~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has been almost three weeks now since the big fight between Mr and Mrs. Balogun, yet they are still together as husband and wife. These days, it hardly even seems like there was ever a problem. Each person is simply going about their daily activities as usual. It is almost like a miracle. Things have definitely changed for the better. Amara has become much more caring than usual. She is now more considerate and very sensitive to her husband's needs. It would seem that she has truly kept to her resolution to revive the fervent love that once existed between them. That's a relief! Unlike before, when she would only yap on and on about how terrible her day went, nowadays, she makes sure to also ask her husband how his day went. Initially, he would dismiss her inquiry by just saying 'it was good' like any typical man would. But then she'd press further by asking him specific questions about things and people at his workplace, in which case, he would have no choice but to respond and then they would keep talking. Amara has turned a new leaf. These days, she makes sure to always personally cook and serve Femi's meals. And instead of sleeping in Tobi's room five times a week; she does so about three times a week now. That's an improvement, at least. Heaven knows what sort of magic Father Paul worked on these two, to make them stay together. But whatever it was; it is greatly appreciated, especially by Uju and little Tobi.

Femi as well, seems quite happier these days. There is no longer any shadow of gloom hovering around him whenever he is at home. He also makes sure to respond appropriately, whenever his wife extends a hand of affection. He isn't usually all-smiles anyway, but he does not appear to harbour any grudges against her anymore. Nowadays, he always acts so warm, so at peace and so content; a little too content, if we're indeed being honest. Marital problems don't just disappear from one minute to the next. And sadly, this happens to ring true in their case, as it turns out that Femi has been having a series of extra-marital affairs for the past two weeks.

Earlier on, he had brought his plight to his friends, who immediately laughed at how pathetic he was and gave him their brotherly advice. As far as they were concerned, infidelity was nothing strange at all. "All men do it!" they claimed.
It was at that moment that Femi finally discovered that the marriages of many of his friends had died years ago and that even now, they cheat on their wives constantly. Some of their wives are even aware of their betrayal, but have reached a point where they barely even care anymore. Instead, many of them decide to stay married to the money, their children or their reputation. There is an incredible social stigma attached to being a divorced woman in this society, especially after a certain age.
Many of Femi's friends even admitted to having children with their mistresses, whom their wives know nothing about. Therefore, they were humorously perplexed by Femi's plight and mocked him terribly for his desire to be a decent man. They called him a wimp and a pitiful weakling, for allowing himself to become his wife's apron.

"You be mumu??? You no know sey you suppose get spare tire?" they castigated. Even Osaze, Cynthia's doting husband admitted to having several mistresses over the years. According to him, Cynthia is a very wonderful woman; the love of his life, but his cravings are simply beyond his control. "After all, I no be Fada!" he told Femi. And in his magnanimity, he even offered to introduce Femi to some of his 'girls', but he declined. Femi Balogun already had some other ladies in mind.

First, he began with Tola, the voluptuous employee who had tried to seduce him in his office earlier on; convincing himself that it would only be a harmless one-time thing. He knew he was not a promiscuous man after all, so he believed that maybe just one girl would be enough. But after several trysts with her in the office, he started to develop an inordinate taste for cheating. Hence, he went on to seduce his assistant manager, whom he had noticed has had a crush on him for ages. And as expected, she welcomed him with open arms. She was a bit hesitant at first because of her familiarity with his wife, Amara. But eventually, she threw caution to the wind and snatched Femi before he could change his mind.
So gradually, Femi began to sink deeper into the abyss of adultery. And his affairs became so exhilarating that he could not believe what he had been missing all these years. He found these other women much more enjoyable than his dreary wife, Amara. They made him feel an immense liberation from the shackles of sorrow that once tethered him. They made him feel so alive, that now, he is free as a bird.
These days, whenever he gets home and sees Amara pretending to be a changed woman, he no longer cares. He simply smiles and plays along, while fantasizing about his other exploits. He had almost forgotten how good it felt to be wanted; to be desired. Wow! He had almost forgotten how handsome he was. All those years of pretending not to notice the battalion of women staring at him and inviting him with their eyes are certainly over. From now on, he is going to do whatever he wants. 'What on earth have I been thinking, remaining faithful to that loveless hypocrite?' he wonders. 'She doesn't deserve it!' And nowadays, the more he lives with her, the more he resents her and the more he no longer even wants her putrid touch.
Nowadays, Femi is beginning to feel somewhat powerful; somewhat sly. He is beginning to feel like the man that he is. He has never felt more 'in control'. He has never felt more lucid; more sane. Or so he believes?
The thrill of forbidden passions has encapsulated his mind so much, that now, all he thinks about are his affairs and his not-so-subliminal addiction to them. He always keeps replaying them again and again in his mind; imagining that his beloved wife were standing there, watching in tears, as he perpetrated the unholy act. Ohh, how he would love to make her suffer!

