Thorn between episode 27 – 28

TITLE: TORN BETWEEN

WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI

GROWTH 8…

Eucharia moved to Nsukka with her last two daughters, Jayden/Caleb and a maid. She got a flat there, had a car and hired a driver. Flora stayed at home in Port-Harcourt to attend lectures from home. Dumebi and Mmesoma were undergraduate students at the University of Port-Harcourt but stayed on campus. Dumebi was studying Accounting while Mmesoma was studying Geology. Their father wanted them close to the house. Eucharia and the girls went back home every fortnight to see Flora.

Eucharia had spent only a year in the university before Adim began to make trouble. He came to the university to check on Eucharia and saw her talking to a lecturer outside. He claimed the manner the man looked at her and touched her was unsettling. It caused a big fight and even though Eucharia tried to explain to him, he refused to listen to her explanation. She decided to brush it off, but it only made it worse. Adim did not return home for three months and refused to visit them. In a quest to resolve the issue between them, Eucharia went to Nnewi in search of her husband. She knew where the branch office was in Nnewi. When she got there, she went to the reception and asked after her husband.

“He is no longer here, he has been recalled to the head office,” the receptionist explained to Eucharia. Eucharia thought it was a recent event so she asked when it happened thinking he had gone back home, but to her surprise the receptionist said it was over a year. Eucharia could not believe her ears. She asked the lady if she was sure and she confirmed it.

Eucharia came back to Nnewi. She used the business centre to call the house to find out if Adim had returned home, but he hadn’t. She left Nnewi and came to Port Harcourt. She did not know how best to handle the situation. She believed the receptionist might be wrong, but she felt in her spirit that she was right. She was scared of the outcome if she found out the truth. That evening, she called Prisca. She was the only one she could trust with this sensitive matter. She told her everything.

“Nda Uk, go to his office and pretend to be someone else. If you meet him there, know that the receptionist was telling the truth.”

“But Prisca, where has he been all this while? He came home every two weeks. Who was he staying with? I thought Adim loved me but now I doubt his feelings towards me.”

“You have not confirmed and you are fighting yourself. When you confirm your worst nightmare, what will you do? It is not time for tears but for action. Go to his office and ask to see him. He will come out and meet you there.”

Eucharia went to Adim’s office. She used another name to ask to see him. As she waited at the reception, she met one of his White bosses he had introduced to her during a dinner party. The man greeted her and they exchanged pleasantries. She asked him when the company would bring her husband back to the Head office.

“He is back fully. He is the Chief Accountant of our company and cannot be going on tour anymore.”

“Chief Accountant?” Eucharia asked surprised.

“Yes, didn’t he mention it? He got promoted last year and returned to base to take his rightful position.”

“He must have mentioned it. How could I have forgotten?”

“He is an asset to the company. Here he is.” The white boss stepped aside for Adim to see who he was talking to. He could not believe it was Eucharia. “I was just telling your wife how much of an asset you are to this company.” Adim forced a smile. Eucharia was staring at him as the man spoke. “I will leave you two alone,” and the boss walked away.

Eucharia turned around and left too. She went home. She went into her room and locked the door behind her. She stayed in there and cried her eyes out. So it was true, Adim got promoted and never told her. He was brought back to Port-Harcourt and he chose not to live at home. She wondered who he was with. Her mind was racing. She felt betrayed by the man she loved wholeheartedly.

Adim came back later that evening. Flora was surprised to see him at home just as she was surprised to find out Euchria was home when she came back from her lectures. Adim did not stop for chitchat, he went straight to his room. He knocked on the door but Eucharia refused to open the door. He knocked several times. Flora could hear him knocking from downstairs. She knew it was a lovers’ quarrel and decided to mind her business by not asking questions but she paid attention. Adim finally came downstairs, ate and stayed in one of the children’s rooms.

