The deal

" Let's share ties with the Khumalos. I am sure they would want that". Themba said with a smile on his face. He knew his parents would never want him to marry a poor girl like Ayanda, his only hope was that they would agree as a form of compensation.

"What do you mean?".

" I mean that when I graduate from college, I get married to Ayanda". He explained further. " Afterall, he has served you many years. It's not fair to let him suffer like that rather let him pay you back the way he can". He was been serious and business-like.

"How's that a befitting payment when there are so many girls out there?".

"None that I am interested in".

Mr Dlane saw the truth in Themba's words. Themba had never dated any girl in the past, his parents were starting to think he was gay. It came as a relief to hear Themba's proposal. Mrs Dlane was not happy at the outcome of her plans but things were out of her hands. She however never stopped hating Ayanda.

***************

Themba and Ayanda started dating to the surprise of many. Themba loved and adored Ayanda and would do anything for her. They went everywhere together, Ayanda even changed schools so they could be closer. They were fondly called Themyanda by close friends and relatives. The only times they fought was when Themba got drunk. Themba was an addict while Ayanda was a teetotaller.

****************

A few years later, Sandhurst Johannesburg.

Every machine in the hospital room beeped. Ayanda laid on the bed, her eyes shut. She was brought in four days ago in an ambulance. She suffered severe burns, third-degree and chances of survival were extremely slim. The doctors were supportive but made no promises of survival. News of her death was received with so much grieve.

" I am so sorry but we lost her". The doctor said sympathetically to Mr Khumalo. An outcry filled the floor. Themba sat on the chair, his head hung down. Mr and Mrs Khumalo cried and comforted each other.

The Dlane's Villa was uncomfortably silent for months. The cheerful Ayanda who made everyone happy was dead and Themba, the heir was back to his old self.

"Come and eat your food sir". The maid said to Themba gently.

" I am not hungry". He refused.

"Should I bring it upstairs?". She was trying to persuade him to eat.

" Get out". Themba's voice was becoming scary but the maid wouldn't back off.

"Sir....".

" I SAID GET OUT". Themba shouted on top of his lungs and pushed the maid out of his room. The slammed the door.

Themba mourned Ayanda for years. He never dated any other girl. He just couldn't fall in love again.

News reached Dineo in Eastern Cape that her sister died. The sister she never knew but saw in teenage magazines, the sister that had all their parents' attention, the pretty one that got all she wanted. She didn't really feel much pain over Ayanda's death. Rather, she waited for the day her parents would come home to the Eastern Cape. That day never came.

**************

Present-day......

"Hey watch where you're going". Dineo was jolted from her thoughts by a male voice. She looked at her luggage scattered on the floor and realized what happened. They had bumped into each other.

" No, you watch where you're going". She retorted angrily. The journey from the Eastern Cape made her tired and in a bad mood.

"Excuse me?". The man asked towering above her.

" You heard me". She tiptoed to his level and said slowly.

The man pushed her away.

"You are smelly, don't get so close".

Angrily, Dineo took her jacket off and rubbed it on his expensive-looking tuxedo. The man grabbed her tightly by the arm and Dineo stepped forcefully on his toes. He backed off a bit.

" You are from the trash". He insulted her and walked away.

"You are the one from the trash, I am from....from...". She stammered in response. She knew her town Eastern Cape was nothing much to drag about. This man was probably from Johannesburg or Pretoria.

" I said it you are from the trash". The man said as he got into his expensive Range Rover.

Whew! She sighed and wondered how to get to her hotel. She took a card from her bag and approached a taxi man

*****************

In her hotel room, Dineo took her clothes off and stepped into the bathtub. She was surprised that hot water was running unlike at home where they had to boil hot water on the kettle. She spent hours in the comfort of the tub and let the warm water melt her worries away. After the long and thorough shower, she changed wore a simple top and shorts and stood in front of the mirror for minutes.

"Things are about to change". She thought to herself as she looked at the cheque her mom had sent her to buy new clothes before showing up at the Dlane Villa. One hundred thousand Rands, her mum never gave her such amount of money in the past. She concluded that her future husband gave them the money and picked up the phone to order lunch.

Thoughts of the mystery man came to her as she laid on the Queen sized bed. Her mind wandered to the man she met at the airport earlier. She couldn't help but wonder if her mystery man was like the man at the airport; proud, rich and handsome, famous maybe.

" Except that he is too old". She said to herself referring to the man at the airport. She thought of all the qualities she wanted in a man and hoped her mystery man was like that.

"Strong, nice, religious and hardworking". She could almost hear her Gogo's advice on religion.

" One with God is majority". Gogo would say to her.

She drifted to sleep slowly as she thought of her life in Eastern Cape and the life ahead here in Johannesburg.