A BRIDE FOR HIRE Novel Chapter 4

Nqobile

I thought this family was big before? You should see it now!

I’m thinking of cancelling this shit and taking a hike back home. The whole of KZN is here, didn’t the memo say it’s a family lunch or I’m the fool who can’t count?

MaNgcobo strolls in the kitchen holding two platter trays, I don’t know who they arrived with but it’s probably one of the new comers.

“Can you help me with the side plates, Nqobile.” She asks, and pops the platters in the fridge.

I’ve already forgotten what she asked of me, my mind is zapped. MaNgcobo stops to gawk at me back, “And now?” her perfect eyebrow ridges.

Do I whine? I’ve spent half a day with her I’d like to assume I know her better than I know everyone here and if there is a person I can trust in this family, it’s her.

“There are too many people out there, MaNgcobo and the man who brought me here isn’t even present to help me through this mess I’m in now. How can I just introduce myself to my own in-laws huh?” I’m panicking and hyperventilating over crumbs I know but I can’t help myself. This is nerving!

“Too many? Psh, girl you are letting your nerves get to you. It’s only 10 people, you will be fine. Come let’s go.” Again with the pulling.

“Can we call him for the last time at least, maybe he will answer the phone this time around.” I’d rather wait for him than do this alone. What if our love stories don’t match?

“Nqobile stop girl please.” MaNgcobo begs.

But I’m not lifting my foot off the pedal, “Just call him once and that’s it, simple babe I promise after this I’ll be out of your hair.” That’s a lie for sure, but since I am about to lie for a living – I may as well go off about it.

“One call, just one.” She pulls out her phone and dials swiftly then hands me the phone.

Erh… why do me like that sis, I thought we were wakhanda for live!

“MaFuze.” He answered fast.

I swallow the words I should be spitting out of my mouth already. Now I don’t know which to start with, an introduction or giving him a piece of my mind?

“MaFuze, hello?”

“Where are you? The lunch is about to begin, people are here waiting to be introduced to your wife, where are you Bungobakho?” screaming won the vote seemingly.

It’s not that I’m angry, it’s the nerves.

“MaNgcobo, you don’t speak to me like that.” Oh for crying out loud will he get a pimple over his eye if I did?

“This isn’t MaNgcobo, it’s your wife.” My colon is side-eying me, I can feel it.

“Zimpambosi zomfula, I apologize for running late I had business to take care of.” How is he calling me the same way his brother called me, who copied from who here?

“Business more important than this? What will I say to your family, that I was hired to be here?” tears crack on the ends of my eyes as MaNgcobo fans my mouth down. I’m making too much noise apparently.

“Uyakhala?”

“Of course I’m crying, I have every reason to.”

“lunch can be canceled if you are feeling unwell, MaNdaba.” Too late to bring that option up, his house is buzzing with human bodies.

“Just please make a plan and arrive as soon as possible, please. I’m too scared to handle your family alone.” And after the eye his step-mother has been giving me, I rather not be left alone with her.

“Im all the way in South Coast at the moment, can you give MaNgcobo the phone?” for what? I’m his wife.

“You can talk to me.” I stay stern.

“MaNdaba…”

“No, you will talk to me about it Bungobakho.” I didn’t come all this way to be toyed with, “If you want me to be your wife then you’ll have to do it properly too, Msuthu.” And that means bringing the issue at hand to me before anyone else, unless it is none of my business then he may be my guest.

I hear him sigh heavily, “I will try to cover the time, if any emergency comes up, call me.” See, what was so top secret about that?

“Okay, drive safely.”

“…Thank you.”

I drop the call and hand MaNgcobo her phone back. Her eyes still wide since the beginning of that phone call.

“What?” I didn’t offend anyone.

“No I’m just amazed at how meant to be you two are.” She winks.

SMH, how is that the one thing she concluded from that call? There were so many things to pick up like the fact that he doesn’t listen easily.

“I will grab the plates.”

The table is full to the brim of bodies. The seniors are occupying the head of the table, mother in-law is sitting on the adjacent to Baba and she hasn’t stopped gawking at me whenever I’m in the room.

I sit next to Minenhle for comedic relief sakes. Everyone is here now except the husband.

“Can we say grace?” Minenhle outs next to me.

People look at him in shock, I’m guessing prayer isn’t his forte and he’s probably just trying to buy me some time for this man to arrive and save the day, however I don’t see that happening any time soon.

“Prayer can wait, Mini. I want my daughter in-law to share with us how she met with her lovely prince charming.” I’ll blame the mascara for today but I do not like the way she looks at me.

