SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 12  

SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 12

(CHIKANMA’S POV)

I was not ready for that. I had already had enough with life and I did not want to clash with someone the age of my mother. 

My children on the other hand were so excited like they knew where they were going. 

I had no idea what to expect from Gerald’s mother. I had no idea if he had spoken to her or not. 

I also could not understand why he wanted us to make that trip because we were not in a relationship. I wasn’t ready for anything of that sort. 

A few days later we set off to visit Gerald’s mother. 

We arrived at our destination and I stepped out of the car first and said good evening ma, she ignored me but when my children stepped out of the car her face lit up.

She threw open her hands and my children ran to embrace her as they knew her from somewhere. I exchanged glances with Gerald. 

I got a call from a number I didn’t recognize. I answered my phone and recognized the voice on the phone. 

It was Ikenna. He said hello Nnenna. Hello, Ikenna I said. You are in town I can see. I kept silent. 

You have done so well for yourself. You look so beautiful. What do you want? I’m just appreciating my wife, is that a bad thing? 

The bride price hasn’t been returned to me so we are still married. Married on paper you mean I shot back. 

He got our belongings from the boot and we headed inside. 

I felt so uneasy but Gerald asked me to relax I just couldn’t do it because I never wanted to be in that place at that time. 

I did it for my mother and Gerald because I felt like I owed him. 

I headed to the kitchen to assist Gerald’s mother. She rebuffed me and told me she did not need my help.

I asked her what I had done to her and that surprised her. What have I done to you? 

I haven’t met you before but yet you already hate me because of what someone said about me. 

She looked at me in shock. I know this is about your son and his girlfriend unfortunately I have nothing to do with the both of them. 

I am not in a relationship with your son. We’ve not even had that conversation because I’m not even ready to be in a relationship with anyone. 

I lost my husband suddenly. It was unexpected. He was not sick. 

He hugged me in the morning and left for work and the next call I got was that he had been shot and killed. 

I am still reeling from the effects of that incident so the last thing on my mind is a man. 

I don’t know why your son insisted I come along on this trip. 

I never wanted to because if not for the death of my husband I would not be here. 

I had a loving relationship with my husband before he died and I have no reason to look at any other man. 

I will admit that your son has been of so much help to me since I met him but I am just a chef in his house. 

I come once or twice a week to cook his meals and he pays me and that’s the only relationship we have. 

Yes, he loves my children and has tried to fill the void left by their father but I never asked him to. 

I also never told him I had children at the beginning of this job he found out later and has tried to look out for them which I am so grateful for. 

I believe it’s unfair for you to be giving me the cold shoulder when you don’t even know me or where I’ve been or what I have been through. 

I don’t want any trouble. If this is how his visit will be. I would rather go back home to be with my mother. 

I don’t need any animosity because the ones I had to deal with from my in-laws when my husband passed I still feel the effects to this day. 

I don’t know what happened between your son and his girlfriend. I never came between them. 

All I did was do my job which was to cook and after that, I leave if they were having a problem I didn’t ask because I’m not responsible. 

She stood arms folded looking at me as I spoke. After speaking, there was a long period of silence. 

She broke the silence and asked me how old were you when your husband passed? I said 24. 

24? You became a widow at 24 and I said yes. How old were you when you got married? I told her I was 18. 

She shook her head and said why would you marry at 18. 

I told her there was no point answering that question but I married at 18 and my husband took good care of me until he died. 

She asked me how old I was. I told her I was about to turn 27 and she said a widow at 27. 

I’m sorry if I’ve been hostile but I don’t know you. It is Ijeoma that I know. 

(NNENNA’S POV)

Dubem loved Chiemerie so much like his own son. Chiemerie called him dad and he gladly answered with a smile on his face. 

I feared what would happen if I ever reconciled with Ikenna. I worried how Dubem and Chiemerie would cope. 

I imagined both becoming homesick. Dubem would feel empty without Chiemerie. 

Chiemerie had never met Ikenna before. So many thoughts occupied my mind.

Months later my job was going so well. I felt alive again being able to work and earn money. 

I was still unhappy. I was always lost in thought. One day I was thinking about my marriage and got carried away. 

