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ketso · 1 year

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Episode 46

My mom and my step-father bought us a house. I’m so excited it’s not even funny. Senzi is equally excited! We are living with Akwande for a while. Mam’Fifi is flying in and out of the kingdom everyday to help the queen set up a new school.

Seeing that everyone is away and busy on this project, we asked Ntuthuko and Tamia to help us move in. The movers are helping us move the furniture in. We have helpers packing our clothes in the cupboards as we instruct them. Tamia and I are now unpacking cutlery and crockery in the kitchen. I’m not sure what Ntuthuko, Akwande and Senzi are doing.

Tamia keeps stealing looks at Senzi.

I know things are really tense between them right now.

“You are allowed to speak to him, you know.” I say to her.

“I miss him so much.” She tells me.

“Manje why don’t you just give him a hug and tell him that?”

“We are not there yet.”

“Tamia, nishadile. You are way over that stage.”

“It’s just… I feel so bad.”

“About what?”

“In as much as I’m mad at his family and him, the kids are the ones that are suffering. We worked so hard to get them to adjust to what we were offering them… the new schools, the new home… and now they are gone. They are back to that place that was difficult for them to come out of in the first place.”

I hug her.

“I just want us to fix this, Wandi.” She says.

“Nami nje I want to fix this, sthandwa sami.” We hear a voice. We come out of our hug. Ntuthuko is at the kitchen entrance.

I step out of the kitchen and give them space.

But I stand at the door to listen in a bit.

“Baby… things don’t have to be like this.” Ntuthuko says.

“I won’t be disrespected by your family, Ntuthuko. And I certainly won’t be disrespected by your baby-mamas. It’s not going to happen.”

“I don’t know what you want me to do to make this right. I love you.”

“Then show me. Defend me. MaNdlovu was never supposed to put me in that position. She was never supposed to attack me for the decision that I made. It’s not unreasonable for me to hold you loyal and accountable to your kids ONLY - you owe your baby-mamas nothing!”

“I know that.”

“So why aren’t you saying it? Why aren’t you telling her and everyone else in your family that’s treating me like crap because of all of this? Why do you let them do this to me? Am I honestly wrong for loving those kids? For everything that I’ve done for them? Ngimoshe kuphi?”

Ntuthuko takes a deep breath then says, “My love… just come home. I’m begging you. Come home. Wear your ring again. And let’s fix this together.”

“Angilahlwanga mina ekhaya. I won’t stand for abuse anywhere ngiyazi kahle mina ukuthi ngangiphathwa njani ekhaya.” Tamia.

That’s a bit unfair.

Why would she say that?

“I’m sorry, T. I’m really sorry. Please come home. Please sthandwa sami. Ngiyakucela ndl’enkulu.”

Ntuthuko is very patient shame.

Ntuthuko’s cellphone rings.

“Hello?” Ntuthuko.

“Hi. Is this Mr Ntuthuko Maphumulo?”

I think Ntuthuko has his phone on speaker. Clearly, he’s scared of Tamia like that.

“Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Sir, you are speaking to Lorielle Jacobs. I’m a social worker that’s been assigned to the case regarding the living conditions of your children. Sir, your children are with us now at our facilities. They’ll be in our custody until you and Mrs Maphumulo get here to discuss the matter further with us.”

“I don’t understand what you are saying.” Ntuthuko.

“Sir, your children cannot be in the custody of their mothers right now. We have now taken them from their mothers. We’ve been advised that we can only release these kids into yours and your wife’s custody. Until you come to our facility, your children will be in our custody.”

“What are the details of your facility?” Tamia enquires.

The lady shares the details of the facility.

In no time, Ntuthuko and Tamia are rushing off together to attend to this matter. We would’ve left with them… but it’s all the way in KZN. I’m pregnant and I need to unpack this house.

