The Marriage Battle

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 14

Chidi: Wow…Sister Adaobi, your house is really big and beautiful and I have this room all to myself.

Adaobi: Yes you have this room all to yourself, Why don’t you lay Kunle on the bed while you freshen up and keep an eye on his while I go get busy. I do not like the way my house is.

Chidi: Okay sister but then I wanted to ask, are you sure Papa will be okay alone in that house, you know Chigozie hardly comes around and even if he did, it is once in a while that he comes around. How is Papa going to cope?

Adaobi: That is not a problem because I already paid for someone who will be cooking and taking care of Papa and the house while you are gone. All I need to do is pay the person monthly.

Chidi: Is Papa okay with that?

Adaobi: Yes he is since he refused to come and live with me for she had once asked him to come and live with her but he bluntly refused the offer.

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Four days later, Ayo returned from his trip and met Chidi in the house for he wasn’t aware that he will be coming.

Chidi: ‘Good day sir and welcome back’ he said feeling a little bit uncomfortable for he hasn’t seen him except the time he came to pay her bride price and on another occasion which he cant remember at the moment.

Ayo: Good day to you Chidi and how is everyone at home including Mr Emenike your Uncle? He asked as soon as he greeted his mother and replied Kemi’s greeting.

Chidi: They are all fine.

Ayo: Good and welcome to my house.

Chidi: Yes sir and thank you sir.

Adaobi: Hello Honey, Welcome home. I have missed you so much.

Ayo: ‘Same here’ he hugged her ‘how was your trip and where is our son?

Adaobi: He is in his room and my trip was wonderful.

Ayo: How is Papa doing?

Adaobi: He is fine and sends his regards.

Ayo: ‘Okay’ and the couples went to their room holding each other’s hands and smiling.

Later in the evening while Adaobi and Ayo were about to go to bed, Adaobi told Ayo about Chidi.

Adaobi: Sweetheart, my brother will be staying with us for the mean time and I want to enroll him for an extra moral lesson till Jamb comes out.

Ayo: Really! That’s okay by me,Which one do you have in mind?

Adaobi: None at the moment but I will have to look for.

Ayo: Fine by me.

Adaobi: I want him to be leaving with us until God knows when.

Ayo: ‘Okay’ he said as he searched her face for she was tensed while saying it ‘is something the matter?

Adaobi: No not that. I mean; I hope it won’t be a problem since Mami and Kemi are here already and my brother has come to join them.

Ayo: I don’t see anything wrong with it; afterall we are all family aren’t we?

Adaobi: ‘Yes we are’ she said and laid her head on his shoulder.

Few days later, Mami told Adaobi that she would like to have a word with her.

Mami: ‘Adaobi, I would like to have a word with you please’ she said as soon as she was done attending to her son.

Adaobi: Mami hope no problem?

Mami: No! no problem it’s just that I am curious about something.

A daobi: What is it Mami.

Mami: Don’t you think it will be wise for your brother to go and live with your father since he is the only one at home.

Adaobi: No I don’t Mami and why would you suggest that when staying here is also going to help him?

Mami: Nothing oooo, its just that it wont be nice if the next person that comes to live with us is your brother or father and then this house, my son’s house will turn to your family house.

Adaobi: How can you say such a thing about us?

Mami: What did I say, I am only saying the fact.

Adaobi: But you have no problem in you and your daughter staying in this house abi?

Mami: No I don’t. Isn’t it my son’s house?

Adaobi: Well it is and it happens to be that your son is no longer a single but a married man and your son and his wife makes the decision here not you.

Mami: I don’t want you to bring your family members here to come and be staying full time Adaobi or do you think that I don’t know with time, another of your family will be here.

Adaobi: Well, what can I do if you see it that way Mami but you should also know that you and your daughter are here and if I don’t have a problem with it, you shouldn’t have a problem with mine and Yes Mami, very soon, I will be bringing my father here to live permanently just the way you are.

Mami: You will do no such thing.

Adaobi: Watch me Mami, I have never complained about you here and you shouldn’t complain about my family for I will not have it.

Mami: This house you are taking so much pride in; like you built it, is my son’s house and I knew how he tried all he could to be where he is today for I will not allow you bring your family here to reap where you have not sown.

Adaobi: ‘Okay Mami I have heard and I will not batter words with you but you should also know that this house became my house too the day I said I do in court to your son’ she said smiling.

Mami: “We shall see then” for she was surprised at the boldness and attitude of Adaobi. She never taught that for a million years, Adaobi will stand up to her the way she is doing and decided to use another strategy in making sure that she wont have her way this time.

Adaobi: on her own part looked at the woman who she tried so much to put up with everyday in her house and vowed that never again will she make her uncomfortable in her house. For this house is her house and Mami will never again dictate to her what and what not to do ‘Fine, if that is how you want it, so be it’ she said and went to her room.

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Mami: My son, I want to talk to you.

Ayo: Ha! Mami I just came back from work and I haven’t even gone to freshen up yet, cant it wait.

Mami: Ayo it can’t wait, I want to talk to you now.

Ayo: Did you and my wife have a fight again?

Mami: No Ayo, it is not that, I just want to talk to you for something has been bothering me.

Ayo: Okay Mami and where is my wife?

Mami: She should be in her room sleeping or attending to Kunle, I don’t know but she is inside.

Ayo: Okay, what is it and hope it is not about her again?

Mami: No it is not. I want to ask you a very important question Ayo.

Ayo: What is it Mami?

Mami: Do you really love me as a mother?

Ayo: Of course I do and how can you ask me such a question?

Mami: Because I am not seeing it from you ever since you married your wife.

Ayo: Mami, I love you and I love my wife, I can’t trade you both for anyone or anything in the world.

Mami: Your only saying it I am sure because if it is true, shouldn’t you tell me things in this house?

Ayo: What do you mean?

Mami: How come you never told me that you are making arrangement to bring your wife’s father to come and live with us and before you know it, this place will turn to a family home, her family.

Ayo: Ermm Mami, bring who again?

Mami: Adaobi’s father.

Ayo: Who told you that?

Mami: Your wife did and you never bothered to tell me, is that how you treat your mother?

Ayo: I think there must be a misunderstanding.

Mami: I don’t think so because I heard your wife very well when she said it.

Ayo: Mami, my wife has never said anything concerning that to me.

Mami: Did she tell you that she was going to bring her brother when she was going to the village to see her people? How much did you even give her when she left to the village? You tell your wife all that you do and she doesn’t tell you any of her plans until she has done what is in her mind.

Ayo: Mami wait first, what do you mean, what are you trying to say?

Mami: I said I think you give your wife too much liberty, before you got married, I did warn you about her type of people didn’t i? I told you that she would bring all her people to stay in this house and before you know it, you will be spending more than necessary on them. Is that not happening already?

Ayo: Mami I know my wife so well and i know that she is not one of those women you think she is, just try and understand her please.

Mami: You are not understanding me abi? I said your wife will extort you and use all your money for her family members. Very soon, she will bring her father and the rest members into this house. You better listen to all I say for your own good.

Ayo: ‘Mami I have heard and I will do as you say’ he said and left the sitting room.