Chapter 5: Close Calls and Hidden Agonies

But as I open door,

Na another woman I see, stranger.

She dey gentle, her skin fine, but no be Jang Sade face at all. I blink, try remember where I don see her before.

No be Jang Sade.

My mind scatter. E mean say life don move, things no dey as I think before.

I no know why, but even though I never see her before, she look somehow familiar.

Maybe na the way she talk, or her eyes. E get memory inside, but I no fit place am.

E mean say he don marry again for this two years? Maybe even get another wife? Maybe pikin dey already?

Na so life dey. Prince get choice, women plenty for palace. My own just pass like breeze.

I just remember those bitter agbo I dey drink before. The thing pain me.

I rub my chest, remember how those herbal medicine dey burn my throat. Everything just be like old story wey no get sweet ending.

The woman for bed see me. Her eyes bright, she talk soft,

Her accent sweet, she get gentle smile. "You be Young Master Peter new wife? You fine well."

I shy small, but I just nod. "Yes, ma."

"Yes," I answer.

I pull chair, check her pulse. Her hand cold, but strong. I write prescription, advice her on rest, then begin pack my things to go.

After I check her pulse, write prescription, I wan go, she hold my hand. She bite lip, small shame dey her face, ask me,

She drag my hand soft, eye dey ground, voice low, "Abeg, you get any medicine...to help man and woman enjoy for bed?"

I shock.

The question land like slap. For our culture, woman no dey ask this kain question anyhow. My eye wide, but I still maintain composure.

Na Zubair...?

I dey reason am for my mind, but I no fit talk. Wetin concern me inside?

But as I remember, nothing dey wrong with am.

I search her face, try see if na joke or true matter. But her eye clear—she dey serious.

Maybe she see my mind, she quick wave hand.

She rush talk, "No be wetin you think. Na just small fun for husband and wife."

She laugh small, but I fit see say she dey shy.

Just three days apart, man fit change finish.

Palace life fit turn person to another thing. For here, people dey freer to try new things.

I no believe say noble Prince fit like this kind thing.

I dey wonder if na all men dey like that. But I keep my mouth shut, no be my wahala.

I quiet small.

I nod, smile small. "I go give you vitamin and rest medicine. That one go help pass."

"But your body never strong."

I dey careful. I no want make anything spoil honeymoon for dem.

She talk, "We no go use am now."

I smile, reassure her. "No worry, when your body strong, you go enjoy pass."

I shake head. "No try am. Make una no sleep together for some days."

She turn face, small disappointment show.

She force smile, but I see say her mind dey another place.

"Okay then."

I no talk again, I waka comot.

As I step out, I greet everybody for corridor, dey pray make no other big guest show.

But as I dey go, I hear footsteps. I dodge for one side.

Old habit die hard. For palace, once you hear heavy footstep, better hide first before wahala meet you.

Soon, I see who dey come.

The walk, the swag—no mistake. Na person wey dey used to command people.

Na Zubair.

E wear fine cloth, gold wristwatch, fresh and handsome, but cold reach bone.

His perfume strong, the kind wey only big people dey buy from abroad. His eye sharp, as if e fit see your secret.

As e reach lodge gate, Zubair stop, look my side.

My body freeze. I hold my bag like say na shield.

My heart fly.

E fit hear am for my chest. If e call my name, wahala go burst.

E see me?

I bend head more, dey pray say e no go recognize me. My leg dey shake, but I force my face still, like say I no even dey notice am.

But e no come. E just ask the person wey dey with am,

E voice cool, no be as e dey vex before. Na public, so e dey hold himself.

"You talk say Peter Sulaiman wife come?"

"Yes, Lady Zainab no well, she say make she check am. She suppose don go."

Attendant voice sharp, like say e dey try please boss. I no blame am—palace people sabi do strong face.

The attendant look Zubair, then ask,

"If Oga dey worry, make I call Lady Peter come back?"

He dey reason wetin fit vex his oga. Na so palace people dey—dem go check your face before dem talk.

I hide for shadow, my heart dey beat fast.

I hold breath, dey pray make wahala pass me by.

But Zubair no send.

He no even turn. His voice cold like well water.

E just say, "No need."

He waka pass, no look back. I release breath, rub chest, thank God say danger pass.

I breathe out, but fear still dey hide for my belly—old wahala no dey die quick.