Deception
Part I
"I'm back Mablebeza!” he says as he enters their two-roomed RDP house from
a tiring day at work.
Does he have to call me that?! How about "babes" or "love"
or "hun"? Why the hell
"Mablebeza"! Why does it have to be that stupid term? I'm sick and
tired already! Sbongile thinks to herself, with much abhorrence, but she will
not allow his stupidity and disapproval water her down as she prepares herself
for a grand entrance into the main room.
"Oh, hi baby..." she says with a forced beam across her face.
He replies with an inattentive greeting and immediately asks her what they are
having for supper. Sbongile grunts and mumbles a curse. He did not even notice
her new hairdo. Two weeks ago he had given her R120.00 for a manicure and never
even bothered to find out or even pretend to be interested at what his money
had done. Now this! She had spent four hours at the salon doing this and he
does not even bother to compliment never mind notice her graceful natural tiara
as she liked calling it.
After a long resentful stare at his bulky tired mass of muscle which once
allured her, she replied trying as herd as possible to keep her voice level.
"You'll have to have some of last night's leftovers, I am going out.", she replied. With her eyebrows arched like a hawk's
wings while diving in for its prey.
"You're going nowhere without making me food woman!",
he shouted with the hoarseness of his voice resonating through the house.
Sbongile flinched but her anger was too much to withhold and she retaliated
with no illusions of backing out or giving up.
"Look at me! I have a new hairdo! You didn't even notice. It took me four
hours of anxious waiting and it cost you R90.00! You didn't even notice! Just
two weeks ago I went for a manicure and you still haven't noticed! What are
you?! Am I living alone? Everything I do goes unnoticed. All you ever cared
about is your mother. You're always taking about her! What am I doing here? Am
I your girlfriend or am I just a cooking, cleaning, working sex slave of yours!
I am going out tonight and you're not stopping me! And we're having a baby...", she said with a thunder storm of her tears and voice
erupting. Then she stopped when she say that she had done her deed. She left
like Delilah with Sampson's hair in her hands as she saw him move closer and
apologize with much remorse. She was not ready to forgive him though. She was
going out tonight, besides, it was Friday night and her mpintsh's
had plans for that night. So she used her opportunity and milked him of more
money. She made up a few excuses and shattered him until he filled her hands
with purple legal tender notes. She smiled beneath her tear-painted face like a
happy clown with a sad decoration.
***
"Mpintsh, I'm coming... just give me an hour and a half,” said an elated
Sbongile.
"I have no money Mpintsh but Thando can go with you. By the way how did
you get past your man on a Friday night?” said the inquisitive Princess.
"Ha ha! Mpintsh, I'm
clever - I never even asked him. Don't worry about the money; I have enough for
the both of us.” Sbongile replied.
"Poor man... Thanks Mpintsh, I was looking forward to tonight - I haven't
been in a man's bed in months. Anyways, bye girl.” said Princess and she
pressed the red button, to end the call, on her cell phone. This was going to
be a big night. She raided her wardrobe for the outfit she had arranged but had
to discard after some financial difficulties. Going out was very costly.
Princess and her friends were not rich and Sbongile, the only one who had a
boyfriend she lived with, was not involved with a millionaire or an heir but
she always managed to milk him of money. Princess was amazed by Sbongile and
idolized her and thought that one day when she found a man worth keeping, she would
go to her for tips. She found the outfit and laid it on the three-quarter bed
she shared with her elderly grandmother then she dashed to the other room which
was the kitchen, living area and main room all-in-one. She grabbed the matchbox
and after some struggling with the primus stove, she put on a kettle of water
for herself. She grabbed the little basin and her ragged facecloth and almost
finished piece of what used to be a bar of laundry soap.
***
She had ten minutes before Sbongile would arrive. She dashed outside to throw
away her dirty bath water. She went back inside to put on the little remaining
perfume and switched on the radio. It was 18:35 and there was a news show on
air. Her grandmother was asleep and she woke her up and gave her a cup of tea
she had made with water that remained from her bath water. She had just given
her grandmother the tea when she heard a hard rapping on the door. She jumped
instinctively and left her grandmother and ran then opened the door to find a
temptingly beautifully dressed Sbongile standing outside the door smiling.
Princess turned around said "bye" to her grandmother and closed the
door behind her as Sbongile and her left to fetch Thando.
***
Thando was already dressed and beautiful when her other two friends arrived.
Tonight was the night and the three man-eating-good-looking and charming trio was prone to have many hits tonight.
Sbongile was dressed in a floral red and white dress that only covered the
upper half of her thighs and she wore a pair of black legging and pumps which
was finished off with an exquisite-looking hairdo and a French manicure. She
was slender and she was pregnant for a week now but one could not see her
bulge.
Princess was dressed in a pair of tight-fitting Levi's skinny cut jeans (the
only pair she owned) and a tank top. The premeditated enhancement of what she
called her African Trade Mark (big breasts and big butt) was perfect. Her chest
was heavy and it stretched the top which had "I am your bad habit"
printed over the chest. She smiled at herself and winked.
