Chwayi: How bt they make getting thru HIV so easy dnt they. Every1s gettin bak 2getha, seriously wud it happen so easily in real lyf. I don’t think so.
Me: Said the same thing, make-ups galore! Mayb it’s turning HIV to HI Victory. I guess the time span is inferred & they only have so many episodes. Oh, spoke too soon. (As all hell broke loose in the Moloi household and mended relations came undone).
Ashes to ashes
It’s the day of Mirriam’s funeral (Theki’s wife). A tear falls down Theki’s face as he throws soil into his late wife’s new home. After the graveyard, Lebo tells Lihle as they are kneeling down to wash their hands in the basin at the gate, that she should have spoken to Mirriam sooner because she had noticed that Mirriam was sick months before she died. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.
Tefo is busy telling a klomp mense that Mirri’s death certificate said that she died of pneumonia, “but we all know what killed her” he adds. Ow Tefo, what happened to patient confidentiality tog. I know not to go to Masakhane Clinic now. Anyway, one woman says that this was the third AIDS related funeral she has been to that month. AIDS ya bolaya bagolo. Ha se papadi.
Theki is talking to Sol under the tent about the sad reality that is his life right now and says to Sol that he threw away his wife just like he threw away the condoms Sol used to give him. It’s really so very tragic how we seem to always learn the biggest of lessons the hard way. And when it hits it whips you about like a tornado through the veld. But you know all is never lost with Sol and he asks Theki to please (yes he said please, this is Theki after all) come and see him at the clinic. Time see about the future in a much more responsible manner Theks, for your children, as Sol said.
Mihlali talks to Sol
Remember it’s about both the infected and affected. Little Mihlali is in Sol consulting room and they are basically talking about how she can cope with the situation at home and the fear of losing her parents and becoming like the poor AIDS orphans she sees on TV. Sol reassures her that her parents will be around a long time and gives himself as an example of someone who has been HIV+ for many years, married (I didn’t know), happy, laughing with friends and is still going strong. That testimony could give many people hope.
This was odd, and maybe a little unreal
There must have been something peculiar about Dineo and her body language as she bent over the sink washing dishes; because her dad suddenly got the hunch that she was hiding something. Of course we could have told him what it was, but her washing the dishes wouldn’t have said that to me at least. Maybe I’m being silly. Maybe its parental instincts, something some of us are intent on not developing anytime soon. Such supernatural feelings.
Anyway, Dineo sits down after much hesitation and tells her father that she is afraid to tell him because she has let him down. She finally comes out with it and tells her dad that she is HIV+. Moment of silence, then dad reached across table for D’s hand and told her that everything was going to be alright.
Wow! Don’t’ think he even blinked before he said that and it sure made me feel that I could tell my mom about the one time I stole a sweet from her bag. All I’m saying is that daddy didn’t seem very disappointed at all, nothing about her not focusing on her studies and riding in bedrooms with boys like I know many parents would. Even Zimele threw a tantrum. Zimele, the Papa Madlesa himself. I mean I was like hey Dineo want to tell him how you got it and who you passed it on to too? Then I thought maybe there isn’t enough time in a 26 minute episode for such dramatic reactions. Busi concurred:
Busi: wtf? He didn’t even shed a tear for a daughter who is a star pupil, 'virgin' regular dream child. You hear that as a parent & you are totally cool? Whatever man. That’s when I realised they were seriously pressed for time.
Looking back…over my shoulder
Bulela is on a mission to trace the source of his misery after someone at the funeral started him thinking on how the virus is passed on from person to person. He is leaning against the wall and Dineo is leaning against the same wall a few meters away. Zakes walks over to Dineo and says to her that he has noticed that Bulela is not talking to her. Dineo says that she really feels bad for Bulela because all this has cost him his scholarship to America. Zakes goes over to talk to Bulela hoping to reconcile the three of them, but all Bulela wants to know is what Zakes meant when he said to him that there are things he doesn’t know. Zakes declines to tell him, saying that although part of him would like to tell him, he also thinks it would be cruel to do so.
Mr Cele asks the class to figure out an equation that would give them the answer to the question. Very fitting wasn’t it? Fully. Class ends and Mr Cele asks Bulela and Dineo to stay behind. He hands to them both their dismal test results, 55% for Dineo and 43% for Bulela. He gave them the whole exam time is nearly ripe and they could both get straight A’s, pull up your socks, this is your future talk. “What future?” Bulela says.
The Truth and Reconciliation without the Commission
Another highlight of yesterday’s episode was all the TR and no C behaviour. It was make up heaven.
Bulela made up with Dineo
Bulela comes after Dineo after leaving Mr Cele’s classroom. He tells her how in all his pain he forgot that she is also going through the same thing. Dineo says she would hate herself too if she was Bulela and Bulela tells her he does not hate her. He strokes her cheek, she smiles shyly and he proposes they go to the spaza and talk some more. They hold hands and walk into the sunset.
