RELATIONSHIP RUINED BY ZEE WORLD

 Story by Chukwudi Anagbogu 

In the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, evenings once meant family time—gathering around the dinner table, sharing stories, and connecting over meals. But things began to change when Zee World, the Indian television channel showcasing Hindi dramas, became a household staple.

It all started innocently enough. Adama, a young woman in her late twenties, was drawn to the elaborate storylines and dramatic twists of the telenovelas. With their glitzy portrayals of love, betrayal, and family drama, she found herself mesmerized by characters like Rani and Raj. Each night, she tuned in, eager to see how the latest episode would unfold.

At first, Adama’s enthusiasm was infectious. Her younger brother, Chike, and her parents would join her on the sofa, laughing and gasping at the ridiculous plot turns. But as weeks turned into months, something shifted. Adama began prioritizing her viewing schedule over family interactions. Dinners turned quiet as everyone was glued to the television, watching characters who were not even real.

As Adama became more entrenched in the stories, her relationships began to strain. She would often compare her life to that of the characters, expecting her boyfriend, Dapo, to be as romantic as the fictional heroes she admired. When he failed to sweep her off her feet with grand gestures, she grew resentful, believing he wasn’t capable of real love.

“Why can’t you be more like Raj?” she would say, her voice laced with disappointment.

Dapo, initially amused by her obsession, soon felt suffocated. Their conversations shifted from meaningful exchanges to discussions about which character was the most virtuous or whose love story was the most compelling. The real connection they once shared faded, and Dapo found himself withdrawing from the relationship.

Chike, on the other hand, had developed his own infatuation with Zee World. He began neglecting his studies, instead binge-watching episodes until dawn. His grades plummeted, and his parents, who had always valued education, were horrified to see him choosing melodrama over academics. The dinner table, once filled with laughter and debates about life, was now a battleground of frustration and disappointment.

“Chike, you need to focus on your future, not these silly shows!” their father would admonish, but his words fell on deaf ears. Chike was enamored with the world of Zee World, where every conflict could be resolved in a single episode and love always triumphed in the end.

As tensions rose within the family, Adama’s obsession deepened. She spent hours on social media, discussing plot twists with strangers online, investing emotional energy in fictional characters rather than her own family. She began to ignore her parents, whose traditional values and advice felt outdated compared to the glamorous lifestyles depicted on screen.

The breaking point came one evening during a family gathering. Adama had invited Dapo, hoping to rekindle their romance. But as the episode of "Kumkum Bhagya" played in the background, she became lost in the drama, forgetting Dapo was even there. He watched her, realizing how far they had drifted apart.

In a moment of frustration, he stood up and left. “I can’t compete with a television show!” he shouted, slamming the door behind him.

Adama sat in stunned silence as the episode continued, the characters living lives that felt more vibrant than her own. It was then that she realized how much Zee World had taken from her. The friendships she once nurtured were eroding, and the romance she craved seemed out of reach.

Weeks passed, and the rift in the family deepened. Chike failed his exams, and Adama's relationship with Dapo fell apart completely. The TV, once a source of joy and laughter, now felt like a prison, trapping them in a cycle of unrealistic expectations and disappointments.

In the quiet aftermath, Adama decided to confront the issue. She turned off the television and sat with her family, facing the damage that had been done. Tears flowed as they talked about their struggles, their disappointments, and the ways they had failed to connect.

“I’m sorry for letting this show come between us,” Adama admitted, wiping her tears. “I thought I could find happiness in these stories, but I lost sight of what really matters.”

Her family nodded in agreement, acknowledging their own shortcomings. Slowly, they began to reconnect, sharing stories of their day, dreams, and fears—something they hadn’t done in a long time.

With time, they learned to set boundaries with television and rediscovered the beauty of their relationships. They laughed together, cooked meals as a family, and made memories that would last far longer than any telenovela.

In the end, the allure of Zee World faded, replaced by the warmth of real connections and the understanding that while stories could entertain, they could never replace the love and support of family. Adama, Chike, and their parents emerged from the telenovela trap, wiser and closer than ever, proving that true dr

ama lies in the heart of real life.