INSERT 8
One Week Later…
SABELO
I am back to work today and I honestly couldn’t function. Everything on my desk reminded me of Anele. Her face is everywhere—my desktop screen, my laptop screen, my notebooks, my coffee cup and I can almost hear her laugh in my workspace corridors. I work with 90 percent men—my floor only has men except for the receptionist and every one in this floor saw Anele as their younger sister. She used to be off duty on Thursdays and she would bring home cooked lunch for all of us. I would hear her laughter reverberating around the building and butterflies in my stomach would flatter. For my colleagues, the smiles on their faces were because they were about to get free food, but my smile meant something different. It meant that I was about to see my favourite person in the entire universe and no matter how hard the task at hand would be, her smile made everything seem easier. Anele was not just my wife, she was my lucky charm. With her, everything made sense.
Now I’m standing here by my office window, watching traffic and in a way, the hustle and bustle of the streets mirrors my mind. At least there’s order as far as traffic is concerned, there is chaos in my head. I turn back and look at the desktop on my desk, the files next to it and the other files on the bookcase, all carrying not just information but people’s lives and fate. When I joined this The ABM Attorneys, I did not know that I would end up falling in love with law more than computer science. I did LLB, completed my articles, worked for a year and went back to university to pursue a Masters in Computer Science. I wanted to see how beneficial the two degrees would be when paired. It turned out that was the best decision I made for myself. I was head-hunted by a number of law firms before I even graduated. I later settled for the ABM Attorneys because of the salary and the benefits they offered.
I have been with this company for five years now. We deal mostly with properties. I have seen families losing or reclaiming their properties and I have experienced how it feels like to be happy for a stranger who just got his/her property back. I have fallen in love with the job, but right now, I don’t have the drive or inspiration to continue. I typed my resignation letter earlier but these files are holding me back. I feel like these families depend on me, the decision I take about my future will affect them too.
“I think I found something to make you stay with us,” that’s Astrid bring me back to where I am. You heard me right, her name is Astrid. I used to wonder why her parents gave her a name suitable for a cartoon until I learned that her parents are from Sweden and the name is familiar there.
“Who said I was leaving?” I raise my eyebrow.
“You haven’t worked on anything today. I have been holding my breath and waiting for a resignation letter. I’m glad you haven’t sent it though.”
“I don’t know what to do with my life right now,” I sigh. She rubs my shoulder.
“This might sound selfish, but here is a new case and I think it can make you stay,” she puts a file on the table.
“What am I looking at?”
“A lady’s parents died six years ago. She couldn’t take the pain, got depressed and the family were quick to throw her into a looney-bin. She has been there for six years and she says she feels okay but somehow the owner of the place always finds a way to keep her locked up. She recently found out that her paternal uncle took over her parents’ assets after convincing the court that she’s incapable of handling such. She wants the properties and businesses back.”
“Sounds interesting. Where do I find her and what’s her name?”
“For security reasons, she didn’t give her full names. The address is in the file. Will you go and see her ASAP?”
“Sure. I’m suffocating here, anyway.”
“Great. You can work from home until you are ready to return. We will handle your other cases.”
“Thank you. You are the best.” She’s one of the best female managers I know. Most women are petty, power drunk, but Astrid is different. She’s a leader who doesn’t mind to be led too. A leader who values her team’s well-being.
I grab the file and put it in my laptop bag. I switch off my desktop, grab the laptop bag, car keys and make my way out. I’m hoping this case will put my mind off things for a while.
The envelope on the passenger seat reminds me of another reason why I have not been feeling great. I received the DNA test results three days ago and I haven’t opened them. Deep down I know the boy is mine, he looks exactly like me. The only problem now is that I’m not ready to father him or anyone for that matter. Ziphozonke on the other hand has been sending me messages and calling. She received the same results and I’m sure she opened them the moment she received them.
I ignore the envelope once again and punch in the address Astrid gave to me onto my screen. Wait a minute, this is the address of the wellness center I was at.
I start the engine and drive off. Now I’m eager to see the lady in question.
*****
ZIPHOZONKE
Sabelo has another thing coming for him if he thinks he can give away his parental rights just like that. I raised this child on my own for seven years because I didn’t want to disturb his marriage. I was eventually going to tell him. When I saw on social media that his wife had died, I thought it was the right time for him to know his son. Shouldn’t he be grateful that he lost a wife and gained a son? A son is his blood, not some whôre who would even cheat on him. A son and father relationship is forever. He can’t be angry at the entire world simply because his dear wife is dead. He will have to get over it and continue with life, we have a son to raise.
