So, this very early Wednesday morning, three months after they left her house, Alhaja Kuburat knocked on the couple’s door and she was the one who woke them up. Abolade was the one who opened the door for her. Alhaja did not greet anybody before launching her attack.
Where is that he-goat, that witch who wanted my family to die off? Where is she?
Maami, Maami what is it again?” Abolade asked.
What is what? Must I wait until it is too late before driving out that he-goat and witch who had eaten all her children that you call a wife? Don’t you know you are an only issue? Must I open my eyes and allow Alhaji’s family to disappear?” Alhaja asked in a loud voice.
Maami, Maami listen…
Listen to what? Three years Bolade. Three years and your glorified Princess cannot perform a common womanly role, that of giving birth to a baby.
Maami, it is not human beings who give children. It is God and at the appropriate time, He will give us our own child.
When, When, When I am dead and buried?
At the appropriate time mother, at the appropriate time.
Abolade was busy shepherding his mother away from going into the living room so that there will be no face to face with Abike who had come into the sitting room looking at the drama between mother and son initially but who had started crying as Alhaja abused her. As much as Abolade blocked her, Alhaja was able to enter the living room where she found Abike crying silently. She went straight to her and started shouting on her.
Leave my son alone, you this he goat. Ajè (Witch), if you have fried the children in your womb, leave my son’s house so that others can come and give us children.
Àbíké through her tears answered her.
Alhaja, Olórun ló n s’omo.
Then God has forgotten you. He has not listened to you. Get out of my child’s house.
Ah, Alhaja, God hears all things and He will disappoint you. I ‘ll use my back to carry a child for your son. Alhaja I ‘ll …
It was at this point that Alhaja lost all her control. She grabbed Àbíké’s bùbá and slapped her hard. Àbíké was frustrated and Abóládé dumbfounded. They were just looking at Alhaja with wonder and at that moment Abóládé made the vow that separated him and his mother.
Ah, Alhaja, é dè bèrù Olúwa. In what way has this innocent girl offended you that you started beating her?”
Abolade told his mother and went to pet his wife was now weeping loudly and uncontrollably. After petting his wife for some time while Alhaja stood petrified at the response of the two children to her Abike slapping, Abolade went to his mother.
Alhaja, I don’t want to see you in this house again. This is not your house.
You are turning me away from your house, after all I have…
Alhaja, don’t push me to do what I will regret. No matter what you have done for me, it won’t cancel your slapping this innocent girl.
You are supporting your wife against me? Remember I am your mother; I brought you to this world.
And so what? Does that give you the right to treat my wife and I like scum? Being my mother, does it give you right over my life? Hen?
By this time Abóládé’s voice had started rising and Abike went to him to ask him to cool down and stop him from committing a taboo. It was then he dropped the bombshell. As Abike was dragging him from the confrontation with his mother, he took his hands away from Abike and stood face to face with his mother, giving her an eyeball-to-eyeball look and said.
Alhaja, I don’t want to see you again and don’t expect me in your house again for life. Leave us alone.
As Alhaja started going down as if to kneel and beg him, Abolade slowly and gently pushed his mother out of his house and locked the door. That was the last time Alhaja came to their house and Abolade saw his mother.
God as if answering and watching the whole debacle made Abike pregnant the same month the fight took place. The nine months of pregnancy was hellish for Abike. She nearly lost the child three times and towards the end of the pregnancy she fainted twice. Most relations and friends of the family pointed to Alhaja as being responsible thereby hardening Abóládé’s mind against his mother. Abike however did not utter any word to confirm or disagree with what people were saying. She was alone during these tribulations. She could not go back to her mother who had disowned her in support of her husband, her father the king and her mother-in law had turned out to be a monster-in-law.
ayékòótóFMD 