The men ruffle in Zamani’s pockets and take all his money. They even rob him of the groceries he has bought. He is left bleeding on the pavement.

Snethemba is with a group of her friends, coming from a promotion gig. They see four men running past them. Soon after, they see a man cowering and bleeding on the pavement.

“Hayi bo! Zamani!” Snethemba screams.

“Snethemba.” Zamani gets up and staggers. He leans on the wall of a cellphone shop.

“What happened to you? Why are you bleeding?”

“I’ve just been robbed. They took all my money. Please lend me taxi fare. I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

Snethemba takes out a tissue and wipes away the blood on Zamani’s nose and forehead. “Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“I’m fine. I just want to go home.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Zamani’s head feels heavy as Snethemba helps him to the bed inside his shack. She hurries to her own shack and boils water. She runs back to Zamani with hot water and a towel in a small enamel basin. She dips the towel in hot water, wrings it out and places it on his wounds.

“You must be careful in Pinetown, Zamani. It’s not safe at night.”

“Ouch! Ouch!” Zamani recoils from the sting of the heat of the towel on his wounds.

“Stop acting like a baby,” Snethemba says. She dips the towel in water again and holds his face close to hers.

“It’s painful,” says Zamani.

“I’m almost done,” says Snethemba. “Where’s home, Zamani?”

“I come from a place called Nsungwini in Emahlabathini. I came here looking for a better life.”

“Don’t you have relatives who live this side? I’m asking because Snake Park is a terrible place to live.”

“I was staying with my cousin in his rented room but he found a job in Cape Town.”

“Lucky him. I also hope I get out of this place and find a better life,” says Snethemba.

“You will one day. Just don’t lose hope. I also live on hope alone. Will your boyfriend not have a problem when he finds out you were tending to another man’s wounds?”

“Luckily I don’t have a boyfriend. I’m still trying to piece my life together. I’ll see about a relationship once I’m successful.”

“I’m also single, but I have my eye on someone,” says Zamani.

“Wow! Is that someone here in Snake Park? Let me know who it is because I know everyone who lives here. I can tell you all about her.”

“I doubt you know her.”

“So it’s still a secret?”

Zamani nods.

Snethemba has finished fixing him up but they are still close to each other. They look into each other’s eyes. They both smile and take a step back.

“I need to go back to town to work tomorrow,” says Zamani.

“Are you sure you are okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I just need taxi fare. Please help me out. I’ll pay you when I get back.”

“No problem,” says Snethemba.

***

Tell us what you think: Should Zamani just boldly tell Snethemba how he feels, even though he is so poor at the moment?