Zulu wedding
“So, are you excited about this?” Derby asks a nervous looking Lee-Ann who is dressed in an African attire of a Zulu bride with her head gear of isicholoh her accessories of necklace, wrist and ankle bracelets are made of beautiful and colourful beads and finally her skirt is isidwaba. It is the weeding day and she has never worn something like this before but she looks absolutely amazing in this attire.“Yeah, I’m a little nervous but I am excited to become Mrs Mthethwa today sis” Lee-Ann says as she looks at herself in the mirror and loves how stunning she looks. “Well, I’m glad we are also doing the Zulu wedding, it’s important to me as it is to Simo. I know mom and dad…, especially mom isn’t thrilled with this part but this is what getting married brings hey. Plus, I must say that you really look amazing sis” he looks away for a second as if she’s thinking about it. “Yeah well, what’s important is how you feel and if you are happy, then that’s it is to it okay?” Derby says as she smiles. “And you… you look amazing yourself in your outfit little sis” Lee-Ann says as she looks at Derby through the mirror as she was fixing her hair.
“Oh thank you very much your highness” Derby says with excitement as she turns around, thrilled by her outfit. She is also wearing a beautiful, African traditional dress that has floral print and a beautifully styled head cover. “Well you should thank Thandeka who went with me, Melissa and
Julie to shop for these and I got to say she has great taste” she says as she continues to fix Lee-Ann’s make-up.
“Speaking of which, where is my maid of honour anyways?” Lee-Ann asks curiously as she picks up her phone from the table. “Aah, no, no, no, put that phone down miss Stain” Derby says as she takes the phone her sister’s hand. “Don’t stress yourself about that okay? Mel and Julie will be here soon plus, remember, no phone today” she says as she puts the phone in the purse. Lee-Ann decides to not argue with her over excited sister as she asks, “And your man? How is he looking today?
Hopefully he and my husband haven’t run away, hahaha?” as she bursts out laughing. “Hahaha, no man I don’t think they’d ever do something like that” Derby says as she laughs back. “Imagine three white chicks left at the alter by three black men, hahaha. What a crazy story, hahaha” she bursts out laughing again as Lee-Ann joins her in the crazy moment.
“Well if it’s any consolation for you lady, I actually spoke to JB earlier and he told me Simo couldn’t be more excited about this day, he literally can’t wait” Derby says as she looks through the window and sees lots of people from Simo’s family singing and Zulu dancing outside the tent that is erected in this beautiful lodge, where they had decided to host this wedding.
Simo and Lee-Ann had decided to book a lodge for the Zulu wedding part, in order to accommodate both sides of the families since Simo’s place isn’t suited for the occasion, neither is his ant’s place. The lodge is big and is designed like the traditional Zulu huts so it fits the occasion well. They booked rooms for both family members and relatives. Friends and other guests who could afford to make bookings were also accommodated in this place and those who can travel will do so. A huge marquee tent is erected in the lodge lawn and a cow was slaughtered the day before, and it has been cooked the traditional Zulu way. All traditional cosines are deliciously prepared by great chefs and traditional beer made for guests.
“Well, I’m glad that Simo is looking forward to this wedding just like am” Lee-Ann says with a smile. “But you, I just wished mom can accept this and move on because Simo is a great guy. Why can’t she see that though? I saw how she almost fainted when she saw you with JB last week, you guys had a serious fight about it. But you never told me about it. What really went down, there?” as she starts to become sad.
But Derby decides to cut her off, “Hey, hey, hey” as she says. “Remember, this is your day, your choice and your happiness. What mom thinks of Mlu isn’t relevant okay? What’s important is your future. Mom will come around, okay?”
But that soapy moment is interrupted as Melissa and Julie come in. They look excited and they look absolutely stunning in their traditional attire. “Oh wow, bride you look absolutely stunning OMG…” Melissa says as she comes over to hug Lee-Ann who accepts the invitation as she says, “Thank you very much my maid of honour. You look amazing yourself.” She then hugs Julie too as she says, “Hey cousin, you look beautiful. How are you?” Julie hugs her back and says, “Thank you, cousin. I’m great thank you” as she smiles. There’s a bit of silence as the three ladies look at themselves in the mirror, with some excitement in their eyes. “What time did you get here last night? We were worried that you guys would get lost hey” Lee-Ann breaks the silence.
