“Ntombekhaya”

“Ma”.

 

Ntombekhaya, Mam’ Sbiya’ s last born answered going towards her mom. Mam’ Sbiya’ was a widow with three daughters Asisipho the first born,Lungile the second born and Ntombekhaya.

Asisipho and Lungile were happily married and working,they had everything they needed in life while Ntombekhaya was doing grade eleven at Emadlakadleni High school. Ntombekhaya was the only one left to take care of her mom at a village called eMadlakadlakeni.

 

“Come take a sit” Mrs Sbiya said dragging a black chair next to her.

“We need to talk”. It was very unusual for Mrs Sbiya to be so serious. Ntombekhaya sat down giving a face of confusion as she faced her mother.

“Atleast give a smile girl” Mrs Sbiya said,

 

“You are very young, pretty and smart. I’ve became a grandma as you can see, you’re sisters are married and you’re quarter to finishing school. Your father died long ago and you were still young…”she continued,”I might die soon,I need you to stay focused and know what you want in life don’t let anything distruct you on your studies”.

 

She never waited for an answer,she stood up and went to take a bath.

“Ma please wake up!!mama don’t leave me now I still need you” Early in the morning the following day, Ntombekhaya made breakfast in bed for her mother when she noticed she was no longer alive. She was crying out loud that the neighbours came to check what was wrong. Undertakers arrived to take the dead body after 4 hours,Ntombekhaya was still waiting for her sisters. People kept on comforting her.

 

“What took you so long?”Ntombekhaya asked Asisipho who arrived after 2 hours after the undertakers were gone.

“I had business to do Ntombekhaya….what happened?” Asisipho didn’t care,she only loved money, fashion and she loved fighting.

 

“I can’t tell you till Lungile arrives as well,you two are always late even after hearing that mommy has left us, you’re still late…where the hell is she?” Ntombekhaya answered Asisipho with tears on her face. It was already late and it was only the two of them in the house.

 

“How am I supposed to know her?” Asisipho returned the question looking irritated. There was silence for some minutes

‘knock knock’

Lungile stepped in tears flowing out of her eyes”Ntombi what happened?”. “As someone who was advising me,she spoke those sad words after she stood up and took a bath,she had super and went to bed.” Lungile said crying,

“I woke up today morning prepared food for her,I tried waking her up but she didn’t even say ‘mmhm’…I knew that it was time for me to cry so I did that”.

They all looked terrified and emotional. Losing a mother was never a simple thing to get over. They went to sleep,,it was the night and the day…the beginning of the preparation.

 

(The day of the funeral)

Everything have been going well. They looked united even thou Asisipho wanted to be the only one doing the preparation.

“Her three daughters will come and talk to her for the last time” the pastor said handing over the mic to Ntombi.

“WHAT!!”shouted Asisipho,”I’m the first born this is supposed to be handed over to me not her. Not a second born,not a first but the whole last born,come on!!”.

 

Whatever she said after taking the mic,no one listened to her instead people started mumbling “she’s rude”, “who is she”, “I would slap her with my own hands”.

 

People never kept quiet till the funeral was over and the three sisters were left alone. Lungile and Ntombi decided to take a bath together.

 

(At the bathroom)

“Lungile”

“Hello girl…”

“When are you leaving?”

“Before you return to school,why asking”

 

“I’m just asking,you know things will never be the same. Mom is gone,your sister humiliated me at the church,how will people look at me now?I mean everyone will be telling me about her” her face was full with tears and sadness.

 

“Dont cry baby. You know how heartless she is,it will all pass. It’s something you have to go through…I will send you money everyday. Dont cry now, you’ll make me cry”.

While they were hugging each other, Asisipho who was listening to them secretively kicked the door and entered holding the biggest sharp knife.

 

“Whoa… Asisipho what are you….” Right before Ntombi was about to finish her sentence, Asisipho interrupted. “So I’m heartless huh” her face was full of fury. “I’m talking useful Lungile answer me”

 

“No I didn’t mean it like that… it’s just that”..”Quiet,why are you explaining….. someone said I humiliated her…”.

