THE INCARCERATED STRANGER

 

Chapter 31

 

MANGALISO

 

He just fetched Ayakha’s car, and it looks fantastic. The bulletproof windows are perfectly installed, giving him a sense of security. Now she can drive her car whenever she wants! 

As he drives towards his mother’s house, a wave of nostalgia washes over him. The last time he saw her and his siblings was before he got arrested, and he remembers how upset she was when his brother got hurt because of him. 

Pulling into the driveway, he parks the car and lets out a deep sigh. Stepping out, he walks towards the house, his heart racing with anticipation. He knocks on the door, and after a moment, it swings open to reveal Sandile. They lock eyes for a moment before Sandile pulls him into a tight hug.

“Hey! It’s good to see you!” he exclaims as they break apart. He cups Sandile’s face in his hands and kisses his cheek affectionately. Sandile giggles, trying to push him away. 

“Brother, I’m not into that! Now stop with the kissing! Since when are you gay?” Sandile teases, laughter in his voice.

“What’s wrong with a brother kissing his little brother?” he replies playfully as he gives Sandile a gentle shove.

Suddenly, their mother’s voice calls out from inside the house. “Sandile!”

“Wee, Sandile wena! Who will pick up those clothes in your room……” She trails off as she notices the door is open. Her eyes meet his, and he can't help but smile as he steps forward.

“Mommy!” he says warmly, pulling her into a hug. Sinazo wraps her arms around him tightly.

“Son, is it really you?” Sinazo asks, a mixture of disbelief and joy in her voice.

“It’s me, my queen,” he replies with a grin, feeling the warmth of family wrapping around him once more.

“Ohh, my son, we missed you so much!” Sinazo exclaims, her voice filled with emotion.

“I know, I missed you all too,” he replies, pressing a kiss to his mother’s forehead.

“Where is everyone?” he asks, glancing around the house.

“They already went to work, but Zikhona and his kids—Khanyisile, Nkosana, and Siphosethu—are in the back. We were about to have breakfast; come on and join us, son!” she says, taking his hand and leading him outside. Sandile follows closely behind them.

As they reach the backyard, Sinazo announces cheerfully, 

“We have a special guest today!” Everyone turns to look at him, and as soon as they recognize their brother, they all jump up to give him warm hugs.

Once they’re seated at the table outside, Jason, his stepfather, makes his way over. 

“Son! How are you?” Jason asks with a smile.

“I’m good! Son,And yourself?” he responds, returning the smile.

“Good! You’ll never stop calling me that, will you?” Jason chuckles.

“Nope!” he grins back as everyone begins to serve themselves breakfast. The atmosphere is lively as they chat and catch up. 

He finds himself glancing at Sandile often. His little brother looks better than the last time he saw him; he’s smiling, and that brings him comfort. He had been worried about how Sandile was coping .

“You did well to come, son. Your brother Nhlakanipho is getting married next week!” Sinazo announces with excitement.

“Woah, Ngampela? Finally, one of us is getting married at least!” he exclaims, and laughter erupts around the table.

“You have no shame! You’re the older brother; you should be the first to get married!” Zikhona teases him.

“I’m not in a rush, but… just know things are promising at the moment,” he replies with a hint of pride.

“Halalalah!” Zikhona  cheers, her excitement contagious.

“You couldn’t wait, huh? Three minutes out, and you’re already in a relationship! Uyashesha!” Jason jokes, and everyone bursts into laughter again.

“This one is special, Jay. She was brought to me by both Mazibuko and Manqoba ancestors,” he says confidently, earning a proud smile from his mother.

“Someone looks whipped,” she comments playfully.

“Well…” he shrugs, smiling widely. Yes, he is whipped—more than whipped.

After spending quality time with his mother, stepfather, and siblings, he decided to take his little brother for a drive, wanting to share some moments just the two of them. They chatted easily as he drove, enjoying the familiar streets and the comfort of each other’s company.

