Today is Khanyi’s umemulo. She’s been waiting for this day since before she was even born. I’m excited for her. I really am. We were all invited. It’s her 21st birthday and her party is her umemulo. My parents are very excited. Banathi’s parents are super thrilled. We are already in South Africa and are staying at The Four Seasons. I spoke to Mr R yesterday during preparations for today. I asked him and Mrs R if they could allow me to propose to Khanyi today. They knew the proposal was going to happen. The lobola date is set for next weekend. I just needed to make sure that it would be appropriate for me propose today because Banathi’s dad looked at me weird when we told him that I’d be proposing today. I have the ring with me already. Mrs R hugged me. Mr R told me that I have his blessing. Then he said okay, but on condition that I allow him to buy us our first house. I must really be loved. My parents were there and they were so happy. So, now, I have a house that Khanyi doesn’t know about… she’s about to be my wife and she doesn’t know yet… and I’m nervous. 

We are now leaving the hotel. We organised isiZulu outfits – well, Banathi’s parents organised. We all look nice. I will admit that. 

My cellphone rings. It’s Reahile. He’s probably already there. 

“Sho”, me. 

“Le waar?” He asks.

“Leaving the hotel”, me. 

“Okay, hurry up. We’ve just been told that Khanyisa and the other girls are on their way back to the house.” He says. 

“Sho. We are on our way”, I say. 

I tell everyone that we must hurry up because Khanyisa is already on her way back. 

My parents, Ru, and I are in one V300 with Banathi, his parents and Mndeni. My Aunt Fifi, Uncle Shaka, Ntuthuko and Akwande are in another V300. The Seetes are deputy Zulu today. The Maphumulos and the Khuzwayos honestly feel today how we generally feel in the kingdom. The third V300 has all the Mohales. 

I receive a text message from Khanyi’s number. By the way, she snuck off with her cellphone. 

“I hope the umhlwehlwe won’t tare“, the message reads. 

What the hell is that? 

I show Banathi and Ntuthuko, grabbing the adults’ attention.

“What’s this? What’s umhlwehlwe?” I ask Banathi and Ntuthuko. 

“It’s scabies. They put it over the girl on her umemulo. It’s used to cover her breasts”, Banathi says. 

“Why would it tare?” I ask.

“It is believed that if the girl is no longer a virgin, it will tare”, Ntuthuko. 

“What?!” 

Now the adults are laughing at me. 

“So, her boobs will be exposed?” I ask.

Now everyone is laughing at me. 

I don’t understand the joke.

I can’t even reply to this message. 

We get to Khanyi’s dad’s house in Diepkloof. It’s already full. It’s 6:30am! How is it this rowdy already. 

“Come with me”, kazi says. 

She pulls me by hand, then everyone I came with follows me. Kazi looks so nice! She looks like one hell of a Zulu woman. She seats us on front row seats for everything. How did they create this? The chairs are glass chairs. Everything is white. Then they created a kraal out of fake hey, grass and wooden pallets. Yoh, this is incredible! A bit far from us, there is a glass tent. That will be the reception area apparently. All the gifts have to be placed there. Moholo Khotso sends Moloko, Tholoana and Mndeni to go get the gifts we all brought and put it there. 

“You are coming with me! Nibahle so?!” Kazi says to my mom, Aunt Fifi and Banathi’s mom. I know Banathi’s mom and Aunt Fifi are actually Zulu brides, so their outfits make sense. My mom just likes things! 

It’s just us guys here with Rena and Ru.

We hear singing coming from the street. Everyone backs away. 

The singing gets louder…

And louder…

And louder…

Then we finally see them. 

My Khanyi! Wow!

All the girls are in white.

Khanyi is in white and has gold beads over her white clothes. The beads form the shape of her bra and her boobs are well covered. I’m happy with that. People are already taking pictures of her. She looks amazing. 

They sing and dance a bit at the gate. Then kazi and baba’Sbo accompany her into the house with singing and a step. 

…

Lwaze lwafika usuku lwami lomemulo. I’m so happy. I’m proud of myself. Ngizigcine ngaze ngafika la. I have a boyfriend who has respected my journey, and today, he is here celebrating me. But for now, I’m in a room with my dad and kazi. There are elder women. They are pleading to my ancestors to be with me in my transition into womanhood and to always have my back in my journey into being a woman. I feel like papa deserves to be here. He explained to me that he can’t. This is a Mbatha thing. As beautiful as this ceremony is, I don’t like reminders that I’m not biologically his. He’s my father. Period.

