Sheline arrives at the reception area of Johannesburg Park Station into the waiting hands of Margaret who lurches forward to grab her niece she's meeting for the first time. "Welcome to South Africa, my dear." Her yell draws surprised gazes from commuters, but the excited lady doesn't care who's disturbed. How else will she welcome her only sister's daughter?

"Aunty Maggie!" Sheline rushes into Margaret's outstretched arms as the two hug like childhood pals, during which the older lady muses over her tortuous encounters since leaving Zimbabwe years back. They set each other free and embrace again more passionately, tears flowing from each person's eyes.

The newly-married Bulawayo lady pauses for a moment, smiling, glancing over this woman her mom talks about so much. What comes to mind is to compare Margaret to Audrey.

Margaret is lighter in complexion and looks different from the pictures she'd seen. Well, motherhood has a way of changing people's looks. "Auntie Maggie!" She hugs yet again.

"Let's take care of your luggage. We have to start going now, it's getting late." The young lady doesn't have to taste Joburg's whipping stick on her first day here.

The duo takes an Uber taxi to Soweto, exchanging banters while playing catch-up. Indeed there's a whole lot to talk about. "How have you been coping all these years?" Sheline can't wait.

"Hmm. It hasn't been easy, my dear." Margaret sighs. "Just let's get home so you can relax and take a rest."

Sheline keeps peeping out of the window, asking about Johannesburg, to which Margaret provides answers to the best of her knowledge. "These people don't have economic problems as we have back home," Sheline says, marvelling at the sights and sounds of Jozi.

"Well, not like in Zimbabwe."

"No fuel problems. No queuing for food."

"There are no jobs here. Everyone holds tight to whatever they do."

It warms Sheline's heart to see billboards of familiar brands: telcos, banks and insurance companies, department stores, pasta brands and what have you. They're all here.

The curious lady draws comparisons with Bulawayo which now looks somewhat less modern. Although the similarities between both cities are starking, Joburg is much bigger and by far more crowded. The vibes she's already feeling tickles in no small way.

What's most noticeable is the difference in accent. Sheline considers her Bulawayo accent friendlier to the ears. Nevertheless, she's glad to be in Joburg where she'll study for three years.

"I hope this city has goodies for me." Sheline turns to Margaret.

"Sure. This place welcomes everyone. But you have to work hard to get what you want. Competition is tough."

On getting to her Soweto apartment building, no neighbour of Margaret sees the need to welcome Sheline, a situation the young lady finds awkward, having been used to interacting with neighbours back home. Is it because it's a Saturday when people have social engagements? Or must she knock on their doors to announce her arrival? She changes her mind on seeing moving blinds and peeping faces. The snub is deliberate.

Margaret ignores Sheline's inquiries about the neighbours. The novice will soon learn how things work here. They each clutch to two bags as they slog to the third floor of the seven-storey building, where Margaret's two kids linger by the door.

"Welcome, sister Sheline." The older one, Forgive, a nine-year-old girl, greets with open hands. She tries to collect one of the bags from Sheline but quickly abandon the thoughts, considering the size.

"How are you, girl?" Sheline drops the bags by the door threshold, bending over to cuddle the kids. Her face tells stories of regrets about not meeting them earlier. Joyful stories about meeting relatives after donkey years living in Bulawayo. And, although she'd spoken with them over the phone, such distant chats aren't the same as a face-to-face meeting.

"I have something for you." Sheline digs into her bag handing over biscuits to which the kids burst into breakdancing. When last did anyone offer them anything?

Their joyous yells attract other children whose parents Sheline peeps outside to glimpse.

"Hello there." Sheline greets politely but receives casual nods and handwaves at best. Is this how South Africans greet visitors? She never had one as friend, but books and TV series paint them to be warm and welcoming.

Sheline carries her bags to the room Margaret allotted in the three-bedroom flat.

"This is your place." Margaret glances around the room she cleared up earlier in the week. "I hope you'll like it."

A smile settles on Sheline's face as she looks around. The room measures roughly the same as that in Bulawayo, but the bed is the same queen size. The wardrobe is also big enough to fit her clothing, including those Moyo provided. The only differences are the wooden floor and ceramic ceiling.

"This is nice, auntie." She hugs Margaret for the umpteenth time.

"I'm happy you like it. I was wondering what to put in it for a university student, but my empty pocket doesn't allow me to think far."

