LUXOLO

Finally, 2 days later some peace. We are war free we’ve defeated the enemy, even though the aftermath is hectic, and we’ve lost a lot of people, but overall we got our country back. And that’s what makes us happy. Milan & Maxine haven’t arrived yet, but I hope they do soon, Waynard and the rest of the army left a day ago. We need to leave this place, in fact, we all need to get some proper rest we’ve been through a lot. Tsakani pulls me toward him, and embraces me once more.

“The war is over bubbles, some peace at last it’s been long overdue, and it’s all thanks to you, if it wasn’t you who came here and rescued us we would be talking a different story now. So, thank you a lot.” He kisses my cheek, and I just nod then bury my head in his chest. “How did you do it?” Lifting my head, and look at him.

“It’s a long story.”

Him: “And we have all the time, you can tell me.”

Me: “I will. But first, I need to bathe, eat, and sleep 24 hours straight because wawu it’s been one hell of a journey I’ve been too.”

Him: “I can tell. You’ve even changed, and I’m not complaining I like the new you more, truth be told, and for the fact that you haven’t forgotten about me, hhayi uyang’ncwaya straight,” I laugh.

Me: “Nawe uyang’ncwaya because you also haven’t forgotten about me. You should’ve seen you face when I popped up, geez, man. You were shocked!”

Him “Do you blame me though? I wasn’t expecting you, I honestly thought that you were going through the worst there in Italy.”

Me: “I did go through the worst, but that abuse I went through whilst there straightened me, and made me stronger. It actually resurrected whatever was buried deep within me. You’ve changed too, I wonder what happened to you,” he chuckles.

Him: “Witchcraft happened. Anyway, we will talk about this once things go back to normal. I’ve missed you.”

Me: “And I missed the sex more,” he laughs.

Him: “Not like I did. In fact, if it was up to me, I’d tear off your clothes right here, right now and have my way with you anyway I want,” I laugh.

Me: “I don’t doubt that,” I heave out a sigh. “So, that lady who came to me as if she knows me. Who is she?”

Him: “Her name is Luxolo also known as diamond, and she’s a leader of the grillers,” I sneer.

Me: “You said what? She has the same name as me, and looks like me. It’s quite creepy if you ask me, I’d like to believe that people do look alike. There’s no way that she’s Nomalanga’s daughter. I’m the only daughter of Nomalanga.”

Him: “Guess your mother is the only one who can clarify this for you. You guys look exactly the same, we were so shocked the first time we saw her, and when she told us her name kwaba worse.”

Me: “Nomalanga can’t do me like this, sis can’t do me like this. But then again you are right, Nomalanga will clarify things for us. Ned uyaphapha, she’s too forward,” he laughs.

Him: “And you dealt with her the best way you know how, umnyisile baby. Unyile. Next time she will know not to step on your toes and expect you not to retaliate, she’s learned her lesson,” we both laugh.

Me: “Indeed. How’s Talon holding up?”

Him: “Fine. But pissed off.”

Me: “Pissed off because he missed all the action?” He nods. “A cry baby he is, he will be fine maarn.”

Him: “Yeah, I just wish that he can talk to me at least.” I laugh.

Me: “Just let him be my love.”

“Hi.” We both turn to look as Luxolo greets us.

“Hello.”

Her: “Can I talk to you.”

Me: “Talk?” I chuckle & roll my eyes inwardly.

Her: “Please. Can I please talk to you, in private.” Tsakani kisses my forehead, and walks away. “Firstly, let me apologize for my behavior.”

Me: “Accepted. Should I apologize too?” She giggles.

Her: “No. You are not at fault, there’s no need for you to apologize.”

Me: “Cool. So, what’s up?”

Her: “As you can see that we resemble each other, a lot even, and everyone around here thinks that we might be siblings. What do you think about all this? Do you think there’s a possibility that we might be siblings?”

Me: “To tell you the truth; there might be a possibility that we are indeed siblings. But first, where’s your mother?”

Her: “The last time I saw her I was 8 years old. She left me at her friend’s house with toys, and a bag full of clothes and told me that she’s going to work she will see me later. That was the last I saw of her, days turned into weeks and weeks into months and months into years, if only I knew then that would be the last time I will see her, I would’ve forced to go to work with her, but I was young. I didn’t know anything back then, as I grew older and became wiser it was clear that she abandoned me, I don’t even know what is it that I did to her for her to abandoned me. Life haven’t been good to me whilst growing up, I was abused at home, and always reminded that I don’t belong there I was even bullied at school, it was tough, but I kept going.” She sighs.

Me: “Go on.”

Her: “Anyway, after matric I looked for a job, and I found one as a waitress then later on I found another one, I was working as a stripper there. I saved up enough money, and moved out of where I was staying and looked for a place to rent, I was a loner, I never really had friends while growing up. So, one of the girls I was working with at Club Canava told me about this other drug lord who needed girls to distribute drugs for him, and hijacking cars, after all women are never suspected that they distribute drugs or do hijackings they are too clever, and know how to distract situations, I agreed. I needed money, the money I was making was no longer enough, I needed more. To cut the story short, Gian, taught me a lot. I killed him, and took over his empire but a lot of blood was spilled before I took his whole empire, in the end I won. I formed my own gang, and it contained mostly men, women can be reckless at times.” I nod.

