Dear Taiwo,How do I begin my story' How would the world believe that my mother is the source of my problems without being an object of ridicule before the whole world, my friends and especially the two wives I had sent packing'I love my mother and I would do anything for her because she really suffered and toiled day and night to get us where we are but I don't understand why she would prefer that I should live alone without a woman or a wife of my own and even children.My father died the year I passed out of the secondary school; being the first born with six siblings, I had to start fending for myself and my siblings very early in life. I got different odd jobs so that I could raise money for my family. I was working at a building construction site one day when a fight broke out between the contractor and the owner of the building. I never knew it was my chance or my breakthrough, but I mediated between the two of them and chief- as the big man was called asked to speak with me before he left the site.It wasn't the days of GSM, he gave me his number to get in touch with him the following week as he would be out of town for the remaining days of that particular week that I met him. I did as I was asked. He asked me some questions and said he was interested in helping me. He did help me. He not only got me a job in one of the federal government's parastatals, he also facilitated my education. He sponsored me to the polytechnic to study and I successfully completed my Ordinary National Diploma (OND) before my benefactor died. His death gave me some setbacks. He took me as his own son. He did not only help me, he also assisted my mother several times by giving her money to start her own business. But one way or the other, she would squander the money and ask for more.I don't really know what or how it happened, but my siblings did not turn out well with all my efforts. They all dropped out of school and whenever I tried to make them do something positive my mother would accuse me of being too hard on them.While I was growing up, I was friendly with Dora., We were neighbours and our mothers were friends. In fact, I was closer to her elder brother. Our mothers used to joke about us getting married later in life, but I had my mind on other things. Initially, I didn't have the intentions of dating her, but somehow it happened and this made our mothers really happy.I would have married her when I started thinking of marriage but for her refusal.She worked in a hospital as an auxiliary nurse. Along the line, she started dating her boss and because of this, she said she could not marry me because I wasn't a graduate.I was disappointed at her reaction, but, of course, I couldn't make her do anything she didn't want, neither would I go on my knees to plead with her to marry me. She however, went her way and I moved on. I really do not know why my mother blamed me for this. It was common knowledge that she didn't want to marry me but I don't know why my mother blame me for this.I later found someone I wanted to marry; I brought her home to meet my mother and she did not raise any objection about Funmilola. We dated for three years and when it was time, we decided to tie the nuptial knot. It was when I told my mother this that she started raising issues after issues about Funmilola.I was confused and I told my mother about this. Her only excuse for such attitude was that since Funmilola came from a better background than mine, I would not be able to control her. I told her to allow me worry about this and that Funmilola did not have such a tendency. I was also surprised because my mother could not tell me that Funmilola was rude to either her or any of my siblings.I went on with my plans and married Funmilola. On our wedding night,I learnt that my wife had been taken back to her father's house. I looked outside my father's house, and I saw a big commotion going on. I went out to find out what the problem was. My relatives from my father's family and my mother were locked in a hot argument. I learnt that the bone of contention was as a result of Funmilola's family's refusal to allow my family pour water on her feet before she stepped in as custom demanded.Her family gave their reason; it was not a part of their tradition and religion. It wast this point that my mother started making noise and insisted that Funmilola should be taken back to her father's house. (To be continued next week)
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