PRICELESS

Esiaba did not understand why his wife had to cook so poorly, he did not just understand why she had to add more pepper than needed, or forget to add salt, or even burn the food beyond recognition. He was staring at the plate of overly cooked yam porridge that looked like baby's poo. What business did yam have with water leaf. He asked himself. Why did she jump Ugwu, even Utazi and buy water leaf. Esiabi was a strong man, but things like this could bring him to tears, because he had told her several times to stop bothering herself. He had told her politely, he had told her sharply, he had even screamed it into her ears, but she would always promise him, she would say 'Darling this one would be different', but it was always the same, disgusting food.
Beads of sweat rolled than his faces, he felt sad for himself. Hunger attacked every nerve in his body, and if he had known he would have saved himself the trouble, and stopped at Tasty fried chicken to eat. She walked into the dining with a bowl of fresh fish soup. 'Dessert' she said, grinning from side to side. He really wanted to slap her till her teeth fell off. He eyed the bowl of fish soup, and gave a loud hiss. Snatching his wallet, and car keys from the chair by his side, he walked out, jamming her shoulder, and ignoring the fear in her eyes.
As Esiaba, opened his car, actual tears flowed from his eyes, he felt silly, and bitter, and hungry. But as he geared the engine of his car, he felt more silly. He wanted to go back and apologize to his wife, instead he said 'Ahmadu, open that gate'. He drove off crescent springs street, into Ifesinachi road, and a small reflexive smile danced on his face for a while as the big sign board of Tasty fried chicken came into sight. What hunger could do to a man, he thought.
He ate hungrily, and even though he had ordered two portions of everything on his plates, he wanted to order some more, he played with the thought of buying take away, and hiding it, so he could have it for breakfast in the morning, but he decided that he would have toasted bread, and tea. At least that was one thing his wife didn't mess up. A text came into his phone. 'I am sorry'. It was from his wife. He felt guilty. Seriously guilty. How he loved her. She was the best woman he knew, a gentle heart, a kind spirit. He wished he could treat her better, but she always tried to frustrate his efforts. He had hired a cook, but she would always insist to cook for him. He had told her several times that he didn't care whose food he ate, as far as it was good food. He didn't mind if some else cooked for him. In short he preferred it that way. But trust Sarah, to always want to please him even when he didn't want to be pleased. Sarah was a Professor of Physics, she graduated magna cum laude from MIT. She was best at everything, every other thing that wasn't cooking food. She had gone for cooking classes, she even hired a personal chef teacher, but this one was something she couldn't learn, and from the deepest part of his heart Esiaba didn't mind. He wasn't all those traditional men that expected their wives to cook, wash, and even feed them. He just wanted her to do whatsoever made her happy.
He stopped at Paula's place for a drink, he was hesitant to go home. In an hour three bottles of Hero beer, stood gallantly on his table. Impulsively he jumped up and cleared his bill. The road was clear, and the street lights made him happy somehow. He drove into his compound praying that Sarah had gone to bed.
She was sitted on the dining chair, on his chair. He could see from the pink under eyes that she had been crying. He felt really bad.
'I am sorry hon, I didn't mean to go all crazy on you' he said, as he placed his wallet and car keys on the table.
'I am sorry too, I don't know why I keep doing this, I just can't help it' she replied. Her voice was quivery, and tired.
He nodded, he was too tired to delve into lectures upon lectures on why she doesn't have to keep stressing herself.
They walked to the bedroom, hand in hand. She smelled of curry, her skin was hot against his. She tightened her grip on his arm, and he kissed her hair.

His love for Sarah was beyond petty. It was stronger than the physical, she was his soul mate. What she could do and not do didn't matter. All that matter was her heart. So kind. Her love for him. So selfless. And that was all he required. She was his friend, lover, and wife. Things that he couldn't buy hire. He could live without her being his cook, because that, he could hire. He promised himself never to reject her food. No matter how bad it was, he would swallow it.