It was early in the morning when Blessing was woken up by the sound of honking taxis. She was in Johannesburg, a big city in South Africa. Blessing had come to the city in search of job opportunities, and she wasn't alone—her friends Pretty and Anita had come with her.
The night before, they had gone to bed with a plan: to wake up early and visit a traditional healer in the morning. They hoped to get herbs that would open doors for them and help them find jobs faster.
Blessing sat up and checked the time—it was 6:00 a.m.
"Anita!" she shouted, yanking the blanket off her friend. "Wake up, guys! We overslept, it's already 6 a.m. Pretty, it's 6 already—can you believe it?"
She jumped out of bed and rushed to get ready. "Let's bath quickly—lots of people go to that man. We need to hurry; I don't want to end up in a long queue," she said, heading for the bathroom.
While they were getting ready to leave the house, Blessing didn't seem to be in a good mood. Anita noticed and asked, "Are you okay, Blessing?"
Blessing replied, "Yeah, I'm okay. Why do you ask?"
Anita looked at her with concern. "It's just that you're usually the one cracking jokes. It's a bit worrying when you're this quiet."
Blessing gave a small smile and let out a soft giggle. "No, I'm fine. It's just… I really need to find a job. I'm hoping that man will help us."
Pretty looked at Blessing, then walked over and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, my friend. We'll get jobs. Mr. Shabalala is a well-known traditional healer—he knows what he's doing."
Blessing sighed and picked up her bag. "Let's go, guys. We're already late."
They left the house and made their way to Mr. Shabalala's place. When they arrived, they found five people already waiting to consult with him. It was a relief—they were glad the queue wasn't too long.
"I'm so glad there are only five people ahead of us," said Anita. "After this, we can still go around and drop off our CVs at grocery stores."
"Yeah," Blessing nodded. "We'll still have plenty of time to go around."
After the five people had finished consulting, Pretty was the first among the friends to go in, followed by Anita. Blessing was the last one.
When she entered, she saw a respected older man, probably in his late forties. Blessing, only 25, stepped inside and sat on a traditional mat woven from incema grass.
"Good morning, Mr. Shabalala," she greeted politely, her voice soft and respectful. Her eyes remained lowered, and she absentmindedly traced invisible shapes on the floor with her fingers.
"Morning," he replied. "What is your surname?"
"Radebe," she answered.
"Ah, good morning, Ma Radebe," he said, using the respectful term for Ms. Radebe.
Blessing cleared her throat. "I came here today for herbs that will help me find a job. I want to attract luck… and be more lovable."
"You came to the right person, Ma Radebe," he said. "Where are you from? Where is home?"
Blessing folded her legs underneath her and answered, her gaze still low. "I'm from Tugela Ferry—a small rural area."
"Oh, I know Tugela Ferry!" Mr. Shabalala exclaimed. "It's not far from Newcastle, right?"
Blessing began to feel a bit more comfortable. "Yes, Mr. Shabalala," she replied.
He smiled warmly. "No need to call me Mr. Shabalala."
Blessing looked up, confused. "Why not? If I don't call you Mr. Shabalala, what should I call you?"
He grinned and leaned forward slightly. "You can't call your future husband Mr. Shabalala. Call me your man… or the father of your children."
Blessing's entire demeanor changed. She looked him dead in the eyes, visibly irritated. "You're too old to be saying that to me. You could be my father. Secondly, are you going to give me what I came here for, or should I leave?"
Mr. Shabalala laughed out loud. "I'm telling you, Ma Radebe—you will be my wife."
Despite the tension, he reached for a bundle of herbs and began preparing them for her. He handed her a set.
"These ones are for bathing. As you wash, speak out the things you desire. These are for steaming, and the last batch is to cleanse your body—boil them and drink the water. Use each type two days in a row. Once they're finished, come back."
Blessing took the herbs and left. According to tradition, she didn't say thank you—so the herbs would work as intended.
When Blessing returned to her friends, Pretty immediately asked, "What took you so long?"
Blessing, clearly irritated, replied, "Don't even ask. That old man said I'll be his wife! Can you believe that? He's way too old to be behaving like that."
Anita burst out laughing. "Please tell me you're joking."
Blessing shot her a look. "Do I look like someone who jokes about nonsense like that? Hai, no! You're just as crazy as he is."
Pretty laughed too. "Guys, please don't start. I know you two—always fighting like cat and mouse."
"Let's just go," said Anita, rolling her eyes. "Before I snap at someone."
They left Mr. Shabalala's place and spent the rest of the day dropping off their CVs at grocery stores and restaurants around the city.
Later that evening, after a long day on their feet, Blessing got a call from her boyfriend, William.
"I'm at the gate," he said. "I brought you some KFC. I know you've had a long day, and I don't want you cooking tonight."
William was an accountant based in Johannesburg. He and Blessing had been together for three years. They met during her first year at the University of Johannesburg, where she had started her studies before financial difficulties forced her to drop out. Despite the challenges, their bond remained strong.