~ Qaqambile ~

I cannot believe this woman. So after everything that happened she is busy on the pots cooking. Who does she think will trust her after what just happened ? A woman with a secret would do anything to keep it even if it means killing your own. I don’t want her food. What if she wants to silence me? I am sorry the days of me eating her food are over. I am not going to risk my life. I have a lot to live for. I have a child on the way. I have a wife. I am not letting her take that away from me. I can’t recognise the woman who gave birth to me anymore. She is a complete stranger. She is a witch. She is a murderer. I am just worried because if I don’t eat. I will have to explain to dad why and I don’t have the answer to that. Yes I hate mom but it would break my heart to see her and dad separate.   

Anyway I am standing at the kitchen door watching her cooking and humming a song. In my head I was like “ who are you killing tonight? “ for someone who was caught in an act she should be in a different mood. This woman is going to kill someone today but it is not going to be me or my wife. She looked at me 

Mom: My boy 

Me: Who are you cooking for? 

She smiled her smile was written guilt all over it. I hate her. I don’t know why she is this person 

Mom: What question kind of is that Qaqi ? 

Me: It’s a simple question mom who is going to eat your food? 

Her: You never asked that before?

Me: Yes I knew you then I don’t know you anymore! 

Mom: Qaqambile yes I wanted to kill Londeka. I apologised I will always apologise. I know she will never eat my food again. I will prove myself everyday. All I am asking for is a chance baby 

Me: I don’t trust your food 

Mom: How are you gonna explain that to your father? 

Me: I have been asking myself that question all morning 

Mom: I would never kill you! You are my baby! 

Me: You wanted to kill my baby! 

She pulled out a chair from the kitchen table She sat down  

Mom: I said I was sorry okay!!

She started crying hard 

Mom: I am sorry Qaqambile

Me: See you later  

She looked up 

Her: where are you going? 

Me: Going to fetch my wife at work. Where are your car keys? 

She stood up 

Her: In my handbag on my bed 

Me: Thanks 

I went to her room. I took the keys. I am going to drive her car whenever I wanna go somewhere. I know her big secret now she can’t say no. 

~ Nomandla ~

I am not sure about what I am going to do but I am going to do it anyway. My relationship with Londeka is better than before. I feel like we are friends now. I want to tell her about my pregnancy. I am a good hearted person at least I think I am. If you treat me bad I don’t like doing the same to you. I will be a good friend if you are playing me it’s up to you I don’t care. I just came back from the office. I am thinking about what he said. He said I will leave my job and it’s possible that I will leave my family too. Where am I going? I can’t stay away from my family. I have never been away from my family. It’s gonna be hard. I know this is a good idea for me to leave before everyone finds out about my pregnancy.  

Londeka: Friend you’ve been quiet ever since you came back?  

I looked at her 

Me: ………….

Her: You are crying? What is going on?

She hugged me. I don’t know why I am emotional because I have known about this for a few days. I broke the hug. I took out the pregnancy test

Me: Here 

She looked at it. She took it

Londeka: ………….

Me: Yeah 

I sat on the high chair 

Her: I know it’s a stupid question but I will ask…… 

Me: ………….

Her: Is it Mr Lawson’s child? 

Me: Yes

Her: Did he deny it? You look sad 

Me: No he didn’t 

I laughed a little 

Me: He’s been amazing Londy about the whole thing. He is calm 

Her: Then what is wrong?  You just feel lik….

Me: It’s wrong yes! 

I stood up I started running water for dishes 

Me: I slept with my boss husband. I am a horrible person :

Londeka: Don’t say that! You didn’t wear bumshorts and went to bend over for him! He asked you out. You are not going to let people judge you! Nobody is perfect! 

Me: Bum shorts 

We laugh even when someone is dead. This is no time for laughing but I can’t help it.  

Her: You don’t have it in you to seduce a man stop crying and find solutions. What are you gonna do? 

