the name is Imani

chapter 8

MONDAY, 13 MAY

I wake up and get ready for the day. I have a full day of lectures today which will be quite good because I've been locked up in my room, avoiding my dad.

Anyway, I finish packing my bag, grab my car keys and head downstairs. As I walk past the kitchen, a voice calls out to me so I look back.

Me: Ntonto, hey.
Ntonto: hey? is that all you have to say for yourself.
Me: okay, if you're going to give me a lecture, you can save it. I am honestly not in the mood.
Ntonto: oh, you are in the mood?
Me: yes.
Ntonto: oh and what about the man that I am worried sick about who left this house very early in the morning and is not picking up my calls? what about my man who barely got any sleep last night? what about my man who probably has a banging hangover where he is because of you? and you are not in the mood?
Me: are you done?

She keeps quite and the silence is enough for me.

Me: thank you, bye. I am going to leave you to stress about YOUR man that you have been preaching about for the past minutes, totally wasting my time and your time because I love Nkosi and there's nothing you can do about it.
Ntonto: oh, is that so?
Me: yes. yes, it is so.

I walk out and head straight to my car before driving off. I get to campus and find my friends there, waiting for me.

Khanya: hey, you.
Cynthia: you look like the whole world is weighing on you.
Me: it really is.
Khanya: spill.
Me: so for the past few months, the man that you have been seeing on my posts and all is my dad's friend.
Cynthia: and that means?
Me: I am in a relationship with my father's friend.
Khanya: no!
Cynthia: you little rascal!
Me: that's not it.
Khanya: yes?
Me: yesterday, they caught us kissing in my room and my father is fuming. my father threw him out and I haven't really heard from him.
Cynthia: Imani!
Khanya: at least, be smart enough to not get caught.
Cynthia: lecture time.
Me: no! I don't want any lectures, I have had enough of the lectures. I love him and that is that.
Khanya: but friend, he is you father's friend.
Me: I really don't care. also, if they're going to be difficult then ours will be a forbidden love. let's go to class.
Cynthia: okay.

Cynthia says judging me with those eyes of hers and I could poke them out.

Anyway, we attend all of our lectures for the day and I get a call from Nkosi on my way.

Nkosi: please come and see me in my office.

He ends the calls and I drive to his office. I get there and meet the receptionist first.

Me: hey.
Her: hey.
Me: uhm, okay. I am here to see Nkosi.
Her: Nkosi?
Me: yes, Mr. Khumalo.
Her: well, did you make an appointment?
Me: no but he called me here.

She rolls her eyes and looks back at me.

Her: I don't understand why people like you think this is your mother's house where you just waltz in like you own the place. Mr. Khumalo is very busy, my sister.
Me: excuse me?
Her: I said...

In that exact moment, Nkosi walks out of the elevator and comes straight to us.

Nkosi: love.

He says before giving me a peck on the cheek.

Nkosi: how are you?
Me: I was doing just fine before I encountered your rude receptionist.

Nkosi gives her a nasty eye and she trembles. It's honestly scary to see but hey man, she was rude to me so I really don't care.

Nkosi holds my hand and starts walking so I follow behind him. We walk to his office where we sit on his couch and talk...

Me: I really have no idea how we are going to handle this because my dad is fuming. I have also been avoiding him.
Nkosi: don't worry, I will handle it.
Me: what if you can't handle it though?
Nkosi: don't worry so much, your father and I will talk about this like real men.
Me: how and when?
Nkosi: now and I'll show you the rest when we get to your house. come, let's go.

We leave the office and head to the parking lot. I get in my car and he gets in his before we both drive off.

We get to my house and find my dad's car parked outside. I press the remote that opens the gate and we drive in.

We walk into the house holding hands and find my dad and Ntonto in the living room. My dad stands up immediately after seeing and walks up to Nkosi. He throws a punch at Nkosi, tackles him and attempts to throw another punch but stops as Ntonto manages to pull him away, with my assistance. Nkosi leaves after that and I watch him walk out with tears in my eyes.

Me: baba, you need to stop this!
Dad: stop what?! protecting you?
Me: baba, I don't need your protection. I am grown!
Dad: no grown woman lives under my roof so if you think you're grown, leave!
Me: well, maybe I will!
Dad: Imani!
Me: daddy, you are being so unreasonable! there is absolutely no equality in this house! no one has complained about you sleeping with a girl that's almost my age!
Dad: Imani!
Me: daddy, it's stupid!

And I feel it, like fire. I feel my father's hand land on my face. The fire spreads throughout my entire body but not before I feel a high pitched sound in my ears, blocking my hearing.

I place my hand on my face and look back at my father.

Me: how could you?

I say as tears fall from my face.

Dad: I'm so sorry.

I shake my head and run up to my room where I lock my door and begin to pack. I am leaving this house tonight.

23:54

I walk past my father's room and hear him talking to his woman.

Ntonto: you should get some sleep?
Dad: how? my daughter has lost her mind. she is also being rebellious when all I am trying to do is make her stop falling for this man's tricks. he doesn't love her. I just wish she could open her eyes and see it.
Ntonto: she will, love. please don't be so hard on yourself.

I go back to my room where I grab my bags and my car keys, all that necessary stuff as well. Not forgetting my inhaler, of course.

I tip toe downstairs and as I am about to open the door, the alarm gets triggered and Ntonto and Mandla are downstairs in seconds.

Dad: what are you doing?
Ntonto: are you running away?
Me: yes.
Dad: is this who you've become? a coward that runs away when things don't go your way?
Me: nothing you're going to say will change my mind, I am leaving.
Dad: okay, Imani. just know that once you walk out of that door, don't ever set foot in this house ever again.
Ntonto: Mandla, you can't say that. she...

I interrupt before she says whatever she wants to say.

Me: it's fine. goodbye, dad.

I walk out and head to my car. I then drive off to Nkosi's house. I call him and he opens the gate for me and closes it once I'm inside. I get out of the car and find him standing at the door in his night wear and gown.

He stretches out his arms and I run to him. He keeps me in his embrace for a while, while I cry it all away. I am so disappointed in the way I'm dealing with this situation but my pride doesn't not allow me to go back to that man's house.