CHAPTER 13. Wifely duties

Have you ever worried that you might be the problem a particular thing us not working the way it should. I'm afraid to talk to my friends for fear of what they might say, not Ife though she is pretty straightforward. Abel has always been nice in the long run at least. It's not his fault he his the way he his. Why I'm I thinking like this, when did I become such a lovey-dovey girl, argh. I coil on the couch to watch my favourite TV show, it's a local TV show of an average family. I laugh at their dramatics.

Ever since I talked to Abel, I have been thinking you know that maybe I should give him a chance he his right though, we are already married. A continuous knock at the door jolted me the present.

"I'm coming hold on." Jeez, who's at the door the person should calm down A bit.

"Who is there please?"

"You disrespectful child, where were you, do you know how long I've been knocking, oh, you intentionally ignored me didn't You-" she shakes her head repeatedly,"- I don't know why my son married You."

"Please ma'am it's not like that, I came to open the door immediately I heard."

"Are trying to tell me that I don't know what I'm saying, am I by any chance lying?" She deadpanned.

"I'm sorry ma, come in ma," I moved back for her to come in.

"Sorry" she scoffed, "I can come in anytime I Like, Its my son's house after all."

She walked past me without stopping, went straight to the kitchen and to my surprise she took the last piece of food in the pot and juice in the fridge. I left the food for myself because I wanted to eat it later it was my breakfast or let's just say lunch since I haven't eat it. I didn't say a thing since I've always been scared of her.

"Abel is not around ma'am and I don't know when he would be back."

She raised her head up to look at me under her eyes, I always feel small every time I'm around this woman she makes me feel insignificant." So are you telling me to leave my son's house for you and where did he go?"

"I don't know ma neither do I know when he'll be back." Abel sometimes doesn't come home in a day, he sleeps out a lot this days, not that I watching him.

"Which sort of wife are you, you don't know where your husband went to and you don't even know when he will be back, you're so useless, you can't even cook properly" she thundered.

Is it the food you finished and almost cleaned the plate.

"This house is so dirty, have you cleaned it this morning, I'm sure you've not even have your bath."

"I've cleaned the house and myself ma and Abel didn't tell me." I said quietly.

"Can't you speak louder than that, I'm sure you've not consummated the marriage, un." I blanked there speechless because I don't understand how this woman can stay there pretending like her son really married me the way it's done. I didn't ask my opinion, oh he did he just didn't value it enough. I'm in a marriage I don’t want to be and she is telling me about consummating the marriage.

This brought me to the day I first met Abel's mother. I was walking home after a long day at school.

"Hey wait up, why are you in a hurry?" Abel called from behind me. I want to get home fast but Abel won't let me hear the last of it if I didn't wait, "I'm just tired after all our work at school, I had to run extra you know," I sighed,” I don't like Ife, she put in trouble intentionally, I was just replying her."

"I know and you shouldn't have replied her but that's not the point here, you should have waited for me we always go home together."

"Sorry but I need to crash, see you tomorrow."

"Come to my place, promise it'll be quick."

"I just told you I'm tired and you are asking me to follow you home, I'll go tomorrow." I replied him without looking back. I really don't want to follow him home but I know Abel he won't drop the issue till I do, Maybe today I'll get my way, I thought.

"Common, it has to be today and you owe me."

"Owe you seriously," I turn my head to look at him surprised. Really that's all he could come out with. I don’t owe him.

"Ok, let's count, I went to see your mom..."

I started laughing as I heard him, "seriously Abel, I didn't ask you to come remember, you followed me yourself, but sure I'll come and I don't owe you anymore." Abel likes to win, he comes first in class and make sure he passes everyone in class the worst part is that he is never satisfied.

Abel lives in an estate where all the houses there are built the same way with the same colour, it's disconcerting. He reassured me that they could paint the inside anyhow they wanted. At least that's different. It was pretty ok until I met his mom she was not welcoming at all, she told me to leave immediately I entered their house it was as if I've offended her from birth. I don't want to be around her for any reason.

Abel's mother never liked me so I'm going to leave her here. I've called Abel and he said he his on his way.

"Abel would soon be back ma, he his close by, I have some errands to run ma."

"Are you running away?" She asked

"Doesn't matter, I never liked you and I still don't but you are already married to my son so here are a list of the things you need to do for me to see you as an average wife."

"Ma..."

"You need to keep the house clean, didn't you mother teach You, I'm sure she did and you didn't listen" she cut me off.

"Also, he loves food, most especially, amala with abula. He also enjoys rice with chicken. You know all delicious food but he doesn't like egusi soup and ...."

I stopped listening to her she went on and on about Abel's like and dislike. To top it of she told me to lie on the bed and take what ever he does to me.

"You can go and don't forget all that I told you."

"No ma, I lie and take everything." I replied disgusted. Why does it feel like she is not joking about that statement. I have never thought about sex because I feel like that would sort it self out when I'm in love with a guy right.

Why is my life upside down? Here I am getting told how to be a good wife when I don't even know who my father is and I'm running away from my place to my friends place because I'm scared of my supposed mother in law.

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Amala and Abula and egusi soup are all local food.