[Story] Empty promises – S01 E12

Read Story: SEASON 1 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 shot off all your friends. You hardly 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 understand because you are not married yet. If you marry a very important man like my Tony you will get to understand why I shot everyone off. Tony is very classy, he studied abroad and working on his own business. A Harvard business school holder…do you understand 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.

Nobody really have to know that Tony hits me, cheat on me or I collected a huge loan just for him to buy a car. I will paint a perfect picture of my marriage. I will not let somebody like Diane sense my pain or disappointment. She doesn’t have to know what I’m passing through 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 tips 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 class.

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 please stop 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 deep 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, please 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 please?

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 partner.

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 needed 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 grabbed 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 stop until he screamed out in pain.

The bite I gave him angered him The more and he doubled up the beating until I passed out and later found myself in a hospital bed the following day.

When I was told by the nurses that the man who brought me was my husband and he has not returned ever since yesterday he brought 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 came 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 class, 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 deep 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 pulling 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.

To Be Continued

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