The Exchange (Part 12)

I kept quiet and smiled…I was too happy and dazzled to say anything. We were there for a while as Baba T shared his ideas on how the Salon would work. There was also a part of the store that would sell beauty and hair products. He said he already talked to a friend of his in the UK that would be helping to ship the products. The area set up for manicure and pedicure was bigger than my entire salon back home…the comfortable seats would make anyone sleep off during a pedicure session.

“I want people to step in here and never bother to try another place for their haircare needs again. I want this to be a one-stop shop for everything haircare and beauty product. I want to help you build a beauty empire not just a business. I want your name to be synonymous with beauty. I have done the analysis and from my estimate, considering the location and all the services you would offer, this place should pay for itself in 2 years” Baba T said

The confidence with which he spoke and the ideas he shared, his business acumen and the excellence he exuded…all these things, endeared me to him. I was amazed at this side of him; he sounded like a man with THE plan, like someone that knew where he was going and how he intended to get there.

“This must be what I saw in him as being proud, this isn’t pride? This is confidence” I thought to myself.

I had to ask him if he had ever invested in anything like this because he sounded like a pro and he responded that “Business is business, it is all about providing services and cashing in...it doesn’t really matter what your products or services are”

Baba T later took us to a restaurant somewhere close and spoiled us silly…he said he was ‘washing’ the project. It was at the restaurant that he said he wanted me to meet his mum (again)…I was kind of reluctant because I didn’t know what we would call our relationship.
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell her you are my ‘very good friend’…you should know that she really likes you and she practically begged me to bring you” Baba T responded, it was as if he was reading my mind.

Laide opted out of our arrangement…she said she had to go make dinner for her husband. We drove back to their house and dropped her off…She hugged me, as she was about to walk through their gate and whispered in my ear “I’m so happy for you…you have no idea how happy I am”.

Baba T told her he would come drop me off later in the evening but it might be a little late because his mum would most likely not let me leave anytime soon.

We got to Baba T’s house…I found out that day that he lived with his parents; although he had his own apartment within the same compound.

“My parents are a little overprotective. After my UK issue, my dad never wanted me out of his sight. So they made me stay with them” he quickly informed me. He also told me that marriage would be his freedom from that ‘bondage’ as that would be his dad’s only acceptable/valid reason for moving out of the house.

When I stepped into the sitting room, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes…I’m not exaggerating, but I never knew there was a sitting room that beautiful in Nigeria. It was like a page in one of those luxury furniture magazines from outside the country. There was a huge picture of Baba T’s dad with the current Head of State hanging on the wall. There was a staircase in the sitting room that led upstairs. The floors were sparkling clean and shining like someone polished them. Baba T told me to make myself at home and took the stairs to inform his mum that I was around. There must have been like three domestic staff that came to ask if I was okay and if I wanted anything within a period of like five minutes.

Baba T’s mum called me from upstairs “my dear, máa bọ” meaning come upstairs. I was scared-stiff as Baba T came to take me upstairs but she was so nice to me, she kept using endearing words and phrases for me. She said she was really happy to see me and that she had ‘accepted’ me whole heartedly. I looked at Baba T, who made a gesture that I should just go with the flow. Her room was like an apartment on its own…she told me to come sit by her on the bed. She was bringing out clothes and jewelries for me to try on. She told Baba T to leave us and go find something else to do. From the things she was saying, it was as if she already saw me as her son’s wife.

”I’m sure you know that Babatunde is our only son…the wedding will be one in town. I will go all out to make that day memorable. Lagos will know that someone is getting married. Don’t worry my dear; I will so take care of you. In this our house, you will give us twins, triplets and many more”. She was just saying all these things and I had to just laugh along…although puzzled and very confused.

She said she would take me to Italy to go buy the lace material for the engagement party “Shèbí you have your passport?” (Do you have an international passport?) she asked me. I said I didn’t. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of that when the time comes” she responded

She called on the chef and told him to make Pounded yam and egusi soup. She told him I was an august visitor. “Ìyàwó Túndé nì yí o” (This is Tunde’s wife) she said, as she pointed at me. The chef bowed and greeted me…I didn’t even know how to respond.

Baba T came to check on me about two hours later…was I glad to see him. I was almost getting suffocated with affection and gifts. I had tried on like 40 pairs of shoes after we realized that we (his mum and I) had the same shoe size.  Baba T said he would be taking me to Laide’s place soon, as it was getting late.

