CHAPTER 07
NALEDI MOLETSANE

Tonight is the night we are meeting
Vhutshilo’s new girlfriend, I’ve met many in
the last 5 years but it’ll be the first time he is
introducing someone to our daughter. I just
hope and pray that the new madam gets
along with Basetsana because if she doesn’t
then the relationship is done. Vhutshilo made
it clear that he will never be with a woman
who doesn’t click with his child and I think
that’s only fair. I also wouldn’t mind being
single for rest of my life if I cannot find a man
who will understand and accept that I have a
child who will always be a priority to me.
The table is set and the food is in casserole
dishes, I didn’t cook any of this. I found a
caterer and asked her to make a meal enough
for four people and dessert as well. Yes,
Vhutshilo made me pay for everything
because he asked me to cook and I hired
someone instead. He knows very well that I
cannot cook, Manana spoilt me rotten. She
takes care of everything Basetsana and I need
on a daily basis.
“Oh the table looks nice,” he walks into the
dinning room looking fresh. This Venda guy
has never had a problem in the looks
department, most people can understand why
I gave him a baby.
“You look nicer,” he chuckles, rounding the
table to kiss my cheek.
“You look gorgeous my lady,” the door bell
rings, the guest oh honor has arrived.
Vhutshilo rushes to go and open and a few
seconds later they walk in hand in hand.
Damn! They look good together, at least their
kids will look as cute as their older sister.
“Naledi, this is my girlfriend Karabo. Babe, this
is Basetsana’s mom Naledi,” confusion flashes
across her eyes but she still manages to keep
her smile.
“It’s nice to meet you Karabo, you look
beautiful,” I hold my hand out for a shake and
she takes it.
“Thank you. You’re also gorgeous,” she looks at
her boyfriend who has the widest smile on his
face. He was never this smitten with the
previous girls, there must be something about
this one then.
“Where’s everyone else?” she asks and I
narrow my eyes.
“Oh, Bassie is in the TV room,” Vhutshilo
explains.
“It’s just the two of them?” was she expecting
the whole of Venda?
What did they discuss about tonight’s
meeting?
“Yes, babe. Am I missing something?”
Vhutshilo is confused by his confused
girlfriend.
“You said you’d like for me to meet your
family so in my head I thought your parents
and siblings will be here,” makes sense
though.
“Naledi and Basetsana are also my family. It’s
important that you meet them first before
going to Venda to see everyone else,” she’s not
understanding the dynamics of my
relationship with Vhutshilo. She will not meet
anyone from his family if she doesn’t get
along with his daughter.
She heaves a sigh, “l don’t mean to sound rude
or anything but babe I don’t think this is
normal,” she says and I think I need a drink.
“Uhm, I need to go get something from the
kitchen,”I excuse myself so they can have a
conversation.
My phone chimes as I open the fridge to take
out a bottle of wine. I unlock the screen and
it’s a text from Kat, she’s asking if everything
is okay. I haven’t spoken to her since I left her
house in a rush after Thabo made a pass at
me. I don’t know how I’ll be able to look my
friend in the eye knowing that her husband
has a wondering eye and it landed on me. I
haven’t even decided if I’m going to tell her
about it or let it slide; Vutshilo told me
exactly what Manana said to me so I’m
conflicted.
I text her back telling her that I’m with
Vutshilo meeting his new girlfriend and I’ll call
to explain the “emergency” soon.
I walk to the lounge to get Basetsana and her
father is in there with his girlfriend making
introductions. Karabo has a wide genuine
smile on her face that makes my heart relax a
little. Basetsana is polite as always, we are
not raising a rude spoilt child. I think I did
good by explaining things to her before hand, I
didn’t want her to be confused by the change
that’s going to happen in our lives.
We all make our way to the dinner table and
settle down. Vutshilo prays before we can
start dishing up.
“Uhm Naledi. I’m sorry if I offended you earlier
on. It’s just that I have never been in such a
situation before or even heard about it,” oh I
have a thick skin. I had to deal with Maswabi
all my life.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. Vhutsilo should
have explained our relationship fully,” I say
and he clears his throat.
“In all honesty he laid his cards on the table
from the very beginning. I guess I’m the one
who wasn’t fully accepting of what he was
telling me,” that’s understandable.
No woman wants to hear about her
boyfriends baby mama.
“It will take you some time to understand the
relationship we have and that’s okay. It’s
important for us to maintain a healthy and
happy friendship because we are raising our
daughter. I also run to him with my person
things but that’s obviously going to change
because he has you now. I cannot just show
up like before,” my statement makes her relax
a little.
I honestly don’t want to be the reason why
this relationship doesn’t work out.
Basetsana’s father deserves to be happy.
“Thank you, Naledi,” she says and Vhutsilo
clasps her hand. “Your daughter is so
beautiful. The pictures you showed me don’t
do her any justice at all,” oh look at miss
Bassie blushing. I should be taking the
compliments because my genes made all this
beauty.
“Thank you,” we say in unison.
“Do you have kids? I ask and she shakes her
head.
“No, not yet. But I would love to have a few in
the near future,” my phone rings, disturbing
our conversation. Its a number I don’t
recognize, I push the chair back and ask to be
excused.
“Hello,” I answer, settling down on the couch.
“Naledi,” the woman says.
“This is she,”
“You’re talking to Thuli, Jimmy’s wife,” oh God!
Can this woman leave me alone, I have
nothing to do with her husband.
“I ended things with Jimmy so I…”
She quickly interjects, “I know. I saw the
messages on his phone but my husband wants
to divorce me because he thinks there’s still a
chance with you,” that’s not my fault though.
I made it clear to him that it’s over, “I know I
embarrassed you in public and I’m sorry. I
realized that you had absolutely no idea that I
was still in the picture,” she says and sniffs, is
she crying?
“Naledi, I love my husband with all my heart. I
don’t want to loose him, so please give him
back” what?!
“I would if I had him but I don’t. I want
nothing to do with Jimmy. I wouldn’t have
gotten into a relationship with him if I knew
he was married. He lied to me and I ended
things soon as I found out. I’m sorry Thuli but
I cannot help you,” she takes a deep breath.
“That’s the thing, you have him, all of him.
Jimmy is willing to give me everything so we
can divorce and he can come to beg you for
forgiveness,” this is madness. Absolute
insanity.
“I won’t take him back. You don’t have to
worry,” she chuckles.
“I know my husband and I think you know him
too. He is very persuasive, he will beg until
you take him back,” I know exactly what she
means. He chased me and did the most
romantic things until I agreed to be his
girlfriend. It wasn’t long till I was head over
heels with him. I thought he was the one, I
was ready to introduce him to my people,
Basetsana, Manana and Vhutsilo but God said
hold my drink.
“How do you think I can give Jimmy back?” I
ask.
“It’s not something we can discuss over the
phone. Can we meet sometime during the
week?” I can’t be seen with this woman in
public. My mother would lose her mind.
“I’ll text you the when and where,” my life is a
movie.
“Thank you, Naledi. Enjoy the rest of your
evening.” you just ruined it doll.

