Nigerian author Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu’s new novel is titled The Domestication Of Munachi, and Parrésia Publishers has shared an excerpt from the novel, as well as an audio clip of the author reading the excerpt.
This is part two of the excerpt. You can see part one here.
Find out more about the book and virtual book tour (happening now) here!
Listen to the excerpt:
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Read the excerpt:
Hi, this is Ifesinachi. Thank you for the opportunity to read from my book, The Domestication of Munachi. Today, I would be reading from page 117. Here it goes:
#NJIDEKA GOT ME thinking about my new lover. After sharing my body in the most intimate way, I was curious to know more about him. I was not sure I was ready yet to know about his family because I was desperate to keep that part of him away from our visits. I had asked about his full name the last time we met.
“Kolade Johnson,” he had replied with amusement dancing in his eyes. “Did you not look at the card I gave you the first day we met?”
Shamed stained my cheeks. I had looked at the card just once—the day I returned his call—and I had not even taken time to memorise his full name.This weekend, as I watched him stroll naked to the bathroom, I resisted the urge to lean over and rummage through his things for any other information that I could tie to him. His perfume, rich like the smell in the air after rain kissed hot earth, teased my nostrils.
We were in the same hotel we had been the last time and it occurred to me that this may be his lovers’ nest where he took all the women he claimed as mistresses. The thought angered me but humbled me as I thought of what this life could mean for me.
Few minutes later, he returned and slipped into bed beside me. He nuzzled an ear and I giggled as his goatee brushed my cheek.
“What are you thinking, sweetheart?”
“Nothing.”
“That was too quick a reply. You know what I am thinking?”
“No.”
“I am thinking we should spend the whole day together since I don’t really have anywhere to go.” He gently pushed me up. “I got you something.”
A ripple of excitement churned through my belly as he bent over and retrieved something from the drawer beside him. He held open a little box. It held the most beautiful ear rings I had ever seen or owned in my life. Tiny gold lights twinkled in the seductive balls dangling from slender stems attached to hooks.
“Thank you sir,” I gushed and threw myself at him.
I felt – rather than hear – him chuckle before he gently pushed me away. “I gave Dotun some money to pay into your account. It should reflect by Monday.”
I was so excited that I blurted without thinking, “Your wife must be the luckiest woman in the world. You are so generous.”
A tense minute followed my response after which he stood up and started putting on his clothes in that slow, calculated manner of his. My last sentence hung heavy in the air. Forbidden.
“Where are you going?” Panic coated my voice.
“I have decided that I need to go home after all,” he simply said. “The driver will return to pick you up. It’s best you get ready.”
“KJ … I’m sorry.” Tears burned hot behind my eyes.
He gave me a wry smile. “You are young and there are lots of things you have to learn which I am ready to be patient for. But one thing you need to learn quickly is separating realities, my dear, because I find it difficult handling two realities at the same time. That’s why I am with you now. For this moment. Now. Here.”
He leaned over and planted a quick kiss on my cheek. His lips were cold. “For now, this reality is over,” he said quietly and left without looking back. His words felt like the caress of a feather across my cheeks.
It was what I hated most about him. He never looked back.
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Thank you so much for this opportunity. I really hope that you go out there and get the book, ‘The domestication of Munachi’. I hope that I get the opportunity to speak with you again.Once again this is the author, Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu. Thank you.