THE UNFAITHFUL HUSBAND ππ
Written by Henry Zibima
Episode 18
He turned on the loud speaker and forced me to take the call in his presence.
“Hello, good evening ma”
“Good evening” she replied a bit coldly
“I am sure you know why I am calling”
“Yes ma, but please before you go on, I want to tell you something”
“What is it?” She asked over the line
Femi’s eyes widened as he glared at me fearfully
“It’s about your husband, ma I don’t know how this will sound to you but the truth is bitter. Ma your husband has been begging me to…”
Femi immediately dragged the phone from me and ended the call
“I warned you but you wouldn’t listen, better pack whatever you want to pack, you are leaving this house; this night!” Femi said with terror.
****
“I’m not going anywhere, I will remain in this house till my aunt gets back” I said confidently
“Esther, you are trying me o, you are trying me. You better start packing now”
“Oh! So you think you can outsmart me. You want to send me away so that when my aunt returns you’ll cook up a fake story and spread false allegations against me”
“Esther go and pack your things, now! I can be very harmful o” Femi shouted
“I said I’m not going anywhere, if you think sending me away will conceal the truth then you have failed, you have terribly failed.
“Go to your room now”
I felt a strong force carry me from the sitting room where I was standing and landed me in the passage.
“Ah…you are wicked” I said crying, in my life I had never received such a push before. My back hurt seriously because I fell with it to the ground; I could feel a sudden intense spike of pain on my thigh.
“As you go in there; only pack up the things you came with to this house any other thing- whether it was bought or given to you as a gift from us; should be left behind. I gave you your chance and you better don’t waste time there after all almost everything you have; we are the ones who got them for you” Femi said with so much contempt, I could see the hatred and disdain that filled his eyes.
Was it not the same person who never stopped taking about how he loves and cares for me; so all those were just sugar-coated words. He just said it but he never meant it; I just found it hard to believe that it was the same Femi who was just pushed and even slapped me a while ago.
Frank’s POV
This night has just been so messed up; it’s a night we won’t easily forget – a night of chaos. No one would have ever thought that things would turn out this way, it would have been like every other night where have dinner, watch tv and go to bed. But for my dad’s overreaction, everything escalated; he wanted to undo Esther but she didn’t let it go down just like that.
If he had not been raining insults on her maybe she would have kept mute since I had already convinced her to see reasons with me. I listened closely from my room as everything played out like a tape before me, I couldn’t help Esther, I just remained in my room and decided to allow things happen the way nature has planned.
But the situation was getting intense; from the sounds I could hear I discerned that he was obviously beating her. What can I do to help; nothing; I can’t do anything because no matter what he still remains my dad. I can’t deny the fact that he will still be the one to take care me and provide for my needs in the future. Going there to stand up to him will be a very stupid thing to do m
So I let the events occur naturally.
Jennifer’s POV
I had barely arrived the hotel where all my colleagues and I lodged when I started receiving multiple calls from my husband. I was very tired and I wanted to get to my hotel room before picking any calls.
I fell on the soft king-size bed with my hands widespread in the air; it was a very stressful day and I didn’t want any more form of stress. After coming home late we were expected to resume very early the next day; left alone for me I would have even gone straight to bed without eating or taking my bath.
My blissful rest was cut short by another of Femi’s calls, what could be the problem that he kept on calling me repeatedly. I knew something was definitely wrong somewhere because he hardly drops a call to know how I’ve being faring.
“Hello, dear good evening” I said.
“Evening, how was work today?” He asked
“We thank God, this one you called today I hope all is well”
“How will you say such a thing, so are you saying I can’t call my wife just to speak with her”
“No it’s not like that, I’m just surprised that’s all”
“Well… there’s something serious I’d like to inform you about”
“I knew it, Femi so you can’t just call your wife to ask about her well-being”
“Will you at least listen to what I have to say”
“You can go on” I said slightly annoyed.
“If I tell you what I found out about your niece today, you won’t believe it”
“Which of my niece are you referring to”
“Esther of course; the w***e you brought to live with us”
“W***e? Why are you calling her a w***e”
“Do you know she came back home very late today, it was already nightfall and I was the one who went to go look for her. I was lucky enough to meet her on the way and right there something pushed me to collect her phone. If you see the kind of messages I saw; Jennifer you wouldn’t believe it”
“What were they about” I asked overwhelmed with curiosity.
