Thursday, June 12, 2008

And it came to pass...

“Inakwana[1]
“Lafiya[2]
“Ka yi sauki yan zu ne?”[3]
“a’a[4]
“Allah zai tai makeka ka sami sauki[5]
“Amin[6]

Hajia Medinat was the last neighbor to visit Zainab after her tabarmar kunya[7]. Although, the neighbors knew what happened, they all treated her as if she had an illness that the common wontu[8] medicine could cure. Hajia Medinat said the same things as the others “eat, sleep and rest. Zaka sani sau ki yazu[9]

Zainab locked the door after Hajia Mediant left her house. She was not angry because she expected them to all stand together with aloof dignity. Their ridicules came in the form of lectures and their sorrowful mocks were accompanied with silent jeers. And of course, this embedded trait of theirs will transmit from one generation to another in the name of culture. A practice so long established that it has the force of law. Any one who does not adhere to it becomes an outcast. Zainab is a labeled reprobate, as a child she had been spoon fed the same customs but was wise enough to chew its morals and spit out its hypocrisy.

Her cell phone vibrated and she willed with intensity for it to be Musa but it was one of those annoying forward text messages from Hazzanat asking its recipient to forward the same text to twenty other people in order to have good luck in life. She slid the phone horizontally to reveal a QWERTY keyboard and hit delete. She was tempted to send Musa a text but decided against it. “He should be the one to come to me” she muttered under her breathe. She remembered their first major fight; it was the second day of Ramadan[10]. They met after the Maghrib[11] prayer to break their fast together. Musa who was always so sullen after work was full of cheer and praises for his boss. This was the same boss Bature, Musa vowed to mow down with his car. The change in attitude came as a surprise to Zainab

“Musa, did you get promoted?”

“No, but I know it’s coming very soon, Boss Bature called me a very intelligent man. In today’s meeting, he asked us a question and I was the only one who got it right”

“What is the question?”

‘If you are walking in a dark alley at night with your mother, wife and sister, suddenly a rapist appeared and you are overpowered. He then asks you to pick one person for him to rape, whom would you choose?’

“That’s a very tough question”

“No, it is not difficult when you really think about it. I chose my wife”

“You did what? Why would you do something stupid? Aren’t you supposed to protect me ….her? Ashamed of her admission, Zainab looked out the window hoping he did not catch her last word.

“I chose my wife because I cannot bear to see my mother go through such ordeal, and I would not pick my sister for the sole reason that she is not married. What man would marry her after he knows she was raped? But my wife, I know it is not her fault, I was there so I will forgive her”

“You can also forgive your mother” Zainab uttered in disgust.

Musa pulled her closer “are you angry with me? It was a hypothetical question. I would rather die before I give you up” That was enough to soothe Zainab’s feelings. The day ended pleasantly just has it needed to for two people in love.

Zainab was sucked out of deep sleep by the repeated blows which threaten the nails out of the door’s hinges. She looked at her wrist watch and the time was quarter to two. She immediately shook Musa’s sleeping figure on the adjacent sofa. Disoriented Musa was unable to think with clarity and act with intelligence. He asked Zainab to open the door. Hesitant in her steps, she reluctantly opens the door. Three gunmen pushed their way into the room rushing violently against Musa.

“Enter your room and bring out our allowance” One of the gunmen instructed authoritatively

“Sir, this is not my house, I am just a guest” Jellified Musa answered. The gunman looked from Musa to Zainab and slowly a smirk appeared on his lips and he simpered at Musa’s lame excuse. “I see... the cat is out and the mouse is out to play. I will also like to join in this game”

He motioned his men to bring Zainab as he unbuckled his belt. Musa pleaded and offer his car as atonement.

“What car do you drive”?
“A Toyota sir”
“What year”
“1982 sir”

“You must be mad. I drove a Lexus into this stupid compound and you are offering me a wretched car. I will never go backwards in life. Wretched man”


What every girl prays not to happen to her occurred that wee hours of the morning. Musa left shortly after the gunmen. He did not look at Zainab nor did he utter any comforting words.

A month slowly crawled by and he still hasn’t called.

The vibrating phone jolted Zainab to the present. It was another annoying text from Hazzanat. She slid the phone horizontally and began to text.

“Remember your answer to Boss Bature’s question... remember your words to me”

The reply came

“It would have been so if you are my wife... I am sorry”

The nausea came first, followed by her tears. She ran into the bathroom to release the first batch of bile that is to come every morning for the next four months.

