CHAPTER 15
NALEDI MOLETSANE

I’m going through Basetsana’s books, making
sure her work is complete and up to date then
sign to show I’ve went through everything. All
the teachers notes are positive, there’s only
one complaint and it’s not that bad; My
mother shouldn’t see it because she’d make a
big deal out of it. Maswabi wants perfection
at every turn and that’s impossible because
we are only human. I won’t allow her to force
that impossibility on my daughter, she will
never do to Basetsana what she did to me.
I’m not going to raise a broken black girl, the
world is full of those already.
I pack the books back in her school bag and
go to utility room to check if her uniform is
ironed. Like always, Manana has taken care of
everything. I take the school clothes and
shoes and move them to her bedroom. I only
do house chores when we are at Vhitshilo’s,
here at home is a free ride.
I’m alone in the house, Maswabi and Manana
went to church with Jimmy’s flowers. I hope
they make those women happy because they
pretty much made me upset. I don’t know
what Manana told Maswabi about the roses
but it must’ve worked because she was
excited about the whole thing this morning.
She kept saying it will work in her favor come
election time; She has absolutely no shame
using the church like that.
Last night the wife kept on calling my phone
but I didn’t bother answering her, she wasn’t
giving up so I blocked her number too. I want
nothing to do with the Khambule’s and their
crazy idea of getting into a polygamous
marriage.
The front door opens and I know it’s my
mother and Manana, I wasn’t expecting them
so early though. I was still enjoying being
home alone, hearing myself think. My mother
calls out for me and I roll my eyes, why does
she want? We haven’t been talking, it’s just
greetings and moving on. I think it’s better
this way, I prefer it this way because she
doesn’t say things that hurt me and make me
question myself. I take my glass of water and
move the lounge.
Oh no! What is wrong with these people?
Can’t they just take no for an answer and
accept that it will not change. Does Jimmy
and his wife know the kind of problems they
have caused me by showing up to my
mother’s house? Jimmy is not here physically,
it’s his wife and another woman I don’t know;
I know for a fact that he is aware that Thuli
is here. They planned this whole thing; Send
Naledi roses to soften her up then show up to
her mother’s house. I am so angry right now,
I’m even shaking.
“Sit down,” my mother points to the single
chair across from her. I take a deep breath
and settle down, avoiding these women.
“I believe you know who this is, yes?” I nod,
avoiding eye contact. I’m just happy Manana
is here, I know she will be on my side.
“Yes, that’s Thuli Khambule,”
“We found them at the gate about to press
the intercom. They say they are here to
discuss something with me and you,” I scoff.
What are they playing at? They think my
mother is going to agree to me getting into a
polygamous situation? That’s another scandal
and my mother hates those. I think it might
be good that they came here, she will say no
and make sure they hear and understand her.
“Before we start with anything, I would like
to apologize for the hurt and humiliation my
daughter caused you,” Oh my God!
I was the one who was humiliated. What part
of I didn’t know Jimmy was still married does
my mother not understand? This is honestly
insane.
“Thank you, Minister. But I came to realize
that your daughter knew nothing about me,
my husband lied to the both of us,” Thuli says
and I’m grateful, hopefully my mother will
stop the narrative of me being a mistress
knowingly.
“So, what can we do for you?” -Maswabi.
“I came here today with my sister-in-law, Her
name is Khabonina. My husband and I
explained our situation to her and asked that
she helps us in the journey we are looking to
travel,” I look at the woman and she’s not the
sister Jimmy once introduced me to.
“It’s nice to meet everyone and forgive us if
we say anything that might offend you,” the
sister says, rubbing her hands together. “We
are all aware of the incident that happened
between Thuli and Naledi and it was
unfortunate because both women were lied to
by my brother. I sat him down and had a
conversation, he made it clear that it was not
the way he wanted the women to find out.
Jimmy told me that he wants polygamy and
he didn’t want to tell Thuli until he was sure
about the woman he was planning on bringing
in to the picture. Naledi was kept in the dark
because he wanted to know her as a person
without any influences from third parties. My
brother fell in love with your daughter, he
needs her in his life. It was a hard pill to
swallow but Thuli has accepted this and
understands my brothers reasons for wanting
two wives,” this is just bullshit.
“What are his reasons?” Manana asks and I’m
glad because I also want to know.
“I think my brother would be in the best
position to answer that question. I just came
here to apologize for how the situation
unfolded. Naledi’s mother is a public figure
and I’m sure it affected her image. We also
came because we wanted to make my
brothers intentions about your daughter
known and plead with you to give him
another chance. We promise that Naledi will
be treated well and adored by the
Khambule’s,” my mother is nodding. She’s cool,
calm and collected.
Bathong! Where is the violence? I thought
she’d be telling these people where to get off.
It’s clear that my mother hates me, she sides
with everyone else but me.
“Nyeleti, is polygamy something you want?”
Manana asks.
“I think we should have that conversation in
private. I don’t want Naledi feeling pressured
into answering because the Khambule’s are
here with us,” Maswabi quickly interjects.
“Naledi, you and I had a convesation before
today. Please take everything I said into
consideration as you think about this,” Did
Thuli have to bring that up?
“We appreciate you for giving us an ear.
Please have a discussion as a family and get
back to us,” the Khabo lady adds.
“Naledi has both mine and Jimmy’s numbers.
Thank you so much for giving us an ear,” I
would never go to the lengths Thuli is going
just to keep a cheating man. I don’t
understand why she loves Jimmy more than
she loves herself. She can easily find love
again with a man that will only have eyes for
her.
“What can we offer you to drink?” Maswabi
asks and I look at Manana who has an
eyebrow raised. Why is she so friendly with
these people?
“Oh, no thank you. We have to be somewhere,”
Thuli politely declines.
“No, problem. You will hear from us soon. Let
me walk you out,” the women stand up and
follow behind Maswabi who is on her
motorized wheelchair.
“Why is she being friendly with those people?”
I ask and Manana shrugs her shoulders.
“I’m shocked at how she made this meeting
feel normal. Maswabi won’t stop shocking us,”
it’s our fault really, we should expect
anything from this woman.
“Naledi, why didn’t you tell us you met with
Jimmy’s wife?” that’s the first thing she asks
when she gets back in the lounge.
“Are you seriously asking me that?” she was
the one calling me names for being humiliated
by the woman; Now she feels like I should
have said something to her about the
situation that made her decide that I
shouldn’t be seen in public with my own
daughter.
“What did she say to you?”
“She was begging me to accept being her
husband’s second wife,” she nods slowly.
“That’s crazy, why is she allowing that man to
do this to her?” Manana asks, I won’t even
answer. This whole thing irks me, honestly.
“There’s absolutely no reason for us to discuss
this issue because I won’t agree to being his
second wife,” Manana smiles.
“That’s my girl, don’t allow his family to
manipulate you,”
My mother clears her throat, “I actually think
Naledi should agree to marrying Jimmy. It will
somehow clean her reputation in the public
eye. She won’t be referred to as a mistress
but his wife; The marriage might even get her
to act like an adult,” I cannot belive my ears
right now.
“Maswabi! How could you even want that for
your own daughter? Do you know the kind of
hell polygamy is? For once think about what’s
best for your only child, not how the public
views her or you. The life you want for her is
what destroyed my life and you want to
subject her and Basetsana to that. I know
you’re a self centered person but this one is
low, even for you,” Manana says with a
broken heart.
I don’t understand what she meant when she
said the life Maswabi wants for me is what
destroyed her life. She never wants to talk
about her life before us, everything that has
to do with Giyane is off the table.
“I am always the devil in your eyes, I’ve
accepted that but I make decisions that are
good for this family. Marrying Jimmy would
be good for Naledi, trust in me,” I chuckle,
getting up from my couch.
“I’m not marrying that man, mama,” I say and
walk away.

