38

TEARS OF A ROYAL BLOOD

38

 

SIPHO

For 23 years, he has lived with the guilt and pain of thinking his daughter died. Most often he blamed himself for not fighting harder, he knew his fling with Sindiswa was wrong, and her husband was bound to react should he find out. He was crazy about Sindiswa back then, he loved her so much, the fact that she was married didn’t bother him. He only wanted to be with her, it was a bonus that she felt the same way too. Up to a point that she was prepared to leave Qhawe for him, but things went south from there. He doesn’t know how Qhawe found out about them, but he did and he retaliated badly. He had him beaten up severely and threatened him to stay away from his wife, but of course a few punches and bruises couldn’t keep him away. He kept going after her, they even wanted to relocate far away and live happily ever after.

But Qhawe was adamant into making him stay away from his wife. Things got worse when they found out Sindiswa was pregnant, he wanted to be there for the baby, he wanted to be a father.

Qhawe again threatened him, but with his daughter’s life this time. He paid him a lot of money and told him to leave KZN, scared, he took the money and left. Years later, he tried to make contact again, but only got the news that Sindiswa had a miscarriage and she didn’t want anything to do with him anymore, so he stayed away. All these years he has stayed away, everyday his heart yearning for his daughter. Meanwhile she’s just alive.

She’s lying in his chest, she has fallen asleep. He still can’t believe it. For the very first time in years, he found himself crying. The feeling was surreal and somehow he didn’t want the moment to end. His daughter is alive!

He hears the door opening and it was his wife. He smiled at her.

Jabu:How are you feeling Tata?

Sipho:I’m okay, I’m sorry I scared you.

Jabu:It’s okay, you were in shock.

She looked at the sleeping Zizipho.

Jabu:She is just you.

Sipho:She looks like Nozipho too.

He said brushing Zizipho’s hair.

Jabu:I can’t believe they lied to you about your daughter.

Sipho:Sindiswa is not like that, it’s her husband. That man wanted to kill me. I’m sure he threatened her to not tell me anything.

Jabu frowned.

Jabu:Why are you defending her?

Sipho:I’m not defending her. I just know her, she’s not like that.

Jabu:A person lies to you for 23 years and all you could say is that she is not like that.

Sipho:You need to understand that she was a royal wife. So she couldn’t be seen with me.

Jabu clapped her hands.

Jabu:Let me just step outside before I say something I will regret.

She walked out. Sipho shrugged his shoulders wondering what he said wrong.

.

.

.

.

.

SOLWAZI

He left Nqoboka and went back to his house. It’s a bit crowded for his liking, but he can’t chase away his family. They just need to get a bigger house because they can’t fit all in here. He came with Thembeka and Mkhonto’s children. The house was empty when he returned. He wonders where everyone went.

He called Lisa and checked on Mkhonto, they say he’s doing well. He’ll be back in no time.

He tried to call his mother. Luckily she answered.

Sindiswa:Solwazi hello.

Solwazi:Hey mom, I just arrived and you are not here. Where are you guys?

Sindiswa:We are at the hospital.

Solwazi:Hospital?

Sindiswa:Yes, Sipho had a heart attack.

Solwazi:He’s here?

Sindiswa:Yes, we wanted to tell him about Zizipho but he couldn’t handle the shock.

Solwazi:Okay, but is he okay though?

Sindiswa:Yeah the doctors said so.

Solwazi:Okay, keep me updated then.

He hung up and sent a message to Londi telling her that he arrived safely.

.

.

.

.

MKHONTO

Mantwa says he is ready to go now.

Mkhonto:Are you sure Madida won’t be bothering me again?

Phazama:Mantwa knows her stuff, Madida will never bother anyone again. The dead should remain the dead.

Mkhonto:Okay, thank you Phazama. If you didn’t bring me here, I would probably be dead by now.

Phazama:Happy to help. So what do you want to do now?

Mkhonto:I want to go back to my house and try to fix things with my wife, there’s nothing for us in the royal house after all.

Phazama looked at him with pity.

Phazama:I’m sorry about that. I don’t know how you must be feeling as a family discovering that the throne doesn’t belong to you.

Mkhonto:It’s fine, we just have to make peace with reality. At least I can focus on my family. The power and selfishness is what got me here in the first place.

Phazama nodded.

Phazama:Well I have to go back to the royal house. I have been chosen to be their seer.

Mkhonto:I know you will do a good job.

His mind wandered to his father. He sighed as a wave of guilt and regret washed over him.

.

.

.

.

At the hospital, Jabu went back to the waiting area..

Jabu:We should get going, they say they are keeping him overnight.

Sindiswa:Where will you sleep?

Jabu:Nozipho is renting a place here so we will crash there.

Sindiswa:Okay I will wait for Zizipho. Is she still sleeping?

Jabu:Yeah she is.

She looked at Sindiswa one more time and chuckled. This woman was going to be a huge problem in her marriage. Already Sipho is defending her. But she trusts her husband.

Jabu:Let’s go Nozi.

They walked out.

Sindiswa used the chance to go and see Sipho.

She stood by the door and watched him as he kept on patting Zizipho’s back like she was five years old. It was amazing to watch. If only she had her phone with her, she would be capturing this moment.

She gets inside and clears her throat. Sipho looks up to her.

Sindiswa:Hey.

Sipho:Hi.

Sindiswa:How are you feeling?

SIPHO:I’m okay. I was just shocked by the revelation.

Sindiswa:About that uhmm….

She grabbed a chair and sat next to him.

Sindiswa:/Is she sleeping?

Sipho:*Smiling* Dead asleep.

Sindiswa:Sipho I want to apologize first for everything.

Sipho:Why did you lie Sindi?

Sindiswa:Qhawe wanted me to stay away Sipho. You know how powerful he was, he threatened to kill our daughter.

Sipho:But you could have tried to secretly tell me that my daughter was alive. Where is your husband now?

Sindiswa:He died about two months ago.

Sipho:Oh? Are you not mourning for him?

He asked because she was not wearing the mourning clothes.

Sindiswa:I am, I just took it off for today.

She took a deep breath.

Sindiswa:I never forgot about you. I still have the picture you gave to me.

Sipho:Where I was still a young man?

Sindiswa:Yep.

She smiled.

Sindiswa:I know me saying sorry won’t bring back the 23 years you missed out on. But I am truly sorry, I wanted to come clean but a part of me was scared. Zizipho grew up hating Qhawe, the two of them never clicked. And Qhawe always told me that it’s because she’s not his child. I saw what was happening and kept quiet. I watched my daughter turn into an angry person and I didn’t do anything to help her.

She wiped her tears.

Sindiswa:When she found out that she was not a Zondo, she was angry and hurt. But she was more disappointed in me, because she always viewed me as this calm and loving woman. I failed you and her. I’m sorry.

Sipho held her hand.

Sipho:Do you still remember when I bought you frozen yogurt for the first time?

She giggled as she remembered. It was many years ago but she still remembers.

Sindiswa:I was surprised at how people eat frozen yogurt.

Sipho:Yep you were shocked. You even reminded me that you are a Zulu, you don’t know these things. You wanted meat.

She laughed some more and he joined her. They shared a brief stare as they reminisced on the old days.

From outside, Jabu had forgotten her phone in the room and she stood by and watched and listened to them as they acted like a married couple. Her heart was broken, Sipho is not this person but it’s like he turns weak with Sindiswa in his sight.

She wiped her tears and walked away.

.

.

To be continued..