OUR LOVE STORY

16

Mandisa Mlambo

After an exhausting long bus trip, I get to the park station in Joburg. I honestly feel stupid right now because I'm stranded basically. I just thought I could follow Ndlalifa without a solid plan and now I regret it but it's too late now. It's too late to regret my decision when I'm already in Joburg. I stand still by the bus as I think of a plan. Oh! I quickly take out my phone and call my cousin sister-in-law.

Nandi: "Hey sister!"

Me: "Hey skwiza. Listen, man, I need your help here."

Nandi: "I'm listening."

Me: "I took a bus to Joburg in hopes that I can come and surprise your workaholic brother and I just realized that I forgot my wallet. I'm basically stranded here now."

Nandi: "Oh my gosh! Please be careful mntase. I will send a friend to fetch you then I will send a little something for you. I'm so sorry skwiza."

Me: "Thank you skoni. I really don't know what would have become of me if you weren't available."

Nandi: "We are family mntase, it's okay."

Me: "Okay. Thank you."

Nandi: "He will be there in 20 minutes." I thank her and hang up. Now I have to think of an excuse as to why I followed Ndlalifa here. A few minutes later, a silver-grey corolla parks in front of me, and a gorgeous man gets out.

Man: "Hi. Mandisa Mhlongo?"

Me: "uhm... ye.. yes."

Man: "You can get in the car, your sister-in-law sent me to come fetch you." I nod and get in the passenger's seat while he gets in the driver's seat.

Me: "Thank you."

Man: "Where to?"

Me: "Uhh... here." I show him the address on the tracking app. He nods and starts the car and drives off.

Me: "So how are you friends with Nandi?" He glances at me first.

Man: "Kahle." Yoh!

Me: "I meant what kind of friends are y'all?"

Man: "Good friends."

Me: "Mmhm. You know that she has a man right?"

Man: "My sister, please don't make me drop you off here. You annoying me with your questions. Stay out of my business, I'm not your friend." I clear my throat.

Me: "OK." he turns up the music and continues driving. He finally parks in front of an RDP house. Why would Ndlalifa even buy a house here?! Such a small house when he has millions?! I get out of the car and hold the door.

Me: "Tha..."

Man: "Please close my door!"

Me: "Sorry. Than..." he drives off before I can even finish my sentence. He is so rude nx!  I take a deep breath and walk to the gate. I press the intercom and it opens. I walk inside slowly. I get to the front door and knock but nobody opens so I just walk in.

Me: "Ndlalifa!" I shout. I keep shouting but nothing. Where the hell can he be?! I check my phone and the tracker app still points his phone to be in this house, in fact, the dot has turned green which means I have reached my destination.

Man: "Good. You're here!" I turn around slowly already feeling scared.

Me: "Who are you and where is my husband?!" what if he is in some sort of trouble?

Man: "You are so naive! You fell right into the trap!" he says smiling at me. Creepy much?!

Me: "Who are you?!"

Man: "Hey! Don't scream at me!" he says pointing at me with a knife.

Man: "What is your problem?!"

Me: "I don't understand."

Man: "What do you want from my family?!"

Me: "What do you mean?! I don't even know you." He hits me hard with an object on my head and I instantly black out.

************

I wake up and I'm tied to a chair. Weirdly enough, I recognize the walls around me... wait...I'm back at the Mhlongo household. How? How is that possible?! The door opens as I question myself on how did I get here and the creepy man walks in.

Man: "I'm right on time." he says smiling.

Me: "What am I doing here?!"

Man: "You are here to pay for your sins!"

Me: "I didn't do anything, I swear." I cry.

Man: "Let me wait for someone then I can decide what to do with you."

Me: "Please let me go." His phone rings and he answers the phone. He puts it on speaker

Man: "Mntaka sis." Ndlalifa's voice comes through.

Voice: "Malume, you can let her go."

Me: "Ndlalifa! Help me! Please!"

Man: "Mshana, do you know what you doing right now?!"

Ndlalifa: "Myeke Malume, I know what I'm doing."

Man: "Fine!" He hangs up. He walks up to me and slaps me hard across my face.

Man: "If I ever smell you near my nephew or my family again, you will regret ever stepping foot kwaMhlongo!" There is just something creepy about this man and it scares the ish out of me.

Man: "And you better not think I'm bluffing because I will make sure that you feel my wrath. Even when you get out of here now and go report me to the police, I don't care! Jail is my second home and I will still make sure that you feel my wrath."  Now I'm scared.

Me: "I promise I won't." he stares at me for some time then chuckles.

Man: "I know your type! You agreeing to cooperate just because you are under my mercy but as soon as I let you go, you will go conspire with someone else to mess up my nephew's life."

Me: "Cha, I wouldn't do that. I promise baba." he smiles and unties me.

Man: "Stand up and go." he starts counting so I stand up.

Man: "1...2...3" A loud bang makes me halt my steps. Another bang follows. I suddenly feel this burning sensation in my stomach and back.