No More Mistakes #Projectnigeria

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

OMOLARA'S POV

  I could not believe Ayodeji did that to me, I know he wanted to get a reaction from me so I gave him one. I ended up getting food from fast food restaurants for the rest of the day. I planned to find stores I could rent and start getting the goods to sell. I decided to sell provisions in the store.

The next day, I woke up to the buzzing of my phone. I checked and saw a message from Mrs. Sylvester.
“Hi Omolara, how are you today? Take care of yourself. God bless you.” She was checking up on me. I felt so glad, I didn’t even know what to type back. I really wanted to talk to her about this so-called marriage but I just met her, I didn’t want to dump my problems on her.
“I’m fine, thanks for asking. Take care of yourself too” I replied to the message she sent. Soon, Eriayomi started crying so I carried her and patted her back lightly, she stopped crying. I bathed her and dressed her up before I showered, dressed up, and breastfed her. Shortly, I was on my way to finding a place to rent and clean it up. Ayodeji had already gone out before I went out. I walked down the street to see if I could find a place there, I walked into the plaza.

“Ah ah Mummy Yomi, are you looking for something?” One of the store sales girls said as I walked past her shop.
“I’m looking for a store to rent, do you know if there is any?” I asked.
“Mummy Yomi, you wan join us for this place. E dey but I know think say you fit pay for am”
“I didn’t ask you that one” she was so nosy.
“Sorry oh, how your husband? You know say I never see that man or maybe I done see am I no go know”
“He's fine, Titi.”
“Okay, greet him for me” she said, I nodded and walked away. The empty store was on the third floor of the building. It was the only one left, I hoped someone had not called the owner of the plaza earlier than me. I found the number of the owner written on the wall slightly above the door of the store. I phoned, it was ringing but he didn’t answer.

“Please answer” I tried again and this time, he answered. I told him why I was calling and he told me where his office was so I entered a cab and went there. The rent was two hundred thousand naira per month, I paid and signed the papers. I got the keys to the place and went back to the plaza. I was so happy that I didn’t have trouble finding this place. The place was not so big but I could manage. I hoped people would come up here to buy things because people might be lazy to climb the stairs. I contacted a carpenter that could help me make a wooden counter and shelves. I went round the shops learning how much they sold their goods then I went back to the store to clean it up, I got a broom, bucket, and mop and started cleaning. I took a break to buy some snacks and eat and also breastfeed Eriayomi who was crying.

By the time I had finished cleaning, it was 5p.m and I was very tired so I headed home but I made sure I bought my food. Ayodeji was already in the house, he was sitting in the living room. I went to my room to eat my food without bothering to greet him. As I ate my roasted yam and plantain, my phone was ringing. It was Mrs. Sylvester.

“Omolara, good evening”
“Good evening”
“I hope I’m not pestering you” pester? I was glad that she called. She was really kind.
“No, I’m happy you called, I may not sound happy but I am”
“You said you needed help. What did you need help with?”
“I don’t think I should just drop my problems on you. I just met you yesterday”
“I’m the one asking, Omolara. I want to help” Something in me trusted this woman I just met yesterday. I felt at peace talking to her so I told her everything that happened between me and Ayo. She didn’t judge me for my actions, she didn’t judge Ayo for his actions. She just listened. What kind of woman is this?
“What I’m about to tell you is going to be very hard but I’ll guide you, Omolara”
“What is it?”
“Omolara, I want you to respect Ayodeji, I want you to be kind to him no matter the words he throws at you. I’m saying this because I know you care about him and God has a reason for what happened between you and him and why you ended up marrying him. It is going to be very hard but not impossible, he will push you to say something disrespectful but don’t fall for it. Let me ask you, do you want a divorce?” she asked.
“No” it was funny that after how much nonsense I’ve endured from Ayodeji, I didn’t want a divorce.
“Omolara, stay calm and don’t fight back” She said and so I did.

This week I focused on getting my business started, my dad gave me some money to invest in my business. While I was focusing on my business, I was trying to be kind to Ayodeji no matter the insults he threw at me. I washed his clothes, cooked his food, greeted him every morning, cleaned his room when cleaning the house. Mrs. Sylvester was guiding me with daily quotes talking about wives respecting and honouring their husbands. I’m sure it was easy for wives with husbands that were not like Ayodeji. I promised myself that after this last time if he doesn’t change, I’ll walk out of this house and never come back. I would beg my father to let me stay in the house, I would work my hands off to make sure I’m not a burden to my parents. If he didn’t change, I would rather have Eriayomi grow up without a father than put up with Ayodeji. I know I sounded like a fool right now but just this last time, I’ll tolerate him just this last time.