Boys’ Night!

Tonight, we are throwing Leruo a mother of bachelor parties. He is taking on a second wife – a dream for many men, I tell you… having two FINE women to choose from every night and they actually don’t mind. Imagine if I could keep both Thuli and Ndalo in my life. It would be perfect. I’d even buy them each their own houses and cars. Then I just decide where I’m sleeping for the night. But I had to choose. It’s not that I chose Ndalo. I just didn’t choose Thuli for five minutes and now I’ve lost the best part of me forever. The worst part is seeing her happy and pregnant and starting a family not even a year into her relationship with Tee-le. I didn’t even leave her with one child at least- just to keep us bonded forever. Honestly, I wish she were Phendulile’s mother. 

Things are also weird between Tee-le and I. Tee-le knows that I’ll always love Thuli. And I’m not going to pretend that it’s okay to see her with another man the way that he did when I was with her. I just hear most things through the grapevine and I don’t congratulate him or anything.

“When will you be back?” Ndalo asks me. I’m preparing to leave. I didn’t even see her come into my man cave. I come in here to escape from her sometimes. 

“I don’t know. But you don’t have to wait up for me.” I say.

“I think I’ll go home then.” She says. 

My stomach just turns. 

“Why?”

“Because I’m not going to sit here and look after your house while you have strippers dance on you. I might as well be with my family.” 

The man she cheated on me with is loved by her family. Phendulile told me he was at our lobola celebration. Her family thinks that’s okay. I’m honestly just married to Ndalo for my son. I struggle to even touch her. I just see her and I see the filth of another man ejaculating on her. Her and Tshepi. Tshepi is cool and all, but to know that her baby-daddy was all over her when she wasn’t next to me sickens me. That’s why I couldn’t be more to her. Thuli is the only woman I’ve never shared with any other man and it pains me that of all these women, she’s the one that I’ve hurt the most. 

“We have to go to KZN tomorrow.” I say. 

I’ve decided to go back home and make peace with my selfish parents. I haven’t forgiven them for birthing my siblings and I into poverty. I doubt I ever will. Thuli begged me to go back and fix things with them. She always told me that we don’t live a fulfilling life while thriving on hate. About two years into our relationship, she went to KZN with one of her cousins and found my parents. She thinks I don’t know. But I know. She paid for my siblings to be in a boarding school then fixed my parents’ house. She then sent them money every month. I know Ndalo would never be that thoughtful. She’s just not that person. She has never even suggested that we take Phendulile there. If Phendulile were Thuli’s child, he’d have a relationship with my family whether I liked it or not. Sometimes, as a man, you need that push from a life partner. So, I’m finally growing some guts to go back and I suppose pick up from where Thuli left off. 

“Are you serious about this KZN thing? I thought you hated your family.” She says. 

“They are still my family and Phendulile must know them. So instead of gallivanting with your family that allows you to be a slut, pack our bags and prepare for the trip.” 

“My family allows me to be a slut?!”

I’m quiet. 

“Baba, will Auntie Thuli be at your party?” Phendulile. I told him I’m going to a party. I can’t exactly blurt out that I’m going to a bachelor party. 

“No boy. Only boys will be there.” I say. 

“So why can’t I go? I’m a boy.” 

“It’s for big boys, my boy.” I say. 

“I want to see Auntie Thuli. I miss her. I haven’t seen her in so long. She doesn’t even come to my parties anymore.” 

Eish. 

“Do you think Thuli would mind if I went to see her and took Phendulile with me?” Ndalo asks me. 

“You want to be friends with Thuli now?” I ask her. She has been very lonely shame, and I guess Thuli is the only person she knows around here. 

“We don’t necessarily have to be friends, but we don’t have to be enemies neither. She was quite cold towards me at the opening of her mom’s place. Maybe I owe her a conversation and an apology.”

“An apology for what, exactly?” 

“For sleeping with you while she was still with you.” She says. 

“That’s not the only thing that upset her. She feels like you terrorized her throughout our relationship and you just never appreciated who she was in my life and to Phendu.” 

