To Love Or Not To Love

Chapter 50

ZIMBINI

The honeymoon was AMAZING! That's how I can describe it in simple terms. I never thought I'd get to go to such beautiful places with the love of my life that is. We went to 'Paradise Island, Maldives' and the place was nothing short of beautiful.

We had a chance to do so many adrenaline pumping activities and never have I seen Nkanyezi so excited. He would get so excited when we had to go out that I sometimes had to tell him to just calm down. "Sorry baby, I can't help it.", he'd always say with a smile on his face.

It made me happy, seeing him happy that is. I count my blessings every day for being given such a wonderful, thoughtful man. He always puts other people's feelings before his own and that's just a rare quality to find in someone nowadays, so I never take it for granted.

We could have stayed longer but I just wasn't feeling it anymore, I wanted to see my babies. And by babies, I mean Thandi and Mtho as well but then they'd both throw a fit if they heard me say that. I'm just glad we went and came back safe, that is all that matters.

"Letha la umzukulu wami Zimbini. (Bring my grandchild here Zimbini.)" , Nkanyezi's mom says with her arms already spread open. I go on to her and give her the baby because I really don't mind Simphiwe being showered with so much love and attention.

When we landed, we went straight to our place just to spend one more day together.  The children were with their grandparents so we had nothing to worry about because we knew they were in safe hands. I am yet to address the issue of them being way too spoilt, Thandi's starting to act like it and I need to put her in line before it goes any further.

I must say that when I first met MaMkhwanazi, I had my reservations on what kind of parent she was. Nyezi had already told me that she is an amazing person and that I had nothing to worry about but I just couldn't help.

It has always been my siblings and I so having let people in proved to be a bit of a struggle and let's just say, the way she speaks doesn't help at all. Her tone is very harsh so everything she says sounds rude but it is quite the opposite. I've seen her around the kids and I'd be lying if I said she treats them badly or, favors the other over another.

In fact, she teaches all her grandchildren to be kind and humble in any situation. I respect her for that and now I know where Nyezi learnt to be the kind gentleman he is today. Then his father is not a man of many words, he speaks when spoken to or if there's an issue he want to address. Other than that, he just minds his own business.

"Please make your father and I some tea. I'm really thirsty.", my mother-in-law says in a low tone before I leave the room. In the corner of my eye, I can see her husband attempt an eye-roll but it's a huge fail from where I'm standing.

"Okay ma.", I say as I quickly rush out of the living room before I get caught laughing. Ma is really dramatic so I know she'd make a big deal out of nothing wanting to know what I'm laughing at.

Once I've served the tea, I go to my room to take a nap before I have to fetch Thandi later. She's at school and it has become a struggle now when she has to go to school. She throws a tantrum and I've asked her if anything is wrong but she says nothing is.

I went to the school to ask her teaches if maybe they had noticed any strange behavior and none of them had. They say she's still the same old Thandi and nothing has changed. For a while there I was scared thinking that maybe there are learners bullying her but only to find out that she's just being her dramatic self.

Sigh.

I should rest for now before my little champion starts getting restless and starts crying for my attention. It can get a little too much sometimes but I'm glad I have parents that help me with him. Yes, Yanda's mom has now become my mom as well and of course, Nyezi's parents prefer if I refer to them as 'Mom and Dad'.

***********

I fetched Thandi from school earlier and she was super excited to see her grandparents here. That's what they said she should refer to them as and I could tell that my little sister was at her happiest that moment. Over the months, she's grown closer to them and likes visiting them any chance she gets.

My guess is that she misses Mtho and him being a bit far away, makes the situation worse. She likes getting the attention and what better way than to get it from her Gogo (Grandma) and Mkhulu (Grandpa).

Now speaking of Mtho, he and Ntombi have officially stepped forward and told us that they are an item. I was happy for them both because I can tell that they are very much in love and that they care for each other. To me that is all that matters, them being in love and respecting one another.

It's true that love drives you crazy becasue immediately after that announcement, he told me he'd be transferring from UP to UJ the following year. I asked him why and all he said was, "I want to be closer to my family, that's all."

Pssh!! As if! I know that he's doing it for his lover but I didn't say anything to him about it because it makes me happy to have him back home. I still worry about him and since he's far, I make sure to call him everyday. He hates the calls because it's ruining his "street cred" or whatever.

But I don't care as long as I know he's safe. I think he secretly enjoys me worrying over him though, I just don't think he'd say it to me. He is an adult and I have to constantly remind myself that when I get "too much" as Nyezi says.

He says I should trust that I did a good job raising him and allow him to make his own mistakes. That is true and I have taken a little step back to be his own person without any meddling. It's just hard you know...being a parent is all about stressing over your kids and well, I make no exception when it comes to that.

"Hi baby.", Nyezi says giving me a kiss on the cheek. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't hear him enter or greet the family in the lounge.

I turn around so I can hug him properly and give him a kiss. He's really tall so this forces me to stand on my tippy toes and share a quick kiss with him. No kiss is greater than a kiss on the lips, that's for sure.

"Hi my love. How was work?", I ask as I go back to handling my pots.

"It was okay just tiring. I wish I could spend all my time here at home with you."

I laugh at his craziness because we both know he wouldn't survive being at home and doing nothing. He believes that him being present at work makes a hige difference from his employees to the decisions being taken.

"Oh my love, you know that's not true. You'd go crazy if that were to happen.", I say back to him. He smiles at me and tells me that he's going upstairs to freshen up. I let him be as I finish up cooking as well. I made papa, chicken and wors and, some chakalaka as well.

I don't normally go all out but my in-laws are here and I have to impress them in some way. I don't want them telling other relatives that I'm not taking care of their son. As if that son doesn't have hands to prepare food for himself. Of course I can't say that now can I?

Sigh.

I'm starting my business as soon as Simphiwe turns two years old. I've decided on a catering company because I do have a thing with planning events. I want to bring joy to others as much as I was happy on my wedding day.

Thirty minutes later, I'm done preparing supper and the table has already been set. I call out to the family and we settle down saying a prayer before digging in. The conversation is flowing and everyone is in a great mood.

As I look around the table, I feel happy and content. I couldn't ask for more than I have now and I'm grateful for this new found family I am now a part of. I am also grateful for the new friendships I've made and I honestly cannot change my life and choices for anything else. I am who I am, beacuse of the choices I made and what I've been through.

I've learnt not to judge a person based on the first encounter. I did that with Nkanyezi and I almost regretted it but I'm glad I gave him a short.

I hope for greater things going forward.