We have to head back to the kingdom today because Khanya’s leave is over. My mom also told me that Seipati and Bakang just showed up at our home. She didn’t go into detail about what they told her, but I think my aunt Tiisetso is in trouble – as usual. 

“Mrs Buthelezi, are you ready to hit the road?” Mr Buthelezi asks me. 

“I really like this house”, l tell him. 

“I’ve noticed.” He says. 

“We should come here more often”, I say.

“There’s too many politics. I mean, my dad left the house to Wandi and I. We all still don’t know why. But that’s obviously caused issues with Khosini. Then the Buthelezis think that this is property of the royal family. We’ve had to involve lawyers here and there”, he says.

He’s told me all of this. 

“So you think they’d give us hell if we moved in here?” I ask. 

“That’s putting it very mildly”, he says.

I laugh.

He smiles. 

“Let’s get going, baby. We will come spend time here soon”, he says.

“Fine”, I sulk then follow him to our car. We are using the beast that he bought for me. Khabane and Khnayi drove his GLE back to the kingdom for us. They came with my Audi to the wedding, then left with Khanya’s GLE. I’m also happy at how my brother is literally treating Khanya like a brother. He was the toughest to convince that me and Khanya are a hot thing. Even my dad didn’t take that long to understand. But now, you’d swear Khabane sourced Khanya for me himself. 

We are about three hours into the drive when we decide to stop and stretch our legs. Plus, Nkosi has been sleeping this whole time. He’s up now and he’s being restless. 

We spend about thirty minutes here eating and using the toilet, even changing Nkosi’s diaper. Then we hit the road again. 

“I think we should have another one”, I tell Khanya.

“Another what? Wedding?” He says. 

“No. Why would I want another wedding? I’m talking about another baby”, I say.

He looks at me. 

He’s not shocked. But he’s not excited neither. 

“I think Nkosi is lonely. And it’s a bit of torture for us because we get to be his friends and his parents. It’s a lot.” I say.

“I don’t mind having another child. I’d love to have more children. I’m just thinking about you and wanting to go back to work. I’m a bit surprised that you’ve been thinking about having another child”, he says.

“I’m thinking that I’ll do the online stuff for now… just create clothes and sell them on an online boutique. I’ll open shop again when we are done having children”, I say.

He seems shocked.

“Is that okay?” I ask him.

“It is. I’m just shocked. I never thought that this would be you”, he says.

“You tend to become different for the one that’s worth it. I wouldn’t feel safe enough to do this with anyone else”, I say.

He smiles and says, “what if I wanted four more kids?”

“You are getting a maximum of three out of me, buddy”, I say.

We both laugh. 

…

We get to the kingdom just after 10pm. We get to our place and find Khosini at the gate, in the rain nogal. 

“Is everything okay, babe?” I ask Khanya. Why else would Khosini be here like this? 

“I don’t know. But I’ve stopped being concerned where this guy is concerned. I’m sure he stood in the rain for hours ukuzosihlanyela nje”, Khanya says. 

We see his car parked here. So why is he standing outside in the rain? 

He does get into his car though and he drives in behind us. 

We drive to our house. He parks under the carport. 

We head inside the house.

The helpers have closed all curtains and windows. The house is clean and there’s even food for us in the warmer. They knew that we were coming back today.

“Hi Khosini”, I greet him.

He’s even with a hun today. I’m not sure if I’m happy for him yet, because this is Khosini. He’s probably emotionally abusing the shit out of this girl. 

“How are you, Mrs Buthelezi?” Khosini says, much to my surprise.

“I’m good thanks. I’m going to get dinner ready for us. Will you two be joining us?” I ask. 

Also, my son is already in his arms. My son LOVES Khosini. Yoh, he loves the shittiest Buthelezi sibling shame. 

“Yeah. Thank you. And this is Luyanda. She will help you in the kitchen. I need to speak to Khanya”, he says.

Yerrrrr!!!!!

I’d never date Khosini. Ever! 

‘She will help you in the kitchen’ as if saying “where you belong as women.”. 

I’m still boiling, but Luyanda is awkwardly smiling at me as if saying ‘can we hurry up and go before this guy beats me up’. 

Rha! 

I just head to the kitchen and Luyanda follows me. I’m going to smack that boy one day. 

Luyanda and I are now in the kitchen. I’m about to go back to the living room and give Khosini a piece of my mind when I hear Khanya tell Khosini that, “I don’t even talk to my wife like that. Don’t ever talk to my wife like that ever again.” 

“How did I talk to her? Was she not already on her way to the kitchen?” Khosini. 

“Khosini, mawuzonya la, you must fuck off. Don’t piss off my wife in her own house.” 

I hear Khosini apologising. 

“Why are you here?” Khanya asks him. 

I see Luyanda also paying attention to the conversation. 

“Your wife needs to get mom out of jail”, Khosini says. 

Heh! 

I’m glad that Khanya is also laughing because wow, sibiti sa mshimane oe!

“She’s your mother! She’s your wife’s mother-in-law, why are you not making her get her out? And Ruri can get her out! Her family is powerful. Get your house in order, bafo, and don’t let your wife’s emotions regarding things that happened in the past control you!” 

