Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Sixteen

SIMBONGILE PRINCESS NTABENI

I made dinner and ignored the urge to speak to grandad.

I didn't know what to say to him, weird, knowing that I wanted to have a word with him yet I didn't know what to say exactly.

A few minutes before Siya and mom rocked up, Aunt Imi called.

I looked at my phone and something in me didn't want to answer it so I just muted the phone and carried on with what I was doing. She called again, two more times and then on the third ring, I answered. Trying my best to sound excited, because I knew she'd be excited. She always is.

Me: Makazi?
Imi: Hey baby, you must be one busy human being. I've been trying to get hold of you for the last fifteen minutes.

Me: I'm preparing dinner makazi, I didn't hear the phone.

Imi: Ooh okay, uphi usisi?
Me: She's still at work, probably on her way back though.

Imi: Oh, I see. Listen, I'll be in Cape Town kweziveki zizayo and I was hoping to see you.

Me: me? Why?

She laughed, well, she was my aunt but we were not thaaaat close. I mean...

Imi: Haibo Sim I miss you, what do you mean why?
Me: Kanti awuzi apha ekhaya? Or kwantamkhulu ke at least?
Imi: No baby, I'm attending some career expo wethu, but I'll steal Friday for usisi and then Saturday for after the expo for dad.

Me: And where do I fit in kengoku makazi?
Imi: Sunday, before I leave.

Me: Is everything okay? Why are you making me nervous?

Imi: Everything is fine, relax. So, will you be available?
Me: I'll ask mom to drop me off apho uzobe ukhona.

Imi: Or you can Uber, I'll pay.

Me: Mom will never allow that, you know should know that.

Imi: Okay, you can ask her ke baby. Bye for now.

Me: Bye makazi.

She hung up, I looked at the screen and frowned.

We had no beef, or rather we were cool but we were not friends for ba angafuna ukudibana nam ecaleni and not at home as though she was hiding something. Well, she did say she was meeting mom on Friday so she probably wasn't hiding anything.

And that was the problem with me, always questioning the little things, always questioning the motive behind the gesture. I couldn't help it, it was generic.

"Princess ubuya nini kanti umama?" (Princess, when is mom coming back?) Undi asked and I just looked at him. I also didn't know, and I wasn't in the mood to lie to him.

"Simbongileeeee?" he shouted and I just laughed.

"I don't know chap, I really don't"
"Okay, can I call daddy?" he gave me puppy eyes.

"No, your daddy doesn't buy my airtime Undi"

"But you don't ask him to,"
"But dude, please ne. I'm sure mom is on her way back."
"Princess awufuni ne phone yakho?" he begged.

"Undiphile Ntabeni torho"
"Princess uyavimba wen akum?"

I sighed and dialed bhut'Masi, putting the phone on loudspeaker.

Bhuti: Princess?
Me: Bhuti, unjani?

I watched Undi's face break into this beautiful and adorable smile as he heard "daddy's" voice.

Bhuti: I'm good sisi, unjani wena?

Me: I'm okay, you already know the drill.

He laughed, Undi grabbed the phone, went to the door, opened it, and sat on the top step. I watched how happy he was, he was even laughing out loud. After a couple of minutes, he got up and walked over to where I was standing, and gave me the phone. Bhuti was still on the line. Undi kissed my thigh as he walked away... that was him probably saying "thank you", I guessed.

Me: Bhuti?

Bhuti: Uthi u Pumpkin I should pay you back your airtime.

Me: Haibo!

Yho akayihleka u Bhuti, well I know I said that, but I didn't ask him to convey the message. Haibo!

Bhuti: It's okay, I'll send it just now.

Me: Wow! Yho, okay so how much are you sending?
Bhuti: How much do I owe you kanti?

Me: Well, you owe me quite a lot. I mean, your Pumpkin will bother me nangomso, na next week, na next year. Just transfer enough.

He burst out laughing and I just smiled,

Bhuti: Okay Sim, I'll transfer enough.

Me: Enkosi bhuti. Good night.

Bhuti: Night.

*****

I learnt ukuphahla at a very young age, grandad introduced me to it in my dreams and my living grandad approved it as he also realized that whenever I did it, I would calm down. For those who do not understand what this is let me explain: ukuphahla is a small ritual that can be done on a daily basis. It allows one to communicate with their ancestors, which is basically why I use it, for clearer communication with my ancestors. There are traditional methods of ukuphahla that have been kept and passed down many lineages in Africa. Though different tribes and families in Africa vary in their methods of ukuphahla, the foundations of this ritual are the same. It combines the four elements of life (earth, fire, air, and water) in order to connect to the spirit.

The tools may vary amongst cultures, but according to my grandfather the tools that I needed are as follows: Impepho, snuif/snuff, candles, clay or enamel bowl (not really necessary), small reed mat (not really necessary), and a cup of water.

All these things he revealed to me in a dream and for reference I asked my other grandfather, Vuyisile, and he confirmed. He wasn't a seer or anything, but he was a traditional man and ukuphahla was a traditional act that he also grew up doing. I was anxious at first because I couldn't really be going up and down with the whole lot, especially since I was still at school but he said that the most important tool to have from the list was the snuif/snuff. Just enough snuif/snuff to toss a few pinches on the ground for my ancestors should a need arise, regardless of location.

Being called is not for the faint-hearted, because most times we go through the most excruciating of pains for other people. You'd even think you did something to anger your ancestors kanti no, awenzanganto but you're taking through the pain so that you understand what that person has been going through almost all their lives. Fortunately for me, it was just dreams, I had not yet reached the level of feeling someone else's physical pain. I won't mention the lousy headaches and stuff, I mean the real stuff, real pain.