I look at kazi. She’s so proud of me. She’s so happy. With everything that’s being said, she keeps saying, “uKhanyisa wami, Nkosi yami.” I saw my mother somewhere amongst the people sitting next to Latifah. And I’m glad it’s kazi who is in here with me. No one else deserves to call themselves my mother.

Umhlwehlwe is put over me. Is’phandla is put on my wrist. Now, it’s time to go and collect my money.

I step outside with song. The girls who ushered me into today are dancing and singing with me… for me… I’m so proud. Nandi got me a whole bus of girls who have been teaching me these songs all week as I was preparing. They helped me with my beads. They are actually such nice and funny girls. They even taught me how to traditionally dance… talked me through this day. Everything. They told me stories about how it would have been done in KZN – that it’s actually a journey that starts from when a girl is much younger. There’s a mama that came with them. She’s been shouting at us since the beginning of the week. I’ve caught her flirting with my dad – uncomfortably so and to Latifah’s annoyance – but she’s just been behaving like a sexually deprived woman all week nje. She asked kazi to actually virginity test me. Kazi said no. Thank God! Then she judged us for being too “GP”. I am so happy that this day is here and that they are leaving after lunch. 

As I make my way to the kraal that has been created for me, I recite izithakazelo zami with so much pride. I’m twenty-one. I have a business. I’m a graduate. Today is umemulo wami. I have a lot to be grateful for. I have a lot to be proud of! I am Khanyisa Mbatha and I shout it at the top of my lungs to the ululation of everyone here.

People are now dancing, drums are beating, people are singing. It’s a special moment. 

Lalela! I’m a happy woman! 

Now, I sing. My crew and I sing. I take umkhonto wami, and obviously, my first mkhonto is placed at papa’s and kazi’s feet.

I head back to the girls. 

When I say kazi is dancing with stack of R200 notes in her hands, I’m not joking! I’m not.Kazi is dancing her way towards me. Papa is laughing and he takes out three rolls of R200 and R100 notes. Papa places the notes on my head, between my hair and my beaded headband. Kazi also places the notes between my hair and beaded headband. 

Then, kazi and I have a dance off. Like we are traditionally dancing! Siyagida! And the ululating, screams and cheering are out of this world. Khabane’s mother, Banathi’s mother, Aunt Koena and Aunt Fifi join us. They look so beautiful. They are dancing with us, representing people who have come with my mother to support this day. As they dance, they put money at me! I could honestly cry. I’m so emotional. Papa is so happy. He cannot stop laughing. He cannot stop smiling. 

Kazi, Banathi’s mother, Bane’s mother, Aunt Koena and Aunt Fifi finally leave. The crowd calms down. 

I take umkhonto wami to baba and Latifah next. He comes with Latifah and my biological mother to put money somewhere on me. My dad gives me an umbrella covered with R200 notes. I don’t want Latifah’s money. She probably put juju on the cash to make me poor forever. I hope it’s marked so I don’t take it.

I now take my money to Aunt Koena and Uncle Mthunzi. They walk towards me with Sis’Nene and Mfundo. Uncle Mthunzi gives me two rolls of R200 notes. Aunt Koena puts a stack of R200 notes in the beaded bra that I am wearing. Mfundo puts his stack of R200 notes between the beads around my wrist. Sis’Nene puts her stack of R200 notes in my beaded bra as well. 

I already feel RICH! I’m opening another business with all of this money!

After this, I place my mkhonto by Rea and Sis’Nandi. They also bless me, accompanied by Mohato and Zarinah. I go place my money by Ranwedzi. He comes with Gundo, Rendani, Mulalo and Mohau. Each of them have their own stack of money to put on me. 

“Can I keep a little bit to myself?” Rendani. 

“No. You have to give her all of it.” Gundo. 

“But she has a lot already!” Rendani must just give me this money and stop complaining.

When they are done, I go to Bane’s dad. He’s standing with Banathi’s dad, Rea’s dads and Uncle Shaka. 

They all walk together towards me in song. Uncle Shaka is leading the singing and it sounds like they rehearsed this. Because the Sotho men are singing this song begrudgingly so. Their wives are behind them.

THEY MAKE IT RAIN! 

THEY MAKE IT RAIN! 

THEY MAKE IT RAIN!

Banathi’s dad gives me a jumbo-sized umbrella covered with money inside and outside of it. I don’t even see what the colour of the umbrella is.