“Mmh, Bungobakho has never shared anything to us prior the lobola negotiations. Tell us more about you MaGoqo.” Baba says.

The age difference between him and his wife makes me wonder. Besides the boob job; the weave and umbrella lashes you can tell mother in-law is nowhere near 45.

“It is MaGoqo’s first day, Baba. I’m sure she is a bit shy.” MaNgcobo saves me.

“Nonsense Sibahle, today is her day still. She should take it with both hands, this is her chance to bond with her In-laws.” Mother in-law injects.

We needed that prayer, huh.

“We…Bungobakho and I met at a restaurant called Zai for some breakfast, he made small talk; gave me a shoulder to lean on and the rest is history.” That was epically terrible.

No one looks the slightest bit excited or willing to hear more, which can be a good thing.

“What did you two eat? I’m sure remember every last grain of the meal, that happens to the most of us women. You know I still remember what meal Baba and I had on our first date.” Why is she poking me so much!?

“It’s breakfast, Beauty. What more should you know from that?” Babomdala to the rescue, thank goodness!

“The food is getting cold, we should dig in.” It comes out as a meek request, and shockingly everyone adheres.

“But what about Bungobakho?”

“His food is not going anywhere, his wife is not going anywhere. Just eat mfazi.” I love this Bab’omdala, kekeke.

“So, Zohlokoma when are we expecting the plaza to be finished? My buyer has been waiting impatiently for more than three months now mafana. When am I giving him the good news?” Baba finally switches the conversation to something outside me.

I’m grateful for it, although his wife hasn’t stopped giving me the creeps.

“Quite soon, Mhlaba. It still needs some work, stretching out more acers. Once that process has been completed, you should be free to contact your buyer.”

“Good. See this is what we want, no slacking boys. Mzwakhelwe, it’s been weeks and I haven’t heard you mention any contract obtained. Kwenze njani mfana?” Baba frowns on him.

“It’s coming along, Msuthu. Just give me a few days to finalize everything, thereafter I will return to you with the sealed deal.” He sounds so automated it’s weird to listen to him speak.

“I need you boys to be on the top of your game at all costs. My brothers and I won’t always be here, once we are gone we need assurance that you will all be able to carry what we leave behind. That’s why I press you hard to have your families now and build a stable home whilst we are here to guide you and wake you the hell up when you need it.” He stares directly at Minenhle, who gives the most diabolical comeback I could have ever thought of.

“Im still checking which is side I play for, my team or the opposing gender. I’ll update you by month end though baba.” Where does he conjure the braveness?

His fathers don’t look impressed at all but they save their opinions to themselves for a reason. I’m here and by the time this dinner has ended I still need to look at them and have respect for them.

“Some of us can’t take family seriously though, not even our wives. I can’t trust a man who cannot be trustworthy to the woman he sleeps with.” He forces fork and knife on the plate, you hear the screeches.

This turned about me too quickly. I should be the noble wife and cover for him, mxm.

“He is on his way Baba, I called him earlier, he said it’s traffic.” I drizzle my performance with a smile.

“I don’t care, MaGoqo when it comes to family you honor its dignity. Right now you’re sitting here clueless on what to do or who is who, all for what? His ego or pride?” I feel attacked.

What does Baba except me to say? But I mean he’s right though, how is this man not here when today is all about us?

“Baba, I’m sure there is an explanation Bakho will provide. Can we a little longer?” Zahlokoma.

“That’s bull, Zahlokoma. You don’t vanish for this long right after seeking a wife, he should have been back home earlier than us. Stop protecting your brother’s nonsense.”

Now I see what MaNgcobo means when she says peace is important in this family because could you tell me what exactly awakened such fury in Baba?

“My love, calm down please. You just had your BP warning remember?” Beauty strokes his cheek.

Baba swats her hand from his face, “Ive had it with this boy’s disrespect and utter disregard of other people around him. Ngigcosha izihlama yini mina? Everyone is busy, no one is sitting around whole day picking up shit so what’s causing a lack of respect for people’s time with him?” he is on his feet and he does not look normal. At some point I grabbed Mini’s sleeve and leaned against him a little more.

“Baba please give him a chance to prove himself.” MaNgcobo pleads.

“This was his chance, MaNgcobo. And he ruined it like every other thing he touches.”

“What?” now I’m confused and intrigued.

Nobody told me anything about that stuff. Baba grabs his phone and car keys, at the same time MaNgcobo gets up to try and speak to him only to be pulled back by mother in-law.

“That is my territory.” Beauty strokes and walks right after her man.

What a disaster, I’m defeated honestly. This family has too many issues, and most of them are kept on a high low-key.

