The next morning Tumi washed his clothes and hung them. He noticed the woman next door was absent from her usual spot on the veranda. He sang happily because it was time to go back home. He cleaned the house and his car, and hired a guy to do the garden.

Tumi allowed the girl to bath while he ironed his clothes and packed them neatly in his bag. After the gardener finished his work, Tumi paid him. He noticed that the gates of his nosey neighbours were open and he went to Zinhle’s house and knocked at the door.

“Hello,” he said when she opened the door.

“Hi, can I help you?” she answered wondering what he wanted.

She didn’t feel comfortable with him and kept the door ajar so that he wouldn’t think about coming inside her house.

“I just came to say goodbye, I am going back home,” he said and walked away.

Zinhle slammed the door.

Tumi put the girl in a black big bag so no one must see her and put her on the back seat with his personal bag. When he locked the gate, he opened the bag and let her sit freely and breath well.

“I am taking you home, don’t ever say you know me,” he said seriously.

Buhle nodded her head. He drove the car for an hour and arrived where he picked her up. He threatened her again before letting her go and he drove off quickly.

Buhle looked around and remembered the tree near her school. She walked the other way. Musa was playing down the road and noticed Buhle. He ran fast to her grandmother who sat on her chair with Buhle’s mother.

Musa shouted, “I saw Buhle in the street.”

Grandmother and Buhle’s mother rushed to the street to see with their own eyes. Buhle was walking slowly, watching her back. Musa had already told everyone that Buhle has returned and they all stood in shock as Grandmother and her mother rushed to embrace her. Tears fell on down their faces as the neighbours rushed to help Granny to steady up right.

Grandmother kept crying, calling Buhle’s name loudly. They took her inside the house and her siblings were so happy to see her. They hugged her and Buhle kept crying even though she was happy to be back home. The police were called and when they arrived they talked to Buhle’s mother.

“Did she say where she was?” the policeman asked.

“She is still traumatised, maybe we will ask tomorrow,” she answered holding her shoulders.

“We have to take her to the clinic then tomorrow, you can bring her to the police station afterwards,” he said touching her shoulder.

Buhle and her mother went to clinic with the police. She got the tests done. She was still confused as to why the man had kidnapped her. The threats keep repeating in her mind so she didn’t utter a word.

The police returned with Buhle and her mother. Buhle didn’t smile anymore but she was always a cheerful child. She had liked socialising but now she preferred sitting alone in the bedroom.

She remained quiet and frightful at the slightest noises. The police arranged a social worker for her but still she wouldn’t talk, she would stare at them.

As for Tumi, his life went on well as usual.

***

Tell us: Do you think Buhle will ever get justice?