MILANI CELE
Everything is set for the next step and that is making sure that Nqaba stays in prison for a while. I only have one problem, that lawyer of his is going to be a thorn. He is digging in place he shouldn't be digging. I can't have that. I can't have find anything to save that man. I'll have to take care of that. I need his probing right now, he is going to mess up everything. My phone buzzes and it's my lawyer, she is outside. I press the gate remote and let her drive in, while I get the door for her. She walks in looking like a million rand in her blue power suit. This woman has been very elegant. She sits on the couch opening her bag and getting a file out. I sit next to her placing the glass juice on the coffee table.
"What do I need to get my son back Natsha?" She looks at me like I have lost my mind. Why is she looking at me like that. Do I have something stuck in my teeth or what? "Milani, sometime I don't understand you. You signed a document giving Nqaba parents and Nqaba guardianship over Lwandle. You are the one that wanted Lwandle to go stay with his grandparent. You cannot get him back until he is sixteen. That's what the documents say. I explained this to you last year when you said he must go stay with grandparents." Natasha doesn't get it. I don't care what I have signed. I want my son back. "You are a lawyer Natasha, do something and get me my son." she looks at me again and grabs the file and gives it to me. It's documents I signed and she highlighted the important parts. Nqaba is not going to keep my son with his parents. Lwandle is going to stay with me. He is going to prison, how are they going to take care of Lwandle without Nqaba's money. "Natasha, Nqaba is going to prison and they will not be able to take of Lwandle without Nqaba."
"Milani why are you doing this? I am your lawyer I cannot help you don't me what's going on." She knows what she needs to know and that is the end of it. "Natasha can you please stop asking me stupid question and just do as I ask."
"I just don't understand what your husband ever did to you. Nqaba has been nothing but good to you. What is going on with you? To be honest you are mentally unstable and I am starting to worry about you. I'm sure Nqaba never laid a hand on you as you claim." She tells me sounding sure of herself. Natasha is starting to annoy me now. Can't she see that I have Nqaba right where I want him.
"Milani, I can't ignore the signs," Natasha presses, her voice firm but tinged with concern. I roll my eyes, brushing away her worries like annoying flies. "This isn't about Nqaba being good or bad; it's about what I want, what I deserve. I've bided my time, but now I need to act." Her silence hangs in the air, heavy with disapproval. "You think because you wear a suit and understand the law, you can tell me what to do? You don't know my pain, the way this feels."
Natasha shifts in her seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "What pain are you talking about. You are the one that has been making Nqaba live in pain and suffering. Milani, I'm trying to protect you. None of this is going to end well if you continue down this path. You need to think logically."
"Logically? I've been thinking logically for too long! What about my son's happiness? He's better off with me than locked away like some criminal! He deserves a mother who will fight for him, not someone who will just sit back and let things happen!"
"Oh please Milani, you never fought for Lwandle not once. Your son doesn't even know what it feels like to be loved by his mother. The only thing you are focused on is making sure that they don't control you. Lwandle is happy with his grandparents. What are you going to do with him now, you have a court case to attend next week, your husband's trial starts next week." So soon. I didn't think it would be next week.
"How can you, of all people, say that? You have no idea what I would do to keep him safe!" My voice trembles with emotion. I can feel the rage simmering beneath the surface, ready to boil over. Hoping she buys what I am selling but this woman doesn't looked moved. It's like she can see through me.
Natasha leans closer, her eyes intense. "Listen, Milani. You need to understand that I am not going to let you play me like you once you did. This is a well being of a child that we are talking about. I know you want Lwandle because you want something from Nqaba. I am not going to disrupt a child's life for your interest that have nothing to do with him. Rather than making threats, focus on the fact that you signed a legal document allowing him to stay with his grandparents. You may want to consider the fact that Lwandle has seen how you are towards his father and is happy he is not staying with you, have you thought of that. We both know you don't have Lwandle's best interests at heart. How about you stop with all this bull and tell me exactly what is going on. I for one do not believe that Nqaba hit and ra-ped you."
Her words hang in the air. My mind races with possibilities. Possibilities of how much she knows. What she is willing to do. I don't want to just haphazardly argue with her; I have to find a way to prove the danger he would be in if he stays with Nqaba's parents. They can't care for him without Nqaba's resources. What do they have to offer him that I can't? I need to make her believe all this.
