Married to a Thief – Episode One

Ndidi was very beautiful such that some people said she looked like fresh tomatoes. Her skin was smooth like milk and her face looked like the face of a goddess. She got married to a billionaire called Egwu, a young industrialist in Abuja. Ndidi was just twenty-five years old and her husband was thirty-five. They lived in a mansion in Maitama, one of the richest areas in Abuja. She had everything she needed. Expensive clothes, designer shoes, cars, perfumes, and jewelry. Her husband told her never to work, so she just stayed at home as a housewife, eating, resting, and enjoying her husband’s money.

But there was one problem that Ndidi could not solve. It was the habit of stealing. She was a thief. She liked to steal things anywhere she went. It was something she hated about herself but it looked like an external spirit was controlling her. Whenever that spirit came upon her, she must steal something before she would be calm. Even when she stayed at home in the mansion, the urge to go out and steal would come. She could not fight it. It was like a sickness. She was a thief inside her heart.

Every time Ndidi went to the market, she returned with a stolen item. Sometimes it would be a piece of jewelry. Sometimes it would be a bottle of perfume. Sometimes it would be ordinary food items like a bag of rice, packs of noodles, or cartons of milk. Egwu never suspected anything. He thought his wife was only shopping too much because of her beauty and love for luxury. He never knew she was stealing them. Even Ndidi herself did not understand it. After stealing, she would sit in her room and cry bitterly.

“God, why me?” Ndidi would say. “I have everything a woman can dream of. I have money, I have a loving husband, I have clothes and gold, I have a mansion in Abuja, but why do I still steal? Why do I carry people’s things and hide them as if I have nothing?” She would cry with tears in her eyes. But she could not stop. No matter how much she tried, whenever that spirit came upon her, she must obey. She must steal something before her body would be calm again. It was a battle in her soul.

One morning, Ndidi dressed very beautifully and told her driver to take her to the supermarket. She was not lacking anything at home, but the urge to go out was strong. She wore a red gown, black designer shoes, and carried a golden handbag. When she arrived at the supermarket, people admired her beauty and style. She picked a shopping basket and started moving round. She selected some groceries and some bottles of wine. But as she was walking, that spirit came again. She suddenly felt restless. Her hands began to shake. She knew she must steal.

“It’s time to steal.” She said to herself.

Ndidi picked one very expensive bottle of wine and slipped it into her handbag quickly. She thought nobody saw her, but the security camera at the corner of the supermarket recorded everything. The moment she dropped the basket and tried to walk out, the alarm sounded at the door. The security man stopped her immediately.

“Madam, please wait. Something is wrong here,” the man said in a loud voice. Ndidi began to tremble. Her heart was beating very fast. She tried to smile and pretend that everything was fine, but she knew she had been caught.

“Madam, please open your bag,” the security man said.

“What is inside?” Ndidi said as she tried to laugh.

“There is nothing in my bag. It is just my personal belongings,” she said in a small voice.

“I’m not a thief. How can you embarrass me in public like this?” She said. The security man did not listen to her. He dragged the bag from her hand and opened it in front of everybody. When he opened the bag, he brought out the stolen bottle of wine. The people in the supermarket shouted in surprise. They could not believe that such a rich and beautiful woman was a thief. Ndidi quickly knelt down in shame.

“Please, forgive me. It was a mistake. I don’t know what pushed me to do it. I have money. My husband is rich. Please don’t disgrace me. I beg you in the name of God.” She said.

The people in the supermarket started murmuring and gossiping about her. Some of them said she may have been stealing before.

“So this beautiful woman is a thief? What kind of shame is this? How can a billionaire’s wife be stealing common wine?” Someone who knows her said from the crowd of shoppers.

The manager of the supermarket came out and shouted at her. “Madam, you will explain yourself at the police station.”

The security man held Ndidi by the hand. He did not listen to her tears. She tried to explain but nobody wanted to hear her.

“I said forgive me, please. I will pay for the wine. I can even pay for everything in this supermarket. Please do not disgrace me. My husband must not hear this.” Ndidi cried and begged like a baby. But the manager was very angry.

He said to the security man, “Call the police immediately. This woman must be arrested. Let her face the shame of what she has done.” Ndidi’s body became weak. She started shaking and weeping.

Just then, two policemen arrived at the supermarket. They were already informed. They entered with their guns and uniforms. People gathered to watch what would happen. The policemen asked what was going on. The supermarket manager explained everything and showed them the CCTV footage of how Ndidi stole the wine. Ndidi fell on the floor crying and begging. She said she was sorry, but the policemen did not listen to her.

“Please, I will pay for it. I will pay double for the wine. Don’t call my husband.” Ndidi said. But no one listened.

They held her by the hand, dragged her up, and pushed her outside. “You are under arrest,” one of the policemen said. Ndidi cried bitterly as they carried her away in their van.

Married to a Thief, Episode Two

Ndidi has realized that there must be something controlling her. She knows that it is something beyond her powers. She doesn’t like the fact that she is a thief.

“Oh God! Why does this keep happening? Why am I always stealing?” Ndidi asked herself.

Ndidi was inside the police van, crying like a baby. Tears flowed down her eyes as she held her handbag close to her chest.

“Please, officers, forgive me. I beg you in the name of God. I don’t want this kind of shame. My husband must not hear this. He will die of shock if he hears that his wife stole a bottle of wine.” She cried and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. The policemen did not answer her. They just sat quietly in the car, watching her cry as the car moved.

“Please, officers, let us settle this matter here. I have money. I can pay you anything you want. I can give you N50,000 naira right now if you will just forget about this case. I will never steal again. I will never even enter this supermarket again. I beg you in the name of God.”She said as she brought out money from her handbag and stretched it towards one of the policemen. But the man shouted at her.

“Madam, keep your money. We are not thieves like you. We are doing our job.” The policeman said.

“Please, officers, don’t disgrace me. I can give you N100,000 naira right now if you will forgive me. I can even give you N200,000 naira. Just let me go home. Nobody must hear this. My husband must not hear this. I am begging you. I will pay anything.” She said. The policemen looked at her with anger.

“We are not beggars. We are not criminals like you. We will not take your money. You will go to the police station and explain why you stole that wine.” They said.

