The President’s Wife episode 11

TITLE: THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 11

For the first time, Lere parked his car confidently in front of Zara’s house. As he walked into the compound, his heart was beating very fast. He had been nervous since he woke up that morning. Zara assured him the meeting would go smoothly. “Just be yourself,” was what she told him. He wondered if she was this nervous when she went to see his father or when she met his mother. His palms were sweaty, which had never happened to him before. He had to dry them on his handkerchief before pressing the bell.

Zara opened the door for him. She smiled when she saw him. He looked very nice; he had a haircut and wore a smart casual outfit. He looked handsome and smelt good too. She didn’t hug him because her mother was in the sitting room. But she nodded letting him know she liked what she saw.

“Mummy, this is Lere. Lere, meet my mum.”

Lere bent his upper body with his fingers making contact with the ground. That was a less formal way of showing respect to an elder.

“Lere, you are welcome. How are you? Please have a seat. Zara, go and call your father.”

Mama Adanna liked what she saw. It wasn’t just his good looks, she could see the chemistry between Zara and Lere. She understood why her daughter wasn’t interested in any other suitors. The only obstacle was his tribe.

Papa Adanna came into the sitting room. Lere stood up and greeted in the same manner he greeted Zara’s mother. Apart from being impressed with his physical outlook, the show of respect was an added advantage.

Mama Adanna and Zara left the two men to discuss while they concluded the cooking. Adanna came out of her room to help. She saw Lere and greeted him smiling then left for the kitchen.

Papa Adanna asked Lere questions about himself. It was more of an interrogation. Lere answered all the questions honestly, especially questions about his family. He told Papa Adanna he was from a polygamous home. His father is a Muslim while his mother is a Christian and was the only wife of his father after the first wife left. She couldn’t have other children and so his father married the second wife. These were the main downsides to his story; his religion and the polygamous family. This was what Lere was afraid of.

“My son, my daughter is a staunch Catholic, we don’t force her to attend Mass or even go for confession. You are a Muslim, how then would you cope with a wife who is Christian?”

“I am not Muslim, sir. My mother married a Muslim and he allows her to practise her religion without hindrance. He is an educated and enlightened man. He knows what he wanted in a wife and found it in her. I don’t belong to any religion. I believe in God but, I am not tied to any religion. I have my time with him and go on my way morning and night. I will never stand in Zara’s way when it comes to her religion because I was and am aware she is a staunch Catholic. I will always respect that.”

“What of the children? How will they be raised? What religion would they practise?”

“That is left for Zara and me to decide. They are our children and we will decide what they will be introduced to and when.”

“I can see why Zara is smitten with you. She told me to meet you first before forming an opinion. I am quite impressed with you, you answered me truthfully and didn’t embellish to sound convincing. However, I would have preferred my daughter to marry someone closer in age to hers. The reason is that she tends to take charge which might not make older men uncomfortable and cause problems in her marriage. The second problem is your religion. Not having any religion means there will be no spiritual head in the family. A man protects his family from both seen and unseen forces. Without being spiritually strong, how do you expect to fight for your family? No man should take that for granted. I understand why your father married another wife when your mother couldn’t have more children. He must have married the second wife with your mother’s consent. My fear then is, if my daughter finds it difficult to conceive, would you have children with another woman? Knowing Zara, she will never share her husband with any woman.”

“Sir, the job I have right now, Zara forced me to get it. If she being in charge will make us successful, why not? I relinquish my position as head of the family to her because I know she will lead us to success. I am a unit head in my organisation and I have learnt how to manage people. Likewise, I will say I can tolerate Zara; she isn’t troublesome. She knows how to make her opinion known and she isn’t disrespectful. It is not in her. It won’t start after marriage. That is no problem. I will look into your advice about being the spiritual head. My mother has said the same thing. My father wants me to be a practising Muslim and my mother wants me to worsh¡p a supreme being and be spiritual. I have experienced both religions and I am geared toward Christianity but not Catholic. Because you mentioned it now, I will look into it. Truly, the family needs a spiritual head. Finally, sir, I am marrying Zara because I love her and not because she will give me children. I pray we don’t have such problems because it will be devastating to Zara. But I will never betray her trust by getting another woman pregnant. Never. I love her more than anything in this world. I can never do that to her.”