She looks at me. 

After a long pause, she says, “You don’t think I should apologise to her?” 

“I don’t know. I just don’t want an awkward situation. We’ve definitely put her through enough.” 

She seems to be feeling bad. 

“Even more reason for us to talk, you know… and I’m okay with Phendulile spending time with her. She was a significant part of his life for a very long time. It’s understandable why Phendulile would miss her.” She says. 

“I get you, Ndalo. But we can’t just bombard her. Let me talk to Tee-le and hear what he says. We have to consider everyone that’s involved instead of bombarding Thuli, especially now that she’s pregnant. We need to respect her space and relationship.” I say. 

I really never wanted to discuss Thuli with Tee-le. And I certainly don’t want to come across as if I’m trying to find ways to get closer to Thuli. 

“Baba, why is Aunt Thuli not around anymore?” Phendulile asks me. 

I look at him. Ndalo looks at me. 

“Come here, boy, we need to talk about Auntie Thuli.” I say, taking my son, sitting down on one of my couches in my man cave and carrying him to sit on my lap.

He looks at me. Ndalo looks at us. 

“Auntie Thuli and I are not in a relationship anymore, my boy.” 

He looks at me. No response. Okay.

“She was your other mom because she was my fiancé. But we have broken up. I’ve married your mother and we are a family now. Auntie Thuli is now in a relationship with Uncle Tee-le and we have to respect that.” I say.

“I can visit her and Uncle Tee-le. I don’t mind.” He says.

Eish. 

I rub my forehead a bit. 

“I didn’t fight with Auntie Thuli and I didn’t break up with her. Why can’t I see her anymore?” 

These are very good questions. I just don’t have answers to them. 

“Auntie Thuli told me that I’m her baby boy and nothing would change that. She promised me. If she doesn’t want to see me anymore, I want her to tell me that herself.” 

I look at Ndalo. She shrugs her shoulders. 

“Let me phone Uncle Tee-le and let’s see if you can have a word or two with him. Is that okay?” 

He nods his head. 

I dial Tee-le’s number. 

He answers after two rings.

“Sho.” 

“Hello Uncle Tee-le”, Phendulile.

“Hey champ. How’s my champ today?” Tee-le receives him well. He always has, no matter what crap we went through.

“Good. I just miss Auntie Thuli. Can I come and visit you and her?” 

Tee-le takes a deep breath. 

“Where’s your dad?” Tee-le asks. 

“He’s here. But I’m asking.” 

“Sho, Serame.” I take the phone from Phendulile and take him off speaker. 

“What’s going on, Mbatha? What is this?” He asks me. 

“He misses Thuli. I’ve explained to him that we are not together anymore, but he literally told me that has nothing to do with him.” I explain.

“Mbatha, don’t complicated things. Thuli is no longer that person for Phendulile. You can’t be using Phendulile to get to Thuli.” 

“Serame, this is as uncomfortable for me as it is for you.” 

“Deal with this, Mbatha. Don’t bring kids into this.” 

“Just today, that’s all I ask. I’ll have Ndalo bring him. I’ll stay away.” 

He’s quiet. 

“Please Serame.” 

“Let me talk to Thuli. I’ll get back to you.”

He hangs up. 

…

I’m busy studying for some business studies test that I have on Monday. I don’t really like school. I really don’t. My ideal day would be to wake up, skate, play basketball and sleep. But my parents have a weird obsession with school and Bhut’Mfundo is on their side. He is the one who went to subjects evening with me where I had to go and choose subjects. He made me choose Accounting, Business Studies, Advanced Programmed Mathematics and Project Management for Business. They are not difficult subjects at all. I do some of them with Khanyisa. She’s in my Business Studies class, Accounting class and Advanced Programmed Mathematics class. But she takes physics and chemistry instead of my other subjects. 

Actually, let me phone her and ask her to bring me notes. She’s good at this stuff. 

I FaceTime her and she answers. 

