It had been four weeks since the devastating ultrasound, and while the pain of losing one of the twins still lingered, Mmabatho was trying her best to move forward. She was seven and a half months pregnant, her belly growing more each day. Her days were filled with cautious joy, but she couldn't help feeling a bit down as her 30th birthday approached. Little did she know, Ona, Sandile, and Andile had a plan up their sleeves.
Ona was the ringleader of the operation. On the morning of the party, she showed up at Mmabatho's house, her energy annoyingly cheerful.
"Morning, birthday girl!" Ona announced, walking in with two iced coffees in hand.
Mmabatho frowned. "It's not my birthday yet."
Ona waved her off. "Details. You're officially in your birthday week, which means I'm in charge. Drink this." She handed Mmabatho a coffee.
Mmabatho took a sip and squinted suspiciously at Ona. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing!" Ona said with exaggerated innocence. "I just think you need to look cute for your birthday. We're going to a salon and a makeup artist later."
Mmabatho raised an eyebrow. "Why? I'm just going to dinner at Sandile's with you guys. Small vibe, right? Why would I need a whole glam session for that?"
Ona shrugged, her face betraying nothing. "You've been through a lot lately. You deserve to feel amazing, even if it's just an intimate dinner. Let me do this for you, okay?"
Mmabatho sighed but eventually relented. She couldn't say no to Ona when she was in one of her determined moods.
A few hours later, they were at a fancy salon. Mmabatho sat in a plush chair as a stylist worked on her hair. "This is too much," she muttered, looking at her reflection.
"It's not enough," Ona said, scrolling through her phone. "Trust me, you'll thank me later."
Once her hair was done, they headed to a makeup artist who gave Mmabatho a soft, glowing look that enhanced her natural beauty. Finally, they stopped by Ona's place, where a garment bag waited for her.
"What's this?" Mmabatho asked as Ona handed it to her.
"Your outfit for tonight," Ona said with a grin.
Mmabatho opened the bag to reveal a pink, sleeveless mesh dress with a cute collar. The fabric was light and airy, with just enough stretch to skim over her belly without drawing attention to it. "Ona, this is a look. Why are we going so extra for an intimate dinner?"
"Because you're turning 30!" Ona said. "And you're gonna look good doing it. Now get dressed."
By the time they arrived at Sandile's house, Mmabatho was feeling slightly nervous. Something about this "intimate dinner" felt off.
"Why are there so many cars here?" she asked as Ona parked.
Ona faked a look of surprise. "Huh. Maybe Sandile invited a few extra people. It's probably nothing."
The moment they stepped inside, a loud chorus of "SURPRISE!" erupted. Mmabatho froze, her eyes wide as she took in the sight before her. The living room and backyard were filled with peopleâfriends, family, even some coworkers. Fairy lights twinkled, and a massive banner that read Happy 30th, Mmabatho! hung across the backyard.
Her hands flew to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. "You did this?" she asked, turning to Ona.
"We all did," Ona said with a grin. "Happy birthday, bestie."
Sandile approached with a warm smile. "You deserve this, Mmabatho. We just wanted to celebrate you."
For a moment, she was too overwhelmed to speak. She hugged Ona tightly, then turned to Sandile. "Thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
The rest of the evening was a blur of hugs, laughter, and celebration. Guests mingled as a DJ played soft background music, and Mmabatho found herself showered with love and gifts.
At one point, Andile appeared at her side with a glass of sparkling water. "You good?" he asked.
"Yeah," Mmabatho said, smiling. "Just... overwhelmed. In a good way."
"Good," Andile said. "You deserve it. Now come on."
"Where?"
"To the dance floor," he said, holding out his hand. "We're dancing."
"I'm pregnant," she protested, laughing.
"And you look stunning," he said, pulling her gently toward the backyard.
Sandile watched them from across the room, a small smile tugging at his lips. He was glad to see her happy, even if just for a little while.
The day after the party, Mmabatho was feeling content but exhausted. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind, filled with surprises, drama, and more surprises. She was enjoying the rare calm, kicking back at home, watching a random rom-com on Netflix, and sipping on some juice. But there was a lingering thought at the back of her mind. The one thing she'd been meaning to do for a while but never quite got around to: buying a car.
