Happily married 2

“The painful thing is that he has been avoiding me like a plague. We have spoken on the phone less since it happened. Sometimes, the conversations are good. Sometimes, it’s just awkward. Other times he just simply ignores me, doesn’t pick my calls nor return them.” She complained to her sister.

“Soso, I think you should just give him some space. He would realise how important you are to him then. You know how people are. They just don’t the value of things until it is no longer theirs. Moreover, you actually aren’t his girlfriend.”

“Thanks for rubbing that in. Shade, I wish
I could. I wish I could actually leave him alone. But I cannot.”

Shade looked at her sister exasperatedly.

“Why, Soso, Why?! Is it because you love him or what? What is it that is making you lose your head this way?”

“Well, that and because..”

Soso cut her sentence off, as she put her hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom. When she returned to her room, her sister was pacing.

“Soso, you are pregnant aren’t you?”

No response.

“Soso how could you do this to yourself, it is our final year in the university. You know how mom and dad are going to respond to this. Oh God! What will we do? Soso, say something.”

“Shade, I really don’t know what to do. And the moron that is the father has not been picking my calls.”

“Call him with my phone abeg. Call him asap.”

Shade handed her phone to her sister.

He stared blankly at his office wall, dazed and confused on what to do. How could Sola be pregnant? Sure they had made love but since she did not stop him knowing fully that he did not have a condom, he assumed that she was on the pill. Well, apparently she wasn’t. He still hated himself for how he had left her that night. But he had left because he did not want her to assume they were anything more than friends. And he had limited the calls, chats and had not even gone out with her ever since. He regretted that night. He wishes he had just left, he wishes he had not agreed to go into her house that night. Maybe she wasn’t pregnant. Maybe she just wanted to gain his attention. Maybe she was just trying to make him pick her calls and go out with her again. Just maybe. He hoped that was the case. He wasn’t ready for any pregnancy or baby or wife. His life had just started. He liked her, he really did. But he was not ready for a committed relationship. He has plans. Plans to have fun, to work hard and play hard. To go out with as much girls as possible. Growing up had not been very comfortable. He had had to struggle through school, most time taking up odd jobs here and there just to pay his tuition and for his upkeep. Sometimes, he had even had to send some of that money to his family. And now that the struggle was over, and he had gotten a very good job with a reputable advertising firm with a very fat salary, lots of allowances and benefits, he had plans to have as much fun as he could. Back in the university, his friends had had a lot of fun, going out to the clubs and parties et al. but he had enjoyed none of that. Now was his turn. He definitely wasn’t ready for any form of commitment.

Sola heard her husband’s car drive in and her heart skipped a beat. She glanced at the dining table to ensure his food was well set. She arranged her pajamas on herself and gingerly sat on the chair in the living room, staring at the television but seeing nothing. Her heart sent prayers to God. She sat, oping and praying. She got up to greet her husband and took his briefcase.

“Welcome.”

“Thank you darling. How was your day?” Paul asked his wife with a smile.

She was taken aback. How was her day?! Darling?! Since when did he develop interest in her day?What is going on?

“Errm. It was fine. How was yours?” she asked carefully.

“Ah. Food is ready I see. You are just as efficient as ever. Taking care of your day and still making food on time. Drop the briefcase. Come and eat with me.”

He pulls his dumbfounded wife with him to the dining table. He sits and waits as she serves the food. She’s about to leave when he pulls her back and pulls out the chair next to him for her.

“Are you not going to eat?”

“No. I ate already. Thank you.”

“Of course you have. But you would eat with me.”

Paul spoon feeds his wife with the food and the meat. He gives her water and then he starts eating.

“So you asked me about my day. Well, let’s see. I went for a meeting…”

Sola stares on as her husband of four years who had always acted like she was invisible told her about his day in between mouthfuls. She supposed she should be happy this was happening, after all she had been fervently praying for God to cause her marriage to change and God did work in mysterious ways. After the meal, Sola washed the plates and went back to the sitting room to watch television. She was too confused as to what was happening to her husband.

Paul walked into the sitting room and kneels in front of his wife. She looks dazed. He puts his hands around her waist and pulls her to the edge of the seat. He kisses her. Deeply, passionately. She is too shocked to respond at first but she does and she puts her arms around his neck. He picks her up and carries her into the room. He makes love to her slowly and passionately. After which he pulls her closer and cuddles her for the rest of the night.

The week went on like that. Paul comes home and tells his wife about his day, asks for her opinion on several matters, even brought home gifts for her twice then makes sweet love to her. Sola was elated. She spent Thursday evening singing praise and worship to God for answering her prayers. She wished she could share the testimony in church but she knew better than to do anything that would get her husband angry at this point. She promised God that she would give a huge fat offering to God on Sunday. Life could never be better.