When misfortune knocks at your door and you say there is no seat left in the house, he says don't worry, I have brought my own stool - writes Achebe.
And so bad luck follows you like a shadow even when you become light itself.
The story of former Nakumatt boss Atul Shah is a sad journey that nobody could imagine a few years ago.
Just months after the once Kenyan shopping giant Nakumatt came to its knees, Atul might have found relief in the fact that he had an erect investment in the name of Nakumatt Ukay Mall. He could build on it to bring back the empire.
He was wrong.
The shadows of misfortune were not prepared to set him free from their hold.
Demolitions of structures built at wrong locations have been going on in Nairobi and the wave has gone for the remaining joint in Atul's spine.
Since calamity sits in the dark waiting for the bride to put on her best ornaments, demolition waited for Atul to spice up the Ukay store to its best colours. Then he struck.
This is how it all happens.
January 2017, Atul is Managing Director of over 50 Nakumatt outlets spread across Kenya and there are more others outside the Kenyan borders.
Soon Nakumatt woes begin and one outlet after another is closed down as the tough times bite.
Atul then concedes defeat and places Nakumatt under caretaker management. It's tough to bear this alone.
Then in July 2018, the Nakumatt Ukay outlet is restocked, a sign that the retailer is beginning to read his fate from a brighter page. The management even advertises for shoppers to start trickling back in.
Then like lightning, misfortune strikes again and Shah has nothing than look on as government bulldozers sink their fangs into the walls of the mall to bring it down.
And that is how the tycoon manages to lose wealth of over Sh125 million in a single day!
Atul's star began to dim years ago.
For over a year, his Westgate Mall outlet has remained closed even after recovering from the Alshabab attack and opening doors for shoppers.
Before that, an explosion at his Nakumatt Downtown along Kimathi Street reduced the entire investment to ashes in what killed some 29 people.
Earlier in 2008, his Nakumatt Thika Road was also flattened as part of the government's efforts to create room for expansion of Thika Super Highway.
And as this happens, Atul remains a suspect to be investigated over the loss of Sh18 billion worth of stock for what authorities termed shrinkage.
But what revenge does fate want on a man so much on his knees?
If he clashed with his Chi, aren't all the past losses enough to expiate any wrongdoing?