BEING A WIFE OF A PRISONER

Chapter 63

SANDILE

My heart is heavy as make my way to living room where her parents are. I clear my throat to announce my presence and they stare at me.

Me: You asked for my presence.

The woman who I’ve come to know as Aza’s stepmother leaps up to her.

Zodwa: I’ll go and check on Aza.

She bypasses me and ascend the stairs.

Ndlovu: Seat.

I limp to the couch opposite him.

Ndlovu: I’m sure you have a lot of questions.

Me: Everyone knows you’re dead. Does it run in your family to fake your deaths?

He laughs.

Ndlovu: You out of all people know how the game is. In order to survive you kill your enemy before they kill you. In my case I was their enemy and they were baying for my blood. I had a girlfriend, a son and a daughter. A whole complete family I had to ditch because they didn’t understand. I’ve operated on them for year and they just couldn’t understand how could one of them die in my hands. I had the experience and they expected a miracle every time I operated on them. On that day my luck ran out and someone died. They couldn’t understand that.

Me: So you faked your death.

I completely his sentence causing him to nod.

Ndlovu: They found out I wanted out and thought I killed one of their own on purpose. I had to leave everything behind and start afresh leaving my kids and their mother behind. It was not easy but I had to do it. They grew up thinking I abandoned them but I didn’t. Circumstances forced me to do what I did.

Me: Word on the street is that you stole something from them.

He smirks.

Ndlovu: I wasn’t going just go exile with nothing after working so hard. If I had to use my bank account they would have found me and killed me so the diamonds were a better option for me.

Me: If I may ask do you still have them?

Ndlovu: What do you think?

I chuckle.

Ndlovu: Enough about that, why are you letting women play on top of your head?

I breathe out.

Me: I didn’t know what she did until it was too late.

Ndlovu: That’s because you adapted this modern way new amateurs use these days. You know the first day you walk out of prison you were supposed to be cleansed.

Me: It slipped my mind.

He shakes his head disappointed.

Ndlovu: People like you know the procedure so how can you forget? Now I understand why your ancestors just watched that woman play with you. It’s because you turned your back on them first.

I rub my temples.

Me: What do I need to do in order for them to continuing protecting me?

Ndlovu: You need to be cleansed. There’s a dark cloud hovering all over you. You’re lucky because you were skating on thin ice.

Me: Death?

He nods.

Me: Fuck.

I run my palms on my face.

Ndlovu: Kumele ufuthe, uchathe, ugabhe, ugeze.

Me: (shocked) Ngichathe? I don’t mind steaming and the other things.