Diary Of A Mafia King's Wife

Dear Diary: I'm meeting his friends again...

I'm looking through the closet. I don't know what to wear. I didn't want to meet his business friends again. Ndalo and Zeh are good people. I like them. But I want to be friends with them because I want to not because our husbands are friends. MaDlamini walks in while I'm still looking.

"Why don't you want to go?"

"I don't feel like going out today plus I feel like I'm being forced to be friends with them because our husbands are friends"

She doesn't say anything instead she helps me choose an outfit and then she leaves the room. Her son must have asked her to help me. And she chose all black and I can't help but laugh. It's like she's trying to send a message to the other ladies.

I walk downstairs with a smile. For the first time since I got here 3 months ago. I think MaDlamini and I might get along. MaNgubane tells me I look good and I tell her who chose the outfit she winks at her daughter-in-law who returns the wink and winks at me. I can't help but laugh while one of the guards is standing here looking confused.

Just then Mlondi walks in wearing a dark grey suit. The artist in me is sometimes tempted to draw him. Right now it's one of those times and I just might one of these days. I'm tempted to say 'looking good' but I don't want him punishing me like he did the other day for asking about his dad, my father-in-law. Some husbands we have.

He looks too formal to be meeting friends. I wonder what kind of friendship they have. Do they discuss their personal business or is it always business nothing else.

We drive for like 15 minutes, I didn't know there's a mall around. And come to think of it I've never really left the house. I always enjoyed going to malls, galleries and museums but since I got here haven't gone to any of those places. Just when we walk into Ocean Basket I hear some noise. I look around and I find Zeh on top of Mandy strangling her. Their husbands are trying to pull them apart. Everyone is standing there looking at them. One of the waiters looks like he wants to help but at the same he's scared to get near them. I don't blame him. Like I've been saying there's something about these guys. I don’t know if it's the clothes they wear. But whatever it makes you want to rethink every little thing. I join Zweli and we both talk to Zeh telling her to stop. She looks super mad. I wonder what happened. Even though I don't know what happened I know that Mandy is wrong, she started this. Eventually Zeh stops strangling Mandy, she wipes tears and takes her daughter from Ndalo and she walks away. Ayanda runs towards them. I don't know what he's saying but I think he is apologising. Everyone goes back to whatever their meals and conversations. Mandy is standing here like she doesn't know whether to leave or just stay. Just then Ayanda walks in and talks to Mlondi, he takes his jacket. He doesn't say anything to Mandy and he leaves. I think Mlondi feels bad for her because he offers her a lift. It's going to be awkward.

I usually sit in the back but I don’t want to sit with Mandy so I just sit in the passenger seat and Mlondi looks surprised. After we drop Mandy off, Mlondi tells me again not to ask Zeh about this. I just nod knowing very well that I will ask her when the dust settles. Just when I think we are heading home we stop at some mansion. Someone opens the gate we drive in. We find Zeh waiting for us by the door. This is her house I guess.

"I'm so sorry for earlier," she apologise to us. We both tell her it's okay. Before heading inside Mlondi turns to me and whispers 'don't forget what I said earlier' I just nod. If he thinks I'll let this go he's wrong.

"Mandy gets to me. No matter how much I try to ignore her. At some point I stopped going with Zweli to the meetings but then Ndalo came along and I didn't want to come across as rude. So I started going again. But this one is on Zweli, he's the one who impregnated that girl. But I'm the one who should be insulted all the time" she tells me in a shaky voice. She's still mad. I don't know what to say. So I just hug her and say sorry. When we walk in Mlondi gives me an evil eye like I asked Zeh. I just mouth I didn't. Zeh must have seen us because she explains that she's the one who told me.

I find Ndalo and Sbusisiwe in the kitchen and I join them. Zeh walks in and she starts cooking. We move to the sitting room. Ayanda is apologising for his wife. I feel bad for him. No one is saying anything. I'm quiet because this has nothing to do with me.

"Your wife has always had a problem with Zeh. I always thought she'll talk to her or get over it but nope. I don't want her anywhere near my wife. If this affects our relationship so be it"

"He doesn't mean it" Zeh tells Ayanda and Bova whom I 'm only seeing now.

"Yes I do Zeh. I do it" he emphasises.

Makes me wonder if Mlondi would do the same for me. I look at him and he nods. Nah he can't know what I am thinking. I mouth what? He nods towards Zweli. Okay maybe we are thinking the same thing.