LOVE AND LIES
THREE
A shadow lurked outside in the dark like a silhouette. Kola wondered what it was. He rose from the bed and walked to the window. An incoherent warbling drifted towards him mingled with a sound like a slurping of soup or a rasp of tools. He stood there for a while savouring the fresh evening breeze that was thrashing softly outside. Nkiru sat bolt upright, confused. The bed was unmade. She was not just horny. She wanted a baby. Would she have to knee to beg Kola to make love to her? To fuck her like the man she married even against all opposition? She sniffed in thought. She had pinned herself into the bed all through the night probably to forget Kola and her plights in life and move on. But sleep evaded her like an asthmatic deprived of an inhaler.
Soft light of the moon threw a daub warmth in the room while something from nowhere outside still cooed noisily . It seemed to cough and bawl and sometimes like shrieks of laughter or a chunk of glasses. Kola was staring at nothing at the window, probably comfortable with the cacophony of noises outside. Sometimes, it would submerge into a high-pitched whimper of a child then rose into a mechanical retching and purring. Something like a fly settled on his neck. He waved it away. It circled and perched again. He was confused how flies could probably have entered the room he fleeted. But it wasn’t a fly but his illusion or probably the caress of the breezes. He carried a face that night that held an expression of dumb resignation. He was tired of making love to Nkiru. Nothing about her excited him anymore. She wasn’t just the woman that excited him that very first day he stepped into her bank to open an account. Her benign smile held a speckle of light that drew him out of his wit. He was uncomfortable as a chill rose to the top of his stomach. He had to beg her right there for her contact. He winked as memories of those days came rushing back like a flood.
” I want you in the bed Kola.” Nkiru’s voice went pitch in the night then died into a fizz or something like a honk.
“I am tired of making love to you. The sooner you realize that the better. Because making love to you is just like flogging a dead horse.”
“Really”
“Yes, that’s exactly what it is.”
“Haaa! Kola” Nkiru’s sad voice tore through the night. ” So this is what you will say to me after many years of being faithful to you?”
“Nobody is talking about unfaithfulness here because everyone is faithful”
“Remember before we married. You impregnated me and told me to abort it that you weren’t ready for marriage. You forced me to do that even when I begged you that I was ready to sponsor the wedding. You gave me all manner of stories that we can’t be carrying a baby to the alter. Now you are worried the babies aren’t coming. Can’t you see you are mean Kola? You are a wicked man!” Nkiru cried.
“You talk about that pregnancy like that was the only fruit you got inside of you. I have seen girls that did five, six abortions and they still give birth like pigs.”
That hurt Nkiru but she didn’t respond. She could only cry. She summoned some courage and made the bed. She lay quietly and pretended to have slept.
Kola crawled into bed again and stretched himself out. Nkiru turned, shifted closer to him and began to caress the hair on his chest. Kola shoved her off. Nkiru continued. She had stripped herself naked ready to get it in which ever way. At least he didn’t expect her to go get it outside. Like a flash of lightening, she mounted on top of him, playing her hand quickly for his penis and trying to fill it in like she wanted, like she had been crazy about. But Kola angrily pushed her away. She rolled and hit her head on wall, crashing into the bed. She began to sob again. She rose and made for her roll of cloth. She swung it round and trundled down from the bed, her breast flapping under it as she moved with heavy steps to the bathroom. She flipped off the cloth and put on the shower. She stood under the it crying. She allowed the water to flow freely into her hair. She came out a few minutes later after drying herself with the towel. She made her way to the living room and laid on the couch crying. She sniffed hoping sleep would come and sweep her away. It was 1:30am in the morning. She needed to get some sleep if she would have a smooth day in office the next day. She sobbed, tossed and turned. Her clit was itchy. something told her to use her fingers. But she disregarded the thought. She cried and coughed.
She rose and went back into the bedroom, took a pillow and scowled at Kola who was already snoring. She returned to the living room. And decided to get some sleep in which ever way. She put off the light and memories of those years she was single came rushing back at her. She could remember how wealthy and more handsome men than Kola pestered her for marriage. But she had vowed she wasn’t going to marry because of material possessions. They wouldn’t be her priority. She didn’t just want them. She could remember the innocent look Kola had carried every time like an angel. But he was caring and loving above all God-fearing. She said to herself. She still believed that wasn’t the Kola she married. The devil must definitely be at work. He had vowed to fight her marriage. He had vowed her marriage wasn’t going to be blissful. But would she allow the enemy to win the battle? A thought questioned her. She summoned up some courage and shut her eyes deeply to pray.
“Jesus I thank you for Kola. He is a great man. He is that loving and caring man you have made for me. No charge of the enemy shall have dominion over him. He is supportive with listening ears. He is transformed by the power of the holy spirit. The devil is disappointed. I have joy in my marriage. My home is peaceful. I have joy all around me. Nothing can still my joy away, absolutely nothing. Therefore devil, back off cos you have lost this time. You have lost it all. ” She prayed on and on and sniffed at intervals. She napped off some minutes later only to be woken by the alarm of her phone by 5:00am. She hissed and rubbed her eyes. She dragged herself to the kitchen and made the breakfast. She could hear Kola ransacking and fumbling for things in the room. She ambled to the bedroom and creaked the door open.
“Good morning Kola.” She greeted him with a smile.
“Morning” Kola replied without looking up to meet her face.
“Breakfast is on the table”
Kola looked up, dumbfounded. A scowl of confusion suddenly split his face.
To be continued……..
© Emmanuel Erondu
