CH23

BURNING BLUE
BY BELLA ROYALTY
23
SPONSORED CHAPTER.

[SHAKA 'PRIME' ZWANE]
I have been trying to call Peach all morning. She hasn't been answering and I was getting worried. We last spoke last night after she sent me those spicy pics that left me having to call in self service back at my apartment, she hasn't been online and it's 10am now.

I finally arrived at home and went inside.
Mom(smiles): Hey baby.
Me: Good morning, where's everyone?
Mom: By everyone you mean, Ntando? Shaka?

I exhaled.
Me: Mom, can we not do this right now?
Mom: No, Shaka we are doing this right now! Leave Ntando alone! She is your damn cousin!
Me: Why do I feel like you're in the mood to start a fight Mom? That could only mean that something has happened!

She exhaled.
Mom: I think that… Ntando has been struggling with what your father did to her.
Me: What do you mean? I know she hasn't tried to leave again, she's in the house and yes I'm keeping tabs on her without her knowledge, so what's wrong?
Mom: Uhm… she tried to commit suicide.

I laughed.
Me: Nice one Mom, Peach is not suicidal, she's many things but suicidal.
Mom: Shaka I'm serious, she took some pills, luckily we caught her on time, made her gag them all out since she didn't want to be taken to the hospital, she's a bit out of it.

I looked at her and she was damn serious.
Me: Where is she?
Mom: Shaka give her some space!
Me: No!

I ran upstairs to her room and I found Gogo sitting on the couch, Peach was sleeping on her bed.
Me: Hi, Gogo.
Gogo: Shaka, you shouldn't be here.
Me: I'm not allowed to see my sister now?
Gogo: I didn't say that, she just needs some rest.
Me: Can you give us some space Gogo?
Gogo: No Shaka, leave.
Me: You know you and mom are acting really suspicious right now.
Gogo: You're being paranoid, let the girl rest.

I looked at Peach, something was off with the way she was sleeping, I don't know whether I was reading way too much into things or what, but I didn't buy this whole suicide story my mother told me and why is Gogo the one guarding her like this? It's not like Peach will wake up and try to do it again, if that's even the case.

I exhaled and walked out, I went to the fridge and got out a bottle of water, the intercom rang and mom answered it and then opened the gate. A fleet of cars drove in, about 3 of them, with the same registration number, MIYA.

My heart slammed against my chest, my hands became sweaty, Baba Omncane welcomed them and they got inside the house, one by one.

Mamncane Khethiwe(gasps): Haibo! Mandisa! Who are these people? And why do they have such a strong resemblance to Shaka?
Mandisa: Khethiwe, how should I know?
Mamncane Khethiwe: Shaka, call Mom upstairs, and come back here, don't even stay upstairs with Ntando.

I went to call Gogo and she didn't even allow me inside, we returned downstairs and these people had already sat down.
Gogo: What the hell is going on here?
Mkhulu: Ningobani?(Who are you?)
Man: Siyanibingelela boZwane, thina singoMiya, I'm the elder of the family, Thembinkosi's father, that's his brothers, Khethukuthula and Khululeka, that's my wife Ma'Ngwekazi, my grand daughter Ndalo.
Mkhulu: It's nice to meet you…
Man: Miya should be fine.
Mkhulu: Miya, you can refer to me as Zwane, this is my wife, Ma'Nxumalo, these are my kids Sbanisezwe and Khethiwe, this is our daughter inlaw, who is married to my son who is currently in hospital, and that's her son, Shaka.

They looked at me.
Ma'Ngwekazi: What a handsome young man he is.
Mom: Ngiyambongela, I don't mean to be rude but, what can we do for you?
Thembinkosi: Firstly we'd like to give you these.

He handed them papers, which Mom, Baba omncane and Mamncane Khethiwe scanned.
Mom: Is this some kind of a joke?
Mkhulu: What's wrong Makoti?
Mom: This has to be a joke right.
Miya: I am afraid it's not a joke, we wouldn't joke about something this serious, Shaka is our son.
Gogo(gasps): What? Mandisa you cheated on my son?
Mom(shocked): Mama I would never!
Khululeka: She didn't cheat, the kids were swapped at the hospital.
Mom: Oh so I don't know my own child now?
Ma'Ngwekazi: We didn't say that, please calm down.
Mom: Calm down? After everything I've just read here? You want me to calm down!
Gogo: Mandisa calm down!

