JOYS OF LIFE -2 [NOT EDITED]

45

NARRATED.

Fana reached Ntokozo's place. He found her trying to calm down a screaming Iyana. He greeted his girlfriend giving her a kiss and then took the child into his arms. After a few minutes the child was quiet.

Fana: "What is wrong babygirl?" Iyana's stomach growled audibly, and she signed 'hungry', her big brown eyes glistening with tears.

Ntokozo: "She's hungry." She said.

Fana: "What do we have?"

Ntokozo: "I didn't cook like last night. Oh wait, I have cereal." she said already rushing to prepare some coco pops for Iyana. Fana stood next to her with Iyana in his arms so she could see that her food was being prepared. Iyana enthusiastically pointed at the bowl, tapping Fana's chest. Ntokozo started feeding her. They sat down so she could feed her properly.

Ntokozo: "Baby, order some pizza for us please."

Fana: "Okay."

When Ntokozo finished feeding Iyana, she took out some snacks she had and prepared a bowl with different snacks in it for Iyana. Iyana happily signed 'Thank you' as she received the bowl.

Ntokozo: "What is going on Fana?"

Fana: "This is Iyana. She is Sqalo's daughter but he doesn't know about her, we all didn't know about her. Remember when I told you that I'm about to do something risky? Those guys helped me rescue Iyana, she was being abused by the woman who has been raising her."

Ntokozo: "Where's her mother?"

Fana: "She died." Ntokozo could feel her heart break as they watched Iyana gobble her snacks while watching Despicable Me. She couldn't begin to imagine what she would do if she was in the same situation or worse what would happen to her child if the same would happen to her, die during childbirth that is.

Ntokozo: "so that's why she can't speak?"

Fana: "I guess."

Fana: "Will you guys be fine? I want to run to the supermarket down the road."

Ntokozo: "Forget it baby, I'd rather we go to the mall instead, together futhi."

Fana: "What's wrong with this supermarket?"

Ntokozo: "Don't you read the newspaper baby? Futhi yazin?Use UberEats and order from there." she sats already opening her phone and then hands it to him.

Fana: "Okay."

______________

Meanwhile, Lizwi was on his way home bobbing his head up and down in the rhythm of the song that was playing on the radio. As he drove through the crowded streets of Joburg, trying to beat the traffic. His mind kept wandering around with thoughts of his family and all these problems they have been facing. He was worried about what was happening, if Ayanda and her crew weren't responsible for the burning of wife's hospital then who is? and why would they do that to his lovely wife?!

As he approached the traffic light, it turned red so he had to stop. A black sedan pulled up next to him, the windows were tinted. Lizwi suddenly felt uneasy as the traffic light didn't change but it remained Red. The Sedan's tinted window rolled down and a masked figure waved and then pointed a gun at Lizwi.

Just before this figure could pull the trigger, a motorcycle sped past them distracting the assassin in the Sedan. Lizwi didn't waste time, he took that as an opportunity to speed off and he did. Unfortunately he couldn't get that far away as the black Sedan was hot on his tail. He felt a burning sensation on his back and his chest. He somehow was able to quickly park on the side of the road as he was starting to lose control of his car. The last thing he remembered was the face of the man who shot him on his chest before he collapsed onto the steering wheel.

**********

Meanwhile at the Majola Household, Letho was busy cooking a feast for her man. This was to show her appreciation to him for being able to always take care of their family and now he had gotten rid of the people who had been trying to destroy them.

Xoli: "Mah." she called sitting on the kitchen counter.

Letho: "Yes baby?"

Xoli: "Can i please go out naboSwe tonight?"

Letho: "And how old are you again?"

Xoli: "I'm 19 mah."

Letho: "Then no!" she said kissing her nose.

As the evening progressed, Letho began worrying. She kept glancing at her watch and at the door. It also didn't help that Lizwi's phone wasn't going through anymore. She heard the door open and relief washed over her as she rushed to welcome him but much to her disappointment, it was Fana with a little girl in his arms.

Letho: "Fanoz." she lightly hugged him and kissed his cheek and then took the little girl into her arms.

Letho: "Sampona muhlezi." she sang in a baby voice making Iyana smile shyly.

Fana: "I will explain everything later, she is nonverbal so she uses sign language to communicate. She can clearly hear though. Some of her signs are not so good because usamncane but she will eventually show you what she is talking about."

Letho: "Okay? Isn't she Fathima's grand-niece?" she was confused when she felt Iyana's body tense at the mention of Fathima.

Fana: "Yeah. Iyana is Sqalo's daughter but he didn't know. The girl he had impregnated died during childbirth."

Letho: "Oh my god, that's bad." They walked to the lounge and sat down.

Fana: "Where's everyone?"

Letho: "Sqalo took them out somewhere and your dad isn't back yet. I'm worried now."

*
*

It was almost midnight now and Lizwi still wasn't back. Fana had left earlier and the other four were going to sleepover at Nqo's house. Iyana was sleeping with Letho. Letho was now dying, she went downstairs to get herself a glass of water but was stopped by a knock on the door. It was the police on her doorstep, telling her about what had happened to Lizwi.

Letho: "Angizwanga?!" she mid-shouted, feeling as if her world was crashing down. She felt like someone had punched her in the gut, she couldn't even breathe properly. She called KaMajola to inform her and then called Fana to come home and look after Iyana as she had to rush to the hospital now.

Arriving at the hospital, she met Lizwi's mother by the reception talking to the receptionist. They both hugged and Letho couldn't help but cry on her mother in law's arms.

KaMajola: "Don't cry sthandwa sami."

Receptionist: "Follow me." She says leading them to a private room where they met two doctors.

Doctor: "Thank you Mandy." the receptionist nodded and walked out.

Doctor: "i'm Dr Gamede and this is Dr Moosa and he is our neurosurgeon."

Letho: "Okay, how is my husband?!"

Dr Gamede: "I'm afraid your husband's condition is very critical."

Dr Moosa: "The bullets damaged several vital organs, and we are currently doing everything we can to save him."