Ritza's Right

RITZA’S RIGHT

By

Thabi Majabula

Published by Thabi Majabula at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Thabi Majabula

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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of this author.

This is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER ONE

Ritza stood outside her home. It looked different. A lawn had been planted at the front, there were flowers on either side of the front door, and the wall had been painted a different colour. It looked better for the change.

She listened for the children, but there were no sounds from them. She shook her head, they were no longer children. They were teens now.

She approached the door and opened it. The front room had different furniture, the colours clashed and the pictures of the family that had been on the wall had been removed. She frowned, wondering who would do that.

Who are you? demanded a woman. Ritza felt her blood heat, and turned to the speaker. She was tall, of medium build, and beautiful. She had come from one of the rooms, and she was looking at her with hostility.

I’m the owner of this house, who are you, and what are you doing here? demanded Ritza.

"I’m the owner of the house and I want you out of here!"

I’m not going anywhere, you’re the one that’s leaving.

I’m calling the neighbours to see you out.

Call them, call them! panted a furious Ritza. The woman stepped outside and Ritza closed and locked the door. The woman banged on it, demanding that Ritza let her in. Ritza took her belongings to the main bedroom. The bed was higher, the bedding was different, as was the wall colour.

The picture of her and Boris that had hung at the head of the bed had been removed. She dropped her bag, very put out. She opened the cupboards. The clothes in there were not hers. She banged the cupboard shut and hurried to the front door and opened it. The other woman stopped her hand from landing on Ritza’s face.

Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my house? demanded Ritza.

"This is my house," shouted the woman, putting her hands on Ritza’s blouse and pulling her out of the house. Ritza pushed her and she fell on her bottom.

Maritza! shouted Boris. Ritza smiled and turned to him. He was coming in through the pedestrian gate, handsome as ever, with a touch of grey in his hair. He had gained weight, too much weight. Her smile wavered slightly when she realised that he was scowling at her.

When did you get out of jail? he asked. She ran to hug him. He moved out of the way and approached the other woman. He helped her to her feet, and she clung to him.

Noooo! screamed Ritza as she ran at them, and tried to separate them. Boris pushed her and she staggered, staring at him in disbelief.

Why are you here? Go away, he said coldly.

Boris! This is my home.

"It’s my home, and I don’t want you here." Ritza staggered as if he had punched her.

Boris, she said soundlessly.

Who is this woman? asked the other woman.

Someone I used to know.

Boris! shouted Ritza, shocked by his words. His eyes looked through her, then he turned to the other woman.

Are you alright? he asked.

I am, now that you’re here. I don’t want that woman to come here ever again.

I’ll see to it that she doesn’t. Let’s go in.

I live here! shouted Ritza.

Get off my property, Maritza. If you ever come here again, I’ll have you arrested, said Boris.

I’m your wife! How can I be arrested for being in our home?

You are not my wife!

Our families…

You’re not my wife, this is my wife, said Boris, using his head to indicate the woman beside him.

Go away, and stay away, he continued.

Where are our children? asked Ritza.

"My children are with my parents. Stay away from them. They don’t need you. How could you abandon them?"

I did not abandon them! gasped Ritza.

You went to jail.

"To protect you!"

Really?

Yes!

"It’s not my name the police mention in connection with that high stakes robbery." Ritza’s jaw dropped in shock. She felt her blood go cold.

I made you dinner, the other woman said.

You’re my ever loving wife, he said, kissing her cheek. Maritza felt a blanket of envy swamp her.

Has she given you children? she asked, looking at the svelte body of the other woman.

That’s none of your business, said Boris.

Any wife worth the name gives her husband children.

Go away! Ritza looked into Boris’s eyes and realised that he meant business.

I need to get my bag from the bedroom, she said.

I don’t want her in my house, said the other woman.

I’ll get the bag and bring it out to her, said Boris. He and the woman went into the house and closed the door. Ritza stood looking at it.

She could not believe what she had seen. She could understand that Boris was attracted to the five foot eleven gorgeous woman that had replaced her, but she had thought that her loyalty to him would have earned her his loyalty.

She knew that at five foot ten, of medium build, dark complexion, and average looks, people had often wondered what Boris had seen in her. He was a handsome man, who stood at six feet. He had been slim, but now he had filled out very much, with a dark complexion, and he was charming, so very charming. Ritza had often wondered if he cheated on her. She had always told herself that even if he did cheat, he always slept in her bed.

Maritza? Is that you? asked a woman. Ritza turned to her right, and went to the fence to her right. Her neighbour, Amanda, was looking at her.

How are you, makhe? When did you get back? asked Amanda.

When did Boris get that strumpet in my house? asked Ritza.

The day you left.

What?

Not long after the police picked you up, he came back with her.

What happened to my children?

They left about a week after you left.

How were they?

I don’t know, makhe. How are you?

In shock. I have no place to stay.

Spend the night with me, but you have to leave in the morning.

Thank you, makhe.

The door behind Maritza opened, she turned to Boris. He was looking about for her, then he spotted her, threw the bag at her, and closed the door. Ritza stared at her bag, stunned. In all her nightmares, Boris had never treated her this way. She picked up her bag and walked to the gate. She stepped out, pulled it closed behind her, then she looked at the house. Boris was watching her. He dropped the curtain when she noticed him.

Come, makhe, called Amanda. Ritza went through Amanda’s gate, closed it, and followed her into her home.

Sit down, said Amanda. Ritza looked about the familiar kitchen, it was the same as it had always been. Ritza was glad to be in a familiar environment. Amanda’s children came into the kitchen. Ritza worked hard not to cry. They were teens now, the same age as her children. They were awkward around her, not knowing what to say or how to be. They had been her other children, now, they were strangers. Everyone sat down to eat lunch, then the children left.

Ritza went to freshen up, and Amanda lent her some clothes. Afterwards, Ritza helped with dinner preparations. After dinner, she was shown to a bedroom. She lay on the single bed, thinking about how she had looked forward to this day. She had looked forward to going home and sleeping on a double bed, with Boris. Boris was in their house, on their bed, with another woman.

I’m not going to cry. I’m going to get through this, she told herself. She tossed and turned, thinking of a way forward.

Next morning, she thanked Amanda for her hospitality, and took a bus to Boris’s parents’ home. The bus ride took five hours, then she walked almost an hour to get to her destination.

She heard her children, Haley and Sindiso. They were coming from the river, pushing wheelbarrows carrying barrels of water. They were so grown. Haley was now sixteen years old, and as tall as Ritza. Sindiso was now fourteen years old, and only slightly shorter than her sister. Ritza called to them. They looked at her, and released the wheel barrows as if their hands had lost the ability to hold. She approached them and made to hug them, they evaded her and clung to each other.

Ah-ah! she gasped, looking at them in shock.

Girls, you know me. I’m your Ma, she said. They looked at her out of shocked eyes. She watched as they looked at her from head toe, then they looked into her eyes.

What’s the matter? she asked. The girls grabbed the wheelbarrows and hurried off. She hurried after them, calling their names, they ignored her. They went into Boris’s parents’ homestead, released the wheelbarrows and started screaming for Gogo. Boris’s mother hurried out of a hut and looked at them, alarmed. They clung to her, and pointed at Ritza, who was standing a few paces from them. Boris’s mother released the girls and relaxed.

Take the water to the kitchen, she said. The girls skirted Ritza, and pushed the wheelbarrows away. Ritza and her mother-in-law watched each other.

Hello, Mamazala, said Ritza. Mamazala looked down.

"Come and