BEFORE DECEMBER
Chapter 12
…I woke up to see iye beside me,she had poured some water on me, trying to revive me,fear was written all over her,she probably thought I had died,Edos was no where In sight,I looked at her with no strength in me..you see yourself na,you go dey follow man dey exchange word,so you don’t know you are supposed to keep quiet when your husband is talking, especially when he’s angry,thank God,oya go change your clothes,tear drops were flowing down my cheeks like river,I was weak and helpless, waiting come dey beat you now,go inside go change na….
Iye…… what have I done to deserve this,how have I ever wronged you and Edos,did I commit an abomination to have married your son,I gave my all to this marriage, heaven and Earth knows that,I love you like I love my own mother,I love your son with everything I am, but what did I get in return,pains reproach and hatred.you have daughters like me,and I know you love them so very much,how would you feel if they went through all I am going through in this house.iye,,,,if I have offended you in any way,please forgive me,I was in tears and shaking.my words may have fallen on the Rocky part of her heart and melted it.
She looked in my eyes,and then helped me to sit, relaxing my back on the sofa,hmmm I didn’t like you,the first time I saw you,not because you weren’t likeable as a person, but because of the tribal differences,I really wanted my one and only son to get married to a bini girl,so that when I talk to her, she’d understand me,but he didn’t listen,I actually thought he loved you,so I gave in and agreed,just so he could be happy..
But your mother furstrated us with her high demands,it then triggered the anger I was trying to let go.so when my son told me he didn’t like you so much,that he was more interested in your money,I saw it as a way to get all we spent during the celebrity wedding.but that was very wrong of me.the truth is that,you are a good person, infact, you are good to a fault,you allowed your mother push you up and down,it is good to obey one’s parents,but at your age,you ought to know what you wanted and stick to it.I am sorry for everything you have been going through in this house,I am sorry to have failed you as a mother in law,I am sorry for all the ill treatment,when you fainted just now,I realized I love and care for you,I have never been that scared.please if you don’t mind my child,I would like us to start afresh on a new page,I am blessed to have a daughter in-law like you,I am not sure anyone would take all you have taken in this house.you are a blessing to this household….
I couldn’t believe those words were coming out from iye,I was shocked beyond words, I was speechless,I will understand,if you don’t want to forgive me right away,please take your time,,,I hugged her tightly,I felt this peace within,she hugged me too,and I could see some tear drops flowing down her eyes as it were already rushing out from mine..thank you very much iye, my wedding to Edos was already 2years plus,but I felt I was a new bride that day…. iye rushed to the kitchen and served the jollof rice she had made,and brought two malts,we ate and drank together.she bought me some pain reliving drugs too.
So now wey them don sack you waiting you go do,she asked.i laughed so hard, waiting I talk now, iye you sound like a different person when you speak good English,must you speak pigin,my dear,na anyone wey enter my mouth i dey speak joor, so what are you going to do now?she asked,,I don’t know ohhh,I will just try and look for another job…it’s well my child,don’t worry, God will grant you a better job…
By the by way I would like you to go to Itohan tomorrow,I want you to give her something,but try and be home between the hours of 12_1pm,she said.okay iye.
I went to bed at peace with myself, Edos came home but I didn’t have his time yet, I was too happy to notice him..the next day ,I went to Itohan’s place with iye’s message,,, reaching home at about 1:30pm,I met the shock of my life…….
Written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