It is about 6pm now. Tamia or Ntuthuko have not phoned us yet to tell us what’s going on. Senzi is a bit stressed about this. He even phoned his dad and told him about the phone call. I know his dad is not too impressed with Tamia right now. The way she handled that entire family meeting nje… Bab’Shaka basically called her spoiled and disrespectful. And he was even more pissed off that her family allowed her to speak to adults that way. Mam’Fifi was team Tamia all the way. She told Bab’Shaka that he’s the last person to say that about Tamia. Tamia had every right to be upset and to stand up for herself because MaNdlovu was wrong - very wrong… and no one was prepared to tell her that. After the way that Tamia’s family treats Ntuthuko… after how they welcomed them… after how Tamia fought for her family to accept and love Ntuthuko - four kids and all - the Maphumulo family has no right to treat Tamia the way that they are treating her. Bab’Shaka said that Tamia is still a child in this family. And if she doesn’t have a teachable spirit, she will be a problem. You don’t sulk, leave your husband and home, throw your ring at your husband then disrespect your in-laws when you disagree with your in-laws or are unhappy about a decision that your in-laws insist on. Sometimes, in-laws will disagree with you and they will impose a decision on you. Threatening to leave every time something like that happens shows that you are not ready for marriage. And her family spoils her and enables her because they’ve taught her to have pride in her marriage and not give her husband his place in the marriage. And for Bab’Shaka, that’s a problem. Mam’Fifi just told him that it’s easy for him to say all of these things because no one gave him a hard time when he became a husband. No one gave Ntuthuko a hard time from Tamia’s family. So he must clearly mean that women are the ones who must tolerate shit, and she’s happy that Tamia is changing that narrative. According to Mam’Fifi, we need more women that come from love, have boundaries against abusive in-laws and don’t handle themselves like marriage is the best thing that has ever happened to them.

Ey, kunzima.

“Baby, I made us some dinner”, I tell Senzi as I bring him a bowl of water to wash his hands in. I’ve always done this for him. At my back room, it made sense because I had to collect the water from the main house. Then it just continued and he seems to feel like a king when I do this for him.

He’s sitting at our dining table, so I’ll just serve him here.

I call Akwande to come and eat. I’m not sure what he’s doing upstairs. But he’s down in no time. I let him wash his hands too.

“Ngiyabonga, Sis’ Wandi”, he says to me.

I smile at him.

“Siyabonga, Sthandwa sami.” Senzi says.

After they’ve said thank you and washed their hands, I go get our plates and juices.

I serve Senzi first, then I serve Akwande, then I sit next to Senzi and enjoy my plate.

“This looks delicious.” Senzi says.

“Sis’ Wandi’s food is always nice. I always enjoy it.” Akwande says.

“Thank you, guys.” I say.

“I hope you guys have a boy.” Akwande randomly says as we eat.

“Why a boy specifically?” Senzi asks him.

“I’m scared that if it’s a girl, she will take after Luhle too much. You guys don’t deserve that.”

I feel like laughing, but I hold it in because at this rate, Luhle’s mom will start ordering lightning for us wherever she is. And we don’t need any of that bad luck.

“We will try our best with whatever God blessed us with. He will give us what He believes we can handle at this point in our lives. And kids are their own people. She or he will develop their own personality in no time. We will try our best to show him or her right from wrong. We will do our best with the aid of prayer… then we will trust God to do the rest”, Senzi says.

I’m so glad that his faith is still important to him. These are some of the things that help me find my husband amidst the changes that are happening in our lives.

“You know, this baby is going to be the reason I don’t leave to study overseas”, he says.

“Why?” I ask him.

“I feel like I’m really going to love him or her. I feel like he or she will also be my firstborn”.

This actually makes me smile. Senzi too.

“I like you guys. I’m so happy that you guys came into our lives.” He says.

“We love you too, Akwande.” I say.

“Are Bhut’Ntuthuko and Sis’Tamia going to be okay?” He asks us.

“We don’t know.” I say.

“I don’t want them to divorce”, he says.

“Hai bo, Akwande. No one is thinking that far yet.” I say.

“We all know that MaNdlovu will never change. And honestly, I like that Sis’Tamia is not allowing MaNdlovu to bully her. But what if at some point, it gets to a point where Sis’Tamia gets pushed too far? Phela Sis’Tamia is nothing like the beggars that gave birth to Bhut’Ntuthuko’s children. She can actually leave him and not be financially stretched. She doesn’t need him like that. So, if leaving seems better for her than staying in that marriage, she just might. I don’t want that to happen.”

Senzi and I look at each other.

I think we are both a bit taken aback.

“Sis’Tamia is very good for Bhut’Ntuthuko. We all know it, regardless of what we think about their situation right now.” Akwande says.

“Do you think that they should live with the kids?” Senzi asks him.

“It makes the most sense. What do the kids have to lose? They have everything to gain. The biggest losers here are the mothers. They don’t want to lose. And honestly, I’m with Sis’Tamia on this… they are not bhuti’s responsibility. They must make a plan for themselves. MaNdlovu is being unnecessary and wishful about thinking that the other four women will be bhuti’s honorary wives… at the expense of Sis’Tamia nogal? I mean, Sis’Wandi, how would you feel if bhut’Senzi was being told to look after his baby mamas?”

“Not happening”, I instantly say.

