THE INCARCERATED STRANGER

 

Chapter 35

 

RILEY

 "How do I look?" she asks Mangaliso, who is buttoning his shirt at the collar. He glances over at her and smiles.

“I didn’t say smile, baby. I asked how do I look?” she says shyly, a hint of nervousness in her voice as she twirls in front of him.

He pulls her close to him, his smile widening. 

“You look more than all the words that mean ‘beautiful,’ love,” he replies. She blushes at his compliment, and he leans in to kiss her gently.

“You're ruining my lip gloss,” she playfully protests after the kiss.

He chuckles, a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

“Is it lip gloss or is it sweet? Because it tastes pretty sweet to me,” he teases.

She laughs at his playful banter, and he kisses her again, prompting her to playfully hit him on the arm. They continue getting ready, both feeling the excitement and nerves about Mangaliso's brother 'wedding.

As they prepare to hit the road, she feels butterflies in her stomach at the thought of meeting Mangaliso’s parents and siblings for the first time. But he reassures her, telling her to relax and breathe. 

“I’m here with you, and I’ll be right by your side,” he says confidently. Taking his advice to heart, she tries to ease up.

With one final look in the mirror, they admire how beautiful they look as a couple. They complement each other perfectly—like a baby shoe that fits just right. She can’t help but admire the glistening diamond necklace around her neck, a gift from Mangaliso after their last round of lovemaking. She remembers how she cried when he gave it to her; it felt so special and precious—real gold that would cost a fortune if you looked it up.

“Are you ready?” Mangaliso asks, breaking her reverie.

“More than ever,” she replies with a smile, feeling grateful for this moment and for him by her side…

Mangaliso takes her small clutch bag and gently holds her hand as they leave the house together, heading toward his car. He opens the door for her, and she gets in with a smile. After making sure she’s settled, he goes around to his side and climbs in. They hit the road, excitement buzzing in the air.

Suddenly, her phone pings with a message from Pari. 

“Hey bestie, I’ve changed my mind! I’m coming with you to the wedding,” she reads aloud for Mangaliso.

“Tell her where to find us,” he replies, glancing over at her with a grin. 

“She can follow our car.”

She quickly types a response to Pari, letting her know their location and that they’ll be on the road shortly. After hitting send, she looks back at Mangaliso, feeling a surge of happiness. “Atleasther friend is coming with !” she exclaims, her nerves starting to fade with each passing moment.…

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 Indeed, Pari finds them, driving closely behind as they make their way to the venue. The drive feels long, and she is already starting to feel tired from the journey. Finally, they arrive, and it seems like many guests have already gathered at the venue.

Mangaliso parks the car, and they step out just as Pari pulls in and walks up to them. She greets Mangaliso, who responds with a warm smile before turning to her friend.

“I’m glad you changed your mind,” she says, her face lighting up.

“Well, I figure instead of sitting at home bored, why not come with you to a wedding?” Pari shrugs playfully.

The three of them walk towards the entrance and find a spot to sit in row number four on the left-hand side. The venue is packed, everyone eagerly waiting for the bride and groom to arrive.

Fifteen minutes later, the groom walks in with his three best friends to stand at the altar. She frowns slightly and glances at Pari to see if she notices the same thing. Pari looks back at her with wide eyes.

“Isn’t that Nipho? Your fiancé?” she whispers urgently.

“He is! Maybe one of his friends is getting married,” Pari replies, trying to make sense of it all.

“Mhhh, looks like marrying runs through their veins. Soon he’ll be marrying you,” she teases, causing Pari to giggle and blush at the thought.

She turns her attention back to Nipho, who looks absolutely stunning standing there with his friends—looking like an absolute snack. Her heart swells with pride as she admires him.

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NARRATED 

 

Just then, the bride walks in, looking like a queen. Her father holds her hand as they walk down the aisle, making their way to hand his daughter over to her husband-to-be.

“Mkhwenyana, I hope and believe you will treat my daughter well, or else you will get it from me,” Bab'Hleza says sternly. Nhakanipho smiles and nods as he takes Zekhethelo’s hand and helps her up the one-step stair where he is standing.

Pari looks confused, trying to process what is happening. “I think the father made a mistake and gave the bride to the wrong groom,” she whispers to Ayakha. 

Ayakha shakes her head, sensing something off. “Never! That can't happen, friend. It’s impossible. What I'm seeing is your man getting married,” she insists.

Pari's heart races in disbelief. This cannot be happening—her fiancé is getting married? Suddenly, she feels hot and overwhelmed; she wants to get up, but Ayakha pulls her back down into her seat. Mangaliso senses that something is wrong with the two of them.

“Babe, is everything okay?” he asks Ayakha, who is holding Pari down to keep her from getting up.

“No, my best friend's fiancé is getting married, babe,” Ayakha tells him. Mangaliso frowns in confusion.

“What do you mean? That’s my brother and the mother of his kids he’s marrying,” he states, dropping the bombshell that leaves Pari in shock. 

“What?” she screams, tears streaming down her face as everyone turns their attention to her. Meanwhile, the couple exchanges rings at the altar. 

Pari stands up abruptly and yanks her hand away from Ayakha. “WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?” she screams, drawing everyone's attention—including Nipho and Zekhethelo’s. Nipho's eyes widen in shock as he sees Pari there.

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