“Mommy, you and daddy promised we would go on holiday. We still haven’t gone.” Khabane says to me.
Maboko and I are sitting on the couch. Our TV is off. It generally is because our kids are loud. Since Ruri started talking, it’s a mess. When the TV is on, it’s as if they compete with the TV for the noise award and I’m getting old now. My nerves can only take so much noise.
Ruri – the daddy’s girl – is sitting on her dad’s lap. I swear if this girl was not my daughter, I’d really be offended by how close she and Maboko are. Bane is my baby boy. He is getting taller and older. His favourite sitting position is lying on his back, hanging his legs over the edge of a couch and laying his head on my lap.
“We will go, Bane. We’ve just been busy.” I say.
“Ruri and I are on school holidays next week. Can we go then?” Bane.
“To Disney World!” Ruri says.
Maboko and I look at each other.
“Ruri, we not only going away for you. We must all have fun.” Bane says.
“We can have fun at Disney World.” Ruri says.
“No. I don’t want to go to Disney World.” Bane says.
Bane’s and Ruri’s relationship is interesting. They fight a lot. But they get along so much more than the amount of times that they fight. Bane thinks Ruri is spoiled. I agree with him. Maboko spoils Ruri too much and I’ve told him. He says I spoil Bane a lot, but I believe that I have my limits. Ruri thinks Bane is too hard on her. I agree with this too. I’ve spoken to Bane about it because I really thought it’s because he was an only child for so long, maybe having a sibling is not easy for him. He says Ruri is naughty and selfish and we don’t see it, but he does because he is always with her. So with these two, Maboko and I are just trying to learn the best ways to manage them, raise them and love them.
“Daddy, can we go to Disneyland?” Ruri.
She likes doing that. When she doesn’t get her way, she goes straight to asking her dad, knowing he will say yes.
I give her dad a look. If he dares says yes to that Disneyland crap, even I’ll be mad at him.
“I think mommy and I will decide where we go”, Maboko says. Safe answer.
“Why?” Ruri says, feeling a bit upset.
“Because both you and your brother must have fun. Not just you. So if you two cannot decide together, mommy and I will decide.” Maboko.
Ruri starts crying and shouts, “But it’s not fair!”
“What’s not fair?” Bane.
Ruri is now crying. Then she screams, “You are always so mean to me, Bane!”
“How am I mean to you?”
Ruri just cries and throws herself on her father’s chest. Maboko tries to comfort her and I say, “Why is Ruri crying, Maboko? Now you busy comforting her and saying sorry. What are you apologizing for? Ruri wahlanya.” I say.
He is hurt by this.
“Ruri, why are you crying?” I ask her.
She just cries.
” I’m going to put you in your naughty corner if you don’t stop crying and tell me what your problem is.” I say.
Now she’s not screaming anymore. She’s doing the silent cry.
“Go to the restroom and fix yourself. Then come back here and talk to us properly. We don’t cry when we don’t get our away. We learn how to talk and explain ourselves. Go.” I say.
She climbs off her dad and starts walking to the guest bathroom. I see Bane climbing off the couch and following his sister. He’s probably going to help her clean herself up.

“Baby –
“No, Maboko. We can’t have a daughter who behaves like this.”
“I was going to say thank you for handling that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I have a fear of her becoming like Gwen. I really don’t want that. So, I love the way that you are raising her.”
“We need to do it together, baby. I also have my own fears. Sometimes, I’m scared that I become like my mother when I discipline her and look at how our relationship is. This thing is difficult for both of us and that’s why we need each other. We can’t be good cop and bad cop. We are their parents and we do this together. We both have a responsibility towards the human beings that they are both becoming. This daddy’s girl shit is going to be a problem if the only thing that Ruri gets out of it is her way.”
He looks at me.
I look at him.
“I would have never thought that you’d become this kind of mother when we met all those years ago and we were sneaking around and shit.”
I laugh. He smiles at me.
“You are an amazing mother, T.” He says.
“And you are an even better father.” I say.

