THE COVEN’S BRIDE
CHAPTER 22
GUMBI HOUSEHOLD
It’s 10 pm, and Zolani, Mkhonto, Ntombizodwa, and Sipho are in the room where they hold family meetings. They are all talking about the way forward now that Mzilikazi is gone. Mzilikazi didn’t mention who was supposed to take over after he passed away. Everyone thinks Zolani should take over since he is the oldest, but Zolani doesn’t want that responsibility, and he doesn’t think he can do what Mzilikazi was doing.
“Who was the last person to talk to Mzilikazi? The last person who talked to him should take over,” Mkhonto suggests.
“Can we all calm down? I am sure whoever is supposed to take over will start seeing things or something. Also, I don’t think Mzilikazi didn’t leave a tape or something on how to handle everything,” says Sipho. Today he is talking a lot compared to the previous night. He feels lighter now that Rosa knows the truth. It was killing him to hide the truth from his woman.
“Who last talked to Mzilikazi?” Ntombizodwa asks.
“I did, but I don’t want to take over,” Zolani answers. “I don’t want to see things.”
“When I remember correctly, the last person to talk to Mzilikazi is…” Sipho is interrupted by the door opening.
Everyone’s eyes go to the door. They share looks when they notice it’s Naledi who just walked in. She looks like she is sleepwalking again. She is wearing Sibusiso’s pajama shirt that is barely covering her thighs. Ntombizodwa quickly takes off her gown and puts it over Naledi.
Naledi looks are them and says, “Mzilikazi wanted Mkhonto to take after him. He said to make sure I deliver that message. It has to be Mkhonto since I will be marrying his grandchild.”
Rosa walks into the room. She saw Naledi walking past when she was getting water in the kitchen. Visibly irritated, Rosa says, “What now, what do you want from the poor child? She recently joined the family.”
Sipho answers, “Mzilikazi left her a very important message that she had to tell us.”
“I am taking her back to bed,” Rosa helps Naledi walk out of the room. Naledi looks fine, but then she is not in her right state of mind.
When they reach the stairs, that is when Naledi gains consciousness. “Oh my God! Was I sleeping walking again? I am so sorry, Mrs. Gumbi.”
Rosa cups her face, and says “It’s okay, people sometimes sleepwalk, it happens.”
“I swear I never do this. I don’t know what is going on with me. I am so sorry, I am sure you think I am weird.”
“You didn’t do anything. Go to bed and I will see you in the morning,” says Rosa. There is so much sadness in her eyes because she fears for what is yet to come. She fears that Sibusiso might not be able to take it like Sipho did. Naledi is in now, and there is no turning back.
“I am so sorry,” says Naledi.
“Naledi, you did nothing wrong,” Sipho speaks from behind them, walking towards them. “You did nothing wrong, child, no need to apologize.”
“I swear I am not weird.”
Sipho says, “We know, and we understand. Go and rest, okay? Sibusiso won’t know if you don’t tell him, and even if you do, sleepwalking is not a crime.”
“I hope I didn’t break anything,” says Naledi. She looks stressed, and it breaks Rosa’s heart.
“Do you want to sleep in my room, maybe? Somewhere where you feel safe?” Rosa asks, and then she looks at Sipho.
Sipho quickly says, “I will sleep in the guest bedroom.”
“Will Sibusiso be okay with that?” Naledi asks. For some reason, she is scared she might do something or break something while sleepwalking again.
“I will talk to him,” Sipho says and then holds her hands. “We are family now, and we will always look out for you. You can talk to us about anything.”
“Thank you for being so understanding.”
Rosa takes Naledi to her room and tells her to sleep in the bed. “Do you want sleeping pills?” Rosa asks, and Naledi accepts the offer.
Rosa gets her sleeping pills and water. She watches as Naledi takes them. Her heart breaks just by looking at her. She opens the blankets and waits for Naledi to get in. Rosa gently brushes her face with her fingers. “Rest, child.”
“You people are so nice, you are the family I have always wanted,” Naledi says with her eyes closed.
Rosa quickly wipes the tear that just fell on her face. “Rest, child.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome and for being very nice to me. It means a lot”
Rosa leans and plants a kiss on her forehead, whispering. “I am so sorry.”
When she is sure that Naledi is fast asleep, she switches off the lights and gets in bed.
***
Sipho knocks once and lets himself into Sibusiso’s room. Sipho shakes his head at his sleeping son. He doesn’t realize that his woman is no longer next to him. Sipho sits on the bed and gently shakes Sibusiso.
“What? I’m up!” Sibusiso jumps to his feet. “Dad?”
“What kind of a man are you that sleeps like that? I came into your room, and you didn’t hear me. You didn’t even hear your woman leave the bed.”
“What? Where is Naledi? What is going on?” Sibusiso asks, rubbing his eyes, trying to get rid of sleep.
“Naledi was sleepwalking again, but she is fine. Rosa took her to our room. I will sleep in one of the guest bedrooms.”
“Is she okay? I need to see her,” Sibusiso tries to leave the room, but his father stops him.
“She is sleeping.”
“I need to see her.” Sibusiso leaves the room and goes to his parent’s bedroom. He gently knocks, and Rosa opens the door. “Where is Naledi?”
“She just fell asleep,” Rosa answers, fastening her gown.
“I need to see her.” Sibusiso doesn’t wait for permission. He goes into the room and checks on Naledi, but she is fast asleep.
“I gave her sleeping pills,” Rosa says.
“I don’t understand, she doesn’t sleepwalk, I have been around her, and she doesn’t sleepwalk,” says Sibusiso. He opens the blankets and carries Naledi out of bed.
“Son…”
Rosa stops Sipho. “Let him take her.”
Sibusiso carries Naledi to his room and puts her in bed. He is very worried about her. When Naledi is in bed, Sibusiso tells his parents that they can go to bed.
Sipho says, “She will be fine, I think it was a once-off thing.”
“She could have hurt herself, and I should have felt her leave the bed.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, son, you had no control over it. Go to bed,” says Rosa before walking away.
Sipho looks at his son and asks, “When are we marrying, MaNkala?”
That brings a smile to Sibusiso’s face. “Soon.”
“You owe that woman the world. I hope you are treating her right?”
Sibusiso answers, “I am, I promise you.”
“Go to bed, son, I will see you in the morning.” Sipho also away, but he is going to the other elders. He finds them still talking. “What did I miss?”
Mkhonto answers, “I don’t know why they chose me, but I guess I have to look after the family now. I don’t know how, but I am sure they will show me.”
Sipho says, “On the bright side, you get to live in the family mansion.”
“No one wants to live in that creepy house, but hey, what choice do I have?” Mkhonto says, shaking his head.
“How is makoti?” Ntombizodwa asks, visibly concerned about Naledi.
Sipho sighs heavily. “The poor child is spooked, but I think that is the last of her sleepwalking since she told us the message.”
“Poor child,” Mkhonto shakes his head. “When do you plan on telling Sibusiso the truth?”
“I don’t know, Father, I need time,” Sipho answers.
Zolani says, “We understand you. We were also not happy when this was introduced to us, and we know you fear your son hating you. We know exactly how you feel, and we wish things were different. The only thing we can offer you is our support.”
Sipho nods, “I know. It’s just that this is all a lot to handle and…it’s a lot, I don’t even know what to say.”
“We understand you, Sipho, we have been there,” says Ntombizodwa.
“Let me try to sleep, I will see you all in the morning,” Sipho leaves the room.
“I am also going to bed – my back is killing me.” Zolani also goes to bed, and so do Mkhonto and Ntombizodwa.