UMFAZI WAKWA NDWANDWE
WRITTEN BY L . P . MBHELE
INSERT 005.
_ZIYANDA MTUNGWA_
I swallowed as Im looking at Siphesihle, “you haven’t said why you here Ziya….is everything okay?” I nodded fast, “I’m here for pregnancy”, her eyes popped out. “You think you pregnant?”
I nodded slowly looking at her, the embarrassment I’m feeling right now. It like someone kicked me out of the house naked, and now everyone is looking at me.
“Ohhh God who could be the father?”, I shrugged my shoulders.
She sighed then stood up from her chair, she came to my side then squads down to me. “Did you took pregnancy test?”, I nodded, “okay I guess we will have to do a scan….uhhm maybe it will help with you knowing who’s the father”.
I bit my lower lip as I’m trembling in fear, I don’t know why I’m scared but I’m so fucken scared. My father is a pastor, and ohh God he always preach about the sin of having a child out of wedlock. I can feel tears on my eyes, they are burning me.
“Come”, Siphesihle’s warm hand enveloped mine, guiding me towards the hospital bed with a gentle firmness that belied the shock still etched on her face. The sterile smell of the clinic wafted up my nostrils, making my stomach churn with anxiety. I felt like I was walking towards my own execution, the weight of my secret threatening to suffocate me. The rustle of the bed sheets beneath me was like a loud whisper, echoing the turmoil in my mind.
As I lay down, the cold surface seemed to seep into my bones, making me shiver. Siphesihle’s voice was a gentle hum in the background, explaining something about the ultrasound procedure, but I wasn’t really listening. My mind was a jumbled mess of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. What if the baby’s father was one of the guys I had been trying to convince myself didn’t matter? What if my dad found out and disowned me? The thought sent a fresh wave of panic coursing through my veins.
Siphesihle’s cool fingers on my arm brought me back to the present, and I met her gaze, trying to read the unspoken questions in her eyes. She smiled softly, a silent reassurance that everything would be okay, but I knew better. Nothing would be okay until I knew the truth about this pregnancy and the identity of the father. The gel was cold on my skin, and I flaced as the ultrasound wand moved across my stomach, the screen flickering to life with grainy images.
The room fell silent, Siphesihle’s focus fixed intently on the screen. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my ears, as the wand lingered on a particular spot. A tiny, rapid thumping filled the room, and my world came to a standstill. A heartbeat. My heartbeat. Our heartbeat. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I bit my lip, trying to process the reality of the tiny life growing inside me. Siphesihle’s voice was a gentle whisper,
“uhhm here it says you are… 5 months pregnant”, she said looking at me. I quickly look at her as my mind began to wonder to 5 months back.
_NHLANZEKO NDWANDWE _
After long hours in the road, we finally arrived. It already late, it past nine. I looked at Kago, she is sleeping peacefully, her innocent and beautiful face, her small, pouty mouth, her bushy eyebrows everything about her it perfect. My hand found it way to her face, feeling her warm skin against mine. She groaned, shifting from the seat.
“We have arrived?”. She asked with her soft voice while her eyes still closed.
She opened then slowly looking at me, “what?”. She asked shying away, I chuckled then shook my head. “Yes we have arrived”, she looked outside the window, her mouth slightly opened, her eyes popping out of their sockets. “Wait is this your home?”, I nodded with a smile. She slowly opened the door, she got out of the car, still looking all around the exterior of the house to the yard.
Kago’s eyes were wide saucers, taking in the sprawling mansion before her, the lush greenery and perfectly manicured lawns bathed in the soft glow of the porch lights. She looked like a kid in a candy store, her face alight with wonder. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. I got out of the car, stretching my cramped muscles, and walked around to join her.
As I led Kago up the steps to the front door, the sound of crickets and the distant hum of a generator filled the night air, creating a symphony of sounds that seemed to heighten the sense of luxury that surrounded us. The warm light spilling out of the door was like a welcoming hug, beckoning us into the opulent world within. Kago’s eyes were glued to the interior, her face a picture of wonder, as if she was stepping into a fairy tale.
I smiled, feeling a sense of pride, as I watched her take in the grandeur of my home. The foyer was a masterpiece, with a stunning chandelier that sparkled like diamonds, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the walls. The marble floor was cool and smooth beneath my feet, and Kago’s heels clicked against it, echoing through the space. She looked around, her gaze darting from one exquisite piece of art to the next, her eyes drinking in the beauty of the place.
I chuckled, enjoying her reaction, as I led her deeper into the house. “Make yourself at home, Kago,” I said, gesturing to the plush sofas and armchairs that seemed to invite us to sit and stay awhile. She nodded, still looking around, her eyes wide with wonder. I could almost see the thoughts racing through her mind, as she tried to take it all in.
As we walked through the living room, Kago stopped in front of a large window, gazing out at the pool and the gardens beyond. The moon was high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the landscape, and the lights that lined the pool seemed like tiny stars. “This is incredible,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your family must be the wealthiest people in the world”
I shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious, “It’s just a place, Kago. It doesn’t define us.” But she just shook her head, a smile still playing on her lips. “A place like this? It says a lot about you, Nhlanze. It says you’re a king.” She turned to me, her eyes sparkling, and for a moment, I felt like I was the only person in the world. Someone cleared their throats, I looked along the hallway. “Ohhh Kago this is MaShandu, indlovukazi wakwa Ndwandwe”, Kago smiled as she stretched her hand to MaShandu.
“Sawubona mAh”, ohh God her accent as she speaks Zulu. I wanted to laugh but decided to save it for tomorrow, MaShandu just looked at her hand, “yha….Ntombizodwa!!”. Well Zodwa is one of the helpers, she came in then bowed, “show her, her room….and remember they won’t share a room”. She said that looking at me, then she turned to walk upstairs. Well everyone went to their rooms, I guess they are tired. Kago looked at me, I nodded my head then kissed her forehead.