“What are you thinking about Dammy? I saw you take a deep breath, the other time.” Dammy smiled at Tunde’s question.
Like a happy spouse always in awe at the presence of their partner, she turned to look at her husband. “You know I am grateful to God that I have you right? You always surpass my expectations as an ideal man,” Dammy replied. Tunde covered his cheeks, “honey, you are making me blush,” he said
Like a wise woman, avoiding conflicts with her husband,Dammy intentionally changed the subject to distract her husband from knowing her thoughts. She had been wondering on things she feels weird about and won’t even want to disturb her husband.
Like every responsible man, working to cater for his family, Tunde is a hardworking man who works round the clock to provide for Dammy and their young daughter, Titi.
“I shouldn’t bother him with more burdens. Especially something this irrelevant.” As Dammy kept keeping her thoughts to herself, their relationship started having a hole.
Tunde felt like a stranger being kept at arms length, because he is sure his wife had been keeping some secrets away from him. But every time he tries to be the good man of the house, his wife seems to be changing the subject.
“This can’t keep going, I have never shouted at my darling, my Dammy.” As Tunde got carried away in his thoughts, he never knew he was already hugging a pillow very close to him. Dammy entered the scene but Tunde was not aware of her presence.
As she left, she started wondering whether she had been doing more good than harm to her husband. “I have to wait for the right time,” she said to herself.
“Mummy, what is going on, Daddy is not at the dining yet,” like an innocent sweet young girl, Titi, their four-year-old daughter enquired about her father’s whereabouts.
Tunde had never missed the dinner time unless he wasn’t at home and was off on official assignment. But due to the unspoken thing and probably rift between him and his wife, he had been finding ways to communicate how he felt.
Dammy, like any smart mother, replied her daughter, “daddy is taking a short nap, he’ll soon join us.” Tunde later joined them that night but they all ate in silence.
“I hope she is not cheating on me?” Tunde couldn’t imagine a picture of his wife with another man and like someone gave an imaginary eraser, he quickly wiped the thoughts off his mind.
“It’s time to confront this woman, I can’t take this no more, neither can I let this keep affecting the family.”
As Tunde was on his way to his wife, he suddenly met his daughter. “Hey sweetheart, how has been your day?” He asked. “Fine daddy, mummy said I should call you,” Titi replied.
As Titi watched her cartoon and the couple had their privacy, Dammy gave her husband a tender look parading his face but still fixing her gaze, like a damsel seeking the favour of a prince. “I am sorry, I see you as a rare, secret gift, trust me.”
Before Dammy could complete her statement, Tunde felt like interrupting her as he felt this is another well-arranged trick to get him to ignore whatever was bothering his wife.
Like Dammy could read her husband’s mind, “please hear me out,” she said. “What has been bothering me for the past few days is nothing serious and that is why I didn’t want to disturb your peace and serious work with my thoughts,” she added.
“Just tell me what it is, you know I have been really bothered at how you haven’t let me in for a while,” Tunde replied.
“I have been thinking about our daughter, the air we breathe, how we speak, hear and other functioning of our body as a human, these gifts are so common, yet we don’t know where they come from, just like our daughter came as one of the best things that ever happened to us, so also we are living a good life. These gifts like I said are so common, but their source remains a secret, or don’t you think?”
Like a man relieved of his burdens, Tunde was filled with joy, he knew exactly what his wife was driving at. He always has a way of knowing when his wife is playing smart and this is not one of such moments.
“I had misinterpreted you all the while. I never knew you were towing the path of gratitude. This is funny and interesting all at once.”
Dammy faked a frowned face at Tunde’s reply. “I know you will make jest of me,” she said. “No darling, I am grateful you brought my attention to these gifts, though we humans have it but the source is unknown, I’ll not only appreciate you but appreciate the giver of the gifts.”
“Did you say you misinterpreted me the other time?” Dammy asked. “I only shared my mind don’t overthink it baby,” Tunde replied as he gave her a peck. “We’re good sweetheart,” Dammy said.
