CHAPTER 58

CHAPTER 58

[NIKEZINKOSI]

I won't lie and say I'm not sad doing all this alone. I am very hurt that Diamond and Sno both left me to explore all this place by myself. I saw that Sno left with her bags. I don't even know how long her event will take, but she said if it finishes early, she might come back which I highly doubt, because there will probably be an afterparty or whatever things artists do.
So, I decided not to dwell much on it. I won't sit in the guesthouse feeling sorry for myself. I need to get out and enjoy this money alone. At the end of the day, it's Mnotho's money. To be honest, it's not really mine. Yes, he gave it to me, but it's still his. I need to spend my man's money alone. I guess maybe the universe is telling me to just enjoy life alone, without everyone in my life.
I switched off my phone and decided I'll use my old phone to take pictures. I still have a full day and a half to explore more here in Durban. Thankfully, both Pinky and I were given Monday off because there's no work happening at the centre due to construction. I guess on Tuesday it will be her and me. I wonder how it will work because that woman hates me now.
The main reason I switched off my phone is that I don't want to be disturbed. I did inform Mnotho that I would switch it off because I know how he is, he would freak out.
I'm at Oceans Mall now. I just pray I don't get lost in this huge place. My aim is to try as many restaurants or kitchens as I can here, different dishes too. I want to try seafood as well, but I'm alone in this city. If my allergies act up, I'll be all alone… so, no. I'll pass on seafood. Yes, I do have an EpiPen, but I'm still anxious.
My last call with Mnotho, he was way too talkative. It must have been the alcohol. I didn't even ask how the braai went. He had told me that Bangizwe suggested no women should attend the braai, which was meant for Bonga. Apparently, Bonga needed men to advise him on how to run a business and also give him life advice in general. Bangizwe seems like one of those strict uncles in the family.
I'm curious about Mtho in all this. I hope he's not feeling left out, and I really hope Bangizwe and the men at the braai won't compare Bonga to Mtho.
Once I'm done with everything I came here to do, I'll call Mtho and check up on him.
Mnotho had asked me to meet Jobe once I get to Joburg. I'll be meeting him alone at first, before I meet the rest of the family soon. I don't even know what "soon" means, next week, the next few weeks, next month?! I'm not sure, and all of that makes me anxious. Meeting his family will mean our relationship is serious and moving into the next phase.
At first, I was skeptical about it, meeting Jobe and then meeting his family soon. But this will give me a clear picture of the kind of family he comes from. I'll see it from my point of view, not his. And it will determine if they love me, accept me, or not. I need to know where I stand with them, because imagine going there already pregnant or deep in this relationship and finding out they hate me, it would be so hard. So, I'll take "soon" as it comes.
And Bangizwe did come to see Mnotho when we were busy. Mnotho ended up… or we both ignored him until he left. Imagine if he had walked in and found his brother losing his sanity while I was giving him head, that would have traumatised Bangizwe a lot.
In my case with my family, the people I know will have a problem with me bringing an older man closer to their age, that will be my mother and my uncle, my dad's brother Mbongiseni. I know those two will give me a hard time. I just need to get my grandmother on my side because I know she'll be neutral; she won't take anyone's side. Except for Aunt Lunga, of course. She will support me. Which makes me think, since I'm already in KZN, I might as well get her something nice for her, using her future son-in-law's money, and bake something for her. Let me just do that.
.
.
.
One thing about fancy restaurants is that the food is so small. I ordered a three-course meal just to make sure I at least get full, or at least a bit. I had to call Aunt Lunga and ask her what I should bake for her, but her phone went straight to voicemail. So I bought a lot of ingredients, just in case she wants something extreme, because I know that's how she is.
As I sip my cocktail, I notice a familiar face at the entrance. Our eyes meet, and he smiles widely.
Ndumiso? What the hell is he doing here?
He walks straight to my table, still smiling.
"Nikky, lovely seeing you here," he says gently.
I just nod.
"Hey, are you here for work?" I ask.
