THE COVEN’S BRIDE
By CATHRINE PHIRI
PROLOGUE
June 5th – the best day of my life. I will make sure to pen down the date in bold letters in my diary. Today is the day I got married to the love of my life. From being a girl who lost her parents at a young age to finally having a family. Sibusiso is everything I want in a man and more. He is the first man to love me and appreciate me for who I am. He is the first man to understand when I said I wanted to wait until our wedding night.
I have had very amazing partners in the past, but all the relationships ended because of the intimacy issue. I have always wanted to wait for my wedding night, but none of the men I dated in the past understood that. It seemed as if they all just liked the idea that I was a virgin. At some point, I was convinced that they only dated me in hopes that I would give them the keys to the cookie jar.
There was a point in my life where I had given up on men. From the looks of it, they only wanted one thing from me, and that was to get in between my legs. Whenever I refused to let a man sleep with me, their behaviour towards me changed. I won’t lie, there were times when I wanted to do it and get it over with, but then I remembered the vow I made to myself.
I wanted to wait until my wedding night, and I wasn’t going to let anyone convince me otherwise. Well, the wait was worth it, I finally got a man who loves and understands me. He has done right by me, paid lobola, and we had our white wedding. The wait was worth it after all.
I cannot believe I doubted him when he told me that he was going to marry me. I thought he was one of those men who just throw marriage in women’s faces to get what they want. But not Sibusiso, he stuck by his word and for that I love him. Not only is he a good man to me, but he also comes from an amazing family.
I cannot believe that for the first time in my life, I have a family to call my own. Sibusiso comes from a big and wealthy family. Not only are they rich, but they are amazing human beings, and they love me. They are just the family I have always wanted. Speaking of their rich family, Sibusiso’s mother, Rosa, said I can join the family business after the wedding.
She said since I am officially Mrs Gumbi, I can manage one of the family hotels. The Gumbi family owns the biggest hotels in the country, and they have branches internationally. According to Sibusiso, the family company is over 100 years old and has only been run by the family. I guess that is why I will also be part of it now that I am part of the family.
I am very excited, this is the life I have always prayed for, and I am very happy to be here. I have a man who loves me and a family. My dream growing up was to have a family. My parents passed away when I was young, and no one in the family talks about them. I was raised by my aunt from my father’s side.
I made it a life mission to make sure I do not end up having a family like the one I grew up in. I am not saying they are bad people, but the environment was very toxic, and it’s not easy growing up in a household like that. I am glad that God heard me because I have Sibusiso and his amazing family.
My ringing phone snaps me out of my little bubble. I zoned out for a second. I am standing in front of the mirror looking at how beautiful I look. I am still in my wedding dress, and my afro is looking like a crown that it is. I smile looking at myself, I look so pretty, and I am finally Sibusiso’s wife. Naledi Snowy Gumbi – I cannot wait to change my second name to Gumbi. I also think Gumbi suits me better than the Nkala surname.
I think my phone rang until it went off because when I check it, the call is now a missed call. A message pings in before I can call the person back, and it’s my best friend Tshidi. We have been friends since high school, which means we have been friends for 15 years now. She is like a sister to me, and I love her so much. I love that she didn’t care about my background when she friended me.
Tshidi comes from a rich family too, and she is the reason I met Sibusiso because it was at one of her parties. She is my girl, and I love her so much even though we are the opposite of each other. She is still an amazing human being.
‘Did you wear that lingerie I sent you?’ The text message from Tshidi read.
I chuckle by myself. I rushed to wear it as soon as Sibusiso stepped out of the bedroom. It’s beneath my wedding dress. Tshidi had advised me to wear it in the morning, but I wasn’t comfortable wearing such sexy lingerie and being in front of my in-laws. Not that they were going to know or see it, but still, I was uncomfortable.
‘I am wearing it and thank you so much.’
‘Good luck and enjoy your first night.’ – Tshidi.
‘I am very nervous.’
‘You will be fine. I know you love Sibusiso, you will be fine. And I want all the details in the morning – take care.’ – Tshidi.
Before I can reply to Tshidi, the door to the bedroom opens, and Sibusiso walks in, looking all kinds of handsome. He has taken off his suit jacket and tie, leaving him in a crisp white shirt and black formal trousers. I bite my lower lip as he walks towards me – this man in front of me is my husband. He is all mine.
He places his hands on my waist and pulls me towards him. I notice that his eyes are red and a little puffy. Are those tears, or maybe he has had a little too much to drink? “Hey, gorgeous.”
“Where did you disappear to?”
“The family and I needed to talk about something,” he leans and plants a kiss on my lips. “I hope I didn’t take too long.”
“Not really, it also gave me a chance to calm my nerves down. I am nervous about…you know…”
He leans and kisses me, not just a peck on the lips but a kiss that leaves me feeling weak at knees. He stares into my eyes and says, “I love you, Naledi. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, baby.”
There is worry in his eyes, and I don’t know what that means. “I want you to know that I love you and…”
“Sibusiso!” Jasmine knocks on our bedroom door – the youngest daughter in Sibusiso’s family. This is the family house, the whole family stays here; this is where Sibusiso and I will also be staying.
“I am coming!” Sibusiso yells back. He then cups my face and says, “There is a thing that we do in this family when a new family member is introduced.”
“Thing? What thing?”
He swallows hard, as if nervous, and then says, “It’s a little complicated.”
“Tell me.”
“A ritual is performed,” he adds. There is so much pain in his voice. This is our wedding night, and we should be happy. Why does he look sad, and what ritual?
I try to hide the shock in my voice. “What kind of ritual?”
“All the men in the family, my siblings to be precise, must take turns with you. Starting with me, of course.”