TWO HOMES TO NONE (II) SHORT STORY

Intro:
Continuing our story of a young man, Ekene, and his love life. Now for a recap of Episode I: Ekene and Ifeoma are seen to be having a whirlwind romance at the beginning of the story. As is the manner with these things, she eventually gets herself settled in his home. But there is a problem, actually two problems and very serious ones at that. One, Ekene is married although his wife lives elsewhere. And so is Ifeoma although her husband is based someplace else. Two, Ekene lives in his parents’ home and his dad is not cool with the arrangement at all. So what to do is the question. Ekene visits his wife and divulges the situation to her. She throws him out and warns, “Never cone back here till you get rid of her.”

Voila! Episode II awaits!


TWO HOMES TO NONE (II)

If Ekene felt harassed and mistreated by Adanna, his wife, he was dealt much worse by Ifeoma (his mistress) when he got home. Afraid that his parents would be awakened and embarrassed by the fracas, he hurriedly left and spent the night in a hotel. He stayed away the next day and went home the following morning. When he arrived, Ifeoma picked up the fight from where they’d stopped two days before. Ekene could not believe it but his anger overcame his incredulity.

“What right do you have to question my movements? You are not my wife!”

“It’s the right you gave me when you asked me to move in with you!”

“I never asked you to move in, I mean, you and I know it wasn’t my idea.”

“So I just happened to be at your door. Who packed my stuff, who paid the truck driver, who …?”

“I’m not picking issues with you on that anymore. Now, let’s assume for the sake of argument that I asked you here, now I’m unasking you or better still, I’m asking you to leave. Carry your baggage, carry your children and leave!”

“My dear, you don’t know who you’re dealing with. It will take more than words to uproot me from here. If you feel uncomfortable staying with me, you can go and cool off with your Mrs. And if you’re not careful, neither you nor her will enter this place ever again.”

“In the first place, you have no root here. In the second place, you’ll be making a fatal mistake if you think you can threaten me or my wife.”

“If she spent her time performing her wifely duties rather than pursuing money, you won’t have pestered me to the point where we are ….”

“It’s a waste of time talking with you. Since you want action, I’ll give you action. I give you one week and if you’re not out of here by then ….”

“You’ll do what? You can’t even come up with an original line.”

With a sneer that marred her otherwise beautiful countenance, she left Ekene and marched into the bedroom. She was angry that after all her ‘hard work’ faking an email with the false news of her husband’s death, Ekene was giving her a tough time. She had thought he was such a puppy and would play along in her game of using him to replace her husband, whom she recently discovered had a family abroad and was being pressured by his foreign wife to cut ties with her.

Ekene went back to the hotel and paid a deposit on the room he’d been using for another week. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror as he got back inside. He was looking haggard. He had not slept a wink in two nights. He had not shaved or had a proper meal. He couldn’t imagine how these two horrible things chose to happen to him at the same time: he unwittingly let a snake into his life, into his home. And then to make matters worse, his ever-forbearing wife turned against him.

He was losing his mind trying to pore over how stupid he had been, how he didn’t see all this coming. He hated hotels, no matter how luxurious. In all his time of wildness, he always ensured he got back to sleep in his own bed, no matter how late it was. And his apartment at home was, in his view, an unparalleled blend of comfort and beauty. Yet here he was in this room with its soulless elegance because of his own idiocy.

And the truth was, Ifeoma was right. He was merely bluffing when he gave her the ultimatum. He had no plan, no fall-back, no strategy. He prayed she wouldn’t follow up on her threats. He prayed that God should protect him and his family ’cause how else could she do so except through black magic. He didn’t want any of that stuff anywhere near his family knowing it could complicate people’s lives no end.

What was that? He was actually praying in his heart. But did he really think that God will listen to him, he asked himself. He had lived his life selfishly. He had taken and taken without giving anything back: his wife’s commitment and loyalty, his parents doting care and extravagant financial support, God’s benevolence and patience for did he not keep him safe in his recklessness and help his wife raise their five kids? All his giving, if he could call it that, had been to nurture his illicit relationships.

He knew where he should start: with God. He poured out his heart to Him, told Him he was tired of being a spoilt brat, told Him he wanted to grow up as his wife said, told Him to cleanse and fix him to be a new person, a different person, the person He wanted him to be. This must have gone on for an hour or more, Ekene couldn’t tell. He must have dozed off at some point because he woke up in the evening feeling rested and hungry.

