Chapter 2

"You must vacate this chamber. As tradition dictates, when a fresh bride enters, the former occupant must yield, allowing the husband to savor the novelty. You must grant my son the space he craves to revel in his new companion's presence. This evening marks the commencement of their joy, and I insist you seek lodgings elsewhere. Tonight, my son shall experience the essence of a true partner." Titi's mother-in-law declared, her words dripping with calculated malice. She harbored no intention of relenting, aiming to sow seeds of discord that would ultimately drive Titi away.

"Mama, are you implying I am not a genuine woman?" Titi murmured, her gaze lowered in shame. The manner in which her mother-in-law addressed her struck at the core of her self-worth. She had labored to prepare the evening meal single-handedly, serving all like a household servant. The new bride offered no assistance, lounging at the dining table, awaiting the meal's completion. Even when tasked with fetching water, Titi bore the burden alone. Madu, her husband, observed silently, offering no defense. Exhausted, Titi retired early, only to be accosted by her mother-in-law's intrusive intrusion.

"Indeed, that is precisely what I am suggesting. You lack the essence of womanhood. You have failed to demonstrate your fertility after a decade of cohabitation. Why have you not borne offspring? You are as barren as the desert sands, devoid of life's sustenance. Perhaps you squandered your maternal potential in covens of witchcraft." Titi's mother-in-law continued her tirade, her tone laced with acrimony. Each word pierced Titi's spirit, yet she maintained her composure.

"I am not divine, nor are you. Only God bestows the gift of children. In due time, He will answer my prayers. I await the fruition of His promises." Titi retorted, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. As she began to gather her belongings, the anguish of eviction from her marital chamber weighed heavily upon her. To be cast aside for her barrenness inflicted a profound wound, exacerbated by her husband's silent complicity. Though he disavowed knowledge of his mother's machinations, he tacitly condoned her actions, reaping the benefits thereof.

"I pray you witness the bountiful harvest of blessings when the appointed hour arrives." Titi uttered, her voice trembling with resolve.

"When will this 'appointed time' materialize? After a decade of fruitless endeavor, when shall it be? You failed to conceive in your prime; shall menopause herald your salvation? Abandon your delusions, Titi. You are destined for barrenness. I warned my son against wedding you, discerning your flawed nature. Yet, I am here to rectify his folly. Within nine moons, this household shall resound with infantile cries. Accept the inevitability of your departure." Titi's mother-in-law proclaimed, a smug smirk adorning her countenance. With practiced efficiency, she transformed the chamber, symbolically erasing Titi's presence. As she draped fresh linens upon the bed, a gleaming veneer of superiority enveloped her.

"God shall prove you wrong. Wait and see." Titi whispered, her departure imminent.

"Where was your God throughout these years?" Her mother-in-law's scornful query lingered, a bitter refrain echoing in Titi's heart. With each prayer, Titi fervently beseeched divine intervention, wrestling with doubts engendered by her mother-in-law's disdain.

As she exited the chamber, Titi encountered Madu and his new bride, poised at the threshold. They awaited the culmination of his mother's machinations, eager to assume their newfound intimacy. Witnessing another occupy her marital bed, Titi's anguish swelled, igniting a tempest of emotion.

"So, you stand idly by as your mother orchestrates my expulsion from our chamber? Do you condone her actions by your silence?" Titi implored, her voice trembling with indignation.

"There is naught I can do. We've deliberated this matter. Please, avail yourself of another chamber; the estate abounds with vacant quarters. Regard this not as banishment, but a mere relocation. Though we sleep apart, you remain my wife. Accept this with grace." Madu's impassive response served only to stoke Titi's ire.

Relocating her belongings to a forsaken chamber, Titi resigned herself to solitude. Despite her new surroundings, sleep eluded her, as she languished at the threshold, straining to discern the intimacies within. Through a slender aperture, she glimpsed her replacement, her heart rending with each whispered endearment exchanged. As tears flowed unabated, Titi's resolve hardened, steeling herself against the bitter reality of her plight.