She followed me there and watched me as I cried.
“Kamu! I wrote that letter only because telling you face to face would’ve been this hard. And I didn’t take your calls only because hearing your voice would’ve made me change my mind.”
She came and we held on to one another as we cried.
We talked and sorted things out. And a few months later I proposed marriage. A month after the proposal, we were standing at the altar.
“Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Let us pray.” The pastor began.
I was getting married even though I had doubts, but I was doing it. The pastor said we should say our own vows and I didn’t know what to say. He said we should speak from the heart and all I could hear from my heart was the thumping drum beat it was making.
“Kamu, my love, my earth, my life. God knows how much I love you and if I didn’t tell you how I love then I’m telling you now… I love you, body, mind, spirit and soul. I promise to love you ‘till death do us part, through all difficulties I will be there with you. I love you.”
Zandile said with tears in her eyes. It was my turn, I couldn’t run forever.
“What’s in my heart right now is Zandile and she will always be there even after death. I am not promising to love you forever, babe, but faith brought us here, not promises. In faith I trust that love will always be in my heart for you and only you. I love you.” I said my bit with a shaky voice.
“I am not going to preach but am going to talk to you both,” said the pastor. “Marriage is not about today; it’s about tomorrow and the day after that until you both part ways through death. I am glad you managed to say the things that are in your heart, for love is not only about feelings but sometimes the words that come from the heart.”
“I hope you stay as happy as you are today, for happiness is a four letter word LOVE,” he continued.
“Like every other couple, fight when you must. Not against each other but for each other. There’s no going to sleep over at your friends’ or at your mother’s place from today onwards. You fight, you sleep on the very bed with your spouse and if you can’t then tough. You will have to solve it then you can sleep peacefully. Are we clear?” the pastor said sternly and we both nodded our heads.
He looked at us and said, “I didn’t nod the words that came out of my mouth!”
Everybody laughed as we both said, “Yes Pastor.”
”Good, now tell me, you know that all couples have sweet names that they call each other right?” he said and he looked straight at me. “So what do you call your wife here?”
“Mummy,” I said shyly and the people in the church laughed. The pastor turned to Zandile and asked her the very same question and she said, “Bokkie”.
“Now when you fight and I know you will, don’t call your wife Wena (You), Lo cherry (this girl), Lo mfazi (this wife), Lo mloyi (this witch) or any other sort of name besides ‘mummy’. I don’t care what you’re fighting about but you don’t call your wife that.
You will say, “Mara yaz u Mummy uyang’delela or U Mummu siyalwa. Mummy angiy’thandi lento yakho, Mummy uyang’dina manje.”
Which meant: “You know Mummy is being disrespectful or Mummy and I are fighting. Mummy I don’t like what you’re doing, Mummy you’re annoying me now.”
The whole congregation was in pieces. Then the laugher subsided when he turned to Zandile.
“The same goes for you. Bokkie is the word you use no matter what. Akuna mfene la or ingulube, there’s no baboon here or pig. Do you hear me?” again the whole church erupted in laughter.
Zandile and I were pronounced husband and wife. We kissed like it was our first time, right there in front of the Pastor, the whole congregation and most importantly, God. I was a husband, I was married.
The day ended well. My wife and I went to the Barham Bay Lodge for our honeymoon. I was looking forward to married life.
***
Tell us what you think: Will the newly-weds live happily ever after?