The babies come back together. Khabane is carrying Ruri in his arms. He probably had a talk with her before they came back here. Now they sit on a separate couch opposite us, so my husband puts his head on my lap and his hands are just rubbing my other body parts. Lol.
“Sorry mommy and daddy for throwing a tamtrum”, Ruri says. She’s sitting on top of her brother. She wants to get emotional, but she’s gathered herself nicely.
“You are forgiven, nana.” I say.
“Brother and I decided that we want to go to Suncity.” She says.
Maboko chuckles. I chuckle. We went there in our high school days and we just did things that we were not supposed to be doing as teenagers. But it would be a very nice throwback trip for us.
“And you want to go there for your midterm break?” Maboko says.
They both nod their heads.
“Okay. I’m cool with it.” Maboko.
“Me too, love.” Me.
“Okay, so mommy will make the bookings and we will all drive down together.” Maboko.
They are happy and their “yeeeey!” confirms it.

Then Shak walks into my house. Listen, I know these guys can break in anywhere, but was it necessary to break into our estate and now we didn’t even see him come into our house. Hai guys.
“Shak!” Ruri screams for him.
Bane is already shaking his hand and embracing him.
I know I shouldn’t say this, but Shak is like that mkhulu that all the kids love. You can’t even explain it. He’s just aging beautifully and with a girlfriend that’s keeping him fresh, we forget that he is gwampa there with morena.
“Hey. Kunjani?” I greet him and hug him. He’s dating my sister-in-law, we are on that level now. He hugs me back telling me that he’s good. He and Maboko greet each other with a handshake as well. They have been getting closer over the past year for obvious reasons. Maboko was in the most uncomfortable position because this was Uncle Shaka since he and the twins became friends – and they were seven years old when that happened. Now, this is the guy dating his older sister and it’s just weird for him.
“I was hoping we could talk?” Shak says to Maboko.
Eh!
“Guys, let’s give Shak and daddy some space. You guys go to the playroom. I’ll bring you snacks.” I say, getting rid of the kids. They listen and disappear. Then I look at Shak and Maboko and say, “I’ll bring you guys something to eat.”
I want to be in the kitchen because I need to hear this conversation.

I’m in the kitchen pacing about and they are chatting over whiskey.
Shak: “I’d like to marry your sister.”
WOAH! No easing into the conversation or anything. Just bam! Straight into it.
I can almost feel Maboko’s discomfort and not knowing what to do. Motho waka bathung.
Maboko: “Damn, you guys really are in love hey.”
Shak: “I do love her. A lot. I know that she loves me. I don’t know how to explain it. This thing that we have – it’s bigger than just a relationship. It gets us through some extremely difficult times and it’s a sound blanket that is laid over us every night when we retire from each day next to each other. She’s it for me. I miss Nosi. A lot. But Fifi is my present. And I want to secure a future with her.”
That’s so beautiful! Oh my goodness! I’m just already imagining her in isiqholo and isidwaba. Fifi is such a beautiful woman. She is going to be the epitome of WOW on that day. I hope I’m a bridesmaid. I’ve never been in a Zulu outfit and every time I see people in it, I get so jealous. Those beads and beaded spears are the ones. Who doesn’t want to be a lady-like warrior with a pretty and beaded spear or two? Lol!
Shak: “You are the most important person in Fifi’s life and I know that she would never agree to be my wife without your blessing. So, here I am, asking for your blessing before I even ask her to be my wife.”
Shak is so sweet guys. Yoh Hai. He’s been a scary man our entire lives. Now he’s suddenly become this marshmallow nje.
I hear them moving, as if hugging each other.
Maboko: “Thank you for making my sister so happy. She survived Mason’s passing because you were there and you’ve been there and consistent from day one. Thank you for respecting her and you more than have my blessing. Even I’m excited to have you as a brother.”
Shak sounds moved. Also, my man is a dime guys. Angifuni ukungasho.
Shak: “I’d like to send a letter to communicate my intentions. But I’m not sure who I should send it to. I’ll have it delivered to you as I’m sure you’ll be the one leading the negotiations.”
Maboko: “Yeah. My mom’s brother – our uncle – he will probably do this with me. And my mom’s elder sister as well. They always disappear in our lives, but when they have to show up anywhere, they’ll be there. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
Shak: “Thank you. Truly. Ngiyabonga.”
I finally take their snacks to them. It’s just wings and garlic bread.
Then I take fruit to the kids. No sweets for them tonight.

