ADUKE…
Chapter 11.
I met Mike in a supermarket,and since my rented apartment wasn’t far form the supermarket,it wasn’t difficult for him to locate my house,he was coming on daily basis, begging for attention and a date,haven heard from J and her advice that I give love a chance,indeed I decided to give a thought..
Mike was a very handsome looking young man who was either in his late twenties or very early thirties,he was igbo by tribe,we went on a date or two,we spoke at length and he was fun to be with.i enjoyed his company alot,he was Very caring and kind,he calls me first thing at dawn and doesn’t go to bed without hearing from me..he was into sales of electronics and he buys goods directly from Japan and other countries, It wasn’t difficult falling in love with him,he was a full package…
Things were going fine with us,we had become fond of each other,the love between us was visible to the blind,it’s been months and clearly our relationship was going serious,I didn’t want a sexual relationship,and he obliged….
It was high time I met his parents,I was a little nervous,what if his parents doesn’t like me,what if I am not what his mother wants for her son,I had so many thoughts going through my head….
Finally I met his parents and three sisters…his father and sisters seems to like me alot,but his mother I wasn’t so sure….
So Chinedu,you didn’t see any of our igbo sisters to marry,you had to travel to the far west to get a wife,his mother had said without trying to hide her feelings, obviously,she didn’t like me…..
Ngozi,in this age and time you are still involved in tribalism,let the young man marry who ever he wants to,his father said in his defense….
Mama,Aduke is the one I love and wants to marry,please stop all these,if I had seen an igbo girl that I love as much as I love AD,why not I would have settled with her, but unfortunately, Aduke is the only one I love,,,Mike said…I was so happy,to have Mike, a man that could defend me before his mother and family is really worth it,,I strongly believed he loved me so much and would accept me for who I am….
Okay oh,Chinedu,your father has obviously given his blessings and consent,I can’t stand in the way then,bia Omo Yoruba,make sure to take proper care of my son,as you can see he’s my only son,his mother said to me and hugged me.
I felt blessed and welcome to the family,,, God indeed is faithful.i rejoiced with me.
It was a beautiful Friday evening, Mike had asked that we went to see a movie together,,,I agreed and we saw a very interesting one,after which,he asked that we had dinner in a very fancy restaurant, while we had our meals half way,Mike went down on one kneel, brought out a sparkling diamond ring and asked me to be his wife…
ADUKE,,,these past few months with you has been the most adorable moment of my life,I just can’t imagine my life without you in it, please, Aduke, would you be Mrs Mike Chinedu Okolie,he said …
It was a beautiful moment, of course I would,I said smiling, stretching out my left hand,well he placed the ring on my middle finger….
I went home rejoicing, everything seems to be working for my good,I called Joyce and told her of the latest development,I even called maami and gave her the good news,maami was very happy,she demanded to see Mike in person…..
Mike and I had to travel home in his car to see maami and Baami,Baami was so very happy,he couldn’t stop singing my praises to Mike,how he is proud he trained me in the university and today I am a great and responsible lady,how he’s blessed to have a daughter like me and so many other stories,mother and I glanced at each other,like Baami even knows the university I went to,the course I studied or how much a textbook cost,it was so annoying as he takes credit for maami’s labour…
But maami gave me a sign not to say anything,,,, Mike kelt down in appreciation to Baami for all he did for me..he made his intentions known,both Baami and maami liked him,Mike came with some sophisticated wine from Japan for Baami and he was very delighted…..
Mike past the night in an hotel,and at dawn we went back to imo together…
My concience was eaten me up,,,I kept hearing in my head the need to tell Mike the truth…I called J and told her I was confused and didn’t know what to do,, should I keep mute and marry him believing God for a miracle,or I told him the truth,I had asked J….
Hmmmmmmm,I know how difficult this is for you, trust me I do,but you see,it is better you tell him the truth,any relationship built on lies can never stand,you said mike loves you so very ,so I don’t think he’d dessert you when you tell him the truth,more over it is better you serve someone with the hard and bitter truth than lies covered in fanciness,J said…..
After much consideration,I decided I was going to tell Mike the truth about me,a date had been fixed for our introduction ceremony,but I decided to let the cat out of the bag before the introduction day….
