Taken By a Mafia King by Hlengiwe Mathebula (best way to read books txt) 📕

throughout the drive and the names Melusi and Ayanda keep popping on his screen. And them Melo sends me a text.

Melo: what you said about mom the other day is cruel. She hasn’t stopped crying since that day. I thought I can build a relationship with you even if you didn’t forgive her but I can’t. I’m sorry.

If he’s trying to make me feel guilty then he’s not succeeding. Even if I was forced to take back those words I won’t. I’m not even going to reply.

But on second thoughts I will.

Me: Sorry lil bro but I won’t take those words back. She’s been crying for the past 6 days? Hell I cried for years. I thought we’ll have a very good relationship too.

I have so many things I want to say but like always I choose not to. And then my phone rings it’s my dad.

“Yebo baba”

“Nkosazana. I’m calling to remind you, of the cleansing ceremony this Saturday”

“Thank you for reminding me. I’ll see you on Friday. I want to talk to you about something” he says okay, we say our goodbyes and hang up.

“I’ll take you to your grandparent’s place” Zweli tells me.

When we get home we head to the kitchen.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks looking anywhere but my face. This is not the Zweli I know. Zweli doesn’t avoid eye contact. Everyone who knows him will tell you that sometimes he’ll stare at you so hard and long you’d want to crawl out of your skin.

“Shoot” I answer rummaging in the cupboard for peanut butter.

“Why did you stay after everything I put you through?”

“I don’t know” he looks like he doesn’t believe and that he wants to say something but decides against it.

                        *

The cleansing ceremony went well but it was a bit emotional. I’m sitting on the couch searching for jobs not just in book publishing companies but everywhere I can apply with my Literature Degree. MaShezi walks in with food. I’m not that hungry but I take the plate and thank her.

 

It’s been a week since Zweli walked out on his business partners and they have been calling and texting. He didn’t want to reply or take their calls until I told him to. The guys agreed that the Mandy chick has to apologise. But he will meet them next week. We are heading to his mom’s house we have to prepare for tomorrow. We are meeting Sizwe’s girlfriend. I can’t wait. The text Melo sent makes me think of my mom and I don’t want to.

We are standing at Zweli’s mom porch waiting for Sizwe’s girlfriend. According to Zweli, Sizwe and his gf have been together for 7 years. But what I didn’t understand is why Zweli would laugh so hard when I said I didn’t know Sizwe had a girlfriend. I’m so deep in thought I don’t see Sizwe and some guy walking towards us. Sizwe has a huge smile on his face while the guy looks nervous.

“Ma and Zeh meet Anthony my gf” I choke on my siliva.

“Your what?” I ask in shock. Sizwe is gay and I didn’t even notice the smallest signs. I’m so shocked Zweli reminds me to close my mouth once we are sitting down at the dining table. I can’t help but stare.

“Stop staring, you’re making him shy” Mpumelelo tells me smiling. I can’t help it.

Two hours later we are sitting in the lounge.

“You’ve been staring” Zweli whispers in my ear which makes me jump.

Everyone knew Sizwe is gay. I decide to join the conversation and wipe off the shock on my face. And once Anthony gets comfortable, he’s a funny person. I’d definitely like to see him again. My stomach hurts from laughing.

                        ***

 

“I decided to meet my business partners again today. You should come with me because Mandy is also going to be there. I told her husband I won’t go into business with them if she doesn’t apologise and he knows I mean it” Zweli announces when he walks into the room.

He looks at my phone and asks why I’m still looking for a job he can provide for me.

“With the money you get from drugs? Blood money?” I reply without thinking. He chokes on his drink. Did Zweli think I’m that stupid?

“I know that you know about the drugs. Funny how you saw them when you first got here but you only telling me today. And believe me all the money I used to pay lobola for you and the money I use to buy food that you eat is not the money I get from drugs.” He replies leaving the room. He comes back within a minute and tells me we can leave. We are quiet the whole time. We are meeting his business partners where we were supposed to meet them the other day. We get here first.

We are 10 minutes early. They arrive on time this time. Ayanda had to force his wife to apologise. She doesn’t want to.

“You know what it’s okay really…”

“She has to apologise” Ayanda insists and the wife keeps giving me nasty looks. And then she tells me she’s sorry and we all know she doesn’t mean it. Zweli takes my hand. I tell him it’s okay he can’t punish Ayanda and Melusi over this. He doesn’t want to stay until the guys both beg him. Gosh I married a stubborn man yerrr.

“Will you sit here with Mandy while we talk to your husband?” Ayanda asks me and I nod. I take my earphones and I listen to my music plus I downloaded the 16 Album and I haven’t had time to listen to it. I’m on the second song when a shy girl walks towards the guys. I see Melusi standing up, they talk for some time and she shakes both Zweli and Ayanda’s hands, then Melusi points her towards us. She stays rooted until I smile and wave her over.

“Hey, I’m Sidingo Mkhize” she smiles at Mandy.

“Hey, I’m Mandy Madondo. Ayanda’s wife” I roll my eyes at the last 2 words. She smiles politely at her and turns to me and introduces herself again.