The police van stopped at the station. Ndidi came down slowly with her face hidden in shame. She did not want anybody to recognize her. She begged them again.

“Please, I will pay anything. I don’t want to be locked up. Don’t put me in a cell, please.” She said. But they did not listen. They collected her handbag, removed her phone and jewelry, and pushed her into a dirty, small police cell. Ndidi sat on the floor and began to cry bitterly.

“God, why me? Why is this spirit of stealing destroying my life?” She cried until her eyes were swollen with tears.

That night, Ndidi could not sleep. The cell was very dirty and full of mosquitoes. Other women inside the cell mocked her. One of them asked her, “Madam, why are you here?” Ndidi could not answer. Another woman laughed and said, “I heard she stole wine at a supermarket.” They laughed loudly. Ndidi covered her face with her hands and wept more.

“How can I explain this to my husband? What will he think of me? What will my family say? What will people say when they hear that a billionaire’s wife was arrested for stealing wine?” She asked herself.

Meanwhile, her husband returned home late that night. He expected to see his wife waiting for him in the mansion. But Ndidi was not at home. He thought maybe she had gone to visit a friend. He ate dinner and waited but she did not come back. The next morning, he called her phone but the number was switched off. He became worried. For two days, he asked everybody about his wife. The driver said he dropped her at the supermarket and since then, he had not seen her. Egwu’s heart began to beat fast.

“Could it be that my wife has been kidnapped?” He asked himself.

On the third day, Egwu could no longer hold it. He went to the police station to report a missing person. He entered the office and spoke to the officer on duty.

“Good morning, officer. I am here to make a report. My wife has been missing for three days. She went to the supermarket, and since then, I have not seen her. I am afraid she has been kidnapped. I want you to help me find her. Her name is Ndidi. She is very beautiful and she was wearing a red gown on the day she disappeared.” He said.

The police officer looked at him with surprise. “What is your wife’s name again?” the officer asked.

“Her name is Ndidi. She is my wife. Please, help me. I can’t sleep. I am afraid. I don’t know what has happened to her. Maybe kidnappers have taken her.”

The officer looked at him again and shook his head. “Sir, your wife is not missing. Your wife is not kidnapped. Your wife has been here in our station for the past three days. She was arrested for stealing a bottle of wine at the supermarket.”

Egwu was thrown off-balance. He stood up immediately in shock. “What! What did you just say? My wife? My Ndidi? Arrested for stealing a bottle of wine? No! That is impossible. My wife cannot be a thief. She has everything. She has money. She has gold. She has everything. Why will she steal?” He shouted loudly inside the police station. People looked at him.

The officer said again, “Calm down, sir. We are telling you the truth. Your wife was arrested for theft. She is in our cell right now. If you want, you can go and see her.”

Egwu was shaking. He could not believe his ears. He put his two hands on his head and shouted. “No! No! No! Tell me this is not true. Tell me this is not my wife you are talking about. Tell me you are making a mistake. My wife cannot steal. She is from a good family. She has everything she wants. She cannot steal wine. This is not possible.”

But the officer said, “Sir, it is true. Go and check our cell. Your wife is there. She has been there for three days. We arrested her with the evidence. She is a thief.”

Married to a Thief, Episode Three

Egwu stood like a statue in front of the police officer. His mouth was open in total shock but no word came out. He was speechless. For more than one minute, he could not talk. He looked at the officer’s face, hoping to hear that everything was a joke. He wanted to hear that it was all a prank. But the officer was serious.

“Sir, your wife was arrested. She is in our cell.” The officer said. Egwu shook his head slowly.

“No. It is not possible. My wife is innocent. My Ndidi cannot be a thief. I can argue with my life that my wife is not guilty.” Egwu said.

“Sir, it is your wife we arrested. She stole a bottle of wine from the supermarket.” He said. Egwu raised his voice and started shouting.

“What are you saying? My wife cannot do such a thing. You are making a mistake. It must be a case of mistaken identity. Maybe you arrested someone that looks like her. Maybe it is another woman that resembles my wife. My wife cannot do this. I know her. She is from a good family. She has everything. She is not the kind of woman that will steal. There is millions in her account. How can she go and steal?” He asked.

Egwu was restless. He began to walk around the station. His hands were on his waist. He could not believe what he was hearing. “No, no, no. This is not true. My wife cannot do this. I know her very well. She has never lacked anything. She cannot reduce herself to a thief. Please, officer, go and check again. It cannot be her. I am sure you are confusing her with somebody else. She is innocent. She cannot be in your cell.”

The officer looked at him and shook his head slowly. “Sir, let us show you something.”

They went to the cell and brought Ndidi out. When Egwu saw her, he froze. He almost fainted. His eyes opened wide. He could not believe what he was seeing. His beautiful wife, his pride, the woman he adored, was standing in front of him in shame.

Ndidi could not look at him. Her face was bent. Tears dropped from her eyes. He felt pity for her but at the same time, he was in shock.

“Ndidi… my wife… what is this?” he said with an emotional voice.

Ndidi knelt down immediately in front of her husband.

“My husband, forgive me. I don’t know what pushed me. I don’t know what came over me. Please, forgive me. Don’t allow this shame to destroy me. I am sorry.” She was crying like a child. Egwu looked at her again and could not understand.

“But why? Why, Ndidi? What pushed you to do this? Don’t I give you money? Don’t I provide everything? What else do you want that I cannot give you? Why reduce yourself to this?” His voice was full of pain and confusion.

Egwu turned away from his wife and walked straight to the DPO’s office. He knocked on the door and entered.

“Good afternoon, sir,” he greeted with an emotional voice. The DPO looked at him and recognized him immediately.

“Mr Egwu! What a surprise. Please, sit down.” Egwu sat down quietly and wiped his face with a handkerchief.

“Sir, I am here because of my wife. I heard she was arrested for stealing. I am still in shock. I cannot believe it. But if that is true, I want to beg you to forgive her. I will pay whatever she stole double.”

