Chapter 2: Halima’s Shadow

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Three years after I marry Odogwu Nnamdi, na so he carry side chick.

For our side, even birds wey perch for guava tree sabi as e happen. Women for market dey use my matter gist, boys for barbershop dey laugh. My own friends dey pity me, but dem no fit talk am for my front. For night, na so I dey turn for bed, dey ask myself, "Na so marriage dey be?" Every festival, Halima gist go enter, as if she be family member.

Her name na Halima. Surname Musa.

Even the way her name sound—Halima Musa—people dey add am join prayer points, "God abeg, no let my husband jam Halima Musa for road o!" The name dey everywhere like radio jingle.

Just as her name be—

The way Halima Musa dey stand, e be like dry stick wey no gree fall, pride full body, chin always up. Na woman wey her eyes dey talk before her mouth. Even small pikin sabi say Halima get her own mind.

She dey stand for dry mango branch like person wey no dey gree, proud and stubborn.

Na market people go gist say, "That Halima, she no dey hear word. Na only Odogwu fit handle am." If you greet am, she fit look you up and down, commot mouth. But Odogwu, he like am like that. Na her stubbornness dey make am dey craze.

She no gree enter house as second wife, but she love Odogwu Nnamdi so tey she no fit leave am.

Halima stubborn pass goat, but she love Odogwu as if na sweet palmwine. E shock people for street say she dey refuse second wife position, but e still dey follow am waka, dey live her life as side chick. Every time she run, she go swear say she no go ever come back, but small time, Odogwu go find am, bring her back with plenty gift.

The wahala too much for her, so she go run commot from city.

Dem say na jazz dey worry am, others say na true love. Sometimes, neighbours dey see her for market, she dey buy onions and dried crayfish, wrapper dey jangle for waist, but people go still whisper, "No be Halima Musa be that?" She go waka quick, head up, dey dodge gist.

Every time, Odogwu Nnamdi go dey find her like person wey craze.

The whole city go know say Odogwu don enter search mode. He go drive round town, call all hin boys, scatter everywhere until e find her. Some say na love, others say na pride.

When he find her finish, he go pamper her even more.

If you see as he dey pet am, you go think say she be baby. Gifts, new clothes, better perfume. E go call tailor, call cook. E go dey buy suya for midnight, just to see her smile. Everybody for house go dey fear, no one fit talk.

If I count am, this na the third time wey she don run from the city.

Three times Halima Musa don pack commot, three times Odogwu Nnamdi don chase her. If na contest, e for win trophy.

And this time, na on top my birthday e land.

My birthday wey I plan since last year, na that day Halima run again, na that day Odogwu travel. Even my shadow sef tire.

"Aunty, so Oga really travel go?"

As the sound of car wey commot still dey echo for street, Chinyere rush enter parlour, wrapper almost fall. Her face show fear, her mouth open.

As Odogwu Nnamdi just commot, Chinyere rush enter, her body dey shake:

She dey tremble, small tears for her eye. She be like person wey see ghost. For her mind, today no suppose be like this.

"You no go stop am? No be Oga promise you..."

She dey almost beg me, voice dey high. She look my face like say I fit use magic hold Odogwu Nnamdi back. I just sigh, carry face go window.

Odogwu Nnamdi talk say he go spend my eighteenth birthday with me.

The thing dey ring for my ear like bell. I remember how he promise me for new year, how he say, "Amaka, no worry, this birthday go sweet!" That hope alone carry me for weeks.

Because of that, I prepare for one whole month.

I plan food, call tailor, buy small cake. Even my own pocket money I use buy special Ankara. Chinyere help me scrub compound, everywhere neat.

My mind waka go the first time wey I meet Halima Musa.

Flashback just land for my head. That day clear like new glass. The air smell of orange, harmattan just dey go.

Na after Odogwu Nnamdi follow the local chief go south come back. Dem talk say one girl save im life.

Rumour fly for city, say Odogwu for die if no be Halima Musa. Some say na accident, some say na juju. But all point to one person—Halima.

I beg am make he carry me go her house go thank her.

As good wife, I say make I show gratitude. I cook small soup, wear my fine wrapper. My heart dey beat as we reach her compound. I no sure wetin I go see.

She sit down for swing wey Odogwu Nnamdi build by himself, fine like evening star. Her skin dey shine like fresh mango, eyes sharp like razor, wrapper tie tight for waist.

Evening breeze dey blow. Her skin dey shine under sun. She no talk, just dey swing small, dey play with her scarf.

But as Odogwu Nnamdi turn face, she near my ear, laugh soft:

Her laugh no loud, e just roll like honey for ear. I dey confused, dey smile like mumu.

"So, even person wey nobody send fit still dey claim Oga wife?"

Her words cut me, but I just bone. People for compound dey look us, dey wait for fight, but I no give dem show.

"You sure say you fit win me?"

Her eyes dey challenge me, like say marriage na football match. My chest tight, but I hold my ground.

No need to compete.

For my mind, I know say na two different worlds. No need to drag man, I be wife, she be… something else.

Me and her, we no be mate.

As she dey boast, I just dey smile. Inside my heart, e pain me, but I no show am. My own, I go carry myself with dignity.

I just smile, pack the divorce letter wey dey table.

My hand no dey shake as I arrange the paper. I remember Mama advice: "No drag with anybody for husband matter, na dignity sure pass." I follow her words.

"Chinyere, my dowry list—e still dey here, abi?"

I call Chinyere, my voice cool. She nod sharp sharp, run go bring am. For that moment, I know say I don ready for anything wey life throw me.

I whisper small prayer, ask God make my next journey better.