Maid For Marriage

102

We were waiting for her when the cars stopped. She got the kids out, and they all helped with the groceries. "Zandile! Pretty! Take all your sisters to my house." By the tone of Gogo's voice, they didn't question it. They left immediately, and MaMlambo came our way. "Did something happen? MaKhumalo, are you okay?" The sangoma stepped out of the house, and without hesitation, MaGumede dropped the bag she was holding and started running.

I refused to let her get away. I sprinted after her and caught her by her braids as she got to the gate. She screamed, but I didn't say a word as I dragged her back. "Baba! Do something!" I heard MaMlambo scream. I dragged her all the way into the house while MaMlambo and MaCele screamed for Baba to stop me. I threw her next to her, her muti.

She cried, coughing and holding onto her hair. "So it was you all along you fucking witch! It was you who killed my children!"
"No! You're mistaken! I didn't do anything!"
"Don't fucking lie to me! It was you! You murderer! You killed my children and you made me sick! You almost killed me too didn't you!"

"Baba what is she talking about?" MaCele asked. "You're a sorry excuse of a woman!"
"So are you! You came into this marriage and stole my man! You're a slut! And a homewrecker!" I slapped her. I slapped her hard. "Who's marriage did I wreck! Huh! What level of delusional are you! You're a whore who opened her legs to a married man making sure to trap him! I don't have time for your childish antics! You murdered my children and you want to talk about homewrecking!"

"Yes! I murdered them! And yes! I made sure you suffered! What kind of woman sleeps with a man on his wedding night! I saw him coming from your house early in the morning! If anyone is a whore here it's you!"
"Are you saying you did all of this because you saw Baba leaving my house the morning of your wedding?" I asked calmly but I was livid. I wanted to kill her. "Yes! Everyone always thinks you're innocent! The virgin princess who did nothing to deserve a hard life! Everyone is always on your side! Everything is always about you! And what a good wife you are! And how beautiful you are! It's always about you!" I slapped her again and pounced on her, punching her as many times as I could before they pulled me off.

"You're leaving this family today! Get up! Get up and go pack your things!"
"No! Baba, please!"
"MaMlambo, MaCele, go get her clothes!" He gave them the key to her house. "Baba, please! What about my children!"
"What about them. They'll stay here! They're mostly at MaMlambo house anyway! I'm done talking. Get her out!" She was let go, and MaGumede tried running further into the house. I ran and grabbed onto the back of her shirt and tried pulling her out.

MaKhumalo came to help me as we struggled getting her to the gate. When we finally got the witch to the gate, she clung onto it for dear life. She clung on for dear life even Baba couldn't get her off. MaCele and MaMlambo came with her bags and threw them outside the gate. Luckily for us it was a working day. Most of the neighbors were on the farm. "MaGumede! I promise you if you don't leave now, I'm going to make the sangoma send all of your witchcraft back to you! I will do it without any hesitation! Get out! Go back to your father's house, you witch!" She stopped fighting. Just like that and left.

I couldn't believe it. The threat of tasting her own medicine made her leave where three of us couldn't physically move her. What did she do to me if that made her so scared?

In the next couple of days, the elders informed the Gumedes and Baba continued with divorce proceedings. All of us had to be cleansed properly, and so did the whole property. Baba went back to the city with the elders to make sure the homes were cleansed.

I was still in shock. I didn't know what I was supposed to feel. She caused me so much pain over something so stupid. I don't understand it.

"Mamakhe. Here you are. I've been looking for you all over. I should've known I'd find you in your hut." I was sitting on a grass mat rocking Simangaliso to sleep. I feel like he could feel my stress and anxiety, and it was affecting his mood and his sleep. "It's peaceful in here, Baba. There's just something about it that calms me." He took a seat on his stool. "My love, how are you feeling? We haven't spoken properly since I've come back." I just sighed. 

"Baba, I don't understand. Even with me in the picture, you gave her everything. What did I do to her?"
"Mamakhe, please don't blame yourself. That woman is a crazy witch. She knew when she married me it was a marriage of convenience. I told all of them that. They knew the deal. I can't make myself love someone. MaGumede is a very sick human being, and she has no place in my home. You have done absolutely nothing to deserve any of what life has dealt you. I promise I will spend the rest of my life making you happy if you promise to stay by my side." I looked up at him. "Baba? Why wouldn't I stay by your side?" He looked confused. "I brought this on you. I married that witch." I shook my head. "Baba, I'm not going anywhere. I promise. Now help me up so I can start on your lunch."

He smiled widely and helped me. When we left the hut, we heard shouting from the gate. "What the fuck is this?" He questioned while we both tried figuring out who it was. "It's the Gumede's." I looked at the three men at our gate shouting their clan praises while a woman sat on the grass mat covered in a blanket. "If they think I'm taking that witch back they better think again." I pulled him back when he tried walking off. "Baba, no. I know you're mad. I know you're angry and I am too but I refuse to stoop to their level. Let's gather everyone in the main house and let the elders know. They can scream out here until we're ready." He nodded and did as I suggested.

The elders came and advized us to wait as long as possible to see how serious they were about this. We were trying to make them sweat. We first had lunch and I put Simangaliso to bed. The shouting continued outside. We all sat down and decided to send Baba's brother to go talk to them. It was a constant back and forth and Baba refused to let them in the yard. The Gumedes suggested we hold the meeting at the gate.

We took chairs and grass mats and met them at the gate. They kept on apologizing until Baba couldn't take it anymore. "I've tried being respectful. I'm done. Take your witch and leave!"
"Bab'Dlamini, this is why we're her. We are not asking you to take our daughter back. No, infact we've brought something better. Zamo, show yourself." He said with a cocky smile on his face. "I present to you Nomzamo Gumede. Your new wife. She's here to take over where her sister failed. She's here to be a mother to your children, and a good God fearing wife. Most importantly, she's a young virgin and she's ready to give you more sons. Zamo, greet your husband."

"Sawubona, Baba."