The DPO looked at Egwu carefully. “I am sorry, Mr Egwu. Your wife was arrested indeed. She stole a bottle of wine at the supermarket. The evidence is clear. But because of who you are, because of your good name in this society, and because I know you are a man of good standing, I will release her to you. But please, talk to her. Advise her. If not, this kind of shame will not be good for your family.” The DPO Egwu nodded his head slowly.

“Thank you very much, sir. I promise to handle this at home.” Egwu said.

The DPO gave instructions to the officers to release Ndidi. She came out again, this time with her head still bent. She could not face her husband. Egwu walked to her side. He did not shout again.

“Let’s go.” Egwu said. Ndidi followed him quietly. They left the police station together. Outside, people were looking at them. Some were whispering, some were pointing fingers. Egwu ignored them. He opened the car door and told his wife to enter. She entered quickly and wiped her tears. Egwu entered the driver’s side. He was very quiet.

As they drove out of the police station, silence filled the car. Ndidi wanted to talk but words failed her. She only sniffed and wiped her eyes. Egwu held the steering tightly. He was lost in thought. He could not believe that his young, beautiful wife was a thief. He felt disappointed but at the same time, he felt pity for her. He wanted to understand why she did it. He wanted to ask questions but he decided to allow Ndidi to recover first.

“I must know why she decided to disgrace me.” Egwo said.

Married to a Thief, Episode Four

As Egwu drove his wife home from the police station, he kept quiet. His hands were fixed on the steering wheel, and his eyes were on the road. He did not look at her.

“I can’t believe this. I don’t even know what to say to her.” Egwu said in his heart. He wondered if he married a thief without knowing it.

He did not say one word to Ndidi. The car was silent, except for the sound of Ndidi’s quiet sobs. She was crying.

She bent her head and wiped her face with a handkerchief. Tears kept pouring from her eyes like tap water. She felt guilty, she felt shame, and she felt deep remorse. She wanted to talk to her husband, but she could not open her mouth. The shame was too much.

“I feel so bad. I have disappointed him. I don’t even know the spirit controlling me. I’m in a serious trouble.” Ndidi said in her heart.

Inside the car, Ndidi’s mind was troubled. She thought of everything that had happened. She thought of the supermarket, the police station, the dirty cell, and the disgrace she had brought to her husband.

“Why is this happening to me? Why do I have this spirit of stealing inside me? I can’t control it. I don’t like it. But it keeps pushing me. My husband gives me everything I need. Why then do I still steal? Why am I destroying myself?” She wept bitterly. But Egwu did not ask her any question. He just kept driving.

When they arrived at the mansion, Egwu opened the gate and drove in. He came down and opened the door for his wife to step out. He was still treating her like a queen. She stepped down slowly.

She expected her husband to shout at her, or even slap her. But he did not do that. He just told her, “Go inside.” She went inside quietly. A few minutes later, Egwu boiled hot water for her to bath. He carried the bucket himself into the bathroom. “Go and wash yourself. You are tired and you need to clean up and rest.” He said softly with a loving voice. Ndidi was surprised. She was expecting her husband to treat her badly because of what she did, but Egwu was a good man. She went in and had her bath with tears in her eyes.

After Ndidi finished bathing, Egwu went out of the house. He did not speak a word. He drove to a big restaurant and bought delicious food. He brought it home and set the table.

“Come and eat,” Egwu said quietly. Ndidi sat down and ate slowly. She could not believe that her husband was treating her kindly after the disgrace she caused him. She expected anger, shouting, or rejection, but she saw care and patience. As she ate, she began to cry again.

“Why is this man so good to me?” she asked herself. “Why did I bring shame to such a good man?”

That night, Egwu told her to go and sleep. “Rest,” he said. Ndidi entered the bedroom and lay on the bed. But she could not sleep easily. The memories of the police station haunted her. She kept turning from side to side. When she looked at her husband, she saw him lying quietly with his eyes closed. He was not speaking to her. His silence was disturbing. It was like a mountain pressing on her chest. She covered herself with the blanket and whispered to herself, “God, please help me. I don’t want to steal again. Please help me.”

Days passed by and Egwu did not mention the matter. He went about his business as if nothing had happened. Ndidi cooked for him, washed his clothes, and cleaned the house. She wanted to do everything to make him happy again. But each time she looked at him, she remembered the shame.

She remembered the disgrace. She remembered the police cell. It hurt her deeply. For many days, they did not talk about the theft. It was like a silent wound between them. Egwu was carrying the pain in his heart. Ndidi was carrying guilt in her soul.

But one evening, after dinner, Egwu sat down in the living room. Ndidi was by his side, watching television. Suddenly, Egwu turned to her and started talking.

“Ndidi, why? Why did you have to disgrace me by stealing?” He asked. His voice was calm, but there was pain inside. Ndidi’s heart jumped. She did not know what to say. She bent her head and started crying.

“My husband, I don’t know what came over me. I don’t know why I did it. I hate myself for it. I did not plan it. It was as if something pushed me. Please, forgive me.” Egwu looked at her with sad eyes.

“The wine you stole was just N100,000. Do you know how much I give you every week? I give you millions. You can buy cartons of that wine if you want. Why then did you have to steal it? Why did you reduce yourself to a thief? Why did you bring this shame to my name? I don’t understand it. I don’t understand you.” He said. His voice broke as he spoke.

Ndidi could not hold herself anymore. She fell on her knees before her husband. She cried like a child. Tears soaked her gown.

“My husband, please forgive me. I know I have wronged you. I know I have disgraced you. I know I have brought shame to your name. Please, forgive me. I don’t know why I do these things. I can’t explain it. But I am begging you, don’t hate me. Don’t abandon me. I love you. Please, forgive me. Please, give me another chance. I will change. I promise to fight this spirit. I beg you.”

Egwu looked at her as she knelt before him. He looked at her kneeling down, crying and begging with all her heart. He shook his head slowly. He did not know whether to be angry or to pity her. The silence in the room was thick. Ndidi remained on her knees, crying and pleading for mercy from her husband.

“I don’t even know if I should pursue her before she will spoil my name again. Divorce might be the best option.” Egwu said in his heart.

That night, he still treated her like a queen. He gave her water to bath and took care of her as usual.

