LANGELIHLE #26
#Unedited.
SONDELA
I wake up hours later and Mlamuli was gone, he did good. I stagger to the fridge looking for a beer but there was none. He must have thrown them out. I go to the bedroom and take out the pack I had hidden from the closet. I open one can and down it all in one go.
I go with the rest back to the living room. I switch on the TV and continue drinking. My head is pounding terribly.
My phone rings, mmmm who is it?
I answer without checking.
Sondela:Yeah?
Zimthele:Sondela when are you coming to see us?
Sondela: “Us”?
Zimthele:Yes, I gave birth yesterday. I have been calling you.
Sondela:Oh I will come..
Zimthele:Okay, I love you.
Sondela:Yeah have a good day.
I quickly hang up. I fold my legs and place them on the table, I continue drinking and watching TV..
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ZIMTHELE
Wow. He just hung up on me, he didn’t even say he loves me too. What is wrong with Sondela? In fact what the heck is happening!? There was a funeral last week for Langelihle baby but she looked completely different, after that I heard she was admitted at Ein House. Now Sondela is acting very weird.
Gladys:I don’t think he’s coming.
Zimthele:He is coming. He can’t miss his son’s birth and not come to see him .
Gladys:If you say so.
Virgin enters after a while with coffee. She gives one cup to mom and me. I take it.
Zimthele:Thank you.
Virgin:He still isn’t here yet?
Gladys:Nop.
Virgin:I don’t want to sound judgmental or anything, but I’m asking you again Zimthele, are you sure you are loved in this marriage?
I open my mouth to say something but words fail me. The way Sondela just said “Yeah” after I told him I love him makes me have doubts. He has been so distant, I feel like I don’t even know him anymore. No one from his family has come to see me or my baby, only Mlamuli came, and it’s because I called him. Do they not like me to that extent that they will go out of their ways to show me that they don’t care?
Virgin:Sorry I’ll keep quiet.
Zimthele:No it’s okay, you are right. Maybe he doesn’t love me, I see it. His family sees it, that’s why they can’t maintain even five seconds of eye contact with me. I love Sondela, I don’t see myself with anyone but him. I was stupid to think I could compete with Langelihle, he loves her. I always see the way he looks at her, his eyes breath love and passion. I wish he could look at me like that. Is there something wrong with me? I have even developed toxic hate for Langelihle, because I feel like she’s loved more. Meanwhile she hasn’t done anything wrong to me. I don’t know what to do. He should be here, I get that they are grieving. But I gave birth to his son, he didn’t pick up my calls when I was deep in labor yesterday, I even gave birth without him near me. Even now he isn’t convincing that he’s coming.
Gladys:As hurtful this will sound my daughter, but I told you that you can’t be happy with another woman’s tears. I was against this polygamy marriage from the very first day you told me, because I knew it would end up like this. I knew that there’s always someone who’s going to be favoured more than the other wife. You found these people married, you don’t know the things they have been through or how they fell in love. You don’t know the struggles they have conquered. What did you say Sondela want the first time he approached you?
Zimthele:He said he wants a surrogate, but his wife didn’t want that. So he chose to make me his second wife.
Gladys:There you have it. You know him, you know how he acts around you. I don’t want to see you unhappy; I don’t want to say divorce him because you are a full grown woman, you can make your own choices. But, choose your happiness. That’s all I will say to you. And tell him the truth about Bayanda. I don’t even know who you are Zimthele, so much lies! You’re not only hurting Sondela here, but you are denying Bayanda the chance to be with his real father.
Zimthele:I hear you.
Gladys:I hope so, I don’t want to bury you when you have died of depression. Because you are heading there.
Mom and being dramatic!
Virgin:Mom has said it all Zim, I haven’t been around much so I don’t know what kind of person Sondela is. But I have read about polygamy marriages, and I concluded that I don’t like them. Choose yourself sis. This might all not be worth it.
Zimthele:Why is this turning into an intervention?
Virgin:*Laughing* It’s not.
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Zachary is feeling much better. He is sitting on the chair and waiting for his lawyer. His bail was declined.
His lawyer comes in shortly carrying his briefcase. He sits down.
Bhoro: Sorry I’m late.
Zachary:It’s okay, I just got here.
Bhoro:So our bail was declined. There is a strong case against you Zac, I need you to tell me everything so we can prepare for the trial. Did you r*pe her?
Zachary:I did.
Bhoro:Tell me everything.
Zachary:Langelihle has been my patient for years, to an extent that she trusted me with her marriage affairs, and I advised her where I could. Her and her husband were struggling with having children, the baby would die when she’s up to the fourth or fifth month. It has happened three times, this pregnancy was the fourth. I felt sorry for her, because I had grown quite close to her and developed feelings for her. I knew it was wrong, because she was married, so I kept them to myself and didn’t tell her. Years ago, I had another patient, whom I later found out was her sister wife. Her name is Zimthele, she has had smooth pregnancies and haven’t lost any child. Months ago, Zimthele came to my office and when I checked her I found out she was 6 months pregnant and she didn’t know. And Langelihle had come the previous days, and found out her baby was gone. I was torn and shattered, I felt for her. I wished there was something I could do. Fast forward, I was surprised to receive a call from Langelihle one day. She asked if we could meet. I agreed because I thought maybe it’s related to her pregnancy problems. Then she asked me to do something for her..
Bhoro:What was that?
Zac licked his lips.
Zachary:She asked me to help her swap Zimthele’s baby with hers. Meaning her and Zimthele would give birth on the same day, and we would give Zimthele the dead baby and give her Zimthele’s baby. I said no at first because what she was asking went against my ethics, but she begged me and she was really desperate. I then agreed to help her. I gave her something to put in Zimthele’s food or drink to quickly induce labor so they would give birth on the same day. I pre-recorded some heartbeat and we lied to her husband that her baby was alive. I fabricated some scans and lied to Zimthele that her baby was breeched.
It was all coming along fine, until I called her at the day of the incident, and she wasn’t okay. I then offered to check on her. She said I must bring her food. I got tempted and laced the food with something that would knock her out. When I arrived, she was wearing only a towel. I was fascinated I won’t lie, I thought she was feeling the same way, hence she’s only wearing a towel. She ate the wings and started to feel sleepy. When she slept, that’s when I did it.. Her husband found me on the act and beat me. That’s how I got arrested.
Bhoro:Mhhh so the two of you were together in attempting to steal Zimthele’s baby?
Zachary:Yes.
Bhoro:Do you have proof of that?
Zachary:Text messages and recorded phone calls.
Bhoro smirks.
Bhoro:We will win this case, we have everything against her. I’m waiting for the date of the trial to be announced.
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After walking for hours and not knowing where she’s actually going, Langelihle finds herself outside Gende’s house. She is tired, weak and hungry.
She tries to open the gate but her body fails her and she faints, falling to the ground.
Initiates that were outside, call Gende to come to the gate.
She rushes there with them and see it’s Langelihle.
Gende:When I said she must go back home, I wasn’t dizzy. All of this could have been avoided, but no the generation of today fails to follow simple instructions . The child would have lived, she just needed to go home. Bring her inside.
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To be continued…
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