He decided to freshen up before going for a meal in the restaurant. As he shaved, it occurred to him that he hadn’t even addressed the problem that brought him to the hotel in the first place: Ifeoma’s incursion into his life and her refusal to leave. But somehow he was not worried. He felt he owed her some thanks for messing up his life to the point that he remembered God. Having a relationship with God, he felt, was the first and most important step he needed to take. And he was certain that as he built on that, the scattered pieces of his life will begin to fall into their proper places and the alien stuff will gradually depart.

image

He remembered an old song they used to sing back in secondary school when he briefly joined the Scripture Union, “One Day at a Time”, by Cristy Lane. Why did I ever leave, he asked himself. But it was no use lamenting over the wasted years, he had a journey ahead of him and he would make it with God, one day at a time.

“One day at a time sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.”


As he sang the refrain over and over, he knew that by God’s grace, he would turn his life around and begin to give back to God, to his parents, his wife and kids and the rest of society one day at a time.
-The end-
Ⓒ Edith Ugochi Ohaja 2016
+++++++

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127 comments

  • Chijioke Ugwuanyi

    A captivating story indeed. It’s a glorious thing that God used Ifeoma to arrest Emeka’s soul because he was heading towards damnation. I pray we all learn from this piece.

  • Kay

    Thank you for sharing these stories!

  • sylvia ugwoke

    I love the story.

  • Eze Benjamin Oduma

    Any life without God is a misery,as a branch cannot stay on its own without the tree.Prospective husbands and wives beware.Thanks for this wonderful piece

  • Luke Chinyere Esther

    what a nice write-up,I think young people should read and learn so as not to fall victim of the problems and difficulties of going into an unhealthy relationship.

  • Ndukwe Catherine U

    At least he understood that only God can save him from his present predicament. Quite an educating story cos it will be an eye opener to youths who live wayward lives.

  • okereke chukwuemeka matthew

    nice one ma

  • Ekpali Joseph Saint

    Thank God he knew what to do.. Of course, that which he knew saved him. Therefore, knowing God is an assurance of one’s safety. Thanks ma

  • Ndubuisi Uchenna Nicholas

    fortunately for him he remembered God . God solves problems in mysterious ways.

  • Ekeh Chioma Jennifer

    he(God)will always send us a helper in our point of need.you never can tell who,until you give urself n people d chance

  • Nice story ma… an educating story for the youth to know that life without God is nothing… Interesting!!!

  • Ugwu, Chinagorom Joseph

    It’s great that Ekene did not just realize that he had been a brat and an idiot, but also remembered God; admitting that he had been away from God for so long. Ifeoma’s seemingly military coup against Ekene is ridiculous.Ekene is obviously paying the price for his stupidity and idiocy. The story needs to continue so that we will know the outcome Ifeoma’s refusal to leave.

  • Thank God he came to his senses, i believe that God will accept him back.

  • Onah Juliet Ezinne

    In every decisons in life invite God to take the lead,before embarking on it.

  • Ugwu Amarachi Deborah

    God first and other things follows, a wonderful piece

  • Duru Jane onyinyechi

    this just asserts the fact that ”with God, all things are possible”.
    nice piece

  • nnadi chinyere josephine

    nice write up

  • Onyeabor Precious Chioma

    I pray it doesn’t end here. i want more! Nice one.

  • opiri chidimma

    Repentance is the first step to a solved problem.

  • ulu christiana chinenye

    Nice write up

  • Onuorah chinemerem

    Ifeoma’s husband has a family outside the country, in retaliation she starts out with Ekene, who also has a wife and children somewhere, Hmmmmm. Such twists. Nice, as always.

  • Okpechi Augustina

    That point in life when u remember God to be ur everything that is called help

  • God should be our priority in all we engage in…good work ma

  • God should be our number 1 priority

  • Rachael Obiora, mass comm

    its a nice one i love it

  • Alegu, Solomon Chidi

    Those that PUT everything in God’s hands will always see God’s hand in everything they do. A life without Christ is a life full of crises. Thank you my lecturer and God bless you.

  • agi comfort

    God.shud be involved in all we do

  • I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written! http://www.yahoo.net

  • Onaga kosi

    The evil man commits must surely find him out. Beware.
    God’s grace is eternal.Find it and be forever at peace.

  • with God all things are possible

  • Asogwa Emmanuel C.

    God can do everything when u call on his name

  • Otugo Lucky Joel

    In God lies peace and prosperity in life, we are to turn to Him and cease from doing evil through the kind of life we live which displeases Him

  • Mokogwu Josephine

    God Is indeed merciful to us

  • Munachimso Njoku

    True repentance is a sure way to attracting God’s presence, mercy and help. Nice one.

