34

TEARS OF A ROYAL BLOOD

34

Like he promised, he arranged for Lisa and the kids to come to Nqoboka to see Mkhonto.

Lisa:What's wrong with him?

She just came back from Mkhonto's room and she doesn't like what she sees.

Solwazi:We don't know.

Lisa:Have you called the doctor?

Solwazi:This is not a medical issue. It's more spiritual.

Lisa:Well then what do we do? I don't like seeing him like that. He's the father of my children.

Solwazi:We are trying everything we can to help him. Phazama gave him some herbs today. He'll be fine don't worry. At least he can talk freely now.

She nodded and breathed nervously. She doesn't want to lose him, yes they had some issues but he's still her husband.

She goes back to him and he was awake now.

She sits next to him.

Lisa:What happened?

She asks holding his hand softly.

Mkhonto:I'm sorry, for everything. I shouldn't have slapped you and talked rudely to you.

Lisa:You hurt me Mkhonto.

Mkhonto:I know and I'm sorry. I won't hide behind the fact that it was Madida's spirit. I could have fought harder. I'm really sorry Lisa. I love you so much. Being without you has been a nightmare. I miss you.

Lisa:I miss you too Mkhonto. But I just wanted to be away from you because I didn't recognize the kind of man you were anymore.

Mkhonto:I really wish I never sat on that chair Lisa. It's the cause of everything that is happening.

Lisa:Blaming yourself won't help now. It happened, we just need to move forward. Honestly, I am not angry anymore. Going back to Cape Town made me think. I forgive you. Your children missed you. They are with your mother right now.

Mkhonto:I missed them too.

Lisa:So are we going back to Cape Town when you're better?

Mkhonto:I guess. This is not our home after all.

She nodded. She still couldn't believe that they are not royal. She saw the trending posts the last few days and she called Zizipho and talked to her.

Lisa:Are you hungry? Do you want anything to eat?

Mkhonto:No, I'm okay.

.

.

.

.

Solwazi steps outside to call Londi. He needs to inform her that he's still in Nqoboka, he couldn't return to Durban yesterday because of Mkhonto's situation.

Londi:Hello?

Solwazi:Mama unjani?(How are you?)

Londi:I am good, how are you?

Solwazi:Not okay.

Londi:What's wrong?

Solwazi:Things are bad here. My brother is not doing well, but the traditional healer is here and he promised to do the best he can.

Londiwe:Oh, I hope he gets better. You sound really down.

Solwazi:I am.

He sighs.

Solwazi:I don't know when I'll come back that side. But you and your mother are still coming here on the weekend right?

Londi:Yes. We will come. I promise. But, I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do Solwazi.

Solwazi:I promised you that I won't leave you, so I won't. I'll be here by your side. Don't worry too much. Take everything one step at a time. We will figure it out.

Londi:Thank you.

Solwazi:I can't wait for you to come here. I miss you.

Londi:I miss you too.

He smiled. She was making him feel foreign things.

Solwazi:I will call you again later. Bye.

He hung up and went back inside.

.

.

.

.

.

Zizipho decided that she wants to get out of the house today, staying in bed crying all day is just too depressing and she's afraid she'll end up harming herself with her over thinking.

Finding out that her father is alive and her mother knew is not what she expected. She really thought of her mother as the sweetest person ever. This is something she would expect from Mam'Kholo, not her mother.

She decided to take herself out and go to a spa. Just to relax and unwind.

They call her in when it's her turn.

.

.

.

.

Phazama mix the herbs for Mkhonto and takes them to him. He will be fine, he believes that. It's not his time yet. And he needs to perform a ceremony that will get Madida out of his body completely.

Phazama:Here, drink this.

He sits up and drink.

Phazama:How do you feel?

Mkhonto:I don't know what it is that you are giving me, but it is helping. I feel better. I thought I was dying.

Phazama:You will get better. I need to take you somewhere tonight.

Mkhonto:Where?

Phazama:You will see.

He took the glass and walked out to Solwazi.

Phazama:We need to take him to that sacred river. He will stay there for seven days like he was supposed to. That way Madida's evil spirit will be banished forever. But don't tell him in case Madida wants to sabotage us.

Solwazi:Okay, when can we go?

Phazama:No, I'll go with him alone tonight. It's not far.

Solwazi:Okay.

