As 7pm struck the clock, Zanele Mandalay and her stepfather prepared to wrap up the 30 minute press adress which they were having at the AMANDA MANDALAY"S premises, to adress the media and put to rest the rumours of her invlvement in the wedding's downfall...
"Ms Mandalay, before you go, is true that the wedding was staged?"
"Did you and the Gumede's plan it..., and what will happen to the 112 victims?"
"You still haven't explained Dumisanii's involvement exactly?" The group of 18 journalists kept bombarding her with questions.
Zanele smiled and cleared her throat, "first of all I'm a legitimately married woman now, and as of the victims of Dumisanii's obsession with me will be properly compensated for," she strolled between the lines, carefully, biting her Poisonous tongue naughtily.
"Yet, don't you wonder how food poisoning could occur at the wedding - was there no one watching, was a background check not done on the caterers?" The middle aged journalist in the very middle of the other journalists asked, and sparked a short memory of Zanele's P.A speaking to Darwin Mandalay at the wedding venue - in a similar manner to how they'd chatted durind the eve of the wedding.
"I suppose my P.A made a very big mistake," she turned to her P.A and saw Darwin whisphering into her ear, "but I will definitely fix it -just as I have to prepare supper for my husband - so thank you all for your time," she played blind and deaf to the rest of the questions and moved away from the podium/mic. Until she heard...
"Be that may, but after speaking to Mandla Mandalay and several stakeholders in AMANDA MANDALAY"S, we've decided that," Darwin paused, closed eyes and faced up for a second, "Zanele Mandalay will have to step down as CEO until investigation into the wedding is concluded."
Darwin looked towards Zanele and left her loss for words, before continuing, "This is also due to the several deaths which would have ben avoided if she'd honoured her father's wish in making peace with Dumisanii Gumede - instead of sleeping and surprisingly marrying an intern."
"Mind your own business Darwin, your own life and your own company," Zanele was about to shout, but almost fainted instead when she saw her 54 year old mother walking in, in a long green dress which made her look as young as ever. Amanda Mandalay was finally back and all the attention faded from the weding and went directly to her and her return. Darwin certainly didn't look happy, and as Amanda began adressing the journalists - Zanele called out her P.A, it was about time they had a little talk, as her seemingly ageless mother smiled gorgeously...
"No no, I'm back so they'll just have to deal with it," Amanda responded to a curious gang of journalists before looking at Darwin again.
Zanele was left feeling relieved that someone who actually cared for her the most had returned, even as she assessed her P.A who was now making her way towards her, smiling friendily all of a sudden, especially to the sound of Amanda Mandalay's voice which was promising the media that she'd stirr the ship in the direction in which she had birthed it float. Words which Darwin Mandalay himself could not defile - especially without Mandla's affectionate stamp of approval.
The journalists kept the questions coming and Zanele didn't seem to back down, she had been hiding from all that attention for at least 10 years. And the glowing dimples of her smile showed the joy of excellency - espeacially upon seeing that she was still relevant..., still the name behind the arguably biggest fashion brand in Southern Africa.
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Meanwhile at the police station, Divvy Jaars sat in the interrogation room with Dumisanii Gumede, trying to get to the bottom of things, both drinking some cup of coffee as Lindiwe Gumede's son's cockiness irritated him very much.
"Ok Look Detective, I admit to hijacking the wedding, but as of the food poisoning I know nothing about that." Dumisanii's tone was not the kindest. "The guns were just to get Zanele to agree into marrying me, but when the guests began falling and fainting I knew something sinister was up."
"Dumisanii Gumede! You know very well what I'm talking about," Divvy Jaars got up from his seat and walked around, "You're the mastermind of the bad events which occured there as far as I'm concerned."
"I agree to disagree detectve, but I certainly weren't the only one who had an agenda against Zanele Mandalay," Dumisanii gestured some ideas into Divvy Jaars' head. "From her autocratic style of leadership to her selfishness and condescendence, something had give."
"Which give's me more reason to suspect that you were working with someone else, perhaps another force," Divvy squinted his eyes and took a closer look at Dumisanii.