Natasha exhales deeply, her posture relaxing. "There is nothing you can do Milani. You have done quite enough if you ask me. The fact that you might have something to do with the murder Nqaba is charged with, makes me sick." Natasha doesn't get it. She never will. I refuse to let Lwandle go just like that. Who does Nqaba think he is. What Natasha doesn't seem to understand is that she is not the only lawyer available. She doesn't grasp the fact that I actually don't need her for this. I have someone who can do this job without asking questions. So; as for Natasha, she can go to hell for all I care. Maybe I should just fire her. Wait, no, I can't fire her. I still need her skills. She is a very talented lawyer with quite a unique set of skills. I still need her in my corner.
I watch her as she packs her paper in her bag and grabs her phone and keys. "You can find someone to do your dirty work for you because I won't be doing it for you." She says and walks out leaving me just like that. I hate that Nqaba has so man people in his corner. No one is feeling sorry for me, no one is taking my side. I'm the one that was raped and bitten. Of cause no one knows it never happened but, but why can't they support me.
I'm left alone in that empty room, my thoughts swirling like a tempest. How can I convince everyone that I'm not the villain here? I pick up my phone, scrolling through my contacts for someone who might understand. Someone who doesn't know me as the mother who walked away from her child but as a woman seeking justice. But even as I contemplate this, doubt seeps in. What if they see right through my façade? What if they only see the chaos I spun around Nqaba?
The clock ticks away the seconds, and time feels cruel. "I can't let this go," I whisper to myself. Lwandle deserves a mother in his life. People need to see that I want what is best for him. Now that Nqaba is in prison, they need to see that he needs to be his mother. I need to be strategic, calculated. I glance at the door Natasha exited through, wishing I hadn't shown her that much of my hand. She might think I'm bluffing, but I have a plan forming in my mind—a sharp, dangerous plan that could turn the tides.
What if I reach out to Lwandle's grandparents instead? Can I play the victim while painting myself as the supportive mother they expect? The idea forms slowly, but soon it's solid. I can bend their perceptions without lying outright—they think they're giving him a better life, but he needs his mother. Taking a deep breath, I set my fingers to the keyboard and begin texting a childhood friend, someone who can stir the waters for me. Someone within the community who still feels that pull toward me.
As my pulse quickens, I remind myself that this is not just a fight for custody; it's a fight to reclaim my life from the jaws of deceit. My father's words echo in my mind, "You must be the architect of your own destiny." I couldn't let him down. I won't let him down. Each keystroke feels like a step toward reclaiming my power, my narrative.
The door swings back open, and I look up, ready for another confrontation, another desperate plea for understanding. But this time, it's not Natasha. It's someone else entirely. Someone who could either be my savior or my downfall.
I blink, my heart racing as the figure steps into the room. I didn't close the gate when Natasha left. It's Thabo, a local journalist known for his investigative work. I hardly know him, but rumors of his persistence and tenacity have reached me. Perhaps he's here for a story, or maybe he's seeking the truth buried beneath layers of lies. My palms sweat as he glances around, his curiosity evident. If he finds out what I did to Nqaba, it will be the end of me. I have to play cards right and close to my chest with this one. "Milani," he says slowly, "I heard the news. There's a lot of speculation flying around." His piercing gaze locks onto mine, and I realize he could be my key to turning public opinion in my favor.
"What if I told you I could help you?" I offer, my voice steadying as I formulate an enticing pitch. "I need someone who's willing to dig deep, to bring out the truth against Nqaba's façade." Thabo raises an eyebrow, intrigued. He understands the gravity of the situation, and perhaps he sees the opportunity for a compelling narrative—a mother fighting against an unjust system. Awoman fighting against a man who abused her. This could work for me.
"The media loves a good comeback story," he muses, leaning in. "But there's always a risk involved. How far are you willing to go?" The question hangs in the air, heavy with implications. I consider my options, a war raging in my mind between morality and necessity. Could I really manipulate the situation to my advantage without losing myself in the process? I can't lose myself; not now.
