LOVI

NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
Chapt
er1
KHANYO

“Donotl etDurbanchangey ou,”-Ithinkwe' veall

beent oldsomet hingal ongt hesel inesbyour
parent swhenwel eftvill
agesf orbi gci ties.They
hav echangedpeopl e,most l
yJobur g, i
tswal lowed
ourf athersbacki nthe90s.Theydon' tcal li
t“ I
Goli
eli
gol aamadoda”f ornot hing.Somel eftandnev er
cameback.I nst ead,anunknownwi fewoul dpitchup
withabr oodofchi l
drent or eportdeat ht othef amil
y,
onlyt ogetasi tet obur yt heso-cal l
edhusbandand
returnbackwher evershecamef rom.Some
respect edfather scamebackl ooki ngl ikehobos,
speaki ngTsot si t
aal withnof r
ontt eet handf ake
sil
v erchainsar oundt heirnecks.Onl yaf ew,may be8
outof10, remai nedt hesame.

Durbanisbadtoo,
butitst
il
lhasthatst
ri
ngof
decencyandreput
ati
ononit.Wit
hgoodpeopl
e
ar
oundyouandy ourheadinther
ightplace,
youcan
makei
there.Youcanachieveyourdreamsand
makeyourparent
sproud.
Icould'v
et urnedoutokayt oo,real
ly.Ihadashoti n
thi
slifething,agoodone.ButImadef r
iends,toxi
c
ones,andt henIst artedmaki ngbaddeci si
ons.
Reall
y,whatwer etheoddsofmeandEf ewor king
out?Efei sn'
tonlyaNi ger
ianwi thshadydeal i
ngs, he
i
s35!Ni ney earsol derthanme!Obv iouslyaman
thatoldandcomi ngf rom anothercount rymusthav e
awi f
ebackhomeandoneort woEmmanuel l
as.
ButbecauseIhav etoxicf r
iends, Nol
wazi t
oldmet o
gi
v ethatrelati
onshi pmyal l
.Ef ehadmoney ,soI
gavehi m myhear t
, vagina,kidneysandev erypiece
ofme.GuesswhatEf edid?Ef emadeenoughmoney ,
heboughthi mselfabi gmansi onsomewher einLa
Luciaandbr oughthi sfami l
yt oSouthAfri
ca.Look
artmenow!Ngi selengedwangi zi
khothaamanxeba
avuz'igazinjengenj a(I'
ml eftalone,l
icki
ngmy
bl
eedingwoundsl ikeadog. )
Mytoxi
cfr
iendshaveputthei
rbusyl
iv
esonholdto
nur
semybr oken-
ass.It
hankGodfort
hesehopel
ess
Queens.We' vebeent oget
herf ort
woy ear sandwe
arestil
lgoingst rong.Ithi
nkNol wazi
ist hemost
toxi
cone, she'stheonewho' salwaysleadi ngt
rai
nto
thejungle.Shecameupwi ththeideaofmegoi ngto
theclubanddr i
nkingmysor rowsaway .Andwel l
,
Gugubei ngt hemostconnect edandmoni edone,
sheor ganizedtransportandmadesur et hatweare
i
nt heVI Psect i
on.
Ihaveachancet ohookupwi thanybigshot,j
ustto
getmy sel
far ebound,butI'
vedrankmorethanIcan
handle.I
'v
ebeeny el
li
ng,dancingandopeningupto
str
angersaboutmyper sonalprobl
ems,whilemy
fr
iendshookupandscor ethemselvesafewr ounds
andfreedrinks.
Beforegoingtothebat hroom Iswal
lowanother
tequil
ashot.Idon'tknowwher eNolwaziandGugu
are,i
t'
snowmor ni
ngandweneedt oleav
e.Ijump
offthebarstool,
myf eetlosebal
anceandIbump
againstoneofthet ablesinthefr
ontrow.
“Watisfoutmetjou?
”Oh,no!Youdon'
tmesswit
h
thi
srace.Thetabl
eshookandallt
hei
rdri
nksspi
l
led
onthefloor
.
Thetall
estonewi t
hnof rontteethandser ial
kill
er
earsi
salreadyonhi sfeet.May beiftheywer eonl y
malesIwoul d'v
ebeenabl etonegot iate,butthey'
re
wit
htheirladiesandt hey'
realreadyswear i
ngand
thr
eateni
ngt oslicemyboobs.I 'm notget t
ingintoa
fi
ghtwithcoloured,intoxi
catedpeopl e!

Itakeoffmyheel sandrev i
vetheCasterSemeny a
i
nsideme.Af ri
kaansinsultsfol
lowbehindmeasI
dashout ,
pushingbouncer soutofmywayand
runni
ngoutoft hebuil
ding.Icrosst
her oadwi t
hmy
eyesclosed,carsarehootingatmeandI 'm suret
hat
I'
m gett
ingmor einsul
tsfrom thedr
ivers.
Cabsareal waysparkedoutsi
dethisblockofst
ores
andwai t
ingforpeoplel
ikeme; t
hosewhoneed
urgenttr
ansport.Mostofthesecabsar eempty
,onl
y
thesil
ver-gr
eyonehast hedri
veratthefront
.It
urn
toitandbangt hewindowwi t
hthefrontofmyshoe.
“Musgrav
e!”I
'
my ell
ingathi
m.Heneedstounl
ock
thedamndoors!Ihaveangr
ycol
oureddr
unkar
ds
hunti
ngmedown.
“
Nkosazane,
”-I
t'
shi
m,t
hedr
iver
,rol
l
ingdownt
he
wi
ndow.
Baki
thi,
Idon'
thaveNkosazanet
ime!Onepunch
fr
om thosepeopl
e-Il
oseallmyt
eeth.
Oh,t
hedoor
shaveunl
ocked.Iopent
hebackone
andl
oungemysel
font
heseat .
Socomf
ort
abl
eforacab!
“123EssenwoodRoad,
thesecondbuil
dingopposi
te
Steer
s,Musgrav
eCentr
e,”It
ell
him af
tercat
chingup
mybr eat
h.
Bethuna,heneedstomov e!Whysomuchbeard
anyway,don'tt
heyhavesalonswher
ehecomes
fr
om?Hi safrolooksgoodandwellt
akencar
eof,
butreal
ly
, i
t'
ssummermos.
Aftersomuchf rowningandstari
ng,hefinal
l
ystar
ts
thecab.Irel
easeasi ghofrel
iefandleanbackon
theseatwithmyey esclosed.Theycannotgetme
now, bl
oodycolouredfool
s!
Heh,Iwonderi
fIhav
eenoughmoneyt
opayf
ort
his
cab.
“
Howmuchi sitgoi
ngt obe?
”Iask,
sil
ent
ly
wonder
ingi
fhe'dacceptmyweaveaspayment
.
Icat
chagl i
mpseofhi m shaki
nghisheadt
hrough
ther
ear-vi
ewmi r
roranddecidetokeepmypeace.
We'l
lcrossthepaymentbr i
dgeoncewegetto
Musgrave.
-
-
“
Nkosazane,”saysadeepv oi
cesomewher
earound
me.Iopenmyey esslowlyandscanar
ound.Oh,I
'
m
i
nacar,outsideourbui
ldi
ng.
“
Wear
eher
e,”t
hemansay
s.
Peoplewearsui
tssoearlyi
nthemorning?Oh
shucks,Ineedt
odiscusspaymentar
rangement
s
wit
hhi m.
“
Howmuchi
sitgoi
ngt
obe?
”
“
R3000.
”
LOL.Il
aughi
nFrench.R3000?Wasthi
sapr i
vatej
et?
YesI'
m dr
unkandIdon'thav
eabri
ghtfut
ure,butI
knowMaths.
“
That
'sday
li
ghtr
obber
y,R3000f
oramer
ecab?
”I
ask.
Hestands,ankl
es-
crossed,
wit
hhiselbowbalanced
abovethecardoor
.Ishenotgoingtorecal
cul
ate?
Thisi
stoomuchandheknowsi t.
“I
fyou'
renotgoi
ngt
opaymeatl
eastgetoutofmy
car,
”hesays.
That
'sevenabetteropti
on,buthe'
sworki
ngf
orhi
s
fami
ly,
I'
m ever
ythingbutI'
m notabul
l
y.
Itakeoffmywr i
stwatch.I
t'
soneexpensi vet hi
ng
thatEfedidn'tbuyforme.Iboughti tl
astyearusing
mysav ings,Isti
llhav
etheslipinmydr awer ,j
usti
n
casesomeonet ri
estoarguet hatIboughtitwithR3
645atBr owns.Oneoft heseday sI'
m goingt opri
nt
copiesofthatslipandlaminatetheorigi
nal one.
“
I'
m sur
eyou'
l
lgett
hatamountf
rom t
his,
”Ihandt
he
watcht
ohim.
I
'm notsureifhisstarei
sjudgmentalorconcerned.
Hetakest hewatchandpushesi ti
nsidethepocket
ofhisdark-gr
eysuit.Imustsay,
Ididn'texpecthi
m
toacceptthiseasil
y.
Heget sinsidethecaranddr i
vesof fslowly.Ir
eall
y
needtosl eep,I
'mtempt edt othrowmy selfhereon
thepavementanddr i
ftof f
.Wai t…i
st hataShembe
sti
ckerIseebehi ndmycab?That '
snotev enacab,
i
t'saC-Classwi tht
heNZr egistrat
ion.FatherGod,
didIhij
ackaNazar ethmani ntodrivingmeher e?
Forgetaboutdrunkcol oureds,that'
snot hi
ng
compar edtowhatI '
vedone-t owhatt hismeans.I'm
soberinani nst
ant.Whati fher eportsmei nhis
church?I'
m surehe'sgoi ngtot akehi scartothe
templetobecl eansed.Adr unkwomani nsidehiscar?
-
-
THEMANQELES
Whi lemostofEnember esidentsrelocat
edt oar eas
closertoMandeni , t
heManqel esandf ewot hers
remai nedbehi ndandbui l
tsomet hingoutnot hing.
It
'sfarf r
om ev erythi
ng,governmentser vi
cest ake
l
ongert oarri
ve,that'si
ftheyev engetthere.Butt he
vil
lagehaspr ogr essed,onitsownandbyt hosewho
resideinit.Event houghthey'resti
lltr
adit
ionallybuil
t,
mosthomest eadshav ebeenr oofedwi t
ht i
lesrather
thangr ass,wal l
sar ebui
ltoutbr i
cksandpai nted.
Theystil
lkeept
hei
rli
vest
ockandcropsmal
l
gardensbelowt
hei
rhomesteads.
Zakhel eManqel eleftahugel egacyf orhiski ds.His
deat hcameshor tandshocki ng.Buthehadl i
ved,
l
ov edandl efthismar ki nthisv i
ll
age.Hi shomei s
thel argest, withitshighpeakal umi num wi ndows,
peachpai nt edsix-cornerr ondav els, acapacious
eleven- room r anchhousest andingbet weent hem,
andt hegr eenishbacky ard.Unlikemosthomest eads
here, hisisf encedbyr ound, white- paintedstones
thatopenbel owt hey ardf orentrance.Hewasa
dev otedNazar et
hmant hatmar riedt heloveofhi s
l
ifeinsi det hechur chandl iv
edhi swhol eli
feser vi
ng
andl ivingbyt herulesofNazar et h.
Bandl
alet
hu'ssil
ver-gr
eyC-Classdriv
esin, ar
ound
9:30i
nthemor ning.He'shomeear l
y,thi
sone
al
wayshassomet hi
ngt oli
ngeraroundDur banfor
.
Theyalwaysthoughthe'dmov etothecityoncehe
madeitoutoftheuni ver
sit
y.Butsurpri
singly
,he
camebackhome.
“Didt
heyki
ckyououtofthehot
el?
”Nkonzoteases
him.He'
swashi
nghiscarnextt
ohisr
ondavel.He
wasthefi
rstonet oret
urnhomeaftert
heirmeeti
ng
i
nDurbanCent r
alwheretheywereseal
ingadeal
wi
thoneoft hebiggestpri
nti
ngcompaniesbasedin
Mayv
ill
e.
“Notreal
ly.Icancell
edmymeet ingwi t
hNdl ovuInc,
”
Bandlasay s,
wal ki
ngpasthimtot hemai nhouse.He
hastogreett hewholefamil
ybef oregoingtohis
rondavelt
or eplayever
ythi
ngthathappenedt ohim
thi
smor ni
ng.

“Mt honga!”Hiseldestbrother, Thakasa, shakeshi s

handast heybumpi nt
oeachot heri nthekitchen.
Theyusual l
ycalleachotherusi ngt hisclan-name,
especi all
yThakasa, maybehe' sev enl ongforgotten
theirnames.Keepi ngupwi ththr eebr othersandt wo
sistersmustbeaj obandhal f
.Nkonzocomesaf ter
him, they'
rejusttwoy earsapar t,howev erNkonzoi s
takingt hi
slif
ethinglessser i
oust hananyoft hem.
Bandl aisthethirdbornwi thast agnantl if
eand
strongestwor kethic.Afterthreeboy sZakhel eand
MaKhumal owereblessedwi t
hadaught er,
Mawande.
Theyj ustmar ri
edherof ftwoy ear sago, shewas
only22butsheconvincedever
yonet
hatshewas
ready.Sqal
oandPhet hi
l
earethetwi
nsZakhel
elef
t
behindattheageof10.They'
re17nowandfini
shi
ng
highschool.
I
ntotalMakhumal
oandZakhelehadsixchil
dren;
twodaughter
sandfourboy
s.Thakasa36,Nkonzo
34,Bandl
a29,Mawande24,Sqal
oandPhet hy17.

“Youar
ehomeear l
y,
”Thakasasays,tr
yingt
oread
Bandl
a’
sclosed-
offf
ace.I
t'
ssounlikeBandl
ato
comebackfrom Dur
banthi
searl
y.
“Icancel
l
edmymeeti
ng,so.
..
”Heshr
ugshi
s
shoulder
sandgr
absonebananaf
rom t
hef
rui
tbowl
.
“
Andyou?Ithoughtyou’
dbepreparingforyourt
ri
p
wi
thyourwife,
”Bandl
aenqui
res,peeli
nghisbanana
wi
thhiseyesonThakasa.
Heexhalesandt
apshisf
ingersonthecount
er.
That'
swhathedoeswhenhe'sstr
essedout;
his
fi
ngersalway
shavesomethi
ngtodo.
“
I'
ll
bej
oini
ngherl
ateri
ntheweek,
”hesay
s.
Bandlafrowns.Not hi l
ehasbeenpr epar
ingf orthis
tri
pforawhi lenow.Thei rmar r
iagehasn'tbeeneasy ,
thei
rfai
lureofhav ingki dsisthemai nconstituentto
Thakasa’sunhappi ness.I t
'sbeen6y earssincet hey
ti
edtheknot ,andoneoft hereasonswhyThakasa
gotmarriedint hefirstplacewasbecausehe
wantedtohav ekids.Thi stri
pwasgoi ngt obet heir
breakfr
om ev erythingthat '
shappening-they'dlet
l
ooseandr econnectasacoupl e.
“
What'
sthepoi
ntofhergoi
ngonthi
str
ipwi
thout
y
ou?”Bandl
aaskswit
haf r
own.
“What '
syourpointofquesti
oningmebecauseyou
knowI '
lll
eavewhenIsayI 'm goi
ngt ol
eav
e?”He'
s
ri
ght.Onlythei
rsister
,Mawande, knowshowtoget
throughhim.Outoft hem al
l,Thakasai
sthemost
stubbornone.
“AllI
'
m sayingi
s,don'tbetoohardony ourself.I
twil
l
happenwheni thappens,youdon'thav
et ost op
beingahusbandj ustbecauseyou'
renotbecomi nga
fat
her.”HeleavesbeforeThakasacandefend
himself.Hedoesthatevenwhenheknowst hathe's
wrong.
“MthongaIcan'
tdot
hisany
mor e,
”hesaysbefor
e
Bandlatakest
hecor
nerl
eadingtothedi
ningr
oom.
Bandl
astopsandl
ooksbackwithhi
sfor
ehead
cr
eased.Whati
sThakasasay
ing?Hecan'
tdowhat
?
“
Whatareyout
alki
ngaboutMthonga?
”heasksand
t
akesst
epsbackinsi
det
hekit
chen.
“I
'
mt ir
edoft r
ying.Ithi
nkit'
stimeIacceptthatI'
m
nevergoingtohav echi
ldren.Si
xyearsisav er
ylong
ti
meBandl a.It
'sti
meIacceptt hi
sinabi
lit
y.”Thi
sis
nothim speaki
ng,it'
spain.
“Taket
histripwit
hy ourwife,
NkonzoandIwil
l
managet ogether
,”Bandlasays,
try
ingnott
osound
sympatheti
corhopel essasheis.
“I
'
llsee,
”Thakasasaysandheav esasigh.There'
s
hope;hemi ghtgotothistri
pwi t
hhiswife.Hopef
ull
y
Nothil
edoesn'thav
ecr azybaby -
makingplans
awaiti
ngforthem i
nBal ibecausethatwouldpush
Thakasaofftheedge.He' salr
eadyexhausted,
emot i
onal
lyandsexually.
Bandl
aproceedst
othel
oungewher
ePhethyandhi
s
motherar
e.Hegreet
sandj
oinst
hem i
nfr
ontofthe
TV.
“Ar
en'
tyousupposedtobeattendi
ngy ourext
ra
Sci
encecl
asstoday?”heaskshissi
ster,Phet
hy.
“
I'
m wai
ti
ngf
orSqal
o,”shesay
s.
Makhumal oandBandl ashareal ook.Sincewhendo
theywaitforeachother?Sqaloev enchanged
schoolsbecausehistwi nsi
sterwascl i
ngyand
annoying.Sometimest heyfi
ghtov erfr
iends,
apparentl
ySqalohast hisski
llofattr
actingcool
fri
endsandPhet hyalway st
agsher sel
fal onghi
s
crew.
“I
t'
syourbir
thdaytomorrow,you’
returni
ng29
Bandl
a!”Heknowst hi
sconv er
sati
onv er
ywel l
.Once
hi
smot herstar
tsremi
ndinghim abouthisageit
si
mplymeanst hathemustgetawi fe.Herandt he
el
dersinchurchhavechosenaf ewpossible
matchesforhim.Heisjustnotemotional
lythereyet
.
“
YouandNkonzoaregoi
ngtot
urnmeint
oa
l
aughi
ngst
ock,
”shemumblesandpi
cksherwool
andr
esumesherkni
tt
ing.

It
'sclearwher eNkonzostands,he'
salwaysbeen
vocal abouthisfearofmarri
ageandthatit'
snot
happeni ngany t
imesoon.ButMakhumalobel i
eves
thathe'llchange,t
hechurch'
seldestmencant al
k
sensei ntohishead,soshemakessur ethat
everyonei srel
igi
ouslygr
ounded.
“
Ineedanap,
”Bandl
asay
s,get
ti
ngof
fthecouch.
“CheckonSqaloforme.I'
vebeenwai t
ingforhours,
”
Phethysayswithaneyeroll
.Thi
sisahabitshe
ref
usestoletgo.Sherol
lsherbigey
esatev eryone,
evenatThakasa;theMufasaofthefamil
yasmany
call
him-theKingoftheJungle.

Bandlausest hebackdoorthatl
eadsouttoSqal
o'
s
rondavel.I
t'
sf i
rmlyshut
,butnotl
ocked.Ashegets
nearertwodeepv oi
cescanbeheardexchangi
ngnot
-t
ool owwhi spers.
“
Yoh!Ar
ghhh!Mmm!
”Moansar
ecomi
ngf
rom t
he
r
ondavel
.Whatthehecki
sSqal
odoi
ngi
nsi
det
hei
r
f
ather
'spr
emises?
“Sqal
o!”Bandlaaggr essiv
elypushest hedoorand
walksintohisli
ttl
ebr othernakedont hebedwi th
hisbestfr
iend,Mpilo.Theirgenit
alsar el
eaking,
Sqalowasont opofMpi lobuttheyjumpedassoon
asthedoorshifted.They '
reontheirfeet,
lookingat
Bandlanervousl
y .
“Whatareyoutwodoingher
e?”Bandlaasks,
his
hearti
sbeati
ngbeyondnormal
,hischesti
sdryasa
desert
.
“I…I…Iwas…”Sqalo'
slipt
remblesandhef ai
lst
ohol d
backhi stear
s.Healwaysdoesthis,
it'
sjustat
rick
theyallknowt oowel
l.Hecri
esandget sawaywi t
h
things.Butnotthi
sti
me!
“Sqaloyousleepwithotherboys?Whatiswrong
withyou?”Bandlaball
shisfinger
sint
oaf i
stand
clencheshisjaws.He'
sfight
ingtheurgeofpunchi
ng
boththeirf
aces.
HeturnshiseyestoMpil
owho'
sstandingl
i
kea
r
ainedchicken.Whati
swrongwi
ththeseboys?How
di
dtheyev
enl
ookateachot
herl
i
ket
hat
?
“Getcl
eaned,
rightnow!
”hehi
ssesandst
ormsout
angri
ly
.
Hest andsoutsidethedoorandpacesar oundwith
hisfi
stsball
ed.Whyi sheev enlooki
ngoutforthem?
Heshoul dbet aki
ngthi
sstraighttoThakasawho'l
l
call
anur gentfamilymeeti
ngbet weenthetwo
famil
iesandr epri
mandtheseboy s.

Mpi l
oisthefi
rstonet owalkoutwi
thhisbackpack
andt ai
lbet
weenhi slegs.Hecan'
tevenbri
ng
hi
msel ftol
ookatBandl a.Sqal
ofol
lowsoutand
standsbehindBandla.
“
Phethyi
swait
ingf
oryou,
”Bandl
asay
swi
thout
t
urni
nghisf
acetohi
m.
He'
sdi
sgust
ed!
“
Bhut
i…”He'
sner
vous.
“
Voet
sekSqal
o!”
Bandlai
sjustali
ghterver
sionofThakasa.They
prot
ectyou,comethroughforyouever
yti
mey ou
needhel
p,butthey
'renotyourfr
iend.Nkonzoisthe
easi
erone,butmaybenottooeasyt otel
lthatyou
l
ovehavingsexwithotherboys.
Sqal
odisappear
sbef
oreheget
smor
ethanj
usta
di
sgust
edlook.
-
-
Nkonzowalksinwear ingonlyhisshortandsandals.
He'stwoshadeslighterthantherestofhissibli
ngs,
withl
eanshouldersandSat an'spokemar ksonhi s
cheeks.He'
sbeencr ownedt hemostgood- looki
ng
one,withhi
skil
lersmi l
ethatmakesf emalesweaki n
thei
rknees.
Hel
ower
shi
msel
font
hebednextt
oBandl
a'
sfeet
.
“
Whyar
eyousosour
?”heaskscheeki
l
y.
Bandl aexhal esandshift
shi spil
lowupt ofacehis
brother.Nkonzoget sal
ongwi t
heveryone,he'
s
hardlyev erinvolvedint
hesi bli
ngfi
ghts.Buthe
cannott ellhim aboutSqalo.Hecannott el
lanyone!
He'l
l decidehowhedeal swi thhimlat
er.
“
Hav
eyouev
ermetsomeoneandf
eltl
i
key
ou'
vemet
t
hem bef
orebuty
ou'
veact
ual
l
ynev
ermet
?”heasks.
“No,
”Nkonzosay
sandst
aresathi
m,awai
ti
ngf
oran
expl
anat
ion.
“Youmeanyou'v
eneverl
ookedatsomeoneyou
don'
tknowintheey
esandfeltdr
awntothem?”
Bandl
aasks.
“Well
,af ewtimesbuti tdidn'
tlast.Excusemy
l
anguage, butthiswholesoul mat eshitdoesn'tex
ist
.
Peoplelearntolove,youdon' tbumpi ntosomeone
andfalli
nlover i
ghtaway .Whaty oufeelthereisonl
y
att
racti
on-loveandat tr
act i
onar etwodi ffer
ent
thi
ngs.”Heknowsandt alksalot ,t
hat'
swhyt heyall
askhimf oradv i
ces.Hei saPhi losophygraduatebut
worksforthef amil
ybusi nesslikeallofthem.
“Ionl
yaskedy
ouasi mplequesti
onNkonzo,
but
anywayIwashij
ackedthi
smor ni
ng.
”
Nkonzo’
sey
esgr
owwi
deandBandl
alet
souta
chuckl
e.
“Iwasf orcedbyadrunkgir
lint
odr
ivi
nghertoher
place.Ithinkshewasrunni
ngawayfrom ot
her
drunkardsi nacl
ub,
”hesays.
Nkonzocracksint
olaught
er.Bandl
aisl
aughi
ngt
oo,
becausewow, t
hatgir
lwashil
ari
ous.
“Soaf
tertur
ningmycari
ntohercabsheofferedme
herwatchaspayment
.Shewasdr unkbutbroke.
”
Laught
eragai
n!
“
Butthi
swatchlookshel
lexpensi
ve,
”Nkonzosay
s,
l
i
fti
ngthewatchup.
“
Isai
dIwant
edR3000f
ordr
ivi
ngher
,”Bandl
asay
s.
“
R3000?
!”Lor
d,t
hisi
sget
ti
ngt
oohi
l
ari
ous.
“
She'
stheper
sonI
'
mtal
ki
ngabout
,”hesay
s.
Nkonzost
opslaughi
ngandf
rowns.Whati
sthi
sone
t
alki
ngaboutnow?
“
Adr
unk?
”heasks.
Bandlaexhalesdeeplyandnods.Heknowshow
crazyhesoundsr ightnow,theywererai
sedbetter
andtheirfut
ureisbr i
ght.I
fhefeel
slikehe'
sreadyto
l
ov ether
eareel dershe'
llt
alktoandhe'l
lchoose
i
nkosazanet hathecanbui l
daf ami
lywith.
“
I'
dfal
li
ntoasi
ntoseet
hatwomanagai
n,
”hesay
s.
Nkonzogaspsi
nshock.Thi
sisser
ious!
“Whatdoy ouwanttoseeherfor?Shepaidforyour
“cab”
,”Nkonzoteaseswithasti
fl
edchuckle.TheC-
ClassisBandla’
sfavour
it
ecar,event
hey'
renot
all
owedtot oywit
hit,f
oritt
oreducedint
oacabbya
drunkgir
lishil
ari
ous.
“
Iwantt
ogi
vebackherwat
ch,
”Bandl
asay
s.
“
And?
”Nkonzol
i
ftshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“Andwhat?I
t'
smybirthday
,I'
l
ltakemy
sel
foutf
ora
peacef
uldi
nnerwi
thoutyouall
.”
“
Withher
?Makhumal
oisgoi
ngt
osl
i
cey
ourbal
l
s
mfanawaki
thi
!”
Theybot hknowthatifMakhumalof i
ndsoutt
hat
Bandlaev enhadathoughtofenter
taini
ngadrunk
gi
rlacrosshismind,hel
lwil
lbreakloose.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
Chapt
er2
BANDLA
Hissist
er,Mawande, wantedt ocomeal l
theway
fr
om Manget het oarr
angeabi rt
hdaydi nner
cel
ebrati
onf orhi m.It
'sfi
nal
lyhis29t h,he'sal
most
30,andthisy earhewant stodosomet hingdif
ferent
.
Hiswholelifehasbeenscr i
pted,thedinner
Mawandewant edt ohostwould'
vebeennodi ff
erent
fr
om anyot herdi nnerhi
m andal lthesibl
ingshave
hadfortheirbirthdays.
He'll
got oDur ban, fi
ndt hatgi r
l andcelebr atehi
s
bir
thdaywi thher.I t
'sast upidi dea-that'swhat
Nkonzohasbeent el
linghi m si ncey esterday.He'
s
notgoingt ohav eaf uturewi thadr unkar dthatst
ays
i
nt hecityandent ert
ai nmenf oralcohol .They'
re
menandt heirsexual needshav etobet akencareof
.
Butthere'sawayofdoi ngt hings.Thei rfatherwas
themostr espect edmani nt hev i
ll
age.Thakasahas
alr
eadyf oll
owedi nhi sfoot steps, nowal leyesareon
NkonzoandBandl a.Expect ationsar ev eryhigh!
Hestepsoutoft hebathroom wrappedinat owel
andpickshislongnavypantandcr ispywhit
eshirt
.
Thewat chisontopofhisbed.It'
llbehisini
ti
al
excuseofseeingthatgir
l f
orthesecondtime.He
doesn'
thav ehernameorany thi
ngt angi
ble,
except
heraddressandphy si
calappearancethathehopes
todescribetosomeonewhomi ghthelp.

Hedressesupandspendsamomenti
nfrontoft
he
mir
rormakingsur
ethathi
saf
roi
sneat
lycombed.
Ay oungerv ersi
onofhi m appearsonar eflecti
onof
themi r
ror.Whi l
eev eryonediffersinlooks, him and
Sqaloarej usttwov er
sionsofoneanot her .Sqalo
chosenott olookl i
kehist wi
nsi sterandt ookall
Bandla'
sf eatures.Theyt ookt heirmot her'sdeepset
ofeyes,butt heirsisrarel
ygr ay.Theyhav esi milar
bodystruct ur
e,mol esbel owt heirl
owerl i
psand
sharpernoses.Thei rspeechi srapid,whi chof t
en
l
eadst ost utt
eringwhent hey'
reangr y.Nkonzof ound
aScientif
icmeani ngforit,hecal l
sitadi sor derof
somesor
t.
Theyhav en'
ttal
kedaboutwhathappenedt he
previ
ousday .AllBandlasaidtohi mthi
smor ni
ng
wast hatheneedst opackf oral i
tt
letr
ip.Hisclass
teacherwasal r
eadynot if
iedofhisabsence.That '
s
thethingaboutBandla, hedoesn'thaveaclear
communi cati
onwi ththey oungerones.Hesay s
“j
ump”andexpect syout oask“ howhigh.”
“Bhuti
,whyarewegoi
ngtoDurban?
”He'sst
il
l
standi
ngbythedoor
.Bandl
a'si
cygl
ancetol
dhim
he'snotwel
comedtoenter
.
“Tocelebr
atemybir
thday,
”Bandl
asays,droppi
nga
handloti
ononhispal
m.Hemassagesi tonboth
pal
msandt henr
ubsital
lar
oundhishands.
Hespraystheper
fumear
oundhi
sneckandt
hen
f
ixeshiscol
lar
.
Sqaloknowsther
e'smor
et oitt
hanwhatmeetst he
eye.Bandl
asaidhewantedtocelebr
atehi
sbir
thday
al
one,andnowallofasuddenhe'sdraggi
nghi
m
al
ong?
“
Iwi
l
lconf
essr
ighther
e,r
ightnow.Ther
e'snoneed
formetocomewi t
hyou,”hesay
s.Bandlasl
owl
y
turnsar
ound.He'
sbut
toninguphisshi
rtwi
thhi
s
eyesint
ensel
yfi
xedonSqalo.
“You'l
lconf
esswhat?”Deepdownhe' sscar
edof
whatt hi
sboycouldsay.Hetri
edbyallmeansto
avoidjumpingi
ntoconclusi
ons.Thi
scannothappen
tothem.Ithasneverhappenedtoanyfamil
yinthi
s
vil
l
age!
“
Mthonga,
I'
m gay
,”Sqal
osay
s.
Heshutshi seyes,t
ryi
ngtodi gestt
hisbit
tertr
uth.
Hisheartisabouttojumpoutofhi sthroat.Ev
ent he
enormousbr eathhejusttookwasnotenought o
col
lecthisscatt
erednerves.
“Sqaloyoudon'tknowwhaty ouaresayi
ng.Youare
aman, aManqel e!Youhaveapenisbetweeny our
l
egsandt hat'
smeantt oproducetheManqele’
s
grandchi
ldr
en.Goandf etchyourbag,weareleavi
ng
i
naf ewmi nutes.”He'
sdonetalki
ngaboutthi
s!
Sqal
ost andswit
hhismouthhangingopen.Bandl
a's
shar
pey eshutshismouthandsendshim outoft
he
room l
ookingl
ikeadefeat
edsoldi
er.
Assoonashedisappear
s,Bandl
arel
easesalong
si
ghandsinksonthebedwi t
hhi
shandsoverhis
head.No,
thi
sisnotpossi
ble!
Hehast omakethi
sboyr
eal
izethati
t'
speer
pressuremessi
ngwit
hhi
shead.Amanwascr eat
ed
tomat ewit
hawomanandproducechil
dren.
He'sbeentohot el
sandhe'sdonethingst
hatal
ways
remainbehindhotelcl
oseddoors.Hehasthe
contact
s,hejustsaysthewordandment i
onshi
s
pref
erence.Thisti
mear oundi
t'
sdiff
erent
,ev
enEfe
i
sabi tconfusedabouthischoi
ce.
Hecannotexplai
ntohim becauseit'
l
lleadi
ntohim
exposi
nghisyoungbrot
her’sconfusedsexual
it
y.
“I
fIhav
etopayext
raEf
e,Iwi
ll
.Makesur
eshe'
s
cl
eanandnotol
dert
han23,
”hesays.
“
Avi
rgi
n?”Ef
easks.
“
No.Iwantsomeonewho'
sexperi
enced.Someone
whoknowshowtogiv
eagoodt i
me,”hesays.
“
You'
l
lsendmet
hel
ocat
ion.Consi
deri
tdone.
”
Hesi
ghsouti
ntempor
aryr
eli
efandhangsup.
Notev eninhiswi l
destdreamshasheev erthought
he'l
lbehookinghi s17y ear-ol
dbr otherwit
hay oung
prosti
tuteonhi sbir
thday.Butthesoonerher eal
izes
thathe'saman, t
hebet t
er.IfThakasaandt heelders
fi
ndoutaboutt hi
sit’
llbeadi f
ferentstory
.Hecoul d
bedisownedandcutoutf rom theirfat
her'
s
i
nherit
ancef orever.
-
-
SQALO
He'sinafi
ve-st
arhoteli
nthenort
hcoastofDurban.
Bandla’
sroom i
snexttohisbuthe'
sbeengonef or
hours.Hedidn'
ttel
lhi
m anyt
hing,
justt
hatt
here'
s
someonecomi ngtoseehim.
There'
snothingi
ndicat
ingabir
thdaycel
ebr
ati
on
here.Thisi
sgett
ingmor eandmoreuncomfor
tabl
e
forSqalo.
Mpil
o'
stextbeepsin;
*THI
SISGETTI
NG
FRUSTRATING.ICANNOTFUNCTIONANYMORE*
They'
vebeenkeepingadistance.Aft
ertheygot
caughtSqal
odelet
edalltheircozypict
uresand
wipedthei
rchathi
stor
y.Thisisthelongestthey
havegonewi thoutseeingeachother.Goi
ngout
togetheranddoingsleep-overswil
lbeimpossi
ble
nowt hatBandlaknowst hatthey'
remorethanj
ust
fri
ends.
Heli
esbackonbed,
shi
rtl
ess,
andvi
deo-cal
lsMpil
o.
Hi
sli
pscracki
ntoasmil
ewhenhischi
seledyel
l
ow
f
acepopsuponhisscr
een.
“
Aren'
tyousupposedt
obei
ncl
ass?
”heasks.
“Howam Isupposedtoli
stent
othoseteacher
s?
Youknowwhatmakesmybr ai
nfunct
ion,
”Mpilo
sayswi
thpronouncedli
nesonhisfor
ehead.
Sqaloadj
ustsonbedandunbuckl eshi
sbelt
.He
pusheshispantandbri
efsbelowhisbutt
ocksand
l
ower st
hecamer atohi
sthickeni
ngshaft
.
“
Seet
heef
fectofy
ourv
oice,
”hesay
s.
Mpi
l
oexcl
aimsandcur
ses;
“Fu€k!
”
Sqal
ochuckl
esandwrapshi
shandaroundhi
shard
shaf
t.Hebri
ngst
hephonebackt
ohisfaceandl
icks
hi
sli
ps.
“
Imi
ssy
ou,
ntwana.Idon'
tknowwhatBandl
a
i
ntendst
odot
ome,
butIpr
omi
sey
ou,
I'
ll
nev
erl
eav
e
y
ou.”
Thedoorshi
ft
sopenjustasMpil
oconf
esseshis
l
ovebacktohim.Sqal
o'
shandisstr
oki
nghisshaft
upanddown.
It
'sashort
,brownski ngir
lwearingat i
ghtleather
pantandcroppedt op.Herpinkandgr eenbraidsare
bouncingj
ustani nchaboveherr oundass.She
coul
dbeSqal o'sageorabi tol
der ,
butshe's
upgradedherlookstothoseofagr ownslay-queen.
Sqalo'
sfi
rstr
eactiontothesurpr
iseguesti
s
droppi
ngthecallbefor
eMpi l
oseesher.Buthispant
i
sst i
ll
bel
owhi sbuttandhismanhoodi sexposed.
“
Shi
t!
”hecur
sessof
tl
yandpul
l
suphi
spant
.
Thegi
rlsmi
l
esandst
rut
sar
oundhi
sbed.
“I
'
m Ndalo,yourpart
nerfort
heday,
”shesay
sand
putsherbagont hebedsi
depedest
al.
“
Part
nerfort
heday?”Sqal
ojumpsupt
ohi
sfeetand
l
ooksathercar
eful
l
y.
“
Yes,
”shesay
sandpul
l
sdownt
hear
m ofhert
op.
Herfirm cleavagepopsout.Shestart
srubbi
ngher
palm againstherskinwhi
lestari
ngintoSqal
o'
s
widenedey es.
“Don'
tbescared.We'l
ltakeitsl
owl y
.Comebackon
bed,Isawthatyourdi
€ki shungry.
”Hertopi
s
completel
yout,nowshe'sunstrappingt
hebr
a.
Sqaloisstr
uggli
ngtobreathe.Hisdi
€kwasnot
hungryforher
,itj
ustmeltedbehindhi
sbriefs.A
woman' sbodydoesn'
tdoany thi
ngtohim.Theonly
thi
nghedoesatt hesightofboobsisimagininghi
s
ownchesthav i
ngitsownpai r
.
“
Mybr othersentyouhere?”heasks.Hishearti
s
r
acing.Hedidn'texpectt
hisatal
l.Hethoughtit
wouldbeabeat ingoranyheavypunishment.Not
t
his.
“Don'tworr
y.Hesentmet othedoctorsfi
rstandhad
mecheckedout .Don'tchi
ckenoutonme, I'
m get
ti
ng
agoodpayoutoft his.Tel
lmeexactlyhowr i
chyour
brotheri
s?”Shestepsoutofherpant.I
twasa
struggl
etaki
ngitoffandSqalowasshockedt osee
thatshehadnopant ybeneath.
Herhandi
srunni
ngoverhist
orso.He'
sgl
uedont
he
samespot
,lostf
orwords.
“Haveyoudonethi
sbef
or e?
”sheasks,
trai
l
ingher
fi
ngersdowntohiswai
st.Hisski
niscr
eepingupat
hertouch.
“Pl
easedon'tdothi
s,”hebegsinalowv oi
ce.He'
s
notsurei
fBandlaplantedcamerassomewherein
theroom andhe'
swat chi
ngeveryt
hinggoi
ngdown.
“JustcooperatewithmeandI'
llt
akeyout
othe
worldyou'
venev erbeent
obefore.
”Shegr
absout
hisnowsof tshaftandmassagesit
.
Hewincesandhol
dshi
sbr
eat
hasshemov
esher
handaroundi
t.
“
Icanpayyoudoubl ethemoneyBandl aispaying
you,
”hesaysandinhalessharplyt
hroughhisteeth.
Herhandsaresoftandsomehowhi sshaf ti
s
r
eacti
ngtohertouchasi fsheisMpilo.
“
R30k?
”sheasks.
Sqalogaspsi
nshock.Bandl
aispay
ingherR15k?I
s
thathowhespendshismoney?Payi
nggir
lsf
orsex.
I
sthathowal
lhi
sbr
other
sar
ebehi
ndcl
oseddoor
s?
“Idon'
thavethatki
ndofmoneyrightnow.”Helet
s
outalowmoanasherf i
nger
sdrawuphi speri
neal
raphe.Hi
spre-cum dr
opsonherpalm andshe
bri
ngsherhandt ohermouthandli
cksitoff
.
Shepusheshi
m downonhisback.Hi
sshaf
tishard
andbounci
ngupwards.Mental
l
yhe'
snoti
ntothi
s,
buthi
sbodywantstorel
ease.
“Pl
easegi
vemet hebackonl
y,
”hesays,
tear
inghi
s
eyesawayfr
om hershavedmoundt
hat'
sexposedto
him.
Heshut shi
seyesandl etsthepleasurehertongueis
givi
nghimtrai
lst hr
oughouthisbody.It'
sthebraids
thatkeepdi
sturbinghi
simaginat i
on.Hewant sto
massageashav edheadandl i
stentodeepmanl y
groans.
“
Fuck.Ntwana!”Hest
art
spull
ingherbrai
dsand
t
hrust
inginsi
dehermouthaggressi
vel
y.
Thegaspsandcoughsdrawhim backtother
oom.
Heopenshiseyesandcursesagai
n,atthe
di
sappoi
ntmentthi
sti
me.Foramomenthe
i
magi
nedherbei
ngMpi
l
o.
She'
smov
ingup,
tot
akei
tfur
ther
.
“
Iwantt
heback,
”het
ell
sher
.
“Naught yboy!”Shecomest ohisf
aceandsmashes
herlipsonhi m.Mpi l
o’spict
urekeepspoppingi
nhis
mind.They 'vebeentogetherforayearandthey
promi sedtonev erhurteachother
.Heneverthought
he'dbef orcedtocheatonhi m byhisbr
otherwho
refusestoacceptt hefactsofli
fe.
I
tswal
lowshisshaf
t.I
t'
swetandtenderi
nsi
de.I
ts
l
i
pshavecoveredhi
sshaftcompl
etel
y.Thegi
rli
s
t
werki
ngontopofhim andmoani
ngseducti
vel
y.
Itf
eelsgreat.He'
smeet i
ngherthr
ust
sandpressi
ng
deeplyinhercore.It
'swar
m andthat
'sal
laner
ect
shaftneedstorelease.
Shet
ightensherpu$$yar
oundhim.I
t'
sgri
ppi
nghi
m,
hi
sshaftissqueezedi
n.Helet
soutadeepgr
oan.
“
Howist hat
?”sheasks,
movi
ngherwaisti
ncir
cles.
He'
sbit
inghisl
ipsandmurmur
ingt
hingshecan'
t
makesenseof.
“Doyouli
keit
?”sheasksandgi
veshi
mthatdi
€k-
squeezeagai
n.
“
Yes!
”hebi
teshi
sli
ptosuppr
essascr
eam.
“
Don'
thol
dback,
babyboy
.Fuckme!
”
Hepusheshiswaistupandholdsherwai
st.Thenhe
st
art
sthrust
ingi
ntoherli
kecrazy.
“Nt
wanaI'
m cumming!”He'
sscr
eami
ngand
poundi
ngi
nheraggressi
vel
y.
Hesit
supandf l
i
psheroveri
nthedr
opofahat.He
gi
vesherl
astdeepst
rokesbef
orehi
sbodyt
enses
upontopofher.
“N.
.t
..
w..
a..
n..
a!”Heburi
eshi
sheadoverher
shoul
derandletsoutal
oudgroan.Hi
shotcum
shoot
sinsi
deher .
Heli
ft
shisheadupandfi
ndsthegir
lstari
ngathim.
Hi
sheartst
art
sraci
ngagai
n.Thiswasn'tsupposed
t
ohappen.
Her
oll
sof
fherandl
i
esonhi
sst
omach.
“
Fuck!
”hecur
sesandsni
ff
sov
ert
hepi
l
low.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”sheasks.
“Pl
easeleave.Tel
lmybrot
hery
ouaredonewi
thme
andtakeyourpayment
,”hi
svoi
cei
sbreaki
ng.
Shekneel snexttohim andtri
estotal
k.Yesthey
start
edt hi
ngsonal ownot e,
butbothofthem hada
goodt ime.Him cr
yingmeansherser v
icewasnot
great,andthatmeansEf ewill
cutherpayment.
“Wecandoityourway;
whicheverwayi
tis,
”she
say
s,rubbi
ngherhandonhisback.
Het
urnsar
ound,
hisey
esar
ebl
oodshotandt
ear
y.
“
Isai
dleav
e!”hesay
sst
ernl
y.
“
But…”Hepushesherofft
hebed.Shel
andsont
he
f
loorandwi
ncesoutinpai
n.
“
Leav
e!”her
oar
s.
There’
snoti
met oevencleanherwett
highs,
she
pul
lshercl
othesanddressesupasdir
tyasshei
s.
Hethrowsherbagtoherandfol
l
owshertot
hedoor
.
Heslamsthedooraft
erherandcur
lsupont
hefl
oor
,
huggi
nghisknees.
Hel
etsoutahear
t-
wrenchi
ngcr
y.Heaskedhernot
t
odoitthi
sway!
-
-
BANDLA
Theysaidshe'
llbeinherflatlat
er,ar
ound3pm.She
sharesitwi
thhertwof ri
ends.Thesecurit
yguar
dhe
founddidn'
tsparehim detail
sofwhatkindofgi
rl
s
theyare.Heevenwentasf arascall
i
ngthem
prosti
tut
es.
Itdoesraisequesti
ons;whywoul darespectedguy
l
ikehiml ookforagirl
li
keherhighandl ow,andeven
goasf arasbribi
ngpeopletoreleaseinfor
mation
abouther ?
Well,hehashernameandabi tofherbackground
i
nformat i
on.ButheneedstocheckonSqal of i
rst
.
May behehaschangedhi smind.Eferecommended
thatgirl
,mostcli
entshaveper
manentschedul es
withher.She'
sthebesttherei
sinRoundasBoot y
Club.Howa19y earol
dbecameasexwor kerisa
questionofanotherday.
He'
schangedi
ntodar
k-gr
eenNi
ket
racksui
tand
sneaker
s.Hewal
kst
oSqal
o'
shot
elr
oom andf
inds
thedoorshut
.
Hethoughtt
heywer
edone.Thegir
lonl
yhadt
wo
hour
stospare,
shemust
’vel
eftnow.
“
Sqal
o!”hecal
l
s.
Si
l
ence…
I
t'
snotlocked,heopenst
hedoorandl
etshimsel
f
i
nsi
de.Sqaloiscurl
eduponthefl
oor
,naked.He'
sa
messoftears.
“
Mthonga,whathappened?Ar
eyouhur
t?”heasks
wi
thafrownonhisface.
Sqal
owipeshisf
acewi
thhi
spal
msandsl
owl
yli
ft
s
hi
mselfof
fthefl
oor
.
“
Whyar
eyoucr
ying?
”Bandl
aasks.
Sqal
oli
ft
shisbl
oodshotey
estohi
m.Hemust'
ve
beencr
yingf
ort
oolong,hi
sey
eli
dsar
eswol
len.
“
Mybr
otheri
sdead,
”Sqal
osay
s.
Hisheartbeat
sdr
ums.Hewastal
ki
ngtoThakasa
notsolongagoandhedi
dn’
tmenti
onany
thi
ng.
“
Whi
chbr
other
?”heasks.
“YouBandlalethu.Youaredeadt ome.Iwasbor n
thi
sway ,nonumberofpr osti
tutesy ou'
regoingt
o
sendtohav etheirwaywithmewi l
lchanget hef
act
thatI'
m GAY.I'l
lneverf
orgiv
ey ou,from today
onwardsIonl yhavetwobrothers.”Heshedsanot her
tearandwalkst ohisbed.Heslowl ycli
mbsonand
pull
supt hecov er
s.
“Sqal
owai t
…”Hewal kstowardsthebedbutSi
qal
o
buri
eshishead.BeingdisownedbySiqal
oisnot
whatscareshi
m, he’sscaredofwhatthi
scoul
ddo
tothefamil
y,t
oSiqalo’sfutur
e.
“MakesureThakasadoesn’ tfindoutaboutthi
s.I
don’tknowhowy ou’
regoingt odoi t,
butthi
s
gaynessisst
ayingbetweeny ouandMpi l
o.”I
t’
sjust
acoupleofmont hsbefor
et heywr it
ethei
rmatri
c
fi
nals,t
henhe’
llmakesureSi qaloleavesandpursue
hisstudi
esoutoftheprovince.Fornowhehasagi r
l
tofi
ndandabi r
thdaytocel ebrate.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
Chapt
er3
KHANYO

Thel ookonhi sfaceisofdi

sgust,probablybecause
I’
m wear i
ngat i
ghtandski
nnytop.Idon’tknowwho
het hinkshei s.Theownerofabui ldi
ng,may be.Or
ourf ather.Thismanhasbeent ryingtotellushowto
l
iveourl ivesandchasi ngawayourmal eguest s
sincewemov edhereayearago.Nolwazi always
remi ndshi mt hathe’
snotourfathernortheowner
ofthebui lding,he’
sjustasecuri
tyguard.
“NtanzihowcanIhel
py ou?
”Iask.It
’snotever
yday
thathejustshowsupatourdoor,
unlessifi
t’
sfor
shouting.
“
MrManqel ei
sher
etoseey
ou.Shoul
dIsendhi
m
i
n?”heasks.
Icrackmyskul
ltr
yingtorememberanyManqel
e
thatIknow,
butIcan’
trememberany.
“
Hesai
dhewant
stoseeKhany
o?”Iask.
Adeepsi
ghofbor
edom.He’
ssuchanol
dpi
eceof
wor
k.Somuchatt
it
udei
nagrownup!
“Yougavehimy ourwat
chandhe’sheretobr
ingi
t
back.Youwon’trememberbecauseyou’
real
ways
highondrugs.
”
Mameshane!I’
m every
thi
ngbutIdon’
tdodr
ugs.
AnywayIwon’twastemypreci
ousbreat
honhi
m.He
needst
ogetlaid.
“
Tel
lhimtocomei
n,”Isaybef
oret
urni
ngawayand
l
eav
inghi
m att
hedoor.
Guguappearswit
hat
owel
wrappedar
oundher
waistandabra.
“
Whowast
hat
?”sheasks.
“Yourf
ather.
”Irol
lmyey esandr esumemycooking.
Todaywehav enoplans,soI’m goingtocookr
ice
andchickenstewandmakesomesal ads.Wel
ive
mostofourlivesontake-out
sandal cohol.
Shejumpsontheki
tchenst
ool
,pour
sherwi
neand
chat
sonherphone.She’
saddi
ctedt
othem;
wine
andphone.
Ther
e’sanot
herknockatt
hedoor
.Itmustbet
he
manwhowant stoseeme.
“
Gugugett
hedoor
,myhandsar
emessy
,”Isay
.
Asr ebelli
ousandwildasIam, Ist
il
lknowmy
mot her’
sr eci
pesbyhead.Iknowmywayar oundt he
kit
chen.I fwehostaguest,whichhappensoncei na
ful
lmoon, I’
m al
waysthechef.IfI
’
m nottoodrunk
onChr istmas,Ihel
pmybr other
’swif
epreparelunch
forthef amily
.
“
Khany
o,”Gugucal
l
sbehi
ndme.
Igrabadishcl
oth,wipemyhandsandt ur
nar ound.
Myey espopoutoft hei
rsockets.It
’sthesuitguy
thatIgavemywat ch.Thecab, Imean, C-
Classdriver
.
Todayhe’snotwear i
ngasuit,he’si
nawhi t
eshi r
t
thathugshismusclesandgreypant s.Inhishandhe
hasthecarkeys,phoneandmywat ch.
Idi
dn’tt
hinkI
’dev
erseehim agai
n.Nott
oment
ion
toseehiminsi
demyflat
.
“
It
’sy
ou…hel
l
o.”Idon’
tknowi
fI’
m shockedbyhi
s
presenceorfreakedout.Butsomethi
ngis
happening,myhandsar esqueezingt
hedishclot
hfor
dearli
fe.It
’shisbear
d,orthatdeepsetofeyes,or
theNazarethaurahebrings.
Hi
slipscr
acki
ntoasmi
l
eforhal
fasecondt
heni
t
di
sappear
s.
“
HiNokukhany
a,”hesay
s.
GuguandIsharealook.Heknowsmyname?
Shembeyourchil
disweird.
Nol
wazi’
svoi
cebr
eaksi
ntot
her
oom;
“Guy
sIf
ound
mydil
do.
”
Noooo!Ear
thopenupandswal
l
owmenow.
Shestopsdeadonhert
rackswit
hapi
nkdil
doinher
handandstaresatt
hemanstandi
ngi
nthemiddl
eof
ourki
tchen.
“
Oh,hel
loMrBear
d.Youguy
sdi
dn’
ttel
lmewehav
e
aguest
.”
Cansheatleasthi
dethethi
nginherhand?Theman
i
slooki
ngather,hedoesn’
tseem t
obef azedbyt
he
di
ldo,
he’sj
uststar
ingatherl
ikehestar
esatany
l
i
vingcr
eat
ure.
“I
’
m sor r
yIcameunannounced.I
twasanur gent
si
tuati
on.”Hetur
nshiseyestome.Iguessthe
urgentsi
tuat
ionconcer
nsme.Didmywat chgive
hi
m nightmares?
“
Urgentsi
tu…?
”
“I
’m Bandl
alet
huManqel
e,y
ourcabdr
iver
,”hesays,
narr
owinghiseyebr
owtomoti
vatemymemor y.
Irememberhi
mv er
ywel
l.I
t’
sjustt
hatIdi
dn’
texpect
toseehi
m agai
nandIdi
dn’
tknowhi sname.
“That’
sanicename, ”Nol
wazisays.Thedildoissti
ll
i
nherhand.Ev enifhewantedtoaskf orwater,now
hewon’ t
.He’
ll
t hi
nkwehav edi
ldosfloati
nginsi
de
sinks.
“Sowhathappensi
fy oueatwarmf oodonSat urday
before6pm?”Nol
wazi hasnostopper.She’
salready
madet hi
swholesi
tuationawkwardwithadildo,now
she’saski
nghi
m athousandsenselessquestions.
Icl
earmythr
oat
,“Guy
scany
ouexcuseusf
ora
second?
”
Gugugrabsthebott
leofwineandherglassand
l
eaves.Nol
waziissti
ll
star
ingatBandl
a.Inarr
owmy
eyesather
,shethr
owsbackherheadi nannoyance
andleav
es.
There’
ssomerel
i
efi
nmybones,
buti
tdoesn’
tlast
thatl
ongwhenmyeyest
urnt
oMrBeardstar
ingat
me.
“Ummm, soMrBea…ImeanBandl
alet
hu,
whatcanI
dofory
ou?”
“
It
’smybi
rt
hday
,”hesay
s.
ForasecondI’
m notsur
ewhatt
osay.Ther
eareso
manypeoplewhower ebor
nonthi
sdaybutnoneof
them cametor
eporttome.
Butt
henI’
m ahuman;
“Happybir
thdayt
oyou…
Happybi
rt
hdaytoy
ou…Happybir
thdayt
oyou…
Happybi
rt
hdaytoy
ou,
”Ising.
Somebodygi
vememyGr ammyaward.Thatwas
epi
c,gol
denbuzzki
ndofper
for
mance.
“
ThankyouKhanyo.
”He’ssmil
i
ng,
forr
eal
thi
sti
me.
I
tlast
smorethanaminute.
“
Soy
oucamet
otel
lmet
hati
t’
syourbi
rt
hday
?”Iask.
“Andt
ogiv
ebackyourwat
ch.
”Heext
endshi
shand
andgi
vesthewat
chtome.
“ButIst
il
ldon’
thav
eR3000t
opayy
ouf
ort
her
ide,
”I
say.
“
Maybeyoucancomeandcel
ebr
atemybi
rt
hday
wi
thme.
”
“Comewit
hy outowher
e?Whati
fyouki
dnapgi
rl
s
andtr
adethem t
oRussi
aassexsl
aves?
”
“
Theny ou’
dbeonyourwaytoRussi
atoday.You
would’
vebeenshi
ppedyest
erdaymor
ningwhil
eyou
weredrunk.
”
Ihat
eitwhenpeopl
earer
ight
.Hehasapoint
,it
’s
tool
ateformetoactl
i
keacauti
ousci
ti
zen.
“
Whyme?Whydon’
tyougoandcel
ebr
atewi
thy
our
f
ri
endsandf
ami
l
y?”Iask.
Hechecksthescreenofhi
sphone, forti
meIguess.
Thenhelooksup,“Iwi
ll
bri
ngy oubackbef or
e6pm.
Yourf
ri
endswillt
akemycarr egi
strati
onnumber,i
fI
tr
adeyoutoRussiathepol
icewill
knowhowt ot
rack
medown.
”
Ifeell
ikehe’
ssay i
ngthelastsentencet
omockme.I
throwthedishcl
othatthesinkwhi l
emyheadand
heartholdashortconver
sation.
“
Okay
,gi
vemef
ivemi
nut
es,
Ineedt
ochange,
”Isay
.
“
Changei
ntoadr
ess,
”hesay
s.
Istopandlookbackathi
m wi
thmyey
ebr
owr
aised.
IsheNtanzi’
sson?
“
Didy
oubuymeadr
ess?
”Iask.
He’spushinghislucknow.It
’sgenerousofmetogo
celebrat
eastranger’
sbir
thday,andnow‘it
’want
sto
dictat
ewhatIwear .
“
Sor
ry…canIsi
tont
hechai
rwhi
l
eIwai
t?”heasks.
“
Yeah,
sur
e.”
Ishouldofferhim adri
nkbutIdon’
tthi
nkwehav e
anythi
ngot herthanwineandOros.AndIdon’
tthi
nk
he’
dappr eciat
edr i
nki
ngfrom t
hesameglassthat
wetouchaf terholdi
ngdil
dos.
Twopai
rsofeyesst
areatmeasIwalki
nsidemy
bedr
oom.I
t’
sat wobedr
oom f
lat
,GuguandIshar
e
whil
eNol
wazihasherown.
“
Howdoy
ouknowMrBear
d?”
-Nol
wazi
.
“
Ishegone?Whywasheher
e?”
-Gugu.
Idon’
tknowwhotoanswerfi
rstandIst
il
lneeda
momenttobreat
heandcol
lectmyscatt
eredner
ves.
“He’
sinv
iti
ngmetohi
sbi
rt
hdaycel
ebr
ati
on,
”Isay
aft
eramoment.
“
Apar
ty?
”Nol
wazi
asksexci
tedl
y.
“Idon’
tthi
nkit’
sapar
ty.Maybedi
nnerorsomethi
ng.
AnywayIneedsomethingt
owear,pref
erabl
ya
dress,
”Isay.
Gugui stheGert-
JohanCoetzeeoft histri
o.HerandI
arethesamesi ze,t
houghI’
m abi ttall
erthanherbut
weshar emostofourclothes.Shegoest hroughthe
wardrobeandpul l
soutatealbody condr essthat
shewor elastyearf
orherdatewi t
hacer tai
n
poli
ti
cian.Nolwazii
stwosizessmal lerthanus,
she’
s28, sheonlywearsourclotheswhenshewant s
t
olookl
i
keahobo.
“Nobra!
”Guguyel
l
sbeforeIdi
sappeari
nthe
bat
hroom wi
tht
hedress.
“Nopantyt oo,
”IhearNolwazi sayingbef oreIshut
thedoor.Ican’thel
pbutl augh.Yest hemanl ooks
andsmel lsri
ch,butI’
m nothookingupwi thhim.I
alsodon’tthi
nkhehasany thi
nglikethati nmi nd.
He’sprobablymar r
iedwithf i
vekids,ifnotmor e.He
couldbeapol ygamisttoo,that’
showt heyar e.
ThedoorshiftsopenasIdr awmyey ebr
owsinf r
ont
ofthemirror
.It’
sGugu,shet hrowsapairofheelson
thefl
oor.She’
sasweet heart,nowIjustneedto
brushmyhai r
.It’
smyhairbecauseIboughti t
.It
couldbelongtoadeadBr azil
iangrannyorstr
ipper,
eit
herwayIdon’ tcar
e,t
heyal sotakethi
ngsfrom
Afri
ca.
Done!Itakeonel astgl
anceatmyr efl
ect
ionont he
mir
rorandsmi lei
nsati
sfacti
on.Il
ookbeautif
ulfor
myself
,notf orhim.Imayhav ewornadressto
pl
easehi m sinceit
’shi
sbirt
hday,butl
ookingprett
y
whensteppi ngoutofthehousehasalway sbeena
pr
ior
it
ytome.
Mymot heral way ssai dIcar emor eabouthowmy
facelookst hanhowmyf uturelooks.Whi chwas
verymucht rue, butitwor kedi nmyf avorev entual l
y.
I’
m amongstami l
li
onofunempl oy edSout hAf rican
youthbutIhav emeansofput tingf oodont het able.
No, I
’m notapr ostitut
e.Idosl eepwi thmeni n
exchangeofl uxur yandmoney ,butt hatdoesn’ t
makemeapr ost it
ute.Menal sosl eepwi thwomen
forvariousbenef it
sandnobodyat tachesanyl abel
tothem.WhatIr eal
lydof oral i
vingwi t
hNol wazi
andGugui sbuyandsel lbeddi ngsandcur t
ai nsf or
ri
diculousl
yhi ghpr i
ces.Wehav eourt argetmar ket
thatexcludest ownshi ps.Ifwear er eall
ybr okewe
j
oinnet workmar keters,whichsomet i
mesl eadsus
i
nt oscammi ngpeopl e.It
’stoughouther e.Gugual so
planev ent
s, Nol waz iandIt agal ongt ohel pher eand
there.Othert hant hat,wedon’ thav est ablej obs.We
wakeupandl ookpr etty.

Hehear
dfoot
stepsandli
ft
edhi
sheadup.Ther
ear
e
f
urr
owedli
nesonhisfor
eheadasi
fhe’
sbeen
engr
ossedi
ntosomet
hingawf
ulov
ert
hatphone.
“
Thatwasanhour
,”hesay
s.
Doesn’
thehaveawi
feorsi
ster
s?Fi
vemi
nut
esi
s
onehouri
nthewomen’
sworld.
“
Wemaygo,
”Isay
.
Hegetsof
fthechairandstandsup.Mywanderi
ng
eyesl
andonhisfrontbutIqui
ckl
yli
ftt
hem bef
oreI
l
ookli
keafreak.
He’sstar
ingatme.I t
’sveryoddwhenhedoesit
becausehej ustl
ooksintoyourey
es,doesn’
tbl
inkor
turnhi
sey esawayev enwhenhe’scaught.May
be
i
t’snormal t
ostareatpeoplewherehecomesfrom.
It
urnt
othedoor
,escapi
ngt
hepenet
rat
ingst
are.
“
Sohowol
dar
eyout
oday
?”Iask.
“
I’
m ay
earol
der
,”hesay
s.
That’
saclever,yetverystupi
dwayofanswer i
ngmy
questi
on.ButIdon’tcareabouthi sageanyway.I
makeament al notetosendt heregist
rat
ionnumber
ofhiscarbefor
ewel eave.I
nt hi
scountryyoucannot
tr
ustanyone,notev enpastors.
I
t’
sthesamecar
,myper
sonal
cab.
Mt
honga3-
ZN-Isendbot
htoGuguandNol
wazi
.
“
Play
ingi
tsaf
e?”heaskswi
thasmi
rk.
Idi
dn’
treal
i
zehewaswat
chi
ng.
“
Youri
nst
ruct
ions,
”Isay
.
“Theseatbel
t,
”anotherinstr
uct
ion.Idoastol
d.His
carisver
ycomf or
table.I’
m agi
rl off
ir
stcl
assthi
ngs,
eventhoughI’
m athirdclassci
tizen.
Ntanziiscrossi
ngt
hestr
eet
,headi
ngbacktot
he
buil
ding,pr
obablyt
opokehi
snoseonevery
one’
s
business.
Irolldownt hewi ndowandwi ngoutmyel bowf or
hi
mt osee.Hest andsandwat chesasthecardr i
ves
away .Onedayt hismanwi l
lsl
eepandnotwakeup
becauseofunnecessar ystr
esshebur denshisheart
with.Orhi sheartwoul dst oppumpi ngbloodand
pumpsal lthesenewshegoesar oundsnif
fi
ng.Then
hi
sor ganswoul df ail
,thosehegossi pstowill
rush
hi
mt ot hehospital andt hedoctorwouldturnoutto
bethesamemanhegossi
pedaboutandj
udgedi
n
1997,andhe’
dgi
vehi
m wr
ongmedici
ne.
“
Hel
ooksl
i
keagoodman,
”say
sBandl
a.
Agoodwhat
?Il
etoutachuckl
e.
“I
fagossi
p,dict
ati
ngandjudgment
almani
sagood
one,
thenIguesshe’sagoodman.”
Hej
ustgl
ancesatmeandkeepsqui
et.Irol
lupt
he
wi
ndow,mymissi
onhasbeencompleted.
“
Wher
eishome?
”heasks.
“
Ber
gvi
l
le,
”Isay
.
“
Zwel
i
sha?
”
Ifr
own, unf
ort
unat
elyhecan’
tseeme,
he’
sst
ari
ngat
theroad.
“
Yes,
howdoy
ouknow?
”Iask.
“
Iguessed,
”hesay
s.
Idon’
tbeli
evehim butI
’
m notinter
estedin
i
nterr
ogati
nghim.Wear eheadingtotheNorth
Beach.I
t’
sv er
ybraveofmetober elaxedl
ikethi
s,I
don’
tevenknowwher eI’
m bei
ngt akento.
HeparksinfrontofLi
ngel
a.I’
vebeenherebefor
e,
onceortwice.Theyser
vethebestprawns.Iwonder
i
fheeatsthem orwear ej
usthereforl
ambchops.
Wear ewelcomedbyawhi tewait
erwhoint
roduces
himselfasXavi
er.Heleadsustoatabl
esetfortwo
people.Seemi
nglytheyhavenocust
omerstoday,
thebusinessi
sdown.
“Mygosh, it’
ssoempt y.Peopleareeit
herbrokeor
nothappywi t
ht heirrecipes.Imeanit’
sjustthetwo
ofus,”Ibabbleout , scanningmyey esaroundthe
empt yrestaurant.Ev entheirstaf
fisshort
,it
’sj
ust
Xavierandt wol adies,excludingtheki
tchenstaf
f
thatIcan’tseef rom her e.
“
May
be,
”heshr
ugshi
sshoul
der
s.
“Orthey
’recl
osingdowntherest
aur
antsoon.”Il
ook
around,cast
ingmyeyesonthewall
s.Thereshoul
d
beawr i
ttennoti
ceorsomethi
ng.
“Aren’
ttheysupposedt
ohav
eanot
icet
hough?
”I
ask.
Hecockshi
sheadt
othesi
de,
“May
bet
heyf
orgot
,”
hesays.
Hehasapoint,
eventhoughIf
eel
li
kehe’
smocki
ng
mebetweentheli
nes.

Wehav eourstar
ters,mar i
nat edmussels,anddr i
nks.
Bydr i
nksImeanf reshlysqueezedf rui
tj ui
ce.Ifeela
l
owpi nchofsy mpat hytowar dsorphanedbot tl
esof
beverages.I
tmusthur tbei
ngkepti nsidefreezi
ng
refr
iger
atorsthewhol eday .Theycouldhav eani ce
tri
pdownmyt hroatandawar m pl
acei nmy
stomach.
Themaincour searr
ives.Ourcutl
eryi
swrappedi
n
ri
bbons,
theyhav eblownballoonsandtur
nedonsof
t
Jazzmusic.Iguesstheyknewabouthi sbi
rt
hday
.
Oh,beforeIfor
get,wearehav i
ngroaststeakand
boerwors.Yes,Icameallt
hiswayf oraboerwors.
Prawnsar eeat
ingthemselvesint
hekitchen.
“
I’
m 29,
”hesay
s.
Iwasl
osti
namoment
.Il
ookupwi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown.
“
I’
mreal
l
ygr
own,
hey
,”hesay
s.
“Oh,yesyouare.Youareabouttoturn30,mostof
yourpeersspendthei
rbir
thdayswiththei
rwivesand
chi
ldr
en.”Ihavenoideawherethatcamef rom.
Buthedoesn’
tseem of
fended.
“AndI’
m spendi
ngminewi
thy
ou.‘
Most
’bl
endsi
n,‘
I
’
standsout
,”hesay
s.
Xavierandhi
scol
l
eagueshav
edi
sappeared.Now
i
t’sj
ustmeandhim.Somethi
ngi
sveryoddabout
thi
s.
“Sowhydidy
oubr i
ngmeher e?
”Iaskandrai
semy
handup.“
Don’tsaytocelebr
ateyourbi
rt
hday
becauseI
’
m noty ourf
ri
end.”
“
Tocel
ebr
atemybi
rt
hday
,”hesay
s.
Hedoesn’
tli
sten,
neh?
“
Isai
ddon’
tsayt
hat
,”Isay
.
“
Whatdoy
ouwantmet
osay
.”
“Tel
lmewhyI’
m her
e.Youdon’
tknowmeandIdon’
t
knowyou.Wej
usthadali
tt
leencount
erwhi
l
eIwas
dr
unk,
not
hingmuch.
”
“Li
tt
leencounter?Mmm.”Hecut shi
smeatandeat
s
asifhedoesn’thaveaquest
ionhangi
ngar
oundhis
head.Iwon’tgetmyanswertoday.

Xavi
erappearsagain,
wit
hachocolatecakeandt
wo
bowl
sofice-cream wi
thsweett
oppings.
It
’shisbir
thdaycake.Ismil
e,Idon’
tknowwhy .
May bebecausehe’sdoingthi
sallf
orhimsel
f.Tal
k
aboutindependency!Heevenorder
edacakef or
himself
.
“
Youeatcake?
”heasks.
“
Yes,
”Isay
.
Hepassesthekni
fet
ome.It
akei
tandl
ookathi
m
i
nconfusi
on.
“
Cuti
t,
”hesay
s.
Wow.Il aughbefor
esayinganyt
hing.Mybirthdayi
s
onthe12t hofJanuar
y.Ihar
dlycelebr
ateit
,because
duh,Januaryi
sacabbagemont h.UnlessifIhookup
wit
hsomeonei nDecemberandhe’ sr
ichenoughto
ar
rangesomet
hingf
ormybi
rt
hday
.
“I
t’
syourbir
thday
;makey
ourwi
sh,
blowt
hecandl
e
andcutthecake.
”
Heroll
suponesl
eev
eofhi
sshi
rtandl
eansov
ert
he
cake.
“MywishisforKhany
otocutmycake,
”hesay
sand
blowsthecandl
e.
Whatthehell
!Hedoesn’
ttakebi
rt
hdaywishes
seri
ousl
y.Iwoul
d’v
ewishedforf
iveLott
onumber
s,
ri
chboyfr
iendandcardonati
onf
rom Toyot
a.
“Youdon’tt
akelif
eser
iousl
y.
”Ishakemyheadand
cutouttwopieces.Mi
neisbiggerthanhi
s,Ionl
y
real
izeasIsi
tdown.He’l
lbestrong,mendon’tl
i
ke
cakesanyway.

Ihav
en’
tbeent
hisf
ull
inal
ongti
me.Heasked
Xavi
ert
owrapsomefoodf
orhi
m.Hesai
dit’sf
orhi
s
boy.
“
Nowwher
ear
ewegoi
ng?
”Iask.
Hegl
ancesatt
hescr
eenofhi
sphone.
“I
’
mt aki
ngyoubacktoyourf
lat
.Doy
oumi ndi
fwe
star
tatt
hehotel
?Ineedtograbmyj
acket
.”
Laughterisgoi
ngtochokeme.Menst i
ll
usethi
sli
ne?
Aretheynotsupposedtocreatethei
rsasthenew
generati
on,Imeanourgrandfat
hersusedthi
sli
neto
tr
ickourgrandmother
sintothei
rbedrooms.
“
What
’sf
unny
?”heasks.
“You…youar
efunny.Any
wayIdon’
tmi
nd,
let
’sgo
andfet
chyourj
acket.
”
“
Thankyou,”hesay
sinaconvinci
nggenuinev
oice.
I
’
m notsureifi
t’
spret
enseorhemissedthetr
avest
y
i
nmyv oi
ce.
Thedriveissi
lent
.Itaket heopport
uni
tytofi
llinmy
fri
endswhoar esti
lli
nt hedarkaboutt
histr
ip.It’
s
funnythatIst
il
lcan’
tanswerwhohei swhent hey
ask.BandlaManqelef r
om wher e?Whatdoeshedo
forali
ving?Marit
alstatus?
“
Arey
ouokay
?”heasks.
Ishi
ftmyeyesawayfr
om him.Unl
ikehim,Idon’
t
fi
nditnor
maltost
areatpeopl
eforlong.
“
Justt
hinki
ng,
”Isay
.
“
Inganeengakhal
ii
fel
aimbel
ekweni
,speak,
”hesay
s.
Ishakemyhead,maybeit
’snott
hatimpor
tantf
or
met oknowal
ltheni
tty
-gr
itt
yabouthi
m.

Wegeti ntohishot
elroom.Ti
mef ormet opayback
fort
heboer worswit
hmybody .Lif
einSouthAfri
ca!
Forfeedingyoua2cm wors,menwi l
lexpecty
our
warm, ci
nnamon-ti
ghtcooki
einretur
n.Ishoul
d’v
e
known.
Hesi
tsont
hebedandmakesaphonecal
l
.
“I
’m back,Ibroughty ouf oodandapieceofmy
bir
thdaycake, ”het el
lsthepersonwhoser esponseI
cannothear .Hisf acechangesaftert
hephonecal l
,
mor eli
kehesi nksi nthedepthsofdeject
ion.He
doestaket hej acketoutofhisbag,buthedoesn’t
putiton,hehol dsiti
nhishandsandst ar
esati t
absent-mindedl y.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”Iask.
Hel
ooksatmeandsnapsoutofi
t.Hewal
ksbackt
o
t
hebedandsi
ts.
There’ssomeoneatt
hedoor
.Her
eleasesasi
gh
beforegoingt
oit.

It
’sayoungboywhoisaphot ocopyofhim.Astupi
d
sideofmefir
stl
yassumesthatit’
shisson,t
henI
rememberthathe’
sonly29,
hecan’ thav
easonso
grown.
“ThisisSqal
o,myl
i
ttl
ebr
other
.”Hel
ooksathi
m and
pointsatme.
“
Thi
sisNokukhany
a,”het
ell
shi
m.
“I
’m notint
erestedinyourprosti
tut
es,
”theboysays,
grabbingwrappedf oodparcel
sandmaki nghi
sway
out.Ialwayshearaboutr i
chkidshavi
ngnorespect
orregardforotherpeople.Ij
usthadmyown
experi
enceoft hat.
“I’
m sorr
y…aboutthat
.He…he…heis…i
sgoing
through…throughsomestuff.
”Heputshi
shands
overhisforeheadi
nfrust
rat
ion.Hi
schesti
s
bouncingupanddown.WhenIseehi seyestur
ning
redIreal
i
zethathe’
sangryandhehasast
utt
eri
ng
probl
em whenhe’sfr
ust
rated.
“I
t’
sokay,I’
vebeencall
edwor senamesbef
ore,
”I
say,hopi
ngitwil
lcal
m him down.
Idon’ttr
usthisty
pe,myunclehadthesamepr obl
em
withhisspeech.Whenhegotangrywor dschoked
hi
m, he’dstamphisfootdownandsweat .Ital
ways
endedwi t
hsomeoneont hegr
ound,getti
ngpunched.
Stutt
eri
ngcomeswi thashorttemper.
Igrabhi sf ace,heli
f t
shisbloodshoteyesandl ocks
them wi t
hmi ne.Iclosemyey esandbringhisf ace
closer.Ikisshi m,her espondssmoot hl
y ,
hislipsare
softerthanIexpect ed.He’saZambuckgang.Ipush
him downont hebedandunbut tonhisshirtwithmy
l
ipsl ockedi nhis.Ifeelsotinywhenhewr apshi s
muscl yar msar oundme.Hesqueezesmybut tand
deepenst hekiss.Iwantt histobequick,Idon’ twant
i
tt ogett oor omant i
c,butthere’
sthisbubblyfeel hi
s
touchgi vesme.Thi sthingthatneedsmet oinhale
hisscentandsav orthemoment .Somethingthat
want stot akeandkeephi stasteinme.
“
Doy
ouhav
econdoms?
”Iwhi
speragai
nsthi
sear
.
Hecamepr
epar
ed.Hesnat
chesapacketandt
ear
s
i
topen.
“
Khany
o,”hecal
l
smynamei
nahuskyv
oice.
Iopenmyeyesandl
ookathi
m.Ial
way
scl
osemy
eyeswhenki
ssi
ng.
“
Pleasel
ookatmewhenweki
ss,
”hesay
s.
“
I’
ll
try
,”Isay
.
Hei ni
ti
atestheki
ssagain.There’saneyecontact
thatfeel
slikeast
aretothedept hsofmysoul.Like
heseesmef orwhatnobodyelsecansee.Hesees
themet hatnotevenIreal
izedexisted.
Heposit
ionshi
msel
fbet
weenmyl
egs.I
’
m war
m,
wetandready.
Theal
armi
nhi
sphonegoesof
f…
Hest
ops,looksatme, t
hendr
opshi
sfor
eheadon
mychestwithasigh.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
”hesay
sinal
ow,
almost
-i
naudi
blev
oice.
Her
oll
sof
fbedandl
eav
esmet
her
e.
I
’m notasexfr
eakoraddict
,butdude,I
’
m nakedand
readytobesmashedforeat
ingtheboerwor
s.He
turnedmeonjustt
oleavemewetandpant i
ngon
bed.

If
ixmysel
fandwaitforhi
m.Tosayt
hatI
’
m pi
ssed
woul
dbeanunderstatement
.
Thatst
upi
dal
arm agai
n!
Isnatchthephonetoswit
chthedamnthi
ngoff
.It
i
ndicatesthati
t’
sfi
veminutesawayf
rom 6pm,
more
l
ikeit
’sremindi
ngorwarni
nghim.
Ur
ghhh!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER4
NOTHI
LE

They ’
dbeent oIndi
aaf ewmont hsaftergetting
mar r
ied.Asawomanwhodi dCultural&Her itage
Tourism, tr
av el
i
ngandl ear
ningothercultureshas
alwaysbeenaf unthingforher.Bali
hasbeenonher
bucketlistforyears,butherhusbandi sn’tsomuch
i
ntogal l
ivantingstr
angepl acesandeat ingf oreign
foods.Ev ent othi
st r
ip,he’
dattemptedt opul lout
twice.Thankst oBandl alet
huwhokeptensur inghim
thateverythingwoul dbeundercont roleveni nhi s
absence.
Ast heychecki natVill
aPantaiKarang,Thakasai s
alr
eadyt ir
edandannoy ed.Al
lhe’
sl ooki
ngforwar d
toisawar m bed.He’sfamished,snacksandf ood
theyser v
edt hroughtheentir
etri
pdi dn’
tappealto
him, butnowi t’
swaybey ondhisdinnertime.
What everNot hi
lehasplannedtoor der,
hewon’ tbe
partofit.Hedr agsinhissuit
cases, l
eavesthem on
t
hef
looranddi
sappear
sint
hebedr
oom.
Nothi
lehasdashedtot hebal
cony,she’
svi
ewingthe
bri
ghtandquietSanur.She’
sbeenexcit
edaboutthe
beach,it
’sal
lshetal
kedabout.Herbagsarepacked
wit
ht enswimwearthatlooktoosl
uttyf
orThakasa’
s
l
iki
ng.
“
Manqeleee!
”Hervoi
ceechoesasshest
rutsback
i
nsi
detheroom wi
thhercheekswi
del
yspreadwit
h
j
oy.
Thakasastepsoutofthebathr
oom infr
eshclot
hes.
Eventhoughhefindsnothi
ngint
erest
ingaboutt
hese
tr
ips,
seeinghiswifebeamingwit
hjoywarmshis
heart
.
“There’
sanout
sidepool
,
”shebeamswi
thacheer
ful
smile.
Shedoesn’twai
tforhi
srepl
y,she’
sopeningher
sui
tcaseandgrabbi
ngtwopiecesof‘
nothing.
’
“Ther
earepeoplet
her
e.Someoft
hem ar
ebl
ack.We
havetomingl
e.”
Thakasar
ubshi
sfor
eheadandsi
ghs.
“
MaNtusi
,wejusthada27hour
sjour
ney
.Ineedt
o
r
est
,I’
mti
red.
”
Not
hil
elooksup.She’
sdi
sappoi
nted.
“Butwecameallt
hiswayt
ohav
efunt
oget
her
,”she
says,di
spl
easedt
othecor
e.
“We’l
lbeher et hewholeweek.I
t’snotli
kethey’
l
l
drai
nupt hepool af
tert
oday.
”Het urnstoplughi
s
l
aptopandsi t
sonbed.He’ sdonewiththis
conversation,nowit’
suptoNot hi
lei
fshegoest o
thepool orstay swi
thhim.
Ofcourse,
shestayswithhim.May bet
her
ecoul
dbe
ot
herfunthingst
odoi nthebedroom.Shecame
pr
eparedtogetkinkyandspicy
.
Shecl
earst
heirl
uggageonthef
looranddi
sappear
s
wit
hherbaginthebathr
oom.
She’
sbeenwat chingmanymake- uptutori
alson
YouTube.Notthatshewant stolookli
keabar bie,
she’
llj
ustenhancehereyebrowsandputal ipstick
on.Hopeful
lyThakasawillbecharmed.She
squeezeshersel
finali
ngerie,
herbigtit
spoppi ng
outinaball
ooncleavage.Losingweighthasbeen
almostimpossibl
e,butshe’
smanagedtoburnsome
fats,
final
l
ysteppi
ngdownt osi
ze36.It
’ssucha
hugeaccompl i
shment.
Alr
ight
!Sheexerci
sesherbr
eat
hsbeforest
rut
ti
ng
outofthebat
hroom i
nblackst
il
ett
os.

Thakasaisonhi sl
apt op,respondingt otheemai l
s.
Nothil
emadecl earinstructi
onst hatwhi l
ethey’re
here,he’
snotall
owedt odoany t
hingwor krelated,
exceptmingli
ngwithpeopl ethi
ssi de.Butwor kis
theonlythi
ngthattakeshi smi ndof fhisstr
essf ul
l
ife.
“Manqele!”Not
hil
ecall
sinadispl
easedvoi
ce.She’
s
beenstandingbythebedforminut
es,ankl
es-
crossed,wit
hherhandgrabbi
ngherwaistsexi
l
y.
Helooksup,hi
sfor
eheadi
nst
ant
lyf
urr
owsi
ntoa
hugefrown.
“
Heycut
ie,
”–Not
hil
e.
“
MaNt
usi
?Hhay
i-
bo!
”
Herbodyf
reezes.Thi
sisnott
her
eact
ionshe
expected.It
’snothowtheysaidmenr eacttoa
womani nl
ingeri
e.Theysai
dtheirjawsdroponthe
fl
oorandt heydevouryoubeforeyoucanev enspel
l
outthewor d‘condom’,
whichobv i
ousl
ydoesn’t
applyt
ot hem.
“Sowhatdoyouthi
nk?”sheasksinast
eadyv
oice,
event
houghherchesti
spounding.
“
You’r
enotgoi
ngoutl
ooki
ngl
i
ket
his,
”hesay
swi
th
f
ull
author
it
y.
“I
’m notgoi
ngtothepool
,wear
ecr
eat
ingourpool
,
hereonthisbed.
”
“
Huh?
”Hesi
tsup.
Nothi
lemassageshercl
eavageandl
icksherlower
l
ip.Thakasal
etsoutasof
tchuckl
eandliesbackon
t
hepi l
l
ow.
“
May
bet
omor
row.I
’
mti
redMaNt
usi
,
”hesay
s.
Notthisagai
n!Heal
way
scomesupwi
thl
ame
excuses.
“ManqeleI
’mtryi
ngher
e.Howam Igoi
ngtoget
pregnanti
fyoudon’
twantt
omakelovetome?”
She’sfumingbuthervoiceissti
l
lkeptlow.Thi
s
mar r
iagehastest
edheri never
ypossibleway.She’s
al
way smaki ngef
for
ts,ignor
ingsignsandsacri
fi
cing
herselff
orthem t
owor k.
“That’
swhaty oudon’ tgetNothil
e.It’
sbeenmont hs
sincewel astmadel ove,wejustfucksot hatyou
canhav emysper m.You’reannoying,pushyand
obsessed.I’mtiredofthisbabytalk,Icannoteven
breathe!
”Hecl apshishandsandgr untsangri
ly.
“
Buty
ou’renott
iredwhenyoucheat
,”shesaysi
na
l
owwhisperbef
or et
urni
ngar
oundandheading
t
owar
dst hebat
hroom.
“
Whatdi
dyousay
?”Thakasaj
umpst
ohi
sfeetand
f
oll
owsher
.
“
Isai
dyou’renott
ir
edwheny
oucheat
.I’
m notst
upi
d
Manqel
e.”
Hispalmsstar
tsweating,
buthe’
snotsel
l
inghi
msel
f
out.He’
ll
deny,swearanddiei
fhehasto.
“
Youar
einsul
ti
ngmer
ightnow,
”hesay
s.
“
Youcansi
ther
eandchatt
oyoursi
de-
chi
ck,
I’
ll
be
outofyourhairinaminute.
”Sheproceedst
othe
bathr
oom, l
eavinghi
m groundedonthesamespot
wit
hahugef rown.
Fi
veminuteslat
ershewal
ksouti
nadr essand
sl
eeper
s.Sheopensherbagandtakesourherj
acket
andcel
lphoneandheadsout
.

Thakasai sl eftinmi sery.Hewascar eful ,

notev en
hisbr othersknowaboutt his.Howdi dshef i
ndout ?
Heneedst oendt hi
ngswi thNomkhosi beforethis
gettohi smot her’sears.He’ sendedt hingswi thher
manyt imesi nthepastbutheal way sfi
ndshi sway
backt oher .Ther e’sapar tofhi shear tthatshe
occupi es.Hecannotdef inei tbutwhenev erhet ri
es
tostayawayhef eelsthegap.Thei rrelat i
onshipis
diff
erent .Itdoesn’ thav eanyr ul
es.It’soutofhi s
normal cyandchal l
engingt ov entureon.He’ shadt o
stepoutofhi scomf ortzonesomanyt imes.He’ s
donet hingshenev erthoughthe’ ddobecauseofher .
Buthe’ snev erfelttornbet weenherandhi swife.
He’llnev ersacr if
icehismar ri
agef orher .Hemade
thatcl earbef oret heyev enbegan, hewasnev er
goi
ngtoleav
eorjeopardi
zehismarr
iage.Hewas
nev
ergoingtocancel
hiswif
e’scal
lj
ustbecause
he’
swit
hher.
Hetakeshi
sphoneandty
pesalengt
hyt
ext
,
expl
aini
nghi
sreasont
ocall
itof
f.
**You’r
ebr eakingupwithmebyal ousytext
?I’
m not
acollegest udent.What
evershi
tyougot t
asayfor
yourself
,you’llcomeandsayittomyf aceThakasa*
*
Her eadsherr
esponseov erandov eragain.Whyis
heat t
ract
edtoheragain?Ther earemanysane
womenhecanhav efunwi thifhewantstoescape
hisshakymarri
age.Onet hi
ngaboutNomkhosi is
thatshedoesn’
tknowherpl aceasawoman.She
tal
kst ohi
m anyhowshepl eases.Somethinghis
wifewouldneverdo,nomat terhowangr ysheis.
*
*Okaywe’
l
ltal
kwhenI
’
m backi
nthecount
ry*
*
Hesendshisrepl
yandclearsthei
rchathi
stor
y.At
thi
spoi
nthe’snotsur
eifNothil
esnoopedinhis
phoneorhackedhisWhatsapp.
.
.
It
’sabitqui
etaroundthepool.Peoplehaver
etur
ned
backtothei
rrooms,exceptforafewcouple
checki
ngouttheplaceandtakingpictur
es.
Hersist
erhasbeensendi ngmessagesand
request
ingpictur
es.Theonl ypict
ureshehasi st he
onetheyt ooki
napl ane.Hersisadr eam mar r
iage,
that’
swhathersisterandf r
iendsthink.Theydon’ t
knowaboutt hechallengesshe’sfacedev ersi
nce
thefamilyrai
sedthebabysubj ect.

Shedipsherf
eetinsi
dethepoolandcl
osesherey
es
toal
l
owi t
scoolnesstocal
m herdown.
“
Hel
l
o,”t
hev
oicesay
sbehi
ndher
.
Whoev
eriti
s,heneedst
oleav
e.She’
snoti
nthe
moodtosoci
ali
ze.
“
Fusegi
,
”say
stheper
son.
Nowsheopenshereyesandt
urnsar
oundt
osee
t
hisdi
srespect
ful
per
son.
I
t’
sadar
kmanwi
thaGer
man-
cutandi
nkedar
ms
peeki
ngfrom hi
sshir
t.Whenherf
ier
yeyesmeethi
s,
hecracksint
olaught
er,
reveal
i
ngasetofpur
ewhit
e
teet
h.
“
Whatdi
dyousay
?”sheasks,
sti
l
lunawar
eoft
he
j
oke.
“Iwasjustt
estingifyou’
reablackwomanfr
om
SouthAfri
ca,anditturnsouty
ouare.Unj
ani
ndoni
yamanzi?”
Shesi
ghsoutinreli
efandchuckl
es.He’
stoool
dand
toot
all
forsuchstupidi
ty.
“I
’
m good.Couldn’
tyouj
ustaski
fI’
m aSout
h
Afr
icanornot
?Any wayI
’
m Nothi
leKaNt
usi
Manqele.
”
“Marri
edwoman? ”Hesmi r
ksandl owershi
msel f
nexttoher.She’
sjustt
ootir
edt ochasehim awayor
maintai
nthemar r
iedwomani denti
ty.Sowhatifshe
si
tswi t
hast r
angemani napool?Thakasadoesn’t
care.
“Mandul
oNy at
hif
rom KwaMashu,
”hesay
sand
ext
endshishandforashake.
“
Andwhatmadey
oul
eav
eKwaMashu?
”sheasks.
Helaughs,
“I’
m onav acat
ion,j
ustt
ocl
earmyhead
andspendmymoneyonmy self
.Andy
ouareona
honeymoon,Iguess.
”
“
I’
m pastt
hatst
age,
”shesay
s.
“
You’
renother
ewi
thy
ourhusband?
”
“Iam.It’
salongstor
y.”Herai
seshi
sey
ebrow,but
she’snotaboutt
oopenupabouthermari
tal
problemstoamanshej ustmet.
Amomentofsi
lencepasses,
they’
rej
ustkicki
ng
wat
erandwat
chingcouplest
akingpi
ctur
es.
“Wel
l,
I’m di
vor
ced.I
twasf
inal
i
zedt
womont
hsago,
”
hesays.
“I
’mverysor
ryt
oheart
hat
.Ar
eyoucopi
ng?
”she
asks.
“I
’mt r
ying.Onestepatati
me.IknowImadethe
ri
ghtdecision,
eventhoughadapt
ingtoanewl
ifei
s
harderthanIthought
.ButI’
m enj
oyi
ngthi
snew
fr
eedom. ”
“
Freedom,
yousay
,”shechuckl
esandl
ooksaway
.
“Yes,
freedom.Idon’
thav
etosacr
if
icemy
happi
nessandpeaceanymore.
”
“
Goodf
ory
ou.Doy
ouhav
echi
l
dren?
”sheasks.
“
Yes,
twodaught
ers,
”hesay
s.
Whycan’
tGodgivehert
hesame?Nowshedoesn’
t
car
eaboutgi
vingt
heManqelesagr
andson,
eveni
f
i
t’
sagir
l,asl
ongassheprov
esherwort
hyasawife.
“
Whatabouty
ou?
”Mandul
oasks.
Whydidshestar
tthi
schi
l
drensubj
ect
?Itbr
ingsher
not
hingbutpai
n.
“
We’
rest
il
ltr
ying,
”shesay
s.
Hefrownssli
ght
lybef
orecov
eri
ngi
tupwi
thhi
s
br
ightsmil
e.
“
Arey
our
eadyf
ort
heheadache?
”heasks.
“
I’
mr eadyforanyt
hingthat
’sgoingt
omakemea
woman,”shesaysbeforereali
zi
nghowmuchshe’s
t
oldthi
sman, yett
hey’v
eonl yknowneachot
herf
or
afewmi nut
es.
“
Tomey
oul
ookl
i
keabeaut
if
ul,
humbl
eand
i
ntel
ligentwoman.Whatmakesy out
hinki
tmakes
youlessofawomani fyou’
renotsomeone’
s
mother ?
”
Sheshrugshershoulder
s,“
Isn’
tthatwhatmakesa
womancompl ete?Youallmarryussothaty
oucan
extendyourf
ami l
i
esandhav echil
drenwho’
l
lcarr
y
yournames.”
“No,yourdefinit
ionsofawomanandmar r
iageare
fl
awed.Awomanal onedoesn’
thav earesponsibil
i
ty
tobearchildr
en, sheneedsamant odoso.Ev en
whenshemeet swithaman,chi
ldrenarenot
guaranteed.Youcannotblamey oursel
fforthat,
you’
renotMot herNatur
e,youdon’thavetheupper
handiny ourli
fe.”
Shel ooksathim andfrowns.Hecouldbeinhislate
thi
rtiesorearlyfor
ti
es.Buthetakesgoodcareof
himsel f
,hi
sbear diswellt
ri
mmedandy oucansee
thathe’sfri
endlywiththegym.Hisblackshort
revealshislonghairyl
egsandanklebeltonhisleft
foot.Hedoesn’ tmakeacutofmagazi necovers,
neitherdoeshemakel i
stofAfri
canl
eastattr
activ
e
mal es.He’ssomewher ebetweenhandsomeand
aver
age,howeverhi
sper
sonali
tybloomsli
kea
fl
ower,
andthatwhit
esmileofhisbri
ght
ensupthe
worl
dthatsurr
oundshi
m.
“Loveisthecor eofmar r
iage.Youseeusf i
li
ngfor
divorceondailybasi sbecausewedi dn’
tmar r
yfor
l
ov e.Weset t
ledf orot herreasons, whenthose
reasonshav ebeenf ulfi
ll
editbecameempt yand
hopeless,”hesay s,hisdeepv oicesmoothened.His
massagi nghisringf ingerwithappr eci
ati
onand
grati
tude.Hehasadeepunder standi
ngoflif
eand
descr i
pti
vewayofi l
lustrati
ngi t
.
“Truel ovenev erendsNothileKaNt usi.Ithasi t
s
highsandl ows, buti
talwaysbounceback.I t’
saf i
re
thatcannev erbeextingui
shed.I tburnsi nsideyou
forever .I
tovercomesst ormsandhur ricanes.As
l
ongasi t
’sthereatthecoreofy ourmar r
iage,i
tcan
nev erturnintoashes.”Hel ooksather , hi
sey es
haunt edwi thsadnessandpi ty.There’sapar tofhi
m
thatdi edwi t
hhismar ri
age, maybe.
“Unl
essifit
’snotmutual
.Sometimeswegiveour
hear
tstothewr ongpeopl
e.Peoplewhodon’tneed
nordeserv
eourl ov
e.Thenitt
akesustoolongto
r
eal
i
zet
hatandweendupget
ti
ngbr
oken,
”hesay
s.
Thi
sist
oomucht
oli
stent
o.I
t’
stoodeep.
“Ishouldgobacktomyr oom befor
eIfaintbecause
ofhunger,”shesays,
stretchi
ngherarmsand
yawning.Shejustwantst oescapethi
stalk.She
doesn’twantitt
osinkin.
“Well
,Ihav
ear
oastchi
ckenandpapi
nmyr
oom,
”he
says.
Shef
rownsbef
oreshel
aughs.
“
Youarel
yi
ng.Ther
e’snowayy
oucoul
d’v
efl
own
f
oodfr
om RSA.
”
“Fl
own?Ischool
edtheseI
ndonesi
anchef
s,t
hey
don’
tknowanythi
ng.
”
Shewai
tsf
orhimtosayhe’
sjoki
ngbecauset
her
e’s
nowayhecoul
d’v
edonethat
.
Buthe’
snotj
oki
ng.Hepi
ckshi
ssandal
sandst
ands
up.
“
Wear
ebr
otherandsi
stert
hissi
de.Getup,
”hesay
s.
Shechecksherphone.Thakasahasn’
tev
enchecked
whereshei s.Hemustbehappyt ohavethi
sprivacy.
Herheartistornbetweengoingbacktot
heirr
oom
andbursti
nghi m whil
ehe’scal
li
nghissi
de-
chick’s,
anddaringthedev i
l
;leav
ingwithMandul
oand
enj
oyinghert r
ipassheplanned.
.
.
He’sst i
llawake,l
eaningagai nsttheheadboardand
stari
ngi ntospace.Thedooropensandhi swife
fi
nall
ywal ksi
n.Timer eads,1:23am.Heknewt hat
she’dcomeback, it’
showshe’ dbewhenshecame
backt hathewasn’ tsureof.He’ sbeenplanni
ngand
preparinghimselfforthecomi ngconf ront
ati
on.The
possibili
tyofhisfamily,especiall
yhismother,
fi
ndingoutaboutt hi
skillshi
m.I tleaveshi
m
breathless.
Shestopsbythedoor,
herhandgri
psonherjacket
ti
ghtl
yasshestar
esatherhusband.Shel
osttrack
ofti
me,justt
omentionthel
eastofwhatshelost
toni
ght.
“
Manqe…”
Thakasasi
tsupaf
tert
aki
ngasi
ghoft
empor
ary
rel
i
ef.
“
MaNt
usi
please,
let
’st
alk.
”
“
Tal
k?”Not
hil
easkswi
thaf
rown.
Heget
sof
fbedandwal
kst
oher
.Hehasn’
tsl
epta
wi
nk.
“Thepromi
sesImadet oyouwheny ouagreedtobe
apartofmyli
festil
lstand.Andthey’
ll
standforev
er.
Ilov
eyoumywi fe.Iknowt hatsometi
mesIbecome
dist
ant
.Ther
e’ssomuchpr essuref
rom work,at
homeand…”
“I
t’
sokay ,
youdon’
thav
etoexpl
ain.Letmet
akea
quickshowerandcometobed,
it’
slat
e.”
Heholdsherarm andpull
sherback.Thei
rey
esl
ock,
hi
sli
pscurveint
oasmi le.
“
What’
sundert
hisdr
ess?
”heasksandpecksher
l
i
ps.
There’
sawayhebr usheshisbear
dychi
nonher
neckthatusual
l
yturnsheron.Butt
odayitscar
es
herbecausesheknowswhathewant s.
“CanImakel
ovetomywife?
”heasks,brushi
ngher
cheekt
ender
lywhi
lest
ari
ngint
oherbulgi
ngeyes.
“
May
bet
omor
row.I
’
mti
redManqel
e.”
I
t’
sat asteofhi sownmedici
ne.Eventhoughhe
wasn’tproposingthi
sfr
om thedepthsofhishear
t,
butbeingturneddownstil
lsti
ngs.
“I
’
m notcheat
ingonyouMaNtusi.Youhav
eto
bel
iev
eme,”hesaysdesper
atel
y.
Shenodsandwr
apsherar
msar
oundhi
swai
st.
“Okaymy
eni
wami
,canIgoandt
akeashower
now?”
“
Ithoughty
oushower
edbef
orey
oul
eft
.”
Shecl
ear
sherthroatandkeepsey
e-cont
act
,it
’sv
ery
i
mport
antri
ghtnow.
“
YouknowIl
ovewat
erandher
ewear
enotpay
ing
t
hebi
ll
.”
Hechuckl
es,“
Alr
ight
,I’
l
lwai
tinbed.You’
resl
eepi
ng
i
nmyar mstoday.
”
I
tcoul
dbegenui
neandi
tcoul
dbej
ustgui
l
teat
ing
him up.Butnowthey
’reev
en,
ther
e’snobet
teronei
n
thi
smar ri
ageany
mor e.

Handscar
essherlowerbody
.Shekeepsherey
es
f
ir
mlyshutandpretendst
obefastasl
eep.
“Ntusiyami,
”hi
sv oi
cer umblesnexttoherear.Him
call
ingherli
kethisi
nt heweehour sofmor ni
ng
underblanket
s,remindsherofgoodol dti
mes.
Timeswhenhecoul dn’tgetenoughofher,befor
e
havingababybecameagoal andobsessiontoher.
He’dwakeherupwi thtonsofkisses,
callsherhi
s
‘
endandbegi nning’
,andmakesweetl ovetoher.
“It
’sme,umyeni wakho,vukasthandwasami .”Sof
t
l
ipsbrushthesideofherf ace.I
nvolunt
ari
l
y ,herey
es
opens.Hiseyesarest ar
ingathergentl
y,l
ikeshe’s
themostpreciousthingonear t
hthismorning.
Hetakesherhand,entwinest
hei
rfi
nger
stoget
her
anddrawsherfacecloser.
“NginamaphuthabutIloveyou.Somet i
mesIlosemy
tonewhenIspeak, sometimesIdon’tthi
nkand
somet i
mesIletfr
ustrat
ionstakeover.Buti
t’
sall
becauseI
’
m scar
ed.
”
“
Whatar
eyouscar
edof
?”sheasks.
“Oflosingy ou.AtthispointIthi
nky ouwantt ohav e
chil
dr enmor ethany ouwantt obewi thme.Atf i
rstI
thoughty ouwer edoi ngitf
ormebecauseI ’v
e
alway swant edkids,butnowi thasescalated.
Akusekhomnandi ,t
here’snojoyany more.Imi ssmy
wife.”Hel i
ftsupherchi n.Herey esaregli
tt
eringwi t
h
tears.Thisisnothowt heybothwant edthingst o
turnout .Marri
agewassupposedt obeabedof
roses.Not hil
ewasn’ tsupposedt oopenawi ndow
fortheot herwoman.Shewasn’ tsupposedtopush
him away .
“
Let’sfi
xthi
ngsMaNt usi.Let’
sgobackt ohowwe
were.Wedon’thavechildr
enmay bebecauseI
wasn’tbl
essedwit
ht hem, ori
t’
sjustnotourti
me.
Wehav etri
edever
ything,I
’mt i
rednow.”
Sheinhal
esdeepl
yandwi
pest
hedr
opoft
ear
son
hercheeks.
“
Okay
,”Herheadst
il
lscr
eams‘YOUDESERVETOBE
AMOTHER’butmaybesheshoul
dletl
oosef
ora
coupl
eofmont
hsandf
ocusonmendi
ngher
marri
age.
Heli
nkshisf
oreheadontoher
sandsmi
l
es.Hel
oves
hi
swife,
that
’swit
houtanydoubt
.
“Mthongai
scomplai
ning.He’
smissi
nghi
spancake.
You’r
esti
ll
taki
ngcar
eofi t
,ri
ght
?”
Heaskst
hiswheneverhe’
sinagoodmood.I
t’
sjust
t
hatnow…coughs!
!!
Hetouchesbetweenherlegs.Shesqueezesher
thi
ghs.I
tjustdoesn’
tfeelr
ight
.Ormaybeshe’sj
ust
scaredt
hathemi ghtfeel
it.
Hebr
eathesheav
il
yandpul
l
shercl
osert
ohi
s
er
ect
ion.
“
Ilov
eyou,
thatwi
l
lnev
erchange,
”hesay
s.

(
I’
vebeenexperi
enci
ngeyesi
ghtpr
oblemst
hepast
f
ewday s.Pl
easefor
giv
eme,I
’l
lbebouncef
ull
yin
t
ime.
)
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER5
KHANYO

Ifi
ndi tstranget hatIdon’thaveBandla’snumber
andhedoesn’ thavemi neeit
her.Hegav emear i
de,
mor elikeIhijackedhi mintoit,t
henheshowedup
thenextdayi nmyf l
atandaskedmet ogoand
celebratehisbi rt
hday ,
thenitwast heendofour
fri
endship, fl
i
ngorwhat everitwas.Hedi dn’teven
apologizef ormaki ngmehor nyandnotof feri
ngthe
serviceafterwar ds.Hejustdisappeared,cameback
afterthir
tymi nutesanddr ovemebackt omyf l
at.No
explanation,nonot hing.
Tel
lmewhydoIcareabouthavi
nghisnumber
?
Whatcoul
dwepossi
blytal
kaboutanyway?
Iventedtomyf r
iendsandt heytur
nedthewhole
thi
ngi nt
oajoke.LikeIshould’
veknownt hatmenof
histypedon’
tengagei nsexualact
ivi
ti
esonFr i
day
s
after6pm.Heshoul dn’
thaveledmeon, peri
od.
“Guysss,
”that’
sGugu’
sv oi
ceyel
li
ngfr
om theki
tchen.
Todayshe’scooki
ng,hopeful
l
ywewon’tendupi n
hospit
alswithdamagedint
esti
nes.
“
It
’sdi
nner
,”shey
ell
sagai
n.
“Lunch,
notdi
nneri
diot,
”IsayasNol
wazi
andIget
offbedandheadtothekit
chen.
Myphoner
ingsj
ustaswestepint
heki
tchen.Idon’
t
r
ecogni
zet
henumber,Ist
epbackandl
eanbyt he
wal
l.
“
Hel
l
o,”Ianswer
.
“Makhany i
wher einMusgr av edoy oulive?”Holyshi
t,
i
t’smybr other’
sv oice.Ihav en’tspokent ohimin
mont hs,whi chisn’ tveryst rangegivenour
relat
ionship.Mymot herwasbl essedwi t
honl yt
wo
kids.Itcould’vebeenonl yone, Ndulo,butGod
changedhi smi ndaf t
er14y earsandbl essedher
withadaught er,me.Ndul ogr ewupwi thhisfather
whowasv erysuppor tiv
ecompar edtomi ne.AndI
grewupwi thmymat ernal grandparents,who
continuedt oraisemeev enaf termymot her’sdeat
h.
Ididmeetmyf at hert wicebef orehedied.Hewasan
abnormalmanwi t
habnormalfami l
y.Idon’thavea
rel
ati
onshipwit
hmywei r
daunt s,t
heyonlyr eachout
tomei ft
here’
saceremonytakingplace.Wear e
eit
hertoodif
fer
entort
oosimilar.Wedon’ tgetalong.
Byt heway ,Idon’thav eanysobst ori
est otell
.Ihad
av erygoodupbr i
nging, Ndulocamehomeev ery
mont handgav eusmoney .EvenwhenIf ini
shed
highschool ,Ienroll
edf orJournali
sm atDur ban
Universit
yofTechnol ogyandhef i
nanci al
ly
sustainedmewhi leIst udied.Butwhenmy
grandparentsdi edtwoweeksapar t,Idroppedout
andr ebell
ed.Nor mallyweuni t
eonl yonDecember
asaf ami l
y;me, Ndulo, hiswifeandki ds.Otherthan
that,wear ejustsibli
ngsscat teredinthewor l
dand
l
ivingtheirli
vessepar ately.
Whichi
swhyI
’m sur
pri
sedtogethi
scall
.Andhe
wantst
ocometomyplace?It
’sst
range.
“
Iwi
l
lsendt
headdr
ess,
”Isayhesi
tant
ly.
Mybrotheri
sagrownman,asI’
vementi
onedthat
weareadecadeandyear
sapart.He’
s39,
married
wi
thkidsandli
vi
nganhonestl
i
fe.HeknowsthatI
dri
nkbutaroundhim Idon’
tgett
obeKhanyo.He’
s
l
ikemyelder,andhedoesn’tt
akeshi
tmost
ly.
**
Iwill
betherei
nanhour .Doyouneedany
thi
ng?
**
Hetextsbackaf
terIsendtheaddr
ess.
Yes,
Ineedwi
ne.
*
*Br
ingany
thi
ng*
*Ir
espond.
Thissur
pri
sevisi
tmakesmenervous.Thebr
otherI
knowwould’v
esummonedmet ohishouseorhis
fat
her’
satKwaMashu.Heknowsmyl ivi
ng
arr
angementwithGuguandNol
wazi,whywouldhe
wantstocomeher e?
“
Whowast
hat
?”Nol
wazi
asks.
“
Ndul
o.He’
scomi
ngov
eri
nthenexthour
,”Isay
.
Thei
rey
espopout
.
“
He’
scomi
ngher
e?”Gugu.
“
Yes,
canwecl
eanal
i
ttl
ebi
tbef
oreweeat
?”
“Yes,
sure.Ialsoneedtochangeintosomethi
ng
sexyandputmake- upon.
”Nolwazi st
il
lhasacrush
onNduloev enthoughhe’
s16y earsoldert
hanher
andhappi
l
ymar
ri
ed.
“
Hewon’
tev
ennot
icey
ou,
”Gugusay
s.
“ThenI’m goingt odothisdancef orhi
m.”Sheturns
aroundandt wer ks.Theygiggleandargue.Mymi nd
i
sr unningwild.I’
mt ryi
ngtof i
gureoutwhatmade
him cal
l.Hemadepeacewi thmeandmyway s.He’
s
theresponsibleonewi thast abl
ejob,I
’mthe
hopelessrebel withnofuture.

Wear rangethefur
niture,sweepandcl
earalcohol
bot
tles.Nolwazimakesi therdut
ytodishupforhim
andkeephi sfoodinsidethemicrowav
e.Second
wif
ev ibes!
Hecallswhenhe’soutsideourbui
ldi
ng,
Nolwazi
offer
st ogoandfetchhim.Idon’
tmindher
,Iknow
thatmybr ot
herwouldneverseeawomaninher ,
she’sjustal
it
tl
esister
.
Wesi tonthetwo-seat
erandwaiti
nsi
lence.Gugui
s
text
ingherboyfri
endswit
haglassofOrosinher
handf orachange.
Nol waziisloudlychattingt
ohim astheywalk
throught hedoor .She’stel
l
inghi
m abouthernon-
existentbusinesspl ans.Ndul
oknowst hatwearea
hopel esstr
io,therearenobusinessplansbei
ngput
together.
“
Longl
ostsi
ster
,”hesmi
l
esandopenshi
sar
ms.
Hel ooksdi ff
erent.He’slostsomewei ghtand
compl etelychangedhi sstyle.Thel asttimeI
rememberhewasamanoff ormal wearandsui ts.
Hel ooked, walkedandspokel ikeaFi nancialAnaly
st
thathei s.Buttodayhe’ swear i
ngpl eatedshor t
s,
scoopneckT- shirtandsneaker s.Helookst oo
casual andcar efr
eef ormyl iki
ng.Hel ooksl i
kea
manwho’ dent ert
ainmyf r
iend’ssill
ycr ush.
Ihughim andstandtwof eet
sawayf rom hi
m and
star
eathim.He’slookingaround,pr
obably
searchi
ngforanyinappropri
atesandhidi
ng
boyfri
ends.
“
Isi
tsaf
eher
e?”
I
’
m notsur
pri
sedt
hat
’st
hef
ir
stt
hingheasks.
“
Yes,
”Isay
.
“
Mmmm.
”
Henot
icesGugusi
tt
ingont
hecouchandsmi
l
es.
“
Gugu,
right
?”Heext
endshi
shandf
orashakeand
t
hensi
tsnextt
oher.
“
Doy
ouneedsomet
hingt
odr
ink?
”Nol
wazi
.
Howgener
ousofher
?
“
Ohy es,pl
ease.Il
eftyourgroceryi
nthecar.
”He
l
ooksatme.Myey esarewidenedathislef
thand.
Whereishisri
ng?Whydi dhet akei
toff
?
“Ni
cet oseeyouBhut’
Ndul
o.Ineedtomakea
phonecall,
Khanyocal
lmeify
ouneedhel pwit
h
anyt
hing,
”Gugusaysbefor
edisappear
ingint
he
bedroom.
Nolwazial
soleavestomakeadr
inkf
orherf
utur
e
husband.Nowit’
sjustmeandhi
m.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”Iaskhi
m.
“Ah,Makhanyi
,don’
tevenpr
etendl
ikey
oucare.You
changedyournumber,
Ihadtocall
Gog’Ndl
elatoget
yournewnumber .
”
Oh,that!Iact
ual
l
ylostmyphoneearl
iert
hisyear
,I
boughtanewoneandonl yrest
oredthenumbersI
coul
dr emember.Hiswasn’
toneofthem,and
besi
des, i
t’
snotl
ikewewerephonebuddies.
“
Idocare,
it’
sjustt
hatIgotcaughtupwi
thli
fe.
Wher
e’sEmihleandLul
u?IsThobekawell
?”
“Theki
dsar
ewi
tht
hei
rmot
her
.They
’reokay
,”he
says.
Thobekai
snowt
hei
rmot
her
,nothi
swi
fe?
“
Car
etoexpl
ain?
”Iask.
Henar
rowshi
sey
es,
“Car
etoexpl
ain?
??”
Okay
,Iwi
thdr
awmyt
one.
“Ij
ustnot
icedthatyou’
renotwear
ingyourr
ing.I
s
every
thi
ngalri
ghtbetweenyouandThobeka?”Iask.
“
Wesepar
ated.I
twasf
inal
i
zedi
nJul
y.
”
Separ
ated?Fi
nal
i
zed?
“
Div
orce?
”Myv
oicel
osescont
rol
.What
onear
th?
!
Nol
wazi
put
sat
rayoff
oodandj
uiceont
hecof
fee-
t
abl
e.
“
Whodivor
ced?
”sheasks,
looki
ngatbot
hmeand
Ndul
o.
Neit
herofusanswers.Isti
l
lneedtoprocessthi
s.
Wewer etoget
heronChrist
masandt heylooked
happy.OrIi
maginedthem tobe.Theyweremy
happycouple.
“
It
’sy
ou?
”shest
aresathi
m.
Il
ovemyfr
iendtodeat
hbutsomet
imesshedoesn’
t
knowhowtostayonherl
ane.
“
Yes,
it’
sme,
”Ndul
osay
swi
thashr
ug.
“
Ohmygosh,
congr
atul
ati
ons.Thi
sisgr
eatnews.
”
TF!
!!
“
Nol
wazi
pleasegi
veussomespace,
”Isay
.
“
Ofcour
se,
ify
ouguy
sneedany
thi
ngj
ustshout
.”
“
Thanksf
ort
hef
oodNol
wazi
,
”Ndul
osay
s.
“
Pleasur
e!”
Canshedisappearalr
eady?Iwatchunt
ilshe
di
sappear
sinherr oom.ThenIturnt
othisone.
..
“
Youar
edi
vor
ced?Whathappened?
”Iask.
“
Ther
ewasat
hir
dper
soni
nourmar
ri
age.
”
Shutt
hef
uckup!Myhappycoupl
e.
“
Youcheat
ed?
”Iask.
“
Ist
hatwhaty
out
hinkofme?
”heasks.
“Noof f
ense,butmost l
ythi
rdpart
iesarebroughtby
meni ntorel
ationships.AndThobekadoesn’tlook
l
ike…”ShutupKhany o!Whyareyouignor
ingthepain
i
ny ourbrother’
sey es?Inhisvoi
ce?Thedr ast
ic
changesinhi slooks?
“Mygosh,I
’m sosor
rybr
other
.Howdi
dthatev
en
happened?
”
“Ithappenedforyears,r
ightundermynose.It
rust
ed
bothoft hem.Mybestf ri
endandwi f
e,si
gnswere
therebutIignor
edt hem.”
Bestf
riendasi
nMenzi?Godpleasef
etchyour
chi
ldr
en,blowyourt
ri
umphfr
om theeastandfl
yus
uptoheaven!
“Ineedsomethi
ngt
odri
nk,
”wor
dsescapemymout
h
beforeI
’m ev
enawar
e.
“I
’m nother
etoburdeny
ouwit
hmyprobl
ems.I
’
m
heretocheckonyou.Ar
eyouwel
l
?Healt
hy?
”
“
Yeah,
I’
m good,
”Isay
.
“St
il
lnotconsi
der
inggoi
ngbackt
ouni
ver
sit
y?”he
asks.
Igi
vehi
m alook.We’
vehadt
hisconv
ersat
ionmany
ti
mesbefor
e.
“Whati
syourprobl
em Nokukhany
a?Doy
ouwantt
o
seeapsychol
ogist
,maybe?”
Ther
e’saknock!ThankGodIcanescapet
his
i
nter
rogat
ionforamoment.
“
Letmeseewhoi
satt
hedoor
,”Isay
.
Buttheuni
ver
sehasotherpl
ans,Nol
wazi
dashes
outofther
oom andheadstothedoor
.
“
Don’
twor
ry,
lwi
l
lgeti
t.
”
Ndul
oisst
ari
ngatherwi
thasmi
l
eIcannotdescr
ibe.
“
Shehasacr
ushony
ou,
”Idon’
tknowwhatI
’
m
hopi
ngt
oachi
evebyt
ell
i
nghi
mthi
s.
“Icoul
dbeherfat
her
.”Hebr
eaksachuckl
eand
shakeshi
shead.
I
’m gladheseesitthatway.Af
terwhathe’
sbeen
through,Idon’
twanthimtotur
nintoNolwazi
’
s
blesser.

Ther
e’ssomeoneher
e.Hispr
esenceisheavi
l
yfelt
.
Myheartst
art
spoundingasmybrothersl
owlyt
urns
hi
sheadandlooksathim.
IknowbyNol wazi’
ssi
lencethati
t’
ssomeonewe
didn’
texpectorneedatthi
smoment .
It
urnmyheadaswell
.Mysensesdi
dn’
tli
e,i
t’
shi
m
i
nhisbushy
-bear
dedsel
f.
Whyi
sheher
e?Todayoutofal
lday
s?
“Eit
a!”Ndul
osays,l
ookingathimf rom headtotoe.
He’snevermetanyofmyboy fr
iends,sexpart
nersor
blesser
s.HeknowsthatI’m notagoodgi rl
buthe’s
nevercaughtmered-handedwithaguy .
Bandl
acl
aspshi
shandst
oget
herandbowshi
shead.
“
Mhl
oni
shwa,
”hesay
s.
Myl i
pscracki
ntoasmil
e.He’
ssocut
e,humbleand
respect
ful
.Ummm…Imean, whati
shedoingher
e?I
quickl
ypullmy
selft
oget
herandfr
ownathim.
Nol
wazicl
ear
shert
hroat
,“Hei
sher
efort
he
cur
tai
ns.
”
“
Cur
tai
ns?
”Iask.
Ther
e’sal
ookshe’
sgi
vi
ngme.
“
Ohy
es,
thecur
tai
ns.I
’
llf
etcht
hem,
”Isay
.
Bothhim andNduloareconfused.Igetof
fthe
couchandhur r
ytothebedroom.IhearNolwazi
expl
aini
ngt oNdul
ot hatwesellcur
tai
nsandBandl
a
i
soneofourr egul
arcustomers.
I’
m curi
oust oknowwhathe’sheref
orthisti
me.Isi
t
hissecondbi r
thday?Andt
hist
hingofhim comingi
n
unexpectedlyhastocometoanend.Idon’teven
knowhi mt hatwell
.

It
aket
wodif
fer
entdesignsthathecanchoosefr
om.
Weonl
yhav
ekitchencurtai
nslef
t.Nol
wazi’
splan
sucksasusual
.Hepr
obabl
ydoesn’
tev
enneed
curt
ains.
“MrManqelewehav et
hesetwodesigns,asyou
knowweonl ysel
lhi
ghqual
it
y,thefabr
icusedhere
comesfrom Indi
a,
”Nol
waziexplai
nsassheshow
thecur
tai
nstohim.
He’
sjustst
unned.Hekeepsst
eal
i
nggl
ancesat
Ndul
oandI.
Lor
d,het
hinkst
hathi
m andIar
esomet
hing.
“Thi
sismybr ot
her
,Mandul
oNy
athi
.”Whatt
hef
uck
am Iexpl
aini
ngmysel
ffor
?
Hi
seyesmeltwit
hrel
i
ef.Het
akest
hecur
tai
nsf
rom
Nol
wazi
’shand.
“
Howmuchar
ethey
?”heasks.
“You’
rearegul
arcustomerandy
oudon’
tknowt
he
pri
ce?”Nduloasks.
Nolwazij
umpsintor
escue,“Theydif
feri
npri
ces.
ThesegoforR2000,butbecausehe’
sourregul
ar
he’
llt
akethem f
orR1500.”
Whaaaaat
?That
’sday
li
ghtr
obber
y.Hedi
dn’
tev
en
wantcur
tai
ns,
he’
sher
eforme.
“
Ilosty
ourbanki
ngdet
ail
s,pl
easepr
ovi
det
hem so
t
hatIcanmakeanEFT,”hesays.
I’
m dumbst
ruck.Ididn’
timagi
nethethirdti
mewe
meettobethisawkward.Mandulowi l
lbeheretil
l
l
ate.Hedoesn’thaveawifewait
ingforhim athome.
Andwestil
lneedt ocat
chup,alothashappened
si
nceChri
stmas.
.
.
THEMANQELEHOMESTEAD

Thakasaj ustar
ri
vedwi thhi
swife.Hishanddoesn’t
l
eaveher s.Helookshappyf orachange.Evenin
pi
cturesitshowst hattheyhadagreatti
mei nBali
.
I
t’
sdef i
nitelywhatbothofthem needed;sometime
outtoreconnect.
“Ihavet
ohel
pMai ntheki
tchen,
”Not
hil
esay
s,
untangl
i
ngher
sel
ffrom hi
sarms.
“
Phet
hyi
sint
heki
tchen,
hel
pingher
.Got
oourr
oom
andr
est
,pl
ease,
”Thakasaar
gues.
“
I’
mjustgoi
ngtohel
pthem wi
thafewthi
ngsand
t
hengo,
”shesays,
giv
inghi
m anassur
ingl
ook.
He’snotpl
easedbuthecannotst
ophereveni
fhe
l
ikes.Hest
aresatherunt
ilshedi
sappear
s.
“Sothespar
khasbeenreki
ndl
ed?
”Nkonzoasks,
bri
nginghi
m backt
otheroom.
“Ihaveneverl
ovedherl
ess.I
t’
sthef
ocust
hat
shif
ted,notmyhear
t,
”hesays.
“Thefocusshi
ft
edt
owho?
”Nkonzoaskswi
thhi
s
eyebr
owr ai
sed.
Hei
gnor
est
hatquest
ionandasksaboutSqal
o.
“
Whyi
shest
il
lnotbackathome?
”
“He’spr
obabl
ywi
thMpi
l
oandst
udy
ing,
”Nkonzo
says.
“
Heshouldsti
ckwit
hthatboy
.He’sagoodf
ri
end,
t
hey
’l
lacethei
rexams,
”hesays.
“Ical
ledMawandel
astni
ghtandshedi
dn’
tsound
okay.Doyouknowwhat’
sgoingonwit
hher
?”
“HowshouldIknow?Iwasn’tinthecount
rythe
enti
reweek.Youshoul
dbet el
li
ngmewhat ’sgoi
ng
on.Didyouspeaktoherhusband?”
“
Hewasn’
thome,
”Nkonzosay
s.
“Wher
ewashe?Hecannotl
eav
emysi
steral
oneat
ni
ght.
”
Nkonzolif
tshishandup,“
Hey,youcannotdi
ctat
e
howher unshishouse.Weonl
yneedt ocheckon
oursi
ster,i
fshehascomplai
ntsthenwecan
i
nterv
ene.”
“
Ihavet
ogosomewheret
omor
rowmor
ning,
may
be
wecangot
oherl
ater
.”
“Thatsomewher
eismor
eimpor
tantt
hanour
sist
er?”
“
It
’si
mpor
tantf
ormeandmymar
ri
age.
”
Nkonzost aresathim buthedoesn’texplai
nany
furt
her.He’sneverbeent hor
oughlytransparentwi
th
them.May bebecausehehast omai ntai
nthegood
brotherpi
cture.Hehast obear ol
emodel ,
hecannot
breakandgi vethem aflawedpict
ure.Hehast obe
per
fect
.

There’
sacardr
ivi
ngin.Nkonzopeekst
hrought
he
windowandseesthati
t’
sBandla.
“
He’
sbackear
ly.May
behegotr
eject
ed,
”hesay
s.
“
He’
sseensomeone?
”Thakasaasks.
“It
hinkso,
butwe’
l
lhav
etowai
tandseehowi
tal
l
goes.”
Bandlawalksinwithcurt
ains.Theireyeswidenin
shock.TheirmotherandNot hi
letakecareofsuch
thi
ngs.Thisgir
lissendi
nggi ft
salready?Orit
’spar
t
ofumbondo?
“
Wher
edi
dyougetcur
tai
ns?
”Nkonzoasks.
“Iboughtthem, outofwi
ll
.Herbr
otherwast
here,so
herfri
endpr et
endedasifIwasacustomerl
ooking
forcurt
ains,
”hesay s.
I
t’
snotaj
oke,t
here’
snothi
ngfunnyabouti
t,but
t
here’
sahugel
aughterer
upti
ng.
“
Whoi
sthi
sgi
rl
?”Thakasaasks.He’
sal
sol
aughi
ng
buthehascont
rol
.
Nkonzohashi
slegsspr
eadout
,he’
schoki
ngi
n
l
aughter
.
“Youwon’tknowherandt
her
e’snot
hingt
otel
lfor
now,”Bandl
asays.
Thakasagiveshi m al
ook.Bandlaisnotsecreti
ve,
thi
sisthef i
rstti
mehe’sholdingdetai
lsabouthis
pri
vateli
fe.Itcoul
dbet hati
t’
ssomet hi
ngser i
ousor
somethingtoowr ong.
“
MaKhumal
other
esponsi
blesoni
shome,
”Nkonzo
y
ell
s.
Bandl
athrowsthecur
tai
nsont het
ableandsinks
downont hecouchwi
thhishandsoverhishead.He
j
ustwantedtoseeher
,evenifi
twasf orafew
minut
es.Ahugwould’
vebeenenough.
Makhumal
oappear
s,wi
pingherwethandswi
tha
cl
oth.
“
LookMa-
K,heboughtcurt
ains,”Nkonzol
eadsher
t
othet
abl
eandshowst hecurtains.
Bandl
alooksannoy
ed.Hedr
oveal
lthewayt
o
Dur
banf
orl
ousycur
tai
ns!
“Myboy,youboughtyourmot hercurt
ains?Iwish
other
scanlearnf
rom you.You’retheresponsibl
e
andhandsomeone.”ShekissesBandl a’scheeks
andtakeshercur
tai
nsandl eaveshappily.
“
Ist
hisapar
tofumbondo?
”Nkonzo.
“
Youar
eannoy
ing,
”hesay
sandl
ooksatThakasa.
“
Howwast
het
ri
p?”heasks.
“
Itwaswor
thev
ery
thi
ng,
”Thakasasay
s.
“
Butyoudidn’
tbr
ingcur
tai
ns,
irr
esponsi
bleboy
,”-
Nkonzo.
Bandlagiv
eshim anot
herl
ook.He’
ssingl
eand
miserabl
e,that
’swhyhel
aughsaboutever
ythi
ng
underthesun.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER6
THAKASA

Hel efttheof ficear oundbr eakfasttimeandwent

home.Notbecauset her ewasanemer gencyorhe
forgotsomet hing.Hedeci dedt opopi nandcheck
onhi swi fe.Ther e’sabunchoff lower sandagi f
tbag
l
y i
ngont heseatnex ttohi m.He’ sdrivi
ngsl owl y,
in
sil
ence, andl isteningt heagonyi nhi shear t
.He
didn’tkeept hepr omi seshemadet ohimsel f.He’s
beent ryingtobr i
nghi mselft omaket hatphonecal l
tomeetupwi thNomkhosi facet ofaceasshe
request ed,butheal way sendsupmaki ngexcuses.
Asi tstands, him andherar est i
lltogether.Hisf ear
i
st hathi swifemi ghtf indoutaboutt his.They ’
reina
goodpl acenow.Hedoesn’ tneedNomkhosi
any more, beinghomewi thhi swi f
eisenough.I t’s
thet houghtofmeet ingwi thherandf all
inginto
tempt ationinst eadofendi ngt hingst hatscar eshim.
Hepar ksbelowthemainhouse,takesoffhis
sunglassesandstepsoutofthecarholdinghis
wife’sgi
fts.Hi
smotheriskni
tti
ngont hev er
anda,
whensheseeshi m appr
oachingshest opsand
staresathim.
“
Mnt
ungwa!
”hegr
eet
swi
thasmi
l
e.
“WhatdidIdotodeser
vesuchbeaut
if
ulf
lower
s?”
sheasks,adj
ust
inghergl
asses.
Thakasalaughs,
“Yourgenerati
onknowsnothi
ng
aboutfl
owers.BabaonlybroughtyouTof
oluxand
beads.WhywouldIscareyouwi thfl
ower
s?Isti
ll
l
ovey ouverymuch.”
“Iwonderwhatmakesy ouchildr
ent hi
nkourtimes
werebor i
ng.Yourfatherwasmor er omantict
han
anymani nt hi
svi
llage.Look,y
ou’reheretogiveyour
wifefl
ower sbutyourshirti
snotev entucked
proper
ly.Whosechi ldareyou?”
Thakasaignor
esthatr
emar
kandwal
ksi
nsi
det
he
houselaughi
ng.
Hef
indshi
swif
estandi
ngi
nthemiddleoft
hedi
ning
r
oom asi
fshe’
sbeenel
ect
ri
cshocked.
“MaNtusi
,
”hewal
kst
oherandgi
vesheral
i
ghtpeck
onthecheek.
Sheonl
ynodsi
nresponse.
“Areyouokay?Whydoesi tl
ookli
keyou’vebeen
cryi
ng?”He’
scheckingheroutandpanicki
ng.His
eyeslandonawhitetubesquashedi
nherhand.He
knowswhatitis,
they’
veusedtonsofthem inthe
past.
“MaNtusi Ithoughtwehadanagr eement.Itwil
l
happenwhent het i
mecomes.Themor ey outest
andcryy ourey esoutisthemoreIfeel
li
keaf ail
ure.
You’r
ehur tingmebydoi ngthi
s.”Heputsflowers
andthegi ftbagont hedini
ngtabl
eandsnat chesthe
pregnancyt esttubefr
om herhand.
“Thispressureyou’r
egivingusisnotnecessary
.”
He’sannoy edbuthe’stryi
ngnottoshowi t
.He
headstot hebathroom tothrowiti
nthebin,onl
yf or
hiseyestoglanceati tandnoti
cesomet hi
ngstrange
beforehedoes.
Hestopsdeadonhist
racksandli
ft
situp,hi
seyes
nar
rowed.Twoli
nes?Heturnsar
oundquickl
yand
r
unsbackt
oNot
hil
e.
“St
handwasami
didy
ouseet
his?
”heasks,
almost
outofbr
eat
h.
He’
sov
erwhel
medwi
thf
ear
,joyandsadness.
“I
’
m pregnantManqele.”She’sst
il
lshocked.Thi
sis
whatshe’sbeenprayi
ngf or.I
thashappened.She’
s
becomingamot her.I
tjustdoesn’
tsinki
n.Whynow?
Outofallt
imes,now.
Thakasafal
lsdownonhisknees,
holdsherl
egand
buri
eshisheadonhert
remblingl
egs.
Hekeepssay
ing;
“Thanky
ou…t
hanky
ou.
”
Nothil
elif
tshi
m up.Theyhugforwhatf eel
sli
ke
eter
nity
.Thakasaisnotanemotionalperson,
thi
sis
thefi
rstti
meshe’sseenhimthisbareandemot i
onal
.
“You’
vemademeamanamongstmen.Idon’ tknow
howI’l
lev
erthankyouMaNt usi
becauselov
ingyou
i
snotenough.”Heholdshershoul
dersandlooksat
herwit
htear
yey es.
“
No,t
hankyouandtherest
ingel
dersf
ort
rust
ingme
t
ocar
ryoneofyourown.”Godknowshowmuchshe
wishesi
ttobetrue.I
thasto,
other
wisei
t’
stheend
ofhermarri
age-ofherl
if
e.
“I
fitwasn’
ty ou,whowasi tgoingtobe?You’rethe
onlyMrsManqel ethatThakasawoul deverbri
ng.
Thereisnooneel se,t
herecannev erbe.
”Hebr i
ngs
herfacecloser,
wipestearsruini
ngherprett
yface
andkissesherliketheworldiscomingtoanend.
Hefi
nal
lybreakstheki
ssandst
aresint
oherey
es.
He’
sthehappiestmanint
heworld.
“Therecannev erbe, yousaid?”Not hil
esay switha
smile.Seeingherhusbandov erjoyedlikethisgives
herthesat i
sfact
ionshe’sbeenl ongi ngfor.Nowi t
feel
sl i
keshe’ssatisfi
edherdut iesashi swi f
e.
What everhappens, Thakasahast obet hefatherof
thi
sbaby .Atallcosts.Hewasj ustexhaust ed,being
afatherwasst il
linhisdreams.
“MaNtusi
Ichoseyouinbr
oaddayl
i
ght
.Youar
emy
endandbeginni
ng.I
nmyhearty
ourul
e.”
“
ButIdon’
trul
eyourbody
,”shesay
s.
Heswal
lowshard.Shesur
elyknowshowt
ospoi
la
goodmoment.
“
That
’snott
rue,
”hi
svoi
cei
snotf
ir
m ashesay
s.
Shet ur
nsherbackonhi
m andopenst
hegif
tbaghe
brought.I
t’
sadiamondbr
acel
etandapai
rof
mat chi
ngearr
ings.
“She’st
all
,fai
rinskinandful
l f
igur
ed,
eventhough
she’ssl
immert hanme.Isthatwhatatt
ract
edyout o
her?Thatshewassl immer?”sheasksasshefits
thebracel
et.Hertonedoesn’tmatcht
hequestion.
I
t’
snothear
say
sorsuspi
cions,
sheknows
Nomkhosi
.
“OnedayIcamet otheoffi
cetothebr ingyoulunch.
Otherbr ot
her
swer einCapeTown, itwasar ai
ny
Fri
daysoIt houghtIshouldsurpr
isey ouwi t
hwar m
food.Shewassi t
tingonyourlapinsidey ouroff
ice,
Manqel e.Youhady ourar
m aroundherwhi l
efeeding
herstrawberri
es.
”
Hischestti
ght
ens,restr
aini
nghi mfrom suf
fi
cient
breath.Hewascaughtred-handed!Nomkhosi has
beent ohi
soff
icewhenhi sbrother
sareaway .How
couldhebesocareless?
“
Isshest
il
li
nthepi
ctur
eori
t’
ssomeoneel
senow?
”
She’
ssocal
m.I
t’
sunset
tl
ingandner
ve-
wrecki
ng.
“Iwasemotionall
ydrai
nedMaNt usi
.Itwasn’
tmy
i
ntent
iontogot hatway,If
eltcor
neredhereat
home,”hesays.
“Thakasa!
”Hi
snameasit’
swrit
teninhi
sID?!Shi
tis
goingdown.Hi
seyespopoutofthei
rsocket
s.
“
Iaskedi
fit
’sst
il
lherorsomeoneel
se,
”shesay
s.
Heav
ybr
eat
h!
“It
’sstil
lher.ButIt
oldherweshoul dstop.Ionl
y
turnedtoherbecauseIwasmi ssingyouMaNt usi
.
Shedi dn’tmakemef eelusel
ess,”hesays.
“AndImadey ouf
eelusel
ess?
”St
il
lcal
m and
appreci
ati
ngherf
lowers.
“I
ndirect
ly.Yout ur
nedyourbackever
ynightift
he
pregnancyt estcamebacknegati
ve.Eveninthe
bedroom, itfel
tli
kewehadadut ytodothings,
ther
e
wasnof unany more.
”
“Mmmm, ”shetur
nsaroundswif
tl
y.Heholdshi
s
breathandlooksather
.He’sr
eadyforhi
s
punishment,what
everiti
s.
“Iwantwhateverhappenedbet weenthetwoofy ou
toend,f
orgood.Ifsomet hingli
kethi
shappens
agai
nI’l
ltel
lMaandt heelderswi l
lbeinv
olved.I
fyou
haveaproblem wit
hme, y outal
k.Youdon’tcheat.
”
“I
’
m sorrysthandwasami.Itwon’
thappenagai
n.”He
holdsherhandtotestwaters.
Shesi
ghsandki
sseshi
scheek.
“You’
resupposedt
obeatwork?Di
dn’
tyousayy
ou
haveameet i
nginSt
anger
?”
He’
sreli
eved.He’
sbeenfor
giv
en.Nowthefi
rstt
hing
hemustdowhenhel eav
esistocal
lNomkhosiand
endt
hingsforgood.
“Iwantedt
oseemybeaut
if
ulwi
fe,
”hesay
s,ki
ssi
ng
herli
pssmoothl
y.
Theywalkoutofthehouseholdi
nghands.
Makhumalolooksupandstaresatt
hem asthey
gi
ggle,
makingtheirwaytoher.
“
Hel
l
oGogo,
”Thakasasay
s.
Shef
rowns,
“Gogo?
”
Hi
m andNot
hil
eshar
eal
ookandasmi
l
e.
“Sheispregnant
,youar
ehav
ingy
ourf
ir
st
grandchi
l
d.”
Cottondropsint
oabasket .Shewantstosi
ngand
dance,butherkneeswon’tall
owher.Shecanonl
y
ul
ulatesandwav esherhandsupinjoy.
I
t’
sadr
eam comet
rue.
.
.
Her ecit
esasmal lprayerbeforehecli
mbsoutoft he
carandmakeshi swayi nsi
det hefl
atthatNomkhosi
want edthem tomeetin.Thi sisgoodbye,hehasto
makei tsinkbothtohimsel fandtoher.Hecannot
l
osehi sfamilyoverher.He’scompl et
enow, happy
even.Itwasgoodwhi l
eitlasted.
Hewal ksintoherpacingar oundtheroom.She’s
wear i
ngaf or
mal ski
rtsuitandblackheel
s.Hercurl
y
weav eisbouncingasshemov es.She’
sbeauti
ful
,
elegantandlevel-
headed.Whenshe’ sint
heroom
thewhol eofitsmell
slikeher.Shehasasignatur
e,i
t
drawsy ouin.
Heknowsherf i
ercesideandhegotusedt oit.He
l
ov edit,atti
mesi ttur
nedhi m on.Butsomet imesit
scaredhi m,li
ketoday.She’ll
bitehisheadof f,that
’s
writt
eni nhereyes.He’sdonet hissomanyt imes
before.Ithasmadehi ml ooklikeat eenageboywho
doesn’tknowwhathewant sinlif
e.Funni l
y,
everyti
mewhenhewant edherbackhe’ djustmakea
phonecal landaskt omeet .Hedi dn’
tneedt ogo
downonhi skneesandaskf orforgiveness.I
nsome
way ,she’satt
ractedtohim.Shei scont entwithwhat
theyhav egoingon.Andhe’ sher etoendi t,
forgood,
becausei tdoesn’tbenefi
thim any more.
Yes,
he’
sadogandheknowsi
t.
“Thakasa,
”shecallshim byname.Unlikehi
swi f
e
whoal waysrespectshim andref
erstohim byhis
surname,thi
sonecal lshi
m whatevershewants.
Hencehesai d‘t
herecannev erbeanotherwif
e’,
evenifhewasapol y gamist,
Nomkhosi i
snota
Manqel ewif
emat eri
al.
“Hi
Nomkhosi,
”hesaysandtakesadeepbreat
hto
col
lecthi
sner
vest
hatareal
lovert
heplace.
Shewalkstot
hebed,si
tsandcrossesherlegs.
She’
sabombwai t
ingtoexpl
ode.Hefeelscoldand
sweatyatt
hesametime.
“
Iwai
tedforyourcal
l.Whyarewebr eaki
ngupthi
s
t
imeandhowl ongarewegoingtobeapar t
?Don’
t
y
ougetti
redofthischi
ldi
shnessThakasa?”
Hehatesbeingshoutedat
.Theonlywomanwho
canshoutathimishismotherorMawande.Ev
enhi
s
wif
edoesn’tshoutathi
m.
“Don’
trai
seyourv
oiceatme.I
’
m noty
ourchi
l
d,”he
scol
dsher.
“
Thenactl
i
keanadul
t.Whythefuckam Iher
e
t
oday?
”sheasks,
wav
ingherhandsup.
“
Icannotseey
ouany
mor
e,”hesay
s,hi
svoi
cel
osi
ng
t
heanger.
“
Tellmesomet
hingnew.
”Sher
oll
sherey
esand
f
oldsherar
ms.
“
Mywi
feknows,
shesawus,
”hesay
s.
Shedoesn’
tcar
e.He’
sscar
edofhi
swi f
e,shelear
nt
thatf
rom t
hebegi
nni
ngoft
hei
rrel
ati
onship.
“
Idon’
twantt
olosemywi
feov
ernot
hing,
”hesay
s.
Sher
aisesherey
ebr
ow,
“I’
m not
hing?
”
“Tomey ouhavenosigni
fi
cance.Ineededyou
becauseIwasn’thappyathome.NowIam, mywi f
e
i
spr egnantandweareinagoodpl ace.Idon’
tneed
anydistr
acti
ons.”
Sheshut shereyes.Herhandsar etrembl
ing.Not
thatshedidn’
tknowt hathi
swi f
ecamef i
rst,
butto
becalledadistr
actionhurts.Theremustbeanother
wayt odefi
newhatt heyhave,orhad.
“Iwasonl
yadi
str
act
ionf
ory
ouri
nfer
ti
lewi
fe?
”she
asks.
Bothofthem ar
eangr
ynow.Howdar
eshecal
l
shi
s
wif
einfert
il
e?
“NomkhosiIonlyneededyoutorel
easestr
ess.Oh
well
,andsperms.Idon’tl
oveyouandthiswas
boundtoendany ti
memeandmywi febecameokay.
Andshe’snotinfer
ti
le,
evenifshewas,i
twould’
ve
beennoneofy ourbusi
ness.
”
Herl
i
pst
rembl
e.She’
snotf
ier
ceanddi
srespect
ful
any
mor
e.She’
sbr
eaki
ngdown.Thewhol
equeen!
“
I’
venev
ergiv
enyouanyhope.I
’v
eneverli
edt
oyou.
I
’
m amarri
edman,webothtookri
sks,
”hesay
s.
“HowThakasa?Howdoy oudoi t?Howdoy outake
someone’
sheart,st
epoveritandcrushi
t?What
makesyouthinkIdon’
tgethurt?
”sheasksintears.
Hi
schestt
ight
ens.Hedoesn’
twantt
ofeel
thi
sway
.
“Inev
eraskedforyourhear
tNomkhosi.Youknew
whatwewer edoing,
”hesays,cl
enchi
nghisj
aws
andtryi
ngnottolookathert
eari
ngeyes.
“Iknowy oudi dn’
taskf ori
tbutIl ov eyou.Iso
stupidl
ylovey ouThakasa.Yout hinkIdidn’twant
out?Idid,butmyhear twouldn’tallowme.You
crushedmysoul ,tookmypr ideandl ef
tme
suffocat
ingi nunrecipr
ocatedlov e.”Shepul l
shis
armsandf orceshimt olookather .Heneedst osee
thepainhe’ scausedher .
“Ihadpridebeforewemet .IknewwhoIwasasan
i
ndividual.Ther
ewasnohumanbei ngthatmademe
feelcompl et
eunti
lyoucamet omyl i
fe.Iwasalone
andcompl et
ebefor
ey ou.Bri
ngbackmypr ide,
leav
e
mecompl ete,putmebackt oget
herandt henleave.
”
She’
snev ercri
edi nfrontofhi
m oranyman.She
al
way st akestheirbreak-upswit
haf ul
lchest.She
doesn’tbreak,that’
swhatat tr
actedhimtoher .She
wasstr ong,levelheadedandconf i
dent.
“MypridebackThakasa!”She’
syel
li
ngandpul
li
ng
hisshi
rt.Hedi
dn’
timagineitescal
ati
ngt
othese
l
engths.She’
sgoingcrazy.
Twoofhi sshi
rtbutt
onsburst.She’
sscreamingand
cr
ying.Soontherewil
lbesecurit
yguardsknocki
ng
ontheirdoor
.It
’sgett
ingchaoti
c.

Hegrabsherneckandki ssesher.Heshutshi seyes

andgivesithissoul.He’stryi
ngtosavorthi
sl ast
ki
ss,t
hislastmoment .Hepushesherdownonbed
andcontinuestokissher .She’
snotrespondingto
hi
skiss,she’ssti
ll
cr y
ing,buthesuckshersal tyl
i
ps
anyway.Hismoansandhercr ycol
labor
ateintoa
sor
rowful t
une.
Herskir
thasgoneup,l
eavi
ngherbar
ethi
ghstohi
s
exposal
.Hecaressest
hem,hi
sbodyhasreact
edt
o
f
amili
arsi
ght.He’
shardandthi
ck.Hesqueezesher
t
highandsendshishandupper
.
“I
’m pregnantManqel
e,
”–thevoi
cesaysinhishead.
It
’shiswife’
swordsthi
smorni
ng.Hestops
i
mmedi at
elyandl
ooksatNomkhosiwho’sst
opped
cryi
ng.
“
Ihav
etogo,
”hesay
s.
Shehol
dshi
sar
m andst
art
scr
yingagai
n.
“Pl
easeManqele,
I’
m beggi
ngy ou.Don’
tdowhatmy
fat
herdi
dt ome.Don’
tleav
e,I
’l
l r
espectyourwi
fe
andspace.I’
l
lonl
ydowhateveryoutellmetodo.”
Heremov esherhandslowly,
takesadeepbreath
andwal kstowar
dsthedoor.Hedoesn’
twantt ol
ook
back.Hedoesn’twanttheimageofherlooki
ng
desperateandcryi
ngtobethelasti
magehehasi n
hi
smi nd.Hewant storememberthebeauti
ful
,
unbreakabl
eandf i
erceNomkhosi.
Buthedoes,t
hei
reyesmeet
,ashar
ppai
nst
abs
thr
oughhishear
t.
“
Goodby
eNomkhosi
.
”Heswal
l
owsbackt
hepai
n,
keepshi
sshoul
der
sbr
oadandwal
ksout
.
I
t’
sover,
forgoodt
hist
ime,
ther
ewi
l
lbenot
urni
ng
back.

There’
saknotsi tt
ingbel
owhi sstomachandal ump
thatkeepsri
singtohisthroat
.Hisey esarefoggy,i
f
herunsintotraf
ficcopsthey’
ddef i
nitel
yputhim
underarrest
.He’snotspeeding,he’
sr aci
ng.He
needstobesomewher ehecanbeal oneandin
touchwithhisfeeli
ngs.
Hedoesn’
tev enpar
khiscarproper
ly.Hecli
mbsout
wi
ththechestofhisshi
rtopenedli
kehe’sbeen
f
ought.Helooksli
keamess.

“Si
r…Si
r…Si
r,
”Nomvel
o,t
her
ecept
ioni
st,
keeps
cal
li
ng.Shehasaf
ewmessagesf
orhim.
Hedoesn’
ttur
nhi
shead,
hewal
ksst
rai
ghtt
ohi
s
of
fi
ceandshutst
hedoor
.
Bandl
aandNkonzocomeoutoft
hei
rof
fi
cer
ushi
ng.
“
Whyar
eyouy
ell
i
ng?
”NkonzoasksNomv
elowi
tha
f
rown.
“Ohsorr
ySir,Iwastr
yingtogetMrManqel
e’
s
att
ent
ion.Butitl
ookslikehe’
snoti
nagoodspace.
”
Noti nagoodspace?How?Makhumalocalledand
brokethegoodnewst othem.He’
sbecominga
father,
heshoul
dbet hehappi
estmanintheworld.
“
Iwi
l
lcheckonhi
m,”Bandl
asay
s.
Nkonzoretur
nstothei
rof
fi
ceasher
ushest
owar
ds
Thakasa’
soffi
ce.
Thedoori
sclosedbutnotl
ocked.Heonl
yknocks
onceandl
etshimsel
finsi
de.
“
MthongaIheart
haty
ouar
enot
…”Hest
opsand
f
rowns.
Hisshir
tisunbut
toned-somebutt
onsaremi
ssi
ng,
asifsomeonegrabbedhimforcef
ull
y.
He’sleani
ngbackonhischai
rwit
hhiseyesfi
rmly
shut.Tear
sarerol
l
ingdownhischeeksbuthe’
snot
sobbing.
Bandl
asi t
sont heguestcouchandstar
esathim
si
lent
ly.Secondstur
nintominutesandminut
esfly
.
He’sstillsi
tt
inginthesameposi t
ion,t
ear
sar e
droppingdownt ohisvestsi
lent
ly.He’
snotmakinga
sound, neit
herisBandla.He’
sgivinghi
sbrother
spacet ogot hroughwhateverpainhe’
sgoing
through.
Theysitl
i
kethat
.Bandlaiswat
chinghi
m,wonder
ing
andprayi
ngwhatev
eritisnott
hatbad.
Af
teralongwhil
ehepull
sthehandker
chi
efoutof
hi
spocket,wi
peshi
sfaceandopenshiseyes.
“Mthongawhat
’sgoi
ngon?
”Bandl
aaskswi
th
concern.
“Pleasetel
lNkonzotoemailmet
hereportf
rom
Stangerandtakemymessagesfrom Nomvelo.I
wantt obealone,
”hesays.
“But…”Hel
i
ftshi
sbl
oodshotey
esandBandl
akeeps
quiet.
“Youhaveameet
ingi
nanhour
,goandgetr
eady
,”
hesays.
Bandl
asighsandleav
es.Thedoori
sshutand
l
ockedbehindhi
m.
.
.
NOMKHOSI

Ndondo’ scarpul lsuphast i

l
yandst opsinthe
parkingar ea.Shecl i
mbsouti ntightj
eansandpencil
heels,lockst hecarandhur ri
esinsidethebui
ldi
ng.
Thel i
ftist akingt oolate,
sheclimbst hest
air
swith
herhear tpoundi ngoutofherchest .Shehadto
speakt ot hesecur i
tyguardthatwaswi thher
.She
washy sterical.Clearl
ysomet hi
ngbadhappenedt o
her.
“Khosi!
”sheyells,runni
ngt owardsthedoorof
Andiswa’sfl
at.Shemov edbackt othehousetobe
closert
ohome.Snal ohasmov edinbutshealso
l
ov esstayi
nghomewi t
hherf at
her.Mostofthe
ti
mesi t
’sempt y,unlessifNomkhosi occupi
esitf
or
herpersonalr
easons.
Shef
orcef
ullypushest
hedoorandwalksint
o
Nomkhosicurl
edupont hecouchandsobbi
ng.
“
Babe,
whathappened?
”Sher
ushest
oheri
npani
c.
Herey
esarenowswol
l
en.Shemust
’vebeencr
ying
f
orhours.
“Whatdi
dhedo?
”Ndondoasks,
rubbi
ngher
shoul
der
s.
I
tcanbeonlyThakasa,t
hat
’st
heonl
ymanwhocan
br
eakherf
ri
endlikethi
s.
“
Hebr
okeupwi
thme,
”Khosi
say
sthr
oughhi
ccups.
Thi
sisnotsomet
hingnew;thei
rbr
eakups.Howev
er
i
t’
sthefi
rstt
imeKhosicr
iesoveri
t.
“Myfri
endpl ease,I
’m beggi
ngy ou,stopwasting
yourti
mewi ththi
sman, ”Ndondosay s.Thi
smakes
herangry
, she’sneverbeenfondoft hisThakasaguy
andherhat redforhi
m hasgr own.Shef eel
ssorryf
or
bothKhosi andhiswife.He’sjustapieceofshit
.
Onedayt hey ’
ll
meetandshe’ l
l t
ell
himt hi
s.Nobody
messeswi thhergirll
ikethi
s!
“
I…I
’
m…I
’
m pr
egnant
.”
Ndondof
reezes.Shesai
dshe’
swhat
?Noway
s.
“
Khosi
beser
ious,
”shesay
s,herey
eswi
dened.
“Mychil
dwi l
lgrowupl i
kemeNdondo.Hemadeit
cl
earthathe’
llneverj
eopardi
zehismar
ri
ageand
he’
snev erf
eltanythi
ngforme.”
This…sheneedst
ositdownandl
eti
tsi
nkin.
Pregnantf
orThakasa,
amarri
edmanoutofal
l
people.
“Youknewhewasmar r
iedKhosi.Whydidn’tpr
otect
yourwombi fy
oucoul
dn’tpr
otectyourhear
t?”This
quest
ionrubssal
ttoaf
reshwoundbuti tneedsto
beasked.
“Hedidn’
treachhi
sbr
eakwi
thacondom on,
”Khosi
says.
“
Thatwasnoty
ourpr
obl
em,
”Ndondo.
“Ineedashoul
dert
ocryon,
notal
ect
ure.Getmea
dri
nk,somethi
ngst
rong.
”
“Khosi
youare…”Sheli
ft
sherhandbef
oreNdondo
star
tswit
hanotherl
ect
ure.
“
Pleasedon’
t,
getmeadr
ink,
that
’sal
lIasked.
”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER7
KHANYO

Headleansovermyshoulder
,creepi
ngupmyski n
wit
hloosebrai
ds.I
t’
stoolateformet ocl
osethe
l
aptop,she’
sseenmylit
tl
einvesti
gati
on,and
knowinghowsheis,t
hisisabouttoturni
ntoabi
g
deal
.
“Ij
ustwantedtoknowwhoheisandwhathedoes
exactl
y,
”Idefendmysel
fbef
oreshecansay
anythi
ng.
“
Whydoy oucare?
”sheasks,t
hrowingherl
egov
er
t
hecouchandjumpingovert
osit.
“
Idon’
tcar
e,I
’
mjustcur
ious,
”Il
i
ethr
oughmyt
eet
h.
“Hun,letmebr eakthenewst oyou.HeisaNazar eth,
thatmeanshel i
vesbycertai
nreli
giousrules.You’r
e
notgoingt ofi
tin,r
emembery ouar eaheat hen.Not
onlyarey ounotav i
rgi
n,youcannotkneel unless
you’r
egi v
ingabl owjob,y
ouweart rousersand
weaves,
youdri
nkalcohol
,you…”Oh,
JesusChr
ist
!I
covermyeyesandscream.
“Iknow,Iknow,Iknow.Canyoushutupnow?
”I
swearthisgir
lst
udiedAnnoy
ology.
“
Don’tcat
chf
eel
i
ngsy
a.Whatdi
dyouf
ind?I
shea
l
awyer?”
“No,hewor ksinafamil
ybusiness.He’
squit
e
successfulandeducat
ed.HehasaBCom Honour s.
Andthere’snohist
oryofrel
ati
onships,
”Isaythel
ast
partmoreecstati
cthanIint
ended.
“He’snotst upid.Whywoul dhepublici
zehispr i
vat
e
l
ife,especiall
ybef orehe’
smar r
ied?Somepeopl e
havewhatt heycal l
areputat
ion,
”shesay s,quoti
ng
withherfinger s.Usuall
yshedoesn’tcarewhoi s
seeingwho, andit’
salwaysgoodi fthepersonis
l
oaded.
“
Nolwazi
whyar
eyousoagai
nsthi
m?”Iaskwi
tha
f
rown.
“
Becauseyou’
refal
l
ingi
nlovewit
hhim andyouar
e
t
wowor l
dsapart
.Idon’
twantyoutogethur
t.
”
“I
’m notf
all
i
ngi
nlovewit
hhim.Hehasn’tsai
d
anythi
ngtome,
”Isayi
ndefenseofnot
hing.
“Gi
rl
,I’
m warni
ngyou.Chowhismoneyandhisdi¢k,
butkeepyourhear
toutofi
t.
”Shegrabsthepacket
ofLaysIwassnackingonwhi
lei
nvesti
gati
ngand
l
eaves.

Myhear
tisst
andi
ngov
ermybr
ainandscr
eami
ngat
me;“
Cal
lhim!
”
Hisnumberisli
nkedtohi sFacebookaccount .He’s
oneofthosepeoplewhoshar emeani ngfulposts
andonlyonepict
ureoft hemselvesthroughoutthe
year
.Theboringty
pet hatthi
nksFacebooki sa
boardr
oom.Isharejokes,sextipsandt r
ollmy
enemieswit
hmypost s.I t
’st
hepl at
for
mf orthat
.
Icancallandaskwhyhecameher ethatdaywhen
mybr ot
herwashere.Thatdoesn’
trai
seeyebr
ows,i
n
facti
tmakessensemor ethanNolwazi’
scol
orf
ul
brai
ds.
Ineedt
obeoutsi
de,get
ti
ngsomefreshairwhi
leI
makethi
sphonecal
l
.Istandi
nthebalconyand
pr
esst
hecal
lbut
ton.I
fIdi
e,Idi
e.
It
’sri
nging,I
’l
lcounttofi
ve,
ifhedoesn’tanswerI
’
ll
waitforhimtocallbackandsayIdon’tknowwho
call
edhim, i
tmust’vebeenacoinci
dence.
“
Khany
o,”heanswer
sont
hef
our
thr
ing.
Mychestdri
esup.Howdi
dheknowi
twasme?I
’
m
conf
used.
“
Youhav
emynumber
?”Iask.
“
Yes,
”hesay
s.
Whatt
hef
uck!Hehadmynumberal
lthi
sti
me.
“
Thenwhydidn’
tyoucal
lme?
”Il
osemyt
emper
,my
v
oicer
ises.
“
Idi
dn’
twantt
oinv
adey
ourpr
ivacybef
orebei
ngl
et
i
n,
”hesay
s.
ThisgottobethemostlameexcuseI ’
veeverhear
d.
He’sinv
adedmypr i
vacytwice,
arri
vi
ngatmypl ace
unannouncedanddraggi
ngmet oexpensi
vehotel
s
onl
ytoeatwor sandice-
cream.
“
Okay
,letmenoti
nvadey
ourpr
ivacyei
ther
.By
e!”I
dr
opt
hecal
landact
ivat
efl
i
ghtmode.
Ist
orm backandheadt
otheki
tchent
opourmy
sel
f
adri
nk.
“Andnow,whathappened?”Nolwazioutofnowher
e.
Shemakesnosoundwhenshewal ks,you’
dswear
she’
saspyorcat.IwishBandlacanteachherone
thi
ngortwoaboutrespect
ingpeople’
sso-cal
led
pri
vaci
es.
“Hehasmynumber.Hehadi
tallt
hist
imebutnot
evenoncedi
dhecall
meortext
,”It
ell
herandtakea
l
ongsipormywine.
“Ial
sohav
eyournumberandIdon’
tcal
lyou,
”she
says.
She’
sunbel
i
evabl
e,y
azi
.
“Arey oualsoaNazar et
h?Doy ouhaveaGr eeknose?
Doy oustut t
erandblinkrapidl
ywheny ou’
reangry?
Doy oustar eatpeopl
e? ”Igetinsi
dethebedroom,
“Doy oudr i
veaC- Cl
ass?Ar eyouMt hongathethi
rd?”
Iaskt helastonebeforeclosingthedoorand
thr
owi ngmy sel
fonbed.
Theidi
otislaughingbackinthekitchen.Whyam I
angryagai
n?Becausehedi dn’tcal
l mewi t
hhi
s
phone?Hisairti
me?BeingaSABr egist
ereddr
unk
canbedanger oussometimes.

Thesunissetti
ngdownwhenIwakeup.Iwakeup
wit
hasor eheartandinstantlyremembert hatIwas
upsetwit
hBandl aovernothing.Thesmel lofburning
phuthui
nvadesmynost r
il
s.Gugui ssti
l
l notback
andthehopelesschefistryi
ngt ocookdi nner.
Phuthuoutofallthi
ngsshecoul d’
veattempt edto
cook!Phuthuneedsapr o,someonewi thcat t
le-
herdi
ngbackgroundandst reet-fi
ghti
ngcr edit
.I
covermymout handr ushtor escuethepoorphut hu.
Gosh,she’ssi
tti
ngont hest
oolwit
hearphones
tuckedinherears.Howdoesearphoneshinder
one’ssenseofsmel l
?Wondersshall
neverend.
“
Seri
ousl
yNolwazi
,ar
eyout
ryi
ngtoburnus?
”Iask,
r
ushi
ngtothestov
eandswi
tchi
ngitof
f.
Thephut
hui
srui
ned.I
t’
sbur
ntbey
ondr
ecogni
ti
on.
“
It
’sbur
ning?
”She’
sonl
ypani
cki
ngnow.
Weareeati
ngbreadagainf
ordinner
.AtleastNdul
o
br
oughtcheeseandal
lthenecessi
ti
es.
“Ihav
etothrowt
hispotaway
,”shesay
swi
thher
nosecover
ed.
“Hhayibo,thi
sisnotaJenner
-Kardashi
anhousehol
d.
You’l
lscrapethepotandwashit,
”Isay.
“
Noway s,
Ijustdi
dmynail
syest
erday
,”shear
gues,
f
lappi
nghereyel
ashes.
Il
etherbe,Iknowt
hatGuguwi
l
lfi
ndawayt
omake
herwashit
.

Myphonei ssti
llonfi
ghtmode.May beNdulotr
iedto
cal
landdidn’tr
eachme.Somuchf orhisonl
ysister
!
Heneedsmenowmor ethanever.Itmakesmef eel
badthatIhadtof i
ndoutaboutdi
v orcetwomont hs
l
ater
.Thisteachesmet obemor eint ouchwit
hmy
fami
ly.
Ihavesometextmessagesf
rom Bandla.Hewas
aski
ngmet otur
nthephoneonsot hatwecantal
k.
Hemust ’
vegi
venuphoursago.Apartofmewants
tocal
lhim andsett
lethestupi
dit
yout.Butthenwhy
areweevenact i
ngli
keaf i
ghti
ngcouple?I
over
react
ed, nowI’
m overi
t,heshoul
ddot hesame.

Nolwazi decidedt ot akeusoutt oNandosi nsteadof

orderi
ngpi zza.It’
sjustmeandher ,Gugui sgone
withherhighpr of
ilepeopl e.Somet imesshel eaves
forweeks.Thatonehasst andar ds,sheknows
peoplewhoknowpeopl einhi ghpl aces.Herpu$$y
hastakenhert oDubai ,NewYor kandCapeTown.
Nolwazi andIonl yat tractthel ocal ri
chones, notthe
nati
onal ri
chones.Theoneswemi nglewi thare
fi
nanciall
yst ruggli
ngaccor dingt ot heonesGugu
mingleswi th.Funnilybecauseshe’ snott hebeaut y
ofthetrio,Nol waziis.May beNol wazi i
swhatt hey
callt
hebeaut ywithnobr ains.HerandIar eont he
sameboat .Wecannotaccompanyapol it
iciantoan
i
mpor tantmeet i
ng.Imean, whatcoul dwecont r
ibut
e
tofir
stclassconv ersat i
ons?
“Myaunti
ssick,
Ineedtogohomet
hisweekend,
”
shesayst
hroughthemeal
.
“
Isi
therusual
diabet
es?
”Iask.
“
No, t
heysayshe’
sbeent
hrowi
ngupt
hewhol
e
week.
”
“
May
bey
oushoul
dtakehert
othedoct
or.
”
Shenodsandcont i
nuest otext.Icanseet hather
moodhaschanged.Heraunti st heonl yparentthat
shehas, i
natruesenseofspeaki ng.Herf at
herisa
drunk, hedoesn’
tknowwhet heri t’s2020or1990.
Somet imesheasksNol wazi whosechi ldisshe.Her
mot herisalsoali
ve,sher emarriedandherf ocus
shiftedtohernewf amily.Shelivessomewher ein
Sowet o,hardl
yevercomeshome.Lucki l
yNolwaz i
’s
fatherhadal ovi
ngsisterwhodi dn’ thesi
tatetotake
Nol waziinandraiseherasherownf rom theageof
11.
Wefinisht
herestofourfoodinsil
ence.Iknowt hatI
complainwhenshetalksalotbutt
hequietNol wazi
depr
essesme.Fr om her
ewear egoingstraightto
bed,
tobewr appedinownt hought
sandmi sery.

Cr
ossi
ngt
her
oadInot
iceaf
ami
l
iarMer
cedes
parkedinfrontofourbuil
ding.Accordi
ngtomy
sourcesthi
sper soni
sf ul
l
ybasedi nMandeni,he
droveallt
hewayher esol ate?Myheartispoundi
ng
againstmychest .WhydidIpul l
thatst
unt?I
twould
bemor ehar dtoexpl
ainmy selfi
nperson.
“Nolwazi
youhavet
otel
lhi
mt hatI’
m notar
ound.I
’
ll
hidesomewher
eunti
lhel
eaves.”
Assadassheis,
butseei
ngmeshakingi
nmyboot
s
becauseofamanIpr
ovokedcr
acksherup.
“SoImustl ietoaShembesonandgetcur sed?Ist
il
l
appreciatemyl i
feKhanyo.Goandfacey ourdemons,
remembert oalwaysleav
ear oom f
or
disappointments,wedon’twantarepeatof
happenedwi t
hEfe.”
I’
m notevenli
steni
ngt oher.I’
ml i
steningtomy
poundinghear
t.Mydr esssuddenl yfeelstooshor
t,
l
ikeImustkeeppul l
i
ngi tdown.I t
’sjustbelowmy
butt
ocksandbody -
huggi ng,exposingallmyassets
astheyare.
He’
sseenuscoming.Heopensthedoorandst
ands
byi
twit
hhisankl
escrossed.He’
sinabei
gesui
t,
darkgreentieandawhi t
eshi
rt
.Idon’twanttodr
ool
toomuch, he’sstart
edwi t
hhi
sstari
ng,mykneesare
kissi
ngeachot her.Ifeel
li
kehi
seyesar egl
uedto
myex posedt hi
ghs,butasusuali
t’
sjustaplai
nstar
e
withnohintofemot i
on.
“
Bandl
alet
hu,
”Nolwazi
greet
s,wav
ingherhandwi
th
asmil
eonherface.
Hesmi lesbackandr et
urnsthegreet
ing.Shel
eaves
mest andingnexttothecarwithmyhandspulli
ng
downt hecornersofmydr essli
keIwasn’tawar
eof
i
tslengthwhenIdr essedup.

Hewal ksaroundthecarandopensthepassenger
door.Idon’
taskquesti
ons,Igeti
nsi
deandwai tfor
hi
m.Heset tlesonhisseat
,thenl
ooksatme.I
pret
endt obefocusedonpeopleacr
ossthestreet.
“
Arey
ouwel
l
?”heasks.
“
Yeap,
”Inod.
Awkwardsi
l
encefol
lows.I’
m pret
endingnottobe
af
fect
edbyhispr
esence.He’seit
hercoll
ect
inghi
s
t
houghtsandhowhe’
dconstructthem out
,or
t
hreat
enedbymyunreadabl
ef ace.
“
Thecallear
li
er…Iwashappyt
oheary
ourv
oice,
t
hankyou.”
I’
m notl
ett
ingthesmi
lecreepout
.Ij
ustnodand
keepmyey esawayfr
om him.
Het ouchesmyarm,runshi
sfingersonmyskin
bri
efly,
asifhe’
scontempl
ati
ngwhet hert
oholditor
not.Thenhepull
shishandaway ,butt
heeff
ectof
hi
st ouchremai
nswithme.
“
Khany
owhydi
dyouki
ssmet
hatday
?”heasks.
I
’
m caughtoffguar
d.Ist
hisevenaquesti
on?It
urn
t
olookathim andfi
ndhi
sey esdeepl
ysetonme.
“Becauseyouwer
eangr
y,”Isay
,shr
uggi
ngmy
shoulder
s.
Thi
sisal
mostt hewholetrut
h.If
reakedoutwhenI
sawhimthatangryandrescuedhim wi
thakiss.I
t
makessensetome.
“
Youki
ssev
eryangr
yper
sony
oumeet
?”heasks.
“
Yes,
”Isay
.
Hechucklesandshakeshishead.Igavehim exact
ly
theanswerhewasl ooki
ngfor
,ifhewantedtoknow
anythi
nghecould’v
easkedmet hatday.NowIhav e
torevi
sit
,rev
iseandanaly
zeakissthathappened
weeksago.
“
Cany
oumakecompr
omi
ses?
”heasks.
I’
m notsur
ehowtoanswert
hisonebecauseIdon’
t
knowthemoti
vebehi
ndit
.
“
ItdependsonwhoI’m compr
omi
singf
orandwhat
I
’
m compr omi
sing.
”
“
Woul
dyoucompr
omi
sef
orsomeonel
i
keme?
”
“
Compr
omi
sewhat
?”
“
Any
thi
ng,
”hesay
s.
Thi
si ssuchacompl i
cat
edquesti
on.Andhe’
snot
gi
vi
ngmet hegr
oundsofthi
sconver
sati
on.May
beif
heelaboratedmoreI’
dhaveaclueofwhatI’
m
agr
eeingt o.
“
Idon’
tknowhowt
oanswert
hat
,”Isay
.
“Youknowal i
oncannev
ereatgrassandacowcan
nevereatabuck.Ani
mal
sdon’thavesi
tuat
ions
wheretheyhavetocompromiseandadoptfor
eign
sty
lestosurvi
ve.Butwearehumanbeings,
someti
meswehav emakecompr omi
ses,
adj
ustmentsandchangestoaccommodat eot
her
peopl
e.”
“Yes,Iknow.”InodwhereasIdon’tunderst
anda
thi
nghej ustsai
d.Lionsdon’teatgr
assandpeople
accommodat eot her
s?Can’thebeupfrontwit
h
whateveriti
s.
“Athomewear esix,twogi rl
sandf ourboys.My
fatheri slate,i
t’
sbeen7y earssi ncehepassedon.
Makhumal o,ourmot her,isallthatwehav e.My
eldestbr otherismar ri
ed, he’sexpect i
nghisfir
st
child.Thesecondonei sf oury earsoldert
hanme
andj ustl
ivinghisl
ife.Ther e’
sagi rlt
hatcomesafter
me, she’s24andmar ried.ThenSqal o,youmethim
atthehot el,hehasat winsi ster,they’
refi
nishi
ng
highschool .”
“
That
’sav
erybi
gfami
l
y,”Isay
.
Igrewupinafamil
yofthr
ee.I
twasj
ustmeandmy
grandpar
ent
s.Whentheydi
edNdul
o,hi
swi
feand
ki
dsbecamemyf ami
ly
.I’
m notusedtoalotof
si
bli
ngs,
Idon’
thaveabigci
rcl
eoffri
endseit
her
.
“
Compar edt
ootherf
ami
l
iesi
nmyar
ea,
wear
enot
t
hatbi
g,”hesay
s.
“
It
’sbi
g.Yourmot
hergav
ebi
rt
hsi
xti
mes,
”Isay
.
“
Fiv
eti
mes!
”
Samediff
erence.Hismot hershoul
d’v
eprevent
ed,
that
’st
oomanyaf ro-headedchil
dreninonefamil
y.
“
Ial
sowantsi
xchi
l
dren,
ormor
e,”hesay
s.
Il
augh.I
shel
i
vingi
nthe80s?
“
Yout
hinkwomenl
i
key
ourmot
herst
il
lexi
st?
”Iask.
Hedoesn’
tanswert
hatev
ent
houghhehear
dme.
“
Arey
oubusyonSunday
?”heasks.
“
No,
”Isay
.
“
Cany
ouspendt
hedaywi
thme?
”
“
Youhav
emynumber
,I’
l
lwai
tfory
ourcal
l
.”
Str
angely
,itdoesn’
tevenbot
hermehowhegotmy
number.AllI
’m wor
ri
edaboutiswhatI
’
m goi
ngt
o
wearonSunday.I
t’
llbehar
difGuguisnotback,I
’l
l
beacompletef
lop.She’
smyst y
li
st,andpr
esentl
yI
feel
li
keIneedt
odosomet hingwit
hmywar drobe.
“CanIhavey
ourbl
essi
ngt
oleav
e?Idon’
tli
kedr
ivi
ng
atni
ght,
”hesay
s.
Thewayhespeakst ome,wit
hutmostrespectl
ike
I
’mt hemostdecentpersononeart
h,i
gnitefeel
i
ngsI
neverthoughtexi
stedi
nme.
“
Okay
,dr
ivesaf
ely
,”Isay
.
Heleansbackont
heseatandr
eleasesal
ow
chuckl
e.
“
Thanky
ouKhany
o,”hesay
s.
Iguessthi
sisitf
ortoday.Iopenthedoor,
readyto
l
eaveandreplayourconversat
ionsi
nmyhead.Buta
handgrabsmyar m andbri
ngsmebacki nsidet
he
car.
“
That
’showy
ousaygoodby
e?”heasks.
“
Yes,
”Isaywi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown.
“
CanIal
sosaygoodby
emyway
?”
Mysi l
encei say es.Hepul lsmecl oser ,hiscol ogne
hitsmynost ri
lsashewr apsmei nhi sar msand
restshi sonehandbehi ndmyneck.Hel ocksmy
l
owerl ipinhisandsucksi tslowl y.Ikisshi m back,
ourey esarelockedf ort hef i
rstmi nute.Ther e’s
somet hingbeyondhi sey es,may beheseesi tin
mi net oo.It
’sli
ket here’sawor ldofmi neThat ’s
hiddenbehi ndhi sey es.Whenheshut st hem, Ishut
mi net oo.Histongueswi rl
sinsidemymout h,I
capt ureitandsucki t
.Hemoansandl ower shis
handst omybehi nd.Theheatbet weenourcl ot hed
bodieshaswar medal l mybodypar t
s.Hi sbreat hs
areget t
ingheavier,hishandbehi ndmynecki s
pressi ngmeagai nsthisf acehar der.It’sget t
ing
deeperanddeeper .Ihav et obet hef i
rstonet obr eak
i
t,bef orethingsgoanyf urther.Wear eint hepar king
area, asNol wazi sai
d, hehasar eput ationt o
mai ntain.
“Khanyo,”heli
ftsmychi
nandfor
cesmet ol
ookat
him.“Pleasetakecar
eofyour
sel
fforme.I
’l
lal
sodo
thesamef ory
ou.”
“
Inwhatway
?”I
’
m conf
used.
“
Inwhat
everwayy
out
hinkIdeser
ve.
”
Iexhal
eheavi
lyandnod.Ist
il
ldon’
tgeti
tbutI
’
ll
fi
gurei
tout,
Isti
llhav
edays.
“
Thanky
ou,
”hesay
s.
“
Seey
ouSundayt
hen.
”
“
You’
renotev
ent
aki
ngmoneyf
oracol
ddr
ink?
”
Huh?Ifther
e’smoneyf
orany
thi
ngI
’
m def
ini
tel
y
t
akingit
.
Hepul l
sabl ackwal l
etoutofhispocketandt akes
R200andpassesi ttome.Thi sistoomuchf ora
colddrinkbutI’m notthetypethatfeelsbadf or
takingpeople’
smoney .EvenifIdi
dnot hi
ngto
deservei t
.Idon’tf
eelpoorandcr y;“I
’
m notachar i
ty
case.”Infact,I
’
m achar it
ycase.Iwantev erythingI
don’tdeservenorwor kedhardf or
.Icanev ensi tat
thesideoft heroadandt akedonationsfrom
strangers.
“Thanky
ouv
erymuch,
”Isay
,fol
dingt
henot
einmy
palm.
I
’
m happyaboutt
hemoneybutmyhear
tissor
easI
cl
i
mboutoft
hecar
.
“
Hav
eagoodni
ghtKhany
o,”hesay
s.
Inodandf
orceasmi
le.Myhear
tisbr
eaki
ng,
he’
s
l
eavi
ngandMandeni
istoof
ar.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER8
BANDLA

Ast heclockhi ts6pm Phet hyandNot hil

eheadt o
thekitchent ostartcooking.Thewhol efami l
yis
gatheredi nt helounge, Nothil
e’spregnancyisstil
l
thehighli
ghtoft heweek.Br othersarehappyf or
Thakasa, Makhumal oishappyt ohav eherfi
rst
grandchild, sheshar edthenewswi thevery
oneat
thetempl et oday .She’sorderedmor ewool,thereare
somanybl anketssheneedst oknit
.Andclothesas
well,evenherownki dswor ej er
seyssheknittedwith
herownhands.Nkonzokeepsr emindingothershow
fri
endswoul dteaset hei
rjerseyswhent heywer e
young.It’
saj abt oMaKhumal o’
sskil
lsandshe’ snot
taki
ngi twel l.
“Ididn’tknowIwasclothi
ngkidswho’ll
growgr ey
hairwi t
houtwives.
”Thi
sisn’tgoingt
ohim alone,
Bandl aalsofeel
stheheat.Thakasai
smar r
ied,sois
Mawandeandshe’ sonly24,SqaloandPhethyare
sti
ll
young.Heal way sconsoleshimselfbyl ookingat
Nkonzo, he’
solderthanhim, 34,andstill
notmar r
ied.
He’salmost30t oo,butit’
snotthatbad, ri
ght?And
he’
sf al
leninlove,
ev enthoughit’
soutsidet he
temple.Nowhecanpi cturehimselfbeingmar ri
ed
andhav inghisownf amily
.It
’sstil
lablurpicturefor
now,buti t
’ssomethingtosleepon.
“Idon’tneedawi f
e.Myf ather’
swifeishere,doing
myl aundryandcooki ngforme,”Nkonzot easeswith
agrin.Heknowst hathe’
sabouttor ecei
vet hr
eats.
Hismot hercanev enwishdeathuponher self,j
ust
sotheycansuf fertheconsequencesoft heir
bachelorhood.She’sthatdramati
c.
“OnedayIwi
lldi
eandy ou’
llf
eelli
ketheworldhas
tur
nedagai
nstyou.I
nfact,Icannotwaitf
orthat
day,
”shemurmurs,gr
abbinghercottonbasketand
l
eaving.
“You’l
lgi
veherahear tattack,
”Thakasasay sacross
theroom,sit
ti
ngonhi sbrownl eat
herchai
r.He’s
saidli
tt
letonothi
ngsi ncetheycamebackf r
om
church.Hehasn’topenedupt oanyoneabouthi s
breakdownintheofficeandt hey’v
echosent olet
him be.Heknowswher
etogett
hem whenheneeds
them.
“Tomor rowI ’
ll
got oManget he,Ihav en’tseen
Mawandei nawhi le,
”Bandl aannounces.I t
’snotj ust
thathemi sseshi ssi ster,deepdownhef eelsl i
ke
somet hingi sterriblywr ongwi thher .Shekeeps
say i
ngnot hingi swr ongov erthephone, buthe
knowsherl i
kethebackofhi shand, sheki ckedhi m
outofhi s‘lastbor n’ positionbacki n1996.They
didn’tgetal ongaski ds, hedi dn’tl
ikeherbecausehe
feltneglectedandov erlookedbecauseofher .He
wasonl y4y ears, goingt o5, whenshecame.I twas
theendofhi sgoldenday s, hehadt ot agal ongwi th
Nkonzowhowas10andt roublesome.Thef irst
daught eroft hef ami lyhadar ri
vedandt akenal lthe
attenti
on.I twasal way sWandet his, Wandet hat.
Andhewasj ustther e,fl
oat inginbet ween.
Buttheirr
elati
onshipimprovedast heyreachedthei
r
teens.He’
sl earntalotf
rom her.She’sl
i
ket heir
secondmom, evenThakasaturnstoherwhent he
goinggetstough.Shegotmar r
iedtoosoon, atonl
y
22,alloft
hem wer eagainsti
t.ButMakhumal owas
onboard,anditmadet
hingseasierandaccept
abl
e
thatNyeziwasaNazar
eththatcamef r
om agood
famil
y.
“You’l
lpassourregar
dstoher
,NkonzoandIhad
plannedtovi
sitherbutsomet
hingcameup,
”
Thakasasays.
“
Tal
kingaboutt
hingscomi
ngup,Iwi
l
lgotoDur
ban
f
rom Manget
heandonlycomebackMonday
morni
ng,
”hesays.
BothThakasaandNkonzor aiset
heireyesin
questi
on.Hedoesn’ twantt
ocounthiseggsbef
ore
theyhatch,andthere’
ssomuchthathim and
Khanyost i
l
l needtoir
onoutandworkon.
“I
sitthecurt
aingi
rl
?”Thakasaasks.Hedoesn’thave
aclue,thi
sti
mehe’sincomplet
edar k.Butt
hat’
snot
somet hi
ngheworri
esabout-hi
sbrother’
saffai
rs.
“
Yes,
”Bandl
anods.
“Whydon’tyouproposeandmaket hi
ngsoffi
cial
?”
Hehasn’tpi
cturedBandlagett
ingintoaseri
ous
rel
ati
onshi
pwi t
hsomeonef rom anotherr
eli
gion,or
norel
igi
on.Ithasneverhappenedatt heManqeles.
Theymar
ryt
hei
rtype,womenwho’
l
lfi
tinandf
oll
ow
i
nMaKhumalo’
sfootst
eps.
“
Makhumalowoul
dhaveaf
itseei
ngherdrunk
makot
ifort
hef
ir
stti
me,
”Nkonzoblur
tsout.
“
Drunk?Whatdoyoumean?
”Thakasawi
thaf
rown.
He’
slooki
ngatbot
hoft
hem.
“Oops,Ididn’
tsayany
thing,
”Nkonzolif
tshi
shands
apologet
icall
yandwalksoutoftheroom l
aughi
ng.
“You’
reseei
ngadr
unkar
d?”Thakasaasks,
tur
ning
hisey
est ot
heunf
azedBandl
a.
Hecoll
ect
shisphoneandcharger,i
ntent
ional
l
y
i
gnori
ngthequest
ion.He’
snotreadyforthe
j
udgementyet
.
“Tel
lPhethytocal
lmewhendinneri
sready
,”he
says,headi
ngtowardst
hedoor.
.
.
Hehasn’
tbeenabletoreachKhany ooverthephone
si
nceFri
dayni
ght.He’sthoughtaboutcall
i
ngoneof
herf
ri
endsbutdeci
dedot her
wise.Hedoesn’twant
tol
ookl
ikeacr
eepymanwhost
eal
speopl
e’
s
number
s.
Hi
ssist
erput
saplateoff
oodi
nfr
ontofhi
m andsi
ts
ont
heopposi
tecouch.
“Uyoguqel
wamasunomf azi.Don’
tworr
y,Idi
dn’
t
cookwithKnorroxcubes,”shesays,
crossi
ngher
l
egsandst ar
ingatherbrother.
“
Maybeev
enwhenIdohav eawifeshewon’
tkneel
,
l
i
fei
sunpredi
ctabl
e,
”Bandl
asay
s.
Mawandepicksherjui
ceandtakesal
oud,
irr
it
ati
ng
si
pthatusedtosethermotheroff
.
“Wandey ousti
lldot
his?Ifeel
sorryforNyezi,
”
Bandlasayswithachuckle.Hi
sfaceisstart
ingto
melt
, f
oramomenthe’ spushedbackKhany o’s
unavai
labil
i
tyandfocusi
ngonhi ssist
er.
“He’
sastranger
,atl
easthedoesn’tdealwithme
ever
yday
,”shesayswavingherhandlikeit’
snot hi
ng,
butt
hesadnesshoveri
nghereyesi spercepti
ble.
“
Isi
twor
k?”Bandl
aasks.
“
Idon’
tknowBandl
a.Atf
ir
stIt
houghtt
her
ewas
someoneelsebutIhi
redsomeonetokeepaneyeon
him andheassur
edmet hathe’
snotdoi
ngany
thi
ng
funny.
”
“
Wande!Youhi
redaper
sont
ost
alky
ourhusband?
”
“Hewasact
ingfunny
,whatwasIsupposedtodo?”
Sheshr
ugshershoul
der
sandtakesanothersi
p.
Bandlashakeshisheadindespair
.Hedi
gson
peopletoo,buthe’
snevergonefarashi
ri
ngpeopl
e
tostal
kot her
s.
“
Whydon’
tyout
alkt
ohi
m?”heasks.
“Hesaysever
ythi
ngisal
ri
ght
.Youknowhi
m,he
doesn’
ttal
kmuch.”
“
Thisi
snotl
ikehi
myazi
.Ifhe’
sseenanot
her
womanhecancomehome, si
tyoudownandtel
lyou
l
ikeaman.
”
“Si
tmedown?
”Shebr
eaksal
oudl
aught
hathi
tst
he
cei
li
ng.
“Hecantakeanotherwif
e,y
ouknowi t
’saccept
ed,”
Bandlasays,
hol
dingbackhissmi
le.Heknowshi s
sist
erwouldnev
erallowpol
ygamy,shemadet hat
cl
earbef
oret
heweddi
ng.
“Thenhecankissmegoodbye,
”shesay
s,spanki
ng
herhipwi
thalookofdi
sgustonherf
ace.
“There’
snodi vorceinNazareth.You’
llbehi
swifeti
l
l
deathdoy ouapar t
.Any wayI’
veheardenoughof
yourdepr essingmar ri
agenow, ther
e’ssomethi
ngI
needt otellyou.”Heput sthehalfeatenpl
ateonthe
tabl
eandsi t
sbackont hecouch.
Mawandei
scur
iousl
yst
ari
ngathi
m.
“
I’
minar
elat
ionshi
p,”hesay
s.
“
Wit
hwho?
”Shef
rowns.
“AdrunkgirlIgavear i
dewhil
eshewasbei ng
chasedfrom theclubinDurban.”He’sdet
ail
ingi
tli
ke
thi
sonpur pose.I
ft her
e’sanyonetheycantalkt
o
wit
hnof ear,it
’sMawande.
“Lor
d,whatiswrongwit
hyouManqel
eboy
s?I
fit
’s
notThakasa,i
t’
syou.
”
“
Whatdi
dThakasado?
”heenqui
reswi
thaf
rown.
Mawandewavesthatquesti
onaway.Shedi
dn’
t
meantosayi
tloud,herbr
other
str
ustandconf
idei
n
her
.Herj
obi
stol
i
stenandgi
veadv
ice,
nott
ojudge.
“Tel
lmemor eabouther
,Iwantt
odeci
dei
fIl
i
keher
ornot,
”shesays.
Hi
sfacel
i
ght
sup.Lov
eiswr
it
tenal
lov
erhi
sey
es.
“Shelikesrubbingherlipstogether.Shedoesn’ tl
ike
beingst ar
edatf ort
ool ong.Shet al
kswi thherheart,
most l
y ,
notherbr ai
ns.Youknowt hosear ethemost
honestpeopl e,t
heydon’ tfi
lt
erorconst ructt
heir
wor dstosuitthenextper son.She’sleft
-handedand
shehasaf unnywalk.Butshedoesn’ tknowt hat.
”He
chucklesatthei maginationofKhany o’sclumsywal k.
“Shehast hoseGogo’ schi
ldt endenci
es,Idon’tt
hink
shewast aughtaboutl i
fewithoutbeingmade
special.She’snotar esponsiblepersonandshe
won’tbe, asl ongaspeopl ecl osetoherareokay
withit.Iwassur pr
isedt ofi
ndoutt hatshehasa
grownbr ot her.YouknowI ’
dki ckyourassifyou
start
edl i
vingl i
keawi l
danimal ,ri
ght?”
“
Hey,t
hisisnotaboutme.You’
ret
ell
i
ngmeabout
y
ourgi
rlf
ri
end.”
“
Yes,
Iwast
ell
i
ngy
out
hatshehasaGogo’
schi
l
d
tendencies.Butshe’
snotthatbad,
wecanwor k
aroundit.TheonlythingI
’
m worri
edabouti
sthat
shemi ghtgetcoldfeetwhenwehav et
ofacethe
real
it
yofourf uture.
”
“Butshel
ovesyou,t
hatmeansshe’
sreadyt
oface
stor
mswithyou.”
“
No,
shehasn’
ttol
dmet
hatshel
ovesme,
”hesay
s.
Mawandefrowns,
“Buty
ousai
dshe’
syour
gi
rl
fr
iend?
”
“
Shei
smygi
rl
fr
iend,
”hesay
s.
Sheraisesherhandupindef
eatandsi
psherjui
ce.
Herbrother
saregett
ingcompli
cat
edbytheday.
.
.

It
’scl
oset o13h00, he’
sbeendrivi
ngaroundand
shoppingli
ttl
ethingshedoesn’tneed,
hopingthat
she’
lleventual
lyswitchherphoneon.Butherphone
i
sst i
l
l of
f.Yes,hemaynotmeant hatmuchtoher,
butwheny oumakeapr omisetosomeoney oukeep
i
t,nomat terhowusel essy outhi
nkthatpersonis.
He’sarrangedeverything,bookedapr i
vat
et abl
efor
thei
rlunchandabeachguesthousewher et hey’
ll
spendtheni ght
.Thesuni ssetti
ngdownandshe
hasn’
tev entext
edt ogi vehim anexcuse,
that
would’vebeenbetterthanbei ngmadeaf ool.
Maybeheshoulddowhathedoesbest,
pit
chup
unannouncedandf
indoutwhat
’sgoi
ngon.

Hisf inger
sarecrossed, it
’l
lraisesuspicionsifhe
meet swit
hherbr otheragain.Hedoesn’ twantt obe
i
nt hatawkwar dposi ti
on,orforhi mtof eell
ikehe’s
beingdi sr
espected.Luckily,i
t’
sNt anziondut y,as
muchasKhany ohat eshim andt hi
nkshe’ sagainst
theirhappinesswi t
ht hegirl
s,he’sveryfondofhi m.
He’sdoi ngwhatanyconcer neduncl eorf at
her
woul ddo.Tohi mt hey’r
enotj usttenantshe’s
guar dingabuil
dingf or,
heseesdaught ersinthem.
“Theotheronej
ustarr
ivedt
oday,
atleastshe’snot
drunk.I
twil
lbetoolat
ewhentheyopent hei
reyes,
oneofthem wouldbedead,
”hesays,getti
ngint
o
det
ail
sli
keusual
andshaki
nghi
sheadi
ndespai
r.
Bandlathankshim andheadstowardstheli
ft
.The
dayhasal r
eadybeenruined.I
tfeel
sli
keaknifewent
throughhischestandstabbedhishear
tahundred
ti
mes.May beherai
sedhishopesupbef or
etheygot
ont hesamepage.Hedi dn’
tleaveanyspacefor
disappoi
ntments.

Thedoorisopen,oneofthem i
sint heki
tchenand
singi
ngsoft
ly.Heknocksatthedoorwithhisone
footi
n.I
t’
sNol wazi
,sheseeshim andsmi l
es.
“
Bandl
a,comei
n,
”shesay
s.
Ther
earealcohol
bott
lesly
ingneart
hesink,
ahalf
gl
assofredwineanddir
typlat
esscat
ter
edaround.
“
It
’sabitofamess,Ijustgother
eandi tl
ooksli
ke
t
heweekendwascr azyformyf r
iends,
”sheexpl
ains
i
nembar r
assment
.Hear ri
vedwhi l
eshewasstarti
ng
t
ocleanup.
“I
’m her
etoseeKhany
o,I
’
vebeentr
yingt
ocal
lbut
herphonehasbeenof
fsi
nceFri
day
.”
“
Ummm…l etmet r
ytowakeherup,
”shesays,
r
ubbingherneck.“Pl
easehav
easeatinourti
ny
l
ounge.”
Hishear
thassankt ohisf
eet.Thi
siswhathe
deser
vesfrom her
?Shedidn’
tseeinhim whathe
sawinher.Thatki
ssdidn’
tmeanany t
hingt
oher?He
sawthewor l
dinhereyesandthoughtshewas
seei
ngthesamei nher.

Nolwazist
andsout
sidet
hebedr
oom doorandt
ell
s
hertogobacktosl
eep.
“Di
dn’
tyousayBandl
awant
stoseeme?Mov
eout
ofmyway.”
“You’r
edrunkKhany o,
”Nolwazihissesthroughher
teethandtri
estopushherback.Butshe’ ssmaller
thanher,shefli
pshertothesideandwal ksout.
She’sdressedclosetonothi
ng,herbell
ybut t
onis
outofthecr optopshe’sweari
ng,theshortpant
reveal
shalfofherbuttocks.
“
Bandl
a,
”shesay
sbef
orehi
ccupschokeher
.
Shef all
sbackandl
andsf
lat
lyonherbut
tbef
ore
reachingtohi
m.
“Therewasacel ebr
ati
onatGugu’suncl
e,hef
orced
them todri
nk.Well,
notli
teral
l
y,buty
ouknowhow
unclesare,
”Nolwaziexpl
ains.
Khany
ohasf
all
enasl
eepr
ightont
hef
loor
.
“
Youcanwai
tify
ouwantt
o,”Nol
wazi
.
“
No,
Iwi
l
lleav
e.Thanksf
orl
ett
ingmei
n.”
Shenodsandwal kshimt othedoor .It’
seasytotel
l
thatshe’
slyi
ngaboutt hewhol ecelebr ati
onthi
ng.
Khanyodecidedtopar tyfr
om Fr i
dayt oSunday.The
promiseshegavet oBandl awasj ustaj oke.He
doesn’tmeananythingt oher-sheki ssedhim
becauseshekissesev eryangryper sonshemeet s.
Thosewer eherwordsandhechoset olaughat
them.
Hecannotgobackhome,
heneedst
obeal
one.
.
.
KHANYO

Thiscannotbehappeni ng.Iwascomi ngbackf r

om
Gugu’ sman’shousepartySat urdaynight.Iwas
comi ngbackandst ayi
ngsoberf ormydat e
yesterday.Iwasgoingtor especthim anddr essup
decent l
y.Idi
dn’tdoanythingf unny,
exceptdr i
nking.I
didn’
tkissorsleepwithany one.Ihav en’thookedup
withanymansi ncehespenthi sbi
rthdaywi t
hme.I
sweart oGod, t
hisisami stake.
“
Whatdi
dhesay
?”IaskNol
wazi
.
“
Hewasbr
oken,
”shesay
s.
Ohno,I’
m br
okentoo.Ineedtomaket hisri
ght
.I
wantachancetoex pl
ainmyselfbuthe’sbeen
i
gnori
ngmycallssincemorning.Hehasn’ t
r
espondedtoasingletextt
hatIsent.
“
Gugucanyougetsomeonewhocandr
ivemet
o
Mandeni
?”
“
You’
recr
azy
.Youcannotgot
her
e,hel
i
veswi
thhi
s
f
amil
y.
”
“
Please,
Ijustwantt
otel
lhi
mthatI
’
m sor
ry.
”
ShelooksatNolwazi
.Iknowwhatthey’
ret
hinki
ng,
I
sai
dIdon’thav
ef eel
i
ngsforhi
my etI’
mlosi
ngmy
mindoverhim.
“Mandeni
islar
ge,
howwoul
dyouknowwhi
chonei
s
hishome?”Nol
wazi.
“Hecomesfr
om Enembe,ever
yoneknowsone
anot
heri
ntherur
als,
”Isay
.
“Andwhatar
eyougoi
ngt
osayi
fyouf
indhi
smot
her
,
nothi
m?”Gugu.
They’
rest
ressi
ngmeoutwi
ththei
rquest
ions.They
shoul
dbehelpi
ngwi
thsol
uti
ons.
“
I’
ll
sayheor
der
edcur
tai
ns,
”Isay
.
Theydon’tapprovebutther
e’snothi
ngt heycando
tostopme.I’m goi
ngt oMandeni,I
’l
lgi
v ehim my
sideofthestor
ywhet herheli
kesitornot.Evenifwe
don’tseeeachotheragainaft
ertoday,atleastwe
would’vepar
tedongoodt erms.

Gugu’
sfr
iendcamet
hroughwi
thhi
sol
dTazz.Ihad
topayforpet rolandbuyhim sampandbeef .I
twas
j
ustawast eofsamp, I’
m notevensurewe’l
lreach
Mandeni.Iftraff
iccopsdon’tstopusandbant his
carfr
om t heroad, i
tsbr
akeswi l
ltot
all
yst
opwor king
andwe’llcrashintoothercarsanddie.
Ihavedi r
ecti
ons,myproblem wi
ll
star
twhenIreach
thi
sBhudul ashop,whoam Igoingtoaskfor
dir
ections?It
’sget
ti
nglate,y
ou’dsweart
hedriv
eris
sti
lldoinghi
sLearners.
“I
’m hungr
y,pl
easedr
ivet
hroughthegar
agesot
hatI
canbuysomesnacks,”Gugusays.
Iwould’velostitwi t
hthisfri
endofher sifshewasn’ t
here.Het urnstoTot algarageandf il
lsupwhil
e
Gugugoest ogetsnacks.Thecl ockisnotwor king
wit
hmeont hi
s,it
’sti
ckingtowar ds4:30pm.Myf ear
i
sar ri
vi
ngt hereandf indingeveryonegonet osleep.I
can’tbotherpeopl eatnightformer ecurtai
ns,they’l
l
thi
nkI ’
m acr iminaloradr ugjunkie.

We’
vetur
nedthecor
nertoj
oinEnembeRdwhent
his
Musaguyspot
sataver
nandcriesoft
hir
st.
“
Ihavetograbt
wobeer
s,t
owashdownt
hedusti
n
mythr
oat.
”
Sigh!Ileanbackontheseatandmakepeacewi
th
thefactthatImayhavecomeal l
thi
swayfor
nothing.He’
sparki
ngatthesideandhur
ryi
ngi
nsi
de
thetavernforhi
sbeers.
“It
houghtyou’
dgetmehel
pfr
om asaneper
son,
”I
saytoGugu.
“
Rel
ax,
wear
eal
mostt
her
e,”shesay
s.
I
t’
snoteasyforhertounderst
andbecauseshe’ snot
i
nmyshoes.HowcanIr el
axwhent hepersonhas
beeni
gnori
ngmycal l
s?He’snoteveninterest
edin
whatIhav
etosay .

MusacomesbackwithhisCast
le.He’
sfol
l
owedby
amaninrugswit
hmi ssi
ngfr
ontteet
h.He’
smadea
Mandeni
fri
endal
ready?
“Thismanisanei
ghbort
otheManqel
es,
he’
l
lhel
p
us,”hesay
s.
Thi
sisar
eli
ef,
atl
eastt
her
ewon’
tbeanyst
opsnow.
Themanst art
stelli
ngusabouthi
slif
einDurban.He
sayshewasamanageri noneofthefact
ori
esin
Umbilo.Accor
dingt ohi
m hewasquit
ebig,heused
toappearinnewspapersandonTV.Peopleli
kehim
wouldmakey ouwi shyouweredeaf
.Buthisstor
ies
hasmadeourj ourneyeasyandshor
t.
“Youarelookingforthathomest ead,l
eavemehere
andjointhatsmallroad.”He’spointi
ngatthe
ri
dicul
ouslygigant
ichomest ead,Ifeelmystomach
tur
ning.
“
Ther
ear
enodogs?
”Iaskhi
m.
“
No,
theydon’
tkeepdogs.
”
That
’sminusonetroubl
e.I
magi
nebei
ngchasedby
dogsfr
om yourex’
s…well
.
“
Yourqueue,
madam under
cov
er,
”Gugusay
s.
Phewww!Ididn’
tthi
nkt histhrough.Infact,i
t’
sthe
mostdumbestdecisionI’veevertaken.Whati fhe’
s
nothome?Icannotleaveamessage, t
heydon’ t
knowaboutme,theypr obablyneverwi l
l.Thequiet
yardal
onel
ooksscar y.
“
Goon,we’l
lparkhereandwai
tfory
ou,
”Musasay
s.
Hehasaveryuglyvoi
ce.
Breathei
n.Out.Thi
sisit,
there’
snot ur
ningback
now.Itakeabagofcur t
ainsandcl i
mboutoft hecar.
You’dswearIwaswalkingbyf oot,dustgotmy
shoeseventhoughIwasi nacar .Mydr essislong
enough,mykneesandshoul dersarecov ered.Ihope
Iwon’tbegett
inganyfunnylooksf rom hisfamil
y.

Myphonev
ibr
ates:
*
*Donotj
umpov erthosewhi
testones,
ent
erf
rom
t
hebot
tom oft
hey ard!
!*
*Gugu.
Am Igoingtodiei
fIjumpthem?Whatdot heystand
for
?Any wayI’
m goingtoobey,
I’
mjustacurtai
n
sel
lerdoingbusi
ness,not
hingmuch.
There’snoonei ntheyard,notevenachildplayi
ng.
Mychesti sbeatingdrumsagai n.AsIwalkinthe
yardIspothiscar ,
rel
i
efwashesal l
overme, notf
or
l
ongt hough.Ijustsawamanwal ki
ngtowardsthe
bri
ckhousest andingbetweenr ondavel
s.Idi
dn’tsee
hisfacebutIswearhe’ sthemostscar i
estShembe
manI’
veeverseen.Butmyhear
ttel
l
smet
okeep
movi
ng,t
odot hi
s.

Istandoutsi
dethedoorthatascar
yman
disappear
edintoandexerci
semorebreaths.ThenI
knock,aseveralt
imesbefor
ealady’
svoiceanswers.
“
I’
m comi
ng!
”
Phewww!
Br
eat
heKhany
o,i
t’
saboutt
hecur
tai
ns.
“Oh, sawubonaSi si
,”
-It
’saladyi nababybl uedress,
headwr apanddi amondearrings.She’sawi f
e,that’
s
outofquest ion.Iswearshe’snev ergrownapi mple
ont hatskin.She’sbeauti
ful
,tradit
ionali
nherown
elegantwayandwel comingwi thherperfectsmile.
“Hi
,mynameisKhanyo.I
’mlooki
ngforMr
Bandl
alet
huManqel
e,heorder
edcur
tainsl
astweek,
”
Isay.
“
Heor
der
edmor
ecur
tai
ns?
”shef
rownssl
i
ght
ly.
Isshesuspect
ingsomet
hing?Ineedt
ost
ickt
omy
stor
y.
“
Yes,
”Inodwi
thast
rai
ghtf
ace.
“
I’
m sor
ryt
okeepy
oust
andi
ng,
pleasecomei
nsi
de.
”

Wepassasqueakycl eanki
tchenwithbui l
t-
in
cupboardsandshi
ningpotscooki
ngont hestov
e.
There’
ssomuchspace, i
tcould’
vebeendoubl edint
o
tworooms.Ihearmulti
plevoi
cesholdinga
conver
sationandf
eelmyst omachturningonce
agai
n.
“Bhut
’Bandl
a,Khany
oisher
ewi
thy
ourcur
tai
ns,
”
shesays.
Hisheadr i
sesf i
rst.Ourey esmeetandIswearhi s
al
mostpopout .He’ ssitt
ingnexttoabi gwoman
wear i
ngglasses,there’sSqalonexttoher .ThemanI
sawent eri
ngissittingonal eatherchai
r,hehasa
calmf acethanIimagi ned.Theot heronehas
dimples,he’sl
ighterthanany oneinthishouse.As
soonasmyey esl ockedwi thhis,hesmiledand
glancedatBandl awho’ saboutt ofai
ntont hecouch.
“
You’
ret
heonewhosel
l
sbeauti
ful
cur
tai
ns?
”asks
t
hebi
gwomanIassumeisMakhumal
o.
“
Yes,
it’
sme,
”Isay
.
“Don’tstandther
e,comeandsitwhi l
eMaNtusi
preparesadr i
nkforyou.
”SheturnstoSqal
o,“Why
arenott aki
ngthecurtai
nsf
rom her?She’
sdeli
ver
ed
them, nowshehast opackthem? ”
Sqal
odragshi
sfeetandt akesthebagfr
om me.
Well
,I
’v
emademypr esence,hegotthemessage,
i
t’
spret
tycl
earonhisface.
“Idon’
tmeant oberude,butIhavetogo,myf r
iends
arewaiti
ngformedownt heroad.Bandl
athanky ou
foryoursuppor
tagain,
”Isay.
“No,thankyouforsel
li
ngbeauti
fulcurtai
nstomy
brot
her,”sayst
heonewi t
hdimplest omeandt ur
ns
toBandla.“Hav
eacl i
entcar
e,walkKhany ooutand
tel
lhertokeepsell
ingbeaut
if
ulcurtains.
”
Ifeel
li
keheknowssomet hingaboutmet hatIdon’t
.
Theeldestoneonthechairi
sjustpl
ayingwithhis
ri
ngandst ar
ingatmewithhiscalmface.
“
Thankyoumychil
d,”Makhumal
osay
sasIpi
ck
mysel
fuptol
eav
e.
Bandl
aal
soget
supandwal
ksbehi
ndme.
Thewif
eisintheki
tchen,
prepar
ingapl
ateof
bi
scui
tsandjui
ce.
“
You’
rel
eav
ingal
ready
?”sheasksi
nshock.
“
I’
minahur
ry,
I’
ll
stayl
ongersomeot
herday
.”
“
Ihopeso,
hav
easaf
ejour
ney
.”
Ismi
l
eandheadout
,fol
l
owedbyBandl
a.
“Howlongwereyouplanningtoignor
eme? ”Iask
onceweareinasafedistancefr
om thehouseand
tur
nmyheadt ofacehim.Hest i
l
l l
ooksl
ikehemight
haveahear
tattackanymi nut
e.
“
Khany
o,”hesi
ghsdeepl
yandlooksatmeli
keI
’
m
t
hemostcrazi
estper
sonhe’
severseen.
“YouknowwhyI ’m notspeaki
ngtoyou.You
shoul
dn’thav
ecomeher e,Iwasgoi
ngtocally
ou
whenI’
m okay,”hesay s.
“Andwhenwast hatgoi
ngtobe?IfIcal
landyou
don’tpi
ckupI’
ll
comeher eagai
n.”I
tsoundsl
i
kea
thr
eatbutIdon’
tmeanitthatway.
“
Khanyo!”Hesi
ghsagai
nandput
shi
shandov
erhi
s
f
orehead.
“You’
releavi
ngmewi thnochoi ce.Imadeami st
ake,
andthatwast odri
nkheavi
l
yt hr oughoutt
he
weekend.ButIdidn’
tdoanythingel se,
Iswear
.Itook
careofmy sel
f,i
naway .
”
Thatseemst
osurpr
isehi
m al
i
ttl
ebi
t.Di
dIexpl
ain
myselft
oomuch?
“
I’
m sor
ryBandl
alet
hu,
”Isay
.
Thi
sist
hemostgenui
neapol
ogyI
’
veev
ergi
ven
any
one.
Herel
easesaheavybreath,
rubshi
sfaceandl
ooks
atme.Hisfacehassof
tened.
“
Howdi
dyougether
e?”heasks.
“
Guguaskedoneofherf
ri
endst
odr
iveme.Thecar
i
spar
keddowntheroad.
”
“
Pleasegi
veme10mi
nut
es,
I’
ll
bewi
thy
ou.
”
“
You’
l
lbewi
thme?
”Iask.
“
YesKhany
o,I
’
llbewi
thy
ou.
”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER9
KHANYO

Sleepingher ewasn’ tpar tofthepl an.Ididn’tbring

any thi
ng, notevenat oothbrushorunder wear.Ionl y
hav emybagt hat’sfill
edwi thmake- upandl adies
personal necessi ti
es.It houghtwe’ dtal
k,ironthi ngs
outandt henI’ll
r eturnbackt oDur banwi t
hGuguand
Musa.Buthehadot herpl ans,his10mi nutestur ned
i
nt o5.Idon’ tknowwhatl i
eshet ol dhisfami l
y,but
wear eher e,
inapl acecal l
edHl omendl ini,
spendi ng
ani ghtinat wo- bedr oom houset hatIdon’tknow.
It’
sclean,t
here’
sabedandtwo-
seatercouch.It
’s
eithersomeoneli
vesher
eorpopsinfrequent
lyto
takecareofthehouse.

Hewalksin,
comingfr
om thekitchen,
carry
inga
l
argepl
ateofroast
edmeatandr oll
s.Heboughtthe
meatonourwayhere,I
’m st
art
ingt ot
hinkhe’
sa
carni
vor
e.Idon’tknowwhatt
hatmeans,buthe
l
ovesredmeat .MaybeonedaywhenI’
mr i
chI
shoul
dbuyhim awhol ecowandl
ethi
m eatital
one.
“
OnedayI
’
llcookf
ory
ou,
”hesay
s.
Ijustsmileandwatchhim cut
ti
ngt hemeat.Thi
sis
thef ir
stt
imeI’
veeverbeeninarelati
onshi
pwithout
givingconsent
.Wear ei
nar el
ati
onship,we’
ve
alreadyhadourfi
rstf
ight,
butneit
herofushassai d
any thi
ngaboutl
ove.
“HowdidyouknowwhereIl
i
ve?”heaskswi
tha
ghostofasmil
epeepi
ngandref
usi
ngtocomeout
.
“
Icanaskyout
hesame.Howdi
dyouknowwher
eI
l
i
ve?”Iask.
“Laphokukhonauthandonendl
elai
khona.Idon’
t
knowifthatsayi
ngappli
edtoyouaswell,
”hesays.
(Lovepavestheway)
Ifeel
li
ket hisisatri
ckyone.Iknowt heanswer,
he
knowsi taswel l
,butnotnow.Ipickapieceofmeat
andthrowi tinsi
demymout hsothatitcanbe
occupiedwi t
hsomet hing.
“
Angazi
,
”Isaywi
thaf
ull
mout
h.
“Don’
tworry
,youhavet
hewhol
eni
ghtt
ogivemean
answer,
”hesayswit
hasmir
k.“
Any
wayy oul
ook
beaut
if
ul.
”
Someonei sblowinghotaironmyf ace.Isayalow
‘
thanky ou’
withmyey espenetrat
ingthefloor.
There’
sanestofbut t
erfl
i
esi nmyt ummy ,Ifeeldi
zzy
l
ikeit’
sthefir
stti
meI ’
veeverreceivedacompl i
ment.
“
Butsomet
imesIwonderi
fyouknowt
hat
,”hesay
s.
Bl
ushi
ngpaused!Il
iftmyey
est ohi
m,he’
sst
ari
ngat
me,t
here’
snosmi l
eonhisface.
“
Doy
ouknowhowbeaut
if
uly
ouar
e?”heasks.
“Yes,
Iknow.
”That’
swhatmirr
orsar
efor
,forust
o
knowifwe’
rebeaut
if
ulornot
.
“
Thenwhydoyoubehav
ethi
sway
?”Thi
sisabout
medri
nki
ng.
It
houghtwet
alkedabouti
t.
“
Isai
dI’
m sor
ryBandl
a,
”Isay
.
“
Thi
sisnotaboutme.Youcannotdr
owny
our
sel
fin
al
cohol
, putyourli
feindangerandbesor
ryto
Bandl
alethu.I
’m notgoi
ngtodieonyourbehal
f.
”
Oh,wow!AndIthoughthedidn’
thav etheboneof
j
udgingpeopl
einhim.Don’tal
lreli
giouspeopl
ethi
nk
t
hey’r
eholyandbett
erthaneveryone?
“
Whodoy
out
hinky
ouar
eto…”
“I
’m Bandl
alet
huManqel
e,
”hecut
smeshor
t.The
nerve!
Godt
urnt
hatkni
fei
nhi
shandt
ohi
schest
.If
oldmy
ar
msandglar
eathi
m.
“You’
renotmyf
ather
,”Ibr
eakunpopul
arnewst
o
him.
Thatseemst ohav
er ubbedhi
mthewrongway .Hi
s
facedarkens,
hebli
nkstenti
mesinf
iveseconds.
“You…you…ar emaki ngt hingsharderthanI …I
…I
thought.”Aft
erstruggl ingwi t
hhi swordsf ora
minutehi sspeechpi cksar apidpace.“Lov e
shouldn’thurtKhanyo.Idon’ tknowabouty oubutI
thi
nkabouty ouevery day .Idon’tdothingsIknow
canhur tyou,Imeanti twhenIsai dI
’l
ltakecareof
mysel
fforyou.Notbecausey ou’
remymot herorI
t
akeordersfr
om you,butbecauseIwantust o
work.
”Ial
mostdidn’thearhalfofwhathejustsai
d.
Hepushestheplat
et omyl ap,wipeshi
shandswith
aserv
iet
teandwalksout .
That
’si
t?He’
sangrybecauseoft
hissmal
lar
gument
andwal
kingoutonme?

Myappet i
teleftwi t
hhi m, Iendureafewpiecesof
meatandt aket hepl atebackt othekit
chen.Ther
e’s
amicr
owav e,Iputi tinsideandf il
laglassofwater
anddri
nk.Hedi dn’tev encl osethedoorwhenhel ef
t,
whati
ft hecriminalsoft hisplaceatt
ackme?The
nameitselfexplainsal ot-Hlomendli
ni.
Oh,hi
scarisst i
l
l here,thatmeanshet ookawal kto
getawayfrom me.May beIoverr
eacted,Idon’
tknow,
wit
hhimi t
’seasyt obet hewr
ongonebecausehe
hasacalm nature.Hecanof f
endy ouinhislow
moderatedvoiceandy ou’dst
il
lfeell
ikeyouwere
wrongforbeingof f
ended.Imustt akeabat hand
mental
lyprepareanot herapology.
Almostanhourhaspassedandhe’ snotback.Hi s
phonei shereont hecouch,it
’sdarkandqui et
out si
de.Iknowinhi sheadthi
si sokaybecauseI
drink,gotonightclubsanddar ethedev il
withmy
l
ife.ButI’m scar
ed;I’
mi nastrangepl ace,I
’m sober
andIdon’ tknowany onearound.Ev eryt
imeIt r
yto
cl
osemyey esIhearfootst
epsorseeashadow
passingbyt hewindow.Iknowi t’sprobablyjustmy
i
magi nationbutI’
m quiveri
nginmyboot s.
Iat
tempttoclosemyeyesandthedoorshi
ft
sagain.
Butit
’sf
orrealthi
sti
me,t
herear
efootst
epscoming
i
n.

Isi
tup,hol
dtheblankettomychestandpr
epare
mysel
ftopickanythi
ngaroundmeanddefend
mysel
ffrom whoeveri
tis.
Nx,
it’
stheaf
ro-
head.Wast
eofmyf
ear
!
Isl
i
debackundert
hebl
anketandl
i
edown.
Hedoeshi
sthi
ngssi
l
ent
lyf
oral
mostt
enmi
nut
es,
goi
nginandoutofthebedroom.Theneventual
lyhe
comestobed,pul
l
st hebl
anketandsl
ipsnexttome.
Heplaceshishandonmywaist
.Istaydeadquiet
andwaitforhi
mt ogi
vemeanothercal
ml ect
ure.
“Khany
o,”her
eleasesaheav ybreat
h.“Ihav
e
concer
ns.Act
uall
yI’m scar
ed,”hesays.
“Whatarey ouscaredof
?”Iaskwi t
hmybackt
urned.
I’
m notreadytofacehimyet.Thisthi
ngi
s
complicat
ingbothmyl i
feandhis.
“
ThatI’
m doi
ngallt
hisfornot
hing.Al
lther
isks.You
won’
tcomethroughforme,”hesays.
“BandlaIcannotbeaper fectgir
lf
ri
endov ert
heni
ght
.
I’
venev ersharedmyl i
fewithanyone,Idowhat
wor ksformeandmakesmehappy .Soexcusemeif
Itaketi
met oadapttothi
sr el
ati
onship,I
’
venever
beenaf astl
earner
.”
Amomentofsi lencepasses.Mywordsrepl
ayi
nmy
mind.Ihavecal
ledmy selfhi
sgi
rl
fr
iendanddef
ined
t
hisasar el
ati
onship.JesusChr
ist
!
“
Pleaset
urnar
oundandl
ookatme,
”hesay
saf
tera
momentofsi
l
ence.
Irel
easeashar pbreathandturnt ofacehi
m.He’s
notjustanothermanI ’
m shar
ingabedwi t
h,hepul
ls
mecl oserandengulfsmei natighthug.Ahugthat
makesev erythi
ngseemspossi ble.
“
Wear
egoi
ngt
owor
k,r
ight
?”heasks.
I’
vej
ustmeltedl
ikeabananaundert
hescor
chi
ng
sun,
allIcangi
vehimisanod.
“
I’
minl
ovewi
thy
ouKhany
o,”hesay
s.
Il
ethiswor
dsr
epl
ay,
sinkandf
indapl
acei
nmy
hear
t.
Yes,
he’
ssai
dit
.Fi
nal
l
y,hi
sact
ionshav
eadef
ini
ti
on-
l
ove.
Heli
ft
smychinup,
Ilookdownbuthe’
sseeni
t.
Damn,what
’swr
ongwithme?
“
Whyar
eyoucr
ying?
”heasks.
I
’m notcryi
ng,Ihav
etearsi
nmyeyes,t
here’
sa
di
ff
erence.He’stoogenui
newi
thme,i
t’sscar
y.I
’
ve
neverexperi
encedsomethi
ngl
i
kethi
sbefore.
“
Whyarey oui
nlovewit
hme?
”Iaskaf
terhewi
pes
mycheekswit
hhishand.
“
Idon’
thav
ear
eason,
Ijustl
ovey
ou,
”hesay
s.
“
Well
,Ihav
ear eason…”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
owandI
t
akeapause.
Can’
thel
etmef
ini
sh?
“
Areasonf
orwhat
?”heasks.
“
Forl
ovi
ngy
ou,
”Isaywi
thasi
l
ent‘
duh’
att
heend.
Hecracksaloudlaugh,
cupsmyf
aceandpl
ant
sa
ki
ssonmyf orehead.
Alr
ight,
Ijustconf
essed,noteventhr
eehour
saf
ter
pul
lingtheZulugi
rl‘
angazi’
stunt.

It
’sbeenonlythreeweeksandalothashappened
si
ncet hemorningIhi
jackedaC-Classwi
tha
Shembest i
ckerandNZr egi
str
ati
on.Maybewe
shouldgettheformal
iti
esoutofthewaybefor
ewe
goon……
Mynamei
sNokukhany
aMay
ise,
Itur
ned25i
n
January,andsof arIhav en’tbui l
tany thi
ngonmy
name.I’m notev ent ryi
ngt o.Mymot herpassedon
whenIwas15, wewer ecl oseev ent houghwedi dn’
t
l
ivetogether.Iwaspr acticall
yr aisedbymy
grandparentswhodi edbef oreItur ned20.Iwas
alr
eadyapar t
yani mal then, butIhadmyl i
mi t
s.Iwas
i
nDUT, abouttobegi nmyt hirdyeari nJour nalism.I
onlyatt
endedt woweeksoft hefirstsemest erand
droppedout .Ther ewasnosol i
dr eason,Ijustf el
t
l
ikeIwasont hewr ongpat h,notj ustacademi cal
ly,
everyt
hingfeltwr ong, i
tst i
lldoes, andIf el
tl i
keI
neededt oquit.I
’m notf inanci al
lydependenton
anyone,butIknowmybr ot herwoul dputhisl ifeon
holdtocomet hroughf orme.
Am Iaddi ctedtoalcohol?Yes.WhydoIdr i
nk?It
gi
v esmepeace.How?I thelpsmeescapet he
str
angewor ldthatkeepst hr
eateningt otakeov ermy
l
ifeev eryti
meIgot osleep.Seei ngol dpeopl eI
’ve
nev ermeti nmyl i
feandhav ingsobconv ersati
ons
witht hem inmydr eams.Myl i
feis,orwasokay
beforet heystart
edbother i
ngmeaboutt heir
sorrows, darkpastsandt ears.Woul dn’
ty oudrinkif
someoneshowedy ougravesever y
timeyouclosed
yourey est
or est?Ithoughtt
hey’dhav egi
venupby
now, butno,theysti
llhauntmeev erychancethey
get.SoIdrink,bothforthei
rproblemsandmi nes.
Idon’
texpectanyonet
ounderstandme,
andnobody
haseveratt
emptedtotr
y,unt
ilnow.
“I
fther
e’samountain,
I’
m cl
i
mbi ngitwit
hyou.I’
m
burni
ngbri
dgeswithyouandjumpingfences.You
chosewellSi
si,
aManqelewillt
reatyouli
keaqueen.
Butyouhavetobehaveli
keaqueent oo.
”
Irollmyeyes,he’ssofullofhi
mself
,buti
tdoesn’
t
makehi ml esscharming.Ipul
lhi
sarmstowrap
aroundme.Queensdeser vetobecuddl
ed
throughoutthenight
,right
?
.
.
NOMKHOSI

30year
sofage,
astabl
ejob,ownapart
mentanda
car
.That’
sal
mosthowevery
onepict
ured
themsel vesi
nt heir30s;havi
ngmostofy ourgoal
s
achievedandf i
nancialf
reedom.Itdoesn’
tmake
senset hatsomet hingsil
lyaslov
ewoul ddestr
oy
thatsenseofst abi
li
ty.I
twouldcrushyouandmake
youf eelworthlessregardl
essofeveryt
hingyou’
ve
achievedi nl
ife.
Hewaswear ingari
ngwhent heyfir
stmetaft
er
beinghost edbyamut ualbusinesspar
tneri
na
formal businessdi
nner.Hi
sey eswereonher
throughoutt hedi
nnerandnomat t
erhowmuchshe
tri
edt oignorehisi
ntensestar
e, i
thadabutt
erfl
y
effectonher .
Hisdeepvoicecaughtherof
fguar
dast heybot
h
headedtotheparki
ngarea.He’
dbeenkeepinga
cl
oseey eonher,i
twasn’tacoi
nci
dencethatt
hey
bothlef
tatthesamet i
me.
“I
sitokayi
fIsayMaShoy
isa?
”heasked,
wal
ki
ng
behi
ndherli
keaspy.
Awest
ruckandcaughtoffguar
d,shest
utt
ered;
“Ummm…y eah.
.i
t’
sokay.
”
Hepi
ckedhi
space,
reachedherandwal
kedbesi
de
her.Hi
scol ogne,i
ntenseauraanddeepv oi
ce!
Everyt
hingabouthim spokemoney ,powerand
digni
ty.Everyt
hingthatshewaslookingf
orinaman-
excepttheringthatwasonhi sf
inger.
“Ihadanothereventtoat
tend,thepl
anwast oshow
facehereandleaveshort
ly.Butther
ewasthisfl
ower
thatkeptsayi
ng‘star
eatme. ’
Tellme,whatdoyou
bathwith?”
Herfacebl
ewhot .Ever
ythi
ngabouthim madeher
kneesweak,exceptt
her i
ng.Heknewhowt o
sweetenhi
swor dsandgetherblushi
ngli
keanewly
weddedbri
de.
“
Idon’
tspeakt
ost
ranger
s,”shesai
d,i
gnor
ingher
t
huddi
ngheart
.
“I
t’
sThakasaManqele.Ahandshakewouldbeni
ce
whil
eyouformall
yint
roduceyour
selfaswel
l,
”he
sai
dwithhishandextended.
Wi
thasecr
etey
erol
l
,shehel
dhi
shandandshooki
t.
“
Nomkhosi
Nsel
e,
”shesai
d.
Heal
readyknewhername,
he’
denqui
redabouther
aft
ernoti
cingherthef
ir
stt
ime.Heheldherhand
fi
rmly
,kepthiseyesonher
sli
kether
ewasamagnet
gl
uedinthem.
Shetr
iedt
opul
lherhandbackbuthehel
ditt
ight
er.
Soty
pical
ofaZul
umanl i
kehim!
“
Canthi
sbenotthelastdayt
hatIseey
ou
Nomkhosi
?”heasked.
Shebl
ushedbutqui
ckl
yhi
ditwi
thar
aisedey
ebr
ow.
“
Idon’
tthi
nkyourwifewi
ll
appr
eci
atet
hat
,”shesai
d,
l
ooki
ngathisl
efthand.
“It
’smewhowantstoseeyou,nother
.”Hi
sanswer
stunnedher
.Hewasn’
tevengoingtotr
ytospi
nher
thestor
yofadiv
orcepr
ocess?
“
Oh,
”that
’sal
lshesai
d.
Wordsfail
edher,whichwasv
eryunnat
ural
ofheri
n
si
tuat
ionsli
kethat.
“Gi
vemeadat e,
timeandaddresswhereI
’
llpi
cky
ou
up,andI
’
lll
etgoofyourhand,
”hesaid.
Onanyotherdayt
hatwould’
veannoyedherbecause
hewasusinghismascul
i
nepower ;
holdi
ngherhand
andrest
ri
cti
nghermov
ement
s.Butt
hatdayshe
melt
edinthehandi
famar
ri
edmanandgav ehi
ma
dat
e.

Adat ethatchangedherwhol e.Thathasledt othi

s
momentofwor thlessness,swelli
ngstomachand
abandonment .Mor ningsi
cknessandcr avingshav e
kickedin.She’
sappr oachinghersev ent
hweekand
herbuni sstar
ti
nggr owandshowi t
self
.Breaking
thenewst ohermot herwould’vebeeneasyi fshe
hadt heri
ghttocl ai
m Thakasaast hebaby ’
sf at
her.
Butjustli
keherf ather,
he’sturnedhisbackont hem
andwentbackt oawomant hatownshishear t.
Knowinghowherf ami l
yis,mostlyherbr ot
hers,a
warisgoi ngtobreakbet weentheNgi disand
Manqeles.They ’
llforceThakasat ot ake
responsibil
it
yofhisact ionsandpr obabl ykill
someone.Thel astt hingsheneedsr ightnowi sto
compet ewi t
hapr egnantwi fe.She’st ri
edt hatint
he
pastandsheal way scamel ast.Therewer etimes
whenshef el
tli
keThakasahadf eeli
ngsf orher.
Thosemoment swhenshe’ dwakeupi nt hemi ddl
e
ofthenightandfindhi m staringather .I
twaswei r
d,
yes,butther
ewassomet hingi nhisey esthat
stri
ppedcoatsoff earanddoubtof fthei
rhearts.The
l
ong, t
ighthugsthathe’dr andoml ygiveherbefore
theypartedways.Somet i
mesi tfelttoodeepandt oo
genuinetobe‘nothing.’Doubt lessly,
she’dfall
enin
l
ov ewithhimfrom t heonset .Hewasmar ri
ed,yes,
buttherewasthat‘ BUT’off aithshehel donto.

“Areyougoingtokeepst
abbi
ngt
hepoorsal
adwith
thatf
orkory ou’
regoi
ngt
otel
lmewhat
’swrong?
”
Phumzileasks.
That’
sthethi
ngabouthermot
her
,shecanbe
di
ffi
cultf
ornoreasons.
“
Howam Igoingtot
elly
oui
fyou’
real
readybi
ti
ng
myheadof
f?”sheasks.
“Nomkhosi,youknowy oucantalktomeany t
ime.
I
t’sj
ustthatNgidihasbeengi vi
ngmeal otofstr
ess
l
atel
y.Idon’tunderstandwhyhekeepswaki ngupby
dawnandgoi ngtot herank.Ndl
alif
aisi
ncharge
now.He’sold,heshoul dbesit
ti
ngathomeand
l
ett
ingmet
akecar
eofhi
m.”
“Nicel
ifeproblems,”Khosi mumbl esbefor
esippi
ng
hermilkshake.Ifit
’snotNdondot ell
ingherabout
hernonesxisti
ngpr obl
emswi thNdabuko, i
t’s
Maqhingacr yi
ngaboutAndi swar efusi
nghisgif
ts,or
Snalocompl ai
ningaboutMondl ispendinglessti
me
withher.Nobodyhasr ealpr
oblemsar oundher,y
et
theycompl ai
nev erychancetheyget .
“
What
’swr
ong?
”Phumzi
l
easksagai
n.
Sheexhal
es,
“Mom I
’
m pr
egnant
.”
That’snotsomethingsheexpect edatall.Buther
babyi sgr
own,she’st akencareofherselfand
achievedalotofthingsinlif
e.Infactshe’s
surpassedherexpect ati
ons.
“Idon’tknowi fwe,Afr
icanmot her
s,say
congratulat
ionsifourdaughtersgetpregnantbef
ore
mar r
iage.Butcongratulat
ionsmybaby ,you’
vemade
mepr oud, I
’
m notccompl aini
ng.Howf arareyou?”
sheasks.
“
Sixweeks,
”Khosi
say
s.
“I
’
m havi
ngt
hreegr
andki
dsi
noney
ear
.That
’sa
bl
essi
ng.
”
I
t’sfulfi
ll
i
ngseeinghermot hert
hishappy
,but
unfortunatel
yit
’l
lbeshort
-l
ived,
shehastotel
lher
thetruthofherbaby’
slif
e.
“
Itdoesn’
thav
eaf
ather
,”shesay
s.
Phumzi
lechokesonherdr
inkandl
ooksupwi
tha
fr
own.
“
Whatdi
dyousay
?”sheasks.
“Idon’
twhothefat
heri
s.Icannotr
emember
,it
happenedwhil
eIwasdrunk.
”
“Yey,
yey ,weNomkhosi!Whatareyout r
yingtosayt
o
me?Si ncewhendoy oudri
nkl
ikethat?Soy ou
openedy ourlegsformenyoudidn’tknow?Whatare
yougoingt otell
thechil
d?”
Tear
sburnherey
esbutshebl
inksthem backand
swal
lowsthel
umpfor
minginherthroat
.
“
I’
ll
takecar
eoft
hechi
l
dbymy
sel
f,
”shesay
s.
“
Oh,Mi
ssIndependent
.You’
ll
beaf at
heranda
mot
heral
latonce?Youthi
nkthatworks,
huh?
Maybeyoushoul
dtr
ytosi
tmedownandaskme
howit
’sl
iket
orai
sechi
ldr
ensi
ngl
e-handedl
y.
”
“
Idon’
thaveachoice,
mom.ImessedupandIhav
e
t
otakeresponsi
bil
i
tyf
ori
t.
”
“Well
,goodl
uck.Nowtakemebackhome,
Ihav
ea
husbandtocookfor
.”
Thatst
art
edwel landendedhor ri
bly
.Butshe
expect
edit,
she’dalsoreactthesameifher
daught
ertol
dhershe’spr egnantandshedoesn’
t
knowthefather
.

Twopeopl ehadfunt ogether

,butonl yonei s
sufferi
ngtheconsequencesoft hei
ractions.He’s
probablywit
hhiswife,massagi ngherf eetand
shower i
ngherwithlove.Ever
yt hingi
sgood, he’
s
mov ingonwithhisl
ifeli
kenot hinghappened.
**IDON’TPRAYTHATMUCH, BUTTONIGHTWHEN
IDO, I
’LLBEASKINGGODTOMAKEYOURLI FE
MI SERABLE,JUSTLIKEYOUMADEMINE.IHATE
YOUTHAKASA, UYI
NJA!**
Thisisthelastmessageshesendshim.Shehast o
dealandmakepeacewi t
hevery
thing.Assoonasit
del
ivers,sheblockshi
m anddel
eteshiscontact
detai
ls.
I
t’
sdone.
.
.
THAKASA

Nothil
ecomesbackf rom thebat hroom andf i
nds
him st
aringathi sphone.Hewasoutofi twhenshe
l
efttopee, t
heirbedr oom lif
ehasi mpr ovedsince
thei
rtri
pt oBali.Sheget sinbedandwr apsherarms
aroundhiswai st.Her eadswhat everitisonhis
phoneandt henpushest hephoneundert hepil
low
andpullshiswi fetohi schest.He’swr appinghis
armsar oundhert ighterandt i
ghter.Hispounding
chestispressedhar dagai nstherfullbreasts.
“Il
oveyousthandwasami,”hesays,hi
sheadburi
ed
onherneck.“I
’m notabadperson,pl
easef
orgi
ve
mef orev
ery
thi
ngI’
vedonet
oyou.I
twasn’
tmy
i
ntenti
ontohur
tyou.
”
“
ManqeleIf
orgav
ey ou.Let
’sj
ustmov
eon,
Idon’
t
wantt
otal
kaboutit
,”–Nothil
e.
Hisgri
ptightensaroundherneck,“Idon’
twanty
ou
toremembermel i
kethat.Iwantthegoodti
mest o
bethehighli
ghtsofus.Ngiyakut
handa.”
“Manqel eI…”Herl egsar epull
edapart.There’
sa
hardr odsli
dingbet weenhert highs.Wit
hnowar ning
orwhat soever,i
tpenet rateshersoftwall
sand
thrustsinsi
deher .Ithelpedthatshewasst il
lmoi st
from theirl
astround, he’spoundingherwithlit
tl
et o
nomer cy.Hi
smoansdeepenwi theachstroke,his
gripisstil
lti
ghtaroundherneckbutshe’ l
lsurvive.
I
tdoesn’ttakel
ongf orhimtoreachhi
sbreaki
ng
point
.Thisonebelongedt ohi
m, i
twastosati
sfyhi
s
temporaryneedandl essabouther
.Heneededher,
nottheotherwayaround.
“Icannotpulloutbaby,I
’m sor
ry,
”hewhisper
s
beforelastr
apidt hr
ust
sthatalmostt
earhercor
e
apart.Thenhegr oansl
ikeabullandr
eleases
hi
msel
finsi
deher
.
Beforeshecancompr ehendhi
slastconfusi
ng
words,he’
sonherf aceandsuckingthelifeoutof
herli
ps.Shelovesthisbeasty,
needysideofhim.It
’s
goi
ngt obeal ong,
litnight.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER10
KHANYO

Ifeelvi
olated.I’m angryandexhaust ed,both
emot i
onall
yandspi ri
tual
ly.Thiswassupposedt obe
myni ght
.Mi ne!Theywer en’tsupposedt ocomeand
robmeofmyspeci almoment s.Itwasmyf i
rstnight
withhim, i
twassupposedt obet hebestt imeofour
l
ivesbuthehadt ospendi tguar dingme.Idon’ t
knowhowmanyt imeshehadt owakemeupf rom
thefl
oorbackt obedandf rom t hedoorwhi l
eIsleep-
walked.Atl eastGuguunder stands, shemadei ther
dutyandchoset oshar eabedr oom wi thmeov er
Nolwazisot hatshecankeepaney e.
Ineedadr i
nk,anythi
ngtoreli
evemef rom this
depressedment alst
ate,
butIknowt hatthere’
sno
al
cohol i
nthishouse.Idoubthe’
sev erbought
al
cohol i
nhisli
fe,unl
essifitwasforacer emony.
Iwashopi ngtofindhim asleep,it
’sbeenar eal
l
y
roughnight,buthe’swokenup.He’ sst
ari
ngatmeas
Imakemywayt ot hebedfrom thebathroom.He
hassexypost -sl
eepey es,
andt hatbroadchest,Ican
l
ieoni tt
hroughoutt hi
scoldmor ning.Icl
imbonbed,
restmyheadonhi sarm andpul luptheblanket.He
wrapshisarm ar oundmeandki ssesmycheek.I t’
s
myf i
rstmorningki ss.
“
Howar
eyou?
”heasks.
“
I’
m good,
”Isaywhatwebot
hknowt
hati
sabl
atant
l
i
e.
“Doyoualway
shavethoseheavydreamsorit
’s
somethi
ngyougoti
nthishouse?”heasks.
“I
’v
ebeenhav i
ngthem f
oryear
s.I
t’
smyli
fe.
”I
cannotcont
rolt
hemiseryi
nmyv oi
ce.
“
Doy
oumi
ndshar
ingwhaty
oudr
eam of
?”heasks.
“Ol
dpeopl
e,gr
aves,
her
dofcowsanddeadbodi
es,
”I
say
.
“
Hav
eyouconsul
tedabouti
t?”
Consul
ted?Asi
nmegoi
ngt
okneel
inf
rontofa
sangomaandchanti
ng‘Makhosi’
whil
etheythr
ow
bonesandspeakt
oi nv
isi
blebei
ngs?That
’snotmy
thi
ng,I
’
dneverdothat,
zangomasarescaryAF.
“
Idon’
tthi
nkt
hat
’snecessar
y,”It
ell
him.
Heholdsmyhandandpopsmyf i
ngerjoi
nts.I
thur
ts
ali
tt
le,buthe’
senjoy
ingi
tsoIl
ethim be.Il
ove
t
heselitt
lethi
ngshedoestome.
“It
hinkit’
snecessaryf
oryout
ogett othebottom of
i
t.May bether
e’samessagebeingsentacross,I
don’tknow,butdreamshavemeaningsmyl ove.
”
I
tsti
l
l f
eelssurr
eal
,Ilookathi
m wi
thasmi
l
eandask
hi
mt orepeathi
slastwords.
“
Myl
ove,
”hesay
swi
thachuckl
e.
It
hinkIl
ovehi
m mor
ethanmyheadi
ntendst
o.
“
So,
whenar
ewegoi
ngt
othedoct
or?
”heasks.
“Todowhat?”I
’
m conf
used.Weweretal
ki
ngabout
consul
ti
ngasangomajustamomentago,nowi
t’
s
thedoct
or.
“Havey
ounev erhear
dthem say
;‘KnowYour
Part
ner
`?”heasks,ti
ght
eni
nghishandonmine.
Thi
si saboutHI V,ri
ght?I’
m notevenoff
ended,Ialso
wouldn’ttr
ustaper sonli
keme.Whati fIdr
ank,slept
wit
ht enmenwi thoutacondom andgotinf
ected?
Ohwai t,whatifIdrankHIVfrom abeerorcocktai
l?
Whati fi
twasl yi
ngont hedancefloorandIgot
i
nfectedwhi l
edanci ng?
“
Khanyo,Ial
sohavemyshor t-
comings.Thi
sisn’
t
j
ustaboutyou.I
t’
saboutus,bothyouandI.Maybe
wecantesttodaybef
oreyouleave,
”hesays.
“
Idon’
tmi
nd,
asl
ongasy
ou’
repay
ingt
hebi
l
ls,
”Isay
.
“Howdoyout
akeme?I
’
llnev
ermakey
oupayf
or
anybi
l
l.
”
EvenifIwentt oToyotaand…..nevermi nd.Iplant
l
ightpecksonhi schestandt r
ailmyf i
nger sov erhi
s
smoot hskin.Iwanttosnapapi ctur
eoft his
moment ,sendittoEfeandt hankhimf orleavingme.
Hewasl ikeadar kcl
oud,assoonashegotoutof
mylif
et herewasal i
ght.Inearl
ygotdepr essionover
anuglymanwhoeat sJol l
ofri
ceandI ndomi e
noodles.Bytheway ,hehaddr yankles.
“
You’
rebeaut
if
ulmyl
ove,
”hesay
srandoml
y.
Ist
opcounti
nghaironhi
schestandl
ookathi
m.
He’
sstar
ingasusual.
“
Thanky
ou.You’
real
sonott
hatbad,
”Isay
.
Hechuckl
es,“
Wel
l
,that
’sbet
tert
hanwhatmost
peopl
esay.
”
“
Whatdot
heysay
?”If
rown.
“Thatwear
eugly
,onlyNkonzoishandsome.The
onewhowouldn’
tletyoubr
eatheyest
erday
.”
Thosepeopledon’tknowme.Howcoul dt heysay
suchathingtothi
sbeaut i
ful
…..
soul
?Isitbecause
Nkonzoisli
ghterthanthem andhehasdimpl es?
Andwhot hefuckstil
lmeasuresbeaut
yby
complexi
oninthiscentury
?
“You’
renotuglybabe.Youar edarkandhandsome.
Lookatwhaty ougotthi
smor ni
ngbecauseofyour
l
ooks?”Ipointatt
hegor geousqueenlyi
ngonhis
chest
.
Hebreaksi
ntol
aught
er.Il
ovet
her
elaxed,
happy
si
deofhim.
“
Idon’
tcar
eabouthowmyl
ooksar
edef
ined.As
l
ongasI ’
m cl
eanandpresent
abl
e.Butyou’
reright
aboutonethi
ng.Thi
s…”Helif
tsmyfaceandki sses
mylips.Hi
saresotender
,andhe’
sagoodki sser,I
don’
twanthimtostop.
Ithr
owmyl egar
oundhi
m,gr
abhi
sneckanddeepen
thekiss.

He’sbreat
hingheavi
lyandtouchy-
touchywhenwe
breaktheki
ss.Hisfronti
sthi
ckeni
ngbehindhis
shortandpressedhardagai
nstmyt hi
gh.
“Babe,
”hegrabsmyfaceagai
n.Thisti
mehisli
ps
workonmyneck.Neckismysof tspot
,hi
stonguei
s
givi
ngmetingl
esandmoistur
ebetweenmylegs.
“Pl
easehel
pme,ev
enifi
t’
sahandj
ob,
”hewhi
sper
s
agai
nstmyeari
nahuskyvoi
ce.
Ididn’
texpecthimtosettlef
orthatl
ess,
buthe
knowswhatmi ghtwor
kf orhi
m.Iremovethe
blanketandpulldownhisshort
.Hisshaf
tspri
ngs
out,hardandthick,
wit
hadr opofpre-
cum ar
ound
thehead.
Iwipeitwithmypal m andrubhisshaftal
laround.I
expectedanotherbush,butlucki
l
yhe’snottoohairy
downher e.He’smassagingmybr east
swhi l
eIgive
hisshafthandstrokes.
“
BabeIwantt
odoi
tmy
sel
f,
”hesay
s.
Ismyhandgamet ooweak?Nobodyhasev
er
compl
ainedaboutitbef
ore.
“
You’
l
lal
sopl
aywi
thy
our
sel
f,
”hesay
s.
Nowthat
’sv
erynaughtyofhim.I’
m sur
ethat
’snot
whatt
heyar
etaughtinchurch.
He’
staki
ngmypantyof
fbef
oreIev
enagreetoi
t,
andki
cki
ngouthi
sshor
tandthr
owingi
tonthef
loor
.
Nowwear ebothinourbi
rthdaysui
ts.Thebl
anketi
s
al
sothrowntothefl
oor,i
t’
sacoldmor ni
ngbutwith
hi
m nakednexttomeIdon’ tf
eelmuchcold.
Heopensmyl
egs,
kneel
sbet
weent
hem andsi
tson
hi
sfeet
.
“I
t’
scleanbabe,
”hesays,l
ooki
ngatmyexposed
corewithhi
shandwrappedaroundhi
sshaf
t.
I
t’
soneoft
hosecompl
i
ment
sthaty
oul
etpass.I
cannotsayt
hankyouonbehal
fofmycooki
e,t
hat
wouldbeweird.
Ipi
ckmynippleandpl
aywit
hi twhi
l
etheotherhand
massagesmymound.He’sstari
ngatme,notat
whathe’
sdoing.
Isl
idonefi
ngerbetweenmymoi stfol
dsandit
comesbackdrippi
ngwet .Thesi
ghtofhi
snaked
bodyandhardshaftaf
fectmeasmuchmybody
aff
ectshi
m.
“Rubt
hecli
tbabe,
”heinst
ruct
swi
thamoan,
his
handst
roki
nghisshaf
trapi
dly
.
Asi nstructed,Ir
ubmyswol l
encli
tandmoanatthe
pleasur espreadi
ngacrossmywhol ebody.Myeyes
shut ,Idri
fttothewor
ldofmyownandl etmyhand
deli
v erthemuchneededpl easur
e.
“Don’
tcl
oseyourl
egsKhany
o,”–t
hevoicesnaps
meoutofmyzoneandr emi
ndsmeofthecompanyI
havei
nthisr
oom.
Hedoesn’
tunder
standthef
eeli
ngthatf
ir
mlyshut
t
highsgi
veme.Icrossmylegsandconti
nuesti
rr
ing
mycorewit
hmyf i
ngers.
Thenstronghandsgrabmyl
egsapar
t,f
orceful
l
y.
Damn, Iwassoclosetot
heor
gasm.Thi
st oenail
of
Satan!
“
Don’thidei
tfr
om me,
”hesay
sinav
oiceIcannot
r
ecognize.
“Bandlafuckof
f!”Icl
osemylegsagai
n,mycl
itis
aching,Ineedt
hisrel
easeandIneedi
timmediat
ely
.
Hegr absmylegsapar t
,again.Thi
st i
mehel i
ft
s
them uptomychest .Icannotdefeathispower,now
allIcandoiscry.Howcanhel eadmei nt
odoing
thi
sandt hendepri
vemeoft heending?
ThenIseeaf oi
lpacketslidbet
weenhi sfi
ngersand
histeethteari
ngitapart.Hisot
herarmi ssti
ll
rest
ricti
nganymov ementf r
om mylegs.Iknowhe
cannotputonacondom usi ngonlyonehand, I
’m
j
ustwai ti
ngforhimt oremov ehi
sarm andt henI’
ll
continuewithwhatIstar t
ed.
“Don’
tmov e,
”hesaysbef
oresi
tt
ingbackonhi
sfeet
andinser
ti
ngthecondom.
Thi
sismychance,
Ijustneedaqui
ckcl
i
t-r
ubt
henal
l
myprobl
emsareover.
“
Khanyodon’ttoucht
hatcooki
e,
”hesayswithso
muchauthori
tyandenti
tl
ementoversomet
hing
t
hat’
snothis.
I
’
m stunned.Si
ncewhendoIneedper
missi
ont
o
t
ouchmy sel
f?
Heli
esbet
weenmyl
egsandpul
l
sonel
egov
erhi
s
ar
m.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Icannotwat
chy ourl
i
ttl
efi
nger
spl
ayi
ng
wi
thmycookie,
”hesays.
Theentit
lementthathehas!Nowmyf i
ngersar
e
l
itt
le…ohy es,
comparedtotherodsl
i
dinginmycor
e,
they’
reveryli
tt
le.
“Pleasebegentl
e,
”Ibeg.Hi
sener
gyseemst
obet
oo
highformyli
king.
“
KhanyoI’
dneverhurtyou.
”Hisresponseweakens
mykneesasusual.Ourli
pslockinanint
imat
ekiss
whi
l
eheslowlyinsert
shimself.
Oncehe’sful
l
yi nser
ted,
hepausesandcupsmyf
ace
foranot
hersteamykiss.
“
Ilov
eyou,
okay
?Youhav
emyev
ery
thi
ng.Hear
t,
bodyandsoul.Pl
easedon’
tletmedown,
Ihav
ebi
g
dreamsaboutus.
”
“BandlaIl
ov e…”Hepull
soutandthr
ust
sbackin
again.Myv oicedr
iesi
nmyt hr
oat
.Mywor l
d
trembles,
Iwr apmyhandsaroundhi
swaistand
meethi st
hr ust
s.
“
BabeI’
m coming,hitr
ightther
e,”Iscr
eam, my
movementsfr
eezingbeneathhim.Nobodycancall
meachickenortwo-minutesnoodles.I
’m awoman,
t
hemostimportantbeingofhumanspeci es.
He’shit
ti
ngtheri
ghtspot,
Iexpl
odeandcol
l
apse
beneathhim.Hekeepsmov i
ng,
hismoansf
il
li
ngup
theroom ashi
sshaftfi
l
lsmycore.

Somethi
ngwarml atchesonmynippl
e.Iopenmy
eyestof
indhim sucki
ngmelikeali
tt
lebaby.Hi
s
str
okesarenowslow, he’
smovingi
nacy cl
i
ng
rhyt
hm.
“
Fast
erbabe,
”Ibeg.
Thi
sisv
erysel
fi
shofme,
Iknowi
t,butIwantt
osee
howhel
ooksl
i
kewhenhenut
s.
“
Nobabe,
thi
sst
il
lfeel
ssogood.
”
Ipushhi
m andtur
noverhi
m.Lucki
l
y,hedoesn’
t
fi
ghtme.Heli
esonhi
sback,Icl
imbontopand
crossmyhandsonhi
schest.
“
YouknowManqel
e,Iwant
edy
ourcum sobadl
yin
mymouth.
”
Heswallowsnothingness.Imov emywai staround,
spel
li
nganOi nsidemycor ewithhisshaf
t,j
ustto
hel
phim markhist er
ri
tory.He’sgrabbi
ngmybut t,
moaningandgrindinghisteeth.
“
Doy
ouwantt
onuti
nsi
demymout
h?”Iask.
Ithi
nkhe’
saboutt
opassoutri
ghtnow; t
hatl
oosel
y
openedmouthandfai
ntl
ookonhisface.
“
Doy
ou?
”Iask.
Whenheopenshismout
htoanswerIt
werkonhim,
myassl
oudlysl
ammingagai
nsthi
suppert
highs.
Hegrabsmywaistandat
tempt
stositup.Ipushhi
m
backandr
idet
heNazaret
houtofhi
m.
“Fuck!”theNaz ar
ethhasbeenunnazar et
had.He’s
cursi
ng, hisfi
ngersaredi
ggingmywai st.Hi
st hr
usts
aredisturbingmyr hy
thm.Il
ethimt akethelead,
whenhi sf acemusclesst
arttensi
ngupImov eagain.
Hislastcryandmynameslippingoutofhi
smouth
beforeheexplodesandt
rembleswill
bethepi
ctur
e
I
’l
lnev erf
orget
.
Iki
sshissweatyfor
eheadandrol
ltot
hesi
deand
watchhi
m catchi
nghisbreat
h.
.
.
THAKASA

Nothingseemstobeinplacethismorning.He’s
alr
eadygrumpyandannoy edbyBandla.They’re
runningacompany,notaspazashop.Hecan’ tjust
decidenottocometowor kbecausehisgirl
fr
iendis
around.I
fthatwasthecasethenhewoul dbe
missingworkever
ydaybecausehehasawi feat
home.
Hewalksi nhi
sbedroom andfi
ndshi
swifel
yi
ngin
bed,
smi l
ingatherphone.Hi
sclot
hesar
enotir
oned.
I
shislunchevenpacked?
“MaNtusi,
it’
s6:
48andI’
m st
il
lnotreadyf
orwork,
”
hesays,hisvoi
cenotmat
chi
ngt hefl
ameofanger
i
nsidehim.
“AndwhyareyounotreadyManqele?
”Not hi
l
easks,
placi
ngherphoneonherchestandstar
ingathi
m.
“Wher
earemyclot
hes?Myl
unch?
”heaskswi
tha
hi
ntofannoy
ance.
“Ibeli
eveyourcl
othesarei
nthewardr
obe.Youcan
decidewhatyouwantt oeatt
odayandmakeit.It
old
Mat hatI’
m si
ck.
”
“Buty
ou’
renotsi
ck,y
ou’
reonyourphoneand
gri
nni
ngl
ikeaCheshi
recat
.”
“
Sowhat
?You’
regoi
ngt
otel
lhert
hatI
’
m notsi
ck?
”
That
……he’dnev
erdot
hat
,especi
all
ynotnow,
and
sheknowsit
.
“
Notonlydi
dyoucheatonme.NowIhavet
oputup
wi
thyouhavi
ngsexwithmewhil
ethi
nki
ngabout
yourgi
rl
fr
iends.Af
terIsat
isf
yyourfant
asieswi
thmy
bodyIhavetowakeupandpr epar
ey ouforwor
k?”
Her ubshi sf oreheadandexhal esheav i
ly.Hedi dn’
t
meant o, Khosi ’smessagehi thi snervest hewrong
way .Hedi dn’twantt obehar shwi thher .Whatt hey
had, whent heyhadi t,meantsomet hi
ngt ohim.I t
highli
ghtedhi slif
einacer tai
nway .Butheneeded
hertounder standt hatitwasr eall
yov er
, t
hatithad
toendf orgood.Het houghthe’ dbeokayknowi ng
therewasnowomanoutt here,whohadhi sbest
wishesanduncondi t
ionall
ovef orhim.Het hought
hecoul dlivehappi l
yknowingt hatshef eltnothing
buthatredt owar dshim.
Butseeinghert
hatbr
okenl
eftawoundt
hatcan
neverheali
nhishear
t.
“
Iwasn’
tfant
asi
zi
ngaboutany
one,
”hesay
s.
Nothi
l
erai
sesherey
ebr
ow,“
Oh,
youusual
l
ypul
lout
whenhavi
ngsexwit
hme?”
Si
l
ence!
“
Youdi
dn’
tev
enuseacondom wi
thher
?”sheasks.
Heav
ybr
eat
h.Mor
esi
l
ence.
“From nextweekIneedahel per.No, actual
lyyou
needahel per,someonewho’ lldoy ourlaundryand
i
ronf oryou.I’
llhel
pwithlunchbecauseIdon’ twant
Mat osuspectany thi
ngandIdon’ twanty outoeat
foodpr eparedbyastranger.ButI’mr eleasi
ng
my selffr
om mostwi f
eydut i
es, Iwantt oenjoymy
pregnancy .
”
“I
fyouwantmetohir
eahel
peri
t’
sokay
.Butdon’
t
doittopuni
shme,
Imadeamist
akeMaNtusi
,I’
m
sorr
y.”
“AndIforgi
veyouDuy
aza,
nowchooseashi
rtand
goiron,i
t’
slat
e.”
Heheav esasi
ghandst
andsmot i
onlessl
yatt
heend
ofthebed.Not
hil
epi
cksherphone,scrol
l
sdown
andlaughsatt
hememes.
Anothersi
gh!Hegoestot
hewardr
obeandgr
abst
he
fi
rstshi
rtheseesandwal
ksout
.

Phet
hyi
sint
heki
tchen,
li
steni
ngt
othemusi
cshe’
s
notsupposedt
oli
stent
oandcur
singal
ongwit
hit.
Godknowswhyshe’snotgoi
ngt
oschoolt
oday.
“
Tut
uar
eyoubusy
?”Thakasaasks.
Phethyr
emov esherearphonesandlooksathi
m
wit
hherey esbul
gingoutthi
nkingheheardher
cur
singalongwit
hCar diB.
“
Bhut
iwer
eyouspeaki
ng?
”sheasks.
“
Iaskedi
fyou’
renottoobusy,
Ineedmyshi
rtt
obe
i
ronedwhi
leImakelunch,
”hesays.
“
Oh,
why
?IsSi
sisi
ck?
”sheasks.
“
Yes,
shehasaheadache,
”hesay
s.
“That
’ssad.May
beyoushoul
dsendacarandI
’
ll
accompanyhertot
hedoct
or,
”shesay
s.
“
Thatwon’
tbenecessar
y,”hesay
s.
“
ButBhut
iI….
.”
“Tutu!
”Hegiv
esheralookt
oletitgo,
leav
est
he
shir
tovert
hechai
randgoestothefri
dge.
Withasecr
eteyerol
l
,Phet
hypi
ckst
heshi
rtandput
s
herear
phonesbackon.
“
Putt
hispussyr
ighti
nyourf
ace
Swi
pey
ournosel
i
keacr
edi
tcar
d
Hopont
op,
Iwanna…”
Ahandgr
absherar
m,shet
urnst
oThakasa’
sdead
gl
aref
aci
ngher
.
“
Whatar
eyousay
ing?
”heasks.
“
Ummm…i
t’
sjustasong,
sor
ry.
”
Helet
'sgoofherar
m andcli
ckshi
stonguei
n
annoy
ance.Whatafuckedupmorni
ng!

(I
fyouarei
nPTAyou'r
einvi
tedt
ojoi
nTheBeloved
MaShengeandNdabukoHerYar
dnerrev
iewwit
hme
asaguesti
nMenlynfr
om 12pm.)
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER11
THAKASA

Bandl achosenott ocomet owor k.Hehasn’ t

comment edont hat , hedeci dedt ol ethim hav ehi s
fun,oncehe’ sdonel ivingi nabubbl ehe’ l
ldiscipl
ine
him.He’ snotr eal l
ysur prised, withagi rll
ikethe
curt
ai n-gi
rl hi
sbr otherwasl ikelytogetconf used
andt hinkwi t
hhi sdi ¢k.Heseesal otofhi msel fand
Khosi inthem.I t’saki ndofar elationshipt hatput sa
l
otatst ake.Ar elationshi pt hatmi ghtshakeand
chall
enget hefami ly.Hi sbiggestf eari sthatBandl a
seemst ohav ef allendeepl yi nlovewi thher .He
knowshowhar di tist or eversef eel i
ngsbecause
theyshoul dn’tbeapar tofwhoy ouar e.Thecur t
ain
gir
lisnotapar tofwhot heyar eandwhatt heyst and
forast heManqel es.AndonedayBandl ahast oput
herthr oughwhatheputKhosi through, andmay be
hewon’ tbest r
ongenought ohandl eit.
Hewaslookingforwardtoal ongbath,warmfood
andsomealonetimei ntheancestralr
ondavelwhere
hecanli
stentohisinnerthoughtsandreconnectto
sel
f.HeneedsthatThakasamomentandt r
anquil
i
ty.
Butthefir
stthi
nghebumpsi nt
oisast r
ange, chubby
younggirlwit
hblondeshorthai
r.Hereyeswi den
whensheseeshi m walki
nginasi fshe’
sjustseena
ghost.Shestepsbackwardsuntil
herbacki sagainst
thecounter,
herhandsareshakingbutshe’st ry
ing
tohideit
.
“
Ummm…MrManqel e,wel
comehome…wouldyou
l
i
keanythi
ngtodrink?”sheasksasi
fshe’
sbeen
r
ehear
singthequestional
lday.
I
tclicksi
nhismind.Thehel
per
!Wasitnothis
decisi
ontomake?Didn’
thehaveunt
ilnextweek
beforehefi
ndsher?
“
Whoar eyou?
”heasks,
hisv
oicehar
shert
hanhe
i
ntended.
“
I’
m Zol
i
le,
thenewhel
per
.”
Herel
easesal
owsigh,shakeshi
sheadandleav
es
herst
andi
ngbythecounterwi
thhert
rembl
i
nghands
bal
ledi
ntoaf
ist
.Not
hil
eispushi
nghi
m andshe’
s
pushi
nghimt
oohardandtoofar
.

