Isigodi sakwaDlamini esinye sezigodi esidume ngobuhle bamagquma asho ngobuluhlaza utshani yize nomasebuthuthumbele kwazise phela intwasabusika. Wawumkhulu umuzi ka Dlamini usho ngamagumbi ayishumi nambili. Phela uzele uSibalikhulu. Wawunoguqa sithandaze abane kanye namagumbi okulala amane bese usho ngezindlu zokuphekela ezimbili. Lezi ezinye ezimbili uDlamini wayevame ukuzibiza ngezindlu zokudonsa umoya phecelezi ukuphumula, wayephumula kuzo umakade bephuma kumgangela namabhungu akhe.
Into enhle ngendawo yaseDwedwe ukuthi imizi iqhelelene. Lokho phela kwenza ukuthi wena mnikazi womuzi ube nendawo eyanele uma kuwukuthi usufisa ukuthi enye yezingane zakho ziphume inxiwa okuyinto ke ejwayelekile emakhaya. Kuye kuthi uma ingane yomfana isiyibhobhodlwana uyise agaye utswala abambe nenkukhu khona la egcekeni. Bese eyibeka inxiwa bude buduze nala u yise akhe khona ukuze phela makwenzeka idinga okuthile abaseduze.
Isithabathaba saDlamini sasigudle umthavuma okuwumfula omkhulu eDwedwe. Emsileni kwawo kwakunesiziba esimnyama esibukeka sibanzi. Kanti futhi ke emuva kokuthi amanzi engenile esuka eMthavuma ayephelela khona lana asicitheli ndawo kodwa futhi asigcwali sichichime noma ngabe lishaya uzamcolo. UDlamini wayevame ukuhamba nenja yakhe ayikhonze kakhulu ayithola esasebenza eThekwini kumlungu wakhe. Wawuvame ukumuzwa esethi “Spoti”. Phela lenja yakhe yayisho ngamabala amunyama namhlophe imaqabhaqabha kuhle kwe Gwe.
Wayevame ukuthi “indla ngamabala” uma eyibiza ize ke nayo isidlalisa umsila ifike ikotele kuye uSibalikhulu amamatheke, ubone nje ukuthi bujulile lobuhlobo. Babevame ukuhamba beye esizibeni befike beme besibuke eside isikhathi lesi ungafunga ugomele lukhulu ababelulindile. UDlamini wayewubuka ajule lomthombo siziba, ubone nje ubuso bakhe engathi budumele. Into eyayishaqisa ikwenze uzibuze uziphendule ukuthi mihla namalanga alikho nelilodwa elimeqayo lishone engayanga emthonjeni siziba.
UDlamini kwakuyindoda esho ngomkhaba kubonakala nje ukuthi iyasutha imakwabo le. Wayengadlile ngobude kodwa wawubonanje ukuthi ngezikhathi zakhe wayeyisiqethevu sensizwa esho ngamagwegwana ayo nobufishane. Wayensundu ngokwebala, wawungaze ufunge wakhulela elangeni kanti cha esayibhungu wayesebenza ngaphakathi epulazi engumpheki. Lokhu ke wawungeke ukulindele kwazise phela uDlamini indoda yasemakhaya useniminyaka eyishumi nambili ayeka kamlungu ngenxa yokukhula. Kulonyaka uzobe ehlanganisa amashumi ayisikhombisa nesithupha edla anhlamvana okuyisibusiso esikhulu lesi. Kwazise phela abanumzane abaningi kulesigodi sebalala kobandayo kusele yena nje uSibalukhulu no mngani wakhe amthanda kakhulu uSithole owakhe khona la esigodini sakwa-Dlamini yize yena ewu Jobe. Phela uye uSibalikhulu owamfunela lendawo ngoba bazwanakakhulu besasebenza epulazini kanti futhi naye u Jobe usewathatha umhlalaphansi.
