Mphakamseni The Arranged Man

Mphakamseni The Arranged Man
#01
SIBEKEZELO (ZELO)

Here I am about to walk down the aisle getting married to a man I do not even know. I've never set my eyes on him, I don't even know how he looks like. How can my own parents do this to me. When I ask 'why am I being sold off'? I've been told it's for the best securing my future. I tried reasoning with them but still the didn't budge. I begged and begged them not to send me away but clearly they don't care about my heartbreak. I look beautiful in this gown, I've always imagined myself marrying the love of my life. I'm about to be a stranger's wife pity enough.
"Nana you look so beautiful you know you've just made me the proudest mother ever" That's my mother being all happy about the moment and I'm not!
"Mom please not now, you've done enough already by selling me away." I tell her.
"When the time is right you will know and understand why I did this" she tells me.
Yea whatever. The selfish parents I have. I wish I was born into another family, have parents who understand my pain. I'm all alone, sad and depressed. What if he kills me, what chance do I stand, will I ever be happy. All I do is to please this family but my happiness comes last to them. After today I'm done with them especially my father. Everyone seems to happy about this wedding of a shame, I've cried more than enough and it's no use nothing will change.
I'm now at the alter I feel like running away but again I will be disappointing my selfish family. The song starts blasting through those speakers Major - This Is Why I Love You and everyone stands up. Who lives who cause in this shameful marriage? My father comes with all sorts of smiles taking my hand and leading me to my so cold husband. I have to pretend, pretend to be happy. Half way through the alter I see this very dark, tall man with a huge body and a pot belly. His looking at me with those big zoom white eyes, I paused a little not believing my eyes, tears prickle rolling down my cheeks. These tears are not tears of joy but tears of sadness. What have I gotten myself into.
This man I call my father is smiling like a retarched, we have reached our destination the belly guy comes forward smiling shyly, I looked at him and immediately felt sorry for him. My father hands me to this man whom I don't know not even who his name was
"Take care of my precious jewel." my father says with a huge smile plastered on his face. Is he really sending me off to a family I do not know? What have I done to deserve this?
"Yes sir I will guide her with my life" he says faking a smile. Wouldn't my family look for a better husband if they were this desperate to ship me off.
My father walks away and immediately I feel shattered, maybe this is a prank, maybe I'm dreaming, someone is going to wake me up hopefully. But no I'm standing next to this giraffe and I feel so tiny right now. Who would have though a twenty year old would be married to a man who is old to be their father! Life is something else. Me Sibekezelo never thought that one day my wedding will bring me pain.
"We are gathered here today to witness the matrimonial of Sibekezelo Khumalo and Mphakamseni Ngcobo. Is there anyone who feels that these two should not get married, speak now or forever hold your peace." The pastor speaks up and it went quite and suddenly there was a male voice that shouted at the back and said :- "who would like to marry a dough cake,"-the crowd laughed at that statement. He squeezed my hand and smiled faintly. God where to from here, what will I do with him and his pot belly. The pastor interrupted my thoughts by saying we may proceed.
"Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?" the pastor asked and I hear him mumble the unexisting English , which doesn't even exist in the vocabulary.
" I...erm....I do." He answered. Does he usually stutter, I admit his voice is quite to deep and I like it. Lord knows I'm doomed for life. What will I do with this man?
I repeated the same vows after the pastor
"I do." that's it, I've just signed my life away and there's no turning back.
"I would like both of you to repeat these vows after me. Can I have the rings please." I'm sure this pastor could sense that there was no romance in this marriage. A little boy came forward and handed the rings to the pastor.
"In the name of God I Mphakamseni/Sibekezelo take you to be my husband/wife to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health. To love and cherish until we are parted by death." We slid the rings in each others finger. "I now pronounce husband and wife you may kiss your bride."
He lifted the vail up and he looked straight into my eyes. He has very big beautiful light brown eyes and nice lips his so dark chocolate man type and I'm light in completion. Imagine oil and water. He came close to me and bent his head down, I'm so tiny. He smashed his lips onto mines and damn I was swimming in a pool filled with tsunami, he can't fucken kiss! I open my eyes in shock I think he noticed cause he stepped back a little. I feel like vomiting, I want to spit his salvia out of my mouth but where will I. I have no choice but to swallow them and I'm so disgusted. The women ululate with excitement thinking that we are very much inlove but it's all pretence.
It's now the traditional wedding, I won't lie the wedding is out there it must have costed a fortune. Listening to those long boring speeches is tiring and I couldn't wait to get out of here, but there's this one speech that touched my heart. His mother spoke out from the heart and she said: "I have been waiting for this moment for over 30 years now. Not that I have always looked forward to it, because for most of those years I worked hard to protect my son. But I knew that this day would come. Makoti I may not know you personally but I plead you to look after my son and stand by him no matter what. Be with him in good and in bad times. I know his not you idle husband but please be patient with him. I am the only one who understands him in this family, he has been bullied his entire life till today. With time the partnership will expand and welcome children into your family. Makoti be an extraordinary mother and bring that compassion and selflessness into the life of a child. Who wouldn't want a mother and a wife who is beautiful and talented. God bless you my kids."
I look at his mother and I see a broken woman who loves her son dearly. I tilt my head to look at the man I just married, the eyes says it all. The pain was visible right through him. I should be the one who's torn apart but it looks like the man is beyond broken. Will I ever be happy in this marriage? The responsibilities I face are bigger than my problems. If only God could heard my cries none of this would have been happening. If God answered my prayers I wouldn't be a wife to man I just met hours ago at the alter. A man I don't know, a man who looks like he lives in his own world. I still ask myself till today what is the agenda behind this marriage. Now I believe and I declare my life will never be the same again after today. I do not know what this marriage holds for me. But want I can promise is that I will leave and never look back if this life is not for me.

I never thought that one day my father will turn against my will and wishes. I never thought that one day I will have this hatred against my own flesh. Hate is a big word but I can definitely say I hate my father with everything in me. I have lived all my life trying to please them but they are never satisfied. Maybe living without them will make me sane. A journey I'm about to walk on, a journey I'm inexperienced in. I need my mother more than anything but I'm thrown into the wolfs. The bitterness is the mouth is tasteless. God I bring myself to you, I have no words to describe my hurtness I'm feeling right now.

This is the beginning of new my life as a married woman a new chapter has been opened. I am no longer Sibekezelo Khumalo but the bride to the Ngcobo's. From today I'll be Sibekezelo Ngcobo married to Mphakamseni Ngcobo.