Tiisetso never came back for the rest of the mourning week, so Tebza did everything herself. It was the worst blow for her two days after her mom passed away. Her dad was sitting on a chair listening to the priest’s sermon with the rest of us. He dozed off into sleep and just never woke up. Tiisetso has not been here for any of it. Everyone but Tebza has phoned her to come and bury her parents, but zero.
Now, Tebza has to bury her parents alone. But we are here. We’ve been here.
The guys made sure that there is enough space for them to be buried next to each other. Maboko and Tebza sorted out the tombstone to be a double slab to show that the parents are both resting there.

There are over fifteen family cars, V300 cars to accommodate family that has popped out of everywhere. But because we know that people in the township will be asking for lifts and we don’t want to bother people, we’ve hired three busses to take the township people to the hall for the service then to the graveyard to bury the Tlou parents then to the hall again for lunch. We got people to clean the house while we leave.

No one could sit on the mattress, so Tebza’s three aunts sat there. Tebza and Maboko had to see to it that everything goes well.

Now, we are all dressed up for the funeral. All black of course. We don’t compromise. But we all have red sanna marena blankets over our outfits. Tebza specifically asked for the red ones and for us to wear them. She didn’t buy one for Tiisetso and her kids, so if she does show up, it will be awkward.
We have viewed the bodies and now it’s time for them to leave the house. Ona, Shaka, Reahile and three people from the undertaker carry mama’s coffin. It’s white and has gold finishing. Beautiful. Khotso, Zithulele, Maboko, Mohato and two people from the undertaker carry papa’s coffin. It is black with gold finishing. Stunning. There are red sanna marena blankets over the two coffins. Khabane and Ruri carry the grass mats that they will be buried with. They are right behind the coffins dressed in black and have their red sanna marena blankets. Ruri’s afro is pushed back with a black alice band that has red sanna marena patterns on it. Tebza had it made for her.
All the other kids are behind them and are carrying flowers and wreaths.
Tebza is behind the kids, I – her sister-in-love – am walking with her. Wande is in her arms. Even in pain, they seek each other. I will admit that I’m a little jealous of their relationship. Lol. But it’s all love.
A band is playing and baSotho traditional dancers are dancing naked around the coffins. Every person is heart-broken here.
This is painful.

As the service starts, Tiisetso walks in with Bakang and Seipati. Maboko gives them three sanna marena blankets. I’m sure he went and bought them just in case they made it. He’s definitely one who doesn’t believe in exclusion. Then he gives up his seat next to Tebza for Tiisetso to sit. Tiisetso is at least calm enough to say thank you then sits down.
I’m sitting with the kids because the teacher in me is most able to control them when they are in their group setting. Plus, they are singing as the choir today. Yes, I’m the one who ensured that is done. There is another choir here that’s leading the singing, but they have a few items that they’ll be singing themselves.

The sermon happens and Tebza seems to be a lot stronger than Tiisetso. Tiisetso has screamed, her hat fell off her head at some point, she fainted at some point, she threw herself over the coffins at some point and now she’s just sitting there. Tebza even moved and went to stand with Maboko and the guys at the back – with Wande. She looks very irritated.
It’s now time for the kids to sing their songs. And they all sing so beautifully. It is their singing that pulls all the heart strings around here. Those who weren’t crying are all now crying. When they are done, they read the wreaths then Khabane reads the eulogy for their grandfather and Seipati reads the eulogy for their grandmother.

The cemetery is quick. I heard Tebza telling me that if Tiisetso puts on another performance, she’s pushing her into the grave. Sadly, I believe her. Lol. So, I’m next to her the whole time. It’s done quite quickly then the tombstones are also unveiled. They are very nice. I’m proud of Tebza. She definitely gave her parents a beautiful send off.

