THE OTHER BROTHER
CHAPTER 42
NGCOBO
Khanyi’s location has been moving in a new direction. This is interesting. The smiles spread across my face. We are making progress here. I texted Impiyakhe to track the location and confirm it for me. I am still waiting for him to provide me with the details I want. An hour is too long for me waiting. But let me give him some time. Today is the board meeting. I really don’t know what the hell is going with my company. Another investor has pulled out making me even more confused. Did they find anything I know none of? I so like to know. I am in my office trying to make sense of everything, but nothing comes to mind. At some point I thought that maybe it was that man, but I killed him. Last time I heard he was declared dead. Who is behind me losing my clients. I shake my head and pack the file I am looking at. Even the farm is losing the cows stored bit by bit. Something is definitely wrong somewhere.
“Sir. The board members have arrived.” That is Sthandwa informing me. I need to win them back.
“Thank you. I will be with them shortly.” I say standing up. It is time to fight for what is mine. I follow her behind. Approaching the boardroom everyone is here. My heart skips a bit in shock. I didn’t expect a lot people. Initially they whole board investor is here.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” I say sitting down.
“Manyala mani lawa.” Says Mpungose throwing the paper right at my chest. I pick the papers up and read through.
“I can explain.” I say. Where the hell did, they get all the details of the information.
“Ngcobo tell me something. Who's is the owner of this company?” Another asks.
“I am.’
“All this while we have been funding nothing but fraud. You are a fraudster!”
Another says. Looks like they know what they are talking about. I clear my throat.
“Someone is out there to get me. They want to destroy my kid's legacy.” This is the time that I wished Thabi was here to defend for me. I need my lawyer.
“Where has our been going?” Mpungose.
“I...”
He raises his hand up signaling for me to shut up. “No need to explain. We withdraw from funding your company further. Look for other sponsors to fraud. I cannot have myself to go to jail.”
He stands up and walks out.
“Please. Can we just talk about this like adults. We signed a contract.” I am trying to save myself here.
“Clearly you did not read the contact. The contract stated if we find anything illegal or any fraudulent, we withdraw with immediate effect. Take us to court and we will see who will be arrested.” Fuze says. I have no come back. Everyone stands up and walks out. Natalie stays behind.
“My husband warned me not to invest. My big head was here because I believed in you and now this happens. I am really disappointed. Wonder why we do not fund black business? It is because of this. There is nothing that you can do to fix this. You fooled us all and we fell right into the trap.” She grabs her bag from the table and walks out. I am left shattered and confused. My emotions are all over the place. I call Impiyakhe. I need him to tell me who is behind my downfall. I will need to deal with them accordingly.
Afraid to even leave the boardroom. I decided to sit and think of my next move. Without these people I am doomed. These people bring in a lot of money. The bakery is good as useless. Nothing good comes out when handled by MaNgcobo. Impiyakhe provides me with the details. But it’s not the information I need. How did Thabi and Khanyi manage to buy a house worth a hundred and fifty thousand? Looking at the reports – there is no third party. How did these kids manage to live this large in just a short period of time? Something doesn’t add up. I tell Impiyakhe to dipper. I want to know what they have been up to. What if they are the ones behind my loss. That could be the reason. But I checked the accounts. Nothing has been touched. Thabi has access but she hasn’t even attempted to do anything. Are they in some sort of witchcraft. I stand up and rush out. I bumped into Jackson at the door. It’s been a long time since I last saw him. I made this disappear. I paid him a huge sum of money. All of this blows up and he is the first person I get to see.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask through my greeted teeth.
“I received this.” She shoves the papers in my hands. He looks at the papers and it is something I am aware of.
“Don't you think I know already.”
“There's more.” He hands me the pictures. I am confused. It’s us meeting in dodgy places. The date when I signed the handing everything over to me.
“Who gave you this?” I ask.
“It was sent anonymously. Count me out.”
“You are already in.” I whisper.
“Do not involve me.” He leaves me standing. Now what. That is Dumisa’s lawyer. I paid him the most thesaurus. He mustn't dare ditch me. If I go down, I will go down with him.
