And that is what I do not want at all. Who on earth authorized you to call that number? You have been trailing me, right?
Well, that’s where you got it all wrong, because I won’t tolerate that. Never!”
“Joseph, I just wanted to talk to you. I called to talk to you not Amanda or anyone”, I explained.
“And please don’t forget that I am Edyth Eze, your fiancee.”
“That does not give you the right to call the number. You know how to reach me, why did you choose to go through another channel if your intentions were not sinister?” Joseph barked.
“What do you mean sinister? Joseph, so you have now forgotten what I had to do for you to travel to Europe? It is five years now, are you not supposed to return to marry me? So, what you want to use in paying me back is to scold me for calling a mere line?” I said.
But that seemed to have inflamed the situation. Joseph simply exploded. I was listening to his rantings but I was not hearing.
But I knew the words’ sounded like he was ready to refund me whatever I spent to get him across to Europe. I believe, he also talked about me leaving him alone to face his challenges since I was out to be a source of distraction to him.
The moment I tried to galvanize the words to harness the meanings, Joseph hung up on me.
That left a void.
I don’t need to stress the fact that he had murdered sleep. I was just up most of the night, thinking. I was just pondering what my fate would be. I had placed so many hopes on Joseph right from the day he proposed to me a few years earlier. And that was why I went out of my way to arrange for him to travel to Holland.
It had come with a price. I was the person who bore the burden. From the passport to the visa to the ticket and accommodation in Amsterdan, I was the person who took charge the expenses.
I was doing that in the hope that his lot, our lot, would be improved. At that point, Joe had been quite ecstatic and hopeful. He had assured me that in less than two years, everything would be okay. He promised that he would make some money. Come back and get married to me. But two years had elapsed to five years without anything meaningful happening.
Each time I told him about his promises, he would just laugh and ask for a little more time.
Time was the excuse, until Ada, my friend opened up to tell me that I was the fool in that relationship.
“Edyth, I do not think your Joe is still single:’ she pointed out; that is how our boys in Europe behave. They will give you the
impression that all is well and they would be doing another thing. Please move on with your life,” .
But there are certain truths that are difficult to swallow, the truth of Joseph’s situation was one of them. I could not just fathom it. How could I? After all I had been through for him, I remember the night I went for the money he would use as his BTA(Basic Travel Allowance); it had rained so heavily that day, that traffic in Lagos metropolis was so bad. Everywhere was a gridlock because of the traffic situation. It was so bad that at about 1.30am, I was still stuck in traffic at lkeja UnderBridge. Yet all these meant nothing to Joseph!
When it was obvious that I had lost the battle for Joseph, I took the war to God. I handed the matter over to him in fasting and prayer and eventually, I went to Ikeja Underbridge, the spot where I was stuck in traffic that same night and laid a curse on him, to conclude my fasting process. I was a woman in trouble, so I got there and stood as if I was waiting for someone and said these words, with tears running down my face; “Father, you are the all-knowing God. You remember the night I was stuck in traffic here, for the sake of Joseph and his promises to me. Now that he has failed in his promises, father, may you fail him in your promises. And most of all, may he not find the pleasures of another woman in marriage!”
After I had spoken these words softly, I dropped a hundred naira note and walked away. With that, I felt I had sealed my request.
It may sound childish but I just needed to do something that would free my mind. I had heavy hearts, I was convinced that I needed to do something that would let me float again.
Hell hath no fury, then a woman scorned. My outlook changed after a while. It became glaring that I was no longer Edyth Eze, just a shade of her. Somehow, people, especially those who were close to me started noticing that something was wrong with me. But I kept carrying on as if nothing had happened. Some of them who really got persistent like Mrs Rita Nwosu, however got me talking one day.
I took time and explained my situation to her and she was comforting. advising that I should move on with my life.
“There are many fishes in the ocean”, was how she described the fact that there were still dozens of men out there who would accept me for Who I was. Mrs. Rita Nwosu later took it upon herself to make sure that I got myself a man. She made several introductions to me but it never got beyond a limit. Not that the men were running away from me, I discovered that I usually got fed up with them after a while. Everything was just boring and meaningless.
It got so bad that Mrs. Nwosu recommended me to a psychologist. I kept the appointment but the solutions he was offering were much the same things I had heard over and over again. He eventually placed me on a therapy, which I was sure, would not change a lot.
It took more than five years for me to get back my groove. Slowly time healed all those wounds, and rather beautifully.
I was in my new office one day and the intercom buzzed.
“Hello”, the reception said. “Miss Bze, there’s a man here to see you. He’s … Mike Adindu.”
“Mike Adindu?” I asked. Obviously, the name rang a bell. Joseph’s surname was Adindu and he had a younger brother named Mike.
Could he be the person?
“Let him in”, I told the receptionist and a few minutes later, Mike sauntered in. He had not changed much. He was only looking more matured. As he stood before me, taking my palm in his in a handshake, the fact that he would have been my brother-in-law hit me ..
But Joseph had made a mess of it. Amanda had taken over.
“Quite a while Mike”, I noted. “How is everything?”
“I’m well. You just forgot me.” he teased, as if he didn’t hear the havoc, his brother wrecked in my life. I asked after their parents, sisters and other relatives I got to meet while the affair lasted, cleverly refusing to ask after Joseph.
“You have not asked about Joseph?” Mike reminded me.
“Ooh, I am sure he is doing great. So how is he?” I managed to say.
“Well, he is missing you” Mike announced.
“Missing me!” It was laughable. “What of Amanqa. his wife!”
“Forget the long story. In fact, he sent me to you. You should find a place in your heart to forgive him Edyth, my brother is really remorseful, I can bet with my life.”
There was nothing a woman could do in that circumstance other than to laugh. That was exactly what l did. What else could I have done?
“Edyth, I think it is good we talk over lunch,” Mike prompted and without waiting for my answer; he rose from his chair and led the way. I followed him owing to his height and attire, everyone felt he was the new man in my life and my colleagues kept their inquisitive gaze at us.
“I parked over there; he said, pointing at a black Range Rover SUV across the road. The glasses were tinted and one could not see
beyond the glass panes.
As I reached to open the door, it flung open gently, unleashing Joseph. He stepped out. smiling. I did not know what to do. It was a pleasant surprise.
“Edyth Baby’; Joseph said, ”I am sorry for all the heartbreak. I will explain to you.
“We were on our way out for lunch,” I said, forcing back tears that were forming around my eyes.
“So we can all go together,” he said and turned to Mike his brother to thank him generously.
“Will you give me another chance, Edyth?” I heard him say, just as we were rounding up with lunch, “Every explanation I made to you was exactly what happened. It was too much and I needed a shelter, so I just had to do it. But my mind had been with you all these years:’
Mike cut in. “Please Edyth, say yes:’ he urged me.
“But I am afraid”, I said, fighting tears;’ I am afraid that this will happen again:’
“Never, Edyth;’ he said. “I’m a big boy now. I have a functional business. We can live together without broken dreams. I can bet with my life.”
“I will give you another chance;’ I said, and he bent and kissed my lips. Then Mike opened his jacket and brought out one small box. Inside it lay an engagement ring which Joseph slipped into my finger.
“Everything will be made new; if you marry me:’ he said.
“I will”, I said crying, wondering if the curses I placed on him had turned to a blessing.
…To Be Continued
