“Ungangisiki umqala, Scelo,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi encokola.
“Isandla sami asinankinga, Mkhulu,” kusho uScelo. “Ikhanda lakho eliqhaqhazelayo, Mkhulu.”
UScelo ugcoba umuthi wokushefa entshebeni kamkhulu wakhe. Uyacophelela nge-razor njengoba emshefa – uMnumzane Msomi azumeke ngokushesa. UScelo usula izinsalela zomuthi wokushefa ngethawula elifudumele. Usondeza isibuko ebusweni kuMnumzane Msomi.
“Nazoke! Sesiqedile, Mkhulu!”
UMnumzane Msomi uvula amehlo, abukisise umsebenzi kaScelo esibukweni, avume ngekhanda. “Ngisemuhle namanje!” kusho uMnumzane Msomi.
“Usemuhle, Mkhulu! Uwuswahla lensizwa!” kusho uScelo ehleka.
“Simulanda nini uNosipho?”
“Noma nini uma sesilungile, Mkhulu. UNosipho uzobe eselungile emuva kwehora lesishagalombili.”
“Kulungile, angizilungiselele. Empilweni yami yonke angikaze ngilindise umuntu wesifazane,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi.
Balanda uNosipho kubo kamama wakhe. Babuyela kuthelawayeka womgwaqo, uScelo ayinyathele imoto bagudle ugu beqonde eningizimu. UNosipho uhlezi eceleni kuMnumzane Msomi, esihlalweni esingemuva emotweni – bayaxoxa, bahleke. UScelo wehlisa umsindo womsakazo – ufuna ukuzwa ukuthi baxoxa ngani.
“Cha, Nosipho angiyena uMkhulu kuwena. Ngingukhokho,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi.
“Khokho?” kubuza uNosipho ehleka.
“Yeka ukuhlupha uMkhulu, Nosipho,” kusho uScelo.
“Akuyena uMkhulu. Ukhokho!” kusho uNosipho.
UMnumzane Msomi uhleka agcine ekhwehlela.
“Kwenzenjani, Mkhulu? Ukahle?” kubuza uScelo ekhathazekile.
“Ngikahle, Scelo. Siyazidlalela nje nomzukulwana wami.”
“Yebo, sikahle, Baba!” kusho uNosipho.
Amehlo kaNosipho akhungwa ubuhle bemvelo obuvela ewindini njengoba behamba.
“Usalikhumbula iplazi, Scelo?” kubuza uMnumzane Msomi.
“Kancane, Mkhulu. Ngikhumbula ukuthi ngangidlala endaweni evulekile enotshani. Eqinisweni ngangicabanga ukuthi sayeka ukuya khona ngoba kwakungelona elakho iplazi. Ngazitshela ukuthi elesihlobo thizeni nokuthi leso sihlobo salidayisa.”
“Cha, elami iplazi,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi. Intokozo iyahwamuka ebusweni. “Namanje lisasebenza, nginabantu engibaqashile abalinakekelayo. Angisavakashi khona ngoba uZinhle noMondli abazwani. Kungibangela igcindezi ukuya khona ngedwa ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi kwakumnandi kangakanani ngezikhathi izingane zami zisazwana. Babefika nabo bonke abazukulu bami kube mnandi.”
“Ngiyabona, Mkhulu,” kusho uScelo.
“UMondli noZinhle babekuthanda ukuya eplazini ngezikhathi zamaholide besakhula. Babekuthanda ukuya khona nangezikhathi nani nisebancane, Scelo. Kubuhlungu kakhulu ukuthi abasazwani.”
“Buka amanzi, Khokho!” kusho uNosipho eqhweba uMnumzane Msomi.
Babuka bonke babone umfula unaba indawo enkulu ngaphambi kokuba ungenele olwandle.
“Lona umfula obizwa ngokuthi Umkhomazi, Nosipho,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi.
Amehlo kaScelo akhangwa ubuhle bogu njengoba luvuleka lunaba ngaphambi kwabo. Sekuthulekile lapha emotweni. UScelo uphenduka abuke emuva. UNosipho nomkhulu balele, babambene ngezandla.
UMnumzane Msomi uvuka emuva kokuba uScelo engena emgwaqeni wobhuqu. Unokumamatheka kokulangazelela njengoba iplazi lakhe livela buqamama emathafeni.