Mom huffed and sat back down, she was shocked and angry.
Mkhulu: Someone please explain to us what the hell is happening here?

Ndalo: If I may, a few days ago I ran into Ntandokazi at the hospital's parking lot suffering a panic attack, I helped her through it and she thanked me and joked about me looking like her cousin, as a way to thank me for saving her life she asked to have lunch with me, we met the following day and she showed me pictures of Shaka, her cousin, I noticed that the resemblance was uncanny, I showed her pictures of my father and brothers and we both agreed that Shaka could be my brother, at first we thought that maybe he was a product of an affair maybe dad cheated on my mother or something.

Mandisa: I never cheated on my husband!

Ndalo: Mrs Zwane we know that, so I did my own investigation, I found out that Shaka was born on the same day that Zibuko my brother was born, you and Mom shared the ward, it was a ward with 4 mothers, two who had just given birth to girls and the other two had given birth to two boys, my mother woke up to check her son and found out that she wasn't breathing, I cannot speak for her on what she was thinking because we haven't heard her side of the story, but we assume, she panicked thinking that maybe her child had passed on.

Baba omncane: So she swapped the kids?

Ndalo: Yes, she swapped the kids and left the ward, when Mrs Zwane woke up to breastfed her son, he was not breathing, so she called for help, the doctors were able to resuscitate the child back to life and he lived, not knowing that her biological son had been swapped and my mother had left the hospital.

Mom broke down in tears.
Thembinkosi: At first things with Zibuko were fine, however my mother always pointed out that Zibuko looked nothing like any of us at home but we dismissed that because it happens, sometimes kids don't look alike, however when he was 7 he started getting sick, we took him to hospitals, specialists, we performed traditional ceremonies for him but he got worse, he had to stop going to school because he couldn't even walk, at age 8, he was worse, so I went to consult, that's when I was told Zibuko wasn't my child, he needed to be introduced to his real ancestors, I thought my wife had cheated on me, I confronted her but she denied cheating on me, so I had a DNA test done and the results confirmed that indeed I didn't father Zibuko, but I kept begging her to take the child to his real father before he died but she was stubborn, kept insisting the child was a Miya and unfortunately due to her stubbornness, the child died at age 8, these are his pictures.

He handed them the pictures, they all gasped.

Mkhulu: uZwane phela lona ezihlalele!

Gogo: Yazi we did raise this issue yaShaka as well about how he looked nothing like us, but we also dismissed it, there was a time where he also asked us why he didn't look anything like us, but eventually that conversation was put to rest, we never suspected that Shaka might not be our own, he wasn't even a problematic child, never got sick or needed any traditional ceremony.

Miya: I don't know how to begin to apologise for this.

Mom was a crying mess, I was given the pictures of Zibuko, and he looked exactly like a Zwane, had my father's resemblance, looked like the twins as well.

Mom: So the boy I gave birth to is dead?

They looked down.
Mom: You are not taking my son away from me! I may have not given birth to him but I raised him from when he was a day old! Do you know what I went through that day? I gave birth through a C-section because I had complications, I couldn't move a muscle for 6 hours after I gave birth, I couldn't even hold my own child, she must have swapped them while I was passed out because of the injections, when I could finally move, feeling my breasts painful, I reached for my child and his breathing was shallow, I panicked and called the nurses and doctors, they took my child away and I cried and prayed to God to save him, and he saved him!

She wiped her tears.
Mom: I named him Shaka Manqoba because he survived! He conquered! Unlike….

She read the papers in front of her.
Mom: Unlike Nonhlanhla I didn't give up on him! So no, this is my son!

I just got up and walked out, I wiped my tears as I got inside my car and just sat there, now I needed Peach.

Ndalo got out of the house and got inside the car with me, we sat in silence.
Ndalo: You can let it out, nobody expects you to be strong right now, it is a lot.
Me: I just need Peach.
Ndalo: Peach is Ntando?