I put my phone back into my pocket after trying to call him for a millionth time. I make my way back into the ward and continue checking on patients. I hate these routine checks, in fact, I hate everything about nursing. I only studied nursing because my sister said it would be good for me and since she was the one paying, I listened. If it was up to me, I would be in my office with an air-conditioner and a personal assistant just a call away or starring in The Reals Housewives of Jo’burg. Being a rich housewife would suit me better than an office, but ke, we move. We do whatever it takes to put bread on the table.
“Is everything okay?” a colleague asks.
“Yeah, why?”
“At the rate you are visiting the toilet and checking your phone, you will get us all fired if you don’t stop now.”
“I wasn’t checking my phone!”
“All I’m saying is, be careful,” he says and leaves. This one is bitter because I turned him down when he asked me out. He can go to hell with his useless advices. Who asked for them? I continue with my work even though my mind is on my phone. I’m tempted to post Sabelo on social media and expose him, it’s only a smaller part of me that says I should give him some time to get used to the idea of him being a father. He shouldn’t take long though, his son needs to be taken care of. That boy spends every cent I earn and I’m exhausted already.
****
SABELO
I drive through the Wellness Centre gate and head for the visitors parking area. There isn’t many visitors so parking isn’t a struggle. I kill the engine, grab my laptop bag and get down the car. I approach the security guard who searches my bag and then me. He asks who I’m here for and I tell him that I’m here for the manager. He nods and then gives me a tag written ‘visitor’. I pin it on my shirt pocket and head for the manager’s office. I know my way around this place so I don’t have to ask where the manager’s office is.
The door to his office is open but I knock anyway.
“Mr Mthombeni!” he greets with enthusiasm.
“Sir,” I greet back.
“To what do we owe this visit?” I’m glad that he’s not asking me how I am doing and all that.
“I’m here on duty. With your permission, I would like to talk to Ms N. S. Mzolo. It’s important and urgent.”
“Okay. She was here when she made that call. I just didn’t know it will be you coming to her rescue. Please be careful, her case is sensitive and I believe some people don’t want her to get out.”
“Why?” I probe.
“Inheritance, I guess. This might get me in trouble, but I think the owner of this place is being paid off to keep her here. I don’t think it’s safe for her to start pursuing this whilst in here, they will harm her. They used to drug her—”
“What?” I’m alarmed.
“Yes. Do you think you can help take her out of here before you start working on this case?”
“Can I see her first?”
“Okay,” he says and presses a number on the telephone. It rings once and someone from the other side greets. The manager tells her to bring Ms Mzolo in. “She will be happy to see you,” he says to me.
“Do I know her?” I ask. I don’t remember anyone with that surname. He doesn’t respond, he just looks at me and smiles.
It doesn’t take long before there’s a knock on the door.
“Come in,” the manager says.
“Good afternoon, Sir,” a familiar female voice says and I turn my head. My eyes lock with that of Nomvula and I don’t know what and how it happens, she is in my arms in a split second. Her body is shaking, is she crying?
“Hey, are you crying?” I ask and gently untangle her arms around me.
“No, I’m not,” she smiles through tears. “Where is my burger? I thought you forgot about me. Wait, what day is it? We don’t have visitors today, what are you doing here?”
So many questions, which one I do I answer. Yes, I did forget about her. I never thought I would see her again but here we are again.
“I didn’t forget about you,” I lie. “And instead of bringing the burger, I thought why not take you to the restaurant itself—”
“You will do that for me?” she’s so excited that she’s crying again.
“Yes, but first, let me reintroduce myself. I’m Sabelo Mseleku, your lawyer—”
“What?” now she’s confused.
“You called The ABM Attorneys, I’m here to answer that call.”
“You…you are a lawyer?” she is still confused and I understand. I speak more about information technology than I speak about law.
“Yes. Do you have a problem with me being your lawyer?”
“No, no, it’s just… I didn’t think of you as a lawyer. Do you think you can help me?”
“I’m not sure yet, we need to talk deeply about the issue.”
“Okay. Did they tell you that taking this case might be as good as you signing your death sentence?”
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