Chapter 6: Showdown with the Mother-in-Law

6.

I waka go downstairs. Morayo mama dey living room sofa. As she see me, her swollen red eyes just dey burn me:

“If no be you wey force my son come back, he no for drive enter river. Na you kill my son!”

The way she dey point finger, you go think say I be ogbanje. In this Naija, if man pikin die, dem go blame woman wey near am last. Even church elder go nod head in agreement, as if woman dey drag man for bad luck.

Morayo suppose dey business trip. The day after the accident na the day wey we suppose try wedding gown. That night, he drive enter river. When I first hear say Morayo die, even with my pain, I still try comfort his mama. But she push me: “You wey dey bring bad luck, na you kill my son!”

I remember when my own grandma die, nobody blame my papa. But for here, dem turn me to scapegoat—"Wicked woman! You too stubborn!"

[Rich babe no suppose marry enter family wey get wahala. Abeg, run while you still single!]

[She no go run. Few days ago, the guy mama call her husband killer, she still dey blame herself. After this old witch finish her, the fake-dead guy go finish her when he come back.]

Me and Morayo mama never agree. Before the accident, Morayo promise me say after marriage, we no go stay with her. But these days, because of guilt, I just dey allow her pour all her anger on me. Now, I see her dey hug Morayo black-and-white photo, she look like clown. I just laugh small. She vex: “Wetin dey make you laugh?” She stand, wan slap me. Her hand hang for air, but I no blink. This slap, I don collect am for my mind since. Musa rush block am: “Auntie, abeg calm down. Sister-in-law too sad, her head no correct. No mind am.” Tunde add: “Sister-in-law, abeg apologize to Auntie.”

For this part of Naija, dem go say, "Respect your elders," but elder wey dey use you shine for family shame, na to dodge slap. I stand like stubborn goat, no fear for my eyes.

I waka slowly go Morayo mama side. She think say I wan comfort her, turn face away. “No matter wetin you talk, I no go ever forgive you. You and my son just engage, you no go see one kobo for him property.” But I just bend, whisper low so only she hear: "Your son na real demon. If God dey, make you join am soon." She grab her chest, fall for sofa.

If to say na Nollywood, this one na the scene wey dem go repeat for promo. My own small revenge, sharp and direct. My mind rest small—na so Naija babe suppose deliver last word.

[Hahaha, the old witch don collect. I dey wave flag for our babe! Make dem try cross her now.]

[Sweet! She no dey take rubbish again!]

All the relatives scatter, rush Morayo mama. She point me with shaky hand: “She really kill my son. Musa, call police arrest her!”

[The guy mama don mad. No wonder she raise useless pikin.]

[Our babe don finally stand up for herself, I dey happy.]

[Hope say she really wake up. I dey fear say she go just forgive when the guy return...]

Tears full my eyes: “Since Auntie hate me reach this level, I go just move out from Morayo house.”

“Sister-in-law, abeg no talk am for anger.”

I say: “No need, abeg. If I stay, she go just dey vex more. I don already decide to move out.” Tunde and Musa just look each other. Clearly, no be wetin dem plan be this. Tunde waka go one corner message Morayo.

I dey stand like stubborn yam, tears for eye, but my spirit dey rise. For this life, you gats know when to waka commot. My mama always talk say, "When wahala too much for house, carry your bag, go start your own. No let them bury you inside another person family."