The President’s Wife episode 10

TITLE: THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 10

Lere asked Zara when he could see her father. Zara told him to be patient as they had discussed. But Lere was worried. The guys in the office had said she was too beautiful to be left like that; another man can easily snatch her. Even though he trusted her, he didn’t trust the men. They can do anything to have her. It was best he married her and made everyone know she was his.

Lere told Zara he couldn’t wait any longer. He asked her if she was no longer in love with him. He tried to blackmail her saying she was withdrawing because other men were showing interest. The nagging from him was so much that she told him she wasn’t ready because she didn’t know enough about him to move to the next level.

“What do you mean?” Lere asked.

“You hærdly talk about your family and I haven’t seen any of your siblings since we started this relationsh¡p.”

“Zara, all you had to do was ask. Ok, I am from a polygamous home. My father is a Muslim while my mother is a Christian. She had just me for ten years before she had my younger sister and brother; they are twins. My father married a second wife three years into the marriage. My stepmother has four children for my father. She is a Muslim too. My father trained me and he is training his other children. I go home three times a year. My mother doesn’t want me to stay with them or visit them often because she feels the second wife is diabolic. I don’t believe she is; my mother is just insecure.”

“Where do your parents stay?”

“Ipaja. It is a distance. I told my mum about this job, and she stopped me from telling my father. He will tell his brothers and older sons. I forgot to mention my father had three children with a woman he divorced before marrying my mother. My mother trained them. That’s the story.”

“I want to meet your parents and siblings”

“Why? Don’t you believe my story?”

“I believe it but I need to know if I will get along with your family before you meet my family.”

“Ok. I will tell my mother.”

One afternoon, while Zara was at home cleaning Lere’s house, someone rang the bell. Zara answered and met an older woman. She knew who she was because her son took some of her features; her fair complexion skin and Lere’s eyes gave her away. Zara greeted her and asked her to come in. She explained to Lere’s mother she was cleaning the sitting room. She offered to put a chair outside for her to sit while she rounds up. She was also cooking.

Iya Lere replied, “I will stand and wait. What is on fire?”

“I am boiling meat for soup.”

“Very good. Continue your work.”

Zara finished sweeping the rug, brushed the chairs and dusted the electronics and furniture. Iya Lere sat down. She got her a cold bottle of soft drink with a tumbler. Turned on the television and put a movie for her to watch. She went back in,side to finish cooking.

When the food was ready, she served Iya Lere the soup with eba. The woman made herself comfortable to eat. She had almost finished the food when her son came back. He was surprised to see his mother in the house.

“Mami, you didn’t tell me you were coming. Welcome. Have you met Zara?”

“Yes, I have met her. She is a well brought up girl and she can cook. She is also very respectful. Where are you from Zara?”

“Imo state, ma.”

“Omo Igbo?”

Lere added quickly, “She was born and bred in Lagos. Her parents live here.”

“Ok. I will tell your father you have found a wife and I approve. Then I will tell you when to bring her so no one else will see her.”

“You know baba will call his brothers and sons once I come with her. Go and do your prayers so they will not do evil towards us.”

“Omo ologo ni yi. They can’t do evil to you. Zara, please excuse us, I want to talk to my son in private.”

“No mum, we will go into the room so she can relax here.” Lere turned to Zara, “I know you are hungry, why not eat while I speak with my mum?”

“I will wait. I will have some biscuits.”

in,side the bedroom, Iya Lere said to her son, “The girl is beautiful and humble. She treated me with so much respect. I didn’t like what she was wearing though, it was too short. That aside, I went to see a prophet about this union. He prayed for three days, and he said both of you are meant to be together. If you are together, you will be very rich and powerful. But he needed to pray for another three days.”

“So, what did he say?”

“He said you should never hurt her. You should never allow her to leave your side. If she curses you, it will catch you. I have given you the warning just as he gave me. This girl is your wife. Her star is very good. Who she gives her star to is who will progress. Men are rushing her abi?”

“Yes. I am scared I might lose her.”

“You won’t but act fast. She loves you and she will be loyal to you. I have done my part. What I have told you today, don’t discuss it with anybody. Have you heard me?”

“I have, ma.”

“Good. She should pack some of that soup she cooked for me. Honestly, it was delicious. That prophet is difficult to see but I was able to see him and he gave me an audience. I believe what he said because he didn’t rush to give me the message. I didn’t spend a kobo. He said I will come in the future to appreciate him with a car. I was shocked.”

Lere laughed at the man’s big dreams. A car? He had plans of selling off the car he had now to buy a new car with the bonuses he was expecting to receive in the coming year. He had tried to renovate his mother’s room but she didn’t want the other wife to know he had been blessed.

