MY SIBLINGS

   Women are really wonderful creatures, loving and powerful. Meeting Dorothy was a problem in disguise. She was a really beautiful damsel. I was a student at the University of Calabar when I met Dorothy in my year one. She was calm, gentle and always had a smile. Anytime I saw her, i could hardly speak. I just kept staring at her like a fool. My friends would always make fun of me and call me a woman. My closest friend Michael advised me to go speak to her and stop fooling around. I mustered up courage and walked up to her. I could feel my legs shaking and my voice cracking as I said "Hello Dorothy, I’ve been meaning to speak to you”. She gave me a smile and replied."Hi, I hope there is no problem?”I said "No, I just need to ask you something". She nodded and was waiting for my request. I tried to speak but the words were not forth coming. I wished the ground would just open and swallow me. She gave me a smile and asked me to speak, then my tired tongue loosen and I said "I would like to go on a date with you" She gave me no reply and walked away. I've never felt so embarrassed in my entire life. I have always thought asking a girl out was very easy not until this very day.

I went back to my friend Michael and he could not hold back his laughter, he laughed so loud that I felt so humiliated. He said "You were too slow and unromantic" I resolved to focus on my studies and stay away from any relationship. I always took different routes anytime I saw Dorothy, until one beautiful afternoon when I sat with my friend discussing some issues. Dorothy walked up to me and asked to see me. I followed her like a sheep to the slaughter. She then told me she had agreed to go on a date with me. I felt so happy and informed my friends. They made me look good for the date and I looked into the mirror I could hardly recognize myself. We met at an eatery outside the school and ordered something to eat. We began discussing about ourselves and soon we were engrossed in the discussion that we lost count of time. I paid for the food and we boarded a taxi back to school. I dropped her at her hostel and to my greatest surprise she gave me a hug. My head fluttered and my stomach mumbled. She gave me a smile and walked majestically into the hostel.

 Immediately I got into the room, my friends wanted to get a gist of the event. I told them how it all went, the food, our discussion and the hug I got. They were so happy and applauded me from that day. Dorothy and I became friends and from friendship we became lovers. In our final year in school I proposed to Dorothy and she gave me a big yes. I felt on top of the world and getting married to Dorothy was a dream. After graduation I began searching for a job. It was tough but I got a job in a big company. I called Dorothy and informed her, she shouted into the phone and I knew she was happy. We planned a date to meet our parents, and a date for the marriage was fixed.

 Our wedding was the talk of the town. It was graced by most of our course mates and lecturers. After our wedding Dorothy could not take in. I was so confused. We went from one hospital to another but we were confirmed medically okay. Dorothy and I had sleepless nights thinking of our childlessness. She decided to get a job to ease her pain but no job was forthcoming most of the time when I was away on business trips she spends the weekends with my parent. Soon Dorothy told me she was pregnant. My joy was full"I would be a father soon”. I was so happy pampered her like an egg and made sure she never lacked anything. One night Dorothy woke me up and told me she was having some pains at her back. We quickly got something’s ready and proceeded to the hospital. I was so restless kept praying for safe delivery. I called my parents and in the morning they arrived at the hospital. The doctor came out. The doctor came out and shook my hand and said "Congratulations, your wife gave birth to two beautiful girls”. I was so happy that I gave the doctor a hug. I ran to check on my wife and children and they were perfectly okay. After two days, they were discharged and we went home. My mom came home to look after my wife and children. We had a big naming ceremony and I named them precious and Praise.

 My daughters grew so quickly and soon they started school and before I knew it they were already eight years but something unfortunate happened. I lost my job, Life became very difficult, and i could hardly cater for the family. Dorothy changed, she began to nag and complain about everything. I could not believe this was the woman I married, she always looked for opportunities to get in a fight with me.On this faithful day, and she refused to let me go out. I could not take it. I had a job interview to attend and I was very late. I beat her mercilessly and Dorothy said something that shattered my life."You impotent fool" I was very shocked and asked her to explain what she meant being but she did not reply. She kept making life unbearable for me and I decided to send her out of the house. She insisted on taking precious and Praise along with her. We began arguing and she said "You are not even their father”. I was shocked, felt like strangling the b***h, I could not believe what I just heard."They are my children", I said to myself. She ran out of the house before I could get hold of her. I decided to get a DNA Test to confirm my wife's claim and to my amazement the results stated clearly that they were not my kids.

 I felt like a fool."How could a woman I called my wife ruin my life?" I searched for her but could not find her. I decided to visit her parents and to my amazement she was there. She came and asked me what the problem was. I asked her who the father of those kids was but she would not open up. I begged almost kneeling before her. She said something that stole my peace."Your father is responsible; they are your siblings”. My world fell apart. What wrong did I do to deserve  this kind of  humiliation?  I left with anger in my heart and decided to deal with her in a very special way. I went to my parent’s house. The sight of my father was like acid on my body. How could such  a man be called my father. I told my mother what I found out but mom would not believe it. She said it was a false accusation that she never liked my wife and she knew she was trouble at first sight. I kept insisting that dad was not who she really thought he was, and that he was having an affair with my wife. I showed her the DNA result, and at the realization that I was saying the truth, she slumped. I rushed her to the hospital while I gave my father the beating of his life. I loved my mom so much but I and mom were so unfortunate to have married the wrong people. I was arrested by the police and beaten for beating up my father. Dorothy ruined my family. She told me they were my kids but I found they were my siblings. How could women be so cruel?

  WRITTEN BY:OKARA FAVOUR
   EDITTED BY:AUGUSTINE PATRICK
   PROOFREAD BY:ELEMI ASA

 ABOUT THE WRITER 

Okara  Favour Eneyi  is an undergraduate student of English and literary studies, University of Calabar. She loves to write and share life's experiences with people. She believes every story is important and needs to be heard. She aspires to change lives and perceptions through her writeups.