CHAPTER 26
SHLOBOSENKOSI MAVIMBELA

I love having my mother around, I really do
but the constant talk about getting married
is really annoying. I don’t know how to make
her understand me when I say I’m pretty
content and happy with my life right now; I
have everything that I need and that’s it. I
have to think of a way to get her to back off,
something that will show her how serious I
am. I have to do to her what I did to my son,
he learned his lesson and hasn’t tried playing
cupid.
My mother arrived yesterday morning, she
didn’t tell me she was coming but it was a
nice surprise. MaZikide is a stubborn old
woman, she came here in that van that looks
like it would die in the middle of nowhere. I
have begged her to stop using that car but
does she listen to anyone?
What annoys me more is that the driver
overcharges my mother for that death trap.
I have asked her a million times to allow me
to get her a car and a driver but she refuses,
saying it’s a waste of money. I had to ask for
permission because she hates people who do
things behind her back. But now I think I have
to jump over her head and do it anyway. It’s
for her own safety and definitely my peace of
mind.
I’m starring at the picture Thalente sent me
and I must say that they chose the perfect
tombstone for the love of my life. They held
the unveiling and it was absolutely beautiful,
Melamina was remembered and celebrated,
that’s all I ever wanted. My heart is alright
now that this has been done, I hope she is
happy and at peace too. I don’t want her soul
to be troubled by anything in the after life.
I walk back in the lounge after leaving
because of “madam I want a daughter in-law”.
The TV is on some Nigerian movie channel,
God have mercy. I would drop dead right now
if the house didn’t have other televisions. All
she does is watch these movies; A real waste
of money is paying for all these channels and
have her watch only one. I wonder if I can’t
just pay for that channel and close the others,
these DStv people are chowing my money for
nothing because of the Mahlabathini
subscription.
My son is on the couch, headsets plugged it.
He is texting on his phone with the widest
smile on his face, is he dating now? It has to
be, only someone of the opposite gender can
make a man smile like an idiot. I settle down
on the single couch and my mother gives me
a dirty look and clicks her tongue. I just
chuckle and take out my phone too; She can
be mad all she wants but she still won’t get a
daughter in-law. Nhlangano will give her
more grandkids coz I’m not playing for that
team.
I decide to check on the woman who takes
care of my needs and ask if it’s clear to spend
the night with her. We haven’t seen each
other much since I bought the soccer team.
Hopefully she’s not pissed at me, that would
suck because she’s not an easy one to get
through to. She’s not softened with flowers
and chocolates and that’s the reason why I
don’t like being in her bad books.
The intercom goes off, both maZikode and I
look at Nhlangano. It’s his job to answer the
gate and open the door for the guests, that’s
how it has always been in the Mavimbela
households.
This boy is focused on his phone and the
headsets in his ears aren’t helping either. I
grab the cushion behind me and throw it at
him, he snaps out of it and gives me an
annoyed look. Haibo! Not in my house, I raise
an eyebrow and he fixes his face.
Before we could say anything to him, the
intercom goes off again and he quickly gets
up.
It must be one of his friends, my people don’t
just show up at my house. They know it’s very
important to call before they come, I don’t
like surprises, even if I like you as a person.
My personal space means so much to me and I
want to be prepared in order to welcome
someone in.
Footsteps approach after a few minutes, it’s
more than just two people in my house. My
eyes are fixed on the door, I’m impatiently
waiting to see who is here. My son is the first
to walk in, followed by a man in a suit, oh
fuck no! Mphikeleli is touching the tail of a
fuckin mamba now, how dare he shows up to
my house? How did he even know where I
live? Oh, he’s going to regret this.
They greet us and only then does my mother
shift her eyes from the movie. Her pair lands
on Mphikeleli and I see anger flash across
them. I feel the same right now but I’m
keeping calm for my sons sake, he can’t see
me lose it. He will start asking questions I
don’t want to answer.
I get up from the couch and grab the car keys
from the coffee table and toss them to
Nhlangano.
