Love Dare – 21stcenturybelle

The Dice#20a

“Who is she?”

Tade swallowed hard. Clenching and unclenching his fist.

“Who is she, Tade?”

“Who is who mum?” He knew who his mother was referring to but would rather play dumb.

“I hear there is a lady you’ve been seeing.”

He turned around, blowing air through his mouth. Not only was he exasperated, but his patience was also wearing thin. His mother had never approved of any girls he brought home in the past. She made it her life goal to make their lives miserable and scare them away from the Thomas fortune. She all but considered them social climbers and gold diggers. No one was good enough for her son. Sadly, mothers do not marry their sons and either willingly or begrudgingly must accept their sons’ choice. Solape was one tough cookie who stood by him and against his mother’s wish. Their love won, but in the end, he lost her to death. It was as if she had been proved right, and she did not fail to remind him at every opportunity she could.

“When I told you she was not for you, you would not listen. How does a young girl who is not even 30 die from cancer?”

“Mum, cancer is not an age-related sickness. People die from cancer, young, old, middle-aged and even babies.”

Molade Thomas rolled her eyes.

“She was not meant to be in this family. She was bad luck. In our history, people don’t die below 70. My grandmother was 90 when she died, my grandfather was 101, my great grandfather was 98 while his wife choices die at 106. You are the first widower in our lineage.”

“Mother, will you stop?” Did you come here to berate me on a death, we humanly could do nothing about. You should be happy I am healing and moving despite how hard it is. Solape is unforgettable.”

“Tade dear, I can’t hide my displeasure of your marriage to that girl and what her death has caused to our family. Do you know what is being said out there? That we sacrificed her.”

“Mother, why do you waste your time listening to an idle talk from people who have no job? Where do you get the time for gossip with the work you do managing the Thomas fortune?”

“I keep my ears to the ground. Information is power.”

“There was no winning with his mum.”

“So who is this girl? What’s her name, who are her parents? Does she know your family?”

“Mother! Stop!! She is just a friend. When and if it becomes more, you will be the last to know. Don’t for once think I am ignorant of all you did to the ladies before and including Solape. I forbid you from doing anything to make her uncomfortable, or I will disappear from your life, and this time for good. You will never see Toni or me again.”

If there was anything Molade learnt in business was when to retreat in a battle.

She smiled sadly. “All I do is for you. It is hard for people outside our circle to love you, you will be surprised to find out that you are only a means to their dreams – a ticket out of poverty and nothing else.”

Tade tugged at his beard. He’d been so bust lately and could not keep up with his daily shave so gave up and tried the look which Dunni did not mind.

“Not everything is about money. In case you have forgotten people rarely connect me to the Thomas fortune. There is a reason my surname is Braithwaite. I am tired and need a shower. Please let yourself out when you are done.”

Tade stopped midway and turned to look at his mum. There was a time when she meant the whole world to him. Molade Thomas was first his mother before transforming into this monster with no feelings, he could barely recognise. She thought everyone was out to get a piece of the Thomas fortune. No one was good enough for her. Her choice was Made, her best friends daughter, but the girl was a spoiled brat who refused to grow up. He wanted to do life with someone who had a semblance of normal, not some rich kid who could not even hold her toothbrush without being assisted by personal maids.

“Dunni is an architect and a partner at her firm. She is not interested in my money because she has no clue I am the son of the richest Black woman. So don’t go sending your goons to spook her. I have not asked her. However, I intend to and if she says yes. You will respect her and keep your distance if you can not love her like your daughter. I will not allow a repeat of what Solape suffered in your hands. I stayed in Nigeria because Solape kept hoping you will come around and love her. She wanted you to have that time and bond with Toni. That girl was an angel, someone you lost the of the opportunity to know. I hope you won’t make the same mistake with Dunni. Life is beyond money and business connections.”

He sighed and walked away. Dunni had to meet his mother at some point, but that would be long after she agreed to marry him . He was not going to let his mum jeopardise his second chance at love. Dunni was someone special. The bond between her and Toni was one he could only have imagined but never thought possible.

