Chains That Bind Us - Episode 5

 

Chidinma does think she would ever be able to survive the constant fight with my mother-in-law. Well she was always the one doing the fighting and yelling while she merely stand aside receiving every insult and blow she has to deliver. Since she heard she could only have children with Nelson, Debo’s mother has been constantly has been on her and Debo’s neck. Especially hers.
“What are you waiting for, you have to marry that man in order to be able to have a child.” She said.
“I am not leaving my husband.” Chidinma repeated for the thousandth time in the past weeks since the incident.
“Nobody is going anywhere Mum, so please just drop it.” Debo said looking like the weight of the world was on him.
“What is wrong with you two? I have had it up to here with your nonsense . There is a man out there who is the only man you are destined to have children with and vice versa.”
“He is married and even if he isn’t, I am married and I really do love my husband and wouldn’t exchange just for the sake of bearing children.”
“So you will destroy all your lives because you are too stubborn and proud to go back to a man that jilted you for your best friend.” Mama shouted angrily.
“Mum, you are making me lose my appetite. If you don’t want to dine alone this night and so many other nights that follows, you will end this topic and not speak of it again.” Debo said angrily.
“You are telling me to shut up in front of your wife

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. Me, your mother.” She said in disbelief.
Chidinma reached out and held Debo’s hand that was closest to her. He understood immediately that she didn’t want him losing his temper on his mother and gave him a small smile when he looked at her. “I am sorry mum. I didn’t mean to speak to you that way.” He said soberly earning a squeeze of his hand in approval of his apology.
After that, nobody said a word in the dining room any longer. Not even Mama who was hell bent on Chidinma leaving her son’s house. They enjoyed a peaceful yet tense and awkward dinner after that. Although she was quite grateful for the change, she seriously detested tense environments so immediately dinner was over, she quickly cleared the plate and retired to her home office, the kitchen of course, to do the dishes.
If she ever succumbed to pressure and leave Debo, she would rather spend her life as a spinster; probably adopt a child or two, than end up with Nelson. He was past and that is where he had better stay.
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Nelson guessed his mother’s patience with them has finally lapsed. It’s been over a month since he and Eunice lost their baby and his mother has decided to commence world war three in their home. They were currently having a screaming contest in the living room. His entire family was here and so was Eunice entire family. It looks like they had connived and team up against us.
“You are the only son I have so I want to see my grandchild.” His mother, Patricia, said angrily.
“Mum, you have five grandchildren from your other children.” 
“But they are bearing their father’s name. Do you want the Chike Okafor’s name to end after your demise?”
“No mother.”
“Then you will divorce your wife and pursue Chidinma so you can bear children.” Patricia said.
“Mama have you considered the fact that Chidinma will throw me out if I come one step close to her? She doesn’t want me and I don’t want her either. I am happily married and so is she.”
“I don’t care whatever you do after you and my daughter divorce each other.” Eunice’s mother interjected before Patricia could speak. 
They had full house party. The room was overfilled and everyone was sweating. The ceiling fan and the air conditioner could not circulate properly. If he had his own house instead of the rented flat they were staying in, they would be in the compound discussing this in a conducive, airy environment. But that’s not the case. It is enough that the neighbours knew some details about their situation, taking the impromptu meeting to the compound was like making a live television broadcast of the latest news in the Okafor’s family. “My daughter is still a very young and pretty lady. She can remarry easily without so much effort. I would not wait on the side-lines until you deliver the dead body of my daughter to me because she was trying to once again give you a child.” The woman continued.
“Mother calm down. Nobody is delivering anybody’s dead body.” Eunice said.
“I won’t wait for them to do that. You are coming home with me today.”
“We won’t be having this conversation right now if your daughter had not taken what did not belong to her.” Patricia spat angrily at Eunice’s mother.
“Your son was attracted to her not to the other woman. He pursued her not the other woman so why is that any of my daughter’s fault. Greg, Mimi, go and pack your sister’s things right now. I will not wait until they kill my daughter for me.” She said to Eunice’s siblings who promptly stood up and left the room to our bedroom.
“Mummy calm down, I am not going anywhere. We would just have to settle this issue amicably.” Eunice pleaded.
“Amicably. Did you say amicably? Say that again when you are ten feet in the ground because of the stubbornness you call love.”
“Mummy I am not going anyway.”
“Yes you are. You will leave my son’s house and you two will seek a divorce. I want to see my son’s children and it’s been stated for a fact that you cannot give him one so we have no use for you in this household.” Nelson’s mother said angrily.
“Even if I have to tie you up and gag you, you are coming back to your father’s house. That is why I brought your cousin with me. James, carry her to the car and lock her in until we are all downstairs and ready to leave.”
“James you wouldn’t dare.” Eunice challenged.
“I am sorry but between you and aunty, you know there is no contest.” James said then promptly carried her over his shoulder like she didn’t weigh anything. Eunice screamed and kicked as they made their way out of the house.
“You cannot just separate I and my wife just like that.” Nelson shouted. All his earlier calmness was gone. Now he was angry and on his feet rather than seated as he was before. “Who the hell do you all think you are coming in here and destroying our lives like that?”
“We are your families and we want what is best for both of you and separating you two is the best solution. So sue us but you two are not getting back together and as soon as possible you will go and see Chidinma and woo her until she agrees to marry you.”
“We have all her things packed.” Eunice siblings said as they carried some bags between themselves.
“Is that all?” Nelson heard his soon to be ex mother-in-law ask.
“There are still some bags. We would come back as soon as we have dropped these ones in the car.” Mimi said.
“Okay.” Eunice’s mother said and followed the children out of the house without even a word of farewell.
“What made you think Chidinma would even want me? I don’t have a good job and I live in a rented two bedroom flat in a less than impressive area. We all went to her house together, her husband is a multi-millionaire. Do you think for one minute that she would leave all that luxury and comfort to come live with me here?” He shouted at his mother angrily.
“She will if you woo her properly and make her fall for you again.” Patricia said.
“She has already fallen in love with someone else and that person definitely isn’t me. She is happy and content.”
Nelson left the house angrily and went outside to where his mother-in-law’s car had been parked. She stood there standing guard daring him to come closer to her daughter who has been locked up in the car with the windows rolled down a bit so she wouldn’t suffocate. James, Mimi and Greg came out with what he presumed were the last bags and kept them in the trunk of the car.
“Let’s go.” She said and they all entered the car and drove off.
As they drove out of the compound, it dawned on him that this was probably the last time he would be seeing his wife again.