Chapter 5: New Life, New Trouble

The more you dey act like you no send, the more e dey find you, even more than when e just start dey enjoy.

You go dey waka pass, e go dey find excuse to talk to you. E go dey carry eye look you, dey miss your touch.

Later, you come understand say na him way of using you last last, because e know say you no go dey there forever.

You dey see say e dey count days, dey try gather all the enjoyment before e go finish.

High court judge come like am, agree to give am him daughter.

Na big celebration. Madam dey dance, even papa dey pray for house. Everybody dey look forward to wedding.

But for big man pikin to marry small official pikin, dem need show level.

Family meeting full parlour, rules dey fly everywhere. You dey hear your name for background.

First rule: all side chicks for house must go, and no new one go enter.

Na strong law. Even madam no fit argue.

Na because the family gap wide, the bride family fit make this kain demand.

You dey hear dem talk say, 'If dem no clear ground, we no go bring our pikin.'

Madam gree sharp sharp for her future daughter-in-law, dey boast say her son no get woman for room, say e pure, dey face book.

You dey hear am, your heart dey cut. You dey pray say make ground open swallow you.

When you hear, you cry, dey wonder if madam say no woman for young oga room mean say she wan kill you or just send you go far place.

You dey hide for kitchen, dey wipe tears with wrapper. Even the stove no fit warm your heart that night.

After you check, you hear say dem just wan move you from house, even buy you house, give you land make you fit survive.

You no believe am at first. You dey ask, 'Which kind luck be this?' But you dey fear say wahala dey inside.

Young oga wipe your tears with pity, make love to you three times for one night.

That night, your body dey weak, your mind dey confuse. You dey wonder if na goodbye or new beginning.

For once, after e finish, e dey try consider you, promise say even though you no go dey house, you no go lack, e go dey visit you.

E dey rub your back, dey whisper promise. You dey listen, but your heart dey guard itself.

You just dey look. The tears na from before, but now your heart dey beat with joy.

You dey laugh inside. Maybe na God finally remember you. For once, you dey see small hope.

To live on your own na big thing, but you wan commot finish, be your own person, no more chain to family wey use you work.

You dey imagine life without order. You dey plan, dey draw map for your head.

Next day, you waka go madam side, tell her all your years of work, talk say your family wicked, praise madam kindness, say you always wan serve her and young oga for life, but luck no dey your side.

You kneel down, dey thank madam, dey pray for her. Madam touch your head, dey bless you, dey promise you better future.

You no get shortcut, but this family still get small conscience.

You dey remember say for this world, na only kindness fit carry person far. You dey plan how you go use am well.

Your requests small, all make sense, and all na for young oga sake.

You ask for small land, money for rent, and small shop. You no greedy. Everybody for house dey respect your humility.

Household give you two strong men, four maids. You waka for night, enter boat go south, find say house for there cheap pass capital.

Rain dey fall, but you dey smile. For your mind, na freedom you dey see for horizon. You buy small suya for junction, share with your maids, dey thank God for new beginning.

With mountain and road far, your family no fit reach you. Even if young oga remember you, e no go find you.

You dey feel peace, dey plan how to build new life. Even mosquito for your new room dey sound like music of hope.