I hear a punch flying there. 

Luyanda and I both run to the dining area where they were taking.

“SHE IS OUR MOTHER, KHANYA! YOU HAVE BETRAYED HER ENOUGH! YOU ARE CLOSE TO EVERY CHILD THAT CONTRIBUTED TO HER DIVORCE FROM OUR DAD! BE ON HER SIDE FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE AND DO THIS FOR HER!” He yells.

Khanya wants to go throw in another punch, but I hold him back. 

Thank goodness that Nkosi is no longer here. I think a nanny took him. 

“Luyanda, please take your man and leave”, I say.

She indeed helps Khosini up from the floor and they leave. 

Khanya and I just took a shower together and are now in bed. Nkosi’s cot is right next to our bed. 

“Where does Khosini think he is? Does he think that people can do whatever they want – especially towards a royal family – and have no consequences? This is not South Africa. We don’t have an ambitious constitution that supports people that don’t know how to think or behave. And we don’t give basic rights to people who suck blood from the country without contributing to it”, I say.

I’m actually upset hey. 

“Ruri, I think we can both conclude that my mom sometimes does not display the ability to act from actual thinking. She lets her emotions drive her to her downfall. I don’t agree with her actions 85% of the time, even when I understand her motivation. But Khosini doesn’t seem to understand that about her”, he says.

I’m quiet because if I start listing everything this woman has done, we will fight. She’s still his mother. 

“Khanya, I’ve tried my best to at least keep her alive. I’ve tried my best to at least keep her comfortable. I’ve tried my best to at least get visitation rights for her. People with her transgressions don’t have any of those things”, I say.

“Ru, I know.” He says. He’s even beginning to sound irritated. 

“I don’t know what else to do”, I say. 

“Don’t do anything else. You’ve done enough”, he says.

I don’t understand why he sounds so upset at me. I didn’t do anything to him. 

I face the other way and just keep to myself too. 

…

It’s morning and I decide to get breakfast ready and lunch ready for his day ahead. 

Nkosi is with his nanny. I’ve fed him and bathed him. Nanny is keeping him occupied while I prepare food for Khanya for the day ahead.

It doesn’t take me too long. 

But he comes into the kitchen before I’m done.

“Good morning”, he says.

“Hi”, I say.

I’m a bit sour about yesterday. 

“You good?” Him.

I don’t respond. 

“Ru, can we talk?” Him.

“Talk, Khanya”, I say.

“I didn’t mean to be cold towards you last night. I’m just irritated by what Khosini said”, he says.

“Hmmmmm”, I say.

What else am I going to say? 

“Ruri, I’m sorry”, he says.

“It’s fine. Here’s your breakfast. And here’s your lunch for the day. I’m going to put Nkosi to sleep. I’ll see you later when you get back”, I say.

But he holds my hand, stopping me from leaving the kitchen. 

I look at him.

He looks at me.

“Don’t be like this. Please”, he says.

“This is difficult for me too, Khanya. Your mother has been arrested by my family and I can’t do anything more than what I have already done to make this better for your mother. I already know that Khosini blames me for everything that falls apart. That I know. But you..: yesterday, you made me feel like Khosini was right… that I could be doing something else and that I’m not doing anything because of our past. I thought I was doing better by her despite our differences”, I say. 

I’m even getting emotional. My postpartum still does this. 

He pulls me into a hug. 

“I think you’ve been amazing at how you’ve managed everything concerning my mother”, he says.

I don’t answer him. 

“Baby, I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me. We are newly weds.” He says. 

I give him an inquiry eye and say, “so what happens when we are newly weds?” 

“We don’t fight. We can’t be mad at each other”, he says, smiling because he knows he’s talking shit. 

We both laugh. 

“Please have breakfast with me. It’s my first day back at work. I want to be a happy newly wed”, he says. 

“Bathathe wena newly wed”, I say, leading him to our dining table where he will eat. 

We both laugh. 

“What are your plans for the day?” He asks me. 

“I’m going to see if I can’t get a nuttal Wendy house. I want to station it in the yard and sew from there. I’m going with my mom, so it will give me a chance to understand what’s going on. I know that Seipati and Bakang are home because something is going on with Mamholo Tiisetso. I just hope it’s something that can be fixed.” I say. 

“Okay baby. Will you need anything from me?” He asks me.

“Not really. When I get back, I’ll be sewing. Gogo invited us to some festival. Apparently, you and Khosini have to be in attendance, but especially you now that you are married. So Wandi asked me to make outfits for her, Senzi and the kids. I am obviously making for you, Nkosi and myself.” I say.

“What festival is this now?” He asks me.

“I should be asking you! But gogo briefly mentioned it to me and told me to make sure that you are there”, I say. 

“But this could be a very good business avenue for me. I could make clothes that are traditionally inspired – from Sotho to Zulu. I’ll even learn about other cultures and incorporate their patterns and colours too”, I say. 

He smiles at me then says, “I love a woman who can make me money!” 

“Voetsek!” I say. 

We laugh. 

We kiss, he says goodbye to Nkosi, then we get our day started.