Chapter Seven

Chapter 7

"Are you sure that was all?" she said.

"Yeah, what do you think I have given her?" I asked.

"I believe you, by the look of things, she also gave you nothing more and nothing less." She said. "I know everything about you; I mean all of you, except Luthando."

"You'll know me very soon, don't worry." Luthando said.

"I guess I should be going because all that I came for here was totally a joke." Just the moment I turned around my eyes were filled with sorrow, I couldn't help it, anymore but then what would I have said. Life is an experience each and every one of us is living their own lives and we all have a different story to tell. For a second I thought that my life had just ended but then, when there's a full stop it doesn't mean that the sentence has ended.

"Wait, don't go" cried out Silindile. "Please don't leave like this; I might have a way out…"

"Way out?" asked Musa "What do you mean?"

"Look I'm sorry, I don't know if I'm interested in listening to your idea." I said.

"You needn't to be rude; I'm only trying to help, seeing the sadness on your eyes, it's touching me seriously," said Silindile.

"She doesn't even know me, but she's feeling pity for me… wow you are an angel." I said.

"Bro… please stop and allow her to speak, please carry on." Musa said.

"I'm sorry that I gave in the wrong impression, I'm Lindy…" she said.

"What," everybody exclaimed.

"Gosh, that did not come out alright, I mean on the outside, but inside I'm not."

"You almost gave me a fright just right there." said Trevor.

"Me too hey," said Musa.

"Please explain your way out…" pleaded Mercy.

"Well," she said.

"Look um… 'Sly' may I call you Sly as in S.L.Y not S.L.I?" I said.

"But that is Sly, are you referring me to a fox?" she probed.

"No, not really never mind how I pronounce it, if you can't help me, its ok and I'll understand its been almost 5 (five) years now since she left, don't worry I'm used to be a loner…" I said.

"You know what your problem is? You've got so much attitude, you claim to handle everything on your own, why don't you just let people give a hand and see whether it'll help or not…" said Sly.

"Ok,"

"Thank you, before you guys rang the bell, well let me say according to my calculations about (7) seven minutes before you rang the bell I just got off the phone speaking to Lindy." She said.

"Is that true, or you are just pulling my leg?" I said.

"Please don't play games with us!" said Trevor.

"Guys would you let her speak?" said Mercy.

"If you wish I can text her to call me back now." She said.

"No, no, no, no, no that's not a good idea," said Musa.

I just stood there holding my cane like a statue, ready to be taken to another corner or place, I didn't know what to say after hearing all of this, if we had not waited on the gate busy discussing who was going to hit the bell, maybe I would have heard my woman's voice.

"Why don't we let, the one who's facing this problem to tell us what to do?" said Thando.

"J.R, Joe, come on Mon… Joseph" shouted Trevor "Are you ok man?"

"I'm lost, I actually don't know what to do," I then sat down and kept quiet, how would I feel if I were to hear her voice over the phone, what would have been my reaction, firstly I thought it was her and I found the exact opposite, the body is Lindy's, voice is her but the mind and heart it isn't. While I was sitting down thinking hard, 'Sly' had texted Lindy to call her back and as I heard her cell phone ring it never occurred to me that it was Lindy calling her.

"Hey sister dearest, why aren't you sleeping?" she asked Lindy, the phone was on speaker.

"I should be asking you that question you know," Lindy replied, hearing the sound of her voice over the phone, brought joy over me, she saw the joy in my face and she continued probing her more questions and everyone else in the lounge was smiling. And there was a point in time where she asked her about the 'Three Musketeers' that were Trevor, Mercy and Lindy. She got silent over the phone and later said.

"I miss them, whenever I think of them, I then miss J.R." said Lindy.

"What would you do, if he would be given a second chance in life, would you love him?" asked Sly.

"I would, only if he would accept me too, hold on why all this questions so late?" Lindy asked.

"Just that, one of your three musketeers came by earlier today and I forgot to tell you when you called…" said Sly.

"Oh, who was it?" Lindy asked.

"It was um, um, Trevor."

"Yeah I thought so, what about Musa and Mercy, have they come around?" she said.

"No they haven't, hey don't you want to come visit?"

"I do wish, but there's always this thing that keeps on saying I should come, but I then fear for my heart." She said.

