Sandy's Challenge

By Thabi Majabula

Sandy cannot understand why her husband, Vusi, wants to stop her from leaving their home. She has made up her mind, and leaves, because she is tired of being ignored by him. He meets her by chance in a restaurant and takes her to his home.

They host his guests, then she returns to her own home. He fetches her back, for appearances to his mother. His children return from university and she concludes that she was right to have left.

Her husband starts behaving as if he is aware of her. That confuses her and gives her hopes that she does not really want to have.

An altercation that he has with one of his children changes the family dynamic. His family is against the consequences of the altercation and try, and fail, to change his mind.
Sandy and Vusi are faced with a challenge that Vusi does not want to discuss. Sandy, seeing no way for the relationship to survive without a discussion, leaves again. When Vusi agrees to talk, she returns home.

One of his sisters tries to get rid of Sandy, but Vusi surprises her by saying that he will not put up with his sister’s meddling.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thabi Majabula
• Release date: Nov 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301229086

Thabi Majabula

Good romance stories are mood enhancers. I am thankful to all the romance writers who improved my mood many times. I am also thankful to be among romance writers, and I am thankful to all entities, physical and spiritual, who make it possible for me to write. I am thankful to you, reader, and I am thankful for every single person who has read any of my stories. I hope reading the stories gave you as much pleasure as writing gave me. Best of all things, Thabi

Book preview

SANDY’S CHALLENGE

By

Thabi Majabula

Published by Thabi Majabula at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Thabi Majabula

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons (living or dead), actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER ONE

We can't just get a divorce! protested Vusi.

You won't lose anything. I'm only taking my own things, said Sandy, packing more clothes into her suitcase. She was forcing herself not to drool over her husband, or to succumb to her desire to be with him. He was six foot tall, of medium build, medium complexion, with brown pools for eyes, and he was too handsome for his own good.

You didn't talk to me about this, he said.

We hardly see each other, I've had no chance to talk to you.

I'm not divorcing you.

Why not? With me gone, your children can be more free here, and your Ma...

Stop that!

I'm showing you the advantages of getting a divorce.

I'm not getting a divorce!

What do you suggest? A separation? What happens if we want to marry other people?

We are married to each other! We can't marry other people.

We can, once we're divorced.

We're not divorcing!

We must. I don't like this living arrangement. I want a husband...

You already have a husband!

We're roommates, not married people. I'm not satisfied with that. I want a full marriage.

I'll give it to you.

It's too late.

No, it isn't! Sandy closed her fully packed suitcase, put it on the floor and put an empty suitcase on the bed. She turned to her cupboard.

Stop that! Stop that packing and focus! said Vusi. Sandy looked at him.

I'm focusing, she said. Vusi left the door, entered her bedroom, and sat on the bed.

What's going on? he asked.

I want a divorce.

Why? Everything's fine.

Did you and Karabo have the kind of marriage that you and I have?

That was different!

Why?

She wasn't you.

Exactly. I no longer want to be married to someone who doesn't love me, desire me, like me, and who isn't even my friend. I want a proper marriage.

I'll give it to you!

How can you? We've been married four years, and I'm the one who touches you, kisses you, and holds your hand. Even then, you tolerate that when we have an audience, otherwise, you can't stand to have me near you. At first, I thought you were still grieving, but I've finally accepted that I disgust you.

You don't!

I'm leaving.

No! Sandy turned to her cupboard, took clothes from there, and put them in her suitcase. Her five foot seven, voluptuous frame worked swiftly. She wanted to move out that day, and be done with the whole mess.

Sandy, let's talk about this, said Vusi.

If you'll excuse me I have a lot to get through, Sandy said curtly. She felt Vusi watching her for some minutes, then he left. She closed her eyes tightly, forbidding herself to cry. She opened her eyes, and finished packing.

After some time, her cell phone rang. She answered it, then she went to open the front door to the people who were helping her to move. She greeted them, and showed them what to take to the lorry. In a short while, her few pieces of furniture, books, plants, and suitcases, had been packed into the lorry. Sandy fetched her handbag from her bedroom.

She was almost at the front door, when she noticed Vusi watching her. She stopped, and returned his look. Her heart was pounding. He did not say anything, she decided to leave before she changed her mind. She walked towards the door, nodded at Vusi as she passed him, then she climbed into the lorry. Simon drove off.

Are you sure, Sisi? he asked.

Yes, said Sandy.

He didn't look happy about it.

He doesn't care.

I think he does.

Can we not talk about this? Sandy said curtly. She was starting to feel tearful. She was not going to shed tears about a non-marriage.

At her new home, Simon and his helpers unloaded her possessions, then they left. Sandy took her shoes off, and walked about the house. She ended up in her bedroom. It was smaller than...she stopped the thought, and sat on the bed.

Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, she repeated to herself, but it did not help. The tears fell from her eyes. She lay on her belly on her bed, sobbing until she fell asleep.

When she woke up, she was cold. She showered and climbed into bed. Next morning, she toyed with the idea of not going to work, and discarded it. Work would not give her time to mope. Moping would not change anything, nor would it turn the clock back.

The best thing for me is to date as many men as possible, Sandy thought, as she dressed. In the taxi to work, she decided that she would accept Jonathan's offer of a date if he made it. He was always asking her out.

She was relieved that no one said anything about her puffy eyes. She relaxed as the day progressed. When Jonathan entered her office after lunch, she smiled at him.

Is it my birthday? Or is it Christmas? Why are you smiling at me? he asked.

I'm glad to see you.

Glad enough to go on a date with me?

Will your wife be joining us?

No. Will your husband be joining us?

No. They arranged a time and place, then Jonathan told her what work he needed her to do.

At the close of business, Sandy went to cancel her date with him. The relief in his eyes showed her that she had done the right thing.

She decided that if she went home, she would end up in tears. She went to a club instead. She was not into clubbing, but she liked dancing. The music was very loud, but it was a small price to pay. When she tired, she phoned Si to pick her up.

What were you doing there? he demanded, as they drove off.

I was dancing.

Alone?

Sometimes, at other times, I danced with other people.

Never ever go there alone! he decreed.

Simon!

Do you know what they call women who go there alone?

I don't care.

I'm never fetching you from there again.

Alright! I won't go alone. Can I sleep at your place? Si? If it's a problem...

Did I say it was a problem?

No, but...

Spend as much time as you need to.

The mother-of-Nora...

Don't worry about her, it's my house. If she doesn't want you there, she can leave.

Don't talk like that.

Uyadelela! She takes me for a fool.

What's happened?

Nothing! Here we are, come in. Make yourself at home. You know where the food and blankets are. Good night, said Si, leaving Sandy in the lounge. She made herself a sandwich, then she lay tossing and turning