Tamia the way that they are treating her. Bab’Shaka said that Tamia is still a child in this family. And if she doesn’t have a teachable spirit, she will be a problem. You don’t sulk, leave your husband and home, throw your ring at your husband then disrespect your in-laws when you disagree with your in-laws or are unhappy about a decision that your in-laws insist on. Sometimes, in-laws will disagree with you and they will impose a decision on you. Threatening to leave every time something like that happens shows that you are not ready for marriage. And her family spoils her and enables her because they’ve taught her to have pride in her marriage and not give her husband his place in the marriage. And for Bab’Shaka, that’s a problem. Mam’Fifi just told him that it’s easy for him to say all of these things because no one gave him a hard time when he became a husband. No one gave Ntuthuko a hard time from Tamia’s family. So he must clearly mean that women are the ones who must tolerate shit, and she’s happy that Tamia is changing that narrative. According to Mam’Fifi, we need more women that come from love, have boundaries against abusive in-laws and don’t handle themselves like marriage is the best thing that has ever happened to them.

Ey, kunzima.

“Baby, I made us some dinner”, I tell Senzi as I bring him a bowl of water to wash his hands in. I’ve always done this for him. At my back room, it made sense because I had to collect the water from the main house. Then it just continued and he seems to feel like a king when I do this for him.

He’s sitting at our dining table, so I’ll just serve him here.

I call Akwande to come and eat. I’m not sure what he’s doing upstairs. But he’s down in no time. I let him wash his hands too.

“Ngiyabonga, Sis’ Wandi”, he says to me.

I smile at him.

“Siyabonga, Sthandwa sami.” Senzi says.

After they’ve said thank you and washed their hands, I go get our plates and juices.

I serve Senzi first, then I serve Akwande, then I sit next to Senzi and enjoy my plate.

“This looks delicious.” Senzi says.

“Sis’ Wandi’s food is always nice. I always enjoy it.” Akwande says.

“Thank you, guys.” I say.

“I hope you guys have a boy.” Akwande randomly says as we eat.

“Why a boy specifically?” Senzi asks him.

“I’m scared that if it’s a girl, she will take after Luhle too much. You guys don’t deserve that.”

I feel like laughing, but I hold it in because at this rate, Luhle’s mom will start ordering lightning for us wherever she is. And we don’t need any of that bad luck.

“We will try our best with whatever God blessed us with. He will give us what He believes we can handle at this point in our lives. And kids are their own people. She or he will develop their own personality in no time. We will try our best to show him or her right from wrong. We will do our best with the aid of prayer… then we will trust God to do the rest”, Senzi says.

I’m so glad that his faith is still important to him. These are some of the things that help me find my husband amidst the changes that are happening in our lives.

“You know, this baby is going to be the reason I don’t leave to study overseas”, he says.

“Why?” I ask him.

“I feel like I’m really going to love him or her. I feel like he or she will also be my firstborn”.

This actually makes me smile. Senzi too.

“I like you guys. I’m so happy that you guys came into our lives.” He says.

“We love you too, Akwande.” I say.

“Are Bhut’Ntuthuko and Sis’Tamia going to be okay?” He asks us.

“We don’t know.” I say.

“I don’t want them to divorce”, he says.

“Hai bo, Akwande. No one is thinking that far yet.” I say.

“We all know that MaNdlovu will never change. And honestly, I like that Sis’Tamia is not allowing MaNdlovu to bully her. But what if at some point, it gets to a point where Sis’Tamia gets pushed too far? Phela Sis’Tamia is nothing like the beggars that gave birth to Bhut’Ntuthuko’s children. She can actually leave him and not be financially stretched. She doesn’t need him like that. So, if leaving seems better for her than staying in that marriage, she just might. I don’t want that to happen.”

Senzi and I look at each other.

I think we are both a bit taken aback.

“Sis’Tamia is very good for Bhut’Ntuthuko. We all know it, regardless of what we think about their situation right now.” Akwande says.

“Do you think that they should live with the kids?” Senzi asks him.

“It makes the most sense. What do the kids have to lose? They have everything to gain. The biggest losers here are the mothers. They don’t want to lose. And honestly, I’m with Sis’Tamia on this… they are not bhuti’s responsibility. They must make a plan for themselves. MaNdlovu is being unnecessary and wishful about thinking that the other four women will be bhuti’s honorary wives… at the expense of Sis’Tamia nogal? I mean, Sis’Wandi, how would you feel if bhut’Senzi was being told to look after his baby mamas?”

“Not happening”, I instantly say.

“Manje why are we expecting Sis’Tamia to accept this?”

I get his point.

Senzi and I look at each other as well.

It is now 9pm. I decide to phone Tamia. I don’t understand why they are so silent. We are all worried.

“Hey Wandi.” She answers her phone.

She’s on speaker. Akwande and Senzi are with me.

“Hey T. I’m with Senzi and Akwande. You are on speaker. We are a bit worried about you guys. Is everything okay?”

She takes a deep sigh.

“T, what’s going on?” I ask her.

“Ey Wandi, we arrived. The kids were there. Their mothers also arrived. One of them even hit me. They blame me for all of this. MaNdlovu was there with them.”

“Hai bo!”

“Ja. They basically demanded that I cancel the case. Then MaNdlovu said that the kids will live with her eMtubatuba, but not with me. You know, I was so defeated Wandi. I don’t know what that woman wants from me, honestly.”

“What did Ntuthuko say?” I ask her.

“Ntuthuko told them that it’s fine, we will drop the case. They can take the kids. But they must know that he’s done supporting the kids then. He said that he’s more than proven that he can look after these kids himself. When the kids are with us, we don’t ask them for a cent. He’s happy to tell a judge that. But they are never getting a cent out of him ever again. They obviously complained. MaNdlovu blamed me for all of it. She asked me if I’m proud of what I’ve done. I just feel the worst about those kids. They don’t deserve this, Wandi. They are literally suffering because of their parents’ decisions. But there’s nothing that I can do. MaNdlovu and the kids left with the mothers. We are now driving back to the kingdom.” She says.

Yoh, this is a mess.

Senzi’s phone rings. It’s their dad.

“Babe, I’ll call you back.” I say.

We hang up.

“Baba… Kunjani?” Senzi.

“What the hell have Ntuthuko and Tamia done now?!” He’s so angry.

“I don’t know. I’m still talking to him right now.” Senzi.

“I’ve been called to go to eMtubatuba now because Ntuthuko cut off his own children!” The dad.

“Akulona iqiniso lelo, baba. If MaNdlovu is going to town with this, she must be honest with the facts!” Senzi fights for his brother.

“What do you know?” I hear Mam’Fifi ask.

“Ntuthuko and Tamia were called, while with us, by social workers. Those social workers stated that the environment the kids are living in is not good. They were going to keep those kids in their custody until Ntuthuko and Tamia came to fetch the kids.” I say.

“Then when they arrived, one of the crazy baby mothers slapped Tamia. MaNdlovu also insulted Tamia like she always does. So bhuti told them that if they want to take the kids they can. But he’s never supporting them again. When the kids are with him, he doesn’t ask them for a cent. He’s proven that he can look after the kids without them. So the choice is theirs. MaNdlovu blames Tamia for that decision, but after slapping his wife and insulting her, what are we expecting bhuti to do?” Akwande says.

“Yeses! This is a mess! A mess!” Bab’Shaka is angry.

“Can you make your way to the airstrip? We are going to eMtubatuba.” The dad.

“Okay.” Senzi says.

“Bhuti and Tamia are on their way back. Maybe phone them and tell them to stay in KZN”. Akwande says.

“Nx!” The dad, then he hangs up.

The three of us look at each other.

“Are you guys coming?” Senzi asks Akwande and I.

“Why would I stay?” Akwande.

I’m already headed to the door.

…

You know, for people who should still be in their honeymoon phase, Tamia and Ntuthuko have us in a lot of meetings. A lot! I don’t even remember having these many family meetings for me.

We are now in the main house eMtubatuba. Tamia refused to sit in this meeting. She refuses to sit in any sitting with MaNdlovu. So she’s with Wandi. In here, we have Ntuthuko, his four baby-mamas, all four of my dad’s mothers, Mam’Fifi and me. The kids are playing outside. Sihle has been glued to Tamia. This seriously touched my parents.

“Is Tamia not joining us?” MaNdlovu.

“Cha. You’ve made sure that she has no say in this angisho? So, she’s staying in her place as you’ve put her.” Yoh, Ntuthuko must really miss his wife. He’s already starting this meeting on such a disrespectful note.

“Ntuthuko, angiyena umngane wakho!” MaNdlovu.

“Loko ukwenze kwacaca. I’m not in any way confused about that.” Ntuthuko.

“Ntuthuko!” My dad.

I just scratch my head.

“UTamia uyafuneka la! Uphi?” MaNdlovu.

“She’s not coming.” Ntuthuko.

“Yini yona leyo?! Makeze nje ngamanje?!” MaNdlovu.

“Ukuthini?! Ukuthi uzomdelela uze uqede umshado wami?” Ntuthuko is not playing games today.

“Shaka, sesidelelwa kanje ngempela?” MaNdlovu.

“Can this meeting please proceed? Why are we here?” My dad.

MaNdlovu is disappointed.

The baby-mamas look even more hurt.

“UShaka athi he’s no longer supporting his children. As Maphumulos, we don’t do that.” MaNdlovu.

“What has led to this decision?” My dad.

Everyone looks at Ntuthuko.

“My wife has been more than disrespected and more than hurt by everyone thinking that they can tell us how to deal with people who terrorise us like this. I know that I was a cash cow for these four women just because they gave birth to these kids. I’m very clear on that. Angisho being mothers is a job for them… and they have absolutely no responsibility for their kids… it’s all on me. They made that very clear in how they’ve treated me all these years. They made that very clear in how they dumped four kids on my wife, who was at the time, my girlfriend, and expected her to figure it out. And you know… she did. She gave those kids a better quality of life. Then these women decided that this was never about the kids they gave birth to. My wife has given up so much more than what these mothers have… sacrificed like a mother when all these women ever do is think about how they get their next paycheque from me. So, it’s time for them to decide if they are mothers or they are paid birth-givers. I don’t mind paying for my kids’ better future and better living conditions. But I do mind supporting anyone else who is not them! When these kids are with me, I don’t even ask for ten cents from these women. And I’ve proven that I can look after them. I’m happy to take them to live with me. So is my wife. But unless those kids are in my custody, I’m not paying another cent to their mothers. Not even a black cent. And the law is on my side with this.”

“Shaka, yini yona le? Ngenxa ka makoti that doesn’t even have the decency to respect us enough to sit here and have this conversation with us? She just sleeps with Ntuthuko and convinces him to make such decisions about his kids! His kids!” MaNdlovu says, slamming the dining table.

“May I speak?” I say.

“Please… speak sense to your brother wena onomakoti onenqondo”, MaNdlovu.

“First of all… if you say one more thing that’s negative about Tamia, I will personally walk out of this meeting.” I say.

Ntuthuko smiles at me.

“Ini?!” MaNdlovu.

“What exactly did Tamia do that is so wrong that has warranted your endless abuse towards her, to a point where she’s currently not even in her marital home anymore? She loved and cared for children that you continuously remind her are not hers. Do you know what other women would’ve done? They would’ve actually cut off Ntuthuko from his kids all together, and they would’ve had every right to do so. The first time I met my brother, he told me that he couldn’t even afford to buy himself an apartment because his baby-mamas were on his payroll over and above the monthly twelve thousand rands that he gave them. Do you know how much money a court of law would instruct ubhuti to pay as maintenance? Way less than that! Tamia, an advocate of the law, knows this. She’s always known this. To me, these women know this. They all know that. That’s why when the money was now strictly diverted to the kids and away from them, they didn’t go to court to fight for their maintenance. They took the kids to Tamia. Except their plan didn’t work. The kids were supposed to frustrate Tamia. But Tamia mothered those kids in a way that not even they could mother them… which means less money for them. As to why they don’t find jobs and sustain themselves is beyond me. They are not bhuti’s responsibility. That’s a fact! The fact that we are in and out of meetings because of this nonsense tells me that MaNdlovu and these mothers don’t care about these kids.”

“Uthini wena?!” MaNdlovu.

“There’s nothing wrong with these kids living with Tamia and Ntuthuko. I’m sure if we called them in here and asked them who they’d rather live with, they’d be clear on wanting to live with Tamia and Ntuthuko. But we are here, busy fighting for the comfort of their mothers as if we owe them anything. But again… we are hiding behind the kids yet again… like the mothers have done all these years.”

“So you believe that kids should be separated from their mothers just so Ntuthuko can support them?” MaNdlovu.

“Why can’t the mothers find jobs? Aren’t they also parents that must think about their kids? Or that’s only on Ntuthuko?” I say.

“Shaka, izingane zakho zingenwe yini?” MaNdlovu.

“I’m with Senzi on this one”, Mam’Fifi says.

We all look at her.

“And just like Senzi, this is the last time that I’m sitting in such meetings. Tamia and Ntuthuko have done nothing wrong. If anything, they’ve been more than fair… to the detriment of their marriage. So if you are not happy with the decision that Ntuthuko has made, take it up with a lawyer at your own expense. Because my husband and I will not be assisting these women neither.” Mam’Fifi.

MaNdlovu is so disappointed.

“Shaka, may I please speak to you privately? Please?” MaNdlovu.

“Cha, mah. Nami sengikhathele manje. Unless we are apologising to Tamia about how we have treated her, I’m not prepared to listen anymore. I’ve heard enough and know enough to know that if anyone has a problem with how things are, they can go the legal route. And mah, I’ll tell you this… before Tamia even came into Ntuthuko’s life, I didn’t even know these kids. These mothers have spent more than enough of my money, have more than bathed in my son’s money under the alias of needing money for kids. Now I’m sitting here expected to stand up for them before a woman who actually brought me into these kids’ lives? Ayihambi kanjalo, mah.”

