POLYGAMY

"Jibril! Jibril come back here. You cant run away, i would wait here for you until whenever you decide to surface" Sade sat down on the small stool in front of Jibril's doorpost, her chest heaving with annoyance. She was certain it was Jibril she sighted coming into this compound. No doubt he had escaped through the back yard. It occurred to her that Jibril must have gone to Ahmed's house to hide. " He would come here and meet me. foolish man". People in the compound went about doing their chores as usual. Sade's bags were on the floor at her feet.
      Safia was very tired after her hectic day at the market. She had her last child Mansur tied to her back, while his two elder ones Sameer and Zainab were straggling along in front of her. They had come to her stall in the market after they closed from Makaranta Islamia.

 She was very surprised to see Sade seating in front of their door, but even more surprised to see the huge bags she had with her. She looked around, but Jibril was not in the compound.
"Good evening" she greeted Sade as she went to unlock the door. "hope you have not been waiting too long" she continued. Sade stood up, ignoring her, carried the heaviest of her bags and tried to go into the house, but Safia blocked the entrance. " You have not replied my salutation, are we quarreling?" she asked.  "Look i don't have time for any nonsense, just remove yourself from the door let me pass" she replied. Safia got out of the way and Sade went in.

 
   As Safia went about seeing to dinner, she couldn't help but wonder what Sade was doing there. And with all those bags. Jibril ought to be back by now, but he wasn't. how would he react to Sade's presence? Does he know she was coming around? These  thoughts ran through her mind.
Sade is her husband's Christian wife.

She stayed at the other end of town, and her coming here might mean trouble. Where are her children? Safia hoped she wouldn't be in trouble with her husband for letting her in. Ten minutes later, Jibril walked in with Ahmed. Obviously they were aware of Sade' s presence because they kept looking around. "So you came back abi? I thought you would sleep outside tonight" Sade said coming out of the house, obviously she had been lying in wait for them.

 "ah ah our wife, are you around?" Ahmed asked in feigned surprise. Jibril simply cleared his throat. "No I am not just around, I am here to stay permanently" Sade replied. With that Safia dropped the spoon she was using to stir the contents of her pot, and looked at them, Now alert.

"Haba Sade it hasn't gotten to that" Ahmed said. Sade put her hands on her hips and looked at her husband. "He can talk for himself can't he?" she said.

"Sade why are you so troublesome these days? I have told you that this place cannot contain all of us" Jibril said sneaking glances at Safia. "Well in that case, you would follow me back to my own house let us stay there. I am tired of living like  I do not have a husband" Sade responded.

"But Sade, my friend performs all the responsibilities of a husband. You don't lack anything do you?" Ahmed put in.
"O yes I do. my children need their father around they are still tender. i need my husband around me. When i stretch out my hands at night, i want to feel his warm body beside mine" Sade answered

"You should have thought of that before running around my husband. You knew he was married and you flocked around him. Better get your things out of my house" Safia retorted , standing up and coming to where they stood.Jibril turned and looked at her, she looked back at him, daring him to rebuke her
"Safia go back to your cooking. Do not disrespect your husband"  Ahmed told her.

"No i would not. i have kept quiet for too long. she forced herself into my husband's bed, i didn't say anything. He chose to marry her, an infidel because she got pregnant, nobody heard my voice. But if she thinks she can stay here or get him to move in with her, she must be a dreamer"Safia replied raising her voice.

"Look who is talking. take a look at me" sade said spinning around. "Do i look like a woman that goes after a man? much less force myself into his bed. Your husband was dissatisfied with your performance as a wife and he came running after me, for months like a dog on heat, promising heaven and earth. so better go and cook whatever smelly thing you are cooking because i am here to stay"

Jibril looked at both women, shook his head and sat on the stool by the door. Ahmed bent down by his side and they whispered for some minutes, while the women exchanged dirty looks.
"Listen to me both of you" Jibril spoke up. "I have decided that i would be spending two weeks at each of your houses, until i get a bigger place that would contain all of us."
"haba maigida..." Safia started, but stopped when Jibril looked at her. "Sade you would spend the night here, and return to your own house tomorrow"

"Better, but for this night, i am sleeping with you" Sade said.

"it cannot happen. you would not sleep on my bed" Safia said

"Watch me" Sade said rushing into the house, Safia on her heels.Their voices could be heard from the room, screaming at each other. Jibril put his hands on his jaw and Ahmed patted him on his back


"I told you it was a bad idea marrying two wives, you see what you are facing now. One week one trouble. Goodnight let me go home for some peace" With that Ahmed took his leave.