Amile The Queen

Chapter Fifty-Nine

***Langalethu Zulu***

He’s standing in front of his room, standing face to face with the door, skeptical about knocking and disturbing the peace. But he heard Thulisile loud and clear, he needs to do this now.
He was drenched in rainwater, he had to dry off first, and she was the one who helped him, now he’s standing here contemplating on a way to break the news to him.
He knocks; twice before he feels shuffling in the room. It goes quiet again before he knocks again and opens the door slightly. He knows never to do this. You don’t let yourself into another man’s bedroom, never! That is the biggest form of disrespect, especially a married man.
They are cuddling on the bed. She is safely tucked in his arms sleeping peacefully with her mouth slightly open. He on the other hand is wide awake, staring at him.
“Mageba, bengisacela uk’luma indlebe ngala ehhovisi.” He rubbed his hands together as he felt a cold chill run down his spine.
He is more nervous than he thought he would be. That and the cold of his skin from standing in the rain for too long.
He removed her head from his chest and carefully placed her on the fluffy pillow next to him. He stood up and put on his slippers before dragging himself out the bedroom.
Langa led the way, and when they passed the passage, he looked at Thulisile and pleaded with her to come using his eyes. She got up from the mat, rolled it up and followed behind him. Banzi opened the door to the study and led them in. Thuli laid her mat while both of them settled on the couch. The look on Banzi’s face screamed uninterested, and that was hint enough to Langa that he must start talking.
“I’m sorry about Nontuthu.” Banzi’s face remained expressionless.
He’s not saying anything. He has his chin resting on his palm staring at him.
“When Mhlaba died, we both knew that we had responsibilities, I had to get married and you had to marry him with MaNdlela. None of those things happened because I was a coward I ran away and let the problems accumulate only for you to solve, and that was selfish of me, my sincerest apologies Mageba.” He rubbed his sweaty palms together.
“I came back because I’m sick. The years have gone by and death is knocking at my door, I have to fix things before I succumb to it and leave the palace is shambles.” An expression on Banzi’s face.
It looks like worry, but he’s not peeping a word, he’s just staring at him. It’s a sign for him to continue.
“I have a wife, she was given to me by the ancestors and in my death she will be the only one who can take the throne.”
“Have you found her?” he asks staring at him.
He clears his throat.
“Yes, I have.” Relief spread across Banzi’s face. Too soon brother.
“And you will reclaim your throne?” he asked looking at him dead in the eyes.
He cleared his throat and broke the eye contact. It’s as clear as day that Banzi doesn’t want the throne. Both of them never wanted it, that’s why Langa thought hiding was the best option. Now it’s all back firing on him and it’s causing a ripple effect.
“I should, but not without MaGumede.” He chocked.
It didn’t occur to Banzi quick enough because he gave a response.
“And when will this be?” Langa clears his throat.
There are a lot of Gumede’s out there, it can’t possibly be the same one he shares a bed with, the one he loves.
“Not my MaGumede right?” he lifted his head when it dawned to him.
Langa looked away and scratched his neck.
“Mageba ngiphendule, awuzile la ukuzobhidliza umuzi wami.”
He hesitated a bit before conjuring up the right words to answer his brother who now had his bottom lip trembling.
“I wish it wasn’t the case Ndabezitha. I’m sorry…” Banzi got up from his seat.
All this time Thuli was drawing patterns on her mat using her finger, humming lowly.
“Does she know this?” his eyes are runny.
“No, she doesn’t.” he felt a stabbing pain in his heart.
He held onto his chest and bent down. Thuli broke out of her trance and got up. Banzi stood there frozen, not knowing what was happening.
“Calm down shlobo.” He grunts in pain and balls his hand in a fist and bangs his thigh.
His heart rate is increasing by the second and if he doesn’t breathe, he might end up having a heart attack.
“And what about the love I have for her? What am I supposed to do with it?”
He winces in pain as the question goes straight to his heart. Banzi doesn’t wait for his response, he storms out the office, banging the door behind him. Langa lies back on the couch and cries out in agony. He tries to exercise his breathing but it’s equivalent to throwing water on a duck’s back.
Thuli goes on her knees and starts appeasing the ancestors, calls out to them since she doesn’t have incense on her that she can light. That was the only thing that used to help.
“Siyabonga boNdaba, Sthuli sika Nkombane.” She cupped her hands and clapped.
He joined her when he felt himself regaining his strength. When he had recovered, he sat up and Thuli knelt in front of him.
“You need to go to a hospital.” She said placing her hand on his knee cap.
“I’ll go.” He said in a breathy voice.
“You’ve been saying that.” She argues.
“Once I’ve sorted everything out Shlobo, okwamanje, ngisabhekene nezinkinga zomuzi wami.” He didn’t waste any time, he stood up and found his way out the office.
