LANGELIHLE #09
ZIMTHELE
What Virgin said this morning stuck with me. Does Sondela really not love me? Does he see me as his baby popping machine!? Is that all I’m worth to him? After all these years!? After giving him three children and now he wants to toss me aside like I’m nothing!?
I can not allow that to happen.
“Mama mama! Woza! (Mom mom! Come!)”, Zenande shouts for me.
Zimthele:Yini!? (What!?)
Zenande:U Bayanda uzishaya phansi, uphuma igazi! (Bayanda is throwing himself on the ground, he even has blood).
I get scared immediately and follow Zenande. We find Bayanda banging his head on the cold tiles like a sociopath. Oh my God! What is wrong with this child!?
I pick him up and make him face me. His eyes were red and he was bleeding on the head.
Zimthele:Bayanda what are you doing!?
I shout at him. I take one of his clothing and press it on his head to stop his bleeding.
Zimthele:Zenande call your father.
She disappeares and comes back second later.
Zenande:He is not answering mommy.
Zimthele:Eish okay. Get my keys.
I pick Bayanda up, I have to rush him to the hospital. I do not know any first aid, so I don’t know what to do.
Zenande comes back with the keys and we run to the garage.
.
.
.
PHIL(Virgin’s husband)
My dignity as a man is gone, I feel weak. Never had I thought that I would be squatting at my in laws. I’m even embarrassed to accept food that they give us. My wealth crumbled down so quickly that I’m left with nothing. When you are at the top and you see the amount of money coming through everyday, you can’t resist the temptation to take one for your pockets. It started with taking R500, R2 000 and it multiplied into millions. I was driving the fanciest cars and spoiling my family rotten. My children were attending the best schools and they had their own personal drivers.
Life was going really well, I didn’t care about the people who were suffering with the money I was stealing. I only cared about myself, my bank account was satisfying.
But, all good things come to an end. I got caught one day, I didn’t know they were running an investigation. That’s how they caught me, along with my other colleagues. They took everything from us, the houses , cars, money, everything. I’m even blacklisted. So it’s still going to be a long time until I can find a job.
And Virgin is also not making things easier, she’s too demanding and picky. I told her that one of my friends is looking for a housekeeper and she completely crushed that idea. I think that’s my fault too because when we were still rich I didn’t want her to work. I promised that I would take care of her in every aspect. I didn’t know that things could end up like this.
I have no idea what life has for us, and I fear it’s not going to be nice at all.
.
.
.
At the hospital.
Zimthele has been trying to call Sondela but he isn’t answering. Her mother is here with her, along with Virgin.
Virgin:He should be here.
Zimthele:I know, I have been trying to call him but he isn’t answering.
Virgin wanted to say something, but she stopped herself. She wasn’t understanding how this marriage works. Couldn’t the husband spare time to check on his son? She Shakes her head in disbelief..
The doctor comes to update them and let them know that he will be okay, he had a mild concussion but he’s fine.
They all go in to check on him. Bayanda had his eyes closed, slowly drifting to sleep.
Gladys touched his head and sighed.
Gladys:What is wrong my grandson? Talk to Gogo.
Bayanda:Gra. Nny…
He replies in a sleepy voice.
Gladys:Why did you hurt yourself?
Zimthele:Ma he is tired, stop asking him so many questions.
Gladys:Okay… sleep my grandson..
She fixes the light hospital blanket and brush his cheek.
She fixed her eyes on Zimthele.
Gladys:What really happened?
Zimthele:I was called by Zenande, she said Bayanda was hitting himself on the ground and was bleeding. I then rushed to his room and I found him on the floor still hitting himself against the tiles..
Gladys:Does he often do that?
Zimthele:No, but he is moody. He is always angry and he is stubborn, I don’t remember a day seeing him smile like most kids. It’s worse when his father is around, he makes it clear that he hates him.
Gladys Shakes her head and folds her arms.
Gladys:Zimthele uphi uyise walengane!? (Zimthele where is the father of this baby!?)
.
.
.
LANGELIHLE
He is giving me slow strokes, while holding my waist gently.
“I love you so much Langalami..”, He grunts on top of me.
I moan back digging my nails on his back.
He collapses next to me and wipes his sweat.
He pulls me closer. We have been cuddled in bed all day and having sex like rabbit. I needed this, it’s always nice to have him by my side. Even though he has to go tonight to sister wife.
We hear a knock followed by his mother’s voice. Oh we are still at his home. I’m going to be staying here for a few days, so that I don’t be alone in our house when he’s gone.
“Sondela they say Bayanda is at the hospital. Come out”
I shoot my eyes open and we both jump out of the bed.
Sondela:Shit um.. I’m coming…
I pass him his clothes and I wear mine. We open the door.
“Zimthele says she has been calling you. Why aren’t you answering?”
Sondela:I switched off my phone. What’s wrong with Bayanda?
“She didn’t say. I was going there.”
Sondela:Okay let’s go.
He turns back and kiss my cheek.
Sondela:I have to go.. I love you.
I nod. They walk away and I go back inside to take a shower. I need to get rid of the sex smell.
When I was done I went out to the kitchen to grab a bite.
Father in law called me to his study, I followed him.
I sat on the chair opposite his.
Mthembu:Makoti I have new information.
Langelihle:Regarding me?
He nods and hands me some papers. Mthembu Senior is the perfect father-in-law, he treats us the wives like his daughters.
Mthembu:This woman has been following you for years, she never gets close. She is always in the shadows lurking.
Langelihle:Who is she?
Mthembu:I couldn’t find her name, but I have her picture.
He gave me a picture of some woman. She looked beautiful.
But, half her face was covered in burnt scars.
Mthembu:I am still working on finding her location.
I sighed and placed the picture on the table.
Mthembu:We will find your home Makoti don’t worry.
Langelihle:I’m not feeling hopeful right now baba. I don’t know anything, Gende keeps on saying I should trust my instincts and that I’m the only one who can find my way home, but how do I do that when I don’t know anything!? Just the other day I almost strangled someone and I felt like I would explode with the way my body was so hot. I just… I want this to be all over..
Mthembu:Your problem Makoti is that you are panicking and rushing, the answers are always there. It just needs someone to focus and concentrate. The mystery man hasn’t been able to find you for 35 years, he won’t find you now. Trust and believe in God and your ancestors, they have been with you all this time. They won’t let you down now.
Langelihle:Yebo baba ngyezwa(Yes I hear you).
Mthembu:Good. I will let you know when I find something else.
