Chapter 1: The Disguise
Episode 3: A Rude Awakening
The sun climbed higher in the sky, beating down mercilessly as I pushed the wheelbarrow through the crowded market. Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes and soaking my shirt. My hands, soft from years of easy living, quickly developed blisters that burst and bled.
“Oi! Barrow boy!” A harsh voice cut through the market’s din. “Over here, quick!”
I turned to see a large woman with a scowl on her face, surrounded by baskets of yams. As I approached, she barked, “What took you so long? Are you deaf or just stupid?”
The words stung, but I bit back a retort. This was the life I’d chosen, after all. “Sorry, ma. Where do you need these taken?”
She pointed to a stall at the far end of the market. “And be careful with them! If you bruise even one yam, I’ll take it out of your pay.”
As I loaded the heavy baskets onto the wheelbarrow, my arms trembled with exertion. The woman watched me struggle, her lips curled in disdain. “Useless,” she muttered. “They’ll let anyone push a barrow these days.”
My cheeks burned with shame and anger as I made my way through the crowded market. People shoved past me, cursing when my wheelbarrow got in their way. By the time I reached the stall, my shirt was drenched, and my muscles screamed in protest.
“About time,” the stall owner grumbled. “Set them down there, and don’t expect a tip.”
Days blurred into weeks, and weeks into months. Each day brought new challenges and fresh humiliations. I was yelled at, mocked, and even spat on once by a drunk trader. The work was backbreaking, and the pay was meager. At night, I collapsed onto my small bed in the Alukos’ house, every muscle aching.
But amidst the hardship, there were moments of kindness. Mrs. Aluko always had a hot meal waiting for me, and Mr. Aluko offered words of encouragement. “Keep your chin up, my boy,” he’d say. “Better days are coming.”
As the months passed, my body changed. My soft hands grew calloused, my arms and back became corded with muscle. The work that once left me exhausted now felt manageable. But while my body adapted, my spirit began to falter.
One year and two months into my stay in Opari, I sat at the Alukos’ table, pushing my food around my plate. The quest that had seemed so noble now felt foolish and futile.
“What’s troubling you, son?” Mr. Aluko asked, his kind eyes filled with concern.
I sighed heavily. “I… I think I’ve made a mistake. I came here to find a wife, someone who would love me for who I am. But all I’ve found is hardship and rejection.”
Mrs. Aluko patted my hand. “Don’t lose hope, dear. Love often comes when we least expect it.”
But hope felt like a luxury I could no longer afford. “My parents are pressuring me to return home. Maybe I should just accept whoever they choose for me.”
Mr. Aluko leaned forward, his voice serious. “Is that truly what you want? To give up on your dream?”
I shook my head, conflicted. “No, but… I don’t know what else to do.”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “There’s a different market in the next village over. It’s smaller, pays less, but the people there are known to be kinder. Why don’t you try there?”
The idea of starting over was daunting, but a small spark of hope flickered in my chest. “Do you really think it could make a difference?”
Mrs. Aluko smiled warmly. “You’ve come this far, dear. What’s one more try?”
That night, as I lay in bed, I made a decision. I would give myself one more month. One more month to find the love I’d been searching for, or I’d return to Lagos and face whatever future my parents had planned for me.
Little did I know that fate had other plans, and my life was about to change in ways I could never have imagined.
