Life's lessons

I dated a married man back then in my second year in the Polytechnic. 

He was rich, handsome, loving, caring, gentle…In fact, man was every woman's dream.

We dated for only a few weeks but its impact on my life was profound..man turned my life around.. He started by upgrading my handset from Android to the latest iPhone and then my wardrobes with designer labels. I became the gossip of the campus. 

All these while, I never knew he was married. It was on our fourth outing that I summoned the courage to inquire about his marital status. 

“I'm happily married with two lovely kids”. He had replied with a grin across his face.

He further explained that his wife and children were on vacation abroad.

Yeah, he was that honest. Well, that revelation didn't change anything. I have fallen deeply in love with him and the thought of backing out was unbearable. Though I was pained by the realization that we have no future together.😭😭😭

One night after about three weeks of dating, he failed to call like he used to. He had made it a point of duty to call me first thing in the morning and last thing at night to wish me a good night's rest. 

So when he didn't call that very night, I became really worried. First, I dropped him a ‘hi’ on WhatsApp, and when he didn't respond, I dialed his line, but it wasn't connecting. I tried several times more before I finally dozed off.

When I woke in the morning, I continued. Yet no connection. and the messages I dropped the previous night were still unread. After several attempts with no success, I dropped the phone and started getting ready for lectures, praying he was safe. 

Around 10 that morning while I was in class, a message popped on my screen…. my mârried lover👇 

“Babe, I'm sorry for getting you worried all night. I have a fever. Could you come over to the house right away?”. 

Without a second thought, I packed up, handed my assignment book to my friend and hurried out. Little did I know what awaited me. 

When I arrived at his residence, instead of my man were two very beautiful ladies, gisting in the living room. One of them had a wucked face and the way she was sitting, one could easily guess she was the madam of the house. I felt like turning back and running away, but it was already too late. They paused their discussion and were staring at me.  

“Who are you?”. The one with the wucked face asked.

“I…I funanya. I stammered

…I'm looking for a job” I quickly added.

They exchanged glances, slightly amused.

“What kind of a job are you looking for?”. The wucked one asked.

“Me? I can cook, I can wash, I can clean, I can do all manner of house chores”. I said, my voice trembling.

They exchanged another quick glances. 

“You're at the right place. We are actually looking for a house keeper”. The woman said to my disappointment. I expected them to dismiss me instantly.

I feigned a smile.

“Ahhh! Thank you so much, ma. I will go home and return tomorrow” I said, already reaching for the curtains.

But her voice stopped me.

“No, you can start now”. She said in a commanding tone.

My eyes narrowed.

“Like right now?”. I asked.

“Yeah. I will pay you 30k daily”. She said.

“30k?” I exclaimed, surprised at such an attractive offer.

“Yeah, 30k. And I want you to start work immediately” She said.

“Bring your things over here”. The other lady spoke. 

I sheepishly walked with my school bag and the fruit I had bought on my way. She took them from me and placed them on the floor beside her. 

“Show her how to the backyard” The wucked woman said to the other lady. 

That one led me to the backyard where a heap of clothes was piled beside a water tap.

“Start from here”. She said, nudging at the clothes.

That day, I scrubbed and washed like a machine. The children's clothes, the woman's clothes, husband's clothes, both jeans and suit, kitchen aprons, sneakers…everything was tossed into the wash. I scrubbed until my hands almost peeled. 

Just when I thought it was over, I was handed a mopping stick.

“Start cleaning”. 

I commenced mopping instantly without taking a break. Three bedrooms, the wide living room, the dining room, kitchen, stores and even the boys quarter. 

I would have taken to my heels when I got the chance, but not without my things. My iphone was in that bag that lady collected and I couldn't let go of it. 

When I was done with mopping, I was tasked with washing the two cars in the compound, something I had never done before. 

By the time I had completed all those tasks, my body ached from head to toe. All I craved was a moment to lie down and rest. I stumbled into the living room where the two women and the children sat engrossed in the TV. I collapsed on the floor, my muscles screaming for relief. 

They turned from the TV to look at me. 

“Are you done with everything?”. The wucked woman asked. 

“Yes, ma”. I said, stretching my neck.

She nodded.

“You're so lucky, do you know why?”. She asked.

I stopped stretching and focused my gaze on her.

“No ma”. I muttered. 

“You're so lucky because I'm in a good mood today”. 

“I don't understand”. I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You don't understand what?”. She asked, sitting up on.

….. Will you stop giving me that innocent look? What don't you understand?. She asked, her voice rising.

I adjusted backward.

“Did you not come here because you received a text message from my husband? Are you not his side chicken?”. She asked.

By then, the truth has dawned on me.. That woman was the one who had sent that message to me that morning. 

Ohh my God.. I felt so f00lish at that moment and I bent my head in shame.

“Did you not come as a result of that text message?” She continued.

I nodded.

“And the fact you had no problem locating this house means this is not your first time coming. You have been sl££ping with my husband in this house! On my matrimonial bed!”. She growled. 

The other lady hissed.

“Come ohh! What's so special about married men that young women nowadays prefer them to single ones?”. She asked.

I thought it was supposed to be a rhetorical question until she flung the pillow at me and commanded me to speak.

I glanced at her and looked away again.

“No, ma. I, I .. I don't date…I mean this is my first time”. I confessed. 

“So you want to start with my husband?” The wucked woman spat. 

…. Ahhh! You're so lucky I'm in a very good mood today. If not, you wouldn't have been able to tell this story”. She said.

She leaned back on the sofa, wiping invisible tears from her eyes.

“Now, take off every single thing my husband bought for you and drop them on that table”. She commanded.

I sprang up, pulled off my wig, my wristwatch, bangles even my earrings and dropped them on the center table.

“What about the clothes?”. The other lady asked.

The wucked woman shook her head, her eyes still locked in mine.

“Now, get out of my house before I stríp you náked!”. She growled.

The other one flung my bag at me, and I ran out of the house. I don't know where the strength came from, but I didn't stop running until I was in the comfort of my lounge. And it was only then did I realize that my phone was no longer in the bag. My iphone…. they've taken it away😭😭😭😭 

In summary, till this day, that man never called me. I blocked him from my life. And whenever any man approaches me on the street with the casual ‘hi’. I always have one response👇 

“Oga, are you married?”.

One man has jokingly asked me if being married was a disease. I said yes..

“A very communicable disease”😳