I’M RICH! 

I’M RICH! 

I’M RICH! 

THEY MAKE IT RAIN! 

People in Diepkloof will probably break into our home today yaz.

When they are done, I go to Khabane. We share a moment. He smiles at me. I can see that he wants to kiss me. I move before he gets any ideas. He comes with Banathi, Mndeni, Tholoana, and Mohale. That Motahabi girl is also here. She comes with them. Tholoana likes this girl, shame. 

Everyone – except Khabane – puts money somewhere on me. I’m covered in money and two umbrellas of money. Yoh hai! Then Khabane gives me a Chanel handbag covered in money! 

After this, I don’t put my mkhonto anywhere else. I just dance. Ngiyasina! These girls who accompanied me into today basina nami. 

Then, I have to head into the house. Kazi, Banathi’s mom, Khabane’s mom, Aunt Koena and Aunt Fifi are the only ones who accompany me. I’ll also be changing now and my party will start. But while I’m gone, food is being served and people are being seated in the glass tent.

…

I have never experienced a more beautiful day in my life. Khanyisa is gorgeous. The money she received! Yoh! I suddenly want this umemulo thing. Hai khona! 

We also know that Khabane is proposing today. So, I know that today will be Khanyisa’s best day ever.

We are eating now. Waiters and waitresses are serving us drinks. This is such a high-end event. Our table is one of the front tables. We see everything. 

“You good?” Mndeni asks me. 

“I’m good”, I say.

There is light chatter here and there. 

Then Khanyisa walks out. She’s dressed in a red dress covered in all white and gold beads. She looks so beautiful. Khabane is so in love. She is sitting on her couch on stage, next to her five piles of gifts.

She looks so beautiful and happy. 

Now the speeches begin. 

I don’t hear much of them, except for her biological dad saying today is really about Khanyi and the parents that raised her – Fikile and Thomas. He thanks them over and over again, saying they are the ones who are responsible for the woman that Khanyi has become. 

Then Fikile and Thomas go on stage. Fikile is smiling – looking amazing – next to Thomas who is quite the hunk. Thomas is the one speaks. 

“Khanyi… my baby girl… my bright light in life. Thank you for today. Today is a celebration, yes, but it’s also a symbol… evidence of the fact that you have respected us as a child. We know that you’ll be an even more amazing woman in every journey you are to go on.”

Khabane is so smitten. His parents are so proud of their makoti to be.

He continues.

“I’m a proud father today. I’m so proud of you. Today, Fikile and I stand before all of these people here with so much pride – pride because we are your parents and we have had the honour of raising you. We have worked hard to make sure that you and your siblings get the best. You’ve taken that and have made it abundant. Khanyisa, your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren will never starve. I’m putting that blessing upon you today.” 

Fikile ululates and we all celebrate in ululation. 

“You have respected us, Khanyisa. For that, you will always be blessed. Education is not only in the classroom. There are important lessons and truths that must be learned in life that builds a person and you’ve humbled yourself to each teaching… that’s why we celebrate you today. We are proud of you, Khanyisa. We love you, baby girl.” 

Then he goes to hand her keys. A bow and a cover come off an object parked close to us. They bought her a fricken BMW X6! 

She hugs her parents. 

Everyone is standing up, cheering on what’s happening. This is the day that the Lord has made! 

“I’d like to call up, my son-to-be, Khabane Seete, please.” Thomas says. 

Khanyi is surprised. 

Khabane walks up to the podium. 

Our cellphones are out. 

Ruri starts an Instagram live. Ja neh. 

“Dumelang“, Khabane pulls a Sotho greeting at a Zulu event. O tlo mo ‘etsang?!

“Yebo”, the Zulus don’t budge.

“I don’t have a lot of words, really. I’d like to believe that I’m a man of a few words. I asked Mr R to just give me a moment to appreciate the woman we’ve come to celebrate today. Khanyi has been looking forward to this day since before I even met her. And getting to know Khanyi has definitely taught me a lot about what today is really about. A woman who respects herself. A woman who carries herself with respectable and humble behaviour patterns. A humble woman full of love, life, passion and a yearning to know people for who they truly are. An intelligent woman worth celebrating that today, this very moment, I’d like to ask if she’d agree to being my wife.”

Screams come out of the crowd. Khanyisa is in so much shock. She looks at her parents – the ones she recognizes as her parents – and when she sees them smiling, she realises that they were in on this. 

