A HEART REPLACED, chapter two
A HEART REPLACEDChapter two
MKHUSELI’S POV
It’s morning, and He is already up and about, having requested Mam Khethiwe’s assistance today to prepare cupcakes for his and Londeka’s parents, who are coming over for a mysterious meeting. Mam Khethiwe is busy baking in the kitchen while Mkhuseli takes a refreshing shower. Londeka is still fast asleep, so he decides to let her rest a bit longer. After drying off and wrapping a towel around his waist, he heads back to the room to moisturize and get dressed. Once he’s looking sharp, he prepares a warm bath for his wife and gently wakes her up.
“Love, wake up,” , with a smile, he says“Good morning, Love.” She slowly opens her eyes, and he reminds her, “The parents are coming over, remember?” She nods, and he helps her out of bed and into the bathroom.
After her bath, she calls out to Mkhuseli, who is tidying up the room, and he assists her out of the water, dries her off, and applies lotion to her fragile skin. He presents her with a selection of clothes, and she chooses a long dress she loves. He helps her put it on, but the dress no longer fits her like it used to, hanging loosely on her thin frame. She blinks away tears, unimpressed with her reflection. Mkhuseli tries to reassure her, “The dress still looks great on you,” and she forces a faint smile, knowing he’s just trying to make her feel better.
“Let’s get you fed,” he says, helping her sit on the bed.
“I’ll be right back,” Mkhuseli says, heading to the kitchen to fetch Londeka’s food.
He returns and assists Londeka in eating until she’s satisfied. At least today, she finishes her meal.
“What do you think the meeting is about?” Londeka inquires, and he shrugs,
“Honestly, love, I have no idea, I’m also completely in the dark.” He gets up, retrieves her medications, and a glass of water.
“Time for your meds,” he says, resuming his seat beside her. She sighs, gazing at the numerous medication packs – over 10 different ones – feeling exhausted by the constant regimen. It’s been a year and several months of taking these pills, only to return to the hospital for more when they’re finished, with no improvement in her condition. She’s truly tired, but what choice does she have? She swallows the last pill and finally exhales, probably smelling the medication by now.
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Mbatha and his wife finally arrive, being the first to reach their son's residence. They enter the house, walking in as Mam Khethiwe has already departed after completing her tasks for Mkhuseli.
“Ndodana/Mkhuseli wami” (my son), both Mbatha and MaMbatha greet their son, who reciprocates the greeting before inviting them to make themselves comfortable while he fetches his wife. As he heads upstairs, Mbatha and his wife take their seats in the living room.
After a few minutes, Mkhuseli returns with Londeka by his side, carefully supporting her as they descend the stairs to the living room.
“Sanibonani Mah no Baba”(hello, mother and father), Londeka greets her in-laws, and they respond simultaneously, “Sawubona Makoti (hello, daughter).”
“How are you managing, Makoti?” MaMbatha inquires, concern etched on her face.
Londeka shrugs, her voice barely above a whisper, “What can I say, Mah? I'm just getting by...”She trails off, coughing weakly, and Mkhuseli offers a comforting rub on her back.
“What's the purpose of this meeting, Baba?”Mkhuseli asks, curiosity getting the better of him.
“Let's wait for Bab'Thubana and his wife to arrive, Ndodana,” Mbatha replies, his eyes hinting at a deeper conversation to come. As if on cue, the door knocks, and Bab'Thubana and MaMnguni enter, followed by Nonhlakanipho, her eyes fixed on the gathering with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
The two families exchange warm greetings, inquiring about each other's well-being and engaging in small talk.
Mkhuseli rises and heads to the kitchen to prepare tea for the gathering, accompanied by the delicious cupcakes Mam Khethiwe had baked earlier. He returns with the tray and places it on the living room table, inviting everyone to help themselves. “Nhlaka, please pour us some tea,”MaMnguni requests, and Nonhlakanipho obliges without hesitation or complaint, her eyes fixed on the impending meeting, eager for it to commence and conclude.
Mbatha clears his throat before speaking, “Ndodana, firstly, we apologize for holding a meeting without informing you first, as planned by the Thubana family and myself.” Mkhuseli nods, and Mbatha continues, “This meeting is about you and your wife.” Mkhuseli's expression turns puzzled.
“Ohhh? What about us, Baba?” he asks. Mbatha clears his throat again, “Well, we have taken a decision to ask Nonhlakanipho, the younger sister of your wife, to come stay here and help...” Mkhuseli frowns, confused.
“Help? With what?” he asks, as Bab'Thubana and their wives nod in agreement.
“With everything in this house, you, and other things your wife used to do,” Mbatha says.
“What do you mean when you say ‘everything my wife used to do’, Baba?” Mkhuseli asks, his voice tinged with confusion.
“I mean just that, Ndodana. You can't be working and have a burden to help your sick wife,” Mbatha says, his words stirring Mkhuseli's irritation.
“Who told you my wife is a burden to me, Baba?” he asks, his voice showing irritation.
