MY MOTHER IN-LAW, EPISODE 1.

MY MOTHER IN-LAW, EPISODE 1.

MY MOTHER IN-LAW, EPISODE 1.

Azuka sat on her low wooden stool, picking beans carefully from a wide metal tray. She hummed softly to herself as the evening breeze blew gently across the compound. Every now and then, she waved her hand to chase away the stubborn flies that hovered around her food.

“Who opened the gate for all these flies?” she murmured, frowning. “They won’t even let me pick my beans in peace.”

Just then, the sound of a car engine broke the quiet. Azuka stopped and looked up, surprised. The car drove quickly into the compound, raising a little dust as it came to a stop.

“Who could that be?” she wondered aloud, wiping her hands on her wrapper. “Which visitor drives into my compound with such a big car?”

She stood up, straightened her wrapper, and waited. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw who stepped out.

It was Ejike, her only son tall, handsome, and neatly dressed in a white shirt and jeans. A bright smile spread across her face.

“Ejike, my son!” she called out happily, her voice full of joy.

Before she could reach him, the car door on the other side opened. A beautiful young woman stepped out. Her name was Ella. She was wearing a red gown with gold earrings, light makeup, and long artificial lashes that fluttered as she blinked.

Azuka’s smile slowly faded. She folded her arms and watched them walk toward her.

“Mama, good evening,” Ejike greeted, hugging her warmly.

“My son,” she said, smiling again. “You look so good. City life is treating you well.”

Then she turned her eyes to the lady beside him. Her gaze moved slowly from Ella’s hair to her shoes, noticing every detail her jewelry, painted nails, and perfume scent that filled the air.

“Good evening, Mama,” Ella greeted politely with a little bow.

Azuka didn’t answer. She just stared at her in silence.

Ejike cleared his throat. “Mama, this is Ella the woman I told you about.”

Azuka began to cough suddenly. “What did you say?” she asked, holding her chest.

“Mama, are you alright?” Ella asked quickly, stepping closer to help, but Azuka raised her hand to stop her.

“I’m fine! Don’t come near me!” she said sharply. Then she looked at her son. “Ejike, meet me inside the house.”

Without another word, she turned and went inside.

Ella looked at Ejike, worried. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course, my love,” Ejike said softly, forcing a smile. “Maybe she wants to surprise me or something. I’ll go talk to her.”

“Alright. I’ll wait here,” Ella replied gently.

Inside the house, Azuka stood by the door, her arms folded tightly across her chest. She looked angry and impatient.

“Ejike, what is the meaning of that thing you brought into my compound?” she asked as soon as he entered.

“Thing?” Ejike repeated, confused. “Mama, what are you talking about?”

Azuka frowned deeply. “That girl outside! That city woman with painted nails and eyelashes! How can you bring someone like that here?”

“Mama, please,” Ejike said calmly. “She’s not a thing. She’s a human being her name is Ella. And I love her.”

“Love?” Azuka repeated, shocked. “You love her? You have gone mad! So among all the good girls in this village, it is that city girl you want to marry? Don’t you see her long lashes? Don’t you see the color on her lips? You want to bring trouble into my home!”

Ejike smiled lightly. “Mama, you’re overreacting.”

“Stop laughing!” Azuka shouted, stamping her foot. “I said stop laughing when I am talking to you!”

Outside, Ella who had been walking around the compound paused when she heard raised voices from the window. Quietly, she moved closer and listened.

“Mama,” Ejike said firmly, “I have made my choice. Ella is the woman I want to marry.”

“Then you have chosen wrongly,” Azuka said harshly. “Over my dead body will that woman enter this family. Never!”

“Mama, you can’t decide who I marry. I am an adult. I know what I want,” he said.

Azuka glared at him. “You are not man enough, Ejike. A real man would know he must marry from his own village. You have lost your sense because of that woman’s charm!”

Ejike shook his head sadly. “Mama, I can see you don’t want me here. I’m leaving.”

He turned to walk out, but Azuka shouted behind him, “So you are walking away while I’m talking to you? Ejike, is this how you repay me after all my suffering? You have grown wings!”

She followed him outside, still shouting.

When Ejike reached Ella, he took her hand gently and opened the car door.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly.

“Mama, goodnight,” Ella said respectfully.

“Don’t call me mama!” Azuka yelled, pointing at her. “And don’t you ever come back to this house again! You hear me? Never!”

Ejike started the car. As they drove out, Azuka kept shouting, her voice echoing through the compound.

“Look at this boy of yesterday! Ejike that I carried in my womb for nine months and nursed for two years is now walking out on me! That girl has put a spell on him all these city girls are the same! But that spell will not last, I promise you. It will break soon!”

She hissed, picked up her tray of beans, and sat back on her stool. Her eyes were full of anger and pain.

“Jezebel girl,” she muttered under her breath. “You think you’ve won, but we shall see.”

To be continued…..