LANGELIHLE #12
TIME JUMP.
Sondela, Langelihle and Zimthele are all cooped in one room.
Sondela is breathing fire with anger.
Langelihle:Sondela please let’s talk about this.
She tried to soften him up but he pushes her and she falls on the couch.
He paces up and down the room trying to calm himself down.
Zimthele bites her nails and looks at Langelihle. Langelihle shrugs her shoulders.
A knock erupts from the door, followed by Mthembu’s voice.
Mthembu:Sondela open this door!!
They ignored him.
Mthembu:Sondela open this door, what do you think you are doing!?
Sondela:*Shouting* BABA PLEASE LEAVE!! THIS DOES NOT CONCERN YOU!!!!
Mthembu:I’m not leaving. Don’t hurt them my son, you’re not a woman beater.
Sondela:Who said I will hit them!? Now fuck off!!!
Mthembu:I’m still your father boy!! Don’t talk to me like that.
He sighs and opens the door a little.
Sondela:I’ve never hit a woman in my life, I won’t start now. Now can you leave us?
Mthembu:Fine, but I will be in the living room..
He closes back the door and looks at his wife.
Sondela:So both of my wives lied to me. You repeatedly lied to me!! You made me feel so stupid!! How can the two of you do this to me!?
Zimthele:We are sorry…
Sondela:Shut up Zimthele just shut up!!!!
Langelihle:Babe..
Sondela:You are worse Langelihle, no the two of you are worse!!
Wena Zimthele I asked you so many times if Bayanda was mine and you lied to my face and said he is. You watched me doing DNA tests secretly and tampered with the results. You went through so much length to cover up your lies. You lied to my face for months!!!
Zimthele:I’m sorry Sondela, I didn’t want to lose you. Please forgive me.
Sondela:And wena Langa, I give up with you.
He raised his hands up in surrender. He was defeated and hurt, that the two people who are supposed to look out for him, are the ones who hurt him and deceived him for so long.
Langelihle:I was desperate Sondela, you have to understand. I was desperate!
Sondela:You could have talked to me, I wasn’t going to leave you. I never said I would leave anyone. What the two of you did is unjustified and disgusting to even think about!
He clicked his tongue and walked out!
He found his father in the living room and passed him. Mthembu followed after him.
Mthembu:Sondela.
Sondela:I’m okay dad. I’m fine..
Mthembu:You’re not fine.
Sondela:I’m really fine. I need to go.
He got into his car and drove off.
Mthembu sighed and went back inside.
He found Langelihle and Zimthele shouting at each other, almost fighting.
He got in between them.
Mthembu:This is not the time to fight! You both lied to your husband! So go to him and fix things. Fighting will not help you right now!!
Langelihle:Where will we even start?
……
…………
Months earlier…..
SONDELA
I was able to get the DNA samples and sent them to the appropriate people. Zimthele doesn’t know, she’ll have to forgive me but I really need to know the truth.
She left yesterday with Bayanda, she said she’s going home with him. I think that’s a good idea, maybe he feels suffocated in here.
Me and Langelihle are okay, things couldn’t be more sweet. I wish it can stay like this forever. And we are about to welcome our child in just a month. I’m so excited, yet I’m scared. We haven’t heard the baby kick, but the doctor says he is okay.
Mlamuli:Ahhh here she is. Let’s go!
Sondela:Is it really her?
Mlamuli:Yeah.
It’s the woman in the picture, we have been looking for her and we have finally found her.
We rush to the car and he drives to her location.
It was an abandoned place, there was no sign of life here.
Sondela:Are you sure this is the place?
Mlamuli:I tracked her here.
This place was quiet and didn’t look like a place for a person to live.
“I hear something”, Mlamuli says turning back.
I look around but don’t see anything.
Something pass by quickly and throws Mlamuli against the wall.
I gasp and look around, I also feel myself falling down. I scream a little.
What the hell!?
“What are you doing here!?”, we hear a voice ask.
I can tell it’s a woman, but I can’t see her. I pick myself up and help Mlamuli get up.
Sondela:We are not here to hurt you. We just want to ask you some questions. About Langelihle, do you know her?
“Langelihle…. She’s here?”, she asks with uncertainty. You can hear the emotions behind her question.
Sondela:No she’s not here. It’s only the two of us.
She stays silence for a while… then she comes out. She was hiding behind the wall. It’s really her.
I clear my throat, not knowing where to start.
Mlamuli:Is Langelihle your daughter?
