Amile The Queen

Chapter Ninety-Eight

***Amile Gumede***

Finale

I know the boys would have loved this place, it is absolutely beautiful. The garden is absolutely splendid, if it wasn’t so hot outside, I would go and sit there. I’m a nature freak, this has been established.
I’m waiting for mom and my siblings to arrive so I can go soak in the pool out. I read somewhere that being in bodies of water reduces labour duration. The last thing I want is to be in a labour ward for hours unending, and it’s hot outside, it’s the perfect excuse to gear up and get in the pool.
Khaya went to get me swimwear, I’m sitting on the porch under the shade enjoying a bowl of fruits for breakfast. I feel like I’m on vacation, and I know it’s not the most of joyous occasions that have brought me here, but I’m enjoying this place.
“My queen your phone.” sis’ Melo hands it to me.
“Thank you.” I take it and check who it is.
It’s my husband, he’s video calling me, thanks to Khaya who taught him all these technological hacks that he just can’t seem to live without anymore.
“Nali ipetshisi lami.” I blushed.
“Good morning kaMhlaba.”
“Ulale kahle sthandwa sami?” he looks alive and well, not like someone who’s scheduled for surgery in less than 24 hours.
“Yes, I slept without being squished by your hard bones.” he laughed.
He knows I’m teasing, I love sleeping in his arms. I feel incomplete when I’m not on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“I’m glad you had a good night my love.”
“Hows the hospital treating you?” I asked placing my bowl on the floor.
“Not bad, they have come to check up on me at least five times this morning, and I told them the same thing, ‘I’m fine.” I laughed.
He looks thoroughly irritated. I get it, he’s not sick, so the treatment is getting to him.
“You are the king, they will make sure your stay is nice and comfy.”
“They should redirect all the attention to those who actually need it, the reviews of this place are shocking.” he says.
“Baba you know how to search reviews manje?” he chuckled.
“You want to be tech savvy on your own, no way.” I laughed.
“So do you like the house?” oh yes, I actually wanted to ask.
“I love it, it’s splendid, the view too!”
“It’s my old house, I thought it had been sold after I left, but it’s still here. I’ve been fixing it up these couple of months, so we can have a place to arrive to when we come to Durban.”
“You can surely keep secrets. This place is beautiful, I even asked Khaya to go get me swimwear because I can’t leave without getting into the pool.” he laughs.
“Waze wavelelwa uKhaya uwena.”
“Khaya loves me, he will do anything for me.” I say with pride.
“As long as you are happy and you are taking it easy, I’m happy my love.” I smiled.
“My mom and siblings are coming over to spend the day with me.”
“Have fun my love!”
“I will, and you let the nurses do their job.”
“They can do their job, I just don’t want anyone touching me, thinta izinto zomkami.” I laughed.
He’s so silly.

