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A week after Jumoke left her house, Kola still had no hint on her whereabout. All he knew was that, a cab man took her away. At the time, he was confused and at a loss on what to do. Run after the cab? Call the security men at the gate to their street to halt the cab’s movement? Shout for help? He didn’t even remember to take the plate number of the cab in case they meet later on. That would have helped since the cab man would be able to tell where he dropped Jumoke.
When Reverend’s and Kelvin’s family got to Kola, they called Jumoke’s number. She had two lines and both were switched off. The five of them crowded into Kelvin’s car and drove around town looking for her. All their efforts proved abortive as they couldn’t find her. When Tosin suggested that they go to the police, Reverend objected. ” We have no basis for going to them,” he said. It will be a waste of time. Whereas, Sis Jumoke cannot be declared missing. She walked out of her house on her own volition because of what happened. We have a great task to pray that God softens her heart and make her see reasons why she shouldn’t abandon her home.”
They returned back to the house and Kola began another round of weeping. In a fit of anger, Reverend Alhassan shouted him down.
” You were supposed to think of this kind of consequence before losing control and indulging in the sin of adultery. Now, everyone is affected and we don’t know where this will end. Your present regret and remorsefulness is like medicine after death. If I may ask, why didn’t you tell your wife the very day you committed the act?”
Reverend’s wife shrugged. ” I wonder. The bible says, we must confess our sins to one another and pray for one another, that we may be healed.”
” I thought I could just confess to God and never do it again, since confession to God is the most important. I was scared of telling my wife. I knew what she could do.”
” You are right. Confessing to God is very important. Nevertheless, when the sin that you commit directly affect someone else, like in this case your wife, it is of paramount importance that you come out clean. Refusing to engage in confession is like sitting out in the sun for too long; it may feel good for a while, but it can be detrimental to your health, in both the short and long-term. It is just like postponing an evil day. When you come out clean about your shortcomings, it lifts a load of guilt off your chest. It remove barriers to answered prayers and breakthrough and make you grow your integrity. Above all, if your confession is done with sincerity, it helps build a wall of protection around you so that you don’t fall into same kind of sin again. It also makes you to be accountable for your actions.” He pointed to Kola. ” You better go and start praying every kind of prayer that you know how to pray. As it is, three lives are hanging on your neck; the life of your wife, Deaconess’ life and the life of the baby in her womb.”
Kola murmured and frowned.
” What did you say?” Reverend asked and raised his hand. I am your spiritual head and I have the right to chastise you however I want. I mentioned Deaconess and you are murmuring. Did she lie against you? Or is it because of my strong words that you are protesting. Oh, you don’t want to be chastised. Carry your bible. The book of Proverbs 3:21 says that the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Also the book of Hebrews 12:8 says that if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons. Kola! Are you a bastard or a son? Do you want to be corrected?
I can boldly say with the whole of my mouth that I am highly disappointed in you. It is not just because you fell cheaply to the sin of adultery, but because of your manipulative moves towards evading punishment. You think God will overlook your iniquities? We cannot abound in sin and pray for God’s grace to continue multiplying. There’s no sin that can be hidden forever.”
——–
When Reverend and his wife left Kola’s house, Kelvin and Tosin stayed back to further counsel Kola and plan with him.on how to locate Jumoke.
“Everything still looks like a nightmare to me,” Tosin said with a shaky voice. “And to think that she was suspicious of your relationship with Deaconess since the very beginning. We spoke at length about you frequenting her house especially when she started getting uncomfortable about it.”
“I messed up big time. Yes, we had our quarrels about me going to her house, but I thought she was just overreacting. I took her utterances with a pinch of salt. See where my strong headedness, pride and insensitivity has landed me.”
Kelvin touched him on the shoulder. ” All will be well. It depends on how prepared you are to right your wrongs.”
” How do I start? Jumoke might not want to ever see me again? What I did to her is unpardonable. How will I live without her. An impending discipline is also hanging on my neck. I know mine will be worse. And the unborn baby… I can’t just imagine. Having children with different women. It has never been In my dream.”
