LANGELIHLE #02
I slept over at my dad’s yesterday, I was too emotionally heavy and tired to go back. Sondela wasn’t going to be back anyways. It’s only now that I’m arriving. I take a long shower and let the water hit my skin.
When I was done I dried myself and prepared to go to work.
I heard the door opening just when I was getting my bag. It was Sondela.
He looked fresh and wore new clothes.
Sondela:Good morning.
Langelihle:Hi, how are you?
Sondela:I’m good. How are you?
Langelihle:Also good.
Sondela:So about yesterday.. I’m sorry I left you alone. I just wanted to not think about this.
Langelihle:It’s okay. I also went to my dad.
He nodded.
Sondela:You’re heading to work?
Langelihle:Yes.
Sondela:Okay I will drive you.
I took my things and followed him to the garage.
He drove me to work.
Sondela:I will come pick you up. I love you, and we will get through this.
Langelihle:I love you too.
I got out of the car and headed inside to my office. Good thing I have my own space, I can’t stand being around too many people. It just makes me uncomfortable.
My friend and colleague, Nono comes into my office holding her head. She probably has a hangover. Wherever the party is, you will find Nono.
I laugh at her and give her water.
Langelihle:Ubujuxuzaphi ke izolo? (Where were you partying yesterday?)
Nono:Eish Sun, I don’t even know that place but it was lit.
I laugh at her.
Langelihle:Mr Clark will give you a warning coming to work like this.
Nono:He won’t see me. I can’t wait for this day to end.
She put her feet on my desk.
Nono:I almost forgot to ask, how did it go yesterday?
I touched my stomach and sighed.
Langelihle:We lost him.
Nono:Oh friend.
Langelihle:It’s okay. I guess I saw it coming.
Nono:How is Sondela taking it?
I shrugged my shoulders.
Langelihle:Hurt, disappointed.
Nono:Maybe you guys should see a Sangoma and consult. This is more traditional, you can’t lose babies like this.
Langelihle:You think so?
Nono:Do you think it has uhm to do with… I don’t know… your real parents?
My real parents? I don’t know them. The only parent I know is my father. Dad told me that he found me on the road crying and alone, that a woman was dead next to me. That’s the only thing I know. I don’t even know if my parents are still alive, or if they gave me away. It’s been 35 years, they’ve never come for me. So I think they just abandoned me. I also won’t waste my time looking for people who clearly don’t care. Though, it does get to me that I don’t know my roots, where I come from.
Langelihle:Why would it be about them?
Nono:I also don’t know Sun, I was just making an idea.
Langelihle:I will think about it.
My phone rings and I look at the caller.
Langelihle:It’s Zimthele.
She laughs and stands up.
Nono:Let me leave you.
I answer her.
Langelihle:Hello.
Zimthele:Mamkhulu how are you?
Langelihle:I am fine sisi, how are you?
Zimthele:I’m also fine, I’m just checking up on you. Are you okay?
Langelihle:*Chuckling * He told you, didn’t he?
Zimthele:I’m sorry, I know how much you wanted this pregnancy.
Langelihle:It’s fine, thank you.. I will call you later..
I quickly hung up.
Well, I am in a polygamous marriage. I said I never found my husband cheating, but I suspected because of various reasons. Well these were the reasons, he came with her years ago and asked me to take her as his second wife. It was during the times where I wasn’t getting pregnant at all. I agreed, after so much convincing. And Zimthele looked really nice and humble, she didn’t come with the mind-set that she is loved more or she will remove me. No, she knows her place and whenever she wants to come to my house, she calls me and asks if she can come. So the setup is working well, it’s just my mind is preoccupied right now. Zimthele has two kids with Sondela, she managed to give him something that I couldn’t give him. Sometimes I do get jealous of her, wondering how she does it. I always feel like she is loved more, Sondela is forever at her place. Even yesterday, he left me and went to her. Just when we found out that our child is no more, he went to her.
.
.
.
ZIMTHELE.
“Yep, six months pregnant.”, weee! I lean back on the Chair.
Zimthele:But my stomach looks normal.
“You are six months pregnant mam. It happens, your belly will show soon.”
Zimthele:Well I was feeling like I gained some extra weight and I sometimes feels nausea and the urge to vomit. I just didn’t think it was pregnancy.
“We will do a scan to check if the baby is okay.”
He did the scan and surprisingly the baby was okay, I even got to know the gender. It was a boy. She printed out the scans for me and I excitedly put them on my bag.
“You should start going on a healthy diet, set up your check ups and limit the amount of stress on your body.”
Zimthele:Got it.
I walk out of the doctors office to my car. I am excited for the pregnancy but I don’t think it would be a good time to announce it now, I mean they just lost their baby. I will keep quiet for now.
.
.
.
LANGELIHLE
It was knock off time and I was waiting for Sondela to pick me up. I was standing on the parking lot. A woman, who looked like she’s in her 50s passed through me and looked at me.
Langelihle:Uhm hi.
“The Sun.”
Langelihle:Uhh what’s wrong with the sun?
It wasn’t even hot today, just cloudy.
“He will find you… you need to run..”
Okay this is weird. I looked around and the security guards came to drag her away.
“I’m sorry, they say she escaped from Ein”
Ein is the mental asylum.
The older woman screamed; she was still looking at me.
“THE SUN… HE WILL FIND YOU…. YOU NEED TO RUN… HE IS CLOSE….”
They went away with her and I shook my head confused. Who will find me and why should I run?
I saw Sondela’s car approaching.
I hop inside and he gave me a little kiss.
Sondela:Hi, who was that?
Langelihle:Just some old women, gibbering about something I don’t know. Let’s go home.
He drove us home.
Sondela:I’m sorry for leaving you yesterday, I just needed to collect my thoughts. I don’t know what it is that we are doing wrong, that would make us lose our babies like this.
Langelihle:Nono suggested we consult with a traditional healer.
Sondela:You discuss our business with your friends?
Langelihle:You also discuss them with your other wife!
Sondela:But Zimthele is practically family.
Langelihle:Yeah your family! The ones you love the most! But what can I say? She gave you something that I couldn’t give you.
Sondela:Babe I thought you were okay with her.
Langelihle:Yeah because who would be okay with sharing her husband?
Sondela:Langa..
Langelihle:No Sondela… I know you love them more, no need to deny it. You even bought her a new house and a car, something you’ve never done for me.
Sondela:It was to accommodate her and the kids.
Langelihle:Wow.
I said with a low voice.
Langelihle:Do you even still love me?
Sondela:Langa…
Langelihle:I need to know, do you still love me?
Sondela:You’re my wife Langelihle.
I felt my tears, I am losing my husband. Something I have been fearing, I knew it would come to this. I need to do something, I have to come up with a plan.
Langelihle:I asked if you still love me Sondela? I know I am your wife. The ring is proof of that.
Sondela:Babe…
I walked away from him and went to our bedroom where I kneeled on the floor and let it all out. Whoever said marriage was easy was on drugs!
.
.
>>>>
