"Sorry, can we talk for a few minutes?" Mariyam said ecstatically as she visited Adams in his office.
"Yes, of course, please have a seat," Adams replied with enthusiasm.
"Amazing! I've been thinking about certain events. Before we become who we are, we follow influences that shape us and teach us norms, which mentally decorate our perceptions and influence how we view the world.
However, by growing up in different environments, meeting new people, learning about life, and acquiring various kinds of knowledge, our minds broaden in the way we think, operate, relate, understand, and grow.
I've encountered wonders—images that leave an indelible mark in my mind. Through these memories, we remind ourselves of the colours we see, of the white, blue, black, and red, and when the green light is on, we recognize the end.
Sometimes, I open a window in this room in my mind just to watch as a dragon passes and to observe its flight through the air.
The beautiful starlight from the constellations and magnificent people seem to exist without end.
In all the natural history museums, the experiences we have can be found in European countries, and the dividend lies in responding to them thoughtfully.
Meeting you is a new chapter in my life, and I would love to learn more from you about the intricate balance between wealth and simplicity on this aisle," Mariyam said dreamily.
"I won't understand anything if it comes wrapped in riddles. I understand English, but it is not my primary language; so if you want to explain, please break it down into simpler terms.
Above me is a space free of walls, with uncovered curtains in a cloudy sky, a blue sky, and golden sunshine hanging from the East, without any chains holding power or movement.
I feel as though I am suspended here on Earth to practice a policy from above, and I have faith without images to serve but to provide practical services in this life, with my principal focus at hand. You are quite close, but I'm miles away from grasping your philosophy; while the pure snow is cold here, I wish to understand it in its entirety.
Your heartbeat is close; if it breaks my heart, we will fix it. But if it brings me joy, we will cherish it—whatever it may be, we should light it with good faith. I am only here for our mutual prosperity, helping each other out. As I wipe your back, you wipe mine.
I would love to learn too, but I seek to be on the same page as you with understanding. Humans like us can be the hardest to deal with yet easier to connect with," Adams replied remorsefully.
Mariyam responded excitedly, "You always speak deeply. I was trying to lighten the mood, and you want to delve deeper! Your speech during the conference was impressive, and I hope the deal brings prosperity."
"Thank you, dear," Adams replied with a laugh.
"Let me head back to my office," she said, rising and walking out excitedly.
Adams called Mina. "Please don't prepare dinner; I will bring some food."
"You know I don't like eating just anything, so make sure what you're bringing is edible," she replied.
"Okay, don't worry. I know you'll love it," he said.
"Alright then, until you get here," she replied, ending the call.
The CEO handed Adams a car key for easy transport during work and for another purpose, and he thanked her profusely. Driving home after work, he stopped at Inya Femi Restaurant to buy some pots of soup and staples to lighten Mina's cooking burden for a while. He parked outside, locked the car, and entered the restaurant.
Inside, he met an old schoolmate, Ibrahim, along with his wives, Rahama, Fatima, and Husnah. They all greeted each other cheerfully. Malam Ibrahim introduced his three wives to Adams, saying, "This is my first wife, Rahama; this is my second, Fatima; and my third, Husnah. Please feel free to connect me with any of your family members because I'm still looking for a fourth wife."
They all laughed and playfully bumped against one another.
"Where is your wife?" Malam Ibrahim asked.
Adams replied, "She's at home with the kids. I just got off work and decided to pick up some soups to ease her cooking stress; you know how it is for women handling the kids."
"That sounds like a great idea, but I prefer my wives to cook for me. However, today I decided to bring them here to buy food because we went out for some activities, and it would be too late to cook dinner. We're all hungry right now, and the kids are waiting for our return before they can eat," Malam Ibrahim said.
"Yeah, choice is important, and it's good to choose what makes us comfortable. It's not that the dishes here are better than my wife's meals, but getting takeout is a way to ease her burden of shopping, taking care of the kids, and managing the house. She can add spices to the soups to make them taste like she prepared them.
These soups will last for the working days, and by the weekend, I will be at home with the kids while my wife goes to the market to get the ingredients for cooking the next batch of soups that will last for three days or more before I visit her again. This approach makes things easier for us.
With these soups in the house, I can easily prepare Eba, buy Akpu, cook rice, or make any staples for both of us. I just need to warm the soups and enjoy the meals," Adams replied.
"What a great idea! How much do the soups cost?" Ibrahim asked.
"It depends on what you want. Personally, I love Kpomo; I have a lot of cow beef, dry fish, prawns, goat meat, snails, and periwinkles in my vegetable soup. I don't include periwinkles and snails in my Egusi soup, and the same goes for Orgbor soup and Stew. For these four types of soups, I pay 50,000 Naira into their account to obtain them," Adams explained.
"Wow! You spend 50,000 Naira for a pot of soups? What a great deal! How many people are in your household?" Ibrahim asked curiously.
"We are four: me, my wife, and our two kids, who are four years old and one year old," Adams replied.
"I hope you're not just working to enjoy expensive meals," Ibrahim joked.
"Food comes first, man. Eating good, healthy meals should be at the top of the priority list above anything else. I believe there's nothing more important in the universe than feeding my family the best meals in the world and making everything else secondary," Adams said earnestly.
"I love that! I might consider putting food at the top of my list too," Ibrahim said excitedly.
Rahama chimed in, "Thank you, sir, for this conversation. I think we should definitely prioritize food without a second thought." The other wives enthusiastically added, "Yes, this is a great idea, sir! It was nice meeting you."
Adams and Ibrahim laughed as the women joined in the conversation, advocating for Adams's perspective.
"I guess you just set me up with this little piece of advice; they will hold me accountable for it afterwards. Thank you for your time; it was nice meeting you again," Ibrahim said cheerfully as he took his leave.
Adams ordered some pots of fried chicken, meat, and veggies with other drinks and snacks for his family.