“Manje why are we expecting Sis’Tamia to accept this?”

I get his point.

Senzi and I look at each other as well.

It is now 9pm. I decide to phone Tamia. I don’t understand why they are so silent. We are all worried.

“Hey Wandi.” She answers her phone.

She’s on speaker. Akwande and Senzi are with me.

“Hey T. I’m with Senzi and Akwande. You are on speaker. We are a bit worried about you guys. Is everything okay?”

She takes a deep sigh.

“T, what’s going on?” I ask her.

“Ey Wandi, we arrived. The kids were there. Their mothers also arrived. One of them even hit me. They blame me for all of this. MaNdlovu was there with them.”

“Hai bo!”

“Ja. They basically demanded that I cancel the case. Then MaNdlovu said that the kids will live with her eMtubatuba, but not with me. You know, I was so defeated Wandi. I don’t know what that woman wants from me, honestly.”

“What did Ntuthuko say?” I ask her.

“Ntuthuko told them that it’s fine, we will drop the case. They can take the kids. But they must know that he’s done supporting the kids then. He said that he’s more than proven that he can look after these kids himself. When the kids are with us, we don’t ask them for a cent. He’s happy to tell a judge that. But they are never getting a cent out of him ever again. They obviously complained. MaNdlovu blamed me for all of it. She asked me if I’m proud of what I’ve done. I just feel the worst about those kids. They don’t deserve this, Wandi. They are literally suffering because of their parents’ decisions. But there’s nothing that I can do. MaNdlovu and the kids left with the mothers. We are now driving back to the kingdom.” She says.

Yoh, this is a mess.

Senzi’s phone rings. It’s their dad.

“Babe, I’ll call you back.” I say.

We hang up.

“Baba… Kunjani?” Senzi.

“What the hell have Ntuthuko and Tamia done now?!” He’s so angry.

“I don’t know. I’m still talking to him right now.” Senzi.

“I’ve been called to go to eMtubatuba now because Ntuthuko cut off his own children!” The dad.

“Akulona iqiniso lelo, baba. If MaNdlovu is going to town with this, she must be honest with the facts!” Senzi fights for his brother.

“What do you know?” I hear Mam’Fifi ask.

“Ntuthuko and Tamia were called, while with us, by social workers. Those social workers stated that the environment the kids are living in is not good. They were going to keep those kids in their custody until Ntuthuko and Tamia came to fetch the kids.” I say.

“Then when they arrived, one of the crazy baby mothers slapped Tamia. MaNdlovu also insulted Tamia like she always does. So bhuti told them that if they want to take the kids they can. But he’s never supporting them again. When the kids are with him, he doesn’t ask them for a cent. He’s proven that he can look after the kids without them. So the choice is theirs. MaNdlovu blames Tamia for that decision, but after slapping his wife and insulting her, what are we expecting bhuti to do?” Akwande says.

“Yeses! This is a mess! A mess!” Bab’Shaka is angry.

“Can you make your way to the airstrip? We are going to eMtubatuba.” The dad.

“Okay.” Senzi says.

“Bhuti and Tamia are on their way back. Maybe phone them and tell them to stay in KZN”. Akwande says.

“Nx!” The dad, then he hangs up.

The three of us look at each other.

“Are you guys coming?” Senzi asks Akwande and I.

“Why would I stay?” Akwande.

I’m already headed to the door.

…

You know, for people who should still be in their honeymoon phase, Tamia and Ntuthuko have us in a lot of meetings. A lot! I don’t even remember having these many family meetings for me.

We are now in the main house eMtubatuba. Tamia refused to sit in this meeting. She refuses to sit in any sitting with MaNdlovu. So she’s with Wandi. In here, we have Ntuthuko, his four baby-mamas, all four of my dad’s mothers, Mam’Fifi and me. The kids are playing outside. Sihle has been glued to Tamia. This seriously touched my parents.

“Is Tamia not joining us?” MaNdlovu.

“Cha. You’ve made sure that she has no say in this angisho? So, she’s staying in her place as you’ve put her.” Yoh, Ntuthuko must really miss his wife. He’s already starting this meeting on such a disrespectful note.

“Ntuthuko, angiyena umngane wakho!” MaNdlovu.

“Loko ukwenze kwacaca. I’m not in any way confused about that.” Ntuthuko.

“Ntuthuko!” My dad.

I just scratch my head.

“UTamia uyafuneka la! Uphi?” MaNdlovu.

“She’s not coming.” Ntuthuko.

“Yini yona leyo?! Makeze nje ngamanje?!” MaNdlovu.