Molade Thomas smiled at Tade retreating figure. He could be in his mid-thirties, Chief Medical Officer at Lekki Consultant hospital, but he was first her child. If she gave in to all the threats thrown at her, she would not be who she is today. Many felt because she was born into the Thomas wealth, she had it all smooth. Life was not a bed of roses. She worked hard to be where she was today. Her father’s wealth and connection may have helped. Still, her doggedness and tenacity put her ahead of the park in the Nigeria and Africa business sphere which was primarily dominated by men.

She would do what she had to do. Every single detail of that’s girls life will be checked. She would be dissected like an insect, and if she didn’t meet the requirements, Tade would be the one to reject her not Molade. She will not lose her only son to a social climber or gold digger.

Solape proved to be a rare gem, but she would never acknowledge that to anyone. She was not only beautiful, which was one of the reasons Tade lost his heart and sense to her, but she was resourceful and knew how to use Thomas fortune to her advantage. Take this house for an instant.

She threw her gaze around the house, refusing to give in to any sentiments recollecting all the girl’s effort to win her approval. She would have preferred someone who was not that weak. Solape wore her heart on her sleeve and thought the whole world will love you if you were nice.

The news of her death broke Molade. She was still angry. How does cancer snuff the life of one so alive? Her hard exterior cracked in the walls of her bedroom the night she was informed of Solape’s demise.

Tade and Solape had announced they were going back to the US for vacation the family had gone during Easter. When she quizzed him, he said they just wanted the time to themselves. It was a rude shock when Tade called to tell her Solape was gone.

That she’d been diagnosed with cervical cancer on their last vacation. They did not want to alarm family members since a mere operation medically advised would solve the problem. According to Tade, initially, Solape did not wake up from the operation but did hours later as the medical team battled to resuscitate her. One day she was recovering from the operation, and the next day she went into cardiac arrest and died. The girl was not sick; she just died.

Molade wiped her silent tears away as she sat in the living room of her son’s house, pulling herself together. This was a part of her the world will never get to see. No one knew that she pulled strings behind the scene to make the girl succeed.

Solape related with her like she was oblivious to Molade’s cold demeanour. So she would visit her every week at the office, same time and same day. Molade cleared her calendar for those visits, and no meeting was scheduled within those hours. She argued she was only polite, but she enjoyed every time spent with that girl in hindsight.

Solape would talk about Toni, her business, the wins, looses who gave her problems, who was friendly, Tade etc. The talk was usually one-sided because Molade will only grunt or blatantly ignore her. Still, surprisingly the girl will be back the next week and the next so while she came to love the girl fiercely in her heart, she refused to show it outside.

She still wondered if the girl knew she was going to die. The last visit before her trip for the operation, she’d come round her desk to give her a hug that was totally out of place.

“I know you love me and thank you for everything,” and she was out of the office like she had never been there.

Tade was wrong. She had the opportunity of knowing the girl and enjoyed those times with Solape.

The Dice#14

“Sometimes what you are looking for comes to you when you are not looking.” Unknown – if you know the author please send the name. Gracias

Dunni rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand turning side to side. She sat in her a car blaring her horn for Sule, the security guard to open the gate. A few seconds later it dawned on her Sule had travelled to his village this morning to visit his sick mother.

She grudgingly opened her door and walked barefoot to open the gate but was stopped midway when she heard “Auntie Dunni” in a very familiar child’s voice.

Her gaze fell on Toni from her art class and wondered what she was doing around the area. The girl ran out of the car and towards her flinging her small frame into Dunni as she wrapped her small arms around Dunni’s middle.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, bringing herself to eye level with Toni.

The girl was yet to answer when Dunni heard a baritone voice behind her, “Toni.” she rose and turned almost crashing into a man.

“Yes, dad,” Toni answered. Giving Dunni a clue to her relationship with the owner of the voice. But nothing prepared her for the handsome man standing at 6 foot 1 inch, well built and broad shoulders, but still could not hold a candle near Moses. Why did she have to compare every man she met with Moses.

Toni’s dad cleared his voice.

“Sorry for startling you, and sorry she almost toppled you over. She thinks everyone is as strong as her dad,” he joked.

