Story - THE MAN I MARRIED (Part 10)

I noticed I didn’t see my period as at when due but of course I didn’t want to see it. Though I had fears that my husband is not ready to be a father with his recent attitude. When I closed from work that day I went to the clinic to run a pregnancy test. Praise God, you are seven weeks pregnant madam, the laboratory attendant said and stretched his hand to shake me. I had mixed reactions but this is what I have been praying for for over a year. I collected the test result and left.

When I got home my husband was already boiling because I came home late. I greeted him and apologized for not informing him before going to the clinic but I wanted the news to be a surprise to him. While he remained mute I stretched the result test at him, take a look at this, I said. He made forward his hand as if he was going to collect the test result but his hand landed on my cheek. He hasn’t seen the content of the envelope I try to show him but slapped me. ‘You are a foolish woman, only a foolish woman will go out and come back at this time of the night. It is obvious you have started flirting around with other men because I am jobless. You prostitute, he rained insults on me like I am nobody. Those insults were really painful this time because I was now carrying his baby.’

I gave him back, ‘if I am a foolish woman, you must be more foolish to have married a foolish woman. You claimed you are spiritual and you couldn’t see ahead that the woman you are about to marry was a prostitute or was going to be a prostitute, you must be a spiritual hypocrite.’ I was sure my last statement will touch his marrow because he never liked to be accused of not been a true Christian.
He stood up from where he was seated and gave me a kick and a push. I landed on the floor and he used his two legs to kick me several times. I passed out momentarily, I was on the floor for over thirty minutes. I pretended as if I was no longer breathing expecting him to think I am dead so he could come around but my husband never minded me.

When I became tired on the floor I tried to stand up but I couldn’t for pain. I told myself this is the time a third party must be aware of all these I am going through. I managed to screamed for help but no one was hearing me because my voice was too low. When he had my scream he jumped out from the room and used his handkerchief to blocked my mouth so I won’t attract neighbours with my call for help. I didn’t bother to struggle with him because I was already weak. When he was tired he left me. When I became better I stood up with my clothes soak with my blood, I had had a miscarriage. I felt like calling pastor immediately but I considered the damage that will do so I held my peace. But what would I do now that I am weak? If you don’t come and carry me to the hospital now I will call the pastor, I threatened.

I insisted he must carry me to the same clinic where I ran the pregnancy test. When the laboratory attendance saw me he was speechless. You just left here barely an hour or two ago, what happened madam? he asked me in curiosity. When he saw the blood he knew what has happened but he was interested in what led to this. They called in the doctor immediately and straight away I was flushed. My husband apologized to me when he saw what I went through. The nurse brought a bill of N3500 but I threw away my face. I knew he has no money but he has to sort it out himself. He collected the bill and looked at me for sometimes but he could not alter a word. I pitied him but I will be foolish to pay for a medical bill of my miscarriage caused by my husband’s cruelty.

He went out to see the doctor if they could reduce the amount for him but he was told they would have admitted me for a night but they are letting us to go back home tonight so we don’t have to pay for the bed. If I pass the night in the clinic that will make the bill rise to N45000. I was in the clinic for two hours without seeing my husband. He had gone to hustle for the money but that served him right. I had over N100000 in my account but I will not pay a dime. Let him go and get the money anyhow and anywhere.

He came back at about 11:45pm with N30000. He came and knelt down before me and begged me to borrow him N5000 to make up the money. At this time I couldn’t resist the pity I had on him. I brought my ATM card and stretched it to him, 1505. He understood 1505 was my pin number. He grabbed it and rushed out. I was discharged by 1am and we charted a cab that took us home that night.