“I thought of that you see,” Dumisani said to the man’s back that was turned to him. The man turned around and faced him, but he didn’t move closer.
“Say what?” asked the man with his head tilted to the side as if he was moving the words from one ear to the other.
“I’m also a business man so I know how this thing of business works. I doubled your price. There is R300 000 in that bag. Count it if you don’t believe me and give me my daughter.” Dumisani said as he took a daring step towards the boss.
“No need to count it, I know you wouldn’t dare lie to me or else Melo will pay a price for that.” The saw the defiant look in Dumisani and believed him. Plus the thought of R300 000 in cold cash excited him.
He whistled. Another guy in one of the two cars came out with Melokuhles. As the boss was turning he saw Thembeka.
“Didn’t I tell you not to bring anyone along? Who the hell is that woman?” the man shouted at Dumisani who turned to look in the direction the man was looking at. The boss didn’t wait for him to answer. He grabbed Melokuhle from his mignon and placed a gun on her head.
I’m going to put a bullet through this kid’s head so that next time you will know that when I say something, I mean it!” the men yelled, holding Melokuhle with one arm and the other firmly holding the gun to her head.
“Nooo!” screamed Thembeka running up to him.
“Shut up! You’ve done enough damage, said Dumisani grabbing hold of his wife. “Why did you follow me?” he wrapped her around his arms, keeping her from looking at the man still holding the gun to his daughter’s head.
“Man, please don’t do that this is my wife. I didn’t know that she was following me, please man.” Dumisani pleaded with the boss.
The man went quiet for a minute. He closed his eyes as if trying to block out everything.
“Okay but my price goes up. I’ll also be taking that car of yours. It will calm me down because I’m mad at the moment. And when I am mad I want to see blood…unless something calms me down. Next I’m coming for that woman, maybe I’ll stop giving birth to such ugly kids and get creamy, yellow banes like this kid of yours.” The man dug his nose into Melokuhle’s hair and took a deep whiff.
“The key,” said this man to Dumisani, who tossed the key to him without hesitation.
The man let go of Melokuhle and she ran straight to her parents. They both clasped her, her mother crying tears of relief. The men got into their cars and drove off, leaving the family of three wrapped in each other’s arms.
***
Tell us what you think: Did Dumisani do the right thing by not involving the police? If you had to put a price of love, how much would you be willing to pay for a loved one?