Chapter 2: Polygamy Wahala Begin

Na so I take become second wife for the Heir of Chief Okezie—abi make I talk true, na second wife wey follow the main wife enter.

The gist for village na say I be the pepper for my sister own soup. Nobody really see me as wife. Na only when dem count how many pikin dem expect, dem remember my name. Some people call me 'addition', others just nod and pass. For my mind, I dey ask God when e go reach my own turn for happiness.

The Heir marry my senior sister; me, I just be part of her bride price, na living property wey waka enter Chief house with her.

They no even celebrate my own entry. I just dey, like leftover moi moi after party—nobody send am. Sometimes I go hear housegirls whisper, "See second wife, dem even count am?" I go just bone, form say I no hear.

Few months ago, my senior sister find out say she dey pregnant. Na so she stop all the family planning medicine for all the wives for the Heir’s house.

The news waka fast. Even for market, women dey hail her with prayers, "E go be boy o!" She begin act like queen, dey issue order anyhow. That moment, na her time to shine.

No too long after, me and two other wives begin show belle too.

Na so wahala start. The house begin dey tight, every woman dey watch the other. Small thing, you go see person dey count days, dey calculate who go born first. Competition dey everywhere, like market women dey drag customer.

Now, I don reach five months, and I dey more careful than before.

My sleep dey come and go, sometimes fear go wake me for midnight. I dey hold my stomach when I waka, just dey pray make everything go smooth. My prayer na, "God, abeg, no let anything happen to this my pikin."

Because I sabi my senior sister well—she no go ever allow make second wife pikin born for this house.

She dey carry face for me. Even if I greet am, she fit just bone, or talk one word with eye. I dey tiptoe around am like rat. I no trust her at all. For this house, na survival of the sharpest.