Dear Mr. Husband (Episode 12)

I apologised to everyone for bringing in new episode slowly these days. I can't say there would be a change soon because its getting busier and busier for me by the day but I'm working on making it faster.
Hope you'll understand?
************************
Dear Mr Husband (Episode 12)
'So I would love for you to help me advertise since I'm pretty new in town' Yusuf was saying

'Oh that would be great! it would really be a great honour to be part of daddy's day care this time around' she said a little shy.

'Great!, I'm glad you want to be part of it.

Yusuf was sitting directly opposite Clara and he wore a blue jean and a red t-shirt with a blue face cap. He was looking good and he smelled good too.

When he called earlier, he said he wanted to come see her but he wasn't sure he was at the right place. So Clara directed him to her office and since he was not too far away, it wasn't difficult for him to locate it.

When Clara ended the call, she moved into quick action to get her office tidy and herself ready.
First impression they say mattered a lot and although this wasn't their first time of seeing each other, it was the first time in a really long while.
She adjusted her hair again for the umpteen time that day and that was when she noticed she was really nervous about seeing him.

'What does he think of me now? Why does his opinion of me even matter?, why does he want to see me?' And many more questions were going through Clara's mind as she tried to steady her racing heart awaiting Yusuf's visit.

Soon there was a knock at the door and she knew it was him. She arranged her blouse again and stole a quick glance at the office mirror for the last time before opening the door.

She wasn't prepared for what she saw! She simply stood there motionless.

She didn't expect him to look this good. It was Yusuf quite alright but this look she hadn't seen. It was a whole new Yusuf, repackaged and rebranded.

Yusuf stood by the door waiting for her to let him in or turn him down. Instead all he got was a stare!

Her stare was enough to make him feel uncomfortable that he had to look around him to see if something was wrong with his outfit or hair or anything.

Heck! He felt a bit awkward.

He wondered if he over dressed for the occasion or something else was wrong.
he knew he had to say something.

'Hi! So can I come in?' He asked smiling in an attempt to bring her mind back from wherever it went and break the silence.

She didn't say a word. She couldn't! Instead she moved to hug him like a lost treasure she had finally found and he responded by hugging her in return.
His wore a nice cologne and it was really inviting.

'How are you Claire? That's the name he used to call her back in school and she felt endeared to him again.

'I'm good' she responded

'Please come in' she managed to say after releasing him from the long hug as she stepped aside allowing him to pass through the door

He walked in smiling and sat down on a seat Clara drew out for him while she sat on her seat opposite Yusuf.

She seemed to have lost her power of speech as she still sat looking at him. She still didn't know how to begin the conversation.

So many questions were going through her mind all out once. She needed to do something.

'So what can I offer you? She asked hoping it was a safe place to begin from

'I have juice, coke, water, malt and I could get something else if it not what you want' she offered

Yusuf smiled and asked for water only.

She knew that that would be his response. He always loved to drink water and Ada used to tease her those days in school by asking her how her fish was doing and by fish she met Yusuf. Her Yusuf!

She got a bottle of water from the mini fridge in her office and a glass cup and set it in front of him.

After he took his first glass, the conversation flowed between them and on and on they went until he told her his real reason for been in her office that day.

During the whole conversation, Clara could not help stealing glances at Yusuf especially as his 'Adam apple' went up and down as he spoke.

She was enjoying the conversation and wished he didn't stop. He always made her laugh and the way he talked about his dreams made her wish she could be part of it. He talked about his dreams like they were the only dreams available in the world. Even a doctor that had just saved a life couldn't be more happier than Yusuf was.

Her enjoyment was short lived as there was a tap on the door that brought a halt to their conversation.

Before she could say come in, the guest who turned out to be Ada walked in talking unaware that there was someone else in the office with Clara.

Then she saw him!

'Hey you! Ada called out to Yusuf smiling.

'A to the D to the A' Yusuf responded . That was how he always like to call her as her name was spelt in three letter words.

She smiled. 'You haven't changed much you know' she responded leaning on Clara's chair.

'Well, I can't help it' Yusuf responded smiling.

'So how's your husband doing and by the way, I'm really enjoying your story' he said in a matter of fact manner

'Really?' Ada asked giggling like a child
'Yeah, I am. Its teaching me more things than you can imagine' He said

'Hmmmm' Clara said talking for the first time since Ada walked in

'Things like?' She quizzed with her hands on her cheeks smiling at Yusuf.

Ada noticed how Clara was smiling whenever Yusuf talked.
She knew her friend and she knew what her smiling meant. She had to stop Clara before she did something she would regret.

'So what brings you to Clara's office' He asked

'Not like you can't badge in at anytime, I Know you guys are still like sisters'
Yusuf added sensing Clara's feigned frown on her face.

Ada laughed!
'I came to pick up more copies of Clara's Magazine. I have a Client itching to lay hold on the magazine so I thought to surprise her with it today' Ada responded.

