#Grim
Episode Nine
ยฉ Omotayo Olukemi Aiyemo
I read Lekan’s threat, over and over and my blood boiled vigorously that I almost ran mad with rage. I needed something, anything or even someone to unleash my fury on, and Bisade is the only one available. DAMN IT!
I needed to release me from the grip of this anger, Jeez! It’s choking. Lekan just threatened me…what effrontery? What an insolence? Sleeping with my wife and having the audacity to even dare me in doing as I please with my wife…I so wish to bring his life to an abrupt end.
That’s definitely what he deserves as he wouldn’t leave us alone in peace. I soon will get to him, but first, Bisade needs a taste of how her lover just made me feel. We’ll sought for peace afterwards.
* * *
I glanced at my husband from time to time until his eyes became bloody red. It was even worse than the day he had beaten me up. Even as I thought of what could have provoked him this time but I was sure it would have to do with what he was constantly looking at on his phone. When he fixed his eyes on me for some seconds, I knew that whatever was provoking him on his phone, has something to do with me. I feared for my life. I swear, there’s no way I’m ever going to survive if he should hit me again. I needed to do something, but what exactly to do, I don’t know.
“Tade mi, when do you think we’ll leave this place? Cos I think I’m now getting better and I need some moments with you, my husband” I said without thinking hoping it will calm in down. I thought my words were effective on him at first but when he didn’t reply with either words or gesture, but instead clenched his fist I knew I was about to be doomed for the second time, maybe for the last time if I’m unfortunate.
I regret covering him up when I had the chance, now I hope I’ll be able to get another chance because I doubt if Tade is ever going to change.
“Mom I need you now” I cried within. I was so stupid to have asked her to leave, that I was feeling better already and Tade would take good care of me. I only needed rest which my mom would not let me have with her talk, both the relevant and otherwise. Now I wished she’s here.
I heard some footsteps and I prayed within that it would be that of the doctor or nurse, or anybody at all.
“Nurse! Nurse!” I called out. Now isn’t the time to be calm and watch how things unfold itself. This is a desperate moment that needs desperate action. Tade looked at me with a little confusion. I observed the rage has reduced but I didn’t let that to deceive me. I called out again and he asked why I was shouting like a mad woman.
Can you imagine, my husband referring to me as a mad woman. I called out again and this time, Tade stood up and bent over, looking at me eyeball to eyeball. I dare not look at him beyond a second as I was terrified to my bone marrow.
“My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me yet again?”
God heard my plea this time as a man who had come visiting another patient walked into my ward. He was surprised to see someone with me but went ahead to ask if I needed any help.
“Of course I do! Save me from this monster of a man” I wished I could say aloud.
I began to cry telling the total stranger that I was feeling pains here and there ignoring Tade and whatever he might be planning on doing.
” Mr.. don’t you think you should get this woman the doctor instead of just sitting there?” The stranger asked my husband which annoyed him. He stood up demanding what business of his this is. Tade asked him to leave at once and never to return else he would put off his gentlemanly garment and deal with him in such a way that he’ll never ever interfere in someone’s business again.
I wonder why Tade was still exchanging words with the man. I was expecting him to throw a punch or slap already as he would do me. Why is he still talking if not that he’s a weakling? He only can demonstrate his power on me, a woman and his wife, and not on a man like himself. I cursed him within and wished the stranger can give him the bitter pill he had given me to swallow by beating him up to a pulp. I wished so many things for Tade but none of them was good, nothing close to it.
Just as soon as Tade grasped the other man’s cloth, still threatening to beat him up, the doctor and some nurses rushed in thereby halting my expectations.
Tade later released his hold off the man after much persuasion from the doctor. He stormed out of the ward in anger and I thanked goodness that I was saved. I was soon left alone with the doctor in the ward which was some minutes ago crowded.
The doctor asked me to take the time to rest as he would talk to my husband to know what the problem his. I wasn’t expecting him to ask me what happened, no I wasn’t. He had in every time proven that his loyalty lies with his client Tade, and not with me, his patients or the job which I was sure he swore an oath to do right. He must be a wife beater as well and I wished he gets out of my sight already. My wish came through as he left almost immediately.