“Wehlise isivinini uma udundubala phezulu, uzobona isango esandleni sokudla,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi.
Kunoqwembe olukhulu olubhalwe ukuthi: Zindli Farm ngaphezulu kwesango.
“Nakho ke sesifikile eZindli Farm!” kusho uMnumzane Msomi. “Uyazi ukuthi kungani iplazi libizwe ngokuthi i-Zindli Farm, Scelo?”
“Cha angazi, Mkhulu.”
“Ugogo wakho waliqamba ngokuhlanganisa igama lababa wakho no-anti wakho. UZinhle noMondli.”
Umnakeleli weplazi uqhamuka ngesithuthuthu esinamasondo amane, avule isango. Insimu yommbila inaba ngapha nangapha eceleni komgwaqo wobhuqu obaholela endlini. UNosipho uvuka ngesikhathi uScelo ecima imoto.
“Bakhona abanye asebefikile?” kubuza uMnumzane Msomi kumnakeleli weplazi.
“Cha, Mnumzane Msomi, kusafike nina kuphela,” kusho umnakeleli.
Ukujabula kugcwele ubuso kuMnumzane Msomi njengoba esizwa ehliswa emotweni, ebekwa esihlalweni esihambayo, engena endlini. UNosipho uyagijima lapha endlini. Uyazimpintsha ezama ukudlula eceleni kuScelo ongenisa izikhwama zokugcina ekade sisele emotweni.
“Ngathini ngokugijima endlini, Nosipho!”
UNosipho akamnaki uyise, uziqhubekela nokugijima. Osekukhunge ingqondo yakhe indawo evulekile enotshani obuhle evela ngewindi njengoba kuvulwa amakhethini. UScelo ucishe akhutshwe umkhulu wakhe – uMnumzane Msomi usezithendeni zaNosipho, ulandela ngesihlalo sakhe esihambayo. Naye ugcwele injabulo esho ukuchichima ebusweni njengaye umzukulwana wakhe.
“Ehlisa isivinini, Mkhulu!”
Naye uMnumzane Msomi akanendaba nokukhuzwa. Uhamba ngesihlalo sakhe, afike ku-veranda ozungeze indlu yonke. UScelo uvula iwindi, kungene ukumemeza kanye nokuhleka kwenjabulo okuvela kuNosipho njengoba egijima otshanini. Lokho kulandelwa uhleko ulunenjabulo ngaphezulu kwalo lonke uhleko lwenjabulo ake aluzwa luphuma kumkhulu wakhe.
UZinhle ufika emuva kwehora. Uhamba nomyeni wakhe kanye nezingane. UMondli ufika ekugcineni ehamba nonkosikazi kanye nezingane ezindala. Ukunakwa nokudatshukelwa kudambisa injabulo akade enayo uMnumzane Msomi ngesikhathi esahleli noScelo noNosipho kuphela. Kodwa khona ujabulile ngoba izingane zakhe, abazukulu kanye nabazukulwana bakhona lapha futhi wonke umuntu uyazwana. Uyaneliseka nokuthi noma uZinhle noMondli bencishana amehlo kodwa bayahloniphana.
Umndeni wakwaMsomi uhlala etafuleni elide ku-veranda udle isidlo sasebusuku. UMnumzane Msomi uhleli ekhanda letafula. Kuphakwa isidlo asithandayo senyama eyosiwe nobhatata. Iphalishi lekhethelo elifakwe uju nebhotela – okuyilo kuphela elikwazi uhlala esiswini angalibuyisi uMnumzane Msomi – nalo liyaphakwa.
“Cha! Hhayi namhlanje!” utshela uZinhle. “Namhlanje ngizodla ukudla engikuthandayo. Ngifakele inyama!”
“Ngiyezwa, Baba,” kusho uZinhle.
UMnumzane Msomi ubuka umndeni wakhe ngamehlo agcwele ukuziqhenya.
“Ngiyazi ukuthi nonke niphule ezinye izithembiso ekade ninazo kwezinye izindawo ukuze nibe nami lapha namhlanje,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi. “Ngiyabonga ngokungihlonipha kwenu. Ngijabula kakhulu njengoba nonke nikhona lapha nizonginika lesi sithombe esihle kanjena ezinsukwini zami zokugcina.”
