chapter 30

Mrs Ogbonna, Ifeoma's mother stepped into her daughter's home with items in her hands.

As soon as Ifeoma sighted her mom, she ran to hug her tight. She had missed her and she hardly visited.

"Ifeoma, you're getting so lean o , aren't you eating well?" Mrs Ogbonna questioned her with worries all over her face immediately she took her seat.

"I'm fine mom, maybe it's because I fast too much" Ifeoma replied.

"Don't kill yourself o, I know that I said you should be praying and fasting, but don't overdo it, bikonu . God will answer our prayers, take it easy. What of your husband?" She asked looking around the house.

"He's not around, mom."

"Ahnahn, even on Sundays? Where does he go to every time? You people should always use Sundays as family time after you get back from church" Mrs Ogbonna advised.

"That's what we used to do when we just got married but now, it's not. It's either mama is around or he says he's going for guy's hangout. He didn't even go to church with me today." Ifeoma complained.

"I will call him and scold him, he should not use God to play. Guy's hangout can't be more important than church. Speaking of your mother in law, how is she now?"

"She must be somewhere in the room or kitchen"

"Wait, What? She's still living with you for all these months? I thought you said her house has been renovated, why is she still here?"

"Why can't I be here? Ehn! In my son's house?" Mama cut in as she stepped out of her room.

"My In Law, Good afternoon Nna. How are you?" Mrs Ogbonna greeted warmly with smiles on her face.

" Abeg, carry your hypocrisy away." Mama snapped.

Ifeoma never played with her mother, she always lambaste whoever talks anyhow to her or about her but right now, she decided that she wouldn't. Her mom had always thought she exaggerated whenever she talked about what mama does to her. She should see it herself.

" Ahnahn , my in-law. I apologize, I was just shocked that you are still leaving here. It's your son's house of course, you can stay till whenever..." Ifeoma glared at her mother.

"...but you know that these children need privacy and all. They are still a young couple" Mrs Ogbonna completed while Ifeoma nodded in affirmation.

"I'm not disrupting their privacy, until my son says I should go, I'll be here. He's the only one who can tell me to leave his house and I know that he dare not, I didn't give birth to a useless child" Mama replied adamantly.

"Mom, don't engage her" Ifeoma whispered to her mother as they both decided not to reply her anymore.

Mama took her seat.

"So, Ifeoma, I went to see our pastor and he prayed on this water, make sure its the one you drink for at least three days. After taking a cup each time, pray. God will answer our prayers, my daughter." Mrs Ogbonna instructed as she brought out a five liters keg of pure water.

"Keep deceiving her" Mama snickered at them.

"What did you say, my in-law?" Mrs Ogbonna asked politely.

"I said, keep deceiving her! Instead of you to just untie her womb, you're deceiving her" Mama threw.

Mrs Ogbonna stood up instantly.

"I beg your pardon? I will not accept such foul talks from you towards me at all. All these respect I'm trying to give you is because respect should be accorded to in-laws but if you weren't taught that respect is reciprocal, I'll tell you now"

Ifeoma was elated. Her mom was never a gentle woman, she had a gentle pretty face and acts gentle but when pushed to the wall, she unleashes her madness, that madness was what was about to happen and Ifeoma was happy about it.

'Go, mum!' She hyped mentally.

"Do you want to beat me in my son's house?" Mama replied as she also stood up.

"Enough with the son's house thing, this is my daughter's house too and I have the same amount of right that you do but do you see me acting stupid about it, no! I've heard about what you put my daughter through but I used to think that she was exaggerating it but now, I know that she wasn't. What is your problem with my daughter? Na marry she marry your son, no be kill she kill am! Why do you want to kill her for me?"

"I will not stand here and let you insult me in my son's house. Ifeoma, so you went to bring your mother to beat me up?" Mama shouted.

"Leave Ifeoma alone and face me! I'm a mother like you! How would you feel if you had a daughter and she gets terrorized in her husband's house everytime? Infact, put yourself in her shoes, what has she ever done to you? Her only crime was marrying your son! Ifeoma, remember how we warned and told you about this boy, ehn! He was lower than you in all ways, lower! Beneath! But we thought, we should give love a chance and see the mother here acting like she gave birth to gold."

"My son is gold, if not, your daughter won't be here digging it!" Mama retorted.

Mrs Ogbonna laughed.

"Which gold is she digging? Ifeoma, does this woman know that the job her son has right now is even due to our connections? Does she know that if not because love is blind and stupid, you're not even supposed to marry him at all? I hate to brag but your son never measured up, you want to hear story and that's it"

Ifeoma remained seated as she watched the drama between the two mothers. Her mother had the upper hand and she was enjoying it. Mama needed to know that her son wasn't all that and that she actually had a lot to do with his growth.

"Sorry o, money ritual people! Is that why you are feeling like God? He's bigger now and I'm sure you thought he'll always be lower! God is bigger than all of you! Leave my son's house and you can even carry the empty basket you dropped in his life along!" Mama shouted yet again.

Mama was proof that empty barrel makes the loudest noise, Mrs Ogbonna was tackling her with facts and she was doing it with ease and no shouting while Mama was spewing lies and shouting while at it.

" Calling my daughter an empty basket? If I wanted to act like God, then do you know what I'd do? I'll lock you up! Yes! And no one, not even your son can get you out..."

' Mum, please, lock her up and chain her mouth small sef ' Ifeoma thought.

"... but I won't stoop to your level. Ifeoma, I'm leaving" Mrs Ogbonna concluded as she picked up her bag from the couch.

"Leave! Witch! Don't forget to untie her womb from the tree you hanged it on!" Mama shouted.

"Mama, that's enough! Stop disgracing yourself the more! Don't talk to my mother like that!..." Ifeoma wanted to say more but her mom tapped her, telling her to not worry about it so she stopped reluctantly.

Mama was still shouting and saying insultive words as Mrs Ogbonna got into her car.

"Ifeoma, I feel your pain with that mad woman that Fikayo calls a mother. But be patient and good, okay? Don't talk back at her and don't insult her, God is with you, my daughter. I'll call Fikayo to come and see me in the shop too, he needs to be lectured and you should always pray that he grows up too, he's a grown baby. Don't forget that water and the instructions, okay? Come and visit us at home sometime soon" Ifeoma's mom said as she touched her daughter's face, Ifeoma nodded to everything she said.

She zoomed out of the compound afterwards.

Ifeoma walked into her house, already feeling stressed.

" Wait till my son comes back to hear that your mother beat me in his house and you even joined her, useless woman!" Mama said.

Ifeoma simply ignored her, carried the keg of water and other items her mum brought and then went into her room, she already had enough madness for one day.

TO BE CONTINUED...