I nodded.
Ndalo: Speaking of her, where is she? I've been trying to call her.
Me: She's not okay.
Ndalo: What happened?
Me: They say she tried to commit suicide

She laughed a little.
Ndalo: That's bullshit.
Me: Exactly what I said! Peach isn't suicidal, I know she's been through a lot but she was okay, we were okay, she went to bed happy last night.
Ndalo: Where is she now?
Me: She's upstairs, sleeping. They won't let me near her. I don't know whether they think I'll make love to her in that state or something.

She exhaled.
Ndalo: There's no other way to get in her room?
Me: No.
Ndalo: That's not good.

[NTANDOKAZI NGEMA]
My whole body hurt as I woke up, especially down there, I tried to remember what happened last night, all I could remember was Shaka sneaking in the room for a quickie, maybe that's the reason why it's so painful down there.

I slowly got up and quickly sat back down because of the pain. I winced while holding my lower abdomen. It was so painful, I massaged it but the pain was unbearable. I didn't understand what was happening. It's not supposed to be this painful.

I called Shaka and he answered almost immediately and all I could do was cry.
Shaka: Babe? What's wrong, are you okay? You're awake?
Me(crying): What did you do to me Shaka? It hurts so bad!
Shaka: What do you mean baby?
Me(screams): Oh my God!!

I dropped the phone, clutching my lower waist, my PJ pants turned red immediately, I fell on the floor, the pain was unbearable.

The door opened and I heard some commotion.

Aunty Mandisa: It looks like she's having a miscarriage.
Shaka: Thats not possible, she's not fuckein pregnant! Peach what's wrong?
Me(crying): Shaka! Please help me! It's so painful! I feel like something is inside me chopping my organs! Aaaaaah! Make it stop please!!
Ndalo: We need to take her to the hospital right now!

When did she get here? Shaka scooped me up and ran down the stairs with me, everything else was blurry.

_____

I woke up feeling heavily medicated, eyes heavy but I was able to open them, Shaka got up immediately.

Shaka: Hey, hey I'm here, it's okay.

He wiped a tear off my face.
Me: What happened to me Shaka? Why was I in so much pain?
Shaka: Don't worry about that Peach.

He kissed my lips.
Me: Please tell me what happened, please.
Shaka(sighs): You had a miscarriage.
Me(shocked): What? Why? No! That's not possible Shaka I wasn't pregnant!
Shaka: The doctors say that—
Me(screams): Fuck what the doctors said! I was not pregnant, Shaka!
Shaka: Peach calm down, these things happen—

Me: Shaka don't fucken patronize me! Have you ever heard of anyone falling pregnant with an IUD? Why the fuck do you do think I've been having headaches so much? That's one of the side effects! So don't patronize me!!! Yazini leave Shaka! Leave!!!

Shaka: Baby I know this is a shock even to you but—
Me(screams): Leave Shaka!!!!!

He sighed and walked out and I scoffed, miscarriage? That's nonsense!

I called him back on the phone, he got back inside.
Me: Did you sneak into my room last night?
Shaka(shocked): What?
Me: Did you or did you not?
Shaka: Babe I didn't come back home last night, I slept at my apartment, I told you that I didn't want to come back because I'd be tempted to sneak into your room and I know mom was on high alert.
Me: Shaka why are you lying? You came into my room last night, you spooned me from the back, your hand was in my cookie, you went down on me!
Shaka: Me? Baby I swear!

What? Am I going crazy? So I was imagining things? He didn't get in my room? Why don't I remember anything after that? He ate my coochie and then what? It's blank, no it's dark actually.

Shaka: Baby what's wrong?
Me: Please leave.

He exhaled and left, I wiped my tears, the doctor got inside.
Doc: How are you feeling?
Me: I did not have a miscarriage.
Doc: It's okay to be—
Me(snaps): Ey futsek Man! I'm telling you that I didn't have a miscarriage!
Doc: Miss Ngema I get that—
Me(screams): Leave!!!

He just stood there and I was about to remove these tubes hooked in me, so he decided to leave

Me(crying): Why can't I remember anything?

[DR. NDALWENHLE MIYA]
I couldn't help but sigh after dropping the call with Shaka, my brother sounded distraught over the phone, distraught and helpless.

I was there when he received the call from Ntando, I will never forget hearing her screams, the way she was screaming in pain and anguish, we rushed to her bedroom and the poor girl was covered in blood and screaming.

