SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 20

SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 20

NICOLE’S POV

I was just so upset and I kept talking to Bernard’s mum just to blow off steam.

I was so upset she knew the kind of son she had and she didn’t warn me.

if I knew Bernard was that lazy I wouldn’t have gotten married to him.

we barely spent time together before marriage so I couldn’t tell.

Society considered anything house chores a woman’s responsibility, men can only do chores once there’s money involved. 

A man can be an orderly in a hotel, run errands, scrub toilets, dress beds, and wash bed sheets.

He could mop the floor, do the dishes, even cook, and serve the guests as long as he will be paid at the end of the services.

But he cannot do the same at home for his wife because at home it is her responsibility but outside is a job. 

Kenny must have seen Dad returning and followed him because he walked in with Dad.

He greeted mum and walked over to me with his hands in his pocket. Hey! He said. I looked away.

What’s wrong with you? I don’t know, I replied. I heard you passed out. What do you want?.

I was worried about you. As you can see I’m fine, I responded. He stood around for a while before turning around to leave.

READ ALSO SEE FINISH EPISODE 10

I don’t see why I have to wash his clothes and iron them and make him a cup of tea, while he does nothing but browse through social media.

l will have to interrupt or abandon whatever I’m doing just to make him a cup of tea while he does nothing.

He can’t boil his bathing water or make his tea. He can’t even choose an outfit, he expects all that to be done for me but there’s nothing he can do for me in return. 

The truth of the matter is I’m tired and this is my way of crying out. I think it was God’s will for him to insist that we switched these roles, so I can have something to talk about. 

I believe at the end of this misunderstanding we will reach some sort of agreement that will be in favour of both of us. 

I’m willing to compromise but I’m not willing to go back to work like a horse that I used to do before. 

I wake up by 4:30 am and I go to bed around 1:30 am every day. That 1:30 a.m. is usually interrupted by sex.

When I’m in the kitchen by about 10:30 pm he will come and ask to see me. Once I come into the bedroom, he would ask me to go have a bath because he wants to have sex. 

If I say no to Bernard it becomes a problem. I have to stop whatever I’m doing in the kitchen and go have a bath so I can be fresh for him.

Once I come into the room and he has his way with me and does whatever he wants to me and when he is done he falls asleep.

I return to the kitchen and continue to do chores so I can meet up the next day.

I work like that until around 1:30 am. The earliest I’ve slept is midnight.

Then around 3:30 am he will want me again and even if I’m asleep he will wake me up. 

If I’m not receptive he would still have his way with me and then I’ll have to go out by 4:30 a.m. to start the day. 

Is that all I’m going to live for the rest of my life? I’m no longer happy.

I feel like I’m being used like I’m some sort of slave who has no relevance and has no say in her life. 

I can’t attend any event of my choosing. it will have to be an event he wants us to attend.

Even during the weekend when he has nothing to attend and I want to attend my event he will complain about it.

We’ll have to quarrel and exchange words and a cold war starts.

He starts giving me the silent treatment and the cold shoulder because I went to a friend’s wedding. 

I feel like he’s controlling me and that was never my intention of what marriage is about. 

I can’t tell my family this because you know the kind of family I come from.

My parents keep asking me and I said everything is fine I can’t tell them what I’m telling you because it will lead to a huge problem and I don’t want that.

I want our marriage to work but at the same time, I cannot continue to pay the price for peace alone. 

We are two in this marriage, I’m not alone and I know what society is saying about a wise woman building her home. 

In this world, we have a way of twisting a saying or a Bible passage to suit our selfish ambition or self-interest that’s what they’ve done with that part of the Bible. 

In Proverbs that talks about the wise woman, are we saying that God is not wise enough to Institute marriage between two people?

Are we saying that he left it in the hands of one person to make it work? I don’t see how that’s possible. 

I’ve been doing this alone for the past 12 years and the truth is I’m exhausted. I can no longer hold down the center alone. 

Either my husband is willing to make it work or not. 

Let him say what he is going to do so I can know where I stand before one day I will collapse.

My children will suffer if I die, he’s going to marry another wife because he can’t do anything for himself. 

He can’t lift a finger, his excuse will be there’s no one to take care of my children. I can’t do it alone. 

Some woman would come into this home and punish my children. I’ll be in my grave rolling over because I can’t intervene. 

I don’t think I want that and that’s why I’m speaking up now. I don’t want to die prematurely.

