LANGELIHLE #34
I had to go back home. It’s been days with Sondela in a coma and it really doesn’t look promising. They hinted that he might not even be able to walk anymore if he wakes up.
I went to the school and the gentlemen are doing a great job. It’s almost done. It’s a good thing they were not building it from scratch, that would have taken months or years. I am busy with getting the supplies for school. The books were delivered today, and the desks and chairs are yet to be delivered. Now to put up posts and hand them over to the department to hire teachers.
I check my bank balance using the Capitec Bank and Yooo! The transactions I make everyday! My dad sent me money, he said it’s capital. Sandiso also gave me money, the whole Mthembu family also invested and gave me some money. I’ll forever be grateful, given what happened I thought they would cast me out. But they have been so supportive, especially Mlamuli. He calls now and then to check if I don’t need anything.
Mlando has been avoiding me lately. I hope I didn’t offend him in any way. I don’t like it when there’s bad blood between me and people.
I baked a cake for him. I cut a slice and put it on a plate. I pour juice on a glass and take it to him.
He was in his room, facing down, with his head hanging over the bed..
“Qo Qo”, I knocked with my mouth.
He lifted his eyes and smiled lazily.
Mlando:Sis Langa.
Langelihle:Please don’t call me sisi. It makes me sound old.
I entered and placed the cake on his table.
He was wearing shorts and a very tight vest.
Langelihle:I baked a cake for you.
Mlando:Thank you.
He sat up and took a few bites.
I was looking at him the entire time.
Langelihle:Hey are you okay?
Mlando:I’m okay. How is the case going?
Langelihle:Uhh it’s tense and tricky. Tomorrow is the verdict day.
Mlando:Wow so soon.
Langelihle:They have covered every aspect of the case.
Mlando:Mmh okay. Your husband?
Langelihle:Still in a coma.
Mlando:He will wake up, don’t worry.
Langelihle:I hope so..
Mlando:This is delicious. Thank you.
Langelihle:I noticed you have been avoiding me, so I baked it as an apology.
He chuckled and closed his eyes.
Mlando:Why would you need to apologize though?
Langelihle:I don’t know. You have been acting strange. Did I do something wrong?
Mlando:No you didn’t do anything. I’ve just had a lot in my mind. We okay.
I sighed relieved..
He finished the slice and I took the plate and walked out of his room. I went to wash it in the kitchen and Nongcebo came to tell me that Gobi is asking for me.
I went to the living room and found her there.
She bowed a little. I won’t get used to people bowing down to me.
It feels good! Like bow down peasants! Nop I’m kidding yes.
Langelihle:They say you asked for me.
Gobi:We have to talk about the day of your coronation.
Langelihle:Isn’t it in three months?
Gobi:It is, but we need to prepare so that everything will be ready.
Langelihle:I’m scared though . What if I can’t pick up the screptre?
Gobi:If you have a pure heart it won’t deny you. And you have a pure heart. The ancestors wouldn’t have waited for you for this long.
Langelihle:I hear you Gobi but I feel like you want to say something else.
Gobi:It is about the legacy of the throne.
Langelihle:What about it?
Gobi:You have to marry someone who will strengthen your family’s surname and give birth to royal blue children..
I don’t like where this is headed. This is where the “arranged marriage” nonsense comes in. If you are royalty you can’t marry a commoner. Who came up with these rules by the way!? They are stupid. Aren’t we all equal people in God’s eyes?
Langelihle:I am already married.
I tried to get away from this subject.
Gobi:Your marriage is not recognized by the ancestors Langa, and your husband is a commoner. Any child you get from him will bear his Surname and his legacy will live on. What about the Hlatshwayo legacy? I don’t think you are understanding what’s at stake here. You and Mlando are the only two royals remaining. And Mlando is a distant royal, any child he get can never sit on the throne. And if you have children with another person, they will belong to O Mthembu.
Uh uh.
Langelihle:No.
I shook my head in disbelief.
Gobi:You have to.
Langelihle:No Gobi no.
Gobi:You have to understand.
Langelihle:No, I’m not understanding anything. I’m not marrying my cousin. What kind of sick and twisted person would I be!?
Gobi:Cousins marrying each other is an old custom that has been done for years, others do it to keep the wealthy within the family boundary. In this case, it’s to keep your Surname and birth a new generation.