I was both mentally, emotionally and physically tired from all that has happened to me just within a month span of marriage. I wished I could just wake up and discovered it’s all but a dream, but nay I didn’t wake up because I was awake already, instead I slept off.
* * *
Immediately I left the ward, I got into my car and drove off. I had no where in particular in mind. I kept on driving till my fuel gauge indicated that I was low on it. I drove into the fueling station for top up and there I had the chance to calm down and think of a plan.
The plan was so perfect that I see no need to revisit it. It will definitely work out and at the end, Bisade will be mine and mine alone. I drove right back to the hospital, this time with a calm and clearer head.
* * *
I woke up to the tap of Tade telling me I have been discharged.
Discharged? How can I be discharged already when I’m not alright yet?
“Tade, please I still need sometime to heal well… please let me stay” I begged
” No darling, you can’t stay here any longer than now. I have spoken with the doctor and he’s assured me that a nurse will always come around to take care of you at home. You know sweetheart, I have to return to work if not, by the time you leave here when you think you’re healed, I will be without a job. Or do you want me to loose my job?” He replied coolly.
” My mom will stay with me, let’s call her back. I know her, she’ll return at once. Please Tade, let me stay” I begged on.
” I know you might want to prove stubborn… wait, how come you’re now speaking up already?.. well, that does not matter now, or ever. Just get up now and follow me. Don’t you dare do anything funny else, I’ll stab you so badly that you’ll be unrecognizable even in your death.” Tade said menacingly while showing me the tip of a well hidden dagger.
I feared for my life..I feared for what would become of my mom if I should die now… I nodded repeatedly agreeing to go with him.
I paused for a while as he continued packing, stood up when he asked me to and followed him expecting nothing but something lesser than death.
* * *
I couldn’t stop thinking of Abisade me.. asking me to leave her life is something I was yet to understand. I remembered I saw fear in her eyes as opposed to the crazy her mom had told me about. Something is definitely wrong with her. Could it be that she’s hiding something from me? Of course she is; if not she wouldn’t ask me to leave her life, because she knows I’ll find out.
I have known Abisade all my life…we grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same primary and secondary school before we went to separate universities.
If not for her mom, we would have been together as husband and wife damning the consequences of the genotype issue.
I remembered when Abisade’s mom had called me sometime then and explained to me while she insisted we don’t get married. She was also a victim of it.
Abisade’s father had convinced her also then to marry him even though their genotypes forbade it. She was in love then and so she married him. When she lost three of her kids who were sickled cells, her husband became frustrated and yielded to his family pressure. He married another wife and the house became too toxic for her and so she left him without knowing she was pregnant already. A pregnancy that resulted from rape, as her husband forcefully slept with her while he was drunk.
She left and never looked back, putting all she had in raising Abisade.
She wouldn’t even pray for her enemies to go through such path, to encountered what she passed through, let alone her daughter, her only child. And so, it would be grossly inconsiderate of me to still stick to marrying her still and so i agreed we broke up.
Still in my thoughts, my phone rang and I reluctantly picked it.
“Yes, Olamilekan on the line” I spoke into the phone.
The caller, the doctor who was treating Abisade asked me to see him in his office, if possible right now.
Nothing, absolutely nothing could hold me down where Abisade’s matter is involved. And to feel concern in the doctor’s voice, I knew she was in danger.
I left what I was doing and rushed to the hospital. The doctor explained to me the scene Tade created before he finally asked him to discharge his wife, which he hesitantly did. He further explained how a nurse had called his attention to my number Abisade had scribbled on the bedspread and also the “IN DANGER” she wrote alongside.
I saw the bedspread and I feared for her life. I trembled had the thought of what Tade would have done to her. I thanked the doctor and left him hurriedly.
Delay may be dangerous.
I entered my car and put a call through be to my friend, a top ranking officer. I couldn’t reach him. I left him a message on voicemail describing everything I believe must be happening and how I needed his help urgently.
Just as I was about to ignite my car’s engine, I got an alert indicating a message. Feeling positive that my friend, the officer had replied, I opened my inbox and read the shock of my life.
SAVE ME PLEASE…SAVE ME FROM TADE…..
I looked at the sender to confirm my worst fear, it was from Abisade mi
To be continued…
