Burdens by Kitnah: chapter 1

Godwin strolled into his apartment. The apartment was situated in one of the expensive area in kogi state.
The building was painted in Blue,while beautiful flowers decorated the house,the compound wall was topped with electric wire to prevent thieves.
As he entered the living room,he could perceive sweet aroma that circulated the room.
The living room would have passed for an art gallery due to the artistic drawing fixed everywhere and the riot of bright colours.
 There was a staircase by the corner of the house that leads to the master's bedroom.
Framed photographs were hanged on the wall,while beautiful flower-vase and tall white orchids were scattered across the room.
The living room has some scarlet leather sofa arranged in a circular shape.

"Welcome dear" Anita said,coming from the kitchen,she smelled of curry and nutmeg.
She quickly collected her husband's suitcase and gave him a warm embrace.
"Thank you,where are the kids??" Godwin asked
 "Uhmm,they went to school for their report card and you're done for the day?? It's just 12'o'clock"

"Yeah,you know,there isn't much to do, work isn't as effective as before,we're just going there to append our signature" Godwin explained.
 "I'm very sure if NIOMP was a private organization,it would have folded up"
 "Not exactly,we're still working,but it's just once in a blue moon,not as effective as before"
"I can still remember when it was hectic,but I'm happy,I have you to myself now"
 Godwin sat down on the couch.
 "FG is making process to privatise it,so we're waiting"
"Why would they privatise it?? That's a bad decision" Anita said "I'll go set the table"
Anita left the living room,while Godwin switched on their 14inches plasma tv.

'Dong Dong Dong'Godwin's Iphone 6+ vibrated,he quickly picked it and saw the caller name Matthew,his co-worker
"Hello Matt" Godwin said
 "Hey, whatsup"
 "I'm cool,what's popping??"
"Are you at home??"
"Sure!"
"Cool,I have a great suprise for you"
"Really?? I can't wait"
Godwin disconnected the call and returned the phone to it's former position.
The relationship between Matthew and Godwin had escalated from co-workers to friends,they did things in unison,they hid no secrets from each other.

 Anita came to the living room,with the food she was preparing,she was setting the dinning room,when she overheard her husband.
"Who were you talking to??" She asked.
"It's Mattew i invited him to join us,hope you won't mind??"
"Mind keh?? I don't mind o" She said as she returned to the kitchen.

'[i] Tin Tin Tin [/i] The door bell rang,Godwin rose to get the door,when he opened the door,Matthew came in with his wife Jane.
"Ohh,bless my soul!! look who we have here?? What an august visitor!!!" Godwin said as he embraced Jane "you never told me you're bringing your beautiful wife" he chastised Matthew
 "I wanted it to be a surprise"
"Ohh,yes,it was!!"
 "Good afternoon" Jane greeted and curtseyed
 "[i] Iyawo wa [/i].......our wife" Godwin greeted in the most appropriate way to greet a friend's wife "A very good afternoon to you,so you abandoned us in this 'village' and you were busy flexing in the city,huh??"
"E ma binu.....Don't be offfended,it's work,the recent strike affected our calender and we have to patch things up for the student,but we're on our semester break,so I'll be staying for a while"

 "It's okay,maybe before your departure,My friend would have added weight"
 They all bursted out laughing,its' no news that Matthew is as skinny as an electric pole.
"Mama do good's customer" Godwin eyed him,while Matthew gave him a playful punch.
 "Matt,are you serious?? I thought you said you always prepare your meal??"
Matthew scratched his hair,He was rocking the 'old school' style.
'Uhmm,you know sometimes,when I'm tired or weak or........."
 Godwin faked a cough to depict that Matthew was lying.  "let's go to the dinning table pls"
Godwin and Matthew went to the dinning table,while Jane rushed outside to answer her incoming call.

Anita came in with two bottled water,just then Jane also entered the living room.
Anita was dumbstruck, her world turned over,her head was spinning, she could feel blood surged through her veins,her vision was blurred.
A cold shiver ran down her spine and she almost dropped the bottled water onto the ground.
She had not expected to see Jane again,not in this world,just when she was having the time of her life,just when everything was going smoothly. She doesn't want to read that page of her life anymore. Too many memories. Too many ghosts. Too many evils. Too many shadows
Who would have thought Jane would got married?? Anita knew Jane meant trouble in her life. She decided to brace herself for the worst.

