THE WEDDING NEGOTIATIONS

It is true that,"all that glitters isn't gold."Looking at Dinny and Lebo's relationship from the distance,one would think of it as a perfect one.Dinny,was a second born in her family.Her father had been a troublesome one,a man that never helped their mom in the upbringing of their children.He was only devoted to women outside his marriage while his family suffered.

Having such a father had opened Dinny's eyes.She was never going to marry a man that looked like a younger version of her father.Lebo had added nothing but misery to her life.He wasn't the same muscular man she had fallen in love with some years back.He had promised her heaven and earth in the first years of their relationship.Dinny,love smitten,had believed all his lies not knowing that he was just a sweet talker.

It was only after many heartbreaks that Dinny thought she had to make him pay for wasting her time.She was never going to let him go without letting him get a taste of his own medicine.Lebo on the other hand,had his own hidden agenda.As much as he loved Dinny,he also saw her as a ladder to help him achieve his goals.

At his mother's house,Lebo kept getting on his mother's nerves pressuring her to let his uncles know that he was ready for marriage.While his mother and uncles made preparations to go to Dinny's home,he made plans to get money for their wedding.A man like him,had to make an impression.The sad part,he didn't have money to cover for their wedding expenses.

While he cracked his head about cash,his phone rang.It was a call from his uncle. "Mochana!I have heard the good knews.I hope you have chosen well.We don't want an ugly makoti", his uncle chuckled.Lebo joined in,chuckling."Off course malome!You know me.I don't want a wife who will scare my visitors away."He ended the call still in stitches.

"I should move faster,I hope Dinny doesn't set an early date". He lazily sat on the edge of his bed,lost in thoughts.He took off his shoes and lay on his bed,facing the ceiling of his bedroom.He reflected on the journey of their relationship.Deep down,he knew he hadn't been the best boyfriend but he was willing to do whatever it takes to win back his lover's trust.

Now there was this trending video that stressed him.Everytime he closed his eyes,the scenes from the video kept playing at the back of his mind like some parts from a movie he had once watched.The thought of Dinny finding out it was him on the video gave him chills.Although he had enjoyed taking part,he wished that if possible,that chapter could be torn from the book of his life.In that chapter,he had messed up.

Suddenly,out of nowhere,he jumped up and sat up still on his bed.Somethind had come up his mind.His heart beat faster.How come this hadn't crossed his mind?At first,he was relieved that Dinny showed no interest in the trending video but now some random thought crossed his mind.Who exactly had leaked that video?Not even the girl he was with had it in her.It was only him and it was hidden in his phone.No one knew his phone pass except himself.

He rubbed his face with his hands as if trying to have a clear vision of something that he couldn't see clearly.Showing signs of desperation,he lay down again trying to think of who had leaked that video.He tossed and turned then finally decided to call Dinny just to read her mood.Her phone rang once and she picked the call"Hey handsome!I see you can't live without me",she teased him.

He sighed before answering."Oh!Hey Dinny,I was just missing you.I also thought I should update you concerning the wedding negotiations.Mom passed the message to my uncles so anytime soon,they will give your parents a call."

"I look forward to thier call then.I think it's wise we meet after they visit my home",I have to wrap up my school work.Chat later,bye my love."She ended ended the call as soon as he agreed to them chatting later.Smiling in disbelief,Lebo felt at ease.He had to stop worrying himself about something Dinny wasn't interested in.Clearly,she was excited about their marriage.

On the other side,Dinny sat with her mother under their favorite tree."Was it Lebo?"Before answering,she rolled her eyes "Yeah mom.Lebo is about to send his uncles"Her mom took a moment before she could respond."Hmm!I should get a crawl ready for the cows they are going to pay for you,"She jokingly replied.The two of them bust out laughing.

Dinny's mother knew Lebo from childhood.She loved him for her.His mother was a strict woman.After her husband's death,she had taken a good care of both of her children.Her knowing Lebo's mother too well was an added advantage to him.Dinny never shared anything about his infidelity to her mother.That therefore kept him in her mother's good books."Finally,I will have grandkids too",she jokingly said.Dinny just smiled.

At uncle Thabo's house,Lebo's uncle is busy fiddling with his phone.He had phoned Dinny's parents and the families had both agreed on the date for negotiations.He passed the message to Lebo's mother who received the news by ululating.Neighbours,who knew nothing about the her son's wedding,wondered through whispers what the ululating was all about.

"Maybe that drunkard son of hers has finally gotten himself a job",one whispered.That was always the problem with nosey neighbours.They always wanted to know everything that happened around them.They made thier own assumptions or create their own stories if no one told them the real story.You will find lies spreading like a pandemic throught the village.You will hear made up stories about you that you don't know.

Luckily for Dinny,she had maintained her dignity unlike her soon to be husband.On the other news,people had now forgotten about the trending video.Everyone was back to their normal life.Sadly,it was a different story for the people in it.It was a chapter that could be re opened at anytime.It was a shameful burden they were to carry to death.

Dinny did all she could to play a happy girlfriend.If only chests could be ripped open,Lebo would have long left her.Her heart was torn apart.She hated how he made her believe in love only to later disappoint her.She longed to touch him roughly with her bare hands and give him a slap across the face.Maybe,just maybe that will bring him back to his senses.

