Miss Chubby

CHAPTER 18

I am sitting in my office, it’s a Wednesday morning, when I suddenly feel like going to a site and checking out the work of the construction workers. I always go to site every once in a while but I arrive unexpectedly. I decide on which site to visit and I just take my phone and wallet and then head out. 

Thobeka: “boss lady where are we going?”

Me: “to the Nanda mall site. I wanna check on the progress of the workers.”

Thobeka: “ohh okay.” 

We head out and we drive to the site. When we get there we get out of the car. We are handed safety hats and jackets. We go to the site manager’s office and along the way I see a few new faces. I know all my employees, whenever HR hires someone they come to my office to introduce that person. Anyways I get to the site manager’s office and he is shocked to see me.

Me: “morning Siyanda. You look shocked to see me.” I greet with a smile.

Siyanda: “I am not shocked boss lady, I am just surprised.”

Me: “you are surprised or you didn’t get time to hide your offspring’s?”

Siyanda: “I don’t know what you are talking about boss lady.”

Me: “I am not a fool Siyanda. I know everyone who work for DCC, even cleaners, so don’t bullshit me. So what else has been happening under my nose? Where did you get the money to pay your employees?” I sit down opposite him.

Siyanda: “I am sorry boss.”

Me: “you are sorry for what? Illegally hiring people?”

Siyanda: “they are qualified boss. I just didn’t follow procedure in hiring them. We were short staffed and…”

Me: “who did you tell that we were short staffed? We have about 60 construction workers and we always hire a few when the project is huge. Why didn’t you inform HR or your project manager that you don’t have enough workers? Why did you take a decision that is not meant to be taken by you? Why are you undermining my authority? You want me to fire you?” 

Siyanda: “no, I am very sorry boss.”

Me: “I don’t wanna see those guys in my site. If I find out that you are related to them or they are your friends also consider yourself fired. You are also demoted with immediate effect. Now get to work.” He stands up hesitantly and heads out. I take out my phone and call Zah.

Zah: “boss lady.”

Me: “tell the Nanda mall project manager to assign a new site manager for this project immediately. The other one was bullshiting me and practically undermining me.”

Zah: “ohh okay.” 

Me: “also tell HR to send him a written warning by the end of today for hiring people without the right procedure.”

Zah: “how did that happen?”

Me: “I also don’t know. We will talk when I get back to the office.”

Zah: “okay boss.” I hang up and breathe out loud. 

I then stand up and head out. I get to where Thobeka and Mabutho are and we all head to the car. We are riding in one car today. I feel minor pain in my lower abdomen. I just clench my jaws and pray that it goes away. It subsides after a few minutes and I do breathing exercises.

Me: “Zamokuhle we are now headed to Mandlanzini.”

Zamokuhle: “sure boss. Are you okay?”

Me: “don’t worry about me. I will be fine.” He nods and then starts the engine.

After about 2 hours we arrive at Mandlanzini. We head to the site and we are given the safety gear. At least there are no new faces here. I go around inspecting the house. When I am done I go to the container near the gate where the site manager is at. As soon as she sees me she stands up with a smile on her face. That is what I want to see when I get to a site, the manager smiling and greeting me with a happy face.

Rethabile: “boss lady. So nice of you to stop by. To what do we owe the pleasure of this surprise visit?” I sit on the chair opposite her.

Me: “I just wanted to see progress. If you were to estimate, how long will it take you guys to finish this house?”

Rethabile: “about 4 months and then we will start the Nongoma house. We will lastly build the secret house.”

Me: “If you need any help please don’t hesitate to call.”

Rethabile: “sure boss. Have you looked around?”

Me: “yes. I will be on my way then.”

Rethabile: “you came all the way from Durban just to inspect?” I chuckle.

Me: “it’s my company, my reputation so you should understand.” She chuckles.

Rethabile: “yeah. Let me see you out then.” We both stand up and head out. While we are walking to where the other workers are, we meet the Zulu brothers. Great, just great.

Kuhle: “Good day makhosazane.” I roll my eyes and Rethabile replies with a smile on her face. She is forever smiling, I wonder if she doesn’t get tired of it.

Sbo: “Futhy, you didn’t tell us you were around.”

Me: “it was a last minute decision to come here. Plus I didn’t announce it because I knew I wasn’t staying for longer than I have to.” the pains that I had in the car comes back and I quickly hold Rethabile’s hand tightly. She turns and looks at me. 

Rethabile: “boss lady are you okay?” I clench my jaws and breathe slowly. The pain goes away again and I give her a fake smile.

Me: “I am fine. I just felt a cramp.”

Kuhle: “maybe you need to see a doctor.”

Me: “don’t exaggerate Kuhle. I am super fine. Let’s carry on with our journey Retha.” She gives me a concerned look and we head to where the workers are at. “Good day guys.” They all greet back and some even shake my hand.

Rethabile: “we were very blessed to be graced by boss lady’s presence today. She just came to say hi and she is leaving now.” They all say their goodbyes and Retha escorts me to the car. “It was nice seeing you.”

Me: “same here. When you come back to Durban, hit me up so that we can have dinner together.” We hug each other and I climb inside the car. The pains come back stronger and rapidly this time around. I scream a little and Mabutho quickly comes to my side and opens my door. He holds my hand. I squeeze his hand for dear life hoping that the pain goes away but it doesn’t budge this time around.

Mabutho: “boss lady are you okay?” I see the Zulu brothers approaching the car.

Kuhle: “is everything okay?” I shake my head with tears threatening to come out.

Me: “pains Butho. It hurts so much. Please make it stop.” Tears start rolling down my cheeks. He gets in next to me and Thobeka gets in the front seat. 

