Diary Of A Mafia King's Wife

Dear Diary: I'm exhausted...

I open my eyes and look at the clock on the wall, it's 2am. I'm still tired and very hungry. I walk to the kitchen and I find my food in the microwave. Okay I'm just assuming. After eating, I wash the plate and head to bed. Before I fall asleep I set the alarm for 4am in case I need to work again today.

Just when Mlondi walks in, my alarm goes off. Soon everyone follows him into my room. MaNgubane is telling Mlondi to let me sleep, I'm exhausted. He tells her no. And we all know what he says goes. Well that's what I think. So I wake up, make the bed and walk to the bathroom. When I walk out maNgubane and the boys are still in my room. Concern written on their sleepy faces. They give me food, I eat. When we get to the lounge, Senzo tells me to go back to bed. But I don't want to cause a fight between them and I feel the need to work since I don't pay rent, bills and buy food. I honestly don't have a problem with working for my money, but I honestly didn't think I'll have to work so freaking hard. Construction workers really need to earn more money. I join the guys in the car, they look concerned but I ignore them. When we get to the site I wait for them to give me instructions since I'm already wearing overalls. I can tell that they don't want me to do anything heavy or tiring. So I just start with bags of cement and then the bricks later. When I am done with that I continue removing the weeds.

When we get home at 4pm I take a quick shower and head to bed, I don't even bother with changing to my pj's. I am too exhausted to care.

"She's breathing but she won't wake up" I think hear someone saying. I don't know if I'm dreaming or what.

"She'll wake up eventually" that's Mlondi's voice. He doesn't sound concerned like the first voice. I try to open my eyes but I can't.

"Can you at least wear something other than the towel" I recognise maDlamini's voice. For the first time I can hear concern in her voice. I must really look like s**t. The woman hates me. I still can't open my eyes. MaNgubane tells everyone to let me sleep. I'm too exhausted to roll over. And someone rolls me over I think it's Mlondi because of the cologne. I must've said out loud.

I wake up 6 hours still exhausted and hungry. I put on my pj's then I head to the kitchen. Hopefully they cooked something I really love. It's impossible but I hope the food is still warm because even the thought of waiting for the food to warm up makes me want to cry. I never thought I'd work so hard in my life. I wonder if Mlondi will pay me. If he does how much is he going to pay me. Even a million per hour is not enough. My back hurts like hell. And funny how the guys look the same after work. It's clear they have been doing this for years. I wonder how long till I get used to this.

As much as I like working for my money, I hope they finish this without me. But I'll continue working if I have to.

When I walk by the dinning room I hear maDlamini talking and I decide to eavesdrop. What are they discussing at this time of the night. Maybe I'll find out what Mlondi really does for a living.

"Can you give her a day off. Tomorrow only?" I hear maDlamini asking someone. I get a feeling she's asking her son. And that 'her' that should get a day off tomorrow is me.

"No" replies Mlondi. His one word reply doesn't leave a room for an argument and his mom doesn't say anything more. I get the feeling she knows him too well. Maybe more than he knows himself. I wonder if I could say the same about my mom. Sometimes I wonder if she remembers my second name. Because wow.

"What are you doing?" Mlondi asks me when he opens the door. I must have zoned off because I don't remember hearing footsteps

approaching the door.

"I wanted to know if I'm working tomorrow?" I lie. I was hoping I'd get a clue of what he does. But nope.

"Yes, you are working. You better head to bed" he tells me walking towards the kitchen. I follow him and I find maNgubane sipping wine. She looks kind of drunk. I walk staright to the microwave and I find a plate. MaNgubane tells me to relax she'll warm up my food. And I do as she says. I wonder if she had offered to do the same for my sister just incase I decide to feel special. But I don’t ask her. I'm waiting for them to bring up Owami before I ask them about her. But for some reason they don't bring her up. I wonder if they didn't get along or they don't want to hurt my feelings. I hope it's the latter. It would be nice to know that someone cares enough to consider how I would feel if they talked about my sister. It's an uncomfortable topic since I married ber fiance without even trying to run away like she did. I wonder if she knows. I get a feeling my mom told her everything and what would happen if she decides to come back. I can't really expect Mlondi to choose her over me. We may be sisters but we are so different. Sometimes I worry about her and wonder if she worries about me.

After eating, I thank maNgubane and I walk to my room. Still exhausted like I haven't slept for weeks. I fall asleep vefore my head hits the pillow.