LANGELIHLE

#21

LANGELIHLE #21

Still at the hospital, Sondela shakes his head not understanding what the doctor is saying to him.
Sondela:I don’t understand what you mean, we went to a doctor and he told us there was no heartbeat but they wouldn’t remove him yet. We went again weeks later and he told us there was a heartbeat, he even showed us a scan. I heard a heartbeat.
The doctor looks at him, confusion written all over her face.
“I don’t understand Mr Mthembu, because from our analysis there is no sign of life to the child she is carrying. And him staying in the womb for this long is not good.”
Sondela rubbed his face in frustration. There was a knock on the door, and it was his father and Mlamuli.
“I will give you some space.”, the doctor says and heads out.
Mlamuli:What are they saying? Is she going to be okay?
He sits on the chair.
Mthembu:Sondela talk to us.
Sondela:They say the baby is not alive. He lied to us, our son was never alive in the first place. He lied!
He felt a huge lump on his throat. He was so excited and happy for their son’s arrival. The happiness in Langelihle face when they heard a heartbeat made him proud and happy. Langelihle would never recover from this. Four children? What has she done to deserve this?
Mlamuli pats his shoulder, they were both out of words. They know how much Sondela and Langelihle not being able to have children has affected them.
Sondela:I don’t understand any of this. I just don’t understand. What does Zachary have against my family that he would lie like this? How do I break all of this to Langelihle? How do I even begin to tell her this? She will be broken.
Langelihle shifts a little and opens her eyes. Her face forms a frown when she realizes that she is in a hospital. Her eyes move to the three men in the room with her, and they’ve got sad expression. She wonders what’s wrong.
Mthembu:Glad to see you awake my daughter.
She sits up straight.
Langelihle:What happened?
Mlamuli:*To Sondela* Uhh we will be outside.
They left, leaving Langelihle and Sondela alone.
Langelihle:*Confused* What is happening babe? Why do you look so gloomy?
He stands up and sits on the chair next to her bed.
He holds and kisses her hands for a longest time.
Langelihle:Sondela you are scaring me. What happened?
Sondela:How are you feeling?
Langelihle:I don’t know.. I feel different. What happened? I only remember…
She stopped herself from saying that she remembers being with Zachary. How will she explain that she let another man in their house?
Sondela:I have to tell you something, about what happened.
He tightens the grip around her hands and sighs. This will be difficult.
Sondela:After you didn’t open for me, I left and drove around the neighborhood thinking. After an hour or two, I decided to go back to the house to ask you what wrong did I do. But I saw another car, and when I went inside I found Zachary… he was… he was…
Langelihle:He was what?
Sondela:*Closing her eyes* I found him on top of you… he assaulted you sexually. I’m sorry Langalami.
Langelihle:He did what?
She asked with a breaking voice, tears threatening to come out. She can feel that something is definitely wrong down there.
Sondela:There’s more.. The doctors say our son was never alive. So he lied to us, and convinced us that he was alive.
Langelihle covered her face with her hands.
Langelihle:What have I done to deserve this?
Sondela gets in bed next to her and embrace her in his arms.
Sondela:You didn’t do anything wrong sthandwa sami. You didn’t do anything wrong. Zachary is in jail now, he will pay for what he did to you. I’m really sorry that I wasn’t there to protect you.
Langelihle:*Shaking her head and crying* I can’t feel like it’s my fault. I let him in, he didn’t force his way in. I let him in. I didn’t know he would do something like this.
Sondela:Even if you invited him in, it doesn’t mean he should have drugged you and did as he pleased with you. His ev*l act is unjustified.
He pulled her closer, Langelihle cried in his arms. She had a lot of regrets and “only ifs”. She wrapped her arms around Sondela and continued crying.
.
.
.
ZIMTHELE
Something is going on here. I don’t know what it is, but something is going on. I do not get the motive behind Zachary lying about my baby being in breech. Why would he lie about something like this? I will ask him tomorrow. He has to answer my questions. But I am glad that nothing is wrong with my baby, which means I will have a smooth birth and give Sondela yet another child to build on his empire.
