Random Mullings

He walks down the street subconsciously, noticing how the dust and grass that would normally line the edges of the road are gradually encroaching towards the center.

In his casually swinging right hand, he holds a "poly-bag" laden with his

purchases from the Evening market he'd visited minutes before. Mentally, he reviews the prices of each item, grimacing to himself at the high percentage increase in everything and their cost implications for his rapidly depleting funds.

He glances to his left, notices Musa, the gateman at Number 7, sitting beside his makeshift table, on top of which lay the tools of his shoe mending trade, and imagines when last a customer came to have footwear mended.

He gives Musa a little smile and says, "How far?" in a coarse, throaty voice without breaking his stride, partly to discourage further conversation and partly because he couldn't wait to get home.

Musa's response of "I dey," not really required but given nonetheless, meets the back of his head as he trudges on, already lost in his thoughts.

It had been a month since the enforced lockdown, with no respite in sight. He wondered how long it'd be before his money and food stores ran out, and he joined the hunger-crazed hordes of mindless creatures that roamed the night as he pushed open the gate of his compound.

The sound attracts the gateman, who gives a cursory "Oga welcome" to which he mumbles a "thank you" and walks past the lines of dust-covered cars without a sideways glance at the man, knowing that if he did, he'd see in those eyes the silent plea for "something light".

He felt pity for the man—a boy in his teens, really—but at this rate, it was all man for himself.

He opens the door to the apartment and yells, "Honey, I'm home!!!"

Silence...

He frowns a little as he walks into the kitchen. There's no one there.

He drops the bag, checks the sitting room, and calls out, "Honey!!!"

Still no one!

He checks the den, the restroom, and the bedroom, calling out as he goes. Each empty room fuels his anxiety...

And then suddenly he stops and stares wide-eyed into space as a cold chill runs down his spine and realization comes flooding back into his clouded mind...

HE HAD NO WIFE.

HE LIVED ALONE!!!