Independence as a Young Nigerian (Part 2)
“New week, new opportunities”
You say to yourself as you initiate the transfer of the sum of N510,000 ($1270) to the account the agent provided. You break the news to your parents later that evening.
Your ever-protective mum begins to protest while your dad displays a range of emotions on his face; from surprise to anger. He begins to question you just like the old landlord did:
“Where did you get such a large amount of money?”
“How do you know you’ve not been cheated?”
“Where is the apartment located and who is the agent that took you there?”
“Do you think you can handle life on your own?”
“Did you really think this through?”
As you begin to answer the questions with answers you practiced beforehand, he leaves the room and your mum starts to accuse you of wanting to be loose and wayward as you would no longer be under her wing. You bid her goodnight and you make for your bedroom.
As you get ready to leave for work the next morning, your dad stops you from entering his car, he winds down the window and tells you to find your way to work since you want to be independent so bad. You swallow your L and look on as he drives off. You head for the bus stop in quick strides as you have to recover lost time.
9:22AM.
For the first time since you got this job, you are late and your line manager is in a foul mood. She had just caught her husband cheating again, this time, with the new maid you learn later during the day from her driver. As if the day couldn’t get any worse, it starts to rain heavily and you know what this means; transport costs would skyrocket.
10:04PM
You make it home drenched, tired and hungry. Your parents are already in their bedroom so you tiptoe into your room to shower. You put on your pyjamas and head for the kitchen only to find it under lock and key. This is war. Your parents have drawn first blood and there is nothing you can do about it. Three Ls in one day, you go to bed hangry. This is not a fight you can win.
Three days later, the agent sends you the keys and some documents to sign and make copies of. Your foray into adulthood is about to begin. You start to estimate renovation and furniture costs. It’s a small room so you figure it shouldn’t cost much to paint, get a mattress and a workspace. You’re moving in less than two weeks and some things have to be in place.
You ask around for painters near the apartment and they give you a quote for the paint job and workmanship; a bucket of satin white and two small pails of emulsion as primer: N50,000 ($90). No one told you how expensive mattresses and window curtains are, the inner tears as you part away with your savings are enough to fill up two buckets and yet you’ve only started spending. The mental maths is back and you strike out bed frames from your list. The workspace set is also about to set you back some more and you begin to wonder if this adult life is really worth the hassle.
Your parents are still giving you the cold shoulder and have been very salty regarding your decision to move out. You didn’t bother to tell your siblings who are still battling the principalities and powers of Nigerian Universities and their lecturers and when one of them calls you to confirm the rumours of your departure, you figure your mum has sent them to change your mind. Nice try.
To your surprise, your siblings are happy with the decision and want to come visit when you move. This warms your heart as finally, you have some part of the family on your side.
The apartment is now taking form and you begin to countdown the days remaining till your move. The situation at home is becoming untenable with the pettiness and passive-aggressiveness aimed at you. A few more days and you’ll be free.
To be continued…
