DIE SMS – Tania Marx
1. Nikita’s hands are shaking (bewe) slightly (effens), she stares blindly
(nikssiende) ahead of her. She just (so pas) discovered (ontdek) the
reason (rede) for her husband’s (man se) mysterious (geheimsinnige)
behaviour (optrede). Disbelief (ongeloof) is written (geskrywe) all over
(orals) her beautiful face (gelaat). How could Raymond do this to her?
Tears fill Nikita’s green eyes, and slowly (stadig) run down (loop teen)
her cheek (wang). The past (afgelope) week he came home late every
evening (aand), it was the first time (keer) that something like this has
happened (gebeur). The evenings (aande) were soul-destroying, alone in
this enormous house. Her suspicions (agterdogtige gedagtes) hounded
(getreiter) her, many times (vele male) she wondered: where was he? The
times (kere) she asked him out, he was very evasive (ontwykend)
regarding (omtrent) her questions. According (volgens) to her, they had a
happy (gelukkig) marriage (huwelik). Now she is sitting here in the
early (vroeë) morning (oggend) hours in the bathroom (badkamer), her
limbs (ledemate) feel as heavy (swaar) as lead (lood). Raymond
returned (teruggekeer) earlier last night than the previous evenings. She
looked (gekyk) at her sleeping (slapende) husband for a long time, love
(liefde) was openly (openlik) seen in her eyes. He was deep in a dream,
there was a peaceful (salige) expression (uitdrukking) on his face
(gesig). Tonight, her heart is filled with whirling (kolkende) emotions.
Out of desperation (desperaatheid), she decided to intercept
(onderskep) her husband’s cellphone. Deep in her soul she prayed
(gebid) that her suspicions (vermoedens) weren’t true (ongegrond). Here
she is sitting now – reading the sms on his cellphone for the umpteenth
(soveelste) time. “Hallo Raymond, please don’t forget our appointment
(afspraak). There is so much to talk about and time flies (vlieg) by so
quickly (vinnig). See you tonight (vanaand). Shelly.”
2. Nikita went and got a special present (geskenk) for him to celebrate
(ter viering) their 6th wedding anniversary (huweliksherdenking) that
is going to take place (plaasvind) soon (binnekort). She bought (gekoop)
him an antique (antieke), handcrafted (handgekerfde) woodcarving
(houtbeeld) of an eagle (arend). Raymond was a bit animal and nature
lover (natuurliefhebber). A bitter expression appears (verskyn) on
Nikita’s face. She almost walked for hours, looking for (op soek na)
the perfect present (geskenk). (She feels like throwing the carving
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, (beeld) in the fireplace (kaggel) now!) A number of (magdom)
questions run (maal) through Nikita’s head (kop). Who is Shelley?
Where and when did they meet (ontmoet) each other (mekaar).
Emotionally and physically exhausted (uitgeput), she finally (uiteindelik)
falls asleep (aan die slaap). The next morning (oggend) it feels like a train
hit her. She gets a fright (skrik) from her mirror image (spieëlbeeld). She
quickly (vinnig) walks to the bathroom. The cold water that she splashes
(spoel) onher face (gesig), feels refreshing (verfrissend). Raymond got
up very early (douvoordag uit die vere), I can hear him bustling
(werskaf) in the kitchen (kombuis).
3. “Morning, my beautiful little wife, go and relax (rustig) in bed again. I’ll
bring you a nice (lekker) cup of coffee and breakfast (ontbyt).”
A weak (flouerige) smile (glimlag) plucks at the corners of her mouth
(mondhoeke). Without a word, I leave (verlaat) the room (vertrek). I
snuggle (snoesig wikkel) under the blankets (komberse) and brood (tob)
over how to handle (hanteer) the situation. Raymond comes into our room
joyfully (vrolik). There is a spontaneous (spontane) smile on his
attractive (aantreklike) face (gesig) and a twinkle (vonkel) in his brown
eyes. I take the tray (skinkbord) from him and my eye falls on the big red
envelope (koevert) with a cheeky (windmakerige) golden (goue) bow
(strik).
4. “What is that?” I ask with curiosity (nuuskierigheid) in my voice (stem).
“This, my dear (liefste) wife, is the reason (rede) why I have been
staying out so late (uithuisig) this week. Shelley, the traveling agent
(reisagent), was incredibly (ongelooflik) helpful (behulpsaam) with all
the arrangements (reëlings). This is my present (geskenk) to you: a
romantic trip (reis) for two to France (Frankryk)!”
5. Nikita tries to swallow (sluk) past the bulge (knop) in her throat (keel).
“Thank you so much, my husband.” Lovingly (liefdevol) she folds (vou)
her arms around his neck and kisses (soen) Raymond passionately
(passievol) on his mouth. She feels like a proper (behoorlike) jerk
(skurk). Never again (nooit weer) will (sal) she doubt (twyfel) her
husband’s faithfulness (getrouheid). Trust (vertroue) in a marriage
(huwelik) is of great (kardinale) importance (belang). Great relief
(verligting) washes (spoel) over Nikita – at least (darem) the eagle
THIS SUMMARY AND TRANSLATION IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO COPYING, SHARING
OR DISTRIBUTION ALLOWED, PLEASE
2
1. Nikita’s hands are shaking (bewe) slightly (effens), she stares blindly
(nikssiende) ahead of her. She just (so pas) discovered (ontdek) the
reason (rede) for her husband’s (man se) mysterious (geheimsinnige)
behaviour (optrede). Disbelief (ongeloof) is written (geskrywe) all over
(orals) her beautiful face (gelaat). How could Raymond do this to her?