'I guess, I'll just pick the magazine and head out then' she said walking to the pile of magazine Clara had in her office. she picked five copies from it.

'I took five Clara' she said turning to Clara and walking towards the door.

'I'll just go now'

Before she walked outside she turned to Yusuf and said

'Please Yusuf say me well to your lovely wife and two kids' Ada said with a smile and walked out of the door shutting it slightly.

Clara's eyes almost pulled out from her socket in shock.
She went dumb as the reality of Ada's statement hit her.

He was married afterall and there she was enjoying the conversation and thinking something good would come out from it for the two of them.

Yusuf sat back in his chair and watched the changes in Clara's mood as the bomb was dropped on her.

'She must really care a lot for him' he thought within himself.
'So it was true' she still liked him.

The smile on his face widened to Clara's surprise

'Why are you smiling?'She asked with a guarded look on her face trying as much as possible to conceal the emotions and the pain she was feeling knowing he belonged to someone else.

'No, nothing! Just watching you makes me smile and wish I could go out with you again.

'Yeah, save it for your wife and kids' she said underneath her breathe.

Someone badged into Clara's office and for the second time it was Ada.
She came in with a triumphant smile on her face.

'I told you! I told you!! You see I won and that lunch you promised for this must be bought with immediate effect' Ada announced raising her hands up in the air joyfully.

'Wait I don't understand! What's going on? a confused Clara asked looking from Yusuf to Ada and back to Yusuf.

'Uhmmmm...that I leave for my dear Yusufu to answer while I hit the road' Ada said sneaking out of the office before Clara could protest.

'I'm listening' she said turning and facing Yusuf with her hands folded.

'Ok! First of, There is no wife and kids'
He leaned against the table seperating him and said the next statement

'I care a lot about you Clara, but I wanted to be sure it was mutual so that I don't waste my emotions a second time.
So I contacted Ada first knowing she was still your best friend, please don't ask me how I knew, and then I told her about my feeling for you and how I still wasn't sure if I would be rejected a second time.
She then agreed to help me find out in an old fashion way so I would judge for myself if she was right by saying you still cared for me and I made a promise to buy her lunch if the she was right.'

'Yes, she didn't lie about coming to pick up the magazines, because there's actually a client of hers that needs them and also I didn't lie when I said I need your help to help advertise my work in you magazine. Let's just say I didn't tell you the whole truth about my coming to see you' he concluded.

'So does that explain everything now?
He asked with a guilty look.

Clara smiled! She made a mental note to scream at her friend another time. For now she let her mind savour the explanation Yusuf gave.

He was still available! That was a good start for her.

'So...' Yusuf began. But before he could continue.
Ada badged in again smiling.

'Please can we now go for that lunch now'

Those words sent the two of them to a round of laughter.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Read More...

Dear Mr Husband (Episode 11)

Dear Mr. Husband (episode 11)

It was a sunny friday morning and Clara knew the day was going to be more hectic than the previous one.

Running a magazine firm was not so easy like she had imagined. Worst still was having a weekly magazine at that Deadlines, promises and all.

Now she understood when some writers would say they were unable to meet a deadline because the pressure she got from people sometimes to perform and meet their demand was becoming increasingly impossible.

And now as if that was not enough, her editor resigned last week and the other column writer resigned a week before that. She had to put in extra hours to fill up the vacant space before she got someone else able to fit into their shoes.

Her time and her life was spent making sure that her dreams do not go with the wind.

Some days though, the joy she felt after a hard day's job and replies she got form some of her readers outweighed most of the stress accompanying it.

Nothing was truly fulfilling like doing what you loved to do and doing it well!

She looked at her office again and she sighed as her eyes scanned through its untidy state . The office was just the way she left it the day before filled with squeezed papers and what not.

She had hurried out of her office the previous day to escape the hunger and tiredness that was threatening to kill her and didn't bother to arrange anything.
Today, she couldn't escape it.

She set her bag on her table and took off her shoes. Her office needed tidying and heck her whole life too.

Ada's story and a few other things happening lately in her life has been giving her a change of heart as regards finding love again. Maybe she could give it a chance and drop all her defences.

She ran into Yusuf sometime last week and her heart pulse almost stopped. Yusuf was her one time crush way back in university who incidentally was crushing on her too. The day he finally decided to speak his mind she decided too to remind herself of what she read about once and that was not go out with anyone below a certain standard. And by standard she meant, profession or what he does for a living.

'He must either be a doctor or a lawyer or something prestigious' she had told Ada one time they had that discussion.

Ada's reply still rang in her head.
'Clara, a profession is not a person! The fact that someone had a prestigious career didn't mean that their life was going to be perfect. Chose someone with a great heart instead.

Maybe Ada was right.

Yusuf read marketing in school and one time when she asked him casually what he wanted to do after school he said he wanted to run a daddy's daycare as he had passion for children.

