Below is a short story I have penned.Hope u'll enjoy it:
‘Guys the dash is finished. You’ll have to drink your whiskey with water from now onwards or we can go and buy it at the shop’ Lisa said as she was entering the sitting room with more ice for my guests. It was Christmas afternoon in 2009. ‘Don’t worry makhi I’ve got it at my house we don’t have to buy it’ said the outspoken Lungile, her neighbour. Strangely enough this was not a planned gathering. Lisa loves cooking and on Christmas she goes all out and even buy liquor to celebrate with her friends. After lunch with her family and the exchanging of gifts her family left to visit her grandma. They were going to spend the night there as they knew she was going to have some friends over. She later called her friends and neighbour to come spend the evening with her.
After a short discussion it was agreed that they should carry the booze over to Lungile’s place and continue drinking there. They were a jovial bunch teasing each other all the way. It was a short walk and when they got there Lungile brought the drinks for those who needed it. More people kept coming in, and they even brought more liquor. Some were standing outside by the cars talking while more were inside. Lisa stepped outside for some fresh air as it was getting stuffy inside. While talking to Lungi’s sister she spotted him leaning by the car looking at her. She has never seen him before and even under the light she could see he was handsome. He was wearing blue jeans and green track top with red collar, he smiled at her and Lisa went to him. Damn he’s got such beautiful big lazy eyes. ‘Hi, my name is Vuyo’ he said in a soft voice. He was a little drunk but Lisa didn’t really care, this handsome man with a beautiful voice is interested in me, she thought. ‘Hello, I’m Lisa’, they talked for sometime about stuff she doesn’t even remember as she was drawn to his big eyes. They both had long dreadlocks and before she knew it they were kissing, right there in full view of everybody. His lips , let’s just say she didn’t want the kiss to end. Could this really be her? Lisa Khambi who was ready to give up on life, love and everything else a few months ago?
It all started a few years ago when Lisa got a job in Johannesburg. She moved into a block of flats in Braamfontein. She was on top of the world and ready to spread her wings. She soon struck up a friendship with her neighbour Musa. He was a charming and friendly guy but not someone you could call handsome. He offered to show her around Jozi and she gladly accepted. She enjoyed his company and soon they were dating. Before she knew it she was in love with him. They went everywhere together and he introduced her to his friends. One day after a few months she came home and his car was not in his parking bay. He always came home before her on Fridays. She decided to call him and find out if he was out with his friends. ‘Babe I’m still at work and have so much to do I think I’ll come back late, is it ok if I see you tomorrow?’ she didn’t have a problem with that as she was waiting for her cousin. She took a shower and wore a tracksuit, poured herself juice then watched TV. She must have dozed off as she was woken by a knock on the door. ‘I’m coming’ she said as she was rushing to the door. She was still rubbing her eyes as she opened the door. ‘Hey cuz’ Wandisa said as she threw herself at her. They hugged for a long time while they were jumping around. Lord was she excited to see her. Wandisa was slightly taller than her and had this presence about her. They’ve been close since they were kids. She now worked in Cape Town as an accountant and she loves a good time just like Lisa. They always have a crazy time when they are together. ‘Come in Dee, you’re looking good as always. How was your flight?’Lisa asked as she helped her with her luggage. ‘I’m good Li, it wasn’t bad girl. Where’s Musa? You guys are alwaaaaaaays together, I don’t know what you see in him though’, she drawled as she took her seat. ‘He’s at work. Why do you hate him so much?’ Lisa knew she was going to change the subject but asked anyway. ‘So tell me what have you planned for us this weekend?’ Just like that the subject was changed. Lisa just smiled at her and told her exactly what she wanted to hear, they’ll do dinner then go clubbing after then, tomorrow they were going to see stand up comedy then go to the casino. Wandi loved gambling even though she’s never won a cent. Saturday they would go shopping in Sandton then catch a movie before she flies back. She was excited about the plans and went to the bathroom to quickly take a shower before they paint the town red. In the meantime Lisa changed into a little black dress and black strappy sandals and accessorised with silver bracelet, studs and silver clutch. Dee chose a gold sparkling dress with black heels and black clutch. They were ready for the night and looking good. They called a cab and when it arrived they went outside and waited for the lift. Finally it arrived and out came Musa and a heavily pregnant woman giggling and playing like lovesick school kids. Lisa froze on the spot and couldn’t even move her hand. When he saw her he opened his mouth then closed it without saying a word. Dee took care of the situation by grabbing her hand and slightly dragging her and greeted Musa as they passed him.
