STORY by RantHQ

Shades of Marriage

Episode 1

Family is considered to be one of the most important association of every individual. A family is where warmth is felt, tears gets wiped off, bruises gets tended to and loneliness gets tackled. But is this true for all families???I sat in the the bus melancholic and somewhat depressed. I wish I had a choice to decline embarking on this journey.“How do I tell my husband that I don’t feel like traveling to his parents house?”.

My husband is the first child of 5 children, three boys and two girls. They are all married except for the youngest daughter who will be getting married in two weeks time. This explains why I am traveling.My mother in-law insisted that I travel down to the village two weeks earlier to assist with the marriage preparations.

The Bride herself was still in the city because of work but my husband and his family wants me to travel to the village for God knows why.I sat on this 18seaters bus wishing for heavy traffic so I won’t get to the village early. Unfortunately, the road was unusually free that day.I alighted from the bike and met my mother in-law seated at the front of the house with two other women chatting.“Good afternoon Mama.

Good afternoon ma”. I knelt down as I greeted my mother in-law and her friends.“Welcome”. My mother in-law said coldly.I entered the house and saw everywhere messy.“Not again”. I said grudgingly.I took my luggage to one of the rooms and retired there. I Love Coolvalstories. I laid on the bed to rest for a while. I was so tired and didn’t know when I slept off.I woke to my loud ringtone. It was my husband.“Hello.

I forgot to call you..”. I said.“You got to the house and started sleeping without doing anything. Now mama is complaining that she’s the one in the kitchen preparing food for you to eat. Does it make any sense to you?”. My husband shouted from the other end of the call.I didn’t know what to say so I just kept quiet.“Let me hear any complain about you again.

You won’t like what will happen”. My husband said and ended the call.I checked the time and discovered that I was asleep for only less than 30mins. It wasn’t even my intention to fall asleep. I was just tired.I rushed out of the room and saw mama and papa already eating. I greeted papa who didn’t answer my greetings.I entered the kitchen and saw that there was no food for me to eat. Mama only prepared food for herself and papa.I resorted to washing the dirty plates in the kitchen so I wouldn’t be useless.

I was still washing when mama walked in.“Please leave my plates. Go back to sleep”. She said frowning.“I am sorry ma”. I said with my head bowed down.“Why are you sorry? Am big enough to be your mother-in-law? Please o.. I don’t want trouble, go and continue your sleep”. She said as she forcefully removed the plates from my hands.I couldn’t leave to my room.

I just stood there as I watch her do the dishes.“Why are you still standing. It’s like you are looking for my trouble. Get out of here!!! Good for nothing woman”. She thundered.I had no choice but to go back to my room.I laid on the bed and began to cry. I began to miss my mom like never before. She died while giving birth to me.I don’t know what it feels like to be loved dearly by another woman.

I grew up with my father and my stepmom. It was hell.I always thought getting married would make me feel loved but here I am being treated like a rag.I know my mother in-law is not wicked. I see how she treats and respect my co-wives.“Why does she hates me?”. “Am I cursed?”.With a heavy heart, I fell asleep.The next morning, I woke up hungry. I looked at the house and I saw it needed intense cleaning. I had no choice but to get to work though I was seriously hungry.I cleaned all five bedrooms in the house. By the time I was done, it was already 11:15am. I was already exhausted.“So, if I don’t tell you, you won’t know you should have to paused and prepare breakfast before finishing up with the cleaning?”.

My mother in-law said to me while I was trying to rest.I stood up immediately.“I was just looking at you to see if your sense will remind you that you need to cook. You don’t seem to surprise me at all”. She said shaking her head.“Take this money and go to the market to get things for Banga soup. if you like sleep there. It’s not like I have any expectations for you”.

She said and handed me some money.I changed my clothes and moved straight to the market. I was so hungry and decided to buy food from a restaurant before proceeding home.Thank God I ate in the market because it was from one work to the other. I didn’t rest the whole day.It continued till few days to the wedding when everybody started traveling home.That was when my eyes began to see even worse treatments.

EPISODE 2

Three days to the marriage, my husband’s immediate younger brother, Obioma arrived the village with his wife and their two kids.Mama couldn’t hide her excitement. She was all over Chioma, Obioma’s wife.“My sweet wife! Asam! Omalicha!”.

Mama kept on eulogizing Chioma.I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I can’t remember the last time mama praised me like this. I just kept on watching the show of love with so much pain and didn’t even realize tears were already dropping from my eyes.I quickly got hold of myself and joined them in the palour.“Welcome sir”. I said kneeling in front of my brother in-law.“Thank you”.

He said patting my back.I went to where Chioma was seated and greeted her. I played with the kids for a while before I excused myself and went back to the kitchen.“Where is this girl? Don’t she know she’s supposed to carry your luggages to your room.

