EMPTY PROMISES. (By Amah’s Heart)
EPISODE 11
I was too weak, too shocked and tired to even fight what I witnessed that day.
The following day I did not st©p crying, I ignored Tony’s plead.
Halima was out of the house in no time with her baggages.
Tony did not st©p begging. He even went on his knees asking me to forgive him but I wasn’t sure if I want to continue my life like this.
” Where did I go wrong Tony? why will you do this to me? I did everything to plea-se you but got hit at any slightest provocation and you even kicked our unborn child out of me. What is my offence Tony for you to do such to me? I asked you to kicked Halima out but you kept giving me excuses on why she nee-ded to stay, you made her to stay here at your plea-sure and ignored my nee-ds. I have seen you severally looking at her I never knew there was more to it. I recently took a loan with my name just for you to get a car for yourself. What have I not done to prove how much I loved you and as a supportive wife. I lost count of how many things I risk for you and I did it without care…. Tony why?? I’m done with this so called marriage. You have cursed me so much pain. This is not what i bargained for. If you have the mind to take another woman to our matrimonial be-d which means you are capable of anything. You are very heartless and I’m done with you…
I cried out my heart as he sat beside me trying to console me but I refused to be consoled.
I didn’t even want his hand to t©uçh me. I was really broken and was tired of crying.
” Ava I’m sorry… It was the devil. I did not mean to hurt you. plea-se forgive me. Halima is always ma-king advances at me, I try to resist because I have never cheated on you before. I c@m£ back to pick up something yesterday afternoon and she lured me into the act. That was the first time I fell…. The very first time that such was happening. Halima has packed her bags and left….is me and you alone now. Such will never happen again….I promise. I appreciate everything you have been doing for me. I love you so much baby… plea-se don’t leave me or I will die. If you leave me I will just kill myself because I don’t have a life without you in it. I promise to make it up to you. once my business matured, we will leave this Nigeria to Paris where I once promised to take you for our honey moon. Ava I promise to make it up to you…
I was tired of his empty promises. He has promised so much but never fulfilled any of it.
I was sick and tired of hearing his fake words. I angrily spoke out.
” Keep your empty promises to yourself. I’m tired of your lies Tony. You promised so many things but ha-rd ly fulfilled any. I did everything you asked of me but out of all your promises mention two that you kept?
Tony sparked up, I bec@m£ quiet as i watched him stood up acting all angry all of a sudden.
” Avala this is exactly what I detest most. You enjoy ru-bbing your success to my face. If not for the arm robbers that emptied my account and frustrated my business do you know where I could have gotten to by now. Will you deny that I haven’t bought a gift for you before? what of the expensive shoe I once bought for you? Can you deny it. You want Halima out of the house she is finally out. What else is your problem? I have showed how sorry I am even knelt down to plead but here you are proving stubborn. Why I wanted Halima to stay was because she cooks so well but you pretend to know how to cook but the bitter truth is that your cooking is terrible. You don’t know how to cook or do anything but Halima does which was one of the reasons I did not want her to go. Avala, I love you but I hate it when you paint your success to my face. Learn how to cook and clean, we don’t have kids yet so is high time you learn. We will not have maids forever. I’m tired of begging you none st©p. Do whatever that plea-ses you Avala I’m tired of pleading. I never failed all my promises, maybe I did with few but not all. I’m trying to work ha-rd to give you the good life you deserve. If you leave now another woman will come in and enjoyed all we laboured together for so think before leaping”…
Tony turned and walked into the room. He was using authority and tricks to make me forget what he did.
Tony was even trying to turn the table on me to make it seem like I was at fault.
He mentioned getting me a gift, which was just one shoe but I lost count of different gifts that I have gotten for him.
He is not even ashamed to remind me of the only thing he has ever bought for me.
This was not the sweet man I married, Tony has changed or maybe I was de-eply into him and refused to notice.
I still want him, maybe because of his high Calibre or clas-s he posses and I’m willing to forgive him.
Since he complained about my cooking I will sit up and learn how to cook.
After what happened with Halima I don’t intend to get another maid.
I will take my time and learn how to do things by myself.
I nee-d to learn how to cook fast.
Tony was happy when I told him that I have forgiven him.
He gave me another promise of not ever hurting me again.
I hope this time around he will keep to his word.
I downloaded cookery books but when I try to practice what I re-ad the food did not turn out fine.
There was only one friend who was also a great cook.
Israel cooks so well, he has a magic f!nger with the way he prepares different dishes.
I was shy and ashamed to call Israel so I decided to go throu-gh Diane.
Maybe Diane will tell me how to go about speaking with Israel.