After days of communicating through phones,the day of negotiations had arrived.Dinny's family had made the best preparations for welcoming their visitors.Dinny's mother had always looked forward to seeing this day.The weather was partly sunny but there were signs it could rain along the course of the day.Dark clouds began forming,the sun gave up its presence and hide behind the furious clouds.In no time,harsh drops forcefully penetrated the once thirsty land."This is a sign that things will work out perfectly for you Dinny",said her mother.

Things had to work out in her favour indeed.While waiting for Lebo's family,Dinny went outside.She wanted to feel the sweet scent of rain drops hitting the soil.They hadn't experienced rain in ages so each rain drop was worth being celebrated.As soon as she realized Lebo's uncle car approaching,she quickly ran into the house to alert her family."They are coming,I will be in my bedroom." She then hurried to her bedroom.

Lebo was left home with her sister who wasn't impressed that the wedding was being prepared for.Lebo the lazy man,was excited that finally things were happening.Somehow,he had managed to receive a hundred thousand maloti loan from a well-known loan shark.The only worry now,was how soon the wedding could happen.He was unsettled at home pacing up and down like a mad man.

At Dinny's home,it was now time for Lebo's family to head back home.The negotiations went smoothly and wedding dates were suggested by both families.It was now up to the lovers to decide on the exact date.It had now stopped raining,sun rays could be seen piercing through the clouds.The ground was moist,now showing signs of radiance.Dinny was relieved that everything went smoothly.She had to dread carefully,it was now time for phase two of her plot.

She scrolled through her phone gallery and came across the screenshots of messages between Lebo and one of his other one night stands.In these messages,the sender had told Lebo that she wasn't feeling well after their encounter so she had gone for a clinical check up.At the clinic,they had to run tests on her urine and blood.The HIV test results had come out positive and the urine sample showed no infections.Lebo had responded by blaming the sender but she had made it clear that she got infected by him.

This discovery had almost send her to death.She was furious that he had infected someone and was now about to infect her knowingly too.Luckily for her,they had agreed to celibacy until after marriage.Dinny kept her promise but as for Lebo,he wasn't loyal.The screenshots had just opened her healed wounds.It was funny that she had held on to him through sunshine and darkness.She had not only played the role of a lover to him,yet that was how he wanted to thank her.

Lost in her emotions,Dinny almost jumped with fright when noticing her mother looking at her,standing on the doorway."Mom,I'm just emotional.How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to know that you are telling lies."Are you sure you want to marry Lebo?I'm now confused.What is wrong my child?" her mother asked looking confused.

"Stop it mom!"she faked a smile."I was just going through our photos together.It just ran through my mind that getting married means I'm no longer going to sit under our favorite tree with you." Her mother gave a sigh of relieved and simply nodded.

Her mother could sense the lies in her made up story.She walked out without saying a word.what her mother thought at that moment was the least of her worries.The main thing running through her mind was how she would execute her plan.The throughly thought to herself.After some time,they changed her phone simcards and inserted her secret one.She went through her w******p contacts,added a photo of the screenshot attempting to send it to Lebo.

She quickly cancelled the attachment and decide to tease him through text. "Hi handsome!" she send the message and waited for his response.Lebo read the text and never cared to give a response.She realized he ignored the message and decided to put her known simcard back in her phone.Dissapointed by his reaction,she threw herself on the bed.

Unfortunately for her,she hadn't realized the pair of scissors on the bed.The scissors accidentally pierced through her skin, she gave out a loud cry. "Mom!help me." Upon hearing her cry,her mother came back to her room flying. "What is the matter?" Before Dinny could even respond,her mother noticed blood flowing on her wrist.She rushed out to get their first aid toolbox.

She helped Dinny clean her wound then took her to the hospital.Dinny didn't want to go to the hospital at first but she agreed because her mother was persuasive.There were two patients on the queue in front of her at the hospital.When it was her turn,she walked in and closed the door behind her.As soon as she saw the Doctor,she was charmed.Her heart skipped a bit with excitement.She even forgot what had brought her there,the pain had suddenly vanished.

The doctor seemed to be charmed by his patient as well.He watched her walk towards him,her hips swinging as if they were dancing to a certain rhythm.He offered her a sit before she could even greet him. "Miss Lineo,please have a seat."

"Thank you Doctor." She shyly looked down,feeling betrayed by her heart.Why was it beating fast as soon as her silly eyes landed on him?It was a feeling she had never had before.She cleared her throught to speak, "why did the pain disappear as soon as I entered your room Doctor?" They both laughed.

"You were obviously healed by my presence."He teased her.He attended to her and prescribed painkillers.The cut wasn't deep,it was just the sight of blood that had scared Dinny's mother.Before she left,the doctor asked for her contacts pretending he only wanted to check on how she's healing.

Dinny kept smiling to herself on their way home.She couldn't erase the sight of the doctor from her mind.Her mother noticed the sudden change in her mood.After seeing the doctor,she didn't seem to be in pain anymore.Her mother knew it had something to do with the doctor.