Phazama looked at him and he wanted to tell him what the Ntuli ancestors were doing, but he just looks so happy whenever he talks about this girl. He loves her.

Phazama:I'll see you later.

.

.

.

.

They just finished giving her a massage and she feels so refreshed and calm.

Now she needs to buy some clothes, she read online that buying clothes is sort of therapeutic. So she wants to try that.

She was just walking out of the spa when she saw a girl almost her age coming towards her, she was on the phone.

"Yes mom, I am coming back tomorrow. I miss them too", she speaks over the phone.

Zizipho gets stuck on the same spot. The lady doesn't notice her and she bumps into Zee, spilling her bags on the ground.

"Oh God I'm so sorry. I didn't look where I was going", she apologizes picking up her things.

Zizipho:It's fine.

She helps her.

The girl looks up to Zee and she blinks her eyes.

“Uhm... Hi”

Zizipho:Hi... You look so familiar…

“You too. What's your name?”

Zizipho:I'm Zizipho. You?

"Nozipho".

Zizipho looks at her skin and Nozipho's skin.

Zizipho:Nice to know you.

Maybe she was crazy or something, but she looked so much like her father, Sipho. From the picture her mother has.

Nozipho:Nice to know you too.

.

.

.

.

Kholo was in her bedroom thinking. She overhead Solwazi saying that the Ntuli girl is coming tomorrow for the whole weekend. Even though she hates to even think about it, but there is really no future for her in the royal house. They are going to claim back what is theirs. She has no choice but to go back home. She doesn't have any other place to go to. Qhawe didn't build them houses outside this yard.

She do have money but she doesn't want to waste it on buying a new house. The costs will be too much and she doesn't have any source of income. Qhawe didn't want his wives to work, he said he would take care of them and he did take care of them, but now he's not here anymore.

She takes her phone and call the one person sjbe never thought she would speak to again.

Her sister.

“Hello”

She clears her throat.

Kholo: Hello, it's me, Kholo.

“Kholo? Wow I haven't heard from you in Years”

Kholo:Yeah. Things have been hectic.

“Hectic to not even be able to call me? Your sister?”

Kholo:I know. I'm sorry.

“It's okay. Why did you call? You didn't even come to my son's funeral”

Kholo:I wanted to come. I'm sorry.

“It doesn't matter. Why did you call Kholo?”

Kholo:I want to come back home.

Her sister laughed.

“As old as you are!? You want to come back home? Say you are joking!”

Kholo:I'm not. We don't have a place to go. Qhawe lied to me, he is not royal. And the rightfully people are coming to take what's theirs. This is their royal house now.

“Oh God I thought you are joking. This sounds serious. How could Qhawe lie about something like this? Doesn't he have other properties though?”

Kholo:Not that I know of.

“Okay, I will tell the family what's going on. You are always welcome. This is your home too”

Kholo:Thank you my sister.

.

.

.

.

It is at night and Phazama is preparing to take Mkhonto with him.

Phazama:Everything will be fine. Don't worry.

Lisa was also going with them. Thembeka would remain and care for the kids since she's this side.

Solwazi:Be safe. If anything happens, call me.

Phazama:I will.

They get inside the car and Lisa was the one driving. Phazama was positive about this journey. It will be successful.

.

.

.

.

At Solwazi's house in Durban.

Zizipho has been back for a few hours and she hasn't told her mother that she was a girl who looks like her father.

She leaves her phone open and hurries to the bathroom. She's been holding in her pee for too long.

Sindiswa sneaks into the room and takes her phone.

She browse through the messages and finds the one she's looking for.

The one that had the details of Sipho, sent by Luyanda.

She copies his number on her phone and put it back before Zizipho could return.

She goes to her room and locks herself inside.

She sits on the bed and calls the number.

She is nervous, and her heart is beating so fast. She hasn't heard his voice in years. The phone rings for a while until someone answers. It was a woman.

"Sipho's phone hello", the woman says.

She clears her throat and keeps quiet.

“Hello is anyone there?”

She keeps quiet again. Why would anyone be answering his phone?

"Who is that?", she hears a male voice asking in the background.

It's him. It's really him! She opens her mouth to talk but she stops herself.

"I don't know, they are not talking", The woman talks again.

“Hang up. We were still busy.”he says in a naughty tone.

They hung up on her and she blinks her tears.

He moved on?

.

.

To be continued…