The ceremony was commencing downstairs, Sanele's two uncles were representing him, him and his brothers were just there sitting quietly in the room. He was prepared to pay any amount they asked for.

Mbali was sitting anxiously in her room with Sino and Lisa. She was worried about absolutely nothing because even she knew that her mother was not allowed to take part so her ruining the damages negotiations was not gonna happen. But she couldn't help but still worry. The door opened, her mother peeped through the door.

Mbali: Ma?

Zanele: Hi.

Lisa: We'll be outside-

Sino: Yeah bye.

They awkwardly left the room. Zanele made her way to sit next to Mbali on the bed. Mbali looked at her, and she almost fell off the bed, her mother was looking at her with a need I say it, admiration.

Mbali: Uhh Ma?

Zanele: Aw my child, I'm so proud of you.

Mbali: Huh?

Mbali screwed her face as her mother threw her arms around her engulfing her in a hug, a little bit awkward as she patted her mother's back.

Zanele: Oh my baby.

She said as she pulled away from Mbali's stunned face.

Mbali: What's going?

To her better understanding, she had to ask to be sure that this woman was indeed still her mother. Even though it proved to be hard to believe at the moment.

Zanele: What do you mean my love, I'm just so happy you found love and you know, pregnant.

Mbali couldn't miss the grimace in her mother's as she uttered each word. She knew then that indeed it was too good to be true that her mother was all lovey dozey. It was an act. The question was why? Her mother was always an outspoken person, now why was she pretending to be happy when she wasn't.

Mbali: Ma-

She stopped herself, wanting to see how this plays off.

Zanele faked smiled at her expectedly. Mbali faked her smile, choosing to play dumb.

Mbali: Thank you, this means a lot to me that you finally accepted my relationship and you know, pregnancy.

She mocked her words back at her. Zanele nodded and got up to leave.

Zanele: Well, let me make you something to eat right?

Mbali nodded, Zanele left shortly after. Mbalu's smile turned into a scowl soon, she kept her eyes on the door, just wrecking her mind with a lot of unanswered questions.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, MaJola, Martha, and Lethu were just seated around the kitchen counter. All the cooking had been done earlier. Zanele walked in humming as she rummaged through the fridge for a snack.

Lethu: Mamncane, uxap nah? (Aunt are you okay?)

Zanele chuckled at the little girl's puzzled face, she was more than okay.

Zanele: Why wouldn't I be?

Majola: You humming.

Martha: Yeah, what farm julie said.

Zanele just shrugged, she didn't see the need for them to know what was cooking in her head. With that, she took the little food, poured the juice and left the kitchen.

The negotiations were going well, with no arguing or snorty remarks. The families were doing well, David and his brothers put a price, and the Nkosi family paid. Shaking hands and pleasantries. The men in the room left for the lounge, as it was time to just converse and eat.

Snakes: Well that went well.

Siya: Yeah, surprisingly it did.

Sanele: I'm glad.

They walked to the room and sat down.

The families were just talking and laughing as the women had already served everyone food.

Mbali took the plate from her mother, smiling set it on her lap. Soon, what everyone heard was not expected on a special day like this, a piercing scream left Mbali's mouth, the plate shooting up before landing with a loud crack on the tiled floor. Zanele's eyes snapped to the plate in shock. Mbali's eyes went wide as another pain shoots on her stomach. Soon the door was yanked open, Sanele was on her side with his hand on her stomach.

Sanele: Baby, what's wrong, is it the baby? Are you in labor?

Mbali: I-i think I'm good.

Sanele: Should we go to the hospital?

Mbali: No, I'm good, just cramps.

Sanele: Are you sure-

Mbali took his hand and smiled.

Mbali: I'm fine, thank you everyone for leaving everything for me.

Everyone had been at the door, well just the gang and David.

David: Are you okay?

Mbali: I'm fine baba.

David nodded and left. Soon a very annoyed and outraged Zanele left as well.

Snakes: Hey, are you sure you okay? That was a pretty loud scream there.

Mbali: Yeah, well it had to look real now right?

Siya: Was that fake?

Sino: Yhoo, ye girl wamemeza so. (Wow, girl you screamed so loud)

Mbali wiggled her eyebrows at the yet-to-be-cleaned plate on the floor.

Snakes: You saw a cockroach in your food?- ouch!

Lisa: That's your bet? A roach?

Snakes: Hey, those things are evil, okay, and that's the only explanation I came up with seeing the food on the floor, you wasting food by the way- ouch! Quit it!

He rubbed his head, scowling at Lisa. It was not his fault he had a phobia of inserts and Mbali threw perfectly good food.

Mbali: Well-

Then she started explaining from when her mother came in earlier and to when she acted to be all happy, she explained how she didn't trust her, so she faked a contraction to get out of the trouble she found herself in. She knew that the person she was talking about was her mother, but she has always been a bad mother, no matter the day and age. She didn't want to take the risk with her baby.

Sanele: Shit! Are you sure you are not hurt anywhere?

Mbali: I'm perfectly fine, I'm yet to have another month before I give birth.

Lisa: What? How.

Right! She thought the group didn't know about the little appointment they had with the Dr. Sanele told them everything.

Snakes: Damn, I'm sorry little one.

That's what he called her, much to her dismay.

Siya: I'm still surprised she wasted food, never thought I'd see the day yazi. (you know)

Mbali glared at him.

Sanele: That's it, we going back home.