CH02

BURNING BLUE
BY BELLA ROYALTY.
02.

[NTANDOKAZI NGEMA]
The last time I was in KZN was about 11 years ago, it was my grandmother's funeral so we all had to be there, that's the last time I saw Aunty Mandisa and her family.

She and mom weren't that close, the fact that they didn't grow up together also contributed to them not being close, when they were separated, Aunty Mandisa was 5 years old and mom was 2, they were both taken by their fathers.

Later on mom went to study in Joburg and that's when she met my father, they fell in love and got married, Aunty Mandisa remained here in KZN, she completed her studies and then started working and then met her husband, she got married and had 3 kids.

My mother and her sister recently got reunited a few months ago, apparently Aunty Mandisa had to hire a private investigator to track down my mother because she had been dreaming about their mother for a while saying she's feeling cold, a ceremony had to be done and a tombstone unveiling as well.

Unfortunately Aunty Mandisa arrived at the wrong time when my mother was losing her medulla, she's actually the one who suggested the retreat in CPT and then asked me to come and stay with her and her family in Durban.

At first, I wasn't sold to the idea, because of obvious reasons, but now I needed to be away from Joburg.

I landed about 10 minutes ago. I had to get my suitcases and bags which was a bit of a struggle. I had two large suitcases, another duffle bag and my small bag that had my phone and other small stuff.

I got to a quiet place and took out my phone and called my cousin, Shaka.
Shaka: Prime, speaking.
Me: Uhm… Hi you're speaking to Ntando, I'm looking for Shaka?
Shaka: This is him.

Did he not say his name is Prime? Maybe that's his nickname?
Me: Oh, uhm… Okay, I don't know if Aunty Mandisa spoke to you about fetching me at the airport?
Shaka: She did, I'm a bit preoccupied right now though, do you have Bolt?
Me: I do.
Shaka: I'll send you a location so that you can request a ride.
Me: Okay.
Shaka: Do you have cash?

I dropped the call, I felt tears stinging my eyes for whatever reason, because tell me why I'm supposed to request a cab for myself now? When I was told that someone would fetch me from the airport? Now that person is suddenly preoccupied?

He tried calling me again and I declined the call and sent him a text.

'Address'

He sent it and I requested a cab, it was R324.00 great!

The driver arrived and he tried to make small talk but I was honestly not in the mood, he was acting shady, speaking on the phone non-stop.
Driver: I hope you don't mind, I have to pick up a friend of mine.
Me: I don't think that's allowed, can you first take me home and then pick up your friend afterwards?
Driver: I'll be quick, I'll even offer you a discount.

I exhaled, I took out my other phone and slipped it in my sneakers, since I was wearing a skinny Jean, it wasn't going to fall off, something about this wasn't sitting well with me, I don't know how drivers in Durban operate, but where I come from they aren't supposed to make any stops with a client inside the car.

The phone I used to request was an old beat up phone I wasn't using anymore since I upgraded. I sent Aunty Mandisa's number to my main phone.

We stopped in the middle of nowhere and this 'friend' hopped in, in the passenger seat, I'm a content creator so I know how to take pictures discreetly, I took pictures of the both of them and sent them to the other phone and all the details I got from the bolt app when I requested a ride.

On my app, it showed that we were using a different route.
Me: Driver, sorry but I think we are headed the wrong way.
Driver: There's traffic on that road, I'm using a short cut don't worry.
Me: Ha.a you know what? You can drop me here, I don't mind, I'll find someone else who will have the patience to endure the traffic.
Friend: Are you in a rush or something?
Me: Yes I am, so can you please drop me off?

They slowed down and as I was about to get off, they locked the door, the friend took out a gun, my heart got stuck on my throat.
Me(begging&crying): Bo bhuti ngiyanicela, please don't hurt me, you can take everything, I have a phone, I have cash as well, just don't hurt me, I've already been hurt, just two days ago, I was sexually assaulted by someone I trusted, I came here because I am running away so please…have mercy on me!!

I begged, wiping my tears and they looked at each other.
Friend: Give us the phone and cash and take your bags and leave.
Me: Thank you, thank you!