“Mum, what about Iya Malik? Did you talk to the prophet about her? Has he proved she is diabolic?” he asked in a subtle mockery.

“Shut up your mouth. She wasn’t the reason I went there; you are the reason. Take what I have said very seriously. He also said you are very far away from God. He said you should draw close to God and your life will be filled with happiness.”

“You just added that one. I have heard mami. I am happy you have given your consent for me to marry Zara.”

“She’s already your wife now, doesn’t she sleep here with you? You have to desist from the sin of fornication so you will receive the promises of God.”

“It is the reason I want to marry quickly; it will be difficult to stop that sin.”

“Is there anything too difficult for God to do?”

“It is not God, it is me. I love her.”

“She won’t be a hindrance to you. I will talk to her.”

Lere went on his knees and begged his mum “Please mami, don’t tell her anything. If you talk now, she will never come here again. I know how long it took me to get her to agree, don’t spoil it for me.”

The following weekend, Lere took Zara to see his father and siblings. His direct siblings were Zara’s mates. His other half siblings were older and the last ones younger. He had three married sisters, three married brothers and three unmarried siblings. There were ten children for his father.

Alhaji Disu wasn’t what Zara expected. He was a man in his late fifties or early sixties. He looked younger and was very agile. He was quite handsome too. What shocked her was his level of education. He worked for a blue ch¡p company for many years, took early retirement, built a mini estate at Ipaja and then became a major distributor of the company. He was very comfortable. He always said he was content.

Alhaji was very impressed when he saw Zara. She was beautiful, graceful and confident. He knew in his heart, that Lere won’t let this one go. He introduced Zara to his children who were around. He asked questions about her which she answered. He and his family were exceptionally nice to her.

She met Lere’s stepmother. She made some food and brought it for them to eat. Lere’s mother didn’t want them to eat the food but his father washed his hands and joined them to eat from the same plate.

“Our wife, Iya Lere brought one soup for me to eat. I ate it and almost licked my plate. I didn’t even leave any for my grandchildren to taste. She said you cooked the soup. Please, my daughter, you will cook the soup and any other soup you can cook very well and send them down to me. It has to come in three bowls per soup for me and my wives. I will give you the money to make the soups.”

“Alhaji why will you give her money? I am here and I can afford to cook food for you and my mothers. Please don’t give my wife the impression I don’t care about you,” Lere quickly added.

“Do you take care of us? When was the last time you visited? I want you to marry so that your wife and children will visit me in my old age.”

Zara smiled and said, “I will make the soups and we will bring them back for you tomorrow. I don’t want you to wait too long to enjoy your food.”

“You see. Tell your father we want to marry you. I will come with my son to ask for your hand. This one that is fine like mammy water and also smart cannot pass us by. Taofeek (Lere’s Muslim name), let us see her people quickly. We are marrying her and no one else.”

Zara had met Lere’s family. The next stage was for Lere to meet her parents. Lere insisted he wanted to see them the following weekend. Zara told him she wouldn’t be able to spend the night with him if she went home. He agreed. He took her home on Saturday night so he could see her parents on Sunday by 2 pm.

Zara’s father called Zara into his room. He wanted to have a heart to heart talk with her. “My daughter, I have always believed you are a reasonable and sensible child. You are focused and a go-getter. Whatever you put your mind to achieve, you achieve it. You are very different from your sisters. I know all my children and I can say if anyone would be successful, it will be you. That said, marrying a man who doesn’t share the same culture and tradition as you is usually a problem. It causes conflict in the marriage. The time you will spend trying to build a family, will be spent adapting to a culture alien to you. This will breed unnecessary conflict. You do not share the same values. Once he is not an Igbo man who knows his responsibilities towards his wife and children, you will have issues. Nne m, you will say times have changed and parents can’t choose who their children will marry, but I would rather say, there is a reason why elders are called wise. They have had experience. You don’t wait until it happens to you before you have sense; other people’s experience is enough for you to learn from. Our experience with the Yorubas during the civil war is enough for us to know, they cannot be trusted.”

Zara expected this line of conversation from her father. She also knew how to silence him. “Daddy, you raised me well. You have always encouraged me to go for what I want or believe in. You have said I am sensible. Well, your sensible daughter will not bring a man who will not meet or even surpass your expectations. He is not rich by the standards you judge but, he has the potential to excel and I know you will see it. Meet him first.”

Papa Adanna looked at his daughter in amazement. When did she become this mature and bold? She had made a valid point; he should have met him first before trying to discourage her.