Liyozilahla konina njengoba kungena uDelani endlini kaBhekani.
“Delani, bengingakulindele. Kunjani kodwa sthandwa sami?”
“Ngiyaphila, ngidlala inkumbulo kuphela. Ngibone ungaqhamuki ngase ngikhetha ukuza ngapha,” kuphendula uDelani.
“Ngivele nganqena ukuza namuhla. Phela umama wakho usengaze asole ukuthi singabafana abanjani abahlezi bengamathe nolimi.”
“Unephuzu lapho, ngisaba nokucabanga ukuthi kungenzakalani uma singabanjwa ukuthi siyathandana.”
“Angeke ngikwazi ukulahlekelwa nguwena, Delani wami. Ngiyofa lapho ufa khona.”
“Uyangithembisa?”
“Ngicela ungithembe. Mina nawe siyofa silahlane.”
“Kulungile, ngiyakwethemba.”
“Ngiyabonga ukuzwa lawo mazwi, thambo lami lenkentakhi.”
“Uyazi Bhekani bengilokhu ngicabanga.”
“Khuluma ngilalele. Ubucabangani?”
“Ngicabanga ukuthi sibaleke siduke singaziwa ukuthi sabhekaphi.”
Avuke ahlale ngezinqa uBhekani. “Cha, Delani, ngiyala mina. Sizoyaphi nje?”
“Angazi, kodwa engikwaziyo ukuthi lapho kukhona uthando kukhona indlela.”
“Ngiyakwazi lokho, kodwa-” uthi engakawagwinyi lawo mazwi uBhekani kungene unina nezicabha. Amehlo kanina abomvu agcwele izinyembezi.
“Mama, kwenzenjani?” kubuza uBhekani ngokwethuka.
“Hawu! Yaze yafa kabuhlungu ingane kadadewethu!” kukhala uMaKhuzwayo ethwele izandla ekhanda.
“Khuluma, mama. Kushone bani?”
“Ingane kadadewethu isihanjiswe enkosini ukuba iyobulawa ngoba idunga isizwe. Bayilengisile ingane kadadewethu.”
“Ubani leyongane?” kubuza uDelani ngokumangala.
“UNokubonga!” Kuhayiza uMaKhuzwayo.
“UNokubonga? Yini, mama? Kwenzekeni kuNokubonga?”
“Kuthiwa uNokubonga ubanjwe ukuthi ubethandana nenye intombazane. Manje inkosi ayikufuni lokho esizweni sayo. Bavele bamlengisa okwenkukhu! Hawu yaze yanonya inkosi!”
Zehla kanye kanye izinyembezi kuDelani noBhekani. Kubacacela bha ukuthi akusasele sikhathi esingakanani nabo babanjwe. Kwavele kwamuncu endlini, waphela nya umoya wothando obuheleza ekuqaleni.
“Manje lentombazane abethandana nayo yona kwenzakaleni ngayo?” kubuza uBhekani ngexhala.
“Yeyi, mntanami! Uyise wayo ubethi uyayibalekisa kanti amabutho azofika kuqala. Avele ababulala bonke.”
“Kodwa unya olungaka! Kanti yini inkinga uma umuntu ethanda ubulili obufana nobakhe?” kubuza uBhekani.
“Ungalinge ukhulume kanjalo weBhekani! Nawe ufuna ukuya kwagoqanyawo? Inkosi ingakubulala uma ikuzwa ukhuluma kanjalo!” Kusho isalukazi esingunina siyophuma ngesicabha.
Kuthulekile endlini, bobabili bayathatha bayabeka ngengqondo. Phela umbhobho wokufa ubabheke ngqo. Akekho noyedwa kubona okhuluma ngokuthi akuhlukanwe. UDelani uzwa isandla sikaBhekani simbambe thaqa. Qatha qatha izinyembezi ezithandaneni ezimbili. Lavele laphela ithemba lokuthi bayoke bamukeleke emphakathini.
“Kuzomele siqaphele kusukela manje,” kusho uBhekani evala isicabha.
“Uqinisile uma singabonakala nje-”
“Ngicela ungabe usakucabanga lokho, Delani,” kusho uBhekani.
“Mhlawumbe kungcono uma singabonana ebusuku kuphela.”
“Kodwa vele abantu bazi ukuthi singabangani.”
“Ngiyakwazi lokho kodwa mina angifuni ukulenza nhlobo iphutha. Phela icala livula ingubo lingene.”
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Sitshele Umbono Wakho: Kufanele enzenjani uBhekani?