*WHAT DOES MY HUSBAND WANT?
Episode 10
Months have passed and my peaceful home was gradually turning into a war zone.
This is not what I bargained for. Never thought things will turn out so bad between me and Ladi.
If someone has told me that Ladi will turn out to be heartless human being I wouldn’t have believe, such person would have become my worst enemy.
Things keep unfolding every day in that house. Every day come with new drama.
I don’t look for anyone’s trouble. I take care of my kids and focus on my business but Ladi and his new wife keep getting on my nerve.
I can’t cook and leave it for my children. Santi finishes the food and starve my kids before I return home. To avoid problem, I began to dish out food for my kids and for Ladi incase he is hungry but by the time I return from my shop in the evening both my children food and the one I left for Ladi is gone.
She uses my things with reckless abandon and spoils most of the home appliances I bought with my money. The other day, my daughter’s hair bead and some of her things got missing from her room and I know who was behind it.
My second son was beaten and I saw mark on his back and face and when I asked what he did to get such a horrifying wound, Santi told me that my boy disobeyed her and she has to discipline him.
The sad part is that Ladi was there when Santi was flogging my son and he did nothing to stop her.
I have shouted, fought and reported to Ladi to caution his new wife so that she can stay away from my things and also from my kids but I guess Ladi only has power when it comes to me.
He is always afraid to speak up to Santi.
He hardly buys fast food again, I guess his business was indeed going into drain.
Ladi was only left with one shop now and a small warehouse. Ladi was gradually going down.
He asked me for money to restore his business but my days of stupidity and love struck is over.
My children’s school fees, lesson fess, upkeep, feeding and many other things was all on me now. I don’t have money to bail Ladi out of his brokenness, not again.
My first son was in a boarding school now. I have to change his school due to the war at home so that he can concentrate in his studies. He was writing his final exams.
Last year he did not do so well academically and I assumed is because of all that have been going on at home. I have to put him in a boarding school until he finishes with his final exams
I’m done been stupid and helping Ladi to build while Santi tears it down. Even if I have the money, I will put it to other good use.
He has thought me how to be strong both emotionally and physically and I’m doing just fine.
Yesterday was another round of fight with Santi and Ladi.
It was a Saturday and I took my time to make food for me and my kids. Santi came to the kitchen twice pretending to be searching for something. I continued with what I was doing.
I bought a new deep fridge where I store food for me and my kids instead of cooking every day. I left the general two big fridges in the kitchen for her and Ladi.
I make sure that I always lock my own fridge after putting in things.
As usual, I dished food for my two kids at home and put some in a separate plate for Ladi who I sometimes feel pity for.
I stored the remaining food in my private fridge and locked it up with keys.
I went inside the bathroom to bath and after I was done I got dress and went to the kitchen to take my own food. I saw that the key that I used in locking the fridge has been broken. I opened the fridge and found out that the full plate of food was almost empty even my grilled chicken and fish was gone.
I went into rage. My second son told me that he saw Santi breaking the fridge key with a hammer and taking the food out.
Santi warned him not to say anything to me or he will get another round of beating from her when I’m not at home.
Ladi was home but said and did nothing.
I went inside the master bedroom where Ladi and I used to stay before but now is him and Santi that occupies the master bedroom while I stay in a room close to my kids.
I stormed the room and saw her eating and laughing with Ladi.
I went straight and threw the food on the ground before stepping on it.
Ladi raised a hand on me and strike me right in front of Santi. He tries to push me out of their room after slapping me but I was not going to be humiliated by him again.
I was no more the cool Miwa that was submissive and obeys his every command.
And in the same measure, I gave him double of the dose. I returned back the slap to him in a double standard.
He was shock. I even threaten to dig a knife to his heart if he dares raise his filthy hand to slap me next time.
I charged towards Santi who was already calling me names and running her wide mouth as usual. We had a satisfying fight and I was happy that Ladi was watching as it unfold.
The television in the master bedroom got broken in the process, Ladi was trying to separate the fight. The children were crying and screaming.
My second son kicked Santi hard and Ladi found it pleasing to beat up his own son. He flogged the boy with his belt. I have to leave Santi and rushed to rescue my son from his heartless father.
I took a glass jug, the first thing that my hand get to and broke it into pieces on Ladi’s head. He sustained an injury and was bleeding but I cared less.
I gave him and his new wife another warning that if they want war I’m so ready for them. Any of them that lays a hand on my children will get it hot from me.
Ladi was cursing and fussing, but I walked out of the room with my children.
I had few bruises on my arm which I sustained from the fight with Santi. I washed it off took my children out for a drive.
I was not in my right mind so I didn’t go far so that I will not angrily enter the express with my kids and cause an accident.
When I returned back in the night, I was a little calm but coming back to the house always makes me sad.
Salami has advised me to move out. She said I should rent an apartment and move out of my home.
I don’t know how to do that because I was so much used to this home I built with my husband. My home of almost fourteen years. Getting a new place is another unexpected expenses.
My younger sister who is a lawyer asked me to divorce Ladi because he is of no use to me again but i don’t know if I’m capable of divorcing my husband.
I’m still thinking over this whole thing and how sad a place I call home feels like.
Every day has its own drama, it got to a point I can’t bear it anymore. I can’t leave my children at home alone because my heart won’t be at rest. They are either punished by Ladi or his wife.
I have to start making enquiries on how to get a place.
Zoma was the cab I used to tour round until I came to a conclusion with a cool and fine apartment for me and my kids.
It was expensive and will affect my pocket greatly. I needed to pay for two years before moving in. Salami encouraged me to do so and even wanted to assist me with some money but I told her not to worry.
I believe both in my God and in myself. I will pull through all of this.
I paid for the apartment, I did not inform Ladi about it. After he left for work one day, Zoma helped me to call a pickup bus that came to pack me and my kids load.
Santi was also out of the house with her husband. I guess they both went to their businesses.
I and my children’s loads were transported to my new apartment. It was so painful during the whole packing and moving.
I cried half way during the packing because I never bargained for any of this. I never thought I will leave my husband or the home I built with my him to a rented apartment.
I was left with no choice. I don’t want to die and leave my kids behind, neither do I want to loose any of my children because of domestic violence or carelessness.
My peace of mind and the safety of my children was very paramount to me.
I was going into depression and insane while living in the same house with Danladi and Santi.
They both wanted to frustrate life out of me but with me moving far away from them, I will find my footing again and gradually life will again have meaning.
TBC
