Читать книгу Into the Sun - Takalani M - Страница 12

GUNDO

I could kill for a good home-cooked meal right now. It has been three days and I cannot stomach another burger. I hate eating in a hotel room. I also hate dining alone. I need to leave the hotel for a bit, but what will I do here all on my own?

It is the worst time for me to have to come to Cape Town, after the way I left things with Thandeka. But I have hopes of opening a branch down here in the future and the meeting with my old friend Njabulo Buthelezi about a possible partnership could not be moved. I’m not sure yet if I want to partner, but if I do, Njabulo is the right damn person to do it with. It is always great to grab any opportunity when it arises and Njabulo is the best marketing specialist I know.

Our meeting today went well and it is only three-thirty now, so I think I’ll change into jeans, take a drive to Canal Walk to get Ciara that teddy bear she asked for.

I hang up my jacket and pace around my enormous hotel room, reading emails on my phone.

Oh, the photoshoot took place today.

I ring the office and our receptionist forwards my call to the creative team. Phuti answers.

‘How did the photoshoot go?’ I ask.

‘It was perfect, to a T,’ he says happily. I trust him. He has been the team leader since I started my company. Just like me, he knows not to compromise on quality.

‘Does the client feel the same way?’

‘Of course. They liked the angle that Thandeka brought to the project,’ he says and I curve my lips into a smile.

How I miss her difficult self. I have failed to get her out of my mind. No matter how much I try.

‘Did she manage to attend the shoot?’ She must have been excited to see her idea come to life.

‘No, sir, she left the company on Monday.’ I feel like a dagger is thrown into my chest. What does he mean she left the company on Monday? Did she resign? Did she have to go to Venda for some reason? Is she on leave?

‘Do you know why?’

‘Apparently she resigned.’

‘Are you sure?’ I ask.

‘Yes, sir, I asked her colleagues and they all said the same thing.’

‘Okay, forward my call to Diana’s office,’ I say.

‘Sure, boss,’ he responds and I hear the waiting tone. Okay, this tone needs an upgrade. We need something young and funky.

After about a minute the phone is answered by Diana’s personal assistant .

‘I am looking for Diana,’ I say.

‘Mr Radzilani, Ms Diana is in a meeting with the finance team.’

‘This is what I want you to do: Go down to the HR office and ask them to pull Thandeka Sibiya’s file. She was a cleaner there. I want you to scan it and email it to me.’

‘Uhm … okay,’ she says hesitantly.

‘Is there something wrong?’

‘Not at all, sir. I will get to it right away.’

I hang up and throw my phone on the bed.

Why would Thandeka resign? Was it because I kissed her? But she told me off and we haven’t spoken since. Surely the matter is settled in her mind? I have the feeling that she desperately needs the money from this job. I saw the place where she lives … She wouldn’t just resign. Not before she had another job at least! It doesn’t make sense at all. I unbutton my shirt and take it off before picking a clean golf shirt from the closet. I exchange my formal pants for a pair of grey jeans and sneakers. If I need to stroll around the mall, I’d better be comfortable.

My stomach grumbles. I have been drinking water and not eating any good food. This is why I hate travelling solo. I forsake my diet. I pick up my wallet and head to the restaurant on the ground floor. I am too hungry. I need something to eat now. My phone is in my hand, I want to see when the scanned file from the office comes through. We usually require an exit interview when an employee resigns. I want to see her reasons and take her cellphone number.

A smile creeps onto my face.

Thandeka.

Just the thought of her makes me smile. She loves me for some reason – I know that kiss meant something to her. But she hates me for other reasons. The wrong reasons! Where did she get the idea that I am some kind of womaniser? I have given her time to cool down, but I was planning on having a talk and straightening everything out with her as soon as I am back in Joburg. It is not something one can do over the phone. She needs to look into my eyes and know the truth. I want to be in her world. I want her to love me. I want her to fall deeply in love with me the same way I am falling for her. I want good times. Good times only.

Sitting at a restaurant alone sucks. I am not the kind of a guy who would take a solo holiday. I always travelled with Diana when we were still married. All I want to do right now is to jump onto the next flight and head home.

My phone rings, saving me from my thoughts. It is the office number. Perfect.

‘Sir, Mr Ndlovu from HR said Ms Diana handled the hiring of the recent cleaners, so if there are any files, they should be in her office.’

