[LARONA]
‘This is so sweet. It’s like you knew I needed a pick-me up’ Kuli says while smelling the peach flowers I’ve just handed to her. I pull out one of the kitchen chairs so I can take a seat. I’m exhausted.
Mabontle walks in.
‘Hey babe!’ she greets with a smile and we hug. Who would’ve thought we’d ever get to this point?
‘Hi. How are you? Congratulations once more’
I sent her a text after she gave birth but it’s only right that I say it in person.
‘Thank you so much’
‘How is he? When am I seeing him?’
A layer of sadness covers her eyes.
‘We’ll see. Things are… I don’t even know what to say but hopefully you’ll see him somehow. I came to get these’ she says and takes the feeding bottles from the drying rack. ‘Nice to see you’ she gently squeezes my arm before walking out. What is going on with these two? Did something happen that I don’t know about? They look like they’re aware the world is about to end in a few minutes.
‘Is he still grumpy?’ Kuli asks. Bontle reverses.
‘Not really but he refuses to sleep. Lemme go check on him quickly because he’s alone’ she continues walking after her sister nods with understanding.
‘Thanks for coming’ Kuli says to me.
‘You’ve been on my mind for some time now. That phone call just confirmed that you are not okay. What’s wrong?’
She takes out a vase and occupies it with tap water before emptying the packet of plant food in it. I’ll give her all the time she needs.
‘You know…’ she starts, while shortening the rose stems with a scissor and getting rid of the green leaves.
‘You’d think the most difficult part about this calling is having to carry people’s problems on your shoulders’
‘It’s not?’
She raises her eyes and looks at me, then shakes her head.
‘The most difficult part is realizing that you’re good at fixing other people’s lives but your own’
‘Where is this going?’
She looks like she’s carrying the entirety of this planet on her back.
‘Remember when I told you that I was once jailed for my mother’s murder?’
I nod. She looks around before she continues, probably to see if we’re still alone.
‘I found out that my dad is actually the culprit behind the whole thing’
Wait a damn minute…
‘You mean… he’s the one who…?’
‘He hired someone to do it. But because my guides don’t sleep, that someone came to me and confessed – claiming that he hasn’t known peace since the whole thing happened’
This hits way too close to home. What the hell?
‘Did you talk to him about it?’
I know I’m a fine one to speak, considering that I swept my own issues under the rug. Confronting my dad would be a complete waste of time so I chose to cut him off instead.
‘Not yet. I am still planning the conversation in my head because I’m not good with confrontation. I’m a recovering people-pleaser so bear with me’ she jokes. She takes out a jug of juice from the fridge and puts it on a wooden tray, along with empty tumblers and a plate of biscuits. We go sit outside. I enjoy the greenery in the mountain views while I wait for her to collect herself. Thing is, I get it. I’m convinced for some people to end up picking up rocks and papers in the streets for no apparent reason, it’s because of things like these. You can easily run mad after such a discovery.
‘I don’t understand why he didn’t just come clean? I think it was going to be easier to accept had he told me this himself’
I don’t quite agree but I could be personalizing the whole thing so I just nod.
‘Another part of me is in awe of how much that man loves me. I was just a little girl when he promised to always protect me. I just never imagined it would ever get to these lengths’
I pour us some juice and push the plate towards her. The shock is still apparent, she needs some sugar in her system. I am using all my strength to reign in my emotions even though they’re threatening to spill, this isn’t about me.
‘And now I have to keep this from my sister because I don’t want to be the reason why her perspective of him changes. I feel like this is between him and I’
‘The only person who will give you the closure you need is your father. And from what I know and have seen about him, he’s a reasonable human being. I think he’d want you to give him a chance to explain himself, I don’t know’
‘That’s the thing about explanations. Why do we always need them because we already know the truth?’
