Written by Nobuhle . N Nyoni
She picked up the phone and typed, ‘Hi Mandla. I am sorry for ignoring you. The past few days have been emotionally draining for me. I went in for my annual check-up. The results show that I am pregnant. I don’t know if I can say we are pregnant. You might not want anything to do with me.
Anyway, may I have your father’s contact details, please? My father needs to get in touch so the families can discuss the way forward. I guess we are way ahead of time. The family negotiations are already happening. What says true love more than that? *laughing emoji*’
She saw Mandla come online and leave. She knew he was in absolute shock. She didn’t blame him. She went through the same when she received the news, too. He Googled, ‘Can first-time sex make a girl pregnant?’ The results disappointed him because he hoped that it was not true. His stomach was in knots. He envisioned his father’s reaction, and nothing his brain gave him was positive. His father was an important man who didn’t want his reputation ruined, and he was about to do just that by sharing this news with him. Hours later, Mandla called Sphe.
“Are you alright?” he asked when she picked up the phone.
“I don’t know. How is the shock treating you?”
“I don’t know. I am scared of telling my Dad. I wish I were at my Mom’s. She is softer. This man might kill me.”
“Rest in peace. I will remember you.” Sphe said, jokingly.
“I called because I do not know what will happen after I share this news with my Dad. I am scared, and I am not ready to be a father, but this is our reality. I should have used protection, but I just thought since it was our first time, it wouldn’t have an effect. I was wrong. I am sorry, Sphe.”
“We both should have been more careful. I have been thinking about abortion, but I haven’t suggested it to anyone. What do you think?”
“I do not know. It’s complicated, and we have to trust our parents to make the right decisions. I have to go. I will send you the details once I have spoken to my Dad. Bye.” Mandla replied.
Sphe put her phone down and felt relieved. She had expected him to ghost her and leave her to deal with this situation on her own.
‘He didn’t say he was excited or that he wanted to be a part of the baby’s life. Could it be that he is more concerned for his life? Am I overthinking everything? If he is putting this into his parents’ hands, anything could happen from here. Wow! Guess I am no longer his Sunshine, and the love has melted away.’
Hours later, Mandla sent the contact details and said nothing else. She hesitated to message him. She feared the rejection that would follow. She forwarded the contact details to her mother and waited to hear back from her. Two days later, the families were to meet. They chose to meet at the Maseko’s house, the mansion where Mandla’s party was held. Sphe looked tired. She had cried almost every night since finding out she was pregnant.
This would be the first time she would see her father since he found out, and she didn’t know what his reaction towards her would be. They arrived at the same time, and her father was very calm. He hugged Sphe, kissed her forehead and promised that everything would be alright. Sphe was shocked. The man that stood before her was not the man she knew. She appreciated his support but wondered if it was because they were at a respectable man’s home.
When the door opened, there stood a beautiful woman. She had her hair up in a bun and was dressed in jeans, a tank top and a kimono. When Mandla’s mother laid eyes on Sphe’s mother, her jaw dropped. When Sphe followed her eyes, she found her mother’s mouth wide open, too.
“Nto?” Mandla’s Mom said.
“Oh my gosh, it is you, Nompumelelo,” Sphe’s mother replied.
The women plunged into each other and hugged for what felt like an eternity. By the time they released each other from the hug, they had tears running down their cheeks. Sphe realised that Mandla’s mother was her mother’s ex-best friend.
‘What a way to reunite. I am not sure if they should be grateful to us or still be disappointed. I guess both can be true at once.’
“Please come in. Mandla and his father are in the lounge,” Mandla’s mother finally said.
They all headed to the lounge. Mandla’s father was sitting behind a newspaper. He only put it down when Mandla’s mother pointed out that the guests were in the room.
‘These best friends chose the same type of men. Successful and always stuck behind a newspaper. Then they ended up divorced.’
The conversation started, and the parents made it clear how disappointed they were in them. They also reiterated that both Mandla and Sphe would continue to get the support they need through this. Sphe was going to be homeschooled, and once she gave birth, the baby would go between both grandmothers. Mandla and Sphe were to finish high school and go to university no matter what. Their future was not to be altered. By the time the meeting ended, the parents were chattering while Mandla and Sphe sat in separate corners, wishing they could hug each other.
Later that evening, they spoke over the phone, and it felt like everything was back to normal. There was a weight lifted off their shoulders. They spoke until Sphe fell asleep.
The months that followed felt like a rollercoaster to Sphe. She was e-learning. Her teachers were very kind and patient. Her body started to change, and by the time she hit the sixth month, she had a toddler palate. She hated most foods, and everything smelt bad. Her feet would swell up sometimes, and there was nothing the doctors could give her to help with that, so she soaked her feet in cold water a lot.
From time to time, Mandla and his mother would visit. It was always nice to see him, even though she could only give him a handshake. They would sit outside and talk. They still laughed like old times. Their mothers were past the drama from years ago and were almost inseparable. They were excited to be co-grandmothers.
The nine months went by so quickly. Next thing Sphe knew, she had contractions that had her screaming out loud. She was in so much pain she thought she was going to die. When they got to the hospital, she remembered seeing Mandla. He looked scared. She paced up and down as she was instructed. Despite all the pain she was going through, the nurses kept telling her she wasn’t dilated enough. It almost drove her crazy.
An hour later, they asked her to lie down so they could check if she was ready. She said a little prayer because she just wanted to be done with this entire thing. Every inch of her being wanted to punch Mandla in the face for his privilege. She heard a nurse say, another thirty minutes and she will be ready, and she lost it internally. She cussed at everyone in the room.
When the doctor came in smiling at her, she had no anger to give. She just looked at him with desperation in her eyes. Finally, it was time for her to push her baby out. It took another hour for her to deliver her baby. She lay on the hospital bed feeling dishevelled and out of strength as the nurse swaddled her crying baby. When they put her baby against her chest, all she did was smile and cry. It was a beautiful baby girl, and she was perfect.
The families later came in to see the baby, but Siphesihle was out of it. She fell asleep as the family discussed names and timetables. She closed her eyes when she saw Mandla holding their baby. He looked content and happy to have her in his life. The next morning, she woke up to find Ziphozethu in a crib next to her bed. She loved the name. A nurse came in and put the baby in her hands. She rocked Zipho as she sang:
“You are my Sunshine,
My only Sunshine,
You make me happy,
When skies are blue.”
