SUSAN 7
QUARREL AT HOME
The next few weeks portend hell in the Boudaha’s family. It is a thug of war between father and son. The battle line of whose word will stand becomes the issue. The father wants his son to look towards one of the bourgeoisies’ or aristocratic families in town but the son sticks to the daughter of a “nobody”.
The two of them are the elephants in the battle of supremacy and many things begin to suffer in their family. The other members of the family have soft spot for Susan and would readily have been on the side of Stanley but nobody would want to stand on the way of the roaring lion; Boudaha insists he is acting in the best interest of everyone.
Boudaha’s wife, Brenda knows her husband better than others. They have been married close to thirty years so she comes to know him as tenacious and rugged person when he pursues things he wants to achieve in life; this attitude he even gets down into the bedroom.
She smiles even amidst this confusion: she remembers when they first got married. She thought she would love sex to the till but she met a champion and conqueror in the other room. She got to a time every bolt within her joint ached badly, yet Boudaha will find a way through until he turn on her entire body system on fire. Then she would crash into the bed. Could sex be food to Boudaha? Somebody told her all men are like that; so to keep a man one has to be prepared for all season shows. She smiles again as she imagined the old days. He owns all the beautiful adjectives in the dictionary and he is the master of seduction in his bedroom. To make her home work, she had learnt to manage this aspect of him well.
In spite of being a politician Boudaha is one of the best of his kinds. He doesn’t go after women and he has just a wife. Scarcely could one see a politician of his status who do not have chains of girls and possibly wives.
Mrs. Boudaha also learn how to make him come back home every now and then. She made him her adorable king and he knows how much she regards him. Through adequate understanding, the two of them are able to master their love life exceptionally.
Boudaha doesn’t keep late night out there. He returns back home early enough in the evening once he is through with his day job. Many times, he calls the wife once or twice before getting back home and she too reciprocates his kind gesture.
For the first time in their long years of marriage she had to contend with unbearable tension at home that makes her loathe life. Each party believes she is taking side with the other yet she couldn’t reconcile the two of them.
“Brenda, I see you working against me in this home. I know you are with Stanley in this. Let me tell you my mind: If that stubborn son of yours eventually marries that gold digger just get to know that our marriage is ending. What that mean? Pick your things and move out of my life.” This is Boudaha charging at the wife as he walks out of the house.
At other time he invites the family members to warn Stanley and the mom not to work against his wishes. The discussion ends as a stalemate as both parties could not be reconciled. As a good father, he thought his plan is best suited for his son.
Brenda is sinking down and deep in the quagmire as it begins to affect her physical and mental health. On a certain day she passes out and has to be rushed to the intensive unit of the city’s hospital. She has a very high blood pressure. She begins to recuperate. One of those days, Stanley comes around to her. She pulls him closer to her and pleads to him.
“My son, I am about dying and the cause is the trouble with your dad and you,” she speaks weakly.
“talk to dad, he is the cause,” he replies.
“Your dad is stubborn. You too you have taken after him. Boudaha will not bend and so Stanley. Who has bewitched the two of you? Who have I offended?” She begins to cry profusely.
“Mother, stop crying.”
“I am dying because of the two of you. I know your father is unbending, if you finally get married my world will become hollow and empty. My marriage and world is tattered just because of this. Stanley, take care of your younger ones; I will find rest dying than live constantly traumatized.” She convulses. He thinks she’s playing a prank until it dawns on him. He calls fast for the doctor’s attention.
Few days later at the other world of Susan the dad calls upon her: “Susan, Susan, Susan.”
“Dad, here I am.”
“Sit beside me my daughter.” She sits close as her father draws her closer. “I know I have a very wise daughter, so you would understand. I want you to thank Jesus for his extended hands of deliverance. Praise the Lord.”
“Hallelujah,” she responds even though she is lost as to why. She scratches her head and looks vacantly through the window on her right side.
“If you remember what I said the last time.”
“What Papa?”
“I told you about the ego of the rich when it comes to marriage and of why they are undependable. When you are married to them you cannot sleep or be rested. The demon of money has a way of troubling them.”
“Stanley is different Papa,” she speaks proudly and confidently.
“They are all the same my daughter.”
“What are you driving at papa?” she is beginning to feel disturbed.
“Relax; I want you to see why you need to be grateful. Do you remember the richest pastor, Pastor Michael Grappling whose son married the rich daughter of the gold merchant from Darmultha? The whole world heard of their union. In their wedding, gold was used to dish food and every notable media gave it coverage. Despite the fanfares and attractions to their wedding it lasted for less than three months. Apart from these two people, we have hundreds of such people in my short time here on earth that because of money has destroyed their marriages. If everyone could manage their ego, they would possibly be married for a lifetime.
Most rich people out there forgot that marriage grants better rewards than money. Money itself isn’t the problem but the tripping of their ego which is over-bloated by money. I would rather have my daughter marry an average man of means with a happy life, than get entangled with the rich and have her life disturbed in earthly hell of regret.
“Susan!”
“Dad?”
“I don’t think your relationship with Stanley can work. It is not about Stanley, the forces around him will overwhelm him even if he decides to go ahead with you. He calls me today crying on the phone. He said his mom’s life is at stake if he has to proceed.
“My dear,” he held her closely again, “I love you and I want the best for you. Let Stanley go, he is a good boy on his own merit but I want you to know that true marriage consist of many people. Do you remember how his dad was looking the time they came for the introduction to ask for your hands in marriage? You cannot marry Stanley in isolation of his family and the wishes of the best people in his life. Do you understand me?”
“It cannot be dad? Stanley loves me. We talk not quite long today? Let me call him,” she calls but Stanley could not say a word as he cries at the other end. “Tell me it is not true.” No word comes through.
“My daughter let the rich marry the rich. The precious thing is the buoyancy of the soul which you already have. This is more precious than the best treasure of the earth. You will find love. I know you will my daughter.”
Right where Susan sits, Stanley’s mom sent her text message showing her love and empathy. “It is beyond Stanley and me my daughter. Please find the heart to forgive. I will continue to love you.”
Susan comes blank while sitting with her dad with her two hands placed on her head with hot tears copiously flowing down her cheeks. She is there the next thirty minutes or thereabout weeping unabated. Then she stands to her feet gently and cries into her room. She feels her world is crumbling.
She is in this state of utter pains for days and months. It becomes a wound she finds difficult to heal. Notwithstanding, as a graduate she picks her things to another city and finds herself a job, there she meets Bolu who is also a fresh graduate working as a civil servant with the federal government. He is not a rich guy like Stanley, but marrying him assures her a fairly comfortable life. She didn’t take the time to pray or consider her choice well.
She banks on his good look and behaviours; unknown to her that Bolu is only acting his script to lure her into a relationship.
She thinks marrying is the safe way to escape emotional turmoil. She doesn’t know that whatever you have in your baggage travels with you into your marriage; and it gets to multiply.
Bolu becomes the thorn in Susan’s life.
Watch out for Part 8 as Bolu unmasked. Also, find out what happens to Brenda, Stanley’s mom?