Abazukulu baMnumzane Msomi bambuka ngamehlo agcwele uthando. UMondli noZinhle bambuka ngamehlo agcwele usizi. Lokhu kumenza adideke uMnumzane Msomi. Uyashintsha ebusweni kube sengathi kukhona umcabango omubi ohlasela umqondo wakhe. Kuyashisa kodwa kubonakala eqhaqhazela.
“Ngicela ungingenise endlini, Scelo. Ngiyagodola futhi ngifuna ukubuka izindaba,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi.
Ubhekise ikhanda phansi, uzimbozile ubuso ngesandla sengathi ucashela wonke amalunga omndeni wakhe amdabukelayo. UScelo umdudula ngesihlalo bangene e-lounge, balandelwa uZinhle noMondli.
“Udinga ukuphumula, Baba?” kubuza uZinhle. Ubuso bakhe sebushwabene ngenxa yokukhathazeka.
“Cha, Zinhle, ngingena ngoba ngifuna ukubuka izindaba. Ngicela ungiphathele ingubo yokumbatha.”
“Baba, uzizwa unjani?” kubuza uMondli.
“Ngikahle, Mondli. Ukugodola kuphela. Uma sengiyitholile ingubo yokumbatha konke kuzolunga. Qhubekani nidle, ngempela anginalutho.”
“Ngikulethele lapha ukudla kwakho, Baba?” kubuza uZinhle, embathisa ngengubo yokulala.
“Ungakhathazeki, mntanami, ngizobuye ngidle.”
Indodakazi kaZinhle, uLindelwa, ongumhlengikazi, usesondele eduzane noMnumzane Msomi.
“Mkhulu, uzizwa unjani?” kubuza uLindelwa.
“Yebo, Lindy girl. Ngiyagodola kuphela, ngizobuye ngidle ngesinye isikhathi,” kusho uMnumzane Msomi emamatheka. Ukhomba iqoqo labazukulwana bakhe abadlalayo ekhoneni lapha e-lounge. “Ningakhathazeki ngoba ngivikelekile uma ngihleli nalaba.”
Wonke umuntu uyakhululeka uma ebona uMnumzane Msomi emamatheka. Babuyela etafuleni, badle. Bayaqhubeka nokumjeqeza ngewindi bebheka ukuthi usesimweni esinjani. Njalo uma bemjeqeza bathola ukuthi uyahleka nabazukulwana bakhe. Kodwa emuva kwehora izona lezi zingane eziphuma endlini zigijima zimemeza.
“UKhokho ulele phansi! UKhokho uwile!” zimemeza kanye kanye.
Kusukuma wonke umuntu etafuleni aqonde e-lounge. Bamthola elele phansi, eceleni kwesihlalo sakhe esihambayo, ecimezile. UScelo noMondli bayamqubula bambuyisele esihlalweni.
“Asimfake egumbini lakhe,” kusho uLindelwa, ebheka ukushaya kwenhliziyo. Uphefumula ngokukhululeka uma ethola ukuthi iyashaya inhliziyo kaMnumzane Msomi.
Wonke umndeni ugcwala egumbini lakhe lokulala.
“Ngicela wonke umuntu aphume,” kusho uLindelwa. “Ngidinga isikhala esanele sokusebenza, kanti noMkhulu udinga umoya.”
Bonke abantu babuyela e-lounge. ULindelwa asale yedwa noMnumzane Msomi.
“UBaba ugula nje ngenxa yalento oyenzile!” kumemeza uMondli ekhomba uZinhle.
Usondela kuyena. Asukume uScelo angene phakathi kwabo.
“Ngizwile kuthiwa waletha umfundisi wakho lapha ekhaya!” kusho uMondli.
“Ungaqali, Mondli! Ungalinge ungisukele, Mondli! Usho ukuthi akuwona lo muthi eniwuhogelisa uBaba omgulisayo? Lokhu kuthakatha okukhonzile?” kuphendula uZinhle.
