Life With Tutu

Time stood still. All was silent save the sound of my heart. Hubby suddenly stood up from the bed and started pacing ‘What in the world has gotten into you, Soom? You’ve changed! When did you start lying?! This just isn’t the wife I married! This isn’t you!’ I started crying, I cried so hard he had to take me into his arms as I blurted ‘I….i…had an appointment with a herbal practitioner who said he could help me get pregnant. I….i…didn’t want to tell you because I know you dislike stuff like that'  May God help me! Where the lie came from I don’t know. I just knew I had to give a plausible excuse. Anything to save the moment. ‘Ah! Soom! You went too far. Is it because I told you my people have been putting pressure on me to have more children?! Children will come, it’s God that gives and he will give more. In fact, as many as we want.’ I cried harder at the tenderness and empathy I was shown. Guilt apparently made the tears flow even faster. Eventually I slept off, cradled in his a...

I knew meeting with Jude was wrong. I was a respectably married lady with a son. I had everything to lose by going on a tryst with a single guy, wait a minute, why was I assuming Jude was single?! He could be married! That thought was disturbing to me as I felt hot, urgent pangs of sudden jealously. Sean noticed I was so distracted on the day I was to meet with Jude. He kept asking me what was wrong, trying to look into my eyes but, I carefully avoided making eye contact.  In my restlessness, I also felt a measure of guilt. My hubby had been good to me, mostly. We had reached some sort of understanding over the years as he took excellent care of myself, my son and my family. How could I rationalise this meet with an ex lover? The guy who had disvirgined me? Even in the midst of the conflicting thoughts, I knew nothing, nobody would stop me from meeting with Jude. I found my way to the venue only to find him waiting for me. I had lied to hubby that I was meeting with a church member...

For what seemed like an eternity, we sat close to each other under one of the canopies erected outside the noisy hall. Looking into each others eyes, drawn irresistibly as moth to flame. Our hearts merging through our eyes. Hope sprang in my heart like a fountain. I was lost….and I knew it. I forgot I was a wife….i forgot I was a mother….until through the hazy fog that had become my reasoning, I heard my name being called and I sprang up startled. The magical moment was over…..i was brought down to earth. It was my mother who had come out in search of me, for it was time to dance with my sister. I saw the troubled look on her face as she recognised Jude who bowed to greet her. She replied stiffly and taking one of my arms, dragged me unceremoniously with her back to the hall ‘Don’t you know you’re a married woman!?’ she hissed furiously in my ear' What would people say if they had seen you, in a secluded area like that with another man!’ I was chastened…and very sober. I thought of...