WHAT DOES MY HUSBAND WANT?
Episode 12
My first son graduated and I was there with his siblings to cheer him up.
He proceed to the university and I put in my very best to see that he pays up all dues.
And within a short time he was off to the campus.
He was growing so fast and doing so well academically. I was so proud of him and all his siblings.
My second son was riding behind him as he also sat for his own exams and I know will be coming out with flying colours.
My daughter was mummy’s girl and did not cease to also make me proud in every area, both academy and at home.
She helps me out and takes care of the house in my absence.
She was also learning to be a good cook and a care giver.
Sometimes I don’t have to worry about coming home from the shop and start cooking because I know my daughter must have it covered.
My children gives me joy and makes me forget every sadness that their father caused me.
I expand my shop and even opened in another location because business was moving so well.
I thank God every day for giving me such a business idea that sustained me and my kids. If I have listened to Ladi initially, when we got married he wanted me to be a house wife. If I have listened to him and depend on him for every penny, I would have been biting my fingers and crying “had I know. I’m so grateful to God for making everything I lay my hands in to be a success.
Ladi surprising came around one weekend. I was home with my children when he came.
When my second son told me who was at the door and if he should open up for him or not.
I couldn’t believe it until I went there and saw him knocking at my door.
I opened the door and stepped out, without allowing him inside.
“How did you get my address and why are you here? I asked while facing him.
“I made my inquiries and trace you down to this place for over a month now. I did not come to make any trouble with you, I only came to check on how my children are doing. Is more than two years and I have not set my eyes on them. I’m still their father Miwa and I deserve to know how my kids are doing. You refused to give me address or even respond to my calls or messages. I had no choice than to figure it out. I know you must have heard that I sold the house. Yes, I actually did because you refused to loan me money to boost my dying business. I can’t watch my years of hard work to go down in drain. I needed to do something. Santi suggested long time ago that I should sell the house but that was my only remaining building after selling off the rest. I wanted to keep it for our children. But I was tempted and pushed so hard and I end up selling it off. It was out of the money that I used to restore my business and move to a smaller apartment with Santi and my daughter Zazi…
I was just staring at him as he speaks without a word.
If he was a little boy, I could have slapped the evil spirit out of him.
“Why are you telling me now after selling the house? Danladi, you have the mind to sell off the house we suffer to build? You did not even thought of informing me first, you just concluded with Santi and sold it off. You purchased a car for her and moved into a rented apartment to become a tenant and you think you are wise in your own eyes? I felt betrayed, disappointed and sad after learning that you foolishly sold off our sweat without common sense telling you that you are gradually descending to your fall. You suddenly remembered that you have children after two years of not setting your eyes on them. Ever since we moved out, you have not seen this children, your focus was on Santi and her daughter. Suddenly it dawn on you that you actually have children somewhere. My first son has graduated from secondary school and gained admission into the university and yet you don’t know anything about it. The second is writing his exams and very soon he will also be going to the university… just few years from now. My daughter is not left out. She is catching up with her brothers and all the whole expenses of this children was laid on my shoulder. Do you understand the load of abandoning me with three children? I don’t think you know. If not that you have become shameless, you wouldn’t dare show your wretched face here. Are you not the same person that said you wanted to give our three children the very best and that was the reason you don’t want a fourth child? You asked me to get rid of the baby who could have been pursuing her four to five years now just like Santi’s daughter. Having another family and keeping it all a secret was not enough, you decided to bring them into our home and turned the whole house into warfront and as if that was still not enough you later sold the house at your queen Santi’s command. Danladi, what you did to me…is unforgivable. But even if I managed to forgive you, I will never forget.
I left him standing outside, trying to give unreasonable explanation. I went back inside and lock my door.
He waited outside for a long time, calling my name and the kids name but none answered.
He later left.
Ladi came to my shop the following week raging.
“I know I wronged you but you can’t deny me my right to be with my children Miwa. I want to be back in their lives and I plead to you to let me. Stop poisoning their young mind or turning them against me. I’m still there father please. Back home, Santi is turning out worse than I bargained for. I can’t enjoy peace anymore and you are not even helping issue. Let me see my children and fill my mind with joy and yet you are denying me that privilege. Will you all be happy if I die? Every one of you is frustrating life out of me. Miwa, you used to be humble, submissive, and respectful. I never thought that you will ever change to be this hardened. Remember I opened this shop for you when the going was good and i….
I quickly interrupted him by pointing a finger to his face.
“I and my family made you the great man that you used to be. I will take you back to memory lane and show you what your wretched life looks like. I stepped in and change the luck for you and yes I was very loving, supportive, submissive and humble to you but that was the old me not this Miwa you are looking at. I worked side by side with you and opened your big plaza with over seven shops, and I did not want to be just a house wife like you suggested. I wanted to do business of my own and it was only normal that you used the money that we both made to get me a shop. Your seven shops has dropped to just two shops now. Everything put in your care is been mishandled. I have this big shops and has opened another branch. I rented my apartment, I changed my car, I paid my children’s school fees and I’m living fine. You were never useful to me right from onset, rather I was always your back bone and your saving grace. You always run to me whenever you have any problem, both business and anything at all and I will try to find a solution to it. I will give you my right eyes just to prove my love and royalty but I later found out that I was fooled. You don’t worth it. You deserve whatever you get and nobody will pity you. Just watch out…the main trouble has not started and you are crying, relax more is coming. As for my children…I’m not stopping you from seeing them. They don’t want to see you because you are both a useless husband and father. The only thing stopping me right now from divorcing is just one thing. I could have divorced you long time ago Ladi.
I turned back inside and after he stood for a while he left.
Ladi came twice to the house but I did not let him see the children. The third time, he had plaster on his fore head, bruises on his body. He said that Santi hit him during an argument with her heel shoe.
He was almost crying right in front of me and has to blink back tears severally and clear his voice just to keep it clear.
I felt pity for him and asked him to come inside for the first time.
He came inside the house and stood. I told him to go ahead and sit down.
My second son did not want to see him but I urged my boy to go ahead and greet his father. He later went with his sister.
I watch as the brightness returned back to Ladi’s face the moment he saw his two children. My first son was living in the campus and visits home once in a while, Ladi couldn’t see him.
Ladi was relieved and happy seeing how big the kids have grown.