I seriously nee-d to speak with Israel and just remembering how special he used to treat me back then makes me want to hear his voice again.
Israel was kind, so caring, loving, forgiving and never takes offence no matter how bad I treat him.
He cooks and stuck up my fridge with different food. Israel cleans and even shares his salary with me. He gives me the larger p@rt and takes little.
Why did i ever not see how sweet and amazing he was.
Tony has a high certificate, Tony was handsome and even schooled at Harvard business school but Tony was violent and arrogant while Israel on the other hand with his HND certificate is the sweetest and humble human being I have ever come across.
I really nee-d to talk to him. Israel will never say no to me, he loves me that much and can’t resist me.
I will call Diane before calling Israel.
Just thinking about Israel now makes me want to call him right away.
I have truly missed him.
EMPTY PROMISES.
EPISODE 12
“Hello Diane. How are you doing and how’s Lagos?
i asked over the phone as I try to sound happy and pretend like everything was well with me.
” I’m good Ava and Lagos is still the same, just as you left it. The hustling spirit keeps us all going everyday. I believe marriage is treating you well because ever since you got married you sh0t off all your friends. You ha-rd ly reply messages or even call. That’s unfair, we used to be very close right here in Lagos, remember Lekki big girls club that we both run things together… but since you moved to Jalingo and met your Tony that went to Havard… ever since then you began to give us attitude. We aren’t in your level any more. But, I’m happy to see that you still have me in mind, I was happy to see your call. How’s your husband?
“His doing great Diane. I have being very busy with work and family. You won’t un-derstand because you are not married yet. If you marry a very important man like my Tony you will get to un-derstand why I sh0t everyone off. Tony is very clas-sy, he studied abroad and working on his own business. A Harvard business school holder…do you un-derstand what that means? So is not really my fault if I decided to upgrade to a higher level just like my husband…
I was happy singing Tony’s praise to Diane’s ear.
She will be jealous and wish she has a man like Tony orl she was in my shoe.
I wasn’t going to seek pity from Diane or anyone.
Nob©dy really have to know that Tony hits me, cheat on me or I collected a hvge loan just for him to buy a car. I will paint a perfect picture of my marriage. I will not let someb©dy like Diane s-en-se my pain or disappointment. She doesn’t have to know what I’m pas-sing throu-gh all in the name of marriage or the main reason why I called which is to know how to get to Israel so that he can help me with cooking ti-ps so that I will be able to cook for Tony just the way he wants.
Israel will indeed make a better caring husband than Tony but he wasn’t in my league or clas-s.
The only thing I hanged onto is that Tony is a Havard business graduate and running his own business which will soon yield and he will treat me far better than he ever did.
I continued the talk with Diane.
” I believe you are still with Jack? He is famous and rich. Those are the kind of men we should be seen with not an ordinary church rat. I’m waiting for the day you will call me to say that Jack proposed to you…I will be very proud of you Diane. He will make a handsome, rich husband and a…
Diane interrupted me.
“Ava…Ava plea-se st©p this. I told you I left Jack. Is been over a year that we seperated. I wasn’t mincing words when I said so to you and I know you didn’t call to talk about Jack…
“I called to check up Diane. Calm down, we are not fighting over Jack, since is your wish then is okay. I believe you will still meet a man far better off than Jack. By the way have you heard of Israel? Is there anything new about him?
I asked Diane. Pretending not to really care but de-ep down I wanted to know everything that Israel was up to.
“Israel is doing well. And there is many new things about him now and one of it is that I’m engaged to him. I know this will sound so shocking but is real. He asked me to marry him last month and I accepted because that is what I have always wanted. It was long overdue I was scared he will never ask. Being with a man like Israel is a dream come true for me, I prayed for such a man and God heard and answered me.
I laughed out surprisingly at the shocking news that Diane was giving me.
Is she crazy or is it my ear drum?
Diane being engaged to my Israel is she insane?
I didn’t even know what to say anymore.
She was probably joking so I chose not to take her serious.
I ended the call on Diane with the excuse of my husband was on the line.
I decided to call Israel by myself.
I thought I was going to get useful information from Diane but it was all a mistake to have called her in the first place.
I unblocked Israel and it took me time to finally let go of my pride and call him.
I definitely knew that Israel will be so happy to see my call.
He can’t do without me.
“Hiii….
I said first when he picked up.
“Hello, plea-se who’s this?
He asked surprising me. Does it mean that he deleted my number after I blocked him.
Israel do not have such mind to delete my number. Why is he acting like he doesn’t have my contact again.
…who is on the line plea-se?
He asked again and when I was still thinking of what to reply he ended the call.
Israel bounced the call on me.
