Chapter 5: Family Tension and Good Intentions

After five years, Ifeoma always dey hint make we buy house, marry. I know say she no too get confidence.

She dey always ask, "Tunde, you sure say you fit cope with my family?"

When I gree meet her people, she too happy.

She dey dance up and down, dey call her mama every hour. She give me plenty warning, but I still shock when I see how her family be.

House no reach 20 square meters for city village, four people dey squeeze. Her parents get double bed; she and her brother dey manage bunk bed. No space to stand well.

I dey tiptoe, dey dodge bag and shoe for ground. Wall crack, zinc dey leak, but dem dey manage.

The worst be say, the toilet no get water, na pit latrine—e dey smell, dirt just dey pile like mountain.

Mosquito dey bite, breeze no dey enter. You no fit squat well, else your yansh go touch wahala.

But her mama warm, cook plenty food, no mention car or house, just say she want her daughter make happy marriage.

She serve us hot eba, egusi soup with big pomo, and cold sachet water—her way of showing welcome, even when pocket dry. She dey smile as if say she no see problem. I respect her spirit.

As we dey go, Ifeoma ask me shyly if I mind her family background.

For under the mango tree, we hold hand, dey swing am gently.

Mango leaf dey fall, sun dey set, breeze dey blow small. I look her eye, see hope.

“My papa always tell me, you no fit choose where you born. With this kind tough background, you still enter better university, dey work for big company. I dey proud of you.”

She cry, hug me, whisper for my shoulder:

“Tunde, I really want make we build home together. I go love you forever.”

Her tears soak my shirt, but my heart dey sweet me. Na that day I decide say I go marry her.

When I tell my papa, he reason am small.

He just wave hand, finalize the face-me-I-face-you redevelopment project with local government.

The place: na the same city village wey her family dey.

He call me one night, say, "Family first. If you love her, I go support you."

“This land go lose money, but my daughter-in-law dey there. Family be family, so when dem dey pay compensation, give her family extra flats. Make she get confidence. If you mess up, she get where she go run.”

I really moved. My papa try.

I dey almost cry, but I hold myself. For Naija, man no suppose dey show tears anyhow.

Because of the partnership, news say Okoli Group dey start face-me-I-face-you renovation spread for our company.

People dey hail my papa, dey call am 'baba for the boys.'

I no expect say this good thing go turn test for me and Ifeoma.

I dey pray make everything soft, but life get another plan.