“Ukuthini?! Ukuthi uzomdelela uze uqede umshado wami?” Ntuthuko is not playing games today.

“Shaka, sesidelelwa kanje ngempela?” MaNdlovu.

“Can this meeting please proceed? Why are we here?” My dad.

MaNdlovu is disappointed.

The baby-mamas look even more hurt.

“UShaka athi he’s no longer supporting his children. As Maphumulos, we don’t do that.” MaNdlovu.

“What has led to this decision?” My dad.

Everyone looks at Ntuthuko.

“My wife has been more than disrespected and more than hurt by everyone thinking that they can tell us how to deal with people who terrorise us like this. I know that I was a cash cow for these four women just because they gave birth to these kids. I’m very clear on that. Angisho being mothers is a job for them… and they have absolutely no responsibility for their kids… it’s all on me. They made that very clear in how they’ve treated me all these years. They made that very clear in how they dumped four kids on my wife, who was at the time, my girlfriend, and expected her to figure it out. And you know… she did. She gave those kids a better quality of life. Then these women decided that this was never about the kids they gave birth to. My wife has given up so much more than what these mothers have… sacrificed like a mother when all these women ever do is think about how they get their next paycheque from me. So, it’s time for them to decide if they are mothers or they are paid birth-givers. I don’t mind paying for my kids’ better future and better living conditions. But I do mind supporting anyone else who is not them! When these kids are with me, I don’t even ask for ten cents from these women. And I’ve proven that I can look after them. I’m happy to take them to live with me. So is my wife. But unless those kids are in my custody, I’m not paying another cent to their mothers. Not even a black cent. And the law is on my side with this.”

“Shaka, yini yona le? Ngenxa ka makoti that doesn’t even have the decency to respect us enough to sit here and have this conversation with us? She just sleeps with Ntuthuko and convinces him to make such decisions about his kids! His kids!” MaNdlovu says, slamming the dining table.

“May I speak?” I say.

“Please… speak sense to your brother wena onomakoti onenqondo”, MaNdlovu.

“First of all… if you say one more thing that’s negative about Tamia, I will personally walk out of this meeting.” I say.

Ntuthuko smiles at me.

“Ini?!” MaNdlovu.

“What exactly did Tamia do that is so wrong that has warranted your endless abuse towards her, to a point where she’s currently not even in her marital home anymore? She loved and cared for children that you continuously remind her are not hers. Do you know what other women would’ve done? They would’ve actually cut off Ntuthuko from his kids all together, and they would’ve had every right to do so. The first time I met my brother, he told me that he couldn’t even afford to buy himself an apartment because his baby-mamas were on his payroll over and above the monthly twelve thousand rands that he gave them. Do you know how much money a court of law would instruct ubhuti to pay as maintenance? Way less than that! Tamia, an advocate of the law, knows this. She’s always known this. To me, these women know this. They all know that. That’s why when the money was now strictly diverted to the kids and away from them, they didn’t go to court to fight for their maintenance. They took the kids to Tamia. Except their plan didn’t work. The kids were supposed to frustrate Tamia. But Tamia mothered those kids in a way that not even they could mother them… which means less money for them. As to why they don’t find jobs and sustain themselves is beyond me. They are not bhuti’s responsibility. That’s a fact! The fact that we are in and out of meetings because of this nonsense tells me that MaNdlovu and these mothers don’t care about these kids.”

“Uthini wena?!” MaNdlovu.

“There’s nothing wrong with these kids living with Tamia and Ntuthuko. I’m sure if we called them in here and asked them who they’d rather live with, they’d be clear on wanting to live with Tamia and Ntuthuko. But we are here, busy fighting for the comfort of their mothers as if we owe them anything. But again… we are hiding behind the kids yet again… like the mothers have done all these years.”

“So you believe that kids should be separated from their mothers just so Ntuthuko can support them?” MaNdlovu.

“Why can’t the mothers find jobs? Aren’t they also parents that must think about their kids? Or that’s only on Ntuthuko?” I say.

“Shaka, izingane zakho zingenwe yini?” MaNdlovu.

“I’m with Senzi on this one”, Mam’Fifi says.

We all look at her.

“And just like Senzi, this is the last time that I’m sitting in such meetings. Tamia and Ntuthuko have done nothing wrong. If anything, they’ve been more than fair… to the detriment of their marriage. So if you are not happy with the decision that Ntuthuko has made, take it up with a lawyer at your own expense. Because my husband and I will not be assisting these women neither.” Mam’Fifi.

MaNdlovu is so disappointed.

“Shaka, may I please speak to you privately? Please?” MaNdlovu.

