CHAPTER 65

CHAPTER 65

[KUKHOKONKE]

My mother called and told me that Zenzele's parents are both very sick. She said they can cross the line any minute now.
I am packing slowly, feeling drained as I think about going home and facing those people. My heart feels heavy. I think I have punished Zenzele enough. Maybe I have been too hard on him. I am ready to hear him out now. If his parents are really about to die, then maybe this is the last chance for peace.
The monkey's paw lady will probably take his parents soon. It feels long overdue now.
Going home might also help me reconnect with Ndleleni. He has been giving me the silent treatment, and it worries me a lot. I don't know what is really going on with him. Even his mother has been quiet too. That silence makes everything worse.
"My love," a soft voice calls from the lounge.
That's Diamond.
I haven't seen her for three whole days. We have only been texting and calling.
I drop the shirt into my bag and walk out of my bedroom toward the lounge. I find her sitting on the couch. She looks tired and drained, like the world has been sitting on her shoulders.
"Hey, why didn't you tell me you were coming? I didn't cook," I say gently and drop a kiss on her forehead. I missed her so much.
I sit next to her.
"My phone is off. I need to charge it," she says softly.
She climbs onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and resting her chin on my shoulder. I instinctively wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Her body feels warm but tired.
"You must be really exhausted. This job is taking a toll on you," I say quietly.
She nods.
"Mmh, it does. I had to knock off early today so I could see you. I missed you a lot," she says, her voice low and emotional.
"I missed you too," I whisper and kiss her neck gently. "How about I run you a bath so you can soak and relax? You've been so tense."
She shouldn't be working this hard.
She pulls away slightly and looks at me, her eyes heavy with sleep.
"Please, I would love that. I just remembered I didn't inform Nikky that I'll be sleeping this side," she says, moving from my lap back to the couch. She takes her phone from her back pocket. "Life has been messy. My mind is all over the place," she adds quietly.
I frown slightly as I look at her.
"What's wrong? Are you fighting with Nikky?" I ask. I thought they fixed their issues.
She sighs deeply, her shoulders dropping.
"No, Nikky and I are fine. It's my sperm donor and his wife," she says, her voice filling with irritation.
Sperm donor. That is such a harsh word.
"What did they do?" I ask carefully.
She stays quiet for a moment, like she is trying to control her emotions.
"He is sick. Actually, his wife is demanding my kidney," she says angrily.
I tilt my head, blinking in shock.
"A kidney? He wants a kidney? Your kidney?" I ask, confused.
She nods.
"Yes. Imagine, after all these years of neglecting me, now he wants my kidney? He can go to hell. He won't get it," she says, still furious.
My eyebrows draw together as my mind starts racing.
"When did this happen?" I ask. Her situation feels too similar to the vision I had a few days ago.
She bites her lip.
"Three days ago," she answers.
I gasp loudly.
"Three days ago? And you didn't tell me?" I ask, shocked and hurt.
"I know. I'm so sorry, love. I was very busy at work. I was planning to tell you. I was going to tell you. I was just too angry and sad about the whole thing," she says, stumbling over her words.
I can't believe this. I feel hurt. Deeply hurt.
Her life could be in danger if those two people I saw in the vision are connected to her. What if she is the daughter they were talking about?
"I'm sorry, Konke," she says sadly, holding my hands tightly.
"I thought we were a team," I remind her quietly.
"We are. I made a mistake by not telling you," she says, blinking rapidly.
I shake my head slightly. I need to find a way to see her father and stepmother myself so I can be completely sure they are the same people I saw in my vision.
"You went alone to the hospital?" I ask.
"No. Nikky went with me. We thought it was Aunt Thembi who was sick, but no. It was just Nomvula tricking me so I could see that evil man," she answers.
Mmh.
I need to call Nikky and tell her everything. I need the hospital name and the ward number.
"Okay, thembalami, let me go run you a bath," I say softly. I kiss her lips and stand up, walking quickly to the bathroom.
I need to go to that hospital tonight.
The moment I enter the bathroom, I open the tap so the water can run. Then I quickly close the door.
I take out my phone. I hope Nikky is not sleeping or busy.
I scroll to her contact and press call.
It rings for a moment before she answers.
"Konke? Hello? What's wrong? Is Diamond fine?" she asks quickly.
She is already panicking.
"Diamond is okay. She's here. She'll be sleeping at my apartment. Her phone battery died," I say, trying to calm her.
She sighs in relief.
"Oh, that's better. I was worried. I tried calling her," she says softly.