I was brought back to reality when my boss asked me about the plan for expanding the business to another city. 

He wanted us to expand to the city where Ikenna lived. I became uncomfortable. He noticed and asked me what the matter was. 

I told him it was nothing. I told Dubem and he was livid. He asked why it couldn’t be any other city. 

He wanted to speak to my boss about it but I told him not to. He asked if I was ready to return to a city that held a lot of hurt for me. I told him I didn’t know.

He told me to be sure it was something I could do. Chiemerie was about to turn 2. 

Dubem told me to leave Chiemerie with him. He didn’t feel comfortable leaving me in a city where my in-laws resided with my son. 

They could kidnap him and pretend not to have done anything. They are so dubious that they could kidnap Dubem.

They’ll be more interested in kidnapping Chiemerie as he was male Dubem said. He said Nnem biko, I’ll take care of him in your absence. 

I’m not against reconciliation with Ikenna but it’ll follow due process. I knew Dubem was right. 

I had to leave Chiemerie behind because I was going into a hostile environment.

Dubem informed Dad. He kicked against my even going alone. I pleaded with him to let me go as I’ll be marketing myself too. 

He insisted on providing me security as the only condition. I gladly accepted that condition because it made me feel safer.

I prepared Chiemerie and set off into uncharted waters. Dubem saw me off with Chiemerie. 

As the vehicle moved and Dubem carried Chiemerie holding on to him. I couldn’t help but smile and be grateful for such a brother. 

I arrived in the city where Ikenna resided with his family. I felt Deja Vu.

I checked into my hotel room and informed Dubem I had arrived. My security was on high alert. 

I don’t know what my father told them but they never let me out of their sight. I spoke to Chiemerie by video and he was so excited.

I strategized with the team on activities for the next day. We had a lot of media interviews and press conferences. 

I was the team leader and that put me in the spotlight. We were extending our brand to a new city and had a lot of misconceptions to correct.

After my first press conference and media interviews on various TV stations and radio stations. 

I got a call from Dubem asking me if Ikenna had called me. He sounded worried. 

I told him he had not but I wasn’t worried because I had security. He told me to be careful. After all the interviews, I retired to my hotel room. 

I got a call from a number I didn’t recognize. I answered my phone and recognized the voice on the phone. 

It was Ikenna. He said hello Nnenna. Hello, Ikenna I said. You are in town I can see. I kept silent. 

You have done so well for yourself. You look so beautiful. What do you want? I’m just appreciating my wife, is that a bad thing? 

The bride price hasn’t been returned to me so we are still married. Married on paper you mean I shot back. 

How is our son? The next question came. The son you have abandoned? Do you know what he looks like? 

Look I miss you, seeing you on TV reminded me of what I’m missing. 

Look Ikenna I’m not interested in whatever it is you want. Just like old times, we can get together, Ikenna said. 

I ended the call immediately and hissed. I didn’t tell Dubem or my Dad. I wasn’t ready for a lecture.

Not long after Ikenna’s mum called. She had all these praises for me. I told her to go straight to the point. 

She told me she wanted me to get back with her son. She loved what I had done with myself. 

I told her I wasn’t interested and ended the call before she’ll say anything else.

My father-in-law called not long after that with the same message. I told him I wasn’t interested and switched off my phone. 

I told Dubem he could reach me on my other phone. From my tone, he could tell I was upset. He said Ikenna has called you, hasn’t he?

(NICOLE’S POV)

Bernard got down from the bed, grabbed a pillow, left the room, and said I’m going to sleep in another room. 

You can stay here if you want to. As for that thing you want you’re not getting it. 

I’m not going to give it to you because the last time I asked you for it you told me you were tired.

You did not give it to me when I wanted it so why should I give it to you now or do you want it. 

So this is what this all about I asked? Paying me in my own coins because I was tired and said I needed a few hours to rest.

You took offense from there, see where we are. I have never been tired before or turned you down but that day I was feeling dizzy. 

I was recovering from malaria and I still have to do chores. I was on my feet all day and I just felt I could get some rest because it was at night I was able to sit. 

All-day I was ill all the work that piled up. I was trying to get them out of the way so I overwork myself. 

I explained to you and instead of being understanding you took it out on me and said I was depriving you of your rights.

