chapter 3

Ifeoma was surprised to see her husband at the entrance and she immediately understood why his mother started her fake tears. She shook her head in a manner that says 'this woman'.

"What is going on here, Oma? What have you said to my mother this time to make her start crying, and you know how emotional she can get?" Fikayo questioned his wife as he rushed to console his mother.

"Your wife have been insulting me since I entered this house, Akanni! I don't know why it is this Igbo girl that you had to marry when it is not that responsible Yoruba girls are nowhere to be found. Very disrespectful and mannerless!" Mama spat while Ifeoma looked at her husband as if expecting him to say something to support her but Fikayo said nothing about it instead he said something totally unrelated to the matter.

"Oma, what is burning?!" Ifeoma who had completely forgotten about the Jollof rice she was cooking ran into the kitchen.

Mama laughed hysterically and said something that Ifeoma heard clearly,"The good wife that burns food! When a woman is bad, she is bad! There is nothing anybody can do to make her good! Akanni, is it burnt food that you have been eating in this house? No wonder you look so lean and malnourished. Infact, I am going to have to stay in this house for some weeks and look after you. I won't allow one useless woman to kill you for me!"

Ifeoma rushed out of the kitchen not minding the burning smell that the Jollof rice have created, she would have to cook again for her husband since the rice got burnt real bad, she wondered how they hadn't even perceived the smell on time.

"No mama! You are not staying in this house, I will never allow that, never!" Ifeoma snapped standing akimbo.

"Oma, what is wrong with you now? Why won't you stop acting like a rival with my mother?" Fikayo questioned.

"Are you asking me that? Shouldn't you be asking your mother? She should have just married you now if she just can't allow her son to be a man in his own house."

Ifeoma certainly wasn't ready to allow her Mother-in-law to stay in her matrimonial home, she can definitely send her packing if care was not taken.

"If only you can use all these strength you are using here to fight your mother at home who has locked your womb somewhere!" Mama snapped and walked into the guest room knowing fully well that she had won the battle with that little statement of hers.

Ifeoma burst into tears, her Mother-in-law knew just what to say to hurt her, she had those words in her palms.

"Don't mind mama, Oma! Why are you crying cos of what she said, you know it's old age that has made her this way." Fikayo said in way to console his wife.

Ifeoma shook her head vehemently before she spoke,"When she was the one crying, you said she is emotional now that I am crying, you still keep on supporting her! When will you grow up for Christ's sake?!"

Ifeoma rushed into her room afterwards expecting her husband to rush after her to settle the misunderstanding but instead, Fikayo went into the guest room.

'His mother will always be his first priority', Ifeoma thought as she cried.

TO BE CONTINUED...