CHAPTER 13
SWB: Akinsehinwa Oluwaseun
The whole place was in disarray, we were so occupied with saving Dunmininu’s life that we didn’t know when that woman left with her three children.
Mama Dunmininu kept wailing while some women tried to comfort her.
It was really an embarrassing scene. Probably if they had known that this kind of thing would happen, they would have just made it a small introduction between family members or perhaps they would have cancelled earlier on.
After ten minutes, we were finally able to resuscitate Dunmininu. When she opened her eyes, the first thing she said was.
“Nifemi you warned me” she burst into an uncontrollable tears as she laid wearily on the bed. I held her right hand and continued wiping her tears that was flowing ceaselessly just as I was wiping mine.
“Yeah, this is the work of the enemies o. They have finally gotten me” I could hear Mama Dunmininu crying from her room.
“Nifemi you warned me but I didn’t listen. Smith has a pregnant wife and three children. Ah! Aye mi o, mo ti fidi jona.
Two abortions. Two abortions that almost cost me my life.
Five wasted years with a man that has no future plan for me.
The money I have been sending to his account with the intention that he will add to it so that we can buy a house before our wedding. Yeah!!! Mo wo one chance” she laughed sarcastically as more tears flowed from her eyes.
I was crying too , I didn’t know how to console her, what could I say that will comfort her weary soul?
“The times I was sick and he still forced me to satisfy his sexual pleasure.
Those times too when I’ll go to Port Harcourt and begin to do his laundry, cleaning everywhere, going to the market to stock up his store like a full house wife.
Ehhhh, so he was looking at me then and saying; look at this fool, she thinks she has found a husband, let me chop her and thrash her. Temi bamiiiii” she screamed and jumped out of the bed running to where I can’t say. I ran after her , calling on her brother’s to help me. We caught hold of her and grabbed her as she kept struggling that we should let go off her.
Her eyes were shut but tears didn’t stop flowing.
“Ah Smith sa mi logbe (Smith has given me a deep cut) Smith has ridiculed me, how do I face the world, let me just die.
I said leave me alone, allow me to kill myself”
“Omo mi jo see suru (please calm down my daughter). God will give you a better husband” Mama Dunmininu said as she held Dunmininu and placed her head on her breasts.
“Don’t hurt yourself, don’t let people call me a witch.
Think about these breasts that you suck. Don’t let people further mock me, don’t let them see my nakedness. Dakun, saanu mi, Oluwadunmininu, don’t let my joy turn to sorrow. See I promise you I will embark on 21 days marathon on the mountain, you will get a better husband even right now. Help me to beg her not to kill herself” Mama Dunmininu was crying and jumping on a spot as she spoke. She didn’t release Dunmininu from her grip.
The whole place was filled with emotions of sadness. Baba Dunmininu ordered that she should be taken back into her room with close monitorship. Later in the night, Dunmininu was given sleeping doze, it was until then she calmed down and slept. The following day was a Sunday,none of us could go to church. Our former plan of going to church for Thanksgiving after the introduction had been disrupted. I stayed with Dunmininu who refused to eat anything. She told me to go back so that I could resume work the following day but I was reluctant to go. I made her promise me that she won’t hurt herself or the unborn baby and she did. She made a promise to me that she would be fine and that she won’t do anything to hurt herself. I left later after assuring her that all would be well. All her family members thanked me and her siblings saw me off to the park where I boarded a bus.
I arrived Abuja so late in the night. My husband was so happy to see me. I had not hinted him on what happened to Dunmininu. He asked me how the introduction went and I simply told him, it went well. I will relay to him the incident that played out at the introduction later. I was not happy at all, I wonder how some men can be so secretive and wicked. How many innocent ladies had had to suffer in the hands of men like Smith? Well it happens with women too, after all we have ladies who deceive some men that they’ll marry them, just because of what they want to collect from these men. At the end of it all, they disappoint them. Why do we human beings keep deceiving one another? Look at my husband Richard, we were in courtship for over a year and he never for once mentioned to me that he’s impotent. Now I have to suffer in silence. The most painful part is that, he is even denying it. We’ve been married for two weeks now and I’ve not felt what it really means to be married. I’m a married virgin. I yearn for my husband’s touch but he’s impotent.
“Men can be terrible!” I didn’t know I said that loud, my husband heard.
“Babe, women too are terrible o,you can’t imagine what happened in church today. You missed a lot. A guest minister was invited, he preached on marital unfai…..”
“Richard I’m really tired, maybe we can talk tomorrow” I interrupted my husband angrily because I wasn’t ready for any debate on whether it is men that are more terrible or women. All I know is that the degree at which men hurt ladies is higher than the degree at which women hurt men. It is men that will abandon their wives and children only to be following chicks or vultures all around.
