PULL MY HEARTSTRINGS (COMPLETE)

77

                              

     

It was time for Anesu to give his speech and he made his way to the podium with his head held up high. He was known as a master negotiator in the boardroom and wasn’t easily shaken by whoever was on the other side of the table, but there was something about speaking in public that got to him and that’s why he had Andrews.
     
He ignored the sea of faces looking up at him when he got to the front and focussed his gaze on Kgomotso instead. She smiled and gave him a nod of encouragement once their eyes locked and he knew he’d be alright as long as he had her by his side. He took out a piece of paper from his breast pocket and laid it out in front of him.
     
“There’s a lot I can say about my father because he was a complicated man but I will try to keep it short.”
     
A few chuckles broke out in the crowd.
     
“I began to know my father towards the end of his life because for the longest time he was beyond my reach and I can say the same for my brother, and that created some resentment in me growing up because being the people’s hero didn’t give him the chance to be involved in our lives from the beginning. So, it’s fair to say that most people in this room know him better than I do.”
     
A pause followed as he loosened his tie and briefly returned his gaze on the speech.
     
“I was young when my father passed away and still lacked the understanding to make peace with him being taken away from us just as we were starting to build a relationship. But I stand in front of you today proud that he dedicated his life, fighting for the liberation of oppressed South Africans and leaving a legacy that will be celebrated for generations to come. He was a selfless man, putting others before himself without expecting anything in return and kept on fighting for justice and equality until his last day. And those principles are the cornerstone of the Robert Bongeziwe Luthuli Foundation, which is the reason why we’re all here tonight. The clinic we unveiled in Stanger is one of the many initiatives we’ve funded throughout the country over the years and we’re currently in the process of working with Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Lesotho as part of our new outreach program focussed beyond our borders. So, I hope you’ll dig deep in your pockets because we need your generous donations and I’ll be the first to put my money where my mouth is.”
     
“Baby? Please come up here.”
     
Haibo! Nobody said anything about her joining Anesu on stage, so what was he doing? All eyes turned to Kgomotso and she wanted to slide down the chair and fall under the table because Anesu had no timing! It was her ‘phakama mkami bakubone’ moment but her legs went numb and she didn’t possess the willpower to stand in front of everyone and be scrutinised.
     
Jabu nudged Kgomotso when she made no attempt to stand. She was never going to forgive Anesu for putting her on the spot in front of Jessica her nemesis.
    
“I can’t stand and walk to the stage in these shoes,” she whispered, hoping Anesu would call off his stunt and spare her further embarrassment.
     
At Jabu’s request Tinashe led her to the front and she felt like a bride being given away on her wedding day when they got to Anesu.
     
“Are you okay?” he asked.
     
Her blush deepened because he was acting like they were alone on their own planet and not standing in front of all those people. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
     
He held her close, kissing the top of her head.
     
“I saw it fitting for my wife to join me on stage because we’ll be donating one million tonight.”
     
One million?! And he never thought to mention it just once because she was out here looking like a deer caught in the headlights. But no one was more shocked than Jessica to learn that Anesu and Kgomotso were married, it wasn’t possible.
     
Smile, Kgomotso, there are people with cameras here. She listened to the voice in her head.
     
“Before I close off my speech I’d like to thank my mother, Celiwe Dlomo-Luthuli because none of this would be possible without her, she fought alongside my father and still managed to raise us in a warm and loving home, and is the heart of this Foundation because she works tirelessly to give back to those in need.”
     
They left the podium as the room erupted in loud applause and Jabu instructed the hired photographer to take a family picture. From her peripheral vision Kgomotso caught Jessica’s icy glare and it was safe to assume the gloves were about to come off.
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