Hethr
owshisbagont
hecouchwi
thoutgr
eeti
ngand
t
akesoffhi
sti
eandwal
kstost
andbythewindow.
“
Arewest
atues?
”MaKhumal
oasks,
irr
it
ati
on
r
eeki
ngi
nhervoice.
Nothi
lei
ssit
tingnexttoherwit
hherl egscrossed.
Herhandshav el
ongredclaws-thosefakenailsthe
l
ikeofKhanyoandKhosi r
enewev erysecondweek.
“IsBandl aback? ”heasks, purposelyskippingthe
greet i
ngs.Thesi ghtofhi swi feir
kshi m.Not
becauseoft hephy sicalmake- ov er
,heknowst hat
hismot hercanputanendt oitanytime,whatreally
grindshi stipishernewbehav ior.I
twasher
obsessi onov erthebabyt hatpushedhi mt oKhosi.
Hehadt obreakKhosi ’shear tandlethergo.That
toreapar tofhim apar t
,ifnott hewhol eofhim.And
nowshe’ ssitt
ingther eandact i
nglikeitwasal lhi
s
fault.He’sinpai ntoo.Hegav eupsomet hi
ngthat
meantsomet hinghecannotputi nt
owor ds.He’s
hurtsomeonet
ost
ayi
nthi
smar
ri
age.He’
smadea
sacri
fi
ce.
“
No,hecal
l
edsay
inghe’
l
lbehomel
ate,
”MaKhumal
o
r
epl
i
es.
Him andBandl
aneedtohaveaconv er
sati
on,thi
s
thi
ngofhisisget
ti
ngoutofhand.There’
sacodeof
conduct,
onedoesn’
tski
pworkandgoesMI A
becauseofawoman.
Her ev
erseshiswordsforl
ater,
whenBandl ais
home, andheglancesathi
swi f
e.They’r
enowher e
neartowhattheyusedtobe.Thepr egnancyhasn’
t
broughtthehappi
nesstheythoughtitwouldbr
ing.
“Aboutwhatwetal
kedaboutt
hismorning,Ifounda
gir
lwhoneededajobanddeci
dedtohireherbef or
e
shegoeselsewher
e.HernameisZoli
leNgubane, I
beli
eveyou’
vemetheri
nthekit
chen,
”Not hi
lesays.
“Isawher ,
”hesays,
unabl
etohidethei
rri
tat
ioni
n
hisvoice.Hewantsnochubbyshor
tiet
ouchinghi
s
stuffandcleani
ngaft
erhi
m.
“
Youfor
gottot
ell
y ourhusbandt
hatwewentto
t
hosepl
aceswheretheymassagepeopl
eformoney
andwehadaf
ull
bodymassage,
”Makhumal
osay
s.
“What?!”Thakasat urnshi
sey est oNot hil
e.Hisface
i
sdar kerthanusual.Angerissteami ngoutofhis
eyesandbur ni
ngt hroughhispiercingglare.Theday
cannotgetanywor se.Not
hil
ei sdet erminedtotake
thi
stot henextlev
el .
“I
twasjustaf
ungi
rl
s’t
ime,
”shesay
swi
thasecr
et
eyer
oll
.
“Mymot herisagir
ltoyou?Sotodayyoudecidedto
getnakedforstr
angers,l
ett
hem touchyouallover
andthenbringanotheronet
omyf ather
’shouse
wit
houttell
ingme?”He’sfuming.
MaKhumaloadj
ustshergl
asseswi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown
cr
easedonherf
orehead.
“Youneedt ocalm down.Ther e’
snoneedf orall
this.
Yourwifeiscar r
y i
ngy ourchil
d,letherr
elaxanddo
whatevershewant s.She’l
ltakethesenailsout
beforeSaturday,”shesay sandlooksatNot hi
l
ewi th
awar m smil
eandr ubsherhandi ncomfort.She’s
carry
ingherf i
rstgrandchil
d, t
hatmeanst hewhol e
worldtoher.Sowhati fshedi dhernail
sandhada
massage?Thisgi
rlhasdonesomuchfort
hisf
ami
l
y,
andshejustl
ovesher,t
heyhaveal
oti
ncommon.
She’
satrueManqelemakoti.
“Mother
,st
ayoutofthi
s!”Thakasasay
swi
thhi
s
handrai
sedandglar
esatNot hi
le.
“Weneedt
otakeadri
ve,l
ater
.”Heunbut
tonshi
s
col
l
arandl
eavesusi
ngthebackdoor.
He’
sdonebei
nggui
lt
-tr
ippedandwalkedallov
er.
He’
swil
li
ngtobeweak,imper
fectandsuscept
ibl
eto
si
n.
I
fNot
hil
edoesn’
twanttobehi
swif
e,he’
l
lal
l
owher
t
obewhatshethi
nksshewant
stobe.
.
.
KHOSI

I
t’
sabi gdeal-she’
spr egnantandt hebabydoesn’
t
hav
eaf at
her.Ofcourse, she’sdi
sappoint
edher
motherandNgi di
.Actual l
y,thewholefamil
y.She’
s
bet
terthanthis.Maybei fitwasSnalotheywould’
ve
underst
ood,she’
sr eckl
essandi r
responsi
ble.But
Khosiisthematuredandr esponsi
bleone.She’sthe
onewhospeakssenseandput sothersontheli
ne.
That’
swhyhermot hercannotcomet otermswi t
h
thi
snewr eal
it
y.Butcalli
ngherbrotherstogangup
onherwasabi tlow, wasn’
t?
She’
ssit
ti
ngontheki
tchenchai
r,st
ir
ri
ngher
mil
kshakewi
thastr
awwhi l
eenduri
ngthei
rpi
erci
ng
st
ares.
“Iwasn’tsoberwhenAndiswaandIsmashed, butI
sti
ll
rememberexact lywhattookplaceandhow.I
j
ustwi shshe’dletmeinandallowmet otreather
l
ikethemot herofmychild.Imean,whet hershe
l
ikesitornot,herandIareabouttobecomeal i
ttl
e
famil
y.AndI ’
mt heheadofthatfamily
,”–Maqhi nga.
Trusthimt otwistandmaket hi
sabouthimself
.His
problemsar enotthatbig,hispresencei
s
nauseati
ngt oAndiswa, whichisv er
ynormali
n
somepr egnancycases.They ’
ll
bef i
neonceshe’
s
gi
v enbir
th.Aboutt hem becomi ngafamil
y-maybe
he’sjumpingthegun, fornow.They ’
renowher
enear
beinginlovewithoneanot her.
“Khosidon’
tfuckwithus.Whomadey oupregnant
?
Anddon’tyoudaretell
met hatl
it
tl
etal
ey out
old
Aunt,
”Ndlal
ifaasks.He’
saggressi
ve,i
nsensi
ti
veand
j
udgment al
.
“Idon’
tknowwhatyouwantmet
osay
,”Khosi
say
s,
shruggi
nghershoul
der
s.
“
Whoi st
hef atherofy
ourchi
ld?Heneedstotakehi
s
r
esponsi
bil
i
ties,whyareyouprot
ect
inghi
m? ”
“Isai
dIdon’
tknow.Whydoesi
tbot
hery
ou?I
’
m ol
d,I
cantakecar
eofmy sel
f.
”
“Thi
sisnotaboutyouNomkhosi
.Thebabydeser
ves
toknowitsf
ather,
youknowhowharditist
ogrow
upwithoneparent
.Befai
randownupt owhat
everi
t
i
s.”
Shetoldherselft
hatshewasdonecr yi
ng.Butthey
keepremindingheraboutt hi
s.Thebabyneedst o
knowhisorherf ather
.It’
snotfair
,butwhatchoice
doesshehav e?It’
sbetternottoknowy ourfat
her
thantodealwithhisrej
ection.I
fThakasahadt o
choosebetweenherchi ldandhiswife,he’
dsurely
choosehiswi f
e.Hedidt hatalr
eady;whenshetold
hi
m aboutt
hepr
egnancyhel
eftr
ightaway
.
“Heneedst opayforthedamages.Wedon’ twant
thincows,theymustbefreshandf at
.Hemust
compensat efort
hisHypoderm beautyandBi
o-Oil
freshlegs,
”Maqhingasaysandr ecei
vesadeadlook
from Ndlal
if
a.
“
Excuseusf
oramoment,
”hesaysi
nadispl
eased
t
one.Maqhi
ngashr
ugshi
sshoul
der
sandwalksout.

Aft
erreleasingadeepsi gh,Ndl al
ifapul
lsachai
rand
si
tsnexttoKhosi .Theyhav eal otincommon,
mostl
yt heirstubbornnature.They ’
renotascl
oseas
Maqhingai stoSnalobutt heydogeteachot her.He
under
standshert osomeext ent ,
because
sometimesherchar acterreflectshisown.
“Whyareyounott el
li
ngus?”heasks,holdi
ngher
hand.They
’reeveryt
hingbutthey’
renotl
iar
s.I
t’
s
pret
tycl
earthatwhateveri
tisthatshe’
shidi
ngfr
om
ever
yoneishurtf
ul.
“I
’
m notgoi
ngtodiscl
osehisnameNdl
ali
fa.Iknow
howyouall
are.Idon’
twantanymor
edrama,”she
pausesandbreat
hesheavi
ly
.“He’
samar
ri
edman
andhedoesn’twantany
thi
ngtodowi
thme.Iknew
hehadawi f
ebut…”
Oh,
hel
lno!Thi
sisnotwhatheexpect
ed.
“
Butyouwerehopi
ngt
hathe’
l
lleavehiswi
fef
or
y
ou?”heaskswit
hanarr
owedey ebr
ow.
“Notexact
ly,
butIt
houghthe’
dhaveabackboneto
keepitgoi
ng.I’
mtr
yingtobestr
ongbutImisshi
m,”
shesays.
Heexpect edanythi
ngbutnotamarri
edmanf orhi
s
si
ster.Reall
y,outofal
lpeopl
eKhosichoseaman
who’salreadycommi t
tedtosomeoneelse.
“Marri
edornot
,heneedstot
akehisresponsibi
l
iti
es
andhiswif
eneedstoknowthathecheatedand
creat
edachil
doutsi
dethemarri
age,
”hesay s.
“Pl
easerespectmydeci
sionNdl
ali
fa.Iwil
lrai
set
his
babyal
one.Mymot herdi
dit,
Icandoi tt
oo.”
Hetri
ed,theyal
ldid,
butshe’smadeherdeci
sion
andtheyhavetoletherhandl
eherl
if
ethewayshe
seesfi
t.
“Doyouwantmetogowithy
outothedoctor
?You
needtomakesur
ethatt
hebabyi
sfine,
”heasks.
“Yes,buti
sn’
titweir
dtogowi
thabr
othert
oa
pregnancycheck-
up?”
“Ev
erythi
ngabouty ouiswei
rd.Getready,
I’
ll
beback
i
nthirt
ymi nut
es.Ilef
tmywifeandsoni nbed,Aunt
cal
ledusear l
yinthemorni
ngcryingaboutyou.
”
“
She’sdramat
ic,
”Khosi
rol
l
sherey
esandsi
psher
mil
kshake.
“She’sscaredthatyou’l
lgot hr
oughwhatshewent
throughrai
singy ouandthet wins.Letherdeal
with
thisinherownt erms,she’l
lcomear ound.Butyou
alsoneedtot el
lherthetruth.”
“
Iwi
l
l,j
ustnotnow,
”shesay
s.
.
.
THAKASA

Itwasalong,sil
entdriveandnowt hey
’reher
ein
Flami
ngoHei ght
s.It’
sat hree-
bedroom housewitha
highf
enceanddoubl egarage.He’sopeningthedoor
andgoingaroundl i
kehe’sbeenher emanyt i
mes
befor
e-he’
sf amil
iarwiththeplace.
“
Manqel
ewher
ear
ewe?
”Not
hil
easks.
“
Myhouse,Fl
amingoHeights.
”Hewal ksi
n,t
akeshi
s
j
acketof
fandthr
owsitovertheki
tchenchai
r.
She’
sfoll
owi
nghislead,t
aki
nginthei
nter
ioroft
he
houseandsi
lent
lyaski
nghersel
famil
li
onquesti
ons.
“
Youhav
eahousei
nFl
ami
ngoHei
ght
s?”sheasks.
Gr
abbingabott
leofwateroutoft
hef
ri
dge,
he
gl
ancesbackatherandnods.
“
Yes,
”hesay
s.
Nothi
lechuckl
esoutindisbeli
ef.Awhol
ehouseand
sheknowsnothingaboutit!
“
Thi
siswher
eyoukepty
ourbi
tches?
”sheasks.
“
Yes,
”hesay
s,wi
thoutasi
ngl
epi
nchofr
emor
se.
“Andy
outhoughti
t’
sokaytobr
ingmeher e?Tothe
samehousethaty
ou’v
ebeenenter
tai
ninggir
lsi
n.”
“Itwasonegi
rl,
butnevermind,todayI
’m goi
ngto
entert
ainy
ousinceyou’
vedecidedthatyouwantto
takeherposi
ti
oninmyl i
fe.
”
“
Wow, j
ustwow!Soshehadaposi ti
oninyourl
i
fe?
”
Maybeshe’snotst
rongasshethought
.Shecanno
l
ongerhandlet
hisasshewanted.
“Gr
apesorstr
awberr
ies?”Thakasaasks,
li
tt
le
bot
heredbyhert
remblinghands.
“
Thakasa,
”shecal
lssoftl
ybefor
epull
i
ngachai
rand
l
oungi
nghersel
fonitexhaust
edly.
“
Whywoul
dyoubr
ingmeher
e?”sheasks.
“
Becausey ounol
ongerwantst obemywi f
e.You
wanttobesomeoney oudon’tknow,someonethat
you’
venevermetandcannev erbeli
ke.Now,doyou
wantgrapesorst
rawberr
ies?
”
“Grapes,
”shesaysbef
orebury
ingherheadinher
handsandcontrol
li
ngherbr
eaths.No,no,
no.She’
s
notbreaki
ngdown.She’
sgoi
ngt
ohandl
ethi
swi
tha
ful
lchest.
Ahandgrabst
hebackofherneckandli
ft
sherup.
Col
dli
pssmashesagai
nsthers,
deepl
ysucki
ngher
l
owerl
ipandgri
ppi
ngthebackofherneckti
ght
ly.
“Mmmm, ”shemoansoutofbr
eathandpusheshi
m
back.I
tfeel
sli
keherl
i
pisswel
li
ng.
“I
fyouwanttobeasidechi
ckNothi
let
henyou’
ll
havetodoitpr
operl
y.
”Hebit
esherear
lobeand
watchesasshefl
i
nches.
“You’
renotgoi ngt
ogui l
t-
tr
ipmeandwal kal
lover
me, MaNtusi.Andpleasedon’
tst
artsomethi
ngy ou
cannotfi
nish,”hesaysinalowwhisperagai
nsther
ear.
“
Whati
sthatsupposedt
omean?
”Not
hil
easks.
“Idi
dn’tmakeanymistakewhenImar r
iedyou.Don’
t
tryt
obesomet hingyouarenot.You’r
enother.
You’r
esodiffer
entfr
om her,Iwouldn’
tmi st
akeyou
twoeveninmydeepestsleep.”
“
Youknowhert
hatwel
l
?”sheasks.
“
Iknowy
out
hatwel
l
,”hesay
s.
Shelet
soutachuckl
eandt
ender
lymassageshi
s
bear
d.
“I
fIwasy ouIwouldn’
tbesosure.
”Shepi
cksa
grape,t
hrowsi
tinsidehermout
handgetsofft
he
chair
.
“Ar
ewespendingtheni
ghther
e?”sheasks,
suddenl
yokaywi
thever
ythi
ng.
“No,
justfuckingandgoi
ngbackhome.There’
sno
onearound,there’
snoneedf
orthatl
ongdress.
”
Shegaspsi
nshockandqui
ckl
ypul
l
sher
sel
f
toget
her
.
“
Justf
ucki
ng?
”sheasks.
“That
’swhatunmar
ri
edpeopl
edo,isn’
t?Sinceyou
rel
easedyour
sel
ffr
om wi
feydut
ieswe’regoingto
fuck,
hir
emaidsandgooutanyt
imewewant ,
”he
says.
Deepbr
eath.In…out!Shest epst
owardswhatl
ooks
l
ikeadi
ningroom, exerci
singherbr
eaths.
“
Didy
oul
oveher
?”sheasks.
“
Ilov
eyou,
”hesay
s.
“That
’snotwhatIasked.Di
dyouloveherornot
?”
shesnaps,t
urni
ngaroundtolookathi
m.
“
Icanonl
ylov
eyou,
youknowt
hat
,”hesay
s.
“
Yety
ouboughtawhol
ehouset
obeabl
etospend
t
imewit
hher
.”
“I
tdoesn’tmakeanydif
fer
ence, webrokeupandI
’l
l
neverseeheragai
n.”Hequicklycl
earshi
sthr
oat
befor
ehisv oi
cebr
eakscompl etel
y.
“
Soy
ou’
rekeepi
ngmemor
iesher
e?”sheasks.
“
No,
Ihav
enomemor
iesofher
.”
Adeep,penetrati
ngst areisexchanged.She’snever
doubt
edhislov eforher,that’
swhyshe’ sst
illher
e.
Andsheloveshi m,that’
swi thoutanydoubt.But
somethi
nghasshi f
ted.Orithasbeenunv eil
ed.And
hecannotconfrontit,notforherorhimself
.Ithasto
stayl
i
kethat,buriedandi gnored.
“YouhavetopayZoli
l
eaf ul
lmont hsal
arybefor
e
shegoes.”Shepi
cksherpurse,putsi
tunderherar
m,
grabst
hecarkeysandheadst othedoor.
“You’
l
lfi
ndmeinthecarwheny
ou’
rer
eadyt
oleav
e,”
shesaysbef
orewal
ki
ngout.
Hest andswher ehewasandwat cheshergo.He
doesn’tmov enorbreat
heawor dunti
lshe
di
sappear s.Thenherel
easesalongsighandl ooks
around.Therearenophy si
cal
memor iesbutthis
housedohav ealotofmemories.
Thistri
pmayhav
egothi
m hi
swi
feback,
butt
hisi
s
farfr
om ov
er.

Thedrivebackhomeisanot hersi
lenttr
ip.Hekeeps
gl
ancingatNothi
leandinhalingsharpl
y.There’
sso
mucht otal
kaboutbuttheycannott al
kaboutit
.Not
now,andmay benotfor
ev er
.
It
’sabitdarkwhentheygethome.Bandl
a’
scari
s
parkedoutsi
de,meaninghe’
sfi
nal
lycamebackf
rom
kwaNhlizi
yoNgiyi
se.
“Whenarewegoi
ngt
othedoct
orf
oracheck-
up?
”
heasks.
“
Nextmont
h,f
ir
stweek,
”Not
hil
esay
s.
“You’v
ealreadygonet othefi
rstcheck-
upwithout
me? ”He’sawestruck.Theydi
dn’ttal
kaboutitbuthe
expectedhertoincludehimineverythi
ng.He’
sthe
fat
heroft hi
sbaby .
“Yes,ever
ythi
ngisfi
ne.Pi
ctur
esareinourphoto
album.”Sheunbuckl
esherbeltandopensthedoor
.
“
MaNt
usi
,
”hecal
l
s.
Shepausesandl
ooksathi
m.
“
Ilov
eyou,
”hesay
s,hi
sey
escl
oudedwi
thsudden
f
ear.
“
Ilovey
out ooManqel
e.Ij
ustneedt
orestandt
hink
t
hingst
hrough.
”
Henodsandspendst henextfi
veminut
esinsi
dethe
car.Whycan’
ttheybehappy?She’
spregnantnow,
thi
siswhatthey’
vebeenprayi
ngfor
,ri
ght?

From t
hecarhegoesstrai
ghttoBandla’
srondavel
.
Heneedssomeonet ot
alkto,Mawandei stoofar
andlat
elyshe’
sbeendeali
ngwithalotinher
marri
ageaswell.
“Whati
fsomeonesawyou?”Bandl
aisshout
ingat
someoneinsi
de.I
t’
sunl
i
kehimtorandomlyr
aisehi
s
voi
ceatanyone.
“Idon’
tcar
e,”Sqal
oresponds,
wit
hhi
svoi
cer
aised
aswell.
“YouknowifThakasafindsoutaboutt
hisyou’
l
lbe…”
Hedoesn’tf
ini
sh,Thakasaisstandi
ngbythedoor
andstar
ingatthem.
“
IfIf
indoutwhat
?”heasks.
Bandlalooksmorefr
ight
enedthanSqalo.Thakasa
walksinandlooksatbothofthem,si
lentl
y
wonderingwhatthesecr
etcouldbe.
“
He’
sgoi
ngt
oUJ,
”Bandl
asay
s.
Sqal
ofr
owns,
“UJ?
”
“It
houghtyouwer
egoi
ngt
oUKZNwi
thPhet
hy,
”
Thakasasays.
“Notanymore.Hechangedhismind.Pl
easeexcuse
usSqalo,gocleany
oursel
f,
”Bandlasay
s.
Cl
eanyour
sel
fsoundsabitwei
rdbuthehasenough
pr
obl
emsthantoint
erpr
etshi
sbrot
hersst
upid
f
ight
s.
Bandl
agi
veshi
m al
ookbef
orecl
i
mbi
ngonbed.
“
Ify
ou’
reher
etoshoutatmeaboutmi
ssi
ngwor
k…”
“
No.Icheat
edonmywi
fe,
”Thakasa.
Bandl
asi
tsup.Hi
sey
espoppedouti
nshock.
“
Youdidwhat
?”heasks.Nott
hathedi
dn’
thearhi
m
t
hefi
rstt
ime,
ther
emustbesomemi st
ake.
“Icheated,
”Thakasasay
s,si
tt
ingonbedand
heavingasigh.
“
Wit
hwho?When?Why
?”
“All
thatdoesn’tmatter
.Ibr
oket
wowomen’ sheart
s
andIdon’ tevenknowwhoIam underthi
sThakasa
Manqel ename.AlongthewayI’
velostmyself
,the
problem i
sIdon’tevenknowwhenandwhi chpartof
mewasl ost.
”
“
Whatdoy oumeanMt honga?”Bandlaisconfused.
Hi
sbrot
herissupposedtobehappy .Thisi
shis
moment,t
hey’
vebeenprayingfori
tforyears.
“
Not
hil
efor
gav
emeev
ent
houghshe’
shur
t.ButI
don’
tknowhowgenui nelyIdeser
veherforgiveness.
Idon’tknowifI’
mr eal
lysorr
yithappened.Idon’t
knowi fIhadachancet ogobackandr e-dothingsI
wouldn’tdoitagai
n,”hesays.
Bandlai
slostforwor
ds.Wher
edoest
hisl
eav
ehi s
brot
her’
sperfectmar
ri
age?Whyi
shenotr
egret
ful?
“I’
ddieformywi f
e,I’
dchooseherov erany
thi
ngand
anyone.Theproblem l
iesbetweenmeandmy self
.I
feell
i
keI ’
m notgi
v i
ngmy sel
fthebestshotatl
ife,
l
ikeIdon’tchoosemy sel
finmostcasesbecausei t
doesn’tmakeanysense.”
“Ar
ey oui
nlov
ewi
tht
heot
herwoman?What
’sgoi
ng
on?”
“Icannotloveanot herwoman.You’ renotgett
ingmy
pointBandlalethu.Thi sisnotaboutanot herwoman,
oranyone.I ’
mt al
kingaboutThakasa, butyou
wouldn’tunder standbecausey ou’veneverli
veda
dayinmyl i
fe.”Heget sup, fi
xeshi scoll
arandheads
towardst hedoor .“Ifyoupullanotherdisappeari
ng
stuntI’
l
l giv
ey ouawr itt
enwar ning.”
“
What
?!”–Bandl
aexcl
aimsi
nshock.
Hewal
ksoutandbangst
hedoorbehi
ndhi
m.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER12
KHANYO

I’
vebeenner vousonhi sbehal f
,Nkonzokeptcal l
ing
andt elli
nghi mt hatthebigbr otherisf uri
ousov erhis
absenceatwor k.Idon’tknowhi sfami lybutI
under standhowst ri
ctitskindcanbe.But
surprisingl yitdidn’tgobadl yasIt hought .Hi s
brothert hr eatenedt ogiv ehim awr ittenwar ningand
hismot heri sst il
lheadov erheel sabouthercomi ng
grandchi ld.He’ snowi nhi sroom andpl anningour
nextsneakout .Theonl yt i
meIgett hishappyi s
whent her e’sanannouncementofal cohol sal
e.
“I
sMrBeardbehi
ndthatsmil
e?”Nol
waziasks,
standi
ngi
nfr
ontoft
hemi r
rorandedi
ti
ngherface.
“
Yes.Act
ual
l
y,myboy
fri
end,
”Isay
.
Shegasps,
“Ther
e’sati
tl
etoital
ready
?Khanyoare
al
lscr
ewstighti
nyourhead?DoIneedtocal
lthe
mechani
cwi t
hascrew-
driv
ertohelpyouwi
thl
oose
scr
ews?
”
Bot
hGuguandIbr eaki
ntol
aughter
.Trusthert
o
bl
owev er
ythi
ngoutofpr
oport
ionevenwherether
e’s
noneed.
“IknowwhatI’m putt
ingmysel
fint
o.Soguys,
li
sten
up,wehav enewhouser ul
es.
”Theybothst
areatme
withthei
reyesnarrowed.
“NoheatonSat ur
days.We’llcookfoodFri
daybefor
e
6pm, keepitinthefr
idgeandi ronourcl
othes.On
Saturdaysthere’
ll
benowar m showers,
no
microwav e,noshoes,no.…”Nol wazi
chokesdowna
l
aughbef oreIcanf i
nish.Guguj oi
nsint
helaught
er
andspanksherhand.
“
Howmanyor
gasmsdi
dhegi
vey
ou?
”sheasks,
sti
l
l
l
aughi
ng.
Ir
oll
myeyes,“Youtwobett
erobeyther
ules,
ot
herwi
seI
’m spri
nkl
ingi
chi
biovery
ou.”
“
Gir
lyouhavei
tsobad.Buty
ouneedtobecaref
ul,
y
oumayhav et
osacri
fi
ceyourl
i
feandhappi
nessto
l
i
veuptohisst
andar
dsandexpect
ati
ons.
”
“
IknowNol waz
i.Ican’
tsayI
’
mr eadytodealwi
th
t
hatreal
it
ybutIwanttomeethim hal
fway.Iwantus
t
owor k,
he’sareal
lyni
ceguy.
”
“
Ihopehehasnowi
fe,
”Gugusay
s.
“Nope.Onlythebi
gbr
other
,hehasabeaut
if
ul
pregnantwif
e.”
“
Isheav
ail
abl
e?”Gugu.
I
’
dexpectsuchquest
ionf
rom Nol
wazi
.
“
Ijustt
oldy
out
hathe’
smar
ri
ed,
”Isay
.
“Acommit
tedmanbri
ngsnodrama.Andhe’
sri
ch,
soit
’st
wobir
dswit
honestone.
”
“Hedi dn’tlooklikethattype.He’smoreli
kethe
father-f
iguret y
pet hatwantsev ery
onehomebef or
e
6pm andj udgesev eryonewhogeti nvol
vedwit
hhis
brothers.”Ialsosoundj udgment al;
themanhasn’t
saidany thingtome.ButI ’
m all
owedt ohavea
perception, r
ight?
“
That
’swhyIonl
yli
keMandul
o,”–Nol
wazi
.
Igi
veheral
ook.Doesn’
tshegiv
eup?Mybr otheri
s
sti
l
lheal
i
ngfr
om thediv
orce,
thelastt
hingheneeds
i
sasl
ayqueent
hrowi
ngher
sel
fathi
m.
Speakingofthatsoul,
Ineedtoseehimt omorrow
andtalktohi
m aboutwhatBandl asuggest
ed.I’m
j
ustgivingi
tat r
y ,
I’
venevert
urnedtoasangomaf or
anyt
hinginli
fe.IfMandul
oagr eest
henwe’llboth
consul
toneandseehowi tgoes.
“It
hinkheneedsashoul
dert
ocr
yon,
”Nol
wazi
agai
n,
shedoesn’
tgiveup.
“
Andy
ou’
ret
heshoul
der
,ri
ght
?”Guguasks.
“Youguessedr
ight,
I’m aper f
ectshoul
derf
orhimt o
cryon.He’
stal
l
, upthere,anddarkwithmuscular
armsandsexybeadyey es.He’
sli
kemyownDwy ane
Wade, y
ouknow.Idon’tev enneedtoguessthathi
s
dickgameisonpoint.”
JesusChrist,t
hisgir
l!Wear
enott
alki
ngabouta
random manher e.NowIhavet
othi
nkaboutmy
brother
’sdi…no,Ican’t
.
“Wherearey
ougoi
ng?
”sheasksbet
weent
he
giggl
es.
Igi
vehermymi
ddl
efi
ngerandgot
omybedr
oom.
BothGuguandherhaveplansforthenight
.Myli
feis
sl
owlygett
ingbori
ng,
I’
veturneddownmany
pot
enti
aldatesandni
ghtsponsorsjustsoIcanbe
al
oneinbedandchattoBandla.

Hecall
saf
ewmi nut
esaf
terIsenthi
m at
extt
hatI
’
m
f
inal
l
yinmyroom,al
one.
“
Soy
ou’
resl
eepi
ngal
one?
”heasks.
“
No,
you’
l
lbewi
thmespi
ri
tual
l
y,”Isay
.
“That
’snotenough.Iwantt
obether
ephy
sical
l
y.I
needyouinmyar ms,ri
ghtnow.
”
“
Isev
ery
thi
ngokay
?”Iask.
Ther
e’sadeepbr
eat
handsomesi
l
ence.
Myhear
tbr
eaksbef
oreIev
enheari
t.
“
Isi
taboutus?Di
dtheyf
indout
?”Iask.
“
No,Khanyo.I
t’
smybr ot
her
,they
oungestone.
He…he.
..
”Deepsigh!
Ther
e’sadrum beati
nmychest
.Sqal
oisdead?
Suchayoung,r
udeboy .
“
Hel
ovesot
herboy
s.He’
sgayKhany
o,”hesay
s.
GodknowsInear l
ydiedofahear
tattack.Whyishe
makingabottl
estoreoutofaci
der?Imean, t
hisis
notabigdeal
.It
’snotevenadeal
,it
’swhatitis,
fact
sofli
fe.
“Youscaredme.Sowhat
’st
hemat
ter
?Ishe
str
uggli
ngwithi
tment
all
y?”
“Khanyohe’ sgay.Sqal osamathongaisGAY.I fany
ofmysi bli
ngsoreldersf i
ndoutit’
ll
betheendof
him beingaManqel e.He’say oung,br
il
li
antboy .
There’sal othesti
llneedst oachievei
nhi sli
fe.
But…it
…i t…”Iknowt hismomentv er
ywell.Iwasn’t
try
ingtoactdumb, Ijustdidn’
tseeitthi
sway .
Somet imesIf or
gett hatsomepeopl esti
llhaven’
t
acceptedLGBTIaspar tofourcommuni ty.
“
Babe,
it’
sgoi
ngt
obeokay
,br
eat
he,
”Isay
.
“
I’
m onlytr
yingtopr ot
ecthi
m.Hedoesn’tknowwhat
i
satstake,atleastIcanhandl
etheheatwhent he
t
rut
hcomesoutaboutus.Hi sstoryi
sdif
fer
ent.And
y
ouwi l
lall
owmet omar ryy
ou,ri
ght?
”
Mar
ri
age?Wear
edi
scussi
ngt
hatnow?Gosh,
we
hav
en’
tev
endat
edf
oramont
h.
“
Bandl
athat
’sadi
ff
icul
tquest
ion,
”Isay
.
Heprobabl
yexpect
edananswer
,yesorno,
right
away
.
“I
’m notsayi
ngy ou’
llmarrymetomorrow,IknowI
sti
ll
hav etoprovemy sel
ftoyouandgot hr
ough
tr
ial
sandt ri
bulat
ions.Butam Iacutofwhatyou’
d
l
iketohav easahusband? ”heasks.
“I
’venev
erimaginedmyselfhavingahusband.Idon’
t
evenknowwhatIwantmyhusbandt obelike.Al
lI
knowisthatIl
oveyou,youmakemehappyandI
wanttomakey ouhappytoo,”Isay.
“I
’mf et
chingy outomorrowaf t
erwor k.Makeme
happybydr essingupdecent l
y.IknowIhav en’
t
broughtyouanydr esses,”hesaysthel astpar
tout
ofmocker y.Isaidtheexactwordst ohim onhis
bi
rthday.
“Whereareyoutaki
ngme?I’
ll
bewithmybrother
dur
ingtheday,di
scussi
ngt
hedream t
hing.
”
“
Iwon’
ttel
lyou.Justbedr
essedandr
eadyar
ound
5pm.
”
Ihopeit
’snotanotherboerworsandice-
cream l
unch
i
nar est
aurant
.Heshoul dletmepicktherest
aurant
andmaket heorder,Ihav
eamor esophisti
cated
tast
ethanhim.
“
Gir
l,wearel
eav
ing,
”Gugusay
s,peepi
ngt
hrough
t
hedoor.
Ij
ustbidgoodbyet
oBandla,
butwe’r
esti
l
lgoi
ngt
o
chatonWhatsapp,
Ineedtolendt
hesegi
rl
smy
att
enti
onforafewminut
es.

Nolwaziisdressedl i
keanescor t.Mostofherskinis
out.She’
swear ingal acytop,shortl
eatherpantand
knee-l
engthboot s.Hermake- upisonpoi ntas
always.Str
angely ,
I’
m notev entemptedt ojumpint
o
thebathandr eadymy sel
ftogowi ththem.
Gugulooksabi
tfor
malint
hatj
umpsui
t,bl
ack
st
il
ett
osandneatbun.
“
We’l
lbeshari
ngat
abl
ewi
tht
heMi
nist
erandhi
s
t
eam,”shesay
s.
“
Thatdoesn’tmeanIwantManduloanyless.We’r
e
j
ustr
ubbingshoulder
swit
hpeopleinhighplaces,
y
ouknowIwantt ogetaseati
npar l
iamentnext
y
ear,
”–Nol wazi
.
Graci
ousLord,thi
sonei stooambi t
ious.Aphone
beepcutsmyl aughshort-R3000pay menthasbeen
madeintomysav i
ngsaccount.JustasIwonder
aboutthesenderBandla’
st ex
tcomest hrough;
FORTHEDRESS.LETMEKNOW I
FIT’
SSHORT.
“Guys!”Iscream, Ican’thel
pit.I
’verecei
vedbigger
amount sast okenofpussyappr eci
ati
on,butthi
sis
thefir
sttimeI ’
veev erbeengivenmoneyf orthe
dress.Amer edress!Imean, Icangettendresses,
evendoubl ethat,fr
om t hi
smoney .
“
Tal
kbef
oreIgetahear
tat
tack,
”Nol
wazi
.
“
Bandlaj
ustsentmemoneyt
obuyadr
ess.R3000,
i
magine!
”
Thei
rey
eswi
den.I
t’
sunbel
i
evabl
e,Iknow.
“Youcangetadr
essandaf
ewj
eansf
rom t
hat
amount.
”
Ohwel
l
,I’
m notsur
eaboutt
hej
eans.
Butwhydon’
tIt
estwat
ers…
I
TWI LLBEMORETHANENOUGH.IWI LLGETA
DRESS,LEGGI
NGSANDAFEW JEANSFROM THI S
MONEY-Isendthemessageandwai twi
tht
he
phoneinmyhandforhi
sresponse.
Iwai
tandwai
tandwai t
….j
ustasI’
m aboutt
ofal
l
asl
eep,
hismessagecomesthrough;
HAVEABEAUTI
FULNI
GHTMYLOVE.
That
’st
hemessage!Ther
e’snocommentonme
buyi
ngl
eggi
ngs.
.
.
I
’vebeent ot hi
shouseaf ewt i
mesinmyl if
e.
Mandul ogrewupwi thhisdad, hewasagoodman
butIdidn’tl
ikebeingaroundhim.Itfel
twei rd
becauseIdi dn’
thaveaf ather
,soIli
mitedmyv i
sit
s,
I
’dseemybr ot
herwhenhecamet oBer gvil
le.Ithi
nk
he’
smov edbackher ebecauseofthedi vorce.
May behishousesuf focat
eshim wit
hal lthe
memor
iesofhi
m andhi
swi
fe.
They ar
distakencar
eofbutyoucantel
lthat
nobodyhasl i
vedher
einalongt
ime.Hiscari
s
parkedjustbel
owthefr
ontdoor
.
Thet
axil
eavesmeoutsi
dethegat
e.I
t’
snotl
ocked,
soIl
etmyselfi
nandy
ellhi
sname.

Hestepsoutofthehouse,t
opless.He’sonl
y
wear
ingashortandpush-ons.He’sreal
lyl
iv
ingli
kea
di
vor
cedmannow.Icansmel lburnteggsallt
heway
fr
om her
e.
“Youcameallthewayherei
nhi
ghheel
s?”heasks,
burst
ingouti
nlaught
er.
“
Ihav
ecl
ass,
”It
ell
him.
“
Youdi
dn’
tfi
nishy
ourcl
assesbuty
ouhav
ecl
ass?
”
Irollmyeyesti
ll
theytouchmybr ai
n.Areweever
goingtogetoverthi
s?He’sbecomi nganannoying
brother
.Ever
yfami l
yhasthatclassy,gl
amorous
auntwhonev erwenttoschool.I’
mt hataunt
.
“
Whatdi
dIdot
odeser
vet
hisv
isi
t?”heasks,
leadi
ng
mei
nsi
det
hehouse.
“Youprayedr
ight
.Whyar eyoubur
ningeggs?Whose
l
ipsti
ckisonthecouch?Thesunisup,yetthe
windowsaresti
ll
closed.Whoareyouseeing?Isi
t
nottoosoon?”
“Makhany i
,JesusChr
ist!Ar
ey ouhungover?Your
att
itudetel
lsmey ouare,It
hinkIhaveabeerinthe
fr
idge,”hesays.
Myey eswiden.Notbecausehethi
nksI’
m hungover
,
butbecausehe’soff
eringmeabeer.Whereismy
brot
her?Theresponsibleonewhodoesevery
thi
ng
accordi
ngtothebook?
“Ar
eyouokay?Youscaremewheny
ousuddenl
y
becomeanicebr
other
,”Iask.
Hebur
stsi
ntoaf
itofl
aught
er.
“Fi
ne,
I’
vechangedmymi
nd.Ther
e’snobeerf
ory
ou,
goandmakeOr os.
”
What
?!He’
snotser
ious.
“
You’
reki
ddi
ng?
”Iask.
“
Yes,
I’
m ki
ddi
ng,
khi
-khi
-khi
.NowgoandmakeOr
os,
It
hinkIhav
emuf
fi
nsandbi
scui
tst
her
e.”
He’
sboringwit
hcapi
talB.ButIdoneedadri
nkand
somet
hingtobit
eonwhi l
eIdiscussmydr
eamswith
hi
m,soOr osandmuf
f i
nsiti
s.

Hehast
henerv
et osi
panicycol
dbeerwhi
l
efor
cing
metodr
inkabi
tterOr
os.
“
Sowhat
’sgoi
ngon?
”heasks.
“
I’
m st
il
lhav
ingt
hosebaddr
eams,
”Isay
.
“Oh,
”that’
sal
lhecansay .Idon’tthi
nkhe’sever
knownhowt obeasabr other.IknowI ’
m notan
easypersont
obrother,
butt herearethi
ngshe
shoul
dknowandex plai
nt omeast heolderone.
“
SoBandlasuggest
edthatIconsultasangomaand
f
indoutwhat
’sreal
l
ygoingon,”Isay.
“
Andwhoi
sBandl
a?”heasks,
hisey
esnar
rowed.
“Thecurt
aincl
ient,he’smyboyf
ri
end.
”It
rytokeepa
str
aightf
acebutt helookhe’
sgi
vingmeissendi
ng
mei nt
oaf i
toflaughter.
“
IshenotaShembeman?
”heaskswi
tht
hatsl
i
ght
f
rownonhisface.
“
Heis.Pl
easedon’taskmorequesti
onsbecause
we’
real
sosti
ll
try
ingt of
igur
eitout
.”
“
Well
,goodl
uckwit
hthat.Makesur
eheal
ways
r
ememberst
hatyouareyourownwoman,
youhav
e
y
ourownbel
ief
sandvalues.
”
Trustme, Bandl
aknowsthatverywell
andhe
respectsme.ButIl
ovethatthi
stall
,di
vor
cedone
caresthismuchaboutme.
“So,aboutt
hesangomat
hing,
doy
out
hinkIshoul
d
consult
?”Iask.
“Idon’
tknow.Buti
twouldn’
thur
ttotr
y,r
ight
?I’
l
l
comewi t
hy ou,
Ial
soneedanswersaboutmyli
fe.
”
Seeinghimliket hi
shurt
s.IneverthoughtI’
dseehim
thi
sbr okenbecauseofThobeka.Hegav ethat
womanev er
yt hi
nghehad.IfIremembercor rect
ly
thelasttwoy earsofhernur
singcoursewer epaid
forbyMandul o.AndMenzi waslikeabr ot
hertohim,
whydi dhestabhi m att
hebacklikethis?
“Ar
etheyt
ogether?
”Iaskandreali
zehowper
sonal
andmaybeinsensi
ti
vemyquestionis.
“
Yes,
”hesay
s.
Damn, t
hatmusthur
tev enmore.It
’soffi
cial
,Ihat
e
Thobekawit
heveryt
hinginme.Infact,herandI
needtohaveali
tt
leface-t
o-f
acetalk.
“
Nol
wazi t
hinksyou’
reherDwy
aneWade,
”Isayj
ust
t
ocheerhim up.
“
Whoi
sthat
?”heaskswi
thachuckl
e.
“
AnAmer
icanbasket
bal
lpl
ayer
,”Isay
.
“Somethingsarebett
erappreci
atedfr
om adist
ance,
Makhanyi.Li
feisnotbl
ackandwhi t
e,andpeopl
eare
nottr
ansparentli
keaglass.
”
Well
,heneedst
otel
lthi
stoNol
waziandseei
fshe’
ll
l
ist
entohim.He’
sherDwayneWadeandthat
’si
t!
.
.
Ist
il
lcan’
tgetoverhowgoodIl
ookinthi
sdress.I
’
m
notcr
yingovert
heR650Ispentbuy
ingit
.The
desi
gnerhadexact
lymybodyshapei
nmindwhen
hedesi
gnedit
.Itwasmadejustf
orme.
“Whatifhe’
staki
ngy
out
oNhl
angakazi
?”Nol
wazi
asks.
Herandherpeas-sizebrains!Whywoul
dhet akeme
toNhlangakazi
?Itdoesn’tmakeanysense.He’s
obvi
ouslytaki
ngmet oaf ancyrest
aur
ant.
“Shutupandhel pmeputtheseshoeson,
”Isay
,
sit
ti
ngbackonbedandt akingtheboxofmynew
heelsthatIgotatTheFi
x.
“Heshouldpaythebeaut
yfeeeveryweek.Hecan’
t
bestari
ngatall
thisf
orfr
ee,”shesay
swhi l
epushi
ng
theshoein.
“ThatmeansI
’l
lhavetopayagooddi
¢kf
eeaswel
l
,
andIcan’
taff
ordit
,”Isay
.
“I
shereal
lygood?Helooksl
i
ket
hebor
ingt
ypet
hat
prai
sesGodduri
ngthedeed.
”
“What
?”Lor
dhavemercy
,yourdaught
erdoesn’
t
knowwhatshe’
stal
ki
ngabout
.
“
Doeshemuf
f?”sheasks.
“No,buti
t’
sonl
ybecauseI
’
m all
owi
nghi m nott
o.
WhenIwantthatbear
dbetweenmylegs,I
’ll
geti
t,
”I
say.
“
Andifhesaysnoy ou’
regoi
ngtoli
veyourwhol
eli
fe
wi
thoutt
hekhothakhot
ha?”sheasks.
“Thatwon’thappen,hewon’
tsayno.Buteveni
fhe
did,Iwasn’
tgoingtoleav
eagoodmanov er
khothakhotha,
”Isay.
“Whydon’ty
ouaskhim st
rai
ght?‘Bandl
aarey
ou
evergoi
ngtoli
ckmycookiejarorImustbuya
cl
itor
alpump?’
Easyasthat.
”
We’veonl
ybeenint
imateoncebutaski
ngwoul
dn’
t
hur
tanditwoul
dbef untogethi
sreact
ion.
“Letmecallhim andaskbecauseit’
ll
betoo
awkwar dtoaskhimi nperson,
”Isayandwebot h
breakintol
aughter.Shereal
lyi
sabadi nf
luence,
but
Iwouldn’tl
oveheranyotherway .
“
Heymyl
ove,
I’
m al
mostt
her
e,”hesay
s.
Iknowthathe’
sly
ing,he’
sst
il
lwit
hwhichev
er
brot
heri
ntown.He’sbeensayi
nghe’
salmosther
e
f
orov
ert
hir
tymi
nut
esnow.
“
That
’snotwhyIcal
l
ed,
”Isay
.
Nolwazicover
shermouthandgi
gglesbehi
ndher
hand.Iscol
dherwit
halookandsteptowar
dsthe
window.
“
Isever
ythi
ngal
ri
ght
?”heasks,
pani
cev
identi
nhi
s
v
oice.
“
Ijustwanty
out
oasksomet
hingsexual
l
y,”Isay
.
Heclear
shi
sthroat.Ther
e’sashi
ft
ingmovement
andsomeone’
sv oi
cechatti
ngi
nhisbackgr
ound.
“
I’
mli
steni
ng,
”hesay
saf
teramoment
.
“
Areyouevergoi
ngtoli
ckmycooki
ejarorImust
j
ustgetmy
selfacli
tor
alpump?
”Iask.
Si
l
ence!
I
fhebr
eaksupwit
hmeit’
sal
lonNol
wazi
.Iswear
I
’
m goi
ngtomakeherl
i
fe…
“
Maybeyoucantellmewhattododif
fer
entl
ynext
t
ime.I
twasmyf i
rstti
mewithyou,
I’
m st
il
ll
earni
ng
y
ourbodyandgetti
ngtoknowwhatyouli
kethe
most
.”He’
sbrui
sedf
rom t
het
oneofhi
svoi
ce.Men
ar
esuchbabi
es.
“Bandl
a,Idi
dn’tmeanitthatway.Youmademe
happy.Iwassati
sfi
ed,Ipromise.Nol
wazi
andIwer
e
argui
ng,shethi
nksthat…”
“Bit
chdon’tyoudare!
”Oops, Iforgotthatshewasin
theroom.Shehast hi
st hr
eateninglookonherf ace
thatmakesmeswal l
owbackmywor ds.I’
m nota
trai
tor
,Iwasn’tt
ell
i
ngl i
es,shetoldmet ocal
land
ask.
“We’l
ltal
kwhenwecomebackf
rom mysi
ster
’s
house,
”hesaysanddr
opst
hecal
l.
Sist
er’shouse?Ithoughthewast aki
ngmeouti na
fancyrestaur
antorsomet hi
ng.Howishissist
erli
ke?
Idon’twanttobeputont hestandandgril
l
edwi th
questionsli
keIforcedhi
mt oloveme.
I
’
m notf
eel
i
nggoodaboutt
hisatal
l
.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER13
NOLWAZI

Gugui sspendingt henightout,again.No,she’snot

goingoutfordr i
nksort opart
y.It
’soneoft hose
formaldinnerswithbi gshots.Wheni tcomest o
moneyGugudoesn’ tplaysmall.There’
sat endershe
wantst osecure,that’
swhyshekeepspi tchingupin
thesemeet i
ngsandmi ngl
ingwiththemi ni
sters.Her
bigbreakiscomi ngandi t
’scomingsoonert han
anyoneexpect s.
Sheleav
esinafor
malblacksui
t,l
ooki
ngl
i
kean
el
egantbusi
nesswoman.
“Bri
ngpi zzawheny oucomeback, ”Nolwazi.If
ther
e’sahopel esspersononear th,she’
st hemost
hopelessoft hehopelessees.AtleastKhany ohas
herNazar ethboyfri
endwhoi ntr
oduceshert ohis
marriedsisterwithi
nthreeweeksofdat ing.Without
evenr eali
zi
ngit,she’
schangingforBandl a.She’s
alwaysi nadresswhenhecomesar ound.She’snow
watchinghowmuchshedr i
nksandwhen.Thegir
l
eventur nsdownpotent
ial
sponsor
sbecauseofhim.
Isthatwhatl ov
edoestopeopl
e?Youjustbecome
submi ssive?

Ther
e’saknockatt
hedoor
.
“Whatdidyoufor
get?”Nol
waziy
ell
sasshemov es
herfeetof
fthecoff
eetabl
eandsit
ti
ngpr
operl
yon
thecouch.Gugucanbeabori
ngauntatt
imes.
Thedooropens,
footst
epscomein.They
’renot
Gugu’
s,t
hatonelef
tinsti
l
ett
osandtheseareboot
s
st
eps.
“
Hel
l
o,”adeepv
oicesay
s.
Hereyeswidenasshemeet sMandulo’
s.Herown
DwayneWade!Whydi dn’
tsheputonhermat r
ic
dancedress?Andherhai
r,ohshucks!
“Ummm…Ndul o…hel
lo,
”shestutters,runni
ngher
fi
ngersthroughherhai
randment all
yy el
li
ngat
hersel
fforlooki
ngsounorganized.
Hesmi
l
es,
ther
e’sat
winkl
einhi
sbeadyey
es.
Lord,she’sst
ari
ng.Heal
way
ssmel
l
smanl
yand
expensive.
“Ihear
dt haty ou’
l
lbehomeal
onesoIthoughtI
shouldpicky ouupandgohavedi
nnerwit
hy ou.I
’
m
alsobored,”hesay s.
Shejumpstoherfeet.Thi
sisnotadr
eam,
he’
sher
e
i
nfrontofherandproposi
ng.
Wel
l
,pr
oposi
ngt
hatt
heygooutf
ordi
nner
.
“Mygosh,pl
easegi
vemeaf ewmi nutes.Ineedt
o
change,
combmyhai randputmake-upon. ”
Hef
rownssl
i
ght
lyandt
henchuckl
es.
“
Youlookfi
netome.It
’snotli
kewe’r
egoingfar
,I
madeareserv
ati
onatStClement
s,”hesays.
St
il
l,
sheneedst
olookgoodf
orhi
m.
“Justafewminutes,
”shesay
s,i
ndi
cat
ingwit
hher
fi
ngersandrushi
ngtowardst
hebedr
oom bef
ore
evenoffer
inghi
m aseat.

Rev
eal
i
ngorcov
eri
ng?May
beasi
mpl
ejeananda
st
rapl
esst
op.
Ur
gh,
that
’st
oodul
l
.
I
t’
sbeenoverf
iveminutesandshe’
sst
il
lst
ucki
n
f
rontoft
hewardrobe.
Okay.Ahi gh-wai
stski
rt
,penci
lheel
sandwhiteshi
rt
.
Af i
nanci
al anal
ystwoulddat
esomeonewhol ooks
l
ikethis,
right?Sheappl
iesaberr
ynudeli
pst
ickand
drawsherey ebrows.
Fi
ft
eenminut
eslat
ershewal
ksoutoft
hebedr
oom
l
ooki
ngl
ikeadream.
“
Aaaaand?
”Shegi
vesMandul
oa180t
urn.
Helaughs,“Youlookbeaut
iful
,nowIfeel
li
keI
coul
d’vetakenyoutoabetterrest
aur
ant.
”
“
Nextt
ime,
”shewi
nksandl
eadst
hewayout
.
I
t’
sreal
l
yashor tdr
ive,
shewasst
il
lenj
oyi
ng
Mandul
o’ssexydri
vi
ngskil
l
s.
Li
keagentl
eman,heopensandhol dsthedoorfor
her
.Seewhyshe’sat
tract
edt othi
sman.Young
boysknownot
hingabouttreati
ngaladyofherclass.
“Ichoseanoutdoorseat
ing,
Idon’
tknowi
fIshoul
d
changeit
,”hesays.
“No,i
t’
snotthatcol
d.”Andifi
tdoesgetcol
dery
ou’
l
l
coverheri
nyourarms,sir
.
Thewaitr
essl
eadsthem t
othei
rtabl
eandpr
ovi
des
them wi
thmenus.
“Am Ial
l
owedt odri
nkacockt
ail
?”sheasks,
star
ing
att
hedrinkssect
ion.
“
No,
”Mandul
osay
s.
Sheroll
sherey essecretl
yandopt sforajui
ce.It
’s
j
ustfortoday,he’l
lhavetoacceptherf orwhosheis.
Shedrinksandt hat
’sthat.Theybothmaket hei
r
order
sandt hewai t
ressleavesthem tothei
rpri
vacy.
“
Sowhyareyoucr
ushi
ngonabr
oken,
div
orced
man?
”heaskswit
hasmir
k.
“Youweren’
tdiv
orcedwhenIdevel
opedacr
ushon
you.Andyou’
renotbroken,
youj
ustneedme,
”she
sayswit
hawi degri
n.
Heshakeshisheadandlaughs.He’
sfl
att
ered,no
l
ies.Butheal
soneedstobeanadult-abi
gbr other
.
“
YouknowwhatIt
hink?
”heasks.
Nol
wazi
nar
rowsherey
ebr
owandst
aresathi
m.
“AtyourageIthinkyoushouldbelookingforasane,
ful
lyfuncti
oni
ngman.Notsomeoneel se’slef
t-ov
ers.
Beinginvol
vedwi t
habrokenmanwhosewi fe
cheatedonwi t
hhisbestfr
iendwillgi
vey ougreyhair
.
I’
m notar i
ghtmanf ory
ou,orforanyone.”
Thewait
ressappearswi
ththei
rdr
inks,
put
ti
nga
pauset
ot hei
rconver
sat
ion.
Assoonassheleav
es,
Mandul
olooksatherwi
tha
ghost
inggr
in.
“Ifeelli
key
ouandMakhany idon’
twantt
ogrowup.
Sixy ear
sfr
om nowy ou’l
lbe30.That’
swhenyou’
l
l
reali
zehowhardlif
ei s.
”Hetakesasipfr
om hi
s
glassandli
ftshi
sey estoher.She’
sbeenst
ari
ngat
him andnotsayi
ngawor d.
“30to40kuy anyi
wa.It’
shard.Fri
endsst abyoui n
theback.Somear estruggli
ngwithdepression,
cancer,
debt sandlost
.Therearedivorcesleft,
right
andcentre.Kidsar
egr owingupandt hewor ldis
gett
ingdirt
ierandnotgoodf ort
hem.Youwi shy ou’
d
sort
edoutsomeaspect
sofyourli
feear
li
er,when
yousti
l
lhadti
me,andri
ghtnowtheti
mei snoton
yoursi
de.
”
“
Arey
out
ryi
ngt
oscar
eme?
”sheasks.
“No, t
hesear efact s.20to30i saphaseofpr epar ing
yoursel fforreal adult
hood.Buty ouguy sarepl ay i
ng,
andi tdoesn’ tmakeanydi ff
erence.Makhany i
droppedoutofuni versi
tybecauseshedi dn’twantt o
graduat e,findaj obandbecomeanadul t
.Butshe’ s
growi ngupany way ,y
earsdon’ tstopbecauseone
refusest obear esponsibleperson.Soonshe’ llbe30,
kidswhoar einhi ghschool nowwi l
lbeiny our
positionandt hesemeny ou’r
eal lenter
tai
ningnow
willbel ookingf orfreshblood.You’ llbemiser able30
yearol ds, wit
hnoeducat i
on,nobusi nesses, noj obs,
nocar s,nohousesandnomoney .”
Hereyesdr
optothej
uicei
nherhand.Sheexhal
es
heavi
l
yandsipssl
owl
y.
“
Funisn’tfor
ever.Youhav et
oownsomet hi
ngi
nli
fe
Nolwazi.Yousti
l
l haveti
me.I’
m notsayi
ngdon’
tli
ve
youryouthyear
s, I
’m say
ingsecur
eaf ut
urewhi
leat
i
t,
”hesay
s.
“If
ail
edsixofmymodul esi
nthesecondyear,
NSFASwon’ tfundmeany more.Idon’
tthi
nkIcan
aff
ordthetuit
ionfees,
accommodat i
onandstil
ltake
careofmyselfandmyaunt .Idon’
thaveajob,t
he
hustl
i
ngdoesn’ tgi
veusmuchmoney .
”
“I
fyouhadsomeonepayi
ngthetui
ti
onfeesyou’
dgo
backandfurt
hery
ourst
udi
es?”heaskswit
hhis
eyebr
owli
fted.
“
Yes,
Iwoul
d,”shesay
s.
“
Whenappl i
cationsopen,sendy our
sandregist
er
t
hosemodul esy oufai
l
ed.I’
ll t
akecareofthe
f
inancesbutpleasegivei
ty ourbestshot.Idon’
t
wantyoutoendupi nt
hestr eets.AndIhavea
r
equest,j
ustone. ”
“
Okay
,whati
sit
?”sheasks.
“Tel
lyourfri
endt ofi
nishherst
udies,evenifi
t ’
s
onli
ne.Idon’twantanymant ohav eafinancialhol
d
overmysi st
er.
”That ’
sundoubtedlyBandlal
ethu.He
doesn’tt
rusthim,butwhocanbl amehi m?Menar e
l
ikethat,
theylikeitwhenyou’r
efinanci
all
y
dependentont
hem.
“Icandot hat,
butit
’l
ltaketi
meandal otof
convinci
ng.Wear enott heeducat
ionalmater
ial
,
”
Nolwazisay s.
“
Andwhatmat
eri
ali
sthat
?”heasks.
“Thety
pet hatwear
sglasses,
speaksEngl
i
sh24
hoursadayanddr i
nkswaterwit
hcucumbersl
i
ces
andshit
,”shesays.
Hechokesi
nhi
sdr
inkandbr
eaksi
ntoaf
itof
l
aught
er.
“Your
eal
lyhaveast
range,
ster
eot
ypi
cal
obser
vat
ion,
”hesay
s.
Licki
ngt
hesauceof
fherf
inger
s,sheaskshi
m;“
So
you’r
enotmyDwayne?
”
“Studyfi
rst,getajob,makemoney,dateahunkand
breakaf ewhear t
s.Reachyour30sandmeetnew
people.Ithi
nkI ’
l
lbearound45withgreyhair
,then
you’l
ldecideifyousti
llwantmeornot,”hesays.
I
t’
snotafai
rdealbuthe’
snotrej
ect
ingher,
right
?
That
’ssomet
hingtotakehomeandcelebr
ate.
.
.
KHANYO

Idr essedt okillonlytomeethi ssist

er.Heari
nghow
wel lhespeaksofhi ssisterIthi
nkherappr oval
mat t
ersmor ethanany one’s.Ijustdon’tunderstand
whyt heyallowedhert omar r
yat22.Whendi dshe
enjoyhery outhy ears?Ther e’
st i
mef oreveryt
hing
andIdon’ tthinkget t
ingmar r
iedat22i soneoft hem.
Dat edifferentguy s,got oclubs,stealcosmeticsat
Clicksandspendaf ewni ghtsinacel l
.Justhavef un,
creat ememor iesbef or
ecommi t
ti
ngy ourli
feto
someoneel se.
Andwhywoul dIownagiganti
chomest eadat24?I
sweart
hisgir
lwantst
odiey oung.Sheskipped
manystagesandjumpedstrai
ghtint
owomanhood.
Het
akesmyhandandweheadt owardst
hedoorof
abi
ggerbr
ickhousewi
thanopeneddoor
.
“
Sikhul
eki
l
ebokwaMy
eza,
”hesay
s,knocki
ngont
he
door
.
Ayy,t
her e’ssomethi
ngdepressi
ngaboutthisMy eza
homest ead.Iwaswelcomedbyashadowt hrough
thegate, nowther
e’sthi
suneasi
nessonmy
shoul
der s.Idon’
twanttobehere,per
iod.
Agir
lal
mostmyage, butbi
ggerandtal
l
ert
hanme,
st
andsint
hemiddleofthedoorwit
hasmile
pl
ast
eredonherf
ace.
“Mthongathethi
rd,
”shesay
s,t
hrowi
ngherar
ms
aroundBandla.
Ist
andasideandwatchthem goi
ngcr
azyoverone
anot
her.Atl
eastshedoesn’
tlookt
oorur
al,
shehas
cl
ass,j
ustli
keme.
“
Iloveyourear
ri
ngs.
”Oops,t
hatcameoutby
mist
ake.Nowshe’l
lthi
nkI
’m wei
rd.
Bandl
atakesmyhand,
“Andt
heear
ri
ngl
overi
s
Khany
oMay ise.
”
“I
sitt
heoney oubr
oughtherel
astweekoranot
her
one?I
’m notgoodwit
hfacesandnames,
”sheasks.
Iswear
,I’
m goi
ngt
ost
rangl
eabear
dedmant
o
deat
h.
“
Youdi
dwhat
?”Iask,
tur
ningt
ohi
m wi
thaf
rown.
“
Oh,
youdi
dn’
tknow?I
’
m sor
ry,
Idi
dn’
tmeant
o…”
“Wande,y
ou’renotonmywi
l
l.Ev
eni
fIdi
eyouwon’
t
getadime,”–Bandla.
Shecracksint
olaughter.Myhearti
ssti
l
lpumpi
ng
har
d,butseeminglythey’r
ejustt
easi
ngeachot
her
assi
blingsatmyex pense.
“Khanyopleaseki
ll
him,i
t’
sminusonetr
oubl
eforme.
Butgetinsi
defir
st,
Icookedafeastf
ory
outwo,
”she
says.
“
Thi
sonedoesn’
teatmeat
,Ihopei
t’
sjust
v
eget
abl
es,
”Bandlasay
s.
Ican’
tbel
i
eveI
’
m‘t
hisone.
’
“
Ieatmeat
,don’
tli
e,
”Isay
.
Hechuckl
esandt
ickl
esme.
“
Stop,
”Iwhi
sper
,yanki
nghi
shandsof
fme.
Whati
shissist
ergoi
ngtothi
nkofme?Thi
soneis
nowact
ingl
ikeakid.Wehaveal
lthet
imei
nthe
worl
dtoti
ckl
eandholdoneanot
her,
justnotnow,
notwhenhi
ssist
eri
sseeingmefort
hef i
rstt
ime.
“Am Igoi
ngtogetachancet
ointroducemy sel
fto
heroryou’
regoi
ngholdhert
il
lfor
ever?”sheasks.
“
I’
m goi
ngt
oholdhert
il
lfor
ever
,”hesay
sandpl
ant
s
aki
ssonmycheek.
Someoneisbl
owinghotai
ronmyf
ace.If
eel
so
st
upi
dinlovewit
hhim.
“Okay
,Igetit
,youtwostopnow.Khany
ocomeand
helpmeinthekit
chen.
”
Am Inotaguesthere?Ir
emov et
hisone’
shandof
f
meandf ol
l
owhert othekit
chen.

Somanydi
shes!I
ndeedshe’
scookedaf
east
.
“Becauseofy ourboy
f r
iendIcouldn’tevenintr
oduce
my sel
fproperly.I
’
m MawandeKaManqel eMy eza.
You’ll
meetmyhusbandi naf ewmi nutes,heisstil
l
dressingupforhisbrother
-i
n-law.”Shelooksatme
l
ikeshe’sreadingmyf aceandanal yzi
ngifI’m good
forherbrotherornot
.
“
Soy ou’
rereadyt
odat
eaNazar
eth?
”Idi
dn’
texpect
t
hisquesti
on.
“
IguessIam,
”Isay
.
“
Youknowhe’si
nlovewi
thy
ouandhe’
sgoi
ngto
mar
ryyouandyou’
ll
best
uckwi
thhi
mforev
er?
”
Nowshe’sstr
essi
ngme.YesIknowal l
that.I
haven’
tgi
venitmucht
houghtand…can’
tIjustenj
oy
themoment?
“
Doy outhi
nkyoul
ovehi
m enought
ost
andwi
thhi
m
t
hroughandthr
ough?
”
“
Yes,
”Isaywi
thnot
houghtgi
ven.
“
Ifhe’
stooangr
yhecr
ies,
”shesay
s.
Nowt
hisi
sfunny
.Icannoti
magi
nehi
m cr
ying.
“I
fyouwanthimt ocry,pr
ovokehi
m andspeakwhile
he’
sstut
teri
ngandt r
yingtoexpl
ain.
”She’
slaughi
ng.
I
tlooksl
iketheyenj
oyseeingmymancr y
.
“
Doeshef
ightwhenhef
ail
stospeak?
”Iask.
“Yeshedoes,buti
trar
elyhappens.He’saqui
et
personbynat
ure.Themostcalmf rom mymother
’s
womb, ”shesaysandpassestwobowl st
ome.“ I’
ve
neverseenhimthishappy.Youknowhedr oveall
the
wayfrom homet otel
lmeabouty ou.Hav
ey outol
d
hi
mt haty oul
ovehim?”
Bandlal
ethu!Di
dher
eal
l
ydi
scussmewi
thhi
ssi
ster
thatmuch?
“
Yes,
heknows,
”Isay
.
“
Amen!
”
Il
aughandshakemyhead.Thei
rrel
ati
onshi
pis
st
range,
yetcut
e.
Ihelphersett hetabl
e.Bandl
aistal
ki
ngt osomeone,
IguessMawande’ shusband.She’
snotbadasI
thought.Iknowt hemarri
edtypetobejudgmental
andannoy ing.Butshe’
sjustayoungwifewithalot
ofjokesandast r
angeconnecti
onwithherbrot
hers.
It
akeaseatwhi
l
eshegoest
ocal
lthem t
othe
di
ningr
oom.

Bandlai
swal
ki
ngatthefr
ont,behindhimi
saf r
ail
l
ookingmanwhocouldbeinhislatet
went
ies.My
eyesar
eonhim,he’
ssayingsomethi
ngt
oMawande.
Theysi
tnextt
oeachotherandBandl
acomest
ome.
“
Arey
oual
ri
ght
?”heasks.
It
earmyeyesawayf r
om themanandl
ookathi
m.
Hi
seyebrowisrai
sed,Iqui
ckl
ynodmyheadand
st
arebackatt
heman.
“Khanyo,t
hisi
smyhusbandNy ezi
Myeza.Lov
e,thi
s
i
sBandl a’
sper
sonal
person.Theonewho’sdr
ivi
ng
him cr
azy,
”–Mawande.
Nyezil
ooksatmeandsmi les.Oureyesmeetforthe
fi
rstt
imeandthere’st
hisstrangeconnect
ionthatI
havewithhi
sinner-
sel
f,thecoreofhim.Hisendis
j
ustaroundthecorner
.
“
Nicet
omeety
ou,
”hesay
sandl
ooksathi
swi
fe.
Helift
shisarmt ot
hetable,whi
chgi
vesmeal ook
underhisarm.Ther
e’saredmar ki
ndi
catingexact
ly
wherehispleur
isyi
slocated.I
t’
sonhi
slef tl
ung.I
seehim str
uggl
ingtobreathei
nwhatlookslikean
off
ice…
“
Khany
o!”Bandl
a’
svoi
cebr
ingsmebackt
other
oom.
Icannotgetthefl
ashbacksoutofmymi nd.Why
can’
tMawandeseet hatherhusbandissick?I
t’
s
evi
dentinhiseyes.Idon’
tknowhi m butIknowthat
hedoesn’thavemucht i
mel ef
t.He’sleavi
ng.
“
Iwantt
oleav
e,”Isay
,tur
ningmyey
est
oBandl
a.
Hef
rowns,
“Youwantt
oleav
e?”
“
That
’swhatIsai
d.NowBandl
a.”
“
DidIsaysomet
hingwr
ong?
”–Mawande.
Igr
abmyphonef
rom t
het
abl
e,gi
veBandl
athel
ast
l
ookandwal
kout
.

See,thi
siswhyIdr i
nk.Icannottell
any oneabout
whatmyheadt hinksandsees, they’
llt
hinkit
’s
Savannafrom l
astweekspeaki ng.Wor se,
Icannot
evenhelphim.AndI’m notevensur ethatI’
m
mentall
yokay.Ineedpsy chol
ogicalteststoberan
onmebef oreIpayattenti
ontot henonsensei nmy
head.
Bandl
acomesoutoft
hehouseaft
erf
iveminut
esof
mestandi
ngbyt
hecarandseei
ngshadows.
“
What’
sgoingonmyl ove?Whatdi
dMawandesayto
y
ou?”heasks,comingt
omeandhol di
ngmyhands.
“
Tal
ktomest handwasami.”
“
Ijustwantt
ogohome,
”Isay
.
“
Youdi
dn’
tli
keher
?”Hi
svoi
cedr
ops.
Hesoundsdi
sappoi
nted,
hur
tandof
fended.
Il
etoutasi
gh,
“Bandl
aIdon’
twantt
obeher
e.”
Hest
aresatmeandsay
snot
hing.
“Youwon’
tunderst
and,I’
m notanormalper
son,
I
seethi
ngsandhearvoices.Ri
ghtnowIneedadri
nk,
Isawyoursi
ster
’shusband’sl
ung.”
Hef
rownsandt
akesast
epback.
Thisi
sexact
lywhyIdon’
ttal
kaboutt
heset
hings,
becauseoft
hisr
eact
ion.
“
Yousawhi
slung?
”heasks.
Cl
ear
ly,
he’
sseei
ngamadwoman.
“
Ineedadri
nk,
”Isay
,openi
ngt
hedoorandget
ti
ng
i
nsi
dethecar
.
Hewal ksbacki nsi
dethehouse,Idon’tknowwhat
he’stel
li
ngt hem-may bethatI
’v
el ostmymar bl
es.I
waitinthecar ,wi
pingpouri
ngtearsandt r
yingt
o
forgetwhatIsaw.I ’
vealwaysdoubtedmysani t
y,but
todaywast heworsedayofmyl i
fe.Mawandei ssti
ll
soy oung,thiscannotbehappeningtoher.God
pleaseletallthi
sbeinmyhead.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER14
KHANYO

We’reatKwaHl omendl i
nionceagai n.Butt odayi
t’s
dif
ferent,wehav en’tspokensi ncedepar ti
ng
Manget he.Islepthal fthrought hejour neyandwoke
uptodi ssolveinmymi sery.It
hi nkhe’sangr y,I
’m
notsure, butmel eav i
nghi ssister’shouseso
hurri
edlyhaswoundedhi m.Hedi dn’tevent el
lme
wewer ecomi ngher e,Ithoughthewasdr i
v i
ngme
backt oDur ban,butit’slatesoIdon’ tmi ndspending
thenightt hi
sside.
Heclearshi
sthr
oatbyt
hedoor
.Il
endhi
m my
at
tenti
on.
“
Theshoweri
snotwor
king.I
sitokayi
fIboi
lwat
er
f
oryou?
”
Idi
dn’
tgrowupinthecit
y,t
hisshoul
dn’
tevenbea
quest
ion,
Iunder
standandI’
m usedtoi
t.
“
Yeah,
”Inod.
Hedisappearsbackinthekitchen,l
eavi
ngmesi t
ti
ng
onbedwi t
hmyphonei nhand.I’vebeentr
yingt
otell
Guguwhathappenedear l
ier
,shehasabet t
er
underst
andingandmat uredwayofhandlingthi
ngs,
buttodayshe’
sjustuselessasNol wazi
.
Af ewmi nut esl
atermywat erisr eady,Ileavehim
changi ngthebedandgot akeabat h.Icannotget
Ny ezi’
spictureoutofmymi nd.Myhear tgoesoutto
Mawandet hemost l
y.Shecannotbeawi dowat24.I
prayandhopenoneofi twast rue.Whywoul dGod,
orwhoev eriti
s,showmesomet hingandnotgi ve
measol utionofhowIcanhel p?May beIshould
bringthisupt omorrowwhenMandul oandIgo
consul tasangoma.I fthey’
rereallywhatt heysay
theyar e,he’l
lbeabletohelpmebr eakdownt hese
visions,fl
ashbacksanddr eams.

Ifi
ndaT- shir
tandputiton.He’sgonetot akeabath
aswell.We’venevergiv
eneachot hersi
lent
tr
eatmentt hi
slong.MaybeIshouldtell
him exactl
y
whathappenedbecausei nhismindIhat ehissist
er.
Ifeel
badaboutl eavi
ngherdinneronthet abl
e,she’d
out
doneher
sel
fforusandIdi
dn’
tev
ent
ast
eapi
ece
ofmeat
.
Hewal
ksin,
wear i
ngavestandshort
.He’
sav
oidi
ng
ey
econt
act,Iguesshe’
ssti
l
lworkedup.
“Bandl
a,
”Ical
l
,shi
ft
ingandcr
eat
ingspacef
orhi
m
nexttome.
Hethr
owshi
mselfi
nbed,
facesupatt
hecei
l
ingand
bl
owsoutasi
gh.
“
Arey
ounothungr
y?”heasks,
notl
ooki
ngatme.
“
No,
I’
m not
,”Isay
.
“
Okay
,let
’ssl
eep.
”
I’
m awestr
uck.It
houghthe’
dgivemeachancet o
tal
k.Iwasshocked,Ist
il
lam,Idon’
texpecthi
mto
addmor etomystress.
“
Sowear
ejustsl
eepi
ng?
”Iask.
“Khanyowhatdoy ouwantustodo?Youdon’ tspeak
tome.Iknowmay beIr
ushedyou,i
twast ooearly
foryoutomeetmysi st
erandbeallfr
iendl
y.Butto
l
eav el
iket
hat…”Heexhalesheavi
l
yandshi f
tsnearer
,
closi
ngthedi
stancebetweenus.Hisarmswr ap
aroundme.I
t’
swei
rdbecauseIt
houghthewasmad
atme.
“Myheartisbroken.She’smysist
er,Il
ov eherand
she’si
mpor t
anttome.Iwasr eall
yhopingt hatyou’
ll
l
ikeher.Butifi
t’
smewhowaswr ong,pleasef or
giv
e
me.Andi fi
twasher ,Iapol
ogi
zeonherbehal f,
”he
says.
“Ny
ezihasbloodclotsinthear
ter
iesofhi
sleftlung,
”
Ibl
urtout
.ThelastthingIwanti
sforhimtothinkI
havesomethi
ngagai nsthi
sfamil
y.
He’sfrowni
ng.Iwi
sht
her
ewasabet
terwayof
explai
ningi
t.
“Ihav
ethist
hingofgetti
ngflashbacksandpict
ures
ofthi
ngsIdon’tknow.I
t’
sscar y
,Idon’tknowwhatit
means,butyeah,it
’smyli
fe,
”Isay.
“
Youar
eacl
air
voy
ant
?”heasks,
eyeswi
den.
“Awhat?No, no,no.I
’m notsurei
fit’
srealthings,
I’
veneverbeenment al
lyassessed,notthatI’
m
stupi
doranything,
”Iexplai
nandr eal
izeI’
mj ust
babbli
ngli
keaf ool.
Hepul l
smecl oserandembr acesmet i
ght
ly.I
rel
easeal ongsi ghandsilentl
yli
stent
ohisheart
beati
ngagai nstmi ne.Ev
ent houghhedoesn’t
understand,he’snotjudgingme.
“
Whatdoesyourbr
othersaywheny
out
ell
him about
t
his?
”heasks.
“
Hesay
s‘Oh’
,
”Isay
.
Hebr
eaksachuckl
e.
“
Doy
ouwantmyadv
icet
hati
sn’
t‘
Oh’
?”
“
Yes.
”
“
Consul
t.
”
Ifeel
li
keever
yti
mehegivesanadvi
ceit
’sconsul
ti
ng
asangoma.Iwasint
endi
ngtodothatanyway.Ij
ust
hopeclar
it
ywil
lbegi
ven.
“I
’
m seeingasangomasomewhereinUmlaziwit
h
mybr ot
hertomor
row.I
fthey’
rewhatt
heysaythey
are,
they’
ll
givemeanswers,
”Isay
.
“Hav
efaith,
itopendoor
s.AnywayIhavet
ocall
Wandeandf i
ndoutwhat’sgoi
ngon.Shehasn’
ttol
d
usanyt
hingaboutNyezibei
ngsick.
”
“
What
?No,
youcan’
t.She’
l
lthi
nkI
’
minsane.
”
I
magi neherf
indi
ngoutthatIt
hinkIsawher
husband’
slung.DoIhav
eey esorX-ray
s?Hhay
i-
bo.
“
Whati
fyou’
renotwr
ong?
”heasks.
“No,Bandla,
justno.
”Imeani
t,Iwantnowomant
o
crybecauseofmeandmywei rdvisi
ons.
Henodshesi
tant
ly.Iki
sshi
sli
psandcr
ackasmi
l
e
ofgui
l
t.
“I
’
m notgoingtoletyousleepwi
thouteat
ing.There
arepi
esinthefreezer,
Ineedafewmi nut
es.Doy ou
wantcof
fee?”hesay s,get
ti
ngoutofbed.
“
No,
wat
eri
sfi
ne.
”

I’
m notreall
yhungr ybutapi ewon’ thurt
.AndIl ike
beingserved,justli
ket hosewomenwhohav ecl ub
cardsatGogoNomz wezwe.Igot hroughmychat s
whilewait
ingi nbedlikeaqueen.Ther earepictures
ofNolwazi andMandul ooutinarest aur
ant.This
cannotbet rue!Itr
ustedmybr ot
her ,
Nolwazi i
sev en
youngerthanme, she’sonly23year soldforfuck
sake.That
’sal
mostt
wodecadesy
oungert
han
Mandulo.

HepicksupasI
’
m aboutt
odr
opandsendaf
uri
ous
message.
“Makhanyiwher
ear
eyou?Nol
wazi
say
syou’
rest
il
l
notback?
”
Huzzah,
whomadet
hiscal
l
?Meorhi
m?
“
Yourgi
rl
fr
iendt
oldy
out
hat
?”Iask.
Hel
aughsoutl
oud.
“
Nol
wazi
,yourf
ri
end,
tol
dme,
”hesay
s.
“Yeah,
isshenoty
ourgir
lf
ri
end?Ijustsawpict
ures
ofyouandherint
herest
aurantal
lovereachother
,”I
say.
“Relaxwenabaqwekat il
aserank,
I’
m nowhereinthe
positi
onofbei ngi
nvol
vedwi t
hsomeone.Letal
onea
23y earoldthatwoul
dexpectmet ogotoparti
es
withherandposef orFacebookcoupl
echall
enges,
”
hesay s,bi
ti
ngmyheadof f
.
Rel
iefwashesal
loverme.I
twoul
dbever
yawkward
tohaveafri
endofminesl
eepi
ngwit
hmybrot
her
.
“
Oh,
sowhatwasdi
nnerabout
?”Iask.
“
Noneofy
ourbusi
ness.Wher
ear
eyou?
”
“
I’
m atHl
omendl
i
ni,
”Isay
.
“
Whodoy
ouknowt
her
e?”
“
Bandl
a,
”Isay
.
“Fuck.Thisi
sget
ti
ng…”hestops,
Ihearasi
gh,t
hen
hewi shesmeagoodni
ghtandendsthecal
l.
Well,
thatwentsouthinst
eadofnor t
h, butwe’ll
tal
k
aboutittomorr
ow.I’
mr el
ievedhe’
snotact ingon
Nolwazi’sst
upi
dcrush,butIdon’
tknowhowl ong
he’
sgoi ngtoabrot
herandnotat ypicalmanabouti t
.

Thisonekeepstexti
ngwhi l
eweareeat i
ng.Idon’
t
knowifhe’svi
olat
ingouragreementandt el
l
inghis
si
steraboutwhatIsaid.Idon’
twantpeopletolook
atmewei r
dlyandIdon’twanttodepressthem over
nothi
ng.
Hefini
sheshispieandgul
psawhol
egl
assofwat
er
atonego.I’
m stunned!
“Remembery
oucal
l
edmel
astni
ght
,whatwer
eyou
sayi
ng?”
Lord,Ihatepeoplewhodot hi
s.IfIasky ou
somet hi
ngbyt ext
,respondbytext.Don’taskme
thi
ngsIsai doverthephoneface-t
o-face,Idon’
thav
e
face-
to-f
aceairti
me.
“
Idon’
tremember
,”Isay
.
Hi
sst
areisburni
ngmycheek,
butIkeepmyey
eson
t
hepl
ateandignorehi
m.
“TherewasNolwazi
invol
ved,
whi
chisthepar
tIdon’
t
underst
and.Howdoy oui
nvol
veathi
rdper
soninour
bedroom l
i
fe?”
Ican’
tbel
i
evehe’
sscol
dingmesocalml
y,y
et
makingmefeell
i
keastupi
dli
tt
legi
rl
.
“
Nolwaziismyfriend,she’
slikeasist
ert
ome,we
t
alkaboutever
ything,
”Isay,shruggi
ngmyshoul
der
s.
“Butshe’
snotmyfri
end,t
omeit’
sjustaninv
asi
on
ofpri
vacyandIdon’
tli
kei
t.I
fIwantedpeopl
eto
knowaboutwhatIdointhebedroom I
’
dgoint
othe
porni
ndustr
yorhavepubli
csex.Ify
ouhav
e
complai
nts,t
alkt
omeandl et
’sseehowwecome
wit
hthesoluti
on.
”
Ireall
ydidn’
texpectittoblowupli
ket
his.Gir
lstal
k,
everywhereinthewor l
d.Ibel
iev
eheal
sot al
kstohis
brothersaboutsex.Therewasnoharmintended,
real
ly.
“I
’m sorr
yifyoufeltthatway.Buttr
ustme,
the
conversati
onwasj ustajoke.Youknowthe
ster
eotypesaroundy ourrel
igi
on,shewasj
ust
curi
ous,that’
sall
.”
“I
’
m amanoffai
th,
butt
hatdoesn’
tmeanI
’
m st
upi
d
orout
moded.
”
“
Okay,Iheary
ouBandl
a.Canwemov
eonf
rom
t
his?
”Iask.
“Notbefor
ey ouaskmewhaty ouwereaski
ngover
thephoneyesterday.
”Hetakesthepl
atesandgoes
totheki
tchen,l
eav i
ngmewi t
hmymout hhangi
ng
open.WejustdiscussedwhatIaskedoverthe
phone,whatmor ether
e’st
odiscuss?!
Hecomesbackandgetsi
nbed.Thel
ookhe’
sgi
ving
metel
l
smet hat‘
wearepi
cki
ngupwherewelef
toff
’.
“
Sowhatwast
hequest
ionNokukhany
a?”heasks.
Godt
akemenow!
“
I’
m nol
ongeri
nter
est
ed,
”Isay
.
“
Unf
ort
unat
ely
,I’
m st
il
li
nter
est
ed.
”
Lor
d,br
ingy
ourf
loods,
thear
kisbui
l
tandr
eady
.
“
Nowy
oucan’
tspeak?
”
Al
ri
ght
,he’
sdi
ggi
ngi
t.
“
Iaskedi
fyou’
l
lev
ersuckmycooki
ejar
,”Isay
.
“
Ther
e’sapar
tthaty
ou’
rel
eav
ing.I
twasn’
tjust
t
hat
.”
“
OrImustbuyacl
i
tor
alpump.
”Ther
e,I
’
vesai
dit
.
Whyishegi
vi
ngmet hatlook?Hetol
dmet
oask.
Thenhest
art
slaughi
ng,he’ssoweir
d.
“
Thepumppumps?
”heasks.
Pumps?GodIcannotdeal
wit
hthi
sman.
“
Let
’ssl
eepBandl
alet
hu,
”Isay
.
Hecl
osestheinchdist
ancethatwasl
eftbet
weenus
andl
ockshishandinmine.
“
Wet
est
ed,
right
.Soar
eyouont
hepi
l
l?”heasks.
I
fthi
sishi
swayofaski
ngmet
ogor
awwi
thhi
m,
t
henhe’smist
aken.
“
I’
m nothav
ingsexwi
thoutacondom,
nev
er!
”Isay
.
Icanseet hedi sappoint
mentbuthedoesn’ targue
me.Itwoul dn’thavehelpedany way
.I’
m nottrusti
ng
thecont
racept ion,manypeopl ehavef
allenpregnant
whil
eont hei nject
ionandpil
l.Doubleprotect
ionor
gosing‘
Ameeen’ atthetemple.
“
Whatdoy
oumeani
fyousay‘
nev
er’
?”heasks.
“
Imeanj
ustt
hat
,Idon’
twantt
ofal
lpr
egnant
.”
“
Ever
?”heasks.
“
Fornowt
hat
’swhatIt
hink.
”
“
You’
rej
usthav
ingf
un?
”
Icannotanswert
hisquesti
onbecausehe’
l
l
underst
anditi
nhisownt wi
stedwayanyway.
“
Youdi
dn’
tanswermyquest
ion,
”Isay
.
“
Idi
dn’
t?”heasks.
Ir
aisemyey
ebr
ow,
he’
spl
ayi
ngdumb.
Heexhal
esandl
etsoutashor
tchuckl
e.
“Ther
e’snot
hingIwoul
dn’
tdot
omakey
ouhappy
,”
hesays.
Di
dheneedtomakemebl
ush?Ipl
antal
i
ghtpeck
onhi
sli
panduponhi
snose.
“
Ilov
eyouBandl
a-l
ami
,
”Isay
.
Hel
aughs,
“Ownme,
I’
myour
s.”
Well
,well
,wel
l.I
t’
sthi
ckandharddownhere.Istr
oke
i
tafewt i
mes,makingsuremyeyesar
eobserving
hi
sreacti
ontomyhand.Hi smout
hissl
ight
lyopen.
Hishandist
enderl
ybrushi
ngmyhead,Iguesshe’s
enj
oyingi
t.
“
Doy
oul
i
kei
t?”Iask.
“
Yes,
”henodsandi
nhal
esshar
plyt
hroughhi
steet
h.
Ir
emov etheblanketandsqueezemysel
fbet
ween
hi
slegs.Icannotgiveaheadwithmyclot
heson,
I
st
ri
pnakedbef
oret
aki
nghi
m on.

Hisshaf tisbulgi ngbehi ndhi sshortandbeggi ngf or

freedom.Isur rendert oit
sdemandandpul ldownhi s
shor t.Iplantawetki ssandpr essmyt ongueont he
ti
p.Her eleasesal owsoundIcan’ tmakesenseof
ashi sst omacht ensesup.Iopenmymout h,dar t
ov ertheheadandt easeacr osst heslitofhi sur ethra.
AsIpl ungeal lofi tdownmyt hroathe’scr adlingmy
headl i
keamot hert oababy .Hismoansar eful fi
l
ling,
IknowI ’m doingi tright,nott hatIdoubtedmyski l
ls
i
nanyway .Icuphi sbal l
s, l
ickandsuckt hem.My
tongueswi r
lsar oundt hev einspoppi ngoutofhi s
shaf t,againI’m pr essi ngitagai nstthetip.Inchby
i
nch, Ihunchdownhi swhol eshaf tuntil
itr eaches
myt onsils.Hel etsoutadeepgr oanandgr ipst he
baseofhi sshaf twi thonehandandgr abst heback
ofmyheadwi tht heot her.
“UlubambolwamiNokukhanya,
”hesay
swi
tha
groan.(You’
remysoulmate.
)
I
tseemsl
i
keIhav
eunl
eashedt
hemonst
er,
he’
s
r
ippi
ngmythr
oatapart
.Eventual
lyhi
shandl
eav
es
myneck,
Isi
tup,outofbr
eath,andcoughaf
ew
t
imes.
I
’m st
il
ldi
zzy
,hepushesmedownonmyst
omach
wit
honehandandlif
tsupmybehi
nd.
Somethi
ngwar
ml i
cksmywetf ol
ds,
outofpani
c,I
near
lyj
umpandfal
loffbed.I
t’
shi
stongue!
“Thisiswhaty ouwanted,ri
ght?
”He’sspr eadingmy
buttcheeksandsl i
dinghisfi
ngerthroughmyf ol
ds.
Hist onguepenetr
atesthroughthem andswi rl
s
aroundmyf l
esh.Thestrokesofhistongueandt he
l
ickingsoundshe’smaki ngashel i
cksmef ansthe
burningflamesoflustwithi
nme.Iwanthi minside
me, I’
m cryi
ngandbeggi ngfori
t.
“
Bandl
apl
easef
uckme.
”I’
m aqui
ver
ingmess.
Herubsmycl
itwit
haf i
nger
.It
’snotenough,
Iletout
anot
hercr
yofdesper
ati
on.
“
Areweexcl
usi
veKhany
o?Isanyoneev
ergoi
ngt
o
t
ouchher
eorit
’smi
ne?Mineal
one?”
“
It
’sy
our
sbaby
,Iswear
,it
’sy
our
s!”
Akisslandsonmybut tcheek,
thenhecli
mbsoff
bedandt akessomethi
ng,somewhere.Ir
emainon
myknees, impat
ient
lywai
tingf
orhimtoputthe
rubberon.
Ifeelhi
sti
pmassagi
ngmycl
i
tandl
etoutadr
amat
ic
scream.Yes,
baby
!
“
Whatdi
dyoudot
omeKhany
o?”He’
spushi
ngi
n.
Imoaninpleasur
eandmov
emyassbackwar
dst
o
hel
phimfitin.
“I
’venev erlovedanyonet hewayIloveyou…I’ddo
anythingt ohavey ouinmywor ld…i
nmyar msev er
y
night.”Hepausesandl eansovertopl
antakisson
myback.Thef i
rststr
okesareslow,passi
onateand
fulf
ill
ingintimat
ely.Thenhedeepenshisstrokesand
i
ncr easest hepace.
Theworl
dbef
oremeswi
rl
sar
oundi
nthehazeof
tr
ophi
esandl
ight
s.
ThelastnameIcall
outisGod’s,
bef
oreawav
e
dragsmet oadi
ffer
entplanet
.
I’
mt ur
nedov er,
legsspr eadt
oeithersidesofbed
andarmspi nnedabov emyhead.He’ sgr oani
ngand
havi
nghi swaywi thmycor e,
ont op.Somepar tsof
hisbeardaremoi st,hi
swholefaceiscov eredin
sweat,veinsar
et hrobbi
ngagainsthisforehead.
“Iwanttost
aywi
thy
ou,
”hesay
swi
thhi
sey
es
closed.
Iwr
apmyl
egsar
oundhi
swai
standt
raphi
min.
“Idon’t
…Idon’twantt ostayathome…Iwantt ost ay
withyou,please!”Hebur i
eshi sheadovermy
shoulderandt hrustsi
nhar der.“
Khanyoyou’r
ekill
ing
me, whatam Igoi ngtosayathome?You’ r
ekill
i
ng
me!”Hispacei scrazy.If
eel mycoreheati
ngupas
heslamsi nrepeat edl
y,wit
hnomer cy
.
“
Myl
ove!
”hecr
iesoutandt
ensesont
opofme.
Iwatchhim asher ol
l
sandf al
lstothesi
de,outof
breat
h.Hisfacialmusclesar
esqueezedinasifhe’s
sucki
ngal emonort r
yingtoswall
owabi t
terpi
ll
.He
hassomanyv einsonhisarmsthatIdi
dn’tnot
ice,
or
they’
repul
sati
ngnowbecausehi sbodyhasbeen
fl
oodedbyat idalwave.
Aft
eramomentheopenshiseyes,
hisfacecal
ming
downbuthi
sey
essti
llf
il
ledwit
hindescri
babl
elust
.
“
Thanky
ou,
”hesay
s.
Iwinkandsmi le.Wherehashebeenmywhol eli
fe?
That‘thanky ou’waswor t
hmor ethananyamountof
moneyI ’
vebeent hankedwit
hforsex.Hel ov esme,
that’
swhathesay sandabigpartofmebel ieves
him.Buti t’
snotmuchaboutt hat;bei
ngl ovedandt o
l
ov e.I
t’sabouthowt hewhol
erelati
onshipmakes
mef eel.Thel i
ttl
ethi
ngshedoesandsay st hatmake
mef eel good,enoughandwor t
hofany thingand
everyt
hing.
I’
m notlet
ti
ngt
hisonego.Ev
ery
onewi
l
lhav
eto
adjust
.
“
You’
remov
ingi
nwi
thme?
”Iask.
Hef
rowns,
“Huh?
”
SMH.I’
mj ustwait
ingf
orthedayhepr
omisesmean
ai
rpl
ane.Iwantaconvert
ibl
eoneandhe’
dgivei
tto
mebyf i
re,byf
orce.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER15
BANDLA

Hecoul dn’thavehi
sgirl
fri
endtravel
li
ngt oDur banby
taxisoearlyinthemorning,sohecalledThakasa’ s
driv
erwhohadot hermorningerrandstor unand
askedhi mt odri
veKhanyobackt oDur ban.It’
shard
toseeherl eavebecausethere’
squiteadi stance
betweent hem andhe’snotsurewhenhe’ l
lbeseeing
heragain.Butthememor i
estheycreatedar ehereto
keephim war m.He’swhistl
ingashewal ksintograb
what ev
erMakhumal ohaspr eparedforhislunchand
thenhe’llr
ushtowor kbeforeThakasabi tehishead
off.
“Thisi
smyhouse,notakr
aal,
”Makhumal osay
s,
standi
ngi
nthemiddleoft
hekitchen.Thesuni
snot
evenupbutsomeoneisal
readyannoy ed.
Hest
opswhi
stl
i
ng,
“I’
m sor
ry.Goodmor
ning.
”
Wi
thadi
sgust
edonce-
over
,shet
akeshi
slunchout
oft
hef
ri
dgeandpacksaf
ewf
rui
ts.
“Thi
sisthesecondti
mey
ousl
eepoutwi
thoutt
ell
i
ng
anyone,
”shesays.
“It
ell
Nkonzo,never
thel
ess,
I’
m ol
dMa.Icant
ake
careofmysel
f.”
“
Yes,y
ou’r
eold,butyourst
atusisthatofaboy.
Whi
leyou’
resti
l
lundermyr oof
,unmar ri
ed,
you’
ll
let
meknowwheny ouleave,wher
ey ou’l
lbeatandhow
l
ongyou’
ll
begone.”
“IwasatHl
omendl
ini
,
”hesayswi
thadi
smissi
ve
shrug,
hopi
ngt
herewil
lbenomor
equesti
onsto
fol
low.
“
Wit
hwho?
”Makhumal
oasks,
herey
esnar
rowed.
“
Nokukhany
aMay
ise,
”hesay
s.
“Sothesedisappear
anceshav eev
eryt
hingt
odowith
agirl
.Whatkindofagi r
listhat
?Doesn’
tsheval
ue
hersel
f?”sheasks,t
hrowingherhandsup.
Bandl
asighsandopenshislunchboxtocheckwhat
hehastoday.Hecannotgobackandf or
thwit
hhi
s
mother
,it
’l
lj
ustrui
nhispromisi
ng,br
ightcomi
ng
day
.
“
Whi
chchur
chdoesshegot
o?”Makhumal
o.
“
She’
snotar
eli
giousper
son.Whydon’
tIhav
eany
meat
?”
“Whatkindofaper sonisshe? ”She’snotlett
ingthis
onego.Yest hey’r
eold,butast hei
rmot hershehas
tomakesur ethattheydon’tinvolv
et hemselveswi t
h
thewrongpeopl e.Thakasaturnedoutr i
ght,he’
sleft
marksforthey oungeronestost epon.Shehashi gh
expect
ationsofhersons.
“Ma,I’
ml at
eforwor k,
”Bandl asays.Heneedsto
escape,notnecessaril
ybecausehedoesn’twanther
toknowaboutKhany o,butbecauseheknows
exactl
ythereacti
onhe’ sgoingtogetandit’
snot
somethinghewant stodeal withnow.
“
Alr
ightmyboy ,domeonef avorke.Dowhat ever
y
oudowi ththatgir
l,whereveryoudoi tandkeepit
t
here.Iwantnogirlt
hatlacksmor alsandself
r
espectinmyhouse, ehambai zenekanje!”
“
Youdon’
tev
enknowher
,”Bandl
asay
sinshock.
“Iknowenough.I
fshewasworthany
thi
ng,
you’
d
havedonethi
ngstheri
ghtway
.”
“
Newsf
lashMaKhumalo,Il
oveherandshe’
sgoi
ng
t
obeyourdaught
er-
in-
law.
”
Shebr
eaksachuckl
eandcl
apsherhands.
“WeNtombi kaLobengul
a!Takeyourfoodandgo
Bandl
alethu,st
opdreaming.”Shedr
iesherhands
wit
hacl othandwalksaway .
Bandlaisl eftst
unned.Justl
i
ket hat
,Khanyoi
sabad
person.Hehasn’ tevensatherdownandt ol
dher
abouther -therealt
ypeofagirlsheisandhow
muchshemeanst ohim.Het houghthewas
ment al
lypr epar
edforthi
sbutnowi thur
tsmoret
han
heant i
cipated.
“Thatdi
dn’tgowell
,di
dit
?”Thakasaasks,
looki
ng
rat
herpleasedbythewhol
ething.Headj
ustshi
s
coll
arandbuttonsuphi
sblaz
er .
“Ihavet
ogotoGingindl
ovubefor
ecomingtothe
offi
ceandget
ti
ngreadyformymeet i
nginQuart
ers.
Doy ouknowwhy?Becausesomeonedecidedtouse
thecompanydri
verashisgi
rl
fr
iend’
schauff
er,
”he
say
s.
Bandl
ajustpeel
sabananaandkeepsqui
et.
“Don’tputyourheartintosomeonet hatcannotbui l
d
af amil
ywithyou.Babaal way stol
dust hat,it
’sone
l
essonheemphasi zedmor ethanothers.Youcannot
pickawomanf rom thestreetsandthinky ou’
lldust
heroffandt ur
nherint oawi f
eandamot herofyour
childr
en.”
“I
’
m notyouThakasaandmost
ly,
I’
m notmyf at
her.I
wasalwaysgoi
ngtobewithawomant hatIl
ove,
”
Bandl
asays.
“I’
m alsowi ththewomant hatIlove.Youjusthaveto
makesur ethatthewomany ouloveistherightone
fory ou,
thef amil
yandt hel
egacy .Awomani sthe
backboneoft hefamil
y.Youchooset hewr ongone,
thef amil
yf al
lsapar
t.Andwedon’ twantthat,
Duy azaandMakhumal owor kedhardtoraiseusand
buil
dt hi
sf amily.
”
“Well
,I
’m sor
ryy ouandyourmotherthinkt
he
womany ouhav en’tmeti
sn’
tri
ghtforthefamil
y.
Unfor
tunatel
y,I
’
m goi ngt
ofol
lowmyhear t
.Idon’
t
wantt oendupmi serableandshor t-
temper ed.”He
grabshi slunchboxandmakeshi swayout ,leaving
Thakasar ankl
ingwi thanger .Hemayhav ea
savorlesswayofput ti
ngwor ds, buthe’ salway s
l
ookingoutf orthef ami l
y.He’ sputt hem abov e
every
t hing.He’slivedhi sli
fef ort hem toobser ve,
l
earnandunder standwhati tmeanst obeaManqel e.
Heknewf rom theageof16whathi sresponsi bi
lit
ies
wereandhowhi slif
ewassupposedt ot urnout .
WhenhemetNot hil
eheknewt hathe’df oundagood
thi
ng-agoodwi fe.Hewasn’ tl ookingf orhismot her
i
nher ,atleastnotwhol l
y,butt herewasanel ement
ofMaKhumal oinhert hatat tractedhi m.‘ I
fshehad
whatt hewomant hatr ai
sedhi m had, shewas
capabl eofextendi ngthef ami lyandt aki ngitt othe
nextlev el
.’
AndNothil
ehasdonet hat
.She’slookedoverhi
s
mist
akes,t
here’sali
tt
leManqeleprinceorpri
ncess
gr
owinginsideher
,she’smakingsurethatever
ybody
i
sfedandt hehousesareclean.
“
Manqel
e,
”
Hebl
i
nksoutofhi
smi
ser
yandl
ooksbehi
ndhi
m.
She’
sstandi
ngwithalookonherface-hef
orgot
somethi
ng.Ther
e’shi
schargeri
nherhand.
“Maybeyouneedt obuyonethat’
sgoi
ngtost
ayin
theoff
icebecause,wow.”Shehandst
hechar
gert
o
him wi
thaslightheadshake.
Hetakesthechargeranddoesn’
tletgoofherhand.
Khosiexpr
essedtimetoti
mehowmuchi tangered
herwhenheheldherhandanddi dn’
tletgoofit.But
hecan’tl
etgoofthehabit
,hejustholdsthei
rhands
possessi
vel
yandst ar
esatthem unti
lheseesthe
bott
om ofthei
rsouls.
“Ngi
yabonga,
”hesay
sandcont
inuest
ohol
dher
hand.
Unli
keKhosi,shedoesn’
tmi ndhim hol
dingherhand.
She’sneverr
eadmuchi ntoit-nothi
ngabouthi
m
‘
usinghispowertocontrolher.’
“
You’r
ewelcome,
”shesay
s,herl
i
pscr
acki
ngi
ntoa
l
azysmil
e.
Abriefmomentpasseswi
thhi
m st
ari
ngatherand
notsayi
nganyt
hing.
Thenheasks;
“Cany
oucomet
otheof
fi
cear
ound
l
unchti
me?”
“
Yes,
”shenods.
Heputshishandoverhercheek,r
emorseand
sadnesssl
it
ti
ngthr
oughhisey esandconsci
ence.
“Iwanttospendsomet
imewi
thy
ouandourl
i
ttl
e
onehere,”hesay
s.
Well
,thi
sopensthepr
egnancytalkt
hatt
hey’
venever
had.Thi
sbabycameatthewr ongti
me,whenthey
wereatoddsandfi
ght
inginnerandout
erdemons.
“
Arey
ouhopi
ngf
oragi
rloraboy
?”sheasks.
“I
’m hopi
ngforaheal
thybaby
,andt
ohav
emywi
fe
nexttome,”hesays.
Sheleansonhischestandwrapsherarmsaround
hi
swai st
.Heembr acesherontheshoul
der
s,hi
s
hear
tloudlybeat
ingagai
nsthischest
.
“Il
oveyouMaNtusi,j
ustli
keIdi
d6y ear
sago.How
canImakethi
ngsr i
ght?Howdowegobackt o
wherewewere?Iwantt obeahusbandandagood
fat
hert
oourchil
d.”Hischini
srest
ingontopofher
head,hi
seyesarefi
rml
yshut.Phethyf
rownsatt
he
doorandslowl
ystepsbackbefor
eshedist
urbsa
moment .
“
Bepr
esentwher
eyourhear
tis,
”shesay
s.
I
t’
ssuchacompl
i
cat
edanswerorst
atement
.
“
ButI’
m her
ewi
thy
ou,
”her
espondsi
nagr
uff
y
whi
sper.
“
YetIf
eel
li
keIdon’
tknowy
ou.
”
“Atti
mesIdon’ tknowmy sel
fei
ther
.Itf
eel
sli
keI
thr
ewmy sel
funderthebusandIwanttogetupbutI
can’
t.There’
sthisfor
ceholdi
ngmedowni nplace,
in
agoodway ,
buttheweightonmyshoulder
sis
gett
ingheavierandIwanttobreakfr
ee.
”
Sheletsgoofhiswai
standl
ooksathi
m wi
th
widenedeyes.
“
No,noMaNtusi
.It
’snotabouty
ouorusorour
mar
ri
age,
justev
erythi
nginmyli
fe,
”hesay
s.
Oh,
that
’ssomer
eli
ef!
“
Tal
ktome,
ory
ourbr
other
s,orMa.
”
Heshakeshishead,“Idon’
twanttothr
owmy
burdensonanyone,
especial
lynotyouandmy
brother
s.”
“Okaylet’
scancellunch,
I’l
lbookyoui
ntoa
psychologi
calcounselor
,”shesay
s.
“MaNtusi,I
’m notcr
azy!
”Hiseyeswi
den.
Psychologi
cal?Counsel
ing?He’
snotmental
l
y
dist
urbed,whywouldheneed…?
“You’l
lgothere,t
hat’sifyou’reser
iousabout
want i
ngtosav et
hismar ri
age,Iwantanemot ional
presenthusband.DrMhl ongoisapr ofessi
onal
trai
nedcounselorthatlistensandhel pspeopl
edeal
wi t
hthei
rment alchall
enges,”shesay s.
Whydidhebr
ingt
hisupi
nthef
ir
stpl
ace?Hebl
ows
outasi
gh.
“Al
ri
ght
,I’
l
lgobutIst
il
lwanttospendt
imewi
thy
ou
bef
orecomingbackt
oeveryone.
”
That’
sanotherthi
ngtheyneedt odiscussinfut
ure;
l
ivi
ngwitheveryone.He’sboughtahouset obewi t
h
hi
sside-
chick,whycan’thedot hesamef orher
?
She’
salwayswant edthem tomov eoutbutstopped
herthoughtsbecausei twoul
dn’
tbefai
rto
MaKhumal o.Shet houghtmaybeNkonzoorBandla
wouldgetmar ri
edt henshe’
dmov eoutknowingt
hat
someonei stakingcareofMaKhumaloandt he
youngersibl
ings.
“MaybeIshoul dreserveat
ablei
narest
aur
ant,”she
says,hereyebrowr ai
sedathi
m.Hedoesn’
tli
ke
rest
aurants,orgoingoutal
toget
her
.
“
Iwantapr
ivat
eseat
ing,
”hesay
s.
It
’sbett
erthancal
li
ngthewhol
ethi
ngof f
.She
smilesandstandsonhert
oesandkisseshi
sli
ps.
“
Yo,
ngekephel
a!”someonecompl
ainsatt
hedoor
.
Theybotht ur
nt hei
rheadstothevoi
ceandsee
Phethystandingwithaboredlookonherf
ace.She’
s
beenstandingthereforalooongti
me,t
ryi
ngtogrant
them somepr iv
acy.
“
I’
mlat
ef orschool
,myl
unchi
sther
einsi
det
he
f
ri
dge,
”shetell
sthem.
“
Ist
hef
ri
dgeont
opofourheads,
may
be?
”Thakasa.
Not
hil
egaspsandpl
ayf
ull
yhi
tshi
schest
.
“
Phel
aIdon’twanttotraumat
izemysel
f,Ihav
ea
t
estl
atert
oday,
”Phethysays,
makingherwayi nsi
de
t
heki
tchenandgrabbingherl
unchfr
om thefri
dge.
“
Goodl
uckony
ourt
est
,”Not
hil
esay
s.
“Thankyou,si
si,
”shesaysandhurri
esoutt
hedoor
beforewit
nessi
ngmor eofthei
rcanoodl
e.
“
Wereyouevert
hati
nnocent
?”Not
hil
easks,
tur
ning
t
oThakasa.
Hechuckl
es,
“Whatdoy
oumean?I
’
m st
il
li
nnocent
.”
“
Youcanl
i
eforAf
ri
ca!
”shesay
s,f
lappi
ngherey
es.
“Hhayibo,whatdi
dIdo?Anyway…”Hepullsher
closerandcover
sherearwi
thhishandsand
whispers,
“Nopanti
esall
owedlat
ertoday
.”
“
Manqel
e!”shegasps.
“Sendmey
ourDr
’sdet
ail
sandt
imeofappoi
ntment
,
bye!”
.
.
KHANYO

Okay ,thisisawei rdhouse.Icomef r

om t herural
areas, Iknowt radi t
ional
l
ybuiltr
ondav el
s,butthis
onelooksl i
keanol dzoohutwi thal lthebonesand
deadani mal skins.Myeducat edbr otherhasbeen
coughi ngev ersi ncewewal kedin.Themandoesn’ t
care,he’ sburningi mpephoandl ightningscented
candles.Weboughtt hewhiteones, heinstruct
edus
tohol dt hem inourhandsandconnectwi thour
spir
its, whatevert hatmeans.
“Yoh,hhay
i!
”I ’
vebeenexcl
aimingeversince.He’
s
taki
nghispr eci
ousti
me,IswearifIhadtor at
ehis
servi
cetohisbosses-ancest
ors,I
’dgiv
ehi m one
starf
orlet
tingusinandthatwouldbeit.
“
Soy ouhav
efinal
l
ytakent
hedeci
sion?
”heasksand
r
aiseshi
seyestome.
“
Yes,”IsayeventhoughIdon’
tunder
standcl
ear
ly
whathisquesti
onimpli
es.
“Af
ter8yearsofr
unni
ng,”hebreaksachuckl
eand
pul
lsasarongandwrapsitoverhi
sshoulder
s.
Idon’tsayanyt
hing.I
’
m wai
tingf
orhi
mtoask
str
aightf
orwardquesti
onsl
i
kewhyam Iher
eand
who’ssitt
ingnexttome.
“
Sowhatbr
ingsy
ouher
e?”heaskswi
thagr
inonhi
s
f
ace.
What’samusinghi
m somuch?IhopeNolwazidi
dn’
t
drawmeey ebrowsthatl
ookl
i
keshiel
dsonthecoat
ofarms.
“Well,
I’
vebeenhav ingwei r
ddr eamssinceIwas17,
i
fI’m notmistaken.Thenov erthey ear
sIstart
ed
seeingthi
ngst hataren’
treall
yv i
siblet
othenaked
eye.Justyesterday,Iwasv i
sit
ingmyboy fr
iend’
s
si
sterandsawashadowi nt hey ar
dandher
husband’slungclottedwithblood.”
“
Whatdoy
ouseei
nyourdr
eams?
”heasks.
“Ol
dpeoplet
hatIdon’
tknow,bl
oodandgravesnear
aplacet
hatl
ooksli
keatrai
nstat
ion.I
thasaboard
butwhat
’swri
tt
enonitdoesn’
tshowclear
ly,
”Isay
.
Henodsandr el
easesaloudgr
oan.Thenhest
art
s
t
hrowinghisbonesandnarr
owinghi
seyestor
ead
whatevert
hey’
retel
li
nghim.
Hel
ooksatme,
hopel
essl
y.
“Unfort
unatelymyancestor
swon’tall
owmet ohelp
you.Gohomeandconnectwi t
hthespi r
it
ualperson
i
nsidey ou.Theyonlyshowedmear ondavel
,whi t
e-
paintedwithbrokenwindowontheleftandgrass
roof,
”hesay s.
Istil
lhav
eaf rownonmyf ace.One,becausehe’
s
beingauselessdead-asssangoma,andtwo
becausehe’sdescri
bingmylategrandmother
’s
rondavelbackhome.IbrokethewindowwhenIwas
drunktheotherChri
stmas.
“Buyawhi t
ecandleandamet alwaterbasin.Sleep
i
nt here, li
ghtyourcandleandkeepcl eanwat erfrom
thewat erf
alli
nabasi n.Idon’ tknowhowl ongitwi l
l
takey oubutwheni tcomes, prayov erthatwater,
prayhar dandaskf orclari
ty.You’ l
lnevertouchany
medi cineorsal t
,youpr aytocl eanwat erandheal
people, it’
syourgift
.”
Whatthehel
l
?Idon’
tknowhowtopr
ay.Somet
imesI
f
orgetamerever
seofOurFat
her
.
“
WhomustIpr
ayt
o?”Iask.
“
God,y
ourancest
ors,MotherNatur
e,TheSpir
itof
Wat
erandwhoeveryourspir
itl
eadsyouto.
”
Kodwankosi yami,whoi sMot
herNat
ure?HowdoI
evenst
artpraying?Can’tIt
akeafewprayingcl
asses
maybe?Iknowmybr otherwoul
dpaytuit
ionfees
andext
ralectures.
“Pleasedosomet hi
ngaboutt hebl
ood.Yourgr
eat-
grandfatherki
lledy ourgrandmotherwit
haspear.
Herwoundswer enev erwashed.Also,t
heweapon
wasnev erextricated.Ifsomeonediesbyaweapon
athome, somethingisdonet opreventi
tfr
om
repeatedlystr
ikingbackandwoundsar ewashed
andsmear edwi thumswani .”
Whoah!Weneedt
osl
owdownandt
akeast
epback.
“HowisthatallKhany
o’sprobl
em?HereisMandul
o,
he’
solderthanmeandt hoseri
tual
thi
ngsarehi
s
duty
,notmi ne,
”Iask.
Hi
sey
esr
unt
oMandul
oandcomebackt
ome.
“Hi
sf atherpai
dforhim,hewastradi
ti
onall
ysentout
oftheMay i
seancest
orsandacknowledgedasa
Nyathi.Hecanhelpyou,buti
t’
snothisduty,i
tnever
was.Youhaddut
iesandresponsi
bil
i
tiesbef
orey
ou
ev
encameoutofy ourmother’
swombNokukhany a
Mayise.
”
Wow!Whydi dImeetBandl
alet
hu?I
fIhadn’tmet
himI’
dsti
l
lbedrinki
ngever
ydayandnotdeali
ngwit
h
thi
sdri
vel
.Ihat
ebeingsoberwit
hall
mylife.
“
Pleaseexcuseus,I
’
dliketohav
esomepriv
acywith
y
ourbrother
,”hesays,
looki
ngatMandul
owithpi
ty.
Ihearhi
m exhal
eheavi
lynexttome.Icantel
lthat
he’
sfreakedout
,bythi
smanr equest
ingpr
ivacywit
h
hi
m andjustbei
nginsi
dethi
swei r
drondav
el.

I
’m nothappywithhisanswersandl ackof
det
er mi
nati
onfrom hisancest
ors.Icansayt hey’r
e
l
azy ,
whycouldn’
ttheyhelpme?Mybr ot
herisgoing
topaythi
smangoodmoneyf ordoingnot hi
ng.Itake
myshoesatt hedoorandgot othecarout si
det he
gate.
Ineedtot
alkt
othemanthatadv
isedmetocome
here,
maybehear
inghi
svoi
cecancalm medown.
“
Myl
ove,
”heanswer
s.
Iqui
ckl
ypi
cksomber
nessi
nhi
svoi
ceandaski
fhe’
s
okay
.
“
Youwer
eri
ght
,”hesay
s.
“
Aboutwhat
?”Iask.
“Nyezi i
ssi ck.ItoldWandeaboutwhaty ousai d,I
’m
sorryIcoul dn’tkeepsuchf rom mysister,soshe
wentt othei rfamilydoctorandaskedf orNy ezi
’s
medi calrecords.Theycal li
tpulmonaryembol i
sm,
he’sbeengoi nginandoutofhospi t
alswhi l
e
clai
mi ngtobeatwor k.Howev er,
hismot her
suspect sthatsomet hi
ngwasdonet ohim dur i
nga
familygat heri
ng, hehasst r
uggledwithidli
sot wi
cein
hisli
fe,”hesay s.
Myhandsar etrembling.Ifr
eakmy sel
fout.Whot he
hell
am I ?ThismeansI ’
vebeenseeingrealthi
ngsall
thi
stime.ButnowIneedt oputfearasi
de,Ny ezii
s
i
mpor tanttoBandl a,
Icanhearthesor r
owj ustfr
om
thewayhebr eathesov ert
hephone.
“
Icanhel
phi
m,Ij
ustneedti
me,”Ibl
urtout
,tear
s
r
unni
ngdownonmyface.Ihav
ef ai
l
edsomany
people,
somepassedon, someareli
vi
ngwith
permanenti
ll
nessesbecauseIwascuddl
ingbottl
es
i
nsteadofhel
pingthem.Helli
sexact
lywhereI’
m
goi
ngaf t
erl
if
e.
“
Whatdoy
oumeany
oucanhel
phi
m?”heasks.
“I
’
m goinghome,I’
llprayf
orhim anddoev er
y t
hingi
n
mypowert ohealhim.Hisil
l
nesswasn’ tbroughtto
myat t
ent
ionbymi st
ake.IswearBandla, I
’m not
goingtol
etMawandebecomeawi dow, Iknowhow
muchherhappinessmeanst oyou.”
“
Wher
ear
eyour
ightnow?I
’
m comi
ngt
oDur
ban.
”
Ohmygoodness,
whati
sbecomi
ngofmyl
i
fe?
!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER16
KHANYO

Manduloisinmyr oom f
orthef
ir
sttime.Idon’
t
knowwhatt hesangomat ol
dhi
m whenIwasgone
buthelooksli
kehisworldwascrushed.I
’
m scared
toask,
may beheneedssomespace.Heaskedt ol
ie
i
nmyr oom forawhi l
ebefor
edri
vingtoKwaMashu.

I’
m wai
tingforBandla,hesaidhe’spar
kingoutsi
de,
thenI
’l
lstar
tpackingandpr epar
ingformyjourney
backhome.Ihav en’
ttoldGuguandNol wazianything.
Iknowthey’
llfr
eakout, i
t’
ssosuddenandconf using.

Atextcomest
hrough.He’
satthedoor
.Iputmy
hl
i
bhasonandgoopenf orhi
m.
Hecr
ushesmyr
ibsi
nat
ighthug.
“
Myl
ove,
what
’sgoi
ngon?
”heasks.I
’
m st
il
li
nhi
s
embr
aceandst
ruggl
i
ngt
obr
eat
he.
“
I’
ll
expl
ain,
let
’sgosi
tfi
rst
,”Isay
.
Helet
sgoofme,butgr
absmyf
acef
oraqui
ckki
ss
bef
orewal
ki
ngi
n.
“
Jui
ce?
”Iask.
“
No,
you.
”
Soweirdandunnecessar
y!Il
aughandshakemy
head.

Hesi
tsandput
sacushi
ononhi
slap.
CanIbeacushi
on?
Isi
tnextt
ohi
m andr
eleaseasi
ghbef
oreIbegi
n.
He’snotshockedt
hatmuchaboutt heheal
inggi
ft
thi
ngandt hatmyvi
sionshavebeenreal
.Butmoving
backhomehascaughthi m of
fguard.
“Whoarey
ougoi
ngt
ost
aywi
th?Forhowl
ong?
”he
asks.
Ishr
ugmyshoul
der
s,“
Idon’
tknowBandl
a.Al
lI
knowi
sthatIhav
etodothi
stobeabl
etohel
pNy
ezi
andot
her
sthatarey
ett
ocome.”
“
WhataboutmeKhany
o?HowmustIl ivewi
thout
y
ou?Am Ial
lowedt
oatleastv
isi
tyou?
”
“
Idon’
tknowBandl
a,we’
l
ltal
k.”
Hegetsonhisfeetandpacesar
oundthesmall
passagebehi
ndthecouch.He’
smakingmedizzy.
“Ift
hisisanini
tiati
onofsomesortt
henitmeansyou
couldbegonef ormonthsandIwon’tbeabl
etosee
you,”hesayswi thsomuchfr
ustr
ati
onandrubshi
s
facefuri
ousl
y .
“Anditcoul
dbejustweeks,Idon’
tknowwhatI
’
llbe
doingbutIknowthatIhav
et odoit
,”Isay
.
“KhanyoIjustf
oundy ou.Iknowt hatIwantedyouto
getanswers,andI’
m gratef
ulthatyouwantt odo
thi
st ohel
pmysi st
er,andI’m happyforyou.ButI
don’twanttoli
vewithoutyou.I’
m scaredyoumi ght
l
eavef or
everandIjustcan’t
…pleasebabe.”
Mypoorlov
e,Igotohim andwrapmyar msaround
hi
swaist
.He’sfr
eakedout;f
earishaunt
inghi
sey es.
“Don’tst
ress,I’
l
lbebackbeforey ouknowi t.You’
re
thereasonwhyIwantt odot hisandt hereasonwhy
I
’ll
fightt
ocomebacksoon.Il ovey ouBandla,what
makesy outhinkI’
l
lletgoofallthis?”Ir
unmyhands
overhischestandteasehismanhoodbymov i
ngmy
waistincir
cles.

Hegr absthebackofmyneck,
locksmyl egbet
ween
hislegsandkissesmeli
kei
t’
sthelastdaywe’r
e
togetheri
nthi
sl i
fet
ime.
Hi
shandst r
aveldownmybackandgrabmybutt
.
He’
spushinghiserect
iontomeandbat
tl
ingmy
t
ongueinsi
demymout h.
Iholdhi
sneckandpullhi
m downtothecouchwi
th
me.Ourbreathsar
eescal
ati
ng,hi
shandsareal
l
overmybutt,
he’sget
ti
ngreal
lywarmedup.

Someoneclearshi
st hroat
.Hest
ops,mor
elikehe
fr
eezes,
andslowlyturnstofi
ndMandul
ostanding
andstar
ingatus.
Fuck,
Ithoughthewasasl
eep.
“Heybr
other,
”Isay
,justt
oputanendt
othe
awkwardness.
Bandla’
shandisov erhisf
orehead.Idon’
tthi
nkI
’
ve
everseenanyonelookingthi
sscaredandashamed
ofbeingcaughtki
ssing.Merelyki
ssing!
“Heretobuymorecur
tai
ns?”Mandul
ojusthadt
o
kickthedogwheni
t’
salr
eadydown.
“I
’
m sor r
y,Khanyodidn’ttel
lmethatyouarehere.
I
’m nottryi
ngtodisrespectyouoranythi
ng,Iswear .
Pleasepardonme, I
’llgo.”Myeyestr
aveltothefront
ofhispant,he’
snotawar eofhowbigandpr ot
ruding
hi
ser ect
ionhasbecome.IknowMandul ohasseen
i
taswel l,j
udgi
ngfrom t hemockeryonhisface.
“
No,
it’
sfi
ne,
Iwasl
eav
ingany
way
,”hesay
s.
Bandl
aisst
il
lfr
ozenonhi
sspot.Idon’
tknowifI
shoul
djumpinandsavet
hedayorlethi
m handl
eit
.
“
Ngi
yaxol
i
sabhut
i,
”her
epeat
shi
sapol
ogy
.
“
No,i
t’
sall
goodMr
,doasy oupl
ease.
”Helooksat
me,
“Cal
lmewhenyou’
redonepacki
ng.”
Hepusheshi shandsinhispocketsandl eaves.He
knowst hatI
’
m dati
ngBandl a,eventhoughhehasan
elementofablackbrotherregardi
ngitbuthe’sstil
l
cool wi
thmegr owi
ngup.Whathej ustdidwasonl y
tomakeBandl auncomf or
table,
whichist helast
thingIneedri
ghtnow.
“
EishKhanyo!
”Hesit
sont
hecouchandbur
ieshi
s
f
aceinhishands.
Idon’
tthi
nkI’
ll
beget t
ingagoodbyesext
oday
.
Thankstothediv
orced,fakeDway
ne.
.
.
THAKASA

There’
saseal edbott
leofwat
erinfr
ontofhim anda
boxoftissuesbythefarendofherdesk.Justi
n
casehecr i
es,real
l
y,t
hiswomanwakesupt oli
sten
topeople’
sproblems!
She’
sstar
ingathi
m withawarm smil
ecurv
ingf
rom
herl
i
ps.Yesit
’swelcomingbuthe’
ssti
ll
col
dasice.
“
Youcanstartbyt
ell
i
ngmeabouty our
sel
f.Shar
e
whaty
outhinkisi
mport
ant
,”shesays.
I
t’
sanopening,
abet
teronethanheexpected,he
t
houghtshe’
daskhi
m str
aightwhathi
sproblem i
s.
“I
’m Thakasa, 36,andIhav ebeenmar ri
edf or6y ears.
I’
mt hefirstchil
di n5sibli
ngs.I
’m aproject
accountantbypr of essi
onandtheCEOofMt honga
Holdings,whichisaf amil
ycompany .I
’m aSabbat h-
observer,Iwasr aisedinaNazarit
eChur ch, soI’ma
manoff ait
handt eachi
ngsofShembe. ”That ’sall
he
cansayi simpor tantfornow,heshrugshi s
shouldersandl eansbackonhi schair.
“
Tel
lmeabouty
ourchi
l
dhood,
”shesay
s.
Heheavesasighandreachestot
hebottl
eofwat
er.
Heneedsasip,j
ustone,not
hingmuch.
“Igr
ewupi naf
inancial
l
yst ablehomebutIwasn’t
spoilt
.Iwasanormal olderchild,l
ooki
ngaf
termy
sibl
ings,t
hetwothatcomeaf terme,andmaking
suretheybehav
edt hemselv es.”
“Di
ditcomenatural
l
ythaty
ouhadtolookaft
ert
hem
ori
twasy ourgi
vendut
yastheol
derone?”
“
Itwasmygi
vendut
yandIdi
dn’
tmi
nd,
”hesay
s.
“
Youst
il
ldon’
tmi
nd?
”
Hechewshisbot
tom l
i
pandt
hinksabouti
tforaf
ew
seconds.
“
No,
”hesay
s.
I
t’
snotconv
inci
ngenough.
“
You’
remar
ri
ed.Doy
ouhav
echi
l
dren?
”
Hesmiles,
“I’
m count
ingdownmont
hsbef
oreIhol
d
hi
m orherinmyar ms.”
“Wow, congr
atul
ations.Let
’ssayyourfirstchil
d
becomesaboy ,
arey ougoingtoraisehimt hesame
wayy ouwereraised?Tohav eresponsibil
it
iesand
duti
est ol
ookafteryourotherchil
dren.
”
“Def
ini
tel
yno,
”hi
sansweri
squi
ckandsur
pri
sing
eventohim.
“
Whatwoul
dyoudi
ff
erent
ly?
”sheasks.
“Ev
er y
thing.Don’
tgetmewr ong,
Iloveandr
espect
myf ather.AndIl
ovemymot her,
she’smyqueen,but
somet i
mesIf eel
li
keI’
m herhusband.”
“Yourthought
sarevali
d,alway
s.Don’tletany
one
makey oubeli
evetheyarenot,
nomat terwhot hey
’re
dir
ectedto,ev
enifit
’syourmother
.”
Henodsandexhal
esinr
eli
ef.Nowhef
eel
ssaf
eand
r
egar
dedasanor mal
person.
“Igotmar r
ieday earbef oremyf atherpassedaway.I
l
ov edNothile,Ichosehermy self,
buttheprocessof
everyt
hingwoul dn’thav ebeenthesamei fmy
parentsdidn’twantgr andchil
dren.SoImar ri
edher
toavoidpremar it
al sexandhav ingchil
drenoutof
wedlock.Itwasj usthush-hush, wegotmar ri
ed
withi
n5mont hsandst art
edt hebaby-making
process.”
DrMhlongochuckl
es,
amusementr
eachi
ngupt
oher
eyes.
“Ar
eyour el
igiousl
ynotal
lowedtosaytheword‘sex’
oryoujustprefercal
l
ingi
tthatway‘
baby-making?”
sheasks.
“It
houghtitwassexunt i
lmywi fegotobsessedwith
theideaofbecomingav ali
dwife,t
henitwasj ust
baby-maki
ng.Well
, so…Icheat
ed,”hethrowshis
handsupandsi
pswat
eragai
n.
DrMhlongoisstunnedbutherprofessi
ondoesn’t
al
lowhertobeawomani nsituat
ionsli
kethese.She
hastokeepacalmf aceandtrynottosound
j
udgmentalorholi
erthanthou.
“Thenthewomany oucheatedwithmadeyouf
eel
l
ov edandappreci
atedwi
thoutexpect
ingy
outoful
fi
ll
anyduties?
”sheasks.
“Therewerenoobl i
gati
onsandnopressure.She’
d
putmeonherl ap,
cradl
esmyheadlikemymot her
usedtobef or
eNkonzocamewhenIwas2, and
she’daskhowIf eel
,howmydaywasandwhat ’
son
mymi nd.”Hetakesasmal l
sipofhi
swat erbefore
hecontinues.
“Wit
hherIwasnev ertheresponsibleonewhot akes
l
eadanddoesev eryt
hingright.Idon’tknowi fshe
al
lowedmet obesi ll
yandf ree,orIfeltl
ikeIcouldbe
si
ll
yandfreewi t
hher .There’sapartofmet hat
missesheralot,butthenagai n,i
t’
snotr ight
.Ihave
awifeandafami lytolead.Icannott eachmy
si
bli
ngsthati
t’sokayt obesel fi
shandputy our
feel
i
ngsfi
rst
,ev
enthought
heymaybr
eakt
hef
ami
l
y
andhur
tyourmother
.”
“Ar
eyoui nl
ovewi
thher?”DrMhl
ongoasksaf
ter
obser
vinghi
sfaci
alexpr
essi
on.
“Iwoul dn’tknowhowt odef i
net hat.Ir eall
yhada
shorttimei nex plori
ngl ov e,onlyaf ewmont hsthenI
wasmar ried.Fr om mar ri
agei twasgener ati
ng
grandchi ldren-t hat’showi tfeltlikeast i
mewentby
‘
gener ating’ .Thenmyf atherdi eday earlater,Ihad
tostepi nhi sshoesandt akecar eofhi swi fe,
companyandchi ldren.Asy earswentby ,his
brothers, ther ewer etwooft hem, alsodi ed.Allthe
ceremoni esandr i
tualsandany thingt hatneededt o
bedonebecamemyr esponsi bili
ty.Iwentt ocour ts
fi
ghtingmyuncl es’ si
de- chicksov erinher i
tances,
madesur eNkonzost ay edi nlineandmar ri
edof fmy
22yearol dsi ster.I’
m appr oaching40andIf eel l
i
keI
wantt ost ayaf loatbutt her e’
saf orceofgr av i
ty
holdingmedownandI ’m notf ightingbecauseIf eel
l
ikedr owni ngi sokayt hant ogaspf orairinaf oreign
wor l
d.DoIev enmakesense? ”Hel ooksather ,
desper ationdi l
atinginhi spupi ls.Hehast omake
sense.She’
str
ainedt
ounder
standever
ythingand
giv
eanswers.I
t’
sherjob,
whatNothi
l
epai dherfor
.
“Youmakesense, whydoy oualwaysdoubtyour
thoughtsandfeel
i
ngs?Itshouldn’
tmattertoyoui
f
youmakesenseornot ,aslongasy ouspeakwhat’
s
ony ourmindandheart
.”
Wi
thr
eli
ef,
henodsandl
eanst
owar
dsherdesk.
“Arewedoneory
oust
il
lwantt
oaskquest
ions?
”he
asks.
“Thi
sisnotani
nter
view.Doy
ouf
eel
li
kewear
e
done?”
“
Yes.Sowhatdoy
out
hinkImustdo?
”
“Giveyourfeeli
ngsashotandv al
idati
on.Ithinkour
nextappointmentwi l
lbeintwoweeks, Ihopey ou’
l
l
havegiveny ourthought
saconsiderati
onbyt hen.
Thanky ouforopeningupt omeThakasa, it
’sthe
fi
rstposit
ivestep.”
“Seeyouthen,Ihavetogo,
Ihaveadat
ewi
thmy
wife,
”hesay s,
getti
ngofft
hechai
rand
str
aight
eninghisshi
rt.
Hef eel
sabitl
ighterthanhowhewaswhenhe
walkedin.Hecall
sNot hi
leasheget
sinsi
det
hecar
andt el
l
shertogetr eady.
.
.
Hewasf i
neont hei
rwayher e,toDolphinCoast .
Knowi ngt hattheyhadat ablebookedwher et her
e’d
benopeopl est ari
ngathi m whi l
eheeat smadehi m
l
ookf orwar dtot hisouting.Butnowt hathe’shere
andt here’salr
eadyar ed-hai
r edboyont heirbacks
askingt hem aboutst upiddrinkshe’sr et
hinkinghis
decision.He’snotacomf ortablepersoninpubl ic
places,butsomet imeshehast oputdownhi sguard
anddowhatmakesherhappy .
“Sohowdiditgo?”sheasksassoonast
hey
’re
sett
ledont
het abl
e.
Hegl ancesatt
hewaiterwho’
sputt
ingcut
ler
yon
theirtabl
eandlooksbackatNot
hil
ewitha
displeasedf
ace.
Shewantst
or ol
lherey
esathi
spett
inessbutshe
endsupsmil
ingandholdi
nghi
shandov ert
hetabl
e.
“Akasi
zwanokusi
zwa,
uhambekanj
ani
?”(
Hedoesn’
t
evenhearus,
howdidyougo)
“
Itwasn’
tbad,
”hesay
s.
Shenar
rowsherey
e.I
sthatal
lhe’
sgoi
ngt
otel
lher
?
“
Whatdi
dyout
alkabout
?”sheasks.
Conf
ident
ial
i
ty!
!!
“Chil
dhood,l
if
eandev ery
thi
ngy oucanthi
nkof.Are
theygoingt
oser veusorwhat ?
”Helooksaround,
searchi
ngforanywaiteronsight,
for
tunat
elyhesees
noonet oscold.
“
Ilov
eyou,
”shesay
s.
Herwordscat
chhim of
fguar
d,hi
sey
esdr
opt
oher
handandheholdsi
t.
“Ilov
ey outooMaNt usi,
andt hankyouf
ortoday
.I
wouldn’thavethoughtofit
,thisprov
eshowmuchI
needy oubymysi de,you’
reagoodwomananda
beautif
ulwife.
”Helift
sherhandt ohisl
i
psand
plantsasoftkissonit.
“
Didy
oubookar
oom?
”heasks.
“Youdidn’
tsayany
thi
ngaboutbooki
ngar
oom,
”she
says,
suppressi
nghersmi
le.
“I
t’
snotashow-st
opper,wecangot
otheoff
ice
or…myhouse,
that’
sify
ou’r
eokaywi
thit
.”
“
No,I
’m notokaywi
thi
t,I
’l
lbookaroom,”shesay
s,
t
aki
ngherphoneoutofthebagandscroll
i
ng.
Hisey esdr opindisappointment.Itwasast upid
suggest i
on, t
heyhav en’tr
eall
ydiscussedwhat ’s
goingt ohappent othehouse, buthewashopi ng
thatshe’llconsi
derit.Andmay be,j
ustmay be,they’
d
usei tast hei
rsecondhome.Hecanr enov
ate,
repaintthewal l
sandbuynewf urnit
ureift
hat’
swhat
i
t’l
ltakef orhertoseei tashishouse, nothisside-
chick’sfuckcorner.
Asher aiseshisey estothewaiterwho’ sputti
ng
thei
rdrinksont het abl
ehenoticesaf amili
arface.
Hishear tstar
tsracing.She’
ssitt
ingatt hetable
outsi
dewi t
htwoot herladi
esinDur banJulydr esses.
Onewi t
hass- touchingweaveandanot heronewi th
dreadl
ocks.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”Not
hil
e’
svoi
cesnapshi
m backt
o
thei
rtabl
e.Hereyesar
eonhishandst
hathedi
dn’
t
evenreal
izeweretr
embli
ng.
“
I’
m o-ka-
y,
”hisvoicecracksout
.Heballshi
shands
i
ntofi
stsbuthisfaceissell
i
nghim out
.
AsNothi
let
urnstothei
rdir
ect
iont
wooft
hem hav
e
tur
nedtost
areatthem aswel
l.
Thesl
im onewi
thblondedreadl
ocksst
andsupand
makesherwayi
nside,tot
hebar.
“Whoaret
hose?”Not
hil
easks,
shehasn’
tseen
Khosi
’
sfaceyet
.
“Idon’
tknowthei
rnamesbutIthinkI’v
eseenthem
somewhere.”Shi
t,hemayhavenev ermetthem i
n
personbutheknowsexact
lywhot heyarebecause
Khosiusedtodescri
bet
hem exactl
yast heyar
e.
Thesi
stert
hatKhosiusedt
ojokethatshehas
bi
pol
arismakingherwaytothei
rtabl
ewithabot
tl
e
ofwi
neinherhand.
Hewantstoholdhiswif
e’shandti
ghtlybuthe’
s
somehowmor escaredofthemomenthi seyeswi
l
l
di
rect
lymeetKhosi’
s.Hedidn’
texpecttobumpint
o
herany
timesoon,
letal
onewhenhe’
swi
thhi
swi
fe.
“
Sur
pri
se,
sur
pri
se!
”
Shwel
e!Thi
ssi
sterr
eall
yhasbipol
ar.Expl
ainthat
gri
nonherf
ace,
andt hebot
tl
eofwine,real
ly?
“I
’m Snal
o,wemetatt
heconf
erencei
nICCay
ear
ago.”
No,
they
’venev
ermet
.
Buthecr
acksasmi
l
eandhol
dsherst
are.
“Thi
sisforyouandthewi
fe,
”shesay
s,put
ti
ngt
he
bott
leonthetabl
e.
Not
hil
esmi l
es,“
Thi
sisv
eryniceofy
ou.Butt
hewi
fe
i
spregnantandwedon’
tdr
inkwine.
”
“
Oh,
youar
eexpect
ing?Congrat
ulati
ons.Thi
s
r
emi
ndsmeofmyol dfr
iend’
sstory
.”
Somuchforapri
vat
edinner
!Not
hil
eisi
nter
estedi
n
thef
ri
end’
sstor
yandSnalohasf
oundaseatatthe
edgeoft
hetabl
e.
“
Somyfri
endwasdati
ngthi
sugl
y,spi
neless
mot
her
fu£kerwhohadawoman,astr
aightone.He
washerf i
rsttr
uel ov
eandsher eall
ylov edhi
m
despit
ehim breakingherhear
tev er
ynowandt hen.
Then,boom, shefellpr
egnant
.Guesswhatt he
assh0ledi
d?Hedumpedherandwal kedoutonher
aft
erfindi
ngoutt hatshewaspregnant .Hewent
backtohiswomanandcar ri
edonasi fnothi
ng
happened.”
Nothi
l
er eleasesasighandshakesherhead.Thi
sis
unbel
ievable,shecanimagi
nethepainherfr
iend
must’
v egonet hr
ough.
“Di
dshecope,mental
l
y?Icanonlyi
maginewhatshe
wentthr
ough,
deal
ingwit
hpregnancyandrej
ect
ion
all
atonce.
”
“Myf
riendwasastrongwoman, ”Snal
osay
sand
unwr
apst hekni
fei
nfrontofThakasa.
“Thi
soneisnotsharp,i
tcannotsli
ceanyone’
s
usel
essbal
ls.”Thesmil
eonherf acedoesn’
t
obver
sethewor dscomingoutofhermouth.She’
s
notnormalatall
.
“
Idon’
thavebal
lsbet
weenmylegs,Ihavethem on
mychest
.I’
l
ldri
nkthi
sbot
tl
eony ourbehal
f,enj
oy
yourdi
nnerandstayl
ovel
y,
”shesay
s, pi
cki
ngher
bott
leandwavingatt
hem wi
thasmile.
Whenshe’
satadist
anceNot
hil
etur
nst
oThakasa
wi
thasli
ghtf
rown.
“
Thatwasawkwar
dbutf
unny
,”shesay
s.
“Idon’
twanttobeher
e,”heexhal
esandpushes
backhischai
r.“
Makeittake-
aways,
you’
l
lfi
ndmein
thecar.
”
“
Butwecameher
eto.
..
”
He’
sonhisfeetwit
hhi
sphoneandcarkeysinhand,
hi
slookt
ell
sherwhathej
ustsai
dstands.They
’re
l
eavi
ng,i
t’
sfi
nal.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER17
THAKASA

Hehear ditinhi shead, orwasi tinhi sears, buthe

remember sthewor ds‘ Manqel eI’m pregnant ’
.Thi s
cannothappent ohim now.He’ st r
yingt ofixthi ngs
withhiswifeandt akecar eofhi sment alhealth.Thi s
willrui
neverythinghe’ sbeenf i
ghti
ngf or;his
reputati
on,mar riageandf amily.Hisimper fections
willbeforevery onet otalkaboutandj udge.Hi s
fatherwasagr eatman, surelyhe’sturningi nhi s
graverightnow, he’
sl ethim down.Hi smot herwi l
l
hav eafit
-awhol echi l
doutofmar r
iage,wi tha
womant hatwear sfakehai r
,thathasanosepi ercing
andpost shalfnakedphot osofher selfonsoci al
networks.

Heparksi
ntheyard,hemi
ghtneedt
odr i
ve
somewherel
ater
,thenhel
ooksatNothi
l
e.She’
ssti
l
l
angr
yaboutdi
nner,i
twasj
ustthi
sonce,he’
dagr
eed
toitandal
lofasuddenhewant edout.I
tdoesn’
t
makesenset oher,
shethoughtther
ewasa
progresst
hismorni
ng.
“Iwi
ll
makei
tupt
oyou,
”hesay
s,t
ryi
ngt
ohol
dher
hand.
Sheyankshi
shandof
f,“
Idon’
tcar
eany
mor
e
Manqele.
”
Heexhal
esandburi
eshi
sheadonthesteer
ing
wheelwhi
leshecl
i
mbsoutandaggressi
vel
ycloses
t
hedoor.
Hehast ocal landaskt oseeher -Nomkhosi .He
needsclarit
y; whatisgoingon?Howdi dsheget
pregnantandhowf ari
sshe?I fsheisreallypr egnant
heknowswi thoutanydoubtt hathe’sthef ather.
Despitehim beingmar ri
edandunav ai
lableatt imes,
shewasf aithfultohim,justli
kehiswi f
e.Ifther ewas
someoneel sei nthepicturehewoul dn’thavest uck
aroundforthatl ong.Eventhoughhenev ersai dit,
he
didn’
twantt oshar eherwi t
hany one.Hewant edher
tobeav ai
lablewhenev erheneededher .Heowned
herwithoutanyof f
ici
alstampofowner ship.Itcame
nat
ural
l
yandshej
ustr
odet
heboat
,wher
everhe
sai
l
editto.

He’
snev ertriedtoreachouttoherbyanymeans.He
wasdetermi nedt ocutal
lti
esandf ocusonhis
marr
iage.Heal sodidn’
twanttotaketheriskof
communi catingwi t
hherbecauseheknewexact l
y
howitwoul d’veended…withhi
m backi nherarms.
Noneofhismessagesgot hr
ough,t
hecal
l
automati
call
yrej
ectsbef
oreri
ngi
ng,t
hismeans
she’sbl
ockedhisnumber.
Anot
hersi
gh!
He’sfeeli
nghot,hetur nsont heair-
condi t
ioner
sand
sit
sint hecarf
orawhi le.Wrappinghisheadar ound
thepossibil
i
tyofthisnewr eal
it
yishar d.Hemaybe
ti
edtoNomkhosi forther estofhisli
fe.Whatabout
hiswife?Theyaret r
yingt orebui
ldtheirmar ri
age
andtrustoneanotheragai n,
andnowt his!

Bandl
a’
sdoori
sopened,
hemust
’veext
ract
ed
himselffr
om thenoisethatcomeswi thTVsoapies
thatai
ratthisti
me.Hemakeshi swayt othe
rondavel
,he’l
ldealwit
hNot hi
le’
sdinnertant
rums
l
ater,r
ightnowheneedst ogett othebottom of
whatSnalosaidintherestaurant.Ahugepartofhi
m
beli
evesthatthe‘f
ri
end’shetalkedaboutwas
Nomkhosi .
Bandl
afr
ownswhenheseeshi
m wal
ki
ngi
n.
“
Romant
icpar
tyhasendedal
ready
?”heasks.
Theydidn’
that
choutthef al
l
outtheyhadt
his
morning,l
i
kemostsibli
ngs,whenonespeaksand
theot
heroneresponds,thefi
ghtisaut
omati
cal
ly
over
.
Thakasal
ower
shi
msel
font
hebedandheav
esa
si
gh.
“Pl
easebor
rowmey
ourphone,
Iwantt
ocal
l
someone.
”
“
Whydon’
tyouusey
our
s?”
“
I’
m bl
ocked.
”
He’
sdr
owni
ngi
nsor
row,
him andKhany
odi
dn’
tev
en
getpropert
imetosaygoodbyeasherbr
otherwas
around.Heneededalaugh,
andthi
sisagoodone.
“
Youar
ebl
ockedbywho?
”He’
sst
il
ll
aughi
ng.
“Areyougoingt
ogi
vemet hephoneornot ?”
Thakasa.Hewasgif
tedwithallsensesexceptthe
humourone.Hedoesn’tgetmostt hi
ngspeoplefi
nd
funny,whet
hert
hey
’reabouthim oranyone.
Bandlaunlocksthephoneandhandsitt
ohim.He
takesthephoneandheadst othedoor
,he’
snot
goingtomaket hiscal
li
nfrontofhi
m.
“
Don’tf
ini
shmyai
rt
ime,
”Bandl
asay
sbef
orehe
wal
ksout.

Hewal ksbacktohiscar
,get
si nsideandclosesthe
door.Heshutshiseyesandrecitesasil
entprayer
beforehedial
shernumber.
I
t’
sgoi
ngt
hrough,
thankGod!
“
Hel
l
o,”t
hat
’sher
.
Heholdshi
sbreat
hforami
nut
e,f
ail
i
ngt
ogetwor
ds
outhi
smouth.
“
Whoi
sthi
s?”sheasks.
Knowi
ngher
,she’
saboutt
odr
opt
hecal
l
.
“
Pleasedon’
tdr
op,
it’
sme,
”hesay
s.
Si
l
ence…
“
Nomkhosi
,
”
“Ibl
ockedyouThakasa.Doyouwanttoknowwhat
thatmeans?Idon’
twanttoeverspeakt
oyouagai
n,
”
shesaysfuri
ousl
y.
“
Isawy
oursi
ster
,”hesaysandcl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
.
“
Canwemeetandtalk?
”
“
No!
”
“
Ijustwantt
oknowt
het
rut
h.”
“
Whatt
rut
h?”
“
DidImi
ssany
thi
ngt
hel
astdaywewer
etoget
her
?”
Agai
n,hehol
dshi
sbr
eat
h.Whati
fit
’st
rue?
“
ThakasaIdon’
tneedyouanymore.Mymot her
r
aisedmeandmysi st
erssi
ngl
e-handedl
y.Butdon’
t
t
hinkyou’
regoi
ngtorunawaynowandcomeback
af
ter18y
ear
stocl
aim mychi
l
d.”
Oh,
hel
lno!I
t’
str
ue.
“You’
repregnant?
”Hischesthasdri
edupi nst
ant
ly.
Helooksaroundf orabott
leofwat
er,healwayshas
oneinthecar,butstr
angel
ytodayt
here’snone.
Sheexhal
esaudi
bly
,“Thakasai
sther
eany
thi
ngel
se?
Iwanttot
akeabathandsleep.
”
“
CanIseey
ou?Weneedt
otal
kimmedi
atel
y.
”
“
Toni
ght
?”sheasks.
“Yes,pl
easeunblockmesot hatwecan
communi cat
ewhi l
eI’
m ontheway,t
hisi
smy
brother
’sphone,
”hesays.
“ThakasaI’
m noty our
…”–‘Hi
sfool
’.He’
sheardthi
s
manyt i
mesbef ore.Butt
hist
imei
t’
sdiff
erent
,he
onlywantstotalkandtoseehert
ummy .Nothi
ng
mor e,
nothi
ngless.
“Oneandahal
f-hourt
ot wohours.We’
l
ljustt
alk,
nothi
ngel
se,
trustme,”hesays.
“
Fine!
”shedr
opst
hecal
l
.
Hewal ksintoabigar gumentaboutTVcharacter
s
betweenhismot herandPhet hy
.Hegreet
sabov ethe
noiseandgoest ohiswi f
e.Thei
rfi
ghtsar
eal ways
pri
v at
e,heknowst hatshewon’tshowhim any
vexati
oninfrontofhisfamily
.
“
SthandwaIhav
etogosomewher
e,”het
ell
sher
.
Shelooksathi
m wi
thaf
rown,
“Wher
ear
eyou
goi
ng?”
“I
’m goingtoDur ban,I
’
llprobablycomebackaft
er
midnight.I’
llexpl
ainever
ythinginthemor
ning.
”He
l
ift
sherf ingersandbrushest hem whi
l
eobservi
ng
herreaction.
“
CanIcomewi
thy
ou?
”sheasks.
“No,youhavet
orestMaNt
usi
,you’
recar
ryi
ngmy
preci
ousbaby.
”
“
Okay
,wakemeupwheny
oucomeback.
”
Phewww!Heki
ssesherhand,
rel
i
evedt
othebone.
“
Whydoesitl
ookl
ikey
ou’
regoi
ngsomewher
e?”
MaKhumal
oasks.
HeglancesatNot
hil
e,shesmi
l
eswar
mlyandshr
ugs
hershoul
ders.
“Ihav
etogot
oDur
ban,
it’
sur
gentandwor
krel
ated,
”
hesays.
Nkonzof
rowns,
“Rel
atedt
owhi
chwor
k?”
Heki ssesNot hil
e’
scheek,saysgoodbyeandl
eaves.
Thisonei sbet weenhim andhiswif
e.Howhe’s
goingt otell
herthet r
uthofthi
stri
pissti
l
lamyster
y,
there’
llbenor unningawayorkeepingthi
soneunder
thecar pet.
.
.
Onehourandf ort
y-t
womi nutesisal
lhetookdrivi
ng
here.He’sbeenwait
ingi
nt hecarforalmostten
minutes.Shesentatext
,sayingshe’
scomi ng.He
doesn’tknowherassomeonewhost andpeopleup
andbreakpr omi
ses.Theclockisti
ckingcl
oseto
11pm andhest i
ll
needstodr i
vebackhome.
I
’
M STI
LLWAI
TING-hesendsat
ext
.
Justasi
tdel
i
ver
s,t
her
e’ssomeoneatt
hewi
ndow.
It
’sher…hi
sheartst
artsr
acingagai
n.Theycannever
gobackt ohowtheywere,notaf
terever
ythi
nghe
saidtoherthel
astti
mehesawher .
Damn,
hef
orgott
hemosti
mpor
tantt
hing,
wat
er!
Shegetsinsi
dethecarandclosesthedoor.Hisey
es
tr
avelal
loverherbodybuthecan’tseeathing
becauseoftheplushr
obe.
“
Ihav
e5mi
nut
es,
”shesay
s,t
urni
ngt
olookathi
m.
Shelooksincr
edi
blydi
fferent.Herski
nispeaches
andcream.Hecouldstare, t
ouchandlickherf
ace
al
lover.HerBant
uknotslookabi tmessy ,
yetshe
l
ookslikeagoddesswitht hem.
He’sst
ari
ng,somet
hingsheusedt
osayi
swei
rdand
uncomfor
ti
ng.
“
4mi
nut
esThakasa!
”shewar
ns.
Her
eleasesashal
l
owbr
eat
h.
“Iwasn’
tawar
eofthesi
tuat
ionunt
ilt
odaywheny our
sist
ercametothr
eat
enmeandmywi f
e,”hesay
s.
“
ButIt
oldy
ouThakasaandyoulef
t.Youl
ookedat
meint
heeyesandl
eft
!Ibeggedyoutost
ay,f
orthe
sakeoft
hebabyi
fnotf
orme,
”shesay
s.
Hewasn’thi
msel
f,apartofhim wasgone,buthe’
s
sur
pri
sedbyhisi
nsul
atedli
steni
ngaswel l
.
“
Howwel
ldoy
ouknowmeNomkhosi
?”heasks.
“
Idon’
tknowy
oubey
ondt
hesexual
lev
el,
”shesay
s.
Thathur
tsal
i
ttl
e,buthe’
snother
eforherv
ali
dat
ion,
ri
ght?
“Howdi
di thappen?It
houghty
ouwer
eont
hepi
l
lor
somet
hing.”
“I
thappenedthisway;youcal
ledmet oyourhouse,
askedmet ogetinbedwithyouandhadsexwi th
mewi t
houtacondom because‘itcapsy
ouand
hi
ndersyourorgasm’.
”
Hegobbl
esupanenor
mousbreat
handt
apshi
s
moi
stfi
nger
sonthest
eer
ingwheel
.
“
Howf
arar
eyou?
”heasks.
“
Twomont
hs,
”shesay
s.
Wow,thismakesNot
hil
e’sbabyhi
ssecondandher
s
hi
sfi
rst.Not
hil
ewon’
ttakethi
swell
,i
t’
sgoingt
o
unpi
nthelastnai
lofthemar r
iagehe’
str
yingsohar
d
tomakeli
kehisparent’
s-successf
ul.
“Asyou’
vealway sknownNomkhosi ,I’
m marri
ed.
Thiscompl
icatesev ery
thi
ng.WhetherIli
keitornot
,
mywi f
eandf amilyhavetoknow.I’m notgoi
ngto
abandonmyf ir
stchild,myblood.I
’
dnev erdothat
,”
hesays.
It
’sj
ustso…howdi
dshef
all
inl
ovewi
tht
hisman
agai
n?
Hear
tremai
nst
hemostst
upi
dor
gani
nthebody
.
“
CanIseei
t?”heasks.
Shef
rowns,
“Seewhat
?”
Hel
ower
shi
sey
est
ohert
ummy
.
“
Imustshowy
oumyst
omach?
”Herey
eswi
den.
“Iknowev
eryt
hingabouty
ou,
”hesay
sandr
eal
i
zes
howsensual
thatcameout.
He’samarr
iedman, heshoul
dn’
tbeknowing
every
thi
ngaboutanotherwoman’
sbody.
Het
ri
est
olookawayasshet
akest
her
obeof
fher
shoul
der
sbuthi
seyeskeepgoingbacktoher.She’
s
weari
ngonl
yabrabeneat
h,herswoll
enbreastsar
e
poppi
ngoutoft
hecl
eavageandlooki
ngluscious.

There’
snobabybumpyet,
butknowi
ngherbodyas
well
ashedoes,hecannoti
cet
hechanges.
“Didyouseethedoct or?
”heaskswi t
hhishand
tuckedonhertummy .He’sscared,hi
sli
feisabout
tochange,buthishearthasswol l
enwi t
hjoy.Hehad
givenup,hethoughthewasshoot i
ngblankandnow
he’sabouttowelcomet wol i
tt
lehumanst hathave
hisDNAr unni
ngt hr
ought hei
rveins.
“
Yes,
twi
ce,
mybr
otherwentwi
thme,
”shesay
s.
There’
sapunchbelowhi
sstomach.He’
smi
ssed
bothhisbabi
esf
ir
stdoct
or’
svisi
ts.
“
Doy
ouhav
eanypi
ctur
es?
”heasks.
“
Ult
rasoundscan?Yes,I
’
llsendt
hem t
oyouon
Whatsapp,
”sheasks.
Hecan’
tbri
nghimselft
oremov
ehi shandfr
om hi
s
baby
.Eveni
fit
’sthr
oughthemother’
sski
n,hewants
hi
m orhert
oknowt
hathe’
sher
eandhe’
l
lal
way
sbe.
“
Nomkhosi
,
”hesay
sandcl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
.
Thi
sishar
d,butnecessar
y.
“Idi
dn’
twantustobedonebutwehadt o,because
I’
vegiv
ensomeonear i
ng,pr
omi sesandmyhear t.
SoIhadtobehar sh,i
twasbetterthatway;withyou
hati
ngmeandwant i
ngnothi
ngt odowi thme.My
i
ntenti
onofcomingintoyourli
fewasnott oleave
youwithscar
s,butIdidanywayandi thaunt
sme
ever
yday.
”
Sheshakesherhead,
“Don’
tev
enst
artThakasa!Ar
e
wedonehere?”
“No,wear enotdone.I’
l
lspeaktomyfamil
y,i
t’l
lbe
hardforthem t
oacceptwhatIdidbutthey
’l
lhaveno
choice,
it’
smybaby ,oneofthem.Pl
easedon’tbl
ock
me, al
ri
ght?”
Sher
oll
sherey
es,
“Fi
ne.
”
Aki
ss?Ahug?
No,
he’
ssomeone’shusband.He’
l
ljustsi
thereand
wat
chunt
ilshedi
sappear
s.Thebabywi l
lchangea
l
otoft hi
ngsandhedoesn’twanttoworsenthe
sit
uati
onbyj umpingbet
weent wowomenagain.
He’l
lgetakissandahugf r
om hiswif
e,that
’si
f
she’dbesti
lltal
ki
ngtohim af
terfi
ndi
ngoutabout
thi
s.
.
.
Not hi
lewakesupt ohim sitt
ingont heedgeofbed.
Hedi dn’
twakeherupwhenhegothome, heneeded
ti
met ogrouphisthoughtsandt hinkofaway
for
war d.Hehar dl
yslept,
notknowi ngwhatt he
fut
ur eholdsforhismarri
agef reakshi m out
.The
possibil
it
yofitfal
lingapartandhi sf at
her’
sname
beingdisgraced!He’sbeenexper iencingchestpai
ns
thr
oughoutt henight.
Shegoestoherf
ir
stmorni
ngbathr
oom visi
tand
comesbacktosnuggl
eonherhusband.
“
Youdi
dn’
twakemeup,
”shesul
ks.
“
Youl
ookedt
oopeacef
ulf
ormet
odi
stur
b.”
Sheshakesherheadsl
i
ght
ly.She’
snotsat
isf
iedwi
th
hi
sanswerbutshecan’
tcompl
ainbecauseshehad
agoodsl
eep.
“
Sowhatwasi
tabout
?”sheasks.
Adeepsi
gh!
“
MaNt
usi
pleasedon’
tleav
eme.
”
Shef
rowns,
“What
’sgoi
ngon?
”
Hehol
dsherhandr
eluct
ant
lyandl
ooksatheri
nthe
ey
e.
Thi
sti
mehe’st
akenitt
oof
ar.Ababywi
thanot
her
womanbef
oreherown!
“
Iwentt
oseeNomkhosi
,
”hesay
s.
Shepul
l
sherhandandexhal
esheav
il
y.
“Snalo,
thegir
lfrom y
esterday
,ishersi
sterandshe
wast al
kingabouther.Iwasn’
tawareofthe
pregnancyunti
lyest
erday,
”hesays.
“Thakasa!
”Shi
tisgoi
ngdown,
didshej
ustcal
lhi
m
byname?
Hi
sey
eswi
den.
“
Youmadeherpr
egnant
?”sheasks.
“
Itwasnotmeantt
ohappen,
Iswear
.”
“Buti
thappened,
right
?Sowhatareyougoi
ngt
odo
now?Takeherast hesecondwi
fe?
”
He’
salreadystr
uggli
ngwithonewif
e,howmuch
morewhent her
earetwooft hem?Andbesi
des,
his
motherwouldneveracceptNomkhosi
.
“
Iwantt
obeaf
athert
omychi
l
d,”hesay
s.
“
Andbeaboy
fri
endt
oit
smot
her
?”
Si
l
ence…
“
Answerme!
”shey
ell
s.
Peopl
ear
egoi
ngt
oheart
hisandwakeup.
“
No,
”hesay
swi
thasi
gh.
“Wel
l,thenI’
ll
communi
cat
ewi
thherr
egar
ding
ever
ything,
notyou.
”
Thisoneisashock.Hesleptwit
hNomkhosi,
he’
s
thefat
herandwhateveri
tisthatneedst
obedone
hastobedirect
edtohim.
“That’
st heonl ywaythi
si sgoi
ngt owork.Buti
fyou
wantt opl ayhappyfamil
ieswithher,excl
udeme
from all
t his.Theonlyt
hingI’
ll
needf rom y
ouisa
house, f
inanci al
suppor
tandpr esencetothebaby’
s
l
ife.
”
“
You’
l
lleav
eme?
”heasks,
alar
med.
“
YesThakasa,
Iwi
l
lleav
eyout
obewi
thy
ourl
i
ttl
e
f
amil
y.
”
Sheknowsthatcannotbeanoptionforhi
m.It
’l
l
destr
oyever
ythi
nghe’ssacri
fi
cedhisli
fef
orand
breakMaKhumalo’
sheart.
“
Okay
,”hesay
s.
Sher
aisesaney
ebr
ow,
“Yest
owhat
?”
“Iwon’tcommunicatewit
hher,butMaNtusiIwant
togot ocheck-
upswithher,
Idon’twantt
obe
disconnect
edfrom mychil
d.It
’si
nnocentfr
om all
this,
”hesays.
“
Fir
stl
yIwi
l
lconfir
mifit
’sy
ourbabyt
henwe’
l
lpl
ana
wayfor
war
d,”shesay
s.
Whatt
hehel
l
?!
“
Ofcourseit
’smybaby,
I’
mt heonl
ymanhe’sbeen
wi
thin…”Okay,
timei
snotimport
antandnotwort
h
r
eveali
ng.“
I’
mthefat
herMaNtusi,
Iknow.
”
“Cl
earl
yyoudon’tknowwomen.She’sdoingthe
pat
erni
tytestbef
orethi
swholet
hingisannounced
tot
hef amil
yandthat’
swher
eitends.”
Great,
anotherthingtomakeNomkhosi
,themot
her
ofhisfi
rstchi
ld,hatehi
m.
“
Sendmehernumberbefor
eyoul
eaveforwor
k,I
wantt
omeetwit
hherthi
sweek,
”shesays.
“
Alr
ight
,”hesay
swi
thasi
gh.
Shegl
ancesupatthewal
l
,“I
t’
sst
il
l5am,
let
’scuddl
e
bef
oreyouwakeup.”
Acuddl
eisnotgoi
ngtofi
xanyt
hingandi
t’
sthel
ast
thi
nghewantst
odo.Butheget
sundercover
sand
hol
dsher.
“Yester
dayyouinst
ructedmetowearnot
hing
beneaththedr
essandbackedoutonme. ”Sheruns
herhandsoverhischestandst
eal
saquickkisson
hisli
ps.
“So,howaboutyoumakeupasy oupromised?
”She
kisseshi
m agai
n,deeperandl
ongert
hist
ime.
Herespondst ot
hekissandmassageshercur
vy
part
st oboosthi
serect
ion,howeverhi
smi
ndand
heartareabsent
,hecannotfeel
it.
Anotherki
ss…sheridesoverhim anddeepensit
whil
epushingdownhi sshorttosneakherhandi n
hi
smanhood.He’ sstil
lsof
t,shemassageshi m and
pl
ayswi t
hhisbal
ls.Hisshaftstar
tshardeni
ngtoher
sof
ttouch.
Herl
i
pstrai
ldowntohisneck,
her
eleasesal
ow
moanandgrabsherbut
t.
She’
sgothi
m!
“Keepy
ourpr
omi
sesMt
honga,
”shewhi
sper
sinhi
s
ear.
Hegrabsherfaceandonsl
aughtsherwit
hakiss.
He’
sfull
yerectandpr
essedtorel
easehimsel
f.He
f
li
psheroverandremovesherunderwear.
Hetapshisfi
nger
sonhercli
tandt
ender
lybi
tesher
neck.She’
sdri
ppi
ngwet
,itcoul
dbehist
ouchorjust
t
hatshewokeuphor
ny.
Heslowl
yinser
tshimself
,oncehe’sfi
tinperf
ectl
y
heli
ft
sherlegtohisshoul
derandexploresher
mushycorner
s,mov i
nghiswaistar
oundand
pushi
ngdeeperin.
Shemoansouti
npl
easur
e,“
Manqel
eIl
ovey
ou.
”
Theyhav
etomakei
twor
k…sacr
if
iceswi
l
lbemade.
“Il
oveyoutoo,
”hewhi
sper
sinahusky
,sexual
l
y
str
ainedv
oice.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER18
KHANYO

Igrewupher e, I’
vebeenonlyi nDurbanf orhalfa
decade, buty eer!Thefir
stthingIhearwhenIwake
upisbi rdschi r
pingandcowshav i
ngsex?Imi ssmy
crazyf r
iendsandt hetasteofwinei nt hemor ning,
butmost lyImi ssmyNazar ethman.He’ sbeenso
downov erthephone, thishappenedwhenwej ust
metandget t
ingt oknoweachot her.I’
v ebeen
fi
ghtingt empt ati
ons.Thought sofgoi ngbackt o
Durbanhav ecr ossedmymi ndbutIhadt oremi nd
my selfwhyIcameher einthef i
rstplace.
I’
vebeentry
ingtopr ay,t
oaskGodandmyel dersfor
cl
arit
yandpower ,butitseemsl i
kemyv ocabular
yis
notenoughforGody et
.Idon’
thav eallt
hosefancy
namesandni cknamespeopl euset opraiseHi
m.At
l
eastIcanpraisemyancest orsandcall outmy
grandpar
entsusingtheclanpraisenames.
OPhakathi
,oSomt henga,oNselenduna!Iconnect
easi
lywit
hthem,it
’seasytof
eelthei
rpresenceand
senseofprot
ect
ionfrom t
hem t
hroughoutthenight
.
ButI’m nott her ey et,dreamsst il
lcomebl urand
l
eav emewi thunanswer edquest i
ons.Ineedt odo
somet hi
ngdi fferent l
yt oday .Fi r
stly
, Ineedt oswitch
thi
sphoneof fandkeepmyheadcl earofsoci al
medi a.Bandl ahast ohol donf orme, I’llbeinhisar m
soonandi t’
ll bef or ever .Secondl y
,I’l
l got omy
mot her ’
sgrav eandof fl
oadev eryt
hingi nmyhear tto
her.Myhear tneedst obel i
ghtandf reeofgr udges.
ThenI ’
llat
temptmyf ir
stf asting.Lor dbewi thme,
thefrui t
sMandul obr oughty esterdayl ooksof r
esh
andj uicy.Ihav et ocl osemyey esandpr etendasi f
thepl ainwat erI ’l
lbedr inkingt hewhol edayi sMer lot
.
Theysayf ast inggi vesy oupr ayingpower s,youcan
neverunder standwi tht heabov eman, hel i
stenst o
youbet t
erwheny ou’ r
ehungr y .

Fir
stthi
ngsfir
st;
phonehast obeswitchedof fand
putaway.Isendmygi rl
stext
s,i
nfor
mi ngthem
aboutmyunav ai
labil
i
ty.Mandul
oiscomi nglaterso
ther
e’snoneedtoi nf
orm hi
m.Thelastandhar dest
persont oi
nformisBandl
a.Cut
tingcommunicat
ion
wil
l f
urther
lypushhi
mt othemiserycor
ner
,butI
don’thaveanyotherchoi
ce.
I
t’
sringi
ng,I
’
m nervousbutl
ooki
ngf
orwar
dto
hear
inghisvoi
ceonelastt
ime.
“
HeyMt
honga,
”Igr
eetashepi
cksup.
“Myupperli
phasbeentwi
tching,
Iguessi
twasa
si
gnthatIwasgoi
ngtosmi l
esoearlyi
nthemor
ning.
Mylove,howarey
ou?”hesays.
Thesmileonmyfacespreadstomyear
s.He
soundsbett
ert
hanyest
erday.
“
I’
m goodbabe,
howar
eyou?
”Iask.
“I
’mt ry
ingtobeokay
.Ijustgott
owor kandmy
brotherisi
noneofhisshit
ti
estmood.Ineededt
his
call
t obri
ghtenupmyday ,
”hesays.
“I
severy
thingalr
ightwi
thy ourbrothert
hough?”Iask.
Heusuall
yt al
ksaboutNkonzo, MawandeandSqal o.
Hedoesn’tspeakmuchoft heyoungsisterand
el
destbrother
,li
kether
e’snot hi
ngtotell
aboutthem
orhedoesn’tknowthem toowel l.
“Idon’
tknow, Ithi
nkhe’sgoi
ngthroughpersonal
thi
ngst hathecan’tshar
ewithus.He’snotanopen
person,sowej ustendurehi
soutburst
sandhelpif
hesay sheneedshel p,
”hesays.
I
’v
eonlyseenThakasaoncebutIcanalsoconcl
ude
t
hathe’
soneoft hosegl
oomy ,
desol
atebrot
hers
whoactl
ikethei
rgrandf
ather
s.
“Let
’shopehe’l
lbeokayasthedaygoesby.Anyway
Ical
ledtotel
lyousomethi
ng,I
’m notsur
eifyou’
l
l
l
ikeit,
”Isay.
“Whati
sitKhany
o?”heasks,
alr
eadysoundi
ng
hopel
ess.
“I
’v
ebeent ry
ingtoconnectwithGodandmy
ancestor
sbutI’m notwinni
ng.SoIwanttotr
yitwit
h
aclearhead,Ihavetostayi
ntunewit
hmyspi ri
tual
sel
fandkeept heoutsideworl
doutoftouch.
”
“Idon’
theary
ou.Whatar
eyout
ryi
ngt
osay
?”he
asks.
Phewww!Thi
sishar
dert
hanIt
hought
.
“
Iwon’
tbeav
ail
abl
eont
hephonef
oracoupl
efew
day
s,”Isay
.
Si
l
ence….
“
Bandl
alami
,
”Ical
lhi
snamedesper
atel
y.
Itmayaf fectmyjourneyi
fIcutcommunicati
onwi
th
him whilewe’ r
enotongoodterms.Ineedhis
emot i
onal support
,myheartneedst
obei none
place,andt hatpl
aceisher
eattheMay i
ses.
“
OkayKhanyo,pl
easesendmey ourrecentpi
ctur
eor
v
ideobef
oreyoudisappear
,”hesay
s.
Di
sappeari
snothowI
’
ddescr
ibei
tbutIunder
stand
i
t’
showheseesit.
“
Arey
ouangr
y?”Iask.
“
Nomyl ov
e,Iknowyouwouldn’tj
ustexcl
udeme
f
rom y
ourli
feforf
un.Ij
ustmissyou,t
hat’
sall
.”
“
I’
m comingbacksoon,
justhol
donal i
tt
lel
onger
.
HaveyouspokentoMawande?”Iask.
“Yes,Nyeziissti
llact
ingst
rongandgoingtowork.
Thedoct orssayitcanbetreat
edbuthisisoneof
thosecompl icat
edcasesthatneedi
nterv
entionof
special
i
st s,
”hesay s.
Myheartsinks.Iknowthatdoct
orsandthei
r
wester
nt r
eatmentwon’tbeabletohel
phim.Ican
hel
phim andI ’
mt hechosenonetodoit
.Timeisnot
onmysi de,i
t’
sticki
ngawayandIneedtoact.
“Khanyodon’
tworr
ytoomuch,he’l
lbefi
ne.He’
s
foughtsomanythi
ngsinhi
sli
fe,he’
ll
tri
umphagai
n,
”
hesays.
Iinhal
eanenormousbr
eathtor
eleaset
heti
ghtness
i
nmychest .Ineedt
oprayt
heri
ghtway,andIneed
todoitfast
.
“
Ireal
lyhopeso,hey
.Sowhatki
ndofav
ideodoy
ou
want?Icanst
ri
pandt wer
kfory
ou.
”
Helaughs,“
I’
m atwor
k.Sendadecentv
ideo,Idon’
t
wanttobecaughtinacompromisi
ngsi
tuati
on
becauseofawomanwho’ st
housandmilesaway.”
“
You’r
eachicken.I
’
llsendthevideobefor
epacki
ng
t
hisphoneaway.Il
ovey oubabe,okay?
”
“Il
oveyoutoosthandwasami.Iwi
shnot
hingbutt
he
best,
wheny oucomebackI’
ll
throwyouamotherof
all
parti
es,
”hesays.
Bori
ng!Iknowther
ewillbenoalcoholi
nthatpar
ty,
butt
heysayit’
sathoughtthatcount
s,soyay!
.
.
I
’vebeensnacking,l
unchinganddeser ti
ngonwat er
thewholedayandI ’
vebeenfinewi t
hit.Butmy
brot
herhadt omesswi t
hmysal ivaryglandsby
bri
ngingalargePanarot
ti
spizzaandcashewnut s.
NowI ’m wonder
ingi
fasliceofpizzacanmessup
myf asti
ng,Imeanoneslice,
justone.
“
Stopst
ari
ngatt
hef
ri
dge,
you’
ref
ast
ing,
”hesay
s.
“You’r
et het
emptati
onI’
vebeenpray
ingsohar
d
against.Whydi
dy oucomehere?
”
“Si
tt
inghomewi l
ldri
vemecrazy.I
’
m event
hinking
aboutgoingbacktowor
k,Ineedtokeepmymi nd
busybeforeIl
osemysanit
y.”
I
’vebeencuri
ousaboutthepri
vat
econver
sati
onhe
hadwiththesangoma.Ther
e’ssomet
hinggoi
ngon,
whichisnotadivor
ce.
“
Whatdi
dMakhosi
say
?”If
inal
l
yask.
“
Alot
,”hesay
swi
thasi
gh.
“
I’
m notbusy
.”Ipullachai
randsi
tnextt
ohi
m.
MaybeIcanprayforhispr
oblemst
oo.
“Emihl
e’sl
if
eisatri
sk.She’
snotmybiol
ogi
calchi
l
d,
sothere’
sthi
sbatt
lebetweenmyancest
orsand
Menzi’
s.”
Shutt
hef
rontdoor
!
“Emihl
eisnotyourbi
ologicalchi
ld?
”Thisdoesn’
t
makeanysense.Emihlewasbor nbeforehi
m and
Thobekaevengotmarried.Iwould’
veunderst
oodif
i
twasLulubecauseshe’ stheyoungerone.
“
No,
”hesay
s.
“
Howl
onghav
eyouknownt
his?
”
“
Makhanyi
!”Hegi
vesmeal
ookl
i
keI
’
m bei
ngst
upi
d
f
oraski
ng.
Iguessthesangomarev
eal
edthi
stohim.How
muchmor epaindoesmybr
otherneedt
ogothrough
becauseofThobeka?
“
Soshecheatedony oubef
orey
out
woev
engot
mar
ri
ed?”Iaskinshock.
“
AndMenzi
wasmybestman,
”hesay
sandchuckl
es.
“
Howar
eweev
ensur
ethatLul
uisy
ourchi
l
d?”Iask.
“DNAt estshowedthatshe’smine.Shetestedmy
kids’paterni
tybehi
ndmyback, t
ogetherwithher
boy fr
iend.WhenMenzi askedmydaught er
stosleep
ov erhishousehewasn’ tbeingafri
end,hewas
bondi ngwithhisdaughter.
”
“Brot
her,
I’
m sosorry.Ican’
tbeli
eveThobekai s
wickedl
ikethi
s.Ihopeshe’l
l bewatchi
ngherback
becausewhenIleavet hi
splaceandI’m hunt
ingher
down.”
“IjustwishIcanlivemyl i
fefr
om scrat ch.
Somet imesIf eel
sost upidandwor thless.Idid
everythi
ngf orThobeka, evenhermot her ’
sfuneral
,I
wast heonewhopai df oreveryt
hing.Iaskmy self
everyday,whatdidInotdof orher?HerandMenz i
could’vestoppedaftertheweddi ng,butt heydidn’
t,
clearl
ythere’saplaceIdi dn’
tsati
sfyforher .
”
“I’
vecheat
edsomanyt i
mesi nmylif
e,not
because…”Okay,thatl
ook!Istopbef
orethel
ook
turnsi
ntoaslap.Iwastryi
ngtomakehi m
under
standt
hatthere’
snothi
ngwrongwi
thhi
m, i
t’
s
Thobeka’
sborehol
eofav agi
nat
hatcan’
tbef
il
led.
“
ManjeuHwanqauzimisel
engayev el
e?”heasks.
(
Soyouareser
iousaboutthathi
rsuteman)
“Don’
tcall
him Hwanqa.Hi
snamei
sBandl
alet
hu
andIlovehim,
”Isay.
“
Ithi
nkIl
i
kehim.He’
sgoodforyou.Butthatdoesn’
t
meanhecandoashepl
eases,Iwantlobol
a.”
Speedki
l
ls!Ij
ustst
art
eddat
ingt
hisguyf
orChr
ist
’
sake.
“Hol
dyourhorses,
wear
enotget
ti
ngmar
ri
ed,
just
dati
ng,
”Isay
.
“
Dat
ewhil
ecowsarel
owi
ngi
nsi
det
hekr
aal
,i
t’
s
r
omant
ict
hatway
.”
Ir
oll
myey
es,
he’
ssuchabor
eyazi
.
“
Didy
oucal
lyouraunt
s?”heasks.
Ihaveaunts?Oh,myf
ather
’ssi
ster
s.Somet
imesI
for
gettheyexi
st.
“
No,
whywoul
dIcal
lthem?
”Iaskwi
thmynose
wr
inkl
edup.
“Becauseyouwanty ourjourneytoopen, soyou
needtheirblessi
ngs.Evenifyoucalloneandl ether
knowt hatyou’r
edoingsomet hingl
ikethis,It
hinkit
wil
lrel
easesomeknot s.Familyisf
ami l
yMakhany i,
”
hesay s.
Ther
e’ssomuchsensei
nwhathe’
ssay
ing.Ineedt
o
cal
lmyauntandi
ronthi
ngsout
.

AuntHlubi
must’
vechangedhernumber,i
tdoesn’
t
gothr
ough.It
ryThenj
iweanditgoest
hrough.
“
Nokukhany
athat
’sy
ou?
”sheasksexci
tedl
y.
“
YesAunti
t’
sme,
howar
eyou?
”
“Besi
deconst
antlyachi
ngjoi
nts,I
’mfine.I
’
m so
happyandsurpr
isedtogetyourcal
l.Iwasthi
nki
ng
aboutyouj
ustaf ewdaysago.”
Yeahr
ight
,yout
houghtaboutmebutdi
dn’
tcal
lme.
“Achi
ngjoint
s?Howol darey
oukant i
Aunt?
”Iask,
l
aughing.Thelastti
meIsawthiswomanshewasa
KhanyiMbauoft hefami
ly
,whit
erthanever
yonewit
h
heav
yey
elashesandmudsofmake-
up.
“
I’
mtur
ning40soon,
”shesay
s.
Inear
lysay‘
asi
khoesiguganamagxol
o’butt
henI
rememberwhyIcal
led.
“Icall
edt oletyouknowt hatI’
m homei nBergv
il
le,
tryi
ngt ofol
lowmyspi ri
tualjour
ney .I
’v
ebeenhav i
ng
weirddr eamssi nceIwas17andt hesangoma
advisedmet ofollowt
hem andst ayintunewit
hmy
spiri
tualselfbecauseIhaveaheal inggif
t.
”
“Hhayi
-boNokukhany
a, t
hat’
sscar
y.Ar
eyou
becomingasangoma? ”sheasks.
“No,I
’
m not.Iseethi
ngsthatnor
malpeopl
ecan’
t
see,
prayaboutthem andhealwi
thpr
ayer.
”
“Yuu!Sowhatdoy
ouneedmet
odo?
”Oh,
shet
hinks
Iwantmoney.
“Not
hing.Iwasjustl
ett
ingyouknow.You’
rest
il
lmy
fami
lyev ent
houghIfeell
ikeyouandAuntHl
ubi
don’
ttreatmethatway.”
“Whydoy ousayt
hat
?”sheasks,
pret
endi
ngt
obe
shocked.
“Whendi dy oulastcal lme?Bef oreGogo’ sf
uneral.
Whenmyf atherdiedwhatdi dIgetashi schil
d?
Nothing,youal ldistr
ibutedhisthingsamong
yourselvesandy ourchildr
en.Yourkidsdon’ tspeak
tomebecausey out aughtthem thatI ’
m anoutsider.
Ifeelli
keav isit
ori nmyownhome, t
hat’swhyInev er
comet ov isi
t.AndIhat ethatAuntHl ubi’
sboyfri
end
mov edtomyf ather ’
sbackr oom andt hr
ewawayhi s
musi cequipment .
”
Well
,I
’v
ejustsai
dmor ethanIi
ntended.TodayIl
et
myheartspeak,
Iwaskeepingsomet hi
ngsto
mysel
fbecauseIfel
tli
kepeopl
ewi l
lthi
nkI’
m sel
fi
sh
i
fIvoi
cethem out.
“
NokukhanyaI…I…that
’snothowi
tis.Yougoti
tal
l
wrong,
”shesays.
“
Whatexact
lydi
dIgetwr
ong?
”Iask.
Al
oudsi
gh!
“Babycany oucomehome?Weneedt otal
kfaceto
face.Idon’tl
ikehowy outhi
nkofusbecausethat
’s
nothowwear e.Weloveyou,y
ouareMbongeleni
’
s
daughter,ourbr ot
her
’sonl
ydaught
er.
”
“
I’
m notsur
ewhenI’
l
lcome,Ist
il
lhav
eal
otof
t
hingst
odospi
rit
ual
ly,
”Isay
.
“
I’
ll
prayf
ory
ouandaskmybr
othert
olookdownon
y
ou.”
Idon’
tthi
nksheknowshowtopr
ay,AuntThenj
i
wei
s
anolderv
ersi
onofthedr
unkt
hatIwasafewweeks
ago.
“
Thanky
ouAunt
,I’
dappr
eci
atei
t.
”
If
eell
i
ghter
,li
keahugewei
ghthasbeenshedof
f
myshoul
ders.

Mandulol eavesbef orethesunset .Iplannedtohave

aprayersessi onat7pm, thensl eepandwakeupat
12am t opr ayagain.Buti t
’snotev en6pm andIhav e
thi
sburningt hinginmychest .Iwantt oscream at
God,cryf ormer cyandaskmyancest or
swhyt hey’
re
for
sakingme.Whathav en’tIdoner i
ghtthelast
thr
eeday s?Iev enbr ewi nstanttraditi
onalbeerand
cookedf oodf orthealter.Whatdot heywantf r
om
me?
I’
m notgett
ingonmykneesandI ’
m notbegging
today.IwantwhatIwantandIwantitnow.IsHenot
Godofr i
ghteousness?Whomakeswar sceaseto
theendoftheear t
h?Whobreaksabowandcut st
he
spearint
otwo?Whobur nst
hechari
otswit
hf i
re?I
s
thatnotHim?
“
Nowshowy
our
sel
f!
”Iscr
eam.
“Ihaveincli
nedmyear stoy oursayings,I
’vebeen
readingtheBibleoverandov eragain.Ihavenotl et
yoursay i
ngsdepartfrom myey es;Ihavekeptt hem
i
nt hemi dstofmyhear tbecauseyousai dthey’reli
fe
tothosewhof i
ndthem andheal t
ht otheirf
lesh.You
said‘Allyouwhoar ewearyandbur denedcomet o
me, andIwi l
lgiveyouarest.’Nowher eIam Lor d,
withallthatIhaveandallthatIam, showmet he
l
ight.Staytruetoyourword!Keepy ourpr omises.”

It
urntot
hecandl
e,i
t’
sst
il
lburni
ng.Ibl
owitof
fand
st
andinthemi
ddl
eoftherondav
elwithmyhands
onthehi
ps.
“
Sov
eleni
zongi
yekel
anj
e?”I
’
m aski
ngt
heMay
ise
for
efathers.They’
retoorel
axed.Ibr
ewt r
adi
tional
beerforthem, t
heydrankwiththei
rheavenfr
iends,
gotdrunkandf orgotaboutme?No, t
hat’
snothow
weroll.I
’m notlet
ti
ngthem,Godorany one,
turnthei
r
backsonme.
“Hey,wakeup!WakeupboPhakat hi.I
’m notcr ying
my selftosleepany mor e.I’m notturningt othe
bottl
ef orconsol at
ionwhi leyou’realllying
comf ortablyiny ourgr aves.Ihav epeopl et ohelp,
thisgiftwasgi v entomebyy ou.Eithery outakei t
backorhel pme.Thi sist helasttime, thelast
Bab’omkhul u.Ar eyouser iouslygoingt ot r
eatme
l
ikeanout sider?At r
ueor phant hatIam?Yey
ningazodlalani na,hawu! ”Iwal koutandcl oset he
doorbehi nd.I’m notsl eepingi nthi
sr ondav el,t
hey
knowmybedr oom.

Ihadapray
erplannedfor7pm,aproperonewher
e
I’
l
lbegGodandpr ai
semyancestorsfordyi
ng,
but
myeyel
idsaregrowingheavy
.Ineedtorest
…
~I’
venev erseensuchaf astgranny.TodayIcansee
herface,shesaidshe’smygr eat-gr
andfat her’
s
mot herandtoldmeal it
tl
ebitabouther self.She
saidImustcal lherGog’MaSibiya.Isti
l
l don’tknow
wher eareheading,wearefoll
owi ngther ail
wayby
foot.
“
Gog’MaSibiy
acanwest
opanddr
inkwat
er?I
’
m
t
hir
sty
,”Iask.
Sher
aisesherhandupi
ndi
sagr
eement
.
Iheav
easi
ghandpi
ckmyst
eps.
“
Yousaidyouhav esomewheretogo,soi
t’
s
i
mportantt
haty ouf
etchmyspiri
tandmyhusband’s
f
rom wherethosewhitepeopl
eburi
edus,
”shesays.
Idi
dsayI’
mi nahurry.Ther
e’sapersonIneedto
hel
pbutIcouldn’
tdoitbecauseIhadtotakethi
str
ip
andbri
ngbackmygr eat-
grandf
ather’
sparent
’s
spi
ri
tshome.
“Wear ehere…pleasewashandsmearmywounds
beforeyouproceedwithotherri
tual
s.”She’s
standingnexttotwooldgravesthatareisol
ated
fr
om ther est
.
“
Myhusbandi
sont
hel
eft
…If
orgav
ehi
m,soshal
l
y
ou.
”
“Youforgav
ehimforwhat?”Iask,t
urni
ngmyhead
from t
helar
geboardwrit
ten-
Tinl
eyManor -tol
ookat
her.She’
snowheretobeseen.Iscream hernameat
thetopofmyvoice.Ist
il
lhavequesti
onstoask.
“
Gogo!
!!
”
Not
hing.
She’
sgone.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER19
KHANYO

Ti
nleyManor
!
Finall
yIknowwher et heywer eburied.Iprayedr i
ght
andgotanswer s.Mygi f
tisreal.I
’mf etchi
ngt hei
r
spiri
ts, cl
eansingt hebl oodandext ri
catingthespear
from theMay ises.Thatwi l
lpur i
fyoural t
erandopen
thingsupf orme.I ’
ll beabletopr ayandhel pNy ezi,
ri
ght ?That ’
sal lIwant ed.That’swhyIcameher e.I’
m
doingt hisformy selfmor ethanI ’
m doingi tfor
Bandl a.HealingNy ezi wil
lheal mef r
om al lmy
i
mper fecti
onsandf ail
uresoft hepast .

Ihavetocommunicat
ewithmybr other,
sothat
meansthephonehastocomeoutoft hebag.The
sl
utt
ysideofmewant st
ocallBandlafir
standask
howmydi cki
sdoing,
butI’
ll
haveenought imeto
cal
lhimtoday
,Ineedtodealwit
hr ealmatt
ersfi
rst
.
“
Makhany
iI’
m dr
ivi
ng,
what
’sup?
”Mandul
opi
cksup.
“
Iknowwher
etheywer
ebur
ied.Wehavetof
etch
t
hem t
omorr
owanddother
itual
sthi
sweek.
”
“Whoah,slowdown.Weneedt oi
nvolv
et heelders,
youknowhowbusyy ourMayi
sepeopleare,i
t’
llt
ake
them day
st ocome.AndIthi
nkwe’l
lneedt r
adit
ional
beer,
properone,andgoatsf
orumswani.”
“Ur
gh!Can’
tyoumakeall
thathappenbef
oret
he
weekends?YouknowIhavetogobacktoDurban
andtr
ytohelpNyezi
.”
“No,
wehavetodoitt
herightway.Pl
easest
op
pani
cki
ng,
ever
ythi
ngwil
lbealri
ght.
”
Sigh!Itdoesn’
tfeel
li
kethingswil
lbeokay .It
’sli
ke
I’
mr unningoutofti
meandIneedt oactfast,but
he’sri
ghtaboutdoingthi
ngst heri
ghtway .He’sa
Ny at
hi,IneedaMay i
seeldertocomewi thmeand
showmehowt hesethi
ngsaredone,tradi
tionall
y.
“Al
ri
ght
,ifyoucomet
hissi
depl
easebringmeLa
Merbodyloti
onfr
om Wool
wort
hs,Chanelper
fume
and…”
“Makhanyiyoudon’tusethoseexpensivet
hings,y
ou
don’
taffor
dt hem.Ifyouneedcosmet i
csI’
m going
togetthem from Beaut
yZoneandI ’
l
lgetyourusual
CamphorlotionandShieldrol
l
-on.Anythi
ngelse?”
Mxm!He’
sthemostbor
ingmanIknow.
“
Sani
tar
ypads,
”Isay
,rol
l
ingmyey
es.
“
Kotex?Li
bresse?Al
ways?Makhany
iIdon’
thav
ethe
whol
eday,
”heasks,impati
ent
ly.
“Kotex,superpl
uswings.Don’
tforgetsnacks,i
ce-
cream andcheese.
”It’
snoteverydaythatIaskhim
forthi
ngs.I’
m aver
ygoodsi st
ertohav e.
“
You’
rebl
essed,
”It
ell
him.
“
No,y
ou’
rebl
essedtohav emeasyourbr
other
,not
t
heot
herwayaround.I
’
llseey
oulat
er.
”
“You’
l
lsl
eepover?
”Iask,
alr
eadyexci
tedt
ohav
e
someonetoannoybef
orebed.
“
Yes,
cookpr
operf
oodt
her
e.”
Ohy es,
Iwil
l
!Idon’
tli
kecooki
ngbutwhenIdogeta
chanceIgi
veitmyall
.Wearegoingt
ohaveat hr
ee
coursemealtocel
ebr
ateme.Yes,me.Imust
def
rostt
hemeatandmakethemosti
mpor
tantcal
l
oft
hedaybef
orethecooki
ngst
art
s.
I
tri
ngsunanswer
ed.
It
ryagai
n,t
hist
imesomeonehepi
cksup
“
Am Idr
eami
ng?
”heasks.
“No,
you’
renot.Whatmadey
out
hinkIcanr
eal
l
yst
ay
awayfr
om you?”
“I
’mflat
ter
ed.Thismeansmyny angar
eal
lyworks,
phel
awenangi kubi
zaokhambeni,
”hesay
s.(I
’
m
cast
ingaspellonyoubymuthi)
“You’r
ewel cometodoitoverandov eragai
n.
Any way,Ihavegoodnews.Mydr eamsar eget
ti
ng
clear,
IthinkI’
l
lbebacksoonerthanIthought.
”
“That
’sgr
eatnewsst
handwasami
.SoI
’
m now
all
owedtocomeandseeyou?”
Ummm….
that
!
“
No,babe.Iwantt
ofi
nisht
hisjourneywi
thoutbei
ng
i
nsexual
lycont
actwi
thanyone.”
“
That
’swhaty
out
hinkIwanti
fIwantt
oseey
ou?
”
Ohgosh,
I’
veof
fendedhi
m
If
orgethowanal
yti
cal
hei
s.
“
Notatal
l,butIknowt hatIwon’
tbeabl
etobehav
e
mysel
far
oundy ou,”Isay.
“
IguessI’
ll
havetostaypati
ent,
butit
’ssohard.My
motheri
snotmakingmyl i
feiseasyeit
her.I
’
vebeen
t
hinki
ngaboutf
indi
ngmyownpl acebutIdon’twant
t
olookli
kearebel.
”
“
Whatdi
dshedo?
”Iaskcur
iousl
y.
“Wearealwaysar
guing.Shewant
smet
oli
vemyl
i
fe
accor
dingtoherr
ules.
”
“
Likey
oumar
ryi
ngi
nchur
ch?
”Iask.
Si
l
ence…
Wow,
thi
sisexact
lywhatNol
wazi
fear
ed.
“
Doessheknowt
haty
ou’
remyboy
fri
end?
”Iask.
“Nowsheknows.Ev
ery
onedoes.Theyj
ustneedt
o
accepti
t.
”
Fort
hei
rsakeIhopetheyaccepti
tfastbecause
whenIgobackI’
m goi
ngtobeev er
ywherehei s.I
’
m
goingtobr
inghi
mlunchatwork,
showupt
o
funct
ionswit
hhi
m andposthi
m asmyboy
fri
end.
“
Don’
tleti
tbotheryou,
Iloveyouandthat
’sal
l t
hat
mat
ter
s.I’
m notbreaki
ngupwi t
hyouandI’m not
mar
ryi
ngsomeonewhoi snotyou,
”hesays.
Myhear tswel
l
sinpri
deandj
oy.If
eel
sobl
essed
thatMaKhumalolov
edmesomuchandboremea
boyfr
iend.
“
Isti
ll
don’tknowwhatIdidtodeserveyourl
ove.I
t’
s
l
ikewaki
ngupt oadream every
day.Areyousure
whatyouhaveformeislove?”Iask.
“Doyouwantacar
diol
ogi
sttosl
i
cemyhear topen
sothaty
oucanseeyournamewrit
teni
nthere?”
“
Yes,
”Isay
.
Hel
aughs,
“Youwantmedead?Huh?
”
“
Ofcour
senot
,Idon’
twantt
obeanor
phan.
”
Helaughsharder.Whenhe’sahappysoulhei san
ext
rahappysoul.Ili
kehowhel aughs,i
nati
tter,
li
ke
heshouldn’
tbelaughingbuthe’
slaughi
ng.Hebur st
s
andholdsitbackbutconti
nuestolaughanyway.
“
I’
myourpar
entnow?
”heasks.
“
Whateveragir
l wi
thadeadl
overi
scal
l
ed,
Idon’
t
wantt
obet hat
,”Isay
.
“
Andy ouwon’tbest
handwasami.Godwi l
lkeepus
l
ongersothatwecanloveandt
eachourgr andkids
t
hemeaningoft r
uel
oveandhappiness,
”hesay s.

.
.
MAWANDE

Shewasgoi ngtobeahousewi fe,atleastthat’

s
whatheri n-
lawshopedf or,
but6mont hsintoher
mar ri
ageNy eziboughtabui l
dingandt oldhertoturn
i
tintowhat evershewant ed.Aftermont hsof
drafti
ngdowni deasshef i
nall
ydecidedt oturnthe
buil
dingintotwosect ions,t
heupperonebei nga
coffeehouseandt hebasementandout erspaceall
formingacozyCaf e.Shewasn’ thopingforcrowds
asitwassi tuat
edatt hesideoft heroad,nexttothe
garage,aplacenobodywoul
dconsidert
ostarta
business.Buti
t’
sbeensurpr
isi
ngl
ydoingwell
despitehernotbei
nghands-
on.
Todaywasoneofthosedaysshefel
ttooboredand
deci
dedtogoandshadowt hemanagerofWandes
Expr
ess.Timej
ustfl
ewoutofthewindow,before
shewasawareitwasti
met ocl
oseupandshe’ d
beenther
ethewholeday.

Nyeziisnotat y
picalbl
ackhusbandthatexpectst
he
wif
et obehomeby4pm, cooksupperandservehi
m.
Buttodaythere’
sapunchi nherconscience,
Nyezii
s
notwell,
heshoul dn’
tbecominghomet oanempty
houseandf i
xi
ngf oodforhimsel
f.
Shewal
ksi
nsi
det
hehousesweat
yandcal
l
shi
s
name.
“I
’
m homebabe,
”sheyel
ls,
headi
ngt
otheki
tchen
befor
ewast
inganymoreti
me.
Andthen?Whathappenedhere?Potsareonthe
st
oves,therear
ecover
edbowlsont hecount
erand
pl
atesstackedandr
eadytoserve.
“
Nyeziwhocooked?
”shey
ell
s,openi
ngal
lthepot
s
wi
thhereyeswi
dened.
Theybot hshar
et heloveofoxtailandst
eamed
bread.He’smadesomesal adsaswel l
.Nyezicooks
oncei naful
lmoon, i
fMawandei stooti
redhe’d
rathergoandbuyf ood.Thi
si sreall
yagoodsur pr
ise
andi tmeanshe’sfeeli
ngokayt oday.
“Icooked.Doy outhinkthest eamedbr eadi swell
cooked?”heasks, comingbehi ndinherki tchen
apron.He’shandsome, wi t
hhi stanf lawlessskin
andbushyey ebrows.He’ snotamuscl eboundbut
he’sbeengainingbitsofwei ghtsi ncehegotmar ri
ed
andinvestedhislit
tl
emuscl esi ntot hegy m.He’sa
germophobe; alwaysinhisbest ,
cleanestlookand
smelli
nggood.Anyspacear oundhi mi sal ways
squeakycleanandsmel lingf resh.
“
Idon’
tknow,
”shel
aughs.“
Howl
ongdi
dyoucook
i
t?”
“
10t
o15mi
nut
es,
”hesay
s.
Herey
espopoutoft
hei
rsocket
s.
Hechuckl
es,
“I’
m ki
ddi
ng.Icookedi
tforaboutan
hourorso.
”
“Oh,that’
sarel
ief
.It
hinkit
’sokay.Youroxt
ail
looks
deli
cious,t
hankyouforcooki
ng.”
Hehugsherandki ssesherli
ps.Nobodyknewthey
’d
beheretoday.Mostthoughtherushedhi
mself
,
marr
yinga22y earoldwhenhewasal soyoung
hi
mself.Buthe’
spr ovedthem wr
ong,he’
smoreofa
manthananyofhi suncles.
“Iranabat
hf ory
ou,
goandfreshenup.Iwil
lsett
he
table.
”Hepl
antssof
tki
ssesalloverherf
aceand
spanksher.
“Oh,y
ouwer
esofteni
ngmeupbycooki
ng?
”she
askswit
har
aisedeyebr
owandasmil
e.
“No,Ineededtoremindy ouhowmuchIl ov
ey ou.I
appreci
ateyoursupportandhowyoualway swant
what’sbestf
orme. ”Heholdsherl
efthandand
star
esattheringhegav ehertwoyear
sago.
“Thi
sort hevowsoranythi
ng,mustneverst
andin
thewayofy ourhappi
ness.Iwantyoutobehappy,
always.Idon’
tcarewhereintheworl
dyougo,who
youarewi t
handwhen, t
hemosti mport
antt
hingt
o
meisknowingt
hatmyMawandei shappy.”Heli
ft
s
herhandt
ohisl
ipsandki
ssesherri
ngfinger.
“Yourhusbandlovesy oumor et
hananyt
hingi
nt hi
s
wor l
d.Thiswasjusttoshowmyappr eci
ati
on,the
twoy earsI’
vespentwithyouhavebeenthemost
goldenyearsofmyl i
fe.IfIcoul
d,I
’
dli
vethem over
andov eragain.
”
Shesmil
eswit
htear
sgl
i
tter
ingi
nherey
esandpul
l
s
hi
mf oraki
ss.
“
Ilov
eyout
oo,
myeni
wami
.Di
dyouf
eel
anypai
n
t
oday?”
Heshakeshi
shead,
“No.
”
“Letmetakeabath,
indul
gei
nthi
sdel
i
ciousmeal
andthankyoupr
operly
.”
“
Thankmeproperl
y?”Hebit
eshi
slowerl
i
pand
l
owershi
sey
est ohercur
vybott
om.
“Todaywearemakingbabi
es,
”shesay
sandwal
ks
away,sway
ingherhipst
othesi
des.

Bef
orej
umpi
ngi
ntot
hebat
hther
e’sat
exti
ndi
cat
ion
i
nherphone.I t
’sfrom herel destbrother,t
hemost
troubledone.Bei ngasi stermakesherasi tefor
them t odumpal ltheirproblems.Shewasonl y18
whenshebeganhersi sterl
ydut i
es.Sometimesi t
getsheav yev enf orher ,butshehast obet herefor
them.Al lofthem.SheknewaboutSqal o’
ssexual i
ty
whenhet urned14, foundoutaboutNkonzo’ s
obsessi onov erThakasa’ sPAt woy ear
sagoand
Thakasa’ sside-chickadayaf terhemetherf orthe
fi
rsttime.Bandl awast heonlynor malbrothershe
had, butnotany mor e, hehashi sshenanigansas
wel l
.
WANDEIMESSEDUP-i
treads.
Lor
d,whathashedonenow?
Shedi
alshi
snumberandcal
l
s.
“I
’m sor
ryt
obothery
ouatthi
sbusyhour,Ij
ust
neededsomeonetotal
kto,
”hesay
safterpicki
ngup.
“YouknowI’
m alwaysav
ail
abl
efory
ou.Whatdi
dyou
dothi
stime?”sheaskswit
hworr
y.
“
Nomkhosi
ispr
egnantwi
thmybaby
,”hesay
s.
“
Noway
s!”
“Not
hil
edoesn’
twantmet ocommunicat
ewithher
,
soshe’
llmeetwi
thheranddiscussawayfor
ward.
”
Whocanblameher
?Atl
eastshedi
dn’
tpackher
bagsandl
eave.
“
She’
syourwi
fe,
may beyoushoul
drespecther
,ifi
t
wasmeIwoul
d’vel
eft,
”shesays.
“IknowWande.Mypr obl
em i
sthatshewant
stotest
thepaterni
tyofthebaby,t
hat
’sgoi
ngtodest
roy
everyt
hingbetweenKhosiandI,
”hesays.
“It
houghty
ousai
dther
eisnot
hingbet
weeny
ouand
her.
”
“
Yes,
ther
e’snot
hingbut
…”
“There’
snobutThakasa,y
ou’reeitherinlovewi
th
heroryou’
renot.I
fyou’
renotinlov ewithherasyou
clai
m, t
henitwon’
tbeaproblem ify ourwif
eactsas
ago-between.
”
“
Iheary
ou,
Iheary
ou!
”hesay
sandexhal
esheav
il
y.
“
Any
wayI
’
m happyt
obecomeanauntt
otwogi
rl
s.”
“
Twogi
rl
s?”hechuckl
es.
“Phet
hyandIneedbackup.Wecan’
tbeout
wei
ghed
byboys.
”
“
Let’
shopeyourdreamswil
lcomet r
ue.Thanksf
or
l
i
steni
ng,pl
easesendmyregardstoNyezi,
tel
lhi
m
t
orecoverf
ast,
Iwantustogot oMnqamlezweni
.”
“
Andwher
eist
hat
?”sheasks.
“
It
’samen’
ssecr
etpl
ace.
”
“Ani
bhor
ikanje!Letmebathbefor
emydi nnerdri
es
up.Pl
easetakecareofyour
selfMthonga,t
hat’
sallI
askfr
om you.”
.
.
Dinnerwascozywi t
haf ewkisseshereandthere.
Hisdinner,hisdishes!Hesai dwhenMawande
wantedt owashdi shes.Sosheusedhert i
met o
readyherselfforapr oper‘
ThankYouMy eza.
’When
hewal kedinsidetheirbedroom hefoundhernaked
i
nbed.Al thought hepai ni
nhisupperli
mbhad
resurf
aced, hemanagedt oli
fther
,wrapherlegs
aroundhi
swaistandgi
veherakisst
oremember.
Shelai
dheronthebedandkissedev
erypar
tofher
body.
Hepushedt hroughsweatandpai nt
omaket he
nightmemor able.Eachst rokecamewi t
hamoan
thatMawandemi stookf orpleasure.Hertoescurl
ed
upashest rokedt her i
ghtcor nersofhercoreand
sheexplodedi nat i
mi dwav e.Thenheki ssedher
sweatyforehead, r
oll
edt ot hesideandcaughtup
withhi
sshor tenedbr eaths.

Thepainwasexcr uci
ati
ngandhar dtopersever
e.
Mawandel if
tedherheadtohim squashednextto
her,
hisbreathscomingoutheavyandshor t,
his
handholdingbel
owhi sri
bs.
“
Babear
eyouokay
?”sheasked.
“I
’
mi npai
nWande.”Itwasthefi
rsthe’severcame
outsobol
dandsaidhewasi npain.He’dbeena
manaboutital
lal
ong;putt
ingonabr avefaceand
l
ockinghi
stear
sinhiseyes.
“
DoIneedt
ocal
lanambul
ance?
”sheaskedi
npani
c.
“Pl
easecl
eanmef i
rstandthenputmei nthatwhite
shi
rtyouboughtmeonmybi rt
hdaylastyear.Idon’
t
wanttogotothehospit
all
ookingdi
sheveled,”he
sai
d.
Shehurri
edofftot
hebathroom andtookatowelt
o
cl
eanhim up.Knowingt
hestickl
erherhusbandi
s,
shebroughthi
slot
ionsandbodysprayand
embossedhim.
“
Theambul
ancewill
beher
einaf
ewmi
nut
es.I
’
llcal
l
Maandl
etherknow.”
Heheldherhandbef or
eshecouldmakeaphone
cal
landstaredather.Sodeepl
ythatitfel
tli
kethei
r
soul
sconnectedthroughthei
reyes.Hisfi
rstl
ove,
herf
ir
stlove.
“
Pleaseki
ssme,”hesai
d,at
eardr
oppi
ngoutand
r
oll
ingdownhi
scheek.
“
Nyeziyou’r
escar
ingmenow.Youar
enotl
eav
ing
me,ar
ey ou?”
“
No,I
’m not
.Comeon,
kissy
ourhusband,
”hesai
d
wi
thachuckle.
Shebel
i
evedhi
m andwentf
orapassi
onat
e,soul
ki
ss.
Theambulancearri
vedjustaminutesaf
terhi
s
motherwalkedinwit
htearsrunni
ngdown.She’s
al
waysbeendr amati
c.
“Pl
easeholdmyhand,”heaskedbef
oret
he
ambulancetookof
f.
HelookedbetterthanhewaswhenMawandecal l
ed
theambulance,buttheyinsi
stedonhim goi
ngt
othe
hospi
talandgetti
ngapr opercheck-
up.

~
It
’sbeenov er30mi nutes.Theyhaven’
tgotany
update.Theydon’ tknowifhe’sbei
ngadmittedor
they’
retaki
nghi m backhome.Hi smotherhasbeen
prayi
ngandmaki ngcallstofel
lowchurchmembers
andaskingf orprayers.
Fi
nal
l
y,t
heI
ndi
andoct
ori
sback.
“Mntanami
,hur
ryandtel
luswhat
’sgoi
ngonwit
hmy
son?Ishecominghomewithusormakot
ihast
o
sl
eepher
ewi
thhi
m?”Mr
sMy
ezaasks.
Thedoctorcl
ear
shist
hroat
,hi
seyesar
erunni
ng
off
…thi
sisnotalookt
heywant.
Mawandest
andsupi
mmedi
atel
y.
“
Wher
eismyhusband?
”sheasks.
“Hewasrespondingwell
,hisbloodwasst ar
ti
ngt o
fl
ownormall
yfrom hisheartt
ohi sl
ungs.Howev erit
seemedtohavecl ot
tedandcloggedinhisarter
y.We
tr
iedev
eryt
hinginourpowerbut …”
“
Butwhat
?Wher
eismyhusband?
??”shescr
eams.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
MrMy
ezai
snol
ongerwi
thus.
”
No,
no,
no!
Ny
ezi
cannotdot
his!
Hecannotl
eav
eherl
i
ket
his.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER20

Nkonzo’sli
ghtt
urnson.Hespr i
ngsoutofthedoor
hal
f -
nakedandrunstowardsthebighousewhere
PhethyandMaKhumal osleep.Thephoneissti
llput
againsthi
sear,
hecanhearhi ssist
er’
spier
cing
screamsinthebackground.
Hisknocki
sthatofanapart
hei
dpoliceman,he
bangsthedoorwi
thhisf
istandyel
l
sf orhi
smot her
toopen.
I
tdoesn’
ttakelongbef
orePhet
hyopenst
hedoor
wear
ingonlyherpant
y,shel
ooksathi
mfri
ght
ened.
“Whyareyouknockingl
ikethi
s?Whathappened?”
sheasks,
openingtheburgl
ar-
gat
ewithtr
embling
hands.
“Wher
eisMa?”Nkonzoasks,
pushi
ngt
hebur
glar
-
gat
eandrushi
ngin.
MaKhumaloisalr
eadyi
ntheki
tchen,
tyi
ngherrobe
andsweat
ing.Somethi
ngi
sup.Thischaost
akesher
backtothedayherhusbanddi
ed,whenThakasar
an
toherbedroom,
screaminghernameandcryi
ng.
I
tcan’
tbeoneofherki
ds!
“Wherear
eyourbr
other
s?”sheasksNkonzo,
her
hear
tpoundi
nghardagai
nstherchest
.
“I
t’
sNyezi…”Nkonzosay
sandfail
stoputi
tinwor
ds.
Theyhavetoreadbet
weenthel
ines.
“Oh,
myWande!Whathappenedt oumkhwenyana?
”
Shepul
lst
hechairbehi
ndherandsinksoni
t.I
t
makesnodif
fer
ence,Nyezi
isl
ikeasontoher.
“
Hismotherj
ustcal
l
edf
rom t
hehospi
tal
.He’
sno
l
ongerwi
thus.
”
Phet
hygaspsi
nshock,
“OMG!
”
“
PleasewakeupThakasaandBandl
a, weneedtogo
t
herenow,”Nkonzosayst
oherandlooksathi
s
mother.“
You’
ll
comet omor
rowmorning.
”
Heopensthefr
idgeandt akesoutabottl
eofwat er.
Theywereal
lcl
oset oNy ezi
,hespoketohim notso
manydaysagoov erthephoneandhesai dhewas
okay.Hewasgoodt otheirsi
ster
,hesur
passedal l
thei
rexpectati
onsandwi pedof fthei
rdoubt
sabout
Mawandemar ryi
ngat22.Ny ezioutofallt
heMy eza
people!Whynothisuselessbr other,
Bhambatha,
whodr inksl
ikeafishandmugspeopl e?

Bandlai
sthefi
rstonetowalki
n.He’shearditf
rom
Phethy,
butwho’dreal
l
ybel
ieveanythi
ngf r
om t
hat
weir
do,heneedstoheari
tfrom hi
smot her.
“
Ma,what’sgoingon?
”heasks,hi
sey
esdarti
ng
f
rom Nkonzowho’sgulpi
ngdownabott
leofwat
er
t
ohismot her
.
“
TheysayNy
ezi
haspassedon,
”MaKhumal
osay
s.
No,no,no!Thi
scan’tbet
rue.Nyezi
ist
her eason
whyKhany oaccept
edhergif
tandgaveup
ever
ythi
ngtoserveandhonourherspi
ri
tualbeing.
Andhissister
?!She’
sonl
y24y
ear
sol
dfor
goodness’sake.
“How?”heasks,
conf
usi
onandpai
nref
lect
ingi
nhi
s
eyes.
“
Theysaybl
oodcl
oggedhi
sar
ter
yandhi
slungs
f
ail
ed,
”Nkonzo.
“I
tdoesn’tmakeanysense.Khanyowasgetti
ng
cl
ose,couldn’
thehol
donal it
tl
elonger?Hel
pwason
i
tsway .
”Hebur i
eshi
sfaceandr el
easesadeepsi
gh.
“
Thisi
sabouty
oursi
ster
,noty
ourjezebel
,
”
MaKhumal
osays,
thr
owingadaggerathim.
Heli
ft
shisheadup,
“Don’
tcal
lhert
hat
.Youdon’
t
knowher
.”
“Idon’tgoar
oundknowi
ngev
eryf
loozyIhav
eno
businesswit
h.”
“Ma, Idon’
tli
keyoutalki
ngli
kethataboutKhanyo.I
don’texpectyoutoli
keallmychoicesbutIexpectt
o
respectthem andrespectme.”
“
Heywena,
don’
tspeakt
omel
i
keI
’
myourf
ri
end!
”
Thakasawal ksinwithahugef rownpl aster
edonhis
face.Hehadar oughdayatwor k,aheav y
conversat
ionwithNot hil
ebeforebedandnowhe’ s
wakingupi nthemiddleoft henight,notonlyt
othe
newsofhi sbrother
-i
n-law’sdeath,buthisbrot
her
andmot heratloggerheadsaswel l.
“Cany out wost op?Mysi st
erissurroundedbya
dar kcloudandy ouar eonlyconcernedaboutwhoi
s
sleepingwi thwho. ”Hecl i
ckshistongueandgoest
o
Nkonzoi nthelounge.Hedoesn’ tspeaktohis
mot herany how, butsomet imeshet akesno
prisonersandl etsev ery
onehav eit.
“
Arewegoi
ngther
eri
ghtnow?”heasksNkonzo
who’
sst
andi
ngli
keastat
ueinthemiddl
eofthe
r
oom.
“Wehav et o.Mawandeneedsherf ami l
yr i
ghtnow.
Yaziwecoul d’
v efoughthar dert ost opherf r
om
getti
ngmar r
ied, nowlook, she’ l
l bescar redforl
if
e.
Losingamanwhogav ey ouar ing, welcomedy outo
hisclanwi t
hacowandspr i
nkl edi nyongoov eryou
tointroducey out ohisancest orsi sthepai nnobody
canev err ecov erfrom.”Hei nhalesshar plyand
shakeshi sheadt houghtfull
y .“Whati ft heywant
Bhambat hat oi nheri
thisbr other ’srole?Theywon’ t
l
ethercomebackhome, ”heasks.
“
That’
snevergoingt
ohappen.Iftheywantt
hei
r
l
obolabackI
’l
lgivet
hem,ImarriedMawandeto
Nyezi
,noanyotherf
ool
,”Thakasasays.
“Sowhat’
sgoingtohappent
oher?Shecan’tst
ay
alonei
nthatgi
ganti
chomestead,
”Nkonzoasks.
Heexhal esandshrugshisshoul
der
s.Someti
meshe
doesn’thaveanswers,butt
heydon’
tunder
standthat
,
theywanthimt oknowev er
ythi
ngandfi
ndinstant
solut
ions.
“Youhavetobri
ngherbackhome.Shesti
l
lhasa
bri
ghtfut
ureaheadofher
.Shecanfi
ndloveagai
n,
”
Nkonzosays.
“Youknowthat’
snotpossibl
e,unl
esst
heMyezas
all
owit.Mawandei
snol ongerour
s,wemar
ri
edher
off,
remember,
”hesays.
Adeepsi
gh!Whyi
sli
fesounf
air
?
“Ineedtodressupandl etMaNt usi knowwher eI’m
goingbeforesheassumesot herwise,”hesays,
l
eav ingNkonzoscratchi
nghi sspinninghead.Thisis
oneofmanyr easonswhyhe’ sscaredofmar riage.
Lovingsomeonef rom adistanceseemst obea
betteropt
ion,eventhoughithasi t
shi ghsandlows.
.
.
Theywai tforThakasai nt hecarsi lentl
y .Nkonzo’s
fearofcommi t
mentj ustr eachednewhei ghts.Being
l
eftbysomeoney ouwer esur ethaty ou’dspendt he
restofy ourlif
ewi thisnotsomet hinghewi shesto
got hrough.Bandl awoul dtaket hatrisk,infacthe’d
swi mt hr ought heoceanst obewi t
hsomeonehe
l
ov es.Hebel i
evest hatev eryone’shappi nessis
sit
tingont heot hersi deoff ear.Butt odayhi sbeli
ef
i
sshaken; howi shegoi ngt otellKhany ot hatthe
manshewasshowni nherv i
sions,whosei l
lness
mot ivatedhert of acet hesi desofhershewas
runningawayf rom, isnowdead.Howi shegoi ngto
j
umpt hatr oadoff ear ?Knowi nghowKhany ois,
she
mightf eel l
etdownandt urnherbackonherspi r
itual
beingagai n.Thatwoul dt akeherbackt opar tyi
ng
throughoutt heweekendsanddar i
ngt hedev ilwit
h
herlife.Shewasl iket hatwhenhef ellinlovewi t
h
her,he’ dnev erjudgenordi ctateher ,
buthe’ sa
human, hedeser vest hebestv er
sionofherbecause
heal sogi vesthebestv ersi
onofhi msel f.
Thedr i
ver
’sdooropens,Thakasagetsi
nsi
deand
glancesatthem att
heback.Theyalwaysthi
nkthey
canbullyhimint
odrivi
ngwhenev ert
heyneedtogo
somewher e.
“
Fasani
amabhande,
”hesay
sdi
sgr
unt
ledl
y.
Nkonzopul l
sabl anketundert heseat ,t
heybot h
fast
ent hei
rseat beltsandshar et hebl ankettocover
themsel ves.It
’sjustaf termid-night,they’dprobabl
y
beont heroadf ort henextt wohour s.He’ll
hav ealot
ofthinkingt odowhi leont hewheel ,themostbei ng
NothileandKhosi ’ssoon- meeting.Sheusedhi s
phonet otextNomkhosi ,soshe’sundert he
i
mpr essi onthatshe’ llbemeet i
ngwi thhimi nthe
rest
aur ant.Deepdownhewant stoal erther,but
thenhedi dNothi l
edi rty
,hecan’ tdropt hedimeon
heragai n.Sohe’ sjustgoi ngtot ossKhosi totheli
on
andlethergeti tint heneck.
.
.
Amattresshasbeenl
aid,
candlesar
eli
t,Mawande
hasbeensatdownandcov er
edinaheavybl
anket
.
Neighbour
scomeandgo, condolenceskeeppouring
i
n.MaKhumal ohasar ri
vedtobebyherdaught er
’s
side.Shewasinherpositi
on7y earsago,af
ter37
yearsofmarr
iage,herhusband’sdeathwastragi
c
butnotasheartbr
eakingasthisone.
Agi
rlcomeswithabowlofporr
idge,
she’
soneof
t
hecousins,
andput
siti
nfrontofMawande.
“Pl
easet
ryaf
ewspoons,
mybaby
,”MaKhumal
o
begs.
Sheshakesherhead; f
oodisnotwhatsheneeds.I f
there’
sanythi
ngshe’shungryfor,
it’
sherhusband’
s
l
ov ethatshe’
l
lnevergetagain.
“Hesai dhewascomi ngbackMama, ”sheshedsa
tearandl ooksathermot her
,desperateforanswers.
“HowcanNy ezil
eavemesosoon?Wher ewill
Igo?
Howam Igoi ngt
obur ysomeonewho’ sinmyheart
deepundert heground?Mama…. ”Makhumal oshif
ts
closerandpeel stheblanketoffherandhugsher
ti
ghtly.Shecannotcomf ortherbutsheknowst hat
i
t’snott heendoft hewor ld.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
mybaby
.Pl
easebest
rong,
he’
sinabet
ter
pl
acenow.
”
“
Ourhomewasabet
terpl
ace.WhyNy
ezi
lef
tme,
Mama?Why?
”
Pheewww!
.
.
Ny ezi’
sfuneral
hasbeensetf oraSunday .
MaKhumal owillbeattheMy ezasunt i
lthen,therest
oft hefamil
ywi l
lgoont hefuneraldaytol essenthe
crowd.They ’
rekeepingintouchwi thMawande
throughMaKhumal o.I
t’
sstil
lhardf orhertoaccept
thatNy ezii
sgone, t
heyputsleepingpill
si nhertea
forhert ocl
oseherey esandgetsomesl eep.
TodayisthedayThakasa’sfear
scomet r
ue.Nothi
le
hasputononeofherbestdr essesandhead-
wraps,
todayherroadleadstotheOceanTerr
acetomeet
theside-
chickofherhusband.
Hesaidhehasnoimpor
tantmeeti
ngst
oday,
sohe’s
j
ustl
inger
ingar
oundandgoingi
nandoutoft
heir
bedr
oom.Hewantstosaysomethi
ngbuthecan’
t
sayi
t.

Hewalksin,f
orthefi
ft
hti
me,ifnotsi
xth.Hi
seyes
got
oNot hil
ebri
efl
ythenheheadstowardsthe
war
drobe.
“
Hav
eyouseenmygr
eypant
?”heasks.
“I
’
m sureit
’sthere,l
ookcareful
l
y.Pleasesendy
our
babymamaat ext,
tel
lhertobeattheOceanTerrace
i
nt wohours,
”Not hi
lesays.
Heexhalesandtakesouthi
sphone.Hecannot
pr
otecther,
that
’showwor t
hlesshei
s.
Herr
esponseki
l
lshi
m:

I
FYOUGETTHEREFI
RST,
ORDERMEATBALLSFOR
ME.XAP!

“
And?
”Not
hil
easks,
star
ingathi
m.
“Shesaysshe’
ll
bethere.
”Hef
orget
saboutt
hegrey
pantandwalksout
,tr
ippi
ngov
erhisownhear
t.He
wantstobetheref
orbothofhisbabi
es,f
inanci
all
y
andemotional
ly
.Hewantstopersonal
lyf
eedher
crav
ingsj
ustli
kehefeedsNothil
e’
s.
That’
ssel
fi
sh,r
ight
?Hehast
oletNot
hil
epuni
shhi
m
anyhowsheseesfi
t.

Heopensthedoorabsent
-mi
ndedl
yandnear
ly
bumpshischesti
ntoSqal
o.
“
Whati
syourpr
obl
em?
”her
oar
s.
Sqal
ofr
ownsandst
epsasi
de.
Deepbr
eat
h!
“I
’
m sor
ry,
”hewhispersandgoest
othecupboar
dto
getagl
assforwater
.
“
Whyar
eyounotatschool
?”heasksSqal
o.
“Ther
e’saf
unct
ionforoneofouroldt
eacher
s,so
nothi
ngmuchwill
bedonetoday.”
“Oh,
Isee.”Hepourswaterinaglassandgul psal
lof
i
tdown.Heput siti
nthesinkandturnstoleave.
Sqal
o’spaint
edtoenail
sattr
acthiseyes.
“Andthenwhati
sthi
s?”heasks,
hisey
ebr
ows
knit
ted.
“Ohthi
s,Iwasj
ustchecki
ngitout
,”Sqal
osays.Hi
s
hear
tisraci
ngbuthe’
sputti
ngabravefaceon.
“Checki
ngitout,
myf oot!Goandremovethi
sthing,
now.”Heleaves,shaki
nghisheadandgrunt
ing
angri
ly.
Sqaloexpectednothinglessthanthis,buthehada
l
itt
lehopet hathewasgoi ngtoquest i
onhi m
fur
ther
lyandnotj ustshutitdownlikethis.He’snot
goingtoremov ehisnailpoli
shthough, helovesit
.
Hedoesn’ twanttolooklikeagirl
orany t
hing,but
beauti
fulnail
sturnhim on,sowhynot ?
.
.
NOTHI
LE

I
t’
seasytospotherinthosel
ongfakehairofher
s.
Anoff-
shoul
derdresstoshowherskint
oThakasa,
ri
ght
?Sheclutchesherbagunderherar
m and
st
ri
dest
owar
dst
het
abl
eshe’
ssaton.
“Sor
ry,
I’
mlate,
”shesay
s,st
andingi
nfr
ontofher
andscanni
ngherwit
hhereyes.
Khosili
ftsherface,hereyeswidenatthesurpri
se
company .Herey ebr
owsar eperf
ect
lydrawnl i
keshe
hadaf ullmake-upsessionbefor
ecomi nghere.Her
facecontouredingoldenbrownandmat chedwith
herberryli
psti
ck.Whatawast eofeffort!
“Looki
nggoodformyhusband?
”Not
hil
easks,
smili
ngandpul
l
ingachairt
osit
.
Khosi
bat
sherey
elashesi
nshock.
“
No,
formy
sel
f.Whoar
eyou?
”sheaskst
heobv
ious.
“I
’m Manqele’swi
fe.Iguessyouwereexpect
inghi
m
here,notme.Well,heismeandIam him,sowecan
orderandtalkaboutyoufal
li
ngpregnant
.”
“
Oh,wow!”That’
sal
lKhosi
cansay
.Shedi
dn’
tsee
t
hisonecoming.
“That
’sexact
lyhowIfeltwhenIfoundoutt
hat
someonewassneakingar oundwit
hmyhusband.I
said‘
Oh,wow’,”Not
hil
esay s.
“Wasity
ouorThakasawhoaskedmet
ocome
her
e?”Khosi
asks.
“I
twasbothofusbuthehadmoreimportant
matt
erst
oattendandchangedhi
splans.So,howf
ar
arey
ou?”
“
Twomont
hs,
”Khosi
say
s.
“
Andhowl
ongwer
eyousl
eepi
ngwi
thhi
m?”Not
hil
e.
“
Whydon’
tyouaskhi
m howl
onghewassl
eepi
ng
wi
thme?”
“Becausehe’
snotpregnant
,youar
e,”Not
hil
esay
s,
givi
ngheralookofstupi
dit
y.
“
Whyam Iher
e?”Khosi
asks.
“Todiscussawayfor
ward.I
fthi
sismyhusband’ s
babythatmeansit
’smybabytoo,Iwil
ll
ethim pay
fort
hedamagesandal l
owhimtobr i
ngitt
othe
Manqeles.”
Shesi
tsst
il
l,
notsur
eifsheshoul
dbegr
atef
ulor
l
eavi
ng.
“
Butwehav eacondi
ti
on,
”Not
hil
esays,r
aisi
ngone
f
ingerup.“
Manqel
eandIwantapater
nit
ytestso
thatwecanbesur
ethaty
ou’
recar
ryi
ngaManqel
e
blood.
”
“
SoThakasasentyoutotel
lmet hi
s?”Khosi
asks
wi
thhereyebr
owraisedandlowerl
iptrembl
ing.
“Weact uall
ydi
scusseditasamar ri
edcouple.I
’
llbe
presentwhentheydot hetest
,I’
m surehe’
l
lbebusy
atwor k,t
henwhent heresul
tscomeoutwe’ l
lboth
bether et
oseetheout come.”
“I
sit?”Khosiasks,cockingherheadtothesideand
boldl
ystari
ngather .Thakasadidn’
tli
ketal
ki
ng
aboutherbutsomet imeshedi d.Hewouldn’
tgointo
depthsdescri
bingher ,
butshehadanexactpi ct
ure
ofherinhermi nd.
“Yes,
andt
hesoonert
hisi
sdonet
hebet
ter
,”she
says.
Khosisi
tsupst
rai
ghtandlooksatherwi
ththesame
fakesmil
eshe’
sbeenfl
ashingaroundsi
nceshegot
here.
“Well
,MrsManqelegobackhomeandtelly
our
husbandthatIsai
dIdon’
tneedy
ourapprovalorhi
s.
Idon’
tneeddamagespaymentnordoIcareifmy
babyi
sacceptedasaManqeleornot.Not
hing
makesthesurnamespeci
al.
”Shest
andsupand
pi
cksherpurse.
“It
’sreall
yyourdeci
sionNomkhosi
.DNAtestorno
fatherforyourbaby
.Youchoose,
”Nothi
l
esays
unbot her
ed.
“I
’m notdoingaDNAt estonmyunbor nbaby.
Thakasaknowswhet herthisi
shischi
ldornot,when
he’
sgr ownapairofball
s,ifhe’
severgoi
ngtogr ow
one,he’l
ladmiti
t.I
’
venev ercheat
edonhim.”
“
Youcan’
tcheatonsomeonewho’
snoty
our
s,”
Not
hil
esays.
Thet
rut
hhur
ts,
butshet
ri
esnott
olookf
azedbyi
t.
“
What
ever
!By
e.”
Ifshe’
sstill
notdonewit
hThakasaaf terthisthenit’
s
cleart
hathe’ll
dri
vehert
ot hegrav esoon.DNAt est
outofallthi
ngs?Whatannoy shermor eisthathe
knowst hatshehasnotbeeninv olvedwi thanyot her
man.Ev eryt
imetheymetafteral ongt imehe’ d
checkthet i
pofhismanhoodaf terf i
rstthrusts.God
knowswhathewaschecki ng, butitwasal way s
fol
l
owedbya‘
thanky ou.
’Heknewexactl
yhow
muchhol
dhehadov erherandheenj
oyedpicki
ng
anddr
oppi
ngherl
ikeabal l
.
I
t’
sti
metocutti
esf
oreverandsheknowsexact
ly
howshe’
sgoi
ngtodoit
.
Shej
ustneedsaf
ewday
s…
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER21
KHANYO

OnlyMandul oandt woofournot -

so- usefuluncles
would’vegonet of etchMaSi bi
yaandgr eat-
grandfatherfrom Ti nleyManorwher etheywer e
i
mpet uousl ybur i
ed.Butwhenf etchingdeadspi ri
tsa
l
otisatr isk.It’
seasyt oat tachot herf orei
gnspi ri
ts
andbr i
ngt hem t oy ourhome.I t
’snotj ustoneort wo
i
nstanceswher et hi
ngssuddenl ygowr ongi n
famili
esaf ter‘ukungeni swakwabangasekho’
becausef oreignspi rit
si l
l
egal l
yenter edandev oked
viol
encewi t
hint heancest ors.Sot heyhav etobe
careful
,henceI ’
m bei ngst ringedal ongt oensur e
thatallgoeswel l.Thiswill bemyf irstspiri
tualtask.I
havet obepr esentatTi nleyManorandt hroughout
thejourneyt oensur et hatt heycomebackonl ywi th
theMay isest hatwear ef etching.

Ihat
emor
nings,
buti
nthi
snewl
i
feI
’
m adj
ust
ingt
o
myday sst
art
ingat4am.TodayI
’
m extr
aearl
y
becausewehavetogetther
ebef
orethesuncomes
up.
Mandul ohasbeenunderi nt
er r
ogati
onsincelast
nightabouthisdi v
orce.Theseol dfol
ksdon’t
understandany thi
ngaboutendi ngmar r
iagebya
pieceofpaper .He’ssti
ll
tryi
ngt onursehiswounds,
thelastthi
ngheneedsi stoexpl ai
nhimselft
o
peoplewhot hinkmar ri
agecanonl ybeendedby
grave.Atleastthey’r
estil
lsleepyandhungov erthe
sorghum beert heydranklastnight,t
hey’
resi
tti
ng
quietl
yattheback.

Wepar kthecarfarandcont inuebyfoot

.Their
gravesarenotveryfarfrom thetr
ainrai
lway,t
he
placeisexactl
yli
keitwasi nmydr eams.Ileadthem
tothei
risolat
edstone-coveredgravesandstep
asideforMalum’Mpi sit
ospeak.
Heint
roduceshi
mselfasthei
rgrandsonand
menti
onswhohisparentswere.Idi
dn’ttr
usthi
mto
r
ememberwhatt osay,he’
sbeenclosinghisey
es
anddr
unkenl
ywhi
sper
ingt
ohi
msel
fal
lthewayher
e.
“
ThisisnothomeNsel enduna, whitepeopleburi
ed
youherelikewil
danimal s.Yourf amil
yiswaiti
ngfor
youandgr eat
-gr
andma, MaSi biya,tocomet oyour
r
ightf
ulhomewher ey oubot hbel ong.Nowcome
wit
hme. ”He’scarr
yingal eaf,whenhet urnstoleav
e
weallfol
lowbehindhim si l
entl
y.
ThenIfeelitcomingbehindus.Icannott ellwhoiti
s
butIsweart hi
sisanIndianghost ,thefamil
yburi
ed
him her
eandnev erlookedback.Ihear dIndi
ansand
whitepeopleusedt odominatear oundherebackin
thedays.It
’saMahar ajoraNai doo, t
hosearethe
onlytwoIndiansurnamest hatexist,t
herestarej
ust
clannames.

Ist
op,myshoulder
sareheavy,Ineedt
otel
lwhoev
er
thi
sist
ogobackandr estwherehewas.Nowit
comesnatur
all
y,Il
etmyheartspeakwit
houtmy
mindtr
yingt
ogainauthori
tyov
ermymout h.
“
Whoev
eryouar
e,wearenother
efory
ou.Goback
t
owher
eyoubel
ong,i
nthenameofJesusand
f
orf
endi
ngMay
iseancest
ors,
Idi
smi
ssy
ouf
rom t
his
j
our
ney!
”
WhenIopenmyey esi t’
sclear,onlyMandul ois
star
ingatme.I ’
m strange, Iguess.It
’sgoingtot ake
ti
mef orhim andev eryonet ogetusedt othissideof
me.I’m sti
llget
ti
ngusedt oitaswel l
.WhenI ’
m not
spir
it
uallychannel
ed, Ilookatmy sel
finthemi rror
andask; “Woman, whoar eyou?”Ithasn’tthoroughly
sunkin.

Nowmypr ayeristhatMal um’ Mpisidoesn’tfal

l
asleepandf orgettotelltheel ders’spiri
tswherewe
are.Heneedst onotif
yt hem ofev eryriv
erandpl ace
thatwepass, becauseifhef orgetsev enoneplace,
they’l
lgetoutoft hi
sv ehicleandr emai nbehind.You
seewhenaper sondies, onlythespi ri
tcrossesov er
,
thebr ai
nisbur i
edunder gr oundandeat enbyant s.
Sot heser estingmember sdon’treallyhavebrains,
theyleftthem her eonear th.

Besi
decal
l
ingUThukel
aasUMgeni
riv
er,
Mal
um’
Mpi
sihasbeeninhi
sr i
ghtsensest
hroughoutt
he
j
our
ney.I
’m goi
ngtoaskMandul ot
orewardhim
wi
thabott
leofSmirnoffl
ater
.
“Nowwear eoutsi
deyourhome,whereally
ourkids
werelai
dtorest
,”het
ell
sthem out
sidetheMayise
gate.
Mandul
oget
sinsi
det
ofet
chapotoft
radi
ti
onal
beer
andt
hegoat
.
NowI ’
m hungryandov erthi
swholething.Iwokeup
bydawnandIhav en’teatenanythi
ng.Ialsohav en’
t
heardfr
om Bandlaint helasttwoday s,hisphone
hasbeenof fsi
nceWednesday ,whichIfindvery
str
ange.Ihopehe’snotgi v i
nguponme.I ’
m also
worri
edaboutNy ezi.Notknowi nghowhe’ sdoingis
ki
ll
ingme, Bandl
awasmyspy ,
nowI ’
mj ustinthe
darkabouteveryt
hing.

Thesmel loftradi
ti
onal beerconnect
st heliv
ingto
theancestors,nowthey ’
llknowthatwear ehome.
Howev er
,there’sadisappointmentattheend, a
hugeone.Thegoati sr efusingt
oeatthel eaf.
IsnapoutofmyzoneasMandul
osi
tsont
hegr
ound
hopel
essl
y.
Thi
sisbad,
real
l
ybad.
Mal um’Mpisihashel dthegoat’
smout h,
he’sforci
ng
i
tt oeatbutitdoesn’tbudge.Thi
smeanst hiswhole
thingwasawast eoftime;ei
thertheygotannoyed
byMal um’Mpi sicall
i
ngUThukelaasMgeni and
stayedbackort here’
ssomet hi
ngweneedt odo.
“Sowhatnow?”Mandul
oasks,st
ari
ngatme.He’
s
exhaust
ed,andpr
obabl
yhungr
ytoo.
Il
etoutasi
ghandshr
ugmyshoul
der
s.
“Thisi
sfuckedup!Wedi
dev er
ythi
ngyout
oldust
o
do,”hesnapsatme.“
Askthem whatt
heywantusto
do?”
Idon’
tknowwhathet hinksIam.Yes,Idoget
accur
atevisi
onsandconnecttotheancestor
s,but
I’
m nosangoma,Idon’thavebonestothr
owandget
answerstoever
ythi
ng.
“
You’
renoti
ntothis,ar
eyou?”heaskswhenIheav
e
asi
ghwithasecreteye-
rol
l
.
“
I’
m hungr
yNdul
o,”Isay
.
“
Weallar
e.Butwehav
et of
ini
shthi
sfir
st,
it’
s
i
mpor
tantfory
ouandthewhol
efamily
.”
“
Iwantt
oeat
,”Isay
.
Het
hinksit
’soneofmyGogo’
schi
l
dtendenci
es,
but
I
’mr
eallynoti
ntothi
sany
more.
“
Okay
,goandeat
,we’
l
lwai
t,
”hesay
s.
Nowhe’
stalki
ng,
Ileavethem wi
ththegoatandgo
i
nsi
detogetsomef ood.Iwantmeat,
nothi
ngelse.

Iboil t
wopiecesofchi ckenandeatthem wit
hslices
ofbr eadandhalf-doneeggs.Aftereati
ngIgotomy
room andmedi tate.Ineedtoconnecttomyspi r
itual
selfagain.Bandlaturninghi
sphoneof fhast
akena
tol
l onmyemot i
ons, Idon’
tknowwhyhedi ditbutI
havet ofini
shthisjourneyIhavestar
ted.

Thirt
yminuteslaterIwal
kbacktothegat
eandt el
l
them togetanothergoat
.Idon’
tknowwherethey’
re
goingtogetit
,butweneedi tt
ocleanseMaSi
biya’
s
bl
oodandextri
catet
hespear.Thenthisothergoat
wi
llbesl
aughter
edtounit
ethegreat-gr
andparents
wi
ththerestoft
heancestor
s.Itwil
lbecookedand
st
ri
ctl
yeatenbyfamil
ymember sinsi
dethey ar
d.
That’
sit
.Idon’
tthi
nkt
hey
’l
lneedmef
oranyot
her
thi
ng.

Igotomyr oom andputmyphonei nthecharger.At

thi
spointIcandoany thingt
ocommuni catewith
Bandl
a,justtof
indouti fhe’
sokayornot.Isearch
forMthongaHoldingsont heint
ernet
,alotofthings
popupbutmyi nterestisonthei
rcontactdetai
ls.
Thecal
lgoest
hrough…
Idon’
tevenknowwhatI
’
m goi
ngt
osayt
owhoev
er
answers.
“
Goodday,t
hisi
sMandyatMt
hongaHol
ding,
”say
s
t
hevoi
ce.
Atl
easti
t’
sagi
rl
,notoneofhi
sbr
other
s.
“Hey,
I’
m Nokukhany
aMay
ise.CanIspeakt
o
Bandl
a?”
“
Okayma’m,
pleasehol
donami
nut
e,I
’
llputy
ou
t
hrough.
”
Sohe’sal
iveandther
e’snot
hingwrongwithhim.He
bet
terhav
eagoodex planat
ion,wedon’
tdisappear
ononeanother,
hecould’
vesentevenatexttolet
meknowt hathewon’tbeavail
abl
eonthephone.

Thephoner
ingsagai
n,adi
ff
erentv
oicepi
cksup.
“Thi
sisBandl
alethuManqel
eatMt
hongaHol
dings,
howmayIhelpy ou?”
“
Byt
ell
i
ngmewhyy
ourphonei
sof
fBandl
a.”
“
Khany
o!”
Yesi
t’
sme,
Judas.
“
Arey
ougoi
ngt
otel
lme?
”Iask.
“Babe…Ireal
lydon’
tknowhowt
osaythi
s.Iwasn’
t
i
gnoringyoubecauseIdon’
tmi
ssyou,
somethi
ng
happened,”hesays.
“
ToNy
ezi
?”Iask.
“
Ummm…y
es,
”hesay
s.
“
Thent
ell
me.
”Mypal
msar
esweat
ing.
Idon’
tknowhowl
ongIcankeepst
andi
ng.
“
HepassedawayonTuesday
,”hesay
s.
Wel l,t
hisi
si tforme.Idon’twantt obeshownany
visions,everagain.Idideveryt
hing,ever
yfucki
n’
thing!Iwasn’ taski
ngforgoldandsi lv
er,Iwant
ed
them t ohelpmeheal Nyeziandt heyrai
sedmy
hopesup.
“
Sthandwasami
?”Bandl
asay
sont
hephone.
Iev
enfor
gotaboutt
heongoi
ngcal
l
,I’
m st
il
lst
unned
bymyancest
ors’
betr
ayal
.
“
Iwi
l
lseey
out
omor
rowbabe,
”It
ell
him.
“
You’
recomi
ngback?
”Whyhe’
ssoshocked?
“
Yes,
I’
ll
findy
ourwor
kpl
aceandbr
ingy
oul
unch.
”
“
Khany
oyoucannotdot
hat
,pl
ease,
”hesay
s.
“BandlaI’
m comingbackandthat
’si
t.Nowplease
switchyourphoneon,Iwantt
osendy ousome
nudes,”Isay.
.
.
THAKASA

Hewal ksinwithbloodshotey esandt hrowshi s

bri
efcaseont hediningtableandpr oceedstot he
l
oungewher etheTVi splaying.Luckilyhef i
ndsonly
hiswife.Hisbrothersmustbei ntheirrooms.Wi th
Phethyy ouneverknow, onemi nuteshe’shomeand
nextshe’sroamingt hestreets.Thatonecan’ tbe
groomedandt heylethergetawaywi t
hal most
everyt
hingbecause, well
,she’sagi rlandshe’ s17.
Despiteherbeingat wintoSqal o,
she’st r
eatedli
ke
thelast-
born.
“I
sev erythingalri
ght?”Nothil
easks, l
ookingathim
withaf rown.Theywer eokaythismor ningwhenhe
l
ef t
.Theyt alkedaboutKhosi ’
sdecisiont odenythe
paternit
yt estandconcl udedthattheyhav etowait
untilt
hebabyi sborn.Wel l
,i
twasherdeci si
onand
hecoul dn’targueitbecausehe’scur r
ent l
yunderher
mer cy.IfKhosi doesn’twantherinvolv
edand
standinginf orThakasat henshe’l
lwalkt his
pregnancyjour
neyalone.All
owingThakasatogo
andbondwi ththatbabyisnotariskNothi
lei
sgoing
totake.Notonlycouldhebondwi thababythat’
s
nothis,hecoul
dbondwi ththemot heraswell
.
“Irecei
v edamessaget hatIdon’tunderstandfr
om
Nomkhosi ,
”hesay suneasil
y.She’
sbecomeapar tof
theirl
ives,bothofthem canment ionhernameand
tal
kaboutherasi fshe’
snotat hreatli
ngeri
ngov er
theirmar r
iage.Hehasbr oughtathirdparti
ntotheir
mar ri
age,somet hi
ngtheywer estrongl
yadv i
sed
againstpriorthei
rwedding.
“Herphonei snotgoingt hrough,Ithinksheblocked
meaf tersendingthetext .CanIusey our
s?”Thi
sis
veryboldofhim, butNot hil
eknowst hesit
uati
on
betweenhi m andKhosi, andhepr omi sedtokeepno
mor esecretsbetweent hem.Hi m usingherphonet o
cal
l Khosiisanotheractoft ransparency.Andhe’l
l
maket hecallinfrontofher .
“Sur
e,yeah,”shesayswit
hasubt l
ehintof
annoyance.Didn’
tshesayshedoesn’tneedThakasa
andtheManqel esurnameforherbaby?Whyisshe
sendi
ngt extsnow?
Hetakesthephoneandquickl
ydialsKhosi
’
snumber .
Hereyeswidenathowfasthecouldpunchitandthe
f
actthatheknowsitbyhead.Buttodayshedoesn’
t
wanttobepetty
,she’
ll
leti
tsli
de.
I
tri
ngsacoupl
eoft
imesbef
oreKhosi
picksup.
“
It
’sme,
don’
thangup,
”hesay
s.
Thisi
snott heli
fehewant
st ol
ive.I
t’
sdr
aini
ng,bot
h
emotional
lyandphysi
cal
ly.He’
slosi
ngsl
eepover
thi
s.Buthe’sreapi
ngwhathesow, i
t’
swhathe
deserves.
“WhatdoyouwantThakasa?It
oldyout
her
e’sno
babyanymore,
nothi
ngli
nksmet oy
ouoryourwi
fe,
”
Khosil
ashesout.
Hischestt i
ght
ens.Suddenl
yhef eel
ssohotl i
kehe
coul
dt earhisshi
rtopenandgaspf orai
r.There’sa
j
ell
yfreezinginhi
sknees.Allt
hishastobeadr eam,
abadone.
“
Idon’
tunder
stand.Whatareyout
ryi
ngt
osay
Nomkhosi
?Pleasestoppl
ayingwi
thme,
”heasks,
hi
svoi
cet
rembl
i
ngal
i
ttl
e.
Nothileisstandingbehindhim andlistening
att
ent i
vely.Whydoesi tsoundslikethere’str
oublein
Paradise?No, inGomor rah.Shembei snot
answer ingherprayerssosoon!Herancest orsar
e
notdoi ngthei
rmagi csoear l
y!Whydi dn’tshemake
popcor n?Themov i
eisreachingitscli
maxandi t
’s
hotterthanev er.
“
Iter
minat
edthepregnancy,It
oldyou.I
twasnot
wort
hit
.Nowenjoyyourlif
ewithyourwif
eandleav
e
methehel
lal
one,”Khosisays.
Hef
indsacouchwit
hhishandandsi
nksdown,
t
ear
spouri
ngoutofhisey
esli
keawater
fal
l.
“Pl
easetel
lmey ou’
rejoki
ng.Nomkhosiyoudi
dn’
t
kil
lmybabybef
or eIcanevenholdhi
m orherwit
h
myar ms.
”Hisvoicei
sl owandfi
l
ledwit
hsomuch
painanddi
sbel
i
ef .
“Nowy ouknowitwasyourbaby
?Goodby eThakasa
Manqele,t
hankyoufort
hegoodandt hebadti
mes.I
hopeyou’l
lbehappyinyourmar
ri
agewithyour
marri
agebaby,
”shesaysanddropsthecall
.
Hedi al
shernumberandcal l
sagain.Shehast osay
she’sjoking!Shedidnotkil
lhi
sbaby .Hisbabyknew
daddy ,hefeltt
heconnecti
onbet weenthem.Hewas
goingtobeagoodf atherandlethim orherl
iv
ethe
l
ifethathenev ergotachancet oli
ve.
“Whathappened?
”Not
hil
easks,
almostbot
her
edbut
not
.
“Khosikil
ledmybaby !
”Hepi cksacushi onand
pressesitov erhi
smout h.He’sal waysbeenbroken,
buthe’snev erfel
tanypai nl
ikethisbefore,
notev en
whenhi sfatherdied.Hiswholewor l
dhasbeen
crushed.Thebushe’ sal way
sf eltli
kehewasst uck
underhasr anov erhim andlefthiminpieces.
Hiscryistoodeep, i
tescapesthecushi onand
buzzesinthehouse.Hi sfaceisamessoft ear
s.Yes
hischil
dwasn’ tconcei
vedtherightway ,thi
s
pregnancywoul d’
veshakenhiswor ldandr eveal
ed
color
sofhi mthatmostpeopl ehav enev erseen.But
i
twashi sbaby ,hi
sblood.Theonehet ouchedand
fel
tdrawnt o.Hisfi
rstproofoffer
til
it
y.
“
Howcanshedot
hist
ome?
”Het
hrowst
hewet
cushionawayandbur i
eshi sf
aceinhi
shandsand
cri
esharder.It
’sal
mostsadt owatchbecausehe
hardl
ylaysouthisemotionsli
kethi
sordisplay
s
brokenness.Buthe’
smaki ngnoi
se…
Nothil
epickst heremoteandincreasestheTV
vol
ume.Real l
y,shecannotmisstherepeatof
Outdaughteredbecauseofsomeonewhosehear t
hasbeenmi ncedbyhisside-
chick.Sheputst
he
packetofDor it
osshewassnacki ngonherlapand
conti
nuest owat chTV.

Nkonzowal ksintohisbrothercryi
ngandhi swi
fe
watchingTVl ikenothi
ngi nthewor ldi
swr ong.He
panicsandr ushestowar dsthem.Thakasadoesn’ t
cry,
atl eastnotsoopenl yandpainfull
y.Heknows
Bandlat obeacr ybabyandeasi l
y-provoked.Thi
s
oneist heperfectonethatgetsev eryt
hinginli
feby
i
tsor derandmakespar entsproud.Thisonecar r
ies
thewhol eclanonhi sbackandnev erbreaks.
Nothi
l
eseeshim andl
owerst
heTVv ol
ume.It
’s
awkwardbei
ngcaughti
nthi
sposi
ti
on.They
’rea
per
fectcoupl
etoal
mostev
ery
one.
“
What
’sgoi
ngonguy
s?”Nkonzoasks.
Thakasaisamess, hecannotspeak,
notthathe’
d
tel
lNkonzoanyway.He’scri
edhimselft
othepoint
ofhavi
nghiccups.That
’showmuchhecar esabout
thi
sKhosiwomanandt hei
rdeadbaby.Good
ri
ddance!
“Ukhaliswaubuf
ebebakhe,
”Nothi
lesays
unintenti
onal
lyl
oud.(
He’scr
yingoverhi
swhor
ing
way s)
Nkonzoisl
ost.One,t
hat’
snothowMaNtusispeaks
tohi
m oraboutThakasa.Two,
whatwhori
ngway si
s
shetal
ki
ngabout?
“
Mthongawhat
’sgoi
ngon?
”heasksThakasa.
I
nsteadofansweringhepickst
hecushionandwalks
outwit
hitpressedoverhi
sswollenf
ace.He’snev
er
port
rayedhi
sweaknessl i
kethi
stoanyone.
“MaNt
usi
?”Nkonzotur
nshiseyestoNothi
le.He’
s
nowworr
iedandhurtt
oseehisbrot
herli
kethat.
Maybei
fthei
rmotherwashomewhat ev
erhappened
t
ohi
m woul
dn’
thav
ehappened.
“Wehadaf ightandheoverr
eacted.Iguessmy
pregnancyhormonesaredoinganumberoneon
hi
m, ”shesayswithasl
ightshrug.
Wel
l,i
t’
sweirdandver
ycompl
icat
edtounder
stand.
Hi
sbrotherj
ustbr
okedownbecauseofasmallf
ight
?
I
tdoesn’
tmakeanysense.
“Canyoupl
easecheckonhi
m?Iknowhewon’
t
speaktomewhenhe’sli
ket
hat
,”heasks.
“Alr
ight
,”shesay
swithal
owsighandpicksher
sel
f
offthecouchandfol
l
owsThakasatot
heirbedr
oom.
Nkonzoi slef
tstandinginthemi ddleofthelounge
withaloudTVi nf r
ontofhi m.Whati shappeningt
o
hisbrot
herandhi swi fe?Healway stri
estoreach
outtoallofthem butThakasakeepsal ottohimself
.
Theyalsoputpr essureonhi m asaf amil
y.When
thei
rfatherpassedonhehadt ostepupandt hey
start
edtreati
nghiml iketheirf
ather.

Not
hil
ewal
ksi
ntot
hei
rbedr
oom andf
indshi
mly
ing
onbedl
i
keast
arv
edst
reetki
d.
“
Dinnerwi
l
lbeat6:
30,
”shesay
s.
Heshutshi
seyeswi
thhi
sjawscl
enchedandt
urns
t
osleeponhisst
omach.
Nothi
leopensthedr
awerandthrowsabot t
leofeye-
droptohim.She’
snoti
nter
est
edi nexpl
aini
ngtothe
youngeroneswhyhi
seyesarered,nei
theri
she.
“Nowpully
oursel
ftoget
her
.Ubungakhal
iusaf
eba,
sopleaseManqel
e!”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER22
KHANYO

Ithi
nkt oi
letr
ieswer et helastformet opack.Thi sis
i
t,I’
m checkingout .Ifeel used,IdideverythingIwas
askedt odo,Ikeptmyendoft hebargainbut
achievednothi ngi
nr eturn.Istil
lcan’
tbelieveIwas
playedbydeadf ol
kswhopr obablyneverwentt o
school.Ifeelsostupidandnaï v
e.Icannotshutout
thepictur
eofMawandei nmyhead, shelookedso
happil
ymar r
iedandt akencar eof.HerandNy ezi
l
ookedgoodt oget
her .Theywer eapict
ureofper fect
couple.Clearingmypat hsot hatIcanheal him was
nottoomucht oaskf rom Gog’ MaSibiyaandher
crew.It’
sallIneededt ovalidatemywor thy .
Butmay beI
’mtobl amet oo.Ishouldn’thavewasted
somanyy earsdisregar
dingdr eamsandchoosi ng
thebott
leoverhelpingpeople.HadIdonet hi
ngs
ri
ghtwhentherewasst il
lti
me, Nyezi
woul dbesti
ll
ali
ve.I
thurt
sev enmor ebecauseunl i
keanyot her
personI’
vebeenshown, I
’
mv er
ycertai
nt hatIwas
goingtohealhim.Iknowforafactt
hatitwasn’thi
s
ti
met odie,
Ilethi
m down.

Mandul owalksin,I’
m nothisf avori
tepersonr i
ght
now.I tl
ooksli
kehe’ sreadytol eave.Hepicksthe
heavierbagandwal ksoutwi thoutsay i
ngawor d.I
picktheremainingonesandf ollowhim out.Agai n,
wear eshutt
ingdoor sandt urningourbackst ot he
May i
ses.Idon’tknowwhenI ’
llcomebackagai n.I
threwawayt hewat erbasinandcandl es,it
’snouse
formet okeepdoi ngthisshitifnobodyisgoi ngt o
l
ookoutf orme.

Heshouldbestart
ingthecarbuthe’sst ar
ingatme.
Ipret
endtobebusyonmyphone, we’
vebeen
argui
ngsinceyest
erday.Iknowhewant smet ost
ay
hereandfini
shmycour se,hi
sangerov erhismoney
andtimethatIwastedisjustanexcuse.
“It
houghtyouwer
ecomingri
ght
,thatt
herewasa
decenthumaniny
ou,butnowIr
eali
zethatIwasj
ust
hal
l
uci
nat
ingasusual
.”
Iscrol
lmyphoneandpretendnottohearorcar
e.
He’sbeenonmycasesinceIannouncedthatI’
m
putt
ingdownmyt ool
s,mydecisi
onhasbeenmade
andhe’snotgoi
ngtochangemymi nd.
“You’
reaquit
ter.I
’m notgoingtosayaf ai
lur
e
becauseyou’
recapableofwi nning,youj
ustchoose
notto.Whatmademebel ievethatyouweregoingto
fi
nishthi
sspi
rit
ualjourneywher easyoucoul
dn’t
fi
nishameredegree?Youcannotf ini
shadamn
thi
ngunlessi
fit’
sabot tl
eofalcohol .
”
Wow!That’
sver
ysympathet
icofhi
m.He’
sreal
l
y
put
ti
nghimsel
finmyshoes.
“
Pleasedr
ive,
”Isay
.
Heshakeshishead,
lookingatmelikeI’
ma
hopel
esscase,t
henswitchestheengineof
fand
getsoutoft
hecar.
IfIknewhowt odriveIswearIwould’
vedri
venoff
andlefthi
m here.Suchadramatic,
divor
ced-ar
se!
Hef i
nal
l
ycomesbackaf ter15mi nut
esofwal
ki
ng
aroundtheyar
d,doingnothi
ng.Ishoul
dbuymyown
car…wel
l,i
nmydr eams.
Hefast
enstheseat
bel
tandl
ooksatme.Lor
d,not
t
hisagai
n!
“
Youweredoingt
hisf
ory
ourpr
eci
ousboy
fri
end,
wer
en’
tyou?
”
“
No,
Iwasdoi
ngi
tformy
sel
fandNy
ezi
,
”Isay
.
“Youweredoi ngitsol
elytopl
easeyourboyfr
iend.
Notforyourself
,notforyourancest
orsanddefini
tel
y
notforGod.Thiswasaboutl el
ihwanqalakho,
nobodyelse,
”hesay s.
I’
ml ostforwor ds.Bandlahasgotnot hi
ngtodowit
h
mygi ft.Yes,hegav emeadv icesandhelpedme
becomeabet t
erpersonforthisjourney
.Butnot
evenoncehav eIdonet hingsthatconcernmy
spir
ituali
tytopleasehim.
“Beli
evewhaty ouwanttobel
i
eveNdulo.
”I’
m done
argui
ng, Ij
ustwanttoseemygir
lsandBandla.I
knowt hey’
llunder
standmeandnotki
ckmewhen
I’
m alr
eadydown.
He’sinhi
sshi
tt
iestmood, Iknowt her
ewi l
lbeno
stopontheway,notevenfordri
nks.Het urnson
BoysIIMenanddrivesout.Peoplesti
lll
i
stento
theseol
dsongs?Godpl easegivemeanap.

MyGodwor ksonandof f.Somet i

meshedoesn’ t
answerandsomet imeshedoes.Todaywasoneof
thoseluckyday swher eIpr ayt otheSonofDav i
d
whilehe’sinagoodmood.If ellasl
eeppr obabl
yten
minutesaf t
erleavinghome, Ijustwokeupnow
becauset hecarwasnol ongermov ing.Wearein
Pieter
mar i
tzburg,I’
m alonei nacarf il
l
edwithan
appetizi
ngsmel lofpizza.Hecanbeanar seattimes
butIhav ethemostwonder fulbrotherintheworld.
Heboughtmyf avouri
te,creamychi ckenwithextra
cheese.Iremov et heseatbel tandsethi sdashboard
asat ableandf eedmy self.
Thecari
spar
kedinfr
ontoft
hest
ores,
soIguesshe
wenti
nforal
it
tl
eshoppi
ng.
Minutesl
aterheappear
swit
haskinnyladywear
ing
anurseunifor
m.Sheremai
nsnexttothecar
,
bl
ushi
ngl
i
keanewl
y-
wed.
“
Makhany
iwher
eist
hepi
zza?
”heasks.
DoIneedtosayit
’si
nmystomachorshowhi
mthe
remai
ningpi
ecesi
nthebox?
Hiseyeswiden,
“Whotoldyoutoeatthepi
zza?Iwas
goingtobuyyousomethi
ngelsetoeat.
”
Whosai
dIwantt
oeatsomet
hingel
se?
“
Itwasmypi
zza,
”Isay
.
“No,Ididn’tbuyitf
oryou.Enhl
easkedforitandI
cameher et odropitof
f.”He’
sangr
y.Enhlemustbe
thenurset hatl
ooksindebtedt
oTupperwarehere,
by
thecarwi ndow.
“Butyouboughtmyf l
avor
,”Iar
guebecauseIdon’
t
seemyf aul
t.Whatwouldyoudoifyouwokeupi na
carandfoundyourfavour
itepi
zzanextt
oyou?
“I
t’
snotjusty
ourf
lav
or,
youdi
dn’
tcr
eat
eit
.Ur
gh,
damnit!
”
Ishrugmyshoul
dersandbur
staloudbur
p.I
shouldn’
thav
eeat
ensomuch, nowI’
mfeeli
ng
sl
eepyagain.
“
You’
resoannoy
ing!
”Heclosest
hedoorandtur
ns
t
ohisnur
sewait
ingforapi
zzanextt
othecar
.
Ithi
nkshemustjustbuythepi
zzawithherown
money.Shewenttoanur si
ngschool
ssothatshe
caninj
ectpeopl
e,shoutatt
hem andgetpai
dtobuy
whatsheli
kes.