"Even if that were the case, shoudn't you be more worried about the masked dude who I watched shooting your partner?"
"The poisoning is more important, almost 125 people hospitalized, 32 dead - and these are members of the elite class in this city," Divvy hit his pen against the temple of his head and regretted not being able to save them. "I'm talking business people, other designers and assoiates - some from all over Africa."
"But now without her, how will be able to solve this case? You know her absence is your weakness - something which I can say we now have in common," Dumisanii giggled to the remembrance of her lips against his.
"You know nothing about Dee Monique you spoilt brat... Besides, the evidence is solid and I'm sure Zanele Mandalay will do everything in her power to see you rot in prison." Divvy Jaars laughed and smacked the table hard - already seeing the pipelines of victory opening up to him - as the rage swelled the veins of his eyes.
"Zanele and I may have issues but she wouldn't stoop that low - I bet she still has feelings for me," He looked sideways and slouched as those words inhabited his ears. "Maybe that wedding was just to make me jealous - I'm sure of that."
"Don't fool yourself Dumisanii - several members of the elite society died - and obviously their families and associates will want your head." Excitement swirled around Divvy's soul.
"You really don't know what's going on do you - in every game of chess - sacrifices are essential," using his index and middle finger- he walked his hand on that cold surface of that cold table and felt the cold room give him excitement chills. "Besides, you wouldn't understand - you have no real desires, you have no prosecution power or beneficial connections." Dumisanii breathed out, looked to the window and changed his voice into a whispher.
"If all of us are selfish and corrupt then what would become of this world, you spoiled brats always spoil my mood even in my own office - but this time I swear I'll deal with y'all," Divvy Jaars stood up to go and get himself a snack, clucking his tongues and banging the door in the process. "Keep an eye on him, don't let anyone near," he said to the guarding officer just outside the interrogation room.
Yet as soon as he had walked 20 seconds away from them, he realized he had he had forgotten something - his packet of cigarrettes was not in his pocket - hence he looked back and saw the gurding officer not by the door before running back. He almost bumped into another investigating officer - but kept his head straight dashing back. Only to get there and see through the wide window of the room as the guarding officer was busy whispering some things in Dumisanii's ear, before shouting as he pushed the door open and punched that cop in his face to which that guard retaliated by trying to punch back - though Divvy Jaars jab was too fast for him.
"Relax detective -he's just a messenger - and I just got a message from the inside, regarding the little gift you were supposed to recieve."
Dumisanii's ignorant words painted an abstract picture in Divvy Jaars' mind - who then grabbed him by the collar - until another officer rushed in - claiming to have heard sounds. Before that officer ambushed Divvy from behind just as the other guard got up and helped to put Divvy Jaars in a corner. Shortly before the two took out Knives and threatened to stab him.
"You two corrupt fools will certainly face jail time for this," argued Divvy with his hands in the air in anticipation of their next move.
"Face it Detective, without Dee Monique you've fallen from grace, " Dumisanii stood and placed the handcuff which had previously bound his wrists together on the table, before sitting on that very same table and looking to that corner. "But I will of course give you a chance at redemption - clear my case, drop the wedding crimes investigation and rather focus on Vulisanii Mukwevho..."
"...I'll personally hand him to you on a silver platter." He walked towards the door - before dawdling towards the corner, placing his hands on the shoulders of his puppet cops, and smiling. "Your life depends on it, plus you might just run into Dee Monique - who knows?"
"Dumisanii son, don't do this, doing such will only make your prison sentence longer," He said, as the puppet officers walked out behind Dumisanii whilst leaving the disappointed Divvy Jaars slowly reaching into his pocket and finally seeing Yonella's awaited call - one which put a smile on his face in expectation of the arrival of the files she'd promised him. "Now its time I put these corrupt hooligans in their rightful place."
