Wayebobotheke mpela u-Andile lo gama uMthobeli wayejwaqeka ngumsindo.
“Andile ufuna ntoni ngoku.”
“Ndicela uxolo ndoda ngokubuza lo mbuzo andiqondanga, ndiyaxolisa.” Wangxengxeza uNobuhle ezisola nento ebembuzela yona ngoku.
“Awusemhle khawuzise ndibone.” Waphakama uMafungwashe wabonisa ngomsesane koonina, bakikizela bewubuka umsesane. Wathi ukuba ahlale phantsi uKumkani waqonda ngeziphambili. “Ingaba ke mntwan’am senilimisile usuku lo mtshato?”
Kwakuthi ke phambi kokuba kutyiwe apha kuthandazwe kuqala bandule ukudla. Kodwa ke ngolu suku lwanamhlanje bathi besalungislela ukuthandaza uMafungwashe wahlabela ingoma yokuqala eculwe ngumbhexeshi ecaweni.
Basondela kuye bahlala kwisofa leyo awayehleli kuyo bamxhaga macala, yabaganga isofa ngobuntofo-ntofo bayo yanga iyakonwabela nokuchotshwa ngamakhosikazi eKumkani. Bathi ukuhlala kwabo bayana ngamehlo babeka impungo yabo phezu kwetafile yegilasi bemfake phakathi uZintle. UNobuhle inkosikazi enkulu neyokuqala kaKumkani wabuza exhalabile. “Yintoni basangana ubuso mama’uZntle kutheni?” Efuxuza uZintle. “Ngu Fungie.”
“Ayikho kaloku eny’into yimali uyabona tshali ndiyayithanda nyani le moto ndiyithengileyo kodwa ingxaki nje ngunkosikazi asikwazi ukuba sichilisane ngemoto eyodwa.”
Wanxunguphala umphefumlo wakhe wonakala, kaloku iNkosazana yayingumntu onentliziyo encinci, khumbula ukuba ngezolo oomama bale nzwakazi bebemphathele iimpahla nezipho eziyintaba; namhlanje sebeguqukile bahleka intsini menyo. Ingqondo yakhe yathanda ukubethabethana xa kanti aba bantu ebecinga fanukuba bayamvela xa esentlungwini; ngabona bayenza into yokuhlekisa intlungu yakhe. Waqonda ukuba eyona nto iyakumtsho akhululeke kukuhlamba eshaweni eshushu; aphungule ingqele andule ukulala mhlawumbi nentlungu leyo iyakuhla.
Eli xhwele lalithenjiwe eBhotwe; ngamabhotwe ngoba lalibenzela izinto ezibukwayo, kwesi sihlandlo kwayiwa ecaweni ngabo bobane.
“What’s your name again.” Emjonge ntsho emehlweni.
“Nihamba nenza ntoni?” Emnika isingxobo sakhe kwakunye nezinye iimpahla ebeziphethe. Wahlala phantsi walinganisa isihlangu samlingana.
Waguqa wamqhobosha.”Ke lo nto ziyacac’uba zihambisa kamnandi, kutheni zaqina kangaka ungaboph’iqhina le mfene apha. Esazibhenca uZintle. “Ndibhatalisa le nto uthath’izihlangu zam.” Encumile uFungie ehleli kwisitulo esihlala abantu abalinganisa izihlangu, wentla ngoKumkani owayelaqaza ekhangela.
Isinikezelo
Yalungiswa yonke into ngokwendlela yayo. Amadoda nabafazi babeme bume kuphithizelwa eBhotwe kungumhla omkhulu. U-Andile nanje ngamalume womyeni wayemi bume exhaphe amagwebu ebile esihla amanzi. Umtshato ngokwakwaXhosa intombi yeKumkani iphuma emabaleni yandule ukugqibezela umtshato kowayo. Ilali yaseNgonyama yayinkulu kakhulu nebala elalilikhulu; elibala kwakuqhutyelwa kulo izinto ezininzi nemicimbi ebalulekileyo. Kwakubalekelwa kwakulo, kudlalwa nebhola nditsho nombhoxo. Ngalo mhla elibala lalizele limi ngeembambo ngoba kaloku inkosazana iyatshata. Izinovoyiya ezazithengiwe kulo mtshato wonke ubani kulo mawakawaka ayelapho wayengenasikrokro. Kwakungekho nto ingekhoyo abantu bezigcibhela.
“Ungaxhali wena mntwan’omhle ziza kuba mbalwa mhlawumbi ezimbini. Okwangoku sisagqibile ningakhululeka.
“Ndicela undigqithisele amanzi lawo.” UZintle elungisa iglasi yokugalela amanzi.” Ngoku ke Mthobeli yintoni wena
“Kufuneka uzilungiselele ke ntombazana mhlawumbi ungafumana isoka, kwaye lo mfana ubonakala enembeko nothando.” Watsho uNobuhle ingathi uyala intombi esele iceliwe.
‘Niyayibona imosharha eniyenzileyo ? Ukumkani wayengqunga kweli gumbi ebalahlela nezandla.
“Ewe uKumkani.”
Kwathi emva kwexesha wangena uMafungwashe wamanga emphuza. “Ndiyazi ukuba uqumbile, kodwa mamela zinyanga ndagqibela ukubhabha kwaye ngathi ndingaphinda kodwa ndifuna ukuphinda nawe. Ndiyakucela wethu nje olu suku lwanamhlanje soze siphinde.” Emtsala. “Yiza ndifuna sibhabhe sobabini, khawuze mani.” Wamqaphela ukuba umyeni wakhe akonwabanga kwaye akamhlanga kwaphela.
Bangqinelana kwayiwa kwaMthobeli, wothuka uFungie akubona indlu kaMthobeli akakwazi ukuzibamba. “Yhazi umntu xa ekujongele kude akanakutsho ukuba ungulo mntu unguye.”
“Oh Fungie.” Wayephelile yintsini egigitheka. “Kodwa njena noba awubanga kho apha eBukhosini, uncede xa silapho eBhayi ubekho ndiyakucela.”
Wavalwa umlomo kukungena kukaKumkani emotweni. Waba ngase angene aphikise uKumkani kulo ntlebendwane wabuya wazinqanda. Bayo kufika eMtata sebengabadanga kakhulu encokweni uSithembiso eyiqhuba ngokwakhe incoko, uKumkani engenamdla emane ethatha ngokuphendula lo nto ibuzwayo abuye ecwaka. USithembiso yabethana ingqondo yakhe kodwa akayicinga nje tu ukuba uKumkani umvile kwincoko yakhe.
“Kuza kufuneka sithathe amaso, amacici, ibhengile nditsho imisesane yembala. Bafazi mna ndifuna silale siqinisekile namhlanje zonke ezi zinto zisesandleni.”
“Ndisay’okuzihlaziya phay’echibini eny’into liyatshisa namhlanje.”
UZintle waba nosizi nemvakalelo ngemeko kaMafungwashe.
1. Ilokhwe emhlophe eSun Goddess
“Kodw’andiyiqondi le nto.”
“Beliphi elicebo lakho, Zintle wohlulekile ngumendo woyisekile?”
Kwahlabela umfana owayedlamke ngokwenene watsho ngendyondyo eyatsho wonke umzalwana owayelapho eCaweni wagungqa; nditsho namakhosikazi akwaNgonyama ashukuma. Yashukuma icawe umfana ingoma eyiphethe. Wasuka kwisihlalo esingasemva eso ebehleli kuso wenyuka ngerhangi etshambaza ngengoma yakhe emyoli, waya kuma eqongeni. Wonke ubani wayejonge kuye bambi beqalaza bejonge ikwayala eyayinyukela eqongeni. Yathi ukuba ikwayala ime ngendawo, waqalisa umfana lo ebehlabele wabalungisa kakuhle ngendlela esakugqiba wabathathela ikhi wabhexesha ikwayala. Yatsho kamnandi yabashiya abanofefe nentliziyo ezincinci ezibuthathaka belila iinyembezi abo basindisiweyo yayingathi sele bengenile eZulwini.
UZintle wema phambi kwakhe wamjonga ngqo emehlweni
UKumkani wasondela wahlala ecaleni kwentombi yakhe bamfaka phakathi noNobuhle. “Bendicela nje kolu tyelelo lwalo mfana wakwaZulu uMntwan’uSithembiso ndiyakucela.” Watsho la mazwi asuka emazantsi entliziyo uKumkani elusizi ebucenga. “Kodwa Kumkani.’
UNobuhle wayenendawana ebufudumala.
“Hayi mani ntombazana ndiqhoboshe.’ Elungisa unyawo lwakhe ukuba uFungie amqhoboshe.
“Kumkani uthetha ngale fama yakho yodumo?”
Apha ke eBhotwe kwakuthi xa kufike indwendwe elibalulekileyo nje ngoMaison Blanche lwamkeleke ngendlela eyodwa, laliqaliswa eNkundleni landule ke ngoku ukujikeleziswa ikhaya elo. Kwathi emveni kokuba uMaison Blanche enikiwe isihlalo ngasekunene kukaKumkani kwaculwa umhobe wesizwe waseMzantsi Afrika nomhobe wesizwe waseYiputa. Emva kwemihobe imbongi yabonga kwanga kukho inyikima. Amadoda acula iingoma zakwaNtu axhentsa atyityimba egida, kwamnandi.
“Ndiyakuxhasa Buhle, noko ngumyeni wethu lowa asimbolekwanga asinakude soyike kangako, enye into kufuneka abubone ubungozi bale nto, uzakububona ngokuthi simcacisele ngokwethu. Kodwa umnqwazi wam awuqini ngokudibanisa uKumkani nale nyewe.” UNontle wayethandabuza mpela ngale nyewe. “Makhosikazi ndicebisa ukuba siyitshaye isaqhuma, masingaphozisi maseko masiyeni kwangoku entabeni.” Watsho evumbuluka uZintle. “Umthandazo wasentabeni awenziwa emini wenziwa ngentseni.
“Kumkani andidlali nditheth’inyani ndiyawuchitha lo mtshato ndifuna kusasa wenze eso simemelelo. Uxelele wonke ubani ukuba umtshato uchithiwe.” Yakhala intombi izigqume ngetyali. UKumkani wamangala exakene nento ngethamsanqa wegqi uMthobeli enxibe i-ovalolo engemdakanga kuyaphi equthe iintyatyambo. Waphakama uKumkani wamshiya uFungie equbude apho emshiya nomyeni wakhe owafika waguqa phambi kwakhe.
“E—e—e yintombi yam yokuqala ngqa le kwiintombi zam nguMafungwashe abayithandayo bathi Fungie okanye Nkosazana.”
“Kwedini uyawubona umonakalo owenzileyo?”
UMthobeli wayijonga inqwelo ntaka leyo yade yokusithela. Wathi xa ecinga ukungena endlwini wagilana no-Andile ekwakudala emi apho emva kwakhe. “Andile, undothusela ntoni?”
“Ndiyathemba ukuba isithembiso sokonwabisa intombi yam uyakusigcina kwaye le nto ingcwatyiwe kule ndawo namhlanje.”
“Next time.” Watsho uMaison ezama ukuzikhulula.
“Uyambona indlela aqiniseke ngayo ke lonto kuyacaca mpela ukuba uyayazi into athetha ngayo. Ushishino uyalubona mntakabawo. Umntu ungambona umdele. “ UNontle watsho ezitika kanobom ngenyama yekwalakuni eyayilapho.
Wabalekiselwa esibhedlele esisesekhusini, ikakhulu esi sibhedlela sasisetyenziswa zizitatanyiswa. Wamxilonga ugqirha wafumanisa ukuba urhogole ivumba elimenzakalise amathatha ngoko ke ezinye zecells ziza kuchaphazeleka kodwa noko umonakalo awumkhulanga kwaye amayeza aza kumnika wona aza kumnceda.
“Awu nkosi yam, mntwan’omhle khawusowuxola mhlekazi wam, mntwan’egazi.”
Bathi emva kweenyanga sebehleli bobabini bonwabe ngokwenene bafumanisa ukuba uMafungwashe ukhulelwe; kwaye ukhulelwe abantwana abangamawele amakhwenkwe. UMafungwashe wohlukana nenqwelo ntaka nje ukuba eve ukuba uneenyanga ezine ekhulelwe. Lwaye lukhula uthando kuMthobeli wohlukana naye nenqwelo ntaka wajonga unkosikazi. Zavakala iindaba ezimyoli kuNdlunkulu, bamenyelwa kwisidlo sangokuhlwa; u-Andile nosapho lwakhe, uKumkani nosapho lwakhe, bavuyisana apho noMthobeli bemphathele izipho ezizintlobo ngentlobo. Kwabamnandi kwelikhaya inqwelo ntaka bakhe bayizila bayiphumlela.
“Kuye kwathini sisi, kwenzeke ntoni?” UZintle embambe ngesilevu efuna ukumngqala ubuso ngobuso ethethela ezantsi.
“Mholweni bethuna, namhlanje kum yimini eyodwa yimini eyahlukileyo, soze niyikholelwe into eyenzekileyo. Inqwelo ntaka yam ibingavumi ukubhabha iinyanga namhlanje ibhabhile, ukuba bekungekuba ndityelelwe nguwe Kumkani bendiza kukhe ndihlale pha phezulu lide ixesha ndingasa ntingi. Ndinganenzela ntoni namhlanje?”
Wabuya waqonda ukuba leyo ayinakumnceda. Wathi sele ecinga ukulila wabuya waziqinisa. Wanyoshoza wehlela kumagumbi asezantsi kwelo hlombe elwalumamkela ngezandla ezingenamkhinkqi.
Bathandaza belila bamcela usomBawo ukuba azibonakalise aphendule iingxaki abanayo. uNobuhle wayeqhaqhazela yintlungu enga uthetha nomntu ambonayo, enazo nendawo ezicengayo nezizicengezelelayo.
Wemka uMthobeli wathi emva kwemizuzu yesiqingatha wazo kundandazela kufuphi nesikhululo. UKumkani wadikwa yiyo yonke le nto wacela uGatyeni ukuba bayokumlindela enqweleni uMthobeli. Bamlindela apho ke wathi emva kwexesha yabuya inqwelo ntaka yazinza phantsi, wehla uMthobeli wayijikeleza, uKumkani waqonda icebo kukuba bamkhawulele ngoba ejongile nje soze bahoywe nguMthobeli; benjenjalo ke bafikela endodeni eyababulisa ngobubele obukhulu.
“Kumkani khawume torho ngokuthatheka komfana wakwaZulu, iyalumeza ezindlebeni zam yonke le nto. Masikhangele le lokhwe sibone ukuba isandilingana na. Babhuqa; babhuqa bancama ingabonakali ndawo ilokhwe. UKumnkani wacinga icebo lokuba bakhe bayokukhangela kuvobe weempahla ezisesitoreni mhlawumbi ingabalapho. Bathi bakufika apho babona ubuninzi beempahla bawa amandla uKumkani wacela abaqeshwa ababini ukuba bakhangele phakathi kwezo mpahla.
Wanyantsula u-Andile wangena emotweni eshiya uMthobeli apho. Ukonwaba kuMthobeli kwaphela vuthu wangena endlwini yakhe enayo nendawo enamadolo atyhafileyo. Wayicinga into ka-Andile eyicingisisa nzulu kodwa engenaziphumo. Yaphathwa ngumva ndedwa indoda. Wahlala kwigumbi lokuphumla engazi ukuba kule nqotsonqa angazikhupha njani.
UZintle wayedlala ngosiba lokubhala ephatha kuliqengqa kwezo nhyeke zakhe.
“Khandiphapha ke myeni wam ingaba ke ngoku nje ngoba ugqiba ukuthenga ifama enexabiso elingaka, ilobola ke ngoku yona uzakukwazi senditsho mhlawumbi.”
“Yhe, mani Andile uyithatha phi le nto uyithethayo?”
UNobuhle waphakama kulo sofa ababehleli kuyo esikwa yinimba ngoba uMafungwashe yayintombi yakhe yokuqala, nanje ngoko wayengumfazi wokuqala weKumkani. Wathi chu ekhathazekile waya ngakumphokomela wefestile eyayilenze elo gumbi lagqama bubunewunewu balo. Wabuka isibhakabhaka wajika wajonga kubo, nabo babemjonge bengaqhwanyazi.
Bahleka bonke buyeke-yeke bengaboni sisombululo.
“Siyakufanela khawuphakame ndibone, khawujike.”
“Masenze kanje wena thatha eziya undinike ezi”
“Ndingayo kuhlamba torho ngoku, ndihluthi nyani bonanje. “ Watsho enyukela kumagumbi aphezulu. Wacima lomakhandlela uMafungwashe ewavuthela ngomsindo naye zange abesakwazi ukutya; wanyukela kumagumbi aphezulu wayo kulala. Wavuka ekuseni wathi uyampampatha ebethwa kukutshisa kwelanga elalingena efestileni wavuka umyeni engekho. Wehlela kumagumbi asezantsi ekhwaza uMthobeli emjonga nakwamanye amagumbi wafika engekho. Wayiqonda nje mhlophe ukuba usesikhululweni. Watsalela umnxeba u-Andile eqonda ngoMthobeli wafika kusithiwa uphaya, u-Andile zange amphe themba wamxelela ukuba uyakumbona uMthobeli ukulunga kwala nqwelo ntaka; ngoba yeyona ayithandayo kwaye sobe abhadle kude kulunge la nqwelo ntaka.
“Inkosikazi yakho izakufun’ukuqonda ngoba eyona nto beniyizele kukudla, masingene yiza.”
“Ingathi iza kulunga yonke le nto xa nonkosikazi wakho enenjongo eziphakame kangaka zokuncedisa.” Wayencume ngokungazenzisiyo u-Andile. Bafika esithebeni bahlala ngokwendawo zabo uMafungwashe wacela uMthobeli ukuba ahlabele la ngoma ayithandayo, kodwa wabuya waqaphela ukuba umyeni wakhe akanamdla, waphela eyihlabela ngokwakhe loo ngoma.
Wafika umYiputa ekhwele enqweleni eyayingumrhubhe , ikhokele amaphakathi awayekhwele izithuthuthu amanye ekhwele amahashe amanye ama-esile.
UMafungwashe wothuka akuva le ncoko iloluhlobo kanti wonke lamalungiselelo enzelwa yena. UKumkani; uMaison namaphakathi abalulekileyo akwaXhosa baqhutywa ngemoto ezisesidimeni zakwaKumkani kwayiwa kwifama kaKumkani; eyayinezilwanyana zasendle apho ubutyebi beKumkani babulele khona.
“Mna mama bendicinga ukuba uKumkani uyedwa pha mna ndiye ndazixelela ukuba iNkosana iza kufika ngela xesha umfana womYiputa wafika ngalo apha bendingayazi ukuba uMntwan’uSithembiso sele endilindele.”
“Mamela ke kwedini ngale mali ndikunike yona apha, ndifuna wonwabise intombi yam, andifuni nokubona iinyembezi emehlweni wakhe. Ndiyathemba ukuba awukundiphoxa?”
“Kodwa Mam’uZintle uyamazi uKumkani akulula ukuba ancokole ngendaba zokwabelana ngesondo nabantwana ingakumbi abancinci.”
La makhosikazi zange azame kakhulu nje ngakuqala noko ayekelela umxakatho kwesi sihlandlo. Umvoci wayesayolelwe yiyo yonke le nto eliqonda ishishini lakhe liyahamba kwaye ukuba angathi chu ngcembe ukubenza iinwele ishishini lakhe lingakhula, ngoba ufumene ikhastoma zoqobo. Wabacela ukuba zebangadinwa xa befuna ukuvocwa yena ukhona, ngangendlela awuthanda ngawo umsebenzi wakhe akakhathali nokuba kusezinzulwini zobusuku akanangxaki. Angeza ababethe manca nje ngoko ebenzile kwiveki ephelileyo. Baziva bengelangxaki ngoba nabo bayawuthanda umsebenzi wakhe kwaye uyabonakala.
Kwasa kwayimini elandelayo uKumkani wayithakazelala le mini ngoba uMyiputa wayefika eMzantsi Afrika; uKumkani wamlindela umYiputa kwinkundla yakhe. Inkundla yayilungiswe yahonjiswa ngenxa zonke ngoba utyelelo lwalubalulekile. UKumkani waya eNkundleni esisiwa ngenye yemoto eziphezulu eyayiphelezelwa ngama-esile namahashe awayeqhutwya ngamaphakathi.
Wamyeka ukumxakathisa wothuka uMthobeli wabila wabanako ukungathembi akazazi nokuba uzifaka engxakini okanye uya ebumnandini bobomi. “Ndiyathembisa.’Wamt shikilela uKumkani wamshiya apho; sehambile waphinda wajika wayaleza kwakhona. “Ngecala emva kwentsimbi yesixhenxe, ne?” Wanqwala uMthobeli.
Waqaphela ukuba iimbuso zihlwile olwalonwabo bebenalo izolo luphelile. “Into zenu, izolo oku benonwabile nihlekela phezulu namhlanje senithe khunubembe.”
UMafungwashe wayeziphumlele kwigumbi lakhe lokulala. Intombazana le yayichitha isithukuthezi ngokufunda imiqulu yeencwadi yayizigcine kanjalo. Kwigumbi lakhe lokulala kwakugcwele ulwaphice lwemiqulu yeencwadi.
UMafungwashe owabona umyeni wakhe esehla phezulu walila akayeka, baphuma noyise kulo moto babekhweli kuyo zaphakama zonke izitatanyiswa kunye nabo bonke ababekhwele eqongeni wadlalelwa umculo opholileyo umakoti.
“Mafungwashe but you can call me Fungie.”
Wegwiqi wabashiya apho. UMafungwashe lo wayezenzisa ngathi wonwabile kuba engafuni abazali bakhe bazikhathaze kakhulu ngento ayixelele umam’omncinci wakhe; ngoba babezithulula bethenga izipho nje babezama ukumonwabisa wabakrobela. Baphindela apho bebeyeke khona ekunxunguphaleni yabangathi khange bancume. UZintle wayemi ngakumphakamela wefestile; abanye abafazi babeqwalasele futhi kwifestile eyayikwelinye icala le gumbi. UNontle waphakama kwisofa leyo ababehleli kuyo. “Ndinganiphathela isiselo okanye into ephungwayo.”
Bajika bexakiwe baziphindisela kwaSchoeman iinkomo ezingamashumi amabini bayokuthenga kwenye ifama; bagcwalisa kwelo nani babenalo, kodwa zange ligcwale
“Khanibe nombono wethu sesingabakhozi baseYiputa.”
Bawanqa abafazi beKumkani bezitika ngako konke abakuthandayo kulo dolophu iBhayi bathi emva kwemini babuyela endlwini bafikisana noKumkani nentombi yakhe. Esi sibini sona sasiyichithele epakini imini sisakha ubuhlobo phakathi kwentombi noyise; kwaye loo ndlela yaba negalelo yayimpumelelo ngoba uMafungwashe wanethemba nangakumbi uyise futhi wamazi bhetele kunendlela ebecinga ukuba umazi ngayo.
“Hayi sisi ungazenzakalisi akukho gxeke apha, nje thina kukunceda apha naphaya, Yiza, yiza ntomb’am.” Emsondeza kuye. “Ndiza kukhethela ilokhwe ozakuyinxiba.” Wamthi chu ngengalo wahamba naye banyukela kumagumbi aphezulu. UMafungwashe wayebhidekile engqondweni engazi nokuba wenza zona nokuba ubetha ecaleni. Bafika ke kwelo gumbi likaMafungwashe. “Yeyiphi ke lelokhwe uthi yeyona yona Kumkani?’ Evula icango lwewadrobe yakhe UMafungwashe.
Wathandabuza uMafungwashe kukuyokuchitha ubusuku kwaMthobeli kodwa waphinda wambona nje ngomntu othembekileyo uMthobeli ongenabungozi.
“Nice to meet you too.” Wayencumile uNobuhle
“Bethuna ndicinga ukuba siyeni kula magumbi aphezulu, phofu siye kweliya likaFungie simcaciseleni.”
Yahamba ke into ka nantsi yafika eBhayi yazithengela iimpahla ezintsha zodwa; yafaka imali ebiyinikezwe nguKumkani ebhankini ayathatha nepeni emdaka. Yagoduka ivuya iiphethwe yimincili, wayethenge iziteki ezimhlophe nebhulukhwe emnyama yamapantsula nesipoti esimhlophe, wayelipantsula lokwenene ngalo mini. Wagoduka wayokuhlamba endlwini yakhe, wahlamba oko kuqala wazifaka izinongo ezatsho kwenzwanga endlwini kwanuka eso siqholo.
2. Ubucwebe besilivere akukaqinisekwa.
“Nindiphoxile baningenwe yintoni?”
UMthobeli wayinokoza into yokuba uMafungwashe ufuna laa mawele bawathiye ngegama likaKumkani naye ngoba angayivuyela loo nto. Baphindela bebuka ilali yaseNgonyama nemilambo, neengxangxasi zasengonyama. UMafungwashe wayevuya ngeyona ndlela; emxelela umyeni wakhe eyona ndlela onwabe ngayo ngoba egqibele kudala ukuba onwabe nomyeni wakhe, nakuKumkani kwakuthe xibilili ebona umkhwenyana wakhe onwabile, namakhosikazi eKumkani ayeqonda ukuba umkhwenyana uxolile mhlawumbi uyakuthetha ukuba ukhathazwa yintoni kangaka.
NoKumkani uqobo wayemkhupha ngokumthemba amaxesha amaninzi; wayesazi ukuba izinto zakhe zihamba kakuhle ingakumbi xa uGatyeni ephakathi. Ngoko ke zange abe endindiza ethandabuza wangqala ngqo emsebenzini wakhe wabuya nempendulo ebilindelekile.
Bathi kusuku olulandela olo ooKumkanikazi baya kwintlanganiso eyayiza kubanjwa eNkquleni yaseBhotwe ngalo ntsasa, kwathi kuba umyeni wayengaxakekanga ngolu suku wayithakazelela yonke lento yale ntlanganiso nabatshakazi bakhe.
“Mna ukukhokela abantu asinto endikhe ndiyicinge ngoba andinambono wam ndikhokele isizwe.’ UMafungwashe wayethe gcobho esofeni isitya sesikhencezisi.
Waphuma kwelo gumbi amehlo ebomvu ngokwenene uMafungwashe wazixelela ukuba akasoze tu amcenge kwaye akamkhathalelanga nokuba angaqumba. Into awayenzayo waqubula imoto yakhe wabheka edolophini ezixelele ukuba mhlawumbi lo uqumbileyo uzakubuya ethothile koko kuqumba. Wamshiya apho. UMthobeli wathatha iziselo zewayini ezazikho apho endlwini wazintyintya ngenyembezi zikaVictoria. Wathi ebuya uMafungwashe wabuya umyeni elele yoyi. Kwathi ngentseni elandelayo uMafungwashe wazama ukucacisa imbangi yokusebenzisa kwakhe inqwelo ntaka; kwaye ibingezo njongo ukuba lo nto ixabanise intsapho yakhe. UMthobeli wacela uxolo ngendlela enze ngayo ngezolo, wamcacisela indlela amthanda ngayo yena enguMthobeli. Wamangala uMafungwashe ngamazwi othando owayephuma kuMthobeli ngoba wayevakala nje ngomntu okungathi uyazazi ukuba uzakubhubha okanye mhlawumbi umtshato wabo ufikelele esiphelweni ngandlela ithile. Yamothusa nendlela uMthobeli alila ngayo xa emcacisela la mazwi. Wanxunguphala wazisola ngokusebenzisa kwakhe inqwelo ntaka ngoba ebengazi ukuba izakumenzakalisa kangaka umyeni wakhe.
“Kodwa bethuna anincedi nto nje niyamosha kwaye ndiyacela, ndicela nibuye umva kuyo yonke le nto yesoka ndizakulifumana, noko sanukube nizixhalabisa kangaka. Noko nokuba kuthiwa anditshati kodwa asiyondlela yokutshatwa lena. Izinto ziyamosheka xa umntu ezama kangaka ade aphume iphulo.