“Hey”, she says. She’s wearing glasses and that weird headwrap that looks like a shower cap but is silk. My mom has one in every colour. She calls it a bonnet. 

“Yo. I need notes.” 

She pulls a face. 

“Please.” Me. 

“Will you come and fetch them? I’m still in a gown and studying in bed.” 

“Why? Are you sick or something?” I ask her. 

“Just feeling a bit under the weather. I think travelling between countries is having my body not feel too good.” 

“Oh okay. Let me get us lunch at the clubhouse, then we can study together there.” 

“Okay. I’ll set up for us in kazi’s office. Papa would never allow us to be alone in my room.” She says. 

“It’s weird how these people think we are fucking hey”, I say and we both laugh. 

“I know. It’s really weird.” She says. 

“If I asked you to sleep with me, would you say no?” 

“It would be a resounding NO.” She says.

“Why? I mean, I’m a charming version of Mthunzi and Mfundo”, I say. 

She laughs and says, “Good for you. But that’s not the criteria to have me open my legs for you.” 

“You know Khanyi, you should let me be the person who breaks your virginity. If you think about it, I’m always going to be in your life, so I’d never smash and pass. No other man would take care of you the way that I would. I know how to make you feel safe. I know what makes you laugh. I’m the one you come to when things don’t go your way. I’m the one you come to for peace.” 

“All of these are very true. But you are my brother and my best friend. You tell me about how you play other girls. You tell me about all these other people that you sleep with. It wouldn’t make me feel good to sleep with you on Friday, then on Monday you are telling me about people you slept with on Saturday and Sunday.” She says. 

Ah, she wants commitment. Like every other female walking this planet. 

“So when I’m a little more grown up and can give you what you want emotionally, would you let me?” I say.

She just laughs. 

One of my friends has a huge crush on her. I feel jealous when she gives other guys attention. But I wouldn’t ask her out because the way my life is set up right now, I’d hurt her. If I hurt her, my family and the her family would fight. Bhut’Mfundo would never forgive me. And our lives as we know them, would be over. 

As I get downstairs, I find my parents being themselves. My dad is sitting on the kitchen island and my mom is between his legs. They are kissing and close to having sex. This is not right. 

“My eyes!” I yell. 

They laugh, like they always do. 

“Where’s Zot?” I ask them. 

“Ubani loyo?” My dad. He knows I’m talking about my baby brother, Zothile. They call me Thingo all the time and not Thingolwethu. What’s wrong with me calling Zothile “Zot”?

“Zothile”, I say anyway. 

“He left with Mfundo. Angisho you are studying for your test?” My mom. 

“Bayephi, moms?” I ask. 

They giggle. I don’t get it. I’m never going to call them mama and baba. They must just forget. It’s not coming.

“Mfundo is taking Liso and Mbali to Gold Reef City. So he came to take Zothile as well.” My mom explains. 

“Manje why did I have to stay behind? I also want to go to GRC”, I say. 

“They didn’t go to GRC. They went to Gold Reef City.” My dad. 

I’m going to buy this man a dictionary for abbreviations. It’s 2022, we cannot be spending an extra three seconds calling out full names of things, people and places – yes, nouns – when we can abbreviate and save ourselves an extra second or two. 

“I’m going to Khanyi to study.” I say. 

“Fikile said she’s not feeling well.” My mom says. 

“Yeah, I just spoke to her on FaceTime. I’m taking her lunch.” I say. 

“Wena na!” My moms. 

I giggle. Trust me, I wish…

“Please give me money to get the lunch”, I ask them. 

“So, we must fund you for ukudiza?” My dad.

“I’m taking lunch to my friend who isn’t feeling well.” I say. 

“Why aren’t you using your allowance?” My moms asks me. 

“I bought new sneakers and I’m broke”, I explain. I’m not lying. 

My dad gives me money. I don’t understand why he made me work so hard for it. 

“Tell her to get better soon”, my moms says.

“Cool. Later moms”, I say as I kiss her cheek.

“Later, nana.” 

