the name is Imani

chapter 26

SATURDAY, 04 MAY

Here I am graduating from my BA in Motion Picture Medium, with a baby inside of me. An entire Khumalo. I am learning to love this person inside of me. I also hope that he/she doesn't come out looking like the father. That way, he won't know it's his.

Anyway, I am currently walking up the stage to collect my certificate. My dad is in the front row with the rest of my family. My grandmother stands up and start ululating. My other grandparents are just clapping. Ntonto is making videos and my dad is just smiling. He bows his head and that indicates that he is proud. It's a "well done".

After the whole receiving my certificate thing and hand shaking and all, I head over to my seat and rub my small belly.

Me: let's get the bag, baby.

Speaking of the bag, I actually received an email last night from a huge producing company and they asked to come and do my internship with them. I hadn't even received my certificate yet so I know my dad has something to do with this but I won't even ask him.

But I'd like him to back off a little, with all due respect. I want to do this on my own. I can't keep depending on my father. I need to stand on my own, especially now that I have a baby on the way.

After the ceremony is done, we go home where the house has been decorated and there is a feast laid on the table.

Dad: care to give a speech?

I nod and get up from my seat and grab a glass of champagne.

Dad: I hope you're not planning on drinking that.
Me: relax, daddy. I am not. anyway, I would like to thank everyone here for their support. I really appreciate your presence here today. you have no idea just how much this means to me. I know I have disappointed everyone here by running away with a man.

I fight the urge to speak about the pregnancy because no one knows yet and I don't want anyone to know.

Me: thank you for allowing me to come back home and accepting me with open arms and open hearts. I love you.

Everyone claps and my grandparents all stand up and ululate. I take my seat and we continue having lunch over light conversations.

After having our dessert, my dad calls us outside and tells us that he has a surprise for me.

We get outside and there it is, as beautiful as ever, my very own, 325i.

Me: daddy, how did you know?!
Dad: Ntonto told me that you like it.
Me: baba, I more than like it, I love it! thank you so much!

I say running to him to hug him.

Gogo: you spoil this girl too much, now she has two cars that she didn't work for.
Dad: gogo, she deserves it. you have made me very proud, princess. keep working hard, let's not let those distinctions go to waste. you achieved them even at your lowest time in life and now that life is about to be good, don't stop. keep going.

I look at him and think about how grateful I am for this man.

Me: thank you, baba.
Dad: I love you, my baby.

He hasn't said that since I came back.

Me: I love you too, my father.

Ntonto and I get in the car to take a drive around town. We do just that and have light conversations on the way there.

Ntonto: so what's your plan, ma'am?
Me: I got an internship offer with a good pay. I mean high pay too. I know that my father has something to do with me receiving this offer. I am thinking of taking it because I have this baby on the way and need to gather independence. after this, I want to do things on my own.
Ntonto: there's no way you're going to do that, your dad will always be involved somehow, with all the connections he has.
Me: no, I'll speak to him. he has to let me grow.