“Angikholwa ukuthi wena ulethe lezigelekeqe zabefundisi bakho wazifaka emzini kaBaba! Wacanasa emzini wakaMsomi ethi ukhipha amadimoni agcwele umuzi! Usho ukuthi amadlozi ethu asibhekile selokhu kwathi nhlo angamadimoni, Zinhle?”
“Kunjalo! Vele amadlozi angamadimoni, Mondli! Furhi nginaso isiqinisekiso salokho! Ibhayibheli lithi-“
“Usho ukuthi bonke oMsomi asebashona bangamadimoni?” kubuza uMondli enikina ikhanda. “Kusho ukuthi kugijima igazi lamadimoni emzimbeni yethu? Awuyicabangisise lento oyishoyo, Zinhle! Awuthathe isikhathi nawe ulalele lento okhuluma ngayo! Awuboni nawe ukuthi abantu abasithandayo manje bashona basinakekele uma sebeshonile!”
“Ayikho lento oyikhulumayo, Mondli! UJesu kuphela osinakekelayo, nguye kuphela osibhekile. Futhi idlula kuyena kuphela indlela eqonde kuNkulunkulu!”
“Ikuphi inkinga yakho nomuthi wesintu, nenkolelo yesintu? Kuyinto eyasetshenziswa kusukela kudala! Ivela emhlabathini womhlaba okungowethu kusukela kudala.”
“Wena ikuphi inkinga yakho nokholo lobuKrestu, Mondli?”
Kuphela imizuzu embalwa uZinhle noMondli bexabana. Abayeki ukuthethisana noma ezinye zezingane zabo zihayiza zibacela ukuba bayeke. Bayeka ngoba bezwa izwi laMnumzane Msomi limemeza ekungeneleni kwase-lounge. Usondela kubona ngesihlalo sakhe esihambayo, edudulwa uLindelwa.
“Yekani lento yenu nina nobabili! Iyekeni njengamanje!” kumemeza uMnumzane Msomi. “Niyazi ukuthi angifisi okuningi ezinsukwini zami zokugcina. Ngifisa ukubona nina nihlangene, nijabulile. Nginithandile, nganisekela nobabili. Angikaze nginifundise inzondo! Okubi kakhulu ukuthi niyalamana kodwa niyazondana.” Usesondele kubona manje uMnumzane Msomi. Ubakhomba ngomunwe oqhaqhazelayo. “Lwashona kuphi uthando esanikhulisa ngalo sinomama wenu? Lwashona kuphi!?” Ukucasuka kwaMnumzane Msomi sekugcwele indlu yonke.
“Ngicela wehlisa umoya, Mkhulu,” kusho uScelo eguqa eceleni kwakhe. Kugcwele izinyembezi ebuswenu kuScelo. Uphenduka abuke uZinhle noMondli. “Niyabona nimenzeni uMkhulu?”
“Cha, Scelo! Kufanele ngibatshele izindaba zabo laba bobabili!” usho esondeza isihlalo sakhe eduzane kuMondli noZinhle. Ubabuka ngqo emehlweni. “Izikhathi ezimnandi engizikhumbulayo empilweni yami ilezo nina nisebancane. Angikwazi ukuhlala nani nobabili sikhumbuzane lezo zikhathi ngoba niyazondana!”
Ukhihla isililo uMnumzane Msomi.
“Ngobani? Ngitsheleni ukuthi kwenziwa yini lokhu?” ubuza kubona bobabili.
UZinhle noMondli bathule, abaphenduli.
“Ngizonitshela ukuthi kwenziwa yini nizondane!” kusho uMnumzane Msomi esula izinyembezi. “Kwenziwa ukuhluka kwezinkolelo zenu! Kuzifundisani izingane zenu lokhu enikwenzayo? Nizifundisa ukuba zizonde abantu abanezinkolelo ezihlukile kunezabo! Kufanele niyiyeke njengamanje lendlela enicabanga ngayo!”
Kuthulekile endlini manje, kuzwakala isililo saMnumzane Msomi kuphela. UScelo usondela kuyena ambambe, ambambathe amthulise, amqhube ngesihlalo amfake egumbini lokulala. UMondli noZinhle basuka becasukile beqonde emagumbini okulala.
***
Sitshele umbono wakho: UMnumzane Msomi ungumlingisi othandekayo. Yini oyithandayo kuyena?