CHAPTER 48
NHLANGANO MAVIMBELA

My biological father was telling the truth
about my dad, he has been keeping things
from me and it hurts. I don’t understand why
he would do that when he always tells me
that we need to be honest with each other.
He taught me that everyone has the right to
make their own decisions in life, but he took
away that option for me and it’s not fair. Yes,
I never asked about my biological father in
the past because life has been great with
baba but he had to tell me when Mphikeleli
reached out.
I didn’t enjoy our trip to Cape Town. It was
hard watching him play step dad to his
girlfriends kids. Those children were given a
choice to decide on whether or not they want
to be a part of the “blended family” while he
took away my choice. I wouldn’t have chosen
Mphikeleli over him, not after everything we
have been through. He raised me, loved and
protected me. He will always be my dad but I
would also love to get to know my biological
father.
I’ve been talking to Khwezi about the
situation and she’s giving me great advise.
I don’t know how I’d be dealing with this
whole situation if she wasn’t in my life. She
suggested that I give my biological father an
ear, to give him a chance to tell me why he
wasn’t in my life all this time. The real reason
why my dad would not want him in my life. I
tried giving my dad the chance to tell me first
when we were in that restaurant in Cape
Town, but he kept on saying it’s for the best. I
need better answers than that.
I didn’t go to school today, Khwezi’s advice.
She offered me her place to meet up with
Mphikeleli, she said it was not a good idea to
meet in public because my dad would get the
wind of it and probably act irrationally. As
angry as I am with him, I still don’t want to
hurt his feelings. I have to slowly make him
understand that I want to get to know my
biological father, and for that to not affect
our relationship in any way.
I’m laying on the couch in my school uniform.
I left home this morning like it was a normal
school day, I didn’t want to pretend to be sick
because it would have been hard to sneak
out. My dad didn’t go to work today and it’s
pretty hard slipping through that man’s
watch.
My phone chimes, it’s a text from Mphikeleli
telling me he’s at the gate. I sent him
Khwezi’s location when I arrived earlier on. I
grab the key on the coffee table and head to
the balcony and press the remote for the gate
to open. An Audi drives in and I close the gate.
I go open the door and wait for him to come
up, I gave him the block and apartment
number too. He appears after a few minutes
and I gasp in shock, I know this man. He’s the
fitness coach at my soccer club. What the
fuck?
“Nhlangano,” he says with tears glistening in
his eyes.
“Uhm, good morning,” I hold out my hand and
we shake. This is going to be awkward, I’m
not sure how to react.
“This is a dream come true. Thank you for
agreeing to meet with me,” he says and I just
nod.
“Please come in,”
“You didn’t go to school? Whose apartment is
this?” he asks and I heave a sigh.
“I wouldn’t have been able to meet up with
you if I didn’t pretend to be going to school,” I
close the door and lead him to the lounge, “A
good friend of mine lives here,” I give an
answer to his second question.
“Can I offer you anything to drink?” he shakes
his head, lowering himself on the couch.
“I’m too nervous to take anything. My
stomach is in knots right now,” I can relate.
“You work at the club my father bought me,” I
say and he pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Not anymore. Shlobosenkosi fired me because
he didn’t want me anywhere near you. Like I
said, he’s not my biggest fan,” wow, just wow.
How could baba put someone out of work?
What must happen to those that depend on
his salary? That was really cruel of him, I
won’t lie, I’m disappointed.
“Why does he feel the need to keep me away
from you?” I ask and he looks away, wiping
his tears.
“Shlobo never liked me. He always thought I
wasn’t good enough for your mother,
Busisiwe. I was from a different place and my
family was poor. He wanted better for his
sister, a man like one of his business
associates. I didn’t take him to heart back
then, I understood where he was coming
from. Everyone wants stability for their
siblings and I wasn’t really offering that back
then and I guess in his eyes love was not
enough. He hated me when Busi got pregnant
with you because it meant I wasn’t going
anywhere,” I shift uncomfortably on the
couch. This sounds nothing like the dad I
know. He taught me to never look down on
other people because they don’t have what I
have. Plus, he was also not born into privilege.
He had to work hard to get to the top.
