Welcome to your unlocked bonus episode part 1. We are close to the end and before we step into it, we have some news to share with you.

We would like to engage with you one more time before closing season 1 by introducing to you, character awards. At the end of each season of a written piece, we will ask you to vote for the characters in the categories that they find themselves in. You will have a week to vote and next week Friday, we will post our winners – as voted for by you. Our characters are counting you for your votes. May your favourite win!

The categories and nominees are as follows: 

Best Male Lead: Thomas Ramaru, Mthunzi Msomi and Qaphela Hadebe

Best Female Lead: Lydia Khalo – Ramaru, Zelda/Koena Msomi, Sindiswa Msomi, Pearl Hadebe

Best Couple in the Series: Thomas & Pearl; Thomas & Lydia; Mthunzi & Sindi; Mthunzi & Koena; Qaphela & Nobantu

Best Supporting Male: Thami, Harry, Mfundo, George, Sandile,

Best Supporting Female: Portia, Thando, Sli, Maphito (Maps), Luthando, KG, Gcina 

Best Weekly Insert: Sindiswa, George, Portia, Luthando, Lydia, Thomas, Koena/Zelda, Mthunzi, Pearl/Nobantu, Qaphela. 

Good luck to all your favourite characters and I look forward to announcing the winners next week Friday. For now, your bonus insert…

For as long as you keep reading, I will keep writing. 

~ Ketso Madonsela

“He is a very attractive man. I don’t blame you for loving him so much,”Maphito says to me as we are in bed. 

It is 1am and I am getting married later today. No one is sleeping. Everyone is singing about in the house and is busy with something. My mom is a bit sad that Keba is not here. She wanted Keba to be in my bridal party. Imagine! I prayed very hard for her not to pitch and I am happy that I am having this “evening-before-my-wedding” conversation with Maphito.

“I used to feel bad about how I got him. But honestly, I wouldn’t trade in what we have for anything. I’m even okay with being labelled whatever people are labelling me, as long as he and I are together.” I tell her. 

“I’m so happy for you, cuz. You deserve this happiness. Make sure that you are the wife that is deserving just as I know he will be an amazing husband to you. You can just see that he will die without you. He really loves you.” 

I smile at her.

“I hope that you are going to give yourself a chance at love again.” I say.

Her face changes. 

“Come on, Phito. I know what happened between you and Mohato broke your heart, but you always knew that he was going to have a wife chosen for him by his family. And he asked you to be his second wife.” I say. 

“I loved him too much to share him. Can you imagine loving someone the way that he and I loved each other, then that evil bitch he calls a mother shows up at my flat and gives me money to disappear because Mohato was getting married the next day? I’m gonna kill that woman one day. I thought God would have done us all that favour by now, but she’s still breathing.” 

We both laugh as she says this. 

“Do you guys still talk?” I ask her. 

“Just about business. Every now and then when I go to Tholoana Kingdom, we exchange sexual favours. But that ship has sailed. I didn’t even tell him that I was coming back to South Africa permanently.” 

“Do you want to tell him?” 

She smiles at me. Oh no. 

“I want Thomas.” She says. 

“Noooooooooo!” 

“I’m serious! He is so –

“No, Maphito. No! He just lost a wife. The best thing he can probably give you is sex.” 

“And that’s all I want.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Because Phito, you look for Mohato in every man you smash. That’s why you ended your engagement to your baby-daddy. I’ll tell you now, for free, that Thomas is nothing like Mohato. And for now, he just needs to heal and focus on being a father to his daughter. Whatever you do, don’t complicate his life.” 

“I promise I won’t. Plus I need to distract him from that social-climbing shameless PA of his who is dripping thirst and is begging to be fucked by him!”

“I don’t like that Thando girl either. If you could slap her for me for disrespecting Lydia the way that she has, I’d love you forever.”

“I’ll fuck him instead. Then she will go look for ass in her own league – asuke emabhozeni. Thomas if for people like us.” 

We laugh!

Now that Thingo has successfully dozed off amidst the noise in this place, we try to doze off too.

…

I am parading around the house in my silk lingerie gown engraved with “bride” on its back. I cannot sleep. The house is fast asleep still, but me, I’m nervous for today. I am wondering if I have made the right decision. I love my husband. A lot. And I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I just wonder if that happily ever after truly is that. 

