My mother-in-law forcibly ripped her pregnant daughter-in-law’s blanket off her around six in the morning, saying, “Get up, you lazy lady! I’m starving! How much longer will you remain in that position? — but she was unaware of what the following day would bring 
My pregnancy’s first few months were really difficult; I experienced persistent nausea, lethargy, and insomnia. Furthermore, my mother-in-law has refused to let me live in peace.
Every morning: scolding, yelling, and jeering. She would immediately complain to my husband and threaten to kick us out of the house if I ventured to respond with even a single word.
I didn’t get much sleep that night. My eyes were about to close around five in the morning when I was startled awake by a sharp voice near my ear:
“I’m starving, lazy girl, get up! You spend the entire day sleeping, so make me something to eat!
I tried not to cry as I clamped my eyes shut.
I said, “Mama, I don’t feel well.” “I’ve been feeling ill all night.”
“Don’t share your illnesses with anyone!” She lost her temper. “In my era, women gave birth without complaining!”
Something shattered inside of me as I got up and started to make breakfast. I understood that this could not continue. I had to think of a way to discipline that obnoxious mother-in-law. This is what I did.
When everyone was asleep that night, I switched on the speaker and listened to a recording of soft sighs, a baby wailing, and hushed murmurs. I turned down the volume just enough to give the impression that it was coming from a great distance.
Nothing happened for the first few minutes. My mother-in-law had awakened up when I heard the bed crack in the adjacent room.
There was a faint female whisper coming from the kitchen, like if someone were crying, but otherwise the house was quiet. The sound ceased as she listened. She believed she had a hallucination.
A few minutes later, there was wailing once more, followed by a rustle and then the faint sound of a man’s voice. With her heart racing, my mother-in-law jumped up in bed.
“Who’s there?” She yelled.
No response. The wall tapped softly, and then there was silence once more.
She hadn’t slept a wink by morning.
“You heard someone talking last night, didn’t you?” Her eyes were filled with worry when she asked me in the morning.
“No, Mom, I was up all night reading, but I didn’t hear any voices,” I said with an innocent smile. Perhaps you had a dream.
It occurred once more the following evening. Knocks, whispers, and the gentle cry of a newborn.
My mother-in-law started muttering prayers and crossed herself. She believed that she was being pursued by her late husband.
She came to me trembling in the morning.
“I can no longer stand it. Something is happening in this house.
“Perhaps God is punishing you,” I murmured quietly as I carefully glanced at her. Perhaps you ought to try treating others with a bit more kindness.
She changed after that day. She ceased shouting at me, reprimanding me, and waking me up in the morning. Instead, she asked how I was feeling and offered me tea. And the house was completely silent at night. I had switched off the speaker, which is why the voices had disappeared.
