UMFAZI WAKWA NDWANDWE
WRITTEN BY L . P . MBHELE
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_KAGOENTLE NDWANDWE_
Bhuti Cebo is out of the hospital, he looks better now than what he was before. It Christmas day, all these days I’ve always made sure to never stamp on MaShandu’s toes, you don’t know what she might be thinking about. I’m in the kitchen with Sthembile and MaCele, cooking Feist for the Christmas. We made sure to wake up, clean the house then start with cooking.
“I’m so hungry right now, I’d eat a whole cow”, we laughed at what she just said. “The way you eating, you’d swear you pregnant mother in law”, I said then we laughed. She shook her head, well she eat a lot these days, and she is even gaining weight. “Musa njeh ukuzixaka ngezami ntombo Wena eyakho uyoyizalela Nini?”(Don’t mind my business Sisi, when are you giving your husband a child?). I choked on my saliva then coughed drastically.
“A child mAh?”, I asked after recovering from the cough. She nodded her head then turned to look at Sthembile, “we getting old bantwana bami, we need grandchildren”. Sthembile scoffed, shaking her head, it more like I’m her and she’s me. We don’t understand the children thing. “Ayii mAh I think it still early for children, don’t you think?” MaCele shook her head, laughing. It so nice spending your time with your mother in law but you won’t relate coz your mother in laws are the monster aka Spitfire.
“I had Nhlanzeko when I was 19, then Musa married me the same year, then had Mfiso when when I was 22, then my last born I was 25, so it never early”. I really want to ask how she found herself in an polygamous marriage, I mean she married Mr Ndwandwe when she was 19. “Uhhm mAh can I ask?”, she nodded, mind you we busy here with veggies and all of that. “If you married Mr Ndwandwe at the age of 19, like it all kind confusing with the polygamy thing”, she sighed.
“I started dating Musa when I was 14 and he was 23, when I turned 15 I heard that he had to marry someone else. He told me he doesn’t love the woman his family is forcing him to marry. He then got married to MaShandu who was 19 years. It a lot complicated , then later I found out MaShandu was pregnant.
I was angry at Musa, he told me he didn’t love her then why would he sleep with her. I spent months without talking to him yet he tried to see me or talk to me, until I gave in. Gave him a chance to explain himself to me, he really explained himself, and told me he is going to marry me also, we continued dating, what I liked about it is that our relationship wasn’t a secret. Everyone knew about it, my family, his family, our friends and the whole community , then when I turned 19, I fell pregnant with Nhlanzeko.
Musa then decided to marry me coz already I was old, he would have long married me but because I was still young he couldn’t. Later we found out MaShandu was also pregnant with Phiwa….yha that how I got in this polygamous marriage “, I nodded slowly, yha it a bit complicated story to tell someone who wasn’t there those days. I really have questions but I decided to just shush my mouth.
Bhuti Phiwa walked in, well I’ve never cross path with him after that incident and I don’t wish to coz I know myself I can’t hold my mouth when someone disrespect me. “Uhhm the meat is ready”, he said. “Yha we almost done just give us few minutes “, he nodded then walked out. I didn’t see MaShandu since in the morning, I’m asking myself which plan is she planning now? What is she up to now? Sthembile walked out, then came back a few seconds after.
“Kago did you see Cebo and Nhla?”, I shook my head. She sighed then we continued with what we were doing. After few minutes we were done, we set a table. MaShandu came downstairs followed by Mr Ndwandwe, Cebo and Nhla are nowhere to be seen. I wonder where they are, everyone settled on their chair around the table. And before someone could say something, Cebo and Nhla walked in. They looked pissed or rather angry. They also sat on their chairs, we blessed the food before eating.
_NARRATOR_
Nhlanzeko and Cebo kept looking at MaShandu, they kept asking themselves questions after questions. They didn’t know what to do or say, they thinking that they should just tell everybody. But because of peace, they decided to shush their mouth and enjoy the Christmas day. After eating, everyone was now minding their own businesses. Nhlanzeko went to stand by the kraal, looking at the cows.
The kraal is far from the houses, Cebo saw him then went to him. “Bafo”, Nhlanzeko turned to looked at him. He sighed then buried his hands in his pockets. “U busy ngani Lana?”, Cebo asked walking closer to stand beside Nhlanze. “Ayii lutho bafo, ngidla amathambo engqondo njeh”(nothing brother just thinking). Cebo sighed, “ngyazibuza Lana bafo….u MaShandu umuntu onjani?”( I’m asking myself here brother, what kind of a person is MaShandu). Nhlanzeko shrugged his shoulders, “if Ndwandwe is not my father, then who donated blood for me?”, Nhlanzeko looked at him.
They looked at each other without a word, for a whole minute. “Something is off here”, Nhlanzeko whispered. “Don’t you think we should visit the doctor?”, Nhlanzeko sighed in frustration, “we promised to never go back there”. Cebo also sighed, “it looks like we don’t have a choice, it either that or we keep being MaShandu’s fools?” Nhlanzeko looked at him, “let me call Sbuda”, Cebo nodded then looked at the cows. While Nhlanzeko took out his phone then dialled Sbuda’s number.
Nhlanzeko’s eyes locked onto Cebo’s, a silent understanding passing between them. They were in this together, no matter what. “Sbudu, we need your help,” Nhlanzeko said, his voice low and urgent📱What’s going on, Nhlanzeko?” Sbuda asked, his voice tinged with concern. “Do you know doctor Jordan?”
📱The White new doctor?” Nhlanzeko nodded more like Sbuda can see him. “Sure, we want you to kidnap him”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Nhlanzeko wondered if Sbuda would agree. But then Sbuda’s voice came back, low and serious. “You want me to kidnap Doctor Jordan? Are you guys crazy?” Nhlanzeko sighed, his eyes never leaving Cebo’s. “We don’t have a choice, Sbudu. We need to know the truth, and Doctor Jordan is the only one who can give it to us.”
Sbuda’s voice was laced with skepticism. “And what makes you think he’ll talk?” Cebo’s jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with determination. “We’ll make sure he does.” There was another pause, and then Sbuda’s voice came back, his words sending a shiver down Nhlanzeko’s spine.
📱Okay, I’ll do it. But if this goes sideways, I’m blaming you guys.”
Nhlanzeko nodded, even though Sbuda couldn’t see him. “We’ll take full responsibility, Sbudu. Just get it done.” “We’ll meet you at the windmill at midnight,” Nhlanzeko said, his voice low and serious. “And Sbudu, come alone.” Sbuda’s voice was laced with a hint of humor.
📱Don’t worry, I won’t bring the whole cavalry.” Nhlanzeko smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. “Good. We’ll see you then.”