Pertunia Lehoka's Blog
February 12, 2025
EXCERPT - BEYOND THE OUTBURST BY PERTUNIA LEHOKA
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Burden & Guilt of Motherhood
(Navigating Motherhood in the face of Resentment, Bitterness and Anger)
I trudge through the streets of Mofolo, Soweto, taxi fare burning a hole in my pocket. Another day, another rand spent on transport while my husband drives comfortably to work. The injustice festers within me.
As a radiologist, I was once driven and ambitious. Now, I’m just driven to madness by the constant demands of motherhood. My two tiny terrors, Nandi and Lungi, exhausting me since birth. Their father, Sipho, seems oblivious to the chaos they’ve unleashed.
“Mommy’s tired,” I hiss, as Nandi clings to my leg, begging for attention. Her big brown eyes, once captivating, now annoy me.
At work, colleagues tiptoe around me, sensing the volcano brewing inside. Dr. Mthembu, my superior, approaches cautiously. “Nomsa, your patience is wearing thin, so is everyone else’s for that matter. Perhaps take a break?”
“I don’t need a break, I need my life back!” I snap, X-ray images blurring before my eyes. I blink incessantly, just so the tears I feel rushing through my eyes wouldn’t fall.
“I understand, believe me I do. However we cannot have you constantly coming to work in a fetid mood, as this brings staff morale down and it has to stop. There is actually pressure from above, for me to haul you to a disciplinary hearing because of how you have been treating your colleagues, particularly those who report to you.”
“By the way, this is where I’m supposed to apologise right?” Dr Mthembu looks puzzled at my audacity, as I shrug nonchalantly. What was I hoping to achieve with my stance? I have no idea.
Perhaps I wanted to be towed to a disciplinary hearing and be suspended somehow. Then I’d stay home for some time, just so I could recuperate. But, will that even be possible? Home is the last place I’d like to be for longer than it is necessary. At least at work, I spend close to 10 hours of my day, extended on purpose. My husband doesn’t even know this fact. I prefer it that way.
Finally sense prevails and I rush to Dr. Mthembu’s office and as I step in, he is standing up and hands me a paper. What is this? A written warning! I never would have thought he’d seriously consider giving me one of those! We have a good working relationship and he is a really good person.
I guess even the good ones do get tired of walking on egg-shells where certain employees are concerned. He is my superior and is within his rights to call me to order. I have been insolent, perhaps deliberately but yeah, here we are – my first written warning.
I sign both copies and hand the other one to him for safe-keeping, I guess. He puts a stamp on it, leaving me embarrassed. His stern face refuses to budge any further, “dismissed!” he says coldly.
I step out of his office with my invisible tail tucked in and find colleagues and patients alike, ogling me like I have a communicable disease. I ignore them and call the next patient. My assistant chooses to not send any patients through to me. I knew then, that I had messed up – big time!
Taxi rides, hospital shifts and endless parenting duties consume me. Colleagues cannot stop but to whisper about my irritability, patients sensing my distraction. I’m slowly losing myself.
I’m not okay, I haven’t been for a very long time. Before children, I was Dr. Nomsa, a very confident radiologist. Now, I’m just “Mommy”. My body bears scars of motherhood – stretch marks, sagging breasts, exhaustion that just won’t go away.
**********
I arrive home very late, after 8 o’clock and find my husband having taken care of most things. He fetched our children from pre-school and primary school respectively. I’m inwardly grateful but I cannot help but to still think that he has it easy.
Aunty Pumla has already bathed the kids and fed them. The little one Nandi, is already asleep while Lungi is still awake, visibly tired, waiting to give me a piece of her mind. She is exactly like me – never minces her words.
“Mama, I don’t like your work! Why do you always come home late? Nandi has been crying non-stop. She has been waiting for you. She fell at school and has a gash on her lip. I hate your job! Why should daddy be the only one who looks after us when we come back from school?” The girl is brave alright!
“Lungi, why do you talk to me like that? What should I do because I’m working hard for you and your sister. I have always done this job, even before you and your sister came into this world. So don’t even try to get on my nerves!” I yell at her and push her out of the way. She cries and runs to her bedroom, while my husband is looking at me as if he sees a lunatic, arms crossed. I greet him and he keeps quiet. I repeat my greeting and he pulls his breath from deep within. “I heard you!” he snaps.
“Oh well…”, I roll my eyes and continue with my disrespect, as he blocks my path. “I want to check on Nandi.”
