Contractual mis-marriage
Nonny has an obstacle to cross before walking down the aisle.
Muvhango Weekdays SABC2 (*192) 21:00
Receptionist Nonny and bigwig investor Pule (Phindile Gwala and Zwelethu Nkutsho) are inching closer and closer to their wedding, when the lovers will be able to call themselves husband and wife officially. But those dreams are threatened on Thursday 13 April when Pule hands his fiancée a pile of paperwork – and not the kind she does in the office. It’s an antenuptial contract that he wants her to sign before their wedding plans are finalised and to say that Nonny’s not impressed is an understatement. “She feels hurt by it,” says Phindile. “She is gravely offended by this paper.”
BONDED BY WORDS
For those not in the know, an antenuptial contract states whether the couple are married in community of property or out of community of property. And the one that Pule’s handed Nonny is going to keep their belongings separate and make things easier to split should they divorce. That’s the last thing Nonny wants – she loves Pule and while his money will mean that she’s cared for, it’s not her reason for wanting to be his bride. To Nonny, signing Pule’s document is like preparing for a divorce.
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
After thinking about the contract, Nonny also assumes on Friday 17 April that Pule thinks she’s a golddigger. She’s driving herself paranoid and turns to her boss and friend Thandaza (Sindi Dlathu) the following day on Tuesday 18 April. Thandaza’s been through marriage ups and downs, as well as divorces and Nonny thinks that she’ll get the best advice from Thandaza, starting with scrutinising Pule’s contract from top to bottom. But Nonny’s already got it in her mind that Pule is planning to ditch her despite his claims that he’s just following marital procedure. “Thandaza tries to tell her that this is perfectly normal nowadays and that it will also protect her,” says Phindile. But to Nonny, it’s a “marital procedure” to make sure that Pule is protecting himself and his money.
QUESTIONABLE DIFFERENCES
This isn’t the first time that the couple have argued about money and status. In February 2017, Nonny had issues with Pule about the car he bought her and the conditions that he imposed on her using it, like it’s never allowed to be dirty. By Wednesday 19 April, it seems that their engagement is hanging by a thread as the contract drives them apart. “She feels that there is no trust. This is because she knows that she isn’t bringing much [financially] to their marriage,” says Phindile. While Pule’s adamant that there’s nothing unto-ward about the contract, Nonny’s secretly suspicious and thinks that he’s lying to her. Is this the straw that breaks the camel’s back or will they be able to find common-ground and make it to the altar?