Explore the dynamic blend of love and hustle in Lagos, where ambition and romance collide in Africa's vibrant city.
Na for one corner of Lagos, Oluchi dey run her small food joint wey she name "Mama Put Paradise." Every morning, she go wake up sharp-sharp, hustle her way go market, and buy better fish, yam, and pepper. Oluchi sabi say for this Lagos, if you no hustle, hunger fit turn landlord for your stomach.
"Aunty Oluchi, na wetin you get today?" one of her loyal customers, Tunde, ask as he sit for one of the wobbly benches.
"Tunde my guy, today na special o! I get fisherman soup wey go make you forget your problem," Oluchi reply as she adjust her wrapper. Her pidgin dey sweet like sugarcane, and her smile dey light up the whole area.
For Lagos, life no too soft, but Oluchi sabi manage. As she dey serve food, her mind dey always dream of better life, maybe one day she go open restaurant for Lekki. But for now, na "Mama Put Paradise" be her pride and joy.
One fateful Tuesday, something wey go shake her life scatter-scatta happen. As she dey serve her customers, one fine man waka enter. Him carry laptop bag, wear clean shirt, and him perfume dey smell like heaven.
"Good afternoon," the man greet. Him accent dey mix pidgin with small American English.
"Afternoon, oga. Wetin you wan chop?" Oluchi ask, her eyes dey shine with curiosity.
"Wetin you recommend?" the man smile.
"If you no try my egusi soup with pounded yam, you no go fit understand wetin you dey miss for this life," she answer with confidence.
The man burst into laughter. "Okay, serve me the egusi. My name na Richard, by the way. I dey here on business from Atlanta."
Oluchi carry the food come and watch as Richard taste am. "This food na die!" he exclaim.
From that day, Richard become regular customer. E no take time before Oluchi and Richard begin gist like old friends. Oluchi dey teach am pidgin, and Richard dey share stories about life for America.
As their friendship grow, something begin spark between them. Richard no fit hide him feelings anymore.
"Oluchi, you get something wey dey special. Your hustle, your energy, the way you dey treat people. I dey feel something for you," he confess one evening as the sun dey set.
Oluchi heart beat gbim gbim. She no sure wetin to say. "Richard, you dey serious? Na me, local Mama Put, you dey talk about?"
"Yes, na you. You be queen for your own kingdom," Richard answer.
The love between Oluchi and Richard begin sweet like sugarcane. But Lagos no dey always make things easy. Gossip begin fly around the area. Some people dey jealous, others dey doubt say the relationship go last.
"Na oyinbo man. You sure say e no go use you dump you?" one of Oluchi’s friends ask.
"Abeg, make una leave me. I sabi wetin I dey do," Oluchi reply, even though small doubt dey her mind.
Richard no let anything distract him. He help Oluchi improve her business. Dem paint the shop, buy new chairs, and even open Instagram page for "Mama Put Paradise."
Months later, Richard invite Oluchi come meet him family for America. As Oluchi land Atlanta, her eyes dey shine. "This place fine well well o!" she exclaim.
Richard’s family welcome her with open arms. Though she miss Lagos, she realize say love no get boundary.
Fast forward one year, "Mama Put Paradise" don expand to three locations—two for Lagos and one for Atlanta. Oluchi and Richard dey run the business together, blending Nigerian and American flavors.
As they stand together for the grand opening of their Atlanta branch, Oluchi look at Richard. "Thank you for believing in me," she say.
Richard hold her hand. "Na you teach me say life na hustle and love na the reward."
For this life, no matter where you come from, love and hustle fit carry you go anywhere. Oluchi and Richard’s story dey proof say even for the midst of wahala, better thing fit happen if you get courage to dream.
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