“Don’t even think of going in that room! Aunty Pumla is sleeping with Nandi because her mother was and still is AWOL. OUR BEDROOM NOW!” he barks, so loud I got a chill in my belly, as my heart thumps rigid beats. He grabs me by my arm and throws me on the bed. This time, I’m scared and don’t know what is about to happen. He immediately realizes my frozen posture and backs away, brushing his shaven head with his hand, his expression still hard. He then leans against the door.
“Nomsa, what is this? What is going on with you? Look what you nearly made me do woman!” No, he didn’t just say this!
“I’m sorry, I’m overwhelmed with work and everything!”
“Everything? What are you talking about? I hired Aunty Pumla to ease the burden but you’re still complaining. The least you can do is to stop coming home at this ungodly hour. You are a wife and a mother, and at least at work you do not work shifts. But you are still ungrateful!” he continues yelling at me.
“So, what do you want me to do? Leave my job?”
“That’s not what I’m saying, and you know that. You cannot leave your job as we need both our salaries to keep us afloat and live fairly well. All I’m saying is, let’s work together. You and I are married and I shouldn’t have to keep asking you to talk to me about what’s bothering you and why you have changed so much.”
“You didn’t expect me to change? Of course I have changed. What do you think? I don’t understand why it must only be me who gives up everything!” I explode. “You get to drive to work, while I’m stuck in taxis. Your life hasn’t changed, but mine is over! Your life has practically remained uninterrupted and you still look the same, while mine has become a perpetual sacrifice. I had to change my wardrobe because I’m now disfigured. But you don’t care about that, do you? My body no longer belongs to me,” I breathe heavily, ending my rant.
Sipho’s calm demeanour infuriates me. “Baby, I repeat, we’re in this together. There’s no one in this world who could ever replace you in my heart, irrespective of the changes in your body. Remember, we decided to have children…”
“Decided?” I laugh bitterly. “You decided; I was very busy building my career and you forced me to start a family when I wasn’t ready!”
********
The Burden & Guilt of Motherhood
(Navigating Motherhood in the face of Resentment, Bitterness and Anger)
I trudge through the streets of Mofolo, Soweto, taxi fare burning a hole in my pocket. Another day, another rand spent on transport while my husband drives comfortably to work. The injustice festers within me.
As a radiologist, I was once driven and ambitious. Now, I’m just driven to madness by the constant demands of motherhood. My two tiny terrors, Nandi and Lungi, exhausting me since birth. Their father, Sipho, seems oblivious to the chaos they’ve unleashed.
“Mommy’s tired,” I hiss, as Nandi clings to my leg, begging for attention. Her big brown eyes, once captivating, now annoy me.
At work, colleagues tiptoe around me, sensing the volcano brewing inside. Dr. Mthembu, my superior, approaches cautiously. “Nomsa, your patience is wearing thin, so is everyone else’s for that matter. Perhaps take a break?”
“I don’t need a break, I need my life back!” I snap, X-ray images blurring before my eyes. I blink incessantly, just so the tears I feel rushing through my eyes wouldn’t fall.
“I understand, believe me I do. However we cannot have you constantly coming to work in a fetid mood, as this brings staff morale down and it has to stop. There is actually pressure from above, for me to haul you to a disciplinary hearing because of how you have been treating your colleagues, particularly those who report to you.”
“By the way, this is where I’m supposed to apologise right?” Dr Mthembu looks puzzled at my audacity, as I shrug nonchalantly. What was I hoping to achieve with my stance? I have no idea.
Perhaps I wanted to be towed to a disciplinary hearing and be suspended somehow. Then I’d stay home for some time, just so I could recuperate. But, will that even be possible? Home is the last place I’d like to be for longer than it is necessary. At least at work, I spend close to 10 hours of my day, extended on purpose. My husband doesn’t even know this fact. I prefer it that way.
Finally sense prevails and I rush to Dr. Mthembu’s office and as I step in, he is standing up and hands me a paper. What is this? A written warning! I never would have thought he’d seriously consider giving me one of those! We have a good working relationship and he is a really good person.
I guess even the good ones do get tired of walking on egg-shells where certain employees are concerned. He is my superior and is within his rights to call me to order. I have been insolent, perhaps deliberately but yeah, here we are – my first written warning.
I sign both copies and hand the other one to him for safe-keeping, I guess. He puts a stamp on it, leaving me embarrassed. His stern face refuses to budge any further, “dismissed!” he says coldly.
I step out of his office with my invisible tail tucked in and find colleagues and patients alike, ogling me like I have a communicable disease. I ignore them and call the next patient. My assistant chooses to not send any patients through to me. I knew then, that I had messed up – big time!