Dunni smiled and could not help herself from blushing, although hidden by her caramel complexion.

“She’s just herself. Kids are all the same.”

“Tade Braithwaite,” he introduced himself, stretching his hands out to her. Dunni Adesida, she replied, shaking his hands. She was amazed at the strength and softness of his hands and wondered what he did for a living.

“I am a doctor,” he said chuckling.

“Was it that obvious?” Dunni smiled self consciously knowing she must look a sight, standing barefoot and without her wig, she had removed and thrown to the backseat of her car?

“I get that all the time.” He replied with confidence devoid of cockiness.

Scratching his head looking unsure of himself with a boyish charm Dunni found endearing. The guy had done nothing, and she was completely smitten. She must be a pathetic case. Was she that desperate for a man in her life?

“You must be Dunni, the art teacher,”

“One and only,” she replied and repeating his line.

“I get that all the time,” Tade laughed nodding his head in approval. He liked her already.

The adults had forgotten about Toni until she tugged at her dad.

“Daddy, can we visit Auntie Dunni over the weekend?”

Tade looked helplessly at Dunni.

“Auntie Dunni is very busy, but you always see her in class every week.”

He would not have minded any visit with this goddess of beauty standing before him. She’d taken his breath away. She was beauty personified with her round-shaped face, light brown eyes that drew you in, a pretty button nose and thin lips with traces of plum cherry lipstick.

He swallowed hard. He had not felt this way when he met Solape. Theirs was a love that grew over time. Here he was staring at his daughter’s teacher with like a lovesick teenager.

Can this be love? He must be suffering from not having any woman in his life. What was wrong with him? Solape was barely cold in her grave, and he was ready to replace her. Gather your acts together. A voice from within scolded him.

“No, it’s no problem. I am free this weekend and can squeeze some time for Toni. Dunni felt it was her way of helping the girl who had gone through the pain of losing her mum at such a young age.

Tade had no idea that he was holding his breath until he released it at her response. He was not sure who was happier at the prospect of visiting Miss sunshine, him or his daughter.

“You can drop her at 4:00 pm with the maid if you’ll feel more comfortable.”

Here he was getting his hopes high, and she appeared to want nothing to do with him. She had to try harder if she wanted to get rid of him.

“I could come if that’s alright. We don’t have a maid.” He was happy about that fact but would have lied to be there.

Dunni looked at him queerly, unable to hide her curiosity, “Who cleans for you?”

“We have someone who cleans over the weekend.”

“And cook?” she asked, not convinced that it was just him and his daughter.

“I do that myself.”

Dunni’s eyes bulged. “You cook?” Not many men she knew cooked. Moses was one of the few she knew. She was doing it again.

“We could invite you for dinner someday.”

She loved the way he made Toni a part of the invite.

“Please come, my dad’s food is delicious,” the young girl bragged on her father’s cooking skills.

“I am not sure I have a choice here,” she winked at the child. “You’ve convinced me to try it.” Turning to speak to the father, “I’ll check my calendar for some possible dates, and let you know when you come over on Saturday.”

Tade felt something tugging in his chest all and more intrigued by this woman. Who was she, and what was her passion? What made her happy? What made her sad?

He kept his thoughts well hidden behind the calm look he used for all his patients.

“Okay, Buttercup, we have to leave. Miss Dunni must be tired after a long day.” Tade stretched out his hands to take his daughters’ in his.

“That’s a nice name. What’s the story behind the name?”

“That’s a story for another day. This young lady here is tired. Thank you for your time, and we are sorry for bumping into you like this. You must be tired after a hard day’s work” Tade apologised although reluctant to leave her presence.

“No worries,” Dunni waved her hand into thin air. “Toni is a delight.”

Dunni got back into her car, once they left and drove through her gates. It was then she remembered she had not asked what they were doing in the area. Did they live here? She wondered. What happened to her there? She was practically drooling over the fine specimen of a man. And she was happy about it. For a long time, no one had inspired any feelings in her except the confusing feelings she had for Moses which she needed to stop analysing and this man she met today may just be her gateway ticket out of Mosesville. She still was not able to dispel her continuous comparison of Moses to any man she met. A good thing this stranger was meeting up in every way.