"Yeah. Look, I need your help. It's about Diamond," I say, my voice turning serious.
She goes quiet for a moment.
"Okay. I'm listening," she says.
.
.
.
Nikky wanted to come with me, but she told me she is not feeling well. I assured her that I would handle this. She has already done enough. She has carried too much on her shoulders.
I am sitting in the parking lot now.
For a moment, I consider using astral projection… an out-of-body experience. But that is risky, especially in a hospital where so many souls pass through. Different spirits. Lost energy. Confused presences. Hospitals are never spiritually quiet places.
So that idea is out of the question.
I will have to lie my way in.
I told Diamond that I went to our place to check if the workers locked up properly. She believed me without hesitation. That makes me feel guilty, but I have no choice.
I take a long, deep breath and say a silent prayer.
Then I step out of my car, lock it, and walk straight toward the entrance.
I am wearing a disguise, of course.
When I reach the reception area, there is sudden commotion. A man is bleeding badly. Nurses are rushing around him. People are shouting.
Oh, thank you, Sokhulu ancestors.
This distraction is exactly what I need.
I move quickly while everyone is focused on the injured man. No one notices me.
His ward is on the third floor. Nikky told me they moved him there because his condition is getting worse.
I step into the elevator and press the button.
Thank God I did not use the emergency entrance. I would have probably been caught.
The elevator doors open.
Third floor.
Damn. There are nurses standing nearby.
I doubt they will ask me where I am going, but I keep my face calm and walk confidently past them. I do not look nervous. I do not slow down.
They do not stop me.
They do not question me.
I keep walking until I reach the ward where Diamond's father is admitted.
My heart beats harder now, but I force myself to stay steady.
I open the door slowly and walk inside.
He is alone.
His wife is not here.
I walk closer to the hospital bed and study his face carefully.
Then I shake my head slowly.
It is the same man.
The same man from my vision.
This bastard. He neglected his daughter. He abandoned her. Now that he is sick and close to death, he suddenly needs her help?
Worse… he and his wife want to harm Diamond and steal her kidney?
Not on my watch.
That will never happen.
He is fast asleep. Machines beep softly around him. His breathing is slow and heavy.
I look around the room carefully and spot a jacket lying on the chair. I pick it up. It is probably his.
I need to see how long this man still has left on this planet. I need to know how much time he has.
But I cannot do it here.
What if someone walks in? What if I get caught?
I move to the drawers and open one.
Nothing useful. I open another one.
Still nothing I can use.
I stand up straight and look at him for a long moment. I study his face carefully, making sure I remember every detail, the shape of his nose, the lines on his forehead, the way his mouth rests.
I need his face clear in my mind.
But he cannot die yet.
No. We still have unfinished business.
We will meet soon. Very soon.
When I send my family to his home to ask for Diamond's hand in marriage, he must be there.
It is a must. He cannot die without apologising to Diamond.
He cannot leave this world without facing what he did to her. I walk to another drawer and open it.
Ah. A toothbrush.
I stare at it for a second.
This will do.
I pick it up slowly and slip it into my pocket.
.
.
.
"You should have called me, Nikky. I'm going to strangle that woman!" Diamond says angrily as I walk in.
I passed by a Chinese restaurant and bought her food on my way back.
"Tomorrow she will know me. I'll go to that clinic myself and beat her up," she continues, still furious.
I place the takeaway on top of the coffee table while she paces up and down the lounge room. I will ask questions when she calms down.
"I don't care. Tomorrow I'm dealing with her," Diamond says and hangs up the phone, groaning loudly. She throws herself onto the couch.
"What's wrong?" I ask calmly.
She chuckles darkly.
"Nikky was attacked by her colleague. Tomorrow morning that clinic will know me," she says, clicking her tongue in anger.
I frown.
"Nikky was attacked?" I repeat, feeling sad for her. No wonder she said she wasn't feeling well. Poor thing.
"Pinky will know me. She clearly doesn't know me. She will pay. She should be arrested for assault," Diamond says, still angry.
I sigh softly.
I need to tell her about her father and stepmother. She must stay away from them until I come back.
"Thembalami," I say softly but firmly.
She turns and looks at me.
"What's wrong? Is everything okay at our place?" she asks with concern.
I love the way she says our place. Because it is our place. She sees a future with me.
"It's about your father," I say seriously.
Her face changes immediately. The anger fades, replaced with tension.
I hold her hands gently.
"Listen, I want you to stay here until I come back from home. I won't be gone for long," I begin carefully.
