Act 1: Scene 3

Amarachi goes to a big sea after the country side. She wanted to throw Amaka's ring into the sea as a young fisherman stops her.

Nwoye: Hey! Hey!! Stop there!!! Where do you think you are going?! (he runs to her side, trying to stop her thinking she wanted to commit suicide or something.)

Amarachi: (Annoyed and managed to turn to him. Although, she's already made up her mind.) I'm going there, into the sea!

Nwoye: What?! Do you want to commit suicide or are you an obanje (Mermaid spirit)??

Amarachi: (Smiles) No! Of course not. I just want to throw away this ring into the sea.

Nwoye: (Surprised) Is this what you came all the way here for? Why did you want to throw it?

Amarachi: (Smiles again and explains) This ring belongs to the woman my husband married after me (she lied).  She threatens me all the time and misplaced this ring in the process. How do I pay her back for all these years of evil deeds? I must throw it into the sea.

Nwoye: (Finally relieved) Okay, now I know the reason why.  I'll advise you give her back but if you want, you can do whatever you wish. (he smiled and leaves).

Amarachi moved deeper and deeper into the sea... As far as her boat could move and threw it far away, into the sea. She smiles wickedly to herself and went home.

***

Curtains

Act 2 :Scene 3

A week later, Amarachi felt sharp pains in her lower tommy as she managed to get into the bathroom. She took the pain in, not wanting to call or tell Amaka about it. She notices blood gushing down her legs as she weeps bitterly. 

Later, she went to the hospital but she was told that she had lost the baby, she had a miscarriage. Amarachi didn't want to tell Emeka or Amaka about it, she was scared, she might leave the house. She locked herself indoors for days and pretending nothing happened.

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Amaka visited the market to buy foodstuffs and cooking ingredients. She wanted to buy a chicken but the money in her purse wasn't enough. So, she decided to buy a fish.

When Amaka got home, she started preparing her favorite Afang soup.  As she cuts the fish, she saw her missing diamond ring inside it's stomach and washed it.It was unbelievable!  Amaka was so excited and surprised. How could the same ring with her name on it get into the fish? She thanked God and carefully returned it into the box and changed it's position.

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A week later, Ufomma came to visit Emeka and his wives as she praise Amarachi for getting pregnant for her son. She only recognize her as her daughter-in-law and calling Amaka names like witch! Barren woman!!

Emeka too has changed, he isn't the person he used to be. Infact, he manage sleep in her room once in week but Amaka don't mind. She didn't worry herself whether he sleeps in her room or not. Pehaps, Amarachi controls the house.

Ufomma: Emeka and wives, good morning.

Emeka, Amaka and Amarachi synchronized answer and welcomed her. As Amaka wanted to collect her bag,  she hissed and asked her to get away. Amarachi and Emeka laughs at her while she shyly entered her room, locking herself up and crying, silently.

Emeka: "Don't mind Amaka, she could be so funny sometimes. So, how was the journey, mama."

Ufomma: "It was fine o, my son."

Ufomma asked Emeka to tell his wives to bring out their rings. Amarachi laughed and mocked Amaka for misplacing it.

Amarachi: (insults her openly) See her, when the cat is out of the house, the rat becomes the master.

Amaka felt heart broken with the way she's treated and slowly walks to her room to bring the ring.

Amarachi: (Laughs harder)  I told you, she had misplaced it! She won't come out of that room today, just watch!

Emeka fells kind of pity for her.  Ufomma and Amarachi must have planned this all along.  He still loves his wife but for now, his hands are tied.

Ufomma: (who was slapping her legs to the tilled floor, shouted.) "Where are you o, possessed witch! You barren fool have been living here for the past six years without giving me a grandchild. Thank God I brought Amarachi here, I'll have still been waiting for an imaginary child! Where is she? Can't you come out again?!"

Emeka: (Goes to her door and knocks) "Amaka,  Atleast, come out, ehn?"

Amarachi: (Still laughing) She can't even give birth, she's so careless?! Oh poor woman, I pity her! Just get ready to go! Maybe she's already parking, mama (Amarachi roared into laughter again).

Anger raged in Emeka but he didn't want to disgrace her at his mother's presence.

Ufomma: (Claps her hands thrice and snaps her fingers over her head.) "Ehn-ehn? Tofia kwa?! Emeka, I wonder how a woman would be this useless and you'll still keep her in your house!  (faces Emeka) You better drag that witch out or else?!"