…

Today, Lulu and I are having a breakfast date with Thabi. We decided that we are going to try one more time with this girl. Ona told us that things are a bit steep for her right now as she is about to go back home and prepare to be Mrs Mohale.
My problem with Thabi is that she’s a bitch. Plain and simple. I’m not bothered by the kid thing because I do believe that it’s sexist and patriarchal to assume that people love kids and want to have kids just because they are women. We are people before we are women. And we have our interests and preferences before people have expectations of us.
I actually think that Thabi is insecure about her not liking kids and she projects that shit on us.
But, working with her has made me know her a bit more. With the right amount of wine, she opens up and becomes a person. Her personality is groomed a lot by her family and how she grew up and I think she’s also adjusting at being in a family where we are all established and accomplished in our own lanes, so she’s not going to be that one person that stands out in this circle that we keep and in that family that she’s married into.

I make my way to our table at the Rooftop. This is my hubby’s restaurant and it’s honestly one of my favourite places in Tholoana Kingdom. Plus, I’m the owner’s wife. It’s my little space to be the fucken queen. We all know I look up to Queen Kea. Heluuuurrrr!

The ladies are already here and are waiting for me. I really thought I was early. Remi looks nice. She’s wearing black jeggings and a white long and loose hemp. She has a stunning neckpiece that she is wearing with this outfit and she has on black sandal block heels. The weave honey! My friend is a flame. Periodt!
Thabi is also a flame. Ona has a type and whoever chose Thabi for him knew what to go for to have him agree. Regodise, Thato, Thabi and Thandeka have a few things in common: they are all extremely light-skinned. They all have big asses. They all have big calves. And they all have some slight chubbiness in them. He’s not into skinny girls. That’s why I can personally understand why Thabi is worried about Luhle’s and Ona’s wife-hubby relationship. All Luhle has to do is lose a few pounds and she will be vrou number three. She meets the criteria thus far. Anyway, Thabi is wearing a black shirt-like dress with red sandal block-heels and she is also slaying her weave with chunky earrings. Me… I’m in a pair of purple high-waist pants with a matching purple belt, a white tank top tucked into the pants, wrist watch, wedding ring (like them), a chunky platinum neckpiece and diamond studs. Zithulele is my connect. He has the best diamond stud collection ever. So I had to ask him to put me on. Now, I get a pair monthly and I love them! I don’t know where he finds these earrings, but I always tell him he should open a diamond jewellery store. He has an eye for fine diamond pieces. Even the earrings he gets me… some are hoop diamond earrings… imagine! His wife is into simple things so she doesn’t appreciate a fine diamond like I do.
Oh and today – I’m also in a banging wig.

Us ladies greet each other and we order our drinks on the tablet before us. We also decide to order two big platters and we will eat from them. Now we chat.
“How are you feeling about your lobola negotiations coming up soon?” I ask her.
“Not good. I wish they could chat on WhatsApp, negotiate and get it over and done with. Ona and I can always just sign.” She says.
“Girl! Do you know who you are getting married to?” Lulu asks and the three of us laugh.
“I know. I just don’t have the family that deserves to be part of that with me.” She says.
Lulu and I actually feel bad for her.
“My brother is around”, she says.
We look at her.
“He said we needed to talk, so I agreed that he could come through. You know, I thought we were maybe going to talk… try build a relationship so I have at least one family member that I’ll run to if things get really heated while I’m there.”
She looks a bit hurt.
“But, he came and told me that I owed him my support because my dad is not here anymore because of me.”
“Because of you?” Lulu.
She nods her head and says, “Yeah. We were at Regodise’s funeral because the talks about Ona and I getting married had already started. He was there because of me. And now he’s gone. I made it back. He didn’t. And I must carry my cross for that by supporting him in becoming chief. My dad’s brother is fighting him for the position and he has a lot of support. My brother wants me to use the power that Ona has as the next king to influence the decision of him being the next chief of Merementse. He says it’s what my dad would have wanted and the least that I could do is honour my dad’s wishes.”
I see her wipe a tear racing down her face.
Both Lulu and I hold her hand.
“I don’t want to go home, guys. I don’t feel safe. The only reason people might not poison me the first chance they get is because Mothusi might be there protecting me because he needs my help with becoming chief. But that’s also another added reason for someone to want to off me because it’s a way of keeping Mothusi off the chief’s chair. Yoh Hai.”
Ja no, she deals with a lot. I officially forgive her for being a bitch. We’ll fight when she gets out of pocket from time to time. But we will get to a good place eventually.

