Short Story
By Titilope Iyowu
23/07/2018
LOVE LEAVE
As she sat down on their bed lonely, looking out through the window as it rained cats and dogs, she covered herself quickly with a blanket to warm herself, suddenly she remembered the day she said I do.
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It was a day she was never going to forget, she remembered how she dreadfully feared that someone was going to say something just after the priest asked “If you are not happy with this union, you may speak or remain forever silent”
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It seemed like a perfect marriage. Any union you see flourishing is as a result of the woman. A woman is to uphold her husband’s home. To be a virtuous woman. You could say that Janet had the attributes of a virtuous woman.
Janet is known to be a humble and respectful woman. She hardly talks, so quiet. You would try hard to at least get words out of her mouth until one day the neighbours heard a strange noise form Janet’s house.
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Of course, that is Janet’s voice said Gibson as he stared at his wife, Rose. As Rose stood up and walked close, towards the direction of the noise, she said to Gibson, it is Janet in a surprise. I wonder what is going on, we must go and see she said but Gibson was hesitant.
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Why don’t we mind our own business and make us some dinner Gibson replied, I am so hungry you know. As Rose and Gibson sat at the table having their dinner, the strange noise from Janet’s house slowly reduced as they heard no more.
Janet was so furious and upset, she had never raised her voice at Jubril, her husband before. She has never been a nagging wife until now. In her right hand was another bill, the electricity bill with a couple of other bills sitting on the computer desk. We are in debt again she exclaimed. When are you going to do something about it?
Looking handsome alone will not pay the bills, what did you do with all the money, Janet asked? Same old story Jubril told Janet again. She got so fed-up this time that she took it upon herself to take control over their finances, she was not going to let their debt ruin her status, her character and of course, the marriage she has been trying to save for over two years now.
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Everyone had enough. The stress from Janet and Jubril began to show in how they lived and the children could not understand, even the curious neighbours noticed a sudden change in a marriage that they had envied and that looked so perfect.
Jubril had mentioned his home affairs to some of his friends at work and at the night club beside his workplace. Jubril spent almost every night out on Fridays with his friends so his home affairs was not a news.
It was a topic of interest and of dismay as Jubril and his friends drank. It was a way to calm themselves after a week’s hard job.
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Each time Jubril pondered on the arising financial issues in his home which had begun to affect his and his wife’s love life and other areas in their home including the welfare of their children. One statement that rang a bell in his ears and was repetitive was “Why don’t you take a break”
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He had packed. It was strategic. He had in his brown leather suitcase some shirts, trousers, boxers, ties and some occasional suit for special outings with personal accessories. Was it an escape from Janet or from the debt he had built in their name?
He was going to let Janet know anyway, there is nothing to hide he thought to himself. He was well prepared. He had written a letter a few times, left in an envelope on the dining table for Janet to see on her return from work but that did not work.
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And on this day, what a perfect day to tell Janet. It was at about 9:30pm on a Friday night, strange, Jubril was at home and the kids were in their rooms asleep. He skipped his hangout with his friends at the night club
Jubril had his transport booked for an impromptu travel. He also booked a hotel and a friend named Jason was going to meet him at the airport. Jubril was going to escape to Europe.
And as the couple both watched a late night movie, Jubril silently mentioned to Janet, “I am leaving, I am having a break” and Janet smiled back at her hubby saying “Alright, I will join you soon”
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And this time Jubril was no longer intimidated by himself, he repeated, this time looking serious and a bit louder “I said, I am leaving tomorrow morning, I really need a break”
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As Janet turned to Jubril, paying close attention and also looking serious but surprised, Jubril quickly said, I am leaving for France before the kids wake up, my flight is booked for 6:00am, I will be gone for six months.
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Janet said, you must be joking, Right! No I am not, Jubril said handing out the last letter he wrote to Janet, it was the letter that he was going to drop on the dining table before his leave.
As Janet opened the letter to read, Jubril walked away from the living room and into their bedroom. He boldly drew his brown packed suitcases from where he hid them and sat at the edge of the bed wondering what would happen next.
