LOVE AND LIES
(32 and 33)
THIRTY-TWO
Kola had begun to eat and talk. This wasn’t easy after many weeks of prayer and fasting. Nkiru was happy and was gradually pulling herself together for greater hope. She believed this would teach Kola a great lesson. Kola was now at home. The family believed it was more of a spiritual case than physical. His mother had insisted he should be taken home. For weeks now, Kola had been at home taking different herbal concoction from his mother. Nkiru didn’t believe in all that. She believed Kola’s recovery was due to her prayers and the power of God.
Nkiru was busy in the kitchen, when she was done she changed Kola’s clothes and told him she would be going out to meet Judith to deliver the bridal train’s clothes she had given her to sow. Kola nodded and smiled.
The sun was bright as Nkiru stepped out. She was in an Ankara blouse she sew herself over a pair of faded blue jeans that gave a perfect match. She hung her bag across her arm as she strode to get a taxi. The one that agreed to her bargain drove her off happily.
Nkiru met Judith talking with her younger sister. They looked very much alike. She had returned from school to assist in the preparation for the wedding. Judith smiled as she saw Nkiru and they both hugged. Judith was happy that Nkiru was visiting her house for the first time. She made her an orange juice and set it on the table. Judith was still staying with her parents. The house was a giant one in Ikoyi. Their dad died many years ago and the mum had travelled to her son’s place in Abuja.
Nkiru brought out the clothes and Judith was happy about the job Nkiru did. They talked about the clothes for a long time.
“So when are the girls coming to pick them?” Nkiru asked. She thought she would wait to see them, try on the clothes if there would be any adjustment.
“Later today.” Judith told her with excitement. “You will need to wait. At least today is Saturday now, no school.” Madam teacher! ” She added and laughed.
” Yes but I need to go home on time to take care of my husband. I don’t like living him alone at home for a long time.”
“That reminds me. How is your husband now?” Judith stopped to ask, a serious scowl on her face..
“He is fine. Thank God he is eating and talking. He tried to get up last night but didn’t really have much strength.”
“Can he walk now?” Judith asked.
“Yes but he can’t walk alone unless I support him.”
“He is getting better. I believe he will be fine.” Judith consoled. Nkiru sighed in supplication to God.
“How much is my balance now?” Judith changed the topic.
“Are you asking again?” Nkiru eyed her playfully. ” Unless you want to add something for me for a job well done.”
“Really? At this time?” Judith asked before they both laughed. Judith later ran into the kitchen and made some rice and salad. Nkiru ate hungrily. Judith was also eating with her.
“Judith,” Nkiru called as they ate. “Something baffles me.”
“What’s that?” Judith asked between mouthful.
“I haven’t seen my period for a while now.” Nkiru told her worriedly.
“And how is that a problem? May be you are pregnant now?” Judith put in with smiles.
“Pregnant for who?” Nkiru asked, worried. They started talking in whispers as Judith’s younger sister broke into their conversation, searched for something and bowled out again.
“For Kola of course?” Judith answered. “Or have you started playing away games?”
“Don’t even go there.” Nkiru eyed Judith playfully. ” As for Kola, is that one capable of impregnating someone now?”
“So how come then?” Judith asked, confused.
“I don’t know.” Nkiru concluded worriedly.
“Let’s go and get a pregnancy strip. There is a pharmacy nearby. Let me change my clothes.” Judith said. She got up and hurried in to change her clothes. She came out with a short pair of jeans and a T-shirt with a large photo of a young man displayed on it. Nkiru was done eating. She waited as Judith packed her hair and sprayed herself with perfume before they left. They came back few minutes later with the strip. Judith got an unused bowl and told Nkiru to go pee into it in the toilet and put the strip. Nkiru went in and did that.”
“What did it read?” Judith asked from outside expectantly.
“I don’t know. Please come and see it yourself.”
Judith pushed the door in and stared into the bowl. She took the strip and observed it. Her face went berserk with intent examination.
“Nkiru you are pregnant o!” Judith bawled out in excitement.
“How come Judith?” Nkiru panicked. They emptied the bowl into the toilet, flushed it down and went out with the strip to observe it well.”
“See it yourself now. Can’t you see the red?You are pregnant!” Judith confirmed.
“Kola and I haven’t had sex for weeks.” Nkiru said. A contorted grimace of worry drew through on her face.
“When was the last time you both had sex?” Judith asked. Nkiru shut her eyes halfway in thought.
“Like six weeks ago”
“And you have had no sex with any other person?” Judith asked.
“Am I crazy?”
“Then it is him!”
“Who?”
“Kola now.” Judith submitted.
“Are you sure I am pregnant? It can’t be.” Nkiru said, confused.
“Let’s go to the hospital then.” Judith concluded and they both left. Nkiru was the one that drove.. she kept hissing and heaving oblivious of the rowdiness on the road till they got to the hospital. They met a nurse and they explained themselves to her. She quickly carried out the test for them. It came out positive.
“Yes you are two months pregnant!” The nurse affirmed!
