Living in Regret
Episode 3
On the way to his house, Uche kept complaining about his fate and how his wife had become lazy since she gave birth to a child.
“I will teach her a lesson”, he said and she will be begging to cook for me everyday”.
He walked slowly back to the house and sat outside the bench on the verandah.
“Amaka”, he called and there was no response where is this woman”?
“Amaka, he screamed the second time, and there was still no response.
Uche was so furious that his face looked like it was going to burst into flames.
Suddenly, she came running out of the bush where she went to get okro for the evening meal.
“Nnayi Ndewo( My husband well done), she said.
He didn’t allow her finish when he stood up and gave her a slap.
Amaka used her hand to covered her face, where he slapped her.
“Didn’t you hear I was calling you, are we now mates? Have you forgotten why I married you?
In case you have forgotten, I married you because you were already pregnant for me and I didn’t want the whole village to mock at me.
I know if I didn’t they would called me a weakling for not taking responsibility for my actions.
It was just a mistake”. He looked at her as tears rolled down her eyes.
“Don’t ever forget your place, it seems I have given you too much privileges in this house because I wanted our son to grow up first.
He said as he went inside the hut, murmuring to himself.
That was just the beginning of her problems ,she stood there puzzled unable to do anything.
She remembered that Uche married her because she got pregnant for him.
He wasn’t ready for marriage, especially not with her.
Her plan was to get pregnant so he would have no choice but to marry her.
Uche highly valued his reputation and would do anything to protect it.
This was fate getting back at her for what she did, When she married Uche.
He didn’t have anything as he was an orphan struggling alone to survive.
Uche saw it as an avenue to own barns and lands by getting married to her.
This second woman he had in mind to marry was his long lost love.
Ada whom he had promised he will come back to her after fully setting down.
Not even Emeka his friend knew about his motive of getting married to Amaka.
It was just like his father had seen what was to come when he warned him not to ever take a second wife.
She went on with her cooking and promised to relate everything to her father who was the source of their wealth.
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t do anything because tradition doesn’t permit another man to interfere in his brother’s family.
This was the confident Uche had to do what he wanted.
The next morning, Uche woke up with a frown,he had thought over everything.
He had made up his mind to set out to the neighbouring village bringing back his long lost love.
“Amaka,” he called out. “My husband, I am here,” she responded fearfully.
“Prepare my water and everything else I need. I’m going to see my uncle,” he lied.
“But, my husband, is there a problem?” She asked, he looked like her with a frown, this scared her, so she quickly did what he told her to do.
Once he finished, he went to take a bath, thinking about the time he would spend with his lover.
He got dressed and set off to see his new wife.
As he went to the nearby village, he was excited about how he will finally have a daughter and then throw Amaka out of his house.
But little did he know, that his life was about to take a dark and unexpected turn.
Thessycute Ekene
