๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐’๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐
ฟ๐
ฐ๐๐ ๐๐
ท๐
ธ๐๐๐
ด๐
ด๐
ฝ
” I’m ready o,” Jumoke shouted from the bedroom. Kola was in the living room, dressed in a tuxedo suit. He was waiting for her.
She breezed out of the room in a loose flowy gown that ran down to her feet. The gown hugged her slightly protruding belly like it was caressing it. It is three and a half month after the confirmation of her pregnancy. She’s in the middle of her second trimester.
Kola looked at her and gave a wow sound. No doubt, she’s beautiful. The pregnancy had added to her beauty in a special way. Kola couldn’t hide his feeling and complimented her. ” You look beautiful as always.”
” Thank you.” She smiled. ” You also look good. I made the best choice.”
” I used to wonder at how pregnancy turned some women to something else. It’s like your case is different. See the way you are specially glowing. Maybe we should make it a yearly affair.” He smiled mischievously.
” Yearly kini? Shebi you are complementing me now. Wait till my nose start expanding and my lips begin to look like thick ponmo.”
” Anyhow you look, I will still love you.”
Jumoke raised her chin. ” If we don’t stop this talk, we will never leave this house.”
” Must we go?” Kola asked. ” All I want to do now is to tuck you into bed. You need plenty resting.”
Jumoke reduced her eyes to a slit and pouted. ” Are you sure that’s the only thing on your mind? You hen?” She pointed at him playfully.
Kola caught her at the waist. ” You are my teacher now. I’m a fast learner.”
The past three months had been good. Jumoke had put all that Tosin taught her into use. In addition, she read books, listened to sermons on marriage and applied several principles to managing her home. She persuaded her husband to do likewise. Their home was sweeter. Their intimacy had improved. Everyone was happy.
Kola had put the past behind him. The one- time affair with deaconess had become history. Her absence from the town made it easier for him to adjust. She would remain a chapter of his life that he would never visit again. Though he still had his moments of guilty feeling, they were far in-between. He was yet to get the courage to tell his wife about the act. He didn’t want to do it at a time when the house is running peacefully. He didn’t want anything to disrupt the peace of his home again.
He might consider telling Jumoke after she put to bed. The most important thing is that God has forgiven him. He prayed. He fasted. He got the conviction that he has been forgiven. He vowed to be more cautious. He would never underestimate the power of lust again. He learnt his lesson in a hard way.
And for his wife, what she doesn’t know will not kill her. The adulterous act will remain a secret between him and Deaconess until he decides to open up to his wife. Maybe never.
They left the house and headed for the church. Beulah Salvation Assembly was having their annual couples night , a program that everyone always looked forward to. It was designed to create an avenue when married couples could gather, interact, play, listen to advises, wine, dine and generally have fun. Jumoke was happy that she’s going this year with her baby bump. And next year by God’s grace, she would have her baby in her arms. Her life is getting better.
They drove into the church compound and Kola sought for a place to park. It was a bit difficult because the compound was filled with cars of both members and non-members of the church. They were all there for the couples’ night.
They walked hand in hand into the church multipurpose hall. The hall was well lighted and decorated. The tables were arranged in cabaret style, with four chairs to a table.
The buffet table was at the left wing of the hall. It was laden with eye catching delicacies.
Jumoke sighted Kelvin and Tosin and pulled her husband towards them.
” Iya Ibeji,” Tosin said loudly. ” You look take away.”
The ladies hugged. The men shook hands. They settled round the table and exchanged pleasantries. Soon enough, the program started.
Special guests were introduced. Visitors were welcomed. The pastor was invited to give a short exhortation before other activities.
Clad in his customary conductor jacket and trouser, Revd. Alhassan moved to the podium.
” I’m glad that God has spared our lives to see another couples night,” he started. “We are not here to listen to sermon. We’ve always preached and we will continue to preach. But then, we can’t come here and not hear some truths. Those truths that I might be reluctant to tell you in church, to the hearing of your children. The truth that might scare some people away from attempting marriage.”
He paused and stepped down from the podium. ” My people, the home is under serious attack by the enemy. Marriages are failing. In my little research, I discovered that the rate of divorce worldwide is at an alarming rate. And do you know what? Nigeria is not left out. It is fast becoming a norm. Everyone is doing it, even men of God. Do you know why? Because there’s no more reference for the marriage institution.
Forget the fact that we are all seated here, smiling and behaving as if all is well. Some of us are even in same outfit with our spouses. We are the envy of all eyes. Someone would look at us and pray for our kind of marriage. Tueh! you know what is happening in your homes.”