"Why? What's wrong with my flat?" she asks, shocked.
"It's about your father and your stepmother. I don't trust them. I believe they might try to harm you and take your kidney by force," I say gently but firmly.
Her eyes widen. She gasps loudly.
"Oh, I will kill them, Konke. Let them try," she says fiercely.
Oh Lord.
"Diamond, I'm serious," I say firmly. "Please make sure you don't meet up with them. Don't meet your family either. Be alert. Be careful. Please, thembalami."
She keeps staring at me.
"I will tell Nikky too. She's the only person I trust right now. Anyone else can easily be bought," I add.
Even though I have already told Nikky everything.
Diamond stays quiet, processing my words.
"Please stay here until I get back. No one must know you are here. Don't use your car. You can use mine to go to work," I say gently but seriously.
"Konke… they called for a family meeting. It will be held at Aunt Thembi's house this Sunday," she says slowly.
I shake my head quickly.
"Don't go. Please don't attend it," I say immediately. "You don't owe anyone an explanation. They cannot force you to do any tests. They cannot force you to give that man your kidney."
I look at her deeply.
"Please. Don't attend," I add, my voice calm but pleading.
.
.
.
What I told her has shaken her a bit. But she needed to know the truth and the danger she is in.
She is sleeping now.
All the lights are switched off. I step out onto the balcony with the toothbrush and a bucket of water. The night is quiet. The air feels still.
I sit down in a meditation position.
I look at the toothbrush in my hand, then at the calm water inside the bucket.
"Please show me the past," I say softly, holding Diamond's father's face clearly in my mind.
I close my eyes and drop the toothbrush into the bucket.
After a few seconds, I feel myself sinking.
It feels like the floor beneath me is opening up, ready to swallow me. But I don't fight it. I let it take me. I let it swallow me whole.
Then I feel my feet touch solid ground.
There is giggling and voices. Music playing nearby.
I open my eyes.
I am standing next to two women.
This place looks like a very big restaurant or bar. The lights are warm and dim. There is a lady on stage singing beautifully.
"He's been staring at you," one lady says to her friend.
The lady who is speaking feels familiar. Her energy feels close to me. But her eyes are fixed on the lady singing on stage.
Her friend giggles softly. I can see her face clearly.
"I know. He's been asking me out for weeks now," the friend says.
"If you feel like he's not a good man, don't go out with him. You know they are not allowed to force themselves on us. Lira will kick them out," the first lady says firmly.
The friend nods.
"I know. But I think Mr. Slow Talker actually wants you. Give him a chance," the friend says teasingly.
Who are these women?
I try to move, but I cannot. I am standing behind the bar, stuck in one position. I still cannot see the first lady's face properly.
"I have a son to take care of. And his father wants to take him overseas. He got a job that side," the lady says, her voice low and thoughtful.
"It's a good opportunity, friend. It will open doors for Boy Boy. Think about it," the friend advises gently.
They go quiet, just looking around the place.
My eyes roam around too.
And then they land on a familiar face.
Diamond's father.
I gasp.
He is younger here. Stronger and healthier. I see him winking at the lady's friend.
The friend turns around and leans against the counter, blushing.
Wait a minute…
"Friend, see what your cards are saying," the friend giggles.
The lady turns around and places a deck of tarot cards on the counter.
I freeze.
She looks straight in my direction.
Wait. Can she see me?
Is that even possible?
She squints her eyes slightly, like she is trying to catch something in the air. I quickly try to duck, but she frowns.
"What is it?" the friend asks, confused.
"I thought I saw a butterfly," the lady says slowly, then shrugs.
The friend laughs.
"A butterfly? Here? Impossible," she says.
The lady begins shuffling the cards.
Suddenly, one card flies toward where I am standing. It lands right at my feet.
I look at it and bend down to pick it up.
But before I can touch it, the floor opens again.
Everything disappears.
I am dragged down into water. Cold water.
I hold my breath. I do not fight it. I try to swim, but something pulls me deeper and deeper.
I sink until I see houses… huts.
I hit the ground hard.
I am deep under water, but I can still stand. My heart pounds fast. No… this is not my time to initiate yet. And aren't we supposed to float in the water world?
"Sit down," a cold voice commands from one of the huts.
I walk toward the hut slowly and step inside.
I freeze.
Ndleleni is in the middle.
There is a man and two women sitting on throne-like chairs in front of him.
Is this the past?
Ndleleni is wearing a white garment. He is holding a blue cloth in his left hand.
The air feels heavy.
Something serious is happening here.
