MAQWELA stepped into the house now; and there he saw the couple engrossed in a talk.
The man had knocked about a few times yet the couple had gone on talking things.
Yes, he was meant to leave and return another time. He was meant to respect their right to privacy.
But the king was in a daze and every word spilled drew his steps inside.
He found himself opening the door and standing in a radiant house. He was at loss on everything happening.
That moment was special for Zadeque. He’d just heard it from his bride that she was pregnant.
He was sitting with her on a couch backing the door. He fondled her belly and lit the house with smiles.
Suddenly, Yalowe stopped her husband’s hands.
She got up and bowed her face. ‘Your… Your Majesty!’
Zadeque looked behind then he saw King Maqwela. He was staring back at them.
The prince stood and only gazed as an awkward silence filled the house. But it was Maqwela who felt most uncomfortable.
Prince Zadeque finally spoke.
‘Welcome, Your Majesty... you meet us very well! Come in and have your seat.’
He raised Yalowe up and held her hands.
Maqwela was unable to speak. He just stood there processing this.
Zadeque helped him out.
‘You may be at loss at what you’re seeing. Yalowe is my wife. Welcome to my family!’
Maqwela was dazed and words failed him. It stunned him that the sick one was looking well.
He concluded he must have been freed from the lifetime illness. Just as he was freed by a wonder.
And then, there was this thought in his mind also.
He didn’t know why Zadeque would refer to Yalowe as his wife. Or how the man could have been wedded.
So, he thought that they were going to marry.
Yalowe bowed to greet the king. Then in the next moment she excused the brothers to talk.
Now as soon as the woman was gone, Zadeque sat in an arm chair next to the monarch’s.
A brief silence passed between the two. Then Zadeque went on to talk.
‘It’s been quite a while!’ he sighed. ‘You know I have spent recent nights on this thought.
‘I’ve asked myself what I should say to you when this day eventually comes.
‘Should I ask you for freedom like I used to?
‘Oh, I remember! It’s not just for me that I will be asking freedom now – I’ve got a wife and a baby on the way!
‘Sure the price of freedom could be too high for three persons in a row! I’ll have to beg for myself and my family!’
There was a moment’s pause, a weakening silence.
‘Then again, I thought this,’ the man resumed: ‘“Should I simply pour myself out and show how much you hurt me?”
‘But I tried just that 15 years ago… and this is what it cost me!
‘It took a whole 15 years out of my lifetime!’
By now the tears were coursing down Maqwela’s eyes. He felt regret for everything.
The 43-year-old looked at him. He dropped one last word.
‘Maqwela!’ he called him. ‘Should I just stay still and let you stone me all the way?
‘Should I take it all to make you feel good?’
At this point the younger one burst into tears. He dropped to the floor, sprawled up like a piece of rag.
‘I am sorry, Zadeque! I am sorry, so very sorry!!’
He found no better words to say it, so it hurt. Then he cried even more to show it.
Zadeque looked at the ruler and he couldn’t bear to see his tears. It was the brother he loved, yet he was too hurt to care.
He just turned his eyes away as the tears touched him.
These were two boys tangled in the web of circumstance. They were two brothers with a morrow like the sun. Yet life had played them like game.
They were king and noble but they were pawns in the game. A game a father tossed them to.
Now there were no words in that moment as Prince Zadeque turned to hide his face and cry.
He cupped his face in his hands and sobbed into his palm.
He stayed that way till buried grudges rose.
He looked up. ‘You know it is hard! It’s just so hard to forgive you, Maqwela!
‘You know I was never after your throne. Still you took this plenty years away from me!
‘You took my freedom, took my sanity… took my all!
‘Did you really have to go that far? Must you go that far?!’
Maqwela rose to his knees, bowed in that pose and begged.
‘I am sorry, brother! I have no justification, no excuse either! I am sorry for everything!’
At this point, the older one stood up and lifted his brother. He let him fall on his shoulder and patted him gently.
They stayed that way and shook with tears. They both cried for their wasted years.
‘It’s all right, brother!’ Zadeque spoke at last. ‘I know it is hard on you, too.
‘You didn’t have it easy, I know! It’s hard for both of us.
‘But now let’s stop with the tears and celebrate our joys. I am well now and I’ll be a dad soon!
‘So will you stop crying and throw me a party? That’s what I want from you!’
Maqwela burst in a laugh amid his tears. He kept crying and laughing together at once.
It was life restored for two brothers that’d lost it.
It was an end to Fifteen-Years.
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