Once he dropped Sandile off, he made his way straight to his own place. A sense of happiness washed over him; he cherished the day spent with family. But as he settled in, a thought nagged at him about next week. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to make it to Nhlakanipho's wedding unless Ayakha agrees to go with him .

-

-

-

RILEY

 

She is chilling outside the law firm, enjoying lunch under the shade of a tree with Pari. They’re catching up, sharing stories about what’s been happening in their lives.

“Woah! So you two are now dating?” Pari asks, her eyes wide with Manga

“Yup, Mangaliso and I are dating now, and so far, we’re doing great and happy,” she replies, a smile spreading across her face. Pari nods, beaming back at her.

“I’m so happy you have a man in your life, babe! I was starting to get worried,” Pari jokes, and they both burst into laughter.

“Enough about me! What about you?” she asks, noticing a hint of blush on Pari’s cheeks.

“Well, Nipho and I are still doing okay,” Pari admits shyly. She nods in encouragement as they shift the conversation to other topics. Pari asks her about her visit to the Eastern Cape, and she shares everything that happened—how Lulama treated her, the incident where she burned her hand with hot water and how Lulama never apologized or even bothered to ask how she was doing. “But it’s healed now,” she assures Pari.

“And you won’t believe this,” she continues. “I found out that her father is actually my brother! Lulama cheated long ago with my father-in-law.” 

Pari gasps in shock, then bursts out laughing at the absurdity of it all.

“Friend, you are lying!” Pari exclaims, disbelief written all over her face.

“I’m telling you, all this time Lulama has been hating me. She’s been treating me poorly because I’m a reminder of her mistake with her father-in-law—my father’s father, my grandfather who is actually my father,” she explains, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and sadness.

 “That’s just… wow. I can’t believe she was treating you that way because of something she did,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief.

“I know, right? It’s like I’m stuck in this twisted family drama,” she replies, running a hand through her hair. 

“I didn’t even know any of this until recently. It’s been a lot to take in.”

Pari leans in closer, concern etched on her face. 

“How are you handling it? That must be so heavy.”

“I’m trying to figure it out,” she admits. “It hurts knowing that she sees me as a mistake rather than her daughter. But I’m learning to distance myself from her negativity.”

“Good for you! You deserve better,” Pari encourages her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

 “Now, let’s change the subject before I start feeling all emotional again.” 

“Agreed! What’s next on our gossip agenda?” Pari grins mischievously, eager to lighten the mood.

.

.

.

After lunch, she receives a call from her first client of the day. Gathering her things, she feels a surge of energy as her lawyer spirit takes over. 

With determination, she hops into her car, the familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She drives to the meeting place, she mentally reviews her notes and prepares herself for the discussion ahead. The chatter from lunch with Pari fades away, replaced by a focused clarity that comes with stepping back into her professional role. 

She knows that this meeting could be crucial, and as she navigates the streets, a sense of purpose fills her. 

As she approaches the meeting location, her heart beats a little faster. She parks the car, takes a deep breath, and glances in the rearview mirror to make sure she looks composed. Adjusting her blazer and smoothing down her hair, she reminds herself of her expertise and the importance of this moment.

Stepping out of the car, she walks with confidence toward the entrance of the building. The weight of her previous worries begins to lift, replaced by a sense of empowerment. She’s not just representing herself; she’s advocating for her client, and that fuels her passion.

Inside, she scans the lobby for her client. Spotting them sitting at a small table, she flashes a warm smile and approaches.

 “Hi there! Sorry for keeping you waiting,” she says, extending her hand for a handshake.

“No problem at all,” the client replies, returning the gesture with a look of relief. 

“I’m just glad we could finally meet.”

They sit down together, and she pulls out her notes, ready to dive into the details. 

“Let’s discuss your case and see how we can move forward,” she says, her voice steady and reassuring……

*

*

*

*