THE ROYAL MATRIMONY
CHAPTER 38
UNEDITED
[LARONA]
It’s unlike Kurhula to have his phone off. Even in court, it’s always set on silent. His other phone is ringing somewhere in the house so I might as well take off these clothes because this brunch is probably not happening. The least he could’ve done is notify me that he won’t be able to make it so I worry less about his black behind!
I unclip my watch and place it on the coffee table. When my phone rings, my head automatically expects to see Kurhula’s name on the screen and my heart falls when I realize that it’s the guard. I’m starting to get worried now. What if something is wrong?
I make sure that the thought gets lost in the convoluted folds of my brain because there’s no point in worrying myself into an anxiety attack. Mac being here unannounced is also not helping but I doubt he’d come in person to tell me…
But no…
People actually do prefer delivering bad news in person, especially announcements that have to do with death.
The door bell calls for attention and I approach the handle with a sweaty palm.
‘Hey, sis! Man, sorry to just rock up here’ he leans in for a hug with a single arm and I greet him back. ‘But I need your help and it didn’t make sense to go all the way home and come back this side again’
I agree and let him in. My house is somewhat on his way. He seems to be in jolly spirits so nothing bad has happened. If it has, he knows nothing about it.
‘How’s the little bro doing? Tried reaching him on my way here but I can’t find him for some reason’
Mac is really a modern guy because Fikani wouldn’t just show up here without my husband’s permission or knowledge. Also, him referring to Kurhula as his little brother will never not be funny to me because he does it on purpose knowing how much his sibling despises it. Kurhula once told him to stop because it would apparently make us lose respect for him. Crazy.
‘I hope he’s okay. Please have a seat’ I offer while on the way to the kitchen to fix him some refreshments.
‘You hope?’ he questions with a brow arched by suspicion.
‘I have also been trying to reach him’
I put the tumblers I’ve just rinsed on a tray. I’ve no idea what he’d like between orange juice and water so I take both. I do not have the energy to ask.
‘Don’t worry about it too much. He’s surely fine. I’ll find out when I get home’ he assures while opening the bottle of water. Mhani Annah appears with Amu in her hands. He just woke up.
‘Here comes the little Mlambya’ the uncle happily stands up to receive him and greets mhani. I had to let go of my last helper because she had too many opinions on how to raise my baby. After the scare I had with my dad and his squad, I am no longer risking anything with my child. Next thing, she would’ve been feeding him stuff I did not consent to because she believes she knows better.
After playing around with his blood, Mac comes back to the couch and Amu starts crying. Mac stands up again and the crying stops. This pulls a chuckle out of him. He obeys Amu’s aggressive orders and continues to stand.
‘You must be wondering why I am here’
I nod. I truly am but my biggest guess is that it has everything to do with my favourite cousin.
‘I need help with getting the missus here and I also need help with picking the right stone. I don’t wanna mess this up. You know how finicky Kago—’
‘Wait…’ I raise my hand to get him to slow down and I see a shy smile. Is he saying what I think he’s saying?
‘Yes, Larona. I am going to propose’
This serves as a correcting spice to my sour mood.
‘That’s good news! But you do know that this might backfire, right?’
‘The worst she can do is say no, then I’ll know for sure. I’ve given this a lot of thought and although I hate to admit this, my mother is right. I am not aging backwards’
With great warmth, he smiles to his nephew and I begin feeling nervous on his behalf. Kagoentle is not ready to be baking any human beings right now. I remember how we used to joke around as teenagers and say whoever got pregnant before reaching the third floor would have to pay up a thousand bucks. She doesn’t remember because knowing her, she definitely would’ve reminded me and I will not betray myself by mentioning it. I believe the only reason she forgot about the bet is that this became personal to her; something she gradually felt strongly about with zero ties to me and our teenage pillow talks.
‘If you say so. I don’t mind helping but only if you promise me one thing?’
His face grows serious. Good because I’m not about to tell any joke here.
‘Promise to love her fully, deeply’
‘I swear on my grandfather’s grave’
He hands Amu to me before picking up his bag and saying his goodbyes.
‘Let me go find your man. I’ll be in touch’
He insists that there’s no need to walk him out when I attempt to stand up. I call Annah back into the room after Mac shuts the door. Amu is feeding on a cold bottle and he seems to be enjoying it. Where is my head?
‘Please take him. I’m not feeling okay’
Something is wrong or it’s about to go wrong. I cannot shake this feeling and it is messing with my mind. I realize that Mhani is still standing in front of me and I don’t think she’s aware that she’s staring. She clears her throat and turns to walk away when I raise my face.
‘You can share what’s on your mind. Don’t be afraid’
A ball bobs on her throat.
‘It’s nothing, madam’
‘Mhani…’
As I grow, I realize that my hatred for being perceived grows with me and the thought of her thinking something of me is going to gnaw at me the whole day if I don’t know what it is.
‘Did I do something to offend you?’
She shakes her head.
‘No. You just… you seem sad. He’s probably on his way’
I shouldn’t have told her that I am going out on a date. Now she’s here pitying me like I just woke up from a coma, to my entire leg amputated. I offer her a seat.
‘Are you Christian?’
This is a thoughtless question because I’ve seen her bibles on her bedside table. She nods.
‘Which church?’
‘Jehovah’s Angelic Ministries’
‘What do you do when you ask God for a sign and He doesn’t respond?’
She smiles. Seems I’ve found myself one of those who are always ready to preach. Those who can be woken from sleep and instantly start hailing the mercy of God.