‘It’s not necessarily the explanation we need; it’s the remorse we need to see. From someone who kinda gets it, look at it this way. My dad and his wife took away my mom FROM me whereas yours got rid of your mother FOR you. I’m not taking his side but I feel like he deserves some leniency, a lot of it actually’
‘I know. It’s just the heartbreak speaking right now but I am aware of the divergence in our situations. I think I’ll go see him later today, thank you for this’
I simply nod.
‘And you? How are you feeling?’
‘I don’t want to go there to be honest. Have you figured out what you’re going to wear to the company launch?’ I try to change the topic. Kurhula is opening a security company in town and I feel like that’s the only thing we should be focusing on right now however, Kuli being Kuli, that look in her eyes tells me she won’t let this go.
‘I’m serious. We’ll talk about it when I’m sure that I won’t break down and cry’
‘There’s nothing wrong with breaking down and crying. I meant it when I said I’m here for you’
I don’t doubt that but that’s not what I need right now.
‘I know’
She eventually lets go. We move to the grass because her feet are acting up and they apparently get worse at a height. Mhani Lulama brings Tlhari out and I receive him. Aw, he just woke up. The weather has gotten gloomy but it’s not that cold.
‘Hey big boy’ I greet him and he smiles. They’ve cut his hair. He looks cute in his mustard dungaree and white tee inside.
‘Here’ mhani says and puts his Purity bottle on the blanket and I take the spoon before she can put it on top, just in case it falls and catches germs. I ask Kuli to open the little jar. Why is she looking at me like that? I hope she’s not about to give me a reading. I avoid her eyes but I can tell it’s coming. Tlhari doesn’t fight me, he eats peacefully.
‘Why do you want an abortion, Lala?’
‘Erhh…’
‘I see you bleeding out on an operation table’ she says and I feel goosebumps all over my body. The lecture from my mom was enough. Why did they have to tell her about this?
‘I won’t do it. Don’t worry’ I continue feeding Vutlhari without making any eye contact. This suddenly feels like déjà vu. I feel like we’re repeating a moment in time. Something about all this feels familiar, too familiar. Kurhula appears and greets us both. He takes Tlhari from me and lifts him in the air.
‘He just ate. You’re gonna make him throw up’ I chide and he laughs but stops swinging him up and down.
‘My people, do you have a moment? We need to talk’
I immediately remember the dream I once had months ago. I also remember how he laughed when I told him about it. So I’m not crazy, I’ve seen this before.
Life is truly a funny concept.
…
[NARRATED]
‘Look what the cat dragged in’ Kurhula gets up from his chair in order to welcome his brother. Fikani laughs.
They greet one another through a shoulder-bump. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Can’t a man wake up and want to see his broski?’
‘Sussssspicious…’ Kurhula continues to tease, breaking him further in laughter. He offers him a seat.
‘What can I get you? Tea? Coffee?’
‘This is not the place for what I really want. How are you doing?’ Fikani asks and finishes off the bottled water he came in with.
‘Baby, I’m looking at the dates here and I don’ think—‘ Larona jams in her steps when she realizes that her husband is no longer by himself, like she’d left him eight minutes ago. She locks the iPad, humbly greets Fikani and he greets her back. She’s always found him to be more strict and intimidating compared to Kurhula – with valid reason.
‘Yes, my love?’ Kurhula prods for her to continue.
‘It’s not urgent. I’ll come back later’
‘Sure?’
She nods with smile and walks out.
‘Ey man, I’m caught between a rock and a hard place here. This whole thing with Kuli and her dad is stressing me the fvck out’
Fikani nods attentively.
‘A part of me feels like organizing a meeting between the two of them so they can iron things out. I can see what this is doing to my wife and I don’t like the sight of it, at all’
‘Do you want my advice?’
‘Even if I say no, you’re gonna give it to me anyway so shoot’
‘The reason why she lashed out the way she did is because she feels like we have a hand in this whole mess, that we could’ve prevented her jail stay and all. I don’t think the meeting is a good idea if it’s not coming from her. She’s gonna feel like you continue to take her father’s side and that is going to break her even further’
‘But what am I supposed to do when the situation is not getting better?’