“God please, my husband is a good man. Look at how he is treating me despite what I did. Please touch his heart so that he won’t send me away.” Ndidi said in her heart when she was in the bathroom.

Married to a Thief – Episode Five

Ndidi still felt a serious burden in her heart that night as they were going to bed. She still knelt down, begging her husband with tears in her eyes. She cried until her eyes were red.

Already, Egwu has made up his mind to forgive him. He told himself that he cannot throw his wife away.

“Please, forgive me. I will never do it again. Please don’t hate me. Please don’t leave me,” she begged.

Egwu looked at her for a long time in silence. Finally, his heart softened. He stood up, pulled her up from the ground, and held her hands.

“Ndidi, I forgive you. But listen to me very well. You must never disgrace me like this again. If you ever steal again, I don’t know what I will do. Don’t try it.”

Ndidi wiped her tears quickly and nodded her head many times.

“I promise, my husband. It will never happen again. I don’t know why I did it. But now that you have forgiven me, I will never steal again. I will fight this spirit. I will control myself. I will not allow shame to come upon you again. I swear with my life.” She said.

“I hope so. Because I cannot bear another disgrace. I cannot watch people call my wife a thief again. Please, Ndidi, let this be the last time.”

The next morning, Egwu transferred N10 million naira into his wife’s account. He called her to the living room and spoke to her in a loving way.

“Ndidi, check your phone. I have sent you N10 million naira. Use it to buy whatever you want. Use it to satisfy yourself. You don’t need to lack anything. You don’t need to look at what belongs to another person. If this money finishes, just tell me. I will give you more. You are my wife. I want you to have everything you need. There is no reason for you to steal again. I have given you enough.”

Ndidi was very happy. She smiled for the first time in many days. “Thank you, my husband. You are so good to me. You are too kind. I don’t deserve you. But I promise I will never disappoint you again. I will use the money wisely. I will buy what I need. I will not look at what does not belong to me.” She said. She hugged him tightly. Egwu smiled but in his heart, he was still worried. He prayed silently that his wife would keep her promise. He wanted to believe her. He wanted peace.

That same week, Egwu travelled to Lagos for a very important business meeting. Before leaving, he spoke to wife.

“Take care of yourself. Use the money I gave you. Buy whatever you want. If you need more, call me. I will send it immediately. Please, Ndidi, don’t allow any shame to come to this house again.”

Ndidi smiled and nodded her head. “Don’t worry, my husband. I will not fail you. I will not bring shame again.” Egwu left. Ndidi stood at the balcony, waving him goodbye, but deep inside her heart, she felt restless.

Three days after Egwu travelled, Ndidi dressed up to go to the market. She had money in her purse. She carried N300,000 naira in cash. She also had millions in her account. But as she walked into the market, that familiar spirit came again. Her body began to desire stealing. Her eyes moved restlessly. She felt an uncontrollable urge to steal something. It was as if a voice inside her was commanding her, “Steal. You must steal.” She tried to resist. She whispered to herself, “No. I promised my husband. I must not do it.” But the spirit was stronger.

Ndidi walked to the stall of a woman who was selling fresh tomatoes. The woman’s basket was full of bright, red tomatoes. The price was just N3000 naira for a bowl. Ndidi had more than enough money to buy ten baskets, but that spirit pushed her again. Her heart was beating fast. She looked around quickly to see if anybody was watching. When she thought nobody was looking, she bent down, took a bowl of tomatoes and poured it into her bag. She thought it would be easy. She thought she could escape unnoticed.

But immediately, the woman selling the tomatoes turned around and caught her.

“Hey! Madam! What are you doing with my tomatoes?” the woman shouted loudly. Ndidi froze immediately. She could not move. Her body turned cold. Her heart jumped into her stomach. She looked at the woman with fear in her eyes. “No… no… I was just touching it.” She stammered. But the woman was already dragging the bowl of tomatoes from her.

“Thief! You stole my tomatoes. God forbid! You rich women think you came to disgrace yourself here. You came with gold and fine dress, but you are a thief.” The woman said.

People in the market started gathering. They looked at Ndidi and shook their heads. Some of them laughed. Some of them shouted.

“So this fine woman is a thief?” one man said. “What kind of shame is this? She looks rich. She is wearing expensive clothes. But she is stealing common tomatoes of N3000 naira.”

Another woman said, “The world is wicked. Even those who have money are still thieves. What then will poor people do?” Ndidi bent her head in shame. Tears filled her eyes. She wanted the ground to open and swallow her. She was caught again.

The woman selling the tomatoes held her hand tightly. “You will not go anywhere. You must explain yourself today. You must tell us why you want to steal from me.”

“Please, forgive me. I don’t know what came over me. I will pay. I will pay for the tomatoes. I will pay for everything in your shop. Please, forgive me.” But the woman shouted louder.

“No! No forgiveness! Thief must not go free. You wanted to disgrace yourself. I will disgrace you today.”

Married to a Thief – Episode Six

People don’t like thieves. It is a big problem to be caught stealing in a market. As Ndidi begged and wept in the market, more women gathered around her.

They shouted and rained curses on her. They could not understand why a beautiful young woman, dressed like a queen, would come and steal tomatoes worth only N3,000 naira.

“You have money. Why didn’t you just buy it?” The women asked.

One of the women suddenly rushed at her and tore her gown. Another one slapped her. Within minutes, many hands dragged her, tore her gown. Ndidi screamed and struggled to cover herself with her hands, but they did not stop. They shouted, “Thief! Shame on you! Let her be disgraced!”

They began to beat her. Some used their bare hands. Some used sticks. Ndidi cried bitterly.

“Please, forgive me! I will pay! I will pay for all the tomatoes! Please stop beating me! Please have mercy!”

But nobody listened. They were too angry. They felt insulted that a rich woman wanted to disgrace herself. As the beating continued, some men came and suggested that she should be paraded around the market.

Immediately, a basket of tomatoes was forced into her hands.

“Carry it on your head!” they commanded. Ndidi waited, but one woman slapped her hard, and she obeyed in shame.

Ndidi carried the basket of tomatoes on her head. Her face was filled with tears. She staggered as she walked. The women clapped and sang behind her. They sang mocking songs about a rich woman who was secretly a thief.