“His hatred for me escalated when your mom
died,” he says with a shaking voice and I just
sit here watching uncomfortably. It’s not
really easy talking about my mom, every time
she’s mentioned I feel some type of way
because I never got to experience the woman
that gave me life.
“You know how your mom died right?” he asks
and I shrug my shoulders.
“I just know that she died after giving birth to
me in an emergency C-section,” I never felt
the need to ask for more details.
“I’m sorry to be the one to give you the exact
details of that tragedy,” I swallow hard.
“Uhm, Busi came to my house to visit me. We
had just enjoyed our dinner when your dad’s
girlfriend came to pick Busi up on Shlobo’s
orders. He was furious that she came to me
after he told her not to. Your mom didn’t
want to leave but I begged her to go because I
didn’t want more bad blood between me and
Shlobo. It was raining cats and dogs when
they left my place. They got into a horrible
accident and were rushed to the hospital. The
doctors decided to take you out of Busi before
they could start dealing with her internal
bleeding, but she died before they could work
on her…” he pauses and wails.
I bow my head and take a deep breath.
Sometimes I feel responsible for my mom’s
death, l mean if the doctors didn’t waste time
taking me out then they would have worked
on her sooner and saved her.
“I’m sorry…I promised myself that I won’t cry
but it hurts every time I talk about it,” he
says, wiping his tears.
“Uhm, Shlobo’s girlfriend also died and
everything was chaotic. I was hated by your
dad and grandmother, they blamed me for
Busi and Melamina’s deaths. It was said they’d
be alive and you’d have a mom if it wasn’t for
me. Nhlangano, my family and I weren’t
allowed to see you. We tried reaching out
when you were 2 years, hoping that Shlobo
and MaZikode have at least dealt with loosing
Busi. But that wasn’t the case, the hate was
still there, they still wanted nothing to do
with me,” he explains and my heart is really
bleeding.
I don’t understand why my dad would blame
Mphikeleli for killing the woman he loved and
who loved him back. What happened was an
accident, no one could have saw it coming.
Now I was caught in the middle, they kept me
from my biological father and his family for
something he wasn’t responsible for. His only
crime was to love my mother.
“I did not want to go behind his back and
reach out to you directly but it was the only
option. I have tried being responsible
Nhlangano but he doesn’t want to hear
anything that has to do with me. Do you
remember the day I came with my family and
he sent you off to go buy takeaways for
dinner?” he asks and I squint my eyes, trying
to rember the day in ques… Oh yes, I
remember that day. My grandmother was
even at the house, when I got back from
getting food the guests had left and my
grandmother was in a mood. Now it all makes
sense.
“It’s okay, I’m glad you told me,” I say and he
nods.
“I’m not trying to replace him in your life, I
just want to have a relationship with you
too,” and that’s only fair.
“Uhm, I just need some time to wrap my head
around everything. Plus, I still have to sit
down with my dad and have a convesation
with him,” I explain and he nods vigorously.
“I understand, I’ll give you some time and hope
to receive your call. I’ve missed out on so
much, Nhlangano. I honestly cannot stay
away any longer; Busisiwe must hate me for
staying away this long, I owed it to you and
her to fight for you,” my head is spinning a
little. I’m going to wait for Khwezi to get
back from work and have a conversation with
her. She’s the only one who knows about this
situation and she has been super supportive
and she gives the best advises.
SHLOBOSENKOSI MAVIMBELA
I’m laying on my bed, facing the ceiling with
my phone held up to my ear. I’m calling Naledi
and I hope she answers, I tried her number
earlier this morning and it took me straight
to voicemail. That made me sad because I was
desperate to hear her voice and find out when
she’s leaving Cape Town for Johannesburg. A
part of me was hoping that she’ll answer and
tell me she’ll be there until Wednesday at
least. I was going to book a flight and go back
to spend some time with her. I haven’t been
able to get Naledi out of my mind, she’s all I
can think about, even in Nonku’s presence.
“Shlobo, hey,” she answers and I close my eyes.
“Unjani baby?” I ask and she chuckles.
“I’m okay, how are you?” did I mention that I
love her husky voice?
“I’m not okay, it hurts my heart that you’re
okay Naledi,” I say with the widest smile.
