{2 months later}

LUXOLO

“Xolo please bring me my pills” my mom shouts from the bedroom.

“Ng’ywaletha mama” (I’m bringing them mom) I respond from the kitchen/lounge. We’ve moved out of what I used to call “home” from a 2 double story house in the suburbs to a shack with no electricity in someone’s backyard, but it is better than nothing. We have a roof to cover our heads, Imagine the street kids. To tell you the truth it was hard at first adjusting to this new life of mine. Ever since that fateful day that changed our lives, my mother started getting sick she was going in & out of hospitals, they even dismissed her at work. The doctors diagnosed her with stroke now she is getting s little bit better since she is taking her medication. I go to her and give her- her medication, I also pray to God to always keep her alive for me there’s so much I want to do for her. This woman went through hell for me, and I owe her that much. She asks me to sit down and I do so.

“I think it’s time I tell you about your father”. Sighs, I swallow hard, yes I wanted to know about him, but thinking about the fact that he never raised me or try to look for me makes me think not to even bother wanting to know about him. He doesn’t exist to me.

“It’s fine mama you don’t have to tell me. I’m sure he has forgotten about me wherever he is”. She shakes her head.

Her: “No, I insist. You must know the truth you are old & wiser now. Don’t worry I won’t be long” I take a deep breath.

Me: “Okay. I’m listening”.

“It was back in the 70s when I first met your father. He was so charming Xolo, every woman wanted him, but he chose me instead and the women from my village started hating me, but I did not care because I was with the man I love. Time went by, we moved in together mind you we were not married then, but we loved each other dearly. My parents warned me about him, I did not want to hear it. My parents ended up disowning me, I didn’t care though because I was going be with my lover, the man I loved”. She takes a deep breath.

“Few months staying together, your father got a job as a truck driver and you know truck drivers are always travelling I was happy for him, he even did a mini lunch inviting his friends to celebrate the good news with us. He was a loving man he even budgeted for Lobola, we were living a good life, and he always bought grocery every time he would be happy… This other time he came back, he was given 5 days off he came back without money, but he did not take it out like he used to do all those years. I asked him about it, and he told me that I must never ask him that because he works hard for his money, I decided to keep quiet. I then made him food and served him he did not thank me I knew right there and there that this is no longer the man I fell in love with”. She presses her lips together preventing herself from wanting to cry.

“He threw the plate on the floor and it scattered on the floor, and started shouting at me calling me names. To think that was the last meal I had left because I knew that he will come back with food and money. He looked at me with disgust, clicked his tongue. He went to the nearest shebeen to go and drink and remember he said he doesn’t have money. I cleaned up the mess he created. He came back around 02:00am in the morning smelling of alcohol, he kicked me on my tummy waking me up. I was shocked because he has never ever laid his hand on me before. He pulled me off from bed and started beating me, I protected my face while begging him to stop, but he never did. He hurled all kinds of insults at me, I was even bleeding from the nose then he did the unthinkable he tore my night dress apart”.

I am now wiping my tears. Something deep inside me is boiling.

“He hit me again and poured my body with alcohol then he… He… Raped me Xolo, from around 2am to 6am he never stopped. I don’t know where he got that energy from. I cried, pleaded with him to stop, but he did not want to hear it I cried till I had no tears left to cry, I was too numb. After he was done with me he spat on my face and called me a whore, he kicked me once again and left me on the floor then he went out. I forced myself to stand up, I eventually did even though my body was in pain I was badly bruised. I managed to go and take a bath, tears streaming down my cheeks thinking of what your father did he was a monster I did not recognize him. He did not sleep at home for 3 days he came back because he was set to leave on that day, he did not even apologize for what he did to me. Months went by, and he came back again for a visit, I thought that this time around things were going to be different, but I was lying to myself, same thing happened. He raped me all night and almost beaten me to death, if it wasn’t for my neighbour that came in at that moment I’d probably be 6 feet under”.

She is crying and you can hear from her voice that she is broken, the pain in her voice is not to be missed. I can’t take it anymore its just too much. Wiping my tears.

“My neighbour, helped me escaped

I came here in Mpumalanga that was the last I saw him and I thank God for Thandaza, that woman really saved me. Then I met Muzi and by the time I met him I was already 4 months pregnant with you, he accepted me as I am and once upon a time we were a happy family until now. I wonder what changed”. We are both wiping our tears. May God give me this woman’s strength, she is boss! 

Her: “Should it happen that he comes looking for you one day, accept and forgive him he is your father” I chuckle.

Me: “I will never do that, I’m sorry, but he is not my father he is a monster. I’m better off without him or Muzi. You are the only family I have” scoffs. “I doubt he will even come looking for me. From what I’ve detected in your story, he didn’t know that you were pregnant. It’s best that he knows that I don’t exist. I don’t want to know him. I grew up without him and I will continue doing so”.