Nkiru burst into tears. It was tears of joy. She remembered the last time they had sex. It was in Kola’s office. She hated the memory because each time it flashed her mind she compared it to that he had with Lara. She didn’t even want it that day. Nkiru was extremely happy after all. It was five years of barrenness. It pays indeed to wait on God. She thought and shed tears of joy. Judith was happy for her. She consoled her till she came down at the junction and bade her farewell. Nkiru drove home with a great feeling of ecstacy. She was going to be a mother after all. Yes she was going to be a mother. She began to imagine her boy’s look, comparing it with one of the smartest boy in her class. She imagined how he would play and scatter the house while she nagged and screamed at him. She had wanted all that. She came back from her reverie and smiled, sighing down heavily.
THIRTY-THREE
The whole house was quiet. Kola wished Nkiru had turned on the TV for him before going out. He couldn’t reach out for the remote. He was rooted on the couch. He heaved and sighed in thought. If only he had listened. If only he had been patient. He wouldn’t have jumped from one trouble to the other. It even seemed like jumping from frying pan to fire. He hissed and cursed himself. He had just become useless. He shook his head regrettably.
He suddenly began to have the urge to use the toilet. He shook his head. A fierce glow of uneasiness in his eyes. He really needed to excrete. How on earth would he do that when Nkiru had gone out? He recoiled and placed his stomach against the couch if that could stop it from churning. It began to whir loudly. Kola struggled to sit up, his eyes rolling mechanically in confusion. He didn’t want to do it on the couch. He wished he could save Nkiru of much stress.
The last time he peed on the couch. The look on her face was sad. But she didn’t utter a word. The whole living room smelt for weeks and they were afraid of entertaining visitors. Kola was thinking. He struggled down from the couch and landed on the floor like a heavy burden. He tried to drag himself to the toilet. He held one of the couch and gave a move. It was strenuous. He held another part of the couch and gave another move. His buttocks suddenly began to pain. He scanned the distance and realized taking one more attempt would not be possible. He burst into tears. The churning in his stomach rose as he cried. It whirred and bubbled.
Before he realized what was happening, it sidled out from his anus and later began to rush out very fast as if they were happy to be set free afterall. He couldn’t control it anymore. He began to cry.
Nkiru came in at this moment feeling quite excited. She found Kola helplessly on the floor as she gabbled the door open. She dropped her bag and rushed to him.
She held him up. The hard smell of faeces hit her nose. She squeezed her face in abhorrence. Kola was still crying.
“Just leave me Nkiru. I want to die!” He cried loudly like a child.”Let me die. Just imagine a man like me peeing and pooing on his body. That’s unimaginable!” Oh God!” He cried.
“No not now!” Nkiru dragged her and began to remove his clothes. The whole room was filled with the acrid smell of faeces. She undid everything he was wearing and helped him to the bathroom. There he gave him a shower and later got some clothes for him. He helped him back to the living room and he happily laid back on the couch. She turned on the TV for him and he began to watch. Each time he would remember how he had led Nkiru to this and he would blame himself for being the cause of it all.
Nkiru went into the kitchen and made Eba with Egusi soup. That was one of Kola’s favourite. He would swallow the morsels in haste leaking the soup with a twitched mouth. She used to dish the Eba and soup together those days they were still courting. But while she rolled the second morsel, Kola was already counting ten, belching and twitching his mouth. He had no pity for her when they ate such delicacy. Nkiru went through the memories of those days and began to smile. She dished the Eba and soup together like those days and set it on the floor in the living room.
She helped him to the floor and he squatted. The look on his face showed he was really hungry. He washed his hands hurriedly and began to roll the morsels as usual throwing it hurriedly into his mouth, smacking his lips at the same time. Nkiru debated whether to break the news while they ate or wait. She seemed to be so happy that she lost her appetite. She washed her hands and began to eat as well.
“So how was the place you went?” Kola asked faintly as they ate.
“Good! Judith is quite excited about her wedding. She adding weight. I told her to be careful if not the wedding gown won’t size her again.” Nkiru said and laughed. Kola joined in the laugh. He belched. Nkiru was happy that he was indeed recovering. She believed very soon he would start walking very well himself. Nkiru took the dishes away and returned to join Kola. She had changed into a short and a Tshirt. She sat beside Kola and ran his eyes over him. How would he take the news? Won’t he think she had gone out to commit adultery and now want to push a pregnancy to him like Lara did? Am I really sure this news is ok now? Nkiru was thinking. A thought told him to keep it to himself while another asked her what would happen when it is visible? She sighed and scratched her hair in thought.
“Do you remember the last time we had sex Kola?” Nkiru broke the silence. Kola stared at her and winked.
” I think in my office many weeks ago.” Kola answered faintly. “Why did you ask?”
“It is like a seed is growing in me!”
“What do you mean?” Kola grimaced at her intently, expecting more explanation.
“I am two months pregnant!”
Kola’s mouth went wide open. He forgot to shut it until Nkiru handed him the test result from the hospital. He stared at it and began to cry. He was happy and at the same time sad. If only he had waited. He wouldn’t have put himself in such condition. They hugged tightly and began to sing praises to God. They sang many hymns and gospel songs in appreciation. They sang for hours that both of them wondered how on earth they could sing such well. Indeed happiness can turn a man into something else. They sang and prayed that night, thanking God for the battles He had won for them.
To be continued..
© Emmanuel Erondu, 2019
Congratulations to you Nkiru