As Janet read the three pages letter Jubril had carefully written, tears rolled down her face until she began to sub and cry. She could not believe what she heard, she also could not believe what she read, and who was to blame for all of this she whispered silently to herself, wondering what would happen next.
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And as they both wondered and worried, who was going to say something first? Surprisingly, both of them remained silent till morning and Janet remained sited on their love seat as Jubril walked out on her and the children to France, it was going to be their wedding anniversary in two and a half weeks.
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You would think that Jubril had a plan or a lover to meet at France. He had no plan whatsoever, all he wanted was a break, he was going to trial being alone again to see if reconnecting with his wife after six months would bring back the first love they both had but he was lost and wrong.
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Janet also on the other hand, left lonely in the city of London was wrong. She was going to be strong, to begin a new life and to find true love. She was not going to let Jubril’s absence hurt her or the kids. She was so determined that she got engaged with self-help books, attended church regularly and kept fit.
She was still stunning, she maintained her beauty. She continued with her monthly massage therapy, manicure and pedicure with her weekly hairdo. She also added some new hobbies, she enjoyed movies and the ladies night out, she was going to be happy, lovable and of course find love.
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Jubril on the other hand had employed a secret spy to see what Janet had been up to, and each time the spy delivered photos and tapes of Janet hanging out with female friends and with their kids, he thought to himself, it is so perfect to have a break and he looked at his wife’s pictures over and over again as he fell in love with his wife again.
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As Janet kept on looking pretty and searching for a perfect gentleman and Mr. Right, Jubril on the other side of the world was organising a surprise marriage reunion. He was going to marry his wife again.
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Jubril is a tall and good looking man. People call him macho man. Jubril is a model. This is what he has always loved to do, although it did not pay him well at times. He had in the past been signed up for modeling contracts but things just went wrong.
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He had a chance to showcase his talent at France. His new friend Jason had introduced him to a new men’s designer labeling company, signed up for few months and with huge money.
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Jubril worked so hard and he was well paid. Rich enough to buy Janet a diamond ring, he worked all the time. He had enough to pay the bills and to throw a party when he returned to his loving wife Janet.
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Three months had passed by and the kids missed their dad, Jubril was not going to call, he wanted it to be a surprise return. At that time Janet bumped into an old friend of hers. He was good looking, the funny and popular Alex from Harvard University.
It is a surprise to meet you, Alex said to Janet as he smiled at Janet’s children. Both of Janet’s sons were licking on their ice-creams. Janet quickly said, meet my sons, Jade and Jake. As they both giggled and talked about old school times, Alex knew that Janet’s husband had abandoned her with the kids.
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Thankfully, Janet’s friends and family were happy to look after Jade and Jake as Janet bonded with Alex. They also spent time together at movies with the kids. Jubril was not worried about this at all. The latest pictures had been delivered to him by his secret spy.
As Jubril stared at the latest pictures, he quickly identified the strange man in the picture, he sighed and smiled saying to the spy. Oh that is Alex, we all went to the same University. He is married, he got married before Janet and I.
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And as Jubril secretly plotted his surprise throw party and marriage blessing, Janet was busy loving Alex, they were meant to be anyway. Janet had been informed by Alex that his marriage broke up after few months and Clare, his ex-wife had moved in with another man.
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Alex and Janet had boned for three months, they had known each other since childhood, they both took part in some sporting events and they seemed to have similar interests.
Alex had proposed to Janet in front of her family at Easter time and it was a yes from Janet and everybody was excited for them.