Khabane goes down on one knee in front of Khanyisa. Khanyisa is already crying.

“Khanyisa Mbatha, will you do me the honour of being my partner and lover forever and after? I love you. I know I’m going to love you for whatever days are left of my life. I know that when I die, I want to be buried next to you – because even in death, I don’t want to be done apart from you. Please allow me to spend the rest of my life being your husband. Please marry me.” 

Khabane guys! 

Khanyisa kneels down too. 

My word! 

“You want me to marry you? Are you sure?” 

We all laugh at this. 

“Yes.” He says.

“Then yes, I’ll marry you.” 

Khabane pulls her into a kiss. He even forgets to put the ring on her finger. Imagine! But it’s beautiful! This day was just coloured in God’s only gold. It was priceless. 

The party now starts and Khanyisa makes her rounds, saying thank you to everyone.

…

“My crazy fiancé! I can’t believe we are engaged! DUDE!” She’s so excited. I’m so excited that she’s so excited. 

We came back to my hotel room after her umemulo… but we finished partying at 4am. We left Diepkloof at 5am. She’s been smiling ever since. I’m happy. I love her. 

Now we are in bed. We are chatting under the blankets. It’s a weird thing we do when we need to talk or when we want to share a special moment. 

“You are going to be my wife. I’m happy you said yes”, I say. 

“Did kazi and papa know?” 

“Yeah. I asked them for permission.”

She kisses me. She holds me tightly. 

“I love you so much”, she says as she hugs me.

“I love you, Mrs Seete to be.” I tell her. 

We come out of the hug. 

“I’m hungry.” She says. 

I laugh at her. 

“It is 11am!” She says.

Fair enough. 

“Let’s quickly shower first then.” I say. 

Indeed, we shower together. While we are in the shower, she asks me, “Did you and Banathi manage to get the money to the bank?” 

“Yeah. I wasn’t going to risk it. That was a total of four million rand.” I tell her. 

She smiles then says, “I must have another umemulo.” 

I laugh. She likes money, this one! 

“Yoh, I’m so grateful for yesterday. I’m going to phone the event planner and pay her to send thank you messages to each and every person who made yesterday possible. I honestly have no words to express how thankful I am.” She says.

I kiss her. 

“Now, you have two beasts: the A45 and the X6? Your parents bought you an all-black X6 – phantom!” I say.

She laughs. 

“How will we drive them back vele? I drove down with the A45″, she says. 

“I told you to fly down though”, I remind her. 

“I was driving down with the twins. You know it’s close to impossible to fly with them when I’m alone.” She says. 

Eish… there’s that. 

“My dad said he will drive the A45 back with Banathi’s dad”, I tell her. 

“Okay. Thank you”, she says. 

“Then you and I will drive the phantom back. Ru and Rena will probably want to drive back with us.” Me. 

“I don’t mind. I like them.” She says. 

We kiss again.

We finish showering, groom ourselves and get dressed. I check my phone. Soooo many messages? What’s happening? 

“Khabane, we are trending!” She says. 

She’s not happy. She hates the media with all her heart, shame. It’s that Instagram live that Ruri did.

The headline: SEETE EMPIRE ENGAGED TO GROW STRONGER WITH RAMARU EMPIRE THROUGH HEIR, KHABANE SEETE, AND HEIRESS, KHANYISA MBATHA.

Then the headline reads: Two powerful families coming together just for love? I smell an arrangement of some sort.

“Khabane”, Khanyisa is so angry she’s even crying.

“Khanyisa –

“They are saying I don’t love you. They’ve written about my mother and father. They have quotes from my biological mother about –

Wait! What?! I didn’t read that far. 

I take the cellphone from her. 

She actually breaks down and cries. 

There is a knock on the door. 

We kinda need space. 

“Khanyisa, open this door”, it’s the biological mother. 

I’m not sure if that’s advisable right now.

Khanyisa gets up from the chair she was sitting on and heads to the door. She opens the door. Her mother, Reahile, Mr R and Mrs R walk in. 

“Khanyisa, I’ve been taken completely out of context. I was asked how I felt about the event yesterday and the engagement. I told them I’m happy for you. That’s all I said, I swear. And I’m going to sue for this.” The mother explains in panic. 

Khanyisa is STARING at her. She’s not even blinking. Tears are streaming down her face. 

“Khanyisa, I’m happy for you. And –

“YOU ARE NOT HAPPY FOR ME! SO STOP SAYING THAT!” Khanyisa yells. 