She went to bed that night with thoughts of Tade Braithwaite, and not the usual to-do list or design ideas in her head before going to bed. Dunni could not wait for the weekend. She slept with a broad smile across her face.

*****

Sule was still not back, and she had to open the gate for Toni and her Dad. She made a mental note to install an electric gate similar to the designs she used in a lot of her clients’ houses but never considered for herself.

She could imagine Moses and Ola’s surprise when she tells them she’s installing an electric gate. The guys were into every form of technology while it took her a long time to catch on. There had to be a need first, and others may have tried it out with positive feedback before she could venture into any trial of a sort. Well now is the time.

Dunni chose the garden to host them because the weather was good. Toni can play around the garden. She’d ordered jollof rice, fried plantain with stewed chicken and beef and vegetable salad from her food vendor, and also ordered a medium size box of small chops made by Twelve Baskets.

The Chapman drink, she opted to make by herself. That was relatively easy for a culinarily challenged person like herself. Cooking was not her fort. And she was not ready to make a mess of an outing because the food did not come out well.

She was putting everything away and arranging the crockeries in a basket on a small table beside the garden sofa when she heard the horn at the gate.

She tried to quell the giddiness she felt as she went to open for her guests, excitement filling every fibre of her being.

It was quite a sunny day, clad in yellow shorts, a white tank top matched with yellow sandals. Dunni wished she could throw her wig aside, but was plagued with the need to make a good impression, unlike the other day they first met.

Tade drove in his black Porsche car. She grinned. What was it with men and cars?

“She is a beauty,” she commented and was rewarded with a smile that reached Tade’s eyes. “I love women who have good taste in cars.”

“Don’t be deceived. My male friends have schooled me well.”

He laughed with a ring she had come to identify as his signature laughter.

Toni came out of the car with a tray of finger foods covered with a transparent cling.

“These looks yummy,” Dunni praised taking the tray from the little girl and leading them to the garden on the left side of the house.

“I hope you don’t mind. The garden seemed the best idea so Toni can have space to run around. We could go inside if she wants to do so later.”

“No, the girl will love you to bits for this. She loves the outdoors. I am not able to indulge her with that luxury between my work and the need to rest. Her favourite place is the Lekki conservatory centre.”

“Really? I go there a lot as well. I’ve seen some of her drawings but just thought they were merely drawings. She must be such a green thumb like my mum. You should try gardening with her.

The two adults settled on the garden sofa while Toni went straight for the swing.

“You’ve got a beautiful place,” Tade commented, wondering if there was a man in her life and thought it was not very intelligent of him to have assumed she was available.

He had discreetly checked her ring finger when they met. There was neither engagement nor a wedding ring, and that was good enough for him. Nevertheless, he wondered the wisdom of coming.

Dunni tacitly avoided responding and shouted to Toni so she could hear from the distance. “Do you want a drink now?”

“No! I have one later,” Toni shouted back squealing with glee as the swing went higher.

Dunni poured a glass full of Chapman and dropped some crushed ice into it, handing it over to Tade.

“Thanks, this is nice, he commented after sipping the drink.

“Thank you, that’s one of the few things I can do in the kitchen. The rest is a disaster.”

Tade smiled, relishing the cold drink in the hot weather even though they were under a shade.

“I hope you don’t mind me leaving you. I need to take care of my guest. You are the maid today.”

Tade guffawed. Suppose I get to sit sipping this drink and relaxing. I don’t mind being the maid. I will leave you guys to catch your fun.

“Or would you prefer inside?” She asked thoughtfully. Squinting her eyes from the sun rays that fell over her face where she stood. “Maybe watch football or something on the TV?”

“Thanks but I am fine here.”

“Awesome, see you later,” she waved and ran to meet Toni.

Tade chuckled, she could afford to run with a slim figure. His thoughts went places that dared not be viewed on a TV screen. The shots she wore showed off her slim long straight legs.

He sipped on his drink, but he was drinking in every bit of Dunni’s beauty as he watched her with his daughter. They made a good picture of a happy family. She could easily fit in them.

