Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

The Arranged Marriage Episode 3

The atmosphere in Ikenna's house has become too hot for his parents. His parents were not finding things easy. Since they brought Nnenna into the house, they have developed high BP. But Ikenna doesn't care. So far as he was concerned, he is still an obedient child who accepted the woman his parents married for him. In fact, he was enjoying the whole drama.

"I'm enjoying this marriage. My parents think I would say no when they asked me to abandon my lovely girl Temidayo. Well, I'm happy they chose a wife for me. I'm not worried at all. I'm enjoying the whole drama. I don't care if Nnenna beats them everyday." He said. He was busy watching TV and drinking wine.

Ikenna sat like a king in his father's living room. Soon, his wife came around. He was laughing as Nnenna rubbed his head and tickled his neck from behind. They were playing like two teenagers who have just discovered the meaning of love.

"Leave me alone, Nnenna," Ikenna said

between laughs. "So you want to kill me with love?" But he made no move to stop her. The television was on, but he wasn't watching it again. His attention was fully on his wife.

"You're my husband, Ikenna. I have to play with you every day so that no girl outside will see space to smile at you," Nnenna said sweetly.

A moment later, Nnenna disappeared into the kitchen. When she came back, she was holding a large food tray. The aroma of egusi soup filled the room. She set the tray on the table, went on her knees, and said, "My husband, your food is ready." She held a bowl of water before him for hand washing and unfolded a napkin for his lap. Ikenna smiled like a man who had found heaven in his parlour.

"This is why I love this woman. She respects me and takes care of me. Who will not love this kind of wife?" Ikenna said.

But from the dining section, Ikenna's mother stood and watched them with sharp eyes. Her face was hard like stone. She did not say a word. Her husband soon joined her. He folded his arms in anger. She was angry because she was the one who cooked the food which Nnenna served Ikenna. She waited for the old woman to cook, then she took the food and ran away.

"So she waited for you to finish cooking. Then she carried the food and served him as if she was the one who cooked it. This girl will bring disgrace to us, I tell you." Ikenna's father said.

"She has already started. That's my food. I sweated in the kitchen all afternoon while she was fixing her nails and pressing phone. Look at her now kneeling down and pretending to be a good wife." Ikenna's mother said. She was shaking her head tearfully.

Later that evening, after Ikenna finished eating and gone upstairs to rest, his parents knocked gently and entered his room. They both sat down. Their faces were full of worry. Ikenna was pressing his phone, but he dropped it when he saw how serious they looked.

"What is it again, Papa, Mama?" Ikenna asked.

"We need to talk to you. This girl you married, Nnenna, she is not a good wife. She is rude. She is lazy. She does not respect us. Please, my son, before things get worse, send her back to her

people." Ikenna's mother said with tears. Ikenna sat up and looked at his parents like they were strangers.

"Are you people hearing yourselves? You want me to send away the woman you went and married for me with your own hands? When I brought Temidayo, a woman I loved, you people rejected her. You said she's not from our tribe. You said she's not good enough. You chased her away and brought Nnenna from the village. You paid her bride price without even asking me. Now, you want me to send her away?" Ikenna asked. There was silence in the room. The only noise was the fan which whirred slowly above them. Then Ikenna continued talking.

"Let me tell you people something today. Nnenna is going nowhere. You brought her. You paid her bride price. You wore her wedding gown and made me marry her. If she must go, then you must be the ones to send her away with your own mouths. I will not do it." Ikenna said. His mother opened her mouth to speak, but Ikenna stood up and said, "Good night." It was clear that the conversation was over. His parents stood up and left the room quietly with pain in their hearts.

When they got downstairs, Ikenna's mother paced the corridor like someone whose goat had been stolen.

"So this is how that girl wants to destroy our home? She has tied our son with something. I don't understand it. What did she put in that food? It's like she tied him with charms." Ikenna's mother said with tears.

"I think you are right. The boy no longer listens to reason. That girl has become his queen and we, his parents, have become strangers in our own house. Hmmm. This is not how we trained him." Ikenna's father said.

The next morning, Nnenna went to the kitchen. She saw her mother-in-law preparing tea. The old woman was slicing bread. Nnenna snatched the bread from her and also took the tea. She went and sat at the dinning and ate everything.

Ikenna's mother sat in the kitchen and wept.

"I have used my hand to bring trouble into my house." She said.

Episode 4 coming soon