OUR LOVE STORY

37

Nomandla Paris Mhlongo

I was in my room with my husband crying after I ran out of the lounge when they brought in my dad's coffin. I locked myself in my room the whole day.

Lifa: "Sthandwa sami, come on. You can even sit in just for 20 minutes." it was now the night vigil and I really didn't want to face this but what choice do I have?!

Me: "Not now please." he sighs and nods.

Lifa: "I heard that you haven't eaten anything all day." he says sternly

Me: "I did eat in the morning."

Lifa: "Sthandwa sami, can you please not put your health and our baby's at risk?! Please eat, I will go get something for you now."

Me: "I don't want any food Ndlalifa."

Lifa: "But my baby does."

Me: "Then why don't you carry your baby yourself if you know best!?! I am telling you that I don't want food kanti yini?!" I shout at him.

Lifa: "I'm sorry."

Me: "No, I'm sorry. I am just being a b*tch right now, taking my frustrations out on you. I'm sorry."

Lifa: "It's okay, I understand baby." he says hugging me. Once I have calmed down, he takes my hand and leads me to the kitchen. We find his mother making food.

MaMhlongo: "Oh sthandwa sami, come here." she pulls me into her arms. I honestly can never thank Ndlalifa and his family enough. They have been so supportive and involved in all the preparations.

Lifa: "I was taking her to join her mother and sister mah, and then make her something to eat."

MaMhlongo: "I will make her something to eat. Let her eat then go join her mom and sister."

Lifa: "Okay." I could hear the singing in the living room and it was only making things worse for me. I was trying so hard to keep it together, I mean how hard could it be to keep it together just for tonight?!

Me: "Thank you mah." I say as she hands me a huge plate of food. I turn to Lifa

Me: "Please get my sister for me." I am not eating this much food alone, I know Pearl won't hesitate to eat with me.

**********

Mom: "Gcino, sit here." she pats a space next to her. It was only family left now and unfortunately, that included my dad's horrible family members too. His uncles were sitting on the chairs facing Mom.

Vuyani: "As you know makoti, tomorrow will be the day we put our nephew to his final resting place. As females, y'all won't be allowed to the cemeteries therefore you will have to say your final goodbyes here before the funeral."

Mom: "I know."

Vuyani: "After his burial, we will then talk about his assets and who gets them..."

Mom: "You all shouldn't even be thinking of his assets. UMntungwa had a wife and kids and I know damn well that everything he left, he left it for us! Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves futhi, we haven't even buried him kodwa you already want his assets! Niyanyanyisa! Y'all couldn't even contribute a simple R100 towards the preparations or the cow kodwa mifuna amafa! FOKOF! Hambani nofah!" she says angrily and spits on the floor before rushing to her bedroom.