I felt stupid and belittled calling Diane and Israel.
Maybe I shouldn’t have called in the first place.
I decided to follow cookery videos on YouTube.
I downloaded many and they were helpful.
I was improving in my cooking and even Tony could testify to it.
Tony started coming back late. Sometimes he will be talking and laughing over the phone with a Lady friend who I asked him about severally and he keep saying that she was a business p@rtner.
Is been five months and I have not seen my car
Tony kept on giving me excuses of working on it.
when I got tired of hearing one story or the other concerning my car I asked him to take me to the mechanic workshop where he said the car was parked.
He refused and began to shout at me, saying I was doubting him.
He said I don’t trust him and that was the reason I’m insisting on seeing my car.
We ended up arguing over it and Tony hit me.
Tony beat me as if I was an ordinary bag of rice.
He kicked and hit me mercilessly.
I got fed up with the beating and decided to bring out the Lagos spirit in me.
I nee-ded to show him that I grew up in Lagos and I’m a Lekki big girl, no one mess with me and gets away with it.
I have tolerated enough beating from Tony but not again.
Is either he takes me to the mechanic workshop to retrieve my car or we will fight and kill ourselves today.
I gr@bb£d him on his leg and he kicked me like a feather off his leg.
I pounce on him and gave him a good bite on his hand.
I made sure that my teeth entered his skin until I tasted blood.
I did not st©p until he screamed out in pain.
The bite I gave him angered him The more and he doubled up the beating until I pas-sed out and later found myself in a hospital be-d the following day.
When I was told by the nurses that the man who brou-ght me was my husband and he has not returned ever since yesterday he brou-ght me.
after such heartbreaking information I began to cry.
I told them that I wanted to go home and I was later discharge that evening.
This not what I planned for my life.
I’m getting tired of this whole marriage thing.
Tony was not home when I got back.
He c@m£ back the following day with a flower and few other gifts but I wasn’t interested.
Is either I get my car or he should tell me what he did with it.
I’m tired of his stupid and empty promises.
I’m falling into depression everyday.
I hate Tony and I hate this marriage.
I want to get out and have my peace of mind but whenever I thought of his clas-s, The way I have boast to Diane and paint Tony as an angel to her,
Anytime I thought of many things all I did was to cry.
I’m ashamed to start painting my prince charming as a real devil and I know he was cheating but I pretend not to care even though de-ep down I was dying to know the Lady he was always spending so much time with and why.
I really want to speak with my Israel.
He always has The right word to sort my pain.
The last time he was asking me who I was, which means he doesn’t have my number on his phone any more.
Maybe I will have to swallow my pride and introduce myself to him again.
Israel loves me more than anything or anyone and will do everything possible to make me happy.
I don’t care about that expensive joke that Diane was pu-lling about being engaged to Israel.
It can’t be my Israel.
She must be joking.
I will call Israel and we will catch up like old times. I will be able to forget the pain that Tony was causing me and focus on what makes me happy.
But Tony must bring back my car before I forgive him this time.
EMPTY PROMISES.
EPISODE 13
That Saturday evening Tony was not back from wherever he went to. I decided to call Israel.
It took me time to be sure of the call.
When I finally did I held my fist hoping the conversation will go down well.
“Hellooo Israel…
I said calmly and with a sweet voice.
“Hello…who is this plea-se?
He asked. I breathed in and try to find a perfect way to introduce myself.
I nee-ded to be fast so that he won’t end the call again like he did the last time.
“Is quiet sad that you can’t recognize the voice of your sweetheart. very surprising that you can’t tell who I am throu-gh my voic…
Before I will complete my statement he interrupted me with.
“Ava….??
He mentioned my name even before I could introduce myself. I was happy to hear that. He called me Ava which used to be his normal way of addressing me.
His voice was so sweet with the way he called me. I did not want to sound so exciting, I acted cool.
“Oh my goodness. Israel, i thought you won’t recognize my voice. Is a good thing you did because I was alre-ady feeling disappointed. Is been ages…
“Yes, is really been a while Ava. How are you and your family?
He asked me, I wanted to tell him how life has been treating me. I want to break down and tell him how Tony cheated on me, took a maid to our matrimonial be-d. How he usually beat me at any slightest provocation and I could have been a mother now but Tony’s beating caused me to have miscarriage.
I heard a lot of thing I wanted to say to him so that he will feel pity for me and blame himself for not caring for me the way he should.
But I ended up saying.
“Everything is fine and you?
“Very well…I’m good. I believe Jalingo is treating you well…?
He said and I can s-en-se him smiling.
I smile too before saying.
“Jalingo’s weather can be a little harsh sometimes but I’m used to it now.
