When Ruri and I came back from Nelspruit last week, she went home. I haven’t seen her since. We just text each other every now and then, but things are not exactly hot between us right now. My mom gives me a daily speech about breaking up with her. Khosini reminds me everyday that he has never approved of our relationship. My relationship has never been for him to approve anyway. Tholoana has really been upset with me about putting my hands on Ruri, but we managed to sort things out. We are cool now. 

I’m at my office today just pushing through work. Everyone is still on vacation. We officially open next week. But I couldn’t be at home. My mom and Khosini drive me up the wall. And I cannot stop thinking about Ruri. I miss her so much! 

My phone rings. It’s Thendo. She’s been trying to phone me. I blocked her at some point. I guess she got another number because Truecaller is telling me that it’s a Thendo Khoza calling. Now that I know what I know, I decide to answer my phone.

“Hello?” He.

“Hi Khanya. It’s Thendo. Please don’t hang up. This is important.” 

I’m quiet. 

“I was pregnant. I had a miscarriage though. I think Ruri had something to do with it because the hospital says I consumed a drug that caused the miscarriage.”

I’m still quiet. 

“Khanya, are you there?”

“What do you want me to say or do, Thendo?” 

“Ruri killed our child, Khanya. She cannot get away with it.”

“I’ll ask again… what do you want me to do or say?” 

“I want you to break up with her. I want us to get her arrested. She cannot get away with this.”

“Thendo, Ruri is my girlfriend. I love her. That has never been a secret. When we slept together, we both knew what we were doing. And we both knew that what we did would hurt her. Now you want us to make her pay for being hurt?”

“I don’t believe this! You are actually okay with the fact that she killed our child?! Without our consent?!” 

“Thendo, I don’t know how to help you.”

“Khanya, please! Scary people came to get me out of the country. Without my job, I cannot be in the country. I’m back home in Venda and I cannot find work. I know what we did hurt Ruri, but I really need my job. Ruri won’t take my calls and – 

“Thendo, I’m not going to tell my girlfriend to rehire a girl I fucked while cheating on her.”

“You know… you rich people with your rich lives… because you cheated, now I must suffer?! I have real life problems! I need a job. My entire family is suffering right now because Ruri is hurt. I cannot go to school. I don’t have work. My salary kept everyone fed. Do you want me to take pictures of where I live? How I’m living?”

You know, it’s only hitting me now that Thendo would’ve used that child to milk money out of me and get her out of a really bad place. 

“I really cannot help you, Thendo. I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t do this by myself, Khanya. Why am I the only one suffering?”

“You don’t think I’m suffering? The woman that I love cannot even look at me. She doesn’t even trust me anymore. She –

“Yey! I don’t care! I have bigger issues! I need a job. I know you can help me. Please Khanya… please help me!”

I hang up. 

I just scratch my head and rub my face. This is so messed up. 

I raise my head and I see two people standing in front of me… Ruri’s father and Ruri’s brother. 

They are not about to kill me, are they?

I stand up, so they don’t think I’m disrespecting them. The father looks extremely upset. You can just tell that he had prepared himself to beat the shit out of me when he got here. I’m preparing myself to just take it. The brother… you can tell that he had every plan to help his dad. 

“You didn’t have to put your hands on her”, the father says. His tone is… he sounds painfully disappointed in me. My guard just goes down and I actually cry. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I regret it with everything that’s inside of me. I regret everything that happened that led to that action. And I regret ever putting my hands on her. 

“I’m so sorry”, I say.

“Look… I know that Ruri is no saint. And I know what she did. I’m sorry for that. I wouldn’t be kind to anyone who killed my child too just because she was hurt. But that’s my daughter. And I don’t appreciate anyone putting their hands on her for any reason.” The dad.

I nod my head. 

“Son, you are going to come across a lot of shit in your life – even in the context of a relationship or marriage. And I know Ruri. She’s a dirty fighter. And she’s going to continue to say things to you or do things that will make you want to put your hands on her. I’m not going to tolerate that. If you put your hands on my child again, I will kill you. So if you need to get help, get it! If you need help to manage your anger, get it. But my child is not your punching bag! If you feel like you want to beat someone up, come beat me up. I raised her. If you have a problem with her, you have a problem with how I raised her. Come pick on someone your own size.”