USibalikhulu wayenezinkomo ezingamashumi abamili kanye nezinkukhu eziyishumi nanhlanu. Yayimvuma yona impela imfuyo unyaka nonyaka zazizalana izinkomo zakhe, kodwa selokhu wabanazo zingamashumi amabili. Izinsolo zazithi usisile ezihlobeni noma ke ziyafa ngoba yayingapheli inyanga kungabanga nomcibhi thizeni kwaSibalukhulu.
UDlamini wayenezingane eziyishumi ezidla amabele kodwa uNkosikazi wakhe wamfihla kuwolonyaka esiphuma kuwo. Kanti lwalubhalwe ebusweni usizi lomphefumulo kuDlamini wawungadingi kulandiswa nje ukuze ubone ukuthi uyafa isithukuthezi. Wayezele izifundiswa zodwa zonke zasezahamba zayohlala edolobheni kwandonga ziyaduma. Usesele namabhungu akhe amabili kanye nomagcino emantombazaneni owayemkhonze kakhulu. Selokhu kwahamba umkakhe uNelisiwe wayesondelene noyise kakhulu. Phela uyena owokugcina kanti ke futhi usakhula ngakho ke uyise. Wayekholelwa ekutheni kumele aqinise isandla ukuze kungakhuli nokhula phela kuthiwa ugotshwa usamazi.
Kubulisa uNelisiwe, “Sawubona Baba. Kwenzenjani wama wedwa baphi oZweli noQhawe?”
“Awu sawubona magcino wami usubuyile esikoleni? Kuhamba kanjani kodwa esikoleni?” uDlamini waphendula sengathi akamzwanga nokuthi ubuzeni uNelisiwe. Okukhombisa ukuthi ubekude impela ngemicabango useze wabambelela emnyango endlini yokuphumula ungafunga ukuthi iyawa yona uqobo lwayo.
UDlamini equba engakayitholi nempendula ka Nelisiwe.
“Magcino bengicabanga unyoke. Yayiyinhle intokazi kaMntungwa inyathela ngabantwana isho ikhanya nangebala kwakuyilamba lidlile,” esho kuhlengezele izinyembezi ubone nje ukuthi ngabe ubuqathaqatha, kodwa ngoba phela kwathiwa indoda ayikhali wasala esizibamba, waligwinye lishisa.
Lutho ukukhuluma uNelisiwe eside isikhathi eqolezele uyise inkukhu inqunywe umlomo.
Aqhube uDlamini, “Yazi mtanami umane ungikhumbuze yena eseshabasheka oh yayikhuthele intombi yakwaKhumalo iqathanzipho uqobo lwalo,” abindwe uDlamini athule.
“Ngiyaxolisa Baba ngifisa sengathi kukhona engingakwenza ukuze uzizwe ungcono, nami ngiyamkhumbula impela umama.” Kwehle izinyembezi ku Nelisiwe.
“Ungabe usakhala magcino wami kuzolunga,” emduduza, amange amthulise uDlamini. Phela uDlamini noNelisiwe amathe nolimi.
UNelisiwe angene ngaphakathi abeke isikhwama sesikole, aqhube uSibalukhulu. “Nelisiwe mntanami ngifisa sengathi ngingabuyisela isikhathi emumva.”
“Usho kanjani baba?” edidekile.
“Nelisiwe kunezinto empilweni ezibangaphezu kwamandla ethu,” esho kube sengathi uphelelwa umoya uDlamini. “Awungithathele isihlalo Nelisiwe,” enqanyukelwa umoya.
“Baba ngiyazi kunzima kodwa ukufa kwaMama. Kwakungasilo iphutha lakho kwase kufike isikhathi baba,” esho ngezinyembezi uNelisiwe ekhathazwa ukubona uyise ebuthakathaka kangaka. Eminika isihlalo.
Athi angahlala phansi uDlamini zehle izinyembezi kudume ikhanda kuNelisiwe.
“Xola phela Dlamini, xola Malandela, xola Sibalukhulu, Mabele made ancelisa ingane ngaphesheya komfula, xola Malandela konke kuyisu longabonwayo.”
