MELAMINA THE QUEEN

CHAPTER 48

I am glad that we are all done with the izidalwa ceremonies. I love my ancestors but anything concerning them is draining. We are currently at Kuhle and I’s palace. Gcino named it Kwa Phumuzamaphiko because apparently everyone has a room inside. I am not like the Real housewives. I am not into renovations, rather extensions. I love creating more space outside the actual palace because that is perfect for me, for now. Kuhle has a lot of land around the palace. He is the future king of the Zulu nation. Of course the land is his. The Past few months, I created a lodge not far from our palace where any of our guests can stay at when they are visiting. Not that we don’t like hosting people in our house, but only close family members are allowed to sleep inside. Our friends and other guests can sleep in that lodge. What’s nice is that it’s only open for that. Members of the public cannot book in it for a regular stay or vacation. It is the same as the Lubelihle resort.

I haven’t told people its name but it’s going to be called Princess Jabulile Resort. I love my mom so much and I know it may seem like dad is my favorite parent that I confide in most of the time, but Jabu is the best for me and I wouldn’t trade her for anybody. Naming something this huge after her will definitely show how much I love her. I am going to take my husband there before the coronation so that we can have quality time away from everybody else.

Ndosi omkhulu might have made fun of me when I told him about my pregnancy but he made me realize that when my babies were made, it wasn’t a one man show. I was also there. I wish to go to the doctor and confirm if they are really here but I trust MaMnguni and Mkhulu Thokozani. They wouldn’t lie to me. And I also wanna go with my husband for the first time so that it will be a surprise to both of us. I also dreamt of them. Two kids, but I couldn’t tell their gender, so I know I am carrying twins.

I head over to the kitchen after seeing all our guests out. Now the only people in the house are the servants, our parents who are chilling in the Theatre room. I wish to eavesdrop just to hear what the oldies talk about when they are alone. But I don’t wanna be traumatized. Getting to the kitchen, I find Kuhle feeding Nomandla and Londisizwe what looks like muesli. Simingezwi is also here and he is feeding Milisuthando and Kuhlesibonge amasi. Amahle is also eating something and Zweli is on his tablet while biting on an apple. But the twins are not here.

“Where are my kids?” everybody turns to look at me.
“But we are here, mom.” Amahle answers with a smug. I squint my eyes at her and she laughs. “Zoh was sad that mkhulu is leaving. She cried and said she wanted to stay with him and you know how things are with twins.” Where one goes the other follows. I hope it won’t be like that in their death. Why am I thinking about the death of my kids? 3am thoughts.

“I thought baba was here with the other pensioners.” I say looking at my husband.
“He didn’t leave the palace. But he will come for breakfast tomorrow.” I nod and then go kiss all my babies foreheads. I then look at Simingezwi.
“How is Masters treating you bhuti? Any thoughts of quitting yet? Because if you’re not thinking about quitting, then you’re doing a fake Masters.”

He laughs. “How did you guys do it though? That thing will make you feel so stupid and lazy. The amount of research that you need to do. No matter how hard you think you are so close to completing your thesis, the advisor be like ‘you plagiarized, start afresh.’ Yoh. I find myself wanting to pull the royal card because wow.” I laugh. Shame, he will be strong. He is doing a Masters in Science. That’s why everything seems so difficult for him. But if it is not difficult or too much work, then it’s fake.

“But hang in there. You will succeed in time. And we will be having more Masters graduates here at home.” Kuhle comments and Simingezwi smiles.
“Thank you, bhuti. I won’t fail.” They finish feeding the kids and the brood heads out. “I will see you guys soon.” He also leaves. My husband comes to me and gives me a kiss.
“Finally. I have all you to myself. I missed you so much.” He hugs me and I soak in his warmth. Being away from him was hard. Distance does make the heart grow fonder. Even if you leave for a few days.
“I missed you too.” I look into his eyes and he smiles.
“Why are looking at me like that? If you need me to service you, just ask mkami.” I laugh. It’s moments like this when I feel like I married a regular dude and not some king. The way he speaks to me or looks at me or even handles me, it is so humane and normal. I love him unconditionally with all his flaws.
“I will be needing more than just a regular service.” He laughs as his hand comes to grab one of my boobs. I whimper. “Not now and definitely not here. Since the rents are here, they can look after the rascals while we spend the evening together. We will come back tomorrow. We are going to Jabu’s lodge.”

