tasha was not the kind of woman who bent for anyone not her husband not society certainly not a mother-in-law her mouth was like hot pepper mixed with ginger if you say one word she will give you 10 if you raise your voice she will raise a chair she didn’t fear man she didn’t fear woman even thunder feared her tongue people in her street used to say that woman don’t joke with her she is not as easygoing as she looks and it was true if market women gossip near her she would face them with her full chest talk about me again and I will wash you like rapper she didn’t like anybody trying to control her not her husband not her pastor and most especially not mother-in-law she always said a mother-in-law should know her place she can’t come and be controlling my house never then she added “In fact if my husband still has a mother may God take her before I enter into his home.” People gasped when they heard her say that but Tasha didn’t care she had fire in her bones and thunder in her tongue she walked like queen talked like chief and when she got angry it was like hurricane met volcano but inside her big chest was a small soft heart one that just wanted peace she wanted a man who would love her like new yam a home that smelled like morning pap a place where her name would be called with laughter not insult but Tasha’s life was not sweet like honey her anger was like petrol just ones mall match and boom everything would scatter and from that anger problems followed her like shadow she had been married not once not twice but three times and all three ended like broken plates on the floor tasha’s first husband was tall like tree his name was Ikachuku people said he was gentle like evening breeze but one day he and Tasha argued over soup just ordinary soup he said she didn’t put enough salt tasha stood up slowly like lion waking from sleep she carried bottle of malt broke it on his head and shouted “If you want salt go and lick ocean.” Blood flowed neighbors ran in marriage ended that same week the second man was Obina rich man drove big car his father came to visit one time just small quarrel in the compound the man shouted “This is not how a wife should behave.” Before the man could sit down Tasha rushed to the kitchen came out with knife in hand and said “Talk again and I will slice your tongue like okra.” The whole family shouted “She wants to kill papa.” That one too ended in tears the third marriage ended in smoke and fire tasha came home one night and saw her husband chatting with his ex on his phone she didn’t shout she didn’t talk she waited till he slept then she carried kerosene and poured it around the sitting room by morning the house was ash people gathered mouths open the husband ran out barefoot screaming the news spread like wildfire tasha stood outside with rapper tied to her chest and said “If fire can’t burn nonsense then let me turn into smoke myself that marriage it didn’t last one moon people started calling her Tasha fire they said “This woman doesn’t need dark magic her anger alone can scatter shrine.” But Tasha wasn’t happy behind her fire behind her shouting behind her thunder voice she was lonely she wanted someone who could hold her hand when her body was tired someone who could hug her tight when her heart was crying she was not a wicked woman she just didn’t know how to kneel she didn’t want to fight she just wanted peace but peace always ran from her like chicken runs from cutless far away in another town there lived a man called Tooku handsome man fine face clean teeth beard like fresh cocoa yam age 34 money he had it cars two house big like church business moving like wind people used to say “Thou has everything except wife.” Every Sunday his neighbors would ask “Mr tooku when are we coming to eat rice?” He would just smile and wave but his smile was hiding something the real reason Tooku was not married was not because of bad luck it was because of one woman Mama Doris his mother that woman her mouth was like bell loud and never tired her eyes were sharp like needle her voice could wake dead goat she was a retired teacher but she still shouted like she was in class people in the village feared her more than snake she was always carrying Biblein her left hand and thunder in her right prayer she would shout every morning holy Ghost fire back to sender my son shall not marry a Jezebel when Tou grew up and became a man Mama Doris still treated him like a little boy she would enter his bedroom without knocking she would open his drawers check his clothes even sniff his shirts to see if another woman had touched them if he brought a woman home she would stand in the kitchen arms folded face strong like stone and say “Who taught you to cook like this is this food or punishment?”Tooku loved his mother but that love was like prison because no matter the woman he brought home Mama Doris would scatter it like wind scatters dry leaves she said “No woman is good enough for my son they all want to eat his money and tie his destiny.” She