“Ndingqinelana nawe lihle iceba lakho, khange ndiyicinge tu into yomthandazo wasentabeni, kwaye akukho nto yodlula leyo ndikwanengqiniseko ethi uKumnkani uyakusiphulaphula ngenyameko, nokuba sinokuya ngoku entabeni.” Wayeyonwabele uZintle le ngcamango, uNobuhle wahlunguzela intloko wabonakalisa ukungavumelani nabo. “Ndiyalithanda nam eli cebo lakho Zintle, kodwa andiqondi ukuba iyakulunga lo nto, mna bendisithi masicele intlanganiso naye phaya eNkundleni athethe nathi ubuso ngobuso, asinakumbhalela incwadi noko.”
“Le ntwana injani na, ndiyayazi iyazifela ngala nqwelo ntaka yayo, kodwa nyamezela ntomb’am kuza kulunga. Ukulunga kwala nqwelo ntaka izinto ziza kubuyela esiqhelweni. Sukulila sisi.’ Ethuthuzela uKumkani yabe igixa intombi.
“Mholo ntomb’am, wangxama kangaka ikhon’indawo oya kuyo?” Wayenoncumo olungazenzisiyo.
Kwathi emva kwemini wavuka uMafungwashe wahlamba, umoya wakhe wonwabe ngeyona ndlela. Wathi esahleli egadini kwindawo epholileyo yakhala ifowuni yakhe, wavuya kakhulu xa ebona ukuba nguMthobeli.
“Nokuba yeyaluphi na uhlobo kodwa kufuneka ibemhlophe.”
“Be—be bendicinga ukuba uKumkani.” Inzwakazi yayinesingqal ixakwe nakukuthetha.
“Zweli.” Waphendula uZintle esazibhenca phofu esipilini.
“Uyabona Andile ukuba usebenzisa amayeza amabi kum soze ulunge andikhathali noba uvela kweliphi ilizwe, uyandiva?”
“UKumkani” bakhuza xesha nye, bejongajongana.
“Umntu onjani ke sisi?”
UMthobeli noMafungwashe babengesaxhaphakelananga nje ngakuqala, kodwa emnxebeni wayeyiqinisekisa uMthobeli ukuba akupheli suku engathethanga noMafungwashe. Wayemtsalela umnxeba ekuseni, emini nditsho ezinzulwini zobusuku, hayi uthando lwaluvutha amalangatya. Intliziyo kaMafungwashe yayiqinisekile ukuba uMthobeli ngoyena yena usenyongweni ngoba amaxesha amaninzi bayangqinelana.
Ndingavuya kambe ukuba kungabuyiselwa isidima soluntu ebantwini, ingakumbi esabantwana bendlu yegazi nanjengoko saxuthwa sarhuqwa eludakeni. Yanga umzi kaXhosa ungaqhubeka ekuxhaseni nasekukhuliseni indlu yegazi, intlonipho nesidima sethu size sibuye.
“Ungazikhathazi ngokutsala mnxeba ndiza kukutsalela.”
“Mamela apha kwedini ndifuna wena wonwabise intombi yam, ndifuna umonwabise ngeendlela zonke, qha nje wena undixelele ixabiso ndizakukubhatala.”
“Undikhumbule”
“Kodwa Mthobeli utya phi, ngoba lusuku lwesine olu uvuka ngentseni ubuye ngorhatya zonke ezi ntsuku awutyi futhi ubuya udiniwe uyile nto uyiyo. Khawuhlale phantsi utye.’ “Uyabona ke ngoku uqalile ndiyakuxelela ukuba ndidiniwe kwaye ndihluthi, bendityile isonka nobisi esikhululweni; nditya ezo zinto zonke ezintsuku zine.”
Wathi ukuba akhokele uMafungwashe aye emzini wakhe walandela uGatyeni noKumkani nje ezinyaweni zakhe baye ngqo esikhululweni senqwelo ntaka bafika bangqala ngqo kuMthobeli. UKumkani wamthatha bucala, wamtyityimbisela umnwe, wamxelela ukuba yena angakulinge amqhele kakubi akafuni kuphinda ave no nywe nantoni na nditsho iinyembezi ebusweni buka Mafungwashe akafuni nokuyelam.
Watsho esithi qhiwu isandla.
“Kanti awanelanga yila mali bendikunike yona. Amatyala wala mzi wakho kutheni ingathi uzakuwaxhoma emagxeni wam nje.’ Wayembambe ngobhongwane emkrwitsha mpela u-Andile. “Ndibulale wena, mhlawumbi abantu bazakufuna ukuqonda ngoba kaloku ndingunyokolume omthanda ngentliziyo yakho yonke, mhlawumbi ndingabathela tshuphe kulo vimba wam. ””Andile ndicela undinike inyanga ibenye ndizakuyithenga le moto uyifunayo.” Evuthulula izandla.
UMthobeli wathi akuva iindaba zomtshato neNkosazana, waba nombono wakhe sele ehlala efama kwaKumkani yayingase wonke ubani akwazi okwenzekayo ebomini bakhe, kodwa wayengakwazi kwazisa nabani; ngoba wayethembisile ukuba izakuba lihlebo lakhe noKumkani yonke lento yenzekayo. Bangena ngaphakathi bangqala kwigumbi lokutyela, iphunga elali kule ndlu lamtsho walamba uMthobeli enqanda nezincwe ezaziqukuqela emlonyeni wakhe. Itafile yayigcwele zizinovoyiya zakwamlungu ezazinongwe zahonjiswa ngenxa zonke.
Waqhutywa umtshato wayokugqityezelwa emabaleni eBhotwe kwiNkundla kaKumkani baphuma apho bayo kuwuqongqothela ngaphakathi ebhotwe. U-Andile wayehamba ngezantya ngoba nguye owayesenza amalungiselelo eqinisekisa ukuba yonke into ingendlela. Nangexesha lokuba kwenziwe amazwi wokubulelwa kweendwendwe u-Andile yayinguye obulelayo emanxadanxada; uKumkani wamcela u-Andile ngoba kaloku wayebonakala nje ngendoda enenkathalo nenenyameko ingakumbi ngezenzo zakhe. NoMthobeli wamxelela uyisezala ukuba u-Andile yindoda enentliziyo entle kudala ukususu’uba uMthobeli eqala ukusebenza kwisikhululo seenqwelo ntaka ebesebenzisana no-Andile, u-Andile indoda enentsebenziswano.
“Ngomso ke Mthobeli sizakuya egqwetheni lam igqwetha lilo elizakusityikityisa isivumelwano.”
Makuyiwe bafazi.
Ezama ukucacisa uNobuhle ngoloyiko, sebemi xhonxosholo ngenyawo.
Babencume bebobothekile ooKumkanikazi bengakwazi ukuzibamba, bathi koko kuncuma kwalo mvula babasa iwondi lomlilo lodidi oluphezulu lwexabiso elali kwelo gumbi lokuphumla; bondlala ityali babeka iiglasi ezithe ncothu zochwepheshe. Babulela kuYehova ngomthandazwana omfutshane bathe emveni kwawo bazonwabisa ngezogilasi zesiselo esibandayo; bazitoxoza ngewayini yodidi oluphezulu bazithi rhasha kwanobomi bezitika bazitsho kanobom.
“Nkos’yam, mhlekazi.” Wajamzela, ebetha kuhle umnene ekekelise negxalaba ukuya kuKumkani. UKumkani zange akholwe tu ngulo tsotsi amthengele umntwana wakhe.
“Ungabinaxhala Nkosazana ungalala phaya kwam, kwigumbi le ndwendwe, ubatsalele umnxeba ubaxelele ukuba namhlanje awuzukulala eBhotwe; kwaye usendaweni ekhuselekileyo kwaMthobeli noMthobeli.”
UKumkani noGatyeni ngentseni yangomvulo bandwendwela umbhexeshi. Babenxibe impahla ezimnyama nebhatyi ezikwamnyama neendondo; wawunokucinga baya kwintlanganiso ephakamileyo. Waqhuba uGatyeni imoto eyayingumgrugra; intle ineefestile ezimnyama. Umfana lo ungumbhexeshi wayesebenza kwisikhululo senqwelo ntaka, wayeyinjineli elungisa iinqwelo ntaka ezo.
UKumkani wayazisa intsapho yakhe kuMaison Blanche ephethwe libhongo nemivuyo. Waqala ngenkosikazi yakhe yokuqala.
“Bethuna ndiba siyamazi sonke ubhuti lo, igama nguMthobeli ngumbhexeshi phaya ecaweni; ndiba besiyibonile sonke ikwayala yakhe.”
Wamvoca ke umfana uFungie wambetha manca zahamba iintsuku yafika yona imini ebikade ixelwa yafika nelokhwe yakwa Sun Goddess afika amaso,namasomi nemisesane evela eMabheleni zonke ezi zinto zazenziwe ngegodwana zemithi zithiwe chu ngamajijo kwakunye neerhalenana ezayitsho yabukeka ngokwenene imisesane. Amakhosikazi athi ukuba kufike ilokhwe wacelwa uMafungwashe ukuba anxibe agaxele imisesane, namaso, nemisomi nalo macici na kakade.
“Nimathele ntoni ke, yintoni enimathisayo, thyini nimathile.”Wabashiya apho akayeka ukukhuza eshwabula engayilibali into yokuhlala ahlale amoshe ilobola, elobola izimathi ezingakwaziyo ukusebenzisa ingqondo nje ngabafazi bakhe. Abafazi bazithulela basuka bayana ngamehlo bexakwe yindlela umyeni wabo asuke wayibeka emagxeni wabo yonke le ngxaki yokuphulukana nomYiputa.
UNontle wayesaphithanise imilenze. “Umbala omhlophe mhle mna bendicebisa ibe yilokhwe yesintu. Impahla emhlophe imenza umntu agqame ngakumbi kunakuqala. Ubucwebe zinkosi siza kuthatha obunjani, isilivere okanye igolide. Isilivere ngathi iyakuwufanela umbala omhlophe.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Thyini Mthobeli, ufuna ukuthi andikhathali, ude undiqumbele. Mthobeli vula apha, vula?” Enkqonkqoza ngamandla.
ICANDELO 2
“Kumkani”
“Abantu inene emhlabeni ngeke bakuxelele into abayifunayo. Bayoyika ukondla, bayakoyika ukondliwa, kanti bafuna eyiphi.” Aphela amakhosikazi yintsini.
“Wabale amazwi wakho mfo wam inkosikazi yakho izakufuna ukuqonda ukuba xa uqala ukungandihloniphi, kaloku yona iyandithanda nje ngayisezala. Masingene ngaphakathi mhlawumbi ukudla kulungile.” Watsho emshiya.
Waphelezela uKumkani bashiyeka abafazi begobhe izidlele beyiqonda ukuba bone ndawoni kwaye intaka ibhabhisile, batsho banxuba sisizathu sokubhabha kwentaka esandleni.
“Khawutsho ke ndoda ngubani okuncedisayo kuzo zonke ezi zinto zakho, baphi abazali bakho okanye uncediswa ngabantakwenu.”
“Ndiphilile, ndilapha phambi kweBhote ndingathanda ukukubona.”
“Ndiyacinga ukuba sigqibele ngoku, masigodukeni.” Behla intaba bexheleke mpela benayo nendawo ethandabuzayo; kodwa ithemba lijikeleze umqala ngenxa yomoya obandayo owababethayo. Kulo ntaba babecaca gca okwekati emhlophe ehlungwini ngoba babenxibe ezigqamileyo bonke.
INkosana yakwaZulu yafika kwangentseni ngalo mini, noko ulwamkelo zange lufane nolwamkelo lomYiputa lwabuya ngeneno. Kwenzeka ke ukuba abaqeshwa bayifumane ilokhwe bayibonisa iKumkani ngamabhongo namagugu ilokhwe yeNkosaza ifumanekile. UKumkani wabacela ukuba baye kwigumbi lika Fungie bamcele ukuba ayinxibe angakhe alinge amphoxe wanqonqozisa uKumkani ngenxa zonke. Abaqeshwa bafika bamyalela oko bakuthunywe yiKumkani. INkosazana yabuza ukuba iKumkani iphi; bamxelela ukuba ikwigumbi lokuphumla kodwa zange bayityhilele indlebe iNkosazana ukuba iKumkani ayiyodwa kukho namandwendwe.
Wabanokuthandabuza, noloyiko kodwa waziqinisa “Ikhona yiNkosazana uNobathembu.
“Hayi ke ngoku, tyhini bethuna, andiyazi ke le undenzela yona, ukubhabha nje andikhumbuli ukuba kungamenzela ingozi lo mntwana. ”UMthobeli zange ahoye, aphendule nanye waya ngqo kwigumbi lwangasese. Walandela uMafungwashe emngxolisa.
“UMthobeli ucele umtshato.”
UMthobeli wamthembisa ukuba uzakumphathela uMafungwashe isipho esihle ukogqitha izipho azakuzifumana ngolo suku lwezipho zamabhaso omtshato. Oodade nabayeni bakaMafungwashe bafika kwangethuba kwakiveki ezingaphambili phambi kokuba uMafungwashe atshate. Enziwa amalungiselelo omtshato. Oomama bakaMafungwashe babeme bume bebhinqele phezulu beodola zonke izinto eziza kuba yimfuneko ngemini yomtshato. Kwayiwa kwaSun Goddess koku-odolwa ilokhwe yomtshato, kwayiwa kumzi weentyatyambo kwayo kufunwa uncedo bacelwa ukuba bazo kuhombisa indlu ngosuku lo mtshato ngeentyatyambo zabo. Abaphelela apho baya kubavoci benwele babacela bagqitha nalapho; bayokukhetha ikuku yomtshato kumzi owawuthengisa ikuku zemitshato nezo kuzalwa bakhetha intlobo yekuku abayithandayo.
UFungie yayingase amngxolise uyise okanye agxothe looNkosana yakwaZulu yayitsho ngoncumo. Waxhawula ebonakala nje ukuba wonele udikwe yeyokosa ubuso
Bamcela uFungie, kodwa uZintle wasitshintsha eso sigqibo sokuya edolophini wacela ukuba umvoci weenwele azo kumvocela eBhotwe ngoba mhlawumbi ukuba abantu bangafumanisa ukuba kukho amalungiselelo afana nala ingakumbi ngezolo bebegqiba idolophu bethenga konke namhlanje balungisa unwele kwaye balindele ilokhwe bangafuna ukuqonda futhi bayibeke ngenye indlela engeyiyo sele beyibaxa ingakumbi iintatheli ezithanda ukuthi into incinci ziyenze nkulu, ziza kube zikhala ngosuku lokufika komfana womYiputa.
Batya endlwini kuthe nzwanga benovalo nosizi ukuva iindaba ezibuhlungu kangaka. Kwathi emva kwemizuzu kuthe cwaka.
Bakhuza bonke abalibala, wazitsweba uMthobeli akuva ixabiso le fama kanti liphezulu kangaka.
“Ndiyamthanda lo mfana womYiputa indlela anembeko, nesidima ngayo uyise bathi unemali mntak’abawo usesingawothiyo umlilo. Abanye abafazi banethamsanqa umntu akwazi ukutshata nendoda esi sityebi, abantwana bakhe babenendlebe yokumamela. Kuthiwa indlela akrelekrele ngayo uMaison hayi kuthwa uyagqwesa sisi, uninzi lwabantwana kule mihla xa abazali bezizityebi; baye bangafuni nokuva usubon’uba mntakabawo abanaxesha lalo nto okuya kokuqala. Khanibe nombono sesingabakhozi bakwa Blanche.” UZintle wayesele ecimele mba ephupha emini. “Akukho ntlanga zintle emhlabeni ngathi zezo.”
UKumkani wamcela uMaison ukuba baqhubekeke babuke iBhotwe, eyona ndawo afuna ukumsa kuyo ufuna ukumsa kwifama yakhe egcwele izilwanyana zasendle.
ziintsukwana nje iphile qethe le ntombazana. “Kuye kwenzeka ntoni na bethuna ngoba nanku noMaison eqhekeka intloko?”
Abantwana beKumkani babebahle befuze uyise. Le nto abazali zange bayithathele so okanye bayifake entloko. Ekuqaleni phaya uMafungwashe wayengayikhathalelanga naye kodwa wathi emveni kweminyaka emibini udadewabo omncinci etshatile, kwaye kwelakhe icala kungekho nto itsitsayo, waqala usisi waphatheka kakubi yiyo yonke le nto. Wazama ngandlela zonke ukuzidibanisa ezinxulumanisa nabo bonke abantu abaziyo ukuze naye mhlawumbi angaba nethamsanqa azicholele umyeni. Yazama intombi izama ngendlela zonke, hayi torho yohluleka futhi kucaca mhlophe ukuba olu dabi akulo lwesithukuthezi liyamohlula kwaye luyagunyaza alumphi nethuba.
“Hayi Kumkani, hayi Nkosi yam, Mntwan’omhle amaxhala wakho waphose kum ngoba mna ndikukhathalele.”
Bashaya umkikizane batshila benza intswahla nengxolokazi ngokunga baninzi. Waqhubeka uKumkani becwaka. “Into endiza kuyenza mandimdibanise neNkosana yaseYiputa iza kutyelela apha ebukhosini kwiNkosi zaseMzantsi Afrika. Kodwa ndiza kucela xa ninonke nindincedise nimhombise, nimnxibise ezingayiwayo nenze kangangoko ninako. UMaison Blanche akatshatanga kwaye ndingavuya ukuba iiNkosana zamaYiputa neeNkosazana zamaXhosa zingatshatana; lo nto ingawatsho amakhonco phakathi kwezintlanga aqine athi ngqi.” Elinganisa ukuqina kwala makhonco, amakhosikazi abobotheka bazixelela ukuba kuyalunga izinto zabo ziza kuhamba ngendlela.
“Mna mama andisenabazali, abazali bam babhubha bobabini kwingozi yemoto ndindedwa; nodade wethu wabhubhela kulo ngozi ngoba wayekunye nabo, isihlobo sam umalume wam watshipha eRhawutini.”
“Yeyona inokukufanela ke sisi, yeyona ndiyithandayo ukuba unganxiba yona ndiyakuqinisekisa iNkosana yakwaZulu ingathatheka ngokwenene.” Waba nentloni uFungie wamjonga ngomothuko emangele kukuva loo mazwi emlonyeni kayise.
UGatyeni wayewuthanda umsebenzi wakhe ngamanye amaxesha wayeziva nje ngesifundiswa esodlula nezo zifundiswa zithwele izidanga, indlela awayephakame ngayo wayenekratshi wayesogqitha nditsho uKumkani lowo wayemsebenzela. UGatyeni yayingala madoda angahlalwa mpukane kukuzithanda. Wayishaya yazula inqwelo mafutha ukuya kwisikhululo senqwelo ntaka. Wafika apho uKumkani washiya umyalelo, wanqonqozisa nakambe wade washicilela amaphepha athile.
“Ubizwe ndim, ndiqondele ukuba mhlawumbi yena nanje ngamalume wako uzakukwazi ukuthetha kuye. Ndiza kunishiya nobabini ke bethuna ixeshana nilungise iingxakana zenu.”
“Sukulila sana, uyabona le mpazamo yenzeke namhlanje ayiphinde yenzeke yonke into ifuna ukucwangciswa kwangethuba ibeyimpoxeko lena kuthi sonke.”
UKumkani wazixelela ukuba kuyalunga ingakumbi xa uMyiputa eqonda eziphambili ngolu hlobo, waphendula ngoncumo olungazenzisiyo. “She’s 25 years and single.”
“Ndiyakuthembisa asoze ndinqabe ukusukela namhlanje.”
“Iyabiza kwedini lemoto ndiyithengileyo apha.”
“Ndiyangqinelana nawe kodwa bendifuna encinane noko kwesi sihlandlo ndiyifunela uNkosikazi; ze afumane yona yena mna ndisebenzise le. Besingekayithethela ngaphakathi le nyewe, ngoba noko kuyatshisa apha?” Watsho ekhokela emnyango.
“Uyabona ngobu busuku banamhlanje ndikumemela phaya eBhotwe kwisidlo sangokuhlwa niza kukwazi ukuqhelana kwaye nazane bhetele, nani makwedini sanukuwoyika kangaka amantombazana.”
“UFungie” bakhuza xeshanye beqwalasele uZintle. “Kudala le nto iqhubeka lithuba lide ndisiva uMafungwashe elila kwigumbi lakhe lokulala, kodwa ndinganaki ndicinge ukuba mhlawumbi uyathandaza.
Zintle futhi wena uyadelela yintoni le yakho yokuphikisa, kokukuphikisa kwenu konke okukumosha izinto, ndithi mna ndisithi umntu abe emise imixhadi endikorekisha. Zintle wohluliwe ngumendo?’
“Ikhona ingxaki nguwe Kumkani.”
“Thyini uyandigezela Andile ibeyinto yale mpela veki. Yhe! Mani ucinga ukuba ndiyithatha phi imali.
“Mamela ke sisi utat’uza kukulinda ngaphandle ungathatha ixesha elaneleyo lokuzilungisa. Kodwa ungandibambezeli ntomb’am?” Watsho wegwiqi uKumkani wamshiya uFungie wagxabha-gxabhisa wehlela kumagumbi angezantsi waphumela ngaphandle wangena emotweni wayishaya yazula uKumnkani ukuya edolophini. Yayingesanxibe kakuhle intombi enkulu icwabeke intliziyo imhlophe okwekhephu.
“Mam’uZintle ndakuxelela ngoku kuthemba, bona into oyenzileyo. Ixesha eli lonke ndicinga ukuba ihlebo lam uligcine ngokukhuselekileyo kwaye wandithembisa ukuba yonke le nto izakuba phakathi kwethu sobabini, jonga indlela ababaxa ngayoo izinto.”
“Ndiyayiqonda ukuba akukudalanga mna nawe sizizihlobo gxebe itshomi, kwaye khange siqale kwa ukuthandana, into efana nale ayivamanga phofu mana zange ndiyive. Ntombi yakwaNgonyama undiphandlile ndakuthanda kwangalamhla wokuqala, ndiqala ukukwelama. Mandingawenzi made, mna ndifuna ube ngumama wabantwana bam inkosikazi yam.
“Mafungwashe, Nkosazana Ngonyama uyabazi aba bantu? ”Ebuzisa ngeendwendwe ezo.
UMafungwashe wabonwabela ubuhlobo bakhe noMthobeli ebukela yonke into ngoMthobeli, ngoba wayethanda ukuqhula kwaye ehlekisa, indlu ahlala kuyo yayicocekile ngathi ayihlali mntu oyindoda. Yakhulula intombi enkulu yangena ezingubeni yacinga izibuza imibuzo engenampendulo, yasuka yabiwa bubuthongo yalala yoyi. Ekuseni yavuswa nguMthobeli.
“Okwangoku kusebusuku mhlawumbi kusasa, khona ngubani ixesha?” Ejonga iwatshi.
UZintle wacela ukuba akhe atyelele emzini kadade wabo apho kwakuza kubakho umgidi wenkwenkwe, kwathi kuba nabanye abafazi bekumkani bayanqwenela ukuya kugidiza, uKumkani wathi naye uzakuhamba nabo, wathi uzakucela uMthobeli abambe iintambo lo mzuzu engekho; akhe abonise ukuba mhla wangabikho angenza njani na. Wamcela kwangethuba uKumkani uMthobeli zange abenangxaki uMthobeli wayithakazalela yonke lo nto. UMafungwashe wacebisa ukuba babuyele kumzi wabo oseBhayi, benjenjalo ke bezixelele ukuba ekubuyeni koKumkani emgidini baza kubuyela efama. Beceba indlela abanokwenza ngayo xa inokuba ngabo abaphethe isizwe sakwaXhosa.
Batya uMthobeli engenamdla nje kwaphela wasuka wahlutha kuqala, wangxamela ukugoduka. Bagoduka kodwa uMafungwashe wayengasiboni isizathu sokungxama kangaka kukaMthobeli, wamngxolisa endleleni egodukayo emxelel’ukuba akanankathalo ngabanye abantu akalunganga gqitha ngoba yena xa esenza into kula ndlu yakhe umema abantu kwaye abo bantu abafiki batye ngokungxama, emxelela nokuba akangomntu, ukuba ebengumntu ngenentloni. Bade bayokungena endlwini yabo uMafungwashe emphethe emgcwalisela. UMthobeli zange atsho nelimdaka kwakungekho ayalayo futhi nanye ayingqinayo koko wayetye tyum ezivalele umlomo wakhe kodwa wayebonakala ukuba ubindike ngaphakathi.
“Nenza ntoni ntombi le ingaka itsho ningakwazi nokutsala umnxeba?”
“Hayi suka amadoda afana nani noko amadoda angagodoliyo nje ngawe noko ndiyathemba ingxaki ayikusindi kangako. Kodwa iyabonakala lume ukuba iyabiza le moto.”
Wathi emva kwenyanga wathenga imoto entsha kraca, wamema uMthobeli nowa kwakhe wabamemela kwisidlo sangokuhlwa. UMthobeli noMafungwashe bafika isidlo sele silungile kodwa isithebe sokudlela singekalungiswa. Inkosikazi ka-Andile noMafungwashe balungisa isithebe. U-Andile wacela uMthobeli ukuba akhe ayo kumbonisa lento iye yamnika umdla kule moto ayithengileyo. Baphumela ngaphandle apha endlwini beshiya amakhosikazi elungisa isithebe. Wathi ukuba baphumele ngaphandle u-Andile akaya kwicala elihlala imoto waya kwicala elinechityana la manzi, wabubhideka uMthobeli kodwa wabuya wazixelela ukuba mhlawumbi umalume wakhe usonwabela oko kukhanya kwenyanga kwakunye neenkwenkwezi ezo ezazigcwelise isibhakabhaka. Afaka izandla ezitasini la madoda alaqaza ebuka isibhakabhaka.U-Andile wakhokela ngakwisitulo esasilapho ecaleni kwechibi wafika wahlala noMthobeli wahlala ecaleni kwakhe.
“Yiza Fungie ndizo kubhatala ezi zihlangu.” Watsho ekhokela.
Aba bantu babejijisana beshixiza uKumkani ethetha ngomsindo eqinise amazinyo. Wathi ukuba ave lomshixizo u-Andile wenca kwigophe lekona elalilapho.
UNontle wamtsala wamhlalisa phantsi. “Hlala khawuyek’umntwana ucacisa ntoni; akukho nto ifunisa kucaciswa apha uqalile ke ngoku ukudiza amahlebo.”
“He—he, hayi, yhazi, mandithi-i. Kaloku inje wena le nto nje ngoko ndingusomashishini abantu abasuka kumazwe angaphandle baye bafune ukuzibona ezintlobo-ntlobo zezilwanyana ngoko ke kum la fama izakundenzela ithuba lokushishina kwezotyelelo, enye into endiyithandayo ngefama kukuba nje ngoko ndingumqhubi weenqwelo ntaka ndingathanda ukuba nendawo yokuhlalisa ezam endaweni eyiyeyam hayi endaweni yenkampani.’ Waphinda wanqwila eglasini elindele umbuzo olandelayo ejonge kuKumkani owayengamhlanguli emyekele ehlaselwa ngemibuzo.
Bathi bakuva lo moya be xum ukuthandaza zange bathi Amen baxhuma yimivuyo. Aphephezela amalaphu zavuya iintombi; ziwuqonda ukuba umthandazo uvakele kwathi ke besonwabile benjalo. uZintle wasangana ebusweni bathi bakuqaphela oko abanye abafazi ababini nezabo iimbuso zasangana; ngoba iingqondo zabo zabaxelela ukuba bakhwaza bengekaphumi ehlathini imvula ayikani ngoko ke mabangavuyi bagqqithise, baphinda bebozololo.
Inkomo zazithe thande ebaleni abafazi belali bashay’umkikizane, bakikizela, kwakumnandi ngalo mhla eBhotwe wonke ubani elalini exhelelwe exhukwane ngoba kwakukho amaqithi qithi kunye neziselo ezifana nomqombothi nebranti. Umhla womtshato wamiswa ngabatshati yonke into yesisibini yenziwa ngokukhawuleza. UMafungwashe wayalwa ngomama bakhe bemxelela indlela emaze aziphathe ngayo emzini. Wahlonitshiswa uMafungwashe wanxityiswa iilokhwe ezindilisekileyo; waxakathiswa ngetyali wagungxiswa neqhiya. Wathi kuba ebehleli emhle indalo efaneleka; zafika ezo mpahla zathi gingci zahlala entokazini. Umyeni akufanelekanga ukuba ambone umtshakazi phambi kokuba batshate, okanye izinto azinakuhamba kakuhle ngosuku lwabo lokutshata, ngokwenkolelo yakwaXhosa xa kusele usuku olunye batshate ngengomso.
