Nokukhanya (Chapter 1)

●Nokukhanya Ngwenya

[FLASHBACK]

"When I grow up I want to be star mommy. I want everyone to know my name."

"Is that so?"

"Of course! I want to shine bright like my name. Every where I go I want to bring light and love in people's hearts."

"Like your name?" I giggle and she joins me.

"Like my name mommy."

"Nokukhanya woza sambe." My dad calls out for me. Today he is taking me to school while my mother takes my grandmother to the doctor for her check up.

"Bye mommy. Bye Gogo!"

Both of them says goodbye to me while my dad steals a kiss from my mom before we walk out. Those were there Happiest days of my life.

[PRESENT DAY]

Well that was 13 years ago. I wish things were still the same as before I lost both my parents in a terrible accident. Now I'm left with my grandmother and everyday we are trying to make ends meet. Well I am.

I'm graduating next month and I'm praying to God that I have obtain high marks so I can get entrance to complete my CTA. I've been desperately searching for a learner ship and applying everywhere for an internship so I can get this baby on the roll. I've always wanted to become a CA and if it means that I need to wash dishes every night so I can earn money to pay my fees so be it.

I'm still yet to tell my grandmother that her other daughter kicked me out of my parents house. This will surely kill her if she finds out that I am now renting a one bedroom house I can barely afford.

"Khanyo! We need clean spoons! Stop day dreaming and get on it!" Its Nokukhanya you idiot!

I snap out of it when my manager shouts at me like he always does. Today its very busy the restaurant was booked for a function and instead of waitressing I'm on cleaning duty all because of my smart mouth. When he shouts again I roll my eyes at him and continue doing my job.

The function takes the whole fucken night and I swear I have washed dishes for the whole of South Africa! My hands are numb I cant even feel my toes.

How many times did I tell Mr Jones to invest in a dishwasher it would make life more easier for some of us... I mean for the restaurant but Noo 'Theres no budget for that Khanyo...why is it that you are the only one who complains every time you on kitchen duty' Its the same damn speech all the damn time! No Budget for a stupid dish washing machine! but who am I to complain I need this job it pays my Bill's at the end of the day.

I need my big break my brain wasn't born for this!

"Nokukhanya are you coming with me no Jabu or uzohamba no Vic?"

Cindy. My only best friend well my only friend. Lord bless her soul she's been with me ever since I lost my parents in that horrible car accident. She made me move in with her and her mother and that horrible sisters of hers when my aunt decided to put my grandmother in an old age home. They thought I wasn't going to look after her right since she was old and sick and yena she didn't have time for it as if they go see and check up on her like I do. All they ever wanted is my parent's money.

Vic...Victor this guy has been after me since I finished high school. I'm not interested in him though and I've been telling him this since he said hello to me the first day we met. He goes around and tells everyone that we are dating I got so tired with correcting everyone who had an opinion about us that I just don't care anymore.

"Khanyo!." I angrily turned my head at her and frowned she knows how much I hate that name.

"Don't call me that you know I hate it."

"I'm sorry but awunginaki mos."

"I'm coming with you. I don't want Vic to see me today." She laughed.

"You are always saying the same thing but makafika you are all smiles and yes Vic ...No Vic...okay Vic."

"Cindy! Don't lie I'm not like that."

She continued laughing at me till we were outside. Both her Boyfriend and Victor were outside waiting for us.

Victor is not a bad looking man but not my type. The smile on his face right now tells me he has done something that will definitely piss me off. When he walks around his car so he can meet up with us I get mad...what the heck is he wearing. I can hear how Cindy is trying to hold in her giggles but shame uyahluleka ugirl.

"Please don't say anything I will see you tomorrow. Hello Jabu bye Jabu. Vic asambe!"

"umuntu akasa tholi nekiss nyana just a hello kiss?"

Cindy can be a terrible friend sometimes. Couldn't her and her boyfriend wait till we were out of sight before they burst out laughing at me. What the hell is Victor wearing mara. This skinny jean looks horrible on him and the tight spiderman t-shirt is just ridiculous this man is old for such.

Imagine a skinny guy inside a skinny jean. It's like walking matchsticks. I wish I could get a break or something or someone who will come and marry me and take me away from here!

I can't!

