Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called (S2)

Chapter Thirty-Three

-Simbongile Princess Ntabeni-

When the kids eventually got tired of the park, we went to have our dinner at Debonairs. At least they had the sweet sides as well. It was refreshing seeing them happy, laughing and playing like normal kids. I guess even if they were not going to say it, they could feel the tension at home. I found Undi the most affected because Bhut'Masi had not only neglected us, but he had neglected him. Noko thina sesiyiqhelile irejection, I wondered how he felt.

Siya: I can't wait to be eighteen so that I can get my own driver's license. This thing of using Uber going from point A to point B sucks.
Me: Same here.

He wasn't sulking, but he was in some sort of emotion.
We were done eating, it was just after seven and we were just waiting for our ride. As soon as we got into the car, Undi fell asleep on my lap. Junior was in the front with the driver and I was sitting with these two at the back. Safika endlini and went straight to our rooms, thanks God there was no one in the lounge. Musa took a quick bath, and I just tucked Undi in and joined Musa in her bed. Siya had some work to do before going to bed so he went to work in his room, later on in the night I heard him coming in and sharing the bed with Undi. Mom texted: "Are you guys okay?" and I frowned at the question wondering what exactly did she hear? I texted back: "Yup, we're good" just as I was about to chuck my phone under the pillow she called.

Me: Mama?
Mom: Hey baby, u sure ni right?
Me: Yup. Why do you ask?

She didn't respond immediately.

Me: Mama?
Mom: Niya ngantoni esikolweni?
Me: We Uber.
Mom: uMasixole ubaphi?
Me: I don't know.
Mom: Your teacher called, you didn't go to school.
Me: Yeah, I was feeling kind of sick, but I'm okay now. Kodwa ke u Siya and the kids bebeyile bona.
Mom: Okay... you will tell me xaningekho right andithi?
Me: Yes ma'am, listen, we would like to visit you on Saturday nabantwana. Are you okay with that?
Mom: Yeah I'm okay, I actually miss them. I just didn't want them to see me here, like this.
Me: They know you're in hospital nje mama...

She didn't respond.

Me: Are you okay?
Mom: Yeah uhm... I'm fine.
Me: Have you been crying?
Mom: Crying? No.
Me: Mom please don't lie to me... nitheni? Nixabene no bhut'Masi?

She sniffed and cleared her throat.

Mom: Andiyazi yazi Sim... you know I get your statements, right? Yours and Siya's?
Me: Ewe mama.
Mom: I received Siya's bank statement and saw that he has been quite a of Uber, and judging by the transaction times I figured ba nyhani niyaziyela esikolweni so I asked Masixole namhlanje ukuba ninjani and how is school. He lied to my face, saying ni right and he had dropped you guys off. So I asked him if he was dropping you guys off, what was Siya doing with Uber ngexesha ebekufanele ukhwele emotweni usiwa esikolweni? Akaphendula, he initially thought ndive ngani, so I showed him the bank statements and he confessed.
Me: Confessed what exactly?
Mom: That he doesn't know niya njani esikolweni, yena ebevuka ahambe aleqe apha esibhedlela and then swallow himself up ngomsebenzi, he apologized and blamed the accident uthi his mind is all over the place. So ndambuza kemnake ba xa owakhe engafuni ukua esikolweni did that automatically mean nabam abafuni na? On top of that kukho abazali baka mama ka Kamva kwam, and I am hospitalized. They are not related to me, but I am expected to understand why they needed ukufikela kwam instead of kwa mama ka Kamva.
Me: Yhimake nono, umama ka Kamva has a house in Cape Town too?
Mom: Yup, I was just as surprised.
Me: Wow!

We both fell into a deep moment of silence.

Me: We have a lot to talk about mama, I am hoping we can do so on Saturday if awuphumanga before then.
Mom: Kuthwa ndingaphuma Thursday or Wednesday. I am waiting for my results singafika between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Me: Okay... lala ke, si right thina. We are all camping in one room. Kulena yabantwana. Talk to you Saturday?
Mom: Alright baby, I love you. All of you.
Me: We love you more.

We hung up and for some reason, I shed a tear.
What was ubhuti doing with umama ka Kamva that late? How long had he known that she now had a house in Cape Town and when did he tell umama? How did he even tell umama? Where did umama fit into the whole equation? These were the questions that were running around my head... and I knew nomama had the same questions.

****

The following morning we commenced with our newly found routine, went down for breakfast and found Kamva fully dressed in school uniform. I made lunch, Siya made cereal for the two and took fruit for himself. I requested an Uber as the other two finished up eating and then we waited in the lounge in silence. I saw imoto ka bhuti outside, but I figured he wasn't waiting for us. Siya texted me... "He's finally in the mood to take us to school" I smiled and responded "Sizomshiya pha nathi, ayixabanisi" he put his phone away smiling. My phone beeped, our ride was outside, I carried Undi while Musa ran out opening the gate because Siya gave her the keys. I heard ubhuti calling her from his car, she must have thought he was greeting because she smiled and waved, then continued to run towards the car that was waiting for us ngapha kwe gate. He hooted at her, but she didn't budge. Siya followed behind Undi and I as we neared where uBhuti was parked...

Me: Good morning bhut'Masi.
Bhuti: Morning Sim, I thought I'd take you guys to school today. I actually promised your mom I would.
Me: Yho, it's okay bhut you can skip today. Sesi sorted.
Bhuti: Sim please, I already feel bad having neglected you guys umama wenu engekho. Ndiyanicela, get in the car I will take you guys to school.
Me: Kaloku bhuti we have already requested an Uber nantsiya ilinde thina, maybe ngomso ke ungasithatha.

He got out of his car...
And I could sense Musa's irritation as she looked at us through the window. She was already in the car, but the door was half-closed.

Bhuti: It's okay, I'll pay the guy lemali benizoyibhatala mnntanam. Get in the car I will go and talk to him ndibuya no Musa.
Siya: There's really no need for this kodwa bhuti, as you can see, we are fine. See you in the afternoon.

He pushed me gently from behind so we left ubhuti there, did he not follow us?
As we shut our doors emotweni yabantu, he got to the driver and asked to pay him lamali and the driver looked at me in the rearview mirror, I shook my head and looked outside. He looked at u Bhuti and told him he wont be able to, started his car and took us to school.