LOVE AND LIES
SIXTEEN
Kola stepped out of the room dressed in a Ralph Lauren Polo that structured his muscular chest and well-trimmed his broad shoulders. A pair of blue Chinos trousers ran down to his feet over some laced El Haye shoes. He had a gold-encrusted Invicta watch gleaming from his wrist. His face washed with morning creams and powders. His dressing lent the credence that he was going somewhere important. His casuals were his best. He picked his steps elegantly into the living room and found Nkiru stretched out on the couched. She was in a a pair of boxers that revealed her large thighs and also a T- shirt with few flowered prints on it that tightly gave out her body shape. But she had a wrapper over it. The TV was also switched on and a man could be seen beaming a smile as he discussed the lifestyle of celebrities. Nkiru loved hearing about celebrities. She had often loved to stay online only to savour some celebrity news.
Kola swept her a look. She had stopped making his meals or picking his calls. Kola didn’t care. Most times, he would go into the kitchen and make his meals himself. Kola had a bag he clutched tightly.
” Good morning.” Kola greeted. Nkiru answered with a grunt and began to laugh, pretending to enjoy the news.
” I am sorry for the last time. I mean what happened in my office. Thank God you found out. I am no longer interested in this marriage. It is better we get a divorce.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. Only God knows how long you have been doing that. But all I know is that God will judge both of us. I was honest and faithful to you. But I didn’t know I have been with a devil all my life.” Nkiru sat up to talk.
“Call me anything you like. I want to move on with someone else. May be we were not actually meant to be together. ” Kola told her.
“You dont need to tell me. I wasn’t created for a devil. I was made for a man. And if that man doesn’t exist, then I live my life. I don’t care. I don’t owe my life to any f*****g useless man. Yes, I don’t need any fool, any castrated fool that can’t impregnate a woman, to rule me.” Nkiru’s voice was getting louder which showed she was flaring up.” I need no f*****g man!” She cried on.
Kola walked to the door and stopped. His countenance showed he didn’t really care how Nkiru felt.
“I am traveling to Ibadan. Don’t bother to look for me if I don’t come back today.” Kola told her as he creaked the door open.
“And who cares where you go? Go to hell if you like, of all I care. ” Go and sleep with her all night. Go and sleep with your prostitutes. Nkiru began to scream. Kola hurried out, banging the door behind him.
“Why do you even need to tell me, you castrated he-goat! Go and have s*x as you want with your prostitutes. I just regretted I married you. I laboured so hard to make you a man. God will judge you! ” Nkiru screamed loudly. She later flopped back into the couch.
She began to heave violently, throwing herself in several places on the couch. Her wrapper loosened and dropped, exposing the shape of a set of flapping pointed, sized b*****s. Her nose began to run. She sniffed in tears and some minutes later tears began to streak down from her eyes. She dried the tears with the edge of her wrapper and soon, her eyes were bloodshot.
Life had indeed treated her wrongly. She thought. Was it not the same man she got some loans and established him a business? Was it not the same man she sold her car to pay up his loans? All these she did because she wanted to be a good woman, and maintain her home. She wanted the happiness of marriage. And what had she got in return? Frustration, despise , abandon and above all divorce. If she had been told the early years of her marriage that Kola would turn this, she wouldn’t believe. Seriously, no one need to blame women who resolved to lesbianism or become strong advocate for radical feminism. This is just all how they started. After they had gone through serious torture and abandon from the make folk. They chose that path. They shouldn’t be blamed in any way. Nkiru thought. Her head was heavy with thought.
Kola didn’t appear like the devil when they married. He was an angel then. She wished she could strangle him to death for putting her in such situation. No, never contemplate on murder or lesbianism. Another thought told her. What would you gain from all that? Have you asked those who engage in it what they gain? Absolutely nothing! It was just the devil manipulating them. Nkiru did not believe that. She recoiled on the couch, adjusting the puff she placed her head on many times. She concluded she was no longer waiting on God.
“What is the use?” She asked herself and sighed. She was going to enjoy anything she wanted at any time. She folded herself up again as recoiled before she later slept off.
