17/06/2023
THE FINAL CHAPTER
CHARITY
After Thabisile delivered the news at the salon that my man, was getting married and that it was all over Twitter, every bitch in that salon went on Twitter to get the news for themselves and it was fuelled by the hashtag they created, . I have to say, they were amazing though. They were absolute queens because everyone hurdled up to make my epic appearance a memorable one in under three hours. Petty finished my hair in no time, and the make-up artist did my face beat in 30 minutes. While one lady organized the wedding gown she wore at her wedding and was a perfect fit for my condition. The invitation was downloaded from Twitter, tweaked, and printed and a quick RSVP was made representing the company I work for because we saw on Twitter that it was only family, close friends, and business associates were invited. Since I could not fake being a close friend or family, a business associate would definitely work. Everyone at that salon forgot about themselves and came together to help me get my man. As women, we can really conquer the world if we come together like this and unified our resources for a common goal. Amazing…Womandla!
Thabisile drives me there and we wait for the perfect opportunity to enter the venue. When we eventually enter, the bridal party is standing around with the guests, except, my man. I pray he does not show up so that my Plan B does not have to come in full swing on this day. To my dismay, he appears, walking in long strides to the end of the altar all happy and beaming, with a smear of lipstick glowing on his lower lip. The long strides I have seen countless times before when he was in a hurry or anxious about something. It appears he had gone to the bridal room to speak to his fiancée. Does he not know that it is bad luck to see the wife-to-be before the ceremony? I am convinced that this is a sign that I am doing the right thing to stop this wedding. They are not meant to be. He can thank me later.
The moment he stands at the end of the altar, I hear the beautiful sound of the melodic S**i Jo An singing her rendition of Major’s ‘Why I Love You’ and the bride appears. It’s her… the woman he was with the first time I met him. The woman he adorned with overwhelming attention and affection as nobody else existed in that room that fateful evening. The woman he held in a way that he never held me in the three years I’ve known him. The woman he drinks whiskey with. The woman makes him laugh uncontrollably until tears trickle out of his eyes. The woman who makes him smile in a way he has never smiled for me. This is the woman he refused to talk about when I asked. I think that is part of the reason he broke up with me because I was relentless in finding out who she was and what she meant to him. I could tell that she meant a lot to him and he gave me a measly response, “She’s my colleague,” and that was supposed to be the end of the discussion? I admit, I nagged until he threatened to break up with me if I persisted. I suppose that is the reason I was barred from ever going to his office, he could not risk her seeing him with another woman. But what about me? He made promises to me. He said he would marry me. What the hell am I witnessing today?
Everyone gets up and forms a guard of honor as the bride walks towards the altar in her very beautiful MaXhosa bridal gown. Her father hands her over to Tshepo and I can see the unshed tears in the well of his eyes as he approaches to take her hand. A tear drops out and falls on the back of her hand the moment he takes hers and she closes her eyes as if holding back her tears. She reaches for his left cheek and gently rubs the tears from his face and that rare, beautiful, and radiant smile that only she could bring out of him lights up the entire chapel. Everyone sits down and the pastor makes his address and gives a whole elaborate boring sermon of what love is and what marriage stands for and what the bible says about it blah blah blah.
I’m sitting with Thabisile right at the back, in the last row and I’m patiently waiting for my cue. Eventually, it comes when the Pastor states, “Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace”. I’m filled with so much fear and my confidence went straight out the door the moment I saw the bride because I knew deep down, that Tshepo shared something truly special with this woman. Thabisile tells me a bit about the bride and I’m baffled she knows so much. The Pastor asked the third time and Thabisile nudges me on my side with her elbow hurting my tummy in the process so I immediately jump up. I stand and walk down the aisle in my white wedding gown drawing closer and closer to the couple while at the same time drawing more and more attention to myself with how beautiful I look but suddenly I notice three ladies walk towards me in large strides with fierce facial expressions and I almost p*e myself out of fear because, in my state, my bladder does not hold that well. I am saved by the Pastor who yells, “Let her come forth and speak in the house of the Lord.” Now the entire place is filled with hushed mmhh and I don’t know whether it is excitement or shock or curiosity or gossip.
“Child, do you know of a reason these two should not marry?” The Pastor asks me and I readily open my mouth because it is either I speak now or forever hold my peace, so I respond, “Yes, Pastor. Tshepo Moeketsi is my lover and the father of my unborn child whom I’m carrying.” I say this brushing my massive tummy and I continue to speak, “Tshepo promised to marry me so I am surprised that he is marrying someone else today, despite everything we’ve been through together for the past four years.”
I close my mouth and speak no further because the church is in an uproar and I can’t even hear myself think so instead I look at the couple for their reaction. The Pastor asks, “Tshepo, is what this woman saying here true?” Tshepo does not pay attention to the Pastor but is holding his bride who looks like she is about to vomit blood and says something to her. I can’t make out what they are saying but they are talking to each other in a whisper. I notice a long pause in Tshepo as he tries to reason with her but she frees herself from his grip and walks away, leaving Tshepo standing there by the altar. She walks towards me and whispers, “You can have him, you've won because clearly, this is a game to you. You guys can go ahead and get married. You have my blessings," and walks away, leaving me with Tshepo by the altar.
Mission accomplished, the wedding comes to an end and Tshepo is mine.
The End
To find out who Tshepo is marrying, get yourself a copy of The Switch for R250 by sending a WhatsApp 0609974620 or buy it from these platforms:
The Switch on Lebama Publishing
The Switch by Nonkosi Dyantyi on Amazon
The Switch by Nonkosi Dyantyi on Barnes & Knoble
The Switch by Nonkosi Dyantyi on Good Reads
To find out what happens with Charity’s Plan B get ready for
Unapologetic Love, coming later in the year 2023.