KHANYISA
"Mama!" I throw my arms around her and squeeze her so tightly.
"N'wananga!" [my child] she hugs me back "Okay sesi, you're squeezing too tight, " she chuckles but I continue holding on to her. Words can't describe what I'm feeling right now and the only reason I'm holding my tears back is because I don't want my parents to mistaken them as a sign of me being mistreated by Nkosi.
"Na mina ni kona" [I'm also here] I hear my dad say and I let go of mom and go straight to his arms, hugging him just as tight.
"I missed you guys," I say keeping an arm around my dad.
"Ungaswi hlayi, nale ndlwini akaha fani wena ungari kona" [Don't even mention it, even the house isn't the same without you] he says.
"Yah, there's less noise" my mom jokingly says as Nkosi joins us.
"Sanibonani" he cheerfully greets and hugs my mom then shakes my dad's hand "Niyaphila kodwa?" [Are you well?]
"Siyaphila, wena unjani?" [We are well and you?]
"Nami ngiphilile futhi ngijabule kakhulu ukuthi nifikile" [I'm also well and very happy that you arrived] he says then shows them to where everyone is and my anxiety rises as I worry more about what Liyana might say or do in front of my parents. I can take all her insults and nasty behavior, just not in my parents presence.
He stops and looks at me while my parents follow the noise.
"Uright?" he eyes me.
"Yah," I respond without thinking and I instantly regret it when he stares right at me.
"Ngathini kuwe ngokuqamba amanga?" [What did I say to you about telling lies?] he asks very seriously
"Wathi ngingaqambi amanga" [You said I shouldn't lie]
He looks at me a moment longer then says "Okay, we will fix this bad habit of yours later," he says lowly and it sounds like a warning.
I follow him to the lounge area where everyone is. I sit next to my mom on the arm rest and I put my arm around her.
"Na sweswi waha endla swo ni damarhela?" [Even now you still want to stick to me?] she asks and I move even closer just to annoy her.
"Ina, ani nahari n'wana n'wina" [Yes, isn't it I'm still your child?] I playfully nudge her and she scoffs.
"awahari n'wana, ute ulak tekiwa se hi leswi, famba damarhela nuna wa wena, no ni hisa wani hisa" [You're no longer a child, you said you want to get married so go stick to your husband. You're even burning me] She says trying to sound serious and Nkosi's mom laughs.
"Abafuni neze ukukhula laba [They never want to grow these ones] , they always want to be mama's babies." "uLiyana naye unje" [Liyana is also like this]
"What did I do manje?" Liyana asks her mom.
"You're a mama's baby just like your sister in law,"
When her mom mentions me she looks at me and I look right back at her, her eyes don't reflect peace so I choose to look away "Let me get you something to drink," I get up.
"Liyana, Hamba uyosiza uKhanyisa ngeziphuzo" [Go help Khanyisa with drinks]
"Haibo, Kodwa lowo ngumsebenzi wakhe, angithi uyena makoti la" [But that's her job, isn't it she's the bride here]
Her mom opens her mouth to speak but I stop her "It's fine, ma. I'll manage, " I say.
"I'll help, " Nandi gets up and follows me.
YOU ARE READING
KEPT
Romance"What is it that you want in a relationship? And please, be as descriptive as you can be" He asks with a smooth barritone that rings bells of pleasure in my ears and other places I dare not to mention I ponder on the thought for a moment then I look...
