It’s blazing hot in Nhlangwini. Nokubonga carries a bucket full of her family’s washing as she makes her way down to the river. There are many other young women washing clothes by the river.

Nokubonga is thinking about her life. How she was raised by her single mother after her father had been killed in the political civil war in this area in the early 1990s. She had never met her father because he died before she was born. They didn’t have a lot, growing up, they had just enough. Her mother, MaDladla, was lucky to find work as a part-time cleaner at the local clinic. The job soon became permanent.

She fills the bucket with water. Her friend, Hleziphi, is also washing her family’s clothes. Nokubonga moves next to her and starts washing.

“When last did you speak to your husband?” asks Hleziphi.

“Calling Zipho my husband is a bit of an exaggeration. He has only asked to start lobola negotiations, he has not paid lobola yet,” says Nokubonga.

Hleziphi stomps on the blankets she is washing in the large basin. Nokubonga joins her in the stomping. The water quickly turns black as they stomp the dirt out of the blankets.

“But at least you are lucky, my friend. You must really count your blessings. Just look at me. Nhlalo got me pregnant and simply disappeared,” says Hleziphi.

“It’s not all roses in my relationship either. Zipho has changed. He never calls as much as he did before. Sometimes he doesn’t answer when I call him. That’s why I have decided that on Monday I’m taking a taxi to Jozi,” says Nokubonga.

“Hhayi bo! So far?” says Hleziphi.

“I have to fix my relationship, Hleziphi.”

“Have you ever been to Jozi?”

“Yes, I went a while back with Zipho. It was in the first months after he moved there. I don’t remember the way very well, but where there is love there is a way. My heart is telling me this is what I need to do. It’s this heart that is leading me to the one who made me a woman in this area by asking to start lobola negotiations. I won’t lose hope. I need to fight for our relationship,” says Nokubonga. She smiles at her memories of their love when it was new.

“But why don’t you just wait for him to come back? The holidays are a few months away. You’ll have plenty of time to fix your relationship without anything else, like his job, being in the way.”

“No ways! I can’t wait anymore. I’ll have to wait forever if I don’t move because he is always busy with work,” says Nokubonga.

“I hear you. Have you told your mother?”

“Yes.”

“What did she say?”

“She isn’t keen on the idea of me going to Jozi alone but she understands that this is what I want to do.”

“I hope you have a safe journey and come back in one piece,” says Hleziphi.

“Thanks, Hleziphi.”

Nokubonga is dripping wet with sweat by the time she crests the incline that leads to her home. She hangs the washing on the clothes line at the back of the house. She doesn’t have time to catch her breath; thinking about Zipho propels her to ask one of the boys playing in the neighbour’s yard to buy her airtime.

The boy is back in a few minutes. Nokubonga enters the voucher PIN and calls Zipho.

“Yes,” Zipho answers.

“How are you, my love?” Nokubonga smiles.

“I am well. How are you?” Zipho’s answer lacks enthusiasm.

“I’m also well. I’m just missing you, my love.”

“I also miss you,” says Zipho.
“Well you’ll be glad to hear that I’m coming to visit you on Monday!”

Nokubonga is excited. But her voice lapses into confused silence because Zipho doesn’t reply.

“Are you still there, my love? Zipho?” she inquires.

Zipho lets out a sigh. “Yes, I’m still here. Are you saying you are coming this coming Monday?”

“Yes, please come fetch me at the taxi rank in Park Station.”

“I’m a bit taken aback. This is so sudden. And I was planning to come to see you in a couple of weeks,” says Zipho.

“You were only going to see me for one weekend. And not even the whole weekend because when you are here you have to see your family as well – and friends. It is better if I come up so that we will have a lot of time, just the two of us,” says Nokubonga.

“I hear you.”

“Zipho is there a problem with me coming to visit you?”

Zipho takes a moment before he answers.

“Zipho?”

“No, you can come. I’m busy with something at the moment. I’ll call you a bit later,” he says.

“I love you, Zipho. I want you to—”

Nokubonga stops because she can hear that Zipho has dropped the call.

***

Tell us: What do you think is going on with Zipho?