followed him like shadow even when he traveled she would call everyone hour touku was tired his house was quiet his bed was cold but he had no peace because the one who should bring peace his own mother was the one bringing storm tooku was a man whowalked with quiet steps and gentle eyes he had money in his pocket and sense in his head after school abroad he came back home and started his own business he bought a house bought two cars people said this one is husband material then he met Amaka amaka was soft like bread her voice was low her smile was like morning dew she was respectful calm and full of peace she worked in an office before but when she married Touku she left her job to help him from home she took care of the house cooked cleaned helped with his businessdocuments she did it with joy she cooked for him she cleaned she prayed she waited by the door every night until he came back but Mama Doris didn’t smile from the first day her eyes narrowed like needle she doesn’t kneel down well she whispered amaka smiled and greeted again mama looked away her food doesn’t smell like a wife’s food she put too much salt or maybe too little oil maybe she’s using charm to hold my son i’m watching her she said one month after the wedding Mama Doris came to visit she said “I’m not feeling strong i just want to rest small.” She came with one bag but by evening her things were already in every corner of the house her wrapper hung in the bathroom her Bible sat on the dining table her slippers waited at the door of the master bedroom she entered the kitchen like she owned it rearranged the plates changed the soup pot poured out a macaka stew and started her own at dawn before birds could sing Mama Doris would knock on Amaka’s door where is my hot water why are you stillsleeping don’t you know morning devotion starts by 5:00 a.m she sat between Amaka and Touku on the sofa she held the remote changed the channel laughed loudly when Amaka spoke then hissed when she stopped talking and anytime Touku traveled for business Mama Doris moved into their bedroom slept on their bed smelled the pillow took over everything amaka was quiet but her eyes started changing her smile became weak her shoulders began to drop but Mama Doris was just getting started she called Amaka lazy called her jobless said shewas waiting to trap Touku with pregnancy amaka tried she prayed she cried she cooked well cleaned well even knelt down well but nothing was ever enough for Mama Doris then came the lie that broke everything one Sunday Amaka and Touku argued over house rent just normal husbands and wife talk madora stood behind the door and listened before sunset she had already called half of the village and said “Amaka slapped my son and insulted our family she called our ancestors poor,” Amaka cried day after day her heart was heavy her spirittired one evening after Mama Doris shouted for 2 hours straight Amaka packed her backs she wrote one small note and kept it on the table i came with love but I’m leaving with tears may your house find peace again then she left just like wind blowing through an open window two years passed like Hamatam breeze tooku’s heart was tired but he still wanted love one day at a big business meeting he met Hale Lima she was smart bold beautiful she worked with a big company she didn’t kneel to greet but she spoke with respect shesmiled with her eyes not just her lips and most of all she made Touku laugh again he didn’t tell Mama Doris “Not yet he married Hale Lima quietly in court no village drums no dancing just two rings and a promise but secrets don’t sleep long when Mama Doris found out her voice shook the walls you married who a woman I haven’t seen from another tribe another religion and even did a court wedding is it now you want to die touku said “Mama she’s a good woman.” Mama Doris said “Good where you brought a stranger into my house you want thunder to strike us?” Touku begged “mama please just give her a chance.” So Hale Lima came to the house dressed neat smelled good spoke gently mama Doris didn’t greet her she walked out of the room during evening prayers Mama Doris prayed loud and long every strange woman in my son’s life holy ghost fire any Jezebel sent to scatter my family oh God expose her hale Lima sat there blinking back tears but she stayed then one day HaleLima came back from the hospital with sad news she had lost the baby touku held her comforted her but Mama Dori stood by the door and said “I knew it a dry well you married a woman who cannot carry a child what are you doing with her you want to die childless she said it again during breakfast she said it when visitors came she said it like she was spitting stones halima cried in the bathroom cried into her pillow cried in silence then one early morning before the rooster crowed she took her small bag wrote a shortnote i came in peace but peace did not welcome me i pray your son finds his voice one day she placed the note on the kitchen table closed the door gently and