the name is Imani

chapter 40

FRIDAY, 10 JANUARY

My father's lawyers are at the top of their game fighting this case but Zizwe's lawyers are not weak either. We are currently back in Johannesburg and we have been here for a while now because this is where the case is being taken care of.

I hate the fact that my daughter has to suffer because of her petty father. She can't even go to school where I enrolled her because we are still dealing with this court case here in Joburg. Whereas, I enrolled Armani in Cape Town.

We are currently in court and I am being questioned by Zizwe's lawyer, Mr. Mtshali.

Mtshali: miss Khoza, I have a number of questions for you. I do hope that you can cooperate with the court.

I just nod and look at him.

Mtshali: ma'am, your daughter, Armani Ntombenhle Khoza was born in Cape Town, am I correct?
Me: correct.
Mtshali: that is where you stayed with her for a couple of months before travelling across the seven seas with her, am I still correct?
Me: correct.
Mtshali: so you do agree that your daughter did not have a stable upbringing until recently?
Me: sir, my daughter did not have a stable home but she knew her roots and had an amazing mother. not only that but she travelled with her mother who was not idle but who was working across those seven seas as a single mother, that is.
Mtshali: oh, so you admit to denying my client of his rights to be present and active in his daughter's life?
Me: I believe denying him is a stretch as I reached out to the father of my child to get them to know each other.
Mtshali: this was after how long, ma'am?
Me: after 3 years of striving for greatness and thriving as a single mother.
Mtshali: whilst denying your daughter knowledge of her roots?
Peterson: I object, your honor!
Judge: objection overruled!
Mtshali: ma'am, photos of your daughter and your new partner have surfaced as they were posted on the media. do you think that is appropriate, ma'am?
Me: my boyfriend treats my daughter as his own and holds her at high regard. she comes before anything to the both of us. I will not allow anyone to use my boyfriend as a reason to take my daughter from me because he has been there for us trough our good and bad times.
Mtshali: even during the accident, which may I add? was caused by him.
Me: you are wrong yet again,Mr. Mtshali. my boyfriend, Neo Matshamba was not the reason for the crash as he stopped the car at the traffic light. that was when an intoxicated man sped into his car causing us to topple over. sir, if you're going to bring something up then at least, do thorough research. had you done so, you would know that the man admitted to being the cause of the accident and you would know that Mr. Matshamba and his lawyers are currently dealing with the lawsuit that they have filed against the man who caused the accident. do you have anymore questions, sir?

He looks at me, absolutely gobsmacked.

Judge: Mr. Mtshali, if you don't have any more questions then please take your seat.

He does as told and my lawyer, Mr. Peterson has a smirk on his face. I have a smirk on mine too.

Peterson: permission to question my client, your honor?
Judge: granted.

He stands up and begins questioning me.

Peterson: miss Khoza, at the time when you found out you were pregnant, it was before you graduated from film school, correct?
Me: you are correct.

I say with a smile.

Peterson: during this time, where any of the members of the Khumalo family present?
Me: none.
Peterson: oh, even Mr. Nkosiyezizwe Khumalo who was your best friend?
Me: he was also absent.
Peterson: had you tried getting in contact with them?
Me: no.
Peterson: and I believe that your feelings during this time were valid as you were attempting to heal and move on from the traumatic experiences you underwent in the Khumalo household.
Me: true.
Peterson: you then continued to travel with your daughter, is that correct?
Me: yes, I travelled with my daughter.
Peterson: why is that?
Me: I had to provide for my daughter and make something of myself. I was travelling around the globe for work gigs. it brought me great joy seeing her as happy as she was while travelling.
Peterson: miss Khoza, you are known as a film producer, photography and media personality. have you at any moment exposed your daughter to the media?
Me: no, my daughter is my number one priority trough especially her safety. therefore, I do all that is in my power to ensure that she is not at any point exposed to the media.
Peterson: do you believe that you are a fit mother?
Me: I am confident that I am fit to be a mother. there is no manual for parenting. therefore, there is no perfect parent but I am learning.
Peterson: that is quite evident. that is all from my, your honor.

After being questioned, our court session for today is dismissed. We get outside and as I am standing with my father and Ntonto, Zizwe and his lawyers walk past.

Dad: that boy is disrespectful but it's time to pull out the big guns.
Ntonto: big guns?
Dad: Sandra Stein. let me make a quick call.
Me: Peterson and Stein are a killer combo, this case is mine.
Ntonto: fight tooth and nail for your child, mama.

My dad comes back and we drive back to his house. I change and take a quick shower. I then wear an oversized t-shirt and some short pyjama shorts. I then take a nap with MY Armani.

19:00
We wake up and head downstairs. Pontsho is not done making dinner yet so I just have some grapes and pineapple slices.

I get a call from Zizwe telling me to come outside. I get there and find standing outside the driver's door and I walk over to him.

Me: what do you want?
Zizwe: you called out the big dogs?
Me: yes and so?
Zizwe: you're not going to make this easy, are you?
Me: you want to take my daughter away from me. my daughter that I carried for 9 months! YOU WERE NOT THERE!
Zizwe: BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LET ME BE!
Me: OH PLEASE! stop running to that as your only excuse! point of the matter is I let you in to her life, gave you fatherly rights and now you want to take her away from me? who the hell do you think you are?!
Zizwe: a hurting father! a hurting father and a man that loves you! I love you, Imani.
Me: so taking my daughter away from me is your way of expressing your love?! what do you think will go trough her mind and she finds out what you did? her own father trying to strip her of her right to a mother, how do you think she'll feel? stop being so worried about Neo and be more present in your daughters life! actually, no. even if you try to drop this case, I will keep on dragging it because you have shown me just how much of an unfit father you are. I can also be just as petty and twice as dirty, Zizwe. the gloves are off and I hope you are ready for what's coming your way. now, please leave.