He also called me son and I’m not going to ignore that. 

“I love Ruri. And what I did is messed up. I feel like I’m losing her everyday because she can’t even look at me. If I could take it back, I would. I’m really sorry.” I say.

“She’ll come back to you. She loves you. Just… don’t ever hit my child again. I’ve never hit her. Ever! How dare you put your hands on her when no man in her life has ever done that.” 

Shembe! 

“How’s your mother?” Khabane asks me.

“She’ll live”, I say.

“Do we need to cover any medical expenses?” Khabane.

“Nah. She’s good.” Me.

“You sure?” Khabane.

“Yeah.” I confirm. 

“And we are sorry about that too”, the dad. 

I nod my head. 

“Why are you the only one here?” Khabane. 

“I miss Ruri, so I can’t be at home. Everyone else is still enjoying their shutdown period.” Me. 

“Come with us. It’s my son’s birthday and we are having a thing for him. Ruri’s there and she’s super depressed. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.” Khabane. 

Never in a million years did I think these two would be nice to me. Especially, under these circumstances. 

“Thank you”, I say. 

I pack my things and prepare to follow them in my car to the birthday party. I don’t even have a gift for the birthday boy.

I park my car behind the car that the dad and the brother drove together in. It’s so packed here. I’ve never been to Khabane’s house before. This is a beautiful house. The day I marry Ruri and give her a house… ewu! I’ll probably have to use the money my dad left for me for all of that. Thankfully, he left each of us (Wandi, Khosini and I) R10 million each. I invested R8 million. The R2 million I have in short term investments because I’ll use it for lobola as soon as Ruri and I are ready. 

Wandi and I were left my dad’s house. It’s big and worth R7,8 million. His wife asked us if she could continue living there. We agreed. But she lives there with my grandmother – my dad’s mother. My grandmother moved in the minute she heard that the wife lives there. She has no business living there with some man. It’s still my father’s house. But we think we should turn it into a guesthouse. It could even qualify to be a 4-star accommodation. Wandi is working on it. We will just make money from it – money that Khosini and my mom will not see. My dad left this house to Wandi and I for a reason. 

We walk into the house. It’s madness. Sekai, Mohavi and Maboko the kid run to me and greet me. I know them. I’ve met them countless times. They’ve even slept over at my house countless times. I don’t even know whose birthday it is. 

“How are you, boys?” I ask them. 

“We good. It’s my birthday. Did you bring me a present?” Sekai. Okay, he’s the birthday boy.

“Not yet. I thought that I’d get you to come with me then you can choose your present yourself”, I save myself. 

“Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh!!!!” Sekai. 

“Will you also take us shopping on our birthdays?” Mohavi asks me. Maboko the kid is just smiling at me. I even pick him up. He’s the youngest. 

“I will. I promise.” I say. The two big ones run off. The small one is now making me a father before my time. 

“You are going to need this”, Khabane says, handing me beer. 

I laugh. 

“Ruri is outside”, he says. 

“Champ, come. Uncle Khanya needs to go say hi to your aunt.” Khabane says. 

The boy shakes his head. 

“It’s fine. I got him”, I say. 

He laughs at me then leaves. 

I go find Ruri. 

And I find her.

She’s sitting with Khanyisa, Wehweh, Mapho and Zaza. I take it all their kids are here. 

They all pause and look at me. 

Ruri turns around to see what everyone is looking at. She sees me. She stands up. She walks towards me. 

When she reaches me, she actually throws her arms around me and hugs me. I hug her too. 

“No auntie! It’s my turn to be with Uncle Khanya!” Maboko says, pushing Ruri off me. 

“There are no turns here! Where are your parents? This is my man!” Ruri. 

I laugh at them. 

“Go find your granny. She’s looking for you with sweets”, Ruri. 

The young man slides out of my arms and sprints to the house – amidst the madness happening here. 

Now, we hug properly. 

We are chilling in the car now… my car… in the backseat. 

“Do you want us to break up?” I ask her. 

