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"What do you mean my soup is bad?"

"Can't you cook good food? Why would you make this soup as thick as this and you didn't put at least four meats for me! Why making semo? I want fufu! (swallow) Everything is wrong with this food."

" Mama.... Please.... "

" You can't prepare a single meal, what have you been feeding my son? I told him not to marry a witch like you! Now see! See!"

Cries echoed, slaps, resounding table flips resonated the house. Intense screaming.

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"Hey girl." My best friend, Neche called behind me when I reached the office. I spun and saw her. She was wearing a Louis Vuitton designer patterned black shirt with a blue office skirt and cladded on black heels. She is still single. At the age of 27, she wasn't ready to mingle because she felt men were control freaks. She had to use my marriage as an example and that would get me annoyed, I would vote to end discussion.

"Hey. Neche. How far?"

"Fine. You came late again. As usual. Ngozi. What's going on? Is it that husband of yours again? Has he been harassing you? "

" What....No. " I chuckled nervously, " Not at all. It's not like that Neche. You know house stress, my Mother-in-law and her daughter will be coming today and I have to... "

" Wait. "Neche stopped me that I thought I said something wrong. We passed the receptionist who glared at me and I went further to my office, walking past people who came for different bank transactions. "You mean your Mother-in-law and her DAUGHTER are coming to stay? Double trouble." She sighed "for how long? "

" A month, actually... " I trailed off.

" A what? Shit. Shit is bigger than I thought. "She stared straight to my eyes. Other colleagues glanced at us and some murmured on my lateness while I nervously picked one or two lies to them for them to shut up. "So what will you do? You know your job is at risk here."

"I will resign. My husband had wanted this so, I guess he will be happy. "

" If not that you're older than me, married with kids and aren't in this office, I would have given you a hot slap. "

" What did I do again? " I subconsciously rolled my eyes.

" Please don't say that again. Biko kam na-ayo gi. Why would you be saying a thing like that? Do you know that if you weren't working, you'd be in the streets begging for money by now. Are you that dumb? Don't you see what you're husband is trying to do? "

"There you go again with your ur «control freak» sermon. Neche, cut me some slack, will you? as you should have noticed before bombarding me with sermons, I'm very exhausted." We entered into our office, which I shared with her and one of our colleague who was already talking with a bank customer. She looked up as soon as we entered and raised her hand in greeting. I did the same. I sat on my seat after dusting. The office was cleaned already. The janitors did a perfect job spacing the bank files and keeping everything in order; as usual. Neche sat opposite me, with hands folded onto her breasts. She was so dark that you wouldn't notice any blemishes on her skin. She looked like a young model but it was too bad, she loved banking. "Why are you giving me that judgmental look?"

"Who's being judgemental? I'm just worried as a friend."

The AC onto the ceiling covered the whole room. It was actually a little cold that I felt my hand were going numb. "Worry worry. Na worry go kill you. No go find ya sugar go marry. Dey there dey put mouth for my matter wey no cosign you. Mrs. Worry."

" Mrs. worry kill you. Na there I come cut you, madam. No be by force I go marry, make I enjoy life fes. "

" Dey enjoy life till you turn 50."

" Even 50 yrs babe still dey marry."

" Where you see that one? For newspaper? For obodoyibo? Abeg lemme o." That ended into laughter.

The day's work started smoothly and ended smoothly. At 4:30, I had visited the market to buy more meat and veggies from my favorite Mama Makuo's stall. She was one funny but intelligent market woman. The market was crowdy than usual because it was friday. Friday and Saturday were market days people would troop in to buy stuff for sundays. That is also how pickpockets made their biggest change. It brought me back to nostalgia. I remembered when a pickpocket snatched my purse the first time I shopped in Anambra while I was still dating my husband then. I didn't care about lady character; I chased after the motherfucker. So many of my important documents were there, he could have the money but my identity documents and stuff were way more important. "Stop him! Please stop him! He has my purse!" I screamed. There were already faster men running past me to catch him. The boy was like the Flash master 2. His legs were not even touching the ground as his clothes flailed behind him with the wind blowing past my ear lobs.

Fortunately, The two men caught him. They were harsh to the young boy who struggled to free himself while they dragged him. "I'm sorry, young woman. He's just 15 and he's already a born thief. I don't know what you did but we finally caught him." He had a nasty look on his face. The other two behind him and the boy were frowning their faces since I saw them; I didn't know if it was the sun because it was raving hot and sweaty or just their display of manliness. People had already gathered to witness the scene.