Itlooksli
ket
hey’
rearguing.Icr
awl ov
ert
heseats
andpr essmyearagainstthewindowatthedr
iver
’s
side.
“Youal
waysdot hi
sMandul
o.”Hhay
ibo,i
sshe
cryi
ngf
orapizza?Real
l
y,whocri
esforf
lour
?
“ItoldyouI
’
m dri
vingwithmysisterandshe’
sa
dramaqueen.Pleasetakeataxihome,I’
ll
makeitup
toy ou,
”Mandul
o.
Whyishecalli
ngmeadr amaqueen?Ihav enothi
ng
todowitht
heirfi
ghts.Yoh,Ican’
tbeli
evehe’
s
alr
eadydat
ing.ButwhydoIsuspectt hatt
hisnurse
i
snotthegirlwhowasi nhishousetheotherday?
“
Yoursi
stermustgetal
i
fe,
I’
mti
redofal
way
s
get
ti
ngpushedt
othesi
debecauseofher
.”
Imustgetwhat?OhJesusChri
st,
thi
sonethinksI
’m
oneofherpati
ent
s.NowI’l
lal
wayseathert
hings
becauseshe’
stoofor
wardandnasty
.
Ir
oll
downt
hewi
ndowandpeepout
.
“
Mandul
ooo,
”Iy
ell
.
Iseeherrol
l
ingherey
es.I
’
m notamonst
er-
sist
er
butshe’
smakingmeone.
“
What
?”Mandul
ohi
sses.
“
Iwantchocol
ate,
”Isay
.
Hegi
vesmeascor
nful
look,
“Yey
iwena!
”
“
Brot
her
,pl
easeee.
”
Thenur sereachesherboil
i
ngpointandleaves
angri
l
y .Nexttimeshe’
lll
eavemeoutoft hei
rfi
ght
s.
Whoi sshet otel
lmet ogetali
fe?Shemustgeta
l
ifeaswel l
andst opgett
ingangryoverpi
ecesof
fl
our.

Mandul
oisangr
ybutIdon’
tgi
veaf
ly.I
t’
snotl
i
ke
he’si
naseri
ousrel
ati
onshi
pwi
ththisnur
se.He’
s
fucki
ngar
oundbecausehe’
sst
ressed.
“
I’
ll
dropy
oui
ntownwi
thy
ourbags,
”hesay
s.
“What?Ican’
tcar
ryal
lthesebagsandt
akeat
axi
,
”I
say.
“
Youwi
l
l,j
ustwai
tandwai
t,
”hesay
s.
It
’soff
ici
al,meandthenur seareenemi es.Ilovethe
onewhowasi nthehouset heotherday.Ev en
thoughIdidn’
tseeher,Ionlysawherl i
pstickont he
couch,butIcantel
lthatshe’sabeautif
ul girl
.Ihope
she’sadoctor.

Thehear tl
ess,di
v or
cedmandr opsmeonVi ctori
a
Streetwithmybags.Il ooklikeani mmi grant
crossingtheborderill
egall
y,it
’stoolatef ormet o
callGuguf orhel
p.Ihav enochoi cebutt otakea
met ertaxi
.Thisiswastingmyt i
me, Ihavet ot akea
taxi t
oMandeni before13h00.Iwantt osur pri
semy
manwi thl
atelunchatwor k.Idon’twanthi sf emal e
colleaguestothinkhe’sasingleman.I ’m backt o
normal li
febyforce.
.
.
I
fIhadenought i
meorplannedthisproperl
yI
would’vecookedsomethingthanbuyi
ngNandos
boujeebowl andCoke.Butit
’snotbadforbeginner
s,
I
’venev erboughtany
onelunchinmyl i
fe.Theypack
i
tnicelyforme.Irushouttogetataxitotown.
Iwastedmoret i
mebyt ell
i
ngNolwaziandGuguthe
nurse’
sstor
y.I’
llpr
obablygett
oMandeni ar
ound
3pm andsti
llsaunterar
ound,l
ooki
ngforanother
taxit
otakemet otheircompanybui
ldi
ng.
Luckil
yitdoesn’
ttakelongfortheMandenitaxi
to
getful
l,nowmypr ayeristhatt
hisdr
iverbr
eaksroad
rul
esandspeedst oMandeni .

I
ttookawhil
ef ormetogettransportt
ot hi
splace.
I
t’
sanindust
rialt
own,withsomanyf actori
esand
i
nformal
sett
lements.If
indMt hongaHoldingsinthe
midstofcl othi
ngf actori
esandplasti
c
manuf acturi
ngcompani es.Theyhavewhi te-
wal l
ed,
ty
pical squaredofficeswithaqueueoft rucks
parkedout si
det hegat e.I
’m gr
eetedbymenl ying
undertheshadesoft r
ucks,Iguessthey’
redr i
vers.
Somey ellf
ormyphonenumberwhi l
eother s
promiset ogivemet hewor l
d.I’
m notfl
attered,they
probablydot hi
st oev eryl
adythatpassesby .

Unli
kemostsecur i
tyguards,t
hisonedoesn’tgiv
e
mepr obl
ems.Heasksmet ofi
lli
nmydet ai
lsonthe
guestbookandletsmei n.Ifi
twasthoseDur ban
oneswhot hinkt
hey’r
eowner softhebuil
dingsthey
guard,hewould’
veaskedf ormymot her
’sdeath
cert
ifi
cateandaff
idavi
tbeforelet
ti
ngmei n.
ButnowIhavetodealwit
htherecept
ioni
st,
she
doesn’
tlookt
oopleased,
Idi
stur
bedheront he
phonecall
.
“Doyouhav
eanappoi
ntmentwi
thMrManqel
e?”she
asks.
“
Nope,
I’
m hi
sgi
rl
fr
iend,
”Isay
.
Shechuckl
esandl
ooksatmef
rom headt
otoe.
“Sowhichwayt ohi
soffi
ce?”Iask,
fight
ingt
heurge
totel
lheraboutherey
ebrowsthatlookli
kespear
s
ofthecoatofarms.
“Ihavetoseethesecuri
tyfir
st,y
oucoul dbearmed
forall
weknow, thenI
’l
lcallMrManqel etoseeif
he’savail
abl
e,
”shesaysandwal ksaroundherdesk
toleave.“
Haveaseatthere,”shesays.I’
venever
metany onewit
hsuchast inki
ngat t
it
udeinmyl i
fe.
Shewal ksoutinheruglywedgeandf akef ake-hai
r.
Weav esarefakehairbecausetheyaren’
tor i
ginall
y
ourhair,buther
sisaf akeoffake.I
t’
seithershe
needsar aiseofsal
aryorsheneedst oinvestin
quali
ty.

Someonei
nablacksui
tappear
sandwear
sasl
i
ght
fr
ownuponseei
ngmeont hechai
r.
“Hel
lo,
hav
eyouseenMbali
?”heasks,
wal
ki
ngt
othe
deskandl
eav
ingapi
leofpaper
s.
“
Ther
uder
ecept
ioni
st?Shel
eftmeher
ebecause
shethi
nksI’
m carr
yingabombt okil
lBandl
a.I
’m
onl
yheretogivehi
ml unch,
”Isay,
showinghimthe
Nandospaperbagnexttome.
“
Oh,sorryaboutthat
.Mbal
icanbedramati
c.Fol
l
ow
t
hispassageandentert
heseconddoor,
Ithi
nkallof
t
hem arethere.
”
Allofthem?IhopeI’
m notgoi
ngtodi
stur
ba
meet i
ng.Ipi
ckmypur seandf
oodbagandfol
l
ow
thepassageasinst
ructed.

Thedoori
ssli
ghtlyopen,
therear
elowv oi
ces
comingi
nsi
de.Itsoundsl
ikeacasualconver
sat
ion,
ther
eisl
aught
erhereandt her
e.
Iknockonce,
oneoft
hem t
ell
smet
ocomei
n.I
knockagai
n.
“Umingezi
ndlebeyi
ni?Isai
dcomein.
”Iknowwi
th
nodoubtthatisNkonzospeaki
ng.
Iknockagai
n,thi
sti
mether
ear
efoot
stepscomi
ng.I
takeastepbackandwai
t.
Thedooropens,
ourey
esmeetandhel
ooks
shockedf
orasecond.
“Myoffi
ceisthi
ssi
de,
”hesay
s,showi
ngmet
he
doorIpassed.
HowdoIsay‘I
’
m nother
eforyou’
respect
ful
ly?I
cl
earmythr
oatandl
ookathim wi
thmyey es
wi
dened.
Hel
aughs,
“I’
m ki
ddi
ng,
hei
sinsi
de,
comei
n.”
Suchacuteidi
ot!If
oll
owhimi nandsweatunder
armswhenIseeThakasast andi
ngnextt
oBandla’
s
desklooki
ngli
kehejustcamet obl
owswitha
thunder
.
“Bandl
ayouhaveaguest
,”Nkonzosay
s,col
lecti
ng
hisphonef
rom t
hedeskandglanci
ngatThakasa.
TheoneI
’m heref
ordoesn’
tlookpleasedatal
l
.He’
s
st
ari
ngatmel i
keI’
m aghostoral
ien.
“Submitthatrepor
tbeforeyougohome,”Thakasa
saysandwal kstowardsthedoor.Hegl
ancesatme
onceandsay saf l
at‘
Hi’andwalksoutbef
oreIcan
ret
urnit.
Nkonzopeepsi
nsi
det
heNandosbagI
’
vej
ustputon
thedeskandcriesofhungerbef orewalki
ngout.
Honestl
y,he’
stheonl ybrotherIl
ike.Sqal
oand
Thakasaarecold,Idon’tneedwrittenmessagest
o
knowthattheydon’tli
keme.

Imakemyselfcomf
ort
abl
eont heguestchai
r,t
his
onei
ssti
l
lstari
ngatmequiet
ly.
“
Hey
,I’
m back,
”Isay
.
Her
eleasesal
owsi
ghandl
eansbackonhi
schai
r.
“
Howar
eyou?
”Iask.
“
IwasgoodKhanyo,unt
ilIsawyouher
e.Whyare
y
oudoingt
his?Doyouknowhowdanger ousiti
sto
t
urny
ourbackattheancestor
sandyourgi
ft?
”
Her
ecomesanot
herMandul
o!
“Pl
easeBandl a,youdon’tknowwhatI’m going
thr
ough.You’v eneverbeenappoint
edtohel p
anyoneandf ail
edthem.I ’
m her
ebecauseIt hought
youcancomf ortme.Ifyoucan’
t,pl
easeallowmet o
l
eavethi
sandf indsomet hi
ngelset
hatcancomf ort
mysoul.”Ipusht heNandosbagt ohim andt ur
nt o
l
eave.Thel
astt
hingIneedist
obej udgedandtol
d
howtofeel
aboutthebetr
ayal
from myancestor
s.
“
Myl ov
e,”handsgrabmebeforeIr
eacht
hedoor
.He
t
urnsmear ound,
tolookathi
m.
“Youdidn’
tfai
lanyone,buti
fyouqui
tyou’
l
lbef
ail
i
ng
yoursel
f.Nowstopbeingdramati
candgiv
emea
kiss.
”
Igi
vehim aneyerol
lfi
rstt
henwrapmyarmsaround
hi
sneckandkisshim.Ihavemissedt
heseli
psso
much.Ideepentheki
ssandgrabhismanhood.
Hebr
eakst
heki
ssi
mmedi
atel
yandchuckl
es.
“
Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?
”heasks.
“
Checki
ngi
fmypr
oper
tyi
sst
il
lther
e,”Isay
.
Hel
aughsandwal
ksbacktohi
sdesk.Heopenst
he
f
oodbagandempti
esthecont
ent
s.
“
Youboughtt
hisf
orme?
”He’
ssmi
l
ingl
i
keaki
d.
Ifeel
li
keabreadwi
nnerasIwatchhi
mreadthe
nameofthechocol
ateIrandoml
ythr
ewin.
“
Yes,
itwassupposedt
obey
ourl
unchbutI
’
mlat
e,”I
say
.
“
Yout
oldt
hem y
ou’
rebuy
ingi
tforme?
”heasks.
If
rown,
“Thewai
ter
s?”
“
Yes,
”hesay
s.
Iwoul
d’v
ebeenst
upi
dtot
ell
str
anger
sthat
.
“
YesIt
oldt
hem,
”Isay
.
Hissmilebroadens.Ican’tbel
ievehe’
ssohappy
overaR65col dmeal .Icandot hi
soverandov
er
again,
Iloveseeingthissmileonhisface.
Hetakesamet
alspoonfr
om hi
sdrawerandst
uff
s
hi
smout hl
i
kehehasn’
teateni
nyear
s.

Hedoesn’tdri
nktheCokeIboughthim,probabl
y
becausei
t’snowwarm, hedri
nkshishalf
-dr
ank
bott
leofwaterandwipeshishandswithaservi
ett
e.
Hetakest
hechocol
ate.He’
seat
ingev
ery
thi
ngal
lat
once?
“
HowdoIunwr
apt
hist
hing?
”heasks.
Iknowmen, I
’m nott
hefi
rstonetobuyhi
m
chocolate,
hejustwantsmet ofeel
li
kea
breadwinner.
“
Teari
tfr
om t
het
op,
”Isay
.
Heunwrapsitandeat
sonlyonesmal
lpi
eceand
put
siti
nsidethedr
awer.
“
I’
ll
eatonepi
eceperday
,”hesay
s.
Ilaugh,mencanbesodeceiv
ing.Iknowhedidn’
t
l
ikeit,he’
l
lpr
obabl
ygi
veittohisyoungsi
sterwhen
heget shome.
“
So,di
dyout
akecar
eofy
our
sel
f,”Iaskandbi
temy
l
owerl
ip.
Hechuckl
es,
“Yes.
”
I
’
dbeafooltotakehi
swordf orit
.Igotothedoor
,
t
hekeyi
slef
tinthehol
e,Ishutitandlock.
“Khanyowait,
weareintheoffi
ce,
whatarepeopl
e
goingtothi
nk?”heasks,
gett
ingoffhi
sseat
nervousl
y.
Bei
ngaShembemanmeansnot hi
ng,he’
sahuman
andhehasneeds.OrIhav
eneedsthatIneedhi
mto
t
akecar
eof
.
“Doesi
tmatterwhattheyt
hink?We’
llmakesur
ethat
yousendyourbrot
herhisr
eport.
”It
urnmybackfor
himtozi
pdownmydr ess.
“Ur
gh,Khany o!”I
t’
sthelastki
ckofady i
ngvoi
ce.He
hel
psmeof fthedress,I
’mlef
tinredmatchi
nglacy
underwearandhi seyesareabouttopopoutofthei
r
sockets.
“
Youwor
ethi
sforme?
”heasks.
“No,Iworeitforacert
ainguybuthetur
nedme
down.Hedi dn’twantt
ohavesexwi t
hmeinhis
off
ice,Iguesssomeonehadbeent aki
ngcar
eofhi
m
whileIwasaway .”
“St
opbeingdr
amat i
c.I
’
mj ustscar
edthatsomeone
mightcomehereandcatchus.Youknowmybr other
cangivemeawr i
tt
enwar ningorcall
afamily
meeti
ng.”
“
Lif
eisaboutt
aki
ngr
isksBandl
alabo,
”Isay
.
“
Labo?
”Hegi
vesmeal
ook.
“
Whatdoy
ouwantmet
osay
?Youcar
emor
eabout
ot
herpeopl
e,unguBandl
alabo,
”Isay
.
“Uh-ah,comehere.
”Hepul
lsmeintohisar
msand
grabsmyf acef
orasteamyki
ss.Ihavehim exact
ly
wher eIwanthi
m.
Hepi nsmeagainsthi
sdesk, hishandsstar
t
caressi
ngall
overmybody .Hi sfr
ontispoki
ngout.I
dropmyhandst ohispantandunzi pit
.Hismanhood
spri
ngsouthardandthick.Icaresshisti
pwithmy
palm whil
ehetr
ailki
ssesdownmyneck.
“Di
dy oubr
ingacondom?Idon’
thaveanyher
eint
he
off
ice,
”heasksi
nahuskywhisper
.
“
No,
Idi
dn’
t,
”Isay
.
“
Thenwhatar
ewegoi
ngtodo?”Hisf
inger
ssl
i
de
t
hrought
hesi
deofmypant
yandrubsmywetli
ps.
Iknowhisstat
us,
Itr
usthim andI’
verecentl
ytook
aninj
ect
ion.NowIonlyneedtheKingofKingsto
provi
dehishol
ycont
racepti
ves.
“
Idon’
tknow,
whatdoy
out
hinkwemustdo?
”Iask.
Hesmil
es,
“Isay
,lett
hem f
ightwit
houtany
bul
l
etpr
oof
sandseewhowi ns.”
‘
Fi
ght’soundshect
ic.Icameher
eforsl
ow,
int
imat
e
l
ove-
maki ng.
“
Turnaround,wehav
etobef
ast
,we’
l
lhav
eenough
t
imetonight
.”
Hekissesmyl i
psbri
efl
ybefor
eturningmetohol
d
thedesk.Hishandcover
smymout h,nowI
’
m
pani
cking,whatar
ewedoi ngher
e?
Thef i
rstst
rokesaresl
owandf ulf
il
li
ng.Myworl
dis
tr
embl i
ngwi t
hpleasur
eandlust.Butwhenhe
i
ncreaseshispaceandpoundsmel i
keamadman,
I
’m gaspingforair
.Iwanttoscr
eam buthi
shandis
pressedagainstmymout h.
“
Babewhyumnandi
so?
”Hepul
l
soutandr
ubshi
s
t
ipar
oundmyanus.
No,
no,
no!Iuset
hatonet
ofar
tandpoop.
“
Waqinanj
eyini
?”heaskswi
thachuckl
e.(
Whyar
e
y
outensi
ngup)
Ican’tspeak,
soIspankhi
sthi
ght
ogetamessage
across.
“
Arey
ougoi
ngt
oli
stent
omet
oni
ghtornot
?”He
r
emov
eshi
shandf
ormet
oanswer
.
“
Iwi
l
lli
sten,
”Isay
.
“Swear,
”herubshi
shar
dshaf
tar
oundmyhol
e,my
chestdri
esup.TF!
“
Isweart
oGod!
”Isay
.
Hechuckl
esandput
sitbacki
nit
sri
ght
ful
place.
Phewww!Thatwasner ve-
wrecki
ng.Icr
iedev er
yti
me
mygrandmot heri
nsert
edtheenemasyringeinmy
ar
se,soIknowt hatI
’dnev
erhandleadick,noteven
apenci
l-
sizedone.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER23

Bandl
awal ksinwheneveryonegathersar
oundfor
di
nner.Heisnotexpect
inganyshout i
ngbecause
MaKhumal oisatt
heMy ezas,t
hisshouldbethei
r
ti
meoff r
eedom.
“Youcan’
tbringwomeni ntheoff
ice.That
’s
i
nappropri
ateanddisgust
ing,
”Thakasabit
eshi
s
headoffbeforehecansayanythi
ng.
“
Oh,
real
l
y?”Not
hil
easkswi
thherey
ebr
owr
aised.
“
CanIrepri
mandmybr
other
swi
thouty
ou
i
nter
fer
ing?
”
“
Preachwhatyoupract
iceManqel
e.Theylear
nfrom
t
hebest,
”Nothi
lesays,
ignor
inghi
sscoldi
nglook.
Heavysi
lencefall
sint
other
oom.I t
’ssounl
i
ket
hem
t
ofight
,everyoneisdumbst
ruck.
“Tut
u,goandeati
nyourroom,”Thakasasay
st o
Phethyandl
ooksatSqalot
odot hesame.Thisi
s
gett
ingmoreawkward,
ifMaKhumalowashome
noneoft
hiswoul
d’v
ehappened.
“Well
,I…IcametosayI.
.won’
tbehometoni
ght
,”
Bandlasays,cut
ti
ngthr
oughheavysi
l
ence.
Thakasacould’vesaidsomet hing,li
kewherehe’
s
goi
ngandcont inuestor epri
mandhi m,buthe
doesn’
twantt obef urt
herlydisrespect
edbyhiswif
e
i
nfrontofeveryone.
“Ial
sohavesomeworktodo,soI’
ll
eati
nmyroom,”
Nkonzosaysandpi
ckshispl
ateandfol
l
owsBandl
a
out.

Thecoupleisleftal
oneont hetable.Not
hil
eis
enj
oyingherdinnerli
kenothinghappened.They ’
ve
hadprobl
emsi nt hepast
,manyoft hem,
butt hey
di
dn’tdi
srespectoneanotherinfrontofthefamily
andyoungsibli
ngs.
“Soyou’
regoi
ngt
odot
hisi
nfr
ontofTut
u?”Thakasa
asks.
“WasIlyi
ng?Youbr
oughtyoursi
dechi
cktot
he
off
ice,
youhavenori
ghtt
ojudgeBandla.
”
“
Idi
dn’
tdoi
tinf
rontofempl
oyees,
”hear
gues.
“Andthatmakesy
ouabett
erper
son?You
disr
espect
edyour
sel
fandourmarr
iage.
”
“MaNtusihowmanyt i
mesarewegoingt
otalk
aboutthi
s?IfuckedupandI
’
mt r
yingmybestto
workonourmar ri
age.
”
“
Sleepi
ngonthef
looristr
yingy
ourbest
?”sheasks
wi
thhereyebr
owraised.
Theyhav
en’tshar
edabedsinceher
ecei
vedt
he
newsofhisbabybei
ngabor
ted.
“Iwanttomournformybabyandy
ourhappi
nessi
s
nothel
ping,
”hesays.
Nothi
l
echucklesoutindisbel
ief
,“I
’
m notgoi
ngto
st
openjoyi
ngmypr egnancybecauseyoursi
dechi
ck
i
ntent
ional
l
yterminat
edher s.
”
“I
twasmybabyNothi
le,
whothemot
herwas
doesn’
tmat
ter
,Il
ostababy
!”
“Whatabouttheoneyouhaven’
tlost
?”Shebrushes
hert
ummyandf i
ghtsbackt
ears.Nowadeadf oetus
i
sgoingtostandinthewayofherhappiness?
!
“
You’
rel
ooki
ngati
tthewr
ongway
,”Thakasa.
“Whatisther
ightwayt
olookati
t?You’
reignor
ing
meandmybabybecausey ouwanttostar
eatthe
ul
trasoundpi
ctur
eofadeadfoet
usandcryonthe
fl
oor.”
“I
t’
snotjustadeadf oetus,Il
ostababy,myfi
rst
proofoffer
til
i
tyandy ou’r
ealwaysmakingmef eel
l
ikemyf eel
ingsarenotv al
id.Li
keIshoul
dn’
tbehurt
becauseIcheated.
”
“
Ineversai
dthat
,Ionl
ysai
ditser
vesy
our
ight
,”
Not
hil
esays.
Heputsdownt
hef
orkwi
thdi
sbel
i
efwr
it
tenal
lov
er
hi
sface.
“
Itser
vesmer
ight
?”heasks,
almostwhi
sper
ing.
“Act
uall
y,i
t’
sfunny
.Nowy ou’
regoingtopay
damagesforababythatdoesn’
texist
?”sheasks,
l
aughing.
Thakasapushesbackhi
schairandstandsupto
l
eave.Hisappet
it
ehasvanished.Thi
sisexactl
ywhy
hecan’tshar
eabedwithher.Hispai
nisri
dicul
ed
becausehemadeami
stake.
Nothi
l
epicksapieceofmeatfrom t
heabandoned
pl
ateandenjoy
sherdinneral
oneinthet
able.

Todaythey’
renotevensharingaroom, Thakasais
prepar
ingacouchtosleepon.Not hi
leclear
sthe
tabl
eandleaveswithoutquesti
oninghi
m.He’ sthe
onewho’ll
explai
nifthefamilyaskwhathappened.
Nkonzowalksintoputhi
spl at
einthesinkand
noti
cessomeoneont hecouchinthelounge.He’
s
l
ongsuspectedthatsomethi
ngwasnotr i
ght
betweenhi
sbrotherandwifeandtodayjust
confi
rmedthat
.
“Mthonga,
”hesays,
walkingtot
heothercouchtosit
.
“Whatisgoi
ngon?Whyar ey
ounotinyourbedroom?
Pleasedon’
tli
e,I
’
my ourbrot
her
,notastranger
.”
“Pl
easebor
rowmey ourphonefi
rst
,Iwanttocal
l
someone,
”Thakasasaysaf
terheav
ingasigh.
Nkonzohandst
hephoneov
erandst
aresathi
m
cur
iousl
y.Whoi
shecall
i
ngandwhyishenotusi
ng
hi
sownphone?
“Pl
easedon’ tdrop,i
t’
sme, ”hesay stot heper son.
“Nomkhosi please,t
hat ’
snotwhyIcal l
ed…. .Iwant
ustomeetsot hatwecandi scusshowt her i
tual
s
wil
lbedoneandwher e..
…Ihav etheright,Iwast he
fat
her..
…Whyar esocruel ?Finey ou’vekil
ledmybaby ,
nowal l
owmet omakesur ethathi m orheri sat
peace…..
Nomkhosi whyar ey oudoingt hi
st o
me? .
..
Hell
o…. Hell
o…Damni t
!”Hel ooksatt hescreen,
cli
ckshistongueandt hrowst hephonebackt o
Nkonzo.
“Ar
ey ougoi
ngtoexpl
ain?
”Nkonzoaskswi
th
cur
iosit
yanddi
sbel
ief
.
“Ithi
nkyou’v
econnect
edthedots.Icheat
ed,
shef
ell
pregnantandabor
ted,
”hesays.
Ther
e’saf
aintl
ookonNkonzo’
sface.
“
Youcheatedwi
thoutacondom?”heasksand
r
eal
izeshowusel
esshisquest
ioni
satthepresent
moment.
“
DoesMaNt
usi
know?
”heasks.
“Yes,she’
smetwithher.Idon’tknowwhatshesaid
toher,butafewdayslaterIgotatextmessaget
hat
she’sabort
edmybaby ,
”Thakasasay s.
“
Yout
hinkshemight’
veaskedherort
hreat
enedher
t
odoi
t?”Nkonzoasksthought
ful
ly
.
“May
be.Idon’tknow.Al l
Iknowi sshemetwi t
hher
andNomkhosi abor
tedmybaby .Thensheexpects
metotouchher ?AyMt honga,no.I
’m notshar
inga
bedwit
hher,notaftereveryt
hingshe’
ssaidtome.”
“
Butbafo,
she’
shurt
.Youcheat
edonher,
ontopof
t
hatyoumadetheotherwomanpr
egnant
.”
“
Sowhat?Weshoul
dhostabraai
because‘
theot
her
woman’
haski
ll
edmyunbornbaby?”
“No,that
’snotwhatI’m saying.I
’m sayi
ngput
yoursel
finhershoes,thiswomanhasdonenot hing
exceptcarr
yingal
lofusasaf amil
yandt akingcare
ofus.Youdidherwr ong, al
l
owhert oexpressher
angeranyhowshewant sandbeahusbandy ou
vowedt obe.”
“DrMhl
ongot
oldmenott
oinv
ali
dat
emyf
eel
i
ngs
andbot
tl
emypain.
”
“
You’
reseei
ngat
her
api
st?
”Nkonzoasksi
nshock.
“Yes,MaNt usisuggestedit.Ri
ghtnowIr eall
ydon’t
knowwhatt odo.May bey ou’r
eri
ght ,
Ishouldtake
blowsast heycome.Idi dNomkhosi wrongandnow
shewon’tletmedor ightbymybaby ’
sspiri
t.Onthe
otherhand, MaNt usi
wantsmet obeaf atherofthe
yearandfor gettheotherbabyev erexi
sted.”
Thi
sisr
eall
ycompl
i
cat
ed.Mar
ri
agei
sreal
l
ynota
bedofr
oses.
“Atl
eastwaituntilMaNt usigi
vesbir
th, y
ou’
reputti
ng
thebaby’
sli
featr iskbyconstantl
yfighti
ngwithher.
Itwouldbereall
ysadt oseey oulosi
ngbot hbabies
becauseyouputy ourneedsandfeelingsabove
every
oneelse’s.Really
,you’
regoingtosendgoat s
andcowst oanot herwoman’ sfamil
yt opayfort
he
damageswhi l
eshe’ shere?”
Heheavesasi
gh,“
Iheary
ou.Thanksf
ory
ouradvi
ce,
Ihopey
ou’l
ldobet
tert
hanmeinyourmar
ri
age.
”
“I
fmarri
ageeverhappenstome,
”Nkonzo
emphasizeswi
thachuckle.
“
Comeon,
ifTemaaskedy
out
omar
ryhery
ou’
ddoi
t
i
nasnap,
”Thakasasay
s.
Hi
sey
eswi
den,
“Tema?
”
“
Yes,myPA.Theoney
oualway
sstar
eatand
‘
acci
dent
all
y’f
indi
nmyof
fi
cewhenI’
m nott
her
e.”
Thisi sv eryawkwar df orNkonzo.Hewassur ehis
feelingswer easecr et.EvenTemadoesn’ tknow
becauseev ery
thingisal way sacoi nci
dence.Hel i
ked
hert hef ir
stdayThakasai ntr
oducedherashi sPA,
butt her ewasapr oblem, shewasf reshfrom
mar riage, i
fthereissuch.Herj obatMt honga
Hol dingswasherf i
rstbreakt hr
oughaf t
erasour
mar riageof3y ears.Unt ilThakasai nt
ervenedand
threat enedt ogetlawenf orcersinvolved,herex-
husbandkeptshowi ngupandsexual lydegradi
ng
thepoorgi rlbytell
ingherdi r
tylaundrytoany one
whocar edtostopandl isten.
She’
sahumbl eyoungwoman, beauti
fulwithherbi
g
eyesandplump,yell
owcheeks.Ev ery
timeheset s
hi
sey esonherhisheartbeat
sabnor mally.Ther
e’s
somet hi
ngaboutherthatmakesev er
ythingabout
hi
mf eelsri
ght
.Shehasaposi ti
veener gyanda
contagiousbeauti
fulsmile.Heal
solikesthatshe’s
short,t
here’
ssomet hingsexyaboutshortgir
ls,
especiall
ywhentheyl ookupatyoulikeyoulivein
thesky.It’
sli
ketheywer emadetobepi ckedlike
babies.
“
Whydoy
oul
ooksoshocked?You’
renotsohar
dto
r
ead.
”
Heclear
shisthr
oat
,“Soyout
hinkI
’
m wr
ongf
or
bei
ngattr
actedt
oher?”
“
Becauseshe’
sbeenmar
ri
edbef
ore?
”Thakasaasks.
“
Yes,
andI
’
m st
il
lav
irgi
n,
”hesay
s.
“Av i
rginthatrandoml yhooksupandsl eepsi n
hotels?Beser i
ousNkonzo.Youcan’ taskanyadv ice
fr
om met hough, nowy ouknowhowi mper fectIam.
AllIknowi sthatI’l
lsl
icey oui nt
opi ecesi fyouev er
hurtthatgirl
.”He’scloset oTema, thei
rr elati
onship
hasr eachedabr other-sisterl
evel.Heknowshowf ar
she’scomeandheonl ywant shertof lourishandbe
happyi nherlif
e.She’sonl y27buthasmar r
iedfor3
years,suffer
edt womi scar ri
agesandsev eral
physicalabuseencount ers.
Nkonzojustchuckl
esandleav
esbef
oreofmor
eof
hi
ssecretsgetunpacked.

Thakasacoll
ectshisduv etandpill
owandgoesback
tohi
sbedroom.Hef i
ndsNot hi
leonherphone,
l
ookingunbothered.Hef ol
dst heduvetandpacksi
t
andputsontopoft hewar drobe.Not hi
l
ehasputher
phoneunderthepill
ow, she’snowst ari
ngathi
m as
hestri
pshisclot
hesof ftogeti nbed.
“
Whatbr
oughty
ouback?
”sheasks.
“
Wear emarri
edMaNt
usi
,nomatt
erhowr
ocky
t
hingsar
e,Ihavet
ost
aynextt
oyou.
”
“
Andwhor
emi
ndedy
out
hat
?”
“
Nkonzo,
het
alkedsensei
ntome.
”
“
May
beImar
ri
edawr
ongbr
other
.”
Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow,
“Meani
ng?
”
“Nothi
ng,
swi
tcht
hel
i
ghtof
fandgeti
nbed,
”Not
hil
e
says.
“
Iexpecty
out
oseemybr
other
sasy
ourbr
other
s,
notpot
ent
ial
husbands.
”
“
AndIexpecty
out
obef
ait
hful
,
”shest
ri
kesback.
Sigh!Soonhe’
l
llosehi
ssani
tyandgetadmi
tt
ed
because,wow.
Hedoesastol
dandget
sinbed.Despit
etheri
sing
tensi
oni
nthebedr
oom,heshi
ft
scloserandhol
ds
her.
“
Issheki
cki
ngy
et?
”heasks,
car
essi
nghert
ummy
.
“Yousai
dyoudon’tcar
eaboutt
hegender
,”Not
hil
e
says,
insur
pri
se.
“
AuntMawandewant
edgi
rl
s,I
’
mjusti
nher
it
ingher
i
deas.
”
“
Oh,sosheknowsaboutyourway
s?”Herey
esar
e
wi
dened.Thi
sisshocki
ng.
Awhol
eMawande!
“MaNtusipl
ease,
I’
mtr
yingher
e,meetmehal
fway
,”
Thakasasays.
“I
’mjustsurpr
isedthatMawandeoutofal
lpeopl
e
coul
dr ej
oiceovermymar r
iagef
all
i
ngapart
.You
cheatedonmeandal l
shecaredaboutwast
hatt
he
si
de-chickgi
vesbi
rt
htoagirl
.”
“Pl
easedon’
tinv
olv
eMawandei
nthi
s,j
ustdon’
t!
”he
says.
Howi ronicthi
sis?Shewast oldnotsolongagothat
theManqel esibl
ingsarehersibl
ingsaswell
,but
Mawandehasbeenschemi ngwi t
hherhusband
behindherback.Wher eisloy
altyther
e?Asamar ri
ed
woman, sheexpectedMawandet ounderst
andher
painandl ookoutforher.
“
SundayI
’
m goi
nghome,
”sheannounces.
“Wear
egoingt
oNy
ezi
’
sfuner
alonSunday
,youcan’
t
gohome.
”
“Mysister
,ther
ealone,
hasabir
thdaypartyforher
daughteronSundayandIhav
etobet her
ef ormy
niece.
”
“
You’r
eaManqeleandtheManqel
esar
egoi
ngt
o
Nyezi
’
sfuner
alonSunday
.”
“
I’
m goi
nghome,kwaNgemaandt
hat
’si
t,
”Not
hil
e
i
nsi
stsandpul
l
supthecover
s.
Thematt
ressbounces,l
i
ghttur
nsonagai
nand
cover
sar
eaggressiv
elypul
l
eddown.
“Howl
ongdoy outhi
nkyou’
regoi
ngtodi
srespect
mebecauseofsomethi
ngI’
veapol
ogi
zedforover
andov
eragain?”
“
Howi smenotgoi ngt
oMawande’
shusband’
s
f
uneraldi
srespect
ingy
ou?I
sity
ouwhodiedof
r
ott
enlungs?”
Ahardslaplandsacr
osshercheek.Loudscream
wail
sthroughoutt
heyar
dandwakesNkonzoupi n
hi
sroom.Heknowst hati
t’
sthem.Whent rusthas
beenbrokenevery
thi
ngel
sebreaksinthemar ri
age.
Butthesi
tuat
ionhefi
ndsthem ini
snotsomet hing
heexpect
ed.Hisbrot
hersi
tti
ngont hefl
oorwithhis
kneesupandNothil
eissquashedinthecornerwith
herhandonthecheek.
“
Youbeather?”heasks,
hisv
oicet
rembl
i
ngwi
th
r
ageanddisbeli
ef.
“
I…Idi
dn’
tmeant
o…i
t’
sami
stakeMt
honga,
Iswear
,”
Thakasasay
sandcov
ershi
sfacewi
thhi
str
embl
i
ng
hands.
“Fuckyou,
she’
spregnantandyouputy
ourhandson
her?MaNtusiy
ouhavether i
ghtt
ogotothepol
ice
stati
onandopenacaserightnow.
”
Nothi
l
eshakesherhead,
“Ij
ustneedasaf
epl
acet
o
sl
eep.
”
“MaNtusiIwon’tdoany
thi
ngtoyou.Thi
sisasafe
place,
”Thakasasayscl
osetot
ears.Thi
sisnothi
m!
“Safeplace,myfoot.Ir
espectedyouThakasa,how
dareyouhi tawoman?Notj ustanywoman, your
pregnantwi f
ewho’scarry
ingyourchi
ld,
”Nkonzo
asksdisgustedl
y.
“Hewantstoki
l
lmybabysot
hatKhosi
andIcanbe
even.Hehat
esmybaby!
”Not
hil
e.
Thakasar
isest
ohi
sfeetandgoest
oher
.
“That’
snottr
ue,pl
easeletmerecti
fyt
his,
I’
ll
do
anythi
ngtoshowy ouhowsorryIam.”Hetri
esto
holdherbutshepull
sherhandandholdsonto
Nkonzo’sarmfordearl
ife.
“
Pleasespeaktoheri
nt hemorni
ngwhenbothof
y
ouhav ecalmeddown,”Nkonzosay
swithasigh.A
l
otisgoi
ngwr ongi
nMaKhumal o’
sabsence.
“
I’
ll
askPhet
hyt
osl
eepwi
thher
,”het
ell
sThakasa.
Henods,
fight
ingbackt
ear
s,andgoesbackt
obed.

Minutesl
aterNkonzocomesback.He’
snotl
ett
ing
Thakasagetsawaywitht
his.
“Mthonga,
real
l
y?Awhol
esl
apt
oawoman?
”he
asks.
Si
l
ence…
“
Whatdi
dshedo?
”heasks.
“Shewantedt
ogot oapar
tyonSundayandItol
d
hershecan’
tbecausewear
eburyi
ngNyezi
.”
“
Andy ouslappedherfort
hat?”He’si
ndisbeli
ef.So
whatifMaNtusiwantedtogot oapart
yinsteadofa
f
uneral?I
t’
snotl i
keherat
tendancewould’
ve
r
esurrect
edNy ezi
.
“
Itescal
ated,
”Thakasasay
s.Hedoesn’
twantt
ogo
i
ntodetai
lsbecausethi
sonemightt
ellMawande
anditwouldaddsaltonafr
eshwound.Hissi
ster
cannotbeheldaccount
abl
eforhi
ssins.I
t’
snotfai
r.
“Ther
e’snoexcuseorenoughreasontolayy
our
handonawoman.Whati fshemiscar
ri
ed?Doyou
knowhow….”
“
PleaseNkonzo!Cl
osethedoorony
ourwayout
.”He
t
urnsandsleepsonhi
sstomach.
“Areyougoingtobealr
ight
?”Theylai
dont hesame
womb, ofcoursehecar
esabouthisold,
troubl
ed
brother
.
“
Yeah,
”Thakasasay
s.
Hewalksoutandcl
osesthedoor
,leav
inghi
sbr
other
i
nthephysi
calandemoti
onaldar
kness.

Thi
sreall
yhasbeenahect i
cevening.Khanyodi
d
Bandl
aaf avorbysteal
inghimf ortheni
ght.He
l
eaveshisbrother
’sbedroom andgoest othebi
g
housetogetsomet hi
ngt odri
nk.MaKhumal oal
way
s
emphasizesherimportanceinthefamil
yandnowhe
under
standswhatshemeans.I
thasn’tbeenaweek
si
ncesheleftandt
hingsar
ealr
eadyfall
ingapar
t.
Hewal ksi
nthekitchenmi ndlessl
yandgets
surprisedbyNothil
est andi
ngwi thonl
yherbraand
towel wrappedaroundherwai st
.He’
scloseto
fai
nting,heshoul
dn’ tbeseeinghisbrot
her’
swife
halfnaked.
Nothi
leseeshi
m walki
ngi
n,shej
umpsandalmost
t
ri
p.Thet owel
fall
sdownt
oherankl
es,
leav
ingher
t
highsoutondispl
ay.
“Sorr
y,Idi
dn’
tseeyou,
”Nkonzosay
s,qui
ckl
y
steppi
ngbacktothedoor
.
Shepi
ckst
het
owel
upandwr
apsi
tov
erherbr
east
s.
“
It
’sokayMt
honga,
geti
nandt
akewhaty
ouwant
.”
“No, i
t’
sfine.Ij
ustwantedsomet hi
ngt odri
nk.
”
Nkonzodashesoutoft hedoorandr ushestohis
rondav elwit
haracinghear t.Hewasonl yuptohelp
rest
or epeacebeforethey oungeronescaughtairof
whatwashappeni ng.Thelastthingheneedsi shi
s
brothertothinkhecomf ortedhiswife,secr
etl
yinthe
kit
chen, whil
eshe’shalfnaked.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER24
KHANYO

Het ookmet othemal lofMandeni foral it

tl
e
shoppingbecauseIalway scomeher eunpr epar ed.
Laterwewentt oKwaGcal ekaf orsomeKasi gri
lled
meat .He’
sar egul
arcust omert here,theyhadal i
ttl
e
pri
vateset-upmadef orhi m becausehedoesn’ tlike
eati
ngi nacrowdedpl ace.Ihadashor ttouraround
theplace,Ienj
oyedtheKasi spiri
tbutSappi didn’t
makebr eathi
ngpleasantwi thitsawf ul smellwhi ch
heseemednott ohaveapr oblem with.
There’
sabi gtalkcomi ngandIpromisedt
olist
ent
o
i
t.Hisphoner ingsjustashestepsinsi
dethe
bedroom aftertaki
ngabat h.I
t’
saround8pm andi
t
doesn’tsoundgoodov ert
hephone.
“Icannotcomehomer ightnow…Justmakesur et
hat
theysleepsepar
atel
y…..
Isshehurt?.
..
.Ei
sh,
alr
ight
Mt hongaI’
l
lbehomei nthemor ni
ng.”Heendsthe
callwit
hasighandmyey esarewidenedwit
h
cur
iosi
ty.
“
Whathappened?
”Iask.
“The…the…therewasanal t
ercat
ionbetweenmy
brotherandhiswife,Nkonzowil
l..hewi
llhandl
eit
,”
hesay swhilescr
atchinghisear
.
Ifi
twasj ustanal
ter
cati
onthatNkonzocaneasil
y
handlethenwhyishestutt
eri
ng?Whydoeshel ook
sodisturbedandstr
essedout?
“
Didhehur
ther
?”Iask.
Honest
lyIwoul
dn’
tputi
tpastThakasa,her
eal
l
y
l
ooksmeanwi t
hhisser
ial
kil
l
ereyesandbigar
ms.
Maybehechokesl
ammedhert odeath.
“
Huh?Ohno,
hedi
dn’
t,
”hesay
s.
He’snotagoodliar,Icanseeiti
nhiseyes.He’sj
ust
protect
inghi
sbrother’
simage.Whyt hehellwoul
d
Thakasachokesl
am hi swif
ethough,shelooked
nothingshor
tofanangel .
Heblowsoutasi
ghandsnapsoutofi
tandget sin
bed.Hi
shandsar
esodamncol d,
Ipul
lthem under
myarmsandheatthem upwi
thmyskin.
“
WhatifIt
ickl
eyou?
”heasks,
mov
ingt
hem up,
to
myar
mpi t
s.
“
IfIl
aught
oohar
dIf
art
,sodon’
t,
”Iwar
nhi
m.
Hest
ops,
“Yourgasi
stoost
rong,
letmenot
…”
TF!Ipushhi
schestandhi
thi
sfor
ehead.
“
You’
rel
yi
ng,
”Isay
.
“You’venev ersleptnexttoy our
sel
fatni
ght
.You
explodeKhany o,thefi
rstdaywespenttheni
ght
togetherIwokeupandpul leddowntheel
ectr
ici
ty
switchthinkingitwasat hunder
.”
I
’
m soembar
rassed.WhyGugunev
ert
ell
smet
his?
Hepi
nchesmyar
m andl
aughs.
“Youshoul
dseeyourf
acer
ightnow.Any
wayFar
t-
Boom,wehavetotal
k,
”hesays.
I
’m socl
osetoki
ll
i
ngthi
sguy.Orbett
er,
I’
ll
justcut
hi
shairandseewhor
emainsaFart-
Boom.
“YouknowthatIl
oveyou,soi
nlovewehavet
obe
honestwi
thoneanother
.Comingbackhomebef
ore
ti
mewasnotawi sedecisi
on.
”
Her
ewego!Iembr
acemysel
fforanot
herMandul
o’s
l
ongspeecht
obor
edom.
“Myfathermadesur ethatwenev ergot oschool l
ate.
Hesai dsometimesyoudot hi
ngsr epeat edlyand
theyturni
ntoaddict
ive,badhabits.Iknowpeopl e
whoar ealwayslat
e,notbecauset heyalway shave
l
itt
leti
me, i
t’
sahabittheycan’tcontrol.Ialsoknow
peoplewhost ar
tthi
ngsandnev erfi
nisht hem,no
matterhowimpor t
antthosethingsar e.Youar eone
ofthem.”
Iknewwheret
hiswasgoi
ng.Hewr apsmei nhis
armsbef
oreIl
ashoutmyemotionalresponse.
“BandlayouknowwhyIwaspassi onateaboutthi
s
prayi
ngthing.I
twasbecauseIwant edtoheal
people,mostl
yt oheal
Ny ezi.Andthef i
rstper
sonI
wantedtoheal sobadlydied?Myancest or
sletme
downwher easIdideverythi
ngf orthem.”
“You’
rei
mpracti
cal.Therewasnodeal betweenyou
andyourancest
ors.Youdidn’tdothem anyfav
our.
Youtookcareoftherit
ualsandcemoniesbecause
youwantedtoclearyourpath.Ther
earesomany
pat
ient
swhodieinhospit
alsever
yday.Doyouthi
nk
i
twouldbefai
rifdoct
orsresi
gnedeveryt
imethey
l
oseapati
ent?
”
“
Nyezi
wasmyf
ir
stpat
ient
.It
’sdi
ff
erent
,”Iar
gue.
“KnowinghowNyeziwas,Iknowthathewould’
ve
l
ov edfory
outohealpeopl
einthesamesituati
onas
hewas.Hewouldn’thavewantedyoutobeselfi
sh
becauseofhi
m.”
Oh,
wow!
“
Soy
out
hinkI
’
m sel
fi
sh?
”Iask.
“Angi
thiasil
wisthandwa?Yes,you’r
ebeingself
ish
andimprudent,
”hesay sandshutsmewi thakiss
befor
eIcanst r
ikeback.Thekisscalmsmedown, I
fi
ndmy selfsmoochinghisl
ipslongerandbrushing
hischest.
Hepul
lsawayandst
aresatme.He’
snotdi
str
act
ed,
t
her
e’sst
il
lsomuchheneedstosay.
“Unti
lyougroundyourgi
ftonservi
ngancestor
sand
heali
ngt hepeopl
eofGod,notyourcer
tai
n
favour
ites,y
ou’l
lbesi
mil
artoallt
hesespir
it
ual
heal
erswhocan’
theal
amereheadache,
”hesays
anddropshi
shandtomywai
st.Sur
prisi
ngl
y,I
’
mjust
cal
m.
“Il
ov eyouNokukhany a.IwantyouandIt obuilda
familytogether.Iwantt obey ourhusbandi nfuture
andhav ekidswi t hy ou.ButIwantar esponsiblewife
whocanst andhergr oundsandr emainresolute
throughstorms.Ourki dsdeserveamot herwhohas
adi r
ecti
oni nli
fe, someonewhocanbear olemodel
tothem. ”Helif
tsmyl egov erhi
swaist,hishardr od
pressinghardov ermymound.He’ smakingi tcozy
whi l
epouringhi st hought s,
whichdon’tfavorme
thatmuch.
“Don’
tmakeitahabittogiv
eupeasi l
y.Fal
ldown
seventi
mes,standupeight
, l
ikeaDarumadoll
.Don’
t
beaquitt
er,
itdoesn’
tsuityou,umuhl
e,”hesays.
HehasspokenandI ’vel
istenedasIpromised.I
don’tknow,maybeIneedt i
mef orsome
i
ntrospecti
onandtoanalyzethei mpet
usofmy
goals.Mymot i
vat
ionseemst obeal wayser
roneous.
May beifIdi
dn’
tgroundmyheal inggif
tonNy ezi
I
would’vedeal
twit
hhisdeat hbetter
.
“
I’
ll
dosomesel
fint
rospect
ion,
”It
ell
him.
Heki
ssesmyforehead,
hisbear
disswoopi
ngov
er
myeyesandbl
indi
ngme.
“
Youneedt
oshav
e,”It
ell
him.
“I’
m amanofGod, l
iv
ingbyHisrulesthatwere
recordedbyMosesforI
srael
it
es.Itookav owto
abideandnotshave,
”hesays.
He’ssuddenl
yserious.Iguessthej
okewentabove
hishead.AnywayI’v
ealway shadquest
ionsabout
thi
swhol eNazar
eththing.
“
Whatel
sedoy
ounotdoandwhy
?”Iask.
“Idon’tsmoke,
Idon’tdri
nk,Idon’teatporkandI
respectSabbat
h.EverybodyshouldrespectSabbat
h,
butsomepeopl ear
er eadi
ngt hei
rBiblesupsi
de
down.”
Ashotfir
edtoChri
sti
ans!Irai
semyey ebrowand
l
ookathiminawe.Ifwear ethr
owingjabsat
rel
i
gionsImustbeinf
ormedsot hatIcancockmy
guns.
“
Ever
ybody
?Your
eal
i
zet
hatnotev
ery
onei
sa
Sabbat
h-obser
ver
,ri
ght
?”Iask.
“Godcr eatedheav enandear thi nsixday sand
restedont hesev enth,whichi sSabbat h.Ev ery
onei s
freedont hatday ,eventhosewhoar enol ongerwi th
usgetachancet ov i
sithomes.Nowi magi ney our
forefathersvisiti
nghomeandf i
ndingaheatoff i
re
l
iket heonet hey ’
ret emporaryf r
eedf rom int heother
wor l
d.”Thel ookonhi sfacet ell
smet hathebel i
eves
i
nwhathebel ievesandwhatany bodysay swon’ t
count .Peoplet endt obedef ensiveandst r
ongl y
opinionatedwheni tcomest oGodasi ftheywentt o
pre-school withhim.
“Soifweeverhappenedt ol
iv
et oget
herI
’l
lbe
subject
edtoall
t heseruleseventhoughIdon’
t
bel
ieveinNazareth?”Iask.
“RememberwhenIaskedi
fyou’
dbewi
l
li
ngt
o
compromi
seandyousaidyes?”
Lor
d,whydi
dIsayt
hat
?Iheav
easi
ghandnod.
“That’
sit
.You’l
lrespectmyreli
gionandabidewith
allt
herul
essetf orthehouse.I
nr et
urn,
I’
ll
respect
andabidewithalltheChri
sti
anl
yr ul
esyousetinthe
houseorwhat
every
oubel
i
evei
sri
ghtf
ory
ourf
ait
h,”
hesays.
“Perf
ect.Fi
rstr
ule,
nosexbefor
emarr
iage!
”Isay
,
untangl
i
ngmyar msandshi
ft
ingani
nchaway.
“Okay,whi
chver
seMamaMkhokheli
?”heasks,
pull
ingmebackandpushi
nghi
shandbetweenmy
thi
ghs.
Iburstintolaught
erbecauseIact
uall
ydon’
tknow.I
haven’treachedthatst
ageofknowingver
se
number sbyhead.
“
Wearenotgoi
ngt
obeperfect
.Idon’
tevenwantus
t
otr
y,we’
l
ldowhatmakesbothofushappy.
”
“
Ilov
eyouhwanqal
ami
,
”Isay
.
Hef
rowns,
“That
’swhaty
oucal
lme?
”
“Mandul
o,hecall
syouthatwayandhet
hinksI
’
m
doi
ngeveryt
hingtopl
easeyou.
”
“
Prov
ehi
mri
ght
,pl
ease,
”hesay
s,l
aughi
ng.
He’
sjust
…Idon’
tknowhowt
oexpl
aini
t.
“
Ilov
eyouBandl
aandt
hanky
ouf
orbei
ngsoki
nd
andl
ovi
ngev
enwhenIdon’
tdeser
vei
t.
”
Hehol
dsmyhandandpl
ant
sasof
tki
ssoni
t.
“Themor ningaft
erIfi
rstmety ouIwenthomeand
askedNkonzoi fsoulmatesexist
.Like,
howi s
possibl
et oseesomeonef orthefir
stti
meandsee
yourwor l
dbeginningandendinginhereyes?That
momentwhenIl if
tedmyey esandsawar ef
lecti
on
ofy our
sint her
earmirrorIknewthatIwasnev er
l
ettingyougo.Idon’tthi
nkI’l
lbeabletoeverli
ve
without.
”
“
Wear eneverl
i
v i
ngwit
houtoneanot
her
.Trustme,
I
’
llnev
erleaveyouunl
essyoupushmetoleaveor
t
ellmeto.”
Ourl
ipsl
ockinasteamykiss.Haveyoueverl
oved
somebodythatamerecontactofhi
sski
nagainst
your
sgivesyougoosebumps?

Theni
ghtwasnot
hingshor
tofamazi
ng.Just
thinki
ngabouthi smoansdur ingthelove-makinghas
mesqueezi ngmyt hi
ghsandbr eathi
ngheav il
y.This
taxiseemst obeswingi
ngar oundonepl aceandI
don’tseet hepassenger
st hedriv
erislookingf or
.I
washav i
ngsext hr
oughoutthenight,Iwantt ogot o
mybedandr est
.He’sgot3passenger s,Ifound
them alreadyherewhenIcaughtt hetaxi onField
Street.Weshoul dbegoing,i
t’snotli
kehe’ l
lbea
mi l
li
onaireifhegetsafulll
oad.
“
Canyoudropmeoffhere?Ify
ou’
renotgoi
ngt
o
Musgr
ave,
I’
ll
takeametertaxi
,
”Isay
.
Thedr i
vert
urnshisheadtolookatme.Theother
theelookatmeaswel landitdawnstomethatI’
m
theonlyfemalepassengeri
nthistaxi
.Gr
aci
ousLord,
Ididn’
tevenlookattheregi
str
ati
onnumber.
“Areyounott
hegir
lthatdrankmyal cohol
andt
hen
disappear
edatCl
ub101? ”thedr
iverasks.
Theonesi
tti
ngbehi
ndhimlooksatmewithhi
seyes
nar
rowed,
asifhe’
stry
ingt
opinmyf acet
oacert
ain
pi
ctur
e.
I
’
m notsur
eifIdi
ddr
inkhi
sal
cohol
ornot
.
“Yi
yonal
engane,
”say
stheot
heronebef
oreIcan
deny.
“
Nx,yazi
lezizi
febezaseThekwiniazobaziabant
u!”
(
TheseDurbanbitchesaredi
srespectful
)
“Hhayibo,
Idon’
tknowanyofy
ou.Dr
opmeof
f,
now!”Isay.
Theonesit
ti
ngbehi
ndthedr
iverj
umpst
otheseat
nextt
othedoorandbl
ocksmyway .
“
Shay
aimot
owena,
baf
o,”het
ell
stheonedr
ivi
ng.
Myheadstart
sspinni
ng,oneoft hem hassnatched
myphonesoIknowIcannotr eachoutf orhel
pany
otherwayt
hanscreaming.ButIdon’tscream more
thanaminut
e,mymout hiscov er
edbyr ough,smel
ly
handsandI’
m pi
nnedagainsttheseat.
Thesepeoplewer etogether,
theyknoweachother
andrightnowI’m notsureifthi
sisev enal
egal
ly
operati
ngtaxi
.I’
vetri
edt onegotiate,
IknowMandul
o
canpayt hem whateveramountt heywantbutt
hey
hearnoneofit.
Wheni tmergesontoN3vi
atherampto
Piet
ermari
tzburgIknowt
hatI’
m appr
oachi
ngt
he
death’
sdoor.
Somet hingbangshar dagai nstthesideofmyhead.I
getdizzyandf oramomentI ’
m notsurei
fithurtsor
not.ThenIseebl ooddr oppi ngdownt omychest .
Myear l
obeisbur ning.It
’st heonewhowassi tt
ing
behindt hedri
ver,Idon’tunder standwhyanyone
wouldbeatmel iket hi
s.Hegr absmyhai rattheback
andpi nshiselbowonmychest .Myhandsf i
ndhi s
face,Idon’twasteami nut e,Idigmynai l
sint
ohi s
face.I’
m notdy i
ngwi t
houtaf ight.Whenhelooksat
himselfinthemi rrorhe’llalway srememberthathe
kil
ledadef ensel
essgi r
l.
“Si
yajway elal
esisf
ebe!”It’
soneoft heot
hertwo.
Somet hingsharppenetratesthr
oughmyupperar m.
Mor ebloodcov er
smybr east
s.Beforemyeyesshut,
Iseethepocketkni fedri
ppingwithmyblood,thi
s
ti
mei tgoest hr
oughmyst omach.Myar m st
if
fens
up,painsl owl
ysurfacesbutIwon’tbeheretofeeli
t
all
.
“
Weneedt
othr
owt
hist
hingeMngeni
……”
.
.
*
**SUNDAY*
**

Mawandehadt osayhergoodby estoNy eziasa

mar r
iedwoman.Buti tdi
dn’ tendwel l
atall,when
theyopenedt hedoort oletheroutt heyfoundher
passedoutont hef loor
.MaKhumal owasagai nstit
from theonset,sheknewhowhar dandt raumat i
zi
ng
l
astmoment sar e.Howev er,t
heMy ezafami ly
i
nsistedonit,say i
ngitwillshedalighttoNy ezi’
s
j
ourney .
So,
theyopenedt
hecof
fi
n.
“
Tal
ktoy ourhusbandf
ort
hel
astt
ime,
”theysai
dto
Mawande.
Every
onelefttheroom andclosedthedoort oall
ow
hersomepr i
vacy.Unfort
unat
ely,shecouldn’tgeta
si
nglewordout .Howdoy oulookaty ourhusband
l
yinginsi
dethecof f
inandtal
kt ohim asifhe’l
lever
openhiseyesandr espond?Shecouldn’tdoi t
.
Todayherhusbandisbei ngburiedandshe’snot
heretoseehim of
f.She’slyingi
nt hehospital
and
connectedi
ncatheters.Thisisoneoft hosesad
funer
alswhereeveryoneweepsi nthei
rcorners.

MaKhumal ohaslookedever
ywheref
orMaNtusiand
she’snowheretobeseen.Befor
eheadi
ngtothe
tenthespotsThakasaandmakesherwayt
owards
him.
“
Wher
eisMaNt
usi
?”sheasksi
nal
owwhi
sper
.
“Shewenthome.Ther ewasanemer gency.”Hecan’t
gothroughdet ail
sri
ghtnowbecauseheknowshi s
mothercouldst opthi
swholefuner
al toaddresshis
marit
alissues.Itwil
lbebet
terwhent hey’
reallhome
andsatdown.
Not hil
e’
suncl ecal
ledthedayshel ef
t,hewantsa
fami l
ymeet ingandfineincurredforthebrutal
i
zat i
on
ofhi sniece.Thi
stimet herewi l
lbenohidi
ngt hings
behindt hebedroom, everyt
hinghast obelaidoutin
frontofbot hfamil
y.Allhisimper f
ecti
ons,short
-
comi ngsandi nfi
deli
ti
es.He’smadeabadhusband,
t
hat’
sforsure,
buthesti
l
lwantshi
swi
feback.He’
l
l
t
ryharderandrect
if
yhi
smist
akes.
“Ihopei
t’snotanot
herdeat
h,”MaKhumal
osay
s,
narrowi
nghereyesathim.
“No,notatal
l,
hersi
sterf
ell
sick,
”hesaysandcl
ear
s
hist
hroat.“
HasTutucall
edfrom t
hehospi
tal
?”
“
Icall
edherearl
ier
,not
hinghaschanged.Ij
usthope
Nyeziwon’
ttakemydaughterwi
thhim.”
“Don’
ttal
kli
kethatMa,
please.
”Heput
shi
shandon
hershoul
dersandcomfor
tsher.

Asaf ami l
ytheyshoul dbef ocusi
ngonMawande’ s
l
ossbutev eryoneisgoi ngthroughsomet hi
ng.
Nothil
epackedandl ef
tamor ningafterheslapped
her.Hetriedtoapol ogizebutshewasf edup.Ont he
otherhand, Khanyonev erar ri
vedatherf l
atafter
spendingt henightwi t
hBandl aatHlomendl i
ni.The
Mandeni taxidriv
erconf ir
medherget ti
ngi nthetaxi
andget t
ingof fatYMCA.Nev ert
heless,herbrother
hasbeencal l
i
ngandt hreateningtotakelegal
acti
onsagai nstBandl abecausehebel i
ev esthathe’
s
keepinghersomewher e.NolwaziandGuguhav e
openedacaseofami ssingpersonandpostedher
pict
uresalloversoci
alnetworks.I
t’
sbeenstressf
ul
twoday sforbothBandlaandThakasa.Nkonzohad
totakecharge,bothathomeandatwor k.

Bandl aappear sbehindt hem, hispantr ol

ledupt o
hiskneesandcov eredwi thdustf rom thegrav e.At
fi
rsthet houghtshewasj ustbei ngKhany o,taking
ti
meoutoft elecommuni cationst ofocusonher
spiri
tualbeing, butonSat urdaywhenMandul ocalled
andenqui redaboutherwher eabout shest arted
wor r
ying.Lastni ghthedi dn’ tsleepawi nk.He
shouldn’thav eputheri nat axi.Hecoul d’
v easked
thedr i
vertot akehert oDur banasheal way sdoes.
Butwi thThakasaandNot hile’
ssi t
uationtherewas
not i
met oar rangeany t
hing.Hesawherof fthet axi
rankandr ushedbackhome.Whatbr eakshishear t
i
st hatitcoul d’v
ebeent hel asttimet hatshesawher .
Nkonzohasagr eedt ogowi t
hhi mt oDurbant o
searchev eryhospi t
al andmor gueafterthef uneral.
“
Youal
lcan’
tjustst
andl
i
keguest
sher
e,y
ouneedt
o
workli
keothermen,”MaKhumal osaysbefor
e
tur
ningherback.Thatshoul
d’v
egonedi r
ectl
yto
Thakasawho’sbeeninasuitfrom morni
ng.
Bandl
a’sscr
eenf
lashesasamessagecomes
thr
ough.
It
’sapict
ureofnewsheadl
i
nesf
rom acer
tai
nbl
og
sentbyNolwazi
:

AYOUNGWOMAN’SBODYHASBEENFOUNDNEXT
TOUMGENIRI
VERI
NKWADABEKA..
.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER25
BANDLA

Hishandskeepsl ippi
ngoffthesteeri
ngwheel ,
his
faceiscov er
edinsweatbuthe’ sal
mostt her
e.Ifit
wasn’tforhismotherwhosuddenl ycaredabout
Khanyopr obabl
ybecauseshecoul dbedead, may be
hewoul d’
vejumpedi nthecarinhisdir
tyclot
hesand
l
eft.Butshecalledhim backandaskedoneoft he
My ezaunclestogivehim waterandar oom t
owi pe
himselfandlookdecent.
Nol wazi saidit’
sbadandany thi
ngcouldhappen.I t
’s
beent woday ssinceshewasdumpednextt othe
ri
v erandl efttodie.Shemust’vecri
edforhelpand
askedf orforgiv
eness.Knowingaf i
ghtersheis,she
must ’vef oughtbacktooandgotov erpowered.Inall
this,hebl ameshi mself
.Hecoul d’
veprotect
edher .
Hecoul d’vebeenabet termanandmadesur eshe
traveledsaf elybefor
erunninghomet ohisbrother’
s
fragil
emar ri
age.Hef ai
ledtoputherfir
st!
Getti
ngoutoft hecarhiskneesarefail
i
nghim.He
call
sNolwazi asheplodstowardstheentranceof
InkosiAl
bertLuthul
iCentr
alHospitalwhereit
’ssai
d
shewasr ushedt oi
nanunconsciousst at
e.
Asheent ersandfoll
owsNol wazi
’
sdirections,t
he
ever-presentsmellofdi
sinf
ectant
s,medi cineand
deathhi tshisnoseandprovokestear
st hathe
quicklyblinksback.
HeseesNol wazi standingli
kear ai
nedchi ckenwit
h
Gugucr ushedont hewai t
ingbenchl i
keherwor l
d
j
ustcamet oanend.Mandul oisal soinpresence,
thi
ngshav ebeent ensebet weent hem sinceKhanyo
wasdecl aredmi ssing,butthat’sawr angletobe
sett
ledsomeot herday .Hisey esar egluedonEfe
sit
ti
ngwi ththem.Whatbr i
ngshi m here?Hehasno
businesswi t
hhim ont hefrontbur nerbuthe’dhave
preferr
edifthei
rpat hsnevercr ossedinsucha
publicspace.
“Bandl
a,hey,
”Nolwazibreakst
hei
ceashest
ands
half
-wi
tt
edlyinf
rontofthem.
Hebli
nksrapi
dlyandlooksather.Shelooks
hopel
ess,
sodoesev eryone.Possi
bil
i
tiesst
artf
il
li
ng
hi
shead.
“
She’
sstil
lal
ive,
”Nolwazi
say
s,get
ti
nghi
m back
f
rom hi
sdorkystat
e.
“Youcallitbei
ngali
v e?She’sinav egetat
ivestat
e
becauseoft hi
sshitbag.”Mandul osaysbrusquely
andget sonhisfeettost andfacetofacewi th
Bandla.“Iknewyouhadev ery
thingtodowi thher
stupi
ddeci si
ons.Whatki ndofamanar eyou?You
dressinsuitsanddriveexpensivecarsbuty ou
cannotaf f
ordpetr
ol todrivey
ourgi r
lf
ri
endbackt o
herplaceandensur ethatsheget stheresafel
y.”
Hewasagai nstKhanyocomi ngbackbef or
e
fi
nishingherspiri
tual
cour se.Godknowshowmuch
het al
kedtoherabouti tbef or
eshel eft.Buthe
deservesthi
sangerf rom herbr other,r
ight?Itwas
hi
sr esponsi
bili
tytomakesur et hatsheget stoher
pl
acesaf el
y.Whenhecoul dn’
treachheront he
phoneheshoul d’vepanickedi nsteadofexcusi ngi
t.
“
She’
snoti
nav
eget
ati
vest
ate!She’
sjust
unconsci
ous,”NolwazisnapsatMandul oandfi
ghts
backtear
s.“She’sal
ive,t
here’ssti
ll
brai
nacti
vi
ty,
she’
llbef
ine.Iknowmyf r
iend,she’
safight
er.
”
“
Yes,
baby
gir
lisaf
ight
er,
”Ef
echi
rpsi
n.
Bandl
apull
shisfaceandglower
sathim.Baby
gir
l?
That’
swhathecall
sallhi
scourt
esans.
“Whenmyguy sf
oundher,shewasdead.That
’s
whatevery
bodyt
houghtbutbabygi
rlpul
l
edup,
”he
cont
inues.
“
Yourguy
sfoundher
?”Bandl
aaskswi
thaf
rown.
Nolwazi
clear
shert
hroatandl
ooksathi
m wi
tha
t
hinsmil
e.
“Thi
sisEfe,ummm…myf r
iend,
”shesaysandl
ooks
atEfeandintr
oducesBandlaasKhanyo’
sboyf
ri
end.
NowEf ei
sf r
owningtoo.
“Weweremaki ngcal
lstoever
yoneweknowand
for
tunat
elyEfewasabletohel
pwithhi
s
connect
ions,
”Nolwazisay
s.
“Whil
eyouwererel
axi
ngi
nMandeni
,
”say
sMandul
o,
cl
icki
nghi
stongue.
Hisfor
bearanceisreal
l
ybeingscrapedofflay
erby
l
ayer.HelovesKhanyo,hehasn’
tsleptawinkint
wo
daysandheal sohadpeopl
ewor ki
ngwi t
hthepoli
ce.
“Aretheygoi ngtoal
lowmet oseehert oday?”he
asks,lookingatNolwaziwho’sseeminglytheonl
y
persont hatengageshi
m withdecencyhere.
“
They
’l
lal
l
owv
isi
tor
sinanhourorso,
”shesay
s.
“
Doy
ouknowwhodi
dthi
s?”
“Thepoli
cear
est
il
li
nvest
igat
ing,
ther
ear
enol
eads
sofar.
”
“Did…did…they
…”Hebl owsoutheavi
lyandbl
inks
rapidl
y.Manduloisstari
ngathi
m, i
nasomehow
demeani ngmanner.Hehatespeoplewhodot hi
s,
l
ikehav ingaspeechflowprobl
em i
sstupi
dit
y.
He’l
lwaitforthedoctorandaskhi m privat
ely
.He
mov estotheempt yspaceandsi ts.Hishandsare
shaking,
hebal lst
hem intofi
stsandbowshi shead
down.Ev er
ythingi
spossi bl
e,hehast odoev ery
thi
ng
i
nhispowert ogetjusti
ceforhisKhany o.Hepraysa
l
ivi
ngGod, onewayoranot her,
thosewhower e
i
nvolvedwillpaydearlyforwhatthey’v
edone.But
ri
ghtnowhejustwant
stoseeherandseehowbad
shewasinj
ured.

Anhourl ateral
lvisit
orsar eleti ntoseet heirlov
ed
ones.Unf ort
unatelytheycan’ tallgoi nsi
deatonce.
Mandul oandNol wazi goi nfi
r st,theyseem t obe
quiteclose.Gugui snotokay , it
’slikehermi ndshut
downbutnobodyi spay ingat tentiont oher
.Ef eisa
guestt oo, andhe’swai t
ingforhi sturn.I
tdoesn’tsit
wellwithBandl a,heknowst heki ndofamanhei s
andhe’ snotsomeonehe’ dwantcl osertoKhany o.
Buthehasnosayov erit,Mandul oseemst ohav eno
problem wi thhim andaf terall,hei stheknightinthe
shiningamour .

WhenNolwazi
andMandul
ocomeout,shepull
s
Bandl
aasi
dewhil
eEf
egoesaheadandenter
s.
“Pl
easetal
ktoher,
shel
i
stenst
oyou,
tel
lhernott
o
giv
eup,”shebegs.
“Iwil
l
,”hesayshesi
tantl
y.He’snev
erdeal
twi
th
anyoneinsuchcondit
ion,someonehehol
dsso
dear
lyi
nhi
sheart
.Seeinghermot
ionl
essandhal
f
deadmayevenki
l
lhissoul
.
Hewal
ksinandfindsEf
eholdi
ngKhanyo’
shand.
Fur
ycr
ashesthr
oughhisvei
nsbuthe’
sincont
rol
of
hi
semoti
ons.
“Whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
eUgochukwu?
”heasks
behi
ndhim.
“
Meandbaby gi
rlhav
eahi st
ory,
”Eferesponds,
l
ett
inggoofherhandandsteppingaside.“
Inever
t
houghtyouhadagirl
fr
iend.”
“Whatki
ndofhi
stor
ydoy
ouhav
ewi
thher
?”Bandl
a
asks.
“I
’m nother
etocausetr
oubl
e,myman.Ijustwanted
toseehowsheis.”Heputshi
shandsupandwal ks
out,notgi
vi
nganythi
ngmorethant
hem havi
ng
hist
ory.
Hiseyestur
nt oKhanyoinbed.Hewal kscloserand
star
esather.There’
sabondagear oundherhead, i
t
wassaidthatshewasst abbedfi
vetimesand
beatenal
loverherbody.Itwasn’
trobberygone
wrongoranythingli
ket
hat ,
whoeverdidthi
swant ed
toki
llher
.Chancesofhersurv
ivalar
esli
m, shel
ost
somuchbl oodandfr
ozewithcoldfordays.How
she’
sstil
lal
ivei
sreal
lyamy st
ery.

Hest epscl oser,hesit

antlyhelift
sherhandand
holdsi t.I
thasnol i
feandnowar mt honi t.Tearsfi
ll
uphi sey es,heblinksthem back.Heneedst ost ay
strongf orher.Nol wazibeggedhi mt ot al
kt oherbut
wor dsseem t obest ucki nhisthroat.Ahugel ump
hasbl ockedhi sthroat,dumpingaheav yweight
downhi schest.Inhissoul ,
deepi nhi s
consci ousnessandspi rithewant stot ellhertopull
through.Whenhesai dhecannotseehi swor l
d
withoutheri nit,
hemeanti t.Hehasbi ggerplansfor
theirfuture.There’ssomuchl ovehest i
ll
needst o
giveher .
Buthecannotsayi tloud,wordsandhi swholebody
fai
lhim.Hepl ant sasoftkissonherhandandt ur
ns
toleave.Beforehet akesthelaststepout ,
atear
dropsdownhi scheekandhequi cklywipesit
.
Mandul oisstandinginasaf edistance,buthi
seyes
aresharpandr oaming,apangofgui l
tsti
ngshis
hear
tandhequickl
ysl
idesoutofsi
ght
.May
behe
wasunnecessar
il
yhar
sheronhim.
.
.
MaKhumal ostandsont heverandaandwai tsforher
sonashesl owlyappr oachesthehousewi thhis
headhungdowni nsor row.Shewar nedhi m,andlike
usual,shewasn’twrong.Unf ort
unately
, asamot her
shehast otel
litl
ikeitis,nosugarcoatingand
pretense.Asheepcannotswi minther iverwit
h
crocodil
es,i
tendsint ears.
“
Howi
sshe?
”sheasks.
Heholdsont
othebenchandreleasesasi
ght
hat
’s
accompani
edbylong-
hel
dtears.
“
Idon’tunder
standwhyany
onewouldhur therl
ike
t
hat,
”hesniff
sbacktear
swithnosuccess.“Fi
ve
t
imesMa.They …they
…st
abbedherfi
vetimes!”
Asigh!Hi
stear
sdon’
tscar
eheranymor
e.He’
sa
cr
ybabyofthef
amil
yandfunni
l
y,t
heonewho
di
sobeysthemost
.
“Youdon’ tli
stenBandla.Itol
dy outostayawayfr
om
thatgi
r l
.Looknow, you’recryi
ngov ersomeonewho
foughtwi t
hherdr unkfri
ends.Thesear e
consequencesofherdar kpaths.Usukelaamabhadi
ezihl
alel
el eeThekwiniuzowaf akaemziniwami.
”
(You’
ref etchi
ngbadl ucksfrom Durbanandbri
nging
them tomyhouse)
“Mama!”Thakasaexclai
msbehindherinshock.
He’sal
waysknownt hatBandlai
snotst r
ongenough
tohandl
ethatgir
landallthecompli
cati
onsshe
comeswith.Butri
ghtnowheneedst heirsuppor
t,
nottobefurt
herl
ypushedt oadarkcorner.
“Hey ,shutupwena!He’ sli
kethi sbecauseofy ou.He
l
ear ntfrom you.You’vebeenspi tti
ngony ourfat
her’
s
graveanddr aggi
ngournamei nt hemud, sl
eeping
aroundwi t
hloosegirl
sanddi srespecti
ngy ourwife.
I’
m notgoi ngt ot
hatmeet i
ng,Iwantt heNgemast o
chopy ourhandsoffforhit
ti
ngt hei
rdaughter,
”she
cli
ckshert ongueandt urnstol eave.Butshe’snot
donewi thThakasa.He’sadisgr ace,a
disappoi nt
menttot heManqel es!
“
Awunambekowena!Umunt
uwabol
aamat
humbu
nje,
youhadoner ol
e,onl
yone;toleadthi
sfamily
.
Butyoucan’tevendoasi ngl
ethingri
ght.
”(You’
re
disr
espectf
ul!Gi
v i
ngbirt
htoyouwasj ustl
it
ter
ing
theworld)Shedisappearsi
nsi
det hehousethr
owing
herhandsupandshout i
ngnonstop.
“I
sshesti
l
laliv
e?”Thakasaasks,
ignor
ingt
het
winge
ofpai
ninf
li
ctedbyhismother’
swords.
“
Yes,
but
…”Hest
opsBandl
awi
thahand.
“No‘but ’
,she’l
lbeokay.Wepr ayandpr aiseal i
ving
God.UDokot elawodokotel
abodokot ela.I dwala
l
abadal a.UNy azil
weZulu.Don’tl
osef aith, r
emember
whatt heysay .Someti
meswear eledi ntot roubl
ed
watersbecauseGodwant stocleanseus, notto
drownus.Youdon’ tasktheancest or
sorGodt o
guidey ourstepsifyou’
renotwi l
li
ngtomov ey our
feet.
”
Bandlal
if
tsuphi
shead,
“Yout
hinkt
hisabouther
abandoni
nghergi
ft
?”
“
Yes,butIcoul
dbewr ong.Youj
ustneedt
ohangi
n
t
hereandprayforher
,”hesays.
Asst
rangeasi
tisseei
ngThakasabei
ngsuppor
ti
ve
ofhi
srel
ati
onshi
p,het
akeshi
swor dandnodwi t
ha
tadofr
eli
efdwel
li
ngonhisgr
ief
-st
ri
ckenface.
“
Ineedsomet
imeof
fwor
k,”hesay
s.
“
Uh,Mthonga,
you’r
epushi
ngitnow.Assoonasshe
wakesupyou’
recomingbacktowork,
please.
”
“Iwill
,Ipr
omise.Ijustdon’twantt
obei naworki
ng
placeinthi
sdistr
essfulstate.
”Hereleasesasighas
het hi
nksofthehot ell
i
fewai t
ingf
orhimi nDurban.
Butheneedst obecl osertothehospitalsot
hathe
canbepr esentwhenshewakesup-i fshewakesup.
“
Wil
lyoubeablet
oaccompanymet othemeet
ing
t
omorrowatt
heNgemas?”Thakasaasks.
“DoIhav
eachoi
ce?Yourmot
herdi
tchedy
ou,
”he
says.
“Andcal
ledmet r
ash,
”Thakasasayswithagri
mace
butqui
cklyshr
ugsitawaybeforehesoundschi
ldi
sh.
HetapsBandla’
sshoulderbef
orehewalksoff
.
.
.
ThakasaandNkonz
oar
ri
vei
nsui
ts,
looki
ngdecent
fort
hei n-l
aws.BandlaiswearingaBer mudashor t
,
sneakersandhoodi e.Helooksabi tsl
oppyand
unpreparedfortheday,buthe’
sher eandit’
sallthat
matters.He’ssupporti
nghisbrotherasit
’sexpected
ofhim.
Judgingbythenumberofcar sparkedont heyard,
al
lNot hi
le’
suncl
esarehere.Thakasa’shandkerchi
ef
hasalreadyst
artedonit
sduties.Hisforeheadis
sweating,t
herehasbeennocommuni cation
betweenhim andNothil
eeversinceshel eft
.
They’
r eledinsi
dethehousebyoneofNot hil
e’
s
cousin’ssons.Therearemorepeoplewaiti
ngfor
them thantheyexpected.Theatmosphereisi
ntense,
star
esar eexchangedast heyset
tl
eont hechai
rs
andgr eet.
“Manqel
e,”t
heuncl
elooksatThakasawhoseeyes
havebeenfi
xedonthefl
oorfr
om thesecondhe
walkedi
n.“Howcanwehelpyou?”
Nkonzoclearshisthroat
,“Letusst
artbyapologiz
ing,
thi
ngsshouldn’
thav eboil
eddownt othi
spoint.The
unfor
tunat
eincidentthatoccurr
edlef
tallofus
shakenandembar
rassed.
”
“Unf
ort
unateinci
dent,y
ousayManqel e.Myniece
camehomebydawnwi t
hherbags,cryi
ng
hyst
eri
cal
lywithbrui
sesall
overherface.I
sthat
whatyoucall
anunf or
tunat
einci
dent?”
That’
sabi texagger
atedbutar
gui
ngwi
l
lnotchange
thepoint
.
“
Baba, I
’m notfavor
ingmybrother
.Noti
nanyway .
Hewaswr ong,astheManqeleswedon’tcondone
vi
olenceagainstwomen,”Nkonzosays.
Theuncl
eturnshiseyestoThakasawho’
stur
ned
i
ntoaninnocentsheepoutoft
heblue.
“Whydidyoubeatmyni
ece?Whatdidshedot
hat
l
edy oui
ntoseei
ngawrest
li
ngopponenti
nher
?”he
asks.
Thakasacl
earshisthroat
,wi
peshi
ssweat
yfaceand
cl
earshist
hroatagain.
“Er
rr,
wehadanargument .I
twasn’tsomethi
ngbi
g,
butweendedupexchangingharshwords.Il
ost
contr
olandIr
egr
etit
.Iregret
teditthemomentI
real
izedwhathadhappenedbuti
twast
ool
ate,
”he
says.
“I
fyouexchangehar
shwordswithyourmothery
ou
beathi
m aswell?
”anot
heroneasks,gl
ari
ngathi
m.
“
No,
”heshakeshi
shead.
“Soshewasjustanexcept
ion?I
fyoudon’
tlov
eher
anymorewhydon’ty
ou…”
Hecutshi
m short
,“Il
oveher
.I’
m herebecauseIst
il
l
needher
.She’smywife,amotherofmychildr
en.I
madeami st
akeBaba,pl
easeforgi
veme.”
“Asifthat
’sall
!”onet
hrowsacommentandshakes
hisheadwi t
hdisgust
.
“It’
sunf ortunatethatwecannotdi scusshowy ourun
yourmar riageandcent ralissueswi thi
nit,even
thought heymayaf fectourni ece.Wear eblack
tradit
ional people,weunder st
andt hatsomet imesa
man’ shear tspl
iti
nt ohal v
eswhenheseesot her
woment hathewi shest oexpandhi sfamilywith.
Whatweexpectf rom y oui sthatyour espectNothil
e
asawi fet hatyouf etchedher eandannouncedas
yourf i
rstwi f
e.We’llnotst andandwat chy ou
embar
rassandmi
str
eather
,”t
heuncl
esay
s.
“Wealsodeser
vet
obeupdatedi
fhe’
sst
art
inga
pol
ygamy,”say
sanot
herone.
“
I’
m notst
art
ingapol
ygamy
,”Thakasasay
squi
ckl
y.
“
Oh,
you’
rej
ustmessi
ngar
oundand….
”
Nkonzoclearshi sthr
oat,
“Withallduer espectBaba,
onl
yMaNt usi canhandlethi
soneandgi v
esuitabl
e
puni
shment .Wear eallmenher e,I
’m sureweal l
haveourdir
t ylaundry
,musani ukugi
yanget hambo
l
ikabafo.
”
Theykeepqui
et.Thakasar
eleasesal
owsi
ghof
rel
i
ef.
“Okay,we’l
ll
etthem handlet
hat.Butwear enot
l
etti
nghergobackt ot heManqelesunlesswear e
assuredthatsomethingli
kethi
swillneverhappen
againandcompensat ionhasbeenpaid.”
“
Compensat
ion?
”Bandl
aaskswi
thaf
rown.
“
Acow.
”
Gasps!
“MaNtusigotmarri
edattheManqel
es.Lobol
awas
pai
dinful
l f
orher,nowThakasahast
opayanother
cow?”Bandlaasks.
“Lobol
awasn’ tpai
df orhert obet urnedintoaZi on
drum.We’ v
enev erputourhandsonherasher
parent
s,I’
m sureherf atheristur
ni nginhergrav e.
Whaty oudidbrokethepr omisesy oumadebef ore
thewedding.IfuMaKhumal oengaf el
iekuzal
eni ,she
hastochar geyouaswel l
.Youhav etoslaughtera
goatandapol ogi
zetot heancest orsforthechaos
youcreatedintheiry
ar d.”
Helooksathisbrot
hersandtheyal
llookdef
eat
ed.
There’
snot
hingtheycansayordo,theyhaveno
el
derwitht
hem whocanst andupforthem.
“I
tlooksl
iket
herel
ati
onshipwehadhasbeen
destr
oyed.WearenowstrangersattheNgemas,
”
Bandlamumbleswit
hdissati
sfact
ion.“Wher
earewe
goinggogetacowatthisti
meoft heday?”
Theunclechuckl
es,“
Akuphoqiukut
hikube
ngeyoboya,I
’
m surewecancalcul
ateandmake
agreements.
”(I
t’
snotcompulsor
ythatyoubr
inga
l
i
vecow)
“R16000isnotbad,giv
enhowexpensi
vecowsar
e
nowadays,
”anotheronechi
rpsi
n.
Nkonzogaspsi
nshock,
“Ar
ewef
ight
ingnowBaba?
”
“
R15600?
”theuncl
ecocksuphi
sey
ebr
ow.
“No,
it’
sfinebafo,
I’
llpayi
t,”Thakasasays,hol
ding
downNkonzo’shand.Hel ooksattheuncleandasks,
“I
select
ronict
ransferdi
srespectf
ul?Idon’
thaveso
muchcashwi thme. ”
“No,Manqele.Iwon’tal
lowt
hattohappen.Show
remorse,
gowi thdr
awt hemoneyandbri
ngittoust
o
seewiththenakedey e.
”
“Wear
ealsothirst
yasy ouseeus.We’vegather
ed
her
ebecauseofy ouri
tchyhands,
inst
eadofdoing
meani
ngfult
hingsatourhomes,”anotheronesays.
Thakasanodsandbumpsheadswi t
hhi sbrot
hers.
Oneofthem hastodrivetotown,wi
thdrawcashand
buytwocratesofdri
nks.Nkonzoexpresseshis
di
ssati
sfact
ionbefor
eof f
eri
ngtogo.Hecal l
sit
bei
ngscammedbygr eedyoldfol
kswhodon’ teven
car
eaboutNot
hil
e.
“I
’dunderst
andift
heywantthismoneytosendher
forcounsel
ing,
”hemumbles,nott
oolow,andgetsa
nudgefrom Bandl
a.
Themeeti
ngisputonhol
dwhi
letheywai
tforhi
mt o
comebackwitht
hemoney.Agi
rlser
vest
hem dri
nks
andcooki
es.
“I
sitpossi
blef
ormet oseeMaNt
usi
,pl
ease?
”
Thakasaaskstheuncl
es.
“She’
sst
il
lyourwif
e,yousai
d,”t
heuncl
esaysand
sendsagir
ltopassthemessagetoNothi
l
e.
Afterafewminutesthegir
l comesbackandasks
forThakasaasi
de.She’saskinghimtocometoher
bedroom.Hisheartstar
tsracingagai
n.Nowhe’
ll
be
getti
ngstar
esfrom herauntsashecrossest
heyard
towheresheis.

Hekeepshisey
esonthegr
oundandwalksacr
oss
theyar
d.Thegi
rll
eav
eshi
m att
hedoorandtur
ns
back.
She’ssi
tt
ingonbed,weari
ngaseshoeshoedress
anditsmatchi
ngdoek.Thei
reyesl
ockforafew
secondsbutThakasaqui
cklydr
opshisandexhal
es.
“
Whyar
eyouf
etchi
ngmeManqel
e?”sheasks.
“
You’
remywi
feNot
hil
e,
”hesay
s.
“
Awi
fet
haty
oucheatonr
epeat
edl
yandbeat
?”
Heexhal
esaudi
blyandst
aresatt
hecei
l
ingf
ora
moment.
“Pl
easefor
giv
emef orhurt
ingyouandputt
ingmy
handsonyou.Icannotjust
ifyi
torpoi
ntfi
ngers,
all
I
canaski
sachancet orect
ifymymist
akesand
becomeabetterhusband.”
“
You’
rest
il
lgoi
ngtost
ayi
ntouchwi
thKhosi
and
mour
nherbaby?”
“No,Ipromise,Iwon’
t.Iwanttof ocusonyouand
ourbaby .We’l
ldi
scussawayf orwardwit
hhercase
oncey ou’v
egivenbir
th,youknowIhav et
o
acknowledgethatbaby’sspir
ittoavoidspi
ri
tual
confl
ictsinfut
ure,
”hesay s.
“
OnceI
’
vegi
venbi
rt
h?Okay
.Buty
ourbr
other
swi
l
l
beinchar
geofthoseacknowl
edgements,noty
ou.I
don’
twantyounearthatwoman,oranyot
her
womanagain.
”
“
Okayst
handwasami.CanIki
ssyou?Ireal
lymi
ssed
y
ou,Maisl
osinghermindi
nyourabsence.
”
Shesmi l
esandget
soffbed.Theyembr
acei
nat
ight
hug.Hishandl
owersdowntohertummyand
brushesit
.
“Nothi
l
epleasedon’tevert
alkaboutNyezil
iket
hat,
hewasabr othert
omeandagoodman, ”hesays,
l
ift
ingherchi
nandst ar
ingdeepl
yintohereyes.
“
Okay
,Iwon’
t.Nowki
ssme.
”
Hesmilesandlower
shisheaddowntoher
.Her
handswraparoundhi
sneckandthei
rli
psl
ocki
na
steamyki
ss.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER26

From onefamilymeetingtoanot her

.Thi sti
me
they’
resummonedt oanur gentmeet i
ngby
MaKhumal oupont hei
rarri
v alf
rom t
heNgemas.The
l
astthingshewant edwast odeal wi
t hrebel
li
ous
chil
drenadayaf t
erburyi
ngherson- in-l
awand
l
eavingherdaughtersurroundedbyadar kcloudat
suchy oungage.
Beforetheygot otheloungewher ethemeet ingis
hel
d, SqaloasksThakasaasi de.He’sdet erminedto
comecl eantohisfami l
y,l
iv
inginashel l
isn’tdoing
hi
mj usticeanymore.Bandlawant stost ophi m,this
i
sn’tsomet hi
ngtheyneedt odeal withasaf amily
now.Butt hey’
reintheroom together,he’ll
bet oo
l
atet ostophim.Hest andsinfrontoft hedoorwi t
h
hi
sey esonThakasa’ sdoorandhi sbr eathhel dupin
hi
st hroat.
I
ntheroom Thakasai
spagi
ngthr
oughabookgi
ven
t
ohim bySqalo.I
t’
sti
tl
edEmbr
acebyMarkBehr
.
“Whati
sthi
s?”heasks,f
li
ppingpageswithafrown.
Hereadsonl
yforacademicbenefi
ts,he’
dnever
wastehi
sti
mer eadi
ngabookwr i
ttenintheearl
y
2000sbysomewhi t
emanhedoesn’ tknow.
“Icangi
veyouasummar
y,”Sqal
osay
swi
thhi
s
eyeswiden.
Hesi
ghs,
“Ift
hisconcer
nsschool
….”
“
No,
it’
saboutme,
”Sqal
ocut
shi
m shor
t.
“
Thi
sbooki
sabouty
ou?
”Hef
rowns.
“
Notreall
y.I
t’
saboutKar
l,ay
oungboywhofal
lsi
n
l
ovewithhisbestf
ri
end,
Domini
c,andhi
schoi
r
mast
er.”
Conf
usiondwell
sonhisface,notbecauseofthi
s
l
ove-
tri
angl
ehe’sbei
ngtoldof,buttheassumpti
on
fr
om Sqal
othathe’
dbeinterest
edinsuchastory.
“AndhowdoIr el
atet
oit?Idon’
tknowKarlor
Dominicorhi
schoirmaster
,”hesayswi
thhis
eyebr
owssnapped.
“
Youknowme,
I’
m Kar
l,
”Sqal
osay
s.
Her
eleasesachuckl
eandgl
ancesathi
swr
istf
or
ti
me.MaKhumal
owillf
indmoret
hingstoshout
abouti
fhe’
saminut
elatet
othemeeting.
“OkayKar
l,Ihav
etogo,
”hesaysandt
hrowst
he
bookonbedandheadstowardst
hedoor.
“Bhut
i,
”Sqal
ocall
sandhet
urnshi
sheadwi
thal
ot
ofaggrev
ati
on.
“
I’
m gay
."
Hisf
aceisundef
inedandmurkyforaminute.
Somethi
nghastobewr ongwi
thhishear
ingsense.
“
Youar
ewhat
?”heasks.
“I
’
m gay,
”Sqal
orepeats, l
ookingstr
aighti
ntohis
eyeswit
hnostanceoff ear.“
May beyoushouldlet
ever
yoneknowduri
ngt hemeet ing.
”
“
Arey oucrazy?Youthi
nkthisisTV?Gety ourl
if
eon
t
rack,I’
m announci
ngnobul l
shitandget
ti
ngblamed
f
orit.
”Hegl owersathi
m disgustedl
ybef
or ehe
walksoutcli
ckinghi
stongueanumberoft i
mes.

Hewalksi
nandbangst
hekit
chendoorbehi
ndhi
m.
Ev
ery
oneisseat
edandsil
ent
lywai
ti
ngfor
MaKhumalotospeak.Heloudl
ydragshi
schai
ron
t
hefl
ooracrosstheroom andsi
ts.
“
Wear
eher
etost
areatoneanot
her
?”heasks.
MaKhumaloadj ust
sherglassesandl ooksathi m.
Thisi
sexactlywhatshewast ell
ingthepreacher
about
;Thakasahasnor espectforher,nor espect
forhi
sownlat efat
herandnor espectforthe
Manqelesurname.
“Maybeyoucanent
ert
ainusbyt ell
inguswhyyougo
aroundspr
eadi
ngyourseedsever y
whereandbei
ng
MikeTysononMaNtusi,
”shesay s.
Nothi
lesipsaglassofwaterandcrossesherl
egson
thecouch.Theykissed,
hel
dhandsandhugged, but
for
givi
ngisn’
tnecessari
lyf
orget
ti
ngandsweeping
underthecarpet
.
“Wearewaiti
ng!Whatmadeyouseekpl
easure
outsi
deyourbedr
oom?WhatisMaNtusidoi
ng
wrong?”MaKhumaloasks.
Nkonzogr
unt
sindi
sappr
oval
.
“
Ift
hisdoesn’
tincl
udeust
henexcuseusf
rom t
his
meet
ing,
”hesay
s.
“
Asifther
e’sanyt
hingusefuly
ou’r
er ushi
ngtodo.”
MaKhumaloshootsalookathim andt ur
nshiseyes
t
oThakasa.“Expl
ainyour
selfThakasaManqele.”
Heexhalesheav
il
yandcastshisey esonthefl
oor.
He’
sneverbeenasubjectofthemeet i
ng,
it’
shim
who’
salwaysaddressi
ngsit
uationsanddisci
pli
ning
ot
hers.
“
Ifel
temot
ional
l
ynegl
ect
edbyNot
hil
e,
”hesay
s.
Nothi
l
erai
seshereyebr
owsinquest
ionbut
MaKhumaloshut
sherwithahandbefor
eshecan
t
hrowinherpi
eceofmind.
“MaNt usiisalway
shome,cooki
ngfoodand
preparingabat hf
orwhenyoucomebackfr
om work.
You’venev ercomehomeandnotgetawarm pl
ate
offood, orwenttoacol
dbedatnight
.”
“
Ineededmor
ethant
hat
,”hesay
swi
thashr
ug.
MaKhumal
ocl
apsherhandsandl
etsoutachuckl
e.
“Whatmorecanawomangi
veaman?Hersoul
?
Kidney
s?”
“
I’
drathernott
alkaboutthi
shere,
Not
hil
eknows
whatdroveusapart
,”hesays.
“Iknow?”Nothi
leraiseshereyebrowsandhe
rel
easesanothersigh.ShelooksatMaKhumaloand
shakesherheadindi sappr
oval.
“Manqelewi llneveradmithiswr ongs,
letalonein
frontofpeople.Hewant stobet hi
sperfecthuman
beingthathisf atherwas.AndI ’
veindi
rectlyhel
ped
him doit.Iall
owedhi mtowalkov erme, chopmy
heartint
opi eces, br
inghisdi
rtintoourbedr oom and
thenshut sthedoori nthemor ningandst epsoutof
thehouseaper fectman.”
“What
’sreal
l
yhappeni
ngMaNt
usi
?”MaKhumal
o
askswit
hwor r
y.
“
Onl
yhecananswert
hat
.Insi
xyearsofmy
mar
ri
ageI
’v
edonemyutmostbestasawif
e.”
“
Thakasawhat
’shappeni
ng?WhatisMaNt usi
doi
ng
wrong?
”MaKhumaloasks,di
rect
ingherey
estohi
m.
Heshutshi
sey
esandbr
eat
hesouti
nfr
ust
rat
ion
heav
il
y.
“Nothi
ng.CanIgot akeabath?”Hegetsonhisfeet
andstretcheshisar
ms.He’snotreall
yaski
ngfor
thei
rpermi ssi
ontol
eave,he’
sdismissi
nghimsel
f
from t
hismeet i
ngeit
herway.
“
Wear
est
il
ltal
ki
ngt
oyou,
”MaKhumal
osay
sst
ernl
y.
Hewal
kspastt
hem ont
hecouchesandl
eav
es.
Nothi
l
egivesheral
ook;‘
Itol
dy ouaboutt
his’
,and
l
eansbackonthecouchi
ndef eat
.
“Soyoutwoarej
ustgoi
ngtof
oldyourarmsandnot
sayanyt
hing?
”MaKhumalogl
aresatNkonzoand
Bandl
a.
“
Howdoy ouexpecthimt ositi
nt hismeet i
ngwhen
youdon’
twanttol i
stentohisside?Rat hercont
inue
wit
houthi
m andt akeitwherevery ouwantittogo,”
Nkonzosays.He’
snev erbeenshyt oexpresshi
s
f
eeli
ngstoanyone.
“
Whenareyouget
ti
ngmar
ri
edMr
-Know-
It
-Al
l
?”
MaKhumal
o.
Helaughs,
“Iwasquietandyouaskedmet
otal
k,I
’
ve
t
alkedandnowI’m Mr-Know-
It
-Al
l?
”
“
Youalwayshaveanswerstoever
ythi
ngexcept
;
whenareyouget
ti
ngmar r
ied,
”MaKhumalosaysand
l
ooksatthequi
etBandl
a.
“Ihearyou’
removi
ngtoDur
ban,
”shesay
s,pi
erci
ng
him wit
hasharpstar
e.
“Yes,unti
lKhany
owakesup,
”Bandl
asay
s
sorrowful
ly.
“Yoursi
sterhasbeenhospi
tal
i
zedaswel
lbuty
ou
arenot…”
Hest
opsherwi
thahand,
“NotnowMa,
please!
”
He’
sthesecondt
ol eav
ethemeet
ingbef
ore
MaKhumaloadj
ournsit
.
“
Hhayi-ke,namingi
bonebehamba,”Nkonzosays,
l
i
fti
nghi shandsupandgetti
ngoffthecouchwithan
i
nnocentlookonhisface.(
I’
mleavingbecauseIsaw
t
hem leavi
ng)
.
.
Awhi
l
elat
erNot
hilewal
ksinandfi
ndsThakasa
l
yi
ngi
nbedandstari
ngatt
heceil
i
ng.
“
Whydi
dyoul
eav
e?”sheasks,
lower
ingher
sel
fnext
t
ohi
m.
“
Doy
our
eal
l
ycar
e?”
“Ido.Whydidy
oul
eav
e?Mawasonl
ytr
yingt
ohel
p
usfixthi
s.”
“OnlyyouandIcanf i
xus.Iacknowledgemywr ongs,
Ireal
lydo,butIfeel
li
keyou’r
enowgat her
ingpeople
tobullyme.”Heputshisarm overhi
sfaceand
exhalesheavi
ly.
“Mymotherhasnevert
hankedmeforany
thi
ngi
nlif
e,
butshe’
sabl
etocallmenamesoverafewmist
akes
Imadeinmymar r
iage.
”
Nothil
estay
ssi l
ent.MaKhumalosti
ckswithherno
matterwhat,shecannotspeaki
llofheraf
tershe’
s
def
endedhersomuch.
“Igetbl
amedforeverythi
nginthi
sfamil
yandSqal
o
wantstomakethatwor se.Can’
theseethatI
’
m
deali
ngwit
halotalready?”
“
Whatdi
dhedo?
”Not
hil
easks.
“
Hesay
she’
sKar
l.
”
“
Whoi
sKar
l?”
“
Agaybookchar
act
er.
”
Shegaspsi
nshock,“
Youmeant
otel
lmet
hatSqal
o
sl
eepswit
hotherboy
s?”
“
He’sconf
used.Her
eadstoomuchf
ict
ionand
wat
chestoomanymovies.
”
“
Whati
fhe’
sreal
l
ygayl
i
keSomi
ziand….
”
“Idon’
twanttotalkaboutit
.Wehav esomuchto
catchuponasacoupl e.”Heinhal
essharpl
yandsi
ts
up.Heholdsherlefthandandbrushesherri
ng
fi
nger.
“Thankyouf
orcomingback.Iknowt her
e’sal
otI
needtomakeupf or
,butIpromiseyouonethi
ng,
I’
ll
neverputmyhandsony oueveragai
n.”
“
Andcheat
ingonme?
”sheasks.
“
Thatt
oo.I
twon’
thappenagai
n.”
“
Okay
,let
’sst
artov
er.Whatwasourr
out
ine?
”
Asmi
l
ebr
eaksoutofhi
sface.
“
Nool
drout
ines,
please.Wear
est
art
ingaf
resh,
r
emember
.”
“Ohwel l,
thatmeansIdon’
thavet
owakeupi nt
he
mor ningsandprepar
eyouforwor
k,cookdi
nnerand
doy ourlaundr
yand….”Aki
ssshut
sherup.She
gigglesandsnugglesonhi
schest
.
“
Ismypr
incessst
il
lokay
?”heasks,
brushi
ngher
t
ummy.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“CanIgreether
?”Hi
shandl
ower
stoherwai
stand
brushesit
swaydown.
“Yourgreet
inghast
ogothr
oughme?”sheasks,
blocki
nghishandandf
ir
mlyshut
ti
ngherl
egs.
“
That’showIputheriny ourwomb,sowhynot?”He
r
emov esherhandandi nsert
shi
skneebetweenher
t
highs.Hekissesherl
ipsandstaresdownather
wi
thasmi l
e.
“
Howcanyouall
owmet opl
antaseedandt
hennot
l
etmewat
erit
?”heasks.
“
OkayManqele,
you’
vecriedenough.ButIwanty
ou
t
oli
cki
tfi
rst
,”shesays.
Hechuckl
es,“
Witht
hesamemout
hIt
alkt
o
i
mpephowith?”
“
Don’
tyouf
ingermewi
tht
hesamehandsy
ouhol
d
i
mpepholi
dwith?”
“
AttheNgemasy ouwatchedbluemov i
es,didn’t
y
ou? ”Hesmi l
esandshakeshisheadlight
ly.“Letme
l
ockt hedoorfi
rst
.Ngi
zoli
muncal onkelel
isobho.”
(
I’
ll
suckal l
thi
sgravy)
Shebreaksi
ntol
aught
er,
“Mygoodness,
ber
omant
ic
Manqele!
”
Hel
aughsandgoest
othedoorandshut
sit
.
.
.
NOMKHOSI

“Hehasn’taskedy
ouany t
hing?
”Ndondoaskswi
tha
sli
ghtf
r ownonherfaceastheypul
lupatt
he
doctor
’s.
“
Nope.ButI
’
m sur
ethatMom t
oldhi
m ev
ery
thi
ng.I
don’tknowifhe’
sdisappoi
ntedorjustnotgetti
ng
i
nvolvedbecauseI’
m nothi
sbiological
chil
d,”she
says.
“It
hinkyoumustpr epareyourselff
orthedaywhen
hefinal
lyasksy ouaboutt hepregnancy,i
nsteadof
makingt hingsup.Trustme, IknowNgi di
,he’
ll
str
anglet hetrut
houtofy ou.”
“
Ndlal
i
fat
riedandfai
l
ed.He’
smadepeacewi
thi
t,
t
heymustalldot
hesame.”
“Yourl
if
e,yourdeci
sionsbabe.I’
mj ustexci
tedabout
thegender
.Iknowit’saboy.Imeanal lofushave
boys;Andi
swa,ThalenteandI.I
t’
llbenodi f
fer
entfor
youaswell,
”Ndondosay sexcit
edly.
“Andyourboysareat
tachedt
othei
rfat
her
s,”Khosi
says,
mincingthepai
ninhervoi
cewit
hachuckle.
“Yourswil
lbeattachedt
oMommy .I
t’
snotabigdeal
,
don’tmakeastor minateacup.Wear ehav
ing
anotherbaby
,that’
sallt
hatmat t
ers!
”
Shecan’
thelpthesmileonherface.Ndondohas
beenapil
larofherst
rength.Thel
astfewweeks
werehar
dbutshesol di
eredonandf oundherf
eet
.
Todayshe’sfindi
ngoutt hegenderofaper sonshe’
s
carr
ying.I
t’
sexciting,yetscary.Daysaret urni
ngint
o
weeksandweeksar eturni
ngintomont hs, i
nnot i
me
she’
llmeetthisper son.Inafewy ears,
10t o16years,
she’
llhavetositdownandt ellhi
mt hetruth.Maybe
she’
llbeabadmot herforl
yingandkeepi nghim
awayf r
om hisfather.Butshe’sdoingwhat ’
sbest
underthecir
cumst ances.
“Youlooknerv
ous,”t
hedoct
orsay
s,smi
l
ing,
asshe
pourscoldgelonhertummy.
“Ndondoi
smakingmenervouswit
hherchor
tl
es,
”
shesays,
giv
ingNdondoaglar
e.
“
Growaspi
ne,
Mommy
!”Ndondo.
Thedoct
orpl
acesat
ransduceronhert
ummy
.
“
Pleaseholdyourbr
eat
h,”sheasks,
mov
ingt
he
t
ransducerar
ound.
Ndondoholdsherhandtight
ly.She’
smoreexcit
ed
aboutthi
sthanKhosi.I
nherheadshe’sconcl
uded
thatt
here’
sanotherboycoming.They’
l
lhavethei
r
l
it
tl
ecrecheofungover
nabl
elit
tl
emen.Andi
swais
duetodeli
verher
ssoon,i
t’
srai
ningboy
sever
ywhere
i
nthefamily.
“Ev
ery
thi
ngl
ooksnor
mal
.Oxy
genandbl
oodf
low,
all
good.
”
Sher
eleasesashortsighofrel
i
efandwatchesbl
ack
andwhit
epict
uresdisplay
ingonthescr
een.
“Sowearelooki
ngforali
tt
lepeni
s?”t
hedoct
orasks
andtheybothl
aughnerv
ously.
“
Wel
l
,Ican’
tseeal
i
ttl
epeni
sher
e,”shesay
s.
Ndondogasps,
“She’
shav
ingagi
rl
?”
“Yes,her
eishert
inyhead…”t
hedoct
orpoi
ntsatt
he
screen.
“
Itol
dherso!
”shet
it
ter
sinexci
tement
.
“
No,
yousai
dit
’saboy
!”Khosi
cal
l
sout
.
“
No,
Idi
dn’
t.Isai
dit
’l
lbeagi
rlandt
a-da!
”
Shewipestheteardroppingfr
om hereyeandlaughs
atherf
ri
end’sprevar
icati
on.Unfor
tunat
ely
,Ndondo
i
stheonlypersonshecanshar ethi
sjoywith.She’
s
havi
ngababygir
l,herownl
i
ttl
eprincess.Nowher
pray
eri
sthatshecomesoutlooki
ngexact l
yli
keher
.
She’
l
lbeher
s,andher
sal
one.
.
.
BHAMBATHA

Forthef irst17y earsofhi slifehewasokay .Hewent

tochur chwi thhisparent s,obey edt her ulesand
l
ivedasanexampl etohi sy oungerbr other,Ny ezi.I
t
waswhenhel efthomef orv arsityt hatev erything
changed.I tstartedwithaci gar etteatReswi tha
groupoff riends.Af ewmont hsl at erhewas
smoki ngweedanddr inkingaswel l.Byt hetimehe
fi
nishedhi sfirstyearhewasapar ty-ani mal and
heavydr inker .Afterhi
spar entsf ail
edt ohelphi m, he
wasof ficiallydisownedf rom theMy ezal egacy .He
hadt omakeends- meetandsur viveonhi sown.He
madeaci rcleoff ri
endswhohadami ndsetsi mi l
ar
tohis,atf irsttheytargetedsmal lbusi nessesl i
ke
Kasi t
uckshops, str
eetv endor sandI ndianf ood
outl
ets.Butgreedgr ewastheirstandar
dsrose,t
hey
wentintocarhijacki
ng.Itmaintai
nedtheirl
i
fest
yles;
part
ies,f
lashycar s,
int
ernat
ionaltri
psandlavi
sh
houses.
Hedi daf ewy ear
sinjailandcameoutonl yt
obe
shownhi sfather’
sgrave.Ofcour se,hismother
blamedhi mf orhi
sdeat hashisheal thtooktur
nfor
thewor staft
erhewasi nv ol
vedint hehij
acki
ngof
ReverendNkwany anathatresul
tedi ntotwofat
al
deaths.
Him andNy eziweregooddespi tethei
rdif
ferent
l
ifesty
les.Ny ezist
il
lregardedhim ashisoldbrot her
andhewashi s“Ntwana”ev enthoughhehated
beingaddr essedli
ket hat.Theyweren’
tclosebut
theytalkedoncei nawhi letocheckoneachot her.
He’sabl acksheepoft hefamil
yandhe’ snotmaki ng
amessoutofi t
.He’smaki ngthemostoutoft he
hatredgivenbyhi sfami l
y.
I
t’sreal
l
ysurpri
singthatt
odaytheytr
ustedhimt o
fetchhi
slat
ebr other
’swi
fefr
om thehospit
al.He’s
beenhomesi ncehegotaphonecal l
thathi
sbr other
hadpassedon.He’ sbeenbehavi
nghimself
;nol oud
music,noshadyf r
iendscomingoverandnoal
cohol.
He’smour ni
nghisbr ot
herpr
operl
y,t
histi
medeath
hit
shim harderandhecannotpointagunatanyone
toconsolehimself
.

Hedrivesaroundi ncircl
es,
searchi
ngf oraparking
spotandfindsnone.Peopl eareheretocheckon
thei
rsi
cklov edones, somewillr
eceivesadnews
andsomewi llbegoinghomewi ththei
rrelat
ivesin
bett
erconditions.
There’sashel teredpar kingar ear eser vedfor
hospitalst
affonl y .Onecari sdrivi
ngout .I
tcouldbe
oneoft hedoct or s,ornur se’s,whohasf i
nishedher
shift
.Hewast esnot i
me, hedr iv
eshi sl egendary
Gusheshei nandi gnor est heshout ingsecur it
yguard.
Thiscarwashi sf irstbaby ,thefir
stt hingheowned
afterhisparent stol dhim hewasonhi sown.Yes, he
stoleit
.Buthechangedt hepai nting, decoratedi
this
ownwayandchangedt her egistr
ationnumber .I
t
holdsaspeci al placei nhi shear t.
“
That
’sr
eser
vedpar
kingspacef
orDrMchunu,
”the
secur
it
yguar
dsay
s,char
gingt
owar
dshi
m.
Hepul
l
sthelastpuf
fofhiscigar
ett
e,t
hrowsthebut
t
ont
hegroundandstepsonitwit
hhisshoe.
“Whichwaytosi
ckwomen’swar
d?Mybr ot
her
’swi
fe
gotadmit
tedher
etwodaysago,
”heasks.
“Br
other,
youcannotparkher
e,t
hisi
sDrMchunu’
s
space,t
heheaddoctorofthi
shospi
tal
.”
“I
’m notdi
sputingthat,I
’m aski
ngwher eIcangetmy
brother
’swif
e.Ifoundt hespaceempt yandI’
lll
eave
i
tempt y.I
t’
snotl i
keI’l
lparkhereforever.
”The
cornerofhi
slipcurvesup.Shor tsl
eev edshir
tgives
apeepofhi sinkedar m.It
’spul
ledov eranobject
pokingoutofhiswai st,
butnotcov eredenoughto
hi
det heshapeofi t
.
Thesecuri
tyguar
dswal
l
owsbef
oret
ear
inghi
sey
es
awayfrom hi
swaist
.
“
Bef astandfoll
owme.Idon’twanttogeti
nto
t
rouble.
”Heleadshimt othecor
rectwar
dand
l
eaveshim attheent
rance.
He’sneverbeenclosetoMawandeort ri
edtoknow
herbett
er.She’
sjustanot heraddit
ionalmemberto
theperf
ectfamil
y,allobedientandper f
ectinever
y
way.Hewasi nvi
tedtot heweddi ngbuthecouldn’t
att
endduet oafewf ami l
ydisagreements,buthedid
sendthem gif
ts.
Hespot
shersit
ti
ngonherbednextt
oherpacked
bagassoonashewal
ksin.
It
’sawkward,
they
’veneversharedameretabl
easa
famil
y.Onafewoccasionsthey’v
emet,
theynever
exchangedmorethangreet
ings.
“
Hey
,I’
m BhambathaMyeza,
”hesay
swhenhesees
t
hef
rownonherface.
“
Iknow,
Ijustdi
dn’
texpecty
out
ofet
chme.
”
Notknowinghowtorespondtoherstat
ementor
str
ikeaconver
sat
ion,
heasksifther
e’sany
thi
nghe
needstodobefor
etheyleav
e.
“Pl
easefetchmymedsf r
om thepharmacy.Idon’t
knowwhichwayitis,”shesays,handi
nghim apiece
ofpaper
.Shehasdar kcir
clesunderherey
esand
l
ooksawf ult
hanhe’sseenherinrecentpi
ctures
Ny ezi
usedtopost .May beNyeziwould’vebrought
hersomet hi
ngtoeat ,oranenergydrink.Hesaw
othervisi
tor
scarryingfoodparcelsandf l
owers.He
j
ustcameher eempt y-
handed,i
tdidn’tdawnt ohim
andheknowst hathe’slethi
slatebrotherdown.
“
Arey
ouhungr
y?”heasksr
egr
etf
ull
y.
“
No,
”sheshakesherheadandr
eleasesadeepsi
gh.
“
Howwasthef uner
al?
”
“
Itwentwel
l.I
’mreal
l
ysor
ryaboutyourl
oss.
”It
’shis
l
osttoo,
butshemustbegoi
ngthroughmostpain
t
hananyone.
Heavysil
encefal
l
sbetweenthem.Hefoldsapi
ece
ofpaperandheadsoutt
ofindthehospi
tal
phar
macy .

Atextbeepsi
nMawande’sphoneandsheswi
pes
t
hescreentochecki
t.I
t’
sfr
om Thakasa:

I
’LLSEEYOUTOMORROW ANDDI
SCUSSAWAY
FORWARDWITHYOURIN-
LAWS.IDON’
TWANT
YOUTOLIVETHEREALONE,
IT’
SNOTSAFEWI TH
CRI
MINALSLI
KEYOURBROTHER-I
N-LAW ROAMI
NG
AROUND.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER27
THAKASA

Nothi
lebut
tonsuphisshirtandf
ixeshi
scol
lar.
Thi
ngshavebeengoodsi nceshecameback.She’s
notsnappy
,they
’rebacktohowtheywerebefore
Khosicametothepictur
e.
“
HowdoIlook?”heasks,t
urni
ngt
othemi
rr
orand
l
ooki
ngathi
srefl
ect
ion.
“Likeasnack.IhopeMangethel
adieswil
lkeept
hei
r
distance;
theycanlookbutt
heycan’tt
ouch.
”She
standsonhert oesandki
sseshi
slips.
“Uneskhwel ebo!
”hechuckl
esandpullsherwaist
closer
.It’
sbeensolongsincehefeltt
hisconnecti
on
betweent hem.Hishandmassagesaroundhert hi
ck
bottom andhisbodyquickl
yreact
swar ml
ytoit.
“Don’
tcookt
oday
,they
’l
leatNandosandbr
ead,
”he
says.
Shel
aughs,
“MaKhumal
owi
l
ldi
e.”
“You’
renotherwife,butmine.Idon’twantyouto
cooktoday,
I’
llbr
ingNandosf ordinner.Whoever
doesn’
tli
keitwil
lfindthei
rwayt othekit
chen.”
“Okay,
I’
lltel
lthem i
twasy
ouri
nst
ruct
ion.Butwhat
am Igoingtodoathomethewhol
eday ?”
“Goshoppingandeati
ce-
cream.Watchamovi
eand
readabook.Therear
emanyt hi
ngswomendoto
havefun.I
’
llgi
veyouamassagewhenIcomeback
l
ater.
”
“
Youcangivemassage?Areal
massage?Since
whenManqele?
”sheexcl
aimswit
hshock.
Hecandomanyt hings, shejusthasn’
tbeen
exposedtothatsideofhi m.Butconv er
sati
onsl
ike
thatcantakethem tenst epsback.He’snotwi
ll
i
ng
todiscussanythi
ngt hattakethem backto
Nomkhosi .
“Ihav
emanyhiddental
entsMaNt usi
,
”hesays
dismi
ssi
vel
yandkisseshercheekbefor
epicki
nga
bodyspr
ay.
“Lastni
ghtprov
edit
,”shesays,hermi
ndgracedwit
h
dir
tymemor i
esofwhattookplacebet
weenthem t
he
pr
evi
ousni
ght
.
“Keepyourhandstoyoursel
fMaNtusi
,”hesays,
smili
ngandpushingherhandsof
f.“I
t’
simportant
thatIgo,
IpromiseI’
l
lspendther
estofThursday
withyounaked.
”
“
I’
ll
holdy
out
othat
,”shesay
sandl
etsgoofhi
s
wai
st.
“Il
oveyou.Seey
oulat
er.
”Hekisseshercheek
befor
epicki
nghi
sphoneandcarkeysandheading
out.

Hepassesbyhi
smot
her
’sr
oom t
obi
dgoodby
e.
“Pl
easedon’tber
udethere,rememberMawandei s
nowliket
heirownchi
l
d, wehav enor i
ghtov
erher
andwhattheydeci
deisrightforher
,”MaKhumalo
says.
“BecauseofelevencowsnowIcan’ tspeakupf or
mysi ster
?I’
m notgoi
ngtheretolistenandagr eeto
everythi
ngthey’
resayi
ng,
especiallyiftheythi
nk
Bhambat haoranyonewil
lfi
l
l Nyezi’srolein
Mawande.
”
“That’scult
ure.Ift
hat’
swhattheywantt odo,then
they ’
l
ldoit.Mawandewentt heret
ogr owthef amil
y.
Ny eziisdead,theyhavenochil
dtogether;
that
meanshi shousewi l
lbecl
osed.That’
snotr i
ght.
Someonehast ohelpMawandekeephi sname
ali
v e.
”
“We’llsee!Keepwel l.
”Heknowshowmuchhi s
mot herlovest r
adit
ionandwantsevery
thi
ngto
fol
lowcul ture,buthedidn’
tex
pecthertothr
ow
Mawandet othewol v
essosoonafterl
osi
ngher
husband.

Ashest epsoutoft hehouse,hebumpsi ntoSqalo

makinghi swayi n.They’v
enev errevisi
tedtheirl
ast
conversati
onort alkedatall
.Ther earesomany
thi
ngshei gnored;likehowhe’snev erseenhi m wit
h
agirl
,hisfight
swi thPhethyov erfri
endsandt hat
i
ncidentwhenhesawhi stoenailspaintedwi t
hnail
poli
sh.Hej ustdoesn’tunderstandwhyhecan’ tbe
normal l
ikeallofthem.Andt hisgay nessthing,when
doesitend?Onedayhehast omakehisownf amil
y.
Howwi l
lhemakechildr
en?Whowi l
lbetheirmother
?
Who’l
lcookandmakehi shousewarm?Thesexual
act
ivi
ti
es…urghno,hemustn’
tthi
nkaboutthat.
“I
sMpi
loDominic?
”heaskswhathecoul
dn’
task
hi
mtheprev
iousday.
“Yes,
”Sqal
osays,abi
tunpr
epar
edt
ohav
ethi
s
conver
sati
oni
nf r
ontoft
hedoor
.
“I
fIeverseehi
m agai
nher
e,y
ouandIwi
l
lhav
ea
probl
em,”hesays.
Thi
sisnotwhatSqal
oexpected,hethoughtt
hey
’re
hav
ingamaturedconver
sat
ion,buthenods.
“Icannotdeal wit
ht hisatt hemoment .There’
sal ot
happeni ngi nt
hef ami l
y,y ou’
renotachi ldanymor e,
youseet hingsthatar ehappeni ngandhowst ressed
I’
vebeenl atel
y.ButwhenIdogett imewe’ l
lsi
tdown
andt alk.Don’tdoany thingst upid.”Bythathemeans
hemust n’tdoany thi
ngt oputt hef amily
’sreputat
ion
atrisk.He’ saddressingt hiscalmert hanhowBandl a
andSqal oexpected, may bebecausehe’ sbeen
dealingwi thalotlatelyandhe’ sj ustnotinthemood
t
obecaughtupi
nmor
edr
ama.
“
Doy
ouunder
stand?
”heasks.
Sqal
onods,
“Iunder
stand.
”
“
Shar
pthen,
I’
ll
behomel
ater
.”
He’sabitrel
iev
edashepr oceedsinsidethehouse.
IfThakasacanunderstandhomosexual it
yand
accepthimforwhohei s,it’
l
lbeeasyf ortherestof
thefamilyt
oaccepthim.Wel l,t
hatexcludesBandla,
whom hedoesn’trecognizeasabr otheranymor e.

Hepl ugsaket t
leofboi li
ngwat erandt
akesafryi
ng
pant ocooknoodl es.Hepurposelyski
pped
breakfastbecausehehadsomewor k-
outtodo.
Nowhecan’ tbot herhissist
er-
in-l
aworMaKhumalo,
he’l
lhavenoodl esandj uiceandgot oschoolf
orhis
mid-dayMat hst est.
Nothi
lewalksi
nasheempt
iesapacketofnoodl
es
i
ntothefr
yingpan.
“Ohmygosh!NowI’
m conv
incedthatal
lgaypeopl
e
knowhowtocook,
”shesaysatthedoor,
star
ingat
hi
m.
He’snotonl yconf used,butfreakedoutaswel l.Her
voiceisunnecessar il
yloudandMaKhumal oisjustin
thenextr oom.Bandl a,yesthebr otherhehates,is
notar oundtodef endhim shoul dany t
hinghappen.
Thakasaj ustleftforManget heandNkonzoi sat
wor k.He’sli
terall
yjustaloneher e.
“Il
oveDinnerAtSomizi
’s.I
shethewifeorthe
husbandinhismarri
age?”sheasks,
walki
nginand
standi
ngagainstt
hecounter.
“Si
s’MaNtusi,I
’mjustmaki
ngnoodlest
oeatbefor
eI
gotoschool.Idon’
tknowSomiziandhi
sdinner
s.”
“Butbi
rdsofthesamefeatherfl
ockt
oget
her
.I’
m
goingt
osearchandseeifthere’
sanyGAY
campaignsandworkshopsyoucanbeapartof
.”
“
Thatwon’
tbenecessary,
Ihavefi
nal
examst
o
f
ocusonandvar
sitynextyear
.”
“No,Ithi
nkit
’si
mpor tantf
oryoutoknowhowot her
gaypeopleli
key oul
iveandsurvi
ve.Thewor l
dis
harshouthere,
y ou’
l
lgetbeatenandkill
edfor
sleepi
ngwithotherboys.I
t’
sstil
lataboo.”
MaKhumaloadjust
shergl
assesandstandsatt
he
dooreye-
nar
rowed.Whatdi
dshejustheari
nher
house?
!
“
Whosl
eepswi
thot
herboy
s?”
Theybothturnthei
rheadsandt heyseeMaKhumal
o.
Sqal
o’seyespopoutoft hei
rsocketswhi
l
eNothi
le’
s
fr
owndisperseswithrel
ief
.
“Iwasjusttell
ingSqalohowhar shtheworl
dis
agai
nstpeopl eofhiskind.Ther
e’sayoungboywho
wasrecentlykill
edinDurbanforbeinggay
.It’
sbett
er
i
fheat t
endswor kshopswithot
hergaypeopleand
l
earnhowt heyl i
veandpr ot
ectthemsel
vesagainst
thesociet
y,”shesay s.
“Whywouldhedothat
?Mysoni snot
hingl
i
kethose
people,
”MaKhumal
oasks,
star
ingatherwi
thheri
re
sti
fl
ed.
Not
hil
elooksatSqal
oey
es-
widened.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Ithoughtev
ery
oneknew,
”shesay
s.
“
Sqal
o!”MaKhumal
oraspsandgl
aresathi
m.
“
MamaIwasbor
nthi
sway
,”hesay
sti
midl
y.
“
Whi
chway
?”
“
Gay
.”
MaKhumalosweatsbul
let
sinaninstantandtakes
hergl
assesof
f.Thi
sisnothappeni
ngt oher
.Inher
ownhouse!
“Igavebir
tht oababyboy .Youhav eapenis
betweeny ourlegstopr ov
ei t
.You’renotgoingtodo
thatnonsenseher e,myboy .Nev er
!Ifyouareti
redof
beingachi l
dIgav ebir
thto,thenpacky ourbagsand
gol i
vewher etheytaughtyout hati
t’spossi
bleto
changewhoGodcr eatedyout obe.”
“
Ohmygosh,
Ma!
”Not
hil
egaspsandcov
ersher
mout
h.
“No,hebetterthinktwicebeforethi
nki
ngthi
si sa
fi
eldofdisrespectandev i
lness.Whohaveyouseen
gayattheKhumal osandher eattheManqeles?Not
evenagoatorchi cken.
”Shet ur
nsbacktothe
l
ounge,throwingherhandsupandshout i
ng.
Sqal
oswi
tchest
hest
oveof
fandst
ormst
othedoor
.
“
Sqal
oyournoodl
es?
”Not
hil
eyel
l
saf
terhi
m.
“
I’
m nothungr
yanymor
e,”heopenst
hedoorand
wal
ksoutfuri
ousl
y.
“Doyoumi ndifIeatt
hem?I
’
m cr
azi
ngsomet
hing
cheesy
..
.Sqalo?”
He’
sgone.
Sherel
easesaheavysi
ghandopenst
hecupboar
d
togetabowlfordi
shi
ng.
.
.
THEMYEZAS

Twouncl esar epresentbyMr sMy eza’sside.Then

there’
sMzamowho’ sasont ot hef ir
stuncleand
Halalisani,acousintoNy eziwho’ sbeenv otedasa
perfectmat cht oMawande.HehasaMy ezablood
runningi nhisv ei
nsandhe’ salreadymar ri
edtohis
fi
rstwi fe,Thandiwe.Itwon’thinderhi sli
feinany way
i
fhecomesandkeepshi scousi n’shousest andi
ng.
Asabenef i
ciaryt
oal lNyezi
’sest ates,i
t’
si mport
ant
thatMawandest aysmar ri
edtot heMy ezasandnot
taketheinheri
tanceelsewher
e.Butr
ightnowi
t’
s
onlydiscussi
ons,Mawandest i
ll
needstomournfor
herhusbandt r
aditi
onall
y.
“Makotiwil
lmournproperl
yandnobodywi
llf
ighther
overt
hei nher
it
ance.Butwehaveafewcondi
tions,
”
MrsMy ezasays.
Thakasagl
aresatherwit
hamur kyexpr
essionon
hi
sface.Thi
sisjustwhatheexpect
edfrom them!
“Andwhatcondi
ti
onsar
ethose?Shej
ustbur
iedher
husband,
”heasks.
“Halal
isanihastofil
li
nNy ezi
’
srole.Wecannotletgo
ofKaManqel ej
ustbecauseNyeziisnomore.She
sti
ll
hasdut iestoful
fi
llasawifeandchi
ldr
entobear
fortheMy ezas.
”
There’
sanapplausecomingfrom t
hedoor.
Bhambathawalksinweari
ngat i
ght,r
ippedjeanand
whit
esneakers.He’
swearingashortsleev
edshi r
t,
soallhi
stat
toosareoutondispl
ayand‘ at
tract
ing
thedevi
l’
.
“Ani
kanyinama-
sal
adomngcwabokaBafokodwa
senabel
anangomfazi
wakhe,
”hesays,
standi
ngi
n
t
hemiddl
eoft hehouseclappinghishandsloud.
(
Youhaven’
tev enshit
tedthesaladsyouateonhis
f
uner
albutyou’real
readyhandingouthiswife)
“Bhambathayou’
renotwelcomedt
othi
smeet
ing,
”
hismothersayswit
hdisgust.
“Thi
sismybrot
her’
shouseandhe’
snevert
oldme
I’
m notwel
come.
”Hesqueezeshi
mselfbet
weent
he
chai
rsofhi
suncl
esandsit
s.
“Goon, I
’
m notheret
ostopthemeet i
ng,”hesays
andthrowsadaggerlookatHalal
i
sanilookingl
i
kea
groom onMyPer f
ectWeddingacrosstheroom.
Sighsbreezearoundt
heroom.He’snotsomeone
theyneededint hi
smeet
ing.Thef
uneral
isover
,why
i
shest i
llaround?
Thakasaclearshisthr
oat,
“I’
m sorryMrsMy eza,but
that
’snotgoingtohappen.Mawandemar r
iedNy ezi
,
she’
snotat oytobepassedar oundthefamily.I
fyou
haveanyregrets,f
ormall
yrepresentt
hem tousand
we’l
lcompensat ewherev
erweshoul d.
”
Bhambathal
ooksathi
m.He’simpr
essedwit
hhis
at
tit
ude,
whichi
sasurpri
segiv
enthathel
ooksno
dif
ferentf
rom anyoneinthi
sroom.Perf
ectGod’
s
saint
s!Hewoul dn’
tbesurpri
sedi
ftheyall
getti
l
ed
roomswi t
hairconsinheaven.
“That’
snothowt hi
ngsar
edoneManqel e.You
personal
l
yhandedherover,
legall
yandtradit
ional
ly
I
’m amot hert
oMawandeandIhav et
her i
ghttotake
decisi
onsregar
dinghermar
riage,
”MrsMy ezasay s.
Herbr
other
-i
n-l
awnodsi
nagr
eement
.
“It
houghttheManqelesknewcultur
e, Makoticame
heret
ogr owthefamil
yandt hatwon’tst
opbecause
Nyezihaspassedon.Thelegacyhast oconti
nue,
shesti
llneedst
oprovideanheirtotheMy ezas,
”he
says.
“Butthatwasn’taconditi
onbef or
emar r
iage.Ny
ezi
neversetthoserulesforher.Theymarri
edoutof
l
ov eandsai d‘
ti
lldeathdothem apar
t’andnowi t
’s
donet hem apart
,”Thakasasays.
Halali
sani l
eansf
orwar
di nhisheadandwipeshi
s
sweatyf ace.Hedi
dn’
targuewhent hei
deawas
presentedtohim,Mawandei sabeauti
ful
young
woman, anymanwouldbel ucktoshar
eabedwi t
h
her
.
“Butcult
uredoesn’
tstandagainstremarr
yingi
nto
thefamilyift
heoneyoucamet opasseson.I’
m not
goingtodestroywhatNyezibuil
t,I
’
llcar
ryonwher e
heleftoffandmakesurethathisnamel i
veson,”he
says.
“Yetyourwif
ekeepsbear i
ngchi l
drenthatlooklike
Sgubuduacrosst hestr
eet.Whatmakesy outhink
youcancar r
yonwher emybr ot
herleftoff
?”
Bhambat haasksandev er
y onegruntsbeneaththeir
breat
hs.He’snotev enpar
toft hi
sf amil
yany mor e,
theonlythi
nglinki
ngthem togetherisblood.
“
Bhambathapleaseleav
eorshutup.Thisisafamil
y
meet
ingandyouhav enoreasontobestil
lher
e,t
he
f
uner
alisover
,”hisuncl
escoldshi
mf ur
iousl
y.
Hejustwav eshim offwi thhi
shand.He’snot
someonehet akesser iously,
notafterhesawhim
bei
ngent er
tainedbyy ounggi r
lsinhiswif
e’s
absence.He’sjustanot herwolfunderasheep’
sski
n.
“
Doesthi
smeanoneofyouhasbeenf
ill
i
ngmy
f
ather
’sr
olet
oo?
”Hisey
esmov efr
om hi
suncl
est
o
hi
smother
.Hesnapshi
sbr
owsashewai
tsf
oran
answer
.
“KaManqel
eisst
il
lyoungandchi
l
dless,don’
t
comparepear
sandpeaches,
”MrsMy ezasays.
“I
t’
scall
ed‘appl
esandpear s’
,anywayI’
llbeki
ll
ing
anyoneIseecomi ngoutofmybrother’
sbedroom,
unl
essifit
’sconsentedbyhiswif
e,”hesays,l
ooking
atHalal
i
saniwithsmuglygrinonhisface.
Asusual
, t
hey’r
enotpl easedwit
hhist
hreats.He’s
notapartofthefami l
yany mor
eandhe’snever
car
edaboutany thingthathappensinthefamily
.He
cal
lscul
tureandr eli
gionabsurd,sowhydoeshe
car
enow?
“
Youwant
edhert
oyour
sel
f?”Hal
ali
sani
asks.
“Minangi
yashel
a,ngiqony
we.Idon’twaitf
ordead
rel
ati
ves’
wives,y
oucanseeI ’
m charming,
”hesays,
fl
aunti
nghis9ctFigar
ochaint
hat’
swor noveraT-
shi
rt.
Heli
esonhi
sbackwi
thhi
skneesupandcl
i
ckshi
s
t
ongue.
“
Kukwamsunuwenj
ala!
”hesay
sloudf
orev
ery
one
t
ohear.
“Bhambat hadon’tdi
srespectyourunclesli
kethat
!
Thatlanguageisnotwel comedher e,
”Mr sMyeza
sayssternly
.Shecan’tev enl
if
thereyesbecauseof
thedi
sgr acebroughtbythischil
d.
“Yeah,t
heonlyl
anguagey outalki
swhoi sgoingto
fuckmybr ot
her
’swifebeforeheevenrotinhis
grave.Ayounggir
lthatnevergotachanceto
experi
enceli
fei
sbeingpassedt othi
swireheaded
sonofamot her
lessgoat.”
Thakasacannotopenl
yagreewi
thhim duet
othe
choi
ceofhiswords,buthe’
sonthesamepageas
hi
m.
“Maybewecanhav et
hisconver
sati
onanot herday,
whenMawandehast akenoffbl
ackclothesand
emotionall
yfitt
omakeherownchoi ces.Butfornow
Ihav
ear equestofmyown,”hesays.
Halali
sani
isnoti
mpressedbythisatall
.Hewas
readytogohomeandt el
lThandiwethatshe’
sina
polygamousmarr
iageandhast ounderst
andthathe
won’
tal
way
sbehomet
ohernaggi
ngass.
“Wear
eli
steni
ngManqel
e,
”say
stheuncl
e,gl
ari
ngat
hi
m.
“I
’m notokaywit
hherli
vi
ngalone.I
t’
snotsafe,
”he
saysandglancesatBhambathawholif
tsthecorner
ofhisli
pdisgust
edl
yinret
urnandpract
iceshisr
ight
toremainsil
ent.
“Iwanthertocomebackhomet obearoundpeopl
e
whocant akecareofheremoti
onal
l
yandhelpher
adjustt
othisnew,har
shreal
it
y.”
“
Weal sol
oveherandwecansuppor
ther
,”Mr
s
Myezasays.
“I
’m notdi
sputi
ngthat
,buti
t’
snotthesame.I
’m not
sayingshemustcomewi t
hmet oday,
doallt
he
ri
tualsandthenl
ethercomehome,”hesays.
“No,t
hat
’snothowthi
ngsaredoneMa,”Hal
ali
sani
getsonhi
sfeetwi
thadisappr
ovi
nglookonhisface.
Bhambat
hali
ft
shisheadupslowl
y,t
hrowsal
ookof
si
gni
fi
cancet
ohim andl
iesdownagain.
Hei
nhal
esshar
plyandr
etur
nst
obackhi
sseatwi
th
hi
stai
ltuckedbet
weenhi
slegs.
“We’
ll
seeaftert
her i
tual
s.Ial
soneedt
ohavea
per
sonalconver
sati
onwi t
hMaKhumalo,womant
o
woman,”MrsMy ezasays.
Thisdoesn’tsi
twel
lwithThakasabecausehe
knowswher ehismotherstandsasfarast hi
sthi
ng
ofMawandebei ngwifedbyanotherMy ezamani s
concerned.He’
sfi
ghti
ngthisalone,wellBhambatha
i
sonhi ssideaswell
,butthatwon’tcountifbot
h
mot her
sreachanagreement .
“Iguesswehav ereachedtheendofourmeet i
ng,
hopeful
lythefol
lowingonewill
bearbet
terfrui
ts,
”
saystheuncle,l
i
fti
nghimselfofft
hechairand
exit
ingthr
oughthedoor .
“Thosewhower eright
full
yatt
endantsofthis
meeting,
pleaser emainseated,agir
lwill
bring
ref
reshment s,
”Mr sMy ezasaysassheshoot salook
atBhambat haandgat hershersandalsatthedoor.
“Mxm,ama-r
efr
eshment
sakwaMsunu!”Bhambat
ha
dust
shimsel
fupandexcuseshimsel
ffr
om t
he
meeti
nghewasneverri
ghtf
ull
yapartof
.He’
sused
tothetr
eatmenttheygiv
ehim andhet r
eat
sthem
theexactway.There’
snolov
el ostbet
weenhim and
anyofthesepeople.
Butbeforehewalksout,hegi
vesHalali
sani
alook
thatspi
tsfi
reandbull
ets.Hal
ali
sanicurl
supint
he
corneranddropshi
seyesshamef ul
l
y .
Thakasahideshissmi
l
ewi t
hanel bow.He’
dnever
havesomeonel i
keHal
ali
sanibecomehisbrot
her-
in-
l
aw.Nev er
!
Atextbeeps.Hecanchecki
tsi
ncet
hemeet
inghas
ended.
I
t’
sBandl
a:
ITRIEDTOPROTECTSQALOBECAUSEIKNEW THI
S
ISEXACTLYWHATYOUANDYOURMOTHER
WOULDDO.PRAYTHATYOUFI NDHIM ALI
VE,
THAKASA!!
!!
He’
sconf
used.
Whatdi
dhedo?
Whathappenedt
oSqal o?Helefthi
m homeandsaid
t
hey’
ll
tal
ksomeot herday.Thatsur
elywasn’
tsucha
badt
hingt
osayunderci
rcumst
ances.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER28
BANDLA

Crit
icalbutstabl
e;nothi
nghasr eall
ychanged, but
she’sinbesthandsandt hat ’
swhatmat ters.He
goest othehospitalt
hreet i
mesaday ,Mandul ohas
grownused, notfri
endly,
tohi m.Despi t
et he
opinionshehasabouthi m, hest i
ll
adv i
sedhi mt ogo
homeandappeaset otheancest orsandaskt hem to
fi
ghtwi t
hKhany o.Surpri
singly,
hel i
stenedandl ef
t
forBergvil
leaccompaniedbyNol wazi.
HedropsGuguout sidet
hebui
ldi
nganddri
vesback
tot
hehotel.Sqalo’
smessagebeepsi
nhisphoneas
heprepar
esf orabath.
Ever
y t
hingiswri
tteninri
ddl
esbuthecanpi ck
sui
cidalthought
sf r
om it
.ThakasaandMaKhumal o’
s
namesar ementioned,i
t’
snotclearwhattheydidor
howheendeduppacki nghisbagsandleavinghome.
Thef
ir
stt
hinghedoesi
ssendThakasaaf
ir
e-bl
azi
ng
message,thenherushest
otakeabathbefore
prepar
ingt
odr i
vehome.Hekeepsimagi
ningworse
scenari
osandpart
lyblami
nghimsel
f.Hedidn’
tdo
anythi
ngatallt
ohelpSqal
o.

Hejumpsoutoftheshoweranddressesupina
snap.Aknockdi
sturbshi
m,herel
easesagruntof
annoyanceandf
ixeshisl
ookandattendst
oit.
Heexpect
edacleanerorsecuri
tyguard,
butthere’
s
oneandonlyEf
e.Hisforeheadcreasesi
ntoafrown
ashestar
esathim shocked.
“Isawy oucomingin,
Ididn’
tknowweshar
ethe
hotel,
”Efesay
swi t
hat hi
nsmilet
ocal
m downhis
nerves.
“Oh,howcanIhel
py ou?”Bandlaaskscol
dly
.They
wereneverf
ri
ends,t
heirrel
ati
onshipwaspurel
y
busi
ness.
“
DidIcat
chy
ouatt
hewr
ongt
ime?
”Ef
easks.
“
Yes,
”hesay
sster
nly
.All
hecant hi
nkabouti
sSqal
o
r
oamingt
hestr
eet
swithhisbags.
“
Letmenotkeepy
ou,
may
bewecant
alksomeot
her
t
ime.
”
“
Aboutwhat
?”heasks.
“Myman, Ineedhel
p.Youwer emybigcustomer,
eversi
ncey oust
oppedrequesti
ngser
vicesbusi
ness
hasbeenslow.”
Hecocksuphiseyebr
ow,wait
ingforwider
expl
anati
onbecauset
hisher
e,doesn’
tmakeany
sense.
“
IneedR300kurgent
ly.Youknowme, myfr
iend.I
won’
tdoanyfunnyshi
t ,
I’
ll
payyoubackbef
or ethe
monthends.
”
“
I’
m notal
oanshar
kEf e!
”He’
sindisbel
i
ef.Why
woul
dhethi
nkhim,outofal
lpeopl
e,wouldgi
vehi
m
money?
“
Ihel
pedy
ourgi
rl
fr
iend,
”Ef
esay
s.
“Becauseyouwer
ehel
pingy
ourf
ri
end,
Nol
wazi
.I
didn’
thir
eyou.
”
“
I’
mjustaski
ngy
ouaf
avor
.Wear
enotst
ranger
s.”
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Ican’
thel
pyou,
”Bandl
asay
swi
thadeep
sighandcl
osesthedooronhisface.Nowhefeel
s
unsafeint
hishot
el,
howcomet heyhaveshadymen
roamingar
oundandknockingonotherpeopl
e’
s
rooms?
Maybeheshoul dcancelthedayshe’sextendedand
l
ooksforanotherhotelnearby
.Anotherthought
di
smissesthat;he’
sprobablyjustov
erreacti
ng.

Hefastenshisseatbel
tandholdsabr ief
conver
sationwiththesecuri
tyguard, i
t’saguyhe
knowsf r
om school.Whatsappindicatesanew
message, heopensiti
mmedi atelythi
nki ngi
tcoul
d
beSqalo.Butit
’sav i
deowithaf ami l
i
arf acei
nwhat
l
ooksli
keahot elroom.
Hepr esses‘pl
ay’andhisownf acepopsupont he
screenwi t
htwonakedwomenl yi
nginbed.Thi stook
placeaboutay earagoinOnomoHot el
.Hewasst i
ll
si
nglebutt hatwouldn’
tjusti
fytheposit
ionhei sin
asamanofGodandwel l-
respectedbusinessman.
Andthi
svi
deohasbeenedit
ed,ther
e’sarecentdate
i
nser
tedontop,
giv
ingoutwrongandt wi
stedideas.
Whoevert
hispersoni
s,he’
souttorui
nhi
sli
fe.
Khany
owillassumetheworstwhenshewakesup.
Hesendsar
epl
y:WHATDOYOUWANT?
I
tsi
ngl
y-
ti
cksandnotdel
i
ver
s.
.
.
THAKASA

He’
snotsurewhatt
oexpectashedr iv
esinand
par
kshiscari
ntheyar
d.It
’squiet
,butNkonzo’
scar
i
shere,
whichmeanshe’shome.Hel ocksthecar
andmakeshiswaytothehouse.
Hismotheri
sknit
ti
ngonthecouchasusual
,buti
t’
s
easyt
osmelltr
oublei
ntheai
r.
“
Ma,
wher
e’sSqal
o?”heasks.
I
t’
sli
keshewasabombwai t
ingtoexpl
odeonhi
m.
Shepushest
hewool
basketasideandadj
ust
sher
gl
asses.
“
Thakasawhatnonsensear
eyoupr
omot
ingi
nmy
house?
”sheasks,
breat
hingheav
il
y.
“
Whatam Ipr
omot
ing?
”Thakasaasksconf
used.
“Notonlydoy ouburyy ourdi
sgraceandmi st
reatt
he
poorMaNt usi,nowy ou’
reall
owingSqalotosleep
wit
hot herboysherei nmyhouse? ”sheasks,
point
ingwithherf i
ngersandglari
ngathim.Ifhe
wasst i
llateenagershewould’vethrownthebasket
athim.
“Youknewaboutt hedisgracethi
sboyi sdoingand
keptquiet!Whatkindofanex ampleareyouset ti
ng?
Whatki ndofabr otherareyou?Itr
ustedy ouwi t
h….”
Hel eavesbeforeshecanf ini
shandthatf ur
therl
y
pissesherof f
.“You’ret
urningmeintoal aughing
stock,huh!”sheyellsaft
erhim.
Thakasabangst hedooronhiswayoutandheadst
o
hisextendedrondavel
.Nothi
l
ewi l
lhaveabet
ter
explanati
onthantheli
onessthat
’shismot
her.

Hefi
ndshersoaki
ngherfeeti
nabasinofwarm
wat
er.She’
sweari
ngagownandl ooki
ngrel
axed,
whi
chiswhathewanted.Butnowhehastodistur
b
herbecauseoft
heur
gencyoft
hismat
ter
.
“MaNtusi
,doyouknowwhereSqaloi
s?Hesenta
conf
usingmessagetoBandl
aandhe’swor
riedt
hat
hemightharm hi
msel
fwhereverhei
s,
”heasks.
“Isawhi
m packinghi
sbagsandl
eav
ing.Hedi
dn’
t
sayanyt
hing,
”shesays.
“
Andy
oudi
dn’
taskany
thi
ng?
”heasks,
appal
l
ed.
“
Hehadafi
ghtwithMaabouthi
ssexual
i
tyandshe
t
oldhi
mtochangeorl
eave.
”
“
Howdi
dMaf i
ndout
?It
oldhi
mI’
dhandl
eitwhen
t
het
imei
sri
ght.
”
“
Idi
dn’
tknowitwasasecr etManqel
e.Maov
erhear
d
metal
ki
ngtohim abouti
t.
”
Hi
svei
nst
hrobv
isi
bly
.Hi
sfor
eheadf
urr
owsi
ntoa
f
rown.
“Whywouldy
outal
ktohim abouti
t?Di
dIsayt
akei
t
out
sidet
hisr
oom?”heasksfuri
ousl
y.
Herey
esdr
opr
egr
etf
ull
y.
“
Andy
ou’
resoaki
ngy
ourf
eetl
i
kenot
hinghappened,
yetmyli
tt
lebrot
heri
soutt
her
eint
hedar
kwi
thhi
s
bags,
”heasks.
“I
’m sor
ry,
okay?Idi
dn’
tknowitwasgoi
ngt
o
escalat
eli
kethi
s.It
houghtev
ery
onewasawar
eof
i
t,
”shesay s.
“Damnit
,MaNtusi
,damnit!
”Hebangst
hedooron
hiswayoutandr
unstothecar
.

Nkonzost andsinf
rontofhisrondavel
doorand
star
esathi m.Hedidn’
tknowany thi
ng.Mawande,
Bandl a,ThakasaandPhethyallknewaboutSqal
o’s
sexual i
tyandkeptitasecret
.It’
sli
keahugeslapon
hisface-howdi dhenotnot i
ce?He’sli
vedwit
hthi
s
boyf or17y ear
s.
“There’
safri
endofhisthatstay
sat19i
nChappi
es.
May beyoucanstartt
here,hi
snameisMangi
Xul
u,”
hesay stoThakasa.
“
Andyou’
rej
ustgoi
ngt ost
andther
eanddonot hi
ng
whi
l
eyourbl
oodbrotheri
smissi
ng?”Thakasaasks.
“
No,
I’
m notj
ustst
andi
nganddoi
ngnot
hing.
”He
walksbacki
nsi
det
her
ondav
elandshut
sthedoor
behindhi
m.
Thakasasi
ghsandget
sint
hecaranddr
ivesof
f.
.
.
Itt
ookhimtimet ofindtheri
ghthouse.Hehadt
o
askaround,getmisdir
ectedandbuyaf ewci
gar
ett
es
befor
egetti
ngt heri
ghthouse.
Al adyopensthedoorforhi
m.Shehasapur
seinher
handandmudsofmake- uponherfacel
i
keshe’
s
readytogoclubbingsomewhere.
“YouareSqal
o’sbr
other?
”sheasks,chewi
ngher
gum l
ikeagoatchewinggrassl
eft
oversi
nthe
morni
ng.
“
Yes,
haveyouseenhim?Theysayhi sfr
iend,Mangi
,
l
i
vesher
e,”heasks,
star
ingatherdesperatel
y.
“They
’rei
nt hedi
ningroom.Isyourfami
lyso
backwardthatyouall
don’tunder
stand
homosexualit
y?”
He’
srel
i
evedt
hatSqal
oisher
eandsaf
e,buti
t’
snot
t
hiswoman’spl
acetoquest
ionhisfami
l
yandhow
t
heychoosetohandl
ethi
smat t
er.
“Thanksf
orkeepi
nghi
m,”hesaysandwal
kspast
her,maki
nghiswayi
nsi
dethehouse.
Shewasonherwayout
,shest
rut
souti
nher
st
il
ett
osandl
eaves.

Thewhol edi
ningroom i
sfi
ll
edwit
hsmoke.He
chokesatthedoorandtri
estonar
rowhiseyesi
n
searchforSqaloamongstbodi
esl
yingonthe
couches.
They ’
renotsmoki
ngaci gar
ett
eortobaccoroll
,
they’r
einhal
ingf
rom athint
ubeonthef l
oor.Fur
y
ri
dest hr
oughhisvei
nsashespotshi minNike
tracksui
ts,l
yi
ngnextt
oabot tl
eofalcohol
.
“Thi
siswhatyoulef
thomet
odo? ”heasks,
li
ft
ing
him of
fthecouchwi
thhi
scl
othes.
Hecan’
tevenstandst
eadil
y.Hi
sheadandvisi
onar
e
cl
oudedbythi
ssmokef i
l
li
ngupthehouse.
Hehast
opr
esst
hel
astbut
tonofcont
rol
inhi
svei
ns
andst
opshi
shandf
rom smacki
nghi
sst
upi
dface.
Hedragshi
m outoft
hehouse,
all
thewayt
othecar
par
kedonthestr
eetbel
owthegat
e.
Nowthecl
oudi
sweari
ngof
f,he’ssl
owl
ybecoming
awar
eofwho’
sgri
ppi
nghi
sclothessoaggr
essi
vel
y.
“
Bhut
i,
”hesay
sinshockmi
xedwi
thf
ear
.
Thakasashov
eshimi
nsi
det
hecar
,att
heback,
and
cl
osesthedoor.
“Whyareyoudoi
ngt
his?
”heasksoncehe’
sset
tl
ed
onhisseat
.
“BhutiIaskedyoutoletthefami l
yknowbecauseI
trust
edy ou.Buti
nsteady outoldSis’
MaNt usi,I
’
m
gaybutI ’
m notherSomizi.Justli
key ou’
restrai
ght
butyou’renotSiy
aKol i
si.Ihatewhaty oudid!I
thoughtyou’dbebetterthanBandlabuty ousoldme
outcheaply.”
Hereleasesasi ghandst ar
tsthecar
.Obviousl
y,
Sqal
oi sangryandunr easonableatt
hispoint
.Oh,
he’
salsohi gh.Theycan’thaveanymeaningful
conversat
ion.
“
Wear egoingt oHlomendlini
.Youar egoi
ngtohave
acoldbath,unukainsangu.Theny ou’
regoi
ngto
t
hrowupal lthealcoholyoudrank.Idon’
tneedyou
t
oaddt omypr obl
ems.Youbei nggayisalr
eadya
weightonmyshoul ders,
”hesay s.
Sqal
odoesn’
trespond,
hel
i
esdownont
heseat
s
andshut
shiseyes.

Thisi
stheirf
ather’
soldhouse.Bandlali
kesithere,
butonl
yifhe’
scr avi
nglotsofpriv
acy.Theyhaven’t
donemucht ochangei tbecauseit
sori
ginal
i
tyisa
memor yonit
self.Theyhaveanauntwhopopsi n
fr
equentl
ytocleanup.
Hef
il
lsabat
htubwi
thcol
dwat
erandcal
l
sSqal
oin.
“
Geti
nthebat
handscr
ubt
heweedof
f,
”hei
nst
ruct
s.
Rel
uct
ant
ly,
Sqal
ostri
pshisclot
hesoff.Thakasai
s
st
andi
ngbythedoorandstar
ingathi
m.
“
Bal
alanawenomaulal
anabo?
”heasks.(
Youf
uck
t
hem ort
heyf
uckyou)
I
t’
sar
atheruncomf
ort
abl
equest
ionbutt
heshar
p
st
aret
ell
shi
m hehasnochoi
cebutt
oanswer
.
“
Idobot
h,”hesay
s.
Di
sgustcanopiesThakasa’
sfaceandhet
ear
shi
s
ey
esawayf rom hi
snakedbody .
“
Hav
eyouev
ersl
eptwi
thagi
rl
?”heasks.
“
Yes,t
wice.Fi
rst
,wi
l
li
ngl
yandsecond,
Bandl
afor
ced
me.
”
“
And?
”Thakasar
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“
Ist
il
ll
ikeboy
s,”hesay
s.
Asigh!He’snotobli
vi
oustol
if
e,heknowsabout
‘
extr
a’sexuali
ti
esbuthe’
sneverthoughtapersonof
hi
sbloodwoul deverbeoneof‘
those’peopl
e.
“Whatdoy ouwantmet odo? ”heasksi nalmost-
whi sper
.Hisr oleast
hel eaderofthefamilyputshim
i
nacompr omi si
ngposit
ion.MaKhumal oisr i
ghtfor
kickinghim outbecausei nthei
rcultur
e,peopleof
thesamesexcannotmat eandbuildafami l
y.His
fatherwoul d’
vedonet hesamet hi
ng-hecer tai
nly
knowst his-butbeforehe’sManqel ethesenior
brother,he’
sThakasa, Sqalo’sbr
other.Canher eall
y
disownhi s17y earoldbr otherbecauseofwhohe
decidest ohavesexwi th?Doesi tmakesense?He
sl
eptwi thNomkhosi ,herbeingawomanmeans
nothing,hewasn’ tsupposedt osleepwi t
hher
becausei tdefiedwhatt heManqel esstandf or.But
hedi ditanywaybecausei tmadehi m happy .Sqalo
continuedtoseehi m asabr other,hedidn’tsay
‘
you’renol ongermybr otherbecausey ousl eepwi th
womeny ou’renotmar r
iedto.’Nowhehast odi sown
him becausehe’ ssleepingwi thpeopleoft hesame
sexashi m.It’snotl ogicall
yf ai
r!
Sqalosplashescoldwat
eroverhi
sfaceandcr
inges
asitdrenchesint
ohisski
n.
“
Sqalo,whatdoyouwantmet odo?”Thakasa
r
epeatshisquest
ion,
loudert
hist
ime.
“Pr
otectme.Idon’
twantt
odieforwhatIdowi
thmy
peni
s.MaNtusisai
dI’
l
lgetki
l
led.
”
Heswallowshard,
thi
sisnotananswerheexpect
ed.
Hethoughthe’
dwanttobekeptandaccept
edinthe
f
amily.
“
Nobodyi
sgoi
ngt
oki
l
lyou,
”hesay
swi
tha
wrenchingheart
.Itdoesn’tmakesensewhyMaNt
usi
wouldinsti
l
lfeari
nhi mlikethi
s?
“
I’
m sorr
y,”hesay
stoolowforSqal
otohearashe
t
urnstothedoorandwalksout
.
.
.
I
t’saround8pm whenThakasapar
kshiscari
nthe
yard.ThebackdooropensandSqal
ocli
mbsout.He
hasallhisbagswit
hhim.Heheadstohisr
ondavel
whileThakasagoestothef
amil
yhouse.
Nothi
l
eissweati
ngandr unni
ngar
oundt
heki
tchen
l
ikeaheadl
esschicken.
Hiswordscomebackt
obitehi
m.Heletsouta
heavybreat
hbyt
hedoor,
itcompl
etel
ysl
ippedhi
s
mind.
Hewal
ksinandhol
dsherf
ull
wai
stasshest
ir
sthe
st
ewpot.
“
Doy
ouneedhel
p?”heasks.
“
No,
I’
m al
mostdone,
”shesay
s,shr
uggi
nghi
m of
f.
Heplantstheunwel
comekissonhercheekbefore
headingtothel
oungewher
ethefamil
yisgathered
i
nf r
ontoftheTV.
Bandl
aishome?Hef
rownsandgoest
ohi
schai
r.
“
Didy
ouf
indhi
m?”Nkonzoasks.
“
Yes,
he’
sput
ti
nghi
sbagsi
nhi
sroom andcomi
ng.
”
Mostsi
ghouti
nrel
i
ef,
exceptMaKhumal
o.
“
Comi
ngwher
e?”sheasks.
“
Her
e,t
ohi
sfami
l
y.”
“
Ishebackt
ohi
ssenses?
”
“Maplease,
Ihadalongday.Youhaven’
tev
enasked
howthemeet i
ngwentwit
htheMy ezas.
”
“I
’
m notli
vi
ngwit
hamoffi
einmyhouse.I
t’
sei
ther
heleav
esorIl
eave,
”MaKhumal
osays.
Everyoneisshocked.Theyalldidn’tjustaccept
Sqalo,exceptPhethyandNkonzo, buteventual
l
y
theyhadt oacceptthattheycan’tchangehi s
sexuali
tyortheDNAr unni
nginhi sblood.
Sqal
owalksi
ntoar oom heavywit
hreject
ionand
ani
mosit
y.Helooksaround,atev
eryone,butnobody
canhol
dhisst
are.
“Ma?”HelooksatMaKhumal
owhosef
acei
sanest
ofdi
sgustandhatr
ed.
“Onlyoneofuscanstayinthi
shouseSqalo.I
t’
s
eit
heryouleaveorIl
eave,
”shesays,
looki
ngathim
l
ikehe’sapieceofshi
t.
“MaKhumal oyoucannotleav
et hehouseyoubuilt
wit
hy ourhusband.Thatwouldn’tbef
air
,”Thakasa
says.
Sqalo’seyesfi
llwi t
ht ears.Her anawaybecausehe
knewt hatBandlawasgoi ngtodosomet hingaft
er
receiv
inghistext.Butr i
ghtnowhedoesn’ thavea
plan.Mangi’
ssi stercant akehi min,butf
orhowl ong?
Hecan’ tgotoMpi l
o’smot her
’shousebecause
Mpi l
oisnotreadyt ocomeoutoft heclosetyet
,and
MaMt shalii
sn’ttoodi ff
erentfrom MaKhumal o.
Thakasal
ooksathi
m,“You’
resti
ll
youngtobeon
yourown,
MaNtusiandIwil
ll
eavewithyousothat
MaKhumalocanli
vepeacef
ull
yinherhouse.
”
Nothi
l
e’smout
hdr opsopenatthepassage.She
st
andsmoti
onlesslyasshedi
gestherhusband’
s
i
mpulsiv
edeci
sion.
“I
’m al
soleaving,”Bandlasayswithnosingle
emot i
onattached.Hi m andSqaloshar
eal ook.They
don’tt
alkasmuchast heyusedto.Ther
e’ssomuch
hatebetweent hem, butit’
sbui
ltonafoundationof
l
ove.
“Wherearewegoi
ngtol
iv
ethough?”Nkonzoasks.
He’scomingaswel
l,
towher
everThakasaandSqal
o
aregoing.
Phet
hyisont hefence.Whatwouldli
febewit
hout
hermot
her?Thi ssibl
inguni
tedf
orceisawesomeas
i
thaspouredabucketofsweatov erMaKhumalobut
i
t’
snotthoroughlythought
.

Thakasastandsup,
Nothil
eisstar
ingathi
m wi
thher
eyespoppedoutofthei
rsocket
s.
“
Sqalofet
chyourbagsandputt
hem i
nmycar .
”He
t
urnstoNkonzoandBandlawhoar
estil
lseat
ed.
“
Areyoutwocoming?”
Bandl
ast
andsf
ir
st.MaKhumal
olet
soutashr
il
lcr
y.
“
Whatdi
dIev
erdot
oyouThakasa?
”sheasksi
n
t
ear
s.
“Onethi
ngBabaaskedf rom mewasthatIprot
ect
mysibli
ngs.Howdoy ouexpectmetoprotectSqal
o
i
fIdon’tl
ivewithhi
m? ”He’
sannoy
ed,histoneis
unint
endedlyshar
per.
“
Soy
ouar
egoi
ngt
otakeal
lmychi
l
dren?
”sheasks.
Hepul
l
southi
shandsanddi
spl
ayst
hem onherf
ace.
“Doy ouseeanyofy ourchi
ldr
eninmyhands?
Acceptt heassor
tedfrui
tsofyourwomborwatch
myf ather’
schil
drenscat
terar
oundtheworl
dwithno
placetocallahome.”
Not
hileshakesherheadandholdshi
sarm,
“
Manqele,thi
sisnothowy oushoul
dspeakt
oyour
mother.
”
“Lethi
m beMaNtusi
.Myv oicedoesn’
tmatteri
nthis
house.Theymustst
ayanddowhat ev
ertheywant,I
hopemyhusbandiswatchingov ermeandseeing
themessheleftmein.
”Shest andsupandleaves
f
uri
ously.Minut
esl
atert
her
e’sal
oudpr
ayercomi
ng
f
rom herroom.
“
Iwil
lcheckonher,
Phethywi
ll
dishupforevery
one,
”
Not
hil
esayswithworr
yandfol
lowsthepassageto
MaKhumalo’
sroom.
Nobodysay
sanyt
hingaf
terwar
ds,theyal
lsi
tas
Phet
hymakesherwaytotheki
tchen.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER29
BANDLA

Itdi
dn’ttakelongbeforet hevideo-senderreveal
ed
himself.It
’snoneotherthanEf e.Itdoesn’tmake
sensewhyhe’ dblackmai lhimf oraf l
ippi
n’loan.
Theynev erhadanypr oblemswi t
ht heirt
ransact
ions,
i
twasal lbusi
nessandconf i
dential
.Hedoesn’ towe
him anything!
Butr i
ghtnowhi sreputati
onishangingonat hi
nli
ne.
They ’
remeetinginfrontofthehotelpooltohat
chit
out.Hespot shim wear i
ngalightbl
uekaftanand
mat chi
ngkuf i
.He’swithtwoot hergent
lemen,j
ust
forcontrol
.
“Myman,
”hesayswi
thagri
n,l
ookingatBandl
aas
hewal
ksaroundt
hewoodenbenchestotakeaseat
.
“I
’m notyourman.Iwantt
hist
obepr i
vat
e,”Bandla
says,gl
ancingatt
hetwomenst andi
ngbesidehim.
Ef
egi
vest
hem anodandt
heyst
epasi
dewi
thout
breat
hingawor
d.Theyst
andnotsof araway,butfar
enoughfort
hem t
ohavethei
rpr
ivat
econv er
sation.
“
Soy
ouar eblackmai
l
ingme? ”heasksEf
ewi
tha
f
ewl
inescreasedonhisf
orehead.
“I
’
mj ustmot i
vati
ngy outodot her i
ghtthing,my
fr
iend.Mymot herisnotwell backinNiger i
a,Ineed
moneyur gentl
yforhersurgery.”Surpr
isingly
,he’s
ri
ghtinhisownwor ld,thi
sisjustasmal l f
avorthat
heneedsandi t’
sunf or
tunat
et hathehadt opulla
stuntforBandl
atot akehim seriousl
y.
“Andi
fIdon’
thel
pyouy
ou’
l
lpubl
i
cizet
hev
ideo?
”
Bandl
aasks.
“
I’
ll
hav
enochoi
cebutt
odoi
t.
”
“
Andy
ou’
regoi
ngt
omakemoneyf
rom t
hev
ideo?
”
Efechuckl
esoutindisbel
i
ef,
“Youwoul
dn’
tri
sky
our
reput
ati
onli
kethat!
”
“
Whywoul
dn’
tI?
”Bandl
aasks,
nar
rowi
nghi
sey
e.
“
BecauseKhany owon’
tthi
nktwicebeforeshe
l
eavesyou.Iknowhowshei sl
ike,t
hat’
swhyIended
t
hingsbefor
eshecauseddramaandi nvolv
edmy
wi
fe.
”
Now,
thi
sisashock!
“
Youendedt
hings?
”heaskswi
thaf
rown.
“
Webr
okeupnotsol
ongago.
”
Withahar
dswal
low,
Bandl
anodsandexhal
es
heavi
l
y.Nol
wazi
li
edtohi
m!
“
Ineedcash,
Icannotgot
othebank,
”Ef
esay
s.
“
I’
m notgivi
ngy oumoneyEf
e.”Hegetsonhi
sfeet
,
r
eadytoleave.ButEf
etapshi
sshoulder
.
“Myfri
end,you’r
enott hi
nki
ngthiscar
efull
y.Think
aboutyourgir
lfr
iend,y
ourfamil
yandbusi ness.I
don’
twanttot al
kaboutchurch,headl
ineswi l
lsl
am
ever
ythi
ngassoci at
edwithyourrel
igi
on.”
“
Idon’
tcar
e,”hesay
s.
“
ButI
’
m sur
eyourf
ami
l
ywi
l
lcar
e.”
That’
snotfarfr
om thet r
uth.Thakasawil
ltakeaf al
l
forhi
smessanddeal withtheconsequencesofhi s
acti
ons.That
’sdefi
nitel
ynotwhatheneedsi nt he
midstofSqalo’
sissue,shakymar r
iageandforever
somberli
fe.Anditwi
l
l cer
tai
nlypai
nthi
schur
chbad;
oner
ottenapplespoi
lsthewholebarr
el.
Efe’
sfacebr
ightensupwi
thhopeashest
ands
fr
ozenonhissteps.
“Herbr
otheralr
eadydoesn’
ttr
usty
ou,
himf
indi
ng
outaboutthi
smay …”
Bandl
agr
unt
slowl
y.
“
Fine!
”Hehi ssesandt urnsbackt
ohisseat.“ButI
wantthememor ysti
ckwi t
hthatvi
deo,oranythi
ng
t
hatyouill
egall
yf i
l
med.You’ r
esupposedtobea
l
egalcri
minal,toatleastgetafewthi
ngsstraight
.”
“Howsooncany ouorgani
zethemoney ?
”Ef easks,
payingnoatt
ent
iontowhathejustsai
d,he’sjust
overwhelmedwi
thjoyandrel
i
ef.Hisli
feisbeing
thr
eatenedandheneedstogethisfamil
ybackt o
Nigeri
aassoonaspossibl
e.
There’
sanext
racompanyt hey’
rebothnotawareof
,
Gugu.She’
sst
andingbehindthem andli
steni
ng
at
tenti
vel
ytot
heconversati
on.
“
Let
’smeett
omor
rowaf
ter
noon,
R300ki
sal
otof
money
,”Bandl
asay
s.
Ef
enot
icesGuguandcl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
.
“Sur
e,takecar
emyman. ”HisandGugu’
seyesare
fi
xedoneachot her
.Shedoesn’
tsayawordunt
il
Bandlatur
nshisheadtoherandnear
lyf
aint
swit
h
shock.
“
Gugu,
whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?”heasks.
Shesl
owl
yshi
ft
sherey
esf
rom Ef
eandl
ooksathi
m.
“
Weneedt
ogot
othehospi
tal
,
”shesay
s.
Fearri
desdownhisv
eins.Hefeel
ssweatexudi
ng
underhisar
msandhischestpoundi
ngagai
nsthis
chestl
ikeadrum.
“
Whathappened?
”heasks.
“Justcome,
”shesay
sandt
hrowsanot
herl
ookat
Efe.
She’snotmuchofat alker,she’
sneit
herclosetoEfe
norBandl a.Ev
enMandul o,he’
sjustamanwho’ sa
brothertoherbestf
ri
end.Heropi ni
onsar eRands,
thetalkat
iveGuguemer gesonlywhent here’
smoney
i
nv olv
ed,orwhenshe’sar oundherfr
iends.
There’snotimef orgoodby es,notthattheywere
necessaryany way ,Bandlalif
tshissuddenl y-
heavy
bodyandf ollowsGugu.Ther eisRangeRov er
Evoquewi thtintedwi ndowst hat’
swai ti
ngforher.
AsBandl arushest ot helif
tstofetchhi sphoneand
carkey sfr
om hi sr oom, shewal kstot hecarand
tal
kst othemanwear ingblacktuxedoanddar k
shadesbehi ndthest eeringwheel.Theychatbr ief
ly
beforethecarr ev ersesanddr i
vesoff,leavi
ngher
behind.
Shepacesaroundther ecepti
onarea,i
gnor
ing
pi
erci
ngstaresfr
om thehot elmanagement
gat
heredaroundthefrontdesk.
Afewminut
espassbef
oreBandl
ast
epsoutoft
he
l
if
tandr
ushest
oher.
“
Okay,l
et’
sgo,
”hesaysoutofbr
eat
handl
eadst
he
wayt
otheguestpar
kingar
ea.

She’
sal
it
tl
eMadam, sheputsherhugesungl
asses
onandf
astenst
heseatbel
t.Bandl
aissweati
ngand
anxiousbehindthewheel
,Gugu’squietnat
ureisn’
t
helpingeit
her.He’
simpat
ient
lyeagertoknowi f
there’sbeenanygoodorworsechangei nKhanyo’
s
sit
uat i
on.
“WhatR300karey
ougi
vi
ngEf
etomor
row?
”she
asksrandoml
y.
Thequest
ionchokesBandl
a;hewasn’
tawarethat
shehadli
stenedt
osomepar t
softheconv
ersati
on.
“Just
…justtot
hankhi
m…forsav
ingKhany
o,”hesays
uneasi
ly.Ly
ingi
sn’
toneofhi
sskil
l
sandhehatesit
.
“
Doy
ouper
sonal
l
yknowhi
m?”
“Yes….
no….”Herel
easesadeepbr
eat
handf
ixeshi
s
eyesontheroad.
“Notal
lhelpi
sgoodhelp.Ijustfeelsor
ryfor
whoeverwasinv
olv
edinst abbingKhanyobecause
SouthAfr
icai
stoosmall.Just9pr ovi
nces,53
l
andport
s,9seapor
tsand23ai r
portstoexit
.”
Bandlagl
ancesatherwi
thafrown.He’
snev erhear
d
herspeaksoplucky
.Andwhydoesthissoundmor e
thanj
ustathreat
?Despi
teherli
vi
ngandimmer sing
her
sel
finasi
mi l
ari
nsouci
antl
i
fest
yleasNolwazi
andKhany
o,she’
ssti
llaPr
imnessandeleganti
nher
ownway.
“Dustsett
les,Idon’
t!”Shepul
lsherphoneoutofthe
purseandt ypesatextli
kethekeyboar
dstaysinher
manicuredfingers.
Bandlakeepshi smouthshut.May behedoesn’t
knowKhany o’sfri
endsashet houghthedoes.He’ s
notoutforblood,whichseemst obet hecasewith
Gugu,butheal sowantstheper petrat
orspunished,
whetherbyGodorhumanj ustice.Buthisprayer
defi
nit
elywon’tfal
londeafear s;itneverdoes.
.
.
KHANYO

I
’m sti
tchedandev eryt
imeIt r
ytomov emybody
remindsmeofi t.I
’
v ebeeninacomaf ordaysandI
don’tr
ememberhal fofthethi
ngsthattr
anspired
pri
ortheaccidentorwhat ev
erhappenedt hatputme
here.Thepol i
cehav ebeenher ewi ththei rjour nals
andCoke- bell
ies,butthedoctoraskedt hem t ogi ve
mesomet i
me.Hekeepscomi ngandchecki ngmy
responsiveness.Judgi ngbyhowski t
teryt heyar e,
I’
m notoneoft hei
rnor malpati
ent s.Iknowexact l
y
whoIam despi tebeingoutoft hecomaf orl esst han
twohour s.Iknowt hatIwascomi ngf rom my
boy f
ri
end’ splacebef oreboardingat axi onFi eld
Street.It
’swhathappenedaf t
erIgoti nitt hatI
cannotr emember .ButI’m KhanyoMay ise-Makhany i
toMandul o,myoneandonl ybrother-andIhav etwo
bestfriends.Thedoct orsaidGuguwascal ledand
she’sonherway .Mandul oandNol wazi areaway ,
that’
swhathesai dwhenIaskedandhedi dn’ thav e
mor einformat ionont hei
rwher eabouts.

I’
mf eel
ingdr
owsyagain.Itmustbetheinj
ecti
on
theykeepgiv
ingmef orpainr
eli
ef.ButasIl
owermy
eyeli
dsIseeafigur
ewalkingtowardmybedandmy
eyesfli
ngopen.
Tr
ustGugut
owearcul
ott
epant
sandsti
l
ett
oswhi
l
e
I
’mfi
ghti
ngf
ormyli
feonadeat
hbed.
“I
fitwasyoudy i
ngI ’
dbeinr
agsandcryi
ngmy
eyebal
lsout
,”Isayasshestandsnextt
ome,
bl
inki
nghereyesr apidl
y.
“Fuckyou!
”shesay
s,t
earsdroppi
ngdown.She
covershermout
handsil
enceshersobs.
Icannotgi
veherahug,mybodyhurt
s.ButIreachto
herhandandsqueezeit
.Iwasn’
tgoi
ngtodie,not
underMaSibi
ya’
swatch!
“They’
regoi
ngt
opayf
ort
his,
”shesay
s,wi
pingof
f
hertear
s.
“Babe,I
’m al
i
ve,
that
’swhatmatt
ers.Leav
e
everyt
hingel
sei
nGod’shands,
”Isay.
Sheshakesherhead,
looki
ngatthetubeinj
ect
edon
myarm.Idon’tknowwhat’
sgracinghermindbutI
don’
twanthertodoanythi
ngstupid.
“Nowf i
ll
meup,what’
sbeenhappening?Whereis
ManduloandNolwazi
?Andmostly,wherei
s…”I
don’tf
ini
sh,
thel
astper
soninquesti
oniswalki
ngin
slowly
.
Hi
sey
esar
efi
xedonme.Lowerl
i
plat
chedbet
ween
histeethandhi
sey
est
ryi
ngt
olockbackat
housand
teardrops.
Hestandsnexttothebed,hishandsaretuckedin
hi
spockets.Hetearshi
sey esoffmeandl ooks
out
sidethewindow.Hischestbounces;onehand
comesoutofthepocketandt uckshi
sforehead.
“Gugupleasegi
veusamoment,”Isay
,tr
yingnott
o
breakdownattheweaksi
ghti
nf r
ontofme.
She’snotsur
ewhat
’shappening,butbecauseshe’s
GuguandnotNolwazi
,sheleaveswithnoquestions
asked.

NowIdon’tknowwhatt
osaytohi
m.Whatdoone
saytoacryi
ngmanthat
’sl
ooki
ngout
sidet
he
window?
“I
’m sor
ryIscar
edyou,
”Isay.I
tonlymakessenset
o
apologi
zewhentheotherper
soniscry
ing.
Heli
ft
shi
sT-shi
rtt
ohisfaceandwi
pesi
t.St
il
lnot
l
ooki
ngatmydir
ecti
on.
“
You’
l
lnev
err
ideat
axi
,ev
eragai
n,
”hesay
sand
snif
fsbackt
ear
sthreat
eni
ngtorui
nedhi
snowdr
y
face.“
I’
ll
nev
erl
etanyonehur
tyouagai
n.”
HeturnsaroundandIr
eal
izehowworn-outhe
act
uall
ylooks.I
t’
sli
kehe’
sbeendepr
ivedofsleep
andfoodforweeks.
“I
’
m happytoseeyou,
”Isay,
hopi
ngt
obr
ingasmi
l
e,
oraghostofi
t,onhi
sface.
Buthe’
snotdonecr
ying.
“HowwasIsupposedt ol
i
vewi thouty
ou?”He
squeezesmyhandandburieshisfaceonit
.A
waterf
all
breaksbehi
ndmyey es.
“You’r
enotli
vi
ngwit
houtme.Notnow,
notev
er,
pleasetr
ustme.”
Thr
oughpai
n,Ipul
lhi
sf aceupandf
orcehi
mtol
ook
atme.Wearebothcr
ying.
“I
twasn’tyourf
aul
t,oranyone’
s,Iwasabul li
na
ChinashopandInearlypai
dwithmyl ife.Justli
ke
every
one,Ihaveapurposetofulf
ill
,Godhasgi ven
measecondchanceandIwon’ ttakeitforgranted.
”
“
Ithoughty
ouwoul
dn’
tmakei
t.Iwassoscar
ed.I
don’
tthi
nkI
’veev
erbeenthi
sscaredinmyli
fe.Fr
om
nowon,Ipr
omisetoprot
ectyou,
toguidey
ouandt o
puty
oursafet
yaboveever
ythi
ngelse.
”
Ican’
thelpthesmil
ecracki
ngoffmymessyf ace.
He’stheone,Iknowthi
swithcert
aint
y.Ihavea
secondchancet ol
i
veandrewrit
emywr ongs,Ipr
ay
nottomakeamessoutofi t.
Thenheaskst
hequest
ionev
ery
bodyi
saski
ng.
“
Whathappenedwheny
ougoti
nthet
axi
Khany
o?”
“
Idon’
tknow,
”Ishr
ugmyshoul
der
s.
I
t’sst
rangethatI’
dforgetthemostimport
antpar
tof
thecasewhereasIrememberev eryt
hingt
hat
happenedbeforethathourviv
idl
y.
.
.
NKONZO

Sqaloi
shome, al
loft
hem ar
e,exceptBandla.But
thi
ngsaren’
tthesamebet
weenMaKhumal o,
ThakasaandSqal o.Hisconsol
ationisthatSqalois
fi
nishi
ngschoolsoonandmov ingoutforvarsit
y.
Otherwisei
twouldn’tbehealt
hyforhimt oliv
ei na
homet hatl
acksloveandcommuni cati
onlikethis.
He’ssti
l
l digesti
ngev entsthatt
ookplacethatday
;
Sqalobrav el
ystoolupf orhimsel
f,not
hingand
nobodyst oodonhi sway .He’swhohei sandhe
l
oveswhohel oves,
andt hat’
sthat
!
Het hi
nkst ohimself;may beheoweshi mselfthat
chanceaswel l
.Buthe’snev erimaginedhimself
l
ov i
ngbey ondthetempl e.He’ dneverhaveahouse
that
’srel
igiousl
ydivided.Thequest ionis;
would
Temabei nter
estedinjoininghischurch?Hehasn’ t
seenanybodyel se,hishear thasonlybeencaptured
byher.

Aknockdi sturbshi
strai
nofthoughts.It
’sPhet
hy
carry
ingapillowandpacketofcrisps.Heshif
tsin
bedandcr eatesspaceforherbecauseheknows
thatshe’
l
lbeher eforhours.
“
Pleaset
urnony
ourWi
-Fi
hot
spot
,”shesay
s,
cli
mbingi
nbedandswi
pingt
hescr
eenofherphone
toli
fe.
“Thi
shasnot hi
ngtodowithschoolwork,
”Nkonz
o
says,pul
li
nghisphoneoutandgrunt
ingwith
annoyance.
“
It
’sschoolwork,
I’
m doi
ngar
esear
ch,
”shesay
s
wi
thaney erol
l
.
“
Oh,youl
ogonFacebookf
ory
ourr
esear
ch?School
mustbecool
!”
Shegi
gglesandli
esonherbackwithherkneesup.
Helet
sherbebecauseatt hi
spoi
ntever
yoneisti
red
ofcal
l
ingheroutaboutukumisaamadol
oasagi r
l.
“
Doy our
emembert
haty
ousai
dany
timeIneedt
o
t
alk,
Imustcomet
oyou?”
“Yes,
Iremember
.”Hef
rownssl
i
ght
lyandt
urnshi
s
eyestoher
.
“
Idon’
tli
ket
alki
ngtoSis’
MaNtusi
becauseshe’
s
Ma’
sbestpi
ll
owfri
end,
”shesay
s.
Nowhe’swonderi
ngaboutt
heser
iousnessofthi
s
t
alk.I
t’
seasywhenhetal
kstot
hebrothersand
Mawandebecauseshe’
sanadul
t.At
eenagegi
rl
?!
Hecl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
,“Wel
l
,youcant
alkt
ome.
”
“
Youwon’
tbej
udgment
al?
”
Ofcour
se,
he’
l
lbej
udgment
al!
“
No,
”heshakeshi
shead.
Sherel
easesashor
tbr
eat
hofreli
efandsi
tsup,
huggi
ngthepi
ll
owonherchest
.
“
Isi
tpossi
blet
olosev
irgi
nit
ythr
oughf
inger
ing?
”
Chestt
ight
ens!No,
no,
no!
Thi
snothappeni
ng,
whot
hef
ucki
sfi
nger
inghi
s
si
ster
?
Hi
sey
esar
egoi
ngt
opopout
.
“
Phet
hydi
dyou.
.…”
“
Theanswerisy
esorno?Yousai
dyouwon’
tbe
j
udgment
al.
”
Hesai
dthat
???
Deepbr
eat
h!
“
No,
”hesay
swi
thahar
dswal
l
ow.
“
Great
!Soi
tdoesn’
tshow?
”
“Dur
ingv i
rgi
nit
ytest
ing?Idon’
tknow, butIhighl
y
doubtit.
”Hehadabot tleofwaterar
ound, he
searchesfori
tandgulpsdownahugesi p.“Buti
t
doesn’tmeanit’
sokay,”hesays.
“
Why
?”sheasks,
frowni
ng.
Whyi
sitnotokaybyt
heway
?
“Ummm, becausedir
thi
desi
nthenail
sandcarr
y
germs.The…t he…t
he…”Howtosayvaginat
oyour
l
itt
lesi
sterandnotlookli
keafr
eak?
“
Thekitt
y-catissensi
ti
ve.Youcan’tal
l
owpeopl
e’
s
f
inger
sint her
e,wombcancerisn’tamy t
h.”
Di
dhejustsayfi
nger
ingcauseswombcancer
?Wel
l
,
hedi
dandshe’sscar
edAF.
“Wedidn’
tlearnaboutthati
nLi
feSci
ences,
”she
says,
squashingthepill
owli
kei
thadanythi
ngtodo
wit
hhergettingfi
ngered.
“Notever
ythi
ngisint
heschoolcur
ri
cul
um.Youhav
e
parent
stoteachyousomeofthethi
ngs.
”
“
MaKhumal
ocannott
eachmeany
thi
ng,
she’
dki
ck
mybut
tri
ghtaway
.”
Theybothlaughbutit
’snotfunny .Chil
drenshould
beabletackl
eanytopicwiththeirparentswithout
anyfearorshame.Butwiththeirmot herit
’sa
dif
fer
entstory
.Nothi
lewassupposedt ostepin
Mawande’sshoesasabi gsister,butthatonecan’t
keepanythi
ngfrom MaKhumal o.
“Canaguyfeeli
tify
ou’v
ebeeninacer t
ainposi
ti
on
withaboybefor
e,eveni
fitdi
dn’
tincl
ude
penet
rat
ion?
”sheasks.
Honest
ly,
nobl
ackbr
otherdeser
vest
ogot
hrough
t
his!
Hi
sheadisscr
eami
ng‘
YES’
buthehast
obehonest
ont
hisone.
“
No,
”hesay
s.
“
Andi
fther
ewaspenet
rat
ion?
”
Hegivesheralook,
“Wear
enotst
upi
dPhet
hy.Of
cour
seit’
seasytotel
l.
”
Nowhe’scuri
ous.I
sshesexuall
yacti
veorjust
gat
her
inginf
ormati
onforf
utureref
erences.
“CanItel
li
faguyhasdonei
tbef
oreasagi
rl
?”she
asks.
Hecan’
thel
p,butl
aughatt
hisone.
“
I’
venev
erbeenagi
rlbef
ore,
soIdon’
tknow.
”
“
Mhhh.
”
Hecl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
,“CanIaskaquest
ionaswel
l
?”
“Iknowwhaty
ouwanttoaskandt
heansweri
snoI
don’thav
eaboyf
ri
end.
”
Nowhe’
sconf
used.
“
Thenhowdi
d…?
”
“
Mnqobi
andIar
ejustf
ri
ends.
”
Mor
econf
usi
ng!
“
Youl
eta‘
fr
iend’
touchy
ou?
”heasks.
“
Cur
iosi
ty,
”sheshr
ugshershoul
der
s.
“
Ofwhat
?Whatar
eyoui
nar
usht
oknow.
”
“
Squi
rt
ing.
”
OhShembe!Thesechi
ldr
enneedtogrowundert
he
gr
ound,
isol
atedfr
om oneanot
herbecause,
wow.
Hesi
ghoutheav
il
y.
“Ihaveafemalefri
end.
”No,they’
renotfr
iends,
she’sThakasa’
sPAwhom hehasahugecr ushon.
“I’
l
laskifshecantalkt
oyou,gi
rlt
ogirl
.Idon’twant
tohavethisconver
sati
onany
mor e.
”
“
Atleastbothofushavefr
iendsofopposi
tesex.
Wherear eyougoi
ngtohookusup?CanIpr oposea
r
estaurant?
”
“No!
!!
”Hesti
l
lneedstothi
nkofhowhe’
sgoingto
appr
oachTema.They’
renotf
ri
ends,
shetakeshi
m
asherempl
oyerandnothi
ngel
se.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER30
NKONZO

Hecan’tseem t
of i
ndtherightwayt
ostri
kea
conv
ersati
onwi t
hher.Thakasahaslef
tforhisl
ate
l
unchwi t
hMrJonesaf terwrappi
nguphislast
meeti
ngoft heday.
She’sont helaptop, monitoringat onsofemai l
sand
respondingwher enecessar y.It
’sjustanhourbef or
e
sheknocksof f
.Ther e’snotmuchshe’ slooki
ng
forwardtoexceptsoaki ngherbodyi nawar m bath
i
nhert hree-bedroom housei nWhi teCi t
yandf ixi
nga
heartymeal forone.Di vorcev i
l
leisn’thardasshe
hadthought ,atl
eastnowt hatThul ahasmov edout
ofherway .Shehasn’ theardf r
om hi mi noversi x
mont hs,all
thankst oThakasaf orhi sinter
vention.
Funnily,
Thulaist heonewhobr oket heirmarriage
andaf ewofherr ibs.Hedi dn’tactlikeahusbandor
someonewhost il
l wantedhi smar ri
age, notto
ment i
onext rapartnersheopenl yhadwhi l
emar r
ied
t
oTema, buthell
brokelooseassoonasher eal
ized
t
hatshewasr eal
lydivorci
nghim andst
art
ingov
er
wi
thouthi
m orhisfinancialhel
p.

Hav i
ngtheof f
icejustt
oher sel
f,she’
stakenof fthe
highheelsandsl i
dinfli
p-f
lopsthatareal way
si nher
caronst andby.Sheunbuttonsherpeplum shirtfrom
thetop,exposinghalfofherchestandl aysbackon
thechairrel
axed.Af ewstraysofherhai rhavefall
en
overherf or
eheadbutshe’st ooengrossedont he
screentopayat tent
iontohair.
“
CanIcomein?”t
hev oi
cecomesf
rom t
hedoorand
j
i
tter
scr
ackhernerv
es.
I
t’
sNkonzo.
“
Sir
,”shesay
s,pushi
ngbackt
hechai
randal
most
t
ri
ppingonhertoes.
“Areyoubusy?”heasks,
makinghi
swayi
nand
standi
nginfr
ontofherdesk.
“
Kindof
.CanIhel
p?”
“
No,
it’
sfi
ne.I
’
llseewhatIt
ell
her
.”Hepopshi
s
f
inger
sandt
urnsar
oundt
oleav
euneasi
l
y.
What’
snew?He’ sneverbeenabletoholdany
meani
ngful conver
sati
ont hat’
snotworkrel
atedwith
her
.He’salway smanagedt omakeaf ooloutof
hi
mselfeveryti
mehegotar oundher
,nevert
heless,
heneverstaysaway .
“
Icanhel
p,”shesay
shesi
tant
ly.
Hest
opsandt
urnsar
oundwi
thr
eli
efonhi
sface.
“
Whatdoy
ouneed?
”sheasks.
Hebit
eshislowerl
ip,
suppr
essingagri
nshecan’
t
putadefi
nit
iont
o,andst
epsclosert
oputhi
spalms
fl
atonthedesk.
“
Idon’
tknowwher
etost
art
,”hesay
swi
thachuckl
e.
Herner
vesset
tl
e.Shet
houghti
twasserious,but
seei
nghowrel
axedhei
snowput sheratease.
“
From t
hebegi
nni
ng,
”shesay
s.
“Mysist
erneedssomeonet ot
alktoandIt ol
dherI’
d
al
way sbether
etoli
sten.Butt
hethingsshewant st
o
knowareabovemeasamanwho’ sabrotherto
her.
”
She’
sconfusedbutshenodsasifshe’
sfol
l
owi
ng
andunder
standi
ngev er
ydet
ail
.
“SoItol
dherI
’l
laskmyfri
endt ohavethetal
kwi t
h
her,
girl
togi
rl
,becauset
here’
snowomanshe’ s
curr
entl
ycomfort
ablewi
thi
nt hefamil
y,”hesays.
Oh,
nowsheget
sit
.Sext
alk!
“
Idon’
tseeanyt
hingwrongwi
tht
hat
.Asky
ourf
ri
end
t
otal
ktoher,
”shesays.
Si
l
ence….
Okay
,may
beshe’
snotbei
nghel
pful
.
“Ar
rangeal
it
tl
et eapar
tyoragoodmov
ief
ort
hem
andlett
hem t
alk,
”shesuggest
s.
Hepopshisfi
ngersandbi
teshi
sli
p;di
mpl
esdent
ing
hi
sli
ght
-huedcheeks.
“
Thef
ri
enddoesn’
tknowt
hatI
’
m herf
ri
end,
”hesay
s.
I
tcan’
tgetanywei
rdert
hant
his!
“Oh,okay,
”shesays,
sti
fl
ingbackherlaugh.I
t
doesn’tmakeanysense,
buthe’sheremployerso
shehast oactl
i
kehe’snotstupi
d.
“Il
i
ed,
”hesay s,shr
uggi
nghi
sshoul
der
sli
kei
t’
s
under
standableandnor
mal.
“MaybeIcant
alktoher
,ifsheneedsasi
ster
ly
advi
ce,
”shesays.
“Youcandothat
?”He’
saboutt
opi
ckt
hisshor
tgi
rl
andthrowherupandcat
chher
!
“
Ify
ouandherar
eokaywi
thi
t,
”shesay
s.
Her
eleasesasi
ghofr
eli
ef.
“Thankyou,
Shawty
.Iwasn’tsur
eyouwer
egoingto
agree,
Idon’
twanthert
olearnfr
om t
hest
reet
s.”
“
Shawt
y?”sheaskswi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown.
Sopeopl
ear
enamedaf
tert
hei
rhei
ght
snow?
He’dgi
vehi
mselfahugemental
slapr
ightnow.He
shoul
dn’
thavesai
dthatl
oud.
Hescr
atchest
hesi
deofhi
sfaceandgr
ins.
“I
’
m sor
ry,
I’
mjustnotf
ami
l
iarwi
thy
ourname.What
doesi
tmeananyway?”
“
Iwasbor
ninTema,
Ghana.
”
“Iwasbor
nher
einMandeni
,doesi
tmeanmyname
shoul
dbeMandeni
aswell
?”
Real
l
y?Thi
sneedsaney
erol
l
.
“I
’
mj oki
ng!Youshoul
dtakemether
e,toyourbi
rt
h
pl
ace,oneday.I
’
vebeentoCapeCoastandAccra.
”
“Iwasonl
yt her
eforthefi
rstt
woy ear
sofmyl if
e,
thenmyfathercamebackt oSouthAfr
ica.I
t’
snot
l
ikeI’
m aGhanaian,Ij
usthavethenameoft hecit
y,
”
shesays.
“
Yeah,
butwecanst
il
lvi
sit
.”
She’
dlovet
obuti t
’shi
ghl
yimpossi
bleatt
he
moment.Ther
e’ssomuchshest i
ll
needstodoand
achi
evebef
oretravel
li
ngcount
ri
es.
“
May
be,
”shesay
sjustt
oputanendt
othet
opi
c.
Hest
aresatherandget
scaught
.Buthecont
inues
wi
thnostanceofshame.
Shecl
ear
shert
hroatuncomf
ort
abl
y.
“
Sowhatt
imei
sshecomi
ngov
er?
”sheasks.
Hef
rowns.
“
Yoursi
ster
,”shesay
s.
Oh,damn!Hepul l
shimsel ft
ogetherandcal
l
sPhethy.
Shawt yiswil
li
ngtohostt hetal
kinherhouse,whi
ch
i
sn’tfarawayf r
om theirhome,allheneedstodoi
s
organizesnacksforthem.
Can’thebeapartofthi
sthough?He’
llj
ustsi
tand
watchthem-orher-f
rom adist
anceandnotdist
urb.
“You’
rest
ari
ngatme.Isev
eryt
hingokay
?”sheasks,
shif
ti
nguncomfor
tabl
yonherseat.
“Doy oumindi
fIpi
ckyouup?”heasks.He’
salway
s
foughtagai
nstt
heurget
opickherupandswingher
aroundwhentheybumpint
oeachother.
Shef
rowns,
“Pi
ckmeup?
”
“
Standup,
”hesay
s.
Nowshegetsit.Hekeepsinsul
tingherhei
ghtbut
shefi
ndsitf
unnybecauseshe’salwaysbeen
temptedt
opullhi
m andhisbrothersbybeardsas
well
.
“
Don’
tyoudar
e,I
’
llscr
eam,
”shesay
s,l
aughi
ng.
“
Howdoy
ouscr
eam?
”
No,sheshoul
dn’tbet
hinki
ngthissodeepl
y.He
meansscream,asintheli
ter
alscr
eaming.Notany
ot
herkindofscr
eaming.
“Ummm l etmewr apup,sothatIcancleanbefore
yoursi
sterarr
ives,
”shesaysawkwar dl
y.Allofa
suddenshe’sblanketedbyshynessandfail
i
ngt o
l
ookathimi ntheey es.
“
Whataboutme?MustIcomeaswel
l
?”heasks.
“
Nooo!
”Herr
esponsei
squi
ckandbr
eat
hil
y.
“
Iwon’
tmakey
ouscr
eam,
”hesay
s.
Herf
acepal
esoutandmout
hdr
opsopen.
“
Bypi
cki
ngy
ouup,
Imean,
”hesay
s.
Fuck,sheneedst ost
opputti
ngherthought si
nto
nonsense.ThisisNkonzoManqele,ofcoursehe
wouldn’tseeherli
kethat
.She’
sdivorced,shor
twith
pl
umpcheeksandnof i
rmrel
igi
ousgr ounds.
.
.
MAWANDE
She’
sawi dow.Thetagisattachedandwher evershe
goesit
’l
lbeevi
dentforanyonet oseeandpi t
yher.
Wakingupinthemor ni
ng,takingabathandget t
ing
i
nherblackatt
irewil
lbeherr outi
neforayear.This
ti
meclothesdon’tj
ustcoverhernudityorkeepher
warm,they’
reaconstantr
emi nderofherstatus–
she’
sawi dow.
She’sstrong,orshe’ str
y i
ngt obe,butsomet i
mesi t’
s
hardtosl eep.Shehast odismi sst
houghtsand
expectati
onsofseei ngherhusbandwal ki
ngthrough
thedoorandsay ingitwasal l
justajoke.Hermot her
-i
n-l
awandNy ezi
’saunthav et emporari
lymov edin
withher.Theyhav en’tt
oldheraboutHal ali
saniyet,
buthecomesev erydaytogr eetandaskheri fshe
needsanyhel paroundt hey ard.
Therearemanyr ulessetf
orherasawi dow.She’
s
curr
entl
ysurroundedbyadar kcloudandcannot
associ
atesherselfwit
hthepublicbecauseshehas
badlucks.Shecannotgotoot herpeople’
shouses;
shecannotcomehomeaf tersunset;shecannot
att
endceremonies.
Bhambathawalksinwear ingbl ackj
oggersanda
hoodi
epull
edov erhisface.Hi smotheronlytakesa
si
nglegl
anceathim andherf aceclosesup.This
ki
ndofdresscodei snotal l
owedatt heMyezas.He
l
ooksexactl
yli
keacr iminalthathei s.
HeputsaWoolwort
hbagont hecounterandl
ooks
atMawandesi
tt
ingonthechairqui
etl
y.
“
It
’sascarfyou’
regoi
ngtousetomournsincewe
mournbett
erwithcl
othi
ngandnotbyheart.
”He
t
akesasharpglanceathi
smotherandpicksbanana
f
rom afr
uitbowl.
“Thanksf orseei
ngusBhambat ha.Wearewell,
hopefullyyouarewellt
oo.Thanksforthescar
fbut
KaManqel ewi l
ldr
essinthemour ni
ngatt
ir
eofour
cult
ure,”hismothersays,t
ryi
ngherbesttoremain
calm andcomposed.
“Howwilli
temot
ional
l
yhel
phert
odr
essupi
nful
l
blackat
ti
re?”
Hequesti
onsevery
thi
ngi
nli
fe,
exceptcr
ime
becausei
tbenef
it
shim.
“
Nobodyneedsyouropi
nionhere,
gobackwher
ever
y
oucomef r
om,”hismothersay
s.
“Si
si,Iwantust ogosomewhere.You’
l
lmournby
heartandli
vey ourli
fe,
that
’swhatmybrot
her
would’vewanted,”hesays.
Mawande’
seyeswiden.Shel
ooksathermot her
-i
n-
l
awwho’ssecondsawayfrom explodi
ng,andback
t
oherbrot
her-
in-
lawwhodoesn’tlookli
kehe’sgoing
t
otakeanoforananswer.
“
Goandchangei
ntosomet
hingcomf
ort
abl
e,
”he
i
nst
ruct
s.
“
Bhambat
hadon’tcomeanddisr
espectmyson’
s
memoryl
i
kethi
s!Idon’
tevenknowwhymysonwas
t
heonewhohadt odi
e.”
“I
tshoul
dpr ov
ethatGodi
sn’tyourbestfr
iend,
”he
saysandlooksatMawande.“Si
si,pl
easehurry
.”
“
ButMawon’
tappr
eci
ate….
”
“Thi
sMapromisedyourbrot
hert otakecar
eofy ou
andmakesurethaty
ou’r
eemot ionall
yokay.Bei
ng
conf
inedi
nthi
shouseanddr essedlikeSat
an’s
agentwon’thel
pyouwi
thany
thi
ng,
inst
eadi
t’
ll
kil
l
yoursoul
.”
Sheshouldn’
tbetr
ust
ingt
hisguybutshe
desper
atelyneedt
ogooutandbreat
heagai
n.
“
Ma, canIgo?
”sheasks,
pol
i
tel
ylooki
ngatMr
s
Myeza.
“
Ithasn’
tbeenamont
hsi
nceNy
ezi
passedon!
”
“
Butyou’
vealr
eadyar
rangedf
orHal
ali
sani
tomov
e
i
nwit
hher,”Bhambat
ha.
Mawandefrownsandl ooksatMr
sMy eza.Hal
ali
sani
outofal
lpeople?Andwhosaidsheneedsa
subst
it
uteforherhusband?
“
Ma?
”shequest
ionswi
thherey
ebr
owr
aised.
“
Makot
iwewi
l
ldi
scusst
hatwi
thy
ouwhent
het
ime
i
sri
ght
.”
“Ther
ewil
lbenori
ghtt
ime,
Idon’
twantHal
ali
sani
anywher
enearme.
”
“
Butyouhavet
obearchil
drenfort
heMyezassi
nce
y
oufail
edtodosowhil
eNy ezi
wassti
ll
ali
ve.
”
Shockt
ransfor
msherface.It
’st
ool
atef
orMr
s
Myezatotakebackherwords.
.
.
Shehasablackscarfwr
appedar oundherheadand
weari
ngapoloneckanddropped-waistski
rt
.She’
s
mourni
ng,she’
ssti
llawidow,butshe’snotcar
ryi
ng
i
twithher
.Shelooksnormal,
likeanyotherwomen
onthestr
eetsandnobodycanat t
achanylabel
son
her
.
Butshehastogeti
nsideabl
ackAudi
S6withaman
she’
sseenlesst
hantenti
mesandnotfami
l
iarwi
th.
Andshedoesn’
tev
enknowwher
eshe’
sbei
ngt
aken
to.
“
You’reokay
?”heasks,empt
yingt
wopi ecesof
mint
ygum onhispalm andt
hrowsthem inhi
s
mouth.
“
Wher
ear
ewegoi
ng?
”sheasks.
“
Youli
kevol
l
eybal
l
,ri
ght?Ther
e’sagr
oupofgi
rl
s
t
hatt
rai
nweekl
yaroundTugel
aBeach,
”hesay
s.
SheLIKEDv ol
leyball
beforebecomingawif
e.But
whatdidsheexpectf rom hi
m?At r
iptoMugg&
Beanforbreakfast?He’snotNyezi
,heonl
yknows
aboutherwhat ….
wait,howdoesheknowher ?
“Isawyoursportexcell
encecer
ti
fi
cat
efr
om hi
gh
school
,”hesays,putt
inganendtohersi
l
ent
questi
ons.
“Ihaven’tpl
ayedinovert
woy
ear
s,I
’
m notev
ensur
e
Isti
ll
likeit,
”shesays.
“
Wel
l
,you’
l
lfi
ndoutt
oday
.”
I
t’
snotappropr
iat
e.Shecan’
tbejumpi
ngwi
thbal
l
s
bef
oreNyeziev
enrotsinhi
sgrav
e.
Thecardri
vesoffbefor
eshecanloudlychangeher
mind.Shehasti
met ostudythebr
otherNyeziused
total
kabout,
buthalfofhisf
aceishiddeni
na
hoodie.
He’snotsay inganythi
ng, neit
herisshe,theydri
ve
si
lentl
y.Thakasawoul df aintifhefoundoutthat
she’sbeendr i
venbythe‘criminal’
.Thi
smanhast he
baddestr ecordinthewhol eManget he,and
surpri
singly,hedoesn’tgivear atassaboutit
.He’s
notdoi
nganythi
ngtorebui
ldhi
sreput
ati
on,
inst
ead
he’
sfur
ther
lydestr
oyi
ngit.

Onet hingshedidn’tthi
nkofwashowdi ff
erentshe’
d
l
ookf rom othergir
ls.Ast hecarparksoutsidethe
fencedsportfield,
sheseest hem intheirlonglegs
anddi spl
ayedf l
attummi eswarmingar ound.
She’
swear i
ngaf l
ippi
n’dropped-waistskir
tanda
scar
f.Intwoyearsshe’sgainedmor ekilosthant
he
fi
ngersofherhands,she’
lldefi
nit
elylooklikeanaunt
whocamet ocheeronherni eceamongstt hesef
it
,
model si
zedgi
rls.
“Weareher
e,”hesay
s,l
ooki
ngatherassher
ubsher
armsner
vously.
“
Bhambathat
hisisnotsomethingIwanttodo.I
l
ooknot
hingl
ikethesegi
rlsandIcan’
teven
r
ememberhowv oll
eybal
lwasplayed,
”shesays.
“
You’r
eher etorememberanddeci deify
oust i
l
lli
ke
i
tornot.I
fy oudon’
tli
keityou’l
lfi
ndsomethingelse
t
hatyou’l
ll
ike.Butonethi
ngy ou’
renotherefor,i
sto
l
ookli
keot hergi
rl
s.Areyouthem? ”heasks.
Adeepsi
gh!
Sheshould’
velist
enedtoMrsMyeza.She’
sawidow
andsheshouldbest ay
ingi
nthehouseandcr
ying
overherhusbandnonstop.

Thegamehasal readyst art

ed,
eventhoughteam
member sarest
il
l missi
ngonbot hsi
des.Withthe
advant
ageofhisheight, Bhambat
hacatchesthebal
l
andstandsbythediv i
dingnetandbouncesitonthe
courtf
loorafewtimes.
Thenhel
ooksatt
hegi
rl
s.
“Ibr
oughtanewmember
,MawandeMy
eza.Who’
sin
chargeher
e?”
Onegi
rlst
epsf
orwar
dwi
thherhandr
aised.
“Pl
easebri
efherontherules,
ter
msandlingos,
and
posi
ti
ons.Shehasn’
tplayedinalongt
ime.”
Thegir
llooksatherandsmil
es.She’
stal
l
,sl
i
m and
beaut
if
ul wi
thherlongdr
eadl
ocks.
“HeyWande,comecl
oser.”Herwar
m smi
l
eput
sher
ateaseandshest
epscloser.
Hereyeslockwit
hBhambatha’
sshortl
ybefor
ehe
l
eavesthecourtandgoest
oleanbyhiscarwitha
bur
ningcigar
ett
ebetweenhi
sfinger
s.
“Mygosh,i
sthatyourhusband?”sheasksassoon
asthedi
stancebetweenthem andhimissafel
y.Her
nameisPearl.
“
No,
brot
her
-i
n-l
aw,
”shesay
sawkwar
dly
.
“
Ishegoi
ngt
owat
chust
hroughoutt
hegame?
”
Hemight
.Whoknowswhatgoesi
nBhambat
ha’
s
head?
“
No,
Idon’
tthi
nkso,
”shesay
s.
Reli
efwashesoverPearl
’sface.I
t’
stooearl
ytosay
thi
s,butthi
soneisabouttobecomehernewf r
iend.
Thewel comeshe’
sgetti
ngiswarm, ori
sitbecause
ther
e’samani nbl
ackjoggersandhoodiewatching
them l
ikeahawk?
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER31
TEMA

Phethywant stoknowt oomuchf orherage,atf i

rst
i
twasuncomf ort
abletackli
ngsexualtopi
cswi tha
teenagegir
l,butshehadt ostepoutofa27- year-ol
d
Temaandkeepherpr omi sestoNkonzo.Shehasn’ t
doneany t
hingstupi
dy et,
butatthisrateofcuriosit
y
she’l
lbegivi
ngupt hecher r
yassoonassheget sto
univer
sit
y.
Nkonzoisfift
eenmi nuteslatebutPhet hydoesn’ t
seem tocare.She’swr appedi naf l
eecebl anketon
thecouchandwat chi ngChannel Oonmaxi mum
volume.Onanynor mal day,Temawoul d’vebeen
pissedandcravingf orherper sonalspacebynow.
Theclockisjustaf ewt icksawayf rom 7pm.But
she’shadagr eatt
imet oo;forachangeshe’ s
fl
ouncingaroundtheki tcheninahal t
erneckdr ess,
withherhai
rtiedinahi ghpuf fandwear i
ngonl yped
sockstoescapebi tterl
ycol dtil
es.
Footst
epsappr
oachasshesashay
sfr
om t
he
cupboardt
oaboil
ingket
tl
e.
“
Babe,
teaorcof
fee?
”sheaskswi
thherbackt
urned.
“
Teababe,
”Nkonzosay
sfr
om t
hedoor
.
Shetur
nsherheadwi t
hherey eswi
denedandnearl
y
droponthef
loor.Shejustcal
l
edheremployer‘
babe’
,
whodoesthat?
“I
’
m sor
ry,
Ithoughti
twasPhet
hy,
”shesay
s,
bl
anket
edinshame.
Helooksatherwi
thf
asci
nat
ion,
foral
ong,
uncomfor
tabl
eminut
e.
“St
il
ltea,”hesay
swi
tht
hatgr
inshenev
er
understands.
“Inasec!”shesay s,shi
fti
ngherey esawayt obreak
theawkwar dness.Butnowshehast ogetatea-bag
contai
nerfrom thelasttopshelveoft hecupboard.I
t
sitst
herebecauseshe’ sacoffee-gir
landhardlyever
resort
stoFiveRoses.

Whyi
shenotgoi
ngt
othesi
tt
ingr
oom t
owat
ch
nakedmusi
cianswi
thhi
ssi
ster
?
She’
sstandingi
nf r
ontofthecupboar
dand
contemplat
ingwhethertojumpandgetthe
contai
nerorwaitunti
lheleavest
henstandont
opof
thechair
.
“
Doy
ouneedhel
p?”heasks.
Heli
kest
his,doesn’
the?Ahel
plesswomant
hat
’sa
si
zeofabit
e.
“Yes,
”shesayswit
halowsighandst
epsasi
def
or
him,t
heheight
-gi
ft
edone,
todoami r
acl
e.
Asshest
ands,she’smental
lysketchingouthernext
move.Wi
thapairofgooglyeyesfollowingher,
she’d
havet
ogetanothercupforPhethyandmay beadd
someoat
meal r
aisi
ncookies.
Li
keabol tf
rom thebl
ue,herbackarchesagainst
st
rongarmsast heyli
ftherup,wit
hnowar ni
ngor
whatsoever
.Herbackisagainsthi
schest,hisarms
ar
esaf el
ywrappedaroundherbodyandl i
fti
ngher
hi
ghenought oreachthetopofthecupboard.
She’
dli
ket
oletoutascr
eam-whowant
stobe
randomlypi
ckedup?Butt
henagai
n,he’
shel
pedher
getthecont
ainer
.

Nowherf
eethavetouchedthef
looragai
nbuthi
s
ar
msaresti
l
lwrappedaroundher.
“
That’
senoughnow,
thanky
ou,
”shegr
oansi
nal
ow
v
oice.
Inst
eadoflett
inggo,hetuckshisheadoverher
shoulder
s;sof
tlymassagingherbareski
nwithhis
beard.
“Ngi
sacel
aukushel
a,
”hesaysj
oki
ngl
ywi
thabr
ief
chuckl
e.(
CanIaskyouout
)
Asecondort wopasseswi t
hhermouthhangi
ng
open,thensheinhal
esanenormousbreat
hand
untanglesher
selff
rom hi
sembrace.
Shet
urnsherheadandt
heireyesl
ock.Hi
sface
l
ooksser
iousthanhowhi
sv oi
cehadsounded.
“
Stoppl
ayi
ngwi
thme,
”-i
sal
lshecoul
dthi
nkof
.
Thi
sgott
obeagame.Heroutofal
lpeopl
e!
“I
’vewai t
eday ear,t
ryi
ngtosketchoutabet ter
approach.Bengi funaamagamaazof i
kaefananoj u
ezindlebenizakhongobabengi saba.Namanj e
nginov al
o,ngiyakusabaukuphoxeka.”(Iwanted
betterwor dsthatwould’vesoundedsweet erinyour
earsbecauseIwasscar ed.Ist
il
lam,I’
m scar edof
disappointment s)
Helooksdeadseri
ous,
thegl
i
tterofmischi
eft
hat
’s
al
way si
nhiseyesi
sdimmedbyst r
angerel
uct
ance
andfear
.
Wordsarestuckbelowhert hr
oat.Noteveni
nher
wil
destdreamshassheev erthoughtNkonzowould
hi
tonher.Notjusti
nanymanner ,butsoser
iousand
humble.He’st
hetypethatjokesalmostabout
ever
ythi
ng.
“NkonzoI.
..
I…Idon’t…”Her eachest oherar m and
picksherfr
eehand.Whet herit
’sherner vesthatare
scatter
edallovertheplaceorhi shandr eall
yhas
elect
ricwi
resv ei
ningthroughit,thesecondhi shand
comesi ncontactwithhersshef eelselectri
c
shocked.
“JusthearoutwhatIhav
et osay
.Iwon’
tbel
ong,
I
promise.
”Histhumbcaresseshert
wofi
nger
sand
sheholdsbackagasp.
Hervoicecomesthr
oughandcar
ri
esthequest
ion
husky,
butaudi
bleenough;
“WhyNkonzo?
”
“Idon’
tunder
standwhatyoumean,
”hesay
s,
squint
inghi
seyesandti
ghteni
nghi
sgri
ponher
hand.
“
I’
m aski
ngwhyy
ou’
reaski
ngmeout
.”
“
I’
ll
expl
aini
fyougi
vemeachance,
justonedat
e.”
“
AndifIdon’
t?”Shecocksupherey
ebr
ow,
suddenl
y
f
eel
i
ngi ncont
rolandbossy.
“I
nhli
ziyoy
amiiyohl
alai
bal
isakodwangekephel
a
ngenzelut
ho.
”(Thegapwillal
waysbether
einmy
heartbutt
her
e’dbenothi
ngIcando)
“Ifeel
emot
ional
l
ycor
ner
ed,
”shesay
swi
thal
ow
sigh.
“
That’
snotmyint
ent
ion,
Tinker
bel
l
.”Hi
sli
psst
ret
ch
i
ntoathi
nsmil
e.
“
Oh,
todayI
’
m Ti
nker
bel
l
?”sheasks,
thr
owi
ngher
headbackwar
dsandtear
ingherey
esof
fhi
mfora
moment.Teaneedst
obemade!
“I
’l
lcal
lyouall
thesenamesunt
ily
ouper
mitmet
o
cal
lyou‘babe’
.”
Hotai
rfanshercheeks, hegri
nswiderashestares
downatherblushingandstruggl
i
ngt ocont
rol
t he
rhy
thm ofherbreaths.
“Hel
lofri
ends,canIcomeinandthrowthi
sint
he
bin?
”Phethyasksatthedoor,
li
ft
ingtheempty
packetofchipsshe’
sbeenmunchingon.
They’
dforgot
tenaboutt
heext
racompanyl
eftatt
he
si
tti
ngroom.
Handsl i
nked,withonl
yani nchofspacebet
ween
thei
rbodies!Thisisdef
ini
telygivi
ngadif
fer
ent
pict
ure.Tema’sat t
emptofst eppi
ngawayfr
om
Nkonzodoesn’ thaveadesiredoutcome.
“It
houghtyouguysweref
ri
ends,
”Phet
hysays,
makingherwayinwit
hacheekysmil
eplast
eredon
herface.
“
Wear
efr
iends?
”Temal
ooksatNkonzowi
thher
ey
ebr
owr
aised.
Hechuckl
esandgl
ancesatPhet
hywho’
swat
chi
ng
t
hem l
ikeahawk.
“Tomor
rowaf
terwor
k?”heasks,
tur
ninghi
sey
est
o
her.
“
What’
shappeni
ngtomorr
owafterwork?”shefei
gns
i
gnor
ancebutunf
ort
unat
elyf
orher,i
tdoesn’twor
k
i
nherfav
or.
“Uzovumangishel
e,
”hesays,
obl
ivi
oustoPhethy
’s
presence,wi
thhi
seyesf
ixedonher.(
You’
l
lall
owme
tocourtyou)
Infrontofhis17y
earol
dsist
er!Sheswal
l
ows
nothingnessandt
urnst
otwocupssetonthe
count er
.
“Howmanyspoonsofsugarbabe?
”sheasks,
dir
ect
ingtoPhet
hy.Thi
sishowshecal
lsal
lgi
rl
sshe
knows,babe.
“
Oneandhal
f,
”Nkonz
osay
s.
Heknewshe’dt
urnherey
esandwidel
ylookathi
m.
Hewait
swithamockinggri
nonhi
sface.
“
Iwasaski
ngPhet
hy.
”
“
Sti
l
l,oneandhal
f.
”
Thi
s…!
Shesi
ghsandl
ooksatPhet
hy.
“
Howmanyspoonsofsugar
?”
“
Twoful
lspoons,
”Phethysay
sandl
ooksatNkonzo,
“
Arewesleepi
ngover
?”
“
No,
MaKhumal
owoul
dthr
owat
ant
rum,
”Nkonzo.
Phethy ’
sfacef al
lswi thdisappointment .Shelikesit
here.Sheownst heTVr emot e,askf orwhat evershe
want sandwat chhalfnakedmusi cianst hather
mot hernev erall
owst obeplayedi nherhouse.And
Temai scool,she’shappyt of i
nall
yhav ean
under st
andingsi ster
-in-
laworbr other ’
sbestieor
what evertheyare.I t
’sli
kehav i
nganol dersister,
wher easNot hil
ei sli
keasecondmot her.
“Aren’
tyoutoooldfor‘
umamauzot
het
ha’
?”Tema
asks,uni
ntent
ional
l
yloud.
“NotunderMaKhumalo’
sroof
.Ther
eI ’
l
l al
waysbea
chi
ld.
”He’snotof
fended,
noti
naslightestway.
“I
twil
lbeli
kethatunt
ilIfi
ndloveandgetmarr
ied,
”
hesays,
droppinghi
sey estoherl
efthand.
I
tcoul
d’v
ebeenacoi
nci
dence.I
nfact,
itwasher
owneyespl
ayi
ngt
ri
cksonher.Nkonzoprobabl
y
want
stosmashandpass.He’
samanaf teral
l.
Marr
iagei
snotapl
aceshewi
shest
ogobackt
o.
Nev
eragain!
.
.
BANDLA

Hepaid-t hat’
showhesawi t-andt ookthememor y
sti
ckcont aini
nghisf i
rstpornv ideo.Hewentt osee
Khanyol ateronthedayandev erythingwasnor mal.
She’srecov eri
ngwel l
,Mandul ot hinksit
’sbecauseof
theceremonyhedi dbackhomeandt hedoctors
thi
nkit’
st heirmagi chands.Whi chev eri
tis,Bandlai
s
j
usthappyt oseet heloveofhi sl i
febacktolife.He’
s
beenthinkingofaski ngNolwazi tohelparrangea
l
itt
le‘l
i
fecel ebrat
ing’partyforwhenshecomesout
ofthehospi
tal
.Healsoneedstof
indawayto
bal
ancehisli
febet
weenMandeniandDurban.
May beget
ti
ngahousethissi
de;i
twouldmake
thi
ngsaloteasi
ert
hanthishot
ell
ife.
Hisphonerings,st
art
li
nghi
m andbr
eaki
ngof
fhi
s
t
rainofthoughts.
“
Myman,
”
Damn!Whatdoest
hisonewant
snow?
“
YesEf
e,”hesay
swi
thzer
oent
husi
asm.
“Thingsarebad!I
’m sorr
ytodot hi
sbutyou’
rethe
onlypersonIknowandt rustr
ightnow.Someone
tookmydaught erandleftanotethatt
hey’
ll
beher
newnanny .”
Isn’
tthatfant
ast
ic?I
tshoul
dgi
vehi
m andhi
swi
fe
somepr iv
acy.
“
Howi
sthatanyofmybusi
ness?
”Bandl
aasks.
“
Ineedqui
ckcash,
mydaught
er’
sli
fei
sindanger
.”
Reall
y?May
bet
hismant
hinkshe’
stheBi
l
lGat
eof
Afr
ica.
“
Igav
eyouR300ky
est
erday
!”
“
Itwasf
ormymot
her
’ssur
ger
y.”
“Idon’
tcare,Ef
e.I’
m notyourf
ri
endanddefi
nit
ely
notyourfather
.Yourprobl
emsareyour
s,notmine.”
“Please,Idon’
twantt
oembar
rassy
ouandpostt
his
disgracefulv
ideo.
”
Hef
rowns,
“Whatv
ideonow?
”
“
OnomoHot
elt
hree-
some,
”Ef
esay
s.
“Yougavemet hememor y…”I
tclicksandhelowly
cursesout.He’sstupid,
sosost upid!Fuckhi
m, f
uck
Nigeri
a,f
uckP- square,f
uckJollofrice,f
uckPidgi
n
Engli
shandf uckchannel 152.
“Youaregoingtoblackmai
lmemywhol el
i
feandl
i
e
tome?Youknowwhat ,
gotohel
landdi
newit
h
Satan.You’
renotgetti
nganymoneyfr
om me.
”
“
Thinkaboutthi
scar
eful
l
y.”Yeah,
hisr
eput
ati
oni
sat
r
iskbl
ablabla!
Heshoul
d’v
ebet
tert
hant
otr
ustt
hisshi
tbag,
Efe.
“
Dowhat
every
oul
i
ke.I
’
m notgi
vi
ngy
ouany
thi
ng,
”
hesay
sst
ernl
y.
“
Mymant
hink….
”
Heendsthecal
landr
eleasesal
onghel
d,heav
y
br
eath.

MTHONGA,
IMESSEDUP!
.
.
THAKASA

Hismot herhasbeenquest ioninghisleadershi

p.
Thismor ningshegotacal lfr
om theMy ezas
compl ai
ningaboutMawande’ sbehavior.Apparentl
y,
Bhambat hai ssti
l
l ar
oundandbadl yinfl
uencing
Mawandeandmessi nguphermour ningjourney.I
t’
s
saidthat“Mawandei sbackonact i
ngl i
keachi l
d,
j
umpi ngint hestreet
swi t
hcommongi r
lsand
breakinghermour ni
ngrules.”Thakasahadt ocall
hertoconf ir
mi fi
twasal ltrue
I
ndeed,i
twasalltr
ue.Butnotbadashermot her
-i
n-
l
awhadmadei tsound.Bhambathafounda
vol
l
eybal
lteam i
ntheareaandtookhertheretoj
oin.
Mawandewasal waysacti
veinspor
tgrowingupand
vol
l
eybal
lwasoneofherf avor
it
e.
Shedidn’tsoundli
keMawande, t
hewi dow, overthe
phone.Shet al
kedaboutal otoft hi
ngs, rat
herthan
herhusband’sdeath:There’sagoodf r
iendPear l
,
Thandi t
hebadplayerthatbul l
ieseveryoneandSma
whoal wayscostsherteam t hemat ch.‘Jumpingi n
thestreet
s’astheycallithashelpedherchannel her
emotionsintoposi
tiv
ity.Nyeziwoul d’
vewant edt hat;
hiswifetobehappy .
So,i
nst
eadofgoingt
oMangetheandfi
ght
Bhambatha,
he’
swatchi
ngasoccermatchonTV.

MaKhumal ohasnev erf

eltsodisappointedi
nherlife,
butshevowst opersonal
lytakeactionaboutit
.
She’
snotgoingtoletherdaught erdisr
espectt
he
memor yofherhusbandlikethat.Shegotmar r
ied
becauseshewasr eadytoletgoofal lt
hesechildi
sh
sport
sandbecomeawoman.Whichwomanofthe
housejumpsi
nthest
reet
sandchasebal
l
s?None.

Phonebeepsinhispocket.Hel
owerstheTVvol
ume
sothathecanreadthetextmessage.Ev
ery
body
doesthat
,ri
ght
?
-
MTHONGAIMESSEDUP.
It
’sfrom Bandla.Therear
escr eenshot
sof
conv ersat
ionsbetweenhim andacer t
ainguys
attachedaf t
erthetextmessage.Thenthere’
sa
pictureofav i
deo.
Hebli
nksacoupl
eofti
mesandlooksati
tagai
n.
Bandl
aandtwonakedgi
rl
s.WTF!
Hegoesbacktothescr
eenshot
sat
tachedandr
eads
t
heconver
sati
ons.
Hisbrot
heri
sbeingbl
ackmail
edbyaguynamedEf e.
I
tlooksli
kehe’
salr
eadypai
dtheguyR300kandhe’s
demandingmoremoneyorhe’sgoi
ngt
or el
easet
he
vi
deo.
Ofcour
se,
hewant
stocal
lhi
m andshout
.Whyon
earthwouldhedot wowomenatt hesamet ime?It’
s
disgusti
ng,j
ustlooki
ngatthepictureofit.Butri
ght
nowt here’
snotimeforall
that,theyhavet oprevent
thisvi
deofrom comingoutbecausei t
’l
ltaintthe
wholefami l
yandbadlypubli
cizethecompany .
GI
VEHI
M THEMONEY!
-textmessagedel
i
ver
ed.
HeleavestheTVwatchingi
tsel
fandabsent
-
mindedlygotohi
sbedroom.Heneedstothink!Thi
s
guywillf
orev
ermil
kmoneyoutofBandla,aslongas
hehasthev i
deoofhi
m.

I
’M NOTGI
VINGHI
M MONEYAGAI
N-Bandl
atext
s
back.
He’scrazy
!Thiswil
lrui
nthei
rimage,all
oft
hem, not
j
usthis.Theyhavenootherchoiceatt
hemoment
buttopaytheguy.Theycanthinkofsomet
hingelse
l
ater.

Nothi
l
elet
sgooft heT-
shir
tshewasf
oldingand
comestohim wi
thasli
ghtfr
ownonherface.
“Manqel
eisevery
thi
ngalr
ight
?”sheasks,
hol
dinghi
s
handsandsqueezi
ngthem.
“
It
’sBandl
a,
”hesay
s.
“Whathappenedtohim?Isheokay?
”Wor r
y
tr
ansfor
msherf aceasshesear
chesinher
husband’
seyes.
Hecan’
texpl
aini
t,hejustgi
veshert
hephoneso
t
hatshecanseeforhersel
f.
“
Ist
hisathreesome?
”sheasksasherey
eswi
denat
t
hepict
ures.
“
It
’sasex-
tape,
”Thakasasay
s.
“
Wow,
thi
sissoki
nky
!”
“
He’
sbei
ngbl
ackmai
l
edMaNt
usi
.”
“
Opport
unist
sareever
ywher
e,heshould’
vebeen
mor
ecareful
.Thi
sisreal
l
ybadforthecompanyand
t
hefamil
y.
”
Heexhal
esheavi
ly
,Nothi
l
ewr
apsherar
msar
ound
hi
m andrubshi
sback.
Ther
e’sanot
hert
ext
,Not
hil
eopensi
tandr
eadsout
l
oud:
I
T’SALLOVERTHEINTERNETWITHAWRONG
DATE.I’
M COMI
NGHOME, IKNOW KHANYOWON’
T
FORGIVEME.

“
He’
sonl
yworr
iedaboutKhany
o?”Thakasaasks,
mor
epi
ssedt
hanbefore.
“
Itseemsso.Youhavetolethimtakeresponsi
bil
i
ty
f
orhisownacti
ons,don’
tgetinvol
vedi
nt hi
s.He
mustcal
lthepr
essandexplainhimsel
f,notyou.
”
“
Buthe’
sa…….
”
“Bandlai
snotachi
ld,
he’
s29, don’
tevenstar
t.We
aregoingawayf
ortheweekend,you’
renotgett
ing
i
nv ol
vedManqel
e.”
.
.
KHANYO

Iknowt
hatsomet
hingi
snotr
ight
.I’
vebeenhol
l
ow
sincemor ni
ngbutIcannotputmyf ingeronit.
Ev er
yoneIknowandl oveisokay.Mandul obought
meanewphoneandI ’vebeenkeepingupwi th
everyoneonWhat sapp.Guguisnotar oundoftenas
others,butshesaysit
’ssomethingbusinessrelat
ed
that’
skeepingheraway .Iknowher,shealwayshas
somet hingtoat
tendwithherhighprofil
epersons.

Visiti
ngtimeisstil
lthr
eehour
saway ,
soI ’
m
surprisedtoseeBandlawalki
ngin.Hemust ’
ve
pulledaf ewstri
ngsandusedhisnamet obeleti
n.
Eitherway,I
’m happytoseehi
m eventhoughhe
doesn’ tl
ookhappyt oseeme.
Nursesst
il
lst
areathi
mlikethi
s?Hav
etheynev
er
seenagood-l
ooki
ngNazaret
hmanbefore?

Hesi
tsonthechai
r.Idon’
tgetaki
sst
oday
,notev
en
ont
hecheek.
“
Theywanty
ou,
”It
ell
him.
Hegl
ancesbackatt
het
wonur
sesandt
heyqui
ckl
y
shi
ftt
hei
rey
esandwal
kaway
.Awkwar
d!
“Maybenot
.I’
m at
rendi
ngface,
Ithoughty
ou’
dhav
e
seenitt
oobynow,
”hesays.
“Ihav
en’
tseenany
thing.Whatareyout
rendi
ngf
or?I
hopenotf
orasex-t
ape,I’
dkil
lyou.
”
Hedoesn’
tcatcht
hej
oke.Hi
sfacecl
osesup,
he
exhal
esheav
il
yandhol
dsmyhand.
Thi
slooksser
ioust
hanasex-
tape!He’
sfr
eaki
ngme
out
.
“
What
’swr
ongBandl
a?”Iask.
“Fir
stly,
Iwantyoutoknowt hatIloveyouKhanyo.I
’d
nev erdoanyt
hingtoputourrelat
ionshi
pinjeopar
dy.
ButI ’
m human,Ihaveapastjustlikeever
ybody
else.”
“
Bandl
ayou’
rescar
ingme,
”Isay
.
“
I’
m goi
nghome,yourex-
boyfr
iendhasav
ideoof
meandhe’
srel
easedittothepubli
c.”
Therearesomanypeoplethatcanber egardedas
myex ’
sbutEf
eisthefi
rstpersonthatcomest omy
mind.Hewashereafewday sago, apparentl
yhe’
s
theonewhosav edme.I’
mr eall
ygratef
ulforthat
,
butitdoesn’
tchangethefactthatEfeplayedme.I’l
l
alwaysbeabi t
terextohi
m, that’
swhyIbr agged
aboutmyr el
ati
onshipandtoldhimt onevercomet o
visi
tmeagain.
“
Efe?Howdoy
ouknowhi
m?”Iaskhi
m.
Herubshi
sfor
ehead,
“Hehasacl
ub,
that
’showI
knowhim.
”
“Youdon’
tgot
oclubs,”Isaywi
thmyey ebr
owr
aised.
There’
smoret
othisthanhe’sl
ett
ingon.
“Iwassingl
ebef
oreyoubutIst
il
lneededt
obet
aken
careofasaman.Efewasmyagency .”
Icannotj
udgehi
spastbecausehedi
dn’
tjudgemi
ne,
butwow!
“SoIguessit’
sr eal
lyasex-t
apeyou’retr
endi
ngf or
.”
Myhear tj
ustbrokei nt
oami l
li
onpieces.Iwouldn’
t
putthi
spastEf e,he’
sanoppor t
uni
st,butInever
thoughtBandlawoul dhavesuchadirtypast
.He
l
ookssoper fectinmyey es.
“
Yes,
hechangedt
hedat
etomakei
tlookr
ecent
.”
Thisiswhynur
seswerest
ari
ngathi
m!He’
sthe
recentKi
m Kar
dashi
an.
“Iwanttobehomeunt i
lal
lthi
ssett
lesdown.
Every
whereIgopeoplestareatme.IthoughtI
’
dbe
abletohandl
eitbutIcan’
t.
”
“
AtMandeni
theywon’
tst
areaty
ou?
”Iask.
Heshr ugshi sshoulder s,“Idon’tknowKhany o,butI
knowt hatThakasawi llfindawayt osolv
eit.Itwas
harmlessf un,Inevert houghti twouldcomeback
andbiteme. ”Heexhal esheav i
lyandrestsbackon
thechair.NowIf eel sor r
yf orhim,Iknowhowmuch
hisfamilyhatesdisgr aceandbadpubl ici
ty.
“
Iwashistar
getbuthedi
dn’tevenhi
dethegi
rl
s’
f
aces.Whati
ftheyl
aychargesagai
nstme?Whatif
t
heyhavefamil
i
es?”
NowI
’mlost
,whyisheusi
ngpl
ural
s?May
beIneed
t
oseethi
ssex-
tapemysel
f.
“
Howmanygi
rl
sar
eint
hesex-
tape?
”Iask.
Heswal
l
ows,
“Two.
”
“
Bandl
a!”
Someoneneedst owakemefrom t
hisbaddr
eam.
MyinnocentBandlawoul
dnev
erdot hat
!
“
I’
m notper
fectori
mmunet
osi
n,
”hesay
s.
Idon’
twantt
olie,
rightnowI’
mj ustpretendingt
obe
okaywit
hthi
s.I
’m sti
llgoi
ngt
odi gestitwithNol
wazi
andGugu.Hhawu,changeke!Three-f
uckin-some.
“
Okaybabe,gohomei
fthat
’swhaty
out
hinki
sgoi
ng
t
ohelpyou.
”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER32

Nolwaziwalksinandgetssurprisedbyali
tt
legirl
crawli
ngont hefl
oor.Sheli
ter
allylet
soutascream
atthesightofthel
it
tlehumanbei ngwit
hbulbous
eyesandcut eknot
swi t
hpinkribbons.
“
Whosechi
l
dist
his?
”shey
ell
s.
Thebathr
oom dooropens,
Gugucomesouti
n
st
il
ett
osandti
ght,bl
acksheat
hdress.
“That
’s….
Ifor
gethername,
butshe’
swi
thme,
”she
says.
“
Youdon’
tknowhername?Whosechi
l
dissheand
whyi
sshehere?
”Nolwazi
asks.
“I’
mj ustlooki
ngaft
erher.
”Sherunsherfi
ngers
throught herowsofhernewl
ydonestrai
ght-
back
andr eleasesashal
lowbreat
h.
“Li
sten,
Iwon’tbearoundforacoupl
eofdays.
PleasetakecareofKhanyo,
Iheart
hatBandl
ahas
l
eftDurbanaftert
hesex-t
apescandal
.”
Nol
wazi
’
sey
eswi
den.Saywhat
?!
“
Whi
chsex-
tapescandal
?”sheasks.
“Sear
ch‘
Shembemanfuckstwoebonysl
u£s’
you’
l
l
seewhatev
ery
onei
stalki
ngabout
.”
“
Oh,mygoodness!You’
resurei
t’
shi
m? ”sheasks,
maki
ngaruntoconnectherphonet
othecharger.
“
IknowBandla,pl
easedon’tf
orgettoupdat
emeon
Whatsappaboutev
eryt
hing,i
ncl
udingyouand
Mandulo.
”
“Ther
e’snomeandMandul o.Het hi
nksI’
my oung
anddumb.I sBandl
afuckingbothebonyslu£sat
once?”Thesearchengi
nei snotfastenough,ads
keeppoppingupanddisturbi
ngher .
JesusChri
st!X-
videoshav
eitont
hei
rnewAf
ri
can
content
.
“Ohmygoodness!Comeandseehowhugehi
sbal
l
s
are?Thi
sgi
rli
ssuckingt
hem l
i
keafi
nish.
”
“
Whatisa‘f
inish’?
”Guguaskswi
thaf
rown,
ther
e’sa
t
extshe’
squicklytypi
ng.
“
Isi
qeda,
”Nol
wazi
say
swhi
l
eincr
easi
ngt
hev
ideo
v
olume.
“Bona,he’
sst
ret
chi
ngthepoorgir
l’
svagi
na.Ican’
t
beli
evehe’
scapabl
eofdoi
ngthis.
”
“
Lord,
Nolwazist
opwatchi
ngthat
.You’
re
t
raumati
zi
ngthepoorbabyher
e.”
“
Takeherandleave,Iwantt
oseehowlonghel
ast
s,”
Nol
wazisayswithhereyesgl
uedont
hephone.

Afewminutesl
atert
here’
sat al
l
,bul
kymanwear
ing
ablackt
uxedost
andingatthedoor.
“
You’
rer
eady
?”heasksGugui
nadeepv
oice.
Gugupickst
hebabyandshowshi
m bagsont
he
couch.
Nolwazipausest
hepor
nvi
deoandl
ooksupwi
thher
eyeswidened.
“Hi
,whoareyou?”sheaskstheman.Cur
iosi
tyi
s
spl
ashedal
loverhereyes.
“Thi
sisMohammed,
afr
iendofmyf
ri
end,
”Gugu
says.
“I
sherel
atedtoMohammedAl
i
?Gosh,
he’
ssot
all
.
Doeshe….
? ”
“ByeNol
wazi, Il
oveyou,
takecareofyoursel
f.I’
l
lsee
yousoon.”Shewalksoutwithhert
all
,bulkyfri
endof
afri
end,l
eavingNolwaziwit
hhermout hhanging
open.
.
.
BANDLA

“
Oh,wow!Yafi
kaipor
nstar,
waf
ikaumf
endi
omkhul
u,
waf
ikaumshay’wesi
nqe!
”
Hel eansbythecarandgl
aresatNkonzo.Thi
sisnot
funny,hi
sli
fehasbeentur
nedupsidedownbyt hi
s
scandal.
“
Arey
oudone?
”heasks.
“Youshouldn’
tbemeant ome.MaKhumaloi
s
wait
ingforyou,peoplehavebeencal
li
ngal
ldayand
demandinganswer s.Thakasal
eftwi
thMaNtusi
for
thei
rweekendtrip.
”
Noway
s,t
hiscannotbet
rue!
“
Hel
eft
?”heasks.
“Yeap.I’
dadvi
seyoutocal
laboardmeeti
ngbef
ore
addressi
ngthi
spubli
cly
.Thechur
ch’
snameisbeing
draggedthr
oughthemudbecauseofyou.
”
“Igetit
,nowstopactingholybecauseI ’
m nott
he
onlyonewho’sbeenint hatpositi
on.”Hecli
ckshis
tongueandblowsoutahugebr eat
h.Nowhehast o
dealwithhi
smot herwho’spr obabl
ydealingwit
h
backlashfr
om churchleaders.
“
Cany oucov
erupforme?I’
l
lbehomel at
e,t
ell
MaKhumalother
ewasabusinessdi
nnerIgot
i
nvi
tedto,
”Nkonzoasks.
Hereall
yhasnicel
if
eprobl
ems, Bandl
aleaveshi
m
st
andinginf
rontofhi
sdoor,combinghishair
.

Hi
sbr
eat
hishel
dupashewal
kst
hrought
hedoor
.
“
SawubonaMa,
”hesay
s
“
KawkonaMa?That
’swhatyou’
regoi
ngt
osayaf
ter
t
hismessy
ouputusthr
ough?”
“
Icanexpl
ain,
”hesay
s,sl
i
dingdownont
hecouch.
“Ri
ght,y
oucanandyouwill
.Whatgotintoy ourhead?
Can’
tyoutakeawif
eandsatisf
yyourselfhowev er
youli
ke?Whatki
ndofsickbehavi
ori
st his?Andy ou
hadtoputiti
nfi
l
mf ort
hewor l
dtosee.”
“
Itwasharmlessf
un.Idi
dn’
tthi
nki
twoul
dendl
i
ke
t
his,
I’
m sor
ryMa.”
“You’
vedisappoint
edmeandt hi
sfamil
y.Idon’
t
knowhowy ou’
regoingtomakethi
sri
ght
Bandl
alet
hu.Yourf at
herist
urni
ngi
nhisgrave.
”
“
I’
ll
thi
nkofsomet
hing,
”hesay
s.
“Whycan’tIhavepeaceinmyl if
e? ”Shestandsup
andthrowsherhandsup.“ Yoursisteri
sjumpingup
anddowni nthestr
eetsinsteadofmour ningforher
husband.Theotherone….”Herbreat hi
srunning
short
,sheholdsontothecof f
eetablepant i
ng
heavi
ly.
“
Ma,arey
ouokay
?”Bandl
aasksi
npani
candr
ushes
t
oher.
“
Don’
tputy
ourhandsonme.
”
Hesighsandstepsback.He’
sstubbor
nbutthi
sti
me
heunderst
andswherehismother’
sangercomes
fr
om.
“
I’
m sor
ryMa,
”hesay
s.
.
.
THAKASA

Hishear tisheavy.Asmuchasheunder stands

MaNt usi’spointofview,buthestill
feel
sliket her
e’s
somet hingheshoul d’v
edone.Bandl aisstil
lgoingto
takeresponsi bi
li
tyofhisactionsinchurch,theleast
hecoul d’vedonewast otakecareofthingsf orhi
m
i
nt hepubl ic.Hehasasmoot hertonguethanhi m,he
would’veaddr essedthisbettert
hanhowBandl awil
l.
AndBandlanev
erbeentroubl
esomeinhi
slif
e.He’
s
har
dlyev
erintr
ouble,
unli
keNkonzo.Hecoul
d’v
e
hel
pedhim,j
ustthi
sonce!
Heglancesathi
swr
istwat
chfort
imeandfrownsas
henoti
ceshowmucht i
mehaspassedwhi
l
ehe’s
si
tti
ngher e.Nothi
let
akest
hesetri
psveryseri
ousl
y,
she’
llbit
ehi sheadof
fandaccusehim ofnotgi
vi
ng
herattent
ion.
Heshouldrestbecauset omorrowhe’sbeingtaken
toTheLegendarySaniPassandt aki
ngat ouraround
toenj
oynature.Hewoul dn’
ttakeany t
hingaway
fr
om Malachit
eManor ,buthecoul d’
veappreci
atedit
onamagazi neandbeokaywi t
hit.
Buthe’
sher
enow,hehastoappreci
atehi
swi
fe’
s
ef
fort
sofpl
anni
ngtheset
ri
psforthem.

Hewalksintotheirroom expect
ingt
ofi
ndherboil
i
ng
andwait
ingt oexplode.Butshe’
slyi
ngonhersi
de
andwatchingsomet hingonherphonewit
h
ear
phonesi nherears.
“
Iwasout
side,
”hesay
s,t
aki
nghi
sshi
rtof
f.
Nor
esponse.
Heundr essesandcl
imbsonbed, t
henshet
urnsher
headandt akesoutt
heearphoneswit
hhereyes
widened.
“Whatareyoul
ist
eni
ngto?”Hetur
nsherhandto
takealookatt
hephoneandhisbr
other
’sexposed
genit
alswel
comehim.
“MaNtusiwhatisthi
s?”Hedoesn’
tknowwhethert
o
bepissedordisgust
ed.Whyonearthwouldhi
swife,
outofallpeopl
e,watchani
ll
egalpor
nvideoofhi
s
brot
her?
“Mysi
stersenti
ttome,
”Nothil
esaysregr
etf
ull
yand
qui
ckl
ylocksthescr
eenofherphone.
“Whydidy ouaskf orit
?YouandNomceboshouldn’
t
bedistr
ibuti
ngthisvideo,
you’
resupposedtobe
Bandla’
sfami l
y,nottopourpet
rolonafir
e.”
“Manqel
ethi
sist
rendi
ngever
ywhere.What
dif
fer
encedoesi
tmakeifNomcebosendsitt
ome?
”
“You’remywife,whatdoyougetf rom wat chingmy
brother’
spri
vatepart
s?”Hisvoi
cer ises,he’slosing
controlofhi
semot i
ons.“I
’dneverfindpleasur ein
watchingNomcebo, oranyonecloset oyou, being
exposedi nasexualvi
deo.Youshoul drespectmy
brother.
”
“
Nowy
ou’
react
ingasi
fIwentt
oBandl
a’
sroom and
peepedonhim.Hef
il
medhissexualdeeds,I
’m one
ofthemil
li
onvi
ewer
s.Whyareyoutakingyour
fr
ustr
ati
onsoutonme?”
“
You’
rebei
ngaper
ver
t,
”hesay
s.
Nothi
le’
sfor
eheadf
urr
owsi
ntoaf
rown.Di
sbel
i
ef
swall
owsher.
“Saywhat?Idi
dn’tcheat,i
mpregnateandbuya
houseformysper m-di
sh.Don’tactl
ikey
ouknow
anythi
ngaboutrespect.
”
“
Shewasnotasper
m-di
sh!
!!
”
“
Oh,
isi
t?”
Si
l
ence…
“
Whatwasshe?
”Nothi
leasksandf
oldsherar
ms
wi
thadeadl
ookonherface.
“MaNtusi,Idon’
twantustof
ight
.Tel
lyoursist
ert
o
stopdist
ri
butingthi
svi
deoandthendel
eteitfr
om
yourphone,”hesays.
“Iaskedyouwhatshewast oyouifshewasnota
sperm-di
sh?!”Not
hil
eyel
lsandclapsherhandst
o
emphasizethequesti
on.
“
Don’
trai
sey
ourv
oice,
”hesay
s.
Thatmotiv
ateshertoyel
llouder.“WHATWASSHE
TOYOU, BUSTARD?”She’sclappingwit
heachword.
I
nasplitsecondshe’
sgrabbedhi m byhi
svestand
yel
li
ngonhisface.

Hemanagest
oget
sherhandsof
fhi
m andr
oll
sof
f
bed.
“
I’
m notsl
eepi
ngher
e,”hesay
s,pi
cki
nghi
scl
othes
f
rom t
hefl
oor.
“
Yes,
goThakasa.Goanddowhat
every
ouwant
,
wi
thwhoev
eryoulove.
”
“Tr
ustme,Iwi
ll
.”Hebutt
onsuphi
sshi
rtwi
thshaky
handsandput
shispanton.
“
Good,makeherpr
egnantandshe’
l
labor
tagai
n,
f
ool
!”
“
Youl
ovedthat
,di
dn’
tyou?Iwoul
dn’
tbesur
pri
sedi
f
y
ouhadsomethi
ngtodowithi
t.
”
“She’
sawhore,
that
’swhatwhor
esdo.Shecan’
t
haveherownman,whatmadeyouthi
nkshe’
dbe
abl
etohav
eachi
l
dandkeepi
t?”
“If
elli
nlovewi
thher
…”No,
no,
no!Hedi
dn’
tmeant
o
saythi
sloud.
“That’
swhyy ouboughtherahouse? ”Hert
one
dropsinstant
ly.She’
sflappinghereyesand
preventi
ngtearsfrom crackingout
.
“
That
’smyhouse,
MaNt
usi
.Nother
s.”
“I
t’
sherhouse!Whendi
dyouf
all
inl
ovewi
thher
?”
sheasks.
“
Idon’
tknow….
wewer
eonandof
f….
I’
mreal
l
ysor
ry.
”
Sheexer
cisessomebr
eat
hs.
“
Doy
oust
il
ll
oveher
?”
“
No.
”
“
Manqel
e!”
Si
gh!
“
Canyoulookatmeintheey
esandsayy
oudon’
t
f
eel
anythi
ngforher
?”
“
Whydoesi
tmat
ter
?Iwantt
obemar
ri
edt
oyou,
I’
m
notgoi
ngbackt
oherf
orany
thi
ng.Iwanty
ou.
”
“
Itmat
tersi
fy ou’
renotl
iv
ingt
hel
i
feofy
ourdr
eams
wit
hme,”Nothil
esays.
“
Iam l
i
vingt
hel
i
feofmydr
eams.
”
“
You’
rel
ying!
”Thist
imetear
sgetheavi
erf
oreyeli
ds
t
ohol
d.Theycrackoutandfal
ldownonhercheeks
l
i
kefl
oods.

Hecli
mbsonbedandtri
estoholdherhand,
but
she’
stoobr
okenandemoti
onalatt
hemoment .
“MaNt usiIloveyouandIwantt olovey outheway
youdeser ve.Butthi
s‘husband’ti
tl
emakesi thard
forme, it
’shardtobey ourlov
erbecause
responsibil
iti
esofbeingahusbandout weigh
everyt
hing.”Hedoesn’ tmakeanysense; thisiswhat
scareshim aboutexpr essi
nghisfeel
ingst opeople.
“
Iwantust
omov
eoutandf
indour
sel
ves,
”hesay
s.
Hersobssoft
en,shel
ooksathi
m andhewi
pesher
wetcheekswit
hthebackofhi
shand.
“
We’
l
ltakeSqal
owi
thus,
”hesay
s.
“
WhataboutMa?
”sheasks.
“
Idon’tknowMaNtusi.I
’m moreworr
iedaboutour
marr
iage,Idon’
twanttolosey
ou,ngi
y akut
handa.
”
“
Ifeel
li
kewe’
l
lbel
ostwi
thouther
.Idon’
twantt
o
moveout.
”
“It
hinkwe’
l
lfi
ndour
sel
vesi
fwehav
eourown
space.”
“
Youalr
eadyfoundyour
sel
fwheny
ouf
ell
inl
ove
wi
thanotherwoman.
”
“Pleasestopt aki
ngusback.Ididfalli
nlovewith
Nomkhosi becauseshegavemeachancet o,
ev en
thoughInev ertoldheranyt
hingaboutit.I
’
m ov er
thatnow, shekill
edmybaby ,herandIcannev erbe.
I’
my ourhusband,sheknewt hatf
rom dayone.
Pleasealsoacknowl edgeandletthatsi
nkin,you
gav emear i
ngandIgav emyl i
fetoyou.Whent he
sunset sdown, I’
l
lalwaysfi
ndmywayhomeand
homei syou.”
“
ManqeleIdon’
tknow.Idon’
tknowwhatt
odoor
whatt
obeli
everi
ghtnow.”
“
Let
’smov
eout
,ev
ery
thi
ngwi
l
lset
tl
eint
opl
ace.
”
“Whatifi
tdoesn’t
?Whatifhavi
ngourownspace,
undernoguidance,br
eaksusapar
t?”
“
Itwon’
tbecauseI’
m goi
ngt
olov
eyouandgi
vey
ou
t
hebestofevery
thi
ng.”
Sheexhal
esdeepl
y.
“
Whyar
ewet
aki
ngSqal
o?”sheasks.
“BecauseMaKhumal ocannotloveandsupporthim.
Thingsarenotsmoot hathome, you’
veseenhow
tenseiti
s,Idon’
tthi
nkit’
sokayf orhi
mt ocont
inue
l
ivingi
napl acel
ikethat
,”Thakasasays.
“
Idon’
tknow.I
fwearefocusi
ngonus,t
henwhyar
e
webri
ngi
ngagaybrot
hertoli
vewi
thus?”
“I
t’
snoti
mpor tantf
ory outoment i
onhissexual
i
ty.
Sqal
owon’tstandinawayf orustoloveoneanother
andbondwithourprincessprivat
ely
.”
“
Ify
ousayso.
”Sheshrugshershoul
ders,
“Wherear
e
wemovi
ngto?Youneedtobeclosert
owor k.
”
“TugelaMout
h?Iknowt
hatyoul
oveswimming,
we
canfindahousewit
hapool
andenoughspacefor
t
hreepeopl
e.”
“
No,
I’
ll
findt
hehouse,
noty
ou.
”
Hel
aughs,
“Don’
tyout
rustmyt
ast
e?”
“
Cany
oubl
ameme?
”
“
Oh,
yeah?Buty
oul
i
kehowMt
hongat
ast
es.
”
Fl
i
p!Theconv
ersat
ionj
ustt
urnedl
i
ket
hat
.
“
Ido?
”shef
rownssl
i
ght
lyandchuckl
es.
“
May
beIshoul
dremi
ndy
ou.
”
.
.
BANDLA

Heshouldn’
thavedri
vepastt heshops.Thisisnot
somet
hinghecanhandl e.Peopletakepictur
esof
hi
m,somegossi pabouthim onhisf aceandsome
l
ookathimlikehe’
sthebi ggestsi
nneronear t
h.
He’st
hemosttr
endi
ngper
soninSAthi
sweek.It
’s
notdyi
ngdownashehadhoped,
nowthey
’vedug
outgir
ls’i
denti
tyandbroughtt
heirf
amil
i
esint
ot he
scandal.I
t’
skeepsgett
ingmoreinter
est
ingf
orthe
publi
c.He’sduetorel
easeastatementi
nadayand
he’
snotr eadyatal
l.
Ther
e’sanot
herar
ti
cle:
AMAHLE,ONEOFTHEGIRLSI
NVOLVEDINTHE
LATESEXSCANDAL,
SAYSBANDLALETHU
DRUGGEDHERINTHEHOTEL.

Efewashisconnectiontot hesegirl
s.Ev eryt
hing
wasconsented,f
inancialtr
ansactionswer emade
andall
ofthem werei ntheirri
ghtmi nds.Now
ever
yonewantstopai nthim asabadguyandhe
can’
tevendefendhimsel fbecauseany thinghesays
canbetwist
edandt urnedagai nsthim.

“
Arey oubli
nd?Whyareyoukicki
ngmybucket?”
MaKhumal oasksashewalksinthel
oungeabsent
-
mindedly
.
Hesi
nksont
hecouchanddr
opshi
sheadonhi
s
hands.
“
Whathappened?
”MaKhumal
oasks.
“I
’
m alaughi
ngstockMa,nomaubani
usika
kwal
it
handayonj
e.WhymustIbeexposedli
ket
his?
Forwhat?WhatdidIdowrong?
”
“
Ist
hatev
enaquest
ion?Youdi
dev
ery
thi
ngwr
ong?
”
“Butam Ithatbad?Idi dn’
thur
tanyone.Imadea
stupi
dmi stake,y
es,butwhodi dIdowr ongexcept
God?Whyar emysi nsouttheref
oreveryoneto
j
udgebutI ’
v eneverjudgedANYONE.”
“
Bandl
a,y
ouputy
our
sel
fthr
ought
his.
”
“That’
snott hepoint.”Hehitsthecouchwi t
haf ist
furi
ously.“I
’
m acar ingperson,Ma.I ’
m av er
ycar ing
person!I’
dnev erhurtanyonelikethis,nomat ter
what.Youknowme, I
’dneverdosomet hi
nglikethis
toany one.I
’dneverdanceont opofsomeone’ s
grave.I’
dnev erhurtsomeonel ikethis!
”Hest amps
downhi sfootandcov er
shisface,becausehe’ s
Bandla,he’sprobablynowcr yi
ng.
“
Thi
swi
l
lbl
owov
er,
”MaKhumal
osay
sinal
owv
oice.
Unti
lKhanyo,
hewasthemostgoodoneoutoffour.
Andhe’sri
ght,
he’
sacari
ngperson.Asmuchasshe
wantshimtobepuni
shedforhi
ssins,he’
snotf
or
thewholeworl
dtocr
uci
fy.
“WhenMa?Whatar emyki dsgoingtot
hinki
nf ut
ure
whent heycomeacr ossthi
svideo?Whodoesn’tdo
dir
tythingspri
vat
ely?WhymustIbeexposed?My
l
ifeisruined,
Icannotconti
nuetoli
veli
kethi
s.”
No,no,
no!Shest
andsupandgoest
othecouchhe’
s
si
tt
ingon.
“Pl
easedon’tspeakli
kethat
.”She’
sbrushi
nghis
backtender
ly,whi
chisn’
tsomethingshenormal
ly
doestoherboychildr
en.
“I
’
llhandlethi
s,don’
twor r
yaboutit,okay?Focuson
work,minangizobaqondisa.Idi
dn’tspendt hr
ee
hoursinlabourwardtohav emysonbel it
tledby
i
mbeci l
es.It
’snotyourfaultt
hatthosetwol oose
gi
rlsdidn’
thaverespectforthei
rbodies.”
“
Ma!
”Hel
i
ftshi
sheadup,
“Youcan’
tspeakl
i
ket
hat
.”
“
IcanspeakhoweverIl
ike.You’
l
lst
ayher
e, I
’
lldo
t
hatpr
essthi
ng,t
ellor
ganizerst
obri
ngatranslat
or
becauseIwon’
tbi
temyt
ongueexpl
aini
ngi
n
Engli
sh.
”
“
No,
I’
ll
handl
e….
..
.”
“
Arey
ouhungr
y?Il
eftsomesampy
est
erday
.”
No,
who’severhadt
hei
rmot
heraddr
esst
hemedi
a
f
orthem?!
AndMaKhumal
odoesn’
tknowhowt
omi
nceher
words.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER33
TEMA

Wow, soheev enwor eamust ar

dbl azeroverhi
s
whit
eT-shi
rtandanewpai rofjeans!Hel ooks
handsome,that’sthefir
stt
hingany onewould
commenton.He’ saclean,
li
ght-skinnedand
handsomeguy .Hi sbeardi
skeptj ustlikeanyother
guyofhisr
eligionbutit’
snotallov erhisface.
Hesmi lesasheappr oacheshertable.Sheinsi
sted
ondrivi
ngherselft
ot herestaur
ant.Beingso
punctualoneveryt
hing,shegothereexactlyon4pm
astheyhadagr eedon.
“
Am Il
ate?
”heasks,
pul
l
ingachai
randt
aki
ngaseat
.
Heknowsthathe’
slat
e;al
most10minut
eslat
e.She
gi
veshi
m alookanddoesn’
tcommentonthat
.
“
Didyouorderf
orme?
”heasks,
rubbi
nghi
spal
ms
t
oget
her.
“
Idon’
tknowwhaty
oueat
,Ionl
yor
der
eddr
inks,
”
Temasay
s.
“Letmeseethemenuandor der.
”Hepul
lsthemenu
andpagesthr
oughit
,passi
ngt hesal
adpagewit
hout
glanci
ngt
wiceatt
hem.
He’srunni
nghiseyesontheSteak&Gri
llpage,
whichisn’
tasurpri
sebecausehi
m andhisbrot
hers
nevereatany
thingothert
hanmeat.Hav
et heynev
er
heardofgout?