MaNdlovu and the baby mamas are not happy AT ALL.

When my dad leaves the table and then the room, I follow him. I guess the meeting is done.

I see Wandi and Tamia chilling together on some stoep outside of the rondavels. Sihle is passing out in Tamia’s arms. It’s so beautiful to watch. The other three kids are playing about. They are excited to see each other.

I see Mam’Fifi going to these women. She even sits with them. I guess she’s going to be talking to them.

“I really wish she comes back home”, Ntuthuko says.

I didn’t even see him stand next to me. My dad is also here.

“Once she’s back home, we need to talk about her behaviour, Ntuthuko. Asikwazi ukuhlanyiswa umakoti like this.” Shaka says.

“I don’t blame her though. MaNdlovu is out of line.” I say.

“Awusho, the kids -

“I know these women. I’ll have those kids back in no time.” Ntuthuko.

“And if you don’t?” My dad.

“I will. They’ll probably want a financial trade-off. They would sell me my kids. And it’s fine, I’ll pay. But at least I’ll have my kids back.”

“What is Tamia saying?” I ask.

“She wants none of it. She says she’s tired of this family making her a villain in all of this. So now, she’s staying in her place and we can decide ukuthi siyenzani ngezingane zethu.” Ntuthuko.

“Yini yona leyo, Ntuthuko?” My dad asks.

“Imiphumela yempatho kaMaNdlovu.” Ntuthuko says.

“We need to fix this! I’m not having this bullshit in my family.” My dad.

“Then manage inkosikazi kababa wakho. Uyena i-ring leader of all of this.” Ntuthuko.

My dad looks at both of us.

He shakes his head.

…

Wandi and I are back home. We all flew back. Tamia was quiet the whole flight back. Their car will be driven back by some people that my father paid.

Wandi and I are lying next to each other… in our bed… I’m rubbing her belly. We can feel the baby move now. And the baby is kicking quite a bit. I can’t wait for this baby to be born. He or she is going to be incredible. I just know it.

“Senzangakhona”, she says.

“Yes my love?”

“Do you have kids out there?”

I laugh first then say, “no.”

“No? Or not that you know of? Unless you were a virgin when we met.”

“Baby, I wasn’t a virgin when I met you… but I always kept my dick wrapped. I didn’t leave any kids out there.”

“You sure? One night stands?”

“Wandi, I don’t have kids.”

“So, it would be fine if I didn’t accept any child that came by claiming to be yours.”

I’m quiet. Because now I must actually think hard about this.

“Because I’m not going to tolerate half the shit that Tamia is expected to tolerate. It’s just not for me.” She says.

“I’d never allow anyone to treat you the way that Tamia has been treated.” I tell her.

“You think Ntuthuko is for this?”

“Not that he’s for it, but he did take his time in stepping up. He’s finally stepping up khona, but I’m disappointed that it took Tamia leaving her house for him to urgently step up. But he’s finally stepping up.” I say.

“Ja neh. I feel for her though. She’s so sad. She was even telling me that the two older ones are supposed to be going on their first school camp in the next three months and they’ve been so excited about it. Athi she hasn’t even deregistered them from their schools. She’s so hopeful that they’ll come back. She collects work for them at the school. She’s hired tutors to help them catch up should they come back. I don’t know what she will do if they don’t come back.” Wandi tells me.

“Maybe they should think about having their own kids. That way, no matter what, it’s their kids. But with other people’s kids, they can’t do much or have much control.” I say.

“The thing is, and naye she told me, if they have their own kids and she applies that mentality, she will be the devil again anyway. She will do everything for her kids and they will have a better life than the existing kids. Then she’ll be accused, yet again, ukuthi ukhetha abantwana and she doesn’t love them the same. She’s screwed either way.”

I actually think about that.

“She must really love your brother hey.” Wandi says.

“Yeah. I’ll also talk to him. He can’t keep treating her like this. It’s not okay.”

“Please do. I didn’t hook him up with my friend just so that she could be this unhappy so early in her marriage.” She says.

Tense!

[ketso]

Episode 45

My dad just had his surgery. We flew him and Mam’Celia to Tholoana Kingdom and he had the surgery here. They are staying with us, much to Rena’s and Moloko’s excitement. I’m not sure if they are enjoying having grandparents or if Mam’Celia is humouring them as hard as she humours us. Khotso insists that Celia is a walking comedy show. I think I understand her nyana… she reminds me of someone I was locked up with. She gives me her vibes. But I like that Rena is cheering up a little more. Since the whole Tumelo issue, she’s been really down. I’ve really tried to be there for her, but I’m also not in support of that relationship. He’s in prison right now, and he’s fine. He was never going to just get off scot-free from this. That was wishful thinking on Rena’s end.

Mam’Celia is helping me prepare breakfast and lunchboxes for the kids.

My dad is all bathed up and we know he’s just going to be in the TV room the whole day. His nurse is here. He has a private nurse helping us. But obviously, Mam’Celia is within because she doesn’t trust any female around her man.

“Sekayalala ubaba ubusuku bonke? Or is he still struggling?” I ask Mam’Celia.

“Last night, he slept throughout the night. So that’s really good progress.” She says.

“Hai cha, kuhle. I’m glad uyalulama”, I say.

“Yinhle kakhulu lento yokuthi usize ubaba wakho, Maphuthi. That’s why you are so beautiful and so blessed. Siyabonga futhi kuwe nomkhwenyane for everything that you are doing for us.” She says.

“I wish I stepped up earlier yaz, mama. To think that I blamed ubaba all these years for just leaving us.”

“The important thing is that you found him now and that you are doing your best”, she says.

“Does he ever say anything to you, mah? Does he hate me? Resent me? That I didn’t look after him all these years? I mean… my life has been all over the news. He knows that I’ve always been rich. But he hasn’t been benefiting like a parent should. Is he… angry maybe?” I ask her.

She takes a deep breath then says, “I didn’t know that he had a child. But I know that he was sad for a very long time. I know that he missed you. I don’t think he wanted your money… I think he just wanted to have a relationship with you.”

“Kodwa mah, why didn’t he find me? My life was everywhere. I wasn’t that difficult to track down. Hell, I was in jail for fifteen years. That’s the easiest place to locate a person.”

“I don’t know, Phuthi. That’s something that you will have to ask him.”

I nod my head.

Then I ask her about her kids because I realise that there’s something there that’s clearly upsetting her or stressing her out.

“Mah, what’s going on between you and your kids?”

“Ey, Maphuthi…. Not all of us have isibeletho esihle like Mam’Ngwenya and Tobias. Not all of us birthed a child like you for our husbands. Phela uMam’Ngwenya umzalele uTobias. Such a beautiful girl with a generous heart. Not all of us got this lucky.”

I don’t even know how to be.

“My eldest child was seven and my youngest was three months, when my husband passed away. These younger two definitely don’t remember their father. My eldest may have some memory of him, and my youngest… I know for a fact doesn’t have any memory of him.”

“Shame mah. Ncesi. What happened to him?” I ask.

“He died in a truck accident while on duty. He was a truck driver. He got into an accident then passed away. They also couldn’t get him out of the truck on time, so when the truck exploded, he was still inside. We had to do a DNA test to ensure it was him because I couldn’t recognise him anymore.”

Yoh!

I can see her getting emotional.

I’m about to tell her that we don’t have to talk about this when she continues her story, saying, “The company that he worked for then told me that they could either give me his full payout or they would continue to pay me his salary for the next ten years. My children would still be able to continue going to school because my husband had taken out bursaries for them that would cover their education until they graduate in university.”

“Well, that’s nice.” I say.

“Ja… but ke, my children didn’t like school, Maphuthi. They were like their father. They didn’t like working hard… even their father nje… I’m the one who had to wake up everyday and go find a job for him. He wanted to stay in bed and sulk about being poor. So, the education bursaries carried them to matric. My daughter didn’t even get to matric. She met a boyfriend in grade nine and decided that she was done with school. You know, what hurts me is that they saw how much we struggled. Every month when the money came in, their father’s family was there - demanding food from us. They’d tell us that their son or brother or uncle supported them too and now I must support them because his money came to me. They saw how horrible it was for me. I had to find work as a cleaner in a hotel just to make sure that when that damn family left my house, I could still feed my kids, make sure they have lunchboxes and still buy them uniform to go to school. But they all decided that university was not for them. They even decided to tell me that their bursaries had to pay them out cash so that they could enjoy their money. But it didn’t work that way. If you don’t go to school, you forfeit the bursary.”

This is actually very hectic.

“Before I knew it, they had all left my house. They were either having kids or getting married. I didn’t even know if they had jobs because I saw none of their money. They never took care of me. Then I met Tobias. I mean… at the time, my husband had been dead for twenty years and I believe that I had done all that I could for my kids. They had even left me and moved on with their lives. I needed someone to make me laugh again and keep me warm at night. Things got serious between Tobias and me, yoh! Izingane! They told me that I was disrespecting their father’s memory. They even stopped speaking to me. They’d just swear at Tobias. It would really hurt me because they couldn’t respect that I love this man. Then he got sick. They would give me R200 every three months… cabanga, Maphuthi. They’d have the audacity to ask me for money when they were cash-strapped… knowing very well that I don’t work and my man is sick. If I couldn’t get money to buy him medicine, where was I going to get money to help them? But, izingane zami. Nawe if Wandi, Rena or Moloko were in trouble you’d make a plan. Akuna mashonisa that I don’t know. I know how their rates work and how they need to be repaid. But it came at an expense… those mashonisas would take our things! Hence the state you found our house in when you found Tobias. Now that you are looking after us, my kids are back. Last time, they came to our house to take our grocery out of our fridge. Imagine! Tobias phoned the police and reported them for theft and breaking in. They spent three days in jail and their case is still ongoing. Tobias wants nothing to do with them.”

Yoh!

“Manje mah, what do you want to see happen?” I ask her.

“I don’t know, Maphuthi. It’s very difficult to want to do your best for thankless children. And maybe I’m the one who’s enabling them every time ngibakhulumela kuTobias or ngibasiza ngemali. Maybe I’m the problem.”

“There’s no sin in loving your children, mah.”

“Yoh, they went and told their father’s family that you bought Tobias and me a house and a car and that you look after us. That family was at our house demanding all sorts of things, saying that I spent their brother’s money while they suffered, now I have the audacity to even turn my back on his children. Bathi nabo they need to be looked after.”

People have ISIBINDI in life… esi-serious! What?!

“Tobias is now saying he wants a dog because he’s now going to feed these people to his dog or dogs. Imagine! And he said this after chasing them away with a hosepipe.”

I actually laugh.

I’m also beginning to realise that my dad has a weird sense of humour.

My kids and Khotso run down the stairs.

I serve them breakfast. Mam’Celia attends to my father, feeding him his breakfast. The kids decide to ditch Khotso and I, then go have breakfast with the grandparents. So it’s just my man and I now.

“You good?” I ask him.

“I’m good. You?”

“I’m okay. I had an interesting conversation with Celia this morning.” I say.

“Yeah?”

“Yep. About the abuse she gets from her kids and their father’s family.”

“Really? Isn’t her husband gone?”

“He’s dead. But people still feel entitled to everything that she has.”

“So what does she want to see happen?”

“She wasn’t very clear with that.”

“Well, I paid off all their loan shark debts. I also warned them to never give Celia money. I further warned them to not allow anyone to take money from them then use anything that Celia or your dad owns as collateral. Apparently, someone had already tried.”

“My money is on the kids.” I say.

He shakes his head.

“There was an attempted break-in at the house two night ago.” He says.

I stare at him.

“We found the culprits. They work for Celia’s kids. They sent the culprits to break in seeing that Celia and your dad are here.”

“Are you kidding me?”

He shakes his head. He eats a bit off his plate, drinks water then says, “I gave them a bit of a scare.”

“What do you mean?” I ask him.

“I was in South Africa yesterday. The plan was for the robbers to meet up with them and give them money from whatever they sold that they found in the house, including the car we got your dad. I showed up instead. I shot one son in the knee, the other son in the ass, and the daughter in her shoulder. I told them that these were warning shots. Next time, I’ll start with their children at school, allow them enough time to bury them, then I finish them off. I told them to stay the fuck away from Celia and your father and to keep every pest away. I told them that was my last conversation with them and I’m not playing. I left them sacred. They still haven’t phoned their mother, so I’m assuming that my message was loud and clear.”

“What are we going to do, Khotso? And these ones just sound like ungrateful people. Even if we try to help them, it will come back to bite us in our asses.”

“Baby, we help the old people because they are old. No one will hire them and no matter what, they need us. Those kids are our ages if not younger than us. If we can make a plan, so can they. No one helped us. I don’t believe in helping able people do what they are supposed to do. Hell no. I also don’t want them disrespecting me or you. You know the daughter offered to give me a blowjob for money.”

“WHAT?! And you are only telling me this how?”

“Yes! Because our kids need you and I don’t need you catching a murder case.”

“That’s not funny, Khotso! She’s disrespecting me phela. Wait till I set eyes on that bitch.”

“Nothing happened. I’m not confused about who my woman is. Chill! Nothing will ever happen… besides, even if I gave her an opportunity to suck my dick, no one sucks it like you do, baby.” He charmingly says.

I blush… but with hesitation because that bitch is already digging her own grave.

“Hey… you got me. I’m not going anywhere. It’s me and you forever”, he says, brushing my chin with his hands then using his lips to brush my lips.

We smile at each other.

“I bought that house that we saw and liked for Wandi and Senzi. I got it for them as a gift.” Khotso says to me.

I instantly smile.

“Yeah, so maybe when Wandi and Senzi arrive, we can surprise them with the house. I know nothing about furniture so I’ll leave that in your capable hands. It’s their wedding gift from us. I know they are still staying with pope, but I hope they’ll like the house.”

I get up from my seat then make my way to his lap.

“Ngiyabonga”, I say to him… brushing his lips with mine then leading his hands to brushing up my thighs under the dress I’m wearing.

