cows
1357 Words
Khoza Estate – Morning, East Wing
The estate was unusually quiet. No footsteps. No chatter. Just that tight, loaded silence that comes before someone gets disowned.
Adam sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. His heart was steady, but his stomach felt like it was folding in on itself. He had made his choice. Now he had to stand in it.
He called his father.
---
Downstairs – Mandla’s Study
Mandla's phone rang on the glass desk, echoing in the dim, wood-scented study. He picked it up after three rings, already annoyed.
“Yes?” His tone was clipped.
“Good morning, Babe,” Adam said, trying to sound respectful.
Mandla snorted. “You still have the nerve to greet me after embarrassing this entire house?”
Adam took a breath. “I didn’t mean to cause problems. But I’m not changing my mind.”
Mandla stood by the tall window, looking out into the courtyard that separated the Khoza and Radebe wings. Everyone under one estate, one empire — and now it was shaking.
“You’re marrying the wrong Radebe girl. This wasn’t the agreement.”
“She’s still a Radebe. The alliance still stands,” Adam replied. “And Nomadlozi knows exactly what this marriage means.”
Behind Mandla, Uncle Judas strolled into the study, barefoot, shirt unbuttoned halfway, sipping what looked like tea — but smelled like brandy.
“Ahhhh, it’s the rebel groom himself,” Judas bellowed. “Morning, bhuti!”
Adam chuckled softly. “Good morning, Babe Lomncane.”
Mandla shot his brother a sharp look. “Don’t encourage him.”
Judas smirked and flopped into a leather chair. “Encourage what? Love? Legacy? The boy picked the better sister, man. Let it go.”
“This isn’t about love,” Mandla growled. “This is about structure. About families. Reputation.”
Judas rolled his eyes. “You sound like a news headline. The Radebes are getting their cow letter either way. What’s the problem?”
Mandla turned sharply. “Nomafu was already positioned. Now I must explain to Josh why the chosen bride is the one who wasn’t even in the conversation?”
Adam interrupted. “I’ll explain it myself. I owe Josh that.”
Mandla’s silence said more than any shouting could.
Judas put down his cup. “Look, Mandla. We need to draft the malobolo letter. Whether you’re happy or not. The girl said yes. The son is ready. The ancestors? They’ve already moved.”
Mandla rubbed his jaw. “She better be ready. Because this house doesn’t protect softness. This house builds kings.”
Adam didn’t flinch. “She’s ready. And so am I.”
Judas grinned. “Then let’s get to work. We’ll deliver the letter ourselves. One bottle of whiskey, one handwritten proposal, and a bag full of family tension. Perfect recipe for marriage.”
Mandla finally sat back in his chair, exhausted by the inevitability of it all.
“Fine. We send the letter.”
Judas raised his cup like a toast. “To the unexpected queen.”
Radebe Mansion – Late Afternoon
The sun was slipping lazily behind the trees, but inside the Radebe mansion, everything was on edge.
Josh stood in the living room, crisp shirt unbuttoned at the collar, a sealed envelope in hand — freshly delivered. Cream cardstock, heavy in weight, and stamped with the Khoza family crest — sleek, black, no nonsense.
He’d read the letter twice. Still couldn’t believe it.
He cleared his throat. Loud enough to command attention.
“They’ve sent the malobolo letter.”
Lily looked up from her tablet. Nomafu paused mid-scroll.
“They want Nomadlozi.”
Silence.
Utter, thick silence.
Lily blinked once. “I’m sorry… what did you say?”
Josh held the letter up. “The Khozas. Adam. They’re requesting Nomadlozi. By name.”
Nomafu sat upright. “That doesn’t even make sense. He and I—”
“You and him nothing,” Josh said firmly. “Adam’s been asking for Nomadlozi. And now he’s made it formal.”
Lily stood now, arms folded, fury brewing behind her eyes.
“You accepted? Without consulting me?”
Josh’s eyes didn’t flinch. “I’m her father. I don’t need permission to stand by my child.”
Nomafu stared, lips twitching in disbelief.
“You accepted her? After everything? After that video?”
Josh tilted his head. “What video?”
Nomafu stood, walking slowly across the floor like a villain warming up.
“The video of her! In that hotel, drenched. Slipping like a fool. Everyone’s seen it. It’s trending everywhere. Twitter. t****k. Even f*******:, Josh.”
Josh’s expression didn’t change. “I haven’t seen it.”
From the hallway, a tired voice echoed:
“I haven’t either.”
Nomadlozi stepped into the room, barefoot, holding a chipped mug. Her oversized hoodie swallowed her frame, but her eyes were alive — bruised but burning.
“I’m not on social media. Haven’t been in a while. And I don’t plan to start now.”
Lily’s mouth opened slightly, confused.
“You haven’t seen it?” Nomafu asked, jaw twitching.
“No,” Nomadlozi said flatly. “But judging by the silence when I walked in, I probably looked pathetic. Am I right?”
No one answered.
She shrugged. “Oh well. Still got the man, though.”
Josh stifled a laugh with a fake cough. Lily shot him daggers.
“You don’t deserve that man,” Lily snapped. “You betrayed your sister.”
Nomadlozi sipped her tea, eyes locked on her mother. “I’m tired of trying to earn things in this house.”
Josh stepped forward. “She didn’t steal anything. Adam chose her. That’s the end of it.”
Nomafu shook her head. “She’s still fat. And unstable. This is all going to crash.”
Josh turned to his daughter and touched her shoulder gently.
“You listen to me, Noma. You’ve carried shame that was never yours. But now? Now, you walk with your head up. You didn’t beg for this. It came for you.”
Nomadlozi’s eyes flooded, but she blinked them back.
Nomafu mumbled, “What a joke.”
Josh raised an eyebrow. “Fat girls marry too, Nana. Especially the good ones.”
Lily stormed into the kitchen, slamming a drawer.
Josh exhaled, turned to Nomadlozi, and smiled gently.
“Go lie down, Nana. You’ve been through a lot. Let me handle this side of the house.”
She nodded and quietly walked off.
Only once she was gone did Josh turn toward the chaos he married.
“She’s not weak, Lily. And she’s not going anywhere.”
The argument between Josh and Lily echoed through the house, thick with anger and pain.
Nomadlozi stood frozen for a moment, then her voice cut through the tension like a knife.
“Am I not your daughter?” she demanded, eyes blazing with hurt.
Lily’s gaze snapped to her, sharp and cold.
“Why do you hate me so much?” Nomadlozi pressed on, voice trembling but fierce.
“If it wasn’t starving me with diets growing up, it was you downplaying everything I achieved. I became a designer, I worked at LR Designs, just to please you. But you never saw me, did you?”*
Lily’s face twisted with fury.
“Get out.”
Her voice exploded.
“Get out now!”
Without another word, Nomadlozi bolted up the stairs, heart pounding.
She slammed her bedroom door behind her and threw open the wardrobe, grabbing her bags, stuffing clothes in with trembling hands.
Downstairs, Josh stepped closer to Lily, trying to soften the storm.
“Lily, calm down. She’s our daughter. We need to find a way through this.”
But Lily’s eyes burned with a fire Josh hadn’t seen before.
“No, Josh. I’ve had enough. She’s tearing this family apart. I want her gone.”
Josh’s face tightened. He knew this wasn’t just anger—it was a breaking point.
Upstairs, Nomadlozi zipped up her bag, wiped away fresh tears, and whispered to herself,
“Maybe it’s time I leave.”
- Writer