Although some flashbacks from his heated chat with Dumisanii Gumede kept haunting his mind
"I'll live like a king in prison anyways - so best clear my name from the suspect list - and arrest Vulisanii with my help - to get that glory you haven't tasted in a long time." Vulisanii had laughed and accompanied his words with a bitter laugh directed against Divvy`s facial expression, who had almost laughed too during the first 30 minutes of the interrogation.
"Also, My father was the mayor of this city, he can easily influence the judiciary - he still holds such power - and as of having ears everywhere, someone tipped him of your little meeting."
Meanwhile the darker side of reality seemed to submerge as Dumisanii walked out as soon as they got to the reception while he also felt haunted by some bitter words which he had said - especially now that Dumisanii was also dressed in a disguise of police uniform alongside his two corrupt mates.
But that policeman gear did not make him any more comfortable with fresh words which Divvy Jaars had left scratching in his eardrums: "You Gumede's piss me off;" Dumisanii could not get them of his chest. He was even thinking of returning to the interogation room to deal with Divvy Jaars for Divvy was scarier than he himself liked to think. Yet his eyes calmed to the affordable sight of several cops who were talking and laughing before him - around him - building their corrupted confidence once more
Meanwhile back at the interrogation room as the the demon of rage inside Divvy smiled ardently, the walls could tell that Divvy Jaars had finally figured it out - the reason for his failure in the past recent years was not because of his complacency nor his fading youth - but rather the snakes and leaches around him. Constantly sucking his information and feeding it to the bad guys instead of the exact opposite. Instead of the cops around him working in solidarity to capture the big fish in the criminal world, it now seemed as though those same big fish had it stuck in the midst of their big pond - using it for their own rotten benefits.
"Detective!" Divvy Jaars looked to the sneaking in whilst lifting her face upon recognizing him, her braids slightly untidy, her yellow hoody, and her white crotcheted bag dirtier than usual.
"Yonella, not here, the station commander might return at any moment from now," he said moments later as be walked her down the small stairs and right through the gate. Where they turned left and walked down the pavement along which 4 police cars were parked.
"Such at the twin buildings, one for police station and that other for the Magistrate court," she looked looked at both building with spiteful eyes, "6 storeys and yet the justice system contiues to fail us detective!"
"Dumisanii Gumede seems to have known that you were coming, who did you speak to?" Detective kept walking and found himself feeling paranoid - constantly looking back to see if he were being followed.
"Was at Posmoor Prison - went to see Darren.."
"Why would you go there - hasn't he abused you enough already?
"I know detective - I had gone to break up with him - which I almost did; until I got caught up with..." she looked away and turned to a nearby car to see her reflection on its window, "Katlego Gumede, the former mayor."
"Mmmm! No wonder why he knew, plus this police department is corrupt, we have to act quick?" Divvy slowed down and looked at her, "Dumisanii offered me a deal - and at the rate things are going I might just take it." He looked to the sky in search of Divine advice.
"His father offered me a deal too, Darren just watching carelessly and voicelessly as that filthy former mayor demanded the little red heart, unless I wanted to satisfy him." Yonella suddenly had an e-cigaratte in her mouth before she pulled hard and kicked the smoke out of her lungs through her nostrils -warming up her nosering in the process. "Obviously I told him I didn't have it - he would have taken it either way."
Divvy Jaars looked at her and saw the smitten look in her eyes, reminding him of when she'd first run into him at the police station - when she'd gone there to report a case on her boyfriend Darren for physical abuse. How she had internal goosebumps caused by the coldness of the world - before she'd told him that she'd studied to be a hacker so she could harm or disrupt the technogical essence and social influence of those who'd wronged and bullied her during high school. Yet now she'd been wronged once again by the former mayor of the city - the same men who'd built a cloud of corruption and let it reign from to bottom to push the limits of his Agenda's - until it was his very wife Lindiwe Gumede, with the small assistance from Gummy Bear, who reported him for trying to use House of Gumede fashion house for money laundering activities shortly before he was arrested via Hollywood Style. Only for him to continue living large in that very prison.
Although, now Yonella seemingly had the will and sheer power to use the dirty files agaisnt him and other corrupt powerful officials to the benefit of society realization agaisnt the same figures they loved and envied. "And how did he take it - when you told him didn't have it?"
