Chapter 10 — A Helping Hand in Ezitolo

The taxi finally made a stop at a bus stop called 'Ezitolo Kwam'dlalose' after a 15-20 minute journey. She jumped off the taxi and thanked the conductor as he told her this was the stop she had asked about earlier. The rain was still cruel, but the blustery wind had cooled off a bit.

Qhawekazii stood in the rain after the taxi drove off. Looking around, not sure where she would find her mother's house. When she turned back, she saw a big old store used for panel beating. She scuttled over there to ask for directions to the house, if anyone knew her mother.

When she got to the veranda, there was a guy that kept sucking a lollipop while he was texting on his phone.

"Excuse me," she said for his attention. The guy paused his texting and glanced over to the beautiful young girl that stood beside him.

"Hi," his voice was pleased. He smiled with the lollipop still in his mouth.

"I'm looking for someone, and I'm not sure about the route to her house," she said with her eyes flicking across the road.

The guy yanked out the lollipop and cleared his throat before he said, "Who are you looking for, Sisi?" his smile still hadn't vanished from his light skinned face.

"Her name is, Sindisiwe Cele," she replied with her thin voice.

"Sindisiwe Cele," the guy repeated the name and frowned while he looked down, thinking of where he heard that name before.

"The only Celes I know, are the people staying behind that water tank," he pointed opposite the road, but they could hardly see anything since it was fuzzy because of the heavy rain.

The guy sighed, and then turned to Qhawekazii with a smile.

"How about I take you there?" he offered politely, and Qhawekazii hesitated. She didn't want to trust anyone after what happened to her earlier on in the city.

"That's okay," she said, faking a smile. "You could just direct me. I'm sure I can find my way," the guy glanced across the road again, but everything seems blurry. Even if he could try and direct her, it was impossible for her to find her way since there was some corners she had to turn to get there. He turned his head back to Qhawekazii, with another sigh, rubbing his hand across his forehead.

"It'd be better if I take you there, Sisi. You'll get lost on your own. And there won't be many people to ask since they all locked themselves in their houses because of this weather,"

Qhawekazii gave him a withering look, wondering if she could trust this guy. She couldn't let herself be fooled by his pretty face. She realised she had no choice but to surrender.

"Fine," she said softly and the guy smiled.

"Let me just go and get my umbrella inside. I will be back in a second," he said, and Qhawekazii nodded and watched him scuttling inside the panel beater. Indeed, he came back within a second as he opened a big umbrella.

"Let's go," he said.