Chapter 3: Dowry and Departure

I enter my main room, call my maid Zainab to check my dowry.

Zainab sharp, loyal to the core. She arrange my things well, her voice soft as she dey ask, "Madam, you wan check everything now?"

"Madam, the dowry dey in three parts: one I keep, the other two you give young master and young miss."

She bring out the small iron box, key still dey around her neck. My heart squeeze as I see all the things I gather from my father house.

I check the dowry list. As tradition demand, every item dey counted one by one, make nobody fit argue tomorrow.

I touch every item, memory flooding back—my mother's coral bead, the small gold ring, the wrapper my papa buy from Cotonou. I dey remember the day I dey dance for compound, people spraying me money, musicians singing my praise.

When I marry Tunde, he no get money, but my family no look down on am. That wedding day, procession reach ten miles, eighty-one okadas of dowry. Everybody talk say Chief Folarin pikin wedding na real show.

The elders still dey talk about that day for village. The drummers no tire, small children dey run follow convoy, people dey wave cloth. The memory sweet me, but pain still dey underneath.

Seven years pass. Even though some don finish, the dowry still fit carry Adeyemi family for three generations.

My papa always say, "Na woman property dey last." As I dey count the things, I dey thank God say I no come empty hand for this marriage.

I give the list to Zainab.

She collect am with two hands, respect full her body. "Madam, I go list everything well."

"As e dey for big families, list the extra wey Qi and Bisi dey hold. I go collect am back."

I dey go soon. The children still small; with all this property, who know whether Lan go use trick collect am from their hand?

In Nigeria, person fit use sweet mouth collect your inheritance. I dey protect my pikin, even if dem no see am now.

"Before, my house girls reach one hundred. Count their contract paper and ask who wan follow me go."

The compound dey full, but only few loyal. I need know who fit stay with me, who go remain for Adeyemi.

Zainab look surprised.

Her eyes wide. "Madam, you don dey plan to leave so soon?"

She never see me pack before. I just pat her hand.

I just smile small, hold her hand.

"Zainab, you dey loyal. If you wan stay, I go carry you anywhere. If you wan remain, I no go vex."

"I dey go. I wan see this whole world, make I see as e be."

I talk am, even though my heart dey fear. Maybe, after all this, God go show me better life.

Zainab hold my hand tight.

"Anywhere you go, I go follow."

Her loyalty sweet my heart. Na person like this dey make woman strong.

Just then, the door open softly, everywhere quiet.

The sound sharp for my ear. For this house, silent door fit mean palava or good news.

I quick stand, Zainab pack the dowry list.

We arrange things sharp sharp, face serious.

The Local Council Secretary enter, gentle as ever.

Tunde, always with that fake gentility. He adjust him cap, pretend say e no see my swollen eyes. My heart beat small, I prepare for his wahala.

"I bring you some snacks from Palm Grove Restaurant."

He dey try form caring husband. He drop the box, small smile for mouth, like say he dey do me favour.

Tunde drop the food box for table. As I open am, na only mockery I dey feel.

The aroma wey first hit me na fried plantain, but I smell betrayal inside the nylon. Na the same food dem chop for Lan birthday. The nylon even tear small, oil stain the bottom—na clear sign say I no matter.

Na leftover food, the one wey him, the children and Lan chop together.

Even the small meat don dry. I look the portion—too small for the big plate. E pain me.

Tunde no notice my face.

He dey busy with his phone, not even looking my direction. Typical.

"Some people hold me for road. The food don cold. If you no want am, throw am away."

He wave hand, as if na piece of yam he dey talk about. The disrespect choke me.

Before, even if na small attention he show, I for happy. Even leftover, I for eat am with joy.

But today, my spirit no fit take am again. Woman pride dey important.

"Since husband say e don cold, Zainab, abeg throw am away."

My voice steady, but my chest dey shake. I no go swallow shame again.

Tunde shock, face dark, but no talk anything.

He just stare, mouth open small, as if he no believe say I fit reject am.

He sit with me small.

His silence thick, the room heavy. Even the wall clock dey tick louder.

"You go see Queen Mother today? Why you no let me follow you?"

His voice low, almost like apology, but me, I no gree accept am.

"Husband carry Qi and Bisi go out, so I use chance talk with Aunty."

My voice strong, no space for lie.

Tunde sigh deep. "The children dey grow. You dey do everything by yourself—I dey fear you go taya. At least, dem like the teacher."

He try make peace, but my mind don block am. I sip my tea, avoid his eye.

I no talk, just lower my head sip tea.

I hear him breathe, heavy, like person carrying sack of beans. Let him carry the weight of his own decision.

Tunde, as he no get anything to say again, just stand, talk say office work dey, then waka go.

His footsteps slow, but I no call am back. The door close, and I let out breath I no know say I dey hold.