“You want to show me how much?”

“I didn’t give you enough of a hint last night?”

“I’ll never say no to a little bit more.”

I giggle.

“Dumelang”, the nurse says.

I jump off Khotso’s lap and greet her back. Khotso is not impressed. But he knows that I appreciate him big time.

-

Mam’Celia is asleep. The kids are at school. Khotso is at work. I go check up on my father. I find the nurse flirting with him SHAMELESSLY. My father is also entertaining this rubbish. Her shirt is even unbuttoned at the top. Sies!

I clear my throat.

She is the one that’s scared of me. So she jumps up and fixes herself.

They both look at me.

“Ey wena! Is this part of your job description? To blatantly ignore the fact that indoda yomuntu ithathiwe? Uvele um’febele nje kanjalo nje? Hoping what will happen exactly?” I bark at her.

“Maphuthi, no ngane yami, don’t do that. She was just being nice.” My dad.

“Being nice? I pay her to make sure that you heal. I don’t pay her to be doing lap dances for you with her uniform undone.” I say.

She starts crying. And I’m going to slap her for that because is’febe asikhalelwa!

“She was keeping me excited. That heals a man very fast.”

“That particular job, baba, falls in Celia’s scope. Lo yena I don’t know ukuthi uphaphiswa yini! Into ekhona nje is that I’ll fire her! And I’ll have her black-balled across this country… Kwaziwe nje ukuthi inyoka le nto! Is’febe nje! Do you not care that his partner is in this very house?! If she’s the one who had walked in instead of me, bowuzothini? Sorry?! Or would you even care? Ngoba nje your type doesn’t care vele.”

“I’m sorry, Ms Ngwenya. I’m so sorry. This will never happen again. I promise.” She says through her tears.

“Vele it will never happen again. You are fired! Ungaphind’ ubuye la!” I say.

“Maphuthi! Hai bo! That’s very harsh! She’s a single mother bandla who’s looking after five households. Mzwele ngane yami. Please.” My dad.

“How would you know that? Why do you know that? Is that why she’s doing this? Trying to sleep nekhehla elingaka that’s old enough to be her father? Ucabanga ukuthi uthole icashcow for her problems la kuwe?” I ask.

“No Ms Ngwenya, not at all.” She says.

“Isn’t it unprofessional to have these kinds of conversations with your patients wena?!”

She’s sobbing.

“Maphuthi-

“Get out wena ntombazane! And if you know what’s good for you, ngeke uphinde ulibeke la.”

“Ms Ngwenya, I really need this job!” She says.

“If you really needed this job, you would’ve respected this job! Manje wena your answer to your issues - like many other women out there - is to sleep with people’s men, regardless of their availability angisho?! Go find another fish, ntombi! My father is not your cash cow and how dare you disrespect his partner! In my house nogal?! Ujwayel’ abantu kabi, wena! Voetsek!”

…

This school that Thabi is building here is almost ready to admit kids. She’s giving us an update that she’s received over ten thousand applications for jobs here. She’s also received over ten thousand applications for places in the school. She’s really excited about it. It’s keeping her very busy. She even has Ona missing her, and Ona barley misses Thabi. But seeing her this passionate about a project takes us back to the early days of when we had just met her. She was so passionate about those she ‘mothered’ that were at that home of hers for them. Now, she will own a home and an actual school for them.

The media has been following this project very closely and everyone is excited about this school. It was initially meant to be a no-fee school, but with the response that we got, we decided to make it an affordable private school with affordable boarding facilities. We will definitely have fun cleaning our money here.

We’ve also had a bit of backlash from people in our own kingdom about why this is happening in another country as opposed to our own kingdom. We also have a need for a school that will bridge the gap between the private school that I went to, for example, and a no-fee school somewhere in the kingdom. Who knew that people would beg us one day to help us clean our money? Lol!

We are in this meeting now in South Africa, in Thabi’s office at this school of hers. She gave us a tour of what she’s done with the place. Each grade, from grade R to matric, will have three classes each. Each class will accommodate no more than thirty students. No compromise. She’s very passionate about not having over-crowded classes. Good for her! I’m not sure I even care!

The boarding facilities accommodate kids from grade eight. There are enough facilities for girls and boys. Each boarding flat accommodates two people. So each flat has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open plan study as well as a kitchen. There is however, a dining hall, where kids will be fed. But I guess the stove is for when they feel like cooking for themselves.

The place is nice. It’s a really fancy school for something tagged as “affordable.” Each building has ten floors. Each floor has three boarding mistresses or misters. Ja, we will definitely employ a lot of people here.

All the people that worked for the church that was run under Laura and her husband with the useless sperm are all also applying. There will still be a head office where finances, marketing, a uniform shop will be, and just management and board of the school will be operating. When Thabi told Ona that she wants to be a hands-on CEO of the school, we just knew that she has no plans of coming back to the kingdom and Ona is not having it. He wants his wife back. Even Zari and Mohato have moved to South Africa. So, we already know.

“The only thing that’s outstanding now and is being built are the outdoor and indoor sports facilities. I’m thinking that we actually get professional sports scientists and sports management professionals to assist with our sporting programmes, professional coaches to coach the kids so we don’t have teachers that complain about being overworked, and an actual sports manager to run the sports department. Fifi has been helping me with putting this plan together.” Thabi keeps telling us. She’s so excited.

Honestly, none of us care.

We just know that she tried to get Legoa’s wife, Moringa, to move to South Africa and help her with this. Legoa said absolutely not. But I know that Moringa helps her a lot virtually. So does Fifi.

“Baby, when this project is done and the school is up and running, you are coming back to the kingdom, right?” Ona.

I don’t think that some of us should be here for this conversation.

“Not immediately. I need to ensure that operations are on par with this. I’ll have countless meetings with the government and the IEB to also keep the students up to par with the curriculum. Fifi also advised me to look for tutors. They will assist with homework classes and after school programmes for exam or assessment readiness.” Thabi is too excited about this. How did she become a doctor and not a teacher?

“Rethabile, you are a queen. Your kingdom needs you, Mme wabona.” Ona says.

“Morafe is doing a brilliant job! She’s really helping me keep things going here at the school and the kingdom. Nothing is falling apart.” Thabi says.

“Morafe is your assistant. She’s not the queen.” Ona.

“Ona, I’ll continue to fulfil the needs of our kingdom, just like I’ll fulfil my needs here.”

“And what about the needs of your husband? You are still my wife, right?”

“Keng? Sonia is not keeping your appetite fed? I thought that she was more than enough for you! That’s why you moved her into the royal house and moved me out, right?”

Ja neh… we should not be here. Pope and I look at each other. Zithulele and Maboko are also very uncomfortable.

“This has nothing to do with Sonia. This is about you and me.”

“Ona, stop being so needy. I’m working. I’m serving that throne. I’m serving your throne! I’m serving your image! I’m serving you!”

“Rethabile, can’t you hire another Morafe to do what needs to be done here? Then come back home!”

“And do what? Live with Sonia in my own house?! Ona, do you even care about how much you humiliate me before your junior wives? Next thing, you’ll be busy marrying other people and I’ll have to be accepting of how you treat me! I loved you, Ona. And yes, there was a time when I would have given everything up for you. But you’ve shown me time and again that you don’t view me that way. I’m just here to be your queen and to fulfil that accordingly. I do my job, Ona. I do my bit. People like Sonia are there for the love. I’m here for the duty. Sonia must do her part as I do mine.”

“Thabi, you are my wife. And I do love you. I’ve been through the most with you. You know that I’m not a complete man without you. Why are you doing this?”

“You haven’t shown me that lately. So I’m just learning my place and sticking in it accordingly. Akere you taught me this new place.”

Ona seems… down… sad about this conversation.

Thabi re-diverts her attention to the rest of us and says, “Thabi, Teboho, Fifi and Letlali will be flying out to help me. I had also asked Phuthi to assist. She indicated that her hands are full right now because she’s busy with her dad, Wandi’s move to the kingdom, as well as Rena and Moloko because the kids are at school. She also told me that Akwande will be staying with her while Fifi is here. Fifi asked her.”

I’m just glad my wife isn’t going anywhere.

“We will be conducting interviews with staff, then also sorting out the admissions of the students. We wish to start beginning of next year, vele. Then we will also be interviewing and electing a board that even I, as the CEO, will be accountable to.” Thabi says.

Ona is not happy.

“How long will our wives be out here? And shouldn’t you also get the younger wives involved in this? Maybe more hands will make this go faster. Khanyi will be good at this. I know Wandi is pregnant and Tamia has her hands full with everything that’s going on… but we can also get Zari and Nandi.” Maboko.

“That would be great. I’ll ask them. Thank you for the suggestion”, Thabi says.

“So do we know when our wives will be back?” Zithulele.

“It will be a few months.” Thabi.

“Hai hai hai! Rethabile! What?!” Pope.

“I need them. Please.” Thabi.

“They can rather fly in and out everyday. I need my wife next to me every night”, Maboko.

“I definitely support that. Plus, you have Morafe as well. Right?” I say.

“Then if it’s during the day, Phuthi can also come.” Ona.

I give him a look. Why must he be this person? Phuthi is fine looking after my house.

Maboko, Zithulele and pope look at us. They laugh at us.

“I’ll talk to Maphuthi. Maybe we can work something out.” Thabi says.

Ja neh.

We finally finish at this place. Now we have to fly back to the kingdom. But first, I want to check the house. I know that Phuthi’s parents are coming back next week. There are nurses that have already moved in who will be assisting him. There are also helpers. Phuthi and I built outside flats for the staff. There are ten flats out here. Each flat is a one bedroom flat with one bathroom and a kitchen. Each flat also has a balcony. Five flats are on the ground floor. Five flats are on the first floor. So on off days, they can stay there. We hired about five nurses that will be on rotation. They’ll work seven-to-seven night shift… like a hospital vele. Then they’ll have two off days in a week. There are also two domestic workers. They’ll work everyday… clocking in at 6am then knocking off at 8pm.

The gents actually come with me. We check the place out. Everything seems to be in place. The staff is busy. The gardeners are also cutting grass and maintaining the place. Phuthi was very particular about hiring old people… old and unattractive. Even Celia was part of interviewing those people that they hired. How does that old man still have an appetite?

I mean, I know a man’s appetite never dies. I think about Morena and how he was still tapping my mom when they should have retired from tapping. Even I’m tired now of tapping multiple women. I know Phuthi will be the woman that I tap until the day that I die. With her, I pray with my soul that I don’t have to bury her. I know it’s selfish, but she has to bury me. I cannot lose another love. I cannot. So, I don’t understand how that old man that she calls father still has appetite for multiple women. Yoh, ai. Some men are indeed stronger than others.

-

We are in our flight back home now. Ona has been depressed shame.

“You really want Thabi back?” Pope asks him.

“Yeah. I cannot explain it, hey. Thabi gets me. She doesn’t judge me. I love Sonia and we all know that between her and Thabi, I do prefer to rest next to her everyday. But Thabi… I miss her. You know with Thabi, I can talk about anything and everything with her. She’s my soundboard. She actually sees my all and she takes me as I am. And I know I’ve hurt her a lot. I know that I’ve taken her for granted. But damn, for her to want a business arrangement over a marriage with me… am I really that bad?”

Ja no, Ona is really messed up about this.

“Maybe you should reconsider what your marriage to her means. I mean, she was here for the love and the duty. The way she sees it, she sees it as you only wanted her for the duty. You treated her that way. Now she’s giving that to you. So what now? How do you convince her that you want the love too?” I ask her.

“Give me tips, hle. I’m in a flight full of men that have women that are completely in love with them. Ng’thuseng hle!” Ona.

We all laugh, then Maboko says, “all these men also have one wife. We don’t have more than one wife. So we are not exactly the best sounding board for you.”

We all laugh because it is true. Even Ona laughs.

“I should actually have the best life out of all of us! I mean… two wives… double the joy!” Ona.

“And clearly, double the bullshit!” Zithulele.

We all laugh.

“But seriously gents, help me. How do I get my first wife back?” Ona.

We all look at him.

“Come on gents. Please help me.” Ona.

“Why don’t you start with romantic stuff… like the flowers and spending time with her again? Maybe while you were busy juggling two wives, you forgot to remind her who she is to you. Maybe remind her of that again… even if it means Sonia having to take a backseat for now.” Maboko.

I see Ona nodding his head.

“Knowing Thabi, she’s a hard nut to crack. So don’t let it end with the flowers and time. Spoil her with support. She’s very passionate about this school of hers, she’s even forgot that we are only cleaning money at that place. So be her assistant if you must…” I say.

“Nna? Assistant? I have a country to run.” Ona.

“Re teng! We will help you. We can run the place for a month or two. Go and get your wife back. If she’s who you want and she’s who you say she is that’s making you miss her so much, she will help you be a king regardless of where you are”, I say.

“I agree with Khotso. Ona, as indoda… we need to understand that asilimali ndawo uma sizithoba before the women that we love. Zithobe, Onaleruna. If that’s who you want… zithobe.” Pope.

Ona is hesitant, but he nods his head in agreement.

Home.

Oh, my favourite place in the world.

Today, I’m actually on time for dinner.

I find my gorgeous fiancé busy preparing the table for dinner.

“Hello, my love”, I greet her.

“Hey you”, she says. She even kisses me.

I lift her up and spin her around a bit. I find her body interesting. She’s short and slim. But she’s so curvy… my hands just love her.

“How are you?” I ask her.

“I’m fine. I fired the nurse.” She says.

“Why?” That woman barely said a word. What did she do? Forget to change a bandaid or something.

“She was shamelessly flirting with my dad… buttons of her shirt were unbuttoned. She was five minutes away from having an affair with him.”

I actually can’t help but laugh. Yoh, monna oe!

“So you fired her? Maybe he just wanted to test if everything still works after the surgery.” I say.

“Khotso… akere that’s why he has Celia? Why doesn’t he test with her?”

