Chapter 25: Tell me the truth

Actually Ason and Itoya were good friends then. The grudge between Itoya and Ason started before she married Ifada. When they were friends Ason took Itoya to her boyfriend house when they got there Ason excused herself that she wanted to go out to buy something before she came back she saw her boyfriend forcing himself on Itoya, when Ason confronted him he told Ason that Itoya was seducing him. From that time onward Ason relationship with her boyfriend started falling apart she placed all the blame on Itoya that if she had not seduced her boyfriend her boyfriend would not have left her. After Itoya married Ifada Ason promised herself that she will allow Itoya to have peace in this life or life to come. So before having sex with me Ifada had slept with this woman, how many more women had he impregnated, she imagined in her mind. Itohan marched into the house leaving both Itoya and Ason alone. The two women starred at each other with hatred.That night Ifada slept in a separate room from his wives, he had to avoid them while Ason slept in the living room because she was not welcome in that house The next day when Ason woke up she stayed in the living room while the other wives avoided her; they were taking other routes to their destination around the compound. She was not bothered because her bargaining chips to enter the house and to get married to Ifada was the pregnancy and she must use it well; on a normal day Ifada will never think of having any connection with her. Eseiwi, Itohan, Itoya were in the kitchen together cooking, Itohan was teaching Itoya how to prepare melon soup in a way that it will look like a party melon soup, they did not bother if anyone is in the sitting room they were cooking in joy, they were enjoying their peace the peace while it last Eseiwi was running the kitchen errand for them. After staying together for some time they had both grown fond of themselves they do almost everything together and are ready to share, they were envy by people; because of the way they behave outside and at home. That was before Ason found her way into the house. Mama Ifada was in Ifada house that morning to deliver food to Itohan when she saw Ason staying in the sitting room with her bags. She was surprised that there was a visitor in her son house when she left yesterday there was only Itoya, Itohan and Eseiwi in the house apart from her child so who is this pregnant woman, and why is she alone in the sitting room with her bags. Mama Ifada could not help than to ask herself. Going close to the Ason, Ason observed that someone was in the sitting room with her so greeted her "be a superior mama" that was the greeting they greet in Ewosa (just as the Binis have family greeting in Edo ). "The supreme God be with you my child, who is your host and why are your bags still here with you" with the way her things were in the sitting room it can easily be detected that she slept in the sitting room . "Ifada" using her hand to rob her tummy she continued "the baby in here is for him" mama Ifada could not be believe her ears. She sat down when her legs could not hold her again because of the numerous shock she had received only that morning on the chair closest to her and said "you mean this pregnancy is for Ifada". "Yes mama" "Who is responsible tell me the truth" the old woman could not believe his son will go ahead and impregnate Ason without telling her. "Ifada is the father of my baby, he slept with me when Itoya was admitted in the hospital if you doubt it ask him" she said sarcastically. "I want to ask you again all I want is the truth and nothing more nothing less, is Ifada truly the father of your unborn child" she said using her right to hold her right ear. She was only trying to confirm because their seed cannot be born outside the father care neither will a woman be able to bring in a strange seed into the family and impose the child on any member of the family "Itoya" she called. On hearing her name Itoya knew her mother in law was around, she signaled Eseiwi to take care of the soup that on the fire, turning to Itohan she said please don't go near the fire and ran to the sitting room where she heard her name. And saw her mother in law with Ason then she greeted her "be a superior mama" Without answering her greeting she pointed at Ason and said "Prepare a room for her to stay" Before Itoya left the sitting room she saw Itohan approaching the sitting room and smiled at her mockingly "Be a superior mama". Mama Ifada moved closer to Itohan and placed her hand on her back "I hope you slept well my child, how are you and my grandchild" "We are fine only that he is getting more active every day". She said robbing her tummy "Don't worry its normal for the baby to be active just that you need to eat more food and take a lot of water so that the baby will have enough water to swim on in your tummy". "Thank you mama, you are the best" she said smiling at her mother in law "Same to you my child is so grateful to you and will ever be grateful to you and your mother I don't know how to repay you". "All this happened long time ago and you are still thanking me, please mama you will be embarrassing me if you continue like this mama" "You don't need to be embarrassed because you are the only daughter I recognize".