Diary Of A Mafia King's Wife

Dear Diary: Mlondi hit me...

Yesterday was Mandy's babyshower and I didn't go. Mlondi is the one who wanted me to go. I don't like that girl. And I haven't seen hubby for a month. He disappeared the day after the painting job. It's so peaceful without him. I don't think I can deal with his mood swings. And I'll probably end up working in his construction company for years, because I talk too much and I ask a lot. And we all know what happens when I do that. I wonder how Owami coped for 3 years. I can't help but think my parents know where she went off to. They wouldn't relax like that, not knowing where their precious daughter went. Especially my mom. I wonder what would happen if I decided to disappear.

I'm watching TV, when the family walks in. Looks like they went somewhere together. Without me. I can't help but feel left out. It's like I never fit in anywhere and it makes me unhappy most of the time.

"Did you go to Mandy's babyshower?" Simphiwe the oldest brother asks me. Hearing him speak sounds really strange. I always thought Mlondi was the quiet one but his big brother is worse. I think he's shy but confident. The youngest two are loud and opinionated. When we are sitting together we always listen to them. Mpilo the third born likes debating about any thing which annoys Mlondi who's used to everyone else listening without question what he has to say.

"No, I didn't "

"You need to leave the house at some point. Meet new people. Make friends" I just nod, while feeling unwanted. I'm not the only one who doesn't leave the house. But I'm the only one who's told to. Four months into the marriage they no longer want me here. So I leave the room. As soon as I close the door. They start talking, which breaks my heart. I head to my room, and I do what I love. I draw.

I look at the clock when there's a knock on the door. I've been drawing for the past 4 hours. It's time for supper, the maid at the door tells me. I don't feel disturbing the fam so I tell her I'm not hungry. I lock the door and head to bed. Drawing can be exhausting. I close my eyes for like 5 seconds when someone wakes me. It's maNgubane and her daughter-in-law. One of the reasons I'm going to hate about staying here. It's like there's no privacy. They ask so many questions because since I got here I never missed supper. I've been telling them that I'm okay for like 10 minutes until Manqoba comes to my rescue and they leave. I just smile at him when he closes the door.

I wake up around 5am super hungry and I head to the kitchen after a quick shower. The quickest shower in the history of quickest showers.

I'm standing in the sink washing my plate when I feel someone else in the room. I smile thinking it's maNgubane. Something I always find amusing and creepy at the same time, is how everyone can just pop besides you. Like I never hear them approaching. But when Mlondi is in the room you can feel him without seeing him or hear him talk. And sometimes I notice that about his grandmother. If they went for some kind of training I also want to go.

Before I can turn and ask her what she wants. Paaaah. I feel like my cheek is on fire and it's gonna fall off. Before I can even turn around so the person can see that they are hitting the wrong person. The person throws a punch and I hit the floor. I want to scream but my voice isn't coming. I look up, it's Mlondi he looks mad. He doesn't say anything, he starts kicking me in the stomach, chest and face. When he kicks my nose I hear a sound. He broke my nose.

Just then a gun goes off while I black out.

When I open my eyes, I see everyone except Mlondi. I look around, I'm in hospital. My body hurts from head to toe. I wonder who took me to the hospital. I must've been bad.

"Don't you guys ever work?" I always wanted to ask that question.

"Of all the things you could ask. You had to ask that?" MaDlamini asks laughing. I don't think I've heard her laugh. I can't help but smile, more like try to smile. I try to sit but my body hurts.

"Be careful, we don't want your stitches to come out" Manqoba comments, helping me with the pillow.

Stitches.

"Who took me to this fancy hospital. I don't even have a medical aid" I ask starting to worry.

"This is not really a hospital. More like a Clinic. If you left the house you'd know we have a clinic in the yard" maNgubane tells me.

Where do they get the money to pay the doctors?

"Nana, you should stop doing that" I don't even ask what she's talking about. I know I said that out loud.

"When is the Doctor going to discharge me?"

"You can ask him when he gets here" just then the door opens and she tells me. "Oh here he comes"

Mlondi walks in and he closes the door behind him. Maybe he'll relay the message. Manqoba gives him a stinky eye and he ignores him.

"You'll leave this room tomorrow" he tells me after asking his family questions about my injuries. Wow what a strange family. Here I thought I was the patient.

"Who attended me?" I ask Manqoba. He points at his brother.

What? And then they say I have stitches.

"Who stitched me?" I ask maNgubane.

"He did" she also points at Mlondi.

"Oh wow. So you beat me up instead of taking me to a proper hospital. You play doctor with what? Your fashion design qualification?" I've been telling myself that I will not talk to him. But wow, this guy is something else. Who does that?

"Nana, Mlondi is a qualified Doctor. Although he doesn't really practice" maNgubane tells me after the laughter has died. Qualified Doctor? I fell asleep just then.