My phone beeps. It’s a text from Impiyakhe. Apparently, all the assets are still under Dumisa’s name. How is that Possible. Did Jackon not sort that out.
“No, no, no.” This might be some kind of a sick joke. This is a red lie. 501 fraud in broad day light! I decided to call him back.
“Are you sure of what you have given me?” I ask. Part of me wishes he could just say no.
“Yes. The businesses were never under your name. Even the house you live in is still under his name.”
I dropped the phone. I called Jackson and his phone is not going through. Dumisa went MIA after the shooting never saw him or heard about him. Right now, I need him. He has some explanation to do. But Dumisa was mourning that time. There is no way that he could have played me. Maybe his mother might know something. Is she behind all of this? I will deal with her once and for all. I walk out and I see Mcasheni running in with his hands on his head. This is my herd boy. What the hell is he doing here? I have a lot of problems already.
“Basi. All the cows are gone.” He shouts for everyone to hear.
“What do you mean all the cows are gone?”
Now all eyes are on us. Great just great! Now everyone will know my business.
“Someone came by at night and took all the cows. I thought that maybe you found someone new because I did go in the morning and there were no cows in the kraal. I as Gogo and she said she did not see anything.”
“You can go.”
Now I defiantly believe that someone is out to get me. The question is who is it? I need to go home. I rush to the office to get my belongings.
-
-
-
My house is encompassed by the police. MaNgcobo is by the gate crying her lungs out. I swallow hard and close my eyes sharply. Can't this day get any better. I step out of my car and approach them. An eviction letter is being thrown right on my face.
“Do you know who I am?’ I bark.
“Ngcobo. Take you belonging and get the hell out.”
“On what grounds?” I ask. “This is my house. You cannot tell me what to so in my personal space.” I say. The cops look at each other and enjoy the show. Nothing funny in what I have said.
“This is my kids home.” MaNgcobo and her annoying voice.
“I am not going anywhere. This is my house!”
Everyone is here looking at us. The respect is gone. I feel my dignity being stripped naked. I feel disrespected. Everyone is looking at my nakedness.
“This eviction says otherwise Sir. Take your clothing while you still have time. Everything that is in the house shall be left as it is. It doesn’t belong to you.” Another says.
“Baba. I have already packed your belongs.” MaNgcobo.
I sigh in defeat. Honestly, I don’t know what is happening to me. Everything is going upside down in one day. I had no other option but to drag the huge suitcase to the car. I open the boat.
“If you read that eviction, you would have known that the only thing you take is the clothing. The car also stays behind until otherwise. Hand me the car keys.”
“Is this some kind of sick joke?” I asked out of shock.
“I’m afraid no. Car keys baba.”
I feel my chest rising up and down in anger. I threw the car keys on to his chest not caring whether I hurt him or not. This humiliation is killing me in one day.
-
-
-
I don’t know when was the last my ass sat in a taxi with a bunch of people smelling sweat and armpits. People shouting their lungs like primitive, barbaric animals. Why can't taxis have buzzes. You just press the buzzer, and the taxi stops. All this shouting is just not it for me. The annoyance of people touching your shoulder and demands that you pass the money onto another seat. This is stupid and seriously degrading to me. I should have booked the whole taxi. It would have been very peaceful.
“This is where the taxi ends.” Says the driver.”
“We are going down by Spar.” I say.
“Ey baba. Where are you from. The taxi ends here. Ngidinga ukuyolayisha.”
“And how will I carry this huge suitcase.’ Does he not have a heart? The humans we live with.
“That is not any of my concern. You are wasting my time.” He opens his door and steps oit. He walks around angrily and opens the door.
“Get out mnumzane.”
He pulls my luggage and throws it on the ground.
“Do you have any idea who I am!”
“Ay fusegi man. Awusilo iqatha elingangibinda yezwa.”
Okay. I have no other option but to get out. Again, we are pulling this huge luggage, and everyone is looking at us.
“We will start at the car dealership. I need a car. I cannot live like this.”
It’s just a simple secondhand car that I want. Something that will take me where I want to go.
“Ngcobo. What can I do for you today?” Fredrick asks, wiping the oil off his hands.
“I need the cheapest car that will take me wherever I want to go.” I say. He frowns looking at me but doesn’t say anything.
