Jobe wedding

The Jobe household was buzzing with excitement. S’bu had completed his bachelor of commerce degree and graduated. He had the biggest graduation party to celebrate his achievement. In the party Mr J announced that he will be handing over JJL to his son and stay on as a board member. S’bu became more popular and more women wanted him increasing Thandi’s enemies dramatically. The exorbitant graduation party was still fresh in everyone’s mind when invitations came out for Menzi’s older brother Ben’s wedding. All Jobe relatives were back in town to attend the wedding. Zake, S’bu, Menzi and TT were well know for their good looks and charms, girls were going crazy seeing all of them in one place. Thandi had declined S’bu’s invitation to the wedding. She had a really bad time at the graduation party and she knew that she was unlikely to have any good time at the wedding with all the girls who would be flirting with him. The first day was the white wedding, it started in church where the vows were taken and the procession went to the brides family. The following day was the traditional wedding,the procession went to the groom’s home where the bride will be given a name and be welcomed to the family. S’bu did not think Thandi was serious when she declined the invitation and was not happy when she didn’t come on the first day of the wedding. He decided to go behind her back and asked her Mother’s permission instead. When Thandi woke up, G was in the kitchen with her Mother with orders to pick her up. She was so annoyed with both her Mother and S’bu, she went to get dressed dragging her feet. She put on a simple long red dress with short sleeves, beaded head band and black pumps. When she got into the car with G, S’bu was already calling to find out why they had not arrived yet. When they got to Menzi’s home, he was waiting for them outside.

“MaDlamini, you look beautiful”he said lovingly.

‘You called my Mother behind my back”Thandi said still annoyed ignoring his complement.

“There can never be a wedding at a Jobe household without you” he said.

“You do realise that I’m just your girlfriend? we could break up tomorrow”she said still annoyed.

“Keep on telling yourself that” he said laughing at her. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

“There’s elders around” Thandi said pushing him away. “I’m not sitting with you, I’m going to find Mandy” she said walking away.

S’bu did not object as he still had things to take care of, he was happy as long as Thandi was around. While looking for her friend, Thandi met a few Jobe man who bowed calling her First Lady. S’bu has never told her why his family behaves like this with her and he refuses to tell them to stop. She also met a few rude women, one of them stepped on her on purpose. Thandi just walked away ignoring her, not wanting to make a scene at S’bu’s family function. She was getting used to ignoring these girls.

“Mandy!” she said relieved. Everything was better with her friend around.

“Thandi, I thought you were not coming” Mandy said hugging her. “Come help me style my hair” Mandy said giving her the comb.

“I wasn’t but your brother spoke to my Mother behind my back, when I woke up G was there waiting for me” Thandi explained.

Mandy looked at her sympathetic, her brother seems to have taken over Thandi’s life.

“This is my cousin Liz, she’s TT’s younger sister”Mandy said.

“Hi Liz, I’m Thandi.”

“Thandi, the lucky girl that drives S’bu crazy”Liz said.

“More like the cursed one”Mandy objected.

“Why cursed? he only says the best things about her, she’s the love of his life” said Liz. “A lot of girls would do anything to be you” she added.

“Exactly!” Mandy exclaimed. “Who do you think those girls hate, whom do they take their anger on?” Mandy asked.

“Ooh, never thought of that, but surely he protects you” she said. To Liz and most Jobe members, S’bu could do anything.

“He’s not always there” Thandi said helpless. She was starting to get depressed by this conversation and decided to change the topic.

“Tell me why Jobe man bow when the see me?” Thandi asked Mandy.

“You are not going to like the answer” Mandy warned.

“Tell me, please” she begged. She had asked S’bu several times but he always changed the topic.

“It’s because of the covenant he made when he took your virginity. The one about loving you forever” Mandy told her.

Thandi’s jaw dropped “so you all know details about that day?” she asked embarrassed. No wonder he did not want to tell her.

Mandy nodded “I know that you are very private but S’bu is the Jobe heir, everything about him is the whole family’s business. He has made you the centre of his attention” Mandy said.

They were disturbed by screams and ululating outside. S’bu, Menzi and TT had just come out wearing their traditional attire holding small shields and spears. The commotion was caused by their exposed chests showing off the six packs. They were enjoying the attention, flirting and taking photos with the girls.

“He has a tattoo with your name on his chest!” Liz exclaimed. “Girl, you better tell me your secret. I need a man to be that crazy about me” she added.

“How do you think they remember my name from? careful what you wish for” Thandi warned her. She had been abused so much because of S’bu’s endless posts about her and because of that tattoo, she was starting to hate it.

“Why are you still with him if you not happy?” Liz asked. She always envied the way S’bu loved Thandi and wished to find someone like that one day. She never expected to find out about the negatives.

“I love him” Thandi confessed. “When he looks at me it’s like I’m all that matters. When he touches me, my heart just melts no matter how angry I am with him. I always end up in his arms no matter what. It’s not all bad, we have lots good times too. I hope I’m making sense” Thandi said.

“Thandi!” Amahle came running to her.

“Hlehle!” Thandi responded hugging her.

“Look how big you’ve become, at this rate you will be taller than me” Thandi exclaimed dramatically.

“Dad told me that you were coming and I kept scones for you” she said proudly.

“I will definitely have some, thank you sweetheart” Thandi responded. Amahle was S’bu’s six year old daughter. Thandi was very fond of her. She use to cry for her when she was a baby before Thandi even met S’bu. Over the years they have become even closer.

Thandi was trying to ignore the commotion around the Jobe brothers when she got a call from Sthe who was outside the gate. She went outside to meet him excited. She had not seen him in three years since he joined the navy.

“Sthe” she said excited hugging him. “You look like a soldier!” she exclaimed.

“I am a soldier” Sthe said laughing. The two friends talked for a long time catching up.

“Where’s Thandi” S’bu asked.

“Look” Mandy responded pointing at Thandi who was chatting happily with Sthe.

S’bu clenched his fists involuntarily.

“If you don’t treat her right, someone else will take her away from you” Mandy said teasing him.

S’bu laughed “You should know by now that Thandi is mine, heart, body and soul. I was her first and I’m her last. Her heart has my name printed on it. I’m the first person she thinks about in the morning when she wakes up and the last before she sleeps.” Walking away from Mandy, S’bu believed every word he uttered but why was seeing Thandi with Sthe making his blood boil?

“If looks could kill, that man would be dead and buried” Menzi said watching S’bu’s gaze. S’bu gave him a cold stare. He had moved away from the crowd to watch Sthe and Thandi. He saw Thandi give Sthe a hug before the two parted. He walked towards her, his anger brewing inside threatening to explode anytime.