Chapter 3: Under One Roof, Under One Shadow

My sister carry my small bag by herself, lead me go guest side. I hold her hand, dey follow am like pikin.

As we dey waka inside corridor, I see how servant people dey greet her with "Good afternoon, madam." She reply everybody, her step steady—she dey in charge.

"Sister, you dey happy for this Tobi house?"

She pat my hand, make I rest mind.

"No fear. Your brother-in-law dey treat me well."

Her smile clean, eye bright. The kind peace wey dey her face na wetin money no fit buy. She even wink me small, like say, 'No worry, all is well.'

From how she talk, Tobi and everybody for the house dey respect her well. Nobody blame her say she never born after three years of marriage. She dey chop better food, wear correct cloth, get anything she want, and na she dey run the house. Tobi, apart from business, dey always stay house with her. The guy too perfect sef, like story book man.

For my mind, I dey count am—no mother-in-law wahala, no side talk, nobody dey look her with bad eye. For Naija, this kain arrangement dey rare. E be like say blessing full for roof.

Na true love be this or the guy get another plan? Tobi family for Abuja and Bai family for Makurdi—two big traders, dem dey call us Twin Pillars of North and South. Anything Bai family get, Tobi family get am too. If na my sister and our family the guy dey target, wetin e wan gain?

I try look the whole matter with clear eye—whether e fit be political marriage or family strategy. But love dey show for their body, so I hold myself, no jump conclusion yet.

Before I fit reason am finish, housegirl come say food don ready. I carry my sister go chop.

The housegirl, small thing, come curtsy with tray for hand. She bend small, one leg back, tray steady—Naija style, sharp sharp. For our place, food dey carry love. I fit smell jollof rice, egusi, small fried plantain as we enter dining room. Na so I know say I dey truly welcome.