“And is it not the same female folks who are the side chicks and vultures. Women hurting women like themselves” a voice answered in my mind but I was bent on my own side of the argument.
“Men are terrible. They are liars, deceivers, adulterers, name it, only with few exceptions, maybe two out of one million sha” all these argument was going on in my mind. I called Dunmininu before I slept , she didn’t pick up, it was her mom who picked up. She told me Dunmininu has calmed down and that she was sleeping. She appreciated me for standing by her and I told that Dunmininu is more than just a mere friend to me. We said our good night and I hung up. I didn’t even remember to pray before I slept off. I woke up the following morning around six o clock. I jumped out of bed and was about to rush to the bathroom when I remembered I had not said my morning prayers. Richard was not on the bed,I guess he’s downstairs making breakfast.
I quickly rushed my prayers before going into the bathroom, if I don’t set out before seven , I won’t be able to beat the traffic. By ten minutes to seven I was fully ready to set out. Richard had left, he informed me before leaving that he had already made breakfast and I should take mine from the dinning. He made rice and stew with fish. I ate a little from it before leaving. I needed some strength to face my boss today. I just pray he grants my request.
Getting to the office, I realized Mr Jude wasn’t yet around , so I decided to wait till he’ll come. I waited and waited, he didn’t come. Finally when it was closing hour, I put a call through to him and he told me he arrived just about an hour ago and couldn’t make it down to the office.
Something told me to go to his house while another voice told me to wait till tomorrow.
“You want to see me for something urgent?” He asked while I was still contemplating on what to do.
“Yes sir”
“Okay then, come over , I’ll be waiting for you in the living room but you have to hurry up because I would be going out by seven pm” he said authoritatively.
“Okay sir” I didn’t like the idea of going to his house to discuss official matters but it appeared like I had no choice presently. I drove down to his house and was welcomed by his maid who took my bag and led me to the living room. I met Mr Jude seated alone and watching a TV show. He was in his casual wears and had a pair of slippers on.
“Good afternoon sir” I greeted.
“Good Afternoon Nifemi, please take a seat” he said. The young maid brought me a cup of juice which I accepted with courtesy.
“You may leave now, I’ll call you when you are needed” he said to the young girl who took a bow before leaving.
“So what’s it you wanted to discuss with me Nifemi” he asked looking straight into my face.
“Sir first I would like to apologise for the embarrassing scene Damilola and I created at your birthday party. We are really sorry. It was a slight misunderstanding.”
He chuckled
“Slight misunderstanding you say”
“We are really sorry sir” I said
“No problem, apology accepted”
“Thank you sir, second is that I want to plead on behalf of Damilola , please sir can you reverse you decision?”
“No!” He answered sharply and stood up to leave.
“Is that all you came here to discuss?”
“Sir please”
“I heard all she did to you Nifemi. In fact I’ve been seeing the things she does just to get on your nerves but I pretended as if I didn’t notice but this one she did , will be the last. What if you have broken a rib when she put her leg forward causing you to fall?”
“Please sir, she has realized her mistake”
“I can’t risk your life Nifemi, I’m sorry Damilola is gone and gone for good.” He started mounting the stairs and I followed him begging and pleading on her behalf but he didn’t listen, when I realize I was going beyond my boundary, I stopped and started pleading from where I stood. He suddenly stopped too and turned, mounting down the stairs towards me. He stood before me , his hands akimbo with his back resting on the railings.
“Nifemi I might not have told you this before but I will now, I love you so much”
My heart almost missed a beat.
“I was planning to take you to be my wife until your husband surprised me with his fast move. Your husband was faster than me. It seems too late but my feelings for you has not changed. I can’t let a fly perch on you while I stand by and do nothing. The other at the party that I told you I wanted to introduce you to someone important, I was going to introduce you to my Mom. I’ve always told her about you, even before you got married but that girl ruined everything and made you leave even before I could get the chance to introduce you to Mom. I’m sorry Nifemi, I know I shouldn’t be saying this but everytime I see you, my heart yearns for you. I love you so much Oluwanifemi” he stared pleadingly into my eyes , stepped forward, moved closer to me, held me and then planted a kiss on my lips. He didn’t stop, he continued, caressing me as he kissed me deeper. I knew this wasn’t right but I yearned for a man’s touch. Suddenly my phone rang and it jolted me back to my senses. I withdrew from him, picked up my bag and ran out of the house. I rushed into my car and drove out with an accelerated speed.
My whole body felt the impact of his touch, it registered in my memory and kept replaying itself. My goodness! I just allowed another caress me, what happened to my vows?