MASWABI MOLETSANE

“You now bring that boy into this house?”
Dzunisani startles me. I take a deep breath
and turn to look at her.
“I’m afraid that these photographers are
following me since the Naledi and Jimmy
Khambule saga,” I say and she laughs.
“You’re really using Naledi to justify the filth
you’re doing in this house with her best
friend?” can she stop acting holier than thou.
“Mongezi and I are adults, we can do
whatever it is that we like,” she laughs then
claps once.
“Then why are you hiding from your daughter
and the photographers? You’re doing nothing
wrong right?” I roll my eyes.
“Society won’t understand me sleeping with a
young men who happens to be my daughters
best friend. Plus, my reputation,”
She is my friend, she has to support and
understand me.
“You do know that he’s using you right? He’s
just in this for the money you give him?” I
raise an eyebrow.
“Am I not using him too?” her eyes widen, “I
know there’s no love here and that’s okay. He
takes care of my needs. Even though I don’t
have legs I’m still a woman. Not everyone can
switch off their feelings and needs like you,
Dzunisani,” she huffs out a humorless laugh.
“Live your hypocritical life, Maswabi,” she says
in a low tone.
“Mami, what’s keeping you? You left me with
a problem down there,” Mongezi says
seductively but freezes by the door when he
realizes I’m with Dzunisani in the kitchen.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves, the
both of you,” he looks down embarrassed.
“Do you know how hard it is keeping this from
Nyeleti?” She asks with tears glistening in her
eyes.
“You’re an employee in this house, Dzunisani.
You will not go about telling my business, not
even to Naledi. Are we clear?” she nods
vigorously.
“Crystal clear minister,” she says and marches
out of the kitchen.
I shouldn’t have addressed the situation like
that, Dzunisani is more than just an
employee. She is my best friend and a second
mother to my children. I feel so bad that I just
spoke to her like that infront of Mongezi.
Things have been awkward between us and I
just made them worse. I shouldn’t have
invited Mongezi over, I should have allowed
him to stay with his friends at the braai.
“Maybe I should go, Mami,” he says and I shake
my head vigorously.
“No, the damage is already done. I will fix
things with her tomorrow. You’ll leave first
thing in the morning so Naledi doesn’t find
you here,” he shrugs his shoulders.
“Are you sure she won’t say a word about our
situation to Naledi?” he asks and I shake my
head.
“Dzunisani loves Naledi but she wouldn’t tell
on me like that. Our secret is safe with her,
trust me,” he smiles.
“I need a drink,” he says and goes to open the
cupboard and comes back with a bottle of
alcohol.
“Bathong! How did you know there would be a
bottle in there?” he laughs.
“My best friend stays here, I know all of her
stash corners,” right. “Let’s go to bed, I want
body shots,” body what?
He hands me the bottle then scoops me up
bridal style and walks to my bedroom.