He shrugs casually.
"Kind of. Sno told me the two of you were here. I thought she was lying," he replies. "Should I sit? I won't stay long, I'm meeting someone here," he adds.
Should I? I don't like mixing business and personal life, but maybe we'll end up talking about business anyway.
"Yes, you can sit," I say, gesturing for him to sit across from me.
He pulls out the chair and sits.
"We finally meet. Saturday is far," he says, chuckling softly.
I frown slightly.
"No, it's just a joke," he adds quickly.
Before I can even reply, the waiter drops my appetiser in front of me.
"Thank you," I tell him, then turn back to Ndumiso. "I've already ordered," I say.
"No, I'm okay. I'll order when the guy I'm meeting arrives," Ndumiso says, glancing at the waiter.
The waiter leaves, and Ndu is still smiling, his eyes fixed on me.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"With what?" he asks quickly, sounding innocent.
"You're staring," I point out.
He laughs softly.
"Come on, you're a beautiful woman. It's hard not to stare," he says without shame. One thing about men, they really have no shame. Where is the guy he's meeting anyway?
"Have you ever thought of joining the media industry? You'd fit in," he says softly, still staring.
"Jesu," I mutter under my breath, shaking my head.
"Not at all. I'm happy where I am," I tell him honestly. I don't think I have the kind of talent that would put me on TV. Even if I go back to culinary school and make a name for myself, I wouldn't involve the media that much. Maybe social media, yes. I'd post my plates, my recipes, but not my face.
I do have a page where I post things I've cooked and baked, but that's all. Bonga once suggested I post about my chilli oils and sauces. I tried it once, but someone left a horrible review, saying my products gave her ulcers. I know I shouldn't have stopped because in business, bad reviews happen, but that one broke me. It felt like that person knew me personally and wanted to hurt me.
"But you'll need exposure for your cooking skills," he continues, leaning back slightly, "and your beauty too, of course. People are drawn to beautiful women like you. Your beauty can bring you clients and money," he says, then winks at me.
I don't know if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I swear I see him lick his lips.
I sigh softly and place my fork down. I need to leave. I'm feeling uncomfortable now. I even regret allowing him to sit here with me. I don't know if they allow takeaways here, but I'll eat when I get back to the guesthouse. Maybe I'll cook myself a comfort meal and bake too. I've done a lot for one day already, and all I want now is to go back, rest, and maybe search for a culinary school that will be flexible with my busy working life.
"Sir, we are here," a voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
Two men I don't know are standing next to Ndumiso.
"Oh, okay, I'll join you now," Ndumiso says to them, and they walk away.
Thank God. They finally arrived.
"I hope I see you later," he says as he stands up. "Please think about what we talked about. Your beauty can't be hidden, and I can help," he adds before walking off.
I let out a heavy sigh.
He's being weird now. I'm not even exaggerating. And no, I won't take his offer to be on TV or whatever it is he thinks he's selling.
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.
.
"Where are you?" Aunt Lunga asks. It's a video call. She finally mastered how to do them now.
I giggle softly.
"I'll tell you when I see you," I say. When I leave here, I'll ask the driver to take me to Danhauser first before we finally head to Joburg.
"Okay, my child. You can bake anything for me, no need to overspend your money," she says gently.
I smile. I've already baked a cute cake. I wish it could stay like this forever, untouched and not eaten.
"No, I'll bake as much as I can for you. I haven't seen you since February," I tell her. Tomorrow it will be June. And I know she won't eat everything alone. Everyone back home will want to taste them.
I groan softly as something hits me. Something that will definitely cause war.
"Auntie, I don't know if this will cause drama," I say quietly. "My mom asked me to bake for the church. The pastor committed suicide, and I told her I won't do it. I won't attend the funeral or help, and she's angry."
I sit down, staring at the screen.
"What? Zacharia is dead?" Aunt Lunga asks loudly. "Praise the Lord. Finally, that bastard is gone."
I don't know how to feel about that.