  • Ononye Chisom Divinegift

    a captivating one.but i really want to know the way he addressed the issue between ifeoma and his wife.

  • chikodili ozulumba

    this is just too lovely

  • Akogu Chidiebere Imelda

    Finally Ekene is able to recognize his mistakes and know that only God can help him. he would have lost his wife and children because for sure I know that Adanna will not let him come close to the kids again if he does not send Ifeoma away.

  • Ugwuoke Kenneth Ekene

    sorry for the young man…

  • okeke grace A.

    One thing i love about God is that no matter how far we’ve strayed,when we come back to him in sincerity and humility He accepts us back like nothing ever happened.using the story of the prodigal son as a case study.God is ever merciful.In trying to balance it, that doesn’t mean we should continue in sin so that grace may abound.our merciful God is still a God of justice.Thank you ma for this piece.

  • Nweke Jemimah Chisom

    I believe everything happens for a reason..Ifeoma’s presence in Ekene’s life was definitely for good and by the grace of God, he found his way again, back to God. nice story..quite interesting.

  • maduebo ifunanya blessing

    A life without Christ is crisis. Ekene messed up his life but later realized that without God in our life’s the devil will take over. Nice story.

  • nwosu esther chioma

    prayer is the key

  • Egbe Ebere Blessing

    God is the ultimate solution to all problems.

  • oleru precious

    in life,we need to be cautious about the decisions we make

  • To God be the glory! for he always delivers us in time of trouble. A great lesson for him and for us out there. it is even more expensive to cheat.

  • mordi ifeoma

    captivating story. the most important thing is that he realized his mistakes and turned to God.

  • EZEH JAMES CHUKWUEMEKA

    I love the story. Indeed, it’s a glorious thing that God used Ifeoma to arrest Emeka’s soul. Nice post

  • women should always avoid being dependent on their husband after marriage because you don’t know what the next phase in life will be like.

  • Tobechi

    He was finally sensible. Thank God! A blessed ending! It just has to be One Day At A Time!

  • Aniah Favour Adaeze

    yea God is first step in every mistake we make in life.bcos he said thou our sins be as scarlet that he will was us cleen.

  • okonkwo benita chidimma

    inspirational story Edith, vous etes bon.

  • Interesting piece. Bt would love to see wat later happened to ifeoma later run in d story

  • chinaza ezenwa

    nice piece

  • ISRAEL CHINWE GOODNESS

    nice end

  • ugwoke onyinyechi sylvia

    Too bad for Ekene. Thank God he realized his mistakes and turned to God.

  • chinaza ezenwa

    Nice writeup

  • odo chidera s

    one who repents takes God to be the all and all, will surely get his/her desire

  • I honestly believe we should always put God first in each and everything that we do.

  • Aruma kosisochukwu.cynthia

    Dis story is really captivating…

  • Oluchukwu Maryrose Anyadubalu

    Truly…..A marriage without Christ z meaningless….. Nice end

  • Nwankwo Anita

    Nice one.Ekene made the right decision by putting GOD first in the changes he needed for his life to begin to fall into place.

  • elijah amogu

    it is always good to remember that missing line… so many families are going through this trauma,i just pray they realise the power of God to put a stop to it… Really, MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP IS SOMETHING ELSE. make the right choice… rejoice, make the wrong choice… forever in trouble.

  • ugo ogwu

    wow great story

  • Emeka-obi ijeoma rita

    An interesting piece..highly educative

  • Njoku Chimamaka Elizabeth

    God is really a merciful God. He only wants us to turn to him in repentance

  • Jeremiah Chioma

    there is peace that comes with the presence of God in our ordeals

  • EZEMA CHIDINMA GLORIA

    God is really kind to us, a love the story.

  • Rahman Peace Taiye

    perfect timing. a wonderful time to remember God.

  • Umoru Sadia

    Every relationship deserves to be built on trust! Very remarkable!

  • Eneje maureen ogechukwu

    nice one ma but God first

  • Ekene Ejiofor

    Though we may ha ve made mistakes, though we might have neglected our responsibilities, though we might have caused the people who hold us so dearly to heart pain and agony, though we might have sput into the face of our maker, the fact remains that He who made us all has given us the grace to always return home like the prodigal…

    Ekene is the name; Ekenedilichukwu- Thanks be to God should Ekene say each time he remembers the fact that he had that homecoming all eering men should have…

    Like mortals, we will always make mistakes, but what defined who we are is the ability to realise when we make a mistake and be able to correct it. That is that which tells what we are.