So we rushed to the hospital, and we were told that she had a miscarriage, now Shaka is telling me she's sure she didn't have a miscarriage, apparently she's on an IUD and from what I've heard, it's one of the most effective forms of birth control, so she may be right about not experiencing a miscarriage.

Another thing that caught my attention was when Shaka said that she's under the impression that he snuck in her room last night and they fooled around, but Shaka never went home and the only other male in there is the uncle, Sbanisezwe or something.

I hope I'm wrong, I hope that man didn't try something with Ntando, Lord knows that girl has been through enough already but I have this unsettling feeling, why can't Ntando remember what happened last night?

Lethokuhle: Knock! Knock!
Me(smiles): Hey friend.
Lethokuhle: Okay, your energy is off.

I smiled faintly, we refer to Lethokuhle as uGogo because well… she's a healer, but we are friends, she's one of those cool young sangomas if that's even acceptable to say, but yes, she deals with people, she heals them with her herbs, she has her own herbal pharmacy, she does consultations as well.

Me: That obvious huh?
Lethokuhle: Yes, wanna talk about it?
Me: Gogo I cannot afford you.

We laughed.
Lethokuhle: Uyaphapha! What's wrong? You should be on cloud 9 right now, you've just been reunited with your brother.
Me: I am happy, but there's this—
Her: The one who led you to your brother?
Me: Yes, sweet kid, who's been through a lot and now—

She started groaning.
Me: Gogo?

She settled down a little.
Lethokuhle: Mmmmh!

She groaned, shaking her head and I didn't know what to do.
Lethokuhle: Take me to her.
Me: Okay, okay, let's go.

We rushed out, Ntando had been admitted to the hospital I work at, so it was easy getting to her ward, Mrs Zwane and the grandma were there.
Lethokuhle: They won't allow us, we need to disguise ourselves as doctors, that girl doesn't have much time!
Me: Okay.

We returned back to my office, I found an extra pair of scrubs, she wore them, I gave her a notepad, I wore a mask over my mouth and we went there.

Mrs Zwane: Doctor, how is she now?
Me: I'll give you feedback when I've just examined her.
Gogo: Can we see her?
Me: After we are done checking her out.
Mrs Zwane: Remember doctor, I don't want anyone who's not family to enter this ward.

We nodded and got in.
Ntando: I said I don't want anybody getting inside here especially if you'll continue to lie to me about having a miscarriage! I know damn well I wasn't pregnant!

I removed my mask.
Ntando: Ndalo, oh thank God, tell your people that—

Lethokuhle walked closer to her.
Ntando: What's…. What's happening?
Lethokuhle(exhales): Never stop praying sisi, God is the one who helped you out of that situation, otherwise if 'it' had gotten access, you would be here with a damaged uterus or you'd be dead, the way 'it' was relentless, 'it' hasn't been fed since it's master is laying in the hospital, you cannot return to that house.

Ntando and I looked at Lethokuhle confused, like what?
Ntando: Ndalo, what… What is she talking about?
Lethokuhle: Your aunt's husband uthwele ngenyoka, it targets young girls, when he snuck in your room, it wasn't for himself, it was for the snake, it wants you, it couldn't wait, so last night it disguised itself as your boyfriend, but you quickly figured it out that it wasn't him, it robbed you of your sight, mobility and sound, but it could not rob your ability to sense and feel, only you know how your boyfriend does things on your body.

She wiped her tears.
Me(emotional): So it was the snake?
Lethokuhle: They all know, the whole family knows, that's why they threw a powder at your face that knocked you out and when you woke up, you didn't remember a thing, but you saw it, you saw it Ntando.
Ntando(crying): Did he know?
Lethokuhle: That's the only person who has your back in that house and he will continue to protect you.
Ntando: Even my aunt?

Lethokuhle: Especially your aunt, that story she told you and your boyfriend about her husband being into girls? It was a lie, she's always known who he was, what I don't get is, why did she bring you to Durban? To her house because I feel a vibe that she didn't want this snake near you, so why bring you here either way?

Ntando(crying): Kanti mina ukuthula ngizokuthola nini? What did I do to anyone? Why are all these things happening to me? Who did I offend? Is it not better ngivele ngife?(I die?)

I couldn't take it anymore, this was so sad.