CHAPTER ONE
Takpo Ogaga is a graduate of Architectural Technology, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. She started her writing career at Creative Demonstration School Warri, Delta State Nigeria. She wrote a short story at school and was awarded scholarship throughout her secondary school. She was sponsored on a trip to Ghana by her school management. She loves reading, travelling and painting. She was born in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. She desires to become a great writer, telling her stories in tradition, culture and magic realism. She believes life is all fiction and fiction is life.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system of any form by any means of electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the written permission of the author and publisher.
THE UNGRATEFUL WIFE
Takpo Ogaga
AUTHOR’S NOTE.
All the characters in this story are entirely fictitious, as with the names of towns and places in this book.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author expresses her gratitude to her parents, brothers and sisters, for their sincere concern and advice, especially her father, Mr. Jeda Ogaga, who contributed immensely to the success of this book. Many thanks you and my teachers and friends, for their genuine support.
Above all, thanks to Almighty God, the giver of every good gift.
DEDICATION
This novel is dedicated to all wives, husbands and humans all over the world.
Contents
Chapter One
Fakunle’s family
Chapter Two
Sowing the seed of Hatred
Chapter Three
Adeola plans evil plot against Bisi
Chapter Four
Bisi advises Adeola
Chapter Five
Bisi’s anxiety enlarged
Chapter Six
Adeola’s evil plot
Chapter Seven
Bisi went to the market
Chapter Eight
Adeola’s evil deeds exposed
CHAPTER ONE
FAKUNLE’S FAMILY
Fakunle woke up one morning. He appeared exhausted and weak. He managed to go to the bathroom and took his bath. He put on his best clothes, shoes and sat down in the sitting room. Adeola comes to the parlour to relax.
She noticed Fakunle elegant wears. He appeared like a prince from the royal family of the Olubadan of Ibadan. His regal appearance, yellow colored outfit gives Adeola reasons of suspicion .His well polished black shoe on his feet complete her suspicion.
She looked him all over. She was shocked about his princely outfit but sealed her mouth. She waited for him to open up. Fakunle looked her with one side of his eyes. He summoned his junior wife, Bisi to the sitting room. He made his two wives to stand before him. They bowed down their heads and greeted him, good morning Sir. They seated, facing him. He smiled at them and informed them he will soon make a business trip to Abuja. The city of Abuja is the capital of Nigeria. Abuja is thousands kilometers from Ibadan. He cautioned his wives, warned them and said.
“I am going away tomorrow. You must live like sisters. I will hate to become a customary court judge, on my return to Ibadan. Take good care of the children and the house.”
He ordered Bisi to go and fetched him the children. Bisi obeyed, went, comes back to the sitting room with the children. The children prostrated before him. They stood at attention facing him. He thanked his family, told them he will talk to the tomorrow morning and dismissed them and they to go away.
He assembled his family in the parlour next day morning. He told his family members he will be travelling to Abuja today. He gave money to the children, after which he gave them some advice. He also gave some money to his wives for the upkeep of the house during his absence.
He dismissed his wives, children to go back to their duties. He brought out his travelling bags to the sitting room. He ordered Mukaila Abdul, his driver, to take the bags to the boot of his Mercedes Wagon.
He got up, said good-bye to his family members. The car moved away onto the street and zoomed onto the tarred road and he was gone.
Fakunle is a rich, prosperous man. He has two wives, named Adeola and Bisi. The Fakunles live in a green coloured duplex in Mapo Hill in Ibadan. The green coloured, beautiful house is surrounded by trees. It is well secured by concrete walls, and a large iron gate at the middle.
Fakunle is a gentle man, a loving husband. He is a father to the family. He is a man endowed with compassion, love and kindness. He does not hesitate to help others in need. He is a building contractor; a professional of repute. He is passionate about his building career. He owned three elegant cars. His wives owned a car each.
He is a Muslim, his wives are Christians. His beautiful wives love him. He is very fond of his wives and children. At anytime as his duty demands. He cautions his wives and advises them to show love to every human. He does jokes with them; that a man with gray hair can marry a young woman.
In the opposite, a woman with gray hair cannot marry a young man. He made them to realize; a woman’s presentable beauty is limited to a short affectionate period. Often, he made these expensive jokes before his wives and they love to hear these jokes of wisdom.
He tells them happiness in marriage is a matter of mystic chances, created by forces beyond human control. He is a very disciplined man. He wants his family to be discipline like him. His wives and children loved him. He is very proud of them.
