The Silence Within

Chapter 37

Lola's nose tickled to the whiff of frying plantain that wafted through the house immediately she stepped in. The aroma made a perfect blend with fried eggs. Her stomach clenched to the scent reminding her she had not had a good meal since morning. At her parents' house, she ate snacks and drank some fruit juice. She kicked off her heels, feeling a certain relieve at her ankles that hurts from the four inches. Who was cooking? Can he cook? She mused as she walked into the living room with her shoes in hand, the shopping bag from Modan Luxury and her bag in the other. The neighbour next door was playing music at the highest volume. The pounding of the music gave her headache. It came from the flat Sandra said belonged to a guy named AY.

The television was switched on in the living room. There was a football match going on. She huffed. So he was also a crazy fan of football like her brothers and father. The situation of the living room made her flinch. Did some monkey invade the place? There were banana peels on the floor with a used tumbler and a crush carton of Five Alive drink. Within her few days of marriage to Joshua, she knew him to be disorganized. He kept things the wrong places which she disliked. She had chosen to be quiet but does not think it might last long.

Leaving everything she had in hand on a chair except the shoes which were on the floor, she bent down to clear the place, the banana peels in a plate on the centre table, the glass and empty Five Alive carton in hand.

"You should learn how to clean up when you finish eating" she said walking into the kitchen which was worse than the living room.

The kitchen island was a total mess with empty shells of eggs, plantain peels, wrappers of seasonings, some pinch of salt and a bowl that had been used to rinse pepper. The blender on the other end was used with pepper trickling down its sides. Next to it was a plate of fried plantain and on the burner, he fried plantain in hot oil.

"Welcome home" he smiled at her. Lola stormed to the waste bin where she dumped the banana peels and Five Alive cartoon. "How was work?"

"The same thing goes to the room" She continued. "You should keep your used towel back in the bathroom or in the laundry basket. Your shoes should be in the right place. That's how you came back from church yesterday and kept your clothes and everything scattered around the room. When you bath in the bathroom, the foam of your soap stays on the walls and shower cubicle. Rinse them! You press the toothpaste from the middle and not the end and you keep the toothpaste in the sink and not in the vanity. What I am trying to say is be organized. I am no maid of yours to keep arranging things for you" she barked showing how displeased she was. "Now look at the kitchen!"

The kitchen had clean lines and unfussy panelling which gave it an everlasting feel. There was an open-plan living space that was orderly and unadorned.

"You lack manners Lola" he switched off the burner and turned to her. There was little he could take from her. He was no man to allow her lash him like he was some houseboy. "A good evening won't kill you. I know we might not be having that good relationship but for once please be polite"

"And who are you to tell me that?" her nose flared.

"Someone who you are stuck with for life"

"Please stop reminding me of my melancholy"

"And you think I am in bliss? I am also in the same melancholy you are. You think I would end up with an egoistic woman like you if I had known this is how worse you can get" he slammed the spoon in hand on the monochrome granite top and strode to her.

He was taller even though she was a tall woman. He stood at 6'1 while she was standing at 5'8. God! What kind of trouble has he put himself into? Due to how he wanted her for himself, he had married her without care of the repercussion of her not having an ounce of liking towards him.