Memoirs – Chapter Sixty Seven

It’s funny when you actually think about it, usually the person you suspect to be having an affair with your partner is usually the wrong one. It’s easy to make assumptions and conclude on the most likely suspect because they usually are always around your partner. Something was wrong here. A lot of people don’t get it, the most dangerous thing to a relationship which often causes the cheating, lying and eventually fighting is this called change. Change of routine is what had gotten us here. My wife hitherto had been a stay at home wife meaning she never got attention from any other man apart from me. Now she was like a fish out of water and ready to live again so to speak. This is why most newly divorced woman go through a dating and yes sleeping around phase. That feeling of being caged goes away very quickly no matter how much you might miss him! I pushed her off me and asked her why that guy was touching her face! She looked a bit surprised by my reaction but I made sure not raise my voice and embarrass her in front of her colleagues. Women hate that and I stand with them there! Your man has no business coming into your place of working and breaking you down.

She said he was a client and he was flirty that’s all. She said that she indulged him and he never went too far. He probably was removing something she could not even remember. I could not believe what she had just said and the way she was so casual about it. It’s not a nice thing to say but in most offices, women get things done faster because they no how to persuade. It’s Sexist I know but work in an office and see who the male bosses especially sign quicker for males or females. My wife was beautiful and it was that beauty that was part of the reason why I signed on the I DO line on our marriage certificate! Was her gay boss using my wife as bait to get contracts? What the hell? She looked at me when she saw that I was looking for her boss and whispered harshly but the look in her eyes was more like pleading,
“Please don’t spoil this for me please! I will do anything you want please. He is my first big client I have to make this work!”
She said. I was not sure what I was being asked. Was she asking me to sit at the back and watch her flirt with other men? Hell no! She was smarter than that. Why would she allow herself to be used as bait like this. I was so disappointed. This is why I hate anything that has to do with the entertainment industry. There are simply too many grey areas for comfort. She pleaded me if I could leave because had work to do and I was making her feel awkward.

Now that this was done I had to leave and go home. I was not feeling up to it because it would mean hanging out with Khanyi. I was confused. My wife loved her job too much she had to quit. I am sure I had given her headaches before with my late hours but I was not flirting at work. I was genuinely working for us. If getting more clients meant she had to flirt ah, I don’t think I could survive this.

Being a husband can be the most difficult job on earth! With me uncertain about my own employment status I walked out with my tail beneath my legs. She said she knew what she was doing and saying she did not meant I would be treating her like a child. I am ashamed to say this but I went and sat in the car and waited for her. I had to move the car so that I could see my wife’s car but at the same time she could not see mine. Wow, I had sunk so low, I was stalking my own wife! Most men have stalked someone in their lives even if they deny it. Fine unless you are Maps Maponya then you don’t do the stalking they stalk you. My wife loves that man so much she openly drools for him. I don’t mind because he is on TV and only does white sisters! So here I was in the car, thank Heavens it was not hot. I think at some point I fell asleep, I don’t know when but clearly my body was not designed for this. Imagine my irritation when I woke up to find that my wife’s car had left. I think I slept for hours because it was already after work and the parking lot was empty. I cursed myself, my car and anything I could think off. Maybe I should hire a private investigator. In my line of work we see a lot of those. Mmmm, tempting indeed but the problem with one of those is that they almost always find what you fear the most. Was I ready for this! I felt as though instead of fighting to win my wife back I was looking for every excuse to make her look bad yet at the same time, for me to fix the problem I had to find it!

I decided to buy cooking ingredients, fish, my wife’s favourite. I was a conflicted man. When I got home surprise, my wife was there. She asked me where I was and I said I had been at the office all day. She said ok and was about to start cooking. She was drinking wine with Khanyi whilst Zimasa was peeling potatoes for her. I told her that I felt like cooking today so the ladies can sit down…well ladies except Zimasa. I hated chopping especially tomatoes and onions so that was her job.

I was not the greatest cook to be fair but on the dinner table everyone seemed to enjoy. Maybe it was the wine. I could see my wife was going all out to make Khanyi forget her ordeal. Khanyi was not milking it. She was laughing and happy. It had to be the weirdest thing. At some point I was in the kitchen and found Zimasa gulping down the wine. Teenagers. I told her if I caught her again I will tell my wife and she said Asthandile is the one who allowed her to drink so long as I did not see it! Yah Neh, I was losing control of my authority.

We all ended up in the TV room sharing stories about past experiences. It was fun we were all laughing. For the first time I managed to let myself go and be free. This until my wife’s phone rang and she stood up to go take it outside! Why should a married woman do that?

I don’t think she noticed that I saw that she had left. I followed her. I could hear her giggle and so on. When I got close she turned and saw me and she hung up!

“Are you having an affair?”

I asked her with a straight face, arms folded across my chest.

“No…no… of course not! how could you even ask me that? You are my husband!”

She said trying to sound convincing.

“Then dial the last number you were on!”

I said. I could see the panic in her eyes.

“Is that really necessary?”

She asked,

“Yes it is! If you don’t dial it I will dial it for you!”

I said and took a step forward.

She took her phone and dialled…

*****The End*****

@diaryofazulugal
Mikeatdiary
Michael Nkululeko Maphoto (fb)

Dear Mike

I am from the Eastern Cape and am 23 now. I was first raped when I was 13 years old by my older cousin. We had been dropped off there by my parents as they were going for a funeral with his parents. We were the two eldest. He was 17 at the time. I reported him when the parents came back and his father beat him until he almost died. He was in hospital even for two weeks. His father was arrested and it was so messy. My parents said I should not press charges of rape because the father had really done a job on him. To this day he limps. When I was 17 we went on a school trip to Durban. Two girls and myself went to drink in the boys room. It was 6 guys and the three of us. The boys were drinking water out of their bottles whilst we were pumped with alcohol. We never even noticed. The five boys took their turns on us. I am HIV positive today. All the boys are still in jail today but one who they say was stabbed in jail.

You never recover from such a thing. They can say what they want about therapy but to be honest it’s a scar that never heals.

Thank You

Eastern Cape