Precious Rosé

CHAPTER ONE

Sometimes in life we envy other people lifestyles, wonder why God chose our very own family out of all the families in the world, country, neighborhood to be from a poor background. We question Him of being unfair but he knows why he did that. Our blessings are delayed because ours are a special order and takes time to prepare.

AT THE MAHLANGU HOUSEHOLD

It's a very beautiful early Monday morning, MaNkonjeni is already up and cleaning her yard. She does this everyday despite having two full grownups daughters. Bab' uMahlangu is busy trying to fix his scooter. The motorcycle is what brings the food on the table at the Mahlangu household, it would be of great disappointment and sadness if he is not able to fix it. What will they eat if they all stay at home looking at each other.

"I sent these girls to school with the hope and faith that one day they were gonna come to my rescue. I now regret ever sending them to school." Bab' uMahlangu curses still busy with the spanners.

"Good morning, dad. It's not good for your healthy to be cursing and regretting your decisions this early in the morning. Besides, all hope is not lost, don't lose your faith dad." Nomtha kisses his father's forehead.

"What do you know about health issues? You should be busy looking for a job not trying to lecture me, I'm your father young lady." He continues with his work.

"I will find a job, I promise." With that said, she disappears into the kitchen to help with the cooking and cleaning. Nomtha is very hardworking person, always trying her best to make her parents' burden easy. She knows it's going to take a lot more than just helping with the chores and giving them words of encouragement. What her family needs is money then all their troubles will be history. She's been up and down trying to find a job with no luck but she's hopeful. She's not the kind that gives up every time things don't go her way.

"Good morning, Maa." She greets her mom as soon as she enters the kitchen.

"Morning sunshine. What are you preparing?" MaNkonjeni takes a seat in one of the kitchen chairs.

"Sour porridge. Almost done. Want some coffee?" She asks already pouring the coffee in her mother's favorite mug. She knows what her mom wants and needs all the time.

"Call your father in so he can have his porridge while its still hot." MaNkonjeni sips her steaming hot sugarless black coffee.

"Let me set the table first then I will call him." Nomtha is running around setting the table.

"I don't know why you even bother calling him inside, he doesn't deserve to eat anything. What kind of a husband, father makes only $2 the entire day?" Snegugu pulls the chair, takes her mother's already served coffee and helps herself.

"Sne, what is wrong with you? Please, show some respect. Dad is trying his best to feed all of us but you never appreciate his efforts." Nomtha defends her father like always.

"Mtcheeew! Tries his best my foot!" She spits the coffee. "What the f-----"

"That coffee wasn't meant for you but since you are too lazy to even pour yourself coffee that's in front you, serves you right." Nomtha takes the cup away from her, pours the remaining coffee into the sink, washes it and pours her mother another cup of coffee. Sne is that child that you pray to God and ask Him why He gave you a curse instead of a child? MaNkonjeni is always in tears because of her. Bab' uMahlangu has given up on her. Nomtha is the one who still hasn't lost hope and patience in trying to mould her sister into a better person. Will she succeed?

"Mom tell your daughter to find a job. We can't be starving and eating like slaves when she has a suitcase full of certificates." Sne takes out her packet of cigarettes, she's about to light the cigar when her father snatches away the lighter.

"Not in my house Snegugu!" He snaps.

"You call this a house?" She laughs her irritating piercing laugh.

"Sne!" Nomtha can not bare to see her parents troubled by her. "Say another word and I will forget that you are my sister. I'm sorry mom, dad." MaNkonjeni can't keep holding her tears anymore, it's too much to keep on holding in. Tears fall freely down her cheeks.

"Zandi darling, I know how you feel about Sne, please stop stressing and upsetting yourself." Her husband comforts her, she cries even harder. "Hush, it will all be fine." Seeing her distraught mother, Nomtha hugs her tight and says nothing. She can't hold her own tears, it breaks her heart to see her mother so upset. Abruptly, she turns and goes to Sne's bedroom. She pushes the door without even knocking, Sne is busy putting on her makeup.

"What is wrong with you, Sne?" She ignores her, Nomtha snatches her eyeliner.

"Are you crazy? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Don't you dare give me that s**t! What has come over you? You always make mom cry, you are not even bothered about it. What kind of a daughter are you?" For the first time in her entire life, Nomtha is genuinely angry. "What? You can't talk now? If you continue like this I will forget that you are my sister. Mom and dad are doing so much for us, the least you can do is to show appreciation and respect."