***Nambitha Makhathini***

I’m sitting in the pyjama lounge enjoying some television. I wake up early now, it’s part of my routine ever since I came back from the institution, or wellness centre as Muzi calls it. We used to sleep early and wake up early, so it’s become a part of my habit to do that.
This is what I’ve been doing on a daily for the past couple of days since I came here, waking up, watching TV, fitting in some exercise like a young jog around the neighbourhood or some yoga, and sleeping.
I thought it was all a lie when people said Muzi is a party animal. The Muzi I met was the complete opposite of what people had described to me. Now I’ve met that Muzi, it’s still festive season for him, he goes out every single night, he comes back drunk in the early hours of the morning with hoes on his arms.
As per our agreement, I mind my business and do what I want, while he does the same. I am in no position to judge him, he’s doing me a favour by letting me stay here with him.
I finally reached a decision, and I told myself, ‘I have nothing to lose but everything to gain,’ and I signed those marriage certificates with my eyes closed. You are looking at Mrs Zungu on paper.
Now that I have accepted that I have to stay here for the rest of my life - that’s if we don’t move - I have to familiarize myself with the surroundings, and maybe get to know some neighbours, makes some friends. My plan for today was to bake something and go around my close neighbours and greet them.
I’m waiting for Immaculate to come in. She’s Muzi’s cleaner, she has the most gentle heart and smile. She comes in twice a week to do the cleaning and laundry. I’m told that once a month she comes in for the full weekday where she does a full spring cleaning of the whole house, and the maid quarters too.
She’s coming today, that’s why I set today as the day to make a mess, I know she’ll help me out. 
I’m checking the time and it’s almost nine, she hasn’t arrived. She normally arrives at eight. I gather my throw, switch off the tv and make my way downstairs to check if she hasn’t arrived.
“Muzi.” I call out for him as I walk through the kitchen.
He’s not answering me.
“Muzi!” it’s in between him not being here, or he’s just ignoring me.
As I get closer to the lounge, I hear moans coming from the lounge.
“Muzi!” I’m calling him for the third time.
I stand in the middle of the lounge, and I see a girl sitting on a beach chair, her boobs bouncing all over the place. She’s screaming her lungs out.
Fuck, they are having sex!
“Muzi man!” the girl stops and pushes her hair back and pants while staring at me.
He tilts his head at me and gives me a naughty smile.
“You want to come join us?”
“Sies, no. What happened to having sex in the bedroom?” he laughed, he was just as breathless.
“Has Immaculate arrived?”
“She’s coming in today?” I roll my eyes.
He is a useless man.
I drag him through my teeth before walking out the lounge. They don’t even wait for me to turn the corner, the girl is already moaning again.
I don’t even have her number to call her, now I’m worried.
I find myself standing at the gate scanning the surroundings to see if she’s coming or not. Now I’m really concerned, she loves her job too much to miss a day. In fact, she’s always early, and she’s told me on some occasions how she appreciates Muzi for giving her this job because she’s able to take care of her siblings.
We’ve spoken quite a lot in the two times that she’s come here. Next week she’s supposed to come for the full week for the spring cleaning.
I press the remote to the gate, and as it swiftly moves along, I exit and walk down the street to see if she may be walking here.
A familiar car drives past me and I can’t help but turn around and try to read the number plate. It’s gone.
I turn around and go back to the house, because I’m suddenly shaking. When I stand at the gate, I see nothing. It’s as if the car never even passed here. I’m not crazy, I saw that car speeding past me.
I see it driving much slower this time, coming from down the street, driving towards me. I freeze in one place and take a deep breath.
How the hell did they find me?
They stop in front of the gate and the first person to step out is Immaculate. Traitor.
“Hello Nambitha, I’m sorry for coming late, but this lady and gentleman found me and asked to to direct them here.”
The window roll down and my fathers face come into view.
“Ntombi yami, please let us in so we can talk.”
“How did you find me?” he looks hurt.
“You didn’t want to be found?” I sigh and stare at Immaculate.
I can’t really blame her, she also didn’t know them.
I didn’t say much, I just opened the gate and walked ahead. He started up the car and drove in. Immaculate is already making her way into the house. She’s in for a surprise in there.
“This is not my house, you can’t just rock up.” I say to the both of them when they climb out.
“Nambitha.” mom warns.
“No mama, I asked for space.”
“It’s been two months mntanami, what more space do you need. You didn’t even inform us that you were out of the hospital, you just left.” dad says.
“How did you find me?” I asked again placing my hands on my hips.
“We went to the hospital, and they told us you left with Muzikayise Zungu, who was on their records. We looked all over for his address, and when we found it, we didn’t waste time. We’ve been worried about you Namnam.” mom says reaching out to grab my hand.
I feel tears burning my eyes. I haven’t cried since I left that centre, now they are pulling me back.
“Please come home Nambitha. You are still our baby and we love you. We accept that we made a mistake, and that is why we drove all the way from Durban to find you.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I broke down.
Mom engulfed me in a tight squeeze.
“Come home baby.” dad brushed my back.
I do miss home, I want to go home, but how is that going to work now. I’ve signed those marriage contracts. I don’t know how Muzi will react to that.
I break from the hug and look at the both of them. I wipe my tears and before I could speak, the girl walks past us, holding her shoes in her hands.
That’s when I notice that there is an uber parked at the gate.
“Sanibonani.” she’s doing the walk of shame.
She reeks of sex as she walks past us, I can only dream that my parents didn’t smell that because wow.
We watch her disappear out the gate.
“I need to tell you guys something.” they stare at me.
I don’t think I want to tell them standing like this, because we might go back to that place again.
