Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 11
The Breadwinner Episode Eleven
John and Nneka stood speechless after Mirrim poured them the water in the bowl. The water was no longer hot due to the long period of time she waited at the doorstep. It was degrees hot when she boiled it, but by the time John and Nneka came out, it was as terpid and lukewarm as bathing water. John and Nneka did not even feel anything on their skin. After a moment of silence and surprise, John and Nneka burst out laughing.
"So, in your mind, you wanted to burn us with hot water? If that water was hot enough to burn us, I would have shown you my own madness. But I will just ignore you because there are so many ways to kill a rat. Honey please, let's go. Leave this witch with her conscience." Nneka said to John, dragging him as he followed her gently. Miriam was sad that her plans did not work. She just held the bowl silently for some seconds before she mustered the courage to talk back at Nneka.
"Useless fool. Husband snatcher. Look at you, you are not married at your age. You want to come and snatch another woman's husband. You want to steal my lovely husband away from me. This is daylight robbery. You will not succeed. My husband belongs to me and no one can take him from me. Husband snatcher, leave my husband alone. Go and look for another man who will marry you and leave my own man alone." Miriam was shouting and following John and Nneka. When his voice became very tensed up and threatening, Nneka paused for a while to respond.
"You call me a husband snatcher? Like are you seriously calling me a husband snatcher?" Nneka questioned Miriam who stood before her steaming as if she was preparing for a fight. Nneka was not ready to raise a finger but she was prepared to finish Miriam with mouth. She already prepared some painful words that would piece Miriam's heart.
"Yes! Are you not a husband snatcher? The man that is standing behind you like a baby needing protection, is he your husband? Is he not my husband? He paid my bride price but you shamelessly allowed him to touch you. Don't you know it is an abomination for another man's husband to touch you? Husband snatcher, leave my husband." Miriam's voice was so loud that it was echoing through the celling like a loud speaker, but Nneka and John were totally unruffled.
"Look at kettle calling pot black. I did not snatch your husband. You chased him away with bad character and he graciously came to me. If a good man comes to me willingly, who am I to refuse?" Nneka said sarcastically.
"If another woman's husband comes to you, duty demands that you chase him back to his wife. That is what all responsible women do. But you kept quiet and accepted him in your arms and took advantage of the situation. You are a witch and I will not allow you to take my husband from me." Miriam's voice was gradually sounding lower and lower. She had met her match in Nneka. Miriam was almost in tears.
"You are the witch here. You used to beat up your husband. If your husband comes out now to tell the world that you beat him up and treated him like a trash, many people will not believe him, because people always think it is only women who suffer domestic abuse. Men also suffer domestic abuse in the hands of women like you. In this case, I see it as a duty to rescue your husband from this abusive marriage. Or Mr John, did I snatch you from your wife?" Nneka turned to John and asked rhetorically.
"Of course you did not snatch me. I was the one who came to you with my two legs. I came to you seeking refuge and comfort and that's exactly what you gave to me. Since I found you, I have been a happy man. So, you did not snatch me. If anything, you snatched me from the jaws of death. I love you my darling." John said to Nneka as they gave each other a hug. This infuriated Miriam who stormed out of the scene, pushing Nneka and John away from the road.
"One way or the other, I will show the two of you the difference between egbe and egbe. Just wait and see. You will regret this." Miriam said as she turned to face John and Nneka one more time.
"There's nothing you can do madam. You have lost the battle. It is time for you to rest. You wanted to kill your husband because he lost his job. Now, I have picked him and cleaned him up, and you want to lay claim on him? Life doesn't work that way because you can't eat your cake and have it." Nneka said as Miriam walked away.
Meanwhile, John and Nneka went to town and secretly bought a house. John provided money and the house was equiped with all the things they would need for comfort.
"I'm happy that our plans are working out well." John said to Nneka as they inspected the building. He was very happy to become a house owner. His plan is to abandon his wife in the other apartment and leave her to battle with the landlord. He only picked his credentials from the apartment and vowed never to return to the house. In fact, when he went to pick his children from school in the afternoon, he drove them to the new house. He changed their wardrobe and bought everything new for them.
Later in the evening, the landlord came with the police and he met only Miriam at home.
"This is the room. Arrest whoever you see inside. The tenant in this room attacked me with pepper when I came to collect my rent. I want him or whoever is inside arrested and dealt with. "The landlord said.
Miriam heard his voice and came out.
"What is going on? I gave my husband money
to pay the rent. Didn't he pay you?" Miriam asked.
"He didn't give me anything. And he even poured pepper into my eyes. I have been in the hospital since then. Officer, arrest this woman." The landlord said angrily.
"But I was not the one who attacked you. It was my husband. Miriam pleaded.
"Don't worry, when we arrest you, your husband will come." The police man said as he took Miriam into a waiting van and they zoomed off.
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