I was shocked to see Sandra—the same lady who ignored me the very first day she met me. I had been expecting Bolaji's male friends, not women. My countenance changed immediately, though I tried hard to hide it.
I greeted them politely. Only the second lady, Amaka, responded.
Sandra leaned close to Bolaji, touching his arm.
Sandra: "I've really missed you. You'll have to repay my visit and come to my place next week."
Bolaji: "No problem, darling."
Sandra: "I'm hungry… I hope you have something nice."
Bolaji: "Trust me, my wife is a good cook."
Sandra rolled her eyes, and together they went to the dining table. I just stood there watching.
She opened the food and frowned slightly.
Sandra: "Oh, darling… I was expecting jollof rice and chicken."
Bolaji: "Oh, sorry babe. I thought you'd love amala, so I specifically asked her to make that. Should she make rice instead?"
Amaka: "Don't worry, this is nice."
Sandra: "Let him worry, please." (She turned to me.) "Make rice and chicken for me. I love it spicy."
I stared at her. "Are you okay?"
At that point, I didn't care that my husband was sitting right there, or that she was obviously older than me. I could not tolerate the disrespect—not from her.
Her eyes widened, and even Bolaji looked shocked.
Sandra: "Did you just talk to me like that?"
Bolaji: "Calm down, Sandra. She doesn't mean it." (Turning to me.) "Go and make the rice."
Sarah: "I'm sorry, but I can't. If she can come here, refuse to greet me, then still order me around like a maid—she's mistaken."
I stood my ground.
Bolaji: "Do you know you're disrespecting me?"
Sarah: "You disrespected me first. You brought her here after the way she treated me the first time we met, and she repeated it again today. Yet you still want me to cook for her? As what? Am I her maid?"
Sandra: (Scoffing) "Wow… small yansh dey shake. Bolaji, if she won't make another food, then I'm leaving."
I laughed.
Bolaji: "Go and make that food right now."
I hissed. "You should go and make it yourself. She's your guest after all." Then I turned and walked back to the room.
Bolaji was shocked. He tried to persuade Sandra to eat what was on the table. She finally did, and after a while, they left.
Minutes later, Bolaji stormed into the room.
Bolaji: "How dare you? How dare you disobey me? Who do you think you are? I will teach you a lesson you'll never forget. Next time I ask you to do something, you'll do it without question!"
He stormed out. I raised my nose in defiance. The worst he could do, I thought, was send me back to my parents' house—which I secretly wished for.
But to my greatest shock, he returned moments later with ropes and a belt, locking the door behind him.