"Like a cowboy meeting a headgirl for the first-time," she looked to Divvy Jaars and smiled, "what? I was 6 when I was first given that choice, no biggie then, no biggie now, get it? But I will make him pay too for that." Yonella then looked forward and giggled - tempted to dab beneath her eyes again.
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Meanwhile at the prison, as Darren and Katlego Gumede sat on the main table, two bigbodyguards standing beside them. The dark corridors lit up with light voices and whisphers of prisoners which had just had supper. some prisnoners sweeping the cafeteria whilst some guards played cards at the table of the corner - until Katlego Gumede called them over - almost knocking the bottle of Gin standing next to the the plate of fish and viniger which both gave that table an aromatic smell.
"You see these two...," KG looked straight into Darren's regretful eyes as the two guards came closer, "they will come to your cell at 11pm on the dot, pick you up and take you to your van that will lead you to your freedom." He looked at the guards and they joined him in a pride of laughter. "Darren my boy, snap out of it, you gave me a go ahead and she seemed to enjoy a meat of mine."
"I'm not worried about that, I'm just really grateful you're doing this for me KG," His half truth made sense and he looked at the paper on the desk once again. One with the adress to where he were to meet Dumisanii."
"Memorize that adress and don't trust the driver whose coming to pick you," he tapped the tips of his fingers against that page. "Don't you go anywhere near my daughter; I've made sure that your case will dissapears and that the warden will ensures that no ones questions your absence.
"And before I know it Vulisanii Mukwevho will pay, I'm hoping to pay his little girlfriend a little visit," Darren laughed with the former mayor, grabbed a piece of vinigar-soaked meat before eating it "I'm definitely going to miss this Posmoor Prison times boss."
"Worry not Darren, you're always welcome to visit," KG looked to a guard who then gave him a small parcel wrapped in blew. "Give this to Dumisanii - he will know what exactly do with it." He stood up, his bald head shining beneath the light, and fed a piece of fish to a nearby lady who was sweeping the floor - before running his hands down her back, and giving her some hand signals before walking with his two bodguards away from the table. Leaving Anathii with the thick blue enevelope - wondering if it was money, letters or instructions he had recieved.
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Meanwhile Anathii stood at the hospital, even as 9:15pm struck the clock, and saw his mother laying peacefully and quietly on her hospital bed. He was not used to seeing her that vulnerable. But the nurse who was by her side checking her hydrogen, oxygen and blood levels assured him that she would certainly get out of that tight situation. Despite her long blonde hair which he hadn't really seen a doctor with.
"Uhm! Say what?" He asked her, after failing to catch her words whilst busy assessing her hair."
"As I said, I'm sorry once again for whoever who did this, they deserve to rot in prison... Unfortunately she's lost, a lot of blood," The way she pulled her lips apart in an attempt to show compassion made him feel uncomfortable, even in her bright white coat. "Luckily she can be saved, I'll simply put her on the list, we have numerous dedicated blood donors with high aspirations to save lives."
"No need for that Doc, I am my mother's son - she would have donated her blood for me I were in a similar position," Anathii said proudly and looked at her, hoping for his words to move her, but it was as though she'd been put in a trans.
"Wise words there Anathii, but my colleague was one of those who attended the wedding," she took a deep breath, cupped her mouth and squinted repeatedly to avoid tears. "But one day I'll find it in my heart to forgive."
"Please Forgive Zanele and I for failing to stop those masked men who ambushed the whole wedding," he placed his hand on her white coat, with wide open eyes - whilst clenching his teeth sadly enough for her to smell his remorse.
"No I don't hold any grudges, she smiled at him and wiped the tears on her cheeks shortly before turning to his mother, "that's why I chose to be a doc, so I can save lives not harm her - I mean them."
"Whenever you need a hug I'm here, you don't have to go through this all alone," he looked at his mother too and questioned her safety around that doctor.
