THE INCARCERATED STRANGER

 

Chapter 16

 

MANGALISO

 

The long drive is over; they just arrive in Bronkhorstspruit, at Kungwini Village. You can’t believe how beautiful and peaceful this place is. It’s not just a village; it’s a luxurious retreat, surrounded by scenic views and a nature reserve. He used to visit here during school holidays when he was growing up, and even now, as an adult, he comes here whenever he needs peace of mind. Despite not getting along with all his half-siblings, he still cherishes the few who do connect with him, and his stepmother is a truly loving woman. He holds her in high regard.

“Will you breathe? I don’t want you to faint inside,” he says, glancing at Ayakha.

“I won’t faint, okay?” she replies, rolling her eyes. He chuckles, shaking his head as he kills the engine when they pull into his father’s yard.

“This house is so big! How many people stay in this house?” she asks, eyes wide with surprise.

He laughs at her reaction. 

“Fifteen to twenty-five, if I’m not mistaken.”

She gasps, her eyes even wider.

 “What? Are you serious?”

“No, I’m kidding! But it’s around fifteen to seventeen—unless my sisters have had more kids and expanded the family since I last came here four years ago,” he explains.

“Why is that?” she asks curiously.

“I’m a busy man, Miss Qwane. I have businesses to manage and check if they’re running smoothly or if I need to fire lazy workers and hire new ones,” he says matter-of-factly.

She nods thoughtfully. 

“You never told me what kind of businesses you own and how many.”

“You never asked, Miss Qwane,” he replies with a teasing smile.

“Well, I’m asking now! Tell me,” she insists, folding her arms defiantly.

“Right now isn’t the time for questions or answers. Let’s go inside,” he says as he steps out of the car. She follows suit, and he takes her hand gently as they walk toward the house together.

He knocks as they climb the two steps to the door. The door swings open, revealing Mam Getty, the beloved nanny of the house. Her face lights up with a smile as her eyes land on him. 

"Hawu Ngane yami, my child!" Mam Getty exclaims, opening her arms wide and enveloping him in a warm hug. She is the sweet nanny he always gets along with, especially during those visits before his stepmother finally started  to accept him.

"Buka ukhule kangakanani, uyindoda endala," she says, pulling back to look at him with pride. (Look how much you’ve grown; you’re a grown man now.)

She glances over at Ayakha, who stands nearby, observing the reunion with curiosity. 

"Mam Getty, meet Ayakha Qwane. She is my friend," he introduces her, casting a sideways glance at Ayakha, who raises an eyebrow in response.

"Since when am I your friend? I’m his lawyer, Mama," Ayakha replies, her tone playful as she looks at Mam Getty, who bursts into laughter.

"Really? I thought he was with his girlfriend," Mam Getty says with a teasing smile as she steps forward to hug Ayakha too.

"Nice to know you, Lawyer yakhe. I'm his nanny since he was a teenager," she adds warmly.

"Nice to know you too, Mama," Ayakha responds with a friendly smile, easing into the warmth of their little gathering.

The three of them make their way to the living room, where his father and mother are lounging on the couch, feeding each other strawberries. His siblings are scattered around, some watching TV while others are absorbed in their phones.

"Sanibonani ekhaya," he greets, and they all turn their attention to them . His mother is the first to spring up, rushing over to wrap him in a warm hug. His siblings quickly follow suit, throwing themselves at him with excitement.

“Son, what did we bathe with to be visited by you today?” his mother asks playfully. He chuckles in response.

“I remembered I have family this side, so I thought, why not come see you guys? I mean, I last saw you the other day,” he replies with a grin.

“And who is the beautiful lady?” his mother inquires, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“You can't see her, Mom? Seriously? This is the woman who helped me at court,” he says, gesturing toward Ayakha. Hleliwe’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Wait, that lawyer? Gosh, I can’t recognize her anymore! How are you, my child?” Hleliwe asks with genuine warmth.

“I’m okay, Mrs. Mazibuko. How are you?” Ayakha responds politely.

“I’m fine! That day you got shot—if I remember correctly—how is your shoulder?” Hleliwe asks with concern.

