My wife and I decided to play hide and seek yesterday. It was quite a fun game to play. But this time, we set a price. If I find her, she gets to cook me what ever food I desire. And if I don't find her, I get to cook for her and my visiting parents, for two whole days, while she takes a break.

My parents were upstairs sleeping by then. Ever since they arrived from the village three days ago, they have been sleeping and resting.

According to mama, she said she had come for a vacation in her sons house.

We rang the bell to signify the start of the game. And if eventually I do not find her, I will ring the bell to signify that I have given up.

My wife ran to hide, while I shut my eyes tight. When it was time, I opened my eyes and began searching for her.

I checked the sitting room, the kitchen, our bedroom, the guest room, the toilet, went back to the sitting room, checked the cupboards and the wardrobe. At a point, I started looking under the chairs, and behind the flat screen Tv, and even the drawers for my wife, but I could not find her. The woman just disappeared into thin air.

I remembered my parents room, and quickly ran to their bedroom.
I knocked and my mum was awake. She answered and told me to come in. I tiptoed inside to find my father fast asleep and snoring like a Tiger. My mum was reading her bible with her legs stretched under the thick blankets.

"Chi, what it?" My mum asked.

"Mama, I am looking for my wife."

"Your wife?"

"Yes mama, have you seen her? Did she enter here?"

"No o…." Mama answered.

I heaved a sigh and told her about the game we were playing and the bet we agreed on. My mother laughed. She knew how much I disliked cooking, even though I knew how to cook well. My mother told me to go out and find my wife before it was too late.

After searching the whole house, I gave up. I rang the bell to signify that she's won the game.

"Honey you have won o. Come out from were ever you are hiding." I shouted.

A loud laughter erupted from my parents bedroom immediately.

I quickly ran upstairs to find my wife seated in the centre of my two parents.

Papa who was snoring while sleeping, was now awake. He kept smiling. My mother was no longer reading bible any longer. My wife kept laughing at me.

"So you guys planned this shey? Even you papa, you join them the do me. No wahala. You people should kukuma adopt her as your daughter o. Just know you have lost your son."

My mother could not stop laughing. I stood there feeling alone. I hated loosing a game.

"Praises, now I win you. So go to the kitchen, wash the plates, clean the floor, and wait for our instruction.

We would decide on the kind of food we want you to cook."

As I walked out of the room I heard papa say.

"Let him pound yam. I want to eat pounded yam."

"No Nkem. Let him cut vegetable."

"Ehen pounded yam and vegetable soup with shaki and plenty kpomo will make sense."

Well the family finally settled for pounded yam and vegetable soup. I was given the list of things to buy from the market. It was not an easy journey.

I returned home and started cooking. I was in the kitchen seriously pounding yam and sweating like a goat about to be slaughtered, when my wife walked into the kitchen and hugged me from behind.

"Praises I love you." She whispered into my ears in the most romantic of voices.

She kissed my cheeks and collected the pestle from me, and I smiled.

My Prayer for every unmarried person is that we find ourselves in that happy family that knows no sadness. That we meet the right partner whose love and romance will be unending. And to those facing an unhappy marriage, we pray that God heal their homes, and bring joy to their family