CHAPTER 02
NALEDI MOLETSANE

I deleted my social media last night before
going to bed because I didn’t want to log in
and see all the vile things they are saying
about me. I was going to feel far worse than
I’m already feeling and it’s unfair because I
didn’t know that Jimmy is still married. I was
also lied to but society never believes the
other woman’s story, the wife is the only
acceptable victim and if you ask me that
needs to change. These married men remove
their rings, some don’t even have them and
they don’t really walk around with foreheads
branded “married”.
I put on my blazer and grab the handbag on
top of the bed then walk out of my bedroom. I
missed breakfast on purpose, I didn’t want to
sit at the same table with my mother while
she gave me judgemental eyes. I am about to
have a long day of that at the office, they are
going to be gossiping about me till kingdom
comes. I wish the weekend didn’t end.
I greet everyone in the kitchen and grab a
pear and banana, I know the lunch box
Manana packed for me will make up for the
missed breakfast.
“Basetsana, go grab your bag baby we are
leaving,” I say and she gets off the chair and
walks to her bedroom to get her backpack.
“I will be dropping Basetsana at school from
today,” my mother says and I narrow my eyes
at her.
“Why? I always take her,” she takes a deep
breath and pushes her plate away.
She’s about to preach to me and I don’t need
to hear it, whatever it is.
“Because I don’t want her to be seen with you,
Naledi. Her fellow pupils will make her
uncomfortable because of your nonsense, you
know how cruel school kids are,” Damn right I
do. I was always made fun of because of her,
because of how she looks. School was hell for
me and when I didn’t want to go my mother
didn’t sit me down to ask why. She just made
noise and reminded me of the amount of
money she pays for me to be there. Manana
would be the one calming me down and
making sure that the things those children
said didn’t cement in my head.
“My daughter and I enjoy the rides to school.
We get to talk about everything that’s
happening with her. You cannot take that
from us,” I say with a shaking voice.
I might be many things in my mothers eyes
but being a bad mother isn’t one of them. I
would die for my little girl, she’s the one
perfect thing in my life.
“Naledi, don’t be selfish. This is about
Basetsana and what’s best for her. When this
thing of yours die down then you’ll go back to
being seen with her in public,” wow just wow.
Fighting my mother is futile, she will get her
way no matter what.
“Mommy, I’m ready,” my little girl walks into
the kitchen all excited. She’s going to be sad
about this, our mornings mean so much to
her.
“uhm, baby. Grandma is going to be taking
you to school for a couple of days. I just got a
call from work and they need me to come in
extra early from today. I’m already late so
grandma will help, okay?” her smile disappears
and my heart breaks. I promised myself to be
the best mother to my child; I was young
when I had her and she wasn’t planned but I
knew I wanted to do better than my mother.
To put her before everything and everyone.
“I promise to spend time with you after school
until we get our mornings back okay?” she
nods vigorously and I kiss her forehead.
“Okay, Bassie. Let’s go, Isreal is already
waiting in the car,” mama says, “Dzunisani,
have a great day,” she adds and Manana nods.
“Goodbye mommy, goodbye Manana,” my
pretty girl says, waving her hand.
“Goodbye princess,” we say in unison.
I watch them leave the kitchen and when the
front door closes Manana places both hands
on my shoulders.
“Be strong, my baby. This will definitely blow
over and they will be interested in someone
else’s drama. I just need you to focus on
what’s important and block the other things
out,” who would I be without this woman? I
turn and give her a hug.
“Ndza ku rhandza, Manana,”
“I love you too, Nyeleti,”
.
.
.
I have been closed in my office since I got to
work, like I anticipated everyone is giving me
judgmental eyes and whispering. It’s hard
trying to pretend like it doesn’t bother me but
I’m going to take Manana’s advise and block
everything out. They don’t know the full story
so it’s easy for them to judge me and make
conclusions.
Jimmy has been blowing my phone but I don’t
bother answering, I’m not calm enough to
talk to him. I know myself, I would lose it on
him. A conversation between us is going to
happen in due time because I need to know
why he did this to me. If I just move on
without closure I’m afraid I’ll keep going back
and that’s something I don’t need in my life.
A knock comes through my door and I give
the person permission to come in. He has got
to be kidding me! How dare he show up at my
workplace, people are already talking behind
my back and he came to make it worse. Does
he have any idea of what will happen if his
wife finds out about this? I’m sure there’s
already a video of him here being retweeted
and shared. Fuck this man! He closes the door
and I push my chair back and get up. Those
stupid flowers better not be mine, I don’t
want anything from this lying piece of shit.
“Take your flowers and get the fuck out of my
office,” I say calmly, I don’t want to cause a
scene at my workplace.
“Baby, please calm down,” I huff out a
humorless laugh. He is testing me right now,
Jesus take the wheel.
