The smell of Malawi fish is almost out of the kitchen and Angela is longing for more. She still has yams and sweet potatoes left and is not willing to share. Uncle Tabang is relieved about the fish smell.
Today is Piet's birthday and Ronah will spend the day with him. Piet is going to teach her how to make 'boobootie' spicy sweet rice. He will also teach her how to make 'poikee' a rich stew with potatoes, carrots, lots of onions, tomatoes, spices with beef or oxtail. All mixed and cooked slowly in an iron round black pot with three legs. It is cooked on open fire. The aroma is quite tempting. Ronah will be cooking these meals when she is married to Piet.
The rain was pouring with thunder and lightning. Bongani was reminded of how lightning back home strikes people and burns them. But he has to go to Cape Town to meet his daughter. He got a uber to take him to the bus station. Thirteen hours of bus ride was nothing compared to meeting his daughter. Packed lunch and getto snacks plus a cool drink was enough to take him throughout the day. He took gifts that he bought secretly without telling Sandy.
Memories of love of Notemba back at school were like a spark of lightning in his head. Bongani is on the bus to Cape Town and he calls Sandy to say goodbye but then he forgets and calls her
Notemba! He apologised but his wife was furious. As the rain continued to fall, the bus moved slowly and Bongani fell asleep. He was woken up when the bus drove over a pothole. The girl sitting next to him tried to give him her number but Bongani refused because he had enough drama.
The bus has arrived in Cape Town and all passengers are getting off. Bongani was calling Notemba and as the phone rang, she tapped him on the shoulder and screams out his name and kisses him passionately. Xoliswa meaning forgiveness was also excited to meet her father. She is very shy but as beautiful as her mother.
Opening the door of her Mercedes E class, Notemba asked Bongani to sit in front. Bongani was not wearing his wedding ring. Neither did he say anything about being married! Notemba was already drawing pictures in her head .
Her friend was waiting for them at Cavendish to take Xoliswa to a show at the waterfront. This was to give both of them a chance to talk. Bongani asked to use Notemba's phone to call his wife. She was so happy to hear from him and said, "I love you Taata" but Bongani just said he had to go. Xoliswa left with auntie and Notemba took Bongani home.
Notemba's town house in Rondebosch was a two bedroom and very neat. Her furniture was from Morkels and Bradlows. Educated black people like to shop in these furniture shops.
Bongani was so tired but he patiently waited to be showed the shower and the bed . Notemba took him to her master bedroom which had a shower. She offered to scrub his back but Bongani said he would manage. Bongani slept for an hour and when he woke up, Notemba had put the letters that she wrote him next to him. A relative of Bongani kept on sending them back to her.
Notemba wrote so many letters to Bongani to inform him of the pregnancy. She wanted to marry him. Bongani was shocked and wondered why a relative would do such a thing! He ran to the kitchen crying and hugged Notemba.
He asked her if she had been married to someone else. Notemba was honest and said she had divorced two husbands because they couldn't give her children. Bongani paused and asked her to come and help him to make the bed.
Notemba said she wanted a serious relationship but Bongani said he needed to think about it. He gave her and Xoliswa the gifts. Xoliswa asked if mum and him were getting married. He smiled and said he needed to think.
On Sunday morning, they all went to church. It was a nice Pentecostal church where miracles happened. People were surprised to see Notemba with a handsome man. She introduced him as Xoliswa's dad. After church, Notemba suggested that Bongani could spend the day with Xoliswa. Notemba already realised that Bongani was not as wealthy. She called him to the car when Xoliswa was not looking and gave him a bank card and the pin. Notemba said he could buy gifts for the people back home too.
When Bongani withdrew the money he realised that Notemba had a good bank balance. He started getting ideas like doing matric so that he could go to university and get a good job. As Xoliswa was shopping, he excused himself into the toilet to call Sandy. Sandy was whispering sweet nothings. This reminded him of their adult memories. They have been through thick and thin. He ended the call by telling her how much he loved her. He is planning to tell Sandy the truth when he gets home. How he cheated on her.
Bongani has bought Sandy and the family gifts. He also shopped for the baby on the way. Notemba has received an sms and has figured out that Bongani has a family but still wants to be his second wife!
Notemba has come to pick them up. Xoliswa runs to her mum to tell her how she had a wonderful day and shows her what dad got her. As mum was driving, she told Xoliswa to get her homework done in her room.
Notemba told Bongani that she didn't mind sharing him with another woman. And she said she was happy to share the money with the rest of the family. After dinner Bongani helped to wash dishes. He tacked in Xoliswa and kissed her goodnight.
Bongani had leave until Tuesday so he was leaving on Monday. Neither of them wanted to talk about what they do for a living! Bongani did not want to impose. He waited in the sitting room to be told where he was going to sleep. Notemba came and asked him to help her make the bed. They both kept on making the bed. Did they lie in it? I have no idea.
In the morning, the endless good byes were filled with tears. Bongani promised to work out something. Was he ready for two wives, he needed to think.
With lots of takeaways that Notemba packed for him, he got on the train. The lower class where he sat was full of farm workers whose wages were paid in form of alcohol. They were singing and crying. They were so drunk and police kept on calming down those that wanted to fight. Bongani was so tired that he fell asleep. He was woken up with an offer to drink but instead chose to eat some chips. The chips were mixed with vodka but he had to pretend he liked them lest he would have been beaten up. The police was on the other side of the train. Eventually the farm workers got off and the ride was peaceful. In a few hours, the train was in Ombre. Uncle Tabang was waiting for Bongani. He vowed never to use the train. Uncle the was curious to hear about the trip. Bongani said he needed to discuss with his wife first. Bongani said Cape Town was only good for those who could swim in the sea. He told uncle he couldn't afford to look after Xoliswa. 'Notemba is too wealthy and her standard of living is beyond me,' he said. Uncle Tabang agreed with Bongani that Xoliswa would never adjust to getto chips and they both laughed.
When Bongani arrived, his wife screamed, "Taata I'm so glad you are back!" Bongani was boss again. His favourite meal was ready. He gave them gifts. He ate and called his wife, "honey, you were all I could think of and kissed her passionately! Good night, we will talk tomorrow after work."
Is Bongani going to tell Sandy that he cheated on her? What if Notemba is pregnant with their second child! We just have to wait for Notemba's call.
ZANTON
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