Eucharia woke up very early the following morning and left for Nsukka. She left the house with extra luggage. Adim was still asleep when she left. He woke up and went to the room to knock again but it was open. He looked around and saw that she had moved her valuables and extra clothes from the house. He was furious. He went outside and her car was gone. He came back inside and asked the maids why they did not wake him up when she was leaving.

Flora came out. She witnessed Eucharia leaving but did not say a word to her. Instead, she went back into her room waiting for Adim to come down. Now he was downstairs creating an unnecessary scene. She shouted at him, “Stop that!” she then turned to the maid and asked her to leave. “Why are you embarrassing yourself the more? You had a fallout with Eucharia last night and you slept soundly that you did not know when she left the house. The worst thing that can happen to you is to allow that woman to leave your life. All the nonsense you are doing, I know about them. You believe you are sharp but the girls talk. Any man who has Eucharia will treat her like a goddess. She is all in one. I may not see eye to eye with her but I speak the truth to you as my brother. She must have found out about your adventures and now she has moved out.”

“I do not know what you are talking about. We did have a misunderstanding and last I checked she thought I was in Nnewi, why did she come to my office yesterday?”

“She must have come when she found out you are not in Nnewi. For some months now you have refused to see your wife and children because you were uncomfortable she was talking to a man. Eucharia is a traditional girl. She is teaching your children about chastity and its benefits and they listen to her. Eucharia will never sleep with another man as long as you are alive. So, what is making you jealous? Because you are doing what you want to accuse of? Allow this girl to follow her dreams, she has supported you with hers.”

“She has to stop school. There are many men and even boys who have an interest in her. I have investigated and most of the guys find her attractive. Those women she mixes with want to introduce her to men. The more educated she becomes the more difficult it will be to control her. The more she joins enlightened women who have opinions, the more she desires to be like them and if all of them are prostitutes then she wants to be a prostitute. Have you not observed that her dressing has changed? She now wants to show more skin and wear shorter clothes. I do not like that at all. She is exposing my property.”

“Adim, it is your conscience that is pricking you. If Njideka comes here to tell me that Peter is cheating on her, I will believe. But you, with the way you carried Eucharia like akwa ogazi, I would never have believed. The girl is even dark while Eucharia is fair. These allegations hold no water. I have been here with Eucharia and the women, she is the best thing that happened to them and their homes. But it is not in my place to say it. Her dressing has not changed, she only wears better-looking clothes. When she mixes with other women she would want to look good, wear better clothes and smell good. You want her to remain the village girl you married? Eucharia is seeing money, but she is still low-key following you at your pace. All I will tell you is do not allow her to leave you for good, no woman will love you like Eucharia. She makes a special meal for you. She serves you food herself. Do not let that change. Modern girls will do it for a short while but they will change.”

Adim was adamant. He decided to ignore Eucharia until she came to her senses. Eucharia did not call him or come to Port-Harcourt for a whole month. Instead, she sent for Dumebi and Mmesoma to come to Enugu for the holidays. Eucharia blocked Adim out of her mind. She was done crying and could not get over the betrayal. She told Prisca what happened and Prisca advised her to try to resolve the issue with Adim but she was too hurt to talk about it and too scared to investigate where he had been living all the while he was lying to her.

Adim was surprised Eucharia had not reported to anyone about the issue. He did not like her silence. When she sent for the children, he became worried. Had she truly moved on? He did not believe she could live without him. His sister made fun of him when he came home on weekends hoping to meet Eucharia and the children at home. He could not take the suspense anymore so he went to Nnewi to visit them on a weekend. He got to the flat he was familiar with and found out they had moved out. The other tenants did not know where they had moved to. That was when Adim got worried. He knew Eucharia had the financial capability to do as she liked but she never showed it until now.

He went to the university and because it was a weekend he could not find her there. He had to miss work to be able to find Eucharia and he did not want to appear desperate. He instead went to see her uncle to complain about her hoping he would reveal to him where Eucharia was.

