THE INCARCERATED STRANGER

 

Chapter 40

 

MANGALISO 

 

None of this makes sense to him. How can the doctors not find what’s wrong with his father? The way he looks clearly indicates something is definitely wrong. It breaks his heart to see him like this; his father cannot even speak, just staring blankly at him. He wipes away his tears and walks out of the room, heading toward the living room.

“Oh, you called Mangaliso to do what here?” Senzo asks, disbelief in his voice.

“Instead of trying to call doctors who can help our father, you call a useless person,” Mzwandile chimes in, frustration bubbling over.

“Useless? Brother is not useless; you two are the ones who are useless!” Nondwe counters defiantly.

“Nondwe!” Senzo yells at her, irritation flaring.

“What? Nondwe is right! You two are useless! It’s been a month, and all the doctors you find are useless!” Akhona adds, her voice rising in anger.

He sighs deeply but doesn’t say anything. He lacks the strength to argue or fight anyone right now. Instead, he makes his way upstairs again in search of his stepmother. 

He finds her outside on the balcony, lost in her own thoughts. “Mother,” he says softly as he squats next to her. Hleliwe doesn’t respond; she’s too absorbed in her sorrow. He gently shakes her shoulder to bring her back to reality. She turns and sees him.

“Mangi, I didn’t hear you come in,” she says, wiping her tears.

He sighs and holds his stepmother close, laying her head against his chest as she begins to sob. None of her sons have held her like this since her husband fell ill. All they do is come and go from the house, fighting with each other over things she doesn’t understand.

“I need all the files from the doctors who examined Father,” he says firmly. Hleliwe raises her head to look at him intently.

“I have to visit them; it doesn’t make sense that none of them can find anything wrong with Father. There’s something they’re not telling us,” he insists, searching her eyes for understanding.

“Okay, Son. Come with me,” she replies softly. They both get up and head toward her bedroom, determined to uncover the truth about what’s happening with his father.

   They enter the room, and Hleliwe walks over to the wardrobe, pulling out the files from various doctors who have examined her husband. She hands them to Mangaliso.

“You really think there’s something suspicious?” she asks, concern etched on her face.

“I’m not exactly sure, Mom, but my gut is telling me that something isn’t right,” he replies, his voice steady but laced with worry.

“Do not tell anyone about the files. Can I trust you, Mom?” he asks earnestly.

“You can trust me, son,” Hleliwe assures him. They both glance over at Donga, who is sleeping on the bed, looking frail and vulnerable. 

Mangaliso pulls his mother into a hug, holding her tightly before kissing her forehead. “Dad will be okay, I promise,” he says with determination in his voice before leaving his stepmother in the room.

Stepping outside, he takes out his phone and dials Blade’s number. Blade is the only doctor he trusts completely; he believes he can help his father when no one else has been able to.

-

-

-

RILEY

 

It’s been almost a week since Mangaliso went to Bronkhorstspruit, and she misses him so much. Despite their phone conversations, nothing can replace his presence. 

She wakes up and tidies the bed, preparing to head to her house. After a quick trip to the bathroom for a shower, she emerges a few minutes later feeling refreshed. She puts on her outfit for the day, feeling good as she admires her reflection.

Once she’s dressed, she grabs her phone, car keys, and clutch bag before heading downstairs. In the kitchen, she decides to make something to eat. She’s been busy with her laptop all morning in bed and didn’t manage to have breakfast, so now it’s 12:00 PM and time for lunch. 

As she prepares her meal, she washes up afterward, cleaning the dishes before finally leaving the house.

She drives to her house, and the security guard opens the gate for her. As she drives in, she greets him with a friendly smile. 

Once she heads towatds the door, she unlocks the door and smiles to herself as she takes in the familiar surroundings. There’s something comforting about being back in her space. 

After spending some time enjoying the atmosphere, she decides to clean the house. She gets to work dusting around, making sure everything is tidy and fresh. The simple act of cleaning brings her a sense of peace and satisfaction as she restores her home to its best state.