Taxi rides, hospital shifts and endless parenting duties consume me. Colleagues cannot stop but to whisper about my irritability, patients sensing my distraction. I’m slowly losing myself.
I’m not okay, I haven’t been for a very long time. Before children, I was Dr. Nomsa, a very confident radiologist. Now, I’m just “Mommy”. My body bears scars of motherhood – stretch marks, sagging breasts, exhaustion that just won’t go away.
**********
I arrive home very late, after 8 o’clock and find my husband having taken care of most things. He fetched our children from pre-school and primary school respectively. I’m inwardly grateful but I cannot help but to still think that he has it easy.
Aunty Pumla has already bathed the kids and fed them. The little one Nandi, is already asleep while Lungi is still awake, visibly tired, waiting to give me a piece of her mind. She is exactly like me – never minces her words.
“Mama, I don’t like your work! Why do you always come home late? Nandi has been crying non-stop. She has been waiting for you. She fell at school and has a gash on her lip. I hate your job! Why should daddy be the only one who looks after us when we come back from school?” The girl is brave alright!
“Lungi, why do you talk to me like that? What should I do because I’m working hard for you and your sister. I have always done this job, even before you and your sister came into this world. So don’t even try to get on my nerves!” I yell at her and push her out of the way. She cries and runs to her bedroom, while my husband is looking at me as if he sees a lunatic, arms crossed. I greet him and he keeps quiet. I repeat my greeting and he pulls his breath from deep within. “I heard you!” he snaps.
“Oh well…”, I roll my eyes and continue with my disrespect, as he blocks my path. “I want to check on Nandi.”
“Don’t even think of going in that room! Aunty Pumla is sleeping with Nandi because her mother was and still is AWOL. OUR BEDROOM NOW!” he barks, so loud I got a chill in my belly, as my heart thumps rigid beats. He grabs me by my arm and throws me on the bed. This time, I’m scared and don’t know what is about to happen. He immediately realizes my frozen posture and backs away, brushing his shaven head with his hand, his expression still hard. He then leans against the door.
“Nomsa, what is this? What is going on with you? Look what you nearly made me do woman!” No, he didn’t just say this!
“I’m sorry, I’m overwhelmed with work and everything!”
“Everything? What are you talking about? I hired Aunty Pumla to ease the burden but you’re still complaining. The least you can do is to stop coming home at this ungodly hour. You are a wife and a mother, and at least at work you do not work shifts. But you are still ungrateful!” he continues yelling at me.
“So, what do you want me to do? Leave my job?”
“That’s not what I’m saying, and you know that. You cannot leave your job as we need both our salaries to keep us afloat and live fairly well. All I’m saying is, let’s work together. You and I are married and I shouldn’t have to keep asking you to talk to me about what’s bothering you and why you have changed so much.”
“You didn’t expect me to change? Of course I have changed. What do you think? I don’t understand why it must only be me who gives up everything!” I explode. “You get to drive to work, while I’m stuck in taxis. Your life hasn’t changed, but mine is over! Your life has practically remained uninterrupted and you still look the same, while mine has become a perpetual sacrifice. I had to change my wardrobe because I’m now disfigured. But you don’t care about that, do you? My body no longer belongs to me,” I breathe heavily, ending my rant.
Sipho’s calm demeanour infuriates me. “Baby, I repeat, we’re in this together. There’s no one in this world who could ever replace you in my heart, irrespective of the changes in your body. Remember, we decided to have children…”
“Decided?” I laugh bitterly. “You decided; I was very busy building my career and you forced me to start a family when I wasn’t ready!”
********
February 18, 2022
BOOK EXCERPT - CURSE OF THE KNIGHT
CURSE OF THE KNIGHT BY PERTUNIA LEHOKA - COMING SOON!
Excerpt available from:
https://soundcloud.com/user-630835793...
If you are unable to pinpoint exactly why you are always negative and why you never seem to be happy or why you always try to sabotage relationships even when you should generally be happy, this book is dedicated to you.
I also dedicate this book to all the abused men and women, who could not decipher why they had felt, many times, that they had lost control of their lives and that the kind of lives they are living rarely feel like their own. You might not be aware of this right now but, you are likely to be in an unbalanced relationship and are most probably suffering subtle abuse. Your spirit will tell you very early on, if it is not comfortable with how the one you have brought into your space treats you.
Many people hope that once they leave home, they will leave their family and childhood problems behind. However, many find that they experience similar problems, as well as similar feelings and relationship patterns, long after they have left the family environment.