Wasebenzisa iziqholo zakhe ezinuka kamnandi zamphumza izihlunu, nemithambo yomzimba. Wathi akugqiba ukuhlamba waziva ukuba intloko yakhe ibuhlungu, kaloku okokoko usisi ebelile ukuhlekwa kwakhe. Wazinceda ngokusela iipilisi zobuthongo walala yucu obentlombe.
Waphendula umama wakhe ezama ukudungudelisa ekwamangazekile lulonwabo olungaka lwentombi yakhe; wazicingela ukuba mhlawumbi umthandazo wabo sowuphendulwe bengekafiki nalapho kwiKumkani.
UNontle zange aphatheke kakuhle xa esiva igama likaKumkani wayiqonda ukuba ingxaki inkulu, ngoba imicimbi engaphathekiyo yekhaya yayidluliselwa kuKumkani. “Ingaba ingxaki iphi kwiNkosazana, ingaba konakele phi? UMafungwashe kuphela komntu owomeleleyo okwaziyo ukumelana neengxaki, nditsho odade wabo bomelezwa nguye, inokuba le ingaphezu kwamandla wakhe.”
Wathi ukuba uKumkani ambone uMthobeli waya enyathelela phezulu, wafika wamthatha wamsa kwindawo ebucala. U- Andile wababona walandela ngoba naye kaloku wayesele eyinxenye ngamandla apha kwaKumkani eny’into wayebuthanda ngamandla ubuhlobo bakhe noKumkani. Wathi akubabona besithela walandela eyokuqonda ukuba izolo kuhambeke kanjani na. Wathi ukuba basithele uKumkani wambamba rhabaxa uMthobeli wamqhwaba bumkwrempa. Mthobeli wamxakathisa. Wothuka uMthobeli wegqi amehlo wabhinyalaza etutshalaza ezama ukuzikhulula wabe ukumkani embambe nkqi.
“Ngathi awonwabanga nje ntomb’am ingaba ikhona ingxaki?”
“Utheni, Kumkani, yhazi mna, eyi andazi.” Ebhebhetha mpela uMthobeli.
Bayihleka baphela yintsini.
“Uphi, umyeni wakho?” “Usabethwe ngumoya, mhlawumbi usegadini mhlawumbi kwichityana la manzi.’ “Umyeni wakho uhambe ekuzeni kokusa namhlanje, ngala moto yam ibomvu, akakabuyi kude kube ngoku, ukuxelele apho ayakhona.”
Wathi akuva yonke lento uMthobeli amehlo egwantyi iinyembezi akaphinde aphendule. UKumkani wamyeka ukuxakathisa wamtyityimbisela umnwe, walungisisa kakuhle ezo mpahla ebezinxibile. U-Andile wayesebaleke wayokutshonela ekuve konke okulihlebo phakathi kukaKumkani noMthobeli
Wothuka umYiputha akubona ulwamkelo nentlonipho eshushu awayinikwa ngamaXhosa ngoba yabangathi utyelele eburhulumenteni. Wehla emotweni wanyathela ukhuko olubomvu wangqala ngqo kuKumkani owavela wema ngenyawo esakunyathela olo khuko lubomvu ebonakalisa intlonipho ke phofu. Kwakuthe cwaka , nzwanga wanyathela kuhle umfana womYiputa ngesidima nangesithozelo. IKumkani yatsho yaboniswa ngemini yomtshato womYiputa nentombi yakhe yokuqala. Kulo mibono yakhe waba namabhongo namangcukwane intliziyo yakhe imhlophe wancuma akayeka. UMaison Blanche wema phambi kweKumkani. IKumkani yabobotheka mpela, wathi koko kuma uMaison naye waphela encuma , lwaya lukhula uncumo lukaKumkani engatsho nelimdaka. UMaison wancuma indawo engange yakhe naye uthe ukuba uKumkani abuyele ezingqondweni zakhe, uncumo lwakhe lwaba budana wabhideka umYiputa kodwa yena wancuma buhleka ngoba entliziyweni wazixelela ukuba wamkelekie kwaXhosa.
“Ngase ithi kanti besihamba sobabini nje ngangoku siye ekhaya. Nkosikazi yam yebhongo yiza ndikugoduse.”
“Hayi bo Mthobeli wangxama kangaka yintoni?”
“Ewe thyini, kaloku ndingunyokolume Mthobeli kuthen’ingathi uyayilibala lo ndawo?” Wayencume ngokwenene u-Andile emane etsala umsi wecuba.
UMthobeli waba ngumgcini zitshixo eliphethe ngokwakhe eli theko lomjuxuzo encediswa nguMafungwashe. Kwathi kuba yonke le nto babeyilungisile ngendlela yabo, yayigcwele kulo lonke eli laseMzantsi Afrika. UKumkani wathi kuba ebeyivile qha akanaka kanti akabhungisanga yonke le nto yenzeka emzini wakhe.
UZintle wabanemincili engazenzisiyo, yayinga angadontsa imvula kwelo lifu, wavakala esithi.“UThixo wamazulu nomhlaba uyasithanda.” Wayechulumance ngokwenene. UNobuhle wonwaba kakhulu akubona ilifu; kodwa eyona nto wayeyifuna ngamandla yimvula uqobo wababona bevuya beqikileka ooZintle wabakhumbuza. “Ngathi sikhwaza singekaphumi ehlathini, mna ndakuvuya ndikikizele emva kwemvula nasemva kwelizwi le Kumkani.” Baphuma ke elonwabeni bangena ekunxunguphaleni kwakhona.
Kwabakho ukunxunguphala kweli khaya. UMafungwashe wathi ngobunye ubusuku waphaphama umyeni wakhe egixa iinyembezi, wazama ukuthuthuzela ezama nokuqonda ukuba kwenzeka ntoni. Zalandelelana iintsuku uMthobeli ubuthongo bungehli; uMafungwashe emane ephaphama umyeni wakhe ekwezo nyembezi, kodwa kungekho nto amxelela yona emalunga nentlungu yakhe. Wathi ngobunye ubusuku wathi uyaphaphama wavuka umyeni engekho wothuka wakhwaphuluka ebhedini engxamile waleqisa kumagumbi asezantsi wafika uMthobeli ehleli kwigumbi lokuphumla engakhanyisanga elila.
Umyeni wakho Mthobeli Moya.
“Ndiqinisekile ukuba umyeni wakho akacingi ngolu hlobo wena ucinga ngalo qha nje usaxhaliswe yile nto yale nqwelo ntaka. Sukulila sisi yonke into izakulunga wena goduka mhlawumbi umyeni wakho akazi ukuba wena umcingela ngolu hlobo.””
“Kodwa lena ngeke ibe nasisombululo, nditsho noKumkani uqobo, nabani na akanakukwazi ukuyisombulula.”
“Thyini Mthobeli ingaba licebo elihle elo, kwaye ndiqinisekile noKumkani angaba nebhongo kodwa kufuneka simothuse abone ngolutsha lwaseNgonyama lunemali.”
efuna ukuba bayo kuhlala bobabini kwela khaya lakhe litsha. Yayingathi akusasi kuzo kude kufike usuku lwesibini lidlule ibengumtshato.
Bathi ke ngelingeni bade banyuka baya kwigumbi likaFungie sele bewalungisile namazwi entuthuzelo; yonke le nto babeyenza bephantsi kweempembelelo zotywala; baphoxeka xa befika eleli yoyi. Wathi ke uNontle esakhathazekile ngoba ebesegwantyise iinyembezi ezokuthuthuzela, wabona iqweqwe eliphethe ipilisi zobuthongo wabonisa abahlobo bakhe, bothuka abakwazi ukuhlanganisa umlomo xa kanti uFungie akasakwazi ukulala engatyanga iipilisi sele ezigcine ngezopilisi. UNobuhle wakhala ngamandla xa kanti le ngxaki sele ikwizinga eliphezulu kangaka. “Nkosi yam umntwa’am kanti uhleli le ntlungu, ubulolo kanti yinto ebuhlungu kangaka.” Wamphuza esidleleni.
“Kuza kufuneka undincedise ke senze amalungiselelo sazi ukuba ngobani nobani abaza kubakho kulo mbhiyozo.”
Kule veki izayo uMafungwashe uza kulingiswa ndim mna lo ukusuka elukhakayini lwentloko ukuya eluzwaneni lwenyawo. Nina niza kukhe nibuye umva kancinci nakuncedisa apha naphaya. Thyini zange ndibone abantu abamathe olu hlobo Nobuhle?”
“Hayi toto ukuba ibingumtshato umzi wonke wakwaXhosa ngowusazi ngoko ke nje namhlanje silungiselela ukwenza ntle le Nkosazana yakwaXhosa. Wakholelwa ke umvoci kulo nto wayecaciselwa yona. Wathi ekugqibeni kwakhe ukwenza intloko yeNkosazana. “Xa ulinenekazi kuyafuneka uzigcine umhle phofu, uyabona mna ndiyaqiniseka ukuba unwele lwam luhamba phambili futhi kufuneka lumenyezele ngoba abafana abakujongi nokukujonga ukuba unonwele oluxwebileyo, ke lo nto ukuba ninengxaki ningabo kuthandabuza nibo kundibiza. Hayi yho mna ndingungqa phambili, kodwa ningasebenzisa ukuba ndikhumbula kakuhle ndinalo iqweqwe phaya elineenkcukacha zam zase msebenzini, yithi ndilikhuphe phaya esingxobeni.” Watsho eyifaka ikama apha entlokweni kaMafungwashe washiya esinekile kukunyamezela. UMafungwashe wathanda ukudikwa ngoba lo mntu wayesithi xa ethetha, athethe nangezandla futhi emtsala nezonwele zakhe, kodwa abazali babengaboni nto itheni kuyo yonke lo nto. Babemthanda lo mfana enye into wayesisitabane. Wacelwa ukuba ngentseni yangoMgqibelo abuye futhi azo kumisa ngohlobo unwele lweNkosazana, wayithakazelela ke le nto umvoci wacela indlela.
“Nobuhle, Nobuhle sukulinge uthethe ndithetha. Yiyo le nto izinto zimoshakala, ndiyathetha wena ubek’eyakho. Nindiphoxile gqitha ngesenzo senu, izinto nizenza ngathi ningabantwana. Ndanibona ndayiqonda kwangala mjikelezo wenu naniwenza kwelaBhayi ndayiqonda nje ukuba akukho nto izakulunga. Jongani iziphumo zayo yonke le nto. Khanindixelele beningenwe yintoni?”
UKumkani laphela nje tu ithemba kodwa wabuya waziqinisa.
wambamba iingalo. “Akukho nto ingenasisombululo. Yonke into inesisombululo, ingakumbi xa umntu ezama ukuyisombulula ibegqibelele xa kukho abancedisi. Utheni? Kukho umntu omtyalayo okanye u------?”
UZintle waphola ngokuphinda-phindiweyo.
Wasuka wazibona sele elilolo engenamntu usecaleni kwakhe. Wazigcina ngomthandazo oshushu mihla yonke enenyembezi ezingapheliyo ezinqamleza umbombo. Maxesha wambi avuke umqamelelo umanzi. Le nto yezi nyembezi yayisele isisiqhelo ngoba uMafungwashe wayengabikeli namnye ngengxaki yakhe, koko ezingcine ngezo nyembezi.
UNontle wabhideka yile ntetha. “Mamnci uthetha ukuthini ngoba intombi zalaph’ekhapha ziyenda. INkosazana” inganesingqala kanjani ngoba izakuwufumana umtshato isencinci; kwaye intle naliphi na isoka lingavuya ukuba lingatshata nditsho mna ukuzisondeza kwembala kwiNkosazana.” “Bendicelile ke ukuba nindilinde nindimamele nandule ukulandela ngemibuzo, kufuneka silumke ngoba aba bantwana xa benengxaki akufunekanga kube nzima ukuba basixelele iingxaki zabo boyike. Isikhalo seNkosazana nasi uthi , kodwa Nkos’yam ndingayibeka njani le nto.” Ethandabuza ecinga nzulu. UNobuhle wayemamele ngenyameko.”Thetha wena sisi akukho ngxaki”
“UMthobeli ucele ukuba ndimtshate, nanku umsesane.”
Kodwa uKumkani zange ayithathele ngqalelo le nto ngoba uMaison wayibika buyekeyeke nje ngento engenamsebenzi, nekaKumkani yayiqhekeka kodwa wanyamezela kuba engafuni kuphoxa undwendwe lwakhe. Bakhutshwa kwimoto leyo ebabehleli kuyo bangeniswa kwimoto eyayingcodololo ingenaluphahla bazuliswa phakathi kwalo mithi ziincutshe zalo fama. Bathi baseqala ukulonwabela olo hambo bangekafiki kwindawo enengonyama neendlovu ezo uMaison ebefuna ukuzibona. Kwacac’uba intloko kaMaison iyaqaqamba ngokwenene nangokwenyaniso kwaye iyamlimaza. Hayi wancama wazibika umntwan’omYiputa ngoku, ukuziqinisa kwaphela waye esifa ephela ngokuphela.
IKumkani yabindeka kukukhathazeka xa isiva uSithembiso ehleba uMafungwashe kwelinye lamaphakathi akhe engaqondanga ukuba uKumkani ubamamele ekhuza lo mhlola.
Ebuphoxisa ngoba bemphoxile izolo. Bajika bamjonga bonke xesha’nye wamangaliseka; bathi bakugqiba ukumnika loo mehlo begwiqi bajonga phambili okwamajoni omkhosi. Washiyeka uFungie wahlunguzela intloko waqhubeka waya egumbini lakhe lokulala wayesanxibe isinxibo sakhe sokulala.
Wathi efika esiphelweni uMafungwashe wabe engcangcazela elila bamonga bevelana naye. Wazixelela ukuba uMthobeli mhlawumbi uyadlala nje uzakubuya zaqengqeleka iiveki uFungie engakholelwa yinto eyenzeka ebomini bakhe, wabathiya amagama esithembiso abantwana bakhe. Waphathwa ngumva ndedwa engazi ukuba abantwana bakhe uzakubakhulisa njani ngaphandle koyise wabo.
Wafika uKumkani phambi koFungie wammisa ngeenyawo wambamba ngengalo ngesinye wabambelela egxalabeni lika Fungie.
Wanga umyeni wakhe watsho wegwiqi. Wabila uMthobeli ngumsindo. “Bendingakuxelelanga ukuba ungezi apha ndingakubizanga. Kodwa Andile undifuna ntoni?”
ICANDELO
Wathi ngce iindlebe uKumkani ezama ukusabela wabe uZintle ebakhuphela ngaphandle wade wabanazo neendawo ezibubathyala xa efika emnyango wabavalela ngaphandle. UKumkani wayengenalo nofifi lwezi zinto zifuna ukuboniswa, ebubhideka nayindlela uZintle abakhupha ngayo endlwini kodwa wacela uSithembiso ukuba akhe amjikelezise iBhotwe liphela nditsho neentlanti zalo. USithembiso zange abanangxaki wakuthakazelela ukubona iBhotwe liphela ngoba lalinika umdla. Kwicala likaKumkani wayemjikelezisa nje elo Bhotwe kuba yaba yinto yokuqala ukufika engqondweni ngoba kwakungekho nto wayezixele ukuba uyakumbonisa yona uSithembiso.
Wahleka waqikileka encamisa lo cheque wothuswa kukuma kwemoto kaKumkani owavula ifestile kancinci.
UZintle wamonqelwa waxakwa nakukuba aqale ngaphi wamane ekhonyuluka ezama ukuthetha. UNobuhle wasondela ngakuFungie wamhlalisa phantsi kwisofa eyabaganga ngobuntofontofo
“Iisuti andinazo Mntwan’omhle.’ Ephoxakele edane emanzi; ngoba ebezixelele ukuba yonke le ndlela anxibe ngayo uzakunconywa nguKumkani. Kowu akwabe ubundixelele jonga khona ngoku zonke iivenkile zivalile kwaye ezam zingaba nkulu kunawe. Kodwa siza kwenza icebo, mamela ke apha ngaphakathi ndibaxelele ukuba wena uzokuthenga ifama yam, ifama leyo izakuhlala wena naMafungwashe ukutshata kwenu, xa ufika pha ngaphakathi uncokola nje ngosomashishini onemali zakhe siyavana?”
Watsho uNontle eyigxininisa ngokwenene into yokuba ubugqwirha bukhona kokungendi kukaMafungwashe. Wonke umntu okwelo gumbi wasola ukuba ubugqwirha nobuthakathi noko bukhona kwaye bumthe nca uMafungwashe. Esi sine sagqiba ekubeni kuyiwe kwixhwele lasekhay’apha elihlala kuQoboqobo likhe lithi ukumthi jize uMafungwashe ngamayeza aza kumhlamba amsuse isimnyama. Bangqinelana benjenjeya ukuya kuQoboqobo noMafungwashe waqhutywa kwahanjwa naye. Bangena emzini wexhwele, labaxelela ukuba umntwana wabo akaguli nakancinci kwaye akukho kwantlobo yabugqwirha nabuthakathi koko nje akakahlangani nobambo lwakhe. Lo nto ke ukuze ahlangane nobambo lwakhe kufuneka ayithandazele lo ndawo eCaweni ngoba yena elixhwele ukuba angamnika iyeza, elo yeza linganobungozi kuMafungwashe ngoba liza kumenza abenomtsalane athandwe nangubani na nayeyiphi na indoda. Lo mtsalane uyakuba yingozi ngoba angakhetha isoka angalaziyo kwaye elungelobambo lwakhe eliya kumhlala entanyeni limphathe kakubi, ngoko uyamcela ahambe aye eCaweni acele kuThixo isoka elulilo, nakanjani na umthandazo wakhe uThixo uyakuwuva.
“Kaloku uBuzwe uzakufikelwa ngabahlobo bakhe baseKapa baza kukhe bachithe iintsukwana apha eBukhosini, kodwa siza kuza nalapho eBhayi elwandle ngoku ibingase ubekhona.”
“Makhosikazi umthandazo wethu uvakele.” Watsho esolatha ilifu batsho bema ngenyawo bangxama ukuya kwifestile leyo; bathi bakulibona elo lifu bambulela uThixo ngemisebenzi yakhe emikhulu ayenzela abantu bakhe. Bangena phantsi kwerhaladeni elintsefu-ntsefu ngoba lalingabonelisi noxa lalilibonakalisa nje, hayi torho bona babefuna ifestile uqobo, baqwalasela esibhakabhakeni lalilikhulu ilifu limhlophe.
Wanyoshoza uMafungwashe exakwe nayinto ebeyenza ngoba ubonakala ngathi uyamngcatsha uyise elutshabeni. Waphoxeka waya egumbini lakhe lokulala. Kwathi emva
Watsho encumile u-Andile wothuka uMthobeli lo gama esancumileyo u-Andile wabangathi ufakwe emkhenceni.
Bathi emva komthandazo behla izitepusi behlela kumagumbe asezantsi belandelelana nje ngesiqhelo ofike kuqala phambili. Bathi xa bezakufika kumagumbi asezantsi badibana noFungie owayephethe impungo.
Lena intlanganiso yayohlukile ngoba yayiyintlanganiso yosapho kuphela. UKumkani waba nebhongo namangcukwane xa ebona amakhosikazi wakhe ethe chu ngohlobo lokulandelelana. Ingqondo yakhe yabethabethana yakhe yamthatha kancinci yayo kumlahla kwelinye ilizwe, wazibuza ukuba inokuba ingxaki yabo yintoni kangaka. Ezi nzwakazi zazinxibe ngendlela eyamvuyisayo kakhulu uKumkani wayetsho ngoncumo olungazenzisiyo ebobothekile ngathi umka nomlambo. Amakhosikazi anyathela ingubo ebomvu (Red Carpet) awayendlalelwe yona, ahlala phantsi ngakwicala loo mama elalondlalwe amakhuko akwaNtu. Awayebekwe ngendlela ephucukilelyo phezu kosoze. Bahlala phantsi ngokulandelelana njalo, bajonga ngqo kumyeni wabo owayexakwe nokuba makathini.
Wafika endlwini yakhe wabona indlela inkosikazi yakhe engonwabanga ngayo waba buhlungu yile nto wamcela kananjalo ukuba uMafungwashe xa efuna nokuba yintoni noba ukhathazeke kangakanani na abokuqala athethe naye ke ngoku ukuba bayoyisakala aye kuKumkani, esi sibini sangqinelana ngoko. UMthobeli wayengazinzanga wayefuna ukuqonda ukuba kuqhubeka ntoni ngenqwelo ntaka yakhe. Wayengabangaphanga thuba lokuphefumla kulo nkampani ekwakulungiswa kuyo lo nqwelo ntaka; wayebatsalela umnxeba efuna ukuqonda ukuba kwenzeka ntoni kumaxa bendawoni na nenqwelo ntaka yakhe.
Bamncumela bonke uMthobeli bebonakalisa ukumamkela.
“Ngoku utsh’uba mandiyithini lo nto leyo. Andile unentliziyo ende imoto kwakho zingaka ukuba ninji?”
Wayencume uKumkani ngathi umka nomlambo, watsho wahlunguzela intloko, wayehleli ecaleni kuka Mafungwashe. Wathi akubona abanye abafazi waqonda ukuba izinto ziyalunga amalungiselelo ayasondelelana, ngoba babexhakazela ziimpahla eqonda nje ukuba balungiselela ukuza kuka Misson Blanche. “Anisebahle, kuyalunga kodwa?”
“Yinton’ingxaki ntomb’am?”
“Kulungile ndiyeza.” Wenjenjeya uMafungwashe waya kulo ndawo alindwe kuyo nguMthobeli wayenoloyiko ngoba kwakungavumelekana ngokomthetho babenamasoka ingakumbi eliza kumane lizo kumbona.
Bangqinelana nalapho, wawa emnxebeni uZintle wafowunela kwinkampani yabavoci benwele wacela ukuthunyelwa omnye wabavoci. Wafika umvoci wenwele ephethe ulwaphice lwemifanekiso ukuze bakwazi ukuzikhethela kulo mifanekiso uhlobo abanokuthanda iNkosazana ibonakale ngayo entloko. Baphica baphica imifanekiso bathi bakufumana uhlobo abaluthandayo lo nwele baqhubeka wenziwa intloko uMafungwashe. Bathi kwincoko yabo amakhosikazi akhankanya ilokhwe yeNkosazana abangaqinisekanga ngayo, kwaye banomthandazo ongena Amen bekwaqhine neminwe ukuze ngosuku lwangoMgqibelo bangaphoxakali. Wayiqonda umvoci ukuba kukho into eza kwenzeka kula malungiselelo angaka. Waziva engakwazi ukuzibamba wazincama wabuza engakhathalelanga nokuba kungathiwa uyazithanda iindaba. “Ingaba iNkosazana iyatshata?” Badungidelisa beyibethisa ngomoya lo ndawo yomtshato. Waphinda wabuza umvoci eqhubekeka phofu nokuvoca unwele lwentwazana. “Ingaba iNkosazana iyatshata nalungisa kangaka?”
”Wamxhawula uMaison. “Nice to meet you too.”
“Mamela ke mfo wam ndiyathemba ukuba uyakuzitshintsha noko ezo uzinxibileyo ngokuhlwa.”
“Hayi wena mama ungabinaxhala lo mbuzo ndiwubuzwa yonke le mihla ingakumbi ngabo bangandaziyo, kambe ndiwuqhelile.”
Wagxabhagxabhisa eleqisa ukwenzela afike kwangentseni eBhotwe enethemba lokuba mhlawumbi akukho mntu uyakuqaphela ukuba khange alale ebhotwe. Wothuka wafuna ukuwa xa ebona wonke ubani uvukile ke lo nto bonke bejonge kuye, wayeka okoku chwechwa ebekwenza. Waphoxeka yanga atwele athethe konke nangazibuzwanga.
“Ndakwenjenjalo Nkosazana, bye ke Nololozana.”
“Yhazi yintoni Andile.”
“Khawume bhuti wena usebenza phi, kweyiphi inkampani?”
“Intoni?”
“UKumkani uyithembise ntoni nale ntwana itheni namhlanje yazehlela inyuka, khona ndiyintoni mani ekuhlambeni iinqwelo ntaka uMthobeli ebekade endihloniphe kangaka nje usithatha phi isibindi sokundihlambisa inqwelo ntaka; khona wakhe wandibona ndihlamba inqwelo ntaka, yhe madoda! ndivelelwe.”
Kwasa ngemini elandelayo, enziwa amalungiselelo wokuza konozakuzaku, wonke ubani wayechwayitile eqinisekisa ukuba olusuku kufuneka lube yimpumelelo. Kwenzeka ke ngosuku olulandelayo bafika onozakuzaku, uMthobeli wayehamba no-Andile umanenjala wesikhulolo seenqwelo ntaka bekhatshwa ngabelungu ababini ababengabahlobo bakaAndile, yaba ngumnqa noko leyo indawo kodwa bayiqonda izinto ziyatshintsha noMzantsi Afrika utshintshile kodwa ezinye izinto azivumi ncam ukutshintsha. Yaxoxwa ilobola wabizwa uMafungwashe; wacelwa ukuba azokunika ubungqina phambi kobuhlanti. Wangena ebuhlanti wamiswa phambi kwabo bonke ababelapho wabuza uKumkani.
UMthobeli wamphindisa eBhotwe uMafungwashe. UMafungwashe waqonda ukuba indaba zakhe ezilungileyo uyakuziphalaza ngesidlo sangokuhlwa. Wathi ngexesha le sidlo waziphalaza iindaba, kodwa wayenoloyiko engazi ukuba aqale ngaphi xa eyithetha yonke le nto kodwa; aphinde azexelele ukuba wonke ubani noba kunini na uzakwazi ngale nyewe. Ke akukho mfuneko yakufihla nakugogotyela. Kwathi ngesidlo sangokuhlwa wonke ubani wasesithebeni nditsho noKumkani imbala. Isandla sasekunxele uMafungwashe waba manqaphanqapha ukusisebenzisa ixesha elininzi wayesifake phantsi kwesithebe. Kodwa wayengabhungisanga ngoba uZintle wawubona umsesane zibekwa. “Uyaphila phofu uMthobeli? ”Kwathi cwaka endlwini uZintle wabe enonga ukutya kwakhe. Wathula uFungie yaba ngathi akubhekiswa kuye; kodwa uvalo lwabetha ngamandla akuva igama likaMthobeli.
“Khawuthule, thula Zintle, ngubani obekubuzile?”
“Uyakhumbula ngela langa sasiseMonti?”
“Hayi sana, hayi ilokhwe kuphela, kufuneka ubucwebe, isiqholo, izihlangu, iinwele mandithi kufuneka siqiniseke ngayo yonke into ukusuka elukhakayini lwentloko ukuya kuthi ngqu eluzwaneni lwenyawu kufuneka izinto zomhlaba, ndifuna lowa mfana womYiputa abone intombi yomhlaba.”
“Uyaxoka, uyaxoka ikhona le ndawo utya kuyo, kanti andizu kukwenza nto isisu sesakho bhuti.” Ebila ngumsindo uMafungwashe.
