Unhinged Love

CHAPTER 62

MBULELO MZIMELA

Ever since I found out about my father’s relationship with Hlengiwe, I cut him off permanently from my life. The type of betrayal I felt from their actions cut too deep. What is worse is that I confided in my father about how much I loved Hlengiwe and what kind of a person she was. We had long conversations about my possible future with Hlengiwe. Yes, I am young but I believe that I have everything a guy might need and the only thing I was short of was someone like Hlengiwe to fully complete me. Yes, I fumbled her but I had hope that maybe one day we might have found our way back together. Her moving on, totally expected, but with my father, that was a low blow, even for her.

I am not a bitter person but I just wanted nothing to do with them after finding out that they are together. I don’t give a fuck if they fell for each other or whatever but I don’t want to be in the same space with them. I don’t want to think of Hlengiwe as my future step mother. I used to make this woman cum and I used to shove my dick inside her. How does one move from sexualising her to respecting her and treating her like how I would treat my mother? It is a very insane confusing situation.

I thought I was done with them until Nqo came to my house yesterday. I wasn’t going to do anything but what she said about my father raised concerns. My father is not someone who abandons you in times of need. Knowing the type of man he is, I know he would have shielded Hlengiwe in every way he could. He would have even gotten a top lawyer to due whoever that leaved our business to the media. A statement would have been issued by his secretary addressing everything. So, his silence is very loud.

Which is why I decided to drive to his house first thing in the morning. By the time I get to Durban North, it is 7 am. I managed to dodge the morning traffic and I am grateful for that. I came with Nomfundo. I could have left her but I didn’t want to neglect her. She slept the whole journey but I don’t blame her. She is in the final trimester and the baby can come at any point from now on. That’s why I need to keep a close eye on her.

We get to my father’s house and everything looks normal from the outside. We climb off the car and head inside. I take Nomfundo to one of the guest bedrooms and the minute I open the door, I spot my father sleeping on the bed. That’s weird. He has a room with a king-sized bed and comfy bedding. Why would he choose to sleep in a guest bedroom with his clothes on? I move closer to him and he doesn’t even stir, another weird factor because Mzimela is a light sleeper. I stop by his side and slowly shake him. I get no reaction. This is bad.

“Why does he look dead?” Nomfundo asks and I scoff.
“Don’t say stuff like that, Mfundo.” I touch his neck to feel his pulse. At least it is there but it is not promising.
“His chest is rising slowly. His breathing is shallow.” I give her a ‘shut the fuck up’ face and she shrugs. “I am a qualified porter and I know an unconscious person when I see one. He is not sleeping. Shake him.”

I slowly shake him. He looks pale. Almost lifeless. But he can’t be dead. His chest is rising and falling, a sign that he is breathing. “Baba.” I call out and he doesn’t respond. I call out his name again loudly but I get no response. Now I am getting worried. My father is not someone who drinks and black outs. Worse, I don’t even smell alcohol in the air. What the fuck happened to him?

“Let’s get an ambulance, or better yet take him to the hospital. We don’t know how long he has been like this. he might be in more danger that we think.” Nomfundo says the most normal thing in like ever and I nod at her.

“Just get the car started, I will carry him.” She pouts but then takes the keys from my hands and heads out. Pregnant women are so weird. I shake my father one more time and I don’t get any response. Honestly, this is worrying me now. I carefully make him sit up and throw him over my shoulder. He is one heavy man but there is no time to dwell on his weight. I carry him to the car and slowly place him on the back seat. I make sure that he is settled before I go lock the front door, get into the car and drive to the hospital.

“What do you think happened to him?” Mfundo asks while munching on some Maynards. I am not even going to start on that.
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t say someone broke into the house and drugged him because there were no signs of struggle. Also, nothing seemed to be out of place but I will have to contact the cops as soon as I get him help.” I don’t wanna get emotional right now. somehow, my anger for what he did seems to dissipate at this point. Someone drugged my father and left him to die. I don’t know who did it, I don’t know what they were hoping to achieve but it makes me angry thinking about him being all alone during this time.

In no time, we get to the hospital I was admitted in a month ago. The hospital staff cater to him while I fill in some paperwork. They wheel him away and we wait in the waiting room for any update. I don’t want to call Zama and worry her while I don’t know everything. I know she would want to drop everything to be by my father’s side even though she is mad at him. I also know that I need to inform Hlengiwe. She thinks that he is ghosting him in times of need but that’s not the case. I hate her, in fact both of them for what they did to me, but sometimes you have got to be the bigger person and do what’s best for everyone.

Nomfundo gets bored and uncomfy after two hours of just sitting and because I don’t want to be too far from her, I just book her at a suite in Coastlands Hotel, buy her some food and leave her there to rest. I then drive back to the hospital to continue the waiting game. I am not going to leave until I know what really happened to my father. Later in the afternoon, a doctor comes in the waiting room and walks straight to me. I slowly stand up.

“Are you Mr. Mzimela’s son?” I nod. “You did great by bringing him in. If he had been unconscious one more day, we would have been singing a different tune.”
I frown. “What happened to my father, doctor? I found him unconscious at his house. He couldn’t even move or hear me. It’s like he was dead. Can you please tell me what happened?”

“Your father consumed a huge dose of Fentanyl. A very strong drug which is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. After running some tests, we do know that he is a healthy man and isn’t a druggie. We can also attest that he has been unconscious for three days. Someone might have slipped this in his drink or anywhere but we are going to do our very best to get rid of the toxins from his body. He should regain consciousness before the day ends or by tomorrow evening. Again, he is a very lucky man to be brought in just before the angel of death made an appearance. You can go see him for a few moments if you want.” He smiles at me and walks away.

It takes a bit longer to process this. but my father was drugged at his own house. Who has access to his own house and who would drug him in this way? Did the intend to kill him? But the news of his relationship and drugging episode is rather too coincidental. Almost as if it was planned by one person. But who would do that to dad? Heck, his relationship hurt me more than anyone but I never did anything in retaliation. Who is my revenge angel?

I don’t dwell much on that. I go to his ward and find him connected to the machines. He still looks a bit pale but I have faith now that he is going to be okay. He has to be okay. My father is a strong man. He will get through this and hopefully be there for Hlengiwe in this time of need. Speaking of Hlengiwe, I take out my phone, exhale a deep breath before dialling her number. It rings for a few moments before she answers.

“Mbulelo.” Her voice is a bit hoarse, like she has been screaming or crying for days.
“Hi Hlengiwe. I just wanted to let you know that my father has been admitted to the hospital. Something happened to him 4 days ago but he should be fine soon.” My message is met with silence for a full minute until I frown and look at the screen. She hasn’t dropped the call, so why is she quiet? I am about to hang up until I hear some shuffling in the background and a sniff. Another voice comes in.

“Mfo, this is Mndeni. Is everything okay? Magcina looks like she has seen a ghost.” Her brother says and I sigh. I probably should have thought of a better way to deliver the news but it is out now.
“My father was drugged and he has been unconscious for 4 days. I have admitted him to a hospital and they are treating him as we speak. I just needed to let Hlengiwe know so that she wouldn’t think he is neglecting her or something.”

He curses silently. “That’s for letting us know, man. Send us the address of the hospital. See you soon.” The dude hangs up before I say anything else. I sigh. It is going to be a long night. But I know what I need to do. My father is down and I need to help him. I know he would have found a way to make this disappear if he was well. Now the responsibility falls to me, the victim of the whole drama. Fuck my life.