Co-incident?

"Hey uhmm...babe? Do you remember when I told you about the woman I bumped into at the airport two weeks ago? So she invited us for dinner, for this coming weekend, so please baby clear up your schedule for that day okay?" Ntombi says with a low voice as she sits in front of the dressing mirror of her bedroom preparing to tuck herself in.

"Uhmm...isn't that such short notice though babe? I mean, you know how some of my weekends can be busy love..." a seemingly worried Muzi says with a sigh but his wife cuts in, "Oh come babe, you know I never interfere with your business weekends okay? But I'm asking that just this once you make ab exception for me...please babe." she says with a begging voice as she looks at her husband through the mirror. "But love, you could have first confirmed with me first if I was available...you know, like how I always do with you." Muzi says a with calm voice as he comes over to sit next to his wife. He doesn't want to escalate this conversation into a really big deal.

"Oh I know my love and I'm really sorry about that but I'm asking you to do this for me...please." Ntombi says as begging voice and a smile as she lays her head on Muzi's shoulder, to which he takes a deep sigh before shrugging like he is giving the fight. He knows that there's nothing much he can do now to change his wife's mind over this, so he will have to create space for her this weekend and this over and done with.

"So uhmm...what do you know about this family? Is it going to be like a formal dinner? What is the dress code?" he asks as he kisses is wife forehead as she continues to lay her head on his shoulder. "Uhmm...well she is a successful businesswoman so I'm guessing smart casual would do babe." Ntombi says with a smile. "And perhaps you and her can find areas where you can collaborate you know. You are both passionate about business, so look at this as networking my love. Who knows? Maybe by the end of the evening you would have found yourself a business partner. You will thank later..." She lifts her head and kisses her husband in the cheek.

Muzi seeks to ignore this as he asks, "Uhmm...and do you know bout your new friend's husband?" with a smile and Ntombi can notice that so she smiles and says, "Uhmm...I don't know anything about her husband but I can't imagine it being anything bad..." as she shrugs her shoulders. "And will you get the nanny for Saturday night?" Muzi probes. "Oh yes, I will speak to Nambitha to work on Saturday and I don't think that would be a problem for her." Ntombi responds, to which Muzi shrugs his shoulders and says, "Well alright then I guess it's Saturday then." with a sigh. "Okay let me quickly go to the shower baby I will join you in a minute." He says as he disappears to the en-suit bathroom .

***

Somewhere else, Nobuhle is hosting her friends for a pyjama party since her husband is attending one of his friend's birthday party. She didn't wanna be alone in house with an 8 year-old so she figured her three friends will keep her company as it is clear that husband Bheki will only be back in the morning.

The successful businesswoman has had these friends in her life for a little while now: She met 33 year-old Ntokozo Xulu about 7 years ago at some business workshop and they immediately hit it off with her. Ntokozo owns a salon and a beauty spa, which are actually doing very well. While she is not married she is in a long term and committed relationship. Nobuhle and Zandile Zindela met around about the same time she met Ntokozo. Zandile has a fashion boutique right at the heart of the busy Durban CBD but she dreams of having her shop at every major city in the country. She is single mother of two and is the same ag as Nobuhle and Ntokozo. Lastly Nobuhle and Lindiwe Dlamini have known each other since childhood and have always been close friends. Lindiwe runs some of her husband's business ventures and of the three friends she is the quieter one.

These are the girls Nobuhle can always turn to for advice because they are businesswomen in their own right and even though some aren't married they understand dynamics and challenges that go with being an adult. They are always there for her just as much as she is always there for each and everyone of them when they need her...and tonight is that night when she needed their company.

"So can you trust that your husband will behave himself wherever he is tonight?" Ntokozo asks with a naughty smile as she sits one of the couches wearing pink short pyjamas. "Oh you mean Bheki? Oh ofcourse...that's one thing I have never ever had to worry about when it comes to my husband. He is a very well behaved guy." Nobuhle says with an assuring smile as she takes a sip of her wine. "Well, that's good because you know...you never know what these men get up to when their partners are not around..." Ntokozo says as she shrugs her shoulders while taking a sip of her dry red wine but before Nobuhle could respond, Lindiwe quickly cuts in, "Oh come on Ntoko...not all men are like that, alright?" she says as she also takes a sip if her glass.

"Are you telling me that you have never ever had to worry about your husband when he goes away to be with his business buddies?" Zandile asks as she interjects into the conversation. "Well, not really...apart from the fact that I know most of Mandla’s business friends because I run some of the businesses, I just never have any reason to have doubts." Lindiwe says as she shrugs her shoulders.

"Well lucky you hey..." Ntokozo says as she also shrugs while taking another sip. "Why? Do you have any reason to doubt Sbusiso? You guys have been a relationship for a long time mos..." a curious Nobuhle says as she also takes a sip but Ntokozo quickly jumps in, "Exactly...we have been in this relationship for too long I think we are both becoming too comfortable, and I don't know why Sbusiso hasn't married me after five years of being in a relationship with me. What is it that he's still hoping to learn about me that he doesn't know yet?" she says as she suddenly looks a little annoyed. "Well, my friend you better ask him, but Bheki has never given me any reason to doubt." Nobuhle says as she shrugs again.

"Well atleast you guys have some kind of support from your men...I have two baby daddies who are absent niggas..." a visibly annoyed Zandile says as she takes a sip of her wine in anger which suddenly makes her friends sad. "Oh sweetheart, we know hey...we are really sorry about that, but you have us okay? You know we are always here fro you." Ntokozo says with an assuring smile which Zandile returns as she takes another sip.

"Speaking if which, uhmm...nothing from Muzi still?" Lindiwe asks with a low and curious voice but an obviously irritated Nobuhle quickly cuts in, "Arg I think I wouldn't even know if he was dead..." she says as she shrugs her shoulders in annoyance but Zandile quickly interjects, "Oh come on friend, don't be like that okay?" she says in shock but Nobuhle is not letting up, "But seriously Zandi...I mean who disappears on his child for years and never bother to make contact?" she says as she rolls her eyes. Clearly this annoys her so much. "But have you tried to make contact?" Ntombi asks curiously but Nobuhle cuts in, "From what Ntombi? I don't have his contact..." she says as she throws her hands in the air.

"Don't you have you his work contact or something? What about his family or relatives? What kind of relationship you guys had that you completely lost contact?" Lindiwe asks as she raises an eyebrow in confusion but Zandile cuts in, "Whoa, whoa, whoa...look, it doesn't whether Buhle has contacts or not...why isn't Muzi trying to reach out to his baby mama so that he can see his daughter?" he asks as she raises a voice a little. "These niggas can be exhausting sometimes. They are always running away from taking responsibility for their kids and you'd find he is busy raising another woman's child at that time."

"Alright, hold on ladies...alright?" Lindiwe says calmly as she motions with her hand and turns on Nobuhle, "Look babe I think you should do whatever you can to try and make contact with Muzi okay? Try and make contact with his family if you have to but you have to do this for your daughter's sake okay? She is growing up so fast so you need to have answers when she starts asking questions."

"I know friend...I know you are right okay?" Nobuhle says with a low voice as she looks down but Zandile quickly cuts in, "Alright, alright...enough with all this sopie stuff okay? Who is ready to be wasted?" she says as she lifts a bottle of wine and all the girls shout "Yeyi..." as they all lift their glasses in jubilation.