“At least ubuwa seSotho. I’m proud.”

She laughs.

I laugh.

“He must do better. He’s too old for such things!” She says.

“Men don’t outgrow their appetite, baby.”

“What are you trying to say? So le wena you’ll be looking kanti you want me to be your wife? Kungcono siyeke phela. Ngoba mina ngeke ngikhone phela.”

Why must she bring it back to us?

“This has nothing to do with us. You and I are different.” I tell her.

“Kodwa nawe you had quite the appetite, angisho? Mina ke, ngeke ngiwumele lowo doti! Kuyoshunq’ uzulu!”

“I don’t even understand what you’ve just said to me. But baby, I’m not going to cheat on you. You are more than enough for me. I love you. And I won’t cheat on you. Kea o tshepisa, msadi waka.”

“U sure?” She asks me.

“Very sure.” I say, pulling her closer to kiss her.

“Hello papa.” Rena.

“Hi papa”, Moloko.

They’ve just climbed down the stairs and are at the table.

“Le jwang?” I ask them.

“We are good.” Moloko.

Rena is still giving me attitude because of her boyfriend. Aowa!

“Rena, keng ka wena?” I ask her.

“Nothing. Ke shup.” She says.

“I asked you how you are. I’m waiting for my answer.”

“I’m fine, papa.”

“I heard you were at a prison today.” We do have eyes everywhere.

She looks shocked.

“Keng? You thought I wouldn’t find out? Do you want me to kill that boy?” I say.

“Khotso, ema pele le wena!” Phuthi says.

“You think I’m scared of Phuthi?” I shout at Rena.

“I just wanted to make sure that he’s okay.” Rena.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“No. I was turned away. I was told that he doesn’t want to see me.” Rena.

“At least he listens when we speak. If you disobey me one more time… I’ll kill that boy. Do you understand?”

“Papa-

“Keng? Where did I lose you? Where did I confuse you?”

“Yes papa, I understand.” Rena.

I just walk away.

[ketso]

Episode 44

“Ngiyabonga baby. Thank you so much for today”, I tell him.

It’s 10pm. The kids are bathed, fed and are in bed. Homework is checked and whatever needs signing has been signed.

I had a bad day today. A terrible day at that. I went to the office that my father and I opened here in Tholoana Kingdom. A group of men were relentlessly cat-calling me today… two even went to the extent of slapping my ass. I called HR to deal with it and the people have been suspended. I also involved the police and opened a sexual harassment case. I still wasn’t okay after that. I phoned Ntuthuko and told him what happened. He came to fetch me from work, but he also wanted names of these guys. HR gave him the details that he requested. I don’t know what he intends to do with that situation.

“Baby, you don’t have to work. You know that, right?” He says to me.

“I know, Lala. But what am I going to do here everyday? Alone? The kids will be at school after I’ve dropped them off. You’ll be at work. Mina ngizokwenzani? I’m used to working during the day… I’m either at the office doing legal work or running a business. If I don’t work, I’ll be so bored.” I tell him.

“I don’t want you to be abused. I don’t want men treating you like a piece of meat. I certainly don’t want people spanking my wife’s ass. I’m actually ready to kill those fucken losers that did what they did.”

I get a bit emotional. He sees me.

“Come here”, he says to me.

I cuddle into him.

He holds me.

He kisses my forehead.

“I felt so dirty, Ntuthuko. I felt sooo… I felt like some sexualised thing nje that they were looking at. I was even terrified that they’d even rape me.” I say, sobbing.

He holds me tighter. Then he says, “Nothing is going to happen to you, Tamia. Nothing is going to happen to you, nkosikazi wami. Nothing. And I’m going to kill those motherfuckers!”

I just hold him, allowing myself to be safe again. And he gives me exactly what I need… intimacy without the sex.

…

My mornings are like this everyday from Monday to Friday. I’ve bathed Bonga and Sihle. Nkosana and Thulisa sort themselves out. I just help here and there to make sure that they are all good and clean. Ntuthuko checks last minute signings and double-checks homework. Sihle is usually glued to me in the mornings. So I’m running around with her on my hip.

Then, after they’ve had breakfast and I’ve packed their books and lunchboxes into their school bags, I drive them to school. I use Ntuthuko’s Range Rover to take the kids to school. It’s the car that can accommodate all the kids comfortably. He complains all the time. He says it’s HIS gift from my dad. I don’t care. It’s the car that makes the most sense for me as a mom car. Please!

“Any sports today?” I ask them as they hurry through packing their bags.

“I have netball practice”, Thulisa says.

“I’m trying out for the soccer club”, Nkosana. He doesn’t want to play for school. He says his school’s soccer team sucks, so he wants to play for a club. He’s trying out today.

“I finish early. Can I go to after care?” Bonga.

“Yes, you may go to aftercare. I’ll pick you up after picking Sihle up, then we fetch your sister from netball and take your brother to soccer. That’s our afternoon. We good?” Me.

They all shout yeah.

“Okay… now say goodbye to your daddy then we head to school.” I say.

They get up, hug their dad saying goodbye. I grab Sihle’s bag. She’s still on my hip.

I bring Sihle to Ntuthuko. He kisses her then kisses me.

I’m still in jeans and a t-shirt. I usually come back from the school run, then change, then head to the office.

“Our lawyer is meeting us here at 8:30am. I’ll be back by then.” I tell him.

“We could meet her at the office.” He says.

“Office?” I ask.

“I told my dad what happened. He said I should set up office at your building. They don’t mind us having our meetings there. If it’s okay with you, I’ll definitely be there all the time. I’ll only be out for when I hit the street.”

“I’d really appreciate that, baby. Ngiyabonga.” I say.

We kiss again.

“I’ll phone my PA to set up your office next to mine.”

“Okay. So, we’ll meet at the office?”

“Yeah. I’m still coming back here to change first though. I’ll tell our lawyer to delay by an hour then meet us at the office.”

“Perfect.”

We kiss one more time then I leave with the kids.

The drive is my catch up session with them. They still have tutors that help them. They were in township schools all their lives. Bonga and Sihle are adjusting better. It makes sense. They are kids. Kids adjust better to stuff. Nkosana and Thulisa struggled a bit in the beginning. But they are adjusting. And our drives are where they update me. I’m also part of the WhatsApp group for parents and teachers. Ntuthuko has zero interest. He just pays for whatever we need. But I do keep him updated and he tells me all the time that he’s so grateful. I’m also part of the school’s SGB. Yep, I’m definitely those moms. But the babies appreciate it. And that’s all that matters right now. It keeps me posted on their progress as well. I love it!

I drive into the school yard after a rather noisy and chatty drive to school. I have Bonga holding onto one hand, and Sihle is on my hip. My big girl tells me that she and Nkosana will head to class… I don’t have to walk them. I just figure that they don’t want me to embarrass them. So I drop Bonga off at his class - where he neglects me after finding his friends and kissing me goodbye. Then I take Sihle to her class. I’m just so happy that she doesn’t cry anymore when I leave her. Yoh, she used to scream at first. Even her teacher tells me that she’s doing a lot better with even socialising with other kids. She speaks more. She plays more. She even takes a nap during nap time.

I head back home now. I listen to an audio book as I drive back home. It’s my me time. And I love it.

I change very quickly for work. I wear black jeans - they still look professional. I wear it with a white t-shirt and a white blazer jacket. I then wear black sandal heels. My weave is still looking amazing. I fix my makeup then I leave. I see that he took the Porsche. I use the Range Rover to head out.

…

Ntuthuko is nicely settled in his office. Even though he has his Nike tracksuit on, Converse sneakers, simple Nike t-shirt and a Nike cap… an office is a nice look for him. He’s chilling with his dad and some guys I notice from my wedding, but haven’t really formally met.

“Shambula! Sowufikile!” He says, acknowledging me.

“I can come back later. I wasn’t aware that you are in a meeting.” I say.

“No my baby, come in. You look good! Are you okay?” He says, walking towards me.

“I’m good. I just wanted to check in and let you know that I’ve arrived”, I say.

He’s now hugging me, kissing me even.

“Okay. Have you met all these gents?” He says, pointing at the guys in here.

“I remember them from the wedding. I know ubaba though.” I say.

“He’s the most important one. These are our gents very close to us. Khabane, Mohale, Rea, Bab’Khotso, Bab’Maboko, Bab’Zithulele and Banathi.” He tells me just as he points at each of them.

“It’s nice to meet all of you. I’ll organise some breakfast for you… even if it’s something that’s light. Would that be okay?” Me.

“We’d be very grateful, makoti. Siyabonga”, baba says.

I nod my head then remind Ntuthuko that the lawyer will be here in about thirty minutes. He kisses me. I leave.

-

We are meeting our lawyer in my office.

“Well, I have great news and great news”, she says.

“Okay?” Me.

Ntuthuko is incredibly nervous.

“Well, all the mothers have actually conceded that the two of you are a better fit to have full custody of the kids.” She says.

“All four kids?” Ntuthuko.

“Yep. When social services started looking into their jobs, they buckled. When they were served to go to their houses, they conceded.”

Ntuthuko and I look at each other.

“The social workers wanted to still assess their houses for living conditions because they do have visiting rights. We wanted to see where the kids would be living, how they’d be living, etc, during visits. They point-blank refused. So the decision is that their visits have to either be at your house, your parents’ house, your grandparents’ house or a public place where they can spend a full day with the kids.”

“But they’ve been living at these places all this time. And they’ve been fine.” Ntuthuko.

“With your financial support, Mr Maphumulo. But still… we are talking about your kids sleeping on kitchen floors or in a house full of so many people that sometimes, the food is not enough for everyone.”

“That’s how a lot of people live. That’s how a lot of people grow up. Some of us grew up under worse conditions. We live. We survive.”

The lawyer looks at me.

I know what she’s trying to ask me.

“My love, what exactly do you want to see happen here?” I ask him.

“The idea was to never cut their mothers out of their lives completely. I wanted to live with them, yes… but those are their mothers. We can’t do this.”

“So what are you suggesting, Ntuthuko?” I ask.

“I’ll give you both a minute.” The lawyer says then leaves my office, giving us space.

I look at Ntuthuko.

He’s still not looking at me.

“Maybe I should buy their mothers apartments.” He says.

“You are kidding, right?” I say.

He has to be.

“I don’t want my kids growing up without their mothers”, he says.

“So your solution is buying them property? Continue to enable them? Why not tell them to go and find jobs… make a damn honest living for themselves and their children? Like every other mother does?”

“Not everyone grew up like you! Not everyone has had the options that you’ve had in life where waking up and getting a job is that simple! Some people need a little push and a bit of help to be halfway to where you are in life!”

“So you want me to apologise for the fact that my parents actually made sure that I lacked for nothing? That I didn’t abuse opportunities, but rather took those opportunities with both hands and created a stable future for myself? I’m not going to apologise nor am I going to let my husband enable four grown women who refuse to grow up! You’ve been giving them a damn salary all these years… a salary to be mothers! Not one of them thought about saving some money, buying some property… or even renting ke… just show that they are trying AT LEAST! No! Ntuthuko is there! Ntuthuko will do it all! And what does Ntuthuko do?! He does just that!”

He looks at me with anger.

“I got a lawyer because I thought that this is what you want! I haven’t known these women for long but I can tell that they are negligent and shit mothers! But if you are okay with that calibre of women raising your children, fine! I’ll cancel the lawyer. We’ll cancel the custody battle. We will take the kids back to their mothers first thing tomorrow morning. Kodwa Ntuthuko, I’m warning you… if you buy property for those women - or any other thing for that matter, WE ARE DONE! I will not be your wife if you are going to be responsible for other women. Your responsibility are those kids. But their mothers… that’s where I get off this bus, bhuti. That’s not the kind of shit that I’m prepared to stay in this marriage for.”

“So you are threatening me now? When you don’t like something, you threaten to leave me?” He says.

“Cha… I’m making my boundaries very clear. You are only responsible for one woman… inkosikazi yakho. When you start forgetting that, ungitshele. Those are my boundaries.” I say.

We stare at each other.

His cellphone rings.

He looks at it.

He looks at me.

He walks out of my office.

Mxm!

…

The mothers of my kids asked me to meet up with them… without Tamia. Considering that she gave me quite the heavy ultimatum, I didn’t even tell her that this meeting was happening. They are in Tholoana Kingdom and they are only here for one day. MaNdlovu organised this. She brought them here to talk to me without my wife. And MaNdlovu is right here with them… at my dad’s house… where we are meeting.

“Sanibonani”, I greet them as I sit at a vacant chair.

“Hi”, they all greet me.

“Singabe sesipholis’ amaseko. Asihlale phez’ kwendaba. Ntuthuko, what you and Tamia are doing is wrong. Ngeke uhlukanise ingane nonina. You’ve called lawyers and all sorts of people onto these people… and for what?! That wife of yours? Does that woman really love you? Ntuthuko, you used to be good people to these women. Kukho konke, you recognised mothers to your children… to Maphumulo children in them. And you helped them effortlessly without complaining. What happened?! You met Tamia and suddenly they were just the trash that you are now treating them as? UTamia loyo is not even a parent. How do you give her this kind of power to make parental decisions over the mothers of your children and your children?! Hai, Ntuthuko! Hai khona! We not saying you shouldn’t fall in love. But please, bring your brain to the party too.” MaNdlovu.

I’m quiet.

“Ntuthuko, my child is only two years old. You’ve ripped her out of my arms and gave her to a woman that didn’t birth her. And for what? Because your wife is upset that I left the child with her out of anger? You’ll take the only mistake that I’ve ever made in my entire life as a mother and make such a permanent decision with it? Don’t you want Sihle to know me, Ntuthuko? Does it make you happy that she recognises her as her mother? Yaz she didn’t even want me when we went to your father’s house to ask for our kids back. That ripped my heart apart, Ntuthuko. I know that things didn’t work out between us, Ntuthuko. But surely you don’t believe that I’m the bad mother that your wife is making me out to be.” Nomfundo tells me. She’s even crying.

