Just After I Said I Do written by Iniola’s Corner
I had barely finished with my house chores when I heard a knock
at the door, I didn’t bother to ask who was there as I knew already
that it was Amaka the sisters coordinator and the only friend I have
here in Lagos. I dropped the little napkin in my hands, adjusted my
pyjamas and reached out for the door…
The sight of Amaka’s smile and appearance very early as 9:30am made me
remember when I was single and I wish I could just turn back the hands
of time…
“hey Mrs, are you going to let me in or you’re going to stand at the door for hours and keep staring at me like I’m one goddess”….. She said jokingly and it was then I realized I was lost in thought.
“oh sorry, please come in”…
She stepped in and walked directly into the sitting room while I followed her and I couldn’t just imagine how lucky she is to be still single.
Amaka had barely dropped her bag and settled down before she bombarded me with series of questions…
“omolola, are you sure you are ready for this? Have you thought about this action of yours very well?…
I walked straight into the kitchen ignoring all her questions and in no time I was back into the sitting room with a glass of fruit juice and a tray of freshly baked chicken pie…
..” will you at least settle down and take something before borging my head with series of questions”… I handed over the glass of Juice to her and watch her as she carefully sipped some and dropped the cup on the glass centre table in front of her. While she sat upright to make herself comfortable the more, I looked directly into her eyes with a broad smile and I handed over the tray of chicken pie to her… ” I made this for you cos I know that’s your favorite”…
With a satisfactory smile, she collected the tray and bite the pie carefully… “Hhhmm, you won’t stop acting like one nice lady. Thanks for this anyways, it’s so yummy”… She said jokingly and we both laughed.
** Just After I Said I Do **
I finally sat down on the soft leather couch directly opposite the
one she was sitting on with my two legs crossed and placing one of the
small throw pillows on my laps… ” Now back to your question Amaka, I
am ready for this, I made up my mind about it long before now and I have
decided to do it”
I looked directly at the big picture frame that was carefully hanged on
the wall beside the 24inches plasma TV and warm tears rolled down my
chicks…
“my marriage to Raph has been the biggest mistake ever, and I have
decided to take it just the way it is and keep praying till the end of
time. But I won’t allow another lady out there make the same mistake I
made years back. And that’s why I called you here this morning.
Please Amaka, I believe in you and I trust you, that’s why I need you to
help me talk to every single lady out there on the essence of serious
prayer and genuine conviction before saying “I do”… I stood up to lock
the main entrance door to ensure that nobody comes in and I walked back
gently to take my sit. I tried to pull myself together and control the
trend of my tears and I looked directly at Amaka who is already in a
sober mood with a pen and a book in her hands while she stared at me
speechless, and continued softly.
…” yes, serious prayers and concrete conviction, don’t get so carried
away because he’s a pastor. Fine, he can pastor a church so very well,
but can he handle his family very well when no church member is in
sight.
Oh, the brother prays and speak in tongues like the apostles of old, can
those tongues speak very well to his wife when nobody is in sight.
Hhhmm, he sings and the host of heaven comes down, can his lordship bring down the presence of God in his own family.
Let them not be so overwhelmed because he preaches the Bible just the
way it is supposed to be preached, they should find out if he can
actually handle his wife just the way she’s supposed to be handled”…. I
paused for a while, swallowing very hard and I looked at the far end of
the sitting room where Raph’s picture was hanged with a broad smile on
his face and memories arised in my head again. I quickly adjusted and
sat upright as I continued softly…
” don’t be easily convinced because he speaks so gently, decently and
softly to people in church, can he speak the same way to his wife and
kids when nobody is watching.
Amaka, let every single lady know that they shouldn’t be convinced with
all these physical manifestation alone and feel there is no need for
serious prayers and conviction about Christian brothers before saying I
do…. Look, sweetie, you are still so very lucky right now, because you
are still single and can still change and rewrite a whole lot about
your destiny without anybody’s permission, trust me, once you are
married, you won’t be able to change ordinary a TV station without
permission”… I gently wiped the tears that were already dropping
uncontrollably on my chicks with the back of my palm and I continued
softly…
“my dear, enough of this teaching, I didn’t call you here to lecture
you, I called you here to share with you and every single lady the story
of my life and marriage”…
I reached out for my handkerchief to dry my wet and swollen red eye
balls and I sat uprightly putting on a little smile to draw Amaka’s
attention because I could sense it that she was already feeling sorry
for me. I tried to maintain the smile as I continued my story even
though I knew the smiles were going to fade away so very soon….
“Omolola Ajibade is my name and I said yes to Raphael Ajibade when I was in my finals during my university days. Ofcos, I have known him long before then. We attended the same student fellowship while we were on campus but he was a year ahead of me”… I paused briefly and I stood up as I excused myself briefly and I walked towards the refrigerator in the dinning room, I need to get some water cos it appears I might die of thirst any time from now….
Just After I Said I Do
To Be Continued…..
Drop your comment
Nice one, next please
Very interesting. Waiting for episode 9
Good start!