Chapter 7: predecessor
"What if I never find love?"
" Don't worry, then. Love will find you"
"How?"
" In its mysterious and magical ways"
"Why?"
"Because souls like you deserves to be loved"
By: unknown
Later that night, I was already back in the room that was given to me and I was getting ready to sleep when there was a knock on the door.
Opening it, I was equally relieved, surprised and frightened to see that it was the minister.
"Welcome, Sir," I said, with a small curtsey.
The minister bellowed as he sat on my bed. "Who are you calling Sir? Who is your Sir? I'm
your husband, Just like you are my wife."
I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes
"Come, sit next to me," Chief said, his voice soft.
My heart dropped, wondering if this was the moment I'd been dreading. I reluctantly took my seat next to him and stared ahead, not knowing what to expect.
"You are the most beautiful being I have ever laid eyes on," he said, stroking my arm, making me stiff with fear.
"Look at how beautiful and soft your skin is, just like a baby's. You are beautiful and pure like an angel. You're a virgin, aren't you?"
I nodded, happy that at least that fact was true.
But at the same time not missing the look on his eyes.
"the first day your father showed me your picture I wanted to see you for myself ,"
The minister said, stroking my face now. " You've
turned me into a fool for you. All I can think about is you."
I sighed deeply, waiting for the speeches to end and the inevitable to commence.
"You are beautiful, pure and spotless," Chief said, taking my hand in his and kissing it. "There is no need to rush. I know you are not quite ready for
me tonight, and I'm patient enough to wait for you to be ready, truly ready for me. In the meantime, I want to keep you pure and spotless, just like a flower.
I looked at him, shocked. Had he said the words I thought he had?
"Sleep well, my little virgin," he said, walking to the door. "I'm in the room right on top of yours, if you need me."
I stared at the closed door after he'd left, wondering if he had truly decided to spare me the agony of sex with him that night. Upon realising that he had, I felt a warmth in my heart for him.
Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all.
Maybe I would be able to love him after all.
Maybe I will be able to forget Yusuf after all.
Maybe.
The next morning I was woken up by a loud knock on the door. The head maid had come to call me for breakfast that the minister was expecting despite the chaos that was happening in my head for some reason.
As I was coming I heard the loud threatening voice of a woman and the voice of the minister answering nonchalantly.
But when I reached the last step they all went quiet and all eyes were on me.
"My wife, are you not hungry? Sit down and eat with me," the minister said to me, ignoring the woman that was standing there.
I sat down obediently, looking from him to her like they were playing a game of chess, wondering what the next person's move would be.
" This time, you're not going to get rid of me that easily. We divorced, I know, but I want my compensation. This time, I'm not going to leave here with your empty promises. For the last five months, there have been failed promises after failed…"
She was cut short by the minister suddenly reaching into his pocket and flinging several crisp notes at her.
Some drizzled around her, some hit her in the face, but all of them were soon on the floor at her feet. She made no move to pick them up, but instead just stood there, looking from the minster to the notes on the floor. I had to look away so as not to add to her embarrassment.
I had never witnessed such humiliation in my life.
"That should take care of your transport back home and give you some spare cash to do one or two things for yourself," he retorted. "Just leave,
and never come back here again."
The woman remained immobile for several minutes, before finally bending to pick the notes, one by one.
The classy woman had been forced to swallow her pride to take this money she was clearly in dire need of.
As she picked the money, I saw tears roll down her face and my heart bled for her.
How could a woman who was once married to a man as wealthy as the minister be reduced to this?
Having gathered all the notes, she started counting them, but the Minister clearly had no time for that. "My dear, don't waste my time. That is 1000 Thousand dollars. I believe I have been more than generous. Take it, leave,
But she remained standing there. We made eye contact, she and I, the old and new. I could see in her eyes her shame, her sorrow…and her sympathy.
It almost looked like she was sorry for me, and I couldn't understand why.
"john! " the headmaid called out to the butler. " Escort this woman out of here!"
She shook her head, a sardonic smile on her face. "No need, oh. I'm going," she said, before pointing a finger at the housekeeper. "As for you,
mark my words, you will leave this house soon. I promise you that."
But as she left her eyes were on me with pity flooding it.
I knew that if it wasn't for the minister's presence, she would have given the former mistress of the house some choice words of her own.
"Tell those imbeciles at the gate that the next time she finds her way in, they will pay with their jobs," he said to the hard maid after his former wife left, sending a chill down my spine.
I was seeing a completely different side of the man I had married, and I didn't like it. He was acting like papa.
I felt fear.
Real fear
That evening, as I ate dinner alone, the house had never seemed emptier.
My mind was still lingering on my predecessor's high-pitched voice, and the pity her eyes held for me.
And when I retired for bed that night, I missed the evening chats I would have with the minister.
He had an emergency trip after the chaotic morning.
I'd grown fond of the man and missed him a lot more than I thought I would.
"Hey,cheer up!" the head maid said, patting my shoulder sympathetically, as I toyed with my breakfast the following morning. "I know you're already
missing your friends."
Her words brought tears to my eyes, which I quickly wiped away. I decided, then and there, to snap out of my sadness and adjust to life alone, just the life I knew now. I decided to get more involved in the running of the household.
I was the lady of the house, after all. Yes, it had
It was nice having a friend for a little while, but now he is gone, life just had to go on.
So I fell right back into my routine and started accompanying the head maid to the market and on her other errands in the town.
Not only was this cathartic for me, it helped me feel more involved and make more friends. Life wasn't bad at all.
Until the day it all changed.
All good things must come to an end and so did mine.