"We said sit down," the man in the middle says firmly.
"So this is why you dragged me here? To shout at me? Can't you see I am mourning?" Ndleleni says coldly.
Mourning?
"So now you want to go after that family and kill them?" the man asks furiously.
What is really going on here?
"Yes. They took my wife from me. They called her a witch," Ndleleni says, his voice shaking with anger. "And they killed her. She was only trying to help that child. And she did. The child is well and healthy," he adds bitterly.
I just stand there, confused.
The two women sitting beside the man seem to understand Ndleleni's pain. Their faces are calm but serious. Only the man in the middle looks angry.
"This is not how we do things here. You crossed the line," the man argues.
"I thought this gift was meant to save people. To help people, no matter what," Ndleleni says, his voice rising. "So I should just stand there and watch people die, knowing very well I could have helped?"
"Helping people by doing whatever you please?" the man fires back.
Why is it only this man speaking?
Ndleleni scoffs loudly.
"So I must do everything you tell me? Huh? Why? This is my path. I am the one who must walk it. How will I learn? How will I grow this gift if I keep listening to you?" Ndleleni says angrily. "Look, I listened to you. And now my wife is dead."
His words are sharp. Painful.
"What? You think I am not fit for this gift? You want to give it to your favourites?" Ndleleni continues, furious now. "Forget it. This gift is mine. And it will pass down to my own bloodline. No one else."
He turns around and walks out, ignoring the man calling his name.
I quickly follow him.
He pauses outside the hut and sighs deeply. He places the blue cloth over his shoulder.
Should I talk to him?
I walk closer and stop a few steps behind him. I feel nervous.
Suddenly, he turns around.
Our eyes meet.
He walks closer and closer until he is standing right in front of me.
His hand reaches up and gently touches my face.
He smiles.
"You are from the future," he says softly. "It looks like my legacy is still alive."
He smiles again, but there is sadness in his eyes.
He looks around carefully, making sure no one is watching us.
"You have to leave. Now," he says gently.
He places his hand over my eyes.
Everything goes dark.

•••

[DIAMOND]

I find Nikky at the outdoor kitchen. She is busy baking.
Isn't she supposed to be resting?
I still need to pass by that clinic after this. Pinky had the nerve to touch my sweet, quiet sister.
"Nikky? Aren't you supposed to be resting?" I ask in disbelief.
She looks at me and rolls her eyes.
"I'm fine, Dee. I took some painkillers. I have to bake some biscuits for my father-in-law," she says and giggles.
I giggle with her and sit on the stool. I'm on my lunch break.
"Father-in-law? How is he? Didn't he scare you?" I ask, laughing a little.
She smiles and hands me a biscuit.
"Well, it went well… except for the older brother. He doesn't like me at all," she says and sighs softly.
Oh, that's not nice.
"What did Mnotho say?" I ask, biting into the biscuit.
"Well, he stood up for me. He didn't let Bangizwe get under my skin," she says warmly.
Aww, that's nice. I knew I could trust that man.
"By the way, enough about my future in-laws. How are you doing? Konke told me about his vision," she says quietly, staring at me carefully.
Konke's vision…
I still can't believe that man and his wife want to harm me and take my organ. If it wasn't for Konke, I might have walked straight into danger without knowing.
"Well, we both know that man is evil. I'm not surprised," I answer honestly. "And Konke said I should stay at his place and use his car so I can be safe," I add, feeling grateful.
Nikky nods, still smiling.
"He's a lovely man, you know," she says, giggling softly.
I know. He really is.
My phone suddenly vibrates in my hand. I jump slightly.
Please don't let it be Nicole.
When I check the screen, it's Aunt Thembi.
I answer quickly.
"Auntie," I greet politely.
"Hey, my love. Can you talk?" she asks gently.
I stand up from the stool and walk toward the garden for privacy.
"Yes. What's wrong? Are you okay?" I ask, already feeling worried.
She giggles softly.
"I'm okay. My blood pressure is fine. It's about the meeting," she says.
I frown slightly.
"I know you are still upset, but you need to attend. It's very important," she adds carefully.
Important?
I know exactly why this meeting was called.
They want me to test. They want me to give that man my kidney.
"Auntie…" I begin softly.
"Please, my baby. Do it for me. Just attend. That's all," she begs gently.
I sigh quietly.
I feel pulled in two different directions.
I don't want to disappoint my aunt.
But Konke's warning keeps repeating in my mind. His serious voice and his fear.
His protection.
And now I don't know what to do