“Wow such a beautiful name. I’m stealing the name for my baby in the future” she smiles shyly. And then I introduce myself.

“I’m Zekhethelo Khumalo. So nice to meet you” she smiles.

“I hope you’ll treat Bova well otherwise I’ll rearrange your face” Mandy tells Sidingo. We both don’t say anything. I just hope Zweli finishes real quick. After sitting here in uncomfortable silence I decide to start a conversation . We get to know each other, because it looks like we’re going to spend more time together. We share information like our parents, where we are from and stuff like that. When it’s Mandy’s turn she answers in a different way which earn eye rolls from us. I think she’s trying too much.

“As you know I’m Ayanda’s wife. His only wife. I just obtained Masters in Communication Masters at, I did both my Degree and Honours in Johannesburg where I’m from. I have a BA Degree in Journalism, then BA Honours in Communication Studies. I obtained them at UJ” and then she doesn’t say anything.

“Okay wow. Are you married?” Sidingo asks me.

“Yes. My maiden name is Mazibuko. I married Zweli 7 months ago”

“Konje who’s Zweli?”

“The guy wearing white shirt and dark blue jeans. The handsome one.” The last 3 words makes her laugh. I like this girl.

“Time to eat” Melusi announces.

“Yippy” we all reply at once. We are looking at the menus when at the corner of my eyes I see one of the waitresses winking at Zweli. For some stupid reason, I’m jealous and I hope he won’t flirt back.

“I find him handsome” she tells her co-workers.

“And I find myself married” he replies showing her his ring. I hide my smile. This is like the sweetest thing he has ever said.

“That’s sweet like ncoooo” Sidingo whispers in my ear. I hide myself using the menu.

“She’d be lying on the floor with a gun wound in the head, if she said that about Ayanda” she tells me.

“I trust Zweli enough to fend the girls off” I tell her and wink at Zweli who smiles at me.

“I’m so good with guns” she brags looking at me.

“I’m not good with guns but I’d definitely panel beat her if I had to. But like I said I trust Zweli enough to fend the girls off” I tell her in a bored tone. She continues to say

“I guess I love my husband too much. I would’ve…” she doesn’t get to finish.

“Oh God give us a break please” I’m usually quiet but she’s too much.

“Zweli are you guys done?”

“Yes”

“Can we leave?” Ayanda and Melusi frown. He nods and leaves cash for our meals and he takes my hand and we turn to leave.

“I guess I’ll get your digits from Melusi” Sidingo shouts and I turn to smile and nod.

“That was rude”

“You didn’t get to spend 2 hours with her. Guess what she said when we introduced ourselves” and then I tell him the whole story.

“So you didn’t mention that you’re my only wife”

“I didn’t know that marrying you is a lifetime achievement”. He laughs so hard and tells me how intelligent I am. Sounding like a proud parent. During the drive home he tells me about this business deal. I actually didn’t expect him to tell me everything. When we get home, I go over to my side of the walk-in closet. I need to change and wear something short since it’s hot and then I remember what happened the last time I wore something short and I can’t hold back the stupid tears I cry my eyes out. And then my phone vibrates it’s Zweli.

Zweli: are you okay in there? I reply saying I’m okay. If he cared he’d come inside and ask that for himself. I open the drawer with my important documents and then I come across Bonga’s present. The box has some weight, I shake the box so that I get a clue of what is inside but that doesn’t help. I walk to the bathroom to wash my face then I take the box to the kitchen where I find Zweli and his brothers. I’m so happy to see them. I rush over to give them both hugs.

“Are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying” Sizwe asks.

“Yeah. I’m okay”

“But…” Sizwe begins.

“I don’t want to talk about it” I reply he looks at Zweli who shrugs in return.

“I heard her crying in the closet. But she told me she’s fine”

“Did you go in there and ask her what’s wrong?” Sizwe asks

“No”

“When did she tell you that she’s okay?” Mpumelelo asks him.

“I sent her a text” he replies looking anywhere but their faces.

“You’re kidding right?” Sizwe sounds shocked.

“You know I’m not good with these things”. Sizwe and Mpumelelo are both speechless.

“Why did you marry a bustard like him?” Mpumelelo asks giving me a warm hug. I wish I could tell them.

“Because I love him, I guess” I reply honestly. We all sit in the kitchen no one is talking. I decide to open the present.

There’s an envelope and a golden frame and a note.

I bought this as soon as your application was accepted.      I arranged for it to be delivered 4 months after you finished your degree. The frame is meant to frame your degree.      One of the envelope has your spa ticket which I bought a week ago. 0n the other envelope, is a friend of mine’s contact. He works at some publication company, so I made sure you don’t struggle to get a job after Varsity. Please contact him and tell him who you are then you’ll take it from there

Love you always.

Bonga

I reread the note one more than 5 times. I feel tears running down my cheeks. Bonga has never been good with words. The fact that he believed in me and took it upon himself to get me a job makes me wail. Zweli snatches the note, he reads it