Shackles Of Marriage

You know, as I grow up, the more I understand why most women always told me that if they were given a chance to go back in time, they would never think of getting married. And honestly, I am starting to believe them.

I am sure that if the universe was to give me a daughter, I would sit her down before she even learns how to spell the word “husband” and tell her, “My child, marriage is not compulsory. Please explore the world first.”

😂Because tell me why I receive a call from my neighbor one random afternoon, and since I was already at home, I decide to go see him. I thought maybe the man wanted to borrow salt, ask me to help him with something, or perhaps he had some juicy neighborhood information to share.I knock on the door.

His wife opens.I immediately ask, “Mama, where is your mzee?”She looks at me with a face that immediately tells me something is not right.“Hayuko.”I am like, “Ameenda wapi?”She shrugs. “Sijui.”Now, that answer alone should have been enough to send me back home.

But because I am naturally curious and apparently have no business staying out of other people's marriages, I stand there.Before I can even ask another question, my phone rings.It's the mzee.

I answer.“Hello?”The man doesn't even greet me properly.“Nimeenda Mombasa.”I pause.“Mombasa?”“Yeah.”“Umeenda kufanya nini?”Silence.Then the man says, “I just need peace of mind.”I swear I almost dropped my phone.

Peace of mind?In Mombasa?With no particular destination?At this point, I am thinking, “Sir, are you going to Mombasa to find peace or are you just escaping your marriage?”I look at his wife, who is still standing at the door, and suddenly I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or pretend my network disappeared.She looks at me.I look at her.

We both know.Something has happened.I ask him, “But mzee, umeenda na nini?”He says, “Nothing.”“Na clothes?”“Just a few.”“Na your phone?”“Yes.”“Na wallet?”“Yes.”“Na ATM card?”Silence.

I immediately knew this man wasn't looking for peace.He was looking for an opportunity to breathe without being asked, “Umefanya nini na pesa?”I tell you, marriage is something else.

I went home that afternoon with a completely different understanding of relationships.When I was younger, I thought marriage was about two people loving each other, cooking together,...