Chapter 5: Teach her a lesson (1)

It had been nearly a month since Elizabeth’s last encounter with Sinikiwe Gwaba, and she was still plotting to teach the young woman a lesson. Simply having Sinikiwe suffer without gain wasn’t enough-Elizabeth wanted her to truly understand why.

“Madam?” Boyd, her stout driver, asked softly from the front seat.

Elizabeth, seated in the luxurious car’s back, gazed into the slowly brightening night. Parked across from Sinikiwe’s home, a crooked smile crept onto her lips at what was about to unfold.

Sinikiwe had no clue what awaited her.“Are the men here?”

“Yes, madam.”

“Good. Let’s get this over with.”She stepped out before Boyd, crossing the quiet street as the van carrying a dozen laborers pulled up behind them.

Boyd knocked on Sinikiwe’s gate.Sinikiwe groaned as the pounding at the door shattered her scant sleep. She wished for them to go away, but the noise only grew louder.

Sitting up, she checked on her children. Both slept soundly beside her. Chitontozo, recently discharged from the hospital, lay snoring softly, a spy novel tucked under his pillow.

Before, the kids had shared a room while she and Gloria shared another. But with Gloria gone, they now all bunked together.She wrapped a chitenge around her chest over her nightdress and navigated by the early light filtering through the curtains.

Grabbing the keys from the kitchen counter, she began the tedious unlocking—three locks, a metal rod, then the door itself.

Stepping outside, the men continued pounding impatiently.

“May I help you?” she asked the stout man at the gate, her voice trembling with irritation. She didn’t know him, and he had no right to disturb her at this hour. She stood firmly, blocking the view to the yard.

“Hello, Sinikiwe,” came a far-too-familiar voice. The man stepped aside to reveal Elizabeth Njolomba, dressed elegantly in an all-white boubou with matching head wrapper and slippers.

Diamond studs sparkled in her ears, a gold watch glinted on her wrist.

“Mrs. Elizabeth,” Sinikiwe said quietly, shock flooding her.

“You’re trespassing,” Elizabeth said, grabbing Sinikiwe’s keys.

“What?”Her driver reached into his pocket and handed Sinikiwe an envelope, nodding toward the men in the van. She tore it open, stunned, as the driver opened the iron gates.

“No… no! What is the meaning of this?” she demanded, waving the paper in disbelief. She glanced at Elizabeth, who smiled triumphantly.

The men pushed past and stormed inside.

“Mrs. Elizabeth, why are you doing this? What are these men doing here?” Sinikiwe yelled, holding up the letter.

“Oh, we’ll find out soon enough,” Elizabeth replied cheerfully. Before Sinikiwe could react, the first men emerged, violently throwing kitchenware onto the ground.

Pots and cutlery clanged loudly in a harsh symphony. Kneeling in shock, Sinikiwe watched as Elizabeth beamed, pleased with the humiliation she was inflicting.

Suddenly, a scream from inside jolted Sinikiwe out of her daze.

“The kids! Oh my God, the kids!” she murmured, scrambling to her feet and rushing inside.She pushed past men hauling furniture, tumbling as one shoved her back, but she ignored the pain.

The children’s safety came first. Behind her, the crashing and smashing continued relentlessly.

“Chimwemwe…Chitontozo…” she called frantically, bursting into the now nearly empty house. She dodged a man rolling up a carpet as the men laughed and grabbed whatever they could.

“Mum! Mummy!” her daughter’s frightened voice echoed from the bedroom.Two men passed her, struggling to carry half-open suitcases spilling clothes.She hurried through the open doors where three men yanked open drawers, tossing clothes onto the bed.

“Chimwemwe, Chitontozo, are you okay?” she asked, spotting the children huddled in a corner, wailing.

“Mummy, what’s going on? Who are these people? Why are they doing this?” Chitontozo sobbed, clutching her arm.

Sinikiwe held them tight, whispering brokenly, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” tears falling onto their heads.