.

.

.

When she finishes cleaning, she orders food for herself. Just as she settles in, her phone rings. She frowns when she sees the caller ID: it’s Nosisi, her little sister. What could she want? Nosisi never calls her.

She answers the call and puts it on loudspeaker. 

“So you blocked my number for what exactly?” Lulama’s voice cuts through, and she should’ve known it was her mother.

“I’m asking you a question. What did you gain , after blocking my number?” Lulama continues in a fuming tone.

“Peace,” she replies calmly.

“Peace? Peace yokunuka? What do you think your siblings eat when you don’t send them money anymore?” Lulama snaps back.

“Dad sends money; that’s enough for you all,” she responds, trying to keep her cool.

“So? Does that make you stop sending money for your siblings? Aren’t you ashamed, Ayakha?” Lulama retorts.

“No, I’m not! I never signed anything saying I would always send money for your children. They are my siblings, and I love them, but you are their mother; you should be providing for them. Their father is providing for them! I don’t know what you want my money for, Lulama!” she spits back, her frustration boiling over.

Lulama laughs incredulously. 

“A nerve to call your mother by her name? Uyadelela wena Mntana Ndina!”

“Are you done? I want to hang up; my ears are starting to hurt from your voice,” she says firmly before hanging up. She is tired of her mother treating her like this—she has had enough. Not anymore.

Her order arrives, but she has lost her appetite after the tense call with Lulama. She takes the food and heads out, locking the house behind her. 

Making her way to the guard's room, she knocks gently on the door. When he opens it, she hands him the food. 

“Thank you,” he says gratefully, and she nods before heading back to her car.

Once inside, she drives to Pari’s place. Speaking of Pari, she wonders what her best friend has decided about the polygamous marriage. Pari loves Nipho deeply, and it wouldn’t surprise her at all if she’s decided to go along with it. Nipho had begged and pleaded until Pari finally told him she would think about it and needed some time.

She parks outside after Pari opens the gate for her. Getting out of the car, she walks inside, eager to catch up and hear what Pari has decided.

She steps inside, the familiar scent of Pari’s home envelops her. The warmth and coziness make her feel a bit more at ease despite the earlier tension. Pari greets her with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Hey! I was just thinking about you!” Pari exclaims, pulling her into a tight hug. 

“Hey! I brought you some food,” she replies, holding up the takeout bag. 

“Oh, you’re the best! Let’s eat!” Pari says, leading her to the kitchen. They settle at the table, and as they start unpacking the food, she can’t help but notice how animated Pari seems today.

“Alright, spill it! What have you decided about Nipho?” she asks, trying to sound casual but unable to hide her curiosity.

Pari takes a deep breath, her expression shifting to one of contemplation. “You know how much I love him,” she begins.

 “We talked a lot after you last visited. I’ve been thinking about what it would mean to be in a polygamous marriage.”

She leans in closer, intrigued. “And?”

“I don’t know… I really want to be with him, but sharing him with someone else? It’s hard for me,” Pari admits, looking down at her plate.

“Have you talked to him about your feelings?” she prompts gently.

“Yes! He said he understands my concerns and that he wants me to be comfortable with whatever decision I make,” Pari replies, her voice filled with uncertainty.

“I think that’s important. You should never feel pressured into something you’re not ready for,” she says firmly.

Pari nods, gratitude shining in her eyes. 

“Thanks for always being here for me. It means a lot.” 

They continue eating, discussing everything from relationships to future plans, the mood lightening as they share laughter and stories. For a moment, it feels like the weight of the world has lifted off their shoulders.

As they finish their meal, she leans back in her chair and sighs contentedly. 

“So what’s next for you?”

Pari looks thoughtful for a moment before responding. 

“I think I need to take my time and really think this through. I don’t want to rush into anything.”

“Good call,” she agrees.

 “You deserve to make the best choice for yourself.”

With that, they spend the rest of the afternoon chatting and enjoying each other's company, grateful for their friendship amidst life’s challenges.

*

*

*

*

*