“That went superb.” Mini throws a cucumber in the air and nets it with his mouth. The Nqobile in me wants to actually try that out too but with how easily people explode in this family, I would risk it.

“Don’t pay much attention to any of this bickering, Koti. We welcome you to the family, even under such unfortunate circumstances.” The third born brother, still offers me a smile right after his brother roasted my husband.

Why don’t they speak on behalf of their son? Bungobakho is their son as well ain’t it? They literally sat there as spectators.

“Yeah but Baba didn’t lie, Bakho needs to learn how to take accountability for himself and this family name that he gloats around boardrooms with.” The bitter Mzwa-Minaj adds his two cents.

Believe it or not, I’m fed up already.

“I’m sorry to speak out of my lane like this Bab’omncane, Bhuti. However, I think it’s only fair we discuss this with Bungobakho here with us to speak on his own behalf. Please, can we not discuss him in his absence.”

“Chesa gal!” Mini must stop before I ruin my serious face.

“I agree with you, MaGoqo. What he did today was unacceptable in all ways but he will be given the opportunity to explain himself. Yazi, I don’t understand why Bakho is doing all this when he knows how thin of a ice he is skating on with his father.” Bab’omncane shakes his head.

I’m still failing to understand what hr could have done that’s so bad it requires so much punishment.

Did he steal money from his father or he’s just another case of me?

The lunch went terribly bad and it ended on a much worse note. OBaba were ready to call him and cuss him out, Zahlokoma however, managed to stop that disaster from happening. Know what the time is right now? 20:00 PM. I’m alone in the house still sitting in the living room waiting for him.

I’m slightly concerned at this point. If he dies it’s not a big deal for me but it might hurt his family. Heavy on the ‘might’.

MaNgcobo couldn’t stay all night with me, her man was fining for her by the end of the night. So they left Mini to watch over me while we wait for President Bakho.

Even Mini is passed out on the sofa and I’m close to reaching my blink as well. Just a small power nap, my eyes can’t take it anymore.

I wake up to a presence in front of me. Breathing heavily and taking over my own oxygen, I shoot up choking on no air.

“Sorry for startling you. I didn’t know how to wake you up, figured you must have had a long day.” ‘it’ has audacity to be telling me it figured, it figured, yes it figured right!

I lounge on the chair and try to blink my vision back, it’s so foggy or maybe I’m having a nightmare.

I look at him proper once I’ve recovered and get on my feet once more, “Sawubona Msuthu.” I greet in peace.

“My apologies. How are you, MaNdaba?” he doesn’t look like he’s interested in how I’m doing, he’s also exhausted like me.

“I’m okay and you?”

He stares at me for a hot minute, his lips slightly apart.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask ‘what’s your favorite color’ follow-up questions.” I mumble and catch myself before I eye roll an adult.

“Im fine, ma’am thank you.” He nods continuously.

Right, what do I do now?

“Must I dish up for you?” I ask, he must be hungry, he looks hungry.

“No thank you.”

“Would you like a cup of tea or coffee before bed?”

“No thank you.”

“Must I fix your bath water since the water supply has cut?” who thought rich people also face water load shedding hey.

“I will do it in a minute, MaNdaba. Thank you.”

No! No he can’t thank me for that, what am I supposed to do then? Why am I here?

“What time do you wake up tomorrow morning so I can make you breakfast and get your work clothes ready?” I swear if he responds his rhetoric!

“It’s okay, you don’t have to do ….”

That it!

“I am not not here to sit around and count the flies in your house, I want to do something. Chores, cook and dish up for you. Please or else I’ll run mad if I’m sitting here idle.” I’m already going off in my head, he must not give me more reason to pick up papers.

“Okay, since you insist.” His face has changed, or it’s just the bladder forehead lines MaNgcobo was talking about earlier.

I swallow my spit and poke my skin with my nails.

“Goodnight MaNdaba.” He is tensed as he walks past me with his coat in his hand and a bag.

That was a relief…ish.

There’s still that lazy body on the couch. I go to wake him up.

“Mini, get up and go to bed.”

He rumbles stupid things and goes back to sleep.

My goodness, “Minenhle Ximba, you need to go to bed.” I give his bottom a spank hoping that will freak him into waking up. Instead, the nigga releases the hottest air, it’s the wheeze of a balloon when you poke it with a needle.

I only have one word for it, Rotten!

I cover my mouth and rush back to my bedroom. It feels like I can taste it on my mouth and it’s far from anything pleasant.

∆∆∆

Feeling very tired & sleepy so it isn’t the best insert.

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