Thewai tr
essappearswitht heirdri
nksandt akeshis
order.Therearetwoempt yt ablesbetweenthem
andtheol dwhitewomanenj oyingatallgl
assof
wineacrosst hem.Ther
e’spr ivacy,t
oomuchofi t
!
She’sgetti
ngnervousandNkonzocanseei t.But
he’snotstari
ngatheranyl essdespi t
eher
di
scomf ort.
“
Thanky
ouf
orcomi
ng,
”hef
inal
l
ysay
s.
Temanods,
“Pl
easur
e!”
Thi
sdoesn’tf
eell
essthananyofthefor
mal
meeti
ngsthey’
vehel
dtogether
,buti
t’
sactual
l
ya
dat
e.
“
Shoul
dIi
ntr
oducemy
sel
f?”heasksandchuckl
es.
Awkwar
d!
“I
’m Nkonzenhl
eManqel e,
Iwasbor ni
nEnembeand
grewupt her
e.I’
m asecondbor ni
nafamilyof5
si
bli
ngs.Youknowwher eIwork,I
’
m 34andIthink
I’
minlovewi t
hagirlbutwe’l
lseehowitgoes.
”
Thatl
astl
i
newassounnecessar
y!
Shepi
ckshergl
assandsi
psonhercr
anber
ryj
uice.
“Whyareweher eNkonzo?”sheasks,notr eal
i
zing
howcoldshesounds.Ithasn’
tsunkin,thiswhole
thi
ng.I
tfeel
sli
keshe’sbreaki
ngcertai
nr ulesand
j
eopardi
zinghernewlyfoundpeaceofmi nd.
“Iwishforyoutoknowmebet ter.Toknowaman
behindthesuit
.Idon’tknowifwhatIhav etooffer
willbeenough;Idon’thaveanythi
ngexceptmyhear t.
I
t’sbeenal ongti
mesi nceIfi
rstmety ouandbeliev
e
mei fIsayIfel
linlovewithyouont hatday.Butat
thatti
mey ouwer estil
ldeal
i
ngwi thghostsofyour
past.Ihadtogivey ouspacetoheal andfi
nd
y
our
sel
fagai
n.”
Herex-husband,Thula,i
stheghostoft hepastbeing
ref
erredto.Him andhisbrother
sknowal labout
scandalsandskeletonsofhermar r
iage,whichis
oneoft hereasonswhyt hi
sdatefeelsinappropr
iate.
“Ir
eall
ydon’tknowwhatt
osay
,Nkonzo.Idi
dn’
t
expectthi
sfrom y
ou.
”
“
BecauseI
’
m aNazar
eth?
”
“
Andy
ou’
remyboss.
”
“I
’m not
,you’
reThakasa’
sPA,notmi
ne.Heal
so
knowshowIf eelabouty
ou.
”
Herey
eswiden.I
fThakasaknowst
heni
t’
sser
ious
t
hanshehadthought
.
“
Soy
ou’
reanunmar
ri
edwomannow?
”heasks.
Thequestionisratherconf
usi
ng.Heknowsv
erywel
l
thatshe’
sdivorced.
“
Yes,
”shesay
srel
uct
ant
ly.
“Wereyoutr
ansf
err
edandwel
comedbacktothe
Dubesoryou’
reonl
yunmar
ri
edonthepaper
?”
“I
’m TemaDube,”shesayswi thaconfusedl
ookon
herface.Shedi
vorcedThula,ever
ythi
ngwas
fi
nali
zedandshere-regi
ster
edasMsTemaDubeat
HomeAf f
air
s.
“MaybeonedayI ’
l
lbehonoredtomeetyourparent
s
anddiscussitwi
ththem.I
’m aver
ytradi
ti
onaland
rel
igi
ousman, whi
chissomethi
ngIwanty out
o
knowmor ethananythi
ngaboutme.”
“Meaning?
”sheasks,
cocki
ngupherey
ebr
owi
n
quest
ion.
“Il
oveyoubutIcannotl
ovebey
ondt
het
empl
e,
”he
says.
Oh,
great
!
“
Thenwhyar
eweher
e?”sheasks.
“Becauselovecanpaveaway .RightnowI ’
m not
askingyoutomar r
ymeorany thing,Ij
ustwantyou
togettoknowmebet ter
,theny ou’l
ldeci
deifI’
m
worthyourloveornot
.”
“
Youjustsai
dyoucannotl
ovemebecauseIdon’
tgo
t
oyourchurch.
”
“No,Iloveyou,butformetobeabl
etot
akei
tto
otherstepsyou’l
lhavetobei
nchur
chwit
hme.”
“Whosai
dIwantany
thi
ngt
ogot
oot
herst
eps?
”she
asks.
Shej
ustgotoutofamar
ri
agef
orcr
yingoutl
oud!
“Idon’
twanttopl
ayhideandseek,
I’
m 34.I’
m
l
ookingforsomet
hingsol
id,
Iwanttobuil
d
somethingwit
hyou,
”hesays.
“Ican’
tchangemylif
et oaccommodat eyou.Idon’
t
eventhi
nkI’mreadyforarelat
ionshi
p.”
“I’
m beggi
ngyou, j
ustgiveitoneshotandseehowi t
goes.I’
m notgoingtoletyoudown.Ipromise,you
won’tregr
etit
.”Feardimshi seyes.He’
sgett
ing
rej
ectedonbroadday l
ight.
“I
’
m sor r
yNkonzo, keepsearchi
ng.I
’m notreadyf
or
arelat
ionship,l
etaloneonethatwoul
dneedmet o
j
oinapar ti
cularchurchbef
oreIcanbel ov
ed
proper
ly.”
“
ComeonTema, ngekengikuphoxe.Atl
eastt
ell
me
y
ou’
ll
thi
nkaboutit
,I’
l
lwaitforyou.”
Sheexhal
esdeepl
yandshakesherhead.
Nott
oday
,may
benotev
er.
“
No,
”shesay
s.
“
Ilov
eyou,
Tema.
”
“
Sti
l
lno,
Nkonzo.
”
Hishandsti
ghtensar
oundt
hegl
asshe’
shol
ding
andalmostbreaksi
t.
“
WhatmustIdo?
”heasksi
nfr
ust
rat
ion.
“Forgetweev
erhadthisconversat
ion.Wewereokay
withonlyapr
ofessi
onalr
elat
ionshi
pbet weenus,
”
shesay s.
“
Iwasnev
erokaywi
thi
t,
”hesay
s.
That’
snotthepoi
ntbutshedoesn’
tar
gue.She
sli
desherphonei
nsi
deherpurseandgetsonher
feet
.
“I
’
llaskt
hem t
opackmyfood.Ihav
eal
otofwor
kto
doathome,
”shesays.
“Youreal
l
ydon’tl
ikeme,hey
?”Hist
oneisbr
uised
buthe’st
ryi
nghisbestt
osqueezei
nthepai
n.
“ByeNkonzo,l
et’
snevertal
kaboutt hisagai
n.Icame
becauseyouaskedmet olendy ouanearandIdi d.
Nowl et
’sr
especteachother,
please,”shesays.
Hiseyesdr
op.Hedoesn’
tsayanyt
hingnorl
i
fthi
s
headasshegoesuptothecashi
ersatt
hecount
er
wit
hherpurse.
Heshoul d’vest
ayedawayandlovedherfrom a
distance.Hishear
tdi
dn’
tgetbrokeninthatposi
ti
on.
Forav erylongti
mehewascomf or
tabl
ewi t
hlovi
ng
herandnotget ti
ngherl
oveback,butfr
om nowon
thingswon’tbethesameanymor e.
.
.
MAWANDE

Hermot her-
in-
lawwasn’ tgoi
ngtostaywit
hher
for
ever.She’
sgonebackt oherhouseandsenta
l
itt
legir
lthat’
sNy ezi
’sniecet
ostaywithher.Li
fewil
l
neverbethesamewi thouthi
m butshe’
stryi
ngnot
todwellmuchont heloss.Nyezi
lef
tever
ythingto
her,
sheneedstodusther
sel
fupandsol
dieron.She
cannotl
ethi
m down.
“Aunt
,Babasay
sImustgotoGogotoday,
”says
Liy
ana,t
he11yearol
dgi
rlt
hatst
ayswithher
.
Whi
chBabanow?Shecannotsl
eepal
one,
it’
sst
il
l
t
ooear
ly.
Beforeshecanenqui refur
therdetail
sHalali
sani
walksincarryi
ngaNi kebag.He’ ssixyearsolder
thanNyezi,abitchubbywi t
har oundbellyandAsi an
eyes.Thandiweishappy ,t
hat’
sal l
thatmat t
ers,at
theendofthedaywewer eall
madeoutofGod’ s
i
mageandwear eallbeauti
fuli
nHi seyes.
“Ndi
mbane,
canIhelpyou?”Mawandeasks,
fol
ding
herar
msandstar
ingathim.
“KaManqeleizweseli
li
bimanje,
ngekengi
vumeul
ale
wedwaemzi niongaka.
”(KaManqelet
heworl
disbad
nowadays,Icannotl
etyousleepal
oneint
his
gigant
ichomestead)
“
Thankyouforyourconcer
ns,
butLi
yanai
sher
eand
I
’
m notscar
ed.”
“
No,evenmycousi
nwouldt
urnhi
sbackonmei
fI
l
ethi
swifebeor
phanedl
i
kethi
s.”
“Isai
dI’
mf i
ne!
”shesay
ssternl
yandlooksaround
forLi
yanaandnoti
cest
hatshe’
sgone.Great
,just
great
!
Hiseyest
rav
eldownherbodyandundressher.
She’
sonlywear
ingasi
lkyni
ghtdr
ess,shedidn’
t
thi
nkshe’
dhaveaguestsolat
e.
“
Youshoul
dst
oppl
ayi
ngv
oll
eybal
l
,you’
l
llose
wei
ght
.”
Mawandef
rowns,
“Par
don?
”
“Umfazi
kumeleabenezi
ndawozokubambel
ela,
”he
sayswit
hastupi
dgrinonhisf
ace.(Awif
emust
havecur
ves)
“Pl
easeleave,Iwanttosleepinpeace.
”Shejustl
ost
all
respectshehadfort hi
sman.Whoi sheto
commentonherwei ght?Hiseyesarepenet
rat
ing
herskinandmakingi tcri
nge.
“
I’
ll
sleepont
hef
loor
,youknowit
’stooear
lyf
ory
ou
t
oshareabedwi
thanyone,
”hesays.
“
No,
leav
enow!
”Mawande.
“Youwantmet
osl
eepi
nbed?
”Hesmi
l
esandl
i
cks
hisl
ips.
Mawandei
sdumbst
ruck.Thi
sgott
obeaj
oke!
“Uzongishayangesi
phi
kasenzila,umfowethungeke
ejabul
ev eleumasekul
alaizi
lwembuesi bayeni
sakhe.”(You’l
lhi
tmewithacollarofyourmour ni
ng
atti
re,
mybr ot
herwoul
dn’tbehappyifspiderwebs
grewinhi scooki
e)
Thisper sonisget t
ingcloserandcl osert
oher .She
l
ooksbehi ndherandnot icesthatherphonei soutof
reach.Andwhoshe’ dcall anyway?Hermot her-
in-
l
awi nst
ill
edthi
si deaint hisman’ shead,
nowhe
thi
nkshecanf il
lNy ezi’
sshoesandmov ein.She
can’tcallhomeei ther,i
twoul dputunnecessar y
stressonherbr others.They ’
realr
eadydealingwit
ha
l
ot ,t
here’sasex-tapescandal t
heyneedtosol v
e.
Bhambat hacould’vehelpedbutshedoesn’ thavehis
numberandi tl
ooksl ikehe’ sgonebacktowher ev
er
hecamef r
om.
“
Idon’
tbi
teKaManqel
e,
”hesay
s,r
unni
nghi
sfi
nger
s
onherar
m.
“Hal
ali
sanidon’
tdot
his,
”shebegsandst
eps
backwards.
“Ij
ustwanttosuppor
tyouandmakey
ouf
orget
aboutNyezi
.”
“I
t’
stoosoon.Pleaseusethemainbedr
oom,
I’
ll
sl
eepintheguestone,”shesay
s.
Di
spl
easur
edi
spl
aysonhi
sface.
“Icoul
d’v
esleptont
hef
loor
,”hesay
swi
thahi
ntof
annoyance.
Sheneedst
opl
ayi
tcool
.
“No,
”shesays.“
I’
ll
putyourbagther
e.Pl
easehav
ea
seatsot
hatIcandishf
ory ou.
”
Itt
akesev er
ythi
nginhertoactt
hiscal
m and
col
lected.Thousandt
eardropsarel
ockedbehi
nd
hereyes.Whywoul dafamil
ymemberdot hi
stoher
?
Couldn’tt
heywaitayearorfewmonths?
He’
ssit
ti
ngonthechai
rli
keamanofthehouse.She
qui
ckl
ytypesat
exttoThandi
we;
FETCHYOURMAN
I
NMYHOUSE!
Hopeful
lyt
hiswil
lpusht
hejeal
ousybutt
onsi
nher
andgetherher
einaspli
tsecondtofet
chher
husband.
Sheputsarobeonandgoesbackt
otheki
tchent
o
di
shfortheunwel
comeguest.

It’
sbeenhour snow,there’
sal oudsnor i
ngmani n
herbedroom.She’ssitti
ngonbedi nalockedguest
room, wai
tingforThandiwetoknock.She’ ssenther
fi
vemor etextsandtheyallwentt hrough.Whyisshe
takingsolong?Thisisherfreakin’husband,she
chosehim amongsthundr eds.
Herey el
i
dsaregrowingheavi
er,
it’
sjustafew
minutesawayfrom 11pm.Shegoest othedoorand
confi
rmst hel
ockthengoesbacktobed.
Thisi
sthefi
rstt
imeshe’severf
eltunsaf
einherown
house!WhydidNyezi
leave?Whycouldn’
thegrow
ol
dwi t
hher?Whydeathwassoqui cktodothem
apart
?
-
-

Shewakesuptoloudvoicesspeaki
ngandl aughi
ng.
Asdrowsi
nesspil
esoffshereal
izesthati
t’
sactuall
y
aloudpl
ayi
ngradi
o;UkhoziFM.Whatawayt owake
up!
Shegoest othebat hroom toreleaseherselfand
washherface.Herey esarebloodshotf rom the
heavycry
ingshedi dbef oresleeping.Lucki
lythere’
s
abottl
eofey e-dropthatNy ez
i boughtawhi leback.
Ithel
psherclearherey esbutnot hingcancl eart
he
acheinherhear t
.Thandi weisokaywi thherman
beingher
e, every
onei s.

Nowshehast
omakebr
eakf
astf
orsomeone’
s
husband!
Shechangesintoatea-
lengt
hti
ereddressanda
blouse.Thenshecover
shershoulder
swithabl
ack
scarfandwrapsherheadwithadoek.
Thenewmanoft
hehousei
swat
eri
ngherpl
ant
s
outside.Shestandsbyt hewi ndowandwat ches.
Can’thedr opanddi e?Ift
hisi showt hi
sfamilyt
hink
they’
regoingt otreatherthent heyhaveanother
thi
ngcomi ng.Thakasaopeneddoor sandaskedher
tocomebackhome; shemi ghttakethatof
ferand
bidgoodby etothet hem beforehermour ni
ngperiod
fi
nishes.

Shespreadsjam andbutteronf oursli

cesofbread
andcutsthem int
ohalvesandl aysthem onapl at
e.
Shecoverstheplatewit
hanot heroneandput siton
thet
ray.Nowsheneedst oboilwaterandmakest ea.
Ther
e’ssomeoneatt hedoor ,herskincri
ngesbefore
shecanev enseehisface.Ifhedoesn’tleav
etoday
she’
dbecompel l
edtocallThakasa.
“Whatist
hisnincompoopdoinghere,
Mawande? ”A
voi
ceshedidn’texpectt
ohearcomesf r
om thedoor
.
Shealmostjumpandspi l
lshotwat
erallov
erthe
count
er.
Hewalksi
n,wearingabl
ackT-shi
rtandmil
i
tar
ypant
.
Ther
e’sal
eathergunhol
sterar
oundhiswai
standa
deadl
ookonhi
sface.
“Heslepti
nmyr oom,
”hervoiceisbreaki
ng.Tear
s
areburni
nghereyesandthr
eateningtoburstout
.
“It
oldhimtoleav
e,hewoul dn’
tli
sten.Hesl
eptinmy
bedroom,Bhambatha!”Tearsbr
eakf r
eeandescape
hereyes,maki
ngtheirwaydownhercheeksl i
kea
waterf
all
.
“Di
dhet ouchy
ou?”heasks,
unhi
tchi
ngt
hel
eat
her
hol
sterandpul
li
ngoutaRuger57.
“No,Islepti
ntheguestbedroom.”Nowshe’s
shakingatthesi
ghtofagun.She’srel
iev
edthathe’
s
herebecausesheknowst hatshecancountonhim,
butshedoesn’twantanygunf i
ghtsorbl
oodshedin
herhouse.
“Pl
easedon’
tshoothi
m,j
ustt
ell
himt
ogo,
”she
begs.
“Dl
anaisi
nkwanojamuMawande,ngizoyenza
ngendl
elaabaf
unangiy
enzengayolent
o.”(Eatbr
ead
andjam,I’
l
ldothi
sexactl
yhowtheywantmet odoi
t)
Hal
ali
sani
appear
sbehi
ndhi
m andf
rowns.I
ttakes
onlyonesecondforhisshir
ttobesquashedin
Bhambatha’sgr
ip.Hepullshimli
keasheept oa
sl
aughter
house,allt
hewayt hr
oughthegate.He’s
argui
nghiscaseandBhambat haishai
lingi
nsul
tsat
hi
m.DeepZul uinsul
tsthatmakesone’sski
ncringe.

Mawandequi
ckl
yscr
oll
sdownf
orThandi
we’
s
number
.
“
Wande,
”sheanswer
sinasl
eepyv
oice.
“ThandiweItol
dyoutofetchy
ourhusbandl
astni
ght
andy oudidn’
tbot
her
.NowBhambat hahasfet
ched
himfory ouandyoumightcol
l
ecthi
mi nabody
bag.”
“What?”Nowshesoundsfull
yawake.“Howcany ou
dothatMawande?Whydidn’tyousayy ouwant
Bhambathainst
eadoftur
ningthem againsteach
other
.”
Shedr
opst
hecal
lbef
oreMawandecanr
espond.
“Oh,wow!
”She’
slef
tst
unnedandshaki
ngwi
th
anger.
.
.
THAKASA

He’sly i
nginbed,fi
nall
ycatchingabr eakfrom allt
he
crazyact i
vi
ti
esNothil
esubject edhimi nto.Hehasn’ t
call
edhomeandBandl ahasn’ tcont actedhim ei
ther.
Everythingmustbegood, het hinkst ohimself
.
May behef oundawayt osor tthingsoutonhi sown,
whichi sgood.They’
refinal
lygr owingup, Nothil
e
wasn’ twrongforsuggesti
ngt hathel etsthem beon
theirownf orawhil
e.
“
Manqeleyouhav
etoseet
his,
”Not
hil
esay
s,comi
ng
t
hrought
hedoor.
Itmustbeanother‘amazingplace’toseeoran
acti
vi
tynottomi ssouton.Heappr eci
atesherfor
every
thi
ngshedoes, buthorse-r
idi
ng,hiki
ngandall
thoseact
ivi
ti
esar enotforhi
m.I nanutshell
,he’
s
boredtothecore.
“
Whati
sitMaNt
usi
?”heaskswi
thhi
shandsov
erhi
s
ey
es.
He’
snotevenint
erest
edt
otakeal
ookatt
hel
apt
op
i
nherhands.
“
MaKhumal
oisont
henews,
”shesay
s.
Thatgr
abshisatt
enti
on.Hel
i
ftshi
sheadandt
akes
thel
aptopf
rom her.
I
ndeed,
MaKhumal
oisdoi
ngapr
essconf
erence.
“Whatthehel li
sthi
s?”Shocktransformshisface.
Lucas,theirPRmanager,i
sstandingnexttoherand
tr
anslati
ngf orher
.Wholetthi
shappen?Whose
orderwast his;
MaKhumal oaddressingsuch
sensit
iveissueandLucasstandingnexttoherlikea
bloodyfool!

MaKhumalo:(
poi
nti
ngherchest
)Awami
amadodakazi
awakazeal
aleemahhot
elanamadoda.

Lucas:
(Tr
ansl
ates)Mydaught
ershav
enev
ersl
ept
wit
hmeninhotels.
MaKhumalo:
Fundisaniamantombazaneenui
simi
lo,
umfanawamiakenzangalut
hoolungenzi
waabany
e
abaf
ana.

Lucas:(
Transl
ates)Teachyourgir
lchi
l
drengood
behavi
or,mysondi dn’
tdoanythi
ngoutofor
dinar
y.

Sweatper
spi
resonThakasa’sforehead.Coming
her
ewasabadi dea,MaKhumaloisnotaddressi
ng
any
thi
ngbuttrashingthegi
rl
sinasex-tape.

MaKhumalo:Minaezamiizi
nganezi
fundi
le,
zinemal
i
.
Azi
kazezenzeoshoti
khat
hi.(
Herli
pcurvesupin
di
sgust
)

Lucas:(
Transl
ates)Mychil
drenareeducatedand
ri
ch.They’
venevertakenshort
-cut
sinli
fe.
Nothi
leispl
eased,
she’
shidi
nghersmil
e.Sof
ar,
so
good!She’
sproudofhermotheri
nlaw.

MaKhumalo:I
lezi
gil
amkhubazokufi
kauhulumeni
azi
yekazi
chanaseez weni
let
hu.Umntanamiuni
kwe
i
blackmai
l
,wasatshiswangezi
bhamu.

Lucas:(Tr
anslat
es)It’
stheforei
gnerst
hatour
governmentletdoanyhowt heyli
ke.Mysonwas
bl
ackmai l
edandt hr
eatenedwithguns.

MaKhumal o:
Siwumndenisizovul
aical
a
l
okudici
lel
waphansikwesthunzi,
okunyenokunye
akuhl
angenenamuntu.Akekhoumunt uongakaze
aweleesil
i
ngwenisamantombazaneangenasimil
o.

Lucas: (
Translat
es)Asaf ami
l
ywe’l
lopenacasefor
defamat i
onofchar act
er,
ther
esti
snoneofanyone’
s
business.Everyonehasbeentempt
edbyloosegi
rls
i
nt heirl
ives.
Thakasar
eleasesal
owgr
untandwi
peshi
ssweat
y
for
ehead.

MaKhumalo:UBandl
alet
huumf anaozi
hloni
phayo,
nebandl
asi
zomhlambululabesesiy
amkhulekel
a.

Lucas:(
Transl
ates)Bandlal
ethui
sawel l
-manner
ed
boy,asachurchwe’ll
cleansehim andpr
ayforhi
m.

MaKhumalo:Niyakwaziukuthumelanaamany ala
kodwaamathubaemi sebenzi agci
naphakat
hi
kwenunemindeniyenu.Owami umfanaakagcini
ngokuv
ulauzi
pwebhul ukwe, namathubaemisebenzi
uyawavul
a.

Lucas:(
Translates)Youcansendeachotherporn
vi
deosbuty oucannotsharejoboppor
tunit
ies.My
sondoesn’tonlyopenhiszipper
,heal
soopenj ob
opport
unit
ies.
Not
hil
ebur st
sint
olaught
erandr
ecei
vesadeadl
ook
f
rom Thakasa.
“
Thisisnotfunny
.Thisshoul
d’v
ebeenprof
essional
,
i
fitwasn’
tforyounoneofthi
swould’
vehappened.”
“Manqeledon’
tev
enst art
.Thisi
sall
happeni
ng
becauseofBandl
a,Ionlyaskedyounott
oget
i
nvolved.
”
“SeewhathappenswhenIdon’
tgeti
nvol
ved.Thi
sis
whyIwantedtohandl
ethi
s.Wecannotaff
ordmore
scandal
s!”
Shesi
ghs,
“Ar
eyouhungr
y?”
“
MaNt
usi
wear
eleav
ing.
”
“
What
?Wear
egoi
ngt
oSani
Passl
ater
,remember
.”
“
Wearegoi
nghome,t
hiswhol
etr
ipwasst
upi
d,j
ust
l
i
ket
herestoft
hem.
”
“It
houghtyouli
keditwhenwespendt i
metoget
her.
Areyouevenreadytomov eoutify
ou’r
egoi
ngtorun
homeev er
yti
met her
e’saprobl
em? ”
“
MaNt
usi
,pl
ease,
notnow!
”
“I’
m notl
eavi
ngManqele.Gohomeandplayahero
thatyoual
waysaret
oev ery
one,
excepty
oursel
f.I
’
m
stayi
ngandcomingbackMonday.”
“Youcan’
tst
ayal
oneher
e.Ev
ery
onei
swi
th
someone.
”
“
May
beIcan.Shoul
dIhel
pyoupack?
”sheasks.
Heexhal
esheav
il
y,“
Yes,
please.
”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER34
NOTHI
LE

Thebar
manl
ooksatherl
i
keshe’
scr
azy
.
Sher
epeat
s,“
Isai
dChar
don.
”
“
Char
donnay
,mam?
”
Oh,
smar
tass?
!
“
Justgi
vemet
hebot
tl
e.”
Finally,hetur nshisassar oundanddoeshi sj ob
withoutquest ioni
ngher .Thelasttimeshet ast ed
alcohol wasi nhermat ri
cdanceandi twasj usthal f
agl assofRedds.Now, at31she’saboutt oi ndul ge
i
nadr i
nkshe’ sswor nonherl if
etonev erdri
nk
becauseshedoesn’ thav eahusband.Yeap, hej ust
l
ef tinthemi ddleoftheirtri
pbecausesomet hing
neededhi m home.Hemar r
iedherbuthebel ongst o
hisf ami l
y.It’
salwaysbeent hatway .Familyt his,
fami lythat.Andshegr ewf amil
iartoitandl ov edhis
fami lyl
ikei twasherown.What evertheyneeded,
shewast hereforthem.Al l
oft hem.May bei nsome
wayshedi dhaveahandi nhowt hingsarenow.
May bebecauseshel ovesMaKhumal osomuch.
Thatwoman, despitehercrazinessand
unpredict
abl
echar acter
,hasgi venheragl i
mpseof
howi tcoul
d’vebeenliketohav eamot her.She’s
nevermadeherf eelli
keshewasj usta‘makot i’and
somet i
mesitfeelsli
keshel oveshermor et han
Thakasahimself.May beshegotsol dtot hatidea
andwant edtoproveher sel
ftobewor thyofbei ng
herdaughter-
in-
lawandendeduppushi ngThakasa
away .
Butshe’
llt
akeonlyquart
eroftheblamebecauseall
i
nall,
theycausedhermar r
iagetobreak.Ev
enthe
l
ateManqele,he’
snotinnocent.

Shepaysusingacredi
tcard,
col l
ect
sherbottl
eand
goesbacktoherroom.Theremustbear eci
peor
di
rect
ionst
odr i
nkwrit
tenont hebott
leofthi
sthi
ng.
Doesshedri
nkitwithdash?Ices?Orsheshouldj
ust
dri
nkitasi
tis?
Lastl
adymoments,shepul
lsagl
assandscansi
t
i
nsideandt
akesherfi
rstsi
p.
Bad,butnott
oobad.Shepour
saf
ull
glasst
hist
ime
andenduresonesi
patatime.
Thir
tyminuteslatershe’sdrankhalfofthebot tleand
i
snowpacki ngherbagsandsi ngi
nghappily.Atl east
ThakasaManqel ewaski ndenoughtoleavet hecar
behi
nd.There’snot hinglef
tforherher
e, t
hepl an
wast ospendtimewi thhim andgethi
m awayf rom
thechaos,buthel eftsoshemi ghtaswellleav e.
“Ma’am,areyousur eyoucandrive?”asksaman
she’
snev erseeninherli
febefore.Maybeshe’ sa
tr
aff
iccoporBheki Cel
ehimself
.Ohwai t,may be
he’
sRAFsponsorandhe’ sworri
edt hatifshegets
i
ntoacaracci dentshe’
llbeherexpenset otakecare
of.
“
You’
reBheki
Cel
e?”sheasks.
Hef
rowns,
“No.
”
St
upi
dfool
!
“
Thenby
e!”shesay
s,openi
ngt
hecardoorand
stumbl
inginsi
de.Thedoekmust ’
vedropped
somewhereorleftontopofthebed.Butherhai
r
i
sn’tt
hatbad,soitdoesn’
treal
l
ymat t
er.
Shedr
ivesout,
sayi
nggoodby
etotheplaceshewas
l
ooki
ngsof or
wardtoenj
oywit
hherhusband.
Now,who’sthi
smansingingl
ikehe’
sgotavibr
ator
i
nhisthr
oat?Shescrol
lsdowntothesongsPhethy
downl
oadedwithherphoneandplay
sthem.
.
.
It
’squart
ert ofi
ve,ever
ybodyishome.Thakasai s
yettoapologizetothepublicforMaKhumal o’
s
choiceofwor dsanduseherol daget ocoverup.He
hadt ot
akecar eofbusinessfirstandmakesur ethat
noneoftheircli
entswerepul l
i
ngoutorget t
ing
wrongimpr essi
onofwhot heyareasaf amily
.
Hi
scardr
ivesi
n,buz
zingwi
thmusi
c:

IWASBORNTOFLEX
DI
AMONDSONMYNECK
ILI
KEBOARDI
NGJETS,
ILI
KEMORNI
NGSEX….

It
’sdri
venbyawomani nbigshadesandpl ai
ted
natur
alhair
.They’
reseat edundertheverandahasa
onebig,sel
fi
shfamily.Theirbr
owsar eraisedas
theywatchthecardrivesin,pl
ayi
ngunfami li
armusi
c
anddrivenbyastrangewoman.
“
Whodidyougi
vey
ourcar
?”NkonzoasksThakasa
wi
thaf
rown.
Befor
ehecananswert
hedooropensandt
heone
andonlyNot
hil
est
epsoutofi
t.
“
Whyi
snotcov
eri
ngherhead?
”Nkonzoagai
n.
“Maybeshewasrobbedandt heytookhercl
othes,
”
saysMaKhumaloturni
ngtoPhethydancingwithher
headtothesongbuzzi
ngthroughouttheyar
d.“Go
andfet
chherscarf
,Phethi
l
e.”

Shedi sconnectsherphoneandthemusi
cdies.But
sti
l
l al
l eyesareonher.She’
snowstandi
ng
barefootedinthemiddleofthey
ardandstar
ingat
t
hem wi
thherar
msf
olded.
“
Goandcheckifshe’
sment al
lyokay,
”Bandl
a
whi
sperst
oThakasa.He’ssti
l
l l
ooki
ngathiswi
fe
wi
thshockanddispl
easur
e.
Shemakesherwaytot
hem andhemakeshi
sway
toherwi
thhi
sjawscl
enched.
“
MaNt
usi
youar
edr
unk?
”heasks.
“Yeah,sowhat
?You’
regoingt
ohitmeagain?”She
narrowsherey
esandbreaksabr
iefchuckl
e.
Hetri
est
ogr abherbutBandl
asawi tcomi
ng;
he
pul
l
shim backbefor
ehecant ouchher.
“
Y’al
lneedtoli
stenup.Nonke!
”Nothi
lesays,
almost
y
elli
ng,andpoi
ntingherf
inger
satevery
one.
“You’
reallmarr
iedtomyhusband,
right?Weshare
him,evenwithyouMa.”Shet
apsherf i
nger
sto
coll
ecthermemor y
.“UsandNomkhosi,ofcour
se.
Weal lshar
eoneman. ”
Thakasay
anksof
fBandl
a’
shand.
“
MthongaIwon’
tdoany
thingt
oher,Ij
ustwantt
o
t
akehert
oourbedr
oom,”hesays.
“Bedroom ofwho?Whosebedr oom?Thebedr oom
belongstowho? ”shecracksalaughandpatsher
chest.“I
,Nothi
l
eNgema, don’
thaveahusbandthat’
s
onlymine.Hebel ongst
ohi sbr
other
sandmot her
.”
ShelooksatBandl
astari
ngatherl
ikehe’
sasaint
fr
om aboveanddoesn’tknowwhatshe’
stal
ki
ng
about.
“Thankyouforrui
ningmyt
ri
pwi
thy
oursex
scandal
s,”shesays.
Gasps!
!!
Sher
aisesherhandup,
“Shhhhh.
”
“
Not
hil
e!”Thakasar
oar
s.
“Oh,poorhusband.I’
m abadperson,r
ight
?Ihada
handi nyoursi
de-
chickaborti
onandnyweny we
nywe.Ishouldn’
tfeelanyty
peofwayt owardsyour
sibli
ngsandshouldalwaysbesupport
ivetothem
throughthinandt
hick.Butwhocaresaboutme
here?”
Shel
ooksatSqal
o,“
Doy
ou?
”
“
Ofcour
seIcar
eSi
s’MaNt
usi
.”
“Yeah,r
ight
.Butdoy ouknowwhosuf ferswheny ou
takeyourproblemsandgi vethem toThakasa?Me.
Wheny oucannott el
l y
ourmot herthatyou’regay
andratherdumpi tonhi mtosolv ei
t,I
’mt heone
whoget ssubjectedintoasull
enmar riage.Theone
whosleepsnextt oamant hatsighsli
keasangoma,
notbecausehe’ sone,butbecausey ’
allproblemsar
e
sit
ti
ngonhi sshoulders.”
They
’rel
ooki
ngsoshocked,
why
?
“Doyoutel
lthem t
haty
ou’
reokay
?”sheasks
Thakasa.
“
Babe….”Hi
svoicel
owers,nowwher e’
sthekingof
t
hejungl
e?Hedoesn’twantthem t
oknowt hat
t
hey’
retoomuch.
“Ar
ewenother
ebecausey
ouf
eltemot
ional
l
y
negl
ect
edbyme?”
Heswal
l
owsanddr
opshi
sey
es.
“NewsflashManqel
e,there’
snothi
ngIcandot o
makey oufeelemoti
onallyt
akencareofbecause
yourownf ami
lydoesn’tcar
eaboutyourmental
being,
”shesaysandlooksatMaKhumal o.
“Heattendstherapy.Hecannothandlewhaty oual
l
expectfrom hi
m.Hewant stomov eoutbuthecan’t
evenspendt i
mewi thhiswifeonat r
ipbecausehe
gottojumpbackhomeev er
yti
meapr oblem popsup.
Youraisedhimlikethat.Youall
did.Butattheendof
thedaynobodycar esabouthim.”
Nkonzol
ooksli
kehewant
stosaysomet
hingbut
f
ight
ingagai
nsti
t.
“Helostachi ldbecausehiswhoreabort
edandhe
cri
edf orthewhol eweek.Didanyofyouev enbother
tochecki fhewasokay ?No.Hehadtoclearhis
eyeswi t
hey e-dr
opsev erymorni
ngandwakeupt o
carrymor ecompany ,famil
yandeverysortof
problem ther
e’sundert hesun.
”She’
sstari
ngat
Nkonzoandi tseemslikehiswordshavestuck
belowhi sthr
oat.
“NowI’m marri
edtoabrokenmant hatexpectsme
tobemor ethanjustawif
etohim andcheat sonme
onthenameofbei ngemot i
onal
lyneglected.I
cannotbeabr ot
hertohi
m, i
t’sy’
al
ljob.”Shepoint
s
atBandlaandNkonzo.“Icannotbeamot hert
ohim,
that
’syourj
obMa. ”
Thakasahol
dsherarm andl
ooksatheri
ntheeyes.
Hedoesn’tl
ookangr
yany mor
e,hej
ustwantherto
bedoneandoutofsight.
“
Pleasel
et’
sgot
othebedr
oom,
”hesay
s.
No!Shej
umpsof
fhi
sgr
ipandgoest
oBandl
a.
“Youarelookingatmeasi fI’m crazy?Af t
er
everyt
hingI’
vedonef orhi
m andt hi
sf amil
y,he
cheatedonme.Notj ustf
orsex.Hef elli
nlovewith
her,madeherpr egnantandboughtherahouse.But
ofcourse,noneofy ouhaveev eraskedhowIf eel
.
TheonlythingI’
lleverbeaskedofi nt hesepremises
i
s;MaNt usiwhatareweeat ingt oday?”Tearsgush
outandshedoesn’ tevenbot herwipi
ngt hem.
“Oryou’
redoi
ngthi
stomebecauseIdon’
thav
e
parent
s?Youknowthaty
ougavemeamot her.
”
“Nothi
le,
please,don’
tdothi
s.”Thi
sti
meshedoesn’
t
onlysayit
,hegrabsherhandandlif
tshert
ohi
s
armsdespitetheheavyweight.
“
Manqeleyoulef
tme!”She’
ski
cki
ngherl
egsand
f
ight
ingt
obreakfree.
Hekickst
hedooroft
heirbedr
oom open,
wal
ksi
n
pant
ingheav
il
yandputsheronbed.
“
Call
Mawandeandputheront
hespeaker
.Iwantt
o
t
alkt
oher
.”
“
Youwi
l
lcal
lherwheny
ou’
vecal
meddown.
”
“
I’
m cal
m!Isai
dcal
lMawande,
”shey
ell
s.
“
Sleep,”hesays,
headi
ngbackt
othedoorand
l
eavingherinbed.
“
Atl
easthav
esexwi
thme.
”
“Sl
eepfir
st,
”hesay
sandcl
osest
hedoorbehi
ndhi
m
andlocksit
.
Af
terr
ambli
ngforafewmi nut
es,
shet
urnst
othe
si
deandl
etherbodyrest
s.
.
.
Sqalolooksforhi
m all
ov ert
hey ar
dandf
inal
l
yfi
nds
hi
m sitti
ngbehindtherondavel
wi t
hhi
shead
droppedinhi
shands.
Whenhehear
shi
sfoot
stepshel
i
ftshi
sheadupand
cr
acksat
hinsmi
l
e.
“Ar
eyounotsupposedt
obest
udy
ingor
somet
hing?
”heasks.
“
Iam,buti
tcanwai
t.
”Helooksforsomethi
ngand
f
indsast
one.Hedr
agsi
tnexttohim andsi
ts.
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”Thakasaaskswi
thconcer
n.
“
Iwantt
osayI
’
m sor
ry.
”
Hef
rowns,
“Whatdi
dyoudo?
”
“Foreveryt
hing.You’
vebeenr ai
singmesinceIwas
10y ear
soldandIdon’ tknowhowmanyt i
mesI’ve
causedy ousleepl
essnights.Butmostl
yIwantto
apologi
zef ormakingmysexual i
tyyour
stoconfess.
”
Aheav
ysi
gh!
“Sqalo,y
ou’renotabur
dentome.MaNt usiandIar
e
goingthrougharoughpat
ch,butev
ery
thingwill
be
alr
ight.
”
“Istil
ldon’twanttoaddtoy
ourprobl
ems.Nobody
takescar eofyourprobl
emsfory
ou,Ial
sowantto
bet hatindependent
.”
“
Meani
ng?
”Hel
i
ftshi
sey
ebr
owi
nquest
ion.
“
Iwanttomov eout.Notwit
hy ouoranyone.Iknow
t
hatyou’
llal
waysbehereifIneedy ou,
Ijustdon’t
wantyoutoeverchoosebetweenMaandI .Iknow
t
hatitt
akesalotforyoutodot hat
.”
“Sqaloyoucannotl
eavehomeli
kethat.Whati
f
somet hi
nghappenstoyouandnobodyist
hereto
protectyou?
”
“
Whohasbeenpr
otect
ingy
ou?
”
“
Mysel
f.
”
“
From whi
chage?
”
“
Idon’
tknow.
”
“
Iwantt
obel
i
key
ou.Pl
easehel
pme.
”
Heexhal
esheav
il
y.
“I
’
llt
hinkabouti
tandgetbackt
oyou.Nowgoand
doyourschoolwork.
”
“Ar
eyouokayt
hough?
”Sqal
oasksandget
sno
answer
.
Hel
eav
esqui
etl
y.
Thakasar estshisheadbackagai nstthewalland
blowsoutasi gh.Hedi dn’tthi
nkithadgottenthi
sfar
.
Thingswer en’tgoingtofli
pbackt onormal,were
they?Hiswi f
ei sbroken,soistheirmarri
age.And
he’sresponsibleforit
.Not hi
lewouldneverdri
nkor
talkl
ikethattohismot herandbr other
s.
“
Mthonga,
”
Ur
gh,
nott
hisagai
n!
Whyaretheyl
ooki
ngf
orhi
m?He’
sher
ebecausehe
needst
obealone.
Nkonzosi
tsont
hest
onenextt
ohi
m andexhal
es
heavi
l
y.
“
Howar
eyouf
eel
i
ng?
”heasks.
“
I’
m good,
”Thakasasay
swi
thashr
ug.
Amomentofsilencepasses.Bot
hthei
rstaresar
e
f
ixedi
ntospaceandtheylookdeepl
yabsorbedin
t
heirt
hought
s.
“
Whenarey ouget
ti
ngbacki
nsidet
het
empl
e?”
Nkonzof
inall
ybr
eakst
hesil
ence.
“Ineedtoresol
vet heissueofNomkhosi andmake
thi
ngsr i
ghtwit
hherf amilyfir
st.”Hehasbeen
attendi
ngchurch,butnotst eppinginsi
dethet
emple
becauseofthesinshecommi tted.Hewas
suspendedfrom t
het empl eafterevery
thi
ngcame
out.
“
Doy
oust
il
ltal
ktoher
?”Nkonzoasks.
“
No,
wedon’
ttal
k,
”hesay
s.
Ther
e’sanot
hermomentofsi
l
encebet
weent
hem.
“
Ithi
nki
t’
sti
met
ocutt
hechor
dMt
honga,
”Nkonzo.
Thakasalooksathim wi
thasli
ghtfr
own.Hisey
es
arebloodshotbuthe’
smakingsuret
hatnotasi
ngl
e
teardropsout.
“They oungestsonst aysinhisfat
her’shomeand
keepsi tstanding.Ofcour seSqalocannotdot hat
,
angit
hi bamudl angemuv a?Theposi t
ion
automat icall
yreversesbackt oBandlalet
hu.This
homei shi stokeep.Youshoul d’
veleftusaft
er
getti
ngmar ri
edt obewi thyourwife.We’veal
l
messedwi t
hbot hofy oursanit
y.I
t’sti
met ocutthat
chordandgooursepar at
eway s.Wear eoldnow, we
cannotconti
nueli
vi
ngtoget
her
.Iunder
standwher
e
MaNt usi
iscomingfr
om.”
“Nkonzoyou’
renotmov
ingoutbecauseofwhatshe
sai
d?”Thakasaaskswi
thshock.
“Weneedt ostopdependi ngony ou.You’r
ehav i
nga
babysoon,areyougoi ngtot akecareofherandus
all
atonce?Weal lneedt ofindourselv
esbey ond
thi
s,”hepoi
ntsaround.“It’
snothealthy.Idon’twant
yout ol
oseyourwifeorendupi napsy chi
atry
becauseofme.Iapol ogizeforallt
hethingsIputon
yourshoul
derswill
inglyandunwi l
li
ngly.
”
“
You’
renotabur
dent
ome.You’
l
lnev
erbe,
”hesay
s.
“Thanky
ouf
ort
hat
,butIr
eal
l
yneedmyownspace
now.”
“I
fthat
’swhaty
out
hinki
sgoi
ngt
ohel
pyouget
Tema.”
Thatgetshisassoffthestone.I
t’
ll
takehi
m day
sto
getoverthatpubl
i
cr ej
ect
ion.
“It
hinkyouneedtol
etmegotoCapeTownony
our
behalfwhi
leyouwor
konrebui
l
dingt
hewomanwe
hav
ebr
oken.
”
“I
sit?SoIguessmyPAwi
l
lhav
etogowi
thy
ou,
”
Thakasaasks.
“Obvi
ousl
y,buti
t’
ll
beNkonzo-
sav
es-
the-
dayki
ndof
sit
uat
ion,
”hesays.
“
Youdon’
tknowMaDubev
erywel
l
.”
Nkonzolaughs,
“Rel
axwenaandwat
cht
hespace,
ngi
zomlandauShoti
.”
Het r
iedt hefi
rstti
meandf ai
led,he’sgoingtotr
y
againandagai nandagai n.Attheendoft heday
Temahast obehi slawfulplus-one.It
’sso
unfortunatethathelovesherandshewant storun
hil
l
sbecauseofhowhesket chedt hei
rpossibl
e
fut
ure.Butt here’
snowher et ohideifyou’rer
unning
awayf rom yoursel
f.

It
’sget
ti
ngcolderoutside.I
t’
sbeenal
mostanhour
si
nceThakasasather e,he’
saboutt
odusthi
mself
upandgojoinhisdrunkwi f
einbed.
Bandl
aappear
s,wal
ki
ngl
i
keahopel
essghost
.He
thoughthecouldhandlethings,
butit’
shardert
han
hethought.He’stakenabreakfrom hisphoneto
avoidjour
nali
stsandreadingevery
thingthat
’sbei
ng
writ
tenabouthim.
“
Notyouaswell
,”Thakasasay
s,hi
tt
inghi
sheadon
t
hewallandcov
eringhisf
acewit
hhishands.
“Angekengikubangeleiscefe,ngi
funaukukutshel
a
njeukuthingizobaubhutiongcono.”(I
’
m notgoingto
beanui sance,Ijustwanttotelly
outhatI’
ll
become
abetterbrother)
“
Don’
ttakei
tper
sonal
Mthonga,
”Thakasasay
s.
“I
’m not
,Ij
ustwanttogenuinel
yapol
ogize.I
’
ll
apologi
zetoheraswell.Ir
eall
ywantt
oseey out
wo
growingol
dtogether
.”
Tearsroll
down,hetr
iestopr
esshi
sli
pandfi
ght
them backbuthecar
riest
oomuchbaggagei
nhi
s
heart
.
“
Idon’
tknowwhatt
odoany
mor
e.”
“Takeyourwi
feandleav
e.Getmarr
iagecounseli
ng
andfocusonher.Thebrot
her
hoodchordshould’
ve
beencutal
ongti
meago.Bei
ngahusbandshoul
d
comefir
stt
hanbei
ngabrot
hert
ogrownmen.”
Hedoesn’
trespondbuthopef
ull
yhehear
dhi
m and
he’
l
lusehi
sadv ice.

Ther
e’sabangi
ngsoundcomi
ngf
rom hi
sbedr
oom.
“
Thakasaaa!
”It
’sNot
hil
e,she’
swokenup.
“Pl
easedon’
thi
ther,”Bandl
aasksashedust
s
himsel
fofft
heground.
It
’ssadthathi
sbr
otherthi
nkshe’
sanabuserthat
needstowatchhi
sactions,
buthecannotbl
amehim,
canhe?
Hewipeshiseyesdr
yandmakeshi
swayt
othel
oud
voi
ceyel
li
nghisname.
MaKhumal oissit
ti
nginthever
anda,shehasn’
t
madeasi nglecomment-str
angeenough.Hewalks
pastherwithoutl
ooki
ngatherdir
ecti
on.
Heunl
ockst
hedoor
,wal
ksi
nandcl
osesi
tbehi
nd
hi
m.
“Whyareyoulocki
ngmeup?”asksNot
hil
e.She’
s
notdrunkasshewaswhenshegother
e.She’s
wrappedascarfar
oundherhead.
“
Iwant
edy
out
osl
eep,
”hesay
s.
“No,youdidn’
twantpeoplet
oseethatyourwi
feis
drunk.I
mageisimportantmoret
hanfeeli
ngsar
ound
here,l
et’
snotfor
get.
”
“MaNt usi
,pl
ease,ngi
yacela,don’tchangebecause
ofme.You’ r
elosi
ngy ourcharacter,Icannotbl
ame
you,butIurgeyoutobeatl eastdecent .Al
lthi
s
doesn’tsui
tyou.You’
repregnant ,youknowt hat
dri
nkingisputt
ingthebaby ’
slif
ei ndanger.”
“
Doy
ouev
encar
eaboutt
hisbaby
?”
“
Ofcour
seIcare,t
hat
’swhyIwantust
owor konour
mar
ri
agesothatshecanar
ri
vetoawarm home.”
Shethrowshersel
finbed,herdr
essgoesupand
exposesherupperthi
gh.
Hepul
l
sitdownandsi
tsnextt
oher
.
“
Canwet
alkwheny
ouar
esober
?”
“
Aboutwhat
?Yourf
ami
l
ypr
obl
ems?
”
“MaybeabouthowmuchIr eal
l
yloveyouNot
hil
e.
Youaremywor l
d,I’
m scar
edoflosi
ngyoumore
thanany
thi
nginli
fe.”
Shel
if
tsherhead,
“You’
rescar
edofl
osi
ngl
osi
ng
me?”
“Yes.Am Il
osi
ngyou?
”heasks,
tur
ningherf
acet
o
him wit
hhishand.
“
Ineedabr
eakManqel
e.”
“
Wear
enotdat
ing,
Not
hil
e.”
“I
ttookmet hisl
ongt ofi
nal
lygetpr egnantandit
maybet helastti
me.ButIcan’ tevenenjoymy
pregnancybecausenowI ’
mt hiscrazy,obsessed
wifewho’salwaysreadytoattack.Iwanttogoaway
forawhile.
”
“
Whataboutme?
”Thakasa.
“
Idon’tknow.WhatIknowi
sthatIneedabreak,
I
wanttobondwit
hmybabyandbeal oneforsome
t
ime.”
“Are…ar
eyouleavi
ngme? ”Thepai
ninhi
svoice
cannotbecontai
ned.Thebrokenmani
nhim
di
spl
aysi
nhi
sey
esandhe’
shel
pess.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER35
GUGU

Atfir
stshel i
kedEf e,despit
ehi m hav i
ngmoneyand
beinggenerouswi thi t
,hewasgoodt oKhany oand
heputupwi t
hhercr azychar acter.Thingschanged
whenshedi scov er
edt hathehadawi feandhehad
broughthertoSout hAf ri
ca.Butst il
l,i
twasn’ tanyof
herbusiness,herdut ywast ocomf ortherfriendand
helphergetov erthebr eakup.Shewasgoi ngt of i
nd
someoneel se,shet oldher.Andi ndeed, she’sf ound
Bandlalet
huwhoseemst obegenui neandl ov i
ng
mor ethananymant hathasev ercomei ntoherl if
e.
Withinamont hofdat i
nghe’shel pedherconf ront
dreamst hathavebeenbot heri
ngherf oryear s.
Fi
rststampofapprovali
s,ofcourse,
thathe’s
monied.Secondstamp;he’
swiseandi nfl
uenti
al.
Andthirdone;heal
lowsKhanyotobeKhany obut
st
il
lencourageshertobeabetterperson.
Ther
e’sonl
yonet
hingBandl
awoul
dn’
tdot
hough,
that’
sgetti
nghishandsdi rt
y.He’
duseShembe
anointedwater
, Vaseli
neandpastesastickerof
UNy azionhisforehead.Buthe’
dneverspil
lbloodfor
revenge,he’
stoor el
igi
ousandlaw-abi
dingforthat
.
Mandulomaybe, andmaybenot ,
thetypethatgoes
forbl
ood.Hedidn’tki
llhi
sfr
iendafterhesmashed
hiswif
ebehindhisbackforyears,t
herearesli
m
chancesofhim hunti
ngdownpeopl eandavenging
hissi
ster
.
That’swhyshet ookmat tersinherownhands.She’ s
notast al
kerbutshecangeti nf
ormat ion,anyt hat
shewant s.Aredflagwasr aisedint hehospi tal
whenBandl asawEf esit
ti
ngwi ththem, itwasl ikehe
wasseei ngaghost .Theconf r
ontationwasn’ tv ocal
,
butratherexchangedwi thconfrontati
onal looks.
Defini
tely
,ther
ewasmor ethanwhatmett heey e
andshehadt ofi
ndouti fanyoft hem hadahandi n
Khany o’
saccident.Itwasjusttoobr utaltobe
robbery,whoeveritwaswant edherdead.
Bandl
ahadnomoti
vet owantherdeadbuti
nli
fe
she’
smetmanywolv
eshi di
ngundersheep’
sski
ns.
Shehadtodosomediggi
ng…
Bandlahadtoomanypr ivateencounterswit
hEfein
thepastandspentmanyni ght
sindiff
erenthot
els.
Them beingpar
tnersdidn’tmakesenseandhad
l
ittl
etonopossi
bili
ty.Obviousl
yhewasoneofEf e’
s
maj orcl
i
ent,
hepaidhiml argesumsofmoneyt o
takecareofmedicalexpensesoft heladi
eshe
bookedandensuringthatsecurit
ywasal waysti
ght.
Thenal
lofasuddenhepul l
edoutandEfe’
sfi
nances
tookaknock.Hecoul
dn’tpayr
entforhi
stownhouse
l
astmonthandwasser v
edanot i
ce.
There’snolov elostbetweenhi
m andKhany o.
Beforeeveryt
hi ngsettl
eddownhi swi f
egota
restr
aini
ngor deragainstKhanyoaf t
eraf ew
alt
ercati
ons.Itwasbad.Khany owasbi tt
erand
thi
rstyforbl
ood.Wel l
,scr
atchthat,she’
dact ual
ly
grabthewi f
e’swi gandexchangemeanwor dswith
her.Therewasnobl oodshed.May beshewast hi
rst
y
forwigs,notblood.
ButEfehaseveryr
easontowantherdead,
nowt hat
she’
ssnatchedawayhismaj
orcli
entaswell
.Funnil
y,
heknewexact
lywheretof i
ndher“body.
”Butatt
his
st
agenothi
ngcanbepr oved,she’
sacti
ngonher
i
nsti
nct
swhicharehardlyeverwrong.
Sheput sthebabyi nbedandr ol
lsherjointbyt he
balconyslidingdoor.Thi
sisastatehouseandhel l
maybr eakl oosewhenMi kearri
ves.Heknowsabout
theEfesi t
uat i
onandhe’salwaysinvolvedwher e
Gugui s,howev erhehasasoftspotf orwomenand
chil
dren.Unf ort
unatel
yther
ewasnowher eshe
could’
v egonewi than11mont h-ol
dbabyt hatshe
snatchedoutofamov i
ngvehicl
e.Don’task!
Sheleansbyt hedoorandpuf fsupsmoke.Att his
pointshehasnoi deawhatshe’ sgoi
ngtodowi t
h
thi
sbaby .ButEf ehasr el
easedt hesex-t
ape-st upid
enough.Hehasnot hingov erBandlanow, whi chisa
rel
iefbecausenowi t
’sgoingt obeaf ai
rfight.His
wifeandel derchildar esti
llstuckinthecount ry.
Soonhi spathwi l
l crosswi t
hher sandhe’lllearn
whosef ri
endhemi ghthavemessedwi th.Thesear e
nottimest obeonherwr ongsi de,ever
ythingi s
goingsout hinherl i
fe;theykeepgoi nginci r
cleswith
theMi ni
sterofSt ateSecur i
ty.Shehasl i
ttl
et ono
sy
mpat
hyt
onobody
.
ShemetMi kebef or
eshemetMohammedandhe
wasj ustapol it
icaldrivennobody .Mohammedwas
asecr et
aryatCOMSEC; adepartmentt hatensures
thatthegov ernmentandci vi
lservicedepar t
ments
electr
oniccommuni cationsarepr otectedand
secured.She’ dliketobel iev
ethathewasanhonest
servantoft hedepar tmentunt ilcrossingpathswi t
h
herinaf ormal dinnerwi ththeNat ional I
ntel
li
gence
Coordinatingcommi tteewher eshewashel pi
ngthe
cateri
ngt eam underf akechefpr etense.
She’salway sbeent ooambiti
ousanddi scr
eetly
cunning.Afterafewsexual encounters,Mohammed
waseat i
ngoutoft hepalm ofherhand.Shedidn’t
onlygetaccessatMusandaCompl ex, t
hehead
off
iceofSt ateSecur i
tyAgency,sheal
somanagedt o
secureat enderforMi keasanagentt osupplypri
nt
andelectronicresourcestothestate.
Ofcourse,t
hatwasjustonefootatt hedoor,
they
havethei
reyesonabi ggerpr
ice.Mikeandherhave
nothi
ngotherthansharedpol
iti
calinter
est
,he’s
al
readyreachedhis40sanddivorced.Thei
r
rel
ati
onshi
pisstr
ict
lybusi
ness,butshedoesn’
t
mindholdi
nghisarm andl
ookingprett
ynexttohi
m
duri
ngevents.
Mohammedi ssti
ll
withhi
slong-t
erm gir
lf
riendbut
theyhavethei
rstol
enmoment sofinti
macyev ery
nowandt hen.Theyhaveboundari
esandbot hof
them r
espectthem.She’
snotlookingforlovey et
.

Mike’scolognef
il
lst
heroom bef
oreheent
ers.He
castshiseyesonthebedandseesababysleepi
ng.
Hisforeheadfur
rowsint
oafrown.
“
Andt
hen?Whoi
sthi
s?”heasks.
“Ef
e’sdaughter.Itookher ,Iwantherf
ather,”she
says,st
ari
ngout sidewi thnoemot i
onsattached.
That’
sthethingabouther ,she’
scalminev eryt
hing
shedoes.Whoki dnapsababyandsay sshe“ took
her”socalmlyasi fthere’snomotherwettinga
pil
l
owwi thtear
sbehi nd?
“Guguthi
shousei
sunderwi
rel
esssur
vei
l
lance
cameras!
”
“
Medtookcar
eofthat
,”shesayswavi
ngherhand
l
i
kei
t’
snothi
ng.“
Didyougetthedocument
s?”
“
Noty
et,
butImanagedt
ospeakt
otheI
Tguy
.”
“
Andhej
ustagr
eed?
”Gugu.
“
Ipr
omi
sedhi
m moneyand….
”No,
no,
no!
“Mikewecan’ tkeeplett
ingpeopleplaypartint
his.I
don’twanttoowenoI Tfool money.I
fwebr eak
through,
webr eakthr
ough.Iwantnol ooseends.”It
pisseshi
m of fwhenshet reatshi
ml i
kealitt
leboy
whocan’tthinkf orhi
mself,butwhatthehelli
sshe
supposedtodoi fhekeepsmessi nguptheirpl
ans?
“Ihadnoot
herchoi
ce,i
fhebecomesapr
obl
em we’
l
l
eli
minat
ehi
m,”hesayswit
hashrug.
Sheblowsoutasighandwalkstothebedtoshush
thebabybackt
osleep.Sheeats,
playsandsl
eeps.
There’
snoneedtodrugher,
she’saverygoodbaby.
“
What
’shername?
”asksMi
ke.
“I
’
llcheckitonherf
ather
’sI
nst
agr
am page.I
’
m not
goodwi t
hnames.”
He’
snotsur
pri
sedbecauseheknowst
hisgi
rlt
oo
well
.Sheonlycar
esaboutaf
ewt
hingsandaf
ew
peopl
einli
fe.
“
Sowhatdowecal
lher
?”heasks.
“Idon’tknow,Ical
lherPi
nkybecauseshehaspink
ri
bbonsonherhai r.
”Shelooksatthebabyand
smiles.“She’
sagoodbaby ,Idon’
tknowwhatshe
didtodeser v
esuchahorribl
emanasaf at
her
.”
“I
fshehasbl ueri
bbonstomorr
owwe’ l
lcal
lher
Blue?”heasksandtheybothbursti
ntol
aughter
,
forget
ti
ngthatthey’
ret
ryi
ngtoputababybackt o
sleep.
Sheopensherey esandcr ies.Mikesi
tsonbedand
l
ift
shert ohischest
.Hewasn’ tl
uckytogetchil
dren
i
nhi sprevi
ousmar r
iage,butjustli
keanyotherman,
hiswishistohavechildr
enofhi sownoneday .Ev en
thoughthatseemslikeaf adingdream now.
“Sowhat
’stheplan?”heasks,r
est
ingthebaby
’s
headonhisshoulderandrubbi
ngherback.
Sheseemst
obecal
mingdown.
“
Idon’
tneedapl
anMi
ke.He’
stheonewhoneedsi
t.
Ihavehi
sbabyandIwantBandl a’
sR300kback.
ThenIwantnamesoft hemenhehi r
edtotryki
ll
Khanyo,
aft
erthatIwanthimlockedupfor
att
emptedmurder,dr
ugtraf
fi
ckingandall
othersi
ns
he’
scommi t
tedunderthesun.
”
“
Doy
out
hinki
t’
sgoi
ngt
obeeasy
?”Mi
keasks.
“
Hehast
omakei
teasy
,forhi
sownsake,
”shesay
s.
Pinkyisnowfull
yawakeandst ari
ngatMi kewi thher
big,i
nnocenteyes.Hisheartsi
nksasr eal
ityhitshim;
shemaynotbef reakedoutbystrangersbutnochi ld
deservestopayforherf at
her’
ssins.Toensur eher
thatshe’
ssafeinhi sarms,heplantsasoftkisson
herheadandshesmi les.
“
Man,
she’
ssocut
e!”Guguexcl
aims.
“Yeah,
right
?Iwi
shIhadmyown,
I’
ddoany
thi
ngf
or
her.
”
Okay,he’sget
tingcar
ri
edawaywi ththi
stemporar
y
parent
ingduty.Thi
sisakidnappedbaby,nothi
sand
nothers.Theycannotbeemot i
onall
yatt
achedtoher
.
Thi
shousecannotbemi
stakenf
orahomeand
she’
snotaboutt
opl
ayhappyf
ami
l
iesusi
ng
someone’
schil
d.
“
Mike,
pleasef
ocus,
”shesay
sandgi
veshi
m al
ook.
.
.
BHAMBATHA

Hisuncle’
sv anpul
lsup,Thandiwecli
mbsoutwi t
ha
pi
ercingscream.Herhusbandisbleedingonthe
ground,Bhambatha’sf
ootisstampedonhi schest
whilehemakesanunpl easantphonecallt
o
someone.Hekeepscur singoverthephone,whoever
i
tishaspi ssedhi
m more.
Hedropsthecall,
sli
dest hephonebacki nhi s
pocketandgrabsHalali
sani upbyhisjacket.His
fi
stshavedoneenoughdamage.Hemi ght’
vebroken
hi
snoseandaf ewofhisl i
mbs.Heshoul dbelett
ing
hi
m gonow, butanotherfool hasannoyedhim and
he’
sgoingtomakesomeonepayf ori
t.
Unfort
unat
elyforHalal
isani,thatsomeoneishi m.
Afi
stl
andsonhi
sbleedi
ngmouth,herel
easesal
ow
gr
oanandtr
iest
oduckthenextone.
“Oh,uyavika?Ngiy
isl
imaminangishayaumoya?”
Bhambat haasksangril
y.(
Ihi
tyouandy oushi
eld
yourface,am Isupposedtohi
ttheair
?”
Heshakeshi
shead,
“Angi
vi
ki
.”(
I’
m notshi
eldi
ng
mysel
f)
“
Good!
”Hethr
owsanotherf
istandHal
ali
sani
let
sit
l
andni
cel
yonhisnose.
Hegr
oansouti
npai
n.
“Ungangi
bangel
iumsindo.Angif
uniukukhal
elwa
yindodaenamasendealuhl
aza.Ungi
bangela
amabhadi.”
“
I’
m notcryi
ng!
”Agai
n,Halal
isanipul
l
shimsel
f
t
ogetherandobey
shiscrazyinst
ruct
ions.
Hepusheshi
mtot
hegr
oundandst
andsov
erhi
m.
“Yini
ungenzeumsunuwena?Iaskedy
ounotto
bothert
hatwomanandyouwentanddidexact
ly
that.
”
“
Bhambat
haIwasaskedt
ogobyt
heel
der
s.Idi
dn’
t
touchher,
Iswear!”hesaysascalm ashecan.He
doesn’
twanttosoundbr oken,
thataswell
maygets
him morepunches.
“I
nki
ngayakhounekhandael
ixegayonjengempukane.
Youwantmet ogobacktojail
?”heasks,pull
i
ngthe
gunoutofhi
swaist.(
Theproblem i
sthatyouhavea
l
ooseheadli
keafly)

“Bhambat
hal
ethim go,
now!”Hisuncl
eroar
s,
makinghi
swaytowardsthem f
oll
owedbyacry
ing
Thandi
we.
Thismant hinkshecallstheshots.Hemi ghtbe
sleepingwi thhi
smot herbuthe’snothisfather.He
cannott ellhi
m whatt odo.Notaf t
erhetoldthem
thathe’l
l shootHalal
isaniifheeverwenttohisl at
e
brother’
shousewi t
houtanyi nv
itat
ion.Theydared
him, nowhe’ sdeli
veri
ngonhi spromises.
Hefir
esaf ewshot
sintheai
randtheyrunbackt
o
t
heirvan.Hetur
nsitt
oHalal
i
saniwho’snowshaki
ng
l
ikealeaf.
“
Idon’
twanty
ourdeat
honMawande’
sconsci
ence,
that’
stheonl
yreasonI’
m notpul
l
ingt
hist
ri
ggerand
blowingof
fyourbrai
ns.
”
“
Thanky
ou,
”hesay
s,unabl
etohol
dbackhi
stear
s.
“Whyarey
oucr
ying?Ungi
thel
angamabhadi
.”(
You’
re
causi
ngmebadlucks)
“
I’
m notcr
ying.
”Yes,
he’
scr
ying!
Bhambat
harai
seshi
sey
ebr
ow.Hemustnotbe
annoy
edagai
n.
“Unyokol
o?”heasks,
poi
nti
ngatHal
ali
sani
’
swet
cheeks.(
Ist
hisy
ourmother
)
“
Thesearetearsofj
oy,
mybr
other
.I’
m notcr
ying,
”
Hal
ali
sanisays.
Hecli
ckshistongueandli
ft
shim of
ft hegr
ound.Hi
s
uncl
e’
sv anhasspedoffandlef
thim andHalal
i
sani
toki
lloneanother
.
“
Don’
tevermakemedot hi
sagain.You’
l
l goto
Mawandeandapologi
ze.Thenyou’l
lneversetyour
f
ooti
nthathouseagai
n.Okay?”
Henods,
“Yes,
yes.
”
.
.
MAWANDE

Any t
hingcanhappen.Ther emightbeanot
her
funerali
nthef amily,
andt histi
meshe’dbetheone
toblame.Nobodyi ssay i
nganythi
ngtoher.Thevan
withThandiweandNy ezi
’sunclehascomeback
withoutHalal
isani.May behe’sdeadandBhambat ha
hasbeent akentoj ai
l.Herheadbuzzeswith
unpleasantpossibil
it
iesandshesi nksont
hecouch
hopelessl
y.
Whycan’tshemournforherhusbandi
npeace?
Stayi
nghereisnotwor
thiti
fpeoplear
egoingt
odie
overher
.Itseemsli
kenobodyisonhersi
dehere.
NotevenNy ezi
’
smother,
awomanshe’ sal
ways
consi
deredasherownmot her
.

Thedoorshif
tsandf
ootst
epscomein.Shestands
upqui
cklyandfi
xesherey
esatthepassage.
I
t’
sBhambat
ha.
Shebl
owsoutasi
ghoft
empor
aryr
eli
ef.
“Pl
easetel
lmeyoudidn’tdoany
thi
ngstupi
d,”she
says,
looki
ngathi
m withdesper
ati
on.
Helooksar
oundforachargerandspot
soneand
makeshiswaytoconnecthi
sphone.
“
Doyouknowwhatt
imeSpor
tSceneopensi
n
t
own?”heasks.
“No,”shesayswi
thafr
own.Di
dhekil
lHal
ali
sanior
not?That’
stheonl
ythi
ngshewant
stoknowright
now.
“They’
dbeopenbyt heti
mewegett her
eanyway.
PearlsaidyouhaveagamenextweekandIknow
thatyoudon’thav
eanyspor
twear;nojogger
s,no
sportbrasandnokicks.
”
Nowhe’sreal
l
ytaki
ngthi
sfar.Ther
ear
enoj
ogger
s
andspor
tbrasbei
ngbought.
“I
’
m notgoi
ngtowearbr
asandjogger
s.Youwant
peopl
etosaymorenast
ythi
ngsaboutme?”
“
Oh,
uzogxumangezi
shweshwenamaphi
nif
a?”he
asks.(You’
regoi
ngplaywear
ingseshoeshoe
dressesandpanofor
es)
Shesighsandfi
ghtst
heurgetorol
lherey
es.Hehas
thi
sthingofsay
ingst
upi
dthingswi
ththemost
seri
ousface.
“Icanwearaski
rt
,”shesay
swi
thasi
l
ent‘
duh’
att
he
end.
“
Whohav
eyouev
erseenpl
ayi
ngspor
tinaski
rt
?”
She’
saboutt
omentionaf
ewnetbal
lpl
ayer
swhen
heshakeshi
sheadwit
halowsi
gh.
“Weari
ngj
oggersandspor
tbr
aswon’
tmakeyou
l
essofawife.Whyyouwantt
omakeyour
sel
flook
dif
fer
enti
nanothert
own?”
“Idon’
twantpeoplet
otal
kaboutme.I’
m noty
ou
Bhambatha,Icar
eaboutwhatot
herpeopl
ethi
nkof
me.”
Heexhalestir
edl
y,“
Alri
ght
.Pl
easetakemynumber
,
I’
m sti
l
laroundforafewweeks.Cal
lify
ouneed
anythi
ng.
”
Shepassesherphonet
ohi
m andst
andsbehi
ndt
he
couchwithherarmsfol
ded.Shenev erthoughtthi
s
manwoul dcomeandstandbyher .Hedi dn’
teven
comet othei
rweddi
ngoranyoft hecelebrati
ons
theyhost
ed.He’sal
waysbeenscar ce,eventhough
hecommuni cat
edwithNyeziandhadagood
rel
ati
onshipwit
hhim.
“
Youal
readyhav
eit
,”hesay
shandi
ngi
tbackt
oher
.
Shef
rowns,
“No,
Idon’
t.
”
“Idon’
twhyi
t’
ssav
edasGener
albutt
hat
’smy
number.”
I
ndeed,t
here’
sanumbersavedundert
hename
Gener
albutshe’
snev
erpaidat
tent
iont
oit
.
“Oh,Idi
dn’
tknowIhadit
,”shesay
s,st
il
ll
ooki
ngat
herphonewit
hdisbel
i
ef.
“MaybeNy
ezi
did,
buti
t’
snothi
ng,
justremembert
o
cal
lmeify
ouneedsomethi
ng,
anyt
hing.”
Hesay she’
sgoi
ngsomewher etomeetupwi t
ha
fr
iend.Mawandei
sr el
i
evedt oknowt hatnobody
di
ed.Shewould’
veneverforgivenherselfi
f
Bhambathahadkil
l
edhi m.Yes, af
terlastni
ghtshe
hateshi
m,buthe’
saf
atherandhi
schi
l
drenst
il
l
needhim.

Phoner i
ngsfr
om thelounge.I
t’
stheri
ngingtone
shedoesn’tr
ecognize,shequi
ckl
yrushestoit.
Damn, Bhambathalefthi
sphonehere.Thecall
eri
s
sopersist
ent
.
Shepicksup,“
Hel
lo,
Bhambat
hai
snotar
ound,
I’
ll
tel
l
hi
mt ocally
ouback.
”
“Whothehellareyou?Whyareyouansweri
nghis
phone?”I
t’
sal adyandshedoesn’
tsoundpl
easedby
heransweri
ngBhambat ha’
sphone.
“
I’
m hi
ssi
ster
-i
n-l
aw,hel
efti
tont
hechar
gerand
wentt
oafri
end,
”shesay
s.
“You’
renott
ell
i
ngmewhyy
ou’
reanswer
inghi
s
phone.”
God,
notanot
herdr
ama!She’
shadenoughf
ort
oday
.
“
It
’si
nmyhouseandIwasnextt
oit
,”shesay
s.
“Nobodyanswersmyman’
sphone,okay?Idon’
t
knowwhaty ou’
reupt
oorwhathe’
sstil
ldoi
ngther
e.
ButI’
llt
elly
ouonethi
ng;I
’m notgoingtol
etyouor
anyonetakemyman.Don’teventrythatr
emarry
ing
abrotherbull
shi
twi
thhi
m.Yourhusbandi snomore,
i
t’
sov er!
”
That
’s……j
ustst
upi
d.
“Okay,sorr
y.Bye!”Shedropst
hecallandreleasesa
sigh.Isst
ayinghereandmour ni
ngforNyezireall
y
wor t
hallt
hedr amashe’sgett
ing,l
i
ter
all
yfrom
everyone?

Herphoneri
ngsr
ightont
hatmomentoff
rust
rat
ion
andanger
.
Shepi
cksup,“I
’m gl
adyoucall
ed,
Idon’twanttobe
her
eanymore.Icannotdot
hisanymoreThakasa.
”
“
Whatdi
dtheydot
oyou?
”heasksi
npani
c.
“WhatIcameheref
ori
sov er
.Thelov
eisov
er,
I
cannotst
ayher
eanymore.Iwantt
ocomehome.”
Ther
e’sasi
gh,
fol
l
owedbyabr
iefmomentofsi
l
ence.
“Ev
eryonei
sleav
ing.Thi
ngsar
efal
l
ingapar
t,
”he
says.
“
Whatdoy
oumean?Who’
sleav
ing?
”
“NkonzoandSqal o.Idon’
tknowaboutBandl abut
hehasn’ tsaidanythi
ng.MaNt usihasalreadylef
t,
so….”Heexhal esdeepl
y,“Idon’
tknowwher etogo
from here.Idon’tknowifshe’severgoingt ocome
back.Idon’ tknowifmybr other
sar egoingtobe
okayont heirown.Imessedup, I
’vedestroyedmy
famil
y .Mai snotspeakingtome, angazi nj
eWande,
Ireal
lydon’ t.
”
She’
stry
ingtodrawapi ctureofi
t;herfamil
ywi t
hout
Sqal
o,NkonzoandNot hil
e.They’
venev erl
ived
wit
houtoneanother.They’r
eonebi gfamil
y,theyli
ve
anddoeveryt
hingtogether.
I
stheemoti
onalsuppor
tshe’
slongi
ngf
orev
en
goi
ngtobether
eathome?
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER36
KHANYO

I
’vebeensoannoy i
ng, askingthedoctorwhenhe’ s
discardingme.Ifeell
ikeev ery
thingisgoingwrongin
theout sideworl
d.Bandla’sphonehar dl
ygoes
through, hi
snameisst il
lmakingheadl i
nes.Iguess
he’snotcopi ngwit
hall t
hisbadpubl i
cit
y,whichisn’
t
asur pri
sebecausehe’st rendi
ngf oral
lthewrong
reasons.
I
’m notA-okaywit
hit.Isawthev i
deo,itdi
sgust
ed
meandpokedmyi nsecuri
ti
es.Idon’tknowhow
l
ongit’
sgoi ngt
otakef ort
hatgrossv i
deotogetout
ofmymi nd.
ButIcannotbeangr yathim becausethat’shispast.
Ialsohavemi neandheaccept edit
.Ijusthav eto
wearabi ghatandmov eon.Heneedsmysuppor t
nowmor ethanever
.Mebei nghereisn’thelping
becauseIknowhi sfamil
yisnotmaki ngt hingseasy
forhim ei
ther.Hegotsuspendedf r
om chur chforthe
peri
odofthr
eemonths,Idon’
tknowhowthatmakes
hi
mf eel
,hel
oveschurchandhenevermi
ssasingl
e
one.

Sist
erBeewalksi
nwi thapieceofpaperi nherhand.
SheknowswhatI’vebeenper sist
entaboutthi
s
wholeweek,shequickl
yexplainsitbef
oreIget
exci
tedthi
nki
ngshe’sdischargingme.
“I
’mj
usther
etochecky
ourv
ital
sbef
orey
ourv
isi
tor
comesi
n.”
Irol
l myey es.IhavesomanythingstodowhenIget
out,Ifeel
likethey’r
ewasti
ngmyt imekeepi
ngme
here.I’
mf ull
ybackt ol
if
enow!Ineedtogohome,
appeaset otheancestorsandcompletemycour
se.I
needt ogetmyl ifeontr
ack.
Nyezi
’sdeathwasj ustatest,Iwil
lnothealev eryone
Icr
osspat hswit
h.I’vewitnessedseveraldeaths
her
eint hehospit
als.Doctorsbreakdown, l
osi nga
pat
ientishard,
butt heydon’tputdownt hei
rtool s
andgiveupbecauseofi t.Theystil
lwalkupand
downthepassagesl i
kethey’
rebatter
y-chargedand
wri
teprescr
ipt
ionsf
orpat
ient
sli
ket
heyputpensi
n
t
heirar
ses.
Ihavetobecommitt
edt
omycal
l
ing,
justl
i
ket
hey
’re
tothei
rpr
ofessi
on.
“
It
’sv
isi
ti
nghour
sal
ready
?”IaskSi
sterBee.
“
It
’soneofy
ourf
ri
ends,
wel
etheri
n,
”shesay
s.
That’
snothowt hingswor k,notaroundhere.Since
whendot heycareaboutt herelat
ionshi
py ouhav e
wit
haper son?Visit
inghoursar evisi
ti
nghours,
nobodycanbendori gnor
ethem.ButI ’l
lunderstand
i
fit’
sNolwazi,t
hatonecant ri
ckpeopleintoany t
hing.

Ohwell
,i
t’
snotherbutGugu.Ihaven’
tseenthisone
i
ntwoweeks.She’
sglowingandslayi
nginthishuge,
bl
ackki
monodressandwi de-
bri
m hatthatcouldf
it
meandtwowardsofotherpati
ents.
“Youlookli
keanev i
lstepmotheratt
endinga
weddingofherhusband’sson.”Imean, whodresses
upli
ket hi
sjustt
ocomeandseeaf r
iendinhospital
?
You’dswearshe’sKell
yKhumal o’
ssister;
always
unnecessar
il
yov
erdr
essed.
“
I’
m act
ual
l
yav
erygoodst
epmot
her
,”shesay
s.
“Youdon’
thaveahusband,
youar
enotany
one’
s
stepmot
her.
”
Wel aughandhug.Shesmel lsnice,l
ikeami l
li
on
Rands.Iwonderwher eshe’sbeen, Iknowi tgot
everythi
ngtodowi thMikeandt heMi nist
erofwhat -
what.I’venev
erbeenr eal
lyinter
estedinherpol i
tical
shenanigans;I
’drathercountr i
ceonebyonet hant o
tal
kaboutpol i
ti
cs.IvoteforANC, att
endI FPrall
ies
andcr ossmyf i
ngersforEFFt osolvecommuni t
y
problems.
“Howarey
oufeel
i
ng?”sheasks,
sit
ti
ngont
hechai
r
andcr
ossi
ngherl
egs.
“Phy
sicall
y,I
’
mr eal
lyokay
.All
mywoundsare
heal
ing.ButnowIjustwantt
ogetoutofher
e,br
u.”
Shegiv
esmealook;t
hesamelookMandul
ohas
beengiv
ingmewhenIrai
set
hisup.
“
No,notforBandl
a.Ij
ustwantt
ogetout
,”Idefend
mysel
fbefor
eshesayssomethi
ngaboutmer ushi
ng
t
ogetoutandseeBandl
a.
“
Youknowyou’r
elyi
ng.Khanyoyoucannotdepr
ive
y
ourbodyaheali
ngbecauseofadick.
”
Ser
iousl
y??
?
“
Whosai
d….
?”
“I
’m notargui
ngwit
hy ou.I
’
mj ustsayi
ngallowthe
doctorstodothei
rjobandletBandlasor
thi msel
f
out.He’sabigman, y
ousawhowhehandl edthose
twogirls.
”
No,thi
sbitchdi
dn’t
!Idon’
twantt
ohearany
thi
ng
aboutthatvi
deo.
“Relax!”she’
schoki
ngdownwithlaughter
.Iswearif
Iev erseeoneofthosegi
rl
sI’
m snatchi
ngtheirwigs
off.Iftheyar
enotweari
ngany,I
’m cutt
ingoffthei
r
hair.
“Howarey
outaki
ngi
tthough?Ihopey
oudidn’
tgi
ve
Bandl
aahardt
imebecauseofi
t.I
t’
sanol
dv i
deo.
”
Ibl
owoutasi
gh.
“
Ihadnorightt
o.Ij
usthat
eEfewit
heveryfi
brei
n
mybody.He’sascumbag,Iwi
shhechokesonJoll
of
r
iceanddi
e.”
“Hashet
alkedt
oyouaf
tert
hisv
ideoscandal
?”she
asks.
“No,It ol
dhimt onev ertal
ktomeagai n.Iwant
nothingt odowi ththatman.”I’m notungratef
ul,I
thankedhi mf orsavingme, butitdidn’
terasethathe
brokemyhear t.He’smadei twor sebygoingaf t
er
myboy fri
end.Ifourpathsev ercrossagain,hebetter
facet heotherwaybecauseIdon’ tknowi fI’
dbeabl e
tocont rolwhatIdot ohisstupidass.
“
Doy
oust
il
lrememberhi
sbi
rt
hdat
e?”sheasks.
How’sthatapartofourconv
ersat
ion?If
rown.She
keepsherfacestr
aight
.
“13August1986.
”Ihatemysel
fforr
ememberi
ngi
t.I
shoul
d’v
etakenitoutofmyheadthedayIt
ookhi
m
outofmyheart.
“
Okay
,thanky
ou.
”
Isshepl
anni
ngasur
pri
sebi
rt
hdaypar
tyf
ort
he
shit
bag?
“
Whydoy
ouask?
”
“Justwonderinghowol
dhei
sforal
lthi
s
chil
dishness.
”
Iknowshe’
sly
ing.Thi
soneisupt
osomethi
ngand
i
t’
snotgood.Well
,notgoodf
orEf
eandIdon’
tgi
vea
damn.
“What’
sgoingonwithyourl
i
fe?Nolwazisay
syou
haven’
tbeenaroundint
woweeks,”Iask.
“YouknowMsi bi
?Theacti
ngdir
ector-
gener
alof
….”
Shecansav ei
t!Iwi
shherthebestofl
uckinher
careerorcr
imeorwhatev
eriti
sthatshe’
sbusywit
h.
“
Let’
stalkaboutsomet
hingel
se,
”Isaybef
oreshe
t
akesitanyfurt
her.
Shelaughs.ThisishowIal
waysactwhenshebri
ngs
upherpoliti
calt
hings,
soourf
ri
endshi
pisbasi
cal
ly
aboutme, nother.
“Okay,t
ell
meaboutt hehospit
aldr
ama.Anyfi
ght
ing
nurses?Orgir
l bei
ngadmit
tedaft
erbei
ngbeat
enby
anothergi
rloveraboy?”
Yes,
nowthi
sissomethi
ngwecanbothdi
scussand
l
aughabout
.It
hinkt
herewasagi
rl
fr
iendwhowas
beat
enbyherboyf
ri
end’
sgir
lf
ri
endbei
ngwheel
edi
n
yest
erday
.Li
fei
sbiry
ani
,It
elly
ou!
.
.
THAKASA

Hewant edt oknowifshearrivedsafelywher ever

shewasheadi ngto.Shedidt hat,
shecal ledandsaid
hertri
pwasgood.Nowherphonei sof f
.Itmakes
sense;sheneedsabr eakf
rom him, shewasn’ tgoi
ng
tostayint ouch.Buthekeepst ryi
ng, hopingthat
she’l
ltextorcall.I
t’
sbeen4day swi t
houtherandl if
e
i
shar d.Goi ngtosleeponanempt ybedi sahar sh
reminderofhi sreali
ty.Hewisheshecannotgot o
sleepandwhenhesl eeps,
hewi shest onev erwake
up.
Nkonzol eft
,hegotahouseinKwat asiandnowhe’
s
busyturninganempt yhousei
ntohishome.Sqalo
foundar oom torentwit
hhisfr
iend.I
t’
snotbad,he
wenttochecki toutandhaveawor dwithhis
l
andlordaboutt hesecur
it
y.He’
shappyf orhi
m.He’l
l
havepeacei
nhisroom.There’
l
lbenoonethrowi
ng
shadyremar
ksathim.Heneededhisownspace
morethananyone,
eventhoughhe’
ssti
l
lyoungtobe
onhisown.
Bandlaisawal ki
ngzombi e.Hedoesn’ tev engot o
work,he’salwaysi nbed.MaKhumal ohast obeghim
tojoi
nwhat ’slef
toft heManqel efamilyforl unch
anddinner.Beingapor nst ari
sn’ttr
eatinghi m well
.
Bloggersandsoci almedi adon’tmaket hingseasy ,
hehast owakeupev erydayandseepi cturesof
himselfall
ov ert
hei nternet.Het houghtitwoul dbea
fewday sscandal andbl owov er,butitseemsl i
kehe
haditallwrong.

Thakasahastoputasidehispersonalproblemsand
runthecompany.Hehast osoldieronandkeepi t
going.Atl
eastNkonzoisther
et ohelphim.Ev en
thoughhe’sdoi
ngitforhi
sbenefitmor ethanhe’s
doingitf
orthecompany ,
buthim offl
oadingsome
wor kandfl
yi
ngtoCapeTownonhi sbehalfreal
l
y
helps.
Atthi
spointhe’slost.Doeshecont i
nuewi t
hDr
Mhlongo’sther
apyorl etthi
ngsbehowt hey’
re?Does
hemov eoutofhomeasi ni
ti
all
ypl anned?Noneofi t
makessensei fNothilei
snott here.Hewant edtheir
marri
aget owork.Whati fsomet hi
nghappenst oher?
Whatwoul dhet el
lherfamily?Hisbaby -whatif
somethinghappensandhe’ snott here?Hedoesn’ t
wanthisbabyt obebor nwhilehe’snotar ound.

He’si
solat
edinhisbedr
oom, j
ustli
keever
yone,and
count
inghissor
rows.Ther
e’sasoftknockonthe
door,
beforehecanansweritshi
ft
sandopens.
It
’sMaKhumal o.Shecooksanddi shesupf or
everyone,hi
mincluded,butshehasn’tt
alkedt ohi
m
eversinceNothi
lelef
t.Shewasl i
keadaught erto
her,soheunderstandswhereherangeriscomi ng
fr
om.Notonl ythat,t
hewhol ef
ami l
yisbreaking
apart.
“Yoursi
sterhasn’
tcomehomeandi
t’
sal
most7,
”
shesays,walki
ngin.
Thakasasear
chesf
orhi
sphoneundert
hepi
l
lowand
scr
oll
sdownf
orPhet
hy’
snumber
.
“Sowhenar
ey oul
eaving?
”MaKhumaloasks,
standi
ngwi
thherhandsonthehi
ps.
“There’
snopointanymore.
”Heheav esasighand
shrugshisshoulder
s.“
Idon’
tknow,ifshecomes
backwe’ l
lcont
inuewit
hourplans.I
fshedoesn’
t….
I
don’tknow.”
“I
fshedoesn’tcomebackthenyouhav
etotake
anotherwif
e.Youcannotbeal
one,y
ou’
reanhei
rand
aleaderofthi
sfamil
y.
”
“
Ma,
Ionlywant
edtogetmarr
iedonceandhav
ea
f
ami
l
y.Isti
l
lwantust
otryandworkthi
ngsout
.”
“Howar eyougoi ngtoworkt hi
ngsoutwithsomeone
who’snotev enhere?Shechoset oleaveher
mar r
iage.Youthinkyourfat
herandInev erhadany
problems?Wedi d,butIstayed.Il
oveMaNt usibuti
f
shecannothandl etheheatandhelpy oubuil
dthis
famil
y ,t
heny ouneedtofi
ndsomeonewhocan. ”
“AndwhoisthatMa?Whocanl
oveamesst
hatI
am?”heasks.
“You’
l
lfi
ndhert
hesamewayy
ouf
oundher
,”she
says.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
butt
hat
’snothappeni
ng.
”
He’
spi
ssi
ngherof
f!
“Yout
hinkI
’
m goingtowakeup,packl
unchforyou
andcookdi
nnerever
yday?You’
re36Thakasa.
”
Heexhal
esheavi
ly.Thi
sisn’
tsomet
hingheexpect
ed
afewdaysaf
terbeingl
eftbyhiswi
fe.
“
CanIbeal
one?
”heasks.
“Yes,
butpl
easedosomet
hingbef
oret
hisf
ami
l
y
becomeshi
stor
y.”
“
Iwi
l
l,
”hesay
stogetheroutoft
hedoor
.
Hefol
lowsbehindherandlocksthedoor
.Hesends
anot
hertext
,beggi
ngNot hi
let
ocallwhenshesees
hi
smessages.Hismarriagecannotendl
iket
his.
I
tcan’
tbeov
er!
.
.
NKONZO

She’l
lprobablybepi
ssedwhensher eal
izesthatit’
s
him andnotThakasaatt
endingtheassociati
on
eventandlateronmeetupwi t
hSinghPr oper
ties
executi
vemember s.Heaskedforaroom nextt o
hers.Shearri
vedearl
i
erthanhim.He’salwaysl at
ein
everyt
hing.
Hedragshi
ssuit
caseandwalkst
hroughVi
ctor
ia
andAlf
redHot
elrecept
iont
ocheckin.
They
’ll
besendi
ngthi
sweekendt oget
her
,whether
shel
ikesi
tornot
.That’
slongenoughtowinherover
.

Hegetshisaccesscardandkeysandtakest
helif
t
tohisr
oom.Whatagoodnei ghborhe’
sgoingtobe!
He’sbr
ingi
nghisnext-
doorabunchofflower
sjustto
sayhel
lotoher.
Hel eaveshi
ssuitcaseonthef
loorandheadst
o
room 123-7.Okay,thi
smaynotgothewayhe
planned.Heexercisessomebr
eathsbefor
e
knocki
ng.
Openingt
hedoorTemat hi
nksi
t’
saroom ser
viceor
oneofthehotel
staf
f.Whensheseeswhoiti
sshe
near
lyfai
ntsonthespot
.
“Whatarey
oudoingher
e?”sheasksinshock.Her
eyesgotothef
lower
sinhishandandsheblowsout
asigh.
“
Thakasacoul
dn’
tcome,
soIhadt
ost
epi
n,
”hesay
s.
“
Soy
ouar
eher
e?”
“
YesTi
nker
bel
l
,I’
m her
e.”
Thi
s….
shecan’
tdeal
!
“
MayIcomei
n?”heasks.
Shegiveshim ashr
ugandtur
nsbacki
nandgoesto
theli
tt
letabl
etopourher
sel
fagl
assfr
om abot
tl
eof
SaintAnna.
“Thesearefory
ou,
”hesay
s,t
ryi
ngnott
osound
nervousandbeawkwar
d.
Heneveri
maginedherbeingthi
shar d.Hethought
t
hey’
dsitdownandtalk.Agree,
disagreeandreacha
concl
usi
on.
“Nkonzo,Idon’
twantust
ogobackt
owhatwe’
ve
alr
eadytalkedabout
.”
She’
sstandi
ngagainstt
het
abl
ewi
thagl
assi
nher
handandstar
ingathim.
Heputsfl
owersonherbedandwal
kst
oheragai
nst
hermeanlook.
“
May beImessedt
hingsup.Icametoohar
dand
r
uinedmychancesofbei
ngwi t
hyou.”
Hedoesn’
tgeti
t.
Shesi
ghsandsi
psherwi
ne.
“Dub’el
imthende,pl
easeal
lowmet opr
ovemy sel
fto
youbeforerej
ecti
ngme.It’
sall
Ibeg,j
ustone
chance.
”
“
Nkonzo,pl
ease!
”shesay
swit
hasi
gh.“
Fir
stofal
l
,
y
ou’
reinv
adingmypriv
acy.
”
“
Comet
omyr
oom t
hen,
Ijustwantust
otal
k.”
Hemustbet
hinki
ngshewasbor
nyest
erday
!
“
Youbookedar
oom nextt
omi
ne,
boughtme
fl
owersandbur
sti
ntomyr
oom j
ustt
otal
k?”she
asks.
“
Yes,
”hesay
s.
“
Really
?Youmustbethi
nki
ngI
’
m af ool
y azi
.Iknow
you’
reher
ebecausey
outhi
nkyoucansleepwith
me.”
Hef
rowns,
“What
?”
“I
t’
snothappeni
ng.I
t’sei
thery
oukeept
hisal
labout
busi
nessorI’
m cal
li
ngThakasa.”
He’
sappal
led.Thi
sishowshethinksofhi
m?He
r
educedwhathesaidtohert
ojustsexual
hunger
.
“It
oldyouthatI
’minlovewithyou.Ihaven’tsaid
anythi
ngaboutsex.NotthatIdon’twantit
,butI
wouldn’
trunaft
eryouandhav esleepl
essni ght
becauseofyouonlytofuckyouinsomehot elbefore
myuncl esev
ensay‘EhBaba’ atyourfat
her’sgate.”
Thathumbleshertosi
l
ence.However
,he’
spissed.
Maybe,j
ustmay be,
he’
staki
ngthi
sthewrongway .
“
Maybesitmedownandtel
lmewhyy oudon’tl
ove
me.Whatisi
tthaty
ouwantt
hatIdon’
thave.Tel
l
me,I’
llunderst
and.Don’
tembarr
assmeinf r
ontof
peopleandassumet hi
ngsaboutmycharact
er
whereasy oudon’
tevenwanttoknowathingabout
me.”He’sangry.Moreangr
iert
hansheexpected.
Hepi
ckshisf
lower
sonbed, thr
owsthem i
nsi
dethe
bi
nbythebat
hroom ent
ranceandst
ormsout.That
wasadramat
icone!
Whatdoesshedonow?Runafterhi
m andapol
ogi
ze
orcont
inuedr
inki
ngherwi
ne?

(FAM,
THINGSWI
LLGOBACKTONORMALFROM
TOMORROW)
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER37
THAKASA

Aft
erhav i
ngadi scussi
onwi t
hchur chleaders,
he’s
compelledtor eachoutt oNomkhosi againsthis
wif
e’swor d.Heneedst osealthatpartofhisli
feand
moveon.Al lhewant si
st ohonorthespi r
itofhis
baby,getcleansingandf ormall
yapologizet othe
NseleandNgi di famil
y.
Obviousl
y ,hecannotr eachheroverthephone
becausehe’ sblockedandi fhetri
estouseanot her
numbershedr opswhenshehear shisvoice.Apart
ofhim understandswhysheact sthewayshedoes,
buthealsohar bor ssomehat etowardsher.Hekill
ed
hi
sbaby !Despi t
eofev er
ythi
ngthathappened
betweent hetwooft hem,ababywasi nnocent.If
shedidn’twanti tshecould’vegi
venbirt
hand
broughtittohim.
Butt hisisnotat i
met olethisfeel
ingsi nt oplay,he
birthedt hiswhol equagmi re.Hedi dn’tev encal l
to
bookanappoi ntmentwi t
hher .Hel eaveshi s
i
nf ormat ionatt hegat eofBant wanaHol dingsand
drivest hrough.Hi sheartisbeat i
nghar dagainsthi s
chestashet r
iestoenv i
saget hisvisitplayingout .
Thatbi polarsisterworksher easwel l
,shemayhel p
thesi tuationescal ateunnecessaril
y .He’sact uall
y
steppi ngi nt
oNomkhosi andherwhol esquad’ szone.
Andt heyal lseem t obeclawsoneachot her’
s
busi ness.
Hisprestigi
ouspr
esenceget
sthel
adybehi
nd
recept
iondeskonherfeetwi
thawidesmil
espr
ead
onherf ace.
“MrManqel e,welcometoBant
wanaHoldi
ngs.”She’
s
unnecessaril
yloudanddrawi
nghi
m att
ent
ionf r
om
cl
eaningladieswho’vest
oppedmovi
ngwiththeir
buckets.
“
Arey
ouher
etoseesomeone?
”she’
sasks.
She’
snotgi
vinghimtimet
olookar
oundandbr
eat
he
i
nthi
sgli
tzybuil
ding.
“I
’m sor
ryt
ojustpopin,
ist
her
eanychancet
hatI
canhaveawor dwit
hNomkhosiNsel
e?”
Herey esareont heBMW key sandi Phone12i nhi
s
hand.Hi scri
spywhi t
eshirthugshisarmsand
almostpor tl
ytummyper f
ectl
y.Ofcourse,he’
s
mar r
ied,thatpi
eceofsat i
nbandhasat extur
edlook
thatscreams‘ I
’m someone’sman’,butshe’sonly
l
ookingf orwhoring’sake!
“Hell
o?”Thakasanar
rowshiseyesandt
hegir
l
quickl
ysnapsoutofherdr
ooli
ngmoment .
“Ummm no,MissNseleisonleave.ButI’
llcall
Mrs
Mngomezulu’
soffi
ce,maybey oucanhav eawor d
wit
hherasthey’
refr
iends.
”It
’saf av
ortober etur
ned!
Hersmil
eismeanttot empt
,sadlyhe’snotinthat
spaceofey
einganywomanatt hemoment .
He’sneveroffi
cial
l
ymetNdondo, buthe’sseenthat
egomaniacalwomanar oundandshe’snotsomeone
hewishestohav eaconversat
ionwith.Buthehas
nochoice,doeshe?
“
Pleasedo,
”hesaystotherecept
ionladyandshe
r
ushesaroundherdeskandprodsthetelephone.
Shedidn’tev
enwanthimt ocomeupt oheroff
ice.
Shestepsoutoftheli
ft,
walki
nghighinherst
il
ettos
wit
hani nhospi
tabl
elookonherface.Thi
sone
thi
nksshe’sMaryJacksonofHiddenFigur
es.
“
GooddaySi
r.
”
Oh,
she’
skeepi
ngt
hisf
ormal
.
Br
eat
heThakasa!
“
GooddayMrsMngomezul
u,”hekeepsi
tfor
malas
wel
landt
ri
esnott
olookasunset
tl
edasheis.
“HowcanIbehelpt
oyou?”sheasks,keepi
ngher
eyesr
ightonhi
swit
houtasingl
ebli
nk.
“Iwasher
etoseeNomkhosibutt
heladyher
e
ref
err
edmet oy
ou.Ithi
nkshesai
dshe’sonl
eav
eor
somethi
ngli
kethat
.”
“
Yes,
shei
s.”
“
Ineedt
otal
ktoher
.”
“
NoThakasa,
nott
hist
imear
ound.Gobackt
oyour
wi
fe.
”
“
It
’sonlyaboutthebaby.Ij
ustwantust
oarr
ange
t
herit
ual,Iwantthi
schapterofmyli
fet
obeover
.”
Ndondocl
ear
shert
hroatandt
ear
sherey
esof
fhi
m
f
orasecond.
“
Cany
ouhel
pme?Ij
ustneedt
otal
k,not
hingmuch.
”
Sheexhal
esoutheav
il
y,“
Iwi
l
lcal
lherandputheron
l
oudspeaker
.”
Heblowsoutasi
ghofrel
iefandwai
tspat
ient
lyas
shescr
oll
sdownherphone.

I
t’
sri
ngi
ng.Hi
shear
tisr
aci
ngf
orwhat
everr
eason.
“
Heybabe,
”-i
t’
sher
.
“
Babe,
howar
eyou?
”Ndondo.
“
Good,
it’
sjustendl
ess…”Ndondocut
shershor
tand
j
umpsintotel
lherwhoshe’swit
h.
“
I’
m wi
thThakasa,
”shesay
s.
Ther
e’sabr
iefmomentofsi
l
ence.
“
Hewant
stot
alkaboutt
hebaby
’sr
it
ual
.”
Hegrabsthephonefr
om Ndondo’
shandbef
oret
he
cal
lgetsdropped.
“Nomkhosi,
it’
sme.Ij ustwantustotal
kaboutthe
baby,
nothi
ngel se.
”He’sdesperat
elytr
yingtoensur
e
hert
hatthi
sisonl yaboutthebabybutshe’shavi
ng
noneofit
.
“
Whataboutt
hebaby
?”sheasks.
“Heorsheneedsaname,
Nomkhosi
.Ij
ustwantt
o
dothi
ngsri
ght.
”
“
WhywouldIt
ermi
nat
ethepregnancyi
fIwantt
ogo
t
othel
engt
hsofnami
ngthebaby?”
“
That
’snotafai
rthi
ngtosay.Inall
this,
thebaby
wasi
nnocent
.Wecr eat
edthatsoul
,together
.”
“
No!
”
“
Nomkhosi
thi
sisnotabout
…”
“Isai
dno,Thakasa.Youhav
eababycomi
ng,the
oneyou’
resureisyours,
shi
fty
ourf
ocust
othatone
andleav
emeal one.”
“
Canwemeetandt
alk?Pl
ease.
”
“
I’
m outoft
hecount
ry.
”
Foramomenthe’
sdumbst
ruck.
“
Wit
houtt
ell
i
ngme?
”heasks.
“
You’
renotmyf
ather
,Idon’
tneedper
missi
onf
rom
y
ou.”
“
I’
mthef
atherofy
ourchi
l
d!”
“Intheworl
dofmorons,y
ou’
dbeaki ng.You’r
eproof
thatGodhassenseofhumoryazi
!”Withthatsai
d,
shedr opst
hecal
l.
Ndondoshrugshershoul
der
sandtakesbackher
phone.Shetr
ied,
itdi
dn’
tendwel
l
.
“Thanks,
”Thakasasayswi t
hasi ghofdefeat.“Can
youpleaseletmeknowwhenshe’ sback.I’
lll
eave
mynumber ,Iknowshe’sangr yatmerightnowbut
wehav etoacknowl
edget helifewecreated.Iwant
tomov eonanddealwithot herchal
l
engest hatli
fe
bri
ngme. ”
“Sur
e!”Hert
onei
snotconv
inci
ngbutshedoest
ake
hisnumber.
Heheav
esasi
ghandt
urnst
oleav
e.
“MrManqel
e,
”-t
her
ecept
ionl
adywav
ingupher
hand.
He’
stryi
ngnottobeamean-l
ookingmanthatnev
er
smil
es,butt
her
e’ssomuchgoingoninhi
slif
etogo
ar
oundshowinghist
eet
h.Henodsatherandwalks
away.
.
.
NKONZO

Theyj ustdi dt
heSi nghProperti
esev ent
,tosayi t
wasawkwar dwoul dbeanunder statement .They
couldn’tev enfakeunitedfrontinfrontofbusi ness
associat es.He’salwaysbeenabadl oser
; hecannot
takerej ecti
onwell.Whatmakest hingsev enmor e
frustr
at ingist
hatshedoesn’ ttellhim whyshe
doesn’ twantthem t otry
.Infact,she’snotsay ing
any t
hingexcept ;“Leavemeal one.”
Theystil
lhaveadayi
nWater
frontandhe’
sinthe
room r
ightnextt
oher
s.Hehearstheshowerr
unning
whenshe’
sbathi
ng,
heli
stenst
ohersi
ngi
ngwhen
she’
sinahappymoodandeavesdr
opsonhercal
l
s.
Butt
hatdoesn’
tmeanhe’
slessangr
yaboutwhat
shesai
d.
There’
saknockathisdoor.I
tmustbetheroom
ser
v i
ce;heorder
edbecausetheyser
vedwarmfood
attheSinghs.

Heopenst hedoortoat inkerbel

lcarr
yinga
Tupperwar
econtainer.Hislipscrackintoasmileas
hestar
esdownatherl ookingathim nervousl
y.
Damn, hewasplanningtobeangr yl
onger,whyishe
smil
ingnow?
“Iknowyou’renotspeaki
ngtomebutIhopeyou’
re
goingtoeatmyf ood.Theywer
ebakedbefor
e6pm
yester
day,Iboughtthem onmywayher
eandstored
them i
nacont ai
ner.
”
Womenboardfli
ghtsandtr
avelar
oundpr
ovi
nces
wi
thfoodcont
ainer
sinthei
rbags?Wow,t
hese
cr
eat
ures.
Shegi
vesi
ttohi
m andst
epsbackt
oleav
e.
“Pl
easecomei
nandt
akey
ourcont
ainerback,
”he
says.
Thi
sisexact
lywhatshewashopi
ngf
or.Shef
oll
ows
hi
mi nandsi
tsonbed.
“
Youl
ookedbeaut
if
ult
oday
.”
“
Oh,
thanky
ou.
”
Het
akesapl
ateandempt
iest
hesconesoni
t.
“
Iwantedt
ocompli
mentbutIdidn’
twanty
out
o
t
hinkI
’
mt r
yingt
ohavesexwit
hy ou.
”
Hereyesdropi
nembarr
assment.Ar
esconesnot
enoughforanapol
ogyt
hough?
“AboutthatNkonzo,I
’
mr eal
lysorr
y.I
’
mjustnot
…”
shebreathesoutheavi
ly
,“I
tscaresmewhenaman
comesatmel i
kethat
.”
“
Likewhat
?”heasksandt
akesabi
teont
hescone.
“Wi
thrulesanddict
ati
ngtendenci
es.I
’
vebeenthere
bef
oreandIdon’teverwanttogobacktot
hatplace
wherethere’
samant el
li
ngmewhatt odotobe
enoughf
orhi
m.”
Hisappet
it
efl
iesoutofthewi
ndow,het
hrowsthe
sconebackontheplat
eandgoestosi
tnextt
oher
onbed.
“I
’m sorr
yyouf el
tthatway .Iwasn’tt
ryi
ngtodictat
e
youorany t
hing.ButI’m notgoingtoli
etowi nyou
overorwearacol orf
ul coatthatI’
l
lhavetotakeoff
i
nal ongrun.Iwanty out ogettoknowmef orwhoI
am.It’
sat r
y-justl
ikeIsaid.Ifyoufeell
ikeI’
m nota
manf oryouthenI’l
lletyougo, butnotunti
lwegive
i
tat ry
.”
“Whatexactl
yist
his‘
tr
y’?Whatdoesi
tmean?
”she
asks,
quotingwit
hherfi
nger
s.
“Comet omyhouseandseehowIliv
e.Comet o
churchwithme,meett
hepeoplei
nmyci rcl
eand
paintapict
ureofhowourf
utur
emayl ookli
kei
fwe
wor kout
.”
“
Andt
henwhat
?”sheasks.
“Thenwegetmar ri
ed,l
ivet
oget
herandstar
ta
famil
y.”He’
stooreali
sti
candst
rai
ghtf
orward,
it’
s
notevenromanti
c.
“Youdon’
tevenknowifIwantt
ogetmar
ri
edornot
,”
shesayswit
haslightf
rown.
“Corr
ect i
on;happi
lymarr
ied.Idon’
tjustwantto
marryy ou,Iwanttomakey ouhappy.Andf ormet
o
beablet omakey ouhappy,Ineedtobeinmyhappy
space.”Hel i
ft
sherhandandhol dsi
t.She’snot
comfortablebutshe’
snotfighti
nghim ei
ther.
“Iwanty out oknowt hatIlovey ou.Ididn’tappr oach
youbecauseIwantawi feorsomeonet omess
aroundwi th.I’v
ealwaysf earedmar riagebecauseI
don’tlikedoi ngsomet hingandnotgeti tright.It’
sa
hugest ep,ifloveandhonest yisn’tt
hef oundat ionit
willei
therf allapartortherewillbenohappi ness.
That ’
swhyIwanty outoknowmyhonesti ntentions,
wher eIwantust obeandhowIf eel aboutyou.I
don’twantt ol i
e,Tema.AndIdon’ twantt osl eep
withy ou, atleastnotnow.I ’
m notdi ctati
ngy ou, Ij
ust
wanty out olovemeandunder standmyr eli
gion
becausei tplaysabi gpartonwhoIam. ”
“Whati
fIt
ryandnotli
keit
?Idon’
twantt
ohur
tyou
andputmyjobi
njeopardy
.”
“I’
dnevercostyouajobbecauseofaper
sonal
rel
ati
onship.Il
oveyouevenwhenyoudon’tl
oveme
back,I
’l
lal
way sdo.
”
Hereyesareget
ti
ngmoi st
.Sher
eleasesashall
ow
breat
handbli
nksrapi
dlywhil
ewipi
ngt hecor
nersof
hereyes.
“
Idon’
tknow,
”shesay
s.
Hejustneedst
opr
esst
hel
astbut
tonandpr
essi
t
r
ight.
“
Giv
emeachance,
you’
regoi
ngt
obet
all
,
”hesay
s.
Justwhenshewasl i
steningandconsideri
ng
sacri
fi
cingoneofherSaturdaystogotohischur
ch
andseei fser
monsthereuplif
therspi
rit
.
Heholdsherar
m andbri
ngsherback.Hert
emper
canbeasizeofherhei
ght
.
“
Youcanst
artbychecki
ngi
fyoucanki
sst
hese
l
i
ps.
”
He’stoofast
!Beforeshecanopposet heideahe’
s
grabbedherneckandloweredhisfacetoher.
Lookingsocloseint
ohiseyesfeel
ssur r
ealand
somehowuncomf
ort
abl
e.Shewant
stor
un,
buti
t’
s
tool
ate.
“
MaDube,ngi
zimi
sel
engawe.Iwon’tl
etyoudown.I
j
ustneedonl
yonechance,
pret
typl
ease.
”
Hejusthadt omakeacuteface,nowshecan’
t
br
eathe.Shewr apsherar
msar oundhi
sneckand
i
nit
iat
eaki ss.
Thei
rfi
rstki
ss,
andsheinit
iat
edi
t.May
beshe’
s
fi
nal
l
ygivinghi
m achance.
Hepecksherchinandgoesupt
oherf
oreheadand
pl
ant
sawetki ss.
.
.
SQALO

I
t’
sMpi l
o’sf
ir
stti
meinhisr
oom.Thisiswhathe
waslooki
ngforwardt
othemost;
spendingsome
qual
i
tytimewithhi
slovewi
thnodist
urbances.
He’
ssnuggl
edonhi
schestandpl
ayi
ngwi
thhi
s
f
inger
s.Theyhav
en’
tspentt
imet
oget
heri
nweeks.
“Howareyousett
li
ngi
nwithoutamotherandbi
g
brot
her
s?”Mpil
oasks,
brushi
nghishead.
“
Bet
tert
hanIt
hought.Themor
epr
ivacyIhav
e,t
he
mor
epeaceofmindIget.
”
“Whatdoyouint
endtodowithallt
hispr
ivacy
?”Hi
s
handhassli
dthr
oughSqal
o’sT-shi
rtandmassages
hi
schest.
“
Ical
l
edyouov
ersot
hatwecanf
igur
eitout
t
oget
her
.”
“
Ithi
nkbet
terwhennaked,
”Mpi
l
osay
s.
Theyshar
eabr i
efchuckl
ebef
orel
ocki
ngt
hei
rli
psi
n
asteamykiss.
“I
’
vebeenmissi
ngy ou,
ntwana.Idon’
tknowhowI
wentthr
oughal
lthesedayswit
houtseei
ngyou,
”
Sqal
o.
Mpiloshakeshi
sheadandkisseshi
m agai
n.They
cannotwasteti
metalki
ngaboutwhathasalr
eady
happened,butt
heycanmaketodayworthy
.
He’
shotf
orhi
m.Hej
ustwantt
ogagont
hatbl
ack
monsterandfeelhi
swar m cr
eam shoot
ingdownhi
s
t
hroat
.Theirconnect
ionhasalwaysbeentoostr
ong
f
orneitheroft
hem toresi
st.

Theybothstr
iptheircl
othesof
f.Mpilot
akesa
minutetoappreci
atehisfir
m butt
.Tonighthe’
l
lbe
cracki
ngthat
,hopefull
ySqaloboughtal
l t
heset
becauseheonlyknowsonespeed, fast
.
Theirli
pslocki
ntoanotherkiss.Nowt hei
rhandsare
all
ov ereachot
her.Sqal
ogr abshisshaftandrubs
i
tsheadwi thhi
spal m.Amoanescapeshi sli
ps,he
thr
owsbackhi sheadandal lowspleasuretospr
ead
thr
oughouthisveins.
Mpil
ofeel
sthet
hickrodgri
ndi
ngagai
nsthi
shar
d
shaf
tandmovesalongtherhy
thm.
“Mmmm! ”Sqal
omoansast
hei
rshaf
tscol
l
ideand
gri
ndagai
nsteachot
her
.
Hi
smoansaredri
vi
ngMpil
ocr
azy.I
t’
sbeenawhi
l
e
si
nceheunl
oadedi
nsi
dehi
sti
ghthol
e.
“
Doy
ouhav
eal
ube?
”heasksbet
weenheav
y
br
eat
hs.
Sqalopoint
shimtothebedsi
detable.Hi
shand
wrapsaroundhisshaf
tandgi
veslazystr
okesashe
fet
chesthelube.

Sqalol
i
esonhi sbackwithhiskneesupandplay s
wit
hhimself
.He’saf i
nestt
ri
butetomasculine
perf
ect
ion,
that’
swhatMpi l
oalwaystell
shim.He
l
oveshisdark-
tonedbodyandhowf ir
m hisbehind
l
ookswithallt
hethighmusclessurr
oundingit
.
“Ij
ustwanttoli
ckyouf
rom headt
otoe;youl
ookso
damnsexy,”hecommentsasheposi
tionshi
msel
f
betweenhi
sknees.
“It
houghty
ouwantedsomeass,
”Sqal
osay
swi
tha
smirkonhi
sface.
Hegr abshishipsandscootshisassrightonhi
s
face.He’salwayslovedhowint
oxicati
ngt hemi
xtur
e
ofhissweatybal l
sandbodywashsmel lwhenhe’
s
betweenhist hi
ghs.Hepokesouthistongueand
giveshisbuttcrackalong,
sensualli
ck.
“
Sqal
oIl
ovey
ou,
”her
espondst
ohi
sdeepgr
oan.
“
Ilov
eyout
oo,
nowpl
easebur
stt
hatassopen.
”
Ri
ghtoni
t!
Hespr eadsl
ubeonhist
wof i
nger
s.Heslowl
y
pressesoneonhisr
osebudandwatcheswit
h
anti
cipati
onashefl
i
nches.
Heinser
tsi
tandmov esi
tar
oundhisholesl
owl
y.
Sqal
ograbsthesheet
sandgroanspai
nful
ly
.
“
Ntwana,
you’
reokay
?”heaskswor
ri
edl
y.
“
Yes,
”Sqal
onods.
Mpil
opullshi
sfingeroutandspr eadsmor elubeand
coat
sitperf
ectl
ywi t
har ub.Thenhei nsertshi
sone
fi
ngeragai
n,thi
stimeSqal o’
sgroansi sthatof
pl
easure.
Maybehe’
sreadyformore.Hei
nsert
stwomore
fi
nger
s,wi
ththei
rful
ll
engthandspeedsuphi
shand
game.
“
Please,
”Sqal
obegsf
ormor
e.
Hepul
l
southi
sfi
nger
sandgr
abst
hel
ube.Hedr
ops
i
tonhi
spalm andr
ubshisthrobbingshaf
t.Thi
sis
t
hemomenthe’sbeenl
ookingforwardtothemost;
t
ofi
nal
lypl
ungeint
othi
stighthole.

HespreadsSqal
o’sl
egsfur
therapart
.Hi
sblack
monsteri
sangri
l
ystandi
ngagainsthi
snavel
;
beggi
ngforarel
ease.
Hei nser
tshi
mselfslowlyunti
lhefi
tsfull
yinwhil
e
theybothgroaninunison.Nowthathe’sful
lyi
n,
tremorsthi
sholesendst hr
oughhisbodywon’tall
ow
himt odothi
sslowly.
“
Thi
sfeelssodamngood,
”hegr
oansashet
hrust
s
i
nmerci
lessl
y.
“Hitr
ightt
her
e,ntwana!
”Sqalocri
esasMpi
l
ohi
ts
exactl
yonhisP-spotr
epeat
edly.
“Fuck!
”Hebur
ieshi
sshaf
ttot
hehi
l
tandpr
ods
deeper.
Ther
e’sat
ingl
efr
om hi
stoesandawav
ecl
osi
ngon
hi
m.
No,
no,
no.Hecannotl
ett
hisboy
’st
ightasst
urnhi
m
i
ntosomenoodles.Hesqueezeshismuscl
esand
pul
lsoutagai
nstt
owersofpleasur
e.
Heneedst
ocal
m downt
hisbeast
!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER38
KHANYO

I
’m home, sti
ll
inonepiece,andIhav enoonebut
Godandmyancest orstothank.Okay ,Efeaswell.
I
t’
snotr eall
ymyhomebutNdul o’
shouse.He’ shere
wit
hhisgi rl
sandwear ehav i
ngal i
ttl
ef amil
yreuni
on.
I
tstil
lfeel
sst r
angetoseehi m andtheki dswit
hout
Thobeka,andknowi ngthatoneoft hegi r
lsi
snothis
bi
ologicaldaught
er.Wear eonemessedupf amil
y.
“You’
reagoodf at
her.WhenIbecomeamot herI
wantmychildrentohaveafatherli
key
ou,
”Isayas
heclear
stheirbooksfr
om thefloor
.
“Youshoul
dbet hi
nki
ngaboutcomplet
ingyour
degree,
notbecomingamother,
”hesays.
Irol
lmyeyesandfocusont her i
bsI’m eati
ng.Ican’
t
goasingl
edaywi t
houthi mr emindingmet hatI
di
dn’tf
ini
shmycour se.Ishoul dgethim offmyback,
appl
yforopen-
dist
ancel ear
ni ngandf i
nishmy
studi
esonceandforal
l
.It’
snotli
keIwasdumbor
sl
ow, Ij
ustdi
dn’
tvi
bewithschool
.It’
sti
meIgoback
andsealallt
hel
oosepart
sofmyl if
ethatIl
eft
hangi
ng.
Ial
soneedtoconsultandseehowIcanmend
thi
ngswit
hGog’MaSi bi
ya.IknowIhavesomany
thi
ngst
omakeupf orandthisti
meI’
m wil
li
ngto
committomycall
ingandst i
cktoitr
egar
dlessoft
he
upsanddowns.

“
Arey
ougoingtoj
udgemeifIgot
oMandeni
t
omorr
ow?”IaskMandul
o.
“
Yes,
”hesay
sdoubt
lessl
y.
“
ButI
’
m okaynow.Ij
ustwanttoseehim.Hecan’
t
l
i
vehi
sli
feli
kethi
s.Nobodyi
sperfect
.”
“Idon’
tcar
eMakhanyi.Thedoct
ortol
dyoutot
ake
thi
ngseasybutherey
ouar e,
thi
nki
ngaboutaman
andhispornl
if
e.”
Por
nli
fe?Wow.
“
I’
mleav
ingf
orBer
gvi
l
lesoon.Idon’
tknowhowl
ong
I
’
llbe….
”
Hesighs,“Dowhatev
eryouwantMakhany
i.But
don’
tforgethowyougother
e.”
Sohe’sgoi
ngtobl
ameBandl
aforwhathappened?
That
’snotf
air
.
“
Hedi
dn’
thav
eany
thi
ngt
odowi
thwhathappened
t
ome.
”
“AsIsaid,you’
rewelcometodoanythi
ngyouwant.
Umhl abat
hivel
eusemanzi,i
zul
uliy
anakul
ezi
zinsuku.
”(Thesoil
issti
ll
wet,i
t’
sbeenrai
ningt
hese
day s)
Oh,
wow!
He’
sunbel
i
evabl
e.
Howcanhesaysomet hi
ngli
ket
hisj
ustt
woday
s
af
terIgotoutoft
hehospi
tal
?
“
You’
resomean,
”Isay
.
“
Andy
ou’
resost
upi
d.”
He’
snotmybr
other
!!
!
.
.
MAWANDE

Goi ngt ot hegy m andt r

aininghasbeenagr eat
stressr elieverf orher.She’sf oundnewpur posei n
l
ife; meet ingwi t
hPear landRoy al Bl
ueGi r
lshas
givenherhope.She’ snotal way sswal lowedin
sorr ow, she’ssl owlyfindingher selfwithoutNyezi,
whi chhasspr eadr umor sthatshehadahandi nhis
deat h.Sadl yt hiscomesf rom af ami l
ymember .Not
tobr ag, butshecomesf rom ar ichfami l
y,Nyezi’
s
estat eisj ustaspoonofsugari naj arofhoney .She
hadnor easont owantherhusbanddead.Thatwas
theonl ymanshe’ severlov ed,kissedandshar eda
bedwi th.Hewasal lsheknew.Doesshemi sshim?
Yes, bi
gt ime.Buthe’ sgone, he’snev ercomi ngback
andshehast olivethatrealit
y.Whatt heyhad
toget heri sgoodenought okeephergoi ng.Thelove
hegav eherkeepsherwar m atni ght.Henev er
slacked, hewast hebesthusbandhecoul dbe, and
thoset woy earstheyspentt oget herwerethebest
year sofherl ife.
I
t’
sgoodtof
inal
l
ybr
eat
heandbeawayf
rom t
hat
f
amil
yforaf
ewhour
s.
Thisisherf i
rstgameawayandoneoft hebi ggest
gamesofRBG.Ev ent hougheveryone’sfami lyis
heretosuppor t,shest i
ll
doesn’tfeell
onelywi th
nobodyf r
om eit
hersi deofherf ami l
yinaudi ence.
Thakasawast oobusyt ocomeandwat chagr oup
ofgirl
sj umpingupanddown.Hi sli
feisahotmess,
i
twoul d’vebeenunf airtoaskhimt ocome.Nkonzo
i
sonl yreturni
ngl aterf r
om CapeTownandBandl a
sti
llcan’tshowhi sf aceinthepubl i
caf t
erhissex-
tapesaga.TheMy ezaswer eagai nstthi
sv olleyball
thi
ngf rom theonset ,
itwould’v
ebeenst upidofher
toaskt hem tocomeandwat chherf i
rstgame.The
l
inebet weenMy ezadaught ersanddaught er-in-l
aws
i
sdr awnandv erybol d,andrightnowMawandei s
acti
ngnot hi
ngli
ket heyexpectofher .
Oops,
acat
chf
rom Pear
l!
They’
regoingtoloset
hisgame.Thewhole
Chat
sworthcommuni tycameouttosupportt
hei
r
gi
rl
sandt hey’
recheer
ingloudenought
odistr
act
RBG.
Shegiv esPearlal
ookofmot ivati
on.Sheonlyserved
onet i
meandgotoutaf t
erspraini
ngherankle.Don’t
j
udge, she’sonl
ytrai
nedforaf ewweeksafteralong
break.Thingsarenotlooki
nggoodf orhert
eam but
they’
restil
lwil
li
ngtogiveitt
heirall
.

CW t
eam get
sanot
herser
ve?
!
Shegruntsangr
il
yandy
ell
sforhergi
rl
stogeti
t
toget
her.
“Ni
yadli
wayini
?”someoneasksbehi
ndher
.(Ar
eyou
guyslosi
ng?
)
Thi
svoi
ceistoofamili
ar,
herchestt
urnsi
ntoa
Kal
ahar
idesertasshetur
nshereyestoBhambatha
st
andi
ngbehindherwithanicycol
dbeeri
nhishand.
He’
shere?Andhebroughtabeer
?How?When?And
whydi
dhedr essupi
nOr l
andoPi
rat
esj
ersey
?Thi
s
i
snotasoccermatch.
“
Areyousurethatt
hisIndi
ancoachisnotbei
ng
r
aci
standrobbingyou?”heasks,
li
ft
inghi
seyesto
t
heIndi
ancoachwal ki
ngatthesi
desofthecour
t.
There’
ssomethi
ngaboutt
hewayheasks,li
kehe’s
al
readyconcl
udedhowhe’
sgoi
ngtomur derthe
poorcoach.
“
Thi
sisnotDel
hi,
”hesay
sandgul
psdownhi
sbeer
.
Thisi
sgoingt
ospiraloutofcontr
olifshedoesn’
t
stophi
m now.They
’relosi
ngfair
ly,
notbecauseofa
coach.
“
Bhambatha,
no!Theypl
aybet
tert
hanus,
wedi
dn’
t
t
rai
nenough.
”
Hef
rownsandl
ooksather
.Thatl
ook,
gosh!
“Whatdoyoumeany oudidn’
ttr
ainenough?You’
ve
beentr
aini
ngthewholeweekforthi
sday.Tell
me
whyisPearlatt
hebackrownow? ”
Si
gh,
sigh,
sigh!
“I
t’
spartofthegame;
aft
ert
heser
veweexchange
posi
ti
ons.”
“Oh,
”hesaysandst
il
lthr
owsameanl
ookatt
he
poorcoach.
Maybesheneedst
omakehi
ml eav
e.Shei
sinno
posi
ti
ontoj
udgehi
schar
act
er,
they’
venev
erspenta
weektogether
,butf
rom whatshe’
shear
dthi
sman
hasnopinchofpeaceinhi
sv ei
ns.
“
Ispr
ainedmyankl
e,
”shesay
s.
Hiseyesqui
ckl
ytravel
downtoherl
egs.Isi
tfear
sheseesonhisface?Thatwoul
dbestr
ange.
“
Doy
ouneedadoct
or?
”heasks.
I
sn’
titcl
earthatsheneedsnodoctor
?She’sonher
f
eet
,withherkickson.Spr
ainedankl
e,notbr
okea
l
eg;
clearl
ythat’
swhathe’sthi
nki
ng.
“
No,
”shesay
s.
“
Arey
ousur
e?”
Okay
,thatwasabadone,
he’
sreal
l
ypani
cki
ng.
“Yes,
Ijustneedpainki
l
ler
s,”shesay
sandmental
l
y
puncheshersel
fforcausi
nghim somuchpani
c.
“
Alr
ight
,si
t.I
’
lldri
vetoSparqui
ckl
y.Don’
tmoveyour
l
egsanyhow,you’
regoi
ngtomaket hepai
nworse.
”
Shenodsandfakesanacheassheholdsthr
ough
therowofchai
rs,maki
ngherwaytoherseat
.She
hatesl
yi
ng,butsheal
socan’
tbethereasonwhyhe
causeshav
oci
noneoft
heRBGi
mpor
tantmat
ches.
-

They’
velost
.Buti
twasagoodgamethroughout,
theyshar
eagrouphugandcel
ebr
atet
heirloss.
“It
hinkIsawy
ourhusband.Wher
edi
dhego?
”Pear
l
asks.
She’stol
dherov erandov eragaintostopref
erri
ng
toBhambat haasherhusband.Fi rst
lyhehasacr azy
,
disr
espectfulgi
rl
fr
iend,andhei snothi
ngmor ethan
along-di
stancebrother
-in-
lawwho’ saroundfora
mour ni
ngperiod.
“He’snotmyhusband.It
oldhi
mtogobuyme
painki
ll
ers,
hewasabouttocomefort
hecoach.
”
Pearl
frowns.Ther
ewasWor
ldWarI
IIbr
ewi
ngher
e
whil
eshewaspl ay
ing?
“
Why
?”sheasks.
Mawandesi
ghs.
“
Het
houghtshewascoachi
ngunf
air
ly.
”
Thatwould’
vebeenfuntowat ch.WhydidMawande
sendhim away?Shedidpicksomewei r
dvibesf
rom
thecoachaswell.Ori
sitt
hesor efeel
i
ngoflosi
ng
thatmakesherwishthecoachbad?
“
Youshoul
d’v
elethi
m deal
wit
hher
,”shesay
s.
“
Pear
l!
”
Sheshr
ugshershoul
der
sandl
aughs.

Oh,
he’
sback!
Thatwasf
ast
.Hehasahugephar
macybagi
nhi
s
hand.
“
Howdoy
ouf
eel
?”heasks,
looki
ngatherf
oot
.
Her
eal
l
yboughtherst
ory
.
“
Bet
ter
,”shesay
s.
“
Good,
buty
oust
il
lneedt
odr
inkpai
nki
l
ler
s.”
Aladyi
nknee-l
engthboot sandwhit
eshi r
t-
dress
makesherwaytowar dsthem wi
thaf oodcontainer
i
nherhand.Shelookslikeoneofthosecucumber -
eat
ing,
beaut
y-obsessedgirl
swhodot hei
rnail
sin
Sandtonandpreach“
dri
nklotofwater
”tothei
r
fri
endswhil
etheyhav
eskinglowprescr
ipt
ionsfr
om
thecount
ry’
sbestder
matologi
sts.
“
Ummm…hey ,”shesayst
oMawandeandpassest
he
f
oodcont
ainertoBhambatha.
Oh,
herhandsaresopret
ty,wit
hallt
her
ingsand
l
ongyel
lownai
ls.She’
sgorgeous!
“Eatbefor
eyoutakepainki
l
ler
s,”Bhambat
hasay
s,
handingthecont
ainert
oMawande.
She’
sstil
lmesmer
izedbyt
hispi
eceofar
tst
andi
ng
i
nfrontofher
.
“Oh,
thi
sisMawande,
”Bhambat
hasayst
othegir
l
andtur
nstoMawande.“
Mawande,
thi
sisNondu.
”
Thegir
l,Nondu,
flapsherl
ongey
elashesl
i
kear
obot
dol
landlooksathim.
“
Hisgi
rl
fr
iend,
”sheaddsf
orhi
m.
Oh,hel
lno!Thi
sisexact
lyherv
oice;
itwasl
i
ket
his
overt
hephone.
“
Youcal
ledtheot
herday
,ri
ght
?”Mawandeasks,
l
ooki
ngathercar
eful
l
y.
“
Yes,
andy
ouanswer
ed.
”
She’
shappyf orBhambat ha,j
ustl
ikeNyeziwould’v
e
beenhappytoknowt hathe’sfoundlov
e.Butshe’ s
notst
andingher eandhav i
ngalit
tl
efamilyuni
on
wit
hagirlthattalkedtrashytoherandcomment ed
onherhusband’sdeat h.
“Thanks,
butnothanks,”shesay stoBhambat ha
andshoveshisfoodcont ai
nerrightbackathi m.She
wantsnothi
ngthathast odowi th‘herwant i
ngto
remarryaMyezabrother’orforgett
ingthather
husbandisdead.She’sstil
lmour ni
ng,shehast o
keepherbehavi
or,especial
lyinpublicplaces,i
n
check.
Sheforget
sabouttheso-
cal
ledpainf
ulankl
eand
walksbacktohersquadl
ookingperf
ectl
yfi
ne.

Nondui sconvincedthatshewaspul
li
ngt hestuntof
aspr ai
nedanklejusttohaveBhambatha’
sat t
enti
on.
That’swhyshechoset ocomeandshowt hisbit
ch,
andany onethatmaygeti tt
wist
ed,
thatthismani s
taken.
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”Bhambat
haasks.
He’
sst
il
lwear
ingaf
rownofconf
usi
ononhi
sface.
“
Sheanswer
edy
ourphone,
”shesay
swi
thashr
ug.
“
And?
??”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“Whatdoy oumean‘and’
?Ial
sodon’tanswery
our
phone,Ihadtosett
heboundari
esandputherinher
place.
”
“Whatisherplace?
”Ifsheknowswhat ’
sgoodfor
hershe’
sgoingt oi
gnorethi
squesti
on.It
’sagood
chanceforhertoshowr emorseandret
racther
stat
ement.
Butno,
notNondumi
so!
“
She’
syourdeadbr
other
’swi
fe,
”shesay
s.
Bhambathashakeshi
sheadandbr
eaksabr
ief
chuckl
e.
Wel
l
,he’
sonhersi
de,
soshekeepsgoi
ng.
“It
oldhert
onev
eranswery
ourphoneagai
n,
”she
says.
Henodswi
thhi
slowerl
i
plat
chedi
nsi
dehi
smout
h.
“Ihopesheget
soveri
tsoonbecauseI
’m honest
ly
notgoingt
otol
erat
eheratt
it
ude,
”shesays.
Bhambathal
ooksaroundandseesanabandoned
chai
r.Hepul
l
sitandputsthef
oodcontai
nerand
medici
nebagontopofit.

I
t’
shiswallethe’
ssear
chi
ngf
or.Hef
indsi
tinhi
slef
t
pocketandopensit
.
Notes?No.He’sgoingtousethi
smoneyf orpetr
ol.
Helooksathissilv
ercoi
nsandreali
zest hathe
couldfeedhungrychi
ldr
enatKFCwi t
ht hem.May be
hecansparethe50cand20c.Henev eruset hem
unl
esswhenhe’ sbuyi
ngplast
icpacketsf r
om shops.
His50cmakeR4.50c.Hecountsthe20cand10c, if
headdsthem theymake3.
60c.Nowt hat’
sR8.10c.
I
fheaddsoneR5she’ l
lhav
eenoughcoi nstoget
home.Hopeful
lyGodiswatchi
ngandwr it
ingt
his
downonhi sGoodDeedsbook,becausewhathe’s
doingher
eishumanity
.
Aft
ercounti
ngall
thecoi
ns,
het
urnst
oherand
handsthem ov
er.
“
Whatisthi
s?”sheasks,
looki
ngatt
her
oll
ofcoi
ns
i
nherhand.
“
Nondumi
soawusay
azi
imal
i
?”(
Don’
tyouknow
money
)
“
I’
mt r
yingtoaskwhatdoyouwantmet
odowi
th
t
his?Throwthem i
nthebi
n.”
“
Howar
eyougoi
ngt
ogethomei
fyoudot
hat
?”
Herf
acebl
anksout
.Whatt
hehel
l
?!
Hegener
ousl
yaddsR1.50c.
“
Buysweet
s,”hesay
s.
Maybethi
sisajoke-Bhambathacanbev
erysi
l
ly
andfunny
-shecracksint
olaught
er.
“Whenyou’
redonegi
ggl
i
ng,
goandf
indat
axi
home,”hesay
s.
“I’
m nottaki
nganyt axi.Whosai
dIwanttogohome?
Takey ourcentsback.”Shehandst
hem overbut
Bhambat hajustst
aresatherhandanddoesn’tt
ake
them.
Wel
l
,shet
hrowst
hem ont
hegr
ound.Whost
il
luses
cent
s?Br
owncoi
ns.

Thecolorofhi seyeschanges.Hi sforeheadcr eases

afewlines.Wi t
hinasnapofaf ingerhe’ sturnedinto
ananimal.Hewasdoi ngthisquietl
yandl ett
ingher
l
eavewi t
hsomepi eceofdecencyt oher self
.But
nowshe’st akenittoofar;
nobodyt hrowsawayhi s
money.Hedodgesbul let
s,spi
ll
sbl oodandpl ays
Fast&Fur i
ouswi ththepoli
cejusttohav emoney .
“
Icoshe!
”het
ell
sher
.(Pi
cki
tup)
Thistimehe’snottheBhambathashe’
sbeen
sleepingwi
thforover5months.He’
sa“ Want
ed”
thatthepol
icealwayslookf
or.
“Babe,y
oucannotdot
histome,
”hert
onehas
changed.She’
snowasoftl
adywi
thasweetv
oice.
“Si
si,
Iwantmymoney.I
’
m sti
l
laski
ngy
ouni
cel
y,
coshaimal
iyami
,
”hesays.
Ummm, howt
obendandpickcoi
nswhi
l
ewear
ing
hi
ghheel
syouor
der
edfrom Zar
a?
“
Nondumi
so!
”Itsoundsl
i
keal
astwar
ning.
Shel
ooksatthecoi
nsscat
ter
edonthef
loorand
i
nhal
esshar
ply.Sor
ry,
shej
ustcan’
t!
“Comeon,thi
sisnotevenmoney ….”Beforeshe
swall
owshersentence,
ther
e’scoldairblowi
ng
thr
oughhercornr
ows.
Shepani
csandt ouchesherhead.Nooooo!She
l
ooksathishand,ther
eisher26-i
nchBrazi
li
an
weavehel
dlikeapieceofoldclot
h.
“
Bhambat
ha,
no!
”shecr
iesout
.
Heputstheweaveunderhi
sarm andpi
ckst
hef
ood
cont
ainerandmedi
cinebagonthechai
r.
“Babe,pl
ease!”shet
ri
est
ohol
dhi
sar
m butget
sa
coldlookthr
ownherway.
“
It
’sf
uck-
off
’o’
cl
ock,
Nondu.
”
Sheknowswhatt hismeans.Howdi dt hingsget
heatedli
ket hi
ssof ast
?‘Fuck-of
fo’clock’ i
swhen
he’sdonewi ththeconversati
on,sonowshe’ l
lhave
tolethim cooldownandt hinkofastr ategytoget
hisforgi
veness.
“
Howam Isupposedt
ogethome?
”She’
scl
oset
o
tear
s,notbecauseshehast otakeataxibut
becauseshehast otakeitwi
thcornrowsinherhead.
Whatifshebumpsi ntosomeonef r
om highschool
?
Forallpeopl
eknow,she’sasuccessfulsomebody.
“Idon’tknow.Youhav ebrainsinyourheadandf eet
i
ny ourshoes. ”Het akesoffandfollowst hedirection
Mawandet ook.Gui l
tischowinghi sheartli
kepoi son,
hewasn’ tawar eoft hi
s.He’satblowswi thhisf ami l
y
becauseofwant ingMawandenott ofeelli
kea
l
onel ywidow.Buther ei
sawomanhe’ streatedasa
gir
lfri
endandev enthoughtofgivingherhi shouse
keys,furt
herlypushingMawandedownandspeaki ng
onhi slat
ebr otherli
kehewassomer atinher
mot her’
skitchen.‘Hisdeadbr ot
her’thisonei sgoing
todrivehim crazy!

Mawandehaschangedbacki ntoherMakot ilong

dressandsandal s.Fort
unat ely,shecameher einher
owncar .She’snotwai t
ingf orahi r
edmacr o-bus
withtherestofthet eam.Pear l
insist
edont akingt he
buswi t
hot hergi
rls,obviouslyforthealcohol bott
les
thatt
heyst ashedundert heseat s.
“
Mawande,
”
Herhear
tski
psabeat
.Bhambat
hai
sst
il
lher
e?
“
Arey
ouokay
?”heasks.
Shenodswi
thaf
rown.
“
Ididn’
tknowaboutthatphonecal
l,
youdi
dn’tbr
ing
i
ttomyat t
ent
ionthatsomeoneIknowspoketoyou
t
hatway.I’
mreall
ysorry.
”
Ohgosh!She’
snotthety
peofper
sont
hatwant
sto
ber
anafterwi
thapologi
es.
“NoBhambat ha,
it’
sfi
ne.Ij
ustdon’
twantt
obe
aroundher
,that’
sall
.”
“ThenIguessy
ou’
l
ltakemyf
oodandt
hemedi
cineI
boughtyou.
”
“Al
ri
ght
,thanky
ou.Nowpl
easegobacktoher
,I
don’
twanthert
othi
nkwhatshe’
sthi
nki
ngofme.
”
“Ar
eyougoi
ngt
obeabl
etodr
iveal
lthewayhome?
”
heasks.
Ei
therhe’sact
ingbli
ndorreal
lyuneducat
edabout
i
njur
ies.Hesti
llt
hinksshe’
sinj
ured?Itwasj
usta
l
i
ttl
eankl
etwi
stt
hatpai
nedonl
yforaf
ewmi
nut
es.
“
Yes,
I’
ll
bef
ine,
”shesay
s.
“
Okay,t
akecareofyour
sel
f.I
fyouneedanythi
ng,
or
i
fany
onetroubl
esyou,l
etmeknowur gent
ly
Mawande.
”
“
Iwi
l
l,t
hanky
ou,
”shesay
s.
Hegiv
esheralongstare,
almostl
ikehe’
sconf
ir
ming
somethi
ngf
rom hereyes,bef
oret
urni
ngawayand
l
eavi
ng.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER39

“Waki ngupwi t
houty ounextt omei shar d.Ididn’ t
appr eciatey ouenough.Iwassoabsor bedi ntowor k,
fami l
yandmyr oleasaf ami lyleaderthatIfor gott o
putmymar ri
agef irst.Ifor gott ocompl i
menty ou
wheny ouputony ourbestdr ess,somet i
mesIf orgot
toaskhowy oursi st erandherki dswer edoi ng.Il et
youv i
sityourmot her ’
sgr aveal onebecauseIhadan
i
mpor tantmeet ingt oat tendorwhat ever.Ifailedt o
putmy selfiny ourshoes, notonceort wice,butf or
mosty earsofourmar r
iage.Youbecameapar tof
me, ofmyf amily, andt ookal lofusony ourback.But
Inev erdidt hesamef ory ou; Iexpectedyout obea
wi f
et oThakasawhi leThakasawasbei ngaCEO.
Andwheny oust ar teddemandi ngababyInev er
l
ookeddeepl yint oi t.Inev erthoughtoft hepr essur e
youmayhav egot tenf rom bot hsidesoft hef ami ly.
Instead, Ifeltcor ner edandst artedtoseekat t
ent ion
from anot herwoman.Notj ustforashor tper i
odof
time, sheendedupbei ngat hirdpersonintoour
mar ri
ageandf alli
ngpr egnant.Iendedupdev elopi
ng
certai
nf eeli
ngst owar dsherandf ai
ledtohi dei t
fr
om y ou.If eltlikey oulovedmebuty ouwer en’tmy
bestfriend, andIneededal itt
lewarm cor nert hat
shepr ov i
ded.Iaccountf ormymi st
akes,
i
mper fect i
onsandshor t-
comings.Ihav edeeper
i
ssuest hatonl yIcanconf rontanddeal wit
h.Idon’ t
knowi fy ou’recomi ngback, butifyoudoIpr omi se
tobeabet t
erhusband.I ’
llt
akethistimet owor kon
my selfandpr epar eforourpr i
nceorpr i
ncess.You
holdav eryspeci al pl
acei nmyhear t,youalway swill
.
Ihopet hey ’
ret reatingy ougoodwher everyouar e,
if
youneedany thingpl easedon’ thesi
tatet ocall me.
Mydoorandhear twi l
lalwaysbeopenf ory ou
MaNt usi .
Thakasa.
”

Shereadsandheavesalongsi
ghafter
war
ds.Her
sist
er,
Nomcebo, i
ssi
tt
ingopposi
teherwi
thher
youngestdaught
eront
helap.
“
Whati
shesay
ing?
”sheasks.
“
He’ssor
ry.
”Not
hil
eshrugshershoul
der
sandsi
ps
f
rom agl
assofwater
.
“Ican’
tbeli
eveithascomedownt ot hi
s,”Nomcebo
says.They’
resquashedinhertwo-bedroom house
withhertwokidsandboy f
ri
end.TheNgemasst il
l
don’tknowthatNothil
ehaslef
thermar riageand
whent heyfi
ndouthellwi
llbr
eakloose.It’sonl
ya
mat t
erofti
mebef oreMaKhumalol ett
hem know.
“It
hinkhe’
sgoingthroughalot.Hewrot
eal otof
thi
ngs,mostl
yblaminghimselfforhowt
hingstur
ned
out.
”
“
Yes,
heshoul
d!”
Not
hil
egivesheralook.Thismessagehaslef
ther
wi
thmixedfeel
ings.It
’soneofmanythatshe
r
ecei
vedwhenswi tchi
ngherphoneon.
“Don’
tt el
lmey ou’
refeeli
ngsorr
yforhim af
ter
every
thinghe’sputyout hr
ough!
”Nomcebosay s,
huggingherdaughtertight
lyonherchestand
thr
owi ngalookather.
“I
t’
snotl
ikeIwasperfect,
Cebo.
”Sheinhal
esshar
ply
andget
sof fbedandstandsbyt
hewindow.
“Nobodyisperf
ect
,butyoudi
dn’
tcheatonhi
m and
putyourhandsonhim.”
“
Idi
d,”shesay
s.
Nomcebof
rowns.
“
Youdi
dwhat
?”sheasks.
Si
l
ence.
“Nothi
,whatdi
dy oudo?”Hert
onegetsfi
rmer
.Her
sist
er’
ssi
lencedoesn’
tsitwel
lwi
thher.
“I…Ididsomethi
ngter
ri
bleCebo.Itwasjustone
momentofweaknessandnowIst andt
ol ose
ev er
ythi
ngbecauseofit
.”Sherunsherhands
throughherunrul
yafr
oandsi ghsheavi
l
y.
“You’
renotmaki
nganysense.Di
dyoucheaton
Thakasa?”Nomceboasks.
“
Yes,
”shenodsandswal
l
owshar
d.“
Idi
d.”
Nomceboput
sthebabyont
hef
loorandget
sonher
f
eetl
ikeamadwoman.
“
Tel
lmey
ou’
rej
oki
ng!
”
“
I’
m not
.Ont
hesameni
ghtIsl
eptwi
thThakasa,
if
I
’
m count
ingweeks,
anyoft
hem coul
dbeaf
ather
.”
Thisisal otforNomcebot otakei n.Shegr absa
mugandf i
ll
sitwi t
hwater.Herheadi sspinning,
you’dsweari t
’shermar ri
ageont heline.Whi lemany
mockedt heirlatemot her
’ssi
t uation; fr
om howMr
Ngemanegl ect edherandmar rieday oungerwoman,
l
eav i
ngherbehi ndwithki
ds,tohowpoorshewas.
Growi ngupwasast r
uggl
eandshedi edbef ore
Nomceboev ent ur
ned10.Seei ngNot hil
egr aduat
es
andget smar r
iedwashermostpr oudestmoment ,
event houghshehasn’ tbeenabl et oreacht hose
milestonesher self
.Butshewashappyt hatt he
daught erofthemostunder mi nedwomanwas
maki ngitinlif
e.Thei rmothermust ’
vebeenpr oudin
hergr avetoo.

Nothi
l
ef ol
lowshert
othedoorandst
andsbehind
her
.Rightnowshedoesn’
tneedtobejudged,
at
l
eastnotbyherownsist
er.
“
Whatdoy
out
hink?
”sheasks.
Nomceboexhal
esandt
urnsherheadbackt
oher
.
“What’
sgoingtohappeni
fthechi
l
disnot
Thakasa’
s?”sheasks.
“
Idon’
tknow.FornowI
’
m pr
ayi
ngt
hati
t’
shi
s,
”
Not
hil
esays.
“Doyouhav
emoneyony ourname?Di
dyousav
e
somethi
ngfort
hef
utur
e?”
“It
’snott
hatmuch,maybeR45korless.Ihadaccess
tohiscar
ds,Iwasgett
ingev
eryt
hingIwanted,so
therewasnoneedforme…”thelookNomcebogi ves
hermakesherstop.
“
Youknowi
t’
sgoi
ngt
ogetugl
yifhef
indsout
,
r
ight
?”
“
Yes,
”shenods.
“
Andyouknowthatyou’
ll
havenoonet otur
nback
t
o?Youruncl
eswil
lkeepthei
rdi
stance.
”
“
IknowNomcebo.I
’
mtr
yingt
ost
ayposi
ti
ve.
”
Nomceboshakesherhead,
disappoi
ntmenti
s
wri
tt
enal
loverherf
ace.
“Sowhoist
heotherguy
?”sheasksast
heyf
oll
ow
eachot
herbackt
othebedroom.
“
Wemeti nBal
i.I
twasbr
ief,
mor
eli
kea1night
-st
and
t
hing,
andIl
eftwit
hnot
hingmor
ethanhi
sname.”
“
Andsper
m,”Nomceboadds.
Sher
oll
sherey
es,
“Wear
enotsur
eoft
haty
et.
”
“Inevert
houghtyouhaditi
nyou.Soyoudidn’
tleav
e
becauseofwhatThakasadid,
you’r
erunni
ngfrom
yourownimperfect
ionsaswell
?”Nomceboasks.
“Comeon, itwasbecauseofourmar ri
age.Themor e
westay edtogetherwast hemoreitsank.Wepushed
eachother’
sbut tons,andatthi
spoint,
neitherofus
needsthatstress.”Shepicksthebabycrawlingon
thefl
oorandsi tsonbed.Nomcebor emainsonher
feet
,stari
ngather .
“It
hinkhe’
sgoi ngthroughalotemot i
onall
y.When
wef i
rstmethewant edt obeaf at
hermor ethan
anythi
nginthiswor l
d.Hewant edustobeaf amil
y,
hetoldmet hattheseconddaywemet .Heused
smilealot
,fool ar
oundandt akemeout .Idon’t
knowwhenexact l
ythingschanged,buthejustlost
i
nteresti
nsomanyt hings,i
ncludi
nghavingababy .
”
“
Yout
hinki
t’
sbecausehel
osthi
sfat
her
?”Nomcebo
asks.
“I
tcoul
dbe,Idon’
tknow.Butal
lIknowi st
hat
ever
yone,
mei ncl
uded,pl
ayedacert
ainparti
n
whatev
eriti
s.HereNomcebo,I
’mtalki
ngabout
someonewhodoesn’thaveasoci
allif
eatall
.”
“
Doeshehav
eanyf
ri
ends?
”Nomceboasks.
“
No.Hi
sli
fer
evol
vesar
oundwor
kandhi
sfami
l
y.”
“
Doy
oust
il
ll
ovehi
m?”Nomceboasks.
“He’
snolongerthemanIfel
li
nlovewi
th.Maybewe
cansti
l
lworkifheworksonfi
ndi
nghimsel
fand
whathereal
lywants.
”
“Andify
ouguy
sdon’
twor
k?Whatar
eyougoi
ngt
o
do?”
“Idon’
tknow,
”sheshr
ugshershoul
der
sandl
ooks
away .
“OhGod!Nothi
l
e,Ihopeyou’
renott
hinki
ngt
hat
you’
l
l moveontoyourBal
iper
sonandliv
ehappi
l
y
ever
-aft
er.
”
“
Idi
dn’
tsaythat
,”shesnapsangri
l
y.“I
’m goi
ngtodo
aDNAtestassoonasIgivebi
rth,
thentheresul
ts
wi
l
ldet
ermi
nemyf
utur
eatt
heManqel
es.
”
“
I’
ll
bepr
ayi
ngf
ory
ousi
s.Thi
sisnotgoodatal
l
.”
Yeah, i
t’
sbad.She’ sgoingt hrougheachdaywi thher
breathheldup.Butunl ikeNomkhosi ,she’snot
terminati
ngherpr egnancy .Thisisherbaby,
regardl
essofwhot hef atheris.Andshe’sgoingto
dor i
ghtbyhi m orher,she’ l
lbehonestaboutthe
i
dent i
tyofherbaby .It
’l
l breakThakasaifhe’snotthe
father,
andi tmighttakehi mt enstepsback,butit
’l
l
bewhati tis.
.
.
THAKASA

Stari
ngatt hephonei snotgoi ngtohelphi
m.His
heartisheav y
,especiall
ytoday .Asbadastheywere,
hemi ssessleepingnextt oherandwr appi
nghis
armsar oundher .Forthelast6y ear
sofhisli
fehe’
s
comehomet oawar m bedandwokeupt ohi
swi f
e
prepari
nghi sclothesandbr eakfast
.
Theri
ngtoneofhisphoneigni
tessomehopeinhim,
hepull
sitandtakesaglanceatthescr
een.I
t’
snot
Nothi
l
e,hisheartsi
nks!
“
Hel
l
o,”heanswer
sdi
sappoi
ntedl
y.
“
MrManqel e,
thi
sisPr
eci
ousf
rom Bant
wana
Hol
dings.
”
Hesit
sup,hear
ingt
hatcompanynamer
aises
anot
hergl
i
mpseofhope.
“Oh,
helloPreci
ous.
”Hedoesn’
tevenknowwhot
hat
i
s,butthefactt
hatshe’
sfr
om Khosi
’swor
kmeans
something.
“Youwer
eheretheotherdayandIover
hear
dyou
aski
ngMrsMngomezul utol
etyouknowwhen
Nomkhosii
sback.”
“
Yes,
yesIdi
daskhert
oletmeknow,
”hesay
s.
“Iwasnotsentbynei
theroft
hem,butIdoknowt hat
she’
scomebackf rom Fr
eeStat
e.It
houghtIshould
bethefi
rstonetol
etyouknow.”
Fr
eeState?Shesai
dshewasoutoft
hecount
ry?
Maybeit
’sanot
herFreeSt
ate.
“Thankyouforl
ett
ingmeknow.It
rul
yappr
eci
atei
t,
Preci
ous.”
“That’
smynumber
,ify
ouneedanyhel
pdon’
t
hesit
atet
ocal
lme.
”
Owkaaaay
!
“
I’
ll
putthati
nmind,thankyou.I
fyouhav
eMr s
Mngomezulu’
spersonalnumberpl
easef
orwardi
tto
me,I’
dli
ketohaveawor dwit
hher.”
“
Pleasedon’
ttel
lhery
ougoti
tfr
om me,
shemayf
ir
e
me.”
“
Iwon’
tdot
hat
,”heassur
esher
.
“
Okay
,inasecond.
”

Assoonasher ecei
veshernumberhemakesacal l.
He’ssti
ll
blockedbyKhosi despitehim beggi
ngfor
them t
otalkaboutthei
rbaby .She’sbackinDurban
butshedidn’
tfeeltheneedtol ethim know.
“Hel
lo,
”sheanswer
swi
thababycr
yingi
nthe
backgr
ound.
“
You’
ret
alki
ngt
oThakasa,
”hesay
s.
“Oh,okaygivemeamoment ,
”shesoundsshocked.
Itsoundsl
ikeshe’
spicki
ngthebabyupandcal l
i
ng
someone.Itmustbeherhusbandbecauseshe’s
call
inghi
m‘ babe’
andaskingthathecomesand
takesthebaby.
“Wecantalk,
”shesay
saf
teramoment
,nowwi
tha
qui
etbackground.
“Yousai
dyou’
dtel
lmewhenNomkhosi
isback,
”he
says.
“Oh,aboutthat….
Ihadtot
alkt
oherf
ir
st.
Unfort
unately,
sheaskedmenott
ogetinvol
ved.
”
“Whatisherprobl
em?It
’snotli
keI’
ll
harm heror
anyt
hing,Iwantustot
alkaboutthebaby
.”
“
Iguessshe’
snoti
nter
est
edi
ntal
ki
ngt
oyou.
”
“Okayt hen, I
’
m goingtocont actherst
epfather
.
Whet hershel ikesi
tornot,thatbabywasmybl ood
andI ’
m goi ngt ot
akecareofherev enifshewas
deniedherr i
ghttoli
fe.She’
sal r
eadypunishedmeby
ter
mi nating,whatmor epaindoesshewantmet ogo
t
hrough?
”
Ndondoexhal
esheav
il
y,“
I’
ll
tryt
otal
ktoheragai
n,
pl
easegi
vemeadayort wo.”
“No, I
’m donebeggi
ngher .Letherbe,I’
ll
takei
tto
peoplewho’ l
lunder
standmysi t
uati
on.”Heendsthe
cal
l andt hr
owsthephoneonbed.Hi schestis
burning.Tearsarewell
ingupi nhiseyes.
Hecl
osest
hedoorandl
ocksi
t.
Fuckt
hisl
i
fe!
.
.
KHANYO

Ihadtocal
lGuguagainandaskhert
of i
ndsomeone
whocandri
vemeher e.Idon’
tthi
nkI
’
llbetr
avel
l
ing
bytaxi
anyt
imesoon.
“Guguaskedmenott
oleav
eyou,
”theGTi
dri
ver
saystome.
Idon’
tknowwhatki
ndofi
nst
ruct
ionwast
hatf
rom
Gugu.There’snoneedforhi
mt owaitf
orme
becauseI’l
lbewithBandl
aprobabl
ythi
swhol e
morning.Anywayhelooksdodgyhimself
,Idon’
t
wanttofindmy sel
farr
est
edfordrugsIdon’
tknow
anythi
ngabout.
“Ipr
omi
seyouI
’l
lbefi
ne,
”It
ell
him.“Bandl
awi
l
l
dri
vemebackt
oDurban,
don’
tstr
ess.”
“
Tellhert
hatyour
efusedmyhel
p,Idon’
twanthert
o
t
hinkIdefi
edherr
ules.
”
Huh?He’
sat al
l,
black-
assman.I
t’
snotl
i
keGugu
candoanyt
hingtohim.
Itakemycurtai
nsandcl i
mboutofthecar
.My
brotherwasagainstt
hisbutIcameany
way.Thi
sis
thelastti
meIdisobeyhim,Iswear
.

I’
m walkinginthesepremisesagain.I
t’
sthesame
oldstor
y; acur
taingir
ldel
iveri
nganor derfor
Bandlal
ethu.Ihadnot i
met othinkofanother
str
ategy.Thisman’sphonehasbeenof ffordays
andIcan’ tl
eaveforBergv
ill
ewithoutcheckingon
him.
Iwonderwhenthewif
eisgi
vi
ngbi
rt
h.Thi
syar
dis
tooqui
etformyli
ki
ng.
Icol
lectmyscat
terednervesbef
oreknocki
ngatthe
door.I
tsoundsl
ikether
e’ssomeonecookingi
nthe
ki
tchen.
Iknockagai
n.
“
Ngi
yeza!
”shesay
s.
I
t’
shi
smot
her
.Godbewi
thme!
Thedooropens,
ourey
esmeetandshesi
ghs
exhaust
edl
y.
“Hel
loMa,”Ipl
astermyfacewithahugesmi
l
e,y
ou’
d
swearI
’m acatseeingcheese.
“
Yes?
”Somuchl
ovei
nherv
oice!
“
I’
m her
etodel
i
verBandl
a’
sor
der
,”Isay
.
I
sn’
tshet
oool
dtor
oll
herey
esatpeopl
e?
“Don’
tyousitdownandt
hinkoff
reshi
deas?Thi
s
oneisbori
ngandold.
”
Okay,
thatwasanast
ybl
ow.Thi
sol
d,f
atwomani
s
sosavage.
Ir
emai
nst
andi
ngout
sidet
hedoorandst
ari
ngather
.
“Comein,
”hert
onei
snotwel
comi ngatal
l.Butat
l
eastI’
mleti
n,f
oramomentIthoughtshewas
goingt
ochasemeaway.
“Umakukhonaokuv el
ayoangifunemfaziozozal
a
ezot
hii
njayamiidleamaqandangobaamaqanda
azeenj
eniyami
.”(Ifyoufallpr
egnantIdon’
twant
anywomancomi ngher e,sayi
ngmydogat ethei
r
eggsbecausei
nt hi
sinstance,eggscametomydog)
Didshejustcal
lmeeggs?I
nthatcaseI
’
m anost
ri
ch
egg,notj
ustanyegg.
Ist
andbyt hecount
er,shegoest
oherpotandst
ir
s
i
t.Am Isupposedtofi
ndBandlabymysel
f?
Icl
earmyt
hroat
.
She’
sannoy
ed.
“
He’
sint
hel
ounge,
”shesay
s.
Iwhisperalow“ t
hanky ou”andsoft
lymakemyway
towardsthelounge.Idon’twantt
oscrat
chhert
il
es
andgiveherar easontochasemeout .
Thi
sonei
sdozingof
foncoucheswhi
l
eI’
mlosi
ng
mymindoverhi
m?
“
Vuka!
”Iwhi
sperandshakehi
sshoul
der
.
“
Ma,
please!
”hemumbl
eswi
thhi
sey
escl
osed.
“Ekisni
ejouMa,
”Isayi
nmyAf
ri
kaansaccentand
pull
hisear.
Hesl
owl
yopenshi
seyes,t
henhefrownsandl
ooks
ar
oundl
i
kehe’
squest
ioni
nghisl
ocati
on.
“
Nokukhany
a,”hesay
sinal
owwhi
sper
.
“
Ican’
tbel
iev
ey ou’
rechil
l
ingont
hecoucheswhi
l
e
I
’
m worri
edsickaboutyou.”
Hel
ooksar
oundagai
n,f
orhi
smot
hernowIguess.
“
Howdi
dyougeti
nher
e?Mymot
heri
shome.
”
Oh,
het
hinksIbr
okei
n?
“
Isawher
,shel
etmei
n.”
Hi
sey
eswi
den.
“
Mymot
her
?”heasks.
“
Yes,
”Isi
tnextt
ohi
m.“
I’
m scar
edofy
ourmom,
go
anddr
essupsot
hatwecanbesomewher
eel
se.
”
“
No,
I’
m notgoi
ngany
wher
eKhany
o.”
“You’
recomingsomewhere.Goanddr
essup.I
’m
l
eavingforBer
gvi
ll
einafewdaysandIwantusto
spendaf ewhour
stoget
her.”
“
ButIcan’
tgoout
,youknowpeopl
e….
”
Her
ewego!
“Bandlanobodyi sperf
ect
.You’r
ejustunl
uckythat
yourpr i
vatedeedswereexposedtotheworld.But
there’snothi
ngy oucandoaboutit
.AndI’
m not
goingt ohaveabor i
ngrel
ati
onshi
pbecauseofporn
l
ov ers.Suckitup!”
“
It
’snott
hateasy
,babe.
”
“You’
llbewit
hme, tr
ustmeifIseeanyonetaki
ng
pict
uresofyouortal
kingshi
t,I
’
m goi
ngt odealwi
th
them theBer
gvi
ll
eway .”
Hesmil
es,
“Youl
ooksobeaut
if
ul.Ar
eyoudoi
ng
okay
?”
“I
’
m good.Woundshav
eheal ed,
eventhoughIst
il
l
getpai
natti
mes.Nowit’
sjustscar
s,Ihopeyou’
re
notgoi
ngt
ohav
eapr
obl
em.
”
Thesmiledi
sappears.IknowI’
vesai
dsomet
hing
wrong.Thi
soneistoosensiti
ve.
“Don’tev
enst
art
.Il
oveyou,okay?You’
ll
alway
sbe
perf
ectinmyeyes,
”hesays,wrappi
nghi
shand
behindmyneck.
“Letmetakey
ouout
,”Ibeg,
li
nki
ngmyf
orehead
ontohi
s.
“
Ican’tsaynoi
fyoumakethi
spret
tyf
ace.Ihav
e
missedyousomuch,
”hesays.
Ibrushhisnosewi
thmyl
i
ps.Hechuckl
esand
staresi
ntomyeyes.
“
Chauwadayi
sakahl
ebolamakhet
heni
si!
”(Yousel
l
y
ourcur
tai
nsinaspeci
alway
)
Iqui
cklysi
tupstr
aightandcl
earmyt
hroat
.Isshea
catorsomethi
ng?Shemadenosoundwalkingin.
Bandl
alift
sthecushi
ont
ohi
sfaceandl
aughs
si
lent
ly.
“Yes,l
augh.I
’
m acl
own,ar
en’
tI?Butonedayyou’
re
goingtoneedmetodef
endyoufrom t
hisgi
rl
’s
famil
ybecauseshewon’
ttel
lthem t
hati
t’
sherwho
“del
i
vered”
,andI’
ll
keepmyfunnynoseoutofyour
busi
ness.Youknowhowwedot hi
ngsher
e.”
Bandl
ast
opsl
aughi
ngandl
ooksather
.
“I
’
m sor
ry.I
sthef
oodr
eady
?Ihav
esomewher
eto
go.”
Shelooksatmeasifshe’
saboutt
oaccusemeof
ki
dnappingherson.
“
Wher
ear
eyout
aki
ngmyson?
”sheasks.
“
Around…t
ogetf
reshai
r.
”
“
Oh,
ourai
risn’
tfr
eshher
e?”
No,
it’
snotf
reshatal
l
.
“
Ma!
”Bandl
alooksatherwi
thdi
sappr
oval
.
“
Alr
ight!
”sheputsherhandsup.“
Awuzi
hambel
e
mntakaKhumalo.”
Ithi
nkshe’
sadr amaqueen.I
magineadr amaqueen
fr
om the60s!Thisi
smyboy f
ri
end,nothers.
“
Dressupbef
oresher
oast
smet
odust
,”Isay
.
Hel
aughs,
“She’
snott
hatbad.
”
Wel
l
,that
’sdebat
abl
e.

(Pl
easesupportafell
owtenantaf
terreadi
ng,
goto
theTheFoundati
onPhaseDoorChal l
engeandli
ke
TheAutumnDoor ,secondonthel
ist)

htt
ps://www.f
acebook.
com/
mer
idi
ankar
inoi
ndepen
dentschool
/
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER40
KHANYO

Itookhi
mt oMandeniMall
,didali
tt
lecosmet i
c
shoppi
ngandnowwear eher
einourlit
tleki
ngdom,
he’sst
il
linonepi
ece.Yes,
peopledostareathim
andsomet akepi
ctur
esofhim,butthatdoesn’
tkil
l
hi
m.He’ sgoingt
ogetusedtohisporn-f
ame.
Itakeourplatestothekitchenandpasst othe
bathroom torel
easemy self.Iplannedtostayonlya
fewhour s,
butI’v
ealreadybeenher eforhal
faday
andthismani snotsay i
ngany thingaboutdriv
ingme
backt oDurban.

WhenIwalkbackint
ot heroom,he’
sgett
ingof
fa
cal
l
.Idon’
tli
kepeoplewhodr opcall
swhenyouwal
k
i
nli
ketheyweregossipingabouty
ou.
“
Whower
eyout
alki
ngt
o?”Iask.
“
Somecl
othi
ngbr
andmanagerwhowant
stomeet
upwi
thme.
”
Okay,
thi
sisint
erest
ing.Il
i
enextt
ohi
m andst
areat
hi
m curi
ousl
y.
“
Whydoeshewantt
oseey
ou?
”Iask.
“Hewantssomeoneofmyt ypef
orhi
sli
ne,
Idon’
t
evenknowwhatthatmeans.Whatt
ypeam I
?”He
cockshi
seyebr
owatme.
Ican’
thel
pbutlaugh.Heshoul
d’v
easkedt
hat
managerthi
squesti
on,notme.
“Ihopethey’r
enottr
yingtocashintoy
ourone
mont hporn-f
ameandt r
yingtotur
nyouint
oamal
e
Kim Kardashian.
”
“
Whoi
sthat
?”Hef
rowns.
“
Awomanthatgotf
amousaf
terhersex-
tapegot
l
eaked.
”
Heholdsmyhand,
li
ft
sitt
ohi
sli
psandpl
ant
sasof
t
ki
ss.
“
Howdoesi
tmakey
ouf
eel
?”heasks.
“
Itmakesmef
eel
lov
edandappr
eci
ated,
”Isay
.
“
Nott
heki
ss,
I’
mtal
ki
ngaboutt
hesext
ape,
”hesay
s.
“
I’
mfi
ne,
”Ishr
ugmyshoul
der
s.
Hesmi l
esbutitdoesn’
treachhi
sey
es.Hi
shand
squeezesminetight
ly.
“Comeon,Iknowthatyoudi
dn’
tli
kei
tbutyouf
elt
l
ikeyouhadnorightt
ogetangr
ybecausei
t
happenedbef
oreyou.
”
Iletoutasi
gh.Idi
dn’
twantustogot her
e.My
feeli
ngsdon'
tmatt
ertowhathappenedinhi
spast
.
“Icoul
dn’
twatchall
ofit.Idon’
tevenknowwhyI
watchedthatl
i
ttl
epartIwatched.Ican’
tgett
hat
pict
ureoutofmymi nd.
”
Heinhal
esshar
plyandpl
ant
sat
enderki
ssonmy
handagai
n.
“I
’
m sorryIembar
rassedy
oul
iket
hat.It
ri
edt ost
op
Efebuthewasalwaysgoi
ngt
ouseitagainstme.
”
“
Didy
ouopenacaseagai
nsthi
m?”Iask.
“Ichosenott
o.Idon’
twantpeopl
etokeept
alking
aboutthi
s.Cour
tmaydragitformont
hsandIjust
don’thav
etheenergy
.”
Speaki
ngofener
gy….
“
Whyt
wowomen?
”Iask.
Heletsgoofmyhandimmedi
atel
yandr
eleasesa
heavysi
gh.Hemustn’
tdar
edodgemyquesti
on!
Whydidheover
dosesex?
“I
sthatanecessar
yquest
ionthough?
”heaskswhen
Irai
semyey ebr
owathissil
ence.
“Yes,
it’
snecessar
y.Iwantt
oknowify
ou’r
egoi
ngto
needasecondwomani nthelongr
unandaskme
to…”
“
Khany
o,pl
ease.Iwassingl
eandfree.I
’m sur
e
y
ou’
vedonecrazythi
ngsoutofcur
iosit
ytoo.”
“
ButI
’
venev
ersl
eptwi
tht
woguy
satonce,
”Isay
.
“
AndI
’
venev
erdr
ankal
cohol
andsl
epti
ncl
ubs.
”
Irol
lmyeyes.Thi
sisnotaboutme,
I’
m nott
rendi
ng
countr
ywi
de.
“I
’
m sor ry,
”hesay
s, pull
ingmebackintohi
s
embr ace.“Mydaysoff ool
ingar
oundanddoing
crazythingsar
eov er.Ij
ustwantyou.
”
Thoselastf
ourwor
dsmel
tmyhear
t.He’
sfor
giv
en,
j
ustli
kethat.
“Pleaset
akeyourt
opof
f,
”hesay
sandpeckst
he
sideofmyface.
I’
m notthemostsecurewomanatt hemoment ,I
havescarsallov
ermybody .Mandul osai
dhewas
goingtotakemet oaspecial
istthatwoul
dhelpmy
skingobacktonor mal
,butIdon’tknowifhe’
sstil
l
goingtokeephisword.I
’m notreall
yawell-
behavi
ng
si
sterthathe’
dli
kemet obe.

Iremov
ethetopandleavethebra.I
’
m get
ti
ng
uncomfor
tabl
eathi
sfixedstar
e.
“Lucki
l
yIdi
dn’tsuf
feranyint
ernali
njur
ies,
justski
n
damagethatcanbefixed,
”Iexplai
n.
Herunshi
sindexfi
ngeront
hescarabov
emybr
east
andmassagesitsl
owly
.
“They’r
egoingtocometoyouontheirkneesand
begf orfor
giv
eness.Gi
veGodt
ime,thewor l
drot
ates
sthandwasami .
”
I’
m notsur
ewhatthi
smeans,
hel
ookscalmy
et
soundssoconv
incedofhi
spr
edi
cti
ons.
“
I’
mjusthappyt
obeal
i
ve,
”Isay
.
Hekissesmyshoul
der,
“AndI
’
m happytogeta
chancetoshowyouhowmuchIreal
l
yloveyou.
”
Heunhooksmybrainaspl i
tsecond.Forceof
gr
avit
yfai
lsmyboobsdi smal
ly.They’
rethereason
whyIchosetosl
eepwi t
hboysf r
om ay oungage,
vi
l
lagepeopl
ewerealreadyassumingthatIwasn’ta
vi
rgi
nbecauseofsaggyboobs.
“
Arey
ougoi
ngt
opayf
ormyboobj
ob?
”Iaskhi
m.
Hef
rowns,
“What
?”
“
Iwantmyboobst
obef
ir
m andr
ound,
”Iexpl
ain.
“
No,
Iwon’
tpayf
ort
hat
.”
He’
ssost
ingy
!
“
I’
venev
eraskedany
thi
ngf
rom y
out
hough,
”Isay
.
“Youcanaskany t
hing,butnotthat
.Youwere
creat
edthi
sway .Idon’twantmychi l
drent
osuck
chemical
sfrom pl
asticboobs.”
SometimesIfor
getwhohei s,Ij
ustseeabear
dy,
handsomefaceofaneducatedman.If or
gett
hat
he’
sZulu,Nazar
eth,r
uralandsel
ecti
vel
ydumb.
Chemical
sfrom boobs?How?
“
Areyouangry
?”her ol
lsmyni
ppl
eandpokesmy
t
highwi
thhiserectshaft
.
“
Yes,
”Isay
.
“
You’
l
lgetov
eri
t.
”
St
upi
dass!
“
Imi ssthecoochi
e.”Hepresseshishardfronton
meandl icksbehi
ndmyear l
obe.“ButI’
ll
waitunti
l
yourbodyhealscomplet
ely,t
henI’l
lri
py ouapart
.”
Idon’
tknowwhyhi st
onescar
es.There’
ssomuch
thr
eatandhungercar
ri
edi
nhisvoice.
“
Whenarewegoingtost
artpl
anningourfut
ure?
”He
l
i
ftshi
shor
nyeyestomeandlickshisl
ips.
“
Wheny
oucomeback?
”heasks.
Inod,
“Yes.
”
“
Ilov
eyou,
okay
?”Hi
svoi
cei
sshal
l
owandbr
eaki
ng
i
nbet
ween.
“
Wel
l
,Il
ovey
out
oo.
”
Helet
soutachuckl
e,“
Ify
oul
ovemet
henwhydon’
t
youhel
pme?”
“Hel
py ouwi
thwhat
?”Ifei
gnignorance.Lusthas
squashedhi
mintoaneedy,f
rust
ratedman.
Hetakesmyhandandpullsitdowntohishardshaft.
Mychestdr
iesupwhenIfeel howbighe’
sgrown.I’d
l
ovetocal
m him downbutit
’stooearl
ytosubject
mybodyint
oallthat
.
“
Mt hongaher
edoesn’
tunder
standwhyMommyi sn’
t
f
eedinghimtoday
,”hesay
sandpushes‘
him’
right
i
ntomyhand.
“I
’
llmakeitupt
oyou,
”Isay,
wrappi
ngmyhand
aroundhi
sshaf
tandgi
vinghi
m afewst
rokes.
“I
’m scar
edyou’
regoi
ngtobegoneforaver
ylong
ti
me.Idon’twantust
oloset
heconnect
ionthatwe
have.”
“
You’
renotgoi
ngt
ocomeandv
isi
tme?
”Iask.
“
Iwasnotal
l
owedt
ovi
sitt
hel
astt
imey
ouwent
t
her
e.”
“You’r
emypi l
larofstr
engt
h.Idon’
tthi
nki
t ’
l
laff
ect
myj ourneyifIreal
lycommitmysel
fint
oit.ButI
’l
l
communi cat
eandmakesur eIdon’tbr
eakany
rul
es.”
“
I’
dappr
eci
atet
hat
,”hesay
s.
Iwrapmyarmsaroundhisneckanddeeplyki
sshi
s
l
ips.Hebr
eaksi
toffaf
terami nut
eandcracksa
smile.
“
CanIst
epoutf
orsomef
reshai
r?”heasks.
Oh,
mybodyi
sgi
vi
nghi
m someheat
?
“
Yeah,sur
ethi
ng,
”Isay
,hi
dingt
hepr
oudgr
inonmy
f
ace.
Hecl
imbsoffbedandheadst
othedoor
,unabl
eto
wal
kproper
ly.
“
Ilov
eyou!
”Iy
ell
behi
ndhi
m.
Hedoesn’
trespond,hetakeshi
shor
nyasst
othe
bat
hroom andshutsthedoor.
Thi
sist
hef
ir
stt
imeI
’
veev
erwi
shedt
obeahandi
n
myl
i
fe.
.
.
NOMKHOSI

Phoner
ings.
It
’sj
ustanar
m awaybutf
orhert
hat’
stoofar
.She
exer
cisesaf
ewbreat
hsbefor
epull
i
nghersel
fofft
he
couch.
I
t’
sNdondo.
“
Babe,
”sheanswer
s,pant
ingheav
il
y.
“
Arey
ouhome?
”
“
No,
why
?”
“
Thakasai
sonhi
swayt
omeetwi
thNgi
di.
”
She’
spoppi
ngt
hisbabyt
hreemont
hsear
ly!
“
Whaaat
?”
“It
oldyouhesai
dhewasgoi
ngtocont
acthi
m.You
bett
ercomeupwithapl
anqui
ckl
y.
”
“
Ididn’
tthi
nkhewasgoi
ngtodoitf
orreal
.Thi
s
i
diot
!”shecur
sesandsi
nksdownonthecouch.
“
Goodl
uckwi
thy
ourmot
her
,”Ndondosay
s.
She’
saddingt
oherst
ressandbei
ngunnecessar
y.
Khosibi
dsgoodby
eandendsthecal
l
.

It
’st
imef ordamagecontrol.Thakasacannotshow
hisfaceatherpar
ents’house.She’sbeenlyi
ngto
them andtohim,foragoodr eason,butt
hatwon’t
countwhent heyf
indoutthet r
uth.
Hisphoneringsafewti
mesbefor
ehepicksup.His
backgroundsayshe’
sonther
oad,pr
obablydr
ivi
ng
toNgidi’
shouse.
“
Soy
ouunbl
ockedmet
oday
?”heasks.
“Thakasawhyar
eyougoi
ngt
omypar
ent
s’house?
”
sheasks.
“Don’
taskmethat
.Youknowver
ywel
lwhatI
’
ve
beenaski
ngf
rom you,
”hesay
s.
“I
fyouwanti
tfr
om methenwhyarey
ougoi ngtomy
parent
s?Wer
etheypr
esentwhenwefucked?”she
asks.
“
Idon’
tcare.I
’
m goingtodor i
ghtbymybaby
whet
heryouli
keitornot.Iwasthefat
her
.”
“
Oh,
real
l
y?You’
resur
eaboutt
hat
?”sheasks.
“Nomkhosithat’
snotgoi
ngt
owork.Bot
hyouandI
knowt het
ruth.Iwast
heonl
ymany ouwer
e
sleepi
ngwith.
”
“Ncooh,t
hat
’ssosweet
!Youthinkyouknowme,
neh?
Butguesswhat,
youwerenottheonlyone.
”
“
That
’sf
oryouandyourbody.Youcannotexcl
ude
mefr
om mybaby’
sspir
it
,”hesays.
Thisgoi
ngbackandf
ort
hisnothelpi
ngher
.She
needstost
opthi
smanfrom meeti
ngNgidi
.
“
Wecanmeetl
atert
oday
,”shesay
s.
“
Idon’twanttomeetyouanywhere.Doy ourt
hings
whereveryouar
e,butonedayyou’r
egoingtofeel
t
hepainy ou’
veputmethrough.You’
ll
knowhowi t
f
eelsli
ketoloseachil
dyouwer esodesperat
et o
meetandhol di
nyourarms.”
Deebr
eat
h!
Shest
ayssi
l
ent
lyont
hephone.
“Iknowhowourr el
ationshi
pwasandIunder stand
thepainIputyout hrough.ButnotevenoncedidI
everli
etoyou.Youknewev er
ythi
ngtherewast o
knowaboutme, Iwashonestf rom dayone.Idon’
t
knowwhyy ou’retreatingmethisway .
”
“Asifyout
reat
edmer
ight
,”shemumbl
esandl
oudl
y
cli
ckshert
ongue.
“Idi
dNomkhosi.IfIdi
dn’
ttr
eatyouri
ghty ou
wouldn’
thavecomebackafterourfi
rstbreak-
up.I
coul
dn’tbewit
hy ouandsometi
mesIgotcol dfeet
,
butwhenIwast her
eIwasthereforyou.Youknow
mef r
om themostv ul
ner
abl
edepthsofme. ”
Anothermomentofsi
lencepasses.She’
sstr
uggl
i
ng
tofi
ndrightwor
dstosum upherresponse.
“
Youkill
edmybaby ,
Nomkhosi
.Mypreci
ouscar
go,
i
Sphephelosami
!”hesay
smournf
ull
y.
There’
sastabbi
ngpaini
nherchest.Whyi
sheso
at
tachedt
ot hebabyhehasn’
tevenhol
dyet?I
t’
s
cr
azy .
“
Forwhat
’swor
th,
Idi
dlov
eyou.
”
Shestut
ter
sforasecond,t
ryi
ngt
ofi
ndt
her
ight
wordstoexpr
esshershock.
“
Whyareyouonl
ytel
l
ingme…”Shepausesand
l
ooksatt
hescr
een.I
t’
sdead.
Fuck,
hedr
oppedt
hecal
l
.
Shet
ri
eshi
m agai
nbuthedoesn’
tpi
ckup.
.
.
THAKASA

Itwassupposedt ost aybetweent hetwoofthem.

Butnowhe’ shere,involv
ingthefami l
ythatwasn’t
therewhenhesneakedar oundwi ththei
rdaughter
.
Phel ohappened,
that’snotsomet hinghe’sgoi
ngto
disregardnoworinf utur
e.Him andNomkhosi
createdahumanandhehast ofacethe
consequencesoft heirnaked-game.
He’
slett
hrought
hegat
e.Hedr
ivesi
nandpar
kshi
s
carinfrontofadouble-st
oreyresi
dencedesi
gned
withav erysophi
sti
catedimaginati
on.Hi
sheart
beginsar acebuthefixeshisshi
rtandkeepsi
t
together.
Hemakeshiswaytowar
dsatalldoort
hatcoul
d
accommodateagi
raf
feandknockswit
hsweaty
hands.

HeknowsNgi di
.He’
sawel l
-knownTongaatTaxi
Associ
ati
onformerchair
per
sonandbusi nessman.
Alt
houghthey
’veneverhadadirectencount
er,
thei
r
pathshav
ecrossed.
Butt
odaylookingatthemanst ar
ingathi
m atthe
door
,hefeel
sl i
kehedoesn’tknowhim onebi
t.He
hasgreyhai
r,deepsetofdarkeyesandarecentl
y
tr
immedgoatzee.
“
Youar
eManqel
e?”heasks.
“
Yes,
”Thakasanods.
“
Comeinandfol
l
owme.
”Hel
eav
est
hedooropen
f
orhi
mtofol
low.
Passagesar ewide,witheit
herAfr
icanportr
ait
sor
familypi ctur
eshangingont hegr
eywal l
s.Hishouse
represent shispocket;
he’sgotari
cht ast
eon
every t
hing.That’
sifallthi
sishi
stasteandnothis
wife’s.Eitherway,he’
sgotabeautifulhome.

Awomani nanAfri
can-
print
eddressandhugehead
wrapissi
tt
ingonthecouchwit
hacupoft eai
nher
hand.Themother
!Adropofsweatrunsdownhis
spi
ne.
Hestandsnextt
othecouchwi
thhi
sheadbowed
andhandsontheknees.
Ngi
digl
ancesbackathim bef
oreoccupy
ingaspace
ont
hecouchnexttohiswife.
“Youcanhav easeat
,”hesay
sandshowshi
m one-
seateropposi
tet
hem.
He’
sstari
ngathim asThakasasi
tsandopenst
he
l
astbut
tonofhisshir
tduetotheheatonl
yhimfeel
s.
“
Ihadtopost
ponemymeeti
ngf
orthi
s.Pleasetel
l
meexact
lywhoyouar
eandwhyyouarehere,
”Ngidi
.
Okay
,deepbr
eat
h!
Hepopshi
sfi
ngerj
oint
sandexpl
ainshi
msel
f.
“Mynamei sThakasaManqel e.Icomefrom
Mandeni,i
napl aceknownasEnembe.Iaskedt o
comeandt alktoy ou,notbecauseI’
m di
srespectf
ul,
butthi
swast heonl yopti
onIhad.Nomkhosi andI
had…”Themot herjustr
aisedhereyebr
owathi m.He
i
nhalessharplyandcont i
nueswi t
hhisnerves
scat
teredal
l overtheplace.
“Wemetanddeci dedtohavear el
ati
onship.I
t
wasn’tthebestr
elat
ionshi
pbutwest i
ll
hadi t
anyway.Itr
esult
edintoathi
rdpersonbeing
conceiv
ed,andthat’
swhatbringsmeher etoday
.”
They
’restar
ingathi
m, notsay
ingany
thi
ng.Hecl
ear
s
hi
sthroatandconti
nues.
“Nomkhosihadamiscarri
age, t
hingswereabi t
messyf r
om mysi
deatt hetimeandwewer en’
ton
thesamepageanymore.Wear estil
lnot,she
refusest
oseemeandt alkaboutt henecessary
stepsweneedtot
aker egardingthatsit
uation.
”
Ngi
dil
ooksathi
slef
thand.
“
You’
remar
ri
edt
oNomkhosi
?”
Whataquest
ion!
Heexhal
esheav
il
yandshakeshi
shead.
“
Soyoumessedwit
hmydaughterwhi
l
eyouhada
wi
feathome?
”themot
herasks.
“
YeboMa,
butwewer
ebot
hini
twi
l
li
ngl
y.
”
Ngi
dishakeshi
sheadandgr
abshi
sphonef
rom t
he
cof
fee-
tabl
e.
“
Letmecallt
hischi
ld.
”Hescrol
l
sdownhi
sphone
wi
thragebur
ningfr
om hi
seyes.
“Nomkhosi wherear
eyou….t
ellmewhyt here’
sa
dark,afr
o-boyi
nmyhouse….yes,you’
regoingto
explai
nandy ou’
regoi
ngtodoitinthenext15
minutes….Idon’
tknowhowy ou’
regoingtogether
e
thatfastandIdon’
tcar
e….15mi nut
es!”

Thefoll
owing30mi nutesafterthatcallwerethe
mostuncomf ort
ablemi nut
esofhi sli
fe.Ngidi
off
eredhim adrinkandhesai dhe’sfine.Buthiswif
e
qui
cklylear
ntthathewast urningdownNgi di’
soffer
becauseofrel
i
giousr
easonsandmadehi
m acupof
teainst
ead.
“Ican’tbel
i
evemydaught
erhadamiscar
ri
age
beforeanddidn’
tev
encometotel
lmeasher
mot her.
”
“She’
l
lexpl
ainPhumzi
l
e,”Ngi
disay
s,pat
ti
ngher
shoul
der.
“Idon’tknowaboutthi
schildanymore.I
fshe’snot
getti
ngpr egnantf
ormarr
iedmen, she’
sgetti
ng
pregnantf ormenwhoseidenti
ti
esshedon’teven
know.”
Okay ,t
hisi
snewinformat
ion.Hi
shear
tbr
eaksi
nto
pieces;shesl
eptwit
hanonymousmen?Whenwas
that?Hisegoiscr
ushed.
“She’
sbeenpr egnantforamanshedoesn’ tknow?”
heasks.Nomkhosi nev ert
oldhi
m she’
sbeen
pregnantbef
ore.Phelowasbot hthei
rfi
rstchi
ld,so
hethought.
“She’
sher
e,y
ou’
l
laskhert
hatquest
ion,
”hermot
her
says.
Hiseyesquickl
ytur
ntothedoor.Theygrowbigger
andbiggerastheyl
andonher.Hisjawisonthe
fl
oor.Whatisthi
s?
“Nomkhosiyou’
resti
l
lpregnant
?”He’
sonhi
sfeet
andchar
gingtowardsher.
“Babastophi
m!”sheyel
lsonceandNgi
digr
abshi
s
arm wi
thinabl
inkofaneye.
Hepull
shim backtothecouchaggressi
vel
y.Buthe
doesn’
tcare,all
hewantst
oknowi showcome
she’
ssti
llpregnant
.
“Yousai
dyouabortedmybaby.Imour
nedf
orthi
s
babyNomkhosi
.Ilostmywif
eandmysanit
y.How
canyoudosomethingl
iket
his?”
“
Okayyoucal
mt heshi
tdown,
youngman.Thi
sis
myhouse,
akukhonaekhay
akonyoko.
”
Thakasadoesn’
tcare.Hisey
esareonKhosi
and
bl
eedingdi
sbeli
ef,
hatredandpai
n.
“
You’
rekeepi
ngmeawayf
rom mybaby
?”heasks.
“Whosai
dIwasn’
tgoi
ngt
otel
lyouonceshe’
s
bor
n?”
“
Whosai
dIwant
edt
obel
i
evet
hatshe’
sdeadunt
il
t
hen?
”
“I
t’
snotlikeyouwantedtogeti
nvol
vedinthi
s
pregnancy.Yousentyourwi
feandaskedmet odoa
bl
oodyDNAt est
.”
“
Ineveraskedyout
odoanyt
est
.Mymar
ri
agewas
f
all
i
ngapar t
,Ihadt
o…”
“Youhadt
osortoutyourmari
tal
aff
air
sandstep
backfr
om f
ather
hood,ri
ght
?WhatifIdi
dthatt
est
andmybabydied?”
Hedoesn’
thav
eananswert
othat
.
“I
’m notgoingtoletmybabybecomey ourproofof
commi tmenttoyourmarri
age.Ifyou’
regoingtolet
yourwifedecideonherbeingandpulloutwhenev er
youwantt oimpressher
,I’
m goingtodenyy ou
accessfrom seei
ngherevenwhenshe’ sborn,”
Nomkhosi says.
Heburi
eshi
sfacei
nhi
shandsandr
eleasesaheav
y
si
gh.
“
SitNomkhosi
,
”Ngi
disay
s.Nowi
t’
sti
mebot
hof
t
hem expl
ainwhat
’sgoi
ngonher
e.
HelooksatThakasa,“
Yousaidshehada
miscar
ri
age.Nowy ou’
recl
aiminghercur
rent
pr
egnancyandsay i
ngsheli
edaboutaborti
on.
”
“Andy ousai
dyoudon’tknowwhomadey ou
pregnant,
butnowy ouknowthi
sboyher
eand
acknowledgi
ngthatyou’
recar
ryi
nghi
schil
d.”
Thakasal
if
tshi
sheadup.Hiseyesarebl
oodshot
,
buthe’
skeepi
nghi
semot i
onsintact
.
“Mywi fefoundoutandgoti nvolved.Nomkhosi t
old
meshet hendecidedt oterminatethepr egnancy .I
couldn’
tcomeher eandpai ntherliket hat,that’swhy
Isaidshemi scar
ri
ed.Iinformedmyf ami l
yand
churchoft hatunfor
tunateincidentandmour nedfor
mybaby .I
’m notperfectbutIknowt haty oucannot
speakdeat honsomeone’ sli
fe.Onmybaby ’slit
tl
e
l
ife,youcannotdot hat!”Hebr usheshi sf ace, get
s
offthecouchandst ormsoutwi thhishandov erhis
face.
Phumzi
l
etur
nsherfacetoNomkhosi
whi
l
eNgi
di
fol
l
owsbehi
ndThakasa.
“
Soy
ou’
vebeenl
yi
ngt
ous?
”sheasks.
“WhatwasIsupposedt
odo?Thakasawaskeepi
ng
hi
sdist
ance.
”
“Fr
om y ou,nothisbaby .That
’swhaty ougetf or
dati
ngamar riedman.He’ smarri
ed;het i
edhi sl
if
eto
someoneandbecameoneper sonwithher .The
minutey ougotpr egnantyouwerebringingababy
i
ntobot htheirli
vesandt hewifewasboundt oget
i
nvolved.Whyar eyouact i
ngl
ikeacluelessy oung
gir
lnow? ”
Oh,
she’
sgoi
ngt
ocr
ynow.
“Youdon’thav ear i
ghttokeepaf atherawayf r
om
hischil
dbecausey ourrelat
ionshi
pwi t
hhim didn’
t
turnoutthewayy ouwant ed.Yourdaught er
deserveslov
ef rom bothpar ents,
y oucannotgetrid
ofthewifebecauseshe’ stheotherhal fofthi
sman.
Suckitupbabygi r
l,youknowhowhar ditisgrowi
ng
upwi t
houtaf ather.
”
Ngidiwal
ksinwit
hadefeatedlookonhisf
ace.Thi
s
i
sn’tsomethi
nganyoneexpect
edf r
om Nomkhosi
.
She’sal
waysbeenabigsist
er,theonewhoadvi
ses
ot
her
sandsetanex
ampl
e.
“Idon’tl
i
kethespeedhelef
tin,
anyt
hingcould
happen.He’
sdrivi
ngwit
hemot i
ons,notsani
ty,
”he
saystoherandwalkspastthel
oungetogethimself
adrink.
“
Ma?”Nomkhosil
ooksathermotherdesper
ately
.
Whatmustshedonow?Shecannotdri
veafterhi
m.
“
Cal
lhi
sfami
l
y,”hermot
hersay
s.
How’sthatgoi
ngtobepossi
blethough?Thisisa
mess.Nowal l
she’spr
ayi
ngfori
st hatnot
hing
happenstoPhelo’
sfat
her
.Herbabycan’tbe
fat
herl
ess.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER41

Nkonzoi sget ti
ngreadyt oleav etheoffi
ce.Things
aren’
texact l
yhowhehopedt heyweregoi ngt obe,
butatleastsheacknowl edgeshi m asamani nher
l
ife.Sheinvitedhimt oherhousef ordinner.He
shouldgof rom wor kstrai
ghtt oherhouse, butthen
he’sbeent hi
nkingofot herway stoimpress.He’ll
buyadr essf orhertoweart hiscomingSat urdayat
church-they’resti
l
lgoingt odi scussthechurcht hi
ng
though.
Hi
sphoner
ings.Hel
ooksatt
hescr
eenanddoesn’
t
r
ecogni
zet
henumber.
“
Hel
l
o,”hepi
cksup.
“Igoty
ournumberfrom mutual
busi
nessf
ri
end,
”
saysagir
linacr
yingvoice.
“
CanIhel
pyou?
”heasksi
npani
c.
“
It
’sThakasa….Hewasnotokay
…Hej
ustspedof
f…”
“
Okay
,cal
m downandt
ell
mewhathappenedt
omy
br
other
.”
“I
…Idon’tknowifhe’
ll
gethomesaf e.Hedidn’tleav
e
i
nagoodst at
e.”Nowshe’scalm andmaki ngsense.
He’snevertal
kedtoherbutheknowswhoshecoul d
be.Thakasaisnotopenwiththem, hedidn’teven
knowthathewentt oseehertoday.
“I
’l
lcal
lhim andgetbackt
oy ou,
”hetel
l
sher.I
t
seemslikeevery
thi
ngisgoingsout
hinhisbr
other
’s
l
ife.
Hisphoneisr
ingi
ngtovoicemail
.Heputsever
ythi
ng
backonhisdeskandrushestoBandl
a’soff
ice
whosecomebackt oworkafteraweekofhidi
ng.
“
Thakasai
snotanswer
inghi
sphone,
”hesay
sfr
om
t
hedoor.
“Sowhat
?”Bandl
alooksathi
m.Hi
stemperl
eftwi
th
Khany
o.
“Hisgir
lf
ri
endjustcal
ledmesayinghel
efti
nabad
stateandshe’
swor ri
edthathemaynotbeabl
eto
driv
ehomesaf ely
.”
“
Whyi
shenotpi
cki
ngup?
”Bandl
aasks.
“That
’swhyI
’
m her
etoasky
ouaswel
l
,”Nkonzo
says.
Theyst
areateachl
i
ket
wor
etar
ds.Nkonzo’
sphone
ri
ngsagai
n.
“
Isheokay
?”Nowshe’
sscr
eami
ngathi
m.Shembe!
“
I’
m st
il
ltr
yingt
ocal
lhi
m,he’
snotanswer
ing.
”
“No, no,no!There’
sacaraccidentontheN2,
towar dsUmhl al
i
.”Shecri
espainful
lybefor
eherl
i
ne
dies.Nowhi sheartisr
acing,
thatcan’tbehis
brother,no!
“
What’
sgoingon?
”Bandl
aasks,get
ti
ngof
fhi
schai
r
wi
thhi
sfacemaskedwit
hfear
.
“
Ther
e’sanaccident.Weneedtogot
her
eandcheck
i
fhewasn’
tinvolved,
”Nkonzosay
s.
Nothingcanev erpreparehi
mf oramomentwher e
hisbrother
’sli
feisn’
tguaranteed.Theycannot
functi
onwi t
houthim, al
lofthem.I fany
thi
ng
happenst ohimitwoul dbetheendoft heManqele
empire.Betweenhi m andBandl a,
nobodycanhold
theropesthewayThakasadoes.Hewast r
ained
fr
om birt
htobeaf amil
yleader .Thei
rfat
herwas
al
way sprepar
inghimforthet i
mewhenhewasn’ t
goingtobearoundanymor e.Whenhepassedon,
Thakasaknewev er
ythi
ngther ewast oknowandhe
fi
tt
edperfectl
yonhisnewr ole.
Sadly,hehasn’ ttr
ainedanyofthem t ofil
lhisrole
shouldany thi
nghappent ohim.He’st aughtthem t o
al
way scountonhi m.Tobeboy swhi l
ehewasa
man; toalway sbehi sli
tt
lebrot
hers.Ukut hemel eza
i
nt hekraal i
shi sjob,onl
yheknowst heirelder
s
fr
om t hegreat-grandparentsbytheirnamesand
praisestotheext endedlatefamil
yrelatives.Onl yhe
knowshowt odividethemeatduringcer emoni es
andr epresentthef amil
y.

TheytookBandla’
scar.Nkonzodi
dn’
tevencancel
di
nnerwithTema,thatwouldbeanot
herissuet
o
sortoutwhenhecomesback.He’sbehindthewheel
,
tr
yingtodri
veasfastashecanunderthe
ci
rcumstances.
Theacci
denthappenedont
hesout
hboundl
aneof
theN2,hi
scarlostcont rol
andv eeredoffthe
roadway,
overthebarrierandcollidedwiththecent
re
pil
lar
.Net
care911par amedi cshav eal
readytaken
him andr
ushedhimt ot hehospital.
Oneoft hem hast oinformt hefamily
,butinthestate
they
’reinr i
ghtnownei therofthem hasthegut s.
Theydon’ tknowhowbadhe’ sinj
uredorifhe’sgoing
tomakei t.HisBMW 7- Seriesisdamagedbey ond
contr
ol-itgivesthem nohopeatal l.
Nkonzohast obeanolderoneandcal
lhome.Hi
s
hearti
sonsomer ace,he’
stry
ingnott
othi
nkthe
worstbutcannothel
pit.
MaKhumal opicksupaf
terhe’
str
iedcal
l
inghert
wice.
She’sst
il
lstruggl
i
ngtocometotermswitht
hefact
thathemov edout.
“
Nkonzenhl
e,
”shesay
s.
“
Ma,
I’
m wi
thBandl
a,
”het
akesadeepsi
gh.
“Oh,y
ou’
ret
ell
i
nghi
mtomov
eoutaswel
l
?”she
asks.
Si
gh!
“WearegoingtoAl
ber
li
to,
Thakasahasbeeni
nacar
acci
dent
,”hesays.
Ther
e’sascream.Hi
sheartbr
eaksi
ntopi
eces.She’
s
l
ostherhusband,
shecannotl
oseasontoo!
“Pl
easeputhi
mi nyourpr
ayer
s,wedon’tknowhow
baditi
sbutI’
l
lcall
youwhenIgetther
e.”
Noresponse.Herscr
eam i
spier
cingt
hrought
he
speakerofhi
sphoneandstabbi
ngthr
oughhishear
t.
“Bhutiwhat’
sgoi
ngon?”Phethyasksaf
tershe’
s
snatchedthephonef
rom herhyst
eri
cal
mot her
.
“I
t’
sThakasa,hewasinacaraccidentbuthe’s
al
ive,
”heassuresher
,lestshest
art
scryingtoo.
“Pl
easegiv
eheragl
assofwaterandthenpr
aywi
th
her
,”hesayst
oherbef
oredr
oppingthecal
l.

They’v
ear r
ivedatt hehospit
al.I
t’
sli
kethewor ldhas
j
ustturneddar k.Bothofthem arewrappedi none
gri
efandhopel essness.Nowt hey’
rewaitingforthe
doctorstobriefthem.Thewai ti
skill
i
ngt hem,
despit
eonenur setel
li
ngthem thathe’l
lbeokay .
At al
lwomanwi thbig,swol l
eney esmakesherway
towardst hem.She’ sheav i
l
ypr egnantbutst il
l
wearingst i
lettos,extendingheral readyt al
lhei
ght.
Herdr essi sjustabov eherknees, rev
ealingher
yell
ow, thicklegs.Shel ooksnot hinglikeMaNt usi,
or
anywomanaManqel emancoul dpur sue.Butthat
’s
nosur prise, r
ight?Khany oal sowearl ongwi gsand
fakeey elashes.Theyal lseem t obef all
ingforthe
opposi t
eofwhatt heyt houghtt hey’dfallfor
-even
Temai snoexcept i
on.
“Nomkhosi
,”Nkonzocal
l
shernameandr
aiseshi
s
handtoshowhimself
.
Sheknowst hem.Ev er
ythingabouteachand
ever
yoneoft hem.Thelight-skinnedonegi v
es
headacheanddodgesmostofhi sresponsi
bilit
ies.
Bandlaisthequiet
estone, Thakasanev er
complainedabouthim.Shewasj ustassurprised
whenshesawhi mtrendingf orasext ape-that’snot
abrotherThakasausedt odescr ibetoher.
“I
sheokay
?”sheasks,hol
dingontot
hear
m oft
he
chai
randr
eleasi
ngahugebr eat
h.
They’
rest
aringatherst
omach.Hav
etheynev
er
seenapregnantwomanbefore?
Ohshucks,
theyal
lthoughtsheabor
ted.May
beshe
madeabaddecisi
on,butatthatmomentshefel
t
l
ikei
twasnecessar
y .
“
Wear esti
l
l wai
ti
ngforthedoct
orstoupdateus,
”
Nkonzosays,st
il
lst
ari
ngatherwithdi
sbel
ief.
That’
sbet t
erthanwai t
ingforhisbodyt obet aken
away,ri
ght?Shesi nksdownont hechair,rest
sher
backandpul l
sasl abofchocolateoutofherbag.
Sheunwr apsitandbitesahugepi ece.I
t’
sher
weaponagai nstherforever
-dr
ippingsalivaryglands.
They
’rest
il
lst
ari
ngather
.Thi
sisget
ti
ngawkwar
d
anduncomfor
tabl
e.

Phel
omustbef ur
iousfr
om allther
unni
ngshedi
d
comingher
e;shekicksvi
olent
ly.
Shesit
supstraightandcovershert
ummywi t
hher
arms.I
tfeel
sli
keshe’ spl
ayi
ngmapat i
lei
nsidether
e.
It
’sgr
abbingherstomachattent
ionfr
om thetwo
menthathav
ebeenst ar
ingatherfrom t
hesecond
shest
eppedin.Shehassomei nsanestr
ongkicks.
Sheki ckst
heot hersi
deofhertummy .Nowshe’
s
convincedthatshe’sgoingt
ocomeoutexactl
yli
ke
Snalo.Whyi sshecausingallt
hisdr
ama?Isi
t
becauseherf at
hersarepresent?
“Areyouhungry?”Bandl
aaskswithconcern.He
hasn’tsaidany
thi
ngtohersinceshearr
ived,
understandabl
ybecauseshewast ol
dabouthis
character.
“
No,
”shesay
s.
Hemakesaf aceshecan’
tdescr
ibe.Seemi
ngl
yher
answerdoesn’
tsat
isf
yhim.
Sheexplai
ns; “
Ihadabur gerbef
orecomi
nghere.I
thi
nkshe’sjustexer
cisi
nghermusclesandbei
ng
dramat
ic.”
Theyunder st
andbutconfusi
onissti
l
lthereinthei
r
eyes-probablywhyshe’sst
il
lpr
egnant.Butshe’snot
explai
ninghersel
ftothem.
There’
sadoctormakinghi
swayt
owardsthem.They
al
lgetupontheirf
eetandwai
twi
tht
heireyeswidel
y
opened.
“I
’
m doct
orLinfor
d,”hesay
sandf
lashesasmi
l
eto
putt
hem atease.
Buti
tdoesn’
twor
k.
“
Isheokay
?”Bandl
aasks.
“Yes,
he’
sokay
.Hesuf
fer
edaf
ewscr
apesandcut
s,
nothi
ngmuch.
”
Theylookatoneanot
her.That
’sal
l
?Hiscarwil
l
probabl
ybewr i
tt
enof
f,howcomehe’sokay?
“
Canweseehi
m?”Nkonzoasks.
“Yes,
butonlyforaf
ewminutes.Iwanthi
mtoget
somer est
,hehasabadwhipl
ash.”
Thi
sisarel
ief
.Thisri
ghthere,
provesthatuNyaz
i
LweZul
uli
veswiththem t
hroughthei
rspiri
ts.

Hemakesaqui
ckcallt
oPhethy
,heneedstoput
MaKhumal
oateasebefor
esheassumestheworst
andf
aint
.
Bandl
aproceedsandmakeshiswayinsidethewar
d.
Khosidi
sappear
stofi
ndherwaytothebat hr
ooms;
she’
sbeenholdi
ngpeeforaveryl
ongtime.
“Mthonga!
”Bandl
asaysf
rom t
hedoorandst
ands
sti
l
l.Hisi
sbreat
hhel
dupinhischest
.
Yeshe’
salive,
butthishasbeenar
udewakeupcal
l.
Whataretheywithouthi
m?Doesheevenknowhow
i
mportantheistohisfamil
y?
“Comei n,
”hesayscal
mly.Hisneckisi
npain,
butit
’s
nothi
nghecannothandle.He’
sjustsur
pri
sedtosee
them heresosoon.
Inst
eadofwalki
ngi
nBandlasl
i
desdownthewall
andsinksdownonthef
loorwi
thhi
sheadbur
iedi
n
hishands.
“
Bandl
adon’
tdot
hat
.I’
m okay
.”
Wel
l
,he’
sgoi
ngt
oneedamoment
.

Nkonzowalksi
n.HeseesBandlahavi
ngamoment
onthefl
oorbuthi
sat
tent
ionisonhisbigbr
otherf
or
now.
Heenv
elopeshi
m ahugdespi
tet
hebandageonhi
s
ar
m.Thakasachuckl
esandsl
owl
ypusheshi
m of
f.
“Enough!Di
dyougetal
lthest
atement
sfr
om Fl
oyd?
”
heasks.
“MaybeIdid.MaybeIdidn’
t.Idon’
tcareabout
stat
ementsMt honga,
wenear lyl
ostyou.What
happened?
”Nkonzoasks.
Heexhalesdeepl
yandshif
tshi
seyesaway .
Whatev
erhappenedhurthi
m deepl
y,hecan’
tev
en
maskhispain.
“Yourgirl
fri
endisher
e,”Nkonzosays.“She’
stheone
whoi nformedus.”Healsowantstoaskwhyshe’ s
sti
llpregnanti
fsheaborted,
butmay benowi snot
thetime.
Hestaresathim,hopi
nghe’
l
lgiv
edetail
soft
he
si
tuati
onorcallhi
m outf
orr
efer
ringt
oherashi
s
gi
rlf
ri
end,buthedoesn’
t.
“Okay,
”Thakasasaysandgaz
esatBandl
ali
ft
ing
himsel
foffthefl
oorwit
hapuffyl
ookonhi
sface.
Hest
andsnextt
oNkonzoandl
ooksathi
sbandaged
ar
m.
“
I’
mf i
neMt honga,
”Thakasareassureshi
m andtr
ies
t
olif
thishandtotouchhim butfai
lsduetopai
n.
“I
fanythinghappenedt oyou…”Het akesadeepsi gh
andshakeshi shead.“Idon’
tknowi fthefami l
ywas
goingtosurvi
ve.You’veheldthefamilytogetherever
sinceBabapassedon.You’ vebeenourguar di
an
eversinceIcanremember .Itwould’
vebr okenmei f
youpassedonbef oreIcant el
lyouhowmuchIr eal
ly
appreciat
eeveryt
hingy ouandMaNt usihav edone
forus.Especi
all
yy ou.
”
“UNyazilweZuluprot
ect
edme.Ist
il
ldon’
tknowhow
Isur
vived,”Thakasa.
“
Whatcausedt
heacci
dent
?”
Inst
eadofansweri
ngheshif
tshi
sey est
ot he
entr
anceandstar
es.Bandl
aandNkonzot urnthei
r
headstooandseethatNomkhosii
smakingherway
i
n.
“
I’
m goi
ngtocallEVERYONEandl ett
hem knowthat
y
ou’r
einthehospit
albutokay
,”Nkonzosaysand
r
aiseshi
sey
ebr
owquest
ioni
ngl
y.
Ever
yoneincl
udeshi
swi f
e,henodsandturnshis
headbacktoNomkhosi.Bothhisbr
other
sclearthe
room andgi
vethem somepriv
acy.

“
Arey
ouokay
?”sheasks.
Het
akesadeepsi
ghandl
ooksaway
.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
”shesay
s.
He’
sst
il
lnotl
ooki
ngather
.
“
I’
m notgoi
ngtoal
lowyouoryourwif
etodoDNA
t
estonhernow.Pl
easewai
tunti
lshe’
sborn,
then
y
oucandoi t
.”
Het
urnshi
sey
est
oherbutst
il
ldoesn’
tsayany
thi
ng.
“Ibel
i
eveyou’l
lmakebestdecisi
onsasafat
herand
alwaysputPhel
o’swell
-bei
ngasyourf
ir
stpri
ori
ty.I
’
ll
domybestasamot hertoo.
”
“
Whyar
eyouonl
ybel
i
evi
ngi
nmenow?
”heasks.
“BecauseI
’mfi
ght
ingalosi
ngbatt
le.Idon’
twantmy
daughtert
obebor
nintothi
stensi
on.AndIdon’t
wanthert ogrowupwi t
houtaf atherl
ikeme.You
nearl
ydiedtoday ,i
twasgoi ngt obet hesamest or
y
allov
eragain.”Sher el
easesasi ghandt hrowsher
handsov erherface.“Idon’twantt obeabi t
termom.
Iwantwhat ’
sbestf ormydaught erandsomet i
mesI
makebaddeci si
ons.I’
m st i
llboundt odosoasI
growint
omot herhood.Butt helastthingI’
dev erdo
i
st ohur
tmyowndaught erandr obhert hechance
tohaveaf atherbecauseIcoul dn’thavehim. ”
Thakasa’
sjawti
ght
ens.Heshi
ft
shi
sey
esawayand
exhal
esheavi
ly
.
“I
’l
ldot hisformydaughter
; setupanothermeet ing.
May beherandIcanf indsomecommongr ounds.I
don’tmi ndhercutt
ingourcommuni cat
ion,
aslong
asyou’regoi ngtobeinv
olvediny ourdaughter
’slife
andnothav eyourwif
estandi nforyouineverything.
That’sallIwantnow.”
Thepai
nref
lect
inginherey
esasshel etsgosl
ices
hi
shear
tint
opieces.I
twasn’tsupposedtoendthi
s
way.
“
I’
m goi
ngt
obeaf
athert
omydaught
er.Youdon’
t
needtomakesacri
fi
cesoractacer
tai
nway.
Nothi
ngandnobodyisgoi
ngtocomebetweenme
andSphephel
o.”
“
Okay
,”shesay
s.
“
CanIsayhel
l
otoher
?”
Shetakesadeepbreathbef
oresteppi
ngforwar
d
andstandi
ngatthereachofhi
sleft
,unhar
medar m.
“
Issheheal
thy
?”heasks,
massagi
ngherbi
gtummy
.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“
Howl
ongbef
oreIseeher
?”
“
Thr
eemor
emont
hs.
”
Hesitsupregar
dlessoft
hepaininhisneckand
r
ightarm.Hewrapshisotherar
m aroundhertummy
.
“Mypr i
ncess.Imissedy ourfi
rstdoctor’
svisi
t,I
missedy ourfi
rstkickandImi ssedyourfir
st
ult
rasoundscan.I’m sosorry,
Ipr omiseyouI’
llmake
sureyouhav ethebestf at
herinthewor l
d.Ipromise
you,Iwil
l nev
ermi ssanotherfir
st….”
Someoneexcl
aimsf
rom t
hedoor
.It
’sMaNt
usi
wear
ingahuge,
disgust
edf
rown.

Hefr
eezes.Khosi
stepsbackandlooksatt
hem,
her
ey
esandMaNt usi
’sl
ockforasecond.
“Ithoughtyouwantedust
ofi
xthi
ngs,”MaNt
usi
say
s,
l
ooki ngatThakasawit
hsomuchhurtand
disappoint
ment.
“
It
’snotwhati
tlooksl
i
ke,
Iswear
,”Thakasasay
s.
“Di
dn’tIwal
kint
oyouhuggingandsweett
alki
ngt
o
her?I
sshenotpregnantwhil
eIwastol
dsheabor
ted
thebaby?”
“Ij
ustf
oundoutt
odayal
so.
”Hel ooksatNomkhosi
desper
atel
y.“
WasIdoi
nganyt
hingtoyou?”
“Youexpectmet oli
stentothi
st r
amp?Ofcourse,
she’sgoi
ngt ol
ieforyou.She’
susedtobeing
chowedandt ossedasideforthewort
hyones.”She
walksinfur
iousl
yandst andsopposi
teNomkhosi.
“Getthefuckout
!”shesay
s.“
Yougotwhat’s
betweenhispantsandmoney.Whatmoredoyou
thi
nky ou’
regoi
ngtoget?Ari
ng?Hishear
t?
Commitment
?Boo,
tur
nar
oundandt
akeal
ookat
your
sel
f.
”
“
MaNtusi
,pl
ease!”Thakasasaysfi
rmly.ButMaNtusi
i
sunst
oppabl
erightnow.She’sangrybesi
dehersel
f.
“He’
snotl
eav
ingmef
ory
ou.Lett
hatsi
nki
nandget
out!
”
Khosi i
nhal
essharpl
yandl ooksatThakasa.She’s
hurt
,that’
splai
nvisi
ble.Ever
ywor dshesaidfounda
wayt osti
nginherheartandleavesherbl
eeding
i
nternall
y.
“Pl
easeexcuseusforamoment
,Iwantt
otal
kto
her
,”Thakasapl
eads.
That’
sasweetwayof“ tossi
nghertothesi
deforthe
worthyone.”Shenodsandturnsar
oundandleaves
wit
hoututteri
ngaword.
Asmal lv
oiceremi
ndsherthatshe’sdoi
ngallthi
s
forPhel
o.Shecannotf
ightthewifeforf
ight
ingfor
herhusband.
ShecannotbemadatThakasaf
ornotst
andingup
forher
,that
’shi
swi
fe.Het
houghtshel
efthi
m and
nowshe’sback.I
nthemi dstofal
lthat
,hi
sdaught
er
i
sali
ve.Thewor l
dishi
soy ster
.Hegotahappy
endi
ngoutofbothpart
ies.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER42
THAKASA

Nomkhosi walksoutwithaheav yhear

t.Hecansee
thepainshe’sfeeli
ng,i
fther
ewasawayhewas
goingtostopherandpr obablygi
veherahug.Just
toletherknowt hatNothi
le’
swordscamef r
om a
placeofpain,t
heydon’tnecessari
l
ydescri
beher
wor t
hyasawoman.
“Icameher
erunni ng,t
hinki
ng‘
myhusband’has
beeninacaraccident,onl
ytof
indy
ouwr appedi
n
yourtr
amp’
swai st.”
Herel
easesadeepsi
ghandr
est
sbackont
hepi
l
low,
sof
tl
ygroani
ngouti
npai
n.
“Youwer
en’
tfeel
i
nganypainwhi
l
eyouwer
ehuggi
ng
andsmel
li
ngher,
”shesay
s.
“Thankyouforcoming,”hesaysandshutshiseyes
forasecond.“Nomkhosi l
i
edabouttheaborti
on.
She’sst
il
lpregnant
,Inamedt hebabySphephelo.I
n
afewweeksI ’
ll
bepayi
ngfort
hedamages,Iwant
thebabytotakemysur
namesotherewi
llbelobol
a
paymentsonceshe’
sborn.
”
Herey
eswi
den.She’
sindi
sbel
i
ef!
“AndIhav
enosayi
nthi
s?”sheasks,
fol
dingher
arms.
“No,y
oudon’ t.Unti
lIknowt hatyou’veaccept edthat
babyandt r
ulyforgi
venme, I
’l
lbetaki ngsole
deci
sionsregardingher.Nomkhosi hasagr eedtolet
mebeaf at
hert oher,Icannotletherdownandput
mybabyi nthemi ddleofmymar it
al batt
les.”
Fairenough!Shepullsachai
randsitswit
hafaint
l
ookonherf ace.She’
ssti
l
lpregnant
,thi
schanges
everyt
hing!I
tchangeseveryplanshemade.
“Soshe’sgivingyouy ourf
irstchild?”sheasks,pain
ref
lecti
nginherey es.“Andnotj ustanychil
d, buta
daughteryou’vealwayswant ed.Ev erysacr
if
iceI’v
e
mademeansnot hi
ng.Theef fortsImadet omake
surethatourmar ri
agemetal l i
tsexpectati
onswer e
i
nv ain.Shejustcameoutofnowher eandmadey ou
thehappiestmanont heplanet.”
Thisti
meshe’ snotlashi
ngoutandscreami
ngher
headof f
,she’
slayingoutheremot
ionsand
brokenness.He’
shur tbot
hthesewomenandit
’st
he
l
astthinghewant ed.
“That
’s…that
’snottrue.Youalsomakemehappy ,
MaNt usi
wear ehavi
ngachi l
d,
”hesays,t
ryi
ngto
holdhergazebutfail
ingdismall
y.Hecannothandl
e
l
ookingatthepainreflect
inginherey
es.I
t’sal
l
becauseofhim.
“I
t’shar dManqele.Idon’
tknowi fyoureall
ydeserve
forgi
v enessbecauseIdon’tthi
nkyou’r
egenui nel
y
sorry.Youwantt ohav eyourbr
eadbutteredonbot h
sides.Youwantmet obeapieceofdignitytoyour
name; Thakasa’
swi f
e.Butyoualsowantt oenjoy
frui
tsofy ourinf
idel
it
ywithher.Youwantmet o
acceptwhaty oudidandopenmyar mst oyourbaby,
ri
ght?”
“
Please,ngi
yakucel
a.Pheloi
sinnocenti
nallt
his,
are
y
our eal
l
ygoingt ocr
ucif
yaninnocentbaby
?”
Shesi
ghsdeepl
y,“
No.
”
“
Arey
ougoi
ngt
ocomebackhome?
”He’
staki
nghi
s
chance.
“
Ineedt
oasky
ousomet
hing,
”shesay
s.
Hel
ooksathercur
iousl
yandnodsf
orhert
ogoon.
“I
fther
oleswer
erev
ersedwoul
dyouhol
dme
down?”
He’splayi
ngwithhi
sri
ngandnotlooki
ngather.His
bodylanguagesaysi
tal
lbutshewantstohearit
comingstrai
ghtfr
om hi
smouth.
“
Manqel
e,woul
dyouhol
dmedown?
”sheasksagai
n.
Hei
nhal
esshar
ply
,“Idon’
tknow.
”
Tearsthathavebeenbuil
dingupf ormonthsfi
nal
ly
breakoutandfloodherface.Chancesweresli
m,
sheknewt hat,
buttofi
nall
yhearwor dscomingout
ofhismout hhurt
s.I
t’
sheartbreaki
ng.
“That
’snotf
air
,”shewi
pesof
ftear
sbutt
heykeep
pouri
ngout.
Hishear
tbr
eakstoobuthecannotpr
omiseher
somethi
ngheknowshemaynotbeabl etodo.
“
Icannotl
i
eandsayI
’
ddot
hisandt
his.Butt
hat
doesn’
tmeanIdon’
tappr
eci
atey
ou,
MaNt
usi
.”
Shegetsof ft
hechai r,
shakingherhead.She’sgiven
somuch, yetreceivedlessinret
urn.She’smade
sacri
fi
ces, alotofthem.I fThakasacan’tguar
antee
heronet hingthathewant sfr
om herthemost -
for
giveness-theni twouldbeameani ngl
ess
sacri
fi
cef orhert ostayinthismarri
age.
“Ithi
nkt
hisi
swher
eweend,
”shesay
swi
thaheav
y
sigh.
“Pl
easedon’
tdot
hisagai
n.Youcan’
twalkout
ever
yti
meandcomebackwheneveritsui
tsyou.
”
“I
fIst
ayI’
l
lenduplosingmycharacter
.Idon’tt
hinkI
wanttost
ayaroundandwatchyoubondwi thher
baby,
whil
eyouhaven’
teventhoughtaboutours’
name.”
“Soyou’r
eleav
ingmeagai
n?”heaskswi
thahi
ntof
annoyance.
“
Notagain,butforgood.Ift
hebabyI’
m car
ryi
ngi
s
y
ours,I
’l
lbebackt oint
roduceyoutohi
m.Othert
han
t
hat
, It
hinkwe’v
et ri
edourbest
..”
Hi
sbrai
nneedstoslowdownandr
epr
ocess
ev
ery
thi
ngshejustsai
d.
“
Whatdoy
oumean?
”heasks.
“Whenyoufel
temoti
onal
lynegl
ect
ed,Iwasf
eeli
ng
emoti
onal
lynegl
ect
edtoo;t
hat’
swhatImean.
”
Hedoesn’
tgeti
t.Sweatperspi
resf
rom hi
sfor
ehead
ashestr
uggl
estogetupf r
om thebed.
“Whatdoyoumean‘ i
fthebabyismine’
?”Hiseyes
arealr
eadybl
oodshotandlocki
ngbackburning
tear
s.
“
InBal
iwhenwefoughtandIl
eftther
oom angr
il
y.
”
Hefr
owns,t
ryi
ngt
or ememberthatni
ght
.
“
Imetsomeguy
,wet
alkedandendedupi
nhi
s
r
oom.”
“
Isthi
sajokeMaNtusi
?”Hi
sli
pstr
emble.Hi
sface
t
urnsdar
kerashi
sfaci
almuscl
estenseup.
“No,it
’snotajoke.I
’m notsureaboutt
hepat
erni
ty
ofthisbaby,
butI’l
ll
ety ouknow.”Somehowshe’
s
pleasedtoseethatpainonhi sf
ace.Nowheknows
exactlyhowshe’sbeenf eel
i
ng.
“You’r
esayi
ngthi
stohurtme?”He’
sindenial
,even
thoughthetr
uthi
sslowl
yseepingi
nhisheartand
cutti
ngthr
ougheachvei
nofhisbody.
“Ineededasav i
or,Iwasanemot i
onalwr
eck,andhe
happenedtobet here.Int
hatshor
t30minutes,he
mademef eelat
tractiv
eandworthhisat
tent
ion,
whichy ouhar
dlyev erdo.
”
“
That’
s….
youcannotbeser
iousMaNt
usi
.It
rust
ed
y
ou.”
“
That
’st
hepr
obl
em;
yout
rust
edme,
notl
ovedme.
”
I
tsinksin!Hi
swi
fecheat
edonhim.Herear
li
er
questi
oncamefr
om aplaceofgui
l
t.
“Youdidn’
tevenuseacondom? ”heasks,
slowl
yli
ke
hisbrai
nsarescat
teri
ngal
loverhisheadandhi
s
signali
scutt
ingoff
.
“Didy
ouusei
t?”sheasks,
rai
si
ngherey
ebr
owat
him.
Hischestt
ightens,he’
srunni
ngoutofbreath.His
headisspi
nningandhecannotseeclearly.Heholds
bel
owhi sl
eftbreastandrel
easesagroanbef or
e
f
all
i
ngbackont
hepi
l
low.

Whenheopenshi seyeshe’ssurr
oundedbyt wo
nursesandbothhi
sbrothers.Not
hil
eisnowhere
around.Hedoesn’
tknowwhathappened, hethought
hewashav i
ngaheartattackbuti
tseemsl i
keitwas
somet hi
ngel
se.
“What’
swrong?Theysayy
oupani
ckedandbl
anked
out
,”Bandl
aasks.
TheybothlookscaredAF.Heneedsamoment ,
may besomeonetot al
ktoaswell
.Buthecan’
ttal
k
tothem,hedoesn’twanttoputt
hem i
nthatposit
ion.
“Pl
easelookforDrZanel
eMhl ongoonFacebook,
hernumberisonherpage,”hesayslooki
ngat
Bandla.
Bandlaquickl
ylogsintoFacebookandsearchesfor
DrMhl ongo.I
tdoesn’ttakeaminut
ebeforehefinds
herdetail
s.
“
Ithi
nkt
hisi
sher
,”hehandst
hephonet
oThakasa.
“
Pleaseexcusemef
orasecond,
”hesay
sandt
urns
hi
sey
est
othenur
ses.“
Am Igood?
”
“Yes,
Sir
.DrLi
nfi
eldwi
l
lcomeandseey
oushor
tl
y,
”
onesays.
“Gr
eat.I
’
dli
ket
omakeapr
ivat
ephonecal
l
,ify
ou
don’
tmind.
”
Theyal ll
eavehimt ohi sphonecal l
.NowNkonzoi s
worriedmor ethanBandl a.Itdoesn’tmakesense
whyMaNt usiwouldr ushtot hehospitalli
kea
concernedwi feandl eavessoi mmedi atel
y .Leavi
ng
hi
mi nthestateshel efthi
mi nanddoesn’ tlookback.
Nomkhosi l
efttoo.Somet hingbadmust ’veoccurred
betweent hethreeoft hem andhecan’ thelpbut
bl
amet wowomenf orhavingnot i
mi ng.They
could’v
esaidordonewhat evertheydidt ohi m when
getsdischarged.
.
.
BHAMBATHA

I
t’
sbeenaweeksi
ncehi
m andNondumi
sopar
ted
ways.Hemi sseshavingherar ound, buthecannot
l
etherthinkshecandi srespectMawandeandget
awaywithit.Hewasnev ert her
ef orhisbrother
physi
call
y,butthatdi
dn’ tbreakthebondt heyhadas
si
bli
ngs.Despiteeverythinghe’sdonei nhisli
feand
al
lthecri
mehe’ scommi tted,Nyezi neverstopped
l
ookingathim asabr otherandbel i
ev i
nginhim.He
sawahumani nhim evenwhennobodydi d.
Heshoul d’
v etakent hehi ntfrom t heirlastchat s.
Ny ezimust ’vef el
tthathi sjourneywascomi ngt oan
end.HespokeaboutMawandemost l
y ,hel ov edhi
s
wifemor ethanany thing.Hewant edhert obehappy
andpr otected.Andhet r
ustedhi m, thef ir
str unner-
upoft hedev i
l’sri
ght -handman, todoi t.Bef or ehe
rebell
edt heyusedt ochi l
landpl aylikeanyot her
kids.They ’
dmi xwi t
ht heneighbor ski dsandpl aya
gamet heycal ledSol dierRace.Onewoul dbea
General ,
thent wowoul dbecr iminal swhi leot hers
remainedhel plesscommuni tymember s.I fyou
managedt orunandcat chbot hcr i
mi nalswi thout
anyhel py oubecameaGener aloft henextgame.
Becauseofhi slongl egsandat hleti
cnat ure, hewas
alwayswinni
ngt heGeneral posi
ti
on.Itcamewit
h
theperksofsit
ti
ngundert het r
eeandenj oy
inga
glassofSweetowhi l
elookingafter‘
thecommunity
’
andmaki ngsurether
ewaspeace.
Itbaf
fl
eshim whyNy ezicont
inuedseei
nghim as
Generalbecausethatwasanhonor ableposit
ion.
Theyhelditwithhighregardinthei
rchi
ldhoodand
allwi
shedtobeGener ali
nthegame.Buthegot
overi
twhenhest art
edcausingmor ehavocthan
peaceinthecommuni ty
.
Event houghpi ecesar econnect i
ng,he’sst
il
linawe
oftheamountoft rustNy ezihadinhim.Hewas
‘
Baf o’i
nhi sphone, yetsav edas‘General’i
nhis
wife’sphone.Thatmust ’
vemeantsomet hi
ng,along
withalltheirl
astchat s.Ny eziwantedhimt obe
Mawande’ sGener alandift her
ewasat imeforhim
toshowhi sgratit
udeandl ovetohisbrother,
it
woul dbemaki ngsur ethatMawandei shappyand
safeatal lcosts.

Het
ext
sNonduandt
ell
shert
ober
eadyi
n30
minutes.It’shisfi
rstt extaf t
ert onsofmessages
andat housandcal lsshe’ sbeenmaki ngt hr
oughout
theweek.Her eall
yneedssomehanky -
pankyt oday
andhet rust sNondut osat i
sf yhiscravings.He’s
nowf amiliarwithher ,that ’sabet terwayofput t
ingi
t.
Hecanhav eanygir lhewant s,smasht hecooki eand
cutsitimmedi atelyaf ter wards.Buthewant sNondu
becausewi thherev eryt hinggoes.Shehasan
understanding,event houghi t’sashallowone, but
shedoesgethi m.Hi shousebecomesahomewhen
she’saround.Shecookshomel ymeals, pl
aysthose
oldclassicsandgi v eshi m agoodass.Wheni t’s
ti
mef orhi mt ohitther oad, shedoesn’ tnagor
questionhi m.Hef indsherwhenhecomesback.

However,
shehastogoandapol ogi
zetoMawande
f
orthem t
obegoodagain.He’sbroughtbackher
weaveandboughtapai
rofblack,expensi
veheel
s.
I
t’
seasytomakeherhappy.
“ButNonduyou’
regoingtosaysorr
ytoMawande.
Wear egoi
ngtoaddressevery
thi
ngelseaft
erwe
havetal
kedtoherandfuckedali
tt
lebit
.I’
m hor
ny.
”
Shesi
ghs,
“Sowear
egoi
ngt
oemaf
amunow?
”
“
You’
rest
art
ingagai
n.”
“
Imeantt
hatwear
e….
”
Hewavesheraway,“
Yes,wear
egoi
nghome,
tomy
br
other
’shouset
hough.
”
She’sreal
lynotl
ookingt
othis.WhyisthisMawande
gi
v ensomuchcr edi
tanyway?Isitbecauseher
husbanddiedandnowev ery
onehast owat cht
hei
r
stepsaroundherli
keshe’
sat rayofeggs.
.
.
Ofcourse,t
heydi
dalit
tl
eshoppi
ngf
orpri
ncess
Ci
nderell
awhosepri
ncechar
mingdi
ed!
It
’sannoy i
ng,seei
ngBhambat hacari
ngsomuch
aboutheri sn’
thel
pingei
ther
.Butshe’skeepi
ngi
t
together,f
orthesakeofherboyfr
iendshe’l
l
apologize.
Theywalkthr
oughthegat
eandherhear tsuddenl
y
feel
sheavywhenshereal
izeshowbigherlif
eisout
hereint
heBundus.ShehasaMer cedesBenz
parkedi
nhery ard.Sher
eal
lydi
dsecuret
hebag
fr
om Nyezi.Thismakesherwonderi
fBhambat
ha
wouldeverdot hesameforher
.
Mawandei snotal
one.She’
swithay ounggir
land
mother-
in-
lawwhofail
stokeepherey esanywher
e
el
se,butatNondu.Bhambathahashintedtoher
ev
erynowandt henthathi
sfamilydoesn’
tli
kehim.

Nobodyishappytoseehi
m.Notev
enal
i
ttl
egi
rl
,i
t’
s
l
ikeshedoesn’
tknowthi
sman.
Hi
smot herdecidedt
oleavetheroom uponhis
ar
ri
val
.Buthei snott
akinganyt
hingtoheart
.
Hesmi
l
esandgr
eet
sMawande.
“Idi
dn’texpecty
ou,
”shesay sf
ir
mlywit
han
i
nhospitablel
ookonherface.I
t’
sonl
ybecausehe
broughtNondutoherhouse.
“
Sor
ryt
ojustcomeunannounced,
Nonduwoul
dli
ke
t
oapol
ogi
zetoyou.
”
Doesshe?HereyesandMawande’sl
ockf
ora
second,
ther
e’snol
ovelostbet
weent
hem.
“I
’m sor
ryaboutt
heotherdayandaboutt
hephone
cal
l,
”shesayswithherl
astdropofhumbl
eness.
“Thankyou,
”Mawandesay
swi
thasmi
l
eandl
ooks
atbothofthem.
“
Pleasehav
esomet
eabef
orel
eav
ing,
”shesay
s.

Theyf
oll
oweachot
hertot
hesit
ti
ngroom wher
e
Bhambat
ha’
smotheri
sandjoi
nheronthechai
rs.
I
t’
sjustawkward.Bhambathai
sonhisphoneand
hi
smot heri
snotevenacknowl
edgi
ngthei
rpresence.
“Hati
ngyourownchildisbi
thy
,”Nondusaysand
grabsbot
htheirat
tenti
oninaspli
tsecond.
ShelooksatBhambat ha,
“I’
m gl
ady
ou’
renotlet
ti
ng
thi
sgetthroughyou.Somewomendon’tdeserv
e
wombs, i
t’
ssad.”
“
Nondu,
”hewhi
sper
sfi
rml
yandhol
dsherar
m.
“
Whati
sthi
str
ashsay
ingt
ome?
”Mr
sMy
eza.
“Tr
ashissomeonewhohat
esherownson.Mot
her
Shembe!”
Mawandewal
ksi
ntoar
isi
ngt
ensi
onandf
rownsat
t
hedoor.
“JesusFucki
nChrist
,canwetal
k?”Bhambat
haasks,
grabbi
ngthefur
iousNondu’
shand.
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”Mawandeasks.
Nobodyanswer
sher.Peopl
ear
est
il
li
nthei
rhar
d
f
eeli
ngsandshock.

BhambathapullsNonduall
thewayt othecarpar
ked
bythegate.Theygeti
nsi
det hecarandheturnst
o
herwit
hthemostdeadlylookonherf amil
y.
“
Whatt
hehel
ldoy
out
hinky
ou’
redoi
ng?
”heasks.
“Someoneneedstoputy
ourmot heri
nherpl
ace.
Thewayshetreat
syouisnothealt
hy.
”
“Youandputti
ngpeopl eintheirpl
aces!Youputme
betweenyourl
egs, butthatdoesn’tmeanyoucan
putmyf ami
lyinyourarseaswel l
.Wearehereto
rect
if
yyourmistakesbutst i
llusabhodl
aumsununje.
Yinii
nki
ngayakho?”
“
Mypr
obl
em?Bhambat
hadon’
ttur
nthi
sonmeand
t
ryt
omakey our
selfl
ookbett
er.I
’mtr
yingt
ohel
p
y
ou.Hel
l
,youdon’tevenl
ovethatwoman!”
Hi
sey eswidenandaf
ewl
i
nesf
urr
owonhi
s
f
orehead.
“Thatwomani smymot her.Wemaynotgetalong
butthatdoesn’
ttakeanythi
ngawayfr
om thefact
thatshe’
smymot her
.Idon’tl
ovemymother?What
thefuckareyoutalki
ngabout?”
Okay
,thi
sisnews!
Het
oldheraboutt
hetensi
onbet
weenhi
m andhi
s
f
amil
y,butnowhewantstopl
ayagoodson.
“I
fyouwer en’
tabitchIwasgoingtokickyourass
forthi
s.That’
smyf ucki
n’mother,
Idon’tcar
ewhatI
saidorhowmyr elati
onshipwit
hheris.Youdon’t
comef ormymot herifyou’
renotme!
”
Maybeshetookthi
ngsfarwhi
letryi
ngtoplayhis
guar
dianangel
.She’
sseenhim angrybef
ore,butnot
l
iket
his.
Sherel
easesabr
eat
h,“
Okay
,may
beIov
erst
epped
thel
i
neand.….
”
“Toomucheducationl
akuwe.Ther
ewasnol inei
n
thathouse,
you’
renowshi
tt
ingmet wiceinaweek
andmay beIshoul
dshowyouthetoil
et.
”
Si
gh!
Shekeepsqui
etanddr
opsherey
est
oherf
ist
ed
hands.
Heclickshistongueandopenshisdoorandcl i
mbs
outofthecar.Sheremainsinsi
dethecar,surel
y
Bhambat hacannotwaitt
ogodi sposeherli
keused
condom likehealwaysdoesaft
ertheirf
ight
s.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER43
KHANYO

Thingsdi dn’ttur
noutt hewayshehadt hought.Her
mist akewast odisobeyherancestorsandt ur
nher
backont hem.Shehadt oundergot est
s,chall
enges
andmanyt hingsthatshecan’tsharewithanyone.A
weekaf terherar ri
valinBer
gvill
e,shehadt odepart
andf i
ndGog’ MaSibiy
a’smother’shomei nthesouth
ofTanzani a.Thereshewasassi gnedwi t
hmany
dutiest hathergr andparent
sfailedtoperform.She
spentaf ewweeksi ntheKi
lomber oVall
ey ,
being
cl
eansedi nthef r
eshwat er
sofMaf i
nji
river
.

Sheneededthattr
anqui
lit
y.I
tenabledhertofind
i
nnerpeaceandunderstandherspiri
tual
i
ty
i
mmensel y
.It
’sbeenthelongestf
ivemont hsofher
l
if
e!
Todayi
sthedayshef
inal
l
ycompl
etesherspi
ri
tual
j
ourneyofbecomi ngtheprophetandhealer
,Khany
o
KaMayise.Forthefi
rstti
mei nherl
if
eshe’sdone
somethingandcompl et
edit.She’
sanewper son,
wit
hanewpur poseanddut i
estoful
fi
l.She’
s
committedherselft
ohercalli
ngandallowedGog’
MaSibi
yat oguideher.

Mandul oinv i
tedrelat
ives,herfather’
sfami lyanda
fewnei ghboringchurches.Awel comingser v i
cetook
placeinthecour seoft heni ght
.Inthemor ningthey
allwenttot heriver,l
edbyPast orNdlel
a, andpr ayed
theirheart
sof fbeforet heywer eimmer seddeepl yin
thewat eraspar tofthecl eansingcustom.She’ s
nowanof fici
alvotaryofEkut huleni
kwamaZay oni
Chur ch(Zion’sPlaceOfPeace)
Nowt hey’
recel
ebrat
ingexcl
usi
velyasaf amily.A
goathasbeenslaughter
ed,bot
hMandul o’s
daughter
sarepresentandKhanyo’sauntsdidn’t
l
eave.
Ev
eryonewasexcit
edtohaveherbackhome,
except
Mandulo.Heseemstohavel
osthimsel
fandmore
tr
oubledthanhewaswhenshel ef
t.Theyhaven’tgot
achancet otal
k.Oneofthethi
ngsshewant sto
knowt hemostisifBandl
awast ol
daboutherr etur
n.
It
’squitest
rangethathehasn’
tshownf acei
ntwo
daysthatshe’sbeenhome.
Alothashappenedinherabsence.Nol
wazi i
snow
i
nWi t
sandf ur
theri
ngherst
udies.Shecouldn’
tcome
toBergv
il
lebecauseofcl
asses,butshedidsenda
gif
tandamessage.
Gugucoul dn’tstandchur chpeopl e, soshel eftinthe
mi ddl
eoft heser viceandpr omisedt ocomeback
today.Shecoul dbeonherway ,i
fmor ei mpor tant
thingsdidn’tcomeup.Li fehashi therhar d;from
fi
ght i
ngSSA, spar kingawarwi t
hNi ger iansand
kidnappingal it
tlechi l
d,todev el
opi ngf eelingsf ora
43y ear-
oldmanandhel pi nghisday dreamsof
fatheri
ngal it
tleprincess.NowMi kei si njailand
she’spregnantwi t
hhi schi l
d.Theyki l
led
Mohammed, itwast hemosthar destdeci siont o
makebutt heydi dn’thav eanyot herchoi ce.Hewas
l
ikeaf amilytot hem, atleasttheyt houghtso.When
hewant edouti twashar df orthem t ol ethim gowi t
h
ev
eryt
hingheknewaboutthem,sotheydeci
dedit
wasbetteri
fhet
ookthei
rsecret
sunderground.
16hour sbeforeMikewassent encedto10y ear
sin
prisonforfr
aud,forgeryandt heft,t
heyfoundout
thatshewas6weekspr egnant.Thatfoll
owedaf ter
onlyt wosexualcounterswit
hhi m.Herbi ggest
mist akewastoletamomentofl ustbl
indher .I
t’
s
beent womont hssincehe’sbeengoneandwal lsar
e
reall
yclosi
nginonher .

Khanyowalksi
nafterashor
tnapandfindsMandul
o
fl
oodi
nghisthr
oatwithacanofbeerasthoughi
t
canfl
oodoutallhi
sprobl
ems.
“Ar
ey ouokay
?”sheaskswhi
l
eappl
yi
ngcr
eam i
nher
hands.
“
Yeah,
”hesay
s.
“I
tlooksli
kealothappenedi
nmypr
esence.When
di
dy oulastseeBandl
a?”
Heshr
ugs,
“Idon’
tknow.
”
Si
gh!Theyhadanagr
eementbef
oreshel
eft
;hewas
goi
ngt
okeepBandl
aont
hel
oopaboutev
ery
thi
ng.
“
What’
sgoingon?
”sheaskswi
thconcer
n,t
ryi
ngt
o
r
eadhi
sface.
“Ihav
eanotherchi
l
d,somewher
e,”hesay
swi
tha
heavysi
gh.
“
Youdon’
tlookhappy
.”
“
Ihav
easi
tuat
ionwi
thNol
wazi
.”
OhLor
d!Hereal
lyal
l
oweday ounggir
ltol
ether
cr
ushf
oolheri
ntoarel
ati
onshi
pwithhim.
“
Don’tsayany t
hing.Iknowhowy oufeel
.Youwer e
r
ight;
Ishould’veremainedanadulti
nthatwhole
t
hing.ButIdidn’t
,nowI ’
m aboutt
obreakherheart
.”
Khanyosi
ghsheav
il
y,“
Whoi
sthemot
herofy
our
chi
ld?
”
“
I’
my ett
omeetherandmyson.I
twasaone-t
ime
t
hing,
wemetinBali
andthi
ngsgotheat
edi
na
moment.
”
“Doy ouevenknowhername?
”Khany
oasksi
n
disbeli
ef.
“Iknowhername.Howdoy
out
akeme?
”Hegi
ves
heralook.
“
Isther
eany
thi
ngel
se?Idon’
tli
keseei
ngy
oul
i
ke
t
his.
”
“
No,
”heexhal
esheav
il
yandt
urnst
oleav
e.
Todaysheshoul dfocusont hecel ebrat
ionsand
thi
nkl essaboutt hemanwhosephonehasbeenof f
thelasttwoday s.May behechangedhi snumber ,or
he’sbusywi thwor k.I
tdoesn’tlookl i
keMandul o
caredt onotif
yhim ofherreturn.Ifhedid, Bandl
a
would’vecomet oseeherbynow.I t’
sbeenf i
ve
mont hs,that’
salmosthalfay earsi ncetheyparted.
He’sthef ir
stpersonshewant edt oseemor ethan
anyone.
.
.
THEMANQELES

Bandlafol
lowedonNkonzo’
sfoot
stepsandmoved
out.They’
rejust30mi
nut
esawayfrom homeand
twohousesawayf rom eachot her .Thakasa
remainedattheManqel et r
adit
ional homewi t
h
MaKhumal oandt heirnewl yhir
edhel per.Phethyand
Sqalobothlef
tforuni versit
yinJanuar y.Phethyleft
theprovi
nce,she’
si nUJdoi ngIndust ri
al Desi
gn.
SqalowenttoDUTt opur suehi sloveofTV
producti
on.They’
v ealway sbeencatanddog, for
them i
twaseasyt ogot heirseparat eway sandf ind
themselvesbeyondt hesi bl
inghood.
Ont heot herhand,NkonzoandBandl aarealways
together.Forthem it’
shardtoli
veseparatel
y.
Somet imest heyforceThakasatohangoutwi t
h
them andl iv
ehislif
e.He’ssti
llworki
ngonf i
nding
himselfagai nwhil
ebei ngabestdaddytohistwo
mont hsol ddaughter.

They ’
respendinganaf ter
nooninNkonzo’ shouse,
havingsomegr i
ll
edmeatandwat chingsoccer.They
camest rai
ghtf r
om theof f
icetohi
shouseand
placedtheirbetsagainsteachother.It
’soneof
thoseday swhenal l
oft hem hadagr eatday.
“
Haveyouheardfr
om MaNt usi
?”Nkonzoasksas
t
heywalkouttot
hebalconyaft
eradisappoi
nti
ng
mat
chthatendedwit
hdraw.
“
No,”Thakasasay
s.Hi
sfacei
nst
ant
lyt
ransf
orms
i
ntohosti
li
ty.
“
Doy
out
hinkshe’
sgi
venbi
rt
h?”
“
Shehas.Shewasduelastmonth.Iguessi
t’
snot
mine,
that
’swhyshe’
snotcomingback.”
MaNt usi’
ssubjecthasbeenahar donet odi gestin
thefami l
y.MaKhumal odidn’tcarewhatthest ory
wasorwhopushedwhot odowhat ,shejustwant ed
herson’scowsback.ButThakasaopposedt heidea,
headv i
sedev eryonetomakepeaceandacceptt hat
shewasgone.Hewasaccompani edtotheNgemas
toreportthemat terandalsoaskedNot hile’suncles
tokeept hedowr y.Nothi
l
ehasn’ tgonehome, i
tmust
bethef earoffacingherunclesafterthedi sgrace
shedidatheri n-
laws.
“Anyway,howarethingsbetweeny ouandTema?I
sensedsomet ensi
oni ntheoff
ice.
”He’sbeenv
ery
prot
ecti
veoftheirr
elati
onship,
Temai sli
keasi
ster
tohim aswell
.Shewormedherwayi nt
oev er
yone’
s
heartwhenshevisi
tedchurchandendedupjoini
ng
off
icial
l
y.She’
sMaKhumal onewf av
ouri
te;
she’s
beenpesteri
ngNkonzoabouttheweddingevery
chanceshegets.
Nkonzodoesn’tanswer
,inst
eadhe’sl
aughing.
Bandlaalsobr
eaksint
olaughter
.Itmustbethei
r
i
nsidejoke.
“You’
rel
aughing,
Iguessi
t’
snott
hatdeept
hen,
”
Thakasasays.
Nkonzoshr
ugshi
sshoul
der
s,wi
tht
hatmockonhi
s
f
ace.
“He’
swait
ingformar
ri
ageandshe’
sfedup,
”Bandl
a
spi
ll
sthebeans.
Ofcour
se,
Thakasai
sconf
used.
“
Bedr
oom ser
vices,
”Bandl
a.
Hechuckleswi
thal
i
ttl
efr
ownonhi
sfaceandl
ooks
atNkonzo.
“
That
’sv
erymat
ureofy
ou,
”hesay
s.
“
I’
veal
way
sbeent
hemat
ureone.That
’swhyI
’
mthe
onl
yonewho’
sgotawomanher
e,”Nkonzosay
s.
Bandlainhalessharplyandgrabsacanofcol ddri
nk
i
nfrontofhi m.It’
sbeenhar d.Fi
vemont hsagowhen
shelefthewasundert hei
mpr essi
onthatt hey’
d
communi cateandhe’ dbeabl etovi
sit
.Butt wo
weeksaf tersheleft
,hereceivedacallfr
om Mandul o
sayi
ngt hatshe’dgonet oTanzaniafol
lowingher
cal
li
ng.
Hi
swor
stf
ear
scamet
rue.
.
.
THAKASA

Het ooksomet i
meof fwork.Nkonzoref er
redt oi
tas
paterni
tyleave,buthewast aki
ngabr eakt ofocus
onhi sment alheathandt odealwithhis
i
nterpersonalandmar it
ali
ssues.Heof tenv i
sitPhel
o
athergr andparents’house.Itt
ooklongf orthe
grandmot hertoaccepthi m butevent
ual l
yshehad
nochoice.Hepai dforthedamages; t
hreecowsand
onegoat .Eventhoughhehasn’ tful
lyclaimedPhel o
asaManqel e,
shewasr egisteredasoneatHome
Affair
s.Hisfamilyhasonl yseenheri npi ctur
es,they
haven’tmethery etbecauseofhergr andmot her’
s
drama.She’sal i
ttlegoddess; brown-skinnedlike
fr
eshcof feewithnoaddi cti
v es.Anangel t
hatsparks
l
ifeintoanythi
ngsheset sherbeaut i
ful,bigeyeson.
She’shisreasonf orsol
dieringonandwaki ngup
everydaywithpurposei nli
fe.
Leav i
nghi sbrother
’splacehedr ovetotheNgidi
residenceinIzinga,wher ePheloandhermot herare
currentlystayi
ng.Againsthiswor d,Nomkhosihas
gonebackt owor kandl eftPhelowithananny.They
wentf rom crazyexeswi thunfini
shedbusinessto
strangerswhoshar eababyandbasi cal
l
ycan’t
agreeonany thi
ng.

Phel
oisbr oughtt
ohi m bySnalointhelounge.Ngidi
andhiswifewentt othev i
l
lage,hepassedaf ew
emptyalcoholbottl
esinthekitchen.He’
snev erl
iked
nort
rustedSnalo.She’sshownhi m herunstabl
e
si
de,notonceort wice,butsomanyt imes.Evennow,
he’
snotsur
eifshe’
snotgoi
ngt
odr
ophi
sdaught
er.
“
Letmetakeher
,”hesay
s,meet
ingherhal
fwayand
t
aki
ngPhelo.
Sherol
l
sherey
es,
“I’
vebeenanauntt
hreet
imes
bef
oreher
.”
“
Idi
dn’tmeantooffendyou.”Hegoest othecouch
wi
thPhelowrappedinafleeceblanketinhi
sarms.
Heli
ft
sherli
tt
lefi
ngersandkissest hem.
“Whenarey
oucomi nghomeandseeinggrandma?”
heasks,
smil
ingather.Ev
ery
thi
ngbecomesal r
ight
whenhehasthi
slit
tl
ehumanbeinginhisarms.
“Shecannotanswer
,youknow.She’
sonl
y2mont
hs-
old,
”Snal
o.
Forsomeonewho’
sbeenanauntt
hreet
imes,
she’
s
real
l
ydumb.
Hel
ooksather
,“Wher
eisNomkhosi
?”
“
Upst
air
s.”
“Pl
easeaskheri
fIcanhav
eawor
dwi
thher
,”he
says.
“
Okay
,gr
andson.
”
Gr
andson?Okay
,what
ever
!

Nomkhosi comesdown, wear

ingleggi
ngsandloose
T-shi
rt
.Inherhandthere’
saglassofchampagne.
Sherefusedtobreast
feedsothatshecandri
nk
al
cohol,ri
ght?
“
Thi
siswhatIdon’
tli
ke,
”hesay
s.
Nomkhosisighswi
thaneyer
ollandsi
tsont
he
opposi
tecouchwit
hherl
egscrossed.
“
Hel
l
oThakasa,
”shesay
s.
“MakaPhel
o.”Herel
easesadeepbr
eathtocal
m
himsel
fdown.Hedoesn’twantt
oar
guetoday.
“
Iknowy ousai
dshe’
sst
il
ltooy
oung,
butIwas
wonder
ingif
…”
“NoThakasa,
youcannottakeher.She’
snoteven3
months-
oldbuty
oualreadywanthertotrav
elto
anot
hertownandbeawayf rom hermother
.”
“
Youwentbackt
owor
k,she’
sal
way
sawayf
rom her
motherany
way .Whatdi
ff
erencedoesi
tmake?I
’
m
herpar
enttoo.
”
Shesighs,
“Wear
eal
way
stal
ki
ngaboutt
his,
ever
y
fucki
nday!
”
“I
’l
lbr
ingherbacktomorr
ow, pl
ease.I
’m notgoingto
l
ethercry,
I’
llmakesurehermil
ki sal
way sreadyand
checkhernappyever
y10mi nutes.
”
“You’
rebei
ngextr
a,”shel
aughs.“
Mom i
sgoingto
kil
lmeforthi
s,pl
easemakesureyoubr
ingherback
befor
etheycomeback.”
“
Thanky ou,
”hesaysandpl
ant
sakissonPhelo’
s
l
i
ttl
eforehead.“
You’
recomi
ngwit
hDaddy,youhear
d
t
hat?”
Nomkhosiiswatchi
ngthem wi
thasmileonherface.
Hewasn’tagoodboy f
ri
endandhusband,buthe
knowsandfulf
il
lshi
sroleasafat
herexcell
ent
ly.
.
.
BANDLA
Henot i
cesagi rli
nawhi tedr
essstandi ngout si
de
hishouseandsl owsdown.Ashedr i
v escl oserhe’s
abletoseewhoi ti
s.Hischestvi
brateswi thtremor ,
yetexci
tementi sshooti
ngupi nhisveins.Hehad
madepeacewi thherbeinggoneandt r
iedt oli
ve
withthefactthathemayseeheraf t
eraf ewy ears,
ornever.Nobodyt ol
dhim anythi
ng.Het r
iedt oreach
outtoherfri
endsandt heybothseemedt obei nthe
dark.Mandulohadl i
tt
letonot i
met odiscusshi s
sist
erwithhim.
Hestopsthecar,openshi
sdoorandstar
esather
.
Shewalkstowardsthecarslowly
,wi
thasmi
le
widel
yspreadacrossherface.
Hestepsoutofthecarandopenshisarms.They
embraceinalong,t
ighthugbefor
ehegentl
ypushes
heroffandl
ooksatherf r
om headtot
oe.
“You’r
eback?
”heasks,t
ouchingherar
msand
star
ingatcol
our
ful
stri
ngsaroundherwri
sts.
“I
’
m back,
”shesay
s,f
ight
ingbackt
ear
sandhuggi
ng
hi
m agai
n.
“
Isi
tov
er?
”heasksov
erhershoul
der
.
“
Yes,
I’
m nev
erl
eav
ingagai
n.Am Ist
il
lwel
comei
n
y
ourl
ife?
”
Heli
ft
sherfaceupandstar
esi
ntoherey
es,
di
sbel
iev
ingwhatshe’
saski
ng.
“
It
’sme,
babe.UBandl
alakho,I
’
vebeenhopel
essl
y
wai
ti
ngf
orthi
sday.Whendi dyoucomeback?”
“
Thr
eeday
sago.Mandul
odi
dn’
ttel
lyou?
”sheasks.
“
No.Youdi
dn’
tcal
lmeei
ther
.”
“Yournumberwasn’tgoi
ngthrough.Ithoughty
ou
werebusyanddecidedtofi
nisheverythi
ngathome
befor
ecomingandl ooki
ngforyou,”shesays.
“
Geti
nthecar
,thi
sisourhouse.
”
Shef r
ownswi t
hal i
tt
lesmi l
ecurvinginherlipsand
l
ooksatt heravi
shhousei nfrontofher.Sheknows
hi
mt ohaveagreattasteincarsandsui t
s,butthis
houser i
ghther
eshowst hathehasagr eattastein
everythi
ng.I
t’
sadoubl e-
storeywithwidepanel sof
gl
assandcol umnsofbr icksatthesidessides,and
fi
nishesoffi
tsfront
agewi tharowofmani cured
gardenhedges.
“
Ili
veher
e,”hesay
s.“
Nkonzoi
sbehi
ndt
hathouse.
”
Shenods,
“I’
m pr
oudofy
ou.
”
Hi
seyesdr
op.Khanyoki
sseshi
scheekbef
ore
t
urni
ngtot
heothersi
deandget
ti
nginsi
dethecar
.
Agr eyandwoodt onekitchenwel
comesher .Smooth
andsl eekblackcabinetscrashupagainstt
hewall,
tobrightenupt hemanl ylooki
ngki
tchenisan
orangel i
ghtfrom theroof.
“Youcanchangeany
thi
ngy
ouwantt
ochange,
”he
says.
Di
dshel
ookuni
mpr
essed?
“
It
’sbeaut
if
ul,
myl
ove,
”shesay
s.
Helooksr
eli
eved.Het
akesof
fhi
sjacketandputi
t
ov
erabarstool.
“Let
’sseeourbedr
oom,”hesays,
grabbingherhand
andleadi
nghertowar
dsacurvedstai
rcase.

I
tfeel
sli
keshe’swalki
nguptoheav
en.There’
sa
weir
denergybetweenthem,
maybeit’
sbecauseof
t
het
imet
hey
’vespentapar
t.
Themai nbedr
oom isnothingshortofamazi ng.I
t
coul
d’vebeendivi
dedintotwosmal lrooms.Her
pi
ctur
eont hewallgazesbackather .Itwastakena
daybeforeshelef
tforBergvi
ll
e,thelastti
met hey
werelayi
nginbedtogetherinHlomendl i
ni.
She’
sfi
ght
ingbackt
ear
s.Thi
sisov
erwhel
ming!
“I
’v
ebeenwaiti
ngforyoutocomeback,
”hesays
andwrapshisar
m aroundher
.“Remembery
ousaid
weweregoingtotal
konceyoucomeback?I’
ve
beenhol
dingontothat.
”
Thatfeel
sli
kealongt
imeago.Hisar
ml eav
esher
waist
,hegoestoashel
veandtakesoutanenv
elope.
“Si
t,
”hesay
s,cracki
nganer
voussmi
l
eandl
ower
ing
himsel
fonthebed.
“
Doy
oust
il
ll
oveme?
”heasks.
“
Thatgoeswithoutsay
ingBandl
a.Ofcour
seIl
ove
y
ou,”shesay
s.
Henodsandsi
ghsoutheav
il
y.
“
Youdi
dJour
nal
i
sm,
soIt
hinky
ourv
ocabul
aryi
s
bet
terthanmine.
”Hehandst
heenvel
opetoher
,
“Pl
easecheckifmygr
ammariscor
rect.
”
She’snotanedit
or!Can’
tagi
rlgetssomesexbef
ore
checki
ngspell
ingandpunct
uations?
Theenvel
opewasnotseal
ed,
sheopensi
tandpul
l
s
outapaperi
nsi
de.
Shebrief
lyr
unsherey
esoni
t-asmi
l
ecr
eepsof
fher
face.
“
Whati
sthi
s?”sheasks.
“
Idi
dn’twri
teadat
ebecauseIdi
dn’
tknowwheni
t
wasgoingt
ohappen,
”hesays.
Tearsf
il
luphereyes.He’
snotonl
ycomingbackt
oa
house,
butalet
tertoheruncl
esaswel
l.
“Ar
eyougoingt
ogivethem?”heasks,hol
dingher
handandbeggi
ngherwithhi
seyes.Normal peopl
e
say‘
wil
lyoumarryme.
’
“
Yes,
I’
ll
giv
ethem,
”shenods.
Hegrabsherneckandonslaught
sherwi t
haki ss.
Assoonast hei
rbodi
escoll
ideandskinstouch,
connect
ionsparksupl
ikeawildfi
re.I
t’
sstil
lthere,
t
hisi
sst
il
lherBandl
aandshe’
shi
slov
e.
“Imi
ssedyousomuch!
”hesay
sandki
ssesherl
i
ps
onceagai
n.
“Thanky ouforwai
ti
ngMt honga,Sgagu,
Mpangazi
th’
oziphangayo.Mnkonyeni
wami .”
Hebl
ushesanddr
opshi
sey
es.
“
Didy
oucuty
ourhai
r?”sheasks.
Hetoucheshisheadandsmi
l
es.He’
scut
e!She
ki
sseshisl
ipsplayf
ull
y.
“
Fil
li
nthedate,
”shegiv
esthelet
terbackt
ohi
m and
t
heyembraceinanot
herhug.
Hesearchesf
ort
hepenanddoesn’
tfi
ndi
tint
he
dr
awers.
“Letmegocheckdownst
air
s,”heki
sseshercheek
andwalksout
.