Lutho ukuphendula uDlamini ngisho esemthopha umagcino wakhe. Asukume uDlamini ancenge kube sengathi uphelelwa amandla. Ame aphinde ancenge kancane ebhekise ababombo emthonjeni siziba oyintandokazi yakhe. Zilokhu zehle njalo izinyembezi kuSibalukhulu. Amlandele uNeliswe, useyagijima manje ulandela uyise.
“Baba!Baba!” ememeza uNelisiwe.
Lutho ukuphendula UDlamini kube sengathi uthela amanzi emhlane wedada nje uNelisiwe. Aqhube uDlamini ebheke esizibeni. Usenyuse nezinyawo ke manje uphokophele phambili useyahefuzela phela yondlekile imakwabo le.
Uma usuka kaDlamini uya esizibeni kuyibangana nje kodwa phambi kokuba ufike khona udlula umuzi ka Jobe lo owayesebenza noDlamini. Wakhile naye uJobe kodwa ayi njengo Dlamini. Yena nje unamagumbi amahlanu kuphela sekuhlangene nezindlu zokulala nezokuphekela kanti futhi wakhe ngodaka. UDlamini nguye yedwa endaweni owakhe ngezitini zikasimende, wayesebiya ngocingo olunogesi ukuze phela imfuyo yakhe iphephe. Ungafunga ugomele ukuthi indawo yokubukisa kwabahambele indwedwe kanti cha ikaSibalukhulu.
Abone uNelisiwe ukuthi akamfici uyise futhi useqala nokukhathala manje aqale asho ngengila. “Sizani bo! Ngelekeleleni bo!” ampongoloze kudume izihosha, kunanele uMthavuma. Aphume eseyinhlamvu uJobe.
“Awu Nelisiwe mtanami kwenzenjani ngempela? Wasukhala kangaka mtakaSibalukhulu udliwa yini?” awubuze lombuzo uJobe amaphaphu aphezulu uhlahle namehlo nje uyabona lukhulu alulindele kuNelisiwe.
“U u u u…” abindeke uNelisiwe. “Ngi ngi ngi,” lutho ukuphuma izwi kuNelisiwe, useyasikhihla manje uyabibitheka.
“Khuluma mntanami kwenzenjan? Phela mina sengifana noyihlo, ungakhuluma nami noma ngabe yini ndodakazi,” bakhuluma nje basesangweni lika Jobe. Kanti ke uDlamini akasabonakali nangokhalo kwase kuyizikhathi zamahora ayisihlanu ebusuku kanti ke phela kuyashesha nokuhlwa njengoba kuyintwasabusika nje.
“Baba ngi ngi u u u …uBaba,” asho zehle futhi uNelisiwe.
“Awu ndodakazi wenzeni manje uDlamini kodwa?”
“Lutho Baba u u u …ngizamile baba ukumqanda kodwa lutho ubenganqandeki umane waphela emehlweni.”
“Hau ndondakazi uyephi? Iza nendaba Nelisiwe mntanami ngize nendlebe,” kungcenga uJobe.
Aqube uNelisiwe, “Ubaba uphume eyishodi endlini elibangise esizibeni lesi esisabekayo asho umbone nje ukuthi ukukhathazeka kubhalwe emehlweni.” Kathi futhi akazi athetheni ahlanganise nani ngoba uyise usevele waphela emehlweni.
“Kahle kahle Nelisiwe mtanami asingabe sisapholisa maseko asilibangise khona esizibeni. Phela siyingozi kabi lesiyasiziba inzwa bethi ithi iningi imfuyo ephelela lapha mihla namalanga,” esho ethatha iwisa lakhe uJobe edonsa umnyango.
Phela noJobe uzihlalela yedwa lana ngoba sewahanjelwa uNkosikazi kanye namadodakazi akhe ayemabili vo! Kukhona isincanakazana ayethi uyasizama ayi kwanhlanga zimuka nomoya kwazise wayemthanda umkakhe. Baphume belandelana bebhekise ababombo emthonjeni kanti no Sipoti usela eduze kwabo.
