Chapter Three

Some Years Later…

Maya   had   lots   of   successes,   especially   in   her   academic pursuits, she was now in college. Her excellence in academics earned her a place in the school as the head girl , and she was made the chief organizer of the school’s extra-curricular activities, like the twice-yearly inter-house sports. She was also an active participant at the school’s annually-held Parents and Teachers Association meetings. In the eyes of The Steven Beak College Maya was a role model to all the students. A perfect and exemplary kid. She was a friend to everyone.

Except for Craig…

Craig, a tall, handsome, muscular, but domineering young man, was born in the United Kingdom but raised in South Africa. His mother, a Briton, left him when he was three years of age. She divorced his father, a black South African, just three years after marriage. His father, Benjamin, brought him home to South Africa, where he hoped to raise a good, happy son. But at the age of twelve, his dad was involved in a fatal accident that took his life. Craig was exposed to life on the streets at an early age. Drug peddling and stealing were his “hobbies” for years – until Ms. Diana saw him being chased by hoodlums.

She had stopped and opened her car door to let him hop in. Seeing that his pursuers were fast advancing towards them, she

wasted no time and drove off with a squeaking noise from the tires. From then on, they were always together. Ms. Diana later had him enrolled at the Steven Beak College at 19 to start college It was then that Craig got initiated into the ALC – the Alternative Lifestyle Club – a juvenile organisation which was set up to recruit teenagers, especially those from broken homes, and initiate them to carry out underworld activities, such as stealing, drug trafficking and so on.

After lectures, one day Maya and her close pal, Grace, went to “Enjoy Ur Lunch Eatery” to have lunch. Maya was taken aback when she saw Craig sit down at the same table.

“Hi ladies,” Craig said in greeting, receiving no response at all. He continued anyway. “It’s good having this great opportunity to talk to you.” His eyes slid to Maya’s friend.

“However, Grace, would you leave us for a moment? I’m sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. But Maya, you and I need to talk. It’s all about our future—yours and mine. I know you’ve been avoiding me since the beginning, which is fine by me! But I have to tell you what you really don’t know about yourself.”

“Really !” Grace huffed. “I think I will stay here…”

Maya interrupted her, giving Craig a slightly insulted look. “No, it’s okay, Grace. I want to know what this man thinks he knows about me. Could you please come back in a few minutes?”

Grace sighed. “Hmm…Okay, if that’s what you want, Maya.”

Grudgingly, Grace left them, and went to wander around the restaurant. Seeing that she was no longer within earshot of their discussions, Craig went on, “I know you dislike me, not because of my looks or general behaviour. But you seem to hate me because I’m being labeled as one of those NDW kids of so many years ago. Do you know why we were called the NDW kids? It was because we were told by our single parents about the lives of all the

married men that lived in our Kimberly neighborhood, and how much better they thought they were than us. Well, my single dad died years ago in a car crash! As for you, your dad was able to raise you because of an unusual occurrence. My dad told me your father was into many women, and that there is a doubt that if he’s actually your biological father. You may choose not to believe it! But I tell you, someday, you’ll get to know what I said was right! If you doubt me, go and ask your dad who your mother is!!”

Maya interrupted, “Who are you to tell me about my private life?!” she blurted angrily. “I thought you were alright, but I guess I was wrong... What my dad told me about you was right! I can now see the truth in what he had been telling me. Indeed, never- do-wells like you can’t mind their own businesses! They go around creating confusion. Because they’re hopeless, they want everyone on this planet to be like them!! You can’t influence me with your virus! Get away from here, fool!” She jumped up and left Craig all alone, as she went to look for Grace.

“Call me whatever you like, Maya!!!” Craig yelled, not minding the presence of the other customers. “I love you so much. That’s the reason why I had to tell you the truth. You’ll come to me for more answers because I know you have loads of questions in your mind that only Craig can answer!!! Your dad won’t tell you an iota of truth because he doesn’t have what it takes!!! I have a future for you. I am the only one who has a sure way to your being successful in life!”

He realised that his ranting had drawn the attention of other customers to himself. All he could do was to leave the place, knowing that Maya and Grace were on their way back to school. One thing was sure: Craig’s words would haunt Maya in future.

The time was 3:00 p.m., the school’s official closing period. Students were usually excited to go to their respective homes after stress-filled school activities. Yet Maya looked perturbed.

Greatly concerned, Grace asked, “What’s wrong with you? Is anything the matter with you? Are you thinking of Craig’s words?”

Maya answered reluctantly, “Well, not really. It’s just that I’m a little bothered about certain issues I seem not to understand.”