Thishousei
sadream.Afterbumpingonbedafew
ti
mes,shegoestotheensui
tebathroom and
rel
easesherwat
er.Sheneedstochanget he
panty
li
neraswell.Whensheopensthebi
nto
di
sposeawr appedpanty
li
nerherey
eslandona
condom f
oilwrapper
.
“
Myl
ove,
”hi
svoi
cecal
l
snear
ert
hebat
hroom door
.
Shehast hefoilwr
apperi
nhert
rembli
nghand.
Bandlawalksin,hi
seyesbul
geoutandhestands
groundedinfrontoft
hedoor
.
“I
sit
….Bandl
awhati
sthi
s?”Pai
ncracksherv
oice,
shecan’
tevenst
opherey
esfrom t
eari
ng.
“
Idon’
tknowhowi
tgott
her
e.”
“
Don’
tyoudar
eli
etomeBandl
alet
huManqel
e!”
Hewalksf
orwar
d,l
ooki
nggui
l
tyaschar
ged,
and
t
ri
estohol
dherhand.
“
Youmov
edon?
”sheasks.
“
No,
IswearIwasonl
ymast
urbat
ing,
”hesay
s.
Shethrowst
hef
oilwr
apperbacki
nthebi
nandf
olds
herarmswit
hadeadlookonherf
ace.
“Thi
siswhyyoudidn’tcaret
ofi
ndoutwhenIwas
comingbackanddidn’tcometomyceremoni
es?
”
“BabeIsweart
hisi
snotwhati
tlooksl
i
ke.Your
brotherr
eal
l
ydoesn’
tli
kemeandIcouldn’
t….
”She
rai
sesherhandup.
“Youcheat
edonme.Don’teventr
ytomakethi
s
aboutmybrot
her.Youmoti
vatedmetogoand
promisedt
osupportme.
”
Heexhal
esheav
il
yandnods.
“Okay,Iadmi
tit.ButIdidn’tcheat
,thi
shappened
onlyonce.Ij
ustneededadi st
ract
ion,
somethingt
o
takemymi ndof ft
hings.”
“
Andt
hatwassex?
”sheasks.
Hedoesn’tanswer
,he’
sscrat
chi
nghi
sheadand
l
ooki
nglikeasickpuppy.
“
Goodby
eBandl
a!”
Heholdsherar
m,“
KhanyoI
’m beggingyou.Imadea
mist
ake,i
twasmyfir
stt
imeandIr egr
ett
edit.
”
“Thanky
ou,
Ifeel
somuchbet
ter
.Nowl
etgoofmy
arm.”
Hesi
ghsheav
il
yandl
etsi
tgo.She’
sleav
inghi
m!
Hefuckedup.Thatoneni
ghti
sabouttocosthi
m
onethi
nghewant smoret
hananyt
hinginhi
slif
e-
Khanyo.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER44
KHANYO

I
’m angryatmyselffortrust
ingthi
smansomuch.I
puthim onthepedestalandwor shippedhi
sass.In
myey eshewasal waysper fect
,andIbeli
evedthat
wewer esoulmates.Ifeelsostupid,Il
ethi
scalm
natur
eandpuppyey esfoolme.He’ snodiff
erent
fr
om anyotherman; he’scrap,j
ustlikeal
lofthem.
Leav i
nghishouseIt ookat axi t
oMandeni and
anotheronet oDurbanwher eIspentthenightwit
h
Gugui nherf lat
.Yep, IevenforgotthatIhaveataxi-
phobia.Iwascr yi
ngandcount ingpeople’
schange.
Gugu’spr oblemsar ebi ggerthanmine’sbutshewas
abletoputt hem asideandl i
stentomyout burst
s
thr
oughoutt heni ght.That’smysi st
erfrom anot
her
mot her!

Shewokeupandwentt
omeetwi
thacer
tai
nlawy
er
whom she’shopingcangetMi keoutbef orehe
fi
nisheshissentence.Ihonestl
yf eelsorr
yf orher,I
knowi tmust’
vet akensomuchf orhertohedge
downt hewallsaroundherandal lowaman, notjust
anymanbutagr andpa,tosleepandi mpr egnat eher
.
Nowshe’ saboutt orai
sethatchildalone,ev en
thoughshe’smi r
aculousl
yfinanciall
ystable, ababy
sti
llneedsafather.

Speakingoffathers,Ineedt ot exttheonewho
sharedawombwi thmeandl ethim knowt hatI’min
ataxifrom Durban.He’llbev eryhappyt oheart hat
Bandlacheatedonme.Het oldmeso, r
ight!Af t
ermy
att
ackandBandl a’
ssexscandal ,hehadadi ffer
ent
versi
onofhi m andhedi dn’tli
kei tonebit.This
wouldjustaddanot herounceofhat r
ed.Ipr obably
shouldn’tt
ell
him becausey ouknowwhatt heysay ;
“Youforgiveyourpartner,butf amilydon’t
.”ButI ’
ll
tel
lhim becauseBandl adeser v
esev eryt
hingt hat’
s
comingt ohim.
Idoali
tt
lecosmeti
cshoppi
ngbeforetaki
nganother
taxi
home.Mylif
eisnowful
lybasedinthi
splace,
unti
lIfi
gur eoutwhat ’
snextformyl i
f e.Nolwazi i
s
fur
theri
ngherst udiesandGugui srichwi thfraud
moniesthatMi kest oleforher.I
t’
snowmewho
needstogetal if
e, I
’m notgoingt oheal peopleday
i
nandout .That’
snotsomet hingany onecanl iveon,
notinthi
scount ryandi tscri
ti
calbutst able
economy .Andwi thf akepastorsever ywhere.It
’s
hardtomakeal i
vingoutofheal i
ngpeopl e.

Igetof ft
het axi
withaf ewshoppingbagsandmy
overnightbag.WhenIcastmyey esdownathome,
ther
e’saC- Classparkedbelowthey ar
d.Wonder s
shal
l neverend!Thisonedecideditwasbet tert
o
comeher ebeforemeandpr obablypaintmeast he
wrongonet omyf amily
.Whyi sMandul onotchasi
ng
him out?Ishescar edofhim now?
IwishIhadn’
tlef
tDur ban.I
’m notreadytofacehim
yet
.Butofcoursehi sheadisfullofShembe
Vaseli
ne,hedoesn’tknowhowt ogiveaperson
somethingcal
ledspaceaf t
erhe’swr ongedher.He’s
goi
ngt obeallovermyf acewithhishairyass.He
nowknowshi swayar oundBer gvil
l
eandhe’ sbrav
e
enought
ostepi
nsi
det
heMay
isepr
emi
ses?That
’s
newundert
hesun.

Iwal
kinsi
det
hekit
chen,
it’
sfaci
ngdi
rect
lyt
othe
l
oungeandev
ery
onecanseeme.
“Makhanyi
wheret
hehell
wereyou?”Mandul
o
standsupwit
hafur
iousl
ookonhisface.
Hi
smoodi
sal
way
scr
appy
.
“Isl
eptatGugu’
splace.What
’sgoi
ngon?”Imake
suretosendalookatBandl
a;hemustknowthatI
hatehim.
“What’
sgoingon?You’r
easkingmethat?”He
char
gestowardsthepassageandBandlastandsup
i
mmedi at
ely.Mandul
owoul dnev
erputhishandson
me,heneedst ochi
ll
thatShembeassout.
“Lastti
mey ouwenttothi
smany ounearl
ydied.He
runsher einthemorni
ng,notknowingwher eyouar
e
andy ou’reaski
ngmewhat ’sgoingon?Doy ouknow
howst ressedI’
vebeensincelastni
ght?”
Bandl
awasdr
amat
ic.Igett
hathepani
cked,
buthe
shouldn’
thavecomehereandcausedmybr ot
her
panic.I
fanyt
hinghadhappened,i
twoul
d’vebeenon
thenews.I’
m afamousporn-st
ar’
sex-
gir
lf
riendaft
er
all
.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Ishoul
d’v
ecal
l
ed,
”Isay
.
Heexhal
esheav
il
y,“
Youonl
ythi
nkaf
terdoi
ngt
hings,
Makhany
i.
”
“I
’mreal
lysorr
y.”Il
ookatBandlal
ooki
ngal
lrel
i
eved
andshit
,Ifeel
myar mssweatingup.
Whyi
shebr
eat
hing?
“Whyareyouhere?Mr‘
Imast
urbat
ewi
tha
condom’,
”Iaskhim.
“
I…I
…was…I
…I.
..
”No,
fuckhi
sst
utt
er!
Godknewhewasn’tanhonestman,
that
’swhyhe
faul
tedhi
sspeech.
“Youcheat
edonme,
that
’sal
lyouhav
etosayand
getout.
”
Mandul
otur
nstohi
m wi
thaf
rownandhei
nst
ant
ly
dr
opshisey
es.
“
Oh,that
’st
her
eason?Agai
n,youmadehert
rav
elby
t
axi
sandputherl
if
eindanger
,”Mandul
o.
“I
…I…t
ri
ed…Ital
kedt
oher…butshewas.
..
”Irai
semy
handupbeforehef
ini
sheshi
splay&pausetal
k.
“If
oundusedcondomsi nt
hebat hroom oft
he
bedroom y
ouclai
medwas‘ ourbedroom.’Youonl
y
askedmet of
oll
owmycal l
ingsot hatyoucanbea
pornstari
npeace,huh?
”
Mandul
oholdsmeback.“
Rememberwhoyouare
now.Don’
tal
lowt
hist
odestr
oyyou.St
aycal
m.”
Okay
,he’
sri
ght
.Br
eat
heKhany
o!
“Doyouseewhaty ou’r
edoingint
heMay i
se
premises?You’
reheretocauseal
lthi
snoise,
”he’
s
l
ookingatBandla.
Hekeepsqui
et.
No,hemustspeak.I
’
m sur
ehewasn’
tqui
etont
op
ofher
.
“
Whatifsomet
hinghappenedt
oheragai
n?”
Mandul
oasks.
“
Iapol
ogi
zeNy
athi
,
”hesay
sandi
nhal
esashar
p
breat
h.Hisey
esr
unfr
om metothef
loor.He’
snow
acti
ngli
keahumbl
esai
ntandIl
ookcrazy.
“Justsor
titoutoraskhi
mtol
eav
e,”Mandul
osay
s
beforewalki
ngout.

Nowthi
soneisst
ari
ngatthef l
oorl
iketi
les
moti
vat
edhimtothr
owhisblack,uglydi
ckaround.
Nx,
andthoset
wounevenballs!
“
IfIdi
dthesamet
hing,
wer
eyougoi
ngt
ofor
giv
e
me?”Iask.
“I
…Idon’tknow, Ithi
nkIwouldhav ef
orgivenyou.”
Hecl ear
shi sthroatandli
ftshiseyestome.“ ButI
…I
would’venev er…nevert
ossedy ouonfireinfr
ontof
myf amily.May be…may beIloveyou…too…toomuch.
ButI’dnev erall
owmyf amilyto…”Hest opsand
col
lectshisbr eaths.
Nowhe’
stheonehur
ti
ngmor
ethanme.Thi
sone
woul
damazeyou!
“Isl
i
ppedonce.I
…Ihadnoideawhatwasgoi
ngon
anditwasj
ust…justsohar
d!”
“HowdoIknowi
thappenedonl
yonceandmeant
nothi
ng?
”
“
Wecancal
lmybr
other
,Nkonzo.
”
Ofcour
sethatonei
sgoi
ngt
obackhi
m up,
it’
s
br
other
hoodcode.
“
AndhowdoIknowt hatitwon’thappenagai
n?Next
weekImaygot
oanot herprov
incetowork,howIdo
t
rusty
ouaft
ert
his?
”
“I
’
lldoanyt
hingyousay ,
justdon’
tleaveme.Imade
ami st
ake,
once.Pleaseforgiv
emeandal l
owmet o
provemycommi tmentandl ovet
oy ou,
”hesays.
“
Ineedl
oyal
tyaswel
l
,”Isay
.
“
Wecan…wecanwor
koni
t.
”
Honestl
y,Idon’
tknow.If
eell
ikeI
’mthr
owi
ngmysel
f
deepl
yinthedam whereever
yonecanswi
mift
here
arenoguardsaround.
Iknowhelov
esme,
butl
ovei
sn’
tenoughi
fther
e’s
notrust
.
“
Swaz
eli
hle!
”Ohgosh!
Onlyhecangetonhi
skneest
otr
ickaper
soni
nto
for
givi
nghi
m!
“
I’
m sor
ryKaMay
ise,
”hesay
s.
Si
gh!Hecoul
dn’
tgetonhi
skneeswhenproposi
ng,
butnowheknowshowtogetdownonthem.
Ihol
dhi
shandup,
“Getup!
”
“
Arey
ougi
vi
ngusanot
herchance?
”heasks.
“
AndifI
’m not
?Ar
eyougoi
ngt
ost
ayony
ourknees
l
i
kethi
s?”
“
Yes,
”hesay
s.
Ir
oll
myey
es.He’
sst
upi
d!
“Wear
egoi
ngt
otal
kandsetsomegr
oundr
ules,
”I
say
.
Heget
supandpul
l
smet
ohi
schest
.Cheat
ingchest
!
“
Wer
eal
l
yneedt
osett
hem.
”
Il
ookathi
m,“
No,
I’
m set
ti
ngt
hem.Noty
ou.
”
“
Okay
,sor
ry.
”
Mygoodness!
.
.
NOTHI
LE

Allshewantedwast oleaveapeacefull
if
e.Thakasa
neverreachedouttoherbuthedidgot oheruncles
andr epor
tedthesepar
ation.Shehasn’
tgonehome
becausesheknowst hatnobodyisgoingtoli
stento
thesideofherstory
.
Shegav ebirthandwai t
edaf ewweekst oseei f
Londokuhl ewoul dr esembl eanyoft heManqel es.
For tunately,helooksnot hi
ngl i
ket hosepeopl e.She
hadt olookf orMandul oNy athi
, whichwasn’ tvery
har dtodo.Butbr eakingnewst ohim washar dand
shewassl ightl
yof fendedwhenheaskedf orDNA
test .Hehadev eryr i
ghttoandshewasgoi ngt o
conducti tinherownt i
meandt erms, butitsti
ll
rubbedhert hewr ongway .She’sdeal i
ngwi t
hal otof
things, soi sLonda.Thel astthingt heyneedi s
pat erni
tyt estswhi l
et hey’r
est i
l
l conducti
nga
thousandot hertests.
Butshegrantedhimthet
est,t
odayt hey’
reatDur
doc
MedicalCent
retogivebl
oodsampl es.They’
re
meetingfort
hesecondti
mei nli
fe,butcarr
yinga
thi
rdpersonthatbot
hoftheproduced.Lif
eisadice
game!
Hedoesn’tl
ookliket
heMandul oshesawi nBal
iand
helddeepconver
sati
onswith.Helooksli
keamess
andsonervous.Deepdowni nhishear
themustbe
prayi
ngnottobecomeaf at
her.
“
Whereisyourhusband?”hefi
nall
yasksaf
ter
t
hey
’vecompletedall
theprocedur
es.
“
He’
shome,
Ilef
t,
”shesay
swi
thashr
ug.
Ther
e’sat
wingeofgui
l
tknocki
nghi
shear
t.
“Becauseoft
his?
”heasks,l
ooki
ngatLondawhose
eyeshavebeenclosedsi
ncehearr
ived.
“No,
Ilef
tbeforemythi
rdt
ri
mester
.Thingsj
ustf
ell
apar
tandtherewasnotur
ningpoi
nt.
”
“
Didy
ouf
il
efordi
vor
ce?
”heasks.
“
Iwaswai
ti
ngf
ormysont
obebor
n.Idi
dn’
twant
thatst
resswhi
l
eIwaspr
egnantbecauseIknowhe’
s
goingtogiv
emeahardt
ime,
”shesay s.
Henodsandl ooksatthelit
tlemani nhisarms.He
l
oveshi schi l
drenandchildreningeneral,butthi
s
onefreakshi m out.He’sdonet osomeoneel sewhat
Menzi di
dt ohi m.Heknowst hepain,he’
sbeent here
andthel astthinghewant edwast oinfli
ctitto
someoneel se.
“Whatifhe’
sreal
lymine?”Hisvoicecomesoutasa
l
owwhi sper
.Helift
sLonda’sli
ttl
efinger
sandhe
sl
owlyopenshiseyes.Hefixesthem onMandulo’
s
chest
.Asmi l
ecreepsoffhisface,hesnapshi
s
fi
nger
sbutLondadoesn’tshifthisgaze.
Not
hil
est
art
scr
yingnextt
ohi
m.
“
Hey,what
’swr
ong?”heaskswi
thconf
usi
on
maski
nghi
sface.
Di
dhedosomet
hingwr
ong?Shewasokayj
usta
mi
nut
eago.
“
HecannotseeMandul
o,”shesobshar
der
.
He’
snowconf
used.Whatdoesshemeanbyt
hat
?
Hi
spossi
blesoncannotsee?
Buthehasbot
hhi
sey
esandt
heyl
ook….
oh,
no!
Hesnapshisfi
ngersagai
n.Londa’
seyesremainon
hi
schestanddon’tmove.Hishear
tst
art
sr aci
ng,
whatoneart
hisgoingon?
“What ’
swrongwit
hhim?”He’snowpanicki
ngand
blowingairi
nLonda’
seyes.Onlywhenhefeel
s
somet hi
ngblowi
nginhi
sey eshebli
nksandshut
s
hi
sl i
ttl
eeyes.
“Hewasf i
neaft
erbir
th.Ever
ythi
ngwasnormal
.I
don’tknowwhathappened,whenIt
ookhimtohis
six-
weekscheckuptheysaidhe’
sbli
nd.
”
Hehol dsLondawithonearm andhol dsherhand.
She’shurti
nganditbreakshisheart.Asapar enthe
understandswhatshe’sgoi
ngt hrough.Andhef eel
s
i
ttoo,whet hert
estshaveconfi
rmedhi spater
nit
yor
not.Nochi l
ddeservestogothrought his,
especi
all
y
atsuchat enderage.
“Di
dyoutakehi
mtothedoctor?Didtheyr
untest
s
onhim?Whatdidt
heresul
tssay?”heasks.
“
Theydon’tknowwhatchanged.Everyt
hingl
ooks
f
ine.Hehasnoinj
uri
es,nodefi
cienci
esorgeneti
c
mutati
ons.Godj
usthat
eme! ”
“
Pleasedon’
tsaythat.Maybei
t’
snotsomet
hing
r
elat
edtohisheal
th,buttous.
”
Shef
rowns,
“Whatdoy
oumean?
”
“
Ihaveal
ott
osor
toutwi
thmyancest
orsandsodo
y
ou.”
Sheexhal
esheav
il
yandl
ooksaway
,wi
pinghert
ear
s.
“I
’
m notgoi ngt
orunawayfrom myresponsibil
it
ies,
Nothi
le.I’
dneverdot
hat,I
’
m hereforbothofy ou.
Butmay bewecannotrunawayfrom mistakesand
past.
”
“Icannotgobackt
othatpl
ace.Ican’
t!
”sheshakes
herhead.
“
It
’snotaboutyou,
butthi
sli
tt
leboyher
e.Hash
t
hingsoutwit
hhim.Ifhewantsmetopayforwhat
wedid,I
’
llpay
.”
Shesi
ghsoutheav
il
y.
“
Ther
e’snoot
herway
,Not
hil
e.You’
remar
ri
edbef
ore
theancestor
s,t
hatmanspr i
nklediny
ongoovery
ou
andti
edy outohisancestors.Theonlywayouti
s
thr
oughhim, morethanitisthroughcour
t.
”
Shelooksatherl i
tt
leboyandgetsashar ppai
nin
herheart
.Whyi shet heonesuff
er i
ng?Whenis
Phelosuff
ering?Shewasconceiv edthesameway
asLonda.IsitbecauseThakasaisamanand
ancestor
sfav orhi
sgender?Whyshe’ stheonl
yone
gett
ingpunishedthroughherchi
ld?Theyboth
cheated.
“I
t’
sgoingtobeokay
,”Mandul
osay
s,r
ubbi
ngher
shoul
der.
Hisphoner
ings.HegivesLondat
oherandtakesi
t
outofhi
spocket.Fearcr
eepsuponhi
sfaceashe
gl
ancesatt
hescr een.
“
Answeri
t,
”Not
hil
esay
s.
Henods,
sti
l
lengul
fedi
ngui
l
tandf
ear
.
“HeyLwazi….no,Iwasn’ti
gnor
ingyou…canIcall
you
backwhenI ’
mf ree….
Iloveyoutoo.
”Helocksthe
screenandslipsthephonebackinsi
dehispocket.
“
I’
m sor
ryaboutt
hat
,”hesay
sandt
akesLondaback.
“No,
Iunder
stand,”Nothi
l
esay
sandcr
acksat
hin
smil
etoputhim atease.
She’snotinagoodspaceandcer t
ainl
ynotlooki
ng
foranyrel
ati
onshi
p.Allshewantsisforhersonto
beokay,andthatmeansshehast ogobackand
kneeli
nf r
ontofThakasaforf
orgiv
eness.
.
.
Mandulodr oppedheroffatNomcebo’
splaceand
promisedtocheckont hem t
henextday.I
t’
s
becomingcr owdedwithLonda,
Nomcebo’skidsand
herboyfr
iendalli
nonehouse.
She’sbeenlookingforcheapr oomst orentand
secondhandf urni
turearound.Thakasadi dn’tcancel
herR6500al lotmentthathegav ehermont hlywhi l
e
theywer est
illt
ogether.Thatoneisdeposi t
ed
strai
ghtint
ohersav ingsaccount.Shealsohashi s
otherFNBcar dandhehasn’ tsaidanythi
ngabouti t
.
Thepi nisst
illt
hesameandnof undshavebeen
withdrawnfrom it
.Butsheknowst herealThakasa,
that’
swhyshe’sner
vousaboutgoingback.He’
s
calcul
ati
nghismovesandprepar
ingforthedayof
therealbat
tl
e.
“Howdidi
tgo?”Nomceboasks,walki
nginwit
hher
daught
eronthehi
pandabowl ofporr
idge.
“
He’sokaywit
hev er
ythi
ng.We’l
lbet
aki
ngLondat
o
aspeci
ali
stFr
iday
,”shesays.
“
Ithoughthewant
edaDNAt
est
.”
“
Hedidn’
tmeaniti
nabadway .Hesai
dIshoul
dcall
i
fIneedany
thi
ng,r
egar
dlessoft
hependi
ngresul
ts.
”
“
Hesoundsl
i
keagoodman.
”
Nothi
l
esighs,
“Healsoadvi
sedmet
ogot
oThakasa
andaskhimforf
orgiv
eness.
”
“Hethi
nksthatmaybet
her
easonwhyLondai
s,y
ou
know,bl
ind?”
“I
’
m stil
lmarr
iedtohi
m, Cebo.He’sstil
lrecognized
asmyhusbandandLonda’ sfather.Andknowi ng
howThakasai s,
heknowst hi
sv er
ywel l
andhe’ s
holdi
ngagrudgeagainstme.”
“
Justcal
lhi
m.Nowi
t’
snotaboutwho’
swi
nni
ngor
l
osi
ngandwhat
’sf
air
.It
’saboutLonda’
sheal
th.
”
Whydidshegetmarri
edagain?SheputsLondat
o
sl
eepbeforet
aki
ngherphoneanddiali
nghis
number.Nomcebogiv
esheramot i
vati
nglook
befor
esteppi
ngoutofther
oom togiv
ehersome
pri
vacy.

I
tri
ngsafewtimesthendrop.Shecal
l
sagai
n,t
his
t
imeitr
ingst
ov oi
cemail
.
Shet
ri
esonel
astt
imeandhepi
cksup.
“
I’
minameet
ing,
”hesay
s.
“
Ohsor
ry,
Idi
dn’
tknow.I
’
llcal
ll
ater
,”shesay
s.
“
No,y
ou’
veal
readydi
stur
bedme.What
’sup
MaNt
usi
?”
Deepbr
eat
h!
“
Weneedt
otal
k,
”shesay
s.
“Aboutwhat
?”He’
sbeenwai
ti
ngf
ort
hisdayt
o
come.
“
I’
m st
il
lwai
ti
ngf
orDNAr
esul
ts.Hi
snamei
s
Londokuhl
e,he’
snow8weeksol
d.”
“
Congr
atul
ati
ons!
”hesay
s.
“Manqel
eIneed….
”Anot
herdeepbr
eat
h!“
Mysoni
s
bli
nd.
”
“
I’
m notanophthal
mol
ogi
st.Whyar
eyout
ell
i
ng
me?”heasks.
Tearsburnherey
es.He’
ssocol
d!They’
rebot
h
parent
s,heshoul
dhavesomesympathy
.
“Canwehashthingsout
,pl
ease.Givememy
punishment
,Ij
ustwantmysont ohaveanor
mal
l
ife.
”
“
Whyar eyoumakingmeGod?I sitbecauseofme
t
hatyou’r
efaci
ngthoseprobl
ems.Ididn’
taskyout
o
l
eave,y
oudidthatonyourown.”
“
CanIcomeback?
”sheasks.
“No.Iaskedy outostaywhenIwant edyout
ostay
andy ouleft
.Wecould’vesortedi
toutwhenIwanted
to,butyouwant edt
odot hingsyourownway.Beon
yourown, qhubeka!
”Hedr opsthecall
.
Herhear
tisheav
yinherchest
.Ther
e’sabur
ning
l
umpsi
tt
ingi
nhert
hroat
.
Nomcebopeepst
hrought
hedoorandaski
f
ever
ythi
ngi
sokay
.
“
Pleasecal
lBab’
omncane,
”shesay
s.
Nomcebo’
seyespopout
.Theybot
hknowhowt
hat
wi
llt
urnout
.
I
t’
samess!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER45
THAKASA

Hisphonebuzzeswi thtextmessages.He’sbeen
tr
yingtoignorehercall
sbutnowshe’ smor e
persist
ent.He’
sverymuchawar eofhiswr ongs,
Khosi t
rustedhi
mt ohonorhispromise.Butone
mor enightwon’
thurt,Phel
oisnotlost,
she’swit
h
herfather.
Him andMaKhumal ogotcl oseaf terev eryone
mov edout .I
t’st
hem agai nstthewor l
d, forthefi
rst
ti
mei nhi sli
fehefeelslikehehashi smot herinhis
corner.He’sbeenv erysuppor ti
v ethroughouthi s
separationfrom MaNt usi.Nowi t’sjusthi m andher.
Thehel percomesi nthemor ningandl eavesat5pm.
WithPhel oaroundtheyhav eal ottot alkaboutand
cel
ebrat e.
“Doyouseehowmuchsher esembl
esPhethi
l
e?”
MaKhumal oasks,
walki
nginwithabowlofmaize
porr
idgeandPheloinherr
ightar
m.
“
No,shelooksl
i
keme.I’
m herf
ather
,”hear
gues
wi
thafrownonhisf
ace.
MaKhumal
olaughs,
“Thi
schi
l
disgoi
ngt
obedeat
h
ofy
ou.”
Hi
sphoner
ingsagai
n.Hesi
ghsandput
siton
si
l
ence.
“
Isi
thermot
her
?”MaKhumal
oasks.
“
She’
sjustwor
ri
edov ernot
hing.
”Hedismissesher
wi
thahandandpicksthefl
uffyt
eddbearhebought
f
orPhel
o.
“
MaNt
usi
cal
l
edy
est
erday
,”hesay
s.
Disgustcr
eepsuponMaKhumal o’sf
ace.Shedidn’
t
expectwhatMaNtusididtoherfamil
y.Sheblames
herforhersonsmovingoutandt hef
actthatshe
nevercamet oher
,shejustl
eft
.
“Shewant
stocomeback.Hersonishav
ingsight
probl
ems,
”Thakasasay
sandtakesadeepsigh.
“Shemustt akehimtoDrManzini
.Si
ncewhenare
youaney especial
ist
?”MaKhumaloasks,
lay
ing
Pheloagainstherarm andmi
xi
ngascoopofher
mi
l
kwi
thpor
ri
dge.
“Thi
sbabyisnotfedt
her
einthesubur
bs.Lookat
howshe’sstar
ingatt
hepor
ri
dge.
”
Thakasachuckl
esandshakeshi
shead.
“
Shedoesn’
tevenknowt
hati
t’
spor
ri
dge,
”hesay
s.“
I
wi
shIcantal
ktohermot
her.
”
“
Aboutwhat
?”MaKhumal
oasks.
“Alothappenedbetweenusandwenev err
eall
y
hashedthingsout
.ButI’
m scaredofhowshemi ght
takeit
.Youknowwi thMaNtusigoneandever
ything,
i
twi l
ll
ookl i
keI
’mtryi
ngtofi
llherpl
aceusi
ngher .
”
MaKhumaloi
sabouttogi
vehi
m heradv
icewhena
carl
oudl
yhoot
sintheyar
d.
“
ThatmustbeNkonzo,
”Thakasasay
sandget
sup
t
opeepthr
oughthewindow.

I
t’
snotNkonzo, butawhi
teHondaJazzwi
thDurban
r
egist
rat
ion.Het ur
nst
oMaKhumalowithafai
nt
l
ookonhi sface.
“It
hinkthat
’sPhel
o’smot
her
,”hesay
sand
scrat
cheshishead.
“What
’sgoi
ngon?
”MaKhumal
oasks,
star
ingbackat
hi
m.
“Isai
dIwasgoingt
oret
urnPhel
obackbef
oret
he
sunset,
”hesay
s.
MaKhumal ofr
owns,“Andwhyy ouwoul d’
vedone
that
?She’ sbeenonlyher
eforami nut
e.Kusamele
ngiyomlahlai
nyonibeseegcabai bal
aleli
eli
sekhandakuMaGwal a.
”(Isti
l
l needtogiveher
staminaforgastroandhaveheri nci
sedbyMaGwal a
forthestrawberr
ybirt
hmarkatthebackofherhead)

There’saknockatthedoor.MaKhumalocarri
eson
wit
hf eedi
nghergranddaughterpor
ri
dge.Thakasa
heavesadeepsighandat tendstot
hedoor.
“Real
l
yThakasa?”sheasks,
walki
ngthrought
he
doorwit
hawr at
hfull
ookonherface.
“
You’
reov
err
eact
ing,
”hesay
s.
“
I’
m ov
err
eact
ing?Youar
eignor
ingmycal
l
sand
keepi
ngmydaught
erher
eagai
nstmywi
l
l.
”
“Thisi
sherhomeaswel l
.It
’snotl
i
keshe’slost
;
she’swit
hherfat
her
,”hesaysandhideshisgui
lt
withashrug.
“I
t’
saboutdamnagreementsThakasa!Youagr
eed
tobri
ngherbackt
oday,butnowyou’r
eignor
ingmy
cal
lsandkeepi
ngherhere.
”
MaKhumaloappear
s,cl
appi
ngherhandsand
excl
aimi
ng.
“Umhlol
alo!You’
rebot
hstandi
nginmyki
tchenand
argui
ngli
kethisi
saplaygr
ound.Wher
ear
ey our
mannersMakaPhelo?”
She’
snev ermethi
smother
,it’
ssoaudaciousofher
toquest
ionhermannerswhereasshe’sbeen
watchi
ngThakasakeepPhelowithoutherconsent
.
“Thakasais….”MaKhumal
oexcl
aimsandput
sher
handsov erherhead.
“Di
dyoujustcal
lthef
atherofy
ourchi
l
dbyhi
sbi
rt
h
name?”
Nomkhosi
looksatThakasawi
thaf
rown.Wasn’
the
gi
venanamesot
hathecanbeaddr
essedbyi
t?
“Laphaekhayakuy angenwa,kubingelelwebese
kuhlal
waphansi kuxoxwe,”shesay s.(Hereweent
er,
greetandsitdownbef orewetalk)
“
Thisway
,”Thakasasay
s,l
eadi
nghertowar
dst
he
l
oungewi
thasat i
sfi
edl
ookonhisf
ace.

Nomkhosi f
oll
owsbehindt
hem.MaKhumaloissti
l
l
cl
appingherhandsandexpr
essi
nghershockover
hercharact
er.
Herey
esnear l
ypopoutwhensheseesPhelol
yi
ng
onablanketwit
habowlofporr
idgenextt
oher.
“Thakasawhatist
his?”sheasksandignor
es
MaKhumal o’
sremarks.Thakasai
shisname,t
hat
cannotbechangedbyher .
“Hav
easeatMakaPhel
o,”Thakasasay
s,showi
ng
hert
hecouchandpi
cki
ngPheloup.
“
Youfedhermai
zepor
ridge?
”sheasks,st
il
lonher
f
eetandgl
uedonthef
loorwit
hshock.
“
Youshoul
d’v
eseenhowmuchshel
i
kedi
t.May
be
Thakasashouldst
artaddi
ngmoneyf
ormaize-meal
toherpapgel
d,”MaKhumalosay
sasshecoll
ectsan
emptybowl f
rom t
hecarpet.
“She’
snoteven3mont hsold.Heri
ntesti
nesar
en’
t
ful
lydevel
oped.Whyonearthwouldy ougiv
eher
soli
dfood?”She’
sbesidehersel
fwit
hangerand
thesepeopl
edon’tseem t
ogetit.
“
Porr
idgeisnotsol
i
df ood.I
fitwasn’
tfori
tyou
woul
dn’thav
eababy daddytoday
,”MaKhumalosay
s.
Thi
sisnotgoi
ngany
wher
e,t
hey
’rej
ustgoi
ngar
ound
i
ncir
cles.
“
Wher
eisherbag?
”sheasksThakasa.
“Ummm, Idon’
tthi
nkshecanleav
ey et.Mast
il
l
wantstotakehert
oMaGwal asothatshecan
removethestr
awberr
ybir
thmarkatthebackofher
head.
”
Oh,God!Shehasababywi
ththi
sman?Thi
sisher
daught
er’
sfamil
y?Lor
dJesus!
“Thatmarkishar
mless.BabyNhl
ahadi
tandhe
neverneededanyMaGwalato….”
“
Thisi
sSphephel
oManqel
e,notBabyNhl
a,
”
MaKhumal
ointer
ject
s.
Si
gh!Si
gh!Si
gh!
“Yourmot hercannott r
eatusl i
kewear estrangerst
o
thi
schild.Mysonhasbeent heresinceherbirt
hand
hepaidf orthedamages, whichwashi m
acknowledgi ngthathe’
sthef atherandtakinghis
responsibi
li
ties.I
fyourmot herhasapr oblem gi
ve
hermyaddr ess.”
“
Ma, cal
m down!”Thakasasay
sandMaKhumalo
t
urnsherfatbehi
ndandgoest ot
heki
tchen.

“Canwesi
tandt
alk?
”heasks,
looki
ngatNomkhosi
guil
ti
ly
.
“Whyisyourmot herl
i
kethis?Andyouall
owhert
o
feedourdaughtermaizeporr
idge?Whati
sshe
eati
ngtomorrow?Samp? ”
“St
opov err
eacting.Mymotherwouldnev
erput
Phelo’
slif
ei ndanger.Sher
aised6ki
dsandtheyal
l
cameoutf ine.
”
“
Thi
sismychi
l
d,dude.Nother
s,”shescol
dshi
min
awhi
sper
.
“
Don’
tcal
lme‘
Dude’
,
”hesay
s.
Shesi
ghsandr
oll
sherey
es.
“Whatev
er!Idon’twantmychil
dtobef edmaize
por
ri
dge.May beyoushoul
dvi
sitadoctorandlear
n
howharmf ulsoli
dfoodcanbeforalessthan6
months-
old.”
“ButMasai
dshewashungr
yandsher
eal
l
yat
e,”he
says.
“Wearenotdi
scussi
ngitThakasa.I
’mtell
i
ngy outo
nev
erall
owanyonetofeedmydaught ermaize
por
ri
dge,ot
herwi
se….”Thakasarai
seshiseyebrow.
“
Other
wisewhat
?”heasks.
Amomentofsi
l
encepasses.They
’rest
ari
ngatone
anot
her
.
“I
’
ll l
ethersl
eeptoday,
pleasedon’
tdoanyt
hing
stupid.Br
ingherbacktomorrow,
”Nomkhosisays
afteramoment .
“
Soy
ou’
reokaysl
eepi
ngwi
thouty
ourdaught
er?
”
Shef
rowns.WTF!
“You’vebeenbeggi
ngmet oletherstayherefor
aboMaGwal aandstuf
f,nowI’m okaysleepi
ng
withouther?
”sheaskswithherforeheadfurr
owed.
“Idon’
tseewhyyou’
rel
eav
ing.Imean,
thi
sisy
our
daughter
’shomeandweareherfami
ly
.”
“
Icandr
ivet
oDur
ban,
Idon’
tmi
ndi
t,
”shesay
s.
“I
t’snotcompul
sory,
youknow.It
’sal
most7pm and
you’r
eawoman.I t
’snotsaf
eforyoutodr
iveat
night.
”
“Everyoneknowswhosest epdaughterIam,you
don’tneedtowor r
yaboutmysaf ety.Justmakesur
e
yourmot herkeepsher1960smot herskil
lst
o
hersel
f .
”
Het
akesadeepbr
eat
handnods.
KhosikissesPhel
o’sf
oreheadandwi
sheshera
goodnight.

Heseesheroutwi
thPhel
owr appedi
nablanket
.Her
andMaKhumalodon’
tgetal
ong,chancesoft
hem
seei
ngey
etoey
eonany
thi
ngar
esl
i
m.
“
Idon’
tli
keher
,”shesay
swhenThakasawal
ksback
i
n.
Hebur
stsi
ntoaf
itofl
aught
er.
“
She’
sthemot
herofyourgranddaught
erandIt
hink
y
ouandherar
enotthatdi
ff
erent.
”
“
What
???
”
“
Not
hing.I
’
m goi
ngt
ogi
vePhel
oabat
h.”
“
Good!
”
.
.
He’stakenadayoffworkbecauseNomkhosi
doesn’tt
rusthi
smotherwit
hPhelo.Shet
hinksshe
mightfeedhersampandtrott
ers.
Hewal ksoutt odisposesanappyandseesawhi t
e
vandrivingtowardshishome.That ’
sNothil
e’
s
uncl
e’sv an.It
’ssoearlyinthemorningandall
he
wantedwast obewi thhisdaught
er.Theywere
cert
ainlysentbyNot hil
e.
Hewakeshi
smot
herupandgoesbackt
obed.
Hedi
alsNothi
l
e’snumberandcal
l
stof
indout
what
’sgoi
ngon.
“
Youruncl
esar
eher
e,”hesay
s.
“Nomcebogavet
hem acal
landtheysai
dthey
’d
comeandtal
ktoyou,
”shesays.
“Weal r
eadytal
kedMaNt usi.Youl
eftbecauseI
cheated,r
ight
?Hasthatchangednow?Ori si
t
becausenowy ouarefacingprobl
emsandIhav et
o
putmyl i
feonholdandat t
endt oy
ou?”
“Thi
sisnotaboutus.Mysonisnotwell
,I
’m sur
eyou
canimagi
nehowt hatfeel
s.You’
reaf
athert
oo,if
Phel
o….”
“
Don’
tment
ionmydaught
er!
”
“
IfMandul
oisthef
atherhe’
sgoi
ngt
opaywhat
ever
f
ineyouwantf
rom hi
m.”
“I
’
mt hefatherofthatchi
l
d.Nobodyi
sgoingtotel
l
meany t
hing.Ify
ouwanthi mtobefi
neyou’
llbr
ing
hi
m homeandcont i
nuewithy
ourManduloinpeace,
”
hesays.
“
Butonl
yDNAt
estwi
l
ldet
ermi
net
hat
,”Not
hil
esay
s.
“Areyouli
steni
ngt
omeornot ?Idon’
tcar
ewhatthe
DNAsay sandIdon’
twantany thi
ngfr
om yourman.
I
t’suptoyouwhethery
out akeaManqelechil
dto
him ornot
,butmywordstands.”
“
That
’snotf
air
!”
“
Youshoul
d’v
ethoughtaboutt
hatbef
orel
eav
ing.
”
“Manqele….”Hedr opst hecal landconnect sitback
tothecharger.Pheloi sst i
llasl
eep,heneedst otake
aquickbat handdr essupf orwhatev ermeetingis
bei
nghel d.He’snott akingany thi
ngf rom Mandul o,
notevenacent .Not hil
et houghtshewasgoi ngto
getaneasywayoutaf terev ery
thi
ngsheputhi m
thr
oughwher east heybot hcommi ttedonesinand
hel
pedeachot herbreakt heirmar r
iage.
Thosehappy
-ev
er-
aft
ersonl
yhappeni
nthemov
ies.
.
.
KHANYO
Ifoundmywayt othishouseaf
terhebeggedand
gotdownonhi sknees.Butt
helastthi
ngI’
m doi ngis
gi
v i
nghim sexandsl eepi
ngonthatbedwher ehi m
andhi sone-
nightst
andmadeout .I’
m st
il
lpissed,I
orderedhimtot akedownmypict ur
eunti
lfurther
noti
ce.
Wesl eptinanotherbedroom, hethoughthe’ddi
phis
blackdi ckyetint
oanot hercookiebutIclosedmy
thighsandf acedt heotherway .He’
shornyand
feelingsorryforhimselfinbedandI ’
m blessi
ngmy
tummywi t
hstrawgur t
;yogurtandstrawberri
esand
wat chingTikTokv i
deos.
Foot
stepscomebehi
ndme,
Ilowert
hev
ideov
olume
andl
ookathim.
“
Goodmor
ning,
”Isay
.
Heignoresmeandgoesontopl
ugakett
leofwater
.
He’
llsui
thimsel
f,Ii
ncr
easet
hev
olumeandcont
inue
wit
hmyv i
deos.
“
Chakuyal
anjwabol
ayi
ndl
i
ni!
”Ihearhi
m sayand
l
owert
hevolumeagai
n.
“
Kul
anj
wangaphansi
nangaphezul
u,
”hesay
s.(
We
st
arv
eint
hishouse,
from t
hebot
tom t
othet
op)
Youknowwhat?I’
m goingtosi
tonthi
sstool
,l
ook
pret
tyandi
gnor
ehisstupidcomments.
“
Ithoughtyousai
doneofy
ourr
uleswast
hatweuse
acondom,”hesays.
Il
ookupf
rom myphone,
“Yes.
”
“Butyoust
il
ldon’
tev
enwantmet
otouchy
ou,
”he
says.
“I
’
m surewecandobett
erthi
ngsthanhavi
ngsex.I
j
ustgotback,
showyourexci
tementwi
thouty
our
di
ck,
”Isay.
“
Ilov
eyou.
”
That
’snotr
elev
antt
othi
sar
gumentwe’
rehav
ing!
“Al
lI’
m say
ingi
sthatsexisn’
ttheonl
ythi
ngwecan
dotoshoweachotherlov
e,”Isay.
“AndallI
’
m say i
ngist hatIlov
ey oumor ethan
anyt
hinginthisworld.IwishIcanundowhatIdi d,
butIdon’
thav ethatopt i
on.AllIcansayissorr
y,
unti
lyoureal
izethatIr eal
lymeani t
.”
“
Sorr
yisjustast
upidfi
ve-
let
terwor
d,i
tdoesn’
t
meananythi
ng.I
t’
sjustt
heretosav
eevery
oneaft
er
t
heyfuckedup.
”
“Theysayit’
sanopenstatementt hatbegs
forgi
venessandopensar oom forridi
cule.The
met r
onomeofagoodhear tdoesn’tsettl
eunti
l
thi
ngsaresolved.I
tdoesn’ttakeany t
hingback-i
t
wasn’tmeantto-buti
tpushest hi
ngsf orwardand
bri
dgest hegap.
”
“
All
thi
sdef
ini
ti
onf
orsex?
”Iaskwi
thaney
erol
l
.
“Forustogobacktowher ewewer e.Imissmy
crazygir
lf
ri
endwhosel l
scurt
ains,
steal
smeaway
from homeandimmur esmei nahousewi t
habox
ofpizzaandwarm cookief
ortwoday s.
”
Immurehi
minahouse?Inev
erhel
dthi
sman
agai
nsthi
swal
l
.
“
Don’
tli
e!”Isay
.
Hel
aughs,
“I’
m notl
yi
ng,
Imi
ssy
ou.Bot
hofus.
”
Whathi
sdickhasgott
odowi t
hthi
s?ButImust
admi
t,i
t’
snicebei
ngbeggedbyaman.Thelastt
ime
Iwasbeggedsogenui
nel
ywasinDurban,
bya
Paki
stant
obuyascreen-
prot
ect
or.
“
YekelauMt hongaalwenont
angawakhe,
”hesay
s,
wrappi
nghi sarm ar
oundmeandkissi
ngmycheek.
(
LetMt hongafightwit
hhi
scompeer)
“
You’r
egaini
ngweight
,”hesay
sandmywetdough
t
urnsint
oThobeka’
sChrist
masdr
ycooki
es.
Hi
smotheri
stwoti
mesf at
tert
hanAuntCar
oli
neon
t
heri
ce,
whatishet
alki
ngabout?
“
Youcan’
tcommentonmywei
ght
!”Isay
.
“
Oh?Whil
eyoucancommentonanyt
hing.Yester
day
y
ousai
dmyoneballisbi
ggert
hant
heot herone.
”
Gosh,Iact
ual
l
ytol
dhi
mt hatloud?Ineedt
ofi
l
ter
whatcomesoutofmycuteli
ps.
“
AndI’
m notev
encomplai
ning,
Icansti
ll
wrapyour
l
egsar
oundmywaistandsexyouintheair
.”
Iwrapmyarmsar oundhisneckandjumpof
fthe
stoolt
osnuggl
emy sel
fonhim.Hel i
ftsmyl
egs
aroundhi
swaistandwalkswithmebacktothe
bedroom.
Hestr
ipsmycl ot
hesoff,
car
eful
l
ylaysmeonbedon
mybackandsepar at
esmylegstoposi
ti
onhi
msel
f
bet
weent hem.I’
m goi
ngtomakethi
sone
memor abl
e.
“You’r
efucki
ngwit
hsomewet-
asspu$$y
,”Isayas
hetrail
ski
ssesdowntomywai
st.
Heglancesatmeandbreaksachuckl
e.I
’m goi
ngt
o
annoyhisShembe-
assandtur
nitofft
oday.
Hecomesupt omyf aceandkissesme
af
fect
ionat
elybef
oregoingdownonmeagai
n.
Hi
stonguepr
essesovermycli
tbefor
eitsepar
ates
mywetfol
dsandsli
desthr
oughthem.
“
Youshoul
d’v
ebr
oughtamopf
ori
t!
”Isay
.
“Icanhandl
eit
,”hesay
swi
thasmi
l
eandsl
i
desi
n
hisonefi
nger.
“Putiti
ny ourfaceandswi
peyournosel
ikeacr
edi
t
card.”Hechucklesandfi
nger
smewi thmore
pressure.ForamomentIlosemysensesand
scream outhisname.
“Makeitcr
eamybaby!Makemescream!
”Isayout
ofbreat
hashist
ongueswipesonmycli
tagai
n.
“Hhayi
-boKhany
o!”Hel
aughsandsqui
ntshi
shor
ny
eyes.
“Idon’tcook,
Idon’
tclean….
”Iwasgoingtosay‘
ask
mehowIgotcheat edonandgi venal
ettertomy
uncles’buthi
sunevenball
sarehangi
ngov ermy
neck.
“Maybeyouneedtoputt
hismout
hintogooduse,
”
hesays,
hit
ti
nghishardr
odonmyl i
ps.
Iopenmymout h,
hepusheshi
sti
pagainstmy
tongueandnowit
’smewho’sswipi
ngmyt ongueon
histi
pli
keacredi
tcar
d.Nextt
imeremi
ndmet hat
I’
m notCar
diB!
He’sface-
sitt
ingmeandmyl it
tl
ethroatcan’
thandl
e
i
t.Onet hi
ngaboutf ace-
sit
ti
ngisthatyouhaveli
tt
le
tonocont r
olfrom t
hebot t
om.He’sinchargeofmy
airbr
eaksandpuni shingmymout h.

Hef
inal
l
yrel
easesmeandcl
i
mbsof
fbedt
ost
and
onhi
sfeet
.
“
Tur
nar
ound,
MsFunnyMout
h.”
Ineedagl
assofwat
er!
Hepull
smedownandput
smeagai
nstt
hebedon
mystomach.
Ihearacondom f
oil
tear
ingandshutmyey
es.Af
ter
amomenthi shar
drodrubbi
ngbetweenmy
butt
ocks.
“
Thisi
swher
emyhear
tis.Imi
ssedy
ousomuch,
my
l
ove.
”
“
Imi
ssedy
out
oo.
”
Awetkisslandsonmybut
tockbef
orehesl
owl
y
pusheshi
msel fi
n.
Isti
lll
ovehim withal
lmyhear t.Trustwil
lberebuil
t,I
real
lybeli
eveitcanbe.Ifsomeonehur tsyou
repeat
edlyyou’recommandedbyGodt oforgiv
e
them,butyou’renotexpectedtotrustthem againor
all
owt hem t
ocont i
nuehurtingyou.
“Forgi
v enessdoesnotexonerat
etheper
petr
ator
.
Forgivenessli
berat
esthevict
im.It
’sagi
fty
ougive
yourself,
”–TDJakes.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER46
THAKASA

Theirhelperarr
ivedandtookPhelooutoftheroom,
nowt heycanhav ethi
smeet i
ngwithouther
dramaticcriesandThakasaputt
ingeveryt
hingon
holdtoat t
endher .
“
Son,weareawar eoft
heshameanddisrespect
Not
hil
ebroughtint
othi
sfamil
y.Wearepreparedto
t
akeresponsi
bil
i
tyandapol
ogizeonherbehalf
.”
“Wit
hwhatBab’Ngema?Asf arasIknowallher
l
obolacowsweredistri
butedamongstthefamil
y.
EvenNomcebodidn’tgetacent.Ihadtogiv
eher
moneytobuytheweddi ngfur
nit
urebecauseyou
wereal
lusel
ess.
”
“Thakasa!
”MaKhumaloexclai
msshameful
l
y.She
didn’
trai
seki
dsthatt
alkbacktoadul
ts.
“
NoMa,it
’st
hetr
uth.I
’
m notst
upi
d,t
hey
’regoi
ngto
t
akemoneyf
rom MaNtusi
,whi
chi
smymoney ,and
comewi
thi
ttoapol
ogi
ze.Idon’
twantany
thi
ng!
”
“Buttheonlywayforhersontobef i
nei
si fshe
cleansesourpr
emi sesandapologi
zestothe
ancestorst
herightway,”MaKhumalosays.
Hi
sjawt i
ghtens,
hekeepshismouthshutandstar
es
i
ntospace.Hisstubbor
nnessi
sathighpeaktoday
.
MaKhumaloclearsherthroatandlooksatt heuncl
es.
She’
sanelder,
nomat terhowshef eel
sthingshave
tobedonetherightway,especial
lynowbecause
ther
e’sal
i
ttl
eboysuf f
eringfrom allt
his.
“Twocowsandonegoat .We’l
ldowhatwehaveto
doforachildbutshe’snotal
l
owedinmykitchen.
Herhusbandwi l
lseewhereheputsher,
Manqele
hadlar
gey ardsofland.
”
Thakasagr unt
sangril
yandshoot salookather .
Thoset wocowswi ll
beboughtwi thhismoney ,ifi
t
wasupt ohim hewould’
vestoppedallNothil
e’s
cardsbutapar tofhi
m knowst hatit
’ssti
l
l hi
sdut y
tofinanci
all
ytakecareofher.I
fitwasn’tforhim
she’dbesomewher einli
fewithherownmoney .But
nowheruncl esareheretoexploi
thimy etagain.
“Whatannoy
smei sthatshethi
nksshecanbri
ng
herboyf
ri
endherei
nmyf ather’
shouset
ojust
if
y
hi
mselfandclai
mthechild,
”hesnort
sangr
il
y.
Theuncl
elooksathi
m abi
tshocked.
“
Youwantt
ofatherthechi
ldr
egar
dlessofhi
s
mot
her
’smist
akes?”heasks.
“That
’snoneofy ourbusiness.Idon’twantMandul o
orwhoev erheistocomeher e.Idon’
tcarewhat
thei
rstoryis,
butMaNt usiisawi fehereand
whatevershegivesbir
tht oismychi l
d.Shecango
tocourtandfil
efordivorceifshewant sto,butonce
aManqel e,al
waysaManqel e,unti
lIsayit’
sover.
”
Thisisnottaki
ngtheri
ghtdi
recti
on.Thakasaissti
l
l
i
nhi semotionsandvengef
ul.MaKhumalof l
ashesa
fakesmileattheuncl
eswhol ookconf
usedand
scared.
“LetMaNt usicomeher efi
rstandfaceher
disgr
acefulacts,t
henwe’lltal
kaboutthechi
ld
after
wards.”She’dneverall
owachi l
dshedoesn’t
knowt ober ai
sedinherhouse.ButThakasastil
l
needstimet owor konhisemot i
onsandletgoofthe
anger
,soshe’
l
llethi
mtakehi
sti
me.
Itwould’
vebeenbetteri
fMaNt usireachedoutearl
y,
beforeherpastcaughtupwithher,becausenow
she’sdesper
ateandlookingforinstantf
orgi
veness,
somet hi
ngshewasn’tabletogiveThakasa.
“Arewedoneher
e?”heasks,
looki
ngar
oundat
every
one.
Nobodyanswer
s.Hetakesi
tasayesanddi
smi
sses
hi
mselft
olookforhi
sdaught
er.

Hedidhav erespectfort heNgemasbutov erthe

year
she’slostit.Todayt hey’r
ecall
inghi m‘son’and
aski
nghimt obeconsi der ateandtaket hem as
famil
y.Butdidtheydot hatwhenhewast heoneon
thewrongside?Di dtheyseehi m as‘ son’orthey
capi
tal
izedonev erysituationandfinanciall
y
expl
oit
edhi m?No, he’snotpl ayi
ngt hatgamenow.
Hisdaysoft aki
ngthesmal lroadandhumbl i
ng
himsel
fareov er.
“Si
s’Thandi
.”Hewal
ksi
nsi
det
heki
tchenandt
akes
Phelofr
om herar
ms.
“She’ssleepingagain,
”Sis’
Thandi
tel
lshi
m andl
ift
s
herselfoffthechairtocont
inuewi
thherchor
es.
“She’slazylikeTutu,
”hesayswithagr i
nonhisface.
Ever yt
hingPhel odoesiscut
einhiseyes,eveni
fshe
turnsoutl azyitwouldbeanormal t
hingandhe’d
makesur ethatsheenjoysever
ylastbitofher
l
azi ness.
Heput sheri
nbedandl i
esnextt oher.It
’sunfai
rthat
hecannotliv
ewi thhisdaughterandbepr esenton
every
dayofherl i
fe.Nomkhosi ishard-
headed, i
t’
ll
be
hardtoconvincehertogoandst ayi
n‘ t
heirhouse’in
Waterwayssot hathecanhav ef r
eeaccesst oPhelo
aswell.I
t’
shar dforhimtovisitmult
ipletimesina
week;MaNsel edoesn’tl
ikehim andNgi diisj
ustnot
someonehel ikestohangaroundt o.

Hedecidest
ogiveSqaloacal
landcheckonhi
m.
Theyhaven’
tspokeni
ndays.
“Mthonga,howaret
hingsi
nschool
?”heaskswhen
Sqalopicksup.
“
Good,
”Sqal
osay
swi
thnoent
husi
asm andhe
qui
ckl
ypi
cksupsor
rowf
ulnessi
nhi
svoi
ce.
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”heasks.
“Mpilobrokeupwi thme.Idon’tevenknowwhatI
didwr ong.I’vebeentryi
ngtokeepcommuni cat
ion
andspi cethingsupr egardl
essofthedist
ance
betweenus, buthejustsli
ppedaway .
”That’
s
heartbreakingtohear.Hisbrotherri
skedeveryt
hing
forthatrelati
onship.
I
tseemsli
kethey’
real
lunl
uckyi
nlov
e, ev
enthose
whoaredat
ingthesamegender
,soi
t’snotj
ust
women.
“Icanrel
ate.All
I’
m goingtoaskyout odoistonot
l
osey our
selfinarelat
ionshi
pthatnolongerser
ves
neit
herofyourneeds.Lethim goifhewantstogo.
You’r
eonly18, t
hereareplent
yofgirl
s…Imeanboys
outhere.
”
Ther
e’saheav
ysi
gh.
“Ialsomovedoutoft
hatBereafl
at.Thingswer
e
beingsai
danditwasn’
tsafeforpeopleli
keme
anymore,
”hesays.
“
Didany
onet
hreat
eny
ou?
”
“
No.
”
“
Didt
heydoany
thi
ngt
oyouorany
onecl
oset
o
y
ou?”
“No,
bhuti
.Butt
herehav
ebeencasesofgayboy
s
bei
nggangeduponandatt
acked.
”
“Ist
il
lthi
nkitwould’
vebeengoodify
ougoti
ntot
he
univ
ersit
yresi
dence.Idon’
tli
kei
twhenIhav
etol
ive
notknowingifyou’
resafeornot
.”
“
I’
ll
bef
ine,
bhut
i.I
sBandl
aar
ound?
”Sqal
oasks.
It’
sasurprisequesti
on;hecutshisti
eswi t
hBandl a.
Henev erforgavehi
mf orwhathappenedi nDurban,
eventhoughBandl ahasbeentryi
ngt oprovehislove
andloyalt
yt ohim.Nobodyint
ervenedintheir
tensi
on,they’l
lsor
titoutwhenevertheydecideto.
“
Cal
lhi
m,he’
satwor
kthough,
”Thakasasay
s.
“Iwi
ll
.Passmyr
egar
dst
oMaandt
ell
hert
hatIl
ove
her.
”
Hesmi
l
es,
“Sur
e.Takecar
eofy
our
sel
fther
e.”
.
.
BHAMBATHA

He’sbeenwor ki
ngonhi sbi ggestdream formont hs
andthatwast oopenaShi sanyamai nhis
communi ty
.Itcameoutexact l
ylikehewant ed.
There’sanon-dri
nkingarea, abar,spaci
ousgr i
l
li
ng
spaceanddancef loor.Thereareshel t
ersandst eel
benchesoutside,f
orcommonv il
lagedrunkardsand
Wi-Fibugsofthearea.
Todayi st
hedayheoffi
ciall
yopensBMT
Shi
sany ama.DJXisonthedesk, withafewlocal
musiciansonthel
i
ne-upt oent
ertainthecr
owds
who’vecomeoutinnumber sforfreefoodand
dri
nks.
Whist
leswel comehim ashest epsoutofhisBMW
X6wearingaGi venchyblacktr
acksui
tandwhi te
Adi
dastrainers.Ashisfr
iendscheeronhim hedoes
ali
tt
lespin,l
aughsandcl apsforhimsel
f.Yes,hedi
d
i
t!
“Wel
cometoBadMar
auderTopee,
”Nathi
say
sashe
bumpsshoul
der
swi
thhi
sbestfri
end.
“Nodumbass, BMTst andsforBhaMbaThabutyou
wouldn’tknowthatbecauseyouwerepract
ici
ng
onanism whil
ewest udi
edabbrevi
ati
ons.
”Hepushes
him offandwalkspasthim.
“That
’sanacr
ony
m,di
ckhead!
”Nat
hisay
sbehi
nd
him.
Theyfl
ockt
ogetherl
ikebir
dsofthesamef
eat
her
butar
gueoversi
ll
ythingsl
iket
wins.
“No,i
t’
sanabbrev
iati
on,j
ustli
ketheHIVandAIDS
that
’sr
unni
nginyourvei
ns,”Bhambathast
ri
kesback
astheybot
hmaket hei
rwayt othebar
.
“
HIVisani
nit
ial
i
sm whil
eAIDSisanacronym.Cock
t
hatguni
nyourheadandspil
lyourusel
essbr
ains.
”
Everyonelaughs,Bhambathaincl
uded.Heknows
thatNathiismoreacademi ct
hanhim andhesucked
Engli
shfrom hisfather
’sdi
ck,buthesti
l
lar
gueswith
himforthef unofit
.
Heaskst
hebar
tendert
opasst
hem abot
tl
eof
Mart el
landtonicwater
.TheirVIPseatsare
exclusiv
elysetbehi
ndagl asssli
dingdoorthat
’s
l
ooki ngoverthedancefloorwhereafewgirlshave
alr
eadyst ar
tedtotwerktheirbut
tsoff
.
“
IthoughtNonduwoul dcome, j
usttocongr
atul
ate
y
ouasaf at
herofherchil
d,”Nathi
saysastheylower
t
hemselvesontheirseat
s.
“Whatmakesyoubel
iev
ethatshewaseverpr
egnant
?
Thatbi
tchwasly
ingandI’
m goi
ngtoki
l
lherwhenI
seeher
.”
Nat
hif
rownsandt
akesasi
pfr
om hi
sgl
ass.
“Whywouldshel
i
eaboutsomet
hingsosensi
ti
ve?
”
heasks.
“Tohur
tme,whatelse?Iwenttot hatdi
ck-
headed
doct
orandsqueezedthetruthoutofhim.They
smashed,
bri
bedeachot herandwr oteafi
l
eoflies.
Ther
ewasnomi scarr
iage.”
Mnqobi j
oinsthem.He’smoret
huggi
shthan
ever
yone.Event odayhe’
swear
ingsi
l
vergri
l
lsov
er
hi
steeth,ahugeov erl
appi
ngbl
ackT-
shir
tand
saggi
ngpant s.
“What
’sup?Whobri
bedandwroteafil
eofli
es?”He
bumpsBhambatha’
sfi
standsi
tsnexttoNathi
.
“Wearet
alki
ngabouttheir
rel
evantNondumi
so,
uMakaSpoki
,”Bhambathasays.
Hecl
i
ckshi
stongueandf
il
lsuphi
sgl
ass.
“It
houghti
twassomethingimport
ant.Wherear
e
thechi
cksoft
hisvi
ll
age?Icameher eprepar
edt
o
getmesomev i
rgi
nwifeofthevil
l
age.”
“Thi
sismyShisany
ama, noteNyokeniPal
ace.Ther
e
arenovi
rgi
nshere,andev enift
heywer eher
e,you’
re
notahusbandmaterial
,
”Bhambat hatell
shim.
Nat
hipoi
ntsatonegi
rlwi
that
uckshopscor
pion
t
att
ooonherback.
“
That
’sy
ourt
ypeMnqobi
,
”hesay
s.
Mnqobi
laughs,
“Di
dshecr
ayonherback?
”
“Maybei
twasaballpointpen.Bhambathashould
ext
endthi
spl
acewithat att
ooparlorbef
orethese
peopl
egotohel
lforfakesins,
”Nathisays.
Ther
e’sanear-
breaki
nglaughter
.Oneofthe
wait
ressesser
vesthem gr
il
ledbri
sket
,boer
wor
s,
papandrel
ish.Theyeatandfi
nishthei
rdr
inks,
then
j
ointhecr
owdf orfor
mal i
ntr
oducti
onand
welcomi
ng.

Bhambathawal
ksuptot
hestageandaskst
heDJt
o
si
lencemusi
cforamoment
.
“Areyoual
lhav
ingagoodti
me?”heasksandt
he
crowdcheer
switht
hei
rdri
nksup.
“Idon’tneedtoint
roducemy sel
fbecauseyouall
knowwhoi sthecrownedbadmar auderofthi
s
place.
”Ev er
yonelaughs,hi
sfri
endshurli
nsult
sat
him andhe’slovi
ngit.
Ther
e’ssi
l
enceagai
n.
“Thishasbeenmydr eam foraver ylongti
me.This
i
snotj ustamoney -gener
atingbusi nessf
orme.I t
’s
somet hi
ngIdi dtopr ovetomy selfthat
perfecti
onism isnotaquestf orthebest ,
it’
sjusta
pursuitofthewor stthatothersprojectonus.It
spellsparaly
sis.”
“
No,
itdoesn’
t!
”thev
oicecomesf
rom t
hecr
owdand
t
her
oom er
upt
sinaf
itofl
aught
er.
“
ShutupNkosinat
hi,
I’
m adi
amondwi
thaf
lawand
y
ourperf
ectassisapebbl
e.”
Laught
eragai
n!
“Butseri
ousl
y,t
heexci
tementofseeingy ourdr
eams
comet r
ueisbeyondwords.I’
m notsayi
ngIwor ked
hardtobewhereIam.Istoleanddideverythi
ngI
couldtogetmoney,
”hesaysandl ooksatthe
cheeri
ngcrowdthatwasoncecelebrati
nghis
i
mpr i
sonment.
“Cri
memayhav epavedt
hewayf ormebutnowI’
m
onmyf eet.Idi
ditonown!”Thecrowdcheer
sand
claphands.
“
Iwouldli
ketot
hankizi
nkabizami ov
erther
e,”he
l
ooksathist
wofri
ends.“Forholdingmedown
t
hroughhi
ghsandlows.Youf oolsarenowaf amil
y
t
ome. ”
Hedropsthemicandwalksofft
hestage
accompaniedbyaroundofappl
ause.
Nathiwasn’tgoi
ngtoletthi
smomentofbeingon
stage,hol
dingamicr
ophonel i
keamoti
vat
ional
speakerandlooki
ngallhandsome,
passhi
m by.
Hegr
abst
hemi
candwhi
stl
es.
“
Wedidit
.Shisany
amaowners.Bl
ackexcel
l
ency
!”
Her
oll
shisf
istupandwhi
stl
es.
“That’
smybr otherfr
om anot hermot her.Ubaba
kaSpoki!Congratsnj
ay ami.”Hegi v
esbackt he
microphoneandgoest ot heDJ’ sdesk.Now
everyoneisgoingtoli
stentoDJCof feeandhi s
housemusi cthatwentt oHar v
ardUni versi
ty.
“WewanttoDi
bal
abro,
thi
sisnotSandton.
Awudedel
euTi
ral
apho,
”Mnqobiyel
lsabovethe
noi
se.
Nathi
showshi
m hi
smi ddl
efi
ngerandcont
inuest
o
gi
vetheDJhi
splay
li
st.
There’
saladymakingherwayt hr
oughthecrowd.
She’
swearingaslim,r
edtur
tleneckmaxidressand
bl
ackplat
form heel
s.Herbr
aidsareti
edinahigh
bunandwr appedwit
haheadwr apall
aroundli
kean
Egypti
anqueen.
Ever
yone’
sey
esareonherasshecl
i
mbsuponthe
st
ageandgoest
otheguyinchar
geoft
hesound
sy
stem.
Aft
erbeinghandedamicrophoneshetur
nsaround
toacrowdofhundredsandflashesaner
voussmil
e.
“Hey…”Thisismoreuncomfor
tabl
ethanshehad
i
magi ned.Herey
eslockwit
hBhambatha’
sandhe
giv
esheral ookofmoti
vati
on.
Shesumsuphercour ageandcont i
nues;“Onbehalf
ofyourf ami l
y, t
heMy ezas, Ij
ustwantt o
congratulatey ou.Thisisourf i
rstShisanyamai nthi
s
area,i
ndeedy ou’veachiev edami lestonethatyou
setupfory ourselfandthati nmybooks, i
ssuccess.
Mayt hi
sdaybet hehighlightofy ourtri
umphs.Look
backtoev erythi
ngy ou’v
econquer edandappr eci
ate
whatUNy aziLwezul u,yourancest orsandGodhav e
broughty out hrough.Savort hetasteofy our
tr
iumphsandcel ebrateyourgr eatness.”
Bhambathainhal
esashar
pbr
eat
handkeepshis
eyesonher.Shecameher
edr
essedf
orahigh-
prof
il
edevent
,notjustaShi
sany
amacelebrati
on.He
di
dn’tev
enknowt hatshewasbackfr
om Malindi
.
Shehaschangedtheatmospher
efrom j
auntyto
harmoni
ous.
“
I’
m proudofyou,
”shesay
sandhandsbackt
he
micr
ophoneandcli
mbsoffthest
age.

Nathi i
saskingBhambathaifit
’sokayf ort
hemusic
torestartwit
hhandsigns.Gir
lsinskinny-j
eansand
All
-Startakki
esarer
eadyt oki
llthedancef l
oor,
but
i
sthel adyinareddressgoingtolikethenoise?
Bhambathagiv
eshim athumb-upandfol
lowsaf
ter
Mawande.Hedidn’
tinvi
teanyoftheMyezas
becauseheknewnoneoft hem woul
dcome
knowingtheki
ndofacelebrat
ionhewasgoingt
o
thr
ow.
Hishear
thasswoll
eninjoyseei
ngatl
eastone
personf
rom hi
sfamil
yshowingupandsayi
ngthose
wordstohi
m; “
I’
m pr
oudofy ou.
”
Hefindsheri
nthenon-
smokingar
eabei
ngtaken
car
eofbyoneoft hewai
ter
s.Themusi
cisv
eryloud
fr
om theot
herside,butherethere’
ssomet r
anqui
l
ity
.
She’
stheonlynon-dri
nkerhere,soshe’
sjustal
one
wit
hhercold-
dri
nkandpl ateofpapandmeat .
“
Mawande,
”hepul
lsachai
randsit
s.“
Idi
dn’
tknow
y
ouwerebackf
rom y
ourvacat
ion.
”
“IhadenoughofKeny aandcamebackt oconti
nue
withli
fe.ThenIheardMasay i
ngy ou’
reopeningy our
Shisanyamaanddeci dedtocome.”Oh,hismot her
knewandev enspr
eadt heword,
butshedi dn’
tcome?
“
Ireal
l
yappr
eci
atei
t,
”hesay
s.
Mawandelooksar
ound,t
oappr
eci
atet
hewhol
ear
ea
andnodswit
hasmi l
e.
“
Youout
didyour
sel
f,i
tlooksmor
eli
kear
est
aur
ant
t
hanaShi
sanyama.
”
“It
ri
ed.
”Hisgr
inswi
thpr
ideandshr
ugshi
s
shoul
der
s.
Shetakesonel
astsi
pofherdr
inkandput
sherf
ork
andknif
ebackonthepl
ate.
“
I’
ll
beyourr
egul
arcustomer
,thi
sisgood!ButIhav
e
t
ocheckmyemployeesatWandesandgobuyMa’ s
wheatmal
t.
”
Healsogetsupfr
om thechairasMawandecol
lect
s
herphoneandpursef
rom thetabl
e,r
eadyt
oleave.
“Iknowyourpeoplearenowwal ki
ngoneggshel l
s
becauseofmypr esence,”shesay
swi thachuckl
e
andextendsherhandf oraformal“congr
atul
ati
ons”
shake.
I
nst
eadofshaki
ngherhandhepul
l
sherf
orahug.
“ThankyouMawande,
”hesay
sasherar
mswr
aps
aroundhiswai
st.
“
Imeanti
t,I
’
mreal
l
ypr
oudofy
ou,
”shesay
s.
Helower shisey estoherf ace, beforehethi
nks
twi
ceabouti t,hecupsherf aceandsmasheshi slips
agai
nsther swhi l
ehi srighthandr oamst heexpanse
ofherback.He’ slosti nthemoment ,
hishearti
s
beat
ingf ast
erandf aster.Af terthi
smoment ,
whetheritonlylastf oraf ewsecondsandnev er
agai
n,heknowst hathismi ndwoul dneverr
ompl i
ke
acri
mi nal’
s,orthatofamer ebr ot
her-i
n-l
aw.
Herhandtenderl
ypusheshi
schestandhiseyes
opens.Thenithi
tshi
m; hej
ustki
ssedhi
slate
brot
her’
swife?
“Mawande, I
’
m sosorry.
”Ther imsofhiseyesare
i
nflamed.He’st
ryi
ngtomakei tmakesensei nhis
ownhead,butnothi
ngexpl ainshisheart
beat.I
sit
evenabeat?Hisheartisthreateni
ngtobursthis
chestandleapouttothepal m ofherhand.
“
Iwasj
ust
….”Shel
i
ftsherey
est
hatar
emaskedwi
th
f
ear
.
“I
tshoul
dn’thavehappened.I
’m sor
ry.
”Wi
ththat
sai
d,sheturnsaround,
rel
easesadeepbreat
hand
shameful
lywalksout.
Heremai
nsstandingthere,paleandgui
lty-
str
icken.
Shecanst
il
lsmellherfrom hisli
ps,wavesof
tr
emorsar
ethrashingthroughhishands.
Whathashedone?Rui
ningthi
ngswi
tht
heonl
y
per
sonwhoseesahumani nhim.
Nathii
syel
li
nghisnamesomewher
e.Heneedst
o
getitt
oget
heri
nstant
ly.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER47
NOMKHOSI

Ndondocal l
edhert oherof fi
ceandsaiditwas
urgent.Sheknowsev ery
t hingther
e’stoknowabout
work,soshej ustknowst hatsheeitherhear
d
somethingandwant sthem t ogossiporNdabuko
didsomet hi
ng.BabyNhl ai sonlyt
wobutNdabuko
alr
eadywant sanot herchild.Whocanbl amehim
though?Nhlamayhav ehi sbloodbuthe’sachi
ldhe
madef orhislatebrother.Ndondoj ustneedsto
makepeacewi thitandf orgetaboutbeingaCEO.
Shepushest
hedoorwit
hherelbowandwal
ksi
n
wit
htwocupsofcof
feeinherhands.
“What’
sur
gent
?”sheasksassheput
scupsont
he
desk.
“
Thetextmessagey
our
ecei
vedf
rom Thakasa.What
wasi
tsayi
ng?”
Sheknewi
t!Sher
oll
sherey
es,
takeshercupand
si
tsont
heguestcouch.
“
Hewant
smet
omov
etoWat
erway
s,i
magi
ne!
”
Ndondo’
spupi
l
sdi
l
atei
nshock.Saywhat
?
“Forwhat
?That
’sl
i
ke,
30mi
nut
esaway
,”Ndondo
exclai
ms.
“Hesayshe’snotcomfort
ablecomingtomy
par
ents’housefr
equentl
yandit’
srobbi
nghimt i
me
wit
hhisdaughter.
”Sheroll
shereyesandtakesasi
p
ofhercoff
ee.
“Sohe’
sgoi
ngt
omov
einwi
thy
ouaswel
l
?”Ndondo
asks.
Sheshr
ugshershoulder
s,“
Doyouthi
nkIknowhow
hi
smindworks?Kidsalway
sgrowwit
htheirf
ather
s
l
ivi
ngaway,i
nbigcit
ies,
andonl
yseei
ngthem once
i
nawhile.
”
“That’
swhaty ouwantf orPheloaswell?”Ndondo’s
eyeswi deni
nshock.Yes, shegrewupwi thboth
parentsandhersoni salsogrowingupwi t
hbot h
fat
herandmot herunderoneroof.Butshecan
i
magi nehowitmustbel i
keseeingyourfatheronce
i
nafull
moonandneverhavehimt
ucky
oui
nbed
andr
eadyoubedt
imestor
ies.
“
Bot
hMom andNgididon’
tmi
ndifhecomesaround
t
oseePhel
o.He’
sjustdr
amat
ic,
”Khosisay
s.
“Dramati
c,r
ight
?Thatcomesfrom someonewho
wasf i
ght
ingforMaqhi
ngatohavefairri
ght
soverhi
s
son?That’
sexactl
ywhatyourbabydaddywant
s
too.”
“Igetit
,butmysituat
ionistri
cky.Thi
smanhas
playedmeov erandov eragai
n.Whatifhewant
sme
goliveinWaterwayssot hathecantakeadv
ant
age
ofme? ”
Ndondochokesdownal
aughandnear
lyspi
l
lst
he
cof
feei
nherhand.
“You’
reagrownasswoman!It’
snotli
keyoucan’
t
tel
lhi
m no,youj
ustchosetoopenyourl
egs
every
timeheaskedyouto,
”shetel
l
sher.
“Don’
tjudgeme, bi
tch.I
’mjustt
ryi
ngtoprot
ectmy
heart
,IknowI’l
lneverfi
tinhi
sworldandnowIhav
e
nodesireto.
”
“ButPhel
oneedstofi
tinhisworl
d,thisi
sn’tj
ust
aboutyou.Youandhi
m needt of
indcommon
groundsandcreat
eanarrangementthatbenefi
ts
Phelomorethanyour
selv
es.”
Khosi si
ghsandf ini
sheshercof feebeforei
tturns
cold.She’sal
way spr ayedthatherchil
drenhavea
fatherfi
guresot hattheydon’tgrowupl i
keher.
Thakasai severythi
ngshewi shedf ori
nababy daddy
,
buthowdoesshesepar at
eaf at
herofherdaughter
from theThakasat hathurther?It’
snoteasyas
peoplemayt hink.

Acal
lcomest
hroughandNdondoat
tendst
oit
.
Shehaslatel
unchwi t
hSnal
o,t
henshe’l
lknockof
f
earl
ysothatshecangohomeandreleasehernanny
forhergr
antcol
lect
ion.
“Thatwasyourcal
l,
”Ndondotel
l
sher.“
Precious
saysther
e’ssomeoneatther
ecept
ionl
ookingfor
you.”
Shef
rowns,
“Whocouldi
tbe?Ihopeit
’snotThakasa
want
ingt
otakePhel
ooutfori
ce-
cream.”
“
Ice-
cream?I
shet
hatbad?
”Ndondol
aughs.
“Theyweref
eedinghermaizeporr
idge.I’
m noteven
sureifi
twasrealpor
ri
dgeorsti
ffpap.”Shetakes
emptycupsandleavesNdondoinstit
ches.

It
’sapi tyt hatshecannotcont r
ol whathappens
whenPhel oisatt heManqel es.Shecamebackwi th
i
nci sionmar ksatt hebackofherheadandar ound
hernav el.Theexpl anati
onThakasagav eherhadno
scient i
ficmeani ngt oit,
sot oheri twasdonej ustto
hurtherbabyov ernot hi
ng.Nott oment i
onthewool
stri
ngsar oundherwr ist
st hat‘preventherfr
om
l
osi ngwei ghtifpeoplecompl i
mentherbi gbody .
’
Hav ingababyf r
om t hatfami l
yisheadacheoni ts
own.
Shethrowst hecupsinsidethebinandtakesal i
ftto
thegroundfloor.Asthelif
tdoorsopenherey esland
onawomanhol di
ngababywr appedinablanket.
Herhearttakesal eapasPhelo’simagecrossesher
mind-didsomet hinghappentoherdaughter?And
whois….ohhel l
,no!
WhatisThakasa’swif
edoi
nginherwor
kpl
ace?Now
she’
staki
ngthingsfar
.Toofar
!
Preci
ousgivesheranerv
oussmileandpretendst
o
befocusedonherlapt
opwhi l
ehereyeskeep
st
eali
ngglancesatNothi
le.
Sheexerci
sesafewbreat
hs,pul
l
sherbl
ouseover
herchestandmakesherwaytoheront
hecouch.
“Goodday,
”shesay
sformal
l
yandst
andsi
nfr
ontof
her,
tal
li
nherconeheel
s.
“
Nomkhosi
,
”Not
hil
eli
ft
sherey
est
oher
.
She’
snothi
ngli
ketheangrywifeshemetsi
xmont
hs
ago.Butt
hatdoesn’
tputheratease,
thi
swomani
s
l
ikeavampir
e.
“Thi
si smywor kplace,
”shesays,heav
ingasighand
scanninghersur roundings.Sof
artheyonl
yhave
twoaudi ence;
Pr eciousandoneofhercleani
ng
gossip-part
ners.
“
I’
m nother
etof
ight
,”Not
hil
esay
s.
Shef
rowns.
“
Thenwhyar
eyouher
e?”Herey
esgot
othebaby
wrappedinabl
anket.I
t’
saboy ,acut
eoneinablue
romperandpom-pom hat.Thi
sisPhelo’
sbaby
brot
herandshedoesn’
tev enknowhisname.
Sheshif
tshergazef
rom t
hebabyt
ohi
smot
herand
rai
seshereyebr
ows.
“What
?I’
m nolongerwithThakasa.Weonl
y
communicat
eifitconcer
nsthebaby.”
Nothil
einhalessharpl
yandrubshernosewi t
hthe
heelofherpalm.Mot her
hoodispulli
ngherbyti
ts;
shehasdar kcir
clesunderhersunkeneyes.I
tmust
belackofsleep.
“I
’
m notheref
orthat,
”shesaysandt akesanot
her
breat
h.Nowwhateveriti
sthatbroughtherher
e
l
ooksseri
ousandlessaboutfighti
ng.
“
Ineedyourhel
p,”shesay
sanddr
opsherey
est
o
t
hefloor
.
“Wena?Youneedmyhel p?Ar
ey oulooki
ngforaj
ob?
Wear enothi
ri
ng.”Nomkhosifoldsherarmsand
giv
esherasternlook.Whatki
ndofhel pcoul
da
worthywomanpossi bl
eneedfrom awomanwho’ s
notworthofanyt
hing?
“Ri
ghtnowIdon’tcar
eifyouinsultme,r
emindmeof
ever
ythi
ngIoncesaidtoyouormar ryManqel
e.My
sonissi
ck,hel
osthissightbef
oreheturned6
weeksandIneedManqel etohelphim.
”
Thi
sisev
enmor
econf
usi
ng.
“
Andhowam Igoi
ngt
ohel
p?”
“
Youcant
alkt
ohi
m,”shesay
sandKhosi
’
sey
es
wi
den.
I
sthi
swomanhear
ingher
sel
f?
“
I’
m notanyt
hingt
oThakasa.Whywoul
dheneedme
t
opressurehi
m bef
orehehelpshi
sownchi
l
d?”
Asigh!Sherunsherhandst
hroughhercor
nrows
andrel
easesasigh.
Nomkhosi
rai
sesherey
ebr
ow.Whati
sthi
s?
“Hehascondi ti
onsandt hey ’
renotfair
.Londa’s
pater
nit
yresultscamebackandhe’ snotManqel e’
s
son.Hisbiologi
calfatherisagoodmanandhe
wantshisrightsasaf ather.ButManqel eonlywants
tohelpLondaundert hecondi ti
onthathel i
vesatthe
Manqelesandhi sfatherstaysaway .”Shelooksat
hersonandf i
ghtsbackt
ears.“
Ican’thav emyson
rai
sedbysomeonewho’ snothisfat
her .Iknowhow
hardthati
s.ManqeleandMaar eholdinggr udges
againstme,Ican’
thavemysonr ai
sedbyt hem.”
May
besheshoul
d’v
esatdownf
ort
his.
Thakasai
snowhismot
her’sbestfr
iendandt
hey
don’
treal
l
ytal
kunl
essi
fitconcer
nsPhelo.
“Hewant smyuncl estopayaf ineoftwocowsanda
goat.Manqeleknowst hatt hosepeoplewoul dnever
doany t
hingforme.I t
’l
ltaket hem ayeartoraise
moneyf orthosecows, thatiftheyevencare.”She’
s
asecondawayf r
om br eaki
ngdown.Asmuchas
Nomkhosi doesn’tli
keher ,
seei ngherinsuchpainis
underst
andable.She’dlosehermi ndtooifPhelo
wascaughti nthesamesi t
uat i
on.
“
Whydon’
tyoupayt
hatf
iney
our
sel
f?”Khosi
asks.
“Hesaidhewon’ taccepti
t.Obv
iouslyt
hemoneywi l
l
reportt
ohimi fIwit
hdraw.ThemoneyIhav ei
nmy
savingsaccountisenoughformetosustainali
vi
ng,
nottobuycows.IcannotaskLonda’ sf
athert
opay
formysins.He’sstil
lgoi
ngtobefined,i
fManqele
fi
nal
lyal
l
owshimtocorr
ecthi
swrongs,
andhe’s
payi
ngallt
hemedi
cal
expensesf
orLonda,
”shesay
s.
Phewww!Thi
sonei
shar
d.
“
Whydon’
tyout
alkt
ohi
sbr
other
s?”Khosi
asks.
Sheshr
ugshershoulder
s,“
Ift
heycar
edthey
woul
d’v
etal
kedhim outofi
tbynow.I’
m onmy
own.
”
“Ir
eal
lydon’
tknowifhe’
sgoi
ngt
olist
entome.AsI
sai
d,ourcommunicat
ioni
snowstr
ict
lyaboutt
he
baby.
”
Not
hil
elooksather
,pl
eadi
ngwi
thherey
es.
“
Hehasababyt oo,
maybei
fyout
alktohi
mfr
om
t
hatper
spect
ivehe’
sgoi
ngt
ounderst
and.
”
“
Youwantmet oemot
ional
l
ybl
ackmai
lhi
m usi
ng
mydaught
er?
”
“
Ifi
t’
sgoi
ngtosaveanot
heri
nnocentchi
l
d’ssi
ght
,
woul
dn’
tyoudoit
?”
Right
!Sheexhalesheav
il
yandlooksatt
hebaby.I
f
tabl
eswereturnedshe’
dhavedoneanyt
hingt
oget
herdaught
erhelpedaswell
.
“I
’m notpr
omi
singany
thi
ngbutI
’
m goi
ngt
otr
y,”she
says.
“
Thanky
ousomuch.
”
“
Youst
il
lhav
emynumber
?”
“
Yes.
”
“
Let
’skeepi
ntouchthen.”Nomkhosi
li
ft
sher
sel
fof
f
t
hecouchandpicksLondaforher
.
“Bealri
ght,babyboy,”shet el
l
shim,guil
tstri
kinghis
consciencelikeali
ghtning.Atthebot
tom ofal l
thi
s
i
sherf all
inginlov
ewi thamar ri
edmanandget ti
ng
pregnant.May beNothil
ewoul dn’
thavecheated,she
would’vebirt
hedaheal t
hyManqel echil
dand
nothi
ngwoul d’vegonewr ong.Therewouldn’
tbet hi
s
somuchhat redbetweenherandThakasa.
Not
hil
epickshercel
l
phoneandthebabybl
anket
,
t
hentakesthebabyfr
om Nomkhosi
.
Theypr
omi
set
ost
ayi
ntouchandpar
tway
s.
.
.
It’
sthefol
lowingdayandshehasn’tf
oundawayt o
talktoThakasa.Thecl
ockist
icki
ng,Nothi
l
e’shopes
arenowonher .
Whatl
i
nei
sshegoi
ngt
ouse?
‘
Phel
owantstoseeyou?
’-No,
she’
stooy
oungt
o
r
equestt
oseepeopl
e.
‘
Shefel
landbr
okeherarm?’
-Thi
sonewill
dri
vehim
cr
azy
.Hemaynotev engi
veherachancetot
alk.
Maybesheshoul
djustgi
vehi
m whathewants,
onl
y
f
orashortper
iodofti
me,unt
ilshe’
sabl
etoget
t
hroughhi
m.

HEY.I
’
M GOINGTOTAKEPHELOTOWATERWAYS
ANDSEEIFSHELI
KESTHEHOUSE.

Well
,Phel
oist
ooyoungtoli
keandnotl
i
kehouses
butt
hemessagei
salreadygone.
Hecal
l
simmedi
atel
y.
“
I’
m goi
ngt
oknockof
fandcomepi
cky
ouup.Idon’
t
knowifyou’
regoi
ngtolikeherr
oom, Iwasn’
tbei
ng
advi
sedbyanyone.I
fthere’
sanyt
hingyoudon’tl
i
ke
we’l
lchangei
t.
”
Heneedst
orel
ax,
real
l
y!
“
OkayThakasa,
thanky
ou.
”
“
Isawasaleofhernappi
esatCli
cksbutI’
m notsur
e
i
fthey
’dbest
il
lopenwhenIleav
ewor k.
”
“She’
sstil
lcoveredfort
hismont
h,t
here’
snorush,
othersal
eswi l
lcome.Andift
heydon’
t,y
ou’
ll
buy
withtheori
ginalpri
ce.
”
“
Oh,okay.I
’
m goi
ngtoyoualll
atert
hen.”Hesounds
t
oohappyforsomeonewhojustwantedhertomove
t
oWat er
wayswit
hnohiddenagenda.
Ndondowal ksinwi t
hadocumenti nherhandand
fr
ownsather .She’snervousashel l
,thi
shasnot hi
ng
todowi thher ,
it’
snotherpl aceatall
.Theirmarri
age
wast heir
s,it’
sonlytheirfamili
esthatcanint
ervene
andhel pthem.Butt henshehadahandi n
destr
oy i
ngt hem, t
hat’swhyNot hil
ecamet oher,
ri
ght?Shewant shertocont inueherrol
east hethi
rd
partofhermar r
iage,j
ustlikeshewasf rom t
he
begi
nni
ng.
“
Andt
hen?
”Ndondoaskswi
thaf
rown.
“
I’
m goi
ngt
oWat
erway
s,t
oni
ght
.”
“
Whaaaat
?”
Shesi
ghsoutheav
il
y.
“
Ineedt
otal
ktoThakasaandgoi
ngt
ot hehousehe
want
smetobeatwouldhelpmesof
tenhim up.
”
“Forawomanwhocall
edyouall
sor
tofdi
rt
ynames
undert
hesun?
”Ndondoasks.
“Andherson;t
hat’
sthemosti mpor
tantone.I
t
must’
vetakenalotforhertocometome, youknow
howmuchshehat esme. ”
“Oh,soyou’ r
egoi ngtospendtheni
ghtwit
hhim and
giv
ehi m sexsot hathecan‘
soft
enup’
?”Ndondo
rai
sesherey ebrow.They’
vebeendownthi
sroad
before;
hert akingt hi
smanbackandmaking
excusesf orhim.
“
Whosai
dI’
m goi
ngt
osl
eepwi
thhi
m?”sheasks.
“
Becauset
hat
’showPhel
ohappened.Youcannot
cont
inueli
vingli
ket hi
s.What’
sgoi
ngtohappen
wheny ou’
vesoftenhim upandhefor
giv
eshiswif
e
andcastsyouasi deasusual
?You’
regoingt
ocrya
vi
cti
m ofhisdickagain.”
Thatstr
uckanerve.Shei
nhal
esadeepbr
eat
hand
scr
atchesherhead.
“Whatdoyouwantmetodo?Seri
ousl
y,whatmustI
do?”sheasks,
cur
ledi
nfr
ust
rat
ion.
“Youwerenotr esponsi
bleforwhathappenedt o
thei
rmarriage.They’
rebothadul tsandthey’
re
responsi
bleforthei
rownact i
ons.Thakasacheated
withyouonhi sownt er
ms, that’
sonhi m.Shealso
cheatedbecauseshedeci dedt o.Ithasgotnot
hing
todowi t
hy ou.”
“Hersonl
ostsi
ght,
Ndondo.Ifshebel
iev
est
hatIcan
hel
phimit’
sworthashot
,”shesays.
Ndondosighs,
“Sheemotional
l
ybl
ackmail
edyouand
i
tworked.Goodluck,
Ihopeitwor
ksiny
ourfavor
.”
TheyalwaysargueaboutThakasaandshenev
er
l
istenst
oher.Butthi
stimeitl
ooksli
keNdondois
reall
ygi
vi
nguponhersani t
y.
.
.
Hermot herdidn’tapproveofherdeci si
onbutNgi di
qui
cklyremi ndedherthatshe’sagr ownwomanand
shemustbeal lowedtodeci deonherdaughter.It’
s
al
lthankst ohimt hatshe’
sher e,stuckint
hekitchen
andli
steningt oamanhav ingagr ownconversati
on
wit
hhisdaught eri
ntheot herroom.
Nothi
l
ejustsenthera“
Hey ”onWhatsapp.She
pr
obablywantstoknowifshe’
sspokentohim ornot
.
I
’LLCALLYOUTOMORROW-shesendsar epl
yand
putsherphoneont hecounter.Shehast owar m up
themeattheyboughtont heirwayher eandserve
him.Ndondowoul dprobablycallhercrazyandsend
hertoament al
insti
tut
ion.

Phel
ohasfal
l
enasl
eeponhischest
.Sheput
shis
pl
ateont
hecoff
ee-
tabl
eandtakesPhel
ofr
om hi
m.
“
I’
ll
putheri
ntheot
herr
oom,
”shesay
s.
“
Whynott
hemai
nbedr
oom?Hersl
eepi
ngcoti
s
t
her
e,”heasks.
Shegi
veshi
m ameani
ngf
ulst
are.
“Okay,
goandcomebacksot
hatwecant
alk,
”he
says.
He’sgoingt ospi nhert hesameol dstory,
butthis
ti
meit’l
lhav esomet wi stsbecausehe’sgoingtoli
e
aboutlovi
ngher .Sher eleasesasighandwat ches
herdaughtersl eepingpeacef ull
y,wit
hzerocarein
theworld.Thenapi ctur eofNothil
e’
ssoncr osses
hermind.Fr om thewayshel ooked,shehardl
ygets
anysleep.Itcoul dbeov ert
hinki
ngandnotknowi ng
what’
snextf orherbaby .
Howt
wist
edar
etheManqel
eancest
ors,
real
l
y?
Shet
urnsar
oundandbumpsherf
acei
ntohi
schest
.
“
MakaPhel
o,”hesay
sinal
ow,
deepv
oice.
I
t’
s“I’
m sorr
y”ti
me,butthi
sti
meshe’l
lbe
par
ti
cipat
ingforadi
ff
erentvi
sion.
“She’
sasl
eep,
”hecracksashor
tsmi
l
eandhol
dsher
hand.“Wehav
etotalk.
”
Shenodsandf
oll
owshi
m wi
thherhandcl
aspedi
n
hi
stot
hel
ounge.
Hehasn’
ttouchedhi
sfood.May
behedoesn’
thav
e
anappet
it
e,justl
i
keher.
Hehast hi
sthi
ngofhol
dingpeople’
shands;he
hasn’
tletgoofher
sevenaft
erthey’
vesatdown.
“Iknowyou’r
egoingthi
nkdi
ffer
ent
lyfr
om whatmy
i
ntenti
onsreall
yare,
”hesay
sandtight
enshi
shand
aroundher
s.
“MakaSphephel o,Idon’tthi
nkI’v
ehur tany onei nmy
l
ifemor ethanI’
vehur tyou.Yetyou’veprov eny our
l
ov etomef rom thedayy oulaidinmyar msf orthe
fi
rsttime.Yougav emeSphephel o,
mynewwor ld.I
don’tknowi fI
’
dev erbeabl etorepayy oufor
everythi
ngyou’vedonet omakemef eelli
kea
greatestmanint heworldandf ormaki ngmea
father.
”Hepausesandt akesadeepbr eath.His
handi ssweatyandslippery,buthe’
sst il
lholdingher
hand.
“
You’r
eagoodwoman.Not hingyoueverdi
dmade
youwort
hless,
val
uel
essandnotgoodenough.You
werej
ustawomant hatf
ell
inlov
ewithamanwho
hadcommi t
ment
sandexpect
ati
onst
oli
veupto.I
f
ther
e’sany
onewhol
ackedval
uesandwort
h,i
t’
s
me.”
“Thatmakesmefeelsomuchbett
er,thankyou!
”
Shepull
sherhandandcov
ersherface.Thisi
s
stupi
d!
“Imeanit
,MakaPhelo.You’
reagoodwomanandI
wishtobeamany ou’v
ealwayswantedmet
obe,”
hesays.
“
It
’st
ool
atef
ort
hatThakasa.
”
“
Howi
sitt
ool
atewhenwear
ebot
hst
il
lbr
eat
hing?
”
Shel
i
ftsherf
aceupandgi
veshi
m aney
erol
l
.
“
I’
ll
alway
sbeasecondbestt
oyou,
Iknowt
hatv
ery
wel
l.
”
“Theysaywhenyoursouli
sready
,itsmat
ewi l
lbe
standi
ngri
ghti
nfrontofy
oureyes.”Hesmil
es.
Shedoesn’tr
etur
nit
,inst
eadshest
aresathi
m
vacant
ly.
“
Rightnow,
it’
syouwho’
sinf
rontofmyey
esand
mysoulisr
eady.
”
“
Isi
t?”sheasks.
“
Yes,
”henods.
“
Idon’
tthi
nky
ou’
rer
eadyasy
ousay
.”
Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow,
“Meani
ng?
”
“
Whyar eyounotall
owingNot
hil
etopaythefi
neyou
want
edf r
om herfamil
y?Whati
tiswasPhelothat
l
osthersi
ght?”sheasks.
“
Don’
tspeakaboutmydaught
erbei
ngbl
i
nd.
”
“I
’m notsay
ingshe’
ll
bebl
i
nd,
I’
mjustmaki
ngan
example;whati
f?”
“Don’
tsaythataboutmydaught er.Idon’
tcareif
you’
remakinganexampl eornot.Don’
tmentionher
nameand‘ bl
ind’i
nonesent ence.I
fyou’r
etalki
ng
aboutNothil
e’schi
ld,talkaboutherchil
d,Phelohas
gotnothi
ngtodowi t
ht hat.
”
Thatwentsout
hreal
l
yqui
ckl
y!Shenodsandt
akesa
breat
h.
“Whycan’
tyoulett
hebabybewi t
hhisbiol
ogical
fat
her
?Chargehim afi
neandlethim payf
orthe
damages.Justf
reethepoorboy,
hedoesn’tdeser
ve
t
his.
”
“Youdon’
tknowwhatI’
vebeengoingthr
ough.You
don’t
,Nomkhosi
.That
’swhyit
’ssoeasyforyouto
tel
lmewhattodoandhowt odoit.
”
“Whatareyougoingtogetinret
urn?That’
smy
quest
ion.Aft
eryou’
vepunishedherandtookherson
away,whatareyougoingtoget?”sheasks.
Heshr
ugshi
sshoul
der
sandpi
ckshi
spl
ate.
He’
sdonet
alki
ng!
“
Thakasa?
”
“What ?I’
m notgoi ngt ochangemymi nd.Ididn’task
hertol eav e,wewer egoingtof i
ndawayf orwardas
peoplewhower eoncemar r
iedandi nlov e,she
choseherpat h.Ialsocheated, butdidIleav eher?
No.Thatper sondr oppedabombshel lonmewhi l
eI
wasly i
ngi nthehospi talbedandt oldmeshewas
goingt o‘letmeknowi fthechildwasmi ne.’Then
mont hsl aterI’mreceiv i
ngacal l;
‘mysoni s
Londokuhl eandhel osthissight.Mybaby daddyis
goingt opaywhat ev eryouwant ’.
”
I
t’
sabi
tfunnywat
chi
nghi
m mi
micNot
hil
e.
“Thingsdon’ tworkli
kethat.Iwantheruncl
est opay,
outoft heirownpockets,andt henIwantherto
comehomeandadmi therwr ongsinf
rontofthe
whol efami l
yandchurch.Justl i
keIdi
d.Thenshe’l
l
behumbl eandl etmedecideifIwantthefather
i
nv olvedornot .
”
Wel
l
,thenhe’
sleav
inghernochoi
ce….
“I
’m goi
ngtokeepPhel
oawayunti
lyousortit
.Idon’
t
wanthertobeinthemi
ddl
eofthesegrudges,
”she
says.
Hiseyeswiden,
“Youcannotkeepmeawayf
rom my
daughter
.”
“
Eaty
ourwi
ngs,
Thakasa.
”
“
Nomkhosiyou….
”Shepi
ckst
heTVr
emot
eand
i
ncr
easesv
olume.
Hehast
hewhol
eni
ghtt
othi
nkabouti
t.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER48
KHOSI

Pheloli
kedthehouse,that’
swhatherf athersaid
aft
ergivi
ngheratourar ound.ButNomkhosi i
sstil
l
onthefenceaboutmov ingin.Comi ngher edidn’
t
workoutthewaysheexpect ed.Thakasahasn’ tsaid
anythi
ngaboutaccepti
ngt hatLondai snothi sson
bybloodandfreetotakehi srealf
ather’ssurname.
Herdeci
sionst
andsaswell
.Asmuchasshehates
usi
ngPhelotosol
veprobl
ems,t
hist
imeThakasai
s
gi
vi
nghernochoice.
Hewalksin,st
il
lnotdr
essedupforwor
k.Hecomes
andst
andsbehindherassheri
nsesPhelo’
sbot
tl
es
i
nthesink.
“Youlookgoodwi
thascar
far
oundy
ourhead,
”he
says.
“
It
’scold,
that
’st
heonl
yreasonwhymyheadi
s
wrapped,
”Khosi
.
“Buty
ou’reamot hernow.I’
m notsayi
ngi
t’
samust,
butwrappingyourheadwhencomi ngtoPhel
o’s
homeisasi gnofrespect
.”
Nowhehasherat
tent
ion.Shet
urnsar
oundwi
tha
f
rownonherf
ace.
“I
’v
enev
erseeny oucomingtomyhomewit
hyour
headwr
apped.Orrespectmustonl
ycomef
rom a
woman?”sheasks.
“
That
’snothowt
hings….
”Sheshut
shi
m wi
thahand.
“I
’m noty
ourwife.I
fyoucometomyhomewi
thy
our
headunwrapped,I’
l
lal
sodothesame.
”
Astarebatt
lebegins.Heneverwi
ns.Hiswor
d
doesn’
tstandwithherandit
’sfr
ustr
ati
ng.
“Ar
eyounotgoi
ngtowor
k?”sheasks,
breaki
ngt
he
uncomf
ort
ablest
are.
“
No.Iwanttospendt
hedaywit
hmydaught
er,
NkonzoandBandl
aaret
her
e.”
“
Oh,IguessIcangotowor
kand……”Hegi
veshera
l
ookthatshut
sherup.
“
Whycan’
tPhel
ospendt
hedaywi
thbot
hher
par
ent
s?”heasks
Phewww!May
bei
nhi
smi
ndPhel
ois5y
ear
sol
d.
“Didyouthi
nkaboutwhatwet
alkedaboutl
ast
night
?”sheaskshim.
Hisf
acechanges.Hetakesast
epawayf
rom her
andexhal
esheavi
ly.
“
Thakasa,
Imeanti
t,
”shesay
s.
Helooksbackather
.Herf
acer
emai
nsgl
aci
alas
sheholdshi
sstar
e.
“
Hecannothav etheboy.I
’m doi
ngthisforhis
i
nnocentsoul.IfMaNtusiwantstotakehimt othi
s
Manduloman, shecandosoandt heycanr ai
sehim
t
ogether.Butthatwouldn’
tmakehi m anyt
hingother
t
hanaManqel e.”
“You’r
esayi
ngthesamethi
ngyousai
dlastni
ght,
j
ustcalmerthi
sti
me.Areyougoi
ngtoaccepther
apology?
”
Henods,
“Yes.
”
That
’sbett
ert
hannothi
ng,buti
t’
sst
il
lnotev
ery
thi
ng.
However,
shetri
edherbest
!
“
Thanky
ou,
”shesay
s.
Hest
aresatheragai
n.Shet
urnsbackt
othesi
nk
andr
insest
heremaini
ngbot
tle.
“WhataboutwhatItal
kedabout
?Di
dyout
hink
abouti
t?”heasks.
Sheignor
eshim andwipesherhandswi
thacl
oth
bef
oreturni
ngaroundtohim st
andi
ngafewi
nches
awayfrom her
.Nowt hi
sisawkward!
“MakaSphephel
o,”hel
if
tsherchi
nwi
thhi
sfi
nger
andfor
ceshertolookathi
m.
“
Ifyouwantmet
ost
ayher
esot
haty
oucandot
his
t
hen….”
“No,that
’snotwhatI’m doi
ng.”Helowershisf
aceto
her,
inchbyinch,unti
lhisli
psaresoftl
ybrushi
ng
agai
nsthers.It
’sexactl
ywhathe’ sdoi
ng.Andli
kea
foolshe’
skissi
nghim back.Hishandholdstheback
ofherheadashedeepenst hekiss.I
tdoestoher
whatitalwaysdid.
Alothaschanged,butbet
weenhi
m andheronl
ya
f
ewt hi
ngschanged.
“
Phel
oisturni
ng3mont hsi
nsixdays,
”hesay
sina
l
owwhisperandchasesherbi
geyes.
“Ar
eyouheal
i
ngdownher
e?”Hi
shandbr
ushes
bel
owhiswai
st.
Br
eat
he,
Nomkhosi
!
“
That’
snoneofyourbusi
ness,
”shesay
swi
thout
muchfei
sti
ness.
“I
t’
smydaught ert
hatyoupushedout ,ofcourseit
’s
mybusiness.
”Hisarm wrapsaroundherwai stand
pull
sherbodytohisunti
lther
e’snoinchofspace
betweenthem.
“I
t’sbeenalmostayearbuty
ousti
l
ldr
ivemecr
azy
.
Pleaselookatme,Il
oveyourey
es.
”
Deepbr
eath!Shel
i
ftsherey
est
ohi
m andt
hey
di
spl
ayall
herweaknessest
ohi
m.
“MakaPhel o…”He’ slower
inghisfacetoherand
aimingf oranot herki
ss.Phel
o’sloudcrypierce
throught heirears.Nomkhosiquicklypusheshim of
f
andr ushest othebedr oom,l
eavinghim withafir
mly
standing,har dschlong.
I
t’
shi
spr
incess,
butdamny
ouchi
l
d!
.
.
KHANYO

Thingsdidn’ttur
noutt hewayIexpect ed.Icame
backonl ytodiscoverthatmyboy fr
iendcheatedon
meaf ewday sbeforeIcameback, thenhepr oposed
tomeandgav emespar ekey sofwhathecal l
sour
house.Igav eMandul othelett
er,ev
ent houghwe’re
sti
l
l workingonbuildingtrust
,lobol
anegot i
ati
ons
wil
l beheldinamont h.
Asifthat
’snotenoughtoturnmyli
feupsidedown,
Nol
wazi i
scallingmecry
ing.Idi
dsayhercrushon
Mandulowon’ tendwel
l
.Lookwhat’shappeningnow,
hehasawhol echildwi
thsomeoneandl osi
ngfocus
ontheirr
elat
ionshi
p.
Thegoodist
hathejustar
riv
ed.He’
sdepr
essedand
homemore.I
’mreadytoblasthi
mformessi
ngwith
myfri
end.
“Makhanyi,
”hewalksinwithacoupl
eshoppi
ngbags
andleavesthem ontheki
tchentabl
e.
“
Ijustgotacal
lfr
om Nol
wazi
,
”Isay
.
“
Urgh,sher
antoy
ou?”Hebettergethi
stonguer
ight
.
Nbodymesseswi
thmyfr
iends!
“Isti
l
ldon’tknowwhot hemotherofyoursoni
sand
what’sherstory.Whenisshebri
ngi
ngthechil
d?As
anauntIhav etheri
ghttocheckift
hoseli
tt
let
oes
resembleanyofour s.
”
Helaughs,
event
houghhi
sey
esr
emai
ndar
kand
l
if
eless.
“
Wedi
daDNAt
est
,he’
smyson,
”hesay
s.
That’
sgoodtohear
,Iguess.ButIst
il
lneedtosee
themotherandl
etherknowthatmyf r
iendhasbi
g
butt
.
“Youdon’
tlookli
kesomeonewhojusthadhi
sfi
rst
son,
”Isay,
tryi
ngtoreadhi
semptyeyes.
“I
t’
scompli
cated.Ifuckedup.
”Herel
easesasi
gh
andwalkspastmet othesit
ti
ngr
oom.Ifoll
owaft
er
hi
mt odigmoreinformati
on.
“
Howisitcompl
i
cat
ed?
”Iask,
lower
ingmy
sel
fon
t
hecouch.
Anot
hersi
gh?Gosh,
isi
tthatbad?
“
Hismot
heri
smar
ri
ed,
”hesay
s.
Myear
sgott
obedecei
vi
ngme!
“
Tel
lmet hehusbanddi
edf
ivey
ear
sago,
”Isaywi
th
myeyespoppedout.
“She’
snotawidow.She’
ssomeone’
swi
fe!
”he
emphasi
zes.
“Isthehusbandi nJohannesburg?”Thisist
heonly
thingthatwouldmakesense; himt obeinaf arci
ty
andnotper forminghi
sdut i
eswell.Youknowt hose
typeofv i
ll
agehusbandst hatl
eavet hei
rwiv
esand
kidsinthevill
age,gotothemi nesinJohannesburg
andnev ercomebackhome.
“Londokuhl
elosthi
ssight,
hismotheri
sneeded
backatherin-
lawsandherhusbanddoesn’
twant
meany wherenearhi
m. ”
“
Doesheknowt
hatt
hebabyi
snothi
s?”Iask.
“
Heknowsbutcul
tur
all
yit
’shi
sson,
unt
ilhedeci
des
ot
her
wise.
”
NowIunder
stand,
thi
siscompl
i
cat
edandheav
yto
deal
wit
h.
“Whatar
ey ougoingtodo?”Iaskhim ev
ent
houghI
canseethathe’
sr anoutofsol
uti
ons.
“Iwentt
ohermot her’
shomeandgav eheruncl
es
themoneyrequir
edforthecowshewantsasaf ine.
ButNothi
lesaystheyhaven’
tboughtt
hecowsy et.
”
Wai
t,Iknowt
hatname….
“
Not
hil
efr
om wher
e?”Iask.
“Manqel e,that
’sherhusband’
ssurname.They ’
re
basedi nMandeni ,maybeyou’vehear
dofMt honga
Holdings, t
hat’
sherhusband’scompany.”Heneeds
toslapmebackt ol
if
e!Can’theconnectthedots?
He’stalkingabouthisfutur
ebrother
-i
n-l
aw’sfamily
.
“
YousleptwithBandl
a’sbrot
her
’swi
f e?
”I’minshock.
Whatonearthishappeni
ng?Thewife,t
hatangel
f
ace,waspregnantwithmybrot
her’
schild!
“
Areyousure?Ther
ecoul
dbemanyManqel
esi
n
Mandeni
.”
“Nothil
eisThakasa’
swi
feandThakasai
sBandl
a’
s
eldestbrot
her
,”Isay
.
Hecursesunderhi
sbreathandscrat
cheshi
sface.I
wonderifBandl
aisawareofthi
s.I
fso,i
shesti
ll
okaycreat
ingarel
ati
onshi
pbetweentheset
wo
famil
i
es.
“Idi
dn’
tknow.Wemeti nBali
,shewaswit
hher
husband,Inev
ergottoseehi
m, t
heyhadafi
ghtand
shesatinthehot
elpoolout
sidemiser
abl
y.
”
“
Andy
ouwer
eherkni
ghti
ntheshi
ningar
mor
?”Iask.
“Ii
nvit
edherforsomepapandchi
ckenandone
thi
ngledtoanother
.Itwasn’
tmyi
ntent
ionatal
lto
breakhermarri
age.
”
I
’m dumbst ruck.Idon’tknowwhatt osay.Even
thoughI ’
veonlyseenNot hi
leonceIknowt hatshe’
s
adecentwoman, atleastshelookslikeone.Andmy
brother,wit
houttakinghisside,isagoodmanwho
j
usthappenst obeunl uckywheni tcomest othe
mat ter
soft heheart.
“Maybeyoucantal
ktoBandl
a.”Myey
eswiden.Now
Ihav
et oi
nter
fer
eint
omatter
sIhadnoknowledge
of
?
“
Please,
yournephewcannotseeMakhany
i,
”hesay
s.
“
IknowbutIcannoti
nter
fer
e.”
“Please!Maybeifyout
alkt
ohi
m andhet
alkst
ohi
s
brotherandaskshimtogiv
emeachanceto
apologize….
”Sigh!
“
Okay
,I’
l
ltr
y.”
“
Thanky
ou,
mot
her
’sdaught
er.
”
Iroll
myeyesandgetof
fthecouch.I
ndeed,
li
fe
rotat
esl
i
keawheel.
“Ifheref
usest
ohelpdon’tbl
amehi m,remember
thatyou’
veneverl
i
kedhim.You’realwaysmaki
ng
hisli
fedif
fi
cul
t.
”Il
eavehim miserabl
eonthecouch.
Whatdotheelder
ssayagai
n?Don’tshi
tundert
he
t
reebecauseonedayyoumightneedit
sshade.
Ij
usthopemyBandlawouldbehi
ssweetsel
fand
putever
ythi
ngasi
defort
hesakeofmynephew.
.
.
IneverthoughtonedayI ’dbedriv
ent omy
boyfr
iend’splacebymyownbr other.Desperate
ti
mescal lfordesperat
emeasur es.Him andNol wazi
tal
ked, t
hey’r
ebackongoodt er
ms, atleastthere’
s
somet hi
ngposi t
ivegoi
ngoni nhisli
fe.There’saray
ofsunshineandI ’
m grateful
toNolwazi forstandi
ng
byhisside.
I’
m car
ryi
ngmyoverni
ghtbagandapackof
condoms.Imi
ghtneedtousemypri
vateor
gant
o
soft
enthi
smanup.
There’
sacarIdon’
tknowparkedi
nfrontofthe
house.Imakemywayi nwi
thmygripti
ghtened
aroundthebag.
Iwalki
ntoashort,
plump-cheekgir
lsit
ti
ngonmy
creamy
,expensi
vecouchlikeaqueen.IswearI
’
m
aboutt
ostrangl
ethisMashat odeath!
“Whatar
ey oudoinginmyhouse?”It
hrowthebag
andever
ythingIhadinmyhandsonthefl
oor.Justi
n
caseshethinkst
here’
ssomethi
ngshecando.
“Hel
lo,
”shegr
eet
scal
mlyandadj
ust
sher
sel
font
he
couch.
“Yes,hell
o.Iaskedwhatyou’r
edoinginmyhouse?”I
swear,ifshecontinuest
ogivemet hatl
ookl
i
keI’ma
crazyperson,I’
m goingt
opickherupandthr
owher
outofthewi ndow.
“
Babe,
”handspul
lmef
rom behi
nd.I
t’
sBandl
a.
Iy
ankhi
shandsof
fandt
urnmyf
ir
e-bl
azi
ngey
est
o
hi
m,“Whoi
sthi
s?”
“
That
’sTema,
”hesay
s.
Am Isupposet
oknowherbyname?I
sshef
amous,
maybe?TemaKnowles?
Nkonzoappear
sandwal
kspastustoher.Hel
ift
s
herf
aceandplant
saki
ssonherli
psbeforesi
tt
ing
down.
Oh….
Iwasdr
amat
ic.
“Youshoul
d’v
etol
dmey
ouhadguest
s,”Iscol
dthe
onenexttome.
“
Idi
dn’
tknowy
ouwer
ecomi
ng.
”
Whatdoeshemeanhedidn’
tknowIwascoming?
Thisi
smyhouse,het
oldmeso,Idon’
tneedt
o
repor
tmyarr
ival
tohi
m.
“
It
’sst
il
lyourf
aul
t,
”It
ell
him.
Thegi
rll
aughs.I
fitwasmeI
’dbemad,Iguessshe
j
ustdoesn’
thavedramai
nherbl
ood.
“
Arey
out
wodone?
”Nkonzoasks.
Il
ookatBandl
a;ar
ewedone?
Nkonzopincheshisgirl
’scheekandtheybot
hsmil
e
atoneanother.Iguesswear etheonl
ydramati
c
coupl
einthiscountry.
“
Babe,that
’sKhany
o,shehol
dsmybr
other
’shear
t,
”
Nkonzo.
That
’ssweet
.Il
ookatBandl
a,hesmi
l
esandhol
ds
myhand.
“Don’
ttr
ytobeus,
”he’
sdramat
icAF,
whosai
d
smili
ngwasinv
ent
edbythem?
“Any
way,t
hisi
sTemaDube, soontobeManqel
e.
Youtwoaregoi
ngtohelpeachotheri
n
MaKhumalo’
ski
tchen,
”hesays.
She’
ssmili
ng,Iwonderi
fsheknowst
heMaKhumal
o
that
’sbei
ngtal
kedabout.
“
I’
m happyt
omeety
ou,
”shesay
s.
“Pl
easeforgi
vemef orthatdramaticscene,i
twas
Bandl
a’sfaul
t.I
’m notacrazyperson.Didyousee
mybedroom? ”Iaskher.
“
No,
”shesay
s.
Ipul
lmyhandof
fthi
sone’
sandpi
ckmybagf
rom
thef
loor
.
“Come,I
’
llshowy
ou.
”Oh,
mypi
ctur
e,di
dheputi
t
back?
Il
ookathi
m,“
Didy
ouputmypi
ctur
ebackont
he
wall
?”
“No,yousai
dImustt
akei
tdownunt
ilf
urt
her
noti
ce.”
Andhel
i
stenedt
ome?Si
gh!
“
Let
’sgoTema,
”Isay
.
It’
sbeenlongsinceIhadagi r
ltohangoutwith,
withoutanysourtopictodiscuss,j
ustchil
l
ingand
talki
ngaboutwardr obesandmen.Gugui sgoing
throughthemost, Nolwazihasherupsanddowns,
andI ’
m al
sodealingwi t
hmyowni ssues.
“
Sohowl
onghaveyoutwobeent
oget
her
?”Iaskas
wecl
i
mbupthestai
rs.
“
Sixmont
hs,
goi
ngt
osev
en,
”shesay
s.
“
That’saveryl
ongti
me, Imeani
nSouthAfr
ica
r
elat
ionshi
psdon’
tlast
.Whenistheweddi
ng?”
“
Wehav en’tsetthedat
ey et
.ButI’
ll
defi
nit
elyi
nvi
te
you,t
hat’sifyou’dbearound.Ihear
dthatyouwork
withpeople,”shesays.
I
’m bl
ack,Idon’tneedaninvit
etoatt
endawedding.
Astandi
ngt entisaninv
itati
on,t
hisi
snotAmer
ica.
ButIappr
eciatethehonor .

It
hrowmybagont
hebedandopent
hewi
ndows.
“
Imadehi
m buyanewbed,
”It
ell
her
.
“
Why
?”sheasks.
“BecausehecheatedonmewhileIwasaway.Never
putyourtrustont
hesemen,sl
eepwithoneeyeopen.
I
t’sli
ketheywerebornf
orsex,
”Isay.
“
Bor
nforsex?Thatdef
ini
tel
ydoesn’
tincl
udeNkonzo.
Sexi
saf
orei
gnwor
dtous.
”
Huh?Whati
sshesay
ingt
ome?
“
Don’
ttel
lmey
ou’
rest
arv
ingt
hepoorguy
.”
“
It
’st
heot
herwayar
ound.
”
Shutt
hef
rontdoor
!
“
What
?!”
“
Hedoesn’
twantust
ohav
esexbef
oremar
ri
age.
”
“
Andy
ou?
”Iask.
“Sixmonths,
gir
l.Si
x!That
’showlongI
’
vebeen
kissi
ngandhuggingthi
smanwi t
hwetpant
ies.
”
Nofreaki
n’way!Wecannotlett
hesemendictat
e
whentheyshouldhaveourcooki
es.Ourmother
s
havebeenther
e,donethat
.Notus,wearewomenin
char
ge.
“
Mani
pul
atehi
m,”Isay
.
“
Huh?
”
Isi
tont
hebedandl
ookatheri
nnocentf
ace.
“
Menmani
pul
ate,
blackmai
landt
ri
ckwomeni
nto
havi
ngsexev ery
day.You’
reyell
ow,youhavethe
cl
eavage,hipsandr
oundbut t
.Shave,smellni
ceand
putyoursexyunder
wearon.You’ll
hav ehi
m
anywhereyouwanthimt obe.”
Shelaughs,
“Whati
fher
eject
smeev
enaf
teral
l
thoseeff
ort
s?”
“
Theny ou’
l
lemotional
lyblackmail
him.You’l
lbe
r
etur
ningafavorandrepresenti
ngallgi
rl
sthatwer
e
t
ri
ckedbymeni ntosex.”
Webot hlaugh.Itakeoutmyphoneandl ogint
othe
i
nternett
osear chforali
nger
ieonl
ine.Nkonzowil
l
havesexbef or
emar ri
ageinhi
snextli
fe.
.
.
Afterpoll
utinghisfi
ancé’smi nd,wewentdownt o
thekitchenandpr eparedal i
ghtmeal f
ordinner.
BandlaandNkonzoar everyclose,they’
reli
vingtwo
housesawayf rom eachother.IthinkI’
llbeseeing
hisfaceal otwhenImov einher e.Temai svery
humbl eandbeaut if
ul.Iwouldn’tmindshar i
ng
MaKhumal o’skit
chenwi t
hher .
Icl
earthet abl
eandleavedishesinsi
dethesi
nk.I
t’
s
l
ate,Ist
illneedtospeaktoBandlaaboutLonda.I
’
m
notsureifheknowst hatManduloistheonewho
madehi sbr ot
her
’swifepr
egnant.
IknowMandul owrongedhisf
ami l
yandIdon’t
expecthi
mt ofeelsometypeofway .Butt
hisismy
brot
herwe’r
et al
ki
ngabouthere,Londaishisonl
y
son,hedeserv
esachancet ofat
herhim.
“
Mt honga,
”Isay,wal
ki
ngthrought
hedoor
.We’v
e
mov edbacktothemainbedroom,
butt
hat
’st
heonl
y
r
uleI’v
ebentforhim.
“Whatdi
dIdotobecal
l
edsoni
cel
y?”Heshi
ft
sand
ext
endshisar
mforme.
Imakemysel
fcomf
ort
abl
einhi
sembr
acebef
ore
br
eaki
ngt
henewstohim.
“Thi
sisasmal
lworld.Whyonear
thwouldMandul
o
dosomethi
ngli
kethisknowi
ngwhatpai
nitcan
causetoaman?”
He’
saski
ngt
hewr
ongper
son.
“
Thosequest
ionscanbeanswer
edl
ater
.Ri
ghtnow
al
i
ttl
eboyi
ssuf
fer
ingi
nthemi
ddl
eofi
t.
”
“MaNt usi
knowswhat’
sexpect
edofher.Cult
ural
l
y,
that’
smybr ot
her’
ssonandhe’
sexpect
edt obe
broughthome.”
“Howisthatfai
rthough?Yourbrot
herhasachil
d
wit
hanotherwomanandnobodyaskedt hatwoman
tohandoverthechil
d.WhymustMandul ogiveup
onhisoneandonl yson,si
mplybecausethemother
i
smar r
ied?”
“Di
dy ourbr
othergiv
ehi
sf r
iendt
hatbackst
abbed
him hi
sdaughter?
”heasks.
“Hehadal r
eadybondedwithher .Sheknewhim as
herfat
her,i
twouldn’
tbefairt
oj ustcutti
es.And
besi
dethat,Thobekasecretl
yletMenzi fat
herhi
s
chi
ldwithoutmybrother
’sknowl edge.
”
Hesi
ghsandbr
ushesmyshoul
der
.
“
Canwenotgeti
nvol
ved?
”heasks.
“
Bandl
awe’
retal
ki
ngaboutmynephewher
e.Ican’
t
j
ustbr
ushi
taway.
”
“
Whatdoy
ouwantmet
odo?
”Nowt
hisi
sthe
quest
ionIwant
edt
obeasked.
“
Tal
ktoy
ourbr
other
,”Isay
.
“
He’
smybr
other
,notmyf
ri
end.
”
“
Youcanst
il
ltal
ktohi
mthough.
”
Hesighs,
“I’
l
ltr
y,butattheendofthedaythi
sishi
s
deci
siont
omakeandt her
e’snot
hinganyonecando
i
fhewantstheboyt oremainaManqele.
”
“
That
’sal
lIask.Doyouwantaki
ss?
”Iask,
wrappi
ng
myhandsaroundhi
sneck.
“
Iwanti
tandmor
e.”
Sot
ypi
cal
ofhi
m!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER49
BANDLA

Aft
ertwoday sofnotshowi
ngupatwor k,
Thakasa
i
sfinal
lybackandlooki
ngref
reshed.Hedidn’
ttel
l
them, hi
sbr others,anythingabouthi m andKhosi
beingbackt oget herorwhat everi ti
st hat’
s
happeningbet weent hem.Butt hat’
snosur pri
se,
they’r
ealway sthel astonest of indoutabout
anythingconcer ninghisper sonal li
fe.He’sbui
ltt
hat
boundar ybetweenhi m andal lofthem ashi s
sibl
ings.May bet odayi stherightdayt oaddr
essthe
Mandul oissue.He’ sinoneofhi sgreatestmoods.
“Whatarewecel
ebrati
ng?”heasksasBandlawalks
i
n,foll
owedbyoneofMaGumbi ’
scook-gi
rl
swith
contai
ner
sofdumplingsandtr
otter
s.
“
Mysuccess,
”Bandlasay
swithateasesmi l
eonhis
f
ace.He’
ssti
ll
call
edacheat
erandr emindedofhis
mist
akesev
erynowandthen,buthe’shappydespi
te
t
hatl
i
ttl
edi
scomf
ort
.
“
Whatsuccess?
”Thakasaasks.
“Mebreat
hingissuccessonit
sown.Howhaveyou
been?
”Het akesaseatwhil
eThakasacl
ear
shis
desktosetthesur
prisel
unch.
“Goodforyou,
Mthonga.I
sKhany
ofi
neand
successf
ulaswel
l?”
Hechuckl
es,
“Yes,
she’
sgood,al
thoughshehasher
momentsbutIl
oveherl
iket
hat.
”
“
Whatmoment
s?”Thakasa.
“Isl
i
ppedaf ewdaysbef
oreshecameback.You
knowherancestor
sworkovert
ime,
Igotcaughtr
ight
away,”hesays.
I
t’
snotf
unny
,butt
heybot
hcr
acki
ntol
aught
er.
“YouknowI ’
l
lbebl
amedift
hisgetst
oMaKhumal
o’s
ears,
right
?Whatwerey
outhinki
ng?”
“Iwasst
ressed,
herbrot
heri
sahar dnuttocr
ack.At
fi
rsthel
i
kedme, butt
henthi
ngshappenedandhe
star
tedr
eall
yhati
ngme.I’dt
rytocall
him whi
le
Khanyowasawayandhe’djustshutmedownand
nottel
lmeany t
hing.Evenwhenshecameback,he
nevertoldmeanythi
ng.Iwasinthedar
kabout
everyt
hingandi
tallgottoomuchforalonel
yman.
”
Thakasashrugshi
sshoul
der
sandsl
i
cest
he
dumpling.
“
He’sjustpr
otecti
nghi
ssist
er.Your
ememberhow
l
ongittookustoacceptt
hatMawandewas
mar
ryingNyezi.
”
Bandl
anodsandt
akesadeepbr
eat
h.
“Act
ual
ly,t
hat
’swhyI
’
m her
e,becauseofher
brot
her
,”hesays.
Thakasar
aiseshiseyeswi
thhi
smout
hful
land
l
ooksathim questi
oni
ngl
y.
“Youdon’
tknowhim buty
ou’
vesur
elyhear
dofhi
s
name,”hesays.
Thakasakeepshi
seyesonhi
m.Nowhe’
scur
ious
aboutthi
sbrot
her
;ishef
amous,
maybe?
“
Mandul
oNy
athi
,
”Bandl
asay
s.
For
kdr
opped!Whatt
heheck?
“Who?”Hisvoi
cealr
eadyreeksani
mosity
.That
nameruinedhi
smar r
iage,
orrat
herthecrumpsofi
t.
Whatever,
hehatest
hatperson.
“ManduloisNokukhanya’
sbrother
.Hegotdi v
orced
ear
lylastyearandmetMaNt usii
nBaliwhi
legoneon
avacationtoclearhi
shead,
”Bandlaexpl
ains.
“
Hiswif
eprobabl
ylef
thi
mforsl
eepi
ngwi
thot
her
men’
swives.
”
Bandl
acl
ear
shi
sthr
oatandt
akesasi
pofhi
sdr
ink.
Thakasarai
seshisey ebr
ow,“
Ihopey ou’r
enother e
total
kforhim becauseBandl
alet
huI’m goingto
throwthi
sdumpl i
ngony ourf
aceifyoudar ethink
thatyoucanwor my ourwayi
ntohisheartthrough
thi
s.”
“That
’snotwhatI ’mt ry
ingtodoatal l
.Idon’tcar
eif
Mandulolikesmeornot ,hi
ssist
ersti
llsl
eepsnext
tomeei t
herway .Ijustwantwhat ’sbestfor
every
one; you,
him andt hebaby.Andthat’
sy ou
handingthebabyov ertherightwayandgi v
ing
Manduloy ourblessing.”
“
Overmydeadbody
!Li
ngawal
i
coshwezi
nkukhu
Mt honga.They’
regivi
ngmemor ereasonsnotto
wantt hi
sMandul oguyanywherenearme.He’ s
sendinghissist
ertosolvehisshi
t,ontheotherhand,
hisgirl
fr
iendistel
li
ngNomkhosi tokeepPheloaway
fr
om meunt i
lIagreetoherdemands.They ’
re
twistedandclever,Ij
ustwanttoseehowf arthey
cango. ”
Hecanlookatithowev erhewant s,butKhanyo
wasn’
tsenttosolveany thi
ng,sheonlypleadedon
herbr
other
’sbehalf
,whi chisn’tabadthi
ngt odoas
asibl
i
ng.ButMaNt usiandNomkhosi ?They’r
eeven
meeti
ngwitheachot herandt alki
ng?
“MaNtusiwentt
oNomkhosiandt
oldhert
okeep
Phel
of r
om you?
”Bandl
aaskswit
hafrown.
“Shedi
d.Shewasthereatherworkpl
acewi
thababy
,
cryi
ngandpl
ant
ingideasinherhead.
”
“Howdidyouf i
ndout?”Bandlaisst
il
lconf
used.
From whatheknows,MaNt usihat
estheairt
hat
Nomkhosi br
eathes.
“
Preci
oust
oldme,
”hesay
s.
“
Whoi
sthatnow?
”Bandl
a.
“
Bant
wanaHol
dingsr
ecept
ioni
st.
”
“
Howdoy
ouknowher
?”Bandl
a.
“
I’
veknownherforawhi
l
e.Shegi
vesmei
nfor
mat
ion
whennecessar
y.”
“Aspy ?
”Heshrugshisshoulder
sandBandla
reachestohi
sglassandsips.Oh,Nomkhosi
,you’
re
goingtofi
resomeone!
“
Whyar
eyoust
alki
ngy
ourbaby
mama?
”Bandl
aasks.
“Isai
d‘whennecessar
y’.Idon’
tst
alkher
,ther
e’sno
needto.”
“Foryoursake, Ihopeyou’r
ebeingt
rut
hful.
”Bandl
a
exhal
esandl ooksathim,pleadi
ngwit
hhiseyes.
“Mthongapl easeallowthesepeopl
etotakethei
r
babyandl eavey oualone.
”
“
Iwanthert
oownuptohermi
stakesandt
henwe’
l
l
f
igur
eoutawayf
orwar
d.”
“It
houghty
ouwer eovert
hismar
ri
ageandher
,”
Bandl
asays,conf
used.
“
Icannotbeunmarr
iedtoher.Icannotr
everset
he
v
owsImadebef or
et heLor
dandancest or
s.She’
s
mywi
feandt
hat
’si
t.
”
Hepr
obabl
yshoul
dn’
taskhi
mthi
sbut
….
“
WhataboutNomkhosi
? ”heasksandThakasa’
s
f
acequi
ckl
yturnsf
rom coldtoaff
li
cted.
“I
’
lldori
ghtbyher.Il
oveherandIwantherandmy
daught
erhome,”hesays.
“
Doesitmeanyou’
regoi
ngtobecomeaf
ir
st
Manqel
epoly
gamist?
”Bandl
aasks.
“Ihat edtheideaofit,
bel i
eveme.ButIcannotkeep
hurtingNomkhosi topl easeher.Ineedtoputanend
toit.WhatIwantf rom MaNt usi
isforherto
acknowl edgehermi stakeandacceptNomkhosi and
Phelo.Thenwe’ llf
igureoutwhat ’
sgoodf orLonda,
butIknowt hathe’
sgoi ngt ohaveprobl
emsi ft
hey
takehi mt ohissur
name. ”
Itseemsli
kehe’
sgotital
lfi
gur
edout,
buthi
s
stubbor
nnessst
il
lwantsMaNtusi
tosuff
eral
it
tl
ebi
t.
“YouknowMaKhumalodoesn’
tli
kehernowandwi
l
l
treatherf
unni
l
ywhenshecomesback?”Bandl
a
asks.
“Madoesn’
tli
keNomkhosiei
ther
.I’m sur
eherand
Dadweren’
tperf
ectt
oobuttheystayedtoget
her
,”he
say
s.
“
Doyout
hinkNomkhosi
wil
lagr
eet
obenumber
t
wo?
”
“She’snotnumbertwo, Il
oveher.Onet hingIknow
forsureisthatNomkhosi l
ovesme, crazil
ythat
somet i
mesIev enthinkshewasbr oughti nt
omyl i
fe
forapurpose.Iwasnev ergoingtobeokayl i
vi
ngmy
wholelif
eknowi ngthatIl
ovedsomeoneandnev er
gotachancet oshowt hem.ButIwaswi ll
ingtodoit,
forthesakeofmymar ri
age.Butnow, i
t’snoskinon
mynose! ”
Phewww!Aglassneedst
obef
il
led.Whata
rev
elat
ion!
“Nkonzowil
ll
eadt
hedelegat
iontotheMayises.I’
m
notgoingt
ohaveanyt
alkwit
hy ourbr
other
-in-
law,”
hesays.
Bandl
asighs.Nowhe’satthecentr
eofthisweb.I
t’
s
i
mportantforhi
mt ohavehisbr
other’
ssuppor
t,as
muchasi t
’simpor
tantt
oKhanyot ohaveher
br
other
’ssuppor
t.Hopef
ull
ythi
swon’
tcauseany
cr
ackinthei
rrel
ati
onshi
p.
.
.
MAWANDE

Nomat t
erwhatshedoes, atthebackofherheadi t
ri
ngs; sheki ssedhi m!Thebrotherofherlat
e
husband, shekissedhim.Thatshi tcannotbe
undone.She’ sbetrayedherhusband, wit
hhisown
brotheroutofal l peopl
e.Bhambat hawaspr obably
drunk, sheshoul d’vebeenadamnsi st
erand
stoppedhi m.Butno, shewassucki nghisli
pslikea
l
olli
pop.
Nowi t’
salldone.She’
sfuckedupandi t
’sti
metohi
t
theroad,beforethi
sreacheshermot her-
in-
law’
s
ears.Andbef or
eBhambat ha’
sgirl
fr
iendshowsupto
scream atherandsayshewasr i
ght.Mawandehas
provenherinsti
nctsri
ghtbykissi
ngherman.
Shecanr
unherbusi
nessf
rom home,
Enembe.
St
ayi
ngher
eisgoi
ngt
ocausemor
ebadt
hangood.

Shedr agsthef
ir
stsuitcase,leavesi
tonthef l
oorin
theloungeandfetchesanot herone.MrsMy ezalef
t
forThursdaywomen’ sprayermeet i
ng,i
t’
ll
giveher
anexcuseast owhyshel ef
twi t
houttel
l
ingher.
Shedragsinanothersui
tcasewithabagbalanced
underherarm.And,ther
ehei s,
onhercouchina
blacksweaterandNiketr
ackpant.Herhear
tstops
foraminute.Whatishedoinghere?
“You’
releavi
ng? ”heaskswithalookshecannot
descri
beplasteredonhisface.I
t’
snotapleasant
one,nei
therisitcoldgl
are.
Shest
andsst
il
landdoesn’
tsayany
thi
ng.
“Mawande,ar
eyouleav
ing?
”He’
sfi
rmerand
standi
ngonhisf
eetnow.
“Yes,
I’
mleav
ing,
”shesay
saf
tert
aki
ngadeep
breat
h.
“Why?”Gui
l
tswallowshi
m, hesinksbackonthe
couchandrel
easesasharpbreath.“
Becauseof
me?
”
Yes,
becauseofy
ou!
“
No,notbecauseofy ou.Iwasgoingt
oleav
eevenif
t
hekissdi
dn’thappen.”Ohshucks!Di
dshehasto
ment
ionthatthough?
“
Iregr
eti
ttoo,
”hesay
s.
Thatshoul
dn’thurtbuti
tdoes.Her
egret
skissi
nga
widow.Herfaceisunablet
omaskt hepai
n
ref
lect
ingi
nherey es.
“Ionl
yregr
etitbecauseyou’
remylatebr
other
’s
wife,
”hesaysandstaresatherf
ortwo
uncomfort
ableminutes.
“Idon’
twanty outoleave.
”Hesoundsdi
ff
erent
,ina
painf
ul way.Butshecannotst
ay,
notwhenshe
doesn’tknowwhoshei saroundthi
sman.
“Ihav
et o.I
t’
snotyourf
aul
t,don’
tbeaty
our
sel
f
aboutit
,”shesay
s.
“You’
real
lthatIhave.
”Hebr usheshi
snosewithhi
s
handandinhalesshar
ply.“I
fyouleav
e,i
t’
soverfor
me, I
’
m backont hest
reets.
”
“
Whatdoest
hatmean?
”Mawandeasks.
Helooksup,
hiseyesar
einf
li
ctedwit
hpainbuthe’
s
nottheonet
obreakdownordispl
ayhisemoti
ons
l
ikethat
.
“I
tmeansIcannotsay‘ I
’
m goinghome’oranythi
ng
l
ikethat.I
fyouclosethesedoors,f
ormei t
’sover.I
dohav eahousebuti tdoesn’
tmeanIdon’tli
ke
havi
ngapl aceIcall
homeandaf amil
y.
”
She’ssoft-
hearted,
natural
ly.Thisbr
eaksherhear
t,
shedidn’tt
hinkhecar ed.He’snevershownit
.She
thoughthewasokaybei ngout-cast
edanddisowned.
Hest i
l
lmadei t,he’
snotshor tofanythi
ngi
nlif
e,
exceptthatpartonly.
“Yougav emet hatandIruinedit
.Justli
keI’
verui
ned
everyt
hingelseinmylife.Ishoul
dn’thaveki
ssedyou.
Ididn’
tthinkit
’l
ltaket
hingsthisfarandI’
m sor
ry,
”he
says.
Mawandeexhal
esandl
ower
sher
sel
fnextt
ohi
m.
“
Iki
ssedy
ouback,
”shesay
s.
Henods,
“Iknow,
I’
m noty
ourt
ype,
youwi
shi
tdi
dn’
t
happen.
”
Si
l
ence…
Hel
ooksather
,she’
sst
ari
ngathi
m.
“
Mawande?
”Ther
e’sal
i
ttl
efr
ownonhi
sface.
“Ir
egreti
tbecausey ou’
remyl at
ehusband’
sbrot
her
andthat’
swhyI ’
ml eavi
ng.Idon’
twantitt
ohappen
againandIdon’tknowifthatcanbeguarant
eedifI
keepseeingyou.”
He’sblownof
f,hebl
i
nksr
api
dlyandl
ooksather
again.
“Youdon’
tregr
eti
tbecauseI
’
m knownasat
hug?
”
heasks.
“Iknowyouasa‘semi-
rest
aurant’Shisany
ama
ownerandasupporti
ngbrother
-in-
law.Notat
hug.I
don’twantt
orui
nthat,y
ou’v
ebeensogoodand
support
ivet
omemor ethanany one.”
“Youcannotruinanyt
hing.I
tcanneverhappenwit
h
me.I’
llnev
ertreatyoubadlyunderany
cir
cumstance.”Hesaidthattooqui
ck,she’
s
awestr
uckandf ail
i
ngtohol dhi
sstare.Thi
ngsar
en’t
supposedt
obet
hisawkwar
d,t
hat
’swhyshe’
s
l
eaving.
“
Idon’
twantyoutoleave,
”hesay
sfort
hesecond
t
imeandholdsherhand.
“ButBhambat
ha,whati
fwedoi
tagai
n?”sheasksi
n
almostwhi
sper.
“Idon’tknow,”hesay
sandpul l
sherar
m overhi
s
shoulder.“Maybewedon’thavetowai
tforanot
her
daytoseei ftheworl
disgoingtoendi
fwedoi t
againornot .
”
“Bha…mba…tha!”Hereyesgot
ohi
sli
pst
hatar
ejust
aninchawayfrom hers.
Theirli
pslock.Hishandhol dsthebackofherneck
andpul l
shercloser.Hishandcaressi
ngherneck
alonegivesherchil
ls.Hisbreathiswaff
ledwit
h
nicoti
neandmi nt.Shewel comeshisli
psandsucks
them slowlyandpassionately
.Hishanddropstoher
waist,heholdshertightl
yandpushesherback
againstthecouch.
“Mawande,
”hepronouncesi
nat
wosecondbr
eak
bef
orehekissesheragai
n.
I
t’ssteamy,passi
onateandfi
l
ledwithenergy.Unti
l
hismanhoodget sexci
tedandgrowshardbet ween
thei
rbodies.Heneedstogetoffthepoorgir
l.
He’
sal i
tt
lebitembarr
assed.Maybeifhewas
wear
ingaj eanitwoul
d’v
ecoveredhistoo-
for
war
d
member ,
buthe’sweari
ngat r
ackpantandit’
svi
sibl
y
st
andingupl i
kethear
m ofababy .
“
Arey
ouhungr
y?”heasksawkwar
dly
.
“
Hungr
y?”Shecl
ear
shert
hroat
.
Her
eali
zestheambi
gui
tyofhi
squest
ionandqui
ckl
y
r
ect
if
iesi
t.
“Imeanfood.Yousaidyoul
i
kedgri
l
ledmeatf
rom
myShisanyama,Icantel
lmyboy
stobri
ngyou
some.”
“
Oht
hat
,yes,
I’
m hungr
y.”
Hesteal
saglanceather
.He’
shungr
ytoobutt
hisi
s
nothi
spott
oeatf r
om.
“
Yourki
ssesar
eev
ery
thi
ng,
”het
hinksoutl
oud.
Shegaspsanddr
opsherey
es.
“You’
rej
ust….
”Heshoul dprobablyl
eavei
there.He’
s
makingthi
ngsmor eawkwar d.I
tmakessensewhy
Nyezimarr
iedherandlovedhersomuch.He’dhav e
donethesametoohadhemetherf ir
st.
She’
sabeaut
if
ulwoman,
soeasyt
ofal
li
nlov
ewi
th!
“
Arey
our
eal
l
yleav
ing?
”heasks.
“
Yes,
butonl
yforacoupl
eofweeks.
”
I
thur
ts.Hecannotev
enhi
dei
t.Buti
t’
swhati
tis.
.
.
TEMA

Theyarewhatany onewoul dcallaperf

ectcouple.
She’
sbental otofherrules,changedherli
festyl
e
andsacri
ficedalotforthisman.May beKhany owas
ri
ght,f
oroncesheneedst ogetwhatshewant sand
geti
therway ,onherownt i
me.Sheappr eci
ateshim
havi
nggoodi ntent
ionsaboutherandonl ywant i
ng
thecooki
eaf t
erhe’sputar i
ngonherf i
nger.But
comeon, she’snot17,t
hatpat hhasbeenwal kedon
bef
oreandi
tneedsser
vices.

She’swear ingal ongcoatov erthelacymat ching

under wearthatKhany oforcedhert obuy .Onet hi
ng
abouthert hatNkonzopr obabl yknowsandkeeps
pokingat ,i
st hatshe’sinsecure.Thulamadesur ei
t
si
nksi nherheadt hatshe’scol dinbedandher
smel l
ycooki eiswi del
yopenl i
keacav e.Heusedt o
comet oMt hongaHol dingsandscr eam allthose
i
nsultsf oreverybodyt ohearaf tert
hei rmessy
div
or ce.May bet hat’
swher eNkonzo’ sf earcomes
fr
om, shethinks.She’sbeendoi ngal otofkegel
exercises,eatingplainyogur tandlotofgr eens.

Nkonzostepsoutoft
heshower
,wr
appedi
nat
owel
andlooksatherwi
thafr
own.
“Wagqokaamajazi
ebusukusiy
aempi
niyi
ni?
”( Why
areyouwear
ingacoatatnight
,ar
ewegoi
ngt oa
war)
“No,
”shesay
swi
thaner
voussmi
l
eandshakesher
head.
Hekissesherl i
psandwal ksout,
probablytohis
offi
cetodosomewor k.Theyalwaysf i
ghtabout
everyt
hingindoors.He’slearni
ngthi
ngsabouther
andshe’slearni
ngt hi
ngsabouthi mt oo.Thingsthey
probablywould’
vesurpr i
sedeachot herwithafter
getti
ngmar ri
ed.

Maybesheshoul
dfol
l
owhi
mthere.Khanyosai
d
“t
her
e’snopl
aceandti
mef
ort
histhi
ng;anywher
e
andanyt
ime.
”
Sheknocksonceandpushest
hedoor.I
ndeed,
he’
s
onhi
slaptopandreadi
ngsomethi
ng.
“Wetal
kedaboutthi
s,
”shesaysatthedoor
,tr
ying
nott
oscream andcauseascene.
“ButI
’m notworki
ng,babe.YouseeI’
m onmyf
eet
andjustreadi
ngthi
sdocumentt hr
ough.
”
Itdoesn’tj
ust
ifyanyt
hing,he’
swor ki
ngonthei
rti
me,
butshe’snotlooki
ngforanyar gumenttoni
ght
.She
closesthedoorandsof t
lywalkstowardshi
min
frontofthedesk.
Shewrapsherarmsaroundhi
swaistandunt
iesthe
towel
.Hegaspsandlooksatherasthet
owelfal
l
s
downonthefloor
.
“Whatdoyouwantt
osee?”heaskswi
thagr
inand
bendsdowntopi
ckitup.
Temabl
ockshi
shandandst
epsont
het
owel
wit
h
herf
oot
.
“
Okay
,what
’sgoi
ngon?
”heasks.
Deepbreat
h!Sheunbutt
onshercoatsl
owl
y,wi
thher
eyesf
ixedonhisconf
usedface.
Heswal
l
owshar
d,“
Tema,
no!
”
Shepushesthelapt
opandjumpst
osi
tont
hedesk
wit
hherlegssl
ightl
ypar
ted.
“Doyoulikewhatyousee?”sheasksashedr
ool
s
overherbubbl
ycleavage.
“Comeon,wet alkedaboutthi
s.”He’
sst andi
ng
betweenherlegsandembr aci
ngher .Hisbody
wantsadiff
erentthingfr
om hi
smi nd.Hewasn’ t
weari
ngany t
hingunderthetowel,hewasst i
lly
etto
wearboxersandv estbefor
egetti
ngi nbedwithher
.
Hisshaf
thasst
oodupagai
nsthi
snav
el,
looki
ng
beast
yandstar
ved.
“
I’
m notavi
rgi
n,Mthonga.Icrav
emorethanj
ust
y
ourli
ps,
”shesaysandstealsaqui
ckfr
om hi
sli
ps.
“Iwantyoutotouchmeher e.
”Shepull
shishand
anddirect
sitt
ot hecast
lebetweenhert
highs.
“
Andmakemeahappywoman,
”shesay
sand
Nkonzoi
nhal
esshar
ply
.
“Idon’twantt
owaituntilt
hewedding.Iwantyou
now. ”Herwhi
sperissexyenoughtoloosenal
l hi
s
buttonsandgethim scoopi
ngherupinhisarmsl i
ke
ababy .

Theymakei ttothebedroom, heput sheronbedand

pushesherlegsfurther
lyapart.Theirl
i
pslockinan
i
ntimatekisswhilehetri
estopul ldownthelacy
thongstandingbetweenhim andhercooki ej
ar.
“
You’
resowet,
”hesays,t
appi
ngherf
oldsand
t
her
e’st
hatwetsoundshehat
es.
“
Getawi
pe,
”shet
ell
shi
m.Thul
ahadal
ott
o
complai
nabout
,thi
sisoneoft
het
hingshedi
dn’
t
l
ike.
“Forwhat?Aren’
tyouwetforMthonga?”Nkonzo
asks,pl
ayingwit
hherdr
ippingwetfol
ds.
Heshut sherwithaki ssandkeepshi sfi
ngertapping
hercli
t.Hisshaftisnowhar dandcl osetobursting
thoseveins,buthe’sstil
l notsureifhe’
sdoingt he
ri
ghtthing.Therearepr ocedureshewant edt o
fol
lowbef oredoingthis.Hewant edtodoev er
ything
ri
ghtandhewant edthei rfi
rstti
met obespecial.
“
Youreal
lywantustodothi
snow?”heasksev
en
t
houghherbodyhasal
readytol
dhi
m.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
Hekissesheragai
n,forgr
ati
tude.Her
oll
sherni
ppl
e
wit
hat humbandbitesherneck.Shemoansout
sof
tly
.
“
MaDube,”hewhisper
sinherearandclear
sthefog
i
nhi
sthroat.“
Areyouonbir
thcontrol
?”heasks.
“
No,
”shesay
s.
“
Ufunangi
gqoke?
”(Youwantmet
oputacondom
on)
“
Ilov
eyou,
”shesay
s.
Heli
ft
shiseyest
oherandf
oramomentt
hey
’re
st
ari
ngateachot
her
.
Heli
ft
sherleg,
pushest
het
ipofhi
sshaf
tov
erher
cl
i
tandrubsher.
“
Ilov
ey ou,
tinker
bel
l,
”hesay
sbefor
esepar
ati
ngher
wetfol
dswithhisfi
nger
sandpushi
nghi
shardshaf
t
i
n,sl
owly.
Herbodyt
ensesupashisshaf
teff
ort
lessl
ysl
i
desi
n.
Heli
ft
shiseyest
oherandspanksherhip.
“
Loosenup,
Iwon’
tber
ough,
”hesay
s.
Okay
,shet
akesahugebr
eat
handr
elaxes.

Hetuckshi
sheadov erhershoul
derandgroans
deepl
yashisshaf
tthrustsdeepl
yinhercore.
Hisbodyisshatter
ing.He’sbeeninsideherforl
ess
thanfourminutesbuthisbodyisalreadyfai
li
ngto
handl
et hebundleofpleasur
edishedf orMthonga.
“Babe!”Temascr
eamsashethr
ust
sinf
uri
ousl
yli
ke
heintendstor
ipherapar
t.
Hebiteshershoulderashet ri
eshisalmostbestto
stayinthegame.Shemoanspai nfull
yandcall
shis
name.Hi steet
harenowsi nkingintoherf
leshand
he’snotevenawareofit.Allhissensesar
eknot t
ed
andawai t
inganimmediaterelease.
Hi
sbodygivesi
n.Hebur
stsi
nsi
deherandr
eleases
al
oudgroan.
Hist
eethleaveamarkonherski
n,herol
l
soffand
l
iesonhisstomachwit
hhisheadburi
edinshame.

Amomentpasses,he’
spanti
ngheavi
lynextt
oher
andshe’
sly
ingonherbackcreampi
edandstil
lhor
ny
AF.
“
You’
renotf
ucki
n’ser
iousNkonzehl
e!”
Heli
ft
shi
sfacet
oherandexhal
esheav
il
y.He’
s
sor
ry,
moret
hanany
thi
ng.
“Ihaven’
tbeeneat
ingwel
landit
’sbeenal
ongt
ime
sinceIwaswithawoman.Idon’
tknowhowthi
s
happened,Iwas….
”Okay
,heneedst
ocuti
tandj
ust
apol
ogizes.
“
I’
m sorr
yMaDube.Ipr
omi
sey
out
hesecondr
ound
wi
llbebett
er.
”
“Yesi
twil
lbebet
terbecausey
ou’
l
lli
ckmef
ir
st,
”she
saysf
uri
ousl
y.
Hi
sfacepal
esout.Saywhat?Herfacesaysshe
meansbusi
ness.He’
sli
cki
ngitandthat’
sit
!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER50
NOMKHOSI

Shewalkst
oPr
eci
ousonherdeskandl
eav
esaf
ew
messages.
“I
fanyoneasksf
ormer
efert
hem t
oSnal
o,”she
says.
Pr
eci
ousnotesi
tdown,
thenshechewsherpenand
l
ooksather
.
“Idi
dn’
tthi
nkyouhadameet
ingoutoft
ownt
oday
,”
shesaystoKhosi
.
“
It
’saper
sonal
meet
ing,
”Khosi
.
Sheleansfor
war
dandl
ower
sherey
esbef
ore
whisper
ing.
“Ar
eyoumeet
ingt
hatwomanwi
thababyagai
n?”
sheasks.
Nomkhosirai
seshereyebrowi
nshock.Sincewhen
t
hey’
refr
iends?Herpri
vatemeet
ingsarenoneof
Pr
eci
ous’
busi
ness.
“That’
sal
l,
youcangobacktowor
k,”shesay
stoher
,
givi
ngherameani
ngful
look.
“Ummm, sor
ry.
”Shegoesbacktoherseatand
pret
endstobebusyonherl
aptop.
Nomkhosi shakesherheadindi
sbel
i
efbef
ore
str
utt
ingawayi nherst
il
ett
osandwalki
ngoutt
othe
parki
ngarea.
She’snotfri
endswithNothi
l
e, t
hatmightneverbe
possibl
e,butthey’
rebot
hmot hersnowsot heyhave
toleavethepetti
nessanddramabehind.

BecauseThakasahasbeenal lov erDur

banr ecentl
y,
shethoughti twoul dbeabet t
erideaifshe
personallydrovetohersi st
er’
shousei nHardingand
hadone- on-oneconv ersati
onwithher.Obviouslyher
‘
sexual rel
ationship’wit
hThakasa, orwhateverhe
cal
ledi t
,hasdugheri ntoadeeperhole.She’snow
caughtbet weent heirmarit
alproblemsandi t
’stoo
l
atef orhertobackoutnow.
Eventhoughsheknowst hatNothil
emightfeelabi
t
i
nsult
edbyherbuy i
ngLondaawi nt
ert
racksuit
,she
coul
dn’tresi
stthatcut
eboyisht
hingwhenshesaw
i
tatEarthChild.
Shecall
sbef
oredrivi
nguptothehouseandl
ets
Nothi
l
eknowt hatshe’
sar
ri
ved.

Thingsaresti
l
l awkwardbetweenthetwoofthem
eventhoughthey’v
ebeenhol di
ngcivi
lconv
ersat
ions
onWhat sappthelastcoupl
eday s.
“
Hey,”shesay
s,walki
ngtoNothi
lestandi
nginthe
v
erandawithatoddl
ersi
tt
ingnextt
oherf eet
.
“
Hi.It
houghty
ou’dcomewi
thPhel
o,”Not
hil
esay
s
wi
thalazysmil
e.
“Mom t hi
nksit’
sherchild,
Ikindaaskpermissionfor
everyt
hing.”Nomkhosi haseveryt
hingshenev erhad,
butthisti
meshedoesn’ tf
eelsomet ypeofway
towardsher ,
she’shappyforher.Herdaughterhasa
l
ov i
ngf at
her,aprot
ecti
v egrandmaanduncl eswho’d
kil
lforher.Londamaynev errecei
vethatkindoflove
butshe’swi l
l
ingtobethebestmot herinthewor l
d.
Theywal kinsi
det hehouse.Nomceboi ssit
ti
ngon
thecouch, l
ookingreadyt opukeherlunchatthe
sightofthewomant hatbrokehersi
ster’
smarri
age.
ButNot hi
lequickl
yr eprimandsherwithalookand
asksNomkhosi tohav easeat .
“Thi
sismysist
er,
Nomcebo,
andt
hesear
ehert
wo
daught
ers.
”
Nomkhosi looksatheri
nacknowledgementand
doesn’tsayanythi
ng.I
t’
seasytofeelherbadvibes
fr
om thatmean, ugl
yface.For
tunat
ely,shedi
dn’t
comeher etomakef ri
endswit
hany one.Thi
sis
str
ict
lyaboutLonda.
Not
hil
elooksathersi
ster
,“Pl
easegi
veusami
nut
e.”
Nomceboroll
sherey
esbefor
epicki
ngheryoungest
daught
erandpul
li
ngtheot
heronetother
oom.
“Don’tmindher,
she’shavi
ngabadday ,”shepi
cksa
cushionandsquashesitinherhands.“
Myuncle
call
ed,theyf
inal
lyboughtthecowsbutcouldn’
tget
thegoat.”
“
That
’sbet
tert
hannot
hing.Soy
ou’
regoi
ngback?
”
Nomkhosi
.
“
They
’l
lgoonmybehal
f.IknowMaKhumalo,I
’
m not
i
nagoodemoti
onal
spacetodeal
withheratt
he
moment.
”
Khosi
clear
shert
hroatandheav
esasi
gh.
“It
hinkThakasaneedsagl
i
mpseofar
eal
i
ty,
”she
says.
Not
hil
elooksathercur
iousl
y.
“Iknowi
t’
shardforyout obeawayfrom y
ourson.
AsamotherIunderstand,butatt
imesyouhaveto
dowhatyouhavetodot ogetwhaty ouwant
.”
“
Idon’
tunder
stand,
”Not
hil
esay
s.
“
HewantstobeLonda’
sfat
her
,ri
ght
?Thenpackhi
s
l
i
ttl
ebagandgoleav
ehiminhi
soffi
ce.
”
Whooah!That
’ssoundsabi
tdr
amat
icandpl
ain
st
upi
d.
“
No!Idon’
twantmysont
obemi
str
eat
edbyt
hat
man.
”
“I
’
llkeepaney
eonhi m.Ij
ustwanthi
mto
underst
andwhatt
hisisal
labout
.Ababy
!”
“
No,
no,
no.Whati
fheki
l
lsmyson?
”Not
hil
e.
Khosi
chuckl
es,
“Comeonnow,he’
saparent
.Andhe
hasasof
tspotfort
hesel
i
ttl
ehumanbei
ngs.”
“Khosi
,no!”shesi
ghs.“
Ithi
nkhe’sgoi
ngt
obeokay
i
fmyuncl epaysthefi
ne.Idon’
tneedt
opull
all
these
stunt
s.”
“Butthat
’snotallyouwant,
right
?AsfarasIknow
thefi
neisanapol ogytot
heancestorsandt
hen
ther
e’sanacceptanceforLondatothefami
ly.What
abouthisrealf
ather?”
Shesi
ghsheav
il
y.
“Li
fehasnev erfavoredme.AttheendofthedayI’
m
notgoingtogetany thi
ngmyway .Thakasawil
lhave
theupperhandt odecidewhat’snextf
orme.”She
smileslazi
ly.“Thisisalessontoyoutoo,j
usti
ncase
youev erdecidet omar r
yhim.”
.
.
THAKASA
It
’sanor mal Tuesday,he’
satwor kandlooking
forwardt ospendi ngti
mewi thhisdaughterafter
wor k.Khosi doesn’tl
iv
ei nWat erway sYET,but
anytimehecal lsandaskshert ogot her
ewi t
hPhel o,
shedoes.Todaywasoneoft hoseday s,hecalled
andaskedt obewi t
hhisf amily,sheagreed.With
Mawandebackhomet here’slesstowor r
yabout
concer ni
ngMaKhumal o.She’sbondi ngwithher
daught erandThakasawi llbebondi ngwithhis
daught ertoo.
Hehasthi
rt
yminutestospar
e,sohet
akeshi
slunch
andgoest
oBandla’sof
fi
ce.
“
DidSqal
ocal
lyou?
”heasks.
“Yes,
wetalked.It
hinkweneedtosi
tdownandtal
k
facetof
ace.Buteveryt
hingi
sgood,
hesounded
okayandoverthepast.
”
“That
’sgr
eat
.Ihopeyouguy
scanworki
toutandgo
backtohowyouusedtobe,
”hesay
s.
“
I’
ll
goseehim onFr
iday.IknowwhatIdi
dhur
thi
m,
maybeIshoul
dbuyhim acar.”
“
Youcan’
tbuyapol
ogy
,”Thakasasay
s.
“I
’m notbuyi
nghisapology.He’
s18, doinghis
degreeandhasn’tgotanyonepregnanty et.
”
Thakasaopenshi smouthtospeakbuthequi ckl
y
shutshim down.“That’
snotthepoint,
he’ sdone
greatforhi
mself.I
’m goi
ngtogethim aPol o.”
“WhataboutTutu?Youknowshe’
sgoi
ngt
ocr
y
Zambeziri
ver.
”
“I’
l
lgetheranewlaptop.
”Theybothlaughbecause
theyknowthatPhethywil
lhavenoneofthat.She’
l
l
scream f
avor
it
ism andsul
kt hewhol
ewi nt
er.

Nkonzoaggressi
vel
yopensthedoorandst
ands
wit
hhiseyespoppingoutl
i
kehe’sseenaghost
.
Thent
hesecur
it
yguar
dappearsbehi
ndhi
m wi
tha
l
it
tl
ebabyi
nhisarmsandabag.
“Andthen?”Bot
hBandl
aandThakasaask
simul
taneousl
y.
“MrsManqel
eleftt
his,
”thesecur
it
yguar
dsay
s,
handi
ngthebabytoThakasa.
“
What
…but
…wai
t…”Heput
sthebaby
’sbagon
Bandl
a’
sdeskandst
epsbackt
oleav
e.
“
Sorrysi
r,Ihav
et ogobacktomyj
ob.Ther
e’sa
l
ett
ersheinsert
edinthebag.
”
“Nothi
l
eiscrazy.Whati
sthi
s?”Helooksatthebaby
peaceful
l
ysleepi
nginhi
sarmsandl ooksathi
s
brot
hersforanyki
ndofassi
stance.
“Nkonzodon’tjustst
andthereli
keafool
.Fetchmy
phone!”Heturnshisfi
re-
blazi
ngeyestoBandla
behindthedesk.“Openthebagandreadthatlet
ter
tome.”
Thisi
sinsane!Whati
shesupposedt
odowi
tha
baby?

IHOPEYOU’REGOINGTOBEAGOODFATHERTO
HIM ASYOUBADLYWANTEDTOHAVEHI M AS
YOURSREGARDLESSOFTHETRUTH.MYUNCLES
WILLBETHEREONSUNDAY, PHYSI
CALLYIWON’
T
BEWI THTHEM,BUTSPI
RITUALLYI
’
LLBETHERE.
I’
M SORRYABOUTEVERYTHINGTHATHAPPENED
BETWEENUS.
GOODBYE,
MANQELE

No,
no,
no!Hepushesbackt
hechai
randst
andsup.
“Ineedtofi
ndher.Ihopeshe’
snott
hinki
ngabout
doinganyt
hingst
upid.”
Bandl
alooksatt
hebabyi
nhi
sar
msandr
aiseshi
s
eyebr
ows.
“
Wher
ear
eyougoi
ngt
oleav
ehi
m?”heasks.
“
Cany
oul
ookaf
terhi
mforme?
”
“Mt
honga,
I’
veneverhadababybefor
e.Whatam I
goi
ngtodoifhewakesupandstar
tscry
ing?
”
Oh,f
uck!Helooksar
ound,hi
sworl
disnotthatbi
g
now,helower
shimsel
fbackonthechai
r.
“Nkonzohowlongdoesi ttakeyoutogetadamn
phone?”heyel
lsfuri
ouslyandtheboyinhisarms
openshiseyesforthefir
stti
me.Hisheartstopsfor
ami nut
e.Henearlydropshim onthef
loor.Hisl
it
tle
eyesarefi
xedonhi sface.
“
Bandl
a,he’
slooki
ngatme,
”hesay
s,al
most
whi
sper
ing.
“
Canhesee?
”Bandl
aasks.
“
Idon’
tknow.
”He’
sshi
tscar
ed.
Nkonzowal
ksi
nandgi
veshi
mthephone.
“
Cal
l Nothi
leandputheronl
oudspeaker
,”he
i
nst
ructs.
Nkonzocal
lst
wiceandi
tsendshi
m st
rai
ghtt
o
voi
cemail
.
“
Call
Mawandeandt ellhert
ocomehere
i
mmediatel
y.Ineedhertobaby
sitwhi
l
eIgof
ind
Not
hil
e.”
Bandlarai
seshi
shandup,“That
’sabadi
dea.You
knowhowMaKhumal ois,
thisbabyi
snotwell
,the
l
astthingheneedsi
s…”
“Ok,Ihearyou!I
’l
lmakeanotherplan.
”Helooksat
Nkonzo.“Can’ty
ouaskTemat otakehimtoher
houseandlookaf t
erhi
mf orafewhour s.
”
“
Wehav epl
ans.Whydon’
tyouaskNomkhosi
?”
Nkonzo.
Whendaysar edar
kbr ot
her
sarefew!Het
akeshi
s
phone,
exhalesheavi
lyandscr
oll
sdownfor
Nomkhosi’
snumber .

Phewww!
“
MakaPhel
o,”hecl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
.
“
Hel
l
o,I
’
m ont
her
oad,
what
’sup?
”Khosi
asks.
“
Arey
ougoi
nghome?
”
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“Look,I
’l
lbeinWaterwaysi
n40mi
nut
es.I
t’
sur
gent
,
pleasebethere,
”hesays.
“
What
’sur
gent
?”
Deepbr
eat
h!
“CanyoudowhatIaskandnotquest
ionmef
or
once?
”
“
Youneedmyhel
p,so….
”
Fuck!
!!
“
Okay
,I’
m goi
ngt
oexpl
ainwhenIgett
her
e,”hesay
s.
“
Sur
e.I
’
llgohomeandt
akePhel
othen.
”
Hesi
ghsouti
nrel
i
ef,
thanksherandendst
hecal
l
.
“You’
regoi
ngt
odumpt
hebabywi
thher
?”Nkonzo
asks.
“Shoul
dIl
eav
ehi
m wi
thy
oui
nst
ead?
”They
’reso
annoyi
ng!
“No,Iwasj
ustaski
ng.
”Nkonzol
i
ftshi
shandsupi
n
surr
ender
.
“I
’
llmakeafewcall
sandseei
fany
onecant
raceher
down,
”Bandlasay
s.
“
I’
dappr
eci
atet
hat
.I’
l
lst
ayi
ntouch,
Ihav
etohur
ry.
”
Nkonzobringshiscarkeys,
hetakesLonda’
sbag
andleav
es.Hopef ul
l
yhe’snotgoingt
ocryunti
lthey
reachWaterways.
Het
ri
esNomcebo’sphonebutshedr
opsi
taf
tera
f
ewri
ngs.Damn!
.
.
Nomkhosi
bat
hesPhel
oandput
sheri
naf
luf
fy
j
acket,pinkl
eggi
ngandsocks.Thi
sisthepar
tshe
l
ikesthemostaboutmotherhood;
dressi
ngPhel
oup
andtakingpi
ctur
esofher
.
Thakasawal
ksi
ntothem taki
ngsel
fi
esont
hecouch.
Hehasababyinhi
sar m andabag.
Nomkhosi
’smouthdr
ops.Heinhal
esshar
plyand
l
ooksatherf
ear
fulwhi
lest
andingbehi
ndthecouch.
“
Whoi
sthat
?”Nomkhosi
asks.
“
It
’sLondokuhl
e,
”hesay
swi
thhi
sey
esdr
opped.
“Oh,”t
hat’
sall
shesaysbef
oreturningbacktoher
l
itt
lepri
ncessandt
akingmorepicturesofherwhi
l
e
she’ssucki
ngherf
inger
sandlookingallar
oundher.
“
Canwet
alk?
”Thakasaasksbehi
ndher
.
“Yes,goon.”She’
stil
tingherphoneandt
ryi
ngt
o
capturePhelo’
sbestlook.
“It
hinkMaNtusiwant
stoharm her
sel
f.Shel
eftt
he
babyatthegateandl
eft
,”hesays.
“Oh,congr
atul
ati
ons.Ar
eyouhappyt
haty
ougott
he
babynow?”Khosiasks.
“
Don’tdothat
,pl
ease.Canyoulookaft
erhimfora
f
ewhour s?I
fanyt
hinghappenstoherI
’l
lnever
f
orgi
vemy sel
f.
”
“
Whydon’
tyout
akehi
mtoy
ourMom?
”sheasks.
“
Iwi
l
l,j
ustnotnow.
”
“
I’
m sor
ry,butIcan’t
.Thi
siswhaty
ouwant
edand
y
ougotit.
”Shepi cksPhel
oupandsit
swi
thheron
t
hecouch.
“
Ithi
nkyouneedt
ochangehi
sdi
aper
,Daddy
,”she
t
ell
sThakasa.
Hel
ooksatLondaandf
rowns.Ohboy
,youdi
dn’
t!
“
Cany
ouchangei
tforme?
”
Nomkhosichuckles,
“No.He’
sy ourwi
fe’
sson,
that
makeshi
my oursontoo,i
sn’
t?”
Sigh!Hepeepsthroughtheblanket
,indeedt
here’
sa
funnysmellcomingfrom t
hisli
tt
leman’spants.
“You’r
eagreatfatherThakasa,”Khosi’
svoice
catcheshi
m offguar d.“
Don’tletanot
herperson’
s
acti
onschanget hat.Thi
sl i
tt
leboyneedshismother
,
notyouandnotme.Heal sodeservestohavea
rel
ationshipwit
hhi
srealf
ather
.Youneedtoforgi
ve
yourself
,letgooft
heangerandacceptwhatyou
cannotchange.”
Henods,
looki
ngatLondast
aringathi
m bl
ankly
.
He’
sapeacefulbaby
,unl
i
kehisdramapri
ncess.
“
Not
hil
eissaf
e.It
alkedt
oheraf
ewmi
nut
esago.
”
Saywhat
?!
“
Yout
alkedt
oher
?”heasks.
“Yes,
she’
sgonehometomeetwi
thheruncl
es.I
f
youwanttokeept
hebabynowt
hestageisy
ours,
”
Khosisay
s.
“
He’
sinnocenti
nal
lthi
s.”
“I
’m gl
ady
ounowreal
i
zet
hat
.Nowdot
her
ightt
hing
andsethi
mfr
ee.
”
Heshakeshi
sheadi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.Yesshemakes
sense,
butwow!
“
Soy
ou’
renowf
ri
ends?
”heasksher
.
“
No,
wej
ustf
uckedt
hesameman,
”shesay
s.
Oh,
that
’showshecal
l
sit
?
“
Sowej
ustf
ucked?
”heasksi
nabr
uisedt
one.
“Yeah.Whatel
sedi
dwedo?TakePhel oandgiv
eme
thebaby.I
nthemorni
ngy ouhavetogoandf
ace
yourwif
e.Lookhowfardeepfucki
ngamarri
edman
hasgottenme?”
“St
opsayi
ngyouf
uckedme.
”Hegi
veshert
hebaby
andpi
cksPhel
oup.
“What ev
ermakesyousl
eepatni ght.Or
der
somet hi
ngwe’r
egoingt
oeatf ordinner
.”She’
s
maki ngherwaytot
hebathroom tochangeLonda’
s
diaperandmakesasecretcallt
oNot hi
le.

Theymanagedt oputbothbabi est

osleep.He’snow
reali
zinghowf arhe’
stakent hi
ngsandhonestly,
thi
s
i
sf arfrom theli
fehewants.Hecan’tbefeeding,
bathingandput t
inganotherman’sbabytosleep
everynight.Heloveski
ds, butt
hisi
stoomuch.
“Ar
ey ouokay?
”Khosi
asks,
lower
ingher
sel
font
he
opposit
ecouch.
“
No,
”hesay
s.
“Iunderst
andyouandIf eelbad.Butattheendof
thedaywedi dNothil
ewr ong.Nothi
ngjusti
fi
eswhat
you,special
l
y,di
dtoher .Nothercheati
ng,nother
getti
ngpregnantandnotherr unni
ngawayf r
om
home.Not hi
ng.Youbot hcheated,f
oryourown
reasons,andgotbabiesoutofmar ri
ageequall
y.
”
“IknowandI’
veapol
ogi
zedtoheramill
i
ontimes,
”
hesays.“
Ithi
nkweneedtositdownandtal
k.”
“
That’
sal
lyoucoul
d’v
edoneal
lthi
sti
me.Thank
y
ou!”
Hesi
ghsanddr
opshi
sey
est
othef
loort
hought
ful
l
y.
“
It
’sokayfort
hemarr
iagenott
owor
k.Li
fegoeson,
i
t’
sli
fe,
”shesays.
“
Whatifour
sdon’twor
kaswell
?Idon’
twantt
o
makeahobbyofmarry
ingwomenandlet
ti
ngthem
l
eave,
”heasks.
“Wearenotgoi
ngtohav
eanymar
ri
age,
sodon’
t
pani
c,
”Khosisays.
“Wearejustgoi
ngtokeep‘
fucking’
,
”heasks,
quot
ingherterm wi
thhi
sfi
ngers.
“No,
wear efucki
n’co-par
ent
ingThakasaManqel
e
andthat
’si
t!
”shesay s.
Hesmiles.Itdoesn’
thav
et ot
urnhim onwhenshe’s
bei
ngharshandr udetohim,buti
tdoes,especi
all
y
aft
ert
her oughdayhe’shad.
“ButIwantmor
e;yourhandi
nmarr
iage,
yourwar
m
cookieandmorebabi
es,
”hesay
sandgetsadir
ty
l
ookt hr
ownathim.
“
Iny
ourwetdr
eams!
”shesay
s.
“Doy ouknowwhatIdot oy
oui nmywetdr eams?
Trustme,ifIdoy
ouhowIdoy ouinmydr eams
you’l
lneedawheelchai
randpainki
ll
erst
henext
day.”
Har
dswal
l
ow!
“
Wehav
eki
dsar
oundThakasa,
”shesay
s.
“
Theydon’
tev
enknowt
hei
rnamesy
et.Comeher
e!”
Shegiveshi
m al
ookandl
ooksatt
hebr
ightscr
een
ofherphone.
Hi
sbr
eat
hnextt
oher
?What
’sgoi
ng….
.ohhel
l
,no!
“
Tel
lmeI
’
mly
ing,
”hesay
s,l
i
fti
ngherchi
nup.
“
Thakasast
op!
”
“
JustsayI
’
mly
ing.
”
Si
gh!
“You’
renotly
ing.CanIchatwi
thmyfri
endnow?
”
sheasks,f
ighti
ngtheurgetor
oll
hereyes.
“Uzobhebhekaphel
a,
”hesay s,spanki
ngherhips
andmov ingawaywithastupidgri
nonhisface.
(You’
regoingtogetf
ucked)
Shereleasesadeepsi
ghandcr
ossesherl
egst
o
keepthatthrobbi
ngcl
i
tcal
m.
AtleastshegotwhatherandNot
hil
ewant
ed.And
shedidn’tgetf
ucked.
Shef
inal
l
yhassomecont
rol
,butwhat
'snext
?
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER51
THAKASA

He’sout si
det heNgemahomest eadbeforethesky
ful
lybear soutt hesun.I fitwasn’ tf
orKhosi he
doesn’tknowwhathewoul d’vedone,andt hankGod,
Londai snotacr ybaby .Khosi madehi sbot t
lesto
makesur ethatnot hingmakest hem fi
ghtont heway.
He’snotconnect edt ohi m ashei stoPhelo,and
that’
sbecausehe’ sl i
vingpr oofofwhathiswi f
edid
tohim.Buthol dinghimi nhisarmswasn’ tbadashe
hadthought .Hedi dn’tfeelanyresentment, j
usta
holl
owf eeli
ngof‘ heshoul d’vebeenmyson. ’

Wit
hev er
ythingthathappenedbet
weenhim andt
he
Ngemauncl es,he’
snotsureifhe’
sst
il
lwelcomedas
ason-i
n-l
aw, soheparksoutsidet
hegateandcal
ls
Nothi
l
e.
Af
tert
hecal
lhegoest
othebackandget
sLondat
o
thef r
ontseat.Nothil
et akesherprecioustime
comi ngout.She’sreall
ydet er
minedt otesthi
s
patience.Preci
oussai dsomet hi
ngaboutNomkhosi
rushingtomeetwi t
hsomeone, nowt hathethi
nks
carefull
yaboutit,Nothilemust’vebeentheonewho
call
edhert othatmeet ing.He’sgoingtoaddress
that,amongot herthingsthathewant stotalktoher
about .

It
’sbeenmont hssincehelastsawher .She’
slosta
l
otofweight,probablysomeat ti
tudeaswell
.Her
headiswrappedwi thascarf,shelookshorr
ibl
e,li
ke
shehasn’
tsleptoreat enwell
inweeks.
Sheopenst
hedoorandcl
i
mbsin.Thakasast
ays
qui
etl
yandl
ooksoutsi
det
hewi
ndow.
Shesi
ts,
glancesatLondaonceandf
oldsherar
ms.
Oneoft
hem hast
osaysomet
hingt
ost
artt
hisof
f.
Thakasainhalesdeepl
yandshift
shiseyestoher
.
She’
snotl ookingathi
sdi
rect
ion,buthest
aresat
herregar
dless.
“
You’
renotev
engoi
ngt
oaskhowhesl
ept
?”heasks.
“I
’m sur
ehesl
eptwel
l
.Hewaswi
thhi
sfat
her
,wasn’
t
he?”
Oh,
sheonl
ylostwei
ght
.At
ti
tudest
il
lcomesi
nbul
ks.
“MaNtusi
,”heexhal
esandadjust
sLonda’
sheadon
hisarm.“Whyareyourunni
ngaround?WhydoI
havetochaseyouli
keIaskedyoutocheatandget
pregnant
?”
“Ididn’
tasky outochaseme.Iaskedasi mplething
from you;chargemewhaty ouwantandall
owmy
sont obeacknowl edgedbyhi sownancestor
s.But
no,y ousethighdemandsknowi ngver
ywellt
hatmy
fami l
ywoul dneverdoanythingformeifi
t’
snot
benef i
cial
tothem.Youknowt hatIonl
yhady ouand
my self
,withoutyou-I
’m onmyown. ”
“Theproblem wit
hyouNot hil
eisthatyou’
dnev er
admitandownupt oyourmi st
akes.Nowt hati
t’s
youwho’satt hei
rmercy,t
hey ’
dneverdoany t
hing
foryouandbl abl
abla.Butifit
’smei nyourposit
ion
youruntot hei
rarmsandlickthei
rfeet.Nothi
ng
changes,IwantthosecowsandIwantt hem fr
om
Raphael
Ngemawhot
ookmyl
obol
a.”
“
You’
l
lgett
hem,
”shesay
s.
“
Great
!”
Heav
ysilencef
all
sintothecar
.Londabreaksi
twi
th
hi
scryandNothil
etakeshimtoherchest.
“Mysoni snotwell,
Idon’
twanttoargueoverhi
s
head,butmay beI’
dnevergetachancetoaskyou
thesequesti
ons.”Shecover
sLondawi t
hablanket
andreleasesasigh.
“
Iforgav
ey ouManqel
e,
”shest
art
sandThakasa
r
aiseshiseyebr
ow.
“IdidnotsayIforgot,Isai
dIf or
gav eyou,whichIdid.
Ibookedy ouintotherapy,pl
annedt ri
psforusand
treat
edyourf amil
ylikeitwasmyown.Yousai dyou
felli
nlovewithNomkhosi andIaskedy ou,notonce,
i
fy ouwant edtobewi thher.”Hel eansbackont he
seatandlooksatherat tenti
v ely
.
“Iasked,Manqel
edoyouwantpolygamy?Yousai
d,
no.Iasked,doyouwanttobewithher
?Yousaid,
no.
Buty ouknewverywel
lthatwaswhatyouwant
ed.I
gaveyouoptions,Iwasneveracrazywi
fe,nei
ther
wasIclose-minded.Bei
ngcheatedonhurt
s,now
youcanattesttoit
.Whydidy ouhurtmewhereas
youhadopt i
onsnotto?”sheasks.
Hedoesn’
tsayanythi
ng.Shegi
veshi
m astar
eunt
il
her
ubshisbow-ri
dgeandexhal
esaudibl
y.
“Ikeptmakingeffor
tsforust owork.Thatnight
whenLondawasuni ntenti
onall
ymade, y
ouhad
turnedmedownanddi dn’tevencaretocompl i
ment
thelinger
ieIwentoutofmywayt oimpressy ouwi
th.
Idon’tthi
nky ou’
veeverlovedme,youonlyloved
beingmar ri
edtome.”
“
That
’snott
rueandy
ouknowi
t,
”hesay
s.
“Iti
strue!Youknowt hatNomkhosi wil
lneverat t
end
churchwi t
hy ou.She’l
lnev erwrapher selfinlong
dressesandscar f
s,andkneel foryoui nfrontofy our
family.She’
llnevercookf oryourgr ownbr othersand
nursey ourmot her’
sfeel
ings.That ’
swhyy oudi dn’
t
wantt omar r
yher ,youarescaredshe’ l
lbruiseyour
perfectManqel eego.Buty oucoul dn’tappreciatethe
factthatIwast hereanddoi ngt hat,youcheat edon
me, madeherpr
egnantandhi
tme.You’
rean
asshol
e!”
Hebli
nksacoupleoft
imesi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.Washej
ust
cal
l
edanasshole?
“
You’
recur
singovery
ourson’
shead.Ar
eyou
ment
all
yokay?”
Shethr
owsherheadbackandl
etst
ear
sfl
owdown
herf
ace.
“Att
hispoi
ntIdon’tt
hinkIsti
l
lneedtherapy
.You
needitmorethananyone.
”Het akesLondaand
cont
inuesstar
ingatherweir
dly.
“You’r
eamot hernow,somethi
ngsneedtochange.
Youcan’tkeepbringi
ngupt
hingsev
eryt
imewet ryt
o
sitdownandt al
k.”
“
Ijustwantt
oli
veanormalli
fewi
thmyson.I
sthat
t
oomucht oask,Manqel
e?”
“No,exceptthatyou’
renotaskingbutblackmail
i
ng
mei ntoit
.Idon’twanttofi
ghtusingyourson,but
I’
m notgoingtobegui l
t-
tr
ippedbyawomanwho’ sa
sinnerli
keme.”
Sheburiesherfaceandsobsl i
keali
tt
lebaby.I
t’
s
beenhard;beingsquashedinNomcebo’shousewit
h
herboyfri
endandf i
nall
ycomingbackhomet oher
fur
iousuncles.Shethoughthavi
ngababywould
bri
ngherpeace, buti
nstead,i
thast
urnedherli
fe
upsidedown.
“
Sowher
edowegof
rom Sundayonwar
ds?
”heasks.
Shecal
msher sel
fdownandwi
pesherf
acewi
tht
he
sl
eeveofhergown.
“
Whatdoy
ouwantmet
odo,
MaNt
usi
?”heasks.
“Ij
ustwanttoliv
eanor mallif
e.Idon’
twanttogo
backtoyourmot her
’shouse,Iwanttoworkand
rai
semyson, evenifhe’
sblindforev
er,Iwanthi
mto
haveagoodlife.
”
“Youhavetogotomymother
’shouse.There’
sno
wayaroundit
.Abouty
ourownhouse,we’l
ltal
kaf
ter
Sunday.
”
“
Thanky
ou,
”shesay
swi
thasi
ghofr
eli
ef.
“
Ther
e’ssomet
hingel
seI
’
dli
ket
oaddr
ess,
”hesay
s.
Not
hil
elooksathi
m cur
iousl
y.Sheknowst
hathe’
s
goi
ngtoaskherper
missionanyday
,butshe’
snot
l
ookingf
orwar
dtothatday.
“
YouandNomkhosi
,
”hesay
s.
Deepbr eat
h!She’snol
ongerangryather,even
thoughshecan’tconsi
derherafri
end,butshe’
s
acceptedthatNomkhosii
sapar tofherli
feand
there’
snothingshecandoaboutit.
“
Whataboutmeandher
?”sheasks.
“Whatareyouupto?Pr
ecioushasbeent el
l
ingme
aboutyourpr
ivat
emeeti
ngsandv i
sit
s.”
Okay
,wai
tami
nut
e…
“
Whoi
sPr
eci
ous?
”sheaskswi
thaf
rown.
Hereal
lyshoul
dn’
thavementi
onednames.How
doeshegetoutoft
hisnow?
“Manqel
e,whoi
sPreci
ous?Whyisshetal
kingabout
meandNomkhosi?
”Nowshe’sfuri
ous.Di
dhego
fr
om Nomkhosi
toPreci
ous?Whatthehel
li
sgoing
on?
“Idi
dn’
tsayshewastal
kingabout
…”Li
ar!He’
sont
o
someshadynonsenseagain.
“Whatar
eyoudoing?
”heasksherasshescr
oll
s
downherphone.
I
t’
squi
teobv
ioust
hatshe’
smaki
ngacal
l
.
“MaNt usi
….”Nomkhosi
’
svoi
ceonl
oudspeakercut
s
him short
.
Not
hil
e:Wher
ear
eyou?
Nomkhosi
:Di
dyouseet
het
ime?I
’
m st
il
li
nbed.
Not
hil
e:Doy
ouknowany
onebyt
henameof
Pr
eci
ous?
Nomkhosi
:Ummm, no.Ionl
yknowt
heonewho’
s
wor
kingatourr
ecept
ion.
Nothi
l
e:I
’m sur
eit
’sherwho’
sbeent
alki
ngaboutus.
Youneedtocheckher.
Nomkhosi:Sayyou’r
ejoki
ng!Shewasquest
ioni
ng
meyesterday,
askingwhoIwasmeetingwit
handall
t
hosethings.
Nothi
le:(
LooksatThakasa)She’sahir
edspy,your
babydaddyknowsherbetter
,I’
m sur
ehe’sgoingto
expl
aintoyouwhatbusinesshehaswi t
hthatgir
l.
Nomkhosi
:I’
l
lbedamned!Igott
hatgi
rlaj
ob,
are
youki
ddi
ngme?
Thecall
drops.Thakasa’
sphoner
ingsandhegi
ves
Nothi
l
eal ook.
“
You’
renotgoi
ngt
oanswerher
?”sheasks.
Hesighsandput sthephoneonsil
ence.He’
lldeal
wit
hNomkhosi whenhegetstoWaterways,knowing
howshei s,t
here’
sdramawai t
ingf
orhim.They’ve
beendoingsowel lsi
ncePhelowasborn,t
hisis
goingt
ot akethem astepback.
“Whyar
eyoudoi
ngt
his?Idi
dn’
thi
reany
onet
obea
spy.
”
“Idon’tcar
e,shehasournamesinhermout
handI
don’tevenknowher.You’
remessy!
”
Well,
hehastoownuptothat
,eventhoughi
t’
s
Preci
ouswhokeptf
eedi
nghiminfor
mat i
onhedi
dn’
t
askfor.
.
.
KHANYO
Ihaven’thadanyundesirabledreamsinawhi le.I
n
fact,
Ihav en’
tbeenthatspiri
tual
lycommi tt
edafter
theceremonyoft hanki
ngt heancestors.I’
vebeen
deali
ngwi thotherper
sonal i
ssues;Bandla’
s
cheati
ng, Mandulo’
sbaby mamadr amaandGugu’ s
pregnancy .
Butl astnightIwast akenbackt omywor l
dof
spiri
tualit
y.Howev er ,i
tleftmeconf usedand
fri
ght ened.Idon’tknowBandl a’sf ather,notev en
from api ctur
e,butt hemanIsawi nmydr eam hada
resembl anceofBandl aandl ookedl ikeaNazar et
ine,
wi t
habushybear dandkeptaf rohai r.Hewasdoi ng
l
aundr yinthemiddl eofar unni ngr i
ver.There’s
somet hi
ngunset tl
ingabouti t.ThenIhadanot her
sceneofsomeonecut t
ingThakasa’ shai r.Iknow
thathai rsymboli
zesst rengthandcut ti
ngi s
prohi bi
tedinthei
rchur ch.So, Iwokeupt odayand
wentt opraybyther i
verbef orespeaki ngt oany one.
Itwasn’ toneofmypower fulpr ayers,somet hingwas
l
acki ngandIj ustcoul dn’tpull up.
May beIneededtopraywit
hBandla,
whom Isuspect
thesedreamsar el
i
nkedto.That
’swhyI
’
m here,i
n
hishouse,wait
ingforhi
mtocomebackfrom work.
I’
m notinagoodmoodbutImadeanef fort
.Imade
cottagepies,sti
ckywingsandchakal
akafordi
nner.
Hisclosetwasmessy ,Idi
dhi
slaundr
yandsortedit
out.Ihardlyspoilhi
m andmakehimfeelli
keablack
mani nar elat
ionshi
p.

Hewalksint
ot heroom i
nthemiddl
eofmy
medit
ati
ngsession.Idon’
tknowwhathet
hinksI
’m
doi
ng,heswitchesoffmymusic,Al
exi
sFf
rench-
Radi
ate.
“Whatar
eyoumour
ningf
or?
”heasks,
thr
owi
nghi
s
bagonthet
abl
e.
Iheav
easi
ghandopenmyey
es.
“
Iwasmedi
tat
ing,
”It
ell
him.
“Oh,
”hesayswi
thaconf
usedl
ookonhi
sface.I
t
doesn’
tri
ngabel
l.
“
Nextt
imey
oushoul
dn’
tdi
stur
bme.
”Ist
andupand
f
oldt
hebl
anketIwassi
tt
ingon.
“
Howwasy
ourday
?”Iask.
“I
twentfr
om badtogoodwhenIwal
kedi
ntot
his
beaut
if
ulface.
”Hecomestomeandpeckmyli
ps.
“Youdidn’
ttel
lmeyouwerecoming.Andi
tsmel
l
s
nicei
nhere,whatdi
dyoucook?”
“IcomeandgoasIpl
ease,
yousai
dthi
sismy
house.
”Hechuckl
esandki
ssesmycheek.
“
Ofcour
se,
it’
syourhousest
handwasami
,
”hesay
s.
“Imadepi
esandwings.Takeashower,
I’
ll
dishup
andthenwe’
regoi
ngtopraytoget
her
.”
“
Isever
ythi
ngokay
?”Hecupsmyf
aceandsear
ches
t
hroughmyeyes.
“Ihadweir
ddreams.Di
dyourf
atherhav
eascarov
er
hislef
tey
e?”Iask.
Hef
rowns,
“Yes,
hehadanacci
dentatwor
k.”
Phewww!
“
Isy
ourbr
otherokay
,theel
destone?
”Iask.
“
Yes,
he’
sokay
.Whatdi
dyoudr
eam of
?”
“Someonewascutti
nghi
shair
.Idon’tt
hinki
t’
sa
goodthi
ng.Ial
sosawamant hatIthi
nkisyour
fat
herdoingl
aundr
y.Weneedtopray,f
oryouand
yoursi
bli
ngs.
”
Fami l
ymeansal ott
ohim.Iseehisface
transfor
mi ngintof
earwit
hinasnapofaf i
nger.My
dreamsar enev eri
naccur
ate,
butthi
stimeIwish
they’r
ewr ong.Idon’
twanttoseehimi npai
n,ever
.

Afterdishi
ngupandl eavi
nghi sfoodont hetable,
I
got otheguestbedroom Iclearedfortoday’
sprayer
session.Il
ayaleopardkangaont hefloorandplace
aglassofwat erwithR1insi
deatt hecent r
e.I’
m not
l
ooki ngfor
wardt oit
,somethingislackingandI
cannotputmyf ingeronit
.ButI ’
m goingtotryforhis
sake.
Icl
osethedoorandpr ayforpowerandcl ar
it
y.
Somethinghast ocomeup, Idon’
tknowwhat ,butI
cannothaveNy ezi
’
sstoryrepeatsi
tsel
f.Idi
dn’tsign
upforfail
ureandheart
ache.Iwantt ohelppeople.
“
Babe?
”hi
svoi
cecat
chesmeof
fguar
d.
Iopenmyey esandl
ookatt
hedoor
.He’
sdone
eati
ngal
ready?
Het
akeshi
ssandal
sof
fatt
hedoorandwal
ksi
n.
“
Didy
ouev
eneat
?”Iaskhi
m.
“No.”He’
salreadybr
okenbefor
eheev
enget
clar
ifi
cat
ionofwhat’
sgoingon.
“
Itwasj
ustadr
eam andwe’
regoi
ngt
opr
ayabout
i
t.
”
Henodsandkneelsnextt
ome.Iholdhi
shandand
gi
vehi
m asmile,
hopinghe’l
ll
oosenupali
tt
lebi
t.
“Ibr
oughtcandl
es,fory
ouandal
lyoursi
bli
ngs.Si
x,
didIcountr
ight
?”Iask.
“
Yes,
”henods.
“
IthoughtIcountedwrong.Yourmotherr
eall
ylov
ed
t
helaborward.”Thejokegoesabovehishead.Si
gh!
Iopenapacketofcandl
esandhandt
hem t
ohi
m.
“
We’regoi
ngtol
i
ghtthem andpray
.Maybeyour
f
atherwi
ll
cometooneofy ouandgiv
ecl
ari
ty.
”
Icovermyshoulder
swithawhi t
egarmentandopen
theBibl
e.TheysayyouletHimleady
ourprayer
,you
don’
tprayandleaveHim behi
nd.
“2Corint
hians4:6r
eadasf oll
ows;Godwhosaid,
‘
Lightshallshi
neoutofdarkness,
’i
stheonewho
hasshoneourhear t
stogivetheli
ghtoft
he
knowledgeoftheGloryofGodi nt
hefaceofChri
st.
Amen.”
“
Amen,
”hesay
sandi
nhal
esshar
ply
.
Il
ovehimfort
herespectheshowsf
orwhoIam and
whatIbel
i
evein.
“Il
oveyou.Pl
easel
i
ghteachoft
hem sot
hatwecan
pray,
”Isay
.
“
Inasequence?
”heasks.
“
Yes,
from y
ourel
destsi
bli
ngt
othey
oungestone.
”
“
PhethyandSqal
oaretwi
ns.
”He’ssmil
i
ng,
even
t
houghhedoesn’
tleti
tcr
ackoutful
l
y.
“I
nyourheadPhet
hyi
sthel
astone,
so?
”Isaywi
th
aneye-
rol
l.
Hechuckl
es,
“Yeah,
she’
saf
ami
l
ypet
.”
Ithi
nkthatfamilypetisnowawi l
dani maltherein
Johannesburg.She’sgoingtosurpr
isethem, Iwish
shecomesbackasani nspi
ri
ngrapper,wedon’ t
havemanyf emal er
apper si
nSA.

Heli
ghtst
hecandl
esfrom hi
slef
t-Thakasa,
tohi
s
r
ight
-downtoPhet
hil
e.
“DearLor d, astheev ent
soft hedayandt hoseofour
dreamscont i
nuet ounfold,
weseeky ourcl arit
yand
protection.Comef ull
yintooursituati
on,asf amil
ies
andi ndivi
dual s.Sortoutourmuddl edfeelingsand
fearfulthought s.Transl
ateourdr eamsand
pleadings, andmayweunder standyourfait hful
response.I nthepowerandt hegl ory
!”Afteropeni ng
webot hprayt ogether,f
rom ourhear t
stoour
Creat or
, i
nourl anguages.Wi thmyey esclosedIf i
nd
hishandandhol dit.He’sgoingtoneedme.
Toughday
sar
ecomi
ng.
“
Nokukhany
a!”
Ther
e’sapr
obl
em,
Iopenmyey
esandl
ookathi
m.
“Onecandl
efel
l.Doesi
tmeanany
thi
ng?
”He’
s
pani
ckingandpicki
ngi
tup.
“No,i
tmust’v
ebeentheti
l
es,
”Idon’
tknowwhatI’
m
sayi
ng,al
lIknowi
sthatIhav
etokeephim cal
m.
Hestr
ikesthematchandl
i
ghtsi
tagai
n.Hedr
ops
waxont hefl
oorandgl
uei
tdown.
Thecandlewickburnsandcrackl
esasi fsomeone
droppedwateronit
.Withi
nasecondi thasdoused
out.I
t’
sthesecondonef r
om ri
ght,
Ifeelaknot
si
tti
ngbelowmyst omach.
“
Issomet
hingwr
ong?
”heasks.
Yes,
somet
hingi
ster
ri
blywr
ong.
“Ithi
nkit’
sbecauseIboughtthem fr
om the
tuckshop.Maybetheyexpi
red.”Hefixeshi
s
narrowedeyesonme.Idon’ tknowwhat ’
sgoingon
butIknowt hatadarkcl
oudi shover
ingoverhis
familyandhecannothandleit.
“
Let
’spr
ay,
”Isay
.
“No.I
…I…wantto…to…knowwhat
’sgoi
ngonKhany
o.
You…you…wenttoTanzani
aandi
mmer sedi
n…i
nthe
r
ivera…as.
.acl
air
voyant
,sangomaandnyanga.I
t’
s
y
ourjobtodefi
nethesethi
ngsandtel
lme.”
Heneedstobreat
he,shout
ingandstut
ter
ingatme
i
snotgoingt
osolveanythi
ng.I
fIsayweneedt o
pr
ay,t
henweneedt opray,
peri
odt!
“Closeyourey
esBandl
alami
,
”Isaycal
mlyandhol
d
hishand.
Herel
easesasi
gh,
bowshi
sheadandcl
oseshi
s
ey
es.

DearGod….
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER52
BANDLA

Hest i
ll
doesn’tknowwhat ’sgoingon, sohe’ sonhis
kneesev er
yev eningandev erymor ning,prayingf
or
hisfamil
yandKhany o.Theycannotgot hr oughwhat
theywentthroughwi thNy eziagain.Shef eels
responsibl
etohel p,y
etshedoesn’ thavepower
becausenocl ari
tyhasbeenunv eil
edt oher .She’
s
i
solatedherself,t
obewi t
hherspi r i
t,and
commencedat woday sfasti
ng.
Eventhought hi
ngsar en’
tsmoot h,Sundaythere’
sa
ri
tualthi
nghappeningandhewant sSqalotohav e
hi
scarbef oretheday.Phethywon’ tbecomi ng
home, whichhaswor kedonhi sfavorbecausei t
would’vebeenchaoticwhenhegi vesonlySqaloa
car.I
tsoundsunf ai
rbuther eall
ydoesn’tseethe
needtogi f
tan18y earoldgirlwithacar.She’sin
anotherprovi
nce,Godknowswhatshe’ dgetupt o
withacarunderhername.I t’sri
sky ,
andintermsof
responsi bil
i
tySqalohasmor emat uri
tyand
under standsl i
febett
er.Hedi dhisli
censer i
ghtafter
mat ric,searchedforapl aceonhisownandbought
furniturebyhi mself
.Yougi vehim moneyandhe
get sthingsdonei nasnap.Wi t
hPhet hyit
’sdif
ferent
,
shechowedr egist
rati
onf eeandclaimedt hatshe
gotmuggedi nJHBCBD.Thakasahadt odepositit
directlyint
ot heinsti
tut
ion’saccountbecauseshe
endedupcr eati
ngtoomanyst ori
es.She’snow‘ t
hee
girl
’ onInstagram andslay i
ngwithther i
dicul
ous
all
owancet hatThakasagi v
eshermont hly.

Hegothi m abl ueVW Pol ogummy -beart hathe’s

conv i
ncedSqal owilllove.It’
sagreatcart ost artoff
with,him andt heothertwohadsecond- handcar sas
theirfi
rstcar sandt heygott hem afterreaching21.
Hopef ullyhe’ l
lbegratefulandthey’dfinall
yleav e
everythingbehi nd.Outof5si bl
i
ngs, heal wayshada
softspotf orSqalo.Notonl ydotheyl ookal i
ke,but
hecoul dr elatetohisstruggleswithinthef ami l
yas
well.Phet hyhasal way sov er
shadowedhi m,justlike
hef el
tov er shadowedbyMawande.Sohe
underst
oodwhenSqal owant edtohaveadi stant
rel
ati
onshipwit
hPhet hybecauseev erythi
ngwas
alwaysabouther.Theyf oughtabouteveryt
hing,
evenfri
ends,Phethywoul dtakehisfr
iendsand
becomet heappleofev eryone’
seyeasusual .

He’smov edoutofhi sBereaf l

attoBar cel
onaflat
s
onPlayf
airr oad.Appar entl
y,othertenantsweren’
t
comfort
abl elivi
ngwi thhistypeandl aidacoupleof
complai
nt sbef oreissui
ngt hr
eats.It’
snotclearhow
theymadeot hertenantsuncomf or
tablebutBandla
i
sgoingtohav et hatconversati
onwi thhim,
hopeful
l
yt hey ’
llgetalong.
Sqal
oopensthedooraf
teraper
sist
entknockand
excl
aimshappi
l
yasheseeshisbrot
her’
sface.
“Heeeeey,
”hethrowshisarmsaroundBandl
aand
hugshim.Hisatti
tudeseemstohavechangedalot
.
That“hey
”wasdamnt oolong,
hedidn’
tspeakt
his
wayaf ewmont hsago.
“Ar
eyougood?”Bandl
aasks,
wal
ki
ngintoacouple
ofboy
swearingpi
nkgownsandmudsofmake-up.
“Yes,I
’m gr
eat.Idi
dn’tt
hinkyou’dcomeup.Meetmy
fri
ends,
”Sqalointr
oduceseachoneoft hem.Thei
r
namessoundsabi tr
idi
culous.Vusi
minaj
?What’s
that?
“Haveyoupacked?”Bandl
aaskshim,shi
ft
inghi
s
eyesawayfrom agroupofVusi
minaj
s.
“Yes,
buty
ou’
renotsi
tt
ingdownandhav
ingadr
ink
befor
ewego?”
Heshakeshi
shead,
“No.
”
“
Why
?”Sqal
ofr
owns.
“
Becauseno,Sqal
o.”Hel
ooksaroundt
hei
rli
tt
le
l
oungeandseesnobookshel
f.
“Wher
eareyourbooks?
”heasks,
tur
ninghi
s
unf
ri
endl
yfacetohim.
Sqal
osighs, “OhmyGod, youthi
nkweal wayshang
outl
ikethis?Theyjustcametosaygoodby eand
fi
nal
lycelebrateourfr
eedom.Thelastcoupleof
weekshav ebeent or
turi
ngandscaryforus.
”
“
Isi
tsaf
eher
ethough?
”heasks.
“
Yeah,
wehav
en’
thadanyal
ter
cat
ionswi
thany
one.
Her
eev
ery
onemi
ndst
hei
rbusi
ness.
”
Henods,abitgui
l
tyandsadf
ort
hem.Li
vingi
nfear
becauseofwhoyouchooset
osl
eepwit
hmustbe
str
essful
andscary.
“I
fanotherinci
dentoccur
sandyoudon’tfeelsafe,
don’thesi
tatet
ocallmeorThakasaorNkonzo.I ’
m
sureifwetakeittotheMetr
osenior-
superi
ntendent
,
Nyambose, he’
llcomeupwithasolut
ion.
”
“That
’sv
erysweetofyou,
thanky
ou,
”oneoft
hem
says,
pouti
nghi
slips.
“Pleasur
e,”het
urnst
oSqal
o.“
Let
’sgo,
Iwantust
o
startsomewhere.
”
Sqal
opickshisbagbehi
ndt
hecouchandhugseach
oneofhisfr
iends.
“
I’
m goi
ngt ocal
lyou,
ntwanas,
”hesay
s,bl
owi
ng
t
hem akiss.

He’
sinabettermoodthanhewasaweekaft
er
Mpi
lobrokeupwithhim.He’
smadenew,gor
geous
f
ri
endsandli
f ei
sall
aboutbooks,
hav
ingf
unand
j
uggl i
ngallofi
twit
hdiff
erentbeautyonl
inecl
asses.
Iftheygetever
ythi
ngtheyneedbyendofJune,
they’r
egoingtoopenasalont oget
herandrol
lsome
cashwhi l
egetti
ngthosedegrees.
Bandlaistakinghimt otheVer sai
ll
esRestaurant.
Yes,he’sbeenher ebefore,buthewaspay i
ngfood
outofhi sownpocket .Hecouldn’torderprawn
cocktail
,prawnsandbasmat iri
ce,herbmash
potat
oesandi cecoffeefrappeallononeday .He
hadtoeatonat i
ghtbudget.Butnowhi sbrotheri
s
here,theyhaveat abl
ebookedandaf r
iendly
waitr
essatt heirser
vice.
“
You’
reonl
ygoi
ngt
oeatabur
ger
?”heasksBandl
a
wi
thafr
own.
“Yeah,Ican’
tseeanythi
ngIli
kehere.
”He’
sstar
ingat
themenuf ul
lofsali
vati
ngfoodandhecan’
tsee
anythi
nghelikes.Godhavemercy!
“Tr
ythei
rRibeyest
eakwit
hMadagascangr
een
pepper
cornsauce,
”Sqal
osay
s.
“
Madagascangr
eenwhat
?No,
thanky
ou.
”
Sqal
obur
stsi
ntoaf
itofl
aught
er.Af
ewmont
hsi
n
Dur
banandhe’
sal
readyf
orgot
tenwhoheshar
eda
wombwith.
“Ideci
dedtofetchyoubecauseIr
eall
ywantusto
tal
k,Sqal
o,”Bandlasay
saftert
hey’
verecei
vedt
hei
r
dri
nks.
“
Iknow,
I’
vebeengi
vi
ngy
ouahar
dti
me,
”Sqal
osay
s.
“It
’snotevenaboutt hat
.Igotacal l
from Thakasa,
tell
ingmet hatyouarelivi
nginfearbecausesome
peoplearenothappy ,orcomf or
tabl
e,wit
hy our
sexuali
ty.ThatbotheredmebecauseIwasoneof
thosepeopl e,
Itreat
edy ouli
kethem andwentasf ar
asset t
ingyouupwi thagirl.
”Hesighsdeeplyand
sipshiscolddrink.
“Idi
dn’tknowbet t
er.I’venev erhadahomosexual
sibl
i
ngbef ore,
Ijustpani ckedandt houghtitwas
somethingIcouldsor tout .ButIendeduphur ti
ng
youandl osi
ngy ou.So, I
’m sorry,fr
om thedeepest
ofmyhear tIapologizef orwhatIputy outhrough.I
’d
neverhurtyouonpur pose, y
ouknowIl ookoutfor
youandcar e.Wear ebr others,”hesays.
Sqal
otakesadeepbr
eat
h,pi
cksaser
viet
teand
pr
essesi
tonhi
sey
es.
“Ir
eall
ydi
dn’
tmean….
”Hest
opshi
m wi
thal
i
ttl
e
chuckl
e.
“I’
m notcr y i
ngbecausey ouhur tme, butbecause
I’
vebeenpuni shingy ouforsuchal ongti
meev en
thoughIknewt hatyoudi dwhaty oudidbecausey ou
wer escar ed.Andy ouwer escar edbecausey oul ove
me.Shi tcould’vehappened.Ij ustgotawaybecause
i
tal lhappenedwhi l
ebhut iwasgoi ngthroughhi s
ownr oughpat ch.Hedi dn’thavet heener gytofight
me.Iknowwher eyoucamef r
om andIappr eciate
youf orbei ngt hesweet estone. ”Hepi ckshisgl ass,
sipshi sicecof f
eef r
appewi t
hast rawandcl earshis
throatdr amat icall
y.
“Buty
ougetitnow,
right
?Idon’
tdof
ishsandwi
ch,
I
dosausages.
”
Bandl
afr
ownsandcoughs.
“Whoah,holdi
tri
ghtther
e.I
’m 30,you’
re18,
Idon’
t
wanttohearanythi
ngaboutyoursexli
feand
sausages.Hha,
hhayi-
bo!
”
Sqal
olaughsandchangest
hesubj
ect
.He’
snev
er
apol
ogizedtoKhanyoaboutwhathedi
dwhen
Bandl
at r
iedtoi
ntr
oducethem att
hehot
el.
“
Howismysist
er-
in-
law?”heasks,
quoti
ng‘
i
n-l
aw’
wi
thhi
sfi
nger
sanddi ggi
ngint
ohispr
awns.
“
She’
sfi
ne,
”Bandl
asay
swi
thasi
gh.
“IknowherandIhav eneversatdownandt alked.
Shehasadi f
ferentpi
ctureofme, Icall
edhera
prosti
tuteandI’veneverapologi
zedf ori
t.Iwas
angryaty ou,i
twaswr ongofmet oinsultherthat
way .I
fy oucangetust ositdownonedayI ’
dl i
keto
apologizetoherinpersonandgett oknowher
better
.”
Bandla’sl
ipscr
ackint
oasmi l
e.I
tneverbot
hered
him becauseKhanyowasabiggerper
sonaboutit
,
buthe’shappythatt
hey’
rebot
hreadytomov e
for
war d.
“She’
sagoodcook.Abi tcrazyatti
mes.Butshe’
sa
real
lygoodperson,
oncey ougettoknowheryou’
ll
surel
yloveher
,”hesays.
“
I’
m sur
eIwil
l.You’
reglowingal
i
ttl
ebi
t,t
hatmeans
y
ou’r
einsof
thands,”Sqalo.
“Softhands,
yeah,someti
mes.Iactual
lywantyouto
sleepovermyhouse,Ihavesomethingforyou,
andI
wantust ohavesomethi
nglikeaprayerwit
hher.”
“
Apr
ayer
?”Sqal
ofr
owns.
“It
’snotaboutyoubeinggay .Ther
earesomeot her
thingsweneedt oprayabout ,
youchurchdr
op-out.
Yourwell-
being,pr
otect
ion,schoolandfami
ly.
”
Sqalolaughsatthe‘
churchdr
op-outanddef
ends
himself.I
thasn’
tbeeneasyadj
usti
ngtoli
fe,
hehad
toletalotofthi
ngsgo,hismot
herincl
uded.
“
Howi
sMom?
”heasks.
Bandl
asighs,
“She’
sgoodandhappywi
thMawande
home.”
“
Mustbenice,
”Sqal
otapshisf
inger
sfort
he
wai
tr
ess.“
CanIhaveaglassofwater
,pl
ease.
”
Oh,
wel
l
….
.
.
MAWANDE
Sqaloishome, drivinginandouti nhisnewcar ,and
cal
lingoldschool mat est oshowoff.Everyone
seemst obehappywi thoutMaKhumal ohome.She’ l
l
bebackonSat urdaywi thsomeofherr elati
vesto
welcomeMaNt usi backt ot
hefamily.I
t’
s“ uchakide
uhloli
l
e,i
mambay elukile”si
tuat
ion.Mawandei s
fr
ying3kgpot atoesi ntheki t
chenandsi ngingloudl
y
i
nt hekit
chen.
“
Hey
,what
’st
his?
”
Ohshucks,t
hisonedidn’
tgot
oWater
ways,he’
s
her
espoil
ingall
thefunofbei
nghomewi
thouta
mother
.
“
I’
ll
thr
owi
tout
,”Mawandesay
s.
“Yourphonehasbeenri
ngi
ngnonst
op,
”het
ell
sher
befor
ewal ki
ngaway.
I
tmustbePear l.Thei
rfri
endshiphasgottent
ight
er
overthemont hs.Sheclearsdir
tonthetableand
thr
owsi toutbef or
eThakasacal l
sMaKhumal oand
tel
lsherthatherhousehasbeent ur
nedintoadump.
Shejoi
nshersibl
ingsintheloungeandscr
oll
sdown
tocheckal
lthecall
sandmessagesshemi ssed.
Nonecomesf rom Pearl
,i
t’
s"General
"who’
sbeen
cal
li
ng.
“
Youri
n-l
awswantyouback?
”Nkonzoasks,
sit
ti
ng
wi
thTemainhi
sarm.
“Ummm, no.
”OhLor d,
she’sbeingawkwar
dabouti
t.
Ther
e’st
hisunset
tl
ingtextthatsay
s:CHECKDOWN
THEROAD.
WhatdoesBhambat hameansheshouldcheck
downt heroad?Hecoul
dn’
thavepossi
blycamehere
becausethatwoul
dmakethingsworsethanthey
al
readyare.
“
Wheni
sPhel
ocomi
nghome?
”Bandl
aasks.
“Idon’
tknow.Hermot
herandIar
en’
ttal
ki
ng,
”
Thakasasayswit
hashrug.
“
Why
?”Nkonzoaskswi
thaf
rown.
“
It
’sal
ongst
ory
.”That
’sal
lhe’
sgoi
ng
t
ogi
vet
hem andt
heyknowi
t.Het
akesouthi
s
phone,
theyst
ri
keanot
herconv
ersat
ion.
Mawande’sphoner i
ngsagain.Shesi
l
encesitand
l
ooksatherbrotherswit
hherey eswi
dened.She’
s
neverbeensneakyinherl
if
e.Bhambathaisreal
ly
test
ingherbr
others!He’
sparkeddowntheroadfor
what?Whodoest hat?
“I
’m goi
ngtothetuckshopt
obuyai
rt
ime.Iwantt
o
cal
lPearlback.
”
Thakasaf
rowns,“
You’
rewal
ki
ngtotheshopf
or
ai
rti
me?Can’ty
oubuythr
oughthebank?
”
“Letmetopyouup,mybr
okesi
ster
,”Nkonzosay
s,
pull
ingouthi
sphone.
Mawandegasps,
“No,no,
no!Iwantt
ost
ret
chmy
l
egs,
real
l
y,i
t’
sokay.
”
Theyl
ookatoneanot
her
,conf
used.
“
Oh,
okay
,thengost
ret
chy
ourl
egs,
”Nkonzosay
s.
Phewww!She’sneverbeensofreakedoutbyaman
l
ikethi
s.I
tfeel
sli
keshe’sanaughty16year-
oldgi
rl
.
Shekeepsherf
ri
esi
nthemi
crowav
e,empt
iesthe
cookedoi
li
ntoabot
tl
eandl
eavest
hepani
nsidethe
si
nk.

Changingherdress,r
eall
y?Deepbr eat
hMawande.
Shechecksherf aceonthemi rr
orandtiesascarf
aroundherhead.He’ssti
llherbrot
her-
in-l
aw,if
anyonecatcheshersit
ti
ngi nhiscarwithnohead-
wrapthey’l
lassumethewor st.Shespr
ay sLady
Mill
ionaroundherneckandunderar ms.
“Okay,
focusMawande,”shesaystohersel
f,pat
ti
ng
hershoul
ders.Shesnat
chesherpurse,
takesaR20
noteandheadsoutofthehouse.

HiscarbonblackX6isparkeddownt heroad,j
ust
twohomest eadsawayfrom t
heManqel es,whichi
s
eyebr
ow- r
aisi
ngonitsown.He’splay
ingNat hi
’
s
favor
it
eBlackCoffeealbum;Afr
icaRisi
ng.
WhenMawandewal kstowar
dsthecarhet urns
downt hemusi
candcl i
mbsouttoopent hedoorfor
her.She’
snotpleasedbyhi
spresenceatall,
it
showsonherf ace.
“
Sawubona,
”hegr
eet
sher
.
“
HiBhambat
ha.
”She’
sst
ari
ngout
sidet
hewi
ndow.
“
Sibangani
?”heasks.(
Whatar
ewef
ight
ingabout
)
“Not
hing.Whyar eyouhere?”Mawandesay s,
tur
ning
herf
acet ohim.Hehasshav enhisheadbaldand
tr
immedhi sbeardshort
er.Helooksdif
fer
ent,more
l
ikehe’smiracul
ouslymatur
edov erasi
ngleweek.
“I
’
m herebecausey
ouar
eher
e.Whyar
eyouher
e?”
heasksher.
Si
gh!
“I
’
mv isi
ti
ngmyf
amil
y.It
oldyoubeforeIl
eftandI
noti
fi
edthef
ami
lywhenIgother
e,"shesays.
“
Youlef
tbecausewekissed.Soourkissi
sthe
r
easonwhymybr ot
her
’shouseislocked.
”
Sheexhalesandl
eansbackontheseat.Theyt
alked
aboutt
his.Hewaspartoft
hereasonwhysheleft
buti
t’
snotdeepashenowmakesi tsound.
“Idon’
twantt
obethereasonwhymybrother
's
housecrumbl
edown.You’r
ehurt
ingme.
”Mawande
l
ooksathim,hel
ooksdeadseri
ous.
“IcannotdenythatIfeelsomet hingforyou.IfIhad
theli
feremoteinmyhand, I
’dflipthroughthe
channelsandswitchmyl if
ear oundt obecomea
potenti
almany oucancont i
nuey ourli
fewith.ButI
knowwhyy ou’
rerunningforthehi l
ls,any
onewoul d.
”
“
Whatdoyoumean?
”Herv
oicecomesouti
nal
most
-
whi
sper
.
“It
ri
edt ositdownwithMa,butitdi
dn’
twor kout.I
don’thavethequal
it
ies.
”Hegrinsandshrugshis
shoulders.He’
susedtorej
ecti
onandcr i
ti
cism,but
l
atelyit
’sbeensti
ngi
ngandcut t
ingdeepl
yinhis
heart.
“Youdon’
thavequal
i
ties?Bhambat
ha,
I’
m notaj
ob
postorapri
zetobewon.”
“That’
snotwhatIwast
ryi
ngt
osayatal
l
,”hesay
s
apologet
ical
l
y.
“Youdi
dn’tgotoyourmot hert
oapplyfora
competi
ti
on?I’m aprizetobewon,
right?Because
yourbr
otherpai
dl obolanowall
ofyoucant ake
tur
nswithme.”
“
Mawande,
that
’snot
….”
“Whatisitt
hatmakesonequalif
iesasmynew
husband?Whatar et
hequal
i
ties?Whatwasyour
motivat
ionspeech?”
Hesighsandrest
shisheadbackonhi
sfl
att
ened
pal
msagainsttheseat
.
“Don’
tyouthinkIdeser
vetohaveavoi
cetoatl
east
menti
onwhatki ndofamanIwantwhenI ’
mreadyto
haveanotherhusband?Yout
hinki
t’
sall
li
esinyour
mother?”
“Mawande,Isi
mpl yaskedherwhatIcandot o
becomeabet t
erson,abetterbrotherandabet
ter
fut
ure-
husband,andshesaid‘nothing’
.”
Shethrowsherhandsup, “You’
reherebecausey ou
thi
nkIleftbecauseofthestupi
dkiss.Okay,yesIlef
t
becauseofi t
,sowhat?Youshouldn’thavekissed
me.Youwer esupposedtobemyGener al
,notPri
nce
Charmingwhoki ssesmei nthemiddleofthe
conversati
on.”
“
Iunder
standt
hatand….
”
“Youweresupposedt
ostayawayfr
om meaf
tert
hat
becauseIt
oldyouIdi
dn’
tknowifI
’
dbeablet
ostop
t
hatfrom happeni
ngagaini
nfutur
e.Butyouareher
e
wear
ingHawai i
anshi
rts,
tat
ter
edjeansand….”
“They
’renott
att
ered,
they
’rest
yli
shl
yri
pped,
”he
says.
“
Idon’tcar
e,youar
eher
ewear
ingHawai
ianshi
rt
s,
t
att
eredjeansandl
ooki
ngl
i
keapotat
o,j
usttot
est
me,
”shesay s.
Hecracksintol
aughter
.He’shadhi
sfai
rshareof
women, buthe’
sneverbeencall
edapot
atofor
shav
inghisheadclean.
“
I’
mt ry
ingnott
ol ookatyouasanythingmoreor
l
essthanabrother-
in-
law.Butyou’
renotmaking
t
hingseasy,
Ihadt osneakoutli
kealitt
legi
rl
.For
what?Forwhat
, Bhambatha?”
Hesnatchesherwav
inghandandpull
shercl
oser.
Thespacebetweent
hem cl
osesasthei
rfor
eheads
l
ink.
“Idon’
thav eananswer.Idon’tknowforwhat,
allI
knowi sthatI’
veter
ri
blymissedy ousomuch.I
understandwhywecan’ tbearoundeachother,but
thenagain,it
’snotwhatmyhear tandbodywant .
”
Shetakesadeep,l
ongbreat
h.Tal
ki
ngtoomuchis
notwhosheis.Thi
swholethi
ngisfr
ust
rat
ing,
she
pray
saboutitever
yday
.
“
I’
m scar
ed,
”shewhi
sper
s.
“Don’
tbe.I’m her
ef oryou,al
waysgoingtobe,
regar
dlessofhowt hi
ngsturnout.
”Hisli
pst ender
ly
brushagainsther.Heinhalesherscent
,looksupin
hereyesandt heylockwithhersinabri
efst are
befor
eheshut st
hem andsucksherl i
pslowl y.
Hishandbr
ushesbehindherneck,he’smoaning
soft
lyandt
ryi
ngtocaptur
eherlipsfrom ev
eryangl
e.
Shebreaksoff
,br
eathi
ngheavil
yandbur i
esherf ace
wit
hherhands.She'
sdoneitagain!They'
rekissi
ng,
notacci
dental
now,butonpurpose.Thisi
sf ucked
up.
“
Ithi
nkI’
vef
all
eni
nlov
ewi
thy
ou,
inav
eryhar
d
way,
"hesay
s.
Shelooksathi
m wit
hherhear
tpoundi
nghar
d
agai
nstherchest
.
“
That
’s…Idon’
tknowwhatt
osay
…Iknew,
I
mean…God,
Bhambatha,
youdidn’
thav
etosayi
t.
Howdoyouexpectmetoreact
?”
“JustsaywhenIshoul
dpickyouupfordinnerand
wheredoy ouwantustogo.Ipr
omise,Iwon’tshow
upintatt
eredj
eans.
”
Shel
aughs,
“They
’renott
att
ered,
Iapol
ogi
ze.
”
“Youhur
tmyf
eel
i
ngs,
sowhatt
ime?You’
remaki
ng
upfori
t.
”
“
IfI
’m abletocomeupwit
hastorytomybrot
hers,
i
t’
ll
be4: 30pm.Gosh,
Ihat
esneaki
ngoutandl
ying!
”
“
I’
ll
makei
twor
thal
lyouref
for
ts,
”hesay
s.
Hereyesdroptohisjean.Okay,
that
’sonesensi
ti
ve,
i
mpati
entdipsti
ck.Alwaysreadytostandupandsay
‘
hel
lo’
t oanyonethatrubsski
nwithdaddy.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER53
BHAMBATHA

Stangerisav eryconfusingtown, youjustdon’

t
knowwhat ’sgoi ngonwi thanything.I t
sU-Savelooks
l
ikeadev el
opi ngPakistantuck-shop.Hewasn’ teven
surethey’df i
ndadecentr estaurant .Heexpected
someCur ry&Ri cethi
ngwi t
hwoodendesksand
sweaty, I
ndianwomanr unningar oundandshout i
ng
atwaitresses.Ther eareal otofI ndiansinthi
st own.
They’r
est reetv endor
s,hawker s,t axidri
ver
sand
robbers.
“Haveyouneverbeent
oStangerbefor
e?”
Mawande
asksastheysett
leont
hei
rseatsinsi
deMozambi
k.
“
Ihav
e,j
ustnotf
orr
est
aur
ant
s,”hesay
s.
“
Oh,
whathav
eyoubeenher
efort
hen?
”sheasks.
“
Hei
sts,
”hesay
s.
Yeah,r
ight
?Shegrabst
hemenuandpagesit
thr
ough.Thi
siswhoshegoest
osecr
etdinner
swi
th?
They’venev
ert
alkedabouthi
sli
fest
yleorpast
,she
j
ustchosetotr
usthim nott
odoany t
hingwhil
eshe'
s
around.
“
Mawande,ar
eyouokay?
”heasks,
lower
inghi
sey
es
t
ryi
ngt
oreadherf
ace.
Shesi
ghs,
“Yes.Sowhatar
eyoueat
ing?
”
“
Thepeanut
stheygaveus,”het
hrowsthem i
nhis
mout
handstaresatherasshetakesadeepbreat
h.
“
I’
mtal
ki
ngaboutf
ood.Whatar
eyouor
der
ing?
”
“Whatevery
ou’
rehavi
ng,”hesays,
shift
inghi
sey
es
tot
hepacketofpeanutstheyr
eceivedatthe
ent
rance.
“Al
ri
ght
,I’
m hav
ingstuf
fedgreenoli
ves,gri
l
led
cal
amarit
ubesandtentacl
eswithchickenl
iver
s.”
Wai
t,can’
tshechooseachi
cken?Hesawchi
cken
ont
hemenu.
“Idon’
twantt
ubesandt
est
icl
es.Iwantchi
ckenand
dumpli
ng.”
Didhej
ustsayt
ubesandtest
icl
esi
nst
eadof
cal
amarit
ubesandt
entacl
es?
“Thisi
sMozambi
k,notsomefood-
shel
teri
ntherank.
Theydon’
tser
vedumpli
ngs,
”shesaysi
nalowered
voice.
“
Fine,
Iwantr
ice,
”hesay
s.
“
Coconutr
ice?
”
“
No,
rice-
ri
ce.
”
Si
gh!
“You’ r
esohar dt oeatwi
th.”She’slaughingand
shaki ngherhead.Ny ezi
wasv er
ysophi sti
cat
edand
classy .He’dtakeheroutandbuyherf oodshe’s
nev erev enseenonTV.Wi ththisonei t’
sli
ketakinga
vil
lageboyt otherest
aurantforthefirstt
ime,yethe
hasal lt
hemoneyi nthewor l
d.Heev enownsasemi
-r
est aurantShisanyama.
“
Howisbusi
ness?
”Mawandeasksaf
terpl
aci
ng
t
hei
ror
ders.
“Shi
sanyamaisdoi
ngbett
erthanIexpect
ed.Some
aresl
acking,
somearepul
li
ngup,butit
’sal
lgood.
”
“
You’
redoi
ngpret
tyamazi
ngforyour
sel
f.Your
mot
hermustbeproudofy
ou.I’
m sur
esheis,but
shej
ustwon’
ttel
lyou.
”
Hechuckl
es,
“You’
reagoodper
son.Il
ovet
hatabout
you.
”
“
Whatdoy
oul
oveabouty
our
sel
f?”sheaskshi
m.
It
’sadi
ff
icul
tquest
ion,
hedoesn’
tknowhowt
o
answeri
t.
“
Youdon’
tknow?
”sheasks.
“
Na,
Idon’
t.Whatdoy
oul
oveaboutme?
”
“
You’r
eprot
ecti
ve,y
ouspeaky
ourmi
ndanddowhat
makesyouhappy.
”
He’
sbl
ushi
ng.
“WhatIdon’
tli
keabouty
oui
showy
out
alk,
”she
says.
Thegr
inonhi
sfacedi
sappear
s.
“
HowdoIt
alk?
”heasks.
“
Youcur
seal ot
,youar
gueandr
aisey
ourv
oiceat
y
ourmother
.”
“
Butshepushesmet
odoso,
”hesay
sdef
ensi
vel
y.
“You’r
ef ail
ingthef irstpri
nci
pleofbeingabl ack
chil
d.Nev err ai
sey ourv oi
ceaty ourparent.Inher
eyesy ou’realway sgoi ngtobeachi l
d.Andshehas
everyrighttobemadaty ouforthechoi cesy ou’v
e
madei nl i
fe.Nomot herwantstoseehersongot o
j
ail,
especi all
yaftershe’ ssentyoutouni versityand
rai
sedy ouwel l
.Itmustbehear t
breaking,shemust
bequest ioningher selfaswell.Wheredi dshego
wrong?Youhadal ldoorsopenedbuty ouchosenot
toenterasi ngleone. ”
He’
sgett
ingwor
kedup,
“Ar
eyouj
udgi
ngmer
ight
now?”
“I
’m sayi
ngIwanty outoshowy ourmotherthat
you’
resorryandyouwantt obepar toft
hefamil
y.I
knowy outhi
nkshedoesn’tcare,butshedoes.
That’swhyshecant al
kcrapabouty ou,
butassoon
assomeoneel setr
iestotal
kabouty oushestri
kes.
Youl ai
dinherwombf or9mont hs,shehadonlytwo
ki
dsandnowonl yonelef
t.”
Hechuckl
esi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.
“
Mymom hasnev
erdef
endedmef
rom any
one,
not
evenmyuncl
eswhot
hinkt
hei
rchi
l
drenar
ebet
ter
thanme,
”hesay
s.
“
Whydoy out
hinkherandMaNt
anzi
arenol
onger
f
ri
ends?
”
Wel
l,he’
snev
erbeenint
erest
edinhi
smother’
s
f
ri
endsandenemies.WhoisevenMaNt
anzi?
Heshr
ugshi
sshoul
der
s.
“MaNt anzi
keptt
alki
ngaboutyouatt
het
empleand
spreadingrumor
saboutyou.Ther
ewasahugefi
ght,
everyonewastal
kingabouti
t.
”
“
Ver
bal
fight
,ri
ght
?”heasks.
“No,physi
calf
ight.Mkhokhel
ihadtositthem down
andtalktobot
hoft hem.Butitwastoolateforthei
r
fr
iendshi
ptober eki
ndl
ed.”
Aknotsitsbelowhisstomach.Hismotheri
sall
thi
ngsbutshe’snotrat
chet.She’
saverywell
-
behaved,r
espectedwomani nthecommunity.Hi
s
fat
hermust’veturnedi
nhisgravewhenallt
hat
happened.
“
Thatbr
eaksmyhear
tbecauseIdon’
tgi
vet
wof
ucks
aboutwhatpeopl
esayort
hinkofme.
”
Lor
d,t
hatl
anguage!Can’
thesayhedoesn’
tcar
eina
nor
malway.
“Butyourmot
hercar
es,
you’
reherson,
”Mawande
says.
Her
eleasesadeepsi
ghandpushesbackhi
schai
r.
“Ineedamoment .
”Hewal ksoutthr
oughthe
restaur
antbal
conydoorandstandsoutsi
deforf
resh
air
.

Maybeshetookitt
oofar
.Nowshedoesn’
tknow
whethert
ofol
lowandcheckhowhei
s,orwaitf
or
hi
mt ocomeback.
Thei
rfoodar
ri
ves,
itt
ookl
ongenough.
“Final
l
y,It
houghtyouguyswerestil
lwait
ingfor
stockbecausewow,”shesays,gr
abbingwrapped
forkandteari
ngthest
upidserv
iet
teoff.
“Wearesorr
y,mam,
”say
sthewai
tr
ess
apol
oget
ical
ly.
She’
staki
ngoutherf
rust
rat
ionsonawr
ongper
son.
“I
t’
sgood,t
hanky ou.
”Sheheav esasighandput
s
downthefork.Shecannoteatnotknowingwhat
’s
goingonwit
hhi m.
Justasshepushesbackt hechair
,hewalksbacki
n.
Reli
efwashesal l
overher.Painti
nghim asabadson
wasn’theri
ntenti
on,shejustwantstoseehim and
hismotherdoingbetter
.Ny eziwoul
d’v
ewantedthat
too;hi
sfamil
yt obeunited.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”sheaskshi
m,t
ryi
ngt
oreadhi
sface.
“Ismoked,I
’m good.
”Hepull
shispl
ateandindul
ges
i
ntohisfood.Helooksup,
studi
esherfaceand
exhal
esheavil
y.
“
Ismokeanddr i
nk.I’
vebeenintoitfory
ears,Idon’
t
t
hinkt hatpartofmyl i
fecanchange.Icannev erbe
Nyezi,butIcantrytost epupandbeaki ndofaman
youcanbepr oudof.Iloveyourcompany ,y
oursmile,
yourey esandev er
ythi
ng.I’
m notproudofitbecause
you’
remysi st
er-
in-
law,butIcannotcontrolmy
f
eelings.”
Herey
esdr
opt
othet
abl
e.I
t’
sbeenay
earsi
nce
Nyezipassedon.Het ol
dhertobehappyandgo
wherevershewantstogointheworl
d.Butshe
cannothelpthequesti
onsi
nherhead.Wouldhebe
happytoknowt hatshewantstobehappywit
hhis
brot
her?
“
Wher
edoIst
and?
”heasks.
Shebl
ushes,
“Wi
thwhat
?”
“Mawande,nowy ouwantmet ogobackt othe90s
andaskif‘
uyangifakanomauyangikhipha’?
”His
handgoesoverthet abl
eandholdsher s.Hedoesn’
t
l
ookli
kethetypet hathol
dshands,hisnervoussmil
e
l
ooksweird.
“Wear egoi ngtotakeitsl
owly.I
’m nottr
yingtostep
i
nt omybr ot her
’sshoes,I
’
lll
etyoufindyoursel
fand
bei ndependentout si
demarri
age.Ifyouwantmet o
stepback, Iwi l
l
.”
“Youdon’
tlookl
i
kesomeonewhost
epsback
easi
ly
.”
Hechuckl
es,
“Guil
tyascharged.ButI’
l
ltr
eatyouli
ke
aqueenandtakecar
eofy ou.I
nsteadofaski
ngme
t
ostepback,
y ou’
dbebeggingmet ostaywit
hy ou.
”
Shet
hrowsherheadbackandl
aughs.
“
Begy
ou?
”sheasks.
“Mawande,
”hecl
ear
shi
sthroatandtakesasi
pfr
om
hisgl
ass.“
Mbhemuher
eknowsal l
tri
cksoft
he
tr
ade.
”
“
Whoi
smbhemu?
”sheasksi
nal
ower
edv
oice.
Hesmil
esandbit
eshi
sbott
om li
p.Gadzooks!She
pi
ckshergl
assandsi
psshy
ly.
“
Whenareyougoi
ngt
osayhel
l
otohi
m?”heasks
wi
thasmir
k.
“Bhambat
ha,yourfoodisdr
yingup.Tell
mbhemuI
sentmyregar
ds,”shesays,
shift
ingherfocust
oher
plat
e.
Hecr acksintolaughterandeat shisfoodaswel l
.
Thisisdef i
nit
elygoingsomewher eandhe’sexcit
ed
toseehowi tturnsout.Howev er,
heneedst oseehis
mot herandt r
ytot al
k,again.Hearingthatshecutoff
afriendbecauseofhi mr eall
yshiftedsomet hi
ngin
hisheart.She’sthelastpersoninthewor ldto
defendhi m,orsohet hought .
.
.
THAKASA

MaNt usifi
nallycamebackhome.Shedi dn’
tcome
alone,herunclesandaunt swer eaccompany ingher
.
Theymadesur etochooset heskinniestcowsi nthe
farm.Youcoul dn’ttel
lift
heirgoatsar esickor
hungry,theylookedsounheal thyandf ragil
e.Itwas
alldoneonpur poseandThakasawant edtokick
them outwitht heirst
upidanimals.ButNkonzo
quickl
yremi ndedhi m whyitwasal lhappening.It
wasnev eraboutcowsandgoat s,theyar enot
desperateforal lt
hat,t
heycanbuycowsi ftheywant
them, i
twasal l f
orLonda.

Sonowev er
yoneknowsaboutNot hi
l
e’si
nfidel
it
y,
theywer ehere,f
easti
ngonthecowt hatwas
slaughteredtoappeasetheancestor
sforher
cheating.Shedidn’
tjustl
oseevery
one’srespect
,
everyonemakesf acesandwhisperswhent heysee
her.Yet,
Thakasai swalki
ngaroundwithadaughter
thathegotoutsidetheirmarr
iageinhi
sarm happi
ly
andev er
yonecannotst opcompliment
ingthem.
Fatheroftheyear!Nobodycaresifhecheatedornot
.
It
’shercheati
ngt hathastur
nedscandalousand
publi
cly.
Ont opofthat
,hewantsafami
lymeetingt
omor r
ow.
Everyoneknowswhatthati
sabout
.Evenifshesti
ll
wishedtoarguethei
dea,nowshe’
slostal
lthat
power .
Honestl
y,shedoesn’tknowhowl ongshe’
sgoingto
st
ayinthisplace.Mawandeistry
ingherbestto
makeherf eelbackathome,butthingsar
ejustt
oo
di
ff
erent.

SheputsLondai nbed,
tomorrowbef orethemeeting
Thakasawil
ltakehimtosomepr omi nentmember s
ofthetempl
ef oraprayer
.He’
snott hatbadwi t
hhi m,
buthe’
snotlovingasheistoPhelo.Thisiswhyshe
wantshimtoagr eetoMandul
of ul
lyclaimingLonda
ashisson.He’sbeenverycal
m hereatt he
Manqel es,
evenlaughedwhenMawandepokedhi s
cheeks.Butthefactis,
he’
snotoneofthem andshe
doesn’twanthimtobe.He’saNyathi
.

She’spacingar oundthebedroom thatsheknows

Thakasawi llnotusetoni
ght.There’snodivorce,not
i
nt heirt
ypeofmar r
iage,
butitcandef i
nit
elyend.
She’smar r
iedt othi
sman, t
hatwon’ tchange,but
shedoesn’ tseehowt hey’
regoingtomov eonf r
om
thi
sone.Lov ehasended,boththeirheart
sar ein
tat
ters.Hehur therandshehur thi
m back, 50/50.
Thakasawalksi
n,cl
osesthedoorbehi
ndhim
becausei
t’
sabitwindyoutsi
de,
andunbutt
onshi
s
shi
rt.
“
Isheasl
eep?
”heasks,
looki
ngatLonda.
“
Yes,
”shenodswi
thasi
gh.
“Whydon’
tyouletMawandekeephimforthenight?
Phel
oisnotsl
eepingher
easwell,
weneedt otalk
andIdon’
tthi
nkyouknowhowt odothatheal
thil
y.
”
“
No!
”shesay
s.
“
Not
owhat
?”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“
He’
snotsl
eepi
ngwi
thMawande,
”shesay
s.
“
Soyou’r
egoingt
otr
eathi
m di
ff
erent
ly?It
hought
weweresor
ti
ngoutt
hatmesstoday.
”
“
No,
Manqel
e.Wher
ear
eyougoi
ngt
osl
eep?
”
Hef
rowns,
“Her
e,i
nmybed.
”
“
Whataboutme?
”sheasks.
“
Wearest i
ll
mar r
iedMaNtusi
.We’v
esharedabed
f
or6years.I
tdoesn’tmeanwe’r
egoingt
obe
i
nti
mate,
unlessifyouwanttogoandsharear
oom
wi
thMaKhumal o.
”
“Whoah,noways!
”Theybot
hlaugh,
unexpect
edl
y,
anditbecomesver
yawkward.
Hetakeshi
sshoesof
fandsi
tsonbed,
car
eful
nott
o
wakethebabyup.
“
MaNt
usi
,
”hesay
s.
Shel
ooksathi
m wi
thherbr
eat
hhel
dinherchest
.
“I
’
m notleavi
ngyou.Areyouleavi
ngme? ”Thi
sist
he
quest
ionthat
’sbeenhangingoverthei
rheads
si
l
ent
lyt
hewhol
eday
.
Shefeel
sherchestt
ightens.Whataquest
ion!She
si
tsnexttohi
m andtakesadeepsigh.
“Idon’twanttobehere.Famil
iesgoti
nvol
ved,t
hings
willneverbethesame.Myf amil
yhateyouandyours
hateme, it
’samess!”
“Idon’tr
ememberaski ngy ourfamilyt
omar ryme,
soIdon’tcareiftheystil
ll
ovemeornot .Icareabout
yourfeeli
ngs.Iknowthatwehur teachother,butI
sti
llsaywhatIsaidtoy ou6y ear
sago.Onl ydeath
candomeapar tfrom you.”
“WhataboutLonda?Areyougoingt
olethi
m bewi
th
hi
sright
fulancest
ors?
”sheasks.
“Ther
e’snot
hingl
ikethat
.Yourki
ds’
right
ful
ancest
orsareher
e.”
Shesighs,
“Manqel
e,y
ouknowt
her
e’ssomet
hing
youcando.”
“Idon’
twantt
odoit.Londaissaf
ehere,wi
thus.
Mandulo,
orwhoeverhisnameis,mustgofi
nda
singl
ewomant oi
mpregnate.
”
Lor
d,t
hisi
snotgoi
ngany
wher
e!
“Okayt
hen,you’
regoi
ngtobui
l
dusourownhouse,
asyouraunt
sadv i
sedyou.
”
“Iwi
lldot
hat.I
nfact
,Iwant
edust
olookatt
hese
housesandseeif
……”
“No,I
’m notdone,
”shesays,pushi
nghisphoneaway.
“I
fLondar emai
nsyoursonbyf i
re,
byforce,
thenyou
cannottakeasecondwife.
”
Hi
sfacef
lushesup.Whaaat
?!
“Youcan,buty
ouwon’
thav
emybl
essi
ng,
”she
clar
if
ies.
“That
’sSphephel
o’smot
her
,notj
ustany
one,
”he
sayswit
haf rown.
“Andthat
’sLonda’
sfat
her
,notj
ustany
one!
”she
says.
“Idon’tknowthati
diotandIhavenoint
eresti
n
doingso.I’mtry
ingtokeepmycool,butyouare
pushingmet olosemyt emper.
”
“
Exact
lyhowIusetofeelwhenyoubrought
Nomkhosiup.Thedi
ff
erencei
s,I
’m noti
nlovewi
th
him.He’ sgotalifeofhisown, kidsandagirl
fri
end.
I’
m will
ingtoletyoumar r
ythelov eofyourl
if
e,onlyi
f
youletMandul odor ightbyhisson.Iknowcul t
ure,
I’
m notsay i
ngy ou’r
eamonst er ,I
’m si
mplyaski
ng
youaf avorassomeoney ouhurtandclaimtolove.
Assomeonewho’ swi l
li
ngtoli
v eherwholeli
feina
l
ov el
essmar ri
ageandwat chherhusbandweds
anotherwoman. ”
Heshutshiseyesandi
nhal
esadeepsi
ghf
rom t
he
bot
tom ofhisl
ungs.
“
Ilov
eyou,
MaNt
usi
,
”hesay
s.
“
Whatabouther
?”sheasks.
“
Honest
ly,
Ilov
ebot
hofy
ou.
”
Tearsfl
oodherf
ace.Hehol
dsherhandand
squeezesi
t.
“Idon’thavear easontol
i
e.Ican’
tletyougo,
ngiyakuthanda.You’r
emywife,myf i
rstt
rue-
lov
e,my
smile-keeper.
”
“
Youdon’
tsmi
l
ethough,
”shesay
s,wi
pingt
ear
s.
“
Myhear
tdosmi
l
e.WhenIcomehomet
oyou
wat chingt hatstupidIndianchannel wi t
hyourear s
blocked, myhear tsmiles.Ihatey ourtri
ps,especiall
y
wheny ouwantmet oswi m,butIbadl ymissthem
wheny oudon’ tpl
anany .Iloveitwheny ouopen
yourey esint hemor ni
ngandchecki fI’
m sti
ll
asleep,
theny ousl ipoutofbedsl owlyifyout hi
nkI’m sti
ll
asleep.Il ovehowy ousmel laftertakingabat h,I
l
ov ey ourt hi
ckt hi
ghsandf ul
lbreasts.Iloveyour
smi le,Ilovey ourfood,Iloveyourobsessi onwi th
earrings.Thi ngsmayhav ehappenedbutIst il
l l
ove
you.Ist i
llwanttospendt herestofmyl i
fewithy ou.
”
She’
shappyt
oheart
his,
butshe’
snotsur
eaboutt
he
fut
ure.
“Manqele,doyourememberhowyouwer
eaf
ter
fi
ndingher?Youdon’tknowhowt
obeamantotwo
peopleequall
y,
”shesays.
“Thingsaredif
ferentnow.Ipromiseyou,weare
goingt ocommuni cat
emor e.I
fwehav eto,mont
hly
we’llhaveafami l
ymeetingandtalkopenl
yabout
anythingconcerningt
hef amil
y.
”
Shesi
ghs,
“Youguy
sal
readypl
annedt
his,
didn’
t
y
ou?
”
“
No,
shedoesn’
tknow.
”
“
Huh?
”Not
hil
efr
owns.
“I’
m goingt
otalktohertomor
rowmor ni
ng,wear
e
notonspeakingtermsfoll
owi
ngthatPreci
ous
thing.
”
“
Arey
ousl
eepi
ngwi
thPr
eci
ous?
”sheasks.
“MaNtusi
,howcany ouaskmethatquest
ion?I’
m
notthemosthonestmanonearth,
butIdon’tgo
aroundsl
eepi
ngwithanyonei
naskirt
.”
Sheshr
ugshershoul
der
s,“
Iwasj
ustaski
ng.
”
“
Sowhatar
eyousay
ingabouthav
ingasi
ster
?”
“
Okay,goaheadwit
hyourpl
ans.She’
sthemot
herof
y
ourchil
dandI’
m not.
”
“
You’
rePhel
o’smotheraswel
l
.Andy
ou’
rest
il
lgoi
ng
t
ogiv
emechi l
dren,
right
?”
“If
ail
edt
odosof
or6y
ear
s,whywoul
dIsucceed
now?”
“
Thatat
ti
tudei
swhatbr
oughtusher
etoday
.Pl
ease
don’tgothereagain,
wearegoingtohav
emor e
chil
drentogether
.Andifwedon’t
,wehaveeach
other.Il
oveyou,mywi f
e,okay
?”
Shenods,
“Il
ovey
out
oo.
”
Hesmil
es,
notj
ustwi
thhi
shear
t,i
tspr
eadsonhi
s
f
aceaswell
.
“
Sowher
ear
ethehouses?
”sheasks.
“
Oh,
thehouses….
”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER54
KHANYO

Iwokeupf rom myev ent

fulnapandcall
edhim.He
sai
dt her
ewer ethingsheneededt odo,someofhi s
rel
ati
veshav en’tleftsoheneedst obehomet ohelp
out.I
t’sj
ustadayaf t
ertheywelcomedhisbrother’
s
wifebackhome.ButIt ooknoexcuses,Imadei t
soundurgent -notthatIlied-butnowthathe’
shereI
cannotbri
ngmy selft
obr eakitt
ohim.
Ihughi m, t
hat ’
sallIcando.I ’
m notGod,Icanhel p
wher eIcan, butHi swordisf i
nal.WhatIknowi sthat
Icangi vethisonest rength,hopefull
yTemacanbe
thereforNkonzoaswel l
,becauseThakasawi l
lneed
them mov ingf orward.He’sranoutofst r
ength,a
thi
nst r
ingt hathehel dont okeept hi
sfamily
togetherwillbreaksoon.He’ llwanttohandov erthe
ropesandgr ovelintoadar kplace.Morethan
anyone, he’
llbedest ruct
edbecausehe’ sendorsed
himselfasev ery
one’ssuper man.
“Babe,what ’
sgoingon?”Bandl aasks,lookingatthe
whitegar mentI’
m wearing.Iprobablyshouldtakeit
offsinceI’m doneprayi
ng,beforeideasof
comf ort
inghim alt
ernat
ivel
ystrikemymi nd.
“Ij
ustwant
edtoseeyou.”Icannotcont
rol
how
str
ainedmyvoi
cesounds.
He’sannoyed,
butbecausei
t’
smehecannot
expressi
t.
“
ButKhanyoItol
dyouwewerebusyathome.Now
t
hey’
l
lthi
nkI’
m dodgi
ngwor
korbeingdisr
espect
ful
.”
“
Arey
ouhungr
y?”Iask.
“
Yes,
”hesay
s,t
ooqui
ckl
yformycompr
ehensi
on.
“
I’
mtal
ki
ngaboutFOOD,
”Icl
ari
fy.
Hesmiles.Myheartmelts.IknowIwon’tbeseei
ng
thi
scheerfulf
acef
oraf ewcomi ngweeks,soI’
m
goi
ngtoenj oyi
twhil
eitlast
s.
“
You’
rehandsome,
”Isay
.
Hefrowns,“
Don’
tsaythat
,I’
m aman,
notagi
rlwho
j
ustboughtnewl
eggings.
”
“Ahandsomeman, t
hat’
swhatI
’
m say
ing,
not
disput
ingy
ourgender
.”
He’
stryi
ngnott oblushbutthetwinklei
nhiseyes
sel
l
shim off.Thisgenderlovest
hingstoo.They
wanttobecompl imented,cuddl
edlikebear
sand
massaged.Theyj ustdon’
thavethegutstoadmiti
t.
“Doyouwantafootmassage?Iknowyou’
vebeen
onyourf
eetsi
nceyest
erday?”Iask.
“Yes,
Ido.Butwhyarey
ousonice?
”Hefr
owns,
alt
houghhelooksv
erymuchamused.
“I
’m al
waysni
ce.Takeyourclot
hesoff,
alloft
hem,
andliei
nbed.I
’l
lgetmyArnicaoil
from t
hebag.”
“
Pleasedon’
tki
l
lme,
Imadeami
stake,
”hesay
s.
Idon’
twhet
hertolaughorcry.Hereal
l
ythi
nkI’
duse
massageoi
ltoki
llhischeat
ingasswhil
ether
eare
somanyknivesl
yi
ngi nthekit
chen.
“Takey
ourcl
othesof
fandl
i
einbed,
Bandl
alet
hu,
”I
say.
Hesmil
esandunbutt
onshisshi
rt
.It
hinkhel
i
kes
howIsoundwhenI’
mi r
ri
tat
ed.
Ichangeint
oami didr
essandgett hemassageoil
.
Mymi ndcannotgetoverthatdream.It
oldSqal
onot
torespond,
butIguesshisfather’
svoi
cewaslouder
thanmine.
Hecal
l
edhi
mtwi
ce;
“Sqal
osamat
honga.
”
Myhear tleapttomyt hroat.Ibelievethathecoul d’ve
sortedouthisrelat
ionshi pwi t
hhi smot her,even
thoughshe’salreadybr eathedsomanyhur tf
ul
wordst owardshimi nt hepr esenceoft heancestors.
Oncey ourmot hersay s“iyangihluphal engane” ,
your
l
ifeisli
kelytocrumbl edown.I t’
sacur sei ndisguise,
everyoneknowsi t,butourmot herslettheir
emot i
onsspeakbef orewei ghingt heconsequences.
Manqel edoesn’twantany onet obot herhiswi f
e.
Thakasawasabl etomendt hingswi thherwhi l
ehe
sti
llhadtime,event houghhewasn’ tawar eofit.
Nowt
heol
dmani
sfur
ious.
Icr
iedassoonasIhear
dhi
svoi
ce.
“
Sqal
odon’
trespond,
”Isai
d.
Buthecal
l
edhi
snameagai
n,“
Sqal
osamat
honga!
”
Ihear
dhisv
oice,
deepi
nmysl
eep,
respondi
ngt
ohi
s
fat
her.
“
Baba,
”heanswer
ed.
Iwokeupcover
edinsweatwi
thmyhear
tpoundi
ng
har
dagainstmychest
.
Ipr
ayedforhim,t
heli
tt
leboywhoseonl
ydi
srespect
tohi
smot herwastobesexual
l
yatt
ract
edt
ot he
samegender.
Butther
ewasnot hi
ngIcoul
ddo-umbi
zi
leubaba
wakhe,wasabel
a.

Bandlakneelsnexttomewithabot
tl
eofwater
.He’
s
butt
-naked,asIinst
ruct
edbefor
eemoti
onsgot
bet
terofme.
Myhandsareshakinguncont
rol
l
ably.Icannotdo
t
his,
IthoughtIwasstr
ongbutI’
m not.
“
Nokukhany
a,whyar
eyoucr
ying?
”He’
sscar
ed.
.
.
THAKASA

Hecal l
edher ,shedidn’
tpickup, ashe’dexpect ed.
Sohesentherat extt
hatgotbl ue-t
icked,buthestil
l
drovet oWater waysanyway .Heknowshow
dramat i
cshecanbewhenpr ovoked,andher eali
zes
hi
smi st akeofassociati
nghi mselfwithPr eci
ous,but
nowt heyneedt otal
k.Realtalkthathe’sbeen
dreadingsincet hedayhef i
rstreali
zedt hatwhathe
hasforheri snotsomet hinghecangetr i
dof.
Heopensthebalconydoorandwindowsf
orf r
eshai
r,
andkeepsthepi
zzaheboughtinsidet
hef
ridge
whil
ehewai t
snervousl
yforher
.
Shehasn’trespondedbutheknowsshe’ l
lcome.
Evenifshewon’ tt
alkt
ohi m,oraccepthi
sapol
ogy,
butshe’l
lcomeoutofr espect.

Indeed,acarpul
lsuphal
fanhourl
ater
.Hi
spal
ms
startsweat
ing,t
hisi
sthemoment!
Heel
scli
ckontheti
lesasshestr
utsi
nwi
than
i
nhospi
tabl
elookonherface.
“
Wher eismydaughter?”sheasks,
lookingaround
f
orPhelo.She’l
lbedamnedi ft
hismancameal lt
his
waywithoutt
heirdaughter
-theonl
ythingthat’
s
l
inki
ngthem toget
her.
“
Ilef
therwi
thMawande,
”Thakasasay
s.
“Oh,t
henwhyam Iher
eifPhel
oisnotar
ound?
”she
askswit
hafrown.
Het
akesadeepbr
eath,
standsupandwal
ksar
ound
t
hecoucht
owhereshe’
sstandi
ng.
Hetakesever
ythi
ngi
nherhands,
wit
hnoamountof
f
orce,andput
sitont
hecouch.
“
Nomkhosi,
”hesays,
hol
dingbot
hherhandsand
i
nhal
i
ngashar pbr
eat
h.“
Imissyou.Imi
ssus,j
ust
meandyou.”
“
Thakasa,
youcameallt
hewayfrom Mandeni
todo
t
his?
”She’
sdefeat
ed,
honest
ly.
Heplaceshi
shandonthesideofherf
ace,she
r
espondswithadeepexhal
ati
onanddropsherey
es.
“
YouwantPhelotogr
owal
lteet
hbef
orel
ett
ingme
i
nthecoochi
e?”
Shemov eshi
shandoffherf
ace,y
anksanot
herone
offandgoest
othecouchtogetherst
uff
.
“Ihaven’
tsl
eptwit
hanyoneinmont hs.Thel
ast
personIwaswith,wasMaNtusi,
beforeshelef
tme.
Angikazengi
gange,Ipr
omiseyou.”
Reall
y?Sherol
l
sherey
esandpushesherpur
se
underarm.
“Idon’
tcarewhatyoudowit
hy ourdi
ck,
Thakasa.
Juststayawayfr
om mycoll
eaguesandbeaman
enoughtogetinf
ormati
onstr
aightfr
om me.
”
“
Okay
,I’
m sor
rybabe,
Imeani
t.
”
Nomkhosi
frowns,
“Babe?Hhay
i-
bo.
”
“
Ilov
eyou,
”hesay
s.
Asmuchasshe’ sal
wayswantedtohearhi
mtoss
thesewordsint
heair
,shecannothel
pbutwonder
abouttheti
mingofi
tall
.
“By
eThakasa,cal
lmewhenyouhavemydaught
er.
”
Shewavesherhandandwal
kstowardst
hedoor
.
Hi
shandgrabsher
,she’
snotsur
pri
sedatal
l
,thi
sis
hi
sst
yle.
“Soy outhi
nkgr abbi
ngmy …”Hegrabsherfaceand
onslaughtsherwi t
hakiss.I
t’
ssosuddenand
unexpected,butsherespondstoitcal
merthanshe
musthav e.Whenhi shandstar
tsplayi
ngbelowher
waist,shebreaksthekissandgiv
eshim alook.
“I
’l
lonlyputtheti
pin,
IjustwantMthongatofeel
it.
Please,MakaPhelo,i
thurt
s.”He’
sbreathi
ngheavi
ly
andt r
yingtopull
downherskirtwi
thoutundoi
ngthe
zi
pperatt heback.
“You’
regoingtotearmyskirt
,andwear
efaci
ngt
he
openbalconydoor,”shesay
s.
She’
ssoft
eningup?Hef eelsav ei
npulsat
ingonhi
s
shaf
t.Hewalksbehindher,lustget
ti
ngthebett
erof
hi
m ashestaresherbutt.Shespanksandsqueezes
i
t.
“Thakasa,st
op!”Agi
ggl
eescapesherthr
oatwhi
l
e
she’str
yingtobeear
nestaspossi
ble.
“I
fitwasuptomey ou’
dbemodeli
ngnakedf
orme.I
swearI’
dcum bef
oreIevent
ouchyou.
”
Sheenterst
hebedroom andst
epsasidef
orhi
mto
walki
n,thenshut
sthedoorbehi
ndthem.