I’m still not saying anything because I genuinely don’t know what to do about what I’m being told right now.

“We know that we cannot provide for these kids without you. And we certainly can’t give them lobukhazikhazi that you give them. We are poor. Our parents can’t afford to buy you cars. And we will still need you, Ntuthuko. We will still need your help. We are asking that you don’t do this. This case has already been won before we even go to court. We have nothing compared to you and Tamia. That’s our reality.” Bavumile.

I’m still silent.

The other two are just looking at me like they’ll murder me for this. They are too angry to even speak.

“Ntuthuko… baba… Mashimane omkhulu… ngiyacela mina khehla lami… mzukulu wami… ngiyacela that you don’t discard these women. I’m sure you can afford izindlu nje elokshin for them… where they’ll house your children while you and Tamia have your life… your own children where Tamia can do as she pleases with them as their mother. Kodwa laba bona… these are not her children. However, they are yours. And the reality is that they have to be okay and with their mothers whether that makes Tamia okay or not. Sekucela mina, Mashimane. Iba idlozi elihle eliphilayo for your children. Ungacabangeli unshado wakho kuphela.” MaNdlovu says.

I’m still quiet. I don’t even know how I’m going to start this conversation with Tamia. We are already in shit.

“Are you going to say something?” Nomfundo says.

I just stand up and leave this place. I hear yelling, but I just leave. I’ve already been threatened with a divorce. I’m not trying to lose my wife.

I drive around a bit, trying to figure this whole thing out. Even if I buy these houses, how do I tell my wife about them? Because I’d rather be upfront about it than wait for her to just find out. And Tamia can be hectic. She will not just divorce me. She will throw everyone on the street. I’d have to kill her to contain the matter, and I don’t want to kill my love. I love her. I want her to bury me, not the other way around. I know what this will do to her… to my marriage… to her family… to my kids even… my kids love Tamia. I know what this picture will look like in the long run. And while I’ve heard what MaNdlovu and the mothers have had to say, none of it is worth me risking my marriage. I just also don’t want to be that heartless bastard that separates mothers from their kids just because I can. I don’t know what to do. Ikhanda lami liyaduma nje. If there’s one thing that I’d ever advise anyone, it would be to never have kids out of wedlock.

Before I know it, it’s dark. It’s about 10pm. I decide to drive home. I don’t even realise that my phone battery is dead.

I get home just after 10:30pm. I park the car in the garage then head into the house through the door that connects the garage to the house.

MaNdlovu is here.

Yerrr! I just know! I just know that she pissed off my wife! I just know! She even brought these women here with her. Yoh! Yoh! Yoh!

“What are you doing here?!” I’m actually pissed off.

“Don’t talk to me like that wena, Ntuthuko! Awusakwazi ukukhuluma nami?!” MaNdlovu.

“Yeses! You are actually a bunch of poisonous snakes nina! Amasimba wabantu nje!” I find myself saying.

“UTHINI?!” MaNdlovu says. I’m already jogging up the stairs to find my wife.

I find her in our bedroom with two packed bags. She’s crying. But she’s dressed in a tracksuit and sneakers. She has her handbag over her shoulder and two bags that she’s wheeling out with her.

“Tamia! Baby!”

She stares at me. What the fuck did they say to her?! Why is she leaving?!

“Baby, please.”

“I’m leaving, Ntuthuko. I am done!”

What?!

“Tamia, don’t do this.. please.”

“It’s what you want, angisho?! YOU AND YOUR FUCKEN FAMILY BETRAY ME LIKE THIS?! I LEFT MY LIFE FOR YOU! I CAME HERE FROM A FAMILY THAT LOVES ME AND WOULD NEVER TREAT ME LIKE THIS, TO COME AND RAISE FOUR KIDS I DIDN’T GIVE BIRTH TO WITH AND FOR THE MAN THAT I LOVE! THEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HOST SECRET MEETINGS WITH YOUR LEACHING BABY MAMAS, AND YOU DECIDE TO BUY THEM HOUSES?!”

“I DIDN’T BUY THE HOUSES. AND BABY, I’M NOT GOING TO!”

“I DON’T FUCKEN BELIEVE YOU! I REMEMBER OUR CONVERSATION THIS MORNING! CLEARLY, THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT HAPPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!”

“TAMIA! BABY, PLEASE! CAN WE PLEASE JUST TALK ABOUT THIS WITH YOUR BAGS PACKED BACK INTO THE CLOSET AND AFTER A GOODNIGHT’S REST. NGIYAKUCELA MAM’MAPHUMULO.”

“FUCK YOU, NTUTHUKO! FUCK YOU! FUCK THAT OLD HAG SITTING ON MY COUCH AFTER DISRESPECTING ME! AND FUCK YOUR BABY MAMAS!”

She pushes me out of the way then drags her bags down the passage and down the stairs.

My kids are even awake. They are looking at her leave. Sihle is crying. Bonga won’t stop asking her where she’s going. Nkosana is trying to stop her. Thulisa keeps asking me what’s going on.

I’m so dumbfounded.

Tamia stands at the door separating the garage from the house. She turns around, looks at me then at the mothers and MaNdlovu. Then she says, “I’ve phoned the police. These five are trespassing. If you even want them to spend the night here, you better buy me out of this house. Until then… if I so much as hear that they stayed an hour after I’ve left here, I’ll sue the shit out of all you. They’ll all work for me for the rest of their lives. I want them out of my house, Ntuthuko!”

“Ey wena! Who -

“YOU!” Tamia cuts MaNdlovu.

“You don’t ever talk to me! EVER! Angilahlwanga mina ekhaya. And unlike these four, I don’t rely on you begging my baby-daddy on my behalf to feed me. Don’t ever talk to me again. The whole Maphumulo family must just stay the fuck away from me. Kungenjalo, you’ll get what you are looking for! You must not know who I am”.

Then she leaves.

I don’t even know what to do.

“Ntuthuko -

“Get out of my house! All of you!” I yell.

“Hai bo! Ntuthuko!”

“Or you waiting for the police that Tamia phoned to get here? I’m not going to bail you out! Take what will leave with you, and get the fuck out of my house. You got what you’ve been wanting all this time. Now that my wife has left me because of you, you can all fuck off!”

I then head upstairs.

I phone Senzi.

“Yo!” He’s in high spirits shame.

I just cry.

“Ndoda, yini?”

“Tamia left me.”

“What?!”

“She left. I don’t know where she is or if I’ll be receiving divorce papers tomorrow. But she’s gone.”

“What happened?! MaNdlovu and my baby mamas.”

I tell him everything that happened. He’s just so silent.

“Bafo, I don’t want to lose my wife. And she wants nothing to do with me or our family.” I tell him.

“Shit. She hasn’t even phoned Wandi to let her know where she is. Look, I’m in South Africa right now. But I’ll drive down tomorrow, okay? You can’t be alone right now.”

I just cry.

What else am I going to do?

…

Two weeks later…

Today, my family and Tamia’s family are meeting with Tamia and I to resolve our issue. I haven’t seen or spoken to Tamia since she left. She even blocked me. I’ve been suffering, losing weight even… missing her. My kids left with their mothers. Their mothers just took them. I haven’t seen or spoken to them neither. The mothers phone me everyday wanting money. I didn’t even send them a cent. They took the kids, they must make a plan.

I’m at home… my dad’s house. Apparently, Tamia didn’t even want this meeting. She basically said that she wants nothing to do with the Maphumulo family. MaTango, MaNgobese and MaNdlovu are here. The only granny that’s not here is MaKhumalo. She’s in eMtubatuba with Luhle. The other three came here. MaNdlovu is not even remorseful for what she did. And I’m actually blaming her for all of this. For an elder, she behaves like a child.

“You okay?” My mom asks me.

I shake my head.

“We will try to fix this. Let’s just hope that umoya wakhe uphansi after these two long weeks, you know.”

I get emotional.

Bab’Zithulele, Bab’Khotso, Bab’Ona and Bab’Maboko are all here. They were my negotiators for her lobola. They have to be here for the issues as well.

Everyone believes that MaNdlovu shouldn’t be here. She triggered all of this. But she wants to be here. She says Tamia is just being spoiled and she’s not going to stand for it.

The Khumalo family is finally here. I go settle with my people at a dining table… the dining table that we will be having this conversation at.

I see Tamia’s family walk in with her family. My eyes only see her. She’s so beautiful. She’s dressed respectfully… doek over her head and a stylish Louis Vuitton throw over her shoulders.

The Khumalo family and representatives sit down at the dining table. Tamia won’t even look at me. My mother holds my hand. Yoh!

Everyone here is talking except for Tamia and me. She’s just staring at me as I am staring at her. Her dad is going on and on about how we all don’t respect his daughter. MaNdlovu insists that Tamia is selfish, spoiled and unprepared for marriage! Her family is to blame because they raised her like this. And instead of turning her away when she got home like they should have, they embraced her and allowed her to disrespect her husband by blocking me. The Khumalos insist that they didn’t discard of Tamia and they’d even support her if she opted to divorce me. That’s where I got up. Everyone looks at me.

“Tamia and I are not going to get a divorce”, I say.

My family is looking at me.

“T… Mam’Maphumulo… I’m sorry… for everything. For all of it. And I’m most sorry for not protecting you from all of this.” I say.

“Protecting her from what?! Awu hlale phansi wena Ntuthuko uyekele ukubheda la!” MaNdlovu.

“Mah! Uwena owenze yonke le-mess. You interfered in my marriage for no reason and you are the reason that my wife ended up leaving me.”

“I helped you! Yini yona le?! She just leaves and blocks you! Do you associate such behaviour with a wife?!”

“Mah!”

“Shut up, wena! Shut up! Let’s talk about the real reason that we are here… because we are talking about everything else except that. UTamia took children away from their mothers! It started off with her stopping Ntuthuko from supporting those children -

“UNAMANGA!” Tamia snaps at MaNdlovu, cutting her short.

“Uthini?!” MaTango.

“Do you see what I mean? Udelel’ ukufa lo mntwana lo!” MaNdlovu.

“I won’t sit here and take this! Hell no!” Tamia. Now she stands up, intending to leave.

“Nonkanyiso”, the dad.

“No baba! No! I’m not going to sit here and have this woman attack me! Then she lies! Amdala kangaka! No wonder we are in this mess! She calls herself a problem solver, but she has no honest bone in her body! She’s manipulative and usile!”

“Hai bo, makoti! Usuyayinweba phela manje.” MaNgobese.

“I didn’t even want to come here! I told you this would happen. This family hates me and according to them, uNtuthuko should be married to his four baby-mamas.” Tamia.

“Vele!” MaNdlovu.

“This one just wants everyone to be miserable like her. She doesn’t like the fact that she’s in a polygamous marriage, manje we must all follow suit!”

“Ngizokushaya!” MaNdlovu.

“And you will do time for it! You’ll have people your own size in prison dealing with you… doing the rest of us a favour!” Tamia says to MaNdlovu.

When she’s like this, there’s no talking to her. She’s not here with us anymore. She’s where her anger has taken her and it’s bad.

“Wena Ntuthuko, nawe this is what you want, angisho?!”

“No baby, it’s not.”

“It’s not?! Really?! Because I made my boundaries very clear to you and you still tap-danced on them!”

“It wasn’t like that, baby.”

“What was it like? Huh?! You have meetings with your baby-mamas without me now? Meetings you don’t even tell me about? Huh?! About kids that I created a home for! That I gave up my 9 to 5 for so that I could be present in their adjustment? I bent over backwards for you and those kids… this is how you and your entire family thank me?!”

I’m quiet now.

Then she breaks my heart.

She takes off her ring and puts it on the table. Everyone is now shocked. Then she says, “I’ll give you what you want. I’ll dissolve this marriage then you can go and be with those women… make your family happy! Make more bastards and litter them all around like a cat! I don’t give a fuck! We are done! You’ll hear from my lawyer moving forward.”

“Tamia… baby.”

She’s already walked out. I want to run after her. I do. But my legs are not carrying me fast enough.

I flip the dining table. It’s heavy, but it’s flipped and broken into half right now. Everyone is shocked! No one knows what to do with me right now.

“TAMIA!!!!!” I roar like an angry lion.

-

She phoned me.

Apparently, Wandi and Morafe spoke to her. They were here.

She asked to meet up with me at our house.

I’m arriving now. Alone. I see her car is here. So I know she’s here.

I’m praying that everything will be okay.

I walk in.

She’s in the kitchen, sitting on some chair, drinking wine and crying.

I find a seat next to her.

She has a bandage around her wrist and hand. The table hurt her when I flipped it. I didn’t realise she was still around when I did that. I just saw her ring off her finger and her walking away from me. I just became something that I didn’t even recognise.

She looks at me.

I look at her.

I want to kiss her so badly. I want to make love to her. I want us to be us again.

“Where are the kids?” She asks me.

“Their mothers took them that night you left.” I say.

“So you’ve been talking to them? Have they moved into the houses that you bought for them?”

“I didn’t buy those houses, T. MaNdlovu asked me to. I didn’t agree to doing it.”

“Did you disagree to doing it?”

I’m silent.

She gulps the wine from her wine glass.

“So what now? We are back to paying these women salaries for being mothers to their own fucken kids?” She says.

“I haven’t been able to think about it. I just needed to make things right with you.”

“What exactly does that entail?”

“For starters, you never taking off your ring again. Tamia, there’ll be no divorce here. We paid a lot of money on three fucken weddings to promise each other that only death can do us part. How dare you take your ring off on me.”

She gets emotional.

“Tamia, Ngiyakuthanda. Kakhulu. Ngifunda ngawe everyday that I can love a person this much and still have room for more. I’ve made mistakes in my past… mistakes that have led me to where I am right now. I have kids that have come from those mistakes, and I have to be responsible for them. I don’t have a manual on how to deal with this. I don’t! I need you to understand that.”

