KEPT

16. CARS.

NKOSIYABO

The first four weeks of the year are a smooth sailing. Everyone is getting settled again at work and we've signed new clients for our car parts. Everyone is still basking in this new year energy and one can feel it all round the building. It might just be another good year.

I get to the office early as usual on a Friday morning and get started with my day. There's a specific delivery I'm waiting on today and I check with the guys at the warehouse reminding them to let me know as soon as it arrives then I get back to work.

A couple of hours later there's a knock on my door and I answer loudly for the person to enter.

"Bafo, I hope I'm not disturbing, " Mduduzi says standing by the door.

"Not at all, come in, " I say and he does just that "Are you settling in okay?"I ask remembering that this is his first week back.

" Yes, Bangizwe has been of great help, " he says and I nod.

"That's good, I'm glad you're settling in, " he isn't in the same position that he was in before he left and I know it can't be an easy thing to adjust to, him having to report to Bangizwe, but it's the best I could do. Hopefully as time passes he will work his way up.

"Bengifuna ukukubonga futhi, ngokunginika leli thuba. [I wanted to thank you again, for giving me this opportunity.] You might not know it, brother, but you've really thrown me a lifeline and I'll always be grateful,"

"Akumele ulokhu ungibonga Mduduzi. Siwumndeni futhi umndeni uyakhathalelana" [You don't have to keep thanking me, Mduduzi. We are family and family looks out for one another]

"Alright, I'll stop, " He chuckles and I check the time again "Are you waiting for someone?"

"For something, a car..."

"Are the car haulers late?"

"No, it's not that. I got a car for Khanyisa so I took it in to get customized, "

"Hee! look at you, already husband of the year and we're just getting into the second month of the year, " he says and I chuckle.

"Ngizothini bafo? [What can I say, brother?] some of us are good at this husbanding thing, we were born with this thing " I say and he laughs. I don't think I'm husband of the year, I'm just being my wife's husband.

"It means I'll come to you for tips the day I decide to settle down too, " He says and it's my turn to laugh.

"Wena? Settle down, "

"Yebo bafo, people change"He says while laughing, clearly not  believing his own words.

"Ngizokukholwa uma ngikubona" [I'll believe it when I see it]

"One of these days I'll surprise you, uzobona [You'll see]" he chuckles.

"Like I said, to see is to believe,"

"Alright, alright. Ake ngibuyele emsebenzini ngingakangeni enkingeni nomphathi wami" [Let me get back to work before I get in trouble with my boss] he says then walks out.

Once I get the call I've been waiting for, I make my way to our warehouse to see my delivery. It's our latest SUV, the first time I saw it, I knew this was the one I had to get for my wife. Her love for SUVs is out of this world, I know this because of all the cars we have at home, that's the only one she ever uses.

"Is it ready?" I ask the guy handling it and he nods then gives me the keys. When I open it, My expectations are met over and beyond. The interior is exactly as I envisioned it with the burgundy and shiny black colour, I can already imagine the look on her face when she sees this and it gives me this proud feeling. I can't exactly explain what it is, all I know is that I can't wait to see the look on her face.