IF ONLY.....

CHAPTER 42

A WEEK LATER

----------

AT THE HOSPITAL ZAKHELE IS ADMITTED IN.....

Zakhele connected the usb to his laptop and two folders which read “LINDIWE’S VIDEO AND AUDIO” and another one which read “ VUYISWA’S VIDEO AND AUDIO” appeared on the screen, he wondered who send that usb and what it contained....he braced himself and he played the first video  from the folder that has his wife’s name on it and it was of Vuyiswa and Asavela when they had sex in the lounge...he saw the time and date on the bottom as the video played and his heart broke a bit more....even though he was ready to divorce her, he still loved her very much and he was even having second thoughts about the divorce....he stopped the video as tears ran down his cheeks, after some time he calmed down and wiped his face then he played another video and this time his heart nearly stopped....the video was of his mother and his father’s best friend kissing and when they started taking off their  clothes off he quickly paused the video with his eyes popped out.
Zakhele: what the fuck!!
The date and time on that video is what got to him, it was days before his father “died” in a car accident....he then went to the audios and played the first one and he recognized Vuyi’s voice....he listened to their conversation as they planned to have him killed...his eyes popped out and he clenched his jaws as his hands started shaking....he listened to the whole conversation then it stopped and he played another one and he also recognized the voices, it was his mother’s voice and the voice of his father’s friend....they were also planning to have his father killed.....he started breathing heavily, then the door opened and Qophelo senior walked in.
Senior: good you’re busy with the usb
Zakhele quickly wiped his tears off with his shaking hands.
Zakhele: I swear I didn’t know baba
He said sincerely.
Senior: I know, why do you think I had that delivered to you
Zakhele looked down feeling a wave of emotions take over.
He then cried.
Zakhele: why....why would mama do that...why would she have you.....
He couldn’t even finish what he wanted to say.
Senior: you were part of the people that had Richard killed and your own brother was next so don’t act like you’re a saint!
He snapped and Zakhele’s eyes popped out....now he realized that senior knew a lot.
Zakhele: they weren’t supposed to kill him...they said they just wanted to shake him and Qophelo a bit since they wanted their territory
Senior: and like the dumb fuck you are you believed them
He shook his head....and he took out a gun and Zakhele raised his hands up in surrender looking scared.
Zakhele: please don’t kill me baba....im sorry I was just angry at Qophelo I didn’t mean any extreme harm towards him
He said with tears running down his cheeks as he shook and senior chuckled shaking his head.....he then put the loaded gun on top of the hospital bed covers.
Senior: hide it closer where you can reach it quickly before a nurse walks in
Zakhele took the gun with shaking hands and he hid it under the pillow as he looked at senior.
Senior: that bitch you married will strike anytime from now....remember don’t trust anyone more especially the nurses and doctors....remember they can pay anyone to do their dirty job and these foolish nurses will gladly do it cause we all need money to survive
Zakhele nodded.
Zakhele: why...why are you helping me
Senior: I knew you were not mine the day you were born but I never let your mother know I knew....i loved you regardless Zakhele....i never treated you badly or showed you less love cause you are not mine biologically but you.....you wanted to......
He shook his head as words failed him......Zakhele looked down as tears welled up in his eyes.
Senior: now heal quickly and do everything the physiotherapist says you should do....i still need to whip that ass of yours until it bleeds for conniving against your brother
He said as he walked to the door.
Senior: you better buy a house for the twins and their grandmother and move them this side permanently.... they need you as their father and not just your stupid money nxa....you boys will surely make me bald before my time with your stupid nonsense nxa
He walked out leaving Zakhele shocked at how things happened....he was overwhelmed by everything that was happening and not in a good way....he swallowed hard looking up trying to fight back his tears.
Zakhele: fuck!!!
He whispered to himself then he broke down......The following day as he was sleeping he felt something being put on his face and it was pressed down on his face hard.....he tried to fight the person that was doing all this to him since he couldn’t breathe but the person was strong....he then tried to reach under his pillow for the gun when he heard a woman’s voice screaming then a gun shot was heard....he quickly reached for the gun as the force of the pillow that’s being pressed down on  his face was a bit loose and then he pointed it on the person’s body and quickly pulled the trigger .....as the pillow became more loose on his face and he heard a man groan with pain he pushed the pillow off his face and he opened his eyes, as blurry as his eye sight was he managed to shoot the man on his chest three times and as soon as the man fell on the floor Zakhele started feeling dizzy and the grip on the gun became loose and the gun fell on the floor as he passed out.


