Kati Nenja babangani labakhulu.Bancuma kuvakashela umngani wabo, Ntjwele ngelilanga lakhe lekutalwa.Ntjwele bekahlala kulesinye sigodzi. Bekutobatsatsa emalanga lamabili boKati Nenja kutsi bafike khona.

BoKati Nenja bebenta tintfo ngetindlela letingafanani. Inja beyitsandza kudla nekulala futsi beyitsandza nekudlala kabi ngaletinye tikhatsi.Kati bekanemusa, ephana futsi bewungetsembela kuye. Bahlangana ekhaya leNja kute bahlele luhambo lwabo.

“Ngimi lotawuletsa kudla kwelilanga lekucala,” kutsembisa Inja.“Mine ngitawuletsa kwelilanga lesibili,” kusho Kati.Bakubhala phansi konkhe labatokudzinga kute bangakhohlwa lutfo.

“Kutawuba mnandzi kubona Ntjwele madvutane. Kadze samgcina umngani wetfu,” kusho Inja ngesikhatsi iphekeletela Kati.“Ngiyabonga ngekungiphekeletela,” kusho Kati.

Ngakusasa bahlangana ekuseni kakhulu kute bacale luhambo lwabo.Bebahlabela baphindze badanse njengobe bahamba.Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, baphumula ngaphansi kwesihlahla lesikhulu. “Mine ngilambile! Asidle,” kusho Kati.

Inja yaphakela kudla ngekushesha etindishini letimbili. Lokudla bekugcwele emafutsa futsi kumanti.Kati wabuta, “Ngiko yini loku kudla losiphatsele kona sobabili?”Kati wacasuka ngobe umngani wakhe abengakaphatsi kudla lebebavumelene ngako. Akazange akudle kudla lobekuphetfwe Inja.

“Ulindzeni?” kubuta Inja. Beyinelitsemba lekutsi Kati utawuyekela kukhonondza bese adla.Acasukile, Kati wabuta, “Kungani uphetse kudla lokutsandvwa nguwe kuphela?” Inja beyidla iphanga kangangekutsi sitja sagicika. Konkhe kudla kweNja kwacitsekela emhlabatsini.

“Ungakhatsateki mngani wami,” kusho Kati. Kati wakhipha isemishi yesinkhwa lebukeka kahle. Wacala wadla. Inja yabuka kudla kwaKati ngemehlo lavisa buhlungu.Nakacedza kudla Kati, wapakisha tintfo takhe wase utsi Enjeni, “Singachubeka neluhambo lwetfu?”

Abazange basakhulumisana ngemuva kwaloko. Sisu seNja besisoloku sikhala ngenca yendlala.Ntsambama, Kati watiphakela. Wahamba wayolala ajabulile ngekutsi abetiphatsele kudla lokwenele.Inja yalala ilambile.

Ekuseni, Kati watentela kudla kwasekuseni lokuncane. Inja beyisoloku igcolotele kudla kwaKati.Kati waniketa Inja kudla. Inja yatsi, “Ngicela ungicolele. Ngisuke ngaticabangela mine ngedvwana.”Kati waphenvula, “Asidle ndzawonye.” Bahlala phasi badla.

Njengobe bebachubeka neluhambo lwabo, baphindze baba bangani futsi! Bafika kahle ekhaya laNtjwele.“Lube njani luhambo lwenu bangani bami?” kubuta Ntjwele.BoKati Nenja babukana bamoyitela, base bayaphendvula, “Lube luhle kakhulu.”

Kwaba lusuku lwekutalwa loluhle mbamba.Badla, bahlabela futsi badansa!