Babeka iminxeba phantsi, akugqiba uFungie wema wazwabuluka ezolula waya kuma ngomphakamela wefesitile eyayihonjiswe ngamarhaladeni odidi oluphezulu. Waqwalasela isibhakabhaka wabuka neentyatyambo ezazihombise zingqonge umzi wakowabo; ebukela namabhabhathane awayendandazela evuyela uhlobo. Neentaka ezazitsho ngalo mculo umyoli zimane ukolula iimpiko zintingela phezulu esibhakabhakeni. Isibhakabhaka sasicwengile kungekho nelifu. Wayibuka uFungie indalo yabaleka ingqondo yakhe yamlahla emalanda lahla. Waba kwezo ngcinga uFungie waziva ethetha yedwa. “Iyamangalisa indlela ebekunetha ngayo ngala mini ndanetha ndamanzi tici, kodwa namhlanje selicwenge linje. Kodwa ndingenza ntoni nje enokundihlaziyisa umzimba namhlanje.” Wathi akuqwalasela futhi ezantsi wabona ichityana la manzi waziva enqwenela ukudada, wakhulula eza mpahla ebezinxibile wanxiba ezokudada. Wafaka amazaza wakhe awayewaphiwe ngudade wabo atsho amkhumbuza indlela ababedla ngokonwaba ngayo kwelo chibi bequbha bobathandathu. Zabuya ingcinga zaqukuqela entlokweni yentombi, kwathi kuba ebesele ekulungele ukuqubha wakhe wachopha umzuzwana enendawo ethandabuzayo ngoba wayengafuni ukuya kudada eyedwa kodwa wayengenakunceda ngoba kwakungekho mntu wokudada naye. Wakhwasuluka wazixelela ukuba uzakufika azijule kulo manzi, wafaka amazaza, wathi xa evula umnyango wegumbi wothuswa nguyise owayemi emnyango ngaphandle elungisa isandla elungiselela ukunkqonkqoza, wothuka ngamandla uFungie.
UZintle wazama ukuphakama kwakhona, kodwa ehexa ngamandla. “Hayi maan, kaloku kukumbonisa nje amandla kaThixo, uThixo wamakhosi mkhulu ngokumangalisayo konke ngoku kulungile.
Umama wakhe noomam’oncinci bakhe babephelile ziintloni, bafane baqhwaba nje sebengesayazi nabayenzayo nokuba mabathini ingakumbi emva kwamalungiselelo abawenzayo. Impoxeko yayibhalwe ebusweni bukaFungie. Wathi ukuba esehla kwisitepusi sokugqibela wabe uyise emkhawulela enamabhongo angazenzisiyo wambamba ngengalo waya naye kwiNkosana eyayinoloncumo lubanzi lungazenzisiyo, kodwa ngaphakathi yayiphelile yintsini. UKumkani wayazisa inzwakazi esenebhongo elikwizinga eliphezulu ngokungathi akayibonanga le ntlekele yengozi engaka.
“Ukuba ngumngqungu phakathi kwekhaya lo nto itsho uthand’ ukuthandabuza kweliny’ixesha.” Bathi bakufik’edolophini bangena kwi Mall indawo enevenkile ezindawonye eziphethe okuhle kodwa egama liyiCentinary Mall yodumo. Esi sibini sasihleka sonwabile utata nentombi. UMafungwashe wayonwabe ukudlula uyise ngoba zange alufumane usuku olunje wagqibela mhla mnene ukuba akhe akhutshwe nguyise. UKumkani wayengavamanga ukukhe akhuphe abantwana bakhe okanye achithe ixesha nabo, into yena awayengayiphosi zindibano zentsapho ezazihlangana eBhotwe. Wayezonwabela zona ngaphezu kwento yonke, nentsapho yayizonwabela ezindibano ngoba uKumkani wayebabalisela ngemilo yeeKumkani zakwaXhosa. Esi sibini ke sakhumbuzana ngezo ntsuku zamandulo nendlela ekwakuba mnandi ngayo nendlela ababehleka ngayo.
UKumkani wafika esikhululweni wangqala e-ofisini kamanenjala wacela ukubona uMthobeli Moya. Umanenjala wacela ukuba umnumzama Moya abizwe ngoba uKumkani angathanda ukumbona. Benjenjalo nyhani baya kumbiza kodwa babuya nelize; ngoba uMthobeli wabaxelela ukuba yena uzakuqale ahlole lo nqwelo ntaka ayive amandla akugqiba uza kubuya ambone. Wathi uKumkani akuva lo mpendulo wayicaphukela indelelo nokungahlonitshwa kangaka ngulo mfana, waziva ezonyanya wazibuza ukuba ebengenakugqibela ngayo yonke lonto yokuhlola lo nqwelo ntaka yempambano. Wathi sele efuna ukukhalala wabuya wazinqanda wazixelela ukuba umonde zange wabulala mnt’akabani.
“Mholweni bethuna”
“Kuza kufuneka ke nditshintshe ezimpahla ndijong’enyinto yokunxiba.”
Watsho uZintle ebhala encwadini:
“Kulungile.”
“Mafungwashe ntomb’am yiza kutata, masambe sisi ikhona ilokhwe yakho endiyithandayo ekufanelayo.” Embamba ngengalo emkhokela kwindlela eyakumagumbi aphezulu.
Wonke ubani owaye kwelo gumbi wancuma bonke beyiqonda ukuba uMafungwashe ufumene umyeni olungileyo. UNobuhle wayonwabela ngaphezu kwabo bonke le nto ngoba wayebona ulonwabo lubhalwe ebusweni bukaMafungwashe.
“Mna bendicebisa singakhaleli ubisi oluphaleleyo lo nto ayiyi kusinceda mna bendicebisa ukuba xa elicebo lingalunganga sixoze mphini wumbi.”
“Andithandi ukukubona ukule meko, ukuba ungandixelela ndingakunceda ndithembe.’ “Angekhe ukwazi ukundinceda kule, nokuba kungayiphi na imeko.”Watsho elila mpela uMthobeli. Waxakwa uKumkani akazazi nokuba aqale ngaphi ukunceda.Wathatha uMthobeli kulo mvula bangena endlwini.
Zonke izinto zenziwa zaphelela. Zahamba iintsuku uMthobeli engatsali mnxeba kwaye engabonakali nesithembiso sakhe. Yayingavamanga ke le nto, uMthobeli kaloku wayemtsalela umnxeba nakahlanu ngemini umakoti wakhe kodwa ngale veki yomtshato wathi nya. Kwaku lusuku lokugqibela ukuba abatshati bangabonana, uMthobeli zange abonakale ndawo. UMafungwashe waya kuyise owayesahleli eNkundleni ngokuhlwa kuba wayedikwe ngabo babe hombisa indlu ngeentyatyambo, waqonda ukuba makhe abaphe umtyhi basebenze into yabo bayigqibe. Wafika sendyengezelisa ngokungathi nezo lokhwe nalo maxakatho ayamsinda. UKumkani wahle wayiqonda nje ukuba ingxaki ikhona kwaye umonakalo mkhulu.
“Ndiyavuya ukuva lo nto uthi uzakuzosibona nini thina?”
Wathi UZintle ukuba agqibe ukubavalela ngaphandle wabuyela kuFungie owayelila ngathi ubethiwe. UNobuhle wayehleli ecaleni kwakhe emgonile. UZintle wabuya waguqa ngamadolo pahambi kwakhe, uNontle wayegobhe izidlele edane emanzi.
UNobuhle ezama ukwanga intombi yakhe.
”Ndisekwanguye nangoku akukho nto itshintshileyo. Mna nawe sokohlulwa zindudumo.”
“Amen.!” Wabhideka mpela uAndile akazi nokuba makathini, “Ikhona le mpundulu ikulandelayo Mthobeli kwaye ndiyabona ifuna ufele ezandleni zabantu, phuma kwedini, phuma.” Wamkhomba umnyango. UMthobeli wahlasela isingxobo sakhe esasinenhyukunhyuku ngokwenene waphuma, waphendlisisa kakuhle ejonga ukuba imali yakhe necheque leyo ebeyityikityelwe nguKumkani isekhona na; wafika ikhona esipajini ithe ncwaba ngolo hlobo ebeyishiye ngalo.
Wanqamla lo ntsini uKumkani. “Isikhalo senu sivakele.”
Kwathi ngecala emva kwentsimbi yesithandathu uKumkani ebhuqana noMthobeli wancedwa ngomnye owayeqoqosha iqonga wamxelela ukuba uMthobeli noMafungwashe nazo zonke iimvumi ebezilapho baye kwihotlele leyo elungiselelwe iimvumi. Waphathelela uKumkani walanda ekhondweni wafika ehotele exelelwa ukuba baphindele eBhotwe bagqiba kuphuma wazama ukumtsalela umnxeba afike iminxeba yabo bobabini noMafungwashe ivaliwe.
”Nkosazana.”
Aphela emqaleni kuKumkani ngoba ibali lesiqholo lonakalisa yonke into izicwangciso zakhe zaphelela emoyeni. Wayesele enentloni ukuyibika into yokuba umnikazi siqholo ukwikhuko lokufa esibhedlela, wazama ukuyifihla eyigcina ngaphakathi kuye. Kwathi kuba noko akukho mfuneko yokulifihla olu daba wade wazincama ngelingeni wamxelela umhlobo wakhe ngentombi yakhe, kwaye wamcacisela ukuba uza kufika ambeke nje uMaison aphinde esibhedlele. Zange abenangxaki uMaison wayincoma iKumkani ngentlonipho nangenkathalo yayo.
“Iyamangalisa indlela abantwana bale mihla abakhawulezisa ngayo ukuphumelela, umntu kumthatha ubomi bakhe bonke ukuqweba izigidigidi ndiyamangala xa ndibona umfana omncinci nje ngawe abenemali engaka.” UNobuhle emthandabuza okwakhe.
“Andinangqiniseko ukuba le nto iyakuba lula phambi kweKumkani, ngase kubekho cebo limbi, kodwa akuncedi ngoba kufuneka eyazile yonke into eyenzeka kweliBhotwe. Kodwa icebo ndinalo mhlawumbi uZweli uyakusimamela.”
UFungie wayekhathazekile yindlela iNkosana eyayimthathe kakubi ngayo, ekubeni mhlawumbi ngebesuke bathetha kweliny’ixesha bayilungise into yesiqholo. Khona isiqholo besiqale sayintoni na? Wanxuba uFungie kweso sibhedlele engayazi into emehlelayo. Wasiqalekisa ke isiqholo wasifungela engayazi nento ebesisebenzisela yona.
“Kodwa Mam’Zintle uyamazi uKumkani oko kuba ungumntu onjani siza kumqala ngaphi ngale nto?
“Mna, noMthobeli asizukuba satshata lo mtshato ndiyawuchitha.’ Elila egixa usisi.
“Kuza kufuneka siqiniseke ukuba iNkosazana ayinalwazi lwayo yonke le nto yenzekayo.” Watsho uNontle elungisa ukuhlala. “Kaloku la magqiyazana akazifuni iindlela ezingatshongo khona zokudityaninswa namasoka ibangathi umntu uyathengiswa, okanye ushumanezekile enye into ngoku akusafani nakuqala. Izinto zajika apho umntwana wakho wawukwazi ukumcelela isoka kulo mzi uwuthandileyo.”
Kwathi ngempela veki leyo uMthobeli wakhumbuza uMafungwashe ngedinga labo, babeka ixesha, uMthobeli wayezimisele ekumonwabiseni nyhani uMafungwashe. Wafika kwangaphambili kwelo xesha, wafika uMafungwashe naye sele elungile bahamba kwangaphambi kwexesha elo belibekiwe. UMthobeli wamkhuphela eMonti apho bonwaba bade bazilibala; umntu ongabaziyo wayenokucinga ukuba kudala bengabahlobo. Bayizula iMonti behamba iindawo eziphambili ezipholileyo bade bayokuqhina elwandle apho bahlala kwade kwatshona ilanga, bahamba ezinzulwini zobusuku. UMafungwashe waba nomothuko xa ebona ixesha ngoba uKumkani akahambiselani nabantu abathanda ukuhamba ngobusuku.
Wathi ezama ukucacisa uMthobeli indlela axakeke ngayo ngoba ulungisa inqwelo ntaka yakhe esuke yalahla isantya yahamba ngesantya esincinci. UKumkani wamxelela ukuba akanaxesha lalo nto nje yena into ayifunayo kukuba uMthobeli athathe kula mali wayemnike yona; ayokulungisa lo nqwelo ntaka angakulinge atyise umntwana wakhe ngesithukuthezi. Wenjenjalo ke uMthobeli kodwa wayengathembanga nje kwaphela ngoba kaloku wayezixelele ukuba akukho mntu unguchwepheshe ukudlula yena ekulungiseni iinqwelo ntaka.
“Ungandiqubuli ndoda, uze ngqo.” Watsho egigitheka u- Andile ukuphuma ngomnyango.
“Ilula sibiza zonke iimvumi ezicula ikwaito zize emabaleni aseNgonyama.”
Hayi suka ngoba?
Kodwa naye wayemkhumbula uMthobeli waziva ezakuwophula lo mthetho. UMthobeli wathi ukuba angene uFungie emotweni wayiqhuba basuka phambi kweBhotwe bathi tyishi; baya kwindawo esekutshoneleni, apho kwakunemithi eshinyenenyo kodwa indlela yeemoto yayikhona. Waqhuba uMthobeli wangenelela phakathi wafikela kwindawo enechibi la manzi, wamisa imoto uMthobeli wavulela uMafungwashe wamthi chu ngengalo baya kwelo dama la manzi bahlala kwisikhondo somthi. UMthobeli-wabamba izandla zikaMafungwashe, saxuxuzela isisu sentombazana; lwaphela uncumo uvalo lwabetha ngamandla, wangcangcazela waphelelwa nangamandla.
Ubuncwane beli lizwe nobumnandi balo mhlaba andibuva ngokupheleleyo. Nkulunkulu wam ndenze ntoni phambi kobuso bakho ukuba undohlwaye ngolu hlobo? Yini kangaka Nkosi? Bonke abantakwethu bendile bandishiye ndedwa, nceda Nkosi yenza ngenceba. Zaphalala iinyembezi, wanga umntu ubethiwe walila isingqala sixabe uvalo. Wathi esagixiliza enjalo wothuswa sisandla esambamba emagxeni, wathi akuphakamisa amehlo. Wothuka kakhulu akubona umam’omncinci wakhe. “Mam’Zintle”
“Akukho nto ndizakuyicinga kule nto, ndiyavuma ndizakuyonwabisa intombi yakho ndinike wena nje izigidi ezihlanu (R5 million). UKumkani wamtyikityela icheque wamnika. “Kodwa Nkosi yam, Mntwan’omhle ndiza kuyiqala ngaphi la ntombi yakho ngoba wonke ubani uyayazi ukuba inolaka kanjani nendlela ezigqatse ngayo?”
“Niyabona ukuba nifuna sibe ngabakhozi bakwaBlanche sibe nomkhwenyana wethu webhongo waseYiputa kuza kufuneka siqale ukusebenza kwanamhlanje. Senze amalungiselelo kwangoku, ngoba ndiyabona ingathi niyekelele umxakatho. Ndifuna noba la nkwenkwe yomYiputa ibikho intombi ebiyigxeleshile ithatheke umxhelo nguFungie.”
UFungie yayingase amvale umlomo. UZintle wagxuphuleka engekancomi kuya phambili. “Kumkani ixesha liyahamba liza kude linishiye engekaziboni uMntwan’uSithembiso eza zinto bekufanele umbonise kwangoku nisenethuba kukud’eMtata.’
“UNobathembu oh ! umntwan’am uphi kwenzeke ntoni?” Kaloku uKumkani akadlali ngabantwana bakhe nditsho amakhosikazi wakhe imbala uxolele amadlakadlaka ngentsapho yakhe.
“She is my second wife Nontle.” Ekhomba uNontle uKumkani.
Walila ngamandla wade uZintle waba nokothuka ecinga ukuba inkulu into eyenzekileyo kule ntombi. “Kutheni Fungie, yintoni sisi, ndixelele?”, engcangcazelisa ilizwi emqwalasele ebusweni.
“Uxolo lweNkosi lube nawe ntomb’am.”
Amanenekazi acwangcisa indlela abaza kwenza ngayo amalungiselalo weNkosana yomYiputa. UZintle edlala ngosiba ephatha kulujikelezisa phakathi kweminwe ayiqengqe nakwinyheke yakhe. “Mna bendicebisa ilokhwe ibeyinto yokuqala uku-odolwa.”
“Thyini ungakhangel’esinye nje?” Wothuka uZintle akubona uFungie wadideka.
Bakhe bachopha aba babini baboniswa ngosuku olukhulu lo mtshato. UMthobeli wayengxame ngokungazenzisiyo
IKumkani yayihlonitshiwe ke luhlanga lakwaXhosa ngoba wayenobuchule ezixazulula iingxaki ezixaka uluntu ngendlela enobuchule, enguchwepheshe nencutshe ngaphandle kobuqhophololo. Ngale mini kwenzeka ukuba iKumkani ibenentlangano namakhosikazi ayo kuphela. Yayichophela iNkundla eyayiqala ngentsimbi yesibhozo; kodwa kwathi kubetha intsimbi yesixhenxe yabe kudala iKumkani ihleli eNkundleni ilindile. WabaseNkundleni kwangethuba ngoba wayifumanisa le ntlanganiso inomdla ngelo langa lalo mhla.
Baqonda ukuba mabazilungiselelo kolotyelelo luka Mntwan’uSithembiso kwangethuba athi efika afike beliqule baligangatha. Bathi ngosuku lwangeCawa baqala ukulungisa babethanda ukwenza amalungiselelo kwigumbi likaNobuhle lokulala ngoba lona yayiligumbi elalinelanga kulo magumbi aphezulu kwaye wawukwazi ukubona okuqhubeka ngaphandle; ukusukela kwisango ledyaridi elingasekunene ukuya kuma xhaxhe kwisango lasekhohlo nditsho kumasango angena eBhotwe uqobo. Esi sithathu sasikholwa kukuwubona wonke umlevo oqhubeka apho eBhotwe; ingakumbi umlevo odibanisa umyeni wabo, babewonwabela. Kodwa ngale mini babengazixakekisanga kakhulu ngomlevo ngoba ixesha babengenalo kakhulu babefuna ukwenza ngqo; baqinisekise ukuba iNkosana yakwaZulu ayiphulukani nentombi yabo.
Niyibonile ingozi eniyenzileyo ngexesha iNkosana yomYiputa ibilapha niphantse nasibulala, buyani umva ixesha lesoka lizakufika ndinikeni nje ithuba.”
“Kodwa Kumkani inkomo iyafana nenye, iinkomo ezimnyama namhlophe ziphelile azifumaneki ebhayi, kudal’uMthobeli ezama iveki iphelile ngoku.’ “Ndiyazi wena nalo myeni wakho nicinga isintwana. Ilobola asingombulelo wokukhuliselwa inkosikazi yakho ngabazali benkosikazi, kodwa ukwabonakalisa ukuba zonke iimfuno ezifunwa yinkosikazi uyakukwazi ukumnika nokuba kunzima kangakanani na. Ukuba umyeni wakho akakwazanga ukuzisa ilobolo yeenkomo ezimbala umhlophe namnyama, lo nto iyakundikhombisa ukuba iimfuno zakho zakuzaliseka maqompi qompi.’ Embamba emagxeni.
“Mandiwenze mafutshane, uthi uFungie usuke wazibona elilolo abantu abamthathi nje ngomntu xa ephakathi kwabo, nditsho iitshomi zembala zimthatha nje ngomntwana weNkosi iNkosazana nje esisicigogo esingehlalwa mpukane, kwaye akukho mntu ufuna ukuzisondeza kuye ngoba bambona nje ngomntu oziphakamisileyo nditsho namasoka uqobo kunzima.
“Hayi, hayi kwedini mamelisisa, khange ndithethe ngakubulala kwaye andingombulali, le nto ndizakuyithetha yohlukile ikude lee kule nto uyicingayo.”
“Andile kukubambisana le ndlela wenza ngayo, siyintsapho xa uthetha ngobambiswano loluphi olu uthetha ngalo.”
Wamosula iinyembezi ezaziqukuqela zisihla ezidleleni zikaMafungwashe. Wathi angabuzwa uMafungwashe walila mpela. Kaloku eyona nto yayingamandla ngoku kukuba oku kulila kwakhe wayekufihla, namhlanje kanti akabhungisanga.
“Ndimhlazise njani na uMafungwashe ngoku?”
“Mamela ke bhuti inyanga ingakhe iphele ndikuxelele mosi izihlobo ziyanceda ncedana Watsho ehleka egagatheka enquntsuza ukuya emnyango, wamphosa ngeglasi uMthobeli yabetha edongeni yasabalaka.
“Yintoni, kukho ntoni kule vek’izayo ikho le nto nifuna ukuyenza nathi nisithele tshuphe sikwazi ukufaka isandla.”
Axhabashela edolophini amanenekazi, indlu yayishiyeke nezicaka. Bagaleleka eBhayi baqala eAmerican Swiss, babuka ubucwebe bathatha amaxabiso bagqithela kwaSterns, baya nako Tavernier Jeweliers bathelekisa amaxabiso nobumenyemenye bokucwebezela kobuhle bezacholo zezo nkampani baphuma nezase American Swiss. Bathi bakugqiba ukuthenga baqhubeka nohambo lwabo bayo kujonga indawo ekulungiswa kuyo inwele. Ezi ntombi zazintle zinonwele uNosaluni wayebazi nje ngamakhasitoma wakhe babethi xa betyelele apha baphathwe nje ngezitatanyiswa wayebahloniphe ngeyona ndlela. Bathi xa bephuma apho bagqiba ekubeni mabakhe bazijongele izinto zokunxiba noko basebenze kakhulu namhlanje bengekaqali nanye benjalo, bathi kulo mjikelezo bangena kwiivenkile zaseMall. Bazihlola nganye nganye kanti bamane ukugqithana noKumkani noMafungwashe.
“Kumkani”
Wavuya uKumkani akuva ezi ndaba ngoba wayesele exhalisekile yile nto wathi esahleli elinde ugqirha oxilonga uMaison bucala weva erhwecwa ngomnye wogqirha owamxelela ukuba intsapho yakhe yonke ilapha esibhedlele; ekubonakal’ukuba barhogole nto ithile echaphazela amathatha zatsho iintloko zabo zaqaqamba. Waya uZweli kwelo cala bangakulo sele egxanya enganyatheli exhalabisekile. Wothuka waphantse wawa xa efika ebona ukuba intsapho yonke ilapho, wafika sebexilongiwe benikiwe namayeza belinde ukuba bakhululwe bagoduke, kodwa yena uFungie wacelwa ukuba asale kuba ivumba ulirhogole ngamandla. Wathi akuva lo nto uZweli waphambana ngomntwana wakhe. “Gqirha kwenzeke ntoni akenzakalanga kodwa umntan’am?”
Kwakuye kuthi ke eBhotwe xa kuza kubakho indibano kuyiwe eNkundleni kulapho izinto ezibalulekileyo nezidla umzi zazixoxelwa khona.
“Kule veki iqalayo kuza kufika inkosana yakwaZulu umntwan’uSithembiso, kwesi isihlandlo ndifuna ukubakho, ndifuna ukunincedisa ngoba nina nimathile mani, ninyabile suka.
“Mhm—m-mhm—m.” Enqwala uZintle emamele ngenyameko “Yitsho.” Bonke bayeka oko babekwenza bamamela kuMafungwashe.
“Kunzima kakhulu ukufumana umfana, ingakumbi mna ngoba okokuqala ndingumntwana wegazi, umntwana weKumkani iNkosazana. Okwesibini ndifundile ndade ndayityekeza. Okwesithathu ndingusomashishinikazi ophumeleleyo.
Yenjenjalo ke intombazana ukunxiba, naye watsho wabanebhongo wazibona eyintombi yakwaNtu. Kwathi kuba bebelinganisela egumbini likaFungie behlela kumagumbi asezantsi besiya kuKumkani akwazi ukuba atsho ukuba uyibona njani yonke le nto. UKumkani wabukela uFungie esehla ekhokela exhagiwe ngabafazi bakhe. UFungie kwakumnyama kuye ukuba elungiswa kangaka nje likhona elinye isoka alungiselelwa lona kwaye kufuneka elufumene kodwa wayenesikrokro.
Eyona nto yayingamandla wayesele ezibona setshintshe igama, wazama watsho phantsi, kwakungekho soka linamdla. Amandla entokazi aphela. Wayengazilibali umgqwaliso anawo onesimnyama esibethelelwe kuye.
“Ndiyindoda mntwana ndini ungandideli, noba uyihlo angabiza la R80 billion kwakho, ngeke ndibe nangxaki.”
U-Andile wamamela nje wabuya waqononozela phantsi waqhubeka nokubhala le nto ebeyibhala. “Uncede ungandiphoxi mani torho Andile soze ndithathe thuba lide edolophini ndizakubuya kwakamsinyane.” Wegwiqi washiya u-Andile emashekile exakwe kukuphendula.
UMaison wavakalisa intlungu yakhe yokubashiya.
“Mamela ke ntombi yam ukusukela namhlanje ungaze uphinde uwuhlab’amadlala umthetho wam ,yonke into ndiyenza ngesizathu, ndicela ukhululeke ke ngoku.
UKumkani wamamkela uMaison Blanche wathi makakhulule ibhatyi abesekhaya. Emva kwengxoxo uKumkani wamcela ukuba akhe amjikelezise eBhotwe; emva koko uza kumbonisa amakhosikazi wakhe nentombi yakhe enkulu. UMaison Blanche wakuthakazelela oko kudibana nentsapho ingakumbi intombi leyo yeKumkani waziva engenakuzibamba eqhula ke phofu. “How old is your daughter, is she married?”
UKumkani yayingase abhabhe ukuya eNgonyama. Kwaku sekuzeni kokusa xa kanye beza kungena elalini eNgonyama, bothuswa sisithatha esasingapha kwenduli, kuqala bacinga ukuba ikho imoto okanye iloli enkulu ezayo, kodwa yayingade ivelele kwelicala baza ngakulo njengoko babekhawulelana nesithatha eso. Bothuka abayeka ukukhuza xa kanti elolitha lalisuka eBhotwe litsho kwakhanya ilali yonke, uGatyeni waba bubhatyaza endleleni ngoba ilitha lalibukhali ngokukhanyisa. Bafika eBhotwe kugcwele kuyinyambalala kwicala elo lalinombhiyozo. UKumkani wangena phakathi kwalo nyambalala wakhangela uMthobeli noMafungwashe, bathi ababengamqondi bamtsala nangebhatyi namaqhina, bambi bemgila bengenaxesha futhi bengamkhathalelango okuya kokuqala, abanxilileyo bambulise benxile paqa, wazama ekhangela. Watyhudisa wade wayokufika eqongeni, wafika kanye xa beqoqosha belungiselela ukuhamba iimvumi sezemkayo. Wathi ebuzisa ngoMthobeli, kwabonakala nje ukuba ubuzisa ebantwini abangenalwazi. Wema eqongeni ekhwaza uMthobeli babe abantu bengahoyanga nabahoyileyo beqonda nje ukuba akukho ncedo abanokulenza.
“Ulale kakuhle kesisi ndiza kukubona kusasa.”
“Ndiyarhalela ukukhe ndiphume, kodwa ndiyabulela sana?”
Wothuka kakhulu uNobuhle xa kucac’ukuba ingxaki inkulu kangaka. “Uthen’udlwengulwe umntwan’am.”
“Kodwa Kumkani kwel’inyixesha ukuba nyani ubusimamele ngekungenje. Nditsh’uba jonga khona ngoku ilokhwe oyinxibise uFungie ngezinkani zakho waphoxeka kanjani umntwana, emveni kwamalungiselelo angaka Zweli,”
Yaqala icawe umfundisi wamkela intsapho yakwaNgonyama ngobubele ebonakalisa ukuyithakazelela yonke le nto. Wathi emva kwalo mbulelo wacela ikwayala yaseEdeni ime ngaphambili yamkele uKumkani nentsapho yakhe bandule ukuqhubeka nenkonzo.
“Unje-e wethu.”
Elungisa ukungqengqa kwakho uZintle. “Uyabona wena uthetha ngamagama amakhulu kangaka, amagama angcolileyo inene ungagxothwa futhi ungadityaniswa nabanye abantu uyingozi kucacile ukuba uyityhefu eyingozi.”
Amakhosikazi eKumkani aqale anyusa umthandazo phambi kokuba adibane nomyeni ngoba amaxesha anje ngalawo kubo ayengafane abekho. La manenekazi ayenxibe kakuhle ngokumangalisayo wawunokude ucinge ukuba bayaphuma baya kwindawo ekude kunekhaya; kanti hayi bayokubona umyeni. Kaloku umyeni lowo babethatha ixesha ukuze bambone babethi ke xa befumana ithuba elifana neli; baqiniseke ukuba banxiba ngokugqamileyo ukuze baqaqambe bakhe bamchukumise kancinci; kwaye babelungisana kwabodwa bazibotyoze ukuze umyeni lowo ababone bebahle.