They shouted, “See her! Beautiful thief! Carry your tomatoes and dance for us!” People gathered, laughing, mocking, and recording the scene with their phones. Ndidi wept uncontrollably. Her voice was broken as she cried, “Please, forgive me! Please, don’t do this to me!” But they refused. They continued parading her from one corner of the market to another.

Finally, after much humiliation, she was dragged to the office of the market leader. The leader sat down, shaking his head slowly. He looked at Ndidi from head to toe.

“Madam. What you have done is a shame. You are too beautiful, too young, and too rich-looking to be stealing tomatoes. But since you want disgrace, today you will see disgrace. However, we don’t allow thief to go free here. You must pay a fine of N500,000 naira.” Ndidi was trembling. She quickly brought out her purse with shaking hands and counted the money. She paid immediately.

After paying, Ndidi thought they would release her quietly. But the market leader refused to let her go.

“No, this matter must be a lesson to others. You must be paraded again so that everybody will know. Nobody should say we allowed you to escape because you are rich. Carry your tomatoes again!” The market leader said.

Ndidi cried louder, but she was forced to obey. Once more, the basket was placed on her head. The women continued their songs. They mocked her more. And as they paraded her the second time, more people used their phones to capture the moment. Videos spread quickly across social media.

Within hours, the videos of Ndidi carrying the basket of tomatoes went viral. People shared it with laughter. Some insulted her in the comments. Some said she was cursed. Some said it was greed. Others said she was sick. Her husband Egwu was in Lagos when one of his business friends forwarded the video to him. Egwu opened it. He could not believe his eyes. His wife was there, her clothes tattered, carrying a basket of tomatoes on her head while market women mocked her. Egwu dropped his phone and held his head in shame.

He was so embarrassed and so pained. He could not even eat. He could not attend his business meeting again. He booked the next available flight back to Abuja. When he arrived home, Ndidi was sitting in the living room, still crying. Her face was swollen. When she saw her husband, she knelt down immediately and said, “My husband, I am sorry. I did it again. I stole tomatoes. The spirit overpowered me and forced me to steal. I could not control it. I did not want to, but I had no choice. Please forgive me again.”

Egwu stood still, looking at his wife. His lips trembled but he refused to say anything. His heart was filled with pain. He wanted to scream. He wanted to beat her. He wanted to throw her out. But he kept quiet.

He just turned his face away from her tears. Finally, he spoke with a very low voice.

“Dress up. We are going out.” He said.

Ndidi was confused.

“Where, my husband? Where are we going?”

He shouted, “Just dress up! Now!”

Ndidi quickly obeyed. She dressed up in silence, trembling with fear. She did not know what her husband was planning to do.

Egwu drove his wife to the church of a powerful prophet known across Abuja. The man was known for exposing hidden things. When they arrived, the prophet looked at Ndidi and smiled faintly. He shook his head.

“Welcome, my children. I know why you are here. You don’t even need to explain. I can see everything. I can see the spirit that is troubling this woman. I can see the hand that is pushing her to disgrace herself and her husband. I can see it clearly. Sit down. Let me tell you what the problem is.”

Married to a Thief – Episode Seven

Egwu and Ndidi stepped into the prophet’s office. It was then that Ndidi realized that her husband wanted to really help her to solve her problem.

“My husband is a good man. He is not thinking of sending me away. Instead, he wants to help me to stop stealing.” Ndidi said in her heart.

The prophet looked at Ndidi and Egwu and asked them to sit down.

“My daughter. What is troubling you did not start today. It started many years ago when you were still a young girl in secondary school. Do you remember those days?” The prophet asked.

Ndidi’s heart jumped into her stomach. She did not know what the prophet was about to say, but she still responded.

“Yes, man of God,” she said. The prophet closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and said, “I can see everything clearly.”

“One day, when you were in secondary school, the final class to be precise, something happened in your classroom. One of your classmates came to school with money, N50,000 naira, to pay for her final examination registration. That money was meant to secure her place for WAEC, but unfortunately, you stole it. You took the envelope from her bag when nobody was watching.” The prophet said.

Ndidi’s mouth fell open in shock. She turned to her husband, who looked at her with confusion. The prophet continued talking.

“Do not deny it. The spirit of God has revealed it to me. I am only telling you what I see.” The prophet said.

“Your classmate cried that day. She searched her bag. She searched the whole classroom. She shouted and wept bitterly. She begged her friends to help her look for the money. You were there. You heard her crying. You knew she had lost her school fees. But you kept quiet. You pretended as if you knew nothing. Yet, you were the one who stole it. You hid it inside your school bag. You went home with it. And later, you used that money to buy yourself a brand new phone.” The prophet pointed at Ndidi directly as he revealed the truth.

Ndidi was shocked. She started crying. She remembered it all. She bent her head in shame. Tears began to drop from her eyes. The prophet kept speaking.

“Because of what you did, that girl could not pay for her exam. She was not able to register like other students. While all her mates were preparing for WAEC, she sat at home crying. She begged her parents for help, but they were too poor. They could not raise another N50,000 naira. She missed the exam. Her dreams were destroyed. Her hope of graduating with her mates ended that year. All because of you.” The prophet said.

“The pain of that failure was too much for her to bear. She watched her friends graduate. She watched her mates wear uniforms and go for WAEC exam, while she stayed at home in shame. She became frustrated. The frustration led to sickness. She developed high B.P at a very young age. Her body could not carry the pain. She grew weaker by the day. Finally, she gave up the ghost. She died. And she died with pain in her heart. She died with anger in her soul. She died with bitterness towards you.” The prophet said.

Egwu was shocked. His wife was still crying. The prophet continued talking in a serious voice.

“That your classmate died because of you. But before she died, she spoke a word. She placed a curse on whoever stole her school fees. She said the person will never stop stealing until death. She said the thief will have money but will always be disgraced by stealing. She said shame will follow the person everywhere. Those were her last words before she died. And those words became a curse. That is why, my daughter, you cannot stop stealing. It is not ordinary. It is a curse that has followed you from that time till today.”

Egwu held his head with both hands. He could not believe what he was hearing. His mouth was open but no words came out. He looked at his wife in disappointment and pain. Ndidi cried loudly, covering her face with her palms.

