SANELE

“You do know that I hate being disturbed, right”? I say to Killa as I join them in the round big table.

“Let’s get down to business I don’t have time for patty chats about your whoring ways”.

Me: “Sure boss, make it snappy”. He chuckles.

Him: “I want us to do a heist, this heist will bring us a lot of money if it goes well”.

Snake: “Sizindlebe bhoza plus ku madada lamalanga” (we are listening boss plus we are broke)

Him: “We are going to hijack Ali’s cars. They are bringing them this side and my informant told me that they’ll deliver the cars this afternoon”.

Fila: “You’re telling us that we are going to do this heist in broad daylight with people going up & down”?

Him: “You are fast. I like you”.

Me: “Are you insane? Anything can happen around that time and the police are always patrolling, and I am definitely not planning to go behind bars any time soon”.

Him: “I did not recruit cowards. Now, we are all going to get the job done, and we won’t go to jail I have police officials on my payroll, all of them. We are safe”.

B: “And when is this heist happening so that we get prepared”?

Him: “Today at around 16:00pm. We have 3 hours to get ready”.

Us: “What”?

Him: “Exactly what I said. Do not mess this up, because if you do nc nc nc you’ll be burying your families every weekend. Have I made myself clear”?

Fila; “Ek’se boss. That’s a short notice we don’t even have a proper plan, we are really going to die today. I can feel it”.

Him: “We are going to do that heist. If you think you’re not keen in partaking I will suggest that you stand up, and leave right now”. He looks at all of us. “Good. I guess we are all going to partake in it, right”? We all nod in unison. This is a bad idea, but we can’t defy Killa he will blow our brains out without even blinking.

Him: “Those are my boys. Gentlemen I will keep in touch with you, and I will let you know if there are any changes”.

Me: “What about my door”?

Him: “Oh, that’s nothing I’m sure your mistress husband won’t mind putting in a new one for you”. He laughs.

Me: “Wait a minute. What did you just say”?

Him: “Don’t you know? Your bitch it’s someone’s wife but I don’t blame her because the nigga is also fooling around, I hope you’re using protection not unless you are ready to start taking ARVs”. He taps me on my shoulder.

Him: “Let’s go boys. I’ll send someone for the door”.

They bid their farewell and leave. I sit down again trying to process what I’ve just heard. Is Cindy really married? But she has never mentioned it to me and I’ve never seen her with a ring on her finger. Killa is just being him nasty self. He just wanted to ruin my day, and he succeeded, great just flipping great! I gulp down the remaining glass of whiskey… I then remembered that there’s Luxolo my girl, well she is no longer my girl, but she doesn’t know it yet. So I’ll use her as my incubator, I laugh at those thoughts then I will wife Cindy I love that girl, and her pussy is of top class. Speaking of Luxolo I didn’t like the way she spoke to me earlier on, I decide to call her again and it rings unanswered. I’ve tried 5x but still and in my mind I am certain that she is cheating, I will find that son of a bastard and whoever he is I will reunite him with his ancestors and kill Luxolo too. I take my car keys and my gun and walk out, driving to her house.

“Dude she no longer stays there it’s been 2 months since she moved away from her house”. I tell Andile as I gulp down the glass of Jameson we are at his house.

Him: “What were you expecting? When last did you talk to her? You’ve been neglecting her. All because of a new pussy”?

Me: “Then why didn’t she tell me that she’ll be moving away? Now I looked like a fool in that house”.

Him: “Serves you right. New pussy got you by your dick boy, you neglected her. You treated her like shit and you still do”.

Me: “If I didn’t know you I would say that you’re tapping her arse judging by the way you’re defending her”.

Him: “Unfortunately unlike you I know how to control my pants”.

Me: “Shut the fuck up and drink your beer”.

Him: “Cheers”…

I call Luxolo again and this time around her phone is off, I don’t even know where she lives now. My phone rings and it is Cindy. I ignore it I am not in the mood to talk to her.

★»★«

LUXOLO

I am meeting with my friend Bella at club chisanyama it’s Saturday afternoon and the vibe is cool, the girls are showing some legs, hubbly bubbly smoke fills up the air, some are already drunk and it’s not packed yet. I find her seated already waiting for me. She is drinking Bernini blush. We hug then I sit down. She called me early this morning, and requested me to give her my new address.

“Thanks for meeting up with me my friend, how are you”?

“Thanks for inviting me it’s like you knew that I needed an outing. I’m good thanks and how are you”?

Her: “I’m good too. Would you like something to drink”? I nod. She calls for the waitress. The waitress comes, she introduces herself as Naledi.

