Maid For Marriage

25

Senzo eventually left with his family and I took care of ma. I couldn't do a lot of the house work because my body was still sore but I made sure ma was taken care of and the place at least looked good.

"Thandi, when are you going to become my daughter-in-law? What's taking so long?" I just chuckled. "Ma, uBaba is busy with his new wives and the babies on the way." She just sighed. "I still don't know how they did it. Then again Senzo is easily fooled by women." She said sighing.

The first baby was born and I would get texts every now and then. Then the second baby was born and he texted something about building his wives and children houses. He said he would get extremely busy. But he got so busy that I didn't even exist anymore. I received my salary every month and that was it.

"Thandi, have you heard anything from Senzo? He's disappeared again." I could feel the knot in my throat rising. This man promised me the world and he just stopped talking to me for months. "No, Ma." I answered softly. I was folding clothes so I kept myself busy because I knew if I even looked at her I would break. "Are you okay?" I just nodded.

It felt like it was going on forever. I had given up already. Luckily my dad left me alone because I was giving him my whole salary every month and he knew it would stop if he married me off.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Mbali came around the corner. "Oh, here you are. The door was locked. Where's Ma?" She took a seat on the bench. I was busy doing laundry outside. "Ma went to have tea at her friends house. She should be back any minute now." She nodded. "How is she doing?" She asked and I was surprised. She didn't seem like the type to care.

"She's doing good. The doctor is happy with how she's maintaining her health. She goes on walks with her friends every morning now and she keeps herself busy with community projects. She seems happy again." I explained and threw out the water I was using. "Would you like some tea?" She nodded and we went inside.

"So, I'm sure you can guess why I'm here. Ma called yesterday asking if I've heard anything from, Baba. I was confused because usually when I don't hear from him he's here with you and Ma where I know he's well taken care of." I just bowed my head. I didn't really want to talk about him. I pushed the thought of him far away.

"We haven't heard from him." She sighed. "What is going on?" She looked worried and that was making me worried. Ma finally came home. "Hello Makoti. It's good that you're here. We need to talk about my son." I got up to leave. "No, Thandi. Sit. Let's talk." I didn't know what to do so I just stayed while they carried on with their conversation.

"Ma, if you haven't heard from him and I haven't heard from him the only thing to do is to go find him. I can't get through to his phone and I don't have any of the wives numbers. I think we should go to the village and see what's going on. Maybe we can ask one of the elders to accompany us." They made plans to leave the very next morning.

I couldn't sleep that night until they came back. My anxiety was on a whole other level. "Are you still worried about Senzo?" My aunt asked and I just sighed. "Thandi can I be honest with you?" I nodded.

"Yes we have a restraining order against those girls but it's only a matter of time until one of them finds the opportunity to get back at you. This whole thing is about you stealing their boyfriend's. If they stop thinking you're out to steal their boyfriend's this whole thing ends. The other problem is your father and he might be quiet now but he's going to come crawling out of the woodworks again and there's going to be nothing we can do."

I knew all of this but hearing it was difficult. "I don't know what is going on with you and Senzo. But what I do know is I'm about to give you the best and absolute worst advice I've ever given. I wished with all my heart that you don't have to do this but you have no choice my baby. My advice to you is marry that man. When Ma brings him back make sure you secure a ring. Do whatever needs to be done."

I was shocked. I've known for a long time it was my only option but to hear my aunt say it made it real. "You love him and the love might wear off but at least your life won't be in danger. Your father won't marry you off to a disgusting old man who's going to abuse you for the rest of your life and these girls who are after you will leave you alone once you're off the market. I'm sorry my baby I've tried but I can't protect you. I can't. Marry that man. Even if you're wife number five. It's going to be easier for you to feel the way you feel now, neglected and alone, rather than being tortured and abused by a friend of your father's."

She was right. I knew she was right. I really wanted more time and I bought more time. But it seems like my time is running out. I need this and I'm going to get it. Even if it means doing the unspeakable.

Ma and Mbali were away for a couple of days. When they finally came back I was nervous. I knew what needed to be done and I wanted zero delays. I saw Senzo get out of the car from my room window. Mbali and Ma looked furious and he looked tired. I tried texting him but the message didn't even go through. Luckily Ma called me over.

"I wanted to call you earlier but Senzo told me you'd be too angry at him." I kept my head bowed. "Those women mistreated him and forced him to stay there. They were trying to get him to build them elaborate houses and buy them fancy cars. Luckily he put it off as long as possible but I don't know what would've happened if we didn't go and get him. Mbali had to go home and I was hoping you'd look after him. I have a lot of responsibilities I have to get to with the church." I agreed and made a huge breakfast.

She already left and Senzo wasn't coming out of the room. I was getting worried so I went to go knock in his door. "Baba? Can I come in?" I heard rustling.  The door opened and I couldn't face him. I kept my head bowed. Looking at his slippers. My tears started falling. It was mixture of real and fake tears. I need to make him comfortable and make sure he knew I still cared. But I also didn't want to overstep.

"Baby." He said and touched my hand. I dramatically threw my hands around his neck and cried.  I cried like a baby. "I missed you." My voice was a little bit muffled but he could hear me. I finally looked at him and he just seemed weak. "What have they done to you?" I asked inspecting his face. He got thinner. I didn't like it.

"Ma said you were hurt. I thought you were going to hate me." I bowed my head. "I thought so too but I can't help it."
"You can't help what?"
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
"I can't help loving you." He didn't hesitate. He kissed me and I kissed him back. Before I knew it we were on the bed and I was naked.

My plan was going perfectly until we heard Ma's voice. We jumped apart he went to go distract her while I was getting dressed. I made as if I was cleaning his room when she came to look for me. "Where's my blue notebook?" I went to go get it for her and she ran out.

"I think that was a sign for us to stop before we regretted anything." He said putting his arms around me. "Maybe, but I missed you." There was something completely different about him. His spark was gone. It was like the life had been sucked right out of him.

We sat and had breakfast in silence. He held my hand the entire time. I was cleaning up when he put his arms around me. "Let's go lay down. I'm tired." I sighed. "I have a lot of chores to do." He held onto me tighter. "Please." It felt like my heart was ripping apart hearing him so weak. What did they do to him? "Okay, let's go." He led me to his room and that's exactly what we did. We just laid there.

By the time he actually fell asleep Ma came back. I was supposed to cook for her but Senzo wouldn't let go. I heard our door open and I knew it was ma. I didn't look around but I heard her close it again. When Senzo was finally sleeping comfortably I got up to go make something to eat.

"How is he?" She asked and I couldn't answer. "What did they do to him Ma?" She sighed and sat down. "I'm convinced they drugged him but he won't tell us anything. When we got there he was in bed. He was very confused and he could hardly stand up. There was food all over that he was refusing to eat. When we asked them what was going on they said he doesn't want to eat their food and that's why he was weak. Since when does my son refuse food? They put something in his food and he knows it. He's just scared that admitting it makes him less of a man."

They were drugging him? What the hell?! There were other ways to get a man to do things. Did they have to go this far. I made dinner and went home to tell my aunt everything. She was just as shocked as I was.  I had no idea what to do.

I laid awake thinking about the situation. I needed to help him restore his manhood but how? These women stripped him of his dignity. They took everything away from him and left a shell of a man.

I didn't know how to help him.