I'll Always Find You.

chapter 4

Dinner was served and this little fetus in me was making me super hungry, I went to the kitchen to fetch my second serving.

LERATO: Bathong Naledi, not you eating like you paid for the food. Hebanna. Be a lady.
Yoh ka ska ba embarrassed.

I cleared my throat and stood up from the table

MME MARIA: Naledi don't you dare leave this table. Ene lerato if you don't have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all.

NALEDI: No, ke hloka ho shapua ke moya fela,I'll be back.

I quickly got up and went outside. I can't deal with Lerato right now ,telling me I'm not being lady like.Who the fuck does she think she is?

Maybe calling Karabelo and checking up on them would make me feel better.

*Calling Karabelo*

KARABELO: Ayo wussup Naledi.

NALEDI: Hebanna . No Aus'Naledi, I leave for a day and already my title is being revoked.

KARABELO: Noooo. (He laughs) So how's Kzn ?

NALEDI: Could be better if you ask me . I'd honestly rather be at home with you guys.  How was school? How's Mpho?

KARABELO: School was fine. Mpho is asleep right now ,she had a long netball practice today . It took her out completely.

NALEDI: Okay. Let me not keep you up .Goodnight. I loooove you Belo.

KARABELO: Ah hle Aus'Naledi, when last did you call me by that name . I'm too grown for all that shit . Bye.

I hung up and went to my car to charge my phone.

ZWIDE: Hi

I nearly dropped my phone at the deep voice I certainly didn't expect from behind me. I turned quickly turned around.

NALEDI: Hey.

ZWIDE: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.

I stupidly stared at his beauty not knowing what to say. I'm pretty sure you could cut the tension between us with a knife.

ZWIDE: Its quite cold to be out and about at this time of hour,don't you think?

NALEDI: Yeah....I just needed some fresh air. So.....I can see you're the professional cow slayer.

ZWIDE: No,I was just lending a helping hand to Umalume Jabu.

NALEDI: 'Umalume'?

ZWIDE: Yes ,he practically raised me . Matter of fact wonk'umuntu la ekhaya contributed to raising me . (Everyone here at home).

Funny how MY family found its way to raise and support a Zulu man who's not even family but failed to support its own flesh and blood.

NALEDI: Must've been nice.

ZWIDE: I'm sensing sarcasm.

NALEDI: As you should.  I'm just finding it funny how family ya ka ene e kgona ho thusa wena e be e hloleha ha e fitla ho nna.

ZWIDE: You grew up with parents right?

NALEDI: Yes and your point is .

ZWIDE: Some of us didn't have that luxury.
He said coming closer to me.

NALEDI: So you're assuming me having parents in my life, automatically made it easier for me ?

ZWIDE: Absolutely not.(smiles) Why are we even arguing about this.

NALEDI: I don't know.....let's start over.

ZWIDE: I can do that.
He came even more closer and put out his hand to take mine.
....I'm Godongwana kaZwide, born and raised eThekwini. It's a pleasure to meet you.

His firm grip on my felt instantly made me feel warmer.

NALEDI: Hey Godongwana. I'm Naledi Raboroko, born and raised in Sebokeng and it's a great pleasure to meet you too.

And from that moment our eyes locked, his gaze on my body intensified. The way he was looking at me ,you'd swear he was trying to get me naked.

I bet he wouldn't even look at me if he found out I was pregnant. I can't be fantasizing about a man knowing damn well I'm going to be a mother in the next couple of months.

I let go off his hand .

NALEDI: Its getting quite late. I should get to bed.

ZWIDE: Yeah ,you do that .
I gave a shy nod and went back into the house and found ona getting ready for bed.

......
'Naledi wake up.'
NALEDI: What? What's wrong Nkgono?

MME MARIA: There's a man at the door looking for you.

NALEDI :Hmm?

MME MARIA: Wake up! He's holding a gun Naledi .

I confusingly got up wore my slippers and went to the door to find a man in black standing holding an AK 47

MAN: O Naledi right?

NALEDI: Yes.

At this point I was literally shitting my pants . Who are these people, how do they know me and why are they holding a gun nogals.

MAN:Come with me.

NALEDI: I don't understand sir. I think you've got the wrong Naledi.

MAN :You know this man right?
He pulled out his phone and showed me a picture of Godongwana.

What the hell is going on?

I nodded and he grabbed me by the hand. Katleho came running outside trying to negotiate with the man.

MAN:You take one step further, I kill her.
He said holding a gun to my head.
Tears came rolling down my face. What was going on!?

NALEDI: Please let me go. I just met him today, I don't know anything.

He carried me over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes and threw me in the boot of his car.

Hours later.

MAN :Wake up.
I found myself in a room on a mattress on the floor.

NALEDI:Where am I?
I had a pulsing headache right between my eyes.

MAN:I ask the questions here. How do you know Zwide?

NALEDI: Uhmm ,he came a family function and we spoke a little afterwards. Tonight was the first time I met him .
I said trying to wipe the sweat off my forehead which was nearly impossible since I was tied up.

MAN: Oh please Zwide isn't the type of man to go around talk to lousy women like you.

NALEDI: I don't know why he was talking to me ,I swear.  Please let me go .

He stared at me for a while deep in thought.
Another man walked in and whispered something in his ear.

MAN:Hmm . That could also work.

What were they talking about? Why ke le mo ? What's going on ?
The men left me and an elderly woman came in .

NALEDI: Please mme . Ke a ho kopa . I did nothing wrong ,I don't even know Zwide like that. Please.

WOMAN:Just relax. You wouldn't want to make things difficult for yourself.

She walked towards with a syringe in her hand.

NALEDI: What are you going to do with that?
I asked trying to scooch away from her .

WOMAN:Stay still !!
She yelled as she grabbed my hand and pushed the syringe into my skin. I could feel the mystery liquid enter my body.

NALEDI: What was that? What did you just inject in me ?
I yelled . Nothing but I second later I felt extremely dizzy. My neck couldn't hold my head any, my eyes fell heavy .

WOMAN: Take her .

....everything after that was a big blur.