Kelvin opened his eyes wide. “Well, it has happened and there’s nothing you can do to reverse it. There’s no new thing under the sun. You’ve made a mistake and I believe you will learn from it. It is not biblical to marry two wives and no one will go near to advising you to marry Deaconess. But since the child she’s carrying is yours, you are obligated to do your responsibility to him as a father. God will not forgive you if you abandon that child. That responsibility starts even before the child is born.”
———–
On the day that Jumoke left her house, she directed the cab man to take her to the park at the outskirt of the town. She knew that Kola would be agitated and start looking for her. She cared less. Let him go to the end of the world looking for her. He deserved to be stressed in hundred folds. She planned to go to a most unlikely place, a place where he would never think of looking for her, in another state. She needed to be on her own, cool off and chart a new course of life without Kola. She switched off her phone so that anyone wouldn’t get in touch with her. Thinking of how life would be without Kola, she dropped few tears. It might be difficult living without him but she will endure for her peace of mind.
Seated at a hidden corner in the park, she ruminated on where to go. She would have to take a night bus. Going to her parents is out of it. If she goes to them, they would be the first to intimate Kola of her whereabout and initiate a reconciliation. On no account would they allow her stay away from her husband, except if he’s assaulting her. Her siblings are also spoil sports. They all loved Kola and would plead for him once they get over their initial repulsion of his action.
Night was rapidly setting in and Jumoke knew she had to make a decision. A name dropped in her mind. Sister Bimpe was her room mate during their service year. They kept in touch since then and she knew that her husband was out of the country for a year course. Her place will be a good place to stay before she plans on other steps.
She called Bimpe and she agreed that she could come over. She was happy to see her and welcomed her with open arms. By the evening of the next day, they sat down to talk.
” How is your husband?” Bimpe asked.
Jumoke sighed deeply and looked away. At the next moment, she started weeping and narrated all that happened to Bimpe.
They wept together.
Afterwards, Bimpe advised her to put herself together and remain strong. ” You have to fight for your home,” she said.
” What home? I don’t have a home any longer. Kola re mije. He cheated on me. I’m yet to come to term with his betrayal. I can’t stay married to him.”
Bimpe smiled. ” You are saying this because you are still hurting. With time, I know you will find a place for forgiveness in your heart. The cord that binds us together with our spouses as christian couples is so strong and not easily breakable. You love your husband. You can forgive him. Remember that love covers a multitude of sins.”
Jumoke sniffed. ” It will be difficult. Anyway, thanks for accommodating me sister Bimpe. I am so grateful.”
” You are welcome my sister. Feel free but, don’t leave your man alone for too long. Take your time to seek God’s face and prepare your mind for reconciliation. And,” she smiled. ” I don’t want somebody to come and arrest me for kidnapping an adult.” She took Jumoke’s hand. ” On a serious note, even if you don’t want him to know that you are here, I will advise that you inform someone. A confidante. Someone that can keep secret.”
Jumoke called Tosin with Bimpe’s number and told her of where she is. She swore her to secrecy.
For the next couple of days, Jumoke went into intensive prayers and fasting. Her prayer was for God to heal her and give her the grace to forgive every wrong done against her. Reluctantly, she prayed for her home, and her husband. ” This Christianity sef…” She said on the first day she prayed for her husband. With what he did, she shouldn’t be praying but cursing him. She knew that Christ wouldn’t have it that way, so she prayed for him.
By the sixth day of staying with Bimpe, she woke up feeling nauseous, weak and dizzy. She felt it was because of the physical and emotional stress she was going through. Her condition worsened as the day got older. She couldn’t hold anything in her stomach.
That night, Bimpe drove her to a nearby clinic. As they approached the clinic, she gave her a sideward glanced and a mischievous smile. ” I hope this turns out to be a good sickness.”
” Good sickness?”
” We will soon know.”
TO BE CONTINUED
Bosede Fagbemi