Me: he said I should leave him alone. He wanted to think 

Londeka: If he wants you to abort say no that thing is risky

Me: I know friend can you please keep this to yourself. Don’t tell your husband. Him and his mother have been so nasty to me. I don’t want them to know 

Londeka: I am going to support you in whatever decision you make. This stays between us well for now because you will be big soon 

Me: I know 

Londeka: Let’s do what we are paid for girl 

I continued with my dishes 

Me: Are you nervous to see your mom in law after what happened today? 

Londeka: Honestly I don’t want this day to end 

Me: It’s understandable. Who would be excited to go to that house after what almost happened to you 

Londeka: I get along with my husband and father in law. The wife wants me gone. I don’t know how I will survive in that house honestly. I am just glad I am working 

Me: yeah…..

We are both in tricky situations. We do need each other. Everybody needs someone to talk to. Someone who won’t judge you but just listen to you. Keeping things to yourself is not healthy. When you tell someone you feel a little better but you don’t tell just anyone. It has to be someone you trust and right now I trust Londeka. I just hope I did the right thing. Fingers are crossed. She seems like a different genuine person. 

~ Lithakazi ~

My mother is about to go to Qaqambile’s house to hopefully make that family like me. I know this is going to be hard. Making me look perfect for Qaqambile’s father to like me. He knows me. That man likes girls who are totally different from me. Between me and Nomandla. He would choose Nomandla any day

Me: It’s understandable. Who would be excited to go to that house after what almost happened to you 

Londeka: I get along with my husband and father in law. The wife wants me gone. I don’t know how I will survive in that house honestly. I am just glad I am working 

Me: yeah…..

We are both in tricky situations. We do need each other. Everybody needs someone to talk to. Someone who won’t judge you but just listen to you. Keeping things to yourself is not healthy. When you tell someone you feel a little better but you don’t tell just anyone. It has to be someone you trust and right now I trust Londeka. I just hope I did the right thing. Fingers are crossed. She seems like a different genuine person. 

~ Lithakazi ~

My mother is about to go to Qaqambile’s house to hopefully make that family like me. I know this is going to be hard. Making me look perfect for Qaqambile’s father to like me. He knows me. That man likes girls who are totally different from me. Between me and Nomandla. He would choose Nomandla any day Because she is your typical innocent responsible girl. She is always at home. If not cleaning cooking. That’s what Mr Xaba wants to see. It’s gonna be hard to make him think I am that because I am not and he knows it but we have an weapon with us Which is Nomboniso’s voice recording. Even when This don’t work. I am marrying Qaqambile and she is going to make it happen for me.  

Me: Mom its time for you to go there 

Mom: I am so lazy I don’t feel like myself today I don’t know why  

Me: What is wrong mom? So you not going? 

She stood up 

Her: This is about you my baby. I am going there 

Me: Thanks mom 

Her: Let me go she is waiting for me 

Me: Okay bye 

She walked out. I watched her walk to Qaqambile’s house. My mom is not her bubble self. She is quiet. It’s so unlike her. I feel like I put her in a awkward situations but this was her idea not mine.  

Me: I hope it goes well 

I threw myself on my bed. I put on earphones. I listened to the recording. With my eyes clothes. I was holding my phone on my chest.  

Me: ………….

I felt it move like someone was taking it. I opened my eyes 

Me: Yuuuh!!!! 

Man: You shut up bitch 

Me: I….. 

Him: I said shut up!! 

Who is this person. He has a knife on top of me ready to stab me. He was wearing balaclava I couldn’t see his face. I was holding on to my phone. He had his hand on top of mine. A mine worker bought me this J5 last year December before he was chosen a wife by his family. Now he is married. Where will I get it again?  

Me: Please don’t take my phone

He raised his knife high. I let go of the phone. He ran out. I stood up fast.  

Me: Somebody help!! 

I ran out. I looked around 

Me: Oh my god! He is gone with my phone! Where will I get a new phone?

I looked around . Where did this thug disappear to?  He just vanished into thin air 

Me: ………….

I looked at Qaqambile’s home 

Me: Wait a minute? That bitch planned this!  

