Chapter 50
"shame man poor girl just had her baby, oh well shit happens need any help getting rid of her? " said Robert as he walked in.
Josh: if I need your help I will ask for it. Just organise a car I know I'll do with the body, I don't want any of us implicated in this mess.
Robert: yeah you do that her dad is hot shot businessman if he suspects foul play then he won't rest until he finds her. Josh seemed to be in distant thought he remembered Mr Khumalo so very well. You see Josh came from a very poor family and because he was white he was always overlooked because people thought he had it easy, yes they didnt live in a shack but they would sometimes go for days without eating. He would go stand at a busy intersection hoping someone would take pity on him and at least give him something to eat. He would try to look as decent as possible but when your clothes are old and worn out it was hard. His parents were alcoholics his dad would also beat him when he tried to stop him from beating his mom. He dropped out of school because he barely had stationery or money for school events sometimes even his fees wouldnt be paid up. So on one particular day he met a man who would change his life forever. It was one of the hottest days in summer and Josh was starving he had been at the robots for close to two hours motorists just ignored him those who did pay attention scolded him for what he was doing they didn't really think he was serious because he looked so clean and neat. Now he was feeling very weak he didn't even have the strength to hold up his cardboard sign anymore. A car halted at the robot a man looked and saw him crouching down his back against the robot pole his head bent down.
Man: hey son are you lost or something? Josh hesitated at first by the man looked genuinely concerned.
Josh: err no sir I'm just hungry sir if you can please spare some change or even a sandwich please sir.
Man: that's so bad but I don't carry cash nor food in my car but if you won't be scared I can take you to eat. Josh had been the hungriest he's ever been right now so he didnt protest much. He stood up his skinny feet buckled under pressure everything went black. He woke up a few days later in a hospital bed it was nice and comfortable and had a TV. He was confused at first but then he remembered he had passed out, but how can his parents afford to bring him to a place like this right then the man from the robots walked in.
Man: hi son are you feeling okay now? You gave me quite a scare I didn't even know where I would find your family, do you have parents?
Josh: yes sir.
Man: what is your name?
Josh: Joshua Jackburn but I prefer Josh.
Man: OK I'm Mandla Khumalo but you young man can call me bab'khumalo. Josh seemed amused at that he said it a few times and sounded so funny until he could say it without sounding like he's trying to hard.
Mr Khumalo: how old are Josh?
Josh: I'm 15 bab'Khumalo .
Mr khumalo: they said you were severely dehydrated and malnourished I need to get your parents here maybe they are worried sick.
Josh: they don't care, they probably passed out drunk by this time that's all they care about and beating on me. He looked down as he continued to tell Mr Khumalo his life story. Mr Khumalo was really touched by this and since Josh was the same age as Nomzamo he wondered whether wherever she was If she was having a good life maybe she was just like Josh he only prayed that maybe one day a good Samaritan would do for her what he's doing for Josh.
Mr Khumalo: I have a daughter who's your age.
Josh: wow really where is she?
Mr Khumalo: I'm still trying to find her she's been missing for years but I know it in my heart she's still alive out there somewhere just waiting for me to find her. Josh felt sad a part of him wished his parents would care so much about him.
Josh : she's one lucky girl to have a dad like you.
Mr Khumalo: now tell me where you live so I can take you home.
Josh: no please sir please I don't want to go back there I know they'll be too self absorbed to notice I was ever gone please if you give a job to do anything I'll make enough money to go time school and have need clothes and uniform and food. This hurt Mr Khumalo, no child at this age should be worrying about getting a job and fending for themselves like this.
Mr Khumalo: listen don't worry I'll get you enrolled in school and pay for all your fees for the rest of the year then your parents won't have to worry about that part.