Wanyoshoza indlebe zishukuma kucaca nje mhlophe ukuba bamjonge ntsho; apho emva kwakhe. Wabulela nje ukuba atshonele kubo wafika egumbini lakhe wazijula phezu kwebhedi yakhe zabuya zonke iingcinga zako konke obekusenzeka ngezolo, wacinga wacinga wabiwa bubuthongo walala.
Wangena nje wabulisa wathi ezama ukumdlalisa uMafungwashe emhleka-hlekisa wabe uMthobeli ebabaza indlela adinwe ngayo, kangangoba unqwenela ukukhe angene kwishawala etshisayo akugqiba alale zwi zikwazi izihlunu zomzimba wakhe zoluleke. Wathi uMafungwashe emxelela indlela apheke ukudla okumnandi kwanamhlanje ukogqitha isidlo sayizolo wabe engazingeni ezo uMthobeli wangxengxeza wamcela ukuba ucela okwakhe ukutya akubeke ngoba uzakuthi ukuvuka kwakhe ekuseni aqale ngako.
babusangene kukuhlazeka engatyhilekanga tu. Wabe uyise ecaleni enobhongo kangakanani ngayo yonke le nto ingakumbi akubona indlela iNkosana encumele iNkosazana ngayo. “Ububele yinto yale nzwakazi uyabathanda abantu, thyini mfo wam u----.”
“Hayi Nkosi yam, mntwan’omhle ungothuki wena
“Yhu yintsimbi yokuqala kusekuseni kaloku nje, liphi igumbi labahambi ndiyokulala?”
Le ncwadi ndiyinikela esizweni ngokubanzi, ingakumbi kulowo uthanda ubuntu, amasiko, izithethe kunye nemvelaphi yethu, kwaye esajonge phambili ekuphakamiseni izindlu zegazi zakwaNtu ngobubanzi ukuze siqhubeke nobuntu bethu singazingxenganga.
“Ntomb’am ubanjezelwe yintoni ngoku? Wentla ngoZintle. Zintle.”
Yathi ukuba igqitywe lo nqwelo ntaka kwaba mnandi kwaMthobeli, noMafungwashe wayesengene gxwabhabha ekuthandeni inqwelo ntaka, kangangoba kulo mzi incoko yasekhapha yayingenqwelo ntaka kuphela. UMthobeli wamcacisela uMafungwashe ukudalwa kwayo kwakungowuphi unyaka kwathini ukuze ibe namhlanje ibelolu hlobo ilulo. Kwathi ethubeni uMafungwashe wabanomdla ekuqhubeni inqwelo ntaka, baye bagqiba ekubeni mabayo kuhlala kwifama yabo yezilwanyana; uMthobeli azo kumfundisa khona bengaphazanyiswa nto. Balishiya elo pomakazi labo bayakuhlala efama. UMthobeli wayithanda kakhulu ifama le ngoba ubomi kuye batshintsha mpela babulula ngoba kwakukho uthotho lwabasebenzi izinto ezininzi wayezenzelwa ungakubali ukutya, nokuhlamba nezinye izinto anganakuzenzelwa ngomnye umntu , ithuba lokubhabha esibhakabhakeni ngenqwelo ntaka ayihlanjelweyo yayimtsho lo nto angabuboni obunye ubomi ngaphandle kobo basefama.
Bacwangcisa ngenyameko. Ukumkani mhla ehamba wabacela ukuba basuke endlwini yabo bazo kuhlala eBhotwe; uhambo lukaKumkani namakhosikazi akhe yayiluhambo lwentsuku ezintathu bezakubuya ebusuku kwisuku lwesithathu. Zabuya iimvumi zekwaito ngosuku lwesibini uKumkani namakhosikazi engekho ebhotwe. Lomjuxuzo yayizakuba ngumjuxuzo wentsuku ezimbini ngentsimbi yesithandathu ngorhatya uyokuphela ngentsimbi yesihlanu ekuseni; baphinde kwangentsimbi yesithandathu ngengomso bayokuyeka ngentsimbi yesihlanu ekuseni.
“Xa nindifuna ndisegumbini lam lokulala.”
“Thyini ntombi utheth’ukuthini xa uthi unje, ngoba mna ndibona umfana okuthandayo phaya?”
Baphinyela, baphinyela kwelo Bhotwe bade bafika kwirhangi eyayibakhokelela kwigumbi elo elalihleli intsapho yeKumkani, kulo mphinyelo babewenza beva ivumba elinuka kamnandi bathi ngokuya besondela laye likhula ivumba libaqhekeza intloko ngamandla. Waba buyitsala iqhiya leyo ayijijele entloko uMaison waziqinisa iimpumlo, laye libatsarha ivumba lingamandla amangalisayo. Bangena ke kwelo gumbi linentsapho bekhokelwe nguKumkani. Wathi uKumkani akubona ubuhle bentombi yakhe waqonda ukuba intwana yomYiputa ayiqhashanga namhlanje ayinakukwazi ukuphulukana neli thuba lihle kangaka nakanjani na abanakumswela.
“Kulungile uzukhe uyek’ukunqaba ke sisi?
“Hayi Kumkani.” Batsho ngexesha elinye.
“Yhazi yintoni Andile, ungaze waphinda wandibiza umtshana wakho mna ukusukela namhlanje ungaze uphinde uze apha ndingakubizanga ulinde de ndikubize, ndicela uphume apha. Goduka Andile! menemene ndini le bhedengu.”
Wathi ukuba eve igama lo mntwana wakhe uKumkani waxhuma wagungqa esitulweni.
Amakhosikazi eKumkani azala iintombi zodwa, ngamnye wazala iintombi ezimbini. UKumkani lo wayengenaye unyana kwaye wavela wazixolisa intliziyo. Lahamba ke ixesha iintombi zatshata kodwa yaba ngumnqa ngoba zonke intombi zalapho ezincinci zatshata zishiya leyo yokuqala.
“Hayi andithethi ngothando lwabazali, ndithetha ngothando lokuba nomlingane, ndizakhele umzi nam ndibe nabantwana ndibokhele ikhaya. Iminyaka yam ihambile, abantakwethu bonke batshatile, kodwa kum kunzima ukuba nditshate. Akukho nesoka eli eliphazamela kum. Ngamanye amaxesha ndiye ndingazi ukuba kwenzeka ntoni ebomini bam.”
“Eny’into iitshomi zikaBuzwe ndiyazazi uninzi lwazo kaloku bendifunda nazo. Sana uzakusihlekisa ngabantu usengumakoti omtsha kraca kulo mzi wakho; ngoku ke andifuni zindaba ibengathi ngoku ntombi ukh’ubone moss ibengathi ntombi ukuba omnye wethu wendele apho hayi mnt’akabowo asipheli nathi sesincedakele asibaphi nomoya wokuphefumla abakhozi. Ukuba bathi nank’umgidi sesilapho, nants’indibano sesikho, nab’otshomi bakaBuzwe sesikho, nants’intontoni uyayibona phofu le nto ndiyitshoyo.
“Nice to meet you too.” UNontle wabonakalisa ububele.
“Kwakushiyan’omam’ukondla.” Watsho uNontle ejalile, batsho bayana ngamehlo abanye abafazi.
“Nkosi yam, Yehova andazi nokuba ndivuye nokuba ndilile, nokuba ndihleke okanye ndincume, kodwa iNkosazana ixakwe yintoni mani ixolo elinje ngam kanje. Kodwa nam ndikhawuleze ndangxama ukwamkela imali; ukuba iNkosazana ithe ayandithanda ndiza kuthini. Kodwa ukuba ndinganxiba kakuhle nditshintshe nendlela yokuhamba mhlawumbi angathatheka umxhelo uMafungwashe.”
UMthobeli wazitshixela ngaphakathi kwelo gumbi, yakhala indoda amehlo ade abomvu. “Nkulunkulu wam, yonke into ibihamba ngendlela konakele phi? Bawo. Inkosikazi yam entle kangaka ngeke ubuhlungu bentliziyo yakhe benziwe ndim. Umfazi wam omhle nendimthanda kangaka madoda. Yini nkosi yam ibingekho enye indlela. ”Walila uMthobeli engamvuleli uMafungwashe kwelo gumbi.
Ese kwezongcinga u-Andile wangena uMthobeli embonzelekile wazibona edelekile u-Andile. “Mthobeli kwedini awukwazi ukunkqonkqoza phambi kokuba ungene ngubani othe ngena?”
“Yhe wethu impundu uyakuba sazithini zona xa efihla nditsho ubuso bembala ngoba ubuso asinto noko ethyulu?”
“Nkosazana, ndiyacinga ukuba oonyoko bakuxelele ukuba emtshatweni kuyanyanyezelwa andiyazi le uyenzayo ngoku. Kaloku ayithethi into yokuba akasakuthandi uMthobleli inoba nje ikhona into emxinileyo wena nje linda soze ndimthembile la mfana. Izinto ezincinci ngolu hlobo ningabo kuzikhathaza ngazo kakhulu.
UNontle wayehleli phantsi bhaxa egcakamele ilanga ngasefestileni koko kugcakamela kwakhe ilanga kwamozelisa.
“I wish I can spent more time with you people so that I can know you better, but there is always next time. Anyway it was nice meeting all of you.”
UKumkani wangena kwigumbi likaMafungwashe engxamile.
“Kak’hle.” Watsho uFungie ethe chu uyise ngengalo benjenjeya baya kuphuma ngomnyango basishiya eso sithathu siqhubekeka nokuthenga.
“Ndiyakuthanda Fungie.” Wamphuza, baphuzana ixesha elide. Amehlo kaMthobeli kwasa edumbile, nenyheke zembala zazithe fuku. UMafungwashe wathi akubona ukuba umyeni wakhe ukwimeko emaxongo akazimiselanga kumxelela ngengxaki yakhe, wabiza umalume kaMthobeli u-Andile. Wamtsalela umnxeba wamcela ukuba makafike ngoba uMthoblei usengxakini kwaye yena uMafungwashe uzakubapha ixesha bakhe babe bobabini; mhlawumbi uMthobeli uyakuyiphalaza intlungu yakhe. U-Andile walamkela olo bizo ngezandla ezingenamkhinkqi. Wathi emva kwemizuzwana engeyanga phi wagaleleka kwaMthobeli. Wathi ukuba amthi ntla uMthobeli wonyanya wafuna ukugabha.
“UMafungwashe unengxaki, uthi ukusukela ekubeni odade wabo bendayo kunzima kuye. Yena usuke walilolo ke lo nto akaziboni enekamva hlobo lwezothando.” Wazonwaya intloko emanyonywane enendawo ethandabuzayo, waye uKumkani emthe ntsho emamele ngenyameko, waqhuba uNobuhle.
“Kumkani.’
Kubo bonke aba bafazi babengaboni sithintelo. UKumkani wathi ukuba bathi gwiqi abafazi bakhe naye wathatha okulingene ikhwapha lakhe eNkundleni wajongisa eBhotwe kwigumbi lakhe lokufundela, wafika apho wangqala ngqo kwi computer yakhe wathumela imiyalezo ebalulekileyo kwindawo ezahlukeneyo. Wathi akugqiba apho watsala umnxeba etsalela iindawo ezahlukeneyo; esakugqiba wacela umqeshwa wakhe othembekileyo uGatyeni owayengumqhubi waseBhotwe wamcela ukuba amkhaphe amse ePort Elizabeth Airport, apho wafika waqinisekisa ukuba xa umfana womYiputa efika aphathwe ngendlela nje ngesitatanyiswa nje ngoko engumntu ohloniphekileyo.
“Hayi andizu kukulibazisa akukho nomntu ozakuqaphela, ndiyakucela wethu ndifuna ukukubona.”
“Mthobeli bendingakulindelanga, ufike kwangethuba.”
Bangqinelana ukuba amandla kaThixo makhulu ngokuncamisayo bawabone kule mvula banyuka izitepusi. Umqeshwa wasekhapha wayemangazekile ngoba zange awabone la magqiyazana elolu hlobo ngaphambili; wayemane ukubathi ngenjezu eyohlukileyo enombuzo bathi bakuyiqaphela lento yale njezu bamwa ngentsini. Bazinyuka ezo zitepusi bahleka intsini menyo yento engapheliyo. UNobuhle yena wayethe ngce iindlebe emamele umculo owawumtsholo kamnandi, nje ngoba abanye benyuka yena uthi ephezulu abuye ehle ayokumamelisisa loo mculo, atsale nabanye ukuba bazo kumamela umfana wakwaMadlingozi. Ekwakucaca ngenene nangenyaniso ukuba ngumlandeli wakhe efuna ukuva ukuba balubona njani na olu ncuthu mazangwa.
Bahamba umganyana bathi geqe ebantwini nakwinqwelo ntaka ezo, bathi ukuba bathi geqe uKumkani wema wamngqala ngqo emehlweni.
“Tell her you not a mama’s baby you are a big boy.” Waqhula uKumkani ekhokelela kwisitulo esasihleli uMafungwashe, baphela yintsini bonke kwelo gumbi.
“Kumkani.” Ezikhulula koko kubanjwa nguKumkani.
“Nice to meet you too.” Watsho uFungie eyolelwe mpela koko kubanjwa yile nkosana yomYiputa.
“Hayi torho ukuba yinto edibanisela nokungcola mna andizingeni ezo.”
“Kodwa Fungie mntwan’am ubungasayiboni ukuba lelokhwe incinci kunawe yini sana lwam eshwabene kanje yona ilokhwe.”
Ekrwitsheka mpela uMthobeli.
Ngelinye ilanga babhabha noFungie bebuka ezo zilwanyana zazilapho bethatha nefoto zazo kwamnandi; kusuku lwesibini uMafungwashe wafunda ukuqhuba inqwelo ntaka; zange aphinde ahlukane nenqwelo ntaka wayithanda ukogqitha uMthobeli lowo, usuku lwalungadluli uMafungwashe engantingelanga esibhakabhakeni nokuba uMthobeli akakho. Kwabonakal’uba kuyabangiswana ngale nqwelo ntaka kodwa kwakufanele bachilisane ngayo, uMthobeli wamyeka uMafungwashe wakhe wazivisa ubuncwane benqwelo ntaka.
“Mthobeli mtshana, umalume wakho usengxakini.’ “Hayi bo lume, ingxaki yantoni ngoku?”
“Umtshato sisi undibambele mantsantsa, undibambele kufutshane.” Ehleka uThandeka.
“Zintle”
Bangena kwenye ivenkile eyayithengisa iimpahla nezihlangu, kwathi kanti kulo mgqithwano babewenza batshayisana noKumkani nentombi yakhe kule venkile; nakhona ngokuba uZintle abone athande isihlangu kanti noMafungwashe usithandile esi sihlangu basibamba xesha linye kwaye yayisesokugqibela.
Babuyela eBhotwe bamnika uFungie izipho zakhe. Wasuke waxakwa umntwana wanga uyaphupha akayazi eyona iqhubekayo ngoba kaloku bamfikela esalele, ukusukela ethe wancokola noZintle wabuya walala wabhideka mpela ngumbono wagqibela ngokuyihleka yonke lento yenzekayo, kodwa wabulela wadomboloza. Kwenzeka ke ngosuku olulandela olo kwangentseni ngalo mini, uGatyeni isicaka salapho esithembekileyo umsebenzi wakhe yayikukusa ilungu naliphi na le ntsapho kulo ndawo linqwenela ukuya kulo ngaphandle kokungabaza nokuthandabuza sabaqhubela imoto kwayiwa entabeni.
ICANDELO 1
UMafungwashe wabamba umyeni wakhe wamkhokela etafileni.
“Bethuna ndiza kunibona ukubuya kwam edolophini ingathi ndingakhe ndibethwe nje ngumoya khe ndithi tshalala.”
‘Hayi Kumkani.” Sele ithe bosololo intombi enkulu.
Ugqirha wacela uMaison ukuba afike aphumle endlwini. Bahamba uKumkani noMaison benjenjeya kwayiwa eBhotwe. Endleleni eya eBhotwe wayincoma ngamandla intombi kaKumkani indlela esifaka ngayo isiqholo; ezibuza ukuba inokuba kukangakanani na kwabo abasoloko behleli naye.
“Ndikhon’unjani?”
“Hayi Kumkani.” Ephotholoza izandla.
“Utheth’ukuthini ngoba unyaka uphelile le na yinyanga yokugqibela. Oh! Utsh’uba kwalapha enyangeni.”
“Akukho ngxaki, kodwa inyanga ibe yinyanga, andifuni ziqendu zantsomi ezibandayo mna.”
“Bebethe sesokugqibela”
Bathi kolonwabo lwabo ecaleni kwe-ondi, kwangena uFungie emanzi tixi umzimba wonke kwaye eqhaqhazela kukugodola. Bathi ukuba babone oko kuqhaqhazela boma baphela yintsini, sele beqhutwya naziinyembezi zikaVictoria, begigitheka kukuhleka. Yakhathazeka iNkosazana iphoxakele kukubona oomama bayo behlekisa ngentlungu yakhe; ngoba ngezolo bebebonakalisa uvelwane nothando. Wanyuka waya kumagumbi aphezulu wakhulula ezo mpahla wanxiba impahla zokulala.
“Ndingabenzela ntoni abafazi abahle base Bathenjwini”? UNobuhle waxakwa kukuba makenze njani emehlweni.
Wothuka akuva ilizwi likaMthobeli wosula imifinya neenyembezi ngokungxama. “Mthobeli, ufike nini?”
Wathi esangqengqile efunda incwadi yodumo yeqhawe lakwaXhosa ethi Long Walk to Freedom, kwakhala umakhal’ekhukwini wakhe wathi akubon’ukuba ngudade wabo uThandeka wancuma wayisabelela phezulu.
“Lixesha elingakanani le nto isenzeka?” UZintle wayeqonde ezantsi okwakhe. “Yinyanga enentsuku ukuyiqaphela kwam le nto, ukuba yingxaki, ucinga ukuba le ngxaki singayithetha kuKumkani , ndinethemba lokuba isisombululo anganaso.
Waxhabashela kuMaison wafika esaphethwe ngamaxhala nomothuko, wabona akufika ukuba akasafani nakuqala, kodwa ngoko ebhetele enjalo umYiputa izinto zazing’emntakaNgqika kumYiputa wayengasayolelwanga ngoku. Wabuza uKumkani ebubhideka. “Are you all right?”
“Hlalani phantsi nivale umnyango lowo.’’ Watsho uKumkani engathandisi bani, baphela ngalo mzuzu ubuthongo abantu balungisa ukuhlala ngokwendawo zabo.
Waqhuba uKumkani wabuyela eBhayi. UKumkani wayengayichasanga yonke le nto kodwa wayephanjaniswe kukuba engaxelelwanga, wayedikwe nakukubona uMafungwashe okhulelweyo etyhale eso sisu ejuxuzela phezulu.
“Kumkani uMafungwashe khange ajuxuze umntu obejuxuza apha ndim, yena ebezo kubukela mna. Yhazi yintoni mntwa’omhle, thatha imali yakho yonke, mna nenkosikazi yam wohlukane nathi siziphilele ubomi bethu ngendlela esifuna ngayo, kwaye asizukuphilelwa nguwe ngenxa yokuba wandithengayo.’ “Awuz’ukundixelela obo boya benkunkuma wakugqiba ukwenza umonakalo ongaka. Andifuni kuva sikhalo sikaMafungwashe uyandiva ndakubhatalela ukuba onwabe qwaba angabe ehlazeka.”
“I’m fine, but your daughter’s perfume was so close to kill me.”
“She’s is my first wife Nobuhle.” Ekhomba uNobuhle. UMaison wamxhawula ngesandla.
“Kodwa ke sana kuza kufuneka undixelele ukuba ngobani na abaza kubakho, ndikwazi ukuhlenga-hlengisa?”
“Ewe nguwe kwiveki eziphelileyo ezi ubungxamile ufuna nditshate, ngoku ndiwufumene umtshato, yonke into uyenza nzima ngoba?”
“Mna bendisithi masenzeni umthandazo wasentabeni sijonge iziphumo zomthandazo lowo , ukuba zibe zihle simbhalele incwadi uKumkani sibika intlungu yeNkosazana. Ndikhe ndayicingisisa le nto ngoba ukuya ngentloko ukuqina kwiKumkani akuzusinceda mhlawumbi akayi kusimamela”
“Usityelele ke namhlanje ngodaba lwezamashishino ufuna ukuthenga la fama yam yezilwanyana mna ndiye ndabona iyinto elungileyo ukuba ayifumane ngoba ithuba lokujonga zonke ezifama zam andinalo, kwaye xa ifunyanwa ngumntu omtsha nje ngaye oza kuyinakekela; noko andiboni sizathu sokungathengiseli kwaye uyithenga ngexabiso eliphezulu ngokuphinda-phindiweyo iR80 billion.”
“Kutheni ingathi utsibe ilitye likaphungela nje kwedini, ucinga ukuba le mali ingaka ndandikubhatala yona ndandikubhatalela ukuba uhlazise ngentombi yam okanye uyonwabise.’ Wothuka u-Andile wazitsweba akuva ukuba kanti ixesha eli lonke lo mtshato ngumtshato wentengo.
“Nzwakazi, uphilile.”
“Uncede ke ekuseni ungaselwa undivuse kwangonyezi, ngoba kufuneka ndifike kwakusasa eBhotwe.’ “Utsho endodeni, ndiza kwenjenjalo. Uncede xa kukho into oyifunayo ungathandabuzi undivuse.’ Wanqwala uMafungwashe
“Hayi bo siza kuyenza njani lo nto khawuphuhle?”
Bafika imoto leyo ibalindile bayishiya intaba bayiqhumisela ngothuli olumhlophe, yayokuthi ngxingxilili phambi kweBhotwe kwabangathi zange ishukume. Behla enqweleni bangena kwigumbi lokuphumla bahlala ngokuzola; bothuswa kukungena kukaMafungwashe owayonwabe ngathi uwine ilotto.
“Yintoni Mthobeli, kwenzeka ntoni? ”UMthobeli wayebambe iinyembezi ngeenkophe waphakama, wahlunguzela intloko waya kwigumbi langasese.
“Kumkani?”
Waguqa ngamadolo phambi kwakhe. “Mamela kaloku sisi, uThixo uyayazi into ayenzayo, yonke into inesizathu sayo kwaye uyenza ngesizathu. Ukhona umfana okuthandayo ukogqitha nditsho thina bazali bakho kunye nodadewenu, kodwa wena akumazi naye akakwazi. Kodwa ndinengqiniseko ethi apho akhoyo naye ukhangela wena. UThixo uzakwenzela inceba ngenye imini eyokuba nidibane nalo nzwana, kwaye nakuhlala nobabini ngokonwaba ubomi benu bonke. Into nje wena onokundenzela yona undincede ngayo, kukuba ususe amaxhala wosule nezo nyembezi ngoba yena umlingane uzakumfumana ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo. Uyawukhumbula moss umthetho owakhuliswa ngawo ngumama wakho necebo owanika lona, ngumthandazo kuphela kwaye uThixo akahlulwa nto.”
“Ndim?” Wothuka uKumkani ezithandabuza iindlebe zakhe.
Amadoda akayithandi into yokuba umfazi angaxhomekeki kuwo ngayo yonke into, leyo indawo ibatsho bashikixe unyawo ngamandla.” Bangqina abanye abafazi ababini banazo nendawo ezinqwalayo benga bafuna nokuma ngeenyawo kodwa bebonakalisa ukuba uZintle makaqhubekeke achaze.
Bathi emva kolo thotho lwenyembezi bathi chu bebambene ngezandla bangena eBhotwe bakhe bathi ukuyo kuphumla. UMafungwashe wayo kungqengqa kwigumbi lakhe lokulala. UZintle waya kwigumbi lokuphumla kwangenelela nabanye abafazi beKumkani uNontle noNobuhle kwigumbi elo. Babevela kwigumbi lokuphekela beziphathele iziselo zokuphunga bobabini ababafazi babe kwizinxibo zokulala, babencokola behleka kumnandi bathi bakusondela baqhaphela ukuba uZintle akonwabanga kwaye ebelila, bothuka banxunguphala banovelwano oko kuhleka bebengene bekwenza, kwaphela ulonwabo ngoba omnye wabo wayengonwabanga.
Wemka uMaison elushiya usapho luthathekile nyhani ingakumbi amakhosikazi ngoba ayeqinisekile ukuba uMaison umthandile uFungie, nendlela athethe ngayo nje ibonakalisa okokuba umthandile. Ithemba lajikeleza umqala ngakumbi kuFungie xa umam’omncinci wakhe embuza ngoMaison.
UKumkani wabulela ngomsebenzi kagqirha omkhulu awenzileyo, waxakwa nokuba akhaphe amakhosikazi wakhe okanye asale noFungie okanye aye kuMaison. Waphelezela amakhosikazi kwinqwelo yakhe ezixelele ukuba uza kubuya ngomYiputa akugqiba abuyele kuFungie, wathi esekwirhangi leyo ebheka emnyango ophumela ngaphandle esibhedlele, weva omnye umongikazi embiza emxelela ukuba uMaison Blanche sele elungele ukuhamba agoduke. “Ingakhon’ingxaki ukuba ndinganishiya nodwa ndiye kumYiputa?” UZintle waphendula engabonakalisi maxhala.
UKumkani wabhideka akayazi ukuba aqale ngaphi na kule nyewe aze ngayo kulo mfana. Wathi sele ecinga ukumshiya angathethi ngale nto aze ngayo wabuya wajika ingcinga zakhe. “Mfo wam andizanga kucela nto ityhulu; koko ndize ngodaba lwentombi yam enkulu, UNkosazana.”
Wayenqwenela ukuba inga ingaphinda ithi ukumanga. Kaloku apha kusisi imvula zazingasani amathuba anje ayemnqaqele ngoko wathi akubona uMaison wambona wamthanda, wayemthe ntsho emehlweni.
“Utshu’unyoko Andile uyandiva?”
“You remember when we enter your passages the perfume was all over and we sniffed it. Damn she’s a real Princess.”
Bathi besahleli uMafungwashe waphuma kancinci ngathi uyabuya ngoku, uMthobeli weva ngesandi sesindila phezu kwendlu kanti akabhungisanga, wasiqaphela ukuba sitsholo kufutshane, wabaleka waphuma phandle, wothuka waphantse wawa xa ebona ukuba nguMafungwashe. Waxakwa nokuba enze ntoni, wafuna ukugwencela ayinqakule ayibeke phantsi kodwa wabona ukuba leyo ayiyi kumnceda.Yayingase atsale noMafungwashe lowo kodwa akakwazanga wafane wakhweba ebhabhisa izandla emoyeni, inkosikazi yabe ibhabhela kufutshane incumile ijikelezisa umnwe ikhombisa ukuba iyabuya, yayinyusela phezulu inqwelo ntaka yabhabhela ngasentshona yade yayakutshonela.
Wamjikajika embhenca.
U-Andile wamqhwaba ngempama yanye wamhlalisa phantsi kweso situlo, wabuya wamemisa ngeenyawo emxakathisile, wathethela ezantsi eqinise amazinyo.
“Andile ufuna ntoni apha?”
“Ndingakujikelezisa uyibone yonke.”
Wathatha incwadana enemifanekiso wabuka. “Isiselo esibandayo kum, eselamuni esinamagaqana ambalwa omkhenkce.” Wajikelezisa isitulo eso ahleli kuso, wabuyela kwifestile yakhe waqwalasela futhi. UNontle wazilungisa iziselo wabanika ngokwahlukana kwazo, bathi cwaka bonwabela iziselo ezo, bothuswa yingxolo eyenziwa nguZintle.
YayinguZwelikude ke lowo, ingxilimbela yaseBathenjini. Wayeyindoda ethe ncothu ngesithomo esukile mpela egadeni engenamzimba kubheka phi, wayeyindoda enesithomo, hayi ngesidima esinesizotha ngondiliseko. UMhlekazi lona watshata iintombi ezintathu. Wayeyindoda efumileyo kakhulu. Nje ngawo wonke amadoda afumileyo wayeyindlovu engasindwayo ngumboko wayo. Ezi nzwakazi zazintle nazo ngendlela eyenza umunyu kwababukeleyo, batsho banqwenele ukuzisondeza bazihlobanise eBukhosini.