Okay, I don’t know what to do right now. We are all shocked. Kazi is angry. And she looks like she’s angry at this woman. It’s taking everything inside of her to not take sides in this. 

“Khanyisa…” the mother. 

“YOU THINK I DIDN’T NOTICE HOW SOUR YOU WERE YESTERDAY? YOU COULDN’T BE HAPPY FOR ME AT ALL! AT ALL! I’VE WANTED UMEMULO BEFORE I EVEN WANTED A BOYFRIEND IN LIFE. YOU KNEW I LOOKED FORWARD TO YESTERDAY MY WHOLE LIFE, AND YOU COULDN’T BE HAPPY THAT THE DAY ARRIVED! AND WHY?! WHY?! BECAUSE MY PARENTS ARE PROUD OF ME?! THAT’S YOUR BEEF? THAT’S WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO TELL THE WORLD HOW PAPA IS NOT MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER?! YOU THINK THEY DIDN’T KNOW?! THEY KNEW! I’VE NEVER HAD THE RAMARU SURNAME ATTACHED TO MY NAME. SO, THEY KNEW. BUT THAT ISN’T ENOUGH FOR YOU! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL THEM THAT YOU GAVE ME AWAY?! THAT YOU NEVER WANTED ME?! AND EVERY OTHER TIME YOU WANTED ANYTHING FROM ME, YOU WANTED MONEY! YOU’VE NEVER LOVED ME! WHY DID YOU EVEN COME TO AN EVENT THIS IMPORTANT TO ME?! WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE HERE!” 

Silence.

The mother is crying too, now. 

“Yesterday had nothing to do with you! Nothing! No one was going to talk about you and how you are my biological mother. The platform was umemulo wami. Everyone who spoke yesterday were able to speak because they have been around to witness me transitioning into a woman – no thanks to you! That has nothing to do with you. How did you internalize it and make it another excuse for you to make every fucken thing about you?!” Now Khanyisa’s voice is low, much scarier.

Reahile and I look at each other. 

Mr R is actually upset. I’ve never seen him hurt like this before. 

“You know what breaks my heart the most? I love Khabane. He’s probably the only man I’ll ever know, I’ll ever be with and I’ll ever love. And you couldn’t even celebrate with me that he asked me to be his wife.” 

“Khanyisa, I’m so sorry for all of this”, the mother. 

“No, I’m the one that’s sorry. Ndi khou humbela pfarelo.” 

She went there with Venda even. Does the mother understand? Or???

“I’m sorry you were poor when I was born and that you couldn’t do much for me as a mother. It seems you are the first and only person in this world to go through such, right?” 

The sarcasm! 

“I’m sorry that papa and kazi loved me and became my parents. I’m sorry that the attention is no longer on you. There are other people who need to be considered in the show of your life now and you are the first person to deal with such, and shame… how could life?!” 

There’s dead silence now. 

The mother and Khanyi stare at each other. They look like they are about to beat each other up.

“We are done! I don’t even want you at my wedding!” 

Now the parents look like they need to press an emergency button. Everyone is caught off guard. 

“Baby”, I try. 

“You are dead to me! And if you ever mention my name to any journalist ever again, I’ll sue the shit out of you!” 

With this, Khanyisa pushes all of us out of the way and leaves the hotel room. Kazi runs after Khanyisa. The mother breaks down and cries on one of our couches. Nobody touches her. No one. Not even Bab’Sbo. I’m not sure when he arrived in here. I’m not sure if I should. I feel like we are all saying, “you did this to yourself” but we are not vocalizing it.

“Bhut’Thomas… Sibongiseni, you have to believe me. I didn’t mean to do all of this!” The mother yells through her sobs.

Mr R just looks at her.

Then he looks at Reahile and I then says, “Boys, safe travels back to the kingdom. I’ll see you next week for the lobola, right?” 

We nod our heads. 

He hugs Rea and I, then leaves.

My goodness!

…

Work is a bit hectic for us. After what happened at the game, Fikile has been working overtime to manage the publicity of the game. We have also been getting serious backlash that we had Khanyi’s umemulo – a glamorous event – while people were mourning and recovering from that unforeseen stampede. 

This weekend is Khanyi’s lobola as well, so I know that this is going to make news and we will be even worse people for having celebrations in our lives at such a time. 

Teboho Seete, Khabane’s mother, is a marketing genius as well. She is using the royal house to help us manage this situation. 

