FORCED TO MARRY AND I CHOSE YOU

14

"I'm nervous" I whisper behind him as he leads the way inside his brother's house. He stops,turns and looks at me for a minute before dying of laughter. I glare at him with the most venomous glare that I can master. "Its not like you are meeting the president or something, relax" thats him comforting me,mxm. "Yeah I'm meeting your family genius" I half whisper,half yell at him. In actual fact I wanted to call him a dumb ass. "They are not that bad,I promise" he says before taking my hand and pulling me into the direction where the noise and laughter is coming from.

"Ndzawini amutini(greetings family)" he speaks out loud when we get to the dining area where his parents well they look like his parents are sitting at the table while two men and one lady are helping each other to set the table. That must be his brothers and sister in law. "Ohh you are welcome Nomzamo,we didn't hear you guys come in" thats his mother standing up with the sweetest smile to give me hug. "Wu MaSithole lona,umama ka Hlanganani" she introduces herself after pulling away from the hug. "Ngijabulela ukukwazi ma" I say smiling back at her.

"Hello Zama!" "Sho Nomzamo" "Sawubona ntokazi" the choir sings out greetings and its almost hard not to laugh. Two grown men and a woman singing out greetings like that. "Sanibonani" I greet back while smiling. Silence fills the room as we awkwardly stand looking at each other "aren't you going to introduce us" a guy who I'm assuming is Tiyani finally asks Hlanganani. "Ha why,mhani va ti introduce-ini n'wina midzandza hi yini (mom introduced herself what's hard for y'all to also do so)?" Hlanganani says keeping a straight face.

"Do the right thing and introduce everyone" says his mother giving him a stern look. "That's my elder brother boti Akani" he says starting with the introductions. And I acknowledge him by nodding my head while maintaining my cute smile,I get the feeling that he's your typical elder brother...you know the one's that don't joke around and are very strict. "Followed by boti Tiyani" he says moving on to his second elder brother. "Please call me Tiyani" okay,so uAkani wubhuti Akani since he didn't rectify it. Also I nod my head before saying "okay Tiyani." "Then we have my sister in law tati Mmabatho" tati or sesi is sisi(sister). "Call me Mmabatho" she says engulfing me in a hug. 

"Then finally,the head of the Baloyi household,my dad..." He pauses a bit before turning his head to look at everyone. He seems to be thinking of something "I can't say he's Mr Baloyi,a hi valungu hina mara ndzi ta ku i mani(we are not white people but who can I introduce him as)?" He asks,wow uHlanganani is the most un-serious person I know. "Sorry wanga I have never brought home a girl so I don't know how this works" to this everyone laughs. Meanwhile his father has been on mute since I stepped foot into this house,even now he's not laughing or showing that he's a bit amused.

I don't know neh,I might be wrong but he doesn't look pleased with my presence here,he is not welcoming. "What do you call him khasi[kanti]?" His mother asks him and as if a light bulb just went on in his mind he says "Zama wuBaloyi lona then that's MaSithole." "No imhani lava then lavaya ibhava(this is mom then that's dad)" his mom is quick to correct him. Nchoo isn't she sweet. "Riperile tatana Baloyi(good evening)" listen to this Zulu girl as she respectful addresses her boyfriend's father in his mother tongue. Tatana directly translates to father/dad. In return, father in law shows little regard for me as he only nods his head while looking at my face. Yhoo tough crowd eyy.

We are now around the dinner table feasting over a light conversation and I just discovered that my man and Mmabatho are the clowns of the family. MaSithole is just a chilled mother,she's strict when its necessary but otherwise she's a lovely person. Ohh and I have noticed that Tiyani and Hlanganani aren't exactly best friends or siblings for that matter,they get on each other's throats. Akani is reserved,he has this alpha male aura around and so far I'd say he is a nice person,he only speaks when spoken to or when he's comment is necessary. Bab'Baloyi on the other hand has been quiet,its easy to see that he's not happy,his face and mood says it all. But I like that everyone chooses not to dwell on that. No one is entertaining him.