“Go get us something to eat for dinner. Mama
doesn’t want to cook and I’m not in the mood
to stand over the stove either,” I say and he
chuckles.
“I can cook,” he jokes. This is not the time, but
I can’t really blame him though because he
has no idea who this bastard in his home is.
“Boy, you want to burn my sons house?”
mama asks and my son is laughing, leaving
the room. Mphikeleli’s eyes are following him
out, he’s making my blood boil. He has no
right to even be this close to Nhlangano.
“You have some nerve,” I say through gritted
teeth.
“Shlobo, I didn’t come here to fight. Please,
hear us out,” he says and I laugh in disbelief.
“Did you come here to remind us of the pain
you caused us? Is it not enough to you that
we are already feeling it?” my mothers voice
is breaking and that makes me hate this man
infront of me even more.
“Yobe, boMavimbela. We know we are the last
people you want to see but please give us a
chance. The time has come for both families
to sit and talk, if not for anything let it be
because of our grandson,” an elderly man says,
I think it’s his uncle or something.
I’m shaking with anger, “You have the
audacity! You people have no claim over MY
son. Let me remind you that your piece of
shit never married my sister and he is the
reason why Nhlangano has no mother,” I say
vehemently and Mphikeleli closes his eyes as
if pained.
“We are here to make things right. I swear we
aren’t trying to mock your pain in anyway.
Our son wants to have a relationship with his
own and they both deserve that. Nhlagano is
a male child and he has to use his father’s last
name. You know he will face great challenges
in life if he doesn’t, let’s put him first in all of
this,” where did they come from with this
uncle? Does he know the full story of what
happened between Mphikeleli and my sister?
If he really did he wouldn’t be sounding so
entitled.
“Baba indini, you see Shlobo here?” mama is
pointing at me with tears glistening in her
eyes, “He is Nhlangano’s father. Your nephew
or whatever he is to you is just a man who
got my daughter pregnant, then led her to
death before she could hold her little boy. I
want you people to use the door you came in
with and go back to hell,” I quickly move to
my mother’s side and take her hand. These
people have absolutely no idea of the kind of
pain showing up here is going to cause us.
“MaZikode, I am so sorry. I know I caused your
family great pain and for that I’ll always hate
myself. I am a changed man mama, I will
jump every hoop just to prove how sorry I am.
Please ma, I just need my son,” my mother
squeezes my hand and I get the message she’s
telling.
“Never show up to my house again. I am
warning you, Mphikeleli, leave my son alone,” I
say as calm as possible.
“Damnit Shlobo! He is my son, I made him and
not you. You don’t have a right to tell me to
stay away from him, he is 18 years now and
can make his own decision. If he doesn’t want
to have a relationship with me then I’ll back
off,” haike! I’m about to catch a murder case.
I charge towards him but his uncle gets
between us on time and my mother pulls me
back by my arm.
“We didn’t come here to fight, please.
Mphikeleli, let’s go son, we will try again.” try
what? Where? The next time they show up
here I’ll be ready to show them the thighs of a
snake. I do not joke with my boy, I never did.
The uncle is pulling Mphikeleli away and he’s
crying, mumbling inaudible things. I am
following behind them, I want to make sure
that they get the hell out of my house and
yard. He’s going to regret showing up here and
raising his voice.
They get into their car and start the engine, I
press the remote and the gate slides open. Let
them crawl back to where they came from.
I take a deep breath and head back inside,
now I have to explain to my mother that
Mphikeleli works for the club I just bought for
Nhlangano. In a way I brought this monster
back into our lives.

VHUTSHILO MOUFHE

I just got home from Karabo’s apartment and
I didn’t see her. I tried calling her but she
didn’t answer and when the security at the
gate called her intercom she answered and
instructed them to say she wasn’t there. The
guy was kind enough to tell me because he
knows me and I was parked there for a while
looking like a fool.
I honestly don’t know where our relationship
stands at this point. Maybe I should just leave
her be and focus on my daughter and Naledi.
