The Unbearable Burden - S01 E03

4 months ago

The Unbearable Burden - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

The Unbearable Burden, Episode Three

"This is your food. I made your favourite breakfast which is fried eggs, toasted bread and tea. When you are done eating, you can go and take your bathe. I have already boiled water for you. The hot water is already in the bathroom. For your afternoon food, you can eat the fried rice you made yesterday. I warmed it for you too. If you have any problems, please, don't hesitate to call me. I have called the family doctor and informed him of your pregnancy. I have also booked a consultation for you at the hospital and from tomorrow, you will start attending antenatal care. This is to ensure a safe delivery of the baby. My love, please, make sure you take very good care of yourself in my absence. I'm going to work. I have to rush because I'm late already." Chima was talking to his wife. Both of them were in the bedroom and Chima was preparing to go to work. He dashed out immediately he finished knotting his tie. The things he said to Purity were passed to her like an instruction given to a daughter by a doting father. She did not have the chance to respond to all he said before he rushed to work.

"I don't think I can eat this food." Purity said to herself. The tray of food was on her laps where herself. The tray of food was on her laps where Chima placed it. She shifted it to the bed and stood up and started pacing around the floor like someone looking for a lost pin.

"I told my husband that I'm pregnant for another man and the next thing he did was to serve me breakfast in bed. What kind of a man. does that? I was expecting him to get angry, shout or even beat me but he turned around and became kinder than he has ever been. What is he up to? I expected to be in hell right now. I expected that this house would turn into hell for me, but the opposite is rather the case. I'm confused!" Purity said. She was wearing only her undies because she did not dress up after the bedroom action of yesterday's night. She picked up a wrapper, tied it around her chest and stepped out of the matrimonial bedroom. She went to the bathroom and saw that true to his words, Chima had actually boiled water for her to take her morning bathe. She was used to Chima being nice to her, but today's own was extra-ordinary.

"I'm not touching this hot water. I'm sure my husband must have poured acid into it. How could he be so nice to me when I told him hours ago that I have done something very terrible?

What is he up to?" Purity asked herself. She gently pushed the bucket of water and it poured away on the bathroom floor. She fetched some more water and poured on the floor to naturalize whatever it was that Chima put in it. She then washed the bucked thoroughly, believing that something harmful was in it.

"Why did he not get angry after told him that I was pregnant for another man? Or did he not hear me well? But think he heard me clearly because my voice was loud and he wasn't sleeping. Any man in his shoes would have at least uttered some negative words before thinking of forgiveness, but the way he is behaving, I think he is up to something and I must be very careful not to fall into the deadly trap he is setting for me." Purity said as she left the bathroom and stepped into the living room. Immediately, she saw that her husband had cleaned everywhere and painstakingly mopped the tiled floor.

"Again, I ask, what is he up to? He is making me scared. He wants to make me confortable and then he will strike and finish my life. I have to do something immediately. But what am I going to do?" Purity asked herself. Gradually, she was overcome by fear and deep-seated confusion.

Her resolve not to eat the food served her by Chima got stronger. She rushed into the bedroom and picked up the tray of food carefully. She was holding it like an egg and walked carefully as if a single drop of the tea in the brown cup on the tray could kill her instantly. Purity walked straight to the bathroom. She threw the entire food into the toilet and flushed the whole thing.

"It is not me that you will kill with poison after pretending to serve me breakfast in bed. I know your plans Chima and I assure you it won't work." Purity said. She put on her clothes and started going to her friend's house.

"I told my husband the whole truth and he was not angry. I mean, he said nothing and instead, he served me breakfast in bed." Purity said as soon as she arrived Lucia's house.

"Wow! That is good news!" Lucia said.

"What? It's not good news! Don't you get it? How can I tell my husband that another man got me pregnant and he just kept quiet and the next thing he did was to boil water for me to take my bathe. Babe, I'm so scared right now. I'm sure he is planning something very sinister and I don't want anything to happen to me." Purity said.

"Well, I think you have a point. If I were you, I would be scared too. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't go back to that house." Lucia said.

"That is why I'm here. I mean, I'm not spending another night in that house until I find out what Chima is planning against me." Purity said.

"Well, you are welcome to stay in my place until things normalize." Lucia said with a reassuring smile.

Later that evening, Lucia drove to Chima's house to see him without informing Purity. When she arrived, Chima was in the living room with his phone in his hand apparently trying to call Purity.

"Have you seen my wife? I didn't meet her at home when I returned." Chima said to Lucia with concern. He dialed her number but it was switched off.

"No, I have not seen her. Her phone has never been off. I also called her and I couldn't reach her. That is why came here to check if she is at home. Where would she be at this time of the night? But don't worry, she must have gone out to buy snacks. I'm sure she would be back soon." Lucia tells Chima. She knew she was telling lies.

"I'm worried and scared. Purity never goes out in the night." Chima said.

"Since she is not around, let me spend the night and keep you company so that we can look for her together. Our people say two heads are better than one. Let me go to the kitchen and bring food for you. Do you like to take your bathe with hot or cold water?" Lucia asked Chima.

Before Chima could say anything, Lucia was already in the kitchen making food for him. He sat down in the living room and waited for the food and also hoped that his wife Purity would come back, but she didn't. Chima and Lucia are going to spend their first night together.

Watch out for episode 4.