"I think you should because, when Trevor popped by, he came in to bring an invitation card to his engagement party..." said Sly.

"Trevor is engaged, to whom if I may ask." She said.

"To your friend Mercy, that's how it is written on the card…" said Sly.

I did not know that Trevor did come by to drop the card for his engagement party to Mercy, when I asked him silently he gave in a sign that, he did not found Sly but Ncane. But I didn't remove my ears from the conversation the sisters were having.

"I wouldn't miss their wedding…" said Lindy.

"When are you coming to South Africa?" she probed.

"Perhaps I would come for the wedding but am not sure about the engagement party…" said Lindy.

"What do you mean?" she said.

"I'll be doing my practical's in Cape Town, please inform me, I want to surprise them." Lindy said.

"All is set sister, you don't worry." Sly assured her.

I was glad to hear that her brains do work properly after all. I thanked her for all her effort; I walked out that room being a different man. All that was left was to know when she was coming to South Africa. She told me not to worry because everything was going to be alright i should just be sure of her because God is able.

I have to admit it is Gods hand that is in control, her arrival had changed the whole situation. As i was approaching the car slowly they all came out and Sly spoke words of encouragement, she spoke about the bible.

"Nothing pleases God without faith! You have to have faith Joseph." She said.

"Yeah she's speaking the truth" said Trevor "Her coming here, is Gods way of showing you that he hasn't forgotten about you."

"Yeah, God new you before you were born, remember?" she said "Now trust in him and also have faith, because nothing is impossible with God."

"Thank you guys, thanks for giving me hope, when all hope is gone God then raises the standard." I acknowledged them.

"Should i remind you that, those who wait upon the Lord, they shall renew their strength?" said Mercy.

"Wow you guys, just walking out of that door, you all have turned into preachers? That's wonderful; I'm really blessed to have loving friends like you, thank you." I said.

They have given me new hope, new faith i now understand how Gods favor works, if it wasn't for Sly, i don't know how was i going to cope again. I took my time and spent it with her, get to know my girlfriends twin sister. She told me a lot of things that happened in Paris in a town called Grasse. Lindy would become so aggressive when a guy would hit on her, even if that guy would be charming and independent. Lindy wouldn't care less, she just held on and stick to her words, the promise she made when the machines were about to be cut off! Silindile was supportive and she's also beautiful too, but her beauty didn't surpass her sister's, she is not Lindy, she might look like her, but her soul, mind, spirit and heart aren't Lindy's.

There came a point in time when she had ulterior motives, i don't know maybe our spending time together gave her the wrong impression.

We were taking a walk in the park talking about life adventures and squabbles that we happen to come across along the way. We then sat down and she stared at me and said.

"You are one handsome guy, you are so fine," she admired me.

"Thank you" i said. "I take that as a complement."

"Yeah, you really are," she said.

I looked aside but when i came back she did the exact same move i once did on Lindy at the parking lot in Campus years back, and i knew that, they were definitely talking about me. She gave me a simple kiss and she hoped that i would kiss her back. She was frightened about my response towards her.

"Ok, I'm sorry... i didn't mean to..." she said. She was so embarrassed.

"Sorry that i didn't kiss you back, its just that.... you are not your sister,"

For a minute i thought that, she probably did tell Lindy that i was alive and all she had to do is investigate me if i had feelings for someone else. I then realized that maybe she did not, but my spending time with her had given her the wrong impression. After the scene she created Lindy called, wow my day was getting better by the day. Because of the stunt i pulled and the words that i have said to her, they didn't bother at all, she put Lindy on speaker, over the phone Lindy spoke of coming to South Africa and it has been confirmed. Sadly though, she wasn't coming to Durban but Cape Town.

I had to tell my accomplices that my woman was finally coming to Mzansi, but she was coming to Cape Town to do her practical's of Psychology there. This was a Mission possible; i did not know what to do. But my Three Musketeers had always had a backup plan. Trevor, Mercy and Moos stood aside, they talked and came up with a plan, the plan was to help me not them and that showed and proved to me how much they cared for me and Lindy. The plan was that Musa was to go to Cape Town in Silindile's place and install spy cameras so that we can get to know how she still feels about me. Lindy was arriving in (3) three days and she promised to text Sly the address of where she'll be staying.