Shehasn’ tlostallherpregnancyweight
.Hav i
nga
chi
ldchangedsomepar tsofherbodythathewas
accustomedt o.He’snev erseenthecel
lul
it
eonher
thi
ghs, gett
ingridofitwi l
ltaketi
me.Herbutt,t
hat
hest r
onglybel i
evesturnshi m onmorethan
anythi
ng, haveamapal l over.
“Doyouneedhel
p?”He’sal
readybut
t-
nakedand
massagi
nghisbeast
lyshaf
tthatl
ooksreadyt
o
commitmurder
.
“
No,
I’
m good,
”shesay
s.
Hecomesandhel pshertakehercl
othesoffany
way.
Hishandsstar
tsqueezi
nganypartofherbodythey
cantouch.Hedoesn’
tseem tobetakenbackbythe
changesonherbody.
“Doyouseet
hedamageyou’
redoi
ng?
”heasks,
poi
nti
ngathi
shar
dshaftwi
thagri
n.
Sheswal
l
owsandshi
ft
sherst
areGf
rom hi
slower
body.Hestartsrubbinghimselfagai
nstherthighs
andrunni
nghi stonguear oundherneck.She’
s
whimperi
nglikeasi ckcat,separ
ati
ngherlegst o
all
owhishandf ullaccesstohercoochieandletti
ng
theti
ngl
eshist onguegivesherspreadalloverher
bodyli
keelectri
cwav es.
“Ngi
yakuthandamawomnt anami,uyezwa?
”He’s
prof
essi
nghi slovealotl
ately.Therewasati
me
whenshedi dittooanddidn’tgetananswershe
desi
red,butnowsheget sawe- st
ruckand
dumbfoundedwhenhesay si t
.
Hepusheshertothebed,“
Lal
angomhl
ane,ngi
buke
st
handwa.”(
Lieonyourbackandl
etmesee,l
ove)
“Seewhat?”sheasks,
snappi
ngoutoft
hebubbl
eof
pleasur
e.
“I
fthedoct
orsdi
dn’
thur
tmypoodl
e,
”hesay
swi
tha
smile.
Hebringsherkneesup,
separ
atesherwetf
oldsand
peepsin.
“Theyst
it
chedyouher
e?”heasks,
rubbi
ngt
hesi
de
ofheropeni
ng.
I
t’suncomfort
ablehavi
ngyourvagi
nainspect
edby
yourbabydaddy.Butt
hey’
readul
tsandshe’sshar
ed
abedwi t
hhim mor et
hanherfi
ngerscancount.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s,i
nhal
i
ngadeepbr
eat
h.
Herubshercl
i
twit
hasmir
konhi
sface,
“Di
dthey
t
ouchthemainswi
tch?
”
Oh,
Lor
d!Shef
ir
mlycl
oseshert
highs.
“
You’
resoannoy
ing!
”shel
aughs.
“Whyarey
oushutt
ingmeout ?Iwantt
ogr eet
,thi
s
coochi
edi
dagreatjobpushi
ngmypr i
ncessout ,
”he
says.
Shedoesn’tresi
stwhenheseparat
esherlegsagai
n.
Heli
esflatl
yont hebedwit
hhisupperbodyand
pul
lsherthighstothesi
desofhi
sface.
“
Hell
o,pussy
-dol
l
!”Her
ubshi
swhol
efaceov
erher
mound.
Shecan’thel
pbutbreaksi
ntol
aught
erashi
shai
ry
facet
inglesherwetf
lesh.
“St
opbeingsi
l
ly!
”shepl
ayf
ull
yhi
tshi
sheadand
opensherl
egswider
.
Hercli
tsmoothlysl
i
psint
ohisl
ipsbeforeawar m
tonguel
icksendsashockofwavesthroughouther
body.
“Babe!
”She’
sunawar
eofherwor
dsdur
ingt
his
heatedmoment.
Heful
lyl
atchesonhercl
i
tandlabial
li
psandshakes
hi
sheadwi t
halowmoan.Hegivesheralong,
all
-
cor
nerli
ckbefor
ehesuckshercl
itagai
n.
Shetr
iestosmashhisskul
lbyfir
mlypressi
ngher
thi
ghsoverhi
sface,t
ryi
ngtofi
ghtwavesofpleasur
e
thr
eateni
ngtounscr
ewallhersenses.
“
Thakasa,
p-l
-e-
a-s-
e.Pl
easeeeee!
”
Hehear
snoneofherpleadi
ngsandli
ckshiscl
itl
i
ke
adogtr
yingt
ofi
nishsoupbefor
eotherdogssee.
He’sasecondlatewhenheremoveshi
sface,
he’
s
al
readyavict
im ofheav
yfl
oods.
“
Damn!
”hechuckl
esandwi
peshi
sli
pswi
thaT-
shi
rt
.
Nomkhosi i
sstil
loutofi
t.Heturnshert
osl
eepon
hersi
de,l
iesbehindherandli
ftsherl
egupfora
sci
ssorposit
ion.
Hedi rect
shi sfur
iousmemberf r
om behi
ndand
slowlyslipsiti
nsidethehol
eofjoy.Hepul
lsout,
takesagl anceathismanhoodandsl i
psafinger
i
nsi deher.Itcomesbackmoi st
,heli
cksi
tdryand
thrustsinagain.
“Whatareyoudoi
ng?
”sheasks,
pul
l
inghi
shand
aroundherwai
st.
“
Justtast
ingi
fwhatMt
hongaf
eel
siswhati
ttast
es
l
i
ke,”hesays.
“
You’
recr
eepy
!”shesay
s.
“
Youmademe,
sonowI
’
myourbi
tch,
”hesay
s.
Shegi
ggl
esandshutsherey
esashet
hrust
sint
oher
sof
tcor
nerswi
thpassi
on.
Hepushesherdownonherst omach,l
i
ftsherhi
ps
upanddoggiesher.Hehat
est hi
sposi
ti
onbecause
i
tal
way sendshisgamebeforeti
me.Butsheli
kesi
t,
i
tgetsherscreami
ngwildl
y.
Shestar
tsshaki
ngherbutt,
hestopsmovi
ngand
al
lowshertorot
ateshercoreany
howsheli
kes.
“
Thakasa!
”shecr
ies,
lyi
ngf
latonherst
omachand
pant
ingheav
il
y.
Heli
ft
sherupagainandpoundshermercil
essly
.Her
cor
etight
ensar
oundhisshaf
t,hei
ncreaseshispace
andpi
nsherwaistdown.
“No-mkho-
si!
”hegroansoutashefi
nal
l
yget shi
s
rel
ease.Hestay
sinsideherf
oramoment ,
emptying
everyl
astdr
opinsi
deherandcatchi
nghisbreat
h.
Hepull
soutandrol
lsov
ertotheothersi
de.Thei
r
eyesl
ockforamoment,shedoesn’
tlookl
ike
someonewhojusthadt
hebestsexofherlif
e.
“HowdidIthi
nkIwasgoingtoli
vewithoutyou?
”He
cupsherf
aceandkissesherl
ipstenderl
y.
Shebitesherbott
om l
ipandkeepsherindescri
bable
star
eonhi m.She’
sfall
enbackintohist
rapagain.
Ndondowi l
lbesodisappoint
ed.She’
snotbreaking
thechain,i
nst
eadshe’sbecominghissper
m dishall
overagain.
“
MaNt
usi
andIt
alked,
”hesay
s.
Theymadeup-expect
edlyso-andhe’
sher
eto
rel
easehi
msel
fbeforegoingbackt
oher.
“
She’
sbackhome.Wearewor
kingonourmar
ri
age,
t
aki
ngitonest
epatat
ime.
”
Shenods,
“Congr
atul
ati
ons!
”
“
Butshe’snotmov i
ngbackhome.Wearelooki
ngat
t
hehouses,ther
e’soneint
hisnei
ghbor
hoodthatwe
mightconsi
der.
”
Sheremov eshisar m aroundherandr oll
sof fbed.
She’
snotev enheartbrokenbecausehe’ susedher
agai
nandsucceeded, it’
sherownst upidit
yand
weaknesst hat’
sshat t
ersher.Shewasdoi ngsowel l
.
MaNt usiandIwer einagoodspace, nott hatshe’s
nothappyf orhergetti
ngherhusbandback, but
Thakasakeepspr ovingherwor dsri
ght .She’
snot
worthy!
“
Whyareyoucry
ingMakaPhel
o?”Thakasaasks,
f
oll
owi
nghertothebat
hroom.
Shet r
iest
oslam thedooronhisface,buthequickl
y
putshisarm ontheframetobl
ocki t
.Itsl
ams
againsthi
swr i
stbone,al
mostbreaki
nghi shand.
Hispai
nful
groanst
opsNomkhosi.Sheopensthe
doorwi
thherhear
tpoundi
nghar
dagainstherchest
,
andcheckshi
shand.
“
Arey
oual
ri
ght
?”sheasks.
“
Yeah.
”Hegr
imacesasherf
inger
srubsonwr
ist
.
“
I’
m sorr
y,Idi
dn’
tmeantohur
tyou,
”shesay
sina
f
ear-
fi
ll
ed,apol
oget
ict
one.
“
May
beIdeser
vei
t,
”hesay
s.
Well
,he’
sri
ght
,hedeser
vesmor
ethanadooronhi
s
wr
ist.
“
Ngi
sacelaukul
ungi
saamaphuthaami
,
”hesay
s.
(
CanIrect
if
ymymi st
akes,
please)
“
Howar
eyougoi
ngt
odot
hat
?”sheasks.
Hetakesadeepbreathandhol
dsherhand.Hel
ooks
i
ntohereyes,
they
’repai
nedandmoistwit
htear
s.
“You’
l
lnev
ershedanot
hert
earbecauseofme,
”he
says.
Sher
aisesherey
ebr
ow.
“Ngi
sacel
aukubay
isi
hlobonabakwaNsel
e.”(
CanI
berel
atedtot
heNsel
es)
“
Youhav
eawi
fe,
Thakasa,
”sher
emi
ndshi
m.
“AndIhaveyouaswell
.Iwanttocommi tmysoul,
myheartandmyenti
reli
fetothisbeauti
ful
thi
ngwe
havegoingon.I
’
mtir
edofplayinghideandseekwit
h
you.I
thurtsmeasmuchasi thurt
sy ou.
”
Shechuckl
esandshakesherheadi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.
“
Sowhatar
eyousay
ingexact
ly?
”sheasks.
“
Pleasemarryme,becomemysecondwif
ebyl
aw.I
l
oveyou,Ir
eall
ydo,Ican’
tev
enf
ighti
t.
”
“
IfNot
hil
edi
dn’
tgiveyouachancet
odot
his,
woul
d
y
ouhavesai
dallt
his?
”sheasks.
“Event
ual
ly,Iwouldhavesai
dit
.”Hisfacedoesn’t
showmuchconf idence.He’
snotsureifhewould’
ve
doneitei
ther.
“
Whenwas“
event
ual
l
y”goi
ngt
obe?
”sheasks.
“Idon’
tknowNomkhosi
,allIknowisthatRI
GHT
NOW Iwantustobefamil
yandIhav eablessingi
n
doingso.AndIl
ovey
ou,thatmatter
smor ethan
anythi
ng.
”
Sheshut
sherey
esandt
akesadeepbr
eat
h.
“Youcannot
,Thakasa,youCANNOThav
eyourbr
ead
butt
eredonbothsides,
”shesay
s.
“Youarenotbr eadtome.Iloveyoumor ethanIcan
expl
ain.Thatdoesn’tchangehowIf eelabout
MaNt usi
,vi
ce-versa.You’
vebeenpat i
entwit
hmef or
solong,Iwasn’tthemany oudeservedbutnowI ’
m
wil
li
ngt otr
ymybestt oshowy ouhowmuchy ou
meant ome. ”Hehol dsherhandandlooksather,
maskedwi thfear.
“Pl
easedon’
ttur
nmedown.Thisdaymeansal ott
o
me,I’
m al
waysgoingt
orememberitforther
estof
mylif
e.Ngi
yakut
handaMakaPhel
o, wit
hallmy
hear
t.
”
Deepsigh!Shef eel
scorner
ed,he’
snotgivinghera
minutetoprocessherthought
s.Thisisn’
tjusther
deci
sionalone,NdondoandSnalohav etothrowi n
thei
rtwocent saswell
.Notthatshe’l
ll
ist
ent othem
anyway,buttheyhavetosaysomet hi
ng.
“Weareal
lgoi
ngt
osi
tdownandtal
k.You,
MaNt
usi
andI
.Howaboutt
hat
?”He’
sdesper
ate.
“
I’
ll
thi
nkabouti
t,f
ornowIneedwi
pey
ourst
icky
sper
msof
fmyt
highs.
”
Hesmil
es,
“Whydoyouneedt
obat
hbecauseI
’
m
st
il
lgoi
ngt
omessyou?”
“
Whot
oldy
out
hat
?”sheaskswi
thaney
erol
l
.
“I
ntoemnandii
yaphi
ndwa,awukwazilokho?”Justas
heatt
emptstotouchhermoistcooki
e,hisphone
ri
ngsint
hebedroom.
“
Thanky
ourancest
ors,
”hesay
s,spanki
ngherand
wal
ki
ngaway.
“I
ny ourheadyouareBambino,
”shemut
ter
sasshe
proceedsinsi
dethebat
hroom.
“
Imakey
oucr
y!”hey
ell
s.
Nomkhosil
aughs,
get
ti
ngat
owel
tonur
seher
coochi
e.

Thakasacheckst
hecal
ler
,itwasNkonzo.Whatnow?
Theycanbesoannoyi
ngandt i
meless.
Hecal
l
shim back,
becausehe’
sal
way
sgoi
ngt
o
j
umptothei
rdemands.
“Nkonzouf
unani
?”heasksassoonasNkonzopi
cks
up.
“
Igotacal
lfr
om someone,Idon’
tknowwhoshei
s,
I
’
ml osi
ngmymindrightnow.”
“
Tal
k,what
’sgoi
ngon?
”Thakasaasksi
mpat
ient
ly.
“TheyfoundSqal
oinacarnextMat i
gulubri
dge,I
don’tknowifhef
oughtwithsomeoneorhewas
i
nv ol
vedinacaracci
dentorifsomeonetri
edto
hij
ackhim.Bandl
aisalmostatthescene,he’
ll
tel
l
mewhat ’
sgoi
ngon.”
Thatjustdoesn’tmakeanysense.Sqal ohadclasses
todayinDur ban,hel
eftMandenii
nt heweehour sof
mor ni
ng.He’ snotavi
olentper
son,he’sachil
d,his
carisnotflashyandhedoesn’tknowany onein
Mat i
gulu.
“
Okay,I
’m comi
ng,
”Thakasasay
s,dr
oppi
ngt
hecal
l
wi
thshakyhands.
Thiswashi sbi
gday.I
twassupposedt
obe.He
doesn’tevenknowhowbadl
yinj
uredhi
sli
tt
le
brotheri
s.
Nomkhosiwal
ksint
ohi m dressi
ngup,
looki
ng
absent
-mi
ndedandf
rightened.
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”sheasks.
“Idon’
tknowwhathappenedtomybrot
her.
”He
doesn’
texplai
nwhichbr
other
,hi
smindseemst
o
havedesert
edhisbody.
“
Cany
oudr
ive?
”sheaskshi
m.
“Pl
easegohomeandmakesur ethatPhel
oisf
ine.I
don’
tknowifanyonet
herei
sintheri
ghtst
ateof
mindtotakecar
eofher.
”
“ButI
’m notwel
comedthere.Imean,MaNtusi
is
ther
e,yourmom….”Hedisappearsi
ntothebat
hroom,
shehearswaterr
unni
ngandsi ghs.
What’
sgoi
ngon?Howisgoi
ngtopopupwhil
e
Not
hil
eist
her
e?What’
sthesi
tuat
ionwai
ti
ngf
orher
t
here?
“Nomkhosi,
move!Whyar
eyoust
andingtherel
ikea
stat
ue,
Isaidgohomeandmakesur
et hatour
daught
erisokay
.”
Herey
eswi
den.She’
snev
erseent
hissi
deofhi
m.
Di
dhej
ustaddr
essherl
i
ket
hat
,li
keal
i
ttl
echi
l
d?
“Don’tshoutatme,
Idon’
tev
enknowwhat
’sgoi
ng
on,”shesays.
“
Nottoday,
Nomkhosi.DowhatIt
elly
ou,pl
ease!
”
Hi
s‘pl
ease’i
snotbeggi
ng,
it’
sdel
iv
eringawarni
ng.
Hegiv
esheral
ook,shet
akesadeepsi
ghandheads
backt
othebat
hroom.
Thi
sisnothowshepict
uredthi
sdayt
urni
ngout
.
Somethi
ngbadhashappened!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER55
BANDLA

Thewomancal l
edhimf ir
st .Sqal oment i
onedhi s
nameandaskedhert osear chforhi snumber .It
wasn’thijackingbecauset heylef tthecar .Itwasn’ ta
fi
ghteither,therewer ethreeoft hem, grownmeni n
hoodiesandbi gsunglasses, hecoul dn’tfightthem
notknowi ngwhathewasbei ngat tackedf or.I
tdi dn’
t
makesensewhyt heykeptaski nghi m whyhesl eeps
wit
hot hermen.Howdi dt hatbecomeabusi nessof
str
anger s?Her ecogni
zedt hev oi cesbuthecoul dn’t
puthi
sf ingeront hem.Onekepthi tti
nghi sankl es
wit
hagol fstick,theyhadhi shandst i
edt ogether .
Bandlaarr
ivedbeforet
hepar amedicsandpoli
ce.
Yeah,SouthAfri
canemer gencyservi
ces.Sqal
o
askedtobewi t
hhi sbr
otherpri
vatel
y,soBandla
askedeveryonetostepback.
Hewasn’
tbleedi
ngthatmuch,buthi
swholef
ace
wasswol
len.Theyst
abbedhimt wowoundsi
nthe
stomach.Theywer
en’
tthatbad,whi
chmade
every
onebeliev
ehest
il
lhadtime.I
twasn’
tthatbad,
theythought
.
Bandlastoodnexttohim wi
thallhisf
aci
almuscles
tensedup.He’dbeendownt hatroadwit
hKhanyo,
nothinghurtl
i
keseeingyourlovedonebecomi
nga
vict
im ofhool
igans,
fornoreasonatall
.
“Doy ouknowwhodi
dthi
s?”heasked,
hisv
oice
breaking.
Sqal
oopenedhi
smout
h,wi
ncedi
npai
n,andt
ooka
deepbr
eath.
“
Bhuti
,pl
easepul
lthi
sthi
ngout
,it
’shurt
ingme,
”hi
s
v
oicecameoutst
rongert
hanhelooked.
Bandl
afr
owned,
“Whatt
hing?
”
Sqal
odroppedhi
seyestot
hesideofhi
swaist.
Bandl
afoll
owedhi
seyesandsawascrewdr
iverdug
i
ntohisf
lesh.
Hewantedtoscr
eam atthestupi
dcr owdthat
surr
oundedt
hescene.Fi
rstthi
ngtheyshould’
ve
donewastoremovethescrewdri
ver.ButSqal
o’s
f
aintv
oicebeggedhi m notto.“
PleaseMthonga,
r
emov ethi
sthing.
”Heshuthi seyes,squeezedhi
s
f
aceandwi ncedpainful
ly.
“ButSqal
o,whatif
…?”Sqal
oopenedhi
sey
esand
beggedhim agai
n.
“
It
’shur
ti
ngme,
”hecr
ied.
Bandlahadnochoicebuttoreleasehi
mfrom pain.
Heclenchedhisjaw,tookadeepbreat
handpulled
thescrewdr
iverout.
“I
t’
sout.Nowyouhavetohol
donunti
lwegett
othe
hospi
tal
.Ever
ythi
ngwil
lbeal
ri
ght.
”Hewi
pedSqal
o’s
for
eheadandbrushedhi
shead.
“
Thanky
ou,
”Sqal
osai
d.
“Sqal
odon’
tcl
osey
ourey
es.Theambul
ancei
s
here.
”
Heputhisthumbup, butshuthiseyesanyway.
Nothi
nglookedsuspici
ous,eventhoughBandla
wasn’
tcomf or
tablewit
hhim closi
nghiseyes.Unt
il
hecoughedandt ookanenormousbr eat
h.
“
Arey
oual
ri
ght
?Thepar
amedi
csar
emaki
ngt
hei
r
wayher
e.”
Sqal
odi
dn’
trespond.Hi
seyesremai
nedshut
,wi
th
hi
sheaddr
oppedt ohi
sshoul
der.
“Sqalo,
”Bandla’
sshakyv
oicecal
l
ed.“
Mthonga
please,don’
tdothi
s.”
Thenhest
art
edshaki
nghi
mvi
olent
lyandscr
eami
ng
forhi
mtowakeup.
“Pleasestepaside,
”sai
damanbehi ndhim.But
Bandla’semotionsweretoohigh,t
heyhadt oget
him offSqalo’
sarm.Hewasn’ tcr
ying,hekept
screamingandshout i
ng,aski
ngwhodi dthatt
ohis
brotherandswear i
ng.Morethanmour nful,
hewas
furi
ous.

Sqalowasdecl ar
eddeadont hescene.Awoman
whof oundhim gaveherstatement,whichr
eal
l
y
didn’
tgiveanyclues.Shedidn’twi
tnessmuch,onl
y
Sqaloknewwhathappenedt ohim andhowhegot
toMat i
gulufr
om Dur ban.
Nkonzocal
l
edf
oranupdat
e.
“
Bafo,
what
’shappeni
ngther
e?Thakasai
sonhi
s
wayaswel
l
,”heasked.
“Bookaf
li
ghtf
orPhet
hil
etocomehome,
”Bandl
a
said.
Ther
ewasascr eechi
ngoftyr
es.Nkonzo’
scar
swer
v edof
ftheroadbuthewasabletocont
roli
t,
andthankGoditwasn’
tsuchabusyroad.
“Nkonzoar ey
oualr
ight
?”Bandl
awaspani
cki
ng.He
couldn’
tlosetwobr
othersi
noneday
.
Nkonzobr
eat
hedheav
il
y,“
Wher
e’sSqal
o?”
“
He’sgone.Theyki
ll
edmybr other.Hedi
dn’
tev
en
r
each20,howisthatfai
r?”Bandla.
Nkonzoknewthatmomentthathe’dneedt
ost ay
str
ongforthef
amil
y.Hecall
edThakasabeforehe
cal
ledMawande.Thenther
ewasPhet hywho
neededanswer
sbeforeagr
eeingtotakeafl
ight
backhome.
.
.
NOMKHOSI
Thelastthi
ngshewant edwast oarguewith
MaKhumal o,soshetookal i
ttl
ebandanaand
wrappeditaroundherheadandwor eaknee-
lengt
h
ski
rtsui
tforr
espect.Justasshet ur
nedonto
EnembeRd, Thakasacalledhim.Shedidn’
tneedhim
tospiti
tout,hi
svoicesaidital
l.
“
Theyki
l
ledhi
m,”hesai
d.
“
Ohmygoodness,
I’m sosorr
y.Icannoti
magine
whaty
ou’
regoi
ngthrough.Whereareyounow?”
“I
’
m atthepol
i
cestation,f
rom her
eI’
llf
etchhi
s
bel
ongi
ngsinDurban.Don’tl
eavebefor
eIcome
home,Phel
owill
bet hereunt
ilt
hefuneral
.”
“
Okay,pl
easegetsomeonet
odr
ivey
ou.Idon’
t
want
….”
“
I’
mfi
ne,
Nomkhosi
,
”hei
nter
rupt
ed.
“Butyoujustlosty
ourbrot
her.Howcany oubefi
ne?
Pleasedon’tdoanythi
ngstupi
d,yourdaught
erst
il
l
needsyou.”
“
Iwon’
t,
kodwaal
i
khoi
zi
nyanel
emv
ubuel
i
ngadl
i
wa
zi
ngwenyakucwebeisi
ziba.
”(Butnopondremai
ns
cl
earaf
tert
hecrocodil
eshaveeatenahippocal
f)
“Whatdoyoumeanbyt
hat
?”Nomkhosi
asked,
uncomfor
tabl
y.
“I
’l
lgetthem, anyonewhowasi nv olved,evenifhe
orchest
ratedasi nglephonecal landdi dn’
ttouch
hi
m.ButI ’l
lfindoutwhot heyareandIwi l
lki
llthem.”
Hesoundedt oocal mf orhert
oexcusehi swor ds
withpainandanger .Theystuckatt hebackofher
head.Herbr othersar enotsai
nts,Thakasahasev ery
ri
ghttokillt
hosewhoki l
ledhi
sbr other,butmay be
shelovedther eli
giousmanmor et hant heheartl
ess
oneshehear dovert hephone.
.
.
It
’savill
age,soeveryonerushedtocomf ort
MaKhumal ouponhear ingwail
scomingf rom her
house.Peoplearecomi nginandout,pour i
ngthei
r
condolences.Mawandei ssti
llhy
ster
ical,she’
slost
twoimpor t
antpeopleinaspaceofay ear.The
candl
ehasbeenl it,
MaKhumal oi
ssit
tingont he
mat
tressandcr
yingherey
ebal
l
sout
.
Nomkhosidoesn’tknowanyone.Sheparkshercar
belowtheyardandmakesherwayi n.There’
sa
groupofwomengossi pi
ngintheveranda,
she
greet
sthem andwalksinsi
dethehouse.
Ther e’
snooneinthekit
chenbutshehear sasoft
sobcomi ngfrom t
heloungeandmakesherway
there.Shemakesherwayt herethi
nki
ngshe’l
lat
l
eastgetanideaofwher ePheloisandwhoshe’ s
withsinceevery
oneisintherondavel
wi t
h
MaKhumal o,butshefi
ndsagi rl
inaschoolunif
orm,
whom sheassumesknewSqal of r
om school
.
Shest
epsback,
mental
l
yconsider
ingt
ocal
lNot
hil
e,
onl
ytofi
ndheri
ntheki
tchen.
“Oh,you’
vearr
ived,
”Not
hil
esays,
pluggi
ngaket
tl
eof
water.Shegl
ancesatNomkhosiwhoseemstobe
confusedandlost.
“They
’rewi
thmeint
hebedroom.Manqelecal
l
ed
andtoldmeyouwer
ecoming,”shesay
s.
“Yeah,hesai
dImustcomeandlookaf
terPhel
o
sinceever
yonei
ssti
l
linshockandmourni
ng,
”
Nomkhosi
say
s.
Nothi
l
echuckl
es,“
That
’snotwhyy
ouar
eher
e.Di
d
youagreet
obecomehiswif
e?”
That’
sadi
ff
icul
tquest
iont
oanswer
,especi
all
yto
her.
“
Isai
dI’
l
lthi
nkabouti
t.
”
Nothi
l
enodsandtakest
wobot
tl
esoutoft
hesi
nk,
onebelongst
oPhel
o.
“They’
reont hesamef ormulamilk,
”shesays
randomly,withasmile.“Youcanuset heket
tl
eaf
ter
Imaket hei
rmi l
k.You’l
lfindever
ythi
nginthe
cupboards,Idon’
tknowi fbreadswil
lbeenough.
”
“Wait,
I’
m nother
etomaketea.Thakasasai
dImust
comeandl ookaft
erPhel
o.I
’
m notevensupposedt
o
standi
nginthi
skit
chen.
”
Nothi
lechuckl
es,“Welcomet othefamil
y!See, I
’
m
notall
owedtomakef oodforMaKhumal o,shehates
thegroundsIwalkon.Sobef ore‘
theedaughter-
in-
l
aw’ MaDubearri
ves,you’r
etakingcareofeverybody.
Manqele’sbr
others,
hismom, si
ster
sandnei ghbors.
That’
showl i
fei
sar
oundher
e,y
ouhav
etobet
her
e
forever
yone.
”
Nomkhosidi
dnotex pectt
hat
.She’snotapar
tof
thi
sfami
ly
,yet.Herfamil
ydon’
tevenknowthat
she’
satt
heManqel es.

Nothil
eleavesherstandi
ngagainstt
hetable,
per
plexed.Becauseshe’samot hert
oo,shebri
ngs
Pheloforafewmi nutestoseehermother.
“Oh,youj
ustt
ookabath?
”Nomkhosiaskst
hethr
ee-
montholdPhel
o,l
i
fti
ngherupandki
ssi
ngher
cheeks.
“
HowisLonda?
”sheasksNothi
l
eaf
terhav
inga
momentwi
thherdaught
er.
“Hi
sappoint
mentistomor
row,butot
hert
hant
he
unknown,
he’sokayandgr
owing.
”
“That
’sgoodtohear
.”ShegivesPhel
obacksot
hat
shecanstar
tonherduties.
“
Here,removethatl
acethingonyourheadandput
t
hisscarfbef
oreyougetjudged.
”Nothi
legi
veshera
scarfbefor
eleavi
ngwi t
hPhelo.She’
swat chi
ng
Showmaxandmi ndingherownbusiness.Nobody
needsherany way,
soshe’sjustchi
ll
i
ngwi ththe
babiesinherbedr
oom.
Nomkhosi hardl
ycooksi nherhouse.Athomet hey
haveahel perandhermot herisaverydomesti
cated
woman.Dur ingfamil
yf unctionsshealwayshave
Snalo,ThalenteandNdondoi nthekit
chen.Her
e
she’
sal lal
oneandex pectedt omaket eafor
ever
y onethatcomesi n,whileboil
ingri
ceand
choppingst ewingredients.

Sheputsplatesofbreadononet r
ay,
tea-setonthe
otherandthere’
sakettl
eofboil
edwat eraswell
.So
thismeansshe’l
lmaket hr
eetri
pstotherondavel
sincenobodyisheretohelpher
.
Si
gh!
Ther
eareaboutf
ivewomensitt
ingonr
eed-
mats
andhav
ingaconsoli
ngconver
sati
onwi
th
MaKhumalowhoseemst ohavecal
meddown.
“
Thi
sisPhel
o’smot
her
,”MaKhumal
oint
roducesher
asshepl acesatrayonthef
loor.Shel
ooksabit
i
mpr essedbyherl ookt
oday
,thankstothescar
f
Nothil
egav etoher.
“
Oh,doesn’
tPhel
o’smot
herkneel
though?
”one
womanasks.
Ohhell
no,she’
snotgoingonthef
loorwi
thher
kneesj
ustt
ogivethem food!
“Youknowhowourboysare,theychasebeauty.
”
Reall
y,Makhumal
o?Nomkhosi i
nhalesshar
plyas
sheputsaplat
einfr
ontofeachwoman.
“
Ohmakoti
,pl
easemakel
emont
eaf
orme,
”one
womansay
s.
Nomkhosi
frowns,
“Li
keboi
l
edwat
erwi
thl
emon
sl
ices?
”
“
No,
boi
l
edwat
erwi
thl
emonl
eav
es.
”Wei
rdmuch!
“
Thetreei
soutside,
behi
ndt
her
ondav
el,
”
MaKhumalosays.
“
Jui
cef
orme,
please,
”anot
heronesay
s.
OhLord!Nowt
hey
’reatt
herest
aur
ant
,choosi
ng
fr
om t
hemenuandorder
ingfr
om awai
tr
ess.
Justasshefi
nishservi
ngdemandingwomen,
Bandlapul
l
sup.He’swi t
htwoothercol
l
eaguesand
amanwho’ sarelat
ive.
Nowthebreadisfinished.I
fshewasinDurbanshe
woul
d’v
emadeaf ewcal lst
ogetthem,buther
eshe
hast
ofindalt
ernativ
es.
Not
hil
ewal
ksi
ntogr
abaf
ewf
rui
tsandabot
tl
eof
wat
er.
“Pl
easecookuphuthuaswell
,someoft hesepeople
don’
teatri
ce.RevPhungul
adon’teatKnorroxcubes,
aswellasBandlal
ethu,
soj
ustusespices.”
Nomkhosisighsandtakesanot
herpotf
oruphut
hu.
Thi
sisnottheli
feshesignedupfor
.
“WhenThakasaget sher e,gi
vehi m abasinofwat er
towashhi shands,wellallofthem havet owash
hands,butwithThakasai t
’sanev erydaythi
ng.Dish
hisstewinthisbowl.
”Sheopenst hecupboar dand
showsNomkhosi t
hebowl .“
Anduphut huonthe
plat
e.Fil
laglasswithwat erandputhi sspoon
i
nside.”Shetakesatrayf r
om t hecupboard.“
Thisi s
hist
ray,nooneelseusesit
.Oh, andhedoesn’
tsi
ton
thecouch,hesi
tsontheleatherchai
r.You’
l
lpul
la
coff
ee-t
abletoserv
ehim on.”
“
That
’s…cr
azy.Idon’
tdoal
lthati
nmyhouse,
”
Nomkhosisay
s.
“Well
,thi
ngsarediff
erentar
oundhere.He’sno
l
ongerjustaboy f
ri
endorsexpartner,he’
st hefat
her
ofyourdaughterandyourhusband-t
o-be,
right?
Trustme,youdon’twantMaKhumal oagainstyou.
Respectherhouseandi t
srul
es.”
“WhereisNkonzo’
sfianceandBandla’
s?”Nomkhosi
asks.She’
sti
redbeforesheevenbegins.
“They’
llcomeifthei
rmenaskt hem to.Nothingi
s
expectedfrom t
hem thatmuch,especiall
ythe
goldenMaDube.She’llgether
e,l
ookal lcuteand
cuddleupinbedwi t
hhermanal lday.”
Nomkhosichuckl
esindi
sbel
i
ef.She’
dbedamnedi
f
t
heytri
edthatwit
hher.I
magi
neservi
ngacoupl
e
t
hat’
scuddledupinbed!
Peoplef r
om chur ch,MthongaHol di
ngs,school
teachersandr el
ati
veskeepar r
ivi
ngtopasst hei
r
condolences.Thakasahasar ri
vedtoo,hiscaris
parkedout side,buthehasn’tcomet ocheckon
Nomkhosi .She’ sbeenonherf eetal
lday,withno
breakorhel p.Mawandehasn’ tcomeoutofher
room, she’
sdest r
ucted.
Theyf i
nal
l
ywalkin;Thakasa,
hisbrother
sandtwo
othermen.He’sinadeepconv er
sati
onwithanot
her
man, hedoesn’
tevenacknowledgeherbendi
ngher
backinthekit
chen.
Shegetsalow‘Hel
l
o’fr
om Bandl
aashef
oll
ows
other
stothel
ounge.

Atlonglast
,whenevery
thi
ngisdoneanddusted,a
shortgi
rli
nastyl
ishhead-
wrapandtea-
lengt
hdress
walksinwit
hacoupleofshoppi
ngbags.
“Oh,hel
l
o.”Ther
e’sali
tt
lefr
ownonherf
ace,
li
keshe
needsanintr
oducti
onorsomet
hing.
“
Hi,
”Nomkhosi
say
s.
Theyst
areateachot
herf
oramoment
.
“
I’
m TemaDube,
Nkonzo’
sfi
ance,
”shesay
s.
“
Phelo’
smother
.”That
’saf
itdescr
ipt
ionf
ornow,
j
ustPhel
o’smot
her.
“Ni
cetomeetyou,
”Temasay swit
hasmi
l
e.“
Your
daught
eri
sbeauti
ful
,Il
oveher.
”
“She’
sal i
tt
lepri
ncess,abi
thandf ulbuthardnotto
miss.”TheybothshareabriefchucklebeforeTema
announcesthatshe’sgoi
ngt ochangeinNkonzo’s
bedroom.May beit
’shertr
ickofdisappearing,
who
knows!

Nomkhosi di
shesformeninthekit
chenand
preparesThakasa’
sspecialt
ray.I
t’
sawkward
walkingint
oar oom ofmourningmen.I
nsteadof
pull
ingtablesandspendi
nganext r
aminuteint
heir
presence,sheleav
esThakasa’str
ayonthetabl
e.
Theythankher,
butnoneofthem l
ooksurpr
ised.I
t’
s
l
iketheyexpect
edhertoser
vethem,asifit
’sher
dutyanyway.
“Weshoul dcompileagrocer
yli
st.
”It
’sTema,
peepingthroughthecupboar
dsinthekit
chen.She
didn’
tdisappear.
“May
beyoushoul
daskNothi
l
ebecauseI’
m cl
uel
ess,
andI
’ml
eavi
ngtoday
,”Nomkhosi
says.
“Idon’
tthi
nkleavi
ngisagoodi dea.Khany
oisonl
y
comingonFriday,Idon’
tknowifMai sgoi
ngto
all
owMaNt usitobeinthekit
chen.”
“MaKhumal
oisonthemattr
essandthi
sisn’
tabout
her
.Peopl
eneedtobetakencar
eof.
”
“
Exact
lywhyy
oushoul
dst
ay,
”Temasay
s.
“Youdon’
tknowhowdr amati
cmyf amilycanbe.I
’
ll
bebackforthefuner
al.
”Bef
oreshecanswal l
owher
l
astword,Thakasacl
earshi
sthroatbehi
ndthem.
“
Ineedagl
assofwat
er,
”hesay
s.
Temaquicklyf
indssomethi
ngt
odobyt hesi
nk.
Nomkhosiremainsonthesamespot,
witha
di
shcl
othinherhands,l
ooki
ngathi
m.
Hi
seyeskeepgoi
ngtoherandbacktoNomkhosi
.
Hewantshert
ogetwat
erforhi
m, i
nst
eadofhi
m
aski
nghi
sbr
other
’sf
iancet
ost
epasi
def
rom t
he
si
nk.
Shefinal
lyget
sitandtakestheglassfr
om hi
shand.
Temal ooksuncomfort
able,maybebecause
Thakasaisadiff
erentver
siontoday.
Het
akest
hegl
assf
rom Nomkhosi
.
“Isentsomeonet
ogety
ourcl
othesi
nWat
erway
s,”
hesay s.
“What
?Yousai dI
’l
lbeher
eunt
ilyoucomebackand
nowyou’vecomeback.Mymotherdoesn’
tev
en
knowthatI’
m her
e.”
“Weneedy ouaround,
”hesaysandl eavesbefor
e
shesay ssomethi
ng.That‘
we’soli
difi
eswhat
Nothil
etoldherear
li
er.I
t’
shim andeveryone,
he’s
notjustThakasaathome.

I
ndeedamanshedoesn’ tknowarri
veswit
hher
bags.It
’sal
it
tl
euncomfort
abletoknowthataman
hadanaccesstoherwardrobeandevenpicked
underwearf
orher
.Coul
dn’tThakasacal
lSnaloand
askhertobri
ngherbags?Okay,shewoul
d’ve
ref
usedbecausei
t’
sThakasa,butthi
sdoesn’
tmake
anysense.
Aft
ertal
ki
ngwit
hthemanforafewmi nut
es,
Thakasawal
ksi
nandtakesherbags.
“
Come,”he’
sleadinghert
oaguestbedroom.She’
s
t
ir
ed,
fedupandl ongi
ngaglassofwine.
Thewar dr
obeisfil
ledwit
hsleepi
ngblanket
s.He
takesthem outandpil
esthem ontopofthe
wardrobe.
“
Arey
ougoi
ngt
owor
ktomor
row?
”heasks.
Hewant
shert
osayno.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“You’
ll
sleephere.
”Hel ooksather,
tryi
ngtoreadher
facebutitr
emainscalm.Buty ouneverknowifher
calmisreal
lycalm orshe’
sjustcal
mt olookcal
m.
“I
’
llsl
eepwit
hBandl
aandNkonzo.Ar
eyougoi
ngt
o
beokay?”
Real
ly
,someonepassedon,
ever
ythi
ngf
eel
sheav
y,
peopl
earecr
ying.
“
No,
”shesay
s.
“Mawande’
sroom i
snextt
othi
sone.AndI
’
llbea
phonecal
laway.
”
Sheki
cksof
fherpush-
onsandt
hrowsher
sel
finbed.
“I
’
mt i
red,”shesay
s,cl
osi
ngherey
esandi
nhal
i
nga
deepbreath.
Thakasamassagesherf oot,“
Iappr
eciat
eyoubeing
here.IknowI’
vewr ongedy ourpar
entsbybri
ngi
ng
youher e,
butI
’l
lrecti
fythat.
”
“
Thakasawhaty
ousai
dearl
ierdi
dn’
tsi
twel
lwi
thme.
Whatarey
ouupto?
”sheasks.
“Someonehast opayf orthis.Ibheshunembat ha
kuzohlal
aphansi f
rom today .Thiswast helastst
raw,
nowy oumesswi t
hmyf amily,Idowhatanyman
doesoutt here.I’
m donebei ngki nd-heartedand
alwayswilli
ngt oli
sten-let
ti
ngt helawt akeits
course.Theyki l
ledmyl i
ttl
ebr other,I’
m goingt opay
anyamountt ofindthem bef orethepol i
cedo. ”
Shesi
ghs,
“Whycan’
tyoupaysomeoneelset
odoi
t?
Whydoyouhavetogetbl
oodi
nyourhands?”
“BecauseMakaPhel o,Iwanttoseeeachandever
y
oneoft hem t
aketheirl
astbreath.Iwantmyf
acet
o
bethelastthi
ngtheyseebef oretheydie.
”
Hismindismadeupandshecan’ treal
lyblamehim.
Ifi
twasherbrother,
shewoul d’
veprobablykil
l
ed
someonetoo.Allshecanprayforisthatallt
hese
i
ntent
ionsandthoughtsdon’tchangewhohei s.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER56
KHANYO

I’
m home, cal
l i
trunningawayorwhat ever,
butI’m
heret r
yingtomakepeacewi thwhathappenedt o
Sqalo.Ihadt hislingeri
ngf eeli
ngofgui l
tthatI
neededt ogetr i
dof ,
throughpr ay erandmedi tati
ng.
TodayIpr omi sedBandl athatI ’dbewi thhim, t
o
suppor tandgr ievewithhim, butsomet hinghas
comeup.Mandul owasadmi tted, Iunderminedthe
amountofst r
esshewasgoi ngt hrough.Justashe
washeal i
ngfrom Thobeka’ sscandal s,hediscovered
thathehasasonandhe’ sgotnor i
ghtoverhim.
Todayhe’ sbei ngdischarged, asmuchasIwantt o
beasuppor ti
vegi rl
fr
iend,mybr otherhast ocome
fi
rst,he’sgotnooneel sebesi deme.
Icleanhisroom andcooklunch.MaybeIhaven’
t
beensuppor t
iveenough,i
t’
sbeenMEf ormonths
andmont hs.He’shadtonursethespeci
alchil
dand
disregar
dhisownpr oblems.
There’
sacardr i
vi
ngin,whi
chissurpr
isi
ngbecause
Manduloisinnoconditi
ontodri
ve.OrI’
m
exaggerat
ing?Igotothewi
ndowandpeept hrough.
Idon’
tknowthecarbutMt hongaont heregist
rati
on
makesmesuspectt hati
t’
sBandl a.I
’
m confused;
whyisheher
einsteadofpr epar
ingforthefuneralon
Sunday?
Iwashalfnaked,
Igrabatowelandwr
api
tov
ermy
chestandgooutsi
detocheck.
He’
snotevenal
lowedtocomeher eashepl
eases.
Hedoesn’
tdoit
.That
’sdi
srespecti
nourcul
tur
e.
Inst
eadofBandl alethu,hisbi gbrot
herstepsoutof
thecar.Ihavenothingagai nsthim, butt
heguy
doesn’tlookfr
iendlyatal l
.May behisfacehurt
sifhe
smiles,helookscold, chancesofMandul oever
seei
nghi ssonar eslim.Hel ooksli
kehe’s
aggressiveinbed….okay ,stopKhany o.
“Hi
,
”thisf
eelssoawkward.Ihav
eonlyatowel
and
bum-shor
t,t
hisi
smyfuturebrot
her
-i
n-l
aw.
Het
akessomet hi
ngfr
om thecarbef
oreheret
urns
mygreet
ing.2Lofwat
erandonewhitecandl
e.
“
SawubonaKaMay
ise,
”hesay
stur
ningbackt
ome.
He’
sheret
oseek?Whydi
dheneedt
ocomeal
lthe
wayfr
om Mandeni
?
Hestandsanddoesn’
tsayany
thi
ng.Iguesshe
want
smet otel
lhim whatt
odo.
“Youcanfoll
owme,
”Isayaf
tercl
ear
ingmyt
hroat
,
unnecessar
il
y.
Hefol
l
owsme.Il
eavehi
mi nsi
detherondav
elwher
e
Idoal
lmypr
ayer
sandconsult
ati
ons.
NowIhavet
odressupandmental
l
yprepar
etosee
acl
ienti
nhi
m,notabrot
herofmyboy
fri
end.
Damn,
Bandl
ashoul
d’v
esai
dsomet
hing.
Ical
lhi
m qui
ckl
y.
“
Babe,
howar
ethi
ngst
hatsi
de?
”Iaskhi
m.
“Good,Iguess.
”He’sbeencalmt hroughoutthi
s.Or
i
si tmewhoexpect edhimtobeat ypi
cal
Bandlal
ethuwhocr i
esandbecomesal lsor
tof
thi
ngswhengoi ngthroughpai
n?I ’
m nothappywith
howhe’shandli
ngSqal o’
sdeath.Iwanthi mtocry,
that’
showhedeal swiththi
ngs.
“
Yourbr
otheri
sher
e,”Isay
.
“
Real
l
y?”Whyi
shesoshocked?
“
Yes,
wit
habot
tl
eofwat
erandwhi
tecandl
e,
”Isay
.
Hesighs,“
Itol
dthem aboutyourdr
eam,Iguesshe
wantstoknowmor e.Hedidn’
ttel
lmeanythi
ng
aboutcomingther
e.”
“
Whati
fMandul
oar
ri
veswhi
l
ehe’
sher
e?”Iask.
“They’
l
l dealwit
hit
.Ican’
tst
ressmy
sel
faboutt
wo
grown-ups,”hesay
s.
Aybo!Mybrotherissick,andti
nycomparedtohis
brot
her.Hewant shi
mt okil
lmybrot
her
.Ifhetr
ies
anyt
hingI’
m cal
lingthecommuni t
yonhim and
sayi
nghe’sathief.
Isaygoodby
eanddr essupfort
heconsul
tat
ionand
pray
er.God,
pleaseguidemethr
oughthi
sone!

Itakemyseatont
hematandl
ookathi
mleani
ngby
thewall
.
“
You’
regood?
”Iaskhi
m.
Hegi
vesmeanod.Hi
sst
arei
sunset
tl
ing.
IopentheBibleandquot eav er
se;“
Isaiah41:
10,Do
notfear
,forIam withyou;donotbedi smayed,f
orI
am yourGod.Iwill
strengthenyouandhel pyou;
Iwil
l
upholdyouwithmyr ight
eousr i
ghthand.”
He’sst
ari
ngatme.Rightnowther
e’snoGodi
nhi
m,
notthr
oughChri
st,
notthr
oughShembe.Hesmel
l
s
bl
oodandhatred.
“
Pleasecl
osey
ourey
es,
andpr
aywi
thme,
”Isay
.
Hedoesn’
tsayany
thi
ng.
Iclosemyeyesandstartpr
ayi
ng.Hedoesn’tpray
along.WhenIopenmyey eshedoesn’
tlookli
kehe
cl
osedhiseyesforasecond.
“
You’
reher
eaboutyourbrot
her
,”Isayst
ri
ki
nga
mat
chandli
ght
inghiscandl
e.
“
Yes,
”hesay
s.
“
Howdi
dhel
eav
ehome?
”
“
Hewentt
ost
udy
,”hesay
s.
“
Real
l
y?That
’ssol
elywhyhel
eft
?”
Hecl
ear
shi
sthr
oatandadj
ust
sonhi
sseat
.
“Ther
ewasaf ightconcer
ninghissexual
i
ty,Matol
d
himtol eaveherhousebutIt ol
dhim notto.But
eventuall
yhel eft,
foundaroom somewher eand
rent
edt hroughouthisgrade12,”hesays.
“
Sohewaskickedoutbyanelder?Someonewhose
v
oicemat
ter
smor ethanany
one’s?”Iask.
Hesi
ghsandnods.
“Therehastobesomewayt obr i
nghim backhome.
Yourmot herhast
oaccepthim backsothathecan
unit
ewi t
hhisancest
ors,
”Isay.
“
Wit
hagoat
?”heasks.
“
Yes,
andopenhear
ts.
”
Henods,
wit
huncer
tai
ntyt
hist
ime.
“
Yourmot hersaidafewdi st
astef
ul wordsthatst
uck
t
otheelders,overandoveragain.Yourf at
hercame
t
otakehisson, t
obenextt ohim andcloserto
r
epri
mand, si
ncehiswi f
econstantlycri
edaboutthe
t
roubl
eshewasget ti
ngfrom Sqalo.”
“
That
’sbul
l
shi
t!Babai
sfucki
ngwi
thus.Sqal
o
i
s…wasonl
y18.I
nal
lthathecoul
dn’
tconsi
dert
hat
?”
Idogetquest
ionsthatIcananswer.Ionl
ydeli
ver
whatIcansee.I’
m notamedium,Icannottake
quest
iontoandtakeanswersfrom deadpeopl
e.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
”thi
sisal
lIcansay
.
“Didhegiv
eyouanycl
uesonwhoki
l
ledmy
brother
?”
Ancest
orsar
enotFBI
s,atl
eastnotwher
eIcome
fr
om.
“
No,
”Isay
.
“
Sohe’
susel
ess?
”
Ican’
tsayt
hataboutmyf
utur
e,l
atef
ather
-i
n-l
aw.
“
Cany
oupr
ayf
ori
t?”heasks.
“
Ican’t
,becauseit
’l
lbeunderyourinstr
uct
ion.I
l
ist
entotheguidanceoftheinnergrandmotheri
n
me.”
He’
snotsat
isf
ied.Maybehecameheret
hinki
ngI’
m
ananswert
oallhispr
obl
ems.Butunf
ort
unatel
yI’
m
not
.
“
You’
reangr
y,”Isay
.
“Yeah.Somanydogst
ogetandnotsomucht
ime,
”
hesay s.
Ther
e’sanothercarcoming.It’
smybr ot
her
’s.Iknow
howitsengi
nesoundsl i
ke, bel
ievei
tornot
.Myhear t
i
sabouttoleapoutofmyt hroat.
“
Wouldyouli
kemetoprayforyout
omakepeace
wi
thever
ythi
ngt
hathashappened?
”Iaskhi
m.
Hechuckl
es,
disbel
i
evi
ngl
y.
“
No,
”hesay
s.
Itakehi
swaterandpr
ayforit
.Iknowhe’snotgoi
ng
touseit
,hewasherefornamesthatIdon’
thave.
“Mi
xitwi
thyourbat
hwat
erandpr
aybef
orey
ou
sl
eep,
”Ii
nst
ruct.
“
Mmmm okay
,”hesay
s.
I
’m wasti
ngmypr ay
erhere.Thi
smanisnotabout
themani nheav
enorhisancest
ors,
he’
soverthem,
he’sdone.
“
Trav
elsaf
ely
,”Isay
.
I
nwardly,
I’
m prayi
ngthatMandulohasgonetohis
room.Idon’
twantthem tomeethere.MaNtusi
needstobepresentt
osor touthermess,
notme.

Heputshisshoesonoutsidethedoorandwalks
away.Ishoul
dbehav i
ngamomentofsi lence,buti
t
soundsli
kether
e’ssomethinggoi
ngonout si
de.
Mandulowasdr oppedof fbyoneofhi sf
riends.They
weresayingt hei
rgoodby eswhenThakasast epped
outofther ondavel
.From pict
ures,Londalooksl i
ke
hisbi
ologicalfat
her,i
tdoesn’ttakelongforThakasa
toknowwhohe’ slookingat.
Hegoesst
raightt
ohi
m.Iwantt oscream f
orhelp,
butt
henIr
ememberthatmybr otheri
ssti
llaman
andhe’
dwantmet ol
ethim handl
ehisownshit.I’
l
l
j
ustwai
thereandwatch.
“
Mandul
o,r
ight
?”heasks.
Mandulonods.He’
sapologeti
c,he’sbeenf r
om the
dayhefoundout.Mybrotherwouldn’
tintenti
onall
y
dest
royanotherman’
smar ri
age,i
twasj usta
momentofweakness.
“
Let
’st
alk,
out
sidet
hey
ard,
”Thakasasay
s.
Don’
tbest
upi
d,Mandul
o,hewant
stobeaty
ou!
“I
’m notwel
l
,canwet al
kwhenI’
m okay
.Manqel
e,I
nevermeanttodi
srespecty
ou.
”
“
Outsi
det
hey
ard.Youdi
dn’
tpost
ponef
ucki
ngmy
wi
fe.
”
WTF!WhyisMandul
oput
ti
ngdownhi
sbag.I
she
outofhi
smind?
“Mandulo,
got
oyourroom!”Isoundli
keanol
d,
div
orcedwomanst
ruggli
ngtoraiseki
dsal
one.
Theybot
htur
nandl
ookatme.
“
He’
ssi
ck,
”Isay
.
“
It
’sf
ine,
Makhany
i.
”
Fi
ne,where?He’
slostsomuchweight
,onepunch
fr
om thi
smanhe’dbeont hegr
ound.Unl
essifhe
pl
anstopullhi
m byhisbear
d.

I
’mfol
l
owi
ngthem.Ineedt
oseewhathe’
sgoi
ngt
o
dot
omybrot
her.
Andt hisfri
end,
he’sdri
vingaway?I’
dnev erkeep
fri
endsl i
kehim,ify
outouchoneofmyf ri
endsyou’
re
touchingme.Idon’tcarewhattheydid.He’sa
cowar d!
“
Makhany
i!
”Mandul
otur
nshi
sheadandscol
dsme.
I
’m notgoi
nganywhere.Thakasamadev owswith
hi
swi f
e,Mandul
odidn’towehim anyl
oyalt
y,he’
s
fi
ghti
ngthewrongperson.
“You’
vebeenpl
ayi
nghappyf
ami
l
ieswi
thmywi
fe?
”
heasks.
“
Idi
dn’
t.Iwast
her
eforababy
.”
“
Whosebaby
?”heasks.
Si
l
ence.
“
I’
m aski
ngyouaquest
ion.
”Ihat
ehi
m!Can’
thesee
t
hatmybrot
heri
ssorry
?
“
Mybaby
,”Mandul
osay
s.
“Imar
ryawifeandyoumakebabi
eswi
thher
.What
am I
?Yoursponsor
?”
“
Itwasami
stake,
”Mandul
osay
s.
“
How?Youfell
ontopofherandyourcl
othes
mir
acul
ousl
ypeel
edof
f?”heasks.
Mandul
odoesn’
tsayany t
hing.Iwanttosnat
chhim
awayandansweral
lthesequestionsonhisbehal
f.
“Irespectmybrot
her’
sgi
rl
fr
iendandherhome,
that’
stheonlyr
easonwhyI’
m beingci
vi
land
decidedtohavethi
sconv
ersati
onoutsi
dethey
ard.
”
Mandul
onods.Fort
hatIdon’
that
ehi
mthatmuch,
he’
snotbeat
ingmybrot
her.
“IloveLondokuhl eandIlovemywi fe.Icanmake
sur ethatyounev ersetafootnearthem.Butf or
Londa’ ssake,I
’l
l al
lowyoutohav ear el
ati
onship
withhi m.Str
ictl
ywi thhi
m.You’reluckythatyour
sisterisabouttobecomeoneofus, youcango
throughher ,i
nsteadofme. ”
“Doesthatmeanhe’
l
ltakemysur
name?
”Mandul
o
asks.
“
I’
m st
il
ltr
yingt
ogai
nhi
ssi
ghtbackandyouwant
metoevokemoredr
amawi
ththestupi
dancest
ors?
”
I
’
m cr
ingi
ng!YesIgett
hathi
sfat
herdi
sappoi
nted
hi
m,butt
hat
’snotawayt
otal
k.
“
I’
m sor
ryabouty
ourbr
other
,”Mandul
osay
s.
“
Thanks.
”
Ir
eleaseasighofrel
ief
.Itcoul
d’v
ewentleft
,fora
momentitdid,butt
hankstome, thebr
other
’s
gi
rl
fri
end,nothi
nghecti
chappened.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER57
THAKASA

Fort hef i
rsttimei nhi slif
ehe’ snotwor riedabout
howt hef amilyis,ori ft
hear rangement sfort he
funer alarepr oceedi ngwel l
,orhowhi ssi blingsar e
holdingup.He’ saway ,crashinginhot elsandhol di
ng
pri
v atemeet ingswi thpr i
vateinvest i
gat ors.He
hasn’ tseenPhel oint hreeday s,i
tf eelsl i
keal i
fetime,
hehasn’ tspokent oneitherMaNt usi norNomkhosi .
Nkonzohadt ofetchPhet hyandhandl eev erything.
Thakasai snott her e,he’snotcalling, buryingadead
Sqal oisnott hatmuchofapr i
ori
ty.Whatmat ters
ri
ghtnowi sthateachandev eryheadt hatwas
i
nv olvedi nthemur derofhi sbr otherischopped.And
he’sjustast epcl oserintofindingt hem.
There’
sagr oupofstudentsthatharassedSqal oand
hisfr
iendsforquit
esomet imeatt hei
rpl aceof
resi
dence.Buttheywerejustbeingkids,bully
ing
eachothertofeelbet
teraboutthemsel ves.Hecan’t
possibl
yhuntdownagr oupof18y earoldsandkil
l
them.Andt heydidn’tkil
lSqal
o,theywer eall
atthe
campusont hedayofhi sdeath.Iftherewasany one
whocoul danswerhal fofthei
rquest ionsitwould’
ve
beenNdl azi,thesecurit
yguardt hatsawSqal o’s
everymov ement .Butsur pr
isi
ngly,her esi
gnedtwo
daysafterthei ncidentanddisappear edintothi
nair
.
Orsohet hought .

Theygothimj ustashesett
ledbacki
nhisvi
ll
age,
abouttostartanewj obast
hesecuri
tyguar
dinone
ofthehighschoolsinthear
ea.Hehadsome
explai
ningtodo.
Notev
enoncehadThakasat
houghthe’
dti
eaman
ol
denought
obehisfat
heronthechai
r.
Herol
l
shissleev
esuptohisel
bowsandpull
shi
s
ownchai
r.HehasNdl
azi’
sphoneinhand.
“Mybrot
herleftthebuil
dingat9:17,youwereon
dutyt
hatmor ning,andat9:19youwer emakinga
phonecal
ltot hisnumberthatdoesn’texi
stanymor
e.
Twodayslatery ouhandedov eryourresi
gnat
ion
aft
ernotshowi
ngupforwor
k.Car
etoexpl
ainwhy
you’
rebei
ngshady
?”
“
Idi
dn’
tki
l
l t
heboy
.Ihav
enot
hingt
odowi
thi
t,
”
Ndl
azi
says.
“
You’
reansweri
ngthequesti
onwrongl
y.Iaskedwhy
y
ou’
rebeingshady
,”Thakasasay
s.
“
Ihadpl
anstorelocatebackint
hevi
ll
ageandwor
k
l
ocal
l
y.Ther
e’snothingshadygoi
ngon.
”
“
Whower
eyoucal
l
ing?
”Thakasaasks.
Heopenshi
smout
handst
utt
ersf
orami
nut
e.“
My…
mycousi
n.”
“
Whydidyourcousi
ndestroyhissi
m car
d
i
mmediat
elyaft
ermybr ot
her’
sdeath?Whatdi
dyou
t
wotal
kabout?”Thakasa.
“Idon’
tknow.I
tmust
’vebeenacoi
nci
dence,
”he
says.
Thakasal
eavestheroom.Hewantstoscream,
buti
t
wouldbeawasteoft i
me,t
here’
sanumberofmen
campingout
sidethi
sabandonedhouse.
Hecomesbackwi
thacl
eav
er.He’
sdar
kert
han
usual
,hi
seyesarebloodshot
.Hekeepswi
ping
sweatonhi
sforeheadwithhi
sarm.
Het
akesNdl
azi
’
sshoeof
f,t
hel
eftone.
“
Youmov
e,Imi
ssandy
oupay
,”hesay
s.
“
No,no,no!IswearIdi
dn’
tdoanyt
hing,
”Ndl
azi
cri
es
whenhereali
zeswhat’
saboutt
ohappen.
Thakasashutshi
seyeswit
hhisjawstight
ens.He’
s
neverkil
l
edbefor
e,he’
sonl
yslaught
eredagoatand
acow, notawhol
ehumanbeing.
“Whatwast hecall
aboutNdlanzi?
”He’ sgi
vinghim
onelastchance.Heknowst hatNdlanzidi
dn’tdo
much, heonlyhel
pedtheresponsibl
eones.
“
Iwascalli
ngmyf r
iend,aski
nghimtobri
ngme
l
unch.
”He’schangi
ngt hestor
y.Heneedsal
it
tl
e
moti
vat
ion.
Thakasabi
teshisli
pandl i
ft
sthecl
eaverup.I
tcuts
twoofNdlanzi
’
st oes,
bloodspil
lal
lov
erhispant.
“Shit!
”hecursesandthrowsdownthecl
eaver
.No
kil
lertr
iest
owi pethei
rpant
sbeforet
heyevenki
l
la
person,buthedoes,hecan’
tstandNdl
azi
’sbl
oodon
hi
sexpensi
veG-
StarRawj
ean.
“Areyougoi
ngt
otal
korwhat
?”heasksaf
terwi
ping
hispant
s.
He’
sst
il
ltr
yingt
odeal
wit
hpai
n.He’
scr
yingl
i
kea
l
it
tl
eki
d.
“Dropnames,Ndl
anz
i,
”Thakasasay
spi
cki
ngt
he
cleav
eragai
n.
“Theypr
omi
sedmeaj
obi
nexchangeofhi
ssoul
,
”he
says.
Thakasa’
sjawtight
ens.Hi
sbr
otherdi
edf
orabl
oody
secur
ityguar
djob.
“
Names!
”hesay
sinal
mostwhi
sper
.
“
InnocentMav
undl
a.”
Everythi
ngstops.Hisbrai
n.Hisheart
.Innocent
Mav undla?That’
sMpilo’
suncle,someoneSqalo
consideredhisownuncleaswel l
.He’sli
kefamil
yto
them, ev
enwhent hekids,Sqal
oandMpi l
o,
misbehav edi
npr i
maryschoolthey’
dlogheadswith
himt odisci
pli
nethem.
“
He’
sthepr
inci
pal
,ri
ght
?”Thakasaasksaf
tera
mi
nut
eofzoni
ngout
.
Ndl
anzii
sint
oomuchpai
n,t
hequest
ionwentov
er
hi
shead.
Thecl
eav
ercut
sbetweenhi
sfor
ehead.Ascr
eam
fol
l
owsandonegunshot
.
Thakasaf al
l
sonhi skneesinf rontofadeadman
andcr i
es.Hisf
athermadehi m dot his.Hewasa
goodsonal mosthiswhol eli
fe.Hedi dwhattheytol
d
himt odo.Heabidedbyt hei
rr ulesandput
everyone’
shappinessfir
st.Thisi showManqel e
thankshim?Afterrai
singhistwi nsf oreighty
ears,
he’staki
ngoneoft hem insuchacr uel way.
He’smadehim someonehe’snot,becausefrom
herehe’
shunt
ingdownI nnocentandeveryonehe
senttodohi
sdirtywor
k.
.
.

MaKhumaloalmostl
osthermind.Thakasa,outof
si
xofthem,hasal
waysbeenthemostl evel
headed
one.Heknowswhatt odoandwhatnot.He’
sthe
onewhoi nsti
ll
stheManqelecustomsandrul
esint
o
others.Him disappear
ingf
ordaysbefor
ehisl
it
tl
e
brother’
sf uneral
didn’
tmakesense.
Butt
odayhe’sher
e,andhopef
ull
yhe’
sgotadamn
goodexpl
anati
onwhyhe’sonl
yhometoday.
“
MaKhumalo,si
tst
il
l,
youcannotr
aiseyourv
oiceon
t
hematt
ress,
”oneofthenei
ghbor
st el
l
sher.
Shesits,
butshe’snotletti
nggo.NotafterThakasa
disr
espectedherli
kethis.Shesendsforhimtobe
call
ed.
Bandl
aisthattheyoungestboynow, andthemost
emoti
onalone,ifi
twashim whopul l
edthesest
unt
s
maybeeveryonewould’
veunderstood.
“Yey
iwena,wherehav
eyoubeen?
”sheexpl
odesj
ust
asThakasawalksi
n.
Hedoesn’ tanswer.Hescratchest
hesideofhisface
andstaresatt hesheetpul
ledoverSqal
o’scl
othes
thatawaithisbody.
“
Iaskedy
ouaquest
ion.Yourbr
other
shav
egonet
o
fet
chthebody,
andy
ou,
theel
dest
,isnowher
etobe
seen,
”shesay
s.
Thakasatur
nshi
sey
est
oher
.Theybl
eednot
hing,
buthatr
ed.
“
Youkickedmybr
otherout
,”hesay
s,cal
mert
hanhe
l
ooks.
“Ididn’
t.Sqal
ov i
sit
edhomewhenev erhewant
ed,
”
MaKhumal odefendsher
selfbuthereyesar
e
paintedwithsuddenguil
t.
“
Youkickedhi
m outbecausehewasgay
.Yousai
dit
wi
thyourownmouth,Ma!”
“
Iwasangr
y,”shesay
s.
“Youkeptsayi
ngit.Youknewwhatyouweredoing.
Hecarri
edyourcursesonhisback.Wearehere
becauseofyou.Youcall
edfort
hedeathofyourown
son.”
MaKhumal ostar
tscry
ing.Ev
eryonei
squiet
,
probabl
yrecor
dingthewholeci
rcuswit
hmental
camerasforhotvil
l
agegossip.
“
Sqal
otur
nedmei
ntoaj
oke.Iwasnev
erabad
parentt
ohim.Iraisedallofyouther ightway .My
heartbl
edforhim, Icr
iedeverynight.
”Shewi pesher
facewit
hascar fandlooksatThakasa, “Unti
l y
ou
haveachil
dthatchoosest oliveaf orei
gnl i
fethatno
oneinyourbloodl
inehasev erli
ved, t
heny oucan
comebackandpr eachtome. ”
“
Soy
oudon’
tregr
eti
t?”Thakasaasksi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.
“Sqal
owasmyson, youdon’
tknowhowmuchpain
I
’m goi
ngt hrough,youdon’
thaveasont
hathasy
our
bloodrunningthroughhi
sveins.
”
Hesi
ghs.Whydi
dheforgethowthi
swomani
s?
Nowthi
sisacompet
it
ionofsons.
“Sqal
owaslikeasontome.Iknewhi m moret
han
you.I
nfact
,Iknowallyourchi
ldr
enmor et
hanyou
do.Al
lyoudoiscontr
ol ourl
iv
es,not
hingel
se!
”
“You’r
eaccusi
ngmeofbei
ngabadmother
,Thakasa?
AfterIrai
sedy
outot
hist
all
,st
upi
dmanyouare
today.”
“
Oh,
I’
m st
upi
dnow?
”
Nkonzowal
ksi
nandt
apsThakasa’
sshoul
der
.He’
s
exhaust
ed,
phy
sical
l
yandemot
ional
l
y.
“
Please,
don’
tdot
his,
”hebegs.
“She’
scall
ingmestupid,
”Thakasasay
swi
thaf
rown
onhisface.Todayhe’
sstupi
d.
“Weneedyouout
side,
”Nkonzosay
signor
ingt
he
stupi
dar
gumentbetweenthem.
“No,t
hiswomani scal
li
ngmestupidaft
ereverythi
ng
I
’vedoneforher
.”Hesoundsandlooksdiff
erent.
TheThakasaeveryoneknowswouldnevercallhi
s
ownmot her“
thi
swoman. ”
“Mt
honga,
uncl
eiswai
ti
ngf
orusout
side,
”Nkonz
o
say
s.
Onlyt
henhet
akesast
epback,buthe’
sst
il
l
fr
owningl
i
kehewant
stoknockMaKhumalodown.
NkonzogoestoMaKhumal otohaveawordwithher
.
Sqalo’
scof
fi
ncannotbet akeni
nsi
detheyardbef
ore
MaKhumaloletsevery
thi
nginherhear
toutand
welcomeshim backhomeasherson.
Ther
e’saphoneri
ngi
ng.Mpil
o’smot
herqui
ckl
yget
s
upandgoesoutsi
detoanswer.Ami
nutel
ater
t
her
e’sapi
erci
ngscr
eam out
side.
Afewwomenr ushouttocheckonher
.Itcan’
tbe
t
hatshe’
sst
il
lcryi
ngforSqalo.
“UmntakaMa!
”she’
shy
ster
ical
.Someonehaski
l
led
herbr
other
!
Thakasai swalki
ngaroundthekraalwit
hhishands
tuckedinhispocket.Hereachedouttooneperson
he’sjudgedhiswholeli
fe,Bhambatha,
andhemade
suretotieall
hislooseends.
Nkonzomakeshiswayt ohim.Every
onehas
gather
edatthebot
tom oftheyardwher
eagoatand
Sqalo’
scof
fi
nare,exceptThakasa.
“
Baf
o,y
ouhavetocome,
wecan’
tdot
hiswi
thout
y
ou,
”Nkonzosay
s.
“Sqal
oknowst hatIlovehi
m.Idon’tneedtousean
i
nnocentgoattotalktohim whenhe’sdead.I
’
m not
comingther
e,”hesay s.
“
Youdon’
tev
enwantt
oseehi
m?”Nkonzoasks.
“
Idon’
twantadeadpi
ctur
eofhi
mtobet
hel
asti
n
myhead,
”hesays.
“
You’
renotcomi
ng?
”Nkonzo.
Hesi
ghs,
“No.
”
“
Arey
ouokay
?”
Heshr
ugs.
Nkonzost
andssti
l
l.Hi
shear
tisheav
y,hi
m and
Bandl
aneverhadt
odosomuchont hei
rown.
“Malumedidn’
twanthi
mtocomehomet oday
becausehediedbyaweapon,
butIsai
dno,”het
ell
s
Thakasa.
“Youdidwel l
,hedeservesapropersendoff
.Paste
hiswoundswi thumswani andmakesur eTut
udoes
everyt
hingaccordingl
y.
”He’snotsayingi
tnow,but
he’sproudofhowNkonzost eppedupandgot
everyt
hingtogether.

MaKhumal oiscryingagai
n.There’
ssomuchnoi se
i
nt heyard.Thakasagoestohisbedroom andshuts
thedoor.HesawMawande, butdidn’
tseePhelo,
whichmeansKhosi l
eftwi
thher.Hedoesn’teven
havetheenergytocallher
,hejusttext
s;BRINGHER
FORTHEFUNERAL.
Heliesinbedandr el
easesaheavysi
gh.He’
skil
led
al
lofthem, heshouldhavesomesortofr
eli
efnow
buthe’shurti
ngmor ethanever
.
MaNtusiwal
ksi
nafteramoment.She’
scarr
yinga
t
rayoffood,
shecansti
ll
ser
veherhusband.
“
Manqel
e,wher
ewer
eyou?
”sheasks.
There’
snoanswer .He’
slyi
ngonhi sbackwithhi
s
eyesclosed.Buthe’
snotasleep,
hispinkf
inger
keepstappingonhischest
.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”–MaNt
usi
.
She’
str
ulyconcerned.Thi
sti
mesheknowst
hathe
wasn’
twhori
ng, t
hequesti
onis;
wher
ewasheand
whohewaswi th?
“
Comeher
e,”hepul
l
southi
sar
mforMaNt
usi
.
Foramomentshe’shesi
tant.Theyhav
en’
thugged
ordoneany
thi
nginti
matesinceshecameback.
Eventual
lyshecal
mshernerves,cl
osesthedoorand
l
iesinhisembrace.Heopenshiseyesandlooksat
her.
MaNtusidoesn’
trecogni
zeherhusbandinhi
m.I
t’
s
l
ikeshe’
sstari
ngatacompletestranger
.
Hi
slipscomeclosertoher
.Herheartst
art
sbeati
ng
l
oud.Hesmasheshi sli
psonher
,hishandstar
ts
gr
abbingonherwaist.
Shebr eakstheki
ss,“
WaitManqele,we’
renot
supposedt odothi
s,yourbr
other
’sbodyjust
arr
ived.”
“
Please,MaNtusi
,Ineedy
ou,
”hebegsandpul
l
sher
f
oranotherki
ss.
Shecannotr
esi
sthi
m.He’
sgoingt
hroughpai
n,i
fher
bodyi
swhatheneedst
orel
easestr
esssobeit.
Hey anksherpantytothesi
deandsneakshisf
inger
i
nsidehercookie.She’
smoist,
butnotenoughf
or
hi
mt osl
idei
n.
Hecont
inueskissi
ngherandf
inger
ingher.Hisbody
want
sar el
ease,buthismi
ndi
sstil
loccupiedby
manydarkthoughts.
Hestops,
sighsheav
il
yandbur
ieshi
sfaceont
he
pi
l
low.
“
Manqel
e,I
’
m her
eify
ouwantt
otal
k,
”MaNt
usi
say
s.
“
Iwantt
hepai
ntogoaway
.”
“
Giv
eitt
ime,
”shesay
s.
“
Now,
MaNt
usi
.Iwanti
ttogoawaynow!
”hesay
s.
Sheexhalesheavi
lyandkeepsquiet
.Sheknewhe’d
blamehimself,
butshedidn’
tseehischar
acter
changi
ngov erni
ght.He’
sadiff
erentper
son,thel
ook
onhisfaceisscary.
“Whydi
dy oudiscl
osehi
ssexual
i
tyt
oMaKhumal
o?”
Oh,t
hey’
regoingther
enow!
“Whatar
eyoutryi
ngtosay
?”MaNt
usi
askswi
thher
eyebr
owssnapped.
“I
fyouhadgiv
enmet i
met ohandl
eittheri
ghtway
Mawould’v
eunderstood.Shewouldn’
thavekicked
hi
m outandsaidal
lthosehurt
fult
hings,
”hesay s.
MaNt
usi
chuckl
esi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.
“
Soshe’
snotr
esponsi
blef
oranythingt
hatshedi
d,
I
’
mtheonewhocausedalloft
his?”sheasks.
“
Homosexual
i
tyi
sfor
eignt
ous,
shedi
dn’
tneedt
o
fi
ndouti
nthemiddl
eofthekit
chen,
ther
ecoul
d’v
e
beenabet
terwaytoexpl
aini
t.
”
“Soyou’
resay
inghe’
sdeadbecauseofme?
”she
asks.
“Whydidyout
reatt
hem t
hatwaybecausey
ouwere
al
socheati
ngonme?Whydi dyoumakea17year
oldsuf
ferf
ormysins?
”heasks.
She’sstunned!Nowhe’sgoingtobri
ngupthepast
?
Shedidallthatwhi
leshewasstill
hurt,
andshe
nevercheatedonhimforanyspecifi
cperi
od,i
t
happenedonceandshef ell
pregnant.
“
Mysoni
ssuf
fer
ingf
ormysi
nst
oo,
”shesay
s.
“
It
’snott
hesame.He’
snotdead.Sqal
ois,
”hesay
s.
“
Sowe’
ref
ight
ingnow?
”sheasks.
“No.Whatdidy
oucook?”Hechangest
hesubj
ect
andscr
atcheshi
shead.
She’
snotcomfor
tabl
e.Nowt
hismani
str
yingt
opi
n
hert
oSqalo’
sdeath.
“
We’
remov
ingoutaf
tert
hef
uner
al,
”hesay
s.
Herey
eswi
den.Saywhat
?!

(I
fyouorder
edBabyMomishandhav
en'
treci
evedi
t
ki
ndlyhal
aatmeon0637108652)

.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER58
MPI
LO

He’sanemot i
onalwreck.Beforetheystart
eddoi ng
thi
ngst heirbodieswantedt odo, t
heywer ebest
fri
ends.From l owerpri
mar ygradesthroughouthigh
school,theywer eti
ght.Hewashi s“Nt
wana”bef or e
hewasal ov er
.Asmuchasnobodycanbel i
evehi m,
thei
rbreak- uptorehishearttoo.Hehadt odistance
himselffrom Sqaloforthesakeofhi sinheri
tance.
Yes,hechosemoneyov erhi
st r
uth.
He’slosthi
suncleaswel l
,i
nthemostcruel way.
Sqalowould’v
ecomf or
tedhimt hr
oughthisgrief,
but
he’
snother ebecausei
t’sthedayofhi
sf uneral.
Hear r
ivesinadust ypi
nksuit
,ev ent
hought hey
nevercross-dressedSqalostil
lli
kedfashi
onati ts
fi
nest.Theywer en’tonbesttermswhenhepassed
on,butbothi ntheirhear
tstherewerenohat red
nested.Cir
cumst ancespulledthem apart
,Mpi l
ohad
tochoose,hechoset heinheri
tancehi
sbiological
fat
herl
eftint
hehandsofhisuncl
e,forhimtobe
abl
etogot ouniv
ersi
tyandkeephi
smot her
fi
nanci
all
ysustai
ned,hehadtobr
eakthingsof
f.

Thakasast opshim bef

oreher eachest
hetent
.While
allhi
ssi bl
i
ngsaresmar t
lydressedfort
hei
rbrother
’s
funeralservi
ce,
he’sinbaggyjeansheworewhenhe
repai
nt edhismother’
sroom, andanunbut
toned
short
- sl
eevedshir
t.
“
Whatbr
ingsy
ouher
e?”heasksgl
ari
ngatMpi
l
o.
Sqalobledt
ohisbr other.Thakasawasthescari
est
tocomeoutt oabouthi ssexuali
ty,y
ethebecame
themostunderstandingone.Heknowsev erythi
ng
thatwentdownint heirr
elati
onship.
“
Ilov
edSqal
o,”Mpi
l
osay
s.
Thakasa’
sst
areremai
nsgl
uedonhim.Hebreaksa
chuckl
eandlet
samomentofheavysi
lencepass.
“
Leav
e,”hesay
sinasl
ow,
deepv
oice.
“
Bhut’Thakasa,
please,
Ijustwantt
osaygoodby
e
f
orthelastti
me,”Mpil
obegs.
“Mpilonhl
e,l
ist
ent
omewhenItal
ktoyou,
don’
t
pushmet odosomethi
ngIhav
enoint
enti
onsof
doing.Ungangi
qal
i
!”
Mpiloexhalesheavi
ly,
glancesinsidethetentand
seest hecoff
inwit
haf uneral
wr eathontop.Tears
burnhi sey
es,notevenoncehadheev erthought
he’
dl oseSqalothi
sway .
“CanIsaygoodby
e?”hebegs,
tear
srunni
ngdown
hischeeks.
“He’sdead.Hedoesn’ttal
k,hedoesn’thear,he
doesn’tfeel
,hedoesn’tt
hink,
hedoesn’ tt
aste.You
hadachancet osaywhateveryouwantt osaywhile
hewasst i
ll
ali
ve,butyouchosetobreakhisheart.
Nowl eavebeforeImakey ouleavewithyourjaw
broken,”Thakasasays.
Hesnif
fsandwipeshisface,
hishearti
sbroken,
but
hehastoacceptt
hathe’
snotwel come,andnot
di
stur
bSqalo’
sfuner
al.

Theygoonwi
thouthi
m.Hesitsunderthet
reeshade,
afewyar
dsawayfrom t
hecemeter
y,andwatches
asmendi smantl
ethecof f
inandlowerdownhi
s
bodydownt othegrave.Theyfi
l
luphisgrav
eli
ke
they
’dbeenwaiti
ngf orthi
sdaytocome.
Hebi teshi
shandt osil
encehissobs.They’r
e
dispersi
ngfrom thegrave,l
eavi
ngSqaloallal
onei n
hi
sgr ave.He’l
lneverseehim agai
n.He’l
lnevergeta
chancet oexpl
aintohim whyhehadt okeep
distance.I
twasn’tover,
notforgood,hewould’ve
gonebackt ofixthi
ngswi t
hSqaloaftergr
aduating.
Hehast ocr yhereandmakesur ehereleasesallthe
pain,becausewhenheget sbackhomehe’ l
lhavet o
pullhimselftoget
her.Hadheknownt hathisuncle
woulddi esosoon, hewouldn’thavebrokenthings
offwithSqalo.Nowhi sinher
itanceautomat i
call
y
goest ohismot herandhe’slostSqal
o.
I
twasal
lfornot
hing!
.
.
THAKASA

Mostrelat
iveshavel
eft,
exceptf orafewaunt swho
arel
ingeri
ngaroundforgossip.Nkonzor etur
ned
backtowor kwit
hTemat ot empor ar
il
yholdthefor
t
whil
eThakasaf i
ndshimselfthroughgrief.
“Soshesitsinherbedr oom andt ext
sherboyfri
ends
onWhasaphut hewholeday ?”oneoftheauntsasks.
She’snotreall
yrelat
edt othem, hermotherhadan
affai
rwit
ht hei
rfather’
sbr other
,becausehewasa
forwardManqel eandst upidinlove,
hetookherinas
hisdaughter.
“No,i
t’
sFacebook.That
’swherealll
oosewomen
fi
ndmen, ”Hl
ezi
phiManqelesays.She’
sthe
daughteroft
hei
rgrandf
athert
hathegotf r
om
Johannesbur
g.
“
Yuu,
Ihopeshedi
dn’
tbr
ingHI
V&Ai
dst
oThakasa.
”
Speaki
ngofthedevil
!Hewal
ksi
n.Hedidn’tsleepat
homeagain.Hestandsbyt
hedoorandstaresat
them.
“Khehla,
wherewereyou?”MaKhumal oasksgett
ing
offthecouch.She’
sbeenwor r
iedsick.Thelastt
hing
shewant sri
ghtnowistoloseanotherchil
d.
“
Arey
oual
lgossi
pingaboutmywi
fe?
”heasks.
Si
l
ence.
“
Okay ,
whyareyouallst
il
lhere?Thefuneral
was
t
hreedaysago.OrImustextendthehouseandbui
l
d
y
our oomssinceyou’
renowmov ingi
n? ”
“
Thakasadon’
tspeakl
i
kethatwi
thy
ouraunt
s,”
MaKhumalosaysi
nshock.
“Theymustpackt heirthingsandgo.Myaunt s
wouldn’ttal
kaboutmywi feli
kethat.
”Hel ooksat
them di
sgust edl
y.“Hleziphihasfourdiff
erent
babydaddies.Zandiledoesn’ tknowwher ehersare.
Ifshepaidat t
enti
ont owhoi mpregnatesherwiththe
sameef fortsheputsi ntomybusi ness,may beshe
would’v
eknownt hef athersofherkids.”
Gasps!
Hlezi
phii
sthef
ir
stonetostorm outoft
hehouse
angri
l
y.She’
sneverbeendi
srespect
edbyachil
dli
ke
t
his,
inherent
ir
eli
fe!
Other
sfi
ndwayt
othei
rsui
tcasesandst
artpacki
ng
aswell
.
MaKhumaloisstari
ngatThakasawithsomuch
di
sappoi
ntment.Theywereheretocomfor
ther
.
“
Khehla,
whati
s….
”Thakasawr
inkl
eshi
snoseand
f
rowns.
“
Don’
tcal
lmet
hat
,”hesay
s.
“Talktoyourmother,what’
sgoi
ngon?We’ reall
goingthroughpai
n,youmaynotbel i
eveitbutwedo.
Buty ou’
reacti
ngdif
ferentf
rom ev
eryone,
”sheasks.
“
Youki
l
ledmybr
other
,that
’swhatgoi
ngon,
”hesay
s.
“I
’m abadmot her,yousaid.Ididn’tr
aisey ouallwel
l
andI’mignorantaboutmoder nt hi
ngs.Kodwa
akekhoumamaof unaukubonai nganey akheibuya
i
lelengomhlanekadei phumei hambangezi nyawo.”
(Butnomot herwant stoseeherchi l
dl eavi
ngonhi s
ownf eetandretur
ninghomel y i
ngonhi sback)
Thepai
nhe’
sfeel
ingbli
ndshi
mf r
om seei
ngot
her
s’
pai
n.Hi
smotherdoesn’
tcar
e,t
hat’
showheseesi
t.
“
I’
mleav
ing,
”hesay
s.
“
Wher
ear
eyougoi
ng?
”
Hedoesn’
tanswer.Hetur
nsaroundandleaves.
MaKhumalosinksdownonthecouchandpr ays
sof
tl
y;“
MaThonga, Ny
azil
wezulu,
pleasekeepmy
chi
l
drensaf
e.”
Rightnowshedoesn’
tcar
ewheretheygoandwho
they’
rewit
h,shej
ustwant
sherchi
l
dr enal
i
ve.

Thakasawal ksint
oMaNt usi
foldi
ngapil
eofhis
clot
hesont hebed.Hehasn’tsl
epthomesincethe
funeral.Hedi dn’
tevensendatext
,sohe’
sexpecti
ng
anythingfrom her.
Hest
andsbyt
hedoorandst
aresather
.
MaNt
usi
li
ft
sherey
es,
“Wher
ewer
eyou?
”
She’
scal
mert
hanheexpect
ed.
“
Yest
erdayIsl
epti
nWat
erway
s,”hesay
s.
Shekeepshereyesonhim.I
fthatwasthecase
Nomkhosiwould’
vetol
dher,
nowt her
e’snoneedf
or
t
hem t
ohi
deany
thi
ngf
rom her
.
“
Whi
chWat
erway
s?”sheasks.
“
Idi
dn’
ttel
lNomkhosi
.Iwant
edt
obeal
one,
”hesay
s.
Shesi
ghsandsi
tsdown.
Thesoftl
ookonherf
aceper
mit
shi
mtowal
kinand
si
tnexttoher
.
“
Let
’sl
eav
etoday
,”hesay
s.
MaNt
usi
frowns.
“Today
?”Theyt
alkedaboutmov
ingout
,butnotso
soonaftert
hef
uneral
.
“
Today
,Idon’
twantt
obeher
eany
mor
e,”hesay
s.
MaNtusisi
ghsandholdshishand.He’sgoi
ng
t
hroughpain,
sheunderst
ands,buttheydon’
twant
t
omakeanymi st
akes.
“Wecannotleavehomeli
kethat
.Weneedyour
mother’
sblessi
ngandtobeaccompani
edbythe
ancest
orsaswell,
”shesays.
“
No,
Idon’
twantt
o…”
“Manqele,
”shecal l
sandThakasast opsandlooksat
her
.“ Sqal
ol ovedy ou.Hetrustedyouwit
hhisli
fe.
Don’tdoany thingthat’
sgoingt omakehimfeelbad
orresponsiblef oryouracti
ons.Rememberhe’ssti
l
l
wit
hus, wej ustcan’ ti
nter
actwithhi
m anymore.
”
“I
’
vedonewor
set
hingst
hanmov
ingoutofhome,
”
hesay
s.
“
Thi
ngsl
i
kewhat
?”Shef
rowns.
Hesi
ghsandpul
l
sherf
orahug.
“Wearenotl
eav
ingt
oday,Manqele,
”shetel
l
shim.
Ther
e'snoar
gui
ngwithherbecauseshehasapoi
nt.
“
Okay,
Iheary
ou.Butwe’
l
lev
ent
ual
l
yleav
e,Iwantt
o
f
ocusonmyfamil
y.
”
“
Whi
chone?
”sheasks.
“Ionl
yhav
eonef
ami
l
y.You,
Nomkhosi
andt
he
kids.
”
Shechucklesandlooksaway
.Hecupsherf
aceand
tur
nsitbacktohim.
“
Imi
ssy
ou,
”hesay
s.
“
Howdoy
oumi
ssmewhenI
’
mri
ghther
e?”sheasks.
“Imi
ssoursimpleli
fe,
beforet hedramaandf ight
s.
Youdidn’
tgiv
emeachi l
d,buty ourpresencegave
mear easontowakeupev erydaywi t
hmyheadhel d
uphi
gh.Whycouldn’tyouseet hat?”heasks.
“
Idi
dn’
twanttodisappointyourmother.Shewant ed
t
obeagrandmother,i
twasanhonort oy ourf
ather
whobl
essedourmar r
iage,
”MaNt usisays.
“Youdidn’
tall
owmet obeme.Younegl ect
edmy
emotional
needs.Iaskedy outoletitgosomany
ti
mes.Itol
dy oui twasokay ,wedidn’tneedachil
d,
butyoucorneredmeev erychancey ougot.You
mademef eell
ikeaf ail
ure,l
i
kewewer en'
tenough,
andIhatedever ymomentofi t
."
Tearsburnherey
es.Shehasababynowt hatshe
neverpl
annedfor
.Shedidn’
tdr
inkanyt
hing,she
di
dn’tsl
eepacertai
nwayorsetdatesoncalendar
s.
I
tjusthappenedf
rom God’
swil
l.
“WhenIwentoutIwashappi
erthanIwaswhenI
ret
urnedhome.Nomkhosiwasn’tgoingt
obe
anythi
ngmorethansomeoneIreleasedst
resswi
th.
Butshegav emesomet hingIwasl ongingf or,
tobe
treat
edl i
keamant hatwasnotanhei rt hatneeded
toproduceachi l
d.Inev erliedt oherandsai dIdidn’
t
l
ov eyou.SoIkeptgoi ngbackt oher ,eventuall
y
feeli
ngsdev eloped, If
oundmy selfcal
linghert osit
andchat ,withnosexi nvolved.I’m surey ou’
veseen
thecar i
ngsideofher ,she’sar eall
ygoodwoman.
Justlikeyou.Bef oreIknewi tIhadcr ushedbot h
yourhear t
s.Idon’ tknowi fy ou’l
leverbecompl et
e
again.I’
m notev ensur ey oust i
lll
ov eme. ”
MaNt
usirel
easesalonghel
dbr
eat
handasks,
“
You’
resureshelov
esyou?”
“
Nomkhosi
?”heasks.
Shenods,
“Yes.
”
“
Ithi
nkshedoes,
”hesay
s.
“Shedi dn’
thaveaf ather.Makesur eyou’
renotfil
l
ing
upacer t
ainvoid.I’
m notsay i
ngt hisasyourwife,but
assomeonewhounder standst hev oi
dofnothaving
apar ent.Nomkhosi doesn’tlooklikesomeonewho
sett
lesf oranythi
ngt hatli
fethrowsather .Butwith
youit’sdiff
erent,morelikeyourpr esenceinherli
fe
r
ubssomet
hingof
fher
.”
Heinhalessharpl
yandpul
lsapi
l
lowt
ohi
slap.He
squeezesitandstar
esatt
hewall
.
Hewoul dn’
tknowwhatt odoi fhediscoversthat
whatNomkhosi hasf orhimisnotr eall
ov e.Alothas
happenedbetweent hem; r
isks,sacri
fi
ces,
chal
lengesandlif
echanges.He' sheretoday,i
nt hi
s
si
tuati
on,becausehef el
linlovewi t
hher .Feel
ings
havetobemut ual,
genuinely.
.
.
NOMKHOSI

Shedidn’tat t
endt hefuner
al.Outofconcern,her
motheradv i
sedhernott osendPheloforthef uneral
.
She’l
lgof orthecl eansi
ngri
tual
swhenev er y
onei s
emot i
onallyokayt olookaft
erher.Obvi
ousl y
,
Thakasadi dn’ttakethatwell
,he’
sgivi
nghert he
si
lenttreatment .I
t’sbeenafewday snow, he’
snot
call
i
ngort exti
ngt ocheckonPhelo.Toav oidlooki
ng
l
i
keadramat
icbaby
mama,
Nomkhosi
hasdeci
ded
t
olethi
m.
Preci
ouscallsf
rom therecepti
on.Shestil
lhasajob
atBantwanaHoldings,t
hankst oSnal
o’stemporary
goodheart.Shebeggedf orhertobegi
v enawri
tten
warni
ng.
“
Someonei
satt
hegat
ewai
ti
ngf
ory
ou,
”shesay
s.
“
Oh, okay.
”Nomkhosifr
ownsandlooksatNdondo
who’sstandi
ngi
nfrontofherwi
thtwosetsof
l
ingeri
ewaiti
ngf
orheropini
on.
“
Someonei
satt
hegat
ewai
ti
ngf
orme,
”shesay
s.
“
Who?Didy oucal
lthesecur
it
ytoconf
ir
mident
it
y?”
Ndondoasks.
“Theywoul
dn’
thavecal
l
edPr
eci
ousi
fther
ewas
somethi
ngfi
shy.
”
“
You’
reri
ght
,Ihopei
t’
snotPhel
o’sf
atherbecause
wehavepl
ans.
”
“I
t’
snotthatone,
he’
snotspeaki
ngtomet
hese
days,
”Nomkhosisay
swithaneyerol
l.
“
Mayi
tst
ayl
i
ket
hatf
orev
er!
"Theybot
hlaugh.I
t’
s
awkwardbecauseNomkhosineverreal
lyl
iked
Ndabukoei
ther,sheonl
ywarmedupt ohimr ecent
ly.
HewasshadyAF, l
yi
ngandpl
ayinghide&seekwi t
h
Fuzeandherfri
end.Nowthetableshavet
urned,she
fel
lforamarr
iedmanandNdondohear snoneofi t.

Thakasa’
scar?Shenearl
ytr
ipsoverherst
il
ett
os.
He’sthel
astper
sonsheexpectedtobeseehere.
Andwhyishenotdrivi
ngin?He’sbeenherebefor
e.
Sheopensthedoorandcl i
mbsi nsi
det
hecarwi
tha
sl
ightfr
ownonherf ace.Nothi
l
esaidhewasn’
t
handli
ngSqal
o’sdeathwell.
“
Hi,
”shesay
swi
thherst
aref
ixedonhi
m.
“
Wher
eisy
ourbag?
”
“
Mybag?
”Shef
rowns.
“
Iwantust
otal
k.”
St
range!
“Iwaswr
appi
ngupaf
ewt
hingswi
thNdondo,
”she
says.
“
MustIwai
tfory
ou?
”heasks.
“Yes,
ormaybey
oushoul
dgohomeandpi
ckPhel
o
upanddri
vebyt
ogetmeaft
erwar
ds.
”
“
Iwanttotal
ktoyou.I
’
m noti
nagoodspacet
osee
ababy
,”hesays.
Nomkhosi
frowns,
“Yourownbaby?Youthi
nk
par
ent
hoodcanbeswitchedonandoff
.”
“
No,
”hesi
ghs.“
Babi
esaresensi
ti
ve.Idon’
twanther
t
opi
ckanybadener
gyf
rom meandgetsi ck.
”
“Okay,giv
emeamoment .”Shedoesn’tunder
stand
hisreasoning,
butshe’
snotgoingt
of orcethi
ngs.

Ndondowalksi
nsi
detheof
fi
ceasshepacksher
l
aptopandsomedocument
s.
“
Whoi
sit
?”Ndondo.
“
Thakasa,
”shesay
s.
“
Whatdoeshewant
?”
“
Idon’
tknow,
hesay
shewant
stot
alk,
”shesay
s.
“
Ihopehe’
snother
etobr
eakupwi
thy
ouf
ort
he
mil
l
iont
ime.”
Thathurt
salitt
le.No,
notali
tt
le,
itreal
l
yhurt
s
becausether
e’sahugechanceofitbei
ngthetr
uth.
She’
sdraggi
ngherselft
ohiscar
.Yes,
theyarenotin
arel
ati
onshi
p,ev
ent houghhe’
stri
edt
opursueita
numberofti
mes.Butshe’snotr
eadyforhi
mt odrop
herl
i
keahotpotatoagain.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”heasks.
Shenods,
“Yeah.
”

Thedr i
vet
oWat er
way sisfi
l
ledwit
hheavysi
lence.
He’sbackwit
hNot hi
l
eandseemi nglyt
hei
rmarriage
i
sst abl
eagai
n.Thewor dshesaidtohert
helast
ti
mehebr okethi
ngsoffstart
sri
ngingi
nherhead.
Heputsherbagont hecounterandf
il
lsagl
assof
wateri
nthesink.Shetakesali
ttl
esi
pandahuge
br
eath.
“
Thakasa,
arey
oubr
eaki
ngupwi
thme?
”sheasks.
Hi
sey
eswi
den.He’
sst
andi
ngbehi
ndt
hecount
er
andst
ari
ngather
.
“
No,
butwe’
renott
oget
her
,howcanIbr
eakupwi
th
y
ou?
”
Sheshrugs,“You’v
edonei tbef
ore,wewerej
ust
fucki
ng,butyou’ddropmeev eryt
imethi
ngswent
smoothiny ourmarriage.
”
Hedropshiseyes.He’
snotpr
oudofi
t,ev
ent
hough
heneverl
i
edt oher.
“
Doy
oul
oveme,
Nomkhosi
?”heasks.
Shefrowns.Thisi
saquest i
onsheexpect
edatall
.
Surel
yhedidn’tbr
ingherheret
opursueherf
ora
rel
ati
onshi
p,ormar r
iage,
sosoonafterhi
sbr
other’
s
funer
al.
“
Whydoy
ouask?
”sheasks.
“
BecauseIwanttoknow, doyouloveme
Nomkhosi
?”He’sstari
ngather,notspar
ingherev
en
amomenttocollecthert
houghts.
“Yes,
Ido,butthatdoesn’
tmeanI’
vedeci
dedon
becomingyoursecondwife,
”shesay
s.
“
Whydoy
oul
oveme?
”heasks.
Asi
gh!
“
BecauseI
’
m st
upi
d,Iguess.
”
Hewal ksaroundthecount
erandpull
shertothe
couchint hel
ounge.Hesit
snexttoherandpull
sher
headtohi schest
.Ther
e’sati
ght,war
m embraceshe
giv
esher .Foramomentshef eel
ssafei
nhisarms,
l
ikethey’
rehome, wher
eshe’dwanttobewhent he
sunsetsdown.
“
Iwantt
osear
chf
ory
ourf
ather
.”
Shel
if
tsherheadupandl
ooksathi
i
m,ey
es-
widen.
Whatdi
dhejustsay?
“
Huh?
”Shef
rowns.
“
IknowIcanfi
ndyourfatherifIputmoneyi
ntoi
t.
Hel
pmesearchforhi
m, please.”
“
Thakasa,helef
tbecausehedidn’
tcare.WhymustI
f
oll
owhim around?He’spr
obablyhappil
ymarri
ed
wi
thotherchi
ldr
enthathelov
es.Idon’tneedhi
m.”
“Youcan’tsayyoudon’
tneedsomethingthatyou’
ve
neverexperi
encedhowit’
sli
ketohave.He’sthe
grandf
atherofmydaughter,
forhersake,
Iwantt o
knowever
yonewhosebl
oodrunsi
nherv ei
ns.What
i
fshegrowsupandmarr
iesoneofyournephews
andyoudon’
tknow?”
Shesighs.Doesi tnotbot herhert
hatshe’snever
seenherbiol
ogical fathereveninpict
ures?Itdoes,
butshepushedi ttot hebackofherhead.Now
Thakasawantst odi gdeepl yi
ntoherli
fe.Phumzile,
morethanany one, hatesdiscussi
ngthisissue.
“
Ilov
eyout
oo,
MaZi
kode.
”
She’srel
iev
edtoheart hi
s,butnotsomuchwhen
sher emembersthathe’snowforci
ngherandher
mot hert
oconfrontthepastandlookf
oramanwho
plantedaseedandleft.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER59
NOMKHOSI

He’snotleav i
ng.He’ssti
llsit
ti
ngonthecouchwi t
h
anempt ypl at
eoff oodinfrontofhi
m.They ’
venever
spenthour stogetherwit
houtPhelosinceshewas
born.Thisisthef i
rstt
imeandshe’ salr
eadyfeel
i
ng
l
ikeabadmom f orspendingtimewithherfat
her
whileshe’snother e.
“
Weshoul
dfet
chPhel
o,”shesay
s.
“
No,”hesighs.“
Ican’
tbear
oundher
.I’
l
lseeher
whenI’
m okay.”
“Iknowyout hi
nkshe’ st
ooy oungtoknowy ouand
real
izewheny ou’renotaround,butThakasat hat
’s
yourdaughter,she’snevergonethisl
ongwi thout
seeingdaddy,Iknowshemi ssesyou,”Khosisays.
“Imisshertoo.Youthi
nkIdon’
twantt
ospendti
me
withmydaught er
?She’
swhatIneedri
ghtnowbutI
can’tbear
oundher .
”
“Why?Youli
vewi
thLondaandhe’
sokay
.It
’snotl
i
ke
ther
e’sadar
kcl
oudoveryou,
youj
ustl
osta
brot
her.
”
“
AndIki
l
led,
”hesay
s.
Nomkhosi st
opsdeadonhert
racks.Thathast
obe
ajoke!Shetol
dhi
m nottodoi
twithhisownhands.
“
Arey
ouser
ious?
”sheasks.
Hesi
ghsandnods.Oh,
hel
lno!
“
Whatdoest
hatmeanf
ory
ou?
”sheasks.
“
Ithi
nkI’m done,wi
thalotofthi
ngs.Thatwast
he
l
astnaili
ntomycoffi
n.RightnowI’
llj
ustfol
l
ow
wherev
erlif
eleadsme.”
Thi
si sheart
breaki
ngforhertohear
,becauseas
muchasshedi dn’
tbenef
itf
rom t
hatsideofhi
m,she
st
il
llovedthedisci
pli
neandchurchgrounded
Thakasa.
“
Whataboutwor
k?”sheasks.
“
Nkonzowi l
ltakeover.I
’
llf
igur
eoutwhatI
’
m going
t
odo,may beapplyforajobsomewhereel
seand…”
Heexhal
esheav i
lyandburieshi
sfacei
nhi
shands.
“Pl
easedon’tfor
getandl
osewhoy ouar e,
”shesays
hol
dinghishandsandkneel
inginfrontofhi
m onthe
couch.“
Idon’twantmydaughternottohaveadad.”
Hel
ooksather
,pai
n-st
ruck.
“Whatabouty
ou?Doy
ouwantt
obewi
thoutme?
”he
asks.
“
I’
vebeenwithoutyoubefor
eandI ’
m sti
ll
standi
ng.I
j
ustdon’
twantmydaught ertoexper
iencethesame
t
hingIexper
ienced,
”shesays.
“
Sowit
hus,wasitev
erathi
ngory
ou’
rej
ustf
il
li
ng
t
hevoi
dofafat
herwithme?”
Herey
eswiden.Shest
andsupandchuckl
esouti
n
di
sbel
ief
.
“Whatmakesy outhi
nkyoucanbeaf at
herfigureto
me,oranythi
ngliket
hat?Youdon’ tsupportme,
ei
therf
inanci
all
yoremot i
onall
y.Youdon’ tt
akecar e
ofmeinany way.Oryouthi
nky ourpenisalonei s
enoughformet ofor
getthatIdon’thaveaf ather?”
sheasks.
That
’st
ouchedt
hener
ve.Hedi
dn’
texpectt
hatatal
l
.
“I
fIneededamant ofil
lthef athervoid,
Iwould’
ve
gott
ensomeonebet t
erthany ou,becauseICANget
himifIwant.You’r
eagoodf athertoyourdaught
er,
butthat
’si
t,you’
venev ertreatedmegoodenough
formetofindsolaceiny ou.”
“Youdi
dn’thav
etoatt
ackme,Ididn’
tmeant
hati
na
badway.IknowthatI
’
m notper
fect,
I’
mfarf
rom i
t,
”
hesays.
“I’
m notat tacki
ngy ou,I
’mjusttell
ingy out hatyou’ve
nev erplayedanyr oleofafather,orev enofa
boy fr
iend,tome.Don’ tthi
nkthere’sav oi
dy ou’r
e
fi
lli
ngi nmyl if
e,youhav eyourowni ssueswi thyour
parent s.Don’tyoudaretrytoactl i
key ou’rebetter
thanmebecausey ouhadbot hparent sgrowingup,
becausei nactualfact
,youraisedy ourselfandtheir
kids.Youal sohav edaddyissues, t
hat ’
swhyy ou’r
e
l
ivingy ourlif
etryi
ngt oimpressamant hat’snot
evenal i
ve.
”
“
Okay
,dr
opi
t.I
’
m sor
ryIment
ionedi
t,
”hesay
s.
Shemumblessomethi
ngunderherbr
eat
handwal
ks
away
.Fur
yiscrashi
ngthr
oughhervei
ns,
bef
oret
his
escal
atesf
urt
her
,sheshoul
dleav
e.
“Nomkhosi
,
”hecal
lsaf
tertheasshegrabsherbag
andty
pessomethi
ngquickl
yonherphone.
“
What
,Thakasa?
”shej
eer
sathi
m.
Hest
andsi
nfr
ontofherandl
ooksatherf
ir
e-bl
azi
ng
ey
es.
“
Isai
dI’
m sor
ry,
”hesay
s.
“
Forwhat
?”sheasks.
“
Forev
ery
thi
ng.
”
Sheroll
shereyesandl
ooksaway.Hehol
dsher
hand,shehat
esandlov
esitwhenhedoesthat
.
“
CanIdr
ivey
ouhome?
”heasks.
“
Ial
readyr
equest
edf
rom Bol
t.
”
“
Cancel
it.I
’
llt
akey
ouhome.
”
Thist
imeshedoesn’
thavemuchtosay.Shecancel
s
theri
deandf
oll
owshim outt
othecar.

Het
akest
heRi
dgesi
deDr
iveexi
t.They
’renot
speaki
ngbecauseshe’
ssti
l
lpissedandhe’
dpr
efer
nottohav
ehisheadbit
tenagain.
“We’
regoi
ngtoGet
away
?”sheaskswhenhet
urns
ont
oMedigat
eRd.
“It
houghty
ouandPhel
omi
ghtneedsomet
hings,
”
hesays.
“
ButIal
way
stel
lyouifPhel
oneedsany
thing.Idon’
t
wantt
ogotost
ores,
Iwanttogohome,”shesays.
“
CanIgety
ousomet
hing?
”
Shef
rowns,
“Why
?”
“
Ijustwantt
obuyy
ousomet
hing,
”hesay
s.
“Youfeel
guil
tybecauseIsai
dyou’
venev
erdone
anyt
hingforme?Really
,youhav
eahugeego.Idon’
t
wantanythi
ng,pl
easedriv
emehome.”
“That
’snotfair
.I’
m ev
ery
thi
ng,
butI’
m notasti
ngy
man,Itakecareofpeopl
einmyli
fe.Youhavenev
er
all
owedmet o.
”
Shepracti
cesherr
ightt
oremai
nsi
l
entandst
ares
outofthewindow.
“Ifeell
ikeyouwantedmet ocommitt
oyoubutnow
thatIwantto,you’
rebackingout.Wasi
tal
lfor
nothing,Nomkhosi
? ”heasks.
“
I’
m backi
ngout
?”Shef
rowns.
“Yes,
youar
e.Whenam Iget
ti
ngmyanswer
?”he
asks.
“Ij
ustfeel
li
keI’m notaManqelewif
emat er
ial
.
That’
snotme; ser
v i
ngpeopl
eonmyknees, dishi
ng
onpersonali
zedplatesandweari
ngscar
fs.”
“Youdidt
hatf
oroneday
, onl
yone!AndIneversai
d
you’
ll
staywi
thmymother,wehaveourownhouse,
you’
dbeexpect
edtobethattypeofwi
feifwe’
re
home.”
“
Butthat
’st
het
ypeofawi f
eyouwant,ri
ght
?That
’s
whyIwasdumpedoverandoveragai
n.”
“You’
remakingexcusesforme.Idon’
thavea
probl
em wit
hhowy ouare,thi
sishowImetandf
ell
i
nl ov
ewithyou.Idon’
twantyoutochange.”
“
Youwantat
radi
ti
onal
weddi
ng?
”.
Hef
rowns,
“That
’st
heonl
yweddi
ngIknowand
r
ecogni
ze.
”
“Whati
fthi
ngsdon’
twor
kout
?Wi
l
lyoul
etmego?
”
sheasks.
Hekeepshi seyesonther oadanddoesn’tr
espond.
Thisisexactl
ywhyshe’sundecided.Get
tingmarri
ed,
specif
ical
lyt
oaManqel e,isali
feti
mecommi tment
thatyoucan’tst
epoutfrom.Ifyou’r
ein,
you’r
ein.
Thakasa’svi
ewsonmar riagearebackwardandvery
stri
ct.

Heparksoutsi
dethegateattheNgidir
esidence.He
di
deveryt
hingnecessarytost
aycleanaft
ertaking
l
iv
es,buthishear
tsti
lldoesn’
tal
l
owhi mtot ouch
l
it
tl
ebabies.
“Tel
lPhel
othatI
’
llseehersoon.Imi
ssandl
oveher
,”
hesays.
“Al
ri
ght.
”Shet
akesherbel
ongi
ngsandopenst
he
doortocl
imbout
.
Hehol
dsherhand.Shet
urnsandl
ooksathi
m.
“
Hey
,Il
ovey
ou,
”hesay
s.
Shechuckl
es,
“I’
l
lkeept
hati
nmi
nd.
”
“
Ser
iousl
y?”He’
sof
fended.
“Ther
e’snoneedf
ormet osayanyt
hingback
becauseyou’
veal
readyconcl
udedt
hatIhavefat
her
i
ssues.Bye!
”
Heheav
esasi ghandsitsi
nsi
dethecarforagood
whi
leaf
tershe’
sdisappear
edinsi
dethegate.

Nomkhosi
walksi
ntoNgi
diandhermom wat
chi
ng
TVwit
hbowlsofsoupi
nfrontoft
hem.
Snal
oissomewher einthehousesinging.She
seemstobef ocusi
ngont hehappysideoflif
e.
Ever
ythi
ngseemst obeper f
ect,
excepttheMondli
part
.They’
reonandof f
;unpredi
ctabl
e.
“
Whodr
oppedy
ouof
f?”Phumzi
l
easks.
“Phelo’
sfat
her
,”shesaysandsi
tsonthecouch.
Somet hi
ngist
roubl
ingher
,Phumzi
lequickl
ypi
cks
thatup.
“
Phel
oissl
eepi
ngi
nherr
oom.
”
Nomkhosi
nodsandheav
esasi
gh.
“
What’
swrong?
”Phumzi
l
easksl
ower
ingt
heTV
v
olume.
“
Ma,
wher
e’smyf
ather
?”
Ngi
ditur
nshiseyestoher.Theybot
hlookshocked
t
hatsheaskedthatquest
ion.
“It
oldyouhel
eftandwel
ostcont
act
,”Phumzi
l
e
says.
“Whyarey ounotlooki
ngforhim?Bab’Ngidi
has
connecti
ons,hecanf i
ndhim.Whyar eyouso
rel
axedwhi l
eyourdaughterdoesn’
tknowher
fat
her?”sheasks.
Ngi
dicl
earshi
sthr
oatandasks,
“Wher
eisal
lthi
s
comi
ngfrom?”
“Baba,
I’
m grown,Ihavemyownchildnow.Whyi si
t
notimpor
tanttohertofi
ndmyfatherandintr
oduce
met ohi
m?He’ smyf at
her,
Phel
o’sgrandf
ather!
”
“Shetri
ed.Somepeopl ear
ejustnevermeanttobe
i
nourl i
vesforareason.You’
regrown,beaut
if
uland
successful
.Youdon’tneedhi
m,”Ngidisays.
“You’r
ewr ong,
Ineedhim. ”Sheturnsherey esand
l
ooksatPhumzi le,“
Ma, Iwantmyf ather.Get
somet hi
ngsoli
dt ostar
ton, I
’
llsearchforhi
m by
my sel
f.”
Ngidiwr
apshisarm ar
oundPhumzil
e’
sshoul
der
.
TheywatchasNomkhosi angr
il
yst
ormsoutoft
he
room wi
thherbag.
“Iknewt
hisdaywoul
dcome,
”Phumzi
l
esay
swi
tha
heavysi
gh.
Ngidicar
essesherar
m andpl
ant
sasof
tpeckonher
cheek.
“Maybei t’
sti
mewet ellhert
het rut
h.She’
sgrown,
thesethingshappen,Iknowit’
l
l behardbutshe’
l
l
understandwhyy oukeptquiet
,”hesays.
“Whati fi
tdestr
oysher?
”Tearsburnhereyes.She’
s
notr eady
.She’sdoneherutmostbestt
oraisea
strongdaughter,t
hiswi
llsur
elyt
urnheri
ntoa
brokenwoman.
.
.
MAKHUMALO

She’snowal lalonesi
nceThakasasenttheaunts
packing.Neighborsdocheckonher,butthey’
renot
persi
stent.Theyonlycomearoundbreakfastt
imeto
scoresomet eaandscones.
Mawandeishome.She’sev er
ythi
ngonewoul dask
fr
om adaughter
.Lessdrama, morer espect
.
Someti
messhe’slazy,
butthat’
snot hingcompared
toPhet
hil
e.Thatonebottomschairs.

MaKhumal owalksinandfi
ndsMaNtusi
inthe
ki
tchen.Sheusuall
yleav
esandcomesbackwhen
she’
sclearedt
her oom.Butt
odayshewalksi
nand
star
esatherwithherarmsfol
ded.
“I
’
llbedoneinaminute,
”MaNtusisayswi
ping
Thakasa’
stea-
setandpacki
ngiti
nsidet
hecupboar
d.
“
Wher
e’sy
ourhusband?
”MaKhumal
o.
MaNt
usi
frowns,
“Hewentt
oseePhel
o.”
“
Oh,
Iwonderwhent
hey
’rev
isi
ti
ng.Sphephel
oand
hermother
,”MaKhumal
osay
smal
i
ciousl
ywhi
l
e
eyei
ngher.
“
I’
ll
textherandf
indoutf
ory
ou,
”MaNt
usi
say
s.
“
You’
l
ltextwho?
”sheasks.
“
Nomkhosi
,It
houghty
ouwer
etal
ki
ngabouther
,”
MaNt
usi
.
“You’
reherf
ri
endnow?
”She’
sbesi
deher
sel
fwi
th
shock.
“No,we’
renotfr
iends.Wej
usttal
k,aft
eral
lweare
nowsharingamanandwe’remoms.Thewor ldmay
havetur
nedit
sbackonme, butIsti
ll
havepeopl
e
whotreatmehumanl y.
”
“
Don’tev
engother
e.Youdi
dthatt
oyour
sel
f,
”
MaKhumalosay
s.
“Tr
ue,IguessIexpectedtoomuchwhi leIhad
nothi
ng.Youonlyhavet wodaught
ers,Ionlyhadthe
ri
ghttocall
youMabecauseImar ri
edy oursonandI
waswhaty ouconsideredaperf
ectwife.Bloodi
s
thi
ckert
hanwat er
,andIdon’thaveyourbloodinmy
vei
ns,myownmot herdied.
”
“I’
veal
waystr
eatedy oul
ikemydaughter
,”
MaKhumalosay sinawe.“Nowyouwanttousethe
factt
haty
oudon’ thaveamothert
ojusti
fythe
disgr
aceyoubroughtthi
sfamil
y.
”
“ThakasaandIareeven,hecheatedf
ir
standgot
someonepr egnant
,”MaNtusisay
s.
“Yes,andIstoodbyy outhr
oughoutt hatsi
tuation.I
didn’
ttal
ktomyson, Icoul
dn’tstandhissightandI
call
edhim names.Iwassuppor t
inganothercheat er
,
nizi
febenobabil
i.Idon’
tfavoranynonsensi cal
child,
I’
llt
reatyouexactlyhowItr
eatany onewho
disappoi
ntme. ”
“Exceptt
hatmypuni
shmenti
slongerbecauseI
’
m
notyourchi
ld.
"
“
Andyourmot
herdi
ed,
goon,
playy
ourcar
ds,
MaNt
usi.
”
Tearsbur
nhereyes.Theyusedtobecl
ose.Asmuch
asshewantstobeoutofMaKhumal o’
syard,she
sti
ll
wantsthi
ngstogobackt onor
malbetween
them.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Ma,
”shesay
s.
“I’
m ny onyiMa.Whatgoti ntoyourhead?Your
husbandmaycal lmeabadmot her,butyouknow
mebet terthanany one.I’
vebeenamot hertoyou
mor ethanI ’vebeenamot hertohi m.Itaughty oua
fewt hingsaboutt hisli
fe.Idon’tremembery ou
sitt
ingdownwi thmeandt el
li
ngmeabouty ourfl
aws
i
nmar riage.Youleav ewhenev ery oufeel l
i
keleavi
ng
andcomebackwi thnoexpl anation.I’
mj usta
picturehere.”
“
Butt
hisi
ssti
l
lmymarri
age,
Ideal
wit
hmyemot
ions
t
hewayIseefi
t,
”MaNt
usi
.
“
Soit
’snotyourmar
ri
agewheni
t’
sThakasawho’
sat
f
aul
t,youneedmether
e?”
MaNt
usi
sighs,
“No,
that
’snothowi
t’
sli
ke.
”
“I’
m goingt
ocal
lwomentocomeandpr ayfort
his
family
.”Shewal
kst
owardsthepassage,thr
owing
herhandsupandmumblingtoher
self.
“
CanImakey
ouacupoft
ea?
”MaNt
usi
asks.
“
No,
Idon’
twanti
t,
”shey
ell
satt
hepassage.
“
Whati
fIaddext
rami
l
k?”
“
Sti
l
l,no.
”
“
Okay
,I’
l
lmakei
tlat
ert
hen.
”

Thakasawalksi
nwearingahugef
rown.“
Whower
e
youtal
kingt
o?”heasks.
“
ToMa,
”shesay
s.
Si
ncewhenshe’
sMat
othem now?
“
Aboutwhat
?”heasks.
“
Tea,
”shesay
s.
Hewalkspastt
hekit
chentotheloungewhere
MaKhumaloandhissi
ster
sare.He’sbeenavoi
ding
Phet
hybecausehedoesn’
tknowwhatt osaytoher.
Hehasn’
tbeenther
eforherasabr ot
her.
“
Tut
u,”hest
andsbehi
ndt
hecouch.
Phethytur
nsherheadandlooksathi
m.She’sa
dramaqueen,sothi
sisobviousl
yabigdeal
.Shelost
hertwinandshe’
snotgett
ingenoughsuppor
tfr
om
thesepeopl
e.
“
Comeher
e,”Thakasapul
l
southi
shand.Shegr
abs
i
tandst andsup.Theypul
l oneanothertoherroom.
Ami nut
el at
erther
earesobscomi ngfrom theroom.
She’sbeengivenaplat
for
mt ocryi
nbul k;
forSqalo,
forthei
Phoneandf oranincreaseofmont hl
y
all
owance.

MaNtusi walksint
ot heloungewi thatrayoftea-
set
andput sitonthecof f
ee-tabl
e.Shecomesbackwi t
h
aplateofbut t
ercookiesandsi tsnexttoMawande.
Hati
ngherwasawast eoftime,Mawander eall
y
doesn’tcareorinvolveherselfi
nfami l
yfeuds.She’s
beengr eathelpwithLondasi nceshecamet ov i
sit
home.Orhasshecomebackf orgood?Nobodyi s
aski
ngher .MaKhumal oisstil
ldeali
ngwithalot,but
soonerorl at
ershe’l
lconfronther.
“Thi
sismyfi
rstt
imewatchi
ngthi
sser
ies,
Bhambathar
ecommendedit,
”Mawandesays.
“
That
’sy
ourbrother
-i
n-l
awwhowasi
npr
ison,
right
?”
MaNt
usiasks.
Shel
aughs,“
Yes,buthe’
snott
hemai
nchar
act
er.He
di
dn’
tbreakoutofpri
son.
”
“Hecoul
d’v
edoneit,whyarey
ouputt
ingitpasthim?
That
’swhyheli
keswat chi
ngt
hesecr
iminalthi
ngs,”
MaKhumaloint
erf
eres.
Theydon’tsayanythi
ng.WentworthMi ll
eri
sthe
maincharacterandallt
hiswasscript
ed, i
t’
snota
tr
uestory
.Bhambat hasimplyl
ikedtheser i
es,l
i
ke
ever
yone,ithasnothi
ngtodowi thhischaract
er.
Mawandegr absacupandmakesher sel
ftea.
“
Sonobodyisgoi
ngt
oaskifI
’m hungry
,you’
real
l
j
ustgoi
ngtoeatl
i
keyou’
resi
tt
ingwithapict
ure?
”
“
HawuMa,youcould’
veaskedi
fyouwantedsome
t
ea,
”Mawandesaystaki
nganot
hercup.
“Iaskedandshesai
dshedoesn’
twanti
t,
”MaNt
usi
says.
Mawandest
opswi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown.
“
Idi
dn’tsayany
thi
ngaboutcooki
est
hough,
”–
MaKhumalo.
“
Soy
ouonl
ywantcooki
es?
”Mawandeasks.
“
No,
andt
eaaswel
l
,youwantmet
ochokeanddi
e.”
Mawander
oll
sherey
es.Lucki
l
y,sheunder
stands
ever
yoneint
hisf
ami
l
y,not
hingsur
pri
sesher
anymore.
Atextbeepsi
nphone:
WHENSHOULDIPI
CKYOU
UP?
Gosh,she’
ssti
l
l t
ryi
ngtofi
gureouthowshe’sgoi
ng
togetoutoft
hehouse!Shemi ghtneedsomeofthe
Pri
sonBreaktr
icks,
becausebothThakasaand
MaKhumaloarehomenow.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER60
KHANYO

He’ssitt
inginfr
ontoftheTV.Idon’tknowifhe’
s
watchingitori
t’
swat chi
nghim.I’
m worri
edabout
hi
sl ackofemot i
ons.Iexpect
edhimt ohaveatot
al
breakdownaf t
erSqalodiedinhi
shands,that
’s
ty
picalhowhei s.
“
Babe,
”Isay
.
Hel
ooksatme.Iaskhi
m,“
Arey
ouokay
?”
“
Myf
eetar
ecol
d,”hesay
s.
He’snotanswer i
ngt her
eal questi
on.Iwasn’ tasking
abouthisfeet.Hedoesn’ thav egood-lookingfeet,I
shouldmakesur ehenev erwear ssandalsi nfrontof
myf r
iends.Speaki ngofthosesoul s,Ishouldcheck
upont hem later.Nolwazi’
sboy fr
iendisnotwel l
,she
shouldbecomi ngt oKZNt otakecareofhi m.Iwant
hertoproveherwor thyasaf uturesi
st er
-i
n-law.I’
m
thatt
y peofasi ster.
Icomebackwi t
hapairofsocksf r
om thebedroom
andgiv
ehim.Hedoesn’tweart hem,heputsthem
besi
dehim andcont
inuesstar
ingattheTVbl ankl
y.
“
Didyouseekanyki
ndofemot i
onalhel
paf
tergoi
ng
t
hroughwhatyouwentt
hrough?”Iask.
“
No,
”hesay
s.
Ir
aisemyeyebr
ow.He’
snott
het
ypet
hatnegl
ect
s
emoti
ons.
“Ther
ewasal otgoingon.Thakasawasn’tt
her
e,
NkonzoandIhadt oholdhandsandmakesur e
every
oneandev er
ythi
ngwasokay .Ther
ewasno
ti
me, andIdon’
twanttoheal.
”
Hedoesn’
twantt
oheal
?Whatki
ndofast
atementi
s
t
hat
?
“
Whatdoy
oumeany
oudon’
twantt
oheal
?”Iask.
“
BecauseIki
l
ledhi
m,Khany
o.”
Whatt
hehel
l
?!
“
No,
youdi
dn’
t.
”
“
Hewasal
i
vewi
tht
hescr
ewdr
iverst
ucki
nhi
m.He
coul
d’v
esur v
ived,Ishoul
d’vewaitedfor
prof
essi
onalstor emovetheobject.Ever
yonesawi
t,
hewasn’thurtthatbadl
y,Iki
ll
edhi m.”
“Butheaskedyout or
emov eit
.Hewasi npain.You
didwhatanybrotherwould’
vedone.”Heari
nghim
shif
ti
ngtheblamet ohi
mselfbreaksmyhear t
becausebothhim andIknowthet r
uth.Sqal
o’sti
me
hadarri
ved,t
herewasnot urni
ngback.
“
I’
ll
nev
erf
orgi
vemy
sel
ffort
hat
,Khany
o.Nev
er!
”
“
Butbabe…”Heshakeshi
shead.
Istopandrel
easeasi
gh.He’
snotbei
ngfai
rto
himselfandt
omewhohast odealwi
tht
hisst
range
versi
onofhim.
“
How’
sThakasahol
dingup?
”Iask.
“
Idon’tknow.Iknowhehatesme,Ijustf
eel
sor
ryf
or
Nkonzobecausehedidn’
tdoanyt
hing.”
“Whydoy out hinkhehatesyou?”I’
m perpl
exed.To
mei tdi
dn’tlookthatway,heevenav oi
dedaphy si
cal
alt
ercat
ionwi thManduloinmypr esencebecausehe
respect
edt hatIwashisbrother
’swife.Imean,
gi
rl
fr
iend.
“
Hedi
sownedus.MeandNkonzo,
”hesay
s.
Forgi
veme, butIt
hinkthey’
rebi
gbabieswhoare
confusedaboutwhot hei
rfat
herreal
l
yis.Hedi
ed,
l
ikeRIP.
“Hejustdoesn’
tcar
e.Idon’
trememberhim aski
ng
ushowwear esi
nceSqalopassedon.Hedoesn’t
checkhowwear eholdi
ngupwi t
hthecompany ,
our
personall
iv
esandgrief
.”
“
Doy
oucheckhowhei
shol
dingup?
”Iask.
Hel
ooksbl
ank.
“
Doy
ou?
”Iaskagai
n.
“I
…Ido.I…I…di
d.”Oh,mymani sstutt
eri
ng.Just
knowheonl ystut
terswhenhe’sintr
ouble,angryor
expl
aini
ngsomet hingwit
hfrust
rati
on.Neverduring
sex,oranyofhishappymoment s.It
’sl
ikehe
chooseswhenhi sspeechdoespause-and-repl
ay.
“
Real
l
y?”Iknowal
i
arwhenIseeone.
“Khanyo,
youdon’
tknowhowhectict
hingshav
e
been.ButIdi
dcal
ltocheckwher
ehewas. ”
Bat
hong,
ifyouaskwher
eIam you’
rechecki
ngup
onme?Thisisbr
andnew.St
rai
ghtf
rom thebox!
“He’sbeenaCEOsi ncehewas29, ri
ght?Withthat
hehadt obeahusband, asonandmost lyafamily
l
eader.Buthest i
l
lcheckedony ouandmadesur e
youwer eokay .Twoday s’
nyananjeof
communi catingwiththefuneralpar
lorpeopleand
sorti
ngoutt heinsurancepaperwork,suddenl
y
thi
ngsar etoohect i
cthatyoucan’tevencheckon
otherpeople?”
Hestandsupandthrowsmysocksonthefl
oor
.“I
t…
i
t…wasmor et
han…that.Gosh,
you…y
ou…ar
e…
maki
ngmehat eyour i
ghtnow.”
Hateisabigword.I
’m nottry
ingt ounderminet
he
amountofstresst
hatcomeswi tharrangi
nga
funer
al,
butIknowforaf actthattheyhadpeople
runni
ngaroundtogetthi
ngsdone.
“He…hedi
ed…”Hesinksbackonthecouchand
buri
eshi
sfacei
nhishands.Thi
sistheBandl
aI
know.
Isi
tnextt
ohi
m andt
ryt
otouchhi
m buthedoesn’
t
wantmet o.Hesobsi
nhi
shandsandIsi
tnextt
o
hi
m hel
plessly
.
Thenhestopsandl
ooksaroundforsomet
hing.Hi
s
carkey
s.Hegrabst
hem andstands.
“
Bandl
a,you’
renotdr
ivi
ngi
nthi
semot
ional
stat
e.
Whati
f…?
”Hewal ksaway.
Ij
umptomyfeetandyel
lbehindhim.Thakasa
al
mostdi
edi
nacaraccident,
Sqalodiedinthecar
,
andnowhewantstohav
ehist ur
n?
“Wher
eareyougoi
ng?”I
’
m behindhi
sheel.Weare
nowmakingnoi
seanddist
urbi
ngpeaceofthi
squi
et
nei
ghbor
hood.
“
Youmakemef eell
ikeabadbrotheral
loveragai
n.
I
’m doi
ngmybest,
okay?”Hethr
owst hecarkeyson
mychestandwal
ksoutofthegatefuri
ousl
y.
WasIinsensi t
ive?Thisisthefi
rstti
mehegott o
spendtimewi thme, heneededcomf ortandI
wantedhi mtobesomet hinghe’snot-t
hatisbeinga
prot
ectiv
ebr other,
it’
stheotherwayar ound.Bandla
getsprotect
ed, he’
sthesecondbabyboyoft he
famil
y.Thakasacr eatedthem tobethisway .I’
m
surehedoesn’
tmi
ndwhent
heyexpectt
oomuch
fr
om him.

Ical
lTema.Idon’
tknowwhoel set
ocallandr
epor
t
to.MaKhumalowouldroastmyassbef
oreIcan
evenspel
lthewor
d“ Bandla”
.
“
Hey
,si
ster
,”Temapi
cksup.
“Hi,
”I’
m al
waystheonewit
hprobl
ems.OrI
’
m
dramaticv
ele?“
Whereareyou?
”Iask.
“
Wej
ustl
eftf
orZi
mbal
i
.”
Ni
cel
i
fe!
“IthoughtNkonzowouldbehometoseeifhi
s
brotherarr
ives.Hej
ustl
eftt
hehouseangr
il
y.
”
“
Didy
ouguy
shav
eaf
ight
?”sheasks.
Isigh,
“Sor
tof.I
’
m worri
edabouthi
m becausehel
eft
hisphoneandcarkey
sbehind.
”
“Maybehe’
sjustt
aki
ngawalktol
etoffsomesteam.
Docalli
fhedoesn’
tcomebackaf
teranhourorso,
I
’l
ll
etNkonzoknow.”
“
Alr
ight
,thanky
ou.
”
Thisisfrust
rati
ng.I
’v
enev erhadtodealwit
ha
“walki
ngout ”boyf
ri
endbef or
e.I’
m st
il
ll
ivi
nginfear
,
weal lar
e,hisbrot
herwasmur der
edandnoarrest
hasbeenmade.Whati fsomet hi
nghappenstohim?
Fearstartbuil
dingup.I’
m qui
veri
ngandr ocking
my sel
font heveranda,st
ari
ngoutsidethegat e.
Whatifsomeoneki dnapshi
m andki l
l
shiml ikethey
di
dt ohisbr ot
her.Whatifi
t’
snotevenast ranger,
butsomeoneheknowsandador es.Whati fther
e’s
someonewho’ sjeal
ousofhim outthere;
af ake
fr
iend.

~Amani sgoingtowal kthroughthegateallsmiles.

I
t’l
lbeahappyv i
sit
,that’
showi t
’l
llookl
ike,except
t
hathe’l
lbeaccompani edbymeni nhi
ding.Allt
hat
forhi
shard-
earnedmoney .
Gunshotsst ar
tblazi
nginmyear s,they
’redeaf
ening,
I’
m screamingforhelp.Idon’
tknowhi m andIdon’t
knowwhohe’ scomet osee.There’
sblood
every
wher e.Amani sdead.Hedi edforhishar
dwor k.
Butther
earemorebodiesonthegr ound.“
Pray
Khanyo!
”Iwantt
o,butIcan’
t,
I’m scared,
”~

“Whodoessheli
vewit
h?”awhitewomanasksas
shef
orcesadropofwaterdownmythr
oat.
Idon’
tknowwhoanswersher.I
’m sur
roundedbya
numberofpeopl
e.Ther
e’sapol
icevanpulli
ngup.
Ever
yoneispani
cki
ngandIcannotevenremember
howIstart
edscr
eamingforhel
p.
“Nobodyisdead.See?”saysoneoft hem.Mywhi t
e
nei
ghbors,Idi
dn’tt
hinktheycare.He’sconvi
nci
ng
me,somehow.Ofcour se,nobodyisdead, myeyes
workjustf
ine.
Theof
fi
cerar
ri
vest
ouswi
thaconf
usedf
ace.
“Wearesosorr
y.I
tseemsli
kewewastedyourt
ime,
shewashall
uci
nat
ing,
”thewomanhol
dingmesays
apol
oget
ical
l
y.
“Hal
luci
nat
ingorlyi
ngaboutacri
mescene? ”Thi
sis
notoneofthoseCoke-
dri
nking,
pati
entones.This
mustbeoneoft hosewhowenttothepoli
cef or
ce
forr
evenge.Youknowthe“cri
minal
ski
ll
edmyf at
her
,
soIwanttopunishthem i
nfut
ure”t
ypeofpol
i
ce.
“Ihadav i
sion,
”Isay
,openi
ngmymout hfort
hefi
rst
ti
meaf t
erbr i
ngi
ngthewholenei
ghbor
hoodint
oa
standst
il
lwithmyscreams.
“Sowear eherebecausey ou’r
ehighondr ugs?
You’r
ewast i
nggov ernmentr esources.”Hepicksme
upaggressivel
y.Itr
yt oholdont o‘mywhi temom’
butMrOf fi
ceri
snotpl ayingwi t
hus.I ’
m probabl
ythe
fi
rstpersonhe’
sev erarrested,he’
st r
yingtomakea
namef orhimself
.
“I
’m atr
ainedseer.Someti
mesIgetvi
sions.I
t
happenedthattheypani
ckedandcal
l
edy oufor
help.
”
He’shav
ingnoneofi
t.He’
spul
l
ingmet
owar
dst
he
van.
“
CanIgetmycel
l
phoneandcal
lhome?
”Ibeg.
“Soyou’
renotev
enhome.Uv
ukwaubungoma
obungekhoemki
pit
weni
?”
Jeez!Oneef
fect
iveser
viceandhe’
sal
readyact
ing
l
ikeSAPSev erhasanythingseri
oustododuri
ngthe
day.Heprobablycamef astbecausewhit
epeopl
e
cal
led.BackinBergvi
ll
ewecal lthepol
i
ceandthey
arr
ivewhenwe’v eev
enf orgot
tenwherethecr
ime
scenewas.
“You’
regoingtoregretthi
s.”Thisi
sawar ni
nghe
shoul
dn’ttakel
ightl
y.Notonlyam Igoingtotel
lmy
ri
chboyfri
end,I
’m goingtotellGuguandprayfor
MaSibiy
a’simmediateresponse.
Yeah,I
’
vebeenarr
estedf
orl
yi
ngaboutacri
me
sceneandwast
inggover
nmentr
esour
ces.
Idon’
tev
enknowonej
ail
song.Ican’
tbel
i
eveI
’
ma
26membernow!
.
.
MAWANDE

She’
spackedhertoil
etr
yandoverni
ghtbag.It’
sbeen
aver
ylongtimesinceshespentti
mewi thaman.
She’
snervous.Al
so,shest
il
lneedstoletthese
peopleknowthatshewon’tbesl
eepinghome
becauseof‘anurgentbusi
nesst
hing’shehast
o
att
end.
“
Whydoesi
tlookl
i
key
ou’
rel
eav
ing?
”Phet
hyasks.
“
Aboutt
ime!
”MaKhumal
o.
Shef
rowns,
“Youdi
dn’
twantmeher
e,Ma?
”
“
Youhaveyourownhouse.You’
recr
owdi
ngus,
”
MaKhumal
osay s.
Shelaughsherassoff
.Nott
hiswomanwant i
ngher
outofthehouseat25anddoesn’
twanther30+year
ol
dsonst omov eout
.
“MaNt usiandThakasaar
eleav
ingi
nafewdays.
You’r
egoi ngtomissmewheny ou’
real
lal
oneand
miserable.”
MaKhumal ol
ooksatMaNtusi
.She’
shur
t,but
becauseshe’
swhosheis,
sheputsacoveronit
.
“
You’
rel
eav
ingi
naf
ewday
s?”sheasks.
MaNt usil
ooksatherhusband,
unf
ort
unatel
yhe’
snot
speakingtoMaKhumalo,soshehastoanswer
.
“
No,wearenotl
eav
ingyet
.Maybeinamonth,
orso.
Wecan’
tleav
eyouwit
hafreshgr
ave,
”shesay
s.
NewstoThakasaManqele!Ther
e’sasl
i
ghtf
rownon
hi
sfaceashelooksathi
swi f
e.
“
Idon’
twanttobeanyone’
sburden.I
fyoualr
eady
madeplansofmovi
ngoutthendoitther
ightway
.”
“
Ma, youcan’
tstayalonesosoon.Iknowyouhate
me,butIdon’
twantt oloseyou.Youj
ustl
ostason,
youneedpeoplearoundy ou.
”
Hereyeswanderupt
hewallandstayonSqal
o’s
pi
ctur
eforamoment,thenshegl
ancesatThakasa
andsi
ghs.
That
’st
heendofi
t.Nobodyseemst
omi nd
Mawandel
eavi
ngwithabagat7pm bef
oredi
nner
.
Oh,
may
beshegotr
eli
evedt
oosoon.
“
Wande,
uyaphi
?”Thakasaasks.
Shest
ops.Bl
i
nksr
api
dly
.Heav
ybr
eat
hs.
“
Ther
e’sanur
gentt
hingIwanttoat
tendatWandes
t
omorrowmorni
ng,
”shesays.
“I
’
lldr
ivey
oui
nthemor
ning.Don’
ttr
avel
atni
ght
al
one.”
“I
’m nottravel
l
ingal
one.
”Al
leyest
urntoher
.Gr
eat
,
j
ustgr eatMawande!Nowtheywantt
oknowwho
she’
st ravel
l
ingwit
h.
“
Afr
iendi
spi
cki
ngmeup,
”shet
ri
est
ocov
erup.
“Shemustcomeandgetyoufrom t
hehousesothat
Iknowwhotodealwi
thifany
thinghappenst
oyou.”
MaNtusi
frowns.Hedeal
swi
thpeopl
enow?Orhe
meantpr
ay er
-wi
se.
Mawandestandsfr
ozenont
hesamespot
.Howt
o
getoutoft
hisonenow?
“
It
’samal
efr
iend,
”shesay
s.
MaKhumal
o’sf
acet
ransf
ormsi
ntoawe.
“
Doesyourhusband’
sfami
l
yknowt
haty
ouhav
e
mal
efr
iendsnow? ”
“Mawande,youcango.Cal
lmewheny
ougett
her
e,”
Thakasai
nterf
eres.
MaKhumal
ojeer
sathi
m andl
ooksbackat
Mawandef
orananswer
.
“Dotheyknowory
ou’
reput
ti
ngmei
ntr
oubl
e?”she
asks.
“I
fanyofthem hasaprobl
em wi
thherhav
ingfri
ends
ofherchoi
cethentheymustcometome,”Thakasa
says.
“
I’
m nott
alki
ngt
oyou!
”MaKhumal
oscol
dshi
m.
Phethyrunsof
ftoherbedroom andshutsi
tbehi
nd.
Toomuchdr ama,thi
siswhyshepr ef
ersNewYork
overthem.Onedayshe’l
lmovetoNewYor kand
Skypethem t
wotimesaweek.
“Pl
easedon’tf
ightov
erme.Ma,
I’
ll
cal
lyout
oowhen
Igett
here,
”Mawandebegs.
“
No,
Thakasaisr
ight
,tel
lthatf
ri
endt
ocomeandget
y
ouher
einsi
dethehouse,”MaKhumal
o.
“
Oh,
ther
e’ssomet
hingIev
ersayr
ight
?”Thakasa.
MaNt
usi
sighs,
“Manqel
e,st
op!
”
“
No,
thi
swomanhasbeeni
nsul
ti
ngmeev
ery
…”
“
ButIsai
dst
op,
you’
rebei
ngv
erydi
srespect
ful
right
nowandy
ou’
renotachi
l
d.”
“
Nevergotachancet
obeone,
”hemumbl
esand
t
urnst
ohisphone.
Si
l
ence.
“
CanIgo?
”Mawandeasksi
nal
mostwhi
sper
.
“
Go,Ihopehedoesn’
thav
eoneeyeandhe’
sready
t
ofacetheMyezas,
”MaKhumal
o.
Phewww!Thatdr
aggedl
ongenough.Bhambat
ha
mustbewonderi
ngwhat
’skeepi
ngher.
.
.
BHAMBATHA

He’
sst
ari
ngatherwi
thconcer
n.Mawandeadj
ust
s
ont
heseatandsi
ghsoutheav
il
y.
“
Theywant
edy
out
ocomei
n,
”shesay
s.
Si
l
ence.
Shet
urnsandf
indsapai
rofey
esst
ari
ngt
hrough
hersoul
.
“
Andnow?
”sheaskswi
thasl
i
ghtgr
in.
“No,I
’
ml i
steni
ng.Theywant
edmet
ocomei
n
and…?”heasks.
“Well
,Iki
ndagav
ethem acl
uet
hatIwasgoi
ngout
wit
hamansoThakasabackedoff
.ButMa,y
oh,she
near
lybit
emyheadoff
.”
“
Howl
ongar
ewegoi
ngt
odot
his?
”heasks.
Mawande’
sey
eswi
den.
“
Whatdoy
oumean?
”sheasks.
“Idon’tknowaboutyou,butIloveyou.I
’
llgetal
otof
backlashfori
t,buty
ouaccept i
ngmemeanst he
worldt ome.Icanstandagainstal
lodds.”
Thisi
stheconversat
ionshe’
sbeendreadi
ngthe
most.She’
str
yingherbesttoreser
vewhatshefeel
s
forhi
m.
“
Didy
out
alkt
oyourmot
her
?”sheasks.
Hesi
ghsheav
il
y.
“
Itdi
dn’
tgoany
wher
e.Shedoesn’
tbel
i
evei
nmeand
i
t’
sokay.
”No,i
tdoesn’
tsoundokay
.He’shur
ti
ng,
event
houghhe’
str
yinghi
sbesttotakei
tashisf
ate.
“
Doy oublameher?”She’
stry
ingnottosound
j
udgmental.Toherfamil
yisf
oundati
onofevery
thi
ng.
I
ftheydothis,
theyneedtohaveaconcret
e
f
oundati
ont ofal
lbackt
o.
“Icomef r
om av eryknittedfami
ly.Wel ookoutfor
eachot her.Nomat t
erwhathappensIknowI ’
ll
alwayshav emyf amilyinmycorner.Icannot
i
magi nemyf utureandmyownf ami l
ybei ngt
he
otherwayar ound.Idon’twantit
.Idon’twanttohav e
amanandpossi blefatherofmychi l
drenwho
doesn’tbelieveinfami l
y.Makethingsrightwit
hy our
mom, pleaseBhambat ha.”
“Idon’
tknowwher
etostar
t,”hesayshel
plessl
y.
He’samanofmanytri
cks,she’
sfeeli
ngsorryf
or
him.
“We’
ll
figur
esomethi
ngout
,babe,
”shesay
sand
adj
ustsherear
ri
ngs.
He’
sstari
ngatherandshe’
snotawar
eofwhatshe
sai
dyet.
“
Sisi
,
”hesay
s.
Shet
urnswit
hafr
own.Shewas‘sisi
’bef
ore,
but
nowi
tsoundswei
rdcomingf
rom him.
“
Whatdi
dyousay
?”heasks.
“
When?
”She’
sconf
used.
“
Yousai
d‘babe’
tome.
”
Oh,snap!I
t’
sawkward,
ever
ythi
ngaboutthem si
tt
ing
her
eandgr i
nni
ngateachot
herli
keCheshirecat
s.
“
You’
remybabe,
aren’
tyou?
”sheaskssmi
l
ing.
“That ’
s…that…comeher e.”Hewr apshi shand
aroundherneckandbr i
ngsherf acecl oser .Their
l
ipsl ockinabr i
ef,sl
oppykiss.Hi shandl ower sand
l
iftsherar m aroundhi sneck.Heki ssesheragai n,
sucki ngherlipsslowlyandr eactingt othet asteof
herscent edlipglosswi t
hheav ybr eaths.Hewant s
mor ewi theachsecondt hatpasseswi thherl ips
l
ockedi nhis.Hef i
shesf orhertongue, av ein
twitchesupar oundhismanhood.Hebr ingsher
closer ,
hishanddr opst oherwai st.He’ssuper
turnedon, ever y
thingabouthergi veshi m chi l
ls.
There’
saknockont hewindow.Mawandequi ckl
y
breakstheki
ss.Herhear
tispoundingheavil
yand
i
t’
snott heBMTeffectal
one,ther
e’sfearaswell
.
I
tcomesagai n.There’
sat
all
shadowstandi
ng
out
side.Theyshould’v
edr
oveoffassoonasshegot
i
nsi
det hecar.
Bhambat
harol
l
sdownt hewi
ndow.Af
lashl
i
ght
fl
i
cker
sonthei
rfaces.
“
It
’sme,
”Bhambat
hasay
s.
I
ttakesamomentforMawandetor
eal
i
zethati
t’
s
noneothert
hant
heMufasaoft
hefami
ly.
“
What
’sgoi
ngonher
e?”heasks.
Bhambathajusthol
dsherhandandsaysnothi
ng.He
doesn’
tknowhowhe’ sgoi
ngtodefendwhatthey
’re
doi
ng,buthegother.
Hi
seyeslandonher
,shecan’
tkeept
hest
are,
her
ey
esdrop.
“NowthisiswhatIhateaboutyou,Bambatha.Idon’
t
careaboutwhereyouandIstand.Youdon’t
disr
espectmyfather
’shouseli
kethis.Youdon’tpar
k
y
ourcardownt
her
oadanddot
his.
”
“Wewereaboutt
oleav
e,”Bambat
hasay
s
apol
oget
ical
l
y.
“
That’
snotthepoint
.Mysi st
eri
snotyourtypi
cal
f
loozi
es.Don’
tmesswi thheronthest
reet
s.Do
t
hingsdecent
ly,
foronce.”
Hel
ooksatMawandewhost
il
lcan’
tlookathi
min
t
heeyes.
“
What
’swr
ongwi
thy
ou?
”heasksher
.
“
Wewer
eaboutt
oleav
e,Thakasa,
”Bhambat
hasay
s.
“
Itol
dy outhat’
snotthepoint.I
fyoulovemysister
t
henletyourfamil
yknow.Shewasy ourbr
other’
s
wi
fe,t
reatherwiththatdecency.
”
“
Okay
,I’
m sor
ry,
”Bambat
ha.
Hedi
dn’thav
eagr
eatday
,theapol
ogygoesabov
e
hi
shead.
“MustIt
ell
MaKhumalothaty
ou’
recuddl
i
ngmeni
n
car
soutsi
deherhouse?
”
“
Yourl
i
fewoul
dbeov
er.Ikeepy
oursecr
ets,
you
keepmi
ne.
”
Bhambat hawant
stolaughbecausethisi
sthe
Mawandeheal waysdealswi
th.Thakasaonthe
otherhandseemsshocked.
“
Itel
lyout
hingsi
nconf
idence,
”hesay
s.
“
AndI’
mt el
li
ngthi
sinconf
idenceaswel
l.I’
mt r
ying
t
oexpl
orethefeel
i
ngsIhaveforBhambatha.Zi
pi t
!”
HelooksatBhambatha,
“Idon’
tli
key
ouasabr
other
-
i
n-l
aw.You’r
epoll
uti
ngmysi st
er.
”
Bhambat
hacr
acksi
ntol
aught
er.
“Heyman,zi
pit
.Other
wisewe’l
lmakeyoutr
end
befor
eyoucanevenspel
ltheword‘
sor
ry’
.”
Theyl
augh,
bot
hoft
hem.
Nowit’
sMawande’
sturnt
obeshocked.Herbrot
her
i
slaughi
ng,
notj
ustwit
hanyone,
butBhambatha
Myeza.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER61
KHANYO

Call
ingBandlawasusel essbecauseIknewheleft
hi
sphonei nt hehouse.InMandeniIdon’
tknow
anyone,exceptTemaandNkonzowhosenumber sI
don’tknowbyhead.SoIcal ledmybrother,
ifhe
doesn’tki
llmet odayI
’l
lthr
owasur vi
valpart
yand
i
nvit
eev eryone.
He’ssti
ll
goingbackandf or
thwitht hestat i
on
commander ,t
hreat
eningt osuethem f or
disr
especti
ngandabusi ngme.Nowt hey’reclaiming
tohavenotknownany thingaboutt hekindofa
personIam.Apparently,Ishoul
dhav easi gnif
icant
l
ook; i
zi
phandlaandizi
ny ongo,andwearcal ami ne
onmyf ace.FunnyenoughIt oldthatugl ygiraff
e
overandoveragainthatIwashav i
ngv isions,buthe
wantedtoimpresswhi t
epeopl esohear restedme.
If
eelbadforal
waysdraggi
ngManduloint
omy
messthough.He’
snotwellyet
.Iwai
tonthechai
rs
whil
ehegoesbeserkont hepoli
ce,
ifIhadmyphone
wit
hmeIwoul d’
verecordedthewholescenef
or
social
media.Bl
ackonblackhate,t
heywould’
ve
neverarr
est
edmei fIwaswhi t
e.
“Mylawyer
swi
l
lbeintouch,
”Mandul
osay
sbef or
e
tur
ningt
omeandinst
ructi
ngmetogotothecar
outsi
de.
Bandlawal kst
hroughthedoorwithhisjacketi
n
hand.Hisfaceiscoveredinsweat.Lord,t
here’
s
anotherdramacomi ng.Thi
sisthe100t hti
meI
encounterprobl
emswhi lei
nhis‘care.
’
Ihearasi
ghf
rom Mandul
o.
Her
ewego…
“
You’
ref
inal
l
yher
e?”Hi
squest
ioni
saj
aboni
tsown.
Bandl
aisl
ookingatmetryi
ngtochecki
fI’
mfi
ne.I
don’
tknowifI
’
m angryathi
m orhappyt
ohavemy
fr
eedom.
“
Whathappened?
”heasks.
Mandul
opoi
ntsatt
hepol
i
cemanont
hef
rontdesk,
“
Askthem.
”
Het
urnst
ome,
“Makhany
i,l
et’
sgo.
”
Icl
earmythroatandlookatBandl
a.He’
shurti
ng,
andthat
’st
helastthi
ngIneedforhimri
ghtnow.
“
Go,
I’
ll
bri
ngy
ourbagt
omor
rowmor
ning,
”hesay
s.
“
Arey
ouf
eel
i
ngbet
ter
?”Iaskhi
m.
Henods.I’
m notconv
inced,
butthere’
snothi
ngIcan
doforhi
m.It’
soneofthosesit
uationswhereyou
hopeone’
sf amil
ywil
lhandl
ethings.
“Nyat
hi,
I’
m sor r
y.Thiswasanunfortunat
einci
dent
,I
wasn’
tinthehouse, IfoundoutwhenIgothome
fr
om mybr otherwhohadbeencal l
edbyoneofour
nei
ghbours.”
“
Okay
,”Mandul
osay
s.
Bandl
asi
ghs.
Iguessthat
’stheendoftheirconv
ersat
ion.Wehave
toleav
e,he’
llei
therenqui
reaboutitf
rom thepol
i
ce
orleav
easwel l.
I
tfeel
sgoodt obeoutsi
detheworl
dagain.Thatwas
Khanyo’
slongwalktofr
eedom.Ican’
tbeli
eveI
near
lyspentanightt
her
e.Mygoodness,Iwould’
ve
di
edi
nthoset
inyr
ooms.
“He’snotabadperson,
”Itell
Mandulo.Iknow
Bandlahashisimperf
ect
ions,butIhat
ehow
unfort
unateevent
skeeppoppi ngupandpaint
inga
badpictur
eofhimt omybr ot
her.
“
Ididn’tsayhewas,Ijustdon’
tunderstandhi
m asa
man.Butt hat
’snoneofmybusi ness,i
fyou’
rehappy
I
’m happy.”
That’
swhatpeopl
esayiftheydon’tbel
iev
einy
our
rel
ati
onshi
p-i
fyou’
rehappy,I
’m happy.
“
I’
m sor
ryImadey
oudr
iveal
lthi
sway
.Howar
eyou
f
eeli
ng?
”
“Physi
call
yI ’
m well
, mygir
lf
ri
endsendsmelongl i
sts
ofhealt
hyf oodtoeat .
”He’ssmil
i
ng,soam I.Il
ove
Nolwazi.“ButIcan’thel
pfeeli
ngl
ikeoneofthese
daysI’
llhavenor easontokeepholdi
ngon.”
NowIdon’
tunder
stand.
“
Meani
ng?
”Iask.
“
Lookatme,
Makhany
i.What
’sgoi
ngr
ighti
nmy
l
i
fe?”
“
Yourr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thNol
wazi
.”
Heshr
ugs,
“Yeah,butthat
’si
t.Mybiggestfeari
sthat
mymindmightf
ailtocarr
ymebef oreIgetachance
t
oshowmysonhowmuchIl ovehim.”
I
t’
seasytohelpaphysical
il
lper
son,y
ougiv
ehim
pai
ntabl
etsorinj
ect
ion.Anemoti
onali
ll
per
sonis
har
dtohelp.
“
May
beyouhav
etogetcounsel
l
ingorsomet
hing
l
i
ket
hat
.”
Heshakeshi
shead,
“Ij
ustwantmyl
i
feback.
”
Mybr
owssnap.
“Don’
ttel
lmey
ouwantThobekaback?
”Hemust
n’t
dare!
“Imi
ssmyli
fe,nother
.RightnowIdon’
tknowi
fI’
m
comi
ngorgoing,
”hesays.
“
Andwher
edoest
hatputNol
wazi
?”Iask.
“Nol
wazihasawholelif
eaheadofher.She’
sgoing
tohaveabri
ghtfut
ureandIprayshebecomes
happy,ev
enifshedoesn’
tendupwithme,”hesays.
“
Doy
oul
oveher
?”Iask.
“
Ido.Butmor
ethant
hat
,Icar
eabouther
,”hesay
s.
“Don’
tbreakherheart
.Shereal
lyl
ovesy
ou.Doi
tfor
her,t
akecareofyourmentalheal
th.
”
Hesmil
esf
aintl
y.Idon’
tknowifheget
sitorhest
il
l
want
stodwell
onnegativi
ty.
“Maybeyoushoul
dcomet
ochur
choneoft
hese
Sundays.
”
Hebur
stsi
ntol
aught
er.
Thatwasnotfunny.Imean,I
’
m notwhatIwasa
yearagobecauseofpray
ers.
“
I’
m ser
ious,
”Isay
.
“
Fast
eny
ourseat
bel
t,Makhany
i.
”
.
.
BANDLA

Hear
ri
veshomebef
oret
hecl
ockst
ri
ke9pm.He
l
ookslikeamess.He’ snotcompet i
ngwi t
hMandul o,
butnowi tdoesn’tsitwell
wi thhi
mt hathe’ salways
ther
etorescueKhany o.Nowhe’ squest i
oning
himsel
fasaman.Addi ngtohi ssorrowsi showt he
sit
uati
oni sathome.I t’
sli
keSqal o’
sdeat hbrokethe
famil
yapar t
.There’snowar mt hathome.Nouni t
y.
Somear enottalking.Everyoneisdoi ngtheirown
thi
ngandnotconsi deri
ngot her
s’feelings.
MaKhumaloseeshi mf i
rst
.She’sstil
lupbecause
shewaswai t
ingforhim.MaNt usihasgonet oput
Londainbed.Mawandewentout .Phethyi
sl ocked
i
nherroom, doingGodknowswhat .Nkonzowentt o
Zimbal
iwit
hhi sfiancé.Thakasaissitti
ngthere,not
speaki
ngtoany one.
“Wher
eisKaMayise?I
ssheal
ri
ght
?”MaKhumal
o
askswit
hconcer
n.
“
Herbr
othert
ookher
.She’
sal
ri
ght
,”Bandl
asay
s.
“Whatabouty
ou?Youdon’
tlookf
ine.Ar
eyou
hungr
y?”
Hesi
ghsandsi
tsont
hecouch.
MaKhumal
orubshi
sbackandbegshi
mtoeat
somet
hing.
“
Oryouwantsweet-potat
oesf
rom y
est
erday
?Ikept
t
hem i
nthef
ridge,
I’
lljust
…”
“
Ma,
please!
”hesi
ghs.
“
Whomadey
ouangr
y,myboy
?”
“
Ever
yone,
”hesay
s.
MaKhumalo’
sey eswiden.Shedoesn’
thavea
fav
ouri
te,
butwhenitcomest ohim herhear
t
devel
opsasoftspot.
“Noty
outoo.Whatdi
dNtombengcwel
eKhumalodo
thi
sti
me?
”sheasksrefer
ri
ngt
ohersel
fbyherbi
rt
h
name.
Thakasagl
ancesatherandgoesbackt
ohi
sphone.
“
Whycan’twegetalong?It’
sli
keSqalo’
sdeathdrove
t
hefamil
yapart.Ir
egretbuyi
nghim acar,
and
r
emovingthescrewdr
iverbecausehe’
dstil
lbeal
i
v e
t
oday.
”
Thakasal
if
tshisheadandlooksathim.Theydon’t
tal
kastheyusedto.Therehasn’
tbeenat i
mewhere
theysi
tdownandheal oneanotherabouthowSqal
o
l
eft
.
“Mthongathere’
snothi
ngyoucould’vedoneto
preventhi
sdeath.Yourmotherneedstotake
responsi
bil
i
tyforherwordsandactions.I
fitwasn’
t
forherSqalowouldbeali
vetoday.
”
“
Youbur
nimpephoandt
ell
yourf
ami
l
ytot
akemeas
wel
l
.”
Bandl ahi
tshisheadwi thfrust
rat
ion.Hestarts
groaningandshaki nghisbody.Thisishisbreaki
ng
point.He’sgaspingforairandsweating.Thereare
not earsbutpainalloverhim.
Thakasaj
umpsoffhi
schai
randcomestohi
m.
MaKhumalohasmarchedf
orthebot
tl
eofwat
er.
“Bandl
awhat’
sgoingon?”He’str
yingt
ocalm hi
m
down.Theyhaveneverwi
tnessedhim doi
ngt
his.I
t
l
ooksscary.
MaKhumal osprinkl
eswat
eronhisface.Hewri
ggles
outofThakasa’sgri
pandstormsout.Hegoesto
Sqal
o’srondavelandli
esonthefl
oor.
“
Ma,
youcan’
tthr
owwor
dsl
i
ket
hatar
ound.Wej
ust
l
ostabr
otherandnowy
ouwantt
odi
etoo,
”Thakasa
say
sindefeat
.
MaKhumal
o’sbr
owssnap.
“
Youdon’
tcar
e,”shesay
s.
Hesi
ghs.“
Wher
edi
dManqel
efi
ndy
ou?
”
“
Samepl
aceMaNt
usi
foundy
ou.
”
Theyr
ushoutandf
oll
owBandl
a.

Theyfi
ndhiml
yingont
hef
loor
,notcr
ying,
but
l
ookingdev
ast
ated.
“
Bandl
alet
hu,
”hi
smot
hercal
l
shi
m att
hedoor
.
Hedoesn’
tanswer
.
“
Mthonga,
”Thakasa.
St
il
l,
noanswer
.
Her eachestothewal landswitchest hel
ighton.
Booksar eneat
lystackedi nt
heircase.Sqal o’
s
pict
ureinhisschool unif
ormisf acingthedoorfrom
thetopofhissmall studydesk.Hi sscentissti
ll
every
wher ei
nthehouse.Hissuit
casest
hatNkonzo
fet
chedf r
om Dur
banareleaningbythewal
lneart
he
wardrobe.
Thakasasi
tsont
hebed,
looksar
oundandi
nhal
es
sharpl
y.
MaKhumalohassteppedinsidebutherdi
stancei
s
st
il
lahear
tbeatawayfrom thedoor.
“Idi
dn’tagreewit
hthechoi
ceshemadebutIl
oved
him.Isti
lldo,he’
l
lal
waysbemybaby.
”
Thakasat
urnshi
seyestoher.He’
sexhaust
ednow.
Hedoesn’
twanttof
ightany
mor e.
“Itwasn’thi
schoice,t
hat’
swhaty oudon’tget
.Just
l
ikey oudidn’
tchoosetobebor nattr
actedtoa
Manqel emanandt obest ubbor
n,healsodidn’t
chooset obeattr
actedtowhoev erhewasat t
racted
to,”hesays.
“Ist
il
l want edhimtobeaboyt hatIgavebir
thto.
We’l
l nev erresol
vethi
sifyouwantmet oli
e.Unlike
you,I
’llnev erl
ietoanyone.Evennow, her
e,infr
ont
ofhispi ctureandhopefull
yhisspir
itaswell,
”she
saysst eppingclosert
ot hedesk.Sqalo’
spictur
ei s
st
ari
ngbackather
.
“Myboy ,Ididn’
tli
kethechoicesyoumadeinli
fe.But
thatdoesn’tmeanIwant edyoutodie.Youweremy
baby,al
way swillbe.If
orgiv
ey ouandIhopeyoucan
forgi
vemet ooforthecarel
essthi
ngsIsai
d.”
Nobodysaysanyt
hing.Bandlai
sstil
lly
ingont
he
f
loor
.Thakasaisst
aringatthepi
cture.
“
There’
snoschoolforbei
ngamot her
.Youj
ustdoi
t
t
hebestwayy ouknowhow.Iguessmybestway
wasn’
tyourbest
,soIapol
ogizef
orthat,
”
MaKhumalosaystoThakasa.
“Yourbestwayofbei
ngamot
heri
stocal
lme
stupi
d?”heasks.
“Iacceptt
hatmyt
onguemaybesl
i
pper
yatt
imes,
but…”
“
Notatt
imes,
Ma,
”Bandl
adi
sagr
eesandsi
tsup.
“Defi
nit
elynotatt
imes.Ev eryt
imesomeonetellsyou
thatyou’
rewrong,youjustloseit
.Sqal
ocouldn’t
evenexplai
nhimselftoyoubecausey oudon’thave
l
isteni
ngskil
lsatal
l.”
“
Andy
ouhav
ethem?
”sheasks.
“I
’
llanswerthatwhenthediscussi
oni
saboutme.
Todaywe’retal
kingabouty
ou. ”
“Al
right,
goahead,”shepi cksSqal
opict
ureand
wipesitwithherhand.“Justknowthati
fy outel
lme
somet hi
ngony ourfeet,
I’
lltakei
tonmyf eetaswel
l
.
Don’texpectmet ositdown. ”
“Doesitmakeever
ythi
ngi
nval
i
difI
’
m onmyf
eet
?”
Thakasaasks.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“
Okay
,nowwe’r
esi
tti
ngdown.Whatisi
tgoi
ngt
o
t
akef
oryout
oacceptourpar
tner
s?”
“
Youhav
emany
.Whi
chonear
eyout
alki
ngabout
?”
Thakasachuckl
es,“
Ihav
etwo.Mywi
fe,
MaNt
usi
.
AndPhelo’
smot her
.”
“
Whodi
dn’
tIaccept
?”sheasks.
“
Phelo’smotherwhodoesn’twantatr
adi
ti
onal
weddingandalsoMaNtusibecause…”
“
Phel
o’smot
herneedst
obegr
oundedandy
ou’
re
f
ail
i
ng.Sheneedst
olear
ntor
especty
ou.
”
“Sherespect
sme,
”Thakasacomest
oKhosi
’
s
defense.
“
May bei
nbed,
”shesay
s.Bandl
ahol
dsbackhi
s
l
augh.
“
Bandl
alet
hut ur
nedKaMayisef
rom bei
ngast
ri
pper
i
ntoabeauti
ful,
God-
fear
ingwoman.”
“Shewasn’
tast
ri
pper
,”Bandl
aar
gueswi
thaf
rown
onhisf
ace.
“
Mypointi
s,i
fhechangezy ourchar
acter
,Phel
o’s
mot
herisgoi
ngtorespecthim andst
aygrounded.
”
Bandlanods,“
Iagr
ee.Li
stentoher
.Respecther
opi
nions.Andmostofal
l,lov
eher.
”
Thakasalaughs,
“Ar
eyout
woser
iousl
ygi
vi
ngme
rel
ati
onshipadvi
ce?
”
“
Ify
oubalancethi
ngsoutwi
thbot
hyourwomen
we’
ll
hav
el esschaosher
eathome,
”Bandl
asay
s.
“
Chaosi
sMaNt
usi
?”Thakasaasks.
“
Trustme,
thel
astt
hingweneedher
eist
heangr
y
MaNtusi
.Pl
easedon’
tunl
easht
hatcr
azywoman
ev
eragai
n.”
“
I’
dwakeupinthemi
ddl
eoft
heni
ghtt
ochecki
fI
wasst
il
lal
i
ve.
”
Laught
er!
“
Sowhenareyoucomingtochurch?Ithi
nkyouneed
t
olear
naboutpoly
gamyfrom y
ourelderssothat
y
oudon’tmessthi
ngsup.
”
Hescratcheshi
shead,“Church,Ma?I’v
edoneal ot
oft
hings,Idon’
tthi
nkIsti
ll
hav eaplacether
e.”
“Youdo.Thatwayyoucanaskf
orf
orgi
venessand
changeyourways.
”
“
Idon’
tknow.Ir
eal
l
ydon’
t.
”
Bandl
aisst
ari
ngathi
m.Hecannotdr
opoutof
chur
chnow.37year
slat
er?
!
.
.
BHAMBATHA
He’snev erreal l
yputhismindi nt
oitunti
lnow.She’s
here,inhishouse, somehow, hehastokeephis
brother’
sst andar ds.Whi
chisl i
kecompet i
ngwitha
deadbr other .Hedoesn’tevenknowwhatshel ikes.
Womenar edi f
ferent,
somel i
kehome- cookedmeals,
somel ikepi zzaandsomepr efert
obet akenout.
I
nsteadofguessi
ngandlookinglosti
ntheki
tchen,
hedecidest
ojustaskherst
raightup.
Heclear
shisthr
oat
.Shet
urnsherheadt
ohi
m.They
bot
hsmi l
e.Si
l
ly!
“
So,
whatdoy
oul
i
ket
oeatanddr
ink?
”heasks.
“I
fIsaychamomil
etea,
beefst
ewandst
eam br
ead
areyougoingt
omakeit?”
Hewr
inkl
eshi
snoseandchuckl
es.
“
Nott
oday
.ButIcangetsomeonetomakei
t
t
omor
rowandbuyyourtea,
”hesay
s.
She’
sfl
att
ered.
“
Giv
emewhat
every
ouhav
e,”shesay
s.
Hestandsst
il
l.St
ari
ngatherl
i
keshe’
sapr
eci
ous
st
one.
“
What
?”Shebl
i
nksl
i
keanowl
int
hesunshi
ne.
“
Ihav
ebraai
lef
t-
over
sandbr
eadr
oll
s.”He’
snott
hat
f
ondofhomeandhousel
i
fe.
“
Asl
ongasi
t’
snopor
k,”shesay
s.
That’
sareli
ef,al
thoughhefeelsbadaboutbr
ingi
ng
herheretofeedherlef
t-
overs.Hemental
lypl
ansa
breakf
asttr
iptomakeupf orit.
Hewar msupbeefsausagesandgr i
ll
edchickenthat
Nat himadeadaybef ore.Nathiwouldpr obabl
yt r
oll
himf orfeedingawomanl ef
t-
overs.Hemakest ea,
ev enthoughi t
’snottheoneshel ikes.Someone
from hisfri
endscamewi thRooibost eabags.May be
someonesai dteaboost ssexdrive,becausewhy
elsewoul doneoft hosef ool
sdrinktea?These
teabagsar eprobablythreemont hsoldorso.
Really
, Bhambatha?Fr
om l
eft-
overst
oexpir
ed
teabags.IfThakasafi
ndsoutaboutt
hishe’
d
defini
telychophim wi
thaheaver
.

Heser
vesherandsi
tsbesi
deher
.He’
snev
erbeen
t
hisscaredtohaveawomanar oundbef
ore.As
muchasMawandehasaccept edhim wi
thhis
i
mperfecti
ons,hest
il
lneedst
oupholdherstandar
ds.
“
Idon’
ttr
usty
ourt
ea,
”shesay
s.
Hi
shear
traces.Shecant
ell
thatheusedexpi
redt
ea
-
bagsf
rom thecup?
“
Wheredidy
ougetteabags?Iknowf
oraf
actt
hat
y
ouneverdr
inkt
ea,
”sheasks.
Hechokesdownl
aught
er.
“
Whatdoy
oumean?Ibuyt
eabags,
I’
m ahuman.
”
Shegivesheraside-
eyeandbri
ngsthecuptoher
l
ipstohaveaf i
rstsi
p.Somet
hingst
rikeshi
smind,
hiseyeswiden.
“
Wai
tMawande.
”Shef
rownsandl
ooksathi
m.
“
Expi
redt
eabagsdon’
tki
l
l,r
ight
?”
“Ser
iousl
y,Bhambat
ha,
youmademet
eawi
th
expi
redteabags?
”
“
Idon’
tknowifcof
fee-
shopsaresti
ll
sell
i
ngt
eaat
t
hist
ime.Idi
dn’
twanttodisappoi
ntyou.
”
Sher
oll
sherey
esandsi
ps.
“
Mawande!
”hegasps.
“I
’m notgoi
ngt odie.Teabagscanbeusedevena
yearaft
ertheirexpi
rati
ondate.Asl
ongasthey’
re
keptinasealedcont ai
nerwit
hnomoistur
e.”
Rel
i
ef!Rel
i
ef!Rel
i
ef!
“Nowyoucaneatandstopst
ari
ngatmelikeI
’m
JudgeJudyofpeopl
e’
shospi
tal
i
ty,
”shesays.
Hedoesn’tt
rusthi
mselfwi
thaguestl
ikeher.Now
t
hathe’srel
i
eved,het
akeshispl
ateandtheyeati
n
f
rontoftheTV.

Mawandecl eansupaf t
ereati
ng.Hehasgonet o
shower.Shehast heoppor t
unit
yt otourthehouse.I t
showst hathehadwomencomi ngher e.Styl
ish
curt
ains,cerami cvases,Afri
canfaceabst ract
canvasont hewal l.Onlyawomancandot his.Ther
e
arestri
nglightsint hepassages,shefeelsl i
kea
pri
ncessst eppinginsideacastleforthef i
rsttime.
Herey
eswi
denwhenshebumpsi
ntoahome
aquar
ium t
owar
dst
hedi
ningr
oom.He’
skeepi
ng
guppi
es?
“
Helikesfi
shes?”shemut
terst
ohersel
fkneel
i
ngi
n
f
rontofthetankandwat
chingr
ainbowfi
shes.
“Doyouwantt
ofeedt
hem?
”Hi
svoi
cecat
chesher
off
-guar
d.
“Ummm y es,
”shest
andsupandt
akesapacketof
pel
letf
ishfoodfr
om hi
shand.
“
Whydoy
oukeept
hem?
”sheasks.
“
Tol
ookf
ancy
,”hesay
s.
Shest
aresathi
m.
Hedoesn’tl
augh.That’
stheonl
yreason,i
t’
snotl
i
ke
he’
sgoingtoeatthesefi
shessomeday .
“You’
rewei
rd.
”Shet
hrowst
heguppiest
hei
rfood
andkneel
sdowntowatcht
hem eat
.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER62
TEMA

It
’sSat urdayaf t
er noon.Theywentt ochur chasa
family,wi t
hev eryoneexceptThakasa.Ev enthough
Nkonzoi sn’tsayingany t
hingabouthim, sheknows
thathi sbrother’snewchar acterbothershim.He
i
nstil
ledf ami l
yt r
adi t
ionsintot hem,yethe’sthef i
rst
onet odef yalloft hem.Nobodyknowswhenhe’ s
comi ngbackt owor k.Temahasbeenmanagi ng
thi
ngsar oundt heof ficewithnosi ngl
eupdat e.Now
she’sbasi call
ywor kingwi t
hNkonzo, which
somet i
mesgetwei rdbecauseasmuchast heyt r
yto
separ atebusinessf rom pleasure,bei
ngina
confinedspacef oreighthour sadayl eadsinto
somef ondlingandf orbiddenscenesbehi ndcl osed
doors.

Todayshecal
ledev
eryoneandi
nvi
tedt
hem f
or
di
nnerat7:
30pm.Thakasaandhi
sfami
ly–it
’l
lbeup
tohim whohebr i
ngs,andBandl aandhi spl
us-
one.
Phethyhasgonebackt oJobur g,Mawandewentt o
Manget heandnevercameback, soit’
l
lbethe
brother
sandt hei
rpart
ners.She’schangedintoa
shir
twaistdr
ess,fl
ip-
fl
opsandankar apri
nt
headwrap.Potsarecooking,she’srestl
essint
he
kit
chenasshet ri
estogetev er
y t
hingdone.
“CanIhel
p?”Nkonzoaskscomingf
rom behi
nd.He’
s
beeninhi
sstudyburi
edinsomework.Thakasa’
s
absencei
sfel
tbyeveryonei
ntheof
fice.
“
No,
babe,
goandr
elax.I
’
llmanage,
”shesay
s.
“
Whydi
dn’
tyout
ell
Khany
otocomeear
li
er?
”
“She’
scomi
ngfrom herbr
other’
shouseinDurban.
AndIwanthert
obeaguest ,j
ustli
keever
yone.”
Hisphonerings.Hegr
inswi
del
ybefor
eanswer
ing.
Hiseyesareonher,i
tmustbesomeonet
heyboth
l
ikeheari
ngf r
om.
“Wai
t,I
’
llgi
vehert
hephone,
”het
ell
stheper
son
bef
oregivi
nghert
hephone.
Shegl
ancesatt
hescr
eenbef
oreput
ti
ngt
hephone
agai
nstherear
.
“
HiMa,
”shesay
s.
“MaDube,every
onei sdressi
ngupandgoi
ngt
othe
dinnerIwasn’
tinv
itedto.”
Shesmi
l
eswi
thal
i
ttl
eey
erol
l
.
“You’r
emour ni
ngnje,andIwantedtounitet
he
sibl
ingssothattheycanspendsomet i
met oget
her
.
Youknowhowt oughthingshavebeen.ButIhav
e
somet hi
ngplannedforbothofustomorrow.”
Nkonzof
rowns.Hedi
dn’
tknowaboutt
hosepl
ans.
“I
tbett
erbesomet hi
ngnice.Whatdi
dyoudot
oget
Thakasatoacceptthei
nvit
ati
on?”
“
Bef
orewebecamet
hei
n-l
awshewasmybossand
myf
riend.
”
“He’
sbri
ngingbot
hhi
swomen,
ber
eadyt
obea
peacemaker.
”
Tema’
seyeswiden.He’sbr
ingi
ngt
heNomkhosi
too?
I
ssheoff
ici
all
yafamilymembernow?
“
NoMa,
Idon’
twantt
obecaughti
nbet
weent
wo
f
ight
ingwomen.
”
MaKhumal olaughs,“IknowMaNt usiget
sattacked
bydemonsatt i
mes,butshe’scert
ainl
ynotthattype.
I
fanyf i
ghtbreaksthereit’
l
lbebetweenThakasaand
Phelo’
smot her.
”Shesay sandimitat
esNomkhosi ,
“Thakasadon’tdothis.ThakasaIwantthi
s.Thakasa,
Thakasa,Thakasa!
”
Temabr eaksintoaf i
toflaughter
.Sheknows
MaKhumal ov erywell
.Somet hi
ngmust ’vehappened
bet
weenherandPhel o’smot her,
likeapetty
di
sagreement .Theyallst
artedthere;Khanyo,her
andlat
elyMaNt usi
.MaKhumal olikesgivi
ngpeoplea
har
dt i
me, evenherownki ds.
“
Enoughgossip!
”Nkonzosayssnat
chingt
hephone
f
rom herearandfi
nishi
ngt
heconver
sati
onwit
h
MaKhumalo.
.
.
THAKASA
They’
regetti
ngreadyfordi nneratNkonzo’shouse.
They’
l
l f
indNomkhosi there,itwasn’
thissuggesti
on
butMaNt usi
’s.I
fshe’
sgoi ngt obepartofthi
sfamily
sheneedst oknowever y
oneandunder st
andhow
thi
ngswor k.
“I
’m gi
vi
ngy oufi
veminutesnow,
”hesays
i
mpat i
entl
yashewalksintoherst
il
ldoi
ngwhathe
l
eftherdoingtenmi
nutesago;wrappi
ngherhead
andbrushi
nghereyebrows.
“
I’
m al
mostdone,
”shesay
s.
Heknowst hatshe’sj
ustbl
uff
ing,
sohesi
tsonbed
andwatchesherlikeahawk.
Londamoveshi
shandsandscratcheshi
sface.He
tr
iest
ocoverhi
m wit
hablanketbuthe’
snowawake
andli
cki
nghisl
i
ttl
eli
psf
orhismi l
k.
“I
’
vetakenhi
sbagandal
lbott
lest
othecar
,”
Thakasasay
spi
cki
nghim up.
“He’
sgoi
ngt
oscr
eam,
”MaNt
usi
say
str
yingt
ohur
ry
up.
“
Onl
yify
ouwer
en’
ttaki
ngt
hewhol
edayt
omar
inat
e
y
our
sel
f,
”hesay
sandget
sof
fbed.
“I
’
m notmari
nati
ngmysel
f,andbeside,
Ihavet
olook
beaut
if
uli
nyourarmt
oneut r
ali
zetheview.
”
Helaughs,
“Wow!Let
’sgobef
oreIchangemymi
nd
andhidemyugl
yfaceint
hisr
oom.”
Londa’
seyeslockwithhi
smot
her
’sasThakasa
headstowar
dst hedoor
.
“HeyKuhl
ekamama,
”she’
ssmi
l
ingandsnappi
ng
herfi
nger
sathi
m.
Hi
seyesshi
ftf
rom herf
acetoherfi
nger
s.Herhear
t
r
aces,
shesnapsherfi
nger
sagain.“
Wait
,Manqele!
”
Thakasastopsandl
ooksatLondaonhi
sshoul
der
.
MaNtusipoint
sherfi
ngerbet
weenhi
sbrow-
ri
dge,
he
bl
inksandshutshi
seyes.
“OhShembe,he’
sseei
ngmyf
ingerManqel
e.He’
s
seei
ngmyfinger
!”
“Wait
,ar
ey ousure?”Theygobackt othebedandlay
Londadown.Theyt esthi
m wi t
hthei
rfi
ngers,
then
fl
ashdif
ferentcol
orsinfrontofhi
m, hi
seyesfol
low.
MaNtusiiscryi
ng.Thakasaiscall
ingLonda’
s
optomet
ristandconfi
rmi
ngi
fwhatt
heyt
hinki
s
happeni
ngisreal
lytr
ue.
He’si
nstr
uctedt
oflashali
ghtonhi
sface.Hedoes,
Londa’
seyessqui
ntbutfol
lowthel
i
ght.Thi
sisi
t,hi
s
si
ghtisback!
“Pl
easebringhi
m onMondayforf
urt
her
examinat
ion,
”saysDrMci
neka.
MaNt
usi
isst
il
lcr
ying.Hepul
l
sherf
orahug.
“It
oldyouhewasgoi ngt obeal ri
ght.Theancestors
wouldn’
thav eforsakeny ou.Youcameher einnocent
andgavet heirhomet hewar mt htheyneeded.You’re
morethanj ustawi f
eher e,you’r
et hebackboneof
me,MaKhumal o’sfr
enemyandherf ir
stdaughter
-i
n-
l
aw.Nowt hemostcar i
ngmot herIknow,
ngi
yakuthandamkami .”
“Iloveyout
oo,Manqele.Thankyouforever
ythi
ng.”
Shewr apsherarmsaroundhiswaist
.Thakasa
kissesherl
ipsandwipesherwetcheekswithhis
hands.
“
Nowbothofyouar ecr
ying.Londai
scryi
ngf
orhi
s
mil
kandyou’
recr
yingforme,”hesays.
MaNtusi
chuckl
esandmov
esof
fhi
schestwi
tha
smi
le.
“
I’
m notcr
yingf
ory
ou.May
bel
aterIwi
l
l,
”shesay
s.
Hebi
teshi
sli
p.
“
NowI’m notev
eni
nter
est
edi
nTema’
sdi
nner
,Ij
ust
want‘
l
ater’
.
”
Thewatchistickingforward,butt
heyhave
somethi
ngt oprivatel
ycelebr
atebefor
eleavi
ng.
Thakasagoest othecart ogetonebott
leofmil
k
whil
eMaNt usistaresintoherson’
seyesand
wonderi
ngifheknowst hatshe’shi
smot her
.
.
.
THEREUNI
ON

Bandlaisthefi
rstonet
oar r
ive,
wi t
houtKhanyo
though.He’sal
one,weari
ngagr eypantandgolfT-
shir
t.Anyonecaneasil
ytel
lthatthi
ngsaren’
tokay.
“
Wher
eisKhany
o?”Temaasks.
Khanyoi stheonl
ywomansheknowsandget salong
withinthisfami
ly,
ifPhethyisn’
tincl
uded.She
doesn’tknowMaNt usithatwell
.She’smet
Nomkhosi ,butt
heirl
it
tl
eencount erdi
dn’
tbuil
dintoa
fr
iendship.
“
She’
scomi
ng,
”Bandl
asay
s.
Nofurt
herquesti
onisasked.I
fhesaysshe’s
comingthenshe’
scoming.Temaisabi tr
eli
eved,
shesendsatexttoKhanyotoconf
ir
m, andindeed
she’
sonherway .
Hedisappear
swithNkonzotothebalcony.
Every
thi
ngissetbutshe’
ssti
ll
rest
less.Thisi
sher
fi
rstt
imehosti
ngaManqel edi
nner
, ever
ythi
ng
needstobeinorder
.

“
Tema!
”Thakasa’
svoi
cecomesf
rom t
hedoor
.
Shesmi
l
es,
“Heeey
.”
Theyhug.MaNtusi
standsasidewithhersoni
nher
arms.Sheseemstoberelaxedthanhowsheusual
l
y
i
s.
“Howarey
ou?
”Temaasksandt
akesLondaf
rom
herar
ms.
“
I’
m good,
howar
eyou?
”MaNt
usi
.
“Notcompl
aini
ng.Yourboyi
sgr
owi
ng,
hel
ooks
handsome.
”
“
Babi
esgr
owf
ast
.You’
l
lseei
toneday
,”shesay
s.
Temachuckl
esandgi
vesLondaback.“
Isheonany
tr
eat
ment?”
“
No,actual
lyhe’
sfine.Ev
eryt
hingi
sperf
ectl
yfi
ne
wi
thhim.”ShelooksatThakasaandsmil
es.
Hesmi
l
esbackather
.Okaaay
!
“
Ithoughthi
sey
eswer
e…”Thakasacut
shershor
t.
“Theydi
dn’tdi
sappointinthispar
ti
cularsi
tuat
ion.
He’sokaynow.”He’srefer
ringtohisancestor
s.He
hasn’
tforgi
venthem forSqalo’
sdeathy et
,butfor
thi
sinst
ancehe’sgrateful
.
“Sodoyouneedanyhel
poryouar
easuper
woman
asusual
?”MaNtusi
askswi
thacheekysmi
l
e.
Temachuckl
es,
“Notr
eal
l
y.Isenti
nvi
tat
ionsnotf
or
y
out
ocomeandwor
k.You’
reguest
s.”
“
Asusual
,
”MaNt
usi
chuckl
esandr
oll
sherey
es.
Thakasagiv
esheral
i
ttl
esmi
rkandt
akesLonda
fr
om her.
“
Ithi
nky
out
woneedt
otal
k,
”hesay
s.
“Manqel
e,Ist
il
lneedt
ofeedhi
m hi
sbot
tl
e,
”she
says.
Hewal
ksaway
.“I
’
m nothandi
capped,
I’
ll
feedhi
m.”
Shesi
ghsandt
urnsbackt
oTemawi
thherhandson
thehi
p.
“
Soyourbosst
hinksweneedtotal
k.What
’sup?I
t
houghtwewer
egood,”sheasks.
“Ir
eal
l
ydon’
tunder
standwhyyou’r
ealway
sact
ing
upwit
hme.WhatdidIdowrong?”Tema.
“
I’
m al
waysacti
ngup?Youtooksidesi
nsomet
hing
t
hathadnot
hingtodowit
hyou.”
“
Whatsi
de?
”Temaf
rowns.
“
MaKhumal
oandIhadobvi
ousi
ssuesandyoutr
ied
y
ourut
mostbestt
ouset
hattoy
ouradvant
age.I
al
waysfeltli
key
ouwerebeingt
hisglor
if
yingwif
e
andsnubbingme,whoatt
hemomentwast he
under
dog,andyougotawaywit
hit.
”
“May bey ouandIhav en’
tsatandi ntroduced
oursel vest ooneanot her.Letmet elly ousomet hing,
i
fy ouev erseem megl orif
y i
ngsomeoneknowt hat
I’
mj ustr eci procat i
ngt hatglory.Heear nedi t.I
fy ou
seemebei ngsubmi ssiv
eknowt hatI’m bei ng
tr
eat edr ight .Ijoi
nedchur chbecauseNkonzohad
prov enhi msel ftome.If el
l i
nlovewi thMaKhumal o
because, despi t
eherj udgingmeatf irst ,
she
event uallywel comedmewar mly ,wit
hmyscar sand
every thi
ng.I ’vebeenmar riedbefor e,thaty ouknow,
sot hel astt hingI ’
lleverdoi stoi nvolvemy selfin
someoneel se’smar it
alissues.Ihadnor easont o
choosesi desbet weeny ouandMaKhumal o.Iknow
howt oughmar ri
agecanget ,soI ’
llnev erj udge
anyone.I fyouopenedy ourhear ttomeIwoul dn’t
havekeptmydi stance.Igav eyouspacebecausei t
l
ookedl ikey ouneededi t.”
“
Soy
oudon’
thav
eany
thi
ngagai
nstme?
”MaNt
usi
.
“
Geez,
MaNt
usi
,youshoul
dbeshowi
ngmear
ound
andt eachi
ngmet heManqelet
radi
ti
onsand
techniquestosurv
ivet
heMaKhumal oseasonal
fever.Notfi
ghti
ngme,Ihavenothi
ngbutrespectf
or
you.”
Shelaughsandopenst
hef
ri
dget
ogetsomet
hingt
o
dri
nk.
“Iwi
shIhadt hosetechniques.Buttr
ustme,she’s
notbadassheseems.I ’
vebeenl i
vi
ngwithherfor
year
s,lucki
lyforyouNkonzomov edoutear
ly.You’
ll
surv
ive,shelovesherfamily
.”
“Justli
keThakasa.He’
safamil
yman.I’m happyt
o
seey ouguysbacktoget
herandhappy
.”
“Trustme,
ittookalotforustogether
e.IthoughtI
wasdone,Ithinkwebothdid.Butmarr
iageisnever
easy,wehadt ost
icktoourvowsandforgi
v eeach
other.
”
“
You’
rehappy
?”Temaasks.
“Wheny
ou’r
eatpeace,
happi
nessbecomesan
aut
omati
cthi
ng.Il
ovemyhusband,
”shesay
s.
Temanodsandsi
ghs.
“Doyout
hinkNkonzowill
takeasecondwi
feone
dayaswel
l?”sheasks.
“That’
saconv er
sati
onyoumusthav ewit
hhim.Just
communi cat
eeffect
ivel
ysothatyoudon’
tfi
nd
yoursel
finmysituat
iononeday.”
Ther
e’sacl
ucki
ngofst
il
ett
osast
hepersonscut
tl
es
i
n.Theybot
hturnt
hei
rheadst
othedoor.
Theoneandonl
yNomkhosi i
nawhitecli
nched-
waistt
opandbl
ackpenci
lski
rt.Whi
tetopanda
baby?Thi
smustbeawell
-manneredbaby.
Rel
i
efdwell
sonherf
aceasherey
esl
andon
MaNtusi
.
“
Am Il
ate?
”sheasks.
“Yes,seemingl
yev ery
oneisrunni
ngl
ate.Wealso
gotherefiv
emi nutesago.Whyareyouweari
ng
white?”MaNtusiasksputti
ngawaythedri
nkshehad
i
nherhandandt akingPhel
o.
“
It
’smyf
avour
it
e.Phel
oget
sthedr
il
l,
”shesay
s.
“CanIhaveherf
oradayandy outakeLonda,
becausewow!”Theybot
hlaugh.
“
YouandMaDubehavemetbef
ore.Noneedf
or
i
ntr
oduct
ions,
”MaNt
usi
say
s.
Theyexchangefor
mali
ti
es,
huganddi
vei
ntoa
normalconver
sati
on.
“
Wher
e’sLonda?Igoty
ourmessage,
”Khosi
asks.
“He’
swit
hothermenout si
de.Thi
sist
hehappi
est
dayofmyli
fe.Ist
il
lcan’
tbeli
evei
t!
”
“I
’
m happyaswell
.Hopeful
l
ythosel
i
ttl
eey
esdidn’
t
gai
nv i
sionf
orhi
mt oseewomenwhenhegrows
up.”
MaNtusilaughs,“
Iwantadaught
er-
in-
law,hemust
puthisvi
sionint
ogooduse.Iwantnouglygir
linmy
house,hemustlookcaref
ull
y.
”
“
Hhay
i-
bo,
youcan’
tchoosef
orhi
m,”Temasay
s.
“Whynot?I’
ll
pul
laMaKhumal
oifhet
hinks
other
wise.
”
Laught
erer
upt
s!

Temacal
l
sNkonzot
othedi
ningr
oom.Ev
ery
one
comesinandgat
hersar
oundthetabl
e.Khany
o
hasn’
tar
ri
vedandBandl
aisworr
ied.
Phel
osnugglesontoherfat
her
.It
’sbeenawhil
e
si
ncethey
’veseenoneanother
.LondaisonKhosi
’
s
l
ap.MaNtusiishel
pingTemadishupandserv
e
ar
oundthetable.
Thelastguestf
inal
l
yarri
ves.Temahol
dsbackher
scr
eam.Nowdi nnerhasoffi
cial
l
yst
art
ed.
“
Whatkepty
ousol
ong?
”sheaskshuggi
ngKhany
o.
“Ihadtostar
tsomewher
ebef
orecomi
ngher
e.Hel
l
o,
every
one.”
Theygreetherback.Shepl
antsakissonBandl a’s
l
ips.Al
leyesturntothem.Shedoesn’tcar
e,even
whenThakasast ar
esatherlongert
hanany one’s.
ShesitsnexttoBandl
aandl
ooksatev
ery
one
aroundthetable.
“
YouknowMaNt
usi
,ri
ght
?”Tema.
Shenods,
“Yeah,
thef
ace.
”
“That
’sPhel
o’smotheroverther
e,NomkhosiNsel
e.
Youknowy ourf
uturehusbands,t
here’
snoneedfor
met
oint
roducet
hem.
”
“Yeap,
”shesi
ghsandr
eachesf
oragl
assofj
uice
andgulpsi
tdown.
“It
houghty
ouweren’tcoming,
”Bandl
asay
sin
almostwhi
sperpi
nchingherhand.
Shesmi
l
esf
aint
ly.
“
Iwoul
dn’
thav
edi
sappoi
ntedt
heDubepr
incess.
Howar
eyou?”
“
Happynowt
haty
ou’
reher
e.”
“
Good.Ar
eyougoi
ngt
odr
ivemebackt
oDur
ban
l
ater
?”
Hef
rowns,
“You’
regoi
ngback?
”
“
Yes.
”
“
Why
?”
“
Becausemybrot
heri
ssuici
dalandhe’
stheonl
y
f
amil
yIhave,
soIhavetokeepaneyeonhim.”
“
Ididn’
tknowt
hat
.What
’swr
ongwi
thhi
m?”Bandl
a
f
rowns.
“
Askt
hem;
thehappyf
ami
l
y.”
Ther
e’samomentofsi
l
ence.
Shelooksatt
hem;
MaNt
usi
,thebaby
mamaand
Thakasa.
“Youallgotahappyending,ri
ght?Ev
eryoneis
l
aughing;kiki
ki.Theonlypersonwho’ssti
ll
suff
eri
ngf r
om thetr
iangl
e…orwasi tarectangl
e?
It
’smybr ot
her.Theonewhogothi mintothismess
i
snowl ivi
ngahappily-
ever-
afteri
nherpoly
gamous
marri
age.”
“ButItol
dy ourbrotherIwassti
l
l sort
ingt hingsout
?
Youdon’tsleepwi t
hsomeone’swi feandt hen
thr
eatentokillyour
selfwhenthingsdon’ tgoy our
ownway ,”Thakasasay s,sl
i
ghtl
yi r
ri
tated.
“Andyou’
regoingtotakey
ourpr
ecioust
ime
becauseyoudon’tcar
e.MaNt
usishoul
dbefi
ght
ing
forr
ight
eousness.”
“Myhusbandagreedt
olethim hav
earel
ationship
wit
hLonda.Mymai npri
ori
tywasmyson’shealth.
Whatdidyouexpectmetodo?”MaNtusisaysin
def
ense.
“
Yout ookmybr otherforari
de.Hehadtomai ntai
n
y
ouunt il
yourhusbandt ookyouback.Nowt hat
t
hingsaregoody ou’r
enotkeepingthesameener gy
t
oensur ethathegetsachancet oseehisson.”
“Mygoodness,ar
ey oubeingseri
ousri
ghtnow?I
’m
marri
ed,Idi
scussthingswit
hmyhusband.Mandulo
shoul
dbepat i
ent
,Londaisfine,
hejustgai
nedhi
s
vi
sionback.
”
“Di
dyoutellhi
mt hatoritwasjustf
oryouand
‘
Manqele’t
ocelebrate?BecauseI’
m Londa’
saunt
andasfarasIknowhe’ sbli
nd.”
Thakasai
snowf
edup.
“Okay,you’r
enotgoingt
ogobackandforthwitha
seniorwifeofthi
sfamil
y,
”hesaysf
ir
mly.He’
snow
enraged.Thiswassupposedtobeafamil
ydinner
,
notacour tofcust
odycase.
Khanyopushesbackherchai
randgat
her
sherbag
andcell
phone.
“
I’
m notsit
ti
ngher
eandwat
chi
ngt
his,
”shemut
ter
s
f
uri
ously
.
Bandl
agetsoffhi
schai
rfr
eakedout
.Thi
sshoul
dn’
t
beget
tingoutofhandl
i
kethi
s.
“
Babe,
pleasesi
tdown.
”
“I
’
llnev
ergetmarri
edt
oaf
ami
l
ythatcausedmy
brot
her’
sdeat
h.”
Hefrowns.Howcanshesayt hat
?Nowhe’sbei
ng
hel
dr esponsi
blef
orsomethi
nghepl
ayednoparti
n.
Pai
nr efl
ectsi
nhiseyes.
“
Don’ttal
kli
kethat.Thi
scanbesor
ted,
”hesay
s
f
oll
owingherbehind.
“I’
mt ell
ingyou,Bandlal
ethu.Ionlyhaveabrot
herin
thiswor l
d.Nooneel se.I
fhedi esbecauseofyour
brotherandhiswi f
eI ’
m notgoingtobepartofthis
family.You’dhavetochoosebet weenmeandt hem.
Imeani t !
”
“
Canwet
alk?
”heasks.
“Yes,
butnoti
nthi
sri
dicul
ousdi
nner
.Ify
ouwantme,
comewithme.”
Hest
opsandglancesback.Every
oneisl
ookingat
hi
m.Thakasa’
seyesaresharpli
keasetofneedl
es.
Theyhav
enot
hingbutbr
ewi
nganger
.
“
Khany
o,pl
ease!
”
“
Bye,
Bandl
a.”
Hesi
ghsandf
oll
owsherout
.
“
Wow!
”someoneatt
het
abl
esay
s.
Ever
yoneisst
unned.Whatdi
djusthappen?Bandl
a
l
eftf
amilydi
nnerf
orawoman.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER63

Alongmomentofsi l
encepasses.Nobodybr eat
hes
awor d.Event
uallythere’
ssomemov ement .I
t’s
MaNt usil
eavi
ngwi thaser viet
teoverhereyes.She’s
cry
ing.Shenev erthoughtshe’dbesheddingt earson
thi
sday ;t
hedayhersonf inall
ygai
nshisv i
sionback.
Butheresheisnow, cuddledupont hebathroom
fl
oorandcr yi
ngherey esout .
“CanIcheckonher
?”Khosi
asksdi
rect
ingat
Thakasa.
Hedoesn’trespond.He’sst i
ll
furi
ousaboutt he
dramathatjustunfol
ded, andthefactthatBandlalet
hi
swomant alkanyhowwi t
hhim andthenleftwith
her.Hecanst andbei
ngt alkedtothatwayby
Nomkhosi because,well
,she’sthemot herofhis
chil
dandhel ovesher.Buthecan’ tt
akeitfrom
anyoneelse.
NkonzotakesLonda,
Khosi
leav
est
het
abl
eand
headstowardst
hebathr
oom.
“Ihavet ocheckonKhany o.”Temapushesbackher
chairandleaveswithherphone.HerandKhany otal
k
everyday.Sheknewt hatherbrotherhadmov edback
homet obeclosert
oher ,butshedidn’tknowthi
ngs
weret hatbad.
Thakasat
akesasipfr
om hi
sdr
inkandwi
peshi
s
for
eheadwit
hacloth.
“Don’
tmakehim choosebet
weenusandher
.It
’s
unfai
r.Hel
ovesher,
”Nkonzosay
s.
“Shemadehi
m choose.Notme.Andhe’
l
lchoose
her.
”
“
Hedoesn’thavet
o.Pl
easel
ett
hemanseet
heboy
,”
Nkonzobegs.
“He’sgotweak- assancestors.WhatifLondaloses
hisvisi
onunderhi scareagain?Ididn’tsayhe’
ll
neverseet hebaby,IsaidIwi l
ll
ett
hem hav ea
rel
ationshi
pt hr
oughhissister.Al
ltheyneedt odoi
s
waituntilI
’
m sur enot
hingwi ll
gowr ong.Londaisa
verysensit
iveboy .
”
“Buti
tki
ndalookedbad.Imeanal
lofy
ouaregood
now,i
t’
sjusthi
m.Wear enotasel
fi
shfami
l
y,t
hat
shoul
dneverbeapi ct
urewepor tr
aytopeople.I
f
MaNtusicanacceptPhelo’
smot herandl
oveher
chi
ldwit
hnoboundar i
es,surel
yyoucandot he
same.”
“I’
m notgoi ngt obefriendswi thhim.Andi fKhanyo
callsI’
m goi ngtotellherthesamet hingI ’
vebeen
tel
lingherov erandov eragain;‘I
'
lll
ety ouknowwhen
i
t’ssaf eforhi mtov i
sit.
’Theirancest orsnearlyki
l
led
herf orthatuselessgi f
tofher s.Theycoul dn’tdoone
thingright;protect
ingherbr otherfrom mar ryinga
l
oosewoman.NowImustsendababyt hathas
ancest orsbat t
li
ngov erhisheadt ot hem? ”
“Thenadv isehim whi chstepst otakeinor derto
maket hi
ngsr i
ght.Iknowy ouknowhowt hingsare
done.Youwer efor t
unateenought ohaveaf at
her
whot aughty ouev erythi
ng.That ’
sachi l
d-headed
family.Theydon’ tknowany thing.Evenher
discoveri
ngt hatgiftwasbecauseofBandl a.Thisi
s
goingt otakeat ollonBandl a.Idon’ tknowabouty ou
butI’m notreadyt oloseanot herbrother.
”
Temawalksbackin.Theyi
mmediatel
ycutt
he
conv
ersat
ion.Nowthey’
rej
ustgoi
ngtoeatand
depar
t.

Nomkhosifi
ndsfindsMaNtusi
cryi
ngonthe
bathr
oom f
loorandexhal
esbefor
etouchi
ngher
shoul
der
.
“
What
’sr
eal
l
ygoi
ngon?
”sheasks.
MaNt
usi
wipesherey
esandsni
ff
sbackt
ear
s.
“Ineverusedherbrot
her
.Manqel
eneverst
opped
maintaini
ngmeashi swi
feevenwhenIwasaway.
Mandul oandIbothwant
edthesamethi
ng;Londat
o
bef i
ne.”
“I
’mreal
l
ysor
ry.Maybewhenbothofyouhav
e
cal
meddowny oucantal
kthi
ngsthr
ough.
”
“Ican’
tt al
ktosomeonewhobehav esl i
kethat.She’
s
nowf i
ght i
ngwithme.Imaynotbecommuni cat
ing
withthem regardingt
hebaby ,butI
’vebeentalki
ngto
Manqel eaboutit.Heknowst hatIwantLondat o
knowhi sfatherandherecentlyagreedtoi
t.NowI
mustj eopardi
zemymar riageandson’shealthto
nurseherbr ot
her’smentalhealt
hthatwas…”
Khosi i
nterf
eres,
“Ihearyou.Justcalm downand
haveaconv er
sati
onwithThakasa.Idon’tthi
nkit
’s
heal
thyf orLondatohavebot hancestorsandli
vi
ng
famil
iesf i
ghti
ngoverhim.”
Sheget
supfrom t
hef
loorandgoest
othemi
rr
ort
o
cl
eanherf
ace.

KHANYO

Excepthi m aski ngmei fI’m hungryalongt heway ,

ourjour neyhasbeenf il
ledwi t
hsi l
ence.Wedof ight
,
butsilentt reat menti snotourcodeofconduct .Ifeel
badf orr uiningTema’ sper fectdinner,butmy
emot ionscaughtf lamesofangerwhenIsawt hat
happyf ami l
y .Mandul oi snowt heonl ybadguy , t
hey
alldecidedt owor kthingsoutandkeephi mi nt he
dark.Iexpect edsomet hingfrom Nothile,from whatI
heardsheknowsmybr othertosomeext ent.She
shouldbef eel i
ngsomesy mpat hytowar dshi m.DoI
regrettalkingt ohert hatwaybecauseshe’ st he
seniorwi fe?No, atthatmomentIwasaddr essing
mybr
other
’sbaby
mama.
Hi
sphoner
ingsagai
n.Hei
gnor
esi
tandkeeps
dr
ivi
ng.
“
Itcoul
dbei
mpor
tant
,”Isay
.
“
Khany
o,pl
ease.I
’
mtr
yingt
othi
nk,
”hesay
s.
“
Thi
nkaboutwhat
?”Iask.
“Aboutthiswholethi
ng.Youar guedwi thmybrother
i
nf rontofthefamil
y.Khanyo,that’
sthemost
disr
espectfult
hinganyonecandoi nmyf amil
y.
Wheni tcomest ohimthere’salinethatnobody
crosses,andyoucrossedit.NowIhav etothi
nkhow
we’regoingtomaket hi
ngsr i
ght.”
Thi
sisunbel
i
evabl
e!
“Bandla,Idon’
tcar
eaboutyourbr
other’
segoright
now.Di dyouhearmesay i
ngmybrotherisnot
copingment al
ly
?”Iask.
“Iheardyouverywell.I
fyouhadletmehandl e
thi
ngsandnotdi sr
espectmybr othert
hings
would’vebeeneasy.Nowwehav etostartby
apologizi
ngtohim befor
etal
kingaboutLonda’s
case.
”
“
Hecanholdt
hatagainstMandul
o?”I
’
m shocked.I
s
t
hathowcol
d-hear
tedheis?
“Idon’tknowifyougetit,butyou’
reanel deratthe
May ises.You’
reanaunt,Mandulo’ssister.You
representthefamil
y.Ihatetosaythis,butonthis
one, Thakasahasthelastword.It
’shiswayorno
way .Throwingtant
rumswon’ thel
p,ifhesay swait,
youwai t.”
“Idon’
tthi
nkhecar
es.AndIdon’
tthinkyoucare
aboutmyf ami
l
ythesamewayIcar eaboutyour
s.”
“It
alkedtohi
m, Khanyo.Whatdoy
oumean?
”He’
s
seri
ouslyact
ingconfusednow.
“Imeandosomet hing,manupf orme.Ican’teven
beawayf r
om homebecauseIhav etotakecareof
mybr other.Hehasn’ tbeenworkinginoveramont h,
youknowt hat.That’sthesamemany ouwantto
sendy ourbrideoff.IfhediesIhavenoone.Literal
ly
noone! ”Myemot i
onsar erunni
ngwi l
dandthat’sthe
l
astthingIneedwhi lewe’reontheroad.
“
Doy
out
hinkhav
ingLondai
sgoi
ngt
ohel
phi
s
si
tuat
ion?Hi
sissuesar
ebey
ondt
hissi
tuat
ion,
”he
asks.
“Doyout hinknothavi
nghimishel
ping?
”Hecannot
answerbecausehi squest
ionwasn’
twellt
houghti
n
thefi
rstplace.
“Ar
eyougoi
ngtohel
pme?Bandl
a,Ial
way
sbendmy
backwheni
tcomestoy
ouandyour…”
Hesi
ghs,“
Iwi
l
l.Okay
?Iwi
l
ltur
nagai
nstmyf
ami
l
y
f
oryou.
”
I
fhethi
nksputti
ngitthatwayisgoi
ngtomakeme
f
eelgui
l
tythenhe’smistaken.I
’
mv er
ymuchhappy
t
ohearit
.Hispainisalwaysmypain,i
t’
sti
mehe
r
etur
nsthefavor
.

Wearri
veatMandul
o’shouse.Theout
sidel
i
ght
sar
e
t
urnedon,whi
chmeanshe’shome.
It
urnt
oBandl
abehi
ndt
hewheel
.
“
Arey
oucomi
ngi
n?”Iask.
“
No,
”hesay
sandsi
ghs.
“
Justcomeandgr
eet
.”
“I
’
llswi
ngbytomorr
ow.Whatt
imear
eyougoi
ng
backtoBer
gvi
ll
e?”
“He’
sfet
chi
nghisbloodt
estresul
tsf
rom t
he
hospi
tal
at13h00thenwe’
ll
leave.
”
“
I’
ll
comebefore13h00then.Pleasesendmeat
ext
whenyou’
rei
nbedsot hatIcancall
.”
Ikisshisli
ps.Ittakeshim asecondtoki ssmeback.
Idon’tknowhowhe’ sgoingtofacehissi bl
ingsaf
ter
wal ki
ngoutont hem, heseemsbot heredbyi t.
Most l
y,mear guingwithhisbrot
her.It
’slikethe
biggestsi
noft hem all.
“
Dri
vesaf
ely
.Il
ovey
ou.
”
Henods,
“Il
ovey
out
oo.
”
Myhear tbr
eakswhenIseehi m drivi
ngawaybut
ManduloandNot hi
leputusintothis.I
’v
edonemy
besttostayneut
ralbecause,t
osomeext ent
,I
underst
andThakasa’sanger.Butifyouthrowmy
brot
hertothewolvesI’
llcomebackl eadingt
hepack.
He’
sly
ingont
hecouchcov
eredi
naf
leecebl
anket
.
Myeyesl
andont
hebeerbot
tl
ehi
ddenundert
he
t
abl
e.
“
Whowasher
e?”Iask.
“
Hel
l
otoy
out
oo,
Makhany
i.
”
Ithr
owmybagont
het
abl
eandsl
i
dedownont
he
couch.
“Ithoughtweagreedthatyou’
llmaint
ainaheal
thy
dietforthi
swhi
le.”Ist
areathim.Helookssli
ghtl
y
drunk,IknowIshouldn’
tbejudginghi
m butIcan’
t
helpit.
“
Itwasj
ustonebeer
,”hesay
s.
“
Yeah,andnexti
t’
llbetwo,t
henvodkaandweed.A
y
earlat
erit
’l
lbenyaope,
”Isay.
Hebr
eaksi
ntol
aught
er.
“
You’
redr
amat
ic.Howdi
dthedinnergo?It
hought
y
ou’
dcomebacklat
ert
hanthi
s.”
“
Ilef
tbef
orei
tst
art
ed.
”
Hesi
ghs,
“Whatdi
dyoudo?
”
“
Londawast
her
e.Thakasa’
sdaught
erandher
mot herwerealsothere.ShehadLondaonherl ap,
thebaby mama, whileherdaughterwasonher
father’
slap.Yourbaby mamawasonwi feyduti
es.
Everyonewaski ki’
ng,soIcall
edt hehappyf amil
yout
andIwast ol
dev er
ythingi
sfinebecauseLondahas
regainedhisvisi
on.Thakasacaughtf eeli
ngson
behalfofhiswi f
eandIl ef
twithhisbrother.
”
“Heregai
nedhi
svisi
on?”He’
ssatup.Hi
sfor
eheadi
s
creasedi
ntoaf
orehead.
“Apparent
ly,
yes.ButIdon’
tthi
nkwe’
llseehim
anyti
mesoonbecauseofwhatIdi dt
oday .
”
“
You’
l
lhav
etoapol
ogize.Idon’
twantanyprobl
ems
wi
tht
hatf
amil
yagai
n.”He’sunbel
i
evable!
WhydoIhav etoapologi
zeforspeaki
ngup?I’
mthe
onewho’salwaysheretoli
stent
ohisprobl
ems,
whichi
ncludethatbabyboy.
“
I’
m notapol
ogi
zi
ng,
”Isay
.
“Makhanyi,t
hatmani sgoi
ngtobeinmyson’slif
e
for
ev er
.I’
m notsayi
ngyoudidabadthingbecauseI
knowwhoy ouareasmysisterandIl
oveyouto
death.Butsometimesyouhavetoapol
ogize
becauseyouchoosepeaceov
erbei
ngr
ight
.That’
s
whatIaskfrom y
ou,f
ormeandhimtobeatpeace,
apologi
ze.
”
“Iact
uall
ydi
dn’tsayany
thi
ngt ohi
m.Iwas
addressi
ngyourbabymama,”Isay
.
“
Don’
tsayt
hat
.JesusChr
ist
,he’
l
lthi
nkIwanther
!”
“He’
syourbabymama,
thatwon’
tchangebecause
he’
sinsecur
e.”
Helaughsandli
esbackonthecouch.“NowI
under
standwhymom neverli
kedyouraunt
s.Aunt
s
areal
way sapr
oblem.
”
“
Whatdoy oumean?I’
vebeenniceformonths.But
f
oryou,
I’
llapol
ogi
zetoyourbabymama,even
t
houghI’
m notsor
ry.
”
“
Thanky
ou.Whyi
hwanqal
akhodi
dn’
tseey
oui
n?”
“Comeon,youdon’
tli
kehi
m.He’
sobv
iousl
y
avoi
dingy
ou.”
“DoIhavet
oli
keanot
herman?
”heaskswi
tha
chuckl
e.
“
Notnecessar
il
y,buty
oudon’
thav
etobenast
y.”He
al
waysmakest hi
ngsawkwar df
orBandla,
under
standabl
eso,Ist
il
lthi
nkhecantrytomeethi
m
hal
fway.Wouldn’
thebeinLonda’
sli
feasanuncle
aswell
?
“
Didy
ouor
deranyf
ood?
”Iask.
“
Yes,
butIdi
dn’
tleav
eanyt
hingbecauseIt
hought
y
ouwereeat
ingwherey
ouwer e,
”hesays.
Yawn!DidIsayIdidn’tregretmyact i
onsonebi
t?
Well
,scrat
cht hat
,Iactuall
ywi shIcoul
d’v
ewait
ed
unt
ilIhadeatenbeforepoppi ngoff.
.
.
BHAMBATHA

Hemaybet ryi
ngtoohard,buthav
ingfri
endslike
Nathimeansy ou’
real
way smakingstupiddeci
sions
andaf ooloutofyour
self
.Todayhe’sherewitha
breakf
asttakeawayandbunchoff l
owersbecause
Nathiquesti
onedhissenseofromance.Hel ef
this
carattheShisany
amaandcamebyf oottoavoid
at
tract
ingat
tent
ion.
They’redoingt heirthi
ng.It
’soffi
cial
.Theyt ext
everydayandaddr esseachot herasl ov
ers.Butt hat
doesn’tchanget hefactthatthi
shouse, bedroom
andev erythinginsideitwasboughtbyhi sbr other.
He’l
lnev erdi sr
especthismemor ybysharingabed
thatheboughtwi t
h‘hiswife.
’They ’
l
ldotheirthingin
hishouseandhot elsunti
lthey’
rebothreadyt ocome
outtot hef amily.
Sohe’sj
ustdroppi
ngoffherbr
eakf
astandleavi
ng.
Sheopensthedoorweari
ngagownandr ubbingher
eyes.
“
Hi,
”she’
sst
il
lsl
eepy
,whi
chl
ookst
oosexyonher
.
“
Arey
ougood?
”heasks.
He’
sst
ari
ngi
nst
eadofwal
ki
ngi
n.
“I
’m good,Bhambat ha.
”She’
sstil
lsulkybecausehe
wokeherupbef or
et i
me.Unfor
tunatelyt
hey’r
esti
ll
sneakingaround,i
fshe’sher
eit’
llbethei
rnorm.
“
Ibr
oughty
oubr
eakf
astandf
lower
s,”hesay
s.
“
Thanky
ou,
"shesay
s.
Hel
ooksaroundandfi
ndsachai
rtositf
oraminut
e.
He’
snotj
ustgoingt
oleav
e;she’
snotbadtol
ookat.
“
Doy
oul
i
ket
hem?
”heasks.
“
Ofcour
se,
Ilov
efl
ower
s.”
He’
shappy
.Nat
hii
sn’
tsuchaf
ool
aft
eral
l
.
“
SoIdon’
tgeta‘
thanky
ou’
hugbef
oreIgo?
”
Shedragsherfeetf
rom t
hebasewher
eshewas
put
ti
ngherflowersandcomestohi
m.
“Mawande, comeon.”Helaughsandpinchesher
nose.“YouknowIwasupbef or
e3am andI’m not
sul
king.It
’s6:25andyou’
reacti
ngli
keIwokey ouup
i
nthemi ddleofthenight
.”
“Idon’
tli
kebei
ngwokenupbyaphonecal
l
,”she
says.
“
Whatdoy
oupr
efer
?”heasks.
Hersul
kyf
acebr
eaksi
ntoasmi
l
e.
“
Aki
ss,
orahug,
ormor
e,”shesay
s.
“
Mor
e?”Hel
i
ftshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“I
’dl
iket
ogobacktobed.Whenam Iseei
ngyou?”
She’
stry
ingt
ochangethesubj
ectbuthi
sfacest
il
l
showsmuchcuri
osi
ty.
“
I’
ll
seeyoutoni
ghtsothatIcanwakey
ouupt
he
wayyoul
ike,
"hesays.
“
Whi
chwayi
sthat
?”Shef
eignsconf
usi
on.
“
Bywar
mingt
hesausagei
nthemi
crowav
e,”hesay
s.
“
War
mingt
hesausage?
”
“
Isende-
ke,
"hesay
s.
Hereyeswiden.Shepull
sherhandf
rom hi
sgr
ipand
tr
iestogetaway.Helaughsandpul
l
sherback
betweenhisl
egs.
“
Youdon’
thav
etousev
ulgarl
anguage,
”shesay
s.
“
Okay,
I’
m sor
ry.Pl
easegi
vemeahug,
Iwantt
o
l
eav
e.”
Shewr apsherarmsar oundhiswaist.Bhambatha
pull
sherchinupandbr ushesherl
i
psgent l
ywhile
star
ingintohereyes.Thenhesucksherl owerl
ip
andshut shi
seyes.Herl i
psaresoftandaddict
iveas
usual.Hishandholdsthebackofherneckashe
fi
shesforhertongueandonsl
aught
sherwi
tha
passi
onatekiss.
“Whatist
his?
”thev
oicecomesf
rom t
hedoor
,
shocked.
Mawandebr eaksthekissinst
antl
yandstepsback
fearf
ull
y.Theydidn’thearanyt
hing,andwhere'
sMrs
My ezagoingsoear l
yinthemor ni
ngdressedupfor
occasion?
“Ma,”Bhambathasaysget
ti
ngof
fthechai
rand
brushi
nghisfacewit
haheavysi
gh.
“
Whatareyoudoinginmyson’
shousewithhi
s
wi
dow?”She’
sstandingast
epawayfrom t
hedoor
wi
thahuge,di
sgustedfr
ownonherface.
“
Ibr
oughtherbr
eakf
ast
,”hesay
s.
“Andfedi tt
oherwithyourmouth?Whosai dshe
neededy ourbr
eakfastt
hatwasboughtwi tha
bloodi
edmoney ?Ny ezi
lef
tmoney ,shedoesn’
tneed
yourdir
tymoney .
”SheturnshereyestoMawande
andshakesherheadsl i
ghtl
yindisappoi
ntment.
“
Whatki
ndofbr
eakf
asti
sthat
?”sheasks.
“Eggs,
beefsausagesand…”Mr sMy
ezacl
apsher
handsbefor
esheev enfi
nishes.
“Nowhewantsy outopaywi
thyourbodyf orlousy
eggsandsausages?Butwhyam Idisappointed?
That’
showhewor ks;t
aki
ngadvantageofev eryone,
evenhisownfamil
y.”
MawandeglancesatBhambathaanddoesn’
tget
anysol
idr
eacti
on.Butshehastodefendhi
mt hi
s
once.
“
Hewasn’
tmaki
ngmepayf
orany
thi
ng,
”shesay
s.
“
Isawhim hol
dingyouandshovinghi
stonguedown
y
ourthr
oat.I
t’
shighti
methishousegetsaman,
t
hugsarenowdoingastheyplease.
”
“
Whatdoy
oumean?
”Mawandeaskswi
thaf
rown.
“I
t’
sti
mewer evi
sitandf
ini
sht
heconver
sat
ionwe
hadayearago.Youneedamaninthi
shouseand
youneedhi
mf ast.
”
Mawandeisabouttof
aint
.Herey
esar
eal
lout
.Fast
?
Whatdoesthatev
enmean?
“
I’
m notr
eadyt
oremar
ry,
”shesay
sandl
ooksat
Bhambat
haf
orsuppor
t.
“
That’
sfi
ne,butt
hishouseneedsaman,
”Mr
s
Myezasays.
“I
t’
smybr ot
her
’shouse.Youcan’
tdeci
dewholi
ves
herewi
thoutMawande’sopi
nion,
”Bhambat
hasays.
“Don’ti
nv ol
veyourselfi
nt hi
s.Youwer enevera
brothertohim.Youwer euseless,j
ustli
keyou
alwaysar etoever
y one.Idon’twanttoseey ou.I
don’twantt ot
alktoy ou.Iwil
l notansweranythi
ng
toyou, Idon’
tknowwhyy oudi dn’
tdiewheny ouhad
pneumoni aat6mont hsold.
”
“
Ma,comeon!”Mawandesaysstandi
ngbetweent
he
t
woofthem.Thi
ngsareescal
ati
ngreal
lyf
ast.
“Li
stenherebit
ch,Imaynotbeper
fectbutatl
east
I
’m notyou.Trytoeatmake-
upsothatyoucanbe
pret
tyinsi
de.”
Mawandegasps,“Bhambatha!Youcan’
tcal
lyour
motherabi
tch.Wetalkedaboutthi
sandyou
pr
omisedtochange.”
Mr
sMy
ezat
urnst
othedoorf
uri
ousl
yandl
eav
es.
Ther
e’sast
arebat
tl
ebehi
nd,
Mawandei
sfumi
ng.
“
Real
l
y,Bhambat
ha?
”sheasks.
“She’
sconstant
lyt
ell
i
ngmehowshewi shesIwas
dead.Thatmakesherabi
tch,
”hesay
s.
“
Okay
,I’
l
lseey
ouar
ound.
”
“
Arey
ouki
cki
ngmeout
?”
“
Bhambat
ha,
please.
”
Heexhal
esheav
il
yandwalksout.Mawandecl
oses
t
hedoorbehi
ndhim andsi
ghs.
Whatisthewayforward?Howisshegoi
ngtobri
ng
peacebetweenmotherandson?WhyNyezi
didn’
tdo
i
tbefor
ehedi ed?

(
SmsTBBABFA89t
o34877.T&C'
sappl
y)
Sponsor
edbySi
yaphi
Kgobane

LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER64
KHANYO

Itol
dBandlathatIwasgoingt ot hehospitalwith
Mandulotoday ,
sohiscall
surprisedmet hismor ni
ng.
Hewantsust omeetatt hi
spar ti
cularrestaurantin
town.Hedidn’texpl
ainanythi
ng.NowIhav etopack
mybagsear l
ierandgot othatrestaurantbefore
comingbackf orMandulo’
shospi talappointment.
I
t’
sabitcol
dtoday
,Iputmysweat
erandknee-
l
engt
hboots.
“I
’l
lbebacki
nanhourorso,”Itel
lMandulowho’
s
gl
uedtotheTVscreenwatchi
ngat enni
sthi
ng.He
hassomewhiteboytendenci
es.
“Okay,”hesay
swi
thoutshi
ft
inghi
sey
esf
rom t
he
screen.
Bandl
abett
erhav eagoodexcusefort
his.Hedidn’
t
menti
onanythinglastni
ght
,hesai
dhewasgoi ngto
comeandvisitMandulobefor
e13h00.

Themetertaxidr
opsmeout si
detheGri
l
lJi
chana
wherewearemeet i
ng.Ical
lout
sidet
heent
rance
andaskhimt ocomeout.
“
Hey
,”hegr
eet
sandhugsme.
“Hi
,youl
ookl
i
key
ou’
reupt
osomet
hing.Whyar
ewe
her
e?”
Hechuckl
esandpull
smyhand.Beforeweturn
t
owardsthetabl
eIseeher
.NowI’m moreconfused.
Whyaretheyher
e?DoesThakasaknowaboutit?
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”Il
ookathi
m.
“
Pleasegr
eetf
ir
st,
”hesay
s.
Iwasgoi
ngt
ogr
eet
.I’
m nott
hati
l
l-manner
ed.
“
Hel
l
o,MaNt
usi
,
”Igr
eet
.
Shesmi
l
es.Idon’
tknowi
fit
’sgenui
neorf
ake.
“
Hey
,unj
ani
?”sheasks.
“I
’
m good.
”I’
m st
il
lonmyfeetandstari
ngatt
heboy
i
nherarms.Nowhe’sgr
ownt oresemblemymother
somuch.
“
Am Ial
l
owedt
ohol
dhi
m?”Iask.
“Ummm yes,
”shesay
shesi
tant
lyandl
ooksat
Bandl
a.
“
Youcanholdhi
mf oramoment.Iwantt
ot akehi
m
t
oyourbr
otherwhi
l
ey ouandMaNtusit
alk.
”
Tal
k?Shockmeagai
n!
“
Doesy
ourbr
otherknowaboutt
his?
”Iaskhi
m.
“Heapprov edit
.It
’snotli
keLondawi
llbesl
eepi
ng
over.Yourbrotheri
snotgoingtobur
nimpephofor
him oranythi
ng.They’l
lj
ustmeetandspendsome
ti
met ogether.
”
“YouarrangedthatforMandulo?”I’
m get
ting
emotional.Idon’
tknowwhi chcardheplayedforhi
s
brot
hertol ett
hishappen.Heprobablycri
ed,Iknow
forafactthatThakasacanbehar donev eryper
son
underthesunexcepthissibli
ngs,anywayI’m
grat
eful.
“
Thankyou,
”Isayandbr
ief
lyki
sshi
m bef
oretaki
ng
mynephewandholdi
nghiminmyarmsforthefi
rst
t
ime.
“Heyli
tt
leNyat…”Ohgosh,thisi
sawkwar
d!Icannot
saythatbecausehe’
sactuall
yaManqel
e.
“Heyboy ,
whyar eyougrowingsofast
?”Ipeel
the
blanketoffandsithi
m onthetabl
e.
“
Whatdoy
ouf
eedhi
m?”IaskNot
hil
e.
“He’
sonS26.Icheatandf
eedhi
m Nest
uum cer
eal
atti
mes.
”
Nowonderhe’
sget
ti
ngsobig.I
fhewasri
ghtf
ull
y
mynephewIwasgoingt
obuyawheelbar
rowfor
hi
m.
“
Andwhatar
ethesest
ri
ngsonhi
swr
ist
s?”Iaskher
.
“
Theyprot
ecthi
mfr
om badspi
ri
ts.Manqel
egot
t
hem f
orhim.”
Oh,
fat
heroft
hey
ear
!
I’
m anauntforat
hir
dti
menow.Theonl ydif
fer
ence
ri
ghtnowisthatI
’
m anaunttoababyboyand
every
thi
ngiscompli
cat
edregar
dingourrel
ati
onshi
p
wit
hhim.Mandul ohasn’
teventoldtheNy at
hif
amil
y
yet
,becausewhat’sther
etoreport?‘
Ifucked
someone’swif
eandgotherpr egnantandnowI ’
m
payi
ngforitt
hroughmyson? `
“Okay,
it’
stimeformet ogo, yousai
dy ou’
regoi
ngt
o
thehospit
alat13h00.”BandlatakesLonda,my
handssuddenlyfeelempty,sodoesmyhear t.
Aquest
ionstri
kesmymi
nd,
Ilookathi
m;“
Doy
ou
l
ovebabies?
”
Hesli
ghtl
yfr
ownsandchuckl
es.He’
shol
dingt
he
babyl
ikeapro.
“
Yes.Youwantt
ogi
vemeone?
”
“
Iwantust
oadoptone,
”Isay
.
Nothi
lelaughs.Theybot
hdo.Iguessi
t’
snota
possibi
l
ityattheManqel
es.Theywantyout
opop
thei
rbabiesoutofyourwomb.
“Il
oveyou,”hesay
sgivi
ngmeal ookt
hat
emphasizessomethi
ng.Iwasgoingtoapol
ogi
zet
o
Nothi
lebecausemybrotheraskedmeto.
Heleav
eswit
hLonda.Therearemenusont
het
abl
e
andcol
ddr
inksal
readyorder
ed.
“
You’
repay
ing?
”Iaskt
urni
ngmyheadt
oher
.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
Wel l
,IguessIcanorderanyexpensiv
emeal her
e,
herhusbandisrich.Ireadthr
oughthemenuwhi l
e
tr
yingtomemor izehowI ’
m goingt
oapologi
ze
wit
houtsoundingdef ensi
veofmyact i
ons.
“Khanyo,
Inev
erusedy
ourbr
other
,”shebr
eakst
he
sil
ence.
Il
ookupabi
tal
armed.She’
sher
etocl
ari
fyt
hatpar
t?
“Inev
eraskedhi
mforanyt
hing.Hedi
dev
ery
thi
nghe
didoutofhi
sownwil
l,
”shesays.
“I
’
m sorr
yifthat’
showy ouseei
t.Fr
om howIl
ooked
atthi
ngsyoukindofusedhim.”
“
How?
”Shekni
tsherbr
owsatme.
Icl
oset
hemenuandpushi
tasi
de.
“
Okay
,let
’sbr
eaki
tdown.
”
Shesi
tsupst
rai
ghtandst
aresatme.
“Youdidn’
ttel
lhi
mthaty
ouwerepr
egnantunti
lyou
discov
eredthatt
heot
herwomanwassti
llpr
egnant,
”
Isay.
“BecauseIdidn’
tknowwhereheli
ved.Ar
eyoubei
ng
seri
ousrightnow?”shesnaps.
“However
,youmanagedt
ofi
ndhi
m wheny
ou
neededhi
m.”
“
BecauseLondawasbor
n,”shesay
s.
“Andy outhoughtyourmarri
agewasover
.Wereyou
goingtotellhi
mi ft
heotherwomanhadn’
tbeen
pregnant?
”Iask.
Sheblinksrapidl
yandsighsli
keI
’m bei
ngdramat
ic.I
gi
veherami nutetoanswerandshedoesn’
tsay
anyt
hing-I’
mr ight
.
“Whenyoufoundhim hedidev eryt
hingforyou.He’s
asweetpersonbynature.EvenifLondawasn’ thi
s
sonhewasst i
l
lgoi
ngt ohelpy ouifyouneededhel p.
Butassomeonewhohadt imet oknowhi m bett
er
andunderst
andhowhi sli
feis,Iexpectedyoutobe
l
essharshonhim.Youcan’ tusethe‘ marr
ied
woman’cardnowthatev ery
thingisgoingalri
ghtin
yourl
i
fe.That’
showIsawit,y
ouarenowhappyand
don’
treal
lycar
eabouthi
sfeeli
ngs.
”
“
Trustme,I’
m mot
ivat
ingManqel
etol
ett
hem hav
ea
r
elat
ionshi
p.”
“
Ifyousayso.Whatar
eyouhaving?
”Iopent
he
menuandreadthr
oughdesser
ts.
“Manqelejustl
ostabr
other
.It’
staki
ngatoll
onhi
m.
Thelastthi
ngheneedsismeper suadi
nghimtof
ix
thi
ngswiththemanIsleptwit
h.I’
m motiv
ati
nghi
m
andgivi
nghi mti
metobreatheaswell.
”
“Thewayy ouf
eel
theneedtobesof
tonhisfeel
i
ngs,
i
st hesamewayIfeel
theneedtopr
otectmy
brother
’s.
”
“Okay,i
fyoufeel
thatwaythanIapologize.Ir
eall
y
don’twantustobeenemies.Wel ovebrother
sand
you’
retheauntofmyson.Ifthere’
sanyoneIt r
uly
wanttohaveahealthyr
elat
ionshipwit
h, i
t’
syou,”
shesays.
“Wearenotenemies.I’
m avocalperson,that’
showI
dealwi
thmyemot ions–Ispeakup.Wi t
ht hatsai
d,
I
’m sor
ryf
ordisr
espectingy
ouy esterday.You’r
e
t
heeseni
orwi
feandmor
ethant
hat
,you’
reLonda’
s
mot
her.
”
“
Truce?
”sheasks.
Il
augh,
“Yes.Wesoundl
i
keki
ds.
”
Nowthatwe’
vet
alkedt
hingst
hroughwecangett
o
knoweachot
her
.
“
Youmadethem moveout.I’
m sograt
eful
,Iwas
t
ir
edoft
hatHlomendl
ini
tinyhouse.
”
“
Mygoodness,Idi
dn’
tmeant
ochaset
hem out
.I
waski
ndofdrunk.
”
Saywhat
?Ichokeonmysal
i
va.
“
Youwer
edr
unk?You?
”Iask.
“
I’
m notstr
ongasIlook,andManqel
edidn’tmake
t
hingseasyforme.I
’m aworki
nprogress.
”
“Areyouhappyt
hough?I
shet
reat
ingy
our
ight
?”I
ask.
“Well
,mostpeopledidn’
tseeusgoingforwar
daft
er
Londa’
sbirt
h,butwear ehere.He’
str
eati
ngme
bett
erthanhowItreatedhim whenIf
oundoutabout
Phel
o’smot
her
.”
“
That
’sbecausehe’
schannel
i
ngal
ltheanger
t
owar
dsMandul o,
”Isay
.
“Al
lI’m say
ingi
s,he’
shandl
ingt
hingsbetter
.Weare
sti
llwif
eandhusband.Bedr
oom l
ifei
sn’tawkwar
dat
all
.”
Nowt
hatshe’
sment
ionedi
t…
“
Hel
ooksr
ough,
”Isay
.
Shef
rowns.
Hhay
ibo,
Ihav
etobr
eaki
tdown!
“
Imean,
hel
ooksr
aaaaaf
,”Isay
.
“Ohmyword,
no!
”Shebr
eaksi
ntol
aught
erandhi
des
herf
ace.
“He’sgott
hisdi
ctat
ingthi
ngaroundhi
m,whi
chi
s
onlycutei
nthebedroom byt
heway .
”
“
Notever
yday
.Hehashi
smoment
s.”She’
sst
il
l
l
aughi
ng.
Ican’
tbel
iev
ewe’ r
ehere,
discussi
ngherbedr
oom
l
ifeaf
terwhathappenedyester
day.
.
.
MAWANDE

Thisdayhasbeendi st
urbingfrom mor ning.She
cannotcl earherheadandnott hinkabout
Bhambat haandhi smot her’
sexchangeofwor ds.
Somet hingneedst obedoneandNy ezii
snother eto
doit.Thel astthingshe’sgoingtodoi sgetina
rel
ationshipwi thBhambat haandmakeanenemyof
hermot her -
in-
law.She’snotdividingthisfamilyany
fur
ther.
Shemakestwophonecal
lsandt
akesaf l
eece
bl
anketandl
iesont
hecouchint
helounge.
MrsMyezaar
ri
veswit
hinabl
i
nkofaney
ecar
ryi
nga
l
unchboxandpai
nki
l
lers.
“
KaManqele, what’swrong?”She’spani
cki
ng.She’
s
l
ostmanyi mpor t
antpeoplethroughdif
fer
ent
i
l
lnesses,t
hel astthi
ngshewi shestogothroughi
s
l
osinganotherlovedone.
“
Myheadi
sachi
ng,
”Mawandesay
s.
“
Okay
,wakeupandeat,y
ou’l
ldri
nkthesetabl
etsand
l
i
edown.I
t’
ll
bebett
er,
”Mr sMyezasays.
Shelazi
lysit
supont hecouchandtakesthel
unch
boxfrom her.She’
snotevenhungr
yorsick.I
twasa
str
ategytogetherhere.

There’
sacarpul li
ngupout si
de.Despi
tethei
rli
tt
le
argumentearlyinthemor ni
ng,whenshecall
edand
saidshewassi ckBhambat hahadtodropeverythi
ng
hewasdoi ngandcome.He’ sal
socarryi
ngabagof
medicineshegotf rom t
hepharmacyand
McDonal d’
sfoodiebag.
Hi
sfacetr
ansfor
msintoafr
ownwhenhewalksi
nto
hi
smothercuddl
ingMawandeont
hecouch.
Whywouldshecal
lhi
m her
eknowingv
erywel
lthat
hi
m andhi
smothercan’
tst
andeachot
her?
“
Ibr
oughty
ousomemeds.Wher
emustIleave
t
hem?”He’
sst
andi
ngbyt
hedoor,
notst
eppingin.
“
Pleasecomei
n,
”Mawandesay
s.
“
No,I’
m noti
nterest
edinbeinginsul
ted.I
’
lll
eav
e
t
heseonthekitchencount
er,”hesays.
“
Bhambat
ha,
pleasecomei
n,Iwantt
otal
ktoy
ou.
”
Hesighs.He’sonl
ygoi
ngt
ositacr
ossthatwoman
becauseherespect
sMawandewhoalwaysaddr
ess
hi
m withrespect
.
Assoonashesi
tsMr
sMy
ezast
andst
oleav
e.
I
t’
sgoi
ngt
obeat
oughev
eni
ng!
“
Ma,pleasesi
t,Iwantt
otal
ktobot
hofy
ou,
”
Mawandesays.
“Youheardhi
m cal
l
ingmeabit
ch.Idon’
twantt
obe
i
nt hesamespaceashi
m.Idon’
twanthimto
breat
hemyair,
”shesay
s.
“
Formysake,
pleasesi
tMa.I
t’
snothi
m whoasked
y
outocome.”
“Yousai
dyouaresick.I
’
m her
efort
hat
,not
hing
else,
”Mr
sMy eza.
“I
fIt
oldyout
hetr
uthyouwouldn’
thav
ecome.Why
doyoudespi
sehi
m somuch?”Mawandeasks.
“
Askhi
m,”shesay
s.
Bhambathafr
owns,“
Shemustaskmewhat?You
can’
texpl
ainwhyyouhat
eyourownsonandwi
sh
deat
honhim? ”
“Ihav
ear
easonandy
ougav
eitt
ome,
”hi
smot
her
says.
“
Bycall
i
ngyouabi
tchonce?You’
real
way
sbi
tchy
t
owardsme!
”
Nobodyexpectedit
.It
’squickerthanast
ri
king
l
ight
ning.Bef
orehecanev enblinktwi
ce,aslap
l
andsacrosshisface.
Mawandegaspsi
nshock.
MrsMyezaisnotdoneyet
.Shetakeshershoeof
f
andhi
tshisheadasmanytimesasshecanbefor
e
heshi
eldshi
sheadwithhi
shands.
“Ma,pleasecal
m down,”Mawandet
ri
estopullher
back.Shedidn’
tcal
lthem her
etowr
estl
e,whatthe
hel
l?!
“
Repeatwhaty
ouj
ustsai
dandy
ou’
l
lseewhatI
’
m
madeof.
”
Bhambat
hadoesn’tsayany
thi
ng.Hewi
peshi
shead
andst
andsuptoleave.
“
Sity
ourassdown,
”hi
smot
heror
der
s.
“I
’
m notsi
tti
ngdownandall
owingyoutohitme
becausey
ouknowIcannothityouback.
”
“Letmespeakyourl
anguagethen,
fucki
n’sitt
hat
blackassont
hecouchbeforeIwhoopitgreen.
”
Mawandegaspsi
nshock.Whatonear
thi
sgoi
ngon
now?WhyisMrsMyezasuddenl
yghet
to?
“
Bhambat
ha,
please,
”shesay
s.
Hesitsdown,chuckl
ingoutindi
sbeli
ef.Thi
sisthe
fi
rstt
imeinhiswholeexist
encethathi
smot herhas
putherhandsonhim.
“
KaManqel
eyouwantt
oknowwhyIhat
ethi
schi
l
d,
r
ight
?”
Mawandenods.Bot
hherandBhambathaareseat
ed.
MrsMyezai
sstil
lonherf
eet
,breat
hingheav
il
y.
“BecauseIlov
edhimtoomuchthatIwasreadyt o
l
osecer t
ainpeopl
eforhi
m.AndIdid.Il
ostfr
iends
andrelat
ivest
hroughhi
m.Morethananyone,Ilost
myhusband.
”
Mawandef rowns.Howdidsheloseherhusband
throughBhambatha?AsfarassheknowsMrMy eza
diedmuchinlovewithhi
swife.
“Whent hefami l
ywant edtot rainhimt obe
responsi bl
elikeallotherboy sbor nfir
stathome, I
refused.Isaidt hey’
reabusi ngmysonandasked
them t obeeasyonhi m.Hedi dn’thaveany
responsi bi
li
ti
esgr owingup.Ial waysmadesur et hat
allhisneedswer emet .Ididn’ttreathi
m any
differentfr
om Ny ezi whowast hebabyoft hefamily
.
Imadesur etheywer eequal ,
hewasagoodexampl e
tohi sbrother,orsoIt hought.Askhi m, youcan,he’s
ri
ghther e.Askhi mi fheev eraskedany t
hingfrom
me, evenifhi
sf atherwasagai nstit
,anddi dnotget
i
t?”
Mawandel ooksatBhambat
ha.He’
snotsayi
ng
any
thing,
whi chmeanshe’
snotdi
sagr
eeingwit
h
what’
sbeingsaid.
“Ial
waysf oughtpeopl
ewhocommentedonhis
charact
er.Whensomeonetoldhi
sfat
herthathe
wassmoki ngIthreat
enedtoleaveifhetouched
evenmyson’ sstrayofhai
r.Iwasthatmot her
,he
coul
dn’tdoany t
hingwronginmyey es.Thenhe
ki
ll
edhisfather’
sbestfri
end,RevNkwany ana,forhi
s
carwit
hhisf r
iendsandwentt oj
ail
.”
Ther
e’sabr
iefpause.
Heregretst
hati
ncident.Ev
enthoughhedidn’tknow
i
twasRevNkwany anaanddidn’
tpul
lthet
rigger,he
st
il
ltakeshal
foftheblame.
“Atthatti
mehi sfatherandIwer enott ogether.We
werenotshar ingabedany mor e, butf orNy ezi’
ssake
wehadt okeept hepi ctureshining.Hi sf atherhad
cutBhambat haof faf terhef ail
edt ostayinr ehab,
andasusual ,ev er
yonewaswr ongandmysonwas
ri
ght.Hisfathergotsi ck, Iwasst illprotectingmy
sonwhowasbehi ndbar sforki l
l
inghi sf ather’sbest
fri
end,animpor tantchur chl eader .Iblamedt he
fl
oodsi nMozambi que, highpet rol pr
icesand
everyt
hingundert hesun, exceptmyson.Hej ust
neededt i
me, peoplewer en’tbeingki ndt owar dshim,
Isaid.
”
“Iknewmymot heringskill
s, Ihadraisedagoodboy
for17y ear
s.Itwaspr obablyademonandhi s
father’sstr
icthand.Imean, Ny eziwasrai
sedbyme
aswel landhewasagoodboy .Therewasnoway
myf irstsonwasgoi ngtodi sappointmeaf t
er
every t
hingIwentt hroughf orhim.Iwassur eofi
t.
Hisf atherdied,
peopl elaughedandsai dRev
Nkwany anadeathdi dnotgoi nv ai
n.”
Hisey eshavedr oppedtothefloor.Mawandei s
l
isteningatt
entively
,event
houghherey esare
burningwithtears,she’
skeepingittogetherand
playi
ngherl i
steningrol
eperfectl
y.
“Hegotoutofpr i
son.Amotherwaspat
ient
lywai
ti
ng
forherpreci
ousli
ttl
eboytocomeoutandprove
everyonewrong.Askhim whathedi
dwhenhegot
outofprison,
”shetell
sMawande.
Shecannotopenhert
hroatandaskhim.Sheonl
y
st
aresathimforamomentandl ooksbackathi
s
mother
.
“
Hemademeregretever
ythi
ng,
incl
udinggiv
ingbirt
h
t
ohi
m.Heopenl
ypr ov
edmet obeaf oolt
obeliev
e
i
nhim.I
nmyentir
eexist
encenobodyhashur
tme
moret
hanthi
schi
ld.Myonlymist
akewasgiv
ing
bi
rt
handlovi
nghi
m uncondi
ti
onal
ly.
”
Heav
ybr
eat
hs!
Amomentofsi
l
encepasses.
“Nowy ouknowwhyIdon’twanthim anywhereinmy
space.Inur
tur
edadogt hatwasgoingtocomeback
andbi t
eme.Hehandedmet hescissort
ocuthi m
off
.Nowhecannotsi ther
eandaskwhyI ’m bl
eeding
becausehestabbedme.”Shetakesherempt yl
unch
box,readyt
oleave.
“
Ma,
wai
t,
”Bhambat
hast
ands.
Sheheadstowardst
hedoorandnotgi
vehi
ma
secondofherat
tent
ion.
“
Lethergo.Gi
vehersomet
ime,
”Mawandesay
s.
Hesi
nksbackont hecouchwi
thbl
ood-
shotey
es
andr
eleasesaheavysi
gh.
“
Bhambat
ha,
whatwentwr
ong?
”Mawandeaskshi
m.
Hepullshi
sT-shi
rtoverhi
sf aceandl
i
esbackonthe
couch.Hedoesn’
trespond,soshedoesn’
tper
sist
.
Theheali
ngjour
neymaybet ougherthanshe
expect
ed.Butatl
eastoneofthem openedup,t
hat
’s
somethi
ng,ri
ght?
“
Doy
ouneedagl
assofwat
er?
”sheaskshi
m.
Heshakeshi
shead.
Phewww!

(
SMSTBBABFA89t
o34877.T&C'
sappl
y)
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
BONUSI
NSERTOF65
THAKASA

He’squi
et.That
’showhe’sbeensinceshecame
back.Heseemst obedeepl
yengrossedinthewor
ld
ofhisown.
Londahasf al
l
enasleep.Hesleepsinhiscotand
doesn’tbot
herthem t
hatmuchatnight .He’
sagood
baby,evenwhenhewasn’ twell
physicall
yhewas
sti
l
lbrave.
“Whatar
eyouthinki
ngof?
”MaNt
usi
asksget
ti
ngi
n
bedweari
nganightdr
ess.
Hesi
ghsandsl
i
desundercov
ers.
“
Ihavealotofquest
ionsinmyhead.Idon’
tknow,
maybeI
’m scar
edorjustcrazy
,”hesay
s.
“
Talktome,I
’m her
e.”Herhandshol
dhi
swai
st.He
r
eleasesasi
ghandturnshisfacet
oher
.
“
Areweev
ergoi
ngt
ohav
eki
ds?Meandy
ou?
”he
asks.
Wel
l,t
hatwasunexpect
ed.She’
sthoughtabouti
tas
wel
lbutqui
ckl
ypushedthethoughtback.
“Youwantachi
ld?”sheaskssli
ght
lyguil
ty.She
cameheretobuil
dthefamil
yandsof arshehasn’
t
beenabl
etodoso, t
echni
call
y.
“No,notr eal
ly.Youknowt here’
snopr essur
ef rom
mysi de.ButI’m wonderingifwewi l
leverhavea
babyt ogether
.Si xyear
sisav eryl
ongt i
me, wet r
ied
every
t hi
ngandt henone…onemoment …andy ou
conceived.Itdoesn’tmakeanysense, ifIdi
dn’thave
PheloIwoul d’veconcludedthatI’
m notfert
il
e,”he
says.
“Wearebot
hfert
il
e,”shesayshol
dinghi
shandand
squeezi
ngi
tundercovers.
“
Thenwhat’sgoi
ngon?Whydoesy
ourwombr
eject
me?”heasks.
Shedeepl
yexhales,“
Likey
ou’
veal
way
ssai
d,i
t’
ll
happenonGod’stime.”
“
Whati
fitdoesn’
thappen?Ev
er?
”
“
ThenNomkhosi
wil
lgi
vey
ouchi
l
dren,
”shesay
s.
“Wehaveourownmar r
iage.YoudowantLondat
o
hav
esibl
ings,
right
?”
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“
Whati
fIf
ail
togety
oupr
egnant
?”heasks.
“Manqele,
you’r
eovert
hinking.There’snothingwrong
withyouandI.MaybeIstressedy ououtandIwas
toohardonmybody .Nowwear ebothemot i
onal
ly
okayandIthi
nkwehav elear ntgreatlessonsfrom
every
thi
ngwe’vebeenthrough. ”
“
Whathav
eyoul
ear
nt?
”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“ThatIshouldal
way sconsideryourfeeli
ngsand
ensurethatwe’r
ebot hemot i
onall
yont hesame
pagebef or
e…well,Ij
ustl
earntthatIshouldworry
mor eaboutyourfeel
ingsthanotherpeople’
s.”
Hechuckl
es,
“Idof
eel
li
key
oul
ovemymot
hermor
e
t
hanme. ”
“Icannev
erl oveanymanmor ethantheonewho
givesmethis.”Herhandcar
esseshismanhood.He
breaksal
itt
lechuckleandsteal
saquickkissf
rom
herl
i
ps.
“Youoweme, remember?
”Helower
shi
sey
esand
picksherchi
nwithhi
stwofi
nger
s.
“Okay
,Ishoul
dn’
thavebroughtt
hatup,
nowyou’
re
rememberi
ngolddebt
s.Whatdidyoudoformeto
oweyou?”Shefr
owns;fei
gningamnesi
a.
“Yousaidyouweregoi
ngtoletmehav
esomelater
theotherdayandwhenyoucamebackyouwent
str
aighttobed,
”hesay
s.
“Youdidn’
teventouchmet
oshowmet
haty
ouwer
e
sti
ll
int
erest
ed.”
Hesmir
ks,
“Youwant
edmet
otouchy
ou?It
hought
youwer
eti
red.
”
“
Yes.Orbet
terjustsl
i
piti
nsi
deandwakemeup
wi
thaspank.”
“
You’
reget
ti
ngrui
ned,mywif
e.”He’
slaughi
ngout
l
oud,
whichi
sn’
taveryfami
l
iarsi
ght
.
“Doyouwantthei
nnocentme?IcanbeNothy
,the
gir
lyoudef
lower
edsevenyear
sagointhehot
el
room.”
Hebl
ushes.Yes,
Thakasabl
ushes.
“Myheartbrokewhenyoust
artedcr y
ing.Iwantedt
o
stopbutyoutoldmetocont
inue.”Het akesadeep
breat
handst ar
esatherf
orami nute.“Il
oveyou,
Nothi
le.
”
“Whyareyoucal
l
ingmebyname?If
eel
li
keasi
de-
chi
ck,
”sheasks.
Hel
aughs,
fai
ntl
ythi
sti
me.
“I
’
m gladyou’
rest
il
lher
e.Thankyou,babe.I
’
m
bl
essedtohaveyouinmylif
e,”hesays.
“Weshoul
dhaveananniv
ersar
yweddi
ngaf
tery
our
secondweddi
ng,
”shesays.
Hei
nhal
esshar
plyandr
ubshi
shead.
“
Idon’tknowwhenthatweddi
ngwil
lbe.Phel
o’s
motherisdr
if
ti
ngawayandIdon’
tevenknowwhy .
”
“
Didyoutal
ktoherabouti
t?May
beshe’
sgoi
ng
t
hroughsomethi
ng.
”
“Idon’
tknowhowt otal
ktoherifsheshutsmeout
.I
don’tl
i
kefight
ingwit
hneit
herofyou.Maybeshe
needsspacetothi
nkthi
ngsthrough.Maybeshe
l
ov edmeasasnack,notsomuchasapotenti
al
husband.
”Hi
sinsecur
it
ylevel
sar
esky
rocketi
ng
today.
MaNtusij
ustchuckl
esandshakest hetopi
coff.
Nomkhosiisagrownwoman, she’
llmakeher
deci
sionwhenshe’sready.Whethershemarr
ies
Thakasaornot
,they’
l
l al
waysshareabondandt al
k.
“
Shhhh!
”hecov
ershermout
handpusheshi
msel
f
f
urt
heri
nsi
dehercor
e.
Well
,shet
oldhimtojustsl
ipiti
nbutshedi dn’t
meanduri
ngthecuddli
ng.Nextti
meshe’llarm
her
selfwi
thaful
lpanty.Maybenot-she’
slovingit
.
“Whyareyoucryi
ng?”hewhispersi
nherearwhi
l
e
sti
rr
inghercor
esteadi
lyandslowly
.
“
You’
reshaggi
ngmesoni
ce!
”
Hehi t
srepeat
edlyintohersof
terinnerti
ssuesand
spreadsherbuttcheeks.Alowgroanescapeshis
thr
oat,hebit
esherl owerl
ipsoft
lytostophimself
.
Shewrapsherhandsoverhisheadandfurt
her
ly
widensherl
egs.Hi
sfacetensesup.Hi
st hr
ust
sstar
t
bei
ngmor ehar
der.Hel
ocksherl
i
psi
ntohist
ost
op
herf
rom scr
eamingandwaki
ngupLonda.
Hebr eaksthekissf
oraqui cksecondandsay s;
“Dedela,mama.”Thenhecont i
nueswi t
hthesame
pace,hitt
ingeachcornerandrubbinghersensit
ive
spots.
Hernai
lsdigint
ohi
sski
n.Herl
egscoi
laroundhi
s
wai
st,rest
ri
cti
nghi
smovement
sandlockinghi
m
i
nsideher.
“
Thakasaaaa!
”
“
Not
hil
e.Mama!
”
Every
thingbecomesafoggymemor ytobothof
them astheygetl
osti
nthecloudofpleasur
e.Bot
h
soakedineachother
’ssexualf
lui
ds.
.
.
NOMKHOSI

She’
shuggi
ngherkneesont
hef
loori
nherbedr
oom,
rockingher
selfbackandf
orth.Pheloissl
eeping
withthwgrandparent
sint
heirroom.Shet ol
dt hem
shewasgoi ngtobeokay;shejustneededti
met obe
alone.
Buti t’
snott hateasy .Shewasn’tlookingf ora
relati
onshi pwithhim.Butl i
keanyot herchi ldshe
hadpi cturesofhi m, i
nherhead, andshewassur e
thatshe’ dmeethi m oneday.Justtoseeherot her
par ent.Anychildwant sthat.Butnowf orhert hat’
s
notev enar eal
it
y .Herfat
herislyingint hegr aveand
he’snotj ustany onebutherownuncl e.Howcanhe
besocr uel?Him andhermot hersharedt hesame
womb.Heshoul d’veprot
ectedhissister sinsteadof
violati
ngt hem.
She’samessoft ears.Sher eachesforherphoneon
thebedsidetableanddi al
sThakasa’ snumber .I
t’
s
thefi
rstonet hatcomest ohermi nd.She’
salways
beent her
eforhim whenhe’ sgoi ngthroughthe
mostaswel l.Orratherherv aginahasbeenthere.
Eit
herwayshe’ salway sli
stenedt ohiscri
esand
comf ort
edhimi ntimeofneed.
I
tri
ngsandr
ingsandr
ings.Nobodyanswer
s.She
t
ri
esagainandthi
sti
meher
eject
sthecal
l
,whi
ch
meanshe’sbusy.
Whyi sshecryinglouder?He’swithhi
swi f
e,
probabl
ymaki ngoutandhav ingfun.Theydeser
ve,
ri
ght?It
’swhatmar r
iedpeopledo.Well
,ift
here’
sno
naggingsi
de-chicksinthepictur
e.
Ndlali
faisal
sowithhiswife.He’
dbet hesecond
personshecall
s,butthat
’sanotherpersonwho
doesn’tneedhercal
lsatthisper
son.
Ndondowil
lpani
candcal
lhermot
herwhi
chi
sthe
l
astthi
ngsheneeds.
‘
Geti ttogether
,Khosi
.”Thoseareherl
astwordst
o
herselfbeforeshecli
mbst othebedandsl
eepson
herst omachsobbingsil
ently
.
.
.
THAKASA

HecleansMaNtusiandsl
i
desinbednextt oher.
Thi
sispromi
singtobeagreatday.I
tjuststar
tedon
ahi
ghnot
e,orwasi
thi
ghsexdr
ive?
“
Pleasewakeupanddowhaty
oupr
omi
sedy
ou
weregoi
ngtodo,
”shesay
s.
I
t’
saboutwork.Hegr
it
shi
steet
handt
urnst
osl
eep
onhi
sstomach.
“
I’
ll
go,
”hesay
s.
Dur
ingMthonga’sexcit
edmoment shemadesome
pr
omisestoher.Twooft hem bei
nggoi
ngbackt
o
workandmendingthingswithGod.
“
Alr
ight,
Iwi l
lgety
ourcl
othesandgopr
epareyour
l
unchbox.”Shegetsof
fbedandlooksf
orherdress.
Heknowshe’ snotgoingtobackoutofthi
sone.He
shutshiseyesandenjoysthelastmomentsofthe
comf or
tofhisbed.MaNtusileaveswi
thhi
sclothes
topreparef
orhisfir
stdaybackatwork.He’sl
ooking
for
war dtoi
t.Howexciti
ng.Yawn!
I
tstr
ikeshi
smindthatherej
ectedi
ncomi
ngcal
l
sthe
pr
evi
ousnightandsi
lencedhi
sphone.
Hegoest
hroughallt
hecal
l
shemi ssedandnot
ices
t
hatNomkhosical
l
edaswell.I
t’
ssounli
kehert
ocall
hi
ml ateatni
ght.Damn,heshouldn’
tbeignor
ing
cal
ls.He’saf
atherforgoodnesssake.Whati
f
somethingwaswr ongwit
hPhelo?
“Pi
ckup.Pi
ckup!”he’
smumbl
i
ngt
ohi
msel
fasher
phoneri
ngsunat
tended.
Event
ual
ly,
aft
ert
woat
tempt
s,shepi
cksupwi
tha
l
azyhell
o.
“
Ijustsawt
haty
oucal
l
ed,
”hesay
s.
“
Yes,lastni
ght.Sor
ry,
Idon’
tknowwhatIwas
t
hinki
ng,”shesays.
“
Wasev
ery
thi
ngal
ri
ghtt
hough?
”
Ther
e’sal
owsi
gh.“
Yeah,
”shesay
s.
“
Nomkhosi
,youdon’
tsoundokay
.”
“
I’
m okay
,”shei
nsi
sts.
“
Okay
,whenshoul
dIsendmypeopl
eov
er?
”heasks.
Si
l
ence…
“
Nomkhosi,
whycan’tyoumakeupy
ourmi
nd?
We’
vebeentoget
herfor…”
“Notevery
thi
ngi saboutyou,Thakasa.Idon’
tcare
aboutall
that;y
ourcows, howl ongwe’vebeen
fucki
ngandallthat.Idon’
tgiveaf l
yingf
uck.Idon’
t
wanttotalkaboutlobolanegotiat
ionsorwedding.
”
“
DidIdosomethingwrong?Idon’
tunder
stand
what
’sgoi
ngon,”heasks.
Shesi
ghs,“
Ihav
etogotowor
k.Phel
ohasr
anoutof
shampooandwetwi
pes.
”
“Okay,shoul
dIbri
ngyouanything?”He’
sgetti
ng
worri
ed.Theyshouldbeworkingontheir
rel
ati
onship,
nowev er
ythi
ngisoutintheopen.He
doesn’
tneedt ohi
dehisfeel
i
ngsf orherany
mor e.
“
No,
”shesay
sdi
smi
ssi
vel
y.
“Nomkhosi,
”hesay swi t
hadeepsi gh.“Idon’tknow
what’sgoi
ngon.Idon’ tknowifIdidsomet hing
wrongoryou’regoingthroughyourownper sonal
thi
ngs.ButIwanty outoknowt hatIlov
ey ouandI ’m
goingtowaitforyoutocomebackt ome.Nomat ter
howl ongi
ttakes.Ifyouneedany t
hingpleasel etme
know.”
“
Okay
,”shesay
s.
“Ngi
yakut
handaMamakaPhel
o.Pleasebeal
ri
ght
.
CanIcomeseeyoulat
er?
”heasks.
“
No,
”herv
oicesoundsf
ragi
l
eandf
aint
.
Hi
shear
tbr
eaks.Whycan’
tshet
alkt
ohi
m?
MaNtusi
wal
ksi
n.Hesi
ghsheav
il
yanddr
opst
he
cal
l
.
“
Arey
oual
ri
ght
?”sheasks.
“
Yes,
”hel
i
eswi
thabr
okenf
ace.
“
Whower
eyout
alki
ngt
o?”
“Nomkhosi,
Idon’tknowwhat’
sgoingonbutI
’
m not
goingtol
etitspoi
lthemor
ningyou’v
emadeso
greatf
orme.”
Shecocksupherey
ebr
ow.
“
Itdoesn’
tlookl
ikey
ou’
renotl
ett
ingi
tspoi
li
t
t
hough,”shesay
s.
“
I’
m not
,”hei
nsi
sts.
Sheput
shisshir
tonahangerandst
andsnextt
othe
bedl
ookingathi
m.
“Ther
ear
egoi
ngt
obesomer
ulesManqel
e,
”she
says.
Di
dn’
ttheyest
abl
i
sht
hatt
hough?
“Il
i
keNomkhosi.Buti
fshe’snotwil
l
ingtobeawife
heret
henther
e’l
lbenohide&seek.I
’m notgoi
ngt
o
putupwit
hthat.
”
Oh,
thatwasn’
texpect
ed.
“I
fshe’swit
hy outhenIwanti ttobeofficialsothat
wecanhav ehealthyli
vingarrangements.I ’
m not
goingtohavey oucryi
ngov erMaZikodei nmybed.
You’l
lgotoherhouseandcr ytherewit
hher .I
f
you’r
ehereit
’sallaboutme.Doy ouunder stand?”
Henodshesi
tant
ly.
“Sowhatdoy
ouwantt
ocar
ryt
owor
kforl
unch?
”
sheasks.
“
Any
thi
ng,
”heshr
ugshi
sshoul
der
s.
“
Pol
onyandbr
ead?
”
Hef
rowns,
“No!
”
“
Thenwhatdoy
oumeanbyany
thi
ng?
”
Okay
,thi
sisnotgoi
ngt
obeagr
eatmor
ning.
“CanIhav
ey est
erday
slef
tov
ersandanyf
rui
tyou
canpack?”
Shenodsandl
eav
es.
Nowheneedst odi
gestthenewrul
eshej ustl
aid.I
f
Nomkhosidoesn’
tagr
eet omarr
yhimthatmeans
i
t’
ll
betheendofthem.Isthatev
enpossible?

