Chapter 1: The Setup

My phone never even cool for my hand before Musa call land—this man no dey ever let person rest. I dey hustle with my hand luggage for the airport when the call land—his name just shine for my screen. For my mind, I dey reason say, wetin Musa wan talk this time again? Abuja sun still dey pepper my face from the plane steps. Sweat dey run my back, my shirt don soak small. Na only Naija sun fit welcome person like this. But I no get choice than to pick.

Musa voice dey rush like conductor wey wan collect last passenger. The way he take rush his words, e be like say im dey vex or e get wahala for him mind. As I hear am, I just shake head. Na so Musa dey behave—like say na him be the elder for the family, even though na Morayo be my wife.

"I get one drinking party tonight. Abeg, come help me drink on my behalf."

Na so e dey call party, as if na national assignment. E no even ask whether I don reach house or if my body fit carry me. Na command Musa dey give as usual, like say I dey work for am. For my mind, I just dey wonder which kind wahala be this again tonight.

"If you do well, I fit introduce you to some big men, so you no go dey look so wretched all the time."

As he talk, I fit imagine the way Musa dey twist him face, dey look me from head to toe for him mind, like say na me be the cause of my own poverty. The thing dey pain me small, but I no fit show am.

"If not for my sister wey talk for your matter, I for no even bother call you."

I just weak. The way e talk, you go think say na big favour e dey do me. For my mind, I dey wonder which side Morayo dey really stand. Whether she still dey my corner or Musa don turn her head.

So na my wife, Morayo, I suppose thank for this one.

I dey reason say maybe Morayo still dey look out for me, even if na small. For my heart, e pain me say na so in-law dey rate person. Sometimes, I dey fear say if dem dash Morayo money, she fit forget my name. Sometimes, e dey like say Morayo dey pity me more than she love me these days.

"I just land, my body still dey do me. I no really want come."

My chest just dey heavy, na so I drop the message, but I no check where I send am. Wahala don start be that.

I mistakenly send the message enter our family WhatsApp group. Na so my mother-in-law people begin greet me sharp sharp.

Na wah o, my hand fast pass my brain. As the thing enter family group, my phone dey vibrate like generator wey no get silencer—notification just dey fly. Dem dey drop reply back to back. Dem no even pity me.

"See as you be, no get any ginger. All this your business trip, you dey make money at all?"

The attacks come with their usual pepper body. I fit hear my mother-in-law voice inside my ear as I read am. Dem sabi judge man well-well.

"Na big man you suppose meet so—dem give you chance, you still dey dull."

Another one enter, this time na Morayo cousin. For our family, dem dey quick point finger, especially if money or connection dey involved.

"Even Morayo dey go, but as her husband you no fit try at all."

I just dey swallow spit, dey count ceiling, make I no reply nonsense. For these people, if you no hustle sharp sharp, dem go use mouth finish your confidence. E be like say everybody dey wait make I fall for gutter.

Morayo try calm things down: "If Tunde no wan go, make e rest. I fit go by myself."

I know say Morayo dey try help small, but her own talk dey always neutral. I wonder if she dey really defend me or just dey find peace for herself.

Musa come drop one group photo, dey show himself.

Next thing, Musa upload one shine-shine picture for group. Na im big head and smile full everywhere. E be like say e dey show off more than normal today.

"No talk say I no warn you o. To change brother-in-law no dey hard at all."

I fit imagine am dey tap Morayo for shoulder as e type that nonsense. For this family, dem dey quick use threat play. I wonder if Morayo really dey safe with me these days.

I look the man wey dey hold Morayo for the picture, e resemble person I sabi well.

Something for the picture just catch my eye—Morayo dey stand too close to one man. E dey do me somehow, like say my head wan break. The face too familiar.

No be that manager from the company wey I just buy be that?

Omo, na wah! My mind flash back sharp. Wetin Morayo dey do with Manager Audu? Na him be the same person I just deal with for office today?

So the two of them don dey open body like that, no even dey hide?

I feel cold for my body. For our side, woman no dey play that kain open play for public unless e don reach. Na shame catch me small.

I sharply reply for the group chat.

I no even reason am, just type quick. My pride no go gree make dem disgrace me for family group. My hand shake as I send the message.

"No wahala, I go show face on time."