‘Go check in her office.’

‘Sir, I will have to ask her where she put them. She doesn’t like it when I fiddle with her files,’ she says.

I keep quiet.

‘Okay … okay … I will check for you just now,’ she says.

I hang up.

I don’t care if everybody feels like they are walking on eggshells around me, like Thandeka said. Laughing with them makes them forget who hired them.

The waiter walks to the table with my order. This is close to a home-cooked meal: mashed potato, spinach, and meat. I had to request that my spinach not be creamed, I like the raw taste.

My phone rings. Diana. I pick it up with urgency. She has some explaining to do.

‘I heard there is something you are looking for,’ Diana says, lazily.

‘Please tell your PA to email it to me.’

‘There is nothing to email. I didn’t keep the files of the cleaners. I didn’t intend on keeping them forever.’

‘Did you fire her?’

‘Who?’

‘You know who I am talking about.’

‘Thandeka? She resigned. Maybe she couldn’t carry on with your fling. I am disappointed in you, Gundo. Do you know the amount of damage you would have caused if someone else walked in on you gripping her hands and forcing her into … whatever you were forcing her into? She resigned.’

I hang up. I was not forcing her into anything. I wanted her to tell me what she really thinks of me.

Fuck it!

I just lost my appetite.

The waiter notices my hand. He collects my plate and packs the leftovers in a take-out box.

Thandeka resigned? I don’t believe that she resigned. Diana fired her and I think it is about time I do the same to Diana. How could she sidestep HR with the hiring of the cleaners? And not keeping their files – if that is true – goes against company policy. Firing Thandeka without any warnings is also wrong on so many levels!

How do I get hold of Thandeka now? If I were in Joburg I could drive to her apartment building but there are hundreds of flats and I don’t know which one is hers. As it is, I’m stuck in Cape Town with no way to contact her. I know she might not want to see me ever again, but I must at least try to get her back to the company.

How can I get hold of Thandeka? I ask myself while driving to Canal Walk. It is after six but the sun is still shining brightly.

Aunt Angie! I remember she knew Thandeka in the village.

‘Nwana wanga, how are you,’ my aunt greets when she answers the phone. I ask her how everyone is back home. I hardly talk to my parents. Dad only cares about his business and we have been distant since the funeral. My dad and I each lost a child. It will take much to get back to normal.

‘You remember that girl who sells eggs?’

‘Thandeka.’

‘Have you seen her around there recently? This week?’

‘No. I have seen her friend though. I heard Thandeka is working there at your company. I commend Diana for helping these young ladies with jobs.’

‘Aunty, could you please give my number to her friend?’

‘Hawu!’

‘I am in Cape Town and I have a task for her … eggs-related,’ I say. It will take me the whole evening to explain why I need them to contact me. ‘Please ask her to send me a please-call request. This is very important.’

She agrees. Bingo!

I get to the mall and stroll up and down until I find the perfect gift for Ciara. She likes gowns with Disney characters on them, so I get her one. I don’t know how many teddies she has and fitting another one in my carry-on case will just be a job and a half. I have the gown wrapped at the counter and head back to the car. On the way to the hotel, my aunt calls to tell me that Thandeka’s friend went to the hospital to visit her sick mother. Thandeka’s brother was not home. She left my number with Maria’s sibling. I am hoping that she calls me.

* * *

All night I wait but I don’t receive an SMS or text from any number I don’t know. On Friday morning I check out of the hotel, put my suitcase in the trunk of the rental car and go to the last meeting of my trip. I hardly hear a thing that is said at all. Afterwards, I get into the car to drive to the airport. Please call R10 airtime pls, an SMS beeps. Do people still personalise their please-call-me requests? I don’t even remember when last I sent one.

‘Hello.’

‘Hi, is this Maria?’ I ask. The only person that I have requested to send me a please-call-me is her.

‘Yes.’

‘I am looking for Thandeka. I have been looking for her for a while. Can you please send me her number?’ I plead.

‘Is this Gundo? Rudzani’s brother?’

‘Yes, it is. I waited for your please-call-me since last night.’

‘I got the message late and didn’t want to bother you.’ If only she knew I didn’t sleep. I wanted to be bothered.

‘Can I have the number, please?’