We are now back at the hall and people are eating. I’m sitting with Shaka and Wande on a couch. He has Wande on his lap and I’m feeding Wande.
“I’m so tired”, I tell him.
“I’m there with you. Nami nje… if I can just see myself in my bed. Akwand’impumelelo must go sleep at Tebza’s house so we can just sleep.” We both laugh at this.
“Thankfully, Tiisetso didn’t cause drama today.” I say.
“Vele balwelani?” He asks me.
“Who loved which parent more”, I say.
“Can’t they take that energy and just love each other for their parents at their send-off?” He says.
I shrug my shoulders.
“What’s Tebza going to do with the house?” He asks me.
“She’s wanted to sell it because she didn’t want the responsibility of maintaining it to be on her shoulders. Then she thought maybe Tiisetso might want to live there with her kids, but she just doesn’t want it to be her problem. I told her that family houses are a problem. Even if she wants nothing to do with the house, tomorrow, Ruri and Khabane will want to bully Seipati and Bakang out of the house because le bona it’s their grandparent’s house.”
He agrees with me.
“Can we chill with you, hle?” I see Wande flying, so I know it’s Tebza. She’s with Maboko and their two kids.
They sit down with us.
Since the funeral, Ruri has been attached to Tebza. I think she feels her mother’s pain in a way.
Before we know it, the whole gang is here chilling with us.
We are chatting about and the kids are hosting a conversation of their own as well. Ruri is stuck to Teboho and Teboho is actually so —- she seems to want to try harder so she and her daughter can have a better relationship than what she had with her mother.

“Dumelang”, we see a girl who looks like Tebza and Tiisetso. She looks older than Tebza, but younger than Tiisetso.
“Hello”, Thabi is the one who reacts. She’s just as shocked, but her mind came back to her quicker. Ona, Maboko, Khotso, Shaka and Zithulele are not surprised and they seem to have organised a red sanna marena for her as well.
“Ke nna Tshidiso.” She says.
“Okay?” Also, Thabi’s sarcasm guys.
“Teboho, ke nna ausi wahao. Papa was my father as well.” She says.
Tebza looks away from her. She cannot even hide her shock.
Tiisetso walks up to us and stares at Tshidiso.
Then she says, “What did I tell you, wena?”
Okay, Tiisetso knew.
“I’m meeting my younger sister”, Tshidiso.
“Isn’t it enough that my parents saw the door of a divorce court five times because of you?” Tiisetso.
This girl is possessed.
“What?”
“You are not getting your hands on any of our inheritance. You can tell your mother that even in death, she will never touch Sechaba Tlou’s money.” Tiisetso knows big things watsiba.
“Where are you staying?” Tebza asks Tshidiso, shocking us all. Even Tshidiso is moved.
“Abuti Maboko let me stay at his mother’s house with my husband and my children.”
The look that Teboho gives Maboko! We all saw it.
“But we are leaving today.” She says.
“No, you can stay. You should stay. Papa’s estate is being finalized tomorrow. You should be here for it.” Tebza says.
“For what, Teboho?!” Tiistetso.
“TIISETSO! I’ve had enough of your nonsense. Yerrr! Bakang and Seipati have a father that is married to someone else and one day, this will be their position. Is this how you want them to also be received?!”
Yey!
But yes, I like that Tebza is shining light on the hypocrisy.
Tiisetso is silent.
“Please, Tshidiso, stay. I won’t be giving you any hugs or anything like that, but you are welcome to stay. He was your father as well and you deserve to be part of his estate.” Tebza says.

…

Two weeks later

“Yes, of course he can stay here with us. Hello cutie”, Tebza is always too happy to see Wande and she never has an issue with babysitting for us. As a result, we don’t even have a babysitter on payroll.
Lol.
“Ruri, come see who’s here.” She yells for Ruri.
Ruri loves having Wande around because it makes her a “big sister”. I’ve never come across a child that doesn’t enjoy being the baby in the family.
Ruri comes running in.
“It’s Wande. Hello Wande. Mommy, can I pick him up?”
“We will pick him up together now now, Ru. But please say hi to your kgadi and malome.” Tebza says.
Ruri hugs me saying hello. Then Shaka picks her up and tickles her. She’s dead in laughter.
Maboko walks into the kitchen and greets us. He is wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
These two look like they’ve just had sex. Tebza is here in a maxi dress that looks like she just threw it on. She has blonde braids on her head and they are untied. Tebza is the girl who always has her hair tied up and ready for anything. Today, her hair is down. She has a glow. Her man is out here looking more chilled than usual. And this aura and tension that has been lingering over them seems to have thinned up. I’m personally here for it. They’ve been through a lot and we all love them loved up against each other.
Even Maboko looks lighter. He has been an angry bomb nje for the past three weeks. Today, he looks like sex sorted him out.
He has Bane next to him and Bane greets us like the gentleman that he is.