‘The problem is with you is that you’re always solution-based. Sometimes, sometimes it’s better to just let things be and they’ll fix themselves. I saw her this morning at breakfast and that doesn’t look like a person who is ready to talk about what they’re going through’
‘She’s gone mute. I’m not sure how much more I can take of that’
‘Okay, I hear you but tell her about it before you ambush her with her father’s unsolicited presence. I am telling you that it is not going to end well. He might also earn that kick that landed on your stomach’
‘Jah no, absolute taboo. Where would I even start with fixing that?’
‘See? Exactly’
‘Eish man. My biggest fear is that she might come out of this whole thing a different person’
‘Then you’ll adjust. You have a hand in this mess’
Kurhula sits back on his chair and begins digesting Fikani’s words. He eventually sighs and wheels himself forward.
‘You have a point. I’ll find a way to talk to her about this. Anyway, how did it go with Masana? When is she coming home again?’
‘Miss her?’ Fikani huffs out laughter, with a smile full of endearment.
‘If it was according to me, she’d be living with us’
‘Man, she’s growing way too fast but she’s healthy. I was worried she’d be in and out of hospital’
‘Nwa-Mlambya? In and out of hospital? Just because she’s a premature?’
Fikani laughs.
‘Ja well…’ he hands him the phone with recent pictures. Kurhula keeps sliding left.
‘Oh man… she’s so adorable. I can just imagine when she starts crawling. And her mother? How is she?’
Fikani sighs.
‘Found a Glenfy box in her house’
Kurhula raises a brow.
‘She never struck me as the whiskey type’
‘That’s because she’s not. She has met a man’ he lets out with irritation. Breathy laughter escapes Kurhula.
‘Seems like you have water flooding your basement’
‘Basement? The whole house!’
‘Maybe give her what she wants?’
‘I’ve been with Nqobile long enough to know that she wouldn’t survive in this family’
‘She has our baby. She’s practically one foot in’ Kurhula shrugs. ‘I know the elders are self-righteous megalomaniacs and all but I don’t think they’d give her grief for being a commoner, especially because she’s not the first wife. Teka munhu loyi before she decides she’s had enough of your bullshxt’
‘Whose side are you on?’
‘Yours, hence I’m trying to prevent heartbreak here. And I know you phela wena. Next thing someone will be dead and there will be talks of cleansing again. Such practices lose strength when they become frequent, you know?’
‘Ay bro I’m done with that life. I may have threatened her that I’m not but I truly am. I have kids now’
‘You did what?’
‘What was I supposed to do? I had to make sure she gets rid of the nigga herself, voluntarily’
‘I honestly don’t know what’s up with you because you clearly love this woman’
‘It’s complicated’
‘Untangle it. I have time today. Nqobile might not have royal blood but I’ve seen that she has the necessary grace to fit in. She’ll do just fine’
Fikani laughs at Kurhula’s determination. The order he made for pap, mogodu and trotters finally arrives and they go wash their hands. They bend the rule that bars them from street food from time to time. The conversation continues as they dig in.
‘Bontle wants to leave’
Kurhula pulls a scowl of confusion.
‘Why? I thought you guys were fine. What have you done this time?’
‘Always has to be me, doesn’t it? Vukosi has to grow up in Bloem’
‘Yikes. Sorry bro. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that even though I knew it would’
‘Same. Now his mother is not having it, at all’
‘She can’t do that though, otherwise they might as well stay. The whole thing will be futile’
‘You should’ve heard the cry that broke out from her this morning. I just… the business of this throne is not easy’
‘True. Rather you than me to be honest. But make sure she doesn’t go there. In fact, she’s not the one who’s supposed to take him there the first time’
‘You know… sometimes, I just feel like giving up on the reigns so I can give her a normal life’
‘Give up and you’ll see what abnormal means in capital letters’
‘Bro? I know I’d see flames’
‘Nothing is easy in this life. We all have some sort of calling we cannot run away from. Find a way to deal with yours’
…