The SAVIOURESS

28.

28.

𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄

It was the day of my lobolo negotiations and to say I'm scared would be an understatement. Apparently they are set to start with lobola then after that it's umembeso.

Angie walked inside my room wearing her own design of Zulu attire. She sat down on the bed where I was sitting.

"So are you ready to be tied down to one man forever?"

"I am."

"I'm happy for you although I feel like you rushed into getting married. You just met him. What if you don't like him in the future? Will you divorce him?"

I turned to face her."Sis,I understand your concerns believe me but everybody divorce this days. People who have been married for more than twenty years divorce but should the world stop revolving? Should people not fall in love? No. Falling in love is like falling from the sky. You're scared but you know that the person you love is going to catch you. Love is different to everyone and sometimes it doesnt make sense but once you fall in love,you don't want to let go."

"That was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard." Someone said from the door.

"Aunty Zen?" I stood up and went to give her a hug.

"When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me that you're coming?" I bombarded her with questions. I missed her.

"One question at a time Asa." She chuckled."It was Angie's idea to keep it a secret and how can I not attend your big day?" She cupped my face.

"It's not our big day yet."

"It doesn't matter. I want you to show me the picture of the groom." We sat on the bed and I showed her a picture of Nkosi. It was my home screen wallpaper.

"He's so handsome. Are you ready to fight for him?" I laughed.

"Of course I'm ready. Where's Enhle?" Imbalienhle is her six years old daughter. My aunt didn't want a child until she fell pregnant at forty. She gave birth to a sweet girl who had complications from birth but now she only has athma.

"Enhle is with her dad. He doesn't want her to travel long distances unless she's with him." She lives at Tanzania. She finally settled down there after being unlucky in love. Now she has a husband who loves her even though I feel like he's controlling but I could be reading too much into it.

"I would have loved to see her." My mom walked inside followed by Chel and Addy.

"Asante get ready. Zen,show them what to do." She walk out.

"Chelsea what are you wearing?" You can ask that again Aunty. Chel is wearing the shortest red beaded skirt. It's so short that you can see her butt cheeks.

"What? I missed you too aunt." She threw her hands on Aunty Zen.

"You're the first person to welcome me. I don't know why you're hugging me now. Anyway take those blankets and wrap yourselves. Asa take the white one." We did as she said and followed her to the lounge where lobola negotiono were taking place.

"This are the Dlamini girls. Which one is your bride?" My dad's cousin, uncle Bongani asked.

"This one." Someone said. I couldn't recognise the voice.

"No bafo, it's this one." One man argued.

"I'm telling you it's this one." The first man insisted and they went with choice. A blanket was lifted from someone but it was not me.

"Haibo? Umlunngu ufunani la?" (What is the white person doing here?)

"She's one of us and you picked the wrong girl. We are charging you fifty thousand for your mistake and also insulting our daughter." Uncle Bongani said.

"But—"

"We will pay it." That was Sethu's voice. I may have met him once but Nkosi told me he would be here and his voice doesn't sound like he's an old man.

"Good. Angie you can leave." I heard Angie walking out. They paid the 50k and I could feel myself suffocating in this blanket.

Chel coughed so loudly besides me and I almost laughed. She's so dramatic.

"This one is our bride." Sethu said and lifted my blanket.

"Zoleka,do you know this people?" My uncle asked. I could finally breathe.

"Yebo malume." (Yes uncle)

"Thank you. You may leave us." We stood up and went to my room.

"I almost died. Remind me to never marry a Zulu man." Chel threw herself on the bed.

♡♡♡

All the ceremonies were done and I was sitting with Nkosi inside the tent. I was stuffing myself with food. My great grandmother came and I introduced her to Nkosi. My grammy can be dramatic like her great granddaughter Chel. Which baby is she talking about?

"I don't know what she's talking about. I'm not pregnant,I swear." I said to Nkosi who was staring at me in hopeful eyes.

"And speaking about a baby,I think we should wait. I'm still getting my life in order,we just got married traditionally. We still need to find ourselves before becoming parents."

He held my hand."Listen,I want a baby but it will be at your own terms. If you want us to wait then we will wait."

"I love you." I keep finding reasons everyday as to why I should love him.

"I love you too MaDlamini." I couldn't stop myself from blushing.

"You should smile more. You have a dimple on your left cheek." I touched his dimple. It makes him look cute.

"My dimple will make our baby even more beautiful."

"Stop the baby talks. I swear if I hear about it one more time, I'll get crazy." I rolled my eyes. This topic is starting to annoy me.

"Baby, baby, baby." Nkosi kept saying and even when I gave him my most deadly stare he didn't flinch or stop. He just continued laughing. He's so annoying sometimes.

♡♡♡

I had a tiring day but this man saw it fit to take me out. I got so mad that I didn't even wear a dress but he still found a way to match his clothes with mine.

"Nkosi I'm so tired. Can we just do a take away and leave?" I asked him but it was like talking to a rock. Argh.

"Just come." He grabbed my hand before opening the restaurant door for me so that I can walk in first.

There were white and yellow balloons lined up in front of me. The first one was written ‘Will’ then ‘you’ followed by ‘marry me?’ OMG! He's proposing? All the tiredness went out of the window the moment I turned and found him on his knees.

"Asante Zoleka Dlamini,since I first laid my eyes on you I knew I would fall in love with you but I was scared because none of my past relationships ever reached this stage. I'm a man of few words but with you I always have a lot to say. You're my heartbeat,my reason to live and my entire world consist of you. I want to love you forever even in our next life so will you give me this opportunity to become yours forever by agreeing to marry me?"

I couldn't stop crying. I just became so emotional all of a sudden. How can someone love me like this? I'm just me and I don't have a lot to offer but clearly not to him because his world revolves around me.

"Come on sunshine,my knee is hurting." He complained with a smile.

"I'm sorry." I wiped my tears."I'm just emotional for no reason." I chuckled."But I'll marry you."

He stood upright and pulled me into his arms. He sounded around with me in his arms. It was ticklish and I couldn't help myself but laugh. The stuff congratulated us and we ended up having dinner as a fiancee y her fiance. Life is good.