“Cheer up, mate! It happens to us all. This world will always plague you with issues that you won’t understand. So, it’s left for us to filter them out subconsciously. Let’s go home, Maya! Remember, we were going to play some Mortal Combat games and watch some movies at your place. Come on girl, let’s go!” Grace encouraged Maya, letting her troubled friend rest on her right shoulder.

Long after Grace left her house, Maya was still disturbed by what Craig had said to her. Maya looked forward to openly confronting her father, who was at the International Management Forum in England. Maya couldn’t wait to ask him questions regarding who she really was. She told herself, “I’ll leave him, never to set my feet here again, if he doesn’t give me the answers I’m looking for!”.

Samuel arrived on Saturday night without being received at the Durban International Airport by Maya. He knew that something was wrong! But when he arrived home, Maya seemed fine. She kept her questions to herself for now; she wanted him to have a sound night’s sleep so that she could engage him in serious discussions the next day.

Samuel stepped out of his bedroom to find his breakfast already prepared by Maya. They sat at the dining table as they ate their meal and glanced at the Sunday Morning TV Show on African Channel. Maya had so many thoughts and questions rolling in her mind. But she worked at composing herself well so that she could ask him certain questions; all of which had given her sleepless nights. Her father didn’t notice Maya’s quiet mood because the program took up all of his attention.

When he has finished eating, Maya cleared her throat. It was time to come clean with all of her questions.

“Dad,” she said politely, looking concerned, “there are a whole lot of issues that are giving me cause to worry. To be frank, I’ve been thinking about something a lot since you left for London two weeks ago. Yet I am not able to come with the answers I need. I have this feeling that it’s only you who can solve this problem.”

“What’s the problem, my dear?” asked Samuel, who did not have the faintest idea of what his daughter was thinking about.

“Daddy, are you sure you’ll tell me nothing but the truth?” Maya asked, passionately craving her dad’s sincerity. “Daddy, I want you to answer the questions,” she insisted.

Looking unsettled, he replied, “You know I’m always here for you. I’ve been with you and for you right from your infancy. I have trained you to be the sincere girl I’ve wanted you to be. Why shouldn’t I be sincere to you at this stage of your life?”

“Dad, it’s good that you are interested in hearing what I have to ask you. I remember when you told me that mom was away to Zimbabwe. But it’s been almost five years now! I wasn’t bothered because I was still young. But now, I can’t even sleep because of the questions in my mind. I’m seriously disturbed! Dad, where is my mom?! Who am I?!”

To Samuel, this was the ‘Day of Reckoning’. Somehow, he had to tell her what he felt was appropriate for her age and maturity. Because Samuel saw that desperate look on Maya’s face, he had to get away from her gaze in order to think more clearly. He decided to sit on the sofa, while she sat at the dining table awaiting his answers.

Confidently, Samuel answered, “Maya, to be candid, it is a very long story. It all started in 1975. We were in our teen years. Growing up in the neighbourhood of Gauteng, we had fun all the

way! Cynthia, your mother, and I started as friends. Later, we became lovers. One thing led to another and we became engaged. In 1976, we were set to get married when Mike, my now-deceased friend, told me something was fishy between Cynthia and her so- called ‘brother’, Gat. At first, I doubted Mike’s claim, until that moment when I learned the truth. I hadn’t the faintest idea that her so-called brother was actually her long-time boyfriend, who had forced her to undergo several abortions. Now, after such a long time, I would find out…

Working as a secretary for the prestigious A and A Accounting Firm, she was always busy with work, so spending time with me became very difficult. I didn’t know that most of her free time was spent in Gat’s three-bedroom apartment in Polokwane. Mike’s apartment was a stone’s throw away from Gat’s. On 2nd of July 1977, I received a phone call from Mike, insisting that I travel all the way from my home in Pretoria to Gauteng to see for myself what Cynthia was really up to with her so-called brother.

I boarded the next available flight to Polokwane and then took a bus to Mike’s place. Without wasting much time, Mike took me to Gat’s place, where it soon became obvious that Cynthia and Gat were having something going on. At first, I asked how he got to know. But he said nothing; all he wanted me to see was the illicit affair involving Cynthia and Gat.

I saw a car drive past us to Gat’s place. We followed the slow- moving car which they were in, stealthily, to avoid unnecessary suspicion by either Cynthia or Gat. As soon they went in, I initially wanted to break down the door, but Mike was able to control my agitation. We tried checking where we could find a place to peer in, to see what they were doing. Fortunately, there was a louver left open. Mike and I were able to spy on them through the open louver.

What we saw in the next five minutes really surprised me. The woman I was going to marry was sleeping with her so-called

brother, a year before the wedding. She was engaged to me but here she was, sleeping with someone else!

