ONYIYE THAT GIRL
CHAPTER 37
ONYIYE MAZIBUKO
"I killed him, I killed him." She whispers bitting her inner cheek. This cannot be happening! She can't go to jail.
Sbahle pulls her up and makes her stand on her feet. She cups her tiny round face...
"Look at me, we will pull through. We will be together. No matter what happens never admit of killing him." She nods her head. She feels scared and stressed out, she's trying to find reasons as to why she did it. Immediately she becomes numb, and she begins to feel...well she cannot explain the feeling she is feeling.
Sbahle is pacing up and down with her phone pressed against her ear. She drops the line and blinks multiple times running out of words. She looks at Onyiye sitting in a corner with her head buried in-between her knees.
"I am going to jail.” She rocks herself back and forth. This is not what she expected. This is not how she imagined her life to turn out.
Sbahle picks her up and gives her a hug. "I am here with you. We will pull through. We will die in this together.”
Onyinye burst into tears out of fear. She shivers as warm liquid gushes down her legs. Her brain is coded for compassion, for guilt, for a kind of empathic pain that causes her inflicting harm to feel a degree of shame. Did she just murder someone? A slight knock on the window making Onyiye jump a bit holding on tight to her sister. Sbahle sighs letting go of her but she looks at her with those lost, hope eyes...
"It's Tazz and Khoza.” She tries assuring her but she does not have any of it.
"Don’t leave me alone, with him.” She pleads. Sbahle holds her hand and goes to open the window letting the guys in.
They do not bother asking as to they do know what has happened.
"Where is the weapon?” Khoza asks to let go of Dumisani's hand. Sbahle points it out. It is there on the floor and the blood is almost drying out.
"I will take Onyiye to the bathroom.” Sbahle pulls her by hand and takes her to the bathroom for her to take a warm bath. Maybe it will flush away the picture of Dumisani's open skull.
She helps the guys clean around the house wiping every trace of blood.
"The blankets will need to be burnt and this sjambok buried.” Tazz suggestion.
“What about the body?”
“We will drop that one outside the gate and behave as normal like nothing happened. I don’t know how will Onyiye cope.”
“I will take care of Onyiye, you guys take care of this whole thing.” Sbahle leaves the guys busy. She doesn’t even want to see how and where they will dump the body. She has seen too many documentaries and the cases she has dealt with previously and this is not the one to watch. She is done with that life and being a cop was a serious drain.
She waits for her to finish bathing and helps her to wear warm pyjamas. She tucks her in in bed as stiff as she is and brushes her back waiting for her to fall asleep which she did after a very long time.
___________
Its morning and already his mother is running around calling every neighbour to see what has been dumped infront of her gate. Sbahle wakes up and looks at the sleeping Onyiye and immediately her heart breaks for her little sister. She puts her flips flops and wears her gown and steps out of Sthembiso’s house.
She spots three women outside the gate with their hands on their waist. Sthembiso’s mother is not amongst them. The police have crowded the place taking pictures and already the house is a crime scene.
She slowly turns to walk away but one of the police men stop her.
“Excuse me miss.” Her heart skips a beat. She turns around and puts a brave face on.
“Do you have any idea what happened to that young man?” She swallows hard but relaxes her muscles.
“I don’t know – I've just woken up by the noise.”
“And it did not occur to you to come have a look?”
“I don’t live here. I do not even know the people living in this compound phoyisa. I am just a visitor. If you have any questions, kindly do ask the mother of the house.”
“Where is she? The mother of the house?”
“This way, hope she doesn’t kill me for letting a stranger in.” She walks Infront of the cop with him scanning his around sharply. He notices a blood stain on Shahle’s gown and frowns, looking closely. The blood is still fresh.
“Are you hurt miss?” He asks making Sbahle to turn. Dumisani’s mother comes out with a bible in her hand and a whip on another hand. Sbahle pauses answering the cop and looks at the woman walking past them without saying a word.
“That is the mother of the house.” Her heart is almost ready to jump out of her mouth. She pushes down her anxiousness...
“Please wait here, do not move.” He runs after the mother. She waits for the cop to run out of sight. She takes her gown off and indeed it is blood.
“Shit!” She curses and rushes to the kitchen. She needs to think of a plan fast. She opens the fridge and comes out holding a bottle of beetroot. “Perfect!” She opens the bottle and dips in her finger and rubs it on the small spot – on top of Dumisanis bloods. She seals the bottle and replaces it back into the Fridge. She walks out of the house to go stand in the same spot like she has been all along. The notices the cop coming back, she pulls herself together.
“Turn around.” He instructs. She around and let him caresses on the wet stain on her back. He rubs the tip of his fingers together and smells.