We hear it all the time “work no dey finish”. It doesn’t truly finish, but that doesn’t mean only I should do all the work and rest when I’m tired. 

Then continuing when I’m rested. It still means I’m doing all the work alone all by myself. 

I will never rest because each time I rest work piles. I go back and I do it. It’s just exhausting to think about. 

Okay, I’ve heard his mum said. I will support you as long as you play safe in this thing you are trying to do. 

You’re a woman like me and you’re like a daughter to me, you can’t say I’ve mistreated you since you came into this family.

Which is why I’m willing to go the whole nine yards for you. 

I’ve never supported my son’s unwillingness to lift a finger and that’s why I’m going to support you. 

As long as you don’t become disrespectful because I would not support that. You can count on me, mama said. 

Bernard returned at the end of work and met his mum at home and said mama you are here and you did not tell me? 

READ ALSO-: A BAT OR A MAMMAL

CHIKANMA’S POV

I’ll be right back, I said. I cleaned the house and did other chores. He got dressed and took me back to my mum’s home.

He asked Jared and Jane to get dressed and we went out. He took us shopping. He had never taken me shopping before.

He just shopped for Jared and Jane and handed it to me. Today I felt so uneasy. 

I couldn’t remember the last time I went shopping in the last three years since my husband passed. 

My mum went shopping for me and handed them to me.

Gerald sat down, crossed his legs, and said pick what you like and I’ll pay. 

I found myself standing in front of all these items and couldn’t choose anything. Jane and Jared had chosen items. 

Gerald watched me for a while before walking up to me to ask me what the matter was. 

I told him I didn’t know what to choose because I didn’t know what his budget was. 

The budget he said, who said anything about budget? I told him to make choices and I’ll accept them.

He shook his head and started to make choices. I accepted them because he had good taste. 

I didn’t want to look greedy or ungrateful. I still felt like I was cheating on Nkem. 

Gerald and I remained friends for about 6 months. I still went to cook his meals but not as his chef.

He related better to my children. He’ll stop by the school to pick them up and take them to his office or his home. 

That was the part of this whole thing that made me happy and brought me peace. Seeing my children happy living their lives.

I ran into Ijeoma a few weeks later with her friends. They attacked me, injured me, and tore my clothes. 

I was bleeding and a good Samaritan took me to the hospital. Later I called Gerald back because he had been calling me.

Why haven’t you been taking your calls? I’m sorry I had a situation. A situation? You were supposed to meet me for a date. 

I’m sorry I was attacked. I’m in the hospital. Attacked by who he asked. I didn’t say anything. 

Chikanma attacked by whom he yelled. Ijeoma and her friends.

Ijeoma and who? Her friends. Excuse me! Are you okay? No, I’m not, if I was I wouldn’t be in a hospital. 

They injured me and tore my clothes. The good Samaritan who took me to the hospital took off his shirt and gave it to me.

I could feel the rage in Gerald’s voice. What is the name of the hospital where you are being treated? 

I told him and he arrived as fast as he could with fresh clothes. 

He saw me with plaster and bandages. He tried to be calm but he was visibly angry.

I pleaded with him to let it go. Let what go he asked me calmly even though I knew he was so angry. 

He was so calm because we were in public in a hospital for that matter. 

Please let Ijeoma go please. I’ve heard you, he said as he walked away to find the doctor.

I saw him speaking to the doctor, asking him questions. He returned to me and took my hand saying I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from that lunatic. 

Calm down, I pleaded. He settled the bills and took me home to his house and said he’ll be right back.

Please let God Judge IJ and her friends, I said to Gerald. I’ve heard you, he responded. 

Unknown to me, Gerald drove straight to Ijeoma’s house. She lived in one of the houses he owned. 

She also drove a car he bought for her. He waited for her to return. 

Hello, Ij he said. You startled me, Ij said. Ijeoma, did you attack Chikanma? Gerald asked.

Yes, I taught her a lesson for taking you from me. 

So you tore her clothes with your friends in public? Did you strip her naked?

Yes, I did, unfortunately, you couldn’t protect her after all your promises. 

Ijeoma I didn’t come here to gloat. You have just kept pushing me because you think I’m weak. I don’t blame you. I gave you that impression. 

I told you not to touch Chikanma and her children but you won’t listen. Now you beat her up and stripped her naked with your friends.

This is my house you live in and it’s my car that you drive. To start with, give me my car keys. 