"Who died and made you madam speaker?" Sne tries to snatch the eyeliner from her.

"You really need divine intervention." She sighs.

"Are you trying to say that I'm a lost cause?" She feigns to be sad.

"Sne, you are my only sister I love you but you leave me with no choice. Most of the times I feel like you want me to choose sides----"

"And you are choosing your useless parents over me?" Sne blurts out.

"First of all, our parents are not useless. Secondly, I will never choose between you and them. Come on Sis, we're family. We are supposed to be united not against each other. I love all of you, for my sake, please try and be good daughter, please." Poor Nomtha, always begging her older sister to behave herself.

"Okay. Stop preaching I have to be somewhere in a few minutes, now can I have my eyeliner back?" She smiles melting Nomtha's heart.

"Yeah. Where are you going?" She probes.

"Somewhere you wouldn't want to be."

"Fine. Behave yourself, don't do something I wouldn't do." Nomtha cautions, Sne laughs out loud.

"Who is the older sister here, you or me?" She asks still laughing.

"Whatever." Nomtha rolls her eyes and leaves.

The two sisters can be on each other's throats one minute and understand each other the second minute. They have that sisterhood bond that only the two of them can understand. MaNkonjeni and Bab' uMahlangu have tried to tear them apart thinking that Sne will eventually corrupt Nomtha's mind but to no avail. Nomtha is just a sweetheart, all she ever wants and prays for, is for her family to be united like before.

AT THE ROYAL PALACE

The maids are busy with their morning chores. This palace has like......twenty or so maids. They are always busy walking up and down, in and out of the house, I wonder if they ever rest or sleep at all. Ntombikayise the only daughter of king Melusi Tshabangu and Queen Clementine is sitting in the garden. She has her Apple earphones on, humming along whatever song she is listening to. On the table in front of her is a tray which has all sorts of fruits and a glassful of mango juice, she picks up the glass, sips the juice but quickly spits it all out.

"Maids!" She screams, they all come running almost tripping over.

"My Princess." All of them are now standing opposite her with their heads bowed.

"What in the hell is this? Huh!" She throws all the remaining juice on them. They flinch but say nothing. "What? Have you all gone mute?" Must be nice being a Princess, now these poor maids have to guess what has upset her so much.

"That was mango juice My Princess." Samkelisiwe the only maid in the palace who seem to still have her voice says.

"You call this s**t mango juice? Is this how to prepare fruit juice at your house!" Kayise is fuming.

"Maybe if you tell us what's wrong with it we can understand where your anger is coming from." Samke continues to defy the princess and that makes Kayise even more angry to an extent of slapping her.

"How dare you talk back to me?" She's enraged.

"Everyone has a right to voice the----"

"What's going on here?" The Queen briskly walks towards them.

"Mommy they saved me a shitty juice and they are all claiming it was pure mango juice, I don't even know where they got that cheap awful tasting thing." She shouts.

"Who among you prepared the juice?" Asks the Queen.

"I did My Que----" A hot slap lands on Zodwa's cheek. "Don't you ever serve my daughter cheap things, she's royalty not a commoner like you who eats everything thus edible!" Those words hit hard on my chest and penetrate through my heart and soul. Zodwa is in tears, I too would be in tears if I were her. No one chose to be a commoner, if we all had to choose our lineages I'm sure we will all be somehow of royalty.

"Get out of my face! All of you!" They swiftly turn and leave. "It's okay honey, I will personally prepare something for you." She smiles.

"No. It's okay mother I will manage the fruits, besides I have an appointment with my beautician in a few minutes, I have to get ready. Thanks for the offer, anyway." All of a sudden she's smiling, what happened to her anger?

"Do you need some money? Or anything?" Clementine asks her spoiled brat.

"You know I hate carrying cash. A bank card will do." Without hesitating, Queen mother opens her purse and hands her a debit card.

The maidens are blaming Samke for everything that just happened. They are also trying to comfort Zodwa who was at the receiving end of the Queen's hand. Sbu, the younger prince walks in the kitchen, makes his own sandwich, pours himself some coffee and sits on one of the kitchen stools. Upon seeing him, other maids quickly return to their assigned work.