This is why I don’t like her. She can’t think with her brain. Elizabeth! Elizabeth o. LIZBETH!!”. Mama thundered angrily.I couldn’t hear her because I was pounding yam in the kitchen and it was so loud.Mama walked into the kitchen and took a bowl and filled it water.

I continued pounding the yam hurriedly because I thought she came to complain that the food was taking forever to get ready.Mama walked to where I was and emptied the bowl of water on my body. I was livid.I have never been that angry.“What’s the meaning of this Mama?”. I asked angrily without processing the question before letting it out.“You must be stupid. I have been calling you nonstop but you intentionally kept me quiet.

Who do you expect to take the luggages inside? Must I tell you everything?”. She asked angrily.“So you poured water on me because of that? Can’t Chioma take their luggages inside? Am I a slave that will…”I was still speaking when Obioma walked into the kitchen and slapped me on my face.“Where are your manners?”.

He asked.“My manners are where your wife kept hers”. I charged at him.Mama gave me another slap.“You must be out of your mind. Leave my house immediately”. Mama said and started pushing me aggressively.She fell during the process.

This worsened the whole situation.Obioma pounced on me and started beating me for falling his mother. I had to run out of the house to save my life.He came after me but some good Samaritans intervened on my behalf.“I will never allow her into my house. She must leave my house”.

Mama insisted.“Please let me get my clothes”. I pleaded“You mean those rags? I will bring them to you”. Chioma chipped in.One by one, Chioma began to throw my clothes on the floor and mama even joined her.I told her where my phone was and she brought it outside and threw it on the floor. The screen on my phone broke a little.

I bent down and picked every of my properties with tears.I checked my phone and saw my husband had called over 9 times.I packed my things and staggered out of the compound. I began to walk around the whole village like a vagabond.I got tired and sat under one tree to process the next step to take. I couldn’t think of anything. I placed my head on my palms and began sobbing.“Don’t do that okay”.

A man said.I was taken aback.“I have been following you around but you didn’t notice. I saw what happened. Those people don’t deserve you and they don’t worth your tears”. He said smiling.I hissed and carried my bag. Without saying anything, I just started walked out on him.This man kept on following me.

I got pissed. I turned back and shouted at him…“If you follow me again, I will shout that you want to kidnap me. Respect yourself”.I stopped a bike and told the bike man to take me to the park.From the park, I boarded a bus to my base. It was a night journey.I got to my house around 5:45am.The first thing I saw in front of my house were my boxes, with my clothes littered everywhere on the floor.

I was destabilized. I knocked on the door severally without any response from my husband.I just sat on one of my boxes waiting for the Boss of the house to come out.Around exactly 6:18am, my husband came out of the house and poured a bucket of water on me.“You dare show your face here? I give you 20mins to get these trash from my compound. Just 20mins”.

My husband said.“What is my offense? What did I do wrong?”. I asked with tears.“It is not your fault. The fault is mine. I got married to a nonentity who can’t even give me a child talk more of respecting my family. You are useless to me Elizabeth! Leave my house if you don’t want to die”. My husband said and went inside.I packed my things to my neighbors side and pleaded with my best friend, Faith to come pick me up.To be continued

EPISODE 3

I was still crying inside my neighbors house when Faith called me that she was outside already.I cleaned my eyes up and went out to meet her. My plan was to carry a bold and confident face and not show weakness but immediately I saw Faith and her husband, I broke into tears.

Faith hurriedly came to where I was and buried my head in her arms.“Cry it out baby. Don’t fight the tears, let it all out”. Faith said.I burst into a very loud cry. I couldn’t control it. The more I tried to control, the more louder it got.“You deserve the best baby. I know it for sure”.

Faith said calmly.She allowed me cry for over 20mins while her husband waited patiently inside the car.“Let’s start going, I don’t want to keep your husband waiting”. I said whilst trying to hurry up.“Calm down. You know Chidi is the most patient man on earth”.

She passed a loving glance at her husband.“Are you trying to make me jealous?”. I said jokingly.“You know it’s a fact”. Faith said and we both started laughing.“It’s good to see you joke around and smile baby”. Faith said smiling.“Stop jor. Let’s carry these loads inside the boot”. I said and carried one of the boxes.“Don’t stress ladies, I will do it.

Just get inside the car and wait for me”. Chidi, Faith’s husband said.I wanted to protest before faith dragged me into the car.“You too like stress”. She said teasingly.“I am not used to this kind of treatment o. It can never be my husband”. I said.“Thank God you left.

I hope you won’t go back to him? I won’t be pleased o”. Faith said.“Hmmm… Let the will of God be done “. I said and quickly changed the topic.Chidi came into the car and drove us home. He insisted we go inside while he offloaded the luggages in the visitors room.