“I’m sure Ntuthuko is so excited for your visit today”, Tebza says. Wande is now in Maboko’s arms and he actually went there willingly. Usually, when he is with Tebza, everyone else can forget.
“Yeah. We want to make this an every weekend thing. He is in Tholoana Kingdom now. It’s good for him to have us continuously go there and see him.” I say.
“We just don’t believe that prison is a good place for Wande. He’s too small.” Shaka adds.
“Well, don’t worry. He’s right at home.”, Maboko says.
Trust me, we know and we are relieved.
“How are things amongst Destiny’s Child?” I ask.
We call Tebza and her two sisters Destiny’s Child and it’s just funny nje.
“Ey wena… none of us have spoken to each other nje. My parents basically instructed their lawyers to sell every single thing that they owned then split all their money equally amongst their grandchildren. Us sisters don’t get a cent. And amongst those grandchildren, it’s Tshidiso’s three, Tiisetso’s two and my three.” Tebza says.
“Your three?” Shaka asks. I’m also confused. Is she pregnant?
“Yep. Wande is included. He has R1,5 million waiting for him to access when he is eighteen years old. We are not allowed to touch it. It’s completely controlled by the lawyers.” Tebza says.
Shaka is so moved. I’m also very moved. Tebza and Maboko smile at us.
Maboko hands us a signed document confirming this that we need to hold onto.
It’s not even the size of the money. I think we all know that R1,5million is not lifechanging money for us. The gesture is what gets me the most. And I think it’s what gets Shaka too.

“Tiisetso says she wants to fight it. She wants the money for herself. She’s contesting that Tshidiso got anything and she says my three kids don’t need the money. She’s mad that the house is being sold because she was looking to inherit it.” Tebza explains.
“So, what happens now?” I ask.
“She doesn’t have money to do it and the deadline for her to contest the will has lapsed. Everything is sold. My parents didn’t even want us to get a teaspoon. Everything is sold as is and the money ya-bana is now in their trusts. What we did ask though with the lawyers is for them to put it in a trust that matures – well for our three. So, this is Wande’s certificate of the trust and these are the login details. So, you guys can track how the money is growing. Fortunately for us, our kids are still young. By the time they access this money, it’s estimated that the R1,5million will be well over R10 million.” Tebza says.
Now Maboko and Shaka are discussing the economics around it. I’m just a history teacher. I hear nothing of what they say.

We finally leave and head to the prison to visit Ntuthuko.

….

We are back in Gauteng and in our beautiful house. To say that Venda has been dramatic would be an understatement. Where does one start?
Okay, let me start off by saying that we are in the process of changing the Mbatha-fly Communications name to N.I.R which stands for “Next Industrial Revolution”. We chose this name because the idea of our company is to be ahead of the industrial revolutions to come and to be an industry leader as well as a game changer in our industries. We will be dabbling in Technology, Communications and Financial Solutions. We got an attorney involved and asked what risk we are running having a Financial Solutions pillar where Ramaru Holdings has an insurance pillar that falls under Financial Services. They advised us accordingly and while we run the risk of being sued for restraint of trade, we have put aside money to make a lumpsum payment to Ramaru Holdings should they sue us. So, we are doing it.
We gifted Mthunzi shares – a solid twenty-five percent of the shares. He’s happy. He’s as good as an owner around here.

I am the Chief Director of the Communications, Brand and Marketing Pillar. Thomas is the Chief Director of the Technology pillar. Mthunzi is the Chief Director of the Financial Services Pillar. We have also moved to a different building – a bigger building actually.
This building is on hectic acres of land, so we could do a lot here.

When we approached genius Mfundo to join us, giving him a management role in Finance, he happily accepted and asked us to take on his soccer team and make it a competing team.
What soccer team you may ask? This was also our reaction to that suggestion.
Then, Mthunzi and Mfundo proceeded to tell Thomas and I that Mfundo started a soccer team in Mafikeng. He’s been funding it himself. It’s still in the development stage.
He thinks there’s an opportunity to really build the team and make them compete on international platforms. After an hour-long presentation, Thomas and I agreed to take on the club. Mfundo is the football director of the club. But we’ve hired staff to take care of coaching and developing the team. So, on our premises, we are building a football village that will be our home for the players.