----------


AT THE HOSPITAL MARANG IS ADMITTED IN.....

She opened her eyes slowly and all she could see was a bright light....she closed her eyes again and she opened them again and blinked multiple times and her sight came back and she could see clearly now...she scanned the room and she could see she was in the hospital....she tried to swallow but her mouth and throat felt dry....she cleared her throat and tried to move her arm but it felt heavy...her heart started beating fast as she panicked cause she couldn’t lift her arm....The nurses heard her machines beeping and they rushed there and was glad to see her awake.


----------


AT KGOSI’S HOUSE

Kgosi: tell me you found him
Fingers: im sorry man...it’s like he disappeared from the face of earth...you know im good so for me not to find him should tell you how low key he’s keeping himself
Kgosi groaned with frustration.
Finger: kyk ek sal aanhou soek na hom man..... ek sal nie opgee nie (look I’ll keep on searching for him man....i won’t give up)
Kgosi: thanks man
Fingers: sho
They ended the call and he gulped down his entire drink.....he looked and felt like shit, ever since Cole disappeared he hasn’t been himself....it’s like a piece of him is missing.....he brushed his head roughly and he rubbed his eyes.....he continued to look for any clues on his laptop that might give him an idea of where he might be....his fear was that he killed himself.....the day he rushed Marang to the hospital after she passed out and started bleeding he called Kgosi sounding hysteric, he told Kgosi were he was and that he brought Marang there... Kgosi rushed there with Dineo and they found him crying covered in blood on his shirt, hands and arms.....he told them what he did and Dineo lost it, they had to sedate her with the way she was angry and shouting.....Cole told Kgosi what happened, he couldn’t even explain why he was that angry....he told Kgosi that all he saw was red whenever he looked at Marang, all he felt was extreme anger he couldn’t explain or control.....for almost a week he managed to kind of control the anger but that day he failed......

Anyway they waited for the doctor to come and give them feedback...when they saw her coming towards them they knew it wasn’t good news and when he told them that the baby didn’t make it something died inside Cole, so he ran out of the hospital and no one has seen him since....he left his bank cards, cars and he only took money from his private safe and his gun and he disappeared....Kgosi and Fingers have been looking for him all over and it’s like he vanished from the face of earth.

Dineo walked inside the kitchen looking like a zombie, her eyes were red from crying....ever since Marang was admitted she hasn’t been herself, Kgosi is trying by all means to be there for her and thankfully she doesn’t push him away, she lets him and they have grown closer.
Kgosi: come here
She went to him and he wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest.
Kgosi: I have good news for you....i just got a call from the hospital
She quickly looked up at him.
Dineo: she’s awake
He smiled nodding and she breathed out.
Dineo: ooh my God she’s awake.....she’s awake
Kgosi: yes now stop stressing so much please
Dineo: why are we still here Kgosi...lets go
Kgosi: we’re not leaving this house until you eat
She gave him a deadly look.
Kgosi: don’t even try that ish with me...sit down and eat so we get the hell out of here
She sighed and sat down.
Kgosi: good girl
She gave him a deadly look and he chuckled....he was glad Marang is now awake but he was worried of Cole’s whereabouts....he prayed that he’s alive wherever he is.


-----------

AT THE HOSPITAL MARANG IS ADMITTED IN....