Our food and drinks are brought to us. The waiter pours our drinks into our glasses. He puts side plates next to our platters then asks us if we need anything else. We say no thank you. As soon as the waiter leaves, we start digging in.

We spend the time eating and chatting about. We talk about a lot of silly things and we laugh a lot. We are actually getting to know each other and we like this chilled and laid-back Thabi. Then she says…
“Tebza, it’s difficult to get a booking here, right?”
I nod my head.
“Please be my connect? Ona and I are eating here from now on. That way, we don’t ever run into Thandeka while I’m trying to swallow my meal.”
Lulu and I look at each other.
She looks at us.
We burst into laughter.
“I’ve personally been meaning to ask –
Lulu is cut short by Thabi saying, “No, I don’t like that bitch!”
Yoh, we are in stitches.
“So, we have to pick sides?” I ask.
“Yep! And you are on mine. She’s got her own friends that can be on her side. Plus, we are all from Tholoana Kingdom. We stick together.”
“I’m from South Africa”, Lulu.
“From Sebokeng. Not KZN!”
Wow!
Lulu and I are so done!
This was actually a nice lunch.

Now, we make our way to a hotel… yes, my husband owns it too. We told Thabi that we are going for massages. It is a five-star and high-end hotel. Just like the Rooftop, access is expensive, but it’s always booked. Lulu and I planned a bridal shower for her. We don’t know her friends and we know she doesn’t like her sisters. So we combined it with the guys’ bachelor party. We will first shower them with gifts then we party tonight for the combined bachelor and Bachelorette party. We generally don’t do this for each other, but we are really trying with Thabi. If she is still a bitch towards us after this, I’m going to hang her with tissue. The kids will be here for the shower part. But when we get on a party bus to the bachelor and Bachelorette party, they are leaving with Mofomahadi and morena. They are okay with baby-sitting.
Lulu and I are so glad that we decided against inviting Thandeka to this. We almost did. We thought the three of them were a happy family. The thing that made us decide against inviting her was the idea of Ona making them have a threesome the night before the negotiations. No one wants that – I don’t care how open and chilled you are about these things.

We get to the hotel. Maboko confirms that they are here with Ona as well. He and Khotso are bringing Ona. Everyone else is already seated and waiting for us.
“Hawu, you guys are joining us for massages?” Thabi says as she sees Ona, Khotso and Maboko. We are walking towards the same door.
“Massages? I thought we were having drinks.” Ona.
Lulu and I told Maboko and Khotso that we are going with massages. Not drinks. Who the hell comes to an expensive hotel for drinks? These guys cannot even get that right?!
“Can we at least get hugs and kisses from our men? Whatever we are doing, we are doing it together, hawu!” Lulu rescues the awkward moment.
Now we greet each other and as we open the door, there is a “SURPRISE!”
Ona laughs and Thabi is so shocked – almost seems triggered. But Ona is holding her, calming her down. It’s so beautiful.
When Thabi gathers herself, we see how moved she is by this gesture. More than anything, I hope she knows that at the very least, she has a family in us.