During his relaxation period at home, he tutors his wives about marriage as the oldest hum institution. He labeled honeymoon as an exaggerated amusement of human. He does elaborate in details, that the real marriage comes to dwell in the hearts of the humans involved after honey moon is gone.
He warns his wives often, to obey the laws of marriage. His wives do laugh at his words. They quite agree with him; that anyone who enters into marriage must uphold the beatitudes of this ancient institution.
Another of his frequent talk is about a man with one wife. He often tells his wives, a man with one wife is a bachelor of conscience. He assured them. Whenever such a man’s wife travels, he is starved of sweet meal and love of a partner. He claimed this often lead man to fretting.
One day at sun down in the evening, Fakunle and his two wives seated in the large sitting room. Adeola Fakunle’s eldest wife, complained to him about Bisi. She said Bisi was not giving her enough regards or respect as the eldest mate.
Fakunle cautioned her to take Bisi as her daughter. He told her, she is to teach her younger mate the virtues and morals of marriage. Adeola hates this sort of lukewarm advice. She protested to their husband, that any married woman should be able to keep the rules of marriage. She puts up this serious defense, about matrimonial requirements, obligations and covenant of marriage.
Bisi, the younger wife, appreciates their husband’s golden advice. She loved him, and readily accepts this advice, he gives to her, as long as it is generates wisdom. She is a good and respectful woman of class.
Adeola has three sons and a daughter. Surprisingly, she is not satisfied with her number of children. Bisi, on the other hand, has two daughters, whom she loved greatly. She gives open affection to all the children in the family. She takes good care of them, as if they were all her children.
Often times, Adeola complains to Fakunle, about Bisi’s arrogance towards her. She complains of Bisi being too stubborn and disrespectful. Her frequent tantrums, fail to attract their husband’s sympathy. She got tired of his indifference, and grew hostile in the house.
One day, Adeola publicly protested against Bisi. Fakunle warned her sternly. He told her in clear terms to behave properly like a senior. He advised her to show enough affection to everyone in the house. He made her to realize she is the mother of the house. He warned if the house happens to be on fire. She will be the one to answer the many queries.
Adeola went ballistic upon hearing this blissful statement of their husband. She reminded him; he is married to two wives, and must manage two wives.
‘‘You are unmanageable, Adeola.’’, he said to her. He warned her to amend her ways, and turn on a new leaf. He wondered silently, as to the reason Adeola often murmurs, about only bad deeds done to her. Bisi challenged Adeola about her claims, she labeled bogus.
After the hot exchange of words between his wives; Fakunle summoned the both of them to sit down with him. They seated down and he tutored them to co-operate with each other, and love each other, like blood sisters. He drummed it into their ears; he wanted peace in the family. Adeola got up and said him.
“My husband, if you want peace in this house. You must never hesitate to give me whatever I might ask for, and nothing short of it.”
Fakunle stared at her for some time, and said finally in his ever smooth tone of a gentle man.
“Never have you worried about these common opulent materials. Adeola, if there is bliss and affection in this house, you will have all you want.”
This promise from their husband, made Adeola to become overjoyed. Bisi stood up and told Fakunle in a respectful voice of near annoyance.
“Our dear husband, Fakunle, listen to me. There will be peace, love in this family, only if Adeola learn to accommodate others. She ought to take us all as her children.’’
She went into her room, after she said these words.
Adeola got up, walked straight into Bisi’s room, and warned her to be mindful of her bitter tongue. Bisi did not reply her. Instead, she moved into the kitchen, and prepared food for the family. Fakunle warned Adeola serious, and hurried into his bed room and sleep.
Bisi cooked meal in the evening and they ate the sweet meal together. She sat the children down after the meal, smiled at them. She advised them to give her their ears. They obeyed comfortably and listened to her. She smiled and said to them.
“Today is not a story telling day. Tomorrow you will hear the story of the one legged hunter.”
The children nodded their heads in appreciation. She taught them about the wisdom of life instead of the every evening story.
“You must love me, daddy and mummy. You must show much affection to each other. You must love others and respect your elders.”
She dismissed them later on, and went to bed. The thought of her troublesome mate, gave her a sleepless night. The next day was the day, Fakunle travelled to Abuja.
Bisi cooked meal in the morning; they ate together like the previous day. Bisi came into the sitting room, and sat down. Adeola took her seat opposite her; she looked her all over and murmured about the salty taste of the food she cooked today. She complained about the food, having too much palm oil in it.
