I woke in the middle of the night and Dario was still not next to me in bed or in the house. I started getting a bad feeling in my tummy, as if something bad happened to Dario and Zaahir. I took out my phone and I texted Dario.

Dario, come home… I don’t like being alone… where are you?

I’m smoking angel… I’ll be right home.

Where’s Zaahir?

Taken care of babe

What do you mean taken care of? You didn’t hurt him, did you?

Bishni, Zaahir nd I jus had a lil chat and he told me y he slapped u… jy moet luister na jou broer babe.

What?

You must learn to read and understand Afrikaans… go sleep now I’ll be right there.

I’ll wait for you

I was lying in bed the whole night, waiting for Dario. It got late and he still wasn’t there. I got worried so I got up and poured me some water. Not the best thing to do when you’re worried, but I just had to drink something to get rid of the worries, as if water would help.

I went to the lounge and as I wanted to sit down, Dario came in.

“Honey, I’m home!” he said in a soft voice. He probably thought I was sleeping. I ran out of the lounge and in to his arms.

“I missed you so much!” he hugged me and he gave me a long kiss. Then we went to bed.

The next morning, Dario woke me up and he said he’s going to go smoke quickly. And when he comes back I must be dressed and I must wear my new dress he had bought for me. He was taking me out to a place. I got so excited but I felt bad.

I missed Zaahir a lot, even though he slapped me so hard! I must miss him, he’s my brother and I love him. I just hope he didn’t tell mother about the fight we had. Mother would kill him! And me for my foul words.

I went to shower and when I got out, I saw there were fifteen missed calls from my mother. Speak of the devil! I wonder what she wanted now. I texted her over Whatsapp.

Mom, you phoned while I was in the bath.

Bishni, where are you?

I’m at home why mom?

Now give the phone to your brother!

Zaahir isn’t here…

Bishni, where is your brother because he is not picking up the phone! I want the truth now Bishni!

Mom, kanala man, how must I know while I was in the shower?

Bishni don’t talk to me in that way!

Mom, what did I do now? I just said what I said. I can never express myself with mom!

I’m coming home, and me and you are going to have a long talk!

MXM!

Kaffeeer!

How can mommy say that? Mom is so bloody rude dammit! I’m not coming home ever!

Where are you?

I’m somewhere nobody will find me! Not even mother!

I don’t know why my mother and I must always have an argument over everything! I couldn’t express myself in front of her or in her house. Everything must always go her way. I must be more like Zaahir, she says, but she doesn’t know what Zaahir is capable of doing.

Zaahir murdered someone and on top of everything he slapped me. Zaahir was a murderer and an abuser! Woman abuser! But in the end I still loved my brother no matter how he might hurt me. He was blood.

“Babe, are you done? I’m waiting in the car,” Dario said.

I was not even done yet. This argument with my mother just made me think about my brother more and about Dario. Somewhere, something just didn’t feel right. Why would Zaahir tell me that I shouldn’t go out to find Dario? Why was he stopping me? Did Zaahir know something I didn’t know? I must find my brother!

I went downstairs and locked the front door as I went out. I got in the car and we drove off. I didn’t want to talk at all, but Dario just had to talk to me.

“So, you don’t have school anymore babe?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You don’t wanna go to school?”

“No.”

Dario opened his window for fresh air and the wind blew through his black soft hair.

“I’m gonna take you to school Monday nuh? I’m starting college on Monday and I can’t let you stay at home,” Dario said.

“I don’t want to go.”

“Bishni, this is why Zaahir slapped you. Because you don’t listen to what he says.”

“Oh now you’re on his side.”

“I’m on nobody’s side babe. I’m just trying to fix you and your brother’s relationship because hy miss jou baie.”

I looked at him. I hated when he spoke Afrikaans because I didn’t understand it. But I said, “Me too boo.”

Dario smiled and he stopped at the cinema. He opened the car door for me and as we walked in by the door, Zaahir was standing there… I ran to him and hugged him.

“Sis, I’m so sorry for what I did to you…kanallah forgive me,” Zaahir exclaimed.

“Zaahir, it’s okay… I’m just glad we’re okay bro… I love you,”

Zaahir gave me a kiss on my forehead.

“I love you too sis,”

Dario was standing in front of us, making yawn sounds.

“Auw, my boo is jealous…” I said, and Zaahir and I laughed and we went in to watch the movie as a family.

***

Let’s chat: What do you think of Dario’s statement: that Zaahir clapped Bishni because she doesn’t listen?