Pum pum.. Pum pum... The older woman was smiling while she held a phone to her ear and talked to the younger woman sitting with her, "ehe nwam his phone is ringing, wait let me talk to your husband ... "
On the other side... Nnamdi looks at his phone, sighs and murmurs "not again" and takes the call, "Hello mum, how are you?
" I'm fine Nna m, hope you are still coming home this weekend, i really need to see you and show you something nice".
"yes ma, i'd come. Take care of yourself, we will talk later, i'm at work now. Bye".
He hangs up the call, Nnamdi was sure it has to do with him getting a wife soon, he was the only son of his mother, his three sister's were already married but his mother has vowed not to be at rest until he finally settles. He had a girlfriend, a wonderful woman who had her crazy sides which was even his major attraction and he was going with her to see his mum, he hopes her mind can be at rest.
Chizo was all smiles as Nnamdi introduced his mum to her, they had prolonged this meeting and here she was facing her future mother in law.. "Mummy meet Chizo, she's also from Imo state, i told you i had someone to marry, isn't she cute?" Nnamdi said.
His mum all smiles and probably pretending she was happy.... "My daughter come and sit beside me" she beckoned to Chizo, "what part of Imo state are you from?"
"Owerri, Uratta to be precise" Chizo answered. Nnamdi's mum showed off a fake smile, it was obvious while convincing his son that she was okay with his choice, she told her to feel at home and food would be ready for them soon.
Voices were heard in the sitting room, it wasn't mother and son heart to heart talk as Nnamdi's mum had made them believe when she said she wanted them to talk after dinner, it was an unpleasant argument. Chizo tiptoed to where she could hear them, the argument was about her..
Nnamdi was trying to explain how good she is but his mother wouldn't budge, she kept insisting "Owerri women were known to be promiscuous, arrogant, they are always opening eye and they don't like staying in their husband's house, that is what they have been known for since i can remember. Please you are my only son, i don't want any woman to kill you before your time and see, there's this beautiful girl i have seen for you".
"Mum i am not interested in your beautiful girl, i love Chizo and that's final".
"What do you know about love", his mother snapped back. "I have gone to do" iku aka" in the girls house with your uncle, she is also a graduate and has seen city life, what else. You know your mother's choice would be the best, Nna biko hapu nwanyi Owerri and listen to the voice of reason inugo, sleep over it".
Nnamdi was already feed up with his mother constantly trying to shove her own choice down his throat, he made her study law after his father passed so as to retain the man's chambers and continue from where he stopped, those were her exact words.
He wondered how his mum, with all her exposure could reason this way, Chizo has been faithful in their one year relationship, she's one of the best person's he'd ever met and none of those attributes his mum talked about in Owerri women were true about her, he just has to marry her or he was bargaining to live a very miserable married life if he listens to his mum.
Chizo had tip toed back into the room, pretending not to have eaves dropped on their conversation. Nnamdi came into the room smiling like nothing had happened, hugged her and said good night.
The next day, Nnamdi got up to see Chizo was not beside him, he went out to check for her, he had gone round and came to the kitchen to see if she was there rather he met a young girl of about 25 washing the dishes, he didn't know his mum had a new help so he just greeted and made for the sitting room to find Chizo.
"Mummy good morning, have you seen Chizo i didn't see her anywhere around the house?"
"Ehe Nnam, your Owerri woman has gone to her father's house maybe, i told her to leave. Your wife is in the kitchen, i'm sure you like her" his mothers responded with a big smile on her chubby face.
"You what, mummy what is it? I have done everything to please you all my life, am i the first person to become an only son? I am leaving your house for you and i am going after Chizo, she gives me peace and i will marry her with or without your blessing, you can look for another son you'd marry the other girl to. As for me its my Owerri woman or no other".
Nnamdi went into to the room, got dressed, parked his bag and left as his mum shouted, pleading to the entire village to come and help rescue his son from the charms of "Nwanyi Owerri".
*********************
Five years later, Nnamdi's mother was going for a second Omugwo, Chizo had twins this time.
She was telling her friend, Mama Ndidi that came to see and congratulate her that her son was coming to take her in a few days.... "Hah, that Owerri girl is good o, even after i kicked against the wedding, she still accepted me and treated me like she treats her own mother, the first time she put to bed and we traveled to Obido Oyibo, she spoilt me eh, you see all those things we were saying about Owerri women are just lies, those ones that leave their marriages did so because they weren't even happy, after all my younger sister left her batterer husband and we are not from Owerri, we just judge and generalize everything most times. Chizo has made my son a happy man, they way he smiles each time i am around, chai ihe oma amaka. Mama Ndidi, you know you are my good friend so let me give you small hint, Chizo has a younger sister too, a very beautiful girl, maybe Emeka your son can marry her. Those girls are just too nice and i am a lucky mother in law".
She was talking amidst big smiles, a car pulls into the compound, she stood up and went to hug her son as he came down from the car.....
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016
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