As Femi rolls restlessly on his bed, he keeps on brooding and unbrooding; fantasizing and unfantasizing. He keeps touching himself in the most impious ways. It's a Friday night; the first Friday of the month. Amara went to church with Tobi for an all-night service, from which they won't be returning until morning. The bedroom air is getting more humid by the hour, yet Femi cannot seem to fall asleep. He begins to feel even more restless, as he stares at the dimly lit chandelier hanging from the tray ceiling of the master's bedroom. His hormones are raging and his senses are dulled, yet oddly invigorated at the same time. With all his might, he struggles to resist the thought of going to her bedroom. But it keeps on bashing against his mind again and again. Maybe he should have also attended the all-night service. Then, he probably would not be conceiving such dastardly thoughts. 'But how could I face God in such a deplorable state?' he wonders. He has betrayed every virtue he swore to uphold. He sees himself as a disgrace to Christianity; a disgrace to God and a disgrace to himself. He wonders how he could ever seek God's face while so neck-deep in sin; how he could even attempt to pray when he feels like committing even more sin. He believes that he is too far gone to stop now. 'I can't stop. I don't want to stop!'

Then like an agitated tiger, he jumps up from his bed and walks out of the bedroom, making sure to close the door so gently that it does not make a sound. Afterwards, he begins his slow journey down the dark passageway, nearly gasping at the chilling sensation he feels while placing each foot on the fully tiled floor. Upon crossing the pitchblack dinning room, he heads into the east wing of the house. Everywhere is so silent; so dark that the only thing Femi sees are the glowing red eyes of the socket down the hall, to which the air conditioner is plugged. As he draws nearer to them, their glow becomes even more intense and their icy breaths more ferocious, as though warning him to stay away; to come no further. But for some reason, he keeps going. Right now, he does not fully understand the kind of force pulling him to Uju's room. It is like a possession powered by a severe itch in his loins, that is beginning to cloud the very foundation of his reasoning.
He is not himself. This isn't him. This can't be him. Or is this him? What if he has only been keeping this ardent desire for inordinate pleasures at bay, all these years? What if this ravenous monster has dwelt within him all along? What if he cannot fight this dastardly urge? The more Femi thinks about what he is about to do; the more he becomes afraid of himself, and the more he wants to stop, but he does not.

Then with meticulous tenderness, he slowly unwinds the door knob of Uju's room and pushes it open; slightly at first but then completely, after noticing that she is fast asleep. Upon entering, he tilts his head and begins to stare at her cuddled form on the mattress while she sleeps. He does not go too close. He just keeps standing by the silver dressing mirror under the dim blue light, contemplating his impulses and questioning the reason why he is even here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GLOSSARY
"You be mumu??? You no know sey you suppose get spare tire?" - "Are you an idiot??? Don't you know, you're supposed to have a spare tire?"
"After all, I no be Fada!"- "After all, I'm not a Priest!"