MELAMINA THE QUEEN

CHAPTER 50

My husband left in the wee hours of the morning. They had called for him. It was time for him to go kill a live lion just to prove to everyone that he was worthy of the throne and do this ritual because it is a right of passage for every king that has come before him. I thought it would be a case of sleepwalking when the time came, but that wasn’t the case. They just told him to wake up and drive there. But he couldn’t leave without telling his pregnant wife and have her worry about his whereabouts. We held hands and prayed for his journey. We both woke up and he drove us home. When we got to our palace, he went straight to the new throne room and took his spear. He went to the kraal and recited his clan names in a low tone, asking them to guide him. Then he left without turning back, taking one of the cars with him. That moment I realized that I actually married a king. Things were about to become official and that scared me. The coronation is on Saturday and although I am ready, the nerves are not going away.

×××

The following morning I am woken up by one of the helpers, bringing me breakfast in bed with a single rose. Something Kuhle usually does when he feels like it. This actually makes me blush. I thank the helper before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. I come back and eat my food before it becomes cold. When I am done, I take a proper shower and dress up before heading to the lounge. I find dad sitting there talking to the king. I greet them both with hugs and sit next to my dad.

“Where is your husband?” the king asks and I take a deep breath.
“He is gone. His time has come.” I answer and he nods in understanding.
“How are you?” that question makes me wanna tear up. My husband is the crowned price and the chosen king. Nothing will go wrong because he is being guided by the ancestors and they are protecting him. But sometimes things don’t go according to plan. I don’t even wanna think about what might go wrong. If I allow myself to go down that path, I might get too curious and spy on him, disrupting his whole journey that he needs to take by himself.

“I don’t know, baba. If I allow myself not to be okay, I might worry too much and jeopardize his path with my worries.” I answer honestly and nods.
“I understand. I guess that marks the end of my reign. Well I had a good one. Good moments and bad moments. They have shaped me to become the king I am today. When he comes back, please tell him I am so proud of the man he had become and I am glad he chose you to be his helper.” He stands up and opens his arms. I hug him and release a deep breath. It feels like goodbye but I know it’s not. He just needs to be absent during the whole coronation and then come back when it’s done. It’s sad that he will see his son’s biggest day on TV and not live, but that’s the price he has to pay for retiring. “Ndosi, you will find me outside.” He kisses my forehead before heading out. My dad looks at me and opens his arms.

“Come. You look like you are seconds away from breaking down.” I rush into his arms and break into a sob. This is a very emotional moment for me. It feels like I am losing the king. His departure may seem like nothing but he is leaving this house as a king. When he comes back, he will just be a Normal man. That saddens me but at least we aren’t losing him. The one thing making me more emotional that all is my husband. I just can’t. Knowing that he is out there alone in danger doesn’t make things easy for me. “Thula phela nawe. You will make the mice in your belly sad.” I chuckle and sit up, wiping my tears.

“Thanks dad. Where is mom?”
“In the garden. I think she is mad at you.” I frown. I don’t remember doing anything to offend Jabu. Why should she be mad? “It may have something to do with you confiding in me before her. I made a silly comment about being the favorite parent and I think she might have taken it to heart but she forgave me. You, however, have to grovel.” Yoh.

“You and your big mouth kodwa Ndosi.” I shake my head and get up, heading to the garden in search of MaMkhize. i find her sitting in one of the benches near my Lilac tree. i planted this from the moment I knew this was going to be my home. It has grown and blossomed the past years. My dramatic princesses also demanded their trees and so we planted more trees. The huge garden permits. “Mawami.” She looks up as I approach and rolls her eyes.

“What do you want, Ndlovukazi?” she asks in a mocking tone and I frown.
“Ntombi endala, whatever they said, it was a lie. Bayasiqhatha. Don’t believe them.” She snorts and looks away. I sit next to her and take a deep breath. “What’s wrong with me?”
“What am I to you, Lwandle?” she asks and I sigh. Ndosi is an idiot. A big headed idiot.
“You are my mother, my queen and I love you.”

“Yazi I am not a petty person or a jealous person, but Lwandle wenza kakhulu. Why do you always find it hard to confide in me? Am I a difficult person or a judgmental person? Why do I have to hear things about you from your father and not you? Aren’t I supposed to be your best friend? Because it seems like you love him more than me and you idolize him. I am just an extra in your life. I don’t bring much value.” Haaa. That’s a mouthful. I never thought my mom felt this way. I didn’t realize that some of my actions actually hurt her.

I hold her hand. “Mama, you are my first lady, my first best friend and the person I used to love the most before I had kids. I am sorry that my actions have made you think I love you less than I love dad. Honestly I go to him because he is annoying and always in my face. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought when I told him, he would go and punch Kuhle or something but he turned on me. Khabazela, without you I am nothing. The love I have for you almost exceeds the love I have for my husband. Almost.” She chuckles quietly.

“Hard to believe.” She mutters. God she is stubborn. Guess that’s one of the characteristics that attracted dad to her.
“Let me prove it to you. Come. I wanna show you something.” I stand up and look at her. She sighs before standing up. We walk to the driveway and luckily one of the cars is parked there. “Please take us to the lodge.”
“Yes, Your Royal Highnesses.” They  open the doors for us and we get in before they drive out. It is really not far from the palace.

“Look at that board.” I say to mom and she squints her eyes.
“I didn’t bring my glasses, Wena Lwandle. But I think that’s Princess Jabulile Mkhize. Is there a Princess Jabulile Mkhize around here? Or you brought me out of here to show me that someone might have used my name in their lodge?” I smile at her and keep quiet. We pull up at the lodge, and as we go through the driveway, I point at the huge sculpture of her in the middle of a fountain. Her eyes pop out and she climbs out of the car before someone opens the door for her. She walks to the sculpture and she gasps. I also climb out of the car and walk to her.

“I didn’t build a lodge for your husband. I built one for you. Even thought my actions sometimes may not show, I love you mom, and without you I wouldn’t be here. Ndosi might brag about being the favourite parent but you were there for me during my first period, during my first heartbreak, during my first fail. You have held my hand plenty of times, I have lost count. Men have huge egos that they want to be stroked every now and then, but he knows you are the ring leader and we all know that. Whatever happens, just know we love you mom and this is my gift to you.” I point at the lodge. She is already a crying mess.

“Well it is going to be occupied by guests for the coronation but after that, you can do whatever you want with it.” I wasn’t going to gift her like this. I wanted to create a nice surprise maybe months after the coronation but this too is great.

“Yoh, Futhy.” She wipes her tears. “Let me call this idiot of mine.” She takes out her phone and calls dad. He answers within a few moments.
“Why are you calling me while we are on the same house?” he answers.
“Same house nobani wena smuncu? Mina I am at my own lodge that my own daughter whom I carried in my own womb for nine months built for me? Did any of you kids do that Wena khanda? Did they create a sculpture of you? Because she did for me. Lalela, I am Queen Elizabethi and 10 points for me. Bye.” She hangs up and I laugh. I take back what I said. My mom is petty shame. “Thank you sdudla Sam.” She wraps her arms around me and I just melt. God, I love this woman.