Olaedo stirred as the knock grew louder. First it was a tap, then a knock before it intensified into banging.
She glanced at the clock. It was quarter past 11. Almost midnight.
She looked around. Her husband Nwoye was not at home. She bit her lips. He had been away for couple of days now without telling her of his whereabout.
Every attempt to reach him proved abortive as he refused to pick her calls.
Nwoye, the star that Illuminates her world. It was him who had picked her up from the gutters after the demise of her guardians.
He had trained her in the university and showed her inexplicable love without taking advantage of her.
It was him, who had stood by her for three years after their marriage before the Creator blessed them with a child.
Yes, he had paid deaf ears to his family and friends as they advice him to divorce her and get a new “Wine”.
Nwoye was the perfect husband until the third month of her pregnancy journey, he changed beyond measures.
He keeps late nights, He drinks and nag at the slightest provocation. He stopped providing in the house and even stopped communicating with her. She felt bad.
But she noticed one thing, he never raised a hand on her.
She had noticed that even as he yells at her, there is always that pain in his eyes. A pain that had rendered him helpless. A suppressed guilty feeling of hurting her, his precious jewel.
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Olaedo never ceased praying for her husband. She believe that Nwoye will be fine someday, she knew that whatever he must be passing through was beyond human comprehension.
Many times she had approached him and in the most gentle tone asked what the problem was. But he had rebuked her out of his sight.
“I will never give up on you”, she had said in her heart.
The banging was continuous and intense now. It called her into consciousness.
Olaedo supported her self and stood up. She was heavy and will be due in two weeks. She peeped through the window but all she could see was pitch darkness.
Could it be her husband? she thought. But he has the key to the house. Maybe he is too drunk to remember… she thought.
“Who is that? she asked, her voice trembling.
“Your husband fell into the ditch”, the hoarse voice thundered.
“What? She quickly opened the door and came face to face with a pistol. She shielded her tummy as beads of sweat stood out on her forehead.
“Any noise from you and I will blow off your head. now move!, the voice thundered. The perpetrator sounds familiar but he was masked, so it was very difficult to identify him.
Olaedo quietly walk into the house, hot tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Where is your husband? he asked.
“I don’t know “, she answered trembling.
“Did I look like I am playing with you? I said where is your husband?
“Honestly, I don’t know. He has been away from the house for days now”, she answered, weeping.
“Good! he said, smacking his lips.
“To the bedroom”, he shouted, closing the door.
“How? Olaedo quivered.
He dragged her into the bedroom. He was familiar with the house. Her suspicion heightened.
“Take off your clothes or I blow off your dirty skull”, he commanded.
Olaedo froze.
“Please don’t do this, I’m a pregnant woman”, she pleaded, weeping profusely.
“I have some money, I will give it to you”.
“I don’t need your money, go down now! he thundered as he corked his gun.
Olaedo knelt down.
“Please… Look at my condition”, she pleaded.
The Perpetrator was not moved. He advanced towards her consumed with lust. Immediately, the entrance door swung open. He froze, he didn’t lock it.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Nwoye enters with three stern looking policemen. He was not drunk as usual or looking sober. He was looking neat. Olaedo noticed he had a new haircut. The same type he had three years ago, for their wedding ceremony. He came closer as the policemen ordered the perpetrator to surrender.
Nwoye rushed to the perpetrator. He unmasked him and began to hit him in full force. The policemen held him.
Olaedo gasped. Her suspicion was confirmed. The perpetrator turned out to be her husband’s best friend, Nwafor. As a matter of fact, he was his best man on their wedding day.
Olaedo break into fresh sobs. Her husband helped her to her feet. And for the first time in six months. He hugged her tightly as the policemen whisked his friend away.
“You will rot in jail, mark my words”, Nwoye said to his friend who was too shocked to speak.
He turned to his wife.
“My queen, did he hurt you? he asked in apprehension.
Olaedo shook her head.
“Where have you been? Olaedo asked weeping.
He wiped her tears, kissed her passionately and help her sit on the bed.
He knelt down.
“I am really sorry, my Precious Jewel. It is a long story. But I want you to forgive me for everything I had put you through. It was never my intention”, Nwoye pleaded.
Olaedo looked at her husband but couldn’t speak. She was choked up with tears.