Me: “I would like to have juice for now, thank you”.

Her: “And we would like to have 2 Paps, Wors, Chuck and your peri-peri special”. The waitress nod and walks away.

Me: “Are you feeding a whole army”? She laughs.

Her: “I wish. Anyway how are things between you & Sanele”?

Me: “Not good. I think Sanele is cheating on me ever since he came back from Durban he is no longer the same, he has changed completely. The last time I saw him was 3 months back”.

Her: “You are as good as a single person”.  Laughing.

Me: “And I’m better this way, I can’t be focusing on relationships right now while my mom is sick”.

Her: “What’s wrong with her? Speedy recovery to her”.

Me: “She has stroke, and thank you on her behalf. How are things between you & Bonga”?

Her: “They are good I can’t complain”. Our food come and the meat looks tender I must say so myself, we dig in.

Her: “There’s a reason why I called you here”.

Me: “So, you did not call me for food? What’s your reason? I hope it’s not something illegal Bella”. She picks up a hand bag that was next to her and gives it to me underneath the table. I look at her shocked and wanting an explanation at the same damn time. I look around and seems like no one saw anything, which is a good thing.

Her: “Please keep this safe for me. You are the only person I trust”.

Me: “What is it? Is it a bomb”?

Her: “It’s money, diamonds and some bullets”. I gasp and lean towards her…

Me: “What? How did you get hold of these things Bella? And what are you doing with them”? Whispering.

Her: “I will tell you some other time. Please keep the bag safe, and guard it with all your heart”.

Me: “You owe me big time for doing this for you. You do realize that you are putting my life in danger right”?

Her: “No. Your life it’s not in danger. Thank you babe I knew that I can count on you”. We continue eating our food over a light conversation, I have a lot of questions that I want to ask her right now. I sigh and listen to her telling me about her relationship with Bonga. I am getting bored by this conversation

hhayi. Let me swift the topic… 

Me: “Friend can you please help me with a job”.

Her: “What type of job”?

Me: “Anything as long as I will get money month end”.

Her: “I’ll let you know when there’s an opening at the guest house and I will be an ear for you out there”. She owns guests houses and few small business all funded by her Nigerian Blesser.

Me: “I would appreciate that”.

Her: “Anything for you girlfriend”. Her phone rings, and she excuses herself and walk away to answer it. Some guy pulls a chair and sit down, I don’t even know where he came from. I swallow hard and cling to the bag tightly. What if he was watching us the whole time?

“Uzwakale nobani la”? (Who did you come with here) he asks with his deep voice he is scary. He looks like a sgebengu/Igintsa (Thug) a hardcore thug. That those rape, hijack and kill for fun.

I keep quiet and don’t answer him, deep down I am scared but I won’t show him. My legs are even shaking. All I am hoping for is for Bella to come back now.

Him: “Hhey wena sferbe ngi ringa nawe awuva emadlebeni”? (Hey you slut I am talking to you, are you deaf)

Me: “Zishaphi ngawe”? (What’s going on with you)

Him: “Yah nayoke le kgensi beng’yincanywa”. (This is what I’m talking about)

Me: “Enhlek sdunu sakho lana kuhambani”? (Why are you sitting here)

Him: “Ngathy sowuza ngamasimba manjer”. (You are coming with shit now) I swallow at absolutely nothing once more, my throat is dry… This is burd!

Me: “Mazilime ziyetsheni boy. Makwenzeke okwenzekayo”. (Let’s get to it. Let anything happen)

Him: “Ehhh uthini lo mshwama lo”? (What is this bitch saying) he put his hands on top of his head taking off his dirty hat in the process.

Me: “Awuva emadlebeni”?

Him: “Ngizoy’cisha le shwama minah kuzoba bovu Phansi”. (I will kill this bitch, blood will be spilled) Yoh Jehova.

Me: “Awudinwa ukukhonkotha or igwebu livale umphimbo”? (Don’t you get tired of making idle threats or phlegm has blocked your throat) he whistles twisting his dirty hat with his big dirty hands.

Him: “Ngibambeni zinja zami ngathy ngizophalaza igazi la, sizodakwa yigazi” (hold me my gents it looks as if like I will puke blood, we will get drunk by blood) Iyoh his friends come to our table in a bolt of speed, and they surround it. Everyone is dead quiet watching everything, it seems as if like this is the most feared gang around. They all look ugly, the other one is cutting an apple with a knife looking at me straight in the eyes. Bella is nowhere on sight, what if this is a trap? What if she has planned all of this? I swear to God, I will hate her. I look on all the four corners and there is no way out, there are like 5 of them.