Most families unfortunately, fail to provide for many of their children’s emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical needs. In addition, the families’ communication patterns may severely limit the child’s expressions of feelings and needs. Children growing up in such families are likely to develop low self esteem and grow up feeling that their needs are not important or perhaps should not be taken seriously by others. As a result, they may form unsatisfying relationships as adults because this might be what their souls are accustomed to.
Please find solace in the story, and help yourself decipher why you might think the way you think; do what you do; struggle to allow certain individuals into your life or allow certain types into your life.
************
To be released on 31 March 2022
Excerpt available from:
https://soundcloud.com/user-630835793...
If you are unable to pinpoint exactly why you are always negative and why you never seem to be happy or why you always try to sabotage relationships even when you should generally be happy, this book is dedicated to you.
I also dedicate this book to all the abused men and women, who could not decipher why they had felt, many times, that they had lost control of their lives and that the kind of lives they are living rarely feel like their own. You might not be aware of this right now but, you are likely to be in an unbalanced relationship and are most probably suffering subtle abuse. Your spirit will tell you very early on, if it is not comfortable with how the one you have brought into your space treats you.
Many people hope that once they leave home, they will leave their family and childhood problems behind. However, many find that they experience similar problems, as well as similar feelings and relationship patterns, long after they have left the family environment.
Most families unfortunately, fail to provide for many of their children’s emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical needs. In addition, the families’ communication patterns may severely limit the child’s expressions of feelings and needs. Children growing up in such families are likely to develop low self esteem and grow up feeling that their needs are not important or perhaps should not be taken seriously by others. As a result, they may form unsatisfying relationships as adults because this might be what their souls are accustomed to.
Please find solace in the story, and help yourself decipher why you might think the way you think; do what you do; struggle to allow certain individuals into your life or allow certain types into your life.
************
To be released on 31 March 2022
July 20, 2021
FAILING IN OUR CAREER – IS IT OVER?
Excerpt from "TRAPPED" by Pertunia Lehoka - Coming Soon!
FAILING IN OUR CAREER – IS IT OVER?
This is a collection of short stories of those who are trapped in different situations, be it their careers, personal lives or even mindset etc. The title of the excerpt is captioned above and this is how it is detailed in the book as an outlook to stories dealing with people’s careers and what they encounter daily or occasionally in their line of work.
Below are some noteworthy topics I have dealt with in this book, in a dramatic format to bring home, an understanding of how a trapped person generally feels when experiencing this sometimes debilitating emotion.
The idea is to get a reader to identify with characters, change the status quo, remember where they come from, why and how they got involved with such a person or why they chose careers they did and what happened in the process of them trying to simply be their authentic self.
Are we to blame for undesirable situations we sometimes find ourselves in? If so, why is it so difficult to make the important decision to leave it all and start afresh?
Trapped in toxic relationships and toxic marriages;
Trapped in toxic friendships and can't end these friendships because of perceived perks brought about by these discomfitted friendships;
Trapped in unfulfilling careers;
Trapped in fulfilling careers but toxic environments;
Those disrespected at work simply because of their gender but they can't leave because they have gotten used to the perks.
Trapped within one's debilitating thoughts; Mindset entrapment
Trapped by life's never ending woes and changes happening thereto;
And many more!
********************
Excerpt:
Making all of your career dreams come true is something that you must work hard at no matter what – this should not hinge on anyone else’s dream about you doing a particular job. You are solely responsible for every decision you make. Let us remember that every decision we make today, can and will always determine how the rest of our lives would be like or turn out.
Therefore, we need to make wise decisions about our lives and seek not to dwell in others’ shadow and also refuse to be under anyone’s shadow because, we do not know what lies ahead. Life is very unpredictable and very short. Ideally, no one should ever leave a mess behind for others to clean.
What I’m doing today career-wise, personally as well as spiritually, came as a result of a decision or decisions I made years ago. I might have made some of these decisions without thinking clearly but jumped head on first. I however still believe that some coincidences are engineered by powers beyond human comprehension. I also strongly believe that, in the world we live in, everyone’s life path has been set out for them, even though we might believe otherwise most of the time.
This includes even the undesirable situations we might occasionally find ourselves being confronted with. Any hindrance to our chosen fields might be the exact challenge we have to go through after sending messages to the universe, without even realising that we might have been doing so.
Copyright 2020, Pertunia Lehoka, Pretoria, South Africa
"TRAPPED" COMING SOON!
FAILING IN OUR CAREER – IS IT OVER?
This is a collection of short stories of those who are trapped in different situations, be it their careers, personal lives or even mindset etc. The title of the excerpt is captioned above and this is how it is detailed in the book as an outlook to stories dealing with people’s careers and what they encounter daily or occasionally in their line of work.
