Chapter 2: The Wahala Start With Belle

My wahala with Amaka start since she just get belle, first month self.

From the first day she talk say, 'Honey, I no well o,' my body just weak. For my mind, I dey expect say pregnancy na better blessing—smiles, small cravings, that one na normal. But Amaka own, na wahala.

She just dey do like say na heavy sickness catch am.

Even small indomie for morning, she go just frown face, rush go toilet like say person pursue am. Sometimes, I go dey chop my food, I go hear retching sound for bathroom. My mind go dey vex: 'Which kind wahala be this?'

Everybody go dey chop, she go just cover mouth, rush go toilet, begin vomit anyhow. Tell me, which kind wahala be that one?

Even my mama begin dey notice, one day she talk say, 'Amaka, this one wey you dey vomit anyhow, hope no be village people?' I just bone, say make dem no dey give her idea. But truth be say, the thing tire me.

At first, I try understand. She get belle, so small morning sickness no too bad. I just dey tell myself say make I manage am, e go soon stop.

Sometimes, I go even dey buy malt and gala for her. Anything wey she mention, I go rush buy am, just dey try make her happy. Na so I dey reason, say if I just dey patient, everything go balance.

But e no stop o. Instead, e come worse pass before.

Chai! The thing just dey escalate. Where e suppose better, na there e begin spoil more. If person tell me say pregnancy dey hard like this, I for no believe. Na so I begin dey fear say I don enter one chance.

From vomiting after food, to vomiting after water, reach the point where even if she no chop or drink anything, she go still dey vomit.

Even water wey no get taste, if she drink am, e go still end for toilet. I begin dey think say maybe she dey use style dey punish me or she just dey find attention. Which kind wahala be this? Neighbours self begin dey notice.

I no understand. Na just pregnancy. Which woman never pass this road before? She dey vomit up and down—who she dey do drama for?

My mama begin dey use style ask me if Amaka get delicate body or if na city people just dey fragile. Sometimes I go just hiss, go outside, go sit for backyard make my head cool.