I never liked Zacharia, especially how he handled the Zorro situation. That drunk, creepy man. The whole church, including my parents, turned against me. They said I was imagining things and told me to stop wearing revealing clothes to church. I was only a child then. Twelve years old.
My mom is very devoted to that church. She turned a blind eye. I still love her, though.
"Your mother is crazy," my aunt says firmly, pulling me out of my thoughts. "You did good by saying no. Don't feel bad about it. If she loved her pastor that much, she should bake."
I sigh softly.
"I know, but I know she'll be mad when she hears I baked for you and didn't help her," I say.
The video call starts glitching, probably network issues on her side.
"Don't worry about Sylvia. I'll talk to her," she says. "My child, I'm having network problems here. We'll see you when you get here."
The call ends.
.
.
.
If I had money, I would buy this house without thinking twice. I'm sitting in the jacuzzi, facing the ocean. Everything is calm, quiet, and so beautiful. It's already late now. I need to call Sno and ask if she's coming back or not, because I'm the one with the keys. I already know that once I'm done here, I'm going straight to bed. I need a long, deep sleep.
Diamond texted me earlier to say she had finally arrived in Johannesburg. That was hours ago. I didn't reply. I'm still hurt that she left to go to Konke and abandoned all of this, leaving me to enjoy it alone. I know his situation might be serious, but still… I sigh. I honestly don't even know how to feel. She loves that man, and it would have been wrong of me to stop her from going back to him.
Suddenly, I hear voices at the back. I freeze. I haven't seen a single person since I arrived here, and now the voices sound louder. Then I hear the doorbell ring. My heart jumps. Maybe it's Sno. I quickly step out of the jacuzzi and wrap a towel tightly around my waist. As I reach the back door, ready to open it, the door camera catches my eye.
I stop and look at the screen.
It's Ndumiso… and three other men. One of them is holding him tightly.
What the hell?
Why is he here?
I quickly press the intercom button.
"Hello," I say, my voice shaky.
One of the men steps closer to the camera.
"Ma'am, sorry to disturb you. We are the security team patrolling this area. We found this man standing here, looking suspicious. Do you know him?"
Thank God for these guards. Ndumiso has been acting strange all day.
"Nikky, please," Ndumiso says loudly. "I tried to explain to them. I was waiting for you or Sno to open. I'm not a criminal."
The guard tightens his grip on him.
"Yes, I know him," I say carefully, "But I didn't tell him to come here. And my friend Sno went out."
"No, Nikky," Ndumiso says quickly. "Sno said I could come. She's on her way. Please tell them to let me go."
Absolutely not.
"No, Ndumiso," I say firmly. "You can't come in. Please leave and meet Sno somewhere else."
I'm half naked for crying out loud.
"Okay, ma'am," the guard says. "We won't allow him inside. Sorry to disturb you. Good night."
They drag Ndumiso away. I rush to the window and pull the curtain aside. I see him being pushed into a car. It looks like his car, because he's in the driver's seat.
No.. I don't want to deal with Ndumiso ever again.
I rush to the kitchen where I left my phone. My hands are shaking, not from fear, but from anger. I scroll quickly and call Sno. It rings twice before she answers. There's laughter in the background.
"Snothando Mvelase," I say firmly.
She gasps.
"Oh my goodness. My name and surname? What did I do?"
"That friend of yours was here," I snap. "He said you told him to come here."
"Ndumiso?" she asks.
This girl.
"Yes. Him," I say angrily. "Why would you send a man I barely know here when I'm alone?"
"I didn't think it was a big deal," she says quickly. "You two are doing business now. I thought maybe he could wait there and talk to you about the gig."
I shake my head.
"Is he still there?" she asks. "Tell him to wait for me."
"No," I say. "The security guards chased him away."
Thank God for them. The last time I opened a door for a man, I got kidnapped.
"Look, Sno," I say calmly but firmly, "I don't want anything to do with Ndumiso ever again. I'm not doing that gig. I'm not taking that job."