“No o, she is not going anywhere o. She is sleeping here tonight. I will call Laide and tell her myself. If she doesn’t want to stay in your apartment she can sleep here in my room. Or you don’t want to spend the night in our house?” Baba T’s mum said as she looked at me

“It’s okay ma” I responded

“Ǫmǫ dáa dáa (Good girl) ilé ni’lé ę o (do feel at home)” she said with a satisfied look on her face
Baba T’s dad arrived before dinner was served and he was such a gentleman. He reminded me so much of my father. He was also funny and made dinner delightful.

He asked me a couple of questions and when we got to my educational background, Baba T jumped in and said I had an OND (ordinary National Diploma)in Accounting from the Polytechnic of Ibadan but I was running my own business.
“That’s interesting. I support entrepreneurship…because businesses create wealth. So I always admire anyone that can take that bold step to start their own thing” Baba T's dad added.

He later said he had to turn in early as he was traveling the following morning. He said in case he didn’t see me before he left, he would ‘send’ his wife to me.

After Baba T’s parents went upstairs, we moved to his apartment and the first question I had for him was why he had to lie that I attended the Polytechnic of Ibadan. He responded that he knew his dad and he didn’t want any form of prejudice to mess up what he was trying to build. I wasn’t very satisfied with the answer…he told me not to worry about it and all I needed do was let my success speak for me.

I also asked why his mum was already planning a wedding when we were not even dating...

"Well, that's not my fault...she's just trying to show you how much she wants you to be her daughter-in-law. But really, would that be a bad thing? I mean being married to you. I will be so happy if you can do that for me" Baba T responded.
I figured the best thing to do at that point was keep quiet so I let it be.

Baba T asked if I was ready to sleep or if I wanted to watch a movie with him. We already agreed that I would be sleeping in his room and he would sleep in another room as there were three rooms in his apartment. I decided to go to bed, so I went in the room…it had a master bath. I took a shower and put on one of Baba T's T-shirts that he left on the bed for me…I was just about to lie on the bed when I heard a knock on the door. It was Baba T; he wanted to know if I wanted some ‘Suya’ ((Spicy grilled meat)). I could perceive the aroma and I stepped out to have some.

The movie was already playing, it was a romantic comedy…there was also a bottle of wine on the table. Baba T asked if I wanted some, but I had never had alcohol in my life. He said it was sweet and that I should just take a little, if I wanted to.
He poured me some and we started to watch the movie together. He came and sat next to me and we started talking. He started to say nice things about me and how much he liked me. It was as if he knew the things I wanted to hear and he was saying them, verbatim. For whatever reasons, I liked what I was hearing, I liked it a lot. I just kept blushing and giggling as he said those things.

It must have been the mix of joy and happiness from visiting the salon, a little bit of lowered inhibition from the wine I had, the sweet words from Baba T and the sensuality of the movie we were watching…one thing led to the other and we ended up sleeping together

PART 11                                                                                       PART 13

Picture Credit (c) thesuperhubb.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental 

© 2016 Lanre Olagbaju All Rights Reserved

The Exchange (Part 11)

I told her everything and how I didn’t know what to do…to my surprise, my mum did not flip out. She told me to get myself together and that I needed to know what I wanted in life and in a husband. She told me not to make my decisions based on money because “money does not guarantee happiness”.

“You are the one that will live with the consequences of your choice. That’s why you have to choose wisely and not allow unnecessary sentiments cloud your judgment. Tunji has been with us through thick and thin…this new guy also seems to like you. Look deeper, look beyond the surface, and beware of ‘Greek gifts’…hopefully that will help you. I will keep you in my prayers but you have to make this decision on your own. I also want to be ‘àna olówó’ (A wealthy man’s in-law) but not at the expense of your peace and happiness” my mum added as she hugged me and said she had to go out.

I was home for 3 straight days, trying to figure out what to do…Tunji didn’t even know I was around, likewise the people working at my Salon. Bro Dipo was also around and he tried to encourage me in his true, but harsh way.

On the 3^rd day, Tunji came over…I tried my best to look like there was nothing wrong. He however was acting strange. He wore a frown and snapped at everything. I had to ask what was wrong with him. He said it was nothing…he didn’t stay for too long.

After he left, I started to wonder what could be wrong with him. The following day, I decided to let things be and play themselves out…so I went back to work. The thought of the Salon I saw in Lagos, the mental picture made my shop undesirable. It was like comparing sleep with death…my heart wanted to own the Lagos Salon; especially since Baba T said he would give it to me without any strings attached.