I walk to the kitchen window and notice a DJ setting up the sound system. The decor people are decorating and the tent is looking beautiful. The tent – it’s a glass tent – was put up yesterday. The catering people will arrive around 9am. It is only 6am now. Today is going to be a beautiful day. We will be having the seTswana traditional wedding. 

I see one of my cousins, Dikeledi, flirting with the DJ. She is one of my bridesmaids. I got my cousins to be part of my bridal party. I didn’t want to, but I was forced to because she’s family. Keba should also be here. But I’m so happy she found a whole to hide in. I hope she doesn’t show up just nje.Maphito is my maid-of-honour because she is the most reliable of everyone. She has been around for two weeks, helping me and making sure that everything goes well. She has dealt with my meltdowns and everything. She is the most deserving. My other three cousins are decent people and we all get drunk together at family gatherings, so they qualify. 

I receive an i-message from my groom. 

“Struggling to sleep. I just want to be next to you now.” 

I pour myself a cup of tea, settle on one of the couches, then FaceTime him. 

“Hello Mrs Msomi”.

“Hello handsome. How are you?” 

“Tired. The travelling is a bit tiring. Mfundo is still passed out.” 

“Yeah, I hear you. I’m sorry, babe. I’ll drive us to KZN today.” 

“No babe, Tom organised a driver for us to get us there and to Stellenbosch.” 

“Wow. Your best man is the one.” 

“I know”.

We laugh. 

“How is everything going there?” He asks me. 

“Everything is coming together beautifully. I’m just waiting for Thingo to wake up then I can bath him and get that out of the way.” 

“How is my boy?” 

“He didn’t want to sleep last night. I had to wrestle him to sleep.” 

“Why?”

“He was playing with his cousins. I think he likes seeing other children and actually playing with them. He makes me feel bad for not giving him a sibling.” 

He laughs. 

“We can always – 

I shake my head. He laughs. 

“I can’t wait to see you.” He says. 

I smile at him. 

“We are not making a mistake, right?” I ask him. 

His face is now serious. 

“Never. We are forever.” 

“Are you sure you like me?” 

“I did marry you.”

“I know. But do you like me? Like… like me like me. As a wife? Not a sister or a friend or – 

“I don’t know what you are asking me, but I love you – as my forever.” 

I am cheesing! 

We chat on FaceTime for another thirty minutes before I see Thingo walking towards me. He just woke up and he is still a bit grumpy. He sits on top of me and we both chat to his dad. We laugh and chat away, then at 8am, people start arriving, the singing starts happening and I know that it is time to get ready for my day. 

…

Can you believe that Sindi has still not come to get her son? My kids and I have moved into a new house in the south that is big and fit for us and my sister’s daughter, Zinhle. Lolu asked me to take Zinhle in because she is struggling at the moment and she just wants to find her feet again. She has moved out of her apartment in Benoni town and is now living in a backroom in Orlando. My sister and I don’t get along, but we do love each other in our own special way. When it’s time to show up for each other, we do just that. 

“Lutha, this is not your son.” She whispers to me as we unpack cutlery and crockery in the kitchen while the kids unpack their stuff in their rooms. Everyone has their own room, including Siya. But that was meant for when he comes to visit because he and Bonke are closer than currently expected. 

“I know, Lolu. But what am I supposed to do? His mother is on holiday somewhere with no access to her cellphone.” 

My mom is drinking tea and watching us whisper about this. 

“So you just going to let him live here?” 

“I haven’t exactly figured out what it is that I am going to do, but I am worried.” 

Lolu shakes her head. 

Siya walks into the kitchen looking sad. 

“I think something happened to my mom. I still cannot reach her. Can you please take me to gogo’s house in DK then I can find out what’s going on?” He asks me. 

“Okay boy, no problem. We can leave when you are ready. Auntie Lolu will come with us.” 

“Ha!”

I look at Lolu and she gathers herself. 

We arrive in DK and find the gogo and uncle sitting together watching TV. 

“Sanibonani” I greet.

A lady, who I have now learned is auntie KG, walks up to us and attends to us. She has a huge smile on her face. She’s a pretty lady. 

“Hi sisi. Thank you for bringing him home.” 

“No problem, sisi. He was really worried about his mother.” 

“Why?” Uncle Sandile enquires from the couch. Quite rude and aggressively, actually. 

“He cannot get hold of her. She was supposed to come fetch him when we returned from Giyani. It’s been over a week now.” I say, still maintaining my cool. 

“She’s on holiday. It is well deserved, considering what your husband put her through.” 

