When Abu and Usman arrived at the house, her parents and her uncle were there. They greeted each other with respect, seat was offered to Usman while Abu sat opposite him close to her mum on a seating mound.
Alhaji Badaru clears his throat before he begins to speak. “I was almost afraid something had gone wrong when you called.” Baba manage to say while looking at Usman who is busy with his phone, Usman raised his head and look at them before he starts saying.
“Well this visit is unusual but I believe it’s the way to solve the little problem we had between us (Him and Abu). As I told you previously on phone We will be coming for some issues. The thing is Zainab asked for a divorce and I tried to appease her, but things are out of my control.” Usman said looking back at his phone.
They were shocked to hear his words “What Divorce Zainab are you out of your mind, Didn’t you know that Allah dislikes women asking for a Divorce, you better get back to your sense divorce isn’t a solution.” Abu’s uncle said boiling with indignation.
Her father snapped before saying “To kinji dai, you better follow your husband back to your home.” He said peering apparently into Abu’s face whose chin is still on her palm she totally looks in trouble.
Usman looks at her and hummed saying “Hajiya am leaving, do you want me to drop you or pick you up after work?” Erstwhile his smiley face was the best thing she likes about him but not anymore, she sometimes felt molested whenever he gives her such Kind of look. She glared at him them said “As I said earlier I need Divorce and am not going anywhere, Kawu, Baba, please help me end this marriage am tired, wallahi living with him is crushing me, am already in a hell, although he has enough but never cared about what I and his children eat no does he care about what we wear, if not for his mother who is helping me, our marriage won’t last long. I don’t know what he thinks of marriage but to me, food isn’t the only thing we need, we also need someone to secure us, he sometimes leaves the house early in the morning when it’s still dark and never comes back until it’s midnight in most cases he comes back after 3 days and if I ask he will only hum, she blows out a little air before she continues.
Wallahi I have been enduring his reckless behavior for so long and it’s for your sake (she means to keep her parents dignity) and my children but not anymore I just can’t take it.” She keeps quiet for seconds she added, “All that isn’t enough, he is now seeing another woman.” She said in a little low voice trying to hide her tears.
Her father smile before he said Zainab “You must know that the beginning of a marriage is not easy every couple quarreled so much with each other but with time and patient the marriage will stick for years just look at us here we are after some 20 years.”
She shakes her head a little saying, “But Baba you can’t compare people of your time to people of our time, especially people like Usman. You guys are mature.”
Hmm her uncle hummed and said, “Now yes, but not then we are just like you guys, in life person needs to be patient.”
She takes a deep breath, all she wishes right now is for her parents to understand how she is feeling, ” If not because he is seeing another woman I wouldn’t ask for a divorce.” Zainab groaned.
“Uhum, do you just bring seeing another woman as an excuse? Mind you, a man can marry 3 wives apart from you the first wife you better come back to your sense” Her father said in a way that shows how tired he is.
“Yes, Baba am aware of his freedom of being able to marry another 3 women apart from me, but it’s not like he wanted to marry one of them in fact they are just fornicating, she said sadly.
“What? Do you see them together?” her uncle asked.
She’s so confident thinking maybe her parents can understand her now so she said “Yes I saw him with Sa’ada…” Before she could say a word further Usman who seems not interested in what they are discussing says,
“She only saw us holding hands that’s all,” he said carelessly.
“Wallahi he is lying I saw them together na…”
“Shut up liar.” Her uncle mentioned it belligerently.
Zainab begins to sob, she was a little confused she was begging to realize that she was causing a serious problem, her uncle and father’s uncontrol reaction and the icy look on her mum’s face showed that clearly.
For some minutes Zainab and her parents including her husband sat motionlessly before Zainab said.
“Please Uncle, consider my feelings, I’m desperate earnest, I never want my children to be a victim of a broken home but living with him will result in my dead,” She said begging.
Matt her uncle hissed, “Oya die but you have to follow him back.” He said plodding outside.
Umma who’s been quiet for the whole time Said, “Kawun yara won’t you wait for lunch to be ready?” She asked in a little pitched voice.
“No, I can’t stay here any longer, or else this girl will make my blood pressure go higher than it was,” he said and move out of the house.
Baba raises to a standing position before saying, “Let me accompany him you better leave before I come back.” her father mentioned in anger.
Usman who was sitting raised to a standing position before saying “Umma I’m leaving too, I will come back later to pick her up.”
Umma shakes her head a little and says, “No, Usman you have to leave together you heard what Malam said.”
Abu who is still crying says, “Wallahi I’m not leaving with him.” She s said in tears her sob was isolated but heavy, “I can’t live with adulterer anymore.
Her mum slapped her in a twinkle of eye mama… before she could say another word blow rained into her “Abu what have you turned yourself into, is that how we raised you? Innalillahi you calling your man Adulterer.” Her mum mentioned angrily.
“Umma please stop beating her am ending everything now and for all, he turned to her isn’t divorce what you wanted I’m granting your wish now I Usman divorce my wife Zainab 3 times.”
Umma intrudes Shockley “Kai, are you mad how can you decide while you are in anger?”
Umma I’m not vexed I just want to end everything that’s all and for our children, I’m taking them to my mum before I marry another woman Usman said rushing outside.