They are the only constant thing in my life
and I know for a fact that they will always be
there no matter what. It’s only fair that I
protect and nurture what I have with them
because that’s who I’ll have next to me when
all is said and done.
I’m starting to think that this love thing is
not for me, maybe I should just focus on being
a dad and my career. I’ll just get into casual
relationships that won’t require me to cut
ties with the mother of my child just to keep
the peace in the relationship. If God wills, one
day I’ll find a woman who understands the
dynamics of my life and is willing to blend in
rather than change the situation.
I get to my house and park in the driveway,
next to Naledi’s car. It was in the garage
when I left earlier on, they must have went
somewhere while I was out. I climb out and
make my way to the front door with my
broken heart. At least they are here to cheer
me up and get my mind off things.
I am really happy they are here with me,
seeing my daughter everyday means the world
to me.
It’s going to be hard when they move out, but
wait, is that still necessary? I mean it’s
obvious that Karabo is done with me, she is
the only reason why Naledi was rushing to
move out.
I get in the lounge and Naledi is sitting on the
couch with Basetsana on the rug, between her
legs. She is undoing her cornrows and little
Missy is wincing; My daughter has no
tolerance for pain. A simple pinch would get
her crying like you set her whole body on fire.
I throw myself on the couch and Naledi looks
at me with questioning eyes, she wants to
know how it went with Karabo. I shake my
head and her facial expression changes.
There’s both guilt and sympathy in her eyes
and I quickly shake my head for the former.
“You didn’t cause this, her insecurities did,” I
say and she shrugs her shoulders.
“No, Vhutshilo. I did this, me and my messed
up situation caused you this relationship,” she
says with a low voice.
“Mommy, can I go pee?” Bassie asks and I
want to laugh, she’s running away. It’s going
to take Naledi the whole day to finish
because her daughter will ask for unnecessary
bathroom breaks.
“Hurry baby. I have to finish and wash your
hair,” our daughter gets on her feet and runs
to the bathroom.
“I don’t want you to blame yourself. I did
everything to reassure Karabo that nothing is
happening between us. My own family did too
but she decided to camp in the middle of her
insecurities. I am not expecting her to be
okay with everything but you moving in here
with our daughter was important,” I will not
apologize for being a great father and friend.
“I’m sorry, Vhutshilo,”
I heave a sigh, “It’s okay, maybe this is for the
best. I wouldn’t have been able to live my life
explaining myself and apologizing for things
that matter to me. And it is also not fair on
her to stay with me when she feels like she
cannot trust me. Our relationship wouldn’t
have gone anywhere without trust,” I love her
enough to let her go.
“Let me talk to her. I mean I’m the reason
why you guys find yourselves in this cross
road,” she says and I quickly shake my head.
“No, let’s not go the extra mile. I showed her
how much she means to me when I
introduced her to our daughter. Naledi, you
know that I’ve never done that before, you
know how big that is for me,” she’s nodding in
agreement.
“I know and it’s because of that reason I want
to help out. Let me try, please. If I just sit
back and watch you lose her then I’ll never
forgive myself,” that’s not a burden I want on
her shoulders.
“Give it a short, but if she is still this way
even after talking to you then I’m walking
away,” I’m not even joking.
She offers me a sweet smile, “Forward me her
number. I’ll call her tomorrow to meet for
dinner,” if she succeeds getting through to her
then I’ll be overjoyed but if she fails I’ll accept
that we are over and move on.
“Bassie and I are going to make popcorn and
slush once we are done with her hair. There’s
a movie she wants to watch, join us,” I nod
vigorously.
“I’d love that,” I say and her phone chimes.
She picks it up from the coffee table and
powers the screen on. Her smiles disappears
and she rolls her eyes.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Maswabi Moletsane. She’s begging to meet
up,” Naledi answers.
“Who would have thought? Your mother
begging you?” she chuckles.
I’m just so happy that we have that woman
off our backs. “Are you gonna meet up with
her?” I ask and she shakes her head.
“I don’t have anything to say to her.” she says
and Bassie walks in and we put the
convesation on pause.