left and just like Amaka she vanished but this time Touku didn’t just lose a wife he lost something deeper hope he stayed for years without any woman in his life then one sunny afternoon when the sky was quiet and the wind gentle like Laabai Tooku went for a friend’s birthday that was where he saw her Tasha she walked in like a queen who knew herthrone her steps were strong her eyes sharp her voice smooth like rain on Zing she wasn’t smiling too much but when she did it melted stone toukuat his heart tapped his chest he walked over they talked and talked and laughed and the more they spoke the more he knew this one was not like the others she had fire but not wildfire this one was steady controlled bright she told him about her job how she ran her own digital firm how she was done with nonsense men and nonsense people touku listened then he sighed i need to tell you something hesaid she looked at him go ahead he rubbed his head slowly my mother she’s very involved she ruined my last two marriages she wants to control everything i want peace this time Tasha please Tasha laughed not loud just deep then let me meet the lioness in her den she said her eyes shining i’m not your exes i don’t kneel for madness if she brings fire I have my own tooku smiled small but fear hid behind it because he knew two fires don’t make peace they make smoke and maybe war the first day Tasha stepped into Tooku’s kitchen shesmiled and tied her apron the air smelled of pepper and palm oil she danced small as she stirred the pot but Mama Doris stood at the door arms folded eyes hard she watched like a hawk watching a chicken tasha added “Crayfish.” Mama Doris hissed tasha added “Pepper.” Mama Dory stepped closer ah is this food or punishment you want to burn someone’s tongue tasha didn’t answer she just stirred slower where’s the scent leaf this soup has no spirit mama Dora said again she picked salt tasted the soup with her finger and dropped the spoon with a loud clank too much seasoning modern girls don’t know how to cook again tasha blinked her hand gripped the spoon tighter but her lips stayed shut that evening as Touku drove into the compound Mama Doris rushed out with joy she hugged him before hestepped down her voice was loud sweet like fake honey my son my crown welcome as he walked in Tasha came with a glass of cold juice mama Dora stepped in front of her and took it first let me serve him i raised him you just arrived tasha stood still she didn’t blink she didn’t smile but her eyes burned like hot charcoal under dry wood tooku looked from his mother to Tasha he felt it something was rising something strong something that smelled like smoke before fire one morning after Mama Doris insulted her for the fifth time beforebreakfast Tasha sat in the parlor legs crossed eyes fixed on the TV mama Doris stood by the door arms crossed waiting to complain again “you didn’t greet me this morning,” she said voice sharp like broken glass tasha turned slowly “i greeted you mama you greeted like you’re doing me favor is that how you greet elders in your village tasha stood up walked close her voice was low but it carried weight mama I’ve been quiet i’ve cooked i’ve cleaned i’ve endured your words but let me saythis respect is not one way if you push me I will push back mama Doris gasped like someone poured cold water on her she stepped back and shouted “Tou are you hearing her she wants to fight me this girl has fire in her eyes send her away before she burns the house.” Touku came out slowly from the room confused tired he looked at both of them the woman who raised him the woman he loved but Tasha didn’t move she didn’t cry she didn’t shout she just stood tall like a tree that won’t bendfor the wind and in that moment Mama Doris saw it this one was not going anywhere the house was quiet that afternoon sun was hot air was dry even the fan was tired tasha was in the kitchen boiling rice mama Doris was in her room silent like snake hiding in grass then suddenly “My god my god!” Mama Doris screamed she ran into the sitting room holding her arm blood was dripping her wrapper was stained her voice shook the walls one hour later Touku came back from work he opened the door and saw blood on the floor hedropped his bag heart beating fast “what happened?” he shouted mama Doris rushed out wrapper loose tears in her eyes touku turned to Tasha is this true he asked tasha’s eyes were red not from guilt but from anger i didn’t touch her she said slowly i didn’t even go near her mama Doris fell on the floor shouting like funeral had started touku’s head was spinning but deep inside something didn’t sit well he waited till night when everyone was asleep then he remembered the small camera he installed in the kitchenmonths ago after thieves broke into the house once he quietly picked his phone opened the app rewound the video and there it was mama Doris standing alone holding small blade looking around then slowly she dragged it across her own arm blood came out she rushed to the sink