“Later pops”, I say as I fist pump my dad. 

“Sho, boy.” 

I’m using this golf-cart to make my way to the clubhouse. It takes me about twenty minutes to get to the clubhouse. I buy Khanyi’s favourite meal and drink. Then I also pop in at the pharmacy and buy her a few vitamins. When I’m done, I make my way to her house. When I arrive, I find Uncle Thomas outside with the guy who washes their cars.

“Hi Uncle T”, I greet him. 

“Hey Thingo. How are you?” 

“I’m good thanks. I’ve come to study.” 

“Yes, Khanyi told us. Come in. We are expecting you.” 

He helps me with the food and we walk into the house together. 

Aunt Fiks is watching something on TV with Khanyi and Fifi. I didn’t even know Fifi was around. 

“Yo”, I greet them. 

They all greet me back. I hug the ladies. Where are the three rough ones? 

“Where are the three rough ones?” I ask.

“They left with Mfundo and Nene”, Khanyi says. 

“Did he take everyone to GRC except for us?” This guy! 

They all laugh at how touched I am about this. 

Khanyisa and I study very well. Fifi brings us study snacks every now and then, then also brings us fruit and water.

It is about 7pm when Aunt Fiks calls us to eat dinner. We’ve actually pushed all three chapters that will be in our test. Khanyisa goes to make copies of her notes so I can spend tomorrow revising. 

…

I make my way downstairs, getting ready to bounce so I can make it to Leruo’s bachelor party. Thuli doesn’t even want me to go. I’m not sure if she’s mad at me for even going. She’s loyal to Paula so she doesn’t support the Nomzamo and Leruo union. 

The kitchen smells heavenly. If there’s one thing that Thuli does like a pro, it’s cooking. I actually struggle to eat at any other place but home. I know I’m sounding spoiled, but you should eat my baby’s food. You’ll get it. 

“Hey baby” I say as I kiss her. 

Her tummy is growing. I rub it briefly as I hug her from behind. 

“Hello baby-daddy”, she says. 

She closes the pots then pays me some attention.

“You good?” I ask her. She’s been struggling with this pregnancy, so it’s good to see her alive and kicking – cooking even. Hopefully, she will be good for the lobola negotiations. 

“I’m good. I’m just not happy about you going to this bachelor party”, she says. 

“I’m going for Leruo”, I say. 

“So you agree with this nonsense?” 

“It’s none of our business”, I say.

She gives me a weird look. 

“Anyway, I need to talk to you about a phone call I received some moments ago”, I say.

“From who?” She asks me. 

“Uyanda and Phendulile.” 

She looks at me, but is side-eyeing me at the same time. 

“Phendulile misses Auntie Thuli and wants to come and visit us. Uyanda says he has spoken to him and told him you guys are not together anymore, but Phendu insists he still wants to have a relationship with you.” 

“How does that make you feel?” She asks me. 

“The selfish part of me feels like he’s not your child. And I’d prefer it if you cut all ties with Uyanda.”

“I get you and I agree with you. I love Phendulile very much, but it’s extremely unfair of Uyanda and Ndalo to put him on us and make us look like we are the ones who don’t want the blended family to happen. We are not a blended family and I don’t imagine how we could respectfully continue to share Phendu between us and them. Ndalo and Uyanda are Phendulile’s parents and they need to make this right.” 

I kiss her. 

I love her. 

“Another thing, my love”, I say. 

“Yeeeesssss?” She says as if I’m going to dump more bad news on her. 

I go down on one knee and pull out the ring I’ve been carrying around with me for the past week. She’s been complaining that I didn’t propose to her. 

“Thulisile Siyam’thanda Mabote, please give me the honour of being your husband.” 

She’s in shock. This is not always a good thing – especially for the pregnancy that she is having. 

Did she really not see this coming? She’s been annoying me about it since the lobola letter was delivered to her family. 

She starts crying.

Then she also goes down on her knees.

“You want me to be your wife? Seriously?” 

“I do.” 

“You do?” 

