EPISODE 7: RISING FROM NOTHING
Adesuwa woke up in Ireti’s small but comfortable home, feeling something she hadn’t felt in years—peace. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t have to worry about an abusive husband or an empty cooking pot.
She started work at Ireti’s restaurant that morning, determined to prove herself. The business was small, just a roadside buka, but it was always filled with customers. Adesuwa threw herself into the work, cooking, serving, and cleaning tirelessly.
One evening, as she dished out plates of steaming jollof rice, an elderly man approached her. “Madam, this food is different today,” he said.
Adesuwa tensed. “Is something wrong with it?”
The man chuckled. “Wrong? No! It’s better! The taste is richer.”
Other customers agreed, and soon, word spread that the food at Ireti’s buka had improved. More people started coming, and business picked up.
Ireti was impressed. “Adesuwa, what did you do?”
“I just added a few spices my mother used when I was growing up,” Adesuwa admitted.
Ireti smiled. “Then you need to teach me. And maybe, one day, you’ll open your own place.”
The thought stunned Adesuwa. Her own place? She had never dared to dream that big.
That night, she lay on her mat, her children sleeping beside her, and for the first time, she allowed herself to imagine—a future where she was not just surviving, but thriving.
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EPISODE 8: THE BIG OPPORTUNITY
Months passed, and Adesuwa continued working tirelessly at Ireti’s restaurant. Business was booming, and customers loved her cooking. She saved every little money she could, dreaming of one day having her own place.
One afternoon, a well-dressed woman entered the buka and ordered a plate of food. She took one bite and paused.
“Who made this?” she asked, looking impressed.
Adesuwa hesitated before stepping forward. “I did, ma.”
The woman smiled. “This tastes like something from a high-class restaurant. Have you ever thought of expanding?”
Adesuwa laughed nervously. “I don’t have the money for that, ma.”
The woman, who introduced herself as Mrs. Ogunde, was a businesswoman who owned a chain of eateries. “I’m looking for talented cooks. If you’re interested, I can help you start a proper food business.”
Adesuwa’s heart pounded. Was this real? Could she finally have a chance to escape poverty completely?
She didn’t know if she was ready, but one thing was clear—her life was changing.
That night, as she looked at her sleeping children, she whispered, “We are almost there.”
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