The idea had been on her mind for weeks now, ever since she started feeling like her life was getting more hectic. Ubers and cabs weren't cutting it anymore, and she was tired of relying on them for even the simplest errands. She needed something more practicalâsomething that would give her independence. Plus, after everything she had been through recently, she figured it was time to do something for herself.
She grabbed her phone and called Andile first. "Hey, are you busy today?" she asked when he picked up.
"Nope, nothing going on. What's up?"
"I'm going car shopping," she said casually, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "You in?"
"Car shopping? I'm in, but only if it means I get to pick out something nice for myself, too," Andile teased.
"I'm serious, Andile," she laughed. "I need your help. I'll even bring Ona along if you want a professional opinion."
"I'm down," he said. "Let me call Ona. I'll meet you there."
"Great!" Mmabatho hung up the phone, feeling excited. It felt good to do something for herself, especially after feeling like so much of her life had been about other people lately.
A few hours later, Mmabatho met Andile and Ona at the dealership. She had a specific car in mindâsomething sleek and practical. After browsing through a few options, her eyes landed on the 2024 Audi Q3 Sportback 35TFSI. It was everything she wantedâstylish, comfortable, and perfect for someone who needed a little more space but didn't want something too bulky. She immediately knew this was it.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked Andile and Ona as they circled the car. They both nodded in agreement, clearly impressed.
"Mmabatho, this is you," Ona said, grinning. "It's perfect."
Andile gave her a thumbs-up. "I wouldn't mind driving this myself," he joked.
After a bit of paperwork, negotiations, and a test drive, the car was officially hers. She felt a rush of excitement, knowing that this was a big step in reclaiming her independence. Andile and Ona congratulated her, but she couldn't help but feel a little nervous too. It wasn't just about the carâit was about making decisions for herself and carving out a space that was truly hers.
"Let's go surprise Sandile," Ona suggested once everything was settled.
"Wait, you're seriously going to surprise him with a new car?" Andile asked, eyebrow raised.
"Why not?" Mmabatho replied. "I mean, I've been living at his place for weeks now, and he's been really supportive. It's the least I can do."
The drive to Sandile's house was quiet, with Mmabatho getting lost in her thoughts. She wasn't sure what to expect from him. It wasn't like they had a close relationship, but after everything that had happened with the surrogacy and the baby, they had reached a place of mutual respect. It felt good to show him a gesture of appreciation, especially after everything he had done for her.
When they arrived, she parked the Audi in the driveway, making sure to leave it angled so it would be the first thing he saw when he walked out. She turned to Andile and Ona. "Alright, wish me luck."
"Good luck," Ona said, grinning. "I'm excited to see how he reacts."
Mmabatho knocked on the door, taking a deep breath as she waited for Sandile to open it. When he did, his eyes immediately landed on the car.
"What's this?" he asked, looking at her, confused but intrigued.
"I got a car," she said, smiling.
He raised an eyebrow, still processing what he was seeing. "A new car? You didn'tâ"
"I did," she interrupted. "I know it's random, but I figured it was time to stop relying on Ubers. And, well, I wanted to do something for myself."
"Mmabatho..." Sandile's voice softened as he looked her up and down. He was obviously surprised, but there was a genuine smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's a beautiful car. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks." She smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I thought you'd like it."
When Sandile walked toward the car, inspecting it with a grin on his face, Mmabatho followed him, feeling a little more at ease. He was running his hand along the sleek lines of the Audi, clearly impressed by her choice.
"I'm guessing you didn't just come here to show off the car," he said, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow.
She smiled, a little hesitant but deciding to be honest. "Actually, I did come here for more than just the car," she said, taking a step closer to him. "I wanted to show you how much I appreciate everything. You've been a huge help through this whole processâhelping me with the pregnancy, supporting me, and honestly... you're the reason I'm even able to afford something like this."
Sandile turned to her, a surprised expression on his face. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're literally paying me 950,000 rand a month," she said, her voice steady but filled with gratitude. "Without that, I'd still be stuck taking Ubers and struggling to get by. This car is my way of thanking you, even if it's just a small gesture compared to everything you've done."
Sandile's expression softened, and he looked at her with a mix of surprise and appreciation. "You didn't have to get a car, Mmabatho. But... I get it. You've earned it."
She shrugged, feeling a little shy. "It's just my way of doing something for myself. And I really couldn't have done it without you."
His smile was genuine now, no longer surprised but full of understanding. "I'm glad you did it for yourself. You deserve it."