Chapter 3: Madam’s Secret and Kaiye’s Chains

Madam fine, but her body no strong at all.

Dem say she soft like ripe pawpaw. From small, na so malaria dey worry her. Some people say na village people dey follow am.

Because of that, nobody ever ask for her hand.

Her mama dey worry, dey carry am from one herbalist to another. Some suitors come, but once dem see her for market, dem go dodge like fowl wey see rain.

For palm wine festival, Oladimeji see her, fall in love sharp sharp, come ask to marry her as main wife.

Na for new yam festival, the town full. Oladimeji just return from army post, wear him uniform, body dey shine. As he see madam for festival, him eyes no comot again. People say love catch am like ogbono soup.

The two of them love each other—everybody talk say na perfect match.

Dem dey waka together like twins. Oladimeji dey buy suya for her, she go smile, he go smile. Town people talk say 'God don match them.'

As her dowry maid, I happy for her from my heart.

Sometimes, when madam happy, she go dash me small money. I go dance, my younger sister Halima go join me. We dey thank God say our madam get better husband.

But for wedding night, madam faint for bed.

Na so the news scatter. Some people say she weak, others talk say na spiritual attack. My mind no rest that night.

Oladimeji na soldier, him too strong. Madam body no fit carry am.

E get big hand, chest broad. Madam slim like broomstick. If you see dem together, e be like coconut and broom.

Three nights straight, their marriage no gree happen.

Old women dey talk for kitchen. 'How new wife go dey faint every night?' Even small pikin for compound don sabi say chief wife never 'open door.'

Before you know, madam turn laughing stock for chief compound.

Even for market, dem dey use her matter joke. Some women go say, 'Na so so pepper soup she dey chop, yet she no fit carry chief.' I dey vex, but wetin I go do?

People dey talk say she no fit satisfy her husband, say side chicks go soon push her aside.

One day, I hear two maids dey whisper, 'Madam days for that house dey numbered. Side chick go soon collect chief.' My heart just cut.

E make sense—Oladimeji still young and strong. Even if he love her, how he go hold body forever?

You know men for our side, dem no dey stay one place. Especially if woman no dey give wetin dem want. Na so I dey reason am.

Madam fear, come plan: make person replace her.

She call me one night, voice low like person wey dey hide. 'Kaiye, abeg, help me. I no wan lose my place.' Her eye red, she no fit sleep.

Every night, she go off lamp, send maid go take her place.

She go dress me with her wrapper, spray small perfume, off all lamp, then whisper, 'Go.'

For that dim light, Oladimeji no fit see the woman wey dey under am.

Na only soft voice and madam perfume dey deceive am. He no dey suspect anything, because darkness full everywhere.

Among her maids, na me resemble her pass for body and voice.

Madam tall, I tall. Our skin no too different. Even my laughter small like her own.

Madam promise me say make I just do am for three years; within that time, she go try take care of herself.

She say, 'Just bear am, my sister. After three years, you go dey free.' I believe her, because she don show me kindness before.

After three years, she go give me money and send me comot for the compound.

She say, 'I go settle you well, give you wrapper, small gold. You go start your own life.'

I born for this household. My family life dey her hand.

Na my mama and papa dey work her papa farm. If she vex, she fit pursue us for village. Wetin I go do?

No be say I get choice.

For this life, na the rich get voice. I just gree, even if my heart dey cry.