“Uk did all these?” Mazi Ukaegbu asked. “I am surprised. What has gotten into her? Are you sure you did not do something to offend her for her to leave her home for a whole month?”

“I did not offend her, I only kept some things away from her because she was proving stubborn. It is the women she is moving with that are teaching her how to undermine her husband. She does not respect me anymore and because she has money, she left the place I got for her to rent another accommodation. If I had kept her as a housewife would she have dared what she did?”

“Whenever she contacts me, I will ask her to see me and talk to her about this. In the meantime, I would advise you to relax and wait. Uk is not a wayward girl, I am confident about that. You have nothing to worry about.”

Adim was not satisfied with the outcome of the visit. Eucharia talked to her uncle every week no matter what. She had travelled to Aba to sack a housemaid and recruited a new one to serve the uncle. She was that close and loving towards the man. She loved the man more than her folks. How would she have a problem and not confide in him? Unless she wanted to resolve the issue without getting close family members involved. It was not nice. It meant it could linger for a long time while she got comfortable living on her own without him. “That is why women should not be financially independent, they would not need us men. I have to do something about it.”

Read – Shadows of the unknown episode 1 – 2

TITLE: TORN BETWEEN

WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI

GROWTH 9…

Finally, he took time off work to fish out Eucharia. He met her in a lecture room sitting beside a young guy and surrounded by other students who listened to her explain something they learnt in class. They were so engrossed in her teaching that they did not observe his presence, neither did she. It took some minutes before she looked up and saw him. She was shocked when she saw him. She quickly rounded up the teaching and walked out of the lecture room without acknowledging him. He was surprised. He had to go after her but did not want to create a scene, so he walked behind her until they got outside. Several people called out to her as she walked past them, and she responded with a smile. He wondered how long she had been here that she became so popular.

When they were outside by her car, he caught up with her. “What is happening? What game are you playing? I am upset with you, Eucharia because you have grown wings. You locked me out of the bedroom in Port Harcourt and left without saying a word to me. You changed your address and hid it from me. Do you have another lover who has made you abandon me for a whole month?”

“You must have a lover that made you abandon me and our children for three months. You lied to me that you were in Nnewi, meanwhile, you have been in Port-Harcourt since last year.”

Adim was shocked at her response and the boldness with which she spoke. Eucharia had changed, and he could see himself losing his grip on her. She did not allow him to guilt trip her. She was not shaken, nor did she sound pained and upset. It was not a good sign. He was not happy at all. He thought of a way to avert answering her question, but he knew Eucharia was smart and would not accept his apology or allow peace to reign until he explained himself to her satisfaction. He wondered how he would do it. “We cannot discuss the issue here. Let us go somewhere we can talk.” He said to her.

“I still have lectures. I will round up in the evening.”

“Give me the address of your new residence, I will wait for you there.”

“I do not think it is a good idea. You have displayed a character that makes me believe I have been sleeping with my enemy. I do not want to fight with you in the presence of the children. They do not deserve to witness us argue and embarrass ourselves; they deserve to be happy. Meet me here after my class at 6 pm, and we can trash out the issues.”

Adim did not like the fact that Eucharia was calling the shots. He wanted to insist, but she was right. It was easy to appease Eucharia, reassure, pet and desire her, and she has fallen. But how would he do all that when she wanted them to meet in public? He will do it in public until she takes him home, and they can settle everything the best way he knows how.

She went back to class. She knew what Adim’s plans were, but she also knew when she was losing a battle. She was destined to lose this battle but had to prepare for the bigger one. She had to snoop and could only do that successfully if they reconciled. Something had to go for something.

Adim was waiting outside for her at 5:30 pm. He saw her walking to the car park with the same lecturer he had seen her with four months ago. His countenance changed. Why was she always with this man? What was his interest in a married woman? They spoke for a few minutes and the lecturer walked to his vehicle while Eucharia came to meet him where he was standing.