"Stole the words right out of my mouth," she looked around the warm room and murmured silence, her tongue playing hide and seek with phrases, "But the same poison that killed my brother came from the chocolate cake, and I suspect that same cake to have been eaten by, your sister."
"I suspected so too, but you gave her the anecdote right? He stood closer to her and clouded her with the concern of his expression. One which was also biting him from the inside, as he felt as though he had failed to fulfil one of greatest promise which he had made to himself and his mother: To protect Aneni-Anesu at all times. Yet now she had gotten cake-poisoned at his very wedding.
"Unfortunately we did, but by that time it was already too late, one of her lungs had already gotten infected - but we are still doing more tests." She walked to him and tilted her head,
her light blue unform and white coat proving a background for her short gestures. "Meaning that I've already put her on the list for lung transplants."
"Anathii dear, come quick," His aunt quickly whispered as soon as she'd walked into the room, "Your sister is awake, you have to see her," she pulled her nephew's hand without the doctor's consignment. He went along, still worrying about his mother's safety.
The Claremont Kingsbury Hospital's fourth tier was equipped with the best rooms, doctors, beds and rest-worthy privacy and silence - but there weren't too many doctors roaming around and randomly checking the suites. As she pulled him down the shiny floors and smooth walls of that fourth floor - he couldn't bother wandering back to his mother's suit - to see if his mother were still safe around that blonde doctor.
"Aunt Emma please go check on Mom, I need you to keep an eye on her," He told her the exact words his intuition had whisphered to him.
"Anathii dear, I have to be there, I want to hear her first words psshh!"
"Trust me on this one auntie," he pulled her hand back without worrying about a slap, "plus I need to say something to her in private, please. " Relief yeielded his calm smile as she folded her arms and turned around to go back. He was always glad when she and him reached an agreement - Aunt Emma wasn't the easiet of people to please, better yet convince.
Proud of his little accomplishment, the 3rd ever argumantative battle he'd won aunt Emma, he marched on. He was also wondering if he had failed to convince to come to his wedding since he had not seen her there. Until the blonde doctor's words began crippling his pillars of calm.
Enough to make him place his finger on his wrist to check his pulse, shortly before placing his hand on his left ribcage - which he knew would be forced to retire as soon as he'd give his lung to his sister.
Such thougts made his heart pump faster, as though his blood wanted to explore every inner inch of his veins and body once more, as he closed in on the door - hesitant to lay his eyes on his sister, before he finally lifted his fingers and pressed them against the door. Pushing it just enough to open it, opening him up towards Caith's bed - which was just next to Aneni-Anesu.
Watching her lay in that bed reminded him that he had neglected her, and also the child she was carrying - his child - despite what his mother would say upon finding out. Maybe this little ring of hardship was mother nature providing him with the opportunity to focus on Caith, his child and Zanele - instead of his mother and sister as always - despite how selfish.
"Caith dear, I love you so much, I really miss the cuddling, and the touching - we would make a perfect family after all," His thoughts weren't as loud, just in case Aunt Emma walked in on him. Her stealth was as perfect as her eavesdropping prowess after all - as though she could hear one's thoughts.
Suddenly he took his hands of Caith's warm, soft skin, watching her sleep, her bandaged neck
reminding him of the gunshot sound which had landed her at that hospital. He was busy wondering if she was busy feeling his aura, if not dreaming about him, when he moved closer.
Running his fingers on the beige-caramel contours of her light complexion when he braved and gently placed a sedated kiss onto her lips. Trying his luck in an attempt to provide his own remedy to his sleeping beauty, without worrying about her aunt's return into the room...
Until he felt a small wind pass against his neck and the back skin of his arms, before quickly turning back, 5 oclock to the right, when he saw the door slightly swinging just before it stopped moving. Weirdly, he quietly turned around in search of his aunt, only to see a male doctor by Aneni-Anesu's bed, 5 metres away. Easing his mind for a bit - since there would be no crime in baby kissing Caith - in his eyes... Until Anathii himself saw how creepy that doctor was eyeing Aneni-Anesu.
