— Like someone who had just been knocked out, Iya Ibeji hurried to her seat. The man drove his car out of the compound.
Chapter seven little beginnings – Mr. Ola, the new tenant, had not been seen around, nor had the children been noticed in the compound. Being a reserved apartment, everyone was expected to mind his or her business with utmost discretion.
It is unusual to not spot one’s tenant during the course of the week. If not in the morning, then one should spot them at night. But this wasn’t the case for Mr. Ola, who moved in with his children some days ago.
‘’If he is not willing to go to work, at least the children should be allowed to go to school.’’ Iya Ibeji muttered to herself. ‘’If anything happens, people won’t hesitate to conclude that I am the cause of it.’’ The thoughts lingered until her husband called for her.
‘’Woman! ’’ The husband yelled at her. With a cursory gaze, she pleaded calmly, “Pardon me, oko mi. I had no idea you were so close.”
‘’What could be wrong? Don’t tell me you’re going to a party in this.” ‘’Party ke! , ha, ha… men and their awkward thoughts,’’ she said.
”Well, I’m only concerned about our next-door neighbor, Mr. Ola,” she explained. ‘’What about him? ’’ Hmm, women and their narrow thoughts.’’ He replied.
‘’Narrow or not, we are supposed to be worried as good neighbors. We have not seen the man and his children in a week, and you expect me to be calm.’’
‘’I wonder why he hasn’t stepped out.’’ ‘’Men, men! Before she could utter another word on men, he shunned her.
‘’Women and their false assumptions—perhaps the man is just taking time to rest after moving in. You know the stress of moving from one place to another, don’t you? ’’
Also Read CHAPTER SIX Little Beginnings
Maybe the man is right or wrong for staying so long inside; only time will tell, she reasoned. ‘’Even if they are exhausted, should the man prevent the children from going to school? Does he not realize how important education is? ” She muttered to herself.
The next day, which was Tuesday, turned out to be a calming one for the landlady. Mr. Ola was out early with his two daughters, whose faces were scarred as though they had engaged in a fierce fight. Seated outside on the old but strong bench, Iya Ibeji rushed to meet the man as he was about to drive out of the compound.
‘’Mr. Ola, I hope all is well with you and your family? ’’ she asked. With a firm but unconvincing look, he replied, ‘’I and my family are very well. Thank you.” ‘’ By the way, he said don’t bother about us because we really value our privacy, and this is why we chose to live in a place like this.’’
Like someone who had just been knocked out, Iya Ibeji hurried to her seat. The man drove his car out of the compound. She didn’t need to be told that she was trespassing and giving far beyond her means. ‘’Where is this man when you need him? ’’ Baba Ibeji, you better come out! ’’ With sleepy eyes, her husband stepped out like one who was struggling to return to sleep. He overheard the conversation between his wife and neighbor but was unwilling to interfere because he already concluded that his wife was unnecessarily anxious.
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The shop erected for Iya Ibeji close to the house had an attractive position, which made it easier for people to patronize her. With fine decorations and good aesthetics, Iya Ibeji got the necessary attention she needed.
Temitope had encouraged her mother to expand her business if she ever had the opportunity to. She had told her to amaze her customers because even the most educated would have no idea how it happened. This was the logic behind the burgeoning sales of Iya Ibeji. Not only had she added her experience at Idumota, she also complemented her sales with the skills of a Yoruba businesswoman.
Baba Ibeji soon left his job in order to expand the business with his wife. He had asked jokingly, “Who said a Yoruba man can’t succeed in his business? Not only would he succeed, but he would also help his wife succeed like I did for you.” ‘A woman needs a man in all aspects, not just for one aspect.’ He said it enthusiastically.
She replied to him casually, acknowledging that the food in his mouth was behind the sweet talk. ‘’I’ve only herd that behind a successful man, there is a successful woman, and not the other way around.’’
Iya Ibeji continued, ‘’like it or not, I started everything you only came to assist like a good husband and father you are.’’
With things back to normal—good sales, a peaceful home, and loving neighbors—the unexpected happened on a cool evening while the sales girls were preparing to lock the shop. Policemen with their vehicles stormed the houses of Baba and Iya Ibeji. The gate was left open because Mr. Ola had just returned from work with his children in the car. The policemen jumped out of their vehicles with a woman crying, like she had lost something precious. Indeed, she had lost something very precious to her—her daughters.
Mr. Ola had finally been located after being trailed for months unsuccessfully. The man had kidnapped his daughters and left his wife in agony without informing anyone of his hideout.
They have heard of such incidents but never had it crossed their minds that they would witness them or be part of such an unfortunate incident as this. Baba Ibeji and his wife were disappointed after hearing that Mr. Ola lied to his children and also forced them to remain quiet without divulging anything to anyone. He had also threatened to harm them if they ever told anyone they were being abused.
