UMFAZI WAKWA NDWANDWE
WRITTEN BY L. P. MBHELE
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_KAGOENTLE NDWANDWE_
As I sat in the car, the silence was like a thick blanket smothering me, making it hard to breathe. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was trapped in some kind of weird, messed-up dream. The landscape outside was a blur of oranges and pinks, the setting sun casting a desperate glow over the veld, like it was trying to burn away the awkwardness that hung in the air. I felt like I was drowning in my own thoughts, replaying the whole thing over and over – the words, the looks, the way they showed up like it was nothing.
I glanced over at Nhlanzeko, his profile strong and set, his eyes fixed on the road like it was the only thing that mattered. His face was a mask, giving nothing away, and it was driving me crazy. What was he thinking? Did he even care that they had just dropped a bombshell and left me hanging? The anger and hurt were simmering, mixed with a healthy dose of insecurity, making my stomach churn with anxiety. Who was she, really? What did she mean to him? And what did it mean for us, for our relationship? The questions swirled in my head like a vortex, sucking me in deeper and deeper.
The car wound its way through the rolling hills, the tyres humming on the tar, the only sound in the oppressive silence. I felt like I was losing my grip, like I was slipping off the edge of a cliff and there was nothing to grab onto. The world outside seemed to be moving on, people living their lives, laughing and loving, while I was stuck in this car, stuck in this moment, stuck in this mess. I wished I could just disappear, evaporate into thin air, and leave all the drama behind.
Nhlanzeko shifted in his seat, his eyes flicking to me for a brief, fleeting moment. I caught a glimpse of something in his eyes, something that looked almost like regret, or maybe it was just a trick of the light. He looked away, and we were back to silence, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the rustle of the wind outside. It was like we were two strangers, coexisting in this car, stuck together in this weird, uncomfortable limbo, with no escape in sight. I saw us driving away from the Village; it looked like we were driving to the City. No wonder we had been in this car for hours.
_NARRATOR_
The tension in the air was palpable as MaCele paced up and down the bedroom, her footsteps echoing off the walls. Her eyes were fixed on the clock, the minutes ticking by with agonising slowness. Where were they? Why hadn’t Nhlanzeko answered his phone? The questions swirled in her head like a storm, whirling up fears, doubts, and worries. She stopped in front of the window, staring out into the darkness, her heart heavy with unease.
Her husband, sitting on the bed, looked up at her with a mixture of concern and exhaustion. “U Nhlanzeko mdala MaCele, awuyeke ukukhathazeka uze sizolala” (Nhlanzeko is old, MaCele, stop worrying and come to sleep), he said again, his voice gentle but firm. But MaCele couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She thought of Ziyanda, stuck in the house with them, her motives unclear, her presence a constant source of tension. What if she was playing them all? What if she wasn’t even pregnant and was just using Nhlanzeko to get something she wanted?
MaCele’s thoughts were a jumble of worst-case scenarios as she turned away from the window and headed toward the bathroom, her footsteps heavy with frustration. She clicked her tongue in annoyance, thinking about her husband’s calm demeanour. Didn’t he care that their son was out there, possibly in trouble? Didn’t he see the writing on the wall? She pushed open the bathroom door, the cool air a brief respite from the turmoil brewing inside her. As she splashed water on her face, she couldn’t help but wonder: what was really going on with Nhlanzeko and Ziyanda?
She thought about how Kago was feeling wherever she was; a thought crossed her mind. She didn’t think of calling her, but then she went out of the bathroom back to the bathroom, picked up her phone, and dialed Kago’s number. It rang for a few minutes before being answered. “Kago!”
📱”Yebo, mAh,” she sighed in relief, hearing her daughter-in-law sound good; that meant her son was also okay wherever they were. “Where are you?” she asked, Kago signing heavily.
📱”We’re safe, mAh, no need to worry about us,” as she was about to answer, she heard a deep voice on the other hand.
📱”Uhhm… mAh, I’m sorry, but I have to go,” Kago said, then disconnected the call.
MaCele looked at her phone with her mouth agape; she didn’t think Kago would do something like that. But because they were safe as she said, she decided to go and join her husband in bed. Mr. Ndwandwe was already asleep but not deep in sleep. On the other hand, Nhlanzeko looked at Kago with eyes full of regret. He felt like he had cheated on her, even if what happened… happened a long time ago. He held her hands, praying she wouldn’t pull back.
“Mkami,” Kago raised her head to look at him. “I can see this is taking a toll on you; ngicela uxolo mama, I didn’t know she was pregnant,” Kago sighed. “Is she really pregnant with your baby?” Nhlanzeko sighed, looking at their hands. “If she’s really pregnant, yes, it might be mine… kodwa mama don’t take it in the wrong way, I won’t marry her. Kagoentle, ngiyakthanda mkami.” Kago looked at him, surprised; did he really say those words? She thought to herself. She smiled a little looking at him; he also smiled. “I need you by my side, mama, I need you.” He kissed her forehead.
As Kago looked into Nhlanzeko’s eyes, she saw the sincerity and regret swimming in them, and her heart softened. She knew he wasn’t perfect, that he’d made mistakes, but she also knew he loved her. The way he held her hand, the way he looked at her, it all screamed desperation and longing. She felt a pang of empathy, remembering the circumstances that had led them to this moment. Ziyanda’s claims of pregnancy had thrown everything into chaos, and now they were navigating a minefield of emotions.
Nhlanzeko’s voice broke the silence, “Mkami, I swear to you, if she’s pregnant, it’s a mistake. A mistake I made before I met you, before I knew what I had with you.” He paused, his eyes searching hers. “I love you, Kago. You’re the one I want, the one I need. Please, don’t let this come between us.”
Kago sighed, feeling the weight of his words. She knew she loved him too, but trust was a fragile thing, and this could shatter it. “Nhlanzeko, I need time to process this,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “I need to know what’s going on, what’s true and what’s just a game.”
Nhlanzeko nodded, understanding. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Kago. I’ll prove it to you; I’ll show you I’m committed to us, to our family.”
As they sat there, the tension between them was palpable, but it was a fragile truce. They knew they had to navigate this carefully, for their sake, for their love’s sake. The night wore on, with Kago lost in thought, Nhlanzeko watching her, praying she’d stay by his side.
Back at the Ndwandwe house, MaCele had drifted off to sleep, her worries temporarily eased by Kago’s call. Mr. Ndwandwe slept beside her, oblivious to the turmoil brewing in his family. The clock ticked on, unaware of the drama unfolding, as the night held its breath, waiting to see what the dawn would bring.
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