SIMPHIWE SHANDU THE HUSBAND
CHAPTER 20
JELE
I slowly get off the bed – kiss her cheek and smile a bit. My heart is heavy, reason, I will be leaving in a few days' time. What if I reject the offer and later, she decides to reunite with her husband. I am deeply in love with her, but I am afraid of the unknown. I decided to make coffee for myself and some orange juice for her. She loves sweet stuff suddenly. Plain yogurt with banana and grapes inside will put a huge smile on her face. I don’t know why she doesn’t make a smoothy out of this. It's just repellent by looking at it. But what the queen wants gets. She is still fast asleep, must be that she slept very late last night. I wish I coud take the stress befaling her.
“Wakey, wakey.” I place the tray on the dressing table and wake her up.
“Not now, please.” She turns to face the other way giving me her back. I look at her hand thinking that maybe my mind is hallucinating. Indeed, the ring is off. A small smile stretches on my face. I don’t want to be overly joy thinking that the worst is over. This is Nozimanga for sure - onc could never tell what is on her mind. But nonetheless – she is here with me and that all makes me happy.
“Babies wake up.” She groans and yanks the blankets off. She jumps off the bed and runs to the toilet. Morning sickness has her by her throat.
“Everything good here?” I lean against the door frame with my arms crossed against the chest. I wish I could have this moment for the rest of my life. I sigh...
“Come, stand up and brush your teeth.” I say but she sits fully down and lets out a sniff.
“Hau Nozi, and then?” I am confused.
“Take me with you to whatever country you are going to.” she snaps. I feel like laughing my lungs out, but I don’t want to get on her nerves.
“I am just tired.” she says.
“Okay then - let's get tired, me and you. We are tired right?" I sit on the floor next to her. She looks at me with a slight frown on her face.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you on this tiredness.” I say and she clicks her tongue standing up I'm annoying her.
“Mlando Jele!”
“Yes Nozimanga Jele.” I put my hands on my waist too. I see a smile on her face.
“Stop being grumpy and go eat your food.”
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She is not even three months pregnant yet and already she has some demands. I can't be running around like a headless chicken - she just sits there and waits for whatever comes her way. I will have to lay some ground rules on this pregnancy. They say prevention is better than cure.
“I think I should introduce you to the gym.” I say. We are sitting on the couch with our hands entwined. We were watching a movie, but the movie seemed to be watching us.
“A gym, like physical gym?” If she calls it a physical gym, then yes!
“The reason why I am suggesting it is because I have noticed that you prefer to sleep a lot and that will kill you during birth. You need to be active around the house. Do more chores, lift heavy objects from time to time to stretch your inner muscles.” She looks at me and does not respond. I know a fight will follow this.
“So, in other words, ngivila?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
She takes a deep breath.
“But it's too early.”
“You must get used to it. I will sign you up for that gym. Two times a week will do for now.”
Another deep warm breath from her.
“I was thinking...’
“What?”
“That you take me with you.” She repeats. I look at her with my eyes all out. Such a huge drastic step she is willing to take or is it because of the hurt she is in. The phase of her talking in this manner is understandable.
“If I knew what the further holds for us - I would have agreed without being hesitant.
“You still having second thoughts that I might leave you for him?”
“As stupid and desperate I may sound but yes.”
“I get your point sir; I will try my best to be more open about my feelings.”
We talk some more...
Spending time with her is so precious and I love every minute of it. Seeing her smile, laughter, cry makes my heart melt. How did I fall in love with someone's wife? Her inner beauty captured me the minute I laied my eyes on her.
“Why are you looking at me like?” She noticed my stare and smile pulling my beard. This has been her toy for some time now.
“Can't I stare at the woman that makes my heart goes ting-a-ling a ling.” She smiles. That rictus joyous look on her face weakens my intestines.
“You need...” A loud bang on the. Her response was cut mid short. Whoever is at the door has the intension of breaking my door.
“Are you expecting someone?” she asks out of curiosity.
“No. Let me go check who is killing my door.”
I find Dudu at my doorstep looking like a ragamuffin. Honestly, I don’t know what to do with this girl. She messed us up and now she wants to mess my only life up.
“Dudu, what do you want?”
“Simphiwe did not pay rent and we were chased out of the house. I slept on the street all night in the cold. I just need to take a shower, eat and maybe have a quick nap. Please.” I would love to help but I cannot disrespect Nozi.
“Look, I can only give you money, but I can't let you inside the house. Dudu – you will have to accept that we are no longer together. Coming here all times needs to stop and I don’t think my woman will like it.” Her eyes shot wide open. If she thinks that she will walk all over me like she used to – girl fooled herself. That was the old Jele.
“You, you have already moved on?” She asks in her trembling voice. She sneezes and I believe she is coming down with a cold.
“Why not go home to your mother?”
“She chased me away. A lot is going on at home and...”
“It's okay, no need to tell me all that.” I let her in. I do not know if I am doing the right thing by inviting her in or not. I hope Nozi will not have a fit about this.
“Babe.”
“Hmmm.”
“She is just looking for help.” I say.
“Looks like I will never get rid of the father of the nation wherever I go.” she says standing up.
“Where are you going?”
“To sleep!” She grabs her phone on top of the counter and dashes out of the living room. I turn to look at Dudu to what looking at Nozi’s direction.
“Isn't that...”
“Yes, it's her.” I take the money out of my wallet... “It's not much but a thousand rand will get you somewhere.” I say handing her the money and she accepts.
“Do you remember when we will go wild on those stairs.” I don’t know where all of this is going.
“Dudu, please don’t do this.” I beg. She cannot ruin my happiness when she ruined hers by sleeping with a married man. I can see the disappointment on her face – she’s very good at hiding it.
“Thank you, for the money. I will never be a nuisance ever again. You will never see me again on this face of earth. I just have one request.” I frown at her. The last person who spoke like this was my sister and she later ended up committing suicide.
“Whenever and wherever you see Fihliwe, please love and treat her like your own. I would love and like for you to be in her life.” She blinks away in tears adding more confusion to me. I don't know what to say about this.
“Dudu, are you okay?” Now I am concerned.
“Yes, I'm fine. It's just one of those days. Womans nature. Thank you again.” she says and takes steps back with her baby tightly in her arms. I am left confused with her actions and words. But maybe it is the stress that is crowding her mind. She put herself into this equation and hopefully, I hope she finds a way out before it is too late.
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