“I do. And I’m hoping with all my heart that you want to be my wife too and that you want me to be your husband.” 

“I do.” She says. 

“You do?” 

She nods her head, crying, then says, “I do. But I don’t want to be a fat bride.” 

We both laugh. 

“As long as you are my wife, I don’t care how it happens.” 

We hug. I hold her tightly. I’ve been waiting for this moment since the moment I laid my eyes on her. I hold onto it with my all. I’m about to marry the best part of me. She’s about to be my Mrs Serame.

Now we kiss. 

…

I left Thuli at home. She said she was going to chill and watch movies all night while admiring her ring. She also said after the lobola negotiations, we can go and sign. The wedding will happen after the baby is born. I’m fine with that. 

I’m picking Reahile and Mohato up at the royal house. I hope they are ready because shit is always popping off here and I’m in a good mood today. I really don’t want to be within the Mohale shit.

I’m dialling Reahile’s number when the gate opens for me. The security person just lets me in. He was briefed I suppose. I drive in and briefly greet him. He’s a nice man. 

I walk into the main house and I find Rena, Moloko and Tholoana playing. One of these days, I’ll have this in my house. It just makes me so happy. And it’s with the woman that I love. 

“It’s beautiful isn’t it? The meaning that these little people bring into our lives?” HRH Khotso says to me. 

“Very. Thuli is expecting. I already feel like my whole life has changed and the baby hadn’t even landed yet.” I say. 

He smiles at me. 

“I never thought I’d be able to be close to Moloko after Lulu dying while giving birth to him. But he really made it all better. I look at him and Lefatselabarena everyday and wonder how I’m doing it… being their parent without their mother. Lefatselabarena remembers her. Moloko never got to meet her. But we find a way to make it through. They are my purpose and she’s the one who gave them to me. They inspire me everyday to be my best.” 

I feel like he needs a hug. So, I actually give him one. He holds on longer than expected. 

“Congratulations to you and Thuli.” He finally says, coming out of the hug. 

“Thank you.” I say. 

“And Tee-le, this is also your home. I know your home is in South Africa and Thuli’s home is in South Africa, so after the baby is born and you guys happen to be here, feel free to come here. It gets chaotic here sometimes, but trust me, we will be here for you.” 

I actually appreciate this, and I tell him.

“Bathung, you are here? Bitso, hi. I’ve been looking for this man over here”, mme Remo says. She looks like she’s just come in from a run. 

“What’s wrong?” HRH Khotso says. 

“I thought we were doing movies together tonight. We haven’t had a date with just you and I in a very long time.” 

Ai! Where are these twins? These conversations are becoming R-rated now. 

They look at my face and they laugh. 

I slightly chuckle. 

“Let me call these boys for you”, HRH Khotso says. I couldn’t be more thankful. 

…

I have no idea where my brother and his family are. I wish I could ask without getting into shitwith Fikile, but Fikile doesn’t want to hear a thing about them. Maybe I should ask Rofhiwa. Her boyfriend is the one who was last seen with them. It would make sense that he would have information on where they are. 

I don’t want to see them or anything… I just want to know that they are okay. 

“Sawubona“, Fikile comes into the kitchen and greets me. She’s just come in from her run. I’m still in my pyjamas and a gown. My kids are all still fast asleep. Reahile went back to Tholoana Kingdom for some bachelor party that Rofhiwa was judging him on the entire time. She even tried to involve Fikile and I, asking us if we think it’s okay for Reahile to attend a bachelor party for a guy who cheated on his wife, had a child and is now marrying the mother of that child – taking her on as a second wife. Fikile wanted to share her views and I just thought that this was one of those moments where Rofhiwa was bullying her way into getting her way no matter what. I warned Reahile about this. I told them to not involve us, then I encouraged Reahile to go. He shouldn’t NOT go just because Rofhiwa says so. Rofhiwa then said she’s letting him go only because she’s excited that I’m siding with Reahile on something. She will always find a way to make sure that her word is final – that’s my daughter for you. Rofhiwa is leaving today. 

