Chapter 4: Carton of Goodbye

Next day as I reach office, HR—Salihu—dey wait for my office door.

As I climb stairs, Salihu face show for corridor. The way e stand, you go know say e get heavy message for hand. Salihu na gentle guy, but today e face hard.

I think say Chukwudi just dey para yesterday, but today dem don pack all my things.

As I reach my office door, I see one small carton. My picture frame, my water flask, even my old slippers, all don dey inside. E be like say dem dey pursue ghost.

I notice the office cleaner dey watch me from one corner. Another colleague waka pass, no even fit look my face—e just carry eye go ground.

So na like this he wan make I gree?

Na so. No room for long talk. For Lagos, if Oga wan move you, e go use HR carry your load before you even see am. I just stand for door, dey reason how fast dem take clear my life work.

I look around office, my mind just dey somehow.

The chair I sit down for five years, the desk wey I take sign big contract, everything dey look me like danfo wey I never enter before—strange, cold.

Salihu come dey look me with pity as e talk:

Salihu na person wey heart soft. Him face show say e no dey happy with wetin dem send am do. For Lagos, na work dey talk, not heart. E clear say e no dey comfortable.

"Brother Tunde, abeg no vex. Na order from up. I pack all your things well."

E hand me the carton gently. Salihu voice low. E dey try show respect. For Lagos, if dem wan pursue you, some people go still pity you. Na so we dey survive.

"Brother Tunde..."

He pause. E dey find words. For Lagos, e no easy to talk hard thing, especially to person wey don senior you for work.

As I no talk, Salihu continue:

I just stand, dey look my carton. Salihu voice dey shake. E try form strong, but e no reach. For my mind, I dey thank am. At least, person still get small dignity for this life.

"Oga Chukwudi say you..."

As e dey talk, my mind dey wander. Wetin remain for man for this life? Only God go judge. For Lagos, everybody dey find survival. I brace myself, ready for anything Salihu wan add. E no easy, but man gats waka head high.

Salihu sigh. "No vex, bros. For this Lagos, everybody dey for survival."