Her: “You will understand one day, let me nap. Wake me up when you are done cooking”.

She stands up and get into bed. I also stand up and walk out leaving her to rest, I walk outside and call my boyfriend Sanele. It rings unanswered, I try a few times and it’s still the same, well I am not surprised I figure that he is busy, he will get back to me once he is done with whatever he is busy with. Argh, who am I kidding? He will never get back to me. We hardly communicate these days, actually I’m the one who tries to keep us going, but he doesn’t even meet me halfway. I need to talk to someone, I keep on wiping my endless tears. If only I had friends nearby.

★»★«

VUYO

“I am not happy about the girl you gave me the last time Layla. She didn’t give me what I paid for”!

Her: “I’m sorry about that Vuyo. She is still new, but I will have a talk with her or better yet give you another girl”.

Me: “You better, I can’t be wasting my time with girls who do not want to satisfy my needs! They are useless, they don’t want to let loose. I was told that your girls are the best in town but that? That was pure disrespect! Where is Bella? She is the only one who can satisfy me”! I am angry. Can’t she see that?

Her: “I will make it up to you, I promise. My girls are the best indeed and Bella is no longer interested in working for me. She has decided to spread her wings to something greater”.

Me: “Make it quick or else I will shut down this bloody club, am I making myself clear”! She nods quickly.

Her: “I will arrange one of our best for you, apologies again”.

Me: “Don’t fuck with me Layla. I’ll be waiting in room 103 tomorrow night, you better deliver or else. Nc nc nc, kiss your club goodbye” banging the table. I stand up and exit her office banging her door after me. I pay her a lot of money for her to give me amateurs who refuse to swallow my cum. Why wasn’t I told that Bella no longer works there? She was one of the best this club has ever had! She didn’t mind exploring as long as I was giving her money she did everything I asked her too, she never limited herself to sex. That’s why I liked her.

★»★«

“Welcome back baby, dinner will be served shortly” my wife tells me as soon as I step inside the house.

“Let me go and take a shower then”. I kiss her cheek then go to the bathroom, and take a shower.

I find her done setting the table and I sit down waiting for her to serve me food. She places the food on top of the table and join me.

Her: “How was work”? She asks dishing up.

Me: “Work was fine, thank you. And how was your day”?

Her: “My day was good, thank you. Babe, I’ve been thinking”.

Me: “About”?

Her: “I think it’s time I met your parents, don’t you think? I mean its long overdue” I choke on the food, she hands me a glass of juice that was on top of the table.

Her: “Sorry”.

Me: “Why are you so keen in meeting my parents knowing very well that we are not in good terms”? She huffs, and drops her fork in her plate.

Her: “Because we’ve been married for 2 years without their blessings, I think it’s time you reach out to them”.

Me: “Do you lack anything? Don’t I give you enough love? Don’t I spoil you”?

Her: “None of any of that, but I think it’s time you let go of the past. Should it happen that we decide to have a baby what are we going to do? You know very well that my mother is old and very frail, and don’t get me started about my Father he is a lost cause”.

Me: “We will hire a stay in nanny” she softly laughs, and shakes her head.

Her: “Are you being for real right now? You are unbelievable Vuyo. Our child will need to be introduced to both our ancestors”.

Me: “Why must we introduce her to our ancestors? Were you introduced to your ancestors when you were a baby? Our baby will grow up Just fine without being introduced to the ancestors”.

Her: “Fuck maarn. I’m tired of your shit Vuyo! You better pull yourself together and go make things right with your parents or else I will divorce you”! That statement took me by surprise I never expected it, in all our arguments this is actually the first time threatening to divorcé me.

Me: “Yo… You don’t mean that right”?

Her: “I meant everything I said. Go and make things right with your parents! Maybe they are the reason why we don’t have a baby, your ancestors must be angry at you”.

Me: “I just lost my appetite”. Taking the napkin wiping my lips.

Her: “Same here. I’ll be in the bedroom”. She clicks her tongue and stands up walking away leaving looking at her agape. I’ve never seen Cindy this mad, she surely is tired of my bullshit she has had enough. I take my car keys and drive to the club, I need to blow off some steam, and clear my mind. I’m driving like a mad man until I see a woman walking in the middle of the road I stop my car abruptly and my tyres screeched she quickly jumps on the pavement.

“Hhey don’t you know a walk way? You don’t walk in the middle of the street you bitch. I almost hit you, do you want to die? Then go and jump on top of a building or something”! She gives me one look and starts running to the nearby houses, and she disappears on site. Some people, I shake my head and continue driving to the club I really need to blow off some steam, plus Cindy is refusing to be intimate with me lately, ai…