“Hey baby.” I say. 

She’s already pacing about the kitchen.

“Kenneth, Penny and their kids are okay. They are in Venda.” She says. 

How would she know? 

She doesn’t look at me. She’s silent. I guess I’m forced to ask. 

“Did someone say something to you?” I ask her. 

“I told Reahile to not hurt him, but to make sure that he stays the hell away from us. While I’d more than love for them to be dead, I know you wouldn’t be able to handle it. I put you first, even when you fail to put us first.” 

“Fikile – 

“THAT BITCH HAD A KNIFE ON MY CHILD! MY CHILD!” She’s furious! She even has a tear running down her cheek. 

“If it were up to me, she’d be dead!” She says. 

I’m quiet. I don’t know what to say. 

“You promised to protect us! You said you wanted these kids!” 

I look at her. She’s upset and angry and crying and…

“You want me to bury my children, Thomas? Because that’s what is going to happen if you don’t tame that bitch and its husband. Is that what you want to see before you realise that we are better off without those people?” 

“That is my brother, Fikile –

“AND I’M YOUR WIFE, THOMAS! YOUR WIFE! RENDANI IS YOUR SON AND HE HAS A PLASTER ON HIS NECK BECAUSE YOUR BROTHER’S WIFE SLICED HIS NECK! ALL BECAUSE YOUR BROTHER IS STILL TRYING TO STEAL OUR HARD-EARNED BUSINESS FROM US!” 

I don’t know what to say. 

“You’ve failed us”, she says. 

“Don’t say that, baby.” 

“You have! And if anything happens to my children because of them, Thomas, I’ll never forgive you. I swear to God, I’ll never forgive you! Not my children! NEVER! I’LL MURDER THEM WITH MY BARE HANDS!” 

She says this then storms out of the kitchen. 

…

I’ve decided to go to Venda and have a long overdue conversation with my brother. I asked Mthunzi to drive down with me and we have just arrived. My wife is upset. My kids are traumatized. Everything is just strange. 

I see Kenneth’s car outside my parents’ house, so I guess they are staying here. 

“Eh baba, we are not sleeping here with these people. I don’t want to die on my family.” Mthunzi says to me.

“I’ll book us into a hotel”, I say. 

We walk into the house and we find Kenneth and his family having fully occupying the house. 

His wife, Penny, notices me first. 

She taps Kenny. He looks at us. 

“Go upstairs”, he tells Penny and the kids. 

Penny takes one long look at me then she gathers the kids and they all head upstairs. 

“So, you want me dead and out of my own business?” I ask him. 

“You had no business leaving Ramaru Holdings. That was a family business that was passed down from our grandfather, to our father and uncles and then to us. You meet some bitch in- 

I lose it! I punch the shit out of him and falls to the floor, hitting a part of his face against the bottom of the staircase. Mthunzi is just as upset. 

“Whose wife are you calling a bitch, Kenneth?” 

He’s too shocked to respond. 

“Let’s talk about Ramaru Holdings. I gave my all to that company. Everything that I knew and everything that I aspired for, I bled into the company! It was my entire life! My wife, Lydia Ramaru, died just as dedicated to that company. Pearl spent her entire marriage to me dedicated to that company! Then your first-born son turns twenty-one and your first decision is for him to take that company from me and keep it in your bloodline, forgetting that I too may have kids that are just as entitled – probably even more prepared – to take over from me. I was ideal for Ramaru Holdings when I didn’t have any children. Pearl was the most ideal wife for me because she couldn’t give me any kids. That’s why you had no problem loving her for me. Then Lydia gave me Rofhiwa. It was acceptable for you because Rofhiwa is a girl and an heir is usually associated with a male. Then came Fikile and she gave me three boys – three of the best. By the time Ranwedzi was two days old, we both knew that I had to leave Ramaru Holdings because we would have ended up murdering each other. I would never overlook my own sons and give yours a company I bled for and you knew that. I left you with the company and every million I ever made for it and I started my own legacy for my kids. Msomi over here gave his entire adult life to Ramaru Holdings. What would his kids have inherited from that? He has three boys! I took him with me because his kids deserve to have the wealth that we work so hard for when we are no longer on this earth to create the wealth for them. We continued to support Ramaru Holdings because you are my brother. I would have never stopped helping you. And you know it. Fikile wants you dead, Kenneth. Dead. The only thing keeping you alive right now is the fact that she loves me. Why do you keep doing this to us?” 