She shook her head from side to side. “It is true, man of God. Everything you said is true. I remember that day. I remember the money. I remember the girl. I used the money to buy a phone. I did not think it would lead to her death. I did not know she placed a curse on me.” She said.

The prophet nodded slowly. “Yes, you thought it was a small thing. You thought it ended that day. But in the spirit, nothing ends until justice is done. You destroyed a girl’s destiny. You ended her education. You sent her to an early grave. And that is why her words are still fighting you today. This is why you are disgracing yourself. This is why you have money but cannot control your hand. This is why you steal things you do not need. This is why you embarrass your husband in public. The curse is holding you strongly.”

There was silence in the room. Egwu did not move. Ndidi kept sobbing, shaking her head, regretting what she did in the past. The prophet spoke again.

“This is the truth. You cannot run from it. You cannot hide from it. The spirit of that girl is crying against you every time. That is why you keep falling into disgrace. That is why no amount of money can save you from stealing. Until this curse is broken, you will not be free.” He said.

The air in the room was tensed. Nobody spoke. Egwu and Ndidi were both lost in thought.

The prophet finally stopped talking. He closed his eyes and rested his hands on the chair. Ndidi knelt down and cried louder. “My husband, I am finished. What have I done to myself? I spoiled my own future with my hands. I did not know it would end like this.” Ndidi said.

Married to a Thief – Episode Eight

Now that Egwu has found the source of the problem disturbing his wife, he is interested in knowing the solution.

Egwu sat in silence for a long time. His eyes were fixed on the prophet, but his mind was far away. He could not believe that all this was happening to him and his wife.

“But thank God I now know where the problem started from.” He said.

After some time, he cleared his throat and spoke with an emotional voice.

“Man of God, please, tell us what can be done to save my wife. I do not want to see her disgraced again. I do not want to watch her steal again. I am ready to do anything it will take. Please, show us the solution to this problem.” Egwu said.

The prophet looked at Egwu and Ndidi. He spoke slowly.

“The only solution is confession. Your wife must go back to the family of the girl whose life she spoiled. She must confess everything with her own mouth. She must open her heart and admit that she was the one who stole the N50,000 naira school fees. She must say it openly to the girl’s parents. That is the first step. If she does not confess, the curse will remain. No fasting, no prayer, no sacrifice can replace confession. Confession is the key.” The prophet said.

He continued speaking. “After the confession, the stolen money must be returned. But not only the same N50,000. You must add interest. She stole the money many years ago. The money had value then, and the money has more value now. You must pay it back with interest so that the family will know that you are serious. That is the only way the curse will release her. After paying the family, there is another important step. Without this step, the confession will not be complete. That step is going to the girl’s grave.” He said.

Egwu and Ndidi listened with close attention as the prophet explained further.

“Yes, after you confess to the family, you must ask them to show you the grave of your classmate. You must go there with humility. You must kneel down before the grave. Ndidi must confess again, this time not to the parents but to the girl’s spirit. She must say it with her mouth, ‘I was the one who stole your school fees. I was the one who caused you pain. I was the one who cut your future short.’ She must say it and beg for forgiveness.” The prophet said.

The prophet’s voice became very serious.

“After the confession, another step will follow. Ndidi must place another N50,000 naira on the grave. That money is a symbol. It is a sign to the spirit of the girl that the money Ndidi stole has been returned. That is what will break the curse. Without that, the spirit will not let her go. She will keep on stealing. She will continue to disgrace herself. She will continue to disgrace her husband. But if this step is followed, the curse will be broken. And she will be free forever.” The man of God said.

Ndidi was trembling as she listened. Her tears were flowing like a river. She knelt down before the prophet.

“Man of God, I am ready to confess. I am ready to do everything you have said. I cannot continue like this. I am tired of disgracing myself and my husband. I am ready to go. I am ready to kneel before the grave. I am ready to pay the money back with interest. I am ready to do all. Please, man of God, pray for me. Please pray that I will find the family, because I do not know them. I have forgotten where they live. This thing happened many years ago.” Ndidi said.

Egwu nodded his head. He placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder. His heart was filled with pain but also with pity and compassion.

“Man of God, we will do exactly as you have said. If it means confessing, we will confess. If it means paying, we will pay. If it means kneeling at the grave, we will kneel. I cannot continue to see my wife disgraced like this. I cannot continue to see videos of her shame on the internet. We are ready to obey. Just point us in the right direction. Show us the way. We will follow.” Egwu said.

Ndidi lifted her head slowly. She looked at the prophet with red eyes.

“But man of God. I do not know where her house is. I do not know where her family lives at the moment. I cannot even remember her surname again. It was many years ago. I have forgotten so many things. How will I find her family? How will I know where to go? I am afraid I will not be able to trace them.” She bent her head again and began to cry. Her body shook as she wept bitterly.

The prophet stood up slowly. He walked around the room and placed his hand on Ndidi’s head.

“You must look for them. You must trace them. You must ask questions. Even if it takes you months, you must not stop searching until you find them. If you do not find them, you will continue to steal. If you do not find them, you will continue to disgrace yourself. This is the only solution. If you joke with it, you will pay a heavy price. But if you do it, you will be free. That is the only way out of this curse.” Said the prophet.

Married to a Thief – Episode Nine

After the meeting with the prophet, Egwu drove his wife home. His mind was worried, but he did not allow anger to control him. He decided to treat his wife with love and kindness. When they got home, Ndidi expected him to shout at her or even beat her. But he did not do any of that. Instead, he went to the kitchen and prepared food. He served her with his own hands. He told her not to worry about cooking that night. She was surprised. She looked at her husband with tears in her eyes.

“I’m so blessed to have this man.” She said.

That night, after they ate, Egwu boiled water for her and took it to the bathroom. Egwu told her to go and take her bath. When she came out, he embraced her warmly.

He made love to her, as if he wanted to remind her that she was still his wife. He touched her with care. He embraced her with affection. He whispered into her ears that he loved her and would never abandon her.

Ndidi cried as he touched her, but it was tears of joy. She felt peace in her heart. For the first time in many weeks, she slept like a baby in her husband’s arms.