I hit him on the shoulder.
Sondela:I’m sorry about him. But we are here because of Langelihle, we saw that you have been following her for years but you never get close to her. What relation do you have with her?
She walks around and starts crying.
“I have been looking out for her all these years. Years ago, when I arrived at the scene, I saw a man pick her up. I didn’t know what he was going to do with her. I followed him, but I saw that he took her to child services. He seemed nice. I have been following her ever since, every day, for 35 years.”
I look at Mlamuli and shake my head.
Sondela:Not that I’m doubting you or anything, but if you say you have been following her for 35 years then how come do you look younger than her? And do you know anything about where she comes from? Because we were told that she has to find her home, before he can find her and steal her gift again. Who is the mystery man? And what does he went with Langelihle? And what is your name?
“My name is Ntombele, Langelihle is my niece. I survived when he brought the mob to kill me. I will tell you everything. But she has to be present. I know he’s here, and he won’t stop until he can find her.”
I sighed in relief, finally we can get some answers.
Sondela:Okay, we will go and get her.
She nodded. I went out with Mlamuli and we drove home.
We were still at my father’s house.
Mlamuli:Do you trust her?
Sondela:I don’t know yet, but it won’t hurt to hear her out.
We arrive home and Langelihle was in the kitchen with my mother, baking. They get along so well.
I kiss her cheek and she blushes.
I call her outside for a bit.
I give her a hug and touch her belly.
Langelihle:Where have you been?
Sondela:Following a lead. We found her.
Langelihle:Who?
Sondela:The woman in the picture.
Langelihle:Are you serious?
Sondela:Yeah, she says she’s your aunt and she will tell us everything, but you need to be present.
She smiled and held me tighter.
Langelihle:Mvelase please tell me you are joking. Is it really her?
Sondela:It’s her sthandwa sami. We will get answers.
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ZIMTHELE
I called Sana and we met up weeks back. He was a bit confused and angry, that I kept his son away from him. But he had to understand, I wasn’t going to ruin my marriage because of him..
So now we are at his home, to perform a ceremony for Bayanda. I lied to Sondela and said I was going out with him to refresh his mind.
Sana:It’s done.
Zimthele:Really?
He nodded and showed me Isiphandla around Bayanda’s wrist.
Bayanda:Mommy look.
He showed me his hand and smiled. Oh my baby, I had to leave the hut. The incense was burning my eyes.
I pick Bayanda up and tickle him, he laughs.
Zimthele:Thank you so much Sana. I almost lost my son because of my ignorance.
Sana:It’s okay, we apologized to o Dlamini for bringing their son late. He will be okay from now on.
I smiled.
Zimthele:Thank you.
Sana:So when will I get to spend time with him?
Zimthele:What are you talking about now?
Sana:I mean, he is my son and I deserve to spend time with him.
Zimthele:Not now Sana. He doesn’t know yet. And you have been absent for six years in his life.
Sana:And whose fault is that?
Zimthele:I’m sorry but I can’t.
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NTOMBELE
35 years ago, I managed to get away from the mob that was hell bent on finishing me.
I ran to the direction where Nomekezela went and I was shocked to find what I saw. They had shot my sister, and Langa was crying alone. I wanted to go to her and take her, but I stopped when I saw a man rush to her.
He looked decent, and I know he’s been decent because I have been watching them everyday..
I couldn’t get close to Langelihle, because I was scared and didn’t want to confuse her. She had a loving family and they cared about her a lot. Something her mother wanted before he…
Anyway, I’m waiting for them to come back so that I can tell them everything. From how her mother met her father, her powers, everything.
I stand up in anticipation when I hear footsteps. That must be them.
I compose myself and rehearse how I’m going to greet her. She’s so grown now.
The footsteps are getting heavier. I get by the door to welcome them.
I step back when I see that it’s not who I expected. How did he even find me?
He looks around the place and frowns.
“You know, I gotta commend you. You managed to hide from me for this long.”
Ntombele:What are you doing here?
“Oh you know very well what I’m doing here.”
Ntombele:You are afraid of her, you know she’s the only one who can get rid of you. Wait till I tell her everything and how to use her powers. She’ll destroy you to ashes.
“Which is why I have to balance the scales everywhere.”
He took a knife from his pockets and moved towards me.
“Imagine running away from me for 35 years, only for me to kill you before you can even meet her.”
He pushes the knife in my stomach and twist it.
I get drowsy and hold him.
He takes it out and pushes it in again.
“She’s your..”
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