He smirks. “I see, you don’t ant anybody hearing you scream all night, because believe me Futhy. I am going make you scream until you report me to your ancestors. Phela you have been starving me lately.”
“Starvation goes both ways.” He laughs and I join him. Having to abstain from sex for two weeks while married? That’s pure torture. “But before we leave, you have to talk to your mothers. You can’t keep postponing this, Kuhle. You can’t and you know that.”

He sighs and drops his hands from my body. “I am not looking forward to breaking their hearts. But I know I should do this. Whether I like it or not. I mean a real king doesn’t procrastinate, right?”
“Yebo Ndabezitha.” I do a slight bow and he laughs.

***
KUHLEKONKE ZULU
I head to the theatre and ask to speak to my mothers in private. The others walk out leaving all five of us together. I take a deep breath and look at them. Only MaMolefe is giving me suspicious looks. That woman can sense when shit is about to hit the fan. Faster than the one that’s actually the sangoma.

“Hlehle, what’s going on? Did something happen to Melamina or the kids?” MaDubazane is the first to crack. I just smile.
“Nothing is wrong with my wife and kids, ma. I am actually glad that she is back. We need to spend some quality time together before the chaos starts. Anyways, I love you all so much and I would never do anything that would intentionally hurt you. You raised me and made me the man that I am today and I am really sorry about what I am going to say.” All their facial expressions show worry.

“Just put us out of our misery, Kgosi. Already the news you are about to share aren’t good judging from your words.” MaMolefe comments. 
“You guys know that I only have one wife and I don’t plan on taking another one. My wife hs given me enough children to grow our kingdom and their generation. But our ancestors feel like that’s not enough. That’s why they want my brothers to be here and rule beside me.” I ease into the topic.
“That’s nothing new.” Mom mutters.

“I need all my brothers with me here. Even the twins. Meaning they need to come home. They are two ways of them being here. Either we kill their mother or let dad take her as his sixth wife so that she will be comfortable with letting the kids come here. She will, after all, be part of the family.”
MaMolefe laughs. “I say we kill the bitch.” They all look at her. “Come on. Don’t act as if you’re not thinking that. That woman rejected our husband years ago, even denied her children a chance to know their paternal family fully. Killing her will be saving us all the trouble. There is no way I am going to accept an old hag like that who thinks she is better than everyone else to become my sister wife. not in this life time.” Damn. That’s a mouthful.

“I know you are not happy, Maka Thandisile, but this is about the future of the kingdom. This woman already gave our husband two handsome kids. She is not here to bring more kids, rather here to create a safe environment for her kids.” MaDubazane states. I love her. She is really calm and always thinks before she can speak.
“Hhayi MaDubazane. Kgosi’s father is too old to get married. That woman should just accept that she give birth to Zulu princes and let them come home if she doesn’t want to feel the ancestors’ wrath. Why should we accommodate her? She is the one who slept with a married man, not us.” She is on fire.

Mom clears the throat. “I understand your frustration, Maka Thandisile, but this is not about us or our husband. This is about our son, the king. He needs Muziwabo and Muzikhona here and we can’t deny him that because we feel insecure or whatever. We agreed that we will accept whoever comes after us when we married our husband. It’s not nice but it is our reality. Maybe they won’t even get along with our husband, but Martha has to marry him. Do you understand that?” she asks looking at MaMolefe who pouts but nods afterwards. Shame, the last wives always feel entitled to their husbands. Mom is the first wife, so what she says goes. She looks at MaShezi. “Mnomiya, what do you think?”

She shrugs. “You know I always side with our ancestors.” She then looks at me. “Let’s hope they don’t lead you astray.” She stands up and leaves. I guess this is too much for her. Usually she is also as opinionated as MaMolefe. “But it’s weird that they want a sixth wife for our husband when he is still recovering from the death of his second wife. The timing is impeccable.” She states from the door and then we here her footsteps fading.

“Don’t worry, my son. We will talk to your father and fix all this. Hopefully Martha won’t give us trouble.” Mom comforts me before standing and walking out. The other two follow her. That went a bit better than expected, but I do know that MaMolefe is not happy with me.