I took out the cash and the phone with my shaking hands, the door was unlocked I sprung out, they opened the boot and I took out my luggage, I was in the middle of nowhere, cars speeding off, they drove off as well and I let out a shaky breath, I held on to my knees trying to calm myself.

It took me a while to calm down, I took out my phone from my leg and called Aunty Mandisa, I couldn't help the tears.
Aunty Mandisa: Hey sweety, are you at home already?
Me(crying): I was mugged aunty!
Her: What? Where the hell was Shaka? Where are you?
Me(crying): He said he was busy so I must request a cab. The driver and his friend pulled out a gun and took my phone and money. I'm stranded in the middle of nowhere and I'm scared, aunty please come and fetch me.
Aunty Mandisa: What? Sfiso do you see what your son has done? Baby, send me your location. I'll be there now.

I nodded with my hands shaking and sent her my location via text since I didn't have any social media, not even WhatsApp.

_______
To say Aunty Mandisa was angry would be an understatement, when we got home she made me water with sugar to calm me down, Mam' Zanele the helper was busy calming me down while Uncle Sfiso the husband was on a call with Bolt, reporting the driver based on the information I was able to gather.

Someone walked in.

Aunty Mandisa: Where the hell have you been wena Shaka iLembe? Huh?

Oh, so this is my so-called cousin? The one who was too busy to come and fetch me from the airport? I hated him instantly!

Shaka: What are you talking about mom?
Uncle Sfiso: Your sister was mugged by a Bolt driver.
Shaka: What?

Aunty Mandisa: You're saying what? You're saying what Shaka? I asked you nicely! Nicely Shaka! And you couldn't do a simple thing! Now your sister was mugged! She's traumatized! If it wasn't for her quick thinking as soon as the driver asked if he could pick a friend on their way! She could have been lying in a ditch somewhere!

Shaka: I am so sorry, Lwando right?
Aunty Mandisa: Her name is Ntando! Yoh get out of my face before I rearrange yours! Hamba Shaka!

He walked away.
Aunty Mandisa: Nx! Ungathola ukuthi be-busy nezifebe nje! (I wouldn't be surprised if he was busy entertaining whores)

She exhaled.
Aunty Mandisa: I'm so sorry Ntando, I really am.
Me: It's not your fault Aunty.
Aunty Mandisa: Let me show you to your room so that you can take a bath and get some rest.

I nodded.

[SHAKA 'PRIME' ZWANE]
Mom was oblivious, rightfully so, I really messed up, seeing Ntando traumatized like that really hurt me, but I didn't expect something like this to happen, I really couldn't be at the airport, my mind was all messed up, I just found out one of my sneaky link is pregnant, that really messed me up.

Me: Baba.
Dad: I have nothing to say to you Shaka, you had one job, one job! Fetch your sister from the airport! What did you do? Do you know the shit that girl has been through and you just had to add this as well?

I scratched my head.
Me: I know baba, it wasn't my intention, I'm really sorry.
Dad: I'm not the one they pulled a gun on and took everything from okay?
Me: Did you call Bolt?
Dad: I did, they said they'll handle it.
Me: Handle it how?
Dad: Shaka man!

He snapped.
Me: Can I see the details of the driver?

He handed me the phone and I sent everything to my phone and handed it back and walked out, headed to my car while I made a call to Tumelo one of my friends.

Tumelo: Prime.
Me: I'm on my way to your place, I'll send you something, you better have something when I get there, urgently.
Tumelo: Sharp.

I sent everything to him and drove there, I got there 45 minutes later.
Me: Sure, what do you have?
Tumelo: The driver is Bongani Mkhungo and the friend is Thami Gobo, I have their address, they've been flagged a lot for mugging and robberies.
Me: Oh they are used to doing this and getting away with it huh?
Tumelo: Yep, wait, who did they mug?
Me: My cousin, the one who was meant to be arriving today.
Tumelo: Wait, why would she request a cab?
Me: Because mom and dad had a function to attend and I was busy?

He gave me the look.
Me: Can you not judge me right now? We have two scumbags to kill, are you in or not? Nobody touches my family and lives to tell the tale.
Tumelo: Let me grab my toy.

