One afternoon, he got an unexpected visit from his ex-colleague, Mr. Ndlovu. He was so surprised when he opened the door and saw him on the intercom. Mr. Ndlovu had not buzzed, which meant that the main gate was not locked, but Mr. Ngcobo still managed to say, “Come on in”.

Ndlovu said, “I hope I am not going to take up much of your time,” as he stepped in.

Mr. Ngcobo said, “Time is something I’ve got in truck loads these days, since the powers that be in my company decided that I cannot be trusted any more”.

Mr. Ndlovu said, “I know it’s not going to help you in your situation, but the truth is we have missed your sparkling presence, believe it or not, but I reckon that you of all people know that rules are rules, man. So how are you?”

“I feel like I just ran the comrades marathon,” he replied. “What do you, with all your experience of this kind of thing, think it adds up to? Well you seem to be bewildered, so let me spell it out for you. I feel like any man would feel if he lost his job and his wife is also ready to walk out on him. If you still don’t get it now, then you are dumb, yes, remarkably dumb,” and he giggled like a kid.

Mr. Ndlovu said, “My God, Jabu,” using his pet name, “you are drunk! Since when have you joined the club, you foolish man? I know what you’re going through. It’s not easy, and I honestly don’t know how I would have handled it, but most definitely not this way. Do you happen to know that you are one of the most brilliant guys that I have had the privilege to know and work with? A man amongst men. A level-headed man. Hence it was difficult for me to believe that you did what you were accused of, but seeing you in this state, I don’t know what else to believe, because I don’t know you anymore.”

The visitor proceeded and said, “I hope you know for a fact that you can take me into your confidence, neh? Don’t you, Jabu? So please tell me what really happened because I can’t get my head around it anymore, and don’t feed me that bullshit about you being in the dark. Were you set up or what?

“In this short life of mine, I have met a few men, who seemed to be hungry and lecherous, in that order, but you never struck me like any of them; hence my confusion. I did not come here to accuse you or what, but I am also losing my mind trying to figure out what exactly transpired, and I just think you are the only person who can put me out of my misery.”

He had heard a lot of weird things in his career, but this struck Ngcobo as being in a class of its own or, in simple words, this took the cake.

“Well,” said Mr. Ngcobo, at long last, “believe it or not the evidence was there, and not just some evidence, but overwhelming evidence. But I swear on a stack of Bibles, I really don’t know what happened, and I don’t care anymore. So listen, and please, this time do so very carefully. I never knowingly or unknowingly swindled clients funds, and I would never do such a thing, no matter what the motivation is, and not because of the fear of the consequences, but simply because I despise men who do that, and therefore I will never stoop that low. Are we clear? You know what I think? W. Bush was right when he said that, between two groups of men who want to make inconsistent kinds of worlds, he sees no remedy except the use of force.”

The more they spoke, the more he gained in strength and confidence and clarity of mind. He looked at Mr. Ndlovu and said, “Don’t tell me that you too believe that I did it? I didn’t and I would have known if I had, for crying out loud, because I would be sitting on a fat bank balance and, as I know you know, my finances are what they are supposed to be.” He went on: “Do you know that I am getting a divorce? My wife, no, not my wife, but soon to be ex-wife, also believes, like everyone else, that I am a failure, and do you know what that feels like? I guess not. After all, you have never been married, and I doubt you have ever loved a woman as much, or even half as much, as I love that woman who will soon be divorcing me.”

“OMG!” – Oh my gosh – exclaimed Mr. Ndlovu. “That is so drastic, Jabu. You know, all along I mistook you to be the kind who, when the torch is lit, carries it for life, so I am genuinely surprised that you are willing to snuff it. It is not for me to choose – I hope you know, man, the choice is not mine – but it would be smart to tell her to reconsider it,” said Mr. Ndlovu. “To give up now would be insane.”

“But she says there is a limit, and right now she has very well reached it. I am sorry I can’t make her change her mind, and I am sorrier maybe than I will ever be. Let’s get to the bottom of this, or let me say, let’s get this out of the way: being dumped is a traumatic experience. This is especially true when you are afflicted with that intense, all or nothing, ‘I would walk to Cairo and back on my bare feet for you.’”

Mr. Ndlovu really felt the pain of his ex-colleague as he said, “I can’t pretend that something like what occurred to you guys doesn’t put a strain on a relationship because it does. But surely the fact that none of this was by any of your design must be a consolation? I concur with you that being together might be painful, but surely there must be sweet memories that outshine this nasty one. Just do your best to keep things on an even keel till you figure out what the future holds for you.”

Mr. Ngcobo smiled ruefully, for he had thought that too, but it wasn’t easy. “I’m afraid I don’t see how that is going to help either me or my wife. I have spent so many sleepless nights trying, in vain, to come to terms with that. What really hurts to think about is, who is going to break the news to the kids eventually? I mean, someone will have to.”

“Just think of what that poor little boy has been going through these last few months,” concurred Mr. Ndlovu.

Yes this man made sense, and maybe on another day Mr. Ngcobo would have seen things from his point of view, but sadly, not today, he thought. What he missed most about his wife, soon to be ex-wife, was her uncomplicated cheerfulness, her jovial mood. If she were a battery, she would have been an Eveready. He said, “Listen pal, you don’t lose what you didn’t have. Maybe she was not mine to begin with.” He pointed out that giving everything to students left little emotional energy for creativity.

She was a maths teacher for crying out loud! It was maddening for him to come to terms with the fact that he could no longer possess her, any more than he could possess the stars in the sky. For crying out loud, this was his wife, the woman who had once made him behave as if the sun shone from her ass, excuse the lingo. He thought, “Oh, my God, was our love real or was it just an illusion, a figment of my imagination?” He sighed heavily, closed his eyes, and summoned every ounce of energy he had in his body to try and stop his tears from welling out.

***

Tell us: Do you think the Jabu and Jennifer will divorce?