Mike could no longer control me; I broke into his apartment, catching Cynthia and Gat with their pants down, so to speak. I remember yelling, ‘I never knew you were such a whore! Cynthia, you knew we were to get married next year. But here you are doing the last thing I would have expected of you! I can imagine the countless number of times he’s laid you!!! You call him, this Casanova, your brother? You bloody liar!! I’m ashamed of you!!!

I left the place saddened. I told Mike that I’d have to quit the relationship and move on with life. However, he told me to have a re-think about my decision, and once I had calmed down, I went back to my home with a decision to make: do and give Cynthia a second chance as I thought of my three-year commitment towards making the relationship to work? It was a big challenge for me!

The next day, I was getting ready for work when someone came knocking at my door. And who should be at my door but the lady I was trying to wipe out of my memory.

To my surprise, the woman who had brought me so much mental stress was showing remorse. What could I do? I had to let her in.

Cynthia fell on her knees, begging me so tearfully that I fell for her plea. She confessed to me that she had been sleeping with Gat five years before she met me. She admitted being pregnant by him a countless number of times. Also, Cynthia apologized for lying to me, telling me that Gat was her brother. She asked me to forgive her for the wrongs she had done to me. Cynthia assured me she would change.

After considering all that had happened, and with the advice from Mike, I decided to welcome her back to continue with the wedding arrangement. So we reconciled our differences. Cynthia, to me, was a changed person. Or so she led me to believe.

But I was dead wrong! She still kept seeing Gat, but this time in far-away Gaborone, Botswana. What I saw on the surface was a changed Cynthia. Nevertheless, at a painful price, I learned that things are not always the way they seem.

October 5, 1979 is a date I will never forget! It was the day I went from being single to being a husband and, some day, a father. Things went along very well for a long time; Cynthia showed me how nice she was, and seemed happy and faithful.

Until I came back from work one day, only to see something entirely incredible!

Gat, now married, and by his appearance, a clergyman, somehow got to know where our residence was. He came visiting, and Cynthia and I played host to him. He was entertained like never before.

Later that evening, I got a phone call. My boss needed my attention to resolve some issues involving services we rendered to our clients. I dashed straight to the office only to discover, contrary to what I was thinking that it was just a client’s portfolio review he wanted me to analyze. In no time, I was done with what was required me and on my way home.

What made me go insane was what I saw when I got there: Cynthia being laid again in my own living room! All nude, Gat and Cynthia were so ashamed of themselves that they couldn’t look at me. I didn’t know what to do. I thought about going all-out and beating them both, using my Martial Arts skills. Either that or smashing their naked bodies with the TV set... How I managed to control myself is still a mystery to this day.

I pretended I didn’t see them, went straight to my room, and took some documents from a file. These I took along with me as I drove off to go and see my lawyer and friend, Ken, for a divorce. My ears were deafened to Cynthia’s crocodile tears, and after I drove off, I didn’t see Gat again. Till today, I haven’t set my eyes on him!

Two weeks later, the divorce papers were issued by my lawyer and Cynthia had no choice other than to yield to a divorce. Our lifestyle was like an estranged couple living under one roof. I couldn’t wait for her to be out of my life. I was tired of seeing her come around and her presence generally irritated me. Though she cried all through, trying to seek my attention, I was hell-bent on seeing her leave my life for good.

The time finally came, and it was the happiest moment of my life. December 15, 1980 was the date Cynthia and I got divorced at Durban Magistrate Court. Shortly before that time, Cynthia had given birth to a baby girl. The baby was some days over two months old when the divorce papers were signed. Before we finally parted ways, Cynthia begged me to accept one request: ‘Samuel, I know I don’t deserve staying married to you. In fact, I’m an infidel! Call me anything you like, I am what you described me to be, even more. I want you to do me the favour of taking custody of our baby. I know you’re such a responsible man and I’m just the exact opposite. I don’t want my daughter to be like me! I’ll forever miss you! They say: YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU LOSE

IT. I have lost a rare gem. I will always love you.’

She handed over the two-month-plus old baby girl to me and packed her things, boarded a taxi, and went away. I never saw her again. Maya, the baby girl is you and Cynthia is your mother. We named you ‘Maya’ because the Hollywood actress of the ’70s, Maya Priest, was your mom’s role model. And because of the love I had for your mother, I christened you Maya.

I think this is all that you should know for now.”

Samuel tearfully left the living room and went to his bedroom.

Maya was touched, and she cried profusely. But she still felt as if her dad was yet to tell her the full story, and this made her

uncomfortable. She wanted to question her dad further but seeing his emotions, she decided to keep it for another day.However, because of the information she had been given, Maya’s life would make a radica