BEING A WIFE OF A PRISONER

Chapter 19

AZASAKHE

I hold the handle of the cup and bring it to my lips and lean on the counter. He clears his throat to gain my attention.

Sandile: Morning.

I nod and take a sip of my coffee. The events from yesterday are still on my mind. I can’t believe I broke down in front of him like that. He was gently with me the rest of the day but that doesn’t mean I like him. I still hate him as a rich man he is and wife napper he is because what they did with my brother is the same as kidnapping. They kidnapped me into this marriage without my concern.

Sandile: Breakfast?

Me: I don’t eat breakfast unless I’m hangover.

Sandile: Can we talk?

Me: This is your house you can do whatever you want. I’m just a guest who was forced to live in here.

Sandile: You’re being unfair right now.

Me: You don’t know a thing about fairness.

Sandile: I take full responsibility for that but can you just lend me an ear.

Me: No.

Sandile: I won’t take most of your time.

Me: I said no.

I raise my voice half screaming.

Sandile: Why are you screaming because I’m not deaf?

Before I could reply the intercom goes off. I bypass him and walk to it.

Me: Hello?

Neighbor: Hello, neighbor its me your neighbor Millicent. I came to check up on you.

Sandile: Who is it?

Me: It’s the neighbor.

Sandile: What does she want?

Me: How will I know?

Sandile: Buzz her in.

Me: What?

He ignores me and opens the gate and padded outside. I follow behind and watch the neighbour walking the gate to us.

Milly: Good morning.

Sandile: What’s so good about it if you keep bothering us?

Milly: I came in peace just to check on your wife.

Sandile: As you can see she’s fine.

Milly: I heard her crying yesterday and just now I heard her screaming. Are you abusing her?

Us: What?

Milly: I know victims who are afraid of coming forward. Just say the word and I will make sure he spends the rest of his life behind bars.

We look at each other and burst in laughter.

Sandile: Mama uthini lomuntu? {What is this person saying?}.

Me: Uthini na lo? {What is she saying?}

We mutter in unison still laughing.

Milly: What are you guys saying? You don’t gave to be scared.

We shake our head and walk back inside and slam the door behind us, leaving her standing there.

Me: I thought the white neighbour is the most quiet one without any noisy neighbours.

Sandile: Is that…

He trails off and stumbles to the window. He slide the curtain to the side revealing Milly peeking through. Raising my voice, I retort so she can hear me from the other side.

Me: We need to make another sacrifice and this time it needs to be human.

Come think of it I haven’t done my night rituals since I moved in here  and maybe that’s why she’s all up in my but worry not I’ve got a solution for that. The man in front of me quickly whips his head my way and frown. I wink at him. He chuckles turning to her.

Sandile: I almost forgot about that. What are the instructions again?

Me: A human sacrifice.

Milly’s eyes widen on the other side.

Sandile: MaDlamini I think we found out candidate.

He padded to the door and opens it. Milly steps back.

Milly: No, no.

She turns on her heels and bolts out the yard. I chase after until I reach the gate and crack up so hard.

Milly: (screaming) Help.

Me: And stay out.

I close the gate and walk back inside. He’s leaning on the door frame laughing.

Sandile: (laughing) You’re crazy.

Me: She’s noisy marn. That should teach her to mind her own business.

He shakes his head and ascend the stairs. My phone rings in the living room. Closing the door, I rush to it.

Me: Mntase.

Sihle: Mntase, Kuhle is dead.

Me: (shocked) What?

BUSISIWE

I force the food down and swallow it. The smell already is making me nauseatic  but I don’t want raise any eyebrows. The food only settles for a minute before it threatens to come out.

Banele: Sis are you okay?

I nod picking up the glass of water and chunk it down.

Me: I’m good. I’m already late for work.

I place the cutlery down and leap up to my feet.

Me: Thank you for breakfast mama.

I walk to my room to pack my staff and remove my phone from the charger. The door close shut, startling me. I raise my head and find my mother standing there.

Me: Something wrong?

Mama: I don’t know Busiswe, you tell me.

I strengthen my spine to my full height and give her my undivided attention.

Me: What are you talking about?

She squints her eyes and marches to me. Raising my shirt, she pocks my stomach through the vest. I wince stepping back.

Mama: What is this?

Me: (frowning) What is what?

Mama: Umithi, Busiswe. {You’re pregnant}.

Me: Ubani? Mna? Asoze. {Who? Me? Never!}.

I protest rolling down the shirt.

Me: Owam wokuqala umntana uzakuba yindlu ilandelwe yimoto. Andiyazi uyithathi phi lonto kodwa mna andimithanga. Owam wokuqala umntana uzakuzalwa emtshatweni. Andilulanga olohlobo lokuza nomntana ndingatshatanga. {I don’t know where you got that but I’m not pregnant. My first born will be born when I’m married. I’m not loose like that to bring a child out of wedlock}.

I kiss her cheek and walk out of the room. I’ve aimed myself for higher things in life. Like a marriage and kids. The man at the club night have crushed my dream but it’s a temporary thing. Only a fool gets pregnant from a one night stand.