Dineo is still going to the UK to study by the way, if anyone was wondering. Lucky for her, as she told Bulela, the UK doesn’t require HIV tests for visas. She tries to suggest to Bulela to apply but Bulela tells her that he has already made up his mind about going to Wits and helping his mom with the baby when it comes. In their conversation Dineo tells Bulela that Lulu was the one who infected Zakes and she got it from her sugar daddy. ‘Who is this stupid sugar daddy who is sleeping with children and infecting them with HIV?’ asks a disgusted Bulela. But Dineo answers that she does not know, but suspects that sugar papa is from right there in Soul City.
Lebo and Zimele made up
Lebo is lying on the bed in a pink lacy number, silky pink gown and no doek. I note this because we are used to her wearing those pink fleece pjs and the doek. I have a pair just like that and they sure keep the cold and predators out. The lacy bits served their purpose because her and Zimele started reminiscing about the good old days when they first fell in love, then started kissing and sunk out of shot. I don’t know what they got up to but Zimele said something about last night being wonderful the next day and was even offering to buy Bulela an mp3. Must have been good.
Lulu and Zakes made up
Lulu and Zakes also made up over a skafteen of chocolate cake. She baked it especially for him too. This girl sure knows the way to a man’s heart. She tells Zakes that she misses him and they soon melt into reconciliatory hugs.
When men gather, excuses are plenty
All the while the ‘Men only’ meeting is carrying on and it was good to see Theki in attendance and even offering to tell his story so that others can learn from it. The issue of polygamy and multiple sexual partners came up of course. But I was glad Sol said that men often use the issue of polygamy as an excuse to sleep with every Magdeline, Precious and Beauty. I’ve had these arguments with male friends. In fact had one last two weeks ago. In polygamous relationships, as Sol put it, the man was responsible for looking after and protecting his wives and children and everyone knew their wives. But now men want to creep in dark and call it tradition. AIDS ya bolaya I say.
If cake could speak…
As the men spoke Zakes was burying his head in the blue skafteen. Only Zakes could eat a chocolate cake like it’s a heep of pap and gravy. Gosh. I’m not saying there’s a way to eat cake but Zakes’ way just wasn’t it. He should have been at the men’s only meeting instead. On a brighter note, I liked Lulu’s response when Zakes said that Zimele had messep up their lives. She confidently, and with a twinkle in her eye, said that her life was not a mess. Victory is claimed. Living your life like its golden, living your life…. Zakes, you should too and it should be easy for you considering.
All the kings horses…
Mihlali unwittingly helps Bulela put together the missing piece of the puzzle when she tells him that Lulu was their fathwer’s makhwapeni. I knew the big confrontation was only an ad break away.
...and all the kings men…
Zimele arrives home from the big meet. Before he gets a chance to get into the yard Zakes runs over to speak to him and apologises for breaking the shop window. He tells Zimele that he did it out of anger and Zimele extends a hand to Zakes, they shake on it and separate in peace.
..couldn’t put the Moloi’s together again.
Bulela sits on the sofa facing the door filled with rage, and waiting for his father to come in so that he can unleash. Zimele walks in, all smiles and Bulela’s mp3 in hand. But Bulela does not care much for it and starts shooting verbal bullets. He asks (more like shouts) Zimele about him being Lulu’s sugar daddy. Zimele is taken aback by this and literally steps back to find a wall to lean on. Bulela’s raging temper brings his mother and sister out from where they were in the house into the living room.
Zimele, struggling with words, replies that what he did with Lulu is his business and has nothing to do with Bulela. Bulela shouts back that it has everything to do with him and asks Zimele how he could infect both his wife and son with HIV. Lebo tries to calm Bulela down telling him that his father did not infect him. But Bulela insists that he did and maps out to them how it got to him. Lebo, devastated, grabs Bulela and hugs him protectively while shouting at a distraught Zimele that she has taken a lot his S*&t (in vernac) up to now, but this one, she just won’t be able to deal with. Jo! It was one heck of a scene.
Chwayi: I love hw nine of em wanna take responsibility 4 having unprotected sex…lets jus blame it on da shoo shoo shiga daddy…lol (damn songs in my head)..
Me: Lol! Haai, no one wants to srutenize. So it means Lebo left Zimele?
Chwayi: Ya me thinks it was the last episode, 2 bad coz it was only my 2nd…oh wel, lebo mustv left hm coz she cudnt 4giv hm 4 her sons stupidity lol…
Me: Ha ha! Couldn’t forgive him for her sons stupidity (laughing face)! I know, irony of it all.
At the end of the episode: Four months later…
“Lebo gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy. The baby is HIV negative.” There was no Zimele in the happy pics of Lebo and her three children. Guess he was in sad pics somewhere else.
“Lulu was offered a job in a top city restaurant and is training to become a pastry chef.” Go Lulu, you always were the bell of the ball.
“To his surprise Zakes passed matric.” (Surprise? Did they not have faith in the boy?) “He applied for a place at a soccer academy and is training hard to become a professional soccer player”.
“Dineo achieved eight distinctions in matric and is now studying architecture at a London University”. She also sends Bulela, who is studying medical science at Wits (we saw the monumental stairway), photos of her standing next to the royal guard to prove it. Aww…