When You're Bound To Love

Chapter 79

It had been hours after Lakhe left and it was now after dinner. Everyone was oddly quiet. Stella: "He's a child." she finally concluded. We all looked at her. What was she on about? Stella: "Lakhe. I mean really, why over react over profit? You're making him money and he's mad? Childish." Where did she even hear this? Sands: "Well...." I looked at him. Sands: "You're right ma. Super childish. So I'm going to my side of the house while this tension dies down." Me: "You're spending a lot more time there lately." Sands: "I'm renovating it." Me: "Must be nice." I took my plate to the kitchen and washed it. After the dishes I went to my room to call Masilakhe. He kept rejecting my calls. I needed to accept that he has left and I was going to have to do life alone. I took my laptop and started my research for motivating my team. It took hours before I realized it was getting late. I got out of bed, wearing my slippers and trotted to Sandile's side. Maybe he would know where Lakhe was and maybe how I could apologize or bring him back. I walked in the dimly lit passage way and crossed over the hall then knocked a bit on the door. "Come in." a voice coughed. I entered and to my surprise, it wasn't Sandile inside. It was Lunatic Luke. WOW. So this is where they are hiding him and lying to my face? I walked back out without a word to my bedroom, I took a shower and got into bed carrying on with my work. None if it, involving Lakhe's clients since I was a python now. I did my advertising department project. Which made me happier than normal. After a few hours I dosed off waking up in the morning. I went to get ready for work, made my bed and left for the office.

narrated**

Sibulele walked into his bedroom after taking his shower. Sibu: "What is your real issue Sandile?" Sands: "With what?" Sibu: "You're sleeping in my bedroom, I know you were standing at the bathroom door while I was showering, why are you monitoring me?" Sands: "I'm not monitoring you." Sibu: "Even when you try to be subtle, you will never fool me. I'm your best friend. So tell me what's the problem?" Sands: "You're imagining things." Sibu: "Is it because of the kidnapping? This is when your strange behavior started. Sandile I'm okay, nobody is going to take me again. You don't need to be afraid." Sands: "Afraid? When have I ever been afraid?" Sibu: "Well you're acting strange. I feel I need to let you know, I'll be fine." Sands: "Sibulele I don't care about that." Sibu: "I know you do. Anyway, what are you up to today?" Sands: "I have a meeting at the hotel. I need your help with the books as well." Sibu: "Remember to bring them home tonight. Have you seen Spho?" Sands: "She left already." Sibu: "Its not even 7. Did she eat?" Sands: "No she didn't. I think she's mad." Sibu: "Why?" Sands: "I don't know. She pretended she didn't see me when I was standing by the lounge. And she didn't take the car. She left with Uber." Sibu exhaled and finished getting dressed. Sibu: "I have to go." Sands: "Okay. What time will you be back?" Sibu: "We can't possibly go through this everyday. You know what time I knock off work. I have to go." he took his bag and dashed out. Sandile waited until the car was out of the driveway then started searching the room. Nothing was out of order. Everything perfectly in its place. Maybe a little too perfect. He walked out and found his father in the lounge. Rob: "Where is your brother?" Sands: "In his hotel room." Rob: "And what the hell is he doing there!" Sands: "His words were 'I need space'. He said he'll be there for a few days." Rob: "You tell that brother of yours to get his behind back in this house before the end of business today!!!!!" Sands: "Why am I being yelled at? What did I do?" Rob: "I am yelling because I am angry!!! He is a married man! All troubles and problems are dealt with inside the premises of his house!! I never raised him like this!!! Tell him to get back here or else!!!" Stella: "ROBERT!!!!!" she screamed. Stella: "U Y A N G X O L A!!!!!"(You're making a noise!) Sands: "You know when mom speaks IsiXhosa, she's really serious. You are making a noise. You woke Boogie." Rob: "I don't care!!!" he grabbed his keys and walked out. Dumi appeared with his children fully dressed for school. Dumi: "I heard yelling and then felt tension." Sands: "Then you're in the right house. I feel like the only one still sane here. What do you need?" Dumi: "The kids need to get to school, me to work." Sands "Aboard the SandsMobile. Joking, we taking Spho's car because its bigger." they had breakfast and got into the car, leaving for the kids' school. Hlumi and Babalo came to the lounge already dressed. Hlumi: "Did we miss breakfast?" Babalo: "No I don't think so. Here's a note." he read it: 'Early morning. Eat Breakfast. Be back soon. Love Sands.' He showed his wife and sat down helping himself to breakfast. Babalo: "Baby, what are we going to do? We can't live off Lakhe and his family forever. We can't go back to our house either and I can't sell it because of the lunatic orchestrating horrible scenes in there. I don't think I can buy another house at this stage." Hlumi: "I know baby, and I don't like living off other people either. How about I buy a house for us?" Babalo: "I can't let you do that." Hlumi: "I want to. You've done a lot for me already Babalo. We're married, we're partners. I'm sure I can afford a house." Babalo: "I'm not going to let you do that. I'm your husband, I'm supposed to take care of you and provide for you. Your salary is to buy yourself whatever you want and help out your parents and take yourself out with the girls. I'm not going to let you sacrifice this. I'll handle this. I just need a few days to think. We should book a hotel." Hlumi: "Is that necessary?" Babalo: "I'm not going to take advantage of Lakhe's kindness. He's been the nicest friend I've ever had and I don't want to ruin it." Hlumi: "Okay, but let him know what you've decided before we leave." Babalo: "Okay." Luke: "Hello?" they looked at the second passage where Lunatic Luke appeared. Hlumi: "Who's this?" she whispered. Babalo: "This is Luke baby. Hey, how are you man?" Luke: "I'm fine." he stood in the same spot. Babalo: "Are you going to join us for breakfast?" Luke: "Okay." he came to sit. Luke: "I'm living on the other side now." Babalo: "Oh? That must be exciting." Luke: "No, its kind of lonely." Babalo: "Sorry about that." he looked at his wife. Babalo: "How about we rent that side from Lakhe? He isn't using it anyway." Hlumi: "Except that side belongs to Sandile and he'd rather let a homeless man live there before you." Babalo: "You're right." Luke: "What's wrong with your house?" Babalo: "its a murder scene." Luke: "Who died there?" Babalo: "I don't know. We just arrived one day to our room in a bloody scene. Then when we came back, a note and box were waiting for us. A threat. If we sold the house, something would happen. I can't risk that." Luke: "So what are you going to do? Let someone dictate your life?" he dug in the breakfast. Babalo: "I don't even know who it is." Luke: "Then go back to your house." Babalo: "Did you not hear about the part of the murder scene?" Luke: "Its still your house. Why let something you don't know throw you out." Babalo: "I'm not going to put my wife in danger. I am not willing." Luke: "All you have to do is believe in God Babalo. Let Him take control. If you're going to live in fear of evil you may just as well join it." Babalo: "How will God help me with this!! Not even the biggest detectives can understand what happened or why or who for that matter." Luke: "You seem to forget that God is no ordinary man. He is capable of doing things His own way. The supernatural way. If you can so easily believe in evil, why can't you believe in God and what he can do? We're talking about a God that can let a baby in a basket travel safely down the Nile river famous of crocodiles and dangerous reptiles. A God that can part a sea to let all those who believe in Him over to the other side. I could go on but you went to Sunday school, you know this. Its real life. If you want a miracle, first believe it will happen, Pray to God handing your problem over to Him and like a seed planted in soil let it be. God will take control." Babalo: "Sounds like a hard gamble Luke." Luke: "You just have to have faith Babalo. You just have to have faith." .......