He moved further into the hall and pointed. ” “See, by the time I finish talking today, some of you will find it difficult to eat the delicacies that has been prepared for you.
Your conscience will strike you like a hammer hitting a surface.”
“Don’t be surprised if you hear that 0ne of you men seated here gave his wife a thorough beating before coming here today. You are the Mike Tyson of your home. You strike your wife at the slightest provocation. And you will come here and tell us that you know God. You are a pretender.”
Some of you women.”
He pointed. ” Your tongues are laced with sharp razors. You talk to your man anyhow. You have no iota of respect for him. You even curse him. But to us here, you are the most virtuous woman. Do you know our problem? We pretend a lot. And that problem of pretense is affecting our children. Our generation is busy raising a generation of pretenders.”
“Never pretend that it is well when all is not well. I’m not saying that you should go about telling people about the problems in your home. What I’m driving at is that you shouldn’t be complacent about those problems. Take active steps to resolve your marital problems.”
“Women! look at me. You can’t keep your home by the power of makeup and hair do alone. Even sex alone cannot tie a man down if he wants to stray. You think your beauty alone can sustain your marriage? You must be a learner.You have to possess that thing that will make your husband keep coming back to you. You should be able to give him what no other woman can give him. Hear Apostle Peter- ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐; ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐;
– ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
– ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
, ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐;
– ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
– ๐ฌ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
” When you ask many of our young ladies out there the reason why they want to marry, you will hear lots of funny reasons. Most don’t get prepared before going into marriage. They marry but add no single value to the home. Ask them to come to church and pray for their spouses they will not. You sleep throughout the night while someone out there is scheming on how to send you out of your marital home. You think you can keep your husband by nagging and engaging in physical fight with your supposed rivals? Far from it.”
“I remember the story of a young lady that the husband was having an affair with another woman. She took it upon herself to go and challenge the strange woman. They fought. The strange woman agreed that she was having an affair with her husband, and that she was not ready to leave him. Infact, she had perfected the plan to displace the wife.”
“The wife had no fire in her. She thought she could win the battle by mere strength. The other woman was diabolical. And she went all the way to ensure that she got the man. Within two months, the wife died through a strange sickness. Five months later, the strange woman became the new wife.”
“Where does the man come in. As a man, you are the priest of your home. Most men are leaving all responsibilities to the woman. It is wrong. It is not only the woman that is expected to hold the home together. Pray together. Read the word together. Grow together. A good number of men don’t even provide for the home. If I may ask, what do you do with your money? You spend it on frivolities; gambling, clubbing and womanizing.”
Reverend pointed at the couples. ” God is watching you. Some men are so wicked that they give birth outside and hide it from the wife. You buy land, you hide it from your wife. You build house, you hide it from your wife. The bible says that the two shall become one. There should be no secret between couples. If you are here today and you are hiding a vital secret from your wife or husband, repent and come clean, so that it will be well with you.”
By the time the Reverend finished speaking, everyone was sober. Most of the couples had one or two things to ruminate on. A session of intensive prayer broke out. Men and women went on their knees to ask God for mercy. Marital vows were renewed.
Kola fidgeted where he sat. He remained quiet as they journeyed home. The earlier enthusiasm for the evening was gone. Jumoke tried to draw him into conversation but he only replied in monosyllables.
For her, the evening was good, and she was in a mood to talk.
“Tosin told me that Deaconess Beatrice has been in town for the past two weeks,” she said.
Kola’s heart jumped. He stepped on the brake and the car jerked.
” What is it?” Jumoke said, holding him. ” Please be careful.”
As if on cue, Kola’s phone vibrated. He was lucky that it was by the side farther from Jumoke. Deaconess’ name flashed as the caller ID. He hissed, cast a sideward glance at his wife and switched off the phone with his left hand.
Long after they got home and Jumoke had fallen asleep, Kola picked his phone and sneaked out of the room. As he switched on the phone, several text and WhatsApp messages from Deaconess dropped. Kola hissed.
He dialed her number.
” Welcome back.” He snapped in response to something that she said.
Deaconess said something.
” With due respect ma,” Kola said. ” Don’t ever call my line again. I bear allegiance to my wife and my wife alone. What happened between us was a great mistake.”
Deaconess said something in response.
” I can’t meet you anywhere. I may be forced to bar you from calling me. I don’t want to have anything to do with you. I’m ending this call now.”
Kola pressed the end call button and contorted his face. ” “This woman is becoming a nuisance.” He murmured.
Angrily, he picked his phone to return into the room. The phone beeped and he pressed it to check if he had another message. His jaw dropped at the content of the message that he got.
TO BE CONTINUED
ยฉ Bosede Fagbemi
