The day my brother Tunde stopped answering my calls

Two years ago. Harmattan season. I called my younger brother Tunde and told him about this prime plot of land in Akure. Location was sweet, price was good, and the seller had all the papers. I said, Tunde, this thing go triple in value within two years. He trusted me. We pooled our family savings together. I put in my consulting money, he put in his kids' school fees.

Six months later, the Oba's son showed up with a court order. Said the land belonged to the royal family. The seller vanished. All our money gone.

Tunde didn't shout. He just looked at me and said, Deji, how I go tell my wife say our children no go school this term?

That silence cut deeper than any fight. He stopped picking my calls after that. For three months.

We eventually made peace. I'm still paying him back in bits. But the thing I learned? Never mix family money with your big dreams. No matter how sure you are.