LANGELIHLE

#40

LANGELIHLE #40
LANGELIHLE
I open my eyes and realize that I am in Gobi’s hut. I remember being struck by lightning.
I sit up and she looks at me.
Gobi:How are you feeling?
The door was open and it was bright outside. Was it the following day?
Langelihle:Is it the following day?
Gobi:Yes, you slept here..
I stood up remembering something.
Gobi:What did they say to you?
Langelihle:We reached an understanding. I will tell you about it when I return.
Gobi:Where are you going?
Langelihle:To get my husband.
I went to the main house and took a bath. I am so humbled by what happened, my stubbornness died down as soon as I saw them. I will tell you all about it later. Right now I’m still eating dust and gulping down the reprimanding I got.
“Want to talk about it”-Ataru.
Langelihle:Yooo awuhlukane nami we Japan. (Leave me alone Japanese).
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ZIMTHELE
I wave goodbye to Zenande and Bayanda as they get in their transport. I go back to the house and the kitchen was a mess. I fished through the dirty dishes and took a spoon. It was dirty, I wiped it with the inside of my robe and went for the fridge. There was left over food, I took it and went to my bedroom. I got under covers and ate, as cold as it was.
My laptop was open and I was watching some series.
My phone kept vibrating. It was messages from Lusanda and Nokuthula. I ignored them. I know they are calling me about saying goodbye to Sondela. I don’t want to go, I don’t want to say goodbye. He doesn’t remember me, he doesn’t remember anyone. How can he not remember?
I can’t go and see him as they kill him. Even though it’s the best thing for him, but I can’t watch. It’s too painful.
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At the hospital.
Nokuthula:Well it seems like Zimthele is not coming. Has anyone tried Langelihle?
Mlamuli:She’s also not answering.
Mthembu:Well let’s go inside.
They all went in and Sondela was awake. He smiled a little when he saw them. He doesn’t remember them but it’s always good to see them.
Mthembu:Son.
He greeted him.
Shortly, the doctor also entered. Sondela looked at all of them and they had guilty faces.
Sondela:What’s wrong?
Mthembu:We need to talk.
Somehow he knew what they wanted to say, he overheard the doctor chatting with a nurse that it would have been better to switch off the machine when he was still in a coma.
Sondela:I know what you want to say. Do it. It will free me from the pain. It’s okay.
Doc:We need your consent before we can do anything. Remember, you are not being forced so you should not agree if you don’t want.
Sondela:No do it. I just ask that you look after my children, never cast them out. And look after Langelihle too. I may not remember much about you all but I love you and I will miss you to where I’m going.
Mlamuli found himself tearing up. He was so against the whole thing happening.
The doctor gave papers to Sondela for him to sign but they were disturbed by Langelihle who came budging in the room. She collected her breath, she was running.
Langelihle:Sorry for being late. I heard you are killing my husband.
Sondela:It’s okay.
He looked at her with soft eyes.
Langelihle:It’s not. I want to confirm something with you all here. Baba no ma, do you consider Sondela as your son?
Mthembu:If course, but he’s not doing well.
Langelihle:What about you Mlamuli and Simunye?
Mlamuli:We are against this, but inhloko yomuzi ayiphikiswa(but the head of the house has spoken).
He said sarcastically.
Langelihle:And you Nokuthula and Lusanda?
Nokuthula:I think it’s the best thing to do.
Lusanda:I don’t.
Langelihle:Okay please give us space. I want to talk with him.
They all walked out.
Langelihle sat next to him and held his hands, she has gotten used to holding his hand.
Langelihle:I know you don’t want this.
Sondela:I don’t want to be a burden to them. They are already tired of me. They can go ahead and do it, I don’t want to be a pain to anyone.
Langelihle:I don’t want to believe that. Because in my heart I know that you will walk again, and I can’t lose you Sondela. I don’t think I can love anyone like I love you.
I will nurse you and clean up after you I don’t mind. But I am not giving up on you, I am not giving up.
Sondela looked at her, she was crying.
Sondela:Okay please don’t cry. But my body hurts Langalami.
Langelihle:If it means I must hold your hand 24 hours to take away your pain, I will do that.
Sondela:Langelihle..
Langelihle:No you’re not convincing me out of this one. We still have a bright future ahead of us. Now I’m going outside to talk to your family. I will be back soon.
She went outside to  the Mthembus.
Langelihle:I am not taking part in the murder the three of you want to commit. Sondela is my husband and I’m his first wife, I am not agreeing with this. We are keeping him alive.
Mthembu:Makoti_
Langelihle:You do not have to worry about who will take care of him because I will. I am going back with him to Elangeni today.
Mthembu:You can’t do that..
Langelihle:I can and I will.. Take it as your son is dead now baba, I believed in you so much. I never thought there would be a day where you would give up so quickly on your son.
She shook her head disgusted and called out the guards she was traveling with.
Langelihle:The car is outside. Help me get him there.
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SONDELA
Hours later….
She took me to this beautiful place, she says its Elangeni Kingdom. It feels refreshing and warm.
Langelihle:I am going to get Gobi and she will give you something to help you with the pain. You are going to be fine, I’m not promising you your legs back but the pain will go down. I will make sure of it.
