OUR LOVE STORY

Chapter 46

Nomandla Paris Mhlongo.

In the morning, I wake up to Ndlalifa and the twins sitting on the floor with the baby. I choose to be quiet, I need a shower and I'm pressed. I get out of bed slowly and walk to the bathroom. Ndlalifa rushes to me.

Me: "I'm okay. I just need to pee and shower." he nods. I get in the bathroom do my business and then brush my teeth. My stitches hurt so bad right now but I need to get my body up so I can heal faster. He walks in just as I undress.

Lifa: "I left the kids with umah. Let me help you take a shower." he also undresses and then we both get in the shower. He is washing my body so gently, I then feel his erected manhood on my back.

Lifa: "Ignore him, he has his mind." he says it ever so casually and continues washing our bodies. When we finish showering, he helps me with cleaning my stitches and changes the bandage.

We walk to the dining table to join everyone for breakfast. Today was the day we were to meet Dad's lawyer and he was to meet us here since well, our home was sold.

Mom: "How are you baby? How are the stitches?"

Me: "I'm okay, they are healing. The ointment the nurse recommended seems to be working like magic."

MaMhlongo: "You must also steam mntanam."

Me: "Steam?"

MaMhlongo: "We will talk after breakfast." I nod. We eat over a light conversation about the twins and how they are naughty.

MaMhlongo: "I still think they are too young for daycare."

Lifa: "Ngeke mah, they should get used to other kids. They will come home early, I promise."

MaMhlongo: "Fine." When we are done, Lifa clears the table and washes the dishes while I take my little Mfana so I can feed him.

Mom: "Oh don't feed him, he had a bit of porridge."

Lifa: "Is that even allowed?!"

MaMhlongo: "Chill, we are grown and know what we are doing."

Mom: "I also started feeding the twins soft porridge after a day they came home."

Lifa: "Oh?"

Mom: "Yes, don't worry Mfana will sleep peacefully and won't keep waking up every fifteen minutes to feed."

*****

Pearl walks in with her husband. Her stomach is so huge and she is glowing. Her skin looks so radiant and pretty.

Me: "Girl, you look beautiful. Your skin is literally popping."

MaMhlongo: "Yeah, this pregnancy looks good on you."

Pearl: "It doesn't feel good though, I am so over it." we all laugh as they settle on the couch before greetings are shared.

Lifa: "Sbari." he greets walking in with Mfana and hands him to Pearl. Mom stops him and makes Pearl and her husband wash their hands and also sanitise them. That is one thing mom never fails to remember, even when the twins were born. She always made sure that everyone's hands were clean and sanitised before touching the baby especially if you were outdoors.

Pearl: "Oh my god... he is so cute." she cooes. Her husband is also smiling next to her as they keep sharing glances and smiling together. They seem to be in some kind of love bubble.

The lawyer finally arrives and Ndlalifa excuses himself with Pearl's husband who is now hogging Mfana. MaMhlongo decides to take the twins out for ice cream.

Mom: "Dlamini, it's been long." they shake hands and he just smiles and nods at me and Pearl before he takes a seat.

Mr Dlamini: "I was out of the country for some business. My deepest sympathies on your loss by the way. It must be really hard."

Mom: "Well, I'm trying. Taking it one step at a time."

Mr Dlamini: "Good. May we begin?"

Mom: "Sure."

Mr. Dlamini: "This will be short, Mr. Khumalo didn't really do much." we all nod.

Mr Dlamini: "Okay. This is the reading of Thulani Edward Khumalo's final Will. It reads as follows:

'I, Thulani Edward Khumalo, resident of Durban, being of sound mind, not acting under coercion or undue influence, and fully understanding the nature and extent of all my property and this disposition thereof, do hereby make, publish, and declare this document to be my last will, and hereby revoke any other wills and codicils heretofore made by me.

I hereby authorise Mr. Dlamini as my legal personal representative. I further direct that my representative shall ensure that my wishes are respected and adhered to. I also direct that my representative pays all of my debts that I may have left behind.

To my loving wife, I'm sorry to have not kept my promises to you of never leaving you in this world. I couldn't hold on anymore and I hope and pray that you know I will always be watching over you and even in the next life, I will still choose you to be my wife. With that being said, I leave everything we accomplished together including the three farms. I trust you will do the right thing and also look after yourself for me. Do not let my passing hold you back from moving on. I also left you a lump sum payment that you will receive from Mr Dlamini. I want you to continue traveling the world as you've always wanted. Ngizohlala ngikuthanda."

Mom: "Please give me a minute." she says rushing to the kitchen while sobbing. I stop Pearl from following her, she needs her space. She comes back after a few minutes with a bottle of water.

Mr Dlamini: "Shall I go on?"

Mom: "Please."

Mr Dlamini: "To my beautiful daughters, Nkosazana noGcino baBaba. I'm proud of the young women you both have grown to become. I honestly hope that you continue holding hands and sticking up for each other. Never neglect your mother too, she may act strong but she won't be doing well. You will always be my precious jewels and I love you guys. Y'all were the best daughters and Thank you for being that. Your husbands better treat you like queens that I raised y'all to be. I want you guys to always remember my words and bits of advice to you, and honor them. I leave the both of you with a lump sum of 1 million each.

To my son, iNkosana yami. I really hope you become a man of good integrity. Your job now is to keep the Khumalo surname standing. Find an honest woman and marry her. I don't have much to say to you because I have had a lot of talks with you and I trust you will honor them. I leave you with a lump sum of R500 000. The family home as you know is in your name. A man builds up his life and makes a name for himself.

I hereby appoint Mr. Dlamini to release the money I left my son once he has found an honest woman that my wife and daughters approve of. I also plead that my wife is taken to the house I left her.

I love you all. Till we meet again.
Mntungwa kaThembisiwe"

Mom: "What house is that?"

Mr Dlamini: "I remember when he bought it, it was supposed to be a gift to you. He reasoned that you both needed the change, especially after being in that township for so long."

Mom: "Oh."

Mr Dlamini: "I will contact you, Mrs Khumalo, in a few days for further details."

Mom: "Thank you so much, Dlamini."

Mr Dlamini: "This too shall pass. Keep well." he leaves, leaving us in silence.