 

Ntombi and Lungile had ocean eyes,the begging face and they couldn’t stop panicking while keeping quiet looking at Asisipho who kept pointing them one by one by that knife she was holding.

 

“I’m looking forward to killing you too…beg me!beg me “. They started begging her, screaming out loud with crying voices. The neighbours couldn’t get inside the house to help since Asisipho locked all doors and windows.

Lungile got tired of begging and decided to fight for the sake of her and her sister. The knife was flying in the air. It was hard to see who was holding the knife.

“Ahhhh!!!”till a scream came out and Asisipho stepped back hands covered with blood of her own sister. It went clear on Ntombi’s eyes who was stabbed. No, not just stabbed to death.

 

“No!!you killed her” she said screaming, crying out loud with a voice of a sorrow needing a surgery. She kept on lifting her sister’s head up. Shouting her name hoping she’ll wake up but no she didn’t. Asisipho looked okay, not looking like she regretted what she just did. She walked out of her bathroom, took her key cars and her bags and left back to Johannesburg.

(Another funeral again)

 

“What happened?”

“A lot happened, Lungile was trying to save our lives.”

“We should just bury my wife, I won’t let her go just like that…” Mr Mazibuko Lungile’s husband said. He arrived the same night after being told what happened to her wife. So the funeral preparation went on till the day they buried Lungile then mr Mazibuko returned to Johannesburg.

Ntombi was left alone she had trauma so the was a counseling that she attended that Mazibuko paid for. He also sent money each and every month end.

“Wow I made it to my matric big brother” at the end of the year after getting her grade 11 matric she went to Johannesburg to visit Mazibuko and his twin sons. “Aunty daddy is not the same since mama left you know” Simphiwe, the talkative twins said,”I know baby…I won’t be easy for Jim to forget his …….”

“NTOMBI DOWN, DOWN THE HOUSE IS BEING ATTACKED”Mazibuko shouted interrupting Simphiwe and Ntombi’s conversation. As they layed down Sipho started screaming. He was the second twin not bold as his parents,he was just afraid of danger. “Dad, what’s happening!?”.

“I don’t know, as soon as they’re done shooting Ntombi we need to talk”. Right before the gun shots sound was silent they stood and locked the twins in their rooms. “We have to kill her” Desmond Mazibuko said as he took his sit at his study room followed by Ntombi,”who?”

“Your sister”he looked serious and furious

“Why, she’s still my blood”Ntombi’s cried out

“I know,I only sent her my message ‘be aware where you step your feets young lady. You killed my pillow remember. Desmond Mazibuko’. She decided to attack my house she started the war”.

“But she’s dangerous. What if she kills you?”

“You will take care of my kids. I know the war won’t be okay infront of them hence I want you to take them with you”

“Where to!”

“Emadlakadleni, tonight you’ll leaving. You may stand and leave”. It took a short period of time then it was already the night. Ntombi and the twins where escorted to Emadlakadleni. Reserving money from Desmond,life was never that hard.

“Desmond Mazibuko I’m doing matric dude…the kids!”. It was already time for Ntombi to go back to school when she decided to look for a nanny for the twins but Desmond turned her off and took them to his mother. So it was her,her books and her lonely home. She never got updates about the war,she trusted Mazibuko whole heartedly. The whole year the war kept on going on after Ntombi wrote her last paper from school she received a call from her sister,

“hey you open chancel 191. You really need to hear this”after she hanged Up.

“Mr Mazibuko have been attacked and shot to death. No one is sure what happened but the police are investigating…may the helpful soldier of the world rest in peace”

“Noo….she killed him too!!!!”.

Mrs Mazibuko Desmond’s mother buried Mazibuko. After a month Ntombi called the police and told them she was sure that the person who killed Desmond was Asisipho. While they were still looking for proof Asisipho was held in jail for murdering Lungile. After results were out Ntombi moved to University for her medical studies. The twins went to school and started their primary school. “Once I’m done studying,I’ll find a job and send you guys money every day .” At last Mrs Mazibuko was the one paying her school fees.