.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER66
TEMA

Thingshav ebeenl esstenseatwor k.Shehast i

me
tobr eatheandgr abqui ckl unchwi t
hNkonzo, which
barelyhappenedwhi l
eThakasawasaway .She’
s
gratefultowhat evermot ivatedhi mt ocomeback
work.Her ethey’rebossandempl oyees,Thakasa
knowshowt okeepf amilyaf f
airsoutoft he
business.Ev enwi t
hhi sbr others,wheni t
’stimefor
businesst hat’
swher ehekeepsi t.Othersmaysay
he’sabi tstri
ct,
butt hat’showy ougett hingsdone
wheny ou’r
ewor kingwi thy oursibli
ngs.
“SoItalkedwithmom andThakasa,we’
ll
be
cleansi
ngthiscomingweekend,
”Nkonzosaysi
nthe
mi ddl
eoftheirl
unchbreakatNandos.
“
Oh,
that
’spr
ett
ysoon,
”shesay
sinawe.
“
Wehav
eaweddi
ngt
opl
an,
remember
?”hesay
s.
“
Yeah,
aboutt
hat
,doIneedThul
a’
sfami
l
yov
er?
”she
asks.
Hef
rowns,“
Need?No.Butt
heycancomeandwat
ch
memakingyoumine.
”
Hecanbeext
raatt
imes.
Shel
aughsandshakesherhead.
“Sowhat ’
stheprocess?”sheasks.Theyhadagoat
thi
ngatt heDubeswher eshewaswel comedbackto
thefamilyandherretur
nwasannouncedt othe
ancestor
ssot hatwhenshel eav
esfortheManqeles
sheleavesasaDube.
“You’v
ebeenmar ri
edbef ore,youknowwhatt hat
means.Sobef or
ey ouof fi
cial
l
yst epinsidethe
Manqel epr
emi sesy ouhav etobecl eansed.Al l
thosehandst hathav etouchedy oubef orehav eto
betidi
edoff.”She’sst oppedeati
ngandst aringat
him.Hegr i
nsandasks; “
Whydon’ tyouaskel der
womenatchur ch?Youshoul dknowt heset hings.
”
“I
sthatwhyyoudi
dn’twantt
ohavesexwithme
befor
emarri
age?BecauseIwasn’
tcl
ean,
”sheasks.
“
Idi
dn’
tsayt
hat
.Youaskedmeaboutt
heweddi
ng
pr
ocessandIj
usthi
ghli
ght
edwhatIt
houghty
ou
di
dn’
tknow,
”hesays.
“
You’
renotansweri
ngmyquest
ion,Nkonzenhle.
Wasthatt
hereasonwhyy
oudidn’twanttotouch
me?”
“
No,
”hesay
s.
Hi
svoi
cei
snotconv
inci
ngenough.Wel
l
,inherear
s.
“
Thenwhy
?”sheasksf
ier
cel
y.
“
Wear ehav i
ngsexnow.Whydoesi tmatt
er?I
t’
sal
l
i
nthepast.”Theydon’
tfi
ght
,that
’snothowthei
r
r
elat
ionshi
pis.
“BecauseIforcedyou.Ihadtoseduceyouli
keaslut
beforeyoutouchedme. ”She’
sgetti
ngwarmedup.
Thisdidn’
tmakeherangr yuntil
now.Well
,si
mply
becausenowshe’ sgottentothebott
om ofi
t.
“Let
’seatandgobacktot
heoffi
ce,
”hesuggest
s
anddigsinwhatr
emainsofhi
sfood.
She’
snoteat
ing.Real
l
y?Womenar erar
ebeings.
Whyisshewarmedupaboutsomethingthathas
l
ongpassed?Whyi si
tev
enrel
evant?
“Soyou’
regoi
ngtogetcl
eansedtoo?Imeany
ou
haveto,
youwerenoti
nnocentbefor
eme.”
Heshoul
dn’
tbel
aughi
ng.I
t’
snotf
unnybutherf
ace!
“Iwasinnocentbefor
ey ou.WhodidIsleepwi
th?
Youbrokemyv i
rgi
nit
y,”hesaysl
aughing.
“
Stopl
yi
ng!If
oundy
oual
readyused,
”shesay
s.
Helaughshar
der
.Somet i
meshedoesn’
ttakeher
seri
ousl
y.Why?I
sitbecauseshe’
sshor
tandhe’s
tal
l
?

She’snotspeakingtohiminthecar.He’
snot
mindingitei
therashe’stunedi
ntoacert
ainradi
o
st
ationandkeepi ngupwithwhat’
shappeni
ng
aroundthewor l
d.
“
You’
renotani
ceper
son,
”shesay
s.
She’
sbeenstar
ingathi
mforawhi
l
etr
yingt
ogat
her
hert
hought
s.
“
Whatdi
dIdo?
”heaskswi
thasmi
rk.
Shehat
esi
twhenhedoesn’
ttakeherser
iousl
y.
“You’
remessy,
”shetel
l
shim hopingi
t’
ll
str
ikea
cert
ainner
ve.Thatsmi
leonhisfacei
sannoying.
Hel
aughs,
“Okaybaby
.”
Di
dhej
ustsayokayt
oher
?Deepbr
eat
h,Tema.
“Doy ouseewhyIdi dn’
twantustohav esexbefore
mar r
iage?”heasks.He’spar
kingthecar.They’
re
almosttenmi nut
eslatefr
om thei
rlunchbreak,
but
whocar es?Thakasajustgotback,hecannotbark
from dayone.
“Yes,
Iseewhy .Youneededtohavemecleansed
withagoatfi
rstbecauseIhavemyex-
husband’s
handsallov
erme.Mt chewww!”Shepul
lsherface
andthrowsadeadl ookathi
m.
“
Andy
oucat
cheasi
l
y,”hesay
s.
Whatwast
hat
?Ther
e’sabl
ankl
ookonherf
ace.
“
Whati
sthatsupposedt
omean?
”sheasksannoy
ed.
“
Itmeansthatayi
chamiamanzi
kapawpaw,
”hesay
s.
(
Itdoesn’
tshootbl
ank)
Mor
econf
usi
on.
“Whatareyoutal
kingabout
?”Shehasaf
rown
plast
eredonherface.
“
ItmeansthatImadet
heri
ghtchoi
ce.You’
rewor
th
t
he34y ear
sIwait
edtomeetyou.
”
She’sblushing.Wher e’stheangernow?Lor d,but
howcanshenotbl ushwhenshe’ sgotsuchacut e-
pieforaman.He’ sev enmor efi
net hanher.Cl
ean
face,dimplesandhel lacutesmi l
e.Butshe’sgott
en
usedt oit
,peopl estareathim mor ethanher,
especiall
yladies.He’slikethoseInstagr
am most
l
ustedboy s.
Hehugsher.Sl
owl
yhiswordsaresi
nki
ngi
n.Hi
s
handconf
ir
msitwhenitcar
esseshert
ummy.
“Nkonzo,
Idi
dn’tgetmyperi
odsl
astmonth!
”She’
s
onpanicmode.She’sget
ti
ngmarr
iedsoon,
thi
s
could’
vewai
ted,r
ight
?
“
Don’
tworry,
yourperi
odsarekeptinasafepl
aceby
t
heMthongas.They
’l
lgiv
ethem backtoyouaft
er9
mont
hswheny oubri
ngthei
rgif
t.”
Thi
sman!Het
hinkst
hisi
saj
oke.
“
Nkonzo!
”She’
sdef
eat
ed,
honest
ly.
He’
ssmil
i
ng,al
lhappyandproudofhimsel
f.Yes,
t
heydi
dn’
tpr
otectthatmuch,but
…it
’snotf
air
.
.
.
THAKASA

Hewast oldnottocomeandher espect sthat.But

she’sallhehasbeent hinkingaboutt hewhol eday .
That’snottheener gyMaNt usiwant sf rom him when
hegoesbackhome.Soheneedscl osur e,whichis
whyhe’ sstandi
ngher ebeingsubt l
eseducedby
Preciousatther ecept
ionwi t
habunchoff lowersin
hishandandagi ftbag.He’sbeent r
y i
ngt obeof
mor efinanci
aluset oher,notjustPhel oal one,but
shehasal mostev eryt
hing.Shedoesn’ taskhi mf or
moneybecauseshe’ sgotherown, yetshei mplies
thathe’snottakingcareofherf inanci all
y.Tohim
that’
sani nsul
t,he’dbailoutofmanyt hingsbutnot
taki
ngcar eofhisf amil
y.
He’ sfi
nal
lyletthr
oughaf terhe’
sstoodatthe
recepti
onf orev
er.Ther
ewasaboar dmeeting,he’
s
bumpi ngintomeni nsuits.Somehe’sseenar ound,
hencet hestopsandgr eetsbeforehereachesthe
l
ifts.Ndondodoesn’tli
kehi mt hatmuch,sobeing
toldtogot oheroffi
cef eelsli
keatest
.Hehast ogo
throughherbef or
egettingNomkhosi .
I
t’
sher,
Ndondoandt
hel
oose-
scr
ewedsi
ster
.How
gr
eat
!
“Sani
bonani
,
”hegreet
sashemakeshi
swayi
naf
ter
knocki
ngtwice.
“Thakasa,
”that’
sanacknowledgementf
rom Ndondo
beforeshepicksafi
l
eandl eavest
heoff
ice.
Snal
or emai
nsseat
ed.Shehasn’
tlookedupnorsaid
anyt
hing.Di
dn’
tshethr
eat
entokil
l hi
mtheotherday?
“I
’
m heretoseeyou,
”het
ell
sNomkhosi.Herf
ace
al
onetell
sthest
ory;
she’
sfarf
rom bei
ngokay.
“
Okay
,”shesay
swi
thaheav
ysi
gh.
Snal
ost
opswhat
evershewasdoi
ngont
hephone
andl
ooksup.Asmil
ecracksfr
om herl
i
ps.Too
manyfakesmi
lesi
nthi
splace!
“
HiPhel
o’sf
atherf
igur
e,”shesay
s.
I
sthat‘
fi
gur
e’supposedtoi
mpl
ysomet
hingorshe’
s
j
ustbei
nghercrazysel
f?
“
HiSnal
o,”hesay
s.
Shegathersherthi
ngsandleaveswit
houtsayi
ng
anyt
hingfurt
her.She’
saninter
esti
ngchar
acter
,
real
l
y.

Nowi t
’sj
ustthem.Heputsthefl
ower
sonthedesk
andthegif
tbagnexttothem.Thenhesi
tsont
he
chai
randlooksather
.
“
Idr
oppedSphephel
o’st
hingsoffandcameher
e.
Whydi
dyouplai
therhai
r?”heasks.
“
Gir
lspl
aitt
hei
rhai
r,
”that
’sheranswer
.
“
Isi
tnotpai
nful
though?
”heasks.
“I
’
m hermother,
Iwouldn’
tputhert
hroughpai
n.”
She’
sgett
ingdefensi
veandhewasn’tevent
ryi
ngto
st
artaf
ight
.
“Butyou’
dputmet
hroughpain,”heswervest
he
subjectt
owar
dswhatbroughthim her
e.
“Iputyouthr
oughwhatpai
n?”Sher
aisesher
eyebrow.Todayi
snotadayshewantstogoback
andforthwit
hhim.
“Ihadtocomeher ebecauseyou’
renottel
l
ingme
what’sgoi
ngon.Idon’tknowwhyy oudon’tt
rustme.
I’
m notthebestpart
nerbutI’
veneverl
i
edt oyou
aboutanythi
ng.
”
Shesi
ghsandl
eansbackonthechai
r.Baby
daddy
dramai
sthel
astt
hingshewantst
odeal wi
th.
“Ican’tgohomeandbesourt omywifebecauseof
myi ssueswithyou.I
t’
snotfai
ronher
.Ihavetodeal
withwhat ev
erIhavetodeal
withher
eandsquashit
beforegoinghome.”
“Ihav
en’tdoneany
thi
ngt
omakey
ousourt
oher
,”
shesays.
“Butal
lthi
scontri
butetomymood.Ican’tbehappy
knowingthatt
hingsarenotokayt
hissi
de.”
“SoIshoul
dlaughandbehappyev
enwhenI’
m not
becauseyouhaveamoodtokeepwit
hyourwif
e?”
“Whyareyounothappy
?That
’swhatI
’
mtr
yingt
o
ask,
”hesays.
Sheshakesherheadandprodsherl
apt
op.Thi
sis
useless;
him,
hisfl
owersandwhatev
erheboughti
n
thatbag.
“Maybet hat
’snothowIshoul d’
veputi
t.WhatI’
m
tr
yingtosayi st
hatyourpainismypain.Your
happinessismyhappi ness.Ij
ustwanttobeherefor
youifthere’
ssomethingy ou’
regoi
ngthrough,
”he
says.
She’
sworki
ng.Herat
tent
ioni
sont
hescr
eenoft
hat
l
aptop.
“If
eel sost
upidri
ghtnow,”hesaysandgr
imacesat
thesightofherworki
ngwhilehe’
sheret
ocheckon
her.He’str
yinghi
sbest.
“Ial
way sopenuptoy ou.Ial
waysconfessthi
ngs
thatnotevenmybr ot
hersknowabout.”Hechuckl
es
andshakeshishead.“ Mymarit
ali
ssues,fami
ly
i
ssues,everyt
hing.
”
She’
sli
steni
ngbutherey
esar
efi
xedont
hel
apt
op.
Heimit
ateshimself
;“Nomkhosi,Ihadafightwith
mymom.MaNt usiandIarenotokay.Mybr otheris
goi
ngthroughthi
s.Ihavecommi tt
edmur der.Itel
l
youEVERYTHINGandIf eelsostupidbecauset hat
’s
obvi
ousl
ynottheleveloft
rustyouhaveinme. ”
Shelif
tsherey
esandl ooksathi
m.Ev er
ythi
ngshe’
s
goingthr
oughisshowinginhereyesbutshe’
snever
beenthetypethatbr
eaks.
“Beforeany t
hingel se,youwer emybestf r
iend.Orso
Ithought.”Hebl owsoutasi ghbetweenhishands
andshakeshi shead.I tfeel
sl ikeahugeslapont he
face.Everythinghe’ sbeent hroughwithheramount s
nothingtoher ?Hemayhav enotbeent hebest
partnerbutt heywer egreatf ri
ends.Theytalked
aboutev erything.Evennowhest i
llt
alkstoher .Not
evenhisbr other sknowabouthi skil
li
ngspr ee.He
toldherbefor edoi ngitandaf terdoi
ngit.Whatcoul d
besobadt hatoutofal lpeopleshecannotev entel
l
him?
“
Ifeel
sost
upi
dri
ghtnow!
”Heshut
shi
sey
esf
ir
mly
,
tear
sr ol
ldownhi
scheeksandhequi
ckl
ywi
pes
them off
.No,he’
snotgoi
ngtoweepi
nsomeone’
s
offi
ce.
Heget
sofft
hechai
raggr
essi
vel
yandt
urnst
owar
ds
t
hedoor.
Shest
opshi
m abr
upt
ly;
“Thakasawai
t!
”
Hedoesn’
ttur
nhishead.Hi
semotionsaret
oohi
gh,
hej
ustwantstogeti
nthecarandbreat
he.
“Iknowthet
rut
haboutmyf
ather
,”shesay
s
unexpect
edl
y.
Het
urnshi
sheadandl
ooksather
.
“
Msawenkosi
Nsel
e,
”shet
ell
shi
m.
Hefr
ownsandstepsbackt
oherdesk.Thi
sdoesn’
t
makeanysense.
“That’
sgreat,r
ight
?Soyourmot
herwasmarr
iedt
o
him orshejustdeci
dedt
ousehi
ssurname?
”He’s
confused.
“That’
sthei
rsurname.Theyweresi
bli
ngs;si
sterand
brother
.Shewasr apedandIwasborn.If
eell
ikea
bookcharacter
.Itfeel
sli
keani
ghtmarethat
someonei
sgoi
ngt
owakemeupf
rom.
”
He’sindisbeli
ef.Thefr
ownonhisf acei snothelping
thesituat
ion.MawandeandTutuar elikehisown
babies.He’dkil
lfort
hosetwogi
rls.Event hef act
thatBhambat hasweatsontopofhi ssisterdoesn’t
sitwellwit
hhim.Yesshe’smarri
edandal lthatbut…
ThankGodnobodyi stouchi
nghisTutuyet
.He’d
probabl
ychopsomeonet odeath.Hecannotbegi
n
toimagi
neitbeinghim whotouchesher
i
nappropri
atel
y.
“Fi
rstthingIdi
dwhenIgotaj obwast odoibhayi
ceremonyf orauntMagcinaandi si
hlangucer
emony
forhim.LikeIslaught
eredawhol ecowf ormy
mot her’
srapi
st.Andshenev ersaidanythi
ng,
Ifeel
l
ikeabombwai tingtoexpl
ode.”
“
CanIgi
vey
ouahug?
”heasks.
Shesighsandget
sof
fherl
eat
herchai
randwal
ks
aroundthedeskt
ohi
m.
Heembracesherinati
ghthug,fondl
i
nghernewly
-
doneSweet&Sourhai
rdo.Foramomenthe’sjust
l
etti
ngherbr
eatheonhischest
.
“Ithinki fev eryonewhoknowsy ouwast ogat her
her eandsayonet hingabouty ou,t
hey ’dallagree
thaty ou’reast rong,int
ell
igentwoman.ButIdon’ t
wanty out ocar rythatony ourshoul ders.You’renot
ar ock, awusi y onai mbokodo, somet imesy oubr eak.
Youdon’ thav et obest rongf orpain, especial
lythis
kindofpai n.Ift heknifeistoomucht ohandl eallow
your selft obleed.Nobodywant stoknowt hattheir
par entwasabused.Iunder standy ourpai nandI ’l
l
under standi fy ouneedspacet owr apy ourhead
aroundt hist hingcal led‘men’.”
“
Idon’
tknowwhatIwantt
odo,
”shesay
swi
thasi
gh.
Herubsherback,“
That’
sokayaswell.I
’
m sor
ryfor
notchecki
ngupony ousooner
.Icar
eaboutyou
Nomkhosi,al
otthanyouthi
nk.
”
“Thankyou.I
’
llbeal
ri
ght
,I’
mjustgoi
ngt
hrough
shockandallt
hat.
”
Heplant
sasoftpeckonherfor
eheadandt
akest
he
gi
ftbaghel
eftonthedesk.
“Sowho’st
hismanofy
our
swhobr eakshi
swai
ston
stage?
”heaskst
aki
nganenv
elopeoutoft
hegi
ft
bag.
“
Whi
chman?
”sheasks.
“Theoneyouwantt osleepwit
h?Idon’tknow,he
saysastupi
dt hi
ngaboutadoringandy oubecome
wet,
”hesaysandgi vesherthr
eeticket
stoaconcert
i
nElli
sPark,Johannesburg.
“
Miguel
?”Hereyespopout
.Howdi
dheknowMi
guel
wascomingtoSout
hAfri
ca.
“Yougotme…?Mygoodness,Thakasa!
”She’
s
excit
ed.Not
hingmatter
satt
hismomentexcept
theseti
cket
sinherhand.
“
You’
regoi
ng?
”heaskswi
thagr
in.
Obvi
ousl
yshe’
sgoing.Itt
ookhi
m alongt
imet
o
fi
gur
eoutthebestgi
fthecoul
dgiv
eher.
“Ar
ey oukiddingme?I’m goi
ngtheretwodays
ear
li
er.I
’mt akingNdondoandSnalowi t
hme.Ineed
adress,ohmygoodness, myhai
r!Ineedtobuya
newweav e.”
He’swatchi
ngherst
ressoutaboutl
ookinggoodf
or
anothermanandsmili
ngwit
hsatisf
act
ion.
“I
t’
ssti
ll
twomont
hsaway
,youknowt
hat
,ri
ght
?”he
asks.
“You’
resoi
li
ngmymood.Thankyousomuchfort
his.
Ineededsomet
hingl
i
kethi
stoli
ftmymoodup.”
“
Sodoyoupromiset
onev
erl
i
eandsayy
ou’
reokay
wheny
ou’
renot?
”
Shenods,
“Yeah,
I’
ll
tryt
oopenupmor
e.”
“Andtor
emov
ethatt
hingonmydaught
er’
shead?
”
heasks.
“No,whywouldI?Thewholepointofhavi
nga
daughteri
stopract
icehai
rst
ylesonherheadand
dressherupli
keadoll.
”
“I
’l
lgetyouar
eal
dol
ltopr
act
icey
ourdul
lhai
rst
yli
ng
ski
ll
s.”
Okay,youcanbuyMi guelconcer
tti
cket
sandbr i
ng
herfl
owers,butdon’
tthrowjabsatherhai
rst
yli
ng
ski
ll
s.
“You’
regoi
ngt
oleav
emyof
fi
cecr
yingThakasa,
”she
says.
Hel
aughsandr
aiseshi
shandsup.
(
SMSTBBABFA89t
o34877.T&Csappl
y.
)

Phot
ocr
eds:
Busi
seki
l
eKhumal
o
Model
:Pr
incessThi
ngo
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER67
NOLWAZI

Sheacedherexams.I fanyonetol
dheray earago
thatshe’
dbesopassi onat eaboutHealt
hSciences
shewoul d’veprobablylaughedherassof f
.For
someonewhocomesf r
om herbackgroundit
’sa
shamet hatshehadt obebeggedbyamant odo
somet hi
ngaboutherf utur
e.Educati
onwasapr ior
it
y,
sheshoul dn’thavel
etl i
fewasteherti
me.She’sgot
responsi
bi l
i
tieswaiti
ngf orherathome.

Hercol orf
ul resultscal
lsforacelebrati
onbutshe
cannotbef ull
yhappybecauset he“ l
oveofherlif
e”
hasn’tbeenwel l.Healwaysaskshernott owor ry
abouthi ssituati
onandconv incesherthathe’s
al
right.Butsheal waysgetsadi ff
erentversi
onoft he
storyfrom Khany o,whichhasseenherpacki ngher
bagsandl eav i
ngf orKZNf orthelongweekend.
Asabaddi ethatsheis,she’l
l gohomeonSunday
after
noonaf terspendingtwoday swit
hMandul o.
Shedeci dednottot el
lhimt hatshe’ scomi ng,
Khany oassur edhert hathe’l
l beinDur banf orthe
weekend.Becauseofhi scur rentconditionKhany oi
s
alway swi thhim,theyfull
yresi deinBer gvil
l
eand
regularlycomet ohi shousei nDur ban.Hopef ull
yher
arri
val willbeagoodsur prise, youknowhowbad
theset hingscango.Somet imesy outryt osurprisea
manwi thanunannouncedv isitonlytober ewar ded
withanunpl easantsurpri
sey oursel
f.

Guguistheonef etchingherfr
om theair
por twit
h
oneofherr i
ght-
handman.Okay ,
thatsoundst oo
gangster
.Butit’
soneoft hosemenempl oyedbyher
j
ail
edbaby daddytoguar dher24/7.Onl
yGodknows
howshegother selfinvol
vedinsuchacompl ex
si
tuati
on.Goodlifecomesatapr i
ceinthiscountry
.
She’snowheavil
ypregnantanditdoesn’tl
ookgood
onher.Hopef
ullytheacneonherfacewi ll
betr
eated
aft
ergivi
ngbi
rth.Nolwazigi
vesherat i
ghthugand
tel
l
sherhowbi ghertummyi s.
“Khany
osay syoueatpeanutbut
terandmay
o
sandwich.What’
sthat
?”sheasks.
Gugulaughs,“
Youtwodon’
thaveanyimportant
fami
lyissuest
otal
kaboutexceptmycrav
ings?”
“Don’tt
urnyoursel
fint
oahottopi
c,wewerenot
gossipi
ng,bi
tch.Howisthepr
egnancyt
reat
ingyou
though?”
“
It
’sbeenat
estofst
rengt
hbutI
’
m get
ti
ngusedt
o
i
t.
”
“I
sthereachanceofhi
m comi
nghomeear
li
ert
han
expect
ed?”
“
Yes,
pri
sonbr
eak.
”
Themanont
hewheel
chuckl
esandgl
ancesatGugu
thr
ought
her
ear
-vi
ewmir
ror
.
“
I’
m ki
ddi
ng,
”shesay
stoNol
wazi
laughi
ng.
What’
sthesecretj
oke?Andthisthingofprison
br
eak,hopef
ull
yit’
snottr
ue.ThisisSout hAfri
ca,not
amovie.Dai
lySunwouldrel
easest or
yt henextday
wit
hsomest upi
dheadli
neli
ke;OldGr andpaSlyzes
OutOfPri
son.
“
Ihopeyou’
renotsl
eepi
ngwit
hhi m,
”Nolwazi
whi
sper
sandsignal
satthedr
iverwi
thhereyes.
Shelaughsharder
.Toounpredict
abl
e!Youcannot
ful
l
yt r
ustthi
soneandherjail
edbabydaddy
.
“
Sowebot
hendedupwi
thol
dmen?
”sheasks.
“
Iwasalwaysgoingt
oendupwithmysoul
mate,
”
Nol
wazibr
ags.“Anddon’
tcompar
eMandul
otoyour
man.I
shenotapensioner
?”
Theybot
her
upti
ntoaf
itofl
aught
er.
“DoesMandul
obeliev
ethathe’syoursoul
mate
though?
”AsmuchasMandul ohasbeenagoodguy ,
Guguissti
l
lnotconvi
ncedthatheseesanyfut
ure
betweenhi
m andNolwazi
.
“
Whywouldn’
thebel
i
evei
t?I
’
m beaut
if
ul,
sexyandI
l
ovehi
m.”
“Idon’
tdoubtthatforasecond,Nol
wazi.ButIdon’
t
wanttof i
ndmy sel
fhati
ngmyf ri
end’
sbrotherone
day,sojusti
ronthatout
-findoutwhathisplans
are.
”
“
Okay
,AuntGugu,
I’
ll
tal
ktohi
m.”Nol
wazi
say
s
rol
l
ingherey
esandsi
ppi
ngf
rom t
hecanofener
gy
dri
nk.

Khanyolef
tasi
nit
ial
l
yagreed.She’
sgoingtospend
theweekendwi
thBandlatogiv
ethem spaceto
cuddl
eandbond.Perksofdati
ngyourfr
iend’
s
brot
her!
Mandul owenttoseeaf riendandwill
bebackany
momentf r
om now.Hehasnoi deathatNolwazii
sin
hi
shouse, orinKZNf orthatmatter
.Shehas
preparedalightdi
nner;peachkebabs,roast
edpork
andgr eenbeans.Shedidn’tact
uall
ymakei ther
self
butit’
sthethoughtthatcounts.
Shet
akesofft
heapr
onshewor
etosett
het
abl
e.
Domest
icski
ll
s!
There’
sacardrivi
ngi
n,shequickl
ygoest othe
bedroom wher
eherbagsar eandpeelsherdressoff
.
Yes,she’
swearingali
ngeri
eunderneath.Shecover
s
wit
hal ongcoatandcatwal
ksbackt othekit
chen.
Thedoorhandletur
ns.Hewalksi
nwearingajacket
,
Car
goshor t
sandNi ket
rai
ner
s.Helooksbet
terin
pi
ctur
es,honestl
y.
“
Sur
pri
seee!
”
Hest
opsdeadonhi
str
ackswi
thaf
rownonhi
sface.
“
You’
renotdr
eami
ng,
it’
sme.
”
Hewalkst
owardshersit
ti
ngont
opoft
heki
tchen
count
erl
egs-
crossed.
“
Nol
wazi
whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?”heasks.
Shedoesn’
tsayanyt
hing.She’
sst
ari
ngathi
m wi
tha
smil
eonherface.
“
Nol
wazi
?”Henar
rowshi
sey
ebr
ow.
Sheexhal
esadeepbreat
handslidesdownfrom t
he
count
erwit
hadispl
easedlookonherface.
“
Ithoughty
ou’
dbehappyt
oseeme,
”shesay
s.
“I
’m happy,Ij
ustdon’tunderst
andhowy ougother
e,
shouldn’
tyoubef ocusingonyourst
udies?You’
re
doingyourthi
rdyearsoon, y
ourmodules…”
Anot
herdeepbr
eat
h!
“I
’
m notyoursi
ster
,I’
myourgi
rl
fr
iend,Mandul
o.
You’
reseei
ngyourwoman,notali
ttl
esist
er.
”
Gui
ltf
lashesthr
oughhiseyes.He’
sneverr
eall
ylef
t
t
heprotecti
vebrot
hershel
landful
lyt
ransf
ormed
i
ntoaboy f
ri
end.
“Babe,”hesaysguilt
il
yandpul l
sherarmstothe
sidesofhiswai st
.He’sabitti
psybutcanhi
deitwell
.
Khany odoesn’twanthimt odri
nkandhonest
ly,
it’
sa
bitunfai
r.He’
sal waysbeenabletomanagehis
alcoholint
ake.Butitnevergoeswellwi
thmeds,
obv i
ously.
“Idi
dall
thi
sforyouandallyoucareabouti
sstudi
es?
Ihaveal
lmyprior
it
iesst
rai
ghtenedout,I
’
m agrown
woman.”She’
ssti
llangr
yaboutthereact
ionshegot.
Mandul
ot r
iest
oki
ssherl
i
psbutshet
il
tsherhead
t
otheside.
“Icareaboutyourfutur
e.Iwantyoutobesuccessf
ul
andindependent.Iwantyoutogoany wher
einthe
wor l
dandlivetheli
feofyourdreams.
”
Thi
shasbeenhis‘
vi
sion’
ofthei
rrel
ati
onshi
pfr
om
dayone;
hergoi
nganywhereint
hewor l
dandbeing
happy.He’
sneveri
ncl
udedhi
mselfi
nherf
utur
eand
that
’saredfl
agshechoset
oignor
e.
“
Doy
oul
oveme?
”sheasks.
Hesnapshisbr
ows,“Whatki
ndofaquest
ioni
sthat
?
Ofcour
se,Il
oveyou.
”
“Asyoursi
ster
’spr
eci
ousf
ri
endorasy
ourwoman?
”
sheasks.
“
Both,
”hesaysandwalkst
owar
dst
hepassage
l
eadi
ngtothebathr
oom.
“
Whydoweal
way
shav
etot
alkaboutt
his?
”heasks.
“
Becauseyou’
real
waysinsi
nuat
ingt
haty
ouwon’
tbe
wi
thmei nt
henearfut
ure.
”
“
Nol
wazi,y
ou’
rest
il
lgoi
ngtomeetfine,y
oungboy
s.
I
’
m notgoi
ngt
ostandinyourwayorstopyou.
”
“SoI’
m easytoletgo?
”Herv oi
ceisbrui
sed.I
tmay
notcomef r
om abadpl acebutnowomanwant sto
hearthei
rboyf
ri
endsay ingt
heywouldn’
tfi
ghtfor
them.
“
Ididn’
tsayt
hat.Ij
ustsai
dI’
l
lnev
erst
andi
nyour
wayofhappi
ness.”
“
You’
remyhappi
nessbuther
eyouar
est
andi
ngi
n
myway.
”
Hetakesof
fhisj
acketandthr
owsi tont
hebed.
Thenhetur
nshisheadtoherstandi
ngwithaf
ier
ce
l
ookonherfacebythedoor.
“Whydoy
ouwantt
oputy
our
sel
fthr
ought
his?
”he
asks.
“
Thr
oughwhat
?”Shef
rowns.
“I
’m depressed,
physicall
yfrai
landsexuall
y
i
nadequat e.Whycan’tyouusemef orf
inanci
al
benefi
tsandspitmet othesideaft
erwards?I
wouldn’tmind,you’
restil
lyoungandhasf armoret
o
achi
ev ethanbeingtrappedinthi
srelat
ionshi
p.”
“Mandul
othat
’snotal
lther
eist
o…”Hei
nter
fer
es
bef
oreshecanfi
nish.
“ThisisnottheManduloyouhadacr ushon.You
don’tdeservethesebr
okenpieces.Ihatebeinga
burden,especi
allyt
oa24y earold.That’
snotfai
r,
Nolwazi.”
“
Youdon’
tgett
odeci
def
orme,
Mandul
o.Youdon’
t
knowshitaboutmyhear
t.Il
ovey
ouandI
’
m not
goinganywher
e.”
He’
sst
unned.
“Nowdowhat everyoucamet odoandcometothe
tabl
efordinner.Ididn’tcomeallthi
swaytobe
dumped, you’r
emyboy f
ri
end.Idon’
tcar
ewhat
chal
lengesy ou’
refacingatthemoment .
”Shetur
ns
andleaves.
“Nolwazi….”Shet
akest
heki
tchencor
nerand
disappears.Hebl
owsoutasighandwal
ksint
othe
bathroom.
May beallowingthi
srel
ati
onshi
ptohappenwasa
mistakef r
om theonset,
eventhoughhe’
salways
stoodbyhi swor dofgi
vi
nghertheworldtoenj
oythe
waysheseesf it
.Manygirl
swouldtakethi
s
opportunityandrunwit
hit.Whydoesshewantto
sti
ckar ound?

Whatcould’
vebeenaromanti
cdinnerf
ortwohas
tur
nedint
oasourdinner
.She’
sdishedhispl
ateand
arr
angedhisut
ensil
sonthesaucer,
butshe’
snot
speaki
ngt
ohi
m.
I
t’sbeenalongt i
mesincehewasinthesett
ingof
thi
skind.Candles,r
osepet
alsandagoddesssit
ti
ng
opposit
ehimi nalongcoat
.
“
Thanky
ouf
ort
his,
”hesay
swi
thaner
vouschuckl
e.
Ther
e’snor
esponse.
“
Whatar
eyouwear
ingundert
hatcoat
?”He’
str
ying
t
obr
eakthei
ce.
Si
l
ence.
“
Thef
oodi
sreal
l
yni
ce.Wher
edi
dyoubuyi
t?”
Shesi
ghs,
“Idon’
twantt
otal
ktoy
ou,
don’
tyouget
i
t?”
“
Butwecan’
tshar
ethet
abl
eandnott
alk,
”hesay
s.
“
Tryi
t,
”shesay
s.
“
Comeon,
Idon’
twantustobel i
ket
his.Idi
dn’
t
meant
obr
eakyourhear
t.Icar
eaboutyou.”
“Mxm!”shepopst
hechampagnebot
tl
eandpour
s
onl
yinhergl
ass.
“
Tomymiser
ablehear
t,
”sherai
seshergl
assand
t
oast
sint
heairt
henbri
ngsitt
oherli
psforasi
p.
Mandul oisst ari
ngatherthewhol
eti
me.Hisfaceis
expressionless.Hismindseemstoberoamingafar
,
yethisey esar egluedonher.
“
Feel
i
ngsor
ryf
ort
hegol
d-di
gger
?”sheasks.
Het
akesamomentt
oanswer
.
“YoulovedmewhenIwasmar ri
ed,lovedmewhenI
wasdi v
orced, l
ovedmewhenIdi scoveredthatI
i
mpr egnatedamar r
iedwomanandl ovedmewhenI
l
ostmy selfindepressionandphy si
calil
lnesses.
You’rej
ust24, I
’m 40.I’
mt ry
ingt
ounder standwhat
i
si tt
hatIhav ethatyouf i
ndsowor t
hyand
i
nteresti
ng.Obv i
ouslyit’
snotmoneyorgoodl ooks.
Whatdoy ouseei nme? ”
Suchaneasyquest
ion!
“
Iseemyf
utur
einy
ourey
es,
”shesay
s.
Okay,
hedidn’
texpectt
hatanswer.Nobodyhasev
er
sai
dthatt
ohim,notevenhisex-
wife.
Heget
sof
fhi
schai
r,wal
ksar
oundt
het
abl
eand
kneelsbef
oreher
.Herey
eswi
den.He’
snot
proposi
ng,i
she?
“
Pleasegi
vemeal i
tt
let
imet
oputt
hesepi
eces
t
ogether
.Youdeser
veawhol
eman,
”hesays.
Shesmi l
esandbl ushesli
keanewl yweddedbr i
de.
Yes,she’
sforgiv
inghim.Ev er
yr el
ati
onshiphasit
s
upsanddownssodon’ tlookatherl i
kethat
.The
mani sonhiskneesf orher,t
hisisthefi
rstshe’
s
experi
enci
ngt hi
s.
“Idon’
ttakeyouf
orgr
anted.Thanky
ouf
oral
ways
beingt
hereformeandlovi
ngmeatmylowest
.”
Hegetsupandl
owershisf
acetoher
.They’
reint
he
middl
eofdi
nner
,hepecksherl
i
psandgiveshera
smil
e.
“St
il
lwantt
oseewhat ’
sundert
hecoat
?”sheasks
andstar
tsunbut
toni
ngthecoat
.
Heget sasneakpeekofhercl eav
ageandgasps.
He’sstil
laman,hisbodyr eactstothesi ghtofpecky
breast
sandhertinywai st.She’st
het otalopposi
te
ofThobeka.She’
st hetypehe’dcar r
yt obedwi t
hone
arm andsexwhil
est anding.
“You’
reokaytodoi
t,r
ight
?”sheasksashesi
tsback
onhischair
.
Hi
seyesdropt
ohisplat
e.Hi
schestbouncesashe
t
akesadeepbreat
h.
“
Mandul
o?”Sher
aisesherey
ebr
ow.
“Ihav
en’tbeeni
nti
mat
esi
ncey
oul
eft
,soIdon’
t
know,”hesays.
Whyist
hatbr
ingi
ngasmi l
etoherface?Sohedi dn’
t
bel
i
evei
nthei
rlovebutst
ayedfai
thfulr
egar
dless.
“
Wearegoingt
otr
y,I
’
llbegent
le,
”shesay
sand
wi
nksathi
m.
Hecracksint
ol aught
er,
“Tabl
eshavetur
ned,
neh.
Okay
, we’
ll
try.Youlooksupersexybyt
heway.”
“
Iknow.I
’
m al
way
ssexy
,”shesay
s.
Theat mospher
einst
antl
ychanges.They’
renow
chatt
ingastheyeat,
ther
earelaughsinbetweenand
winks.
“Di
dy oudri
nk?”sheasksasMandul
opull
sheroff
thechairgi
vi
ngherapuffofwhat
everbev
eragehe
had.
“
Justonebeer
,”hesay
s.
“
Aren’
tyousupposedt
o…”
Heint
erf
eres,“
You’
renotmysi
ster
,remembery
our
ownwords.Nowactli
kemywomanandwr apyour
sexyl
egsaroundmywaist
.”
Shelaughsandwr apsherar
msar oundhisneck.He
l
ift
shert ohi
swaistandheadstowardsthebedroom.
Thet abl
eisl
eftmessyinthedi
ningroom,butwho
cares?AuntKhanyoisnothome.
“
Youdon’
tweighanyt
hing.Assi
ckasIam i
tst
il
l
f
eel
sli
keI’
m car
ryi
ngaf eat
her
.Arey
oueati
ngatthe
r
es?Doyouneedgrocery?”
Shel
aughsandhi desherheadoverhi
sshoulder.
Gent
ly,heputsherdowninthebedandtrai
l
ski sses
al
loverherchest
.
“
Youl
ooksexy
,”hesay
s.
Hiseyesarefi
ll
edwithlust
.Helooksreadytodevour
her.Hetakeshi
sT-shir
toff.He’
str
yingtogainback
hi
smuscl esbuti
t’
snoteasyatall.
“
You’
regoi
ngt
obounceback.
”She’
ssi
tt
ingbehi
nd
hi
m andr
unni
ngherhandsonhi
sback.
He’
snotconf
identenought
oturnandfaceher
.He
hat
eshoweasil
yhisbodygotknockeddownbypai
n.
“
Mandul
o,Iwantaki
ss,
”shesay
s.
Hehast
otur
nandl
ookather
.She’
sonef
eist
yli
tt
le
gi
rl
.
Hersmi
leiswelcomi
ng.There’
ssomet
hingnon-
j
udgmentalandwarm abouti
t.
Helinkshi
sforeheadonhersandgentlyki
ssesher
l
ips.She’
stoosexyforwords.Hi
shandcar essesher
boobs,shear
chesherbackandreleasesashal l
ow
moan.
Hebreakstheki
ssandchuckles.Herreact
ioni
s
ever
ythi
ng.She’
snotmakinghimf eell
essof
anyt
hing,ev
enthoughsheknowshi ssit
uat
ion.
Helov
esherl
i
ngeri
ebutheloveshernakedness
ev
enmore.Heki
sseshershoulderashetakesi
tof
f.
“Arey
ounotscaredt
hatI
’l
ldi
eontopofy
ou?”He
asksthatasaj
okebutNol
wazir
ecei
vesi
tdi
ff
erent
ly.
“
Don’
tjokeaboutdeat
h,”shesay
s.
Henodsandwhisper
sanapology
.Hewrapshis
handar
oundherneckandt
urnsherf
orasteamy
ki
ss.
Hepushesherdownandsli
desbet
weenhislegs.
Hi
shandsstartcar
essi
ngever
ypar
tofherbody.
“
Putthecondom onandl
etmet
akechar
ge,
”she
whi
spers.
“
Icandoi
t,j
ustr
elax.
”
“
No,
Iwantt
ori
de.
”
Hechuckles,pecksherl
ipsandrol
lsoff
.Hereaches
tothedrawerforapacketofcondomsandtakes
one.She’sst
rokinghi
sshaftandgentl
ycar
essing
hisbal
ls.Nowhef eel
scomf or
tabl
e.
“Letmeknowi
fany
thinggoeswr
ong,
”shesay
sas
shehel
pshimi
nser
tthecondom.
Itbreakshisheartt
hatshe’sliv
ingl i
kethisbecause
oflove.There’
snohappi ness,t
her earerisksin
everythi
ng.Hisment alandphysicalhealt
h, andhis
sexual l
i
fe.Hecanonl yconfi
deinhi sdoct orabout
someofhi sissues,nothissist
er.Nol waziknows,he
thoughtshe’
dfindsomeoneelsebutheresheis.
He’sbeentreat
edofeveryi
nfecti
on,i
ftheprobl
em
persi
stsit
’l
lmeanhewascur sed.
Hebi t
eshi
slowerl
i
pasNolwazi
slowl
yinser
ts
hersel
fandmovesherwai
stt
ori
ghtf
ull
yposi
tionhi
s
shafti
nsi
dehercor
e.
“
Aaah,
baby
!”hemoans.
Shelower
sherfaceandki
sseshisl
ips.Thenshe
si
tsup,gr
absherboobsandbouncesont opofhi
m.
Hi
sbodyneededthi
s.He’sspanki
nghert
highsand
gr
oani
ngwithpl
easure.
Shecr ossesherhandsov erhi
schestandcircl
esher
waistaround.Hersof twal
lsarebur
yingand
squeezinghisjoysti
ck.He’sgoi
ngcrazy,
call
ingher
byev erypetnameundert hesunandmaki ng
ri
diculouspromises.

She’
sridi
ngi
t.Twerki
ngandbouncingonit
.She
l
ikeshowhel
plesshesoundsandlooks.
“
Awwwbaby
!”heshut
shi
sey
esandt
ight
lybi
teshi
s
l
owerl
i
p.
Nolwazi’sownsensesar ebeingpul
ledbyextr
eme
pleasuretoalldi
rect
ions.Shemust’vet
aken
screaminglessonsfrom Pornhub,
becauseherli
tt
le
screamscanwakeupadi vorci
ngcoupl
eandtempt
them tobangoneanot her.
“Ar
eyouclose,
baby?”Manduloasks.Hi
seyesare
sti
l
lshut
.Hishandsaresqueezi
ngthebedcover
s.
Shedoesn’tanswer.Shedidn’tev
enhearhi
m.The
soundoftheirgenit
alscol
li
dingandthepl
easur
e
thatcomesfrom iti
sallshehears.
Aminut
elat
erherbodyshatt
ers.Shescreamshis
nameandspl
ashesherj
uicesalloverhi
sthighs.
Hegentl
ypusheshertothesideandr
eleasesasi
gh.
I
ttakesamomentf orNolwazit
oopenhereyesand
l
ookathim.Real
it
yhitsher.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”sheasks.
“
Yes.
”Hisj
awtwi
tchesashemov
esupt
oremov
e
t
hecondom.
“
Mandul
o,y
ou’
re…”Yes,
he’
shor
ny,
butnott
othat
ext
ent
.
“You’
reswol
len?”sheasksey
eswi
dened.Thi
sisnot
happeni
ngagain!
Hedoesn’tsayany
thi
ng.Thatdr
iveshercrazy
,there
mustbeanexplanati
on.Thi
siswhatshe’shadt o
dealwit
hfrom t
hebeginni
ngoft
heirrel
ati
onship.
Penetr
ati
onhasalwaysbeenanissuefr
om hisside.
“Ithoughty
ourdoct
orwasdeal
i
ngwi
thi
t,
”shesay
s
hidingherf
ury
.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Nol
wazi
.”
Si
gh!
“
HowcanIhel
pyou?Idon’
twantyout
obesor
ry,
I
wantust
owor
kthi
souttoget
her.
”
“Imadeonestupidmi
stake,Nol
wazi.Unf
ort
unatel
y
Godalwayspunishmediff
erent
ly,
li
keI’
m nothi
s
chil
d.”
Whati
shetal
kingabout
?Shef r
owns.Heli
mpst
o
t
hebathr
oom andsl
amst hedoorbehi
ndhi
m.
Maybei
t’
sti
meshet
ell
sKhany
owhat
’sgoi
ngon
wi
thherbr
other
…
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER68
KHANYO

Iwokeupat3am andIhav en’tbeenabl etosleep

sincethen.I’
vebeent ossi
ngandt urning,
andt r
ying
tomakesenseoft hi
ngsast heyar e.I
’vebeenwi t
h
Mandul otohisdoctor’sappoi ntmentsandnot hing
l
ikethisevercameup.Ormay bet heychosewhatt o
discusswhenIwasar ound.Ican’ tevencallhi
m and
askquest i
ons.Idon’tthi
nkhewant smet oknow, I
’m
hissist
erandt hi
sishi ssexual l
i
fe.Itwouldbet oo
embar r
assingifhefindsoutt hatNol wazitol
dme.
Handst ouchmywai standliftupmypy j
ama.We
sl
eptnaked, Idr
essedupaf terNolwazi
’
scall
.I’
ve
neverheardhercryingf oranyman, nowIknowthat
hercrushwasact uallyreall
ov eandIhavet
odo
every
thinginmypowert ohelp.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”Bandl
aasks.
Isi
gh,
“Yeah,
justbeenunabl
etosl
eep.
”
“Whyareyoulyi
ng?”Hepullsmet ohischestand
ki
ssesmycheek.He’sst
illsleepy,
andhornyIguess,
helookssexywit
hhiseyeshal fcl
osed.
“
Kwenzenj
ani
?”heasks.(
Whathappened)
Ishouldn’tbespr eadingmybr other’
sbedr oom
i
ssues, butt hismani smybestf ri
endandmybr ai
ns
attimes.Iknowhe’ l
lthi
nkofsomet hingandguides
meont het hingsIneedt odo.Prayerisn’toneof
them.Noti nt hissituati
on.Theyhav enobusi ness
havingsexi nt hef i
rstplace-sexbeforemar ri
age
thi
ng.I’
dbewast ingGod’ stime,may bet hi
sishow
hewant st opuni shMandul oforsl
eepi ngwithagir
l
he’snotmar riedto.
“
Talk,
”hesaysandpokesmewit
hhi
ser
ectshaf
t.
Notthi
smorningMthonga,
mommyi
snoti
nthe
mood!
“Igotacall
from Nolwazii
nthemi
ddl
eoft
heni
ght
.
Shewasi ntear
s,”Isay.
“
Didt
heyhav
eaf
ight
?”heasks.
“Notreal
ly
.Itwassomethi
ngelse.Somet
hing
concerni
ngthei
rsexual
li
fe,
”Isay.
“Oh,t
hat
’snoneofourbusi
nesst
hen.Wehaveour
ownsexuall
if
etoworryabout
.Li
kehowhungry
Mthongaisr
ightnow.
”
Honest
ly….
sigh!
“Bandl
a,st
op.Thi
sisser
ious,
mybrot
heri
ssi
ck.
”I
shif
tfr
om hishor
nyassandpull
upmypyj
amapant
.
“
Ther
ewi
l
lbeadi
ff
erence,
trustme,
”hesay
s.
“How?Who’
sgoingt
obri
ngt
hatdi
ff
erence?
”Isee
he’
staki
ngt
hisl
i
ghtl
y.
Hechuckles,
“Icannotcal
lHi
snamewhi
l
eI’
mint
his
posi
ti
on,comeon. ”
Oh,i
t’
saboutUnyazi
Lwezulu.Idon’
tdoubthi
sfai
th
i
nanywaybutt hi
shasgotnothingt
odowi t
hwhat
Manduloaskedhi
mt opr
ayf or
.
“Hismanhood…is…itgetsswol l
en.”TodayI’
mt he
onewhohasast utt
eringproblem.“Nolwazisaysit
’s
beenli
kethatsincetheystarteddatingbutthey
foundawayar oundit.Shethoughthe’ dbehelpedby
nowbutthey’
rest i
l
lfacedwi t
ht hesamedi l
emma. ”
“
I’
m conf
used,
”hesay
sfr
owni
ng.
“Soam I.It
houghthewasj ustdepressedaboutthe
div
orceandLonda’sissue.ButnowIdon’ tknow
anymore.”Howdidhislif
eturnint
ot hi
smesswi t
hin
ayear?Youknowwhat ,
IblameThobeka.Al lthi
sis
herfaul
t.
“
Doy
out
hinkThobekai
sbewi
tchi
nghi
m?”Iask.
“
Hisex-
wif
e?”
“
Yes,
”Inod.
Thel
ookonhisfacetel
lsmeI’
m st
upi
d.Butwhy
woul
dIputanyt
hingpastt
hatwoman?She’
sLuci
fer
.
“
Hasheevert
alkedaboutaski
ngf
orgi
venessf
rom
t
heManqel
es?”
Hebana!AretheyGod’
scousinskant
i?Howmany
ti
mesdoesheneedt oapologizef
oraconsent
ed
one-
night
stand?
“He’
sdonethatsomanyt
imes,
”Isaydef
ensi
vel
y
andabitannoyed.
“ToThakasa,y
es.Buthe’snev
ercamet oapol ogi
ze
toourancest
ors.MaNtusii
sThakasa’
swi fe.Their
uni
onwasr egi
ster
edatHomeAf fai
rs,
jointbyt he
ancestors,blessedandstrengthenedbyGodand
Uny azi
Lwezul u.That’
snotsomet hingheshoul d’
ve
takenli
ghtly.I’
m notsayi
ngt hat’
st her easonwhy
he’shavingthesepr obl
ems, butifhedi dn’thav
e
them beforesleepingwithMaNt usi thenheshould
l
ookdeepl yintoit.
”
“Hhayi
-bo,wasn’tMaNt usiawareofal
lthat
?Asfar
asIknowt hatblessedmar ri
edwomanwentt omy
brot
her’shotel
room, nottheotherwayaround.
”
“Okay
,thatmakesal
otofsense,
you’
rer
ight
.”Now
he’
smocki ngme.
Si
gh!
“Whydi
dn’tt
hesamepunishmentappl
ytoThakasa’
s
baby
mamat hen?Hi
m andMaNt usi
committ
edthe
samesi
n,”Iask.
“You’
rereal
l
yinter
est
edoryou’r
ejustcol
l
ecti
ng
point
sforyourowngender
-equal
it
ydebate?
”
Phewww!
“
I’
mint
erest
ed,
”Isay
.
“
Okay
,fi
rst
lyIdi
dn’
tsayy
ourbr
otherwasbei
ng
punished.Isaidit’sapossi bi
l
ity.Idon’ tknowhow
muchThakasapr ayedwhenhef oundoutt hatyour
brot
herhadi mpregnatedhi swife.Idon’ tknowhow
muchhecr iedandwhi chancest orr eact ed.Icannot
besur eofany t
hing.ButwhatI ’
llsayrightnowi s
you’
recompar i
ngappl est opears.Phel o’smotheri s
notamar r
iedwoman, she’scar r
y i
ngnomar k.
Thakasamaybemar r
iedbuthenev ert i
edhi mselfto
anyone’sancestor sotherthanhi sown.Hi sdutyasa
sonint hefamilyistokeepourf ather’snameal ive.
Evenifhedoest hatwithPhel o’
smot her .Heknows
hispowerandheunder standshi sposi tion.Ift
he
tabl
eswer et ur
nedandhewasi nMandul o’
sposition,
Londawoul dn’
thav el
osthi ssightint hef ir
stplace
andhe’ dbeaManqel e.”
I’
m stunned.Dumbf
ounded.Justt
osayt
heleast
.Al
l
alongIthoughtt
hesi
tuat
ionwasunmendabl
e.
“
Wow!
”That
’sal
lIcansay
.
Justwow.
“I
tal
lcomesdowntothewi
sdom afat
herpassesto
hi
sson.Andnoof
fensest
handwasami,butLonda
i
ssaf
easaManqel
ethanaNy
athi
.”
WhydoIf
eelli
kemybrotherisbeingundermined
her
e?We’
veallest
abl
i
shedt hefactthatThakasai
s
amani
pul
atorandabull
y.
IwishIcanchallengehim ont hi
sonebutIcannot
putmynephew’ slif
eatrisktopr oveapoint
.I’
l
ltel
l
Mandul otogoandki sshisfeet.Theworldi
shis
oyster,weareheretowitnesshi m getev
ery
thi
nghe
want s.

Anarm wr
apsar
oundme.Ir
eleaseadeepsi
ght
o
cal
m downmyti
ts.
“Don’
ttel
lhi
mthaty
oudi
scussedt
hiswi
thme,
”he
says.
Igi
vehi
m al
ook.I
’
m nott
hatst
upi
d.
“Moti
vatehi
mtoconsul
tel
der
sfr
om hi
ssi
de,
ift
hey
don’
tknowwhattodoI’
l
lfi
ndawayt
omake
Thakasagui
dehi
m,”hesay
s.
Thakasa,
MrKnowItAl
l
.I’
m sur
ehe’
dbemor
ethan
happytogiv
eor
der
s.
“Idon’
tknowhowIf eel
aboutyourbr
otherany
mor
e,”
Isighandrestmyheadonhischest.
“Idon’tthinkheowesy ourbr ot
heranythi
ngexcept
humani t
y.Butlet
’snoti nv
olveourselvesinthi
s.I,
personal l
y,havenoillf
eelingstowardsy ourbrother
.
He’sagoodmanwhoj ustmadeami stake.Il
ove
youandIwanthi mt obeokayf oryou.”Hisli
psland
ont hesideofmyf ace.Ireleaseadeepsi ghandl i
nk
myf ingersintohis.Weshoul dbeminimizing
people’sissuesinourbedr oom butitseemsl ikewe
areint hemi ddl
eoft hestorm here.
.
.
BHAMBATHA

He’
sdr essedup;Cubancol l
arshi
rt
,Denim shor
ts
andRafSi mon’
sbl acksneaker
s.Helooksgreat,
he
al
way sdoes,buttodayheshouldhavedressed
di
ffer
ently.Hedoesn’tl
ookapologeti
cinthose
cl
othes.
Mawandecl earsherthr
oatatt
hedoor.She’
sgother
purseandev er
ythi
ng.She’
stheoneaccompanyi
ng
him becausehismotheranduncl
esdist
anced
themselves.
“I’
mr eady.Weshoul
dgo. ”Hereyeremainsonhi s
chain.Hecanleaveitbehindthi
soneday .Thelast
thingtheNkwanyanaswantt oseeisthei
rf at
her’
s
kil
lerrocki
nga9ctgoldFigarochai
n.
Heempti
estheremainsofhi
sbeerandt
akesa
bot
tl
etotheki
tchenbin.
Shedoesn’
tapprov
eofhim dri
nki
ngbeforefaci
ng
Nkwanyana’
sfamil
ybutift
hisishi
swayof
gat
heri
ngcouragethenshehastolethi
m be.
He’
sbeenqui
etall
mor ni
ng,whichi
ssounli
kehim
whenMawandeisaround,ner
vesarer
eal
l
ywr ecki
ng
hi
m.
“Asambe,
”hesay
scomi
ngf
rom t
heki
tchenl
ooki
ng
unset
tl
ed.
Shenodsbutst
andsst
il
l.
Hef
rowns,
“Wande,
asambe.
”
Shegetsdownonherknees.Ther
e’sascar
f
cover
inghershoul
der
s.
Oh,
Lor
d!
“
Usi
del
engani
Nkosi
kangaka
Buy
elaki
thi
usi
thet
hel
ele
Obababet
hubonaabasekho
Si
thwel
e-ket
hinai
zonozabo
Shay
aNkosi
uphozi
se,
wena
Soni
l
esi
yav
umaebusweni
bakho
Si
ngabakabani
umasi
l
ahl
wanguweNkosi
Buy
elaki
thi
Nkosi
yoxol
o.”
Hedidn’
trememberasi ngl
elyri
c,shewasj ust
si
ngingalone.Thistookhim backtohischil
dhood
whenfait
hwasst i
ll
thecenterofhisbeing.He
enj
oyeditwhileitl
asted.
Shereci
tesasmall
prayerandtheybothstandup.
Hiskneeshur
tfr
om theunplannedkneel
i
nghej ust
di
d.
“
You’
reagoodwoman,
”hesay
s.
Healwayst
ell
sherthi
s.Nowi
tsoundsl
i
keav
erse
morethanacompli
ment.
Theyheadoutwi
ththei
rhandsli
nked.She’
sgoingto
doevery
thi
ngtosupporthi
m,exceptopeni
ngher
mouthwhentheygetattheNkwanyanahomestead.
That
’shisi
ssuet
ohandle,hi
salone.

Mawandedi dcalloneofMrNkwany ana’

sdaughter
s
toletherandthewhol ef
amilyknowofthei
rvi
sit
.
Therewasnopr oblem overt
hephone,shesai
d
they’
dbewai t
ingforthem.
“
Bhambat
ha.
”Hereyesareonhi
swai
st.They
’re
wi
denedt
othei
rcor
ners.
Helooksather
,fol
l
owsherey
esandqui
ckl
ypul
l
s
hi
sshirtdown.
“
Ser
iousl
y,y
ou’
recar
ryi
ngagun?
”
“
Idon’
tknowwhatt
hey
’regoi
ngt
odo,
”hesay
s.
“
Doesitevenmat
ter
?Anyr
eact
ionf
rom t
hem i
s
j
ust
if
ied,
”Mawande.
Hef
rowns,
“Whatdoy
oumean?Nobodyi
sjust
if
ied
t
ohi
tme.”
Sher
oll
sherey
esandsi
ghs.
Hegetsoutandcomest ohersidetoopenthedoor
forher
.Nowshecanonl ypraythatthi
sgoeswel
l.
Hismotherwil
lmakeherreali
zethathe’sgr
owi
ng
andtaki
ngresponsi
bil
i
tyofhismi st
akes.
He’sbehi
ndher,Mawandei nhal
esashar pbreat
h
andknocksatthedoor.Thereweremul t
ipl
ev oi
ces
comingfrom i
nsi
de,t
heyqui ckl
ysi
lencewhenshe
knocks.
Noziphoopenst hedoor.She’
stheoneMawande
tal
kedtoov erthephone.Shewasjust23year
sol
d
whenherf atherdi
ed,t
osayshehat estheman
standi
ngbehi ndMawandewoul dbean
underst
atement .
“Youcancomein,
”shesaysaft
erexchangi
ng
greet
ingswi
thMawande.Hereyesl
ockedwith
Bhambatha’
sonceandhernosewrinkl
edup.
Ther e’sactuallyawhol efami ly
, ev enanangr y
l
ooki nguncl e.It’
saf ullhouse.Bhambat hainstant l
y
regretsagr eeingt othi s.Nathi doesn’ tev enknow
he’sher e.Obv iouslyhe’ dnev ersel lhim outbutbei ng
const antl
yaccusedofsomet hingy oudidn’tactuall
y
doi sinfuri
ating.Ev ery onehear dt hatBhambat ha
wasatt hesceneandqui ckl
ypoi ntedathi m ast he
kil
ler.Hadheseent hati twasNkwany anai nthecar
hewoul d’
vedonehi sbestt osav et hesituati
on.But
hedi dn’tknow, Nathi hadal readyshothi m whenhe
sawt hestickerofhi scaratt heback.I twast ool at
e.
Nkwany anawasdecl ar eddeadandt heyal lwent
down.
Mawandegr
eet
s.Theyr
espond.
“
Sani
bona,
”hegr
eet
stoo.
Nor
esponse.
Hepul
lsbackandshut
shi
smout
htoo.Mawande
gi
veshi
m alook.
Wel
l
,thi
sisget
ti
ngawkwar
danduncomf
ort
abl
e.
“Thi
sisBhambat
ha,
mybr
otherf
rom t
heMy
ezas,
”
shesays.
Br
other
,real
l
y?Hi
sbr
owf
urr
ows.
Mawandegi
veshi
m anot
herl
ook;
‘t
hisai
n’
tthet
ime!
’
“Iknowever
yoneisi
npainanditwashardforyoual
l
toagreet
omeethim.Forthat,I
’
dli
ketothankyou.
”
Herhandbrusheshi
sknee.“He’
sgotsomethingt
o
say.”
Throatscl
earar oundtheroom.All ey
esturntohim.
Mam’ Nkwany anahasn’tlookedup.Thisboywas
l
ikeasont oher .Sheonlyhasgir
l chi
ldr
en,ifher
husbandwasn’ taroundandsheneededsomeonet o
fi
xabul binthehouseshe’ dcal
lBhambat ha.Tobe
here,l
ookingathim asthekill
erofherhusbandis
unbeli
evableandscar i
ng,tosaytheleast.Whoto
tr
ustinthi
swor ld?
“Ummm…Icannotundot hetragedyt hathappenedor
eraset hepainmyactionscausedt hi
sf amily.I
cannott akeanyofthatback.AndI ’llunderst
andif
your ejectmyapol
ogy ,butIwanty ouguy stoknow
thatI’mr eal
l
ysorr
y.I’
vebeenr egret f
ul f
rom dayone.
Ididn’twantBab’Nkwany anatodi e.”
Nobodybr
eat
hesawor
d.Gi
rl
sdon’
thav
emucht
o
saytohim.I
fhecan’
tundoi
tthent
her
e’snopoi
nt,
thei
rfat
heri
sdead.
“Ma,wouldyouli
ketosayany t
hing?”Mawandeasks.
Shethoughtshe’
dbesitt
ingandl et
ti
ngthesit
uat
ion
playout
,butshehastobeamedi at
orbecause
nobodyseemst obetooint
erestedintal
ki
ng.
Mam’ Nkwanyanadoesn’
trespond.I
nst
ead,
she
cover
sherfacewit
hascar fandleav
esther
oom.
Oldwounds!
Bhambatha’
sheadbowsdown.He’
sashamedof
hi
mself
,genuinel
y.
Thentheuncl
estandsup.He’
sli
vi
d.Hetakesaf
ew
st
epstowardsBhambathabutoneoft
hegirl
sst
op
hi
m half
way.
“Babomncanecalm down.
”Sheholdshim back.
She’st
heoldestdaught
erofNkwanyana.
“Ipr
ayedforthi
shool i
ganwhenhewas6mont hs
oldanddyingfrom Pneumonia.Hismot hercall
ed
ever
yonecr y
ingandaskingforprayers.HadIknown
Iwould’
veprayedforPneumoni atotakehimt here
andthen.
”
Hishiderises.Mawandeshif
tsclosertohim.This
doesn’thavetoturnugl
y,heshouldtaketheblows–
hedeser v
esev er
ythi
ng.
Coldwaterspl
ashesonhi
sface.I
t’
sthef
uri
ous
uncl
e,hejustt
hrewabott
leathi
m.
“Well
,fuckyou!”Heli
ftshi
sarm andwipeshi
sface.
He’ssti
llsi
tt
ingthough,Mawandeisholdi
ngher
breat
hnextt ohim.
“
Boy
,whatdi
dyouj
ustsay
?”t
heuncl
easks.
“
Isai
dfucky
ouf
ort
hrowi
ngwat
eratme,
”hesay
s.
“
Bhambat ha!
”Mawandegri
ndshert
eet
h.They
t
alkedaboutthi
sbehav
ior
!
Theuncl
eslapshim.Thi
ngsareabouttogotoa
whol
enewl evel
.Mawandequickl
ystandsup.The
Nkwanyanasist
ersr
untothedoor.
“
Wasi tnotenought
haty
ouki
l
ledourf
ather
?”
Nozi
phocr i
es.
“
Bhambat
hadon’
tmov
e!”–Mawandey
ell
s.
“
No,l
ethi
m ki
l
lmejustl
i
keheki
l
ledmybr
other
.”
Howfamousi
sthi
sli
ne!
“
I’
m notf
ightingy
ou.ButIdon’
tli
key
ourhandonmy
f
ace,sopleasest
op,
”hesay s.
Theuncl
eput
shishandonhi
sfaceagai
n-anot
her
sl
ap-del
i
ber
atel
y.
There’
sascatt
eri
ngofchair
s.Mawandescr
eams
Bhambatha’
sname.Thingsarehappeni
ngt
oofast
,
she’
snotevensurewhoisgrabbi
ngandwhois
hi
tti
ng.
Mam’Nkwany
anacomesoutofherr
oom.Thi
ngs
hav
egott
enoutofhand.
“Bhambathawhatar
eyoudoi
ngi
nmyhouse?
Uyangi
hlol
isa?
”
Heget
sof
ftheuncl
e’
sgr
ipandf
ixeshi
sshi
rt
.MF!
“
Ma, Idi
dn’
tdoanyt
hing.Heishit
ti
ngmeandI
’
m
j
ustprot
ect
ingmysel
f,”hesays.
Theuncl
e’
sbloodi
sst
il
lhot
.Hewantsafight
,
Nozi
phohascomebacktocal
m hi
m down.
“I
t’
snotenoughthatyouki
l
ledmyhusband,now
you’
reheret
odistur
bourpeaceandt
of i
ghthis
brot
her?
”
“Ma,Idon’
tthi
nkhewasdoi ngthatatal
l.Uncl
eher
e
gott
ooangr yandthi
ngsescalat
edreall
yfast,
”
Mawandeinterf
eres.
“
Takeyoursexpar
tnerandgetoutofmyhouse,
”
Mam’Nkwanyanasays.
Wel
l
,newst
rav
elf
astar
oundt
hispl
ace!
“
Wearesorry,
thi
sisnotwhatwecamehereforbut
weunder
standever
yone’
sanger
.Nisal
ekahl
e.”
Bhambathaleadsthewayout.Sur
pri
singl
y,he’
snot
angr
y.Justunhappyaboutt
hewetsleeveofhisshi
rt
.
“Ineedtochange,
”hesayst
aki
ngi
tof
fandl
eav
ing
histat
tooedbodynaked.
“Real
l
y?You’
reonl
yworr
iedaboutcl
othesaf
tert
he
chaoswecausedt
her
e?”Mawandeasks.
“OfcourseI
’m sadaboutthesit
uat
ion,
butI
’
m ev
en
sadderaboutmyshirt
,”hesays.
Shesi
ghs,
“Dr
ivemehome.
”
“ButIdidn’
tdoanythi
ng.Oryouwantedmet osit
,
notdefendmy sel
fandturnt
heothercheek?I’
m not
Jesus.”
“Idi
dn’
tsaythat.I
’mjustannoy
edbyy
ourl
ackof
concer
n,”shesays.
“
Youwantmet
ocr
y?”heasks.
Sheshakesherheadi
ndi
sappoi
ntment
.
“
Arey
ouev
ensor
ry?
”sheasks.
“Mawande,howcany ouaskmethat
?IfIcoul
dundo
onethingi
nthisli
fei
twouldbet
hatday.Nkwany
ana
waslikeanuncletome.”
“
Okay
,whoki
l
ledhi
m?”sheasks.
“I
twasachaot icscene.AllIcansayi sthatIdidn’
t
pullt
hetri
ggerandki l
lNkwany ana.Andnowt hat
doesn’tmatt
er,he’sdeadandweal lwenttojail.
”His
phonebeepssav inghimf r
om thisconv er
sati
on.
There’
sabr ocodehecannotv i
olate.Theydon’tsay
names.One’smessi sever
yone’smessandt hat
standsunti
ltheyallgotograve.
Asher
eadsonhi
sey
ebr
owsf
urr
ow.
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”Mawandeasks.
“
Maisinv
iti
ngmefori
sij
i
ngi.Idon’tknowwhenwas
t
hel
astti
meIatei
t.That
’smyf avori
teoutofal
lZul
u
t
radi
ti
onal
food.
”
“Shei
nv i
tedyoutoherhouse?
”Mawandedoesn’
t
seem excit
edasheis.Thi
sistooni
ceofMrsMyeza,
andwher ethehel
ldi
dshegetapumpkin?
“I
’
m shocked.Idi
dn’
tev
enknowshehadmy
number.
”He’sovert
hemoon.Thi
sapol
ogyt
hing
must’
veworkedforr
eal
.
.
.
*
**FI
VEMI
NUTESEARLI
ER*
**

MrsMy ezawast ryi

ngt oshi
fthermi ndfrom the
wholeNkwany anaandBhambat hathing.Ifitwasup
tohershewoul dn’
twor r
yaboutany t
hingt hathasto
dowi t
hhi m.Shet r
iesherbesttoshuthi m outbut
cutt
ingt hecordwithsomeonewhol ai
di nyour
wombf orninemont hsisnotthateasy .Somet i
mes
shefindsher sel
fsit
tingupinthedar k,duri
ngdeep
hoursoft henight,
andt hi
nki
ngabouthi sfuture.
He’seithergoingtoendupi njailordead.Nei t
herof
t
hosepossi
bil
i
tiesgi
veheragoodsl
eep,
even
t
houghshe’
swishedhim deat
hsomanyti
mes.
Herphoner
anginthemi ddl
eofherwardr
obe
packi
ngandshequickl
yattendedt
oit
.
“Heywenamfazi
kaMy eza!
”ItwasMam’
Nkwany
ana
blowi
ngovert
hephone.
“Yousentyourbrather
etocomeanddisr
espectus
ontopofev er
ythi
nghe’sdonet
othi
sfamil
y?”She
wasli
vid.
“OhLord,whathashedone? ”Deepdowni nher
heartsheknewBhambat hawasgoi ngt
omessi tup,
butshehadt oletMawandeseet hi
ngsforherself
.
I
t’snotthatshedoesn’
tbeli
eveinBhambat ha,
ther
e’snothi
ngt obel
i
evein.
“Hewasf ight
ingBabomncaneher e.Thisti
mey ou’re
notgoingtogetaway ,youandy ourbrat.Iwanty ou
tocomeandapol ogi
zetomyancest orsforall
the
noi
sey oursoncaused.Br i
ngagoatorwear etaking
thi
stot heChief.
”Withthatsai
dshedr oppedthecall
l
eavingMr sMy ezastunned.
She’
shadsomany‘lastst
raws’
momentswi
tht
his
boybutt
hisonei
stheLASTofthem al
l
.
Sparetherodandspoi
lthechi
ld-may beshe’sgui
l
ty
ofthi
s.Sheneverdi
sci
pli
nedthisboy,letal
onesit
hi
m downandt el
lhi
m hewaswr ong.Defensei
snot
di
scipl
inar
y.
Manypeopl etoldherhewasgoi ngtoturnintothi
s,
becauseinganeemi sel
weiyahl
upha.Him andMy eza
wantedasonandi twastaki
ngt oolongforherto
getpregnant.Hecameasagi f
tandabl essing,
but
hechoset oliv
ehislif
easacur se.
Mawandecannotfixhim.I
t’
sherwhohastobea
mothersheshoul
d’vebeenadecadeago.My eza
tol
dherthi
s-onedayshewasgoingtoregrethow
sherai
sedthi
sboy.

Shet ookanempt ybowl ,cov

er edi
twithali
dandput
i
tont hekit
chencount er.Shewasbesi dehersel
f
withanger,evenbreakingamopwi thheroldknee
feltl
i
kenothing.Thenshecal ledachil
dt ocomeand
typeav er
yshorttextforher;
SON,ICOOKEDI
SIJI
NGIFORYOU.PASSBYMEON
YOURWAYBACK.

(
SMSTBBABFA89TO34877.T&Csappl
y)
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER69
KHANYO

Idecidedt
ogiv
eManduloaphonecal
l
.Sundayi
s
toofarandNol
wazi
iscount
ingonme.
“Makhany
i.
”Icanhearf
rom t
het
oneofhi
svoi
ce,
he
soundssodown.
“
Hey
,isev
ery
thi
ngokay
?”
“
Yeah,
”hesay
s.
He’
sly
ing.
“Iwasthi
nki
ngher
e,befor
ey ougobackt
oworkwe
shoul
dgoandfixt
hingswiththeManqel
es.
”
Amomentofsi
l
encepasses.
Thenhesighsheav
il
y.“Butt
heydon’
twantme
anywher
enearthem.”
“
Thiswon’
tbeaboutLonda,butaboutyousleeping
wi
thThakasa’
swi
fe.Justapologi
ze,whenthey’r
e
r
eadytol
etyouhaveLondatoy
oursur
namet
hey
wi
ll
.Ij
ustwantt
hisbehi
ndyou.
”
“
Idon’
tknowhowt ogoaboutt
hat
.I’
venev
erbeeni
n
t
hiski
ndofsi
tuat
ionbef
ore.
”
True,andIwonderwhati sitthatwasgoingthrough
hi
smi ndwhenhef uckedawhol eNazarethwife.I
’m
sureshehadapi eceofcow’ sskinaroundherwai st
showingt hatshe’
st radi
ti
onall
ymar r
ied.Heignored
al
l t
hatandwentaheaddi ppi
nghisnowsi ckdick
i
ntoher .SMH!
“
It
’stimef oryoutotel
leldersfr
om theNyat
hisi
de.
I
’m surethere’
ssomet hingtheyshoul
ddobefore
whateveryourtokenisleavesthepremi
ses,
”Isay.
“
Whati
ftheyt
urnusdown?
”heasks.
“I
t’
suptothem,there’
snothi
ngwecanabouti
tbut
onthebooksyou’dhaveapol
ogi
zed,
”Isay
.
Heexhal
esheav
il
y,“
I’
ll
seewhatIcando.
”
“Andthist
hingofThobeka,
broIt
hinkyoushouldbe
i
nformingtheunder
groundgangaboutwhat
happenedbetweenyoutwo.Shewasn’tj
ustyour
wif
e,youknowtheycanbi
tey
oui
ftheynol
onger
seeherar
ound,
”Isay.
Ther
e’samomentofsi
l
ence,
thenachuckl
e.
“Haveyoubeendi
scussi
ngmewi
thi
hwanqa?
”he
asks.
Thathwanqai
sbusycooking,he’
snotevenwit
hme
atthemoment.Buty
eah,hetoldmeallt
his.
“
Ummm…no,
”Ist
utt
er.
“Oh,
soyou’
veinheri
tedt
hestutt
eraswel
l
?Tel
lhi
mI
appr
eci
atei
t,I
’
llusetheadv
ices.
”
He’
snotangr
y?!
“SoI’
m all
owedt
odi
scussy
ouwi
thhi
m?”I
’
m
surpr
ised.
“
No,
dumbass.
”
“
Buty
ouj
ustsai
dyouappr
eci
atehi
sadv
ices,
”Isay
.
“IdobutIdon’
tappreci
atemynamebei
ngasubject
ofyourpi
ll
ow-tal
k.Fi
ndsomethi
ngi
nter
est
ingt
ot al
k
about,
”hesays.
Ir
oll
myey
est
il
ltheyt
ouchmycor
onal
sut
ure.
“Okay
,fi
ne.Whatdoy ouwantmet
obr
ingy
ouwhen
Icomeback?”Iask.
Hel
aughsoutl
oud.I
t’
ssogoodt
ohearhi
mlaughi
ng
f
oronce.
“
Youdon’
twork,
Makhanyi
.Idon’
twantany
thi
ng
f
rom i
mal
iyomgovozo.
”
Whatthehel
l?I’
m droppi
ngt
hedi
vor
cedMF.Hecan
besuchacrackheadatti
mes.

Footst
epsappr
oach.It
urnmyir
ri
tat
edfacetothe
doorandseeabeardedman.Whyishestar
ingat
me?
“
What
?”Isnap.
Hi
sey
eswi
den.
“
Whathappened?
”heasks.
Si
gh!Thi
sbear
dedmani
smyf
utur
ehusband.
“Mandul
oisannoying.Youwon’tbel
iev
ewhathe
sai
dwhenIaskedhi mi fIshoul
dbri
nghim any
thi
ng
whenIgoback,”Isay.
Hi
sfacet
ell
smet
ogoon.
“
Hesai
dhedoesn’twantany
thi
ngf
rom i
mal
i
y
omgovozo,
”Isay
.
Hebur
stsi
ntoaf
itofl
aught
er.
Ther
e’snot
hingf
unnyhere.I
’
m nother
espr
eadi
ng
mylegsandgett
ingpai
dforit
.
Hestepsi
nsideandcl
osesthedoor.I
shedone
cooki
ng?Idon’
twantalazyhusband.
“
Awugovozesi
mlay
e,”hesay
s.(
Spr
eady
ourl
egs,
l
et’
sspi
tehi
m)
“
Bandl
athi
sisnotf
unny
,”Isay
.
Hewinksatmeandt akesoffhisT-shirt
.“Uzoba
umfazionj
anionqenaukugovozel
ai ndoda?”(What
ki
ndofawi f
ewoul dyoubeifyou’
rel azytospread
yourl
egsforyourman)
Ipi
ckapil
l
owandthrowi
tathi
m.Hedodges.MF!I
j
umpt ohi
m.Hecat
chesmeandthr
owsmebackt o
bed.
Hepressesmyhandsov
ermyheadandst
aresdown
atmelaughi
ng.
“Uyeyi
sakodwaukumithauyakusaba,
”hesaysand
pull
sdownhisshort
s.(You’
recheekybutyou’
re
scaredofget
ti
ngpregnant)
“
I’
m nothav
ingsexwit
houtacondom,
Bandl
a.”It
ry
t
ositupbuthepushesmedown.
“Soyou’
rehav
ingsex?
”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
owwi
tha
smir
k.
“Yourdickisout
,so.
..
”Ihat
ewhathe’
sdoi
ng;
tur
ning
hislusti
ntomine.
“Butyoucansayno,
”hesay
sandsneakshi
sfi
nger
undermythong.
“
Notreal
l
y.Mybodyisyourpr
oper
ty.
”Ohbi
tch,
your
whol
efamil
yisdi
sappoi
ntedi
nyou!
“Ir
espectmypropert
ythough.
”He’snowt alki
ng
soft
lyagai
nstmyearandmyl egsarespreadwi de
l
ikeatoll
gateopeni
ngforabigtr
uck.Idon’tdeser
ve
achairatt
hewomenempower mentmeet i
ng.
“Youdon’
thaveto.Youcanexpl
oitthi
sproper
ty,
”I
sayinahushedtone.Winni
eMadiki
zelaMandela
wouldbesodisappoint
edinwhatIdowit
hmy
woman’
sri
ghtt
hatshef
oughtsohar
dfor
.
“Ngi
yakut
handaKhanyo.
”Hi
sli
psgent
lypul
lmy
earl
obebefor
ehi
stongueswabsdownmyneck.
Ifeel
mycoozeli
psst
ret
chi
ng,there’
sahar
dr od
gentl
ysl
i
dingi
nandahandgrabbingmybuttcheek.
“Mypeopl
earecomingThur sdaymor ni
ng.I’
mr eady
forany
thi
ng.Myfamilyisreadyforanyt
hingfrom us.
Theyknowthatyou’
remysunshi neandsunset .
I
njabul
oyamiyonkeisezandleni
zakho,KaMay ise.
”
Okay
,thi
sisnosextal
k.Il
ookathi
m,he’
snot
movi
ngbutstar
ingatme.
“Yourpeopl
earecomi
ng?”Iask.Wehaven’
t
discussedt
hat
.Howdidhedecidewi
thoutme?
Hepul
l
soutandt
hrust
sinagai
n.Amoanescapes
mymouth.
“Kumnandi
?”heaskspul
l
ingoutandt
hrust
ingi
n
agai
n.
“
Aah…y
es!
”
“
Naki
mikumnandi
.”
Hedoesn’tpulloutt hi
stime,heli
ftsmyl egupand
st
eadil
yreelsitinsidemycor e.Everyt
hingbecomes
amemor y,mypr esentandmyf ut
ur eishisdi
ck.I
wantnomot ivati
onal speakertot
ellmeaboutl ett
ing
amant akeadv antageofmybodybl ablabla.Iknow
whatI
’m doing,thisismybody ,okay !
.
.
BHAMBATHA

Thecarparksintheyard.MrsMy ezatakesherseat
andhidessomethingunderthetable.She’
stryi
ngt o
hi
deherangeraswel lbutfai
li
ngmi serabl
e.There’
s
aknock,sherel
easesaheav ybreathandsitssti
ll,
wit
houtrai
singanysuspici
on.
Mawandewal ksinfi
rst.Hereyesar er unningallover
theroom;shesuspectssomet hing.Thedel i
nquent
walksinaft
erherhalf
-naked.Event hatalonei s
disr
espect,
he’sbeenparadingthest reetswi t
hno
shir
ton?HowcanKaManqel eall
owt hi stohappen?
He’spoll
uti
ngher,t
hisisexactlywhyt heynomi nat
ed
Hal
ali
sani
tot
akeher
.Bhambat
hai
stoobadf
orher
.
“
Oul
ady
,”hesay
s.
Deepbr
eat
h.
“
Sit
,”shesay
s.
Mawandef
rowns.MrsMyezal
ooksather,
“Cany
ou
f
etchmypotat
oseedsf
rom MaShandu?
”
“
Potat
oesdon’
thav
eseeds,
”Mawandesay
swi
tha
f
rown.
“MaShanduknowswhatI’
mtal
ki
ngabout.Getme
sl
icedbrownbreadony
ourwayback,
”shesays.
Mawandei snotconv
incedbutshewastaughtbet
ter
thantogobackandforthwit
hanelder
.Sheturns
andleaves.
Bhambathaopenstheemptybowl andlooksathi
s
motherwit
hhisbrowssnapped.Het houghtt
hey
werefi
nall
yget
ti
ngalong,what’
sthispranknow?
“
Yousai
dImustcomeov
erf
ori
sij
i
ngi
,
”hesay
s.
“
Yes,
Idi
d,”hi
smot
herr
esponds.
“
Butt
hebowl
isempt
yory
ou’
rest
il
lgoi
ngt
odi
sh?
”
heasks.
“Ar
eyousurpr
ised?Thebowl
isemptylikey
our
head,
”shesay
sandpushesoffherchai
r.
Heheavesasi gh.Mawandedidsayt
hiswast oo
goodtobet r
ue.Thisol
dwomani spl
ayingprankson
him whi
lehe’
sgenuinel
ytry
ingtomendt hei
r
rel
ati
onshi
p.
Shetakest
hebowlandl
eavesiti
nsi
det
hesi
nkt
hen
sheshutst
hedoorandl
ocksit
.

Andnow?Hef r
ownsandlooksathercomingback
tothet
abl
e.Shetakessomet
hingundert
he
tabl
e…mopsti
ck?
“
Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?
”heasks.
He’
sst
il
lchi
l
li
ngont
hechai
r.
“
Iwantyoutogetupandf i
ghtme. ”Wit
ht hatsai
d
t
hesti
cklandsoverhi
sleftshoulder
.He’sshocked,
whatt
hefuckdidhismotherjustdo?
“
Arey
ouseriousr
ightnow?If
ucki
n’apol
ogi
zedand
y
ouarehi
tt
ingme? ”
Itl
andsandcracksonhisforehead.Bloodinst
ant
ly
gushesout.Nowher eal
i
zeshowser iousthisi
s.He
pushesthetabl
ebetweenhim andhismot her,
aski
ngherwhathedi dwrong.
Hestopscount i
ngast hesti
ckbeat shi
m alloverhi
s
headcount l
essl
y.Bothhisforeheadandearlobeare
bl
eeding.Hecandoany thi
ngbutnotf i
ghthi
sown
mother.Her unstowardsoneoft hebedroomsand
fi
ndsitlocked.Akettl
eisthrownhiswayandi thits
hi
selbow.
“
MaNdlovu,whatdidIdo?
”Thi
sisgetti
ngtoomuch
t
ohandle.Hi
smot heri
snotavi
olentper
son.
“
Pickupmyket
tl
e,
”shei
nst
ruct
s.
Hermopsti
ckhasbrokeni
ntopieces.That
’show
muchpai
nhisbodyhashandled.
“
Youar
etheonewhot
hrewi
tatme,
”hesay
s.
That’
sexact
lytheanswerhi
smotherwant
ed.I
twas
atrap.Shet
hrowsachairathi
m.Awholechai
r!
“
Okay
,justki
l
lmei
fthat
’swhaty
ouwant
,”hesay
s.
“
No,
youpul
lthatgunoutandf
ini
shme.Youal
ready
kil
l
edme, Bhambatha.Howmanypeopl
ehaveyou
tur
nedagainstme?Howmanyt i
meshaveIcri
ed
becauseofyou?”
“
Butt
hat
’swhatI
’
mtr
yingt
orect
if
y,”hesay
s.
“YouorKaManqele?BecauseI’
m seeinghertr
yingt
o
makey ouahumanbeing.Youhav enointer
estin
changi
ngyourcharact
erorbehavi
or,andsoony ou’
l
l
bedraggi
ngherdownt oyourdump.”
“Okay,canIleavenow?”Hemovestwosteps
forwardandst opswhenher
eali
zest
hatshe’
s
picki
ngav ase.Thiswomanreal
l
ywantshim dead.
“
You’
renotgoingany
wher
e.Cl
eant
hismessup
f
ir
st,
”shesays.
Hefrowns.Whatt
heheck?She’
stheonewho’
sbeen
t
hrowingthi
ngsar
ound.
Hestandsstil
l.Brokenpiecesofamopst i
ckfl
yto
hi
m andhequi cklybendsdownt ocl
earthemess
shecreat
edwhi lebeati
nghi m up.Heshould’
vebeen
awhiteperson,noneofthiswoul d’
vehappened.
“
Nx!
”He’
snowpi
ssed.
Sadl
y,t
her
e’snot
hinghecandobecauseshe’
shi
s
mother
.
Hegetshi
sthir
dslapintheday
.Thisgott
obesome
f
uckeduptestofpat
ienceandrespect
.
“
Entl
ekkant
izi
shaphingawe?”Hest
opswhathe
wasdoi
ngandstandsuptofacehi
smother
.
“You’
retal
kingtomeli
kethat?
”Shepicksan
umbrell
aleaningont
hewallbytheki
tchencor
ner
andgiveshim afewwhoops.
“
Opent
hedamndoor
!”Bhambat
har
oar
s.
“
Takeoutthatgunyoubroughtt
omyhouse,shoot
methenopenthedoorandgohav eabr
aaiwit
hyour
f
ri
ends.
”
Someonescreamsatthedoor
.Ther
e’saknockat
theki
tchenbackwi
ndowaswell.
“Ma!Bhambat ha!
”That
’sMawande’
svoicecryi
ng
outsi
de.Sheknewsomet hi
ngwasupanddi dn’
teven
reachMaShandu’shouse.Shecamebackonlyto
fi
ndthedoorlockedandhearBhambathapl
eading
withhi
smot her.
It
’sbeenamomentnow, shehadtoaskhelpfr
om
theneighbours.MaMdl ul
iar
ri
ved,
she’stheone
knocki
ngatt hewi ndowandshouti
ngatMr sMy eza.
Pooroldwoman, herhi
ghbloodpressur
eisgoingt o
ri
se.
“You’r
egoingtokil
lthechi
l
d,MaNdlov
u.Openthis
doornow!”sheshout si
nherf
unny,
squir
myv oi
ce.
She’sa85y earol
dwomanwi tha16year-
oldvoi
ce.

Fi
nall
y,t
hedooropens.TheyexpectBhambat
hat
o
dashoutoft
hedoor,butnobodycomesout.
Mawandewal ksi
nfir
standfi
ndsthekit
chenupsi
de
down.Ther
e’sagunont opofthet
able,
Bhambatha
i
scleani
ngtheobject
sscatt
eredonthefl
oorand
he’
sbleedi
ng.
“
OhShembe,
whathappened?
”
Nor
esponse.
Thishastobethefirstti
meshe’ sseenhimt his
angry.He’
sbreat
hingf i
re,andbyt hel
ookoft hi
ngs,
hedoesn’tev
encar eaboutt hebloodrunni
ngdown
hi
shead.
“
Ma,
youhur
thi
mli
ket
his?
”She’
sindi
sbel
i
ef.
“Aw,MaNdlovu!Wasthi
snecessary?
”MaMdluliasks.
She’st
heoldestwomaninthevil
l
age,mostofthese
wivesgrewbefor
ehereyes,MaNdlovui
ncl
uded.
“Necessary
?MaMdlul
iIshould’
vedonethi
sa
decadeago.Thi
sboyisdisr
espect
ful
,isi
bozi
nje
sengane.”
Mawandeinhal
esasharpbreath.Thi
sisareall
y
har
dsit
uat
ion.Shecannotoff
ertohelpBhambat ha
cl
eanupbecausecl
eaningispartofhi
spunishment.
“No,
whaty
oushould’
vedonewastot
akehim back
towher
ehewascreat
edbefor
ethi
ngsgotoutof
cont
rol
,
”MaMdl
ulisay
s.
Ther
eseemstobeasi
lentconv
ersati
onbet
weenthe
twowomenandMawandeisdyingtoknowwhatt
his
i
sallabout
.
“Heneedstobeseparatedfr
om whateverhi
sli
fe
wasini
ti
all
ycreatedwi
th,”MaMdlul
iconti
nuesina
hushedtone.Bhambat
hahasl ef
twit
hadust -
pan,
Mawandei
sli
steni
ng.

(Notl
engt
hyli
keusual
inser
ts,
I'
ll
postanot
herpar
t
ofitt
omorr
ow♥ )
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER70
MAWANDE

Bhambat
hahaslef
t.Hedi
dn’tsayanyt
hing,
notev
en
toher
.Hegoti
nthecaraf
tercleani
ngupandsped
off
.
Shetakesadeepbr eathandtur
nstotheshatt
ered
MrsMy eza.Shedoesn’tl
ooksati
sfi
edasshewas
aft
erbeati
nghim.Isshef eel
i
ngguil
tybecauseshe
badlyhi
thim orbecauseofwhatMaShandusaid?
“WhatwasGogot
alki
ngabout
?”Mawande
quest
ions.
I
nst
eadofananswersheget
sasi
gh.
“Ma, ar
eyoukeepi
ngsomethingfrom me?Imean,i
f
there’
sawayhecanbehelpedt obecomeabet t
er
personthenwhywoul
dyoui gnoreit
?”sheasks.
“I
t’
scomplicat
ed,
KaManqel
e.Pleasemakemeacup
oftea,
headachei
ski
ll
i
ngme. ”
“
Youbr
oket
heket
tl
e,r
emember
?”
Shehit
sherf oreheadandsi nksdownont hechair
.
Shewasr eadyt oswit
chsy mpathyoffwhere
Bhambathai sconcerned,butnowshehast oliv
e
wit
hthefactt hatshescarredherson’
sforeheadand
possi
blyi
njuredhiselbowwi t
hakettl
e.However,i
t
wouldbet y
picalweakofhert or
eachoutandask
hi
mt ocomebacksot hatshecannursehiswounds.
“I
’l
lfet
chmykett
le,
butfir
stweneedt
otal
kMa.I
havesomet
hingtotel
lyou,
”Mawandesay
s.
“Ialreadyknow.Yout wohavebeenpar
adingthe
streets,holdinghands.Ever
yoneknowsthaty
ou
choseat hugov eradecentHalal
i
sani
.Myson’s
housei sfinished!
”
That
’sabi
tdr
amatic.Shehasneverbeenwith
Bhambat
haanywhereinpubl
ichol
dinghands.
Mr
sMy
ezal
ooksatheri
ndi
sbel
i
ef.
“
Why,
KaManqel
e?You’
regoi
ngt
obeawi
dowt
wice,
I
’
mtel
li
ngy
ou.”
Sheswal
l
owshar
d.Thatonecutdeep.Mr
sMy
eza
shoul
dn’
tbet
alki
ngl
i
ket
hisaboutherownson.
“
That’
swhyIwanty out
ohelphi
m,”shesays.“
Idon’
t
t
hinkthi
shasanyt
hingt
odowi t
hhimrepl
acing
Nyezi
.Hereal
l
ylovesme.”
Mr
sMy
ezal
etsoutachuckl
eandcl
apsherhands.
“Bhambat
haandl
ove?TheoneIcarr
iedinmywomb?
Ay,KaManqel
emusaukuphuphaemi
ni!”
“There’
sagenuineper soninsi
dehim.Ifyoucangive
him achanceaswel lyou’
dseet hat
.”Shereachesto
hermot her
-i
n-l
aw’shandsandhol dthem.“Please
all
owust obe.Idon’twantt obeanyonebeside
beingaMy ezawi f
e,andBhambat haistheoneI
wantt obewith,notHalal
isani
.”
“
Hav
eyout
oldy
ourmot
her
?”Mr
sMy
ezaasks.
Shecl
ear
shert
hroatandsi
tsback.
“It
houghty
ou’
dtel
lher
.Imean,
you’
ret
hemot
her
and..
.”
“Nope.I
’m notgoingt
oMaKhumal oandtell
i
ngher
I
’veshif
tedherdaughtertomygangst
erson.You’l
l
havetodot haty
ourself
,”Mr
sMy ezai
nter
feres.
“ButMa,
she’
l
lunder
standi
fitcomesf
rom y
ou,
”she
begs.
“No,you’r
eagr
ownwoman.Youhav ey ourown
house,thi
swasyourdeci
sionandi
t’
ll
remainthat
way.”
Wow!Okay
.
“
CanyouhelpmewithBhambat haatleast
?Dowhat
MaShandutol
dyoutodo.He’syoursonandhe’s
r
eadytobecomepartofthefamil
yagain.That
’s
whatyouandBabawanted,r
ight?
”
“I
t’scomplicated,KaManqele.”Sheheavesadeep
sigh,“Bhambat hawasconceiv edthr
oughtradi
ti
onal
routes.Myezawant edason.Webot hdid,andit
wasn’thappeni ng.Ther
ewasat radi
ti
onaldoct
orwe
wentt oseet omakehi m happen.”
“
Butt
hat
’snotabadthi
ng,r
ight?Peopl
edoi
tal
lthe
t
ime,
”Mawandesayswit
hasl i
ghtfr
own.
“
Notatall
,desper
atet
imescal
lfordesper
ate
measur
es.”
Mawandest
aresathercur
iousl
y.
“What
’st
heprobl
em?Howdi
dthataf
fecthi
m
growi
ngup?
”sheasks.
“Wedidn’
tfoll
owalli
nst
ructi
ons.Itwasn’tintent
ional.
Bhambathawasacompl etenormal chil
d,things
changedwhenhewentt ovarsit
y.Bytheni twast oo
l
ateforustogobackandf i
xt hi
ngswi t
hBaba
Nxumalo.Him andMyezahadaf all
-outwaybef ore
Bhambathakill
edhi
scousin,Nkwany ana.It’
s
i
mpossibleformetogothereandaskhel pfrom him
now.”
Oh,Lawd!Whydoesheneedt
obeconnect
edt
othe
Nkwanyanas?
“
Can’
tyougethel
pel
sewher
e?”Mawandeasks.
“No,he’
st heonl yonewhocanhel pmebecause
everytr
aditional doctorhasadi f
ferentwayofdoi ng
thi
ngs.Oratl eastsomeonewhoi nherit
edhi sbags.I
j
ustknowt hati nsimba( commongenet )waski l
led
andhadi tscer tainpartstakenout.Idon’thavefull
i
nformation, Ididn’tpayat t
ent
iontowhatwasdone,
Iwaslookingf orwardtot heproduct.
”
“
Thewi
l
dcat
?”Mawande’
sey
eswi
den.
“
Yes,
amal
eone.
”
“
Soisitl
i
vinginsi
dehim maki
ngbehav
ewi
l
dlyor
t
her
e’sami ssi
ngri
tual
?”
“Missingri
tual
.”Shesoundsgui
lt
y.“Hewasagood
boy,Ididn’
tthi
nkitwasnecessar
y.WhenIthought
may beitwasnecessaryhehadkil
ledNxumalo’
s
cousin.”
Tal
kaboutshoot
ingy
ourownf
oot
!Onl
yif
Bhambat
haknew.
“
Wow!
”She’
sspeechl
ess.
Mr
sMy
ezal
ooksupdesper
atel
y.
“Nowy ouunder
standwhyIprotect
edhim even
whenIshouldn’
thave?IknewhowIgothim-t he
sacr
if
ices.He’
smybaby …”Tearsbli
ndhervi
sion.
Shebreaksdowninfrontofherdaught
er-
in-
law.
“
Iknowhemessedup.Buthedi dn’
tkil
lNkwanyana
i
ntenti
onal
l
yandhedidn’
tknowaboutal l
these
t
hings.He’
sadecentguy
,hejustneedshelp.
”
“
Hemesseditupforhi
msel
f,
”Mr
sMy
ezasay
s
wi
pingt
ear
soff.
“
Didyouknowabouthi
sissueswi
thhi
sfat
her
?”
Mawandeasks.
“Theydi
dn’tgetalong.Myezawant
edmor
efr
om hi
m
andIstoodont heway ,
”shesay
s.
“Ithi
nksonsneedthei
rfat
her’
slov
emor et
hanus.
Bhambat hahasscar
sfrom t
herej
ect
ionhegotf
rom
hisfather
.”
“Hi
sfatherl
ovedhim.Hedidn’
tagreewi
thmany
thi
ngsthathedidbutIknowhelovedhi
sson.He
wasabi tst
ri
ct,
evenwithNyezi
.Youknowblack
fat
herswantthei
rsonstogrowaspecif
icwayand
bestr
ong.”
“Hedi dn’tneedtomakehi mfeel bel
ittl
edtoshow
thatlove.Hewashur t,
he’sstill
hurting.You’
rethe
onlypar enthehasnow, Iknowhe’ shurtyoudeeply,
butawukhoumgqomowokul ahlaumunt uMa.
Pleasehel phim andgi
vehi m anotherchance.”
Shesighs,
“Okay
.Butpleasepr
omi
semeonet
hing,
you’
renotgoi
ngtochange.”
“He’
snottr
yingtochangeme,butIpr
omi sey
ou
ngekengi
shint
she.
”Shesmil
esandbr ushesMrs
Myeza’
shand.Theyhaveanagreement
.Nowshe
hastof
indoutwherehewent.
.
.
BHAMBATHA

Nathistepsoutoft
hehousewearinggownand
sl
eepers.It’
s3:
43pm;sof
tlif
ethi
ngsandshit
.He’
s
car
ryingacupofcoffeei
nhishand,justl
i
kehi
s
whiteneighbor
sint
hemor ni
ngs.
Hesipswhilest
ar i
ngatBhambathafuri
ouslyget
ti
ng
outofthecarandmaki nghi
swayt othehouse.He
hasnoshirton,somethingmust
’veterr
ibl
ywent
wrong.
“
Amagat
a?”heasks.(
Isi
tthepol
i
ce)
“Yi
lomf azi
kababa,
”Bhambathasayswalki
ngpast
him andcli
cki
nghistongue.(
It
’smyfat
her’
swif
e)
Nat
hifr
ownsandtr
iest
orememberapi
ctur
eofMr
s
Myezaasheknowsher
.She’
sagrownwoman,
umagri
zza.
Hefol
l
owsbehindandfindsBhambat
hapour
ing
col
dbeerdownhist
hroat.
“Yousai
dyourmot
hermoer
edy
oul
i
ket
his?
”he
asks.
“
Yeah.
”
Hechuckl
es.Whatonear
th?No,
hel
aughsoutl
oud.
Bhambat
hascol
dshim,“I
t’
snotfunny
,shenear
ly
ki
ll
edmeandthere’
snot
hingIcoul
ddobecause
she’
smymother.
”
“Butwait
….sheBat
ist
ady
oubr
u,”Nat
hil
aughs
harder
.
Bhambathacl
ickshistongueandwalksaway.He
di
sappearsi
nNat hi
’sbedroom wher
eheopensthe
wardr
obeandgr absanuglyshir
tandputsi
ton.
Nathi
fol
l
owsagain.Hewantsthewholest
ory.
Bhambat
hagl
aresathim wal
ki
ngthroughthedoor
.
Hel
i
ftshi
shandsup,
“I’
m notl
aughi
ngany
mor
e.”
Bhambathasi
tsonthebedandreleasesadeepsigh.
I
fitwasanyotherdayhewoul
d’v
el aughedabouti
t
too.
“
Whathappened?
”Nat
hiasks.
“Idon’
tknow, t
hat’
swhatmakesmemad.It houghtI
wasdoingsomet hinggoodbyapol
ogizi
ngtot he
Nkwany anasbutcl
earl
yI’l
lnev
erdoanythi
nggoodi n
hereyes,”hesays
Nat
hi’
sey
ebr
owsar
efur
rowed.
“
Nkwany
ana,
theRev
?”heasks.
Ohwel
l
….
“Iwentt
here.Mawandeaskedmet
oandIr
eal
l
y
neededtoapologi
ze.
”
“I
fMawandet
ell
syoutoj
umpy
ou’
regoi
ngt
oask
howhi
ghever
yti
me?”
“
Nowyou’
rebeingapunkas$.Youknowt
heywer
e
l
i
kef
amily
,Ineededtoapologi
zesomeday.
”
“
Sodi
dtheyf
orgi
vey
ou?
”Nat
hiasks.
“
No,theuncl
efoughtme.Youknowwhat
,I’
mti
red.I
wanttosl
eep.
”
“
Noti
nmybed,br
u.Ihavesomeonecomingoverin
t
wohour
s.Whydon’
tyougototheguestroom,I
’
ll
makey
ouahotcupofcof
fee.
”
Bhambathacl
ickshi
stongueandleav
eswi
thone
pi
ll
ow.“Fucky
ouandy ourcof
fee!
”
“
Pai
nki
l
ler
s?”Nat
hiy
ell
s.
Hegi
veshi
mthemi
ddl
efi
nger
.
Nat
hil
aughs,
that
’swhathe’
sgoodat
.
.
.

Mandul osit
sbelowt heManqel ehomest eadunder
thetreeshade.Hedi dn’tcomewi thanybody.He
didn’tt
ell
hiselders.Todayhej ustwantstotal
k,
may beThakasawi llunderstandhim bet
teri
fhe
takeshim downt hetimelineofhisli
feandwhat
transpi
redthenightLondawasmade.
There’
sacardriv
ingupthesmall pav
edr oad,
he
standsupandwalkstowardsit
.Itcouldbehim or
oneofhisbrot
herscomingfrom work.
Mandul
ost
opst
hecarandi
tsl
owsdown.The
windowr ol
l
sdown,Thakasal
ooksoutwi
thaf
ew
l
inesetchedonhi
sface.
“Canwet alk?”Manduloasksrubbinghishands.He
tooktherisk,ahi
ghone, thi
smancancal lpeoplet
o
attackhimifhewant s.Peopl
einrural
areasdon’t
l
ikestrangersint
heirspacethatmuch.
“
Nyat
hi,
whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?”heasks.
“Ionl
ycameheret
oseey ou.Ihaven’
ttal
kedto
anybodyel
se,
”Mandulosays.Heknowshowqui ckl
y
thi
ngsmaygosouthifhi
sintent
ionsaremisr
ead.
“
Whydi
dn’
tyoucometotheof
fi
ceorcal
l
?Whyar
e
y
oubei
ngcr
eepy?Uf
unanil
a?”
Hesi
ghs.
“I
’m sor
ryifIcr
ossedt
heline.Ij
ustwant
edust
otal
k,
Ididn’
tthi
nkanythi
ngt
hrough.”
Thakasast
aresathi
mforami
nut
eandr
eleasesa
deepexhal
ati
on.
“Ihav
eababyinthecar
.Gi
vemeaf
ewmi
nut
es,
I’
ll
beback,
”hesays.
Thi
sisbet
tert
hananar
gument
.He’
l
lwai
tfor
what
everti
mehet akes.Hegoesbackt
ohis
comf
ortabl
espotunderthetr
eeandwait
s.

ThakasatakesPhelooutoft hecarandgrabsher
bag.Withherinhi
sarm, hegoest othemainhouse
wherehe’sconvi
ncedhe’llf
indhismot her
.Indeed
MaKhumal oissi
tt
inginfrontofthetrayofbeans
removingdir
tandrott
enones.
“I
sthatmysister
wif
e?”sheasksdusti
ngherhands
offandst
andingup.Sheusual
lyr
eferstoPhel
oas
mnakwethu;agir
lshewould’
vesharedManqelewi
th.
Phelowr
apsherar
msaroundherfat
her
’sneckand
ref
usest
ogotohergr
andmother.
“
Wuu,t
hisi
showshe’
sli
kenow?
”MaKhumal
oasks
i
ndi
sbel
ief
.
ThakasakissesPhelo’
scheekandbegshertogo.Of
course,
shedoesn’thearanythi
ngandshewantsno
grandmother.Shestar
tscry
ingandhidi
ngherf
ace
onThakasa’sshoulder
.
“
Okay
,I’
m notgoi
ngany
wher
e,”hesay
sgui
l
til
yand
si
tsont hecouchwithher.Hedoesn’
tgettospend
mucht i
mewi t
hhisdaughter
.Heneverwantedtobe
afatherthatseeshi
schil
dgot obedthr
oughv i
deo-
cal
ls.
Hepushest
hemil
kbot
tl
eint
ohermout
h,shest
art
s
suckl
i
ngandgr
abbi
nghi
sbeard.
“
Doesshecr
awl
now?
”MaKhumal
oasks.
“
No,
noty
et,
”hesay
s.
“Sheshoul
dcomehome.You’llsee,i
twon’
teven
takeheraweek.Londaisy
oungerthanherbuthe
holdshi
sownbot t
leand…”
Thakasasi
ghs,“
Ther
e’snocompet
it
ion,
Ma.She’
l
l
cr
awl wheni
t’
sti
me.”
“
Teachhert
ohol
dthebot
tl
e,
”–MaKhumal
o.
“Shedoesn’tneedto.I
’m her
eholdingitforher.Now
I’
m scaredtoleaveherwithyoubecausey oumay
startt
eachingherhowtosweep. ”Hepickst he
blanketandwalksouttolookforMaNt usi.

MaNt
usi
iscomi
ngoutoft
hei
rbedr
oom dooraf
ter
put
ti
ngLondatosl
eep.Whensheseesherhusband
comingshest
opsandwait
s.
“
You’
reback?
”sheaskswi
thasmi
l
e.
Thakasaki
sseshercheekandwal
ksi
nsi
det
her
oom.
“Howwasy ourday
?”
“Notbad.MaKhumaloisinagoodmoodt
oday
,
she’
sbeenagreathelp,
”shesays.
“That
’sgood.Mi
newasr
uinedaf
ewmi
nut
esago,
”
hesays.
MaNt
usi
rai
sesherey
ebr
owandst
aresathi
m.
“
Nyat
hii
sout
sidet
hey
ard,
”hesay
s.
MaNt
usi’
seyesnearl
ypopout
.Thi
shastobeajoke.
WhywouldMandulocomeher
ewit
houtbei
ngasked
t
ocome?
“
Hewant
stot
alkt
ome,
”Thakasasay
s.
“
Ummm…y
ou’
regoi
ngt
otal
ktohi
m?”
“
Yes,i
fPhel
osleeps.She’
sst
il
lonsomepr
incess
mode,
”hesays.
MaNt
usi
tri
est
otakePhel
oandsher
efuses.“
Ohmy
goodness,
she’
ssoclev
er!Nomkhosi
didn’
ttel
lme
shenowchoosespeopl
e.”
ShetakesoneofLonda’
stoyandthenpullsher
armsout.Thi
sti
met hepri
ncessdoesn’
trefuse.
“You’l
lhavet
osneakout
,”
MaNtusisay
swhi
l
e
dist
racti
ngPhel
owithmoret
oys.
Thakasawaitsuntil
allherf
ocusisont hetoysand
thensneaksout.Doingallt
hisforamant hatsl
ept
withhi
swi f
eisaf avor
.He’ssacri
fi
cingti
mewi thhi
s
famil
y.

Hechoosesnott oinform hi
smotheraboutit.He’l
l
tel
lheraftert
hey’v
etalked.Hegoestothetree
belowthehomest eadwher eMandul
oisseat ed.At
l
eastheknewhewasn’ twelcomedtostepinsidethe
premises.There’
ssomet hi
ngheknows!
“Mydaughterwillcr
ywhensher eali
zesthatI’
m not
around.Let
’smaket hi
squick;
whatbr i
ngsy ouhere
besideyourTucson?”heaskswi t
hhishandst ucked
i
nsidethepocketsofhisbl
ackf ormalpant.
“I
’m her
etoaskyoutoall
owmet ocomeand
apologi
zetoyouandyourfami
l
y,”Mandul
osay
s.
“
Sot
haty
oucanhav
eLondokuhl
e?”Thakasa.
“No.Myapologywoul
dhav enothi
ngtodowithhim.
Iwanttoapologi
zef
ortouchi
ngwhatwasnotmi ne.
Forst
eppinginsi
deacastl
ethatbel
ongedt
oy ou.I
knowwhatthatdoestoaman.Ishould’
veavoided
i
t.”
Thakasaf
rowns,
“Whatdoy
oumean‘
avoi
dedi
t’
?”
“She…shewasn’tthi
nkingst rai
ght.Icould’
ve
stoppedbef
orethingswentt oofar.Ididn’
tthi
nkI’
d
everseeheragainnort hatthere’
dbesomet hi
ng
comingoutofthatsituation.Icomf or
tedherthe
wrongwayandIr egretit.
”
“
Didn’
tyouseear
ingonherf
inger
?”Thakasaasks.
“
Isawi
t,
”Mandul
oswal
l
owshar
d.
“Sowenawav ul
elami
naindl
elakumfaziwami ?
”
Thinki
ngabouti
tmakeshim angr
yalloveragain.
Thatsamenighthesl
eptwit
hMaNt usiandtheyhad
sex.
“Yourej
ectedher.Shewascryi
ng.Iwasj
ustt
ryi
ngto
bealist
enerandt hensheki
ssedme.Iwasali
tt
le
drunkandmi ser
ableatthet
ime.
”
“
You’
rest
il
lmi
ser
abl
e,
”Thakasai
nter
fer
es.
Mandul
onods, “
Okay.Butt
hingshappenedhowshe
want
edthem t ohappen.Wehadsexont hecouch,i
t
wasaquickieanditendedthere.Iwastheret
ot ake
mymindof fthi
ngs,nottomakebabieswi t
h
someone’
swi fe.Imadeami st
ake.”
Thakasachuckl
es,
“Soy
ou’
resay
ingmywi
fe
seducedyou?”
“Iwastr
yingtocomfor
therwi
thfoodandjustahug,
butshewantedmoreandIwasnotinasoberor
goodspacetoputherbacki
nhersenses.
”
“
Andy
ouf
uckedher
?”Thakasaasks.
Si
gh!
“
Yes,
andwebot
hregr
eti
t.
”
“I
fyouweregoodatity
ourwi
fewoul
dn’
thave
cheat
edandlef
tyou.Mywif
ewould’
vel
eftmefor
youaswell
.”
Mandul
onodsandr
eleasesaheav
ysi
gh.“
Okay
!”
“Lear
nhowt
obeamanbef
orecomi
ngher
e,”he
says.
“Youcanbel it
tl
emeorsaywhat everyoulike,I
’m stil
l
sorryandIacknowl edgemywr ongs.Ifi
tmakesy ou
feelbett
erthangoahead.Myl ifeisfal
li
ngapar t,and
i
ft hi
sisoneoft hethingsIhav et ofixtohav emyl i
fe
backthenI’ddoany thing.Inev erhadamot her
growingup, shegavemet omyf atherandmyf ather
passedmet oboardingschool .Idon’thav ebrothers.
Ihadt ofi
gurethingsoutonmyown.I ’
llnever
compar emyj ourneyormeasur emymanhoodt o
yoursbecausewear enott hesame.Idon’ thavea
wife,mineleftmeandy oursiswi thyou.Imaybe
sexuall
yweakasy ouputi t,butnowIhav eagi r
l who
l
ov esmeandaccept smewi t
hmyf l
awsand
weaknesses.Iwantt obeagoodmant oher ,t
hat’s
whyI ’
m heretryi
ngt ofixmymi stakes.
”
Abri
efmomentofsi
lencepasses.Mandul
orel
eases
adeepsi
ghandshakeshishead.
“
YoucankeepLondokuhl
e,j
ustal
l
owmet
ofi
x
whereIt
ouchedandbr
oke,
Iwantt
omov
eon,
”he
say
s.
Thakasa’
seyesnar
row.Di
dhejustheart
hat
?Thi
s
maniswill
ingt
ogiveupLonda.
“Justr
aisehim well
.”Heblowsoutandlooksupin
thesky.ThenhelooksatThakasa,eyesblood-
red
andasksinahoar sevoice;“
Sowhat’
sy ourpri
ce?
”
“
Nokukhany
a.”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER71
THAKASA

Hest
andsatt
hedoorandwatchesasMaNtusiset
s
t
hepi
ll
owsandtakeshi
schar
geroffthepl
ug.
“
Comeher
e,”hesay
saf
teramoment
.
MaNt usit
urnswit
haslightfr
own.Thatcaughther
off-
guard,shedi
dn’
texpecthimtocomebackso
soon.May beNomkhosi metwit
hhim hal
fwayto
takePhelo.
“Ihopey ouweren’
tbr
eaki
ngr
oadr
uleswi
tht
he
baby,”shesays.
Hi
sli
psst
ret
chi
ntoasmi
l
eandheshakeshi
shead.
Sheexpectedhimt obeabi tmoodygi v
enthat
Nomkhosi unexpectedlyaskedf orPhel
o.Ther
eisa
newunclesituati
on,they’
regoi ngtoMelmothfort
he
weekendtov i
sitthatuncle.It
’soneofthose
compli
catedf amil
ydiscov er
ies.
“Arey
ouokay
?”sheasksr
unni
ngherhandsov
erhi
s
chest
.
Hechuckl
es,
“Yes.
”
Wei
rd!
“It
houghtyou’
dbepissedorsomet
hing.Fir
sti
t
was…Mandulo,andt
henNomkhosiwant edPhel
o,”
shesays.
“
Despi
teal
lthatIst
il
lcomehomet
othi
sbeaut
if
ul
f
ace.WhywouldIbepissed?
”
Hotai
rfl
ushesdownhercheeks.
“
Isee,
”shesay
s.
“You’
rebeauti
ful,
MaNt usi
.I’
ll
neverrejectyouin
anyway.I
’m at
tractedt
oy ou.Ilov
eev erythi
ngabout
you;y
ourvoice,yourbodyandy ourconfidence.
”
She’
smissi
ngsomet
hing.Wher
e’sal
lthi
scoming
fr
om?Shepull
shimt
ot hebedandunbutt
onshis
shi
rt
.
“I
’
m sor
ry,
Ntusi
y ami.I
fyoudidn’tr
espectyourbody
Iwoul
dn’
thavef
oundy ouav ir
ginat24.Iknowhow
godl
yyoutr
eatyourbody.Iknowhowmuchv alue
y
ouhav
efory
our
sel
fasawoman,
”hesay
s.
Shei
nhal
esadeepbr eathandsi
tsnexttohim.Did
Mandul
ogoi nt
odetail
sofever
ythi
ngthathappened?
I
fhedidthenhe’sdumb.
“I’
m stil
lmadthatsomeoneindulgedintothi
s
thickness.Thi
sisal
lmine,
”hesmi lesandgrabsher
arm.“ Whywouldyoufeell
ikeI’
m notattract
edto
you? ”
I
tseemslikeMandul
ospil
l
edt
hebeans.They
’re
r
eall
ytal
ki
ngaboutthi
s.
“Manqele,youloveNomkhosi .Youhadpi ctur
esof
herhal
f-nakediny ourgaller
y .Isawt hem andwhenI
tri
edali
nger i
ey oudidn’tevenl ookatmef ormore
thanasecond.Youj ustsaidy ouwer eti
red,”she
saystr
yingnott osoundpai ned.I thappenedl ong
ti
meago, everyonehasmov edon.
“ButnowIunderstandthatIcanneverbeher.Ican
onlybemy sel
fandappreciat
ewhicheverport
ionof
yourheartyougi
veme.BecauseIl oveyou,Manqele.
Useyikhokonkeki
mi .
”
Hei
nhal
esshar
plyandhol
dsherhands.Ev
eryounce
ofpai
nshef
eel
sst
ingsi
nhi
sownhear
t.
“Youcannev erbeher .Idon’
twanty out obeher .
You’reenought hewayy ouare.Youmademeaman
Iam t oday .Youhav estoodbymet hroughgr i
ef,
fi
nanci al l
ossandf ami l
ychallenges.Youhav eloved
myl ov edonesl iketheywer ey ourownf ami l
y.You
helpedmer unthishouseholdandmadesur eIhada
safepl acewhenIr eturnedbackf rom wor k.You
gavey ourinnocencet omeandal l
owedmet ogrow
withy ou.I ’
m av er
yluckymanandI ’
m notashamed
ofourj ourneyandi mper f
ecti
ons.I’m notashamed
toadmi tthatIlovey ouandmybi ggestf earisst i
ll
l
osingy ou.Nobodyknowsust hewayweknow
ourselv es.Don’teverthinkI’
m notat tractedt oyou
becausewhenIsai dI ’
lll
oveyout il
ldeat hdous
apartImeanti t.I’
l
lalway sbey ourhusband,
MaNt usi .”Hecupsherf aceandwi pesof fdropping
tears.Thenheki ssesherl i
pst enderl
y.
“
ManduloandItal
ked.Wereachedanagreement
r
egardi
ngi
nhlawul
ofrom hi
sside.Ial
sopaidatthe
Nsel
es,
”hechuckl
esandlif
tshiseyestoMaNtusi.
“
Hesai
dhe’
swi
l
li
ngt
ogi
veupLondat
ofi
xhi
sli
fe
andmov eon.ButIdon’
tcareabouthisf
eeli
ngs,he
fuckedmywifeonthefreaki
n’couch.
”Nothi
le’
seyes
drop.
“Idon’
tknowwhyhet houghtitwasokayforhi
mt o
diphispi
nk-f
ingerinmycooki ebecauseyoucame
backhornyandcr avi
ngrealsexaftert
hatnci
kidane.”
HesneakshishandunderMaNt usi’
sdressandtaps
hisfi
ngersoverhermound.
There’
snot i
met ogothr
oughtheshadehejust
thr
ewatMandul o,shegaspsasthef
ingermassages
hersoftt
issues.
“
Whomakest
hispussycoughup?
”heasks.
Shebl
ushes,
chuckl
esanddr
opsherey
es.“
It
’sy
ou.
”
“Good!SoIonlycareaboutyourfeel
i
ngsasf
aras
Londaisconcerned.Doyoustil
lwanthi
mtotake
aft
ertheNyathisurname?”
Shethi
nksforamoment.Hi
sfi
ngerrubbinghercl
i
t
doesn’
tmakethet
hinki
ngpr
ocessfast.
“
Iwantthem tohav
ear el
ati
onshi
p.Idon’
twanthi
m
t
ocall
aNy athiwhi
lel
i
vingattheManqeles.
”
Thakasarai
seshiseyebrow.Sheheavesadeepsi gh,
“Idon’
twanthi
mt obequest i
onedbyot herchil
dren
ortofeel
dif
fer
entfrom Pheloandourot herchi
ldren.
He’l
lknowManduloashi suncleunt
ilhe’sold
enoughtounderst
and,”shesays.
Thakasanodsanddi
pshi
sfi
ngeri
nsi
deherwar
m
core.
“
You’
resowet
.Wer
eyoumi
ssi
ngme?
”heasks.
“Yes.Youknowwi
thLondaintheroom i
t’
shardt
o
evengetmorni
nggl
ory.It
rustNomkhositof
eed
you.”
Hepausesandlooksather
.“Yousai
dweshoul
dn’
t
br
inganythi
rdpart
yint
oourbedroom.”
“Okay,sor
ry.
”Shechuckl
esandkisseshi
slips.Thei
r
kissl
inger
sforali
tt
lewhil
e,hi
shandisgrabbingher
hip.
“
Arey
ougood?
”heasks.
“
Yes,
”shesay
sinawhi
sper
.
“Mmm.Good,good?Youdon’tneedany
thi
ng.Not
evenmoneyt
ospendirr
esponsibl
y?”
MaNtusicr
acksi
ntol
aught
er.Heki
sseshercheek
andchuckl
es.
“
Wel l
,si
nceyou’
vebroughtitupmaybeIshoul
dst
art
t
hinki
ngaboutatri
p,Londaisgrownnow,wecan
t
ravelwi
thhi
m.Nomkhosi cantagal
ongtoo.
”
Hedoesn’
tsayanythi
ng.Hi
shandrubsagai
nsther
ni
ppl
eashei nhal
esadeepbreat
h.
“She’
snotmar
ryi
ngmeany t
imesoon.Ithoughty
ou
onlywant
edustobef
amilywhenshe’sagreedto
becomeaManqelewi
fe.
”
“
Ineversai
dIdon’
twanttoseeher.She’
sPhel
o’s
motherandIt
rul
yadmir
eher,”shesays.
“Iseethat,ImustsayI’
m sur
pri
sedandscaredat
thesamet ime.Howdoy ouf
eelabouty
ourother
sist
erwives?”heasks.
Hi
shandi
sdowni
nhercoozeagai
n.Herbodyis
war
medupandgr
owi
ngdesperat
eofhistouch.
“Khanyoisnotagentl
epersonbutIdon’thave
anythi
ngagainsther
.Weareallcr
eateddiff
erent
ly.
She’sgoodtoBandla,t
hat
’swhatmat t
ersthemost,”
shesay
s.
He’smassagingar
oundherwaistandstari
ngather
.
I
t’
smoistbetweenherthi
ghs,
he’ssti
ll
playingwi
th
herwhi
letr
yingtohol
dadeepconv er
sation.
“
AndMaDube?
”heasks.
MaNtusichuckl
esandshi
ft
shereyesaway
.He
pokesherthi
ghwit
hhiser
ectshaf
t.
Gasp!
“
Youst
il
ldon’
tli
keher
?”heasks.
“No,Ihavenothingagai
nsther
.Ij
ustthought
Nkonzowoul dmar r
ysomeonediff
erentfrom her
.
She’
sr ougharoundtheedgesandNkonzoi s…he’
s
j
usthandsomeandhumbl e.He’
sdif
ferentfrom
ever
y oneIknow,”shesays.
Thakasachuckl
esandpul
l
sherfacecl
oser
.He
onsl
aughtsherwit
hadeepki
ssandli
ft
shertol
ieon
hi
schest.
“She’
sagreatwoman.Ican’
twaitt
omeetthei
rli
tt
le
one.Ihav
enodoubtthatfat
her
hoodwi
llchange
Nkonzoforthebet
ter
.”
MaNtusibl
inksacoupl
eoft
imesandst
aresathi
m
di
sbel
iev
ingly.
“
She’
spr
egnant
?”sheasks.
“
Ther
ear
eyett
oannouncei
t.
”
“
Wow!
”
Thi
sissur
pri
sing.Butwhy?I
t’
snotl
i
keherand
Temaarecl
osel i
kethat
.
“Nobodycanr epl
aceyouaroundher e,
babe.Don’tlet
otherpeople’sjour
neyint
imidateyou.Wena
ungumf azikaThakasa.
”Hepecksherl ipsandstares
i
ntoherey es.Somet hi
ngismi ssi
ng-hecupsher
faceandkissesher .
Hebreaksthekissandsmil
es,“Tequi
ero.
”Hiser
ect
monstrousmanhoodpenetr
atesbetweenherwet
f
olds.Helockshisl
ipsi
ntohersandli
ft
sherkneeup.
Amoanescapeshi sopenmout hasher ubshi
sti
p
agai
nstherswoll
encli
t.Tosuppressthesoundhe
l
ockshisli
psint
ohersinanothersteamykiss.
Thenhefl
ipsoverandlaysheronherback.Hepul
l
s
herl
egsapartandinser
tshi
mselfbetweenher
thi
ghs.Hedir
ect
shi
sshaf
tint
oheropeni
ngand
pushesin.
Wit
hababyinther
oom ever
ymov eornoisethey
makehast
obemoder at
ed.Heshutsherwithakiss
whi
ler
ocki
nghishi
psinputt
ingmorepressureto
t
hepaceofhi
sshaft
.
“Thi
siswhatIwanted,Ntusi
,
”hewhi sper
sagai
nst
herearandrel
easesalowmoan.She’ smassagi
ng
hisheadandbreat
hingheavi
lybeneathhi
m.
“There’ssomuchwar mth.Imissedthispartofus-
youf eelsogoodmkami .
”Theireyeslock,MaNtusi
smiles.Hepullsoneofherhandandsuckst woof
herfingers.
I
t’
s….
.she’
stur
nedon.
“
Giv
eitt
ome,
Manqel
e!”
Oops!Noi
se.
.
.
KHANYO
Forthefi
rstti
meinmyr el
ati
onshi
pI ’
mi nt
hedark
aboutalotofthi
ngs.Bandlasaidhislobol
a
del
egati
oni scoming,
Iknewnot hingaboutit
,now
Manduloknowsabouti taswell.
“Idon’
tunderstandhowy oubroughtgr
oceri
esand
prepar
edforguest sIdi
dn’tt
elly
ouanythi
ngabout.
”
I’
m sti
l
latit.I
’
vebeendr i
ll
inghim wi
thquest
ionsand
complaini
ngsincemor ni
ng.
“I
fyoudon’
twantt
hem t
ocomej
ustt
ell
meandI
’
ll
passthewor
d.”
I
shest upi
d?OfcourseIwantBandl
atopay
for
…ummhbr eaki
ngmyvir
gini
ty,
butImustbepar
t
ofthedeci
sionaswell
.
“
Iwantt
hem t
ocome,
”Isay
.
“
Thenstopmaki
ngnoi
se,
you’
regoi
ngt
obeav
il
lage
wi
fesoon.
”
If
rown,
“Vi
l
lagewi
fe?
”
Myboyf
ri
endhasafancyhousei
nami
nisubur
b.
Whati
shetal
ki
ngabout?
“Yourhwanqai
snowtheyoungestson,Thakasa
doesnotwantyout
oleav
et hepremises.Andhe
wantstheweddi
ngbef
orethisyearends.”
Owkaay
,pause!
“
You’
reki
ddi
ng,
right
?”Iask.
“Unfor
tunat
ely
,no.Wehavetomakesur eev
ery
thi
ng
concerni
ngyourel
dersi
sinorderbef
orewewed
yourancest
orsint
othei
rs.
”
“
Whati
fIwant
edawhi
teweddi
ng?
”Iask.
Hesighs,
“Idon’
tknow,Makhanyi
.Al
lIknowi
sthatI
needyouther
esot hatmysoncanknowaboutme.”
“Butyoucan’
tletThakasadictat
emylif
eforyour
owngain.”He’
sunbel i
evabl
e.What’
sgoingto
happeninourmar r
iageisbetweenBandl
aandI.
“Buty
oulov
ehwanqa, whyisthi
saprobl
em?Ican’
t
behardonthem whi
l
eI’m att
heirmer
cy.
”
“
WhatifIdi
dn’twantt
hiswholeancest
orweddi
ng
t
hing?I
t’
satrap,l
ookatyourbabymama.”
“
She’
snott
rapped.Nothi
l
ehasnev ercar
edabout
me.I
twasj
ustsexthatproducedahuman.”
Urghhh!Ican’tbel
i
evet
his.Ineedtocal
loneofmy
fr
iendsandt akemymindof ft
hings.
“
Don’tbeangr
y,Iwon’tl
etyoumarryi
ntothatf
ami
l
y
i
fyouhavedoubts.I
’
llneverdot
hattoyou.”
Hemustdr opi
t.Il
oveBandl
a,ev
ery
oneknowsthat
,
butIdon’
twanttobetr
appedanddict
atedby
Thakasa.
“
I’
m goi
ngtocal
lGugu,
”Isayl
eav
ingt
het
abl
ewi
th
myphone.
Iknowhe’ snotabadbr otherandhe’
sunder
pressuretofi
xt hingswit
htheManqeles-he’
sgoing
therewithagoatsoon-butgi vi
ngThakasafal
se
hopet hatI
’m goingtostaywithMaKhumaloisnot
thewayt ogo.I’m notgoingtobeavil
lagewif
e,l
et
alonestaywithMaKhumal o24/7.

“Girl
fr
iend,
”Isi
twit
hmyl egscr
ossedont
hebedand
placethecell
phonebet
weenmyknees.
“
Babe,
what’
sup?
”Guguasks,
herf
acepoppi
ngon
t
hescr
een.
I
ssheev
ersi
tt
ingandnoteat
ing?
“Alot.TheManqel
esar
ecomi
ngov
ert
his
Thursday,
”Isay
.
Shegaspsi
nshock,
“What
?!”
“
Iknowi
t’
sshor
tnot
ice,
Ijustf
oundoutaswel
l
.”
Shef
rowns.Yeah,
that
’smyl
i
fe;
conf
usi
ngAF.
“Whosebabyi sther
e?”Iask.Icanhearababy
play
inginthebackground.Hersisst
il
ldr
ivi
ngher
nutswithfoodcravi
ngsfrom thecomfor
tofthe
umbili
calchord.
Sheseemstakenaback.Herey
eswi
denast
hey
sear
charoundthehouse.
“
Gugu,
didy
oust
eal
thebaby
?”Iask.
Shel
aughsuncomfort
ably.Iknowmyfr
iend,
ther
e’s
someshi
tgoingonthatIknownothi
ngabout.
“
You’
l
lhat
eme,
”shesay
s.
“
Ial
readyhat
eyou.Tal
k!”
Sher
ubsherf
aceandsighsoutl
oudly
.Nowshe’s
maki
ngmeanxiouswi
thallt
hatner
vousnessonher
f
ace.
“Rememberwhenyouwereatt
ackedandnear
ly
kil
l
ed?”Thatf
eel
sli
keadecadeago.Ial
waystr
yto
keeptr
aumati
cevent
satthebackofmyhead.
“
Mmm-
mmmh,
”Iencour
agehert
ogoon.
“I
twasEf e.Ihuntedhim down,
kidnappedhis
daughterand…hiswifeendeduphospital
izedduet
o
heartcomplicat
ions.
”
Ohmygoodness!
“You’renotser
ious!
”Iknowshe’
sasneaky
,
my steri
ousper
sonbutkidnappi
ngababyi
stoo
extreme.
“I’
m seri
ous.Iwant edtoreturnthebabybutMi ke
grewat t
achedt oher .Wehadheri nthehousef or
threemont hs.Peopledied,Efewasl ookingforhis
babyhighandl ow.ThenIof f
eredt ohelphimi n
exchangeoft henamesoft hepeopl ewhodi dthatto
you.Wehadadeal ,IgaveBandlathenamesandhe
dealtwit
ht hem hisownway ,t
henIf oundEf e’
sbaby.
NowI ’m herheroineandgodmot her,ev
ent houghI
hateherf at
her.”
It
’samov ie-thisonepl aysonTVscr eens.Efehada
downfall
;allhisbusi nessescol
lapsed,helosthi
s
propert
yandcar s.He’snowanor di
naryNigeri
anguy
makingends- meeti naf orei
gncountry.Am I
surpri
sedthatheor ganizedpeopletokil
lme?No.
Am Isurprisedt
hatBandla‘
deal
t’wi
ththosepeopl
e
anddidn’tsayanyt
hingtome?Hell,
yeah.
“
Soy
ou’
rewi
thEf
e’sbabyt
her
e?”Iask.
“Yes,t
hemot herandIt
alk.Iwasgoingt
otel
lyou
butalothappened.Bei
ngagodmot heri
soneof
thosethi
ngsthatkeepmesane.”
Iunderst
andthi
sbetray
al.Iknowi
tsoundscr
azy
,
butIcanexcusethi
sone.Gugualwayshavemy
backandIlovehertodeath.
“Areyougoodthough?Doyouwantmetocome
overandhelpy
ouspendy ourmoney
?”
Shel
aughs,
“Youcancome.Ther
e’smor
ewher
eit
comesfr
om.”
Wow,
richki
dsofKZN!
“
Bit
ch,
you’
ret
hehappi
estwomanonear
th.Bandl
a
bor
rowsmehi scr edi
tcardandt akesitback,
i
magine!
”I’veacceptedthatsoftli
feisnotforme.I
al
wayshav etolookatthepricefir
st,Ican’
tjustdo
myshoppingandnotcr ackmyheadwi t
hMat hs.
“Urgh!Youfoundlov
e,If
oundmoney .Happi
ness
foundy ou,
andformeinret
urn,
Ilostall
my
happiness.
”
“
Isn’
tMi
key
ourhappi
ness?
”Iask.
“He’
sthefatherofmybaby.Il
ovehi
m butnoti
nthat
way.Iwantanor malmanwho’l
lbumpintomeatthe
passage,
lockhiseyeswit
hmineandfall
inl
ove.I
wantabeaut i
ful
lovest
ory
.”
I
ssomeonegoi
ngt
otel
lherornot
?
Icl
earmyt
hroat
,“Thatonl
yhappensi
nmov
ies,
honey.
”
“
Mxm!You’
resuchabor
e.”
“Joi
nTi nder,y
oumi ghtf
indyoursel
fawhi t
eman.I
wantawhi t
esbari
.”IknowIlikethesoundofmy
ownv oice.ButnowI ’
mfall
inginlovewit
hmyown
i
deast oo.
“I
nfact,
I’l
lcreat
eaprof
il
eforyou.Don’
twor
ry,
I’l
l
i
ncludethatyou’
repr
egnantsothatwedon’
tmisl
ead
anywhite,r
ichman.”
“Dude,Iwantabl
ackman.Youthi
nkI’
l
lgof
rom
Thori
so’sbl
ackdi
cktoawhiteone?
”
Wai
tasec….
“WhoisThor
i…”Wher
eisshe?Imadet
hisv
ideo-
cal
l
,
shecan’
tendit
!

(
SMSTBBABFA89TO34877.T&Csappl
y)
Sponsor
:Zi
nhl
eOmuhl
eSamukel
i
siweSi
bisi

LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER72
THAKASA

Hecall
edameet i
ngwit
hhisbrot
hers.Sincetheyno
l
ongerstayathomei
tisheldear
li
erthanusual.
They’
rei
nNkonzo’sr
ondavel,
Temai sinthekit
chen
wit
hMaKhumal o.
Bandlaisthelastonetowalkin.Thi
sisav erybusy
andinti
midati
ngweekf orhim.He’staki
ngthef irst
steptowardsthefutur
ehe’salwaysdreamedof .It
’s
scaryandexciti
ngatthesamet ime.Soonhe’llhave
theloveofhisli
fenexttohi
m, andit
’l
lbeforever .
“Iseeyou’
regl
owi
ngi
nst
eadofMaDube,
”Thakasa
saystoNkonzowi
thagr
in.
Nkonzosmi
l
es,
“Happi
nessl
ooksgoodonme.
”
Thakasapat
shi
sshoul
der
.Outoft
hem al
l
,he’
sthe
l
easttheyexpectedtosett
ledownandbi
debyt
he
r
ules.Well
,atleasthal
fofthem.
“Youaregoingt
omakeagr eatf
ather
.Ican’
twai
tfor
him orhert
oarr
ive,
”hesay
s.
Nkonzoswell
sinpri
de.He’
spr
oudofhimsel
ffor
makingThakasa,
whoisli
keafat
hert
othem,proud.
“Andhowar
ethi
ngsi
nyoursi
de?
”Thakasaasks
Bandl
a.
“
Ever
ythi
ngi
sgood.I
’
mjustner
vous,
”hesay
s.
“Whyareyounervous?You’
reinthepr
ocessof
marryi
ngthegir
lyoulovemorethananyt
hingand
anyoneinthi
sworld.
”
“Idon’
twantanyt
hingt
ogowr ong.Imessedup
once,Idon’
twanttodoitagai
n.”
Nkonzof ool
sar oundforamoment ,
tryi
ngtogi v
ehis
brotherwordsofencouragement.He’sbeenthere,
heknowst heemot i
onsthatcomewithchoosingthe
ri
ghtoneandnegot i
ati
ngwi t
hherf
ami l
y.I
tcanbe
stressf
ulbutit
’swor t
heverymoment.
Thakasacl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
,gr
abbi
ngbot
hthei
r
at
tent
ion.
“Wehavetot al
kaboutthefutureoft
hishome.My
fat
her
’shouset hathebuil
tthr
oughsweatandtear
s.
Andourmot herwhonowneedssomeonewhocan
l
ookafterherandkeept hi
shomewar m.”
Theydon’
trespond.They’
rewai t
ingforhi
mt oget
st
rai
ghttothepoint
.Andt heyjustdon’
tdist
urbhi
m
whenhe’sseri
ousandt al
king.
“MaNtusineedsherownspacenow, butyouboth
knowhowmuchshecar esaboutMaKhumal o.She
can’
tjustl
eaveourmothertostayal
one.”
Nkonzorai
seshisey
es,“
Ithoughty
ouguy salr
eady
boughtahouse.Macangetahousekeeper.
”
“Shehadat otaloffoursons.Whyshoul dweal
l
desertourmot herandhir
east rangertost
aywit
h
her?Thishomeneedsawi fe.”Hiseyesjumpfr
om
Nkonzot oBandlawhohasn’ tbreathedawordsi
nce
thi
ssubjectcameup.
“
MaNt usi
hasheldi
ttoget
herf
orthelastseven
year
sanditwasn’
tevenherpl
ace.Idi
dn’twantto
moveoutbecausenobodywasreadytosett
ledown.
Nowevery
onei
staki
ngawi
fe,
thi
ngsshoul
dbeset
st
rai
ght
.”
Bandlaheavesasighandl
eansagai
nstt
he
headboardbit
inghi
sthumbnai
l.
“Babomncaner emainedatthemai nhomestead
afterhi
sbrothersmov edout.I
t’
salwaysbeena
tradi
ti
onherethatthelastsonremainshomewi t
h
hiswife.
”Hisgazegoest oBandla.Hefixesi
tonhim,
notsparinghim asecond.
“Sqal
oisnomor e.Evenifhewassti
llali
ver
oles
would’v
ebeenreversedbecauseofwhohewas.We
needasolut
ion,Mthonga.Youareone,”het
ells
Bandla.
Outofthem al
l
,ever
yoneknowswho’salwaysbeen
l
essfondofstayi
nginthevi
ll
age.Hehasoneli
fe
andonechancetoexperi
enceli
feout
sidet
hevil
lage
hegrewin.
“That
’sunf
air
,I’
m notr
esponsi
blef
orSqalo’
s
passi
ngorhissexual
it
y.WhymustIstaybehind?
”
Bandl
aasks.
“
Becausey
ou’
reaut
omat
ical
l
ythel
astbor
nof
MaKhumalo’
ssonsnowandIthinki
tmakessense
f
oryounottomoveout
,”Thakasasays.
“Whydoesn’ti
tmakesensefory
outostay?You’
re
goingtohavetwowiv
es,onecanst
ayherewhil
ethe
otheronehasahousesomewhereel
se.
”
“ThatmeansMaNt usimuststayher
e,because
Nomkhosi wil
lneversur
viveaday?Well
,thatsucks
becauseI ’
m notevensurewhatthefut
ureholdsfor
us.Nowmyquest i
onis,whenwil
lMaNtusigeta
breakifshe’sgoingtoholdKhanyo’
s
responsibi
li
ti
es?”
Heav
ysi
gh!
“You’reaManqel e,thesoonersheunder standswhat
thatmeanst hebett
er.Youar enotgoi ngtochoose
betweenherandt hisfamil
ybecausewear enotan
opti
on.Youcanf oll
owherbehi nd,havesexl i
ke
rabbit
sandwhi spersweet-nothingstoher ,buty
our
protecti
oncomesf rom her
e.Youcannev er
disr
egardt hatandy ouwill
NOTdi sregarditbecause
therewillbeconsequences. ”
“
Idi
dn’
tdi
sregar
dany
thi
ng.Shewasj
ustf
ight
ingf
or
herownfamil
yandIwant
edtoshowhersuppor
t.
Youalsofi
ghtf
orus,
whycan’
tshefi
ghtf
orher
brot
her?”
“Angazi
,al
lI’
m say
ingi
swear
enotanopt
ion,
”
Thakasasays.
Bandl
asighs,“Alr
ight
,Iheart
hat.WhatIdon’
t
under
standiswhymustIst ayinthevi
ll
agewhil
eI
wasbornthir
d? ”
“Becauseit
’swhatyoushoulddo,Bandlal
ethu
Manqele.Ididmyjobasthefir
stborn,Nkonzodoes
hisasthesecondinli
neifneededtobe, you’real
so
goingtodot hesame.Weallhaverol
est opl ay.I
wanttomov eoutwithmywi f
ebeforethisy ear
ends.”
Bandlashakeshi
shead.He’
sbeingbul
li
ed,
he’
s
al
readyboughtahouseandtur
nediti
ntoahome.
“Well,
ifnobodyagr
eestostayherewithMathenI’
l
l
takehert ocomeandl
ivewithmeandMaNt usi.
Thesedoor scanbecl
osedf oral
lIcar
e.I
t’
snotmy
responsibil
i
tyt
okeepthem open.
”
Het
akeshi
sphoneandsl
i
psi
tinsi
det
hepocketof
hi
sjean.He’
sspoken,
toobeyornott
oobeyi
s
ent
ir
elyuptoBandl
a.

Hemakeshi swayt ohisbedr oom,MaNt usi

was
taki
nganapwhenhel eft.Londaisteethi
ngand
unwell
.Hopefull
ythey’
llsleeptoday,MaKhumal
o
madeaneckl acewithakeyandr ubbedsomeburnt
herbsonhi
sgums.
Hi
sphoneri
ngs,hest
epsbackbef
oreitdi
sturbsand
wakest
hem up.I
t’
sNomkhosi
-sounexpected!
Thingshav ebeenfoggybet weenthem, i
fthat’sthe
correcttermt odescri
bepeopl ewhoar eignoring
eachot herwi t
houtasol i
ddisagreementorf i
ght .
He’sbeent ry
ingtobesuppor ti
ve,heevensuggest ed
therapyf orherandhermom af t
ershediscov ered
thet r
uthaboutherf ather.Buthi
seffort
sseem t obe
futi
le,they’
redisconnectedanddr i
fti
ngfurt
herapar t
.
Atthesamet i
meMaNt usiseemst obemor esol d
withthei deaofhav i
ngNomkhosi asthesisterwife.
Hel
eansbyt
heout
sidewal
landanswer
s.
“
MakaSphephel
o.”
Sni
ff
s!
Hismindi
sbombardedbyfeari
nst
ant
ly.Hi
sgr
ip
t
ight
ensaroundt
hephone.
“
What
’swr
ong?
”heasksv
erypani
cky
.
“
He’
sdead…theykil
ledhi
m.”She’
ssobbi
ngbet
ween
wor
ds,
it’
snotclearwhoshe’
sref
err
ingt
o.
“Nomkhosi?”Histonet hi
ckens.What’sr
unning
thr
oughhismi ndrightnowi shisdaught
er’
ssafet
y
andhers.Anythi
nghappensi fy
ou’rei
nthetaxi
i
ndustr
y,he’salway sonedgeaboutt hei
rsafet
ybut
helear
nttotrustNgi di
.
“
Ngi
di…t
heyshothi
m…he’
sgone!
”
Shockingbutnotenti
rel
ynewi ntheindust
ryhewas
i
n.Buthowdi danyoneev engonearthatmanwi t
ha
gun,pullthet
ri
ggerandshoothim dead?Hewas
oneoft hoseunt
ouchableones;alwaysonguardand
armed.
“
I’
m sosor
ry.Wher
eareyouri
ghtnow?I
’
m comi
ng
t
ogetyouandPhelo,
”hesay
s.
“
No,
wear
esaf
e.Thepol
i
ceandbody
guar
dsar
e
her
e,”shesay
s.
“Wherewer et
heywhenhegotshot
?I’
m coming
ther
e,”heinsi
stsashechar
gesi
nsi
dethehouseto
gethiscarkeys.
“No,Thakasa.Ihavetobeherewit
hmymot her.The
houseisfull
yguarded,I
’
llcal
lyoui
fIneedanyt
hing,
”
Nomkhosi says.
Hest
opsandexhal
esheav
il
y.
“
Doy
ouknowwhodi
dit
?”
“
Maqhi
nga,
NdabukoandNdl
ali
fawi
l
lfi
ndoutsoon.
”
“Okay,MaKhumalowil
lbethereint
hemorning.I
’
m
sosorry,pl
easel
etmeknowi fyouneedsomethi
ng.
Isti
ll
loveyou,Nomkhosi
,andIwon’tst
op.”
Sheheavesasighandsay shergoodby
e.She’
s
goi
ngthroughsomethi
ngandThakasacomeswi t
h
somethi
ngshedoesn’twanttodealwit
hatthe
moment;amar r
iageproposal
.

Her
eleasesadeepbr
eat
handt
urnsar
ound
t
o…MaNt usi
!
She’
swokenupandst ari
ngathim.Yesevery
thingis
i
ntheopenbuthedidn’tmeantodeclar
ehislovefor
anot
herwomaninfrontofher.Hewasjustcaught
upinthemoment.
“
Isev
ery
thi
ngal
ri
ght
?”sheasks.
Rel
iefdwell
sonhi
sfacewhenher
eal
i
zest
hatshe’
s
notpissed.
“Nomkhosi’
sstepf
atherwasshotandkil
led.I
’
m
sorr
y,Ishoul
d’v
efi
nishedthecal
lout
side.”
“
What?I
ssheokay
?”Shesi
tsupwi
thherey
eswi
den
i
npani
c.
“Idon’
tthi
nkshe’
sokay.Hewasli
keafat
hert
oher
.
Butshe’l
lbest
rong,
Iknowher,
”hesay
s.
“Thisissad.I’
ll
cal
l herint
hemor
ningandcheckon
her.
”Shegl ancesoutsidet
hewi
ndowandreali
zes
thatit
’sgetti
ngdark.
“Whydidn’
tyouwakemeup?Iwassupposedt
o
star
tcooki
ngdinnert
hir
tymi
nut
esago.
”
“
MaDubeandMaarecooki
ngintheki
tchen.Rel
ax,
y
oudi
dn’tsl
eepwel
ll
astni
ght
,”hesay
s.
Shef i
xesherheadwrapandgetsoffbeddespi
tet
hat
.
Shest i
l
lhastoboilwaterf
orLonda’
sbott
leand
preparehi
scereal.
“MaNtusi
,rel
ax.Theyknowy
oudi
dn’
trestenough,
”
Thakasasays.
“No,I
’
mjustgoingto…”Hegrabsherarmsandtur
ns
herar
ound.Helowershisheadandcaptur
esherl
i
ps
i
nashortsteamykiss.
“
I’
m st
ressed,
”hesay
s.
Conf
usi
ondwel
l
sonherf
ace.
“
Huh?What
’sst
ressi
ngy
ou?
”Shef
rowns.
“I’
m unsur
eaboutalotofthi
ngs.Thefut
ureoft
his
family
,NomkhosiandI,andmostlyt
hedreamsI
keepgetti
ng.
”
Okay,she’
scompl et
elyl
ost.Shet
akeshi
shandand
pul
lshimt othebed.Sheholdshi
shand,
warmlyand
comforti
ngly
.
“NomkhosiandIar
enotdoingwell.Shehasn’tsai
d
anythi
ngaboutmar
riage,
recent
lyshe’snoteven
tal
ki
ngt omeassomeonesheconsi dersspecial
.
That
’snumberone,”hesaysandtakesashortpause.
MaNtusii
nhal
esdeeply.Shewasawar eoft
hisbut
shet
houghttheyhadal i
tt
lear
gumentorsomet hi
ng.
“Thenther
e’sasituat
ionofMaKhumaloandthe
futur
eofthi
shome.Bandl ai
sj ustt
oosof
tfort
hat
gir
l.Heneedstotoughenup,thesewal
lsandal
lmy
fat
her’sl
andbelongtohim.”
“
Yout hi
nkKhany
owi
l
lagr
eet
ocomeandl
i
vei
nthe
v
il
lage?”
“I
t’
snotarequest.It
’sanorder
.Iwantust
omov
e
outbef
orethi
sy earends,
”hesays.
“
Oh,
nowy
ou’
ret
alki
ng.
”
Hesmi
l
eswi
thal
i
ttl
efr
own.
“Whatdoyouwantt
odot
omewhenMaKhumal
ois
notar
ound?”
“I
’l
lser
vey
oudi
nnernakedandt
wer
kfory
ou,
”she
says.
Hebr
eaksi
ntoaf
itofl
aught
er.
“St
opplay
ing!
”Hest
opsl
aughi
ngandhol
dsher
handf
ir
ml y
.
“I
’vebeenhavingtheseweirddreamsofmyf ather
givi
ngy ouali
ttl
ebabyboywr appedinablanket.I
don’tknowwhatt hatmeans.I’
m scaredtoget
excit
edbecauseIhav etr
iedforyearstogetyou
pregnantandI’
vef ai
l
ed.
”
Alit
tl
egaspescapeshermouth.Shehol
dsoverher
waistandlooksatThakasawi
thhopebr
ight
eni
ngup
hereyes.
“Idon’twanttogi
veusfalsehope.I
’vebeen
disappoint
edsomanyt i
mes.”Heheav esasighand
l
iftshiseyesupforasecond;bl
inki
ng.
“We’vebeenhavingt
hebestsexofourl
i
ves.May
beI
didcatch,whoknows,
”MaNtusisay
sunabl
etohide
herexcit
ement.
“I
’mjustscared.Idon’
twantust otest
,Iwantt
hings
tobethewayt heyare.I’
m happytocomehome
ever
yday.Ilookforwardtoit
.”
Shesmil
es,
“Comingbackhomewasthebestchoi
ce
I
’veev
ermade.I
’mfal
li
nginlov
ewit
hyoueveryday
.”
“
Wozal
a!”hesay
sgr
abbi
ngherwai
st.
Aknockfrom t
hedoordistur
bst
hem.I
t’
sBandl
a,he
needshi
sbrother
’sat
tenti
on.
.
.
MaNdl
ovuMy
eza

It
’sbeenov erthreedecadessinceshecamet ot hi
s
placeforthef i
rstt
ime.Thedifferencenowist hat
she’snotwit hherhusbandandshe’ sheretoface
hisenemy .Theirfi
ghtstart
edov ercoins,
Nxumal o
wantedmor et hanwhatwasagr eedon.Heact ed
l
ikeBhambat hawashi shand-
madepr oduct
,they
hadt ofor
ev ergrovelt
ohissti
nkyf eetfor
ever.Sot o
putanendt oi t
, Myezadrewthel i
ne.
MaybeNxumal oknewthatthey’l
lneedhim oneday.
They’
reindebt
edtohi
m.Shecannoti gnor
et hei
ssue
nowbecauseBhambat ha’
schar act
erisnotshapi
ng
upforthebett
erandnowhe’ sheronlyson.Hehas
tohel
pMawandecar rytheMy ezaname.
Shedidn’texpecttofindhousesi nthi
spoor
conditi
on.Traditi
onaldoctorsmakeal otofmoney.
Nxumal ohadal otofapprenticesandcustomers.
Butit’
sbeenal ongt i
mesi nceshehear dfr
om him or
anythi
ngabouthi m, t
hingshappen, t
radi
ti
onal
doctorslosetheirpowers.May behe’soneofthose,
i
tdoesn’tlooklikehehasacentf rom wher
eshe
stands.
“
Pleasewaitf
ormehere,
”shet
ell
sherdr
iverasshe
f
ixesherbl
ouseout
sidet
hecar
.
Thedrivernodsandclosesthedoor.MrsMy eza
takesadeepbr eat
h,cl
utchesherbagunderarm and
approachestheNxumaloent r
ancebelowthey ar
d.

Onerondav
elhast
hesmokecomingout
.Shemakes
herwaytoi
tandgreet
stwost
epsawayfr
om t
he
door
.
Afemal evoi
cetellshert
ocomeinsi
de.There’
sso
muchsmoke, ev enthewomaninsi
deiscoughi
ng
nonstop.Shestopsandtakesasecondtoanalyze
herguest’
sface.
“You’
reheret
oseeBaba?”sheasksanddoesn’
twai
t
forananswer
.“Ukwaguqa.Leav
eyourshoesatt
he
doorbefor
eenter
ing.
”
Wit
ht hatsai
dshet
urnsbacktot
heboi
l
ingpoti
nthe
f
ir
eplace.Somuchhospi
tal
it
y!
Mr sMyezal
eavestheki
tchenandgoestoahut
whereNxumaloissai
dtobe.She’snerv
ous,noli
es.
Butthi
sissomethi
ngshehast odoforheronl
y
survi
vi
ngson;t
hechildwhowasachi l
dofher
dreams.

Themani nsi
dethehutishummingandgrinding
somethi
ng.Itmustbemut hi
.Mr
sMy ezaleavesher
shoesatthedoorasinst
ruct
edandgreet
sl oudl
y.
Ther
e’ssomesi
l
ence,
thenal
i
ttl
ecough…
“
Comei
n,
”hesay
sinahoar
sev
oice.
MrsMy ezabendsatthedoorandstepsinwithher
headbowed.There’
saguestmatr ol
ledandleani
ng
bythewall
.Heinstr
uctshert
olayitonthefl
oorand
si
ts.Thenhestudi
esherfacecaref
ull
y.Ther
e’san
escapi
ngchuckl
eofmocker
y.
“
Ist
hisNt
ombenhl
e?”heasks.
Deepbr
eat
h!
“
Yebobaba,
”Mr
sMy
ezar
esponds.
“
Uny
awoalunampumul
o,hhe?Tel
lme,
whatbr
ings
y
ouher
e?”
Hereyesdrop.Shewasneveragai
nsthim bei
ngpai
d
whatwasduet ohim,i
twastheexploi
tat
ionofher
husband’
smoneyshewasagai nst
.
“Thechildisgrownnowandhehasv er
ybad
behaviorissues.It
ri
edrehab,
pol
iceputhi
minjai
l
,
churchleadersprayed.Nowyou’
retheonl
yonewho
canhelphi m.”
Nxumalogr
inswi
thsat
isf
act
ion.Whatagr
eatwayt
o
st
arthi
sday!
“
Andwhatmadey outhi
nkI’
ll
beinter
est
edi
nhel
ping
youaf
terwhatyourhusbanddidt
ome?Thanki
ng
mewithaplat
eofshit.”
MrsMyezasi
ghs,
“Please,Sot
hondose.Iwi
l
l set
tl
e
t
hedebtandpaywhateveramountyouwant.He’s
t
heonl
ychi
l
dIhav
elef
t.
”
“
You’rewast
ingyourtime.Igav
ey oucl
ear
i
nst
ructi
onsandyouchoset odefyme.Ingane
i
yi
hlongandl
ebenjengawe.”
She’
sgett
ingf
edup.Shedi
dn’
tcomeher
etoget
i
nsul
ted.
“Canyouref
ermet
osomeonewhocanhel
pme?
”
sheasks.
“You’
resi
tt
ingopposi
tethatpersonandhe’s
ref
usi
ngtohelpyou.Youhavemoney ,
right
?Leti
t
helpyout
hen.Goandbuyhi m help.
”
Tear
swel lupinhereyesbutshe’
snotgoi
ngtogi
ve
hi
mt hatsati
sfact
ion.Shet
akesadeepbreat
hand
st
andsupt oleave.
Nxumalost
aresatherlegsandmental
lydrawsa
pi
ctur
eofwhat’
sabov eherkneesupwards.
“
Sit
.May
bewecanhav
eanagr
eement
,”hesay
s.
MrsMyezaf
rownsandhesi
tant
lysi
tsbackont
he
mat.
“
I’
mli
steni
ng.
”She’
swi
l
li
ngt
opayanyamountf
or
Bhambat
hat
ogethel
p.
“I
tsmellsdi
ffer
ent
lysincey
ouwalkedi
nhere.I
al
way shavetoenduremywife’
sbadodourandher
pudendathatsmell
ssmoke.”
Herey
eswiden.Whatdi
dshejusthear
?Shedoesn’t
knowhiswi
fetobeoff
endedonherbehalf
,butwhat
ki
ndofamanwouldspeaksobadofhi swif
e?
“Myezai
snomore.I
’m sur
ether
e’saspi
der
web
bet
weenyourl
egsnow.”
Ohhel
lno!
“
Whatdi
dy ousay?
”Hertonei
sshar
p.She’
sal
ready
f
eel
i
nginsult
edandvi
olat
ed.
“Wheny ou’
rereadyf ormetohel
pyoursony
ouwill
cal
lmesot hatIcangetri
dofthewif
eforafew
days.Theny ou’
llbr
ingR500andcomehereweari
ng
nopanty.”
“Nxumal
oarey ououtofyourmind?”Shegrabsher
thi
ngsandstandsupfuri
ously
.“I
’mt el
l
ingy
ourwife
all
thi
snonsenseyoujustspewed.”
“
I’
m notscar
edofmywi
fe.Youar
escar
edofl
osi
ng
yourson.Goandthi
nkaboutit
.Don’tf
orgety
our
shoesoutsi
de.”Hepi
ckshi
sgrindi
ngstoneand
gri
ndshisherbshummingalowhymn.
Shehasadifficul
tchoicet
omake.Shedidn’
tthi
nk
she’
dbeleavingthishutwit
halumpstuckinher
thr
oatandtearsburningherey
es.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER73
KHANYO

Igotacal learl
yinthemor ningsay inghe’sonhi s
wayher e.Ididn’
texpecthi sv i
sit,weusual l
ydi scuss
i
tbeforemeet i
ngandweal way sspendt imei nour
houseatMandeni .Idon’thav ear oom t o
accommodat ehim herei nBer gvi
lleandheknowsi t
.
Manduloi shere,Icannotdi srespecthi m bybr i
nging
amani n.Icannotdi srespectmyancest orsli
ket hat
ei
ther.Sowear ejustgoingt ositint hecarliker i
ch
schoolkids.Isheev enal l
owedt oseemebef ore
l
obolanegot iat
ionsbegi n?Al r
ight,may beI’m
dramatic,thatonlyhappensbef oret heweddi ng.
I’
m anxi
ousev en,hedidn’tsoundokayovert
he
phone.I’
vetakenabat h,dressedupinamini
drawstr
ingbody condressandspr ay
edmymost
expensi
v eper
fumet hatIbar gai
nedwit
haMusli
m
mant ogivemeondi scount .
“
Washeqezaekuseni
uyaphi
?”Mandul
oaskssi
tt
ing
i
nthekit
chent
abl
eandhav
ingbr
eakf
astChef
Khany
omade.
“Thisi
snotshor
t,
”Idef
endmydr
esst
hat
’sj
ust
belowmybutt.
“
Iti
sshort.You’
reaboutt
obecomesomeone’
s
wif
e,”hesays.
“Yes‘
aboutt
o’,
I’
m st
il
lenj
oyi
ngmyl
astgi
rl
yday
s,”I
say.
Heshakeshi
sheadandeatshisf
ood.“Younever
l
ist
entomeanyway .Sowher
eareyougoingand
whenshoul
dIexpectyouhome?”
Bat
hong,i
t’
sninei
nthemor
ning.Iknowmyway
ar
oundthevil
l
age.
“
Bandl
aiscomi
ng,
”Isay
.
“
Heaskedy
out
odr
essl
i
keasl
utf
orhi
m?”
I
’mroll
ingmyey estoheav
ens.Iknowsl ut
swho
wearchurchunif
ormsbutthat’
snotthepoint
,thisi
s
mylastyearofweari
ngshortdressesandpants.I’
m
goi
ngtohav efunwhil
eitl
asts.
“
Nol
wazi
dressesupl
i
kemewher
eshei
s,
”Ibr
eak
t
henewst
ohi
m.
It
’ssosat
isf
yingwat
chi
nghi
sfacer
ightnow.Rude
awakeni
ngs!
Hebr
eaksi
ntounexpect
edl
aught
er.What
’sf
unny
?
“
Nol
wazii
snotmarryi
ngany
one.Youcan’
tcompar
e
y
our
sel
ftoher
,”hesays.
Mxm!Igrababottl
eofmil
kanddri
nkall
the
r
emaini
ngmilk.I
’
m bei
nghisannoy
ingsi
bli
ng,
he
mustenj
oymewhi l
eIlast
.
“Howar ey
ougoingt
opicksomethi
ngifi
tfal
l
s?Your
wholeasswil
lbeout
.”He’
ssti
ll
worri
edaboutmy
dress.
“Ist
andtall
.Idon’tbend.Idon’
tbr
eak.Idon’tback
down,”Iraptucki
ngearphonesinmyear sand
connecti
ngthem intomyphone.
“Nobodyi
sgoingt
otakey
ouser
iousl
yandcomet
o
consul
ther
e.”
“I
’m nottheonewhoneedhelp.WhydoIneedt
o
dressupl i
keanunwhil
eI’
m noteveni
nthe
consult
ationr
ondav
el?
”
Heli
ft
shishandupi
nsur
renderandcont
inueswi
th
hi
sbreakf
ast
.
“Youknowwhattheysayaboutbei
ngt
oohappy
?”he
asksbetweent
hechews.
“
Yes,
youl
i
vehappi
l
yev
er-
aft
er,
”Isay
.
Hel
aughs,
“No,
itendsi
ntear
s.”
Somebodygivethi
sdi
vorcedmanhisti
kol
oshesso
thathecanst
arthi
swit
chcraf
tpr
ofessi
onal
ly.
Myphoner
ings.I
t’
sBandl
a,Iguesshe’
sar
ri
ved.Igo
t
othebedr
oom andanswer.
“
HeyBandl
alami
.”
“Heybabe,I
’m parkedovert
heroad.Pl
easebr
ingme
somewat er
,Iforgottobuyi
t.
”
Ihat
emypoorass,nowIhav
etofi
ndanol
dbot
tl
e
ofAquel
l
eandfi
lli
twit
htapwat
er.
Mandulohasgonetot
hebedr
oom.Iyel
lmy
goodbyesandl
eavewi
thabott
leofwat
erandmy
phone.
He’
sleani
ngbythecarandstar
ingatme.Ist
art
wal
kingli
keaVict
ori
aSecretmodel
;swayi
ngmy
hi
psandcalcul
ati
ngmysteps.
I
’m get
ti
ngcl
oserandhehasn’
ttakenhi
sey
esof
f
me.Yougogir
l!
Wai
tami nut
e,di
dIj
ustseehi
mroll
i
nghisey
es?
Whatki
ndofamanroll
seyesatasuper
model.
“
You’
renoti
mpr
essed?
”Iask.
“No.”Hetur
nsandopensthecardoor
.Theoneat
hisside,
nobodyopenst
hedoorforme,I
’m hur
t.
Iopeni
tmy
sel
f-mypoorhands-andgeti
nsi
det
he
car.
“
Hey,arey
ouokay?
”I’
m aski
ngabouthi
ssani
ty.I
mean,whowoul
dn’
tbeimpressedbyme?
“Yes.Whatabouty
ou?Wher
ear
eyouruncut
dresses?
”heasks.
Il
ookatmydr
ess.Wher
eisi
tcut
?Whenwasi
tcut
?
“
Whatdoy
oumean?
”Iask.
“
You’
renotwear
ingany
thi
ng,
Nokukhany
a.Ar
eyou
hor
ny?
”
Whoah!Iknowthi
sisnothowIshoul
ddr
esspubl
i
cly
buthel
l
o,checkwhereI
’m at
.
“I
’m home,Bandl
a.AtMYhome.Thisi
swhereI
’
m
fr
eet odoanythi
ng.Icanev
enwal
knakedi
fIwant
,”I
say.
“
No,
youwon’
t!
”
Owkaaay
….?
!
“
CanIgetaki
ss?”Iaskt
est
ingwat
ers.Forsome
r
easonhel
ookspissedmor
ethanIt
houghthe’dbe.
Hereleasesadeepbreathandt ur
nshisfacetome.I
meethimf orali
ghtki
ss.Hel ooksst
ressedout,my
fi
ngersreachtohisf
acialhai
randplaywithitwhil
e
hetri
estogethiswordsout .
“Ther
e’ssomethi
ngIneedtot
ell
youbef
oret
he
negoti
ati
onsbegi
n,”hesay
s.
Oh,mypoorhearti
sbeati
nglikeadrum.Whatdidhe
do?Ihopehedidn’
tpul
laThakasaonme; gett
ing
someonepregnant
.Aswiveswedon’ tl
i
kethat
.I,
per
sonall
y,wi
lll
eav
ehisblackassri
ghtaway.
“Tal
k!”Ial
readysoundl
i
keawi
fewhogotcheat
ed
on.
“
Youknowwehav
eahousear
oundt
own?
”heasks.
Inodwi
thmyst
aref
ixedonhi
m.
“Wecannotstayther
efull
time.Thakasais
thr
eateni
ngtotakeMaandl eavewithheri
fnobody
,
betweenus,
theManqelesons, agr
eestomarryand
remainhome,”hesays.
OhJesusChr
ist
!Mandul
otol
dmet
his,
whyam Ist
il
l
notr
eady?
“Idon’
twantmyfather
’shousetocoll
apse.That
wouldbeself
ishofme.ButIcan’tst
aythereal
one,I
needyourhel
p.Ineedyounexttome.Iknowwehad
dreamsbeyondli
feinavil
lage,
wecanst i
ll
achiev
e
them,I
’l
lmakesureofit.
”
“
Soy oucameal lt
hiswayt oaskmetobeavil
l
age
wi
fe?Ont opofthattostaywithati
cki
ngbomb,
MaKhumal o,
everyfreaki
ngday?”
“
Ist
hisl
ovecondi
ti
onal
?”heasks.
“
No,
”Isay
.
“
Butwhydoesitsoundli
keyou’r
enotgoi
ngt
omar
ry
meifIst
ayi
nthev i
ll
age?”heasks.
“Youexpect edmet ocel ebrat
e?SoIwi l
lbet hewife
whoknowswher ethespoonsar edur i
ngfami ly
gat her
ings.Theonewhobr ewt r
adit
ionalbeerand
slaughteredchickenswhi l
eTemaandev eryoneelse
comeont hedayoft heceremonywear i
nghi ghheels
from Zaraand…. ”Hesi ghsbefor
eIfini
sh.Themor eI
thinkabouti t
,theclearert
hepictur
eofmy selfasa
vil
lagewi f
eaf t
ertwoy earsbecomes.
“Il
oveyou.Idon’twantt
omar r
ysomeoneel seor
addathir
dper sontowhatIal
readyhave.Pl
ease
carr
ymybur denswithme,I’
ddot hesameforyou.
”
Alt
houghIdon’
tunder
standt
het
hir
dper
sonpar
t,
butIf
eelsor
ryformymannow.
“
Arewegoi
ngt
ogooutev
eryweekend?
”Iask.
Hechuckl
es,
“Yes.
”
“Okay,
I’l
lmarr
yy ouandcomest aywit
hy ou
whereveryouare.”Isoundver
yromanti
cr i
ghtnow.I
shoul
dbehi r
edt owr i
temessagesonValenti
ne’
s
DaycardsatShopr i
te.
“Somypeopl
ear
est
il
lwel
comef
ordi
scussi
ons?
”he
asks.
“
Hel
l
,yeah!
”
Imaginehowbadi twould’v
elookedonmei f
abakhongi endedupnotcoming.Wehav eourown
paparazzihereinthev
il
lage;v
erytr
ainedandaler
t
aboutthings.
“Idi
dn’tsl
eeplastni
ghtt
hinkingaboutt
his.Thank
yousomuch, sthandwasami .I
’
llt
ell
Maaswel l,
she’l
lbesohappy .
”Therel
iefandhappi
nessonhi s
faceisenough.
“
Nowgodressup,
Iwantust
ogot
otown,
I’
ll
dri
ve
y
ouback.
”
Thisti
meIwon’tevenarguewi
thhi
m.Hedoesn’t
l
iketheVi
ctor
iaSecretmodeli
nmeandther
e’s
nothi
ngIcandoaboutit.
Ihavet
ochangeandgetr
eadyf
oranot
herexpensi
ve
shoppi
ngt
ri
p.
.
.
MaNdl
ovuMy
eza

Itwasat oughdecisiont omake.Todayshe’ sl

eavi
ng
herhusband’shouset oshar ehishoney potwit
h
anothermanf orhersont ogetthehelpt hathe
needs.Shenev erthoughtt hi
swouldev erhappento
her.Shecan’tcryforhelpbecauset here’snohelpto
cryfor.Shegotherselfintothi
smess.Shegother
ownsoni nt
othisdil
emma.Nowi t’
stimet osolvei
t
andshe’ l
ldoital
onesi nceMy ezaisnomor e.
Shei nstr
uctedherdr i
vertogetNxumal o’
snumber
andaskedhi m nott
obr eatheawor dtoanyone.
Todayt hesamedr i
veristakingherbacktothat
pl
ace, inthemor ni
ngwhent hedealhasbeensealed
he’
llbef etchi
ngher.It’
sashamet hatshesti
llcal
l
s
herselfawomanaf terwhatshedi dtoNxumalo’s
wife-call
ingherhusbandandmot i
vati
nghimtoget
ri
dofher .Thi
sisadi sgr
ace!

It
’snowdar
k,bef
oreenter
ingthehomest
eadshe
call
sMawandeandtel
lsherthatshe’
ssl
eepi
ngover
arelat
ive’shouse.Sheswitchesthephoneoffaf
ter
thatcal
l andgri
psherov erni
ghtbagti
ghtl
ybefor
e
goingthroughtheentrance.
Herdri
verf
lashesl
ight
sandhootsbefor
edri
vi
ng
away.Hewon’tbetoofar,
onephonecal
landhe’
l
lbe
atherr
escuewithi
nablinkofaneye.
Str
onghandsgr abherasshewalkspastthekit
chen.
Shealmostscreamsoutinfear
,butaroughlaugh
putsheronease.
“
Youscar
edme,
Nxumal
o,”shesay
s.
“I
t’
sme,don’tworr
yyou’r
esafehere.
”Hishandi
s
uncomf
ortableonherbuttandmassagi
ngher.
She’
shol
dingherbr
eath.“
Let’
sgeti
nsi
dethehouse.
Idon’
twantt
ostandinthecol
dfort
oolong.
”
“Youcan’twai
t,huh?
”He’
schuckl
i
ngandgr
abbi
ng
herbutt
.
She’
sget
ti
ngf
edup.Shest
opsandy
ankshi
shands
off
.
“I
’
m notyourwife.I
’m onl
yher
ebecauseI
’
m
desper
ate.OuragreementwasR500andthedeed
once-of
f.Mybodyi
snoty
ourpl
aygr
ound,
”she
snaps.
Helistensforafewmi nutes.Theygetinsi
deoneof
thecrackyrondavel
s,hetakesherbagandput si ton
topoft hewoodenman- madet able.Ther
e’saplate
ofLemonCr eam bi
scuit
sandaj ugofFusi onj
uice
wait
ingf orher.
“Areyoueat i
ngfi
rst?Iknowy ou’
ll
behungry,
”he
asksstandingbehindherandwr appi
nghisarms
aroundher.There’
sasmel lcomingunderhi
sarms.
Didheev enbath?
“I
’m nothungry,
”MrsMyezasayslooki
ngatthebed
she’l
lbespendingt
henighton.Ther
earefourbr
icks
balanci
ngitup.Someoneofherweightmight
coll
apsewithittot
hefl
oor.Whataboutbedbugs?
“
Nxumalo,
youdon’
thav
eabet
terbed?Whati
s
t
his?
”sheasks.
Nxumaloi
soffended.Hespentt
hewhol
eday
cl
eani
ngandev entookoutsomenewbl
anket
sfor
her
.Somethi
nghe’dneverdoforhi
swi
fe.
“
Don’
tinsul
tmyhome,
Ntombenhl
e,
”hesay
sbi
tt
erl
y.
Mr
sMy
ezat
akesadeepbr
eat
handsi
tsont
hebed.
Het akesoffhisshi rt
,rev eal
ingahai rychestand
waisttiedincolor f
ulyar ns,t
henpul lsdownhi spant.
Hehasoneoft hoser edcheapunder wearf r
om free-
market.Ast hinashei s,hest i
llhasapot bel
lyfr
om
al
lthemedi cineshedr inksdailyt oprotecthimself
againstevilspiri
ts.Hel ooksl i
keachi ldsuf f
eri
ng
fr
om mal nutri
tion,li
ket hoseAf ricanonest heyput
onpost erswhenbeggi ngf orAmer i
candonat ions.
“
Youbr
oughtt
hemoney
?”heasks.
“Yes,
it’
sinsi
demypur
sei
nthebag.Nxumal
ocanI
askaquest i
on?
”
“
Mmmh,
goahead,
”hesay
s.
“Doyoualwaysdothi
stoyourwi
fe?Doessheknow
thatyousl
eepwit
hdesper
atewomenwhoneedy our
help?
”
“Thi
shoboshacannoteatpapever
yday.That
’s
bori
ng.Ineedt
otryoutdif
fer
entdi
shes.”
“
I’
m notadi
sh,
”shesay
sfi
rml
y.
Hechuckl
es,
“Wai
tunt
ilIdev
oury
ou.You’
l
lbe
comi
ngher
eformor
eony
ourown.
”
Shedoesn’
tfi
ndhumorini
t.Hel
aughsal
one.Then
heinst
ruct
shert
ostandup.
“
Ihopey
oudi
dn’
twearanunder
wear
,”hesay
s.
Hishandsneaksunderherl
ongskir
tandgrabsher
honeypot
.Whenhef i
ndsitcover
edinnot
hingbuta
bushofpubichai
r,hel
ickshi
sdryli
psandsmiles.
“Myezai
sst
upid.Hedi edandlef
tsuchameatyt
wat
behi
nd?Wel
l,we’l
lfeastonitonhisbehal
f.
”
“
Don’
tment
ionmyhusband!
”
“
Okay
,takey
ourcl
othesof
fandl
et’
sst
artwor
king.
”
Ever
ythi
nghesaysistur
ningherof
f.Howcanaman
besounatt
ract
iveanddir
ty?
“
Youwon’tcr
yaboutachi
ngjoi
nts,r
ight
?You,
old
women,
boremewi t
hthat,
”hesays.
Shedoesn’
tsayanyt
hingexceptt
aki
ngheav
y
breat
hsbef
orelay
ingonherbacknaked.

Nxumal
ocl
i
mbsont
opofherandl
ower
shi
sli
pst
o
herforakiss.MrsMy ezatit
sherheadt otheside
anddodgesi t.Sohekisseshercheekinst
eadand
goestoherear .Hi
swett ongueli
cksherearlobe,
l
eavingdropsofsaliv
ai nsi
deherear.Oh,she’s
defi
nit
elyl
osingherhear i
ngaft
erthis.
Luckil
y,hestopsandswabsdownherneckt oher
breast
swi t
ht hatwett
ongueofhi
s.Justdr
opsof
hersali
valeftonherski
nfeel
li
keadeadlyvi
rus.
Hepi nchesherni pplesandst artschewingthem l
ike
under cookedpiecesofr edmeat .There’
sno
pleasureinwhathe’ sdoi ng,hecl earl
ydoesn’
tknow
howt odoi t
.Butsheshut sherey esandletshi
m
continue.Hishandsl idesbet weenhert hi
ghswitha
pieceofal um stone.Hei nsertsitinheropeni
ng.
“Closey ourlegsfir
ml y,
”heinst r
uct s.
“Nxumalowhatdi
dyouputi
nsi
de?
”sheasksi
n
astoni
shment
.
“Justanalum st
onetomakeitt
ight
.I’
l
ltakei
tout
afterafewminutes.Wher
edoyouwantmet otouch
you? ”
Whoasksawomant
hisquest
ion?
“
Wher
edoy
out
ouchy
ourwi
fe?
”Mr
sMy
ezaasks.
“
Thatpudendaknowsme,Idon’
tneedt
otouchher
,I
j
ustpushmysnakein,
”hesays.
“
Dot
hatt
omeaswel
l
.Iwanty
out
ofi
nish,
”shesay
s.
No,notNxumalo.Hest i
l
lhasapointtopr
ove.He
l
icksherwholefaceli
keacatandev eni
nser
tsthe
t
ipofhistongueinsi
dehernost
ri
ls.She’
ssti
lldr
yAF!
Afewmi nut
eshav epassed.Sur
elyherv
aginai
s
i
ntactnow,hetakesthemelti
ngstoneoutand
i
nsertshi
sfinger
.
Mr
sMy
ezamoansdeepl
y.
Hechuckl
es,“
Youhaven’tf
eltany
thi
ng,Ntombenhl
e.
You’
resti
l
lgoi
ngtoscream yourl
ungsoff
.”
I
twasn’
tthepleasur
eshefelt
.Hehasunt
idynai
l
s,
hewasscrat
chingherhoney
pot.
Hepull
shisfi
ngeroutaf
tersomet
imeandst
ret
ches
herl
egsfur
therapar
t.
“Mmmh…Ishoul dmarryyouandmakey oumy
secondwif
e.It
’snotfai
rthatsuchameatyt
wat
decorat
esyourthi
ghsanddon’tgetf
ucked.
”
Anot
hert
urnof
f!
!!
“Her
eattheNxumalosyou’
llbehappyeveryni
ght.I
’
ll
evenl
eavemyf i
rstwi
fe’
sbedroom andsl
eepwi t
h
youever
ynight
.Hersi
sold,wrinkl
edanditfar
ts.
”
“
Stopdr
eami
ng,
Nxumal
o,”shesay
sannoy
ed.
Hegri
nswidel
y.She’
l
lswall
owherwor
dssoon;
she’
l
l
bebeggi
nghimtomar r
yher.
Hespi
tsinheropeni
ngandr
ubshi
sti
pwi
thVasel
i
ne.
Hi
ssmilehasstr
etchedt
ohi
sear
s.
“
Thi
swill
bethebestni
ghtofyourl
i
fe,Nt
ombenhl
e.
Whydon’
tyoual
l
owmet oki
ssyou?”
‘
BecauseI’
m notsur
eyoubrushyourt
eet
h,’
her
hear
tsayswhil
ehermouthstaysshut
.
Hi
smanhoodi
sreal
lybi
g;l
ongandt
hick.I
ttakes
t
imef
oritt
osl
idei
n.
“
Doy
ouf
eel
it?
”heasks.
MrsMyezamoansoutherresponse.Hechuckl
es
andpul
l
soutt
ot easehersomemor e.
Agai
nstherbet
terj
udgment
,herf
oldsar
eget
ti
ng
moi
standreadyfort
hedeed.Shedoeswanthi
m
i
nsi
deher.Devi
lmuch!
“
Ber
eadynow,
Ntonbenhl
e,
”hesay
s.
Shewrapsherar
msar
oundhi
swai
standkeepsher
eyesshut
.
Hepushestheti
pinandslowlygoesi
ninchbyinch.
Oncehe’
sfull
yinser
tedhelat
chesonhernippl
eand
chewsit
.Ther
e’sbothpai
nandpleasur
e.
Amoanescapeshermout
h.Nxumal
olooksupand
smi
l
es.
“Getset,
Ntombenhl
e.Ar
eyour
eady
?”heaskswi
th
hishandsgri
ppi
ngherhi
ps.
“Let
’sgo!”He’snotgentl
e.Notslow,butnott
oof ast.
Ifhedidn’tsmell
bad,andifhelookedabitat
tracti
ve,
andifthishappenedoutoffreewil
l,maybeshe
would’
v eenjoy
edi tmor
e.
.
.
ShewasNxumalo’ssextoythewhol
eni
ght
.Shedid
getsomepl
easureoutofit
,butt
hisi
ssomet
hing
she’
llneverfor
giv
eher selffor.Myezaandherwer e
nolongerinti
mateatt hetimeofhi sdeath,buthe
wasst i
llandwil
lalway sbeherhusband.I fther
ewas
someonewhodeser vedasl iceofhiscakei t
would’vebeenoneofhi sbrot her
sorcousi ns.
“
Arey
ouokay
,mam?
”Herdr
iverasks.
Shegulpsdownabottl
eofwaterandsi
ghs.No,
she’
sfarfr
om okaybutt
hati
sn’tsomet
hingshe’
l
l
everdi
scusswit
hanyone.
“
Dri
ve,Benjami
n.I
’
llst
artatt
hedoct
or’
sof
fi
ce,
”she
i
nst
ructs.
Nof
urt
herquest
ioni
sasked.Thev
ehi
clet
akesof
f.
Shescr
ollsdownherphoneandstopsat
Bhambatha’
snumber.I
tringsaf
ewt i
mesbef
orehe
pi
cksup.
“Hel
l
o.”He’
sshockedtogetacal
lfr
om hi
smot
her
soearl
yint
hemor ni
ng.
“Bhambat
ha,
it’
sthatbi
tchwhogav
ebi
rt
htoy
ou,
”
shesays.
Ther
e’saheav
ysi
gh.Tr
ustmot
her
stobr
ingup
t
hingsy
ousai
dwhi
l
eangr
yandapol
ogi
zedf
or.
“
Iheary
ou,
Ma,
”hesay
s.
“Li
sten,
tomorr
owwear egoingtoseeatradi
ti
onal
doctorwho’
sgoingtohel
pyouandIhav eabetter
rel
ati
onshi
p.Bereadyat7am,”shesay
s.
“Wit
chdoct
or?Idon’
tassoci
atemy
sel
fwi
tht
hose.
You’
llgoal
one,
”hesays.
“
Thisi
snotar equest
.I’
mt el
l
ingyou,wear
egoi
ngt
o
v
isi
tatradi
ti
onaldoctorandthat
’si
t.
”
“Sorr
y,Ma.I’
m notv
isi
ti
nganywi
tchdoct
or,
I’
ll
bei
n
Richar
d’sBaytomorr
ow.”
“Heywena!Bhambatha…where’
sthi
sboy…areyou
sti
ll
ther
e?”Shelooksatt
hescreen,
thecal
lendeda
fewsecondsago.
“
Oh,
Nkosi
yami
!”
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER74
THAKASA

It
’seasytogethisbrot
hersof fhisback.Ifhe’scold
theystayaway,i
fhedoesn’ tsayanythingtheydon’t
ask.Butathomet hi
ngsar ediff
erent,hehasawi f
e
andason.Hehasamot her,adramaticonef orthat
matter.Heneedstopullhimselftogetherorisolat
e
himself.
Hef i
ndsLondasl eepinginbedandl i
esont hepil
l
ow
nexttohi m.He’ssti
ll
f ul
l
ydressed,evenhisti
eis
sti
llon.Hehasamot herofallheadaches.Londa
l
ookssopeacef ulnexttohim;soinnocentand
carefr
ee.Hedoesn’ trememberhi mselfbei
ngatthat
stageofl i
fe.Heremember shisearl
yteens,peace
wasal readyastrangewor dtohim,hewasal r
eady
manni ng-upbythen.

MaNt
usi
wal
ksi
n,herbr
owssl
i
ght
lyf
urr
owasher
eyesl
andonherhusband.I
t’
sunli
kehi
mt ocome
homeandnotstar
tintheki
tchent
ogreet
.
“
Manqel
e,
”shesay
sst
andi
ngnextt
othebed.
Heexhalesheavi
lyandshi
ftshiseyesfr
om Londato
her.There’
savei
nthrobbi
ngonhi stempl
eand
pronouncedli
nesofstr
essetchedonhisbrowri
dge.
“
Arey
ouokay
?”MaNt
usi
asks.
“
Ihav
eat er
ri
bleheadache.CanIski
pdi
nner
?Iwant
t
obathandsleep,
”hesays.
“ButyouknowhowMaf eel
saboutsomeone
skippi
ngprayeranddinnerwhi
leinsi
det
heyard.I
’
ll
giveyoupainki
ll
ers,
you’l
lbefi
ne.
”
“
Idon’
twantt
obef
ine!
”
MaNtusi
’
sheadti
tstotheside,
herey
ebr
owcur
ves
upasawestr
uckherface.
Thakasasighsandbrusheshisf
aceinfr
ustr
ati
on.“
I
wanttosleep,pl
ease.
”Histonesof
tensandbegs.
MaNtusisi
tsonthebedandhol
dshi
shand.
Somethi
nghappenedtohim,
hewashappywhenhe
l
efthome.
“
Whathappened,
myeni
wami
?”sheaskswor
ri
edl
y.
“
Imi
ssmydad,
”hesay
s.
Shedidn’
texpectthi
sone.He’
snevercr
iedf
orhis
fat
herbefore.Ev
enwhenhediedThakasawasthe
onewhocomf or
tedother
sandbecameapil
larof
theManqeles.
“
Whydoy
oumi
sshi
m?”sheasks.
“There’
ssomuchIsti
llneededt
olear
nfrom hi
m.
Therearet
hingsIf
ail
tohandleandgothrough
alone,
”hesays.
“Butyou’
remar r
ied,y
oudon’thavet
ogot
hrough
anythi
ngalone.I
’m here,
”shesay
s.
“Iknow,mylov e.Butit
’snoteveryt
hingthatIcan
sharewithyou.Somet i
mesIneedamanwhogav e
birt
htomet ot el
lmewhatt odo.Het aughtmetobe
strongbutt
her earethingst
hatIfailtobestrongfor
.
Ineednewst rategi
estodeal wit
hthem.Hi s
teachi
ngsandmyownhear tarefail
ingme.Idon’t
knowwhatt odo. ”
Amomentofsi
l
encepasses.
Thenshesighs,
“Doyouwantt
otal
ktosomeone
prof
essi
onalatl
east
?”
“
No,
Iwantt
osl
eepMaNt
usi
.”
Shenods,
“I’
l
lbr
ingy
ourf
ood.
”
“
Thankyou.”Hetur
nsandliesonhisstomach.
MaNtusi
brusheshi
sshoulderandsighsbef
ore
t
aki
nghersonandl eav
ing.

MaKhumalostaresatherasshewalkspastt
he
ki
tchent
oputLondai nbedinPhet
hy’sroom.I
t’
s
al
mostti
mef orprayer
,where’
sThakasa?
Shefol
l
owsbehindwi thherhandsonthehi
ps.She
hear
dthecardri
vingin,obvi
ousl
yhe’
shomeandhe
di
dn’
tevenbothergreeti
ng.
“
Wher
e’sy
ourhusband?
”sheasksMaNt
usi
.
“
Oh,he’
snotwell
.Hehasaheadache,
sohewon’
tbe
j
oini
ngusf
orprayeranddi
nner
.”
“
Sickpeopl
edon’
tpr
aynow?
”
“
He’
srest
ing,
Ma.
”
“That’
swhatyoutwowantt oteachLondokuhle?
Thatit
’sokaytodisappearf
rom fami
lypr
ayersand
dinner
.No,surel
yhecansacr i
fi
ceafewmi nut
est o
prayandeat,t
henI ’
l
lgivehi
m somethi
ngforthe
headache.
”
MaNtusideci
destoletmotherandsonhandl
eit
.
SheshushesLondabackt osl
eepwhil
eMaKhumalo
l
eavestosortoutThakasa.

“Kuyangenwala?
”MaKhumaloasksatt
hedoor
.
Thakasa’sgr
oanisenoughper
missi
onf
orhert
o
pushthedoorandlet
shersel
fin.
“
Whyar
eyousl
eepi
ng?Di
dn’
tyouseet
het
ime?
”
“
Ma,
please!Ihav
eaheadache.
”
“
Thatheadache,
whendi
ditst
art
?”
“
Awhi
l
eago.
”
“
Come,
we’
l
lpr
ayf
ori
t.
”
“Idon’
twantpray
ers,Iwant
…”Hehol
dshi
sbr
eat
h
andpull
sapill
owt ohisf
ace.
“
Whatdoy
ouwant
?”MaKhumal
oasks.
Herel
easesthebreat
hhehel
dforasecond.“
Iwant
Phel
o’smotherback.
”
“
Didshebr
eakupwi
thy
ou?
”
“
Yes,
”hesay
sandi
nhal
esashar
pbr
eat
h.
“She’
l
lcomeback,l
etherbr
eat
he,
weal
ldeal
wit
h
gri
efdif
fer
ent
ly.
”
“Il
ostmybrot
hert
oobutIdidn’
tdumpher
.Ma,my
hearti
snotmadeofst
one,Idofeel
pai
nwhenshe
hurt
sme.”
“Soy ou’
regoingt ol
ieandsayy ouhaveaheadache,
causeMaNt usi pani
candcr yonherbedthr
oughout
thenight?Trustme, she’
l
lleaveyouaswelland
thi
rstymenoutt her
ewon’twast eanyt
imetocatch
her.You’l
lbecomeazombi e,youknowhowy our
wifebecomes. ”
“
That
’swhyIneedtor
est,
Ihavetogetmyemot i
ons
t
oget
herandbeemoti
onall
ypresentwher
eIam.
MaNtusi
andIarei
nagoodplace,Idon’
twantt
o
r
uint
hat.
”
“Butyou’
real
readyskippi
ngprayeranddinner
.
You’r
egoingtorui
ny ourmarr
iageagain,
obv i
ousl
y.
”
“Il
ovet
hatgi
rl
,I’
m notpretendi
ng.Ir
eal
lydo.Iwi
sh
shecanseepastmymi stakesandal
lowme…”
“
Thakasa!
”hi
smot
herr
oar
s.
Hesi
ghs,
“Okay
,I’
l
lcomeshor
tl
y.
”
MaKhumal
oshakesherheadi
ndi
sappoi
ntmentand
wal
ksout
.
Ther
e’sonl
yonepersonhecant
alkt
orightnowand
becal
m.Hissist
er…heli
esonhi
sbackanddial
sher
number.
“
Duy
aza,
”Mawandeanswer
s.
“Hey
,areyoubusy?
”That’
showallofthem begi
n,
shealr
eadyknowsthatt
here’
ssomethi
nggoingon.
“
Wecant
alk.What
’sgoi
ngon?
”sheasks.
“
Webr
okeup,
”hesay
s.
“
YouandMaNt
usi
?”
“
No.
”
Shesi
ghs,
“I’
m sor
ry.Whatwast
her
eason?
”
“Shesaidsheneedsspace.Idon’tunderst
andwhat
kindofspacebecausewedon’ tstaytoget
her,I
rarel
ygettospendt i
mewi thheranyway.
Bengingasonaiscefekuye.Welasthadsex….”
Mawandecoughs, hetakesadeepbreathand
pauses.Sometimeshef orget
sthatshe’safourt
h
born,onl
y25y earsold.
“
I’
m sorr
y,I
’
mjustgoingt
hroughalot
.Thi
sisthe
f
ir
stti
meIgothroughsomethingl
i
kethi
swithher
.”
“Buty
ouguyshavebr
okenupmanyt
imesbef
ore
andfi
xedt
hings,
”Mawandesay
s.
“She’
snev
erbr okenupwit
hme.Maybethere’
s
someoneelse.Idon’
tknowwhatt
othi
nk.”
“I
fther
e’ssomeoneelseareyougoi
ngtoaccepthi
m
andrespecthi
mlikeMaNtusidi
dwithher
?”
Mawandeasksoutofcur i
osi
ty.
“Excuseyou?Wehav eachi
l
dt oget
her,I
’m not
l
etti
nganymonkeycomeandgr oannexttomy
daughter
.I’
ll
sortNomkhosiout ,
Iknowshe’lll
ether
guarddowni nt
ime.She’
smi ne!”
“Whatdoy
oumean?Howar
eyougoi
ngt
osor
ther
out
?”Mawande.
“Iknowherci rcl
enowandmyf orefat
hersapproveof
myseedbei ngnurtur
edbyherwomb.I ’
l
lgivemy
daught erasibli
ng.Ev
ent
uall
yshe’l
lhavearingon
herfingerandi t
’l
lbeme,t
hefatherofherchil
dren,
whoputi t
.”
“
Ist
hatev
enl
egal
?”Mawandeasksi
nast
oni
shment
.
“Isi
tlegaltobreaksomeone’ shear
twithouta
reason?Nomkhosi knowst hatIcannotli
vewit
hout
her.Shesawmet ryi
ngtobr eakthi
ngswithherso
manyt imesandf ai
li
ng.She’sdoingthi
stotort
ure
me, t
hat’sall
.”
“Yoh!I
t’sal
mostt i
mef orprayer,
pleasebeokay.
Thinkofevery
thingyou’vesurvi
ved,youcannotleta
womanaski ngforspacet ur
ny ouintoazombie.Eat
andliv
ey ourl
if
e.”
Hesi
ghs,
“Thanky
ou,
mnt
akama.
”
He’
snotokaybutt
alki
ngt
ohissi
steral
wayscalms
hi
m downandputssomesensei
ntohishead.
Helogsintohisbankappandt r
ansfer
sR10000t o
Nomkhosi Nsele.Herfami
lycanaff
ordthefuneral
,
themostluxuri
ousonet hi
scountr
yhasev erseen,
buthe’
l
lthrowinhi sfi
vecent
saswel l
.
Hefoll
owsupwit
hthesms;“
PLEASELETMEKNOW
I
FIT’SSHORT.MYHEARTISWITHYOU.
ULI
PHATHEKAHLEI KHEKHELAMIMAZIKODE.
”
.
.
MAWANDE

Shehaddi nneralone,whichisn’tanewt hi
ngtoher.
It
’sbeenthatwayev ersi
nceNy ezipassedon.
Sometimeski dsdocomeandkeephercompany
andsomet imestheirmot her
sr efuse.‘Akazal
anga
nganiezakhe,’t
hat’
st hequestionshe’shear dbei
ng
thrownaroundaf ewt imes.
Bhambathaagreedtogototheny
angawithhi
s
motherandseemingl
yevery
thi
ngwentwell
.Mrs
Myezahasn’
tsentanymessages,Bhambat
ha
droppedheroffandleftf
orwhat everemergency.
Yes,theytr
avel
edtogether.Thatcountsfor
somet hi
ng;t
here’
salightattheendoft hetunnel
.
Get t
ingacal lf
rom Thakasahasgi v
enhersomet hing
elset ot
hinkaboutot herthant heMy ezabitt
er
relat
ionships.Per
sonally,she’
snev erdisregarded
thefactthatherbrothers,anyoft hem, could
becomeapol y
gamistoneday .ButThakasawast he
onewhowasal waysant i
-polygamy.Heonl ywant ed
togetmar riedonce,haveki dsandl i
vehislif
ewi t
h
onewoman, MaNtusi.
Butnowal lt
hathavechanged,hewant sasecond
woman.He’ salr
eadydrawnapi ctur
eofhisfutur
e,it
fi
tsall
t hreeofthem andthei
rkids,andnowt hat
Nomkhosi i
sbackingouthe’scrushed.Hefeels
powerless.It’
sanotherdr
eam crushed.Dream aft
er
dream, l
ikeaseriesoffai
lur
es.
ButcanNomkhosi beblamedforbr eakingt hi
ngsoff?
Notatall
.Shewast her
ethedaySqal odi ed, f
ora
dayshegotagl i
mpseofwhatbei ngaManqel ewife
ent
ail
s.Every
oneacceptedtheirr
elationship,ther
e’s
nosneakingaroundanymore,whichhasbr ought
newl i
ghttotheirr
elat
ionship.Maybet hatl
ightburnt
someofhercomf ortzones,ormay beitbroughtli
ght
i
ntothingsthatwereint hedarkbefore.Any way
she’
sgone, may benotforeverbutThakasai s
hurt
ing.MaNt usii
saboutt ogetcaughti nthemiddle
andshe’ll
haveherowndr amat ospare.
Owww, dearLord!Thisi
stoomuch.Ev ent
hecr azy
Khanyodoesn’tbri
ngthismuchdramat ot
hef amil
y.
Well
,Temahasal way smindedherownbusiness,
workedwiththebrother
sprofessi
onal
l
yandst ayed
outofdrama.
“Areyouokay ?”t
hev oi
cecomesfrom t
hedoor.She
l
iftshereyesandr el
easesasi
gh.She’
sbeenlyi
ngin
bedandt hinki
ngaboutallt
hedramathatsur
rounds
her.Nowher e’
ssomeonewhocanputanendt oher
distr
ess.
“
Yeah,
I’
m okay
,”shesay
s.
Hewal ksin,t
akeshisshoesoffandsit
sonbed.She
di
dn’tevenknowt hathewascomi ng.He’ssti
l
l not
comfortablewit
hthem doingt
hingsinhisbrother’
s
house.
“
Youl
ookedsodeepiny
ourt
hought
s.What
’son
y
ourmi
nd?”heasks.
Shedoesn’
ttel
lhi
sbr
other
’sbusi
nesst
oany
one.
“Iwasthi
nki
ngabouty
ou,
”shel
i
eswi
thasmi
l
eon
herface.
Hisupperli
pcurvesupinaghostofasmil
e.He’
s
cute,abi
tthuggi
shinthosel
ongcamoufl
agepants
andblackhoodiebutshewoul
dn’thav
ehi
m any
otherway.
“I
’m her
e,don’tthi
nknomor e.
”Hepul l
sherforahug
andkissesherlipsaff
ectionat
ely.Thenhesighsand
l
iesonherl ap.Abitheavybutthey’vedonethi
ngs
fr
om diff
erentposit
ions.Somet i
meswi thhi
swhole
bodyont opofher.Thisisnothing.
“Doyouthi
nknowMaandIar
egoi
ngt
obeokay
?”
heasks.
“
Yes.Sheknowswhatshe’
sdoing.Whoknows,
maybeyou’
ll
becomingtochur
chwi t
husaswell
.
Hebr
eaksi
ntol
aught
er.Chur
chandhi
m?Nope.
“
Ilov
emyl
i
fet
hewayi
tis.
”
Wel
l
,shewasj
ustt
est
ingwat
ers.
“
Sowhatdi
dthemando?
”sheasks.
“
Youdon’
twantt
oknow.Ihav
etosl
eephome
t
oday
,”hesay
s.
Sil
l
yherf
ort
hinki
nghewasgoi
ngt
osl
eepher
e,wi
th
her!
Somethingst
ri
keshi
smind.Hel
ooksupather
,
“Babe,
whatdidyouwantt
otel
lmeearl
i
er?You
l
ookedtroubl
ed.
”
Sigh!Benj
aminmadeherswearonherf ather’
sgrav
e
butshewasgoi ngtotel
lhi
m anyway.Maybenot
todaybecauseshedidn’
twanthi
mt onotgowi thhi
s
mot her
.Shedidthemostforhi
mt ogetthis
Nxumal o’
shel
p.
“Di
dyounot
iceany
thi
ngwei
rdwi
tht
heman?
”she
asks.
“
Yes,
he’
sugl
yandv
eryunpl
easantt
obear
ound.
”
Shel
aughsatt
hat
.
“Anyt
hingy
ounot
icedbet
weenMaandhi
m?”she
asks.
Hef
rowns,
“No.
”
“
Not
hingatal
l
?”
Hesi
tsup,
“Justt
ell
mewhat
’sgoi
ngon.
”
“It
hinksomet
hinghappened.Mabl
urt
edi
tout
,”she
says.
“
Somet
hingl
i
kewhat
?”
“
Sexual
viol
ati
on.
”
Hefr
owns,
“Wai
twai
twai
t,sexual
viol
ati
ont
owho?
Bywho?
”
“Yourmotherwassexualvi
olatedbythatny
anga
befor
eheagr eedt
ohelpyou.There’
shistor
y
betweenhim andyourf
ather
, whenhe…”
He’
suponhi
sfeet
.
“
Bruh,
you’
ret
ri
ppi
n’!You’r
ecrazy.Sexualv
io…?To
mymother
?Areyouseriousr
ightnow? ”
Sheexpect
edareact
ion.Shealsowentint
oan
emoti
onaldef
ormati
onafterconfi
rmingMrs
Myeza’
swhereabout
sfrom Benjamin.
“
Ial
socal
l
edBenj
ami
nandaskedi
fheev
erdr
ove
Mather
eandhesaidyes.Shesl
eptt
her
eand
i
nst
ruct
edBenj
amintopickherupi
nthemor
ning.
”
“Whothefucki
sBenj
ami
n?Whyar
eyoucal
l
ing
aboBenj
amin?”
“
He’
syourmot
her
’sdr
iver
,theoneNy
ezi
gotf
orher
.”
He’sscratchinghisfaceandpaci ngaroundtheroom.
She’sactuallyf
reakedoutal i
tt
lebit.There’
sagun
onhiswai st.Hestil
lhasn’
tlearnttoleaveiti
nthe
car
.
“Thatsamemor ningIfoundy ourmothercr
y i
ngin
herbedroom.Shebl urt
edoutsomet hi
ngaboutbeing
thatnyanga’
ssexual sl
avethewholenightforyou
to…”Hesl i
desdownt othefloorwit
hhishandsov er
hishead.“…fory
out ogetthehelpyouwer e
refusi
ng,”Mawandesay s.
“
No,no,no!Nobodytouchesmymother
.Nobody
t
akesadvantageofher.NOBODY!
”
“
Okay,mylove,butwehav etobecal m.I’
m sti
ll
t
ryi
ngtocoll
ectalltheevi
dence,tomorrowI’
llgoto
y
ourmother’
sdoct orbecausethat’
swhereshewent
t
henextmorning.Iguessshewant edtodot ests,
j
ustt
obesaf
efr
om sexual
transmi
tt
eddi
seases.
”
Hisbr
owsf ur
rowed.Tearsr
undownhisface.Hi
s
headi
sspinning.Bl
oodboil
i
nghot.Hi
sveinsare
thr
eat
eni
ngt oburst,
heneedst
opunchsomebody .
NotMawandet hough….
thewal
l
.
Mawandegasps,
“Bhambat
ha!
”
“She’
s56.Mymotheri
s56year
sol
d.18May1964.
Doy ouf
eelme?She’
sanol
dwoman.”
“
Iknow,
baby
,”shesay
s.
He’
syel
lingather
-thewr
ongper
son-t
ogethi
s
f
rust
rat
ionsout.
“Shehasthi
sfucki
n’t
hing…whati
sitcal
l
ed?
Arthr
it
is.
”
Mawandenods.She’swel
lawar
eoft
hat,butshe
nev
erthoughthekneworcar
edaswel
l.
“She’sagrown,fragil
ewoman.Doy ouf eelme?SoI
don’tcarewhatmyf at
herowedhi m,Idon’tcarethat
hecr eat
edmeorwhat ever,
anyonewhot ouchesmy
mot heri
sputti
ngmebackt ojai
l.Badaboom, bada
bing,Idon’
tcare.It
’sfuck-
offo’
clock,he’sshuff
li
ng
offt
hemort
alcoi
l
.Toni
ghthe’
sgoi
ngt
osuckt
he
kumara!
”
“Idon’twantyoutogot ojail
.”Tearsarewell
ingup.
Apar tofherregr
etstel
li
nghi m beforethepoli
ce.
Thishurtsherasmuchasi thurtshim,Mr sMyezais
amot hertoher,butshedoesn’ twanttoloseanyone
i
nt henameofj usti
ce.
“I
’
vekil
ledi
nnocentpeopl
ebefor
e.I
’m notgoingto
bescar
edwheni t
’sti
metokil
lacuntthatdeserv
es
i
t.I’
dbedamned!”
“Soyou’
rer
eadyt
oleav
emeandgot
ojai
l
?”she
asks.
“I’
m al
way sreadyforanyt
hinginli
fe,Mawande.Loya
msunuhadhi slastbr
eakf
asttoday.Kusasa
amaphar i
shiayogxabhaelel
eeqhweni njenge-
sausage.”Heliftshi
shoodieoverhisface,wipes
tearsoffandwal ksoutwi
thhisphonei nhand.He’s
call
ingsomeone…. Nxumaloisdead!
Mawandei ssti
l
l si
tt
inginbedwr appedinmiseryand
regr
et.Outofeveryt
hing;murderplanni
ng,
curses
andzerochangei ncharact
er,she’
sonlyworri
ed
abouthi
m goi
ngtojai
l.Theonl
ythingshedoesn’
t
wanttocomeoutofthissi
tuat
ionisanarr
estof
someoneshe’
sgrownsocomf ortabl
eandinlove
wit
h.
Buthe’sr eadyt oleaveherany ti
mef orjail
.He’snot
scaredofbei ngawayf rom her.Whatt heyhave
togetherisapr i
ori
ty,butther
ear et
hi ngshe’dput
abovei tanyt ime,anyday .He’
dnev ercompr omise
forit
.He’ l
l alwaysdot hi
ngsthewayhe’ salways
donet hem, herbeinginhisli
fedoesn’ tchangethat
andithur ts.
Thedoorcl
oses,
he’
sgone.Hemi
ghtandmi
ghtnot
comeback.
Tear
sarebl
indi
ngherv
isi
on,herfi
nger
sdi
alt
hef
ir
st
numbert
hatcomestoherhead.
“Mawande,
”heanswersbr
eat
hingheav
il
y.Ther
e’sa
huf
fi
nginhisbackgr
ound.
“
Hel
l
o?”hesay
swhenshedoesn’
trespond.
Mawande’shandisst
il
loverhermouth,she’
str
ying
nottobreakdownandcryoverthephonebecause
Thakasawill
bejumpi
ngintothecarandcomingt o
Manget
hei
nthebl
i
nkofaney
e.
“
Yes,
it’
sjust
…”shesni
ff
sbackt
ear
s.
Hegroansouti
npl
easureasthefemal
e’sv
oicecal
l
s
outhi
snamedemandinghisatt
enti
on.
“
I’
ll
cal
lyouback,
”h
esay
stoheranddr
opst
hecal
lmoani
ng.
Whatt
imeisit?Thissucks.Sheshoul
dn’
thav
e
cal
l
edhim atthi
shour,obviousl
yhe’
ssti
l
lmakingup
toMaNtusif
orallt
hebullshit
.
Sponsor
ed:
Nomhl
eThwal
a

LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
CHAPTER75
BHAMBATHA

Heaskedthewifetoleave,hedi
dn’
tcarewhet her
shesawhisfaceornot,atthatmomentnothing
matt
eredmorethanlookingathismother’
sabuser
i
ntheeye.Itt
ookNxumal ot i
metoreal
izet
hat
somethi
ngwaswr ong,itwasunti
lhesawt hegunin
hi
shand.
“MfanakaMyezakwenzenj
ani
?”heaskedsi
tt
ingup
andputt
inghi
sv eston.
“
Standup!”Hi
sknuckl
esweresor
efrom punchi
ng
wal
ls.Tear
sweresti
ll
bur
ninghi
seyes,hi
sheart
tooheav yinhischest
.Not hi
ngcoul deverpreparea
chil
df orthesexualvi
olat
ionoft hei
rparent.He’sthe
fi
rstborn, t
heonewhoshoul d’v
epr ot
ectedhis
mot heraftert
hedeathoft heirfat
her.Buthe’sbeen
nowheretobefoundandthi
siswhereithasl
ed.Hi
s
motherwastakenadvant
ageofbecauseshewasan
ol
d,defensel
esswomaninneed.
“
Whydidyourapemymother
?”heaskedonce
Nxumal
ostoodupinhi
sscot
chshortandi
ngwe
vest
.
“Inev
errapedy
ourmother.
”Hecoul
d’v
econv i
nced
himifhewasstupi
d.Butnah,
hesawrightt
hrough
him.
“
Whatdoy
oucal
lwhaty
oudi
d?”heasked.
“Idi
dheraf
avorandsheretur
nedit
.Yourmot
her
knowshowmuchy ourf
atherowedme.”
“I
’m goi
ngtodoyouafavoraswel
l.
”Hethr
ewarope
andpointedagunathi
m.“Tiey
ourankl
es,
makei
t
ti
ghtsothatyouwon’
tbeablet
omov e.
”
Nxumal
ofr
owned,
“Why
?”
“
Sothaty
ouwon’ tbeabletomov
e,whydoIneedt
o
r
epeatmysel
f?”hesnapped.
Nxumalopi
ckedtherope,lookedati
tandshookhis
head.Hewasnotpreparedtotiehi
mselfwi
tharope,
t
hat
’sbadl
uck.
Bhambat haf
ir
edagunandpur poselymissedhim.
Themuzzl er
eportandrecoi
lwerereducedbya
si
lencer
.Neighborsheardnot
hing,
ev enthosewho
heardsomethingthoughti
twasadr um or
something.
Nxumalofel
ltot
hef
loorandqui
ckl
yti
edhi
sankl
es
t
ogether
.
“Isai
dt i
ethem t
ightl
y.Yourhandsweren’
tshaki
ng
whent heywereallovermymot her
,”Bhambatha
saidharshl
y,hi
sv oi
cehoarseandcloakedinpai
n
andanger .
Nxumalotrembledandt
riedtotiehi
sanklesti
ghter
.
Bhambatha’sCombatbootlandedatthesideofhis
face,
hisj
awsst ar
tedbl
eeding.
“
Mfana,
don’
tangermyancest
ors,
”het
hreat
ened.
“Therearenoancestorsher
e.Ancest
orsdon’
tst
ay
i
ndi rt
yplaces.Thi
swholeplacei
sarapescene.
Shutthefuckup, t
her
e’snoancest
orhere,
you’
re
delusi
onal.
”
Hetookouthandcuff
sandcuff
edtoget
her
Nxumalo’
shands.“DoIneedt
otapeyourst
inki
ng
mouth?”heasked.
“
Please,
let
’st
alk.Wecanresol
vethi
s,Ibr
oughty
ou
t
othiseart
hson,”Nxumal
opleaded.
“Eyeyey !You’
renotGod.Youdi dn’
tcreat
eshit,
excepttheseuselessmedicinesofyours.
”Hewent
tothetableandturnedthelampof f
.Heusedhi s
phoneforl i
ght
,Nxumalowasl y
ingonthefloorwit
h
bothhishandsandf eetti
ed.
“Youl
iv
eli
keawitch,
youdiel
ikeawit
ch.You
rememberhowcommunit
iesusedt
okill
witches
backi
nthedays?
”
Nxumal
ocr
ied,
“Let
’st
alk,
mfana.
”
Bhambathadidn’tl
i
sten.Hedi
dn’tcar
e.Hewas
goingtodoitheart
lessl
yandbrut
all
y.Het
aped
Nxumalo’smouth,walkedtot
hedoorandlockedi
t
fr
om theoutsi
de.
Hesprinkl
edpetrolonthegr
assroofandseti
tal
i
ght
.
Hedidn’twai
tnorlookback,hel
eftt
herondav
eli
n
f
lamesanddr oveoff.
.
.
He’
sbeendr i
v i
ngar oundLembedeStreetl
ookingfor
t
hisbuil
dingandget ti
nglost
.This‘
li
feexpert
’issaid
t
owor kfrom here,10thfl
oor.Hedoesn’
twaitforthe
l
if
t,hecl
imbsupt hestai
rs.
Hetookashowerbuthedi dn’
tchangehiscl
othes.
Helooksli
keacriminal
withahoodieoverabeanie
andbloodshotey
es.Oh,he’soneanyway.
Hedidn’
tcal
lorbookanyappointment
,he’sj
usther
e,
he’
sgotbothcashandcredi
tcard-howevert
hey’
ll
wanthimtopay.
Hebumpsi nt
oheratt hedoor.Shelooksexactl
y
howheimaginedhertobe; dark-
ski
nned,fi
tandtall
.
She’sbr
eathi
ngeducation-
fl
avoredairwit
hthose
specson.She’
swearingoneoft hosefakeafrowigs
andbabypinksui
t.
“Gentl
eman, canIhel
pyou?”I
tlooksl
i
keshe’sgoi
ng
outforlunchorsomethi
ng.Shehasherbag,
car
keysandphonei nhand.
“
Howmuchdoyouchar
gef
ort
alki
ng?
”heasks
t
aki
nghi
swal
l
etout.
Shel
ooksconf
used.
“
Didy
oumi
ssorcancel
yourappoi
ntment
?”
“Thisi
smyappoi nt
ment.Ineedyourhel
p,I
’
m
desperat
e.”He’
sbeingvul
nerabl
eanddesperat
e
withastranger
.Buti
t’
sherjob,i
sn’
t?Shesi
gnedup
forthi
s.
“
Iwasgoi
ngoutf
orl
unchwi
thmyf
iancee,
may
be
y
oucanwait
…”
“Idon’
twanttowait
,Ihav
etogohomeandfixthi
ngs
withmymot her
.Shewassexual
l
yvi
olat
edbecause
ofme.”
Shesi ghsindefeatandtur
nsbackt othedoorofher
off
icewi t
ht hekey.Thi
shasnev erhappenedi
nher
ent
irecareer ,
peoplebookforsessi
onsandpay
upfront.
“Her
e,”sheshowshi
m al
eat
herchai
randsi
ts
behi
ndherdesk.
Hesi
ts,
hishandsar
eshaki
ngal
i
ttl
ebi
t,ki
l
li
ng
Nxumal
odidn’
teaset
hepai
norr
eleaset
heanger
boi
li
ngi
nsi
dehim.
“Wouldyoul
ikesomewat er
?”DrDl
ami
ni,
the
psychol
ogi
calcounsel
or,
asks.
Heshakeshisheadandrubshi
shandstogether
.
“I
’m Bhambat
haMy eza,
”hesay
sandli
ft
shi seyest
o
her.
There’
sacoldchil
lrunni
ngdownherspineasthei
r
eyesmeet.Helookshungryf
orbl
ood,there’
s
somethingpoki
ngoutofhiswai
st.
“I’
m abadson, acurse,di
sappoint mentanddi sgrace.
Mymot herhasl ostever
ythingbecauseofme;
fri
ends,relat
ives,husband.Everythingt hatmeant
thewor l
dt oher.Af ewday sagoshel ostherdignit
y,
allbecauseofme. ”Hetakesadeepbr eathand
shakeshi shead, t
akenbackbyt hepat hhechose
andhowi thasaf f
ectedhismot her.
“I
’m selfi
sh,Doc.Mymot herdidev er
ythi
ngforme,I
didn’tcare.Ihadnodankie.Ineverreci
procat
edthat
l
ov e.Ijustwantedmyf at
her.Ionlycaredabouthi
s
vali
dationandat t
ent
ion.Mymot herhasbeent her
e
formesi ncebi rth.She’salway shadmyback, l
oved
meanddef endedmet irel
essly.Ineverappreci
ated
that,i
twasnor mal f
ormet ot akefrom herandnot
giveback.Iwassoi nvestedinget t
ingmyf ather
’s
attent
ion,goodorbad, Idi
dn’tpayat t
enti
onnorcar e
i
fmymot herwashur ti
ng.Ihat edherwhenshesai d
shewi shedi twasmewhodi edinsteadofmy
brother,butnowIr eali
zethatIhadnor easonto.She
wasr ight,Idon’tdeserv etoli
ve.Idon’tdeserveher
asamot her ,
Idon’ tdeserveany t
hing.”
DrDl
ami
niopenshermout
htospeakbuthecut
sher
i
n.
“I
magi nebei ngsaf ef
or56y earsandt henget
sexuallyv i
olat edwheny ou’reclosetot hegr ave,onl
y
becausey ouwantt ohel py oursonwho’ snev erdone
asinglet hingt omakey oupr oud.Adi r
ty,uglyman!
Shehadt oendur ehim doi ngashepl easeswi thher
bodythr oughoutt henight.HowdoIev erforgetthat?
Myf atherdi ed, Nyezialsodi ed,I’
mt heonl ymal eshe
hasleft.Idi dn’thavetogr aduat e,Ididn’thavet ogo
tochur ch,Idi dn’thav
et ogetmar r
iedandpr oduce
grandkids, Ididn’thavet ost ayhomeandcl eant he
yard.Ialr
eadyfail
edallt
hat.Ionlyhadonej ob; t
o
protectmymot herfr
om bei ngvi
olatedbycr uelmen
outthere.Imanagedt oprotectmybr other
’swi f
e,
someoneIhar dlykneworhadanyr elati
onshipwi t
h.
Butwi t
hmyownmot herIfail
ed,shewast reatedli
ke
ahel pl
esswidowbyt hat…”Hebal l
shi shandintoa
fi
standbumpsi tonthedesk.
“
Okay,pl
easest aycal
m.Youcantaker
esponsi
bil
i
ty
f
oryourmistakesbutnotf
orwhatanot
hermandid
t
oyourmot her.
”
“Howcanoneper sonbesobad?Ther e’snol i
ght.
Howdi dIbecomesuchusel essmot herfucker?My
mot heri
sawai t
ingtestsfrom doct
orsbecauset hat
mandi dherdirt
y .
”Heget suponhi sfeetand
brusheshisface.“HowdoIl ivewit
hmy selfknowing
thatImademymot herbecomeast atist
icofv ict
ims
ofsexualviol
ati
on? ”
Heturnst
oDrDlami niandstar
esather
.She’s
l
ett
inghimrel
easeev ery
thi
nginhi
schest,
it’
safi
rst
st
eptowardsheal
ing.
“
Aren’
tyousupposedt
obegi
vi
ngmeanswer
s?You
knowev
ery
thi
ng,
thi
sisy
ourj
ob,
right
?”
Shenods,
“Yes,
It’
smyj
ob.
”
“
Thendoi
t.HowdoIl
i
vewi
thmy
sel
f?”heasks.
“You’veacknowledgedthatyouneedhelpandyou
knowexact lywhathasledyoutothispoi
nt.Nowyou
needt oopeny our
selft
of or
giv
eness-for
give
yourselfand…”
Hesi ghs,
“Werey ouevenli
steni
ng?Ihav en’tdone
anythingtomyself.WhydoIneedt oforgivemy sel
f
asifIbrokemyownankl ei
ntenti
onal
ly?If ai
ledto
protectmymot herandnowshehast ol i
v ewi t
hthi
s
nastyexperi
enceofbeingfuckedbyamanshe
di
dn’ tl
ovethewhol eni
ghtbecausesheneeded
help.”
“For
givi
ngy our
selfmeanst aki
ngaccountabi
li
tyf
or
yourmistakesandseparati
ngwhoy ouarefr
om
whatyou’vedone.It
’l
lenableyoutomakenecessary
changesandgr owfrom yourexperi
ences.Oncet
hat
i
sdone…”Hesi ghsagainandsi tsbackonthecouch.
Hepull
southi
swalletandtakesR100not
es.He
doesn’
tev
enbothercounti
ngthem,heput
sthem on
herdesk.
“Thi
sismorethanwhatIchar
gef
oronesessi
on,
”
saysDrDl
aminihesi
tant
ly.
Heslideshi swall
etbackintohispocketandwalks
out.Shet r
iestostophim, t
herearethi
ngsshe’
dl i
ke
hi
mt odoathomet hatmighthelphim.Buthe’
snot
i
nlisteningmode, shetakesthemoneyandchecks
herfiancee’sangr
yt ext
sonherphone.Phewww,
whataday !
.
.
MAWANDE

She’
swokenupbyThakasa’ scall
.Shedoesn’
teven
rememberwhenshef ellasl
eep,
shewasdetermined
tost
ayupt hewholenightandwaitf
oracall
,or
anyt
hing,
from Bhambatha.
“
Hey
,I’
m sor
ryaboutl
astni
ght
,”hesay
s.
“
Iunder
stand,
itwasl
ate.Ar
eyouokay
?”sheasks.
“Athome,yes.I
nli
fe,no.Butt
hingsar
egoingt
obe
okay.Whataboutyou,whydidyoucal
l?”
“Iwasj ustgoingthrought hi
ngs.It
’snoteasy
,It
hink
Imessedupbi gti
me.Bhambat hahasbeengone
sincelastnight.Idon’tknowwher eheis,maybehe’
s
i
nj ai
l.
”
“
Whoah,
whathappened?Di
dhedosomet
hingt
o
y
ou?
”heasks.
“No,It
oldhim somethi
ngandhewentnut
s.I’
ve
neverseenhimliket
hatbef
oreandnowIregr
etev
en
tel
l
inghim.”
“He’
sasol
dier,
Iknowhe’
snotst
upid,
he’
sgoi
ngto
behomesafe.Wait
,ar
eyounowli
vi
ngwithhi
m?”
Agiggl
eescapeshermout
h.I
sthatev
enhi
s
busi
ness?
“
No.Buti
fwedi
dwoul
ditbeapr
obl
em?
”sheasks.
“Yes,theyhaven’
ttoldusany
thi
ng.I
thast
obe
offi
cialanddoneright.
”
“
Ijusthopehe’
ssaf
e.I
’
m notr
eadyt
oloseanot
her
man.”
“
He’
llbeback,
trustme.I
fyoudon’
thearany
thi
ngi
n
t
henexttwohourscal
lme.”
Thatgiv
eshersomekindofsolace.Herbrot
herwi
ll
behere,sheknowst
hatnobodyreall
ycaresabout
Bhambat hai
ntheMyezaf
amilyexcepthismother
.

Shetakesashoweranddr
essesupbef oresit
ti
ngi
n
fr
ontoftheTVwit
habowl ofJungl
eOat s.It
’s
morningnewsandoneoft
het opstori
esisabouta
tr
adi
tional
doct
orwhowasbur ntal
i
v einhishome.
Herheartstar
tsracingwhentheymentionhim by
name,famouslyknownasBab’ Nxumalo.Thepoli
ce
areabouttoinvest
igate,
they
’refol
lowi
ngallthe
l
eads.
“OhGod!
”shesi
ghsbr
eat
hingheav
il
ywi
thherhands
shaki
ng.
Whyishenotr et
urninghertextmessages?Whatif
MrsMy ezafi
ndsout ?It
’l
lcomplet
elydest
roythei
r
rel
ati
onshi
p,shemi ghtevengetblamedforpushi
ng
himtocommi tcri
me.
Herphoneri
ngs.I
t’
shi
m.Sheal
mostbr
eat
hesher
l
ungsout.
“I
’
vebeensowor
ri
ed.Wher
ear
eyou?
”sheasks
pi
cki
ngup.
“Si
sipleasecomeoverhi
shouse.Somethi
nghas
happened,”say
ssomeonewhosev oi
ceshecan’
t
famil
iari
ze.
“Happenedtowho?Whoar
eyou?Whyar
eyouusi
ng
hisphone?”
“
I’
m Nkosinathi
,pl
easecomeov erandtal
ktohi
m.
I
’v
emanagedt ogetal
l t
hegunsbutIdon’
tknow
what
’snext.He’ssui
cidal
.”
Whaaaat
?!
“No,no,no!Pleasedon’tlethi
mt akehislif
e.Isti
ll
needhim.Noneoft hisi
shi sf
ault.
”She’srunningto
thebedroom tochangeshoesandgethercarkey s.
Herheartbeatisfastert
hanherpace.Joi ntsare
fai
li
ngher;shef eel
sweak.Thi sishermess, hadshe
kepthermout hshutnoneoft hiswould’
v ehappened.
.
.
Oh,she’
sseenthismanbefor
e,he’saclosef
ri
endof
Bhambatha.Helooksj
ustasdevastat
edassheis.
Helpl
esseven.
“
Wher
eishe?”She’
sal
readywalkedpasthi
m
t
owar
dsthebathr
oom t
hat’
sshut.
“
He’
sther
e,”Nat
hisay
sst
andi
ngbehi
ndherwi
tha
l
owsi
gh.
Shetakesadeepbr
eat
handknocks.“
Bhambat
ha
pl
easeopen.
”
Ther
e’snoanswer
….
“
Please,
it’
sme.
”
Not
hing.
Nathi
rel
easesasi
ghbehi
ndherandwal
ksaf
ew
st
epsaway.
“
Myl ove,I
’
m her
e,l
etmefeel
whatev
erpai
ny ou’
re
f
eel
ing.Ifi
t’
sdeat
hthaty
ouwantopenandletusdie
t
ogether.
”
Ami nutepasses,t
hedoorhandl emov es,heopens
andletsherin.Sheclosesthedoorandt urnstoface
hi
m.Hi swhitebathroom wallshavet
rail
sofbl ood
onthem, soarehisknuckles.Punchi
ngwal lsagai
n!
Helooksli
keamess.He’
sst
il
lwear
ingt
hesame
cl
othes.
Shet
riest
ohughim buther
efusesandgoesto
st
andbythewindow.He’
sbaref
ooted.Thi
sist
he
mosthorr
ibl
estat
eshe’
severseenhimin.
“
Whatdoy
ouwantust
odo?
”sheasks.
Si
l
ence.
“IcanaskNkosi
nat
hit
ogiveyourgunbackbutmy
questi
onishowist
hatfai
rtomeandy ourmother
?”
“
Youdon’tknowwhatI ’
m goingthrough.Your
motherhasneverbeentouchedbyany onethe
wrongway,”hecl
oaksoutheav i
l
y .
“
Shedidal
lthattohaveyoubackinherl
if
e.Nowyou
wantt
okil
lyoursel
f.That
’snotf
air
,Bhambat
ha.
”
“
Idon’
tknowhowt ogoon.Ir
uinedt
hewhole56
y
earsofherl
i
fe.Shehastowakeupever
ydayand
l
ivewit
ht his.Mymotherisrel
igi
ous,sherespect
s
herbodyandwoul dneveruseittobenefi
tanythi
ng.I
havedevaluedher
,destroyedhersouland…”
Mawandetakesaf
ewst epsfor
wardandstandsin
f
rontofhi
m.Shedoesn’tt
ouchhimthough,she
f
oldsherar
msandstaresathim.
“Howdoy ouwanttogobackhome?Inacoff
in
accompani edbyagoatoryouwantt
ogotherenow
andlookaty ourmotheri
ntheey
eandsay,“
Ma, I
’
m
sorr
y”?”sheasks.
Deepbr
eat
h…
She’
swai
ti
ng.
“
Iwantt
ogohome,
”hesay
s.
“
Inwhatway
?”sheasks.
“
Iwanttolookatmymot
herl
i
keachi
l
dandaskf
or
f
orgi
veness.
”
Hehadtowanthismother
’sforgi
venessonhi sown.
Hehadtoseehismist
akesandunder standhowfar
hi
smotherhasgoneandisstil
lwil
li
ngt ogoforhi
m.
Apol
ogi
zinghadtobehisdeci
sionforittobe
genui
ne.
“
Iwantt
ogobackhome,
”hesay
s.
Mawandewal
kscl
oserandhugshi
m.Thi
sti
mehe
al
l
owsherto.
“
I’
m sorry
.”Hebur
ieshi
sheadov
erhershoul
derand
r
eleasesadeepbr
eath.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER76

BHAMBATHA

He’sbr oughthomebyhi slatebrother’

swi f
e,
Mawande.They ’vetraveledtoget her,mostl
yatni ght,
fort hei
rpersonalreasons.Todayt hingsaredi f
ferent
though, i
t’
saboutf ami l
ymor ethanaboutt hem.I t
’s
aboutr estori
ngpeaceatt heMy ezas,uni
tyand
forgiveness.He’shumbl e;sitti
ngbel owthegat ewi th
hisheadbur i
edbetweenhi sknees.I fNathididn’t
comeont i
mehecoul d’
v edied,Mawandecoul dbe
i
nsi dethehouset or eportnewsofhi sdeath.Itwas
i
mpul si
veness,he’dnev ertakehi sownl i
fe-ithas
nev ercrossedhismi ndunt ilt
wohour sago.
Mawandecomesoutoft hehousewit
haphone
agai
nstherear.Helif
tshiseyesandl
ooksatheras
shegetsnearer.Hi
sbrotherf
oundherfi
rstandl
eft
,
nowshe’
stheonef
orhi
mtoo.
Hecan’
tapol
ogi
zeenoughf
orev
ery
thi
nghe’
sdone
t
oshakeherwor
ld.
“I
’m sor
ry,
”hesaysonceagai
nandexhal
esheav
il
y
andcastshiseyest
otheground.
Shealmostwentthr
oughi tagai
n-t
hatpai
nofl osing
alovedone.I
t’
snotfai
r,sheaskedhim morethan
onceifhewasreadytol
eav eherandhefai
ledt o
reassur
eher.
“She’
scoming.Ididn’
ttel
lheraboutthesui
cide
att
empt.
”Shegl ancesatthescreenofherphone
andrel
easesasi gh.“
Itwasyou,ri
ght?”
She’
saski
ngaboutNxumal
o.
Henods,
“Yes.
”
“Okay
,”sherubsherhandstogetherandbl owsout
.
I
fthere’
sanytimetoendwhatt heyhav eitwoul
dbe
now.She’sawomanofGod, ri
ghteousnessand
moral
s,andBhambat haiseveryt
hingshe’sagai
nst.
He’
sregr
etful
,notf
orki
l
li
ngNxumal
obutf
or
di
sappoi
nti
ngherthi
smuch.
“Icanmaket hi
ngsri
ght,
”hesay si
nalowwhisper
.
Justthinki
ngaboutgoi
ngt hr
oughcomingdays
withoutherupset
shim deepl
yinthest
omach.
“
Didany
oneseey
ou?
”sheasks.
Henods,
“Yes,
thewi
fe.
”
“
Bhambat
ha!
”shesi
ghsheav
il
y.
“
Cansher
ecogni
zey
ou?
”
“
Idon’
tknow,
”hesay
s.
“Iguessyoumightgot oj
ailasprepar
ed.Idon’
tev
en
knowwhyI ’
m stressi
ngmy sel
faboutit
,you’
ve
alwaysbeenreadytoleav
eme. ”
“That’
snottrue.I’
m scar
edoflosi
ngwhatyouandI
havetogether.SometimesIacti
mpulsi
vel
y,
especial
l
ywhenI ’
m angr
y.”Hegetsupandtouches
herarm.Shef orceshereyestomeethi
s.She’
s
hurti
ng!
Sheexhal
esheav
il
y,“
Idon’
ttr
usty
ou.
”
“
Whatdoyouwantmet
odot
opr
ovemy
sel
fto
y
ou?”heasks.
“Don’
tgotojai
l
,”shesaysl
ikeit
’shi
scall
.Hedoesn’
t
gettodeci
dewhetherhe’
sjai
ledornot
.
“Dowhatevery
ougot t
adotobear ound.
”She’
s
tel
l
inghimtobribesomeone,orki
l
l,ordest
roy
evi
dence.Whateverhehastodo.
“Anddon’tsayanythi
ngtoMa.Allt
hiswi
ll
kil
lher
soul,
figur
eitoutandbri
ngnothi
ngbutpeaceinher
l
ife,
”shesays.
Hisfi
ngerscar
essherskinontheupperarm,hi
s
eyeshavenosparkbutthey’
rest
il
lpenet
rati
ngher
soul
.
“Whataboutus?Wheredowestand?
”Hi
stonei
s
kneadedwit
hfearanduncer
tai
nty
.
“
Ist
il
ll
ovey
ou,
”shesay
s.
Hepull
shertohisembraceandr
est
shi
schi
nont
op
ofherhead,
eyesti
ght
ly-
shut.
“
I’
mr eal
l
ysorry,
myl ove.Idi
dn’
tmeantoputy
ou
t
hroughall
thi
s.Ididn’
tmeant odr
agyoui
ntomy
mess.Iwantnothi
ngbut …”
Someonecl
ear
shert
hroat
.Mawandequi
ckl
ybr
eaks
awayf
rom hi
sembr
ace.
It
’sMrsMyezastari
ngatthem.Theydeser
vet
hat
star
e,t
heyaredoingtoomuchinpubli
c.
“Youdi
dn’tsl
eephome,”shesayslooki
ngat
Bhambatha.Shehasn’
theardaboutNxumal
o’s
deathy
et.
“Ther
ewasanemergencyatwor
k,”hesay
s
scrat
chi
nghi
shead.
“
Wher
edoy
ouwor
k?”sheasks.
HeglancesatMawande,
shesl
i
ght
lyshr
ugsher
shoul
ders.
“Don’
tlookather,you’
ret
alki
ngtome.Itookyouto
someonef orustogethel
p, y
ouagreedandIspent
mymoneyont hatmanonlyforyoutobreakal
lthe
rul
esanddi sr
espectmeagain.”
“
I’
m sor
ry,
”hesay
s.
Thi
sisit
,she’
sdone.Thi
siswher
eshest
opst
ryi
ng
tomotherhi
m.
“
Ihavenot
hingelsetosay.Iwi
shyounothingbut
l
uck,
mychild.Ihopeyousurvi
ve,
”shesays.
Tearsbur
nhiseyes.Looki
ngathismother
’sey
eshe
seesnohope,noanger,j
ustpl
aindi
sappoi
ntment
.
“
Iwantt
ocomebackhome,”hesay
s.“
I’
ll
beasont
o
y
ou.Iwantt
omakeyoupr
oud.”
“I
t’
stoolat
e,af
tert
hestuntyoupul
l
edonmel
ast
ni
ghtIdon’
tthi
nkI’
llev
er…”
“
Itwasami
stake,
”-Mawandei
nter
ject
s.
Theybot
hlookather
.
“HecametomyhouseandIbeggedhim nott
oleav
e.
Iwasfeel
i
ngl
onel
yandscared,
”shesays.
“Whydi
dn’
tyoucomeandsl eepwi
thmei
fyouwer
e
scar
ed?
”MrsMy ezaasks.
Shegl ancesatBhambatha,
he’
ssti
l
lshockedatthe
l
ie.“Ineededhim withme.I
twasmorethanjust
physicalsafet
y,”shesay
s.
Mr
sMy
ezal
osesi
t.
“KaMaNqel
eyouknowhowimpor t
anty
ester
daywas
forme.Howcanyoubesosel
fish?Put
ti
ngyour
sexual
needsabov
ethi
sfamil
y’
speaceandunit
y!”
“I
’mreall
ysorry.I
’l
ldomybesttofi
ndsomeonewho
canhelpy ousi
ncethisonewasn’
tcar
ri
edoutt
oit
s
ful
li
nstructi
ons.”
“Onl
yNxumal
oknowshowt ohel
pus.Ot
her
swon’
t
knowwhathedi
d,he’
stheonl
ybest
.”
“Pl
easegi
vemeafewdays,Ipr
omisey
ouI ’
l
lfi
nd
someonewhocanhel
pwiththi
s.Mybr
otherknows
peopl
ewhoknowpeopl
e.”
“I
’l
lcal
lNxumal
ofi
rstandaski
fther
e’sanydamage
contr
olwecando.
”
“
He’
sdead.
”
“
Who?
”
“Nxumal
o.Itwasonthenewsint
hemor
ning,
a
housebur
ntwithhi
mi nsi
de.
”
“
How? ”Disbel
i
efdwel
l
sonherf
ace.Shel
ooks
f
aint
lyforamoment.
“It
hinkitwasanacci
dent
,”Mawandesays,
hereyes
bri
efl
ylockswit
hBhambatha’
s.Hecl
earshist
hroat
andlooksaway.
Hi
smot
herl
ooksathi
m.I
twoul
dbebadofhert
o
thi
nksoi l
lofherson,butwoul
dn’thedoit
?Hedi
dn’
t
l
ikeNxumal othatmuch,hequesti
onedand
chal
lengedeveryinst
ruct
ionhelai
dout.
“Doyour
eal
l
ywantt
ocomebackhome?
”sheasks
him.
“
Yes,
”henods.
“
You’r
eawareofwhatt
hatmeans,
right
?Ther
ear
e
r
ulesher
eandever
yonehast
oabide.”
“Iknowt hatbut…”Hepausesandt akesadeep
breath.“
Pleaseal l
owmet ohavemyownspi ri
tual
j
our neyandbel i
efs.Idon’
twantt
obemadef eelless
becauseIdon’ tdowhatev er
yonebeli
evesi
sri
ght .
”
“
Bhambat
hai
fyoustil
lwanttocommitcri
meand…”
Hecut
shi
smothershort
.That’
snotwhathemeant
.
“That
’snotwhatImean,I
’
m say i
ngdon’
tfor
ce
rel
igi
ondownmyt hr
oat.I
’m goodint
hat
depart
ment.
”
Hismothersi
ghsoutindefeat
.Justl
ikeanymother,
shewantedGod-f
eari
ngchildr
en.Shehastoaccept
thathei
sherson,butbef
orehe’shersonhe’
saf ul
l
y
i
ndependenthumanbeingwhocanmakedeci
sion
f
orhimselfasfarasf
ait
hgoes.
“Iwil
lcal
lyouruncl
es,t
hey’
ll
guideusonwhi ch
necessaryst
epsdowehav et otaket
oreconci
leyou
withbothmeandy ourfat
her.Youowehim apology
aswell.
”
“
Soy
ouf
orgi
vehi
m?”Mawandeasks.
Shesmil
esandl ooksatBhambatha.Eventhough
she’swi
sheddeathonhim,v owedtonevershareher
spacewit
hhim norcall
him herson,butt
hisboyis
hers.
“
Iwi
l
lcooki
sij
i
ngi
fory
ou,
”shet
ell
shi
m.
Bhambat
ha’
sey
eswi
den.I
sij
i
ngi
agai
n?Hel
i
kesi
t
but…
“
No,
thanky
ou,
”hesay
s.
“Ahh!Nowyou’rescar
edofabroom- sti
ckbutyou’
re
alwayscar
ryi
ngguns.I’
ll
cooki
siji
ngi f
oryou,
MaShandugav emet wopumpkinslastweek.”
“Ma,Ist
il
lhav
ebr
uises,
myper
fectbodywasrui
ned.
Isweari
fyoudowhat…”Hi
smotherwaveshi
m off
wit
hahand.Ev
ery
oneknowsthatshe’
snotachi
l
d-
beat
er,
shewaspushedov
ert
heedge.
“
Yourr
uinedy
ourbodywit
htat
toosl
ongt
imeago.I
t
l
ooksl
i
keSatan’
stempl
e,
”shesays.
Mawandebur st
si nt
olaught
er.Bhambathais
complai
ning,
foll
owingbehindhismother.Thi
sis
exact
lywhatheaskedhernott odoami nuteago;
i
mposingherbeliefsonhim.
“Thisiscommonknowl edge,
I’
m notdraggingyouto
churchorf orcingBibl
ev er
sesdowny ourthroat
,
tatt
oosar eSat ani
c.Youwon’tseeheav enwithall
thatinkony ourbody ,
”sheconti
nues.Thisisher
house, she’
snotgoi ngtoberestr
ict
edonwhatt o
sayandwhat ’snot.
“It
houghtonlythesoulwenttoheaven.You,church-
goers,God’
sclassmates,al
wayssaythebodyi sjust
‘
clay’andwil
lremainhereoneart
h.Sowhat ’
swr ong
i
fIchoosetodecor at
emycl ay
?”
Mawandechi r
psin,
“Mostsinsarecommitt
ed
t
hroughbodies.I
tdoesn’
tmeant hey
’l
lbeexcused
j
ustbecausethebodyisnotther
e.”
“Howdoy
ouknow?You’
venev
erdi
edbef
ore,
”he
asks.
“Shereadst
heBibl
e,
”hismot hercomesin.“
Ify
ou
didthesameyou’
dknowt hat.Yourbodyi
sthe
templeofGodandyourheartis…”
Hesi
ghs!Whatdi
dhejustgethi
mselfi
nto?Two
God’
sagent
sagai
nstone.Thi
sisabouttobecome
hi
sli
fe,
eveni
nthebedr
oom.
Whil
ehismotherdel
iv
ersasermonwalki
nginfr
ont
oft
hem, hegr
absthebehi
ndofMawande’s‘t
emple
ofGod’
.Shegaspsandyankshishandof
f.
Sheturnsherheadandscowlsathi
m.Hekeepshis
facecalm andshowsherathumbinser
tedbet
ween
hismiddleandpoint
erf
inger
.
Thisoneisheretodest
royhermor alsandturnher
i
ntosomet hi
ngsheneverthoughtshewas.Howdi d
hemov efrom want
ingtokil
lhi
msel ftomaking‘I
’l
l
fuckyou’
signs?
.
.
NOMKHOSI

Temacamet ot hefuner
al,t
ogetherwi t
hMaKhumal o
andallthebrothers.MaNtusicouldn’
tmakeit,
Thakasabelievesinspir
it
sandal lthatsohedidn’
t
wanthert ocomet ot
hefuneralandf et
chbadspir
its
thatwi
llharm Londa.Butshedi dsendher
condolencesandcheckeduponNomkhosi almost
everymor ni
ng.
Theycamebear inggi f
tsforNgi di
,whi
chwi l
lnever
makesenset oNomkhosi .Bl
ackpeopleal
way sdo
that;
getti
ngadeadper sonbl anket
sandflowers.
BothThakasaandMaKhumal ocamewi t
hbl anket
s
togiveherdeadst epfather.I
twasgoodgest ure
though,especi
all
yf rom MaKhumal o.Herpresence
all
owedhert ogrieveasmuchasshewant ed.Phelo
wasi nsafehands, shedidn’thavetoworr
yabout
her.
Temacamewi thabucketofscones,helpedinthe
ki
tchenandser
v edpeopl
eaft
erthefuner al
.Itgav
ea
l
otofpeoplesi
sterwi
fevi
bes,somethingshe’ssti
ll
t
ryi
ngt
odi
stanceher
sel
ffr
om.
“Thesepeoplehavealr
eadyaccept
edy ou.Theysee
youasoneoft hem.Howar eyougoingtobreakall
theserel
ati
onships?
”Ndondoaskedhert henight
aftert
hefuneral
andshehadnost rai
ghtanswer .
Thenshereceiv
edanot
hersum ofmoneyf
rom MrT
Manqele.Ndondodi
dn’
tevenknowaboutt
hefi
rst
one.
“Iaskedhimf orspacebuthe’ssti
l
linmyspace.He
wakesmeupev erymorni
ngwi t
hromanti
c
messages, call
stosayhemi ssesmeandsendsme
money .Idon’tknowwhatelsetosaytohi
m.He
doesn’tgetit
.”
Ndondorol
ledherey
es,
“He’
sdoi
ngwhaty
ou
enabl
edhimtodo.”
“
Whatdoy
oumean?
”sheasked.
“Becauseyourbr
eak-
upli
newas; “Ist
il
ll
oveyouand
I’
ll
comebackt oyou,
butIjustneedabreak”
.You
weren’tf
ir
m ashewaswhenhet ol
dyouwerea
sperm-di
sh.”
Ndondowasr ight.Sheneedstosettherecor
d
st
rai
ght,
eveni fitmeansl y
ingaboutherf
eeli
ngsf
or
hi
m.Heneedst obackof fandtheonlywaytodoi
t
i
stobefirm andhear t
less.

*
**
Shewant edt hem t omeetatar estaurantbut
Ndondot alkedheroutofi t.Itwouldlooklikeadat e
andhermot herwon’ ttakei twellsi
nceithasonl y
beentwoweekssi ncet heybur i
edNgi di
.Sot hey’r
e
meetingint heirhouseatWat er
way s.Shecame
weari
ngHl omukaLogi sti
cswor kcl
othes.Yes, she
hadtohonorNgi di’
sl astwi shesandj oi
nthef amily
busi
ness.Ndondounder stoodwhensher esignedat
BantwanaHol dings, onedayt heyhadt ogosepar ate
waysbusi ness-wi se.Thei rfri
endshipstart
edas
work-rel
atedbutnowt hey’remor ethanthat,they’
re
famil
y.

Shewalksint
ohim set
ti
ngthet
abl
e.Ther
eare
cover
eddishes,
li
tcandl
esandabunchoffl
ower
sat
thecenterofthetabl
e.Oneturn-
offi
stheShembe
i
nstrumentsplayi
ngsof t
lyi
nthehouse.I
fshewasn’
t
try
ingtobreakupwi thhi
mt hi
swould’
vebeen
romanti
ct osee.He’sweari
ngthekit
chenapronand
softl
yhummi ngtotheinstr
uments.
“Hi
,”shegreetsandstandsawayf
rom t
het
abl
e.She
can’tbedi
stract
ed,notnow.
“
MaZi
kode,
”hesay
ssmi
l
ing.
Deepbr
eat
h,Nomkhosi
.
“
Icameher
etot
alk,
”shesay
s.
“Iknow.Comeandhav
easeat
,we’
l
ltal
kthr
ough
dinner
.”
“
No,
Idon’
thav
eti
mef
ort
hat
.”
Hesi
ghs,
“It
’sj
ustf
ood.Imadeanef
for
tandt
hisi
s
howyout
hankme?”
“
Youcangoandcookf
orMaNt
usi
.I’
m noty
our
wi
fe,
”shesay
s.
“Youwil
lbecomeonesoon.”Helooksatt
het
able
andrear
rangessomet
hing.“
Ratemeoutoffi
ve.
”
“
Thakasa!
”shesnaps.
He’
snott
aki
ngherser
ious.
“
What
?”heasks.
“Wearenottogether
.Whatdon’tyouget
?Stop
sendi
ngmemoney ,Iworkandmakemyownmoney .
Andstopcopyingmessagesfrom Googl
eand
sendi
ngme.Youwoul dn’tbethatr
omanti
ceveni
f
yourl
if
edependedoni t
.”
Helaughs,
“ButI
’
mt r
ying.I
’
m maki
nganef
for
t.You
knowhowmuchIl ov
ey ou.
”
“I
’m overit
.Idon’
thavefeel
ingsforyouanymore.I’
d
appreciat
eifyoustar
tacti
nglikePhelo’
sfat
her
, not
l
ikeRomeof r
om thenovel
.”
Hestar
esatherforagoodminut
e.Shecameher
e
t
otearhishear
tapart
,di
dn’
tshe?
“
Whatdi
dIdo?
”heasksi
napai
nedv
oice.
“Nothi
ng,youdidn’tdoanythi
ng.Ij
ustwantmorein
l
ifethanbeingyoursecondwi f
e.I’
m capabl
eof
becomingmor ethant hat
.Icanbetheonlywif
eto
someoneoutt here.Icanhavesomeone’swhole
hear
t.WhymustIl
i
mitmy
sel
f?”
Heblowsoutandpull
sachairtosi
t.Thi
sfeel
slikea
punchontheface,
aft
erev
erythi
ngthey’
veworked
thr
oughthi
siswhatshebri
ngsup?
“You’
vealway
sknownthatI
’
m amar r
iedman,
I
alr
eadyhaveawi
feathome,”hesay
s.
“NoteverychoiceI’
vemadehasbeenthebest.What
Icandoist urnmylif
earoundanddobett
er.And
that
’sexactlywhatI’
m doi
ng.
”
“
Leav
ingmei
sdoi
ngbet
ter
?”heasks.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“If
uckedyouforayear,
gavey
ouababyandfucked
yousomemor e,andnowyouthi
nkt
her
e’ssomeone
bett
eroutther
e?”
“
Preci
sel
y.I
nfact
,ther
eissomeonebet
tert
hany
ou.
”
“
Who?
”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“Noneofyourbusiness.Youjusthavet
orespect
peopl
e’sdeci
sions.I
fIsayIdon’tneedyouinmy
spacestopsendingmemoneyandmessagesl ike
we’r
eani t
em.Ididn’tdothattoyouaft
eryoucall
ed
measper
m-di
sh.
”
“Soyou’resti
ll
holdi
ngontothat
?Youalsohi
dthe
pregnancyfrom mebutyoudon’
thearmebri
ngi
ng
thatupev er
ytimewefight
.”
“
Wear enotfi
ght
ing,
I’
mt el
li
ngyoutobackof
f.
”She
t
akesoutherphone,l
ogsint
oherbanki
ngappand
t
ransf
ersbackhi
smoney .
Itr
eport
sinhi
sphone,hecheckst
henot
if
icat
ion
andhisfacet
ransf
ormsint
oshock.
“I
’
llonl
yacceptmoneyfr
om y
oui
fit
’sour
daught
er’
s,
”shesays.
Hegetsupfrom thechai
randcomest oher.He
hol
dsherarm andpull
shertohischest.He
embracesherti
ghtl
y.
“Pl
easefor
giveme.Idon’
thaveacryst
albal
ltosee
i
ntothefut
ure,maybei
fIdidIwoul
d’vewait
edti
llI
metyou.Butonethi
ngI’
m sureofi
sthatIl
oveyou
andIwanttospendmyl i
fewit
hyou.
”
Sheinhal
esadeepbreat
h.Herhear
tisi
ntat
ter
s,
ther
e’snodeny
ingt
helovesheseesinhi
seyesand
feel
sthuddinginherownheart.Butsometimesyou
havetostandagainstyourownhearttoseethe
othersi
deoft hegr
ass…may beit
’sgreener
.
“IwantsomeoneIcanbet heonl
ywomantoand
you’
renotthatperson.All
owmet of
indmysel
fand
expl
oretheworld.You’r
enotwhatIwant
.”
“That
’snotfair
.You’
vegotmeaddict
edtoyou,
you
i
nsert
edy oursel
finmyhear
tandnowy ouwant
someoneel se.
”Hisvoi
cebr
eaks,
justl
ikehi
shear
t.
“
Idi
dn’ti
nser
tmysel
fint
oyourhear
t.Youlef
tyour
wi
feandchasedaf
termeoverandoveragai
n.”
“
Yougav
eyour
sel
ftome,
”hesay
s.
“Wel
l,nowIhav
esomeoneel
set
ogi
vemy
sel
fto,
”
shesays.
“
You’
remour
ning,
”hesay
swi
thaf
rown.
“Icomfor
tedyouwi
thmybody.What
’sdi
ff
erenti
fI
usethatsamebodyt
ogetcomfor
tfr
om someone
else?
”
Hel
etsgoofher
.“You’
resl
eepi
ngwi
thsomeone?
”
“
It
’snoneofy
ourbusi
ness.Yousai
dIgav
emy
sel
fto
youandI’
m sayi
ngI
’mr
eadyt
ogi
vemy
sel
fto
someoneelsenow.
”
“
You’
reawhor
e,”hesay
sangr
il
y.
“Noty
ourwhor
enow,I’
m someoneelse’swhore.
”
Shegri
nsandt
hrowshercel
l
phoneinsidethebag
andzi
psit
.
“Whatareyougoi
ngtogiv
ehim?Yourbackhole,
becauseIf
ini
shedthi
sone?”Hepoi
ntsatherf
ront.
Herl
owerli
ptrembl
es.Thatonegoti
ntoherner
ves
asheint
ended.
“
Youpai
dacowf
ori
t,bi
tch!
”
“
Idi
dyouaf
avor
,youwer
en’
tav
irgi
nwhenIgot
y
ou.
”
“
What evermakesyousleepatnight,
gobackt
oy our
wif
eandl eav
emeal one.”Sheshowshimthemiddle
f
ingerandturnst
owardst hedoor.
“He’
snotgoi ngtomarryyou,whore.I
fany t
hinghe’
ll
fuckyouandl eav
e.You’r
ejustagoodf uck,youare
goodatopeni ngyourl
egs…”Abagf li
esstrai
ghtto
hisface.Shechargesbacktohim.Hest eps
backwar
dsandl
aughs.
“
I’
m awhorebutyou’
rest
il
lher
ebeggingmeto
marr
yyourass.Whatmakesyout
hinkIwantacheat
f
orahusband?You’r
edumb.”
“That’showy oucal l
someonewho’sdickhasbeen
downy ourthroatandupinyour
…”Ahotclaplands
acrosshi sface.Thesecondonefol
lowsandbli
nds
hisvision.
“Nomkhosi
!”Hebl
ockst
het
hir
doneandhol
dsher
arms.
“
Whyar
eyouhitt
ingme?IfIhi
tbackyou’
regoi
ngt
o
r
unt
oyourbr
othersandpol
iceandcr
yabuse.”
Shepusheshi
m of
fandpi
cksherbagf
rom t
hef
loor
.
She’
sfuming.
“Nomkhosi,
whyareyouhi
tt
ingme?”her
epeat
sthe
quest
ionfol
lowi
nghert
othedoor
.
They’
reargui
ngallthewaytohercar
.Nomkhosii
s
notapologet
icaboutput
ti
ngherhandsonhi
m and
he’
sthrownov ert
heedge.
Sheget
sinsi
det
hecarhur
li
ngi
nsul
tsathi
m.
Nei
ghborsar
estandi
nginbal
coni
esandwat
chi
ng.
Somehavecall
edthepol
icet
ocomeandsol
vethe
madness.
Hejumpsi
nf r
ontoft
hecar
.“Runov
erme.Ki
l
lme,
Nomkhosi
!”
Shestar
tsthecar.Neighborsstar
tsscr eami
ngat
them.There’
sapolicevehicl
epulli
ngupont he
dri
veway.Nomkhosi swervestotheleftanddri
ves
pasthi
m.Shepassest hepol i
ceonhi ghspeedand
fl
eesthescene.

*
**
MaKhumal owast hel
astoner
emaini
nginthedi ni
ng
room.She’sabouttogotobedwhenThakasawal ks
i
n.MaNt usisai
dhewenttoWaterways,
theythought
he’dsl
eeptherebuthe’
sherewit
hahandkerchief
overhi
slefteye.
“Whathappenedtoyou?
”sheaskswi
thaf
rown
get
ti
ngoffthechair
.
“
MakaPhel
osl
appedme.Myey
ekeepst
ear
ingup,
I
’l
lseeadoct
ort
omor
rowmor
ning.CanIsl
eep
her
e?”
“
Wait
,what?Whosl
appedy ou?
”MaKhumal
oasks
wi
thherey
ebrowsr
aised.
“
Nomkhosi
,
”hesay
swi
thaheav
ysi
gh.
Shepacesar oundt
heroom wit
hherhandsonthe
hips.Thensheputshergl
assesonandscrol
l
sdown
forBandla’
snumber.
“Bandlal
ethu…yes,I
’mf i
ne…tomorrowmor ningcome
pickmeupanddr iv
emet oPhelo’
sgr andmother
’s
house…hey ,don’
ttr
ytopsy choanaly
seme, I
’mf i
ne…
Ijustwanttogoov erthereandtalktothewoman
whohel pedmegi vebirt
htoThakasa. ”Shedropsthe
callandgruntsangri
ly
.
“Ma,whatarey
ouupt
o?”Thakasal
ooksatheri
n
conf
usion.
“
Idon’thaveachil
dwho’sapinchi
ngbag.Phel
o’s
motherisnoteat
ingbaconandsal
adsinthose
mansionstobeatmyson.Iwasalonei
nthelabor
war
d.”
“Maify
ougot
her
eit
’l
lcauseal
otoft
ensi
on
bet
weentwof
ami
li
esandIdon’
twantt
hat
.”
“
Herbeat
ingyouhascausedt
hatt
ensi
on.I
t’
stoo
l
ate,
myboy.”
Si
gh!
!!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER77

KHANYO

Lobolanegot i
ationswerehel d.Nkonzocamewi t
h
twoot heruncles,Thakasai ssaidtobegoing
thr
ought hings.Doesn’theal waysgot hr
oughthem?
I’
m gladhedi dn’tcomet hough,imaginethetension
betweenhi m andMandul o.He’dneveracceptthat
hegotunderhi swife’
sski r
tandplantedaseed.A
partofmeunder stands,Ialsohatethefacel
ess
chickBandl afuckedinmyabsence.
Any way,
todayI ’
m aguestatt heNyathi
s.Wear e
hereforthef r
eemeat ,i
t’
soneoft hoseinst
ances
wher eal
lthreeofust oget
her.Manduloinvi
tedboth
GuguandI ,Nol waziwasalreadyherepract
ici
ng
i
llegalwi
fe-duti
es.He’sdoingacleansingceremony
forhisgrandfatherandformallyr
eporti
nghisdiv
orce
totheancest
ors.Ther
ewasasangomaperf
orming
ri
tual
slastni
ghtandnowpeopl
eareher
eforthe
goatmeat.
“Imi
ghtmoveawayf
orawhi
l
e,”Gugudr
opst
he
bombshel
l
.
“
Whatdoy
oumean?
”Nol
waz
iasks.
I
’
m al
socur
ious.
“
Outoft
hecountr
y.I
’m notsur
ewhereyet,
butI’
l
llet
y
ouknowbefor
eIleaveandwe’ll
stayi
ntouch.
”
“
Howl
ongwi
l
lyoubegone?
”–Nol
wazi
.
“
Itcouldbemont
hs,
ayearory
ear
s.Idon’
tknow
y
et,”shesay
s.
“
IsMi
kegoi
ngt
obewi
thy
ou?
”Iaskcur
iousl
y.
Shel
aughs,
“May
be.
”
Youknowwhat
,Iwashmyhandswi
thJi
k.
Nol
wazi’
seyesar
eoutofthei
rsocket
s.“
He’
l
lescape
f
rom pr
ison?
”sheasks.
“
Notl
it
erall
ybutwemighthavet
oli
elowf
orsome
t
imeandletthi
ngsbl
owoff.
”
“Ifeel
li
keyourl
i
feisamov ie.I
tshoul
dbeshowni n
cinemasandwe’l
leatpopcornwhil
eitai
rs,
”Isay
.
Sheroll
shereyes,“
Asifyoursi
sheadingtoabet
ter
di
rect
ion.You’
reabouttobecomeav i
l
lagewif
eand
st
aywi t
hamot her
-i
n-l
awinthesamey ard.
”
Ur
gh,
shemust
n’tr
emi
ndme!
“Apar
tofmecan’twai
tbutI
’m al
soscar
ed.Ther
e’l
l
benotur
ningback,
Mandul
owillhandmeoverand
I
’l
lent
erattheManqel
eswit
hacasket.
”
“
Aki
st,
dumbass,
”Nol
wazi
say
s.
Wealll
augh.I’
venev
erseensuchadi
srespect
ful
daught
er-
in-
law.
“Whatever
,butI
’
llbechangi
ngmysurnameforever
.
Thosepeoplewil
lburymenextt
othei
rancest
ors,
awayfrom mymot her
.”
Guguexhales,“
Yeah,t
hatsoundsheavy.ButI
’m
pr
oudofy ouandhowf aryou’v
ecome.”Shelooksat
Nolwazi
andr ubsherarm.Bigsist
erv
ibes!
“
Infact,
I’
m proudofbot
hofyou.Nol
waziyou’
re
f
ini
shingyourdegr
eenexty
ear.NowI’
m st
arti
ngto
thi
nkweweretoxictoeachother
.Not
hingwentr
ight
duri
ngourfl
at-
shari
ngdays.Wewereli
keabunchof
unstabl
ebei
ngs.”
Agai
n,wel
augh.
“
Ithi
nkIneededl
ove.Ev
ersinceBandl
acamet
omy
l
i
feI’
vebeenabett
erperson,
”Isay.
“Youalsofol
lowedy
ourancest
orspat
h.Howi
sthat
goingsofar?
”
“Ist
il
lgetv
isi
onsandpray.I
’v
ehadaf ewpeople
comingtoseekandIbeli
eveIhel
pedthem.Butit
’s
notasbigaspeopl
ethoughtitwoul
dbe,”Isay
.
“
Why?Istheresomet
hingbl
ocki
ngy
oumay
be?
”
Nol
waziasks.
“It
hinkeveryt
hinghappensinGod’
stime.Ifoll
owed
everyi
nstruct
ionthatwaslai
doutforme,ifthere’
s
somethingmissingthenit
’sfr
om t
heirsi
de,”Isay.
Guguhugsmeont heshoul
ders.“Everyt
hingwi
l
lbe
fi
ne.Pleaseincl
udemeinyourprayers.Justmy
safet
y,”shesays.
“
Arey
oui
ndanger
?”Nol
wazi
andIask
si
mul
taneousl
y.
Shel
aughs,
“No,
yout
woneedt
ochi
l
l.
”
“You’
l
lgi
veusheart
ache.”IsayandlookatNol
wazi
,
hopef
ull
yI’
m notov
erst
eppingtheli
ne.
“Yousl
epther
elastni
ght
?”Iaskt
heobv
iousandshe
nods.
“
Wit
hMandul
o?”
“
Yes.
”
Ir
aisemyey
ebr
ow,
“Ar
eyougood?
”
Gugui
sconf
used.I
t’
sfami
l
ymat
ter
s!
“Yeah.Wearenotdoi
nganypenet
rat
iont
hough,
just
oralandt
oys.
”
“
Toy
s?”Igaspi
nshock.
“
Manduloisopenminded,
that
’soneoft
her
easons
whyIf
elli
nlovewi
thhim.”
I
ndeed, hei
sopenmi nded.Idon’
tthi
nkI
’l
lev
er
i
ntroducesextoy
st omybedr oom l
if
e-i
magine
Bandla’
sfategotaki
ngaknock.
“
I’
m happy
,”shesay
swi
thasmi
l
econv
inci
ngl
y.
“
Ishehappyaswel
l
?”Guguasks.
“
Ithi
nkso,
”shesay
s.
Ireal
lyappr eciateherbei ngi nMandul o’slife.He’s
hopeful agai n,there’ssomet hinghewant stolivefor,
he’srealizedt hathi swor lddi dn’tendwi thThobeka.
AndIf i
nal lyhav et hego- aheadt ocommuni catewith
MaNt usi regar dingLondaonhi sbehalf.Ev enthough
he’l
lbeinhi slifeasanuncl e,halfabr eadi sbet t
er
thannot hing.He’ l
ldohi sbest ,
whenLondai sold
enought ounder standhe’ l
lbet oldthetruthandi t’
ll
beupt ohi mi fhewant st ot aket heNy athisurname
ornot.Theyal l agreedon16; MaNt usi
,Thakasaand
Mandul o.They ’l
l waituntilhet urns16t otellhi
m.
I
’
m happywi
tht
heout
comeoft
hesi
tuat
ion.
.
.
MAKHUMALO

Bandl
ahasbeent
ryi
ngt
oconv
incehert
ogoback
home.Het hinksthi
sisabadi deaandi t
’l
lcause
tensionbet
weenf amil
ies.Butisn’
tNomkhosi the
onewhost artedit
?EvenMaNt usi
,Thakasa’
srightful
wife,hasneverputherhandsonThakasa.Howi s
Phelogoingtorespectherfatheri
fhermot herturns
hisintoapunchingbag?
There’
sagate-i
nter
com andannoy i
ngguard.He
wantstoknowev er
ydet ai
lbefor
eopeni
ngletti
ng
Bandlaparki
n.He’sjustasecondawayfrom aski
ng
thei
rbloodty
peandwei ght,t
hat’
showpettyheis.
HesearchesBandl
aandthecarthenall
ows
MaKhumal otogot
hrough.Bandl
awantsnothi
ngt
o
dowiththedrama,
he’sj
usthereasthedri
ver
,
not
hingelse.