For the rest of the week I bury myself into my studies and shut the whole word out. Victor included I've been ignoring him since he was embarrassing himself on Monday I even blocked his ass.

Today is Friday and I want to go see my grandmother since we will be knocking off early today.

"I know you are going to say no to this but please do it for me." She hooks her arm with mine while we were going to the taxi tank.

"The answer is No!" I tell her sternly.

Whatever it is...it's a no from me.

"But you will be doing it for me. You promised that you will always be there for me when I need you. You promised!"

I hate it when she guilt trips me like this because she knows I will do anything for her.

"Okay fine!"

.

.

"I cannot believe you dragged me here with you." I complained as I pull down the short and tight dress she made me wear. I had to put my foot down when she wanted me to wear heels also.

"Get over it! And leave the dress alone! I can't believe I let you wear sneakers to such an event you can be very embarrassing sometimes!" She said annoyed and I sticked my tongue out to her making the bouncer at the door laugh when we passed by.

Damn this place is packed! Is this what I've been missing on because everyone is having a good time in here. There isn't any sign in them that shows that they are suffering from any hardships in their lives.

"Nokukhanya you will stay by side no matter what don't lose sight of me. Uyangizwa?" Yes mom!

I rolled my eyes at her for the hundredth time today I mean why did she ask me out if she is going to treat me like a child.

"Yes Cindy I promise to stay by your side always!"

Eye roll!

"Good! Last thing I want is looking for you all over the place. Don't get lost!"

Her overprotective bone turns to show up at places I don't even want it to show up. Who needs babysitting in a club!

●Langa Gumede

"You have to be kidding me! Who did this report?" I shout from my office I'm sure the person downstairs can hear me. I hate it when I find mistakes in such reports it means the person who was doing wasn't paying attention and in my books its means that they don't care.

"Fikile get in here!"

"Mr Gumede is there something wrong?"

"Yes! Find me the person who did this report right now!"

"Sir there's no one in the office everyone went to the yearly fundraiser."

What! Was that today? How did I forgot about it.

"Then why are you still here?"

"Because I was waiting for you."

"I'm sorry I forgot about it. You can go."

"Thank you." She says and leaves. Now I'm all left alone as always.

All I do I wake up eat ...work and work. My social life died the day I lost my wife and daughter in a accident.

"Mr Gumede I'm leaving now. See you on Monday."

"Safe travel Fikile. Stay safe."

I get back to fixing this damn stupid report but I feel her gaze on me. I look up and find her staring at me she's been doing that a lot lately and she's kinda freaking me out sometimes.

"Is there something else Fikile?"

"Uhmm no...I mean...yes..."

"Fikile what's wrong."

"Sir...uhm Mr Gumede will you be joining us for the fundraiser after party?"

"Not today thank you." Why does she look so disappointed.

"Okay goodnight then."

"Bye Fikile." She walks away.

I stood up and went to stand by the window. I still had my wedding ring on even though it's been 2 years since I lost my girls. It's very hard to move on from such events.

My phone rings from my pocket and I know it's my mother checking up on me. She always calls right about this time.

"MaGumede unjani."

"Ngiyaphila wena unjani." I sigh deeply.

"I'm okay ma. It's getting better."

"Your brother tells me that your company has a party and you not even there."

"Yeah. You know how I feel about being around people."

"You need to go out and interact with people...your employees Langa get to know them again. Linda is coming there to fetch you. Change into something decent I know you keep clothes in your office as well."

"But Mma..."

"Aai Langa be ready for him uyeza."She hangs up.

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.

.

"You don't have anything to worry about when you have me by your side." Linda says the moment the car stops outside the club. This is not my style.

"We'll see about that."

"Loosen up a bit. Just have some fun. Don't cramp my style."

I narrow my eyes at him and ignore him. I mean why would he fetch me to tell me this shit.

"Seriously bro you need to get laid."

"What did you just say to me." How dare he!

"Nothing. Let me introduce you to some people."

This whole place is packed up. I thought it was only my company that booked the place but it doesn't look like it.

Something or someone bumps into me.

"Watch where you going!" We both say at the same time and she giggles after.

"I'm sorry." She says still giggling I don't know at what because the situation wasn't even funny at all.

I nod and walk away. Before it gets more awkward. I can still hear her giggling. She Must be drunk.

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This is what I'm currently busy with😁

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