Hell no!

'How was she going to put up with that?' She had wondered.

That was all in the past. Now she understood how fulfilling it could be when you're doing something you love to do and making money from it too.

The beep from her phone brought her mind back to the office.
She sat down as she brought out her phone from her ash colour prada bag she carried that day.

She smiled when she saw who it was.
It was Ada. She had sent in the week's story.
She was surely having fun and Ada had no idea what her story was doing to her.
She sat properly on her chair and read Ada's newest entry.

Ada's story continues:

I know this episode is bound to make you laugh at me.
Well yeah! You're free to do that like you would when you remember either your most embarrassing moments or some foolish things you have done before. So sit back and enjoy

Uche and our baby were sited in the parlour playing and watching television together. Chisom can sit on her own now and crawl too. Uche made her sit on the floor and put some toys within her reach. I on the other hand had to make dinner so I was in the kitchen doing same. Dinner by the way was fried plantain and egg.

I cut the plantain and put the oil on fire ready to start frying when I heard a loud scream of
'Nooooooo'

I jumped! almost pouring the hot oil on my body.
I ran to the sitting room thinking the worst had happened instead I saw a disappointed look on Uche face still sitting and facing the tv.

And wait was that Chisom watching it too?
Yeah she was! from her giggling and smiles she was enjoying it too

It was a football match and obviously hubby's team wasn't winning.

Phew!!!!

I didn't know how to conceal my anger! 'A foot ball match ker? I asked pained.

'That's what your screaming was for and I almost poured hot oil on my body?' I asked disappointedly.

'Oh sorry but you need to see this crazy footballer he keeps wasting all the balls they pass to him and...'uche was trying to explain with so much interest and passion.

'See him again.. See see!! Oh my God' Uche said with eyes still glued to the Tv and trying to kick an invisible ball into the net.

'Calm down oh and please don't shout like that again' I said and walked away still angry.
I couldn't understand it. Why waste all that energy for a game. An ORDINARY game. I guess I was going to find out.

His phone rang and I heard him talk over the receiver.

Soon I heard him say
'I love you tyler I just love you'

I shook my head and continued frying my beloved plantain.

'Wait did he just say tyler?' I wondered out to my self dropping the knife in my hand and thinking with my brows knitted together.

Tyler was a guys name and why was he loving tyler. And wait why was he speaking in hush tone? Or was it all in my head.

With the plantain still frying I went to the parlour. He put down his phone as I walked in and faced the Tv.

Wait! Was he hiding something? And what's that guilty look on his face, or it was probably me just been paranoid.

I walked up to where he was siting and spoke softly

'Hey babe, are you ok?' I asked

He bearly turned to face me with his eyes still glued to the tv set as he reponded

'Huh? Me I'm fine' he said looking from the tv to me and back to the tv

'Is there something you want to tell me' I ask with concern written all over me.

He didn't understand what was going on so I decided to tell him plainly what was on my mind.

'Babe are you gay?'

'Huh? You said? He asked! Unsure of what I was saying.

'I mean are you gay like gay, man to man gay?'

'What? gay? Where is that coming even from? He asked. This time he faced me totally un distracted by the tv.

'Then who is tyler and why do you love him plus why were you talking with him in hush tone over the phone?'

Uche couldn't believe his ears. He simply busted out laughing. He laughed so hard that he fell on the floor with his hands on his stomach still laughing

The way he laughed ignited laughter inside of me too. I joined in too as he kept laughing.

I must have said something stupid for him to be laughing this hard

'Uche please stop laughing na and answer me' I managed to say as laughter was still playing in my inside.

The laughter must have gotten to his intestine because tears were rolling down his cheeks.

'Oh my wife, my wife.' He said managing to control his laughing episode.

'I have begged you to watched football with me but you refused. If you did, you would know who tyler is and you why I'm loving him'

'And for the records I'm not gay, and never will be. Its only your cistern I love to drink from. Its only you that makes my junior stand firm' he said this last one with his hands ponting to his groins.

I blushed!

'Ok come and sit down with me so I would show you tyler' he said taking my hands and forcing me to the sit on the chair with him.

I sat to watch the football match with him. It wasn't as bad as I thought. It was actually interesting except of cos my blood pressure kept rising and falling between intervals.

And oh by the way Tyler was the name of the footballer in my dear Uche's team.

I ended up enjoying the match and of course burning the dinner meal.

And I learnt a very valuable lesson that day and that is : NEVER WATCH A FOOTBALL MATCH WHEN FRYING PLANTAIN.

Phew! what a great lesson it was.

We ended up eating noodles that night with Chisom but I have also found a new way to bond with my man. FOOTBALL!

Clara put down her phone and laughed at her friend.
She was going to call her and laugh at her a little.

Just then her phone rang.

She smiled.

It was Yusuf!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Read More...