“What my husband put her through?” 

“Yes. He didn’t tell you how he ran us out of this province after he – 

He pauses. 

“After he what?” I ask him. 

“Lu, let’s go.” Lolu says to me. 

Uncle Sandile and I are having a staring match. He walks up to where we are now standing. He stands next to Auntie KG. I am still looking at him and he is still looking at me. Auntie KG is not feeling good about this. Her face says it all. 

“My sister is a good mother to Siya. Going on holiday does not change that. It is okay for her to take care of herself.” Uncle Sandile says. 

“I never said she was a bad mother. She made a commitment to something she did not show up for. The least she could do is answer her son’s calls.” I say.

We stare at each other one more time before I break the eye-contact and focus on Siya. 

“You have my number, right?” 

He nods his head. 

“Any time you need me, just call me. Any time. Okay?” 

“Okay.”

“And you can come visit us any time. It’s your home too and your room will always be waiting for you. And as promised, when we go to daddy’s tombstone in Giyani, you come with us always. Okay?” 

He nods his head. 

Siya throws himself at me and we hug. 

Auntie KG walks us out. 

“Thank you, for everything. He needed the closure. Thank you.” She says. 

“No problem. And if you need anything – anything at all – just call me. I was hoping to find Sindi, but I think I can talk to you. My husband has left money for Siya in a trust, but Siya can only have access to it at the age of twenty-five. It’s the same for all the kids. In the meantime, I have enough money to look after all of them. My husband took care of me up to and beyond his grave. I have no intention of excluding Siya in anything. He is not to blame for what his mom and my husband have done. So I mean it, anything he needs…”

The look she gives me is so sincere. 

“But don’t get comfortable and think you will be living off us. It’s not that kind of party.” Lolu says. 

Auntie KG nods her head. 

“Nisaleni kahle.” I say. 

Lolu and I leave. 

We have an order for some organs. Keba and Sindi have been sent to be candidates who will generously donate whatever organs work in their bodies – it could be one organ or it could be all their organs. Sindi is still sedated, so I contact all the necessary people who need to be contacted to ensure that all deliveries are made to the necessary people who have made payment for the organs. They’ve paid the deposit and will pay the balance upon the arrival of the organs. Keba is just not loved. They asked us to keep her alive as we remove the organs from her body and rather let her heart kill her from the trauma she will be witnessing happen to her. She pissed off someone who is very close to the pope. So we have used chemicals to paralyse her, but will keep her awake to watch and feel everything – but be limited in fighting us off her. What a dumb girl to be pissing off influential people like that. 

My doctors are all here and we are about to start the surgeries on all the sedated bodies that now lie in front of us on the hospital beds – featuring Keba. 

Once we have a heads up and the time frame has began, the surgeries start. While my doctors cut the bodies that lie before them, slicing them up from the top layer of their skin right into the very organ needed to be extracted, I briefly watch then leave the room. 

My secretary has arranged how each body will return back to the families of these people and how we will make their cause of death look. It’s organised crime. Everything is planned adequately and very little can go wrong. We have all our people in law enforcement who are on the church’s payroll to ensure that all roads remain clear until the organs get to where they need to get. 

Discipline is very important in the church. It cannot be stressed enough how ill-disciplined members can cost the church tremendously. I sort out the payment of each doctor and each participant in all of this. I slide in R50 000 into different envelopes, R75 000 in some other envelopes. This is the payment for all my employees who worked hard on this particular assignment. I slide the envelopes in their lockers. They know that’s where they find their money. 

I sit in about three church meetings then go check up on my warehouse where cars are being stripped, but on the front, the cars are being mechanised to throw off the police. I check in on the truck that needs to come in and transport the stripped cars to the necessary borders. They will be arriving soon. 

I wait for that truck to arrive and take the cars. We have cleared roads with our law enforcement. I get a call that bodies have left and organs are on the move. The cleaning staff is now cleaning the space we use as a hospital. The cleaners have R15 000 cash waiting for them in their lockers, tidied nicely into envelopes. 

As I make my way out of my office, the bishop walks into my office. I didn’t even know he was in South Africa. 

“Bishop”, I acknowledge his presence. 

“How are you doing?” He asks me. 

“I’m alright. Everything okay?” 

“You doing great. Your numbers are up and we are glad that you are on our team.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Maphito’s order?” He asks me. That would be Keba.

“Done.”

“Maphito’s sister is getting married. Can we delay delivering her body?Maphito specifically requested that Keba’s death does not disturb the sister’s wedding.” 

