Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 76

Yohhhhhhhh!!!!! Someone get me a fucking wheelchair, I’m so done, someone come take them out. It was fun, now its no longer fun, yeah the gifts were amazing, the compliments phenomenal. Belly rubs from my husband, Great. Kisses from my husband, Yess. But, my altered mobility and foggy brain, its really not worth it. When am I going on maternity? That’s the question. Apparently I wasn’t even supposed to be working, but his father made a compromise for me, all the others weren’t allowed to go and work while being pregnant. Matter of fact many of them stopped working, except me and Olwethu, the others are now housewives. Sabawel. Yohhh.
I asked his father, why he made such a compromise and he didn’t even blink from his answer, ‘Because you are my favorite’ and he left it at that. This man is gonna get me into trouble with the others.
I switch off the light in my office and walk out of my room, “Paging, Dr. Mahlatji to Oncology, Paging Dr. Mahlatji to Oncology”
What the hell?
What does Oncology want with me?
I waddle my way to the elevator, ahhh you see now, I look like a damn penguin.
MXM.
I get in and press the 8th floor. The elevator rides smoothly to the 8th floor and I step out and waddle to the glass door, and open.
“Evening, Page for Dr. Mahlatji,” I say, it still sounds weird not being called, Dr. Mthyobile.
“Yes, Dr. Zulu will see you” says the receptionist.
I walk down the office and look for the door that says, Dr. Zulu.
In my years working here I have never ever once been on this floor, usually I refer to here, but usually never come here myself. Maybe a patient of mine needs to be reffered else where.

I knock twice, “Come in” a voice says.
I open the door, “Dr. Mahlatji” she says and walks towards me.
“Dr. Zulu, unjani?” I ask and shake her hand.
“I’m good please sit” she says pointing to the chair.
I sit down and immediately my skin is going cold, “Apologies for calling you over intercom, I tried your office line and phone but nothing went through”
“Yes, xolo, uhm my phone is on silent and my office phone is being serviced” I say.
“OK, well, without the delay of time, I have a worry” she says, “Uhm, today, Mr. Mahlatji was supposed to come in for his last round of chemo and he missed his appointment”
My face betrays the level of confusion, I’m going through.
What does she mean Mr. Mahlatji didn’t come in for his last round of Chemo?
“You sure you have the right person, my husband doesn’t have Cancer” I answer, I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like this at all.
“Uhm” she opens a file, “No not your husband, your father-in-law”
“What?” I lean forward, “Yes, about 6 months ago he had a Partial Laryngectomy and previously he missed a Speech Therapist appointment as well, but they said it wasn’t major he’s alright in that department” she says, “I know it breaks HIPAA, but I’d hate for all his hard work to be thrown down the drain because he’s feeling better, that’s how Cancer usually kills”
“I know” I swallow a very dry spit.
“When do you think you can bring him in, I would love for it to be tomorrow, and then let his body finally rest and do the rest of the work” she says.
“Tomorrow, works” I say nodding.
“Thank you” she holds her hand out and I shake it and stand up.
“Curious, why did you call me, though?” I ask, “He is married still”
“I have a policy with my patients, where I know the wife will try and convince them to complete the treatment, but I always ask them who’s that person that will make sure you complete it and he said you, so he chose you”

I nod and walk out of the office, u’baba has Cancer?
How?
I mean… those fucking cigars.
I need to get Mogale to stop smoking as well, matter of fact I need to make sure that entire family stops smoking.
I look down and my phone is ringing, “Standwa sam”
“Hello my love, I’m downstairs”
“OK, I’m coming” I say and hang up.
I wonder if he knows or not, how could he not know, he’s the son.
I thought we were over the secrets, yoh bathong bamodimo. I get downstairs and he’s parked outside in the Rolls Royce, yeah even here now I’m known as the, ‘Billionaire Doctor’ when I wasn’t driving my car, then I’d have to drive the Bentley or Rolls Royce, that was when I was still allowed to drive, not anymore though.
I get closer to him and he’s smiling, inside my head, I’m just shaking my head. I hug him and he kissed my head and then my lips and I get in and he starts driving.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“Alright, my legs are killing me though” I answer.
“When are you taking leave?”
“I don’t know, I think in 2 weeks cause then it will be 7 months” I say, he nods and smiles.
“I have a surprise for you” he says.
“What?” I ask.
“It’s a surprise” he says.
I nod and he continues driving.
I’m looking out the window and I can tell his eyes are on me, “What’s wrong?” I ask.
“When were you going to tell me your father has Cancer?” I ask, looking at him.
He looks at me and then the road and scoffs, “What are you talking about?” he asks.
“An Oncologist called me today, and told me he missed a Chemo appointment”
The car is more silent than it usually is…He hard brakes and the seatbelt catches me and sends me back.