“It has recovered; thank you for asking,” Ayakha replies with a smile.

The greetings continue as everyone settles into the living room, laughter and chatter filling the space. Mam Getty comes in with a tray of biscuits and cold drinks, distributing them ,They munch on snacks while engaging in lively conversations, creating an atmosphere brimming with warmth and joy.…

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RILEY

She cannot help but admire how Mangaliso gets along with his family. The relationship he has with his stepmother is beautiful; that is what she observes. His siblings seem to get along well too, and she doesn’t understand why Mangaliso has mentioned that some of them don’t get along with him. To her, they all appear perfectly fine—maybe there are others who are just absent today? This moment reminds her so much of her own siblings. They used to be just like this whenever they were together, but as they grew up, some settled down and created their own families, while others are out there enjoying life or still figuring things out, busy with their careers.

Mangaliso disappears with his father somewhere in the house, leaving her with his siblings and Hleliwe. 

"Do you mind coming with me outside to the garden?" Hleliwe asks her. She hesitates for a moment but then nods, allowing Hleliwe to take her hand as they leave the living room and head outside.

"Wow," the words escape her mouth as they step into the garden. It is beautiful—like stepping into a dream or heaven itself. She remembers hearing stories about flowers in heaven and all that beauty, and right now, it feels like she is seeing everything she imagined. The colors are vibrant, the scents are intoxicating, and for a moment, she feels utterly enchanted by the surroundings, as if all her worries have melted away in this magical place.

"This is beautiful," she says, looking at Hleliwe with a smile.

"Right? It is, and it feels so peaceful here," Hleliwe replies, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"So, Ayakha, right?" Hleliwe asks, and she nods, meeting her gaze.

"Where is home, if you don’t mind me asking?" Hleliwe continues.

"Not at all, I don’t mind. The Eastern Cape is where home is," she says. Hleliwe nods in understanding.

"You are Xhosa?" Hleliwe asks, a smile spreading across her face.

She nods again. “Actually, I’m Xhosa and Coloured.”

"Well, I can tell by your long hair; it’s different from ours," Hleliwe observes.

"I inherited it from my father’s side of the family," she explains. "They all have long curly hair like those of white people." She runs her fingers through her hair, feeling proud of her heritage and the unique blend that makes her who she is.

They continue chatting about random things, enjoying each other's company. Suddenly, Hleliwe's phone rings, and she excuses herself to answer it. She nods and is left alone on the bench.

She gets up and strolls around the garden, soaking in the beautiful view. After a moment, she decides to head back inside the house, but as she tries to remember how they came to the garden, she realizes she’s lost; this house is so big! 

She wanders around, searching for a way back until she notices a room with a door slightly ajar. Curiosity piqued, she walks toward it, drawn by the voices coming from inside. She thinks it must be Hleliwe talking on the phone, but she stops in her tracks when she hears deep voices. The people inside are definitely not Hleliwe; they are males, engaging in a conversation that makes her pause and listen for a moment.

"Well, can you believe it? He came along with that lawyer of his!" a voice hisses.

"I don't understand how she even survived that shoot that day!" another voice adds. Her heart races as her mind races through their conversation; these people are talking about her. She gently tiptoes closer to peek inside and see them.

"She ruined everything by helping Mangaliso out of prison. We were close to buying the warden he trusted to poison him and kill him," the short one says, his tone filled with frustration.

"Now we have to find another way to get rid of him," the taller one replies. 

So these are the siblings who don’t like Mangaliso. This means they’re the ones who sent their brother to jail? They are the ones who tried to kill her? But that day in the parking lot, it wasn’t their faces she saw. Now it all makes sense; they are the ones who have been sending people after her. Oh my God! She gasps, trying to cover her mouth, but in her panic, she accidentally drops the lip balm she was holding.

"What is that?" the guys in the room ask each other.

"I think someone is eavesdropping," the other guy says, his voice low and tense.

"Let me go check," she hears one of them say, and her heart races as she looks around for a place to hide. But it’s too late; the door swings open, and she falls backward, landing on the floor. The tall guy sees her, and their eyes lock in a moment of shock and recognition.…

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