Charles was patiently waiting for Dera to open the door without knowing what she was planning. After a while, he called out to  her.

“Dera, I’m still around.”

“I’m coming,”. She replied.

She later had a rethink and decided to use cold water. She opened her fridge and brought out cold water that was in a 2.5 liter keg. She poured  it into a small bucket. Afterwards he opened her door and poured it on Charles.

“What is the meaning of this?”Charles shouted in shock.

“The next will be hot water, if you don’t carry yourself out of this place. “

Her neighbours ran out when they heard the shout. They were surprised to see Charles drenched.

“Dera what is going on here?” One of her neighbours asked.

“It is this woman wrapper. I don’t know what she is doing in my house. I told him to go but he refused. I decided to show him another side of me,” Dera boasted.

“Oga go naa, she is not the only woman on campus,” Dera’s neighbour told Charles.

Others busted out laughing.

“But why is he carrying the bible?” Someone asked.

“He is using it to deceive himself,” Dera told them and they started laughing again.

“Please leave this place  now before we will donate beating for you o” they threatened Charles

Charles attempted to go but later turned, ” Dera you know my reason for coming here. I came to advise you. But you poured water on me and my Bible. That was not enough. You also turned me to an object of caricature. If you don’t repent fast, a day is coming when you will seek godly advice but you will not get it. At that point, you will remember this day in tears.”

“Get out and get lost. Your parents sent you to school to study. You left the books and started carrying the bible around, deceiving yourself.”

Charles quietly left.

“Dera it seems that what you told us was not what happened. Why would you tell lies against him”Adamma asked.

“Busy body, what is your  concern in this matter? Who made you a judge?”Dera replied in anger.

“It’s none of my business but I will advise that you go and beg him. I don’t know what gave you the impetus to pour water on him and even soak his bible in water. Your life is really a wonder to us,” Adamma continued bashing Dera

“You really hit the nail on the head. Dera’s transformation from a church girl to runs girl is really a wonder to us,” Nelly chipped in.

“It is your entire generation that are runs girls. Nonsense set of people. She hissed and went inside her room.

When Ijeoma heard what happened, she was very angry and decided to confront Dera.

“Dera the news I heard as I entered  the lodge now made goose pimples rise on my body. I heard you poured water on someone. With their description , it seems it was Bro Charles”

“Yes I did it. He should go and thank his God. Go and touch that kettle; I boiled hot water. But I later changed my mind and used a cold one.  Please, help me to warn yourself and warn Charles too. Stay off my matter. Don’t interfere with anything that concerns me and Clem. I am a bulldozer. I will crush whoever or whatever stands in my way., This Is the last warning . Lest I forget, I am moving into another apartment. Clem paid for it. He want me to enjoy my privacy and stop you and your church members from pock nosing into my affairs.”

“Congratulations on your new apartment.  I am sorry for interfering in your relationship. It will not happen again,”Ijeoma pleaded.

“Of course it will never happen because there will not be such an opportunity,” Dera snapped.

Clem made sure that Dera was comfortable. He provides everything she needs and even promised to buy a car for her when she graduates from the University.

Dera was still a bit skeptical and kept disturbing Clem to take her to his parents.

Clem had to make an arrangement for them to  visit  his home.  On their way, Clem made a phone call. The phone was on speaker so Dera heard everything being discussed.

“Mum, we are on the way,” Clem said.

“Wow! I hope you are coming with my daughter in law?” a female voice asked.

“Yes. ” 

“It’s okay, please be fast.”

When they got home, a gorgeously dressed woman came out to welcome them.

“Mum,” Clem shouted when he sighted her and ran to hug her. 

“Son, I’m happy to see you. Is she the one?”she asked, pointing at Dera.

“Yes mum,”Clem replied

“Ah Dera my daughter,” the woman called even as she hugged Dera.

“Good afternoon Mum. I’m surprised that  you know my name?” Dera told her in excitement.

“Why not, my son has told me a lot about you,” she replied.

“Mum, what of Dad?” Clem asked.

“You dad went for a business meeting”

“But why are you holding car keys?  Are you going out?” Clem inquired.

“Yes we are all going out. Hop into my car, I want to take my daughter in law out for a shopping trip,”she announced.

“Wow! Thanks so much mum. But  I will prefer to drive,” Clem told her.

“Why would you drive ?”

“Mum, I’m no longer a baby. Let’s use my car.” Clem insisted.

“Okay, you’ve won. Let’s go with your car”

Dera wanted to stay at the  back but she didn’t allow her.

“No, please stay with your husband at the front. Let me be at the back.” 

“Mum, did you say husband?” Clem asked.

“Are you not her husband? What else is remaining? I have already started seeing her as my daughter in law,” she said.

Dera could not contain her joy. For her, it seemed she was in a dream because all that she wished for in life was materializing.

After the shopping, Clem’s mum wanted them to go back home but Clem insisted that they have to go back to school because it was getting late.

“No Clem. I won’t take that. How can my daughter in law visit my house and not eat food? I had to quickly bring her for this shopping because if we had entered the house, we would not be able to come. Please, my son let us go home so that she can eat food,”she pleaded.

“Mum please try to understand us. If we go home again, we will not be able to go back to school today. As for me , I don’t have a problem with that but Dera is writing a quiz tomorrow morning. I don’t want her to miss it,” Clem pleaded.

“Mum don’t worry, I will always visit you,” Dera promised.

 She had to allow  them to have their way though she was not happy about that.

On their way, Dera had to confront Clem concerning the lie he told.

“I heard you say that I am writing a quiz tomorrow morning. Where was that coming from?” Dera asked.

“My dear, what do you expect me to do? If I don’t do that, my mum will keep you here till next week. You don’t understand the kind of love she has for you,”Clem tried to defend herself.

“It’s obvious. See all the things she bought for me. Could you imagine that I was begging her to stop buying. She kept saying ‘Dera you need to take this’ ‘You need to have that’ Ah!”

“You have not seen anything yet. My mum will choke you with love. Just go and rent a warehouse for clothes and jewelries”

They both busted out laughing.

Back in school Dera told some of her friends her  encounter with Clem’s mum and how lucky she was to have such a loving and caring mother in law.

Dera and Clem rounded off their final exams, and we’re waiting for their project defense when she becomes sick. She visited the hospital to run a test and confirmed that she was pregnant.

“This is an expressway to my marriage,” Dera whispered to herself in joy .

She decided to visit Clem to give him the joyful news.