MELAMINA THE QUEEN

CHAPTER 47

Getting to the Cele household, I did not expect to see my siblings. All of them. I thought Thando will only be coming back for the coronation. But I am glad to see them. Even Busi. We buried our hatchet, so I feel only love when I see her. Her divorce proceedings have started and her weakling of a husband is fighting dirty using the kids. He is saying that she can’t receive full custody of the children since she does not have a stable job. If only he knew that I could snap my fingers at any moment and make her a principal at any school she wishes, but I won’t. She said she wants to figure out life on her own and I am not going to interfere. But what I know is that come hell or high waters, she will get full custody of those kids.

Things between Lele and Thobeka are going well, hopefully. After the battle they went through to gain full custody of Thobeka’s daughter, Lele made sure to legally and ancestrally adopt the child so that she will feel at ease and welcome at the Celes. I admire my brother for that. He didn’t even get guidance for that. He just did the right thing. Even dad was proud of him. He kept on saying “that’s my son right there.”

With Thando, dad only thought she would go to England for school and maybe gain a few years of experience before coming back. But my little sister has made a name for herself at such a young age. She has been working at her studio apartment but she said she will be renting a space before the year ends, her very own boutique and she wishes to launch it with a clothing line. I am there to support her a 100%. I asked to invest in her boutique and as much as she wanted to be prideful, she ended up accepting my help. Why suffer to secure investors when you have rich siblings who believe in you?  One thing I did not see coming was her getting engaged to an English man. Dad doesn’t know about that. I know he wasn’t happy when I got engaged. I wonder how he will feel when he discovers that his last princess is also taken, by a white man nonetheless.

Gcino is now a sound engineer and he works for the Blue Diamond studio. He did not get the job because of Lele. He just applied like everyone else and luckily got it. He still stays in my house in Warner Beach and I don’t mind. He will move out when he is ready but I sleep better at night knowing that my first house is being occupied by someone I trust. He hasn’t done something drastic that might lead to dad murdering him. He is just still as naughty as he was 6 years ago. It’s no wonder that he gets along with Milisuthando. When they are together, you don’t know who is a toddler and who is a 24 year old. It’s all the same.

After the ceremony is done, Thando pulls me and Busi to the side. I hope to God she doesn’t tell us that she and Jasper got married in secret and they are living together. Busi looks a bit lively now. You can see that some of the stress is now gone but the divorce is still hanging over her head. I don’t even care if I have to send ancestors his way, I just know my nephew and niece are not going to live with him.

“I need a favour from you guys.” She starts off. A sentence like that usually doesn’t end well because we know it’s not money related, so it might have something to do with Jasper.
“Don’t tell me you got married to that Jazz boy and you are now pregnant.” Busi says what’s already on my mind. Thando rolls her eyes.
“I know you know that his name is Jasper.” She responds.
“You know your father is going to call him Jamludi or something along those lines.” I comment and she huffs.

“Ayy. Anyways, Jasper doesn’t want to wait anymore. He wants us to move in together and I told him that we would only move in once my last name is not Cele. So this wedding needs to happen before the year ends.” My eyes pop out. Is she insane? “Don’t look at me like that, sis Futhy. You got married 5 months after you got engaged. Jasper and I have been together for 2 years and been engaged for 8 months.”

“Mf2, your father still thinks that you are going to come back and work from South Africa. He doesn’t know that you wanna be a permanent resident of the UK. How about you plan on telling him that first before telling him you actually wanna get married and live happily ever after in a foreign country?” I ask and she sighs.
“IF this guy really likes you, he will have to be patient. Dad is a papa bear but he is also not someone you can rush. Firstly when you introduce him, he should be a boyfriend not a fuckin fiancé. We understand you’re young and in love but use your mind. You have stayed with dad for 21 years. You know him.” Busi adds and Thando huffs. “Lapho you know you can’t even start kumama to soften the blow. You have to tell him yourself.”

Thando turns and looks at me with pleading eyes. “Sisi, please. I will make sure Zweli doesn’t suffer or ever need anything.”
“Speaking of Zwe, why didn’t you tell me about him?”
She frowns. “I thought you knew. He said both you and Kuhle are on board. Plus one of the schools have already accepted him. He just needs to attend orientation before the year ends.” Hebana. Kuhle’s child.

“Why are you hiding?” Ndosi’s voice startles us and I almost scream. Bathing. Where did he come from?
“Babana, you want us to die of heart attack?” Thando asks with her hand on her chest. I think she is more scared of what my father might have heard.
He rolls his eyes. “Never that, mtanam. What are you gossiping about? Fill me in.” since when is he interested in gossip?

“I have news I need to tell you.” I start off. “Alone.” My sisters walk away leaving me with Siya.
“Are you okay?” I huff and shake my head. “What’s wrong? Is it the ceremonies or the coronation?”
“I wish. Your stupid son in law impregnated me once again. Like can’t he understand that 6 is enough? Carrying these babies is draining. And now I have to endure another 8 months, sharing my body with other humans while my kids aren’t even that old. Abo Nomandla and Mili still need to be babied. What am I going to do with new kids? Hhay baba, Kuhle doesn’t think Mann.”

“Manje wena Uma umvulela njalo ulindele ini? (When you opened your legs for him, what were you expecting?) you are constantly pregnant, Futhy. Don’t you get tired of being a balloon? Hhay nawe you love sex to much. And don’t blame my son in law. You are the one who says “fuck me harder, Ndabezitha”. Here are the “harder” consequences. Umdala Futhy. I’m not going to harass your husband for impregnating you. Wena uthanda ucansi qha and that’s why you are in this position.”
Hhaybo guys. Is this my father talking all this? UNdosi wonke? What the hell? I look at him with my eyes popped out and he waves me off.

“if your eyes were this big elifaka ngabe awumithi.” My hands are over my head. Webabo. Sizani.