UMFAZI WAKWA NDWANDWE
WRITTEN BY L . P . MBHELE
INSERT 003.
_KAGOENTLE NDWANDWE_
We were told we will fly back to KZN tomorrow morning, coz I have to do my Makoti duties. I don’t know what is waiting for me in that place I don’t know , a whole KZN. I heard that the first wife stays there, I pray to God and my ancestors to never find her a monster in law. I sighed as I walked out of the bathroom, wearing my short nightie.
I’m spending a night with ‘my husband’ today, I hope it goes well, he should not try anything on me coz I’m going to fuck him up. My eyes went to the bed, but these no one, I wondered my eyes around the room, Ohhh there he is on the couch. I guess someone is going to sleep on the couch, serves him right.
I opened the covers then got in, “you know I also didn’t want this, but as the first born to my mother and second born to my father, I had to be a good example to my following brothers”. His deep voice made me look at him, he sat up straight on the couch, put his elbows on his knees. “After I’ve got everything, you will be free to go”. He said after a deep breathing, then layed with his back, facing up.
I sighed then also layed with my back, facing the ceiling. Our breathing were exchanging, it was more of a competition but that was all in my mind. I closed my eyes, allowing sleep to take over. I said a little prayer, then sleep took over.
I opened my eyes to the bright light coming from the window, Ohhh fuck someone just opened the curtains? I groaned then brushed the sleep off my eyes before sitting up. “Morning mama”, Ohhh my God, I promise I’m not melting right now. I smiled a little, “morning Nhlanzeko”. He chuckled, “your water are ready, breakfast will be ready in an hour so….”.
He said all of that looking anywhere but not my eyes, I looked at him with a frown. He shrugged his shoulders then walked out, and what was that? I chuckled to myself, peeled off the blankets,then got out of the bed. I looked something on my bag, uhhm maybe a tight black and long dress or a long White boho maxi skirt, white crop top and blue short Jean jacket, white socks and black formal shoes.
I put everything on top of the bed, what should I wear, the dress or the skirt? You know what let me take a bath then I will decide when I’m done. I walked to the bathroom, took off my nightie, got inside the bathtub. Warm water touch my skin, the comfort i got from the water? I sighed looking up, ohh God what am I going to do with my life now?
_NHLANZEKO NDWANDWE _
I knocked on my brother’s door, I know for sure he is awake coz umakoti uvuka ekseni. The door opened, revealing our beating Makoti, in a long loose black dress. She smiled, “sawubona Bhuti”, I nodded looking behind her. “Ngifuna ubafo, ukhona?”, she nodded then opened a space for me to enter. “Uhhm uphi u Kagoentle Bhuti, maybe I could go and help her”.
“Eroomini”, she nodded then walked out. I sat on Cebo’s couch, the worn leather creaking beneath me, as he emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still dripping with water. The scent of fresh soap and aftershave wafted through the air, mingling with the faint smell of last night’s whiskey. “Zwide, bro,” he said, as we clapped hands in a brief, masculine hug. I sighed, feeling the weight of my responsibilities settling back onto my shoulders like a shroud. My mind was a mess, tangled in thoughts of Kagoentle, of this arranged marriage, of the expectations weighing me down.
Cebo asked, his eyes curious, as he ruffled his hair with a towel, “Kuhamba kanjani ngomakoti?” How’s it going with the wife? I shook my head, feeling a wretched laugh building in my throat. “She doesn’t want this, Cebo. As much as I don’t want it.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue, like cheap cigarettes. I wondered if we’d ever want the same things, if we’d ever find common ground in this mess.
Cebo chuckled, a low, rumbling sound, as he dropped onto the couch beside me, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. “You two will learn to love each other along the way, so don’t stress too much.” He grinned, a mischievous glitch in his smile. “Talking from experience, bruv.” I rolled my eyes, nudging him with my elbow. “Uyazi bafo, uyazi.” Yeah, he was right. Cebo knew what it was like to be trapped, in this life, to the family, to the name, to the legacy.
I shook my head then chuckled. Cebolenkosi is not my mother’s son, he is the first wife’s first born. His mother, Lumnene has only two boys and my mother Mihlayonke has two boys and one girl. Alondwe. It’s Cebolenkosi and Phiwayinkosi to Lumnene. Then it’s me, Mfisoenhle and Alondwe.
Cebo’s expression turned serious, his eyes clouding over with memories. “You know, Nhlanzeko, sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it.” His voice dropped to a whisper, like the rustle of leaves in the wind. “The expectations, the duties, the weight of it all.” I nodded, feeling a spark of understanding. Cebo and I weren’t so different, despite our different mothers. We both knew what it was like to be a Ndwandwe, to carry the burden of our family’s name.
We sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the steady drip of water from Cebo’s hair, and the hum of the air conditioner outside. Then Cebo spoke up, his voice low and urgent. “You need to talk to her, Nhlanzeko. Really talk to her. Find out what she wants, what she needs.” I nodded, feeling a plan forming in my mind. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll talk to Kagoentle, and we’ll figure this out together.