Ntandwenhle : If Only Yesterday Was Tomorrow

CHAPTER 20

"You aren't going to be spending any more days here," she continued.

"What do you mean?" I quickly replied.

"Your children made it alive. We've been monitoring them as we didn't want to give you false hope and I ... I have to say that they are doing well, very well. The problem is, they're not of the same size," she continued. I rushed to her with tears in my eyes and hugged her. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!" I said holding both her hands. "I was only doing my job," she responded with a smile.

"God bless you Mam. I'm grateful for this," I said. She nodded with a smile. "Can I see them?" I asked still beaming.

"Yeah but ..."

"But?" Dad interrupted her.

"You gave birth to a boy and girl. The girl is healthy but the boy, the smaller one, will be a slow child. He's the one that got affected after we had operated them," she said. The waterworks wouldn't stop. "I'm just thankful they made it out of the operation alive. I don't know what would have become of me had they-"

"Shhhh-" Lubongwe interrupted me. "Just go be with them. We'll come by later," he said. I smiled and hugged him. "Thank you for being with me," I said sniffing.

"Ahhh Ntando! Just go before I give you this shirt to wash," he said lightly pushing me. We laughed and I limped out with Mrs Zuma. I placed the crutches on the door and walked to their beds.

They were in different baby cots, dressed in yellow and blue. Mrs Zuma tapped my shoulder and left. I went to the girl first. "Hello baby," I said holding her tiny hand. She swiftly moved it to her mouth and sucked on it. "Feisty, aren't we?" I asked with a smile.

"Just like her mother," said a voice behind me. I looked behind me and there was Ndumiso. He had two baby bags and a bunch of flowers. He was dressed in a black tight-fitting chino, black formal shoes and a white shirt. He had tucked his shirt and left the first button opened. His hair was cut well. He looked insanely breath-taking. I laughed and placed my hand over my mouth as they were asleep.

"Hi," he said standing in front of me. He smelled wonderful. He gave the flowers to me and kissed my cheek. "Hey," I responded. "You good?" he asked. "Now that I'm here, yes," I replied genuinely happy. "Does that mean I can now take you out?" he asked fixing his watch. God! He looked ... ready for bed. I just laughed and walked over to my son.

He really was tiny. He had a few pipes on his body but they didn't worry me that much because my heart was at ease with knowing that he's alive. He was light-skinned like Ndumiso while the girl was dark-skinned like her mommy.

"Have you thought of names?" I asked out of the blue.

"I have but I don't know if you're going to love them"

"If it's not Margaret and Vusumuzi, they're fine," I replied with both my hands up.

"Is Eunice and Robert fine with you?" he asked already in stitches.

"Ini (What)?" I asked laughing. "Never!!" I continued. We both laughed and he walked over to me. "Uhm ... I bought a few baby clothes," he said pointing at the bags he had.

"Thank you," I replied smiling.

"Sthembiso will bring the nappies and wipes," he continued.

"Where is he?"

"He's outside," he replied. I nodded and looked at my sleeping son.

"Ntandwenhle," he said. I looked up to him. His scent mesmerised me. "Huh?" I replied.