washed the blade wiped her hands and sat down quietly like nothing happened took dropped the phone his hand was shaking he said nothing the next day he didn’t shout he didn’t cry but from that moment his eyes opened the woman he called mamawas not just prayer warrior she was war herself the time came tasha stood one morning tied her rapper firm and told took Wu “No wedding until I meet your people i want to see where you come from.” Touku nodded “all right we’ll go to the village for introduction.” Before the words could settle Mama Doris shouted from the corner i must follow they will not charm my son in that village i must be there with my prayers tasha looked at her mama looked back fire met fire but no one spoke sothe three of them packed bags big sack for Mama Doris small traveling bag for Tasha touku just carried a briefcase that evening they entered the night train as they stepped into the cabin Mama Doris rushed ahead and sat beside Touku her hand already holding his arm tight like rope she looked at Tasha and smiled small small tasha looked at her then quietly sat opposite them her eyes didn’t blink her mouth didn’t smile trouble sat between them not shouting not crying just sitting there waiting the train started moving chuku chukuchuku chuku the sound of the engine covered the silence in the cabin each time Tasha tried to speak Mama Doris would cough loud each time Touku smiled at Tasha Mama Doris would grab his hand and say “My son are you hungry should I make you tea tasha said nothing but her fingers were folding her wrapper like someone tying battle around her waist night came the cabin lights were dim but the fire inside that train was just warming up the train was moving slowly through the night the window whistle small breeze the engine madesoft noise like drum rolling in the dark inside the cabin fire was breathing mama Doris had already rushed to sit beside Touku her back was by her feet her hand was on his lap my son do you want water should I fan you hope you are not too cold tasha sat opposite her eyes were dry her lips were tight she didn’t say a word but her leg was shaking under her wrapper like thunder hiding in cloud each time Tasha spoke Mama Doris would laugh loud and say “Nobody asked you.” If Tooku turned to answer Tasha Mama Doris would hold his hand quickly and say “Face me my son don’t mind her she’s just jealous because you love me more.” Passengers around them were pretending to sleep but one by one eyes started opening mama Doris opened cooler brought out small puffpuff here my son eat don’t collect anything from her you don’t know what she mixed inside touku coughed tasha looked at him he looked away tasha’s chest was now rising and falling like breeze blowing firewood she wantedto talk she wanted to shout but she sat still like lion watching goat misbehave her fingers grabbed her wrapper tight her eyes refused to blink her ears were picking every word Mama Doris dropped like bitter seeds and Mama Doris she didn’t stop she kept talking kept laughing kept throwing words like stone on water let them say I talk too much at least my mouth is not used for lies and charm the air inside the cabin became thick like smoke that refused to come out of the roof something was coming a kind of explosion that only silence can prepare tooku’s mouth was open he wanted to say something but words were hiding from his tongue mama Dors stood up adjusted her wrapper and began i can’t wait for the elders to see what you’re dragging into our family this is not a wife this is a storm wearing wig she pointed at Tasha you’ve insulted me in my kitchen in my house in my son’s heart but today in front of strangers you have crossed the line tasha’s fingers tightened touku touched his forehead mama Doris raised her voice again you think beauty is respect you think wearing fine cloth means you have home training my son are you watching she’s bewitching you with fake gentleness someone in the cabin whispered “Ha this woman has no filter.” Another one shifted small to the side ready for anything tasha looked up slowly her eyes met Mama Doris’s eyes hot sharp cold mama Doris was shaking not from fear but from anger her eyes were red like pepper her hand rose slowly fingers wide like frying pan she shouted “Let me teach you how to respectyour mother-in-law today.” Her palm flew through the air but Tasha moved sharp quick smooth like cat jumping fire she dodged the slap and before Mama Doris could bring her hand down bam tasha’s own slap landed hot loud wicked the sound slapped the cabin one baby in the corner started crying a woman gasped and covered her mouth a man dropped his snacks mama Doris froze her hand remained in the air her cheek turned red like burning charcoal she shouted “You slapped me me your mother-in-law?” Tasha stood up herrapper shaking on her waist “yes because enough is enough you have carried insult like handbag but today I drop it for you.” Mama Doris stood too her legs were shaking like broom dancing in her matan breeze