‘Okay, I will write it down for you and you can call me in a minute,’ she says and I agree and hang up. I call her back soon after and she gives me Thandeka’s number.

Thank God!

I call but her phone seems to be off. I need to go to the airport, but I’m not budging until I get hold of Thandeka. I try the phone a few more times without success. The only option I have is to call the friend again. I probably look desperate but for some reason I don’t care. I am just worried about Thandeka now that she doesn’t have a job and her friend is not with her. In fact, after seeing where she stayed, I am worried sick about her. It didn’t look safe at all. I get Thandeka’s address from her friend. The evening I dropped her home, I was not paying attention. When I get to Johannesburg, I am going straight to her flat.

* * *

When the flight lands at OR Tambo at one o’clock, Thandeka’s phone is still off. I hurry to where my car is parked and drive straight to Joburg CBD. Thandeka’s building looks as shady as I remember it. I didn’t want to say anything when I dropped her here the other evening, but this place is a no-no. It is not even late afternoon yet, but you would think otherwise with the number of people just hanging around in the street. I lock my car and try the doors a few times before making my way to the flat. I am dressed in a tailored suit and feel like these guys sitting by the entrance are going to rip it off from my body. That is how fucked up this damn place is.

I get to Thandeka’s flat and knock a few times before a guy wearing a pair of boxers opens the door. He moves his eyes from my head to my toes, probably wondering who the hell I am, before raising them to my face.

‘I am looking for Thandeka.’ Without a word, he walks back inside, leaving the door open for me.

What? Do I follow? Is she here? No?

I take a few steps inside and make my way to a dark corridor.

‘That door over there,’ the guy says and points at a closed door. He turns to what is supposed to be a living room. Instead, it is divided by curtains to make more ‘rooms’ for tenants.

He stares while I knock on the door which he pointed out.

‘Knock. She is in there,’ he confirms.

‘Thandeka, it is Gundo. Please open the door,’ I call out while knocking a little harder than before. The door flies open and before me is the most beautiful woman in the whole world. I am not exaggerating. She is like a pretty angel in a shirt-dress that reaches to her knees. Her shiny, relaxed black hair is tied into a very small bun. She stares into my eyes like she has been longing to see me.

‘What are you doing here? How did you even find me?’

‘Can I come in?’ I ask. She hesitantly opens the door and makes way for me. She is the tidy type. Her room is clean and her laundry is folded on the table in the corner of the room. ‘I have been trying to call you.’

‘My phone died. Some electricity issues … I don’t know what is going on.’

‘I heard you resigned.’

She invites me to sit on the bed while she stands by the window. Her curtains seem to be the only neat ones in the building from what I have seen from the outside.

‘She fired me. I saw it coming after she saw us in the boardroom.’

‘She shouldn’t have done that,’ I say.

She shrugs.

‘I didn’t know. I was away on business …’

‘I heard.’

There is silence. I am thinking about the fact that she is staying here in a flat full of men just on the other side of her door. She is scared, that is why she is locking herself in here.

‘You are valuable to me … um … to my company, Thandeka. Phuti told me the client loved your idea. They did a photoshoot on Thursday,’ I announce proudly.

‘Really?’ Her face lights up. I love that. She looks so beautiful, and lovable, and kissable, and, and, and …

Her smile fades away after a few seconds. Reality hits home – I am the reason she got fired. We stare at each other until loud voices from outside the room startle us. An argument has erupted in the living room.

‘Sorry,’ she says shyly. ‘They get loud sometimes.’

‘Hey, I just scored some hotel vouchers from my last trip. I was supposed to come back on Monday, so they gave me a voucher. Don’t you want to use it?’

There are no vouchers. I just want a decent way to get her out of this damned flat while I make a plan for her to get out of here for good – without stepping on toes.

‘Sir …’

‘Stop calling me “sir”. Do you even know my name?’

‘Your name is Gundo,’ she says.

‘Call me by my name, please.’

She nods with a smile.

‘I would like you to use the hotel vouchers this weekend,’ I insist.

‘No … I cannot …’

‘It is either I camp here on your bed or you go with me,’ I say while standing up and taking off my shoes and jacket.

She laughs at me being dramatic. I am about to land back on the bed when she yells that she is packing.

‘Fine, fine … I will go with you,’ she says and covers her face.

‘Good.’