When the two pulled away from each other they could hear each other's heartbeat but no one spoke. They looked outside through the window as if to avoid the awkwardness. Tinaye kept his arm wrapped around Alexis's shoulders and looked at the people deciding their future outside.
Three men were from the Nhira family, Alexis's father's brothers and two women who were Tarisai's sisters, Alexis's mother. The eldest was Alexis's grandfather and they sat outside on the black leather luxurious sofas that were once placed inside the house when the owners were still alive just days ago. They had once made the interior of the house scream money.
Raymond Nhira, Alexis's father and one of his brothers Roy had been raised by their uncle who also had two sons of his own, Tashinga and Rukudzo, ever since they were just twelve and five. Now an old man, he was known as Sekuru[1] Nhira meaning grandfather but was mainly called by his totem title, Humba.
The old man looked around at everyone who sat there and said, "The reason why I called you for this family meeting is that we need someone to take care of Alexis, my children." He then turned to look at his sons, "You three are the real Nhiras, you're the fathers of the girl. I hope you change your minds about taking her in." He said in his hoarse voice that made it much clearer that he was on in age then looked at Tarisai's sisters then said to them, "You two are the mothers. Both families are very small but we need someone to take care of the little girl." The old man's words hung in the air and everyone looked at him as if what he had just said scared them.
Thats when Humba realized that while the five were thinking of who would take care of Ray and Tarisai's fortune, none of them actually thought of their child in the process. He knew his children were selfish but did not expect that even his daughter in law's sisters were also like that.
One of Tarisai's sisters cleared her throat and in her brand new British accent she said, "Baba, I understand what you're saying but I live overseas in the UK with my family and I have three children of my own over there. It will take too long for me to organize everything for her to come with and frankly I don't have the time." she told him then shrugged expecting him to understand though he didn't look like he was. "Baba, to tell you the truth I can't take care of my sister's daughter." Trish finished with a light shake of her head while her sister Thandi nodded in agreement with her.
"Yes, baba," she started, "You are a man, you know how men are when it comes to these things." Thandi said, "Alexis is my child but I left my husband in South Africa where we live and we are finding it very difficult to care for our two children. Just imagine how expensive it will be for us to take care of three children while we are building our house over here."
Humba was silent for a while suddenly looking a bit more depressed than he had been earlier. When he finally spoke he said, "You boys also said you can't. So what will happen to the child?"
Roy sniggered, "You are Ray's father even in death and that makes you his child's grandfather, baba. Doesn't she prefer her sekuru over everyone else?" his question left the old man speechless, "You also have that duty to take care of her. You live alone anyway. Why toss the responsibility to us?"
"But I am an old man."
"That doesn't have anything to do with the situation here, baba. Unless, of course, you have any more excuses not to care for her." Roy demanded looking straight at the old man who was now shaking looking around at everyone who seemed to be on the same side, attacking him.
They had turned the tables on him.
The old man finally nodded seeing the hostility in all of them. "Ok then. I will leave my house and move in here with the children until my paperwork is done so that I can go with them to their house back in the US." He said, "I can't leave the child to live alone."
Roy scoffed, "Who said anything about leaving your house?" he demanded staring at him as if he had gone crazy, "You have your own house that we grew up in. Just live there with Alexis. This house will be given to one of the workers at Ray's company who will become the CEO."
"The house belongs to Alexis though. And both her and Tinaye are not used to living at my house." said Humba looking slightly agitated, "The house is small, the location is noisy and the houses are cramped together. The children won't be able to handle all that after living quietly and in luxury all their lives."
Rukudzo laughed bitterly staring at his father as if he was a gold-digger of some kind, "Humba, if you want the house as payment for taking care of your granddaughter just say so. Tell us clearly if you want this house."
Humba's eyes reddened, "What?" he had not expected their meeting to turn this hostile at all, "How can you say that to me?"
"Actually he is right. I just told you that the house is needed by one of the people who'll be looking after Ray's business and you're looking for excuses so that you'll come live here." Said Roy in an accusing tone.