“I’m really sorry for pulling you to this cuz, I know you just gave birth not so long ago. It was selfish of me to expect you to be here” she says as she is embarrassed. But Julie cuts her of, “No, no, no cousin. Don’t worry about it. I couldn’t miss your wedding for the world. I’m okay. We arrived very late last night. Our room key was at the reception” she says with a smile.
“And my little nephew and niece? How are they? Did you come here with them? OMG, I can’t wait to see them…” Lee-Ann screams but her excitement is short-lived as Julie cuts her of, “Oh no the babies are still at Mahlabathini with their granny. They are barely two weeks so we couldn’t bring them with us. I think they will be there for a few more weeks as part of tradition. Which is why we will head back to Mahlabathini immediately after the white wedding later, I’m sorry cousin. We
won’t be able to stay longer after. We would have…” but Julie is cut short by Lee-Ann, “Oh no you don’t have to apologize for that cuz. You’ve already made me happy for being here now. I understand why you guys have to head back as soon as you can. Mlu must be excited hey” she says as she brushes her cousin’s back.
“Oh yeah, he really is. We both are. And we already miss our little rascals hey” Julie says as she smiles, looking at all the ladies in the room. There’s an emotional moment in the room as all their eyes are filled with joy. “You know what?” Melissa jumps in, “If I was a writer I think I would have written a book about your story, you three ladies” she says, much to the cousins’ confusion, wondering what she’s talking about.
But Melissa continues, “Do you realize that you guys are related, and are all dating guys who are best friends, hell who are practically brothers now. Don’t mention the drama that came with all that.
I think I would have made a lot of money from you hey, hahaha” she bursts out laughing. All the ladies join in on the laughter but a knock on the door interrupts that. Derby goes to the door and opens, she isn’t pleased as she sees that it’s her mother who she had a huge argument with just last week over JB. The last thing she wants to do is fight with her on this joyous occasion. She lets her inside.
“High ladies” Debra says. “Don’t you all just look so stunning?” as she lets out a nervous smile to which the ladies don’t know how to react to. There’s an awkward silence which Debra breaks, “Can you girls excuse us. I know we are running out of time but can I speak to Lee-Ann, alone? Please” she says with a nervous smile again.
Lee-Ann looks at the girls and nods, so they all clear out the room and leave the two to have a moment to talk. As soon as the door shuts behind them the tension and awkward moment builds in the room as mother and daughter look at each other in the eyes, none is showing any emotion and none seem interested in breaking the ice. So Debra goes to sit next to her daughter by the dressing table as they both look into the mirror but at each other. “You look beautiful my child” Debra says as she decides to break the ice, to which Lee-Ann responds by only smiling without uttering a word.
“Uhmm, I’m sorry I couldn’t find an outfit similar to yours though, I doubt they make for old ladies like me” Debra continues as she tries to make a joke out of it, but Lee-Ann doesn’t find it funny as she keeps a straight face. She actually wants to say something to that but decides against it.
“Darling, I know that lately you and I haven’t been seeing eye to eye on many things, especially when it comes to this wedding or your plans after it” Debra says with a low voice. “But I just wanted you to know that I love you very much and that, when you left home to go stay with your friend Melissa it really broke my heart, mine and your father’s. It’s not easy for us if any of you isn’t home.
That is your home and shall always be” as she becomes a little emotional. “The house becomes empty and we get to miss you a lot. And I acknowledge that all the tension is largely caused by me. But it really doesn’t mean I don’t love you, because God knows I love you very much and…” but she doesn’t finish that part as Lee-Ann who’s been listening quietly decides to cut her off,
“But mom, what are you going to do now because today I am marrying Simo, the man I love and the man you think is not good for me? What are you going to do, because this isn’t going to change anytime soon? Does this mean it’s the end of our relationship, because I love Simo mom? Today I will be his wife and I am looking forward to building a life with him? Will you be part of my life tomorrow as I will be Mrs Mthethwa?”
All these questions Lee-Ann is asking caught Debra off guard as she takes a second to think and she is struggling to come up with a proper response as she breaks contact with her daughter and looks away.
