BONDED FOREVER
5. ONE FOOT AT A TIME.
PEARL
“And then, Wena? You don’t look like someone who spent the night bumping and grinding,”
“Is that your way of making fun of me?” I can’t help but roll my eyes when my best friend and colleague, Mikateko imitates the bed activity movements. I was expecting her since morning but we both got tied up with work and now it’s almost lunch time.
“This is my way of finding out how the night went with Mr. Khanyisa Tech Solutions,” she makes a sizzling sound at the end.
“He has a name, you know,” I tell her but a smile is already forming in my lips because that’s my man. That’s all me.
“I know but it feels better to address him by his company name. The man is a serious somebody,”
“That he is,” I abandon my work for a few minutes of gossip. She’s here now and won’t leave until she gets what she’s here for.
“So? How did the night go? I know you were looking forward to it,”
“He came by but he didn’t sleep over,”
“Why?”
“He had to get home to his daughter,” I shrug and she looks at me like I’ve just grown a third eye in my forehead.
“Yah neh, that’s what you get for dating someone’s daddy,” she claps her hands “I could never,”
“I don’t mind. He’s someone’s daddy but he makes me happy, that’s what matters. That and the fact that he’s been forthcoming with me. He could have chosen to hide the fact that he’s a parent altogether, you know,” people can be quite misleading out there, we’re living in rough times and I was lucky to have found someone genuine like Andziso, having a child isn’t a deal breaker for me. Just be honest about your situation.
Mika rests her buttocks on my desk and crosses her arms over her chest “Girl, are you sure this man is not married?”
“Don’t be silly,” I dismiss her question.
“I’m not being silly. How many times has he slept over at your place? How many times have you been over to his house?”
“He tries, okay…”
“That’s not what I’m asking,” Mika applies the pressure and I feel the tension brewing.
“I’ve never been to his place-“
“Wa vona? You see?”
“It’s because of his daughter, not that he has a wife. Andziso stays with his daughter and since he hasn’t introduced us it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go there,”
“Remind me why he hasn’t introduced you yet, I mean you are the woman in his life,”
“He’s not rushing things. This is a child we are talking about, Mika, we need to consider her and her ability to comprehend certain things. I told you that he said her no mom is not around, I’m sure he doesn’t want her to have attachment issues,”
“All I’m hearing is you making up excuses for why that man hasn’t introduced you to his daughter, if she even exists-“
“Now you’re taking it too far. Khanyisa exists, who else do you think he named his company after and whose baby is that on his Instagram account?”
“You never know. You know what they say about our Tsonga brothers, that man will leave you home and go get married then come back on to you on Monday and act like nothing significant happened in his life,”
“Then it’s a good thing that Andziso doesn’t have family in Limpopo, isn’t it?” I smirk.
“Go ahead and act smart with me. Continue letting that man keep you at an arms length when it comes to his home and daughter all in the name of being an understanding girlfriend. One day you’ll find out that Khanyisa’s mother has been around all this time and that Khanyisa had five siblings with her being the third child. Uta rila, girl. You’ll cry real tears,” she says and just then, there’s a knock on the door and Mika gets up to go open.
” Hey! ” her tone changes from what it was and into an excited one. I only get to understand why when I hear Andziso’s voice which gets me excited too.
” Hey, is Pearl around? ” he politely asks when she doesn’t move from the door.
” Yes of course, come in” she then moves from the doorway just as I’m standing getting up from my chair.
Mika doesn’t waste anymore time, she quickly tells me that we will talk later then she excuses herself. My eyes move to the bouquet of roses that Andziso is holding and my heart just melts.
“Are those for me?” I ask with a wide smile plastered on my face.
“No, they are for this gorgeous lady I’ve set my eyes on,” He jokes and when I stand next to him he wraps an arm around me then pecks my lips “Of course they are for you, baby,”
“Thank you, babe. They will brighten up my office,” I take them from him and put them on my desk. I’ll attend to them later for now I need to focus on my man so I go in for another hug.
“How’s your day going?” he asks me.
“It’s so much work, being in the finance is the pits gosh what I’d do to be a housewife,” I fake exhaustion and he sees through my antics then we both have a soft laugh over it “I’m just kidding, it’s going good. What about you?”
“It’s been one long day and it’s not where near being over,” He says and I can see the tiredness in his eyes.
Andziso is a hard worker, that’s for sure. When we met, he already had Khanyisa Tech Solutions up and running and from the outside, I would have thought that his company is where he wants it to be but as soon as we got talking I realised that he was treating it like it’s on its new baby stages. He’s working on getting big name contracts, that is why is out there doing pitches and selling his brand to whoever has time to listen. He wants to turn this into a multi million rand tech consulting firm and I have no doubt that he will get there. I mean, this company has only been around for three years but he’s already doing good. So good.
“I didn’t know you’d be in this side of town,” I tell him.
“I wasn’t. I’m from a meeting not to far from the offices but then I figured I’d come have lunch with my girl. Tell me you haven’t eaten,” He gives me a hopeful look. At this point, even if I had eaten I’d claim to be hungry again. I’ve already forgotten that I was a bit upset when he left yesterday because he’s here now. If this isn’t effort then what is?
“Not yet, I was planning on taking a break in a few minutes,”
“I’m just in time then. Shall we?”
He waits for me to grab what I want to then he gets the door for me and we walk out. There’s a few people that stare as we walk out and I couldn’t be bothered. I know that it’s hard to not stare at Andziso, he is a handsome man, everything about him screams sex appeal from his eyes to the way he walks. He doesn’t even need to do much, he just has to be himself and the best part? I get to call him mine.
