Episode 18

Last updated on March 18th, 2023 at 02:01 pm

The party eventually started. The whole preparation had ended and we had arranged the whole compound. I was sitting with Dimeji when Jude, his friend and one lady entered the compound. Jude was holding the lady, but as soon as they entered, he released her hand. He started greeting the people around and the two people with him did the same. They were now tailing behind him.

They found a chair for the lady and went inside to most likely greet the elders that were inside with the pastors. As soon as the pastors came, they asked all the wives to leave the sitting room. We had done all the work, but we could not even sit with the other family members to pray when the pastors arrived. Once we served them drinks, we were told to excuse them. 

It was hard to know if Jude saw me or not as I wasn’t exactly sitting in an open place, but it couldn’t have been hard for Jude or anyone who knew me to identify me. I let him enter without calling him. I had tried contacting him on the phone since Thursday and he had not replied to my messages or called back. Maybe he was busy, at least he was here now.

I suddenly felt like someone was gazing at me, so I turned to the side; it was the lady who had followed them. As soon as our eyes met, she turned and started pressing her phone. I saw that she also looked at Dimeji before she finally shifted her gaze. Many people had said that Dimeji bore a striking resemblance to his dad, maybe that was what she noticed.

***

It was now evening. I felt relieved that the whole event was coming to an end and the moment I would return back home was also close. Jude had avoided us all day like the plague. At first, I was not sure he was avoiding us, but when he came to get food and still did not say anything to me and just demanded food from the other wives, I knew he was ignoring us.

I began to worry. Was he pissed at me or what? I started running through the events of Thursday till today, I could not pinpoint what I could have done wrong. Dimeji tugged my gown and I snapped at him. He started crying. As I picked him up to soothe him, I saw some of the wives give each other the look. The look that said I was spoiling my kid or I was avoiding work by carrying my son. I ignored them and went to sit. Tomorrow evening.

Jude sat for a while with his friends and I watched my husband laughing and drinking with them. I felt a pang of anger. I had been here at his family’s house for two days suffering and working like a slave, the least he could have done was to talk to me and ask how we were doing. I was pregnant with his child and still carrying a seventeen month old, yet he didn’t even acknowledge us. How wicked could this man be? I thought to myself.

Suddenly, he and the lady got up heading towards the back of the house, there was a toilet there and I guessed he wanted to show her the place. They had only walked a few steps when his friend called, “Faith.” Faith? The name sounded familiar. He repeated the name again, this time louder and she turned. Jude waited as she went back to meet his friend. I could not see what he gave her, also, I was trying not to look too much at their side. Faith. Faith? Is that not the girl Jude is cheating on me with? No no, it can’t be her.

Heat slowly covered me and I had to blow myself with my scarf. It can’t be her. 

***

The stupid party was over.

I thought we were all going back to Osogbo since Jude also stayed after the party. I was surprised when he drove us to the park and paid the transport fare. I had to follow him back to his car. 

“Jude are you not going to work tomorrow?” I asked him.

“I am going, but we need to sort some things at home before we the sons can go.”

“Okay,” I said, there was nothing else to say. “Be safe.” I added as I turned back to go to the bus.

We were almost at Osogbo now and I replayed the weekend in my head. It was one of the worst weekends of my life. There was no joy; none of our husbands were around to even cheer us up as we worked tirelessly. Sarah could never be found doing this. That was one of the reasons mummy disliked her. She would either not attend the party or choose to come at the same time as Sam.

On Saturday, Jude didn’t acknowledge me until Faith left with his friend later in the evening. We were washing the plates and sweeping the compound when he came and asked how I was doing. I was tempted to shout at him, to yell out my frustration, to ask who Faith was. I swallowed everything and smiled instead, asking how he was too.

Around ten in the night, he came to meet me saying the rooms were occupied and he needed to go and sleep in a hotel.

“I just came to tell you. I would be back tomorrow morning.”

“Jude, since it’s just one night, I am sure you can find somewhere to sleep in the house.”

“I have checked there is no space. I cannot sleep on the floor. I drove all the way to Ibadan, I cannot sleep on the floor after that.”

“But I have been sleeping on the floor since I came o.”

“You tried o. My body will be paining me if I try it.” He replied.

“Okay. Let us follow you then so we can sleep well for one night too.”

“And what will mummy and other wives say? The wives that are sleeping on the floor do they have two heads? Or do you think they don’t have husbands too?” I was quiet. “See, goodnight. I don’t want to move about when it’s late.” And he went. After putting Dimeji to sleep, I went to the backyard and cried. I wasn’t even getting any respect as a married woman nor was I getting my husband’s care when it mattered the most.

As we were leaving today, his mother asked if I was taking my son.

“Lape, did the doctor not say you should rest?”

“Yes, ma.” I thought she was going to mention the stress I had been through since Thursday.

“So, why is your son’s load packed?” I was taken aback. I finally found my voice and said, “Mummy, I am better. I don’t want him to bother you.”

“Bother me? I raised your husband o and six other siblings. I just thought you should know. You have spoilt this boy and I don’t even know if you can rest with this type of clinginess.”

“Okay ma, I will try to train him better. Thank you.”

There was absolutely no way I was going without my son. He looked so lean and there were spots all over his body. My cute son was no longer cute and if he could talk, I was sure my ears would be filled. I had to press his body to make sure he was not hurting anywhere. My mum would even do a better job. Jude was silent as his mother queried me, not like I was expecting his support.

 I just wanted to leave.