“Son—” Mbatha tries to talk, but Mkhuseli interjects, “My wife is not a burden to me, I can take care of her well and also still manage with work.”
“Ngampela? So it's a lie that yesterday it was the fifth time the meeting got cancelled to be rescheduled because of you always being upset-minded?” Mbatha asks, and Mkhuseli keeps quiet, knowing it's true, but that doesn't mean he can't manage taking care of his wife and work.
“You just finished making tea for us; that’s a wife’s job, not a man’s,” MaMbatha says to her son.
“That’s because my wife is not in a right state to walk around, Mah,” Mkhuseli replies, wondering if they expect his ailing wife to work as she used to.
“We know that, that is why we brought Nonhlakanipho here; she will be living with you,” MaMbatha explains. Londeka wants to talk but thinks it’s better to remain quiet, as she’s no longer the wife who can fulfill her duties; she’ll let the elders decide. “We have a helper in this house; I can ask her to stay here and help me if I need help,” Mkhuseli says. “I’m sure Nonhlakanipho has a life of her own to live; she can’t be burdened by me and my wife.”
“We know that; that’s why we brought her here,” Mbatha says. “As you know, a lobola payment doesn’t go back to the home; that’s our culture.” Mkhuseli asks, “Where does lobola money coming back fit in all this conversation, Baba? What exactly is this meeting about?”
“What we are saying is Nonhlakanipho will have to step in your marriage with Londeka, like a second wife,” Mbatha says, his words making Londeka cough badly. Mkhuseli stares at his father before getting up to get a glass of water and helping his wife drink.
“Isn’t that what happens when a wife is dead or something? My wife is still alive, Baba; I still have a wife, so I don’t need any other wife or whatever you are saying,” Mkhuseli says sternly. “Ndodana, your stubbornness won’t help you here,” Mbatha says. “This meeting is about what I just said, and we have already taken a decision as a family; you, as our children, have to obey.” Mkhuseli chuckles seemingly unimpressed.
“That’s not going to happen, Baba,” Mkhuseli says, his tone firm. “We want grandchildren, Mkhuseli; we’re not getting any younger, and Nonhlakanipho will be a perfect wife to help you and Londeka,” Mbatha says, his voice stern. Mkhuseli chuckles, wondering if his father is listening to himself. Nonhlakanipho, a wife for whom? She’s still young, and even if she’s not, she’s not ready to be tied down in this situation; it’s not fair to her.
Londeka sits in silence, tears streaming down her face, unsure of what to say. The truth is, the elders are aging, and they desire grandchildren. But did they have to discuss this in her presence? As Mkhuseli's wife, she had to be here, but did they have to choose her sister? "You're causing my wife so much pain with all this, Baba!" Mkhuseli exclaims, his anger boiling over at the sight of his wife's tears. "Please leave, now!" he demands, standing up and pointing to the door. "We apologize for upsetting you and your wife, son, but our decision remains unchanged. Nonhlakanipho will stay," Mbatha says, rising to his feet with his wife, leaving Bab'Thubana and his wife behind. "Londeka, my child, we're sorry for all this, but this is how things are done. If there were another way, we would have taken it, but this is the only way," Bab'Thubana explains. "Nonhlakanipho is your sister, not a stranger; she'll assist you, my dear," MaMnguni says, looking at her daughter. Londeka tries to speak, but her coughing fit prevents her. Mkhuseli glares at his in-laws, urging them to leave. MaMnguni instructs Nonhlakanipho to collect her bags from the car.
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NONHLAKANIPHO ’S POV
She accompanies her parents to the car, and her father hands her her bag. “Mother, you can't do this to me! You can't force me to take my sister's husband while she's still here; please, I beg of you, reconsider”she says, on the verge of tears. “Nonhlakanipho, helping your sister is a necessity; can't you see she needs your support, even if she can't express it herself?” Bab'Thubana says.
“Please, Baba, I'm too young for this; I want to live my own life,” she pleads. Her father gives her a stern look.
“Mother, please, speak to Baba,”she begs her mother. MaMnguni sighs and embraces her daughter.
“Please, my child, try to understand; don't you want to help your sister?”she asks. Nonhlakanipho lets her tears flow; this isn't fair. They should have asked her before making decisions for her. She knows Londeka is her sister, and she's ill, but that doesn't mean she must sacrifice her life to become her sister's wife and helper, bearing children for her in-laws! She can never sleep with her sister's husband.
Bab'Thubana intervenes, separating Nonhlakanipho from her mother, and then escorts his wife to the car, closing the door behind her. Before getting into the driver's side, he turns to Nonhlakanipho, his expression stern.
“Remember, child, to conduct yourself properly; don't bring shame to our family in front of the Mbathas,” he admonishes, then gets in and drives away. She wipes away her tears and heads back into the house, her heart heavy. She finds Mkhuseli still sitting with Londeka in the living room, both of them gazing at her as she stands in the middle of the room, tears still streaming down her face. The atmosphere is tense, the silence palpable, as all three of them seem frozen in a moment of anguish and uncertainty.
To be continued
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