[STORY] BEHIND CHURCH DOORS (Episode 24)

Episode 24.

TIA

I dash to the bathroom for a shower, get dressed, and leave the apartment.
On the drive back home my mind is hazy and filled with thoughts. I haven’t turned my phone back on because I would rather speak to Zyair in person than on the phone. I still haven’t figured out what I will tell him when I get home. What sort of emergency would keep a woman out the whole night at work?

I tried to call Sanna a couple of minutes ago so she could help me get out of this situation but her line is unreachable. I plan on checking up on her later in the evening, she and I have a lot of catching up to do plus I got her some things in S.A that I need to take to her.

When I finally get home, I step out of the car and walk down the path to the front door silently praying that Zyair has already left for work. I don’t want to face him just now because he will be able to see through my lies but if I wait till evening, something will definitely come up.

At the door I hesitate before pushing it open and when I enter, I freeze at the sight of everyone sitting in my living room- there are some members of his family and mine gathered in the house.

Zyair had once threatened to call for a family meeting, I didn’t think he was serious about it until now.

“Tia! Where are you coming from?” My auntie asks. From the look on her face I can tell she is angry. She was one of the people who coached me and prepared me for marriage. She is quiet a strict woman and hates when people don’t adhere to her rules.
“I was at work.”
“The whole night?”
“There was an emergency.”
Zion laughs,” what emergency?”
I shoot her a serious look, if not for everyone who is here, I would have kicked her ass out of my house.
“I tried to call you last night but you didn’t pick up. You even turned your phone off and made me wait at the restaurant for hours,“says Zyair.
“I am sorry, there was an emergency at work.”
“What sort of emergency?”
“The Bishop was praying for a couple that started manifesting, it took almost the whole night to deliver them.”
“And how does that one concern me?”
“I couldn’t leave before him.”
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Zion says.
“I don’t know what this is but Tia I raised you better than this. You decided you wanted to get married on your own and we supported you as a family. Is there a problem between you and Zyair? Why have you been acting up?” My auntie asks. .
“There’s no problem between us.”
“And yet you joined another church without discussing it with him first? Do you know this man is your husband and you can’t make decisions without him? He is head over you and your duty is to submit to his leadership.”
“I told Zyair I wanted to switch churches.”
“Did he agree?”
“No he didn’t.”
“Then you shouldn’t have switched.”
“Are you saying I have no say in this marriage? I just have to do what he says even when I am unhappy?”
“That’s not what this is about. You shouldn’t have joined that church without his blessing.”

“Then what is it about? That church has opened doors for me, I will be able to go back to school in a few months and now I have a job. I am even able to help Zyair to buy certain things around the house. I am sorry but I am not going to stop going there.”
“She is stubborn, tafundwa,” says Zyairs auntie. “You should get and spend time to teach her, bring her back when she is ready to be a wife.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, staring at her angrily.
“No wife sleeps out. This is unacceptable,how sure are we that she was even at church?”
“It hasn’t come to that mama,” my auntie pleadingly says. “this is a young couple that needs our guidance.”
“So what do you think is the way forward? This girl doesn’t even look remorseful.”
“I am sorry for not picking up my husband’s and not informing him about what was happening. I thought I would be done in time. This will not repeat itself,” I say. I want to get this done and over with.
“Zyair what do you say?”
“I just wanted to be respected as a husband in this house. Tia should learn to communicate and as much as she loves working for the church she should come to terms with the fact that she isn’t married to the church but to me.”
“Naumfwa iwe ai?” My auntie asks and I nod my head in agreement.

They spend the next hour giving me tips on how I should take care of my home and husband. Things I was already taught before I get married, by the time the meeting is done, I am exhausted and irritated.

“Really?” I ask Zyair when they all finally leave. He shrugs and heads to the bedroom without responding to me.
“You called the family on me?”
“You left me with no choice, you humiliated me yesterday. I don’t even believe this story about praying for people.”
“So what do you think I was doing?”
“I don’t know Tia, I don’t know and honestly I don’t care. The next time this repeats itself, I won’t hesitate to divorce you.”
“Threats?” I laugh.
“I am not threatening you. What I don’t want is to start going back and forth, if this isn’t working we are better off going our separate ways.”
“You have fallen out of love?”
“You know how much I love you Tia but sometimes love alone isn’t enough.”
“Okay, I am sorry. I will do better I promise. Let’s not argue about this.”
“Fine.”
“Dinner tonight my treat?”
“Okay.”
“I hate one word answers.”
“What am I supposed to say?”
“Zyair at least sound excited.”
“I got the job at Breath of Heaven Children’s Ministries,” he says.
“That’s great. I am happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“Let me change so I can busy in the kitchen while you tell me all about your new job.”
“Sure.”
To Be Continued…. . . . . 

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