She disappeared and came back a while later with a woman who was wearing her traditional clothes.
She gave me some potion. Langelihle bought me food and told me to rest to allow the muti to do its work.
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LANGELIHLE
Sondela is sleeping, he will wake up feeling a little bit better.
I promised you a story, didn’t I?
Well what happened was, I got struck by lightning and lost consciousness. When I woke up I didn’t recognize the place I was at. I later discovered it was the ancestral land. I saw my mother, grandmother, great grandmother, grandfather, everyone. Even the king and Ataru. The fire I had burning slowly disappeared. I felt like I was dreaming, because I wasn’t understanding why I was at that place. I panicked thinking I’m dead. A woman from those people held my hand and told me I’m not dead.
Even Akira was there.
“So… you said you want to see those people who had the audacity to decide on your life?”, the King asked me. I became tongue tied, I didn’t think I would see them. I was still puzzled by how was this possible, but with the things that have been happening, anything is possible.
“Here we are. Say all you want to say.”, hebana these people were so calm and it was scaring me.
I cleared my throat and shared my feelings, about how it is weighing heavily on me that destroying Mdabuli is up to me only. I also told them how I’m not happy about how they want to take Sondela away from me, I explained to them that I loved him and I can’t marry Mlando. I finished it all and they looked at me.
That’s where the whole lectures came in. From all of them. They warned me to never dare them again like this, they reminded me that they once walked on the land of the living and they see all that is happening, but sometimes they can’t interfere because it’s that person’s destiny or fate. They were very stern and I understood what they were saying.
Ataru even apologized that she’s the one who caused all this.
“Forgive me my elders for speaking ill of you. I’m still new at this, and I respect you all so much, but you have to understand, the world has changed so much from when you were alive. I know you mean well and are looking out for me and the people of Elangeni, but believe me Sondela is not a distraction to what I have to do. In fact he’s my motivation. Him dying would have broken me to no return, because I love him so much, I wouldn’t have focused on what needs to be done. But him being alive is the reason why I wake up everyday and fight. He’s in a bad state right now, and his family has given up on him.
He still has children, should they grow up not knowing their father because he was removed as a distraction?
Like I said, the world has changed so much. I’m not trying to change the way you do things or dictate your decisions but I beg of you to let me do things my way. I appreciate the guidance, but please do not overwhelm me. My father will perish, I will see to it that it is done. I know what I have to do. His family has been butchering our family for years, it’s time to put an end to it.”. I gave my speech and rubbed my lips nervously.
They all looked at each other like they were discussing with their eyes.
“We have no doubt that you will make a great Queen. We are behind you. You do not get your stubbornness from outside, you inherited it from all of us. All of  us standing here, we were once like you, we wanted to do things our way and not listen to anyone. But, go child, it shall be well with your husband. We are not monsters, the way we do things may seem unfair but we look at it as shielding you from the bad.  Even though he’s your father, but his heart is so dark Langelihle he don’t have feelings for anyone. He won’t hesitate to killing you. We can see that you love this man, and him dying would have made things worse. We believe and trust in you that you will end this supernatural war.”
Langelihle:Does that mean you bless our union and you give us the go ahead to be married?
“Don’t push it.”
I laughed a little.

Well that went better. I was scared. I’ve heard the underground gang don’t play. Sometimes I think people are just dramatic, they way they describe ancestors sometimes yooo! you’d swear they are demonic hunters that kill anyone who Breathes.  I’m glad my stubbornness worked for me in a way. They gave me a chance to explain myself, of course I have to do a little ceremony to thank them and ask for further guidance.
I believe we will work well together, so long as we understand each other. They are superior than me I get that, but this is also my life. I’m glad they reversed their decision of taking Sondela. He was never going to be a distraction. And now he has no one, he only has me. I believe that I will heal him some day, it may not be now or tomorrow but I know that I will heal him. We just have to let destiny play its part.
I’m never daring them again! I should tone down my stubbornness.


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To be continued…

PS: Please let’s remind ourselves that this is a fictional story, and that these people are not pure Zulu, they also have Japanese genes. I’m not a pastor nor a traditional healer, I’m not waging a war against any belief or religion. I’m saying this because I don’t want to find myself offending anyone who believes in traditional healer or is a traditional healer. If I’ve offended somewhere, I’m sorry, it’s not my intention.

Please do not twist the story and make your own. Again, this is a fictional story. Half the things happening here wouldn’t happen in real life. Thank you.