“Let’s go inside.” I say hesitantly.
They also look skeptical, but they follow me. I’m crossing my fingers that Muzi is at least decent.
I lead them to the lounge, where Muzi is sitting shirtless, with a beer in has hand, channel hopping. It’s his house anyway, but I’m sure my parents are judging him. It’s not even midday and he’s already having a beer. I understand him, he’s probably hungover from last night, and he’s curing that hangover with a beer. They say it works. Personally, I wouldn’t do that, sleeping out a hangover is key, that’s what Yonela and I used to do in our drinking days.
Oh how far I’ve come.
“Muzi we have visitors.” he sits up and puts his beer on the floor in attempts to hide it.
“Why didn’t you tell me your parents were coming.” he stands and walks to us.
He reeks sex and a brewery. Gosh if he wasn’t rich, then I don’t know. He wipes his hands on his shorts before he reaches out for a handshake.
“I’m Muzi, it’s lovely to meet you once again.” dad gives him a firm handshake. Mom doesn’t, she looks disgusted.
“I see you are the one taking care of our daughter.” he says.
He rubs his head and chuckles.
“Yes, you can say that baba. Please feel at home.” he leads them to sit down.
Mom doesn’t say a word. I go to the couch he was sitting on and take the beer from the floor before they sit. When they are settled, I go to Muzi, and push him out the lounge.
“Not even a young warning that your parents are coming?” he whispers.
“I didn’t know they were coming. I didn’t even know how they found me.” okay I do, but still.
“Go shower, you stink.” I hand him his beer.
“Mxn.” he walks up the stairs and I hurry back to the lounge.
“I’m sorry about that.” I say before sitting down.
“Uyabathanda labo skhotheni.” mom says scannning the room.
There is nothing for her to judge here, the house is bigger than she could have ever dream to have hers look. It’s just that she seemed to find Muzi in that state.
“He’s not uskhotheni mama.” I defend him.
Muzi is far from being a skhotheni, he’s a sophisticated man-boy who loves to party and doesn’t want to grow up and have responsibilities.
“So you are dating him?” dad asks.
I clear my throat and look away.
“That is what I wanted to talk to you about.”
You could see on mom’s face that she wanted to say something, but she was holding it in, she better. She better hold it right in because I’m still on the tip with them. She must not take advantage of the fact that I miss them, they still screwed me over, big time!
“Muzi and I are friends, we aren’t dating.”
“But?” mom cuts in.
“Kahle sthandwa.” dad intervenes.
I hate mom for her impatience.
“We signed a contract and a marriage certificate.” my father frowns.
“What for?” he asks.
“He needed my help tata, he’s my friend.” I defend.
“I don’t understand Nambitha, start from the beginning.” he says shifting in the seat.
This is why I didn’t want to go back home, they are judging me.
“His father gave him an ultimatum, and said if he does not marry, he won’t get his inheritance and the businesses, so he needed to provide him with a marriage certificate. In turn, he offered me 30% of all his assets, and we signed a contract, only on the basis of me being his wife on paper.” they look stunned.
“So he owns you?” mom asked.
“No he doesn’t owe me. I didn’t have anywhere to go when I came out of the hospital, I needed a place to stay, and essentially, an income.” I say.
“You have a home Nambitha!” dad says sounding offended.
“Your wife kicked me out remember.” I said looking at mom.
She looked hurt.
“I apologized Nambitha, you are still holding that against me. Don’t forget that you also disobeyed my rules.”
“Mama you weren’t supposed to kick me out! Was I not your child at the end of the day? If you love your child, you don’t kick them out if they make a mistake, you guide them to what’s right. I don’t remember you kicking out Janet or Zimkhitha when they fell pregnant and that surely wasn’t a mistake, not when it happened more than twice. And what about me, I still am childless, but I was crucified? What was I supposed to do mama, also have a string of children with that abuser so you could take me back?” now tears were running down my cheeks.
I violently wiped them away. I hate that I’m crying because I dealt with all of this in therapy, and for it to be making me cry now makes me angry.
“I made a mistake Namnam. Ndiyaxolisa mntanami.” I shook my head.
“I forgave you a long time ago, I’m over your apology. Tata, I would love to come home, but I don’t know how it’s going to work.”
He looked at me for a long time, his eyes telling me that he’s remorseful.
He then stood up and came to give me a tight hug.
“I love you mntanami, and I’m sorry you had to endure all of that.”
Mom is sitting there with eyeliner running down her cheeks, again.
“I think we should get going.” he says looking at his wife.
My father, ever so soft.
“So we came here for nothing?” mom asked wiping her tears.
“You heard what she said, give her time to talk to the boy.”
“So you are just accepting this Mzumile?” I wanted to roll my eyes.
“You want us to lose this child again? No, she’s old enough to make her own decisions. Nambitha, we admit our wrong as parents, the same you did yours, and we are sorry. As your father, I’m telling you that you can come home, but speak to your husband first.” I chuckled at that.
“He’s not my husband tata.” he gave me a smile.
I appreciate what he’s saying.
“Thank you.” I don’t think I want to go.
I can go and visit every now and then, but it’s time I get my independence now. I should be in university anyways, learning how to take control by myself. I think I’ll stay. And maybe finally start that make-up business I’ve been going on about.
He asks mom up and they say their goodbye.
“I’ll come visit soon.” I say looking at them walking out.
“Alright mntanami.” dad says.
Mom is in disbelief, or whatever it is, but she keeps turning back as they walk to their car. It’s enough that I forgave them, I don’t need to go back home with them to prove that I do indeed forgive them, my word should be enough.
“Hawu, the in-laws are leaving already.” his cologne fills my nostrils.
“They weren’t here to stay.” I say closing the door.
“You didn’t kick them out right? That looks bad on me.” I roll my eyes.
“No, I didn’t.” I say and push him out my way.
“Bring me a beer lapho!” he shouts as I make my to the kitchen.
“Take it yourself!” I shout back!
I’ve just realized that I’m happy here. Awkwardly so.