Isigini? Please Come Again!

Mrs. Ochuzi wondered what her daughter could be excited about and remembered that she had seen in the news that the NYSC first batch has been released. So she thought maybe her daughter was among those who’s name appeared in the first batch. She decided to guess that was the reason for Ify’s excitement. Ify faced palm herself. She has even totally forgotten she had applied for NYSC. She told her mom to take a second guess as her first guess was wrong.

“Aapumaka this girl! Leave me alone with all this your guess guess guess! Tell me what you want to tell me and stop stressing my brain”. The mother said telling Ify to leave her alone using the Igbo word “aapumaka”. Ify hissed. Her mother was no fun at all. Even though she was faking it, the woman has just killed her fake vibe.

“I’m pregnant!” She blunted out. The asked her to repeat what she just said. Ify told her again she was pregnant. Ify could hear her mom calling for her younger sister Ogechi to get her cotton wool and spirit.

“What do you want to use cotton wool and spirit for? Did you obtain an injury or something?” Ify asked.

“Yes o! I just obtained an injury in both my ears. I’m thinking using spirit will disinfect it”. Mrs. Ochuzi said.

“Ify come again! You are what? Pregnant? Isigini? Please come again! Tell me you are pregnant. You are pregnant when you are not even married and you have the boldness to tell me that? Mom guess what? I’m pregnant!” The mother mimicked.

“May thunder not strike that your mouth Ify. You have decided to disgrace me and your father abi? What will the umuada (women born into a family) say? I did not raise my daughter well? Who is the father of the bastard you are carrying?” The mother asked.

“Mama!” Ify exclaimed stupefied her mother would react this way to the extent of even calling her child a bastard although it was not real. Even though the pregnancy was fake, her mother’s words are not.

“Who? Me? Am I your mother? You spread your legs for a man and got pregnant and you are calling me mama? Do you even have regards for me?” The mother yelled at her.

Ify bit her lips. “It is Kehinde my fiancé. I mean who else will be responsible? Besides, we will be getting married in less than two months”. Ify said to the mother. Her mother laughed mockingly.

“How am I sure that they are not planning to cancel the marriage seeing I did not agree to do what the mother asked? Or are you stupid? Your wedding is in a month and some weeks, yet they have not fixed a particular date. Well, whether they like it or not, they must marry o? Tell that boy that he should get ready to pay double bride price for impregnating you. I will talk to your father. This marriage will have to take place latest in a month time”. The mother said before hanging up.