Umakoti Ngo Wethu

20

"Are you crazy huh!? What do you think you're doing!?" Baba got in between me and MaShezi. His cousins held onto her tightly. I finally got out of my daze and left attending to my crying son. I went to my room and put Jabu to bed.

That was the most humiliating thing that could happen at that moment. I know the lady meant well, but did she have to do it then, and did she have to do it so publicly? Jabu went to sleep easily, and I laid him down.

"Mamakhe?" Jabulani came in, and I wiped my tears. He kneeled down in front of me. "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?" I wiped my tears. "I'm fine, Baba." He took my hand in his. "Are you sure?" I nodded. "Is there anything I can get you? Ice for your face, maybe?" I shook my head. "No, I'm fine. MaShezi hits like a little girl. I just feel a bit humiliated. I don't know what my father is going to do? He might just kill me. Even if I'm not pregnant, he's still going to try and kill me."

"If Aunty Margaret says you're pregnant, then you're definitely pregnant. She's the village pregnancy test." He chuckled a little bit. "Mamakhe, I don't mean to be insensitive to you, but I'm really happy. This is the perfect time for this. On Monday, we'll go into town to see a doctor to confirm it. How are you feeling? Are you okay with this? I don't want you to be unhappy." I shook my head. "I'm not unhappy. I just need some time to wrap my head around it. I think I need to get confirmation from a doctor first." He nodded.

After that, he had to fight off all the aunts and the cousins who wanted to bombard me. Ma was the only one I allowed in the room. "This is so exciting. How are you feeling, Makoti?" She took a seat next to me. "I'm fine, Ma. Is my father angry?" She sighed. "I'm not sure. That's actually the reason I'm here. He's asked to see you before they leave."

She told everyone to get away from my door and then walked with me to the gate. MaKhumalo and my dad stood waiting for me. MaRadebe left earlier in the day. "MaGumede, why do you insist on embarrassing me like this?"
"Baba." MaKhumalo said in shock. "We'll talk at home. You better be home tomorrow at lunch time otherwise I'll come drag you out of this place by those ears you wear just for decoration."

In that moment, I felt so small. He turned his back on me and walked away. My vision became cloudy. I really didn't think this through. I was my family's biggest embarrassment, and I insisted on keeping up with my nonsense. Once Baba told me he was going to marry me, I should've just gotten back on my contraceptives.

"Don't cry. It's all going to be okay. Everything will be rectified. Your husband will sort all of this out. Your father is just angry now, okay? It's all going to be sorted out. Don't worry."

I really hope she was right. I really hope so.

The party continued into the next day, but I needed to go home. Before I left, I sat down with the family. "MaGumede, just know that you've found your way into our hearts. Whatever happens at home today, you don't have to worry about it. We'll appease every single one of your father's requests to unite our two families."

"This thing is not getting married to my husband. In fact, she should get an abortion! You're a slut! And your after my husband's money!"

"MaShezi! If you do not shut up and accept your fate there's is no need for you in this family anymore! I will send you back to your father's house and demand a return of my cows! If you don't accept this, our marriage is over!" She stood shocked. I think it might've been the first time Baba stood up to her. She ran out of the room. "And you! Follow her so I don't have to look into your face every turn I make! I'm sick of this man!" Her sister ran out of the room as if she was being chased.

I said goodbye, got my so,  and Baba drove me back home. He was helping me get Jabu and I's things out of the car when my father came running out and punched. "That's for letting your wife put her hands on my child!" Before I could stop it, he gave him another punch. "That one was for you. Personally." He said and went back into the house. Everyone came out. Nthombifuti is the only who helped. She brought a first aid kit.

Even though he didn't want it. I cleaned his lip. Thembi brought him a bottle of water and we all tried to appologize for baba."It's fine. I understand why he did it. I'll keep in touch about tomorrow okay." I nodded. "Are you okay?" My brother asked. "Yes, I'm okay."
"Then you should probably leave." Jabulani nodded. I waved as he drove off.

"Tell me everything." Nthombifuti said softly as we walked into the house. I didn't have time to. My father wanted to talk immediately. "I've promised your mothers that I won't shout or raise my voice at you. There's no point anyway. MaGumede why didn't you tell us you were pregnant?"
"I didn't know. I still don't know. That lady just blurted it out of nowhere. I don't know if I'm pregnant."

"Could you be pregnant?" I stayed silent and he just sighed heavily. "Your sister just had a baby. Why would you go and get pregnant again? Jabu is not even two yet." His lecture continued but my eyes felt so heavy. I could hear his voice drift away into the darkness.

"Lilitha Gumede! This girl is not serious. Litha!" I opened my eyes. "Did you just fall asleep while I was talking to you!? Litha!" I jumped a little. MaRadebe giggled to herself. "So you think this is funny?"
"No baba." She said but I could hear she wanted to laugh. "Litha just go to your room." I didn't fight it. I got up up but instantly got dizzy. I heard gasps and luckily MaKhumalo caught me in time.

"What's wrong? Is she okay? MaGumede?" My dad was at my side instantly. "I'll go get some water." I didn't even know who said that. The world was spinning even as I sat down. "Bring her some orange juice rather!" My dad helped me drink the orange juice. "Did you eat today, baby girl?" I shook my head. I was too nervous to eat anything.  I couldn't understand why he wasn't always this sweet. He helped me to my room and tucked me in. He made me eat a chocolate bar and a couple of crackers, and then I went to sleep.

I slept so long they had to wake me to at least eat something. "How are you feeling?" I was sitting by the kitchen table eating my plate of food. "I'm fine, Ma." She just nodded. "So... You're getting married?" She wanted to talk, and I was still too tired for this. "Why didn't you tell me the Dlomo's were serious about you?"
"I told you and Baba. If you didn't take me seriously when I told you, then that's on you." She just nodded. "Okay. That's true."

"Are you ready, my baby? It's a big deal. It becomes an even bigger deal when there's multiple wives involved." I nodded. "I am ready, Ma. I know what I'm getting myself into." She just gave me a look that said "really."
"MaGumede, I'm going to be honest with you now. I'm not trying to talk you out of this. You love that man, and he is head over hills in love with you, but I would be doing you a disservice if I'm not honest with you. Once you go into a polygamous marriage, you should prepare yourself for more wives, girlfriends, and even mistresses."

What? No. Jabu doesn't have anyone else. "I can see the look on your face. He may say you're his last wife, but trust me. There'll be more. When a man gets a taste of polygamy, just know it will continue. You need to keep him to his promise to love and provide for you. You need to be the calm one. You need to be the one who brings peace into the household because your husband's first wife would not blink an eye before destroying the family to get what she wants. And what she wants is for your husband to get married to her sister."

Wait. I know this. But how does she know this? "If push comes to shove and you feel that the only way to keep MaShezi at bay is for your husband to marry that girl make sure you are his second wife and make sure to take her under your wing before MaShezi molds that girl into a minni version of herself. Now I'm not saying you need to let that girl into your marriage because your husband has no interest in her... Yet. But I am saying it will make it easier. It's a difficult decision. I know. And it will only get harder once you have to see them interact as husband and wife but if you keep this trick up your sleeve you'll be able to get anything out of MaShezi in return for this."

What was going on? I was so confused. I needed to sleep on this.