Amile The Queen

Chapter Seventy-Three

Chapter Seventy-Two

***Langalethu Zulu***

  “Isikhathi sesidliwe yinja. UMaGumede kufanele abuyele ekhaya.” he sighed and looked at her.
“And is there no cleansing that needs to be done before I leave?” Amile asks looking directly at Thulisile.
“No, that gogo that was here did all the cleansing you needed. You are on a clean slate. The ancestors need to be brought back home, sishadise uMhlabawesizwe noMaNdlela, then proceed to have your coronation.”
“All of this in a space of two months?” she asks again.
“Unfortunately, yes. Too much time has been wasted.”
He’s just sitting there quiet, observing everything. He still can’t get over that weird thing that happened earlier, it still freaks him out. Amile seems to have changed into a whole different person after cutting her hair, and that was only a few hours ago.
“Shlobo, my grandson is getting married this weekend, I have to be at home. So I need to leave on Wednesday.” today is Monday. He sighs.
“So I have to go live kaGumede until the wedding?” Amile asks.
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“I don’t want to stay there for too long, those people don’t like my mother, and if they don’t like my mother, they won’t like me. I don’t want to be mistreated.”
“You won’t go now. When Thulisile comes back, you will go.” he finally spoke

“For now I need to set up a meeting with the MEC, officially let them know what the itinerary is and we can set official dates. I’ll go talk to Mandlenkosi now and we will go get a goat for tomorrow.”
He stood up.
“Are we done?” Thulisile asked watching him.
“Yes, we are.” he walked out, leaving them staring at each other.
What is this, are they exchanging negative energies in this house? He marches up the stairs, past the vacant bedroom he has no desire of entering again until everything is cleansed, to Mandlenkosi’s room. He knows he’s home, he saw his car parked when they arrived.
He knocks softly on the door and waits for a response. He comes to the door half naked.
“Mandla, we need to talk.”
He looks uninterested, he leans his head on the door frame.
“I’m in the middle of something.”
“Well I’m sure that something can wait, this is important.” it’s probably not a good decision to come here in a foul mood, he has to get him to open up, but his energy has just plummeted.
He saw that his face said it’s non-negotiable.
“I’ll meet you in the dining room.” he said closing the door in his face.
It’s in between him sleeping at this time of day, or him having a girl in there. He highly suspects it’s the latter. He doesn’t fight though, he makes his way to the dining room and waits for him to come down. He doesn’t take too long, he comes back looking somewhat decent; he has a t-shirt on. It’s crinkled up which means he could have taken it out of the washing basket and threw it on. He looks unkempt.
“Do we have an issue?”
“Sit down.” he instructs him.
He doesn’t want to, but he does so anyway and slouches in his chair.
“How are you feeling?” Nkosi chuckled.
“Are you serious?” he maintained a straight face to show that he was serious.
“You called me here to ask me how I’m feeling?”
“Yes I did, and I want you to answer me truthfully.”
“I’m fine.”
“Really?” he asked once again.
“You know what, I don’t have time for this.” he pushed the chair back in attempt to stand up.
“You know alcohol won’t solve your problems.” he stopped and looked at him.
“Trust me, I know more than anyone. I’ve been there before, it won’t take you anywhere.” he sat back down.
He has him right where he wants him.
“Who hurt you?” he sighed and buried his face in his hands.
“Talk to me.” he’s trying to sound less aggressive so he can let him in.
“No one hurt me.”
“Then why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you ruining your life like this?” he doesn’t lift his head. 
“If it’s a woman, don’t. Don’t let it ruin your whole life, impilo iyaqhubeka.”
“I thought it was woman.” he lowers his voice.
He didn’t interrupt, he just let him speak.
“It’s my mother. I can’t seem to find a woman I love because I keep looking for her in every one I meet, and when I don’t find her, it always seems like I’ve wasted my time.”
“Then why don’t you stop.” it’s easy for him to say that, he never had a mother, he was thrown around the different woman his father married until he was old enough to take care of himself.
“It’s not easy. Now I had found her, only for her to leave me.”
“Did you love her for who she is or what she has?”
“I don’t know, I just can’t seem to let her go, even when I can see that she’s moving on. I thought I was moving on, but now I’m back to square one.”
He wasn’t expecting to come here and listen to relationship problems.
“Did you try therapy?”
“It didn’t work. I ended up fucking my therapist and after Banzi died, I’ve been ignoring her, I can’t bring myself to call her.”
“And why is that?”
“I felt like I was using her for how she helped me, not because I loved her. This relationship thing is draining.”
“Then why don’t you get the love of your life back if life was easier with her?”
“She’s not meant for me. I can’t have her and the sooner I accept that, the faster I’ll heal.” he lifted his head and stared at him dead in the eyes.
He looked at him like he had a bone to pick with him, like he had stolen the biggest treasure and he looked just about ready to murder him right there and then.
“You will soon realize that not everyone you meet is put on this earth for you. Drinking yourself into a stupor because a girl you love is not meant for you won’t get you anywhere, it will only take you a million steps backwards, and you might end up like me, living with heart disease and three years wasted because of stupid decisions.”
He sighed. He can tell that he is hurting.
“I need you now, we are both grieving the loss of our brother and I also have to deal with fixing this family. No one else has my back, I can’t put it all on MaGumede’s shoulders, I need your support Ndabezitha, but I can’t have it when you can’t even put together a sentence.”
The mention of MaGumede has Nkosi looking away.
“So you are ascending the throne?” he asked with pain in his voice.
“Yes, and I need all the support I can get, all the support you can give me Mageba.”
Nkosi stands up and goes to his side. He also stands and unexpectedly, he pulls him into a tight squeeze.
“I have your back Mageba, but I need help.” he whispered.
