Chains That Bind Us - Episode 11

 

Sometimes life happens but you still got to move on. After several attempts to reach Chidinma failed, Nelson was starting to give up. He decided to refocus his energy on something else rather than on Chidinma. In his quest to have a child, other aspects of his life has been suffering. He needed to focus on his work and there is also the issue of the divorce from Eunice. 
Nelson's mother, Patricia, insisted that Eunice family must return the bride price Nelson paid on Eunice. The exchange was going on at Eunice parent's home . Nelson decided he did not need to partake in the ceremony that would mean the end of another aspect of his life. As far as he knew, Eunice would also not be attending the ceremony as she has relocated to Ibadan. She had personally informed him via text when she made the move. It seems none of them could bring themselves to talk to each other on the phone and their families are more than determined to keep them apart. There was still the issue of getting a legal divorce from the court. Neither of them have discussed it or employed the services of a lawyer. Their families also seemed to have forgotten about the legalities. Whether the bride price is returned or not, they are still married.
The door opened and Patricia entered the house. Nelson was laying down on the couch watching a programme on TV and looking extremely bored and tired

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. He looked uo to see his mother, all dressed up in her george like she was attending some big function. Nelson turned back to the TV, not interested in talking to her. 
"What a day?" Patricia said as she sat down. "Have you eaten?" She asked her son out of concern. He worried her a lot lately and he didn't seem to be taking care of himself. That is the reason she was at his apartment more often. She has now become his housekeeper and cook.
"Yes." 
"Well today was a success. The bride price has been returned. All that is left to do is pay Chidinma's bride price". Nelson says nothing. 'Like it is that easy,' he thought to himself. "Hope you are still trying to win her over?"
Still no reply. "You have to win her over. Make her fall in love with you again. I need a grandson. You owe me this," Patricia said angrily.
"Maybe you should win her over yourself," Nelson said and angrily left the room.
"I might as well do exactly that if you will just give her information," she shouted frustratedly at her son who was now in his bedroom.
"Close the door behind you mom when you are leaving," Nelson shouted back to her.
Angrily Patricia went into Nelson's bedroom. "Are you telling me to leave your house? I am just trying to help your life. Don't you want a child to call your daddy? Even if you don't think about yourself, think about the family name. Do you want our line to be wiped out of history with your demise. We need descendants. So don't do this for yourself, do this for the family".
She leaves the house angrily leaving Nelson deep in thought.
.........................
On Sunday morning, Chidinma realised a routine she had not noticed has been going on in her house for the past couple of days. Because she has not been home, leaving early to go to work and coming back late at night because Debo refused to let her be at home with his mother, she had not noticed that her mother has been throwing her food away and outrightly refusing to eat.
After preparing breakfast, she had gone up to call her husband and mother in law to the dining room to eat so that they can head off to church. "I am not hungry," Adunni said.
"Mummy, you did not eat anything last night. You must be hungry," Chidinma said calmly.
"I am not your mother. And I said I am not hungry. Are you my stomach that you will know whether it is hungry or not," the older woman shouted.
Debo hearing the noise comes into the room. "What is going on here?"
"Ask your madam," his mother replied.
"Chi, what is it?"
"I came to call mummy to eat, she said she is not hungry".
"Then she is not hungry".
"But she didn't eat last night or the night before. And i noticed the food I left for her yesterday was thrown in the bin. She didn't eat yesterday morning as well".
"So you are now my food monitor?" Adunni shouted. "If you are not good for one thing, you will be good for another thing. I will not eat any food in this house again until this woman leaves. Maybe it is inside the food that she cooks that she kept the charm that she has used to lock up your will Debo. Me I have to be at alert, stand firm so that she would leave this house. I want to see my grand children before I am too old to enjoy them."
"So mummy, you are going on hunger strike," Debo said.