"I would do anything for my son," I reply firmly, my resolve hardening. "If that means painting Nqaba as the monster he truly is, then so be it." Thabo nods slowly, his expression turning serious. "I can help you, but we need to be careful. This could backfire if you don't handle it right."
I lean closer, feeling the adrenaline surge through me. "I'm prepared for whatever it takes. I've already lost so much; I can't lose Lwandle, too." A plan forms in my mind, filled with calculated moves and strategic omissions. Thabo could help me shape the narrative—I could finally tell my side of the story and expose the deceit without being the villain.
As we delve into details, I can feel hope flickering in my chest. My heart is steadying, my purpose sharpening. This is not just about me anymore; it's about reclaiming and making sure Nqaba stays buried under these charges, about securing a future where Lwandle will learn to love me again. I push aside any lingering doubts. This is my fight, and I will not back down. I realize now that the battle ahead will be difficult, but not impossible. With Thabo's help, who seems to believe every word that I tell him, I will rise from the ashes of this chaos and become the powerful woman I always intended to be.
KHAZIMLA MKHIZE
I heard about Nqaba being arrested for murder, rape and assault. I don't believe it. Nqaba would never lay a hand on Milani. She has been the one abusing him and now all of a sudden he beat her and forced himself on her. That I s impossible. Milani is up to something. I believe she set him up but why? What would she have to gain out of it? We've been friends for years and I know that in the years that we have been friends she has never been honest about everything that has to do with her life. Milani is hiding something. Something she doesn't want people to know. She also never liked the fact that I called her out on her nonsense regarding Nqaba or any other nonsense. A knock disturbs my thoughts and I let the person in. Mandla Mthethwa. I haven't seen this man in months. God definitely took his time making him. He was not in a hurry. I've always had a crush on him. I watch him as he sits across me at my desk.
"Mandla, how are you?" I smile greeting him and offering something to drink. "Not too great I am afraid. This is not a friendly visit Khazimla, I need your help." He sounds tired and concerned. "Ok Mandla, what can I do for you?" I ask. "I don't know if you know but I am representing Nqaba, the trial is next week. I need to be his character witness." His eyes are pleading. Of cause I'll do it. Nqaba deserves so much better than this. "I thought the evidence against him is enough to send him to prison." My curiosity piqued by his request. "It is and it will, I need to get him a lighter sentence. If the judge can get to see what a good man he, I believe he will be lenient with the sentence."
I give him a moment to gather his thoughts, and I can see the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. "Mandla, you know I have always stood by Nqaba," I say, my voice firm. "But I still can't wrap my head around the accusations. I know Nqaba wouldn't hurt anyone like that." His expression darkens; the tension between us palpable.
"Nqaba has been framed, Khazimla. I know him. He wouldn't hurt anyone, especially not Milani." His words hang in the air, mixing with my doubts. I believe him. I know he cant discuss the case in detail but the thought of Milani doing this to Nqaba gnaws at me. "I need someone who can vouch for his character, someone with credibility. Your voice carries weight," he implores, and I can see the desperation in his eyes.
Feeling conflicted, I cross my arms. "But what is this not going to be a conflict of interest since she is my friend? What if this is just another one of her schemes?" As a woman I wish I could believe Milani but I know her, I know what she is capable of. Mandla leans closer, and I can smell the faint scent of his cologne. "Because if we don't stand up for Nqaba now, he could lose everything. I believe there's more here than meets the eye. Milani is using this situation for her own gain. I know that you don't believe her."
I take a deep breath, he is right, I don't believe her at all. I want to help, I also need to uncover the truth. I need to know why she is doing this. "I'll do it," I finally concede. "But I'll be watching. If you need help with anything, please don't hesitate to ask." Mandla nods, appreciation filling his gaze, and I feel a spark of resolve ignite within me.
As he leaves, I can't shake the feeling that I've stepped into a dangerous game. While Mandla believes he's doing right by defending Nqaba, I sense the undercurrents of deception that swirl around us. I need to find out what Milani is hiding, and I fear that the truth may be even darker than I anticipate. The trial will be pivotal, not just for Nqaba, but for all of us caught in this web of intrigue. I can't help but wonder: will I be able to navigate these treacherous waters without losing my bearings?