The devil next-door (II)

Iro returned a few minutes later and went straight to his room. I heard his footsteps passing by my door but couldn’t think of a single thing to say to him that wouldn’t betray the fact that I had seen him dropping that woman. Because I wanted to be sure of what I had seen, […]

Iro returned a few minutes later and went straight to his room. I heard his footsteps passing by my door but couldn’t think of a single thing to say to him that wouldn’t betray the fact that I had seen him dropping that woman. Because I wanted to be sure of what I had seen, I remained in my room with my children throughout the night. This morning I greeted him as if nothing was amiss and even told him about Fatima’s fish bone incident, making it look like the reason I didn’t go to his room last night.
But as soon as he left for work, I sent for our security guard. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to know or whether he was in the best position to tell me, I just knew that I needed to talk to someone about what I saw last night. So I asked him who it was that lives in the house next door and he answered:
“No one, Hajiya.”
“How can you tell me no one when I have been seeing people coming and going into the house?” I demanded.
“Those must be the people in the boy’s quarters Hajiya, but in the main house there is no one since the last occupants left.” He explained.
“I see, and what do you know about the people in the boy’s quarters?” I asked.
“They are two young women, living alone without their families.” Guard explained.
“Really? And what do they do, I mean are they students or workers?” I queried.
“They are workers, at least that’s what my fellow guard at the house says. According to him one of them works in a bank and the other is a lawyer.” He disclosed.
“And do you know where the lawyer works?”
“No Hajiya, but I’m sure the guard at the house knows. If you want I can call him for you.” He offered. I didn’t answer immediately, wondering whether it’s a good idea to invite the other guard. But then I remembered what a terrible night I had trying to fathom what was between my husband and that woman he dropped next door; so I decided to go to any lengths to find out.
“Yes, I’d like to find out from him but do you think he’ll be willing to leave his duty post in order to come here?” I asked.
“Of course he will Hajiya, his brother who lives with him can mind the gate while he comes to see you.” Guard assured me.
“Ok then, please tell him I’d like to see him.” I requested. I remained sitting at the reception hall, hoping the other guard wouldn’t waste time before he came. Luckily, he showed up in about five minutes. He greeted me and declared that he was at my service. I frankly said to him that I wanted to know more about the women who live in their boy’s quarters, for instance what do they do for a living. And he answered:
“Well one of them works in a bank while the lawyer works with Alhaji.”
“Which Alhaji do you mean?”
“Your husband, Hajiya.” He replied simply.
“How do you know that she works with my husband?” I demanded.
“Because that’s what she told us. Before she did that Alhaji will always park his car a few yards from our gate and wait for her to come out and join him every time they have work to do. But one day she told us to automatically be opening the gate for him whenever he came without waiting for him to ask for her. She explained that he was her boss at work so he should not be made to wait at the gate. From then on we did as she instructed. Sometimes he will pick her up to go and work at the office other times they remained in her room to work there.” He narrated. I continued to look at him speechlessly even when he fell silent because I was too shocked to say a thing. Did he have any idea what he was telling me? Did he deliberately tell me everything because he felt it was high-time I knew or does he really believe that my husband and the lady were colleagues? Not knowing where I found the strength from, I heard myself saying to him.
“Thank you very much. I was just surprised to hear that some women live there now. I thought there was no one since the old tenants left.”
“Yes, the main house is still empty but the boys quarters has been in use for a long time, almost as soon as the former occupants moved.” He replied, rising to his feet and collecting the 200 naira I offered him to buy himself some kola nut. I rose to go back to the sitting room but almost fell because of the wave of dizziness that came over me. All kinds of questions were racing through my mind. Is my husband having an affair right under my nose?
With that disturbed frame of mind I picked my phone and called him. I knew that I couldn’t wait till he closed from work at 5pm before we have the confrontation I wanted. I raised a false alarm that Fatima’s fish bone incident had caused her more problems at school so he was needed at home immediately. Expectedly he rushed home within the hour and I confronted him. Of course he denied everything until I told him that I had seen him dropping the same woman at that gate last night. Then he toned down a bit and said yes he had seen her by the side of the main road and decided to give her a lift home.
“Look there is no need to lie further, every security guard on this street knows that you go into that house every evening to see that woman in the boy’s quarters. And that you sometimes drive her out or sometimes stay right in there with her- a door away from your house- what a shame.” I accused.
“And would you rather believe what the guards say than what I say? How can you stoop so low as to be discussing me with security guards just because you saw me dropping a neighbor at home? This is the real shame Kulu, the real shame is that you talk about your husband with ordinary security guards.” He shouted back.
“Don’t try that psychology on me Iro, I know for a fact that you were having an affair with that young lawyer who lives next door. Being a devil, she was clever enough to tell the guards that you were her boss but I know that she doesn’t work in your office. It was just a lie she told them because she knew they could recognize you any day. Anyway this is to officially notify you that you are free to go over there and live with her. You can now pack your clothes and go over to your boy’s quarters love nest to continue what you have been doing, shamelessly, for the last two years.” I challenged.
“What? You mean you still don’t believe me? Well I don’t have to stand here and listen to this. I will return to work and when I return we can discuss this in a civilized way, if you are willing.” And with that he stormed out of the house.
I came up to my room and cried my heart out. Later, I looked at the time and remembered that he will be back from work soon and I will have to make a decision regarding this marriage. I can’t continue living with a man who is possibly into an adulterous relationship right next door to me. It’s just too much, what would you do in my place, Hajiya Bint?”
“First of all, I’m very sorry you had to go through this Hajiya Kulu. I mean while you were talking I was feeling your pain. You just never know with men, even the most angelic of them. Now if I were in your shoes, I will demand the truth again when he returns. If he concedes then you can insist that the relationship must end because you can’t remain with him living in sin. If on the other hand he continues to deny it, then invite your elders on each side and have them mediate. Tell them all you know and have them repeat your request that he should either end the affair or you will give up on this marriage. If indeed their relationship is adulterous, the implications are many. He can either have a child out of wedlock or subject you to certain diseases or just cause your family to lose respect because he is openly living a life of sin.” I advised.
“I will try this inshaAllah, Hajiya Bint. Thank you very much. I wish I can just walk out on this marriage and never turn back, but I have to worry about making my children artificial orphans.” And with that she wiped away her tears and walked me to my car.