Saved By A Zulu Man (Book 1)

Few days before orientation day

- Marang -
A few days before orientation day, I was feeling stressed and unsure if I really wanted to go to college. I kept trying to figure out what I truly wanted to study, but nothing came to mind. To make matters worse, I had already chosen a course I knew nothing about - Public Administration. It was my first choice, and my second, Legal Secretary, had been rejected for reasons only God knows.

My morning routine was simple: wake up, take a bath, do the chores, and sweep the pavement since uMalume had returned to KZN. I used to live with him, my sister Mia, and our cousin Koketso. We led a quiet life, keeping to ourselves, though people often gossiped about uMalume. He always told us not to believe any of it.

One morning, after breakfast, I was sitting in my room when Koketso walked in and flopped onto my bed.

"Hey Cheesecake, why are you locking yourself up?"

I forced a smile, avoiding his eyes.

"I'm just thinking about school, Koki. I'm not sure I made the right choice. I mean, I do want to continue my studies, but I'm not sure if now is the right time. And I’m definitely not passionate about the course I picked."

"Then why did you tell uMalume you wanted to go? He already paid for everything."

I sighed, standing up from the bed.

"That’s the thing. I applied because Boitumelo and Lizzy were going to college, and I didn’t want to be left behind. I wanted to fit in so badly that I made a rash decision. In reality, I'm more passionate about health and wellness. Maybe I should have picked something in that field."

"You’re overthinking this. It’s only a year. After that, you can switch courses. Everything happens for a reason, don’t you think? There might be a reason you’re doing Public Administration this year."

"I don’t think so. I think I just have to deal with the consequences of my choices. But there’s something else I want to talk about. No offense, but... do you know where uMalume gets his other money from?"

Koketso scoffed, walking over to me.

"Are you trying to say something about my dad? We all know he’s a software developer. Do you know something I don’t?"

"No, never mind. I was just wondering if what people say about him is true. I mean, do you really think he built this house with just that money?"

"Cut it out, Marang! My father is a good man, okay? If you want to believe the rumors, do it, but keep it to yourself. Some of us know what’s true. Anyway, I came here to show you something."

He frowned and unlocked his phone.

"All this negativity isn’t good for you. I downloaded this app called Tinder. It’s a dating app."

"Okay..." was all I could say.

"You need to get back in the game. Have fun, meet people. You might find Mr. Right through this app. Hand me your phone."

Without protest, I gave him my phone. As I thought about it, maybe he was right. I needed something to distract me from all the emotions I was feeling. I needed someone to keep me company, make me laugh, and take my mind off things. So I started browsing through the profiles, but none of the guys caught my interest.

Except one - Zweli Mdlalose. His skin was a perfect balance, not too dark, not too light. He wore glasses, which I found cute, and his haircut made him look well-groomed. He seemed like someone I could really connect with. So, with a deep breath, I hit the heart emoji on his profile and waited.

After a few minutes, my phone beeped.

"You have a new match..." I read the Tinder notification.

He messaged me soon after, and my heart started racing.

"Hello to you too," I replied.

📲 "How are you doing, nkosazana omuhle?❤️"

"I’m good, thanks. And you?"

📲 "I’m good too. Tell me more about yourself. Your bio doesn’t say much."

"Okay☺️ I’m Marang Ngoepe, 21. I’m not working at the moment as I’m about to start college. I’m an introvert and I love working out in my free time. What about you?"

📲 "I’m Zwelithini Dinuzulu Mdlalose, 36. I’m a qualified doctor, also an introvert, but I do go out with my cousin sometimes. And yes, I’m single. That’s why I’m texting you🙈."

I couldn’t believe it - I was actually smiling while texting him!

Our conversation flowed naturally, and soon we exchanged numbers. We moved to WhatsApp, and I found myself looking forward to his messages. Later, while I was making dinner, he asked if he could call. We talked for what felt like hours, and I couldn't quite describe the feeling I had. It was as though my heart was skipping beats, and my soul was being stirred. He made me feel seen, heard, like I was the only person in the world. It left me feeling light and fluttery, like a warm summer breeze. I couldn't help but wonder what this new connection might bring.