It wasn't a bad idea, when Trevor presented Musa about more spy gadgets i knew for sure that these two, whenever they set their minds on something they will do whatever it takes to see their plan prosper. Those gadgets weren't just for fun. I then suspected that perhaps they had already known that Lindy was definitely coming to S.A why then Trevor decides to present Musa with more spy gadgets, but then what would i say, I'm not God, God always plans ahead of us, let me just sit back and relax and see what God is about to do in my life.

Lindy did not waste any time she texted Sly the street name and the place she'll be staying at. My friends knew that this was our chance we had to act fast. We managed to book a flight ticket for Musa's journey. He managed to arrive safely and sound, and did book himself to a hotel room as he prepared himself for Lindy.

At evening around (7) seven he planned to surprise Lindy other than that, what was his visit all about then? Back here at home Sly was concerned about Lindy and also me, of course i was frightened, frightened about her reaction towards Musa.

"I have developed feelings for you," she said "I know it sounds crazy but i have feelings for you…"

"…Look i appreciate your effort in all of this, but please don't get me wrong, i only love your sister and i wouldn't do anything to hurt her, i have hurt her more than enough..." I expressed.

"What do you think i came here to South Africa for huh? Just to chill and relax, No, but i came here looking for love, the same love Lindy experienced when she was here, why can't you offer me that kind of love too?" she cried.

"Because, i don't love you, love isn't something that just comes and leaves as it pleases; it takes time to build up..." I expressed.

"So because you are now a professor of love, how long does it take one to fall for someone?" she said.

"I don't know." I said.

"Yeah i see that you don't know, but why can't you love me just like Lindy?" she expressed.

"You are sisters and also twins, why would i do that?" I expressed.

"It is allowed in the African Culture you can just take the two of us and wed us, i don't see the problem with that." She said.

"You know what, i am not having this conversation with you anymore, case closed!"

This girl was coming too hard for me; luckily enough Trevor and Mercy arrived a little bit late before they could catch up on our conversation. When they arrived they could see and sense the stiffness in the room. They were amazed, with the cold shoulder that we were giving each other.

In Cape Town Musa gave us a heads up, he was approaching Lindy's place. That place was secure, it was safe, and not anyone could just enter or go in and out as they pleased. The pursuit was now getting resilient. Musa had to hit the buzzer, the room number of where Lindy stayed. He called me and explained, we asked Sly for assistance so that when she speaks on speaker, Lindy would open the gate. I thought that she might have compassion but she did not come closer to the phone, all she did was cry. The angels were with Musa a guy came in to the gate he was definitely going out, and my brother pretended to have the key to open up but the guy left the gate open. He got in; remember that he was using spy gadgets. He wore a button that was installed a camera, that button camera looked like cuff-lings, the buttons were on his collar and we could see where he was going, technology huh.

"Ok guys I've found the room, I'm also shaking..." he said.

"Come on Moos" said Trevor "You aren't just called Moos for nothing but for your braveness and intelligence."

"Thanks Mon..." said Musa.

"Please young Mon... don't wet your pants," I jested.

"Gee thanks bro... for the vote of confidence." He said.

In my heart i knew that he was brave and he would act normal like he had no hidden agenda up on his sleeve. He knocked at the door, Lindy was on a phone call, i don't know who she was talking too, but the way it sounded she was blushing, how did we figure that or listened to her convo? Musa had some tiny little gadget that could eaves drop on her. Its 2015 technology has improved, and its improving each and every day. When she opened the door Musa's back was facing the door, but when Lindy said "Yes" he turned around slowly and faced her. She had the shock of her life, she told the person over the phone to hang up, she was going to call her later, and something very important had just showed up at her door step. She hugged Musa so dearly and squeezed him, tears dripped out of her eyes.

"I wonder how she would react the day she will find out that you were never dead…" said Mercy.

"Why do you say that love?" Trevor probed.

"Just look the looks on her face, when she finds out that J.R was never dead, i know for a fact that she won't sleep at night nor convince her eyes of what she had seen." She explains. I could hear them talk but, i too was overwhelmed to how beautiful and fully grown she has become, she looked so beautiful, she was like a goddess, the weave that was on her hair, suite her perfectly, the hair fell perfectly fine, i wished i was the one that had traveled to Cape Town so that i could get the pleasures of admiring her beauty.