“What were you doing so early with beetroot in the morning miss.”
“I love beetroot juice. Maybe it spilled and I did not notice. She prays that Onyinye does not walk out of that door because all of this will be a –
The door cracks open, Sbhale exhales out loud. Basically, she has short herself in the foot!
LINDIWE NGOBESE
Before she could even reach the window, she fell down and collapsed on the ground. Melusi rushes towards her to pick her up but struggles at first – eventually manages to pick her up.
She is facing extreme confusion, distress and dissociation from oneself. It is so overwhelming that it leads to anxiety and panic attacks. Her chest is dully closing to a point where she cannot inhale any air from her lungs. Melusi places her on the bed and rushes out to go look for the doctor to help.
"Doctor, please help her!” He pants pulling the doctor by his coat. "What is the matter?” He asks wondering.
"Lindiwe, she can't breathe!” And then it dawns to the doctor. They rushed to where Melusi dumped her. Without waste the doctor takes an injection and injects her arm. "What are you injecting her with?”
"Brexanolone, is a drug indicated for the treatment of postpartum depression. I am just trying to keep her down before she harms herself. I know you have a lot on your plate at the moment. Losing your brother and your sister-in-law falling into depression all in one day is a lot. But we have to consider the soul she is carrying.
"Will she survive? Are we allowed to visit her?
"It will depend on the situation she is in. If seeing you will set her healing, then unfortunately you will not get to see her.”
"I hope all of this will go away.” He is stressed to the point that he is losing himself also in the process.
"It will but keep it in mind that anxiety causes a lot of different emotions, and the feeling of going crazy is one of them. Many of those suffering from intense anxiety have this feeling of going crazy that comes from the extremely high emotions, a rush of adrenaline and stress, and the overwhelming feeling of losing control. You will have to book her into this facility before she harms herself. This is where everything is leading to.”
Melusi sighs running out of words.
"I will assess and examine her and give you a referral letter. Apply for admission and we will take it from there. I will check up on her from time to time.”
Melusi nods his head. He walks out of the hospital finding his baby mama still seated on the benches. She stands up with her puffy eyes and welcomes him with a warm hug.
"How is she holding up?” she asks pulling off from the embrace.
"It's hard being the first born of the family. She is not doing good at all. The doctor said she needs to be admitted to the mental health institution for evaluation before she kills herself. She is suicidal. She literally wanted to jump out of the window."
"Ow my God!" She exclaims in shock.
"Yea, let's go.” He entwines his hand with hers and walks out for the hospital exit leading to the parking lot.
"I will drive, you are not fit to drive." He does not dispute. He agrees to it. He hops in the front seat and adjusts the seat making it lean backwards and exhales out loud in stress.
She reverses out of the parking lot and drives to the destination she's being directed to.
MYEZA HEALTH INSTITUTION
They arrive – they both step out of the car and walk towards the entrance.
They stand beside the receptionist area and wait to be assisted. Forms being filled out…
"Lindiwe Ngobese.” Blessing reads on the card and smiles. "She will be admitted tomorrow and the doctor strictly stated that she is not fit to attend the funeral. Once she heals, she will then be taken to his grave and pay her respect.”
"Thank you” He smiles
They both walk out with pamphlets in their hands and bump into a man singing.
"Eish, sorry." He walks in being followed by a group of girls.
“If, those are his kids – damn he sure does have a lot of them.”
The family walks inside with the girls following their father. Blessing freezes looking at her husband walking past her without even acknowledging her sight. She shakes her head smiling and continues to work. She wonders how did she married to a man like him. Having eight girls and one boy is a lot of work. Worsley if they are in high school and some in varsity.
Spikes stop half way remembering something.
“Your son dropped out of varsity.” He says putting his hands in his pocket. Blessing frowns looking at him.
“Which son?”
“Mpilo,” He continues with his journey like he did not say anything. Blessing takes out her phone and makes a quick phone call.
“Is true that Mpilo dropped out?”
The mother on the other side exhales out loud.
“I tried everything I could but this child keeps on giving me heart attacks. If it's not his father with his doggy ways and dogging bullets it's his son and his attitude. At first, I thought that maybe it was a curse but I was wrong. It is something that is just in these men. If you have a son that has the blood of Myeza, just know that, that son of yours will run after money.”
“What is the plan for him then?”
“Him running his father's business.”
“So, he wants to be in the taxi business?” Blessing asks with her heart pounding. She has noticed that her son is never concentrating in school and she has been called multiple times and advised that he does not concentrate. He is in grade 12 but the boy is just on his own world.
“Looks like every male is following that path.”