“Engathy isa tag nyana le Ike” (she’s new around here), one comments.

Ike: “Ngiyacava and feder ngathy I R6”. (I know, and she is too forward)

Guy 2: “Masimufakeni emadlozini” (let us introduce her to the hood) He brushes my cheek and I remove his hand roughly.

Me: “Ung’bambe njalo futhy ekini bazokuculela amagugu”. (Touch me like that again and your family will sing a funeral song for you)

Him: “Eh eh eh uthy uyang’sabisa”? (Are you threatening me) Okay, I think I have just made them more angry.

Me: “Angisabisi ngiyashubisa” (I’m not threatening you I make things happen)

Him: “Une time neh”? (You talk a lot)

Me: “Yah, manjer”? (And now)

Guy 3: “Enhlek masm’ncandeni somhlanganisa nehogo, ngiyam’bona ngathy Uku fast lane”. (Let’s go and rape her I can see that she’s on a fast lane) My heart is beating out of my chest now. Rape? No no no. They can’t. Tears are already building up in my eyes, that strong girl I was few minutes ago is gone.

“Ek’se mayiphele le party njengamanje”. (Stop whatever is going on right now) The voice comes from behind me, I don’t dare look back. A man stands right next to me. He looks so handsome maarn with his neatly plaited dreadlocks, and he has a goat beard he looks yah. Well, and a huge scar running across his face.

Ike: “Eish, Hade Bra TK mazinye gents” (let’s go gents)

Guy 5: “Ayikapheli sazohlangana liyincosi le kasi leli” (It’s not over we are still going to meet this is a small hood)

Me: “Sesizabona phambili” (we shall see ahead) The guys leave and TK walks away too without greeting or anything. But, he came right on time. I take a deep breath that was a close call and right now I will have to watch my back, I just made myself some enemies unaware. A text comes through and it’s from Bella.

★should it happens that you don’t hear from me in the next hour know that Bruno Vilakazi aka Mr V killed me★

I read it 3x trying to process it, I try calling her but her phone is off. Shit! I get up from where I am sitting and rush home, I am busy looking behind me to see if those guys are not following me. This is not good. I get home and I find my mother , I greet her and walk straight to the bedroom to hide the bag. Heaving a sigh. What the actual fuck Bella? And who on earth is Bruno Vilakazi? Whatever happens she better not snitch on me… I need to smoke just to calm my nerves down.

★»★«

BELLA

I am lying in this cold floor in a foetus position, my body in great pain I have bruises all over my body. I hear the leather whip hit my flesh again and I scream in agony.

“I want my stuff Bella. You will pay back everything you took I want it back”! Mr V is yelling at me making the whip come into contact with my skin, Mr V wants his diamonds & bullets the very same things I gave to Luxolo to keep them safe for me. Mr V is a very dangerous gangster, I only dated him to retrieve my dad’s diamonds that he stole few years back, and avenge my brother’s death he killed just because he was a minute late to give him his money. I wanted him to feel the pain my father felt when he stole those things, and he is indeed feeling it but it is too much for him. He whipped me till my body couldn’t take it no more. I swear I am staring death in the eyes with the last strength in me I manage to say

“You can beat me all you want or kill me but the pain that your pregnant wife is feeling right now is nothing compared to what you are inflicting on me”.  He gives me a weird look, and then he realises what I am talking about … “And now I will die in peace and I’m just glad that my father will be at ease wherever he is, and my brother will rest in peace”.

“What did you do to my wife? What the fuck did you do”? He roars kicking me on my stomach, I cough and drops of blood hits the floor. Oh, and his neck veins are about to pop. He slaps me and kicks me again and I can feel my ribs cracking, or is it bones? But something did crack.

“I will kill you bitch I will fucken kill you”. I chuckle.

“I’m already dead and I’ll surely greet your wife and your baby for you in heaven”. I tell him and close my eyes.

“No no Bella Bella”! He shakes me waking me up, and I don’t respond. “Oh, God what did I do”? He is panicking. Instead of finding out about how his wife is doing, he is here crying for me. Pathetic.

★»★«

VUYO

I get home and I find Cindy passed out on the couch it’s so unlike her. There are like 5 empty bottles of wine scattered on the floor and butt cigarettes but Cindy doesn’t smoke, she must be going through something big I just let her be and go to take a shower… I wake her up, she opens her eyes and it seems as if like they are heavy.

“Just let me be” she says in a sleepy voice.

I shake my head and let her be. I make myself a quick fruit salad and go to my study…