Mom and Virgin left after seeing the scans. Now I’m left alone. At least my phone is here with me so I won’t get bored.
I call the nanny at home and let her know that I am not coming back, but she shouldn’t tell the kids that I’m at a hospital. I don’t want to scare them.
I hear footsteps approaching and I lift up my head thinking it’s the doctor or nurse. Only to see it’s Sondela’s brother, Mlamuli.
Mlamuli:My brother’s wife.
Zimthele:Hey.
Mlamuli:I’m here to see you, Sondela said I should check up on you. How are you doing?
Zimthele:I’m fine. I just found out that my baby was never breeched, so everything is okay. Where is Sondela by the way? He said he would be back.
Mlamuli:He’s with Langelihle, she’s at the hospital. Something happened.
Zimthele:*In disbelief* She’s at a hospital?
Mlamuli:Yeah.
Wow. Just when Sondela is supposed to be here, she gets herself admitted to a hospital. I wonder what’s up with her now.
Zimthele:What is wrong with her?
Mlamuli:I can’t tell you. It’s between them.
Mxm. I bet it’s not that deep. Once again, Langelihle steals my shine! After today, I thought things would be better and different. But it’s clear I was wrong, she’ll always be favoured more in this marriage. And me, the baby popping machine will be attended to later. This sucks big time!
Mlamuli:I will see you some other time, I’m glad you are okay.
I bet he’s running to cling on to Langelihle. I said it before that the Mthembus love Langelihle, they drop everything for her. Which isn’t fair, both of us are Sondela’s wives and we should be treated equally.
Sondela’s brothers rarely say a word to me, we just greet and that’s it. But with Langelihle, they chat up a storm.
What is it with her? What does she seriously have that makes people to worship like this?
Because I know it’s not beauty. Langelihle is a dark girl, so I know they are not fanning over her beauty. She’s just average, nothing amazing. Her name is kind of a contradiction to her appearance you know? Langelihle – the sun is bright, and she isn’t bright. So what was the intention behind her name?
But let me keep quiet before they say I’m bitter and toxic.
.
.
.
LANGELIHLE
Sondela has fell asleep on the couch. Shame, he looks worn out.
And he refused to leave, said he will stay right here with me.
So I am now a r*pe victim. I don’t know how to react, I’m just numb at the moment. I trusted Zachary, he was my doctor and I told him everything. I can’t believe he did this to me. After everything we have d_
Arg! I feel like punching a wall! How dare he take advantage of me!? So he came with those wings, and he had already done something to them. He came prepared, and ready to do his dirty deed.
Sondela’s phone rings and I get out of bed to answer it. It was Mlamuli.
Langelihle:Bhuti.
Mlamuli:Hey sun, where is Sondela?
Langelihle:He is sleeping, and snoring.
I laughed a little.
Mlamuli:Oh okay, I was just calling to let him know that Zimthele is fine. She says her baby is not breeched. So this Zacharia lied to all of us.
I licked my dry lips.
Langelihle:I am glad her baby is okay. She was worried. I will pass on the message to Sondela.
Mlamuli:I’m sorry about what that pervert did. He will be sentenced heavily Sun.
Langelihle:*Sighs* I hope so. I can’t believe that he did that. He stripped off my dignity. How can I not even feel anything!? I just laid there unconscious like a chicken and let him do as he wished.
Mlamuli:No no no we are not doing the blaming game right now. I don’t want to hear you saying that again. Never blame yourself for this, do you hear me?
Langelihle:I hear you.
Mlamuli:Good. Now rest, I will see the two of you tomorrow. I know what happened is traumatic, and it won’t be easy moving on. Try getting some therapy, don’t push Sondela away. The two of you need each other during this hard time.
Langelihle:Not you going full therapist on me.
Mlamuli:*Laughing* I am serious Langelihle. I don’t want you harbouring hate inside you. That hate can turn into something bad. We are your family and we are here for you. Anytime you need us, we will drop everything for you.
I smiled hearing him say that. Because I know he means it. The Mthembus have shown me more than once that they love me and they would do anything for me.
Langelihle:Thank you bhut Mla, I will take your advice and contact a therapist. I also don’t want to carry hate inside me.
Mlamuli:Thank you. Take care.
He hung up and I went back to the bed.
My hands touched my stomach and I sobbed silently.
Langelihle:I’m sorry baby, it seems like it’s never going to happen. Mommy tried, I really tried.
.
.
.
To be continued…
50+ comments..