Chapter 6: Rain Returns and Safiya’s Confession

The house deep, season dey pass, years dey waka—

Before I know, three years don pass since me and Auwalu marry! Time dey run like river for rainy season.

He dey house more now, sotay e dey tire me. Sometimes, person dey like small space. But na so e be for marriage.

Early summer, rain just fall heavy. Everywhere dey wet, air cold, frog dey sing for gutter.

Somebody knock for Auwalu house gate. Gate man run, come report say woman dey outside, clothes soak finish.

Woman, cloth soak, waka enter from rain. Na so she stand for entrance, dey shiver. Her face dey show say she dey find answer.

Gate man come report, Auwalu face no change. Him dey pretend say e no concern am, but I know say e dey pain am small.

He just talk, "No visitor today." Voice calm, but eyes no rest for one place.

But as the gate man go, the book for Auwalu hand no move for long. Him mind dey wander. Even page no fit change for hand.

I just use eye signal tell my maid. She sabi me, so she no ask question. Na so we plan how to handle visitor.

Before long, dem bring Safiya come inside. Water still dey drip from her hair, her face white from cold, she look really pitiful. Her eye red, she dey shiver small.

Before Auwalu talk, she just shout, "I regret am!" Her voice crack, e pain me small.

The book for Auwalu hand fall ground. E shock am. Na so silence fill room.

He freeze, eye dey turn like storm. I dey see pain, anger, confusion—all join together.

"Auwalu, you still want me?" Safiya voice small, like person wey dey beg for last chance.

Quick breeze enter room. The kain breeze wey fit scatter curtain, blow candle off. Night just dark.

Curtain fly, candle off. Na so room dark small, but my eye dey sharp.

Auwalu sharply look her— Him face harden, him jaw tight. Nobody fit read am.

Before he fit talk, I don waka commot. No time for drama. I fit read the handwriting for wall.

As I dey go, I even close door for them gently. Na sign of respect, even as I dey vex. I no wan hear fight.

My maid see my smile, ask, "Madam, you leave oga alone with her? You no fear..." Her eye big, she dey expect answer.

I just smile, look the rain wey dey stop for sky. I dey reason say, make everything settle today.

Small sun dey try come out for distance. Hope dey, but na small one.

Wetin I dey fear na if nothing happen between them! If nothing happen, na then wahala go start. My own be say, make story end today.

I go find another room sleep. I carry wrapper, waka go guest room. Na so I dey avoid wahala.

But as I lie down, person open door. Steps heavy, I know say na Auwalu.

Auwalu white cloth don soak from shoulder down. Rain don touch am too. Him face tired, but e dey determined.

I fit imagine as the small woman rush enter him body. My mind dey play film, but I bone.

He waka come, cover me well. Him hand gentle, e touch my head. For the first time, e soft.

Him eye look me. E soft, e serious. My heart beat small.

"I don send her commot." His voice quiet, but strong. I dey look am, dey try read meaning.

Why he no keep her? My mind dey ask question.

"She only come because Musa Garba get woman outside." Him tone bitter. Life no fair.

"I just be her backup." Him eye dey pain. I feel am.

So na so e be. Love story wey get as e be. For Nigeria, no be every person go get happy ending.

I sigh, "Husband, you really dey suffer!" My voice soft, but my heart dey pity am.

Auwalu look me, first time, small smile show for him face. Na genuine smile, no be fake.

"No wahala. Shey I still get you?" He try joke, but I just shake head.

My eye nearly fall, I almost laugh. Na so life dey play. Sometimes, na the one wey you no expect go stand by you.