JOYS OF LIFE -2 [NOT EDITED]

42

NARRATED

It was a Saturday and Letho was cooking a feast for her kids. She also was expecting a guest later on. As she was busy moving around the kitchen, she suddenly felt arms wrap around her waist and soft kisses being planted on her shoulders to her face.

Lizwi: "I don't like being left alone in bed baby, uyazi nje."

Letho: "Sorry baby but I wanted to cook for my kids."

Lizwi: "So when is your new friend coming here? Angifune sidina ngempela." he asks grabbing a drumstick from the casserole dish and starts eating it.

Letho: "Come on baby, she is helping us now so atleast tolerate her and Nosihle loves her mother. You have to tolerate her anyway."

Lizwi: "Yesterday I bumped into Luyolo. I guess he is out of jail."

Letho: "Oh?"

Lizwi: "And apparently it is my fault that he went there so he is going to avenge himself."

Letho: "Uyadakwa loyo! You better do something fast about this Lizwi because I don't want to lose any of my family mina."

Lizwi: "I need to talk to induna of taxis, he will help me."

Letho: "Lizwi, this is serious. I'm sorry but laboDriver know how to hit someone nje qha!"

Lizwi: "No baby, most of those man are or were inkabi."

Letho: "Why are you even still suggesting pho?! You should have done something right after I told you what Thulile told me, LIZWI!"

Lizwi: "I have alerted them already." he said retrieving his ringing phone. His eyes open in shock as he listens to what the person on the other end is saying.

Letho: "Yini?" she enquires as soon as he hangs up.

Lizwi: "That was Luzelwande. They have finally found Melody."

Letho: "Where was she?! Is she even okay?"

Lizwi: "They found her in an old apartment in Soweto. She is... She is late babe." Letho frowns.

Letho: "That's bull. I don't believe that." she says switching the stove off and takes her phone to call Nqo. Nqo doesn't answer but she keeps calling, already feeling anxious.

Letho: "Lizwi, call Lwande." she says right about the same time a call from Lwande comes through. Lizwi answers and enables the loud speaker so his wife can hear.

Lwande: "My parents house has been burnt to the ground too and my wife was in there man!" he spoke over the phone crying. Letho gasps.

Letho: "Lwande, what do you mean?! Is Portia okay?!"

Lwande: "We were too late. I guess the person who tipped us off about Melody's whereabouts had a plan."

Letho: How is Melody?"

Lwande: "We were also too late for her. Her whole body was blue with bruises, her face looked burnt and was unrecognisable. It was very bad. I don't even think a proper funeral will work so I will have her cremated."

Lizwi: "I am really sorry man. We will be there later today. We will look into this and find these people, trust me." he said while comforting his wife who was crying quietly.

Lwande: "Thanks man." he hangs up. Lizwi comforts his wife, he understood that Letho really loved Melody like her own and Portia was her best friend too so he understood her loss.

****************
Later on, Thulile and her two kids arrive at the Majola Household and she is welcomed in by her daughter. She hugs and kisses her.

Thulile: "You look beautiful."

Xoli: "Thank you. You guys also look nice." She said hugging her smaller siblings who were impatiently waiting to get inside the house. She leads them to the lounge where Lizwi and Letho were cuddling in front of the TV.

Thulile: "Sanibonani."

Lizwi: "Thulile." he responds and points to the couch opposite them.

Lizwi: "Babygirl, take your siblings to the movie room upstairs and join the others. Grab some snacks for them too, I will order something for you guys."

Xoli: "Okay babah." she walks off with her two siblings holding each of her hand.

Letho: "You good Thulile?" she asks her in her now hoarse voice, sitting up.

Thulile: "Yes thanks sisi."

Lizwi: "Something to drink?"

Thulile: "Juice please."

After some time, they finally got to discuss what Thulile was here about.

Lizwi: "So what do you have for us?"

Thulile: "They are planning to take one of your kids and hurt them to send you a message."

Lizwi: "Angizwanga?!"

Thulile: "They also have been talking about 5 taxis they took from you. They even divided them among themselves."

Letho: "You still haven't found out why Fathima is involved in all this?!"

Thulile: "Apparently you knew what your child's grandfather did to her man and best friend, you didn't even care instead you rejoiced about it."

Letho: "What man?!"

Thulile: "Your brother Lloyiso and best friend, Sbusiso."

Letho: "They are dead?!" Thulile shrugs.

Lizwi: "Do you know if they are the ones responsible for my wife's hospital burning down?!"

Thulile: "Apparently someone beat them to it."

Lizwi: "What else could you find?"

Thulile: "I have come to know that they are a group of five, two women and three men. Their warehouse is in Soweto, actually it is just an old apartment."

Lizwi: "Do they have any security?!"

Thulile: "Not that I know of."

Letho: "Thank you so much for your help Thulile."

Thulile: "Oh.. I also found out that Fathima is a grand-aunt to your granddaughter. You have a granddaughter who lives with Fathima."

Letho: "What?!"

Thulile: "Her niece was involved with Sqalo and she fell pregnant and unfortunately died during childbirth so she couldn't bring the child to you. Fathima then took over and raised the child because her sister wants nothing to do with the child. It also doesn't make sense because Fathima also doesn't treat the child in a good way."

Letho: "Do you know where the child lives with Fathima?!"

Thulile: "Somewhere in Midrand."

Lizwi: "Thank you so much Thulile for your help. You have been very helpful and that goes on to show us how serious you are about making amends." they shake hands.