chapter 2

Ifeoma sighed before she opened the door to let her in. But then she was not alone this time, she came along with a grown up woman who has one very thick tribal mark on both sides of her face.

"Good afternoon, mama." Ifeoma greeted her Mother-in-law kneeling on both knees, she didn't want to start on a wrong foot with her since she could practically take up her —not kneeling— as a very big deal.

"Well-done, where is my son?" Mama asked eyeing Ifeoma vigorously.

"He's yet to be back from work ma. You know the nature of his job, but I'm sure he'll be back soon." Ifeoma replied smiling and trying to lighten up the tense room.

"He'll be back soon and you are just sitting doing what? Is he going to drink just water after a tiring day at work?" Mama questioned.

"No ma, I am already preparing his favourite ma. Jollof rice and fried meat. I have enough to go round for you and even your guest ma. Let me go and check it." Ifeoma said rushing towards the kitchen until she was stopped by mama.

"Come back here. Wonders shall never end! So Jollof rice is now my son's favourite? My son that couldn't even do without eating Amala dudu and Ewedu soup in a day."

"No mama. He hardly eats swallow food now ma. He loves my Jollof rice a lot and can even do everything for me just to make sure I cook it." Ifeoma retorted.

"Okay, so I don't know my son's favourite food again, abi? You know my son for ordinary six or seven years now and you are the one that knows him more? Have you forgotten that no woman can know a man more than his mother does? All this stupid sons' wives that thinks they know their husband more than the mother. Nonsense!" Mama fumed.

"I am sorry ma!" Ifeoma apologized even though she didn't do or say anything wrong.

"Sorry for yourself. Meanwhile, I have gotten a maid for you people o. My son complained about you not doing all the chores nor cooking his foods very well. So this is Tofunmi who will be living and working in this house henceforth." Mama said while Ifeoma looked at her dumbfounded for a while before she found her voice and spoke.

"But... mama... Fikayo didn't mention any such thing to me ma. And he never complains of my foods, not once. And I can handle all the chores. There is literally nothing she'll be doing in this house. The washing machine washes our clothes and the dishwasher does our dirty dishes. I sweep this house myself and cooking is not a big deal either, it's what I'm good at so a maid is definitely not what we need ma. But thank you for trying to help mama."

"So that nonsense food that hardly has pepper in it is what you call food? Ordinary Ewedu, I have never seen you cook it in this house. All you cook is stew that has twenty tomatoes and two pepper in it. I have brought this girl here and she is here to stay. Tofunmi, take your things to the room right there jare." Mama complained and then directed the girl.

Ifeoma had already had enough.

"No mama. She had better not leave that spot! I have respected you enough o, mama. This is my husband's house and I have a say in it. You can't just come and start controlling things for me. Your son is a grown up man who is now a married man and he doesn't need his mother to take care of him anymore, his wife can do that."

"Eh eh! So I do not have a say in my own son's house? Ehn? I don't blame you, I blame your parents that have refused to teach you manners from home..."

Ifeoma sparked, she could take anything but her parents being insulted so she started insulting her Mother-in-law before she could stop herself.

"Mama, ahnahn... what is it sef?! Don't you have your own husband's house to be controlling? Why do you keep pokenosing into another family's matter? Why won't you stop terrorizing me in my husband's house? Nothing I do satisfies you in any way! I think it's high time you left. This girl is not staying in this house and that's my own. Her services are not needed here, you can check the next building!"

Mama burst into fake tears while Ifeoma wondered what warranted her drama now. She looked at the the door to see her husband standing at the entrance observing the whole scenario.

TO BE CONTINUED...