“Cha, mah. Nami sengikhathele manje. Unless we are apologising to Tamia about how we have treated her, I’m not prepared to listen anymore. I’ve heard enough and know enough to know that if anyone has a problem with how things are, they can go the legal route. And mah, I’ll tell you this… before Tamia even came into Ntuthuko’s life, I didn’t even know these kids. These mothers have spent more than enough of my money, have more than bathed in my son’s money under the alias of needing money for kids. Now I’m sitting here expected to stand up for them before a woman who actually brought me into these kids’ lives? Ayihambi kanjalo, mah.”

MaNdlovu and the baby mamas are not happy AT ALL.

When my dad leaves the table and then the room, I follow him. I guess the meeting is done.

I see Wandi and Tamia chilling together on some stoep outside of the rondavels. Sihle is passing out in Tamia’s arms. It’s so beautiful to watch. The other three kids are playing about. They are excited to see each other.

I see Mam’Fifi going to these women. She even sits with them. I guess she’s going to be talking to them.

“I really wish she comes back home”, Ntuthuko says.

I didn’t even see him stand next to me. My dad is also here.

“Once she’s back home, we need to talk about her behaviour, Ntuthuko. Asikwazi ukuhlanyiswa umakoti like this.” Shaka says.

“I don’t blame her though. MaNdlovu is out of line.” I say.

“Awusho, the kids -

“I know these women. I’ll have those kids back in no time.” Ntuthuko.

“And if you don’t?” My dad.

“I will. They’ll probably want a financial trade-off. They would sell me my kids. And it’s fine, I’ll pay. But at least I’ll have my kids back.”

“What is Tamia saying?” I ask.

“She wants none of it. She says she’s tired of this family making her a villain in all of this. So now, she’s staying in her place and we can decide ukuthi siyenzani ngezingane zethu.” Ntuthuko.

“Yini yona leyo, Ntuthuko?” My dad asks.

“Imiphumela yempatho kaMaNdlovu.” Ntuthuko says.

“We need to fix this! I’m not having this bullshit in my family.” My dad.

“Then manage inkosikazi kababa wakho. Uyena i-ring leader of all of this.” Ntuthuko.

My dad looks at both of us.

He shakes his head.

…

Wandi and I are back home. We all flew back. Tamia was quiet the whole flight back. Their car will be driven back by some people that my father paid.

Wandi and I are lying next to each other… in our bed… I’m rubbing her belly. We can feel the baby move now. And the baby is kicking quite a bit. I can’t wait for this baby to be born. He or she is going to be incredible. I just know it.

“Senzangakhona”, she says.

“Yes my love?”

“Do you have kids out there?”

I laugh first then say, “no.”

“No? Or not that you know of? Unless you were a virgin when we met.”

“Baby, I wasn’t a virgin when I met you… but I always kept my dick wrapped. I didn’t leave any kids out there.”

“You sure? One night stands?”

“Wandi, I don’t have kids.”

“So, it would be fine if I didn’t accept any child that came by claiming to be yours.”

I’m quiet. Because now I must actually think hard about this.

“Because I’m not going to tolerate half the shit that Tamia is expected to tolerate. It’s just not for me.” She says.

“I’d never allow anyone to treat you the way that Tamia has been treated.” I tell her.

“You think Ntuthuko is for this?”

“Not that he’s for it, but he did take his time in stepping up. He’s finally stepping up khona, but I’m disappointed that it took Tamia leaving her house for him to urgently step up. But he’s finally stepping up.” I say.

“Ja neh. I feel for her though. She’s so sad. She was even telling me that the two older ones are supposed to be going on their first school camp in the next three months and they’ve been so excited about it. Athi she hasn’t even deregistered them from their schools. She’s so hopeful that they’ll come back. She collects work for them at the school. She’s hired tutors to help them catch up should they come back. I don’t know what she will do if they don’t come back.” Wandi tells me.

“Maybe they should think about having their own kids. That way, no matter what, it’s their kids. But with other people’s kids, they can’t do much or have much control.” I say.

“The thing is, and naye she told me, if they have their own kids and she applies that mentality, she will be the devil again anyway. She will do everything for her kids and they will have a better life than the existing kids. Then she’ll be accused, yet again, ukuthi ukhetha abantwana and she doesn’t love them the same. She’s screwed either way.”

I actually think about that.

“She must really love your brother hey.” Wandi says.

“Yeah. I’ll also talk to him. He can’t keep treating her like this. It’s not okay.”

“Please do. I didn’t hook him up with my friend just so that she could be this unhappy so early in her marriage.” She says.

Tense!

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