Throughout my life it had never crossed my mind that I'll one day go so low to the extent of someone getting my wife pregnant, worse, with my awareness and permission, I just could do that.
"I can't do that" I heard myself saying loudly.
" You have to" she fought back
"Never ever" I said emphatically. I was surprised by her boldness. I had always seen her as a deeply religious person, who would have ever believed she would choose such an unorthodox way to get pregnant.
"Then I'll have no choice but to end this marriage" she retorted. Her words pierced deeply into my bones. I no longer wanted her warm body, I just wanted to be alone.
"You say what?" I asked weakly, a very meaningless question at that moment.
"Don't pretend you didn't hear me. I could end this marriage, get married to another man who will get me pregnant, give birth to a handsome boy but what would that say about you? A proven infertile man. It is for Honour, you and me, I'm doing this for the both of us".
I sat still saying nothing, I didn't know what to say. Then she continued. " I love you, but you need to understand that this act will restore our honor. The women would no longer mock me nor the men ridicule you at the gate. We would all be regarded as equal. I'm doing this for the love I have for you" the darkness in the room became thicker, thicker than the blanket that separated us. Soon she fell asleep leaving me with a choice.
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I stayed awake thinking about all we've discussed. I just couldn't stand the idea of another man sleeping with my wife, even for the sake of honor. Yes, it was acceptable in my culture as long as it was done in utmost secrecy, but just the idea of knowing will haunt me. "Never" I mumbled.
It was morning and I haven't blinked an eye. I woke up and prepared to go find a buyer for my product. I had only gone far when I realized I didn't even greet my wife nor say goodbye like we used to. I hurried to the market and returned at dusk only to be welcomed by an empty house, the fireplace was cold, no sign of anyone. I called her name severally but it was my voice that came back to me as I walked around like a caged bull. When I didn't see her belongings I was convinced she had left.
I took the dark and lonely path to my in-laws house not minding the jackals and hyenas that hunted the night. I arrived there late into the night and my in-laws welcomed me. We spoke at length with Felicia and she finally agreed to follow me home. We arrived home, and both sat silent for a while waiting for one to break the silence.
"Who should be our fisi ?" ( Fisi was the name given to the person hired for the act).
We suggested three names, but among them was Paul, he was known to spill secrets when drunk, James, my wife always wanted a handsome child, and he wasn't near the word handsome. Finally it was Samson, he was well educated and handsome and had three beautiful children.
Samson didn't even think about it when I told him what we had agreed with my wife. I was surprised about it. Has he been admiring my wife all along? I wondered. I was in pain, but I had no choice. We took time to discuss the nitty-gritty and agreed it would be from 7-9pm and wouldn't set eyes on each other until the act was done. The day came and my mind wandered. I just couldn't help it. I leaped back to my house and there was Felicia moaning like she had always wanted it. I stayed hidden and after a while I left flooded with thoughts and returned the next morning.
A few months later, my wife was pregnant. Our honor was restored but the home left a crack that could never be repaired