In the morning, when the sun rose, Ndidi sat quietly in the sitting room. She closed her eyes and began to think about her past. Suddenly, her memory opened. She remembered the name of her late classmate. She also remembered her family’s compound in their village.

She shouted in surprise and called her husband. “My husband, I remember now! I remember her name! I remember the compound! I know where her family stays. We were from the same village. I can take you there!” Egwu smiled and hugged her.

“Thank God! Now we know what to do.” He said.

Egwu wasted no time. He told his wife that they must travel to the village immediately. He did not want any delay. He said the prophet had warned them that without confession, the curse would remain. Ndidi agreed. She was nervous, but she knew this was the only way. They packed a few things in a bag. Egwu put some money in an envelope. He also took extra money in case it was needed. By 9am, they entered the car and started driving. Ndidi was quiet all through the journey. Her heart was beating fast with fear and shame.

As the car drove on the highway, Egwu held her hand from time to time.

“Don’t be afraid. I am here with you. We will do this together. I love you, and I will never leave you.” He said.

Ndidi nodded, but her eyes were full of tears. She could not believe she was going back to face the parents of the girl whose life she destroyed. The journey was long, but by noon, they entered their village. They drove through familiar dusty roads until they stopped before a large compound. Ndidi’s heart skipped.

“This is the place,” she said.

They came down from the car slowly. Egwu held her hand tightly as they entered the compound. They met an elderly man and woman sitting under a tree in front of the house. They were the late girl’s parents. When the couple saw them, they stood up slowly.

“Welcome. Who are you, and what brings you to our house?” He asked. His voice was calm but suspicious. Egwu greeted them respectfully and introduced himself. He explained that they had come for something very important. He said it was not an easy matter, but they needed to speak the truth.

The old woman looked at Ndidi carefully. “This face looks familiar,” she said slowly. Ndidi bent her head. Tears began to drop. Egwu looked at her and gave her courage.

“Tell them,” he whispered. Ndidi knelt down before the old couple. She raised her hands in tears and began to speak.

“Mama, Papa, forgive me. I was the one who stole your daughter’s school fees when we were in SS3. She brought N50,000 naira to school to pay for her WAEC. I took it. I used it to buy a phone. Please forgive me.”

Her voice was shaking as she continued. “I heard her crying that day, but I kept quiet. She could not register for WAEC. She could not graduate with us. She became sick. She died because of what I did. Since that day, my life has never remained the same. A curse followed me. I became a thief. I cannot stop stealing. Even though my husband is rich, I keep disgracing myself. Please forgive me. I beg you with tears in my eyes. I beg you in the name of God. I am ready to return the money with interest.”

Ndidi’s tears poured like a river as she spoke. Her body shook with guilt. Egwu knelt down beside her and held her hand. He also begged the old couple.

“Mama, Papa, please forgive my wife. I love her. I do not want to see her destroyed. Please, we came here to beg. Show us mercy.” Egwu said. The old couple remained silent. Their eyes were fixed on Ndidi. The old woman covered her mouth with her hands. The old man sighed deeply and shook his head. They were both shocked. They could not believe what they were hearing. Their hearts were filled with silence.

Ndidi remained on her knees, crying and begging. Her husband stayed beside her, looking at the old couple with pleading eyes. But the old man and woman said nothing. They just stood there in silence, staring at the young woman who had confessed to destroying their daughter’s life. The air in the compound was tensed. The only sound was Ndidi’s sobs. She waited for them to speak, but they did not. Egwu’s heart was beating fast as he wondered what their reply would be.

Married to a Thief, Episode 10

The compound was silent after Ndidi’s confession. Egwu held his wife’s hand as they knelt before the old couple. But suddenly, the girl’s mother broke into tears. She cried loudly and hit her chest. “So it is you! You are the one who spoiled my only daughter’s life. You are the one who sent her to an early grave. You are the one who made us childless!” She wept uncontrollably.

The girl’s father also began to cry, shaking his head in deep sorrow. His voice trembled as he spoke. “Ah, God! What kind of wickedness is this?”

The old woman pointed at Ndidi.

“And now you kneel here, shading crocodile tears! After killing my daughter, you come to us with fake repentance. You think your tears will heal our wound? You think your crying will restore our only child? You denied her the benefit of education. You cut short her destiny. You made her parents suffer shame among their mates. You destroyed her life for a mere phone. A phone! Tell me, how can you pay for that?” Her voice was sharp, filled with pain. Ndidi wept bitterly, bowing her head.

The old man also spoke, tears rolling down his eyes.

“That girl was our only child. Our only hope. Our only reason for living. When she died, we died with her. You don’t know the pain of burying your only daughter. You don’t know the sorrow of waking every morning and finding silence in your house where laughter used to be. We thought she spent the money and lied that it got lost. We accused her wrongly. We called her a liar before her teachers. We beat her. We thought she disgraced us. But it was you.”

At this point, Egwu held his wife tighter. He bowed before the old couple.

“Papa, Mama, please. My wife has confessed. She has admitted her sin. Please, don’t let this matter destroy her forever. She is truly sorry. I beg you in the name of God, forgive her. If not for her sake, please forgive her for my sake. I love her. I don’t want her to perish. Please, we are begging.” He said.

He looked at Ndidi, who was weeping silently. She could not look up. Shame filled her heart.

Ndidi raised her voice through her tears. “Mama! Papa! Forgive me. Forgive me, I beg you. I am not shading crocodile tears. My tears are real. My heart is bleeding. Every day of my life has been filled with regret. The curse has followed me. I steal things I don’t need. I disgrace myself everywhere. I disgrace my husband. I destroy my family. Please, deliver me. Please, release me from this curse. Forgive me, even though I don’t deserve it. Forgive me, please.” She knelt lower and touched the ground with her forehead.

For a long time, the old couple kept weeping and lamenting. But slowly, the mother’s voice became calm. She wiped her face with her wrapper.

“My daughter is gone. Nothing will bring her back. No matter how much you cry, no matter how much you beg, she will not return. But what shall we do? Shall we keep the curse alive forever? Shall we hold bitterness until we go to the grave? No. We will forgive you. We forgive you, Ndidi. We forgive you, because God also forgives sin. We forgive you, but the wound remains.” She said.