“No. No, baby, I don’t want us to break up.” I’m so relieved she says this. 

“Are you done with us?” She asks me. 

“I’ll never be done with us. Ever! Ngifuna ukuthi siyinqobe le nto. I miss you, Ru. I love you so much.”

She climbs on top of me. 

We hug. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything”, I say as I hold her tight. 

“I’m sorry too. I’m sorry.” She says. 

“Love… you need to tell me everything moving forward. This thing of disappearing and reappearing is not okay. I need the truth from you all the time.”

“I know. And I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

We spent a good three hours talking. I don’t know if I’m more scared of Ruri’s family, or if I’m loving her more for trusting me with all of this. To think my mom knew about this and still kept it from me confuses me even more. But I’m here now. And I love her. 

Ruri’s phone rings. 

She looks at it, takes a deep breath…

“Khanyi?” She answers her phone. 

“Hey Ru. Have you guys left?” 

“No. We were just talking.”

“Okay, we are about to cut the cake then eat. You guys can come back please. Sex after the cake.”

I even laugh. 

Ruri laughs the says, “we are coming.”

Indeed we sing happy birthday to Sekai. Maboko the kid is back in my arms. He found me and we are inseparable now. Khanyi and Khabane are next to him as he blows out his candles. We all clap for him. He’s so excited. 

His parents help him cut his cake – after he’s made a wish – and now lunch is served. I somehow find myself having to control kids that don’t want to eat, but want to play or paint their faces or do water activities. Nkosi yami!

Each adult is managing a group or two of kids. For every adult here, there are five kids. How does Sekai know all these people at his age?! 

“Put a shot of something in their drinks so they sleep after this!” Ruri says as she handles more kids. 

Something is not right with this girl. Lol!

9pm. 

The camp for the kids started at 6pm. Now it’s lights out.

I think I’ll delay having kids for another five years. Yerr! 

Khabane offers me a shot. I look at him. 

“How do you do this everyday?” I ask him. 

“You’ll know when you have yours”, he says. 

We both laugh. 

“By the way… you not leaving us tonight. You are camping with us at Camp Sekai tonight.” He says. 

“I don’t even have changing clothes”, I protest. 

Ruri laughs at me. She wraps her arm around me. 

Khabane leaves us. 

“Thank you for being here”, she says then jumps up at me to kiss me. 

“Your dad and brother fetched me”, I say. 

“Still… thank you. For being here, for fighting for us and for giving our relationship another chance.”

“You fought too. Thank you.”

“I believed that our love is worth fighting for”, she says. 

We kiss. 

“Come. Camp Sekai for adults has started.” She pulls me to the massive tent for adults that’s next to the tent for the kids. Now we eat and drink and talk. This tent is HUGE and there are enough beds for everyone here. Even the kids have beds in their tent. 

My mom phones me. 

“Mah?” I answer my phone. 

“Where are you? Kunini sikulindile?! We want to eat.” 

Why is she shouting?! 

“Eat. I’m not coming back tonight.”

“When did you decide that? And would it have hurt you to even pick up the phone and tell me?”

“Mah, I’m sorry I didn’t call. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I le ntombazane kaTeboho futhi?”

“Bye mah. I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

I hang up. 

Ruri looks at me. 

“She’ll be fine.” I say. 

“You sure?”

I kiss her.

She disappears to go help with something somewhere in this madness.

“I hope that Zah will not be having a party such as this one for Phupho or Lelapa. But you know what, those two had so much that I imagine they’ll be asking for one”, Molise says to me very stressed.

Like I said, I’m very glad that I am not a parent yet. I just laugh at him. 

“Sho”, Tholoana says to me. He’s with Wandi.

“Hey”, I say. 

Molise leaves the three of us to go find his wife, I suppose. Now it’s just my siblings and I. 

“How are things with Ru?” Wandi asks me.

“I think that we are finally okay. We spoke… like really spoke… so much so that I know about how the two of you are church members”, I say.

They look at each other. 

I guess I wasn’t supposed to know.

“You know you can’t go around talking about that, right?” Wandi.

“I’m aware”, I say. 