Thomas has officially resigned from Ramaru Holdings and it’s war. The Ramaru brothers don’t want to buy Thomas out. But they are now upset that he gets a salary from Ramaru Holdings even though he doesn’t work there anymore, so they are back with lawyers negotiating his pay-out fee. Then we were told that the family home in Venda is paid for by Ramaru Holdings, so if Thomas leaves Ramaru Holdings completely, we must either contribute to maintaining the house or not go there at all anymore. They even wanted to remove Lydia’s body from the family graveyard. Imagine!
So, we calculated the cost of maintaining the house, split it four ways and Thomas will pay his portion monthly. I was actually not hurt. I thought I would be, but I understand why he wouldn’t want his wife’s body removed from there and why it’s important to him to have all of us buried there even though things are not good between him and his brothers right now. That’s his home and while they have no right to take it away from him, I can see why he wants to make his contribution so that his children don’t feel like guests in that home. But, that’s how our three month stay turned into a month and we are now back home.
Now, I’m also officially the most hated wife in the Ramaru kraal. I’m the wicked witch that used muthi on their brother and removed him from his family. I’ve been insulted on all levels of insults. It’s whatever to me. I survived the Mohales. These ones are small fish.

I’m home today managing the house and trying to do some work from the office. While I am on maternity leave, I’m still the founder and now chief director of N.I.R Communications. I have to submit a branding and marketing strategy to Mfundo for the N.F.R Legends: Next Football Revolution Legends. We changed their name so they are aligned to N.I.R. I’m also headed to a sports brand today with Mfundo – Ranwedzi in his stroller will be in the mix – to design their kit. So, the strategy must be submitted to him. We are still recruiting a team for the management of the club. I need him in our finances full time.
Thomas and Mthunzi are in meetings all day.

“Mfundo?” How did this boy even get into my house without me knowing?
“Hey, aunt Fiks.” He casually says.
“Is everything okay? Am I late or are you early?”
“I’m very early. Uncle Tom said I can come and take my meetings here. That way, I can be on time for our meeting with the sports brand.”
“Oh okay. Do you want to set up in his office or my office?”
He laughs then says, “I really don’t care. I just need to get work done”.
I laugh.
We made a good decision here.
“Let me make you some breakfast. Please feel at home.”
“Thank you. I’d really appreciate that.” He says.
We make our way to the kitchen. He takes Ranwedzi from me as I get busy.

“How’s dad life?” I ask him.
“Not great. Bontle and I fight all the time. We cannot hold a conversation for two minutes.” He says.
I look at him.
“And I don’t understand how me cheating on her automatically makes me a bad father. Why does she shut me out of my daughter’s life? I actually want to take her to court.” He says.
“Do you think that’s wise?” I ask.
“What choice do I have, Aunt Fiks? My mom has to fight her family every time my daughter has to come and visit me or for me to spend time with her. It shouldn’t be like that.”
“What happened vele between the two of you?”
“I cheated on her. Her ego is bruised so we must all suffer. I’m a twenty-six-year-old unmarried man. What are the chances that I will be faithful to a twenty-two-year-old self-absorbed woman who thinks the world operates on her standards? She even has a whole child and never told me about it. My daughter is her second child. If she thinks I’m that bhari of hers that’s going to let her get away with this shit, she has another thing coming her way. Angidlali naye mina.”
I put a plate of full English breakfast in front of him and juiced fruit. I take Ranwedzi from him so he can eat. Then I say, “Eat up. Then we can be strategic about your approach to this situation.”
He smiles at me.
I’m suddenly glad I have daughters and I’m crossing fingers that Ranwedzi stays my little baby.

