OUR LOVE STORY

24

Continuing...

Ndlalifa Mhlongo

I park the car three houses away and walk the distance to her house. I don't care if her parents are home at this point. The gate is unlocked so I enter the yard. As I get closer to the front door, I can hear my sons screaming and there is loud music playing. I knock a few times and nobody answers so I open the door and enter.

Me: "Knock knock!" I say loudly following my kids' screams, it leads me to the kitchen. They are both screaming while sitting on the floor and one of them is bleeding somewhere. I quickly pick them both up and rush out of the yard and to my car.

Bandile: "Dada."

Me: "Yes boy."

Bandile: "Nam Nam." That means he's hungry. I have gotten to understand their gibberish language. They are both two years old but they still don't speak properly and I think it's okay because they are still babies.

Me: "Be patient with Dada please." I say. Now I really wish I had bought something before coming here. I park my car outside Netcare and take my boys inside. I get assisted after a few minutes and they hadn't stopped crying. I'm silently watching the doctor examine the both of them, Andile was the one bleeding. He had a cut on his neck and when I saw the doctor examine it, I cringed. It looked small but deep and he's only a baby. I'm still wondering where is Noma at this time.

Doctor: "I will have to keep them overnight so please change them into these hospital gowns." I sigh and nod. They both cry as soon as I undress them and I'm shocked to see these fresh marks on their bodies.

*******
I'm sitting at their bedside watching them sleep. I'm still shocked and hurt by what I saw. The doctor had to sedate them and I got a chance to quickly rush to the mall and get them some food and snacks.

Andile: "Dada." this is the first time he actually calls me that and I can't even be happy about it because well, the situation.

Me: "Hello Nkosana kababa wayo." I carefully take him and put him on my lap then get the purity in the bags and feed him. He finishes both of them and some yogurt too.

Me: "You good now?!" I ask wiping his face as he plays with my beard. It always fascinates them, and their mother too. I hand him some chips and my phone to watch cartoons while I feed Bandile who is also awake now.

A little later on, the doctor discharges them and I take them to my uncle's house straight and then drive back to Noma's house. I need answers. I park directly at the gate this time, I see her mom coming out and standing on the veranda and staring at me with a frown on her face.

Her: "Mkhwenyana."

Me: "Sanibona mah."

Her: "Where's your baby mama?!"

Me: "I'm actually here to look for her." she frowns.

Her: "Aybo! Come in." I follow her inside. We find her husband and son sitting in the lounge watching soccer. I greet and then take a seat on a chair.

Her: "Mntungwa, he is here to look for uGcino."

Her dad: "Aybo! Isn't she with you kanti?!" he asks looking shocked.

Me: "I wouldn't be here baba. I'm worried because l have been trying to reach her for a week now but nothing." and aren't they going to ask about their grandsons?

Her brother: "She's probably out there with some man or her sl*tty friends." he says bitterly. I chuckle to hide my annoyance.

Me: "Well, I will take it from here. I also would like to know what happened to my sons?" I ask looking at them all in the eyes, one by one. I don't care about no respect right now, I want answers.