When You're Bound To Love

Chapter 62

When we got home from church. I helped my mother finish cooking lunch for the family and our guests. Mama: "mntanam. Sit down, you need to rest now." Me: "I'm okay mama." Mama: "No you're not, Spho. Sit." Me: "Okay. I'll sit." not in the lounge though. That's where my dad was and I did not want to talk to him. So I sat at the dining table where I looked lonely. There was a knock on the front door. Mama: "Come in." and what do you know? Uncle Lani comes striding in. Lani: "Molweni." Lorna: "Hello Phumlani." Lani: "How are you? Aphi amadoda alapha?" (Where are the men of this home?) Mama: "Siyaphila Phumlani, base lounge." (We're good. They're in the lounge.) Lani: "Hi Spho." Me: "Hello uncle." Lani: "how's my favorite niece?" Me: "I'm fine uncle, considering the fact that you didn't bother coming to my wedding." Lani: "Wedding? I was never told of a wedding." he looked at my mom. Mama: "It was last minute." Lani: "Who did you marry?" Siya walked out the lounge answering his phone. Siya: "Yes, this is he..... Right now? Who is supposed to be on call?" he was out the house after that. Lani: "Oh Thank God, its him. When did he come back?" Me: "Its not him uncle." Lani: "Now I'm confused." Me: "I married Masilakhe." Lani: "Why?" Me: "What does that mean?" Lani: "Why is Siya here?" Mama: "He's here for work." Siya came back in. Siya: "Excuse me mama. There's been an accident on the N2, just before the Motherwell off ramp and they're bringing them to the hospital. I have to go in." Khaya: "Same. I've just been called." Lorna: "But what about lunch?" Siya: "I'll be fine. For now. I'll call when I get a chance." he smiled and walked out. Lani: "Hard being an engineer. Nobody calls you for help. Anyway, how come I was never told about Spho's marriage Zama?" Mama: "Like I said. It was last minute. She decided in a week and that's what happened." Lani: "Wow." he sat down. Lani: "Anyway, like a normal person, who actually values members of his family, I want to tell you I'm getting married in February." Mama: "To who?" Lani: "The mother of my child. I asked her last month." Mama: "Why isn't she with you since its Christmas?" Lani: "She'll be here in an hour. How are you sis Lorna?" Lorna: "I'm great Phumlani. You?" Lani: "I'm happier than I've ever been." Me: "How old is your child tanci?" (uncle) Lani: "He's 1 year and 2 months now. Still wears diapers though. And doesn't talk. All he says is dada." Me: "Like you said, he's 1 year and 2 months." Lani: "I guess." Mama: "What happened to not believing in marriage." Lani: "Well....I figured its best to raise my son and the only way I can do that is if he lives in my house. The next step was to make his mother a queen and respected. I gave up my pride and did it." Lorna: "Awww. That is so sweet Phumlani. I am happy that you did the right thing." Mama: "So you getting married because of a child?" Lani: "I'm getting married because I'm in love. Spho, where is your Mr?" Me: "He's in Tokyo." Lani: "Is that a restaurant around here somewhere?" Me: "No Tanci, Tokyo is in Japan." Lani: "In Asia?" I looked at him. Lani: "Why is he there? On Christmas. Looks like you married a man like your father. Always working and never home." Mama: "Spho, bring me the asparagus from the pantry please." Thank God. I got up fetching the asparagus. Even when I came back, my uncle asked the same thing. Mama: "Leave her alone man Phumlani!" she snapped. Why was she so mad? Lol. This was amusing me actually because believe it or not, my mother was jealous. Lani: "When are we eating? I'm hungry." Mama: "How do you leave your house without eating?" I held in giggles. Lani: "Spho, I see you're pregnant. How far?" Me: "5 months tanci." Lani: "half way there hey. Is it a boy?" Me: "I don't know yet." I smiled. His phone rang. Lani: "Here's my wife." he got up and went to answer. Lani: "Yes baby? I'm coming." he hung up. Lani: "I'll be back just now." Me: "okay." he walked out. I looked at my mom while she cooked. I couldn't read her facial expression. It was just blank. Lorna: "Dinner will be ready in 30 minutes. Please set the table Spho." I got up setting the table, putting the plates and cutlery in their places. I went to switch on the lights on the Christmas tree. Yes, we had a Christmas tree. I'd only bought my parents gifts because I didn't know we'd have extra people. I texted Butternut to check how everything is going. He was still busy. How long did it take? I called Sibu to wish him a Merry Christmas. Going to my bedroom. Sibu: "Hey. How are you?" Me: "I'm great. You?" Sibu: "I'm perfect. I just ate, I'm full and about to pass out." Me: "I'm still hungry. Haven't eaten. When will you be back?" Sibu: "I'll be back on Tuesday. Why? You miss me?" Me: "Maybe." as long as its before Wednesday. I needed to gear up my army before Mr Tokyo came home. Sibu: "What's going on?" Me: "Nothing. Just asking." Sibu: "You're hiding something again." Me: "Well...." Sibu: "Talk to me." Me: "Yesterday, I get a call from Sandile he wants something from Lakhe's room. I went to open for him and search before him. I found the safe open.." Sibu: "Oh God....Spho what did you do." Me: "There was a t shirt. It had blood and was wrapped around a gun, I took it." Sibu: "Why did you take it!!!" Me: "I don't know. I took it to a guy to test it. But Lakhe called and he said he wants it back." Sibu: "Spho, fetch it and take it back!" Me: "But I denied it Sibu. If it magically appears where will I say it comes from?" Sibu: "If it doesn't where will you say it is?" Me: "I'm going to stick to I don't know." Sibu: "Spho, put that t shirt and gun back there. If he finds it there, he will never ask why you took it. If he doesn't find it there, then we're fucked. Trust me on this. Put the t shirt back as you found out." Me: "But who's blood is on that t shirt? And why is it in the safe?" Sibu: "That doesn't even matter now." Me: "Sibulele. I am his wife. I have the right to know! And I know he won't tell me so I had to gather evidence!" Sibu: "I can't get any flights before Tuesday. And the roads are to busy for me to drive down to you. I don't know what the hell you've done." Me: "I just don't like secrets Sibu. I have to know otherwise I won't be comfortable." Sibu: "so when you know, you'll be comfortable?" Me: "I'll see then. Listen I have to go." Sibu: "We'll talk later." Me: "sho." I hung up and went back out. Mama and Lorna were decking the table with the casserole bowls and platters and all. I was so hungry. Just before I sat down, my uncle came in carrying his son. followed by a gorgeous woman who I suspect is the fiance. Lani: "Spho, this is Nandipha, baby, this is my niece, that is her mother and this is our close family friend Sis Lorna." Me: "hi sisi.." Nandi: "hi Spho. Molweni sisi." Mama: "uno sisi ondim." (Do you have a sister that is me?) What the.. Nandi: "Oh I'm sorry...its just that...Spho looks grown and......uhm.." my mom just looked at her. Lorna: "Let's sit guys. I'll pray." Lani: "Please make it 2 lines. If go further, I will start eating." Lorna: "Phumlani. Please." we all closed our eyes. Sis Lorna said a short prayer for us before we started eating Baby Lukho was staring at me sitting on his father's lap next to me. He looked so beautiful with the chubbiest cheeks. My heart was melting. Mama: "Sphosenkosi, eat." Me: "But he's so adorable-" Mama: "He's not going anywhere. He'll be there when you're finished." Lani: "You're even jealous of my baby?" Mama: "Sphosenkosi is my baby, carrying my grandbaby, it is my job to take care of them both. She hasn't eaten, therefore, everything else will have to wait." funny enough, I was hungry a minute ago. When I saw this baby, all that went away. I had to eat though, for my own baby. I had my lunch. Making sure I had enough. I took the dishes to the kitchen. Lorna: "Leave them my sweet. Go put your feet up." I have no idea why I was being treated like an invalid. I went to the lounge and sat on the couch with my feet up. Siya sent a message: "Its so awful. Two lives lost. Six others on life support. The rest are not too bad. Think I'll be here the whole night." Me: "Should I bring your food?" Siya: "Please." I locked my phone and watched TV for a minute. Baby Lukho crawled into the lounge. Sucking intensely on his pacifier. He stopped and stared at me then pushed his bottom up in the air, standing on his feet and hands, then slowly lifted his hands until he was standing with his own two feet. I clapped for him. He took small steps toward me smiling shyly. He stood next to the couch. He stared at my tummy and poked it. Me: "he's a cute little booboo like you in there." he took out his pacifier and put it on my tummy. Me: "Oh you're soo sweet! Thank you baby Lukho." he smiled. For a long while he played around me. His mom came in to check his diaper. Nandi: "He's so calm with you. He doesn't usually like strangers. I'm surprised he hasn't cried once." Me: "He's been a sweetheart. I have to go to the hospital. I'm taking dinner to a friend." Nandi: "Alright then." Lukho followed me out of the lounge. Me: "Uhm..." Nandi: "Take him with." Me: "Are you sure?" Nandi: "Yes. Let his dad know." I went to the dining. Me: "Tanci, I'm taking Siya's food to him. Can I go with Lukho?" Lani: "Why?" Me: "He's following me and I don't want to leave him." Lani: "Why are you taking food to Siya?" Me: "He hasn't eaten." Lani: "You can go with him if you tell me why Siyanda is back in your life." Mama: "I invited them Phumlani. Siya and Lorna are family to us. Why are you always looking for trouble?" Nandi gave me the car keys. Nandi: "The car seat is already in there so you won't struggle." Lani: "That's my car?" Me: "Thank you." I drove away to the hospital with Lukho in his seat.