Maid For Marriage

44

After making love under the stars we snuck back in the house. The next day the house and the wives were cleansed and we left after lunch. I was extremely happy to be going home. Ma and her sisters drove with Senzo and I. They snored the whole way home.

When we got home I took a nap before starting dinner. I missed my own kitchen. My aunt wasn't home. She didn't have the contact information to my mother's side of the family so she went to go and find them. Hopefully they still lived where she remembered.

"You made dinner. I was going to get us something to eat." He said and kissed me. I pulled away from him when I heard someone clear their throat. "Of course she made dinner. I good wife makes her husband a home cooked meal everyday. Makoti, don't let him and his wives infect you with their city ways of life. You're a good strong wife and your in-laws appreciate you. Keep doing what you're doing." One of his aunt's said.

"Yebo ma." I said bowing my head in respect. "Soon she'll be pregnant. I can always tell these things." The one who always kept quiet said and my eyes went wide. "I think you're right my sister. This one is very fertile. I can tell by her hips. They'll make beautiful baby." All throughout dinner they kept talking about babies. Even ma believed that I'll be pregnant soon. Apparently her sister was never wrong when it came to these things.

My aunt eventually found my mom's family. At first they wouldn't let her in but she worked her magic and now they're on their way.

"How do you feel?" Senzo asked while we laid in bed. "About what?" I moved over to lay on his chest. "Tomorrow you'll be meeting your mother's side of the family. Aren't you excited?" I shrugged. "I don't know. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm glad I'm getting to meet them but I also want to know where they've been and why they never come to visit me. They knew where my family lived." He kissed my forehead. "Maybe they have a good reason for it." I just shrugged and went to sleep.

The next day I kept to myself. I felt nervous for some reason. Especially when I saw my aunt's car pull up. I ran to the room and sat on the bed trying to control my breathing. "Mamakhe." I just shook my head and shut my eyes tightly. I didn't know what that was going to do but I did it anyway. He just sat with me and held my hand before my aunt came to fetch me.

"Hi Princess." I hugged her tightly. I didn't realize how much I actually missed her. "Okay, no tears." She wiped her tears tears. "Your grandmother, aunt, and uncle came. The rest of the family will come once everything is in place." I just nodded and we went next door.

I walked into the living room and the older lady gasped and started crying loudly. "Thandile!" She cried my mother's name. The man and lady who came with her went to comfort her and she cried my mother's name over and over. I just stood there awkwardly until my aunt led me to the couch.

My grandmother eventually stopped crying.  "Thandi." My aunt said my name. "She's crying because you look exactly like your mother." I knew that. My aunt always kept showing me pictures when I was growing up. I always thought my father hated me because I looked like her.

We had lunch and I just sat there awkwardly while they spoke and gushed over me.

"So, you're getting married?" My aunt said. I wasn't quite sure what her name was. I wasn't sure what my uncle's name was either. I just nodded taking a sip of my juice. "Don't you think you're a little bit too young. You just turned twenty-one the other day." My aunt said. She doesn't even know me and she already has something to say. "No, I don't think I'm too young."

"I'm just mentioning it because your mother also got married young." She just wouldn't let it go and like always I was busy shutting down. "Okay, can we talk about Thandi's ceremony?" They all agreed. "Normally your father would play a big role in your ceremony. Since he won't be here I've contacted your brother who is more than happy to stand in. I don't want you going away from home. We'll do it here. You'll meet your female cousins on your mother's side and they'll spend the week before the ceremony with you. We've got most of what needs to be done planned out. And family should be arriving by the end of the week. We'll walk you through the processes as they come." I just nodded.

"I want to meet this man before anything takes place." My grandmother said and logically it was a fair request but it angered me. They were silent and absent my whole life now all of a sudden they wanted to come in and take over. "Okay, maybe Thandi can ask MaRadebe and Senzo to come to tea tomorrow." I agreed and left immediately afterwards. I was not in the mood.

"How did it go?" Baba asked when I walked into the house. "They want to meet you. My aunt suggested tea with you and Ma tomorrow." They agreed and I texted my aunt.

The next day tea was awkward. They interrogated Senzo so much that I was embarrassed but he handled it perfectly. They question everything from our age difference to his four wives. When we were done they made it known that I will be staying at home for the rest of the week in preparation for the week to come.

I would be isolated with my Izimpelesi (maidens) but I needed to get my hair done. Once the family suggested we do lunch on Sunday I took the opportunity to book my hair and nails for that day. My aunt's house was buzzing full of people and I didn't want to associate with anyone of them. Not my mother or my father's side.

This ceremony has haunted me all my life. It's the reason for all the virginity testing and my father's craziness. All the trauma seemed so senseless now that I'm doing the ceremony not being a virgin. But according to tradition it is necessary for marriage. If it's not done I might face many difficulties in my marriage and at some point I would have to repeat the process.