“I have heard you. You are free to visit us whenever you are in the vicinity. Even if the marriage proposal is not accepted, we can remain good friends. You should understand that I only want what is best for my child. I will discuss it with her, and she will give you feedback.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“They have set the dining table, food is ready.”

“Sir, thank you but I am not hungry.”

“You will eat, you are a guest in this house. Zara’s mother dug a hole in my pocket to make this food for you. You can’t refuse now.”

Lere joined Papa Adanna at the dining table. They ate together and talked about other things. After the meal, he excused himself to get something from the car. He came back with branded polythene bag. He gave Zara’s father a new phone and a sim. The phone was the latest phone on the market. He gave Zara’s mother a new phone too and a towel. He gave Adanna a branded flask, mug and towel. He gave her two brothers branded wristwatches and t-shirts. Lere hit the jackpot with the gesture. Everyone liked him. Only Papa Adanna still had his reservations. He wanted his daughter to marry an Igbo man so she will be an asset to the Igbo community.

When Lere was leaving, Zara packed her bag to go with him. She claimed (Adanna knew it was a lie) she had to return to Abeokuta that evening because she had work the next day. She went home with Lere.

“How was it?”

“Tough. Your old man is tough.”

“So, what did both of you conclude?”

“He is worried I have no religion and I might be polygamous. Now, I will find a church to attend that I am comfortable with. I attended one some time ago and enjoyed it. Maybe I should give them a try.”

“You should. And you were polygamous until I cured you.”

“Yes, you did. I feel your father might not agree for you to marry me. What happens if he doesn’t?”

“We will remain single together.”

“I hope you are not just saying this. You know how much I love you and I will do anything for you. I have changed my life and career for you. I am willing to change my belief too if it will make you mine forever. I can’t imagine another person being with you. I am even jealous of the fact I don’t know who has been with you in the past.”

“Who? I don’t understand.”

“Your previous lovers.”

“Let’s not go there Lere; I should be more worried because you had numerous lovers. You claimed eight but from what I heard, multiply that by twenty. It doesn’t bother me as long as you can reassure me since we have been intimate you haven’t been with any other woman.”

“I swear, I haven’t. You don’t get it. Zara, it is you I want. You make me come alive and happy. When we talk, I feel fulfilled because we have intelligent and meaningful conversations. When we make love, I get to the heavens and return. Why would I give this up? Convince your father. Let him understand how we feel about each other. I am tired of this long-distance relationsh¡p. I want to see you every day.”

Zara smiled. She understood how he felt because she felt it too. She was also tired of travelling and wanted to move back to Lagos. Moving back to Lagos will mean moving in with her parents. She wouldn’t be able to spend more time with Lere. It will be frustrating. She suspected her parents guessed she was having s-× but she didn’t need to rub it in.

That night Papa Adanna called Zara. Zara stood up from the bed and went to the sitting room in order not to wake Lere up.

He asked if she arrived safely and she confirmed it.

“Did he tell you what we discussed?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Why would you want to marry someone who has no religion and is from a polygamous Muslim family? I expected better from you.”

“Apart from these two things you pointed out, what do you think about him?”

“He sounds like an intelligent young man. He is straightforward. He is like you; confident. I liked him but these issues cannot be overlooked.”

“He will take over the spiritual role, he has agreed to start going to church. Being born Muslim and into a polygamous home is no fault of his. The important things such as his character, his ability to take care of me, and so on are more important. Overlook these other things thugging in your heart. His father wants to officially ask for my hand in marriage.”

“That’s too soon, what’s the hurry? I haven’t said yes. I want to get to know him before forging ahead. Let him know.”

“Ok, daddy.”

“Please do not bring shame to me by getting pregnant for him to force me to accept. I beg you. You are the apple of my eyes. I don’t want to be disappointed in you, I never forgive such hurt. Promise me.”