She gasps loudly.
"What? Come on, Nikky. Ndumiso isn't a creep."
Maybe not to her. But to me, he is.
"I'm done," I say. "I've made up my mind. And tell him, if he ever comes back here, they will shoot him."
I hang up.
I place my phone on the counter and sigh deeply.
I can't believe this just happened.

•••
[KUKHOKONKE]

Diamond is sleeping, jet-lagged. She tried to call Nikky before falling asleep, but it went straight to voicemail. I understand why. How could Diamond just leave the getaway Nikky planned for her? I know she said she was worried about me, and I appreciate that, but I'm okay. I will be okay.
This is how my journey is meant to go. I will lose my voice. I will lose my sight. I will lose people I tried to help. That is how it has always been. I didn't get too harsh with Diamond because I saw how worried she was, and how relieved she looked when she realised I was alive and fine. I also saw her messages and the thousands of missed calls she made. Still, when she wakes up tomorrow, we need to talk about this. She cannot pause her entire life because of my gift. She also needs to live for herself.
I'll meet Nhlamulo on Monday. He said he managed to figure things out, and now he's on his way to Mpumalanga to fetch that plant. I lean down and place a soft kiss on Diamond's forehead. I need to finish this Cothoza issue once and for all. Maybe Ndleleni will finally appear and tell me why they took my voice when I tried to help Nhlamulo.
I gently close the bedroom door and walk toward the balcony. Things happen there sometimes. As I step outside, I pause and look around. I see nothing. I feel nothing. I guess no one came to see me tonight.
Let me go get that monkey's bloody claw.
.
.
.
I sit in my car, staring at Cothoza and MaMngadi's place. I can see a few of his students walking back to their huts. Good. Even so, I'm not scared of anyone here. Not Cothoza, and not his bloody students.
I turn around to the backseat and grab my shovel. I know exactly where he buried that monkey's paw. I step out of the car and lock it behind me. I lift my head and look up at the sky, at the stars. I hope my birds, or my crows, come and help me tonight.
I sigh softly and make my way to the gate. Strangely, it's open. Maybe Cothoza left… or maybe..
I spot MaMngadi walking toward the toilet. I whistle to her. She turns and looks at me, clearly shocked. I still don't understand why the toilet is so close to the gate. She slowly walks toward me.
"Konke, what are you doing here?" she asks, shocked and in disbelief.
I frown slightly. Didn't she say I should come and deal with Cothoza? She said not now, but we were planning to. Or did she betray me? Or did Cothoza cast a spell on her?
I need to act now. My best acting. Hollywood level.
"I need help, Ma. I can't do this anymore," I say, sniffing.
"What? What's wrong?" she asks, her voice full of worry. This is the MaMngadi I know, not the cold and bitter woman I saw the other day.
"My… My gift is too heavy. Please, can we go inside? I need your help," I say, my voice full of fake pleading.
Her face softens. She nods and steps aside.
"Yes, of course, come in. Oh my boy, I'll even make you some tea," she says gently.
Tea my foot.
I step inside and smile. When I turn around, I see the monkey's paw lady standing there. I smile at her.
"She says we can come in," I say.
The monkey's paw lady smiles and walks through the gate.
"Who are you talking to?" MaMngadi asks.
I ignore her and walk straight into the yard. I know exactly where it's buried, together with Papi's body.
MaMngadi starts screaming my name. I ignore her and begin digging.
"What are you doing?" she shouts.
I ignore her again and keep digging. Digging deeper. I hear movement behind me. She's screaming for everyone to come out and help her.
I keep digging.
Suddenly, there's loud commotion. I turn around and raise my shovel. Some of Cothoza's students are awake now, standing there, staring.
"If you come any closer, I'll kill you," I warn them.
Then I look at the monkey's paw lady.
"Deal with them," I tell her.
.
.
.
I don't know what the hell the monkey's paw lady did to MaMngadi and the students, but they are frozen. They can't move at all. Only their voices are screaming and shouting. I don't care what kind of witchcraft she used or whatever, it doesn't matter. I'm here to free both Yibanathi and Celo from this curse.