Below are some noteworthy topics I have dealt with in this book, in a dramatic format to bring home, an understanding of how a trapped person generally feels when experiencing this sometimes debilitating emotion.
The idea is to get a reader to identify with characters, change the status quo, remember where they come from, why and how they got involved with such a person or why they chose careers they did and what happened in the process of them trying to simply be their authentic self.
Are we to blame for undesirable situations we sometimes find ourselves in? If so, why is it so difficult to make the important decision to leave it all and start afresh?
Trapped in toxic relationships and toxic marriages;
Trapped in toxic friendships and can't end these friendships because of perceived perks brought about by these discomfitted friendships;
Trapped in unfulfilling careers;
Trapped in fulfilling careers but toxic environments;
Those disrespected at work simply because of their gender but they can't leave because they have gotten used to the perks.
Trapped within one's debilitating thoughts; Mindset entrapment
Trapped by life's never ending woes and changes happening thereto;
And many more!
********************
Excerpt:
Making all of your career dreams come true is something that you must work hard at no matter what – this should not hinge on anyone else’s dream about you doing a particular job. You are solely responsible for every decision you make. Let us remember that every decision we make today, can and will always determine how the rest of our lives would be like or turn out.
Therefore, we need to make wise decisions about our lives and seek not to dwell in others’ shadow and also refuse to be under anyone’s shadow because, we do not know what lies ahead. Life is very unpredictable and very short. Ideally, no one should ever leave a mess behind for others to clean.
What I’m doing today career-wise, personally as well as spiritually, came as a result of a decision or decisions I made years ago. I might have made some of these decisions without thinking clearly but jumped head on first. I however still believe that some coincidences are engineered by powers beyond human comprehension. I also strongly believe that, in the world we live in, everyone’s life path has been set out for them, even though we might believe otherwise most of the time.
This includes even the undesirable situations we might occasionally find ourselves being confronted with. Any hindrance to our chosen fields might be the exact challenge we have to go through after sending messages to the universe, without even realising that we might have been doing so.
Copyright 2020, Pertunia Lehoka, Pretoria, South Africa
"TRAPPED" COMING SOON!
June 29, 2021
BOOK EXCERPT - PROVIDENCE
Friends, as things get complicated in relationships, we fight those we might believe are standing in our way of happiness, as we battle to untie our souls from them.
Enjoy this excerpt from Providence - Mystery of the Sou Ties!
Get your copy today. It costs only R280 + R60 courier for those in South Africa and neighbouring countries. For anyone outside of the continent, you may order from Amazon.
EXCERPT:
Peter contacted Jewls out of the blue, after not speaking to her for almost a year. He was not doing well at his workplace. He was an associate at a huge law firm, but wanted to check if he could join Jewls’ firm as her partner. Jewls’ secretary transferred the call to her without establishing from her first, as to whether she would take Peter’s call. She had no reason to believe she would not want to take the call...
"Jewls Jama...,” she answered.
“Hi Jewls, it’s Peter.”
“Hi, I thought you and I weren’t talking,” she scoffed.
“Well..., we’re not really talking..., about personal stuff I mean. I have a business proposition and please hear me out before you say anything,” he begged.
“What is it Peter?” she asked gallingly.
“I’d like to join your firm as your partner and bring all my clients with me. We can negotiate the terms, especially how much I might have to put down and so forth...”
Jewls interrupted Peter before he could even complete his statement.
“Peter, that’s not going to happen. What’s wrong with where you’re working? Why don’t you open your own practice? I don’t really need a partner. I’m pretty happy with how I’m working right now,” she added dismissively.
“Wow Jewls, so many questions at once! Anyway, I’m no longer happy here Jewls, because I don’t really get to make major decisions that affect this practice. It also does not look like I’d be made a partner anytime soon,” he lamented.
“Then establish your own firm Peter. Trust me, it’s very fulfilling. I have no intentions of taking on a partner anyway.”
"Not even me?” he asked forlornly.
“Especially not you."
“I thought you and I were in sync Jewls. May I ask why you wouldn’t want to work with me?”
“Peter, surely you don’t think that after insulting my man and disrespecting our relationship, I’d still want you in my space did you?”
“Jewls, I was in shock when I first heard about your relationship, but you’ve got to admit, this is highly atypical. For years, you and Mike were like brother and sister and now..., you’re sharing a bed!” he ridiculed once more.
“There you go again! You know, I don’t actually have to listen to this. In any event, Mike doesn’t want you anywhere near me. Even if I were to forgive you, I’d never take you on as a partner.” She dropped the phone in Peter’s ear.
