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21
21AT THE HOSPITAL
Sazi sat close to the bed as her son lay soundless asleep after being induced on some painkillers. His face was swollen, with bruises on his body, fortunately, there were no broken bones or irreparable damage. Sibu excused herself after receiving an emergent call to respond to her office even though it is Sunday. The husband was nowhere to be seen; Thando left the room to the bathroom a while ago.
THE HOSPITAL BATHROOM
An unexpected figure stood right by the wash station as if he had been waiting for him to come out of the bathroom. The man he had been avoiding the whole time, the one person he did not want to have a one-on-one with, Bantu.
Bantu: are you going to stand there forever or you’re going to wash your hands?
Thando: I’m sorry.
Bantu: for?
Thando: everything.
Bantu: is that all you have to say? Your parents really did a bad job raising you.
Thando: I can’t dispute that.
Bantu: it’s really surprising seeing you here.
Thando: excuse me?
Bantu: I thought you’d use the women’s bathroom after what I witnessed yesterday. I’m surprised to see you’re still a man. This is very demeaning and degrading by the way, because--- does it even sound normal or look acceptable for you to date another man or pursue anything romantic with a person of the same ***? It is atrocious, disgusting, and will never be okay! Which brings me to my next point--- how much do you want?
Thando: I don’t want anything.
Bantu: then leave my son alone! Because not even in my wildest dreams will I ever accept whatever you two think you have going on. I will not let my son demean and trash my honor. This disgusting mindset of yours has to go. I will take all measures necessary to get him away from you.
Thando: I again apologize for my poor upbringing. I do not want to be the reason for your family to break up and crumble so I will honor your wish and leave your son alone.
Bantu: don’t be mistaken, you don’t have even the slightest power to have an effect on my family, let alone hinder it. You don’t amount to anything. Plus, Sandile is getting engaged soon, so it will only be favorable to leave right now and never surface infront of my son ever again.
Thando left with no words and defeated left the bathroom in a hurry holding back tears with his eyelashes. Of course, he did not have the slightest hope that he’d be accepted overnight by his lover’s family. But the fact that he had such mean words and actions of discrimination acted right in his face he had no other choice but to leave and forget the boy who brought so much trouble into his life.
2 WEEKS LATER
THE DORM
As if handling the exams and many practical tests was not hard enough, countless calls and texts from Sandile were a bother too. He had to block him over 5 times until he finally got the message that he had no desire to talk to him even though he missed him like crazy. His heart was wrenched and bleeding profusely, the words Bantu said to him kept him up at night and some days he’d wake up with a broken heart from going to sleep crying. At least one other person he’d missed dearly was opening up to him. Chuma was back on talking terms with him and this made his battling the breakup with Sandile at least 10% better.
After being badgered a couple of times he finally opened up about everything, and like every time talking about it helped.
Thando: so, things went west with the family, and I ended up being kind of exiled from the person, called names and shamed…shamed to dirt and made to feel less than nothing. It was very brutal, and it is a moment I do not want to relive at all. I do not even wish it on my worst enemy to get embarrassed like that. That breaks you in all forms.
Chuma; I never had faith in humanity, and I never will. I did know that there were such people, but I never thought someone close to me would have such an experience. I cannot begin to think how hurt and broken you are right now. I admire your strength and will to push on, had it been me, I don’t know where I would’ve ended up. I am so sorry that such a thing happened to you. Some people really will never see heaven.
Thando: I really am trying to take it day by day and find purpose to survive gain. I thank you for your comforting words. It means a lot to me.
Chuma: anytime champ.
Thando: really surprising, I never thought you had that side to you.
Chuma: now you know, whenever you need to talk---hit your boy up. Don’t ever suffer alone. Make me your emotional punching bag.
Thando: okay, stop now. Really, because I might just take you up on that offer.
Chuma: so, on the lighter side of things… you’ve been seeing someone this whole time? It really is always the quiet ones.
Thando: did you ever suspect anything?
Chuma: not really, I was just too far in my head and under the influence of one toxic individual that I paid no attention to you after our little fallout.
Thando: so, you have been snacking too, who was it? someone I know?
Chuma: as if you know that many people. But no, it is someone you do not know, anyway it doesn’t matter because it is someone I will never be seeing gain. What about you? Whom have you been going on dates with and cuddling with? Anyone I know?
Thando: not really.
Chuma: you’re hiding something and I’m gonna let you win this once.
Thando: thank you.
Chuma: I know this may sound a little weird, but I missed you dawg.
Thando: why is that weird? I missed you too.
Chuma: just…
Thando: a heterosexual complex I will never understand.
Chuma: maybe…
THE MAGAGULA HOUSEHOLD.
Sandile stared emptily out the window from his bedroom. He was on lockdown because somehow Bantu believed with enough discipline and punishment he could chase homosexuality out of him. In the meantime, nothing had changed of course, but his investment and passion for the work did not seem to die out as he even arranged for a therapist to come and talk to his son. Moreover, he had booked him into a Christian reflection camp/ program to get him to think straight again so he can toss his old ways aside.
Therapist: it has been a whole week, are you sure there is nothing you want to share with me?
Sandile: nothing, I just admire the will you have for your work. You come here every afternoon even though you know you will not get anything out of me. Is that fun for you?
Therapist: more than it being fun, I am doing it to help you feel better and see that we are all trying to help, no one is trying to spy on you.
Sandile: I really did not need that long of an answer. You could’ve just said that you’re doing this for money as you are because I am sure my father pours thousands into you.
Therapist: I heard you’re set to get married soon. How do you feel about that?
Sandile: what do you think about my father Doctor? Don’t you think he needs therapy too? He is one angry man and I know this first hand.
Therapist: I am more curious about you than your father… but you’re more than allowed to tell me about your relationship with him.
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