Emeka: (feels threatened and sad but didn't want to disgrace Amaka or cause any more problems.) "Okay ma, I've heard you. Amaka come out now!"

Amaka: ( from inside) "I'm coming!" (she comes out sadly and hands the diamond ring to Ufomma.)

There was a flash of surprise on their faces. It was the exact same one, with 'Amaka' boldly designed on it.

Ufomma: What?! Is this it?!!

Amarachi faints as she falls from the chair to the floor.

Emeka: What?! (He quickly help Amarachi and taps her her body, to wake. He sprinkles water and blows her with an hand fan) Amarachi! Amarachi!! (He shouted as she finally coughs)

Amaka: (Concerned) Is she going to be fine?

Amarachi: (Coughing randomly and started crying)

Ufomma moves closer.

Amarachi: still crying.

Ufomma: What's wrong my dear, stop crying. Oh! My poor, pregnant daughter-in-law... It's all this witch's fault! She pushed Amaka away, accusing her for every badluck.

Amarachi: No mama, you won't understand...

Ufomma:What's the matter with you?! Why the tears?!!

Amaka: (still stands in shock) Amarachi, please get up.

Amarachi: (sweating fuselage and stops crying,  suddenly looking shy and stares at the floor) Am sorry mama.... I... I mean t... To say am sorry. I have something to tell you all.

Ufomma : (helps her from the floor to the chair) what's it,  Amara. (cleans the beads of water and sweat from her forehead) sit well, my daughter.

Amaka: (blaming herself, almost in tears... Still wants to leave. She carries her bag) I caused these! I'll just leave!!

Amarachi: (holds her hand and stops her) "No, Please, don't!"

Everyone turned to her in surprise.

Amarachi: Actually,  Erm... Emmmm... I lost the pregnancy few weeks ago. This is a fake pregnancy...

All shocked and shouted in chorus : "What!!!"

Emeka: (Most surprised) I didn't even notice! Why can't you tell me all these while, Amarachi?! Ehn? Why?!!...

Ufomma: You should have told me, at least. That was too bad of you!

Amarachi: (Sobbing bitterly) I'm sorry... I wanted to tell you Emeka, but I was too shy of being mocked and disgraced. That's not the only thing, Mama. Emaka's not the owner of the pregnancy... It was for Chibuzor, my village boyfriend. I was few weeks pregnant before I came here.

Ufomma: what?! Is it Chibuzor,  the house boy?!!

Amarachi : No, it's another one. The one that sells cocoyam in the village market!

Emeka: What?! Are you insane?!! You must be crazy to bring a bastard in here!!

Amarachi falls to her kneels and begs Emeka as Ufomma and Amaka watched in surprise.

Amarachi: I know I'm bad, please forgive me... There are many stories in my little diary. It's over between Chibuzor and I... Well, I found Amaka's diamond ring under a bucket outside one afternoon, I didn't want to her to know since I hate her, all I want was to get her packing out. I threw the ring deep in the sea. (she weeps harder and clings to Emaka's legs but he pushes her away with the fake pregnancy. The wrappers she tied loose as she cried bitterly on the floor. There's nothing to hide now that all her secret were now exposed.)

Emeka: What?! So you could be this heartless, Amarachi!!

Amarachi: I'm sorry, forgive me, my husband!

Emeka: ( feels so bitter and shameful) Shut the hell up, it's over between us!!

Amarachi: (Crawls to Ufomma's kneels) Mama, please help me beg him!!

Ufomma: (Looks down at Amarachi) you're a big disgrace! A huge mistake!! Just get out of my sight,  in fact, leave this house!!! (she turns to Amaka) I'm sorry, my daughter. I know I've maltreated you in different ways. Tell me, how did you get back the ring?

Amaka: (Sighs) About a week ago,  I went to the market to buy foodstuffs.  I wanted to buy chicken to kill at home but the money on me wasn't enough, so I bought two fishes, instead. When I was cutting it, I found my missing ring right inside the stomach of one of them.

Emeka: Hmm.. God is Great!

Ufomma: (Smiles happily) Oh!  What a destiny!! So what our elders say is true.

Emeka: (Concerned)  What did they say, mama?

Ufomma: (speaks softly)  They said "The hen may shine it's eyes but that does not prevent the hawk from snatching her chicks."

Emeka: (Confused)  What does that mean?

Ufomma: It mean no matter what,  destiny can never be changed.