Mfundo is actually on calls all morning. I can hear him question things that I’ve never even thought about or ever heard my finance director bring to my attention. I’m keeping this one very close to me. Very close.
I bath Ranwedzi then bath myself. I decide to wear a royal purple suit with a white tank top underneath my blazer suit jacket. I then wear Adidas Stan Smith sneakers with this look. I look like the boss that I am, but also chilled enough to be talking all things football.
As soon as I’m done with everything, I head downstairs with my child, his stroller, a big ass handbag that accommodates my life and Ranwedzi’s life because he’s just taken over my entire life.
As I get into the living room where Mfundo is working, I hear him tell people that they are not dialling off that call until he has his complete financial plan. They all sound scared of him. Which I like. He has to make sure that we have money. We don’t have time for friendly finance people.
He tells them he’s going on mute now and will be driving. But he will be dialled in on his cell and he wants to hear people working. He has a meeting with the finance managing executive and all three of the chief directors tonight. He needs to present and argue what they have done and so far, he insists that he doesn’t know if they’ve earned their salaries. I honestly cannot help but laugh.

He is driving my car. I’m sitting at the back with Ranwedzi. Our brand sponsorship manager is sitting in the front seat with Mfundo. Trust me, this girl thought this would be a nice and giddy ride where we will have coffee. Mfundo is not about that crap.
“How many sponsorships have you achieved for us?” Mfundo shoots away.
I’ve shown him my plan and he loved it. Then he said, “Yaz, Aunt Fiks, people don’t want to work. If our sponsorship manager doesn’t even have half of this, we are firing her.”
I feel bad for people who must report into Mfundo. He’s baby-mama has him in one hell of a mood and they are all going to feel it.
“Well, I thought after today’s meeting, I’d know which direction to go to get the sponsorships.” She softly says.
“What have you been doing in all of the meetings we’ve had with you telling you about the team?” Mfundo barks back.
Kubi!
“Mrs R said she would personally work on the brand and marketing for the team herself. She has people that she works with and left quite a lot of us out.”
“You are not answering my question. You’ve been in every meeting concerning the football team. It was clear that you are there because of the sponsorship element of the team. What sponsorships have you won for us?”
Silence.
“Do you feel like you deserve to be here?” Mfundo asks.
“I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be more prepared next time.” She says.
This response pisses off Mfundo so much that he just keeps quiet.

We arrive at our meeting place and find Thomas and Mthunzi waiting for us. I didn’t even know they were joining this meeting. But hey, Thomas is the CEO that he is because he wants to know what’s happening at all times. Mthunzi is here to be a proud dad, but also, he invested quite a bit of his money in the team. The growth of the team is his prerogative as well.
We all say hi to each other while the sponsorship manager cries at a distance from us. She’s actually going to annoy me. She’s at work. She must pull herself together.
Thomas kisses me then takes Ranwedzi and wakes him up.
“Thomas, we are about to walk into a meeting. Sleeping Ranwedzi is better for effective meetings”, I say.
“I’m sorry, I just missed my boy. Okay, let me put him back to sleep.” He says.
“Put him back in his stroller, the movement of the stroller will help him sleep again”, I say.
Mthunzi and Mfundo laugh at us.
My cellphone goes off.
These are confirmation emails of four sponsors. I show it to Mfundo. He shows his father. Mfundo actually hugs me. This team really means a lot to him. I’m happy we can help in its growth.

The meeting is about two hours. But it’s actually a nice meeting. At some point, Ranwedzi woke up and he has been on his father’s lap ever since. My sponsorships manager was quiet the entire meeting. I need to talk to her about this. I’m not going to be accepting this level of unprofessional behaviour.

We all leave and head back to the office. The village is already being built and I want to see it. I also just want to see my new office and how big my company is growing. I’m so proud of myself.
I’m actually so emotional. I’m so so emotional.
“Love? What’s wrong?” Thomas asks me as we go up the elevator.
“I can’t believe this is how big we are growing”, I say.
Mfundo, Mthunzi and Thomas laugh.
Thomas hugs me and says, “You are a genius. We are so proud of you.”
I felt that.

We are now on the fifth floor. All three of us chief directors sit on this floor. Our offices are huge. They have boardrooms inside dedicated to us. They have kitchens inside dedicated to us. They have restrooms inside dedicated to us. They each have walk-in closets dedicated to us. Thomas and Mthunzi have bars in their offices with the branding of the alcohol beverage sponsoring our soccer team. Instead of a bar, I have a study/working area for my girls when they come and have to do homework. It’s attached to a mini lounge area where there is a TV, couches and coffee table for them to chill when they come here.
The open plan area that our offices surround sits our PAs, secretaries and business managers. I still have Thando as my business manager. Thomas and Mthunzi have their own business managers.
I’m in love!

