XILUVA

Chapter one

A YEAR BACK

Xiluva is sound asleep when her mother opens the door to her room. She smiles when looking at her child. Her only child. She remembers exactly the day she got her. She found her on the side of a road. Then she took her to the police station and did everything to adopt her. Then she named her Xiluva. Her flower. That's what she is to her.

Mother:baby wake up. It's time now. I got the newspaper for you.
Xiluva:mom it's morning already? Wow. I didnt even hear the sms.
Mother:get up. Here's the newspaper. Check your student number.

She gets up and take the newspaper from her mother. She moves her eyes on the numbers while shaking.

Xiluva:mama i can't find my student number.
Mother:check properly.
Xiluva: I did mom! I can't dind it. What's going on?
Mother:calm down. It can happen that you don't appear on the newspaper but pass.
Xiluva:my dream of getting us out of here is doomed. I won't be able to do that anymore!
Mother:let's just wait and see what the statement says.
Xiluva:I'm nit going to school. They are going to laugh at me. Imagine from being a top student in all of the grade 12s and to a complete fail. I know what i wrote. I should be on this newspaper.
Mother:which is why I'm saying go to school and gwt your statement. It doesn't matter what symbol you get. I will still be proud of you.

Her mother fixed her water and she took a bath. She dressed in her dress and took her cellphone and went to school. There were lots of students. Some looked sad while some looked happy and screaming. She went to take hers. The way she was so scared she did not want to open the envelope. She went straight home. Wanting to open it with her mother. She went in and the aroma in the kitchen was out of this world.

Her mother sat on the couch and smiled gesturing with her hands to open the brown envelope. She opened slowly and looked at it. Tears fell on her eyes and she tried to wipe them.

Mother:it's not the end of the world my child.
Xiluva:mom i failed. Everyone in this street will know that I failed. How am i going to look in the eyes of everyone around here? They know me as this smart person who helps others with their schoolwork. What niw?
Mother:you are going back to school and will try again until you make it. I know you're a bright student. You wouldn't have just failed. I will get to the bottom of this and everything is going to be fine.
Xiluva:my life is over. They will laugh at me.
Mother:people will always laugh my dear. It's up to you how you react to it. In life if you live according to what people think of you then you're not going to live a peaceful life. Do you.

PRESENT TIME

Xiluva:mom where am i going to sleep? What will i eat?
Mother:a year back you were worried about what people were going to think. But you dusted yourself and got up. You went back and became the best and bright student that you always were. All those who were laughing are ashamed now.  I am very proud of you. Of everything you've achieved. Use tge money that you made all year from working at the somalian shop after school to pay for accommodation. Find something cgeap or someone to share a room with.
Xiluva:you know what? You're right mom. And everyone who was involved in my misery is going to pay. One by one. I am going to make them pay. I haven't forgotten.
Mother:Xiluva! That's not how i raised you.
Xiluva:of course mom. I mean that I'm going to let my success talk for itself. I wouldn't do anything bad.
Mother:let's go. I want you to catch the first taxi.
Xiluva:mama i promise i will get you out of here. I will get you the life that you deserve. Only the best for you.

.......

XILUVA

After the long journey i finally get to my destination. The iveco dropped us at Bosman. I did my research  so i know everything. I was supposed to get off at Prinsloo but i didn't want to get lost. It's my first time in Pretoria. Coming from a small village in Limpopo these buildings that are in front of me look so big and beautiful. A guy walks next to me and slows down.

Guy:my sister where are you going?
Me:Hatfield. Do you know where i can get the taxis going tgere?
Guy:you  should have got off in Prinsloo street. Here there are meter taxis and they are very expensive.
Me:it's fine. Where can i find them?
Guy:let me take you tgere. Let ne help with your bag.
Me:i don't have money to pay you. I will find them myself.
Guy:even R5 is fine. I just want to buy bread. Don't be scared. Everyone knows me here.

He whistles at some security guards and greets them. They laugh at him nodding.

Guy:you see? They know me. Let's go.

I give him the biggest bag that feels like it has stones inside. He puts it on his shoulder as if it's a piece of paper. He points at a Corolla and smiles.

Guy:that one is available. You won't get lost. Just tell him where you are going.
Me:thank you. Here's your R5.
Guy:wa gafa sesi. O kile wa bona kae plate ya dijo ele R5 wena?(You're crazy my sister. Where have you ever seen a plate of food that costs R5?)
Me:you said you want to buy bread!
Guy:ka R5? Mphe tshelete yaaka. Or you won't get this bag.(with R5? Give me ny money.)

I was now getting scared.

Me:i don't have change.
Guy:pay the driver. You're wasting my time. He will give you change.
Me:good day sir. Are you going to Hatfield?
Man:yes. It's R90.

What!? When searching on my phone it said +- 15 minutes drive! I give him R200 and tell him to give me change so i can pay this chancer. I pay him and get in the car then we drive off.

Man:where are you from?
Me: Limpopo.
Man:oh i know that place. I once worked there. Don't trust these nyaope boys with your belongings. They even charge you for giving you directions.

I just nod. I don't even know where i am going to sleep. It's my orientation day. I will keep walking with my bag around campus until it's time to look for a place. I'm here already. And it's taken me a lot to get here. What more could go wrong?

.......

After a ling day at orientation i hold onto my two bags. I wak to the gate and just stand there. I see a woman coming to me and i just ignore her. I've heard about the God the mother people around here. They tell you about God who is the mother and whatnot. I've been warned to stay away from them. They can lead you astray. A car stops in front of me and i smile. At least someone that i know. He's my cousin. My mother didn't want me calling him. She'd rather i sleep outside than be with family. Familyreally damaged us. Story for another day.

Me:thank you so much for doing this for me.
Austin:i couldn't let you sleep out. This place is  dangerous. Let's go.

He takes my bags to his car and then drive to his apartment. At least it's a walking distance from campus.

Austin:i want you to promise me something. You will focus on your school work and stay away from trouble. You're here niw. Forget everything and move on.
Me:you have a good heart.
Austin:i would do anything for you.

Austin's father and my mother are siblings. Even though I'm adopted they still treat me like family. I will always be grateful for these people.

We take all my bags out and he shows me a room that  i will be using.

Me:I'll look for my own place when my bursary starts paying.
Austin:stay here and save the accommodation money. I'm away most of the time so i won't disturb you.
Me:okay. I'm really grateful.
Austin:don't stress. Just be focused.

......
Later at night i stood on the valcony taking in the beautiful city. I've never seen something like this really. Maybe it's because it's my first time in a city.

Austin:can't believe that you're really here?
Me:yes. It's so surreal. I wonder where Evidence is.
Austin:stay away from her. Did you call aunty?
Me:yes. She's happy that I'm safe. So you haven't seen Evidence?
Austin:I'm not going to tell you anything. I don't want you to go to jail.
Me:they wasted my time. I'm here to study but mostly I'm here for revenge. I never forgive and forget. That's just me.
Austin:i don't want to chain you onto the table. So behave.
Me:you know me. She's going to pay back everything. A whole year. While she goes on with her life i repeated a grade.
Austin:and you did well. So why not let this go?
Me:i became depressed because of her. Almost killed myself.
Austin:i see you have made up your mind about this. I will see you tomorrow. Do you have class?
Me:no. It's orientation all this week. Today i wrote AIM. So hard! At least i knew something nyana about computers.
Austin:i know about that one. Almost all first years have to do it. But it's easy once you get what is going on.
Me:i hear you. Good night.