Themba Dlane drove down to the company as soon as his plane landed. He knew his mother would want him to go home and rest but he couldn't resist checking on the company. Themba was a workaholic and wouldn't assign any task to his assistant.
As he drove, all he thought of was the girl at the airport.
"Crazy girl at the airport, God knows where she is from". He said to himself and then thought that he should have offered her a ride. He turned on the radio to classical music which was his favourite to clear his head off thinking about this mysterious girl. Ever since Ayanda died, the last thing he wanted was a reason to fall in love even though his mother had made it her responsibility to hook him up with every heiress in town. He hadn't had any girl in his mind for a long time so it angered him to think about the girl at the airport.
**************
"You're back so early". Mrs Dlane said as soon as Themba came in.
"We got the contract". He answered shortly.
"Congratulations, I am so proud of you". She stood up and hugged her son with a huge smile on her face. She stepped away and looked at her son for a while with a strange expression on her face.
"Spit it out, mom".
"You should have stayed back for the banquet....". She was cut short by Themba.
" I didn't feel like it". He was irritated.
"Ok then, suit yourself". She walked out of his office. Mrs Dlane knew when yo back off just like every other person in the company.
Themba phoned his secretary and said that he needed to be alone. He worked on his computer for three hours before he drove out for dinner.
***************
Back in Sandhurst, Dineo had woken up. She was standing by the window and staring at the beautiful view. She stared at the beaches far away and the people on it.
"Tourists probably". She thought.
The hotel view was beautiful as it was located in the centre of the city. The cool night air caressed her short air and tough skin. The moon was full and provided illumination which made the city even prettier at night. She looked at the expensive cars on the roads and working-class people rushing home.
She took in the beautiful sight for a while before changing her clothes. She wanted to go out and explore the city. She wore a turquoise sequined gown that went all the way to her ankles. The gown had a slit that went right up to her mid-thigh. It was her best gown which she got for her eighteen birthday, she never wore it until then.
She went down to the reception and requested a car service.
"Where to madam?". The receptionist asked her.
"Nowhere, in particular, I just want a ride around the city". Dineo struggled to answer. She wasn't used to the perfect English spoken in Johannesburg.
"Okay ma'am, wait a sec".
She waited for two minutes and a cab was assigned to her. She drove around Sandhurst and even shopped at the Sandhurst City shopping centre where she bought nice H&M, Zara and even Gucci outfits. She walked out of the mall smiling at all the good things she hoped for, all the good things she would get in Jo'burg.
" Take me to a nice restaurant around". She told the driver.
"Yes, ma'am".
The driver drove her to The Grill house where she had dinner.
***************
Themba drove through the busy roads of Sandhurst impatiently. He was having a feeling he could not comprehend, a feeling he denied. He needed something to distract him. His hands were shaky and it was hard to concentrate behind the steering wheel. He parked his car in front of The Grill house and a valet took his keys.
Just then, he saw her. He saw the girl that had occupied his mind, the girl that made concentration hard, the crazy girl at the airport. He walked in and hoped that she doesn't see him. He ordered wine and sipped gently.
*****************
Dineo ordered almost everything on the menu from starters to main course and desserts. She ate hungrily with her spoon and used her hands when necessary.
Themba watched her from his table.
"I was right, she is from the trash". He said to himself.
There was something about this crazy girl that he didn't understand. He felt that he knew her, that he had met her before that day. He was amused by the way Dineo ate that he watched for a few minutes and had a couple more drinks.
He stood up from his seat and paid his bills as well as Dineo's. He resisted the urge to walk up to her and left the restaurant.
Themba drove out of the restaurant decided that he needed a smoke to clear his mind off this young, naive girl.
**************
"Someone already paid your bills". The waiter said to Dineo as she extended her credit card.
"What?".
"Yes, ma'am".
"Who?".
"Anonymous".
Dineo was amazed but relieved at the same time. Her dinner had cost two thousand Rands. Though she had the money, she didn't want to spend so much on food alone. She walked out of the hotel with gratitude for the anonymous person.
The cab drove at high speed which made Dineo scared. The driver was way over the speed limit. She tightened her seat belt.
"Be careful sir". She told the driver.
"Yes, ma'am". The driver answered but didn't make any attempt to slow down. He was drunk.
"Pls slow down". She made a note to report the driver when she gets back to the hotel. "If I get back". She thought and shuddered.
The memory of Ayanda's death was still fresh in her mind. Her mom called when her sister died and told her everything. She also heard the details on the news. News of her sister's death featured on every newspaper and teenage magazine because her sister was an actress before she died.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice when the driver swerved the car drunkenly and hit something. For a brief moment, she thought she was going to die. An image of her sister formed in her mind, she imagined her standing on the road and smiling at her. The car suddenly gained control again and stayed on the road. She looked back and smiled at the image of her sister formed in her mind.
***************
Themba stepped out of his car. He had a bruise on his head and his car was even more damaged than his head. A crazy driver had swerved carelessly and hit him. He looked at the car and saw a girl look back and smile. He knew that girl, it was the crazy girl in the airport. Anger flushed his face. How dare she! He had paid her bills at the restaurant to make up for his insults earlier today and now she took revenge on him. It was a Camaro and was not very expensive but it was his first car and he loved it so much. He had all his best memories of Ayanda in that car. He looked at the Camaro, it was badly damaged. He would find the girl that damaged his car and make her pay.
***************
Dineo was back in her hotel. She thought of everything that had happened in the past few hours and sighed. Johannesburg is such a crazy place. She opened her bag and brought out a framed cut-out picture of her sister.
"I wish I had met you before you left. You would have been a great role model". She said to the picture.
She looked at the picture until she fell asleep.