"Heeeee, the sun must have risen from the West today! Prince Sbu and coffee?" Samke exclaims and claps her hands.

"I have a serious headache, please lower your voice you crazy maiden." He mumbles.

"Hayibo Sbu, yimina uSamke (Sbu, it's me Samke) you know you can talk to me. Where were you yesterday?" She raises her eyebrow, lowers her voice so only Sbu can hear her. "Did you find yourself a desperate girl?" The nosy Samke continues trying to make Sbu say something.

"I'm not telling you anything. If you keep persisting, our deal is off." He takes a sip of his coffee.

"Fine. But you know how I like breaking news. Anyway, money is more important than whatever you were up to yesterday." She finally gives up.

"That's better. Now, go and continue with your chores before my mother sees us together." She winks at him and leaves.

AT THE TSHABANGU ENTERPRISES.

"Wow mngane! (Wow, friend) this place looks like heaven." Sheila who's accompanying Nomtha on her job hunting exlaims.

"The more reason why I haven't even bothered to try my luck. The building only, intimidates me." Nomtha sighs.

"You are a brave and confident girl I've ever met, come on go and show them what you've got." Sheila encourages her.

"I can only imagine how the workers of this company dress, the perfumes they use, what they eat for breakfast and lunch-----"

"Stop. You have what it takes to work anywhere you want, class and fashion doesn't determine our destinies. Go and make use of those certificates, don't be like me. You know I was never intelligent like you thus why I even failed my standard level. Be thankful God gave you brains, use them." Sheila may not be intelligent like she says but she is a true friend. She's always there for Nomtha no matter the situation.

"Thank you chomie." Nomtha hugs her tight.

"Anytime." She pulls out of the hug.

After some minutes still procrastinating on whether to get in or turn back and go straight home, Nomtha finally punches the open button on the elevator and gets in. Her friend waves and promises to wait for her. The elevator doors close, she's now alone on her way to either her success or another disappointment. She's silently praying until the elevator comes to a jolt on the 23rd floor, her heart is now pounding in her chest but soldiers on. She's come a long way to turn back now.

"Good morning ma'am." Nomtha greets the lady behind the reception desk who in turn looks her from head to the middle part of the body, says nothing but scowls expressing her displeasure. "Good morning ma'am. I'm looking for a job if by any chance your company is hiring." The lady bursts into laughter.

"Girl, what makes you think you have what it takes to work in this prestigious company?" She still has a frown but Nomtha chooses to ignore that.

"I have an honors degree in Accounting and Finance and that makes me eligible to work for any company that is in need of an accountant." She says proudly.

"Well then, this company is not hiring and even if we were hiring I'm sure we wouldn't be considering someone who has no sense of style like you." This lady? Does she have to be so blunt? I now feel sorry for poor Nomtha who is wearing her best outfit.

"Ma'am, a company like this doesn't have to be run on sense of fashion. I understand the Tshabangu Enterprises is more into manufacturing and agriculture, my fashion sense has nothing to do with me looking for a job unless this company has somehow immediately turned into a fashion house." Nomtha humbly says. She's an angel but hell the girl can put forward some valid points.

"We are not hiring. Just l----"

"Aisha!" Someone calls out, the receptionist quickly goes back to her computer.

NOMTHA'S POV.

A tall, dark skinned, well taken care of guy approaches the reception area. He's wearing a suit that looks like its cost can cover all the expenses of my family for a whole year, not to mention his shoe....

"Hello Miss." He says, he has a deep voice and a British accent.

"Hi." I wave still holding my files.

"How may we help you?" He politely asks making that arrogant receptionist cough dramatically.

"I came here looking for a job but the lady here has helped me. Thank you." I turn to leave but he pulls me back.

"Is this how you have been looking for a job?" I nod. "No wonder you are still unemployed."

"Not to be rude but I don't understand." I'm really a down to earth young lady but I react whenever someone tries to be arrogant or somewhat looks down on me.

"Follow me." He orders. What? I do as he says. He opens the door, goes in, holds the door for me.

"Come in." The office is magnificent. Everything inside is unique, the paintings on the wall are breathtaking. "Sit." He orders me to sit on the opposite chair. I'm still wondering why he asked me to come into his office when that lady said they are not hiring. "Sphamandla Tshabangu." He brings his hand forward for me to shake.

"Nomthandazo Mahlangu." I say as I shake his warm and soft hand.