CHAPTER 09
NALEDI MOLETSANE

I just arrived at the hotel to meet with Thuli,
Jimmy’s wife. I texted her and told her to
book a room because I don’t want to be
photographed with her in public. I’m not in
the mood to trend for all the wrong reasons
and get into a fight with my mother. The
consequences would have affected my
daughter, Maswabi just allowed me to drive
her to school again.
Thuli understood my reasons and agreed to
book a room then forwarded me the details.
I climb out of the car and head inside, I go
straight to the elevators and press the second
floor. I just hope she didn’t call me here for
nonsense. Crap! What if she’s planning on
attacking me? I didn’t even tell anyone about
my whereabouts; I take out my phone and
text Mongezi the details. He will give the
police information if anything happens to me.
I knock and she opens almost immediately,
was she standing at the door waiting for me?
I take a deep breath and greet her, she greets
me back then moves to the side so I can walk
inside. She thanks me for showing up and I
just nod, I wanna hear how she thinks I can
give her husband back to her and her children
when I don’t even talk or want him back.
Jimmy broke my heart, I’m handling it very
well in everyones eyes but I’m really having a
hard time accepting that he played me for a
fool.
“I ordered some champagne,” she says and I
shake my head.
“No, thank you,” she heaves a heavy sigh and
opens the bottle.
“Well, I guess it’s more for me then,” it’s very
awkward here. This is the same woman who
poured rotten urine all over me in a
restaurant, made me a public spectacle and
Twitter topic.
“Jimmy and I met when we were very young.
That’s why I always looked the other way
each time I found out he was cheating. He
was looking for excitement in the bedroom,
something that’s no longer there in ours. You
know with taking care of the household, the
kids, him and my job I don’t have the energy
for anything. I just lay on my back and fake
moans of pleasure, when he’s done I roll over
and fall asleep,” what a way to get into
things.
I was never ready.
“I wasn’t enough in the bedroom but I was
still his shoulder to cry on. He came to me for
advise and discussed it all with me until last
year early,” I started dating Jimmy early last
year. The story is getting to me and I’m so
uncomfortable.
“My husband changed completely. He only
touched me because I begged for it and the
one thing that made us who we were was
also lost. He no longer told me anything or
asked for my opinion on important matters.
Jimmy never traveled for business, his
associates would come to him. But he started
telling me he’s traveling on weekends. I knew
there and then that it’s a woman, but I kept
quiet still, hoping it will end like the others
but Jimmy was withdrawing from me and our
family.” she pours another glass of champagne
and my heart really feels for her. No woman
deserves what she went through and is still
going through.
“I decided to check his phone one night after
drugging him so I can use it without fear of
being caught,” I lean back on my chair. I’m not
going to leave this place anytime soon and I
wanted to go see Manana.
“I found your number stored as “my love”, your
conversations showed how much he loves you
and vice versa. It hurt so much, I cried while
reading through everything. I found out
through those texts that he had another
house where he spent those weekends with
you. I realized that you weren’t just another
distraction, he didn’t take you to hotels. He
bought a whole house to make you
comfortable as he respects and loves you,” she
wipes her tears.
“Thuli, I honestly didn’t know he was still
married. I am sorry that I played a part in the
pain you’re feeling,” she smiles.
“It’s okay, I believe you,”
I’m glad she does.
“You said I can give you your husband back.
How can I?” I just want to be out of here.
She gulps down her drink, “He loves you, I love
him and it’s clear that you also love him,” I
shake my head.
“I loved him,” she chuckles.
“Naledi, he hurt you, yes. But you can’t unlove
him that quickly, Jimmy is not the kind of
man you just get over,” that’s true but I’m not
about to admit that to this poor woman.
“I am Naledi, I am quick to unlove anyone who
lies to me or makes me part of his lies and
deceit without my knowledge,” she leans in.
“I need you to love him again,” I narrow my
eyes. Did I hear correctly?
“Excuse me?” she gets on her feet and clasps
her hands.
“I can only have my husband back if you’re in
the picture. Naledi, I am asking you to come
into my family to be Jimmy’s second wife,”
she says and I gasp in shock. I didn’t see this
one coming, not in a million years.
“I promise not to mistreat you. I will not
make life hell for you and your little girl, we
will establish a way to make things work for
all parties involved,” my jaw is on the floor.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I believe we can
make it work. We can all start counseling
with someone who is an expect in polygamy,
a person who will help us establish a way
forward,” the more she explains the more
she’s bursting my brain. Does she love Jimmy
so much that she would accept another
woman? I would never go this far for love.
“Thuli, what you’re asking me is huge. I don’t
think I can help you get your husband back by
sharing him. Polygamy has never been
something I see myself being a part of. To
begin with, I’m a very jealous lover. That
alone is a recipe for disaster,” she nods.
“I understand but the situation is facing us.
Your heart beats for a married man,” Jesus
show yourself please. Prove that this only
happens in movies and novels.
“I’m begging you please. The three of us win if
we get into a polygamous marriage,” why am
I still sitting down and listening to this
woman?
“I wish I could help you Thuli but I can’t do
this. I’m very sorry,” I stand up and hurry to
the door.
“Naledi, wipe my tears and save me from the
shame of being called a return soldier,” her
words go straight for heart.