“Khawume Fungie, yhe wethu wenza ntoni ngale mpela veki ndifuna ukukumema?”
Kusuku olulandelayo uMthobeli waxelela uMafungwashe ukuba unecebo.
“Andidlali ngawe ngawe mfondini, ndifuna ibeyinto yale mpela veki izayo le yale mali.” Watsho egxininixa u-Andile ephaka esitulweni futhi engacengi nje kwaphela.
“Njengoba mna ndizokukucela ndifun’ukukukhupha namhlanje ndifuna siye kwibhanya-skop?”
Wayesinekile uMaison ebonakala nje ukuba wanele.
Wayonwabe kakhulu uKumkani ngoba wayesazi abantu abaninzi babeye bathathake zizilwanyana mhlawumbi ingayenye yeendlela enokwenza uMaison Blanche athande ukuba ngomnye wabakhwenyana bakhe. Bagaleleka ke efama, kodwa kwakucac’ukuba mh-m iNkosana ayimnandanga konke-konke iqaqanjelwa yintloko eqhekeka kubini.
Eza amakhosikazi eKumkani etshitshilili ahlala ngokulandelana esithebeni isitulo sikaKumkani sasohlukile kwezinye singcodololwana noko sona. UMthobeli zange aphozise maseko wahlala ngqo ecaleni kukaMafungwashe. UKumkani zange ayithande noko keleyo kodwa wayengenakunceda.
“He! Umam’uZintle uMthobeli uphilile.”
“Mholweni.’
UMthobeli wathi ekuzeni kokusa, waqoqa konke ebekucwangcisile oku kokwakhe wayibetha yancinci ukuya kwantliziyo ndise washiyela uMafungwashe incwadana awayishiya phezu kwedrawer eyayisecaleni kwebhedi. Wavuka ekuseni uMafungwashe wavuka umyeni wakhe engekho wazixelela ukuba mhlawumbi usabethwa ngumoya nanje ngamntu othanda ukuvuka ekuseni.
“Kumkani ukuba ufuna ndibulale umntu ndincede cela omnye umntu hayi mna nokuba imali ingakanani na andisoze ndivume.”
Kwaba mnandi kwesi sibini sacwangcisa zonke izinto ezizakuba yimfuno ngalo mini bengangxamanga, batsala iminxeba betsalela inkampani zemvumi, bazilungiselela iindawo zokulala balungisa nebala neqonga ekuza kujuxuzelwa kulo.
Wamxhawula uMaison “Nice to meet you.”
“Xa ndibuya ndiza kubona kwimpelaveki le siya kuyo siza kuthetha ngomhla womtshato. Ndifuna ubaxelele kwaNgonyama ndikwazi ukuza ndizokuthetha ngelobola, ndihlawule ilobola kwaku leveki.”
“Hayi.” Wavumbuluka uMafungwashe engcangcazela ngumothuko, wehlela kumagumbi angezantsi ebaleka waleqisa kwisango elikhulu wafika wakroba ukuba uMthobeli akamisanga imoto apho. Wabuya wenyukela kumagumbi aphezulu wavula iwadrobe ejonga iimpahla zikaMthobeli ebeze nazo efama wafika kungekho nanye.
“Ndicela ukhe usiyeke sikuncede mhlawumbi ekugqibeleni uyakusibulela, uvile ke nomama. Soze thina sikuhleke sikuyekele kwaye xa ingxaki yakho uyithethe kuthi awuhlazekanga nakancinci. Uyabona silapha nje sonke siyakuthanda ngokungazenzisiyo kwaye sifuna ukukunceda. Kwaye Mafungwashe amathuba weeNkosana ukutyelela apha anqabile yiyo lo nto sisenza lo msebenzi ungaka uwubonayo.” Nontle wayebudla nangenwele zakhe ezicengezela.
“Kuza kufuneka ndihambe; eBhotwe bangade bacinge fanukuba ndilitshivela. Kodwa Mthobeli ingathi ikhona indawo esiphazame kuyo bekufanele si------”
Wayihleka uZintle indaba yesondo. “Yiyo le nto ninexhala kangaka noloyiko, bethuna kaloku le yohlukile ekwabelaneni ngesondo nezothando zizinto ezingadibaniyo ezo zonke kwaphela kwathi tu ke ngoku.”
INkosana yamxhawula. “Ngithakazelel’ukukwazi ndodakazi.”
UNobuhle waba noloyiko, waphakama wangqunga.
“Kodwa Fungie bekungafanelekanga ukuba uzikhathaze kangaka. Uyayazi ukuba umhle kangakanani ukudlula zonke iintombi zeli Bhayi. Ndiyathemba ukuba uzakufumana oyena yena ngoba aba bafana usebenza nabo andibachasanga, kwaye ndiqinisekile ukuba baninzi abafana abanokukufela abafuna ukuba yinxenye yobomi bakho.” Ezama ukumosula iinyembezi.
“Ungakulinge uzintwanise apha jonga apha Mthobeli andingomntwana mna uzakundinika kule uKumkani wakubhatala ngayo ukuba utshate intombi yakhe.”
“Akukho ngxaki, phosa nje wena incwadi nesiba elo ndiza kubhala.” Watyhila incwadana. “Kuza kufuneka siqiniseke ngelokhwe yokunxiba kuqala ukuba nje yona yodwa…”.
“Ingathi ngowuqala ngoku ukhahl’eliNkosi.” Watsho waqokobha.
UNobuhle wamngqala wamcacisela engafuni ukuphuhla nakubonakalisa ukuba kukho dinga lithile okanye ntlobo ebitheni yokulungiselelwa kweNkosazana.
“Kumkani ubunyanisile ngela xesha ubusithi umntu ongazanelisiyo iimfuno zelobola soze akwazi ukwanelisa iimfuno zomtshato. Umtshato ndiyawuchitha.”
“UMthobeli ebendithembisile ukuba uzakuza azokundibona nesipho, ziintsuku zintlanu akasanditsaleli nomnxeba. Ndiyawuchitha lo mtshato.’ Wagixa mpela wazigquma ngezotyali.
“Manenekazi ndininika iintsuku ezimbini namhlanje nguLwesithathu, ngoMgqibelo laa ntwana yamaYiputa iyafika ndifuna yonke into ibe ilungile ubucwebe obungayiwayo; nayo yonke into enicinga ukuba izakumtsho abenomtsalane xa laa ntwana imbona. Ndiyabulela ngentsebenziswano. Kulungile ke ndizakunibona noMgqibelo.”
Wathi esancume enjalo wabona ukuba amakhosikazi akonwabanga konke-konke; kwaye ababoni nto incumisayo waya esehlela kuncumo lwakhe. Ebusweni bakhe wayebonakala ukuba wonwabile ukubona amakhosikazi kodwa wehla akubona ukuba kukho undonakele. Wabila woma waphathwa nasisifuthu futhu.Wabuza ngelizwi elomeleleyo kodwa kuvakala ukuba unoloyiko nothando.
“Iintsukwana? Iintsukwana ezingaphi gqirha yho! Umntan’am.”
“What do you mean?”
“Thixo yiyo le nto begule bonke aba bafazi.”
“Hayi khona.” Emrhiphula ngengalo uKumkani. “Thatha izinto zakho niyiqhelile into yokukhukulisa ngomfula abantu; mna nale nzwakazi kukho iindawo ekufanele siye kuzo esingekazigqibi. Akunjalo sisi?”
Kwafikela ixesha lokuba ahambe wavalelisa kwintsapho waphelezelwa yiKumkani ukuya ePort Elizaberth Airport. Kwacaca nje mhlophe nasesidengeni ukuba uMaison akafuni kwa ukusondela endaweni enoFungie ngoba ubonakala eyintombi enobungozi. Babephoxekile bemanzi abafazi beKumkani. uZintle wamxelela injongo zakhe zokunqwenela ukuba angaphinde ambone futhi. Wayibethisa ngoyaba uMaison akawuphendula lo mbuzo kubonakala nje ukuba leyo ayinakube iphinde yenzeke nje kwaphela.
“Mam’uZintle?” Enyenyisa isihlangu eso. “Ndihamba noKumkani.”
“Yiza ngapha ndilandele.’ Wanyuka izitepusi uMthobeli emkhokelela kwelo gumbi. “Uzakulala apha ke wena mna kule ingapha kwakho.” Watsho ekhomba.
“Isn’t she pretty?” Wagxuphuleka uZintle ebuphakama nakweso situlo wayehleli kuso.
“Wena umbona njani umYiputa?’
“Ke lo nto ndize ngexesha elimnandi tshali, kowu ulume akaphumi ezinkathazweni kodwa kumnandi xa ndinabatshana abanje ngawe.”
“Andifuni kudla kwakho mna; Andile.”
“Yinyani emsulwa engangxengwangwa leyo nam ndiyakungqinela ukuba nje singayenza imfihlo yonke le nto singanempumelelo.” Watsho uZintle echopha ebhedini. UNobuhle zange athethe nto ngokugcina imfihlo, amaxesha amaninzi kweli khaya xa amakhosikazi amabini athe angqinelana ngento kwakungabikho mfuneko yokrutha-kruthwano ngoba amaxesha amaninzi babesoloko bangqinelana becinga ngohlobo olufanayo. Babethi ke xa bengangqinelani badibane noKumkani abaxazululele ingxaki yabo xa kukho onkanizayo. UNobuhle walungisa ukuhlala kulo sofa. “Zintle uzakuba ngumabhalane wethu?”
“Cela esinye kaloku sana baza kukunika.”
Wathi ukuba aqaphele uKumkani ukuba kuhlwile ebusweni benkosikazi wabethelwa ngumbilini wanoloyiko.
“Kulungile mtshana ndiza kukuthumela inkcukacha.”
Agobhana amakhosikazi, beyiqonda nje ukuba kuyalunga, izinto ziza ngohlobo lwazo ziyahlangana. Imivuyo ababenayo yayingase baqhwabe nezandla.
Wamosula iinyembezi, “Musa ukuba nexhala sisi, ungakulinge ukhathazeke uyandiva?” Wanqwala uFungie wamanga “Akakho ofana nawe.”
Wahlala ecaleni kukayise. “NguMthobeli. Kumkani uMthobeli akasafani noMthobeli lo ndimaziyo uvuka endlwini ngonyezi abuye ngorhatya ngamanye amaxesha ndide ndilale engekafiki ndivuke sewamkayo yiveki iqhubeka ngoku lento. “ Watsho egixa kukulila.
Eyicingisisa nzulu le nyewe. “Uyazi kakuhle le nto ndithetha ngayo, ngoku uthini, uyavuma noba uyala?” “Yeyiphi le ntombi kwezi ntombi zakho?” NguMafungwashe, nguMafungwashe lo uthetha ngaye, hayi kuza kufuneka ndiyicingisise kakuhle le nto. Kodwa uzigqatsile la mntwana kwaye uyazithanda man ndizakumqala ngaphi ke ngoku?”
“Kodwa uNobathembu usemncinci ukuba angadudelwa nguJambase, kwaye yintombi entle naliphi na isoka alinakungavuyi ukufumana intombazana efana noNobathembu, intomb’am inembeko ngaleyo indawo ndiqinisekile ngokuphinda-phindiweyo.
“Ucinga ukuba yiyo le yokujuxizisa umntu okhulelwe ngolwahlobo etyhale isisu esingakaya. Uyibonile intlekele oyenzileyo emaphepheni?”
Love Mafungwashe!
UFungie walila ngamandla ngoba yabangathi ingoma leyo ibhekisa kuye, kwaye abo bahlabelayo bayayiqonda intlungu yakhe yokuba lilolo, kunjalo nje banyanisile soze kubekho sihlobo sodlula uYesu. Walila ke usisi wade wabanentloni ingakumbi akucinga ukuba abantu bamjongileyo bazakumthela nkqa bacinge ukuba yena mhlawumbi nguNozimalagidi oxakwe zindaba zakhe nabubomi. Walila buntloni elilela phantsi kwendondo ezimnyama awayezinxibile. Wathi kwelo dama wayelenza lweenyembezi wabuya wazithuthuzela ngoba umfundisi wayekwazi ukushumayela wathi koko kulila waxola. Yathi iphuma loo cawe wabe umphefumlo wenzwakazi utyebile, kwaye ezixelele ukuba yena akasakhathali nokuba angangatshati uYesu ukhona ungumhlobo wazo zonke iinkedama zeli lizwe.
Zange amphe ithuba lokugqibezela. “Hayi asikuba ndityala umntu okanye ndonile, lena ngeke ibe nasisombululo. Eyona nto luthando, ndifuna uthando Mam’uZintle, ndifuna uthando.” Watsho eqhubekeka edlula kuZintle. UZintle wamlandela, wamthatha bayo kuhlala kwisitulo segolide esasiphantsi komthi omkhulu lowo. “Ingaba uziva uhlukumeza ngendlela esikunika ngayo uthando lwethu. Bendiba siyazama sizikhuphelele sizithulule kangangoko thina singabazali bakho.” Wanxuba uZintle akuva ezi ndaba zokuba kanti ixesh’eli lonke abamthandi ngokoneleyo uMafungwashe. Waxhalaba uMafungwashe akubona unxunguphalo ebusweni bukaZintle.
“UNobuhle unyanisile mna bendizakuthi into yokuba sifane sithi qho xa kuphuma umfana kweli khaya sixumbulisane lo nto ayiyi kusinceda, kwaye ndiyasola ukuba imeko kaMafungwashe ayiyodwa.” UZintle wabangathi ucinga nzulu. “Nam ndiyasola, kaloku ayikho le, soze umntu omhle nje ngoMafungwashe abesengxakini ngolu hlobo, umzekelo uSithembiso ubonakalise umdla ongamandla xa kuthethwa ngeNkosazana emncoma indlela amhle ngayo ingakumbi emaphepheni, kodwa uthe ukuba amelame ngeliso le nyama khange abonakalise mdla nje ngoko ebesibonakalisile entethweni yakhe.”
Batsho bahleka bangqubisa iiglasi ezo babeziphethe.UZintle wazama ukuphakama kodwa egexa kucaca nje ukuba kunzima. “Hayi maan.” Wabhodla. “Asizu kumphazamisa nakancinci.” Elinganisa ngeminwe eyayinenzipho ezinde. “Nto nje thina siza kumcacisela thina asingobantu abahluphayo.” Wabhodla kwakhona.
Bathi bakufika endlwini yecawa babunguzelwa ngobukhulu ububele. Kaloku olu sapho lwalungayi mihla le ecaweni lwaluhlale-luhlale lubonakale kwathi ke ngaloo mhla luye ngalo ecaweni bafike bamkeleke ngobubele obukhulu umfundisi wade waluthatha olu suku nje ngosuku olubusisekileyo ibandla lonke layiqonda likwanethemba lokuba iintsikelelo namhlanje ziphezu kweentloko zabo. UKumkani nosapho lwakhe banikwa isitulo bachopha kwindawo eziphezulu kwizihlalo ezihlala izitatanyiswa nabakhulu abefundisi abahloniphekileyo baseCaweni.
“Nololozana, uphilile?” Eteketisa udade wabo.
“Hayi sisi kaloku uZintle akonanga ngokuyithetha into ekutyayo qha ebezama ukuncedana nawe, uyakwazi ukuba nje ngoko siyile ntsapho asikwazi ukuyekela elinye ilingu lethu lisokola sibe thina sinako ukumnceda lowo usengxakini.”
ekwenze waba nomdla ezilwanyaneni; ngoba ukuqhuba inqwelo ntaka nezilwanyana yimisebenzi eyahlukileyo?”
UNontle walila zibekwa, emcelela ulonwabo umntwana weNkosi, wayibika intlungu yakhe esezinyembezini kunzima ukuthetha ebibitheka; wade wamcela uSomandla afike nalapho angafikelelanga khona. UZintle wayehluke tu kwesi sibini, wayebuhlungu yinto kaMafungwashe ukogqitha wonke owayelapho; wayenazo neendawo ezingqishayo kulo mthandazo iziphayi-phayi zimane ukumhlasela. Kwathi emva kwexesha elidana besathandaza njalo; beva inkwankca yomoya eyabavuthela kulo malaphu amibalabala babewagaxele ukuwanxiba oku befanelekile ke phofu.
UMafungwashe wayesele elandela nje lo nto abazali bakhe bamxelela yona, kodwa ngoku umqa wawomele esandleni ngoba wayezisola ngokuziveza ubulolo bakhe kumamoncinci wakhe. Ingqondo yakhe yayimxelela ukuba isisombululo kuyo yonke le nto siza kubakho nokuba kunini na.
UZintle waziva engenakuzibamba wadlabhuka emcacisela. Kaloku Kumkani amasoka akanqabanga amxhaphakele uNobathembu kodwa koko kuxhaphaka akukho ufuna ukuzimanya naye. Indawo yokuqala ngumntwana weKumkani, okwesibini ufunde wayityekeza, okwesithathu iNkosazana ngusomashishini ophumeleleyo osemagqabini.
UKumkani wazipha obo busuku walala ebila ebibitheka ngumsindo, wathi ngentseni waqokelela amakhosikazi wakhe wababizela kwigumbi lokufundela. Zafika iintombi zilandelelana kucaca ukuba basabanjwe bubuthongo bambi bezamla bambi bezirhawuzelela bambi bezolula.
Wathi ke esekwezo ngcinga zibuhlungu zingenamva namphambili, wabona iintaka ezimbini zibhabhela ngakumthi lowo owayehleli phantsi kwawo. Wathi akuzibona ezi ntaka waqaphela ukuba ziyathandana. Wema waziqwalasela zangena kwindlwana yazo eyayilapho emthini, zondla abantwana bazo. Wayibukela le nto uMafungwashe wakhathazeka ngakumbi ngokuphindaphindiweyo, zazehlela iinyembezi. Wabuyela kujingi wakhe enesingqala. Wawunyusa kwakhona umthandazo wakhe otshisayo. “Nkosi yam, Bawo wethu osemazulwini, ukuba iintaka nazo zonke izilwanyana nezirhubuluzi ezikhoyo kulo mhlaba ziyakwazi ukufumana abalingani, kungani na mna Nkosi ukuba ungandifumaneli ndibe lilolo elingumpha ochutywe walahlwa?
UKumkani wamtsibela wamanga uMaison owavele wothuka seso senzo wathi emveni kokumanga wamxhawula ngesandla, bancumelana ngoncumo oluphinda-phindeneyo. UKumkani wamolathisa isihlalo sakhe. Bahlala phantsi uMaison Blanche kwelakhe icala namaphakathi akhe.
“Undithanda njani myeni wam xa ndinje?” Watsho watshalaza watetyeza wabheka phambili babe bembukele waphinda waphethuka watetyeza wabuyela kubo.
ICANDELO
Wabacela bobabini ukuba bahambe bayo kuhlala eBhotwe bade bafumane icebo kusonjululwe ingxaki. Umoya kaKumkani wawonakele ngoba noko kaloku ngoku wayesele ephilisene ixesha elide noMthobeli; sele emthanda eyekile ukumgxila ngamazwi ahlabayo. Bahamba baya eBhotwe bachitha iintsukwana uMthobeli nolunye usuku ngentsasa yangalo mini wabonakala onwabile, wathatha inqwelo ntaka babhabha noMafungwashe imini yonke, bemane bephumla ixesha elincinci.
“Izinto zesintu iyakuba zezona ziza kumfanela ukuba singamlungisa ngamasomi, nemisesane, namaso wesintu mhlawumbi ezo zinto zakumenza abukeke abonakale enguye.
Bakikizela abantu kuyimigcobo novuyo. Wehla uMthobeli kwenye yeenqwelo ntaka enxibe impahla zabaqhubi benqwelo ntaka, wathotywa ngeleli wade wayokuthi gxinya kwelo khuko libomvu babe londlalelwe, wakhawulelwa ngumalume wakhe u-Andile banyukela eqongeni ngakumfundisi bafika bema ecaleni ngasekunene.
Wafika uMafungwashe ehamba noyise owayezokugxininisa malunga nemali abhatalwe yona uMthobeli. Bathi bakufika endlwini bafika indlu ivulwe amanzi emvula engene ngaphakathi, indlu ikhala ibhungane. Bavala iifestile neminyango kumagumbi asezantsi benyukela kumagumbi aphezulu bafika zisavuliwe, uMafungwashe wathi esavala enye wambona umyeni wakhe ehleli kulo mvula egadini wakhombisa uyise. UMafungwashe wahlala phezu kwebhedi walila. UKumkani wabhideka nokuba aqale ngaphi wabamba intombi yakhe emagxeni; wayishiya emveni komzuzu waya kumkhwenyana egadini. Wathi ukuba afike ebona imeko yamehlo kamkhwenyana wamanga wamqinisa. Walila uMthobeli waqala ekuqaleni.
“Kanti nimaxhaphetshu kangaka nilungisa kangaka nifuna ndifumane isoka, bethuna kwenzeka ntoni ngani. Aniyalekanga kukundibona esibhedlele nangoku nisaphinda?” Engqondweni yakhe kwathi qatha ela xesha wayekhuphela isifuba sakhe kumam’omncinci wakhe waphethuka wamjonga ngamehlo amabi akhathazekileyo.
UMthobeli wayiqonda ukuba uMafungwashe akayiqondi ukuba yena enguMthobeli ufuna ukuba ngumqhubi hayi aqhutyelwe. Kodwa ngethamsanqa ixesha lokutyelela eVenice lalise liphelile, esi sibini sabuyela emva eMzantsi Afrika. Bafika bayo kuhlala kwaMthobeli kwelo Zulwana uMthobeli wayethi xa elijonga angakholwa ukuba yena umngumnikazi walo ndlu, bahlala bonwabile uMafungwashe wayebathanda abantu basemzini wakhe. U-Andile nentsapho yakhe mandithi kwamntu owayengumhlobo nomyeni wakhe uMthobeli.
“Uyandiva kwedini?”
UMthobeli wayekhululeke emoyeni umphefumlo wakhe utyebile. Wazithengela umzi omkhulu okufutshane nolwandle, wayengayikholelwa ukuba ebantwini bonke yena enguMthobeli; angahlala endaweni eziphezulu olwahlobo. Wayeka emsebenzini wakhe wacela ipenshini yakhe nomhlala phantsi ngokunjalo. Wamangala umanenjala yile nkqubo u-Andile wamthi jwaxa ngekhulu leerandi wamcela ukuba azithengele iilekese. U-Andile wazixelela ukuba uMthobeli uwine iJack Pot okanye uwine amahashi mhlawumbi ilotto. Wabulela wadomboloza uAndile.
“Nontle?”
Ebila ngumsindo abafazi bafana bekhunubembe.
“Nohlulekile ngumendo, noyisakele?”
“Ngoba, kwenzeke ntoni?” Ecinga amalungiselelo angaka awenzileyo uKumkani amenze intloko yaba buhlungu akuva ezindaba.
Efixiza mpela. “Akukho kwanto enokuhamba gwenxa ukuba nje thina singaqiniseka ngamalungiselelo zonke izinto ngomso ziphelele zibe ngendlela.’ “Kodwa Mthobeli ubuphi, kutheni unganditsaleli umnxeba xa ndikutsalela ubuwuvalile, kwaye khange uzame nokuzama.’ “Yhazi ngoku undibona nje ndisuka esikhulelweni oko bendilungisa inqwelo ntaka ngala mhla umkhulu andifuni nempazamo encinci, ndifuna eza nqwelo ntaka zibe zilungile kungekho nto ishotayo.” Esi sibini saphuzana kwacaca mhlophe ukuba umtshato usaqhubeka phofu uMthobeli zange abe saxelelwa ukuba uMafungwashe lo ebesezixelele ukuba kuphelile umtshato uyawuchithwa.
Engcwengisa iinyembezi. UZintle wambamba ngengalo uNobuhle baphindela esofeni eyabaganga ngobuntofontofo ngokunga bayeyela. “Ningothuki kangako, iNkosazana ayidlwengulwanga kwaye ayithathelwanga nalinye ilungelo lwayo. Kodwa ayonwabanga, ndicela nindimamele ndithethe ndigqibe nandule ukulandelisa ngemibuzo. INkosazana inesingqala ngokungendi kwayo kwaye izibona ingenakamva.”
“Kodwa kwathini ukuba iNkosazana ingasixeleli, umzekelo ukuba ubungekho mam’uZintle besizakuva ngobani ukuba iNkosazana inengxaki?” Waphakama uZintle wasondela kuye elusizi ebusweni. “Intombazana ekwelaxabiso akulo uFungie kunzima ukuphalaza efana nalena ngoba ibonakala iyinto engenamsebenzi kodwa empilweni idala umonakalo omkhulu.”
Watsho uNontle engabonakalisi themba nje ngabanye abafazi yatsho indlu yonke yahlisa umoya nesantya semincili. Kodwa zange iphinde itshintshe into yokuba umYiputa umthandile uFungie kwaye uza umtshata.
“Fungie seems preferable, but as the times goes on I will learn to call your name. Nice to meet you Fungie.”
“Mafungwashe.’ Watsho ephakama kweso situlo ebehleli kuso. “Ikhon’ingxaki sisi?”
“Indlela abantu abathanda ngayo ukubusa, hawu we-ee, ngisho noma umuntu sesenza okungasile bamshayel’izandla kant’amaXhos’anjani. Yiyo le Nkosazana abakhuluma ngayo bethi naku naku umntwana weKumkani hawu ngisho neentombi zasezantsi zingayidlula ngobuhle le ntwazana.”
“Ungakhathazeki ndinazo izihlangu ezifana nezi, phofu wethu ziyelelene ndiza kukunika zona.”
“Kulungile ke ntomb’am ungakhululeka. ”Wahamba uMafungwashe eshiya ingxoxo iqhubeka. Wagqiba ekubeni uKumkani ngentombi yakhe ufuna ikhulu leenkomo zobisi ezingumbala omnyama nomhlophe kuphela hayi enye intlobo. KuMthobeli yaba zizinto ezincinci ezo ngoba wazixelela soze angazifumani ezo nkomo nokuba uzifumene phi. Ilobola kwagqitywa ekubeni izakufuneka ekupheleni kwempela veki. Emva kwesi sigqibo yachithakala ingxoxo. UMthobeli zange abenaxhala kuba wayezixelele ukuba yonke le nto yezi nkomo zizinto ezincinci. Wa-odola iinkomo zobisi kwenye yefama ezazikufutshane neBhayi, wabaxelela ukuba uzazokuzithatha ngempela veki. Zamtyabula iinkomo ngexabiso lwazo kodwa indoda zange iyive nalo nto yelo xabiso ngoba wayengaxakekanga.
“Kodwa mna malume bendisithi masizithathe ezi nkomo soze sibenathuba lakufumana ezinye ngoku sesisele neyure ezimbalwa. Masimyeke sizithathe ngoku zinje uKumkani noko andiqondi ukuba anganengxaki.’ “Mtshana akubhujwanga eBhotwe asinakusa iinkomo ezimnyama, eligxagxa liyasiqhela. Uyabona wena uzakusibhatala ngobubuvuvu ubenze apha.”
“Mholweni ayaphi amagqiyazane nabahle kangaka?”
Embambazela ebuka intaka yakhe kwaye ebonakalisa ukuba ingase bathethe ngokungxama akwazi ukuphinda avavanye inqwelo ntaka yakhe, wayemdaka esisincungula ngamafutha enqwelo ntaka ede wazityikila nasebusweni. “Ndingathetha nawe ecaleni?” Watsho uKumkani ebonakala nje ukuba akanaxesha layo yonke lo mbudane , kodwa eqaphela ukuba umfana lowo uyayithanda ngokwenene inqwelo ntaka.
UKumkani wamthatha nje ngesihlobo sikaMthobeli ncakasana u-Andile. Ilanga lo mtshato kaMafungwashe noMthobeli yaba ngundaba mlonyeni, babesemaphepheni kulo lonke eli, nabani na owayekhona apho ayengenakuze awulibale lo mhla umkhulu kangaka. UMthoblei wathatha umkakhe wamsa kwilizwe laseVenice phesheya kwelwandle. Bonwaba eVenice kuMafungwashe yayingase bangabuyi kodwa uMthobeli wayesele ediniwe kukuhlala eVenice ngoba iphezu kwamanzi, ikakhulu wayesele ekhumbula inqwelo ntaka yakhe. Waye ngayikholelwa into yokuba angahlala iiveki ziqengqeleke engakhange antingele phezulu, wayeserhalela nokuba yintaka kwelinye ixesha. Wathi ukuba ayiqaphele le nto uMafungwashe wamxelela ukuba angabinaxhala baza kubhabha batyelele kwenye yedolophu ezilapho kufuphi bazo kutsho bafumane ixesha lokundiza.