But Lee-Ann is fixing her eyes on her mother and her eyes are beginning to be teary. But Debra finally finds courage, “Darling I won’t lie to you” as she says, “It won’t really be easy for me as I will have to try and adjust to all this. But what I know darling is that I love you very much and I am willing to try hard…” but she doesn’t finish as Lee-Ann cuts her of again, “You will try what, exactly mom?” she says as she raises her now emotional voice a bit. “You will try to accept Simo as my husband or the fact that Simo and I have decided to find our own place? Is that what you are taking about, mom?”
but Debra wasn’t ready for that as she almost falls of her chair with shock. “Oh, is that what you have decided already? When did you decide that darling? I mean, uhmm…I just thought that, uhmm…” she is running out of words but Lee-Ann jumps in right there, “Yes, mom” she says. “Yes, we have decided to find our own place. It’s a new start for us. And before you start accusing Simo of anything, no it was my idea this. He wanted us to maybe stay at home for now so that we’d take our time to look for a perfect place, but I refused and I told him we should move to our own place immediately”
This revelation seems to sink Debra’s heart as she looks at her daughter with a face full of disappointment and sadness. There could be anger right in there as well, but before she could respond to it, they are interrupted by Melissa who knocks and comes in with a hurry. “Oh I’m sorry Mrs Stain but we are running out of time, we really need to finish up here now”
***
Over to the other room, Simo is with his best friends JB and Mlu. He is dressed in Zulu gear of ibheshu and leopard skin on his shoulder. He looks like a warrior Prince, while JB and Mlu are dressed in African traditional attires that match the colours of Lee-Ann’s bridesmaids. They are just taking a few moments before the Zulu ceremony begins.
“It’s a pity we didn’t organize the Batchelor party last night man, it would have been lit” JB jokes, much to everyone’s laughter in the room. “Nah man, Lee-Ann and I agreed that we don’t need such in our lives, it’s not like we are going to a death row, we are just getting married, hahaha” Simo jokes back as he looks at himself in the mirror.
“I don’t know man, it sounds like you are already on death row, from what you are saying. Wife already taking all the fun away as non essentials, hahaha” Mlu joins in with a joke which makes Simo rolls his eyes. “Look who’s talking, a man who’s going to be following a woman throughout the baby shops, hahaha” Simo fires one back. But then suddenly they change into a serious gear. “Hey man thanks for being here bro, I know that you left the babies back at Mahlabathini to come and be with me. I really appreciate you, bro” Simo says he punches fists with his friend.
“Nah don’t mention it man, I wouldn’t miss it for the world” Mlu says. “But yeah, I’m sorry that we won’t stay long later after the second session. We’ll have to head back before it gets dark. Plus, Julie just misses the babies, she can’t wait to be with them you know” as his voice suddenly changes to being sad. But then JB jumps in right there, “Speaking of which, how did Julie's mother react to all this about the babies being at Mahlabathini? I bet she isn’t happy” he says.
Mlu thinks for a second and says, “Oh yeah, she is not happy at all. I bet she hates me even more now as she thinks this was my idea” as his friends look confused with that, “Was it not your idea?” JB asks curiously. “No man” Mlu says as he sighs. “I mean, it’s what Jabu had suggested to the Smarts but I had told her that maybe we could do that part a little later so that we can allow Julie to be with the kids at her home. I was hoping that would help appease the situation a little you know” as she breathes big. “But then Julie agreed with my sister” he says much to his friends' surprise. “In fact she insisted that this is what she wanted. She wanted to do things right. Her folks were opposed to it but she was having none of it. So yeah they hate me for being a bad influence on their daughter” he has a worried face.
“Wow, that was really big of Julie” Simo says. “Your situation is similar to mine. I had told Lee-Ann that we should take our time with finding our new place but she was not having any of that. She suggested strongly that we should move into our new place immediately when we get back from our honeymoon. She also told her parents that. Well, it’s safe to say that they were less than pleased. I bet they hate me too just a little bit more” he says as he looks away.
