VOLUME 9
SPONSORED BY UNATHI MDLAZI
NTWENHLE
I was nervous during our check-up but I got mad when Ndlovu wanted me to do Pap smear. That thing is medical ra8pe. I feel like I have been medically ra8ped. It’s a good thing Zenzele can’t see me because I’m walking like someone who just had a big black co8ck up her as8s.
“You’re angry. What’s the matter?” his got my left hand in his while his other hand uses the white cane to scan his surroundings. We are both walking to the car for my shopping.
“I’m sore Zenzele. That thing he used for pap smear felt like having a 30cm thick di8ck up my sweet lady” that was my first pap smear test and the last one, I’m not doing it again,
He laughs “Was it that bad?”
“You have no idea!” bloody old Ndlovu all up in my lady like that……such tests should be performed by female doctors.
“I’ll kiss it better tonight. Are we closer to the black Mercedes?” we are here, the car is right in front of us and I feel bad that I have been sulking about the test while he is struggling with his sight. This time outside the house I do see and believe he can’t see. He depends on the cane for everything. Jabu didn’t lie to me when he said he sees just fine inside the house.
“We are here” I hold his hand tighter, making sure I’m the one leading.
“Khalipha?” he calls the man standing outside the car wearing a black suit,
“Ghost” the guy steps forward. He offers me a nod and keeps a respectable distance between us.
“This is my wife. I told you about her yesterday. Baby this is Khalipha. He is our driver and the only person you use when you go anywhere. He is not Mandla’s employee but ours. Don’t ever use Mandla’s cars. If you ever want to go somewhere and Khalipha is not here you call him to arrange a driver for you. Don’t use any of Mandla’s people unless you want to be tracked wherever you go” Zenzele shares,
“Pleased to meet you mam” Khalipha offers me a nod and opens the back door for us,
“Where is Mandisa?” Zen asks Khalipha before we ascend the car,
“Uhm…..she….” Khalipha looks around “Oh here she comes” a short beautiful girls comes in hurry bouncing on heels.
“Sir, madam” soon she is panting in front of us,
I think I like her.
“Sthandiswa sami this is Mandisa, she is my assistant and one of our people. You have her number and Khalipha’s in your phone, they also have yours. Mandisa takes care of your husband at work” he winks, knowing very well that I don’t like that,
“Takes care of his diary Mam, professionally” Mandisa stretches her hand for a shake and I take it. Her smile is genuine and I smile back at her.
“I’m pleased to meet you both” I say.
They both nod. Khalipha is something I don’t want to think about. He is scary, one look at him is enough. His got a serious scar on his face that defines him. He looks like he once fought in hell, a soldier from hell.
“I’ll show you our cars when we come back later” Zenzele say urging me to get in the car.
I feel stared on before we get inside the car. It’s quite a heavy stare. When I turn and lift my face I see Lerato and bra Mindlos staring down at us up from the balcony. I assume that’s their bedroom.
“We must pray tonight” I mutter to myself but Zen catches it,
“What?” he climbs next to me and take my hand in his,
“We have to pray hard tonight” I don’t even know why and I’m glad he doesn’t ask me why. Moments like this just come when I want to pray.
“We’ll pray” he kisses the back of my hand.
Khalipha takes the driver seat and brings the car to life,
“How do you have my numbers that you’re already giving to your people?” I look up at him,
“I have my ways” he smiles,
“But I don’t have your numbers” I say,
“You do”
“I do?” I don’t remember asking for his number,
“Search hubby in your phone”
HUBBY? I take out my phone from my bag and unlock it. Hubby pops immediately when I search my phonebook.
“Zenzele when did you do all of this?”
“Your husband is very resourceful” he kisses the back of my hand again. I’m not sure I like him going through my phone but I’ll address that later.
As the car drives out of the yard my mind travels to my parents. My father must be worried and I’m out here living my best life. Maybe I should ease his fears.
“Zen” I turn to look at him,
“Can we pass by home?” I add,
“Your home?” he frowns,
I nod “Yes”
“Ntwenhle I’m not dressed properly to meet Shandu and……”
“You can stay in the car. I don’t want you to meet him either. I just want to see my parents and assure them that I’m fine” interject him,
“What do you mean you don’t want me to meet him either? Who do you want him to meet as your husband?” Amen! When did we get there?
“I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just saying it’s too early for you two to meet like that. Can we just pass by home, please” I ask,
He heaves a sigh and tells Khalipha my address.
“How do you know my address?” I’m not sure I’m impressed with all this investigative skills he seems to have going on,
He doesn’t respond me but smiles. I think he is nervous.