“It was never on the agenda. I won’t disgrace myself like that. However, if I decide to remain single forever, do not be disappointed. Daddy, I love this man. I will not go against your wish if you ask me not to marry him but know where my heart belongs. Remember father, I am a reasonable and sensible child. I will always make you proud. This is my vow.”

Zara could hear the silent sob and deep inhaling. She knew he was struggling to accept her decision. She also knew why he would not give in easily. He would be scared of what people will say. He is a traditional man; his offspring were supposed to follow the tradition. When she was barely eighteen, she had numerous suitors while in the village. He asked them to come back after she had graduated. She will never run short of suitors. But she was in love with a man who didn’t fit the acceptable description of her people.

“Good night, my daughter. May the Lord bless you in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit. Amen.”

“Amen. Good night, daddy.”

She stood up to enter the room and saw Lere standing behind her. She was startled seeing him. He asked her, “Your dad?”

“Yes. Did you listen to our conversation?”

“Yes, but not everything. I wondered who you were talking to until I heard your response.”

“Let’s go to bed. It has been a long day and I have to go for CDS tomorrow.”

“I love you. Zara, I honestly love you. I will never intentionally hurt you. Just trust me.”

“I know. Let’s go to bed, please. You have work tomorrow.”

Lere tried to visit Zara’s family at least twice a month hoping to change her father’s mind. He even started catechism so he could get baptised in the Catholic church, receive holy communion and be confirmed. He achieved everything in four months. He chose the name Hermes as his confirmation name. Zara was happy he was doing this for her. She had asked him not to change for her. She was happy just the way he was.

Lere was making money on his job. He realised he could not use the money for anything meaningful. His friends he had lost along the way found their way back to him. They saw him as a big boy. He was lavishing his money on irrelevant things.

He told Zara he wanted to change his car. He took her to see the vehicle he wanted to buy. He was making money from the projects he handled aside from his salary. Zara wasn’t impressed. She told him to wait for a promotion after his confirmation so he can be given an official car instead of spending so much on a new car. Instead, she asked him to use the money to buy a piece of land.

Lere did not know where to buy land. Zara told him to ask his father to guide him instead of the money going to waste. She discouraged him from hanging out with his friends more than once a month and it had to be on a budget. She stopped him from eating out due to laziness and stocked the house with foodstuff so he could make simple meals.

His father found a house for him to buy at Ipaja. Lere’s money was not enough to buy it. His father completed the money, bought it in Lere’s name and asked him to make monthly payments. Within six months he had completed the payment. He gave his father money to help him renovate the house so they could rent it out. It had laid fallow for a long time.

Lere’s mother wasn’t happy about it. “Why are you exposing yourself to your family? How would you ask your father to buy a house for you and still give him money to renovate the house. Now they know you have money. You have to hide from your enemies not expose yourself to them. Your siblings now know you bought a house; your father is bragging about it. What did Zara say about this?”

“She insisted I ask Alhaji to find a property for me to buy instead of squandering the money.”

“She was the one who asked you to buy the property?”

“Yes. She refused for me to buy a car but rather asked me to buy a property. She said the car will draw unnecessary attention to me.”

“And you listened to her?”

“Yes, I did. It made sense.”

“When are we marrying this girl?”

“Her father is proving difficult. He is worried I am Yoruba, Muslim and from a polygamous home. I have tried to convince him otherwise but he isn’t moved. Zara will be passing out soon and once she does and goes home, they might brainwash her against me. I have been worried. She has promised she will remain with me but, mami, I am scared.”

“Lere who I had to beg mothers to keep their daughters away from is scared a girl will leave him. This life. You love this girl. I don’t blame you, I love her too. At least she can talk to you and you will listen.”

“I want her to pass out and into my house. That’s what I want.”

“I will go with your father to see her parents. The soups she sends to him are making me jealous. Even my mate eats it like her life depends on it and is very stingy with it. She has won everyone’s heart. I will tell Alhaji what is happening. I know what he can do.”