I chuckle. Keba is hated. There is no love what-so-ever at home for her. The bishop is laughing too. 

“Don’t worry, bishop. The body will be delivered in Mafikeng on Monday.” I say. 

He nods his head.  

“I need a fall guy. Someone innocent looking, doesn’t ask too many questions and won’t be missed by a family who will want to investigate what happened to him or how a murder was pinned on him.” He says. 

“Sure. I have just the person.” I have been meaning to get rid of Lindiwe’s husband who has now taken over my parents’ house. 

“When will he be available?” 

“As soon as you need him.” I say. 

“Okay. Here is a gun. Plant it close to where he will touch it as soon as he moves. Then plant these drugs and this burner phone in his possession. Give me an address and I’ll get a fall to tip off the police.” 

I accept and agree accordingly. 

We shake hands and walk out of the warehouse. 

…

We all look nice, I will not lie. We were not keen on the idea of wearing suits in Setswana patterns, but I’m glad the Mrs forced the matter because we look dope. 

We are all wearing navy pants and suit jackets with the blue Setswana pattern or design or whatever they call it. Mthunzi’s suit jacket is white and has the patterns trimmed very stylishly on the jacket. 

Everyone else just took material and got a designer to do best. We all look nice though. 

We have quite a few cars in convoy headed to the farm. It is a farm. There is land there for days. But it is one hell of an investment. If that were my land, my daughter would be very rich when I die. 

I text Maps that we are five minutes away. Us groomsmen and the groom are in one V250 and we are on our third and fourth bottle of beers. Also, Mafikeng is flippen hot. I feel like I’m in Venda again. Everyone is complaining about the heat, but the people must see us in our suits first. Then we will take the jackets off. Underneath them, we have short-sleeved v-neck t-shirts in pure Setswana pattern. Like I said. We look good. Mfundo is here with us, and Mthunzi gave him beer as well. 

We hear hooting and we know we’ve arrived. Mthunzi downs one last bottle of beer. We are parked and as we climb out of the car, there is already singing happening. Our people are walking towards the gate where our bride is behind. We are excited enough to be dancing as the singing happens – even Mthunzi is dancing. Thando is taking me as a date really seriously. Which is weird because she is dancing next to me. Listen, she made sure that she looks like a flame today and she does. I’m keen to see what Maps is looking like. 

The neighbours have come out of their houses and are ululating and singing along with us. I don’t know any of these songs, so I just dance and not even try because… remember that I’m Venda. 

We hear singing of a different song to what we are singing. Now, we know that this is a singing battle between the two families. The streets of Mafikeng that were singing with us have turned on us and are now singing with the other family. Imagine! This happens for about twenty minutes before I actually see Koena right here in front of Mthunzi and us. The groomsmen are next to Mthunzi leading the pack. Forget Thando. Forget Maps. Koena looks – INCREDIBLE. 

Mthunzi is frozen. She is smiling at him. Maps and the other bridesmaids are giggling at Mthunzi’s reaction. 

Her dress looks like those princess wedding dresses, but it is made up of Setswana material and has white beads here and there. Her doek is beautifully put on her weave. 

Koena kisses Mthunzi out of his trance and he finally reacts. He is the one who cries. No no no. He better not do that here. Come on now. After they hug and kiss, Mthunzi takes her hand and they lead us to the glass tent that we will be seated at. But we are not walking into the tent, noooooo…. 

We practiced a whole step for this moment. We went to sleep late last night because we left here late practicing this step.

Music coming from a loud speaker stops the singing on the street and we are all with our paired partners – the bridal party that is. 

Lady Du’s “Woza” plays and our step starts. This is actually fun. Everyone with a cellphone has their flashes pointed at us. I’d like to console myself and say they are recording the bride and groom do this dance and step here, but Maps and I are right behind them so we are just as visible on those cameras, so I guess the point is to just have fun. 

The bride and groom, trust me, they are having so much fun. Koena’s is not restricted at all by that dress she’s wearing. She is having so much fun and dancing like she was born to do it. 

We finally enter the tent and no, we don’t sit down. There is a circle created and now the bridal party is dancing away. It’s a competition between the men and the women. When the song finally comes to an end, we find our seats. 

Oh, and Thando is looking hotter than Maps. But I’m still smashing Maps. 

…

“He is here with us, isn’t he?” Koena whispers to me as we are seated in our bride and groom seats. 

