Kudala, esigodini saseNtabanhle, kwakunendoda eyayinesilonda esibi emlenzeni. Lesi silonda sasinenkani ukuphola. Le ndoda yayingasakwazi ukuma nanokuhamba ngenxa yalesi silonda. Yayihlala nomndeni wayo, unkosikazi nabantwana.

Babenamadodana amathathu nendodakazi eyodwa. Igama lendodakazi kwakunguNolwazi. Kwabe kungumsebenzi wakhe ukunakekela ubaba wakhe. Amadodana ayesebenza emasimini futhi elusa imfuyo.

UNolwazi wayeyintombazane enhle. Wonke umphakathi wawumkhonzile futhi umhlonipha. Abazali bakaNolwazi babemfisela umyeni oqotho nonakekelayo. Loyo owayezoba ngumyeni kaNolwazi wayezobhekana nesu elinzima.

Leyo ndoda eyayizomthatha abe unkosikazi wayo, kwakumele ihambe iyokhipha ikhambi echibini elaliseduze khona esigodini. Kwakunenkolelo ukuthi leli khambi lalizokwelapha isilonda sikayise kaNolwazi. Inkinga ngechibi, kuthiwa lalinemimoya emibi futhi eyingozi.

Amanye amadoda ayeseke azama ukuyothatha leli khambi ayebuya engaliphethe. Amanye ayengabuyi kwakhona echibini lapho.

UNolwazi yayimkhathaza le ndaba. Abafowabo babengalokothi baye kuleli chibi. Wagcina enqume ukuthi yena Nolwazi, uzoya kuleli chibi ayothatha leli khambi. Ngelinye ilanga umama wakhe wathi kuye, "Mntanami, amadoda anamandla ehlulekile, wena bewungubani ukuyolanda leli khambi?" UNolwazi wayesezitshelile ukuthi yena uzohamba.

Endleleni eya echibini, wahlangana nesalukazi sithwele umyaba wezinkuni. UNolwazi wasisiza wasithwalisa. Sabonga isalukazi, sathi kuye, "Lalela kahle. Ngizokutshela ukuthi uzofinyelela kanjani ekhambini, nanokuthi kumele wenzeni lapho ufika echibini."

Uma efika eduze nechibi, uNolwazi, wawubona lomndeni wemimoya evunguzayo idansa iphuza echibini. Wema wayibukela. Emva kwesikhashana ngayinye yashona phansi yalala.

Kuthe seyilele yonke, UNolwazi waziphonsa echibini, walithola ikhambi. Ngesikhathi esephuma emanzini, amanzi ayesemaningi ngakuye lapho eyozophumela ngakhona.

Kwathi lapho ephumela ngaphandle, nansi imimoya seyivukile. Wafikelwa ukwesaba, wabe esekhumbula ukuthi isalukazi sasithe akabocula iculo ayemfundise lona, ayilolozele le mimoya. Iculo lalithi: "Mina ndodakazi yaseNtabenhle, ngivela lapha echibini nami. Ngize lapha ukuzocela ikhambi lenu babusi bami. Ubaba wami uyalidinga ukwelapha isilonda sakhe esingapholi. Ngisizeni babusi bami."

Izwi likaNolwazi lalimnandi ngokumangazayo, imimoya yacela ukuba aphinde acule futhi. Nangempela waphinda. Ukucula kwakhe kwayilolozela imimoya, thu thu! Yalala. Ngokushesha uNolwazi wahlaba ngejubane ebheke ekhaya.

Wafika ekhaya, elindelwe. Bonke babemangele. Wangena endlini, wasebenzisa ikhambi, ubaba wakhe welapheka, wavuka wema ngezinyawo. Umphakathi wonkana wawujabule uncoma isibindi sikaNolwazi.