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An unexpected case of inflamed vaginal thrush and the Sunday paper brought the two together in a Parktown pharmacy. Langa had burst into the pharmacy, fresh from church, the ailment in question behind the manic and illegal parking of her Volkswagen Beetle on the pavement. She cursed under her breath despite the holy anointing she had just received as she made for what she felt was refuge.
The only customer in the pharmacy was a black middle-aged man with an unkempt sort of handsomeness about him. He was holding the Sunday Star and chatting away heartily with the pharmacist, an old white man. They both briefly looked up at her, the dishevelled one’s eyes lingering on Langa a little longer before resuming their conversation. Despite the frumpy sweater he wore, his caramel complexion and stubbly beard brought out the best of his hazel eyes.
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Despite the fact that South Africa was called a rainbow nation, both their families initially had reservations about their union. Gerda Muller, Richard’s mother, a conservative Afrikaner woman who had raised her only child single-handedly, felt she was losing him to Langa and did everything she could to discourage the relationship. The fact that Langa wasn’t Sharon from Stellenbosch with blue eyes and blonde hair didn’t make things any easier. But Gerda eventually warmed to her prospective daughter-in-law when she realised how much her son loved her. Langa’s own family didn’t feign their approval of Richard the first time they met him either, although they also mellowed with time.
Langa spent the rest of her Sunday in her apartment, going over the work she’d brought home for the weekend. With the thrush subsiding, she focused on the presentation set for the next day. Her company had been shortlisted as the official coordinator of the annual Innovation Cosmetics Exhibition, an internationally recognised event hosted by Sasol Wax. She had worked hard on her initial proposal and her presentation the next day would determine if Buthelezi Events landed the contract. She forwarded a few adjustments to the presentation to Zandile, her head event coordinator who would be presenting it with her before calling Naledi, her best friend.
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