Married to a Thief, Episode Four

As Egwu drove his wife home from the police station, he kept quiet. His hands were fixed on the steering wheel, and his eyes were on the road. He did not look at her.

“I can’t believe this. I don’t even know what to say to her.” Egwu said in his heart. He wondered if he married a thief without knowing it.

He did not say one word to Ndidi. The car was silent, except for the sound of Ndidi’s quiet sobs. She was crying.

She bent her head and wiped her face with a handkerchief. Tears kept pouring from her eyes like tap water. She felt guilty, she felt shame, and she felt deep remorse. She wanted to talk to her husband, but she could not open her mouth. The shame was too much.

“I feel so bad. I have disappointed him. I don’t even know the spirit controlling me. I’m in a serious trouble.” Ndidi said in her heart.

Inside the car, Ndidi’s mind was troubled. She thought of everything that had happened. She thought of the supermarket, the police station, the dirty cell, and the disgrace she had brought to her husband.

“Why is this happening to me? Why do I have this spirit of stealing inside me? I can’t control it. I don’t like it. But it keeps pushing me. My husband gives me everything I need. Why then do I still steal? Why am I destroying myself?” She wept bitterly. But Egwu did not ask her any question. He just kept driving.

When they arrived at the mansion, Egwu opened the gate and drove in. He came down and opened the door for his wife to step out. He was still treating her like a queen. She stepped down slowly.

She expected her husband to shout at her, or even slap her. But he did not do that. He just told her, “Go inside.” She went inside quietly. A few minutes later, Egwu boiled hot water for her to bath. He carried the bucket himself into the bathroom. “Go and wash yourself. You are tired and you need to clean up and rest.” He said softly with a loving voice. Ndidi was surprised. She was expecting her husband to treat her badly because of what she did, but Egwu was a good man. She went in and had her bath with tears in her eyes.

After Ndidi finished bathing, Egwu went out of the house. He did not speak a word. He drove to a big restaurant and bought delicious food. He brought it home and set the table.

“Come and eat,” Egwu said quietly. Ndidi sat down and ate slowly. She could not believe that her husband was treating her kindly after the disgrace she caused him. She expected anger, shouting, or rejection, but she saw care and patience. As she ate, she began to cry again.

“Why is this man so good to me?” she asked herself. “Why did I bring shame to such a good man?”

That night, Egwu told her to go and sleep. “Rest,” he said. Ndidi entered the bedroom and lay on the bed. But she could not sleep easily. The memories of the police station haunted her. She kept turning from side to side. When she looked at her husband, she saw him lying quietly with his eyes closed. He was not speaking to her. His silence was disturbing. It was like a mountain pressing on her chest. She covered herself with the blanket and whispered to herself, “God, please help me. I don’t want to steal again. Please help me.”

Days passed by and Egwu did not mention the matter. He went about his business as if nothing had happened. Ndidi cooked for him, washed his clothes, and cleaned the house. She wanted to do everything to make him happy again. But each time she looked at him, she remembered the shame.

She remembered the disgrace. She remembered the police cell. It hurt her deeply. For many days, they did not talk about the theft. It was like a silent wound between them. Egwu was carrying the pain in his heart. Ndidi was carrying guilt in her soul.

But one evening, after dinner, Egwu sat down in the living room. Ndidi was by his side, watching television. Suddenly, Egwu turned to her and started talking.

“Ndidi, why? Why did you have to disgrace me by stealing?” He asked. His voice was calm, but there was pain inside. Ndidi’s heart jumped. She did not know what to say. She bent her head and started crying.

“My husband, I don’t know what came over me. I don’t know why I did it. I hate myself for it. I did not plan it. It was as if something pushed me. Please, forgive me.” Egwu looked at her with sad eyes.

“The wine you stole was just N100,000. Do you know how much I give you every week? I give you millions. You can buy cartons of that wine if you want. Why then did you have to steal it? Why did you reduce yourself to a thief? Why did you bring this shame to my name? I don’t understand it. I don’t understand you.” He said. His voice broke as he spoke.

Ndidi could not hold herself anymore. She fell on her knees before her husband. She cried like a child. Tears soaked her gown.

“My husband, please forgive me. I know I have wronged you. I know I have disgraced you. I know I have brought shame to your name. Please, forgive me. I don’t know why I do these things. I can’t explain it. But I am begging you, don’t hate me. Don’t abandon me. I love you. Please, forgive me. Please, give me another chance. I will change. I promise to fight this spirit. I beg you.”

Egwu looked at her as she knelt before him. He looked at her kneeling down, crying and begging with all her heart. He shook his head slowly. He did not know whether to be angry or to pity her. The silence in the room was thick. Ndidi remained on her knees, crying and pleading for mercy from her husband.

“I don’t even know if I should pursue her before she will spoil my name again. Divorce might be the best option.” Egwu said in his heart.

That night, he still treated her like a queen. He gave her water to bath and took care of her as usual.

“God please, my husband is a good man. Look at how he is treating me despite what I did. Please touch his heart so that he won’t send me away.” Ndidi said in her heart when she was in the bathroom.

Another episode will drop soon