It is now over six months and Janet got a strange call from an unknown number, it was Jubril and the first statement he altered from his mouth with so much joy and excitement to his wife was, “Will you marry me again”
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Janet recognised his voice, she became sweaty as she glanced across the hallway staring at nothing. She repeated twice “Jubril, Jubril” and Jubril with so much joy and excitement the second time and with a giggle repeated “Janet, will you marry me again”
Will Janet’s answer be a yes or will she call it quit with Alex? As she stayed mute listening to Jubril speak away. Jubril explained why he actually left for France and how he had made so much money to pay all of their debts and how they were going to buy their dream house they had inspected few months ago until Janet could take it no more stating, “Please stop Jubril”
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Jubril went on, how are the kids, tell them the good news and tell them that I will be coming home this weekend. Oh! I have got so much to say to you Janet, you know, it is so good to be patient until Jubril could hear nothing from the other side of the phone.
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Jubril understood, he knew this was going to be a surprise and a shock to Janet, the family and the kids, so he just smiled and packed his bags. This time he had six big bags full of clothing and toys for the kids, he was so happy.
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He stayed in touch with the wedding planner from London. A hall had been booked, cake ordered and it was going to turn out well because this had always been Janet’s dream, to remarry so that their marriage can stay fresh, to be debt free and to live in that five rooms pent house on Collins Street. Collins Street is for the rich and well to do in that suburb.
And of course Alex can be their best mate again Jubril thought to himself. Unknowing to Jubril that Alex had paid their debts and bought Janet’s dream house, they were going to move in with the kids and with a helper for the kids the same weekend Jubril was to return.
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Everyone became anxious and nervous. Quickly, the rumour that Jubril was returning to marry Janet had spread around the neighbourhood and everybody was wondering what was going to happen.
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Was Janet actually going to say yes to Jubril again or was she going to move on with Alex? No one was going to break the news to Jubril. He was going to find out himself when he returned.
Jubril came to their home in a taxi and everything looked strange, Janet had sold the house they both lived in. The house had so many bad memories and Janet had to let it go, after all she had found love and there was no need to keep the house, more so, the kids did not like it, there was no playground close to the house.
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Jubril walked slowly to the door, the house had been repainted. He also noticed an unknown red vehicle packed in the open garage. As he got closer to the door, he paused for a while before pressing the door bell.
Out came a vibrant old lady, of about 85 years of age ready to speak even before asked a question. Hello, how do you do? I live here, my husband passed away last month, my child just bought this house for me.
Are you the agent that was supposed to bring me the spare key to the garage, please come in and sit, I will make you a cup of coffee or would you prefer tea and suddenly Susan, the old lady took a pause, looking at the supposed agent in tears.
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Please where is Janet, he asked Lady Susan? Oh you mean, the young lady that sold the house to me, she is such an amazing woman, she just moved in to Collins Street with her husband Alex and kids.
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No madam, Jubril said, I mean Janet, she is my wife, she used to live here with me and my two children Jade and Jake. Oh I see Lady Susan said, you must be Alex then, nice to meet you, I have heard so much about you from your wife Janet, come in please.
Jubril answered, you are getting things mixed up here madam, you are also getting people mixed up to, Alex is our friend. Do not worry,I will go straight to Collins Street. See you later madam and thanks for the coffee I never tasted Jubril said to himself silently.
And Jubril left off to Collins Street, he knew the address, he knew where Janet and the kids might be and he was hoping that lady Susan was a confuse old lady.
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He hopped back into his taxi and said, please take me to 33 Collins Street, it is just around the corner and as the taxi driver drove off to the specified address, Jubril took a sigh and said aloud what a crazy old lady, please stop here, here is the house, here is our house.
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So he came down and watched the taxi man offload his luggage to the side of the main door of 33 Collins Street. Jubril pressed the bell and it was Alex who opened the door with a surprise on his face. I will call Janet, don’t come in, and please wait here.
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This cannot be true, Jubril said to himself as Janet came out through the door, she was looking so beautiful, she had a maxi white dress on with red lipstick on her lips, and she quickly said, I am sorry Jubril, I thought you left, I am married and Jubril said but… but…. Butttt and Janet said, please leave, we are on our honeymoon.
We will make custody arrangements for the kids and Alex slowly grabbed Janet’s hand, she had a diamond ring on it that flashed at Jubril’s eyes as the new wedded couple went into their home and shut the door.