The gifts are so beautiful and thoughtful. So all women made sure that in their gift, a piece of lingerie was within. Thabi was uncomfortable with the first two pieces – unwrapping in front of elders. But she got over it by the third piece. Ona was just a clown about it the whole time. Morena and mofomahadi bought them a holiday house. I know Lulu and Khotso also have one and we’ve been saying that we all want to go for a holiday nje. They also opened a honeymoon fund for them where they’ve put two million rands in it. Shak and Fifi bought them a new car. Hai guys. These gifts. Thabi loves the car. It’s a Porsche. I think it’s because everyone wants Thabi to get rid of that car that once belonged to Dise. They bought them a Porsche SUV. They contributed one million rands to the honeymoon fund. Letlali and Zithulele gave them a five hundred thousand rands voucher for revamping their apartment. That’s so Letlali and so thoughtful. Her brother, Reitumetsi, and his wife, Susan, got them a one million rands voucher for furniture and appliances. They are also here. Khotso and Lulu just gave them money. They opened a joint account for them and deposited three million rands in there for them to start their life together. Maboko and I jumped on that and put five million rands in there as well.
It is safe to say that these two have a nice start to their married life. Thabi is in tears. She is so overwhelmed with joy. She genuinely wasn’t expecting this. Ona is thanking everyone for the gifts. He is also extremely moved.

Now, it’s speeches. Everyone says something and shame, we all wish them well. Even mofomahadi and morena. She got threats here and there and she was told that we hate as hard as we love. So the feeling that she’s feeling today – the joy and happiness… she will feel the complete opposite in a hot second if she doesn’t come correct. I think she gets the message. Loud and clear!

Now, we are all saying goodbye to the adults. Fifi is sadly included in that adult category. Us kids, even Luhle, we get on a party bus and we are headed clubbing. Ona is wearing a groom-to-be sach and Thabi is wearing the bride-to-be sach.
“When did you guys plan all of this?” Thabi keeps asking us.
We just laugh at them.
“I also had no idea any of this shit was happening”, Ona says.
This is actually making them look so cute and so in love with each other. The last time I saw Ona this into a woman, it was with Dise. I actually think there’s something here.

“Baby”, Ona says to Thabi.
“Yeah?”
We all look at them. There is a brief moment of silence.
He takes off his wedding band – Dise’s band. We are all so moved. He hands it to Thabi and says, “I’m ready for you to have all of me”.
We all get a bit emotional. Thabi is taken aback. She takes the ring then throws her hands around his neck saying, “I love you, Ona.”
This is emotionally packed and we are supposed to be partying.
Ona gets so emotional at this that he holds her so tightly. Trust me, we all know that he loves her too. How else would you explain him saving her life when we all wanted her dead? We all like her because he forced her on us whether we liked her or not.
“Now, I have to go buy you a wedding band. I thought I was off the hook”, Thabi says to bring us back into a partying mood.
We all burst into laughter. These two have a weird sense of humour. They understand each other, but shame, their humour matches each other. Now I’m really glad that Thandeka is not here.

We arrive at a club and as we go in, we are already high on vibe.
We are partying together at the VIP section. It’s just us. We paid for the entire floor. We don’t want bad bitches up here taking chances with our men and I’m sure the men don’t want other men trying their luck with us. But the club is happening and there are performances galore up here.
Thabi has already posted pictures of today on Instagram and she has tagged Remi and I.
“Did you see this?” Remi says to me as she shows me her phone.
It’s one of the posts. I honestly didn’t even look at my phone to see how many likes we have. I was planning to check tomorrow morning. But basically, Thandeka liked all our pictures from today and she commented on one picture of us in the party bus saying, “Please come fetch me? Lol!”
Thabi replied saying, “Only wives invited.”
Remi and I look at each other. We pull our faces.
“Thank you sooooooooo much for all of this”, Thabi comes to us and says. She is so happy.
We are now dancing together. Luhle joins us and she is DANCING!!!! Yoh, she dances better than all of us. She’s actually putting all of us to shame. I used to be the queen of dancing around here because I got the township flavour. Luhle is just flex and proper and she is dancing hooray with Atisang, Letlali’s brother.

It is 4am when we all have to leave the club because the Mohales are driving down to Merementse. Now Thabi is sad again. We are catching up with them in two days time for the celebration.
“We will just videocall when it gets too much. Try and have fun, gorgeous.” I tell her as I hug her goodbye.
“Thanks babe.”
We all say goodbye to each other and we all hop into meter taxis and go to our respective homes. I just need some sleep. I’ll pick up my babies when I’m sober and fresh again.