Mphakamseni The Arranged Man

MPHAKAMSENI THE ARRANGED MAN

#33

NOMKHOSI

Looking at this man I call MY father feels realistically unbelievable. For a moment I thought he never wanted me. Sitting next to him looking at the beautiful mountains, cow's and goats. He is taking me through a journey of their past. This place is damning refreshing, I could stay in this swing swinging myself forever. 
"Your mother and I were very much inlove until she became pregnanat with you. I come from a poor background back then and her family was well off. When her father found out that she was pregnant for me he arranged marriage for her with a wealthy man. I thought maybe she wouldn't agree cause we loved each other, suprisingly she accepted the proposal and said I won't be able to take care of the, MY baby cause I come from a poor family, atleast the man will take care of her and the baby. I didn't even fight for our love because she didn't fight also, cause I knew her mind was made up. So I decided to let her be and all I wanted was my baby. Months went by and she got married and they were happy at first, the man obviously thought that the baby was his. Things changed after she gave birth, her husband found out that the child was not his and he started abusing her physically. A year later I heard that she had a miscarriage after being beaten by her husband. Mind you I never saw you and I didn't knew how you look like, until one day she came by my house late at night with her bags. That's when I got the chance to see you and hold you in my arms, heard your first cry, heard your first laugh at that time you were a year old and six months. That's the day I gave you the name Skhanyiso cause you were my light, my pride, my joy. My mother was over the moon cause you looked and still look exactly like her, you were her first granddaughter. The next morning when we woke up your mother was no where in sight and that was the last time I saw her even her family was looking for her and no one knew where she was till today." The pain laced in his voice still says alot of trauma this man went through because of Mawe. 
"So she lied and painted you the bad guy, wow I'm out of words." Indeed she's out of words. All along she hated her father for nothing!
"It shows that she never told you the whole truth. If my mother saw you right this minute she would even slaughter a kitchen for you just for a celebration. She would be overwhelmed and she was more hurt than I am." John looks at her newly father hurting.
"What! she's still alive. Kanti how old is she?"
"Old enough to be your grandmother. She has been waiting for you all her life and she never gave up. Where's Mawe by the way?" He shouldn't have asked that question. Now he is opening old wounds.
Khosi sighs thinking about her past, a past that she never wishes to reveal to anyone. "I last saw her four month's ago…." She than began to share her struggles growing up and the hardships she faced. John was quite and his emotions were unexplainable. To think that he trusted Mawe with his only daughter! So much of being a woman  "That's how I met this family and they have showed me nothing but love." Khosi's tells John.
"I never knew that Mawe could be this heartless. How did I fall in love with such a woman who has no heart at all?"
"That's what I went through. And I don't think I will ever forgive her." Tears drop out of her eyes and John decided to change the subject because right now he doesn't know how to comfort his daughter. He is still numb from the pain that Mawe did. How can a woman let their only child go such pain right under her noise?
"That young man, what's his name again?" She shyly looks down.
"Muzi."
"Hope his not taking advantage of you and because of the situation."
"Not at all, infact he helped me discover myself and find myself, he helped me experience things I never knew existed."
 "If you say so. I would like you to meet the rest of the family."
"Won't they have a problem with me and my situation. I mean I'm different. Your and kids won't they have a problem?" Meeting new people…. that's just alot of work for her and she hates it alot.
"I don't have a wife and I don't have other kids. I made a vow that I won't get married or have any other kids until I find my own. My mother is an albino, my nephew's and niece's are also albinos. So I knew the time your mother was pregnant that you will be a gold coloured." They laugh.
"A gold coloured pho baba there's no such." They continued to laugh. Since she's not the only one who has this kind of skin in the family that makes her heart ease a bit. "I would love to meet the rest of my family." She smiles widely. They bother stand up from the swings that they were sitting on and hugged for dear life. For the first time in ages she gets to feel her father's scent, love and care. 
"I need a bath. Wait for me before you leave." Nana shouts as she made her way to the swings with the rest of the guys following her behind. They back already and they are dusty as hell. Khosi's looked at her man who had cow dung on his chest and smiled to herself. 
"It's a family time babe." Nana's husband tries to pull her by hand but baby girl ain't budging singer decides to let her be.
"Guy's I'm going to see the rest of my family." Khosi's informs them and the girls squirms in excitement. 
"I'm tagging along," trust Nana with her forwardness.
"Count me in," Zelo adds.
"Come on guy's it's family time." Phala puts his foot down but the girls are not having any of that.
"You guy's can come I don't mind." Khosi tells them.
"Are you sure Pinky Face?" Muzi just wants to be wherever Khosi is. 
"Of cause I'm sure ba….Muzi."