insert 63

iFAIRYTALE KaMAGEZA

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 63

THE ZULU WEDDING

[NARRATIVE]

It's in the wee hours of the morning and they all have to wake up. Connie didn't sleep a blink. The nerves are growing by each second passing by "The Dlamini's will be here soon. We have to prepare" Aunt Bella says shifting the bed covers aside and rolling out of bed. They shared a bed and talked for hours last night. Her mom might not be here but Aunt Bella's presence is all she needed.

There are trucks arriving outside. They'll be transporting the furniture and everything they bought for uMabo "Aunty Please make sure nothing gets left behind"

"I'll have someone keep an eye on them as they load the things in the trucks, don't stress"

"Okay, Thank you" Aunty Bella stops and looks at her with a smile.

"Your mother would've been so proud of you" She smiles. She so wishes her mother was here. Every girl's dream is for their mother to see them get married but it's okay, she will carry her in her heart today.

Everyone in the house seems to be awake. She has to take a bath. The makeup artist is already here. Her phone has been buzzing with texts of good wishes on her big day. Celiwe and Nokwanda sent paragraphs. Those two have been her pillars. She has truly found friendship and sisterhood in them. She knows no matter what, they'll always pull up for her.

The gets in the bubble bath that was already prepared for her. The pampering squad is doing the things with no fail. She hasn't lifted a finger since she came here. She sure feels like a Queen.

She relaxes in the tub and smiles as the image of Jackson pops in her head. She can't wait to see him. She can't wait to be his wife officially. The white wedding will be for show off but the important day is today. She will sleep as Mrs Dlamini today.

Her phone buzzes bringing her out of her thoughts.

"I love you" she smiles at the text. Her heart picks on a different rhythm only seconding what she already knows.

"I love you endlessly" she sends the text and steps out of the tub with a smile. She wraps a towel around her body and walks out of the bathroom. The makeup artist has already laid her tools on top of the bed. She's not a time waster.

*

"Dlamini, Jama KaSjadu, Sibalukhulu, Mdlovu, Magaduzela..." Mahlathini praises while kneeling emsamo and burning impepho. Everyone in the room is quietly watching him. He's letting the ancestors know they are about to go and fetch the bride. He's asking them to lead and light the way. For them to welcome Connie when she steps into the yard. He's thanking them for successfully watching over the family until this day.
"Magaga KaNsele, Ngonyama!" he finishes and stands up. He checks his wrist watch, time seems to be on the run.

They all exist the room to the noise outside. The singing, Whistles and ululations. The village young women and izinsizwa came out in numbers. The taxis are lined up at the gate to transport everyone. The cows are howling in the kraal as if they know they are about to be slaughtered. The sun is not up yet, Connie has to be here before it rises "Siyindlela Jama" one of the drives says. He nods.

*

She's standing in front of the mirror starring at herself. The only reason she's holding back the tears is because she doesn't want to mess up the makeup. The door opens and her Dad steps in and asks everyone to give him a moment with his daughter.

He takes her hand and they stand looking at each other "There's so much I want to say but I don't want to make you cry" Connie smiles and walks into his embrace. They hold each other for minutes. He's one proud father. It feels like yesterday when Connie was running around the house with her dolls. Where did time go? His little Princess is about to be someone's wife "I love you" he says kissing her forehead.

"I love you too Dad" she holds him tightly. After their moment he grabs the blanket to cover her. She will only remove it after she has arrived kwaJama. They are already outside singing for her to come out. He takes her hand and they walk out of the bedroom.

"Uthe ubhuti asizomlanda umakoti!
Uthe ubhuti asizomlanda, umakoti!"

Celiwe is at the front leading the song. There are probably a hundred people out here. The taxis are forming the longest line and hooting. She can't even count how many they are.

"Cover up" Aunt Bella reminds her. She leads her into the Jaguar. Tessa, Dakota and Aunt Bella join her. Her heart is hammering in her chest. It's excitement and the nerves mixed together. There's so much going on, she can't even process.

They arrive kwaDlamini just as the sun comes up. They have to stay outside the yard. Since they can't sing the songs they have some of the villagers singing on their behalf. After a while the gate is opened. The kist which has Connie's belongings is brought forward. The kist symbolises the coffin as she is now preparing to live the rest of her life kwaDlamini.

Aunt Bella holds her hand "Remember, you're not supposed to look back when we walk in" she says fixing the blanket covering Connie. Aunt Bella is well informed about everything that needs to be done. She was given a whole memo and she will make sure she does her part perfectly. She owes Connie that.

They follow behind the kist. The ululitions and whistles in the yard get louder as they get closer to the gate.

"Baba, Mnumzane uyeye! sivulele singene!
Oh! sangena sangena!
Oh! sangena phakathi!..."

"Yangena intomb' emhlophe!" the women shout ululitaing. Connie is crying at this point. She has tried holding back the tears but she can't anymore. It's tears of happiness. And a bit of sadness. As she's stepping in this yard she's letting go of a part of herself. Anything that touches the Morgan's no longer concerns her. Even after she dies, she will be buried in this yard. That's how deep this is.

*
*
*

MAHLATHIN

uMabo was concluded without any hiccups. It's a huge relief. Things are going smoothly just as he had hoped. The door opens revealing Celiwe.

"Aw sukanini madoda! Jama KaSjadu! Wena owanquma indoda umthondo kwaze kwasa iyobayoba. Inkunzi ehlaba ime ngophondo bayivuma neseNgilandi. Ded'ndleleni uma usondliwa unyoko demedi!!" Mahlathini laughs She moves closer and fixes him. He's in his full Zulu gear. Ibutho!

"Mtakababa, how are you feeling?" He breaths out.

"Nervous" She smiles and pats his shoulder.

"I want you to go out there and show those people how much of a man you're. Show them how this is done. Connie is waiting for you, impatiently" he smiles and nods..

Without wasting anymore time, he grabs ihawu and isagila. He walks out to the chanting and whistles in the living room. Everyone was waiting for him. He starts singing. The women go crazy. He marches out of the house followed by taxi drivers who are also in their traditional gear. They look like ibutho going out to war.

"...namathela nsizwa amagwala ayesaba, namathela nsizwa" the chanting is fueling him. The nerves die down as soon as he arrives esigcawini.

Connie is a blushing mess. She has turned completely red. She manages to stand up regardless of isidwaba she's wearing which is very heavy. She has a cows bile that goes around her neck and hangs on her waist. Another symbol that she has been accepted into the Dlamini's as their wife. What's left is for her to confess that he loves Jackson in front of all these people.

She carrying a knife. Iphoyisa lenkosi steps forward. The singing stops. He looks at Mahlathini then Connie "Uyabuza umthetho, uthi ugcagca nje, uyamthanda na?" the question is directed to Connie. She understands it very well and she knows the answer. She has no doubt in her mind.

Her thoughts take her to that day she went to the Shisanyama looking for him so she could pay for his taxi. She remembers how understanding, generous and caring he was. After that day she couldn't shake him out of her head. The best decision she has made in her life was choosing to love him, she will never regret it.

She signals one of the girls to start a song. She's had enough practice for this moment. The nerves are there but she's doing this for him. The crowd goes crazy as she makes her way to where he's standing. He has a wide smile on his face. A handsome Zulu man who stole her heart effortlessly.

She kneels in front of him and stabs the knife on the ground. This is the final stamp, it's official. She is Mrs Dlamini.

Mahlathini doesn't let the moment slide. He does his Zulu dance and comes back to give Connie one long kiss making it known she belongs to him. He's the happiest man under the sun.