"What are you doing here?" He asked, still looking shocked, "Didn't I tell you I don't like you coming here?"
"But Chief, I only wanted to surprise you" Gloria stammered looking embarrassed, "but I don't like surprises and I told you that" he replied as his secretary looked scornfully at her, "and you" he said turning to face his secretary, "I've always told you never to forget to lock the door, but I guess your brain is too empty to process such a simple task. Get back to your desk immediately" he shouted.
"I'm sorry Sir" she responded, scuttling out of the office.
"Come over here" he said motioning with his fingers for Gloria to move closer, "come and continue from where she stopped" he added, relaxing back into his chair as Gloria took position on her knees.
***
Deji had been battling mentally with the decision of choosing between his well paying job and his family. He had not been able to rationalise why his wife had been acting like she was under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs for the past few weeks, she had received all the documents needed to apply for her study visa and was still threatening Deji with a divorce if he refused to go ahead with the visa application. His friend Charles, did not even help matters as he also took sides with his wife and shared the same point of view on the topic. Deji had tried to convince Ama to travel ahead to commence her study program, settle down with a part-time job and get suitable accommodation so he and the kids could join her later but she insisted on having things her way.
After enduring continuous torment from Ama, he eventually gave in and agreed to relocate with her. They submitted their application for study and dependent visas and in a matter of weeks, they received an approval and their passports were stamped with the necessary visas.
They were scheduled to leave almost immediately, so he was forced to turn in his resignation and not only forfeit his salary but also pay his employer one month's worth of salary for not giving enough notice.
"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" His co-worker had asked when he told him about his plans to resign, "many people would kill for this job and you're about to throw it to the swine."
He had thought about how Ama had tormented his life before he accepted to relocate and how she eventually told him that his decision to relocate with her was the best decision he had ever made since they got married after he agreed to her demands. "As much as it hurts to do this, I have no choice, it's the only thing I can do to save my marriage at this point" he responded as he narrated everything that had happened in the last few weeks to his co-worker. "I understand what you're saying bro, but I would never let any woman put me up to this, not even my wife" his co-worker responded. "It's easy for you to say because you're not married" he had told his co-worker before going ahead to send in his resignation.
Finally a few weeks later, they landed at Heathrow airport with their kids. Ama had gained admission to the London Metropolitan University to study Digital media so they were going to be living in London. His friend Charles picked them from the airport in his vehicle.
"Welcome to Obodo Oyinbo" he had greeted them excitedly as they arrived outside in the taxi parking area. He took their suitcases and loaded them into his trunk. Ama's course was due to start in September, so they had chosen to land in mid-August and the weather was still warm. "This weather is great just like ours back home, I thought it would be colder" Ama had said,"we're still in summer months, it's the only time we have good weather over here" Charles explained, "just wait a few more weeks and I'm sure you'll change your mind about the weather" he laughed.
"Guy you dey do Taxi work?" Deji asked noticing the Taxi sticker on his friend's car, "yes o, it is my full time job" Charles responded, "but you were working with an oil company back home, you're an oil and gas guru, why didn't you just transition into that?" Deji asked, "my brother, it's not that straightforward, I tried but it just didn't happen and I needed to survive. You don't expect me to sit back waiting forever to break into the industry, I did the next best thing I could" Charles explained, "Hmm" Deji responded attempting to enter the car from the right side in front only to be shocked to see a steering wheel, "why your own car come dey different?" he asked looking puzzled, "we use right-hand drive in this country, bush man" Charles laughed,
"go and sit down on the other side my friend" he added pointing to the passenger side on the left which was the regular driver's side back home. "Wonders will never end, " Deji exclaimed as he walked over to sit in the passenger seat. It felt so weird sitting there for him, his children were also laughing because they thought it was really strange, for them, it was an adventure. They all looked round taking in the sight of the city as they drove to Charles's house. They admired the big red double decker buses that they saw almost everywhere, "your buses have two floors over here, Interesting!" Ama said, "yup" Charles replied, "and we also have Underground trains" he added,
"oh wow! I would love to go on one of those" Ama exclaimed, "those are the major means of transportation here, especially for students and people who don't have cars, so trust me, you will get enough rides in them" Charles laughed, "I can't wait" Ama giggled. "As far as I'm concerned o, this place is not better than Lagos, their roads are even too tiny" Deji said rolling his eyes, "just look at how everywhere is crowded" he hissed, "what is so special about this place?"
"No dey talk rubbish my guy, do you have underground trains in Lagos? Is there constant electricity there? Can your government afford double decker buses?" Charles questioned, "tell him o" Ama responded as they finally arrived at Charles's house.
"Why is everywhere still so bright, it's past 9pm already?" Ama asked, "The sun usually stays up longer in the summer, while in winter it can start getting dark as early as 4pm." Charles explained. "I see," Ama said smiling, "I feel like I'm going to love it here."
"I'm sure you will," Charles smiled as he offloaded their suitcases and ushered them into his house.
The first thing Deji noticed was the narrow staircase, "why does the staircase look like a ladder" Deji asked, "is this how the ladder in your village looks?" Charles hissed, "please ignore him" Ama said as they were ushered into a room upstairs that was barely bigger than Ama's walk-in closet back home. The queen sized bed had taken up most of the space in the room, "this is your room" Charles announced, "Ok, "what about the kids room?" Deji asked,
"they are sleeping here with you, we have just 2 rooms in this house" Charles replied, "Oh ok" Deji replied, staring at the bed and wondering how they were all supposed to manage it. It didn't help that he was claustrophobic. Claustrophobia is an intense fear of confined and enclosed spaces. Phobias can become a health issue when the fear interferes with your ability to carry out daily activities. Certain situations can trigger claustrophobia, such as being in elevators, aeroplanes, small rooms without windows or trains.
The cause of claustrophobia is not fully known, it can be treated using psychotherapy and certain medications.
"Thank you" Ama quickly added as she noticed her husband had forgotten his manners at the airport.
"Dinner will be served downstairs in 10 minutes, just freshen up and come downstairs to the dining table" Charles said, "we'll be right there" Ama replied shutting the door behind them.
"You had better be on your best behaviour" Ama warned Deji, "your friend has been nice enough to accommodate us, stop being an ass" she added. "I can feel it in my bones already, this is a bad idea" Deji began, "How did we move from living in a mansion to this cubicle?" Deji hissed, "our stay here is temporary and you know it" Ama snapped, "it better be because I don't know how long I can survive this" Deji replied.
Few minutes later, they were at the dining table for dinner. Charles had welcomed them with a dish of Jollof rice and Chicken with plantain, "this is really delicious " Deji said, licking the stew off his fingers, "your wife made this didn't she?" He asked, "no, this delicacy was made by 'yours truly' " Charles announced proudly,
"yeah right " Deji said, rolling his eyes, "by the way, where is your wife? I thought she would be home by now" Deji asked, "she's on her way back from work, I'm sure she'll be home any minute, she's usually back by 10pm when she has afternoon shifts" Charles replied.
Almost immediately, the sound of the door opening could be heard and his wife walked in.
"Good evening" Deji and Ama greeted between mouthfuls of food, "who are these people? And what are they doing in my house?" She asked, ignoring their greetings, "I told you they were coming," Charles replied, looking embarrassed, "but did we agree that they would stay?" She snapped, "You know I don't like strangers in my house. Please get them out fast" she shouted, looking scornfully at Deji and Ama as she walked upstairs leaving them looking shocked, embarrassed and confused.