And right after that, he broke down into a sob.
“That is the first step to healing Ndabezitha.” he let him have his moment.
This Mandlenkosi he is cradling now is no different to the Mandlenkosi he had to fetch from school and assure that everything would be okay after he was expelled for bad behaviour. He would always cry like this; he would ask him impossible questions like why is this happening to him. He’s still that little fragile boy that need love. And that’s all he’s ever wanted to feel, love.
His suspicions were spot on, he did have feelings for Amile, but it wasn’t love, and it could never be love, he was just searching to fill the void his mother left when she died, and maybe she gave him that in a nutshell. He thought he was okay, and he was doing well, clearly he isn’t. It’s his job to make sure that his siblings are okay, especially him, the fragile that is there deep inside of him.
^
^
^
“Mageba, I’m sorry about earlier, and how I broke down, I just…”
“No, don’t do that. You promised to have my back, I will also have yours.” he smiled at him.
They just came from getting the goats and chickens for the ceremony. Thulisile said they could even have it today so as to speed up the process. The reason for the one goat is to ask permission from the ancestors to slaughter while they are in mourning. The other one is for tomorrow to cleanse the palace and the chickens are for a tea for Mhlabawesizwe, because none of his sons have bothered to have one for him.
They are doing all of this on a Tuesday, during the week. The tea will be later this week because there is no use in having one without traditional beer. It’s a lot, and he only came back from hospital a few hours ago, it feels like it’s been days unending. The tea is to say thank you, not necessarily to their father only, but to all the ancestors, because they wouldn’t be in this predicament if it wasn’t for Mhlabawesizwe and his predicament. He’s thankful for surviving the heart attack, and he hopes to stick around a little longer than his life expectancy. He’ll thank them for other things when they actually do something in their favour.
When they come back, they are shocked to find a few cars parked in the palace. What are these people doing here?
“Did you tell the rest of the family?” Langa asks, taking a glimpse at Nkosi.
“No, I only spoke to Dumisani, and he’s all the way in Durban.” he didn’t mean to have his question sound like a threatening question; he honestly wanted to know.
It’s not like anything happening at the palace is a secret, they are the ones who have deliberately distanced themselves from family affairs, he’s not going to go around chasing grown people to give him support. He has Amile, the ancestors and Nkosi, and that is all he needs.
They leave the livestock in the van and go inside, anticipating what could be going on inside. They are welcomed by none other than Balungile the family parrot who will talk for the whole of Zululand.
“Wena, who do you think you are, rising from the dead, or wherever you were, to come here and dictate things to us?” she points right at him as he enters through the door.
He scans the room, his eyes meet with Amile’s and he hopes she will say something to save him like she did the last time, but she’s quiet.
“Yini, wabuka lo? Uzokwenzani?”
“Balungile stop this nonsense, okay. Asizele lokhu lana.” Khethukuthula intervenes. He’s always been the level headed one. He also has a soft spot for his brother.
He moved her out of the way and came to stand in front of him.
“Why is it that we have to find out from the news about things happening in our own family Mageba?”
“Cha nje, basijwayela kabi laba!” Balungile again.
“You haven’t been here Mageba, you have not come here since Zwelibanzi’s funeral.”
“And we don’t have cellphone for you to call us and let us know!?” 
“Angithi I’m a dead man, how do you expect me to have a cellphone?” she got what she needed.
He’s actually pissed off, even Thulisile is surprised at that answer. Not today Balungile.
“None of you have had to endure half the things I have in your lives, ever. Your father left you all legacies and good memories while Zwelibanzi and I had to suffer for his selfishness. So you Balungile, don’t you dare peep a word. Anyone who wants to be here, will be here, angkaze ngixoshe muntu.” he speaks up.
“Siyaxolisa Sthuli sika Ndaba.” Mfanafuthi apologized on all their behalf. 
Mandlenkosi walked passed them and up the stairs, leaving them standing in silence. Balungile is violently tapping her foot on the floor.
“There a goats and chickens in the van outside. If you are willing and want to be around for the ceremony, you will stick around, and we will help each other out like siblings should.” he’s let them walk all over him for too long.
“Ihhe!? hayi bandla.” Balungile claps her hands and storms out. She’s always being difficult, it’s nothing new.
“Our mother is in hospital, she suffered a stroke on the day of the memorial, that is why we haven’t been here.”
Amile and Thulisile excused themselves and the brothers went to sit in the lounge.
“I am very sorry to hear that boMageba. I hope she will be okay.” he says, guilt starting to kick in.
“Thank you bhuti.” Mfanafuthi said.
“So MaGumede was the wife we have been searching for all these years?” hes surprised to hear this. They have been searching?
“Yes, she is.” he said looking at both of them.
“So how did the ancestors let her marry Zwelibanzi if she was meant for you.”
“There was no ancestors in this place, not until now. They still need to be welcomed back properly, and that is why we are doing all of these ceremonies. The only reason MaGumede found her way here is because MaNdlela is sitting on her shoulders.”
“Mhlabawesizwe just won’t rest, will he?” Khethukuthula says with clear distress in his voice.
That is one person who truly understands the struggle of being his son. All three of them felt his wrath while he was alive, and that is why they couldn’t wait to get away from him. Langalethu just wasn’t lucky enough. Banzi too.
“It’s time we fix this division among us. We are siblings, we may not come from the same womb, but we are blood, and if we don’t have each others backs, all our efforts to try and fix this place will be in vain, no matter how powerful one may be as an individual.” they both agreed with him.
It’s another step towards the right direction, things are hopefully going to start looking up now.

