Contract husband

” Thanks dear.” Ife said and smiled.

” Where did you learn how to cook like this?” she asked him.

” From my mother…. She was more of an house wife who spent more time in the kitchen cooking and tending to my needs.” He said.

” Wow!!…. Your mom must have been an excellent cook!!” Omar remarked cheerfully.

” Yes she was….. until my father died and she lost her vigour.” Ife replied subtly.

” Oh! So sorry about that….. the death of your father must have affected her so badly.” Omar voiced in a sad tone.

” Yes it did….. my father was a good man who cared deeply for his family…. Even till his death.”

” How did he die?” She asked.

Ife exhaled.

” He was involved in a ghastly motor accident on his way from the airport.”

” Oh!!… I’m so sorry about that!!” Omar apologized.

” It’s ok dear…it’s been seven years now and I have moved past that stage a long time ago.” He said with a smile of assurance.

She nodded her head and they resumed eating their snacks in silence.

But Ife broke the silence.

” What about you Omar?….. You never spoke about your family for once…. Even when I asked you the day before our wedding, you smartly changed the subject.” Ife said.

She froze in-between the bites and met his intense gaze.

” Tell me about your family.” He said.

” Tell me about your family.” Ife repeated the question a second time as they sat, eating a snack of toast bread and brewing hot coffee at the kitchen dinning.

Omar sighed .

This was a topic she had avoided for Fifteen years of her life. It represented the darkest times of her entire life that birthed the story of who she’s turned out to be.

” I’d rather not talk about it right now.” She said quietly with sadness written in her eyes.

Ife sighed softly.

” We all have our fair share of life experiences that has laid the foundation of every fiber of our being ….. but you see, there’s no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” He said calmly.

Omar fell silent for what seemed like eternity. She stood up slowly and open the backdoor of the kitchen which led to a balcony. It was 6am in the morning, and there was still darkness. The half shaped moon litted the sky, giving expression to the coldness of the morning. The heavy downpour of rain had also finally reduced to light drizzles.

Omar felt a hand on her shoulder and knew instantly that it was Ife. He had followed her from the moment she transitioned from the kitchen to the balcony.

” Omar.” He called softly.

She turned and faced him.

He was silent for a moment before he spoke.

” There is something eaten deeply inside of you…… and this is the reason for your nightmares…. You need to let it out, so you can heal up….. because bottling it in will only make you hardened and depressed….. What is your story Omar?” He asked.

*********************

*Flashback*

*15 years ago!*

They sat on the block of stones outside their verandah. It was dark already, except for the moonlight that lit the background. Their mother had gone to fetch firewood for their dinner.

Although, it was the sole responsibility of Omar to fetch the firewoods, but she had spent the whole day hawking and was already exhausted.

She sat with her younger siblings in form of a circle. An habit that had turned into a daily ritual for them. They were four in number with Omar being the first, then Grace, followed by Peter; the only male child among them, and Mary; the last born.

” Sister Omar….. tell us our favorite story.” Mary; the last child, pleaded.

Omar yawned.

” Not now Mary…. Maybe tomorrow… I am tired.” Omar replied tiredly.

” But you promised to tell us today.” Peter reminded her.

” Did I?” Omar asked, feigning surprise.

” Yes you did…. You always postpone our stories this days.” Peter complained.

” But I’m tired!!…. I had to hawk all day!!…. If you cannot wait till tomorrow, then forget it!!” She replied harshly and sighed.

” Ok fine!” She began softly as she stiffled a yawn.

” Why don’t we do it this way tonight?….. Each of you will tell me how your day in school went….. then tomorrow, I promise to tell you all stories.” She said softly.

They all smiled and agreed.

” Ok, I’ll start first.” Grace said cheerfully.

” No…. Mine is more interesting…. Let me start first.” Peter said.

” No you can’t start first!!….. Have you forgotten that I’m your senior?” Grace challenged Peter.

” You might be my senior, but after dad, I am the man of the house….. you will get married off someday, but I will still remain!!” Peter fired back angrily.

” Stop it you two!!…. This shouldn’t be a cause for argument, let us start with Grace!!” Omar instructed.

Grace chuckled loudly, and wagged her tongue at Peter. While Peter folded his hands stylishly and frowned.

Grace was about to tell her story when they heard the familiar sound of the motorcycle.

They all froze!!

” Daddy is coming!!…. run…. Run…. Run!!” Grace announced and in the speed of a lightening, they all ran inside the only little room they all shared and switched of the candle light, closing the door behind them as they heard the footsteps of Mr Edeh approach with his walking stick paving the way.

And then, everywhere went still.