A shovel hits something hard under the dirt. I pause, set the shovel aside, and kneel down. I use my hands to remove the dirt. I see something wrapped in plastic. I touch it and freeze. It's a head. That has to be Papi.
"I'm sorry, Papi," I whisper, and continue removing the dirt. Then I see something else wrapped in plastic. It has to be the paw. I grab it quickly and open the plastic. Inside… It's a knife. I frown.
"Give it to me," a voice says. I look up. It's Gogo. I blink.
"This is what Cothoza stole from you?" I ask in disbelief. A knife? I hand it to her anyway. She looks at me, worry written all over her face.
"Go and save our bride," she says. I blink, confused.
"Wha…" I start.
"Go save our bride," she repeats firmly. I feel my body go cold. Bride… that means…
"I'll take my paw, and thank you," the monkey's paw lady says, kneeling next to me. "Go save Diamond. Cothoza took her," she adds.
I shake my head.
"No, no," I say, standing up. "I left her home sleeping," I tell them.
"Go, Konke. Please, follow your crows, they will lead you to her," Gogo says.

••••

Bangizwe hands Mnotho a drink with a mischievous smile. He hasn't left yet, and he doesn't think he will anytime soon. Mnotho has been acting weird, and Bangizwe knows his brother, whatever it is, it's not good. But since this involves this mysterious woman, he finds it hilarious.
"Bangzwe, I need to go to sleep now," Mnotho says softly, but he takes the glass anyway.
"You've been staring at your phone the whole day," Bangizwe says.
"I'm waiting for an important call, then I'll go to sleep. I can't be drinking and then going to bed… Nikky…" Mnotho pauses and shakes his head. He knows he's said too much.
Bangizwe chuckles softly.
"That Nikky again? Come on, when are we meeting her? I thought you said it was serious," he asks, a little annoyed at the secrecy.
But Mnotho ignores him, focusing on the phone. Nikky has been quiet, and that raises his blood pressure. The guard sent him a text saying they will call for a report, and he is waiting for that.
Bangizwe sighs, shaking his head as he takes a sip of his whisky. He has tried to see this woman so many times, but Mnotho is blocking him. He wonders why, because if that woman has no children and is independent, he sees no problem with her being the woman Mnotho should marry. Plus, she can cook and loves Bonga, that's a bonus. He asked Jobe if Mnotho had mentioned anything, but Jobe told him he knows nothing. Bangizwe knows how much Jobe loves Mnotho; if Mnotho had told him anything, he wouldn't have said a word.
The sound of Mnotho's phone cuts his thoughts off. Mnotho quickly answers.
"Talk to me," Mnotho says.
Bangizwe watches as his brother listens attentively to whatever the caller is saying. Mnotho finally stands up abruptly and hangs up.
"What's wrong?" Bangizwe asks, confused.
Mnotho finally looks at him. He's not sure how to tell his brother, but Nikky is his woman, and a man had tried to get into the guesthouse she's in. He has to go see what's going on.
"I need to go somewhere, lock up," Mnotho says, rushing off and leaving Bangizwe stunned.
Bangizwe notices Mnotho talking to Mtho, whispering, the moment Mnotho walks out. Bangizwe walks straight to Mtho.
"What's going on?" Bangizwe asks.
Mtho shrugs.
"Come on, you know," Bangizwe says, clearly curious. "What did he say?" He doesn't understand why Mnotho talks to these boys, little boys, instead of him, the adult.
Mtho rolls his eyes and stands up.
"Uncle, go sleep. Uncle Mnotho is not coming back anytime soon. And please don't interfere. I know you," Mtho says coldly and walks off.
Bangizwe gasps loudly, not shocked at all. He knows this is how this bloody drug addict speaks. He looks at the door, thinking.
"Should I follow him?" he whispers to himself, as an interesting idea sparks in his mind.