“Bathong, you’d rather I’d not be okay?” she
asks and I put my legs up.
“I was hoping you’d say you miss me because
I’m running out of my mind,” I mutter with
my heart thumping against my chest. It’s
really pumping custard.
“Oh, you miss me already?” she asks before
she titters. I can imagine her beautiful smile
right now.
“Too much, nkosazane. I need to see you as in
yesterday,” that’s my honest truth.
At this point I wish we were staying in the
same city so it could be easier to see her.
“Let’s be clear, you miss me or the lady
between my thighs,” her question makes me
laugh.
“Both of my ladies. Yes, this started physically
but Naledi I wanna get to enjoy the lady
between your thighs while getting to know
you as a person. I know it’s too soon to be
saying this but I’m taken by you. I need more
of you,” she doesn’t respond immediately but I
can hear her breathing on the other end of
the line.
“No woman has ever done what you’re doing
to me, Naledi. I know you might not believe
this but I haven’t been this excited to talk to
a woman in 18 years. You’re making me feel
things I never thought I’d feel again, things I
gave up on,” I say and she gasps, “Listen, I
haven’t been a monk. I’ve obviously been with
women in those years but it has never been
this intense,” I further explain.
“Uhm, my daughter and her grandmother’s are
going to Graskop this weekend. I was
excluded from their plans. That means I’m free
this weekend, I’ll book a flight to Durban after
this call,” she says and I jolt up. Did she just
say?
“Babe, are you serious?” I hope she’s not
kidding. I really want to spend more time
with her.
“Yes, Shlobo. I’m coming to Durban, just
ensure that my stay will be comfortable,” she
says and I start punching the air with my free
hand.
“I promise to make it worth while
ntombenhle. I’m going to give you the
princess treatment that you find yourself not
wanting to leave,” I say and she laughs at the
top of her lungs.
“You’re all of that, trust me you are. But
nothing will make me stay in Durban, away
from my baby girl,” I love to hear that.
My son is my whole life and I’m happy that
she’s also a mom, she won’t try and get
between my boy and I. We could make a cute
family of four and maybe bring two rats of
our own into the picture.
“I’m gonna book us into a hotel because I live
with my sister and my son at my house,” I
explain, crossing fingers that she doesn’t see
this as some sort of disrespect.
“That’s okay, hotel makes sense,” she says but
her tone worries me a lot.
“Or I can organize a quick trip for them and
prepare for you here at home,” I add and she
takes a deep breath.
“You don’t have to do that, Shlobo. The hotel
will be the best place to spend time,” a part of
me kind of feels like I’m treating her like a
side chick. Hotels sometimes give that vibe
and that’s the last thing I want Naledi to feel.
“No problem babe. Please send me your details
so I can book your flight,” I say and she scoffs.
“Shlobo, I can pay for my own flight,” that
turns me on. An independent Queen always
scores points but I love being a provider.
“Kahle Naledi. You’re coming to me, I have to
cover everything,”
“Okay, I’ll text you my details,” she responds
without putting up a fight. I love a woman
who knows when to just give in.
“What are you up to? Are you back in
Johannesburg?” I ask to prolong the
convesation. I don’t want this call to end.
“Yeah, we landed around 12pm. I’m outside my
daughter’s school now, waiting for her to
come out of practice,” I wonder if her
daughter is as gorgeous as her.
“You never told me your daughter’s name,”
I genuinely want to know.
“You never asked. Her name is Basetsana,” I’m
not sure what that means but it sounds like a
great name.
“I can’t wait to meet her,” Naledi laughs.
“Hit the brakes Shlobo. I don’t even know your
surname yet,” okay, she’s right.
“I hear you. Please send me the details for
your flight soon. I’m booking us a place to
stay immediately after this call,”
“Mommy!” a sweet voice exclaims.
“Hey my love, get in and give mommy a kiss,”
Naledi responds.
That must be her daughter.
“Shlobo, let’s talk later. My daughter is here,”
she says hurriedly.
“Okay, later baby,” the line goes dead.
I don’t waste time, I quickly go online to
make a booking for a hotel room. I trust that
Naledi will come, she doesn’t strike me as a
woman who plays games.