“I did not expect you to come this early,” she said to him.

“You wanted more time with your boyfriend? You should have just told me.”

“I am the course rep and he is our course adviser, so what are you insinuating? If there is anyone who should bury his head in shame, it is you. So, what can I do for you?”

“Is that so? What am I guilty of? This same man caused our first fight..”

“You mean he exposed you to me? You left Nnewi last year; please tell me where you have been since then. I want you to deny it so I can ask your white boss when you were redeployed and expose you to them for lying to me and your family. What kept you away from us?”

“It was not last year. Yes, I moved back to Head office, but when I saw you with that man, I decided to remain in the hotel they provided for me while they prepared residence.”

“Hotel? Adim, you have been in a hotel for over three months? I cannot believe it. Who were you staying with at the hotel? You never came home for the three months, so who were you with there?”

“No one. I swear to you, no one. I stayed there alone.”

“Who knew about it? I suspect Flora knew about it because of the comments she made. Hmm. Adim, you are no different from the men who disrespect their wives. I would have sworn you would be loyal to me, but you were not. You got promoted and hid it from me. You have been promoted since last year but did not share the good news with me. If you are not celebrating with me, who are you celebrating with?”

It was not going as Adim had planned, and he did not like it. It would be embarrassing for her to walk out on him at that car park, so he told her, “Let us go to a quiet place where we can talk about this issue privately. Your distrust for me stems from your association with other women in bad marriages. Let us go where prying eyes cannot see us.”

Eucharia had to agree because she saw people looking at them and did not want or need the attention. She walked towards her car, but Adim stopped her. He wanted her to join him in his vehicle, but she refused and went to her car. This side of Eucharia was not pleasant to him at all. He loved and cherished the woman he married; she was submissive, diplomatic and peaceful. Now, she had become wise and street-smart. He did not want that at all. She drove behind him to the hotel. They went to the poolside of the hotel where they could talk quietly.

Adim wanted to start the conversation there, but Eucharia stopped him and asked the question she had asked earlier; who was with him at the hotel that made him come home only twice a month and who he celebrated such a big promotion with since he did not share the good news with her.” Adim was silent for a bit. She was not allowing him to apologise the way he wanted to. He missed her, but she was proving difficult. He did not need this harassment.

“You chose your education over me. You chose to move to Nsukka over being with me. We faced different paths, and I decided to learn to survive without you. I stayed in the hotel because the home was empty without you. I wanted the new accommodation and my profit sharing alone will pay it out in five years. If I had stayed at home, it would seem like I have a place.”

“Which hotel have you been staying and how long have you been there?” Eucharia asked.

“If you do not want us to resolve this issue, then we can dwell on the past. But if you do, we should focus on the future. You left home for a month and did not care about me. I came looking for you. I was away for three months and you never came looking for me to resolve the issue. What are we talking about.”

Eucharia fell for the bait. She explained how she went to Nnewi and had to come to Port Harcourt to find him. She was angry and turned red. She said she could forgive Adim anything, but if she found out he celebrated his promotion with someone else, she would never forgive or trust him again. It will be over between the two of them.

He swore to her he did not mention it to anyone and did not celebrate the promotion. He asked her if she was seeing anyone since she could stay away from him for four months. She looked at him and said, “Get rid of that girl; she is stupid. How would she sit back and allow a married man to stay with her in a hotel when he has a family? She is evil and insensitive. If you do not want me to fish her out, send her away. Otherwise, I will not come back home.”

After the talk at the hotel, Adim apologised for his behaviour. He attributed his insecurities to her attractiveness. He promised to be better behaved. Eucharia insisted that he move back home because she did not like the idea of him staying in a hotel. They went to Eucharia’s new residence together. Adim saw the children and was very happy. They were also excited to see him. He spent the night in the bedroom with Eucharia. He had his way with words and knew how to praise her to submission. As he made love to her he said, “Which man in his right senses will give up this for anything in the world?”