Kgosi walked out of the ward when he couldn’t take it anymore....Marang doesn’t talk or even acknowledge anyone’s presence all she does is say “my baby” after some time while she stared into space....he wondered how she will overcome this, how their marriage will survive this....the doctor strongly suggested she be admitted into a psychiatric hospital so she can get all the help she needs and Dineo was fine with that, they even called her therapist and she suggested a good psychiatrist for her.....they have already signed the necessary documents and she’s gonna be moved to a private psychiatric hospital once she’s cleared by her doctor.....anyway he took out his phone and dialed a number and after three rings it got answered.
Senior: ndodana
Kgosi: baba....how are you?
Senior sighed.
Senior: I’ll be fine..wena unjani ( how are you)
Kgosi: I’ll be fine too baba
Senior: mmmmh
Kgosi: she’s awake...
He sighed.
Kgosi: but....
Senior: but what
Kgosi: she’s gonna be send to a psychiatric hospital....she’s not herself, she doesn’t speak or acknowledge anyone’s presence 
Senior sighed.
Senior: once she starts being herself again book her into a retreat where they help with stress and shit like that....i don’t want her in that crazy people shitty hospital but I’ll tolerate it for now
Kgosi chuckled shaking his head.
Senior: once she starts speaking or shows signs that she’s making progress move her to one of those retreats where she will be treated like a queen
Kgosi: ok baba
Senior: good just know I also found him
Kgosi’s eyes popped out.
Kgosi: what...where...is he ok
Senior: at one of my ranches in the NorthWest....the ranch caretakers who comes in twice a week found him passed out, they called an ambulance then they called me since they don’t know that im declared dead in this country
Kgosi: is he ok
He asked with a low tone and Senior sighed.
Senior: the doctor just left now and he said he suffered alcohol poisoning and some bruises on his back and hands....its like he bruised himself.....the caretakers found a sjambok covered with blood in the room he was in and his fists were covered in blood too and bruised badly
Kgosi: fuck....
He said brushing his head.
Senior: I’ll make sure he pulls through you make sure his wife pulls through too
Kgosi: ok....have you found out something about what happened...something is fishy here....Cole would never do what he did to Marang consciously someone or something has a hand in it
Senior: yeah it wasn’t him but don’t worry once I find the fucker that did this I’ll let you know
Kgosi: ok
Senior: mh
Then he ended the call and Kgosi breathed out....he was glad and thankful he’s found and he’s gonna get the help he needs.

----------

AT ANOTHER HOSPITAL....

Collins was busy shouting at nurses, he just came to check on his wife....he was here to tell the doctor to switch off the machines but he got here and found out that he signed documents to take his wife away for better treatment...a nurse showed him his signature and its true it was his signature but he didn’t sign that.....after some time they took him to the security room and they showed him the footage of the man that walked in and claimed to be him and he couldn’t recognize him, the man dressed like him and even had the same posture as him but he knew it wasn’t him.....after some time he left the hospital to deal with all this his own way....on his way back he called Trey and the call didn’t go through, it didn’t ring or even take him to voicemail meaning the simcard didn’t exist anymore.....he continued to try and call Trey but to no avail....he hit the steering wheel a couple of times looking angry, he wondered who took Cleo and why they took her.
Collins: where the fuck are you Trey nxa!
He shouted alone in the car then he rubbed his face.


----------

A MONTH LATER....


Mmabatho and his mother have been staying at the house she shared with Richard and things haven’t been going well for them....they are constantly looking over their shoulders, the worst thing is they left Mmabatho’s daughter back home and now they can’t even go and take her cause that would mean facing the king’s wrath....as for Mmabatho she was banned from Kweneng Kingdom...she has been stressed out and her mother constantly blaming her for their predicament is making things worse.....on another hand she has been trying to contact Scarface but he can’t be reached, his phone doesn’t go through anymore.
Bahumi: I’ll be back
She said walking down the stairs and Mmabatho sighed looking at her.
Mmabatho: o ya kae mama ( where are you going mama)
Bahumi: to fix this stupid mess you created
Mmabatho rolled her eyes.
Mmabatho: fix it how?
Bahumi: don’t worry that tiny brain of yours about that wena cook something nice for dinner
Then she walked away fixing herself....she walked out and got inside Mmabatho’s car and drove out.....Mmabatho sighed and she went upstairs to her room and she decided to lay down a bit....she has been having  a bad feeling lately and she was also feeling down....

LATER.....

Bahumi came back from her meeting and her heart nearly stopped as soon as she drove closer to Mmabatho’s house.... fire fighters were busy fighting to defuse the blazing hot flames eating away Mmabatho’s house....they were trying hard to put off the flames but the more they poured water on the flames it will recharge and become stronger....it was a strange thing to see.....Bahumi got out of the car as soon as she parked with her eyes popped out and her heart beating out of her chest.....she put her hands on top of her head and she screamed out loud as everything around her suddenly started moving slowly.....she ran around the crowd of people that were watching screaming out Mmabatho’s name searching for her amongst the crowd but she didn’t find her....she then ran towards the burning house screaming Mmabatho’s name and the fire fighters caught her pulling her back.
Bahumi: MY DAUGHTER...MY DAUGHTER IS IN THERE.....
That’s what she kept on saying as she cried out loud....

