Siya’s mother is at Bhekani’s house in discussion with his parents for an hour.
“Bhekani says he wants R1000 to heal his wounds but I could see in his eyes that he is craving whatever drug he smokes. His father said he will take him to withdraw the case and call when they are done. I told them we will pay when they have done so,” his mother says when she returns home.
Siya lets out a sigh of relief. “I will ask the taxi owner for the cash,” he says.
“I have the money. You can repay me if the taxi owner says yes.”
“Thank you, Ma. I will repay every cent. Where did you get the money?”
“I know you will. I have been saving since I started to get my pension. Fifty rand every month. I also saved a bit from the money you gave me every time you got paid.”
Bhekani’s father calls in the evening. The case has been withdrawn and he is in his car, parked on the road outside. He asks to speak to Siya, who gets into the passenger seat and hands him the money.
“I really don’t want to take your money but to make all your troubles disappear I will give Bhekani the cash. He will smoke it all today, I know. But, so that your life moves forward, I will give it to him. I am so sorry, my boy. The least I could do was to drive him to the courthouse in order to clean this situation. I told him not to take the money but he does not listen to me,” says Bhekani’s father.
Later that night, while fixing the broken lock on his bedroom door, Siya stops for a moment. He understands now how quickly life can be changed by the decisions a person makes, or by one thoughtless act. He realizes that he has dodged a bullet and he can’t wipe the smile off his face.
Before he sleeps he calls Makhendlas. “I can’t get the cash together, Makhendlas. There has been a cloud of bad luck since we last spoke.”
“Yes, I heard. You should have killed Bhekani. Don’t let another man take advantage of you like that,” says Makhendlas.
“Listen, can you please talk to your supervisor. Tell him I can pay the money he wants from my first salary if he gives me the job.”
“It doesn’t work like that, Siya. The position has been filled, anyway. The next job openings will come next year, so try to get the cash together. You should catch Bhekani and show him who you are.”
Siya tries to tell Makhendlas about how the law works but it is like water off a duck’s back – Makhendlas is a stubborn man who believes in his opinions and no one else’s.
Siya calls the taxi owner.
“Just the person I was thinking of calling. Can you start working tomorrow? I bought a new taxi and I need a driver,” says the taxi owner.
Siya sleeps peacefully for the first time in four days. There will be cash coming in while he looks for a more suitable job and he will be able to pay his debt to his mother.
In the morning, before he takes the taxi on the road, he tells the taxi owner about his ordeal.
“So because of the deal I will get I may only be able to start working late in the day,” Siya concludes.
“I know exactly what you are going through. It happened to me last year when I beat up two mandrax addicts who stole tyres from one of my taxis. I ended up getting arrested! And losing time and money. I have learned to control my temper since then. When people step on my toes I let the police deal with it. You can use the taxi to go to the classes and community service.”
*****
The taxi driving gig gives Siya a steady income. It is not much but it helps with bills and groceries. He is able to apply for jobs and life progresses. Things don’t happen at the pace he wants – but he keeps in mind that he could be in jail serving time.
A month later his anger management classes are over. There is just a week of community service to complete – five more days of cleaning the police station holding cells where he spent the night when he was arrested.
But right now Siya is at the taxi rank waiting for his turn to load passengers. He is a bit nervous because tonight he is going out on a first date with Thandeka. He is taking her out for a movie at Gateway Shopping Mall. Siya had suggested they see a blockbuster movie, but Thandeka suggested something else.
“I don’t like the commercial movies,” she said. “There is a really great art movie cinema at Gateway called Cinema Nouveau. Can we watch something there, instead?”
Siya is daydreaming about how the night might end: with a kiss if he plays his cards right. He is imagining planting his lips on Thandeka’s when the mood is shattered as a reversing taxi bumps into the rear of a stationary taxi. Tempers flare at once. Even though the driver of the reversing taxi is clearly at fault he won’t admit it, curses the driver of the stationary taxi instead. A fight is about to start: jackets are taken off, wheel spanners held ready to strike. The taxi rank manager rushes to restrain the aggressor and Siya runs to hold back the other driver.
“He can’t curse at me like that! He is at fault for smashing into my taxi,” shouts the driver Siya is trying to calm down.
Siya looks into his eyes and says, “Calm down, my brother. Have I ever told you what happened to me when I beat up someone who wronged me?”
“No,” he answers.
“I was the one who got arrested. I ended up being a double loser,” says Siya.
“You were the one who got arrested? Why?” asks the driver, his anger draining away from his face.
“Come with me to the tuck shop. Let me calm your anger with a can of cold drink, my brother. I’ll tell you all about it,” says Siya, escorting him away from the fight.
Siya feels good that night. He is at the ticket counter of Cinema Nouveau listening to Thandeka going on about the director of the movie they are about to see.
“Why are you smiling?” she asks him.
“I am just so happy, Thandeka. After all that has been going on recently, being here with you is like living in a wonderful dream. Not so long ago my life was gloomy and dark. Today, with you by my side, I feel like nothing is impossible in this world.”
Thandeka puts her soft hand into his hand, looks into his eyes, kisses him on the cheek and says, “That is why life is so beautiful, Siya.”
***
Tell us what you think: Had Siya learned a good lesson?
