Mother-in-Law Palava
Chapter 4 – The Visitor with the Red Bag
I didn't even get a chance to rest from the "startling revelation" I discovered in that secret log before another wahala entered our compound — this time, carrying a red bag and a mouth faster than Okada engine.
The next morning, just as I finished boiling water for tea, I heard the familiar squeak of the gate. I peeped through the curtain and my heart did a backflip.
"Aunty Sade?" I blinked.
She didn't see me yet, but I saw her — tall, slim, wrapper tied above her chest, slippers flapping loudly, and dragging her famous red travel bag with one hand while balancing a cooler on her head.
© 2025 TenWrites
I already knew trouble was on the menu.
Lady Dorcas shouted from inside, "Open the gate! That's my junior sister!"
Of course.
I opened the door slowly. "Good morning, Aunty."
"Ehn ehn," she breathed like she'd been jogging since Oshodi. "Is your husband inside?"
"No. He went to work."
"Good. I don't like greeting men early in the morning anyway."
© 2025 TenWrites
Before I could even offer her water, she brushed past me and entered like she owned the house.
Lady Dorcas ran out with arms wide open. "Shade mi! Omo iya mi!"
"Aunty D!" They hugged and jumped like Nollywood actresses reunited after war. I stood there, holding the door like a glorified housegirl.
Then they sat down and started whispering. Whispering oh! Like I wasn't in my own house. I cleared my throat.
"Mama, Aunty Sade… should I bring something for you to eat?"
Lady Dorcas smiled that devilish smile. "Don't worry, dear. She came with her food. She even brought yours."
I blinked. "My food?"
Aunty Sade pointed to the cooler. "Rice and bitterleaf soup. Very bitter, to flush the system."
I laughed nervously. "Thank you, ma."
I wasn't touching that food. Not even if they offered me 10 million.
© 2025 TenWrites
---
Later that night…
I was in the kitchen when I overheard their gist from the living room. Aunty Sade was giving full analysis like an FBI agent.
"That girl ehn," she said, "there's something not clean about her aura. Her eyes are always shining. You sure say she no be marine?"
"Me too I dey suspect am," Lady Dorcas whispered.
My jaw dropped. Marine? Because I used face serum?
They continued talking like it was a family meeting against me.
"I dreamt last night," Aunty Sade said, "a fish was talking to me in Yoruba. The fish said, 'Leave Temi alone, she's stronger than you think.'"
Lady Dorcas hissed. "Then we need to increase prayers."
© 2025 TenWrites
---
Two can play this game.
The next morning, I wore my white gown (the one that makes me look like I attend celestial church), rubbed ori on my forehead, and started humming spiritual songs.
I walked past both of them like one possessed.
Lady Dorcas paused. "Temi, are you okay?"
I rolled my eyes upward. "I'm not here. I've been in the spirit realm since 3am."
Aunty Sade started fanning herself. "Jesu!"
That night, they prayed louder than usual.
© 2025 TenWrites
---
Then came the real plot twist…
Femi returned from work and said something that shook me.
"Temi, Mama and Aunty Sade said you're planning to run away with another man."
I stared at him like he just slapped me with frozen fufu.
"Me? With who?"
"They said they found a male necklace under our bed and a love note in Yoruba."
"Femi! You don't even speak Yoruba like that. You think I'd write love letters in Yoruba to cheat?"
He scratched his head. "It didn't make sense to me either. But they insisted."
That's when I knew — they had started planting evidence.
Oh, they wanted a fight?
They just declared war.
To be continued…
© 2025 TenWrites
---