Jane also went down the memory lane,her worst nightmare stood in front of her and she couldn't do anything. She had longed for this day to come,She had fantasized about how she would questioned Anita for ruining her life, but she was speechless.

"Hi,I'm Jane,Matthew's wife,I guess you're Godwin's wife??" Jane said with a smile.

"Yeah,I'm Godwin's wife,I'm Anita"

"Nice to meet you" Jane said as she stretched her hands.

Anita closed her eyes,and heaved heavily and took Jane's hand in a shake,pangs of guilt filled her heart,Jane's hand were softer than before,and that sensation brought back memory,the last time they held hand was...............
She shied away from such thoughts,it's in the past.

"Yeah.......Me too,let's join the men" Anita said and she was surprised she was able to compose herself.
They went to the dinning room,Anita dished out the meal.
"Shall we eat??" Godwin asked
"Yes!!" They all chorused,while Matt said a short prayer and they 'chopped' away

 Silence enveloped the room except for the [i]click click click[/i] sound of cutleries.
 "So,how is unilag?? I know you're enjoying the perks of being a lecturer in a federal university" Godwin said breaking the silence.
 "Well,Unilag is fine,and the students are doing good,though sometimes rebellious" Jane replied.

[i]Oh,she's a lecturer[\i]
Anita said to herself,she felt jealousy and hatred for her. But her alter ego countered her emotions, 'you've caused her a lot of pains'
How could she have gained employment before her? She asked no one in particular.

Anita graduated eight years ago from the prestigious University of Lagos,She had a first class in Business administration,and ever since then,she has been seeking for meaningful employment. Among her peers,who graduated at the same time,she was the only one still jobless.

Anita felt rage at that moment,she licked her lower lips furiously.

"That's good" Godwin said

"And where is your wife working??"

"Ohh,she's still seeking for employment,you know the thing with Nigeria nao"

"Of course,I understand perfectly,though my employment was thrown at me,on a platter of Gold,no stress whatsoever" Jane said,she knew it would make Anita mad with anger.

Just as she predicted,it worked,Anita could hear Jane mocking her deep down,while hiding it under a facade

"You're lucky!!" Godwin replied

Princess and Bolu ran inside with excitement written on their faces.
"Mummy,I came first,Princess took the second position in her class,My headmaster gave me this gift" Bolu,the eldest spilled out in a rush.
"Liar,I came first too" Princess countered
"And you were not given this gift,why??"
 "Because,it has finished"
 "Ooo bii.....Ntoor" Bolu said as she lowered her eyelids in mockery.

Jane felt she was winning in making Anita feel bad,but she was wrong,Anita has two daughters,two beautiful and brilliant daughter, she might not be employed,but she's fulfilled,while she's barren,Jane felt like screaming out her lungs.

"Ohh,let me see your card" Jane said in her soft voice,while Bolu gave her the card eagerly

Jane quickly studied the school address written boldly on the report sheet. She snapped a picture of it in her head.

"Ohh,you're a brainy one,congrats" Jane said

"Thank you,Aunty" Bolu replied

Anita felt her world tumbling down,She felt like snatching the report sheet from Jane,but there was no way she would do that without arousing suspicions. She squirmed,winked and twisted her body part,hoping her children would get the message and get inside. But no,her children are not warring in nature.
Now,that Jane is aware she's having children,trouble is waging.

"Uhmm,Bolu........Princess,go and take your bath and join us" Anita managed to say.

"But mummy,we normally eat before taking our bath" Bolu questioned.

"Do as you're told,don't question your mother" Godwin thundered.

Jane handed the report card to Bolu,while Bolu and her sister entered their room.

They ate their food in silence.
"Thanks for the meal,we have to be on our way" Matthew said as he got up.

"Ohh,it's a pleasure,Thanks!!" Godwin patted Matthew's back lightly.

Jane stood up and gave Anita,a stern look of this-is-not-over-yet,and she hugged her coldly.