Thami kept quiet after Lulu’s confession.

“Have you ever told Samson all of that?”

“No I haven’t, he wouldn’t understand any of it. I’d be the wrong one here.”

“Maybe you should, it’ll help make him realise how much you love him.” he said.

“You think it would, but his phone’s dead.”

“It’s off because you never called for the right reasons. Call him and tell him what he needs to know. But before you do, I want you to know that my work here is done and I’m leaving.”

“No Thami, don’t leave me.”

“You gave up on Samson because I replaced him, if I go, you’ll look for him and fight for him to come back just as you did back then.”

Lulu then reached Thami’s lips, and kissed him passionately. He unbuttoned his t-shirt and Thami kissed her back.

“Don’t stop.” Lulu whispered.

Then Thami pushed her away.

“I want you Thami, give me more of you.”

“I can’t, you’ll only hurt yourself more.”

Thami then stood up and went to his room outside of the main house. Lulu sat there alone.

“Samson.” she whispered.
****
In the morning Thami tried calling Nothando but her phone kept going to voicemail, he then decided to leave her a message. He explained to her all that Lulu told him,

“…… I think we should let go of all of this. Even if you refuse I want you to know that I’m out of this Nothando. It’s useless, I can’t force Lulu to love me. I can’t accept a woman who gives herself to me because of desperation, what’s going to happen if she isn’t any longer. She’s not who I thought she was, I can’t afford to spend my life with someone like her. I’m going home, call me when you get this.”

Thami left without even saying goodbye to Lulu and Sihle.
****
An Orange Ford Ranger arrived outside Mahlatsini’s house. David came out and Mahlatsini’s helper welcomed him. He told him to wait for about thirty minutes for Mahlatsini to finish his service with other patients. Afterwards he called him to come inside, and receive his service. Mahlatsini came in and kneeled down on his small mat.

“Mr. Sibiya.”

“Makhosi.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t put the elders offering on the floor.”

“Makhosi, I’d like to request something.”

“You know that I can’t reverse the spell.”

“Makhosi, things keep getting harder and harder everyday, and I know eventually everyone will find out what I’ve done. I researched it, yes you can’t reverse the spell but you can shift It to another host as long as in his veins runs the same blood as Nothando.”

“Intriguing, may I ask who’s the source of that information?”

“It doesn’t matter Baba Mahlatsini, All I want to know from you is whether you’re able to do that?”

“Yes, but the substitute host needs to have the ritual performed on him.”

“I’m here.”

“You want to host the spell?”

“Yes Makhosi, my days are over, and I can’t take care of Nothando forever but she can. She’s still young and doesn’t deserve to carry the burden I bestowed upon her.”

“Among the people I’ve ever done the spell for, you alone evolved to a wise decision, you’ve decided to sacrifice yourself away from suffering for eternity and not curse your generation forevermore.”

“Thank you for understanding.” David said in a slight relief.

“Do you have with you the green stone?”

“Yes Makhosi.”

So then Mahlatsini prepared all his herbs and equipment and they drove to Mgwenya river, the transfer had to take place on the same place it was last completed. And so they got there, David took off all his clothes. He first bathed with a mix of herbs, and Mahlatsini drew a circle of incantations on the ground and David kneeled on the centre of them.

“I’ll finish the spell a distance away from you, you’ll have to say all that you’re giving back to Nothando and what you’re bestowing upon you. When you’re done, say her name three times and throw the green stone to the river. If the transfer becomes a success, from the river must come out the pink stone.

“Nothando,” he said before doing it.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through. But as a father, I’m doing what’s right for you, your mother, brother and Vuyisile. From now on, I give back to you your first job, marriage and I give you back the right to bear me grandchildren. I want you to succeed in life more than I’ve ever done. Forever Nothando shall you be successful and receive your future back! I believe that, one day, you’ll share your success with all of us because we’re your family. I vow to face all the consequences I’ll go through from here and the risk of receiving hatred from you with no regrets. I bestow upon me all that I laid above you, Nothando, Nothando, Nothando.”

After he said Nothando’s name three times, David threw the stone far into the water, and it went deep down to the bottom. He waited, waited and waited. No pink stone came out.

He looked down on the ground and cried. He closed his eyes and prayed,

“Please father allow me to do the right thing.”

Strong wind started blowing as if heavy rainfall was coming. It got strong and stronger and eventually a tornado formed on the river causing a large wave to flow ashore to him. The cold water reached his knees and left him shivering. When he opened his eyes he saw the pink stone before him. Mahlatsini came to him and picked it up.

“Transfer successful, go home Mr. Sibiya. You no longer owe me anything. You’ve given your daughter back what belonged to her. You’re also free, it’s all over.”

“Nothing bad will happen to me?”

“Yes, all you have is yours. You just manipulated the time for it to get to you quicker. We’re done here.”

So David drove home, he couldn’t believe how he caused Nothando an unnecessary suffering. He felt like a bad father who doesn’t deserve anything, but he corrected it now, it was over.