ISOKENE (Stop my wife from smiling) – OPEYEMI AKINTUNDE

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ISOKENE (Stop my wife from smiling) – OPEYEMI AKINTUNDE

Isokene by Opeyemi Akintunde tells the story of Isokene who has been given the gift of smiling, her smiles gives hope, but her marriage to Ibidolo is about to end her smile, her husband asked her to stop smiling, this leads them to a marriage counselor, Betty.

Betty’s entrance into their marriage springs up a lot of surprises, as the counselor suddenly became the one who needed to be counseled. Betty’s husband had something up his sleeve.

Read ISOKENE, a story beautifully written under the inspiration of Holy Spirit, that deals with different issues like love, betrayal, infidelity, getting back one’s marriage and what to do when you lose a loved one.

PART 1
“ ISOKENE”
“I DON’T WANT MY WIFE SMILING”
©Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde

I was at my family house for the Christmas festivities, that was the only time I literally saw my parents and relatives, it was always a beautiful Reunion.

As a marriage counsellor God was helping, my travelling itinerary for the year was always filled, ministering from one Women’s program to the other, From one marriage seminar to the other, and my message was simple…”No matter how terrible your marriage could be, it was WORKABLE….” but my encounter with Isoken and her husband got me thinking if this was true…

A fair skinned lady walked up to me at the Family Reunion, she looked a bit familiar but couldn’t place the face. She greeted me like a well cultured lady, and I replied her, asking about her sister as she looked like one of my old friends. I obviously was mixing her up with someone else. She called my attention to that, and told me her real identity, she was one of those extended extended younger cousins of mine…I noticed she had a sparkling wedding ring on, I made a compliment about that, but her smile was not impressive enough, but I couldn’t help but admire her dimples.

“I wish I had one of those dimples” I said, trying to make her smile…and that she did…Her smile was beautiful, her smile could make anyone who was sad become happy, her smile was like light, I had never seen a smile as pure, interesting and beautiful as her smile, I wish my smile could have that kind of Effect….”This smile could be a ministry you know” I thought to myself, Her smile could give hope to a dying person…Her voice brought me back to reality…

” Thank you ma, You just made me smile for real for the first time in two months”… She said…

” What’s your name again?” I asked wanting to connect to her…

“Isoken”…. Almost immediately, I heard another voice…,but this time a male voice…

” Isokene, my beautiful wife I call her Isokene to personalize her name, the world can call her Isoken , but I added “E” to customize her name….Ma, do you know the meaning of Isoken, It means “Contented with my destiny”…She is my ISOKEN, I am content having her as my destined wife”

I turned to see who was speaking, it was a lanky dark skinned young man who was an opposite of his wife in terms of complexion and composure…

” Oh, Young man, How are you?” I said with a smile

“I am not a young man, I am an old man in a young body” he said jokingly

” Ok, old man, how are you?” I also replied smiling…

” Very fine ma, it is a pleasure meeting you, when Isokene told me you were related, I didn’t believe her, I agreed to come with her to this party, just to see you and ask you for a favour”…

” Ok, what is the favour?” I asked

” Before, I ask for the favour, I want you to say a word into our lives”… He knelt down pulling his wife with him

” Isokene will be a great wife to you in Jesus name and you will also be a Super husband to her in Jesus name, You both will always make each other smile in Jesus name ”

” Jesus!” He exclaimed… ” You are a real woman of God, How did you know about my wife’s smile, Isokene, did you tell her anything?”

Isoken shook her head in the negative…

” Ma’am please I need you to help me tell Isokene to stop smiling, I only want her to smile for me, when she is outside, she should maintain a straight look”…

I was shocked to my bones, I was not sure if I was hearing correctly, the young old man continued…

” Because, her smile is really seductive, it was her smile that attracted me to her, her smile can make a man have a hard on…You understand ma, so now that she is married to me and me alone, she should stop smiling in public but reserve the smile only for me in the bedroom”

“Jesus!” was all that came out of my mouth, in all my years of marriage counselling, I had never heard this….He wanted his wife to stop smiling…

Before I go on, Please what advice was I suppose to give this couple who just got married two months ago…?

PART 2
“ISOKENE”
(STOP MY WIFE FROM SMILING)
©️Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde

Isoken and I never saw after that day again, although Ibidolo( her husband ) got me laughing that day…I jokingly told Isoken to reduce her smile if that was going to make her husband happy… Ibidolo was excited I had granted his wish…but ever since that day my mind had no peace…

I kept asking myself was it right for a man or woman to give up what made him or her smile, because the other spouse was not comfortable with it….

I looked inward and asked myself, what if my Husband asked me to stop my counselling and homebuilding ministry, because he was not confortable with it, Would I give it up ,just the way I told Isoken to reduce or give up her smiles…

I picked up my phone and made some calls to some of my cousins who knew Isoken better, to have her contact…

**********
“Her name is not Isoken, it was her husband that gave her that name when they got married, You know he is Edo, Her name is Mobolaji..” Aunty Lara said

” I was wondering how the Edo blood entered our lineage” I said jokingly to one of my favorite aunts…

” From the look of things, Betty, that girl is not happy, because before marriage she used to smile a lot but at this years’ Reunion ,she was a bit reserved and since that is your specialty, help her”

“I will try… by the Grace of God” I assured my aunt…

***********
“Mobolaji, good morning” I said when she picked up the call

” Oh my God!, I can’t believe this, I can’t believe you actually called my phone ”

“Do you know who is speaking” I said trying to be mischievous…

“Of course ma, I have your number, I just never had the boldness to call you” She said with so much excitement , I could feel her smile, it was so tangible,

“My goodness, this girl was made to put smiles on people’s faces” I thought to myself as her energy and sound of laughter was fueling me for a good laugh, I felt I was speaking with an angel…Now how can someone want to stop this kind of smile….?

“Who are you smiling with, who is calling you?”

I overheard her Husband Ibidolo shouting. It seem like he grabbed the phone or something but the next thing I heard was the beeping sound…

What would be going on in their house ? was what I was thinking through out that day…Isoken’s phone had been switched off, I tried over fifty times but unreachable…

“I just hope this man is not beating up this girl” was the phrase playing in my head all day…

Hmm…in this case, What was I suppose to do to help Isoken because Fortunately for me Isoken picked up her call very late at night and guess what I heard her say…

“Aunty, I am ready to give up smiling if that would keep my marriage” I unbelievably heard Isoken telling me over the phone amidst sobs, it was obvious she was crying…At that point, I didn’t know why, but I found myself crying….

As a marriage counselor,I was beginning to doubt my convictions, Should wanting to stay in marriage stop Isoken from smiling,Just like her name meant,Should she be content with this new destiny of not smiling outside her home….Her smile was only to be limited to the comfines of her house….

“Ibidolo( her husband) is definitely a devil” was my conclusion and even though I am against divorce ,Isoken should begin to consider it.

Was I wrong to have thought of this or should Isoken truly sacrifice her smile to keep her marriage?

READ “ISOKENE (PART 3&4)” BY OPEYEMI AKINTUNDE HERE’

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