“Hau Sipoti ubekwa yini lana kodwa, yazi sithi unoDlamini la ukhona?” washo lamazwi uJobe kwangathi ulindele impendulo ungafunga ukhuluma nomuntu.
Behla bebhekise amabombo emthonjeni siziba sebeyadlathuzela, bathi befika nje kome inhlaba, lutho uDlamini kanti nesiziba sithecwaka.Wasikhihla uNelisiwe.
“Awu kodwa ngobaba wami kuwukuphela kwakhe!” engabe ngizoba yini? Ngiyokhala kubani ngiziwe ngubani nje? Sengiyinhlwa nje! Angisento yalutho nje! Sengifana nento efile ngiphila!”
“Kahle phela ndodakazi, asithi ukuqalaza sigudle uMthavuma, mhlawumbe ucilo engathuka esishaya endukwini,” kududuza uJobe evusa ithemba kuNelisiwe oselahle ithemba ngoyise.
Bawugudla uMthavuma lutho uDlamini nangebala kwasekuphoqa ukuthi baphinde emumva. Kanti futhi akuphephile neze kulendawo abakuyo, inesikhotha nemihosha izinyoka sibhilidile kusiza kona nje ukuthi sekuyintwasabusika.
“Woza ndodakazi ngiyokubeka ekhaya sizofike sibikele abafowenu sibonisane sisonke ukuthi sithathani sihlanganisa nani umasekunje’,” asho lamazwi uJobe edonsa uNelisiwe osevele wathi deke phansi kobude utshani lobu kanti futhi kuyixhaphozana la ahleli khona. Amvuse uJobe amdonse ngesandla. “Woza ndodakazi, woza Madlamini,” bahambe adlule kwakhe uJobe akhanyise amakhandlela bese behlabela mugamo bebhekise amabombo kwaSibalukhulu.
“Sikhulekile ekhaya kaDlamini, Sibalikhulu, Malandela,” esho nge ngila uJobe.
“Yebo Jobe ngenani bo,”
“Hau Nelisiwe kwangathi izwi likaMalandela nje lelo?” kusho uJobe edidekile.
“Kona kuzwakala kanjalo baba kodwa ke hleze uQhawe nomake uZweli,” kuphendula uNelisiwe naye eshaqekile.
Sekuyakhanya kwaDlamini phela uSibalukhulu nguye yedwa endaweni owafaka ugesi ngakho kumane kuthi bha! Mesekuba mnyamanake ngasesibayeni sakhe phela abaziyo bathi imfuyo iyawuxhwaya ugesi.
Bangene benyuke baze bafike kuyolendlu ekuphuma kuyo izwi elibagunyazile ikamelo likaDlamini.
“Hau Jobe umthathaphi kodwa uMagcino wami sengimbheke ngancama? Kubuza uDlamini ephuma egunjini lakhe lokulala esegqoke ezokulala izivatho.
uNelisiwe usehlahle amehlo ungafunga ubona isipoki uqobolwaso. “Baba uphumaphi kanti? Ngigcine ngigcine…” abindeke uNelisiwe.
“Cha ndodakazi bengilule izinyawo nje ngagudla uMthavuma kodwa sengibuyile. Kanti noQhawe beno Zweli bahambile baye le ku mzala ngaphesheya koMthavuma. Bengithi bazohamba nawe kodwa nakho ke ngingasakuboni nangebala ndodakazi,” kuqhuba uDlamini.”
Uyabonanje badideke baphelile uNelisiwe noJobe. “Ayi ake ngibaleke ke name,” kuphefumula uJobe.
Athi angaphuma nje uJobe ashintshe nasebusweni UDlamini. “Kodwa Nelisiwe ngokuhamba nje kancane ngizishayelwa umoya usungaze ungilandele uJobe?” esho ngolaka uDlamini useyashabasheka ke manje, ulwandle lugubha amagagasi.
“Baba mina bengikhathazekile ngawe,” esho ngezwi elidabulisayo uNelisiwe.
