THE UNGRATEFUL WIFE

CHAPTER ONE

FAKUNLE’S FAMILY

Chief Kola Fakunle woke up one morning. He appeared solemn and uncertain. He managed to go to the bathroom and took his bath. He put on his clothes and shoes, and sat down in the sitting room. He appeared like a prince from the royal family of the Olubadan of Ibadan. His regal appearance, yellow colored outfit with black polished shoe, gives Adeola reasons of suspicion.

She looked him all over. She was surprised about his princely outfit, but sealed her lips. She waited for him to speak up. He summoned his younger wife, Bisi, to the sitting room. He made his two wives to stand before him. They bowed down their heads, greeted him, and sat opposite him. He smiled at them, and informed them he will soon make a business trip to Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. Abuja is thousands kilometers from Ibadan. He cautioned his wives, saying: “I am going away tomorrow. You must live like sisters. I will hate to become a customary court judge, on my return to Ibadan. You must take good care of the children and the house.”

He ordered Bisi to go and fetched him the children. Bisi obeyed, and came back to the sitting room with the children. The children prostrated before him. They stood upright, like soldiers, facing him. He gave them some advice, after which he dismissed them.

He assembled his family in the sitting room the next day morning. He told his family members of his trip to Abuja once more. 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, and dismissed them 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. 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 disciplined man, who wants his family to be discipline just 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, three of them 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.

She sat the children down after the meal, and 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.”

Adeola 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. That 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 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 our polygamous home? You are not my husband.” “Bisi, you must respect the traditional hierarchy. You are my junior mate, and you must do all the odd jobs in the house.’’ Bisi felt disappointed and protested to Adeola. “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 wills Chief Fakunle coming home?’’ 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 backing home. 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 from a stupid human. In this house, you have no equal right with me.” Bisi was not sure of what she was claiming and she told her. “I have not invaded your privacy, Adeola. Fakunle is our husband.” “Fakunle is my husband and not our husband. You want to claim equal right with me?” “I am not only claiming only equal right but plus justice.” “What justice in this house? Bisi you are dreaming big. You get hundred thousand naira and want to buy a limousine.”

Bisi trembled with surprise, Adeola authoritative statements almost gives Bisi a plague of insomnia. Bisi looked at Adeola like someone wanting enormous powers. She got fed up with her boasting statements. She got up, 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. “Your language of defiance cannot silent my zeal to claim authority.” “What is the meaning of your statement Adeola? I am out here to wash cloth.” “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 at all.” “You must stop pouring obscure languages on me. Adeola 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 like a rock.” “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.