The man was not pleased and decided to do the most idiotic thing ever! He went to see Michael, who had just arrived back at his office from speaking to Jewls’ father, and was in a very pleasant mood, as he reflected on his and Jewls’ impending future.
Having been away from work for almost two hours, Michael had no time to chitchat with anybody and immediately got to work as soon as he arrived. His eyes were fixed on what he was working on in his office, and hadn’t noticed a figure standing at the door, gawking at him and bearing a silly grin.
When he raised his head briefly from his documents, he saw Peter standing there, impassive and still bearing a daft smile. It was clear however, that he was a man with a lot to say.
“What are you doing here? How did you get past my secretary?” Michael asked, his tone hardening as he stood up from his chair, determined to admonish Peter.
“Oh... relax Doc. I’m just here to say a few things really, and then I’ll leave you in peace,” a conceited Peter alleged, entering Michael’s office uninvited then closing the door behind him.
“You’ve got some nerve showing up here like this. Who gave you the right to waltz in here as if you owned this place? What do you want?” an irate Michael could not believe Peter’s nerve, as he paced up and down his office insolently, taunting him disdainfully, touching medical instruments he found on Michael’s side credenza then putting them down.
“You know Doc..., I get it now. The reason you’ve never really liked me was because you felt threatened by me, didn’t you? You pervert!” Peter’s bile emerged catching Michael completely off-guard.
“Careful Peter... I suggest you leave now before I really lose my cool, You’re a boy and Jewls needed a real man,” he warned, while Peter chuckled contemptuously.
“What are you gonna do Doctor Michael Mokoena? Punch me?” he shook his head, revealing his silliest grin ever.
“You know... for a doctor, you are very slow. Jewls and I share something deeper than what you and her perhaps share,” he roared, while Michael’s ego was becoming increasingly wounded.
Michael kept his fists clinched and was about to put them to ‘good use’, as his cellphone rang. A brief glance at the screen revealed that it was Jewls calling. He ignored the call, as there was an intruder in his office that needed to be dealt with, before he could call his woman.
“You’re not going to answer that?” Peter taunted.
“Peter, I’m not going to engage with you about my relationship with Jewls. You know very well that she never loved you. Who’s an idiot in this situation huh? How can a man force a relationship with a woman who never wanted him to begin with? Now that’s pathetic. GET OUT OF MY OFFICE BEFORE I THROW YOU OUT!” Michael scolded angrily, observing Peter’s outlandish behaviour, eager to teach him a lesson.
He managed to control his temper after a while though, knowing the repercussions that would ensue, should he even dare touch the man.
Peter remained impudent, as he continued hurling insults at Michael and taunting him, determined to see him crumble.
“I called Jewls today and... despite your having poisoned her mind against me, we spoke at length and she’s considering taking me on as a partner.”
Peter’s blatant lie pierced deep into Michael’s heart, deeper than any of the insults he had hurled at him ever could. He believed what Peter was saying to be true.
Despite the fact that Jewls had given him her word, that she had cut ties with Peter and had never spoken to him until that day when he called her, Michael chose to believe Peter’s lies. He recalled how Jewls had sought to bring him on as her partner at some point. He believed that she went against his wishes and invited the man to join her nonetheless.
Peter enjoyed watching Michael squirm on hearing the news.
“GET OUT OF MY OFFICE BEFORE I DO SOMETHING REGRETTABLE!” Michael screamed, increasingly becoming agitated.
“Oh..., hold your horses...I’m leaving.” Peter lifted his hands up, whistling as he left Michael’s office, thrilled to have rattled the cage and seemed to have gotten a kick out of exasperating Michael.
Poor Jewls..., she had no idea what was happening as she tried once more to contact Michael on his cellphone and then eventually contacting his landline. He answered the phone.
“Dr Mokoena...”
“Mike, I’ve been trying to reach you. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, I know; I was busy,” he answered, his tone dry and indifferent. Jewls could sense that something was wrong and sought to find out what the problem was.
“My love, are you alright? You sound odd.”
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” he snapped.
“Mike, you’re snapping at me. What did I do wrong?”
“Why don’t you tell me Jewls, seeing as you discuss me with your ex and even contemplate defying me about bringing him on as a partner?”
“Mike, where do you get that from?” she asked fretfully.
“That little boyfriend of yours was just here. He insulted me in my own office, my own building... telling me how you two spoke like old times and how you’re considering bringing him on as a partner.”
“Mike, honestly now! Can’t you see that Peter is stirring trouble? Yes, I spoke to him but he called me, not the other way round. He said he had a proposition for me to join my firm and I refused. Why would you believe him outright, that I’d go against your wishes anyway? What does that say about our relationship Mike? I don’t like this.”
