“Ubuye phi? Khona, uphi umntwana wam Ndumiso?” wothuswa ngumbuzo ovela emntwini abecinga ukuba ulele.
“Ndimshiye elele apho bendiye khona,” watsho uNdumiso.
Kwathi cwaka emva koko akwabikho lizwi lilandelayo. Wangqengqa naye ke engafuni nto inokumqhalela uchuku. Woyama kuNosisa, ukuze enze shushu umzimba wakhe.
“Buya umva torho, ndiqaqanjelwa yintloko,” watsho uNosisa emngqiniba ngengalo. Naye zange abe eziduba, wabhekela eshiya indawo phakathi kwabo.
“Uthetha ukuba leveki yonke iphela utyiwa yilentloko?” wabuza uNdumiso, eziqotha kukugodola ecaleni komfazi wakhe.
“Jonga wena Ndumiso, uhamba apha ngorhatya uye kulenkazana yakho, nomntwana wam. Ngoku ubuya sewundifundekela ngentloko endiqaqambelayo. Ndehle mfokabawo, mandikuve usithi ngxididi emagxeni wam. Uyandiva?” watsho echopha uNosisa etyityimbisela umnwe uNdumiso owayevele nje ngentloko ezingubeni.
“Sthandwa sam, uzoqaqanjelwa kakhulu yintloko, sukukhwaza kangaka,” watsho ejika emzela ngomva uNosisa. Waba ngathi uyavutha uNosisa ngumsindo kukungahoywa kwakhe nguNdumiso. Kaloku yena akakholwa yingxabano ephela engabhekisanga eligezayo kuNdumiso.
“Ye Ndumiso, umthetho lo wakho uyayiqonda nje ukuba ndim lo uphekayo apha, ahlambe izitya nempahla zakho, akugqiba akhulise umntwana wakho? Wena wenza ntoni kanye apha xa ucinga?” wavuka wachopha ngempundu uNosisa.
“Ndicela uxolo, Sisa wam. Nyani mna ndingumthwalo nje apha endlwini. Kulempela-nyanga izayo uyaphuma lomfana apha kulendlu kulale mna. Andifuni kude kucace ukuba uzobulawa yintloko bubukho bam ecaleni kwakho,” watsho uNdumiso.
“Nokuba ungenza loo nto andinamsebenzi nayo mna. Uza kuyihlawula lamali ebeyihlawula lamfo?” wabuza uNosisa.
“Ulibala msinyane s’thandwa sam. Umntwana wam utya nantoni na ayifunayo, kuba ndisebenza. Unxiba kwiivenkile eziphezulu, kuba ndiphangela. Akazange waphitshwa ngasiziba kuba ndiyaphangela. Wena kuqala unxiba oyithandayo, utya okuthandayo, kwaye zange waswela nto oko watshata nam. Kodwa ngoku wohlulwa kukuhlonipha umzi lo wasemaTolweni. Awufuni ukuthwala iqhiya entloko emva kweziyalo ezazithethwa apha kuwe. Uhamba namantombazana awawukhutshiwe kuwo ngabafazi abanemizi. Ngoku intloko ebuhlungu izimisele ukundichithela umzi, wena uyancedisa. Ungathi xa usothuka kophulwe uthi ndakujikela eKapa sihambele. Uzuthi watsho uNdumiso, kuba ndaba nguye ngoku kuwe,” watsho umfo kaSithethi elugcwabevu ngumsindo.
“Sele ushumayela nje ubuphi ubusuku obu?” wabuza uNosisa emjonge bucala uNdumiso.
“Uzuvuke uyothatha umntwana kwaNdinga kusasa. Ubabuze ukuba bebedibene naye kanjani, nokuba bendiphi mna?” watsho etsala ingubo egqumathela uNdumiso.
“Awuziboni tu Ndumiso xa wonile. Ufika ubona mna lonke ixesha nokuba nguwe,” watsho uNosisa engqengqa naye, eqamela ngodonga olusentla komandlalo.
