Nikky stood there with a big brown envelope. She glared at Nick. She regretted the day that she became “the devil.” It had started during Valentine’s Day in 2014. They had gone on a picnic. As the sun set, a blanket of darkness embraced the sky. Little did they know, that blanket of darkness would haunt them forever…

The words came out of Nick’s mouth all sugarcoated: “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a third party in our relationship?” Nikky’s eyes cut him as he explained. He continued, swallowing a huge lump of courage. Then, Nikky breathed fire, “What is wrong with our relationship? We’ve only been married for two years!” Nick murmured, “I want a second wife.” Nikky froze. Her head was blazing with thoughts. “Answer me,” Nick demanded. There was a long pause. “Am I not good enough for you?” Questions flowed like unforgiving floods. “Nick, did your mom put you up to this? I know the old hag hates me.”

“No!” Nick shouted. “Leave my mom out of this. I am an African man. Don’t be fooled by my light skin,” he pointed to his head, “This black, coily hair proves that I’m an African. Plus, the ‘internet’ says that African men can have as many wives as they like. It’s our tradition.”

“And,” Nikky yelled, “How did you even meet this new girl? Who is she?” Nick replied, “I was doing research on my heritage, hoping to find my dad. She works at the library where I did my research. She was fascinated by the fact that I’m married. She asked about my wife and said she would get along with you. Then soon after, we started dating.”

Nikky was confused, “That’s all you’re going to tell me?”

Nick cleared his throat, “So what do you say? Can we?”

There was a long pause. “Hello?” Nick yelled. “Fine!” Nikky said. “Go ahead! Take your second wife. Who even is she?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does matter.”

“No. Just wait. Thanks for understanding,” Nick hugged her in excitement. “I really didn’t think you’d be so understanding.”

But, her face killed his joy, “Nick, I have one condition.” Nick’s face turned paler. Nikky continued:

“I want a second husband, too. 50/50, right? It’s a fair chance, don’t you think?” she asked.

Nick sighed and nodded; he felt guilty for having asked Nikky for a second wife, he just wanted to get it over and done with before Nikky changed her mind. A million questions raced each other in Nikky’s mind, but she didn’t want to push him away by asking all the questions. That night, she did not sleep a wink.

***

4 April. Nick’s family reunion. Eddy – Nick’s three-year-younger brother – was there. He had no excuse to miss it. And because Nikky was Nick’s wife, she was at the reunion, too. She had never talked to Eddy much, but something about her sad and confused mood made them gravitate to each other. “Hey,” Eddy greeted Nikky. “Hey,” she replied, “Has your brother told you about your new sister-in-law?” Eddy’s jaw dropped, “You’re getting a divorce?” “No,” Nikky said, “Your brother is getting a second wife.”

“Wow! What are you planning to do about it?” Nick smirked.

Nikky sighed, “I’ll give him what he wants, because he’s not worth losing. But I will balance the equation. I know you can’t stand your brother. Love is a game. Wanna play, player?” They both had devious looks on their faces. “Marry me,” Nikky continued. Eddy’s eyes popped wide open. He took this opportunity as a chance to spite his brother.

Nikky’s sweet revenge turned bitter on their wedding day. Nick was marrying his mysterious new girlfriend and Nikky was marrying Nick’s jealous brother—not because she loved him, but because she wanted revenge. They were all marrying at once. For a while it didn’t seem like it would be so bad. However, it became bitter right when she saw her ex-girlfriend, Amanda, start to walk down the aisle toward Nick. Her jaw dropped. The video of their break-up replayed in her mind…

It was 11 November, 2011. Love was written all over Amanda’s face. She handed a gift to Nikky, “Happy birthday,” she continued. “I’m looking forward to spending the whole day with you.” Tears clogged Nikky’s throat, “I’m sorry. Keep your gift. It’s over. I’m going to spend the day with my new boyfriend.” Nikky said this, then handed the gift back to Amanda. Amanda’s body turned into a grenade:

“Boyfriend?!” she asked.

“Boyfriend,” Nikky echoed.

“What?” Amanda yelled. “What is it? You don’t love me anymore? I thought you hated boys…Who is this guy, anyway?”

Nikky replied, “His name is Nick.”

Amanda’s eyes turned to glass, “Who is ‘Nick?’ That idiot. Do you even love him?”

Nikky mumbled like an actress that had forgotten her lines, “Look, Amanda. I’ll always love you. I still do. It’s just that…my family approves of Nick. So, you and I have to be done. Please respect that. I can’t accept this gift.”

Amanda grabbed her hand, “You know I’d do anything to be with you. I love you.”

Nikky suppressed her feelings and said, “It’s over, Amanda. Get out of my life.” Then, she walked away.

Reality kicked in. Nikky realised that, perhaps, Amanda had a score to settle. After all, she did say that she would do anything to be with her. Nikky let herself understand that that was the real reason that Amanda was marrying Nick, of all people. It was too late. They were going to be married. Polygamous. All living in one house, too. She swallowed and did not even look at Amanda once she was down the aisle and standing by Nick’s side. 18 friends came to witness the unbelievable moment. Most people thought it was just madness; a lousy prank. Nick’s mother swore she’d have come if Nick and Nikky were getting a divorce. But, all of them were going to start a new life “together.”

The very minute they arrived home, Nikky pulled Amanda aside, saying they should talk to each other. “Why?” Amanda asked. “There is no need to be mad. I just fell in love, like you did,” Amanda replied.

Nikky told Amanda, “You can’t be serious. You knew I was with Nick.”