"Isn't that the criminal boy?"

"Boys are no good to the society these days. At this age, this boy is a certified onye oshi! [thief]"

" You people are wasting time. Burn this boy! Burn him! "

" Burn him o! Muo ya oku!" (Burn him)

" Wetanu Tyre! Wetanu Tyre. (Bring Tyres) Kedu fa! (Where are they?)"

The crowd was getting rowdy as some men dashed to go bring Tyres to burn him. The boy was struggling desperately to free himself with vigorous attempts but the men over-powered him. I panicked when they brushed past against me towards the boy. That boy was still a kid. It wasn't proper to kill him just like that. People shouldn't be quicker on judging someone. They can't tell me that they had never stolen in their lives.

I jumped in front of the boy as they pushed me to stay away. Some even suggested to burn him and I altogether. It was embarrassing. I was desperate. I didn't want to die and I didn't want him to die either or I would never have forgiven myself if he did. "Bikonu, Ndi Banyi! Please listen! What you people are doing isn't right!"

" What is she even saying? Biko shift. If you don't want to fight against corruption, then stay there and die! Abeg pour fuel!"

" You people won't say you or your relatives haven't stolen. Just hand the child over to SARS please!"

"Burn her! She's one of them!"

I felt a heavy liquid splashed on my body as they soaked through my clothes! The boy was already crying profusely. One of the men smacked and lighted a match stick until I thought I was blind. I closed my eyes firmly preparing to scream as soon as the fire engulfed me but I heard nothing but sounds of people running as police van screeched to the scene.

"Ewo! Na them o! Na them!"

"Everybody get down!" There was a loud shot and people were screaming. There was a stampede and I felt someone knock me to the ground. When I opened my eyes, the boy and his captors were gone. My purse was still intact. Tear gas crawled into my eyes as I stumbled past people to get away from the scene. I wondered what must have happened to the boy by now or if he had changed and became a better person.

.........

The scene was so drastic that I never forgot it. I hoped that no matter want the world had become, People should not be lost in the negativity but rather build theirselves in ways they could be proud of. After buying what I needed in the market, I boarded a keke transport to my house. My 15 year old daughter rushed out from the house with a smile on her face as if she had been expecting me. It was the first time she hugged me since two years. Subconsciously I gave her a look and asked her, "what's wrong?"

"Oh, our wife. You are back?" Answered my question. I looked up to see my sister-in-law twirling her hair with a smirk on her face. It was as if I had met the devil's offspring. It was annoying that I had to stay with my mother-in-law for a month but having to stay with my sister-in-law? I already knew what her character was and she was going to make my life even hellish in my own house. Great, Ikekwere. Just great. You are a very stubborn man with no value for someone's feelings. I just hoped that at least they would not add more to the problems I already had that was spiraling out of control.

"Ah, Sister Ogechi. You guys arrived. How was your journey? I hope no problem?"

"It wasn't long we arrived. And your daughter was already asking me useless question on why I should touch my brother's things. Please teach her manners, will you?" She said, looking at me like she was any different from what she described of my daughter. My daughter is even far more better than you. You don't hold a candle to her.

I gulped, Afraid that I might say something I might regret. I looked at Nebechi in assurance. They will soon go. "I will, sister."

"Where's food? I'm hungry." She said curtly and entered the house.

When I came in, Mama was seated on the sofa, drumming one of her legs impatiently. She glanced at me as soon as I came in. "Mama. You've arrived." I went ahead to give her a hug. A side hug. It was obvious she was uncomfortable with it. I wasn't comfortable with it either. But formalities are formalities and if I failed this one, she would never let me be. "How are you? How is village?" I asked her with a fake grin as soon as I released her. She looked grim and was trying to force a smile on her face. Her eyes were wandering. I knew she didn't come to see me but came to see how I was 'treating' her son.

" We thank God. Where are you coming from?" She asked me suspiciously.

"From work." Her question was rather strange.

"What sort of work do you do?"

"Bank stuff." I replied with obvious confusion. Was she trying to pin me on something devious?

"Oh. So you're a banker. That's good. That's good. " She replied rather disappointedly while looking away and around the house. The reaction on her face after was that of satisfaction.

" Sorry, Mama. I will go make some food for you both. Please give me some minutes. "

"it's okay, dear. "

" And be fast about it. "Ogechi hissed. I walked into the kitchen without even removing my work clothes. Ogechi's last words provoked me. Just who does she think she is to order me in my own house? She should marry and see what it is like to be in my position. Nonsense and ingredients.