Chapter 2 The rotten one

A goat and two chickens were escorted in the Mahlangu homesteads. That was all they thought she was worth, and that, to begin with, was an honest insult.

The lobola negotiations were finally finalised after what seemed like forever and the Dlamini family found themselves with an additional member in their clan. It was safe to say, that they couldn't be more happier. At least they rejoiced at the thought that this mysterious bride could possibly bear their son an heir. Something he dismally failed in producing as a gift to his family even after his countless attempts. Having an heir in the family was what they wanted more than anything else in the world and having given the chance, they would climb on top of the planet just to tell everyone that Sizwe was getting married.

That was how happy they were. Everyone's mood seemed to be so light, so in the moment, expect for one person's, the man of the moment, Sizwe Dlamini.

"Yes dude I'll be there as soon as all of this is over. I also can't wait to get the hell out of here," Sizwe pronounced, annoyed at how little power he had over this situation. It frustrated him even more when he thought about the "number of things" that were at a standstill, waiting for him to fulfill them while he was here, wasting his "precious " time, so he said. He was on a call with his older brother Sibongakonke.

"Aren't you happy you are getting married to someone you picked for yourself? At least your marriage wasn't arranged. At least you chose that girl for yourself. I am stuck with a monster that abuses the living daylight out of me and l have so little control over this situation bro-" you could sense the hurt in his words.

"At least be happy for me, and promise me you won't reveal your true colors when..."

The atmosphere suddenly changed. Sbonga cleared his throat. He had forgotten that ever since his brother had been in such a bad mood for the past decade, ever since something inside of Sizwe actually broke, he had to walk around on eggshells around him and choose his words very wisely.

"We'll talk later Sbonga. I can see you're too overly excited about this." He clicked his tongue and cut the call.

"Stupid bastard," Sizwe thought to himself. "What did he know about him anyway?"

His mother found her way to the benches outside and came to sit next to him.

"She's only sixteen Sizwe, still very young, very reproductive, still a virgin. She will bear an heir for the whole family and then you can do whatever you like with her as soon as that happens. I don't know how many times we've had this conversation before -" His mother looked at him. His mind was wandering in a dry ocean, his thoughts sunken of the number of times he'd actually tried to figure out the different alternatives he could use to convince his mother otherwise. She had made it as clear as daylight that she was nowhere near changing her mind, which was true because here he was, already married to a girl he barely knew. Now tell me if there was any point in arguing about this any further. His mother sighed.

"It is a shameful thing to have 2 sons who don't have heirs. You know that right?" She leered at the sight in front of her and shifted uncomfortably. She hated crowds.

"Mmmh."

The elders ululated when they saw the goat being ushered in the kraal. Food and drinks were then served. The local people were dancing to the music in a fixed rhythm, drinking beer and eating the most delicious food ever. It was a huge festival. All the aunts had called out their neighbours to come and witness their sister's daughter getting married to a millionaire. That would boost their family name wouldn't it?

In the middle of the huge yard was a rondovel and the bride was sitting there quietly, waiting to be called by the elders to meet her husband for the first time. She had been trained her whole life to become someone's wife and now that the time had come for her to officially change her surname, she was a nervous wreck.

Her two aunts and grandmother walked in the rondovel. Her aunts were happy to finally get rid of her. It was about time they had the house to themselves without any disturbance.

"Melanie..." The bride's grandmother spoke as she entered the room. Her presence filled Melanie's heart with so much hope. Maybe she had decided against this whole marriage thing.

She looked up and fixed eyes with her grandmother's hazel ones. As though a huge flood rushed over her, tears streamed down her beautiful round face.

She looked so exquisite in her Sotho outfit, the seshoeshoe, a doek and a white shawl.

"Granny," She felt herself sob as she ran to her grandmother's open arms for an embrace and her aunts started laughing.

"She will never survive marriage this rotten thing. She's way too much of a softie to commit to such a thing. Marriage is no child's play and she's still a child," One of the aunts burst into a huge laughter.

"That's why you guys don't even get asked out on dates. I can't even remember the last time l saw you guys genuinely happy and enjoying your lives. That's 'coz you're too stiff. Too angry, too self-consumed, too self centered to even realize the only rotten people, not just at mind but also at heart are yourselves. Take a good look at yourself poor little children of God, and tell me if rotten isn't that reflection you see in the mirror. You all are too negative and that's the only thing you'll ever attract."

Silence filled the room. The aunts weren't expecting this. One of them even muttered things to herself. She even went as far as sighing as though self introspecting herself.

"Marriage was never in our calibre to begin with. Some things, we aren't worth of, like you said. Go and have fun in your marriage sister, but remember, you no longer have a place in this house. You must never set foot in this house ever again. Can you hear me?" She then smiled and stood up to leave.

"Let us go my dearest sister before this old hag insults us once more."

"Leave! We don't need you guys here anyway. I don't even know why you joined us here from the get go."

The aunts left the room and the painful sobs that came from Melanie were not one to be missed. She couldn't bare the thought of leaving home forever. What if things don't go well where she's headed?"

I don't want to leave granny. I don't want to go to the city of gold my love please tell them to leave me behind," her voice grew faint with every word she uttered, and it broke her grandma's heart a million times more than she could ever fathom in her 80+ years of stay here on this earth.

"Hey baby look at your grandma,"

Her granny walked to her position in the room and Melanie looked at her grandma in the eyes as she approached her, and she could see tears gushing through her own eyes. At least she cared about her, unlike some people she knew.

"I am not well Melanie, and I'm going to die soon. l can feel it in my bones baby. I don't want to leave you here with your aunts to suffer at their hands when I'm no longer here to ensure that you live a life worth living for. You are going to be someone's wife now, and that is the better option," She confided.

"The Dlamini family wants to see their bride Ntombi! Finish up please!" That was one of the aunts at the door.

"She's coming!" Ntombi screeched.

The aunt walked away as Melanie and her grandmother stood up and wiped their tears away.

"Listen to me Melanie. Your house must always be warm at all times. Cook for your husband, clean the house, handwash his clothes and undergarments at all times. Can you hear me?" Ntombi added as she wiped Melanie's tears away. Melanie nodded, but her tears uncontrollably flowed through the sides of her cheeks all the while.

"Satisfy your husband in bed all the time so he doesn't go and seek for food elsewhere. Listen to your mother-in-law at all times, open your ears to her advice because she's the mother you never had. You must never come home no matter how hard it is baby girl. Perseverance is important Melanie you must never leave your home no matter what. Humble yourself at all times and never cause an argument between you and your husband," Ntombi advised.

She wiped the tears in Melanie's eyes once more and fixed her up. "Can you hear me?" Ntombi asked and Melanie nodded.

"I love you," Melanie admitted.

"I love you too." They walked out of the room holding Melanie's suitcase and rucksack. Ululations were heard in the yard as people danced in joy. Melanie's grandma accompanied her to the car that was already waiting for her at the gate, and she opened the door only to find Sizwe, Sindi and the uncles already inside. Sizwe helped them with the bags as Melanie got inside and greeted the people she already found in the car. The door was closed, locked and they set off!