LWANDLE SIBIYA
I was woken up by Siko's sniffs and silent sobs. I rub off the sleep in my eyes and sat up.
Me : "Kwenzenjani Ndlovukazi ?" She bursts into a loud sob. I take her into my arms rubbing her back.
Me : "Baby?" She looks up sniffing , I wipe her tears and mucous that had stained her face.
Siko : "I'm hungry." She whispers sheepishly.
Me : "That's why you crying?" She nods avoiding my stare. She's lying.
Siko : "Yes. I want amaKip-kip and amagwinya." I exhale nodding. I want her to give birth already! Hhayi.
Me : "Let's go." We get off the bed and I hand her my gown while I just slip on my sweatpants.
Siko : "Wear a t-shirt phela!" Ey! I grab a vest and wear it then grab my keys and phone. We get in the car and drive to the other side of the village , this is the township side. I park the car by the car wash and we get out then I lock it. We walk hand in hand to a container that sells fast-food.
Woman : "Nkosana. How may I help?" She asks smiling warmly at me.
Me : "Do you have amagwinya?" She nods smiling. I hand her the money after placing an order for quite a few of them and these snacks she wants.
Siko : "Add amanqina and fried chips and fish baby." (....chicken feet/amahotwana) She says tugging on my arm. I add that , she smiles widely at me. Ngizovelelwa la. We sit by the benches waiting while she nibbled on her snacks. After getting our order we get in the car and drive back home with her already feasting on those juicy looking chicken feet and she isn't even sharing.
Me : "Mapha baby." She looks at me for sometime then clicks her tongue looking away.
Siko : "You never wanna see me happy Lwandlelwamazulu?" Hawu.
Me : "Aybo! What did I do Kodwa?" She starts sniffing with tears dropping while eating her juicy chicken feet.
Siko : "You know today, I'm going home and it won't be easy feeding my cravings kodwa wena ungenza nje Lwandle?!" She gets of the car and slams my door after I've parked the car in the yard. Ay ay ay she's not even five months yet.
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I was now driving my beautiful baby mama home to Mount Edgecombe after visiting a gynecologist who confirmed that we are 5 weeks pregnant. Siko is dramatic , she claims her bump is visible so she's wearing my hoodie which looks baggy on her as means to 'hide her bump' from her mother.
We get there and as usual Senkosi comes running towards her sister and they hug , they really cute.
Senkosi : "Alo bhuti." I fistbump him. We walk through the door and Siko runs upstairs with her little brother leaving me with her father.
Mr Zikalala : "How have you been son?"
Me : "I've been very good baba."
Mr Zikalala : "Everything went well at the mountains?" I smile nodding
Me : "Yes , Siko will tell you everything." He smiles and nods turning back to the TV in front of him. I clear my throat , I'm nervous
Mr Zikalala : "Ufuna ukukhuluma?" (You wanna say something?)
Me : "Yebo. Benginesicelo kuwe baba." (Yes. I have a request.)
Mr Zikalala : "Khuluma ndodana." (Talk son)
Me : "I'd like to ask your permission for Sikolethu's hand in marriage." He smiles broadly.
Mr Zikalala : "Aw akukho nkinga ndodana kodwa ngifuna incwadi." (No problem son but I want a letter.) I nod
Me : "I'll send it once I get home."
Mr Zikalala : "and you will need to wait until I have done all her ceremonies including her memulo." I clear my throat moving to sit on the edge of the couch as nerves kick hard.
Me : "About umemulo baba , I might have messed up." His face changes
Mr Zikalala : "What do you mean boy?"
Me : "I impregnated her but i swear it wasn't on purpose and she's still pure." He looks puzzled.
Mr Zikalala : "Then how did sh...ubusoma?" He asks the last in a defeated tone. I slowly nod my head
Me : "Yebo." He keeps quiet then bursts out laughing.
Mr Zikalala : "Umdala kanje uyasoma mfana? Kodwa it's fine cause it is better than you cheating on her." I nod.
Me : "another thing , please don't tell her mother ; she's really scared of her finding out. We will announce it after." He shoots me a stare.
Mr Zikalala : "Now you want me to lie to my wife boy?!"
Me : "Do it for your daughter please." He sighs and nods.
Me : "Thank you."
Mr Zikalala : "Whatever."
Me : "I have to be on my way then, I will see you baba. Thank you so much baba." We shake hands tgen he walks me out before he calls out for Siko and tells her to walk me out.