Thando was the heavier type of woman. She had a pair of DD and her behind,
which stretched anything she wore, was often an object of derision among her
friends. It was dubbed the Thando Trailer. Tonight she wore tight black bootleg
pants and a white jacket.
The girls were looking stunning tonight. They went to their friend, a taxi
driver, and paid him to take them to the city and fetch them later. The city
was abuzz tonight and the atmosphere was warm but not hot. The city lights were
flashy making the night look more extravagant and lavish. The girls smiled as
the lights moved past the taxi's windows; it looked like the lights were
winking at them. They arrived at their favourite club, the first stop for
tonight's extravaganza. They all jumped out of the taxi and filed into the club
past security without paying an entrance fee, as usual, but getting a more touchy and aroused frisk than normal.
The club was packed as usual and the trio headed straight to the pub and ordered
stiff shots. Then they hit the dance floor and met some strangers. They shook
and turned until they broke a sweat in the cramped humidity of the club. Then
they returned to the bar, each one with a partner.
Thando was known to be the hard-headed-man-eater. And tonight she had rejected
four strangers and finally settled with one she thought was the best. Now she
sat at the bar with her friends and ordered ciders. Sbongile and Princess sat
right beside her, besieging a man who was ordering them ciders and a beer for
himself. The night continued. The trio's routine continued: dance floor and
bar, returning to the bar with different males each time. As they were leaving
the pub at 20:15, Sbongile felt a warm hand grab her arm just before they
exited.
"Hi, baby, my name is Mandla," He looked at her with his light brown
eyes and penetrated her shyness. Sbongile shrugged in shame at the thought that
he might notice that she was staring at him and admiring his strong muscular
build. Her friends continued walking a few steps then stood and waited for her.
”I’ve been looking at you and I must say you're a beaut’,"
Mandla said as he held her hand gently and turned her around and then looked at
her face again, "Eish! You've turned many heads
tonight on that dance floor but some people’s heads, like mine, turned - and
never turned back, Sweetie. I didn't get your name, baby."
Sbongile stood before him, speechless. She gazed into his eyes and her purpose,
her cause, everything became a haze. Prince Charming, her knight in shining
armour, had arrived and was interested in knowing about her and was blatantly
making a move one her. She thought as the awkward silence stretched. The world
ceased to exist in her mind and she left her worries and squabbles behind. She
had pursued it.
After a long gaze and awkward silence, she muttered something that sounded like
"Sbongile"
Her friends badgered her shouting that they were not going to wait much longer.
She turned and told them that they could leave if they wished. She was definitely
not going to leave behind an opportunity like this. Her friends tried
pressurising her to leave the handsome man. But those attempts were all futile.
After ten minutes they left Sbongile and her handsome Prince Charming. They
left, very disgruntled, and decided that instead of continuing the
club-searching and partying, they would go home.
"So what do you do Sbongile? Sbongile - THANK the gods I met you."
said Mandla. They were inside the club and they were seated in the VIP seating
area. Mandla had decided that he was going all out tonight. Tonight would be
his big night with Sbongile.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean like - where do you work or are you still at school?"
"I stay at home. I failed matric last year and now I stay at home."
"Okay, I see." from the second he heard she stayed at home, he
thought to himself, she is too much of a liability.
"So what do you do, love?"
"I am manager of this club. I have some taverns in the townships and I get
money through the businesses. If you're wondering, I' single and I live alone
in a town house here in town."
She smiled and gave a faint laugh. It was just was just what she wanted to
hear. Single, rich and lives in the suburbs. Just too good to
be true. She must be dreaming. So she asked, "So you're single, neh? Me too." It had slipped
her tongue. Damn! She cursed in her mind as a war raged between her love,
desire and conscience. For the first time she had lied about not having a man
in her life. She loved him and she dreaded the fact that she lied about him.
But it was too late for conscious correction now.
"You're not the shy type now, are you? But that's what I needed to hear.
Just couldn't let a beautiful lady like you go without having you."
She shrugged. And gave another smile which turned into a grin when he told her
she could order anything she wanted and that everything was on him. She let her
imagination run wild but she had to be careful not to make a bad impression.
Her friends had often taunted her and called her a gold digger. A gold digger
she was. Every time she saw a man with an overweight wallet, she glowed in
desire and greed. She asked for Smirnoff Storm.
"Don't be silly honey. Have somethin' better.
I'm having Guinness and some
Before even ordering or drinking anything, they left the club and moved down
the street with anxious swift paces. After twenty minutes, they arrived at a
block of flats.
Part II
He holds her hand and motions for her to enter room 16. She enters and looks
around while her eyes adjust to the brightness of the light bulb above. After
some seconds, he passes her and grabs a remote control and sets the mood with
some slow Rhythm and Blues music and some Soul. He leaves her purse on the
couch as he makes a brief disappearance and returns with some juice and a
packet of chips. He welcomes her into his warm flat with a sensual kiss.
"I hope you're still in the mood baby." he says as he sits on the
couch and motions for her to sit beside him.
They have a long chat and dig into the chips and juice. Then passion takes
over.
It is 00:07 when Mandla falls asleep with Sbongile's naked body in his arms.
