CHAPTER 75
SHLOBOSENKOSI MAVIMBELA

I’ve been a happy man these past couple of
months but I’ve been the happiest these last
few days. My life took a turn and it wasn’t for
the worst, I met a woman, married her
withing a blink of an eye and now she’s
expecting my son or daughter. I still cannot
believe that this is my life now, but God
knows that I’ll forever praise him for seeing
me worthy to live such a beautiful story. I
wish Nhlangano was still a part of my life so
he could enjoy this warmth with me, but he
has chosen his own path and I’ve learned to
accept that. I’ll always love him though, I am
just not going to force myself on him. When
his eyes are finally opened to who Mphikele
really is and comes to me to say sorry then I’ll
accept him with open arms.
I just had a lengthy conversation with my
sisters silent grave, I pray she heard every
single word and she will fight from her grave
to save her boy. This is the first time since
Nhlangano left that I gathered some courage
to talk to Busi. I felt like this is the right
time, you know, with my own baby coming. I
cannot stress and worry over him like I’ve
been doing, the new life Naledi and I are
expecting is all I have to focus on.
I check my phone for time, I don’t want to be
late for lunch. Oh, would you look at that,
five texts from my little sister. I bet she sent
me a picture of her new pair of shoes. I hate
Vivian Reddy for bringing Platinum walk to
Durban, but at the same time I love seeing my
sister happy and living her life. Thalente had it
hard growing up and I’m glad I can afford her
all the good things life can offer.
It’s not shoes or a handbag, just pictures of
the children from the shelter she volunteers
at. She hosted a little event for them, food,
jumping castles, presents and the works.
Thalente has changed, her looks, her little
attitude and things like that, but one thing
that hasn’t changed is her passion for helping
people and changing their lives. I am so proud
of her and I know for a fact that she’s going
to make one hell of a psychologist. I quickly
fire her a response and walk back to the
house.
“What’s funny?” I ask as I step inside and find
my wife and my mother laughing at the top
of their lungs. The sight of them this way
always leaves my heart feeling warm.
“Ma is still praying that I don’t gain any
weight on my bums during this pregnancy.
She says they’ll push you off the bed,” I throw
my head back and laugh. MaZikode needs to
let my wife’s ass off the hook. I am obsessed
with it and it drives me insane when I’m
hitting it from the back.
“Oh, MaZikode,” I say, pulling out the kitchen
stool and settling down. Naledi quickly gets
on her feet and head to the microwave and
my food is warming up in a second. She’s
looking like a true makoti, I love seeing her in
this village look. She’s wearing a brown and
white pinofor, a head wrap with the same
colors and there’s a doek going across her
chest. My late father is surely bragging about
his one and only daughter-in-law in heaven.
“Thanks babe,” I say as she places a small
basin with warm water and a dish cloth
infront of me. I love how she doesn’t shy
away from doing things old school while we
are here.
She goes to get my plate from the microwave
then comes and places it infront of me. I hold
her hand as she’s about to walk away, she
faces me again and I kiss her bearly visible
bump. Did I mention that we are only 3
months pregnant?
“Oh, Shlobo. I can only imagine how happy you
are to be welcoming your first child,” my mom
comments and I gulp down my saliva and
move my eyes from her.
“I cannot wait to see this one in here,” I say
and Naledi smiles down at me.
“Me too daddy. Now eat your food,” I nod.
“Yes, ma’am,”
“Oh not again,” Naledi mutters as she settles
down on her chair. MaZikode chuckles and I
just eat my food, sharing the same
frustrations as my wife.
“I know my love, I know,” There’s a church
that’s being held at the homestead closest to
ours. MaZikode said it’s been happening since
Thursday night. We arrived in Mahlabathini
yesterday and found a traffic of cars, coming
and going from that church. Ma says it’s a
young woman leading everything, hopefully
people aren’t falling for a scammer. People are
so desperate for money they aren’t even
afraid to use the lords name in vain.
“We should go and see what it’s all about. The
village women can’t stop singing her praises,”
oh no thank you.
“Nah, I think Naledi and I will pass,” I quickly
respond and my mother smacks her lips.
.
.
.
I am woken up from my peaceful, deep sleep
by someone banging on our door and crying.
What the fuck is this? I check my phone on
the pedestal and it’s only 3 in the morning,
who does this shit at people’s homes?
The banging gets worse and the person is
pleading with us to open, it’s a woman. Could
she be in serious trouble? I quickly climb off
the bed and that wakes Naledi.
