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26
26SANDILE’S HOUSE
Bantu: I will never accept that boy as part of my family!!!
Sandile: I am no longer asking you to accept him, I am asking you to free me!
Bantu: and you think that makes sense?! You want me to belive you're not sick and possessed by a demon right now!!
Sandile: Father!!
Bantu: you shut up and go get treated, take him away doctors.
Sandile: Father, Father!!
Sandile tossed and turned profusely sweating as if he was having a nightmare. He franticly woke up heaving and gasping for air to realize he was having one. Today was going to be another bad day it seemed. After coming back from work a little late night he went straight to bed. The fact that this was going to be another bad morning after another just made things trashier than the weather outside. A brutal sandstorm was hailing this winter morning.
A jolly giggling little figure busted into the room and went straight to the bed jumping up and down. Unlike the man who was having a bad day, someone in this house was not. Little Mini was on a mission to wake up her sleepyhead dad who was already awake.
Mini: daddy, daddy!!
Sandile: bathroom
Mini: mommy says breakfast is ready.
Sandile: I'll be there in a second.
Mini: I'll wait here for you.
Sandile: no, go and tell your mother I'm coming.
Mini: no, I will wait.
Sandile: you mean you will play, pumpkin the bed is not a trampoline.
Mini: I know, it is way better than one.
Sandile: but where will I sleep if it breaks then?
Mini: you will buy another one. Or sleep on mommy's bed. Sihle told me her parents share the same bed, why don't you share the same bed with mommy?
Sandile: uhhh...
Nomhle: because daddy needs a good night's rest to be able to work hard and buy you anything and everything you want.
Mini: really?
Nomhle: really. Now go wash your hands, I'll be there in a second.
Mini: okay mommy.
Nomhle: I thought you'd at least be able to handle such a question since you're the one who proposed separating bedrooms and all.
Sandile: I know, she just caught me off guard.
Nomhle: what did you expect? We're raising a 5 year old hyper little girl. She will always be curious of why things are the way they are. She will always ask questions, are you going to be caught off guard every time she asks something?
Sandile: that's not what I'm saying.
Nomhle: well I'm no longer interested in whatever you have to say, just act right and stop giving my daughter existential crises. She's too young for that. Breakfast is ready.
Sandile: I'll be there soon.
Nomhle: I won't hold my breath.
After 6 years being together the excitement and spark had died for Nomhle too. She may have gotten into this marriage thoughtless and with a warped idea of how marriages are supposed to feel and be like. After spending half a decade with Sandile it did feel like hell here. Her naive and thoughtless personality was long gone she had evolved from being too oblivious and stupidly fair and kind, the world of the married taught her the hard way what survival is. All her old habits were nipped from the roots up. Of course she sensed there was never a spark to begin with so imagine just how stale things are after spending 6 years together. To make matters worse, they brought another soul into their hell, at least she was one link that healed each of them from their past traumas.
LONG AFTER BREAKFAST
Sandile stood in their driveway saying his goodbye to Minenhle who was also packed and ready for kindergarten.
Nomhle: I hope you didn't forget about tonight.
Sandile: tonight? What's tonight?
Nomhle: so you did forget.
Sandile: obviously, and that is why I'm asking what's going on tonight.
Nomhle: wow, I can't say I'm disappointed though. Tonight's our 6th anniversary dinner with the parents. I hope you make time this time and don't be late.
Sandile: anniversary... I won't promise anything. If I'm needed at work I'll send a text of apology.
Nomhle: you do know that your parents think we're going to couple therapy and marriage counseling classes right? I'm sure you don't want to disappoint them too. So just be there and show them we're good, there's no need to be all political and childish about this.
Sandile: I was already having a bad morning and this just made it entirely worse. I gotta run, I'm getting late. You drive safe.
Nomhle: I always do.
Sandile: I'm not worried about you but my kids.
Nomhle: I know.
Sandile got in his car and drove off after honking to say his goodbye to Mini. His marriage with Nomhle has forever been in rocks from the moment it started. That reflection camp did help but not with flushing Thando off his system. He was the only thing that was always on his mind 24/7 after all these years. It was like he was caught in a broken spell that he could never escape. Every time he heard the name, his skin would tingle with goosebumps so would the nape of his neck. For someone who was abandoned and dumped without a single word, he was for sure clinging onto the memories and silly hopes of ever running into Thando again in this lifetime.
WATSON AND POTTS ADVERTISING AGENCY
As usual pulling through the driveway and parking was easy. It was at times like this that having a higher rank at work was beneficial, because it meant he also got special treatment like having a reserved parking spot sincerely for him and him alone. This morning too, an influx of ladies tried to flirt with him as he made his way into the lift going up the building. He was offered coffee and muffins that he could not refuse this time because he had used his excuse yesterday, and the days before that. These offerings and types of gestures were indeed uncomfortable and going over the boundaries but he could not find the right way to put a stop to them as no one in his office knew he was married because he kept his private life very private and never discussed anything personal at work.
SANDILE’S OFFICE
Sara entered the room after shuffling her skirt up and down to look presentable and pretty for her boss.
Sara: sir, I have the interns with me here to offer greetings before the start. Can they enter?
Sandile: do they really have to? Just let them be, assign them to their respective teams and get back to work.
Sara: okay... I'll get on it.
Sandile: thank you Ms. Van Rensburg, anything else?
Sara: no... infant yes..
Sandile: and that is?
Sara: the coffee I gave you this morning is still here... you didn't have breakfast again this morning?
Sandile: oh this, no. I just don't like caffeine.
Sara: really? Then why didn't you say so?
Sandile: because I dint want to offend anyone, you guys always hand me these with so much thought and consideration and saying no is always a battle for me. I'm sorry you had to see this, I apologize
Sara: it's fine. I'll leave now.
Sandile: thank you, close the door behind you.
Sara: always.
Sandile: thank you.
END OF THE DAY
With only 30 minutes left on the clock to drove to his house in order to avoid being late. Sandile shuffled and packed away the rest of the papers on his desk putting them into his briefcase. The rest of the employees had presumably left for the day. He finished packing, switched the lights off and left the office greeting the guard on work on his way to the parking lot. He got inside his car, started the engine and reversed getting out of the parking lot. He bumped into another car as he made a turn to freely leave the underground parking lot. As if he was not busy enough, his day had started off very badly and it was proving to end worse. With an annoyed expression he got out of his car at the same time as the other driver.
His eyes landed on someone he recognised who was also just as shocked to see him. What emotion was this again? Without any explanation or further exchange of formalities, he broke into a rage. The man standing right in front of him was the same man who disappeared from his life without a word. There was not a hint of sadness in his eyes, he seemed totally fine when his life was utterly in ruins and pieces. He seemed like he'd put everything behind him and moved on completely.
Sandile: how could you? How could you tie me down Luke a prisoner and leave me to die?
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