“You have a very beautiful voice. Your smile, your talk and your intelligence remind me of someone I once loved dearly.” Fungani said with a smile on his face.
He was in Thandeka’s room in her hotel.
“So is that the reason you are with me?” Thandeka asked.
“No, no it’s not like that!” Fungani said astonished.
“Anyways, I do not want you to forget about her. I’m not here to fill up her space in your life. Maybe God has put me in your life to be a remembrance of her.” Thandeka said solemnly.
“I don’t believe there is such!” Fungani said.
“She is a very wonderful woman, I’m sure wherever she is she still loves you so dearly. No woman can ever take her space in your heart because she is a very special woman, and you can’t just forget about her so soon!” Thandeka said.
“Why are you talking about her as if she is still alive?! She is dead and let her soul rest in peace, I’d rather talk about our future together. I can’t wait to have kids with you!” Fungani said pleased.
“I’m not having any kids with you!” Thandeka shouted.
“What do you mean? Why not?” Fungani asked worried.
“I cannot have kids. I can’t conceive!” Thandeka said.
“But, but how can that be possible. Hhow can you be so sure?” Fungani asked wanting to know.
“Because I know!” Thandeka shouted. “Please, I do not want to have this conversation right now, it hurts to think about it, let alone talking about it!” she pleaded.
“I’m sorry my angel. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just that I want what best for us!” Fungani explained holding the palms of her hand.
*****
“Hawu ndodana wabuya wedwa uphi umakoti?” Mr Mjoli asked taken by surprise.
“She’s gone!” Fungani replied calm.
“Usho ukuthini?” Mr Mjoli asked more earnestly.
“I said she’s gone!” Fungani replied without any interest.
“Ey awukhulume into ecacile, uthi uyephi?” Mr Mjoli asked severely.
“She has gone out of my life for good! She said she’s going back home as she does no longer has any reason to be here.” Fungani said.
“
“I don’t know and I don’t even care!” Fungani replied coldly.
“Ey wena kanti usuyahlanya!” Mr Mjoli shouted. “UQaphela intombi yasebukhosini, uzalwa uNtsumpa indodana ka Zazimela owaye yinkumkani yesbili yabantu bakwa Gcaleka. UZazimela uyena owaye yindodana endala emndenini, owaba yinkumkani yamaXhosa ehloniphekile ngonyaka 1790. UZazimela watshona ngo nyaka 1806 endaweni eyaziwa ngokuthi ise Kentani ngenkathi yamanje e Eastern Cape. Umangase le ntombazane ifike ikhulume kabi ngathi lapha kwayo sizobukeka njengabantu ababi, sibe negama elincolile emphakathini. Ingakho mfana wami kubalulekile ukuthi utshate lentombazane yakwa Zazimela ukuze umndeni wethu ubuyelwe yisithunzi sawo!” Mr Mjoli said and just at that moment Fungani’s phone rang.
“Thandeka, I can’t talk to you right now, please call me later.” Fungani said on the phone.
“It is urgent, I’m thinking of going at home in Johannesburg next week to sort out something and I really need to show you something before I leave.” Thandeka said over the phone.
“I said I can’t talk right now dammit, are you deaf!” Fungani shouted and dropped the phone.
*****
Four weeks later…..
“Hey wena ungangitsheli lento ongitshela yona, ngeke ngikwazi ukuba nengane nawe!”
“Manje uthi ndiyenze njani ingane, angeke ngakwazi ukuyikhupha, akusiyona inxenye yesiko lami eyo!”
Ey anginamsebenzi ngaleyonto mina, angikakulungeli ukuba ngubaba mina, futhi ngeke ngikwazi ukuzifaka enkingeni, ngeke!”
“Bekumele uyicinge eyonto ngaphambi kokuthi ulale name!”
Ey ungakhulumi nami kanjalo, angikufosanga mina ukuthi ulale name,
“Ayikho into ebinginakuyenza, ngandinganayo indawo yokuhlala, ngandisaba ukubuyela ekhaya. Ngandizofika ndimxelele ntoni na utata owathi mandinyamezela nanoma yintoni na xa ndiza apha!”
Pho indaba ungabuyelanga , awubekezelanga ngani?”