He wanted this girl. He was not sure love at first sight existed, and for someone who has been married once, he was not sure what had hit him. He hoped that she felt the same way he felt or would feel the same way eventually.

Most importantly, he prayed for time to mourn Solape before bringing another woman to replace her. He felt guilty that he could have a second chance at love when the love of his life lay cold in the grave.

He lay back and closed his eyes hidden behind a set of Versace dark shades. He was not going to think of Solape now. He would when he got back home. Dunni may even be married or have a fiancé and was just being nice to them. Yes, another voice argued that he could lie to himself for all he wanted. He was going to have a hard time getting her out of his mind.

Dunni thoroughly enjoyed the company of father and daughter. She had so much fun that she was amazed at how quickly the day came to an end.

She was more gutted than Toni when it was time for them to leave. Dunni wished she could hold onto the moment not minding the work that waited for her.

They were not the only ones. Tade lingered as long as he could even helping to clear up but the evening finally came, and they had to bring the visit to an end. He was no nearer, knowing her than he did yesterday. Their talk had centred on his daughter and her antics.

“Would next week Saturday or the next to be good for you to come over and try my cooking?”

Toni, who has leaning on her dad tired and playing with the buttons on her dress, was suddenly alert and looking up at Dunni with hopeful eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips with hands clasped together like she was saying a prayer.

“Say, yes! Say yes! Say yes,” Toni chanted.

Dunni playfully put up an act of thinking so hard before replying Tade. “The week after next will be okay. I have next weekend loaded with work.”

What she did not say was today had cost her one day set back on her work schedule. She’d had to stand in for more executive meetings and briefings than her share with the absence of Ola and Moses although she could not complain.

“Sounds like a plan,” Tade responded while Toni leapt up with glee.

“What’s your address, please?”

“We share the same fence, but you have to drive round to the next street to our access the entrance.”

“Oh! I guessed you lived around the area but did not know you were that close, which makes us neighbours.”

“We rarely use your side to drive in, but last week, construction work was going on along the road to our normal route and diverting traffic to this end.”

That kind of explains why she had never run into him before. Dunni thought to herself.

“How long have you lived here?” Tade asked curiously as to why he had never run into her before not that it would have made any difference.

“I moved about a decade ago.”

“We moved here about seven years ago. Although I am considering moving out of the area and thinking of going somewhere much closer to the island.”

“I know traffic is a nightmare. Do you have anything in mind, build, rent or outright purchase?” Her eyes were lightening up as she spoke the language she lived and breathed in; design, construction and houses.

“Build will have been ideal, but that could take up to a year. I am not fussy about the layout of the house, just something for Buttercup and myself with enough space to run around and a swimming pool.”

“That doesn’t sound much,” Dunni joked which elicited a grin from Tade. She could tell he was loaded with money by the car he drove but a question of where and when?

“I am not into houses; my wife was the one who covered the full details.”

Dunni was confused and did not know her face gave away more than she intended. She thought the wife was dead. Had Amanda not said the girl lost her mum? What had she done? Invited a married man to her house and flirted with him half the time?

“It would be nice to set up a meeting with her. I could help as my work involves designing and building houses. I could link her up with one of our partners who manage estates if she prefers an outright buy.

The brief look of disappointed that flashed on Dunni’s face when Tade mentioned his wife lit a spark of hope that she may feel the same way he did.

“Solape, my wife died nine months ago. I still talk about her in the present. I would be happy to come in for that meeting, but I am not in a hurry, the house is ours and can always sell or rent it out and move to another.

He sighed, shoulders crunching like he was carrying the whole world. From nowhere, Dunni felt like giving him a warm hug.

She knew what it was to lose a father but not a spouse. She could imagine that it must be a lot worse although time they say will heal the pain and she sincerely hoped so for him.

“I’m so sorry to hear of your wife’s. … She could not finish the sentence as she choked the words. She was feeling the sense of loss of her dad all over again.

“Some days are bad, and some days you get by. I am grateful for the time I had with Solape. She was a great woman.”

If ever anything happens between you two, you’ll be competing with a dead woman whose memories are so alive in the hearts of her family. Came the thought came from nowhere.