“Who, baby?” 

“Mohavi. He is here with us. That’s why we are all so happy and that’s why this is so beautiful.” She says. 

I smile at her. 

“He is always with us. Always.” I tell her.

“And so is Mbali. Look at how beautiful everything is. They are here – in all the smiles, in all the flowers and centre pieces… and in our heartbeats.” She says. 

I peck her lips with mine. She smiles at me. 

This is beautiful. I’d never do it again, but it is beautiful. My wife stands out the most. She is out of this world. Koena is a beautiful woman. She really is. Then today, she is just out of this world. 

“Please look at your son! Thingo mara.” She says. 

Thingo is running around and getting dirty with all the kids I see around here. Koena said it’s his cousins. He is having fun. He doesn’t even understand what all of this is about. Thingo would be okay if we just left him at home and told him what was happening today when he is old enough to understand why he had to be nice and stay clean today. I hold her hand. She looks like she wants to start shouting at Thingo. She must calm down. 

These speeches are beginning to get on my nerves too. These people have been talking. I see Koena texting Maps and telling her to bring us food because we are hungry. It’s hot and we all just need to be outside of this tent. It’s so full here. Even the people we don’t know and are not dressed up for this wedding have surrounded the tent. It’s a fancy glass and see-through tent, but it’s still hot. 

Maps brings food for Koena and I on one plate. It’s wings that come from I don’t know where. We eat. It’s weird because everyone is watching us eat while they listen to speeches. But Koena is not bothered. She’s hungry and she is eating. I am eating the wings too, but with a bit of shame. I’m not as brave as she is to shove an entire wing in my mouth while people look at me. I spot Maps and Thomas eating from a plate too – they have wings too and a bit of samp. Thando is not impressed at all. LOL!

Mfundo leaves with Koena’s mother. I catch them eating from the corner of my eye. They are sharing an entire plate of cooked slaughtered meat, chicken, a whole lot of salads and samp. Mfundo is very comfortable around here and honestly, I thank my wife for the love that she has for Mfundo. I see Koena’s mother trying to force-feed Thingo and that little man just grabs a drum-stick and runs off. Mfundo is not even bothered. He is just eating. I see Koena’s father giving him a bottle of coke. He must bring that bottle here. I’m flippen thirsty.

The exchanging of gifts has now started where my family has to gift Koena’s family, thanking them for raising Koena for us and blessing us with such an incredible woman. The mood is great and everyone is happy. 

Now that people are eating, Koena says she wants to go and change Thingo’s outfit. 

“Why? He’s going to get dirty again. He’s not going to stop playing.”

“But he’s filthy. He hasn’t even eaten.”

“Baby, just let the kid play.” 

She looks at me weird. 

It starts raining out of nowhere and it’s also getting late. While Mafikeng is a good time and we all love being here, we need to get going. The isiZulu wedding will be in two days’ time and we honestly just want to use tomorrow for resting and preparing. 

The bridal party will be leaving now with the elderly parents. Everyone else will stay here and party until they can’t anymore then meet us in KZN. Thingo, Mfundo, Koena and I are driving down together with Thomas and Maps in one of the V250s. I don’t know who Thando is driving down with. This situation is now becoming awkward.

The rest of the bridal party will travel in the other V250. Wives and our mothers will be travelling in Hyundai H1s. And everyone else will follow with their own cars. 

…

It’s pouring and I have to bath Thingo because he decided that he was going to roll in the mud, literally. He is busy telling me about his cousins and asking if we will be driving with them too. 

“No Thingo, they are going to be in different cars.” 

“Can I go in their car?”

“No. You are coming with your dad, your brother, me, Uncle Tom and Auntie Maps.”

“But I’ll be the only child.” 

“Thingo, you are not going with your cousins, we will all meet up in KZN”. 

He’s not impressed at all. 

Our bags are being packed into the car while I dress up Thingo in a tracksuit. The rain is pouring now. 

I also change into a tracksuit. I saw everyone else has changed into comfortable clothes. My dad just wants to stay with his house and his land and his animals. But he will join us in Stellenbosch. 

“Ready to go?” Mthunzi asks me as he walks into the bedroom. 

I throw Thingo on my hip and grab his changing bag. Mthunzi takes Thingo from me. 

“Let’s go say goodbye to ntate.” I say. 

We say goodbye while Thingo is asking Mthunzi to convince me that he must go with his cousins. 