Sis here, be contradicting herself. Gzus, and the family of heaven please intervene. Nare she said “women are too clever, and know how to distract situation”, and in that very same sentence she said “women can be reckless at times”, well. She’s right. In fact, cut cut…

Her: “So, for years I’ve been trying to trace my mother with no luck. I have a feeling that she changed her name.”

Me: “You’ve been through a lot of bullshit, but look at how powerful you are now. You are a power house, a force to be reckoned with. Anyway, what was your mother’s name?”

Her: “Maybel. Her name was Maybel,” I gasp. My mother’s second name is Maybel, but she doesn’t like it because it brings her bad memories. Could it be? Fuck. It might be possible.

Me: “How old are you now?”

Her: “Turning 36 in 2 days time.” Wawu.

Me: “I see. Your father? Where is he?”

Her: “He is around, but he has his own family and doesn’t care much about me, I only saw him once.”

Me: “So, you are basically an orphan?” She laughs.

Her: “Clearly.”

Me: “I think we must wait for Nomalanga to come back, she will clear everything up. I wonder how is she going to explain herself.” Now I can’t help it, but wonder if what she told me about being abused and raped was true or what. Who exactly is my mother? It seems like she’s a woman with lots of secrets stuffed in her closet praying daily for them not to make a nasty entrance, after thinking about this carefully I’m now more convinced that she is indeed my sister, blood sister. How can my mother hide such from me? What exactly happened back then? Jesus is Lord.

Her: “Yeah. We need to exchange numbers so that we can be able to keep in touch. If we are indeed sisters then I will be very happy, at least I will have a younger sibling, and someone to bully,” I laugh.

Me: “If you still value your life then you will most definitely not dare bully me, you saw how bad I can be.”

Her: “I saw, and I don’t want to get on your bad side. Uyasheshiselana.” We both laugh, and she throws her arm around my neck. “I love you.”

Me: “I love you too

but let not my boyfriend hear me say that to another person,” she chortles. 

Her: “Insecure man he is, but I like him for you. Girl, you have an eye. You sure know how to take a snap baby girl,” we both laugh.

Me: “So they say! You married?”

Her: 10 years, and counting.”

Me: “Must be nice.”

Her: “Very. Let’s go back to the others I’m sure your boyfriend wants you all for himself now, it’s been long.” I nod, and we start walking.

★»★«

NOMALANGA

Free at last. Now we can go back home! Everyone is happy, I don’t blame though we hardly slept always watching the TV for new updates, when the reporter announced that the war is over we stood up screaming, and hugged each other even though there’s some bad bloods between others we all managed to be happy for those couple of minutes.  I can now go back and be with my daughter in peace, I mean like, I need to rest and forget all of that has happened in my country, and here. We thank God for the fact that they are all still alive, well, Talon is a little injured just as long as he’s alive his injuries means nothing.

“We can now go back home. I wonder when will they book us tickets to go back home, I miss smelling the soil of my land when wet, and get to walk barefoot in the streets not forgetting the buzzing streets all day every day,” Mmathabo says.

“I miss all that too, but I miss sewing more.”

Her: “You sew?”

Me: “Yes. But I only sew for me & Luxolo, and even tablecloth covers, curtains, duvets, mats anything you can think of I do sew.”

Her: “Are you trying to tell me that, you sew to keep busy and not to make money?” She sounds shocked.

Me: “Yeah. I honestly wouldn’t know where to start selling even if I wanted to, my daughter was willing to help me though, well, and this war thing disturbed that.”

Her: “But, as we will be going back to South Africa you are going to start selling right?”

Me: “Sell to who because people are broke now, millions lost their jobs? How will they afford?”

Her: “You can sell online, and besides is not as if like they destroyed the whole country only those few portions.”

Me: “I will think about it, thank you.”

Her: “You are welcome. I also would love to help you market your business I’m an influencer, and I know my way about dealing with people.”

Me: “I’m impressed.”

Her: “Me too,” we both laugh. The boys step inside the lounge they still haven’t confronted their mother about what Mmangwane said the other day, maybe they were just waiting for the war to be over then they will confront her. Think I forgot to tell you that they’re not on speaking terms. Babalwa gets up from the chair she was sitting on, and Hlulani stopped her with his hand.

“Sit.” She sits back down without putting up a fight. “Now that all this war is done & dusted care to tell us who our real fathers are?” She looks at Mmangwane then back at the boys.

“Why don’t you ask the person who told you that? Was I the one who told you that you have different fathers? I think not,” her attitude is bitchy.

Him: “Yes. You aren’t the one who told us, Mmangwane didn’t tell us she only said what she said out of anger, and how you were coming for her. How long were you going to keep this secret for us?”

Sabelo: “Fuck that. Who are our fathers? Do all of 5 of us have different fathers, or 2-3 share a father whereas the other ones have different fathers?”

Her: “I don’t know what you are talking about Sabelo.”

Him: “You do. You know very well that you do. Just tell us the damn truth Babalwa, be honest for once in your life!”

