FAMILY SECRETS
CHAPTER :13
UNEDITED
[DALIBANZI NGCOBO’S POV]
I stood there outside the old church and watched Thandiswa set Amahle’s lifeless body into flames. Tears slowly rolled down my face as I watched the flames devour her body.
It’s all over, it’s all done Amahle’s body burned to ashes right in front of me and I couldn’t do anything to prevent this. Maybe Thandiswa is right it’s all my fault, everything is happening because of me, I wish I could take it all back, I wish I could travel in time and change everything. I wish I had never met Amahle because if I hadn’t she would still be alive and mabye with a man that deserves her and she deserves, a better man than me but no here she is slowly being reduced to ashes because of loving me, because of our love. She has now paid for our love and now my little girl that I haven’t met yet is going to pay for that very same love for the rest of her life.
It’s a shame that I can’t say I have two daughters that I love very much in front of the entire society, even though I don’t know the other one, while the other one is the results of my parent’s evil plotting to get me married to Thandiswa for some stupid business deal,but still I love her very much, she is my heart and the other one is my heartbeat. I can’t believe you died without even telling me the name you gave our daughter Amahle, but what on earth am I going to do with it when I can even call her by it nor meet her because of the guilt of having her mother’s blood in my hands.
It pains me to now know that my daughter will now have to grow up as an orphan, without a mother nor a father all because of me. It hurt knowing she will never see her mother again nor know what happened to her oh my little girl I hope you find it in your heart to forgive your dear old father for abandoning you, for taking your mother, the only parent you had away from you, for not being there for your mother when she needed me the most and for failing to protect your mother, Forgive me my dear.
The fire died down and the was nothing left of Amahle’s body but ashes. Thandiswa took those ashes, put them in vase and aggressively slammed the vase on my chest before leaving me with these words. “take your lover and spend the few moments you have left with her for the last time before she becomes one with the sea.”
(FLASHBACK ENDS )
I was on my last breath as I had been running for too long for my health could handle, so I set down on the nearest bench on the sidewalk and drank some water from my water bottle. I looked at my smart watch and it says I have walked 20000 steps. I took a deep breath with my eyes closed and pictures of that girl filled my mind.
I opened my eyes looked into the sky in hope that God is listening to my heart’s desires. After seeing that girl’s face I now wish more than ever to meet my second born daughter. I am not sure if that girl is my daughter but if she is, I am going to need some proof.
I stood up, put on my earphones and ran back home.
[NANDI’S POV ]
It was evening and I set on one of the kid’s swings alone in the playground and watched the sun slowly set, it was beautiful the orange that was filled in the sky was so beautiful.
As I watched the sky and a figure appeared, I couldn’t see who it was because he was far away but as he slowly approached his face became clearer as he came closer. It was Mihlali, he was holding flowers I guess he is he to see Mihlali. I stood up from the swing to show him respect as an elder and to attend to him.
“Good evening sir.” I greeted
“Good evening dear.” he responded
” You must be here to see Mihlali right? I will go and call her for you.” I said and I was about to go get Mihlali for him when he stopped me.
“No dear I am not here for Mihlali,I will see her when I am on my way out. I am here for you.” he said
“for me?” I asked out of surprise
“yes I am here to apologize to you for my and my wife’s behavior the other day. The flowers are for that.” he said handing me the flowers.
“oh sir the is no need for that, you are an elder to me so the is no need for you to apologize to me. My grandmother will kill me if she ever found out that I made an elder apologize to me.” I said and he laughed
“Gogo ‘s girl ain’t you?” he said and we laughed
“yes I am.” I said
“if you don’t mind I would love to hear all about Gogo’ s girl and also about Gogo.” he said
“really sir no one has ever asked me to tell them about that, let’s go inside and I will tell you everything over a cup of tea. ” I said
” no need dear this place is perfect, I mean a good childhood story under the orange sky with the sun slowly setting what could be better than this. “he said and set on one of the swings next to the swing I was seating on and he indicated that I should sit too, so I did.
” sir don’t mind me asking but why do you want to hear an ordinary girl who was raised by her grandmother’s childhood story?”i asked
” Because I love hearing stories of people who were raised by their grandmother since I was too raised by my grandmother in the village for good eighteen years. Hearing everyone talk about their childhood with their grandparents just reminds me of mine.” he said and I felt all the emotions from him words.
” so what do you want to know? “I asked
” well for starters tell me about your mother, her name. “he said and the gentle smile disappeared from my face
” oh sorry, uncomfortable topic I see please forgive give me. ” he said and my smile came back
” First of all sir stop apologizing, do you want to get me in trouble with my grandmother? And secondly any topic about my mother can never be uncomfortable with me because every topic about her gives me a chance to remember her from small little things I remember about her and her name is Amahle Aurora Luthuli. “I said