Humba stared at his children in surprise. Was he the only one who was thinking straight here? He asked himself all sorts of questions but no satisfying answer came to mind. "This is Alexis's house." He burst out emotionally. If it was Ray who was still alive no one would dare speak to him like this though he was the youngest because they all respected him because he was richer than all of them. They only valued money and had no idea of the meaning of respect. "How can you treat me like this?" he could not stop his voice from trembling.
"Well I don't see the relation between you taking care of Alexis and this house. Don't you think you are being a little too suspicious? Did you kill my brother to get his money? That wouldn't surprise me because old men like you can't be trusted." Roy accused, "And please bear this in mind, baba, this house and everything in it belonged to Raymond and Tarisai Nhira not to Alexis. Alexis is only a little girl. A girl who will have nothing on expanding our bloodline or family name and who is not considered useful on her mother's side either."
His brother nodded, "And please choose whether what you want is to live in this house or to care for your granddaughter. Orphanages are plenty. Make up your mind so that we can move on." Said Tashinga.
Blood drained from his face and his eyes reddened even more. "Excuse me? Orphanage?" Humba looked around his children only to see they were serious. They were all putting him in a tough spot so that he would not say anything.
He chose to just keep it to himself. He decided that if all the children he had struggled to raise had decided to turn on him he would just keep quite. After struggling alone to send them all to school, doing every kind of job to send them to school now all they thought about was money. Not even a single second did they even think about him. Now he regretted refusing the luxurious house Ray and Tarisai had gifted him. If he had taken it maybe he would have taken the children there. It would have been more comfortable for them. "I will take the children with me tomorrow." He spoke in a low voice.
"That's more like it, baba." Roy forced a smile.
Rukudzo shook his head, "But that's wrong, brother Roy. Humba can not take the maid's son. He isn't of our bloodline. That might cause complications in our family in the future. Our culture doesn't favour that. Who knows where that unlucky boy came from? That maid just had him with God knows who so he has to be send to an orphanage."
Tashinga nodded, "Oh yes, he is right. That boy…"
Humba raised up his hand to stop him, "Nothing. You have said all you had to. You really want to follow our culture now? Taking your brother's property and sending his only child to an orphanage, is that culture? Don't make laugh."
"But, Humba…" Roy started but his father quickly cut him off.
"I said enough!" though his tone was low they could all get the message. Though for them it wasn't over. Never would they allow themselves to be defeated by the old man nor would they allow him to do what they felt was wrong for their family.
Humba dragged his already old and weak eighty year old body off the luxurious sofa that was now starting to feel uncomfortable because of the company he had. He couldn't wait to get away from his children. He was wondering where in his upbringing he had gone wrong to have resulted in these greedy heartless people that used to be his children.
*
Alexis kept crying as she started writing in her journal. Tinaye picked one of his guitars from the wall then went and sat next to her. "At least sekuru wants to take care of us, right?" Tinaye wrapped his free arm around her shoulders lovingly then dropped a light kiss on her cheek, "We will be fine, alright? I promised uncle and aunt and my mom that day that I'd take care of you while they are away." His face dropped as he tried to blink away his own tears although without any success, "Although they didn't keep their promise of returning very soon I will keep mine. I will never leave you, Aly. Not the way our parents left us or any other way. And I know you won't leave either, am I right?" he asked and she nodded wiping her tears.
Tinaye helped her into the blankets and he sat next to her, "I will sing that song we wrote together. Calm down, ok?" When Alexis nodded he started playing the guitar as good as he knew how to. Alexis couldn't sing at the moment at all and only looked at the words written in her book.
*
The last time we were together we were dancing in the rain.
It was just the five of us and we laughed so much without restrain.
I was wondering if all the days would always be that happy.
I was wishing us five would always be that sappy.
But you broke your promise.
Without a warning you left.
We will love you though but what to do with this pain? We will always remember but what of the void you left in our hearts?
Looking at the place we danced and played together there isn't even traces of our feet anymore. All was washed off by the rain.
It's like we were never there and it pains.
All our words and laughter were carried away by the wind.
It's shocking how things changed in such a short time.
Leaving no trace you just left.
We still love you though but what to do with this pain? We will always remember but what of the void you left in our hearts?
In tears Tinaye sang their song until they both fell asleep in each other's embrace.
1- Grandfather
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Hi, thanks for your support. Hope you enjoy.
❤❤ Millie