“I need you to understand that I’m on your side here. You are the one who teams up with your family to betray me! You disrespect me! You disregard me! You hurt me, and then you tell me bullshit about me having privilege as if I’m the one who paid fate to ensure that your baby-mamas don’t amount to real mothers.”

Yoh, UTamia uyakhuluma bafwethu!

“I can’t be with you if the lines will be blurred. Your responsibility starts and ends with your kids. When you start blurring the lines by being responsible for their mothers, I’m not going to tolerate that. I won’t. You’ve taken kids out of a good school… a good and stable home… for what?! For you to continue to be a cash cow to women who put our marriage in this situation?! How have you helped your kids right now? By setting them back? By creating further instability in their lives? I’m not going to tell you how to be a parent. Clearly, I want more for those children than you and their mothers combined. But I’m not coming back to this house or to you until I have security that I will not be disrespected in all of this.”

“Tamia, come on! Baby, what do you want me to do?”

“I want a legal and binding document that is signed by you and your baby-mamas that sets out clear terms and conditions of your parenting and your financial support to your kids.”

Umunt’ uvele azibambe ikhanda! Yoh! I suddenly miss being single.

“Fine. Phone a lawyer.” I say.

“No. Because I’m the bitch separating kids from their mothers. You do it. And when it’s done, you can phone me. I’m out now.” She says, leaving.

“T… please don’t leave.” I beg her.

“I have to. I’m not going to be with a man who thinks this is okay. You know what to do to make me come back and stay.”

“At least wear your ring.”

“Until you start treating me like your wife… you don’t deserve for me to wear you ring like I am your wife:”

Then she leaves.

Ja neh!

Don’t have kids out of wedlock!

[ketso]

Episode 43

I asked Thabang to come with me today. We have come to talk to Mahali. I feel it is necessary, especially because I don’t know what kind of conversations about me have taken place between Mahali and Mmakabelo. Then I remembered that me being with Thabang is her biggest trigger. So I asked Thabang’s mother to come with us. She is a specialised customary lawyer and while we are her family, I’m also trusting her to be fair. That’s what we need to neutralise whatever is going on between Mahali and me. I’m not expecting that everything will be resolved, but I just need us to co-exist hle.

We are now at Mahali’s home. Her mother has offered us tea and scones. I can’t even swallow the tea or the scones. I’m sitting in the middle of Thabang and his mother.

Mahali finally enters where we are sitting. I’m a bit nervous. I’m even shaking a bit. I told Thabang to not be affectionate whatsoever today. If I shake, he must leave me alone. If I faint, he must allow someone else to help me. But he must not make things worse by being my husband in front of Mahali. I can see that he wants to hold my hand and calm me down. But he must restrain himself.

Mahali is staring straight at me.

The elders break the silence by greeting each other, talking about the weather, exchanging niceties… Mahali and I are staring at each other. Finally, it’s time for me to explain why I am here.

I clear my throat then begin, “I’m here today to clear the air between Mahali and me. I understand that we got off on the wrong foot, and we may have had multiple misunderstandings that have led to the belief that we cannot co-exist in one family. I’m not expecting us to be friends or to be close after this, but I’m hoping that we could at least work together to fulfil our duties in the Mothipa family.”

Everyone is still looking at me. Mahali is still staring at me, not even blinking.

I look at Thabang’s mother. She nods her head at me, signalling that I should go ahead. I face Mahali again, then continue, “Mahali, I’m not here to be anything more than just Thabang’s third wife. I know that in the realm of wives, you and Mmakabelo are above me. And I respect that.”

“Really?!” That’s her first reaction. And it’s not with a nice tone. But at least there is conversation now.

“Yes, really.” Me.

“But you carry yourself like you are Thabang’s only wife.” She says.

“How do I do that?” Me.

She’s quiet.

“Please, tell me. Because if I don’t know where I’m going wrong, I can’t fix my behaviour that offends you so much.” I say.

“First of all… you control Thabang.”

I’m going to try my best to not be defensive. I’m reminding myself that her feelings are valid and if I’m asking, I must be open to hearing her full story.

“You do! How could you have a white wedding with a priest and vows with a polygamous man? Do you know how much of an insult that was?! You insulted Mmakabelo and me… and you showed us that you don’t recognise us in this marriage or this family. It was wrong! And you don’t see that! Then there’s this honeymoon of yours. Mmakabelo and I never got honeymoons. And I understand that it was a gift from your friends, but to us… it seems that even the people in your life don’t understand how it works here. We are all equal. If something happens for one person, it must happen for every one of us and it must happen the same way for each of us.”

I take a deep breath.

She takes a deep breath. Then tears roll from her eyes. Then she says, “then wena, Morafe… you have me sent away! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

Now this is where I have to come in because I didn’t have her sent away.

“Mahali, I had nothing to do that.” I say.

“UMAKA!” She yells.

“Mahali…” Thabang intervenes.

She looks at him.

He continues, “you and I were both in that meeting. Your elders were also there. That suggestion came from Mmakabelo. Myself… even mama… we believed that it was a harsh sanction. Ask your elders.”

“So Mmakabelo is the one who just sent me away? That’s what you are saying?” Mahali.

“I’m not sure what her motivation was, but yes… it was her.” Thabang.

“I had nothing to do with it, Mahali. I swear. In fact, I begged Thabang for us to come here today - going over Mmakabelo’s head - to come and fetch you.” I say.

She’s shocked.

“Mahali, I don’t want us to have issues. Yes, we are married to the same man and I’m aware that I’m not much to you… but we are family. And whether you recognise my kids as your children’s siblings or not, we all have to live together and keep it pushing. I don’t want you out of the picture. I didn’t come here to replace you. I married Thabang because I love him and we make each other happy. While we may seem to have a particular marriage in your eyes, we have our issues too. The only reason that you don’t know about my marriage is because my marriage is my marriage and I treat it that way. So I’m asking you… don’t hold me accountable for the husband that Thabang is supposed to be to you. Hold him accountable for it. But I will apologise for the wedding. I’m learning now that it was uncalled-for towards you and Mmakabelo. For that, I profusely and unreservedly apologise for it. The honeymoon bit, I think you can speak to Thabang about it. He is your husband and if you want one, tell him. I don’t have to be the person who approves it. I’m one of three wives. I’m not the principal wife. If you and I are going to have issues, let it be outside of him. While we have him as a husband in common, it doesn’t mean that our marriages are the same or should be compared. They are different. We are different. And he also views us differently. I don’t hate you, Mahali. And I profusely apologise to you if I ever gave you the impression that I do.”

Now I’m quiet.

She’s looking at me. I’m not sure if the look is sincere or what.

“I’d also like to apologise that this had to get to this point before we had this conversation. I’ll be a better husband to you. Maybe all of this is a result of the kind of husband that I’ve been to you, and I’m learning. I’ll do better.” Thabang says.

Mahali smiles, then says, “Thank you, monna waka. I needed to hear that.”

“Bo Mothipa, thank you for coming here as humbly as you have and showing us that our daughter is something in your family. We didn’t appreciate how she was treated. So we thank you for rectifying that. We are happy for Mahali to return to her marital home.” Her mother says.

I smile too.

Mahali is also very happy.

Now that Mahali’s things are packed, she gets into her car with Thabang. I drive back with my mother-in-law. I guess they need the space to talk and reconnect. My mother-in-law is the one driving. I’m just a bit… I don’t know how to explain how I feel.

“You did very well. I’m proud of you.” My mother-in-law tells me.

“Mama, am I really in the wrong for loving my husband?” I say.

I’m actually hurt by this.

She takes a deep breath then she says, “Nana, one thing you need to understand is that Thabang loves you. He sees you as the love of his life and it’s not often that you get those more than once in life. I know and understand my son very well. He respects his other wives very much. He will always be responsible for them and he will always make sure that they are well taken care of. But moratuwa wahaye ke wena! Mmakabelo and Mahali know that very well. It’s not only in the exceptions that he makes for you. It’s in the way that he looks at you. It’s in the way his face and energy lights up when you are next to him or in the same room with him. I know you are a good woman because another woman would use that to change him completely… even ask him to divorce his other wives. But you… you took him and you both went to apologise to Mahali after realising that more than anything, you have hurt her. She needed what you did today. She was desperate for it. For you to be so selfless that you give this to her as you did, I take my hat off to you. I’m proud of you. My son is in good hands with you.”

I hear her.

“What am I going to do about Mmakabelo? She will really come for blood when she hears that I went above her head and fetched Mahali.”

“Leave Mmakabelo to me. Don’t worry. You just continue being the wife that you are to my son. I appreciate you greatly.”

Ja neh!

-

I fetched my kids from school then headed home. My mother-in-law is staying with us tonight.

I’m cooking while my babies are keeping mama entertained. Meme is helping me cook. She’s writing exams, so she finishes early then comes home. I always tell her to not do chores. She must study then rest. She says that she will go crazy, so she wants to help with some chores around the house. We have two domestic workers, so there’s no cleaning or laundry that needs to be done.

“How are the exams going?” I ask Meme.

“Stressful. But at least I do virtual lessons with my tutors and I attend all extra classes at school. I won’t disappoint you… not after everything that you’ve done for me.” She says.

“Meme, I don’t want you putting unbelievable pressure on yourself. I know that you work hard. And I know how much of an adjustment this new school has been for you. I don’t want you to crack. I want you to pass, yes… but if you are not successful with these exams, it’s okay. I’ll understand. The important thing is that you don’t give up.”

She looks at me and is getting emotional.

“I don’t want to disappoint you.” She says.

“I’m already so proud of you, Meme. So proud.” I say, hugging her.

“Mama a re you will kick me out if I fail.” She says.

“Not that I’m encouraging you to not listen to your mother… but please man! I’m not going to do that. My priority is your well-being… this includes your mental health. Don’t murder yourself because of exams. Please.”

She smiles at me.

“You’ll be good. You’ll see.” I say.

We hear noise in the TV room. The “papa” tells us that Thabang is here.

“I thought he was with the crazy one today.” Meme says.

I laugh then say, “I’ll also ask what’s happening.”

“Ai! I don’t want your problems.” She says.

We laugh aloud.

“Dumelang”, he greets Meme and I as he enters into the kitchen.

“Hello baby”, I say.

“Dumela Abuti Thabang.” Meme.

“Le jwang?” He asks us, leaning against the wall of the kitchen entrance.

“We good.” Meme.

He nods his head. He looks at me for a while. I think he needs to talk.

“I’ll finish up here”, Meme says to me.

I smile at her.

Then I go to my husband.

He hugs me.

We kiss.

He pulls my hand to our bedroom, up the stairs and straight to our bedroom.

We get inside the bedroom.

He closes the door.

He locks the door.

He starts getting undressed.

Okay… he needs me.

I get undressed too.

In no time, we are both naked.

He sits on a chair.

I climb on top of him.

I get to work!

We’ve just finished satisfying each other after a good hour of passionate and enduring sex.

We are now lying on the bed, my head on his chest.

“You okay?” I ask him.

“I am now.” He says.

“What’s wrong?”

“I feel like I’m being punished for loving you.” He says.

I sit up. My naked body faces him. I cross my legs. He looks at me.

“What happened?” I ask him.

“I thought things would be better with Mahali back. The kids have her back and all. But yoh… she really took the bad husband thing to another level. She’s upset about some post on insta-something.”

“The one Meme posted? If it’s an issue, I can ask her to take it down. This is getting WAY much more airplay than necessary. It’s not that deep.”

“I don’t want Meme to take it down. I didn’t even know what that is. When Mahali showed it to me, I actually liked it. Those pictures are beautiful.”

I smile at him.

“We do make a stunning couple, don’t we?” I say.

He holds my hand, smiles at me, then says, “We really do.”

We have a moment.

“She’s also upset that I don’t have girlfriends anymore. I suspect that she had a conversation with Mmakabelo about this because Mmakabelo raised it as well.” He says.

“Girlfriends? So you not having girlfriends is a bad thing?” Me.

“They think I stopped because you told me to.”

“Why did you stop?”

“Because I love you. And you already have to share me with two other women… I didn’t want you to have to deal with girlfriends too; especially because I don’t share you with anyone.”

Now I get emotional. He sees me.

“What’s wrong?” He asks me.

“I just don’t know how I got so lucky.” I say.

He opens his arms to receive me.

I lie on his chest and we just sit in this position… in silence… for another thirty minutes.

“Let them go to the Maldives”, I say. My head is still on his chest.

“Huh?”

“Our honeymoon… let them go. The two of them and their kids… they can all go together. I’ll speak to Tamia. She will understand.”

“Why?”

“Because… it’s not even about the Maldives, it’s about what it represents. You can even go with them. I’ll be good.”

“But that’s our honeymoon, Morafe.”

“I have your heart, T. I know I do. They don’t. To them, it’s about all of these things that we do - honeymoon, the wedding… all of that. They think that’s where the unfairness is. I want us to show them that it’s never been like that. We are just being led by our hearts. You’ll always do stuff with them… it’s not -

“No Morafe. I’ll plan a proper family holiday for everyone. I just came back from Cape Town with Mmakabelo and the kids. Mahali is planning a SunCity trip. Why must you sacrifice your holiday or our honeymoon because they are not happy?”

I’m quiet.

“Baby… we are going on our honeymoon together. They, you, me and the kids are going on our holiday together… you choose whichever place you want to go to. Then we will all go together as a family. That’s how we do things. It can’t change just because they don’t like that I do it with you!” He says. He even sounds angry.

He kisses my forehead.

…

I’ve had the best afternoon with Morafe. I even had dinner at her place. She made quite the dinner. My mom is still deep in complementing her food.

Now I’m driving back to Mahali. I promised her a week of uninterrupted days. I told her I was going to meet up with Tumelo. She made me promise her not to see Morafe this week. I made the promise, but I don’t intend to keep it. I’m not going a week without seeing Morafe. The fuck?!