"It's ok Lindy, hush now, I'm sorry i scared you, it was never my intention..." Musa said.

"You needn't to apologize, these aren't just any tears, and they are tears of joy..." she said.

"Well then if they are tears of joy, please wipe them out." He said.

She then hugged him one more time and they got inside, it was a lovely apartment, fully decorated, it was like a hotel but yet it was an apartment.

"I have to admit" said Musa "You look totally amazing doc... you seriously are…" he admired.

"There you go again with your charms... you haven't changed for a bit, but there's something changing in you..." she said.

"And what would be that Ms. Maseko?" he probed.

"You are one charming young man, you have grown and on top of that, you look just like your brother…" her voice was quivering and she started to weep. "…I'm sorry i didn't mean to get all emotional." She said.

"It's ok, it's good to cry, you are also human, and you are allowed to let your emotions flow." He said.

"Thanks for understanding…"

"It's ok, i know you… in any case you have forgotten." He said.

He managed to make her smile, he reached for a tissue and gave it to her, and a knock at the door interrupted them. Musa offered to open the door, a gentleman it was a handsome man stood proud at the door not knowing what was in store for him. He held a bouquet of flowers. He was astonished by seeing a young vibrant man at the door.

"Um... are you going to stand there and not utter a word?" Musa teased.

"Who are you?" the guy asked.

"Is this how you greet people around here?" he said.

"Moos who's at the door?" asked Lindy.

"Some old hag is standing here at the door." He teased.

"Old hag..." said Lindy "oh professor hi…"

"…Prof... Professor," said Musa.

"Yes young man, I'm a professor to you." He pointed at him.

"But not my prof..." said Musa.

"Musa that's rude" said Lindy. "Please come in,"

"You are inviting him in?" he probed.

"Musa please..." Lindy begged.

"How can you be with two men in the same room?" He probed.

"Professor, please forgive me…" said Lindy.

"…Well because i can see that your little brother here." Musa envied him "Does not want me here..." said the Professor.

"Sorry about that, I'll have a word with him, please sit down…" said Lindy.

"Sorry these Flowers are yours" he handed them over to Lindy, and just when Lindy tried to reach them Musa grabbed them and stamped on them.

"Musa, please!" Lindy exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"Lindy here, who happens to be my fiancé" he said. "Does not like flowers,"

"Fiancé," exclaimed the professor.

"Fiancé, Musa" Lindy exclaimed.

"What? You looked shocked sir, is there a problem?" he expressed.

"I didn't know you were engaged," he said. "I'm sorry, believe me"

"How would you know, she's been here for a couple of days and you think you know her?" he expressed.

Musa was so aggressive the temper he was in, you could swear that he was about to knock his head off. Over the laptop, back home, we were all amazed about his reaction towards the professor.

"Geez Joe" said Sly "Your brother can get all worked up hey…"

"That's just an act," I said.

"That's not an act J.R" said Trevor "He is angry."

"Yeah he is," agreed Mercy.

It came in as a surprise to me that, there's a now a new man on Lindy's life, i wouldn't care much less why Musa got all worked up. I myself was unstable and shaken by the whole situation. How can it be that Lindy arrived a few days back and now a man is standing at her door step holding a bunch of flowers? Maybe i was out of luck, no wonder Musa behaved the way he did. All i had to do is have some little faith in him.

Lindy couldn't choose between Musa and the Professor, she stood from afar and she walked in circles still deciding what to do while Musa was busy quarrelling with the Prof. Musa wouldn't spend another second with the professor, he didn't care whether he had just met with him or knew him for a while, his instincts wouldn't let him.

"Prof, I'm sorry that we'll have to do this another time." She said.

"There will be no next time, please leave!" he opened the door for him showing him out.

"Musa, what just happened, what got into you?" she probed.

"My love for my brother and the love you have for him, this is what made me to be like this." He expressed.

"J.R is no more," she said.

"Not to me, i can see that you have found him a replacement,"

"You think I'm dating this guy?" she probed.

"Yeah, what else, why would a guy pop up with a bunch of flowers..."

"This guy offered to show me around Cape Town, and you have just ruined everything for me, why did you do that?" she explained.

"I can still give you a tour around the Mother City; i wouldn't let him near you."