*******
Nkiru was later woken in the day by the door bell. Her face was swollen with sleep. Her hair roughly made. Remnants of sleep still hung in her eyes. She went to the door and unlocked it. Judith’ s pretty face stared at her. She smiled. It had been a while she had seen Judith. Ever since she was sacked from the bank, they hadn’t seen themselves. They only chatted. They had chatted over night and she had told Judith she was contemplating murder. She told her everything Kola did to her. She had promised to visit but Nkiru was not expecting her later in the day. Nkiru invited her in. She capered in, dressed in a fluffy wool- fabric gown. Her shoes were made of a glowing black leather with pointed heels.
“Judith! Judith!!” Nkiru hailed ” You said you should come and see me today since I left you guys.”
“I am sorry Nkiru. I have been busy” Judith voice rang out. “Where is your husband?”
“He just left. He said he was traveling to Ibadan. He was probably going to meet one of his girlfriends ”
“But I didn’t believe the story you told me while we were chatting.” Judith said as she found a seat. She sat with a face drawn with astonishment.
“So you actually caught Kola having s*x in his office?” Judith asked bluntly.
“Judith no be small thing. The girl was sitting on his chair totally n***d. When I came she didn’t even bother to dress up.”
” That guy is a Casanova o.” Judith heaved. ” Did you bother to find out about the girl?”
“Trust me. I did. I went to his face book and searched through his friend list. I saw the girl’s face. She is one Lara, an undergraduate in unilag.”
“This is serious” Judith shook her head in regret.
“He said he wanted a divorce. I have also contemplated that. I want to divorce him. Seriously that man really wrecked me. I did a lot to make Kola a man. Each time I remember all I did for him, I conclude I am a fool”
“But you don’t have to give up so soon. You used to advise me Nkiru to keep praying. Kola is your man and nobody can take him away from you. I see you enjoying your marriage again.”
“Forget that Judith. I have made up my mind. I can’t stay with a cheat like Kola.”
“Has he apologized?” Judith asked.
Apologize ke. He is not even remorseful. All he said was he wanted a divorce. But even if he apologizes, I can’t still live with him anymore. I have informed my lawyer and we will both come up with something.”
“Don’t allow the devil to defeat you in this battle.” Judith began softly.” You have started well Nkiru and has endured enough, but you need to be strong to the end. Do not end your marriage because of all these. I advise you if he apologizes, forgive him and move on. We are always made and refined by the struggles we go through.”
“I am not sure Judith. I am not sure I can’t live with him anymore. He has hurt me so much.”
“But I think you need a job. That will help you to forget all these.”
“Yes my mum is trying to link me to a school. I am tired of waiting for bank jobs.”
“Good, just take it no matter the pay and stay out of the house. That will give you room to forget all these.”
” That is true. I will do that.”
“I need to go. I was sent an errand to the headquarters. I decided to stop by and see you.”
“Thanks Judtih. I am really grateful. Extend my greetings to all the guys in the office. ”
“I will.” Judith smiled.
“So you won’t eat? Abi? Your first time in my house.” Nkiru teased.
“I don’t have all the time, Nkiru. May be the next time I come.”
“Yes that reminds me Judith. I need you to get something for me.”
“What’s that?” Judith asked.
“I need a vibrator. Can you get one for me? Don’t tell anyone o”
Judith was dumbfounded. Her mouth was wide open until she suddenly remembered to click it shut.
” Judith, you won’t understand. I don’t want any man ever again. I want to be free, totally free.”
“You need to be strong in prayers.” Judith sighed. ” Alright, I will get one for you.”
“Thanks.” Nkiru answered, feeling alittle excited. Judith stared at her and shook her head.
“You have changed Nkiru. Don’t allow your situation to overwhelm you. Remember those days you used to encourage me. Your good words changed my life. Now I am getting married soon to Abu. He has turned me to Christ. I know I am still weak but I am getting stronger. So Nkiru put up a good fight. There is always light at the end of every tunnel. ”
“Wow. I am happy you are the one saying all these to me. And above all , you getting.married to Abu. He is a great guy. May God bless your union. ”
Nkiru walked Judith to the gate. There was something that had changed about Judith. It was her manners, her new way of life. She indeed seemed to have found that peace at last. Nkiru was thinking. She bade her farewell and turned back to go into the house.
To be continued…..
ยฉEmmanuel Erondu,2019