“I thought you said you don’t work anymore” I’m thinking back to Mandisa being his assistant,
“I don’t. I just go to the office to keep an eye on my employees because I don’t trust just about anyone with the Mabaso wealth. You should have prepared me for this” he sighs,
“Prepared you for what? Why are you nervous?” his scarce looks are escaping right now and I don’t like what I see,
“Meeting your father Ntwe. I would have dressed nicely and bought him something”
His being dramatic. And last I checked I told him to stay in the car.
When we turn corner by the local butcher close to home I see Senzo’s polo parked there and I pop my eyes. He totally slipped my mind. Why the hell is he still here?
“Is everything okay mam?” Khalipha asks looking at me through the rear review mirror,
“Uhm…yes. I have something in my eye” I think he saw me pop my eyes.
I pretend to remove something in my eye. My home is not far from the butchery. If Senzo is out of his car he’ll definitely see me. This means I have no choice but for Zen to meet my dad because if he parks outside the yard Senzo will see me.
“Please park inside the yard” I say as Khalipha slows the car,
Zen sighs. He is stressed about meeting my dad.
Khalipha drives in my yard. The gate is forever wide open because we have a tavern in the yard.
Aunty Joyce is the one who walks out of the tavern first. This is more of a local shebeen, we don’t get customers who rolls up in Mercedes SUVs at all. I know she is stepping out to see everything at first sight so she brags to her customers.
“NTWE!” she screams when I step out of the car,
She rushes to me and crush me in a hug. My lovely step mother. Today she is…..yellow on the face and red on the cheeks. Whoever created those creams won’t see heaven.
“I knew you’ll be just fine. You’re glowing!” she squeaks, setting me off her arms,
“It’s been just a night aunty Joy” how am I glowing in one night?
“Who is this? Where is your handsome husband?” she looks past Zenzele who is now standing beside me. I regret saying my husband was handsome because she is now looking for the handsome husband.
“Saubona Mah” Zenzele greets,
“Yebo bhuti. Where is your husband?” she stretches her neck searching for the handsome husband
“Aunt Joy” I mutter, reaching for Zenzele’s hand to show her that this is the husband,
She pops her eyes and gasp. I have never been so thankful that Zenzele can’t see.
“Oh mkhwenyana…..yoh hai! I’m speechless this child…….” (…..son in law…..)
“I didn’t tell them I’m bringing you home” I interject her before she mentions that I said he is handsome,
“It wasn’t planned mah. MaShandu wanted to assure you that she is really fine” Zen say,
“Hai it’s fine bhuti…yoh…..let’s get inside” she pops her eyes at me as we walk towards the house.
“Take him to the lounge and come help me with the drinks” she adds when we walk into the house.
“Where is your dad?” Zen whisper to me as I take him to the lounge,
“Probably in the tavern. Please calm down” he looks really nervous.
“This is my first time meeting my woman’s father. Ever in my life” he struggles with the surroundings at home and it’s understandable because he is not familiar with anything. I help him into a chair before I steal a kiss on his cheek.
“I guess I’m the special one. Relax” I whisper in his ear before I go get my dad.
“Ntwenhle my child that man looks painful. He looks sour, bitter, vinegar…… don’t you know the meaning of handsome” these are the words that welcomes me in the kitchen. From my cream face stepmother who looks like she survived volcano, tsunami, drought and tornado all at once!
“Aunty Joy can you please get baba? I just wanted to show you two that I’m really okay”
“Your father is coming. Is he related to Shaka Zulu in anyway?” my father needs to come asap because his not so beautiful wife is going on my man in a way I don’t like.
“Are we going to prepare the drinks?” I’m getting pissed,
“You should buy him Caro light. Damn it!” that’s it! I’m getting my father before I tell my step mother where to get off!
My father is coming out of the tavern when I storm out of the house. He opens his arms and I rush to hug him.
“I’m so sorry my baby” he whispers in my ears as he kisses me all over my face,
“I’m fine. You don’t have to apologise” my dear old man. I take him in as I step out of his embrace.
“I’m going to fix this, and I’m going to get you back home in one piece”
“Baba I need you to meet him. Please be kind. I really care about him”
“Meet who?” he frowns,
“Your son in law. He is in the living room”
“Mandla’s boy!” he almost shouts,
“Baba he is nothing like his father and he loves me”
“Ntwenhle Mbatha you were gone for one night! One night and you’re here introducing me to Mandla’s nonsense son? What have they done to you?”
“They did nothing to me please baba. I really love him”
He looks at me, long enough to make me drop my eyes.
“You love him?” his tone is a bit softer but he still looks confused,
“I know I sound crazy but I do. And I need you to be kind to him”
He rolls his eyes,
“He didn’t do anything to me and he said he is going to do right by you”
“Really?” he raises an eyebrow,
“Yes baba. Please let’s go”
He is not sold but he lets me drag him to my husband.