They conclude the call by promising each other to be out on a vacation with everyone, something that they get to do once every year. She continues registering her client not wanting to think much of what lies ahead with these children. Talk about men that have no further!
MPILO MYEZA
He parks his father’s quantum in the hospital parking lot and steps out. His cologne fills up the air, he closes the door making sure to lock it. He looks at his Timberland boots, up to his denim reaped jeans, his white denim t-shirt and a black hooddie. He puts on the hat and walks inside the hospital. He passes by the receptionist with his head bowed down and heads straight to Lindiwe's room. He enters and closes the door behind. He finds her peacefully sleeping.
“I wish I could go back and fix every mistake I made. I had no intention of hurting you. I shouldn't have killed him but his stubbornness lead me into doing it. I hated how he made you look at only him forgetting about me in the process. After I heard about the news of you killing my child, I lost it and I lost you in the process. I now realize that you are mine alone, not ours. So, I will eliminate everyone who is standing in my way. You will be seeing this ugly face more often.” He bends over and kisses her cracked pale lips. He takes out his Labello and polishes her lips. ”You look better now.” He sucks her lower lip and smiles stepping back. He walks out of her ward bumping into Melusi. He looks down and continues with his journey. He walks out of the hospital heading to the parking lot. Unlocks the quantum and hops in. A call comes through and he sighs looking at the caller.
“Zandile,” He answers pulling his cigarettes from the dashboard, He lights it up with his lighter and puffs through.
“I'm done. You can come pick me up.”
“Okay, I'm coming.” He disconnects the call and puffs his Stuyvesant cigarette. He smokes until satisfied and throws the sponge. He pulls out for his minty Tic Tack.
He brings the engine to life and drives off at full speed. He spots Zandile from afar and sighs slowing down. He parks next to her and watches her as she hops to settle in. She closes the door and leans over for a kiss. He kisses her cheek making her blush.
“How is my baby doing?” He asks.
“I am doing just fine and you?”
“Not you, I meant my baby – daughter.” He briefly smiles but the smile quickly vanishes.
“I am not even 4 weeks pregnant and already you claim it is a girl.” She chucks shaking her head taking out a packet of nick naks in her bag.
“I know, trust a father's instincts.” He shrugs his shoulders and continues to drive.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Your home.” He focuses on the road.
“I thought that maybe we are going to your flat.”
“Why? I just need to be alone.”
“Why are so cold?” She asks, looking at him. He chooses not to respond but drives directly to her house.
“Don't call me - I will call you.” he says, making her gasp in shock. She looks at him briefly and nods her head, she steps out of the car and closes the door banging it. He clicks his tongue and drives off at full speed.
A call comes through his phone, he connects it to Bluetooth speakers and retrieves to answer.
“Come home right this minute!” That is his father. His heart beats a bit. He wonder when did he got here? He makes a U-turn and drives to where they used to live before the family moved down to Eshowe.
He takes a deep breath before driving through the drive way. He parks the car and steps out. He knocks before letting himself in. A mean punch lands on his face unexpectedly making him stumble backwards. He tries to register as to what is going on, another punch lands on his other cheek. He runs to go stand behind his mother…
“Is this how I taught you to treat woman? Is this how I raised you to toy with woman's feelings?” His father Anathi is mad as hell. He pushes his dreadlock backwards and takes a deep breath.
“Let's go have a man to man talk. In my office now!” Mpoilo looks at his mother for support but Zamadalwa just looks at him blankly. He blinks multiple times but woman chooses to walk away. Meaning, he is on his own!
He sits down across his father and entwines his finger together looking down.
“I just want to know why?” his father asks. Mpilo swallows looking shamefully down.
“I love her baba.”
Anathi chucks and looks at him not believing. Clearly his son does not know what the word love means.
“Let me tell you something son, when you're in love, you tend to be on your best behaviour and expect your loved one to do the same. Loving someone can survive life's ups and downs. When you love someone, your relationship is strong enough to overcome life's challenges. Being in love with someone means you want to spend as much time with them as possible. Even if you're busy, you probably find yourself arranging your schedule to see your partner. This might also involve a desire to get to know more about them by exploring their interests. You see that woman I married.”
“Yes,”
“I loved her the minute I laid my eyes on her. We have been married for as long as I can remember. We were married when you were just five years old. How old are you now?”
He keeps quiet and counts from the inside.
“In all those years never have I ever toyed with your mothers feelings or even make her cry out of my selfishness?"
"No," Mpilo responds still looking down.
"Why did you do what you did? You can't leave someone and later decide to take the only thing that makes her happy. What are your plans with that young lady?"
He keeps quite for a second.
"Put your life together before I put it in line for you." He stands up and leaves him thinking hard.