Tears fill Nikita’s green eyes, and slowly (stadig) run down (loop teen)
her cheek (wang). The past (afgelope) week he came home late every
evening (aand), it was the first time (keer) that something like this has
happened (gebeur). The evenings (aande) were soul-destroying, alone in
this enormous house. Her suspicions (agterdogtige gedagtes) hounded
(getreiter) her, many times (vele male) she wondered: where was he? The
times (kere) she asked him out, he was very evasive (ontwykend)
regarding (omtrent) her questions. According (volgens) to her, they had a
happy (gelukkig) marriage (huwelik). Now she is sitting here in the
early (vroeë) morning (oggend) hours in the bathroom (badkamer), her
limbs (ledemate) feel as heavy (swaar) as lead (lood). Raymond
returned (teruggekeer) earlier last night than the previous evenings. She
looked (gekyk) at her sleeping (slapende) husband for a long time, love
(liefde) was openly (openlik) seen in her eyes. He was deep in a dream,
there was a peaceful (salige) expression (uitdrukking) on his face
(gesig). Tonight, her heart is filled with whirling (kolkende) emotions.
Out of desperation (desperaatheid), she decided to intercept
(onderskep) her husband’s cellphone. Deep in her soul she prayed
(gebid) that her suspicions (vermoedens) weren’t true (ongegrond). Here
she is sitting now – reading the sms on his cellphone for the umpteenth
(soveelste) time. “Hallo Raymond, please don’t forget our appointment
(afspraak). There is so much to talk about and time flies (vlieg) by so
quickly (vinnig). See you tonight (vanaand). Shelly.”
2. Nikita went and got a special present (geskenk) for him to celebrate
(ter viering) their 6th wedding anniversary (huweliksherdenking) that
is going to take place (plaasvind) soon (binnekort). She bought (gekoop)
him an antique (antieke), handcrafted (handgekerfde) woodcarving
(houtbeeld) of an eagle (arend). Raymond was a bit animal and nature
lover (natuurliefhebber). A bitter expression appears (verskyn) on
Nikita’s face. She almost walked for hours, looking for (op soek na)
the perfect present (geskenk). (She feels like throwing the carving
THIS SUMMARY AND TRANSLATION IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO COPYING, SHARING
OR DISTRIBUTION ALLOWED, PLEASE
1
, (beeld) in the fireplace (kaggel) now!) A number of (magdom)
questions run (maal) through Nikita’s head (kop). Who is Shelley?
Where and when did they meet (ontmoet) each other (mekaar).
Emotionally and physically exhausted (uitgeput), she finally (uiteindelik)
falls asleep (aan die slaap). The next morning (oggend) it feels like a train
hit her. She gets a fright (skrik) from her mirror image (spieëlbeeld). She
quickly (vinnig) walks to the bathroom. The cold water that she splashes
(spoel) onher face (gesig), feels refreshing (verfrissend). Raymond got
up very early (douvoordag uit die vere), I can hear him bustling
(werskaf) in the kitchen (kombuis).
3. “Morning, my beautiful little wife, go and relax (rustig) in bed again. I’ll
bring you a nice (lekker) cup of coffee and breakfast (ontbyt).”
A weak (flouerige) smile (glimlag) plucks at the corners of her mouth
(mondhoeke). Without a word, I leave (verlaat) the room (vertrek). I
snuggle (snoesig wikkel) under the blankets (komberse) and brood (tob)
over how to handle (hanteer) the situation. Raymond comes into our room
joyfully (vrolik). There is a spontaneous (spontane) smile on his
attractive (aantreklike) face (gesig) and a twinkle (vonkel) in his brown
eyes. I take the tray (skinkbord) from him and my eye falls on the big red
envelope (koevert) with a cheeky (windmakerige) golden (goue) bow
(strik).
4. “What is that?” I ask with curiosity (nuuskierigheid) in my voice (stem).
“This, my dear (liefste) wife, is the reason (rede) why I have been
staying out so late (uithuisig) this week. Shelley, the traveling agent
(reisagent), was incredibly (ongelooflik) helpful (behulpsaam) with all
the arrangements (reëlings). This is my present (geskenk) to you: a
romantic trip (reis) for two to France (Frankryk)!”
5. Nikita tries to swallow (sluk) past the bulge (knop) in her throat (keel).
“Thank you so much, my husband.” Lovingly (liefdevol) she folds (vou)
her arms around his neck and kisses (soen) Raymond passionately
(passievol) on his mouth. She feels like a proper (behoorlike) jerk
(skurk). Never again (nooit weer) will (sal) she doubt (twyfel) her
husband’s faithfulness (getrouheid). Trust (vertroue) in a marriage
(huwelik) is of great (kardinale) importance (belang). Great relief
(verligting) washes (spoel) over Nikita – at least (darem) the eagle
THIS SUMMARY AND TRANSLATION IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO COPYING, SHARING
OR DISTRIBUTION ALLOWED, PLEASE
2