Bisi listened to her attentively. She was so sure nothing was wrong with the food they all eat this morning. Adeola wasted no time, she complained aloud.
“Your food was tasteless like pure water. It is the worst food I had ever tasted. The food is not fit for human consumption.”
Bisi lowered her head, and swallowed Adeola’s complain with mush pains. Adeola’s remarks did not go down well with her. She begged her to concentrate on other things and leave her alone.
Adeola looked at Bisi with much disdain. She reacted with the brutality of a thick madam. She told Bisi.
“Fakunle is now away. I am the master of the house. Go to the kitchen right now, and boil water for tea and coffee.”
She sat down on one of the double size chair, like Queen Amina of Zaria. Bisi obeyed, prepared the tea, so as to allow peace reign. After they drank the coffee together in the sitting room and relaxed on their seats.
Adeola announced to Bisi’s hearing; the routine of cooking in the house is now abrogated. She added the rotational cooking order is no more valid. She made it clear to Bisi, she the eldest mate of the marriage will not cook again. Bisi protested to her and told her.
“The practice of cooking in the house is rotational. Adeola it is your turn to cook for the family.”
Adeola got up, hooked her hands at her waist, and yelled at Bisi.
“I am not your mate in this house. I am the master at the moment. I will not step into the kitchen, until Fakunle returns home. If I don’t cook; can’t you cook?”
“Adeola, you are abrogating the cooking norms in polygamous home and you are not my husband.”
“Bisi, you must respect the traditional hierarchy. You are my junior mate, and so, must do all the odd jobs in the house.’’
“You are not Fakunle, our husband. Your authority is limited by the equal power of mates.”
Bisi scrutinizes her face. She kept quiet and asked Adeola.
“When, is Chief Fakunle coming back to Ibadan?’’
Adeola pretended not to hear her and Bisi called and told her.
“Adeola, you are the eldest mate. You ought to know when he will be back. He might have confided in you. I am sure he did.”
Adeola kept silent like the grave. Bisi repeated the same words. Adeola charged at her.
“What a stupid question. In this house, you have no equal right with me.”
“I have not invaded your privacy; Adeola. Fakunle is our husband.”
“You have no regard for me, Bisi.”
“Adeola, our tradition gives us equal rights of our husband. We share his love equal.”
“How can you claim equal right with me? Did the custom give you equal love of Fakunle with me? He is my husband, not our husband.”
“He is not only your husband, Adeola.”
“Yours is a bigger insult to me. Bisi look at me with your open eyes.”
“I am not blind Adeola. I can see you clear and through to your heart.”
“Bisi, your words are not sufficient to address the issue. I am a woman of timeless wisdom and beauty.”
“Really true?’’ Bisi asked hands akimbo.
“Your language of defiance cannot silent my zeal to claim authority.”
Bisi looked at Adeola like someone wanting enormous powers. She got fed up with her boasting statements.
She got up, to go wash the dirty clothes in the house.
Adeola came out minutes later, and looked at the clothes, spread on line in the hot tropical sun. She walked along the line and proclaimed aloud.
“These clothes aren’t clean. I taught you how to wash clothes. Take a look at the children clothes. They are not clean at all.’’
“Adeola may be my eyes are faulty. I cannot see the dirty, you are talking about.”
She looked at Bisi all over and diverted from the talk about the clothes.
“You are getting fatter, like the hippopotamus. It is no evidence of good living.”
“Stop pouring obscure languages on me. You are my senior. I have given you all the regards. What else do you want from me?”
“Bisi mind your language. Your little tongue cannot snuff out my authority. Soldier go, soldier come and the barrack remains.”
“Adeola, in a war situation, the barrack is at risk. It can be bombed into ruins.”
“Bisi, you may like it or not. You must learn how to be a second house wife. You must endure the inconveniences in polygamy.”
Adeola made these sentences without blinking her eyes. Her statements almost prove Bisi’s innocent of her youth. She viewed her words as a plot to crash her against Fakunle. Adeola comes out with more of the hate stuffs
“I cannot share my man love with any woman. I want him whole for myself. Shared love is an unremitting malice of misfortune.”
Bisi pushed out a simple laugh and questioned her. “What do you mean? It is our love. Not your love only.”
“Fat woman, your beauty is gone. You are an overweighed human. No man will want your type as a wife.”
“Satan is gone! Already, you have painted me with enough excreta.”
Bisi picked the plastic basins, and walked into the house. For days, they avoided each other like a plague, keeping their distances.
