OUR LOVE STORY

Chapter 45

Nomandla Paris Khumalo

Dr Ndamase discharged last night so Ndlalifa refused to leave because he saw no reason to leave since the boys were with their grandmothers. I was expecting him to help me out a little but the man has been sitting on that damn couch, hogging the baby. He even went as far as watching him sleep until he woke up and continued hogging him.

Lifa: "Baby, I think we should teach him the bottle."

Me: "Mmh." the nurse helping me pack giggles.

Lifa: "I'm serious. You see whenever it happens that you want to go out, I will be able to babysit him without any problems."

Me: "He is still small anyway, you will teach him in due time. I mean, I won't be allowed to go out until he is three months old."

Lifa: "I know but isizulu sithi *uyigoba isemanzi* baby."

Nurse: "He is right though. Once the baby gets used to the boob, you will go nowhere I tell you."

Me: "What?!"

Nurse: "I'm speaking from experience." I sigh.

Me: "Okay fine, I guess we can teach him."

Nurse: "Just buy the ones with the flat pacifiers so it will be easier for him to latch." I nod.

Me: "Ndlalifa, we are done packing. Please carry the bags."

Lifa: "I was going to carry our son, can't we get a security guard to help us?"

Me: "Ndlalifa."

Lifa: "Okay fine. I will park the car closer to the entrance." I nod.

Me: "Thank you." he walks out with the bags.

Nurse: "Don't forget to always dress and clean up your operation wound. You are not allowed to scratch it if it gets itchy because you might cause damage to it."

Me: "I hear you, thanks."

Nurse: "Also don't forget to get those prescribed medications, including the one I gave you for the ointment."

Me: "Thank you so much, you helped me very much." she smiles patting my shoulder before she helps me with the baby and walks us to the front. My operation wound hasn't healed completely. I still experience pain whenever I do something a bit straining or stand too much." Ndlalifa helps me into the car carefully and puts some small pillows under me and on my sides then they hand me the baby.

Lifa: "You are comfortable?"

Me: "Yes baby." He closes the door and then walks to his side and gets in. He turns to me first

Lifa: "y'all okay?" he asks again.

Me: "Yes Ndlalifa." He nods and turns around and starts the car then drives off.

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He finally parks the car near the door and gets out. He comes to my side and helps me out with the baby before he grabs the bags. He locks the car and slowly helps me walk inside the house. He knocks lightly and opens the door.

Lifa: "Ko! Ko!" he whispers a little loudly making our moms turn to us. They both gasp and get up excitedly.

Mom: "Gcino kaMah!" she walks to us slowly and takes the baby from Ndlalifa while MaMhlongo helps his son help me sit comfortably on the couch.

Me: "I missed being home."

MaMhlongo: "We all missed you too koti. The boys will be up any minute now. I will get you something to eat." she rushes off to the kitchen immediately.

Lifa: "I will go get the rest of the bags in the car."

Me: "Mah, I'm also home." I tell my mom who seems to have forgotten that I am home.

Mom: "Hawu Gcino, I'm still admiring my little grandson."

MaMhlongo: "Here ntombi, eat up. You've lost weight." she hands me a full plate of food. This woman and feeding us?! She will be the reason I become the size of a giant.

Me: "Thank you mah." she smiles and takes a seat next to mah who hands her the baby.

MaMhlongo: "Never mind how convinced we were that we getting a girl." she says squeezing my baby's cheeks as he yawned.

Mom: "And we were really certain that we having a girl shame." we all laugh.

Lifa: "That means you owe me, baby." The twins come out of their grandmother's bedroom rubbing their eyes. I have come to know that they don't wake up a the same time, when one wakes up, he will make it his job to wake the other and it's usually Andile who wakes up first then he wakes his brother.

Mom: "Sebevusene futhi."

Lifa: "Sanibonani boNjomane." Andile smiles and fistbumps his father while Bandile just stares at him and then walks to his granny.

Mom: "Look who's here." she points at me and only then do they notice me. I'm engulfed by bear hugs that make me fall back on the couch. They both hold on to me tightly.

MaMhlongo: "Here's your baby brother." she says to them, coming closer to me and showing them the baby. They both seem fascinated until Mfana cries, Andile rushes to hug the baby while Bandile just looks away and lies on my chest.