“What was I supposed to think Jewls? You did consider bringing him on as a partner before, so you can’t expect me not to think that you haven’t been harbouring those feelings.”
“Mike, I gave you my word that I wouldn't do that. Why is that not good enough anymore? I don’t understand your reaction to this lunatic’s assertions, I really don’t,” she cried, fuming.
“So, are you saying you’re not considering bringing him on as a partner?” he asked, not at all believing anything Jewls had intimated to him.
“I’m saying this conversation is over Mike...,” she seethed, dropping the phone in Michael’s ear, utterly furious at Peter and perhaps more at Michael for believing such lies.
She called her brother Tomas, to tell him what had happened and he could not understand why Michael would believe Peter’s lies just like that. He did recall Michael’s severe dislike of Peter at some point.
His talk with Jewls about Peter some months ago, had clouded his judgment and he never even once, entertained the thought that the man could have been blatantly lying about Jewls.
Tomas was protective of both Michael and Jewls and despite not having been a fan of their relationship initially, once he got used to the idea of his sister and best friend being together, he did everything in his power to protect their relationship...."
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EXCERPT:
Peter contacted Jewls out of the blue, after not speaking to her for almost a year. He was not doing well at his workplace. He was an associate at a huge law firm, but wanted to check if he could join Jewls’ firm as her partner. Jewls’ secretary transferred the call to her without establishing from her first, as to whether she would take Peter’s call. She had no reason to believe she would not want to take the call...
"Jewls Jama...,” she answered.
“Hi Jewls, it’s Peter.”
“Hi, I thought you and I weren’t talking,” she scoffed.
“Well..., we’re not really talking..., about personal stuff I mean. I have a business proposition and please hear me out before you say anything,” he begged.
“What is it Peter?” she asked gallingly.
“I’d like to join your firm as your partner and bring all my clients with me. We can negotiate the terms, especially how much I might have to put down and so forth...”
Jewls interrupted Peter before he could even complete his statement.
“Peter, that’s not going to happen. What’s wrong with where you’re working? Why don’t you open your own practice? I don’t really need a partner. I’m pretty happy with how I’m working right now,” she added dismissively.
“Wow Jewls, so many questions at once! Anyway, I’m no longer happy here Jewls, because I don’t really get to make major decisions that affect this practice. It also does not look like I’d be made a partner anytime soon,” he lamented.
“Then establish your own firm Peter. Trust me, it’s very fulfilling. I have no intentions of taking on a partner anyway.”
"Not even me?” he asked forlornly.
“Especially not you."
“I thought you and I were in sync Jewls. May I ask why you wouldn’t want to work with me?”
“Peter, surely you don’t think that after insulting my man and disrespecting our relationship, I’d still want you in my space did you?”
“Jewls, I was in shock when I first heard about your relationship, but you’ve got to admit, this is highly atypical. For years, you and Mike were like brother and sister and now..., you’re sharing a bed!” he ridiculed once more.
“There you go again! You know, I don’t actually have to listen to this. In any event, Mike doesn’t want you anywhere near me. Even if I were to forgive you, I’d never take you on as a partner.” She dropped the phone in Peter’s ear.
The man was not pleased and decided to do the most idiotic thing ever! He went to see Michael, who had just arrived back at his office from speaking to Jewls’ father, and was in a very pleasant mood, as he reflected on his and Jewls’ impending future.
Having been away from work for almost two hours, Michael had no time to chitchat with anybody and immediately got to work as soon as he arrived. His eyes were fixed on what he was working on in his office, and hadn’t noticed a figure standing at the door, gawking at him and bearing a silly grin.
When he raised his head briefly from his documents, he saw Peter standing there, impassive and still bearing a daft smile. It was clear however, that he was a man with a lot to say.
“What are you doing here? How did you get past my secretary?” Michael asked, his tone hardening as he stood up from his chair, determined to admonish Peter.
“Oh... relax Doc. I’m just here to say a few things really, and then I’ll leave you in peace,” a conceited Peter alleged, entering Michael’s office uninvited then closing the door behind him.
“You’ve got some nerve showing up here like this. Who gave you the right to waltz in here as if you owned this place? What do you want?” an irate Michael could not believe Peter’s nerve, as he paced up and down his office insolently, taunting him disdainfully, touching medical instruments he found on Michael’s side credenza then putting them down.
“You know Doc..., I get it now. The reason you’ve never really liked me was because you felt threatened by me, didn’t you? You pervert!” Peter’s bile emerged catching Michael completely off-guard.