The old man added his voice.

“Yes, we forgive you. It is not easy, but we must. You confessed, and that takes courage. Our daughter is gone, but at least the truth has come out. We cannot hold the curse again. We release you today. But remember, forgiveness does not mean the pain is gone. You have given us sorrow we will carry to our grave. But as we forgive you, may God forgive you too.” He stretched his hand slightly as if blessing her. Ndidi broke down again in uncontrollable tears.

Egwu stood up and brought out the envelope he carried. He placed it before them with respect. “Papa, Mama, this is money. The prophet said we should return N50,000 naira. But we know this money cannot bring back your daughter. That is why I am not giving N50,000. I am giving you N10 million naira. Please, take it. Use it for yourselves. Use it for your family. At least let it ease your sorrow a little.” He pushed the envelope towards them. The old couple were shocked. They looked at each other in silence.

Finally, the old woman spoke with trembling lips. “Ten million naira? My son, this is too much. We only lost N50,000. Why are you giving us this kind of money?”

“Mama, no money can bring back your child. But take this one as a token of peace. Take it as a seed to wipe away tears. Take it as a symbol that we are truly sorry. Please, don’t reject it.”

The old couple looked at the money again, then slowly nodded.

“We will accept it. But the money cannot restore our daughter. We forgive you. And since you have confessed, we will not stop halfway. We will take you to her grave. You must go there and confess before her soul. You must kneel down and ask her to forgive you. That is the only way the matter can be complete. Prepare yourselves. We will go to her grave together.” The old man said. They hugged Ndidi happily. Everyone was happy.

Married to a Thief – Episode 11

The next morning was quiet and heavy with meaning. Egwu and Ndidi followed the old couple as they walked slowly towards the small family graveyard. The air was filled with the sound of birds and the dry rustling of leaves.

When they arrived, Ndidi saw the grave of her late classmate. Her heart beat fast. The grave was covered with grasses, tall grasses growing all over it. Dust and dirt had overtaken the area. Her body trembled, and she asked for a cutlass and a hoe. They gave it to her. She bent down and began to clear the grass.

Ndidi’s eyes were full of tears as she cut the grass one by one. She worked with so much pain in her heart. She remembered how her classmate cried that day in school, looking for her lost school fees.

She remembered how she ignored her cries and hid the money. Her hands shook as she removed the grass, but she kept working. After cutting the grass, she used the hoe to uproot the roots. Then she took a broom and swept the grave neatly. She was not in a hurry. She worked gently, showing respect for the dead.

When she finished sweeping, she dropped the broom. Her husband and the late girl’s parents stood and watched her. Their eyes were full of tears as they saw her kneel before the grave. Ndidi’s lips began to speak.

She pressed her forehead to the ground before the tomb. Then she lifted her face and began to speak.

“My classmate, I wronged you. I betrayed you. I stole your school fees and cut short your destiny. I made you drop out of school. I made you suffer. I made you cry. I made you die before your time.”

Her voice was full of sorrow as she continued.

“My classmate, forgive me. I beg you. Forgive me, I beg you. I have carried a curse because of what I did to you. I cannot stop stealing. I disgrace myself everywhere. I disgrace my husband. I disgrace my family. Forgive me. Forgive me. If I had not stolen your money, you would have written your exam. You would have graduated. You would have lived a good life. But I spoiled all that because of selfishness. Forgive me, please. Release me from this curse. I beg you.” Her tears dropped like tap water.

Everyone standing there was crying quietly. The old couple held hands and looked at the grave with sorrow. Egwu stood behind his wife with tears.

Ndidi stretched her hands towards the grave as if speaking directly to her late classmate.

“I am sorry. I am truly sorry. I confess my sin before you. I do not hide anymore. Forgive me. Forgive me. I know you died with pain in your heart, but please let me go free. Release me from this bondage. Release me from this spirit of stealing. I beg you in tears.”

After she finished confessing, Ndidi bent down again and touched the ground with her forehead. She remained that way for a while, crying silently.

Then Egwu brought out the money they came with. He handed it to Ndidi. It was N5 million. She placed the money carefully on the grave.

“This is to replace what I stole from you. This is to restore what I took from you. Please, accept this money as a sign that I regret what I did. Forgive me. Forgive me.” The wind blew gently across the graveyard, and everyone felt a strange calmness.

Ndidi’s husband helped her to stand up. Her eyes were red from weeping, but her heart felt light. She turned to the girl’s parents and knelt before them again.

“Papa, Mama, thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for allowing me to confess before your daughter’s grave. I will never forget this day. I will never forget the mercy you showed me.” She said.

The old woman lifted her up and hugged her.

“My daughter, we forgive you. May God forgive you too. Live in peace.” Her husband also nodded. “Go and live free. The curse is broken.”

After everything was done, they all walked back to the compound together. They sat down for a while and spoke with the old couple. Egwu thanked them deeply.

“You have healed my wife today. You have healed my marriage. You have healed our family. Thank you, Papa and Mama.” He said.

He gave them some more gifts and assured them of his support. Then he took his wife by the hand.

“Let us go home, my love. It is over.” They entered their car and drove away. Ndidi kept looking back until the family compound disappeared from sight.

As they drove back to the city, Ndidi felt something she had not felt in a long time—peace. Her heart was free. The strange urge to steal was gone. She did not feel the spirit that usually followed her. She held her husband’s hand tightly.

“My husband, thank you. You did not abandon me. You stood by me even when I disgraced you. Thank you for helping me find deliverance.” Egwu smiled at her with love in his eyes.

“You are my wife. I will always stand by you. I am happy you are free at last.”

From that day, Ndidi never stole again. She never had the urge to steal again. She lived a free life. She became a new woman. She and her husband lived happily together, supporting each other. Egwu continued to love her with all his heart, and Ndidi respected him deeply. Their home became a place of joy and laughter again. The curse was broken, and her shame was lifted. Ndidi told herself she would never forget the lesson of her life. Truly, restitution brings freedom. Truly, confession brings peace. Her story ended with peace, love, and forgiveness.

THE END.