Mother-in-law - S01 E02

Story 1 month ago

Mother-in-law - S01 E02

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 2

My Mother-in-law Hates Me — Episode Two

My troubles did not stop after that slap. In fact, it became worse. Every single day, my mother-in-law found a reason to insult me, shout at me, or even beat me. I kept asking myself what I did wrong to deserve all this hatred, but I could not figure it out. I tried to remember if I had offended her before the wedding. I could not remember any. I just knew that she hated me with all her heart, and she was not hiding it at all. Her eyes always looked at me with anger.

Before I married Ajulu, I noticed that his mother was not very welcoming. Sometimes when I visited, she hardly spoke to me. Even when she did, her tone was harsh. I thought maybe she was just being protective of her son, so I ignored it. My heart told me she didn’t like me, but I kept convincing myself that I was marrying Ajulu, not his mother. I told myself that her attitude would change after the wedding. But now, ten days into marriage, I am regretting that I didn’t listen to my instincts.

Each day was full of insults. There was no single day that passed without her shouting at me or calling me names. Sometimes, she would slap me for small mistakes that did not deserve any punishment. One day, I forgot to close the main door on time, and she slapped me. Another day, I mistakenly broke a plate, and she slapped me again. I was counting the slaps in my mind. Ten days in marriage, and I had already received more than ten slaps. I wondered what my life would look like after one year.

One evening, I finished cooking soup for the family. I was tired but happy that at least the food would calm the house. I carried a plate and served my mother-in-law first, hoping she would finally appreciate me. She collected the plate and tasted the soup. Immediately she dropped food, she frowned deeply. I was scared because I already knew trouble was coming. She looked at me with disgust. “Linda, what kind of nonsense soup is this? Do you want to kill me? There is too much pepper inside this food!” she shouted.

Before I could explain that I did not put much pepper, my mother-in-law carried the plate of soup and poured it all over me. The hot soup stained my dress and even burnt my skin. I screamed and rushed to the corner of the room. She stood over me and shouted, “You are such a useless woman! You can’t even cook ordinary soup. Is this the type of wife my son went to marry? Foolish girl!” I was shaking, my tears mixing with the soup on my body. I could not believe what just happened.

She was not done yet. After insulting me, she insisted that I must cook another pot of soup immediately. “You will not rest tonight until you prepare another soup. This one is nonsense. I cannot eat it. Go and cook again, and make sure you do it well this time,” she shouted. I was tired, my whole body was paining me, but I obeyed because I was afraid she might beat me again. I went back into the kitchen and stood over the fire, crying quietly as I started preparing another soup for her.

When my husband returned that evening, I gathered courage and told him everything that happened. I showed him the burn on my arm where the hot soup touched me. I thought he would be angry at his mother for treating me so badly. I was expecting him to stand by me. Instead, he looked at me and shook his head. He said, “So you are now reporting my mother to me every day? Can’t you endure small things? My mother did not pour soup on you for nothing. She must have a reason.” My heart broke again.

I begged him to understand me, but he refused. I said, “Ajulu, she poured soup on me. She insulted me. She said I am useless. Why are you not defending me? I am your wife.” He looked at me coldly and replied, “She did the right thing. You know she doesn’t like pepper. Go and cook another soup for her.”

To be continued