FAMILY SECRETS
CHAPTER :11
UNEDITED
[NANDI’S POV ]
There I was leaning on the door watching a Duma who was feeling a little bit better playing with his car toys in his bed while his mommy and daddy watched him with relieved hearts play. The were still tears in both their eyes as they were leaning onto each other, I guess they were really scared of losing their child, I can tell.
I left the parents and their child alone and
Went to the kitchen to make myself some lunch because I was really hungry. Just when I was about to take second bite of my sandwich a loud voice came from behind me making me accidentally drop my sandwich back on the plate luckily.
“HELLO SWEETHEART!!”
I turned around and it was Mihlali, she dropped the bags she was holding and hugged me.
“I missed you so much Nandi, I have been so lonely without you anyways forget about all of that, I heard about your heroic deed on my way here thank you so much for saving our baby and…………
“Mihlali take a breath and allow me to talk.” I said and we both laughed
“ah…. You came.” I said
“of course I would come. Whenever one of the kids fall ill we all come, I could have been here sooner but I had to be the one to pick up the kids from school and not the driver, and take them to the mall or park to explain to them that their sibling is very ill and is facing a life threatening illness that’s why he was not with them today. I also got our little Duma some toys to play with do you want to see them. ” Mihlali asked and I nodded.
She brought the the bags she came with, opened them and showed me all the toys she and the rest of the kids picked for Duma.
” Mihlali you said all of you come here whenever one of the kids fall sick so where are others? “I asked
” ohhh…. Zinhle is on a short business trip in another city but she booked a flight coming back home after she heard about Duma and she will be arriving tomorrow morning and zanele was at her parent’s house so she will be arriving late tonight.” Mihlali said
” MIHLALI….. SON IN LAW!!!! “a female voice came from the seating room
” who is that? “I asked
” oh shucks it’s my mom what is she doing here? ” Mihlali asked looking annoyed
” your mom? “I asked
” yes it’s my mom and I bet my dad is with her….. You see the thing is when they heard that mtho is getting married again they wanted to come and see who he is getting married too but they couldn’t come that’s why they weren’t at the wedding, they were in L.A for business purposes and now they have returned and my mom so wants to see the woman who married her daughter’s husband I hope you don’t mind….. She can be a little crazy. ” Mihlali said
” Mihlali it’s okay I will meet your mom, I am sure she is a lovely woman just like you. “I said
” don’t count on that, let me go and greet her first then you can come. “Mihlali said and left the kitchen, I follow her and hid behind the white pillars while I watched Mihlali hug her mother, they broke the hug and they started talking. I am definitely sure Mihlali is telling her mother not to embarrass her in front of me. They are so cute, it seems like they have a close mother and daughter bond, I wish I had a mother and daughter bond like that with my mother, I so miss her right now just watching them hug makes me miss my mom so badly.
“Nandi you can stop hiding behind the pillars now, you can come out.” Mihlali said but how did she see me? God I feel embarrassed now.
I came from behind the pillars and walked to them.
” hello ma’am.” I greet but I got no answer Mihlali’s mom looked at me in shock as if she had seen a ghost, she was frozen, her eyes were on me piercing through my soul, she didn’t even blink.
“mom I told you not to embarrass me, she has greeted you, greet her back mom.” Mihlali said but Mihlali’s mom stayed in different she was still frozen.
“mom what’s wrong, it’s like you have seen a ghost or something.” Mihlali said and just when she finished speaking a old man wearing an Italian suit walked in
“honey you left your…………….
He stopped his sentence midway the minute he saw me, he also looked shocked and was frozen in place with his eyes on me.
” Mihlali what’s going on here? “I asked
” I don’t know seriously, I don’t know why my parents are embarrassing me like this . ” Mihlali said and pulled both her parents to the kitchen leaving me confused.
After few minutes I entered the kitchen and started making tea for Mihlali’s parents while they looked at every move I made like robots. I gave them tea and scones and left.
I went to Duma’s room and played with him and the other kids. Thirty minutes later Mihlali entered the room and told me that her parents had already left and apologized for their behavior even though it wasn’t necessary for her to do so.
[NARRATIVE POV ]
On a freeway a black Mercedes benz pulled up on the side of the road and the driver got out of the car. Inside the car was a shocked and devastated couple Thandiswa and Dalibanzi Mihlali’s parents.
“you saw her right?you saw her face right? ” Mihlali ‘s mom Thandiswa asked
“yes I saw her but that doesn’t explain anything.” Mihlali’ s dad Dalibanzi responded
” doesn’t explain anything??? DOESN’T EXPLAIN ANYTHING DALIBANZI!!!” Thandiswa yelled
“Keep your Damm voice down Thandiswa!” Dalibanzi reprimanded and tears started falling down Thandiswa’s face
” the face doesn’t explain anything but it sure brings back a lot of memories, painful memories. She looks exactly like your mistress doesn’t she? ” Thandiswa asked
” DON’T YOU DARE CALL AMAHLE A MISTRESS!” Dalibanzi yelled out of anger
“oh sorry for calling the love of your life a mistress.” Thandiswa said
” Thandiswa please let’s not go back there, we have come far, we promised each other to forgive each other, forget and move on. That girl’s face doesn’t explain anything please .” Dalibanzi pleaded
” are you seriously that ignorant, your mistress shows up 15 years ago with a picture of an eight year old girl in our door step and says that, that little girl in that picture is your daughter, 15 years later a girl who looks exactly like your mistress shows up married to our daughter’s husband and not only that but her surname is also Luthuli DO YOU SERIOUSLY THINK THAT’S A COINCIDENCE?????? “Thandiswa asked
” I DON’T KNOW OKAY!!! ” Dalibanzi yelled at Thandiswa
” well then Mr Dalibanzi Ngcobo you better not fall weak and run to your so called love child like you ran off after our engagement to be with your lover in that damm small village because if you do, be ready to explain to your so called love child what happened to her mother and why her mother’s blood is in your hands. ”
” DRIVER TAKE US HOME! ” Thandiswa yelled at the driver got inside the car and drove off.