03

TEARS OF A ROYAL BLOOD

03

ZIZIPHO

She had to leave home for a few hours otherwise she was going to do or say things that would get her disowned.

She went to her favorite club, it is still day time so it isn’t that crowded. She starts by ordering shots and she downs them within a minute.

Now she is in the mood.

Zizipho:Put it on Qhawe Zondo’s tab. And keep them coming barman.

The barman brought out the whole bottle and she smiled to herself.

She opened it and lifted it up to her mouth and drank half of it.

Barman:Girl, you just drank half of vodka. Aren’t you scared you will burn your mouth?

Zizipho:Ngiyidela kufa Mina.

The alcohol was now in her system and she felt good. If only she knew how to get drugs, she would be snuffing some coke right now.

Zizipho:Why isn’t music playing today?

Barman:It’s early.

Zizipho:Please put on some music. I want to dance.

She says already going to the dance floor, she almost falls but holds herself.

The barman comes to her and takes her away from the floor, he helps her sit down.

Barman:I don’t know how they let you leave at home because you come here and be my problem. I’m the one who always have to worry about your safety and ensure that you are back safely at home.

Zizipho:I’m sorry, I’m just going through a lot. My father hit me.

Barman:We all have problems, but alcohol is not the solution.

Zizipho:I’m sorry for being a burden to you. I will call my brother to come and fetch me.

He took her bag and gave it to her.

Zizipho:Please call him.

He took her phone and called the number saved as “My brother”

“Ntandokazi yamama(My mother’s daughter).”

The person says.

Barman:Uhm… it’s Mandla here, I’m a barman and Zee is drunk. She can’t get home. She said I should call you and you will fetch her.

“Give her the phone”

He gave Zizipho the phone.

Zizipho:Bhuti.

“Zee what is this I hear about you being drunk?”

That was definitely Solwazi. This idiot, be called the wrong brother!

She started crying. She doesn’t know whether it was the alcohol or what.

Zizipho:Bhuti, dad hit me with his royal stick.

Solwazi:He what!?

Zizipho:Yes, he loves his young wife more than our mother. Yesterday her and Mam’Kholo were ganging up on our mother.

Solwazi:I’m coming there. Stay put.

Zizipho:But Bhuti you are in Durban.

Solwazi:I will be there in an hour or so.

.

.

.

.

.

SOLWAZI

He doesn’t like going home, but he needs to make sure that his sister is okay. And find out what happened for their father to end up hitting her. He knows Zizipho has a sharp tongue, she speaks how she likes, the only people she respect is their mother, him and Mkhonto. Others she say they need to earn her respect. Getting to Nqoboka won’t take him even two hours.

He is flying on the road as he is rushing to get her from the club she’s in.

After some time, he has her over his shoulders and he gets her inside the car. She was drunk, she probably doesn’t even remember her name.

He doesn’t know why his sister drinks like this. It’s worrying!

He drives them to the royal house, and he parks inside the yard. His father’s guards come to him and try to bow down but he stops them.

Solwazi:Nice to see you too guys.

He winks at them. He treats the workers as friends. He doesn’t want to let being royalty get into his head.

The guards nodded and shook his. He was an honorable man, and he would make a great king according to them. Not Mkhonto!

Solwazi:I need to get this one to bed. See you later.

He goes to his mother’s house, carrying Zizipho like a sack of potatoes.

Sindiswa stands on her feet when she sees her son.

Sindiswa:You didn’t tell me you were coming back.

Solwazi:I was called by this one.

He goes to put Zee in her bedroom and let her sleep. He goes back to his mother.

Solwazi:Nice to see you again mom. Feels like I haven’t seen you in years.

He says laughing and showing his dimples, which he got from his mother.

Sindiswa:I missed you too my son. Zee is just troubling me, I don’t know what’s wrong with that child.

Solwazi:What happened? She says dad hit her.

Sindiswa:She called him by his name, you know how stubborn your sister can be.

Solwazi:What were they fighting about this time?

She shrugs.

Sindiswa:I’m just tired of the drama of this family.

Solwazi:I told you to leave this place and come with me. I am working and I have enough money to take care of you for the rest of your life.

He has his own independent business that has nothing to do with the Zondo name. He prefers it that way.

Sindiswa:You and Zee think it’s that easy I see.

Solwazi:Let’s not go there in fact, let’s leave it.

She nodded.

Sindiswa:I will make you something to eat.

Solwazi:Okay, let me go and greet the others.

.

.

.

.

.

Solwazi walked out his mother’s house and went to the main house. He knows he will find everyone there.

And he was right, they were all there.

He greeted them.

Mkhonto:You didn’t say you were coming, I would have fetched you.

Solwazi:I drove and it was an emergency.

Khethi looked at him without blinking. If there’s anything, Qhawe’s children are hot! All of them. Solwazi was light skinned but Yooo! A whole cheese he was! His dimples just made him more attractive. He is not too skinny but also not too fit.

She realizes that he was looking at her looking at him and she looked at her phone.

She sent her friend a message.

‘The hot one is here’-Khethi.

Solwazi:Well I just came to greet. See you later. I’ll be at my mother’s house.

Kholo:Hawu, you didn’t even ask about your father.

Not interested. But sure.

Solwazi:Yeah, where is he?

Kholo:Attending the council’s meeting.

Solwazi:As always.

He walked out.

Kholo shook her head and looked at Thembeka.

Kholo:Sindi’s children hate baba shame. She didn’t raise them well. They are rude, especially Zizipho.

Thembeka:She treats them like eggs.

Mkhonto:Wheee I will not be a part of gossip. I’m going out.

He walked out and caught up with Solwazi.

Mkhonto:Ndoda, when are you leaving?

Solwazi:I just arrived.

Mkhonto:I know.

Solwazi:I’m kidding, I’ll leave maybe over the weekend. Zee is not well.

Mkhonto:Oh yeah I heard dad hit her today.

Solwazi:Knowing Zee, she provoked him.

Mkhonto:Ayy baba, it’s always drama in this house.

Solwazi:This is what you will have to deal with when you are King.

He is glad he isn’t the heir to the throne. All the royal nonsense bores him to the core.

Mkhonto:Please don’t remind me. My mother is forever shoving that down my throat.

Solwazi:It’s your legacy.

He playfully brushes his head.

Mkhonto raises his middle finger at him and tries to hit him but Solwazi runs away and sticks out his tongue when he was far away.

Khethi stood by the kitchen door watching them play like children. But her eyes were more focused on Solwazi.

.

.