----------


He stopped playing the video as Scarface’s tears ran down his cheeks.
Mfumu: I wish I was there watching the house burn down to the ground myself
He chuckled.
Scar: you are evil!
He said crying and Mfumu chuckled.....Scarface was tied to a chair beaten to a pulp with his right eye swollen shut....he was naked and covered in blood.
Mfumu: when you and your co-accomplices killed Richard it wasn’t evil?
Scar: he deserved to die, his mother killed my unborn child.....a life for a life
Mfumu smirked looking at him.
Mfumi: you say....mmmh ok
He took out his phone and made a call then he put it on loud speaker.
Voice: boss
Mfumu: let her speak...his son wants to say hi to her
Scarface’s eye popped out then his mother cried on the other side of the call begging for the guys that kidnapped her to not hurt her....Scarface started shaking as more tears gushed out.
Scarface: m....ma
His mother: ka le rapela leseke la mpolaya....kea lerapela....leska mpolaya ( im begging you please don’t kill me....im begging you....don’t kill me)
She begged them crying not even aware that her son was on the other side of the call calling out to her then Mfumu dropped the call with a smirk on his face.
Mfumu: you don’t have a brother so your mother was the second option...i thought about taking your kids or that woman of yours but nah.....i wanted the one I knew can’t be replaced if you know what I mean
He said with his creepy smile on his face.
Scar: please man...im sorry for killing your brother....im sorry I was just angry I didn’t mean to please forgive me please
He pleaded crying.
Mfumu: a life for a life...that’s what you said right
Scar: im sorry...sorry please I didn’t mean it
He said crying and Mfumu chuckled shaking his head.
Scar: kill me then and leave my mother out of this please she’s innocent in all this she doesn’t know I killed your brother
Mfumu: ooh is it
He dialed his phone again and put it on loud speaker after they answered it.
Voice: boss
Mfumu: ask her about the prince that his son killed the one his mother forced Mmabatho to abort
Scar was crying.....they heard the guy asking the woman and the woman said she doesn’t know what he’s talking about then a slap was heard and she screamed....Scar screamed too when he heard what sounded like a slap.
Scar: STOP....STOP IT OK...SHE DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING!!
Voice: im not gonna ask you again...now tell the fucken truth before I blow your brain apart
A scary voice said and the woman cried.
Voice: TALK!!
Woman: she made Mmabatho abort so he killed her son as revenge.....she was carrying my grandson and that evil queen forced her to abort...she deserved to mourn for her precious son too like mine did
Mfumu laughed while scar just cried then Mfumu dropped the call and looked at Scar.
Mfumu: im sure the community of where she stays will be thrilled that she’s dead....i mean she sells nyaope( drugs) to their children...she’s also an evil loan shark who goes around beating people who owe her money with those two now dead puppies she called bodyguards
Scar: please don’t....don’t kill her im begging you
He whispered and Mfumu smirked looking at him.
Mfumu: a life for a life remember
Scar: please I’ll do anything but please don’t kill her man
Then he went to a closed steel bucket by the corner and he went closer to Scar with it  still smiling.
Mfumu: say hi to lucifer for me
He said with his scary voice and an evil look on his face then he opened the bucket and he rushed out and closed the door shut locking it from outside.....he then heard screams from inside until they died down.....then he made another call.
Voice: boss
Mfumu: proceed with the plan....i want that old bitch in jail for a very long time
Voice: consider it done
Mfumu: good
Then he dropped the call and he went to take fumigation prays whistling, he wore a fumigation breathing mask...he opened one of them and shook it then he opened the door and quickly threw the spray tin inside and closed the door but then he jumped as he saw that one of the man-eating wild ants was on his boot...he shook it off quickly and  stepped on it squashing it then he waited for some minutes to pass and he opened another spray and opened the door and threw it inside and quickly closed the door again.