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Jumoke’s spirit was lifted in no little way with all that she heard and learnt from Tosin. Her conclusion from their discussion was that, no matter the challenge; a resilient spirit and a loving and forgiving heart would keep the home alive, with the help of the Almighty. She made up her mind more than before to make her marriage work. If she had been giving Kola part love before, she planned to double the depth and the intensity. She wanted her marriage to be lively than how it was. She wasn’t ashamed to admit that her marriage had started getting boring, just after three years. Tosin had told her that the problem with so many couples is that they allow the fire of their love, affection and care for each other to burn out too soon. Some only last until the arrival of the first child, then the wife would begin to focus her attention only on the child and begin to take her husband for granted. A husband that feels neglected might find solace in other things; side chicks, alcohol, too much work or even church activities. She concluded that marriage goes beyond the euphoria on the day of wedding. Marriage is hard work.
Jumoke wanted to start somewhere; just anywhere. Maybe she should start from their bedroom.
She had told Kola in the morning that she was ovulating. There would be need for him to come to her bed for the next couple of days. Before now, they’d always done their marital duties as routine. Jumoke had often wanted more, but was always reluctant to make her husband know what she want. After each session of l@ve making, there’s always a kind of pain in her heart, as if the act itself was a burden and that she would never enjoy it. Most times when she’s alone and burning with desire, she would begin to feel guilty, as if she’s commiting a great sin by wanting her man.
At those times, she would remember the saying of her mother; a highly spiritual woman, shortly before her marriage. Her mother had taught her never to demand for s@x from her husband. According to her, a good woman should learn to mask her feelings and be able to suppress her desires. She must never let her husband know that she’s enjoying s@x; if at all she’s enjoying it. She taught that s@x should be done sparingly, once in a while, and mostly for procreation.
Today, Jumoke had learnt new things and she accepted them to be the right teachings. Therefore, she decided to put sentiments and fear aside and enjoy herself. She would even push the desire for conception away for this night. She would tell her husband what she want and patiently listen to him. She would create an avenue for them to discuss extensively. They’d always spoken about most things except their s@xual life. She knew that if they totally opened up, it might lead to Kola becoming more free with her and might even tell her what he wouldn’t otherwise say. He might tell her about his relationship with deaconess.
” Deaconess Beatrice,” Jumoke whispered and sighed deeply. She would not allow deaconess to become a shadow that would always lurk at every corner in her home. She now believe that if there’s anything to be known, the Holy spirit would reveal it to her.
Jumoke expected her husband would be home at the appropriate time. He had promised to call if would have any engagement after work. Since he hadn’t called, she hoped that he wouldn’t. She had big plans for the night. The night would be memorable; the welcoming, the food, the communication and most especially the s@x.
She thought on what to cook for him, they say the road to a man’s heart is through food. Jumoke wanted something that would be spicy on Kola’s tongue, create heat and improve blood circulation and flow. Something that would put him in high spirit and in the mood for a memorable night. She picked her phone and went on the internet to check for natural aphrodisiacs.
Jumoke settled for white rice garnished with plenty lettuce. Luckily she had scent leave in her garden, she would add it to the supper-hot fish pepper soup that she would make to accompany the rice. She planned to rush to the local market and get a good and large water melon. She would cut it into attractive sizes and refrigerate it, just to the right temperature. By the time Kola would return, it would be chilled and ready to be served. On her way from the market, she would also branch to a popular eatery and get a big chilled bottle of kunu aya. She’d always heard women talking about it being a stimulant but had always ignored their talks as lousy. Now, she knows better, thanks to Tosin. She was ready to be lousy for her husband and her husband alone.
By five, everything was ready. Jumoke bathed,creamed and perfumed her body. She dressed in a negligee that she had abandoned since their first year of marriage. Her plan; once Kola returned, he would freshen up and eat. They would retire to the bedroom where they would have lots of fun. They would communicate through their talk, their touch, their body. They would open fully to each other.
By 5:30, she called to know if he was on his way home. Kola did not pick her call. When he returned the call, he said he was in traffic. Jumoke was happy. At least, he was already returning. One hour later, Kola was yet to be back. Jumoke paced round the living room. She constantly raised her face to the wall clock like her life depended on it. With each movement of the clock’s hand,her enthusiasm waned.
By 6: 50, she called him again. Kola picked at the first ring.