It’s late now, he wants to rest, but he’s far from being done. Banzi’s reaction is just how he imagined it would be, yet he still doesn’t know what to do.
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He knew he would find him in his bedroom. He let himself in once again and found his brother sitting on the chair staring at MaGumede peacefully sleeping. His back was turned to him so he couldn’t see his facial expression, but judging from the way he was slouching, he was unhappy.
He heard him break into a sob and saw his shoulders bouncing up and down. He felt a gaping hole in his chest when he heard that sound. Nothing hurts more than hearing a sound like this, a man crying, giving up and giving in to circumstances that can’t change.
He moved in and touched his shoulder and squeezed it.
“There has to be another option bafo.” for the first time since he came back, he acknowledges him as his brother.
He buries his head on his thighs and stifles a sob.
“I’m so sorry that it had to be her, I wish there was another way.” he’s never been good with words of comfort, he feels like kicking himself in the hind.
He gives Banzi his moment and just casts his eyes on the sleeping beauty. She looks perfect, he’s mesmerized by the fact that she can just sleep through bold voices having conversations and sobs. She’s really knocked out.
“So how is it going to work?” Banzi asks after a long shot of awkward silence.
“Thulisile will take us through the process, and you have to slaughter a cow to cleanse me.” he let out a shaky breath.
“And will you tell her?” he rubbed his nose bridge.
“Would it be too much of me to ask you to do it?” Banzi turned.
“It would.” he nodded and looked away.
He’s handling this as manly as he should, but it’s taking a toll on him.
“I’ll talk to her.” he said and placed his hands inside his pockets.
Banzi stood up from the chair.
“Thank you for ruining my life.” he said tapping him on the should and looking at him in the eyes.
He could maintain the eye contact so he looked down and listened to his footsteps as they slowly faded away.
He slowly settled on the seat he was just in and sat staring at her the same way his brother just did. Only this time, she fluttered open her eyelids. Her brown eyes bore into his and he looked away in embarrassment. She sat up in a haste and scanned the room.
“Where is my husband?” she asked holding in a yawn.
“I need to talk to you about something important.”
“Okay, but where is my husband?” she asked again.
“Banzi is out getting some air.” she removed the cover and attempted to stand up.
“MaGumede, please sit, I have to talk to you.” she sulked and folded her arms across her chest impatiently.
“I know you’ve seen me in your dreams and over and over again you dreamt about a snake. I need you to be honest with me.”
“If you know then why are you asking me?” she answered with attitude.
He raised an eyebrow at her and she suddenly dropped her attitude, along with the folded arms.
“Do you know what all of those dreams mean?” she shook her head no.
She’s gone mute, he thinks to himself.
“Zwelibanzi’s mother was the first wife, Mhlabawesizwe’s first wife, but he never married her fully. MaNdlela lives inside of you and as the rightful king, it is my duty to marry MaNdlela and Mhlabawesizwe.” her face changed.
“The reason you are here is because this is home. The ancestors brought you here and now I have to fulfil my duty, that is why I am back.”
“None of what you have said to me makes sense.” she holds her mouth and stares at him.
“You are my wife, in order for the palace to be restored to it’s former peace, I have to be ordained as king but before that, I have to marry my queen, and that is you.”
“No, you are making a mistake. Bayede is the king.” he sighed
“He was wrongfully put on the throne. If I had really passed away, it would’ve been his job to find you and you take over. This kingdom is yours.” he lowered his head as if he wasn’t proud of that statement.
He definitely understands that this is too much of a burden for a 17 year old to bear all by herself.
“Why me, why not MaMzobe? Why would the ancestors choose me, knowing very well that I’m married to your brother? This so called MaNdlela, why would she choose someone else’s son and not hers.” tears cascade down her face.
“I’m sorry MaGumede, I know all of this is unfair on you…”
“You didn’t answer my question, why me?” he scratched his head.
“I don’t know.” he’s been looking for the answer himself.
“How do I know you didn’t bewitch me?” she stands and moves away from him.
He stands too and tries to follow her.
“Stay away from me.” she pointed a hand at him.
Her body started shaking before she held onto her knees and let out a shrill cry.
“Ngikhathele! Why is it me!?” she starts hyperventilating.
Now he regrets doing this, he regrets coming back. Had he not, he would’ve spared her this heartache.
He goes to her and tries to hold her but she pushes him away and starts slamming her fists on his chest.
“I hate you; all of you and your bloody family and selfish ancestors! I hate all of you!” she screams until her voice runs dry.
He doesn’t stop her, he lets her have her moment. It’s painful to watch, but there is not much he can do himself.

