insert 45

iFAIRYTALE KaMAGEZA

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 45

[NARRATIVE]

After the ceremonies Mahlathini decided to extend and renovate at home. The family has grown and everyone has to feel at home whenever they come. He hired a construction company to speed up the process since they have to start the lobola negotiations soon. The construction didn't even take the two months he expected. After 5 weeks they were done. To say the house looks good is an understatement, it was definitely worth every cent he spent. He's proud. Things are finally coming together. The doors that were closed are finally opening.

Today abakhongi are holding a meeting. They've sent the letter to the Morgan's and were given a date. Shibase and his group including Gebhu have been here since morning discussing on how they will do everything. It won't be as simple. The Morgan's know nothing of their culture, they have to make them understand most of the things that have to be done, all the customs.

"How much is the budget Ndodana?" Sengwayo asks Mahlathini who raises his face from the notes he's taking and looks at them.

"For the negotiations alone. I have a budget of R250 000" They all nod in satisfaction. It's more than they need. They will get all the 12 cows and take care of the other costs too. The Morgan's suggested they pay the lobola in cash but they want to do things accordingly, they will follow the traditional way to avoid mistakes.

Connie and Nokwanda walk in with refreshments. They place them on the table and walk out. Vusi's eyes are stuck on Nokwanda until she disappears. When he looks back at the table Mahlathini is starring right at him. Vusi clears his throat and looks away.

After the meeting ends Mahlathini calls him to the side "Is there something you want to tell me?" he asks looking at him in the eyes.

"No" he says shoving his hands in his pockets.

"If I find out there's something we're going to have a problem Bafo"

"Nokwanda is old enough to make her own choices" Mahlathini chuckles.

"So there is something?"

"We're seeing each other"

"Does she know you have kids all over KZN?"

"We're just having fun Bafo, no strings attached-" Mahlathini closes the space between them. Connie walk in. Vusi quickly walks out.

"What was that?" she asks finally standing in front of him.

"Nothing just man to man talk"

"Really?" she wraps her arms around his waist "...man to man talk that leaves my man angry?" Jackson takes a deep breath. He's pissed. He's not against his sister having fun but men like Vusi are a no go zone. Vusi sleeps with anything and everything in the name of fun. He doesn't even know the door to the clinic or support the kids he goes around making.

"I'll be fine" he says and kisses her.

"Well, I'm not fine"

"Why, what's wrong?" she heaves a sigh.

"You and Gogo have to talk..." Jackson pulls away from her hold and sits down "...you can't avoid her forever Ngamela"

"I can, just like she lied to me for 30 years-"

"She's-"

"Connie... I don't want to talk about this, you said I should make peace. I did. And that peace means keeping my distance from her. Please. I don't want to talk about this again" Connie sighs dropping her shoulders in defeat. Nomeva is miserable, it's sad. Connie has tried all she can to cheer her up but she's not succeeding. She's losing weight everyday. Mahlathini doesn't even greet her or ask how she's doing, it's killing her.

"How are the plans going?" She asks sitting on his lap.

"Better, everything is set for the big day" he says with a smile.

"Don't be affraid to tell me when you need assistance"

"What assistance?"

"You know, financial" his smile fades. Connie quickly apologises.

"I don't like that. I've been working hard to settle all the costs myself. I have people saying I'm after your money. I don't need that I'm from you too"

"I didn't mean it like that, I just wanted to help"

"So everyone can say you married yourself?"

"When did you start caring about what people think?"

"It's not that I care about what people think. I'm a Zulu man, I believe I have to provide for you not the other way around. Don't take that power from me. I understand you want to help but please, give me my place" she sighs

"I understand. I'm sorry"

"Oh my goodness!!!" Celiwe says walking in with her phone at hand, they both turn to look at her "You guys are trending!!"

"What?" Connie quickly takes the phone from Celiwe. It's a picture of them on that dinner night that Celiwe took and said she will post on Facebook. And the other one they took during the ceremony where Connie is wearing isishweshwe and beads, Jackson is standing next to her wearing umqhele on his head. Connie doesn't even remember taking the picture. It's Celiwe who took it.

"How do they know our names?" Jackson asks her.

"Well, I wrote a whole story on how you guys met on Facebook. Now they want more, they want to know more. You're couple goals. Look, I have over 100k followers now" she says full of excitement.

Connie is going through the comments. People are expressing how they can't wait to see the wedding, they are complementing how beautiful she is, how hot Jackson is. Others are calling her Cinderella. She's laughing "I can't believe you Celiwe" Nokwanda walks in with her phone too.

"I think this story will change the narrative people have about taxi drivers. There are women out there who claim they will never put themselves down to a level where they date a taxi driver. Wait until they see this" -Nokwanda

"You guys are celebrity" -Celiwe

*
*
*

NOBUHLE

The sun is 37° outside. Quantum is sweating and panting on top of Nobuhle who is fake moaning. She's feeling nothing. She's bored and irritated. she's counting seconds until he cûms."Uhhhh!" Quantum groans as he lets out all his sperms. He smiles satisfied and kisses his woman on the cheek before letting his weight fall next to her "That was good Mama" he says with a wide smile.

Nobuhle rolls out of the bed and runs to the bathroom where she vomits everything she ate. She wipes her face and stares at her reflection in the mirror. A single tear runs down her cheek. She quickly wipes it and washes her face. She has to be stronger than this. She has a roof over her head, her kids are fed. It's all right.

Her phone rings back in the bedroom. She walks out. Quantum has left already. He just came back for the sex. She picks up the phone and presses the answer button.

"Nobuhle?" The familiar voice says, she's in disbelief, she hasn't heard from him in months. He's out of prison?

"Manyadza, is that you?"

"Yes, I'm out, I miss you" she's crying, she missed him too. Life without him has been hell.

"I came back home. We were starving-"

"Ngwefe told me. I took a taxi, I'm here at the rank-"

"At the rank? Which rank?" Nobuhle asks her stomach already forming knots. If Manyadza finds she's married and living with another man, hell will break loose. Quantum and her finalised everything and went to home affairs that same day she agreed to marry him, two of his friends were witnesses. She's officially Mrs Muhammad.

"I'm at the rank. KwaDukuza, I don't know where to go from here" she sweats immediately. What is she going to do now?

"Umh, ok, we're coming" she says. She has to get out of here before Quantum gets back. They'll collect all their things and leave. He will never find them. This is the father of her kids.

She quickly calls Constance to come bath. They are doing everything in a hurry. After she's done bathing William. She starts packing the bags. Quantum always takes them to the Mall on weekends, they have so many clothes now the bag is too small. She has no choice but to leave the rest.

In less than an hour she's done with everything. They walk out and lock. They are about to walk out of the gate when Quantum's car pulls in, she didn't even see it coming. Quantum looks at the bag in her hands and frowns.

"What's going on?" at this point her heart is galloping like stallion, she has to make up a quick lie.

"They called me at home, my mother passed away"

"oh I'm so sorry, I will take you" Quantum says quickly opening the door and taking the bags. Nobuhle starts crying, she's knows she's fuçked.