she pointed at Tasha lips trembling voice cracking like old radio my son are you watching she has shown her true color jezebel daughter of snakes touku sat like stone his mouth open but no word came out the train didn’t stop but the world inside that cabin had stopped moving everybody was quiet even the wind outside held itsbreath something bigger was coming the cabin was hot not from heat but from fire inside people’s bodies tasha stepped forward face hard like grinding stone her chest was moving fast her hands were shaking she grabbed Mama Doris by the arm her voice was loud her words sharp go and destroy his life outside not inside not here not with me inside mama Doris pulled back don’t touch me don’t touch me you witch tasha didn’t let go mama struggled twisted her arm her wrapper slipped a little passengers stood up now some shouted”Hey take it easy please.” But it was too late the train door had been opened a little for fresh air mama Doris lost her step her slippers bent her legs slipped her back leaned the wrong way one scream just one then whoosh her body flew out like plastic bag in the wind silence swallowed the cabin people ran to the window tooku rushed forward held the edge of the door but it was empty just night wind and rail track the train kept moving nobody spoke nobody blinked even Tasha stood still hands stillstretched out eyes wide like someone who saw a ghost mama Doris was gone just like that the train didn’t stop but peace fear shock and silence entered together before the train reached the village the news ran ahead like gossip on a bicycle mama Doris fell from moving train they said Tasha pushed her she’s dead no they say she disappeared inside bush mouths were moving ears were full but hearts were not crying because the villagers knew Mama Doris they knew her mouth they knew her ways she was the woman that chased her neighbor withBible the one that poured anointing oil on people’s soup the one that prayed fire on every bride so when the story entered the village square people didn’t shout they only shook their heads one elder removed his chewing stick wiped his mouth and whispered “Sometimes evil wears respect like rapper.” Another one nodded slowly and said “That girl may have saved him from spiritual problem.” “Even the women that used to gossip Tasha before began to whisper differently at least this one does not carry charm.” One said “She just had enough.” The chief of the village heard it too he called his elders they all sat under the mango tree and talked quietly no one said “Let’s fight Tasha.” No one said “Let’s report to police.” No one even said “Sorry,” because deep down they all knew Mama Doris had been fighting peace for too long and this time peace fought back the train finally stopped at the next small station people rushed down some were still talking some were just silent railway workers called rescue team torch lights came out voices shouted into the night check the bush look by the rail she might be alive after almost 1 kilometer they found her mama Doris lying deep in the bush her wrapper was torn one leg bent like old broom her head was big on one side blood on her elbow doss all over her face but she was breathing small small like wind trying to blow through tight hole she groaned water somebody give me water they rushed her to the nearest hospital in town doctors carried her in nurses cleaned her up oxygen pipe entered her nose needle entered her hand bandage covered her leg she didn’t die her body was broken but her mouth still moved small small back at the station Tasha stepped out of the train slowly her eyes were tired her wrapper was loose her hands held her small bag two policemen walked up to her no greeting no talking one of them brought out handcuffs and said “You are under arrest for attempted murder.” The metal clicked around her wrist touku froze people shouted “Ah she didn’t push her it was mistake.” But police know they hear noise they carried Tasha into the van like she was thief drove away tooku stood there chest heavy eyes empty his world was now like Mama Doris’s body scattered bleeding and not sure if it would survive mama Doris was lying on the hospital bed bandage on her head leg tied with white cloth drip hanging beside her like silent punishment she looked weak but her face still held pride that same pride that chased peace away from her house touku entered the room quiet like someone carrying grief he pulled chair and satby her side his voice was low but sharp like blade why mama why do you hate every woman I bring what did they do to you mama Doris looked away eyes on the ceiling i was protecting you tooku’s face changed his voice rose protecting me he said “You broke my heart three times you chased Amaka away you called Hale Lima Baron now Tasha is in police cell because of you.” Mama Doris opened her mouth but nothing came out touku stood up his hand on his chest his eyes were wet but he wiped them quick if you don’t tell me the truth today I swear I’ll walk out