Myna’s story reminds me of a play I watched some decades ago titled “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The story started similarly to Myna’s, where a young lady named Blanche lost her husband when he committed suicide as a result of her discovery of his homosexuality. To Myna’s story, which is the focus of today’s post.

Myna, an amiable and energetic young lady, married Buba (her husband) at the age of twenty. Buba met her during her National Youth Service Year when she served with the bank where he worked as an AVP (Assistant Vice President). Despite the age difference of twelve years, Buba, a suave, smooth talker, appeared to be head over heels in love with the young, naïve Myna. A year after they met, they were married, and their marriage seemed to be the kind on which fairy tale marriages are patterned. Myna was the envy of all her friends and acquaintances. However, fifteen months into the marriage, Myna is faced with a shocking discovery that has her head reeling and her world crashing around her.

That morning, as she prepared to attend her visa interview at the embassy, she suddenly realised that she had left home without her passport and hurriedly sped home to retrieve it. As she swung into the driveway, she spotted Buba’s car parked in the driveway. She pondered his return home, especially as she saw no sign of his trusted driver, Ahmadu, lurking around. Without losing focus, she headed straightaway for the master bedroom, intent on picking her passport from the bedroom safe, but as she opened the door, her gaze fell on a spectacle that left her dumbfounded. She gasped and steadied herself with the console table – thinking, her eyes must be deceiving her. This could not be her Buba and their steward Jeff, locked in this “nude ecstasy.” Her head spun as she regained her consciousness and headed for the safe. Buba was oblivious of her entry, and it was the slamming of the safe door that triggered his realisation of her presence. Myna glared at Buba and walked out in silence, a sequence of emotions, taking turns – anger, disappointment, betrayal, self-condemnation. Would she ever trust him again, let alone any man?

In her car, she placed a call to her “bestie,” Monica, who drove her to the interview, after which her emotions got the better of her and she broke down in tears. She agreed to spend the night with Monica to give her an opportunity to clear her head and rein in her emotions before confronting Buba. All his phone calls were ignored as she played back what she had seen and tried to understand why it happened. Obviously, it was not the first time. Buba had consciously kept his little secret throughout their dating period. The way he fawned over her, she could never have guessed. She was suddenly reminded of the times she came calling and Jeff would come out of Buba’s room hurriedly, sweating. Buba always had an explanation – “he was cleaning the room, or was called in to assist with something or the other. She now understood why he had rejected the suggestion of a female aide to replace Jeff or to work alongside him. He had been up in arms…”You cannot trust these girls. They are largely husband snatchers using both hook and crooked methods. Some even get diabolical in a bid to achieve their aim. Alternatively, you may be unwittingly providing Jeff with a wife, which may affect the quality of service rendered. Let us keep it this way, dear.”

Myna was in a quandary. Should she talk it out with Buba, should she walk out on him, or… Simply ignore what she had seen, after all, he loved her, and she was expecting his baby. Who could she discuss this with without impugning his character and placing him in jeopardy? As she took a sedative, she prayed, “Dear God, please teach me what to do. Help me make the right decision for us and our unborn child.”

If Myna were to approach you for advice, what would you say?

Love

Havilah