Thisday Tell:

*THE EXCHANGE* *Episode 12* I kept quiet and smiled…I was too happy and dazzled to say anything. We were there for a while as Baba T shared his ideas on how the Salon would work. There was also a part of the store that would sell beauty and hair products. He said he already talked to a friend of his in the UK that would be helping to ship the products. The area set up for manicure and pedicure was bigger than my entire salon back home…the comfortable seats would make anyone sleep off during a pedicure session. “ I want people to step in here and never bother to try another place for their haircare needs again. I want this to be a one-stop shop for everything haircare and beauty product. I want to help you build a beauty empire not just a business. I want your name to be synonymous with beauty. I have done the analysis and from my estimate, considering the location and all the services you would offer, this place should pay for itself in 2 years ” Baba T said. The confidence with whic

*THE EXCHANGE*  *Episode 11* I told her everything and how I didn’t know what to do…to my surprise, my mum did not flip out. She told me to get myself together and that I needed to know what I wanted in life and in a husband. She told me not to make my decisions based on money because “ money does not guarantee happiness ”. “ You are the one that will live with the consequences of your choice. That’s why you have to choose wisely and not allow unnecessary sentiments cloud your judgement. Tunji has been with us through thick and thin…this new guy also seems to like you. Look deeper, look beyond the surface, and beware of ‘Greek gifts’…hopefully that will help you. I will keep you in my prayers but you have to make this decision on your own. I also want to be ‘àna olówó’ (A wealthy man’s in-law) but not at the expense of your peace and happiness ” my mum added as she hugged me and said she had to go out. I was home for 3 straight days, trying to figure out what to do…Tunji didn’t even

*THE EXCHANGE* *Episode 10* Baba T started to talk about how he liked me from the first day he saw me. How he had pestered my cousin, Laide, to help talk to me but she kept saying that I had a fiancé. How no girl had ever been acceptable to his mum, but somehow she was crazy about me. How his mum would always tell him “ I don’t know why, but I just like that girl. You better don’t let her slip out of your hands.  ” How his mum suggested the new salon move, just to get me out of Abeokuta How after he told his mum that I was already engaged to another guy she said “ B’ómǫdé bá r’óyin a s’àkàrà s’ígbó ” meaning when a kid tastes honey, he/she has to let go of the bean cake How I deserved a beautiful and comfortable life and how he would see to it that I got it. How he was not looking for a girlfriend but a wife… because his mum was on his case to get married. How he would never hurt me and how he would take care of not just me but my entire family. We must have talked for hours…I was do