Mistaken genotype

her-in-law, Faustina Ugwu, knocked on the door. She lo

here?" Sh

open thi

e? Don't you

ow. I'm coming f

d have been courteous to say who you are," she mumbled. She turned th

nervously opened the

ok the heaviest of her luggage, dragged it along, and dropped it in the middle of the liv

on her shoulder. From what was in the living room, she concluded that her mother-in-l

our things in

ou not tell my son I was making you a slave the last time I was

she asks of you. She is the introverted sort of person; you need to understand that," Daniel had said to her the last time. Nkechi decided not to go b

own was accentuated by a cute formal flat shoe which must have been quite expensive. Nkechi had overheard her say that all her outfits were imported from Italy. Her eyes traveled to Faustina's earrings and

imple background who was trying hard to date a girl who came from an elitist family. He was unsuccessful in hi

. She had been warned about the Ugwus but

ion in Lagos. She was elated that he had shown an interest in her. The son of

e with that wom

s. I can live with even the devil a

ss conscious. She was renowned in the village. Even if she could live with Faus

money, you are no

this chance to fin

to have her way. The marriage was concluded

trying to take her for a date through the help of some friends. Nkechi laughed. If only the boy in the movie knew

most was when she alludes to her poor background. To Faustina Ugwu, it was a crime to be poor and Daniel would never be forgiven for giving her a poverty-stricken daughter-in-law. Nkechi was determined to try her

made Nkechi forget the custom of askin

over her face. "If you don't like my face, you should have respe

do that is

s welfare? Or after Robert and Chich

gnashed her teeth. How could she h

. This is something nobody forgets except where they have bitterne

my business." She knew she sounded la

Daniel comes, I'll surely make a note of this to him. He's not setting a good example. I'

usations. Slowly, she stood up from the couch, in order not to disturb the baby in her belly, and went to the refrigerator to take a bottle of ca

. The billionaire father of the girl had sent thugs to beat him up. "Stay clear of

i laughed. He deserved what he got for not mi

e bottled water?" he

ed water in the

said where can I buy some bottled water?" S

he street. There is a

at is bottled water? She has not seen the one we have and she has already rejected it.

ped them on the table and went to the kitchen. Nkechi looked at the

he was frowning, evidently disapprovin

ty plates in the sink? Wha

ant. This baby always makes me

n we have in Nigeria, or is it

y, they are not your plates. I di

Is that how you and

are seeing dirty plates in the sink.

d go to that kitchen. You are livi

aid I will wash them.

ould wash the plates immediately. That is why you are a housewife. What are you a housewife for? You want to tell me that because of your pregnancy you will not cook for your husband or because of your pregnancy, your house will be dirt

ds her bedroom. She would not be ordered around in her

Faustina called after her. "When your hus

chi made a call to

ays ran to Lebechi whenever she had a problem. When she told Lebechi what the doctor told them, her friend had advised her not to disobey her husband. She should wait until she co

d again, Lebe. She thin

ack. Treat her as if she is trash; as if you don't care. Insult a

That would further tarnish my

shed you to other women that is w

ow how best to react to her but don't advise me to insult her. I cannot do that. When she accuses me or c

I was in your position, I will make sure she doesn't

will take it

wouldn't know who to believe or trust. It would be you

t but that will be pr

the advice from Lebechi and show some disrespect to this woman who calls herself her mother-in-law. She also had to deal with her consci

would be gone one day. She would have to endure the insults. "Just for some days, hm," she murmured. She would endure for her husband and her baby. She was suspicious Daniel w

eptance into the family. A woman was not yet part of the family until she gives birth and gives them a grandchild. As she rubbed her tummy, she began to sing lullabies to her baby. T

y gave Nkechi comfort

r head was bent the wrong way and that it would give her pain, so she placed a duvet under he

d described as a pigsty were just two plates and a teacup in the sink. She had used them for breakfast. The

ure," Nkechi s

es. Later, she prepared jo

ungry after your journey so

ask you to cook me anything?" she clapped at Nkechi. "Let this be the

i had served her a

ed rice into the plate. This was what it meant to mind your own business. She would never be kind to her mother-in-law any longer an

ig

her-in-law but she did not know from where her self-control came. Tears fell from her e