“Do you know that this girl has not even been attending the lessons you paid for but has been going to see different men and have s3x with them under the cover of going for lessons”
“Seriously??”
“Will I be lieing to you?” Femi asked
“But I never knew Esther as that kind of person, I didn’t know she was capable of doing such a thing”
“My dear, with what I’ve seen today I can’t continue to live with her in the same house; that s3x machine; no way”
“Hmm… this is unbelievable” It was unlike the Esther I knew
“You have to believe it, that w***e you call your niece has being going around sleeping with men. I can’t continue to live with such a person; you have to send her back to wherever she came from”
“We can’t just rush into decisions like that, at least get to know she would do such a thing.” I said.
“We have to act fast; I don’t trust that girl” Femi said and ended the call.
Wow, this is really too much for me to take in. Esther? The same Esther who her mother commended for being cautious with boys unlike her younger sister; that same Esther now sleeps with men? I needed to hear from her but I’ll have to bath and eat before doing that.
****
In about an hour time, I tried calling her line but it was Femi who picked up, he said he siezed her phone and that if I want to speak with Esther I’ll have to do that through his line.
“Hello, good evening ma” Esther said over the phone.
“Good evening” I replied
“I am sure you know why I am calling”
“Yes ma, but please before you go on, I want to tell you something”
“What is it?” I wondered what she had in mind to tell me after what she had done
“It’s about your husband” my husband? I said within myself
“Ma I don’t know how this will sound to you but the truth is bitter, your husband has been begging me to…”
All of a sudden, I was disconnected from the call, why would she end the call like that and leave me in so much suspense. I tried calling a few times but it proved abortive; then finally after some minutes Femi answered the call.
“Hello?” I said
“Hello” Femi replied
“Why did Esther end the call when I wasn’t done speaking with her”
“She didn’t, I did”
“Why would you end the call so abruptly?” I asked
“That’s not the problem now”
“Then what is?” I asked
“According to her, she wanted to tell me something about you; then that’s when you cut the call, Femi what is going on?”
“She wants to tell you lies about me because I made sure everything she was doing is brought to light. Do you know that that girl accused me of trying to have s3x with her?”
“Why would she do that”
“Can’t you see she is just trying to tarnish my image and put asunder to our marriage, that’s her mission in this home”
“Hmm… I don’t even know what to say anymore, I’m short of words but I haven’t even heard from Esther; at least I should hear from the horse’s mouth”
“You can’t speak with her” Femi said
“Why can’t I speak with her?”
“I won’t let you speak with her, she’ll fill you up with lies”
“Femi this your behavior is getting me suspicious o”
“Why would you be suspicious, I’m telling you that her plan is to ruin our marriage but you still don’t won’t to listen to me” Femi said now sounding very infuriated.
“I don’t see why you should be raising your voice; I just want to ask her some questions concerning the messages you saw in her phone”
“Since you’ve refused listen to me I’ll give her the phone but don’t blame me when something happens”
Esther’s POV
What do I do now that Femi has stopped me from talking to my aunt; that man is hell-bent on preventing me from saying the truth but nothing will stop me from exposing him. I racked my brain on what to do but no idea seems forthcoming.
I started folding the few clothes and shoes that I came with; I was beginning to lose hope. Maybe it was just my fate to remain in suffering, maybe it was just my destiny. Just when I saw a glimpse of hope for my future, I wasted it.
****
I was frightened to the core as Femi knocked violently on my door. I opened fearfully in anticipation of whatever was to come, he immediately handed over his phone to me; he was on a call… with my aunt. Finally; a ray of light.
“I’ve given her the phone, if you like believe whatever nonsense she tells you” Femi said and stormed out of sight. With the way he was acting and looking tensed; anyone around wouldn’t need an angel to know that he had done something wrong.
I couldn’t take chances, I immediately locked my room door because I don’t trust Femi.
“Hello ma”
“Hello Esther”
“Yes ma” I responded shyly
“Go ahead and tell me everything you wanted to tell me earlier about my husband”
TBC