” I thought you said that you are on your way home,” Jumoke said in a pained voice.” Her eyes focused on the food on the dinning table. She looked down at her short revealing negligee and shook her head.
” Why are you not speaking?” Kola asked. He sounded impatient. ” I’m in the middle of something.”
Jumoke swallowed hard. ” More than an hour ago, you said you were on your way home.”
” Something came up.”
” Something? Like what?” Jumoke’s voice shook with emotion. ” Are you still in the office?”
” Errrr, I will be at home as soon as possible. In case you are feeling sleepy, you can go to sleep. I will wake you…”
Jumoke cut the call and threw the phone to the sofa opposite her. She felt deflated like a balloon. Angrily, she matched to the bedroom and tore her cloth off.
” He’s with her. I can sense it,” she said as she picked a wrapper and wrapped it around her petite frame. Moving back to the living room, she went straight to the dinning table and began to pack all that she had set. The food went back into the kitchen. She knocked on her neigbours door and offered her the water melon. Returning, she poured the kunu aya down the kitchen drain. As she went about the activities, she continued saying to herself. ” I know that it will not work. Kola is killing my love for him. I will not cry. I am strong. I will just continue to live as I have always lived. I will not bother about whatever Kola do…”
Disappointment is always a bitter pill to swallow, especially for someone that is as emotionally fragile as Jumoke. ” Even if Kola won’t think of anything,” she said as she continued. ” He should have remembered that I told him to return early. He’s not even bothered that I said that I’m ovulating. I begged him to return early.”
She carried herself from the living room to the bedroom murmuring. ” Kola will not make me cry again. I will not cry.” Even as she said that, hot, fat tears escaped down her face. She curled into a fetal position on the bed.
At a little close to 9pm, Jumoke heard the door to the living room open. She adjusted her position and turned her face to the wall. Soon enough, Kola whitsled into the bedroom. He seemed to be in a happy mood. She sensed him moving towards her and pretended as if she was asleep. As he touched her, she shrank away from him. He tried to turn her and she shrugged his hands off.
” I know that you are not asleep. I’m sorry. I know that I promised that I would return early but… honestly, I’m sorry.”
Jumoke remained mute.
” What is it now babe? Is today the first time that I’m coming home late. Why should this become a big deal? The most important thing is that I’m here with you…”
” Shut it there!” Jumoke said and jumped off the bed.
If Kola knew that his last statement would make Jumoke flare up, he would have just continue begging or at least let her be.
” Did you hear yourself?” Jumoke continued. ” You are just too callous and insensitive. I know you’ve been hiding something from me, and God will soon expose you and your mistress. I knew you left the office to go spend good time with her before you returned home.”
” What are you talking about?” Kola asked in a suprised tone.
” Don’t pretend,” Jumoke fired. ” I know of how you always go to her house before you return from work on daily basis. God has exposed your secret dealings. It is only God that can judge you. Here we are struggling to at least get a child we can call our own,and you are busying sowing your wild oat into a good-for-nothing shameless woman. God has already started judging you. As for her, she will not know peace. Her entire female generation will suffer…”
Kola dragged Jumoke and placed a palm across her mouth. She yanked it off.
” That woman will face the wrath of God.”
” Please stop it!” Kola screamed. ” Do you even know what you are saying?”
Jumoke placed her two palms by her side in a fighting poise. ” I’m sure of what I’m saying. I know you’ve been going to that woman every evening.”
” What woman? Jumoke please listen to me.”
” No you listen to me,” she responded and pointed a finger at her husband. ” I’m tired of taking shit from you. First thing tomorrow morning, I will match straight to the pastor’s house and report you to him.”
” That what?”
” That you are having a dirty relationship with Deaconess Beatrice.”
” Oh…I see…but what ever put that stupid thought into your mind? Yes, I’ve been going to her house to help her balance…”
Jumoke was suprised at Kola’s reaction. She had expected him to be shocked, suprised, show some funny reaction when she mentioned deaconess’ name. She was further infuriated at his calmness.
” I don’t want to know,” she screamed and ran out of the room. Rushing into the guest room, she locked herself in.
TO BE CONTINUED
Β©Bosede Fagbemi
What played out today, could it have happened in a better way?
Jumoke screamed and cried, then Kola voiced out that he was helping deaconess to balance…balance what?
Her wheels ni ,kola is a bastard