LANGELIHLE #51
SEASON FINALE
LANGELIHLE
Sondela looks different these days. He looks happy, his memories are coming back bit by bit and he is getting the glimpse of his old life. And his journey to regaining his walk is amazing, his hands also no longer freeze.
Langelihle:You look different.
Sondela:*Smiling* What do you mean?
Langelihle:You’re happy.
Sondela:Who wouldn’t be? I’m walking again, and my memories are coming back.
Langelihle:*Nodding* I’m happy for you.
Sondela:Anyway I wanted to ask you something.
Langelihle:Sure.
Sondela:What is happening between us?
I dropped my eyes down, the conversation I have been avoiding.
Langelihle:Why are you asking that?
Sondela:I’m just asking because I don’t know where we are standing, last time you said the only way we can be together is if I take your Surname, and I said yes. But ever since the prince arrived, you have never talked about that again. I know I love you, a lot. It has always been you, I can’t live without you Langelihle. Do you still love me?
I sighed and looked the other way. This wasn’t the time for this, I’m still very stressed about my father, my mind can’t think straight.
Langelihle:I still love you Sondela, I will never stop.
Sondela:I sense a but coming.
Langelihle:With everything that has happened, I think my main focus should be on my father.
Sondela:I understand, I’m not putting pressure on you. I just don’t want to lose you.
Langelihle:You won’t. We are bound for life.
Sondela:So your father, why do you call him your father? Don’t you hate him for all he has caused on your family?
Langelihle:This must be strange to hear but no, I don’t hate him. I just don’t have it in me to hate him, he is a bad man that is known. But he is still my father. As bad as he is, but his DNA is running through me.
Sondela:But he killed your family, your entire family and you have a responsibility to stop him.
Langelihle:That I know my love, but….
Sondela:Talk to me..
Langelihle:I don’t want to do it.
Sondela:You don’t want to do what?
Langelihle:I don’t want to kill him, I don’t want to dive a sceptre through his heart. I don’t.
I found myself tearing up a bit.
Langelihle:I’m not a killer Sondela, I’ve never even been involved in a fight. Now I have to kill someone, not just anyone but my father.
He embraced me and pulled me close to him.
Langelihle:But I will do it, because I don’t want to disappoint my ancestors, but my heart isn’t in it. I’ll do it to not be a failure. I’ll do it because everyone is depending on me.
Sondela:I don’t know much about royalty or ancestors, but isn’t there a way to stop him without killing him?
I shook my head while crying.
Langelihle:There isn’t, it’s the only way.
Sondela:I’m sorry Sthandwa sami, I’m really sorry.
Langelihle:I wish I was just born into a normal family.
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SONDELA
I cover her lower body with the blanket, she has fallen asleep after the crying session we just had. She is not doing okay emotionally, I kind of understand her in a way. I mean finding out that you have to kill your father so that you can stop the generational war isn’t easy. She is right when she said she has never gotten into a fight, she is always seeking for peace. I just wish there was another way to do this without killing him. Isn’t there a prison or something like that? When you take a life, I don’t think that’s something you get back from. No matter how bad that person was, especially your father’s life.
Does he even feel guilty wherever he is? Does he have any remorse for the pain he’s caused? Or is he moving on happily with his life? What will it take to end this?
“There is a delivery for you outside”, someone tells me.
I hop to the door and I’m met by a man carrying papers.
“Good day, you are Mr Mthembu?”
I nod yes.
“You have been served. Please sign here.”
He gives me his clipboard and I sign. He bids farewell, I take the papers inside and sit down.
I read them and realize that it’s divorce papers from Zimthele. I didn’t expect this.
I guess I am wife less now, me and Langa also divorced weeks ago so that she can change her surname to Hinode-Hlatshwayo. Oh well! From a polygamist to a divorcé.
I read the terms and conditions and they were fair. She’s only asking we share equal custody of the kids and that I don’t stop supporting them. I was never going to abandon my kids, we will make it work. I should go and visit them since I can walk now, and get access to my old things again.
I walk to the bedroom to check on Langelihle, and she was still sleeping.
I smiled and kissed her forehead. With Zimthele asking for a divorce, it just made things easier. Me and Langa can get on with our lives without having to worry about anything.
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ZIMTHELE
Today I sent the divorce papers to Sondela, better now than never. He hasn’t called to ask about them, so I’m assuming he hasn’t read them or hasn’t received them.
I’m here to see my mother again, I don’t like the silence treatment I’m getting from her.
I find her watching TV, she loves watching the news. You can’t separate her from the news.
She turns to me and shakes her head.
Gladys:You again?
At least she’s talking today.
Zimthele:Mom I came to apologize again, I realize my mistakes. I shouldn’t have talked to you the way that I did. Please forgive me mom.
She took a deep sigh and looked at me.
Gladys:I long forgave you Zimthele. I’m your mother and you are my daughter, I can’t stay angry at you forever. But don’t do what you did again.
I jumped up to squeeze her into a hug.
Zimthele:Thank you, I won’t.
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#Narrated
Mkoti shows Mdabuli the conversation Langelihle was having with Sondela through his mirror.
Mdabuli:I’ll be back.
He quickly goes outside. Hearing Langelihle speaking like that, that she doesn’t want to kill him moved something inside of him. His chest rose up and down as he felt a certain feeling he hasn’t felt in his entire life-“Remorse”. That’s what he was feeling, he moved around and paced up and down trying to get rid of the feeling. A lot of questions were running through his head, she doesn’t know him but she has heard of the bad he’s done, yet she still doesn’t want to kill him?
Those questions are quickly overloaded by his father’s voice in his head.
“You are useless, that’s what you are.”
“I said torture her not what you are doing. What have I done to deserve a son like this!?”
“You have failed me yet again”
He screams loudly remembering all the times his father belittled him, reminded him that he’s weak and useless, pushed him to do gruesome acts. He was never satisfied, he always wanted more and more. He tried so hard to impress him but nothing impressed his father. He died a bitter man who never appreciated his son. He’s surely turning on his grave seeing that he’s failing to get rid of Langelihle.
Mdabuli:I won’t fail again.
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LANGELIHLE
I wake up hours later feeling much better than before. I was slowly getting better, I was still weak but it wasn’t the same. I noticed papers next to me and I took them and read them. I was surprised to see that it was divorce papers from Zimthele. She’s divorcing him? So soon!? But I am not getting involved. Zimthele is.. I don’t know how to describe her but she changes like the weather. I won’t be surprised some day if she comes back and demands Sondela gets back with her. I’ve never spent that much time with her in all these years, but from the little we’ve spent together I was able to pick that up.