***
Mandla wakes up at 06:30 and prepares to go to work. He takes a quick shower
and dresses in his one-piece overall, while Sbongile is asleep, and he leaves
quietly without awaking a sleeping beauty. He makes for the street corner where
he is about to be picked up at 07:00, sharp. His truck arrives and he jumps in
the back while the red robots have not yet turned green.
Meanwhile, lazy sleepy-head Sbongile is asleep until her customary awaking time
of approximately 09:30. She wakes up and lags in the bed for a while before
deciding to get dressed and go home. She shouts for Mandla, "Molo baby - where are you?” There is no reply and she jumps
out of bed in confused anxiety. She takes a look at herself in the mirror and
sees her dreadful face and a note. "Hi babes. Left for work. Just lock before you leave. XXX" She
crumples the note and throws it into her purse as she takes out her perfume and
makes for the bathroom.
***
She leaves after having tidied the flat and pampering herself. She locks as
instructed to by the note. She kisses the door as she leaves. She turns and
walks down the corridor, boards the lift and leaves Mandla's block of flats.
Part III
Sbongile arrived at her boyfriend's house at around midday. Princess, Thando
and her boyfriend were seated in the main room when she entered. She saw their
worried and dreadfully unamused faces and smiled.
"I'm home peeps!" she shouted. She had no intentions of answering any
questions. She went straight to the bedroom and threw herself on the bed.
"Where the hell have you been? We've been worried sick about you!"
shouted an unimpressed and annoyed Thando. She was angry.
"I'm not a baby and you're not my mother!" Sbongile shouted with no
care at all.
"You don't ever talk to me like that again - do - you - hear - me?!"
said Thando who pulled Sbongile by the collar and stared her in the eyes and
almost head-butted her.
Sbongile pushed Thando off her but was unsuccessful. Thando retaliated with a
slap. Princess and Sbongile's boyfriend looked on. Sbongile's boyfriend had
long made peace with his soul. His anger was always under control. Especially
after the last time he fought with Sbongile.
He had given her three solid punches and four slaps when she got off his grip
and ran to the police. Then Sbongile returned with two officers who returned
Sbongile's pain on him. He has always been cautious since. She repaid the
policemen's favour with sex. And he knew about it.
Now as Thando was kneading Sbongile's face, he did not do a thing. Instead he
stood and appreciated what Thando was doing. He stood and watched with no
intentions of intervening. After all, Thando was doing just what his cautious
fists itched to do the most.
Sbongile was screaming and pleading with Thando to stop but she did not. When
she had had enough, she paused and asked, "Are you ever gonna disrespect me again?".
Sbongile could not speak and she just shook her head. "What was
that?" Thando asked as she pulled on Sbongile's ear and drew her face
nearer.
Sbongile replied with a, "Mo...". Her face
was bloody and her cheeks were swollen.
Thando then left her and turned to Sbongile's boyfriend and said, "That
should straighten her." She smiled at the man who trying very hard to hide
a graceful smile. "Let's go girls.", Thando
said to Princess. They left. The minute Princess and Thando had left, Sbongile packed her bags and left, too. She knew where
she was going.
She caught a taxi to the city. She got off at the city centre and had a
take-away meal. She ate and then walked to last night's club. It was closed. So
she walked to Mandla's block of flats. She entered, boarded the lift and walked
down the corridor to room 16. She rung the bell and waited.
A sweet voice attended to Sbongile. She was flabbergasted but replied,
"I'm Mandla's girlfriend. I'm here for him. Is he here?"
"Are you sure, love? Last time I checked, my
Mandla was married to me," said the beautiful lady as she showed Sbongile
her marvellous wedding ring.
Sbongile could have dropped dead but death was not a certainty yet. "Bu- bu- but he told me he was single.... Are you talkin' about the same guy? The one who manages the club in
town - ", Sbongile replied with tears in her eyes.
"Honey! Come see... we have a psychotic girl
here! She claims she's your girl and that you manage a club. Ha ha! Ha ha!” the woman shouted,
"Let him come speak to you personally."
Mandla came and held the lady and kissed her on the cheek. "What have we
here?” he asked.
Sbongile told her story of the previous night. She told everything in the hope
that he may be exposed. She had lost all hope in being his now. All she wanted
was revenge.
Mandla and his wife laughed aloud. "Well firstly, my hubby works for a
gardening service. Secondly, he never goes out clubbing and I am his
wife."
"I don't even know you. Who told you all of this and how do you know my
name and where I stay?"
Sbongile never replied. She left the flats in total shame and embarrassment.
She walked down the corridor, boarded the lift and...
Sbongile left the building.
Siyaduma
Noël Biniza
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|
Name |
Comment |
Date |
|
Erna |
Siyaduma, I really enjoyed this story!
It’s sad to think that it is probably the story of many a foolish young girl. I think that with a bit of work,
it will be perfect – a great “slice of life”, vivid and true. Points: 3 |
2008-01-03 |
|
James Tobias |
Interesting. It took some discipline
to finish reading it, though. |
2008-01-03 |
|
Louis Harris |
When I read a story I always
look for the message, and the message in Deception is loud and clear. Shows
us not to judge a book by its cover
|
2008-01-03 |