“Careful Peter... I suggest you leave now before I really lose my cool, You’re a boy and Jewls needed a real man,” he warned, while Peter chuckled contemptuously.
“What are you gonna do Doctor Michael Mokoena? Punch me?” he shook his head, revealing his silliest grin ever.
“You know... for a doctor, you are very slow. Jewls and I share something deeper than what you and her perhaps share,” he roared, while Michael’s ego was becoming increasingly wounded.
Michael kept his fists clinched and was about to put them to ‘good use’, as his cellphone rang. A brief glance at the screen revealed that it was Jewls calling. He ignored the call, as there was an intruder in his office that needed to be dealt with, before he could call his woman.
“You’re not going to answer that?” Peter taunted.
“Peter, I’m not going to engage with you about my relationship with Jewls. You know very well that she never loved you. Who’s an idiot in this situation huh? How can a man force a relationship with a woman who never wanted him to begin with? Now that’s pathetic. GET OUT OF MY OFFICE BEFORE I THROW YOU OUT!” Michael scolded angrily, observing Peter’s outlandish behaviour, eager to teach him a lesson.
He managed to control his temper after a while though, knowing the repercussions that would ensue, should he even dare touch the man.
Peter remained impudent, as he continued hurling insults at Michael and taunting him, determined to see him crumble.
“I called Jewls today and... despite your having poisoned her mind against me, we spoke at length and she’s considering taking me on as a partner.”
Peter’s blatant lie pierced deep into Michael’s heart, deeper than any of the insults he had hurled at him ever could. He believed what Peter was saying to be true.
Despite the fact that Jewls had given him her word, that she had cut ties with Peter and had never spoken to him until that day when he called her, Michael chose to believe Peter’s lies. He recalled how Jewls had sought to bring him on as her partner at some point. He believed that she went against his wishes and invited the man to join her nonetheless.
Peter enjoyed watching Michael squirm on hearing the news.
“GET OUT OF MY OFFICE BEFORE I DO SOMETHING REGRETTABLE!” Michael screamed, increasingly becoming agitated.
“Oh..., hold your horses...I’m leaving.” Peter lifted his hands up, whistling as he left Michael’s office, thrilled to have rattled the cage and seemed to have gotten a kick out of exasperating Michael.
Poor Jewls..., she had no idea what was happening as she tried once more to contact Michael on his cellphone and then eventually contacting his landline. He answered the phone.
“Dr Mokoena...”
“Mike, I’ve been trying to reach you. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, I know; I was busy,” he answered, his tone dry and indifferent. Jewls could sense that something was wrong and sought to find out what the problem was.
“My love, are you alright? You sound odd.”
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” he snapped.
“Mike, you’re snapping at me. What did I do wrong?”
“Why don’t you tell me Jewls, seeing as you discuss me with your ex and even contemplate defying me about bringing him on as a partner?”
“Mike, where do you get that from?” she asked fretfully.
“That little boyfriend of yours was just here. He insulted me in my own office, my own building... telling me how you two spoke like old times and how you’re considering bringing him on as a partner.”
“Mike, honestly now! Can’t you see that Peter is stirring trouble? Yes, I spoke to him but he called me, not the other way round. He said he had a proposition for me to join my firm and I refused. Why would you believe him outright, that I’d go against your wishes anyway? What does that say about our relationship Mike? I don’t like this.”
“What was I supposed to think Jewls? You did consider bringing him on as a partner before, so you can’t expect me not to think that you haven’t been harbouring those feelings.”
“Mike, I gave you my word that I wouldn't do that. Why is that not good enough anymore? I don’t understand your reaction to this lunatic’s assertions, I really don’t,” she cried, fuming.
“So, are you saying you’re not considering bringing him on as a partner?” he asked, not at all believing anything Jewls had intimated to him.
“I’m saying this conversation is over Mike...,” she seethed, dropping the phone in Michael’s ear, utterly furious at Peter and perhaps more at Michael for believing such lies.
She called her brother Tomas, to tell him what had happened and he could not understand why Michael would believe Peter’s lies just like that. He did recall Michael’s severe dislike of Peter at some point.
His talk with Jewls about Peter some months ago, had clouded his judgment and he never even once, entertained the thought that the man could have been blatantly lying about Jewls.
Tomas was protective of both Michael and Jewls and despite not having been a fan of their relationship initially, once he got used to the idea of his sister and best friend being together, he did everything in his power to protect their relationship...."
****************
Want to know what happened next? Get your copy of PROVIDENCE - MYSTERY OF THE SOUL TIES today. Pertunia Lehoka