You said that the Bible was against it and if you report me to the Umunna that’ll be sanctioned and fined. 

I was wondering why you are throwing everything out of proportion because I said I was tired. 

You prefer if I breathe my last and I passed out and died and now you are a widower with four children to look after?

For something, you could just exercise a little patience? 

Well, it’s ok take your pillow and go sleep somewhere else you should sleep elsewhere not on this bed. 

I just hope you are seeing what you are doing to me. You are seeing how petty you are. 

I’m so happy you suggested that we switch roles because it has exposed who you are really. 

Gradually you’ve jumped all the responsibility on me. I cater to the finances and I also do chores. 

Now you do nothing. All you do is come home when you please and then you leave as you please.

You should have said it from the beginning that this was what you wanted to achieve and then I would have known what to do not to pretend to switch roles and never lift a finger to do anything. 

Ever since I married you, when I was pregnant, when I just gave birth and my mum could not come.

You expected that I would cook for you the day I was discharged. We quarreled over it because I told you I couldn’t stand. I was in so much pain from the stitches I received from the tear that I had. 

The doctor had told you I needed to rest. Once we got home you told me you were hungry. 

In the hospital, you never got me anything to eat. You couldn’t even order from a restaurant. 

I had to send an orderly in the maternity ward to go buy me food you didn’t get me anything. 

Then you got home and then said you were hungry. I wondered why you didn’t stop by a restaurant and eat. Were you trying to kill me? 

I have continued to endure these things. I’ve been overworked but I can’t say it because it will look like I’m complaining about my responsibilities. 

As you bring all the money and I do nothing according to you. 

I shouldn’t complain about my job because it’s not so important and someone else can do it so why do I have to complain. 

I have asked for a house help you told me you don’t want anyone, you don’t want anyone to corrupt your children or sexually abused or harassed them. 

Then I asked you to assist me or get a family member from your side to live with us because I’m too stressed.

You said you don’t want that either. I should do what I can. If I’m tired I should rest. 

But you don’t realize that if I rest from today’s job it piles up. Tomorrow I’ll have to start from today’s job tomorrow and I won’t finish tomorrow so it keeps piling.

It means I don’t get to rest. I have no life. I have no time for myself. I’m always on my feet. I am always working. 

If I’m not washing and cooking. I’m cleaning and mopping or I’m ironing or going to the market. I’m always doing something.

I’m like some modern-day slave or something. 

It Is perfectly fine to do as you always do. You never sort out problems, you always run from them as always.

Keep pushing me into the arms of another man then you will turn around and scream adultery and say I cheated on you but you would not reveal the part you played in it. 

The following afternoon his mother arrived. He was at work and she met me at home. 

She told me why she came and what her son had said. I was surprised and told my mother-in-law that it was my husband’s idea that we switch roles. 

I told her he came home one day and took me out to dinner and bought me gifts thanking me for all I do. 

The next day he came back angry because of a misunderstanding we had at night and told me how I do nothing at home other than just to watch TV and to eat and sleep. 

I rejected his accusation and told him that I do more than he’s aware of. I even spend money on this family. 

He got upset and said if that’s the case let us switch roles since I’m saying I spend money in this family.

He said I have to take his financial responsibility for why he will do the chores.

I agreed to it but since we started he has not kept his part of the bargain. 

It’s almost three weeks now since I do all the chores and cater to all the finances in this family. 

He has stylishly dumped his responsibility on me and it’s going around carefree while I’m carrying this huge responsibility. 

He expects that I will be cooking for him to eat, doing his laundry, ironing his clothes, doing all I’m supposed to do for him, and also filling in for him as the one that provides for the family. Who does that? 

He has refused to keep his part of the deal and I cannot be that stupid to cater to all the financial responsibilities of this family and also do the chores. 

I don’t think so. He wanted to teach me a lesson so I realize how important money is and how hard it is to get it.

Then I also want him to realize that it’s not easy to do chores. It’s difficult and I don’t get paid for it. 

If I was a nanny somewhere, probably in another house, or a house help. I’ll be paid money for the things I do but here I do it out of love and he doesn’t appreciate it. 

To be continued

© Treasure Ezuruike.

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