“True. I did. He came to my job and I asked about you. Chill, I didn’t tell him we used to date, you never told him, either. He’ll never know. I asked him out, seduced him. The only reason I even married him is to get back with you. Told him I would spill the beans to his parents if he didn’t marry me. Finally, I’m here, with you, where I belong,” Amanda said proudly, as she left Nikky hanging. That night, Nikky couldn’t sleep a wink. She avoided Amanda as much as she could, even though they lived together.

By October 31st, everyone settled into their household. Nick enjoyed living with two beautiful women, but he could not say the same about his brother. Eddy never liked his older brother and he hated him for being their parents’ “Perfect Son.” Eddy had always been the black sheep of the family. Their five-bedroom house in Whirlville had only one bathroom. It was a tight fit for all of them. One day, Eddy freaked out when he opened the bathroom door and saw his brother naked. He shut it quickly and tried to get the image out of his mind. He frowned as the image replayed in his mind, frozen. He thought, “Being in a polygamous marriage with your brother’s wife and her ex-girlfriend is like putting thunder and lightning into a glass jar.

One day, Eddy walked in the lounge and saw Amanda and Nikki sitting on the couch. They were sitting very close to each other and seemed to be having a very serious conversation. Confused, Eddy asked them, “What are you two doing?” Deep, red humiliation flushed on their faces. “It’s not what you think, Eddy,” they echoed each other. There was a long pause. No one could read Eddy’s mind, nor did he know what to make of the situation. He simply gave a villain laugh, “I wonder what my parents would say about their perfect son and his wives.” Eddy let these thoughts replay in his head as he walked away and left them there on the couch all alone.

On 8 November 2016, Nicky noticed that Amanda’s tummy had grown fatter. She approached Nick, “their” husband, that same night:

“Really!? You just could not wait to have your ‘heir’ even after I told you that I wasn’t ready,” Nikky shouted. Nick looked calm, “Babe. Just think about it. It’s good to have a baby around. All this drama will subside,” he explained. Nikky’s lips were paralysed for a second. “You’re not even ashamed, African man,” she said sarcastically. “Fine, Nick. I’ll just leave, since I’m causing ‘drama.’ I’ll spend the night with my parents,” she continued as she walked out. Nick questioned her, “Nikky, you’re still in love with her, aren’t you?” Nikky stopped. How did he know? But there was no use fighting. She just kept walking away.

Nikky also approached Amanda right away, asking tons of questions:

“I see that you’re pregnant, what’s the deal?”

Amanda replied, “It’s all for you, Nikky. If I have a baby, then we can have our own little family. I don’t love Nick, I love you.”

Nikky shouted, “Really? This is so selfish.”

Amanda smirked, “I’m only doing this because you won’t. Nick told me about how you won’t have his kids.”

Nikky walked away.

***

The next day, Nikky shifted her luggage around. She gave one more glance across the room. She felt as if all eyes were on her. Nick cuddled Amanda’s tummy. Nikky saw this and felt sick. She wasn’t exactly in love with Nick, but two years is a long time to spend with someone – they had grown to love each other, so it hurt for him to do this. Eddy looked like he was waiting for this horrible nightmare to end. Nikky came closer towards them and threw the envelope on top of the table. In a firm voice, she said, “I want a divorce!” Eddy and Nick looked at each other, then back to her—unsure of to whom she was referring. She clarified, “I want a divorce from both of you! I’m done!”

“You can’t!” Nick protested.

“You made a promise, Nick. At the altar. In front of your mom and hundreds of people at your first—and what should have been your only—wedding. You promised to love only me! I announced I was marrying Eddy only because I thought you would change your mind about this polygamy thing. Eddy never wanted any of this. Revenge! That was our only, common goal. But you chose to impregnate and marry her,” she paused as she pointed at Amanda. “You’ve broken too many promises, Nick. Don’t you dare tell me about promises. My family cannot control my life anymore. I only married you to make them happy. It ends now, Nick. It’s over. We’re over.”

Nick froze and said, “You only married me because of your family?”

Nikky did not realise what she was implying, “I didn’t say that! I said I wanted a divorce from both of you.” She looked at Amanda, “Promise me you’ll name her Hope. I will be back, Amanda. I just need to soak all of this in.”

Amanda’s emerald eyes blossomed like an evergreen tree. She had hope.

Nikky kissed her tummy as if she had been part of the growing soul within it. Eddy sighed as he signed the divorce papers in the envelope. He went upstairs, took everything he owned and packed it in three huge plastic garbage bags. He left the house like a prisoner coming from a 10-year sentence. He loved the smell of freedom lingering about. Nick only sat there, pale as a ghost. He watched Nikky disappearing. She wouldn’t cry, tears pricked her eyes. She lifted her luggage. She looked at Amanda and Nick. She turned to the door, retracing Eddy’s footprints. She, too, tasted freedom. Like a guitar with broken strings, she made no sound. She went on a quest of self-discovery. She traveled to Mauritius and spent many months there.

On the 1st of January, 2017, Baby Hope was born. Amanda texted Nikky, telling her about the birth. She also gave her news about Nick. Turns out that Nick was just a sperm donor. He ran away after the divorce had been finalized. Rumour has it he went to find his father in East Africa. As cliché as it sounds, a baby changes everything. Nikky thought of her family – but not the one she was raised by. Instead, she thought of her real family – the family she could have with Amanda and Hope, their bundle of joy. She smiled. She promised Amanda that she would be back, and she kept her promise.

The baby really did change everything. Nikky decided to leave Mauritius and fly back to Whirlville. She wanted to have the family that Amanda always wanted. She opened the door, “I’m back!” Nikky said as she looked at Amanda. Amanda launched herself in her arms. “Wanna meet Hope?” She asked. They laughed. “Of course,” Nikky replied. The five-roomed house that used to occupy four different humans was now their home. Their little family. Nikky’s fairy tale ending, with no guaranteed happily ever after.