"But he was only being a friend, what's wrong with you?" she exclaimed, she was fuming.

"What's wrong with me?"

"Yeah, why are you being so contemptuous Moos!" she exclaimed.

Lindy was not always up for quarrelling, if she could see that you are being difficult, she would leave you and let you stay by yourself.

When she was about to leave she asked Musa why was he there any way if he only came to give her a hard time. Those words almost killed Musa, the only thing he said was that he was sorry he would leave the next day; he only came in on Silindile's place because it's been years since he last saw her. My little brother was hurt, really broken because he knew that i was alive and there was a chance that the two of us can be together again.

"Look I'm sorry, that didn't come out alright, just that you are fighting for someone who isn't here baby, i loved your brother so much and God knows that…" she consolidated.

"You said Loved, that means it's all in the past now… it's ok, I understand." He said.

"Musa, no one can ever replace your brother or love me the way he did, nobody!" she said.

"Do you still remember the words you said to him on his dying bed?" his voice was quivering.

"How could i?"

"If Joe would be given a second chance in life and come in through that window, would you still love him?" he enquired.

"Yeah I would, without any hesitation." She held his hands.

"Wow, you still do love him hey, I'm sorry about my behavior; may i give you the tour tomorrow?"

"I would love that; hold on, why would you give me a tour on Cape Town while you are from Durban?" she probed.

"Just watch and learn,"

Musa never cease to amaze me, he took Lindy under his wing and showed her around a few places we've toured where we used to visit before the whole accident. As they were touring around driving on Lindy's rented car. They decided to stop on a Deli and bought some treats indulgences, to Musa's shock and my amazement as i was watching over the screen. The professor was following them like a private investigator, that guy acted like somebody who's obsessed with Lindy.

Musa and Lindy were walking by throughout the pavement, when Lindy's eyes were attracted by a poster; Musa wished he would have dug a hole and it would have swallowed him whole that very moment. The poster was written (HOUSE OF GALLERY - ARTS EXHIBITION) a date and time of visual arts was all there luckily enough my name was not written directly i wished i have known if Mr. Ngozi had distributed the posters all over the four Big Cities.

Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

The professor came in into Musa's expense, when Musa was shocked on seeing the post, i knew i was going to be on an Arts Exhibition but didn't know about the cities.

"What's wrong Lindy, you look like you are seeing a ghost?" Musa probed.

"I love art, i have always loved it, and my love of it only vanished when I lost touch with your brother," she said.

"I'm sorry to hear that…" said the professor. "Would you love to go?" asked the professor "I was going to ask you out and show you around..."

"Professor what are you doing here" she asked "Were you following us?"

"No not really, i was around so i thought i should stop by and say hi, and saw how you gazed on the poster." He said.

"So as you saw her gazing the poster" said Musa "You probably thought of removing it huh?"

"Look son i don't know why you hate me so much, you don't even know ..." he said.

"…Yeah you are right i don't know you, and also don't wish to, please leave us" Musa ordered.

"Gosh, why are you so mean?" he probed.

"It's just a fever that happens to, take over me only when you are around," Musa replied.

"Musa stop!" Mercy yelled.

"No it's ok, i can handle boys like him…" professor expressed.

"Who did you just call 'Boy', Old man?" Musa probed.

"Musa, since when have you become so obedient?" Lindy exclaimed.

"Just yesterday" he said.

"Huh?" said Lindy.

"Yeah, yesterday," he said.

"Look, if you would love to go with me, to the Exhibition, I've got two tickets," professor enquired.

"Yeah, i thought so," said Musa.

"I can get you another one if you wish to join us…" he said.

"Do i look like a charity case to you?" he was so angry, and all he did was act, it was never intentional, he just wanted to drive the professor away and out of Lindy's life. Musa could see that Lindy was being charmed by this professor. The only thing he would do is throw in the towel at least the professor was going to lead Lindy where i was going to be, rather than Musa. They kept on talking what else was there, if anything he was to leave them both there and go back to the apartment. Sadly he didn't have the key, at long last after hours waiting for Lindy to come back, the Landlord of that flat did manage to open the gate and he got inside but didn't have a key to the apartment. He waited and waited, we also didn't want to bother him because he would become more sensitive in such state. Lindy came back and found him leaning on the wall, wrapped himself, hands on his legs and face on his knees.