“Ndicela siyiyeke lento s’thandwa sam. Ndiyabona ukuba ayisisi ndawo, koko iyaseyelisela mpela ngoku. Kodwa nawe ide yakuphelisela nentloko ngoku,” watsho uNdumsiso esagqumathele.
“Wohlukane nam Ndumiso! Ungandizi entloko, ndiyakucela kwangoku,” wabhavumla uNosisa ezama okunocaphukisa uNdumiso.
Eyona nto wayeyifuna uNosisa kukuba uNdumiso aphume entweni, ukuze afumane ihlahla lokubambelela, amlahle.
Masiqale sijonge indlela abadibana ngayo uNdumiso noNosisa. UNdumiso wayephangela njengo nogada apha eKapa, yena uNosisa wayefunda eNgcobo. Badibana eMthatha uNdumiso eye enkomfeni yolutsha lwecawe. Wayithanda lentombi kuba yayinomfaneleko kwaye ibathanda abantwana.
UNdumiso wayenomntwana oyintombi, uShareen, kwintombi yelawu, uNosisa engenamntwana. Wawushiya umsebenzi uNdumiso wayohlala kowabo eSibangweni, kuba kuloNosisa kukwaNonkobe. Wahlala iinyanga zantathu eyindwendwela lentokazi. Wayithatha kwinyanga yesine wayenza umfazi. Wemka nayo wayotshona kweleeNtlanzi eKapa.
Yayiqala lentokazi ukuza kweli kaseKapa. Yazibumba nje inyanga eziya phaya esineni ingumfazi oziphethe kakuhle. Waqala ukuphangela uNdumiso koomantshingilane, efundela ubufundisi-ntsapho. Wamana efika apha endlwini kungenziwanga neyokuqala, imini yonke. Waxoxa exoxile ngokutya okuphekwa akufika endlwini. Wathi akudinwa kukuyithethela wayiyeka injalo.
Kwangena iintombi ezibutha kusisi makoti, wanqanda wancama. Kungoku nje imali yokutya akayazi ukuba iphelela phi na. UNosisa wenza amatyala azalayo, kodwa akayazi uNdumiso ukuba loo mali ibheka phi na. Ukhe weva kuthethwa nomzala emnxebeni ngendawo yokuhlala apha endlwini.
Ezinye izinto wayebona zisenzeka nje apha endlwini kungekho ayaziyo. Nalomfo wasemntla, waxelelwa ngento ezakwenzeka ngengomso. Umtshato wakhe wawuqhekeka phambi kwakhe ejongile.
Kusile okungaliyo, wavuka ngenja ixukuxa uNdumiso waya kwaNdinga ukuyolanda umntwana. Wakhawuleza wabuya, efika umama wekhaya engabethelwa naluvalo. Wavele wajika wajonga edongeni akungena nomntwana lomfo. Yena wavele wafaka umntwana phantsi kwengubo ukuba alale.
“Nkosazana, uyakuthanda utata wena, va? Ndiphuze ke, Lili katata,” watsho ephuza umntwana ebunzi emlungisa nengubo.
“Uyahamba wena?” wabuza uLisa egushuza phantsi kwengubo ezama ukulala kakuhle.
“Ewe mntwan’ am. Ndikuphathele ntoni emsebenzini?” wabuza uNdumiso.
“I-chips,” watsho uLisa ejika ejonga uyise ngoncumo olugcwele lithemba.
“Lala ke Nkosazana, uziphathe kakuhle wena, va?” watsho egqibezela ukulungisa, wahamba eshiya uNosisa ejonge edongeni.
Kuthe kubetha ixesha afika ngalo endlini, wabe sele echophe esihlalweni sakhe uNdumiso emzini wakhe.
“Nkosazana! Uyayifuna into ephungwayo?” ebuza kuLisa owayejinga emadolweni akhe. Wathatha ngokunqwala ekubuzwa kuye ejonge kuyise, esajinga phofu. “Kuqala masijonge kubhaka wam ukuba ndikuphathele ntoni. Mthathe nankuya,” watsho emkhomba phezu kwetafilana ephambi kwabo apha kwigumbi lokuphumla.