They reconciled, and Adim went back to Port Harcourt. He did not move back home. He was home only when Eucharia was around. She did not like it and mentioned it several times, but he refused to budge. He said he would move back home only when she leaves Nsukka and settles in Port Harcourt permanently. He was never in support of her studying in another state, and she did not need to work as he was earning more than enough to take care of them.

Eucharia was confused about the next step to take. Her husband was still at the hotel while she was in Nsukka. She thought of the person who would give her wise counsel and Mazi Ukaegbu (her Uncle) came to mind. She went to Aba to see him concerning the issue she was having with Adim. It was the first time she was bringing her marital problems to him and she knew her Uncle was wise and also being a man, he could examine the issue from a man’s point of view.

After telling him all that transpired, he took it one after the other. “Uk, you have to save your marriage. Defer your admission and face your business. Do what your husband asks of you. A woman holds her home. You are young and beautiful, Adim is scared someone will take you from him.”

“Nda, I do not understand?”

“Adim came to see me some months back when you were preparing for Jamb. He was not happy with you. He accused you of joining an association of women who were leading you astray and making you challenge his authority. I was surprised. I asked him if he had changed towards you, and he said no. It was when he explained the association of women I understood his problem. I asked him to come back to you and sort things out. I thought he did.”

Eucharia explained what transpired, including his insistence on her not losing weight. He was surprised. “He cannot tell you to be unhealthy to please him. I was surprised when I last saw you in the village, the weight was too much, and I am glad you have reduced it. Nne, do not look at a man and kill yourself because before your body is cold you have been replaced. I am a man, and I am telling this for free. I am no saint but I respect my wife and do not allow any insult to come her way. If I want to misbehave, I go far away from prying eyes. When you lived with me here did you see any girl come to look for me? I respected my home even though my wife was not there. Go and find out where he is staying and move in there with him. You might catch him with a girl, but do not create a scene just go there and be with him.”

Eucharia was scared of what she would find, but she took the bull by the horns and did what her Uncle had suggested. She was about to round up her second year when this happened. She decided to finish the session and then defer her admission. It hurt her that she was giving up a dream to please Adim but then, what was she to do?

She went to the hotel without telling Adim the week her examination finished. She dropped the children at home, took a bath and packed a small bag she would use while they were in the hotel. She left for the hotel without telling Adim. She waited for him to return from work, and he was shocked to meet her in the lobby.

“What are you doing here?” he asked her.

“Since you must stay in the hotel, I have to stay with you here. We will live here together until you move back home. I have abandoned my course to please you, you must do something to please me.”

Adim looked at her and smiled. He introduced her to the receptionists as his wife, collected the key to the room and they went upstairs together. They spent three days at the hotel before they came home for the weekend. On Monday morning, she told Adim she would meet him at the hotel that night.

“You mean this, don’t you?”

“I mean it. I will be with you until you return home and act as a responsible husband and father instead of living in a hotel where atrocities happen.”

“Ok. The new accommodation is almost ready. I can strike a deal with the hotel for the remaining days. I will work something out so we will stop living there. I have also shifted for you. This is how it should be.”

Helen was not happy to hear that Eucharia gave up her degree to please Adim. She spoke to Eucharia about it but Eucharia asked her not to bother. She had commenced a diet to lose even more weight while she exercised at home. She was disciplined about her exercise regime and strict with her diet. It was effective. Many people did not believe she was Dumebi and Mmesoma’s mother when she visited them in school. She also had changed her dress sense to be more modern without exposing her body, also trendy and fitted nicely.

As she successfully lost weight, many women came to her for help on how to lose weight and be healthy. She was desperate to do something about it, but her pledge to Adim was the hindrance. She attended to some of them on Sundays, but it did not achieve much because there was no close monitoring. And she could not profit from it.