of this hospital and never come back you can die here alone mama no tears no goodbye silence filled the room even the drip beside her stopped making sound mama Doris turned her face slowly her lips shook her eyes blinked then she whispered “Tosuku you’re not my biological son.” Touku’s head turned like someone that just heard thunder inside water “what did you say?” Mama Doris looked up at the ceiling like she was talking to the sky your father married two women i was the first no child nothing then he married Neca your real mother she got pregnant in one year but she died during childbirth your father gave you to me he begged me to raise you as mine he told everyone I gave birth i agreed but deep down I never forgot how Neca mocked me tooku didn’t move mama Doris continuedher voice now shaking she used to laugh at me say I was just occupying space say she gave your father what I couldn’t a son those words followed me like shadow touku blinked slowly his lips moved but no sound came out and each time you brought a woman home it felt like Na was laughing again i saw her in them i heard her voice and I couldn’t stop myself mama Doris began to cry but Tooku didn’t touch her his heart was already bleeding the woman he called mother had carried bitterness for years and she planted itinside his life like poison in yam touku stood slowly his chest was heavy like sack of wet sand so all this pain all this destruction was because of something she said before dying mama doris nodded yes I let bitterness grow inside me and it made me blind she cried harder now but Touku didn’t hug her he picked his phone walked to the door before leaving he said quietly “You didn’t destroy them mama you destroyed me.” Then he walked out her tears followed him but his ears had closed back in the police station the officers watched the video from the kitchen camera they saw everything mama Doris standing alone holding blade cutting her own arm washing the knife and later on the train they saw her slip no push just struggle noise and a fall it was clear now Tasha didn’t try to kill her the case was dropped tasha came out of the cell her eyes were swollen her voice was tired but her spirit was still standing to was waiting outside he held her hand didn’t say much but thatone touch spoke louder than any word later he went back to the hospital paid all the bills bought medicine paid for wheelchair paid for transport but when it was time to speak to Mama Doris his voice came like cold rain you’re going back to the village mama she blinked fast let me stay small i will behave let me just bless the house when you two marry touku shook his head number you have cursed this house enough you poured pepper in my piece you turned my heart to ash there’s no more space for you not in my house not in my futuremadam Doris started crying touku I raised you i carried you he looked away and then you broke me one piece at a time he called his uncle arranged transport told the driver “Drop her in front of the old compound if she tries to come back don’t open the door.” He also sent message to all the family members let nobody bring her back into my house not for amugu not for birthday not for burial she’s not welcome and just like that Mama Doris left the city in a van with a rapper a walking stick and the shadow of her ownmistakes three moons passed like lazy breeze no noise no drama no village dance touku and Tasha wore simple clothes invited few friends just rings smiles and small jolof the pastor said “May this house no peace.” Tasha said “Amen.” And this time she meant it from her heart no family elders came no family meeting held they didn’t wait for permission they just wanted peace and they finally got it back in the village Mama Doris sat in her old room her legs still twisted her head still had thescore her voice was quiet now like generator that ran out of fuel only one cousin came sometimes to sweep cook small soup and drop medicine nobody visited nobody called her nobody mentioned her name in Toku’s house even during prayer her name was skipped like bad verse in Bible the woman who once shouted every morning now sat by the window watching silence like it was punishment and maybe it was moral of the story bitterness is like slow poison it doesn’t kill fast it waits it hides it grows mama Doris watered bitterness like flower and pain grew tall in her house she thought she was protecting her son but she was burning his future she chased away love pushed peace outside and hugged anger like baby she forgot not every wound comes from strangers some are cooked in the same kitchen we eat from touku found truth it broke him but it also opened his eyes tasha found peace not in a big wedding or loud praise but in a home where love was not fighting for space mama Doris she found silence not the kind that brings rest but the one that comes when no one is listening anymore this tale is a calabash full of lessons because love without boundaries is not love and family without respect is not home.