    Great story.
    Greatly enriching.

  • chika udeorah

    Nice write up ma,more power to your elbow

  • Ugwuja cynthia chioma

    Nice one, keep enlightening us

  • ajibo lovelyn onyedikachi

    God is indeed the solution to all problem…nice work ma

  • ajibo lovelyn onyedikachi

    speechless…your work is really inspirational and educating…remain blessed ma

  • Akaigwe Michael

    This is a story for all couples. A little phone call, necking and daddy-calling, Ekene is trapped.

    • Edith Ohaja

      I like your phrasing, Michael, but I think it was more than a little. The lesson, though, is not to start on that road at all. Thank you!

  • israel chinwe Goodness

    God can use some situations to draw us close to Him. thank God Ekene realised his mistakes

  • Rose Jonathan

    Wow! Just like the prodigal son, Ekene retraced his steps. Thank you precious lord.

  • Nathalie Ukwu

    A snake indeed.He definitely would not be making that mistake again. Beautiful ending.

  • Ndubuisi Nicholas

    captivating story

  • Ekechukwu Nkechi Esther

    oh my God, aunty edith is at it again.wonderful story,spirit lifting,just what i needed.

  • God solves all problems only when u remember and call on him. Nice story aunty edith

  • Interesting story, I hv learnt alot frm it.

  • chika divine umunnakwe

    Emeka has not been a man, his words could not even affect ifeoma. ifeoma is just alike many women thought of becoming who wants to reap where she did not sow.ifeoma lust for materials things makes her a victim of sorrow. emeka’s wife who had been faithful had to change her attitude. thank God Emaka came to acknowledged his mistakes, surrendered all to God and promises to be a good man to his family and society

  • HMMM God is never an option but a necessity. i hope people will always know that

  • Benjamin Thelma

    Yes oooo. One day at a time, and you will fix everything up. When God is at the center of things, nothing is impossible. Ekene, you running to him and also seeking help from the best problem solver”GOD” certainly means everything is under control. As for you ifeoma, go and fix urself up and leave someone else’s husband alone.

  • Ikenna precious

    Thank God he finally came back to his senses. he’s lucky he has a wife like adanna and as long as he puts God first his life will be full of ease.

  • Chigbo God'spromise E

    Very funny how men will leave a diamond prepared by God to look for a stone offered by the devil. At this point only God can help him. This post needs to be made available on every social media platform, to warn men who don’t have sense.

  • Ofoegbu Maureen

    Nice story and thank God he got back to his senses.

  • Njoku chiamaka Constance

    Having a relationship with God is the first and most important step every man should take.
    Everything happens for a reason, just like the presence of Ifeoma brought Ekene closer to God.

  • Ugwoke ifechukwu melvina.

    As the character, Ekene, said it is best to take one day at a time.
    I agree that Ekene’s life is not ideal, but inviting another woman into his house is taking it a bit too far, even if his wife is not at home, even going as far as to talk to his wife about the other woman.
    Ekene is in every sense of the word stupid for not only letting another woman into his parents home while he is still married and the woman he is married to provides the money (emphasis on the “parents home”), inviting a woman he doesn’t really to his know to his house, but for forsaking his faith in God.

    At the end if the day, God will make a way for he and his family

  • Orji Chidiebube Prudence

    Sometimes, God allows problem to come to us for retracing our steps back to Him, or to help us achieve our purpose. Ekene did wrong to every one around him because he had this believe that things would come to him as he desired and on a patter of gold. He learnt his lesson, but in a hard way. Let’s not be like Ekene

  • Yes! Ekene, has realized his mistakes and has sought Gods help and this is the best thing he needs at this moment; a relationship with God and with Gods help he would be able to become a better person and be useful to himself and his family.

  • Ikwuakam Oluchi Francisca

    I love this story, thank God Ekene regained his senses and got back to God because only him would have solved such a messed up problem

  • Abugu faith Chinecherem

    Thank God he finally changed. At least he will be able to differentiate between his family and Ifeoma’s family and also think like a man.

  • Life without God is nothing, that is what youths of nowadays do not understand, there is no gain in living a life that is not pleasing to God.

  • Nnamani Eunice chidinma

    The end of this story is really nice, I was angry when I read the first episode, I didn’t like the fact that he was cheating on his wife and all that, but now I can say that God use Ifeoma to make him realize all this mistake, may God give us the grace to repent from our sins before it is too late,,, amen!