***Nontuthuzelo Zulu***

She’s lying on the cold floor sobbing. Mgabadeli was given strict instruction to not leave her side not matter what, but the main aim here is to teach her a lesson.  She’s holding her stomach feeling a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, she doesn’t even have the strength to fake it.
“Paul help me!” she shouts trying to get on her knees.
“If you don’t help me now, I promise I’m going to make sure you and your family suffer for the rest of your lives…” she cried clutching on to her bump.
“Do you forget that you are on my payroll?” she still has the nerve to threaten him.
He shakes his head looking at her.
“I’m here doing my job and following orders ma’am.” he folds his arms across his chest.
She lies back on the mattress feeling defeated. The pain slowly subsides and she turns to lie on her side. She continues to sob.
“I’m hungry.” she cries.
He ignores her once again.
“Tell Zwelibanzi that his baby is going to die if he doesn’t come here.” she’s run out of threats at this point, but she see’s the expression on Mgabadeli’s face and knows that she’s won.
He got up and disappeared down the passage. She regrets everything that happened, that is quite definite, but she has to defend her honour.
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Someone was breathing down her neck. She startled and sat up, inhaling his strong scent. When her eyes opened, she quickly jumped on him, held onto him tightly and started crying.
“I knew you would come back for me Mageba, thank you.” she was too excited to realize that he wasn’t reciprocating.
He just continued to breathe out loudly, giving her the cold shoulder.
“Can  we go home so you can tell me it was all a terrible nightmare sthandwa sami, that it’s just the two of us, no MaGumede, no new baby, no Langalethu, just me and you.”
He slowly pushed her off and stood up, dusted his pants and folded his arms across his chest and looked down at her.
“You never loved me…” she stumbled to her feet.
“I did Mageba, I loved you, I still love you…” he silenced her with his hand.
“A woman who claims to love a man would never even dream of doing half the things you have done to me.” she got on her knees and held onto his legs.
“Banzi, please you have to believe me. Whatever poison they fed to you about me, it’s not true. Langa was being spiteful because I chose you over him, you are the one I love.” he moved his legs.
“Zwelibanzi don’t do this to me, please.”  she cried, staining his pants with tears.
He tried to free his legs but she held on tighter.
“Whatever it is that we have, or used to have, is over. You can keep your kingdom, it’s all you ever wanted. Stay away from my children, and you can keep that bastard in that rotten body of yours.” he turned to walk away but she grabbed onto him.
“Zwelibanzi please! Just listen!” she lay on her stomach and let him drag her on the floor and he walked away.
She continued to scream and cry from the pain in her heart and in her stomach. Eventually, she decided to let go because her screams could not get through to him.
“I’m sorry my love.” she said in a hushed voice.
He was long gone by then, she slowly fell into a state of unconsciousness.