Langelihle:I do not care about that! I’m not marrying my cousin. He’s 23 and I’m 35. He’s young. I’m not doing that!
Gobi:We can’t defy the ancestors Langa. It will have dire consequences.
Langelihle:Those ancestors aren’t here, are they!? So go and tell them that I’m not marrying Mlando. I’m not doing that. No wonder the boy looks so sad. How can the people who claim to love us want to hurt like this!?
Gobi:Langa…
Langelihle:No no no. I’m not doing that. I’m not marrying him FINISH!
I stood up and walked away..
“You’re stubborn as your mother. And look where it got her”, I heard her say but I continued walking away.
I’m not marrying anyone. What kind of custom even is that!? Marrying your family!
I can’t and my heart is still with Sondela. I don’t know how I expected it to work because I kind of dumped him. But I was overwhelmed with emotions.
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MLAMULI
He’s just laying there, emotionless. I wish he can just wake up already.
I miss him.
Simunye:Don’t worry. He’s a strong man, he’ll wake up.
Mlamuli:I hope so. He has a lot of people who still need him. Including Langelihle.
Simunye:Isn’t she a Queen now?
Mlamuli:She is but they are still married.
Simunye:I don’t know much about royalty but I know that a royal person and a commoner will never work.
I hate that he’s making sense.
Mlamuli:We don’t know Simunye, it is their business. I just need him to wake up. Are you going to be at court tomorrow? It’s the verdict day.
Simunye:No I don’t think so. My wife and I have to visit a member of our church who’s sick.
Mlamuli:So you would rather go to a stranger than to support family?
Simunye:She’s not going to be family anytime soon. She’ll divorce him.
Mlamuli:And why are you so sure of that?
Simunye:Mlamuli do you not see what is happening here? First she went to her home without him, after you guys spent weeks helping her find her family. Dad even tried to find her father but was unsuccessful. Then she dumped him over the phone, then we find out she wanted to steal her sister wife’s baby. She left without saying goodbye to anyone, and never looked back. She forgot about everyone. She is rolling with royalty now. Why would she come back to old normal Sondela?
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The following day..
LANGELIHLE
I settled in held my bag close to me. Everyone was here, I waved at Bab’Mthembu and he waved back smiling.
Zachary was brought in and he looked so bad. Looks like he’s having a hard time here.
Judge:I’m not going to be long. The case was short and straight to the point. Evidence produced by both sides was adequate to rule a verdict. Therefore the court finds Mr Zachary Jonas Lawrence guilty of the charges of rape against Mrs Langelihle Mthembu.
Whee! I sighed relieved and let out the breath I was holding. I saw Zac looking down and had tears in his face.
Judge:The court gives Mr Zachary Jonas Lawrence 15 years in jail, with the chances of parole.
Not bad. I saw him look at me and he was so remorseful. He mouthed, “I’m sorry”. He was taken away.
I got out of the courtroom quickly before the paparazzi bombards me with questions..
I drove to the hospital, happy that I got justice. Not many rape victims get justice. Now I can have peace in my heart that he will get what he deserves.
I enter Sondela’s room and it was still the same.
I sat down and held his hand softly.
Langelihle:We won the case. He’s arrested. I wish you were here to celebrate with me.
I felt his hand touching me back. I opened my eyes wide.
Langelihle:Baby are you waking up? It’s me your sun.
His body started to vibrate, not in a good way.
The machine beeped like crazy and the oxygen mask he had over his mouth fell to the floor.
I ran out and called for the doctor to come and help.
He came rushing in with two nurses.
Langelihle:Please help him. Please help him.
I was now crying.
“Check pulse. Hold him”
They held him, making sure not to touch where his bones were dislocated.
“Not responding. He’s having a cardiac arrest.”
“Doc how will we do chest compressions?”
“Pump on his upper chest.”
“1 2 3 4..”
“He’s not responding. Bring the defibrillator.”
I watched as they went up and down the whole room trying to revive him. I was so scared and was close to dropping down.
“Charge again.”
They hit the paddles on his chest and his chest rose up but not him.
“He is fading out.”
The doctor said and the EKG machine flat lined and stopped beeping. Sondela laid straight as dead on the bed.
Nooo!!!
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To be continued…
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Two months later….