He’s silent. He just looks at me, breathing heavily while doing so. 

I nod my head and step away from him.

“This house is paid up. All you have to do is just live in it and maintain it. Move Ramaru Holdings to Venda permanently. If I ever see you or hear that you set foot in Gauteng ever again, I’ll allow Fikile to do whatever the hell she wants to do with you. And I’m opening a criminal case against your wife for cutting my son’s throat.” I say. 

“Thomas – 

Now he has a tongue and a voice. 

I look at him. 

“I’m sorry.” He says. 

I look at him to continue. 

“Ndi khou humbela pfarelo, murathu. I was selfish. As the eldest, I did want my kids to take over the businesses. You’ve always been the smart one. The business-minded one. The one who was always going to find a new way or new people to take our business to the next level. I liked you better when we were on the same side and I hated that you chose a different path for yourself and your family. If Penny did for me what Fikile did for you, I’d run with it and leave you all behind too. It’s just not easy being the one who is left behind.” 

We look at each other. 

“I’ll stay away, murathu wanga. Truly I will. And I’ll run Ramaru Holdings with my sons from Limpopo. I’ll stay away. I’m begging you to please not have my wife arrested. I’m sorry for what she did to your son. I know as a parent, accepting a simple apology from someone who hurt your child is not easy… but murathu wanga, I’m asking.” 

I look at him then say, “Because of you, my wife has threatened to divorce me twice. Being your brother – your murathu – could cost me my family. Yet, when you do what you do to my family and I, you don’t give a fuck about me or my family. You always put yours first. Why should I put you before my family, mukomana?”

“We are all we have, Thomas. Our family is gone. You and I are what is left of the Ramarus. We cannot afford to turn on each other.” 

“You conveniently forget that every time you turn on me. You forgot that when you let your wife slice my son’s neck.” 

“And I’m sorry. Please hear me when I say that I’m sorry, murathu.” 

I don’t know if I believe him. The love that I have for my brother is what’s brewing so much conflict within me. 

I just turn around and make my way back to the car.

As Mthunzi and I drive to a hotel in silence, a call comes through his phone. His phone is connected to the Bluetooth connection in the car. He answers it. 

“Sho”.

“Eh baba, your mother is getting married.”

“The fuck?!” 

“Ja. Skhakha has decided that he wants to wife an old hun who has kids, daughters-in-law and grandkids. He wrote the letter and had it delivered to me. I just had to be the fucken first born.” The brother says. 

Mthunzi and I both laugh. 

“Why are you laughing? Your mom is about to marry an old thug, ndoda!” 

Mthunzi and I are still laughing. 

“How do we even charge lobola for our own mother?” He says. 

Mthunzi finally stops laughing then says, “Phone her brother. He’s one of the elders that are still around. He will know what to do then inform the rest of us.” 

“That makes sense. Anyway, the vrou was thinking that we throw mah a 69th birthday party this year. Her birthday is a bit later in the year, but let’s start thinking about it.” The brother. 

Their conversation continues and I get a bit teary. I wish I still had this with my brother. I wish my two other brothers were still alive. I always wonder what it would have been like if our parents were still around. Or even an elder or two in the family. I do think that things would be different… that our wives would have been taught to find a way to bring us closer together and not make us choose between loving each other as brothers and loving them as our wives. I don’t think that Kenneth wants to hurt me like this and that’s why I’m struggling to just let him go. I do think Penny has a lot to do with what has become of my brother and it pains me that he let this happen. I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want to cut my brother off, but what if it’s my only choice?