Chapter 4

                     Marriage Dilemma 

         Roslyn couldn’t sleep; she kept pacing round the living room. Her eyes darted between the wall clock and the entrance door, it was 12:40am and David hadn’t arrived from work yet. Roslyn slowly walked to the window and peeped through the window, hoping to see David driving in through the gigantic gate, but she was more disappointed to see the spot where David normally parked his car empty. She sighed and went to seat on the sofa. The entrance door flee opened just as she was about to pick her phone and call him. Her gaze fell on the opened door, and she took in a deep breath when she realized it was David. David stares at her and a frown passed his face. He looked worn out and perplexed. “What are ya still doing awake by this time?” asked David, dropping his briefcase on the sofa next to him. “I was w—waiting for ya”, she retorted. “Perhaps ya should stop waiting for me. This is my usual routine”. He walked closer to where Roslyn was standing and she flinched. A faint smile passed over his face. He liked the effect he had on her. Her body sagged. She felt relief when David nuzzled away from her. “How can ya work at this late hour? Perhaps ya forgot that ya are now a married man”, said Roslyn, being unforgivably bold. David utters no word to her. He picked his briefcase and head for his room. “David, I’m yer wife. I demand that ya treat me with respect”, David chuckled at that. “You prob’ly forgot that this is just a contract marriage between yer parents and my parents”. Roslyn blinked away the tears in her eyes, irritation. That’s what she is feeling at the moment; she tried her best to suppress the anger building inside of her. “It doesn’t change the fact that we’re now married David, I always dreamt of a perfect Christian home with a good and caring husband and not this”, she couldn’t control the tears in her eyes anymore so she allowed the tears fall freely. She fumbles for her hanky inside her apron and wiped away her stained cheeks. David stares at her remorsefully. His plump lips parted, but no word came out from his parted lips. Roslyn sniff and blows her nose into the white hanky in her hand. She bore a pain expression. “I will b—be in my room”, said David. Roslyn slightly nodded her head, and she watched ‘im disappear from her sight. “Oh God, help me for I can’t do this without ya”, she said a silent prayer.  

          The pain jolted through her body; she tried to stand up from the ground but is almost impossible to do that. “Why do I have to be this clumsy”, she quarrels herself. Roslyn lifted her body slowly from the cold floor and tried to make hers-elf comfortable on the bed. She subtly observed her ankle for the second time. There are few bruises there but is nothing compared to the pain she’s feeling. She stroked her hair from her face and tried to get up from the bed, the sharp pain in her ankle make it almost impossible for her to stand, she half expected David to come check up on her when she mistakenly slipped inside the bathroom but he surprised her by not showing up. She allowed her right leg to carry most of her weight because she was afraid to step on her wondered leg, she wobble her way out of her room only to be met with David on the narrow hallway. “Good morning”, she said haltingly. “Morning, how did ya sleep?” asked David. Roslyn glance at him. It surprised her he care to know how she slept. “I slept well. How did ya sleep?” she asked. “Good,” he reiterated. She nodded her head, not knowing what to say. “What happened to yer leg?” “I slipped,” replied Roslyn, keeping the conversation short. “I’ll go call the family doctor”, David didn’t give Roslyn a chance to object. He strode into his room. Roslyn stood at the same spot, not knowing what else to do. She continued her journey to the living room; she consciously peeks over her shoulder, hoping David will come out of his room. 

       The doctor arrived later that day; Mercy helped Roslyn settled at the sitting room where she would be examined by the doctor. She sees no reason David had to call the doctor since is just a minor injury, but she knows objecting to these will make David angry. “Hello ma’am”, the doctor greeted standing on his two feet, “hi doctor, please have a seat”. Said Roslyn; “how are ya feelin’ madam?” questioned the doctor. “Please call me Roslyn. I’m feeling better deah is nothing serious”. She retorted, adjusting her gown. “Is it okay if I have a look?” he bargained, glancing at Roslyn's bruised and sour leg, “sure”. Doctor Mathew nuzzle closer to where Roslyn was seated. He sat down on the small stool beside Roslyn. His hands ran over Roslyn's sour legs, he gently massaged her ankle; Roslyn sighed and hissed like a wounded child. She closed her eyes shut, trying her possible not to scream because of the amount of pain she’s feeling. “I’m sorry madam, like ya said earlier, is nothin’ serious, but I’ll give ya cream that will help reduce the swollen leg and the pain”. Roslyn nodded her head, understandably. 