“Okay. Follow me.” I leave MaNgcobo at the reception. He helps me to select the car that wil be manageable for the coming weeks until I get back on my feet again. Ninety thousand will do. It’s nothing much. We proceed with the payment. I am waiting for the transactions to be approved. I know it will not even take five minutes. Fedrck comes back with the papers. I smile. At least something good is going on.
“I am afraid the funds were rejected. I tried three times and...”
“Impossible. I have vast sum in that card. Try again.”
I refuse to be live whatever shit he is telling me.
“Come with me.” I follow him behind like a fly. Maybe he added the pin code wrong. Ow yes Fredrick knows my pin of my card. I trust him and I have known him for more than ten years. He tells me to try the code and indeed it declines. Maybe the bank made a mistake here.
“Let me run to the bank. Maybe there is a problem.” I say. I run out passing MaNgcobo who is seated at the entrance waiting for me. The line is not so bad. I have to be patient in order to be assisted. Just two people Infront of me.
“Next!” The teller shouts. My legs stride to the counter.
“I need cash. I mean my card is declining. Why?”
“Can I have you ID number sir.”
“I don’t have my ID with me but I do know it by heart.”
“What is it?”
I call out my ID to her. She looks at the system.
“Confirm your full name please.”
“Sixakekile Ngcobo is my full name.”
She nods her head. She then turns the screen towards me and tells me to read through.
“My funds were withheld.”
“Yes, that means your account has been blocked. Looks like there is some investigation going on. I can't tell but I can advise you that you can go to the police station to confirm.”
I am defeated. Who is torturing me like this. Is this some kind of a sick joke?
“Does it show for how long?” I ask.
“Unfortunate I will not be able to provide you with the details you require. I suggest you go to the police station sir.”
This is pointless. With my hands on my hips ngaphuma ngilambatha. You know when the dark cloud has visited you. This is what I am facing.
-
-
-
Imagine the shame and ignominy. Hitch hick all the way to eMtubatuba. I have no other option but to go home to my mother. We may not see eye to eye. But I know she will never forsake me. We are sitting at the back of a van with air hitting our cheeks. This is my life for today. I am cold with teeth cluttering. Just a few more minutes and I will be home. I was fortunate enough to be lifted by a neighbor for hours. I had to lie that we were hijacked. Our cards were taken, and the hijackers withdrew all the money. He believed my story and told us to hop at the back of the van. His van is occupied by his family.
“We are almost there.” I tell MaNgcobo. She hasn’t uttered any words ever since we left. And I am thankful for that. We approach the gravel road, and I can tell that our home is near. It’s now dark – we have been on the road since morning with no food, water or money. Our stomachs are grumbling in competition. The first thing I will do when I get home is to feed my stomach. The van stopped and I assume we have arrived. The atmosphere has changed. The air is warm.
“I think we should get off.” I stand up. My butt is numb. I don’t feel my spinal cord. MaNgcobo jumps off first then I follow. We both managed to drag the heavy suitcase off the van. She takes a deeps breath and looks around. I thank the neighbor; he acknowledges and drives off. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know where we would have been by now.
“Come on. Let's go home.”
The gate is opened, which is very unusual. The door is also open.
“Haibo. Why is ma so careless kodwa.” MaNgcobo exclaims in shock. I am also shocked by this. We walked into the house and the TV is playing but no one is in sight.
“Where is she?” I ask. “Mah.” I shout hoping she will answer from somewhere but nothing. Okay this is getting scarier than I thought. Where could she be?
“I will go check her bedroom. Maybe she feels asleep and forgot to close the door.” I watch her as she goes down the passage. I will check behind the house. I go around the house but nothing. The windows are even open still. I hear a scream from the inside. I rush back into the house to see. The screams are coming from my mother's bedroom. Here she is laying on the bed with her eyes wide open. Her mouth is partially opened with her tongue sticking out.
“What happened?’
“What do you mean what happened. I found her like this. She is not breathing!” She shouts. I push her aside. I place my head on her chest no heartbeat. She is cold as ice. My world is crumbling down to its worst. I sink down on the floor. For the first time in years, I get to know how tears taste like.