Wawuthatha ke uLisa weza naye lobhaka, wanika uNdumiso, sele exhuma-xhuma, emana ukuqhwetha uyise ukuba akhawulezise ukuvula. Wafaka isandla uNdumiso wakhupha isityana esigcwele zii-chips zamazambane abuthamba. Wamnika esandleni wamkhombisa esihlalweni sakhe esincinane.
“Uziphathelwe ngubani ezo mntwan’ am?” wabuza ethatha enye eyitya.
“Ngutata wam tshii,” watsho uLisa engaphakamisanga namehlo ukumjonga. Lonke elixesha uNosisa uhleli esihlalweni esijongene nabo uchwela amazambane.
“Hayibo! S’thandwa sam, akukho nento etyiwayo le? Khange nditye mna oko kusile, nemalana ebikum ndithengele uLili ipasile yakhe,” wabuza uNdumiso akubona ukuba kudala efikile apha kodwa ukutya akuzi.
“Ukutya kuvuthiwe ngoku, kushiyeke ukuba ndipheke izinto zokudibanisa qha,” watsho uNosisa.
Waziva ebufudumala uNdumiso kukuba kube kungona kuphekwayo apha kodwa liyaziwa ixesha lokuphuma kwesikolo. Kodwa waqonda ukuba namhlanje akazudlula kule ayibona ibekwa endleleni yakhe. Waphakama wakhulula ububhatyana ebebunxibile wabuphosa kwigumbi lokulala phezu komandlalo.
“Bazothini abantu xa uphosa impahla phezu komandlalo kondluliwe?” wabuza uNosisa efika eyisusa eyibeka phezu kwempahla elindelwe ukuhlanjwa.
“Kukho abantu abangena kweligumbi ngaphandle kwam nawe?” wabuza uNdumiso ephakamisa uLisa emmisa ngeenyawo. Umbuzo wakhe awubanga namphenduli, naye akawuphindanga okanye alindele mpendulo. “Ungasiphakeli thina noLili, sizozifunela amagwinya anesibindi kwaWinki,” watsho erhuqa intombi yakhe bephuma ngomnyango.
“Ukutya oku ndikuphekayo kona? Kanti ndibila apha nje ndenzela bani?” wabuza uNosisa efinge iintshiya.
‘S’thandwa sam ungakhathazeki yilento ndiza kuyithetha. Kodwa ndicinga ukuba ukuba bekusenzelwa mna, ngendifike kulungile. Unobangela wokuba ndingaphathi umphako kukuba wena uyonqena ukuvuka. Kanti nasemini silamba ukutya kugcwele amapheyile, kuba wena ungeka lambi. Ndicela usiyeke noLili wam sizikhuphele evenkileni yamagwinya,” waphethuka wakhawuleza eleqa uLisa owayethechu ebheka apho bekuthiwe kuyiwa khona.
Wafika kuLisa wambamba ngesandla, bathi chu kuhle ukuya kwaWinki. Bafika bathenga amathathu, elinye waliqhekeza uNdumiso wanika intombi yakhe ukuba itye, nayo ayabuza mntwini yaliqusha. Watya naye eliqhekeza lishiyekileyo, ehleli phantsi kwaWinki. Akugqiba waphakama esiva ukuba kukho into ekhoyo apha esiswini nangona ingayanga phi noko.
Waya endlwini, wafika wamisa amanzi, wenza into ephungwayo elumela ngamagwinya akhe. Akugqiba wadlala nentombi yakhe phambi kukamabona kude. Yena uNosisa ubajonge nje, ehleli ngasemnyango, emana ukujonga kunomyayi.
Uthe akudikwa ngumabonakude uNdumiso wakhupha i-
Akugqiba wangqengqa ngesisu phantsi noLili babukela onopopi bakaLisa. Uthe akulala uLisa wabakhupha, wafaka ezakhe zabantu abadala. Wathatha umntwana wamsa kwigumbi lokulala, wamlalisa khona. Akugqiba wayobukela amabali akhe ehleli phambi kukamabonakude.
