She is Gentle but Definitely Not Stupid

Chapter Five: The other woman surfaced

Ogeh: what? Are these not the keys? Look at this man. He kept the keys in his trouser when he went out this morning and forgot about it. Yet he accused me of not searching properly. He even called me a liar.... See it now... right in his own trouser.....okay....let me go and show it to him...

She went back to the living and handed over the bunch of keys to Ken..

" Take, I saw them in the pocket of the trouser you wore today." And she turned to go back to the bedroom.

"Wait,..how come? .... are you sure you did not put it there now?...I do not trust you... there's nothing you can not do to prove your point", Ken said

" more insults? Ken, please, I'm tired. I just want to go to bed. You can say whatever you like.... it is not something new and it is a free world... say whatever you think is true...... I need to rest and I am going to bed. Good night". Ogeh said, and left for the bedroom.

"How dare you leave me while still talking? did I give you permission to go? What insolent!!... come here, Ogeh,... come back here I say, stupid woman..... nonsense..."

But Ogeh did not respond and headed straight to the bedroom.

She laid on the bed but couldn't sleep. She kept on crying, thinking about what went wrong in their marriage. Around 1am, she noticed that Ken entered the bedroom and went straight to bed. She kept on thinking and turning, being extremely careful so as not to disturb him. She finally slept off at 3am.

Ogeh woke up to the sound of her alarm set for 5.30am. She quickly got up to heat water for her husband's and daughter's bath, went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, cleaned up the house and arrange their lunch boxes. Then by 6.30am, she arranged for Uber for her husband before waking him up.

Ogeh: Good morning, Ken. Let's pray before you go take your bath

Ken: what time is it?

Ogeh: It's 6.55am

Ken: ( shouted) what? Why are you just waking me? Do you want me to be late? I know you are wicked but it should not get to this...If that's your plan, it won't work. Go and pray, I'm running late. Where's my phone, I need to call Uber. Dad Abigail has not come? or you asked him not to?

Ogeh: calm down, Mr Ken. Give yourself a break and go take your bath, I've called Uber. I know there's nothing I can say to make you believe me, so I will not give you an answer. Instead of talking, go and take your bath. And I've prepared something light for you to eat before going.

With that, she left the room to go and prepare her daughter for school after praying with her.

Ken put on his clothes after bathing and while he was having his breakfast of toast and milk, the Uber driver arrived. He kissed his daughter goodbye and nodded at his wife, and he left.

Soon after, Dad Abigail came to collect the car keys. He said to himself, " some men are senseless, careless and ungrateful. They are never satisfied with what they have. See this beautiful madam that is trying to satisfy her husband, yet the ignorant man plays with her feelings. He can ask me to bring the car to meet him at a hotel now, if I call to ask where to take the car to. Nonsense. Some have head but no cap while some have cap but no head. Life is truly not balance. Let me go and face my own business."

Then he left with the car.

At noon, Ogeh received a call from an unknown number

Ogeh: Hello

Voice: Hello,

Ogeh: How may I help you?

Voice: Help me? ( the person laughed ) You really think you can separate Ken and I? I pity you.

Ogeh: ( confused) excuse me, it's a wrong number.

And she ended the call.

The number called again and immediately Ogeh picked, the person started talking.

Voice: What's a wrong number? Are you not Ogeh, Ogah or whatever your name is? Married to Ken?

Ogeh: Yes, May I know you?

Voice: This is Abilam.

Ogeh: Abilam? Which Abilam? there are lots of people with that name. identify the Abilam you are... There's Abilam the snatcher, Abilam the chronic liar, Abilam the home wrecker, so which Abilam are you?

Voice: You are indeed very stupid. There's only one Abilam in Ken's life, and that's me

Ogeh: ( not really surprised)....oh.... it's you....how did you get my number, liar?

Abilam: Yes, it's me. How else? Ken gave it to me of course....so I can have a talk with you.

Ogeh: I see. Why are you calling me, if I may ask? to what do I own this unpleasant honour....

Abilam: I just want to let you know that you can't separate Ken and I .......our affair is way back from secondary school and we have been in touch since. That's why I want to advice you to leave him alone. Don't think you can trap him with the baby in your womb and that brat you call daughter. For your own interest, pack your bags and leave that house.

Ogeh: Oh, I see. What a touching story.....and at the end, he married me......what a pity... and you still want second hand man? oh.... you know what? I sincerely sympathize with you... if only men can see a little good in you, I'm sure you would have been married by now instead of clinging to a married man.... hmmm...none of them see you worthy to marry...no wonder... so sorry for your life....

Abilam: Keep quiet, you stupid animal.... You want to know why he married you? it was because I rejected him....he begged and begged, but I refused.....and I promised to wait for him after he has his hands on money... and now, I want him back..

Ogeh: Oh!!! Sorry oooo....your loss, my gain..... anyway, why are you crying over spilled milk now? How does it concern me? You should know you are his past but I am his present and his future, So....

Abilam: Keep shut that stupid mouth of yours... You and who? Ken is mine and you will eventually leave him for me. Nonsense. I'm just warning you.. start packing your bags to leave that house.

Ogeh: My dear lady, I really pity your condition.....but I do understand you... definitely you have been told that no single man can date you not to talk of marrying you, that's why you are running after my husband....you know what? You are welcome to have him....I am not stingy...I can actually share.....( and she laughed)

Abilam: (very annoyed) You are a stupid woman, a foolish one...you think you can talk? By the time I finish dealing with you, you will know who I am..

Ogeh: waaaiiitttt!! What's your problem? Why did you call me? Deal with the person you have been dealing with now? Which one is my own? Please, don't disturb me again, madam 2nd hand. I don't have your time.

And she ended the call. She went about her chores before going to her shop to check on her sales girls. The school bus dropped her daughter at the shop around 4.30pm and after sometime, she left the shop with her daughter to go home. When Ken came back, she served him, asked how his appointment was. He smiled and told her it was successful. Kelly was happy that there was peace at last. Ogeh was cheerful and happy that things were back to normal.

She never mentioned the conversation with Abilam so as to keep the peace in the home. She enjoyed the peace for some days until that day......