JIMMY KHAMBULE

I am pacing up and down, waiting for Thuli
and Khabo to get home and tell me how
everything went with Naledi and her mother.
They decided that talking to her parent is the
best way to go; They believe that it will show
respect and genuineness. Thuli says Naledi
will realize that I truly love her because I
made my intentions about her clear to my
family and even sent them to do the same
with hers. I’m not sure if this will work, but
I’m crossing fingers because I really love that
girl and it hurts that we are loosing time.
I miss her so much, the conversations and
advises we gave each other. I miss cuddling
with her after making love and smelling her
soft skin. Naledi brought excitement and fire
in my life and since we have been separated I
feel like I lost a big part of me.
Yesterday I sent her roses to show her that I
still think about her and that I’m determined
to make things right. I wrote an emotionally
filled short letter expressing myself and I hope
it touched her and reminded her of what we
share.
I tried calling her with Thuli’s number
yesterday but it rang unanswered until she
finally blocked it. It hurt because I’m so
desperate to talk to her and see her, I have
never felt this empty in my whole entire life. I
was ready to loose it all for Naledi, that
should show how much she means to me.
“Jimmy,” I snap out of my train of thoughts
and stop pacing. She’s alone, I guess she
dropped Khabo first then came home.
“You’re back, how did it go?” I ask and Thuli
settles down and takes her sweet time
removing her shoes, “Thulisile, what
happened? Did you meet with them?” I snap
and she throws an evil eye at me.
“Don’t rush me, Jimmy,” she says in a low
voice and I heave a sigh and bury my hands in
my pockets.
“We found them and told them that you’d like
to marry Naledi as a second wife. The
minister seemed to be buying the idea for
reasons known to her, but that other woman
wasn’t sold on our visit and the story we told
them,” she must be talking about Manana.
She’s their helper but has become more like a
mother to my love. Naledi adores that woman
very much, her opinion really matters to her.
She’s the one I need to get on my side so I can
have Naledi back in my life.
“What did Bubble say?” I ask and she chuckles.
“Bubble? That’s what you call her?” she says
with tears glistening in her eyes, “You really
do love this girl. I don’t remember the last
time you used a pet name when referring to
me,” Oh God.
She’s going to make an issue out of this.
“Thuli please…”
She cuts in, “They asked to discuss this as a
family and get back to us, but by the look of
things you’ll get your second wife,” I really
hope so.
“Thank you,” she stands up and picks her
shoes.
“It’s time for you to keep to your end of the
deal, Jimmy,” she says.
“I’ve already asked my personal assistant to
compile a list of the best marriage counselors
in Johannesburg. We will choose one
together,” she nods.
“And when are we telling the kids about
Naledi coming in as your second wife? I don’t
want them finding out through social media,”
that’s honestly the toughest part about this
whole thing.
They aren’t talking to me, they are still mad
at me for cheating on their mom. I know the
situation is going to get worse once they
know that I am marrying the same woman. I
don’t want to be at odds with my children but
at the same time I cannot live life without
my star. I’ll figure out a way that has us all
living in peace and harmony. It won’t happen
over night obviously but we will get there.
“We will do it soon, let’s just wait for a
response from Naledi’s mother.” she mumbles
something under her breath and walks away.