Wehlisa amaphaphu uSibalukhulu esebona ukuthi ukhathazekile ngempela umagcino wakhe.
“Cha ndodakazi ukuthi nje bengikhathazeke kakhulu ngonyoko ngasengilula izinyawo ukuze ngithi ukudla amathambo engqondo. Akukho lutho olutheni nje khululeka magcino wami,” ehlaka usulu uSibalukhulu.
“Kulungile ke Baba besengikhathazekile kakhulu ngawe,” kuphetha uNelisiwe esehlise umoya esula izinyembezi ebesezigcwele ubuso. Wamamatheka usho ngothotho lamazinyo umfuze wangamshiya uyise.
“Kulungileke ndodakazi usungakhululeka uyophumula ngoba phela nokudla kwakusihlwa besengikubekelile egumbini lakho,” kuphetha uDlamini.
KwaDlamini ukudlela etafuleni njengomdeni kwagcina uMamntungwa esadla anhlamvana phela ikhaya lithokomala umalisano mama. Ikhaya elingena mama nje libonakala kalula yilowo nayilowo uzenzela okwakhe nje kuye kubengcono uma kuwukuthi. Vele wayengekho kwasekuqaleni kuqutshwa ngendlela kababa. Abanye ke bathi luhle ushintsho kodwa ke abanye bakuthola kunzima ukubhekana nalo.
UDlamini waye vame ukuphuma njalo ebusuku azungeze umuzi wakhe wawungafunga ucubungula ububanzi bawo namagumbi akhona kanti cha wayevame ukuvuka ebusuku ngehora leshumi enzele uMamntungwa itiye phela wayesuke eseqandula phela yikhanda manje ke ithi ingachaba ithambo ijwayele.
Ukukhala kweqhude kwakusho ukusa kwesakaSibalukhulu isigodi. Kwasekuphoqa ukuthi ngisho ngabe ubusawavale womabili uyithathe uyilahle le kude ngoba phela bathi ayikho inkomo yobuthongo. Kwakuba nzinyana ke ukuyilahlela kude kwazise phela intwasabusika.
“We Magcino vuka bo sekusile!” esho ngengila uSibalukhulu. Lutho ukuphendula uNelisiwe okusho ukuthi usalele impela. Aze asondele ngase gumbini lakhe impela uDlamini. “We Nelisiwe? Nelisiwe?” Usememeza ushaya nesicabha ke manje kuhle komuntu obona amalangabi omlilo ngaphakathi osethuswa ukungazi noma usaphila yini lo olele ngaphakathi.
“Yebo Baba sengivukile,” esholo ebuthongweni uNelisiwe. Uyezwa nje usasho ngaphansi kwayo impela ingubo.
“Vuka Mntanami sekusile impela, kanti yimi nawe nje kuphela ngakhoke kumele sikhiphe imfuyo.”
“Ayi kulungile Baba sengivukile impela ,ngizohlamba ubuso mese ngiyeza,” esho lamazwi usevule nomyango egumbini lakhe ukuze phela no yise abone ukuthi usevukile ngempela.
“Woza ke ndodakazi, namhlanje ngizokufundisa ukwelusa ukuze phela umangingasekho ulekelele obafowenu. Futhi ke uwena impela engikuthembayo magcino,” esho emamatheka uDlamini, uyambona nje umthanda ngempela umagcino wakhe.
Baphume beye ngasesibayeni, bavulele imfuyo behambe begigitheka bebhekise amabombo eMthavuma ungafunga abadala abangani laba.
Endleleni ebuyayo sebekhathele bayimvithi kanti nephanga selisho khona ,uyabona nje indlela asebehamba ngayo bayadlathuzela.
Ukufika kwabo endlini akekho owatshela omunye baya bendiza emabhodweni. Indlela izinga lempilo yakwaSibalukhulu eliyilo wawungafunga ugomele kunezisebenzi, kanti cha lutho, konke nje bazenzela bona ngokulekelelana.