The company is much bigger. It even feels bigger now when you walk in and out of it. I still have two months left of my maternity leave, so if I do work, it will be from home. People were excited to see me and meet Ranwedzi. They all thought he is such a cute baby. I mean, look at his dad.
But we have to leave now because I need to pick up my girls from school. Also, Ranwedzi is over this day. We’ve never been this busy. He and I are such home bodies. So, he’s cranky now and in a mood. He wants to be home. He’s not used to being out for this long.
Mfundo is already on the third floor where he sits.
“He works too hard”, I tell Mthunzi.
“I’m a proud dad, I must say.” He says.
“But, he will age too quickly if he doesn’t take a break. Give him a beer and have a chat with him. Bontle is really getting under his skin regarding his daughter. He briefly told me about it.”
He seems a bit hurt.
“He’s a good person, Mthunzi. Please, help him if you can. He doesn’t deserve this. I’ll see you later for our meeting”, I say.
“Ngiyabonga, Mrs R.” He says then hugs me.
“Sure thing. Keep him fresh. He must look like you when he’s a mkhulu one day.” I say and Mthunzi bursts into laughter.
“How are things coming up with the team?” I ask him.
“We found a coach. Ramaru and I actually agreed that the coach is good. For the development stage, we will work with him. He currently coaches a smaller local team that’s in the PSL. We will see how he does. We told him we not buying players yet. We have thirty-five players under us right now that he must work with and forty players in the development and junior teams. We want to see him groom talent and make them professionals. He’s not here to just buy already groomed players that are on their way to retirement.” Mthunzi tells me.
“Plus, we’ve given him facilities and equipment. We are in the process of getting physios and other staff. We’ve given him three assistant coaches. If he cannot perform miracles with that, he’s not for us.” Thomas adds.
I nod my head.
Thomas and I have also bought into the team. The money we’ve made from my apartment in Tholoana Kingdom… we took R4 million from it and invested in the team.
“Well, do best gentlemen. I’ve bagged sponsors and I’m wrapping up the brand and marketing plan. By the end of this week, we are putting the team to the world. How long until our village is complete?” I say.
“Another three months”, Thomas says.
“Okay. I want us to shoot here… the intro video.” I say.
“Thankfully, you’ll be back from maternity leave by then”, Thomas says.
Ranwedzi now cries.
Okay, he’s over me.

We leave.

11pm.

The kids are asleep.
I’ve set up a dinner for two in our dining room.
Mr R should be home soon.
I’m dressed in a lingerie piece and heels.

He walks into the house. He finds the dim lights, me and a plate of soul food.
He is frozen at the door. He looks at me.
“Welcome home, Mr R.” I say.
He is a bit…
I take his bag from him and take off his suit jacket.
I kiss him.
He is already ready to take me to bed. But he must eat first.
I lead him to the table and seat him at his chair.
I serve him his food and some juice.
Then, I sit next to him – on his left – then start eating as well.
He’s staring at me and not eating.
“Your food is getting cold, Mr R.” I say.
“How am I supposed to eat when –
He is quiet.
I laugh.
He smiles at me.
He starts eating.
“How was your day?” I ask him.
“Busy. But exciting. I’m so excited. I’m learning everyday. I have a brilliant team that I’m working with. Quite a lot of the staff at Ramaru Construction want to come work with us. I took my executive team with me and we’ve split them between Mthunzi and I. We are going to do well, babe.” He says. He’s tired, but he’s glowing as he talks about work.
I smile at him.
I love it when he is so happy.
“I’m so happy for you, love.” I say.
He kisses me.
“How was your day?” He asks me.
“Ranwedzi is not happy with me. Today was our first day back at work. He’s used to his own routine, so being outdoors today and us not being home all day as he is used to… it just made him very upset with me.” I say.
He laughs then says, “I hope Ranwedzi knows that you are my wife. We don’t share you.”
I laugh.

He wipes his plate clean. I take the plates to the kitchen. The plan is to at least make it to the bedroom, but no…
Mr R bends me over the kitchen island and our steamy night begins.