‘When I feel myself starting to get impatient, I open the book of life and repeatedly read Psalms 37 verse 7. Or I simply sing the hymn Sefefo sa moya’
I don’t reply.
‘That’s Mark 4 verse 39, by the way. If God can be calm during a storm, so can you. You do not need to announce to Him that meetsi a maatla, a meleko a duma. He already knows all your windstorms and why you’re in them. His silence does not equate to His absence’
I sigh.
‘A huge part of me is tired. A visit from my mother would grant me great renewal’
‘Your mother? She’s late?’ she questions with slight frown. I nod.
‘The dead cannot communicate with the living, madam. It is very wrong for the tongue that calls upon the Almighty to also praise so called ancestors. Please let your mother rest in peace’
‘I have received messages from my mother before’ I argue.
‘Evil spirits often use familiar faces to get close and earn entry into our spiritual lives. Please let her rest in peace, madam. I will pray for your spirit of discernment’ she immediately gets up.
It seems we’re not speaking the same language and she seems to be offended. I guess the conversation is over. That was a peculiar interaction and it did not go in the direction I was hoping it would. Instead, it completely swerved into the bushes of spiritual confusion.
Anyway, changing into loungewear will be a waste of time because I still need to go out and fetch AK from his art day at school. The plan was that we’d go together with his father but it’s becoming obvious that the responsibility solely lies with me. Where on earth is this man?
…
[KULANI]
‘What do you mean there’s no footage?’ Kurhula asks the security personnel when I specifically asked him not to make a big deal of this. I already know what’s going on here. Scared as I am, I will obey the instruction of keeping it to myself.
‘I truly wish we had a better explanation but from about half eight in the morning, nothing is showing on the corridors’ the manager responds.
‘Are you not supposed to be watching the screens all the time?’
I pull him by the wrist.
‘Let’s just go home. Maybe I fiddled with my bags and forgot’
The look on his face alerts me that I might get offended by what he’s about to say.
‘Humour me here. Why do you like standing up for people who do you wrong?’
‘Let’s go home’ I repeat. My nerves are fried. I have zero strength for any of this. We’ve been at it ever since Kurhula arrived here and there’s obviously no point. The person who went through my stuff was trying to send a message. They might be watching us as we speak.
‘You can let it go but rest assured that I’ll be back here’
If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s addicted to antagonizing and fighting people.
‘Can you lend me your phone for a second? This one died’
I search my pockets while wondering how because he recently replaced that device. I find that mine is also not in my possession. Did I leave it in the room? Can’t be. I had it in my hand when I walked out of there. It’s surely on the reception desk.
‘I can’t find it’
I ask for the car keys so I can go rest my feet while he goes to look for it and get my bags. They’re on fire and I cannot bear the thought of standing for a minute longer.
When he eventually throws himself onto the driver’s seat, I see that there’s a lot on his mind. The reason for that is surely whoever I saw him speaking to on my phone while approaching the car.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Solomon snitched on his father. Uncle Sol is apparently organizing a mob in your name’
I’m aware that Sol Junior does not like his dad much but I never thought it was to this extent.
‘You don’t seem surprised’ Kurhula prods and I look out the window.
‘Nothing is going to happen to me. If it does, it will be fate. Please start the car’ I continue gluing my eyes away from him.
I saw the tires. I saw the fire. If that is meant to be the end of me then so be it.
‘Are you listening to yourself?’
‘I warned you when you did the same to Fanisa and you did not listen. If you want me to run, for how long? And I left my kids in that house’
‘The kids are safe and I can always bring them to you once I’ve established what the hell is actually going on here’
Let me zip it.
My phone vibrates as he drives. Fikani asks me to hand it to Kurhula after I answer. He’s commanding me, in fact. The audacity to boss me around with my own phone.
‘Boet’
‘Come again?!’
It’s not good news. He cuts the call and steps on the accelerator like a mad person. He was already driving fast before this call. Now he’s straight up flying, in near literal terms. I do not like the manner and speed in which his chest heaving.
‘If you don’t slow down, you’re going to get us killed’
He’s not listening. He takes a quick glance at me and I shrug.
‘Larona is at his school and AK is not there’
I look at him in silence, trying to digest what he’s just said and what it means. He says nothing else and continues to drive.
I laugh. I am laughing hysterically and I’m failing to stop. What do they mean AK is not where he’s supposed to be? If I wasn’t in such a rush to go on a retreat and kept him home regardless of what Fikani said about school, he’d still be safe! My gut is never wrong. School is very important to me but for some reason, I felt like keeping him there was the right thing to do.
Why are they letting this happen?
‘Kurhula?’ I call and he doesn’t answer. Instead, I see his jaw lock and he puts his hand on my knee. I remove it because I am not trying to die. If he’s going to drive like a maniac, he better do it with both hands.
If these are the trials and tribulations that come with this journey then I do not want them. Not if they’re going to involve my kids. My character is developed enough.
I look at my fingers on both extremities and watch as they tremble in unison. I don’t know how but I also feel like my heart is beating outside of my body and I can hear it the same way I’m able to perceive the anger of this car’s engine.
‘Why are you taking this route?’ I ask.
‘I need to drop you off first’
‘AK is missing!’ I remind him because it seems he forgot.
‘Anything I’m rushing to get there and do, Fikani already has it handled’
‘Can you stop being a dictator and—’
‘This is not up for discussion!’
He turns the volume up and I fight the stupid urge to grab the steering wheel. After disbelief, defeat covers me whole.