He got up and disappeared to the bathroom, he came out after a while.
Tumelo: Do we need backup?
Me: Text Lungelo.

He nodded as we walked to my car, I drove off after putting the address on the GPS, we passed by Lungelos place and picked him up and went to the address, it was some place in Umlazi.
Lungelo: Their car and phone suggest that they are at the house.
Me: Good.

We arrived there and got out of the car and went to knock.
The friend opened the door, I think Tumelo said his name is Thami.
Thami: Majita, can I help you?
Me: Move out of the fuckin' way.
Thami: Aibo Ekse—

I pushed him out of the way and we got in, they had cash spilled out on the bed, phones, jewelry, weaves.

I whistled, the other one walked back in.
Bongani: Thami ntwana who was at the— yey ekse kuhambani lana?
Tumelo: Y'all are busy here, counting your earnings, while our sisters and brothers are traumatized because of your hustle!
Thami: Wha—
Me: Ey futsek wena! Bongani, you had a client today, from the airport, a beautiful girl, this one…

I showed him the picture.
Me: You remember her?
Bongani: I—
Me: Ey wena masaka khuluma! Do you recognize her?

I pointed the gun at him and he swallowed.
Lungelo: Where is her stuff?
Thami: Her…
Me: Her phone and money!
Thami: It's…let me—
Me: I'm going to shoot you, stop wasting my fuckin' time!

He scrambled something under the pillow and then grabbed the cash.
Tumelo: Is that all the money she had?
Thami: Yes, she had R2480 I swear and this is her phone.

I inspected the phone, mmh, iPhone 16, being an influencer must pay well.
Me: You decided to rob the wrong person today gents, here's what's going to happen, we will be doing deliveries, you're taking back everything you stole today to its rightful owners, do you hear me?

They nodded repeatedly.
Tumelo: Azishe.

They packed up and we led them to our car and we began with the deliveries, they didn't necessarily knock on the door and wait for an invitation inside, they knocked and left the items at the door and ran inside the car and we drove off, until everything was returned to the owners, except Ntando's stuff.

Tumelo drove to a secluded area.
Me: End of the road gentlemen.
Bongani: Ngamla siyakucela, please don't kill us.
Me: I bet she begged for her life as well, just like you're doing right now.
Thami: Yes she did and we let her go, we didn't touch a hair on her head!
Me: Congratulations then, that makes everything fuckin' okay donnit?

They shook their heads, I put in my silencer as they begged for their lives.
Me: Like I said, yall chose the wrong person to mug today!

I shot them.
Lungelo: I kind of feel like that was too easy.
Me: It was but I have some apologizing to do back at home.

I grabbed some gasoline at the back and started pouring it on them and then Tumelo lit them up and we watched as they burnt to ashes.
Me: Let's bounce.

We drove off.
__________

When I got home, everyone was having dinner except Ntando.
Me: Mah.
Mom: Don't even talk to me Shaka.

I sighed and went upstairs. I didn't even know which one was her room. I opened two empty rooms and the third one was locked, it must be it.

I knocked and a few seconds later it was opened, she was all puffy and swollen.
Me: Sho
Ntando: Hi
Me: How are you holding up now?
Ntando: What can I do for you Mr. Preoccupied?

I closed my eyes a little.
Me: Ntando listen…
Ntando: Save it! You guys nje are all the same! When someone asks you to do something you don't listen! You do your own thing! Niyafana and niyizinja!
Me: Haibo, Ntando come on, that's not fair, I was busy with something I didn't know something like this would happen though cut me some slack.

She indicated that she was cutting something with her hands and I bit my lip, she hates me.
Ntando: There, I've cut you some slack, leave me alone.

She slammed the door on my face and I exhaled, well damn.

I knocked again and she opened so fast like she was waiting for me to knock again.
Ntando: I know this is your home and all and you're entitled to every room but—

Me: I found these at the gate, figured they belonged to you, they must have been dropped off by the thugs that mugged you earlier, Dad called their offices and maybe they didn't have the guts to face you so they left everything at the gate.

I handed her the phone and the wallet, she slowly took it and I noticed the marks on her wrists, they didn't seem new which meant that she didn't get them today during that encounter with those thugs, I was suddenly a bit concerned.