Wrath

Thandi was starting to feel better about her situation thinking that soon her bond with S’bu will be cut and she could move on with her life. She had already decided that she will be moving abroad and had started doing university applications for Amahle. Finding a job was a matter of sending one email for her as she has always had multiple job offers. She decided to wait and see which university accepts Amahle then she would accept a job in the same country. S’bu had just started with his work for the day when he received the call from a judge asking him how soon he wanted his divorce date to be. The judge had anticipated that S’bu would want his date as soon as possible and was willing to set it for the following day but was surprised to hear that S’bu had no intention of ever having that divorce hearing. After taking care of the divorce day and the lawyer issues, he decided to teach his wife a lesson.

Thandi was humming her favourite song when she received a call from Linda informing her of her court date and that she was unable to represent her anymore.

“Ten years time, are you kidding me!” Thandi exclaimed. She did not have to be a lawyer to know that this was just ridiculous.

“I’m sorry Mrs Jobe but pursuing your case will be a career suicide for me and I honestly don’t think any lawyer will take your case” she said apologetic.

Thandi sat on the chair, deflated. S’bu was using his power to prevent her from getting a divorce hearing. She was still sitting on the chair fuming when she saw a message from an unknown number. The message just said ‘I warned you’ after that were two photos of her Grandma’s house in the village on fire.

“Noooo!” she screamed, picking up her car keys and running to her car. S’bu told her that she will feel his wrath but burning her Grandma’s house was just pure evil. Her Grandmother left the village home to her. She had fond memories of her childhood and of her Grandmother in that house. She drove fast heading to her village hoping that the neighbours would see the fire and put it off on time before any damage occurs. When she arrived, there were a lot of people around her village home. The fire was already put off but her home was burnt to the ground. She was so furious when she saw S’bu and did not notice the journalists who were behind him.

“You did this! You did this!” she screamed, throwing stones at him and everything she could get her hands on.

“I could never do this, no matter how angry I am with you” he said lovingly, pulling her into his arms.

“Don’t touch me! I hate you!”she screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I will find out who did this, I promise you”he said softly but enough for everyone around to hear. To everyone, Thandi looked like an ungrateful crazy wife while S’bu was so forgiving and loving towards her. When everyone was far from them, S’bu warned her that if she continued being defiant, she might find the whole village burnt down. Thandi walked to the garden where her Grandmother’s grave was. She knelt down and wept until she had no more tears left.

The following day, the video of Thandi attacking a loving, supporting S’bu was all over. Not only was she a whore and a gold digger, she was also crazy. At this point Thandi did not care what everyone thought of her. It was going to be really hard to leave the country while still married to S’bu. It seems he was bound on making her suffer. She was still thinking of a way out when she received a distressed call from Amahle asking her to come to school urgently.

When she arrived at school she found S’bu and Jane who arrived before her. Amahle had gotten into a fight with another pupil and parents were called. The Principal who would normally call Thandi for anything related to Amahle had decided to call S’bu as everyone was aware of the marital problems between them but Amahle refused to talk to any of them until Thandi was there.

“Mom”Amahle cried, running to her arms.

“What’s going on?” Thandi asked concerned.

The Principal explained that Amahle has assaulted another pupil but it was sorted now because S’bu had already spoken and apologised to the parents of the other pupil but Amahle needed to apologise as well but was refusing to.

“Your violent behaviour is rubbing on Amahle, you are not fit to be a Mother”Jane said holding Sbu’s arm.

“Baby, tell me what happened”Thandi said holding Amahle, ignoring Jane completely.

“He called you names and I beat him”Amahle said, angrily.

“Do you know how many people call me names? Thousands and maybe millions. Are you going to beat all of them?”Thandi asked lovingly.

“The ones I can find”Amahle said making a fist.

Thandi laughed “Brave girl, you don’t have to defend me. You see, we don’t control what people say about us but we control how we react to them. Don’t ever give people who don’t matter any chance to occupy any space in your mind. Never let them control your emotions and reactions. Do you understand?”Thandi asked looking at her.

“I do”Amahle said nodding. “Like you ignored Dad’s concubine just now. She does not matter so you don’t waste your time arguing with her.”

“Amahle!”S’bu said reprimanding her.

“I will be your Mother soon”Jane said proudly.

“You are never going to be my Mother. Once he signs the divorce papers, I am living the country with my Mother. You two can be parents to that child you are carrying”Amahle said cheekily.

“You are planning on leaving the country? I have warned you not to push my hand” S’bu said sternly, getting closer to Thandi.

“How exactly do I leave the country when you are refusing to divorce me. I have given up everything yet you block the divorce hearing, threaten my lawyer and burn down my home”Thandi said coldly.

“You refused to divorce her?”Jane asked, feeling embarrassed. If S’bu had no intention of divorcing Thandi, then she really was a concubine.

“He did not tell you that their divorce date is set for ten years time? Did he tell you that all the lawyers won’t represent Mom anymore because they are scared of him? She can’t ask for divorce anymore because he will burn the whole village down. It seems this man you claim is never going to be yours”Amahle told Jane enjoying making her angry.

“Amahle!” S’bu warned her again.

“Stop calling my name, as soon as I am 18 years old, I am disowning myself as your daughter”she said defiantly. “I am ready to apologise to that idiot now, I will see you later Mom”Amahle said pulling the Principal outside with her.

“You should be proud of yourself, you just turned a daughter against her own father”Jane said. Thandi stood up and left the room ignoring Jane again.

“S’busiso you still love her after everything she has done?”Jane asked hurt.

“No, I don’t”he said.

“Then why are you blocking the divorce?”she asked.

“Because that’s what she wants. She wants divorce so she can be with Menzi freely. No, I’m not going to make her life that easy. They are never going to be happy as long as I am alive”he said.

“That also means we can never be married”Jane said.

“Polygamy is allowed in our culture, we can have a customary marriage, he suggested, kissing her forehead. I am prepared to pay your family hundred cows and you will inherit everything I own. I will declare my love for you to the whole world. Will that make you happy?”he asked charmingly.

“Can I have anything I want”she asked.

“Yes babe, anything”he said feeling relieved that Jane was not making as much fuss as he anticipated.

“I want the mansion Thandi stays in”she said.

“I can build one for you”he suggested.

“But I want that one and you said I can have anything”Jane said, sulking.

“Okay, you will have it by tomorrow” he said.