Shewal kspastoneoftheboysstandi
ngbyt
he
gardenandgr eet
shim.It
’st
heolderone,
heret
urns
hergreeti
ngrespect
ful
ly.
“
Isy
oursi
sterher
e?”sheasks.
“
Yebo,
she’
sinsi
de,
”hesay
s.
Hel ookssomuchl
ikehi
sfat
her
.Hopeful
l
yhe’
s
doingokayandcar
ryi
ngthef
amil
yfor
wardashe
should.
Thedoorisopen,shegreet
sloudl
ybef
orel
ett
ing
her
sel
finside.Thi
sisahugemansion,
thef
loori
s
twoti
mesl argert
hanhers.
Ndl
ali
fawalksi
nri
ghtaf
terherandof
fer
stogi
veher
aseatwhi
leheget
shismother.
Phumzil
ewalksdownaft
eramomentwi
thPheloi
n
herarms.Nomkhosi
isget
ti
ngr
eadyf
orwork,
she’
s
runni
nglat
e.
Pheloseesheruncleandstartscr
yingf
orhim.It’
s
eit
herhim orThakasa,
shelovesthesetwomen.I f
ThakasaisnotaroundshethinksNdlal
i
faisher
fat
her.Hetakesheranddisappearsint
hekitchento
gethersomet hi
ngtoeat.
Phumzilegreet
sandsitsdown.She’ slostpeopl
e
whower eclosetoherbeforebutthisti
mei thi
ts
harder
.Thepainisdif
ferentbutshe’stryi
ngtokeep
i
ttogetherf
orthesakeoft hechil
dren.Maqhingais
notcopingatall
.He’
sfoundcomf ortinthebottl
e,
Andi
swaistryi
ngherbestt
obet
her
eforhi
m buti
t’
s
get
ti
nghardereachday.
“I
’m sor
ryt
ocomet oyourhouseunannounced,I
’m
heretoseeyourJohnCena,
”MaKhumal osays.
Phumzi
l
efr
owns,
“MyJohnCena?
”
“Theonewhobeat
smyson.Iwanttoknowwho
gavehert
heri
ghtt
oputherhandsonmyson.
”
“
Nomkhosi
?”Phumz
il
easksi
nshock.
“
Yes,shedamagedmysonsey
eandIwantt
oknow
why,
”shesays.
Phumzil
eisbeyondherselfwi
thshock.Shecer
tai
nly
di
dn’tr
aiseanabuser.Nomkhosiknowshowshe
hat
esabuse,inanyform ofi
t.
“
Ndl
ali
facal
lyoursi
sterher
e,r
ightnow!
”shey
ell
s.
I
nst
eadofmarchi
ngupthestai
rsNdl
ali
fadi
als
Nomkhosi
’
snumberandcal
lsher.
Thehel
percomeswithjuiceandbiscui
tsbutnei
ther
MaKhumalonorPhumzileeat.They’
rei
mpatient
ly
wai
ti
ngforNomkhositocomedown.
Shefinall
ywal ksinlookingreadyforworki
nblack
penci
l ski
rt
,whi t
epl unge-neckshi
rtandcor
setheel
s.
Hermot herinstructshertositdown.Shesi
tsand
putsherpurseont helap.
“Youphy
sical
l
yinj
uredPhel
o’sf
ather
?”hermot
her
asks.
Shef
rowns,
“Ummm…no.
”
“Andshe’sali
artoo.
”MaKhumal
othrowsherhands
up.“Thakasacoul
dn’
thav
efakedaneyeinj
ury
.”
“
Oht
hat
,Idi
dsl
aphi
mtwi
ce,
”shesay
s.
Hermot
hergasps,
“What
?!”
“Hewasinsul
ti
ngmeandgoi
ngonandonwi
thi
t,
”
shesay
s.
“Whycouldn’
tyouwalkaway?Whatgav
ey outhe
ri
ghtt
oputy ourhandsont
hefat
herofyourchil
d?”
Phumzil
easks.
“Ma,don’tt
akehi
ssi
de,
youdon’
tknowt
hef
ull
stor
y,”shesay
s.
“I
fitwashi m whobeaty ouIwould’
vetakenyour
si
det oo.Idon’tcondoneabuse.I’
l
lneversi
dewi t
h
anyonewhot hinksit’
sokayt ocommunicat
et hr
ough
sl
apping.Don’tyouhav elegstowalkawayfrom
someonewhoi nsult
sy ou?”Phumzil
e.
“
Idi
dwal
kawaybuthedi
dn’
tst
op,
”shesay
s.
“
Mysondoesn’tgoaroundinsul
ti
ngpeopl
e.He
l
ovesyou,
whywouldhei nsul
tyou?Tel
lusthet
rut
h,
werey
oudrunk?”MaKhumal oasks.
Nomkhosi
isl
eftst
unned;
hermout
hishangi
ngopen.
“
Shedr
inks,
right
?”MaKhumal
olooksathermot
her
.
Phumzi
l
eexhalesheav
ily
.“Occasi
onal
l
y,ev
eryy
oung
per
sondri
nksnowadays.
”
“
Notmychi
l
dren!
”MaKhumal
o.
Phumzi
lesecret
lyr
oll
sherey
esandt
urnsherey
es
toNomkhosi.
“
Youshoul
dgoandapol
ogi
ze,
”shet
ell
sher
.
“Seriously
,Ma?Youdon’tevenknowwhathewas
sayingt ome.
”Tearsrundownherface.She’dnever
giveany onet
hesati
sfact
ionofhert
ears,butsi
tti
ng
her
eandgett
ingblamedforreacti
ngtoThakasa’
s
i
nsult
scut
sdeeplyinherheart
.Ithur
ts.
“Iwanthert ocomeandapol ogizet ohim personall
y.
Thisi snotacceptabl
e,Idon’
twantt oholdany
grudgeagai nstyoubecausey ou’remy
granddaught er’
smother.I
’l
lexcusey outhisonce
becauseIbel ieveyoumadeami stake.Youdi dn’
t
hav eagoodexampl eofhowamanshoul dbe
treated.
”
Phumzi
le’
seyeswi
den,
“Andy
oursonhadagood
exampl
eofhowawomanshouldbetr
eat
ed?
”
“
Yes,t
hat
’swhywehav
eMaNt
usi
athome,
”
MaKhumalosay
s.
“
Hest
il
lcameaf
termydaught
ert
hough,
right
?”
“Theycameaftereachother
.Yourdaughtercoul
d’v
e
walkedawaywhenshef oundoutthathewas
marriedbuti
tseemslikesheneverwalksawayfrom
anything.
”
Phumzi
l
eget
supwi
thherhandsont
hewai
st.
“
He’
snotget
ti
nganyapol
ogy
.Tel
lhi
mtogoandsee
t
hedoctor
,andthengotohi
spastor
stol
ear
nhow
t
ocontr
olhist
ongue,
”shesays.
“Oh,Iseeshelear
nti
tfr
om you.Nextti
mesheput
herhandsonmysont here’
l
lbeawr est
li
ngmat
ch.
I’
m NtombengcweleKhumalo,
uThakasa
angi
mf ebangamina!
”
“
Okay,t
hankyou.Hav
easaf
etr
ip,
”Phumzi
l
esay
s
wav
ingheraway.
Ndl
ali
faappear
swit
hPheloandafrownonhisface.
MaKhumalohaswalkedoutoft
hedoorangr
il
y.
“
What’
sgoingon?
”heasksl
ooki
ngatNomkhosi
who’
sfi
xi
nghermake-
upthr
oughtear
yey
es.
“Tal
ktoy oursi
ster.Idon’
twantt
odeal wi
thangry
motherswhosechi ldr
enshe’
sbeaten.Idi
dn’
traisea
hoodrat
,”Phumzilesaystaki
ngPheloandwalking
away.
Ndl
ali
far
emai nsst
andi
ngandl
ooki
ngatNomkhosi
f
oranexplanati
on.
“
Youar
ebeat
ingmennow?
”heasks.
Nomkhosi
takesadeepbr
eat
handwi
pescor
ner
sof
herey
escar
eful
l
y.
“Hecall
edmeawhor e,saidnobodyisgoingt o
marrymebecausehef i
nishedme.Hesai dhedi d
meaf avorbypayinginkomokamamabecauseI
wasnotav ir
ginwhenhegotme.Hesai dI ’
m only
goodatopeningmyl egsandIt hr
ewmy sel
father.”
Shepausesandt akesanotherbreat
h.“Itri
edtowalk
awaybuthekeptpoki ngatme, andIsl
appedhi m.
All
IsaidwasIdon’ twanttobewi t
hhim any more,I
wantsomeonebet ter,
”shesays.
“
Howmanyt
imesdi
dyousl
aphi
m?”Ndl
ali
faasks.
“
Twot
imes,
”shesay
s.
“
Nextti
meknockhi
steet
houti
fheev
ercal
l
syoua
whor
e.”
Shef
rowns,
“Youcondonev
iol
ence?
”
“Al
ltheway !Don’tl
etanyoneshi
tony ou.Youdid
him afavorandgav ehi
m achil
d.He’saf at
her
becauseofy ou.Andifhewantshiscowbackt ell
himtocomeandgeti tfr
om me.Washeav i
rgi
n
wheny ougothim? ”
Shel
aughs,
“Ofcour
senot
.”
“I
fhewantsav i
rgi
nhemustgoandpi
ckonefrom
hi
schurch.Ar
ey oust
il
lgoi
ngt
ofor
giv
ehim andgo
backt
ohi m?”
“
No,
nott
hist
ime!
”sheshakesherhead.
.
.
THAKASA

Hewal ksoutofthemai nhouse,theti

mereads;8:22
am.MaKhumal oleftearlywithBandl
a.He’
sabi t
embarrassedthathismot herist
herefi
ght
ingfor
him.Sadly,
onceMaKhumal omakesuphermi nd
ther
e’snotalki
ngt hroughher .
Hewal
ksoutoft
heguestbedr
oom andbumpsi
nto
MaNt
usi
.
“
Manqel
e?”She’
sshockedt
oseehi
m home.
“
Morni
ngbabe,”hesaysnotlooki
ngather
.Hi
sey
e
i
sst
il
ltear
ingandblood-
red.
“It
houghtyouweren’
thome,
”shesay
swi
thher
eyebr
owr ai
sed.
“
Icamel
ate,
Idi
dn’
twantt
owakey
ouup,
”hesay
s.
Shel
ooksathi
m car
eful
l
y.
“
Whathappenedt
oyourey
e?”
Her
ubsi
t,“
I’
ll
seeadoct
orbef
oreIgot
owor
k.”
“Iaskedwhathappened.Ar
eyousi
ckorwhat
?”she
asks.
“
Yes,
it’
sbeensor
esi
ncey
est
erday
,”hesay
s.
Shedoesn’
tbel
i
evehi
m.
“
Wher
e’sMa?
”sheasks.
“
Hel
eftwi
thBandl
a.”
“
Shedi
dn’
ttel
lmeabouti
t.Wher
edi
dtheygo?
”
Hel
ooksawayandi
gnor
esher
.
“
Manqel
e,what
’sgoi
ngon?
”
Deepbr
eat
h!
“Nomkhosi andIhadafi
ght
.Shehi
tmeandMai
s
pissed.Shewenttohermot
her’
shouse.
”
Whoooah!Shebl
i
nksr
api
dly
.
“
Shehi
tyou?
”sheasksi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.
“Yes,Isai
daf ewt
hingst
oherandshel
osti
t.I
twas
prett
ynasty,
”hesays.
“
Areyout
wookay?Idon’
tunder
standt
his,
”shesay
s
wal
ki
ngtotheTVst
andandtaki
ngherphone.
“Shebr okeupwit
hmeaf ewweeksago.Ithought
yesterdayshecal
ledmetofi
xthi
ngsbutsheonly
want edtobragaboutt
henewmanshehasandhow
he’sbet t
ert
hanme.”
“
Younevert
oldmeanyt
hingaboutt
hebreakup.As
f
arasIknowNomkhosii
sgetti
ngmarr
iedtoyou.
”
“
Yousai
dyoudon’
twantmetobr
ingouri
ssuest
o
y
ou.Idi
dn’
twantt
oupsety
ou.
”
MaNt usi
sighsandshakesherhead.Thiswhol
e
dramahappenedrightunderhernoseandshedidn’
t
catchawindofit.
Shescrol
l
sdownherphone,
stopsatonepar
ti
cul
ar
pi
ctur
eandgiv
esthephonetohim.
Hewi
peshi
slef
tey
eandl
ooksati
t.“
Whati
sthi
s?”
“Venueforouranni
ver
sar
y.Idon’
twanti
ttobet
oo
big,
”shesays.
Henodsandgi
vesherphoneback.
“
Sowhatdoy
out
hink?
”sheasks.
“Idi
dn’tknowyouwereal
readypl
anni
ngit
.Il
ove
ever
ythingyoul
ove,
sendmet hei
nvoi
ces.
”
Shesmil
esandpull
shisbeardpl
ayf
ull
y.Hechuckl
es
andst
aresather
.Helovesseei
ngherthi
shappyand
car
efr
ee.
“Oh,
isthereanyoney ou’
dli
ketoaddtotheguestl
ist
?
Ihaveal
ltherelat
ivesandfri
ends.Maybeyoucan
addyourbusinessfri
endsandempl oy
ees.
”
“No,Ionl
ycar
eabouty
ourpr
esenceont
heday
,”he
says.
“Ii
nvi
tedNomkhosi
aswell
.I’
l
lfi
ndouti
fshe’
l
lbe
comingwit
hsomeone,
”shesays.
“
Youdi
dwhat
?”Hi
sbr
owsf
urr
ow.
“Ii
nvi
tedNomkhosi
,themot
herofy
ourchi
l
d,”she
says.
“
Idon’
twanthert
her
e,”hesay
s.
“Iwanthert here.Youmadeherfamily
,shehasy our
chil
d, andI’m notgoi
ngtost
optalki
ngt oherand
want ingheraroundmeandLondabecauset hi
ngs
didn’tworkoutbet weent
hetwoofy ou.Iwantour
chil
dr enthereandPhelocomeswi t
hapackage; her
mot her.”
Hedoesn’
tsayany
thi
ng;
hehasnocomeback.
“I
’
llmakebr
eakf
ast
.Whatt
imear
eyougoi
ngt
othe
doct
or?”
“
Elev
en,
”hesay
s.
Shegoest otheki
tchenscr
oll
i
ngdownherphone,
probabl
ylookingf
ormorevenues.
He’sexcitedaboutt heanniv er
sarycelebrati
on.But
ther
e’sthisonet hinghe’snotl ooki
ngf orward
to…Nomkhosi ’
sattendance.He’ l
lhavet ostandthere
andsayhi sv owst oMaNt usi i
nherpresence.Yes
she’
sal way sknownt hathehasawi fe,butwhati f
watchingt hem exchangev owssol i
difi
esherdoubt s?
Whati fthatconvinceshert hatshemadet heright
choice,beingasecondwi feisnotgoodf orher?He
needst
omakethingsri
ght.Theycanworkt
hings
thr
oughint
ime,
beforet
hingsfall
apar
t.
Het
ypesamessagequi
ckl
y;
CANIBOOKUSI
NTOARELATI
ONSHI
PCOUNSELOR?
Hi
smessageonlyti
cksonce.There’
snopr
ofi
l
e
pi
ctur
e.Nol
astseen.He’
sblockedagai
n!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER78

MANDULO

He’sbeenwai t
inginbedt hewholehour .Gigglesar
e
sti
llcomingf r
om t hedi ningr oom;thesegirl
swon’ t
stopgossiping.Atl ongl astt henoisedi
esdown, he
fi
xeshi seyesatt hedoorwai ti
ngforNolwazi towalk
i
n.Khany owi l
ltakecar eofher sel
fandGugu.Ther e
areenoughbl anket s,hecl eanedtheguestr oom for
them, andluckil
yit’snotcl osetohisbedroom.He’ l
l
havet hefr
eedom t ocel ebr atewithhisgir
lf
riend
withouthissistereav esdr opping.
“
Bye,
”–v
oicessayout
sidet
hedoor
.
Nol
wazigiggl
es,thenhehear
sfoot
stepsdescendi
ng.
Di
dtheyreall
yaccompanyNolwazi
tothebedroom?
Gi
rl
saredramatic.
“
You’
rest
il
lawake?
”Herey
eswi
denatt
hedoor
.
“
I’
m wai
ti
ngf
ory
ou,
”hesay
s.
Shesmi
l
eswi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown.
“
Oh,
okayt
hat
’sni
ce,
”shesay
s.
Hechuckl
esandpul l
southi
shandf
orher.Hewalks
r
ighti
ntoi
t,hepull
sherdownandki
ssesherl
ips
wit
hsomuchaf fect
ion.
“Okay,whatmadeyousohappy?”She’
sleaningover
him andrunni
ngherf
ingert
ipov
erhiseyebrows.
“Doingthecer emoniesandhav i
ngasangomat el
l
ing
met hatmyf or ef
ather
swelcomeditandr ejoi
ced.
Andhav ingever y
oneIlovearound;
mysi sterand
kids,ev
ent houghLondacoul dn’
tbehere,and
most l
yyoust handwasami ,
”hesays.
“
I’
m happyt
oseeyouhappy.I
tlooksgoodony
ou;
y
ouhav eaver
ybeaut
if
ulsmil
e.”
Hissmi
lebr
oadens.Hepul
lshertositonhiswai
st
andhol
dsherhi
pswhilest
ari
ngintohereyes.
“I
’m notgoingtohol
dbacknow.Ageisjusta
number ,
you’veshownmetheloveIdi
dn’tev
en
knowexisted,Iwantt
olov
ey oubackwithever
ythi
ng
Ihave.Howy ouhel
dmyhandt hr
oughoutt hesepast
coupleofmonthsstil
lgetmedi zzyt othi
smi nute.
Howy oustoodwithmei nsicknessandi nheal t
h,
l
ikewe’vealr
eadystoodi nfr
ontoft hepriestand
madev ows,Iappr
eciatethat,t
hanky ou.”Hehol ds
herhandandgentlystrokesherfingers.
“Howy outackl
edmysexual demeri
tsl
eftme
stunned.You’
rewisert
hanyourage.You’
rel
ovi
ng,
mindfulandaccepti
ng.You’
reever
ythi
ng.
”
Sherol
lshereyes,
“YouknowI
’
dswi
m acr
oss
oceansforyou.
”
“
AndI
’
dcl
i
mbmount
ainsf
ory
ou,
”hesay
s.
Sheleansherheaddown,t
hei
rli
psl
ocki
ntoanot
her
ki
ss.Hishandsrubherper
kybr
east
sunderal
oose
T-shi
rt
.
“
Doy
ouwantust
otr
yagai
ntoni
ght
?”heasks.
Adeepbr
eat
h.
“Idon’
tthi
nkI
’
mr eadytowatchyougot
hroughpai
n
becauseofmeagain,
”shesays.
“
IcansayIwasn’
tcomf
ort
abl
ebackt
hen,
butnowI
tr
usty
ouenoughtoletyouknowwhenIwant
somethi
ngt
ostop.Let’
sgiv
eitat
ry,
pret
typl
ease.
”
Shebi
tesherl
i
p,asmi
l
eist
hreat
eni
ngt
ocr
ackout
.
“Wereyout
hinki
ngaboutsext
hewhol
eday
?”she
asks.
“Doyoubl
ameme?Lookaty
our
sel
f,umuhl
e,
”he
says.
“Okay,sear
chwhaty ouwantandgeti
t.
”Sheget
sof
f
hiswaistandl
iesdownonherbackwithherar
ms
spreadtothesides.
Helaughsandstar
tsundressi
ngher.I
t’
sli
ke
undressi
nganunconsci
ousperson,
shedoesn’
tev
en
moveherarms.
“
Soyou’r
ejustgoi
ngtoli
ehereli
keachi
ckenwai
ti
ng
t
obeslaughter
ed?”heaskspul
li
ngdownherl
acy
t
hongandkissi
ngherupperthi
gh.
“Am Inotget
ti
ngsl
aught
ered?
”sheasksl
i
fti
ngher
kneesup.
“
No,
wear
emaki
ngl
ove,
siy
athandananj
e,
”hesay
s.
Hel
i
esbesi
deheronhi
ssi
deandmassagesher
ni
ppleswi t
hthepalm ofhi
shand.Theirl
ipsl
ocki
nto
akiss,hist
onguechasesafterher
s,hesmooches
eachofherl i
pandmoanssof tl
ytotheheat
eradi
atingfr
om herbodytohis.
Hel owershisl
i
psdowntoherearandl
icksbelowi
t,
thenhesucksthesi
deofherneckwhil
efondl
ingher
nippleswit
honehand.
Hecomest oherf
aceandkissesherl
ips.Nol
wazi
grabshiser
ectmanhood.Hechuckl
esandbreaks
thekiss.
“You’
renaughty
.Letmet
ast
ehowsal
tyy
ougot
downhere,”hesays.
Shewr
inkl
eshernoseupandgr
unt
sdi
sgust
edl
y.
“
Don’
tyouwantat
ast
e?”heaskswi
thachuckl
e.
“
No,
thanky
ou,
”shegi
ggl
esshaki
ngherheadf
ir
mly
.
“
Why?Doy ouhateyour
self
?”heasks.Hepul
l
sher
l
egsapar
tandkissesbothhert
highs.
“Il
ovehowthecooki
esmel
ls.Sorawandaddi
cti
ve.”
Yeah,hehashi
sstr
angemoments.Hecantur
ninto
anabnormalal
i
eninnogi
venmoment .
“
You’
rewei
rd,
”shesay
s.
“No,
I’
m comfort
abl
e.”Hepusheshisheadbetween
hert
highsandsweepshistonguebet
weenherfolds.
Shebit
esherli
pandfixeshereyest
ohisever
y
movement.
Hesucksherclit
,li
keachil
dsucki
ngont
heni
ppl
e.
Herbackarches,sher
eleasesal
owmoanand
br
usheshishead.
Heinsertshi
spointerf
ingerandr ubsherinnersof
t
ti
ssues,herpl
easureknotsri
ft.Juicyfl
uidrunsdown
hi
shand, heconti
nuessuckinghercl i
t.She’
s
tr
emblingandscreaminghisname.

Assher egai
nsherselfback,
heliesont
opofherand
i
nsertshisshaf
tinheropening.Thei
reyesl
ock,
his
aresqueezedwithlustandhersareweakfr
om t
he
fi
rstorgasm.
“Il
oveyou,
”hesaysinalowwhi
sper.“
Pleaselookat
mei nt
heey es,
Iwanty
outoseeevery
thi
ngI’m
goingt
hrough.”
He’
smovinghi
swai st,
forthef
irstti
mei nal ong
t
imehismanhoodhasf il
l
eduphercor e.Insteadof
wor
ryi
ngaboutthenextsecondshe’senjoy i
ngever
y
momentofwhat’shappeningi
nt henow.
Helif
tshisupperbodyandbal
ancesonthebedwit
h
hi
shands.Hisstrokesar
elow-
pacedbutgett
ing
deeperanddeeper.
“Nol
wazi
…”hecall
stogetherat
tent
ionof
fhi
sshaf
t
andbackt
ohisface.
“
Yesbaby
?”Shel
i
ftsherey
es.
“Iwon’
tletyoudown.”He’
sthrust
ingdeeperand
hit
ti
ngev er
ycorneri
narotat
ingmov e.
“
Arey
oust
il
lal
ri
ght
?”sheasks.
“Yes,
ift
her
e’sanyt
hingt
hatf
reaksmeoutnowi
s
howwarmy ouare.
”
Shesmi
l
es,
“Youl
ovei
t?”
“
Ilov
eit
,st
handwasami
.”
Heli
esonherchestagai n.Nolwazi
wrapsherarms
andlegsaroundhim.Theirbodiesf
iti
ntoeachot
her
l
ikepiecesofthepuzzl
e.
Histhr
ustsar
eaccompani
edbyl
owmoans-he’
s
gett
ingtoowarmedupandi
mpat
ient
.
“There’
snooneelse,
Mandulo,
”shewhispers
againsthi
sear.Hi
spaceseemstobeinfuri
atedby
herconfessi
on.
“Naki
mi akekhoomunyeLwazi
,”hesay
stear
ingher
coreapart.(
Ther
e’snooneel
seformeaswell)
“
Ngi
dla-
keNy
athi
,
”shesay
sandbi
teshi
sneck.
Hischestt
ensesup.Hepoundsintohergr
oani
ng
deepl
yandstari
ngatherwit
hhiseyespoppedout
l
ikesomeoneisstr
angl
inghisneck.
“
Baby
?”shecal
l
shi
m sof
tl
y.
“
Yeah,
baby
,”her
esponds.
“
You’
reokay
?”
“
Huh?
”hesay
sabsent
-mi
ndedl
y.
“
Baby
?”Nol
wazi
cal
l
sagai
n.
“Yeahbaby
.”Hisey
esareaboutt
odropoft
hei
r
socket
s.Helooksl
ikesomeonewho’
sseei
nga
ghost.
“Areyoualr
ight
?”Shesqueezeshervagi
nalmuscl
es
andgripsonhisshaft
.Hebiteshi
slowerl
ip,
teet
h-
sinki
ngint
ohisflesh.
“
Whatar
eyouf
eel
i
ng?
”sheaskshi
m.
“Heaven!
”hecriesandburst
shisf
lui
dsinsideher
.
Hisbodystr
aightensandgoescomplet
erigidontop
ofher.
“Nolw…azi
!”Herel
easesanenor
mousbr
eat
hand
dropshisheadonher.
Ther
ewasnocondom,
she’
sst
ickywi
thhi
ssper
ms.
“
Whydi
dn’
tyoupul
lout
?”sheasksf
ondl
i
nghi
shead.
“
Ijust
…ar
eyounotonbi
rt
hcont
rol
?”heasks.
“
Iam,
butt
her
ear
enoguar
ant
ees,
”shesay
s.
“
We’llgetmorni
ng-af
terpi
l
ls,
I’
ll
nev
erputy
ourf
utur
e
i
njeopardyonpurpose.
”
Amomentofsi
lencepasses.He’
ssti
ll
inser
ted
i
nsi
deher
,hi
sshaftisshudder
ingandrel
easi
ng
mor
ewarmflui
dinsideher.
Fi
nal
l
yhepul
l
sout
,he’
sdr
ippi
ngj
uicesandl
eav
ing
herwetaswel
l
.
“Thanky ou,”hesay sandplant
sakissonher
forehead.“Forst andi
ngwithmethroughitall
.Now
youcanbr agabouty ourmantoo.You’l
lhave
somet hi
ngt ot al
kabout-Iknowyougirl
stalkabout
everythi
ng-y ou’l
lhavenothi
ngtobeashamedof .
Umshi niusuy asebenza,
”hechuckl
esandpecksher
l
ips.
“
Am Iget
ti
nganot
herr
ound?
”sheasks.
“You’
reget
ti
ngev
ery
thi
ngy
ouwanti
nthi
swor
ld.
Anythi
ng!
”
Shesmi
l
es.Heki
ssesheragai
n.
Godi
sgoodal
lthet
ime!Lov
eal
way
swi
ns.Ohwel
l
,
most
ly.
.
.
NKONZO

Heat
tendedanev
entatNor
thcl
i
ff,
bef
oret
aki
nga
fl
ightbackhomehedeci deditwouldbeagoodidea
topayhislit
tl
esisteravisit
.Thakasarent
eda
bachelorf
latforherwhichsheshar eswit
hafr
iend
they’
veonlyspokent ooverthephone.
Hefindsdir
ect
ionsanddr
ivest
her
ewi t
haf ew
housenecessi
ti
eshethi
nksshemightneed,anda
fewgoodiesofcour
se.
There’
snobackandf ort
hbetweenhi m andthe
securi
ty.Heproducesproofofidenti
tyandthey
searchforhimifthetenanthe’
slookingfori
si n,
and
i
ndeedPhet hyarr
ivedamomentbef orehim coming
fr
om oneofhermanyshoppi ngtri
ps.
Thewayt hesecuri
tyguardspokeabouthi
sli
tt
le
si
sterdoesn’tsi
twell
wi t
hhim.Her“oneofmany
shoppi
ngt r
ips”,
isPhethyher
etostudyortol
ivel
ike
Bonang?
Hetakesali
ftt
othe6thfl
oorandgoestoherr
oom
wi
thhishandsweigheddownbyshoppi
ngbags.
Thedoorissli
ghtlyopen,t
here’
sagi ggl
ingv oi
ce
cominginsi
de.It
’sPhethy,hewouldn’tmistakethat
voi
ceforanyone’s.Apartofhim st
il
lcan’tbeli
eve
thatshe’sgrownsoquickl
yandli
vingbyher
sel
fina
diff
erentprovi
nce.Ti
mef l
i
es,hey
.

Heknocksonceandlet
shi msel
finsi
de,
onl
ytobe
welcomedbyathi
nli
ght-ski
nnedboyweari
ngshor
ts
andlongsockswi
thpush-ons.
“
Am Iintheri
ghtroom?I
’
mlooki
ngf
orPhet
hil
e
Manqele,
”heasks.
Theboy
’seyeswiden,her
ubshi
shandst
oget
her
andl
ooksatthepassage.
“
Doy
ouknowher
?”Nkonzor
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“Ummm, yeah.Immagetherforya.
”He’sgotfake
Americanaccentbutt
hat’
snoneofNkonzo’s
busi
ness,al
lhecaresaboutri
ghtnowiswhot hehel
l
i
sheandwhathe’ sdoinginPhet
hy’sr
oom.
Sheappearswitht
hesleevesofhersweaterpul
l
ed
overherhandsandherhandstuckedonhercheeks.
She’
swal ki
ngsl
owly,
notrunningint
ohisarmsashe
envi
sioned.
“
Hi,
”hesay
slooki
ngatherf
rom headt
otoe.
“Bhut
i,
”sheleansont
hewal
landst
opsaf
ewf
eet
awayfrom hi
m.
“
What’
sgoi
ngon?Who’sthi
sboyIf
oundher
eand
whati
shedoi
ngher
e?”heasks.
“Ummm…he’smystudy
-mate.We…wewere
doi
ng…ummhassi
gnments.
”Shedoesn’
tst
utt
er,
Sqal
odid,
nowonl
yBandladoes.
“Whoisthatboy?Thi
nkofanhonest
,st
rai
ght
answerandtell
me,”hesay
sfi
rmly.
“
Iswearheonl
yar
ri
v edl
astni
ghttospendthe
weekendwi
thmesinceNosiwenthome,”shesay
s.
“Tospendtheweekendwi
thyou?
”Hi
sbr
owsf
urr
ow.
Thishastobeajokeorpr
ank.
Shefi
ddl
eswit
hherhandsandl
ooksathi
m wi
th
puppyey
es.
No,
thatwon’
twor
ktoday
.
“
Packtheset
hings,
”hesay
sandmar
chest
owar
ds
t
hedir
ecti
onoftheboy.
Phethyr
emainsgluedont
hesamespotwithher
eyesbul
gingout
.Shecan’
twarnChr
ist
ianbecause
i
t’
ll
dri
veNkonzoev
enmadder
.

Nkonzot
apstheboy’
sshoul
derandsi
gnalsf
orhi
m
t
ogetsofft
hecouch.He’
sshaki
ngli
kealeaf
.
“
Whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?”heasks.
“Ibr
oughtPhet
hy’
sbook,
shebor
rowedmeaf
ew
daysagoandIcoul
dn’
t…”
“Boy,heyboy!That
’smyl
i
ttl
esi
ster
,whatar
eyou
doinghere?”
Chri
sti
antakesadeepbr
eat
hrubbi
nghi
str
embl
i
ng
handstoget
her.
“
Wear
edat
ing,
”hesay
s.
“
She’
sher
etostudy
.Doesyourmotherknowthat
y
ou’r
eher
elooki
ngforawi
feinst
eadofstudy
ing?
”
“
I’
m notl
ooki
ngf
orawi
fe,
”hesay
s.
“
Thenwhatar
eyoudoi
ngwi
thmysi
ster
?”-Nkonz
o.
“
Wear
e…dat
ing.
”
Nkonzogr
abshi
m bycl
othesandpusheshi
mtot
he
wall
.Hecoul
d’vepunchedhi
m,onlyi
fitwasnot
i
ll
egalt
oinst
il
lmannersint
otoday
’ski
ds.
“
Doyouknowwhoshei
s?”heaskst
hroughgr
it
ted
t
eet
h.He’
str
embl
ingwi
thanger
.
“Ireal
lyli
keher,Ipromi
sey ouwearenotdoing
any t
hingwear enotsupposedtodo.Iunder
stand
thatsheisinkozazaneandIrespectt
hat,
”Chri
sti
an
say ssuddenl
ylosinghi
sfakeaccent.
“
You’
l
ldat
eincampusandmall
s,noti
nsi
deher
r
oom.Doyouunder
standme?
”hesays.
Chri
sti
annodsfearf
ull
y.Hel
etshi
m go,wi
thi
na
minuteChr
ist
iangetshi
sbagandrunsout
.

Hesi t
sonthesinglecouchshakinghisheadin
disappoi
ntment.Heknewt hatPhethywantedto
knowt hi
ngsbiggerthanheragebutthisoneblew
hismindaway.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
”shesay
ssof
tl
ybehi
ndhi
m.
Hesi
ghs,
“Si
tdown.
”
Shequi
ckl
ysi
tsandl
ooksathi
m wi
thherey
es
wi
denoutoft
hei
rsocket
s.
“
Whyareyoudisappoi
ntingusli
kethis?Youknowif
i
twasThakasawhowal kedinhereyou’dbeonyour
wayhomeandthatboywoul dbeinthehospit
al?
”
“Ever
ygi
rlhasaboy
fri
endar
oundher
e,”shesay
sin
subtl
edef
ense.
“
You’r
enotever
ygi
rl.Whydoy
ouneedaboyf
ri
end?
Whenthet
imeisri
ghtyou’
l
lmeetamanwho’
lll
ove
youandmarr
yyou.
”
“
Iwantt
oexpl
orebef
oreIexpi
re.
”
Helooksatherst
unned.Thi
sisnotMaKhumal
o’s
l
it
tl
egirl
.
“
Ar eyousti
llgoi
ngtoatt
endt
hereed-
dancethi
s
year?”Ther
e’snobett
erwayt
oaskthi
s;ifshe’
sst
il
l
av i
rgi
n.
“
Ofcour
se,
I’
m nothav
ingsexwi
thhi
m,”shesay
s.
Rel
i
ef!
“Keepitthatway.I
’
m notsay
ingdat
ebuti
fyoudo,
doitcareful
ly
.”
“
Iwi
l
l,
”sheassur
eshi
m.
“Nowy ou’
vepissedmeof
f,Iwon’
tgi
vey
out
hegi
ftI
boughtforyou.
”
“That’
snotfai
r.Whatdi
dyougetme?Rev
ersi
nga
gif
tisasin.
”
“
Abi
ggersi
niscohabi
ti
ngat15.
”
Phet
hyf
rowns,
“I’
m not15!
”
“Whatever,
I’
mt aki
ngmyiPadbackt
othest
oreor
giv
ingittoSphephel
oorLonda.
”
“
They
’rebabi
es,
”shesay
s.
“Exactl
y,t
hey
’rebabi
es,
notadul
ts,
theydeser
ve
gif
ts.”
Tear
swher
ear
eyou?Ther
e’sanemer
gency
!
.
.
NOMKHOSI

She’
shav
ingl
unchwi
thNj
abul
o,t
hewar
ehouse
manager.He’ sthefi
rstmaleshegotcl oset oexcept
herbrot
herswhenshegoti nt
othecompany .He’sin
hi
smi d-
thirt
ies,ver
yhumbl eandpr ofessi
onal i
nhis
work.Ndlali
fadidn’
tcomet owork,they’
restil
l
deal
ingwi t
hgr i
efintheirowndiff
erentway s.He
cal
lsherjustasherl unchisabouttoend.
“Youneedtocometohomei
mmedi
atel
y!
”Ther
e’sa
hintofpani
cinhi
svoi
ce.
“What’
swrong?”Thesecur
it
ywastight
ened,butshe
can’
thelpandnotli
veonedgeaf
terwhathappened
toNgidi
.
“It
’sPhel
o…Idon’tknowwhat’
swrongwith
her…she’
sbeenthrowingupandcr
yingsi
nce12.
”
Shepushesbackherchairandmar chest
owardsher
off
icet
ogr abherbel
ongings.Njabul
oisr
unni
ng
aft
erheraskingi
fever
ythingisokay.
“
Wher
eisshenow?
”she’
saski
ngNdl
ali
fa.
“
Maist r
yingt
oputheri
nbed,shegavehert
he
medi
cineandsheseemstobegett
ingsl
eepy.
”
“
OkayI
’
m comi
ng,
”shedr
opst
hecal
landt
urnst
o
Nj
abul
owi
thpani
cwr
it
tenal
lov
erherf
ace.
“
Mydaught
eri
ssi
ck,
Ihav
etogohome,
”shesay
s.
“Don’
twor
ry,
I’
ll
letRubyknowandmakesur
e
every
onei
saware.”
Shethankshim andr ushesout
.Phelodoesn’tget
sickr
egularl
y,she’
sav er
yheal
thybaby,soheari
ng
thepani
ci nNdlali
fa’
sv oi
cegaveherafright
.Itmust
bebad.Sheget sinthecaranddriveshomel i
kea
maniac.

Shegetshomeandfi
ndshermot herdr
essedup
wit
hherbaginhand,
andNdlal
ifaholdi
ngthe
wrappedPhel
oandherbag.I
tlooksli
kethey
’re
headi
ngout.
“
Wear
egoi
ngt
othedoct
or,
”het
ell
sher
.
Shedr
opsherbagandt
akesPhel
o.
“I
sitworse?”Shepokeshercheeks,
Phel
oopensher
eyesbr
iefl
yandshutsthem agai
n.Shel
ookst
oo
weak.
“
I’
m wor
ri
edaboutherbr
eat
hing,
it’
ssof
aint
,we
bet
terhavehercheckedbythedoct
or.Maybeit’
s
morethanjustt
hrowingup,
”hermothersays.
“Baby
? ”SheshakesPhelotr
yingtogethertoopen
hereyesandseet hathermotherhasar
riv
ed.
Ndl
ali
far
ubshershoul
der
,“Heydon’
tcr
y,she’
s
goi
ngtobeal
ri
ght.
”
TheyleaveinNdlal
i
fa’
scar,
shecannothelpthe
tear
s,Phelowasokaywhenshel ef
tint
hemor ni
ng.
Howcanshef al
lsi
ckandgetsoweakwi t
hinafew
hours?Itdoesn’
tmakeanysense.

Sphephel owasadmi t
ted,hertemper aturehad
skyrocket ed,shewasdr owsyandhar dt owake.Her
skinpal edduet ononstopv omiting.Adr iphasbeen
placedi ntoherf oottoherv ei
nt ogiveherf lui
ds.
Nomkhosi i
si nherlowest,thi
si sherfirstmoment
ofasi ckchi l
dasamot her.Ndlali
fadrov ePhumz i
le
backhomeandpr omi sedtocomebackwi t
haf ew
ofherl ady ’
snecessiti
essi nceshemi ghtbei nthe
hospital overnight
.
They
’reatoddswi
thPhel
o’sf
ami
l
y,t
hisi
samess!
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER79

THAKASA

He’sbeenf eeli
ngdownt hewhol eday.Assoonas
hisdayendedhepackedhi sbelongingsanddrove
strai
ghthome.Buti tl
ookslikethatwasn’tagood
i
dea, her
ehe’ ssubj
ectedint
ot heanniver
sary
celebrat
ionplanni
ng-somet hi
ngheknowsnot hi
ng
about.
“Iwasthinki
ngofivor
ydrapeswi
thadashofsequin
andmirrorworks.Orspar
kli
ngcr
yst
als.Whatdoyou
thi
nk?”
Hechuckl
esandpull
sherint
ohisarm.Hepl
antsa
ki
ssonhercheekandwrapsherinhi
sembrace.
“Areyougoi
ngt
ogetmadi
fIt
ell
yout
het
rut
h?”he
asks.
Shesi
ghs,
“You’
renoti
nter
est
ed?
”
“No,i
t’
snotthat,butIthi
nkitcancutussomesl ack
i
fwej usthi
reapr of
essionalevent-pl
anner.Ionly
knowhowt oplanaboar dmeet ing-withthehel pof
MaDube.I’mlookingforwardtot heday,I
’llwearmy
Bott
egaVenetatuxedoandwai tformybeaut iful
bri
de.
”
Shelaughs,
“Bri
de?I
t’
snotaweddi
ng,
wear
e
cel
ebrati
ngourmarr
iage.
”
“Oh…whatar
ewegoi
ngt
odot
hen?
”heaskswi
tha
sli
ghtf
rown.
“
Cel
ebr
ateourmar
ri
agewi
thourf
ri
endsandf
ami
l
ies,
t
hat
’si
t.I
t’
smorel
i
keapar
ty.
”
“Mmm!I
’
llj
ustf
ollowyourl
ead.Doy
ouwantmet
o
buyy
ouanewring?”
“Nope,butdogetmeanexpensivegif
t.
”Shel
ift
sher
facetohim andki
sseshi
sli
ps.“Ihav
eagiftf
oryou
aswell.I
t’
ll
changeourwhol
elif
e.”
“
Whati
sit
?”Hel
ooksathercur
iousl
y.
“
It
’ssomet
hingy
ou’
veal
way
sdr
eamedof
,you’
l
l
hav
etowai
tunt
ilt
hatSundayt
ofi
ndout
.”
Hisphoneri
ngsbef orehedi gsdeeper.He’snota
gif
ti
nghusband, neit
herissheawi f
et hatbearsgi
ft
s
everynowandt hen.Thismakeshi m evenmor e
excit
edabouttheiranniver
sary.Heneedst opaya
vi
sittoacardealershipsoon.
Heglancesatt
hescreenanddoesn’
trecogni
zet
he
number.Hegentl
yremovesMaNtusiandanswer
s.
“
Thakasa!
”-t
hecal
l
er.
Ther
e’sonl
yonewomanwhocancal
lhi
m sof
ier
cel
y
byhi
sname.
Hecl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
,“Hi
.”
“I
’m att
hehospit
al,
Pheloissi
ck,
they’
ref
eedinghim
withatubebecauseshe’
sdehydr
atedandcan’teat
anythi
ngwit
houtthrowi
ngup.”
Hesi
tsupi
npani
c.
“
Whi
chhospi
tal
?Whendi
dshe….
”
Nomkhosi cut
shim short
.“Li
sten,ifany
thi
ng
happenstomydaught erI
’l
lpersonall
yplanyour
death.Yousenty
ourmot herhere,shecamel i
kea
wrestl
erandwentbackandf ort
hwi thmymot herin
mydaught er’
sandancestors’presence.Twoold
women, Phelo’
sgrandmothers,exchangingwor ds
andnowmydaught eri
ssi
ck.You’ r
ealwaysmi ndful
ofwhataur apeoplebri
ngaroundy ourchil
dren
exceptwheni t
’syourmother.
”
Hestutt
ers,
“Nomkhosi
…I…Isweart
hat
’snot
…it
’snot
what
...
”
“Iwantmydaught erokay .Doctor
scan’tfi
ndany
tummyi nfect
ioninher,yourfamilycausedthisand
youmightpayf oriti
fsomet hinghappenst omy
daughter.
”Withthatsaidshedr opsthecallleav
ing
Thakasa’sfor
eheadf ur
rowedi ntothreel
ines.
“
What
’sgoi
ngon?
”MaNt
usi
asks.
“Sphepheloi
sinthehospital
.Theysuspectmy
mot her
’saggr
essionfori
t.Idi
dn’tsendMat her
e,I
don’tknowanythi
ngaboutwhatt ranspi
redwhenshe
gotthere,
”hesayspicki
nghisshirtandputt
ingiton.
“
Whatarethedoct
orssaying?
”MaNt
usi
asks
l
ooki
ngathimfri
ghtened.
“
Theycan’
tfi
ndwhat
’swr
ongwi
thher
.I’
m goi
ng
t
her
e,Idon’
tev
enknowwhi
chhospi
tal
they
’rei
n.”
“Pl
easekeepy ourphoneon.I’
llt
rytocal
lheraswell
andaskMat ost ar
tprayi
ng.”Theyhugbefor
e
Thakasarushesoutwithhiscarkeysanddashesto
theki
tchentoinfor
m MaKhumal o.

MaKhumal
oadjust
sherglassesandl
ooksathi
m
r
unni
ngint
otheli
vi
ngroom li
keanil
l-
manner
edboy
.
Whorunsi
nsi
dethehouse?!
“
Phel
oissi
ck,
”hesay
spant
ingheav
il
y.
“Theymustbr
ingherhomeandl
etusasherf
ami
l
y
seewhattodo.”
Hesighs,“Ma,i
t’
sseri
ous,mydaughteri
s
hospi
tal
izedanddoctorscan’
tfi
ndanyinf
ect
iont
hat
mightbecausinghertothr
owup.Didyougother
e
anddisr
uptpeaceattheNgidi
s?”
“Iwentt
heretot
alkt
othemot herofy
ourchi
l
d…”
Urgh!Heknowswhat‘t
alki
ng’
meanst ohi
smother
.
“I
fshedoesn’
tgetbet
terwemi
ghthav
etogoand
apol
ogi
zetothem.”
MaKhumal
o’sey
eswi
deni
nawe.
“
Apologi
zeforaski
ngwhyPhel
o’smot
hersl
apped
y
ou?”sheasks.
“Forthenoisey oucall
ed.Idon’
tevenwantto
discussthi
s,ifwehav etoapologi
zewewi l
l,my
daughtercomesf i
rst
.Youhadnor easontofi
ght
withhergrandmot her.
”Het ur
nsandleaves
MaKhumal ost unned.Tal
kabouttheungratef
ulchi
l
d!
“UkushayekancaneuMakaPhelo,
kushoukuthi
ubumdelelanj
engami!
”sheyel
lsafterhi
m andcl
icks
hertongue.
.
.
NOMKHOSI

She’
swat chingherdaught erfal
lasleepaft
er
spendi
ngaf ewmi nuteswithher.SeeingPheloso
weakandsi ckbreaksherhear t,
thisisoneofpainf
ul
motherhoodr eal
i
ties-watchingyourchildsi
ckand
notknowingwhatt odotohel pher.Thedoctorsai
d
she’
l
l bealr
ightbutlooki
ngather
,evenal
i
ttl
echi
l
d
cantell
thatshe’sfarfr
om bei
ngokay.
Sherunsherfi
ngersthroughPhel
o’shai
rasshe
star
tssnor
ingsoft
ly.There’
sahumanstanding
behi
ndher,heavyonhershoulder
sandtall
.
It
’snoneothert
hanPhelo’
sfat
her
,amanwho
i
nsultedheranddegr
adedhermoret
hanany
onehas
everdone.
“
Thakasa,
”shesay
stur
ningherheadt
ohi
m sl
owl
y.
“
Howi
sshe?
”heaskswi
thhi
sey
esf
ixedonPhel
o.
“You’
rehere,
notf
ixi
ngt
hemessy
ourf
ami
l
y
caused?”
“Babeit
’slat
e,Icanconsul
ttomorrowandf indout
what’
shappeningwithher.Ri
ghtnowIj ustwantto
seeher.Issheinpai
n?”Hewal kscloserandleans
overPhelo’
sbedsorrowful
ly.
“
Babeorwhor
e?”Nomkhosi
asks.
“Canwenott
alkaboutthather
e?Idon’
twanther
condi
ti
ontoworsen,
”hesays.
Nomkhosi
sighsandshi
ft
stoal
l
owhi
mtohav
ea
momentwithPhelo.Theyhav
eastrongbond,
she
candenyev
eryt
hingbutnothisl
oveforhi
sdaught
er.
Hepi
cksPhel
o’shandandpl
ant
sasof
tki
ssoni
t.
“MaMkhut shanakaSodondokaNcungu,
MaMnkony eni,
MaDuy azaomhl ophe
njengezihlabathizolwandle.Granddaught erof
Zakhele,uMkhont ’odlaizi
mbangi ,
uNoz i
khawundanez imcel’usheleningesinene.We
apologizei ft
here’sany t
hingthatmadey ouupset .
AllI’
m aski ngisforyout obeokay .Daddyisgoingto
fi
xwhat ev eriti
st hatwasbr oken.”Heki ssesher
l
ittl
ehandagai nandr eleasesadeepbr eath.Phelo
unconsci ouslychewsandt urnst osleeponherr i
ght
si
de.Hegent l
ypat sherbackunt ilshesnor esagai
n.
Heturnshishead,
hisey
esl
ockwit
hNomkhosi
’
sbut
shequickl
yshif
tsher
saway
.Shecan’
tst
andhi
m!
“
CanIst
aywi
thy
ouguy
s?”heasks.
“No,
I’
llcal
lyoui
fther
e’sanychange,
”shesay
s
col
dly
.
“
Canwest
epout
sideandt
alk?
”
“
No!
”shesay
sfi
rml
y.
“
Okay
,atl
eastunbl
ockmeandr
eadmymessages.
”
“
Yourt
imi
ngi
sof
f.Pl
easel
eav
e!”
Heinhal
essharpl
yandglancesatPhel
othenleaves.
Hereall
ywantsachancetoclearupwhathesaid
whenhewashur tandangry
.
.
.
NOTHI
LE

Khany owassentt otakeLondaoutf orshopping.

Hisunclewant stobuysomet hi
ngf orhim.Even
thoughThakasahadal it
tl
eproblem withhim gett
ing
clothesfrom Mandulo,t
heydidreachanagr eement
thathe’dbeallowedtodoev ery
thinganuncl edoes.
Ev enbir
thdayparti
esandschool events,he’
dattend
tosuppor tasan‘uncle’
orsendhi ssi
steronhi s
behalf.
Khanyohasafewdaysbefor
eret
urni
ngbackto
Bergv
il
lesoshewasaskedtohel
pNothi
lewit
h
shoppingf orLonda.Sheknowseveryshopand
everystreetofDurban.They’
reget
ti
nghootsand
smilesfrom cashier
s.She’
snotjustbuyi
ngfor
Londa,she’ sbuyi
ngherownt hi
ngsaswell,
whichis
unli
kelytobeani nstr
ucti
onfrom Mandul
o.Butit
’s
herbrother’smoney,whocansaywhat ?
Finall
ythey’
retakingabr
eakatoneofthecheap
restaurant
sintown.Theyserv
egr i
l
ledchi
cken,
two
saladchoice,f
riesandcol
d-dr
inks.
“I
’m notusedt
osuchpl
aces,
”Nothil
ecompl
ainsas
shestepsonthedi
rtwi
thherheel
.
“You’
rearichhousewi
fe,
Idon’
texpectyouto.This
i
swher eIusedtoeatwhenhavingbhabhal
azi
,they
havenicesauces,
”Khanyosay
s.
“Idon’tev enl
ikechicken,
”Not
hil
esay
slooki
ng
throught hetwo-pagemenuwi t
hsomuch
displeasure.
“Tr
yitwi
thhotchi
psand330ml
Coo-
ee,
”Khany
o
says.
Shecan’thel
pbutlaugh.Shelastchosesuchmeals
atheryouthyear
s,waybeforemeet i
ngThakasa.
“
Chi
ckenmakesmenauseous.I
’
llt
rysomethi
ngelse,
may
bepizzaorasl
i
ceofchocol
atecake,
”shesay
s.
Khanyolooksatherwit
haf r
own.Bythewayshe’sa
badbabyholder,
Londaispulli
ngever
ythi
ngunder
herguardandshedoesn’tevendoanythi
ngabouti
t
exceptsayi
ng;‘
baby,
stopit!
’
“
Arey
oupr
egnant
?”sheasks.
Thesmi l
eonNothi
l
e’sfacesaysital
l
.Thakasa’
s
dream wast
rue,
she’saboutt
ot ur
nfourweeks
pregnant
.
“
Arey
ou?
”Khany
orai
sesherey
ebr
ow.
“Yes,
butI’m st
il
lkeepingitasecr
et,Iwantt
o
surpr
iseManqelewi thapositi
vepr
egnancytestat
ouranniv
ersarycelebrat
ion.
”
Ashersoon-to-besist
erwif
eshet houghtKhany o
wouldbehappyf orher.She’
sfinall
ypregnantwith
herhusband’
sbaby ,it
’sadream comet rueforboth
ofthem.Thisisgoingtobet hebiggestpregnancyin
thefamil
y.
“
Londai
snotev
enone,
”Khany
osay
s.
“Thatdoesn’
tmeananyt
hing.He’sst
il
lmybaby
,
peoplealway
sgetbabi
esthatare…”
“No,i
tmeanssomethi
ng.You’
regett
ingyourselfand
Thakasaababyofy
ourdreams.Whati fy
ouendup
negl
ecti
ngLondawhil
erej
oici
ngoverthe‘r
ight’
baby?”
“Iwon’
t.Icanlovebot
hmybabiesequal
l
y.And
Londawillbegrownbythet
imethi
sbabycomes.I
f
neededI’
llgetananny
.”
Khanyosighs,“Manduloisgoingt
obewor r
iedwhen
hefindsout.Ihopeitwon’tt
akehim backtothat
depressedplace,helov
esLondalikehe’shisonl
y
chi
ld.”
“
Manqel
elov
eshi
mtoo,
”Not
hil
esay
sdef
ensi
vel
y.
“
Oh,
Ibet
!”
Bef
oret
hist
urnsnast
y….
“
Okay
,let
’schanget
hesubj
ect
,”Not
hil
esuggest
s.
Khanyosi
ghs,
“Ri
ght
.Sowhatshoul
dIexpectf
rom
marry
ingi
ntot
heManqel
es?”
“
Losi
ngt
he‘
I
’andunder
standi
ngt
haty
ou’
renotj
ust
Bandla’
swifebutevery
one’spil
l
ar.Fami
lycomes
befor
eev er
ythi
ng,sacr
if
icesandcompromisesar
e
made,”shesays.
Khanyo’
seyeswiden.Thatsoundsevendeeper
comingfr
om theseni
orwifehersel
f.
“Oh,andyouobeyal l
thehouser
uleswhet
hery
ou
beli
eveinthem ornot,
”Nothi
l
eadds.
“Yeah,Bandlatoldmeaboutthat
.I’
m alr
eady
pract
ici
ngcol dfoodonSatur
daysinhishouseand
thenosext hing.
”
Not
hil
ebur
stsi
ntol
aught
er.
“
Idi
dn’
tthi
nkBandl
awasast
ri
ctobser
ver
,”shesay
s.
Khany
ofr
owns,
“Isn’
tThakasaal
soone?
”
Not
hil
elaughsevenmoreandopenshercol
d-dr
ink
i
gnor
ingthequesti
on.
“I
sn’
tthatasi
n,havi
ngsexdur
ingt
hecour
seof
Sabbath?
”Khanyoaskswit
hagasp.
“KaMay
ise,
nobodyi
sper
fecti
nthisworl
d,especi
all
y
notmeandmyhusband,
”Nothi
lesays.
That’
sit
!Khanyowantsmor
efood,
speci
fi
cal
lyf
ri
es
wit
hextrasauce.May
beanot
herl
egofchi
ckenas
well
..
.
.
.
THAKASA

It
’sthenextday ,Nomkhosi hasn’tsaidanything
regar dingPhel o’scondition, whichmeansshe’ snot
gettingwor seorbet ter
.He’ sseenGog’ Zi
khaliand
sheadv i
sedhi mt ogoandmakepeacewi t
ht he
Ngidi s.Hisuncl esarenotav ai
lableatsuchshor t
noticesohehi j
ackedNkonzoanddr oveMawande
allt
hewayf r
om Manget het ocomeandr epresent
hismot her.Rightnowt hey ’
rejustgoi ngtheretotal
k
witht heheadofhouse, Ndlalif
a.He’ l
lsayhispr i
ceif
hewant ssomet hingorj ustapol ogizeaboutt he
noiset ohi sancest orswi thoutr equesti
ngany thi
ng.
Allthishappenedt oosoonaf t
ert hedeathofNgi di
,
thatf ami l
yisst i
llunderadar kcl oud.
“
Ican’
tbel
i
evet
hisweek.Fi
rsti
twasPhet
hyand
nowy ou,don’
tyouguysgett
ir
edofdrama?”Nkonzo
askscomi ngbackwi
thacanofenergydr
inkfr
om
thegarage.
“
Whatdi
dTut
udo?
”Thakasaasks.
“She’sj
ustbei
ngagi
rl
.Any
wayIboughtani
Pad,
I
don’tknowwhotogi
vebet
weenPhel
oandLonda.
Who’ sol
der?
”
“Phel
o,butnotol
denought
oownani
Pad,
”Thakasa
says.
“Well
,I
’l
lgiv
eitt
oher,she’
smydaughterIcangi
ve
heranyt
hingIwant
.It
’l
lbeherwel
comebackgi f
t
whenshecomesoutoft hehospi
tal
,
”Nkonzosays.
Mawandechi
rpsi
nfrom theback,“
Thatwoul
dbe
ni
ce.I’
l
lgi
vemychi
ldrenever
ythi
ngtoo,r
egar
dless
ofage.
”
“
You’
rehav
ingchi
l
dren?Wi
thwho?
”Nkonzoasks
wi
thafr
own.
“
Wit
hBhambat
ha,
”Thakasaanswer
sbef
oreshecan.
Si
l
ence…
“
Real
l
y?”Nkonzoaf
teramoment
.
“
Ummm,
yesr
eal
l
y,”Mawandesay
s.
Hel
ooksatThakasawi
thhisey
ebrowrai
sed.“
Am I
t
heonl
yonewho’sshockedbythi
s?”
“
Probabl
y,y
es,
”Thakasasay
s.
“
Wow!
”
Anothermomentofsilencepasses.Thecardr
ives
of
fandheadst oDurban.Thisfamilyi
sheadi
ng
ever
ywhereexceptt
her ightdi
rect
ion.
“
Whatreall
yhappenedbetweenyouandPhelo’
s
mot
her?”Mawandeasksaf teramomentchangi
ng
t
hebit
tersubj
ectofherandBhambatha.I
t’
ll
take
t
imeforevery
onetodigestandswal
lowit
.
“Wefoughtbutitwasn’
tournormal f
ight.I
tgot
pret
tynastyandsheendedupslappingme, ”
Thakasasaysandtakesadeepbr eath.That
si
tuati
oncould’
vebeenavoided,
hecoul d’v
eacted
bett
erthanhedid.
“Andyousti
l
lwanttomarryher
?”Nkonzoasks
shaki
nghisheadi
ndisbel
i
ef.
“
She’
snotper
fect
,nei
theram I
.Whatmat
ter
sist
hat
shel
ovesmeandIl
oveher
.”
“
SeemslikeI
’
mt heonl
ysanepersoni
nthi
sfami
l
y,”
Nkonzomumblesandtur
nsupthemusic.

Theyarri
veattheNgi
disandfi
ndNdlal
i
faand
Phumzilewait
ingf
orthem.They’
ret
hepeopl
e
they
’reheret
osee-mainones.
Nkonzotakest
hel
ead;gr
eet
sandi
ntr
oduces
hi
mselfandMawande.
“Weheardt
hattherewasabitofadisagreement
bet
weenourfamilyandyour
s,”hesayslooki
ngat
Ndl
ali
fa.
“That’
showy oucall
insul
ti
ngthemot herofyour
chil
d,cal
li
ngherawhor eandsay i
ngyouwanty our
cowbackbecausey oudidn’
tfindheravir
gin?”
Ndlal
ifaasksandshif
tshiseyestoThakasawho’ s
eyeshavebeenfixedonthefl
oor .
“IspokeoutofangerandInev
ersai
dIwant
edany
cowback,”hesays.
“
Good,
becauseev
eni
fyouwant
edi
tyouwer
enot
goi
ngt
ogeti
tback,
”–Ndl
ali
fa.
“Wear enotheretofight
,wewantpeace.Weal so
under standthatMacameher eunannouncedand
createdanunpl easantscene.Ift
here’
sanywayyou’
d
l
ikeust odot oshowourapol ogi
zesletusknowand
we’ll
ar rangeit,
”Nkonzosays.
Phumzil
erel
easesasi
ghandsi t
supstr
aight
.Ifshe
l
etthi
sgoonNdl al
i
famightcauseev
enmor e
damagebetweentwofamil
ies.
“I’
m notamot herwhof avorsachi ldev enwhenshe
makesmi stakes.Nomkhosi isawel l
-discipl
ined
chil
dbutI ’
m notgoi ngt odefendherf orwhatshedi d
becauseIdon’ tknowhowsheact swhenshe’ swith
Phelo’sfather.WhatIwashopi ngwoul dhappeni s
thatmeandMaKhumal owoul d’v
et alkedl i
keadults
andhel pourchi ldr
enr esolv
et heirissues.Ev enif
they’
renotget tingmar ri
edany mor e, i
t’simpor t
ant
forthem tobeci vi
ltowardsoneanot herbecause
theydecidedt obr i
ngahumani ntot hiswor l
d.”
Nkonzonods,
“That
’sv
eryt
rue.
”
“
Sowewel
comey
ourapol
ogyandI
’
dli
ket
o
apologizeonmydaughter
’sbehal
faswell
.Her
behaviorwasunaccept
abl
e,”Phumzi
lesay
s.
“
Dowehav
etopaysomet
hing?
”Mawandeasks.
“
No,
”–Phumzi
l
e.
“Yes,
”Ndl
ali
fasaysi
ncont
radi
cti
on.Phumzi
l
egi
ves
him al
ooktoshutup.
“Wearemourning,
Bab’Nhlekotol
dust ostay
peacef
ull
yandtheydi
stur
bedt hat
.Obviouslyt
hey
havetooff
ersomethi
ngifthey’
reser
ious,”hesay
s.
“No,we’vetalkedabouti tanditendsther
e.Idon’t
wantust ostar tthetendencyofchargi
ngone
anotherformi stakes,
”PhumzilesaysandNdl al
i
fa
sighsindefeat.
“Thanky
ouv er
ymuch,
”Nkonzosay
swi
thr
eli
efand
getsuptoshaket
hei
rhands.
Mawandedoest hesame.Theson-i
n-l
awremains
seatedwit
hhisheadbowed.NowifPhelodoesn’t
getbett
eratt
hehospit
altheymi
ghtbecompel ledto
takeMaKhumalo’sadv
iceandbri
ngherhome, atthe
Manqeles.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER80

NOMKHOSI

She’sexact lywher esher efusedt obeaboutay ear

ago; communi catingwi thMaNt usi regardi
ngPhel o.
EvenwhenPhel ogotdi schar gedf rom thehospi t
al,
MaKhumal odemandedt hatshe’ sbr oughthomet o
bewi thher‘ ri
ghtfulfami l
y ’
,itwasMaNt usiwho
arrangedf orhert obef etched.Thakasahasn’ tsai
d
any t
hingi nawhi l
e,whi chisact ual l
ygood.Once
Phelogott here‘theydeci ded’ ,
MaKhumal oandher
belovedson, thatPhel owasonl ygoi ngtoreturnto
hermot herafterherf ather’sanni versarycelebrati
on.
Knowi nghowPhel oget swhent here’stension
betweenf amiliesNomkhosi deci dednott of i
ght
them, she’
llcomebackwi t
hPhel otoday -i
t’
sf i
nall
y
MaNt usiandThakasa’ sbi gday .
MaNt usisti
l
linsi
stsonherbeingthere.Howcl
oser
they
’vegottenovermonthsdidn’tal
lowhertot
urn
downt heinvi
tati
on.
“T-
str
apormuleheel
s?”sheasksSnal
owav
ingt
wo
pai
rsofshoes.
“Mule,”Snal
osay s,notev enlooki
ngatt hem.She
doesn’twanthert ogobecauseshe’ sscaredt he
anniversar
ythingmi ghthurther.May beay earago,
whenshewasst il
l del
usionalandhead- over-
heelsin
l
ov ewi t
hThakasat heiranniv
ersarycelebrati
on
would’vehurther,butnowshe’ sinabet terplace
withheremot i
ons.AndMaNt usideservesever y
thi
ng
that’
shappeningt ohernow.
Sheli
ft
sthedr
essupandt
urnst
oret
urnt
othe
bedr
oom.
“Youevendesi
gnedadressfort
hei
ranni
ver
sar
y
celebr
ati
on?
”Snaloasksbehi
ndher
.
Sheroll
sherey
es,
“Ican’
tbeugl
yandr
uint
hei
r
pi
ctur
es.”
“You’
reabet
terhumant
hanme.Iwoul
d’v
erocked
upinbaggyj
eansandANCT-
shir
t,
”Snal
osays.
Sheburst
sint
olaught
er,
that
’ssol
i
keSnal
o,she’
d
def
ini
tel
ydothat
,nodoubt.
“
Hav
eyout
alkedt
oMaqhi
ngar
ecent
ly?
”sheasks.
Snalosi
ghs,“
Yeah,afewdaysago,hewassober.I
thi
nkhe’
llcomearoundint
ime,Ki
ngneedshim.”
“Ngidiwouldbesodi sappoi
ntedinhim.Iunderst
and
thathe’
shur t
ing,butwasti
nghimselfli
kethi
sisn’
t
helpi
ngany one.Ndlali
fai
sjustacli
ckawayf r
om
l
osinghissani t
y.Theyshouldbewor ki
ngtoget
her
andhelpingeachot hergoi
ngforward.”
“Iknow,l
et’
sjustgi
vehi
m ali
tt
lemor eti
metoget
himselft
ogether
.HewastheclosesttoDad.
”
Ngidi
’sdeathreallyleftagapi nthefamil
y,ahuge
one.Mor eespeciall
yf ortheboys,hesingl
e-handedl
y
rai
sedthem.Hi sbr otheraswel l
,Nhl
eko, t
heyjust
foundoneanot herandnowhehast of i
gurethi
ngs
outalone;whetherhechangest hesurnameornot ,
howhe’ sgoingtof i
tint hefamil
yandal lt
hat.
Li
fewil
lneverbethesameagai
n,bot
hathomeand
i
nherpersonall
if
e.Hermi
ndhasbeenmadeup,
she’
snotbecomingaManqele’
ssecondwi
fe,
especiall
ynotaft
erThakasast oodther
eandcalled
herawhor e.She’
llhavewhatNdondoandThal ente
have;stablel
if
epartnerwho’l
ldedicat
eshisli
feonl
y
toher.Ifshecangetov ernothavi
ngaf at
herinher
l
ife,
sur el
yshecangetov erThakasaaswel l
.

Finallyl
ook; r
edsequi nedpr om dr
ess,muleheel s
andbl ondeshor thair.Shecutherhairpurposelyt o
i
ndicat ehernewj ourneyi nli
fe.Mostwomendot hat
whenst art
ingover;theysy mboli
zeitbyremov ing
theirhair.She’str
yingt hattoo,maybeit
’l
lwor k.And
shor thairl
ooksgoodonher ,shedoesn’
tregretitat
all
.

Thedriverpicksherup.She’sgoi
ngthereal
one.She
coul
d’vetakeneitherSnaloorNdondo,butt
hosetwo
arecapableofcreati
ngunnecessaryscenesandrui
n
Nothi
le’
sbi gday,whichisn’
tsomethi
ngshehasany
i
ntenti
onf or.
She’
sabitlate,t
here’
saShembeoldmanwho’s
al
readyspeakingatthef
ront
.Ev
ery
oneisseat
ed.
Pheloisnotwear ingthedr essshesentwi t
hherbut
aturquoisetut
udr essandbeadedneck- pi
ecethat
l
ooksl i
keMaNt usi ’
s.Lit
tl
eLondai sdr essedupina
tuxedothatmat chesThakasa’ s.They ’
realmostl
ike
aper f
ectfamil
y.MaNt usioutdidherselfwith
decorati
ons,you’dsweari t’
saweddi ngandnotjust
acelebrati
ondinner .
Nomkhosi takesaseatatt hebackrowoft abl
es,
ever
yone’sat tenti
oni sonthespeakeratthefr
ont,
she’
salmostunnot iceable,whi
chisgood.His
brot
hers,si
st ersandmot herar
esit
ti
ngatt hef
ront
row,al
llookingr esplendent.

She’swatchingat t
enti
v ely
.Ev eryoneisgivingtheir
pi
eceofadv i
ce,congrat ul
ati
ngandsay i
nghow
amazi ngtheyare.Most lyit
’speopl efrom church
andt heManqelel ong-dist
ancer elati
ves.Theyl ook
happy ,MaNtusihasbeensmi l
ingnonst op,she’sa
gl
ow- gett
er.She’swear ingaf l
oor -
lengthAfri
can
designedbr i
daldressandal argeZul ubeaded
i
sicholowi t
hchandel i
erear r
ings.She’ sgotminimal
make- uponherf ace,j
ustt het ouch-upsand
mascara.Thi
sisherday ,andshe’sthehighl
ightofi
t;
fr
om hermagnifi
centdresst ohersmilethat
’sworth
aking’
sransom.Ev entheforeverl
ongfaceof
Thakasameltedtoday,heflashesasmi l
eeverynow
andthen,andhol
dshi swife’shand.

Theironedayoffai
ryt
ale.I
t’
snowt heirti
met otake
thestand.Nomkhosit
akesadeepbr eathandcasts
hereyestotheri
ghtsi
deoft hefrontrows.Tema’s
eyesareonher,whentheystaresmeetshecr acksa
smil
eofacknowledgement.Pitysmile!
Nomkhosismil
esbackandfi
xeshereyesbackto
t
hecustomizedbr
ide&groom wi
ngbackchai
rs.
Thakasai
supwi
thami
candcr
eepi
ngsmi
l
eonhi
s
face.
“Iaskedhert ohi r
eanev ent-pl
annerwho’djustname
herpriceandgetev eryt
hi ngdonebutshei nsistedon
doingev er
ythingher sel
f.I’m st
il
lshocked,Imean,
thi
sismywi fe!”Hel ooksar oundwi t
hadisbelievi
ng
smile,peoplear elaughingt hei
rlungsoff
.“I’
m not
sureIknowwhoImar ri
edany more.Maybeshe’ s
ev
enagoodsi
ngerandIdon’
tknow…”
MaNt
usi
int
erj
ect
s,“
I’
m agoodsi
nger
.You’
vehear
d
mesi
ng.
”
“
Ummm. .
.okay,
let
’smoveon.Yououtdi
dyour
sel
f,
t
hanky
ouv erymuchfort
hisday,
”hesays.
MaNtusi
puckersherl
ipsindisappoi
ntment
.
Ev
ery
oneeruptsint
olaughter
.
“I
’
m kiddi
ng,
you’
reagoodsingerandy
oulook
beaut
iful
,
”hesay
sandtakesherhandforasqueeze.
MaNt
usi
blushes.
“Seveny earsagoont hisdayIt iedmyl ifet oy ouand
vowedt olov eyouwi t
hev er y
t hingt hatIhav eand
everythi
ngt hatIam.Ihav en’
tbeenper fect ,Iwas
neverimmunet osinandi mper f ecti
ons, butt hispast
yearhaspr ov entomet hatourl ov eisst rongert han
l
ife,MaNt usi.Idon’tknowwhatt osay ,
I’m nota
poeticpersonnoram Icr eative, soI ’
mj ustgoi ngt o
thanky ou.Thanky ouf orl ovingmesobol dl
yand
carry
ingmyf ami l
ylikeitwasy ourown.Thanky ou
foryoursuppor tthroughoutt hey earsandr esili
ence.
Thanky ouf orcompani onshipand…t hanky ouf or
makingmeaman. ”Hetakesadeepbr
eath.Shy
ness
takesover
,hedropshiseyes.MaNt
usismil
esathi
m
encouragi
ngl
y.
“Istil
lloveyouthesamewayIdi dthefir
stti
meIset
myey esony ou.Thingsmayhav ehappened,and
mightst il
lhappen,wedon’tknowwhatt hefutur
e
hasst oredforus,butther
e’sonethingthatwil
l
nev erchange,andthatismyl ov
eandpr omisesto
you.Ipr omisedyouf or
everandthatstandsunti
l
forevercomes. ”
She’
ssheddingatear.Thakasaget
sdownonone
kneei
nfrontofher.
“HappyAnniversary
,myl ove.
”Hegi vesheraredbox
withari
bbon.Shewhi sperssomet hi
ngexcitedly
,
probabl
yaskingifsheshoul dopenitri
ghtaway ,and
Thakasanodsather .Sheopenst heboxgr i
nninglike
aCheshirecat.It
’scarkeys,shescreamsouti njoy.
BMW 2- Ser
ies,t
hat’sthegi
ft.Shedidaskf
oran
expensi
v eone,butthat’
snotall,
ther
e’smore.Ago-
spend-mecar dwithawr i
tt
encheque.
“
Iknowy
ou’
rewor
thmor
ethant
his.Thi
sisagi
ftf
or
eachandever
ysingl
edayy ou’
vespentwit
hme.7
year
s,365daysperyearandR100foreachday
.
That’
s(7)
365×100.Thanky ou,
sthandwasami.
”
Womenar egaspi
ng!Menarecl
appi
nghands.
Thakasa’
sli
psarel
ockedi
ntoMaNtusi
’
s-l
oveisi
n
theai
r.
MaKhumal oisblocki
ngeveryone’
searswit
hher
pierci
ngul
ulat
ion.MaNtusishylyhol
dsthemicand
takesthest
and.
“Fi
rstandf oremost ,I’
dli
ket ot hankeveryonewho
camet ocel ebr
at ewithust oday .Idon’tknowi fI
would’v
emadei ttothisdayi fitwasn’tforMa.
Thanky ouMaKhumal of ortakingmei nandt reati
ng
mel i
key ourchi l
d.Orev enmor ethany ourchil
d,”she
saysandchuckl es.“Yoursoncompl ainsthaty ou
l
ovememor ethany oulovehi m.Ilovey outoo,
you’r
ethemot herInev erhad.Thanky ouf orhelpi
ng
mef i
gureoutmot herhoodandhel pi
ngmebecomea
goodwi fetomyhusband.Wi thoutyouradv i
cesand
l
essonswewoul dn’tbeher et oday.”
Thakasacl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
,“I
t’
souranni
ver
sar
y,not
y
our
sandher
s.”
Ev
ery
onel
aughs,
MaKhumal
oincl
uded.
“I’
m savi
ngthebestforthel
ast,
”shetel
lshim and
rel
axesont hechairwi
thasmileonhisfaceand
staresatherasshegoesont othankal
most
everyoneinthefamil
y.
“HappyAnni
ver
saryMt hongawendlovu.Duy
aza
omhlophenj
engezi
hlabathizol
wandle!
”
Thakasat
oucheshi
sfaceandl
aughs.Whata
contr
adi
cti
on!
“Well
,i
nmyey esy ouar e.AndIl ovey ousomuch.
Thanky ouf ordoinglifewi t
hme, Mthonga.Thev ows
Imadesev eny earsagost i
l
lstandt oday.I
’m sti
l
l
goingtor espectyou,honory ourwor dandsuppor t
yourdreams.I ’
m st i
l
lgoi ngtol ovey outi
lldeat
hdo
usapart,”shesay sandsi gnalsforNomcebot o
bri
nghersomet hi
ng.Al it
tlegiftbag.Thakasa
chuckl
es, that’
ssmal lercompar edtowhathegav e
her.Di
dn’ tshesayi t
’l
l bethebi ggestgift
?
“
Ihav
easurpr
iseforyou,
”shesay
sandgi
veshi
m
t
heseal
edenv
elope.
“I
’l
lshareitwi
thhi
m,”Phet
hysay
sloudl
yandrushes
toThakasa’ssi
de.I
tcoul
dbemoneyandherbrother
doesn’tr
eall
yneedit
.
“Iremembery ou’vebeent elli
ngmet hesepastf ew
years,beforeLondaandSphephel ocamei ntoour
l
ives,thatGodwi llanswerourpr ayersi ntimeand
thatIshouldl eaveev eryt
hi ngi nhi shands.Igr ew
i
mpat ientandweendedupt akingdi fferent
dir
ectionsinl i
fe.Itaffectedourmar r
iage, i
nav ery
bigway .Indeed, youwer er ightmy eni wami ,outof
everyt
hingt haty ouar e,y
ourl eader shipcannotbe
questioned.Ihav eseent hegoodnessofGodi na
hopelesspl ace.Whi lewehadev eryreasont obr eak
up, wesor t
edt hingsoutandst ay edinourmar riage.
Happyanni v ersaryMt honga, andcongr atul
ationson
beingaf atheragai n.”
Hefr
owns.Shedir
ectshi
seyestotheenvel
opei
n
hi
shand.Heopensitqui
ckl
ywhilet
hewhole
Manqel
efamil
ystanduptorej
oiceovert
henews.
Thakasalooksstunnedandspeechl
ess.The
ul
trasoundpict
ureistr
embli
nginhishand.
“Yourdreamswer eaccurat
e.Wear ehavingababy!
”
MaNt usibeamsandwr apsherarmsar oundhim.
Sheleansdownt ohisearandwhi sper
s;“Iknow
what’sgoingthr
oughy ourmind.We’l
ldefini
tel
ydoa
DNAt estto…”
Hedoesn’tletherfi
nish.Hegr absherneckand
onsl
aughtsherwi t
haki ss.Hedoesn’tpubli
clyget
s
aff
ect
ionatethismuch, buttodayhasbeent hebest
dayofhisli
fe-he’
sv ulner
ablewi t
hhiswife.

NobodycallsMaKhumal ot
othest age.Nobodyhas
everprogr
ammedhi m,itwon’
tstarttoday.It
’sher
son’sanni
versar
y,nowshejustfoundoutt hatshe’
s
abouttobecomeagr andmotheragain.
Shestart
soffbyreci
ti
ngallt
heManqelesur
names
andhuggingherson.Thenshesi
ngsandtur
nsthe
whol
et hi
ngint
oapr ayi
ngsessi
on.
“Thisfeel
sli
keadream.Mysoni sfi
nallygoingt
o
haveachi l
dhe’
salwayswanted.Achildmyhusband
dieddreamingt
omeet .Ourpr
ayersdidn’tgoinvai
n.
Final
lytheManqel
eshav er
emember edus, t
hey
remember edt hei
rsonanddaught er-
in-l
aw.Their
realmakotiwhowasspr i
nkl edwi t
hinyongoandgot
i
nsidetheManqel epremisesinbr oadday l
ightwit
ha
kist.
”Shesingsagai nandst art
sdanci ng.Every
one
i
shappyexceptNomkhosi attheback.Butshe’ s
sitt
ingst
il
lbecauseshedoesn’ twantt oruin
MaNt usi
’
sdayi nanysortofway .Nothing
MaKhumal osai dwasunt ruebutshe’ soldenought o
knowwhent hingsaresaidt ospiteothersandshe’s
notplayi
ngt hatgameatt heexpenseofher
daughter
.

Thebuzzev entual
lydiesdown.Nkonzot akesupthe
stageandsay shisfewwor ds,sodoesMawande.
Theni t
’scat
chingupmomentf orthechurchgoers
andr ef
reshmentstime.Caterersar
eservingthe
tablesandrunningaroundli
keheadlesschickens.
“MakaPhelo,
”thevoi
cequakesnexttoherandshe
tur
nsherheadtotheawe-st
ruckMawandest ar
ingat
herli
keshe’
satthewrongplace,
atthewrongti
me.
“
Hi,
Iwasi
nvi
ted,
”shecl
ari
fi
esqui
ckl
y.
“
Ummm…Iknow.
”Shest
il
ll
ooksshockedt
hough.
Theyst
areatoneanot
herforami
nut
ebef
ore
Mawandebreakst
hesil
ence.
“Youcutyourhai
r?Di
dyougetper
missi
ont
odo
so?”sheasks.
“
Permissi
ontocutMYhair
?No.I
sitanewl
aw?
”
Nomkhosirai
sesherey
ebr
ow.
“Ummm…no,nevermi
nd.Pl
easecomet
othef
ront
,
don’
tsi
tatt
hebackli
keast
ranger
.”
“No,I
’m goodher
e.Pl
easegetmemydaught
er,
”she
says.
Mawandenodsr el
uctant
lyandwalksawayfr
om her
tabl
e.She’
str
yingtostaycol
lect
ed,r
eal
lydoi
ngher
best.
.
.
Whatadayitwas!Everyonewil
lbesleepi
ngathome,
j
usttocel
ebrat
etherestofthedaywithThakasa.
EvenKhanyocame,whichrarel
yhappens.
There’
sanot
hercardr
ivi
ngi
n.May beoneofthe
rel
ati
veswhoneedaplacet
osleep,sotheyt
hink.
Butit
’sPhel
o’smot herwhost epsoutoft hecarwit
h
herheaduncov er
edandmakesherwayt owardsthe
house.Wit
hev eryt
hingthatwasgoi ngon, Mawande
di
dn’tgett
hetimet ot al
kwithherbrothernorget
PheloasNomkhosi hadinst
ructed.
“You’
reonlycomingnow?”MaNt usi
asksmeet
ing
heratthedoorlooki
ngshocked.Shedi
dn’
tmeet
eachandev er
yonefrom t
heguests.
“No,Icamelat
eandsatattheback.Ev ery
thingwas
beauti
ful
,l
etusknowwheny ou’v
eof f
icial
lystar
ted
planni
ngevent
s.Andcongr
atulati
ons!
”
MaNt
usi
chuckl
es,“
Thankyou.MaybeManqel
ewi
l
l
al
l
owmet ol
ookint
oiti
fIt
akeitasahobby.
”
Thakasaappearswi
thLondainhi
sarms,
hejust
bathedandputPhel
otosleep.Hi
sey
esrun
everywher
eexceptt
othetwowomenstandi
nginthe
ki
tchen.
“Shewastel
l
ingmethatIshoul
dst
artpl
anni
ng
event
s,asajob,
”–MaNtusi.
Thakasal
ooksatNomkhosiwit
hhisey
ebr
ow
fur
rowedbuthedoesn’
tsayany
thi
ng.
“Act
uallyI’
m heretogetmydaught
er.Idon’
tknowi
f
Ishouldstartbygreet
ingMaKhumal
oandasking
permissionfrom her
.”
MaNt usifr
owns,“Ofcoursenot.Icanjustl
ether
knowt hatyouarehere.
”Shetouchesherhips,
feel
i
ngt hetextur
eofthedressandgasps.
“Ayi
senhle!Letmegoandt ellMat hatPhel
ois
l
eaving.”
Sherushesofft
otheloungeleavi
ngt
woest
ranged
par
entslooki
ngatoneanother.
“Youlookbeauti
ful
,”–that’
shisopeningli
ne.He’s
nothappyaboutthehaircutbutatt
hisstageofthei
r
rel
ati
onshiphischoiceofwordsmaycomeacr oss
asdictat
ingandcausemor eharm.
“I
fyouevergetti
mepleasegi
vemeaf ewminut
es.I
j
ustwanttotalkt
oyou,eveni
fther
e’sadi
vi
ngwall
betweenus.
”
Shedoesn’
trespond.Hedoesn’
tunder
standboth
herv
oiceandsilencebutt
odayshechoosessi
lence.
MaKhumalowalksinfol
l
owedbyMaNt usi
who
makesaneyecontactwithNomkhosi
andshr
ugs
hershoul
der
s.Ther
e’sdramacoming!
“
MakaPhel
o,wher
e’st
hedoek?
”MaKhumal
oasks.
Shedoesn’
tsayany t
hing.Heranswertothatmight
bedisr
espect
ful
;they’
venev erboughtheranydoek,
whichoneisMaKhumal otalki
ngabout?
“
Can’tyoutaket
hebabyinthemorni
ng,MaZikode?
I
t’
slatenow,”MaKhumaloasks,
suddenl
ylooki
ng
v
erycalm andhumble.
“No,
I’
dli
ketotakehernow.Iwanthert
osl
eep
homewithherfami
ly,
”shesays.
“Weareherfamil
yandshel
i
kesither
e.She’
sev
en
gai
nedweight,
”–MaKhumalo.
“I
’
dr at
herhaveherinasafeenvi
ronmentwhere
nobodynitpi
cksoverherf
orbei
ngunplannedand
bornoutofwedlockthantohav
eheregaining
weight
,”shesays.
“
Idi
dn’
tni
tpi
ckov
erPhel
o,she’
smygr
anddaught
er,
”
MaKhumal
osay
sshar
plyanddef
ensi
vel
y.
“
Mymot heri
snotalwayscaref
ulwit
hherwordsbut
I
’
m surethat
’snotwhatshemeant,
”Thakasa
i
nter
fer
estakinghi
smother’
sside.
“You’
rebothr
ight.CanIpleasehav
eherandleave?
”
shelooksatMaNt usi
andMaNt usir
equest
sfrom
MaKhumal owit
hherey es.
“I
t’
snosecretthatshewasbor nfrom
umantshontshanaandneit
heroneofy ouplanned
her.Soi
fIrejoi
ceoverthepregnancynewst hatboth
myhusbandandIwant edt
hatshouldn’t
…”Mawande
cl
earsherthroatbef
orehermot hergoesanyfurther
.
“
Canwesitdownandt al
kaboutt
his?I
’m sur
e
t
her
e’samisunder
standi
ng,
”MaNtusibegs.
Thakasal
ooksdef
eat
edanddumbst
ruck.
Mawandet akesadeepbr
eathandspeaksup.They
don’tobeybutev
ery
onedefi
nit
elyl
i
stenswhenshe
tal
ks.
“Pl
easejustapol
ogi
ze,Ma.Asagr
andmother,asan
auntandasaf at
her
,Ibel
iev
eourj
obisnotto
r
emindchil
drenhowt heycameandift
heywer
e
want
edornot .Weshouldbeprot
ect
ingandmaki
ng
t
hem feel
equallyl
oved.”
Nobodysaysanyt
hing.MaNt
usi
sighsandwal
ksout
t
ofetchPhelo.
“Thi
shur
ts,
”Thakasasay
swi
thadeepsi
ghand
bit
eshi
sli
p.
“I
’m sorr
yyouf el
tli
keIwasnitpi
cki
ngov ermyown
granddaught
er.Ilovethatl
i
ttl
egir
l,she’
s…I
apologi
ze,I
’m sorry
,”MaKhumalosay s.
Ther
e’st
hatmomentofdi
sbel
i
eff
rom Thakasaand
Mawande.
“I
t’
scool ,
pleaset
ell
MaNtusi
I’
m wait
ingi
nthecar
outside,
”Nomkhosisay
sandturnsar
oundand
l
eav es.
Loudexhal
ati
ons!
“Ithi
nkmyguardianangel
dri
nks,
”Thakasasays,
sti
l
l
stari
ngatthedoorwheret
hewomanwhouset obe
hisbestf
ri
endandcomf or
tzonedisappear
ed.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER81

It’
sbeenaf ewweeksaf terMaNtusi’
sbig
announcement ,t
hingsar esmoothathome.Cows
wer esenttotheMay ises,theyr
eceiv
edal ett
erof
i
zibizoandnowTema’ sweddingprepar
ationsare
takingplace.Thi
sisdef i
nitel
yoneofthebiggest
yearsfortheManqel es,andobviousl
ythebusiest
withmanyshocker s.
Speakingofshocker s, Mawandeaskedf oraspeci al
dinnerthatwoul dgat herev ery
one.She’saMy eza
now, i
t’sverybossyofhert orequest
dinners/meetingsf r
om t heManqel es.ButMaNt usi
putittogetherany way .Temahasar r
ivedwith
Bandlaandhersoon- to-behusband.Khany oisst i
ll
notthatmuchi nvolvedwi ththefamily,sheknows
she’saboutt ospendt her estofherl
ifewiththem
andusi ngthistimet oenj oyherlastmont hsof
fr
eedom, becauset hat’swhaty oulosewheny ou
becomeaManqel
e.Mostofy
ourf
reedom,
ifnotal
l
ofit
.
“Doesany
oneknowwhatthi
sisabout
?”Bandl
aasks
pull
i
ngachai
randtaki
ngaseat.
NkonzoandThakasaknow, butit’
snott hei
rpl
aceto
tel
l.Thakasai nst
ructedMawandenott obri
ng
Bhambat hayetandwai tunt
ilev
eryonehaswr apped
theirheadsaroundt heideaofhim beingher
husbandbef or ei
nvit
inghimtofami l
ydinnersand
gatherings.
“Let
’swai
tforher
,she’
l
ltel
luswhywear
eher
e,”
Thakasasays.
I
tsoundsliket
here’
sacardri
vingup,
hopef
ull
yit
’s
her
,they
’vewait
edlongenough.
“
Wheni
sPhel
ovi
sit
ing?
”MaKhumal
oasksThakasa.
Li
nespronounceonhisfor
eheadasheheavesa
deepsi
gh.It
’sbeentough;
goingt
hisl
ongwithout
seei
nghisdaughter
.Buthedeci
dedtogi
ve
Nomkhosispacetocooldown,maybewhenshe’s
cal
m shecanopenherheartagai
n.
“
MaNtusisai
dhermot
herpr
omi
sedt
hatshe’
l
lst
il
l
v
isi
t,
”hesays.
MaKhumalot
hunder
s,“
Shepr
omi
sed?Whosechi
l
d
i
sPhelo?
”
“Well
,i
tseemsl i
keNomkhosiisnowquest i
oni
ngus
asafamilyandsafeenvi
ronmentforSphephel
o.I
knowwhaty ousaidmayhavebeenr ecei
vedwrongl
y
butnowIjustfeell
ikemychi
ldisbeingputint
he
middl
eoff i
ght
s.”
“
Whydon’
tyout
akehert
ocour
t?”MaKhumal
oasks.
“BecauseIdon’
twanttofi
ghtwit
hher
.Ihav
eababy
coming,Iwantpeace,
”hesays.
MaKhumalosnort
sangri
lybuthi
smi ndismadeup.
He’
snotgoingtofi
ghtwi
thanybody,especi
all
ynot
Nomkhosi
.Thatwouldputhimintheamountof
st
resshedoesn’
tneedri
ghtnow.

Mawandearr
ivesdr
essedupli
keaMyezamakot i
sheusedt
obewhenNy eziwassti
l
lar
ri
ve.
MaKhumaloi
shappyaboutit
,shewasti
redofher
car
ryi
ngher
sel
fli
keal
i
ttl
egi
rl
.
“Bandlatakeapictur
eofher
,Iwantt
oshow
MaZi kal
ala,
”shebeamsandpoint
sMawandeatt
he
chairnexttoher.
“
Idon’
thav
ebat
ter
y,”Bandl
asay
s.
“
Stopbei
ngj
eal
ousandtakeaphot
oofyoursi
ster
.
I
fIneedt
opayyouf
oryourdat
aIwil
l.
”
Bandl
alaughs,“
Camer
adoesn’
tusedata.I’
l
ltake
pi
ctur
eslater
.Canweeatnow?I
’m st
arvi
ng.”
“Yourwomanshoul dbeherecookingforyou.
MaNt usican’tbef
eedi
ngyouwhileyourownwoman
i
spar adingthestr
eet
sinshor
tsskirt
s.Isshesti
l
la
healer?
”
“
It
’sj
ustf
oodthatIasked!
”Bandl
asay
sfumi
ngand
r
oughl
ypushesbackhischai
r.
“Guyscanwenotfi
ghttoday?”Mawandeasksabit
shockedbyherbr
other
’sreact
ion.Ev
ery
oneknows
howMaKhumal oi
s,whyishet aki
ngwhatshesai
d
tothehear
t?
Hel
eav
est
het
abl
eandwal
ksout
.Ev
ery
onet
urnst
o
Thakasa,hehast
odoorsaysomet hing.Buthe’
s
j
ustleani
ngbackonhischai
rlooki
ngabsent -
minded
andunaff
ectedbyany
thingt
hat’shappening.
“CanIcheckonhi
m bef
orewecont
inue?
”Nkonzo
asks.
Nobodyanswer
s.
Hel
eav
est
het
abl
easwel
l
.
Thisisn’tgoingwellbeforei
tevenstart
s.Temai s
beingaqui etguestasusual.Deepdownshe’ s
feeli
nggui l
tyofwhatKhany oisbeingaccusedof
sinceshecamel ateandMaNt usihadalr
eadydone
everythingbyherself
.She’scarr
yingapreci
ous
cargo, MaKhumal owill
comef oreachoftheirheads
i
ft heyov er
workhert ofeedthei
rmen.

Nkonzocomesback,t
her
e’sacarl
eavi
ng,hefai
l
ed
t
oconv i
nceBandl
atocomebacktothetabl
e.
“
Ithi
nkweshoul
dgoahead,
”hesay
staki
nghi
sseat
.
There’
sashuff
li
ngsoundofplat
esbeingpassed
around,t
henMawandeclear
sherthr
oatandgulps
downagl
assofwat
er.
“SoIhavedeci
dedt
hatI’
m notl
eav
ingthehousemy
husbandbui
ltf
orme.”Ey
eswidenaroundt
hetabl
e.
“I
’l
lst
ayt
here,f
ulf
il
lal
lthedreamsIhadwi
thhi
m
andcont
inuehi
slegacy,
”shesays.
“
Andyou’
l
ldoal
lthi
salone?
”–MaKhumalo.Which
y
oungwomanhaseverrunahouseonherown?
“
Nope,that
’sact
ual
l
yanannouncementIcameto
make,
”Mawandesay sandr
ubshernosener
vousl
y.
Theyst
ayqui
et.Tooqui
etf
orpeace’
ssake!
“
Ihaveletsomeoneinmyhouse.”Thi
sisabet
ter
wayofputti
ngi
t,hopef
ull
ytheyar
egetti
ngi
t.
“
Shoul
dn’
ttheMyezasbet
heonest
ell
i
ngust
his?
”
MaKhumal
oasks.
“
Theywi
ll
.Ij
ustt
houghtitwouldbebet
teri
fIbr
eak
t
henewstoyouf
irst
,”shesay
s.
“Sowhoi sit
?”MaNtusiaskswit
haf ul
lmouth.She’
s
sti
ll
inherfir
sttr
imest
erbutherappeti
tehas
dramatical
l
yincr
easedtothepointwheresheeats
everyt
hinginsi
ghtandalwayshasasnacknextto
her
.
“
Hisbr
other
,”Mawandesay
s.
“
Nottheonewhowentt
ojai
l
,ri
ght
?”MaNt
usi
asks
wi
thhereyeswi
den.
“
Him.Hehaschanged.Ipromisey
ou,he’
sagood
man,
”Mawandeconvincesdesper
atel
y.
Thakasadoesn’
tlooksurpri
sed,MaNtusi
rai
sesher
eyebr
owathim andhej ustshr
ugshisshoul
der
s.
“
Dowehav
easayi
nthi
s?”Nkonzoasks.
Mawandeshakesherhead,
“Notr
eal
l
y.I
’
m aMy
eza
now,
remember.”
Asi
gh!
“MaNtusipl
easegetmypai
ntabl
ets,
Ithi
nkt
his
headacheisheret
okil
lme,
”MaKhumalosay
s
unexpect
edly.
Ther
e’sanawkwar
dsi
l
ence.
MaNt
usi
passesLondat
oTemaandleavesthet
abl
e
t
ofet
cht
hetabl
etsfr
om MaKhumal
o’sbedr
oom.
“
So,
Mawhendoy
out
hinky
ouwantt
omeethi
m and
thefamil
ytodiscusst
hings?
”Mawandebr
eakst
he
bri
efsil
ence.
MaKhumalosi
ghsandl
ooksatThakasa.Hi
ssi
l
ence
i
stooloud.
“You’
renotgoi
ngt osayany
thi
ngtoyoursi
ster
?IfI
tal
kyou’l
lsayI
’m hear
tl
essandIdon’
tknowhowt o
speak,
”sheaskshim.
“You’
rehermother
.Idon’
thaveaprobl
em wit
hwho
shedecidest
obewi t
h,asl
ongasshe’shappyand
notdoingany
thi
ngtodisr
espectNy
ezi’
smemor y,
”
hesays.
MaKhumal obeginstosweatast orm.What’swrong
wit
ht hesechil
dren?Fir
stitwasBandla,t
hisone
di
dn’tdoany t
hingtorepri
mandhi mforwalkingout
fr
om thefamilydinner
,andnowhecan’ tputhis
si
sterontheline!
“You’
relett
ingacri
mi nali
nyoursist
er’
sli
fe?That
boykil
ledRev er
endNkwany ana,
whatifiqungari
ses
andheki l
l
sy oursi
ster?”Dr
amaticasusual!
Thakasashrugshi
sshoul
der
sandpour
shi
msel
f
somejuice.
“Ifany thi
nghappenstomydaught erI
’l
lhol
dy ou
responsi bl
e,”shehi
ssesangri
lyandgrabsthebott
le
oft abletsfr
om MaNtusi’
shandandswal l
owst wo.
MaNt usipassesheraglassofwaterandgoesback
toherseat .
“Ma,I
’m agr
ownup, Thakasai
snotresponsi
blef
or
whatIdowithmyli
fe.Talktomeify
ouhav ea
probl
em,”Mawandesay s.
Thakasai
sunbotheredanddri
nki
nghi
sjui
ce.He’
s
notevenemot
ionall
yavail
abl
eatthet
abl
e.
“I
’
m notgoingtotal
ktoyouaboutany thi
ng.Yousaid
wedon’thaveanysaybecauseyouar eaMy eza.Tel
l
MaNdlovuthatherandIhavetotal
k,”shesaysand
pull
sherplat
e.She’
sdoneandeat i
ngherf ood.
That
’showitends.MaNdlov
uowesheran
expl
anat
ion.That’
sthesameboyshecan’
tcont
rol
,
nowshe’sshif
ti
nghimtoherdaught
er.Whataner
ve!
“
Babearey
ouokay
?”NkonzoasksTemai
nal
ow
whi
sper
.
“
Yes,
”shenods.
Thingshav
ebeenabi
ttense,
she’
sboundt
oget
fr
eakedout.
“Pl
easedon’
tst
arvemygr
andchi
ld,MaDube.Why
areyoupl
ayi
ngwithf
oodandnoteati
ng?”
MaKhumaloasks.
Shechuckl
es,
“I’
m eat
ing,
Ma.
”
“Pl
easedo, Iwi
l
l makeamahewuforyoutomor
row.
Evenifyoudon’thavef
oodreadyi
nthehouseyou’
l
l
easi
lyfi
l
l y
ourstomachwhil
ecooking,
”–
MaKhumal o.
She’
snotsur
eabout‘f
il
li
ngherstomachwi
th
amahewu’
,butwhatcanshesay?Shesmil
esand
nods.
.
.
BANDLA

He’
sgett
ingreadyforwor
k.Hedidcall
Mawande
bef
oregoingtobedandapol
ogizedf
orwalkingout
ofdi
nner
.Heal sof
oundoutaboutBhambatha’s
i
nv ol
vementwi t
hhissister.Apparentl
yt heoldert
wo
alr
eadyknewabouti t
,andseemi nglythey ’
ve
acceptedit.Hehashisconcer nswheni tcomesto
Bhambat habutnobodyi sperfectinthiswor l
d.
Mawandesuppor t
edhi srel
ati
onshipbef oreKhanyo
evenst oppedpart
yinganddr i
nking.Hehast ogiv
e
them thebenefi
tofadoubtandbesuppor ti
veas
well.
Hemakeshi swayt othekitchenbuttoni
nguphi s
shirtandnot i
cesThakasa’ scarpull
ingup.I
t’
sv ery
unusual forhimt ocomet ohi shousesoearl
yint he
mor ning.May beit’
sabouthi m st
ormingoutof
dinner.Heunl ocksthedoorandgoesbackt othe
count ertopreparehislunch-box.
“
Mthonga!
”Thakasawal
ksi
ndr
essedupf
orwor
k.
“It
houghtI’
dseey ouatwork,
”Bandl
asaysbit
inga
sli
ceofbread.He’
scurrent
lyl
ivi
ngli
keabachelor
butit
’l
lchangesoon.
Thakasapul
l
sthechai
randsi
ts.
“No,
Idon’twantust
obr
ingf
ami
l
yissuest
owor
k.
Areyouokay?”
“
Yeah,
I’
m okaynow,
”Bandl
asay
s.
“Sowhatmadeyouleave?Thefoodi
ssueort
hatMa
spokel
iket
hataboutKhanyo?
”
“Both.Thi
siswhyIdi dn’twanttostayathomeafter
getti
ngmar r
ied,becauseoftheseslightj
absthat
shet hr
owsar ound.Idon’tt
hinkKhanyocantakeit
l
y i
ngdown.Myl i
feisgoingtobechaot i
c.”
“Mai sold,Bandla.Oldandki ndofl onel
ywi thout
Dad.Wear eabigf ami l
yandt here’sal
way s
somet hi
nghappeni ng; stressingherout .Idon’tthi
nk
she’sthekindestper sononear th.Shedoessay
thi
ngst omeaswel l
.ButIdon’ tthi
nkweshoul dlet
hergetunderourski n, she’sourmot herandour
wiveshav etolearnfr om ushowt ohandleher .Let
’s
practi
ceal i
ttl
ebitofpat iencewi thher.”
Bandlasighsandtakeshi
ssausagesoutofthepan.
Maybehe’ snotsothi
ck-
ski
nned,t
hingsdogetto
hi
m, especial
l
yifKhanyoi
sbeingtossedi
nthe
middle.
“WhyisKhany
okeepi
ngdi
stanceany
way
?”Thakasa
asks.
“It
hinkit’
sat wo- wayst reet.Youar einvol v
edi nt he
Ngemaaf fairs, oryouwer ebef orethingshappened.
Nkonzoi sal sov erymuchi nvolvedint heDube
aff
airsast heson- i
n-l
aw.I fthere’ssomet hing
happeningt her ehemakessur et hatheget sus, his
family,t
heret osuppor tTema.Ev enwi thPhel o’s
mot her,
ourf ami li
esmayhav ear ockyr elationship
butifthere’ssomet hi
nghappeni ngt herey ouwi llget
allofusther e, suppor ti
ngheri nt imeofneed.But
withKhany oi t’sdi f
ferent,wear enotaf ami lytoher
family.May bebecauseofherbr other’sissue, Idon’t
know.ButIt hinkt heener gymyf ami lygivesheri s
thesameener gyshegi v
esback, whichi sfai r
enough.”
“OhBandla,st
opbeingal ackey!I’
m notgoingt
o
j
umpandgosuppor tMandul o’
scer emoniesor
whateverhedoessot hatKhany ocanacknowledge
thatshe’
smar r
yingint
otheManqel esandnotthe
otherwayaround.”
“
Thenlet’
snotbesurpri
sedi
fsheskipsourdinneror
f
uncti
on.Youcan’
tgivetwoandexpecttenin
r
etur
n,”Bandl
asaysandputsever
ythingbackinthe
fr
idge.“
Shedidcometotheanniv
ersar
ycel
ebrat
ion.
May beyoudi
dn’
tseeher
,justl
i
key oudi
dn’
tsee
Phelo’
smother.
”
Theconversat
ioni
staki
ngadif
fer
entdi
rect
ion.
Thakasatakesadeepbreat
handpeel
sabanana.
“
Shehatesy
ou,
”Bandl
arubsi
tonhi
sfaceand
l
aughs.
“Ididn’twanthertocome.Iknewsomet hi
ngwas
goingt ohappenandcausemor etensi
onbetween
us.ButIdi dn’
tthi
nki twouldbeMaandi twould
i
nv olvemydaught er,Ithoughtmay bei
twouldbe
whatIsayt oMaNt usiandhowi twouldplant
anot herseedofdoubti nhermindaboutmyf eeli
ngs
forher ,
”hesays.
“It
houghtsheknewaboutMaNt usi
from dayone.
Youwantpolygamy,youcan’
tbescaredtoexpress
yourl
ovetotheotherwif
ebecauseofanotherone.I
t
doesn’
tmakesense.”
“Iknow,Ijustdon’
tthinkwearecurr
ent
lyi
nagood
placeforhertowitnessall
that
,”hesay
s.
“
That
’snothowi
twor
ks.MaNt
usi
wil
lbepr
esentat
yoursecondweddi
ng,ifi
t’
sst
il
lhappeni
ng,
andshe
wil
lhavetowit
nessitall
aswell
,
”–Bandla.
Si
gh!
“Doyouthi
nkthesecondweddi
ngi
sst
il
l
happeni
ng?”Bandl
aagain.
“
Ifi
t’
snotNomkhosi
thenIdon’
tthi
nkIwi
l
lget
marr
iedt
oanot
herwoman,”hesays.
“Well
,atl
eastyouandMaNtusi
arehavingchil
dren
now.Nothi
ngwi l
lcompel
youtotakeanotherwife,
”
Bandlasays.
“
Iwishi
twast hateasy.AnywayI’
mlooki
ngf
or
v
enuesforPhelo’
sfir
stbirt
hday.
”
Bandl
afr
owns,
“She’
saboutt
otur
noneal
ready
?”
“
Int
womont
hs,
yeah.Iwantt
opl
anear
ly,
”hesay
s.
Bandlal
aughs.Hefi
ndsthi
sdesper
atesi
deofhis
brot
herfunny
.Nobodyknewhecouldbethi
sweak
becauseofawoman.It’
sanevi
lthi
ngtowishforbut
l
ifewouldbefunnyi
fNomkhosihur
thim moreoft
en.
“
Ar eyoutr
yingt
oscor
epoi
nts?
”He’
schoki
ngdown
alaugh.
“You’r
ebei
ngdumb.It’
smydaught er
’s1stbi
rt
hday,
i
fNomkhosi i
ssureaboutthi
sco-par
enti
ngthing
thensheshoul
dproveitnowandwor kwithmein
planni
ngourdaught
er’
sbirt
hdaypart
y.”
“Shedoesn’
twanttobearoundyou.Whydon’tyou
divi
depl
anningt
asks;fi
ndthevenueandlether
comewi t
hdecorat
ionsandfood?”Bandl
aasks.
“Wehavetowor ktogether
.Nomat t
erhowmuchshe
hat
esme, shecreatedachildwit
hmeandwehave
tor
aisehertogether,
”hesays.
“Idon’
tthi
nkitmeanshavingl
unchanddiscussi
ng
partyt
hemeswhilelooki
ngateachother
’seyesand
l
ustingover
..
.”
“Youdon’
thaveachildBandla,shutup.Youdon’t
knowanythi
ngaboutpar ent
ing,sopleasesaveyour
advi
ceandmakesur ey oudon’tcomet oworklat
e.”
Hegrabsanotherbananaandst ormsoutofthe
house.

Bandl
ashakeshi
sheadandl
aughs.
He’sal
mostdone.Hestil
lhasf
ivemi
nut
est
ospare.
Thakasaneedstobest
ronganddeal
wit
hli
fe.Who
sai
ditwasgoingtobefair
?
Hescr
oll
sdownandcal
l
sKhany
o.
“
Mmhhh!
”That
’showsheanswer
s.
Hemust’
vewokenherupanddi
stur
bedherbeaut
y
sl
eep.
“
Mor
ning,
myl
ove.Howar
eyou?
”
“
Good.Mmmhh,
”shemoans.
“Wakeup,st
handwasami .Didyouseetheti
me?
Whatki
ndofawi fear
ey ougoingtobe?”heteases
goi
ngtothebedroom t
ot akehisbel
t.
“You’
resoannoyi
ng!Howwasdi
nner
?”Nowshe
soundsawake.
“Idon’
tknow.Il
eftbef
oreitst
art
ed.Whydi
dn’
tyou
come,Khanyo?Myf amil
yisnowaski
ngquest
ions.
”
“Whatquest
ions?Youdi
dn’
ttel
lmet
ocome,
”she
asks.
“
DoIhav
etospel
li
tout
?IfIi
nfor
myouabout
somet
hingt
hatmeansIwanty
out
ocomewi
thme.
”
“
Urgh,
Bandl
a!Youar enotapoet
.Don’
tspeakt
ome
i
nmetaphor
s,”shesays.
“Okay
,ar
ey ougoingtobemorepresentand
i
nvolv
edinmyf amil
ynow?I’
mt i
redofdefendi
ng
us,
”heasks.
“
Ifyouaskmenicel
y.ButIdon’
tfeelli
kethere’
sany
r
ush,I’
m goi
ngt
obeav i
l
lagewif
ef ortherestofmy
l
i
feanyway .
”
“You’r
egoingtobeawi f
e.Mywif
e,notavil
l
agewi
fe,
unlessify
ou’r
eplanni
ngtosl
eepwiththewhol
e
vil
l
agewhi l
emarriedt
ome.”
“That
’snotabadthingei
ther.Li
sten,
ther
e’s
somethingyouhavetohear.Ohmygoodness,
Bandl
a!”
Damn,
fiv
emi
nut
esi
sal
mostov
er!
“
Whati
sit
?”heasks.
“Di
dItel
lyouaboutMzwandile?HewenttoJobur
g
i
n1999leavinghiswi
feandkids.Youknow
ever
yonethoughthedi
edinthemi nesor
somet
hing.
”
“
Didn’
thedi
e?”Bandl
aasks.
“No,waitfori
t!Sohiswif
eendedupget ti
ngasex
toywit
ht wolegs.Theyhavetwokidstogether
,she
tookhiminandmadehi mt heheadofMzwandi le’
s
house.Guesswhathappenedl astweek?”
Hel
aughs.Thi
sst
oryi
stoopr
edi
ctabl
e!
“
No,
”hesay
s.
“He’
sback.Nowt hewif
eisli
vi
ngwithbot
hmenin
thehouse,
bothareref
usingt
oleav
e.It
’sawoman’
s
poly
gamything.
”
“
Pol
yandr
y,”Bandl
asay
s.
“
Yes,
that
’st
hewor
d.You’
remywal
ki
ngdi
cti
onar
y.”
Helaughs,
“Pleasewakeupandbr
ushy
ourt
eet
h.I
’
ll
cal
lyoulat
er.
”
“
Nobaby,
I’
m hor
ny.Letmeposi t
ionmyselfwel
l
,
t
henbr
eakmysex-cal
lvi
rgi
nit
y,”shesays.
Hegasps,
“Khany
o,di
dyouseet
het
ime?
”
“
It
’sy
ourf
ather
’scompany
,whyar
eyoupani
cki
ng?
Look,I
’
mly
ingonmybacknow,
nakedandwetf
or
you.
”
Avei
ninhi
smanhoodt
hrobs.“
Comeon,
”he
whi
sper
s.
“Wrapyourhandar
oundt
hatbeaut
if
ulmonst
erand
playwi
thit
.”
He’sst
andi
nginthemiddl
eofthekitchen.Thi
sjui
cy
phonecal
lorhi
sbrot
her’
sinst
ruct
ion?
Deepbr
eat
h!
“
Let
’sdoav
ideo-
cal
l
,Iwantt
oseey
ou,
”hesay
s.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER82

NOTHI
LE

She’
satHl omukaLogist
icsforthefir
stt i
me.She
coul
d’vesentthedri
vert
heset hi
ngst hatPhelolef
t
behi
ndbutshewant edtopersonallyseeNomkhosi .
Ther
e’snoannoy i
ngrecepti
onistl
ikePr eci
oushere,
she’
swel comedbyabubbl ywomanwhochi t
-chat
s
andleavesheratthedoorofNomkhosi ’
snewof fi
ce.
“It
houghtyouwer
ejoki
ngwheny ousaidy
ou’r
e
coming,
”Nomkhosisay
slift
ingherfacewit
hasmi
l
e
asshewalksinwi
thali
ttl
epinkbag.
“I
’m here!
”shesaysandmesmer i
zesar
oundthe
off
ice.“Youhaveabeaut
if
uloff
icebutI
’ddo
somet hi
ngaboutt
hesewall
s.”
Nomkhosi
rol
l
sherey
esandl
aughs.
“
Yesmam,
pleasegi
vemeaquot
e,”shesay
s.
Nothi
lemakeshersel
fcomfor
tabl
eont
heguest
couchandpusheshershoesoff
.
“I
’
m kiddi
ng, yourbaby
daddybl
ue-
tickedmyrequest
ofev
ent -
planninganddecor
ati
ng,
”shesays.
Nomkhosigi
vesheralook,she’
snotpleased.“
You
shoul
d’v
einf
ormedhim,notaskpermission.He’
s
toosel
f-
cent
eredandself
ishfort
hat
.”
MaNtusinar
rowshereye,“I
’
m awifeandI’
m
pr
egnant,maybehe’
sjustconcer
nedthatI
’
ll
ov
erworkmy sel
f.
”
“
No,Thakasaonlycaresabouthimsel
f.Idon’
tknow
whatdemonspossessedmet owantsomet hi
ng
wi
thhim.MaybeIwasusedbyt hedevi
ltotur
ny our
worl
dupsidedown.”
MaNtusisi
ghsandputsPhel
o’sbagonthedesk.
Shedoesn’
thavetoaskanymore,t
heyhav
ebroken
upandbythelookofthi
ngsNomkhosihat
estheair
Thakasabr
eathes.
“
Whatdi
dhedo?
”sheasks.
“Herefusedtogi
v emespacewhenIaskedf ori
t.I
call
edhimt oWaterwaystoexplai
nwhatitmeansto
givesomeonespaceandhebl ewup.Hecall
edme
everyderogat
orynamet hereisundert
hesun.I
’ve
neverbeeninsul
tedli
kethatinmylif
e.”
“I
nsult
ed?May bey oumisunder
stoodhi
m,he’s
every
thi
ngbutnot …”Nomkhosi st
opsherwit
ha
hand.Thi
sisexactlywhatMaKhumal osai
d.Just
becausehe’sdecentathomedoesn’tmeanhe’s
decentwit
hev er
yone.
“YourManqeleisnott heThakasaIknow.Withyou
he’saman,al eaderandhusband.Wi t
hmehe’ sa
l
itt
leboywithspecialneedswhot hrowst
antrums
andactsli
key oubrokehisfavori
tetoywhenevery
ou
chooseyourselfoverhim,
”shesay s.
“
Buty
oust
il
lmadeachi
l
dwi
thhi
m,”Not
hil
ear
gues.
“Idon’
tregretmychi
ld,she’
smyl i
fe.ButIwishIhad
herwithanotherman,especi
all
yafterher
grandmotherstoodi
nf r
ontpeopleandt al
kedl
ike
thatabouther.
”
“
Itwasn’
taboutPhel
o,shedi
dn’
tment
ionany
names,
”Not
hil
edef
ends.
“Shedidn’thavet o.Myf amil
yhadanar gumentwi t
h
herandsheav engedbyat t
ackinghowmydaught er
camei npubl i
c.Phel oisnotthef i
rstchil
di nthe
worldtocomeunpl annedandf rom asecr et
rel
ati
onship.I’m achi l
dofrapeandast epchil
datthe
Ngidis,butnobodyhasev ermademef eel l
ikeIwas
dif
ferent.I
’dratherhav emydaught ersurroundedby
unrel
atedpeopl ewhoseeabeaut ifulgi
r l
inherthan
tohav ehercuddl edbyagr andmot herwhoseesa
productof“ umjolo”andunpl annedpr egnancyin
her.
”
Not
hil
enodswi
thaheav
ybr
eat
h,sheget
sit
,she
r
eal
lydoes.
“I
’mr eal
lysorr
yaboutthat.Iwillt
alktoheraboutit.
May beshedidn’tt
hinki
tt hr
ough.Butpl easebeli
eve
me, Phel
owi l
lneverbetreateddiff
erentlyathome
whileI’
m around.I
thasnev erhappenedbef ore,
MaKhumal ojusthadoneoft hosecrazymoment sof
hers,
”shesay s.
“
Honest
ly,
youar
etheonl
yreasonwhyI
’
dbe
comf ort
ableev ersendingmydaught ertothe
Manqel esagain.Youar eagoodmot her,maybe
Londawasj ustat estt
oy ourmot her
hoodandafter
Godsawy ounur turi
ngt hatboyl i
keaKangarooHe
thought;‘
Whatagem, t
hi swomanhast ocarrymore
ofmychi ldr
en! ’t
henboom, Londaisnotevenone
andy ou’r
epr egnantagai n.”
Not
hil
ecr
acksi
ntol
aught
er.
“Andthist
imear
oundI’
m notscar
edofanyt
hing.I
’m
goingtoenj
oymybigbel
lyti
l
ltheend,
”shesays.
“That’
swhatIwantt oo,i
fIev ergetpregnantagain.
WithPheloIwascr y
ingev erynight
,scaredofhow
she’l
lgrowupwi t
houtaf atherandallthat.Idon’
t
wanttogot hr
ought hat
,ifIeverfal
lpregnantagain
i
twoul dbewithamanI ’m sureIhav eaf utur
ewith,
”
Nomkhosi says.
Not
hil
echuckl
es,
“Inmar
ri
age?
”
“Notnecessar
il
y,buti
nastabl
er el
ati
onshi
pwith
someoneIknowi sgoingt
obet hereeveni
fwedon’t
workout,andsti
llgi
vemerespectasthemotherof
hischi
ld.
”
“Al
lthebesti
ny oursear
ch,
”Nothi
l
esay
swi tha
mockinggri
n.“Anyway,howisy
ourmotherhol
ding
up?”
“
Bett
erthanIexpect
ed,
she’
sast
rongwoman,
”
Nomkhosisays.
“
Idon’
tknowifI
’
dsur
viv
ewi
thoutManqel
e.I
’
m not
t
hatst
rong.
”
“Youl
efthi
m andsurv
ived,
”Nomkhosi
say
swi
thher
eyebr
ownarrowed.
“I
twasdiff
erent
.Deat
histheendofli
fe,
youcan
neverseet
hepersonagai
n,”Not
hil
esaysshr
uggi
ng
hershoul
ders.
Theopeningdoorcutsthei
rconversati
on,
amani n
cri
spywhiteshi
rtandfi
tjeanswalksin.Heseest
hat
Nomkhosi hascompanyandstopst wostepsaway
fr
om thedoor.
“
Idi
dn’tknowy
ouar
ebusy
,”hesay
slooki
ngat
Nomkhosi.
“Don’tworry,
I’
ll
cometoyouroffi
cewhenI’
m done
here.Pleasegetthemuf
fi
ns,I
’
llcomewiththe
cof
fee.
”
HenodsandlooksatNothi
l
e.Hesmi
l
eswarmly
r
eveal
ingasetofwhit
eteet
hwit
hanarr
owgap.
“
Hel
l
o,I
’
m Nj
abul
o,”hesay
s.
Not
hil
elooksatNomkhosi
wit
hherey
eswi
dened.
Whyishetel
li
ngherhi
sname?
“Thi
sisMaNtusi,Phel
o’sf
ather
’swi
fe,
”Nomkhosi
comestotherescue.
Nothi
lecl
earsherthr
oatandl
eansbackont
he
couchuncomfort
ably.
“Oh,I’
m happyt
oknowher .Maybewe’l
lseeher
aroundmor eof
ten,
”hesays,gl
ancesatheragai
n
andheadsoutwi t
hhisheadheldabovehisbr
oad
shoulder
sboldl
y.
“DidIdi
stur
bsomethi
ng?
”Not
hil
easkswi
thherey
es
stuckatt
hedoor.
“Wehav esomeworktodotogetherbuti
t’
snot
scheduledfort
oday
.Wejustneedtochasethe
deadli
ne.”
“
Overmuf
fi
nsandcof
fee?
”–Not
hil
e.
Nomkhosichuckl
es,
“Yes.Wear
ecol
l
eagues,
that
’s
pr
ett
ynormal.”
“
Yournormali
snotnor
mal
.Hel
ooksgoodbyt
he
way
,”shesay
s.
“He’
ssweettoo.”Nomkhosi say
sandpull
sthebag
tocheckwhat’
sinside.There’sacoupl
eofclot
hes
shedoesn’
tknowandt hatbeadedneck-
peacePhel
o
woreattheanni
v er
sarycelebrat
ion.
“
Thanky
ouf
ort
his.Il
ovei
t!
”
“Igoti
tfr
om Zamaf
uzeBeads&Jewel
ry,
”Not
hil
e
says.
Nomkhosi
frowns,
“Theonei
ntown,
GreySt
reet
?”
“Yes,myaunt’sdaughterownsitbutwearenot
close.Ihear
dshe’sgetti
ngmarr i
edthi
syear
,
NomceboandIar en’
teveninv
ited.”
“You’
rer
elat
edtotheNgcobos?
”Nomkhosi
wit
hher
eyesbul
gingout
.
“
No, hermotherisr
elatedtous, shemar r
iedt
othe
Ngcobos.It
’salongstory,
buty eah,ify
ouneed
j
ewelryyoucancheckinherst ore.”
Nomkhosi
laughsshaki
ngherheadi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.
“Iwi
l
laskheraboutyou.She’sgett
ingmarr
iedto
Ndondo’
sbrot
her,myf r
iend.Idi
dn’
tknowyoutwo
arer
elat
ed,
thatexpl
ainsthecurvesandbooty.
”
Not
hil
erol
l
sherey
es,
“Idon’
thav
eat
inywai
st
t
hough.
”
“
Becausey
ou’
repr
egnant
,duh!
”Nomkhosi
say
s.
Sheshakesherhead,“Ineverhadit
.Havi
ngLonda
madeitevenwor sebutI’
m notworri
ed.Manqel
e
doesn’
tcareaboutmyf atpaunch,
heonlycares
aboutwhat’
sbelowit.
”
Theybot
hbur
sti
ntol
aught
er.
.
.
Shedi dalit
tl
eshoppi ngandheadedbackhomet o
star
tondi nnerpreparati
onsbeforeThakasacomes
backf r
om wor k.Shetooklongerthanexpected,
hopefull
yMaKhumal owon’ tbi
teherheadoff.She’
s
sti
ll
flaunti
nghernewcar ;dri
vi
nganywhere,evento
buyapacketofsal ti
ntownf ornosoli
dreason.
“Thi
scari
sgoingtobethedeathofme!”says
MaKhumaloclappi
ngherhandsandstar
ingatheras
sheent
ersthehousewit
hshoppingbags.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Ma.Di
dhet
roubl
eyou?
”
“No,youtroubl
edme,Londadidn’
tbr
eakany
promises.Yousai
dyou’l
lbebackbef
ore3pm,i
t’
s
almost4pm now!”
“Igothel
dup,I’
m sorr
y.I
’
m goingt
orolladumpl
i
ng
andboilchi
ckenfordi
nner.Di
dLondaeathis
porri
dge?”
“Yes,hi
snannyf
edhim,angit
hi?
”MaKhumalo
deri
desandpeepsi
nsidetheshoppi
ngbags.
“HawuMa, howmanyt
imesdoIneedtoapol
ogi
ze?
AnywayIsawPhel
o’smot
hert
oday.”
Sheignoresthatandt
akesasl abofchocolat
efrom
theshoppingbag.MaNtusiknowst hatshehasa
sweettoothandit’
sget
tingwor sewithage.I
t’
spure
l
uckthatshest i
ll
hasmostofhert eeth.
“
Ithi
nkwhatyousaiddi
dmoredamagethanwe
t
hought
.She’
shurti
ngonbehal
fofPhel
oandshe
thi
nksyouint
enti
onal
l
ysai
dwhatyousai
dbecause
ofwhathappenedbet
weenyouandhermot
her.
”
“WhywouldIf
ightmyowngranddaught
ert
ogett
o
herandhermother
?”MaKhumaloasks.
“Shedoesn’tknowy outhatwell
.Maybeyouhav
eto
reassureher,unl
essifyoureal
l
yseePhelo
diff
erentl
y,whichwouldbesadbecauseherand
Londaar en’
tthatdi
ffer
ent,
”shesays.
“She’
scrazy,
”MaKhumal osay
sdismi
ssi
vel
yandsi
ts
onthechaireat
ingherchocol
ate.
“Ma,i
t’
sser
ious.Shesai
dshe’dratherhav
e
str
anger
ssurroundi
ngherdaughterthanf
orherto
becuddl
edbyagr andmotherwhoseesapr oductof
umjol
oinher.
”
ThatalmosttakesMaKhumalo’
sbreat
haway .How
canNomkhosi speakthatway
?She’sPhel
o’s
grandmotherbyblood.
“Ihav
enothingbutl
oveforSphephel
o.I
t’
ssocr
uel
ofhertosaysuchthi
ngaboutme.”
“
May
bey
ouhav
etodosomet
hingt
omakeher
comfort
ablesendi
ngPhel
ohereagai
nwithout
worr
yingaboutherbei
ngpubl
i
clyembar
rassedor
l
ookeddown.”
MaKhumal osi
ghsandgetsoffthechai
r.Shel
eav
es
thekit
chenandgoestoherbedroom.Nomkhosii
s
taki
ngthingst
oofar
.Howdar eshedeemsherasa
hateri
nherowngranddaught
er’
slif
e?!

Thakasaarri
vesandtakesabathwhi leMaNtusiset
s
upfordinner
.It’
sbeenalongday,allhewantsisa
warm meal,steamysexandlongsleep.Heputson
hi
scasual cl
othesandgoesbacktot heki
tchenwith
Londawhoj ustwokeup.
“Ihav
en’tseenmyfat
her’
swif
e,”hesay
sputt
ing
Londainhischai
randpul
li
nghisowntosi
t.
“She’
sbeenlockedinherbedroom si
nceIt
oldher
thatNomkhosiisnotcomfort
ablesendi
ngPhel
o
herebecauseofwhathappened.”
“
Youwentt
oseeNomkhosi
?”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“
Yes,
”shenods.
Asi
gh!
“
Letmecheckonher .
”Hepushest hechai
randgoes
t
oMaKhumal o’
sroom.Heknowshowmuchhi s
motherl
ovesPhel
o,she’
sjustnotgoodwithwords.

Heknocksatt
hedoorandwai
ts.
“
Ma,
it’
sme,
”hesay
saf
teramoment
.
MaKhumaloopensthedoorandgoesbackt
oher
bedandcont
inueswit
hherknit
ti
ng.
“
Dinnerisr
eady,
”hesay
sandsi
tsnextt
oher
.“What
madey ouupset
?”
“Whydon’
tyouasky ourbaby
mama?Shet
hinksI
hat
emygr anddaughter
!”
“Shecomesf r
om adi f
ferentbackground.I’
ll
tal
kto
herbutIneedy out obeal it
tl
emi ndfulofwhatyou
sayandbeopenmi nded.I’
m notinsulti
ngyou,we
areabouttobecomeabi ggerf amily
, y
ouhav et
o
fi
ndawayt oaccommodat eev er
yoneandmake
them comfort
abl e.Youwant eddaught er
-i
n-l
awsand
grandchi
ldr
en,right?”
Shesi
ghsandnods.
“Nowal lt
hatishappeni
ng.BandlaandNkonzoar e
gett
ingmar ri
ed.AndBandla’
swifeisnotgoingtobe
l
ikeMaNt usiandMaDube, butst
il
lyou’
llhav
et o
coexistwit
hher.”
“
Whatdoy
ouwantmet
odo?
”sheasks.
“Iknowy oustandbyy ourtr
uth,butnoteveryt
ruthis
agoodt rut
h.Ifsomethinghasapot enti
alofhurti
ng
thenextpersonit’
sbetternottosayit.Especi
all
y
aboutthekids,don’
ttalkaboutthem ifi
t’
snot
positi
ve.
”
“
Hhay
i-
ke,
Iheary
ou,
”shesay
staki
ngadeepbr
eat
h.
“Sowhati
sthi
s?”heasksl
ooki
ngatt
hepi
eceof
clot
hshe’
skni
tt
ing.
“
Alongski
rtf
orKaMay
ise,
”shesay
s.
Thakasachuckl
es,
“Ist
hisagoodf
abr
ict
hough?You
thi
nkshe’
sgoingtolov
eit?
”
Sherai
sesherey
ebr
ow,
“Ar
eyout
ryi
ngt
osayi
t’
s
ugl
y?”
“
No,
notatal
l
.I’
m sur
eshewi
l
llov
eit
.Let
’sgo
befor
eMaNt usi
sendsanarmy,”hesay
shol
ding
backhisl
aughandstandswit
hhishandhel
doutfor
her.
.
.
KHANYO

Ican’tbeli
eveI’m standi
ngi nf r
ontoft hemi rr
orand
wrappingmyheadwi thascar f.Ionlydot hiswhenI
got obedwi thanewhai r
style,butthistimeI ’
l
l be
walkingaroundi naheadwr apt hewhol eweekend.
TheManqel es,orshouldIjustcal l
them outby
names; ThakasaandMaKhumal o,compl ainedt hat
I’
m notshowi nganyent husiasm asaMakot i-
to-be.
Well,I’
m aboutt oprovethem wr ong.Iknow
MaKhumal ohasnof ai
thinme, she’
llbeamazedby
mydi shes.I’m aChefinmaki ng,myr ecipesare
readyforthem.
“
Babe,i
t’
salmost2:
30pm,”Bandl
asayscomingfr
om
t
hedoor.I
’m al
mostdone-I
’
vebeen‘al
mostdone’
t
hepasthour.
“I
’
mt aki
ngbagst
othecar
,whenIcomebackbe
doneoryou’
l
lwal
ktoENembe,
”hethreat
ensand
l
eaves.
Onlyi
fhewasThakasa,
I’
dhavemyownBMW and
R100foreachdayIl
i
veonthi
sear
th.
Ipackmycosmet icsandtakeonelastlookbefor
eI
rushtothebat
hroom.Iheart hedooropeningand
him shout
ingmyname.Irushoutandputacoat
overmyshoulders,makot
i l
ooknail
ed!
He’
sraci
ngtothedoor.You’
dswearwearerushi
ng
towor
korsomething.It
houghtI’
dhaveachanceto
buyafewthi
ngsintownbuthe’sdri
vi
ngst
rai
ght
home.

Itf
eelssostrangebei
ngher ef
ornor easonandto
knowt hatI
’l
lbeherethewhol eweekendwi t
h
MaKhumal o.Bandl
atakesoutourbagsandgoes
wit
ht hem t
ohisrondavel.Igotot hemainhouse
andfindLondaplayi
ngint hekitchen.He’
sgrowing
tal
landlosi
ngsomewei ght.Hismot herwal
ksinjust
asIpickhim upandkisshi scheek.
“
You’r
ehere,
”shesay
ssmi
l
ingandst
andi
ngbehi
nd
t
hetable.
“
Yes,Bandl
acoul
dn’
twai
t.Sowhatshoul
dIdo
f
ir
st?
”Iask.
“GoandgreetMa.We’l
lst
artcooki
ngl
ater
,may
be
around4pm,”shesay
s.
“Okay,I
’l
lgowit
hmyboy.
”Iputhi
m onmyhi pand
got ot
helounge.Mymot
her
-i
n-l
awisreadi
ngabook.
Ididn’
tknowshewasabookworm.
“
Hel
l
oMa,
”Igr
eetandsi
tont
hecouch.
Sheli
ft
sherheadupandIseehereyesrunni
ngal
l
overme,checki
ngmeoutbel
owglasses.
“Whatdi
dwedot
odeser
veav
isi
tfr
om y
ou?
”she
asks.
Idon’
tsayany
thi
ng.Idon’
tthi
nkanyanswerIgi
ve
wouldberi
ght
.
“I
’m happytoseey ou.Youshouldbear
oundmore
often,t
here’saweddi ngt
opreparef
orandMaNt
usi
can’thandleeveryt
hingal
one.Youcanseet
hatI
’
m
oldandusel ess.
”
“Nopr
obl
em, I
’l
lcomebutIdon’
tknowhowt
obr
ew
umqombothi
andallt
hat,
”Isay.
“It
houghtasmuch.Youl ookamazi
ngbutIt hi
nky ou
mightneedtochangeyourexpensi
veskir
t.Lucki
ly
youfell
inlov
ewithmyf avour
it
eson,I
’l
lalwayslook
outforyou,
”shesays.
Aremot her
sal
lowedtohavefavor
it
es?Ei
therway
I
’m happytobelookedoutf
or.
Shetakessomet
hingnextt
oher,
it’
sintheplast
ic
bag,
shepassesittomeandtel
l
smet oopen.
Nowwhati
sthi
s?Ar
agr
ugf
orwhat
?
“
That
’sy
ourski
rt
,goandchange,
”shesay
s.
Iswearthi
sisthemostugli
estski
rtI
’
veev
erseen.I
wouldn’
tbuyiteveni
fitwasR2.
“
Thisi
sbi
ggert
hanme,
”Isayl
ooki
ngatt
heugl
y
t
hingi
nmyhands.
“I
t’
snotbi
g.Ial
waysmeasuremydesi
gnswi
thmy
eyesandt
heyfi
tev
eryone.
”
That
’snotpossi
ble.Notevenl
egendar
yfashi
on
desi
gnersmeasurethatway.
“
Idohav
esomet
hingIcanchangei
nto,
”Isay
.
Bandl
awal
ksi
nandl
ooksatuswi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown.
“Ikni
tt
edaskir
tforKaMayise,
”MaKhumalotel
lshi
m.
Idon’
tknowifshe’
stest
ingmeordeadserious.
Evenherownskir
tisbet
terthant
hisone.
Bandl
atakesi
tfr
om myhandsandlooksati
t.I
knowmymanhasasanef ashi
onsense…
“
Wow,
Ma!
”hesay
s.
Il
ookathi
m,t
her
e’snot
hing‘
wow’
aboutt
hisski
rt
.
“
Thanky ou,t
hat
’sverysweetofy
ou.Pl
easegoand
f
iti
t,babe.I
’
m sureit
’l
ll
ookamazingonyou.
”
I
’m beyondshocked.Doesn’
theseewhatIsee?
Unbeli
evabl
e!
Il
eav ewithLondaandgot oBandla’
srondavelto
change.MaNt usi
frownsasIwal kpasthereat
inga
bowl ofpopcorni
nt heki
tchen,
butshedoesn’task
anything.

Hehasami
rr
or,
good!Iputhi
smot
her
’shi
deous
skir
t.Whatami xofcolours!Il
ookli
keawal ki
ng
SouthAf r
icanfl
ag.It
’snotthatbi
gthough,i
thelps
thatI’
vegainedafewki l
osthatI’
m noteven
i
nterestedinburni
ngdown.
Iwal
kbacki
nsi
dethemainhouse,MaNt
usi
looksat
meonceandbr
eaksint
olaught
er.
“I
’
m gl
adwe’
l
lbei
ndoor
sbecause,
wow!
”shecr
acks
up.
“Iknow,”Irol
lmyey esandwal kpastt
hekit
chento
thelounge.Idon’
tknowi fIshoul
dgivethem at
wir
l
orjuststandstr
aightupsot hatt
heycanseehow
awfulIlook.
“Wow!”Bandlaagai
n.He’sstar
ti
ngtosoundl
ikean
ambulance,
there’
snothi
ngjaw-dr
oppi
ngaboutme
ri
ghtnow.
“SoIwantt
ocookchickenparmigiana,
Idon’
tknow
whichsi
depeopl
earegoingtolove.Mashed
potat
oesorgr
eensal
ad? ”
Theyf
reeze.Di
dtheyt
hinkIcan’
tcook?Bandl
ais
sl
owthen.
“
ThisisnotDurban,KaMayi
se.Cookri
ceorpap,
you’
l
lcookthosethingsi
nyourshackwit
hBandl
a,”
MaKhumalosay s.
“You’l
ll
oveit.I
’
llmakegr
eensal
ad.Thanksfort
he
skir
t.
”IkissLonda’
scheekandl
eavehim on
Bandla’
slap.
I
’
m cooki
ngchickenpar
migiana,Bandl
ahast
odr
ive
t
otheshopsandgetmeev eryt
hing.
Theywant
edmet
ocome,
I’
m her
enowt
heyshoul
d
embraceme.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER83

THAKASA

Theyhaddi nner,notanormal one.Lucki

lytomorrow
mor ni
ngthey ’
l
lbeleaving,
thisweekendhasbeena
confir
mat i
onthatonceBandl amar r
ieshe’l
lmov e
outwi t
hMaNt usi.Khanyocomesf r
om acompl et
e
di
fferentbackground,andinsteadofadjusti
ngtothe
Manqel eli
fest
yleshe’smakingt hem adj
usttohers.
“Ican’
tbel
ieveIhadl
eav
esfordi
nner
,”hegr
unt
sas
heundressestogeti
nbed.
MaNtusi
chuckles,“
Butitwasdeli
cious.Il
i
kehow
shedi
dhersteak,Ij
ustdidn’
tli
ketheoli
vesinher
sal
ad.
”
“Shecould’v
emadesav oryri
ceorsomethi
ng.We
don’tdodietsar
oundhere,weeattofi
l
lour
stomachs,nottolooksexy.
”
“Okay,
let’
sappreci
atet
heeff
ort
s.Shedidgreat
,
bett
erthananyoneexpect
ed,
”MaNtusidef
ends.
Hegivesheralook,“
That
’sverywarm ofy
ou.Total
ly
di
ffer
entfr
om howy ouwelcomedMaDube; wit
h
Khanyoyoucan’tf
indasi
nglefaul
tinanyt
hingshe
does.
”
Ifsher espondst othisanargumentmayst artand
she’snotl ookingforwardtothat.Londaisasleep,
sheneedsacuddl efrom herhusband,notafight.
Ther e’
ssomet ruthinitt
hough,she’swarmt o
Khany ot hanshei stoTema.It’
snotev enbecauseof
Londa, from thefir
stdayshecamedi sgui
sedast he
curtain-sel
lertheyexchangedpositi
veenergy.
“Geti
nbed,”shesay
spull
i
ngupcov ersf
orhi
m.
Thakasaputshi
sphoneontopofthebedsi
detabl
e
andgetsinbedweari
nghi
sshortonly
.
“Yourbodyiscol
d!”MaNtusi
stat
esr
unni
ngher
handsallov
erhisupperbody.
“
Thenwarmi tup,
”heki
ssesherneckandwr
apshi
s
l
egaroundhers.
“
Sohowwasy
ourday
?”sheaskshi
m.Theyspent
thewholedaytoget
her
,hedidn’
treall
ygoanywher
e
todayexceptt
heshopsbutshestil
lneedst
oaskas
hiswif
e.
“
Idon’
tknow.Howwasy
our
s?”
-hi
m.
“Itwasgood,whenIgotNomkhosi
’
scalltel
li
ngme
thatPhel
ocanstandonherownitbecamebet t
er,
andnowt hatI
’minyourar
msit’
sexcel
lent,
”she
says.
Adeepbr
eat
h!
“Idon’
tknowt
hisandI’
m Phelo’
sfat
her,
”hesay
s,
hisvoi
cewoundedandreeki
ngannoyance.
“Maybei
tski
ppedhermind.Shehadadinnert
hing
shewasatt
endi
ngwithNjabul
otoday
,”MaNtusi
says.
Hi
sfor
eheadf
urr
owsi
ntoaf
rown.
“
Whoi
sthat
?”heasks.
“Anew,ver
yclosefriendofherst
hatshewor
kswi
th
atHlomukaLogist
ics,”shesay
s.
“Oh,Idi
dn’
tknowshemadef
ri
endsal
ready
.Let
alonemalefr
iends.
”
“Hedidn’
tlookli
keashadyper
son.Isawhiminher
off
icetheotherday
,he’
syoungandgood-
looki
ng.
”
Hisvei
nsarethrobbi
ng.Hecanburstatanysecond.
HisembracearoundMaNtusihasloosenedand
nei
theroft
hem isevenawareofit
.
“Youwentther
etocheckmen’
slookort
ogi
veher
Phelo’
sbag?”heasks.
MaNtusisecr
etl
yr ol
l
shereyes.He’
sthefi
neoneto
ask,
didn’
theattendafunct
ionandcheckedout
Nomkhosi’
slooks?
“I
’
mj ustsay
ing.Ev
enifheeverhappenst
obe
aroundPhel
oIdon’tt
hinkhe’
dbedange…”
Heabruptl
ycutsher;“
Don’tevengothere!My
daught
erdoesn’tworkatHlomukaLogisti
cs,
there’
s
noneedforhi
mt obearoundclownsthatworkther
e,
unl
essifsomeoneistesti
ngme. ”
“
Arey
ouj
eal
ous?
”sheaskshi
m.
“Idon’tunderst
andy ourquest
ion,
youbr
oughtthi
s
upandnowI ’
mr eactingasyouwantedmeto.That’
s
notjealousy,
we’retalki
ngaboutmydaught
erhere.I
wantnomanaroundher
.”There’
smorei
ntoi
tthan
helet
son.Hi
snostr
il
sarefl
aredouti
nanger
.He’s
l
ivi
d.
MaNtusichuckl
es,“Ij
ustwantt
oknowi fy
ou’
rest
il
l
i
ntoNomkhosi ornot.I
t’
smybusinessasmuchas
i
t’
syours.
”
“I
’m notcomfort
abl
ediscussi
ngthatwithyou.Yeah,
youknowt hatIl
oveherasmuchasIl oveyou, but
youdon’thavetoknowdeep.Idon’tt
hinkit
’sfair.
Eveny ousai
dthatImustn’
tbri
ngmyi ssueswit hher
toourbed.”
“Iknowbuti
twoul
dn’
thur
ttost
ayupdat
ed,
”she
says.
Het
akesadeepsi
gh.
“IwantherbackbutIdon’tknowwhat’sgoingto
happen,especial
lynowthatther
eareothermen
i
nv ol
ved.Itdoeshurtbutl
i
feisn’
tover
,you’r
esti
ll
hereandy oucompl et
emei nyourownway .Maybe
i
nanot herli
feIwouldbehermanandI ’
dbeabl eto
makeherst ay.”
“
Sot
hatshewon’
tbet
heonet
hatgotaway
?”she
asks.
Eventhoughhedoesn’
tful
lyunder
standt
he
quest
ionhenods,“
Yes,”hesays.
“
Mmmh!”shetur
nst
hel
i
ght
sof
fandsl
eepsf
aci
ng
t
heot
hersi
de.
Hereleasesadeepsigh,shif
tscl
osert
oMaNt usi
’
s
backandwr apshi
sarmsar oundherwaist
.Ifther
e’s
anyt
hingthatmakesev er
ythi
ngfeel
sokayrightnow
i
t’
sthispreci
ousgif
tfrom hisfat
her
.
“Hashestart
edmov i
ng?”heasksinl
ower
edvoice
andbrushesthebackofherneckwit
hhi
sli
ps.
“
Noty
et,
it’
sst
il
lear
ly,
”shesay
s.
Hepresseshisbot
tom f
rontonherandt
ender
ly
bi
tesherear
lobe.
“
May
beheneedsal
i
ttl
emot
ivat
ion,
”hesay
s.
She’
signor
inghim,purposel
y.Ther
e’snor
esponse
fr
om herbody,
atleastnotexter
nal
ly.
“
Arey
out
ir
ed?
”heaskst
ryi
ngt
otur
nherar
ound.
“
Yes,
”shesay
s.
“Kancanenj
emama. ”He’
spushinghisf
inger
s
betweenherthi
ghsandfor
cingherpant
yaside.
“Youdon’
thavet
odoany thi
ng,
”hebegs,
dippi
nghi
s
fi
nger
sbetweenherf
olds.Hebit
esthesi
deofher
neck.
Event
houghhercor
eiswar
m andwet
,ther
e’sno
cl
earr
esponsefr
om her
.
“
I’
mti
red,
Manqel
e,
”shesay
s.
“
Whydon’tyoujustsayawuf
uni
becauseIknowt
his
i
sjustanexcuse?
”heasks.
“I’
m notNomkhosi ,Ican’tbemaki ngsexevery
day,
i
t’sat ir
ingsport
.May bey oudoneedt oconsi
der
takingasecondwi fe,evenifit’
snotherbecausethi
s
i
st oomuchf orme.Ev erynightIknowI’
m gett
ing
l
aid, befor
eIwakeupi t
’sthesamest ory
.Mybodyi s
notgoi ngtohealyou.”
“It
houghtwewer
ebot
henjoyi
ngour
sel
ves.Idi
dn’
t
knowyoufeel
thi
sway
,”hesays.
“Idoenjoymysel
fbutt
hisnewr
outi
necamewi t
hthe
breakup.Youhavetof
indnewheal
i
ngtechni
ques
becauseI’
m notgoi
ngtoserv
ey ousexonmybehal
f
andforthe‘onet
hatgotaway’aswell
.”
Herel
easesadeepsighandturnsontheside-l
amp
onhersi
de.Hewantstolookatheri
nt heeyes.
“MaNt
usi si
tup,
wehavetotal
k,”hei
nst
ruct
ssi
tt
ing
upandleani
ngbackontheheadboar
d.
“
Itol
dyout
hatI
’
mti
red,
”shegr
unt
s.
“
MaNt
usi
!”hev
oicebecomesf
ir
mer
.
Shesi
ghsandsit
sup.Shepul
lst
hecov
ersupt
oher
shoul
der
sandleansbackont
hepil
l
ow.
“Idon’
twantustogobackthere.We’vewor
kedt
oo
hardtobewherewearetoday.Don’tmakei
thar
d
formetocomehomeagai n,I
’m beggi
ngyou,
”he
says.
“
Whatdi
dIdo?
”sheasksnonchal
ant
ly.
“Don’
tpretendli
key oudon’tknow.Umaungaf uni
nenkomoy akhothaniawuf uni
.Don’tbri
ngissuest
o
bedandt henpret
endl i
keI’mtheonewhohav e
i
ssues.I
’m notasexaddi ct,Ij
ustl
ikehowwe’ ve
beenconnectingtheselastfewmont hs.I
t’
snot
aboutNomkhosi
,ifitwasaboutherIwoul
d’v
easked
youtowearadif
ferentchar
actereacht
imewemake
l
ove,”hesay
s.
Shesi
ghs,
“Ij
ustt
hought
…nev
ermi
nd.
”
“Idomind,wear
ehavi
ngaconv er
sat
ionandI
’
d
appreci
atet
oheary
ourthought
s.”
“If
eelli
ketheattenti
ony ou’
regi
vingmehas
multi
pli
edbecauseofherabsence.Idon’twantto
getusedtoitbecausey ou’r
esti
l
lgoingtofi
ghtfor
herandthi
ngswi llhavetogobackt onor
mal once
she’
sback.”
“Sowhatdoyouwantmet odo?Got
oWat
erway
s
andsl
eepalone,
”heasks.
“
No,
”shesay
s.
“
Youwantust
osl
eepi
ndi
ff
erentbeds?
”heasks.
Sheshakesherhead,
“No.
”
“
Youwantust
ohav
easext
imet
abl
e?”heasks.
Sheshakesherheadangr
il
yandbr
eaksi
ntot
ear
s.
“No,
Manqele!”
He’
sconf
used.Hepull
shert
ohi
schestandwr
aps
hi
sarmsaroundher
.
“Okay,
ifI
’
m wr
ongt henIapol
ogi
ze.Idon’
twantt
o
hurty
ouanymore.
”
She’ssti
llcr
ying,
there’
snoexpl
anati
on.Hehasto
calm herdownbef or
eshewakesLondaup.He’s
rubbi
nghershoul der
sandplant
ingsoftki
sseson
herforehead.
“Pl
easemkami,don’
tfl
oodmewi
tht
ear
sli
ket
his,
I
knowit’
snoteasy
.”
“Ij
ustwantt
obesur
ewhereIst
and.Ilov
eyouandI
onl
yknowhowtolovey
ou.Ipr
ayforyou,Manqel
e.”
“Youstandinmyhear t
.Il
ovey outoo,MaNtusi
.
Pleasedon’
tletwhat’
sgoingonbet weenmeand
otherpeopl
eaffectourmarr
iage.IfI
’m doi
ng
somethingyoudon’tl
iket
ellmei narespect
ful
manner.”
Sheexhal
esandwi
peshert
ear
s.
“Okay,
I’
m sor
ryI
’
mjustt
ooemot
ional
today
,”she
says.
“
Let’
sjustcuddl
e,I
’m sur
eMthongacanunder
stand
t
hatmamai snotinthemoodtoday.
”
Shechuckl
es,
“May
bet
omor
row.
”
Henodsandbrushesherar
m.Itmaytakeawhil
efor
hismembertoacceptt
hestar
vat
ionbuthe’
l
lgo
throught
heni
ght.
.
.
Hewokeupear ly
,changedLonda’sdiaper
, t
ookout
tr
ash, i
ronedhiscl
othesandpreparedhislunchbox.
MaNt usi’
salar
m wentoffbuthequicklyswitchedit
offbeforeitwokeherup.
Hehasboi ledLonda’swat er,f
il
ledt
hef l
askbot
tl
e
andrinsedhi smilkbottl
es.Hewant edtomake
somet hingquickforherbef oreshewakes; a
sandwi chorabowl ofcereal.ButKhanyohas
occupiedt hekit
chen,nowi t
’shardforhi
mt ogoin
ther
eandmov earoundashepl eases.
Khanyonot
iceshi
m passi
ngt heki
tchenf
ort
he
secondt
imeandreali
zesthatmaybeheneeds
somet
hing.I
t’
sjustt
het
wooft
hem upf
ornow.
“
Doy
ouneedany
thi
ng?
”sheaskshi
m.
“
Ijustneededf
rui
tsoracer
eal
forMaNt
usi
,
”hesay
s.
“
Breakf
asti
nbed?
”
“
No,
”hesay
swi
thasl
i
ghtf
rown.
Ohwel l
!Sheopenst
hefr
idge,
takesouty
ogurtand
grabstwospoonsfr
om t
hedrawerandclear
sfrom
thekit
chen.

Thakasalooksaroundt hekitchenf orbowls.He

sweatsbeforefi
ndingany thi
ngi nthekitchen.There
aresomeki t
chenapplianceshe’ snotev ensurehe
canuse.Her unsthetap, l
eavesitrunningandl ooks
i
nsidethefri
dge.Cereal orfr
uits?Sigh!
Heputsapearandtwobananasinapl
ate,t
hen
makesabowlofCornfl
akes.May
beyogurtaswell
.
Khany
otookit
,thatmeanswomenloveyogurti
nthe
morni
ng.
MaNtusi
’
seyesf
lut
teropenashewalkst
hroughthe
door
.Theywi
denasthesunraysshi
nebr
ightl
yint
o
t
hem.
“
Whatt
imei
sit
?”sheasksi
npani
c.
“
Don’
twor
ry,
I’
m sor
ted.
”
Herbr
owskni
t,“
Whati
sthat
?”
“Iwantedtomakey ousomet hingtoeatbutIdidn’t
knowwher etostart
,soIoptedf orthi
s.”He’s
embar r
assed,obvi
ouslyMaNt usii
sabet terpar
tner
thanhim,shewould’vemadebet terbreakfasti
fthe
roleswererev
ersed.
MaNtusigi
ggles,“
Thankyou,
myhusband.Letme
got
ot hebathroom f
ir
st.
”
“CanIhavemymorningkiss?Ihavetodasht
owor
k,
maybeI’l
lpopi
nduri
ngtheday ,i
fyouwant
somethi
ngbytheshopsletmeknow. ”
“Okay
,hav
eagr eatday
.”Shepeckshi
sli
psbr
ief
ly
andgoesoutr
ushingtothebat
hroom.
.
.
NOMKHOSI

There’
snothinggoingonbet weenherandNj abul
o.
Nomat terhowmanyt i
messheexpl ainsthis
NdondoandSnal ostill
seeabr ightf
uturebetween
them.He’sacol l
eagueandt hefactthathe’s
employedbyHl omukaLogist i
csmakesi timpossibl
e
fort
hem tobemor ethanfr
iends.
“Any
wayIr
ecei
vedalett
erfrom Thakasa.Idon’
t
knowwhyhecoul
dn’
ttextorcal
l me.”
“
Didn’
tyoubl
ockhi
m?”Ndondoasks.
“
Hecould’
vef
oundal
ter
nat
ivesi
nst
eadofwr
it
ingme
l
ett
ersl
i
keweareint
he80s,
”shesays.
“
Babey ouknowwheremydustbi
nis,t
hrowthat
t
hingaway.He’
sprobabl
ybor
edwi t
hhiswif
e,”–
Ndondo.
“Wehav
eachi l
dt ogether
,Ican’
tbl
ock
communicat
ionforever.
”
Ndondor
oll
shereyes,
“Letmegoputmysonto
sl
eepwhi
leyousi
thereandfal
lbacki
ntohi
str
ap.
”
Si
gh!
Shewaitsunt
ilNdondodisappear
sandgoestosi
tin
thebal
conywiththeseal
edenv el
opesi
gnedbyMrT
Manqele.
Anot
herdeepsi
gh.
Sheopenst
hel
ett
erandr
eadswi
thherbr
eat
hhel
d
up;

*
*
MakaSphephel
o

Idon’tknowwher etostart.Ihavesomucht osay,

somanywor dsinmyhear t
,butpresentlyev er
ythi
ng
seemst obeatsi xesandsev ens.May beIshoul d
startbysay ingI’m sorr
y, f
orev er
ythi
ngt hathas
happenedi ntenti
onall
yanduni nt
enti
onally.IwishI
cant akesomeofi tback,Itastedanddigest edita
l
ittl
ebi ttoolate.Youar eangr yatmeandI
under standwhy .Idon’tdeser veyou,Ineverdid.
Wheny ousai dy ouwant edsomeonebet terIlooked
atmy sel f
,Iintrospect ed, andt ookamomentt olook
backatus.YouandI ,wewer emeantt obebutwe
nev ergott obebecausei nthisl i
fenotev er yoneget s
ev erythingtheydesi re.I twast ool atewhenwemet ,I
alreadyhadal i
feandy ouhady our s,ev ent hough
youwer ewilli
ngt oletmei n,itwast oodi ffer ent
from mi ne.Lov ingy ouwoul d’vebeeneasyi fIwasn’ t
ThakasaManqel e.Youar esoeasyt oloveMaZi kode.
Yourpl ayfulspi ri
t,yourhumbl ey etf iercechar act er
,
yourgoodf ellowshi pandabi lit
yt ol ovebehi ndt he
scenesanddoi tcompl et el
y.Honest l
y, I
’venev er
knownal ov eliket his.Iknowt heki ndofl ov et hat
accommodat esev eryone, I’
m notsay i
ngIdon’ tlove
thatki ndofl ov e.No, Ilov eit.Iwasr aisedt hatway ;
tol ovecomf or tablyandper manent ly.Tol ov ef or
my selfandf orev eryone.Butour swasdi ffer ent
becauseIhadt obesel fish.WhenImety ouandf el
l
i
nl ovewi thy ouIknewt hatourl ovewasn’ tt heki nd
thatwasgoi ngt ocat erf orev eryone.I nf act ,itwas
goi ngt oeitherdest royev erythingIhadorper sonally
dest royme.Andi ndeed, ithasdest royedme.My
hear tiswor nt oshr eds, I’m scar edf ort hef i
r stti
me
i
nav erylongt i
me.Idon’ tknowhowI ’
m goi ngt o
everfor gety oubecausey oul ivei nther e-inmyhear t.
Icarryy ouar oundwi thme.I t
’shar dbutI ’
mt ryi
ngto
l
iveabal ancedl ifeev ent houghI ’
m nowst andi ngon
onef oot .Imi sshowy ouhol dme.Imi ssourdeep
l
ate-nightconv ersat i
onsandhowv ulner abley our
presencemakeme.It houghtaf terev ery t
hi ngwe
wentt hroughPhel owasf inallygoi ngt obet he
reasonourl ov emadesenset oev eryone.Buti t’syou
whohaspul ledback.Youhav eleftme, Nomkhosi .I
don’tknowhowt olive.Peopl ear easki ngquest i
ons
andIdon’ thav eanswer s.Whi lesomepeopl eget
thei
rf orev er,y ouandIdi dn’ tevengethal fadecade.
Ukukuphat hakungi hluli
l
e, uthandol ungi hlulil
e,
namanj einhl iziyoyami i
yabal isa.Ngi yat hat ha
ngiyabeka, kubuhl ungukuy aqaqamba.Idon’ tknow
whot ot ur nt o, myemot ionsar est ucki napl ace
that’
sj ustt oodar k.Ev eni fyoudon’ tkni tback
tatt
ersofmyhear t,canIhav emyf ri
endback?

*
*
Ahandtapsonhershoul
der
.It
’sNdondo.Shebl
ows
outandkeepsherf
acedown.
“
You’
recr
ying?
”–Ndondo.
“I
’mjust…Idon’
tevenknowwhyI ’m cr
ying.”She
can’
tfindanyserv
iet
te,shewipesherey eswithher
fi
ngersandblowsoutanothersigh.
“Hegottoyou.Ohmygoodness,
Khosi
!”Ndondo
excl
aims.
Sheshakesherhead.Hedi
dn’
tgett
oher
,it
’sj
ust
thatshecan’
tst
opthetear
s.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER84

THAKASA

Heknewi mmedi atelyassoonashegotunbl ocked.

Hewasaboutt oknockof f,hecheckedhi s
messagesandr ealiz edalloft hem hadgonet hr
ough.
Hedi dn’twasteanysecond, hecal l
edr i
ghtaway .He
didn’tknowwhathewasgoi ngt osay, j
ustheari
ng
herv oi cewould'vebeenenough.Butt heyhada
conv er sati
on,shedi dn’tshoutathi m orment ion
any thingaboutt hei rcur r
entr elat
ionshipstat
us.They
talkedaboutPhel o,shesenthi mv i
deosofherand
het ookt heoppor tuni tyt
oaskt oseeher .Shesaid
yes, thatalmostf eltl ikeadr eam.

He’
scal
ledMaNt
usiandl
etherknowthathewon’t
behomeonti
me.Buthedi
dn’tment
ionanyt
hing
aboutgoingtoKhosibecauseheremotionsarever
y
hi
ghl at
ely.Hedoesn’
tknowwhethershest i
ll
welcomest hei
deaofhim wit
hNomkhosi ornot
.
Thispromisestobeonehellofapregnancy.
Nowhe’ sonhi swayt oWat erway s,becausehe
doesn’tknowhowl onghe’sgoi ngt obetherehe
passesbySt eersandgetbur gers.He’snervous;
whatifthingsdon’ tgoasheexpect ?Canhehandl e
anotherrejecti
on?Het ookitpr ett
ybadt helastt
ime,
evensaidt hingsheshoul dn’thav esaid.

Shegother efir
st,
hercarispar kedoutsi
deandt he
maindoori sopen.Heexer ci
sesaf ewbr eaths
beforecli
mbingoutoft hecar.He’sreall
yscared,
there’
sadr umbeatroll
inginhischest.Hehast obe
mindfulofwhathesay sandhowhesay sit.Healso
needstoclearhismot her’
snameandpi tchPhelo’
s
fi
rstbir
thdayideasthathe’sal
readycomeupwi t
h.
Hewal ksthr
oughthedoorwi t
honehandi
nhis
pocketandanotheronetuckedbehi
ndhi
sneck.He’
s
tr
yingtolookconfi
dent
,li
keheknowswhathe’
shere
tosay
.Thenhenot i
cest
helit
tlepri
ncesscrawli
ng
towar
dshim wi t
hjui
cysali
varunningdownherchi n
andsuddenlyforget
severy
thing.Hisl
ipsst
retchint
o
ahugesmile,heholdshisarmsoutandcallsher
name.
“Sphephelosi
kaBaba!
”Hel i
ft
sherupandpecksher
wetlips.Thi
sisthel
ongesthe’sgonewi t
houtseei
ng
hisdaughterandhe’
dforgott
enhowi tfeel
stohave
herinhisarms.Howshecompl eteshisli
febyjust
beinghersel
f.
Eventhefactt
hatshe’shitt
inghisforehead
complet
eshim.Beingaf athertothisgir
lisf
ulf
il
li
ng.
He’sf
eeli
ngguilt
yforlet
tinghisissueswithher
mothercomebet weenthem.
“Babami ssedyousomuch! ”hetell
sher,even
thoughhedoesn’ tunderst andwhathe’ssaying,hi
s
ti
ghthuggi vesheracl earmessage.Babi esalso
underst
andbodyl anguage, shestar
tsstari
ngathim
i
nt heeyes-they’
reglit
teringwithtears.Shi
t!Hecan’t
cryinfr
ontofhisdaught er.
“
Ilov
eyouandy
ourmot
her
.Iwantt
obey
ourdaddy
ever
yday.Doy ouwantustoli
vehere?Me, youand
mom? ”Hekisseshercheekandchuckleswhen
Phel
oshiftsherat
tent
iontosomethingelse;
i
gnori
ngt hequest
ion.
“
Babami
ssedhi
sgi
rl
s,
”hecont
inues.
Nomkhosiclearsherthr
oatst
andingbythe
bathr
oom door.Itt
akesadeepbreathandami
nut
e
forhi
mtot ur
nhi seyes.
She’
shurt
ing.I
t’
swritt
enalloverherface.Andshe’
s
notcer
tai
naboutbeinghere.Thelett
ergottoher,
Ndondowasr i
ght
;she’sf
allenbackintohistr
ap.
“
Sawubona,
”hesay
sandt
hei
rey
esl
ockf
oral
ong
minut
e.
Shesi
ghs,
“Yebo.
”
“
Ididn’
tthi
nkyou’
dcomewit
hher
.Thanky
ou,
Ireal
l
y
missedher
…andyou,
”hesay
s.
Nor
esponse.
She’
sst
ari
ngintohi
ssoul
.Whythi
soneparti
cul
ar
man?Outofallmeni
nthewor
ld.Womendate,
dumpanddate.Att
hei
r30st
heychasehappi
ness,
eveni fitmeanschangi ngmenl ikeunderwear .Only
happinessmat ters.She’shadmor ebadti
mest han
goodt imeswi t
hthisman, yetshe’sherereadyt o
l
istent ohisundyinglovedecl arati
onandgetf ucked
again.Hehasawi f
eathome, t
heonehe’ sv owedt o
l
ov etill
death.Hiswi f
et hatgoti mpregnat
edby
anothermanandst i
ll
camebackhomet or aisethe
chil
dunderhi sroofwi t
hhi m.Sheknowsf oraf act
thatifthismanev ergetsf orcedt ochoosebet ween
herandhi swi
fehe’dchoosehi swi fe.
Yes,heloveshertoo.Shebeliev
eshim.Shemakes
hi
m happyandi nherhe’sfoundaplaceofcomfort
.
Butknowinghimt hewayshedoes, sheknowsthat
ThakasaManqel ewil
lneverleavehi
swifefor
anyone,notevenforhimself
.
“Doesshehavefavor
it
ecart
oonsyet
?”heasks
amidstt
heintensest
aret
hat’
ssendi
ngcol
dshiver
s
downhisspine.
“
Shewat
chesany
thi
ng,
”Nomkhosi
say
s.
Hechuckl
es,“
Bet
terthanLondawhowantst
owatch
t
heSunli
ghtdi
shwashingl
iqui
dadver
t.Wedeal
wit
h
consequencesev
ery
timei
tgoesof
f.
”
That
’sawaytogo.Mother
sar
eal
way
spassi
onat
e
i
ndiscussi
ngbabi
es.
“
Can’
tyour
ecor
ditorsomet
hing?
”She’
slaughi
ng.
“I
tdoesn’tev enplayfort
womi nutes.Heneedst o
l
over ealcartoons,notbri
efadv ert
s.”Hegoeswi t
h
Phelotot heloungeandswi tchest heTVon.She’ s
sti
l
lenjoyinghert i
mewi thherfather ,t
hei
rissues
canwai t
.Thakasasi tsandpl ay
swi t
hherunt i
lshe
fi
ndsat oyt hat’
swor t
hallherat t
ention.
Hel eavesherpl
ayi
ngbyhersel
fandgoesbackt
o
hermot her.Hecanseeherf
rom wher
ehe’
s
standing.

HetakesNomkhosi’
shandandgoestothest
aircase
andsit
sonthefi
rstst
ep.Sheremai
nsonherfeet,he
hol
dsontoherlegandli
ft
shiseyestoher
.
“
Howhav
eyoubeen?
”heasks.
“
Fine,
”shesay
sandt
akesadeepbr
eat
h.
“
Iwasnotf
ine.Iwasmi
ssi
ngy
ou,
butmor
ethan
anyt
hingIwasfeel
i
ngguil
tyaboutev
ery
thi
ngt
hat
happenedthel
astt
imeIsawy ou.
”
“
Okay
,”shesay
sfol
dingherar
msandl
ooki
ngaway
.
“Nomkhosi ,
whydoIf eell
ikewe’veletpeoplecome
betweenus?Yeswewer enev erper
fectbutIfeell
ike
exter
nal f
actorsarenowpl ayi
ngar oleinthi
s.Fir
stl
y
mymot her
,Iknowshe’ ssomehowhel pedthe
sit
uati
onget swor se.Thenthere’
syourf amil
yand
fr
iends.Iknowt heydon’tl
ikemeandt heymaybe
mot i
vati
ngy outobr eakmyhear t
.”
Sherol
l
sherey
es.“
Youbl
ameev
ery
oneexcept
your
sel
f.”
“
Idobl
amemy sel
f,bi
gti
me.That’
swhyI’m her
e
l
ayi
ngmysel
ftoyouandaski
ngforfor
giv
eness.”
“
Yousaidyoudon’
twantmyl
oveback,
youonl
y
wantourf
ri
endshi
p.”
“
Idi
dn’
tsaythat
.Isai
difyoucan’tlov
emeback, can
weatl
eastcont
inuebei
ngfri
ends,”herect
if
ies.
“
Ourf
ri
endshi
phadbenef
its.Idon’
tunder
standhow
y
ouwanttobefr
iendswi
thawhor e,
”shesays.
“I
’
m sorr
y.Idon’tknowhowI’
ll
evert
akethose
wordsback,becauseIt
rul
yval
ueourfr
iendshi
pand
Il
oveyou,”hesays.
Shesighsandst ayssil
entforamoment.He’
s
stari
ngather,desperat
elywanti
nghert
ogranthi
m
forgi
veness.
“
Pleasegi
vemeonel
astchance.I
fImesst
hingsup
t
histi
meI’
lll
ety
oul
eave,
”hebegs.
“You’
lll
etmel
eav
e?Thi
siswhyIdon’
tli
key
ou,
Thakasa!”
Hi
sey
ebr
owkni
t.“
Youdon’
tli
keme?
”
“Yes,Idon’tl
i
keyouatal l
.Idon’tknowwhyandhow
Ifel
l i
nlovewithyou.I
’m agrownasswoman, you
can’t‘
letme’dothingsthatconcernmyli
fe.I
’
m not
yourchild.
”
Hel
ooksdownandchuckl
es.
“
Okay,I
’
m sor
ryaboutthatt
oo.Doyout
hinkmay
be
weneedarel
ati
onshi
pcounseli
ng?
”
“
No,
Ithi
nky
ouneedt
ochangeManqel
e,
”shesay
s.
Hi
sli
psst
ret
chi
ntoasmi
l
e.
“
Wangi
bizakamnandi
.”
“
Mxm!Whatdidyoubri
ng?I
’m hungr
y,”sheasks
t
urni
ngar
oundtowalkaway
.
“Yimakancane,
”hetakesadeepbreat
handt
ight
ens
hisgr
iparoundherl
eg.“WhoisNjabul
o?”
Shef
rowns,
“Huh?
”
“
Njabul
o?Whati
shet
oyou?
”
“He’
smycol
l
eague.Whyar
eyouaski
ngmeabout
him?”
“I’
mjustcurious.”Hebit
eshi
sli
pandst aresather
.
Emot i
onsarel ockedbehi
ndhi
sey el
ids.Justthe
thoughtofherwi thanot
hermaninternall
ybreaks
himintopieces.
“Didyou…”Adeepbr
eath!Heswall
owshar
dand
forceshi
seyestomeethers.“
Didy
ousl
eepwit
h
him? ”
“
Eveni
fIdi
d,y
ouandIwer
enott
oget
her
,”shesay
s.
“
Soy
oudi
d?”Hi
svoi
ceshat
ter
sinpai
n.
“
No,
Idi
dn’
t.Buty
ou’
renotent
it
ledt
omyv
agi
na,
r
efr
ainfr
om aski
ngmesuchquest
ionsi
fwear
enot
t
ogether
.”
Hest andsupandhol dsherar
m.Thei
reyesl
ock,
she’
sangr yathim andsomehowitt
urnshi
m on.He
smilesandtearshiseyesawayfr
om herf
ora
second.He’sblushing.
“
Whyar
eyousmi
l
ing?
”She’
sir
ri
tat
ed.
“I
’
mj usthappyt
obeabl
etohol
dyoul
i
ket
hisagai
n,
”
hesays.
Sheroll
shereyesandpull
sherhandback.Buthe
grabsheragai
n,hi
shandisaroundherwaist
.It
sl
idesunderherpanty
,shegaspsashisf
ingerstap
ontohercooki
ejar.
“
Ther
e’sachi
l
dher
e!”sheexcl
aimsf
ri
ght
ful
l
y.
“Lat
erareyougoi
ngt
oletmecheckhowy
ou’
ve
beentr
eati
ngher?
”
Herey
elashesf
lut
terr
api
dly
.
“
Check?
”sheasks.
“
YouknowwhatImean.Canwesl
eepher
e,pl
ease?
”
“
Idi
dn’
ttel
lMa,
”shesay
s.
“Idi
dn’
ttel
lMaNt
usi
eit
her
,butt
hat
’swhatphones
arefor
,ri
ght
?”
Shedoesn’tr
espondbutshe’snotwal
kingoutei
ther
.
Hewalksbehindher,
holdi
ngherwaistandtypi
nga
l
ongtexttohiswif
eexplai
ninghimsel
f.
Phelohasthelounget ohersel
fandshe’smaki
ng
surenottoleaveanythingi
norder.Shehasthe
remoteinhandt hatshe’st
ryi
ngtohittheTVscreen
with.
Heboughtthishousebefor
etheyhadPhel
o,t
her
e’s
somucht hatneedstobedonetomakeitchi
l
d
fr
iendl
y.
Nomkhosi t
akesther emotefr
om herhandand
mov eshert
ostandbyt hecouch.Insteadofcrying
Phelomakesaf ace;she’sabi
tcheeky .Thakasa
watchesatt
enti
velyhowKhosi react
st oit.He’
s
pr
otecti
veofhisdaught er
.
“Bei
ngBabyNhla’
sst
udentisgoingtogety
ourli
tt
le
assspankedbef
orey
ouev enturnone,
”Nomkhosi
warnsPhelogoi
ngovert
hecoffee-
tabl
etofi
xthe
mess.
“
Whospanksy
ou?
”heasksher
.
“
Nobody
.I’
m notnaught
y.”
Hel
aughs,
“Icant
est
if
yagai
nstt
hat
.”
Sher
oll
sherey
esandwal
ksawaytof
etchthemop
towi
pethemil
kPhel
ospi
l
ledal
lov
ert
hef l
oor.

Het akesPhel oandput sheronhi slap.Justl

ikeany
otherchild, hi
sphonequi cklyget
sherwhol e
attent
ion.I tgoestoherear ,armpi
tandwetmout h.
Buthet rust shisdaughter,shewouldn’
tdamagehi s
phone, r
ight ?Heput sheront hefl
oorandf ol
l
ows
thedirectionofNomkhosi .
Theybumpint
oeachot
herbyt
heki
tchencor
ner
.
Nomkhosif
rowns,
“Areyouf
ollowi
ngmear oundandl
eav
ingPhel
oin
chargeaf
terwhatshe’
sdone?”
Hegrabsherwai
standl
ift
sherup.Shetri
esto
wri
ggleher
sel
fof
fhisarmsbuthe’st
oostrong.She
gi
vesupandwrapsherarmsaroundhisshoul
ders
whi
l
eherl
egswr
apar
oundhi
swai
st.
“
I’
m notgoingt
olety
oufal
l,
”hesayswi
thhi
sey
es
l
ockedint
ohers.“
CanIki
ssyou?”
“
No,
”shesay
sweakl
y.
Hechasesherl ipswithhisunt i
lshehasnowher et o
turnherf ace.Theykiss.Atfir
stsher espondslazil
y
totheki ss,heputsherdownandpi nsheragai nst
thewal l.Hiskneegoesbet weenhert highs,hetucks
hernecki nhi shandsandki ssesherdeeper .Her
ener gymat cheshis,
theirli
pspassionatelylockand
theirtongueschaseoneanot her.Hishandgr absher
hip,hedoesn’ twanttoletgo, hewant storipher
clothesof fandlayherrighthereont hefloor.
Butt
heymadealit
tl
ehuman,shecl
imbsonhisleg
andhequi
ckl
ylet
sgoofhermotherpant
ingheavi
l
y.
“Iwasn’
treadytobeafather,
”hesayspickingPhel
o
up.Nomkhosi cr
acksi
ntolaughter
.She’
st urnedon
aswell,
herbodyalwaysbetraysher,
butri
ghtnow
i
t’sPhel
ot i
me.
“
Uyangi
chazaMamakhe,
”hesay
sleani
ngov
erher
f
aceforaqui
ckki
ssbefor
eMadam Phel
odi
smiss
t
hemeet
ing.
Nomkhosi
frownswit
hasmi l
eonherface.“
Arey
ou
20now?Whatkindofl
anguagei
sthat
?”
“
It
’sal
ovel
anguage,
”hesay
s.
Sheshakesherheadandwal ksawaywi t
hast upid
gri
nonherf ace.Ev eryoneclosetoherwillwash
thei
rhandswi t
hSav lonanti
septi
cliqui
dwhent hey
fi
ndoutaboutt his.Snalomayev enaddJik..
.t
his
ti
meshepr omi sedt hem shewasn’ tgi
vi
nghim
anotherchance.
.
.
NKONZO

AtthehouseofMt hongaIIli
feispr ett
ysi mple.They
sayacoupl ethatpraystogetherstayst ogether,but
i
nt hishouset heydoev eryt
hingtoget her.Theywor k
together,praytogetheranddol if
et ogether.Tema’ s
pregnancymaynotbef amousatt heManqel es,but
reall
y,she’shav i
ngasmoot hjourneywi ththe
uncondi t
ional suppor tofherhusband- t
o-be.Inthe
shadowsshe’ sbei ngt reatedlikeaqueen, onething
shel ov esaboutNkonzoi shisabi l
itytosepar at
e
himsel ffrom t hecr owd.Asmuchashehasan
elementofcont r
ol anddi ctat
or shi
p, heknowswhen
tost opandl ethi swomant aket helead.Women
l
ov ef eeli
ngl iket hey ’
rei ncontrol,soev er
ynowand
thenhet akest hebackseatandl etsTemadowhat
shet hi
nksi sr i
ght .Likeanyot hercoupl e,theyfi
ght ,
andhor monesar enotmaki ngi teasy .Butoneoft he
rulesi ntheirhousei s;nomat t
erhowmucht ension
ther eis,everyi ssuei sdiscussedandr esolv
ed
bef orebedt i
me.

Todayhe’ snotsur ewhathedi d,hopefull

yhe’l
lhear
i
tbef oretheygot obed.Shedi shedf orhi
m andwent
totheguestr oom andl ockedherselfther
e.Heat e
dinneralone,i
twaski ndofhar rowing.Hemi ssed
home, howt here’salway sdramawi t
hhismot her
tryi
ngt ocontroleverythingandev eryonearoundthe
table.Butthi
si spartofgr owingup, hisparent
sliv
ed
alonebef or
eThakasaandal lofthem came.Sur el
y
theyhadthesemomentst
oo.Asti
megoesont
hey’
ll
haveabroodofchi
ldr
enandthi
shousewi
ll
bef
il
led
withj
oy.

Hest andsnexttot hesi

nkabsent-mindedl yafter
washinghi splat
e.Ifhecal
lshismot hershe’ l
leasi
ly
catchthesor r
owi nhisvoi
ce,andknowi ng
MaKhumal oheknowst hatshe’
llaskhi mt ocome
homeanddef ini
tel
ytrol
lTemaf orstressingher
baby.Herbabi esareherstostr
essandt aunt,once
otherpeopledot hesameshecomesf ort hem
gunblazing.

Softhandst
ouchhi
sar
m.Heturnshishead,hi
s
eyeslandonhi
snowcal
m-l
ooki
ngfiancee.
Hedoesn’
tsayanyt
hing.Shestandsi
nfrontofhi
m
andr
unsherhandsonhi sarm.Herel
easesadeep
si
ghandbrushesoverherhand.
“
Tal
ktome,
”hesay
s.
Shest
andsonhert
oesandst
eal
saqui
ckki
ssf
rom
hi
sli
ps.Hechuckl
esandst
eal
saki
ssf
rom hert
oo.
“
Youf
ini
shedmypeanutbut
ter
,”shesay
s.
Hefrowns,
“No,
Idi
dn’
t.Idon’
tev
eneatpeanut
but
ter.
”
“
Thenwhof
ini
shedi
t?”
“
Ghost
s,may
be.
”
Sheroll
sherey
esandwr
apsherar
msar
oundhi
s
waist
.
“
SoI
’
vebeent
hinki
ngaboutourf
utur
e,”shesay
s.
“
Mmmh!I
’
mli
steni
ng.
”
“Wouldyoueverconsi
dermovingaway
,may
bet
oa
dif
fer
entprov
inceorcount
ry?
”
Hef
rowns.
“
Whyar
eyouaski
ngmet
his?
”
“BecauseIthi
nkitwouldbegoodf orusifwemov ed
somewher eel
seaftertheweddi ng.Ican’
tbey our
brother’
sPAmywhol el i
fe,andyoudef i
nit
elydon’
t
wantt obewalki
nginy ourfather
’sshoesand
workingunderyourbrotheryourwholelif
e,ri
ght?”
“
Notri
ght,Iact
ual
lydon’
tmi
nd.That
’sourchi
l
dren’
s
l
egacy
,”hesays.
“Sowearestucki
nMandeni
ourwhol
eli
ves?
”she
asksmournf
ull
y.
“Baby.
..
”Herel
easesasigh,“Iknowy ou’
renotused
toabigfamil
yandsomet i
mest hingsgettoomuch,
butI’
l
lprot
ectyourpeaceatallcosts.
”
“That’
snott hepoint
.Iwantustomov eawayfr
om
everyone.Let’
sbuyahousei nDur
banorPretor
ia,
openanot herbranchofMthongaHoldi
ngsonthe
othersideofthecountry
.Thatwouldmakeyour
fatherproudaswel l
,
”shesays.
“Idon’
tknow,babe.Thatwoul
dbeahugest
ep,I’
m
notevensureIwanttobeawayfr
om myfamil
ythat
much.”
“Cany ouatleastthi
nkaboutit
?I’v
eseenhow
famili
esgeti nv
olvedinpeopl
e’
smar r
iagesandruin
ever
y t
hing.Thisismysecondmar riageandIwanti t
tobet helast.I
fanythi
ngeverhappensIwantt otake
ful
lresponsibil
i
tyforit
.Iwanti
ttobemyf aul
t,or
yours.Idon’twanttohatesomebody ,especi
all
ynot
anyonef
rom y
ourfamil
y.AndIt
hinkt
hat
’spossi
ble
wit
hsomedistancebet
weenus.
”
“Ihearyou,
I’
ll
thi
nkabouti
t.Wast
her
eany
thi
ngel
se
botheri
ngyou?”
Shesi
ghs,
“Yes,
thepeanutbut
ter
.”
“
Babe,themoreyoueatsomet
hing,
thequickeri
t
f
ini
shes.Cant
hisbabycomeoutalr
eady?
”
“Youwer
ei nnor
ushput
ti
nghi
mint
her
e.Keept
he
sameenergy!
”
“
Butt
odayIwantt
orushy
ou,
”hesay
s.
Shef
rowns,
“Rushme?
”
“
Hanky
-panky
!”
Canher ushal
ready?Thi
spr
omi
sest
oful
fi
ll
the
peanutbutt
ercravi
ngs.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
SEASONFI
NALE
CHAPTER85

NKONZO

I
t’
sjustaf ewweeksbef or
eheget smarri
ed.Ner ves
havekickedi n,hefear
edt hisst
ageoflif
ebutt here’
s
nodoubti nhi sheartt
hathe’sfoundagoodwi fe.
Bef
orehet akestimeof fworkheneedst odiscuss
hi
sfutur ewi t
hThakasa.He’ sst
il
linhi
sof f
ice,
bef
orel eavingNkonzogoest ohim wi
thlef
tover sof
hi
slunch.
“YouandMaDubearedri
vi
ngsepar
atel
ytoday
?”he
asksasNkonzooccupi
esaseat
.
“Bandlal
i
ftedher
,Ihavetogosomewherebefore
goinghome.Shehatestheroadandsheneededto
rest.
”
“It
houghty
ouwoul
d’v
etol
dhert
oresi
gnbynow,
”he
says.
Nkonzochuckl
es,“
Idon’tt
hinkt
hat’
swhatshe
wants.We’
venevertal
kedabouti
tbutIthi
nkevenif
sheresi
gnsitwoul
dbebecauseshe’sfoundanot
her
j
ob.”
“
She’
spregnantt
hough.Youmakeenoughmoney
f
orhert
ostayathomeandnotwakeupev er
yday
l
i
keumfaziwephant
a.”
“Shewill
takemat
erni
tyl
eavewheni
t’
sti
me.I’
m
actual
l
yheretodi
scusssomet
hingwi
thyou.
”
Herai
seshiseyebrow.He’str
yingtofi
nishwhathe’s
doi
ngquickl
y,everyonehasknockedoffexcepthi
m.
Thi
sbett
erbequi ck.
“
We’
vebeenthi
nki
ngaboutmov
ingt
oPr
etor
iaaf
ter
t
heweddi
ng,
”Nkonzosays.
“
Honey
moon?
”heasks.
Nkonzoshakeshi
shead,
“No,
per
manent
ly.
”
“
Idon’
tunder
stand,
”hesay
s.
“Rememberweoncet
alkedaboutexpandi
ngthe
company.May
beIcanmov eawayandwor kon
that
.”
“Ev
enifweexpandthecompanywe’dopenabranch
herei
nKZN,notPret
ori
a.Andwewoul dhav
eto
employf
ull
staf
f,wecan’
tjustspl
i
t.”
“Okay,may
bethenIcanj
ustf
indanewj
obt
hat
side,
”–Nkonzo.
“Bot hyouandIrefusedt oletBandlamov eto
Dur banaft
ergraduating.Whochangedt hescr i
pt
andmadei tokayfory outoleave?Thisi
sour
father’
sbusiness,alegacyf orourchi
ldr
en,andI’m
notgoi ngt
or unital
one.I fyoumov eawayt hen
Bandl ahaseveryri
ghtt oresignandgof orhis
dreamst oo.”
“
ButIhav
epl
ayedmypar
t…”
“Whodi dn’t
?Istar
tedwor ki
nghereatt heageof23,
myf atherwasjustamanager .Ihadadegr eeandhe
sti
lli
nsistedonmewor kinghereasaner rand-
boy
becauseheknewt hispl acewoul dbeal egacythat
we’dpassdownt oourki dsandgr andkids.14year
s
ofhardwor kandy out hinkIhav en’
tplayedmypar t
here?Ifthat’
showt hingswor kthenIshoul dbethe
fi
rstonet oleav
e.”
Henodsandeat shisfood.He’
snotthat
disappoi
nted,hewantedt ogi
veitatryf
orTema’s
sake.Helov eshavi
nghisownpl aceandpr
ivacy
,but
he’sneverthoughtofbeingathousandmil
esaway
fr
om home.
Asfarast hemanagementoft hecompanyand
famil
ymat ter
sgo,Thakasahast hefi
nalword.I
tis
whatiti
s;Temahast oforgetaboutPret
oriaand
acceptthepackagethatcomeswi thmarry
inga
Manqele.
.
.
THAKASA

MaNtusii
slyi
ngwi t
hherfeetonhislap.I
t’
salmost
23h00andneit
herofthem hasgott
enanysl eep.
Seei
nghowf r
eeThakasawas, shetoldhi
mt oget
themassageoilandmassageherfeet.Men’shands
shoul
dalwaysdosomet hi
ng,hecan’tj
ustsi
tt her
e
andstar
eather.
“
Ithi
nkyouwer
eri
ghtaboutMaDube,
”hesay
sand
t
akesadeepbr
eat
h.
Sher
aisesherey
ebr
ow,
“Whatdi
dshedo?
”
“Nkonzowant stomovetoPretoria.I
fitwasBandlaI
woul d’
veunderst
oodbecausehe’salwayshatedthe
vil
lage.NkonzoandIwerehell
-bentinkeepinghi
m
hereandwesucceeded.Nowal lofasuddenhe
want stomov etoPr
etor
iaandev enconsiders
resigni
ng.”
Shutt
hef
rontdoor
!
Herey
esar
ewi
denoutoft
hei
rsocket
s.
“Iknewshewasgoi ngtodosomet hingli
kethi
s.
Thisgirl
wasbor ninGhana,rai
sedinTembi sa,
mar r
iedatInandaTownship,gotdi
v orcedand
mov edtoMandeni.Nowshe’ smar r
y i
ngNkonzoand
youthinkshe’sgoi
ngtostickaround?She’sa
vegabond.”
Thakasachuckl
es,“No,It
hinkshe’
sjustscaredof
commi t
ment.Shecan’tevencommitherselfi
nto
stay
inginoneplace.
”
“Andmar ri
aget oo,”MaNtusiaddsandr oll
sherey es.
Yes,sheunder standsthatherfi
rsthusbandwas
abusive, butsti
ll
,Temadoesn’ thavewhati ttakesto
beawi fe, aManqel eonef ort
hatmat ter
.Khany ocan
surv
ive, shetrustsher.Khosiaswel l
,she’
sf amily-
ori
ented, whichi sanecessaryquali
tyofbei nga
Manqel e.
“Let’
sseehowNkonzohandl est
hisone.Ihopeshe
willgoaheadwi t
htheweddingandacceptherf ate.I
don’twantittogotothepointwheremybr otherhas
tochoosebet weenhisl
egacyandher.Her eall
y
l
ov esher,
”-Thakasa.
“
Whethersheleav
esornott hechi
l
dshe’
scar
ryi
ngi
s
aManqeleandwillber
aisedasone.”
Hepullsherotherfootandsqueezestheheelwhil
e
rubbi
ngthearch.“Ihopeitdoesn’
tgettothat
becauseIreal
l
yl i
keher,Iwouldn’
twantust of
ight
,I
knowwhatshe’ sbeenthroughinli
fe.
”
“
Ithoughty
ou’
dputNkonzofi
rst
.He’
syourbrot
her
f
orcryi
ngoutl
oud.He’
sbeenthr
oughalott
oo.”
“
Whathashebeent
hrough?
”heaskswi
thachuckl
e.
“Youshouldknowwhathe’
sbeenthroughi
nsteadof
knowingwhatyourPAhasbeenthr
ough.Lookat
yoursel
f!
”
Helaughs,
“You’
remaki
ngmel ookli
keabadbrother
.
Am Idonenow?I’
vemassagedbothofyourf
eet.
”
“
Iwantsome-
mor
e,”shesay
s.
“Younev
ergi
vemesome-morewhenIask,
”hesay
s
pushi
ngherf
ootof
fhi
slap.
“
You’
renotbei
ngtrut
hful
.Whenhav
eIev
erdeni
ed
y
ousome-more?”
“Notevensome-mor
e,you’
vebeendeny
ingmesex
andIdon’tev
enknowwhatIdidwrongbecauseIhi
t
anyspotyoutel
lmetohit
.”
Shepl
ayf
ull
ykickshim,“
Stop!You’
reabst
aini
ng,
it’
s
goodf
oryourhealt
h.”
“
Abst
aini
ng?
”Her
aiseshi
sey
ebr
ow.
“
Well
,i
nthisbedr
oom.Idon’
tknowwheny
ouar
ein
Wat
erways.
”
“Comeon,ourconnect
ionwasgreat
,you’r
ethi
cker
andti
ght
er.I
fstayi
ngawayfrom t
hatleadstogood
heal
tht
hanI
’
drat
hergetsi
ck.
”
Shel
aughs,
“Thenwho’
dfat
herourchi
l
dren?
”
“Nkonzo,
”hesay sandclear
severyt
hingandli
es
nexttoher.Ther
e’ssomethi
ngimpor t
antheneeds
totel
lher,
andmay benowistheonlyri
ghtt
imetodo
so.
“
MaNt
usi
,
”hehol
dsherhandandr
ubsherf
inger
s.
Her
eitcomes!
“IknowManqele,
youtwoar
ebackt
oget
her
,”she
saysandheavesasi
gh.
“Ummh, yeah.Butt
here’
ssomethi
ngelse.
”He’
s
star
ingather,t
ryi
ngtoreadheremot
ions.
“
Okay
,I’
mli
steni
ng.
”
“Iwantt
osendadelegat
iont
oaskf
orNomkhosi
’
s
handinmarr
iage.
”
“
Didsheagr
ee?
”sheasks.
“
No,
”hesay
s.
Shef
rowns.
“
Howar
eyougoi
ngt
odot
hat
?”
“I
’l
lj
ustdoi t
.Ifsheturnsthem backthen…Idon’t
know.Idon’twantittolookli
keI’m st
il
ldoingthi
ngs
behindyourback,yougav emey ourblessi
ngto
marryher,nottofoolaround.
”
“Idon’tt
hinkt
hat’ssmart
,butyou’
reagrownman
andy ouknowy ourgi
rl
fr
iendbett
erthanIdo.
”
“Thankyou,
”hesaysandpull
shercloser
.Heki
sses
herli
psandlooksdeepl
yint
ohereyes.
“Don’
tev
erdoubt,
evenforasecond,
thatIl
ovey
ou.
You’r
emyforev
er,
”hesays.
“
Prov
ethatt
ome.
”
“
How?
”
“
Event
-pl
anni
ng.
”
Hesighs,
“Notnow.Canwet
alkt
alkabouti
taf
ter
you’
vegiv
enbir
th?”
“Whati
fwetalkaboutitandyoudon’
tagree?Ineed
yourwor
d.Areyougoingtoletmepursuethisand
seewherei
tgoes?”
“Weareaboutt
ohav et
woki ds,
ify ouinsistondoing
i
tthenwearegoingtol
aysomegr oundr ules.Li
ke
howmanyjobsyoucant akeandwhi chday syou
can’
tcompromi
sebecauseofwor k.Iwantmyki ds
togrowi
nawar m homewi t
htheirmom ar ound.
”
“
Ipr
omi
seI
’
llal
way
sputt
hem f
ir
st,
”shesay
s.
“
Andmet
oo,
right
?"
Shel
aughs,
“Yes,
myf
ir
stson.
”
“
Yourfi
rstsoni
scold.Pl
easewar
m him al
i
ttl
ebi
t,
maybewe’ll
beabl
et osl
eepaf
ter
wards.
”
It
’sver
ylat
e,Londai sasl
eepandt
hey’
vetal
ked
aboutever
ythi
ng,there’
snothi
ngt
heycandoexcept
havi
ngsomeadul tfun.
“
Howbaddoy
ouwanti
t?”Sher
ubshi
slegwi
thher
f
oot
.
“
Verybad.I
fIgetaccessImi
ghtsl
eepwi
thMt
honga
i
nsi
deyou.”
“Let
’sseei
fyou’
ll
r ememberal
lthatory
ou'
llpass
out.
”Shegetsup,kneel
sandpull
shisshor
tdown.
Hei
nhal
esshar
plyasherhandmassagesar
oundhi
s
manhood.Hi shandreachestohernippl
esand
tweaksthem.Herswr apsaroundhismanhood,
sli
desdownt oit
sbaseandswi r
lsuptothehead.He
pre-
ejacul
atesandhowl s."
Oh,yes!
"
.
.
*
*
It
’sFridaymor ni
ng,every
onei sget
ti
ngr eadyfor
workexceptSnal owhot ookadayof ft ospendt ime
withMaqhi ngawhoj ustrecentl
ycamebackt oli
fe.
Thingshav esettl
edbackt onormal,therear eno
mor eriotsatt hetaxir
ank,sotheyreleasedt he
securityguar d.Whenthemanwhor angt he
i
ntercom i ntr
oducedhi mselfasPhelo’sgr andfat
her
theyjustopenedt hegatewithoutt
hinkingt wice.
Buti
t’snotj
ustoneman,therearefourofthem.
Theyleavet
hecarout
sidet hegat
eandst andjust
twofeetawayfr
om i
treci
tingtheNgidicl
annames.
“What’
sgoingon?
”Phumzi
leaskst
yinghergown
andrushi
ngdownthest
air
case.
“
May
beNdl
ali
fai
spul
l
ingapr
ank,
”-Maqhi
nga.
“
No,t
hatsoundsmoreser
ious,
”Khosi
argues.She
wasj
ustget
ti
ngherphoneandcarkeys,
readytogo
t
owork.
Phumzi
legoesouttocheckf
oll
owedbyMaqhi nga.
Herbr
owsf ur
rowwhenhereyeslandonfourmenin
sui
tswit
hthei
rheadsbowedbythegate.
“Thi
sneedsy
ouandNdl
ali
fa,
”shesay
staki
ngast
ep
back.
“
Whoar
ethesepeopl
e?”–Maqhi
nga.
Noanswer
.
Sher
ushesbacki
nsi
det
hehouse.
Thegi
rl
slookatherwi
tht
hei
rey
eswi
den.
“
Whowasexpect
ingpeopl
e?”
“
Me.Ar
amexdel
i
ver
ypeopl
e,
”-Snal
o.
Shel
ooksatKhosi
,“Andy
ou?
”
“
Noone,
”sheshr
ugs.
“
Ther
ear
epeopl
eher
eandt
heyl
ookl
i
ke
abakhongi
.”
Ey
eswi
den!
“I
sitPhelo’
sfat
her
?”Bot
hoft
hem askKhosi
si
multaneousl
y.
“Ummh…no.Idon’ tknowany t
hingaboutt hi
s.Itcan’
t
bethem! ”There’ssomuchconf usiononherf ace.
HerandThakasadi dn’tsleeptogethereventhough
theysleptinonehouse.Theyt alkedabouthim
changinghischar acterandpossi bi
li
tyofther
apy .
Nothingaboutl obolawasment i
oned.
“They’
ret
heonlyManqelesweknow.Onesai
dhe’
s
Phelo’
sgrandf
ather
,”Snal
osay
s.
“Okay
,letmecall
him andf
indoutwhat
’sgoi
ngon.
”
Shequickl
yunl
ocksherphoneandnoti
cesanew
messagealer
t.
I
t’
sfr
om hi
m:

“I
’
M DOINGTHISBECAUSEILOVEYOUANDIKNOW
YOUDESERVEBETTERTHANWHATYOU’ VEBEEN
GETTI
NG.IFEELLI
KEIHAVEN’TBEENBREATHI
NG
SI
NCEIWOKEUP,
PLEASESAYYOUKNOW THEM.
”

“
Wow,
Thakasa!
”she’
sst
unned.
Snaloandhermotheraregl
ari
ngher.Maqhi
ngai
s
walki
ngbackin.Theyneedanswer
s.
“Yeah,hesentthem,”shesay
sinashat
teri
ngv
oice
andkicksoffhershoesandmarchesupthe
stai
rcaseangri
ly.
“
Ican’
tbel
i
evet
his!
”–Snal
o.
Maqhi
ngasighsindef
eat
,“DoIl
ett
hem i
norgi
ve
t
hem adat
et ocomebackagai
n?”
“Letthem i
n,It
hinkyoucanallnegoti
ateheret
hen
l
obol acanbedeliv
eredattheNseles.Cal
lyour
brotheranduncl
e,theyneedtobeher easwell
.”
Thismeansev eryone’
sdayiscanceled.What’
s
confusi
ngeveryoneishowcomeKhosi di
dn’
tknow
anythi
ngaboutt hi
s?Aretheybacktogetheragai
n?
She’supst
air
si nherroom andnotwi l
l
ingtoexpl
ain
anythi
ngtoany one.
Ndlal
if
aarri
ves.Ever
ythi
ngi
shappeningf
astand
unexpect
edly.Hehadtogofi
ndNhlekofr
om his
pl
aceofwor kandbeghisbosst
ogivehim afew
hoursoff
.
Maqhingahasputachairontopofthetabl
eandsat
hi
gh,whichisdisr
espect
ful
infr
ontoftheguests.
He’
snotdr unk,
what’sgr
aci
nghischil
dishmind?
“
Bafoputt
hechai
rdownandsi
t,
”Ndl
ali
fasay
sina
f
ir
mv oi
ce.
Nhlekodoesn’
tknowhowt odisci
pli
neMaqhi
nga.He
feel
sli
keit’
snothispl
ace.Hejustmett
hem and
doesn’
tknowthem thatwel
l.
“
I’
m onlyget
ti
ngdownift
heygiv
eme
i
nkwelamthi
ni,
”Maqhi
ngasay
s.
Ndl
ali
faf
rowns,
“What
???
”
“Shhh!”Heplaceshisfi
ngerov erhi
sli
ps.There’
s
i
ngqaqamazi nyothatneedstobepai dbefor
eanyof
them speak.He’sbeensitt
inghereforalmostan
hourwi t
hhismout hshut,Ndlal
if
amust n’
tcomewit
h
hisstupidassandruinhisgame.
“
Lethi
m be,
”Nhl
ekot
ell
sNdl
ali
fa.
Theysi
tont
hechai
rs.Maqhi
ngar
emai
nsont
opof
thet
abl
e.
Greet
ingsareexchangedandi nt
roducti
onsbegin.
Ndlal
if
adoesn’tlookhappybutthisisabouthi
s
si
ster
’sfeeli
ngs,nothi
s.Hehast oacceptThakasa
ashisbrother
-i
n-l
awwhet herheli
keshim ornot.
“Wewoul dli
keMrNgi dit
ocli
mbdownsothatwe
cantal
k,andalsoopenhismouthwit
hwhatever
amountisrequired,
”oneoft
hemensays.Hegoes
tothesamechur chasThakasa,
oneofManqele
Snr’
soldestfr
iends.
Ndl
ali
fahasneverdonethi
sbefor
e,andNhlekoon
t
heotherhandwantshimtotakethelead.
“
R500bot
h,”hesay
s.
Maqhi
nga’sf
acet
urnspur
ple.Wt
fiswr
ongwi
th
Ndl
ali
fa?
“Mmmmhmmmmh! !
!”hepoint
shisfi
ngerathi
m
angr
il
y.Hecan’tbreaktheruleandopenhismouth
now.IfNdl
ali
faiscleverenoughhe’l
li
ncreaset
hat
amounti
mmedi
atel
y.
“
Okay
,R1000,
"-Ndl
ali
fa.
St
il
lcheap,
butbet
tert
hanR500.
Abagful
lofmoneyi
stakenout.Onemancounts
t
enR100notesandpl
acesthem i
nfrontofNdl
ali
fa.
“WeaskforMrNgiditocl
i
mbdownandt
alkt
ous,
”
hesaysonhisknees.
Ndl
ali
fal
ooksatMaqhi
ngaandhecl
i
mbsof
fthe
t
abl
eimmediatel
y.
“
Youneedt
ocountaswel
l
,”het
ell
sNdl
ali
fa.
Ndlal
i
faisnotbother
ednorimpr
essedbyt
hemoney
,
oranythi
ngthat
’shappeni
ngher
e.
“Okay,
okay,
I’
m herenow.Wecanstar
t,r
emindme
whichfl
owerdi
dy oursonseeher
e?Wehavemany
ofthem,”
-Maqhi
nga.
“
HernameisNomkhosiNsel
ebutsheli
vesher
e,so
wewereaskedtocomeher
eandgetthedir
ect
ions
f
rom t
hefamil
y.
”
“
Okay
,11cows,
”–Maqhi
nga.
“
Thi
sisnotourfi
rstti
mehere,Hl
omuka.Wedidpay
t
hefi
rstt
hreet
hatincl
udedukugezaumuzi
.”
Hel
aughs,
“Oh,
thatmeansy
ouowe8now.
”
Nhlekoclear
shisthroat,
“Icannotrecognizeanyof
them.May bethey’
redif
ferentManqelesorev en
chancer
s.Kindlycal
lyoursisterandletherconfi
rm
tousifsheknowst hesepeopl eornot.
”
Ndlal
i
fast
andsupbeforeMaqhinga.Hewantsto
seeNomkhosi,
shehastolookathimintheeyes
andconf
ir
mt ohimfi
rst
.

Hefindsherbar
efoot
edandpaci
ngar
oundherr
oom
l
ikeamadwoman.Sheseeshim wal
ki
ngthr
oughthe
doorandstops.
Heav
ysi
gh!
“
Iknowwhaty
ouwantt
oknow,
”shesay
s.
“
Okay
,thent
ell
me,
”Ndl
ali
fa.
“Hewasgenui nel
ysorryandIgavehim onel
ast
chance.Igavehim ahardti
met hough,
hesti
llneeds
toprovehimselft
ome. ”
Ndl
ali
fafrowns,
“Sot
hisi
spar
tofhi
m pr
ovi
ng
hi
mself?
”
“It
hinkhe’
sjustscar
edt
hatI
’
lll
eav
ehi
m agai
n,
”she
says.
“
Can’
tyoul
eav
ehi
m af
terhe’
spai
dlobol
a?”
“
Ican,
trustme.
”
“
Thenwhat
’st
hepoi
nt?
”
Shesi
ghs,
“Respect
,that
’st
hepoi
nt.
”
“
Alr
ightt
hen,l
et’
sgo.They’
rewait
ingf
oryou.Cov
er
y
ourhead,t
hepointi
srespectaf
teral
l
.”
He’sdisappoi
ntedinher,
andhehasev eryr i
ghtt
obe,
she’sbeenventi
ngt ohi
m aboutherr
elationshi
p
problemseversincePhel
owasconceiv ed.
Shewrapsascarfaroundherheadandgoes
downstai
rst
ojoi
nt hem int
helounge.I
t’
sthesame
menwhower ecomf ort
ingThakasaonthedayof
Sqal
o’sdeat
h.
“
Arey
ouwel
l
,ndodakazi
?”Nhl
ekoasks.
“
Yebo,
”shesay
swi
thherey
esdr
opped.
“Thesepeopl
earecal
li
ngthemsel
vestheManqeles
andtheyweresentt
oyou.Doyourecogni
zethem?”
Fucky
ou,
Thakasa!
Thisst
unti
soneofmanyr
easonswhyt
heyal
way
s
fi
ght.
“
Doy
ou?
”-Ndl
ali
fa.
Deepbr
eat
h.I
nandout
!
“
Yes,
Iknowt
hem,
”shesay
s.
“Thanky
ou,
that
’sal
lweneededt
oknowf
rom y
ou.
Youmaygo.”
Shewalksoutandmur mur sacur
se.I
t’
sdonenow,
ther
e’snothi
ngshecould’v
edonediff
erent
ly
becauseitwoul
d’v
eledt odrama.
Shegetsi
nsideherr oom andshut sthedoor.Now
morethanever,she’sscared.Shejustaccepteda
marri
ageproposal,soonshe’ l
lbesomeone’ssecond
wif
eandsomeone’ ssi st
erwife.Nottomentionbei
ng
MaKhumalo’sdaught er-
in-
law.
LOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
THEEND

Thakasawokeupi nWat er ways,todayhisdaughter

i
st ur
ni ngoney earold.It
’sbeenexhaust i
ngweeks
ofplanni ngandendlessf ightswi t
hhermot her.
Yesterdayt heyfi
nall
yagr eedonev eryt
hingand
focusedonget t
ingreadyf orthe1stbi rt
hdayoftheir
pri
ncess.MaNt usihelpedbyor ganizi
ngdécor,her
event-planningpassionisgr owingandt here’
s
nothingThakasacandoi fshehel psplanfamily
events.
Thepar t
ystartsat12butt hey’r
eawakebef ore6am
andpanicking.Thakasahasbeenonsomest rictdiet
ofsomesor t
;eatingalotoffrui
tsandpeanut s.He’ s
att
endingthegy m andleadingasur pri
singl
yv ery
healt
hylif
estyle.BothNothil
eandNomkhosi hav e
tal
kedabouti t
, t
heyactuall
yfindithil
ari
ousand
bel
ieveit’
sjustapassingphase.

Hest
epsoutoft
heshowerwi
that
owel
wrapped
aroundhiswai standgoest oNomkhosi wr apping
gif
tsont hebed.She’ sweari
ngagown, and
hopefull
ythere’sonlyherunderwearbeneat hit
.
Pheloisstil
lasleep,shewokeupat2: 44andkept
herfatherupunt i
l3:30.Nomkhosiwasdeepl y
asleep,heknowshowi mportantsl
eepisf orher
beautysohedi dn’tdist
urbherandjuststay edup
withPheloalone.
“
Idi
dn’
tsl
eepwel
l
,yazi
.”
Khosi
rai
sesherey
ebr
ow,
“Whathappened?
”
“
Sphephel
owasupandpl
ayi
ngat2am,
”hesay
s.
Nomkhosil
aughs,
“That
’sbeenmyl
i
fef
oray
ear
now.Wel
comet omywor l
d!”
“Ah,comeher eandwel comemepr operl
y.
”Hepulls
heroffthebedandki ssesherl
ips.Theirsexl
if
eis
kindofslow,ittookheraweekt olethiminaft
erthe
l
obolanegotiati
ons,aft
erthati
thappenedoncei na
bluemoon.Thi ngsarebett
erandbr ight
erat
MaNt usi
’sbedroom, t
hat’
swhereheget ssati
sfi
ed
themost .
“
Thi
sisav
eryi
mpor
tantdayt
ome.Youwi
pedout
al
lthei
nsecur
iti
esanddoubtsIhadaboutmy
manhood.Ipr
ideinmysel
fverymuchforthi
sday
,”
hesaystoher
.
“Andy ou’
redoingagreatj
obasafather
.You’
re
present,I
’
m happyknowingthatmydaught
erhasa
dif
ferentl
ifef
rom mine.It
hankyouf
orthat
,”she
says.
“She’
smyl i
fe.
”Heunwr
apst
het
owel
andst
andsi
n
hisbi
rth-
sui
t.
She’sseenhi
m nakedmanyt i
mesbefor
e,butnoti
n
themor ni
ngwhi
lethei
rdaughteri
ssl
eepi
nginthe
nextroom.Shecouldwakeupatanymoment .
“Ayearagoont hi
sdayy ouwentthrough
uni
maginablepaindeliv
eri
ngwhatIcalliSphephel
o
samitoday.Iwanttodaytobediff
erent,
Iwanty our
bodytoexperi
encet hecomplet
eoppositeofwhat
youwereexperi
encinglastyear
.”
Ahugeswall
ow!Hi
sshaf
tisal
readyt
hickand
bounci
ngup.
Hebit
esthesi
deofherneck.Amoanescapesher
t
hroat
.Thenhewhi
spers;“
Pleaseal
l
owmet osay
hel
l
o.”
“Okay,butwehav etobequi ck,
Phelowil
lwakeup
anymomentf rom now,”shesayswithherneck
str
etched.Histonguelicksherfl
eshandsends
ti
nglesthroughoutherbody.Heuntieshergownand
fi
ndsherbr a-l
ess,hesqueezeshernippl
eandroll
sit
withhisthumb.
“Youknowthatyouar
eabouttobecomemywi f
e,
ri
ght?
”Helooksint
ohereyeswhil
ebrushingthe
backofherneckandpl
ayi
ngwithhernipple.
“
Yeah,
”shesay
swi
thamoan.
“Soyouhavetounderst
andmyneedswhenI ’
m
shari
ngabedwi t
hyou.Ther
e’sadroughtseasoni
n
thi
sbedroom,thi
ngshavechanged.Don’
tyoufeel
meany more?
”
“
Idof
eel
you,
”shesay
sinal
owwhi
sper
.
“Thenwhydoy ourej
ectme?You’r
escaredoffalli
ng
pregnant
?”Hesli
desherpantyt
othesideandr ubs
hercli
twit
htheheadofhisshaf
t.I
t’
swetalready,he
rubsbetweenherf
oldsandbouncesituponhercl i
t
again.
“
Huh?”Helockshi
seyesi
ntoher
s.She’
swher
ehe
want
edhertobe;hor
nyAF.
“Yourcomment saresti
llst
uckinmyhead;whaty ou
saidaboutmet heotherday.Somet
imesIjustfeel
l
ikeyoui nvi
temeheretodot hi
ngsyoucan’tdoto
yourwife.”
“Andwhatar et hosethi
ngs?”Heinser
tsonefingeri
n
hercor
eandr otatesiti
nsi
deher.She’
sdrippi
ngwet
andhe’sburstingwi t
hlust
,butt
hisisthe
conver
sati
ont heyneedt ohave.
“
Doy
our
eal
l
ywantmet
ogoi
ntodet
ail
s?”
“Yes.Iwantt oknowi fanythi
ngwedomakesy ou
uncomf or
table.IsaidwhatIsaidoutofanger,
y ou
saidyouwer egoi ngtolookforanot
hermanandI
didn’
twantt hat.Idon’twantyoutosl
eepwithot her
people,i
fitwasupt omeI ’
dhunteverymanwho’ s
putthei
rthingsi nyouandchopt hei
rheads.
”
“
Whydoesi
tmat
teri
fwear
enotani
tem?
”sheasks.
“Idon’twanttoshar
eyouandi tmakesmehappyto
knowt hatyou’v
ebeenfait
hful
tome.Itmakesme
comf ort
abletoshar
emy sel
fwithyouandgoasfar
asIcan.
”
“
Okay
,Iheary
ou.
”
Hekissesherlipsandpul l
sdownherpant y
.He
needsherinfulldi
splay.They’
restandinginthe
passagebecausePhel osleptintheirbedr
oom.
Doorsarelockedandi t
’ssti
llear
lyinthemor ni
ng,
ther
e’snopossi bi
l
ityofanyonear r
ivi
ngatthe
moment .
“Let
’sgotothecouch,
”hewhisper
st oherandl
i
fts
hertohi
swai st
.Hetakeshert
otheloungeandlay
s
heronthecouchwithherl
egsseparated.
Hegoesdownonher.Afewli
ckssendhertothe
cloudofj
oy.Hemuf
fsherunt
ilshebur
stsonhis
face.
Quickl
y,bef
oreshebouncesback,
heinser
tshis
shaftandpushesi
tunti
lhisbal
l
sbalanceonthe
peri
neum.
“Lasty
earpushedhar
der,
sotodayI
’l
lfucky
ou
harder
.Okay?”Hesmil
esdownather.
“
Okay
,”shesmi
l
esback.
Theyshareabr
iefki
ss.Shef eel
shisshaf
tpoki
ngin
thedept
hsofhercoreandl et
soutashall
owscream.
Helif
tsherl
egtohisshoulderandpoundsherl
ike
heaimstori
phercoreintopieces.
Herbr ai
nst art
sfloat
ing.Shecan’tmakeoutwhat
she’ssayingt ohi
m orwher esensati
onsarepull
i
ng
her.Heror gasm buil
dsupf ast
erthansheexpected,
sheseesdoubl eofhisbeardedfacebefor
elosi
ng
controlofhermuscl es.
“Ah,baby!
”hecri
esandincr
easeshispace.Helet
s
herlegdownandliesontopofher;
breat
hingherai
r
withthei
rbodi
essweati
ngtogether
.
Heslamsinsi
deherhar
derandgri
tshisteet
hfirmly
bef
orelet
ti
nghisbodyl
oosenup.Hiscum fi
ll
sher
cor
e,hegrunt
sloudl
yandpusheshisshaftf
urther
i
nsi
deher.
They ’
restil
ll
yi
ngont hecouchwit
htheirbodi
es
coll
idedont ooneanother
.Aloudcrycomesf r
om
thebedr oom,Nomkhosi movesunderhimtry
ingt
o
breakf r
ee.
Hehol
dsherdown,
“Wai
t,y
ou’
regoi
ngt
obr
eakmy
peni
s.”
“
Oh,
sor
ry!
”
Hechuckl esandpul
l
sout.Hishandbr
ushesher
cookie-j
arandgiv
eshercl
itanot
herr
ub.Heplant
sa
softkissonherli
psandgetsup.
“
I’
ll
checkonher
,don’
twor
ry.
”
.
.
MANTUSI

Every
oneisr eadyforthepr incess’f
irstbirthday.
EvenPhethyi shome-t hat’
showhugei tis.
Mawandewi l
lmeetev eryoneatt hev enue, whichis
Thakasa’
sbacky ardatWat erways,there’
sbeen
somet al
kthatshe’ l
lbebringi ngBhambat hatothe
part
y.It
’l
lbehi sfi
rstti
meat tendi
ngaManqel e
famil
yeventandhopef ul
lyther ewon’tbeanyi ssues.
Bothfamili
esar enowawar eofhi srelat
ionshipwi th
Mawande.
Khany ohasgr owncomf ortablewitheveryone,
exceptThakasaofcour se.Chancesoft hem ever
getti
ngal ongaresli
m,bot hoft hem ar
est ubborn
andnei t
heroneoft hem want st obowdownf orthe
other.Buttheycanshareadi ni
ngr oom andwat ch
TVt ogether,t
hat’
ssomet hingright?
MaKhumal oisnothar
donherastheythoughtshe
wouldbe.May bei
t’
sbecauseKhanyodoesn’
ttake
anyt
hingtotheheart
,shehasastrongunbr
eakabl
e
char
acter
.
“Ohmygoodness, l
ookartthi
sboy !”shechimes
happil
yandtakesLondafrom MaNt usi’
sarms.She’
s
gai
ningalotofweight
,butthat’
snotacommenty ou
canmaket osomeonelikeher.What evershe’
s
eati
nginBergvi
ll
eisnotgoodf orherbody .
“He’
snowgett
ingfatagain.
”Butit
’sacommentshe
canmaketootherpeoplebecauseshe’
sKhanyo.
She’
scomment i
ngonLonda’sweight.I
t’
snot
off
ensi
vet
omakewei ghtcommentsonbabies,r
ight
?
Tal
kaboutapotcal
l
ingt
heket
tl
ebl
ack!
“
He’
snat
ural
l
ybi
g,”MaNt
usi
say
s.
“YeahIknow, mymot herwasbigtoo.CanIleave
withhim?BandlaandIar egoi
ngnow, I’
m surehe’
d
l
ov etogetthereear
li
er.Angi
thibaby?”Londajust
staresather.
“Youcan’tcal
lhim Bandla,
yourki
dswil
ldothe
samet hi
ng.He’sManqel eandBandl
ainyour
bedroom,”MaNtusi t
ell
sher.
“
Comeon,
that
’shi
snamemos,
”Khany
oar
gues.
“
I’
m alsoNothil
ebutyoudon’ thearManqelecal
l
ing
melikethati
nfrontofpeople.Youarehereby
i
nstr
uctedtostartpr
acti
cingcalli
ngyourfi
ance
Manqele.”
“
Ohdamn,
okaymadam!
”
Shel
aughs,“
Nowy
ouknow.Letmegett
hisboy
’s
bagt
hen.”
Shegetst
hebagfrom herbedroom andf
inds
Khany
oalreadywai
ti
ngoutsidethecarwi
thLonda.
Sheki
sseshischeekandbi
dsthem goodbye.She’
s
al
mostreadytoo,she’
l
lbef
oll
owingthem i
naf ew
minut
es.
Shegoestoherbedr
oom towrapherheadstyl
i
shl
y
andputherear
ri
ngson.Thakasai
scall
ing.
..
“
Manqel
e,
”sheanswer
s.
“MaNtusiwher
ear eyou?It
houghtLondawouldbe
herebynow,otherki
dsarealr
eadyhereandPhel
o’s
brot
herhasn’
tarri
ved.
”
“
He’
scomi
ngwi
thBandl
a,Iwokeupl
ate,
”shesay
s.
Aheav
ysi
gh!
“
You’
rest
il
lhome?
”
“Yesbutweareaboutt
oleav
e.Justwait
ingf
or
NkonzotocomeandgetMa, t
henPhethyandIwi
l
l
comewi t
hmycar.”
“
Okaypleasehur
ryup.Comewi
thwar
m cl
othesf
or
l
ater
,itmi
ghtbecol
d.”
“
Alr
ight
,by
e!”sheendst
hecal
l
.
Wher
ewasshe?Okay
,ear
ri
ngs.
Herf
aceisoil
y.Thi
sisgoingt
obeoneoft hoseugl
y
pr
egnanci
es.Shepowdershernoseandappli
es
mascara,
that
’senoughmake-
upf
ort
heday
.Al
ri
ght
,
goodtogo!

Nkonzohasarri
ved.Hopef
ull
yMaKhumal oisdone
dressi
ngup,shecantakef
oreverbutyoucan’t
recogni
zeanyeff
ortwhenshe’
sdr essedup.No
shade!
Shewalksi
ntoherst
andi
ngi
nfr
ontoft
hemi
rr
orand
adj
ust
ingherdr
ess.
“
Ma,
arey
oudone?
”sheasks.
“Notyet
,tel
lNkonzot
ogi v
emeaf ewmi nutes.I
can’
tbeuglyinmygranddaughter
’spict
ures,whati
f
Idon’
tgettoseehernextbir
thday
? ”
“Don’
tspeakli
kethat,
Ma.You’rest
il
lgoingtowait
foral
lourchi
ldr
enandt hei
rgr
andchil
dren,
”MaNtusi
saysandleav
est odel
ivert
hemessaget oNkonzo.
He’snotanywhereinsi
ght,t
hatmeanshe’sinhis
rondav
el.Notaplaceshe’
dgot orandomly,
infact
notanyofherbrother
-i
n-l
awspriv
atespaces,unl
ess
i
fit’
snecessar
y.
Sheknocksatt
hedoorwhichissl
ightl
yopen.
There’
snoanswerbutshecanhearthatsomeonei
s
i
nside.
“
It
’sMaNt
usi
,I
’m sentbyMa,
”shesay
s.
Ther
ear
efoot
steps.
Heopenst hedooranddropsdownhiseyes.Too
l
ate,she’sal
readyseent
hathe’
sbeencry
ing.So
weir
df oranewhusband!
It
’sbeenonlyamont hsincehegotmar r
ied,
he’
s
stayi
ngwithhi
swi f
e,everyt
hingshoul
dbeokay.
Therewasnodr amai nt
heirwedding,
itwas
beauti
ful
andmemor abl
e.
“
Isev
ery
thi
ngokay
?”sheasks.
“Yeah,
tel
lMaI’
m comi
nginaf ewminutes.
”He
att
emptstoshutt
hedoorbutheronefooti
sal
ready
i
nside.
“
Nkonzowhat’
sgoi ngon?”Shewalksinandst
ands
wi
thherar
msf oldedstar
ingathim.She’
snot
l
eavi
ngunt
ilhetell
sherthetrut
h.
Her
eleasesadeepsi
ghandgoest
osi
tont
hebed.
“
It
’shar
d,”hesay
sandbur
ieshi
sheadi
nhi
shands.
Shewai
ts.
Ther
e’snoexpl
anat
ioncomi
ng.
Sheasks,
“What
’shar
d?”
“Prov
ingmy sel
ftosomeoneevery
day .Ifeell
ikeI
’m
drowning,
andwhenshesay ssorr
yIf orgi
ve,but
thenshedoesthesamet hi
ngall
ov eragain.Idon’
t
knowwhatt odoanymore.I
’mjusttryi
ngmybest .
”
“
Whati
sitthatshedoes?
”Thisneedshert
osi
tand
t
heonl
yplacetodosoisthebed.
Shesi
tsandl
ooksathi
mtr
yingt
ofi
ghtbackt
ear
s.
“Li
ttl
ethingsshedoes.Iunderstandthatshe’sbeen
hurtbeforebutwearemar r
iednow, thereshoul
dbe
adiffer
encebetweenadoubt fulgir
lf
ri
endandawi f
e.
Ican’tbetry
ingtowinmywi fe’str
ust,she’
smar ri
ed
tome. ”
“Nkonzothi
sist
hehoney moonphase,
youar
enot
supposedtobecry
ing.Youshoul
dbehappy.
”
“Myhappi
nessi
salwaysshor
t-
li
ved.Inev
erthought
onceImoveoutofhomeI’
dmissmyf amilyt
his
much.
”
Sherubshi
sback,“
May beit
’st
hepregnancy
.Give
herti
me,i
fsheconti
nueswithherat
ti
tudeevenaft
er
gi
vingbi
rt
hthenyou’
llhav
etomakeadeci si
on.”
“Whatdecision?I’
m married,Ivowedtoloveand
staywit
hmywi fe.
”He’slookingatherwithmoist
eyes.He’
st hemostf r
ee-spir
itedbrot
heroutofthem
al
l.Helaughsal otandmakessur eever
yonearound
hi
mi sokay .Seei
nghim sobr okenbecauseofTema
i
si nf
uri
ati
ng.
“Takeanot
herwifeormovebackhome.Thatway
youcangetallt
hesuppor
tyouneedandmay beshe
needsafewlessonsonhowtoactasaManqel e
wife.
”
“Ican’
ttakeanotherwifebecausethefi
rstonei
snot
behavi
ng.Whati fthesecondonedoest hesame
thi
ng?Iwi l
ltakeathir
doneagai n.I
’
dratherwor
k
thi
ngsoutwi thherandgiveitmyall.
”
“
Thenmovebackhome.Door
sar
eal
way
sopened
f
oryou.
”
“
Idon’
tknow,
I’
ll
seeast
imegoeson.
”Hebl
owsout
asighandwi peshisface.Hecanputasmi l
eon
thr
oughouttheday ,hopef
ull
yTemawon’ tr
aisethei
r
pri
vat
eissuesi nfr
ontofhisfami
lybecauseit’
l
l
becometheirissuestoo.
“
Thankyou,
”hesaysandl
ooksather
.“Whatabout
y
ou?Areyoualr
ight
?”
“Yeah,I
’m good.Justcr
avi
ngsandnausea,
not
hing
hecti
c.”
“
Youandmybr
other
?”
“
Ever
ythi
ngi
sgood.
”
Theyexchangeabr
iefst
are.
“
Trustme,
all
iswel
l
,”sheemphasi
zes.
Henods,
“Okay
.”
“Letmegobef
oreMaKhumal
othi
nksI’
vebeen
swall
owedbyMaGumede’
sti
kol
oshes.
”
Nkonzol
aughs,
“Yout
wowi
l
lbear
rest
edf
orgossi
p
oneday.
”
“
It’
snotasecret
,every
oneknowsaboutt
he
t
ikol
oshes,
”shelaughsandwal
ksout.
.
.
Thi
slooksbad.Every
onei sher
e,herandPhethyar
e
l
it
eral
lyt
helastonestoarriv
e.Shehastofind
Nomkhosiandapologize,
itwasn’
tint
enti
onalatal
l
.
Sheor ganizedt hedécorandshe’shappyabouti t
.It
screams, “ThePr i
ncessBi r
thday.
”Kidsarealr
eady
runningar oundwi t
hballoons.Therearecl
owns
entertai
ningt hem wit
ht hei
rfunnydancesandall
kindsofgames.I t’
sjustakidsthing,t
hey’
rehereas
adultstocongr atul
ateKhosi andThakasaforrai
sing
a1y earol d.
Shebumbsint
oMawande.Looki
ngal
lgood,
nohead
-
wraptoday
,dati
ngBhambat
hamustbeamazing.
“
Hel
l
oMr
sMy
eza,
”shesay
s.
Mawandesmi
l
es,
“Hey
,you’
rel
ate.
”
“
Whatdi
dImi
ss?
”
“
Yourmot
her
’spr
ayer
.”
Theybot
hlaugh.Soundsj
ustl
i
keMaKhumal
o!
“
Wher
eisNomkhosi
?”sheasks.
“It
hinkIsawherget
ti
ngi
nsi
det
hatroom,
”Mawande
showsherandwalksont
owher
evershe’
sgoi
ng.

She’
sbeent othi
shousebef ore.I
t’
sadoubl e-storey
wit
hslidi
ngdoor s,doublegar ageandaspaci ous
ki
tchenthat’soccupiedbyat wo-doorfr
idgeand
Mieleappli
ances.Ithurtsthatshegotal lthi
swhi le
shewasj ustaside-chick,
andshewassl avi
ngi nthe
ti
nykit
chenwi thHisensef ri
dgef orhi
sfami l
y .But
she’
sforgiventhem, ri
ght?Shehast ogetov erit.
She’
sget t
ingherownhouset oo,Thakasawi llmake
upforit.
Thedoorisopen,shelet
shersel
finandwalksint
o
Thakasashovi
nghistonguedownherthroat.Hi
s
handsaresqueezi
ngherbutt
.It’
sapriv
atemoment
but….
“
Ummm…hel
l
o,”shesay
s.
Theki
ssbreaksqui
ckl
y.Nei
theroneoft
hem can
l
ookatherintheey
es.
“Iwantedtoapologi
zef
orbei
ngl
ate,
Mawande
didn’
ttel
lmey ouhadacompany
.”
“Sor
ryaboutt
his,
Iwasj
ustget
ti
ngmycel
l
phone
and…”Phewww!
“
Andheki
ssedyou.I
t’
sfi
neyouarebecominghi
s
wi
fet
oo.I
sever
ythi
ngokay?Foodanddri
nks?”
“Yeah,
Ihavepeopletaki
ngcareofthat
,”Nomkhosi
saysandgrabsherphone.Thakasaissti
l
lst
anding
withhi
seyesdropped.Shemakesherwayoutand
tel
lsMaNtusit
ofoll
owhert othebal
conyonceshe’s
done.
Herhusbandstandst
her
e,nextt
othebed,
wit
hhi
s
er
ecti
onpokingout.
“
You’
renotgoi
ngt
ogr
eetme?
”sheaskshi
m.
“
Hi,
”hesay
s.
“Hi
,arey
ougood?
”Shechuckles,“
Whyam Iev
en
aski
ng?Youar
eclear
lynotokaybet
weeny
ourlegs.
”
“
Thi
sfeel
sawkwar
d!”hesi
ghs.
“
Andit’
sthel
if
ey ouchoseforus.Healandcome
j
oiny
ourdaughter’
sbi
rthday
.”Sheturnsar
oundand
wal
ksaway
.

It
’snotthei
rpart
y.Theyj
ustsitandwatchkidspl
ay.
Somepar ent
sarehelpi
ngthei
rkidswithgames,
Pheloissnuggl
edonheruncle’shi
p,Ndlal
i
fa.She’
s
sti
ll
caughtbetweentwomen; herfat
herandher
uncle.
It
’snotawkwardasshethoughti
twouldbehavi
ng
theManqelesandtheNgidi
sunderoneroof
.Ther
e’s
noobv i
oustensi
on,MaKhumaloandPhumzil
ehave
sharedafewjokes.
Phelohasaunts,uncles,cousi
nsandagr andfather
.
Andev er
yoneoft hem lookssophisticatedand
monied.It
’salottotakeinwat chi
ngev eryt
hing
goingdown.Nomkhosi hasbrothers,theyhol dher
handandj okewit
hher .Hermot herlookshappy
today,
sadnessisstil
l t
hereinherey esbuty oucan
seethatshe’sahappymot her
.
HerandThakasahavesomanyt hi
ngsincommon,
oneofthem i
shavingt
hefamil
yloveandsuppor
t.
YesKhanyoisther
eforLonda,
MawandeandPhet hy
too,butthat’
sdif
ferent
.Nomcebodoesn’thavewhat
allt
heseaunt shave.Thei
rli
vesaredif
fer
ent,
even
dif
ferentfr
om Mawande’ sbecauseshehasbrot
hers
who’dkillf
orher.
Damn,sheshoul
dn’
tbesit
ti
ngher
ecompari
ngher
l
if
etoother
sonherhusband’
sdaught
er’
sbi
rt
hday
!
“
Thanky
ou,
”someonesay
s.
Shesnapsoutandl
ooksather
.It
’sNomkhosi
.
“Thanky ouforhel pingmer aiseher,
andforallowing
hertohav eaf ather.Itt
akesar ealwomant odo
whaty oudidf orme.If earedshewoul dn’
thaveher
fat
herar oundbecauseofhowshecame, leastdidI
knowt hatshe’llgrowupwi t
ht wolovi
ngmot hers.
”
Grati
tudeiswr it
teni nhereyes.Everyt
hingshef el
t
walki
ngi ntothishousef adesaway .Nomkhosi may
haveitallintheey esofast rangerbutshe’shadher
owndi ff
icult
ieswi thli
fetoo.
“
You’
rewel
come,
”shesay
s.
Adeepbr
eat
handachuckl
e.
“
Andt
hanky
ouf
oral
l
owi
ngmei
nyourhusband’
s
l
ife.Iknowit’
snoteasybutj ustknowt hatI’
l
lnever
i
nt ent
ional
lydi
srespectyou.Iknowwhoy ouareand
wher eyoustandinhisheart.I
’veknownt hatfr
om
dayone, he’
snevermadei tasecr et
.”
Adeepbr
eat
hfr
om hert
oo.
“I
t’
ll
taket i
metogetusedtoi
t,especi
all
ynowt hat
he’
sy oursasmuchashe’smine,butwe’l
lcoexist
.
Youinspiremeinsomanyway s,I
’l
lenj
oyhavingy ou
i
nmyl i
fe.
”
“
Rol
emodel
?”Nomkhosi
askswi
thasmi
rk.
“
Wel
l
,ki
ndof
.”
There’
ssomecommot i
on.Itl
ooksli
ket
her
ear
e
peopledi
stur
bingt
hepart
y.Poli
ce?
!
“What’
sgoingon?”theyaskoneanot
her
.Thakasai
s
rushi
ngtothebraai
-areawher
emostguysare
gather
ed.
Thepol
i
cear
egoi
ngt
her
etoo.
Whatt
hehel
l
?!
Theypul
lsomeoneasi
de.
“
Whoi
sthat
?”Khosi
asks.
“Mawande’
sbrother
-i
n-l
awsl
ashhusband.Thi
sis
bad!
”–MaNt usi
.

Itl
ookslikethey
’ret
akinghi
m.Mawanderunsafter
them askingwherethey’
ret
aki
nghi
m.She’scr
ying
andbeggi ng.
MaKhumal
ohasherhandsov
erhermout
h.Whata
shame!
Ev
ery
onei
saski
ngquest
ions,
nobodyhasanswer
s.
“
Thakasakhul
uma!
”hi
smot
hershout
s.
Beingtheeldestalsorequir
esyout oknow
everyt
hing,
y oujustcan’tbecl
uelessevenwhen
si
tuati
onsdon’ tconcernyouthatmuch.
“Theyar etaki
nghimt othest
ati
ontoaskaboutthe
traditi
onaldoctor
’sdeat
h,Nxumalo.
”Helooks
different,
notinagoodway .Mor
el i
kehe’
saboutto
mur dersomeone.
“
Wait,
who?”someoneasksfrom t
hecrowd.Shehas
ababyst
rappedonherback,
she’
st heonl
ynormal
-
l
ookingwomanfrom Khosi
’ssi
deoft
hefami
ly.No
weave,nomake-
up,nohigh-
heel
sandnoZul
u
mincedwit
hEngl
ish.
“Nxumal
o,hewaski
l
ledaf
ewmont
hsago,
”Phet
hy
answer
s.
MaKhumalogiv
esheralook.She’
ssupposedtobe
i
nthejumpi
ngcast
leorplayi
ngswings.Thi
sisan
adul
tmatt
er.
“Hewaski l
led.Oh,
wow!”Thalent
elooksr
ather
i
mpr essed.Shepushesherwaytowhereher
husbandis.
Thatmancannotgot
ojail
forkil
li
ngsomeonewho
st
ole25year
sofherf
ather’
sli
fe.Thatcan’
thappen!
“
Babe,
”shepul
l
sNdl
ali
fat
othesi
de.
“
I’
m st
andi
ngwit
hot
hermen.Can’
tyoust
ickwit
h
womenandseemel
ater
?I’
m notgoi
nganywher
e.”
“
Oh,
stop!Someonej
ustgotar
rest
ed.
”
“Takentothest
ati
onf
orquest
ioni
ng,
notar
rest
ed,
”
hecorrect
sher.
“
What
ever
!Youknowhe’
sbei
ngaccusedofki
l
li
ng
Nxumal
o.”
Ndl
ali
faf
rowns,
“Nxumal
o?”
“Theoneandonly.Ineedhimtobesav
ed,
whet
her
hekil
l
edhim ornot,he’
sinnocent
.”
“
Okay,andhowam Isupposedt
omakehi
m
i
nnocenti
fhe’
snot
?”
“Thesamewayy
oudof
ory
ourshadydeal
i
ngs,
”she
says.
“What?Ihavenoshadydeal i
ngs.
”He’slaughi
ng.Hi
s
wifehasspoken,eventhoughhehasnoi deawho
theguywithtat
toosis.Hedidsomethingnoteven
Ngidiwasbraveenought odo-ki
l
li
ngNxumal o.
Justi
ceneedstobeser ved.
Theki
l
leri
sinnocent
!
REPERCUSSI
ONSOFLOVI
NGBEYONDTHETEMPLE
KHANYO

Youknowwheny ou’r
ehur tandtryi
ngtoheal your
painbybei ngangr yatthepar t
icul
arperson.Yeap,
that’
smer ightnow.I ’m angryatGuguf or
disappear i
ngonus.Wehadadeal ,
infactshemade
adeal .Shewasgoi ngtoinform usbeforel eavi
ng
andt hencont actust oletusknowwher eshei s,how
l
ongshe’ llbet hereandbr iefusonev erythingthat
happened.Wear el ef
twi t
hsomanyunanswer ed
quest i
ons.St r
angel yMikehasbeenconf i
rmedt obe
stil
li
npr ison,whi chleavesuswi thsomany
quest i
ons.Whydi dshel eavethecount ryifMike
didn’tescapef rom prison?What ’st
her eal i
ssue
here?What ’
sgoi ngon?
Nolwazii
sst r
essedasIam.I ’m worr
ied,hurtand
di
sappointed.Foryear
sthisgirlwasmypi ll
arof
st
rength,sheassumedt heroleofabiggersister
eventhoughshe’sthesameageasme, t
hat’
show
pr
otecti
veshei s.I
twasourt urntoprotectherandI
guessshedi
dn’tt
rustusenough.Ihaveconnect
ions
toomos.Well
,ImeanIcangett hem i
fIwant.

Anyway, movingon.I’
mt akingthegirl
soutf orlunch,
andbyt hegir
lsImeanMawandeandPhet hy .I
’
m
thei
rri
chbrother’swif
e-to- be.Heaskedmet owor k
ongetti
ngt oknowev eryonebet t
er.Ialr
eadyknow
theMufasaoft hefami l
y, andTemahast oldme
every
thi
ngaboutNkonzo.Godhel pthem wor k
every
thi
ngout !Iunderstandwhyshe’ sscared,it’
s
somethingshecanwor konandI ’m gladNkonzoi s
withhereverystepoftheway .
SonowIhav etogettoknowMawandeandt hel
i
ttl
e
bratbett
er.Iknowabr atwhenIseeone.Bi
rdsofthe
samef eatherrecogni
zeoneanother
.Iwasli
keher
growingup, minuspassi
onandmoney .
“
What’
sthi
srest
aurant?
”sheaskslooki
ngar
ound
wi
thahugegri
n.Shelovest
hingst
oo!
“
Royale,
Bhambatha’
sfri
endownsi t
,”Mawandesays.
I
tsoundsli
keshe’
sbragging,
whichisdef
ini
tel
yver
y
f
it
ti
ng.It
’sahugemil
estonetohavebeach
r
est
aur
ant
sownedbybl
ackpeopl
e.
Itaketheopport
uni
tyt
oask.I
’
m heret
ogettoknow
them aft
eral
l.“
HowisBhambatha?
”Iask.
“
He’
sgood.Gr
eat
,act
ual
l
y.”
“Di
dthosepol
i
ceof
fi
cer
sapol
ogi
zef
oraccusi
nghi
m
ofmurder
?”
Shelaughs,
“Dothateverhappeninthi
scountr
y?
Thewifechangedherstat
ement,apparent
lyt
here
wasnooneatt hei
rhomet hatni
ght.St
range
enough!”
I’
m notjudgmental
,Iknownothi
ngaboutthelaw
exceptthatnooneisaboveit
,butthi
ssoundstoo
shady.Thewi f
ewast hr
eat
ened,peri
od!NowI’m
scaredofthisBhambathaper
son.
“I
’
m happyf
orhim.Nowhecant
akecar
eofy
ouand
gi
veyousomelove,
”Isay
.
“
Wel l
,hewant
smetomov ei
nwithhi
m.Thatmeans
I
’l
lbemov i
ngtot
hesubur
bssoon.
”Herf
acebeams
wit
hjoy.
Funni
l
yhersi
steri
srol
l
ingherey
es.I
’
venev
er
sensedanycl
oserel
ati
onshi
pwitht
hem,whi
chi
s
str
angebecauset
hey’
retheonl
ygir
lsi
nthef
ami
ly.
“
Arey
out
wookay
?”I
’
m ol
der
,Icandi
sci
pli
net
hem.
“
Yes,
”Mawandesay
s.
Phet
hyy
awns,“Real
l
y?Shedoesn’tknowshi
tabout
meandshedoesn’
tgiv
etwofucks!”
Okay
,languageNazar
ethpr
incess!
“Whatdoyoumean?
”Mawandef
rowns.She’
s
shockedasIam.
“
Doy
ouknowme?
”Phet
hyasksher
.
She’
sst
il
lfr
owni
ng,
“Duh!You’
remysi
ster
.”
“Becausewesharepar
ent
s,othert
hanthatyoudon’t
giveshit
.Ev
enSqalodi
dn’
tli
keme, onl
yBhut’
NkonzoandSis’Temacar
eaboutmei nthi
sf ami
ly
.”
Wow,
okay
!
Shegr absherdri
nkandnoisi
lydri
nksfr
om thestraw.
“Yeap,yeah,t
hat’
sthetr
uth.I
’dexcuseyouSis’
Khany obecauseyouareyettobecomemyf amily
l
egallybutyoualsodon’
tcarewhetherBhut
’Bandla
checksonmeornot
.Doy
ouev
eraskhi
m about
me? ”
Ican’
tbel
i
evet
his!
“Yes,
Ido.Iaskify
ou’
ref
ineanddoi
ngwel
li
nyour
studi
es,
”Isay.
“
Andthat
’si
t?Howabouthetakesaphoneandcal
l
s
metosaygoodmor
ningorgoodnight
?”
Honestl
yIdon’tknowhowt odefendhim.Int
hei
r
eyesshe’
sstil
lalit
tl
ebaby,Idon’
tthi
nktheygi
vetoo
muchattent
iontoherli
fe.
“Canwet
alkaboutt
his?
”Il
ookatMawandeandshe
nods.
“Phethywhat’
syourmainissuewithher
?”Ican’
t
beli
eveI’
mt hepeacemakerinthi
sfamil
y.
“Shecaresaboutall
mybr others.Idon’tknowifI’
m
theprobl
em ortheyare.I’
venev erseenmysi st
eras
someoneIcanl eanont o,beforesheev engot
marri
edshewascl osert oallthesibl
ingsexcept
me.”
Il
ookatMawande,
“Wer
eyouawar
eoft
hat
?”
“No,”shet
akesadeepbr
eat
h.“
Itwasjustnat
ural
.I
alwaysgetal
ongwit
hpeopl
eol
derthanme.”
“
Sqal
owasol
dert
hany
ou?
”Phet
hy.
“Heopenedupt ome.May beIdon’
tknowhowt obe
asistertoasi
ster
.Idon’
tknow.”Mawandehur t
s
easil
y.Icanpi
ckhint
sofheartbr
eakfrom herv
oice.
“I
t’
snottoolat
e.Youguyscanst
il
ltr
y,y
ou’
reone
bl
ood,youcan’
tholdgr
udgesagai
nstoneanot
her
.”
Shenodsandl
ooksatPhet
hy.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
Ididn’
tknowy
ouf
eltl
i
ket
hat
.I’
m goi
ngt
o
makeaneffor
t.
”
“St
artbyli
steni
ngt
omet
ell
i
ngy
ouaboutmy
boyfr
iend.
”
Ummm…Idon’
tthi
nkso.
“
Aboy
fri
end?
”Mawandei
saManqel
eaf
teral
l
.
“
Yes,
wear
ejustcr
uisi
ng.
”
“
Arey
ouaboatnow?Ar
eyouhav
ingsexwi
thhi
m?”
“
Noty
et.
”
“
Whatdoy
oumeany
et?
”
“
Idon’tknowi
fIwanttot
ryi
tornot
.Ipr
omi
sed
NkonzoIwon’
tdoit
.”
Wai
tami
nut
e,whatonear
th?
“
Nkonzoknows?
”Iask.
“
Yeah,
hecaughtmer
ed-
handed.
”
MawandeandIlookatoneanot
herst
unned.
Chi
l
drenoftoday!
.
.
Myhousei snextt oNkonzo’s.Yes, myhouse.
Bandlastil
lliveshereandhe’ l
lkeept hishouseev en
aftert
heweddi ngasourplaceofsani ty.Ichange
i
nt oashirtdress;oneofthef ewcl othest hatsti
ll
fit
s
me.I t
’ssti
llearly
,Bandlacomeshomear ound5.I
hav et
ocat chupwi t
hTemabef orecomi ngbackt o
startwit
hdi nner.Idon’
tknowwhyIdi dn’tbring
somet hi
ngf rom therest
aurant.
Nkonzo’
shouseisnotevenf
ivemi
nutesaway
.Ido
needabitofexer
ciset
ogetbacki
nshape.
Iknowthebal
conydoori
snev
ercl
osedsoIusei
tto
enter
.
“Gi
rl
ings!
”Iyel
lmaki
ngmywayt otheki
tchen.
Nkonzotoldmetobecomfor
tabl
einhishouse,I
openthefri
dgeandgr
abtwosli
cesofParmalat
cheese.
“Ithoughtyou’dbebacklat
e,”shesay
scomingf
rom
theroom, draggi
ngherfeet
.She’snowheav
il
y
pregnantandwal ki
ngli
keapenguin.
“
No,
Mawandehadt
ogosomewher
e.Howar
eyou?
”
“
I’
m good,
justexhaust
edf
rom sl
eepi
ngal
lday
.”
“
Missi
ngwor
k?”Iask.
“
Yes,
andmyhusband.
”
“Oh,okay!Wozanazo.
”Ipul
lthechai
randsi
t.I
haven’
tseenhermenti
oningherhusbandwi
tha
smileinalongt
ime.
“Basi
call
y,we’
vebeental
ki
ngt osomeelders.I
underst
andwhyhe’sfr
ustrat
edwithme.Ijustwish
wecould’
vedat
edl
ongerbefor
ejumpi
ngi
nto
mar
riage,
butwear
eprogressi
ng.
”
“
Progr
essi
ng?
”Iaskcur
iousl
y.
“
Iknowwhathedoesn’
tli
keandheknowsmy
t
ri
gger
s.We’
veconnect
edagain,
sexli
fei
sgood.
”
“
Okay
,I’
m achi
l
dst
op.
”
Shelaughs,
“I’
mtel
li
ngyou.He’
sev
encancel
ed
taki
ngmet othevi
l
lage.
”
Ir
ollmyeyes.I
’
m abitdi
sappoi
nted,
Ithought
Nkonzowouldfor
cehert
ogoandbecomeav il
lage
wif
etoo.
“
Giv
ehi
m mor
eat
ti
tude,
”It
ell
her
.
“AndgolivewithMaKhumal oandMaNtusi
?No,
thankyou.I’
dratherbehav
eandseethem on
Christ
mas.”
“
Whydotheyscar
eyousomuch?Especi
all
y
MaKhumal
obecauseshel
ovesy
ou,
”Iask.
“
Everyoneisint
oeachot her
’sbusi
ness,I
’dbecrazy
i
fIstayedinsuchenvi
ronment.Idon’
twantmy
mother-
in-
lawinvol
vedinmymar ri
age.Ialr
eady
haveinsecuri
ti
esandtrusti
ssues,myconf
idence
wouldbecr ushed.I
thastakenalotf
ormet olov
e
agai
n.”
Inod,
“Yeah,
Iunder
stand.
”
Thatshar
pabdomenpai
nagai
n.
“Don’
tyouhav
epaintabl
ets?I
’vebeenhav
ingt
his
sharppai
ninmyabdomen,”Iask.
“Letmecheck.Howlonghasi
tbeenther
e?”She
goestot
hedr awerandt
akesabott
leofpi
ll
sout.
“Si
ncemor
ning,
buti
t’
snott
hatbad,
Ijusthat
epai
n,
”
Isay.
Igetofft
hechairandpourmy selfaglassofwater.I
swall
owthepi l
l
sandfeeltheimmedi ateneedofthe
toi
let
.WhatdidIeatatt
her estaurant
?Therewas
nothi
ngstrangemos.
Igetinthebathroom andsi
tonthetoil
et-
seat.I
’
m
pushingbutnothingcomesout.WhenIcheck
my sel
fbeforefl
ushingthet
oil
etInot
iceav er
ysticky
fl
uiddroppingfr
om mycookie.Hebana!
“
Gir
l,y
ouneedt
otakemet
othedoct
or.Somet
hing
i
swr
ongwi
thme.
”I’
mtr
yingnott
opani
c.
“
What
’swr
ong?
”sheasks.
“Idon’
tknowwhet
heri
t’
ski
dneysorbl
adderor
stomach,butI
’
minpai
n,
”Isay
.
She’
sconf
used.Soam I
.
IfeelbadformakingapregnantwomandrivebutI
havenoot herchoi
ce.Wedrivepastmyhouse,Igr
ab
myj acketandphonefr
om thecharger
.

There’
sonlyonemanseeingthedoct
orwit
hus.The
nurseregi
ster
ingcomi
ngpati
entsqui
ckl
yassumes
thatTemaistheonewit
haproblem.
“
It
’smewho’
sher
etoseet
hedoct
or,
”Isay
.
“
Oh,
sorr
y.CanIhav
eyournameandsur
name?
”If
il
l
i
nmydetai
l
sandpayupfr
ont.
“
Whatar
eyouher
efor
?You’
resi
ck?
”sheasks.
“
Ithi
nkso.
”
She’
sconf
used.Whowoul
dn’
tbe?
“Ihav
epaininmykidneysorbl
adderorst
omach.I
t’
s
somewherether
e,andIhadaveryweir
dflui
d
comingoutofmyv agi
na,
”Isay
.
Shelooksatmefrom headtot
oe.Nur
sesand
thi
nki
ngtheycanseeHI Vcr
awli
ngonyourski
n!
“
Fol
l
owme,
”shesay
s.
Wefoll
owhert
otheroom,shet
ell
smet
osi
tont
he
bedandTemaonthechai
r.
Af
teramomentshecomesbackwi
tht
heBP
monit
orandt
hinwhi
tet
ube.
IgetmyBPcheckedandst andontheweightscale.
Bandlahasiti
nthebat
hroom butI’
venevercaredto
check.Icl
osemyeyesandwai tf
orhertotell
met o
stepdown.Myweighti
sf orhert
oknow,Iknowhow
Il
ook.
“
Pleasepeeandt
aket
hist
est
.”
Umhl
ola!
“
Pregnancyt
est
?”I
’
minawe.
“
Yes,pl
easehurr
y.Si
si,
justkeepaney
eonherf
or
me,
”she’st
ell
i
ngTema.
Wow!Temaaccompani esmet othetoi
lettotake
thepregnantt
est.I
’m notl
i
kingthi
s.Ican’tbe
pregnantnow.Ihaveaweddingcomi ngupand
manygr eatt
hings.
Igi
veitt
ohert
ohol
dwhi
l
eIwashmyhandsi
nthe
si
nk.
Ihearhergasp.
“
Whatar
ether
esul
ts?
”
“
Twol
i
nes.
”
Noway
s!Thi
stestcamewi
thi
tsl
i
nes.
“
You’
repr
egnant
!”
“Iknowwhati
tmeans. ”Idon’
tknowwhet
hert
ofai
nt
noworwaitunt
ilIgethome.

Thisnur
seal
readyknew.Shedoesn’
tlooksur
pri
sed
atall
.
“
SoI
’
m pr
egnant
?”Iask.
“
Yes,
andgi
vi
ngbi
rt
h.”
Nowstopt
hesunandev
ery
thi
ng.Thi
swomangot
j
okes!
“Pl
easeremoveyourunder
wearandli
einthebed.
Dociscomingtocheckhowfaryouare,
I’
llbooky
ou
i
ntothehospi
tal
.”
“
I’
m notpr
egnant
,”Isay
.
“
Youar
epr
egnant
.”
“Yesnow, butIhaven’tbeenpregnanttot
hepoi
ntof
givi
ngbirt
ht oday.
”IlookatTemaandshe’ smore
pregnantthanme.Thi sispurewitchcr
aft
!
Idon’tdi
sobeythenurse,
Ili
einthebedandwaitfor
thedoctor.Temastepsoutoftheroom andnames
call
s.Thedoctorcomesanddoeshi sthi
ngstome.
“You’r
egivingbi
rt
htoday
.Yourcontr
act
ionsar
e
closenow.You’l
lbeadmitt
edtothel
aborward
i
mmedi at
ely.
”
Ist
il
ldon’
tgeti
t.
“
HowcanIbepregnantandnotknowf orni
ne
mont
hs?Wher
ewasmybel l
y?”Iask.
“
Doy
ouhav
ePCOS?
”
“Ri
ghtnowIdon’
thav
eany
thi
ng,
notev
enmy
commonsense.”
Hechuckl
es,
“Doy
ouhav
eanor
mal
menst
ruat
ion
ci
rcl
e?”
“
No,
youknowhowbi
rt
hcont
rol
inj
ect
ionsar
e,”Isay
.
“Youweren’tconsci
ousofthepregnancysigns.
Hormonef l
uctuati
onsandpolycyst
icovary
syndr
omecanl eadtoencr
yptpregnancy.YourhCG
doesnotaccumul at
einanormal waythatgives
awayclearpregnancysi
gns.I
t’
sar arepregnancy
casebutit
’snotnew.Yourbaby ’
sheartbeati
s
normalandheal t
hy.
”
Mylif
eisover
!Iseethel
if
eIknowanddreamedof
fl
ashi
ngri
ghtinfr
ontofmyeyesandbecoming
hi
stor
y.
.
.
I
t’
s23h33,I
’mlyi
nginthepostnat
alward’
sbedwi th
abrandnewli
tt
legi
rlwrappedint
heblanketthat
Temadonatedtome.Icriedf
orhours,
everynurse
wasannoy edbymebutIdi dn’tcare.Theysay
Bandl afai
ntedwhenhehear dt henewst hrough
phonecal l
s.Idon’tknowhowt r
uet hati
s.I’
my etto
seehi m.Idon’tknowabouthi m butnowt hatI’
m
holdingherinmyar msi thassunki nthatI
’ma
mot her.Thisl
it
tlegirl
’sl
if
edependsonme, t
here’
s
nothingIcandot orever
set hesituati
on,she’smine.
Thesear erepercussionsoflov i
ngbey ondthe
templ e.
Ikeeptouchingherfi
ngersandthenfr
eakoutwhen
shemov esthem.Idon’tknowifI’
l
lbeabl
etosleep.
WhatifIsleeponherlit
tl
eface?Thehospi
talbedis
toosmallforbothofus.

Someoneishere.Iseeherthroughmyey
eli
ds
fol
dingdown.He’sstandi
ngnexttomybed,st
ari
ng
atmeandt hebrandnewgi r
linmyarms.
“
Khany
o,”–i
t’
shi
m.
Iopenmyeyesandl
ookathi
m.I
’
venev
erseenhi
s
eyessobul
bous.
“
I’
m her
e,”Isay
.
“
Thi
sisher
?”
No,
it’
snother
,Ibor
rowedsomeoneel
se’
sbaby
.
“
Cany
oubel
i
evei
t?”Iask.
“NowIdo.Icouldn’
tsl
eepwithoutcomi
ng.Howar e
you?”Hiseyesareonthebr
andnewgi r
l.Thefeari
n
hiseyesisgoi
ngtobreakst
it
chesinmyv aginaapar
t.
“I
’
m good,
learni
ngtobreast
feedandallthat
.
Tomorr
owy ouhavetogobuyherclothes,bat
hset
s,
bl
anket
sandset-uparoom forher
.”
“
Wher
emustIbuyal
lthat
?”
“Idon’
tknow.You’
l
laski
nthemal
lorgetMaNt
usi
to
helpyou.
”
“
Okay
!”Heshut
shi
sey
es.
“
Theysai
dthey
’l
lpr
ovi
def
reecounsel
i
ngf
orus,
”I
t
ell
him.
“I
’m notst
ressedorsad.Ij
ustdon’
tknowwhatt
o
say.
”He’steari
ngup.“CanIholdher
?”
“
Yeah,
becar
eful
.”Igi
vet
hebr
andnewgi
rlt
ohi
m.
Hel
i
ftshercl
osert
ohi
sfaceandst
aresather
.
Ther
ear
ethousandemot
ionsgoi
ngt
hroughhi
m.
“
Hel
loNtandoy
ethonga.
”Hi
svoi
cei
slower
ed,
Irai
se
myeyebr
ow.
“
Thatsoundsboy
ish,
”Isay
.
“No,
itdoesn’
t.
”Hepullsdownt
heblanketali
ttl
ebit
andconti
nuesstar
ingatmydaught
er.“HeyNtando.
”
She’
sonl
yafewhoursol
d,Ican’
tbel
i
evehewant
s
hert
oret
urngr
eet
ingsal
ready.
“Ican’tbel
i
eveI’
m af
ather
.She’
ssobeaut
if
uland
perfect,
”hesay
sandlooksatmewit
hasmi l
e.
“Whendoyouthi
nkIgoty
oupr
egnant
?”Wow,
the
pri
deinhi
svoi
ce!
“
Ninemont
hsago,
”Isay
.
“
Thi
sisamagi
cbaby
.”
Well
,Iagr
eewit
hthat.Iunder
minedt
hei
mpor
tance
ofcondomsunt
ilt
oday.
“Thankyou.I
’
dlety
ouhi
j
ackmeov
erandov
er
again.
”
“
Idi
dn’
thi
j
acky
ou.
”
“
Youdi
d.”
Ur
gh,
MakaNt
andodon’
tgeti
ntosi
l
lyar
gument
s!

THEEND!
!!
THANKYOUTENANTS.