Speaking of Tumelo…

My dad had to go and apologise for him smashing the princess. I don’t know what’s wrong with that guy. What the hell is he doing with a seventeen year old?! The king wants blood! But for now, he gets Tumelo being in prison. He’s been charged with statutory rape and has been sentenced to three years behind bars. We negotiated, hence the three years. Morena wanted ten years. We had to accept the three years, send the king ten cows, twenty sheep and thirty goats. It was not nice. We are still recovering a bit from that loss. Imagine! But my dad paid it on condition that Tumelo’s safety inside the prison is guaranteed. After a lot of convincing, the king assured us.

The worst part was having to explain to his wives what had happened. Yoh, they are not happy people. That much, I’ll tell you. So now, I have to look after them until he comes out. I make sure that they are taken care of financially. I don’t touch them though.

And this is where I appreciate Morafe. Of my wives, she’s the only one who has a job. I had asked her to resign and be a full time housewife like Mmakabelo and Mahali - in the spirit of all wives being equal. But when Tumelo got locked up, she’s the only one who had the sense to keep the job so that she’d help me. Looking after five wives is not cheap. But that’s not the shit that Mmakabelo and Mahali would tell you when they complain about Morafe.

I arrive at Mahali’s house and park my car. I notice that Mmakabelo’s car is also here. Yoh! Ke tlo nyelwa kajeno.

I step out of my car and head into the house.

The kids are going crazy in here - all six of them.

I greet them. They all give me a brief hi then fuck off. Their mothers say that it’s because I don’t spend time with them so they just don’t know me. They know who I am. They live, sleep, eat and breathe my money. They have ungrateful mothers. They better know who I am.

I ask them where their mothers are. They point towards the patio.

I head there.

They are fighting. This is a bit funny… very funny actually. I stand here and listen to this because I need to understand why and how these two are fighting without Morafe.

Mahali: “O sile wena, Mmakabelo! You told me that Morafe told Thabang to send me away and Thabang told you to go with it!”

Mmakabelo: “I’ve already apologised! What more do you want from me?! We both know that I’m not the enemy here! Neither are you!”

Mahali: “So who’s the enemy? Ngwana ole wabathu that came to fetch me so I could be with my family after you made sure that’s not a reality for me?”

Mmakabelo: “Mahali! Stop this! Stop acting like a victim! There’s no time! We both know that we have the same problem here. Thabang o rata Morafe! He doesn’t give a shit about me and you! If Morafe asks him to divorce us, our marriages are over! That’s how much power she has! What more if he finds out about the paternity of our children?!”

Mahali: “Morafe doesn’t have kids of his semen neither. We are all the same.”

Mmakabelo: “You are missing the point. Thabang is aware that Morafe’s kids are not biologically his and he’s accepted it. He’s accepted them. He loves them. Look at how he is with our kids - that he believes are his - versus the kids he knows for a fact are not his. O rata Morafe! The only thing that is saving us from suspicious questions right now is the fact that Morafe doesn’t want anymore kids. If she changes her mind, Thabang will start wondering why they have sex like rabbits, but no kids are coming from that. And then what?”

There is silence.

I step onto the patio.

They notice me.

They look like they’ve just seen a ghost.

“Mothipa!” Mmakabelo says in shock.

“Repeat what you’ve just said.” I say softly, but I’m very angry. I’m hurt. I’m embarrassed.

They look at each other.

“So I’ve been looking after kids that are not mine all of this time?” I ask them.

“They are yours. They are just -

I leave mid-sentence. I’m not going to accept anymore lies from these two women.

I’m speeding through the streets and making my way to my peace - the wife that I love… the wife that was always designed for me.

I get to her place in less than thirty minutes. I park my car and make my way into the house. I barge into the house.

She and my mom are still up, chatting away.

I stare at them.

I didn’t even realise that I’ve been crying.

Morafe is on her feet. So is my mother. Morafe sprints to me, hugs me… trying to revive me. I fall apart in her arms. The cry I release is loud and aggressive. I hold onto her very tightly.

“I’m sorry, baby. Whatever it is, I’m so sorry.” She keeps saying to me.

She holds me in her arms. She lets me fall apart. She is my strength. She is my pillar. She is my essence!

After an hour, we make our way upstairs and to our bedroom.

She undresses me.

She takes me to the insuite bathroom.

She puts me in the shower.

She undresses herself.

We shower together. She cleans me up as I cry. I let her. Then she gets clean.

Now, she’s lotioning me. I’m even feeling a little better. She lets me get into the blankets. She leaves the bedroom after lotioning herself and getting into pyjamas. I’m butt-naked under these sheets.

She comes back after about twenty minutes. She has two cups of hot chocolate. I laugh. It’s weird how this drink always makes me feel better. She puts marshmallows in it - replacing sugar with them. She smiles at me.

She gives me a cup.

She gets into the bed and holds her cup.

“I love you”, I tell her.

“You know that I love you, right? Probably more than I should”, she says.

We kiss.

“You want to talk about what happened?” She asks me.

“It turns out that Mmakabelo’s kids and Mahali’s kids are not mine.” I tell her.

She gives me a confused look.

“I found them arguing at Mahali’s house. Kids I’ve raised all this time… that I believed were mine… are not mine.” I say.

Now she’s blown away.

“All six of them?” She asks me.

“Yeah. All six of them.”

“But, I don’t understand. You married Mahali because she got pregnant. The two of you didn’t start trying for kids after you got married. Or am I the one getting the story wrong?”

I actually just laugh because the more I think about this, the more I just want to kill them.

“Then who is…?” She doesn’t finish her sentence.

“I just left the house. I’ve got nothing left in me for them. Nothing.” I say.

“You are going to have to find out eventually, baby. Especially with Mmakabelo. She was a chosen wife for you. It’s possible that this is actually a family secret all together.”

“You think I can’t have kids?” I ask her as I’m coming to this realisation.

“I don’t know, baby. Maybe we need to see a doctor and understand.”

She sees how down I am.

She lays her head on my chest.

Why didn’t I just marry her? Why?!

[ketso]

Episode 42

I just dropped Risuna off at crèche. He was asking me very weird questions today. I didn’t realise that us moving to a new environment had affected him this way. He asked me why he has to go to a new school. I told him it’s because we moved and his old school is now very far for us. He asked me if we’d be moving again. I said no, but if we did, would it be an issue? He told me that he wants to know if he should make friends or not. He doesn’t want to make new friends only for him to move, have to forget about them, then have to go and make new friends. I told him that we don’t plan to move any time soon. We also moved so that dad could get a new job and be able to take care of us. If we can help it, I promised him that we won’t move again. He made me pinky swear.

After that conversation, I felt the need to speak to his teachers and just understand how he has been adjusting. The teacher told me that he has no issues being a social child. He really doesn’t. But he told his teacher that he doesn’t want to make friends if we will be moving. I told the teacher that I’d speak to Keith and we will talk to him. The teacher said that if it doesn’t help, she will organise for the three of us to see the school therapist.

Ja neh.

Now I’m driving back home. But I’m thinking of going to see Keith first. I don’t like his PA. She’s so rude. Not that I’m expecting special treatment because I’m the boss’ wife… but I am the boss’ wife and some special treatment would be nice.

So yes, Keith paid lobola for me then we went and signed. I’m officially Mrs Basetsana Nkuna. We thought about having a wedding in Tholoana Kingdom, but our mothers are not having it. So between Keith’s schedule and us settling in this side, we will probably have this wedding in December.

“Hey baby”, Keith answers his phone after two rings.

“Babe, hey. You good?” Me.

“Just a bit hectic already. And wena? Ushup? How’s my boy?”

“Can I come see you? We need to talk a bit about Risuna.”

“What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Okay sure, come by.”

“You not too busy?”

“Baby, I’m always busy. But for you, I make time.”

“Okay. Is there someone who can assist me to get to your office? I don’t like your PA. She’s just so rude.”

“I’ll organise with the intern that sits in my office. Buzz me when you get here.”

“Okay… I’ll see you just now.”

“Shup.”

We hang up.

-

The intern meets me downstairs and she leads me upstairs.

“Hi Mrs N. How are you?” She says. She’s so young and cute.

“I’m good. I don’t think I got your name.” I say.

“Thabiso.” She says.

“Lovely meeting you, Thabi. Are you from the kingdom?”

“I am. Born and bred here.”

“Nice. Well, I hope you like working for my husband.”

She pulls a face.

I laugh then say, “And then?”

“Mrs N… on behalf of the office, we are begging… please make sure he’s in a good mood when he comes to the office. Yoh, we are all quite scared of him.”

I laugh then say, “consider me part of the team. I’ll do my bit.”

She laughs then high-fives me.

We finally get to the sixth floor where Keith sits. I walk through the open space area where everyone who works in his office sits. Everyone just looks tense. It’s not even 9am hle.

Thabiso points in the direction of his office then heads to her desk.

Shame man.

“Is it safe to enter?” I say as I stand at the door.

He lifts his head from some document that he’s reading. He looks at me. He smiles.

“Hello gorgeous”, he greets me.

“Hello handsome. Ujwang?”

“All the better for seeing you.”

I smile and say, “anything that I can help with?”

“You being here is making all the difference.”

I laugh then say, “I know admin, baby. And it’s not like I have anything to do between now and when Risuna comes home. I’ve got time on my hands. I can help… relieve the stress in wifely ways and in professional ways.”

He smiles at me.

He gets up from behind his desk. He walks to me. I can see that he’s already hard. He gets to me. I start brushing his penis.

He locks his door.

I become his wife on his desk… on his meeting table… and on his couches.

I hope we weren’t too loud.

He opens the windows as he gets dressed. I also get dressed and fix myself a bit.

“So, you wanted to chat about Risuna. Is everything okay?” He says to me.

We are both still fixing ourselves up.

“I had an interesting conversation with your son this morning”, I say.

“About?”

“Why we moved. He asked me why he can’t go to his old school. Then he wanted to know if we plan on moving again. His reason for that is that he doesn’t want to make new friends if we have to move again and have to leave his friends behind.”

He looks at me with concern.

“I told him that we moved because you got a new job. Then I promised him that if we can help it, we won’t move again. I then spoke to his teacher at school. She says that Risuna is fine with socialising, but he told her that he doesn’t want friends in case we have to move again.”

We look at each other.

“I think we need to talk to him about this… make sure he’s not being messed up, you know. The teacher said if you and I don’t succeed in chatting to him, he’ll see the school therapist.”

“Is it really that bad?” He asks me.

“It’s been a bit unstable. Maybe we do need to talk to him… make sure that he’s fine and reassure him, you know…”

“We will. Today. We definitely will.” He says then he kisses me.

“So, what’s making you so stressed out and cramping all over your employees?”

“I’m meeting with the board at the end of the week. The team is not coming to the party. My PA is useless. She’s barely helping me keep track of what is in place and what still needs to be worked on.”

“Maybe, I can help. I’ve put board packs together before. And I’ve helped prep for them.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Come on, let’s get started. I’ll probably have a lot done by the time that I have to fetch our son. Take me through what’s needed, then let me see what you have. We will make notes on what you still need then I’ll start drafting emails for you requesting what’s missing.”

“You are the best”, he says, kissing me.

We get to work!

-

By 13:30, I’m ready to leave to go and fetch my son. I’ve actually done more than we thought I’d do in just one day. His PA is giving me looks. She’s been giving me looks all day.

“I have to go and fetch your son”, I tell him. I wear my shoes now. I had actually taken off my shoes because I was deep into digging into the work.

“Already? But we need you around here. I need you.” He says.

I laugh at him.

He smiles.

“Why don’t you just fire that PA of yours? I mean if you still need this much help, surely she’s not doing her work.”

“I think she’s dating someone very senior… by senior, I mean someone on the board”, he says.

“Ja, but surely there’s a way that you can get rid of deadweight. Her vagina may be great for a board member, but it doesn’t get the job done adequately”, I say.

He actually laughs.

“Anyway, I’m out of here. I’ll probably have to wait a bit when I get to his school.”

“Why?”

“He says I fetch him too early. And I’m not sure if he’s old enough for me to fetch him later. He’s not even three.” I say.

He laughs then says, “So what’s the compromise? Because you can’t get there and wait all day.”

“I’ll give him an extra thirty minutes”, I say.

He just smiles and shakes his head.

“Bye baby. All the best, okay?”

“Bye my love. And thank you so much for all your help. I might just need to steal you again tomorrow.”

“Anytime I’m not being Risuna’s mommy, I’m all yours. So only when he’s at school.”

“Okay. I’ll get you a laptop that you can work on. This will be very helpful. You might need to work with my PA though.”

I pull a face.

He laughs.

“You better pay me in sex… in abundance.” I say.

“So I’m prostituting myself?” He says laughing.

I laugh.

We kiss.

I finally leave.

…

I’m chatting to HR about Bassie helping us this week. I’m telling them that she won’t be getting paid. She just has good admin skills that I could really use because the PA I was given is more than useless. All she knows to do is to be rude to people and make my office seem extremely unapproachable. HR is telling me that it’s fine, it’s just that they are worried about the precedence I could be setting. If it becomes a problem, it will stop… but until then, I need her assistance.

Then I also ask HR what my options are regarding the PA. She laughs then says,

“Mr N… you know she was hired as a favour, right?”

“I don’t care. You can give her to someone else who can make a plan with a useless and rude PA. I need someone who will do the work. I don’t care about the connections and favours. I need someone who will produce the work. How am I paying someone a salary when I have to ask my wife to come and assist my office for free?”

“I hear you, Mr N. And I’ll start the process of recruiting a PA for you. Then I’ll move Judy to a lower management manager. In the meantime, what’s your plan? Can your wife stand in until we employ someone full time?”

“I’m sure she won’t mind. Thank you.” I say.

She nods her head then leaves my office.

I push some work for a few hours, making notes of things I’ll ask Bassie to help me with after Risuna goes to sleep. Bassie is honestly a God-sent in my life.