"Is everything okay? Doc?" Anathii asked suspiciosly, stepping towards the doc, assessing him from behind, yet no answer came through and that doctor just seemed to continue his creepiness. "I said is everything okay doc?" Clinching his fist he got ready to punch the pervert.
"Of course not - how can it be when she is like this?" The doctor said and kept his eyes fixated on her even as he went around her bed to stand on the opposite side. "I woud very much love to see her getting better, I care about her."
"Well, she's the only sister I have so I would love her to get better - even if it means giving her my lung," His words left him clinging onto them - guess his answer was finally made up.
"No Anathii, you don't have to do that when I'm still around...," The doctor looked at him, and he could already sniff the coming of a donor list suggestion, but the doc's answer was unexpected, "I will gladly sieze the opportunity to save Aneni-Anesu's life - wouldn't be able to live with myself If I didn't."
"Cut out the bullshit doc, cut it out, who are you really?" Anathii yelled at him as thoughts of the long lost man who'd dissapeared from his life evoked the anger within him, especially when he now had A-A's hand in the sandwhich of his two hands.
Just before Anathii felt a presence by the door before looking towards it and seeing Aunt Emma's voice looking as though she'd seen a ghost. As she mumbled questionaires of the possibility of his existence. The doc himself holding back a ghostly smile before shooting her a deadly look.
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Meanwhile
Zanele Mandalay woke up, only to discover that Anathii hadn't arrived yet. He was nowhere in the bedroom. "Anathii! Babes!" She felt irritated and almost picked up her phone to dial her P.A's number so she could go and get him. She really wanted someone to talk to especially after what her day had unleashed unti her face - from betrayal to guilt conscience and reunion
Walking out of bedroom her curiousity flew to the ceiling as she heard her mother's voice in the midst of debate - coming from downstairs. Until she heard Dumisanii's too - irritating her enough to want to run downstairs and give Dumisanii a piece of his mind. Yet she then also heard that of her P.A, seconds before all of them broke into vase of laughter. She was about to rush downstairs to investigate but it was then when she saw her P.A walking out the lounge and coming back with youthful, slightly chubby lady whom Zanele could testify to have seen before - and during the wedding - at least twice - especially in the kitchen just before the wedding had kicked of.
"Oh gosh, its her, the chick who was busy bussling around the caterers, the same chick who had helped to take the cake to the wedding hall whilst the guests were still entering; the same guests whom Zanele's intuition suddenly warned her of that very same chick, until she heard her P.A singing; "And it woudn't have happened without her, Neliswa did us more than proud ma'am.
"I always knew the wedding would be a success," the catering chick said loudly, in her tipsy voice, some minutes later. "I'm just glad I played a part in it.
"What's more important is that most of the owners of the fashion start-ups, were eliminated, I personally ordered the doctors to give them the wrong anecdote," Zanele's P.A's voice was followed by the banging of a glass on the table, and laughter too. "You did me very proud Neliswa.
"In every game of chess sacrifices should be made, without sacrifices there can be no winner," Dumisanii said, blabbering about his sacrificail theories and reflections of the odyssey of life upon a chess board. "Just as I would like to marry you Neliswa, I'm affraid with the knowledge you have I'll be forced to make a killing."
"You know very well you should have married Zanele, Dumisanii, even though your mother and I may not get along - your father and I got on really well especially when he was mayor - and I woud have loved for such relations to be passed down to the two of you." Amanda Mandalay's words left Zanele feeling slightly played and betrayed, by both her mother and P.A - she still couldn't digest the fact that her wedding had been used as a sacrificial ritual - one ochestrated by her very own mother.
"When do you think we should let her in on this?" Zanele's P.A asked again.
"Don't worry child, I gave her some sleeping pills so she could rest from that little press conferrence - so maybe 5 years from now." Amanda Mandalay's words left Zanele reminiscing of the glass of juice she'd recieved from her mother. A glass she then gave her buttler - who was now nowhere to be found!
"And I thought Anathii was his mother's puppet - at least he isn't drugged - nor is his whole life her little playground," Zanele left the staircase and snuck back to her room - disgusted by what she had had.