“Thingo, you starting to annoy me now. I said no. What’s your problem?” 

He frowns and hides his face on his dad’s shoulder. We know that he is about to cry now. And he does. 

I’m not even interested. Mthunzi and I say goodbye to people and run with crying Thingo to the car that is waiting for us. Thomas and Maps are already cuddled into each other. I giggle. Maps blushes. 

“Where’s Mfundo?” I ask. 

“Saying bye to his girlfriend.” Thingo says. 

He’s stopped crying now and he is on my lap. 

We all look at him. 

“Mfundo has a girlfriend?” I ask. 

“Yes. The girl he’s always going to. Sometimes I go with them to the shops. Her name is Bohlale.” Thingo is sharing all this information. 

“Was she at the wedding today?” I ask. 

He shrugs his shoulders. 

Mthunzi and Tom are laughing. 

I phone Mfundo.

“Hello mah.” 

“Mfundo, we are waiting for you.” 

“Can I drive down with –

“Mfundo, we are waiting for you.”

He gets it. 

“Okay mah, I’m coming.”

He comes in after five minutes, soaking wet. 

“But Mfundo, you are going to get flu. Do you and Bohlale not have an umbrella?” I say. 

His eyes! The shock is met with laughter in the car. 

“Go bath and change, Mfundo. And ask someone in the house to give you an umbrella when you come back out here.”

After another thirty minutes, roads lead to KZN. 

…

“Hello?” 

It is 3:30am and my phone has woken me up from proper sleep. It is Siya calling. 

“Mam’Lu.” 

“Siya, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so early in the morning?” 

“My mom is dead.” 

What did this child just say? 

“Huh?” 

“She’s dead. They say she died in hospital. She was in a car accident.” He says. 

“Okay, my boy I’m coming there. Are you in DK?”

“Yes mama.” 

I wake up and get dressed. 

Mara Lutha uyaphi? Was this your friend? Why has this become your problem? 

I have this debate with myself as I get dressed and make my way to the TV room where I find my sleep-deprived children still watching television. 

“Guys I’m going to DK. Your brother’s mother passed away.” I say. 

“Manje wena uyaphi?” Lolu asks me. Oh, she’s also here. 

“I don’t know, Lolu. Siya called me and he needs me there. I don’t know what to do.” 

“You have no place there, Lutha. I honestly don’t know what you are going to get there and do.” 

“Does that mean Siya is going to live with us now?” Bonke’s priorities are not in the right place. 

“I don’t know. But let me go. I’ll see you when I get back.” 

I leave. 

It’s already full here. This family is clearly loved. I get out the car and find KG at the gate. She actually hugs me. Siya sees me before I see him and he runs to me. He hugs me. 

“I’m so sorry.” 

“Your husband did this.” Uncle Sandile says. 

“But my husband has passed away.”

“His influence is still alive and those men who threatened my sister at his funeral came after my sister.” 

“Excuse me?”

What is this man talking about?

“We are not stupid, wena! We know they were behind the car accident we were in when we were driving back to DK after the funeral. They did this to my sister too!” 

I am silent. 

“All this because your husband didn’t want to take responsibility for Siya? Now his money must raise Siya? Siya doesn’t have parents because of your husband!” 

“Sekwanele manje. I’m not going to stand here and listen to you disrespect my husband’s memory. How dare you! What role did your sister play in pissing off powerful people?” 

“What?!” 

“Baby, please. Stop it! Hai no!” Auntie KG restrains her puppy. 

I look at Siya and say, “My boy. I’ll come see you some other time, okay?” 

“Can I go with you?”

“No Siya. Your mom is gone. You need to be here to respect and mourn her memory.” Uncle Sandile says. 

“I want to go with Mam’Lu.” 

“No.” 

“He’s a child, Sandile. I’ll bring him back later. He just needs some air.” I say. 

“I said no. Siyabonga, go back into the house.” 

I just shake my head at Sandile. Wow. 

When I get home, I decide to i-message Sydney. 

“Hi. Apparently Sindi is dead. Have you heard?”

He replies instantly. No sleep for the wicked I suppose. 

“I heard. Very sad.”

“Do you know what happened?” 

“Car accident”. 

I push my luck.

“Her brother says it’s George’s fault. He said George’s influence is still alive. He says this was no accident.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah. Sydney, do you know the extent of George’s and Sindi’s relationship?” 

….

….

….

“Both George and Sindi are dead. Let sleeping dogs lie.” 

What the hell? 