“But would that be possible? Would he really hand that kind of investment over to me without a motive or with nothing to benefit?” I kept questioning myself. I was so uninterested in my immediate surrounding that one of my customers actually said I looked “detached”. She asked if everything was fine …I laughed it off and told her I was just going through a rough patch.

Tunji came over later that day and his demeanor had not changed. He said a quick hello, stayed for a while and said he had to go. He didn’t even ask how my Lagos trip went or what the business proposal was about.

“Could it be that he was being suspicious? Or was he just trying to make this decision easier for me?” I was beginning to get angry at Tunji. The following day was a Friday…I had only been at my salon for a few hours when Laide walked in. I was surprised to see her…she said she did not like the way I left Lagos and just wanted to come check on me. Besides, Baba T had been bothering her to come find me. I asked where she parked and she said Baba T drove her down…he was waiting in the car and didn’t want to come in because of my ‘boyfriend’.

I didn’t want him to come in either so I picked my bag and quickly followed Laide to the car. Baba T said he was sorry if he scared me with all the things he said back in Lagos…that maybe he said too much too soon and he just wanted to come clarify that he meant everything but would give me time to work it out if I needed to. He begged me to come back to Lagos on Monday to check out the Salon as it would be completed over the weekend. I could see Laide in the rear view mirror smiling mischievously.

After the brief discussion, Baba T drove to our house to see my mum, but she wasn’t home. He had brought her a lot of ‘provisions’ (Milk, Milo, Corn Flakes, Corned Beef, Titus and the likes) and dropped them off with an envelope that I could tell had money in it. He left for Lagos after making me promise I would come on Monday.

As at that time, I wasn’t sure if I would go to Lagos but I didn’t see Tunji for two days. I went to his house and he wasn’t there….he finally showed up on Sunday evening and when I asked where he had been, he got angry and said I didn’t care about him or his future. I was shocked at his reaction

“You are the one acting up since I got back from Lagos…you are the one that did not ask what became of the business proposal that took me to Lagos…you are the one that has been incommunicado and unreachable and you dare say that I don’t care about you” I yelled at him.

Tunji got up and started to walk away “When you know what you did, you know where to find me” he said and walked out

I was so angry that I almost ran after him to make a scene but my parents taught me better than that. I could think of a thousand and one things to say to him as he walked out on me. “Ęni tí à ń’to rí ę gbàwę…tó ń’jǫ sán” (the irony of someone you’re fasting for but was caught eating like a glutton).

In annoyance, I left for Lagos as early as possible the following morning and went straight to Laide’s house. My mum was wondering why I couldn’t wait till it was daybreak…I didn’t want to tell her what happened between Tunji and I. She would have wanted to intervene and I didn’t want that. I knew it couldn’t be because of Baba T, there’s no way Tunji could have known. Even if he had any concerns or I did something, I would have expected him to be more mature and just tell me what it was...not even after I asked if anything was bothering him.

Laide called Baba T from their home telephone and he said he would come get me on his way to work…he got there in about 30 minutes. He said he was dedicating the whole day to me.

He drove me to the Salon and my god! It was breathtaking. It had the exact name of my salon back at home but in lights and with grandeur. Laide came with us, although she kept saying “three’s a crowd”…she hugged me and was jumping up and down as we toured the completed project. The interior was something else, I thought it was beautiful from outside until we stepped inside. I didn’t know whether to cry or scream…I didn’t know when I jumped at Baba T and hugged him real tight. “I guess that means you are moving to Lagos?” He said. I wasn’t sure how to respond

“She doesn’t have a choice o…when she is not stupid” Laide quickly cut in

PART 10                                                                                       PART 12

Picture Credit (c) dynalap.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental 

© 2016 Lanre Olagbaju All Rights Reserved

Unhealthy Stakeholders

A lot of African marriages would have been sweeter/better/more peaceful if not for self-imposed and culture-imposed ‘stakeholders’

A husband almost beat his wife to a pulp because his sister complained about the reception she got when she visited

Some marriages break, not because the husband and wife don’t know how to handle their issues but because someone else has an issue with the way things are done in the couples’ homes

You hear things like…

“My wife can never talk to me like that”

“My husband will never do that”

“I can’t take that from my husband o”

“If you are not a bastard, you will go home now and show her who the man is, in this marriage”

“You really let him/her do that?”