Emeka : Thank God for Eze's advice. I told him everything that is happening with me and he asked me to take this test on them. (he faced Amarachi and gave his final words)
Amarachi!  No matter how much you wash and perfume the armpit, after some time it would still give it's odour. Go and meet your village boyfriend and plead with him to accept you and your secrets.... Your character is just so unbearable!

Amarachi: ( kneels,  holds his legs again and crying louder.) Emeka,  please forgive me! I know I wronged you, you have me the best life here  but I told you all of these only because I love you... I have secrets, I have pasts,  I've changed that's why I told you all my secrets... It's all the devil's handwork! I did it out of jealousy!!

Ufomma: (Pushes her away from her son) I don't have time for drama! As for me,  I don't want to see you near my son's house anymore.  I thought you were good, Amarachi. You lied to me that your ex husband abandoned you! Where as, he divorced you because you're in another relationship with Chibuzor!! My research on you is late but not too late!

Amarachi: (surprised and stops her crocodile tears) what! Mama how do you know?! Did Ifayin told you another lie?!  Mama it's not true o!! (She rolls to Ufomma's legs, crying harder)

Ufomma: (kicks her away) A strong farmer who goes to farm without a tool will soon return home without nothing! You don't have good characters,  Amarachi.  You lie,  you cheat,  you pretend,  and you're still jealous. Character makes a woman a great wife. Go back home and beg either your ex-husband or your boyfriend to take you in, Amarachi.  What is bad is bad!!

Amaka: (feels her pain) Mama, please forgive her. Let's give her a second chance.

Ufomma: (Nods with regret) My daughter, don't worry about her. She'll have to leave today, no second chances! I'm the one that impatiently brought a second wife for your husband.  You are a true wife and am sure you'll be a great mother . I'm the bad Mother-in-law here,  I wanted to send you away from your matrimonial home. Amaka, am sorry,  forgive me. (Ufomma cries as Amaka consults her)

Ufomma: (Chibuzor! Chibuzor!!) Where is the good for nothing house boy?!!

Chibuzor: (Quickly enters the stage/room)  ma!

Ufomma: (angrily instructed) Enter that room and pack out this evil witch's laugage out!  I don't want to see her pin!!

Chibuzor: (Confused) whose bag,  mama? Is it big madam's bag or....

Ufomma: (Sharply cuts in)  I mean Amarachi's bag!  And she's no longer your madam,  we've sacked her!! Go immediately or else we'll sack you as well!!!(she stormed).

Chibuzor goes in and carries two bags of Ghana - must - go bags out of the room/stage. Amarachi,  still pleading for forgiveness and cries bitterly,  Chibuzor carries her away.

Ufomma: Get out,  you shameless woman! I never believed you could throw dust in all our eyes, deceiver!!  Leave here!!

Ufomma joins Chibuzor in pushing her out of the room/stage and still shouts.

Ufomma: Go back to the village, you useless brat! Go!! Amarachi finally leaves as Ufomma comes back to sit.

Ufomma: I'm sorry for what you've been going through six years ago.  I was really concerned about getting a grandchild. Please forgive me.

Amaka: Don't worry mama, you never offend me. You did what you should... I have a surprise.

(Amaka brings out an envelope from the side of her bag and hands it over to Emeka. Emeka opens and reads)

Emeka: (Surprised)  What! Does that mean, you're pregnant?!  You are carrying my baby?!

Amaka: Yes, according to the doctor,  according to the letter... I am pregnant.  I got it yesterday and I was planning on telling you but with the way things went... (Tears started selling up in her eyes, Emeka cuddled her into a tender hug, telling her to smile instead.)

Ufomma: Don't cry my daughter... Or is it tears of joy? (Excited and sings songs of praises) So, I'm now a grandmother!

Amaka: (smiles) Yes, mama. The child is two months old.

Ufomma: (holds her hands and prays) No harm shall befall this child! You shall give birth in good health and no evil shall come between you and your husband.

Emeka and Amaka answered happily. Amen o! Ufomma herself carried Amaka's bags inside and asked Chibuzor to join her in the kitchen.  She made a very delicious meal of pounded yam and groundnut soup with soft turkey meat for them.  They all eat as mama left stayed to take care of Amaka till she gives birth.
Seven months later, Amaka had a set of beautiful twins.  A boy and a girl named Gabriel And Gabrielle.

🌽🌽🌽🌽  THE End  🌽🌽🌽🌽

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