Vote Iren Entry #3 Baba Sheri Has Gone Deaf

"I have a lot to say. For now never forget a deaf husband and a blind wife are always a happy couple - because they can overlook each other's faults" 
Those words swam through her mind ever since Aunty had left. Even while she was currently sitting outside their house in the cold evening breeze, with an empty plate by her leg, her mind replayed what she had said.
While her mind was occupied with those nagging words, she was beginning to wonder when her beloved husband was going to return from where he had gone to with his friends. "How long will I continue to accept this new lifestyle that my husband has brought into this home? Where will I run to or how will I run away from such heartache?" Bimpe questioned herself and shook her head again with a grimace.

Bimpe looked around the compound and realized that night was drawing near and Baba was not yet home. She was beginning to buy the idea of leaving this part of her life for Baba and those who made her feel she needed to stay back and maintain her family that was already breaking apart.

Bimpe retired to her bed later that evening, still harbouring the thought of where her life was heading. It was later in the night when she heard the ruckus coming from the living room of their house, as tempting as it was to find out if it was Baba, she forced herself to sleep and later woke up to the chirps of the birds.

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Bimpe had woken up early, swept the compound that had dried up yellow leaves, fetched some water from the nearby stream and began to wash some clothes, she even purposely left Baba's attires in his box and after that, she prepared breakfast.

"Ah, Bimpe. How are you my wife?" Baba questioned as he entered the kitchen that had the smokes of the firewoods and the scent of the soup she was preparing. "Hmm, this food must be delicious since you are preparing it really early."

Bimpe kept mute as she stirred her pot of soup, enjoying the smell of the popular Egwusi soup. She hummed a traditional song she remembered from her childhood days, trying her best to block out the chocolate skinned man by the kitchen door.

"I will be going out, so prepare my food and keep it. I will be back in the afternoon," he said, bent down and left through the short door of the kitchen.

Bimpe grimaced, hurriedly dropped the steaming pot down on the sandy ground then rushed into their bedroom where she had kept a small bag full of her clothes.

"God, he has decided to discard the love we have been having for each other for years for something unknown to me. Has he seen another woman that suits his taste? Has he by chance even married someone more beautiful than me and maybe even younger? Why, Baba? Why have you made me a laughing stock in this community? I can no longer go about the community without one or two market women whispering or saying something about the disgrace you've brought on us. Ah, Baba. I will no longer take this, the shame, the unwanted discomfort and pains, Ah. I will not take it any longer."

Bimpe picked up her bag, tiptoed to the other room where the children were, playing amongst themselves. She shook her head and made a beeline to the door, once she made it out of the house, she raced as much as her tired legs could carry her out of the compound and into the misty morning air.

Bimpe had made it at the entrance of her village, her bag tucked under her armpit, sweat rolling down her head and back and her stomach rumbling due to hunger. Bimpe had gotten stares from villagers and chose to tell them that she was only visiting her family members and will be back after a few days.

Just as she left the gates of her husband's village, someone called out to her in a frightening tone. She waited for the running and breathing child to approach her.

"Mama! It's your husband," she said breathlessly. "He has collapsed!"


"Eh!" Bimpe exclaimed, dropped her bag and began to run in her wrappers that was threatening to untie itself.

Bimpe got to the compound where she saw a few neighbors. She raced to the entrance of their house and looked around in confusion.

"Where's my husband?" She demanded in a breathless voice as she paced around the veranda of her house. "Where's Baba?!"

"Mommy, he is inside," her littlest child spoke in his small voice as he stood beside her thigh.

Bimpe entered the room and found Baba laying on the bed. He was sleeping or so before she approached the bed and dropped on the floor, her heart hammering bad within her like drum beats.

"Baba?" She called softly. "Baba, what is this I am hearing, eh? Do you want to leave me?" She cried and stopped when Baba opened his beady eyes. His brows that had a touch of grey and black furrowed in pain and his lips parted to exhale.

"You were already leaving me, Bimpe. I came home to find out from our children that they saw you going away and I have been hearing things from people about you getting tired of our marriage. Bimpe, I have never looked at another woman. I respect God and the vows we made. The reasons I have been away is because I have been making sure that the construction of your shop I am to gift you is good looking. Your birthday is coming soon and I was going to make it a gift from me to you but you went away and I apologise for keeping things from you."

"Ah, Baba. Please forgive me instead and I plead that God above forgives me for ever doubting your love."















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