“Until your wife knows ‘her place’, I will not come to your house”

“I’m not telling you how to run your home o…but it shouldn’t be like that”

There are homes that stop being peaceful the day ‘Mama’ visits…anytime mama is around, peace goes on vacation

Some men sit there while their family members ridicule and humiliate their wives publicly in the name of culture and tradition

 

Ephesians 5:25 says “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”

Colossians 3:19 says  “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them”

1 Peter 3:7 says “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered”

Ephesians 5:25 says “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”

 

Sir, be your wife’s first line of defense…be her shield…protect her from external aggression

 

© 2016 Lanre Olagbaju All Rights Reserved 

The Exchange (Part 10)

Baba T started to talk about how he liked me from the first day he saw me.

How he had pestered my cousin, Laide, to help talk to me but she kept saying that I had a fiancé.

How no girl had ever been acceptable to his mum, but somehow she was crazy about me.

How his mum would always tell him “I don’t know why, but I just like that girl. You better don’t let her slip out of your hands”

How his mum suggested the new salon move, just to get me out of Abeokuta

How after he told his mum that I was already engaged to another guy she said “B’ómǫdé bá r’óyin a s’àkàrà s’ígbó” meaning when a kid tastes honey, he/she has to let go of the bean cake

How I deserved a beautiful and comfortable life and how he would see to it that I got it.

How he was not looking for a girlfriend but a wife…because his mum was on his case to get married.

How he would never hurt me and how he would take care of not just me but my entire family.

We must have talked for hours…I was doing more of the listening though because I really didn’t know what to say. It was already evening and Baba T suggested that we went to my cousin’s place to chill and talk some more. I agreed because I seriously needed to talk to Laide about this.

As soon as we got to Laide’s place, I dragged her to a corner to talk. She confirmed everything that Baba T said.

“Na serious matter o” Laide said.

She told me how Baba T’s mum had actually asked to be brought to Abeokuta to come see my mum.

“But I have a fiancé” I said, trying to put up some kind of protest

“I know, but you are not married. They have not broken any laws. They are simply trying to get a seemingly ‘available commodity’. If Tunji had already married you, I wouldn’t even be part of this. Until a woman is officially married, she is not off the market o” Laide responded, as she told me the story of the guy she was dating back in the University. Their relationship started in secondary school and they attended the same University. It was a serious relationship but the guy was always saying he would never settle down until he had made a certain amount of money.

Laide said the guy was her first love but in their 3^rd year, he said he would need like 5 to 7 years to sort things out. She was actually willing to wait for him until Bola came into the picture. She was snubbing Bola until the day the other guy told her she didn’t have to wait for him. That was what made her decide to go with Bola.

“Do I need to tell you that you are coming into comfort, if you consider Baba T? Can’t you see it already? I know that money is not everything but it is the main thing…It makes life easier and makes the marriage sweeter. I know you like Tunji, he’s handsome and promising but Baba T is also handsome and he’s got more than promises to offer. Don’t forget the wise saying of our people ‘bà ò r’ęni b’álà, ọlà kìí yá’ (it’s easier to make it, when connected to those that have made it). Maybe God is trying to pay your family back for the good deeds of your father…I cannot lie to you, you can never regret choosing Baba T” Laide continued.

I was more confused after my chat with Laide. I had to tell Baba T that I needed time to think and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. He said it was okay and regardless of what I decided, I would still get the Salon, if I wanted it. He left and promised to see me the following day. For the most part of that evening, Laide kept trying to convince me…her husband stayed out of it though. All he said was “She’s old enough to make her own decisions”.

I couldn’t sleep all night as I weighed my options…the thought of being Baba T’s wife sounded interesting and enticing but I had my fears and reservations.

What would Tunji do?

How would I tell him?

Would my mum support it?

I also thought of staying with Tunji…but what if he didn’t marry me at the end of everything?

What if he got that job, travelled to Germany and never came back? Something in me knew he could never do that and I sensed I was just trying to paint him black.

But every woman wants and deserves comfort…everyone deserves a shot at affluence and prosperity. Opportunities usually knock just once, what if this was it?

What if this was my one and only shot?

What if God truly sent Baba T my way to turn my life around?

What if this was my own fairytale come true?

Something in me wanted to be with Tunji but another thing in me kept questioning if he’s worth giving up everything Baba T was offering

 

I finally slept off around 3:30 am and when I woke up I knew I had to leave Lagos. I knew I had to be somewhere neutral where I could clear my head and apply sound judgment. I told Laide I had to go and that she should tell Baba T I would let him know my decision about everything.

I got to Abeokuta and went straight to my mum’s room

“Maami, I think I’m in trouble...” was my opening line

PART 9                                                                                       PART 11

 

 

Picture Credit (c) aphro-ism.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental 

© 2016 Lanre Olagbaju All Rights Reserved