“We got to get going. Can I please have your number and I will text you the address and possible fix a meeting for the house project?” Tade asked, congratulating himself on how easy that came.

“Sure,” Dunni replied, reeling out her number as he tapped the keys on his phone.

Tade called the number and looked up, expecting her phone to ring.

“My bad! My phone must be somewhere in the house.”

“Are you one of those whose mobile phone functions as a landline?”

“Got me there! My friends have given up, and I keep promising to improve. I do for a little while and fall back to the habit.”

“No worries, I can call you later this evening to be sure you’ve got the right number.”

“Okay, Dunni replied, the thought of speaking to him over the phone left her excited.”

She walked towards the gate to open it for Tade to drive out and waved until they were out of sight.

Meena’s Diary#11

For seven days I roamed the City of Love, another name for Paris, shopping till almost dropped dead. I should be feeling guilty spending our savings on myself, but I was far too gone to care. I was neither remorseful nor calculating our mortgage payment. I was on me and mone alone trip. After all, who knows what waits for me at home. I might be moving out and finding myself on the singles lane again.

The thought sent a shock of pain through my heart. Was that what I wanted? Was this pain ever going to go away? But was it all worth it to throw away twelve years of marriage away.

Why was I going agog on this infidelity thing? If it pained me so much, why, don’t I pay JK back in his coin? We could live together and have separate lives. You do your own thing, and I do mine. We could go out with whoever we wanted to.

I dropped the shopping back on the floor of my hotel room. Turned on the tap to run water. I wanted to soak myself in and wash away all the toxic feelings.

I came to Paris on a whim trying to get as far away as possible from my problem but the whole thing was constantly in my thoughts.

JK sent series of WatsApp message to my phone, and I replied none. He had called me severally, but I did not pick his calls. I still had not confronted him before I left and I was not going to either.

Falling into the soft fresh bed, I reached out for the TV control on the bedside and flipped through channels looking for something interesting to watch but finally settled for an English news channel.

My French was horrible from Bonjour to Cava bien mercie to Oui. I can’t remember where I was when my mates were taking French in high school. I must have been taking one of the three Nigerian languages. And later during the one-year compulsory service after university Alliance francaise was the in thing. I sill was not found on the foreign language zone. I was struggling with professional exams.

Every morning I wake up and hear the bellman’s greerings, I am not sure if he is cursing beyond his “ Bonjour Madam.” But If I am to go by the smile that lights up his face. Then he must be singing blessings on me.I reached out for my phone and scrolled to my Facebook page. I had posted pictures of myself while I was shopping on the streets of Paris today.

I needed something to distract me, or I would go crazy.I still was not ready to talk about my problems to my friends.

“Oga Ju! We can see JK’s hand,” a friend commented. People read what they want. Who was to know that the heart of the smiling face they saw was in turmoil.

“I go love o,” another comment. If only they knew.

“Where is JK in the picture?” Another asked.

“Making the money while his Babe spends it,” yet another friend commented.

“If only Ibrahim can do half of what JK does,” moaned Khadijah.

“You sure do not want him to do a pinch of it. Infidelity sucks!” I muttered to myself.

I closed the Facebook page and checked my twitter account; there would be some serious stuff there.

I checked for updates on work related issues and finally gave up switching off the phone to avoid JK’s calls.

I tossed and tossed in the bed trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. I was tired, but sleep eluded me.

I gave up and went to the balcony of my hotel room, beholding the beautiful city with all the lights in the night. The midnight sky filled with bright tiny stars bore no similarity to my feelings, and I sighed sadly. There was a time in my life when I believed the stars will always shine. Especially those moments when JK cast his gaze upon me. You could see the feeling of adoration and love in those eyes.

We loved looking at the stars then trying to outdo the other person with how much stars you could count and wishes you could make. JK always said he would give me the stars and more. It was for me to ask. I never did ask because I knew he would do everything to get them. I smiled. That was the kind of person he was. I am yet to comprehend what he has become. It was not in JK to cheat on me. I held his heart securely but maybe not enough. Somewhere along the line, I lost his heart and did not realise it until it was too late.