What! You can’t take my car keys. What car keys? Did you buy it?

You have a few minutes to take your belongings and leave my house. 

Where do you want me to live? Who cares Gerald asked? 

Did you think about the consequences of your actions while stripping Chikanma naked?

READ -: SEE FINISH EPISODE 15 

KIRA’S POV

I woke up in the hospital with Dad and mum standing over me. What happened? You passed out. I feel tired I said trying to sit up 

Relax sweetheart Dad said, just lie down. But I want to get down. I’m hungry. I’ll get you something to eat.

The doctor came in and said I can see you are awake. How do you feel? Hungry. He laughed and said she’s perfectly fine. She needs to get some rest.

Is that all mum asked? Yes, that’s all. Why did she pass out? He smiled and said is there something going on in her life? 

A lot, mum responded. Your daughter is fine, you don’t have to worry. 

Dad informed Kenny his mum was in the hospital. He arrived while the doctor was talking to mum. 

I overheard him asking about his mum. Her room was close to mine. I heard him ask mum what happened?

I thought you hung up on me? Don’t tell me that’s why you are in the hospital. What do you care?

Mum, you got me so worried. I panicked when I heard you were in the hospital. You know I love you. 

So why are you suddenly so aggressive? Mum please I’ve been through a lot.  A lot like what? Talk to me please, What is going on?

Nothing is going on mum, Kenny said. Where is Kira, his mum asked? Mum, I don’t know.

Well, I heard she passed out. Excuse me, he exclaimed. Where is she? In one of the private wards here. I’ll be right back, I heard him say.

Kenny must have seen Dad returning and followed him because he walked in with Dad.

He greeted mum and walked over to me with his hands in his pocket. Hey! He said. I looked away.

What’s wrong with you? I don’t know, I replied. I heard you passed out. What do you want?.

I was worried about you. As you can see I’m fine, I responded. He stood around for a while before turning around to leave.

While he was staring at me I imagined all he had gone through in prison but he wasn’t willing to talk to me about them.

He didn’t even know I had left the house because he hadn’t returned home yet. Did he care about me? I wasn’t too sure.

Now it was clear to me I was in for a battle. I love him no doubt but it wasn’t enough reason to be killed.

I lay on the hospital bed wishing I passed out because I was pregnant but the doctor just said I was stressed out which wasn’t a lie.

Since Kenny returned just the first few weeks was bliss, the rest has been traumatizing for me.

How could Kenny be sexually abused? I sobbed silently not letting my parents know.

Kenny returned to his mum’s private ward. What’s wrong with Kira? He asked her. Didn’t you see her in her private ward? His mum asked.

I saw her but she didn’t say anything to me. She seems mad at me. Really! His mum exclaimed, she’s mad at you for no reason?

What did you do to her? Nothing mum, he responded. Nothing? Then why is she mad at you?

I don’t know mum, Kenny said. I love her, you know I do. Then why haven’t you opened up to her about what’s going on in your life?

Going on in my life? Yes, Kennedy. A lot is going on in your life that you are not willing to tell me about. So why not tell your wife?

She cares deeply about you, she didn’t misbehave while you were locked up. She’s willing to stand by you and please talk to her.

You are not the Kennedy I know, the one I gave birth to. The one Kira fell in love with. You are so aggressive and violent.

I know you must have experienced something in prison, you can tell me, I just want you to be okay.

I know your life would never be the same again but you deserve to heal, please Kennedy.

Listening to his mum made me so emotional. I just came to check on you mum, Kenny said. Since you are okay I think I’ll go now.

Kennedy, his mum’s cracking voice said, I just want my son back as she broke down in tears.

What is this mum, Kenny asked. His mum just sobbed as he walked away. I got down from the hospital bed and stepped outside.

I saw Kenny by his car sobbing. I was tempted to go close to him but since we were in public I was scared of him having one of his episodes.

After a while, he turned around and saw me. He took a long hard look at me before driving away.

Mum headed to Kenny’s mum to pacify her. Dad sat with me in my private ward.

How are you holding up? I’m a miserable wreck Dad. I wish I didn’t marry Kenny.

Don’t say that sweetheart, he loves you, he is just going through something.

Look, we need to have an honest discussion. I took a look at him.

You have been through a lot but so has your husband. He is traumatized. He needs you.

READ-: SEE FINISH EPISODE 18 

To be continued

© Treasure Ezuruike.

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