Maid For Marriage

62

What have I done to deserve all that was happening to me? Was all of this because I lied about my virginity? Where was this bad luck coming from? Was someone cursing me.

"What are we going to do about money? We need to at least put down some of the money." All the wives were at my house having dinner. I couldn't even stomach food right now. "We can always just turn the machines off." MaGumede suggested. "So now you want to murder my husband?!" She looked shocked at my outburst.

"All of you can think I'm a monster but we have children. Very young children who still need to grow up. We can't put ourselves in debt for a man who can't even breath by himself. I'm not doing it. The money I have saved up is for my children's future."

I wanted grab her and throw her off a cliff. "Nobody asked for your money. Keep it. If nobody here wants to help I'll do it myself." That day I gathered all my old and new appliances and drove all over town to sell them. I knew I didn't have nearly enough money. I went into the freezer and got the stack of money Senzo once gave me. That had to pay for something.

"Where have you been? We just came back from the hospital." MaCele asked. "Unlike you I'm trying to keep my husband alive." She just sighed. "MaBhengu you know we don't have any money. You don't either. You'll only be able to keep him alive for so long until you'll have to let go." She tried to hold onto my hand but I stepped away from. "He can wake up. He can wake up at anytime. It could be tomorrow, in two weeks..." I was interrupted before I could finish. "Or it could be two years. Even twenty years. Do you have the money to keep in going for that long?"

"MaCele just leave me alone please. I'm not asking anything from you. If I have to do this on my own I will. Please just get out of my way." I met up with the lawyer at the hospital and gave him all the cash I had. It paid for everything so far and I felt a bit of relief. "Have you gotten a hold of MaKhumalo?" I shook my head. "Not yet. Her assistant will let me know." I spent some time with Senzo before I had an amazing idea.

I told the lawyer about my lawsuit and that we were waiting for a court date. I needed the money so he let all parties involved know that I was willing to settle out of court. We set up a meeting as soon as possible.

MaKhumalo's assistant finally put me in touch with her. "Hi. What's up?" She asked. "Hi, umm I don't know how to do this so I'll just say it. Baba is in the hospital on life support after a car accident." I heard her gasp. "Mbali, nobody else wants to listen to me. They want to pull the plug. Please, MaKhumalo. He can't die. Please don't let him die." She cleared her throat. "Okay, wait. I just signed a deal. I was going to stay here a little longer but I'll take the earliest flight."

"MaKhumalo it gets worse. The lawyers are saying baba is bankrupt." There was silence on the other side of the line. "That's not possible. I just went over the companies financials. It's the best we've ever done. Either the financial reports have been fabricated or someone is lying. Thandi don't make any decisions without me. I'll be there in a day or two."

MaKhumalo struggled with one delayed fight after the next. It was taking her forever to get back home. In the meantime I signed a settlement and was waiting for the money. I would be able to cover a few months. The payments were very expensive but I wanted him to be comfortable in his private ward.

MaKhumalo was finally making her way back. I git out of bed that day and I could hardly walk. MaCele wanted to know what was wrong? "I'm just having really bad period pains." She still looked at me suspiciously. "Are you sure? This doesn't look like it's just period pains. Maybe, you should go to the doctor." I didn't even argue with her. It felt like I was dying.

Even with the amount of pain I was in I managed to get myself to my gynaecologist before visiting hours. The pain was so bad that I was begging for some kind of pain relief. I was extremely worried because I had a high pain threshold.

I looked at the time and there was an hour left until visiting hours. I needed to get to the other side of the hospital to see my husband.

My doctor came in with a gloomy expression. She just looked disheartened. I could not stay in this hospital. Whatever was wrong with me at that moment would have to wait. I could barely afford this doctors visit I can't afford any other treatment I might need.

"Mrs Dlamini I've triple checked all the tests that we've ran. You're not experiencing a bad period. Mrs Dlamini you were pregnant and..." It looked like she was fighting back tears. Deep down I knew what she was going to say but I needed to hear it. "What do you mean I was pregnant?" She let out a shaky breath. "Mrs Dlamini you're having a miscarriage."

I was completely numb. It felt like I had been sedated. I got my medication and went to my car. I drove to the other side of the hospital to be with Senzo. I sat by his bed crying silently. I couldn't take this anymore. Everything was just too much for me.

"Please Baba. Wake up. I need you." I begged quietly but nothing happened. "Oh, she's already here." I wiped my tears away as the other wives entered with MaKhumalo. "Like I told MaBhengu the companies financials don't add up to what the lawyer was telling you." MaKhumalo said and picked up the jug filled with water next to Senzo's bed.

"So I did some of my own digging. MaBhengu do you mind getting up and moving away from the bed." I didn't know what she was doing but I didn't have the energy. I got up and went to sit on the corner couch.

Before I could process what was happening she threw the water at Senzo and he miraculously jumped up and screamed. "I found out that this man has been faking it! He's been faking it all!"

Senzo was standing on the bed drenched in water. He was perfectly fine.

"I can explain."

Was all he said before I left.