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SHAMISO
“Can you borrow me your phone again…”
I immediately regret asking when Ana gives me the ‘I knew it’ look.
“At this rate we need to get you an account so you can stalk him whenever you want,”
“I’m not stalking him,”
“What do you call this then? Because I’m sure the police classify this as stalking,” she teases me then nudges me with her elbow “I’m just kidding, I’ve been stalking him too,”
It’s my turn to give her a look and she just laughs it off “Just because you want to pretend that you don’t see all that he is doesn’t mean that I must to the same,”
“It’s not him I want to look at, it’s Sarai,” I tell her and she hands over the phone. I’ve screenshotted a picture of hers and has Ana send it to me via WhatsApp. Now we are sitting out here for lunch and I can’t help but want to see more pictures of her.
” I found information about him, by the way,” Ana says.
“Anaishe!”
“What? I just looked him up on google because I was curious, that’s all,”
“And you still call me a stalker?” I scoff.
“That you are, we both are but your case is understandable because you two made a life together and that life is now eight years old.”
I look away when she says this “I’ve been thinking…”
“About?”
“What you said to me. I came here for a reason, I came because I need to know my daughter. I’ve already kissed so much, even if it were just a year, I would have still missed so much. I can’t let it be for nothing,”
“That’s my girl. Now you’re talking, so what’s the plan?”
“I don’t know… Maybe I can go find him where he works…”
“That would be a good start because he doesn’t respond to messages on Instagram,” she says then bites her tongue.
“And how would you know that, Anaishe?” gosh, I’m already dreading her answer.
“I sent him a ‘hi’ just to test the waters. I didn’t mention you, I promise. I just wanted to se if he would respond or even just read the message before we decide what our next step is,”
The fact that she just included herself in my situation has me feeling a bit emotional”Ana,” I says slowly and quietly.
She takes my hand in hers “I’m not Going to let you go through this alone. This is our burden to carry now and whatever you need from me, I’ll do it to the best of my ability. I meant what I said, I don’t mind being your messenger until you are ready to face him,”
“That won’t do. I think it’s best if I just face him. Do you know where he works?”
“Hah, and I thought you didn’t approve of my stalking tendencies,” she continues to tease me “I’m just messing with you. Of course I know and I have their number too. She takes out a piece of paper written Khanyisa Tech Solutions and there’s a phone number there.
” He works here, “
“He is the boss,” she clarifies and I can’t help but feel proud.
“He made it,” I mumble with a smile. Back in school, Andziso had a dream of running a company where he could develop and sell software as a service, not just that but maintain them too. It was a big dream but I never doubted that he could make and now he has. He made it. I bet his brothers are so proud of him too.
“Are you going to call them now?” Ana asks me.
“Yeah, before I get cold feet. Let me,” I reach for my phone in my pocket and dial the office number. I look at it for a few seconds before pressing the call option then I put it on speaker.
“Khanyisa Tech Solutions, how may we be of assistance today?” a lovely, sweet voice comes through and I feel like my heart will stop. If I’m panicking like this and I’m not even speaking to him. How will I survive meeting him? “Hello?” the lady on the other end says.
“Hey… Uhm, hello,”
“Hello, ma’am.” she says.
“How are you?”
“I’m well thanks and yourself?”
“I’m good thanks. Uhm, I was hoping to speak to An-Mr. Rhangani,” I put on the formalities.
“Please hold, I’m transferring you to his assistant,”
“No problem,” I say and the waiting music doesn’t even get far before another voice greets me.
“Khanyisa Tech Solutions. This is Mr. Rhangani’s office, how can we help today?”
“Hi, Uhm…I called to speak to Mr. Rhangani.”
“Unfortunately he’s out at the moment, ma’am. Can I take a message?”
“I… When will he possibly be back?”
“He will not be back in the office today,”
“Can I make an appointment to see him… For tomorrow?” I try to get my drumming heart in control.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t any openings for meeting for the rest of the week. The earliest I can arrange is next Tuesday,” she says.
“That’s okay, I can wait,”
“Okay, may I please get your name,” she says and I look at Ana. My trust issues won’t allow me to leave my name with his assistant.
“Anaishe Mabhiya,” I go with the safe option.
“May I ask what this is about?”
“I’m interested in working with him,”
“We have departments that can assist with that, ma’am,”
“I’d rather speak with him personally,” I insist and she goes on to take my details then she let’s me know that she will call on Tuesday morning to confirm if I’m still coming.
“Yahhh, Anaishe,” Ana says, staring at me.
“I couldn’t leave my real name,”
“We need to do something about your paranoia, this can’t be a healthy way to live. I’m sure if you didn’t need money for survival you would have locked yourself far away from others.”
“It’s how I know to survive,”
“What was the point of… You know, pulling a Stefano DiMera if you won’t fetch your freedom like you should. I’m telling you, you’ll find that you’re worried about nothing and that all your problems have permanently relocated to Zimbabwe,”
“Let’s hope so,” I sigh. I’d do anything to not ever be found. To just be forgotten or remembered as someone who is late.
“How are you feeling? This was the first step,” Ana asks after a moment of silence.
“I don’t know. I think I’m still calm because Tuesday is still days away so I still have some time to get myself together,”
“Promise me you won’t chicken out,”
“I promise. I need to do this not just for me but for Sarai too, I’ve spent many years apart from her, it’s time I get to know my little girl,”
“And what about her father?”
“Right now, Ana… I just want to climb the mountain one foot at a time,” I say thoughtfully. I’m not holding my breath for Andziso to see me as he once saw me. If he can trust me enough to let me around our daughter, that will be more than enough for me.