Aunty Joy already took care of the drinks. She is sitting with Zenzele and just staring at him as she nurses a glass of juice. She still can’t believe what’s before her. Yes my man is not the most handsome of them all but she is really being dramatic.
“kaMabaso your back” Zen say. I think he recognises me with my scent.
“It’s MaShandu. You have no right calling my daughter……” my father growl but I nudge him to stop him from going on my man…
“Shandu!” Zen gets up and offers him a hand. His hand stretches towards me, I’m the only thing he recognises and is familiar with in the house. My father and aunty Joy both share a frown. I don’t think Aunty Joy is aware that she is been seated with a blind man all along,
“Mabaso” my father takes his hand. He looks at me with a frown, I think he just realised that the man is blind. “Let’s sit down son. Welcome” he adds, glancing at his white cane folded on the table. Aunty Joy probably thought its Shaka Zulu’s walking stick.
“I’m sorry to come empty handed like this Shandu. MaShandu didn’t warn me that we’ll be coming home today” Zen clears his throat,
“It doesn’t matter, your father already took my daughter without my consent. It’s how you Mabasos do things. You take and do as you please with people’s lives!”
“Baba!” I scold,
“I would like to correct what my father did. He was wrong for taking MaShandu like that but he wasn’t wrong for bring her to me. Ntwenhle is my soulmate. I didn’t believe in such things until she was brought in my room. With your permission I would like to correct my father’s wrongs. I would like to ask for MaShandu’s hand from you as her father….”
“NO” my father interjects, he doesn’t even wait for him to finish,
“Baba please!” this old man is standing in a way of my happiness,
“I said no and that’s final. Your father is not going to take my daughter from me and bring you here to try to soften me up with fake promises. Ntwenhle Mabaso will not be a Mabaso wife. Not now, not ever!”
“BABA!” my heart shatters,
“Calm down” Zen squeezes my thigh,
“Bab’ Mbatha you have every right to be angry and to not believe a word that comes out of my mouth. What do I do to show you that my intentions are pure and I’m nothing like my father?” Zen asks,
“If you mean well and seek my blessings to be with my daughter, you’ll leave my daughter home today. You’ll court her and date her like normal men do. And when you two are ready to get married and it’s both your decision, not Mandla’s. You’ll come back to me and we’ll talk. Right now your just Mandla’s son in my eyes. I need you to prove to me that the blood that runs through your veins doesn’t define you”
Sigh! This is not what I came home for. I wanted them to see that I’m fine…….
“I hear you Shandu but do I really have to leave her behind?” Zen asks. I was about to ask the same thing,
“That’s part of my terms and conditions. Take it or leave it. Show me that you want to be with my daughter because it’s your wishes, not your father’s gift”
“But i…..”
“NTWENHLE!” aunty Joy scold me,
Zen heaves a sigh “I hear you Shandu” he say,
“Your leaving me?!” he is not even trying to fight for me to go back home with him,
“I have to prove myself to Shandu first”
I’m selling a father, free of charge!
“What are you going to say to your father?” my father asks Zen,
“I’ll handle Mandla” he say,
“I don’t want your father knocking on my door or coming to threaten me with my daughter again” my father say,
“The only time you’ll see Mandla will be when I send him to come ask for MaShandu’s hand” Zen say,
My father smiles,
“I had a tiny business with your father that led to him taking my daughter from me. Can you take care of that too?” my dad asks. It’s the stupid business that got me into this beautiful mess and he won’t tell me what exactly it is,
“It’s taken care of. You have my word on it” Zen say,
“You have a spine” my father commend,
“Thank you sir. Can I at least negotiate weekends sleep overs with MaShandu…..”
“NO” Amen! Just when I thought he was softening up. I can’t believe I went through that medical ra8pe for nothing. I don’t see myself getting some anytime soon with my father choosing to be hard on my man.
“Can we at least go shopping? We were going shopping and I insisted that we pass here!” I have never regretted coming home like I do now,
“I want her in the yard by six. Not any second or minute past six, are clear Mabaso?” my father smirks,
I roll my eyes “I’m 24 years old!” I remind him,
“No one is speaking to you wena. Are we clear Mabaso?!” he glares at Zen,
“Crystal clear Shandu. Thank you for having me, and it was a pleasure to meet you” they both shake hands again as they stand.
“Don’t disappoint me, son!” says my dad,
“I won’t. I’ll have your blessings sooner that you think”
“We’ll see” my father smiles. It’s a genuine smile this time around. He looks at us with a smile I haven’t seen on his face in a while as we hold hands.
“Aunty Joy” I wave her bye. She rolls her eyes, she is not impressed with my man’s looks. I hate that I won’t be going home with him but at least we’ll still date. I’ll still see him. My father’s no is just a test. He wants assurance, to see Zen without seeing him as Mandla’s son.
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