The Arrangement

Monster In Law

Crystal

"Mama?" Siyabonga repeats, staring at his parents in shock. I'm sure I mirror his looks

"Yebo Fano. Oh sibonge unkulunkulu ngokunibuyisa kahle (Yes Fano. Oh thank god you arrived safely)"

"Mmm" his father responds.

After a minute of silence, I see her eyes trailing past Siyabonga and its like she finally notices me. "Makoti. Usubuyile yini noma silungise ibhanoyi ukuthi uma ubaleka futhi siphinde sikulande? (Daughter in law. Are you back or should we fix the plane to be on stand by in case you leave again and we fetch you once more?") She laughs at the end but her eyes and tone said that she is dead serious

"Chaa ma. That will not be necessary" I reply.

"Yini leyo? (What's that?)" I move my eyes to what she's looking at and I realise that she's looking at Belle's sleeping form ontop of Siya

"Lona ma umntwana wami." Siya says and begins moving towards the stairs. He ignored his mother's shouts. Once she realised that he won't turn back to her, she turns to me so quickly that I take a step back at the sudden action.

"Wena (you)" she points at me

"Ma?"

"Do you see your mother amywhere?" She sneers

"Chaa m-"

"Don't you dare. Call me MaNzuza"

"Yebo Ma-Nzuza" I catch my self.

"Manje ke ntombazane. Isho, yingane kabani leyana? (So girlie. Tell me, whose child is that?" She gestures upstairs with her head
  
"Eyami no Siyabonga (its mine and Siyabonga's)"

"Oh ngempela! Want to know what I think? I think ypou are trying to trap my son with your bastard child! Well not on my watch girlie. If I have to, I'll deport that thing back to its country before you finish saying Amen!" She shouts

"Chaa ma. I mean MaNzuza! There won't be a need. Belle is Siyabonga's child I promise you. And please refrain from calling my child names! I don't like or appreciate it"

"Do I look like I care what you like or appreciate! I don't. Sisi leyanto ibuyele la iphuma khona uma ungafuni ukuphila kabuhlungu (Sis that thing must go back to where it comes from if you don't want to live a horrible life)" she says looking at me with pure evil in her eyes.

Just as I'm to respond, Siyabonga comes downstairs, having changed into PJs.

"Am I interrupting something?" He stupidly asks

"Not at all ndodana (son). We were just catching up. Right Koti?" She looked at me

"Y-yebo" the look Siya gives me says he won't let this go. I sigh inwardly.

"Ma ubaba uthe uyakucela. You still remember your bedroom angithi? " he says to her

"Yebo ndodana. Nilaleni kahle. Sizakhuluma ksasa (Yes son. Sleep well. We will talk tomorrow)"

"Nilale kahle nani MaNzuza (sleep well too MaNzuza)"

"Call me ma, Makoti" she says with a smile. She walks away and I'm left baffled.

I don't notice Siya standing besides me until I feel his hand on my shoulder which brings me out of it.

"You okay?" He looks worried

"Mmhmm yep. Just tired" I choose to say.

"Let's go to bed then"

"Okay."

We head upstairs and as I turn to the bedroom I used when I first came here, he grabs my waist and directs me to his bedroom. I look at him questioning his actions