"Yes. I will not eat anything till this woman leaves this house".
"I have a better offer. Why don't you stay hungry until you see your grandchild."
Adunni and Chidinma looked at him shocked. The older woman burst into tears. "You want to kill me abi. I know that is this woman's plan for me. She wants to kill me so that I would not pressure her to leave this house again".
"I don't need your drama this sunday morning, mum. If you choose to starve yourself, then do it. Just bear it in mind you will have to starve for the rest of your life because my wife is going nowhere," Debo said angrily.
He leaves the room angrily and Chidinma looking bewildered rushed after him. She caught up with him outside their bedroom. "Debo that was no way to handle the matter. You should have pacified her or something".
"Pacified her? Chidinma, I don't have time for emotional blackmail". Debo said as he entered their room with Chidinma in tow.
"If that is what is going to yake to get her to eat then we have time for it?"
"Are you ready to leave me?" Debo asked.
"No but..."
"Then we can't let her blackmail us emotionally."
"But we can't let her starve as well." Debo laughed heartily while his wife looked at him puzzled as to why he was suddenly amused. "What is funny?" she asked.
"Chi have you ever known my mother to joke with food?"
"No but..."
"Trust me honey, she has been filling her stomach with nutrients during this her so called hunger strike. By dinner time she will give up her tactics," Debo said confidently.
"Or she would be more motivated to continue".
"Should we place a bet?"
"Let's eat. We are getting late."
Debo smiled as he took her hand and led her downstairs to eat dinner.
...................
Adunni was very angry and hurt by her son's reaction to her 'hunger strike'. What if she had truly embarked on one? Was that how he would have reacted? She still could not believe her own son was picking his wife over her. 
She didn't speak to either of them as they drove to church. They car was utterly silent until Debo decided to play some music. 
Church service was over and she had decided to stay behind to see the pastor. She intended to report his disobedience to the pastor who she knew would support her and quote the scriptures which said a child should obey his father and mother.
"So you see pastor, my own son has chosen to disobey me. This is not right," she said.
Debo looked at his wife seated beside him at the pastor's office. "Mama I apologize on his behalf and I will have a word with your son personally on the issue. Concerning the other issue related to child bearing, I suggest that it will be better if the prayer warriors pray about it first'" the pastor said.
"And if it is revealed that the prophesy was true then she would leave," Adunni said happily.
"If that is what the two parties want. We cannot force them to seperate but advise them to do what they think is best for them and their happiness. You want your son to be happy, don't you?"
"Yes I do but I also want a grandchild".
"It is the lord that gives a child. No man can do it except He permits it. It is unto him we will call for the fruit of the womb. And he will answer our prayers," the pastor said calmly.
"Amen," Chidinma and Debo said in unison. 
"Please can I speak with Mr. Debo in private," the pastor requested. Immediately Chidinma and Adunni left the two men in the office. "Mr. Debo, as a man, I understand wjat you are going through. It is not easy for a man when his mother and his wife are always at loggerheads. Which side to pick. But i want you to remember something, your mother is your mother and you must never disobey her. Never make her feel like she is no longer important in your life because of your wife. It will only worsen things. Never disobey her or speak to her rudely in front of your wife. Always talk to her calmly. Pacify her when she is angry. Feed her when she refuses to eat. Show her that she is your number one".
"But she wants my wife out of my life, how would I not disobey her?" Debo questioned.
"Tonight after your wife has gone to bed, excuse yourself and go to your mother. Beg her until she forgives you. Pacify her until she calms down. Only then can you tell her calmly that you do not want to leave your wife, explaining how much you love her. You then tell her that if she loves you as much as you love and cherish her, then she will call onto God in her prayers to bestow unot you and your wife a child of your own that you would be proud of".
"Thank you very much pastor."
"You are welcome. Let me know the outcome. But be rest assured that we will be praying for your family here in the church".
"Thank you Pastor," Debo said as he gets up to leave.
"May the Lord be woth you".
"And you too."