22

TEARS OF A ROYAL BLOOD

22

 

 

 

Outside the gate, Solwazi hugs Zizipho for dear life and is thankful that she is unharmed.

 

Zizipho:Thank you for coming bhuti. I don't know what's wrong with Bhut Mkhonto.

 

Mlando:We need to leave now. Everyone get inside the cars.

 

He had come with two cars, almost as if he knew they would need to carry more than four people.

Everyone quickly gets inside the cars.

Queen mother remains outside and refuses to leave with them.

 

Thembeka:Mom what are you doing? We need to go.

 

Kholo:I will not betray my son by siding with traitors. You can leave but I'm not going anywhere.

 

Solwazi:If she doesn't want to leave then, okay. The rest of us are leaving.

 

She pouts her mouth looking like an inflated beak of the duck. She folds her arms and stomps the ground with her feet.

 

Solwazi and Luya were the ones driving, they started the cars and drove away. Leaving her standing in the streets.

 

Kholo looks at the cars in disbelief that they just walked away. Leaving her in the middle of the street. At this time nogal!?

She clicks her tongue and walks to the front gate. She finds the guards guarding the gate.

 

Kholo:Let me in.

 

Guard:My king prohibited any entrance to the royal house by anyone…

 

Kholo:Do you know who I am? Don't you know that I am the Queen mother of this kingdom? Don't you know that I could just snap my fingers and you will be out of a job?

 

Guard:We are just following our orders.

 

Another guard comes to them and whispers to the guard that was speaking to Kholo. They let her in and she clicked her tongue walking in. She needs to see Mkhonto and put an end to this madness. He is turning the royal house into a circus.

 

She sees him and she goes to him.

 

He looked angry.

 

Madida:So you didn't run away?

 

Kholo:I couldn't betray my son like that.

 

Madida:Your son?

 

He chuckles. It still surprised him how no one was seeing through him. Were they really that gullible that they don't know who Mkhonto is? How he behaves and talks?

 

Kholo:Yes, you are my son and I will never forsake you. I don't know what's going on with you, but I am not leaving your side.

 

Madida looked at her and nodded. She would be a good asset in his mission. She likes nice things and is determined to do everything to make sure that Mkhonto is the king..

 

Kholo:I forgive you for throwing me into jail with the others. I know you were just angry.

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At a secluded place.

 

They finally arrived in Durban, at Solwazi's house.

 

Zizipho:Are you sure he won't find us here?

 

Solwazi:He has better things to do than find you. He wants me. You'll be safe here.

 

She nods and holds on to her mother. They picked her up along the way, she was with Solwazi's friend.

 

Lwando:I am leaving now, if you need my help again, call me and I'll be there. Take care.

 

Solwazi:Thank you uncle.

 

Lwando:I'm not that old to be called uncle.

 

He laughs and walks out.

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KHETHI

 

She wishes she never married Qhawe, she didn't love him anymore. Her eyes have always been on the bag, getting money was her mission. Now Qhawe is dead and she didn't get even a single cent. She is angry to say the least.

The only money she has, is the one Qhawe gave her when he was still alive.

 

Being arrested and having to jump out of the royal house just proved to her how much she doesn't belong here. She doesn't want to be caught up in the royal war that is brewing. Kholo was right when she said she's still young and she can still find a man who will take care of her. She is just waiting for the mourning period to be over and then she can move on with her life.

 

Looking at Solwazi's house and she's inspired by how far he's gone in life. He's younger than her but he has achieved greater things. And she always heard Qhawe bragging about him, that he built his own legacy. Without asking for favors from his father.

 

She has nothing to her name, her family is a a bunch of scammers. That's all they know, scamming people. He mother taught her this life and it's the only life she knows.

 

Her eyes have not moved from Solwazi. There's this thing he does with his eyebrows when he's angry or upset. He just looks so cute. This was no longer about a crush to her. She has feelings for him, she has feelings for her stepson. But she knows they would never be anything. He doesn't even look at her direction. He respects her and takes her as a mother figure.

 

She sighs and decides to go outside for air. Thembeka follows her.

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ZIZIPHO

 

She is crying. Her tears have been falling so much that she can't even talk. Her mother brings her water to stop the crying.

 

Sindiswa:I'm sorry baby, it will get better.