      Soon, Mathew applied the cream after cleaning the bruise on Roslyn’s ankle. She felt more relaxed and comfortable. She never thought that minor injuries could be this painful. “Thank ya doctor, this really helps”, said Roslyn sincerely. “I’m glad ya feel better, madam; just make sure to apply the cream as instructed and ya will be fine in no time.” Roslyn thanked the doctor like the millionth time before dashing out of the sitting room. “Do ya want me to help ya to yer room?” Mercy asked, looking down at Roslyn with pity, “no, no deah I can help myself please don’t bother yourself.” Roslyn answered gratefully. “You sure about that malady, I can help ya get to…” Roslyn cut her off before she could finish, “I’m Mercy, and could ya help me with a glass of water, please?” “Oh, right away ma’am”. Mercy dashed out of the living room and came back with a glass of water in her hand. She handed it to Roslyn, and Roslyn whispered thank ya to her and took the water to her dried lips. Mercy subtly observed Roslyn as she drank the whole glass of water. “Your phone is ringing malady”, Mercy informed Roslyn. “Pass me the phone please”, Mercy walked over to the dining table and retrieved the phone she shuffle her way back to the sitting room and handed the phone to Roslyn, Roslyn looked at the caller ID and was surprised to see David name on the screen. This is the first time David was calling her, and she was more surprised to know that he has her number. She slowly pressed the answer button and placed the gadget to her right ear, her lips quiver and palpitated. She’s nervous about answering his call. “I’ll be in the kitchen if ya need anythin’ ma’am”, Roslyn nodded her head in response to Mercy before diverting her attention to the phone in her ear. “H—hi David,” she breathed through the phone, 

   “How are ya feelin’ now?” 

   “I’m feeling much better. How’s work?” She asked. 

   “Be more careful next time, I wouldn’t like to be seeing a cripple in my house”,

She was suddenly silent, and a frown passed over her face; she’d never heard or seen a man so rude like David in her life before. David has successfully put her in agony and solitary; if not for the love of God and her parent she could have parked her belongings and head home. But she’s also painfully aware that divorce is against her religious belief and it will be a shame to leave her husband's house after few days of marriage. 

     “I promise to be more careful”, she whispered, ignoring the anger building inside of her. 

   “Don’t wait up, I’ll be home late”. 

    It did not surprise Roslyn when he told her. She silently nodded her head, and the line went dead. Not knowing what else to do, she gently stood on her two feet and she hissed as the fresh pain jolted through her entire body. She momentarily forgot about her injured leg, not until now. Roslyn wobbles her way back to her room. She didn’t realize that the walk to her room is this stressful until now. With every step she takes on the stairs, she’ll stand and take a deep breath. One of the maids offered to help her to her room. She still rejected the offer. One thing about Roslyn is that she hates being dependant; she likes to carry her burden alone. 

     Is only 4:00 in the evening and Roslyn has nothing else to do, is not like she always has something doing, anyway. She’s feeling useless and bored in this household; idleness is one thing Roslyn hates, but here she is roaming around doing absolutely nothing. Sitting on the brown sofa next to her bed, she picked a random book from the small bookshelf and scanned the back of the book but all she could see was blurring images, with a sighed she stood up and went to bring her reading glasses from her bag. After putting on her reading glasses, she shuffles her way back to her previous position, picking the book. She looked at it again for the second and a faint smile appear on her face. “Love finds a home”. She read out the title. She never knew that David was one to read this type of books but she’s glad to find one of her favorite book. “We have one thing in common after all”. She thought to herself. 

      Roslyn glance at the closed door the moment she heard a rap on the door. She looked at the alarm clock on her bedside and suddenly she panicked; she didn’t realize that she has been reading for three hours straight. Roslyn secretly thank the person at the door for interrupting her. 

      “Please come in, come in”, she said to the person at the door. 

The door flees open, and David appeared on the door. With her quickening pulse Roslyn watched with surprised, this is the first time David entered her s’posed room since the day she moved in. 

     “W—welcome back”, she shuttered struggling to stand on her feet.

     “Thank you,” he murmured, scrutinizing her from head to toe. “Can’t ya wear somethin’ more presentable?” 

Roslyn cross checked her breast fitted gown, which is opened from the waist down to her foot, and a frown passes her face because she sees nothing wrong with her outfit. 

     “I see nothin’ wrong with the one I’m wearing”, she retorted looking at ‘im confusingly. 

   “Of course you’ll see nothin’ wrong with it, but try not to wear this around my friends”. 

    “Ya are back early”, said Roslyn, trying to change the topic. 

     “Yes, how’s yer leg?” Roslyn went back to seat on the sofa; she’s tired of standing on one foot already. 

       “Much better, the doctor did a great job”, said Roslyn. David nodded his head and said nothing afterward, they settled in an awkward silent, his lips parted like he was about to say somethin’ but nothin’ came out of his mouth. Roslyn sighed and spoke on their behalf. 

    “We haven’t prayed as couples yet”. Her gaze remained on David waiting for ‘im to speak. 