“I guess I’ll have to ask Sindi’s brother myself then. But thanks for your help.” 

“I strongly advise against that.”

“I need to know and he seems to be the only person who is kind enough to share information with me.” 

He phones me. I don’t answer. I’m going to sleep. It’s only 5am now. 

…

I’m already tired. This wedding thing should have been one day. I am exhausted. We took a day off yesterday and we’re just lazy again at the resort we have booked at. All I did was sleep and be lazy by the pool. We never saw the bride and groom. They were probably having sex all day and all night. But we did see the kids. So hey, everyone is alive. 

This morning, we had to arrive here at the Msomi family home in the township at flippen 7am. Listen, we are all tired. There are various four packs of Monster Drinks and everyone here is indulging. Mthunzi is exhausted! He’s been having sex this one. 

But I had some last night too…

When we arrived in KZN, for whatever reason, Maps was in my room. It had been a long drive. It was raining and I was too tired to ask questions, so I let her sleep in my bed, next to me and I cuddled her through the night. We woke up in the morning and we just talked man, we just talked. 

Maps: “Did you sleep okay?”

Me: “I did. I was so exhausted. I need a holiday to recover from this wedding. I can’t believe we still have to go to Stellenbosch. My head hurts like hell.” 

We laughed. 

Maps: “We are almost there, partner. Don’t give up on us now.” 

We laughed. 

Maps: “How are you doing? Like really, how are you since your wife’s passing.”

For the first time in a very long time, I didn’t feel upset when someone brought up my wife. 

Me: “I miss her like crazy. When I look at my daughter or even talk to my daughter, I miss her even more. She was special and I don’t think I’ll ever forget about her.” 

Maps: “I hear you. It is difficult. But how far are you with moving on?” 

Me: “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll ever give myself to anyone ever again the way that I gave myself to her. Losing her was just way too painful. I can never go through that again. I just cannot.”

She held my hand under the sheets we were in. 

Maps: “Any luck in finding out who did this?

Me: “I made the decision that I would stay away from the case because if the police fail me, my anger will end me. And my daughter still needs me.”

She nodded her head then said, “I have connections in places that local police don’t. If you need the closure, just pick up your phone, dial my number and say the word. You don’t have to accept anything you don’t want to accept.” 

I shall put it on record again, Maps has a dangerous streak that both scares me and turns me on. But I have no plans on exploring the dominant feeling. So I responded and said, “Thank you. I’ll remember that.” 

She nodded her head. 

Maps: “Not that I’m rushing you or judging you, but that Thando girl is not for you.” 

We laughed aloud. 

Me: “She’s been a great help, okay? She’s great with my kid and she makes sure that everything at work is sorted out and I stay on top of my game. She’s not that bad. Plus, she’s hot.” 

Maps: “She just has a big ass, she’s not that hot; she’s just a big-booty ho! I have a flat ass, but I’m hotter than she is and I can damn sure put it on you way better than she can ever dream about putting it on you.” 

Me: “Get the fuck out of here.” 

Maps: “I will make you speak in tongues and blush in public.”

We laughed alright, we laughed a lot. But last night, she delivered on her promise. 

Right now, the groom is passed out on the couch, so I join him on a different couch. 

We are woken up by the other gents telling us that we need to shower and get dressed because the women are on their way. I check my phone and I do see that Maps has texted me that they are leaving the guesthouse. 

Mthunzi and I speed shower then wear these Zulu warrior outfits. Ja, now we can see who goes to the gym and who doesn’t. I can safely say the groom and his groomsmen are not friends of the gym. 

Mthunzi’s mother gives Mthunzi and I plates of food. It’s mogodu and pap. We eat it and down it with beer. This is good. Then the singing begins outside. 

Alright, let’s get this show on the road. 

…

I am exhausted, I will not lie. But when I see my wife amongst the crowd of people singing and making it towards our gate, I’m instantly revived again. We wait for her people to stand in front of our gate. Her family spokesperson pleads with our spokesperson to let them come into our yard. Koena and I are just smiling at each other. Thingo is fidgeting with the gate trying to open it. I find it funny. In his mind, this is his home. Why does he need permission to come into his home when he has come in here multiple times before?

I see the gate opening and Koena’s people singing as they make it into our yard. Koena and I join hands again and lead the crowd to inside of the yard. 

Koena’s family gifts my family with gifts. But we have to perform all of this on the street because our yard is not as big as the one in Mafikeng. In fact, the tent is in the street where people will be sitting and eating. 