“Alright, glad to hear that. Thanks for checking up Ava…
I knew he was about to end the call but I don’t want the phone call to end. I wanted to hear him say that he miss me but he didn’t. I had thousand and one question to ask him about his relationsh!pwith Diane and I wish he can upd@t£ me on what is going on ever since we broke up.
Israel didn’t talk much, nothing about himself, nothing about the past and nothing about the pres£nt.
It ended with like a normal conversation and the line went dead.
I had a lot of expectations before the call but it did not go as I planned.
I had it in mind to call him again but not so soon. I will s£nd him a lovely text message first before calling.
Tony was still giving me different excuse for my car.
It was time for him to start paying for his car loan but he has not said anything about it.
I remind him concerning the loan and he said he was going to start paying back soon.
I was still concerned about my car before going to the mechanic where he told me the car was but my car was not there and even the man that used to work on my car told me that is almost a year he set his eyes on my car.
After two months, I told tony I was going to the police to report about my missing car. I can’t fold my hands and do nothing and my car will disappear into thin air.
After telling him about my next move, that was when Tony decided to speak up.
“How can you think of going to police because of a minor issue as this?
Tony asked trying to sound angry.
“This is not a minor issue plea-se. My car went missing all of a sudden and you are calling it a minor issue, the papers and everything pertaining to the car is also gone. Is not even at the mechanic workshop. I can’t take all this everyday stories you keep feeding me with anymore. I’m going to do something. That car was given to me by my company, I gradually paid the debt all off few years ago until it bec@m£ officially mine. I don’t have money for another car luxury and my car is still very new and okay. I will not allow it to go missing just like that…
Tony asked me to relax first. And when I did he sat beside me and started acting like something was wrong.
“Baby, you nee-d to calm down. You know I love you right and everything I’m doing is for our betterment. To have a glorious future together. I nee-ded money to add to my business, it was going to crumble and I didn’t know what to do. Is over a year now and I nee-d to start paying back the loan and I don’t want to come up with any excuse. I know you have been trying with your supports and I didn’t want to bother you any more with my trouble…so…so I have to sell your car. Yes, I sold it actually and did not know how to say it to you. But we can always use mine. plea-se baby…don’t be mad at me. I did not have an option at all…
I began to laugh sarcastically. Did Tony just say that he sold my car, my own car?
I was not going to have it
“How dare you Tony? Why will you do such without my knowledge? Tony have you ever asked for anything and I deny you when I have it? Why will you carry my car and sell off. You…
I was raging, I was boiling. I wasn’t going to take anything as an excuse.
How could Tony do such ungodly thing with my own car?
I was so angry and keep raging like fire. I insulted and wasn’t going to hear it was enough.
It ended in a fight as usual and I fought like a tigress. I was so angry and did not feel any of the b!ows which he was throwing at me. I kicked, bite and scratched and threw my heel shoe at him which landed on his head.
I was not sorry or felt pity for him when I saw blood because I was also bleeding on my mouth. Watching Tony scream out in pain as he held his head gives me satisfaction.
I ran inside and hide his own car key. He was searching for it but couldn’t find it.
I was done being the victim. Whatever Tony wants in this house I’m re-ady.
He was down on the ground in pain and seeing the blood coming out from the wound I decided to do something.
I drove him to the hospital. After he was being attended to, I left him and drove back home with his car. He thought I was waiting for him at the reception but I was gone.
The same thing he did to me. Now is payback time.
I picked few of my things into a bag and drove out to a h0tel. I’m done being the fool, the victim and his punching bag. Now I’m out and re-ady for whatever may come.
He was calling that evening and till the following morning and I did not pick up.
I called my office to inform them I will be away for few days. Just in case Tony decided to look for me in at work.
He s£nt many text messages, some were threats while the others was pleads.
I did not reply or answer his calls.
Tony was draining me. Ever since we got married the whole expenses has being only me. it was few times he will bought things. But I’m the bre-ad winner and all I get is for him to sell off my car without my knowledge and kept lying to me about it.
The only hope Tony ever gave me was empty promises, unqualified words and his so called business which I haven’t seen any benefits from.
I’m done so done with his business or future sweet talk. He has to take me to the said business which he has been investing so much on.
I can’t be his fool any more. He also has to start paying the loan because my job will be on the line if he doesn’t.
I’m out for Tony and is time to show him the real Lagos girl in me.
Right in the h0tel, it was a good time to s£nd sweet text messages to Israel.
I composed several messages and s£nt to him.
I waited but no reply. I composed another and s£nt and I’m still waiting for his reply before I call again.
Tony thought he is the only one with madness, mine is double and I just started unleashing it out.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 14