Basebethathe isinqumo kwaSibalukhulu ukuthi njalo ngemumva kokudla kwakusihlwa bazokhuleka babonge ongabonwayo. Njengejwayelo ke uSibalukhulu nendodakazi yakhe basho ngedolo phansi maqede bahlukana sebeyobeka uhlangothi.
Indlela uSipoti ayekhonkotha ngayo yanyakazi uNelisiwe obesemaphusheni wazwakala esethi “Kanti kwenzakalani kwaSibalukhulu? Baba ngathi kukhona okuthize okuphazamisa uSipoti, vuka Baba.” ememeza.
Kwakuphakathi kwamabili lutho uDlamini ukuphendula, abelesele noSipoti.
“Baba! Baba vuka,” ememeza uNelisiwe uyezwa nje usesho ngovalo.
Manje uSipoti usesholo kude sengathi uyahamba impela okusho ukuthi useyikhiphele ngaphandle komuzi lento abelwisana nayo. Wathola isibindi sokuvuka uNelisiwe uhamba nje uyanyonyoba egcekeni. Phela sekuyihora lokuqala ekuseni kanti yize noma ugesi ukhona kodwa kuyasabeka nje phela ngoba nguye no yise nje kuphela. Kugcono ngabe kuthiwa kukhona oQhawe.
“Baba?” Lutho ukuphendula uDlamini. Avule kancane uNelisiwe isicabha egumbini likayise asikhiyiwe. Kumethuse lokhu kodwa aqhubeke. “Baba?” Lutho ukuphendula uDlamini. Angene uNelisiwe kome inhlaba!
“Hau kazi ukephi uBaba ngalesikhathi? Mhalwumbe uphumile walekelela uSipoti empini ebebambene nayo,” ezibuza eziphendula uNelisiwe. Adonse isicabha anikele endlini yokuphumula esondelene nendlu kayise ukuze ambeke khona. Lendlu iyona ayikhonze kakhulu uDlamini babevame ukuhlala kuyo no Mamntungwa bangcokole kuse emnyango. Wawungaze ufunge lukhulu olubaxosha egumbini labo lokulala. Phela ngenye imini babeze belale khona, uyozwa ngohleko nje luqhuma phezulu ukuthi kukhunjuzwana ezasendulo ke manje.
Wangena lapha uNelisiwe wathi ukuqala qalaza kabili kathathu, amehlo akhe amuthatha amphonsa emvilophini emhlophe phezu kwetafula eliyigilazi elibenyezelayo. Uyabona nje labiza enhle imali le kanti ke phela vele uMamntungwa wayeyithanda into enhle. Wamamatheka yedwa uNelisiwe kubuya lemicabango wanikela khona etafuleni wayithatha imvilophi wayivula yayifundeka kanje:
Sawubona Magcino wami
Ngiyazi udidekile futhi udumele kodwa ngifuna wazi ukuthi konke lokhu kuliphutha lami. Ngenxa yesazela ngihlulekile ukubekezela uze ungixolele ndodakazi, bekungasiyo inhloso yami ukukushiya kulolubishi. Nyakenye emandulo ubabamkhulu bathatha isinqumo sokwandisa umcebo wakwaSibalukhulu ukuze izizukulwane ngezizukulwane ezizayo ziwufice. Umawakho ndodakazi wabulawa yimina ngathwala ngaye ngamfaka emthonjeni siziba eMthavuma. Unyaka no nyaka bekumele ngenze isikhumbuzo ngihlabe inkomo ngiyiphose emthonjeni siziba, nami le ndlela ngaboniswa yona ubaba ongizalayo. Kodwa ngenxa yesazela ngizamile ukuqina ngibe yindoda kodwa ngahluleka. Xola Malandela, xola maSibalikhulu. Ngibone kungifanele ukulandela unyoko kunokuthi ngibulale wena ndondakazi besekungaphezu kwamandla ami yobe maSibalukhulu.
Yimina okuthanda kakhulu uyihlo.
Ukhumbule ke Ndodakazi kukwaSibalukhulu lana.