***Amile Gumede***

I’m back here! I can feel my heart beating in my ears from the excitement. I have so many questions, so many things I want to say, and most of all, I want to see Banzi, my precious Banzi.
“Boy, come here!” the boy in the blue overalls comes sprinting towards me.
He’s just below my hip, he’s looking up at me with a wide smile on his face.
“Where is your granny?” he doesn’t speak, he just looks at me.
I grab his hand and we walk. His hand is cold. We walk past the beautiful fruit trees , and I can’t help but admire the flowers that are starting to bloom on each tree. The last time I was here, it wasn’t this beautiful.
“Aw ntomb’ yami.” that tight squeeze that I have been longing for.
She runs her hands on my head and I feel chills running down my spine.
“You look beautiful sthandwa sami.”
“Thank you ma.” she peeled away from the hug and kept me at arms length and stared at me.
“The king wants to see you.”
My heart rate increased.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. He’s always wanted to see you, it just was not the right time. Now he is ready for you.” she ran her hands on my bald head again.
I exhaled. Was it my hair?
“Come let’s go, I’ll leave you at the door.” why is she leaving me?
Before I could protest, she pulls my hand and we walk through the forest of trees. I’ve never been to the ‘palace’ where she said she stays, I’m terrified. She told me that the king is always grumpy, how do I know how to deal with a grumpy man.
There it is, the only standing house in this place. Not as beautiful as I was expecting it to be. It’s just mediocre, I really expected something magical, something on par with the standard of the garden and the forests.
“This is as far as I can go. He is inside waiting for you.”
“I’m scared.” I announced.
“Don’t worry, he’s harmless, he likes you. He won’t do anything to you.”
Yeah, as if that makes everything better! She gave me a little push and I stumbled forward before I picked up my feet and walked towards the house.
When I entered through the door, I was met with a vacant house with white walls. It’s actually quite airy in here, better than what it looks like on the outside. It’s also unbearably cold.
I looked around and I couldn’t see anyone, there are no corners and walls, just one big open space.
“Hello?” my voice echoed.
“Who are you?” the bold voice spoke.
I startled and turned around. He was standing towering over me. I couldn’t tell if he was deliberately frowning or if it was the natural structure of his face.
I was forced on my knees and I looked down.
“MaGumede, Amile Gumede.” I reported in a stutter.
“You have finally listened MaGumede, thank you.” he hit his cane on the ground twice and I felt my body lifting up.
I was now on my feet, my head leveled with his chest. He’s just as tall as Langalethu.
“I could have changed my mind and let another take your place, in fact, I already had, but the ancestors hand picked you. I guess you can’t put something out in the open and turn back on your word.”
“I never wanted any of this.”
“Then I will do anything for you to want it. Talk to me.”
Every time he spoke, my heart raced. That possibly can’t be normal. But then again, what is normal about my life.
I don’t know, but I feel like I am at the liberty of asking for anything and everything from him and he will give it to me. Is that why I’m standing and not kneeling? Are we equal?
“Stop torturing us, let us rest, give us peace.”
“Bring my wife home and I will grant you your wish. What else do you want?”
What the hell does he mean I must bring his wife home, she’s here?
“Mandlenkosi. Let him find love, let him heal.” he chuckled.
“Consider it done mama wesizwe.” those heart palpitations again.
“Drive MaMzobe crazy, her and her accomplice for ruining Zwelibanzi’s life, she doesn’t deserve peace, she ruined people’s lives.”
He banged his stick again, twice on the ground and everything rumbled.
I looked at my arms that suddenly felt heavy. I was wearing beads and bracelets on each wrist and had a big neck piece on, it was gold. The white dress is back on.
“Go give this to him. It’s his.”
He handed me his cane, I hesitated to take it at first, but he forced it into my hand.
“Amile, the Queen!”
I heard several voices shouting behind me and I walked out the house, out the door. I’m too afraid to turn around, so I’ll walk as fast as I can.
*