Ekuqaleni bacinga ukuba mabayenze eBhotwe yonke lo nto ngoba abazukukwazi ukwenza imali ethe xaxa, ngoba ukungena ebhotwe amasango wakhona noko ngawexabiso kwaye abantu bazakuba nomdla nokubona iBhotwe uqobo.
Watsho ekhokela wadibana noMafungwashe emnyango.
Kwathi thimbilili kusisi, kodwa wothuka xa esiva ukuba kanti kukho abantu abaye bamve xa elila kwigumbi lakhe lokulala. “Asiyonto ingamandla le noko Mam’Zintle, nyhani akukho nto.” UZintle waba bufudumala kodwa wazipholisa ngophanyazo. “Fungie ndiyakuzala. Awunakuthi akukho nto wakugqiba ukulila imini nobusuku bayo. Uyayiqonda ukuba umntu uyafa nokufa, okanye enzakale xa egcina into emtyayo ngaphakathi, mhlawumbi singakho isisombululo,” ecenga uZintle engazenzi.
“Kaloku Kumkani siye saqonda ukuba isiqholo si--------.’
“Yhazi Mthobeli mtshana wam ndifuna undincede ngeshumi lewaka leerandi.”
“Yona kanye, ubutyebi bam bufele phaya, zonke ezazilwanyana iyakuba zezakho ngegama akukho sityikityo nasivumelwano esizakusenza. Singangena ngaphakathi ke mfo wam.”
“Ungaxhali akukho ngxaki, ungahamb’uyokuhoya undwendwe.”
Into emtya ngamandla kukuba akukho soka lifuna ukuzisondeza kuye, kwaye olona loyiko lwakhe kukuba ixesha liyahamba kwaye kuya kusiba nzima ukuba afumane isoka, mna ndiye ndabona ukuba sithethane noKumkani ngayo yonke le nto mhlawumbi angaba nesisombululo”
OoKumkanikazi babonwabe mpela ngesiselo uZintle weza nengcamango abayibona nje ngengcamango eyakhayo.
”Wancuma uFungie. “Hayi suka Mthobeli khawundigoduse.”
Bathi abafana bakujonga, babone indlela endiphila ngayo, batshintshe umqondo babekumila kumbi abanye kuba nzima nditsho ukusondela. Kwaye mna ndifuna umntu ozakunditshata kuba ndindim, hayi kuba ndingulo mntu ndinguye, hayi kuba ndinemali okanye ndingumntwana weKumkani. Ndifuna umntu ozakundithanda.”
“Ulilela ntoni?” Wamosula iinyembezi wamanga.
Wacela ukuba angamnceda umanenjala ngemizuzwana embalwana yena noGatyeni bahlale phakathi e-ofisini balindele umfana. Umanenjala wakuthakazalela oko wabachazela ukuba akanangxaki nokuba angahlala. Wabacela ukuba benzelwe into ephungwayo ekhatshwa ngamaqebengwana, kwenziwa oko njengoko umanenjala eyalele, walonwabela olo suku lokutyelelwa yiKumkani nephakathi lakhe le mbeko uGatyeni.Umanenjala lo wayenenjongo eziphambili efuna ukwakha ubuhlobo obuliqilima phakathi kwakhe noKumkani bakwazi ukumane betyelelana; kambe yena manenjala abengumhlobo kaKumkani osemazantsi entliziyo, wazama umanenjala wayiqhuba incoko kodwa uKumkani wayengayolelwanga kwaphela.
“Ingxak’ayikho, nje wena tata wam endimthandayo ukuba ungandixelel’ixesha?” Emlungisa utayi, nebhatyi encume olugoso, ngokungathi utsho kula nto ebekade eyilindile. “Nje ngangoku.”
“Ndagqibela nini ukukhe ndihambe noKumkani inokuba ikho into azakundixelela yona kwaye ibalulekile. UKumkani ebantwini bonke, izinto ziyenzeka lo mntu uhlal’exakekile amaxesha amaninzi.” Ehleka kancinci.
“Uyintoni ke wena apha?”
“Hayi andazi mtshana, kowu awazi indlela endinebhongo ngayo ngawo.” Mane etsala umsi wecuba.
“Mandithi nje wena ndifuna yonke into ibenomtsalane, kangangokuba ndinengqiniseko nendawo ethi laa mfana soze aphozise maseko ngoba uMafungwashe mhle indalo.” Wayesele emi ngenyawo uNontle. “NgumXhosakazi kaloku uFungie ngalo mgqibelo nokuba umYiputa sele ebone enye intombi ezelozwe lakhe, kodwa ngoku uzakufika esitishini kwakushiyana omam’ukondla.” Ebajonge ntsho. Bothukela ngaphakathi abanye abafazi. “Khawume Nontle ngokungxama akukabikho kwamtshato nazithembiso apha isengamalungiselelo wokuba baqhasane abantwana.” UNobuhle engayiqondi intetho kaNontle.
“Lithini?” Babuza xeshanye.
“Hayi bethuna umam’uZintle.” Ezincumisa elaqaza.
“Yhazi ndicinge ntoni, ndicinga ukuba siqwebe imali sinyuse ingxowa yolutsha lwaseNgonyama kwezintsuku uKumkani engekho.”
UKumkani waphambana akubona intombi yakhe kwesi sinxibo. “Nathini na bafazi ndini, lo mntwan’ uza kubalekwa lela soka lixele la mfana womYiputa. Umntu akufunekanga nisele nimenze esi sicigogo useza kubalekwa lo mntwana ngamasoka ukuba nisaqhuba ngolu hlobo, kwaye nimenze waguga kanjani lo mntwana, nithi yiyo ke le Nobuhle?”
“Nice to meet you too, I thought you were going to visit with your mother?” Ebobothekile uZintle embambe ngqi.
inani kwashiyeka isibini kucaca nje ukuba kunzima; ukuba masifumaneke lwagqitha usuku lwesibini nolwesithathu nosuku lwesine, inani lingade ligcwale. UMthobeli wamazisa uMafungwashe ngale nto. UMafungwashe zange abonakalise kugxeka kuyo yonke le nto wamxelela ukuba makaqhubeke nokukhangela iinkomo. UMafungwashe emveni kwencoko yakhe noMthobeli wabaligqabi waya kuyise ephambene engafuni nokuva.”
“Zange ndibe namathandabuzo, wena ungoyena kudala ndizula, kanti ubambo lwam lukwalapha eBhayi, mna bendikhe ndizikhohlise ngamanye amaxesha ndithi mhlawumbi ulonwabo nobomi bam abukho lwalapha eMzantsi Afrika; bukwelinye ilizwe nje ngoko amaXhosa esithi induku entle igawulwa emazweni. Waphinda wamthi chu ngengalo baqhubeka basondela kufuphi nedama, bafika apho bangana baphuzana kwakho.”
“Usuku besingekalumisi, siye saqonda ukuba makuqalwe ngelobola, kwakugqitwya sizakulumisa usuku lo mtshato, kodwa ndiqinisekile izakuba yinto yalapha enyakeni.”
Intaba leyo yayithe qele apho eBhotwe. Babekhwele imoto yohlobo olungcadalala i(4x4). Imoto leyo yayibomvu ngombala. Bathi bakufika apho entabeni bamyalela ukuba bona baza kunyukela phezulu apho entabeni; bakuthi emva kweyure behle. Benyuka kwimixewuka, namathambeka benyathela lo maqaqa asentabeni. Ezi nzwakazi zazithe cwaka kungekho ithetha nenye; nditsho umgushuzo bebonakalisa intlonipho bezolile bexele impepho yalo mini, isibhakabhaka sasiluhlaza sicwengile kungekho nelifu elimdakana. Bathe bakufika encochoyini yentaba bexum bakhangela indawo ethe tyaba; bathe bakuyifumana bema kuyo babambana ngezandla bokha isangqa bawunyusa umthandazo otshisayo.
“Akukho ngxaki, khawundilinde nje kancinci.” Wazama ukusula izandla zakhe ngelaphu kanti uyazithambisa ezo zandla, waqonda ukuba uyazingcolisa ngakumbi walijula pha elo laphu layo kuthi thaca phezu kwezihlangu zikaGatyeni
Waqhutywa ke uKumkani ngemoto yodidi oluphezulu egama liyi limosen, kaloku imoto ezulolu hlobo azikhwelwa nokuba ngubani na ziqatyelwa ngabantu ababalulekileyo, uKumkani nje ngomnye wezitatanyiswa naye wayenalo olu didi lwemoto kwaye ingenyanga.
UZintle wayefuna nokulila endyengezelisa ilizwi.
Yaya ekupheleni iveki waqonda uMthobeli ukuba akanalo elinye icebo kukuba asuke agqibezele ukubhatala imoto leyo ka-Andile. Wamtyikityela icheque wamnika lo mawaka alishumi eerandi. UMthobeli zange imphathe kakuhle konke konke le nto, kodwa wayengenabani owayengayixukusha naye ingakumbi uKumkani ngoba u-Andile wamxelela ezinkonxeni ukuba kuKumkani uzakuthi uxelelwe nguMthobeli uqobo. Yamtya, yamsebenza le nyewe, waphathwa ngumva ndedwa uMthobeli, kodwa wabuya wazithuthuzela ngelithi yena akalahlekelwanga kakhulu noko amawaka alishumi eerandi ayimali ingako, kodwa ubuhlobo phakathi kwakhe no-Andile buphelile vuthu.
UZintle wamthi chu uNobuhle ngengalo wamkhokelela ngaphandle bahamba ngokulandelelana babuyela kwigumbi lokuphumla apho bafika bangqengqa kulo mondlalo wabo acaleni komlilo babiwa bubuthongo balala.
Kulo mixethuka namathambeka eBhayi kwilali iNgonyama ilanga lalithe chapha kuhle ngentseni yohlobo lingcangce phezu kwentaba zaseNgonyama, iintaka zintyiloza ngomculo opholileyo ngokunga zivuyela ihlobo. Umzi weKumkani yamaXhosa wawuvele kwelo langa ngokunga ugcakamele nobuhle bendalo. Kwakungekho ndlu intle kulo lali ukodlula indlu yeKumkani, kwaye yayingekho indlu eyayiphikisana ikhuphisana nalo ndlu ngobuhle. UKumkani uqobo lwakhe wayemhle ukusuka elukhakayini lwentloko ukuya kuma eluzwanweni lwenyawo.
“Icebo lakho lihle, akhe abenguFungie wendalo, kodwa mna bendisithi noko ezinye iindawo kufuneka sizixomezelele.”
“Ukumkani uzakuyivuyela le nto ndiyakuxelela zange kaloku yabakho into elolu hlobo apha eNgonyama.” Wayemfungisa nyhani uMafungwashe.
“Khawume kancinci ndiza kukunika.” UFungie etsalela kuye esiqinisile.
UMaison azange ayiphendule ke leyo. UKumkani wamthi gxezu uZintle embonakalisela ukuba kwanele engekade ayimoshe.
Watsho uNontle ecinga nzulu.
“Kodwa inokuba incinci kaloku ngoku kwakukudala ngoko Kumkani , ndagqibela kudala kwa ukuyinxiba andisayazi nokuba iphi. Kodwa kula ndawo ikuyo kufanel’ ukuba incinci.”
ezazibengezela ngokwenene. Wathi ukuba uMthobeli ulijula engahoyanga; zange aqaphele ukuba ilaphu liwele pheze kwezihlangu zikaGatyeni waqhubeka wahamba noKumkani. UKumkani wathi sele ethandabuza sesi sincungula asibona phambi kwakhe kodwa wabuya wakhumbula indlela ebemhle ngayo ecaweni umbhexeshi.
“Nam andinambono wam, kodwa mna akukho nto inokundohlula ingayintoni enzima ekuyaleleni abantu, ubanike umthetho qha, yinton’enzima apho.”
UZintle wayibona incwadana ebhalwe nguMthobeli wamnika uMafungwashe ukuba ayifunde, bema xhonxosholo uMafungwashe walaqaza wahlala phantsi wayifunda lo ncwadi.
“Lo mntu unguye usisityebi sesinhanha esingawothiyo umlilo. Intle indlu yakho andinamunyu, intle umona phantsi.”
Wagxininisa ekubeni uGatyeni ancede angabuyi neziqendu zentsomi ebandayo, wankqonkqozisa futhi ekubeni angakulinge uGatyeni angamfumani umbhexeshi amfune amfumane, kusasa ngomso uyifuna kobo busuku bangecawe ngoMvulo kuse uGatyeni enenkcazelo egcweleyo.
UMthobeli ngelinye ilanga wafumanisa ukuba indiza yakhe iphinde yamoshakala, ngale ndiza wayengaziva ke, wayesele eyithiye negama elinguMafungwashe eyibhale apha emacaleni. Wayinyikinyela eyilungisa. Avuke ngonyezi abuye ukutshona kwelanga. Yayimphethe kakubi kakhulu inyewe yale nqwelo ntaka uMthobeli kangangoba wayephazamisekile engenayo nencoko eninzi xa ehleli nenkosikazi. Wathi ngobunye ubusuku esabuya kulungisa inqwelo ntaka leyo, wafika inkosikazi yakhe ipheke isidlo sangokuhlwa esinephunga elingayiwayo. Wayesihombise ngenxa zonke isithebe uMafungwashe ede wabeka iintyatyambo ezibomvu igumbi lokutyela lingqongwe ngamakhandlela ayitsho lo ndlu yakhanya kancinci, kodwa watsho phantsi ngoba uMthobeli wayengenamdla.
Ngenye imini ndiye ndamamelisisa kodwa zange ndive nto. Ngale ntseni ndiye ndambona ehleli phaya egadini ngasemva bekusekho ums’obomvu ke ngoko kude kwasa gede ehleli phaya ndithe ukuba ndisondele ndafumanisa ukuba uyalila.” “Elila? Kodwa ingaba ingxaki yintoni ngoba ubukeka onwabile nje ?” Eqononozele phantsi uNobuhle.
“Mthobeli”
Bafika eNkundleni kaKumkani eyayintle ngokwenene iphantsi komthi omkhulu inesigqumathelo esasokhiwe ngohlobo lweglasi yenza eso sakhiwo sasibukeka ngokwenene. UKumkani wayehleli kwisitulo esiphakamileyo segolide esasishayina ngamandla ngoba sasicocwa maxesha onke. Eso situlo sasimtsho ahlalele phezulu kwindawo engentla kubantu bonke abalapho entlanganisweni.
UZintle uye wambona elila kula gadi isemva kwendlu, uthi ke ezinyembezi zeNkosazana asinto yangoku le ngxaki kudala imphethe isithuba esingangenyanga ngoku. Siye sacinga ukuba masize kuwe mhlawumbi unganecebo umbonele uMafungwashe, ngoba thina siye saxakwa yile nyewe. Ingqondo kaKumkani yamxelela ukuba noko ibingento ifuna kuxoxwa, kwaye yena akaboni nto ityhulu kuyo yonke le nto. Kodwa wabubona ubungozi bale nto kwiimbuso zamakhosikazi wakhe ezazingatyhilekanga zibonakala zilusizi. Wavakala esitsholo phantsi.
Ebobotheke mpela. “Ngecala emva kwentsimbi yesixhenxe.” Wambamba emxakathisa.
“Unyanisile.” Watsho ephakama uNobuhle ukuya kwiwadrobe yakhe watsala idrawer wakhupha incwadana nesiba lokubhala. Kuza kufuneka sizibhale zonke izinto esizifunayo apha phantsi zesikwazi ukuthi xa sise dolophini umntu azi ukuba ungena kweyiphi ivenkile uyeka eyiphi, singagqibi iBhayi ngento esingaqinisekanga ngayo.
“Nobuhle ikhon’ingxaki?”
“Uthetha ukuthini Kumkani xa uthi ndonwabise intombi yakho, nexabiso?”
Wabangqala ngalo mbuzo uMaison basuka bancuma bambi behlunguzela intloko bengazi nokuba mabathini. “I didn’t know Kosa girls are this much beautiful.”
“Zonke izinto zimgqetse zihamba kakuhle.” Wayebonakala ebusweni uZintle ukuba akukho kwanto ekhe yamgqetse apha.
“Lengc’ikhoyo yingca yamabhetyebhetye umyeni wakho sebaleke wazokuxelel’indaba zasebuhlanti iindaba zamadoda.”
Amakhosikazi ayehleli ethe thande kwisofa yodidi oluphezulu eyayinemilenze yegolide nendawo zokwayama zegolide ezaziqukunjelwe ngelaphu elihle lesilika. Babehombe bemanzi ngobuthathu babo benxibe iimpahla ezingayiwayo ezenziwe ngamalaphu abukekayo esintu, nezihlangu zabo zaziyenye indlela, bonke bethwele izicocwana entloko ngendlela efanelekileyo. UMafungwashe wayenxibe ilokhwe yakwa SunGoddes yamtsho wagqama, nobucwebe bakhe bamtsho wagqama ngakumbi yayingathi uyatshata.
“Kuba nzima umntu ofana noMafungwashe ophumelele ngolu hlobo ukuba makafumane indoda.” Ehleka kancinci.
“Kodwa nje ingangubani onokuthunga ilokhwe enokuthatha umxhelo womfana womYiputa.” Watsho uNontle ephithanisa imilenze yakhe ebambelela esidleleni. “Singazama ukuxhumana noRoccobarocco okanye uSun Goddess. Kodwa kufuneka siqiniseke ukuba sifuna ukuba ibeyintlobo enjani, ingaba yilokhwe yesintu okanye entshona? Wacinga nzulu uNobuhle ngale lokhwe.
Ekuseni ngomso xa lithi chapha kufuneka sibe sesiphaya, okwanamhlanje masilungiseleleni indlela esiza kuyibeka ngayo le nyewe kwiKumkani.” UNobuhle wazinza walungisa ukuhlala kwisofa leyo. “Mna bendisithi okwangoku masikhe sizame ukonwabisa uMafungwashe. Indlela yokuthetha imeko kuZweli iza kuzivelela, uThixo uzakulenza icebo uzakulibonakalisa. Zangqinelana ke iintombi, zenjenjeya ukuya edolophini apho zawanqa khona izipho eziluthotho udederhu womthwalo wawunokude ucinge ukuba bazakuvula ishishini elithile.
Kusuku olwalandela olo lwasedolophini lwaba lubi kakhulu nangokwenene kumakhosikazi eKumkani; ingxaki eBhotwe yayikho, ilokhwe yeNkosazana yayingekafumaneki. Into eyenzekayo kukuba zombini inkampani ezo kwakucelwe kuzo zacela ilokhwe izokuthathwa ngentseni yangoMgqibelo ngoba ixesha abacele ukuthungelwa ngalo libe lufutshane. Ingqondo zazime ngxi ngoba undoqo ilokhwe yayingabanika eyona ngxaki inkulu nomonakalo. Lo nto yabenza ukuba baphathwe ziintloko ezibuhlungu nemithambo batsho bazigcina ezipilisini ilanga lonke. Kaloku la manenekazi ayengasaboni sithintelo esinokwenza umYiputa angamtshati uMafungwashe ngoko ke babesenza konke okusemandleni, kodwa yona ilokhwe yabatsho babhideka imiqondo.
UMaison wamanga uFungie wathi akugqiba wamxhawula.
“Mholo sisi.” Batsho xesh’anye bemjonge ngamehlo anombuzo.
“Jonga ke kwedini yonke lento iphelele apha kule ndawo, ndikunika iiyure ezintathu ukuba ucinge ngale nto, uncede ungandibambezeli.’
UMafungwashe watyelela eBhotwe wangqala ngqo eNkundleni apho uyise wayechithela khona ixesha lakhe elininzi. Wathi ukuba uKumkani ayibone intombi yakhe wayiqonda ukuba ukhona undonakele yayibhalwe ebusweni bale ntombazana. Wacela ukuba amaphakathi wakhe ukuba akhe amshiye okwethutyana nale nzwakazi. “Kumnandi nje kaloku ukwendela kufutshane ekhaya. ‘ Waqhula watsho kodwa wabe ebona ukuba intombi yakhe iyangcwengisa.
Endlwini yokuphumla kwakuthe nzwanga; uZintle exakwe nakukucacisa okanye acele uxolo wayefane emonqelwe ngoba wayengathandi ndawo enengxabano nandawo enogrwangxuliswano nengenaxolo ngoko ke wayekhetha ukuthula.
Amafu ahlangana ewayi-wayi esibhakabhakeni kwamnyama ngesiquphe. Yona imvula ayanetha yangxiza ngathi kudala inetha; yaphokoka yenza njalo kodwa ingenamibane itshawuzayo ingenazindudumo zigqakrazayo. Izitalato zagcwala ngamanzi equkuqela, imilambo yazala yema ngeembambo ngeyurana ezimbalwa, bothuka abantu basekuhlaleni sesisenzo semvula enkulu kangaka ekhukulise izihlahla namatye entaba.
Wemka uMaison Blanche wasala ezintliziyweni. UKumkani waphelezela kwade kwaba sesikhululweni senqwelo ntaka, waqinisekisa ukuba iNkosana yomYiputa iqabele ngokukhuselekileyo. Wabuyela endlwini yakhe ebibitheka ngumsindo yindlela yobudenge abafazi bakhe abenze ngayo izinto bamosha yonke into phantse bambulalela nomtwana. Wangena eBhotwe abafazi beva ngokumbakrazwa kwecango bathi bakuva eso sandi nje ngoko babehleli ndawonye bajika bajonga ngemva bobathathu bathi bakuthi ntla ngomyeni wabo baqonda nje mhlophe ukuba konakele ukuhlala, banga bangabaleka okanye bazimele mhlawumbi kuvuleke umhlaba bangene. Inqathe lanquma ngoba kwakungekho ndlela. UZintle wadwanduluka engabuzwanga nto.
“I’m saying I can remember the smelling was so strong, very strong.”
Bayihleka bebobabini lo ndawo, “Ze ndifike ngobani ixesha?”
UZintle wasondela ecaleni kwakhe waguqa ngamadolo phambi kojingi lowo. “Kwenzeka ntoni walila kangaka?”
“Mntwan’omhle.”
Wabaphuza bonke esidleleni “Kuthen’ingathi anonwabanga nje ikhon’ingxaki.” “Hayi akukho ngxaki wena nosisi.”
“Uyayikhumbula ntomb’am lalokhwe wawuyinxibe mhla sityelele kwaBaw’uMandela uyayikhumbula indlela ababeyincoma ngayo ilokhwe yakho neNkosikazi yakhe, nam ndayithanda gqitha lalokhwe, kodwa awusayinxibi ngoku, khawukhangele yona sisi.
Yafika yona impelaveki uMthobeli nonozakuzaku bayokulanda iinkomo efama kamnumzana Schoeman, baphoxeka xa befika iinkomo ezingamashumi amabini zimnyama zonke ishumi lesibhozo limhlophe namnyama. Waphambana u-Andile wafuna ukumbetha umnumzana Schoeman ngoba ulumoshile usuku lwabo kwaye ebethembisile ukuba uzakubanika iinkomo ezimhlophe namnyama zobisi. Wamleqa emphosa ngezihlangu nangempama ezamqhwitha lo wakwaSchoeman kaliqela. Wabaleka umntwana womlungu engxengxeza ecela uxolo wanqandelwa ngaba kubo bengasiboni isizathu sokucaphuka komhlobo wabo. Wanqandwa nanguMthobeli, wayothuke uSchoeman ephatshe ebusweni. UMthobeli wamxelela uSchoeman indlela ebekufanele wenze ngayo. U-Andile wamxelela ukuba yena engu-Andile uzakumsa enkundleni yamatyala ngokophula isithembiso, kwaye ngale ndlela enze ngayo uSchoeman umoshe into eninzi ngoba abayazi ngoku ukuba bangafike kwaKumkani badliwe ntoni. UMthobeli wamthoba uvalo umhlobo wakhe owayesele engumalume kaMthobeli wokwenene ngoku.
UZintle nje ngomabhalane wayesele ephethe incwadana nosiba lokubhala konke okuza kuba yimfuno ngalo mini.
“Sh---sh—s, akukho nto iphazamisekileyo qha ithuba esazane ngalo libe lincinci; kodwa ndiqinisekile mbambo zonke zentliziyo yam asenzanga mpazamo mna nawe sokohlulwa kukufa. Yhazi ndithi ndakucinga ixesha lam endilimoshe phandl’apha kant’ixesha lonke lo mntu ndimfunayo nanku. Kodwa ndandiyazi ukuba ndizakude ndikufumane ngenye imini. Ubuhleli phi, khawutsho?
“Uyakhumbula kaloku ndim obesibambe kuqala eso sihlangu?”
Lonke igqiza lika Mthobeli lalinxibe ibhulukhwe nezihlangu neqhina elimnyama kwakunye nehempe emhlophe. Bakhwela kulo moto ingcadalala eyakhokela iinkomo wamtyityimbisela umnwe u-Andile uSchoeman owangxengxeza bade bahamba kulo fama yakhe. Zakhokelwa iinkomo zikhweliswe elorini zonke zilelo khulu kwayiwa eBhotwe. Bafika eBhotwe zathotywa iinkomo uKumkani zange ayinyonyobise into yokuba akazifuni ucela bajike nazo kwaye ubadla inkomo enethole ngaphezu kwelo khulu. UMthobeli waziva edikiwe yile ncasalala kaKumkani ngoba inkomo iyafana nenye, kodwa zange athethe bahamba nalo elo khulu bengayazi noba bangazigcinisa phi, ngoba izindlu zabo noko idyaridi zabo azinakwanela ikhulu lee nkomo.
“She’s my first daughter Mafungwashe.”
Utyelelo lwaseMtata yayizintsuku ezimbini kusuku lwesibini babuyela eBhayi uKumkani nephakathi lakhe uSithembiso bayikhomba kwaZulu.
kwentsuku ezintlanu uMthobeli wazifumana iinkomo ezimbini kwakunye nenkomo enethole elonyayo. Baphinda baphathelela nonozakuzaku bakhe bazisa iinkomo eBhotwe. Waphinda wadliwa uMthobeli ibhotile yebranti ngokukhalaza xa uKumkani ejikise iinkomo ebengazifuni; wamxelela ukuba loo nto ibonakalisa ukungabi nantlonipho. UMthobeli wazikhupha zonke iimfuno zikaKumkani ngaphandle wamnika ngobunjalo bazo.
“Ngeshumi lewaka leerandi, kodwa ndingayithatha phi loo mali malume, sukudlala ngam mfondini.”
“Hayi bo uphi uMthobeli kanti benihleli phi ixesha elide kangaka isidlo silungile.”
Bavuma bonke bemthe ndla ngamehlo. “Nivuke kwasekuseni ke namhlanje.” Wathi sele ecinga ukuya kubo aphendule lo mibuzo banayo ibhalwe kwezo mbuso zabo wabuya wajika waqonda indlela eya kumagumbi aphezulu.
“Ukuba ungasimamela Kumkani kuye kw-------“
‘Kodwa bethuna ayizukusinceda into yokuba si----.’’
UMthobeli nowakwakhe babengesahlali isigxina kumzi wabo omkhulu wasefama, koko babemane betyelela lo mzi ngempela veki kuphela. Kaloku nje ngoko uMafungwashe wayekhulelwe amashishini asekhapha ayexhomekeke kuMthobeli kwaye engenathuba lipheleleyo lokuba athi esefama abe eseBhayi ngoko bagqiba ekubeni mabahlale eBhayi, ngenye impela veki batyelela efama kwathi kuba esi sibini sele kuzinyanga bayizilayo inqwelo ntaka, kwaye umyeni wakhe wayemgonye ngako konke okusetyenziswa kwanqwelo ntaka akwaziyo.
