Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Eighty-Four

-Masixole Ngqotyana-

A couple of days later, in the evening, Kamva came to visit. I tried to listen, I wanted to gage if her mother had accompanied her or not, but I couldn't grasp. She spent the first fifteen minutes of her visit in silence, but I could hear flipping pages. After a while, I heard a zip and then a sigh.

Kamva: Hey dad... I didn't even greet you today. I hope you're good, you look good phofu.

And then she chuckled...

Kamva: I wish you would wake up yazi tata... I have so many questions for you. I uhm... I kind of met your fiancé, but I didn't want to overwhelm her, in case she wouldn't like me. But grandma said she was a very kind person... I just... I guess ndoyika uphoxwa. So ingaske uvuke so we can talk about that.

The silence followed again...

Kamva: And I want us to talk about us. I want to live with you tata... I know it wouldn't be ideal to change schools now, but, if uyafuna wena. I mean, if you're willing to live with a teenager then I could ask for transfer eskolweni ndiqale u grade 11 in Cape Town. Umama... she just... I feel like she hates me. I know she hates you... but I feel like she hates me.

She sniffed...

Kamva: Ever since she got married, she's been neglecting my needs, kubalukele umyeni wakhe. I get that I wasn't planned, but come on dad. First andifunwanga nguwe, you left and went to live in another city and then you stopped calling. Now it's her... I feel like I'm a burden to you guys. I only feel loved when I'm at grandma's house. At least ubhut'Xola cracks jokes, he even makes sure that I do my homeworks before ndonwabe and forget about them. Umakhulu ke is an angel... unmatched.

I wanted to open my eyes and explain to her that I never left her, ngu mamakhe who restricted me from seeing her. I was even shocked that she visits my mother, her mother said she'd never make contact with my family. I was just so confused.

Kamva: uMakhulu says your fiancé has four children, she was trying to convince me ke that you wouldn't mind taking me uhlale nam. As long as I would gel with the other kids. I wish I can meet them... well, I hope I can officially meet her first. She's beautiful by the way.

My heart smiled...

Kamva: Okay, that's it for today. Inoba umama is on her way to fetch me. Xa uvukile ke uyazi we need a meeting. Your sixteen-year-old daughter is requesting a meeting Mr. Ngqotyana... okay? Great, bye bye ke!

She kissed my cheek and walked out.

Once I was sure that she left, I opened my eyes and breathed.

Immediately, Sim's words came alive in my mind... "Please reach out to your daughter bhuti". I swallowed hard, felt like there was ice in my throat.

"She just left, I saw her at the parking lot no mamakhe"

That was one of my sisters, but I couldn't pick up who she was talking to. They walked into the ward, followed by Dr. Chivoro...

Xoli: So doc, what's the latest?

Dr: Your brother is recovering quite well, he's had so much progress in the last few days. If all things go well, he should be out of this place in two weeks or three.

Xoli: Are you sure? I mean, he hasn't opened his eyes since you removed him from the Intensive care.

Dr: He's heavily sedated, so it is understandable. Once the medications flushes off, he will be back to his old self again.

Xoli: And you say all of that can happen in two weeks?

Dr: Yes ma'am...

Xoli: Okay, thank you doc.

He was busy checking my pulses, refilling my drips and signing off some things on my folder. When he was done, he walked away. Leaving Xoliswa and I alone...

Xoli: Masi... haibo yiduvuke mfondini. Mom needs you, and Kamva too... akamhle phofu u Kamva.

She chuckled.

Xoli: Lantombi yakho yase Kapa oko yayize Kanye apha... mhle yena, but I really don't get why you chose her Masixole. Uzomthini u mabuy'e kwendeni onabantwana abalithotho? At least u Zandile akanamntana, and you vibed just fine with her. She's beautiful, successful, she's a visionary... what more do you want? You need to get your mind check yazi ophuma kwakho apha. I feel like lantombi ikudlisile or, someone just messed up with your mind. It just doesn't make sense.

Mh...

Xoli: Mom thinks it's time you came back home, and find something to do this side. So, we have taken care of your things in the Western Cape for you, don't worry. We have made sure that izinto zakho are protected, your businesses, your house, your cars. Everything. We were going to bring the cars down next week...

Someone walked in and Xoliswa went stiff, I felt tension, it was like I could breathe it.

I tried my best to sense what was happening or who the person was, but I was failing.

Xoli: What are you doing here???

She growled, the person just walked in and then my nostrils caught her scent again. Umntu wam.

Sibo: Hi Xoli, are you okay?

Xoli: I thought we made it clear that we don't want you anywhere near our brother.

Sibo: You did? When?

Xoli: Didn't Xola give you the message?

Sibo: Honey, when you're serious about giving me a message you have to say it to my face. I'm here now, so, what did you send Xola to tell me?

Xoli: Sisi, nontombi, ntombomzi... do not patronize me. Not today!

I heard a chuckle, and then felt weight on the bed.

Sibo: If I wanted to play this petty game that you and your sisters are playing I would have you thrown out of this ward and, incase you don't know, I can also prohibit you from visiting my fiancé. It is in my right to do so.

Xoli laughed...

Xoli: Your fiancé? Sisi, khawuyokhangela indodakho, utata walamfumba yabantwana izalise indlu and leave my brother alone. Utheni na, ubone yena wabona a ticket to the highway?

Sibo: Unlike you lot, I work for my own money, but ke I will still eat and enjoy imali yendodam mntasekhaya, unapologetically ke futhi.

Xoli: Bloodsucking parasite!

Sibo: Says the woman who looted indlu ka bhuti wakhe encedisana no sister wakhe while their brother was fighting for his life in a hospital bed. The same women who wanted to cut off the life-support machines thinking they would gain something if their brother would die and then on top of that, they tried to pin everything on me and ban me from seeing their brother. Hay nono, hlukanani nentakatho pha kokwenu. Niyamhlaza u Masixole ezilungele.

She probably sprinted off her seat, I only heard the forceful of a pushed chair.

Xoli: Ungakulinge undiqhele ntombazana ndini, ndaw'kukha-

Sibo: Iphi eyakho indoda Xoliswa? Ndibuziswa kukuba I don't want us to fight over u Masixole oyindodam kanti wena awunayo kwandoda mntase. Where's your man sisi?

Xoli: You should learn to mind your own damn business.

Sibo: So awunayo indoda Xoliswa? Umdala kangaka Ntombi awuna ndoda? Yhu uzintloni.

Xoli: Some of us asixhomekekanga endodeni ukuze sikwazi ukuphila ubom obupheleleyo.

Sibo: Abuphelelanga mntase ubomi obungena ndoda, look at how miserable you are. Uyazazi nawe awukho happy nge situation yakho qha uzixelele ba uzohlukumeza mna kweyam indoda. A quick question my darli, ubuzityile ipilisi k'sasa? Andinothanda xalinoqhawuka apha mntasekhaya, ziyashota ii bhedi apha. Kunganyanzeleka usiwe e St Marks koontanga bakho. You're way above this institution kaloku wena!

I just wanted to laugh.

Mainly because I knew Sibo would beat the heavens out of Xoliswa, I thinki Xoli felt it too. There was this "ndakukhaba uphambane" chill in Sibo's voice. Xoli didn't answer, silence engulfed the room... and then I heard footsteps going towards the door.

Guess she walked away then, fair and square.