I sighed and walked back inside. It was like a lifetime away. How was I to know that all our dreams will be snatched away by JK himself? That he would take away the stars that made our lives so beautiful for an intruder who was maybe half his age, his age or twice his age.

I went to the kitchen for a glass of water, when I heard the knock on my door. It could not be room service at this hour. I quickly put on my dressing gown over my negligee and opened the door more curious than afraid.

I stood rooted to the spot with shock JK!

Meena’s Diary#10

I loved the thrill I got from the shock in JK’s voice. The one-minute silence before the barrage of questions. When did I plan the trip? What was I going to Paris to do? Who was with the kids? Why did I not discuss this with him? What is happening here? When are you coming back? To we need to talk when you come back. As the questions flew like gunshots, I was fuming and daring him in my head to forbid me from making the trip. I had thrown caution to the wind and wanted to hurt him in every possible way, so he felt the same pain I felt at finding out, I was no longer at the top of his priority list. I had been displaced by someone else.

wordle-girlstoys

Was I curious? Yes. I wondered who she was. What she looked like and what attracted him to her. Am I going paranoid? My daily browsing through his phone convinced me he was about to or into an affair. Although, I still had not confronted him with on what I knew. Somehow I wanted it to be a lie, hoping that by not talking or acknowledging, it would all go away. I was hurting and lashing out. There was no rational or logical approach to my recent actions.

I ended the call entirely satisfied. It was just the beginning. I was going to make JK pay and go through the same hell I was living in now.

I settled into my seat with the hope that I might be able to sleep during the flight but alas I had this woman beside me who was too chatty for my liking.

I tried answering all her questions with monosyllables and nods with smiles that said I want to be alone but either she chose to deliberately ignore or was just psychologically stupid not to pick up my innuendos. The former I later found out was the case. I gave up on sleep and chatted with the dimwit woman, or so I thought and found I had met a soul mate even though I was reluctant at first.

She brought out a book “Love Dare” which piqued my curiosity. “What book is that?”

“It’s a 40 days devotion on saving your marriage. They also have the film and the novel – Fireproof. You might be able to watch the movie on the flight.”

“No, give me a book on how to wreck a marriage. I am done with saving. It’s just too tiresome and yields no result.”

“Why don’t you watch the film? It’s a long flight, and you can tell me your thoughts on it.”

I reluctantly watched the film and had a thing or two to say. It looked like where my marriage was, but it was not in us women to wander. The unfaithful partner here was unbelievable the woman.

“It’s not for us to be unfaithful,” I commented to my new friend.

“But that is not to say we are saints. Can I let you into a secret? I have almost been there before sanity snatched me from the highway of destruction I was willingly walking.

It felt so right that it started as an innocent, genuine friendship. The man was having issues with his wife at home, and my husband was battling to save his business. Our lives were too busy and at varying tangents. I could do with a friend who genuinely cared.

We crossed boundaries with every red light shining, but I always rationalised it. Until the day we found ourselves in a hotel kissing and groping at each other. Like a flash of lighting, I was fortunate to come back to my senses. I knew it was wrong. I could not do it. I picked my clothes and ran out of the room.

My ears tingled as I looked at the woman before me. Infidelity is never written on faces and if it were, certainly not this lady sitting beside me. She looked noble, respected and contented. I wondered why she was telling me. She did not have a clue of what I was going through but was hitting deeply at the issues of my heart.

Why did you run? What came to your mind? I asked curiously wondering all the while if I had it me to be unfaithful. However doing it to hurt JK seemed a good excuse.

“Marriage is a covenant. Some say it’s a contract you do your part I do mine. When a marriage goes through stuff, it might be one person tirelessly doing the right thing without expecting a reward till the partner comes around. Therein, is the test of all marriages.

“I buy the contract school of thought. I am not stupid. We both come half way to the table. No one is superior to the other. You can’t go about misbehaving and expect the second party to keep doing it all to keep the home. I am at a place in my life where I am wondering if I should walk out or stay put,”

“I won’t be able to tell you which. I have not walked your road, but deep in your heart, you know what to do. You might want to try this before throwing the towel and walking away.