Ndibulela kakhulu kwaba bantu balandelayo bekwabaluleke kakhulu empilweni yam, kwaye ngaphandle kwabo mhlawumbi le ncwadi ngeyingakhange ibeyimpumelelo kuba ngabo abayinkuthazo empilweni yam nakuyo yonke into endiyenzayo: kuNcedo, uLundi noMncedisi, abantwana basekhaya, noodadewethu uNtombekhaya noNomalady. Ndingalibalanga abazali bam uThembekile noNofirst Cekiso. Ndisithi kubo ndibulela ngokungazenzisiyo ngamabali abandibalisela wona ebuncinaneni bam nasekukhuleni kwam, namhlanje ndikwazile ukubhala incwadi.
Ukumkani wayiqaphelisisa intlungu yentombi yakhe kwaye wayibona ukuba asindlwana iyanetha. Wayiqaphela indlela intombi yakhe eyithande ngayo ingoma yekwayala nendlela eyayonwabela ngayo ukuphuma komfana. Bathi endleleni egodukayo amakhosikazi ecula ingoma abaye bazithanda ecaweni, kodwa entlokweni kaMafungwashe kwakusazinge ingoma yokuqala ehlatyelwe ngumbhexeshi wekwayala. Wayemane endumzela eyiculela ezantsi. Kwathi kwisidlo sangokuhlwa behleli esithebeni intsapho yakwaNgonyama iphela.
Wagxezula uKumkani uMthobeli exakiwe luthotho lwemibuzo engaka wafika wonke ubani ejonge kuye. Yayingase abaphoxe bohlukane naye wabuya wazithenga, warhabula amanzi eglasini ecinga icebo lokuzikhulula.
“Mthobeli, kodwa nje uya---.”
“Ingaba sele isithi abayokwendela eYiputa, kaloku kungafuneka umakoti ibenguye owenza wonke lo msebenzi nalo manyala, apitilize ulwimi lwamaYiputa agubungxe ngesigqumathelo azifihle ubuso enze wonke lo masiko aseYiputa, ukuba akabufihli ubuso, kuza kuthiwa uhambela oobawozala ngaze kwaye akahloniphi.” Bayihleka ngamandla ke le indawo.
Bangqinelana ke be gwiqi bamshiya uKumkani echophe kweso situlo sakhe sodidi oluphezulu. Endleleni eya eBhotwe bayixukusha into kaFungie banyukela kumagumbi okulala bangqala ngqo kwelikaNobuhle, bavala umnyango bambonga oPhezukonke ngobukhulu benceba zakhe zokuzibonakalisa ebumnyameni. Kaloku olusapho lwalukholelwa gqitha emthandazweni nasekubambisaneni ngentsebenziswano. Bathi bakugqiba uZintle waziphosa phezu kwebhedi lo gama esi sibini sathi cuvava phezu kwesofa.”Zinkosi kufuneka sihlengahlengiseni ukuba siza kwenza njani na ngoba umsebenzi esinawo mninzi kwaye asinathuba elaneleyo.”
UFungie wema ngenyawo wabibitheka kukukhathazeka.
“Mandithi wena Kumkani uMafungwashe le ngxaki imphethe kakubi ngoba ngoku akukho kwasoka elisondela kuye. Uthe ke yena uye wazama kangangoko ukuzisondeza ebantwini abohlukeneyo bona abo bantu bambona nje ngomntwana weKumkani; oneqhayiya kwaye nje ngosomashishinikazi osele ephumelele abafana abafuni ukuzisondeza kuye.
Amakhosikazi athi akubona ukuba uKumkani akathandi atsho agushuza alungisa ukuhlala. UNobuhle waxakwa kukuqhubekeka wakhe wathula okomzuzwana kwathi cwaka bejonge kuKumkani, uKumkani yena ejonge kubo. UNobuhle waqhubeka enoloyiko lokuba mhlawumbi ibali labo alukumameleka.
“Mamela ke kwedini, le nto ndiza kukuxelela yona ndifuna ibeli hlebo lethu sobabini qwaba. Ukuba uyala ndifuna ungaze wayichaphazela nakubani na?” Wothuka wampatshampatsha uMthobeli. UKumkani wamqaphela ukuba wothukile.
Watsho ngoncumokazi. “Umkhwenyana womYiputa, kuza kufuneka sifunde intetho yabo isiYiputa, nendlela yokusibhala. Kuza kufuneka sithwale ezazigqumathelo zabo ke ngoku?” Bayihleka baqikileka ke leyo.
Wayephephezelisa amaqhina u-Andile. Kaloku ngoku wayengesafuni nokuva ngoMthobeli kwaye engafuni nomntu ogxeka uMthobeli, noMthobeli phofu wayeziva enomalume nomhlobo ku-Andile ngoba wayekhululekile xa ehleli naye.
Baye bangqinelana ukuba uFungie makaye edolophini ayokuvocwa iinwele okomzuzu ilokhwe ingekafumaneki kubekho into eqhubekayo.
Angqinelana amantombi enza amalungiselelo. Baziva bengenayo enye indawo abanokuya kuyo bayokufuna ilokhwe ngaphandle koSunGoddes bangqinelana nalapho. Zaqengqeleka iintsukwana uMafungwashe engaphumi esibhedlela, kodwa babemane besiya kumvelela babenexhala. Xa kucaca ukuba uFungie akaphumi esibhedlela bakugqiba ukwenza amalungiselelo angako, kodwa zange bamtshutshise ugqirha ngoba impilo kaFungie kubo yayibalulekile ukudlula inkosana yakwaZulu kodwa ezintliziyweni zabo babenqwenela ukuba zombini ziphumelele kungabikho esala ngemva. Kwathi ngoLwesithathu uFungie wakhutshwa esibhedlele naye kodwa ezibona ububhetele wazixelela ukuba soze aphinde asebenzise isiqholo nesaluphi na uhlobo. Amakhosikazi weeKumkani athi nje ukuba afike uFungie batsala umnxeba kwacelwa umvoci weenwele azo kuvoca iNkosazana. Ubucwebe kwesi sihlandlo babubeka phantsi zange baye ko Swiss Gard nakuzo zonke iindawo zobucwebe bavele bamthengela eMaBheleni bathenga amasomi, imisesane namaso akwantu.
“She’s my third wife Zintle.
“Kaloku amaYiputa afanele ukuba nje ngesimilo baphuma kumhlaba ongcwele waseBhayibhileni. Kodwa mna loo mfana womYiputa ndifuna ade aphume into ngomlomo wakhe ayibek’apha singazigqibeli ngokwethu bethuna.”
“Mna bendisithi ngekhe simeni noko bethuna ngokumlungisa kakhulu uFungie, simeni ngeziqholo nako konke, qha into emasiyenze kukuba makhe simyekeni akhe abenguye. Kwesi sihlandlo ngoba phofu le nto ndiyitshoyo niyayibona mosi.”
“Ndinexhala lokuba ingathi izinto azizu kuhamba kakuhle.”
Ugqirha waphendula ehleli esitulweni epholile. “Likhona ivumba elibukhali abalirhogoleyo, lo nto yenza umonakalo kumathatha wabo yatsho yachaphazeka icells eziya engqondweni kodwa ndiyakuthembisa baza kuphila; nje wena ukuba bangasebinzisa amayeza ngendlela abayalelwe ngayo banikwe nethuba lokulala baphumle. Intombi yakho yona siza kuyigcina iintsukwana ngoba yenzakele mpela.”
Bathi ukuba beve lo mbuzo bakhwankqiseka bekhinxi akwabikho uphendulayo.
“Ewe Kumkani kwaye uMthobeli uthe ndicele ukuba ngomso omnye nizilungiselele uyeza noonozakuzaku bazokuzakuza.”
UGatyeni lo wayeliphakathi elithembekileyo kwaye ewazi umsebenzi wakhe, nowaluphi na uhlobo wayewenza ngocoselelo nangenyameko, futhi kwakungekho mfuneko yokuba uKumkani ade acacise kakhulu ngoba yayingumntu oyazi kakhulu imeko kaKumkani. Ngamanye amaxesha waye yenza into engathunywanga ingakumbi into eyimfuneko azame ukukhusela uKumkani, bambi ekuhlaleni babemazi uGatyeni ukuba wayemthanda kakhulu uKumkani ngohlobo olu lodwa; kwaye engakubulala xa unokuthetha kakubi ngoKumkani mhlawumbi ubenamazwi amphazamisayo wayengakujula ngengqindi ethulwini.
“kaloku kufuneka kucace xa kuphethe thina naxa kuphethe amaxhego.”
“Ewe ndiyabazi Kumkani.” Ejonge uMthobeli ngoncumokazi, uMthobeli wayencume manyonywana yayingase kuthiwe makahambe naye umtshakazi wakhe ngala mzuzu.
“Ndiphilile, yhe sana awunqabe Thandeka yintoni ukunqaba kangaka?”
“Ingaba mhlawumbi Kumkani yindlela umtshato wam ofikelela esiphelweni ngayo le. UMthobeli akatyi nditsho ukutya endimphekele kona.’ Yaba ngathi ubethiwe uMafungwashe watsho ngemvula yeenyembezi.
“Kumkani?”
“Bafazi ningaxhali, ngoba uKumkani uyabathanda abantwana bakhe kwaye uxolele amadlaka-dlaka ngabo, mna ndinengqiniseko yokuba soze amyekele uMafungwashe embona ukuba akonwabanga”
“Your father didn’t tell me that he has such a pretty girl. Why didn’t you say anything about her?”
“Ndibuza kuwe Nkosazana, unjani uMthobeli?”
“Nanku, khawuleza mfondini. Ungalibali kule vek’izayo.”
Embombozela elandula mpela uMthobeli.
Emveni kwesidlo uKumkani waqonda ukuba xa uMafungwashe emthanda umbhexeshi yena enguKumkani uzakuzama icebo abadibanise. Kodwa ukuba uzakubadibanisa kanjani akayazi; ngoba akamazi kwaye futhi ebeqala nokumbona umbhexeshi. Engqondweni uKumkani wazixelela ukuba umbhexeshi angaba ngumkhwenyana wakhe wokwenene; kwaye angakwazi ukungenelela xa eyingxaki ebomini bomntwana wakhe. Wacinga icebo lokuba acele uGatyeni akhangele inkcukacha zombhexeshi indawo ahlala kuyo nako konke okungombhexeshi ukuze bakwazi ukumndwendwela.
Wayebibitheka eqhaqhazela uKumkani batsho barhwaqela abafazi becwaka baphotholoza izandla.
Mafungwashe ndicela unditshate.” Watsho emfaka umsesane wegolide. Wangcwengisa uMafungwashe akaziva wamanga wamphuza sele elila iinyembezi.
Wayeligeza uKumkani sesi senzo, wabuyela eBhotwe wafika kukho iloli enkulu yakwamasipala waseBhayi ithutha inkunkuma eyayigcwelise idyaridi ngaphandle nangaphakathi. Kwakuphithizela edyaridini iqoqwa; uMthobeli nomlingane wakhe babengabonakali ndawo. Ukumkani wayo kuphumla iyure ezimbalwana. Uthe xa evuka emva kwemini wabona uMthobeli ejikeleza apho ebhotwe elungisa ejonga nomanakalo okhoyo.
“Ubambiswano kaloku wena Mthobeli, gxebe mtshana lolu lokuba mna nawe sinceda ncedane omnye xa ethenge imoto omnye ambhatalele, omnye xa elila omnye azo kuthuthuzela njalo-njalo.” Encumile u-Andile emumathe nentsini.
“Ndiyithatha kuwe noKumkani, uncede ke mfo wam ungandiphoxi okanye uMafungwashe ndiza kumxelela yonke into endiyivileyo izolo.”
Batya bagqiba bathoba ngeziselo ezibandayo. Emveni kwalo nto uMafungwashe waqokelela izitya ezisa kwigumbi lokuphekela wamncedisa uMthobeli ngezandla ezingenamkhinkqi. Wathi kulo mthutho wezitya uMthobeli wacela ukuba amkhuphe uFungie kwimpela veki leyo, zange abenangxaki uMafungwashe. Baziqoqa kakuhle izitya kwelo gumbi lokutyela uMafungwashe noMthobeli; besakugqiba uMthobeli wacela indlela, uKumkani wamkhapha.
Wayesitsho eqine nje enyaleni ezenza esosikhulu. UMafungwashe wayiqonda ukuba wendela endodeni esesosikhulu.
“Bendikuthembile Andile ndicinga ukuba ungumhlobo wam.”
UNobuhle “Ndingasivuyela isiqhoqhololo seti etshisayo.”
Aqabela eqongeni amaqela ekwaito ecula iingoma abadume ngazo. UMthobeli wayezitsale nyani iintambo inguye ngasentla babengajuxuzeli izinto ebezilapho nenkosikazi yakhe ide ababethanda iindaba babesithi esi sibini sinengxaki emtshatweni waso yiyo lo nto bejuxuzela phezulu bazama ukuphungula ezo ngxaki, naleyo yaphuma phambili emaphepheni. UKumkani wothuka waphantse wawa akubona intombi yakhe kumabonakude ijuxuza ngamandla inazo nendawo ezikekelayo ngathi inxilile. Wagqibezela ka xa esiva ezindabeni ukuba yonke le nto iqhubeka eBhotwe ngala mzuzu zabe intatheli ziphithizela. UKumkani wangxama wafuna ukugoduka, kodwa wayengana kukwazi ukugoduka ngoba wayefuneka alinde umcimbi lowo baze ngawo uphele bandulu ukugoduka. Yayi bubusuku bokuqala bomjuxuzo obo. Wathi akufunda emaphepheni uKumkani wafumanisa ukuba ulutsha luyithandile le nkqubo kaMthobeli kwaye banqwenela ukuba imibhiyozo efana nale ihlale ikhona eNgonyama.
“Wanqwala uMthobeli, wema kulo ndawo inye ejonge uKumkani enyantsula ebheka phambili emshiya emi nematha emonqelwe mpela.
Womela kweso situlo uMthobeli exakwe nakukushukuma, wabe u-Andile etshambaza. “kule vek’izayo ne.” Emphulula entloko wabe uMthobeli esindwa nayi lo ntloko.
UNomapondomise wazixelela ukuba uKumkani mhlawumbi uthi makanxibe abone. Yanxiba intombi enkulu yazijonga esibukweni yaphela yintsini ngoba amabele ayemincekile, isisu sona sipitsekile yayingathi unhyanhyathelwe wanyanzelwa wahlohlwa embombozini, lo mafrili alo lokhwe amtsho wananazela okwepikoko. Waphuma egumbini lakhe ehleka ethetha yedwa kwaye engqondweni yakhe ezixele ukuba noKumkani uzakuyihleka lelokhwe yakhe imfanelayo emtsho wakumila kumbi.”UKumkani makakhe abone ngokwakhe ilokhwe yakhe yebhongo.” Wothuswa yintshwahla emveni kokuba eve ilizwi. “Yamkelani nantso iNkosazana yakwaXhosa.” Wathi esothukile enjalo abantu beqhwaba izandla bambi bekikizela, ihlombe lamenza wabhideka abantu abamqhelileyo nabamaziyo nabahlala naye bamvuyela ngokungathi bayaqala ukumbona. Wathi sele enomsindo ongamandla ingakumbi akuthi ntla ngoSithembiso owayemjonge ngoncumo oluthethayo nolumangeleyo indlela yokuvuyelwa kweNkosazana wabanomsindo akazazi nokuba makathini kodwa wathi koko kuvutha kwakhe wabuya wazipholisa. Wabangase athi vuleka mhlaba nditshone phantsi kwakhe okanye ajike abaleke.
Uthando lwakho olufana namachaphaza emvula ena entlango andinakuze ndilulibale ebomini bam. Ndiye ndakushiya ngenxa yokungaphezu kwamandla am. Ungawalibali amagama wabantwana esithembiso uncede.
UMafungwashe wakhuxuzelisa imifinya kwelo laphu wayeliphethe, waphendula ngelizwi elindongondongo lingcangcazela sisingqala, “Ak------ u----kho nt----o.” Ezosula iinyembezi wakhwina wajonga kude equthe umlomo. “Hayi suka into ikhona, awukwazi ukuthi akukho nto. Awunakulila kangaka kanti akukho nto, kwaye ndinqwenela ukuyazi. Yintoni Fungie, kutheni sisi?” Wamanga.
“Sana”
Wakhe wazama ukutshintsha indlela yokuhamba aphathe kulikekelisa igxalaba ahambe ngecala abuye acinge ukuba mhlawumbi iNkosazana izakumbona njengotsotsi; aphinde atshintshe akhukhumale okhe amaxhaga nalapho angalungi ngoba ubhuti lo wayengenamzimba ebhityile noko. “Yhe! Madoda kodwa ngubani onokwala ithuba elinje, imali engaka, intombi entle ngolwahlobo. Khawube nombono wam ndingumkhwenyana waseBukhosini, kodwa ndiyasola ikhona ingxakana kuyo yonke le nto. Hayi suka ndingabhidwa yintoni lo ngxaki ingakumbi ngoku ndinayo nemali. Wathetha eziphendula umfana encume mpela. “Hayi Mthobeli, uyinja mfana waseMathileni uyinja kwedini.”
“Hayi bo undixelela ntoni nangoku ubukhe wambuza ukuba ingxaki yakhe yintoni benikhe nathetha phofu ngale nto.”
“Mna bethuna bendisithi masi-odoleni macala omabini zesi kwazi ke ngoku ukuthatha eyona lokhwe intle. Masibaphe ithuba kwaRoccobarocco mhlawumbi bangasenzela eseyahlule.” Waphakama uNontle wazula endlwini.
“Ndifuna ungaphinde, ungaze wawubeka umcondo wakho apha, yindlu yam le, uyandiva.’ “Wabale amazwi wakho ngoba ukubeleka kukamolokazana uzakuthanda into yokuba ndibe yinxenye yabantwana bakhe nanje ngatatazala amthandayo namhloniphileyo ngaphandle kokuba ungamxela imfihlo yakho noKumkani.” Wambamba wamxakathisa wamnyusa ngegumbi.
Wathi sele ezihlambile oko kuqala waziqhola njalo wadela wahlamba okwesibini waziqhola kwakho wasifaka ngamamdla kwesi sihlandlo sesibini. Wathi ngexesha wenjenjeya ukuya kwaKumkani eqeshe imotwana eyamsa ngqo (meter taxi). Wafika kwangethuba apho, wafika yonke into sele ilungisiwe kodwa ixesha elo lecala emva kwentsimbi yesixhenxe lingekabethi. Wathi akungena eyaridini yaseBhotwe; wema nematha akayazi nokuba uzakubheka ngakweliphi na icala. Wathi sele ecinga ukubuzisa ngoKumkani wabuya wazinqanda , wacinga ngokungena kumnyango owawukufuphi apho wabuya wazinqanda, waya ngakwichibi elo eliphambi kweBhotwe walibukisisa wabuka noqaqaqa owawujikelezwe ziintyatyambo ezinamabalabala, umxhelo wakhe wathabatheka mpela bubuhle bale ndawo.
Umbulelo
Waziphosa esofeni uMthobeli wasitsho esofelweyo, wabhonga kungekho gxeke enexesha elaneleyo kungekho siphazamisi esimthuthuzelayo. Zabetha bathana iingcinga zakhe ecinga ukumxela uMafungwashe abuye abone ukuba ayiyi kunceda koko iyakuse ibeneziphumo ezibi. Wasuke wayibona indlu yakhe inkulu, kwaye nezinto ezilapho ngaphakathi zimphazamisa engqondweni waphumela ngaphandle wayo kuhlala egadini eyayintle ngokwenene inemithana emifutshane nengca emfutshane eluhlaza uqaqaqa neentyatyambo. Wahlala apho phantsi edakumbe ngokwenene engazi ukuba enze ntoni, iinyembezi zisehla ziqukuqela. Lezisa izulu yanetha imvula yaphokoka, wahlala uMthobeli kulo mvula.
“Besikhe sathetha ngale nto izolo, ubuye ndimbona ukuba udinwe uyimfe ukhuphe ulwimi ngaphandle; kucaca nje mhlophe ukuba usebenza nzima kwesa sikhululo sakhe. Uthi ulungisa laa nqwelo ntaka yakhe.
Yamhlekisa mpela ke leyo sele ezibona engumqeshi ka- Andile. Wasuka apho uMthobeli wangqala ngqo e-ofisini kamanenjala wafika esaqononozele phantsi ebhala. “Andile bendicela undincede undihlambele inqwelo ntaka yam; kukho indawo endisatsiba kuyo, ndiza kukubona ukuba ndikuthini xa ndibuya edolophini. Mhlawumbi ndakwenzela into ndikuthi jize nangesiselo ndikufumbathise ulutho.”
Zange athethe uKumkani wavala ifestile yagrungqa imoto yamshiya uMthobeli eboniswa mpela. “Ngale mali ndingakwazi ukutsho ndikhande le nqwelo ntaka yam indikhathazayo ndithenge zonke iintsimbi ezifunekayo, kodwa mani ziyabiza, ngendikhe ndime ngenqwelo ntaka, hayi andinakukwazi ukuma ngoba umakoti kufuneka sikhe sindize sobabini. Yhe! Madoda andiyikholelwa yonke le nto yenzekayo. Izolo oku bendilihlwempu namhlanje sendisisityebi esodlula nditsho u-Andile lo, ke lo nto kumnandi ukuphumelela phambi kotshaba lusaphila indlela u-Andile ebendijongela phantsi ngayo izakuphela yonke lo nto ngoku, yena u-Andile ndingamthenga nendlu yakhe nentsapho yakhe.”
“Kodwa Mthobeli kwenzeka ntoni, yintoni, kutheni ungade undixelele nje ndizakunceda njani xa ungathethi. Ukusukela ngala mini yenqwelo ntaka kunini ndicela uxolo ufuna ukuba ndenze njani?”Walila mpela uMthobeli.
“Awudeleli wena, nantsi inyang’ezayo siza kubona.”
Bamcela uMthobeli ukuba athandazele eso sidlo. Watsho ngomthandazo ozolileyo engemde engemfuphi uMthobeli. Kwaqalwa kwatyiwa bedluliselana izinongo.
“Kukho ntoni?”
Watsho uNontle ezikhawulezisa ukuzibiza ezi zinto ephethwe nangamabhongo.
Emthandazweni wakhe wayecela kusomBawo ukuba abonakalise iinceba neentsikelelo zakhe ezingunaphakade. Kwenzeka ke ukuba ngenye imini uMafungwashwe ehleli kwigadi engasemva apho eBhotwe. Ilanga lalise liphumile ngoku, lo ntsasa yayimyoli igqamile ingakumbi kule gadi yaseBhotwe ngoba yayinentyatyambo ezazinevumba elimyoli elaliyitsho lontsasa yanika umdla. Kodwa kuMafungwashe kwakungekho nto imnika umdla konke-konke. Wayecinga nzulu ngentlungu yakhe engazazi ukuba noba makenze njani okanye aphalazele bani ingxaki yakhe. Wayechophe kujingi ebambelele kumatyathanga kajingi lowo, ehleli zibilili eqwalasele futhi ezantsi, lo jingi wawuphezu koqaqaqa, qaqaqa lowo owawujikelezwe zintyatyambo ezaziqhakaze yimibala eyahlukeneyo.
“What did you just say.”
UFungie wayengazikholelwa iindlebe zakhe ngoba uMthobeli wayebonakala nje ngomntu ongenamali.
UNobuhle wayehlupheke ngaphakathi emphefumlweni.
“Mna sisi ndisebenza phaya esikhululweni seenqwelo ntaka nje ngenjineli, kodwa ke ndikwanguye nosomashishini.”
Wamosula iinyembezi wamika itshefu yakhe. UMaFungwashe wayephoxeke ngokungazenzisiyo, kaloku intombi le yayinentliziyo encinci koko yayithi ukuba iphoxekile phambi kwakho wena iyakukwenza utshaba lwayo. UMafungwashe wayengakuthandi ukuphoxwa nokuba aphoxeke futhi. Wathi emva kwalo mpoxeko akafuna nokuyibona into edibanisela nakwaZulu, ukusuka apho wacaphukela kwaloNkosana inguSithembiso akamfuna nalapho ebenyathele khona.
“Mamela Mafungwashe, mamela ntomb’entle, kaloku wena ungumntwan’am; umntwan’eKumkani kwaye ke unguMafungwashe lo nto itheth’ukuba nawe ntomb’am kufuneka wendele eBukhosini; ndincede sisi yonke lento izakuba yimfihlo yethu.”
“Yintoni ngoku Mthobeli bendingakuxelelanga ukuba uzutshintshe unxibe ngokusesidimeni; ngoba le ndibano ibalulekile, ngowunxibe nokuba yisuti, ucinga ukuba iintombi yam izakubona isoka xa ibona wena?”
“Hayi ungasoli mna, ngunkosikazi wakho, enye into kuye kuthi ngamaxesha anzima eenyembezi intsapho idingeke izokuthuthuzela, nanje ngasihlobo ndilapha ndizokuthuthuzela umtshana wam webhongo.”
“Ewe ndiyakhumbula.”
“Mfondini ndikukhumbule.”
Njengoko abantu babehleli kwezi zitulo ziphezulu kwebala bebukele umtshato uqhubeka. Wangena umama kamakoti ekhatshwa ngomamomncinci kunye neentombi zabo , babehamba ngomrhubhe wemoto ogama liyi limosin. Behla emotweni bayo kuhlala kwizitulo zezitatanyiswa. Wangena omnye umgrugra owawumhlophe ukhwele umakoti noyise. Imoto yema kude kufuphi neqonga elo lika mfundisi wayemi kulo, bathi abantu besothuke bejonge leyo, kwe gqi iibhaloni ezintathu zilandelelana zibhalwe ngamagama amakhulu. IQHINA LOKWENENE ALIQHAWUKI.
“It was nice meeting you too.” Batsho bonke.
Wothuka akubona uKumkani emi kwelinye icala le chibi.
“Mh-m, nantso ke into eniyaziyo kula malungelo senindibiza ngegama, intlonipho dwe ayikho. Mboneni , phofu kamnandi nikho nonke, Nobuhle wahlulekile ngumendo? Wayeseziqinise nje ebhoke enyaleni uKumkani ngoba wayengenasizathu sokubhoka phofu.
Ukusukela ngentseni uhleli apha! Bekunini ngoko? Bekusekho ums’ obomvu nje, kanti uxakaniseke kangaka. Yintoni Fungie le ingaka? Ndikhe ndive xa ulila phaya kwela gumbi lakho lokulala? Ikhona into mhlawumbi ongathanda sikuncede ngayo sisi? Ndiyakucebisa mna ukuba ungayivumeli ukuba ikugqibe sikhona sisi ecaleni kwakho. Ndiyabona ukuba awuzimiselanga ukuyithetha le nto ikutyayo ngoba lide eli xesha nto nje mna bendikade ndingaqinisekanga.”
Wathi engekagqibi ukuthetha enjalo walandula uNontle ezithe vandla ngokwenene kanobomi. “Khaniyek’umntana, niza kumphazamisa, ulele ndiqinisekile, eny’into ebenethile kaloku.”
Bagagatheka yintsini. UNobuhle walungiselela ukungqengqa ecaleni kukaZintle.
Ngosuku olulandelayo uMaison Blanche wacela indlela, kwacaca nje mhlophe ukuba akanamdla wokuvalelisa kwintsapho kaKumkani ephantse yamenzakalisa ngoba bambonise amaqhekeza engqele izol’oku, kodwa wazincama wavalelisa kuba engafuni kubonakalisa buso bubi. UKumkani waba buhlngu ziziphumo zotyelelo lukaMaison eziqale myoli zaphela sele kukho abalele ngandletyana nye esibhedlele. Wamphelezela uMaison engabonakalisi nto phofu, kodwa engxengxeza ngendlela izinto ezijike zaba yiyo. UMaison wamthoba amaxhala umhlobo wakhe ngokumxelela ukuba uyaziqonda indlela zabantu abangomama. Kwaye uyayiqonda futhi ukuba abenzanga ngamabom, kodwa wayeyigxininisa into yokubaxwa kwesiqholo yintombi yeKumkani kucaca nje mhlophe ukuba yena enguMaison umfana wakwaBlanche asoze asondele kwiNkosazana.
“Asisesihle, ndiyasithanda khawundiqhoboshe esi sesibini, ndiza kuzinxiba kwangoku. Ndicel’usowuthatha ezo bendizinxibile uzifake kwesinye sezo zingxobo?
