By Sunmola Olowookere

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W hy would a beautiful woman live a reclusive life? She does not fraternize with anyone in our neighbourhood. Though she is polite, but her reservation is very obvious. She comes home from work and stays indoor till the next morning.

What residents don’t know is that she is an unhappy woman. Therefore, this edition is about the sad ending to a union that started with love and affection. Why does love go sour in relationships? Why do people who vowed to endure and cherish one another till death separate and turn around to be bitter enemies? It can only be the devil…… one will be forced to conclude.

Omolayo is a fair complexioned beautiful young lady in her early thirties. Her beauty drew men to her like moths to flame. Coupled with her beauty, she was also charming and engaging before her fall from  grace. At her place of work, her male coworkers were her best buddies while most of the female employees stay aloof as they declare her too full of herself and flirty.

However, she doesn’t allow any of this to discourage her as unknown to those envying her, she was already down and she was determined not to allow anyone to pull her down further since she was  already separated from her husband two years now. Though she would be the last person to admit it but she was lonely.

She lived in her parents’ house and her mother did everything to make her happy but underneath her gaiety, she was dreadfully unhappy.

Her husband whom she had loved and given her youth to had thrust her aside like a used rag over mere rumour and suspicion.

She met her husband, Olumide when she was in the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state. He was a bit older than she was. He was mature and he was working then so he was able to properly take care of her. It was a heady one year as he wooed her and won over her heart.

It was not just the money that attracted her to him, she was quick to point out to those among her course mates that teased her that she loved him not only for his money.

Olumide was a total departure from her male school mates who were bumbling, immature boys compared to his immaculate, cool, calm personality.

Immediately after her National Diploma at Polytechnic, they began to prepare for their wedding for the end of the year. The two families were happy about it and the wedding was planned to be an elaborate one as the husband was a prince.

They got married in an elaborate ceremony amidst much funfair. It was a lovely ceremony that had ladies a little bit teary eyed and green with envy.

Down to smallest details, the expensive event planner that was engaged for the event paid the utmost attention. It was a huge success. For a long time afterwards, people still talked about the wedding.

 As soon as they got married, Olumide changed. He became less understanding than he was during courtship. Now when he saw her with a man, he began to feel afterward querulous. It was a frightening development for Omolayo as she discovered that her gentleman husband could turn to a hot headed brute when he was riled.

She stopped seeing most of her friends as she believed that her husband possessiveness stems from feelings of inadequacy. He feels that he is too lucky to have authority over a girl and at the slight inkling that his winsome prize is slipping out of his fingers, he becomes violent.

One of her colleagues at work was having a baby christening so she went.

There was a light drizzle that persisted for hours that day. This made one of her colleagues to offer her a ride in his car so she would not be drenched. She was engulfed with mixed feelings. On one hand, she was grateful for the offer because her husband had earlier informed her that he would be busy and would not be able to pick her up from the christening.

On the other hand, she felt uneasy as her husband had earlier warned her not to allow any man give her a ride. She thought within herself “he would understand the situation as it was raining and she consoled herself that he might not be back yet.”

However, he was already home as she alighted from her colleague’s car. Though they both greet him, he did not acknowledge their greetings.

He turned to his wife and asked brusquely “I have been calling you for some time now, why are you not picking your calls and who is this that brought you home?”

She was flustered at the attack and she faced her husband in irritation” you are embarrassing me now. This is my colleague who brought me home. You could have let us discussed this later “

Before she could finish her words, a resounding slap landed on her cheeks. Her colleague gasped in shock while she recoiled in disbelief.

Her colleague tried to intervene “please, gentleman, take it easy. It has not come to that now”.

The husband turned his angry eyes on him” please, mind your business. I will also appreciate it if you will leave my house this minute.”

The man looked at the poor wife who was still pressing her cheek in her palms. At her mute appeal that he should let things be, he reluctantly left.

She went inside without another word. Her husband’s anger now seemed to have abated and he made a poor stab at an apology. Omolayo’s mind was whirling and churning with different kind of thought. “Am I not in trouble now?”

“Have I not married wrongly?”

“Is this how we will continue”