 

She thinks she's crying because Mkhonto threw them in jail. But no, Mkhonto's words about her not being a Zondo are ringing in her head. She doesn't want to believe that her 23 years of life have been a lie.

It was only her, Solwazi and her mother in the room.

Thembeka and Khethi went outside and Solwazi's friend left.

 

Solwazi:Lil sis, I'm sorry for not coming earlier.

 

Zizipho:I'm not crying for that.

 

Sindiswa:Then what is it?

 

Zizipho:Bhuti Mkhonto said something to me.

 

Solwazi:What did he say?

 

Zizipho:He said I'm not even a Zondo. I don't know what he meant by that.

 

She looks at her mother and Sindiswa moves her eyes away from hers. She feels herself getting palpitations. She looks at his brother and he is also ashamed to look at her. Oh God!

 

Zizipho:So it's true? Dad was not my father!?

 

Sindiswa:Zizipho I was going to tell you. I was going to explain everything to you.

 

Zizipho:Oh God, now this explains why I could never get along with dad. I hated him so much because of how he was treating you meanwhile it wasn't even that. Do you realize that you introduced me to the wrong ancestors? Who is my father mom? Who is he!?

 

She is not even shouting, she is hurt and disappointed. Her mother seemed so innocent and pure. She never thought she would hide such a thing from her.

 

She chuckles as she realized something.

 

Zizipho:This means you cheated on dad, because you were already married when you had me. You mom? I thought you were perfect. You were my inspiration and role model.

 

She looked at Solwazi.

 

Zizipho:Even you Bhuti? You also knew and hid this away from me? I trusted you.

 

Solwazi:Zee I'm sorry. I recently found out.

 

Zizipho:And you didn't tell me? I have confided in you. Yet you couldn't tell me that my life is a lie?

 

She stands up and walk away to her room.

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SINDISWA

 

She understands Zee's anger. She doesn't blame her. She did lie to her. She had a moment of weakness and went outside to cheat. Qhawe was never home and it was hurting her, so much that she found solace in a stranger. He was everything that Qhawe wasn't. He gave her time, he listened to her, he always wanted what was best for her. She ended up falling deeply in love with him. She knew she was married but she was prepared to leave her marriage and be with him. Even though he was a commoner and their union could never be accepted by everyone, but she loved him. Months later into their secret relationship, she found out that she was pregnant. And that's when she saw how serious things were, she told him that she was pregnant and he accepted the pregnancy. Showing her more that he loves her.

But, not everything is roses. She doesn't know what happened, but he was found dead just when she was three months pregnant. She couldn't go to the funeral, even now, she doesn't know what killed him. She doesn't know his family, she only knows his hometown.

 

Solwazi:Ma I'm sorry, but my focus is on finding a Ntuli. I already have a lead and I'm going there now.

 

Sindiswa:Rather go in the morning. It's almost midnight.

 

Solwazi:If we wait, who knows what could happen? And I still need to tell you all something about our family.

 

Sindiswa:I need to talk to your sister.

 

Solwazi:Okay. 

 

She stood up and went to the room that she was using the time they were here.

She opened the closet and took out the picture.

She went to Zizipho's room.

 

Zizipho:I don't want to talk to you.

 

Sindiswa:Please just listen to me..

 

She sat next to her.

 

Sindiswa:I know you must hate me and I understand why you feel that way. You always thought of me as this perfect mother, but everyone has their skeletons Zee. I'm not justifying my wrong doings. It is true, I cheated on your father, I lied to him and told him that you are his. He died not knowing the truth. I'm really sorry my daughter. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. But I loved your father, your real father. I loved him so much.

 

Zizipho:I want to know him. Who is he?

 

She gives her the picture and Zizipho looks at it snd frowns.

 

Zizipho:He looks so much like me.

 

Sindiswa:His name was Sipho Mceleli.

 

Zizipho:Was?

 

She asks with teary eyes.

 

Sindiswa:Yes, he is gone. He died when you were still in my womb. I miss him everyday Zee. I loved him, but I couldn't be with him. My soul never found peace because I don't know what killed him. I hug this picture every night because it reminds me of him. When I see you, I just see a young female version of him. He would have loved you. He was excited about you.

 

She presses her lips together to not cry. This was not about her, it was about her daughter.