“Ndandithi uyangithanda mina, wandixelela njalo njena. Ngandithi wena wehlukile kunalamye amakwenkwe alapha eNatal.”
“Voetsek! Hamba lana. I’m not having this baby with you, go away!”
*****
“Hey bro, long time no see!” Fungani said to Chayna as they met at the spaza.
“Ja hey, ispani singixinile,” Chayna said. “Anyways, I have to go!” He proceeded.
“To me it seems like you are avoiding me. You haven’t been answering my calls lately and I’ve been needing your help yazi.” Fungani said.
“Since when have we been close friends?” Chayna said rudely.
“Look bra, I know we haven’t been close friends lately, but bra I really need your help?” Fungani pleaded.
“What do you want from me? Angani phela wena uzenza ngcono kunabanye abantu!” Chayna retorted.
“It’s about Qaphela.” Fungani replied.
“Ayi cela ungangifaki, bathi indaba zabantu ababili abathandanayo azingenwa.” Chayna said intending to leave.
“Please bra I need your help. At least hear me out!” Fungani pleaded.
“Bra, I really don’t have time for this, I’m in a hurry!” Chayna said.
“Please bra, you gotta hear what I have to say!” Fungani said harshly.
“Okay, okay what is it?” Chayna said annoyed.
“Qaphela is gone and I have to find her!” Fungani said.
“Isn’t that what you wanted, her being out of your life? So what’s the matter?” Chayna said confused.
“I know but you don’t understand. I have to find her or else I’ll be in trouble.” Fungani looked stressed.
“What trouble?” Chayna asked coldly.
“Her family will be after me, they will even kill if however they find out that she is not with me. Her father just called to ask when am I going to prepare for the wedding. He persuaded that he didn’t bring her to KZN ukuzomkipitisa, he said he did me a favour by sending her here so that we will get to know each other and come to terms with that we will be married soon.” Fungani said worried.
“And then, what help do you need from me?” Chayna asked solemnly.
“I want you to help me find her,” he said.
“How will I be able to do that? Udlala ngami ngingaqala kuphi nje?”<.em> Chayna asked.
“Please bra, she is a daughter of the son of King Zazimela, the most important family in the Tshawe line. Don’t you realise how popular and strong I will be if I marry her, let alone having a baby with her!” Fungani said jubilantly.
“Haibo uyazizwa ukuthi uthini? Zolo lokhu kade ungamfuni. What about the precious girl that you were boasting about?” Chsyna asked surprised.
“I’ll get over her, besides she can’t conceive, so there is no way me and her will work. She was just a fantasy and I have already dumped her.” Fungani said.
“Uyislima bra, uyeka intombazane obuyithanda kangaka ngenxa yalo Qaphela wakho, mawucabanga nje she will take you back after what you have done to her?” Chayna asked furiously.
“I will make her understand. I’ll try to convince her by all means, you know me, I’m good with words. Here’s five thousand.” Fungani said with a smile and handed an envelope to Chayna.
“Look bra, I don’t like the sound of this, but I will try. I do not promise you anything! But ke nawe uyazi inyuku ekhulumayo kuzomele ungikhaphune inyuku engcono kunale ungikhaphuna yona.” Chayna said carefully counting the money.
“How much do you need?” Fungani asked in desperatition.
“Kuzomele ungikhaphune u 10 stina! Chayna said
“But bra I don’t have such money with me?” Fungani replied.
“It’s either you give me that or go to hell, mina engizokwenza ukuthi I’ll make sure that no one will offer to help you if you don’t do what I say. So, nomakanjani ungakhohlwa ukuthi mina I have all the connection you need, and akekho omunye umuntu la rawndini owazi abantu aba bhaya njengami.” Chayna said with his big eyes wide open.
“Okay bra, I’ll give you the rest once you find her, deal?” Fungani said.
“It’s either you do it my way, or fokof! I’ll send you my account number, ibhelas yakho vele izwakele!” Chayna said and left Fungani standing there in amazement.
Fungani tried calling after him but Chayna kept on moving without turning back.
***
Tell us: Who do you think the pregnant girl was? Do you think it’s right that Fungani should marry Qaphela just because he wants to be rich and powerful?