I met my husband through his aunt who took an instant liking to me. She always told me that I would have married her son if she had one. But she was blessed with four daughters and she was done with labor room dramas. Biyi was like a son she never had and she dotted on him.

When I met biyi, i was already dating Kenny so I gave him no encouragement but didn’t totally rebuf him because I didn’t want to hurt his aunt who kept pressing me to give her nephew a chance despite the fact that she knew I had an altar bound relationship with Kenny which I was cock sure was smooth then. Despite my outward sophistication, I was still old school in morals. I frowned deeply at people who had multiple relationships and I was very outspoken about my beliefs.

My firm belief was tested when kenny put me through the hoop by his indiscretion. The visibly bulging of tawa’s mid riff! Tawa the ward of iya ronke whose canteen is down the road. I saw my world crashing around me. Both iya ronke and tawa barely literate, exhibited their crudeness that day with claims that Kenny was responsible for the pregnancy. It was shameful and disgraceful. I fled to Lagos. Kenny sent emissaries including those I couldn’t look in the eyes. Their entreaties were based on the fact that nothing Is new. What if I found out after marriage, would I quit? I relented, shutting out the nagging feelings giving me early  warnings signs that I was going into cloud cuckoo land.

Ten years of marriage was a baptism of fire. The bed a damp squip! I suffered mental and emotional abuse from him and his family. The most vocal was his mum. My life was a misery. I daily scooped tears with my hands like a broken dam of water from my face. I was taunted because I could not conceive. Kenny, with great encouragement from his mum and siblings went to officially claim the child. I was devastated. Each passing year, the taunts and riles increased. They constantly reminded me of my ticking biological clock. Kenny always threatened to throw me out. To him, I was useless. As barren as a desert. He wouldn’t go with me to the hospital, he wouldn’t take medication if recommended, he wouldn’t cooperate with medical advice. He drank,smoked and carried women at will. It was a regular pass time. To him, he already had child and all his actions were supported by his family.

The mum was just Jezebel’s reincarnation. She came often with the ambience of sorrow and depression. Kenny couldn’t careless about the constant torments and ridicules she subjected me through. He didn’t chide her neither did he pacify me. I became aunt Sally, it was sorrow upon sorrow. They wanted me out of the house dead or alive afterall I was practically useless. I lost confidence and self worth. I was stripped of any ounce of dignity that I couldn’t say boo to a goose. I actually thought my life was wasted. At 38, I felt my life draining away. I began to believe their taunting words..no child, no job, no money,no peace,no love, nothing, they said if i got tired, i would leave. But I kept on hoping that I would have a child someday. I was such a miserable jumpy squeaky mouse.

In my state of depression, dejection, discontent and disorientation, I came to my senses like the prodigal son. I packed my bags which I had always been taunted I only owned in the house and fled before I run amock. Previous day, I was even told that tawa was better than me because all my education, I have masters degree, was as worthless as a desert. Though it sounded insignificant but it was the wake up to smell the coffee!

Nobody looked for me. Who wanted a barren woman?  As soon as i moved out, a girlfriend moved in. So I began life afresh. Two years later, I got a job as a lecturer. I was forty years old. Then I attended a wedding reluctantly of a colleague’s younger sister and there was Biyi and his aunt staring,grinning and waving at me. I went over to say hello. We ended up sitting on the same table catching up and having fun. One of my colleagues was a chatter box. Before the wedding was over, biyi had every basic information about me.

He later came prepared. He was a widower and wanted a wife. I was non committal. Ha! I didn’t want to handle another poisoned chalice. Over a period of time I grew fond of his adorable children and began thinking about the proposition. I thought it would be better if I married someone who already had children in order not to be under pressure to have babies. At 42, I got married. Three months after, I discovered I was pregnant but it was surreal. From that moment to the delivery I riding of the crest of the waves of divine surprises. I couldnt believe i was indeed pregnant despite all the signs. I had twins. The Storm is over.

As for Kenny, I was told that his fourth wife just moved out of his house. None of his wives had children. Whispers have been going around that the child he so much taunted me with may not be his after all. But I have moved on. The benevolent God has given me a second chance. A good bargain in exchange, a loving husband, a good job in a private university, not only two but four wonderful children and the peace that had eluded me in the past. I am the happiest woman on earth today.