So, our company and the royal house will be sponsoring the funerals of the twenty people that lost their lives on that day.

That’s been very helpful. 

I’m walking to my wife’s office now with flowers, lunch and some chocolate. She’s doing so well and I’m so proud of her. I just want her to know that I love her and I’m proud of her. 

I walk into her office and I find her yelling at people. We don’t step in when it comes to each other’s management of our staff. It just doesn’t happen. 

I sit on one of her couches and set up for lunch. She gives them one hell of a deadline and tells them none of them are going home until NIR and NFR are trending for good things again. 

Eh! 

They leave her office a bit shaken, but they’ll live.

My wife comes to sit next to me… actually, she sits on top of my lap. 

“Sthandwa sami”, she says as she kisses me. 

“Yes, my love”, me. 

“Ngiyabonga“, she says. 

“You know I’d do this for you any time.” 

“Not just for the flowers, the chocolates and lunch. I’m thankful… but I want to say thank you for just being such an incredible husband.”

She gets emotional. 

I’m not really sure what’s going on right now.

“Thank you for loving me, Thomas. Thank you for knowing how to love me and loving me so perfectly. Thank you for loving Khanyisa so much…”

Now she’s extremely emotional. 

“Thomas, thank you for being ubaba kaKhanyisa. Ngiyabonga, my love.” She says. 

I kiss her. 

“Fikile Ramaru… it’s been my absolute pleasure. Having you in my life has been everything I’ve ever prayed for and more. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever prayed for: a family, a warm home and undeniable love. Thank you, Mrs R, for making my dreams come true. I love you.” 

We kiss. 

“So, I have a present for you”, she says.

I smile at her.

“Just so you know, I’m going to be living off of you for the next five years because angisena mali! I’m broke broke broke! I didn’t touch the company’s money and I didn’t use our joint savings. I’ve been saving for the past five years for this, so I hope you love it.” She says. 

“Baby, what is it?” I’m curious now.

“Asambe. We will have lunch when we get back.” She says. 

We are now driving somewhere. She’s not giving me hints. Then she gives me some blindfold and tells me to put it around my eyes.

“Baby?” Me. 

“Val’ amehlo. Please. Trust me, baby. Please.” She says. 

I cover my eyes. 

I’m just laughing. I can’t believe this is happening.

I feel the car stop. 

She now pulls me out of the car. 

“Hold onto me, baby”. She says. 

I wrap my arm around her neck. 

“You good?” Her.

“I’m good.”

We walk to somewhere. 

It’s quiet. 

We step into a place that smells really great.

“You ready?” She says.

I laugh. 

Yaz I’m not sure.

This woman is full of surprises. 

“You ready, Ramaru?” She asks me again.

Now I hear giggling.

“I’m ready”, I say. 

“Okay…”

She undoes this thing over my eyes. 

“5

4

3

2

1

SURPRISE!!!!” 

I hear her and people say.

GET THE FUCK OUT OF TOWN!

I actually laugh aloud. I’m in so much disbelief. She actually bought me a black Rolls Royce Phantom! 

OH MY GOD! 

“You are one lucky man!” Some dude says to me as he leads me to my new set of wheels.

The number plates are RAMARU GP.

The interior is all white. Listen! No one is eating in this car! 

I just hug my wife and spin her in the air. I’m so thankful for this woman! Thank you, God! 

“I want to ride in that! But who’s taking my car home?” Fikile says.

“Ma’am, we will drive it home for you”, one of the staff members says. 

She happily gives him the keys. I threaten the man to make sure that car is in my yard in an hour. 

Fikile is already in the passenger’s seat. 

I’m loving the drive.

“Ngathi ngingakhipha ikhanda and just wave at everyone on the road”, she says. 

We both laugh. 

She’s so silly! 

“And I’m living off of you for the next five years. I’m your gold digger”, she says. 

Wow!

We both laugh. 

“So, babe…”

“Yes?” Me. 

“Your baby girl athi amalobola wakhe must be concluded at our house.” She says. 

“But, that’s what should happen.” I mean, this is my daughter. 

“You sure? I mean, that is a Ramaru home. You won’t mind the Mbathas doing their isiZulu things there?” She says. 

“Baby, Khanyisa is my daughter. Her things will be done at our house.” I say. 

She jumps on me. 

Ey! I’m still driving! 

When we get home, we thank each other all over the house. ALL OVER!