MISCONCEPTION

MISCONCEPTION 4

The situation was tense and all the people in the compound became curious. "For the last time please leave this place" Grace angrily roar at Benita. "Am his lawful wife" the woman barked at Grace. "We don't even know you how can you claim to be his lawful wife? what kind of a woman are you? marrying a man that you don't even know his relatives? are you not an African? maybe your mother did not teach you the African culture and ways of doing things in african. You are the one that was not taught well by your mother. Benita retaliated.The two women began to exchange words until Mama who was quiet for a long time spoke "Enough of this rubbish". "Amira call Tunde and tell him to come right away" Mama ordered, "please all of you settle down and let's settle this matter amicably" she adds. The woman and her child sat on the mat that was spread beside Mama. Grace sat near Jane and embraces her. All of them have once again lost their appetite.

The only audible sound was the wave of the ceiling fan, the room was quiet. Mama breaks the cold silence "How did you meet my son?" She asked Benita. " I worked as an air hostess in one of the airlines that fly from Kano to Abuja, that is where we met" she answers. " But if I could remember you said you are from Jos?" Mama asked her again, "yes that's where my parents live" she answers.

: Tunde comes into the room, he greet the people and look towards Mama "you called for me?". He asked.

When he looked at the woman sitting next to Mama, he freeze "What" he muttered under his breath. " Come and sit beside me" Mama said to him. Balls of sweat began to form on his forehead and he began to feel unease. Mama observed the change and repeated what she said to him. "Hmm okay" he sniff and obeyed her. Grace became more agitated, she wanted to know the truth. Jane who remain silent while all this was going on spoke to him " Tunde who is this woman". Her voice was weak but firm, her gaze were steadily on him. All the people in the room looked at her, she was visibly feeble but her mind was beginning to take control of the situation. Tunde was speechless. "Who is this wench" Jane shouted at him, even Mama was scared, baby Ada inside her pram begin to cry, Grace rush to attend to her.

"She is... She is late Ola's.." he murmured, "she is what?" Jane shouted fiercely, glaring straight at him. " His wife" he finally drops the bomb shell. "All the women shouted "yey". Jane fell back on the bed, Mama head drop down in shame, even Amira stared in disbelieve. "Since when?" Jane questions him, her head facing the ceilings as fresh tears roll down her cheek. She felt totally betrayed and her whole body felt weak. This tears that dropped out weren't for her lost but for the betrayal. "Why didn't you ever mention it to us" Mama interrogates Tunde after recovering from the shock, Amira sat near Mama unable to believe what her ears just heard.

[6/28, 11:29 AM] Mubarak: Jane stood up from the bed and her sudden behaviour seems weird at first but later it became vivid that she has had enough of all the rubbish. " Please young lady pack your things and leave am Ola's only wife or are we Muslims that he will have more than one wife?. Since you decide to be his mistress, then fine, don't come and stress us". Mama was also stunned from what she heard. "You have cause more than enough trouble and I think you should get going" she completes her words. "Am his wife and this place is my rightful place, Tunde his friend just confirmed it" Benita replied " Am going no..m" before she could finish her words, Jane gave her a hot slap on her cheek. All the women were shocked, even Mama was speechless. "Are you alright, why would you slap her?" Amira tries to stop her but Jane wasn't in the mood for explanation and landed Amira a very heavy slap too. " You talk only when I say so" she command, "she either leaves this house or I leave". "I came in from Jos, how do you expect me to reach there tonight, please let me stay and moan my husband together with his family?" Benita tries to gain people's sympathy. Jane wasnt going to buy that, she looked straight at Mama, "Mama please tell this wench to get out of this room or i may do something really funny" she spoke to the elder woman. Mama was indeed ashamed and angry at her late son but still Benita's son is her grandchild and if she sent them away,where will they go?from the look of things,Benita is a stranger in Kano and does not know anyone. Mama tried to plead with Jane "Jenny why not.." before Mama could finish what she intend to say, Grace interrupted her. "Mama! Right now you either drive her or we go". By now the neighborhood had heard of the story and the compound was fill to the brim. "If we let them go, what will happen to junior, his still Kingsley's step brother and my grand child" mama tries to make them see reason. But Jane was adamant "Mama if you let this w***e sleep in this house today, consider me and the grandkids dead forever", " why would you say that..." Tunde intervene and was given a surprise slap by Jane. " All of you are bunch of betrayers" Jane shouted in frustration and looked towards her sister "let's go". She picked up her box and started packing. Mama was dumbfounded, she stood like a woman suffering from stroke. All attempt to stop Jane was futile cause she had already made-up her mind. In no time she set out, Grace was carrying Kingsley, her husband helped with the bags and Jane held baby Ada. "The kids belong to my friend so you go alone since you insist" Tunde speaks up. "If you want the kids, let's met in court then we tell the world how ungrateful and stupid a useless soldier and his friend could be even after their death" Grace answered. Mama tries to plead with them but it was too late, the door to the compound slammed shut and the sound of the car engine roar at the door step.

All this happened 3years ago and it felt like it was the worst nightmare Jane has ever experienced in her life time and now Tunde expects her to forgive those bunch of betrayers and comeback. In fact Jane swore never to get married and take care of her two kids.

The taxi came to a stop and the Uber driver spoke "Madam we don reach the place"....

She drops from the taxi and head to the gate out of her apartment. Jane tries to lighten her mood to avoid question. "Mummy welcome l" Ada's voice welcomes Jane as soon as she comes in through the gate. She open her hands and the little girl understood the sign, runs to her mum and they engage in a long embrace. This really comforted her, she was happy to have them at all time. " Mum did anything happen" Kingsley broke the warm silence she enjoyed. " No, why?" she inquires and she hopes her eyes did not betray her. "He shrug and replies "you have been like that for more than 5mins, that's rare". " Come here" she smiles at him, he giggles and she embrace them all. Mama Musa came knock at the door, Ada disengage the hug and runs to open the gate. "This morning NEPA came so I collect the papers for you" Mama Musa addresses Jane after exchanging pleasantries. Jane look at the papers, " I really hope this people will not kill us one day" she jokes. " Ehm let me not forget, Ada's slippers ha cut when they were playing playing. She will need a new one" Mama Musa tells her. She looks at her daughter but instead Ada walks slowly towards the room, avoid her mum's eye. That made three Lookers laugh a lot. "My darling" Jane calls her, " am sorry" she apologises knowing she is wrong. "Thank you Mama Musa, this children will not hear word" Jane turns to the woman in their compound, " that's how they are, may God help us l, let's see them grow" Mama Musa answers. The woman makes her way to the door, " see you later". Jane tickles Kingsley and together they laugh as they made way to the parlour.

"Mummy did you buy the sweet you promise to buy?" Ada asks her. " I wanted to but you one but you cut your slippers so you choose either the sweet or a new slippers" Jane said faking to a serious tune to tease her daughter. "I said am sorry" Ada says, "am not angry" her mum shrugs. " Then why the guess?" She ask, " cause the money is limited" Jane answers. The little girl's mood slowly began to feeble, she stands in one spot and look into her mother's eye. With her last hope she says "mum, am sorry". Jane can't help but laugh, how smart this 21st century kids can be, " am just kidding, I brought it, it's inside my bag. Kingsley whom act as if he doesn't care was the first to rush to the sofa where her bag lay.

She laugh as she watch the drama unfold