Chapter 5 Five

As Kambili drove home, she thought of her new patient and her new job. Her patient looked really healthy, she wondered why he needed her.

Thinking back to the contract, Kambili thought the salary was really huge. Five hundred thousand Naira, just for looking into someone's diet. And for a month?

She sighed and smiled. It was still a very good thing that the job came up regardless.

Her phone began to ring out through the car's speaker. With one hand and eyes on the road, she tapped on the phone screen to answer the call.

"Hey stranger," the lively, high-pitched voice of her friend echoed from the other end of the call.

"Ha ha. I'm not a stranger," Kambili corrected with a smile on her face. It had truly been a while since she had spoken to any of her friends, and somehow it was beginning to feel like ages. She missed her friends so much. She wouldn't deny it.

"How far now?"

"I'm fine, ooo. I'm in Abuja. I got back yesterday," Ana said.

"Awwww, welcome, love."

"Thank you, Kam. How have you been?" Ana asked.

"I've been well. I hope you brought back a lot of goodies for me"

"Abeg, leave me. I wanted to come and see you today, but on second thought, I think I have a better plan." Ana said excitedly.

"You are always making plans, this girl. I hope it's not a party plan because I won't be interested."

"Of course, I know you, my friend. Party shy. Anyway, chill, it's not. I have a shoot tonight. We can use that way to catch up. I want you to go with me to the shoot," Ana said with an excited tone.

Kambili was quiet for a while before she finally spoke.

"You know the way Aaron is always like when I talk about hanging out with you guys? And these days, a lot has been happening that I lack strength for." Kambili said.

It wasn't as if Kambili didn't like hanging out with her friends; she just hated the arguments that came up whenever she mentioned them to Aaron. It always seemed to her like he hated her friends for some reason.

"I don't know how you do it, but you do try. Me, I'll remain single till I die." Ana said, "But try, okay? I really want to see your face, please."

"Okay, I've heard you. Enough about sad talks. I have good news. I have decided to start working. And I've even gotten a job," Kambili said, feeling proud of herself.

"Wow!!! I'm so happy for you. This is so good for you. You see, this is another reason why we should meet up. To celebrate. I have an expensive wine," Ana screamed out with a very excited tone.

Kambili laughed, "You always have expensive wine," making emphasis on expensive wine. "I'll try and meet up. No promises though."

"Okay. Just call me, and I'll pick you up. Love you." Ana said, and the call finally went dead.

***********************

Singing to Judikay's gospel music, Kambili danced as she stirred the pot of stew on top of the cooker. After tasting the stew, she turned off the cooker and began to dish out a portion of it onto a serving plate.

She carried the dished stew and went to set the table for dinner before calling her husband to come down to the table. They hadn't spoken to each other since she got back from work. But for Kambili, that wasn't an issue because since they both loved each other, then they would be all right.

Kambili plated him a portion while placing a fried lap of chicken on the plate. Aaron looked at the plate of spaghetti as she served hers.

"I didn't know you bought chicken" Aaron spat before taking hold of the fork.

"Yes, I did. it's been a while." She responded quietly, not wanting to escalate the talk any further.

Aaron had wanted to ask her how she got the money as he hadn't given her money; for all he knew, he was the breadwinner, and only what he provided money for was bought in the house. But he didn't; he swallowed it up. He wanted to enjoy the food, at least.

There was a palpable silence that settled in as they ate. Kambili wanted to tell her husband the good news concerning her job. But she was scared. She didn't want any trouble with Aaron, and she didn't know how he would respond.

But she thought about it and decided to give it a try; besides, she wouldn't be able to leave the house without informing her husband, at least.

"I got a job," she said, swallowing the food in her throat slowly.

Aaron remained quiet for a while. He didn't want to scold her, even though he was upset.

"Dr. Fred helped me get it. One of his patients needed a private doctor to watch him."

"How much is the pay?" Aaron asked

"Is that all you are concerned about? The pay?" Kambili questioned.

"At least if you are going to disobey me, call me a failure, and work, I need to at least know how much the pay is."

For some seconds, Kambili thought of what to say. She tried her best not to get upset. She also didn't want to exchange words with her husband. She hated it when she did, or even still when there was a misunderstanding. It always made her weak, and yet she loved him like she would have never loved anyone else.

Aaron loved her too; she was certain.

"500k for a month," she said, swallowing the food in her mouth.

"Okay," he replied.

"It's a seven-month contract job, and I'll move into his house during the seven months."

"His?" Aaron paused and then continued, "Tell me it's a very old man who doesn't have the energy to work."

Kambili was quiet. She couldn't respond. But Aaron took her silence for an answer.

"Just look at how desperate you are to accept this job. You don't even have any regard for me or your marriage," he said, stopping to eat and staring at his wife with disdain.

"But it's for our own good," she said, doing her best to prevent the tears lurking in her eyes from falling off. She disliked it every time they fought. She hated that he called her desperate and hated that he didn't support her at work.

"You know what?" Aaron said standing up from the table

"I just don't blame you. I blame myself for letting you disrespect me." Then he paused "You know what? You are not taking this job, and that's final," Aaron said, storming out of the dining area and out of the house.

Without effort, the tears she had been holding back found their way down her cheeks.