“Mr N, I have the files that Mrs N asked me for. She promised she’d go through them with me. Is she coming back?” The intern says. She’s already in my office. I guess the door was wide open. I don’t even know her name and I don’t want to know it. I don’t want anyone here getting over familiar with me. For one, I don’t want issues with my wife. Noria taught me that saying more than just hi to any female is a problem. I’ve learned my lesson.

“She will be here tomorrow morning. I’ll let her know that you need her.” I say to her.

“Thank you, sir. Should I organise a desk for her in our area?”

Yes, because I don’t want these people in my office doing whatever tasks they have with Bassie. I think they also don’t want to be in my office any longer than they have to be.

“Yes, that would be great. Thanks.” I say.

Like I said… I don’t know her name, so I can’t even say thanks so-and-so.

She’s already left. Good.

I leave the office at about 6pm.

Everyone is already gone. I’ll come in early tomorrow morning.

My drive home is quiet. I know when I get home, we will be bullied by Risuna’s noise and TV shows. This is my time for peace.

I arrive home and park my car. The first thing I did when I got this job was trade in my Audi A4, then bought a Range Rover sport. Bassie didn’t want to let her A1 go. I don’t understand! I convinced her to get something more spacious. She’s travelling with Risuna most of the time. She needs to manage him, his luggage and his car seat… then manage her luggage. So she ended up settling on a BMW X3. I can live with that. I don’t like small cars. I never have and I probably never will.

I walk into the house carefully. Risuna likes to hide behind doors and do weird things. So we can’t be aggressive when opening doors anymore. Since he started walking and starting speaking, we are in trouble.

Just as anticipated…

He’s right behind the door and he “scares” me. I also pretend to be scared. He laughs! I know I’ve made his day. He gets a kick out of this.

Now I put my bags down and lift him up, tickling him and making him laugh. I spot Bassie smiling at us.

“How are you, my boy?” I ask him.

“Good.” He says.

“How was school?”

“Not good.”

“Why?”

“I got into trouble.”

“For what?”

“I… I… I… I finished my hotdog quickly. Then… then… then… then teacher gave me another one. So I ate. Now she says I stole a hotdog.”

“You stole a hotdog?”

“NOOOO! Teacher gave me two. Just because she didn’t see that I already had one, it’s not my fault!”

I want to laugh neh.

But Bassie is not happy. So this is clearly not a funny matter.

I greet Bassie with a kiss while Risuna is still in my arms, “Hey baby.”

Risuna giggles.

“Close your eyes!” I say.

He giggles then uses his hands to cover his hands.

“You good?” I say to Bassie, brushing her lips and touching her ass.

“I’m good. Wena? Did you finish with your prep?” She asks me.

“Some people came to my office saying they need to sit with you and discuss some stuff. I told them you’d be back tomorrow. We even organised a desk for you”. I say.

“Are you hiring me?” She asks me.

“You are assisting us… HR has been made aware. Oh, and the PA will be reassigned to a more junior manager.”

She laughs.

We finally sit at the dinner table. Bassie serves us our food. This dinner looks really good.

“We got a letter from Risuna’s school. They are saying that Risuna is not honest”, Bassie says.

Risuna looks ready to defend himself.

“Why were they even giving him hotdogs? Does he not take a lunch bag from home?” I ask.

I really am still struggling to understand what happened.

“We do. But we give them monthly tuckshop money for Risuna. So when Risuna wants things from the tuckshop, they just deduct from the money we pay monthly. Risuna wanted a hotdog and juice today… with chips and I don’t know what.”

“Sweets”, Risuna.

“So when you saw your teacher giving you a second hotdog, why didn’t you tell teacher that you had already eaten?” Bassie asks him.

“Because it was extra food. Who says no to extra food?” Risuna neh.

I really want to laugh.

“So what happens now?” I ask.

“They deducted it off Risuna’s tuck money because he has to pay for it. But there has to be punishment.” Bassie.

“But it wasn’t my fault!” Now Risuna is getting a bit upset.

I also see where he’s coming from, if I’m being honest. I don’t understand why we must punish him.

“So for punishment, Risuna has to give up his favourite car toy and give it to one of his cousins that can’t afford. This will teach Risuna that people genuinely need food and all these things that he’s fortunate enough to have. He must learn to be honest about things and tell his teachers when he has already eaten.”

Risuna starts crying. He leaves his chair and climbs on top of me, crying in my arms. Bassie is not moved. This is so unnecessary.

“I hate my teacher! Tomorrow, I’m going to put bugs in her bag!” He says as he cries.

This is getting worse.

“If you do that, I take away all your gadgets!” Bassie shouts.

Now he cries loudly.

I just help him calm down. Mothers are actually cruel.

...

"Ja, Nkuna." Some prison guard says to me, bringing me very kak food. Last I checked, no prison warden was allowed to speak to me. Apparently, I'm so high risk that if you sneeze in my direction, I'll bribe you and you'll accept, then you'll help me escape this place.

Secondly, I dish up my own food. No one just serves me food. It's the rule. As prisoners, we dish up for ourselves. Yes, us isolated people generally dish up first because because we are not supposed to come into contact with the other prisoners, but still... I dish up my own plate AND the food is usually better than this. Way better! Now I'm being given four slices of dry bread and water with sugar.

"Vader! What is this?" I ask the warden serving me.

"Food. People eat it when they are hungry." He aggressively says.

"But... why am I not dishing up for myself today?" I ask him.

"The prison is under lockdown. Your fellow inmates are unable to behave themselves. So, nonke nje... you are being served. And we are not going to join ques for you... forget about it! Even the offenders that work in the kitchen couldn't cook today because of the lockdown. Idla lapho sboshwa."

"How do I know this is not poisoned? This is bullshit, man!" I'm actually losing my temper.

"You don't know. But if you are hungry, you will eat."

"Do you know who my father is?!" Clearly I must now play that card.

He laughs aloud then says, "Yes, we all know who your father is. Why do you think we are allowed to speak to you now?"

"Excuse me?!" Me.

He laughs then calls another male prison warden. He tells that warden that I've just asked him if he knows who my father is. That warden also laughs.

"What's funny?" I ask.

"Your father has been arrested, sboshwa!"

WHAT THE HELL!!!!????!!!!

"He will also be joining you up here, in the male section. We should actually be taking you to the general population, but ke... you are considered quite dangerous and for the safety of the other offenders, we are keeping you isolated. Tomorrow though, we will take you to a less secure isolation place. Here where you are is an absolute silence area. Now, no one is scared of you. You are no longer a threat to the system. You can go back", one of them say.

"I need a lawyer", I say.

"Uthini lo muntu?"

"Lo muntu is saying that she needs a fucken lawyer. Get me a fucken lawyer! I was informed that if I cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided to me by the state. I need a fucken lawyer!"

"Ey wena! You've already pled guilty wena. Icala lakho liphelile wena. Ugwejiwe wena!"

"GET ME A LAWYER! GET ME A FUCKEN LAWYER! RIGHT NOW!" I'm screaming... I have a brief blackout. By the time I come back to my senses, a siren is going off... I'm being dragged by some prison wardens, and one of the cops is lying in a pool of his own blood. I have a toothbrush in my hand and it's covered in blood.

...

I'm waking up in a different cell. I don't remember how I got here. I don't even understand which section this is of the prison. But I'm still in a single cell. My neighbours - also in single cells next to me - are males and females. We never mix with male prisoners. Why am I this close to them?

"Is sleeping beauty finally awake?" I hear a male voice say.

"Looks that way", a female voice says.

These isolation single cells are not even closed with metal doors like where I was. They are burglar bar gates that shut us in. So we can all see each other, we just sleep separately.

"Is jy mal? You killed a prison warden. Are you trying to bring back the death penalty just for you?" Some guy says.

I'm not speaking to any of them. I'm just lying on my bed. I hear the chatter as background noise, but my tears are overwhelming me. I've been in prison for over three months and only now is it sinking in that I could be in here for the rest of my natural life while Keith is playing happy family with that whore. I thought with the elections getting closer, I could be counting the days until I am released. After the elections, my dad is no longer in the spotlight, therefore he can pull strings to get me out of here. Now he's arrested too?! What the hell am I going to do?! This cannot be my life. It cannot.

I face the wall of this cell then cry myself to sleep. There are no windows here. I can't tell if it's day or night. We don't even know if it's hot or cold outside... or if it's raining or what. All we have are these burglar bars, and I suppose seeing each other is the only taste of life that we deserve.

I am being woken up by a prison warden. He's in my cell. I turn around then look up at him.

"You need to go shower", he says. But he's rude shame. He even says, "You stink of the blood that you spilled yesterday."

Mxm!

I get up, put my feet on the ground, stand up then look at him.

"What?!" He asks me. He smells like an ashtray even.

"My toiletries are in my previous cell", I say.

"Well we used them to clean up the blood that you spilled! Buy new ones."

I look at him.

"Don't look at me like that! I'll kill you before you even put your hands on me! You hear?!"

"I'm already in jail. I'm probably already going to do life in prison. I can afford to kill you. You can't afford to kill me. Because then, you'll be in here with me and other people like me... imagine the fun that we would have with you!" I say.

I will not be disrespected by prison wardens. Never! Their highest qualification is a matric! Rha!

This guy giggles.

Then he says, "I know just what to do with an attitude like yours."

He drags me out of my cell.

We walk past the showers.

We are walk down long and dark passages.

We head outside. Oh man! Fresh air. And it's a rainy day. The rain smells so beautiful. Just as I'm about to enjoy the weather and the smell of rain, I'm put at the back of a van.

The van is driven at a fast pace.

Where is this fucker taking me?!

I even notice that we are leaving the prison. Heh banna?!

We drive a bit.

Then we stop at some very dodge house.

Is this even legal?

He heads into the house.

This could actually be my chance to escape. I don't know where I am, but I'm not behind bars. And if I didn't escape. A cop drove me out of the facility himself. Lol! What an idiot! I just need to find a weapon nyana, murder a few people then run!

You can do this, Ria! You can do this!

The door opens... I'm not even cuffed. Lol! This cop must really trust me.

"Enjoy gents. Don't ever say that I never did anything for you. I'll be back to fetch her after two hours. Release your dicks in there. And be careful, she's a deadly one."

What the hell did this warden say?!

"Hello my love!" Some fail pop says to me, pulling me to the house while the warden drives away.

There are so many men here.

"Don't even think about it!" Someone says to me. He can see me trying to figure a way out.

Some men are already getting undressed while others have guns pointed against me.

This cannot be happening!

It cannot!

"Are you stripping for us or what?! Do you know how long our days have been at the mine?!" Some man says.

"Not even days, ek se! Weeks! You are the perfect meal ticket for us."

You know, I just let these men rape me. They are taking turns with every whole that exists on my body and I don't fight them. That's because I have a plan to leave this place and prison. So I'm saving my energy. These men are not even using condoms. At all. I pretend to be passing out. They don't stop. I think it's only after another twenty minutes that they stop. They even say that they are getting food, then will come back for one more round before Lehlohonolo comes to fetch me. Lehlohonolo is the cop that brought me here... the prison warden.

They literally leave me in the room a few minutes... that's all I need. I'm bleeding. I'm in pain. I don't care though. I'm getting out of here!

I open an eye. I'm alone in the room.

I try to get up.

Every part of me is in pain. But I'm going to get out of here. I'll tap into my adrenaline, then sprint and not even feel this pain that I'm in. I feel like crying even, but this is not the time to cry... at all!

I grab some clothes from an open cupboard. If I run in the prison uniform, I'll be easily identified.

I see stacks of money in this cupboard.

I grab what I can then put it in my bra.

I leave this place using this bar-less window in this room. Then I start running towards I don't know what.

I run until I can no longer see the house anymore. I'm deep in the woods! Deep! But I sprint! I keep running. Plus it's raining, so I'm not burning up or anything.

I think I run for a good 10km.

As I take a break, I take off these prison clothes then wear the clothes that I stole. It's a baggy t-shirt. Well, it belongs to one of the men there. It's so long and baggy that I wear it as a dress. The pants don't look like they'll fit me. So, I just leave them there with the prison clothes.

Then, I pick up my run again.

I find myself at a township mall. My face isn't all over the media yet, so no one recognises me. I go to clicks and get some cosmetics with some of this money that I stole. I go to Edgars and get a decent outfit, non-branded sneakers, and a handbag. Then I go via a knock-off wig shop then buy myself one. I now head to the toilet. I quickly clean myself up using the basin. I was in prison. The basin will do. Trust. I then wear these clothes that I bought - jeans and a jersey. I put the other money in the bag. I wear the wig too. It cost R1500 so it's not a bad wig. It will do for now.

I leave the dress in here. And the shoes. I wear sneakers that I bought at Edgars. I look okay.

I'm avoiding eye-contact with every security guard or police officer. They are just going about their days, but I'm so scared that my picture may already be out. I'm consoled that Lehlohonolo is still trying to figure out how he will explain that he's the one who got me out. He's probably still coming up with a plan.

I get to the taxi rank.

"Uyaphi sisi?" A taxi driver asks me.

"Where's this taxi going?" I ask. I don't have a plan. I'm just running away here.

"Durban. It's only short of one person." The driver or Marshall or whatever he is says to me.

I climb in.

Thankfully, the vacant seat is at the back... and it's not a window seat.

"Sisi, you didn't pay. We pay over there", he points at some shack-like place.

"How much?" I ask.

"R650."

I give him R700.

"You must pay there!" He says.

I see a cop.

Yoh!

"Please do it for me. You can keep the R50." I say.

"Yeh?! Hai wena!"

Why is he delaying?! Why?!

I give him an extra R500. He just smiles at me then lets me be.

Can the taxi now please just leave...!!!

The lady next to me has a kid that's passing out.

I offer to hold her toddler for her. I just want to hide. Honestly.

She smiles at me, trusts me and let's me.

The pain comes back to me again. My body is in so much pain; especially my vagina.

I want to cry.

But I'm overcome by relief when this taxi finally takes off.