“Well you two my friends are in trouble in your relationships” JB says with a smirk on his face as he looks at unimpressed Simo who says, “And you? I saw what happened that weekend at the Stains, your ex showing up uninvited, Derby and her mom had a serious argument…about you I bet? How did that end?” he looks at now upset-looking JB who moves to the window. “Well let’s just say that Debra isn’t happy that her daughter is dating a black man. Does that sound familiar to you?” he says as he looks through the window. “So they had a big argument about it. It was so bad man. It didn’t help that Thulisile showed up and stole the show and Debra thinks because of my baby drama issues I will not be good for her daughter. And you know what, maybe she’s right” now he is sad but Mlu decides to jump in right there,
“No man, she’s not right” he says. “She just doesn’t know the whole story or she didn’t know the whole story then, I’m sure Derby explained it to her, right?” he asks curiously. “Yeah she did” JB responds. “But I doubt Debra sees it the way we do. She doesn’t want to hear it. You know guys, this is the reason I was sceptical about this whole thing in the first place. I just don’t think I can spend the rest of my life explaining myself to white people. But I love Derby and I do more and more each day. She’s such a breath of fresh air and very original as well. But this…”
JB doesn’t finish his thought as a there’s a knock on the door. Simo goes to open, and it’s his aunt Zandile. “Hey boy” she says with a smile. “Can I talk to you for a minute? I won’t be long I promise” she says as she comes in to find Simo’s friends.
“Guys can you give us a moment please?” Simo pleads with them and JB and Mlu duly oblige as they clear out the room, leaving the two to talk.
“You look handsome my boy, like a really Zulu warrior” Zandile smiles to Simo as she goes to sit down by the dressing table. “Thank you, auntie” Simo responds as he goes to sit next to her. There’s awkward silence there for a second as the look at each other, both seem to not knowing what to say first. But Zandile decides to break the ice, “Well, how are you feeling?” she asks.
Simo takes a minute to think, “I’m nervous but very excited at the same. I'm marrying the love of my life and I can’t wait” he says as he smiles and looks away nervously. “Well, I’m glad to hear that son” Zandile says as she goes to stand next to the window as she looks outside. She sees people dancing and singing songs wedding procession. “Look, I know that I’ve had my reservations about this wedding and me and Stains haven’t been seeing eye to eye over it, but I want you to know that I love you very much and all I want is for you to be happy” she says as her voice becomes a little emotional.
“I promise that you and your wife have my full support, on whatever you decide okay?” she smiles and that makes Simo smiles too as he comes to stand next to her by the window. “Thank you, auntie. That means a lot to me you have no idea” Simo says to his aunt, as he hugs her. “You are welcome my boy” Zandile says as she takes a moment to enjoy the hug but then finally breaks it. “So Debra and Morgan, upset that you will be moving to your own place?” she asks unexpectedly and Simo is caught off guard by it.
“Well, of course Debra isn’t happy about that. She isn’t happy about this Zulu wedding as well. But there’s nothing we can do about that now. This is something I will have to deal with” he says as he shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah, I’ve struggled myself to find common ground with them but now they are part of our family and we are part of theirs, we can’t avoid it” Zandile says as she shrugs as well. “This is why I had my reservations about this wedding. I just knew that you’d have to deal with the Stains every day and I don’t want to see you sad and unhappy in your marriage, my son” she says as she brushes Simo’s shoulder. They both go back to sit down. “Auntie, please don’t worry about me, okay? I will be fine I promise” Simo says.
But their conversation is interrupted by Mlu who comes in and says “I’m sorry to interrupt you guys but, Simo it’s time to go. People are now waiting; can we please finish up?” as JB comes in behind him. But before Simo could respond, Zandile stands up, “It’s okay son, you need to get ready okay” she says with a smile as she stands up and goes out the door.
“Are you ready man?” JB asks a nervously looking Simo, who takes a moment to think, “Yeah man I am ready, let’s do this” he says nervously.
“Well, before we go can we do this little thing man?” Mlu says as he goes over by the dressing room and opens a drawer. Out comes a nip of vodka. He takes three glasses and pours in them. JB and Simo are still in shock, they didn’t see that coming. “Okay let’s toast” Mlu says as he gives his friends their glasses. “let’s toast to Simo our best friend and brother who’s taking this huge step today that will change his life forever. But no matter what happens, know that we shall forever be brothers man” he says as he lifts his glass, to which Simo and JB lift theirs to toast. They simultaneously down their drinks in one go.
So when they are done they head to the tent which is full people who are singing and dancing. The ceremony begins when the Stains come in with the bride, Lee-Ann. The exchange of gifs between two families begins as it is with Zulu traditional wedding. This might be new and different to the Stains and the Smarts but they are enjoying it, at least trying to enjoy it. The ceremony goes on for about two hours without any hindrances and by the time it ends, Simo and Lee-Ann are by tradition husband and wife.
When they are done, they will be going to the botanical gardens where white traditional wedding will take place. A tent is also erected there.
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