THE COVEN’S BRIDE
CHAPTER 15
GUMBI HOUSEHOLD
“Honey….” Rosa walks into Sipho’s office, startling him. Sipho’s mind has been all over the place since the family meeting. He is looking for a polite way to tell his sons about the family secret. He wishes he had told them sooner, but he also knows that he could have made things worse and lost his family in the process. What kills him the most is keeping everything from Rosa, at the same time, he knows that Rosa would never understand. Rosa would leave him if he told her what Mzilikazi said.
“What are you jumpy about? Don’t you dare deny it because you have been like this for a couple of days now? What is going on with you?” Rosa asks with her arms folded across her chest.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Rosa says, “Don’t lie to me, Sipho. If you are cheating on me, I swear…”
Sipho walks to her and holds her hands. “You know I would never hurt you like that. I love you and I meant it when I said till death do us part.”
“Then what is going on? What are you hiding from me?”
Sipho says, “I would tell you if you needed to know, but I promise when the time is right, I will tell you.”
“Honey, what is going on?”
Sipho pulls her into his arms and says, “I am just worried about how things will be like at the family dinner. I wanted to say no, but Jas insisted.”
Sipho hates lying wife, but this is the only thing that came to mind, and he hopes that they change the subject to that. Also, he knows that Rosa hates being around his family. She just tolerates them because they are family, and there is nothing she can do about it. Being around the Gumbi family is a constant reminder that she had to lose her children because of the family curse.
Rosa steps back and says to her husband. “Do you think the same fate I suffered is going to fall upon our children?”
Sipho swallows hard, not sure how to answer that question. How does he look at the woman he loves and tell her that this thing will always be in the family? Sipho clears his throat and answers, “I am not sure.”
“Sipho, there has to be a way out. We need to save our children.”
Sipho shakes his head, sadness laced on his face. “Mzilikazi said there is nothing we can do about it. I wish there was a way to fix this, but there isn’t.”
“Then you need to talk to Mzilikazi and ask if this thing will reach our children, so we can see if we can fix it. Many prophets and healers might help.”
Sipho nods even though he knows that it’s too late. The curse has already reached his children. He even knows which one, but he is just scared to tell his wife that he knows because he is scared, she will not take the news well. He is scared Rosa might say she is not strong enough to witness what happened to her happen to another woman and decide to leave.
“Before I forget, I told Sibusiso that he can invite his girlfriend to the family dinner if she is interested,” Sipho adds. He watches Rosa’s facial expression closely to try and read how she feels about this.
“He told you about his woman, I only got a name. It also seems he is serious about this woman.”
“I had to ask him,” Sipho answers. “Our son has been smiling a lot and not sleeping at home. As a father, I had to ask. He says her name is Naledi Nkala, and he wants to marry her. I think he is serious about her. I have never seen Sibusiso this happy before.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea for her to meet the whole family before meeting us first?”
Sipho answers, “I don’t think it matters really. She is Sibusiso’s woman, which makes her our family too.”
“I don’t know Sipho. These people just started dating. What if they break up, and we have already introduced her to the family? We have weird people like Mzilikazi in the family, what if he starts saying weird things at the gathering?”
Sipho nods, Mzilikazi does say the most random things that don’t make sense, but still, he is family. “We are all family, Rosa, and I know you don’t like them, but we are all family, and Naledi is the new addition to our family. We need to show her that she is welcome. Wouldn’t you have wanted the same when you first joined the family?”
“I hear you, my love. I am looking forward to meeting the woman who makes our son smile that widely. Sibusiso reminds me of you when we started dating. Ntombi said you also barely smiled before you met me.”
Sipho kisses her on the cheek. “I had nothing to smile about before I met you. You brought light and happiness into my life, Rosa.”
“So did you.”
“Are you ready for the family dinner?” Sipho asks. He knows how his wife feels about his family, and he wants her to be comfortable.
“Honestly, I am just going to be there for you. If it were up to me, I would skip. Don’t get me wrong, I forgave them, but being around them is a reminder of what happened.”
Sipho hugs his wife and says, “I am sorry, my love. I also wish things had turned out differently.”
“Me too.”
Sipho’s phone rings. It’s his father, Mkhonto. Rosa kisses him and leaves the room to give him privacy to answer the call. For a second, Rosa is tempted to eavesdrop but decides against it. She trusts her husband and knows that if there is something she needs to know, he will tell her.
Sipho: Yes…
Mkhonto: How are you copying?
Sipho: How do you think I am copying? Of course, I am stressed. How do I tell my wife and sons what you told me?
Mkhonto: I am sorry, son. If it makes you feel better, I can come and break the news to them. It is better they hate me than you – well, Rosa already does.
Sipho: This is my family, I need to do it. I just need time to think of a way to tell them.
Mkhonto: I understand son.
Sipho: Sibusiso is seeing someone. He seems happy and ready to settle. I think his woman is the lady Mzilikazi was talking about. I might be wrong, but he seems very much in love.
Mkhonto: I wish things were different.
Sipho: Me too. Before I forget, I invited the lady to join us at the family dinner. Maybe if Mzilikazi sees her, he might confirm if it’s her or not.
Mkhonto: I am sorry, son, I am sorry you get to go through all this stress.
Sipho: Now I understand how you felt. At the time, I didn’t understand. Now I do.
Mkhonto: At least she is the last coven’s wife. At least no one will have to worry about this again.
Sipho: Sibusiso will hate us if anything happens to that woman. I can tell he loves her so much. My son will hate me, and I might lose him forever.
Mkhonto: Let’s see what will be required first, then we will take things from there.
Sipho: (He breaks down on the phone) My son will hate me like I also hated you.
Sipho has been trying to keep it together, but he cannot anymore. The thought of Rosa and his son hating him kills him. He even wishes he could die so that he doesn’t have to witness everything happening.
NALEDI
When I walk out of the salon, I see Tshidi’s car parked. Today, Martha let me knock off at 5. When the salon is not busy, she lets me knock off early to make up for the times I knock off late. I smile, walking up to my friend. She is wearing black slacks with a formal shirt and 6-inch heels. She looks good for someone who hates her job. She started working 2 days ago, and she has complained more than 100 times about how she hates her job.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I hug her. “How was work?”
“I wasn’t built for this sh*t.”
“You will get used to it, just give it time,” I say. Then I thank her for picking me up. I told her that I was knocking off at 5:30 pm, and she offered to pick me up. She knocks off at 5:00 pm.
“Good day, ladies!” A man we don’t recognize greets us. Tshidi and I look at each other first before answering. I hope we are not getting mugged. The man says, “Delivery for Miss Nkala from Mr Gumbi.”
He hands me a tiny box and walks away. There is a note on the box that says, ‘Open when you get to your gate.’
Tshidi tries to convince me to open the gift, but I tell her that I will open it when I get home. She even tells me that it could be a b*mb. There is no way a bomb can fit in this small box, and it’s from my boyfriend. He sends me gifts all the time.
“At least shake it to get a feel of what is inside,” Tshidi says. Why is she so curious about my gift?
“I will open it when I get home. We are almost there.”
“I think he sent you his bank card so you can shop around,” says Tshidi, parking the car outside my apartment. “Now open the gift.”
I open the gift and inside there is a key. I look at Tshidi and say, “A key?”
“Car keys, silly, I think he got you a car.”
I open the gate, and we drive in. A car with a bow welcomes us. Sibusiso is crazy, I told him not to get me a car. At the same time, I am glad he did.