Months later, Ndumiso, who was the man we saved, started visiting us more frequently. We all grew closer, and the kids liked him too. Nonsikelelo was like a big sister to me, and the kids called me aunty. I always spoiled them because, mind you, I had my own savings.

Ndumiso would always take us to Steers or KFC because the kids really liked it. One day, he took us to his house and that’s when we found out that his family was rich. They all liked us, though, except for Pearl, who was his sister. I couldn’t believe it, she still hated me for dating her brother because I was once a maid at her boyfriend’s house. Ndumiso and I started dating, and he helped me go to college. Nonsikelelo had a salon and two girls that helped her. Of course she could plait, and I helped her when I was free. We had our own house, and Ndumiso visited us a lot.

“I won’t stay long,” Nduh said during a visit. “I want you to accompany me to work. We won’t stay long, I just want you to see where I work.”

At first, I didn’t want to go, but Nsike convinced me and I agreed. I changed into my fancy clothes, and Nduh drove us to his work place. It was a huge building, and when we got inside the lift, he helped me. We walked to the receptionist, and she told Nduh about his meeting.

“You’ll come with me,” Ndumiso said.

I was scared, but I went with him anyway. We sat down and waited for the other stuff members. After a while, Sipho walked in. I looked at him and realised that he had changed. People could tell that he was not happy at all. Things were going south for him, and he was looking down all the time. Maybe he was scared to face me. “I’m sorry Sipho,” I thought, “This is karma for you.”

“Everyone, this is my fiancé,” Ndumiso said. “She’s the woman that saved my life months back.”

They all clapped their hands for me, and I was blushing all along. I could tell that Sipho was boiling inside, and when the meeting was over, he started breathing very fast and his face was pale. Ndumiso and I helped him, and we took him to the hospital. Some of his colleagues came with us, and when he woke up, he asked to see me.

“I’m really sorry Nteh,” Sipho said. “Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to hurt you, it was the work of the devil, I swear. I still love you, so please let me right my wrongs. Please, I am sorry.”

“You know what Sipho,” I responded. “I forgive you because am not bitter like you. I just want to move on with my life.”

After talking with him, I walked out and bumped into a man crying. I looked at him, and I realised that he was my one and only uncle. I tried ignoring him, but he held my hand.

“My niece, your aunt is dying in that ward, she needs your help, so please help her,” my uncle said.

“Oh, so today they know me because I am engaged to a millionaire,” I thought to myself. “People will amaze you, they only want you when you have everything. Where were they when I needed them in my life? They were the ones who maltreated and tortured me, today they want Nontethelelo to help them. You know what, I’ll help them, but I don’t want them in my life.”

I told my fiancé everything and the poor guy still supported me. We both helped my aunt and from that day on, she always apologised to me. She later asked to come to my house and, even though I didn’t want to let them in, Nonsikelelo insisted, and she said she would stay a little longer with the kids. Then my aunt, uncle and cousins came to visit.

Tell us: Would you have also helped your aunt if you were in Nontethelelo’s position?