Melanie

A goat and two chickens were escorted in the Mahlangu homesteads. The lobola negotiations were officially finalised and the Dlamini family found themselves with an additional member in their clan and they couldn't be more happier. They were excited about this mysterious bride who could possibly bear their son an heir. That was what they wanted more than anything else in the world and having given the chance, they would climb on top of the planet just to tell everyone that Sizwe was getting married. That was how happy they were.

Everyone was ecstatic except for the groom, Sizwe Dlamini.

"Yes dude I'll be there as soon as all of this is over. I also can't wait to get the hell out of here," Sizwe pronounced, annoyed at how little power he had over this situation.

He was on a call with his older brother Sbongakonke.

"Aren't you happy you are getting married? At least you chose that girl for yourself. I am stuck with a monster that abuses the living daylight out of me and l don't even know what to do. This girl is crazy little brother. I would have married Priscilla, the love of my life but l couldn't because Ma had already picked out the wife she thought would be beneficial for me," Sbonga chortled bitterly at his own words.

"She was covered with a blanket Sbonga l couldn't even see her face. I don't know this chick and l don't even love her," Sizwe let out a heavy sigh as he spoke. "I'm thinking of running away from all of this."

"We'll talk later. Wifey is on my case apparently I'm using too much airtime," Sbonga chuckled.

"We'll talk later. Bye."

Sizwe cut the call and sighed. His mother could see how frustrated he was so she came to sit next to him.

"She's only 16 Sizwe. She will bear an heir for the whole family and then you can do whatever you like with her as soon as that happens. It is a shameful thing to have 2 sons who don't have heirs. You know that right?" She leered at the sight in front of her. She hated crowds.

The elders ululated when they saw the goat being ushered in the kraal. Food and drinks were then served. The local people were dancing to the music in a fixed rhythm, drinking beer and eating the most delicious food ever. It was a huge festival. All the aunts had called out their neighbours to come and witness their sister's daughter getting married to a millionaire. That would boost their family name wouldn't it?

In the middle of the huge yard was a rondovel and the bride was sitting there quietly, waiting to be called by the elders to meet her husband for the first time. She had been trained her whole life to become someone's wife and now that the time had come for her to officially change her surname, she was a nervous wreck.

Her two aunts and grandmother walked in the rondovel. Her aunts were happy to finally get rid of her. It was about time they had the house to themselves without any disturbance.

"Melanie..." The bride's grandmother spoke as she entered the room.

Melanie looked up and saw her grandmother and tears streamed down her face. She looked beautiful in her Sotho outfit, the seshoeshoe, a doek and a white shawl.

"Granny," She wailed as she ran to her grandmother's open arms for an embrace and her aunts started laughing.

"She will never survive marriage. She's way too much of a softie to commit to such a thing. Marriage is no child's play and she's still a child," One of the aunts burst into a huge laughter.

"Let her go and suffer," The other aunt chuckled.

She crouched next to Melanie and whispered in her ear,"Remember darling, you no longer have a place in this is house. You must never set foot in this house ever again. Can you hear me?"

She then smiled and stood up to leave.

"Let us go my dearest sister. The smell in here is too much," The other aunt added.

They left the room and the painful sobs that came from Melanie were not one to be missed.

"I don't want to leave granny. I don't want to go to the city of gold my love please tell them to leave me behind," Melanie cried as she wet her grandmother's blouse.

"Hey baby look at your grandma,"

Melanie looked at her granny in the eyes and she could see tears gushing through her brown eyes.

"I am not well Melanie and I'm going to die soon, l can feel it. I don't want to leave you here with your aunts to suffer at their hands when I'm no longer here to ensure that you live a life worth living for. You are going to be someone's wife now and that is the better option," Her grandmother confided.

"The Dlamini family wants to see their bride Ntombi! Finish up please!" That was one of the aunts at the door.

"She's coming!" Ntombi screeched.

The aunt walked away as Melanie and her grandmother stood up and wiped their tears.

"Listen to me Melanie; your house must always be warm at all times. Cook for your husband, clean the house, handwash his clothes and undergarments at all times. Can you hear me?" Ntombi added as she wiped Melanie's tears away.

Melanie nodded, but her tears uncontrollably flowed through the sides of her cheeks all the while.

"Satisfy your husband in bed all the time so he mustn't go and seek for food elsewhere. Listen to your mother-in-law at all times, open your ears to her advice because she's the mother you never had. You must never come home no matter how hard it is baby girl. Perseverance is important Melanie you must never leave your home no matter what. Humble yourself at all times and never cause an argument between you and your husband," Ntombi advised.

She wiped the tears in Melanie's eyes once more and fixed her up.

"Can you hear me?" Ntombi asked and Melanie nodded.

"I love you," Melanie admitted.

"I love you too."

They walked out of the room holding Melanie's suitcase and rucksack. Ululations were heard in the yard as people danced in joy.

Melanie's grandma accompanied her to the car that was already waiting for her at the gate, and she opened the door only to find Sizwe, Sindi and the uncles already inside.

Sizwe helped them with the bags as Melanie got inside and greeted the people she already found in the car. The door was closed, locked and they set off!