    “What do we need to pray for? We’re hardly a couple”, he ventured; he looked irritated hearing Roslyn say that but Roslyn wasn’t ready to let the topic die yet.

    “David, we need to pray for our new marriage. It’s the proper thin’ to do”, said Roslyn. She looked rather flushed and annoyed with David for his nonchalant attitude towards their marriage. David’s thought whirled; he stared at Roslyn, not knowing what else to say. He doesn’t know how else to convince the young woman that he’s not interested in her religious belief and he’s not ready to change who he is to her standard. 

    “I’ll be in my office”. With that he strode out of her room, closing the door behind ‘im. 

    David went straight to his room after living Roslyn’s room. He tried to get rid of his churning thoughts, but his mind still lingered on what Roslyn said to ‘im earlier. A flutter of pity and remorse passed over ‘im, deep down in his heart he knows Roslyn is a good person and is not her fault either, she was also forced to marry him but he couldn’t hold the anger and the only way to release himself of this anger is to continue to torment Roslyn so that she can go back to her parents. 

*****

      Roslyn continue to look at the beautiful garden through her glass wall, she like the beautiful serene down there. She felt a sudden urge to be at the garden and feel the beautiful flowers with her hands and so she picked her warmest shawl on the bed and wobbles her way down the stairs, her leg gets weaker and sour with every step she takes but she was determined to get to the garden by all means. 

     She got to the garden in no time and a bright smile stained her tan smooth face as she smells the baked-apple smell in the air. The natural grasses are growing because of the seven degrees Celsius weather; her eyes momentarily gazed at the sky above and her smile increased, the sun above washes the garden with a golden glow making it more attractive. The birdsong filters from the few trees at the far end of the garden and there are butterflies moving from one flower to another. Roslyn was mesmerized with the beautiful garden; she allowed her eyes roamed the garden. “It’s such a beautiful garden but somethin’ must be done with these growing grasses”. She breathes, a faint smile reappeared on her face again because now has something to keep her busy. Meanwhile David stood at the far end of the building looking at Roslyn from a far distance; his feet having the mind of their own led ‘im to where Roslyn stood, his footsteps captured her attention, she looked passed her shoulder and saw that it was David. Roslyn gave him a dazed look of bewilderment; she pondered why David found her company interesting today. 

        “I’d arrange for yer shopping tomorrow”,

    Roslyn stares at him in confusion. She doesn’t understand why he’d to arrange for her shopping without seeking for her opinion, and suddenly a flutter of anger rushed passed her face. She wondered why people now think is okay for them to decide for her. 

   “Don’t ya think is proper? Ya asked me first?” she bargained, she’s sure irritated and angry with David even though she tried to suppress her anger, but David could still sense her change of mood. 

   “Seeking yer opinion could have been a total waste of time because you’ll say no,” he reiterated, not feeling any remorseful with what he did. 

    “Well, is still my decision to make; beside how can I go shopping with one leg?” she asked, hoping she could have his mind change. 

      “Ya have the maids to help ya”, said David. Roslyn sighed, “Seems like David senses my happiness”, she said to herself. Just a few minutes ago, she was enjoying the beautiful garden, but David had to come and spoil her little fun. She looked at David, her eyes seem to plead but he only shake his head and walked passes her. “Why does he care if I dress good, anyway?” She asked rhetorically to no one in particular. 

      “Are you comfortable?” The maid asked Roslyn as she helped her settled on the sofa. 

   “Jah, thank ya deah”. Said Roslyn with a loud sigh, the maid waited for a moment if Roslyn will need her help with anything. “I’ll need ya help tomorrow”, Roslyn mused, and the maid looked perturbed; it surprises her that Roslyn is asking for help, since she walked into this house, she has been doin’ things for herself. 

    “I’ll be glad to help ya with anythin’ ma’am”, replied the maid, looking down at Roslyn. Roslyn nodded her head in response. David has successfully ruined her tomorrow’s plan; she planned to weed out the growing grass in the garden. The maid excused herself out of the living room and returned with a cup of coffee. She handed Roslyn the cup and excused herself again. Roslyn watched out as the maid disappeared into the kitchen. She smiled when the smell of the coffee molested her nose; Roslyn took it to her dried lips and took a little sip. She smiled again for the second time, just the way she like her coffee. 

      With reverend enthusiasm Roslyn trudged into her, she could still feel the taste of the coffee in her mouth. She went to lie down on her bed with her face to the ceiling, her mind drafted back to her childhood with Dave, but she didn’t like the mushy feelings inside her. Thinking of another in her husband’s house felt like she’s indirectly cheating on her husband. Dismissing her whirled thoughts, she retrieved her book from last night and continued reading from where she stopped.