I ran to the house. I closed the door 

Me: She wants to delete this Recording 

~ Mrs Xaba ~ 

Nozazi is here. The conversation is going well smoothly. The food is ready. We are waiting for my husband. I hope he doesn’t come. I am delaying this. I just want to buy time to think about this. This is ridiculous even if Lithakazi was educated it was gonna be a bad idea. Qaqambile’s father went across the country to find me. I wanted my son to go to places to find through love. I want to meet in laws complete strangers. I am not going to have that bitch sitting on my couch as part of my family. I am going to do everything I can to make sure it don’t happen and that begins now!!!

Me: ………….

I picked up two plates. I went to her.  

Nozazi: ………….

Me: Sanuse is taking his time I am hungry! Let’s eat friend. He will find us eating 

Nozazi: This is beautiful! You went all out 

I dug in 

Me: Wait untill you taste it 

I said eating pretty fast. She dug in 

Me: ………….

She looked at me 

Me: And? 

Her: mmmmm…. Delicious! 

Me: I will teach Lithakazi few things about cooking when she is married here 

Nozazi: She is going to go home and teach her mama 

See? Life in rural areas is like this . They marry here. See their mothers everyday. Going to their homes every single day some taking groceries and go feed their families. It’s not gonna happen. Not in my house! She was eating fast just like me. I was smiling looking at my plate eating too. At least we are getting along. It’s a great start. Where will this end? We have to watch and see. Lithakazi will never marry my son.  

Me: I…..

Lithakazi barged in. Nozazi and I stood up. We looked at her 

Me: What is goi….

She gave me a hand 

Lithakazi: You shut up! 

Me: ………….

She looked at her mother 

Lithakazi: Mom let’s go home! We need to….

She looked at me giving me death stare

Lithakazi: ……Talk!  

Me: ………….

Nozazi: I am still waiting for Sanuse!

Lithakazi took her hand she walked out with her. I took my phone. I went to the window. I was watching them walking away . I dialled Xilongo’s number 

Xilongo: I have the phone!  

Me: Keep it. I will come get it tonight 

I hung up 

Me: Bring the proof on the table!  

I sat down . I took my plate 

Me: What do you have on me now? Hihihi 

~ Narrated ~

We see Lithakazi and her mother rushing home. They arrived. Lithakazi opened the door 

Nozazi: What is it that couldn’t wait for later!? L 

Me: That Bitch was using you! She sent a man to take the phone from me! Mom the phone is gone. The man had a big sharp knife !!!

Nozazi looked angry. She looked at Nomboniso’s house through the window 

Nozazi: This Explains why she wanted us to eat before Sanuse arrives! That evil woman used me! 

Lithakazi: Mom! Tonight is the night. We are exposing her! 

Nozazi: ………….

She just looked into space. Lithakazi looked at her she didn’t respond to her at all. It looked like she was listening to something. 

Lithakazi: Mom?  

Nozazi: Ouch!  

Nozazi hold her stomach.  

Lithakazi: Mama! Are you okay!? 

Nozazi was holding her stomach looking around tears streaming down her cheeks . She was in pain and the pain was in her stomach 

Lithakazi: Mama! Mama! Mama? 

Nozazi: I underestimated Sanuse’s wife 

Lithakazi: Mama you are scaring me!

Nozazi was screaming in agony. She was feeling needles stabbing her stomach. She was in so much pain. Nozazi looked at her daughter She looked at her with pitiful eyes 

Nozazi: Baby you are on your own are you ready to stand on your own and be indepe….. Ahhhh!!! Ahhhh

Lithakazi: Mama! Mama!? 

Nozazi collapsed in Lithakazi’s arms. Lithakazi was on her knees crying 

Lithakazi: Mama! Help! I need help! Mama stay with me please 

Nozazi: My own weapo…..n turned and stabbed me in the hear…….t 

Lithakazi: Mama? Mama! Wake up! 

Nozazi: Nomboniso poisoned me 

Lithakazi: No!!!!

Nozazi let go her head hanged on Lithakazi’s arm

Lithakazi: Oh my God! No!!!! Mama don’t die on me!!!