Nandi couldn't wait to tell her parents the good news. After many years of waiting,she was finally getting married.
She had taken a leave of absence from work so she could visit home in Kwazulu Natal for a few weeks.
She needed to tell her baba the good news.The news that they have been waiting for since she moved to Egoli (Johannesburg).
As she got off the bus she called her sister Dudu to come and fetch her.
She waited at the bus stop for 30 minutes before Dudu's small blue kia came into view.
Nandi waved her hand as Dudu kept looking around.
"Hauu sisi angisakuboni...you have changed so much since i last saw you!" Dudu exclaimed pulling her sister for a long hug.
Dudu was pregnant with her second child.
And Nandi being the oldest couldn't help but feel slightly jealous that her sister was going to be a mother of two.
While she had none.
But that was going to change because as soon and she marries Jason they are going to try for a baby.
"You saw me two days ago Dudu" Nandi chuckled lightly hugging her sister back.
"Yeah but that was on the phone.Mama will be so happy to see you." Dudu pulled Nandi's bags inside the boot and they got inside the car and drove off.
...
They finally arrived home after 30 minutes of suffering.
Nandi loved Dudu and sometimes misses her.
But Dudu was a blabber mouth,she couldn't keep her mouth shut.Dudu liked to gossip.In just thirty minutes of sitting with Dudu ,Nandi already knew that they're neighbour's daughter is no longer a virgin.And it is believed ukuthi she's pregnant with her teacher's child.
Nandi wasn't interested in that.She herself wasn't a virgin.She sometimes failed to understand why virginity or inkomo ka ma was so important to the Zulu tribe.
She knew that Jason's family will have to pay inhlawulo for ruining inkomo ka ma.(Taking Nandi's virginity)
MaDongwe the Queen of Ngwane kingdom was preparing for her daughter's arrival.She just hoped that this time her daughter was moving back permanently.
She needed Nandi to get married.
She wasn't getting any younger.
As she was cooking and preparing food for Nandi.
She heard Dudu's car enter the gates as Linda ran outside to greet her sister.
Linda was 20 turning 21 in a few months.Unlike her sisters Linda was skinny.She had curves but not as big as a sisters curves.
Her mom would always tell her that they will appear eventually as she gets older but honestly she doubted that.
"Nandi angisakukhumbulanga !" Linda ran to her sister outside.
"Hau nana you're all grown up now" Nandi said referring to her younger sister.
"Hai you left me looking like this i haven't really changed" Linda said shyly.
She hated when they did that,even Dudu said the same thing when she arrived last night.
"Mtanami I missed you so much" Nandi's mother said appearing from the kitchen.
"Ohh mama I missed you too" Nandi replied hugging her mom really tight.
They helped Nandi take out her bags from the boot and they made they're way to the house.
...
When Nandi was done unpacking she couldn't wait to tell her parents the good News.
She needed to tell her baba first.She knew the man was hot-headed.
She made her way to the kitchen.She found her mom still cooking,no sign of her father.
"Mama uphi ubaba?I have something I need to talk to him about." Nandi asked her mom.
"Usesbayeni he's busy teaching the young boys are to fight."her mom replied.
Nandi made her way to the kraal still looking for her dad.
She spotted her father teaching a young boy how to hold a spear.
"Baba" Nandi called.
Her father turned around.
"Hau ntombi yami..." Her father shouted making his way to his daughter.
Nandi hugged her dad like she usually did.
Her father turned and told his men to guard the kids while they train he needed to talk to his daughter.
They made they're way inside in silence.
That's how it usually was.
You don't speak unless you're spoken to. That's a sign of disrespect.
The king sat down on his chair.
Nandi sat down on the grass mat and kept her head down.
"Nandi I hope you have thought about what I said.. as the kings daughter you should set by example.The people are losing their respect.Girls don't wanna get married ngoba they want to be like you they think this is normal" the king stated looking at her daughter in disapproval.
"Yebo baba.That's why I'm back. I am getting married bazoza soon to pay ilobola" Nandi spoke without making eye contact.
"That's great news Nandi... Which clan are they from?" Her father asked looking delighted that her daughter is finally getting married.
Nandi didn't know how to say this. Jason didn't belong to a clan. Jason's surname does not have praises. Jason's family does not believe in umadlozi.
"Baba I'm marrying a white man" Nandi said quietly.
There was silence.No one spoke.And it was suffocating Nandi. She needed her father to atleast shout or something.To tell her ukuthi uyihlazo.
Instead her father got up and left Nandi on the grass mat and left.
A way of saying he's disappointed.
.....
Hope you guys loved it(•‿•)
Angisakuboni-I don't recognize you
Inkomo ka ma-direct translation is mother's cow but it means a girls virginity
Inhlawulo- damages
Angisakukhumbulanga- how have I missed you
Mtanami-my child
Uphi-where
Baba-dad
Usesbayeni- he's at the kraal
Ntombi yami- my girl
Ngoba- because
Bazoza-They will come
Ilobola-bride price
Ukuthi- that
Yihlazo-disgrace
......
Till next time ..
Please leave your likes ..
No hate comments please if you dont like it then stop reading ◉‿◉
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G.E.M (When Cultures Clash: Nandi's marriage)
RomanceZulu man are very hard to impress... Especially zulu kings.. Nandi always got what she wanted being inkosazana the princess. But what happens when she wants to get married to her lover...that her father does not approve of? .... Nandi was very excit...