Uthe kwakufika ixesha lokubukela ibali lentsimbi yesibhozo wayicima loo-khompyutha, wabukela. Lakuphela wahamba wayolala, eshiya umam’ekhaya ehleli kwesasihlalo sisemnyango. Akubanga kudala engqengqile kwangena umnxeba, uNosisa wangena nawo kwigumbi langasese. Wathetha into engenasiphelo emana ekrukrutheka yedwa phaya.
Ngelingeni waphuma naye waqonda emandlalweni. Wangena ngaphaya kukaLisa, waziqotha encamathele kuLisa. UNdumiso kange abuze ngomnxeba okanye ngebekuthethwa kuwo. Naye waziqotha wancamathela kwintombi yakhe, walala obentlombe.
Uvuswe apho kuqhomfozwa kwamaqhosha kanomyayi, wabona ukuba kuthunyelwa umyalezo apha. Nalapho akabuzanga, uvale le igqib’umbona, wajika wajonga emnyango. Abuhlanga emva koko ubuthongo, umana ecinga lento imehlelayo apha.
Kazi ndandisithi ndenza ntoni, xa ndizeka intombi endinga khange ndiyifunde? Kwek! ndikhumbula uSuzan, umama womntwana wam wokuqala. Ngoku naye ngesazi isiXhosa, uzive ecinga.
Kudlule inyanga eziya phaya esithandathwini kungulo mbhodamo apha kulomzi. UNdumiso waye yiqhelile ngoku lemeko. Wayefika mihla le kungekho nto yakutya, athenge okuza kuphekiwe.
Ngomnye uLwesihlanu uNdumiso ubuye kwangoko emsebenzini. Waqonda ukuba namhlanje ufuna ukuhamba noLisa bayobukela umboniso-bhanya-bhanya e-Canal-Walk. Wafika wahlamba umntwana wamnxibisa impahla ecocekileyo.
“Siyahamba thina tata?” wabuza uLisa exhuma-xhuma kukuvuya nemincili.
“Ewe nkosazana yam, siyahamba,” waphendula uNdumiso embamba emnxibisa izihlangu.
“Mna ndingamenywa nje xa kukhutshwana kutheni? Ingaba mna andilolungu lolusapho?” wangenela uNosisa.
“Andiyazi. Ubuziswa yintoni?” waphendula engamhoyanga uNdumiso.
“Andicenganga kwa kuhamba nani ke mna, shem. Ndihamba iindawo ezinengqondo xa ndihamba mna,” watsho uNosisa efinge intshiya, ngathi unukiselwa yinto emdaka.
“Uyabona wena s’thandwa sam, akukho nto ndizisola ngayo ngaphezulu kunozidibanisa nawe. Uwenyelisile umzi kayihlo ezizweni. Umenyelisile umama wakho ngengqeqesho yakho. Andisenawo nomdla wokulubeka unyawo lwam kowenu, ndiyayibona impatho endizofika ndiyifumane. Andisafuni nokuya ekhaya, kuba ndinoloyiko lwendlela ozakumphatha ngayo umama ondizalayo.
“Ukuba besingahlanganiswa nguLisa ngendingekho kwalapha kulondize. Ndishiye amanzi omthombo kuba ndibona ubuhle bohlaza ngaphesheya, kanti ngumgxobhozo. Ukuba ndandazile ngendadlula ngendlela kwamhla mnene. Inye into endihlelise apha kulendlu, eyayikade ilikhaya kum, nguLisa. Yena ulikhaya kum. Umfazi endiza kumthanda uzakuthanda mna noLisa ngokulinganayo,” wathi akugqiba ukuthetha waphuma ethe chu intombi yakhe ngengalo.
Sixelele okucingayo: Kunyanzelekile umntu ahlale emtshatweni ngenxa yomntwana, nokuba akonwatywanga? Xhasa impendulo yakho.