It was a beautiful Sunday evening,I had texted Mike that I wanted to have a conversation with him at my place,,,he obliged and promised to be there at 4pm…
Some minutes past 4pm I heard a knock at the door, obviously it was Mike,all of a sudden I felt this strong cold all over me,I didn’t know what to do,,I slowly with to the door and opened for him to come him,I gave him a rather cold hug,dear are you okay,he asked me concerned,,I nooded my head in affirmation…
He sat down on the bed,I joined him,but couldn’t say a word, didn’t know how to begin….
Okayyyy,you said you wanted to talk to me about something,what is it,he asked me calmly…
I,I,I,I, I didn’t know how to begin the conversation….
Now you are Making me scared, is your maami okay,he asked,I nodded,how about your Baami,I nooded again in affirmation..
So what is it,,you are making me scared,dear,you know you can tell me anything,just anything,he said politely…
Mike,do you love me,I asked him….
Come on honey,you know I love you more than I love myself, I’d do just anything for you,even give my life if need be,he said,so talk to me,he reassured me…
Mike,I am not a perfect person,I did something few years ago,that I am not so proud of,I,I,I,I,I,
Honey see,what ever you did in your past,is in your past,I didn’t meet you in your past but now,so don’t let any of that bother you,I love you so very much,let your past die as your past,he said…
That is the problem,this past can not die with the past as it affect my present and even my future,I said bursting into tears…
Dear what is this past that you speak of with so much magnitude, talk to me and I’d help you carry the burden,he said…
I had an abortion some years ago,and it affected my womb,the doctor said my womb was damaged and may not be able to bear children….I said in so much pain am tears..
It was like he was frozen for some minutes,he couldn’t blink his eyes nor say a word….
Mike am sorry,,,I didn’t do it intentionally,I was raped,I I I Was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea,am sorry Mike…
He gently removed his hands from mine, kept staring at me like he had alot off questions to ask,,,, Mike say something, please,I am sorry,I really am,I said in tears…..
When you refused to have s*x with,I didn’t mind,cos I thought you were a virgin,,, didn’t know you aren’t one,and to make matter worse you have a damaged womb, he said….
Mike, I didn’t tell you I was a virgin,I just don’t want to get involved in a sexual relationship,,,I didn’t lose my virginity nor damaged my womb deliberately,it was not intentional,I said begging him,please hear me out, please, I’d explain everything…..he looked at me in disdain,went out and drove off….
I tried calling him,I called and called all through that day,he wasn’t picking,I called for some more days,he wasn’t picking……
It was few days to our introduction,I hadn’t heard from him,I went to his house several times,but met his absence…
Maami and Baami were making preparations on their end,I didn’t know what to tell them….
It was a day to our introduction,I hadn’t travel home,maami had called me several times,I then decided to visit his parents the early hours of the day….
Goodafternoon ma, goodafternoon sir,I greeted his parents,good afternoon my dear his father answered,but his mother didn’t,rather she gave me a disgusting look…what are you doing in my house,his mother asked unfriendly,ma,our introduction is tomorrow, but I haven’t been able to reach my husbanddddddd,may dogs cut of that tongue of yours you use in referring to my son as your husband, my son can never,ever get married to a loosed woman,a shameless prostitute,let alone one without a womb,get your shameless and disgusting self,out of my presenceeeeee,mom, enough with the names calling,Mike said as he walked out…
Allow me,allow me talk to this gold digger,I knew it,I knew something wasn’t right the very first day I set my eyes on this cheap slut…
I was practically shivering,she judged me completely without hearing my side of the story,,I looked at Mike,,,,am sorry Aduke,I can’t marry you,, Mike said…
My daughter,my family’s name can not be erased from the surface of the earth,Mike is my only son,and he needs to procreate,his father added….
I cried and walked out quietly,even as I left,I could still hear his mother raining insult on me and calling me names…
Do I blame her, that’s the society we live in, always quick to judge, but then,there are consequences to every action taken, deliberately or indeliberately.
I was lost in the ocean of my thoughts,I didn’t know I had walked into the main road,gboommmmmmmmmm was all I heard and then I blacked out…
Written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
