IF ONLY I HAD WAITED
Part 4
©️Ojo Rhoda Ayanfeoluwa.
As I was about to knock at the door, I heard a loud scream. I guessed someone was groaning in pain in the siting room.
“This is mum’s voice.” I said to myself. I tried not to imagine her dying.
I knocked at the door, there was no response.
I heard someone telling mum to wipe her tears away. She was warned not to tell anyone about what happened.
“So, mum has been crying? For what reason?” I asked no one in particular.
The voice sounds familiar. I tried to think deeply but I couldn’t fathom the voice.
Immediately the door was opened by my mum, I knelt down to greet her. I told her “It’s Sandra, your daughter.”
I knew she was aware I was the one but, she was just too formal towards me.
“How may I help you?” She finally broke the silence.
“Mum, I’m back home. I came to visit you, mum”.
Mum couldn’t hold back her tears. As she was about to hug me, a man commanded her to stop.
I looked back to see the man who gave such a command that mum had to follow instantly.
“Mr. Juwon??” I shouted.
“What are you doing in this house? .” I asked him.
“How will you be asking me a foolish question? I never knew you were so stupid. How will you be asking me such question? How…?” He shouted.
“I asked you a question and I need answer to my question. What are you doing in this house?” I asked him.
“Well, I’m your mother’s husband” He said.
“With due respect, sir. You’re out of your mind. How on earth will you marry my mother. A mother of three children. How will you be so callous to your wives. Please, tell me. What else do you still need that God hasn’t granted unto you? What do you want again after having wives in your custody. You’re such a bad woman.” I said.
Before I could say” jack”, he slapped me.
My mum couldn’t bear it. She drew me to herself, rubbing my hairs.
“Roseline, I give you 10 minutes to dispose this animal you called a daughter.”Juwon said to my mum.
Fear was written all over my mum’s body.
She commanded me to leave the house.
I left!
I didn’t know where to go to. I was speechless. I was shocked beyond measure, seeing Juwon with my mum. It was as if I was dreaming.
I went to hide myself in an uncompleted building that was not too far from our house. Immediately Juwon left the house, I sneaked inside.
If you see my mum, fresh tears will flow without obstruction from your eyes.
“Sandra, selfishness has ruined my life. I regret my actions. Why did you run away from me some years ago? Sandra, why?” She cried out.
“Mum, I couldn’t withstand getting married to Juwon. I just couldn’t imagine myself being his wife.”I said.
“Ever since you ran away, my life hasn’t been interesting. I collected huge amounts of money from Juwon for the ceremony. When I announced to him that you were missing, he gave a wicked smile and asked me to refund all he has given me. He told me to refund all within 48 hours. I begged him to have mercy on me. He told me to marry him since you failed to marry him.
Sandra, Juwon has been a beast to me. He has been a thorn in my flesh.
There was a day Juwon beat me black and blue. I almost passed out. I bless God because he spared my life. I have been in hell ever since I married him. His wives were on my neck. One of them came to fight me physically. I was beaten black and blue. Another one came to fight me in the spirit realm. I thought I was going to die, but I didn’t. I have no freedom to do what ever I love doing. To spend #5 in this house is a big problem. Juwon is such a stingy man. I married him just because of his wealth but, he kept them away from me. He was such a stingy man.
I wish I wasn’t married to him.” Mum said.
“Mummy, I’m sorry for all you’ve been through.” I said. She asked me where I was and my experiences so far.
“Sandra, I’ve been a bad mother, especially to you. Please, I want you to forgive me. I’m sorry for being desperate for money at the expense of your joy and happiness. I’m so sorry for being selfish.”Mum said.
Juwon barged into the house all of a sudden.
It was as if the groud should swallow me alive.
You bastard, what are you still doing here? He asked me. I didn’t bother to respond to him.
“I told you to chase her away, yet you didn’t obey me. You brought this trash to this house?” He said angrily.
Mum tried to defend herself. In the process of defending me, she was beaten. Juwon brought out a whip to beat my mum.
I couldn’t believe it. I held his hands to prevent him from beating my mum but, I wasn’t fast enough. Mr. Juwon ran away when it dawned on him that he had killed someone. I tried all I could to rush her to the hospital. It was too late. She gave up the ghost.
Before she died, she told me she wrote some things for me to know about. She enjoyed me to do all I can do to go through her diary.
I just couldn’t imagine mum was gone just like that.
She died because of the wrong marriage she entered into.
If I had married Juwon, I could have been dead by now because I’m sure he would have beaten the hell out of me times without number.
Selfishness is deadly. It’s terrible to be greedy.
To be continued.
Ojo Rhoda Ayanfeoluwa