Her: “There’s nothing to tell. Excuse me, I need to breathe you are all suffocating me, and making me nausea.” She gets up from her seat. “And for your Information, your fathers are all dead. All of them have departed this world, so, stop this nonsense of yours busy asking me useless questions. Okuhle, are you coming with?” Okuhle roams her eyes around until they lay on Hlulani whose not even bothered.

Okuhle: “Baby.” Hlulani stares at her. “Can I go with her?”

Her: “What? You’re asking permission from your husband to leave with your mother-in-law? I thought I taught you well, I told you to never allow a man to control you or make you do things you are not comfortable with!” This woman is real crazy.

Hlulani: “Do whatever you want Okuhle. In fact, let me make things easy for you. You & I are done, seeing that you love my mother, and never listen to what I tell you- you might as well marry her because I’m done with you. Once we get to South Africa I will ask Ntando to draft us divorce papers, I’m tired of your shit Okuhle. Tired!” He takes off his ring, and throws it outside through the window. Everyone in the room gasp, Okuhle’s eyes gets filled with tears. Babalwa is left shocked, she can’t believe it.

Sabelo: “You finally stood your ground as a man, I’m impressed. Okuhle can continue being mother’s puppets, she was weak for you anyway.”

Okuhle: “Yo- you don’t mean it right?” Her voice is breaking.

Him: “I meant every word I said. We are done Okuhle!” He clicks his tongue, and turns on his heels leaving. Okuhle gets up from her seat, and runs after Hlulani.

Mmathabo: “I hope you are happy. You just broke your son’s marriage, only evil people do that. You are officially a homewrecker, congratulations woman. Almost forgot that you broke down an entire family because of your stubbornness, bravo.” She claps her hands. “I’m sure you are aware that you don’t have a family anymore, you will be miserable until you die.” She spits on the floor, and walk out. The guys follow after her, I look at her, and tears are streaming down her cheeks. Fake tears they are, she’s such a bad mother. I mean, she broke her own family because of being stubborn, and very disrespectful.

Keeping secrets is never a good thing especially to your kids about their upbringing, and stuff. Mothers need to normalize telling their kids about their birth rights, and all that stuff. Life. I turn on my heels, and walk past hiccuping Babalwa, I don’t even know why she’s crying because she brought this upon herself, and now she can’t stand the heat. Women & secrets, never a good idea.

★»★«

TSAKANI

My stomach is grumbling, I’m so hungry I need food, pap & lots of meat mixed with wors and some peri-peri chakalaka on the side, but the ladies are cooking mince & rice in the other bus. Talon is still not talking to us, we’ve tried everything to cheer him up, but he ain’t taking shit even now he has distanced himself from us, all this drama because he missed out on the action? Yuks. I can’t wait to remind him about these past couple of days once he is his old self again for now I will just let him be.

“Want to go out for a smoke?” Batista asks his hand already on the handle.

“Sure. Why not.” We walk out of the bus, and getting outside we find bubbles chatting to some two ladies, I’ve never seen them before, and they are most definitely not South Africans. They look so foreign, and their bodies are masculine you can tell that they’ve been through hell, they’ve survived a lot of shit, and dodged bullets. Bubbles lifts her head, and our eyes meet she giggles, and whisper something to the girls because they both turn to look our direction. They come our way, I look at Batista and he is just standing there not blinking or anything. Could he…? No flipping ways, my nigga is gone, he is actually looking at one of the girls as they walk toward us. I chuckle, and shake my head. Who would’ve thought that one day Batista will look at a woman like he does now after what Enhle did to him. That girl made him cry like a baby, and didn’t want food for 5 days.

“Hey, my love. Batista,” she punches him giggling, Batista shakes his head. In fact, he is shaking the nasty thoughts he was having away. “Allow me to introduce you to my girls, this is Maxine and this is Milan. Girls, this is Tsakani my mans also known as TK, and this is Batista his friend. Oh, Batista is taken away by Maxine, he can’t seem to get his eyes off her. “And the heart is finally unlocked,” we both laugh.

Me: “About damn time. Lovely meeting you ladies.”

Them: “Likewise TK.”

Maxine: “Tammy. Why didn’t you tell us that South Africa have fine mans? Are you that stingy?”

Her: “You’ve never asked Maxine.”

Milan: “They are hella fine, hopefully I will find myself an African mans and settle down with him,” bubbles smiles shaking his head.

Her: “There’s plenty of them, you will find your mans don’t worry. But for now, let me go and introduce you to the rest of the girls, I also don’t know all of them,” they laugh. “See you in a few my love,” we kiss, and they walk away.

Batista: “Man, I’m whipped. Did you see how hot she is?”

Me: “Yeah, I did.”

Him: “I’m hooked man. I think she’s the one I’ve been waiting for all my life.”

Me: “Most probably, you guys will make a cute couple.”

Him: “You reckon?” I nod. “Then I will have to make my move fast before the gents see her.”

Me: “Get right on it, and she seems tough. Best of luck you will need it shame,” he laughs.

Him: “I really do need it.” Batista deserves all the happiness, I hope him and this girl work out.