Josh: sir I want to go home with you. After much convincing Josh agreed to go home on the agreement that he would have a driver take him to school drop him off at Mr Khumalo's house for lunch and take away supper since giVing his parents money was a no no. The doctor discharged Josh as per their agreement Mr Khumalo organised to pay the fees at his previous school bought him new uniform and all the things needed at school and he turned out to be quite the A student and he was right his parents never paid him no attention they never even saw his new uniform and new clothes and besides even on weekends he was always at the Mr Khumalo's house he especially enjoyed chilling with Sthe Mr Khumalo's son, he wasn't that much older so they got along. Things were going well for Josh until one fateful night. His dad had been drinking hard and was angry for some reason Josh tried to intervene when he started beating his mother with a rod that just made his father go mad and he beat the poor boy to a pulp and left him and his mom for dead. After days of not pitching up for school his driver alerted Mr Khumalo who went to go see him what he found was a sight for sore eyes a woman's body lay lifeless there was blood everywhere and his heart sank when he saw the small boy curled up under the kitchen table he was a mess dried upblood all over him bruises he had peed and soiled himself but thankfully he was alive. Mr Khumalo quickly grabbed the towel wrapped it around the boy and the rushed him to the hospital he called the police inorder for them to deal with the woman. It was a touch and go with Josh in the hospital if he hadn't been found he would have been dead. After months of being hospitalised and intense recovery Josh was back to his normal life he stayed a few months with the Khumalo's until Thandi said they should enroll him in a boarding school. It was as if Mr Khumalo felt his health was deteriorating so he set Josh up for life. He opened up a trustfund for him unbeknownst to Thandi that would pay for any course he chose after finishing school and provide also all the things he would need for the duration of his studies his company would make sure of that and follow up on him. Mr Khumalo made him promise to never tell anyone even Sthe and to always work hard to get a degree of his choice. That was his vow from that day onwards that all he did he wanted Mr Khumalo to be proud of him. He went to medicine school and when he went to Mr Khumalos house he was told he had gone to a hospital overseas he wasn't even allowed to know which hospital. That pushed him even more to become a doctor he wanted to help his Bab'Khumalo he owed him his life. When he finally graduated at age 25 he was so heartbroken that no one was there for him he knew Mr Khumalo would have been there and so proud he was the closest thing to a father he had. Mr Khumalo really did set him for life because he was even able to put enough money to open his own private practice that's how he knew Mr Radebe and how he became friends with George. When George told him the whole story and who Nomzamo Khumalo was it was only natural he helped. George knew Mr Radebe would need a doctor who would be discreet and at least with Josh they would be able to keep tabs on Nomzamo but his plan was more brilliant the only way Nomzamo would ever have a new life is if she died and believably so. So George approached Josh about what he wanted him to do, when he agreed he then recommended him to Mr Radebe who didN't have any objections. That's how it all came about.
Josh wiped his tears as he reminisced all his been through Robert gave up and just left him there since he seemed lost in his little world. "Don't worry Nomzamo I'll do for you what your father did for me all those years ago" he said as his touched her hand. She wasnt dead but she had to appear dead. The plan was to make everyone believe she was dead instead she would be recuperating in a secret location only him and George knew about. Mr Radebe would probably have Menzi and Mr Khumalo tailed so they too had to believe she was still out there somewhere with Sihle Menzi however had to be told about it but he had to act like he was still trying to find her and wasn't to go anywhere near her for some weeks until the heat died down. Josh organised a car and once again assured Mr Radebe he would adequately dispose of the body no one would know of her death only the three of them, Mr Radebe was satisfied with that. He had that snake Sihle to focus on now. Josh Drove off making sure he wasn't being followed before making his way to the secret location Nomzamo started to moan the effects of the drug he injected with had worn off.
Josh: hey sleeping beauty you scared be there for a second I didn't expect those seizures. Nomzamo laughed.
Nomzamo: that was just improvisation I just wanted to have a dramatic exit. Josh laughed.
Josh: thank you for trusting me though I know it must not have been easy.
Nomzamo: when you said you owed my dad a favor I had no reason not to, anyway I'm glad I did now at least I won't have to face the wrath of Mr Radebe. Thank you.
Josh: don't thank me yet once you are better and reunited with your loved ones safely then I will deserve your thank you. Nomzamo smiled she knew now there definitely was a God looking down on her and she couldn't wait to see her daughter and Menzi and her dad.
To be continued
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