“Jimmy, this is my job. I am a manager here.
There are people working under me who
respected me before yesterday, I’m now a
topic of discussion because you lied to me,” I
might not be showing it as expected right
now but I’m hurt. I cried myself to sleep last
night, I really thought I found the one.
“I know and I’m really sorry. Naledi, I didn’t
mean to lie to you. I couldn’t tell you the
truth because I was afraid you’ll leave me; I
was going to come clean when the divorce
was finalized. I just needed time to make sure
that the divorce is not messy,” I’m shaking my
head.
“You’re still lying, there’s no divorce
happening,”
“I haven’t filled, yes, but it’s going to happen.
Please give me a chance my love please, I’ll
make things right. I am sorry that Thuli
embarrassed you like that in public,” he will
never be honest with me. It’s clear that
Jimmy wants to have his cake and eat it.
I pick up the office phone and call security.
“Please come up to my office, I need someone
to be escorted out. Make sure he doesn’t set
his foot here again,” his shoulders sag.
“Naledi, please don’t do this. I love you with
all my heart. I’m begging you,” let’s prove that
theory.
“Were you sleeping with the both of us?” he
looks down and I have my answer. “Thank God
I wasn’t stupid enough to sleep with you
without a condom,”
A brief knock comes through then two
security guards walk inside.

SHLOBOSENKOSI MAVIMBELA
“Nhlangano, is this your father?” A tall, petite
woman with a beautiful smile asks.
“Yes, Miss Gumbi. This is my dad,” she holds
out her hand to me and I link it with mine
then we shake.
“Your son is such a pleasure to teach. I
started here four months ago and he’s my
best student,” she says and that makes me
more proud. Nhlangano received certificates
for all 8 subjects and emerged top achiever
for the entire grade 12. As if that wasn’t
enough, my boy got medals and certificate for
best striker, player of the previous season and
captain of the schools football team.
“Thank you miss,” she nods.
“I’ll see you in class tomorrow,” she walks
away and my son is looking at me with a
wide smile.
“What?” I ask with furrowed eyebrows.
“I think she likes you,” I roll my eyes.
This child thinks every woman is attracted to
me. He and his grandmother have been trying
to hook me up with every woman we cross
paths with. I told them that I’m not ready for
a relationship but they never listen. I honestly
don’t need them to play cupid, my life is
perfect the way it is.
“Nhlangano, go say goodbye to your friends.
You’ll find me in the car,” he runs off and I
take the certificates and other things that
belong to him and walk out of the school hall.
They really need to stop hosting these events
on a Monday, we are tired from work to be
attending these long gatherings.
I climb in the car and go through the
certificates again, man I’m so proud of this
boy. If he performs like this on his finals then
I’m getting him something big before he goes
to Johannesburg for university.
We should go visit his mothers grave this
weekend and tell her how amazing he
performed; I pray Busisiwe is happy with how
I’ve been raising her little boy.
My sisters death still cuts deep, she was so
young and had a whole life ahead of her. God,
let me not start thinking about that day.
“Baba,” I’m startled.
Nhlangano closes the door and reaches for the
safety belt.
“What’s up?” we have a very cool and open
relationship. We talk about it all, I don’t want
him hearing the wrong things out there
because I am strict.
“Rajesh will be home alone this weekend. His
parents agreed that he can throw a young
braai on Saturday, so can I please go?” damn!
“I wanted us to go to Mahlabathini this
weekend to visit your mothers grave and
spend time with MaZikode,”
“Ahh, baba. The village again? Dude, you’re
killing me,” he says and I’m thrown into a fit
of laughter.
“You’re too cool for our village now?” I ask,
starting the engine.
“I’m not too cool for it, but we were there
that other week. You know grandma will be
making me feed the chickens and goats,” oh
so that’s the problem, but I won’t cramp his
style.
“Okay, we will go some other time Durban
gent,” he chuckles, taking his phone out and
texting. He must be telling Rajesh that he will
be there.
“Please remember that I’m young, I can’t be a
grandfather at 48 Nhlangano,” I know he’s
having sex, I encourage it to be protected at
least. We cannot stop them from growing up,
it’s human nature.
“I hear you,” his eyes are fixed on his phone, “I
just forwarded you a picture of some dope
Nike sneakers I want baba. Can you make it
to Gateway tomorrow to buy them before
they are sold out?” this fashion killer. He
always chooses clothes as a reward for doing
good.
“Only the sneakers?” he looks at me with a
raised eyebrow.
“No! I’m still thinking about what I want,” I
just nod and continue driving.
“What’s for dinner?” I shrug my shoulders.
“I don’t know, burgers?”
He scoffs, “This is why you need to find a
woman. We need some home cooked meals.
Miss Gumbi is perfect,” oh here we go again. I
refuse to reply to that.