A HEART REPLACED, chapter Seventeen
MKHUSELI ’S POV
After Bab’Thubana’s departure, he returns to the house and heads upstairs to check on his daughter, as he requested. He enters her room, which will soon become their shared space, and finds her on the bed, finishing a fruit salad.
“Hey,” he says, and she looks up, sighing.
“I hope you’re here to tell me my father has left,” she says, her tone hopeful.
“Yes, he just left, and he asked me to check on you,” he replies. She rolls her eyes and continues eating.
“Are you okay?” he asks, concerned.
“I’m fine, Mkhuseli. Why wouldn’t I be?” she responds, her tone laced with sarcasm. He shrugs, unsure how to respond.
“i don't understand why you speak to your father like that,” he says, trying to understand her perspective.
She stops eating and looks at him, her eyebrows raised.
“What do you expect me to do? Respect him?” she asks, her voice dripping with disdain.
“Isn’t that what children are supposed to do?” he asks, trying to reason with her.
“Please, Mkhuseli, don’t pretend like you respect your parents’ wishes either,” she says, her voice shaking with emotion.
“We’re both forced into this situation, so don’t act like you’re better than me.” She continues, her words laced with pain.
“My father doesn’t deserve my respect. He doesn’t even respect me, his own daughter. Who forces their child to marry their sister’s husband without even asking how they feel?” She says, her voice cracking
“I know, but I’m trying to respect their wishes,” he says, his voice laced with resignation.
Nonhlakanipho chokes on her fruit salad, her eyes widening in surprise.
“What?” she asks, unsure if she heard him correctly.
“Yes, you heard me right. I’m trying to respect their wishes. That’s why I suggested we start sharing a room like a couple, as they want us to be,” he explains, his tone matter-of-fact. Nonhlakanipho looks at him, her expression unreadable.
“We won’t be sharing this room and doing what couples do, obviously. We’re doing this as friends,” he clarifies,
“Friends?” she asks, her voice tinged with confusion. “Don’t you have friends?” Mkhuseli chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Of course, I do. Come on, I think it will be better than how we lived at first. We’re free to live our lives, and so is the other person. See it like an open relationship,” he says, his tone light. Nonhlakanipho’s expression turns puzzled.
“Open relationship? What does that mean?” she asks, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Mkhuseli’s chuckles grow louder, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Open relationship means we’re not tied down to each other. We’re free to see other people outside of this arrangement. You can have a boyfriend, and I can have a girlfriend,” he explains, his words slow and deliberate. Nonhlakanipho’s expression changes from confusion to understanding, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Okay,” she says finally, her voice soft.
“So you agree?” Mkhuseli asks, his eyes searching hers. She nods, her movements economical.
“I agree.”
“Great, then. We’ll start afresh as friends and get to know each other along the way,” he says, his tone warm. Nonhlakanipho’s response is a soft ,“Mhhh.”
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He feels relieved that things are turning out better than expected. Instead of being forced into a romantic relationship, they can simply be friends, making things easier and less complicated. His father will finally stop pestering him about being a "husband" to Nonhlakanipho, which is a constant source of frustration. He is grateful that she agrees to his suggestion.
As he sits in his study, engrossed in his work, a photo of Londeka catches his eye. He pauses, takes the photo in his hand, and smiles wistfully. Londeka had a radiant smile and a kind heart, which he has the privilege of experiencing firsthand. Although others might view her differently, he only sees her goodness. He misses her dearly and hopes her soul is at peace. He gently kisses the photo and holds it close to his heart, cherishing the memories they shared.
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NONHLAKANIPHO’S POV
Can this day just end already? she thinks to herself, feeling exhausted. All she wants is to crawl into bed and sleep soundly. She gets up from the bed and heads to the living room, knowing she needs to start preparing dinner. She's still processing Mkhuseli's sudden suggestion and change of heart. She thought he disliked her, but maybe he doesn't hate her as much as she thought - just a little. She shakes her head, wondering where this ‘friends’ thing will lead. Despite her reservations, she's glad he suggested it; it might not be so bad after all.
She begins by boiling water for the dumplings, then carefully wraps the dough into small balls and adds them to the pot. As they cook, she starts preparing the stew, chopping vegetables and meat with a practiced hand. The aroma of cooking food fills the kitchen, making her stomach growl with anticipation.Her mind wanders back to Mkhuseli's suggestion. ‘Friends,’she says aloud, testing the word. It feels strange, but also kind of nice. Maybe this is exactly what they need - a fresh start, a new way of relating to each other.
She adds a sprinkle of herbs to the stew and stirs it thoughtfully. Who knows where this ‘Friends’thing will lead? But for now, she's willing to take a chance and see where it goes.
The dumplings are done, and she carefully removes them from the pot, placing them on a plate. The stew is simmering away, filling the kitchen with a savory scent. She takes a deep breath, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Dinner is ready.
Mkhuseli descends the stairs, his eyes scanning the room as he takes in the savory aroma.
“Mhhh, it smells delicious in here,”he says, his voice filled with appreciation. She smiles proudly, her eyes sparkling with pride.
“ know, right? It's my cooking, by the way.” She beams, confident in her culinary skills, which she honed from a young age under her mother's guidance. After her mother's passing, she continued to learn by watching cooking videos on YouTube and experimenting with new recipes.
AMkhuseli approaches the dinner table, she feels a flutter in her chest.
“Should I dish out the food for you, or will you wait until I freshen up and come back?”she asks, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. Mkhuseli nods considerately.
“Go ahead and freshen up. I'll wait.” She nods, exhaling a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
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After a refreshing shower, she changes into her cozy pyjamas and adds a gown on top, mindful of her curves. She tops it off with a sleeping bonnet, feeling more relaxed and at ease.She heads back downstairs to serve herself and Mkhuseli, who are lounging on the couch, engrossed in the TV.
They eat in comfortable silence, savoring their meal. After finishing, she clears the plates and washes them, along with the pots, and stores the leftovers in containers in the fridge. Craving a warm, sweet treat, she prepares a hot chocolate with marshmallows for herself and Mkhuseli, although she's unsure if he'll enjoy it, as he typically prefers a cold beer after dinner.
She returns to the living room with two steaming cups, topped with fluffy marshmallows. "
“Here's your cup,” she says, offering one to Mkhuseli, who shifts his attention from the TV to her. He takes the cup, his eyes inquiring.
“Yini loku manje?" he asks, his tone curious.
“That's hot chocolate,”she explains.
“I thought I'd make one for you too, since I'm craving it.”Mkhuseli raises an eyebrow.
“Pho yini loku phezulu? O Mellow Bani?”
She chuckles, amused by his antics.
“Those are marshmallows,”she says, her tone patient. Mkhuseli shakes his head, a hint of a smile on his lips, and takes a sip of the hot chocolate.
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It's time for bed, and she checks the time: 21h35. She gets up and quickly washes the cups in the sink, then heads upstairs to the bedroom. She removes her gown and gets into bed, just as she's drifting off to sleep, the door opens and Mkhuseli walks in. She had completely forgotten that they're now sharing a room! She closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep, as Mkhuseli moves around the room, taking off his clothes and getting into bed. She feels him getting under the covers and tries to relax, but it's a bit awkward.
She regrets removing her gown, realizing she's now in her short pyjamas, which expose her bum not to mention her top pyjama it a crop top and it shows off her boobs. She needs to be mindful of her proximity to Mkhuseli, ensuring she doesn't give him the wrong impression that she's trying to seduce him.
To be continued...
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