I couldn’t stop thanking him.“Welcome my Lizzy”. Faith’s mom said warmly.“Ahh mama I thought you have gone back to the village. Good evening ma”. I said and hugged her.“Your lazy friend don’t want me to go home”. Mama said and we all burst into laughter.“Breakfast is ready, come and eat”. Mama said.We all went to the dinning and sat down.“Thank you mama for the food.

Thank you my dear wife “. Chidi said after praying over the meal.I couldn’t help but appreciate his calmness and maturity.We all ate cheerfully.After breakfast, Faith took me to the visitors room.“Manage here my dear friend. You can stay till you are ready to leave. Take your time and heal”.

Faith said.I held her hands and rubbed mine against hers.“Thank you so much Faith. You are a life saver. You don’t know what you have done for me “. I said appreciatively.“I have done nothing. I have always wanted you to leave that narcissistic family. I am happy you are free at last”. She said and gave me a long hug.When she left to attend to her crying child, I just sat on the floor and wrapped my arms around knees.

I began to reminisce about my life and everything. After I was done thinking, I promised I won’t cry anymore and told myself that I deserve to be happy.After a week, I decided to go open my shop but met it empty. I was shocked. Everything in the shop has been taken away.

I met the shop opened. Something I locked properly before I travelled.“What’s going on here. What happened to my shop?”. I started shouting.This attracted the attention of my neighbors.“I don’t understand. Your husband came here last week and said you people have relocated and you won’t be coming to the shop anyone. He packed everything and left. Were you not aware?”.

I just sat on the floor and started weeping. I called Faith and told her the situation on ground.“Calm down babe. Don’t give him the reaction he is expecting. Come to the house please “.Faith urged.“I am finished. This man has killed me Faith “. I said crying.“You are not finished. We’ll see what we can do.

Please come to the house”. Faith said.I stood up and dusted myself. I thanked my neighbors for their concern and left.I was walking home without thinking straight. I was lost In thought that I even tried to cross with a car speeding towards my direction but got rescued by one man.“You dey crase! You dey find who go kill you, Waka!!”.

The driver said and zoomed off.“Be careful”. The man who rescued me said calmly.I looked at him and discovered that it was the same man who was following me around in my husband’s village.“Jesus! Who are you? What do you want from me”. I screamed and freed myself from his grip.

Chapter 4

“I mean no harm honestly. I am Austin by the way”. He said while offering me his hand for a handshake.“I don’t care and I don’t want to know about who you are. I have been going through a lot and I don’t want to add to it. Please let me be”.

I said and walked out on him.“Please don’t leave me like that… I came all the way from the village just to look for you”. Austin said as he continued Walking behind me.I paid no attention to him and continued to wander around.After trekking for a long time, my legs began to shake. I wanted to enter a bike but noticed Austin was still following me around. I decided to give him ears.“What do you really want from me?”. I asked Austin.“Let’s at least look for a decent place to talk”.

Austin suggested.Luckily, there was a restaurant close by. I suggested we make do with the restaurant and he obliged.We got into the restaurant and had our seats.Austin beckoned on one of the waiters who came almost immediately.“Give her whatever she’d love to eat”.The waiter turned to me and gave me an askance stare.“I am fine with just water”. I quickly placed the order.“no no… you need to eat something. please eat something”.

Austin pleaded.“Please I am fine. I don’t think I have the ability to chew anything right now… I am fine with just water”. I repeated.Austin didn’t push further. He ordered for water as well.When the waiter had brought the water, I took a glass of it and believe me, I needed it. I felt rejuvenated and refreshed. Austin watched me with keen interest.

I just sat down wondering who he was and what he wants from me.“So what do you want from me”. I demanded from Austin.“No long talk, I want you! I mean all of you “. Austin said assertively and firmly.I was wowed by his boldness and lost my ability to speak for a while. He continued;“I met you first on the day you arrived at the village.

I was just passing by and got captured by your beauty. I loved the way you greeted your mother in-law with so much grace and respect. At first, I thought she was your mother and I decided to always pass by to see if I would be able to get your attention. I never knew you were married.

Whenever I pass by that compound, I always see you work your ass off and always felt pity for you. I came to the conclusion that you can’t be their daughter and that maybe you were adopted. I only got to know you were married to their son on the day they did that to you ( He was referring to the day I got kicked out of the house by my in-laws). Since then, I haven’t been at rest. I made inquiries about you and followed you down to PH.

I got directed to your shop by one of your neighbors who told me what your husband did to you. On my way to your shop, I told God that if were destined to be together, I will meet you there and I did although I met you in an awkward moment. long story short..

I want to marry you “.I was just crying listening to him. Hearing my story from a stranger made realized I went through hell in that marriage.to be continued