"No, don't bother. This is okay. I'm only here for studies."

Margaret reckons that the girl looks and talks like Audrey – the same chocolatey complexion and receptive countenance. The smiles and hand gestures are similar too. Emotions grip Margaret, thinking she ought to have done better with her life in Joburg had she known a day like this would come. She, however, shakes off the feeling to concentrate on making her guest comfortable.

Will Sheline enjoy this crime-ridden township? This over-pampered and laid back girl looking like someone who can't swallow a morsel of banana placed in her mouth? It remains to be seen how Sheline will cope in tough Soweto where sharp wits and street sense is necessary to weather the storm. It behoves on Margaret to do some induction. That should go a long way.

They gather in the sitting room, gisting while eating meat-pie and Five-Alive juice. Sheline hands over more goodies to the kids, after which Forgive immediately takes to her new aunt.

"Why did you leave us, aunty Sheline?"

Sheline notices the concern on the little boy's face. "I was away. I won't leave you again." It's obvious the kids need companionship.

Sheline looks around the three-bedroom flat, taking special note of the two worn-out sofas; a shelf holding a 32-inch Hisense television and an old-model LG home-theatre system. The wall, painted in cream-colour, has pictures of her kids and a man Sheline thinks should be their father. The sitting-room is big, but with the sparse furniture, it looks noticeably empty. No dining room.

"Journalism is what you're here to study, neh?" Margaret cuts into Sheline's thoughts.

"Yes, auntie. A journalism degree is what I want. I'm just starting life."

"Like Audrey, you have a head for books. Did I even complete my grade twelve?"

The women dig into topics they used to discuss on phone, most of which Audrey already told Sheline about but which now sounds refreshing. The young lady finds Margaret chattier than Audrey, exactly the way she used to sound on the phone. The mental image she had of the woman proves accurate. Boisterous and expressive, she's more confident than Audrey. It'll be interesting to live with this woman for the next three years.

"Let me dial my husband and tell him I'm okay. I also want to talk to my in-laws. They'll be waiting so badly." Sheline blushes.

"Yes, do so." Margaret's eyes widen as Sheline's face glows on mentioning her husband. Why does she have to call Moyo before Audrey? The guy must be rich to deserve such respect. Well, beautiful Sheline needs a wealthy man to take care of her. No wonder she's here to study at the university, which gulps lots of money.

The mother-of-two gets thinking. How will she benefit from Sheline's stay in Soweto? Yes, her niece now lives with her, what favours will that bring? Or will she feed and accommodate her for three years just like that?

"It was wonderful," Sheline says animatedly over the phone, giving a lowdown of her journey to Joburg. "An eye-opening experience." Every interesting landmark and scene gets a mention, especially the encounters at the Zimbabwe-South Africa border where people fleeing hardship cook up stories to cross over.

"I'm happy you had it smooth," Moyo says. "Can I speak to your aunt?"

Margaret and Moyo exchange warm pleasantries, during which the latter gives profuse thanks which leaves Margaret wondering if that's all he'll say.

Moyo doesn't sound like a wealthy Zimbabwean. Definitely not like those she used to lust after years back. His over-bloated sense of gratitude leaves much to be desired. Is he truly a hustler like Audrey once hinted? If so, how do these people expect her to spend on Sheline from her meagre income when getting her children schooled is an issue?

She returns the cellphone to Sheline with a wry smile "Your husband."

Sheline speaks with her inlaws and then calls her mom, repeating the same stories about her long trip. Tears flow freely on both sides of the network, wetter than when she spoke with Moyo.

"I didn't know I'll miss you so much," Audrey says. "The moment your husband took me home after your bus left, I started missing you."

"I miss you too, Mama."

Audrey then engages Margaret in a long chat, during which Sheline goes to take a bath. They later gather again at the sitting-room for dinner.

"Where are your wedding pictures?" Margaret asks to ascertain Moyo's true financial status. Although Audrey described it as a small party, pictures will state the facts.

"My wedding pictures are there anytime you wish to see them. I should first ask how you survived living in South Africa all by yourself."

"Oh, you want to know." Margaret flashes a broad smile. No one ever asked how she coped all these years. She suddenly sees an opportunity to flash her mind back. While they munch, Margaret digs into her journey after leaving Harare, narrating with passion...