KATHERINE MOLOTSI

I cannot believe that Thabo left me at the
dealership because he didn’t want me buying
my parents the gift I know they deserve. I
hardly ever send my parents money or buy
them gifts because they can afford to pay for
everything they need. This is their 35th
wedding anniversary, it’s a big deal. I cannot
just show up with flowers and a tie at such a
huge celebration.
I spoke to my elder sister and she told me
she’s revamping my mothers kitchen and
buying daddy the smart TV he has been
talking about. My elder brother organized an
all expenses paid trip to Phuket, Thailand.
That will be their first international trip. The
other three aren’t financially capable of doing
big things on their own so they combined
money to give our parents because they
weren’t supposed to throw their own
anniversary party in the first place.
Everyone of my siblings did something that
my parents wanted so I had to dig deep and
find something they can both use and enjoy.
They’ve had their car for the last 10 years and
recently it started giving them problems. They
deserve a car, I don’t know why Thabo doesn’t
see that.
I mean I’m not taking money out of our joint
account, we aren’t even touching that as a
couple. We live off my salary and I’m buying
my parents a car with my savings. I’m one
person who doesn’t play with money, I have
saved all my 13th checks and perfomace
bonuses. I’m in the financial sector and I
know how to invest so my returns have been
great. I’m good for buying my parents a car. It
won’t affect our daily life at all.
Mongezi stops his car infront of me and I sigh
in relief and climb in. I don’t like Uber because
there are many horror stories, so I had to call
him to come pick me up and drop me off at
the house. He asks me what happened and I
give him the embarrassing story. I still cannot
believe he acted that way infront of the sales
dude.
“You didn’t tell him before going to the
dealership that you’re going there to buy a
car?” I shake my head.
“I didn’t think that was necessary, I mean he
was coming with me to help choose it,” he’s
nodding.
“I understand but maybe he’s mad that you
didn’t discuss it with him first,” haibo!
“Friend, I used my own money not ours,” he
chuckles.
“I thought married couples don’t have my and
I in their vocabulary,” that’s true.
“I thought so too Mongezi, but my husband
made me believe otherwise. After the
company paid him what’s his, Thabo took that
money and went to build his mother a house,
saying that’s where we will run to if life turns
on us. He bought furniture and stayed there
for a month spending money, I kept quiet. So
why is he fighting me when I’m buying my
parents a car with my money?” he narrows his
eyes at me.
“So this is pay back time?” of course not.
“No. He set precedence when he took his
money to build his mom a house without
talking to me first. I did what he showed me
is done in our marriage,” he nods vigorously.
“That’s very true, Kat. You’re making a lot of
sense, tell him exactly what you’re telling
me,” I’m glad someone understands but I’m
not talking to Thabo today.
“He really didn’t give you anything from the
money he recieved?” now he wants the tea.
“Nothing, he paid for his car. Went to build
the house and bought furniture. My husband
went shopping, deposited a small amount into
our joint bank account. I think he only took
me out on a few dates and that’s it, honestly,”
he claps once!
“And now you’re taking care of everything,”
for an entire year I’ve been the sole
breadwinner. “I’d rather remain the man
whore that I am and milk these older lonely
women for money because marriage is tough
shame,” he is gifted in that department
shame. Mongezi lives softly by just being a
toy boy, he doesn’t have relationship stress
like the rest of us.
“Continue doing you my friend coz partners
leave you at dealerships with your car,” the
audacity. He should have left my car and took
a taxi that I was going to pay for.
“So, you bought the car?” hell yeah!
“Yep, my parents have a new whip,” he fist
bumps me.