Zekhethelo: Love redefined.

chapter 4: a glimse of a new beginning

Today is Tuesday, basically the last day of school for my princess as they're going to have the one week school holidays for September. Their holidays begin early as they do not have exams, I've just arrived back from fetching her from school and as always she's chatting off while the little one is climbing everything in the house.

My mum arrives while we are sitting watching pepper pig, she's carrying shopping bags and hands them to me, "these are for you" I smile, at my big age I still get excited to recieve gifts, it's a few dresses and one pair of block heel sandals, "ngiyabonga kakhulu ma.." while we are having our moment, there's a knock.

"Ngena(come in)" sis'Thandi walks in, "sanbonani ekhaya.." she greets then takes a seat, "yebo Thandi, ninjani sisi?" They basically have a bit of a catch up session with my mother. "Khethelo sisi, I am here to see you, I wanted to thank you personally for helping us out in our time of need, people could not stop talking about the standard of the food" I smile, this is a proud moment for me. "I am happy to help ma", "actually people could not stop talking about the food, as a result, a cousin of mine has asked for your number, they're looking for a caterer for a business event" I look over at my mum, she's smiling .

"I'd love to take the offer ma, but I do not have any equipment so..." my mum interjected, "give them your number Khethelo" I look at her confused, she grabs her handbag, takes out a pen and note book, she hands them to me and I write my contact numbers.

"Ngiyabonga kakhulu, senizosala kahle" she walks out. "Ma?" , " this might be your big break Zee, you never turn down and opportunity, you make means to cease it, find somewhere to hire the equipment, on your quotation to the business event, include the price of hiring these equipment plus your own profit, they could have chosen anyone but choosing you means they specifically want to work with you so they will work at your terms" I smile.

"Thank you Ma" I exclaim "hellooo beautiful family", well someone's happy, Za walks in carrying 2 boxes of pizza, "I hope you haven't cooked" she sits next to me and kisses My cheek "ewwwu sies!" I say and we both laugh "ubuyaphi Zanele?" She's been gone since Friday, its Tuesday today "ma, I was with Kwanele, she is going through a very rough phase and i just couldn't let her spend the weekend on her own" kwanele is her best friend, they've been friends since childhood, she's like her sister now.

"Umtshele loyomfana ukuthi umfazi uyalotsholwa" she then stands and walks off, my sister and I giggle softly.

After dinner my mum heads to bed, my babies are asleep and now my sister and I catch up, I fill her in on my weekend and the mysterious clean guy I met, "he is clearly attracted to you" she says, "oh please, those 2 babies sleeping there are a product of thinking that men are attracted to me" she sighs, "when will you allow yourself to see love for what It truly is?" I laugh, like seriously laugh. "There's no such thing as love" she throws a pillow at me, "goodnight!" Then she walks out.

I think about my love life, I've never really had a love life, I fell in love with Athi's dad only to find that it wasn't really love, I've only experienced this love thing from a one-sided point, men are takers, they never really give off any love, and honestly relationships are the least of my worries right now, i just need to get my life together.

Since I am not feeling sleepy, I decide to search for catering companies that offer boking of equipment like warmers, pots and cutlery, I find a few quotes and they're really not bad. I finally doze off.

* the next morning *
I'm woken up by a loud voice and soft knocks on my door "mommy!!" I get up and open, it's Athi and Okuhle, I carry okuhle while athi walks to the bed, we get into the blankets and believe it or not, these kids fell back to sleep again. As I was about to doze off my phone rings. It's an 011 number, I pick up "Hello" ,"Good day Ma'am, am I speaking to Zekhethelo Bhengu?", "yes speaking, how may I help you".

"I am Mr Cele's PA, I was instructed to contact you pertaining the launch of the Cele construction offices, for the catering?" I process this and respond "yes, how may I help you?", "We would like you to send in your quotation by end of business day today if possible so that payment can be made as soon as possible as the event will be happening on Saturday evening", okay that was quick, "I will have the quotation emailed to you by midday, please send me the dietary requirements" , "no problem Ma'am, have a good day" she hangs up.

I squel a bit, I am so excited, could this be my big break, I walk out of my room and find that my sister is about to leave, I practically beg her to leave her laptop behind so that I can get the paper work done.

I do all my house chores and put on cartoons for my kid's while I get cracking on what was requested from me. Now as a qualified lawyer, I even draft a contract and then certify the documents with my old stamp, at least I still have a few of my things, I sold almost everything when I fell into the addiction.

I had to come up with a creative name for this impromptu business venture, obviously so that everything looks legit, I've decided to name it "ThandwaOkuhle caterers", for obvious reasons, i couldn't think of any name much more fitting.

I email Pam, the lady that called me earlier on from Cele constructions then continue spending time with my rascles, Okuhle's speech gets clearer by day, now he's able to say a few basic words very clearly so maybe it's time we start potty training him. I'll have to discuss this with my mother later on.

While we're watching paw patrol, my phone rings from an office number, I answer it. "Hello..", "Ms Bhengu, I am happy to inform you that payment has been processed and I have sent through the dietary requirements, I would like to also find out if you will be using our office canteen to prepare the food or you will come with the final products?"

I'm shocked, I mean I haven't spoken to God in years but this right here is the kind of testimonies I would often hear in church whenever mum would drag us to church on Sundays so I'm very certain that this is all God's doing.

The conversation goes on for a few more minutes then we end the call.