Lisa was so hurt and devastated that she doesn’t even remember what they did after that. Dee (that’s what they called Wandisa) tried so much to cheer her but it didn’t work. They went home straight after the restaurant. Lisa felt bad for Dee as she really wanted to go clubbing but she understood. The following morning Musa came to apologise and explain everything. He told them that he was dating that woman when they met and when they started being serious he just ignored her not knowing that she was pregnant. He said she came uninvited to tell him about the pregnancy after trying in vain to contact him. Lisa believed and forgave him even though she could see her cousin wasn’t buying his story. After that it was one girl after the other and all of them baby mamas. He had eight kids in total while the ninth was on the way. She still held on to the love they had and believed that things would change. December 2006 she went to Durban on holiday with Wandi. They loved taking trips together just to bond. By now Musa was very possessive and in secure, he kept calling both of them to find out what they were up to. This irritated Dee to the core but Lisa didn’t see anything wrong with her boyfriend checking up on her. Then out of the blue late on the 31st of December she got a text from him that read, ‘I trusted you with my life and didn’t know you were a whore. Hope u enjoy the Nigerian guys you are sleeping with in Durban. Its over between us and you must know that you broke my heart’. A stab wound would’ve been better than the pain she felt after reading that text. She didn’t know what to do or say. She showed Dee the text and Dee took the phone and switched it off.Lisa tried to forget it but couldn’t. The pain was too much for her to bear. They had planned on staying in Durban until the 6th but decided to cut Thier trip short and went home on the 2nd of January 2007. Her family tried to cheer her up and by the time she left for work she was almost feeling like her old self. Things were awkward between Musa and her but she held her head high. She never asked why he sent the text or where he got the information. She carried on with her life and buried herself at work. Then one Saturday in early march she was having lunch with her friend Anele at Moyo in zoo lake when Musa and his friends walked in. He saw her and stood for a moment before coming to their table. She was really annoyed by his action but kept her cool. He greeted them and sat down in a chair to her left. ‘Baby Li please forgive me, I’ve been a jealous jerk and didn’t treat you well. It’s not easy for me that you are more educated than me and you are a beautiful accomplished girl. I keep thinking you will leave me which is why I thought I should do it first. I miss you babe and I’ve realised that I need you in my life’. He was the best dresser which helped his lack of good looks. Even today he was looking good in his Gucci shoes, diesel jeans and a white shirt. While he was talking Lisa kept thinking about the pain she felt when she read that text but after much begging and coaxing from her friend she gave in and forgave him.
From that day on things were good between them then suddenly Wandi felt sick. She was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She was in so much pain so Lisa invited her to come and stay with her while she undergoes treatment. She got worse and Lisa decided to send her home so that my mom can take care of her. Dee’s mom died a few years back so she was close to Lisa’s mom. All this time Musa was complaining that Lisa didn’t spend time with him. One day in November the call came that she had passed away. She was devastated and didn’t get the support she was hoping for from her boyfriend. After the funeral he was distant saying she didn’t take care of him at the funeral even though she had asked one of her cousins to make sure that him and his friends had eaten. She was busy in the kitchen and honestly didn’t have time to babysit him. She couldn’t entertain his moods as she was nursing her loss and had to catch up at work. She didn’t know what changed because it wasn’t long before he started coming over and things went back to normal. They were even talking about the future. Lisa’s brother was getting married in august and Musa brought 3 sheep and some groceries as a way of helping out. Her family and was so appreciative of what he did and after the wedding they both drove back to Jozi in high spirits. Late in November she found out she was pregnant. As much as she was scared of his reaction she told him. He was so excited, she shouldn’t have worried. After that she was treated like a princess. One day in March she woke up with some mild stomach pain, nothing serious really but Musa was worried. She promised him that if it got serious she’d go to the doctor. He kept checking her through the day but the pain was gone. After work he brought her some pills. He told her he went to the pharmacy and explained her situation and his cousin gave him those pills. His cousin was a pharmacist. It was 6 pills and she had to drink them every four hours. He explained that the pharmacist told him that any stomach pain was crucial at 5 months.
It was after drinking the third one that she felt an excruciating pain ripping through her stomach. It was unbearable and no medication seemed to help. Musa urged her to drink the fourth one hoping it would help. By this time the pain was completely paralysing. It felt like someone was cutting her stomach with a knife. She must have passed out because when she woke up there were doctors and nurses around her bed. She was dazed and couldn’t remember a thing. ‘Where am I?’ she asked in confusion. ‘You are in hospital miss Khambi, there were complications with your abortion. There’s tearing and inflammation of the uterus.’ The doctor kept on talking but after abortion her mind started wondering. Tears started falling from her eyes. She was hurt beyond words. ‘Abortion? What are you talking about doctor?’ Musa barked at the doctor, his eyes darting from the doctor to her. The doctor explained that she wasn’t having a miscarriage but drank abortion pills. The problem was that the ones she drank have been taken off the market as they had severe side effects. Musa was fuming by now and calling her all sorts of names. She just lied back on her pillow with her back to them and tears kept falling from her eyes. When Musa left the room the doctors asked her again where she got the pills and she told them about the pills she drank earlier. That very moment she told herself it was over between them. She didn’t even want to know why he did it,she just wanted a clean break from him before he kills her.
After a few days at Garden City clinic she was discharged and went straight home to recover. They didn’t know she has been pregnant , Musa kept postponing going with her to tell her family. She just told everyone she had inflammation of the uterus. She dreaded going back to her flat but had no choice. As soon as she got there she packed his clothes and took them to his flat. She applied for a transfer at work and it was granted. She started in Bloemfontein in June and it wasn’t easy. She had to get to know new people but it helped her forget and try to move on. She quickly got the title of ice queen as she kept to herself and didn’t hang out. She still kept in touch with her friends in Johannesburg and would visit them whenever she was free.
It wasn’t until this Christmas day that she even looked at a guy, let alone be interested in him. She spent most of the night talking and kissing him. When it was time for him to leave they exchanged numbers. Strange as it sounds she felt bad when she saw him leave. About 30 minutes or so after he had left he called to tell her he had arrived safely. That night she slept peacefully knowing that whatever the future holds the past is finally behind. She had gotten the best Christmas present ever.