“Good. Because Khanya… this thing is dangerous.” Wandi.

“I know.” I say.

“And now you know what will happen to you if you ever put your hands on Ru again”, Tholoana. 

Ja, he’s not happy with me. I thought we spoke about this and squashed it.

“Awukahle nawe! I’m sure he knows and has learned his lesson”, Wandi comes to my rescue. I’m just quiet because I’ve decided that I have no right to say anything in defence. I should’ve never put my hands on Ru. Finished.

“So… tell me, when is mom supposed to move out of your place?” Tholoana.

“As soon as we’ve found something for her. I know gogo wants to go back to KZN. I think her and mkhulu are talking…” me.

We look at each other. 

We actually laugh! 

The thought alone that these people go through what we are going through in our relationships is just uncomfortable.

“You think mom should go live with her parents?” Wandi.

“Not exactly. There’s a house in Mgungundlovu – a few minutes away from the grandparents’ house – that dad bought for mom years ago. That property was then rented out. It’s still there. We can talk to an agent and give notice to the current tenants. Then we will have it cleaned out and mom can move there.” I say.

“That’s actually a brilliant idea. Except…” Wandi. 

“Except?” Tholoana. 

“Khosini will never allow Tholoana to visit mah there. You know how he is with the whole ‘my dad’s stuff’ thing.” Wandi explains. 

“I don’t really visit mom anyway. We are not there with our relationship.” Tholoana.

“But the idea is to fix it, Tholoana. It can’t be like this forever!” Wandi.

“The house is in mine and Wandi’s names. So fuck Khosini. It’s our house! Even he’s a guest in there. So you can do as you please. The three of us will have keys to the house”, I say. 

Wandi is not sure, but Tholoana and I are comfortable. 

“I’ll call the agent ke then get the ball rolling”, Wandi. 

“When we tell her, please… Khosini must be there because maintaining her should concern him too.” Me.

“Vele what does Khosini do with money. He never has money but he always has airtime to ask someone to look after mom”, Wandi.

Tholoana and I laugh. 

“Kodwa umah naye has expensive taste and leads a very expensive lifestyle. She must tone it down a bit.” Tholoana.

“Please look at her baby-daddies. Between the king of Tholoana Kingdom and Dr Nkosinathi Buthelezi, how will she tone anything down?” Wandi.

“Plus, apparently she’s reconnecting with an old flame. That old flame is a chief in Venda or something.” I say.

“WHAAAAAAATTT?!” Tholoana and Wandi.

“Wait till Khosini hears about this. He’s going to faint!” Tholoana. 

We laugh. 

“She lives in my house. She takes phone calls all over my house. She and gogo have uncomfortable conversations all the time too. I hear much more than what I’d like to. I don’t need to know that my mom is still having sex.” Me.

“Dude! Hai!” Tholoana.

Wandi laughs at us. 

“So what have you heard?” Wandi is so excited about this. 

“From what I’ve heard, she got with this guy before either of us were born… she was still freshly married to ubaba. Dad had his serious girlfriend named Patience, so mom found herself love. The guy was mom’s manager at work. Then they liked each other. Then mom moved to Venda to be with him even though he was already married”. 

“YOHHH!” They both say. 

“Mom got pregnant with his child. But after yena nobaba fixed things, she aborted the child to give her and dad a chance. Kanti dad impregnated Mam’Phuthi and Wandi was born. So mom regrets aborting her child for him.” 

Wandi feels uncomfortable now. I don’t want her to. So I move past this point quickly and say, “So now they are reconnecting.” 

“Maybe Khosini is right”, Wandi.

“About?” Tholoana. 

Agh! I didn’t want this to happen.

“Me being born is the reason why dad and mom just couldn’t get their shit together”, Wandi.

“And what do you call me?” Tholoana.

“The final nail in the coffin”, Wandi. 

Ewu! 

“We were basically conceived as a result of the two of them intentionally hurting each other.” Wandi. 

“I really think you both need to calm down. You cannot put our parents’ decisions on your shoulders. You are here now. Live life. Deal with it.” I say. 

They feel very down. 

I shouldn’t have told this story. 

Ai!