The voice of the man could be heard at the
gate as the house helps listened, at the
same time, pretending to be occupied with
their chores.
"You're too lazy, what's wrong in waking
up early to prepare me a decent meal? I go
out every morning and come back late
because I'm struggling to keep this family in
line with whatever is in vogue, all I expect
is your loyalty and submission but no, you
lie in bed and ask the maids to prepare my
meal and you know I don't like it."
Claire didn't say a word. She was battling
with morning sickness and she doesn't even
know why. She suddenly has the urge to
throw up at the smell of food, she feels
weak each morning or is it the saliva that
has started forming a lake in her mouth.
She watched her husband shout, he
deserved to be angry. For the two years
they've been married, she'd singlehandedly
prepared all his meals, he doesn't eat out
except snacks so she gives him breakfast,
takes his lunch to his office and then makes
dinner before he returns. She only goes to
her mall during the weekend when she gets
new supplies. She left the mall in the care
of her younger sister who just graduated
from ANSU last year.
Her marriage has been perfect until she
started feeling strange two weeks ago so she
understood that Michael, her sweet husband
has the right to be angry.
"You can lie in bed all day if you want but
I'm not eating that food. Don't make me eat
out because if I do, Claire Njama if I eat
out, you won't like it."
Claire sat up at once, she tried to speak but
her mouth was filled with saliva so she ran
into the bathroom, washed her mouth and
came out, only to meet him about leaving
the room.
"Baby, I'm sorry okay, I've not been feeling
too good and ...."
"That's what you've been saying for two
weeks now Claire. If you're tired of being
my wife, tell me." Michael interrupted
angrily.
"I love you Michael and I won't get tired of
performing my duties but look at me nau.
You know I'm not like this biko.'
Michael looked his wife over. She had
added weight and he didn't like it. Topping
it, she's started ignoring him. She must be
seeing another man.
He hissed loudly, opened the door and
walked out.
He went downstairs and walked to the
dinning where he met Amara who was
dishing out from a bowl of egg sauce.
Beside her was a plate of white yam.
"Good morning bro Mike. How was your
night?" She asked with face full of smile.
"Morning Amara. Who made that?" He
asked eying the egg sauce which was so
inviting, with the tiny pieces of liver he
could see sleeping in it.
"Oh! I brought the sauce from the deep
freezer, sister Claire must have made it
sometime, then I boiled the yam"
He smiled and sat down, signalling to
Amara to serve him. What is white yam? It
doesn't mean anything since its his wife
that made the sauce. Hr finished just as
Amara was about putting away her plate.
"You're ready to leave for the mall right?"
"Yes bro Mike. I'll just clear the dishes and
leave immediately."
"Alright. Hurry up so I can drop you". He
said, picking his briefcase and walking out.
Amara smiled. She was tired of trekking to
the bus stand. Maybe if she wakes up early
everyday, he would help her by dropping
her at the mall which was in the centre of
town.
She carried the plates to the kitchen where
the house helps were gossiping and cleared
her throat. They scampered to different
corners of the kitchen.
"Its still not 9 and you're already gossiping,
useless things."
She jammed the plates on one of the girl's
hand before dropping them and walking
out.
"She is just a sister to madam and she's like
this, chukwu ekwekwala ihe ojoo (God
forbid bad thing)". One of the girls said
"Upon say she fine like this" another one
added.
"Beautiful girls are the ones with the
disgusting attitudes". Gertrude, the head
maid said. " let's just go back to work, she's
not worth the time".
Claire watched from the window as her
husband and younger sister got into the car
and drove off. He had taken time as she
had been standing there since he walked
out. Maybe he drank tea or was just
waiting for Amara so he can drop her. She
sighed and sat on the bed, bringing out her
iPhone to send him a text.
"I'm sorry baby, tell me what you want for
lunch and I'll bring it to you okay, don't be
mad at me for long. I love you to the moon
and back."
She sent it and hoped for a reply.
Tomorrow, she would go to the hospital and
get some tests done. She won't ruin her
marriage because of some illness.
She laid on her back, hoping to get some
rest only for her to fall asleep.
It was that bad.