Love, Guns & Kayise

22.

22.

NTANDOKAYISE

Now it's been months without seeing my aunt. With festival holidays nearing, we expect her to come back so that we can at least celebrate together. I've been invited to Sienna and King's daughter, birthday. It's her fifth birthday and they have gone all out for their princess.

"Esmeralda Vilkazi, blow off the cake!" Sienna frustratingly says to her daughter who decided that blowing candles is not for her and she would rather just eat the cake. The other children start joining her.

"You're not sophisticated babies. Nash come here." Mandla picks up her one-and-a-half-year-old baby boy. He's so adorable with his Chinese eyes.

"Mommy...cake." The little boy says while licking his chocolate-covered fingers. I'm holding Sizwe's youngest child who's only three months old. He's giving me baby fever but I'm not falling for that.

"You've already had enough sugar, Nash. Go to your sister." She puts him down and he runs to Treasure, the little miss of the family and also Mandisa's child. She looks so much like Mandla believe me. She's always sweet whenever I greet her but she believes in spending her time on Tik Tok or Instagram rather than with her family. Maybe I should introduce her to Owami because believe me, that girl needs friends.

"Leave my phone!" We hear Treasure shouting and then running upstairs. It's clear they have their hands full with this one.

"That was enough cake. Let's go swim." Sienna takes the cake away from the children and gives it to the helpers who take it to the kitchen.

"I'm not going anywhere." The birthday girl in her small white dress which looks like a mess now, is throwing tantrums.

"Nkosiyabo pick up your child and take her outside," Sienna tells King who picks up the little girl and walks with her outside to the pool. Sizwe's fiancée is there, safeguarding everything while I take care of their baby.

"You both look so adorable." Mandla tries to take the baby away from me but he cries.

"Haibo Lumi? You're such a traitor." What kind of aunt scolds a three-month-old baby?

"He's so peaceful in my arms." It's such a great feeling to be loved by a baby. They are the most innocent people.

"You're manifesting for a baby and it's going to be a boy." Mandla's mother says sitting down on the couch. I also sit down after standing too much.

"I think I'm too young for a baby, Ma." She's very strict but just loves spending time with her grandchildren.

"Do you practice safe sex?"

"Always," I say proudly because yes I do. I may be on a pill but I always make sure Muzi puts on a condom before we do anything.

"Mandla and Mandisa were born after I was on birth control. I thought I wouldn't have children at least for the next four years but they were born within a year." She reveals and Mandla laughs out loud.

"Imagine this earth without Mandla?" It would be peaceful. She's too opinionated anyway but I love her.

"Let me take him to sleep." Lumi's mother takes him from my arms and walks upstairs with him.

———

It's around 6 pm and I'm driving home. It was refreshing to be surrounded by people with so much happiness and peace. People's auras can never lie around their children and in Mandla's home, I've found a family.

When I take a turn, I realize that the car behind me has been following me but I was just lost in thoughts to even realize it. I won't panic. I'll take two turns to make sure that they are following me then I'll get my gun ready. I never travel anywhere without my gun.