After the gifting ceremony, Koena and I head into the house. She has come out of this Setswana outfit of hers and she dresses up into her isiZulu traditional gear. She throws herself on the bed. 

“I’m so exhausted!” She says. 

I throw myself on the bed next to her. 

“How long do you think we need to be out there?” She asks me. 

“I don’t know.” I say. 

“How long is the talk about me being a good wife going to take?” 

“Baby, I’m as tired as you are, I promise you. But the big part is almost done. Now, let’s get the rest of this day out of the way.” 

We kiss for a bit, looking into each other’s eyes and smile at each other. 

She dresses up and we make our way to the TV room where my family is sitting. We hear ululating and we both smile. She looks incredible – my Mrs Msomi. She looks out of this world. When she and I step outside and present her to everyone as Mrs Msomi, it’s pure ululating and celebration. You should see her dancing right now. I join her. We dance to the singing that is happening, giving us rhythm to dance like there is no tired bone in our bodies. The neighbours and guests are blown away – by our joy, our dancing, how we look and I suppose our love and comfort for and with each other. She is beautiful. I have a beautiful wife, big time. 

The day goes by quite quickly. Bile has been spilled on the Msomi makoti and now she is inside being preached to about being a good wife. I’m sitting with Tom and Maps. These two… I have a feeling I’ve won the bet. 

“Did you see that Sindi passed away?” Tom says to me. 

Not that I still love her or anything, but something inside of me moves as he tells me this. I did spend years with her as my wife. We had a daughter together and we raised two children together. 

“When?” I ask. 

“Two days ago. It’s all over social media. Apparently she was in a car accident. She was on her way to KZN because she passed in a Durban hospital. Do you think she was coming here to stop the wedding or something?” Tom says. 

Sindi is very capable of that. But still, I feel bad. 

“That’s really sad man. I feel for Siyabonga. He has now lost a mother and a sister. I hope his father will really step up.” I say. 

“It’s not your problem anymore, sbali.” Maps says to me. 

I’d say something to her, but she might read it the wrong way then take her views to Koena and I’m not trying to fight with my wife tonight. 

“You’re right. May her soul rest in peace.” I say. 

I am disturbed, I won’t lie. 

“Here is your phone, man. It’s been ringing aggressively since yesterday.” Tom gives me my phone. I haven’t seen this phone in two days. 

I look at the missed calls. It’s Sindi’s brother and mother. I guess they were telling me about Sindi’s passing. 

I check some messages and emails. Most is work and one or two are people congratulating me on the wedding. There is one from that Unawe Zitumane. What is this child’s problem? I just delete the message without even reading it and block her. 

My phone rings as I put it in my pocket. It is Sandile. 

“Hello?”

“Where the fuck have you been. We’ve been looking for you.” 

He has never known how to be civil. We never got along when I was married to his sister and I don’t think we are going to start getting along now. 

“What do you want?” I ask him. 

“We want to bury Sindi next to Mbali. We think it’s only right. But only you can make that call legally.” He says. 

I don’t have an issue with that. Sindi was Mbali’s mother. 

“It’s fine. I don’t have a problem.” I say. 

“You need to go sign a few things and – 

“Eh baba, I’m in KZN getting married. I’m not leaving my wedding to attend to any of this. I don’t have a problem. Whatever is needed must just be emailed to me. I’ll make sure my PAs take care of it. I cannot help you further than that.” 

“What kind of a man are you? Sindiswa was your wife.”

“She was. But at her time of death, she wasn’t. My wife will not be happy with me dropping her for my deceased ex-wife. Just email me what needs to be done and I’ll approve. More than that, no. I’m only back in Gauteng next weekend so if this can wait until then, cool.” 

He is silent. Then he clicks his tongue and hangs up. 

“Are you alright?” Tom asks me. 

“It’s Sindi’s brother. They want to bury Sindi next to Mbali. I don’t mind because that was Mbali’s mother, you know. But now he wants me to drop everything that I am doing and attend to this because I’m the only person who can permit this legally.” I explain.

Maps looks at me in a way that I honestly don’t appreciate. I didn’t do anything wrong. 

“Is this going to be a problem, sbali?” Maps asks me. 

I just look her. I’m actually annoyed. 

But Sindi… if I had the choice, I’d attend her funeral.

“Baba, they want you inside.” Mfundo says. 

I get up and just make my way to inside the house.