  • Chinedu stanley

    1John 1:9 says ” if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Ekene realized the mistake he made and began to ask God for forgiveness promising to retrace his steps. That’s one thing about sinning, what matters most is how we ask God for forgiveness and promise not to do it again

  • Ugwu Chika Samson

    Amazing, I like this story. It has a lot of moral education and instruction for everyone. I guess no one would want to make the kind of mistake Ekene made. Sometimes it is good to have life experience so you could live upright . Am glad Ekene find the greatest joy that is relationship with God and I believe God is going to amend his life.

  • Chah ugochukwu

    Oh my God I love that song. It’s been a while since I heard it and I had almost forgotten it. Am glad he turned to God. And I know God will hear him and will answer him if he is truly repentant because God is always forgiving.
    Ifeoma is a very funny fellow. She is actually threatening someone in his own parents house instead of sweet talking him. If this story was real life and if I were in ekenes shoes I would not even give her one week. I would have just gone inside packed all her things all and bundle them and her out of the house. Let me see what she would do.

  • Emmanuel chibuike

    It is said that a problem known is half solved, but being half solved doesn’t mean the problem is over. A right step ought to be taken in order to ensure a permanent end to the problem. Ekene after all his sufferings realized that his home was on fire and it was only God that could save him. So he turned to God in worship and reverence that He might take charge. I end by saying that God is beautiful for all situations of life.

  • Duruji Veralin Ogochukwu

    The evil men do now lives with them and not after them. Thankfully we have an ever-merciful God who ready to listen to and forgive us whenever we call on him. interesting story indeed.

  • Ibe favour kalu

    Finally, Ekene went back to God and asked him to mend his life. Thank God he realized that he needed God more than anything. This story is a lesson to us. Meanwhile, I like that song: one day at a time sweet Jesus.

  • Akupue chibuike

    Realizing our mistakes will go a long way in healing our wounds. Thank God he(Ekene) finally realized his mistakes and turn back from his old way of life in order to embrace the Christ like life as he wished.

  • Agbo onyekachi obumneme

    You see!, sometimes we start up things hard for us to finish. Thank God that he rediscovered himself but he still needed to trust God to take away his troubles because his troubles are still there. Sometimes even when God had forgiven us and we are free, the scares will still be there. That is why we need to be more careful. A prostitute who committed many abortions and in the process loses her womb, can still repent but the scares may still be there-loss womb. Our wounds hill and leave mark on us.

  • Mbata Jemita

    No matter what we have achieved in life without God all is nothing. It is good as Ekenecome to realize that he needed most importantly God in his life and all was back to normal.

  • Chukwunwenwa Chinenye

    He finally realized himself but why give Ifeoma a week ultimatum? She needs to leave the house almost immediately.

    God used Ifeomas incursion to turn Ekene back to him. “not all storm come to take your life, some come to clear your path “.

    May God grant Adanna the grace to forgive her husband.

  • Blessing Theophilus

    Emeka, congratulations for bringing calamity upon yourself, ride on. But thank God you recognized and acknowledged God to help you and he is the only one to help you fix your mess. Imagine a strange wo.an threatening you in your own parents’ home.

  • Enukora Onyedikachi

    ???????. Oh, he is praying now, lol. I thought he was giving an ultimatum, lol. He cannot handle the trouble he brought into his home and is committing everything to God’s hands. Well done.

  • Chioma Christy Agbaraka

    Thank God Ekene finally got back to his senses and has chosen to be a man by growing up. Most people don’t see the good things God has blessed them with until something they can’t fathom or explain hit them unexpectedly. Indeed, One day at a time, he would try to set the records straight and make peace.

  • Ogbu Gloria

    Wow, turning back to Christ is the best thing that can ever happen to a man. Thank God Emeka realized that, I am sure in no time God will fix him and everything that concerns him.

  • Omaga Chiagozie

    It took ifeoma’s incursion to turn Ekene in the right track. Sometimes difficulty we face is not to harm us rather it help to shape us and that is what happened to Ekene. Thank God he decided to grow up and appreciate what God has given to him in the person of his wife. Ifeoma ngwan buru akpa gi lawa n’iko gi ejugo. Lol

  • Ejiofor Emmanuel

    The good thing is that he has finally returned to God. It is better late than the late. Thank you Jesus.
    Extra-marital affairs will only bring regrets.

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