Dilemma
Starting a course all by intuition is fine but to follow it to the latter is better. This was how it felt when Ekene first met with Clara. It was his first trial at marriage but first things first.
Clara was with her younger older brother at the shopping mall when Ekene visited his home town in August. He had known her back then when he was in school in Awka but not with his brother. They exchanged pleasantries that day and after four months of courtship, they married.
Ekene works in a company with a low pay. He was an honest man. He did not hide his salary from his wife.
Clara works too. She earns almost the same salary as Ekene.
He made sure his wife lacked nothing. There was nothing Ekene could not do to make Clara happy.
At a point, after their first child, Clara asked Ekene to buy her a car for easy movement from work and back home with their little angel who had been registered in the creche.
Since Ekene did not have enough money to buy a car, he promised Clara to be patient with him, he asked her to wait a little longer for him to put his resources together.
Clara wanted the car at all cost, she asked Ekene what he had at present in his bank account, she augmented it and they bought the car.
That move was surprising to Ekene.
He never would have thought that his wife had that much but he just overlooked it.
He had been the one providing food, shelter and everything that is needed at home.
In the fourth year of their marriage, Ekene decided to buy a property, he informed his wife who agreed that he forged ahead with the idea. Ekene did buy the property in the name of him and his wife.
Clara was in state with their second child when they bought the property. On the day of her delivery, Ekene drove her to the hospital for delivery. He was handed Clara's phone.
Like they say, skimming through a woman's phone is like slicing dried onions.
Ekene could not believe his eyes.
He read the conversation between Clara and her father. There he noticed that she was building a gigantic house in their village and her father is the one supervising the work.
He broke down in tears. But he guarded himself up. As he read further, he saw that Clara's older brother lost his job and was feeling depressed but their father appealed to Clara to help out in any way possible.
She went as far as purchasing a Toyota Camry car for her older brother to use as Uber in the city. They agree to share the dividends from Uber business.
Since Ekene earned only #35,000 monthly, he thought that Clara earns almost the same too. He had to add some side hustle to meet up with family demands. How come Clara could do all these with her meagre salary.
As this question raged through his mind, something asked him to check Clara's mail.
Pay Slip
Her last month pay slip reads #645,000. The poor man took his handkerchief from his pocket to clean his tears so he could see clearly.
A whooping #645,000 per month. How wicked could this woman act in such a way.
Is there anything I have done to Clara to be treated this way?
Ekene was so devastated.
The doctor came out from the labour room and demanded his presence.
Congratulations Mr Okafor Ekene. Your wife has put to bed a bouncing baby boy.
He was glad and sad at the same time. He had to swallow his sorrows and accepted the congratulations.
After they'd been discharged from the hospital, Ekene had ensured that all that is needed during the maternity period is available at home.
There was not a time where he carried hate for his wife. He just allowed the sleeping dog to lie.
When their son had a clock one year. Exactly on his birthday, Ekene confronted his wife and asked how the building project was going.
She was so speechless that she asked,
Which building project?
Please, do not worsen an already bad case, Ekene told Clara.
Ekene has already invited his father-in-law to a surprise birthday party for their son without Clara knowing.
As the discussion was getting intense, Clara's father came in.
The father accepted to be at fault while asking for Ekene to forgive him and not end the marriage.
Ekene is left in a dilemma, he doesn't know what to do.
He told the father-in-law to return to the village. He has established the truth but his mind is blank as he doesn't know what to think.
This is really a dilema, but I will advice the husband not to leave the relationship now, he should just take it easy with the wife and end thing soon as possible, but why do some women do like that?