The Woman
Oluchi Akam@oluchiakam
7 months ago
I was nineteen when I got married to my another tribe sweetheart. You may wonder why I chose marriage and not school at such age. Well, I wasn't one of those who read and assimilated. It happens that I pass out whenever in an exam hall. Other than waste my father’s unseen resources I married my sweetheart from another tribe. At first it wasn't welcoming for my mum but didn't they say love made one’s people another people, so I stood with what love said and my people became his people. My husband loved me so much he would tell his friend about me. He made enough to hold the house together. I just had to keep his home the way he wanted it. I wasn't in the learned way neither did I come from a privileged home but I knew the art of navigating home with business but he wouldn't let me own a business to support him. He wanted me to enjoy his prowess as a man, didn't they say men could handle all things. Nothing was hard for a man to do, if there was it could never be to cater for his own. So I relaxed at home, besides I just had my second child. I had my man to myself. Contracts came. Money was made. Accounts kept count. The fridge always had something to boast of. The cylinder never lacked what to make edible. Life went on well. Then it happened, I no longer had my man to myself; contracts held on to trees; money wasn't made anymore; accounts now counted with nothing breathing in them; holding less than enough the fridge had enough space and the cylinder longed for edibles to make edible. Life was starting to get hard, I now had my first child and wasn't going to wait for a soothsayernto whisper what the future looked like if things continued this way. I met him. It made sense to him and I started a business. It wasn't a big one neither was it a profitable one but a good one for a start. I sold bean cake and pap. It wasn't welcoming for my husband but he had no choice. He was always on the lookout for contracts while I made my sales. Some days came with gains while some went with loses. Expenses were high, we had to owe to oil the stomach most times but I didn't end my business instead I forsaw another business and I planned expanding. An opportunity to own a batcher presented itself and I held on to it. I now sold no more bean cake and pap but rice and beans. There was better profit in it at least we ate what we owned. Things continued this way, life went on better. Then it happened again but I wasn't going to let it this time. I needed extra capital to keep my business going. I met him. It didn't make sense to him. He suggested I drop it but dropping it would make life happen again. There was only one option: to disagree with him and I did. Understanding faded. Peace was lost and love wasn't anywhere near. No-one was going to give in to each other. No one was going to dance to one’s tune this time. Everyone did their own thing and days became hard, it dawned with tears and dusked with sleepless nights. I nursed leaving for home but we weren't known for that besides what would I tell my children. This wasn't what my mum taught me and this wasn't what I would tell mine. My mom told something different, I needed to do same, tell something different. Another opportunity presented itself. This time through another woman. I was scared at first but that was the only way to tell a different thing so I grabbed it but with feeble hands only with time did the grip become firm. I expanded and it happened again only through another. Through me sales were made. Money was made. An account breathed. The fridge had a space remaining and the cylinder at least didn't lack what to make edible. You may wonder why I still could not fill all in all. I understand that it takes two to tango. It takes two to make one. It takes two to make a whole so while playing my role. I want my husband to understand he could still and should still play his role. No one does it better alone neither is there one who doesn't. To the man and the woman out there it takes two to make a home, a good one.
#podcaster
7 months ago