“Baby, what’s going on?” she asks but I can’t
really see her face because it’s dark in here.
“I don’t know baby but I’ll go check. Stay in
bed,” I say hurriedly, grabbing my pants.
“Shlobo no! You can’t go out there, what if
they hurt you?” she’s scared, I can’t miss it in
her voice.
“I’m a big boy love, don’t worry. I just need
you to stay in here until I say it’s safe to
come out,” I switch on the lights and find her
eyes threatening to fall off.
“Okay?” she nods imperceptibly and I head out
the door. I find my mother about to knock on
our door, she looks terrified too.
“Who could that be?” she asks and I shrug my
shoulders.
“I don’t know, but I’m about to find out.
Please go to your room and I’ll come get you
when it’s safe,” I say and she raises an
eyebrow.
“I am not MaMoletsane and I don’t mean that
in a bad way. What I’m saying is she needs
protecting in her state and because she’s your
wife, my daughter. I am the owner of this
house so we go open together,” only then do I
see the golf stick and whip in her hands. I
grab the stick and lead the way.
I unlock the door and find a woman dressed in
white kneeling by our door, wailing so
painfully. There’s a man besides her, brushing
her back. He gets up as soon as the door is
fully opened.
His face gets lighting and I narrow my eyes,
his eyebrow is arched in a second. He can
recognize me too, I just don’t know where I
know him from but I do.
“It’s you,” he says, ignoring the woman
begging me to stop. I’m not sure what she’s
on about but I’m annoyed because there are
people at the gate watching this free show.
“Who are you? Why are you people doing this?”
I ask, completely angry.
“My name is Qophelo, this is my wife,
Londeka. Something similar to this happened
a while ago at the airport,” he says and it all
comes back to me. That was months ago and
I told them we weren’t interested in whatever
message they had for us. How did they find
us?
“Are you stalking us?” I ask, shocked out of
my mind
“No, no. We aren’t stalking you but this is not
coincidental either. My wife has a gift, like I
mentioned then. We came to this village to
help people from here and the neighboring
towns and villages. We were sleeping and she
woke up crying, I knew they had given her a
message in her dreams. She ran here and I
followed because I’m the only one who can
deal with her when the spirit has taken over,”
he explains, desperate for me to believe him.
“Shlobo, what is he talking about?” MaZikode
asks from behind me.
“I’ll explain ma,” I quickly answer MaZikode,
“Man, what is this? What does your wife want
from us?” I ask, anger has turned into fear
and curiosity.
He kneels down and starts brushing her back
again as she cries and hits the stoep with her
fists.
“Zulu, Mageba, calm down. He’s willing to
listen, calm down and explain the message to
them,” he says softly.
I can recognize the gentleness he uses with
her, he’s a man in-love and would do
absolutely anything for his wife. Just like me.
“Mavimbela… you can’t, she’s… not your…
wife but…” she says between hiccups.
“This is absolute madness, Naledi is my wife. I
know I started things on the wrong foot but I
rectified my mistakes, I paid lobola and the
remaining traditional ceremonies are going to
take place before the year ends,” I explain and
the woman grabs my legs.
“You don’t understand. You need to listen and
hear me…”
“Baby,” I quickly turn and find my shaking
wife standing in the middle of the kitchen, in
her gown and tears streaming down her face.
“What’s wrong babe?” my heart is thumping
against my chest.
“I uhm…Shlobo…I think…” she breaks down
and my heart drops into my stomach.
“Hey, I’m here. Talk to me, please,” I cup her
face and peck her lips repeatedly.
“No… No… Please stop it,” The Londeka lady
whimpers.
“Talk to me,” I coax Naledi and her eyes look
down at the feet and mine follow. There’s
drops of blood on the floor; Where’s that
coming from?
“I think I’m having a miscarriage,” it comes
out in an almost whisper and I die a million
deaths in a second.
“What no, baby, no,” I say, tears burning my
eyes. We can’t lose this baby.
“Don’t cry, it’s for the best,” Londeka says and
Naledi gasps in shock. I’m horrified to say the
least, how dare she says something so
insensitive.
“Get the hell away from us!” I scream.
“Shlobo, ignore her. We have to take Naledi to
the hospital now.” my mother says and I snap
out of my anger and run to the bedroom to
get my keys and phone. I come back to Naledi
in the same spot and my mother comforting
her. I don’t say anything, I just scoop mine in
my arms and rush out. My mother is behind
us, I hear her telling the still crying Londeka
and her husband off as she locks the door.