Mabutho: “man drive to the hospital.” Zamokuhle starts the car and drives off in high speed. We arrive at The Bay Hospital, Netcare in a short period of time. “You are going to be okay boss.” Zamokuhle stops the car and both he and Butho help me out of the car.

Zamokuhle: “you are bleeding.” I turn to stare at the seat I was at and my heart nearly stops. I have a phobia of blood. Seeing a lot of it can make me pass out. 

Me: “Oh God.” 

They quickly get me inside the hospital and I am taken to a ward. The nurses help me change into a hospital gown. They make me lie on the bed and they put up a drip. A doctor comes in.

Doctor: “what do we have here?”

Nurse 1: “she was brought in here a few minutes ago. She is bleeding, we suspect uterus bleeding.” The doctor nods and comes to stand next to me.

Doctor: “Good evening. I am doctor Mwape and you are?” I sniff.

Me: “I am in pain. Please make it stop. But whatever you do, don’t draw my blood.” I pass out after that.

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***NARRATED***

Mabutho was pacing up and down in the waiting room. He was worried about his boss. Ever since he started working for her, she has never cried. Seeing her like that was like someone punched him in the gut. Thobeka was sitting down and next to him was Zamokuhle. Each and every one of them was in their own world. But one thing in common, they were worried about Futhy. She has welcomed them in her home and has treated them like friends not employees. So they were fond of her. 

The Zulu brothers made their way in and most of the hospital bowed their heads as they passed. They made their way to the waiting room where Futhy’s guards were. After Zamokuhle drove off like that, they were worried so they followed them here.

Kuhle: “what happened?” Thobeka looked up.

Thobeka: “she started feeling pain while we were still in Durban but she brushed it off. We really don’t know what happened or what caused the pain. When we brought her in, she was bleeding excessively.” Kuhle sighed and sat down. Mabutho stopped pacing and leaned his back on the wall. His phone ringed and he sighed when he saw who was calling.

Mabutho: “little one.”

Xoli: “where are you guys? You were supposed to be here like an hour ago.”

Mabutho: “we are in Richards Bay. Futhy has been admitted.”

Xoli: “Richards Bay? Admitted? What is going on Butho?” she asked with her voice breaking.

Mabutho: “she was feeling pain and she bled. We don’t know what caused it. We are still waiting for the doctors to update us.” Xoli just hung up and sniffed.

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Lee came back from work and saw Xoli sniffing on the couch. She rushed to her and sat next to her.

Lee: “what’s wrong little one?” that’s her nickname because she is the youngest in the house.

Xoli: “Futhy is at the hospital. She was admitted. Butho said she was feeling pain and bled.” Lee’s heart nearly stopped, not believing what was being said to her.

Lee: “what are you saying to me? What hospital is she at?”

Xoli: “in Richards Bay.”

Lee: “what was she doing in Richards Bay?”

Xoli: “I don’t know.”

Lee: “what caused the bleeding?”

Xoli: “the doctors haven’t updated them.” Lee stood up and took out her phone. She dialed a number.

Voice: “Lindelwa.”

Lee: “Sawubona baba. Futhy has been admitted in a hospital at Richards Bay. They say she was feeling pain and she bled.”

Ndosi omkhulu: “how is she now?”

Lee: “we don’t know.”

Ndosi omkhulu: “okay. I am heading there now.”

Lee: “I am also coming with you baba. I will call Noma.”

Ndosi omkhulu: “I will be waiting for you in my house.” Lee hung up and also called Noma notifying her. After that she took the Fortuner keys and she drove out with Xoli.

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***BACK AT THE WAITING ROOM***

Ndosi omkhulu got in followed by his wife, his two sons, Noma, Lee and Xoli. He looked around his eyes landed on the Zulu princes. He frowned but didn’t say anything. Thobeka stood up.

Ndosi omkhulu: “and where are you going?” she almost shivered because his voice was scary.

Thobeka: “the doctor couldn’t update us on what is going on because we are not related to her. He told us that when her family comes, he will give us an update.” She quickly rushed down the corridor not waiting for a response. They all sat on the chairs.

Sijabulile: “you shouldn’t have talked like that babakhe. You can already see that she is scared of you.” Lele laughed, his father gave him a death stare and he kept quiet immediately. Thobeka came back with the doctor.

Doctor: “are you Miss Cele’s family?” 

Ndosi: “you think she would’ve called you if we weren’t the Cele family?” he asked with an annoyed tone. The doctor swallowed hard.

Doctor: “well we don’t know what caused the bleeding. She refused for her blood to be drawn. We really can’t determine what is wrong with her until we do some tests.”

Noma: “well you should have asked. She has very low blood. Whenever she bleeds, she passes out. When you want to draw her blood you must also donate another amount to her. It’s a take and give type of situation.”

Doctor: “but she is…”

Lee: “don’t go there.” she looked at the doctor with a threatening look.

Lele: “you will draw her blood and I will donate the blood needed. We have the same DNA and the same blood type.” 

Doctor: “okay please follow me.” they left. Noma took her phone out.

Noma: “let me make some calls mama so that I can get us accommodation because it seems like we will be spending the night here.” Sijabulile nodded and Noma left the waiting room. Ndosi omkhulu turned to the Zulu princes.

Ndosi omkhulu: “and what brings you here young men?” he didn’t care if they were princes or not. Kuhle rubbed the back of his neck.

Kuhle: “I am Futhy’s client and she was at my site when she got sick. We were worried about her. That’s why we are here.” Ndosi omkhulu raised his eyebrow but didn’t talk any further because his wife squeezed his thigh.

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#MissChubby