_________________________________________
[1] Good Morning
[2] Answer to greeting
[3] Are you well now?
[4] No
[5] God will help you get well
[6] Amen
[7] Matter of shame
[8] Arabic prayer written on a slate in black ink then rinsed with water. It is used as medicine.
[9] You will soon recover
[10] Islamic month of fasting
[11] The fourth daily salat -

35 comments:

Thirty + said...

Ayam 1st

onydchic said...

That is... unbelievably depressing. But realistic. And GOOD.

You've got a gift, Girl. Albeit in awkward, thought-provoking stories.

You should write a book.

Thirty + said...

Oh no, she ain't preggers.

Gurl, well done.

Summer is looking rosy already.

bumight said...

WOW! so she got pregnant! damn!

darkelcee said...

gosh

she got pregnant? hmmm

me i no know again oh. this life

Chari said...

Bloddy Bastard....

The Ironic truth is that the story has a ring of truth to it somewhat...

Sherri said...

top ten!

Sherri said...

wow!
that's very sad!

beautifully written as usual.

O'Dee said...

Sad n depressing.

But really good. I love d hausa concept.

9cly written. Good job.

Anonymous said...

wow kina gi hausa? na yi murna susayi

Nigerian Drama Queen said...

I read your post on 14th and Serenity and I was blown away.You are very talented!

Ki na jin hausa kuma? Na gan kin yi ruguta ah Yoruba da 'Scorned'..Sanu da aiki geskiya! Kin yi kokari!

Thirty + said...

Babes saw your comment on my blog. Death is a transition o so don't feel down. It is a reason to be encouraged, the mere fact that you are among the living.

BTW, who are these folks speaking hausa on your blog

Lemme join

Allied yaya aiki?

Ina sunaki?

Wona yaro ni

-lol

LG said...

oh no..so sad, such an innocent girl *sighs*
I kno it was meant to be a story o but may it not be our portion-AMEN


Allied rocks!!!

Joy Akut said...

oh my goodness. how mean, and we've got lots of bastards like him.

how you play with the different cultures is amazing. i mean i'm supposed to be hausa and i'm going back to read translations, how sad.

yet another classic from you. how you thought of making a complilation of your stories, i think it'd be a sell out especially with the deep cultural settings.

how've you been miss?

Anonymous said...

beautifully and tightly written as usual...

how u?

Rinsola said...

Imagien i wasn't part of the top ten, well God dey!
But wasn't it the same Musa who said he'd rather die than give her up? Okay o......
How'v you been? long time..... Have a great week ahead lady!

tinted UNtrue said...

am lost guess i have to start from the begining.

meanwhile visit my blog dear

Eyin'ju Oluwa said...

Hmm, thats life.

lmao@the robbers outburst

ablackjamesbond said...

Miss Allied, u speak hausa too?

Nicely written. Short, sad but thought provoking.

Sasuke said...

Musa is a Bastard! what nonsense i am sure he set the whole shit up. an you imagine his impetus? to crown it all the girl come get belle again. nice story allied.not left at all

Brilliantly Me said...

Wow...so beautifully written, yet sad because it happens to so many women.

The Activist said...

You are such a wonderful story teller. This was so captivating and so sadden.

Jay said...

So sad...poor girl

Some men are just full of empty words....Really sad but a really good story...nice one

rethots said...

"...called me a very intelligent man." “No, it is not difficult .... I chose my wife”

Do men really still come this stupid? He's filled with so much delight, even after been called stupid to his face (& i daresay, in the presence of all his office colleague).

WHOA!!!

Zayzee said...

i have missed so much. a sad story

Orientatednaijababe said...

I was blown away by ur story...ur skills shud be shown to the world...abeg write a book.

I hope she is not pregnant oh....that will be so sad for her to have a constant reminder

archiwiz said...

Mmmm, this is serious. Great writing.

Smaragd said...

Musa is a BASTARD! a S.O.B! ein Arschloch!

that said, i thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Brava!

Queen of My Castle said...

I thought I commented on this, but I see I didn't. Rape is such a horrid act.

I think many men shy away from their women after rape because in their warped little minds it's as if she's been tainted, though it's wasn't her fault. I wish he would have been a man and just stepped up to the plate and been there for her...and the baby

Writefreak said...

Oh my God, she got pregnant! How can you do this? Lol

Good writing babe!

The Life of a Stranger called me said...

This is quite sadening. I really dont know what kind of comment to leave. Just to think he can get away from making a promise and later cite it was conditional.

How have you been?

Duchess said...

wow....this is superb!

i love your blog...aint hiding it...am ADDICTED.

Ms. Catwalq said...

what kind of sick world are we in?

she is to be "forgiven" for being raped?

I feel nauseous too.

ibiluv said...

so sad.......
and she got pregnant.........

princesa said...

Hmmm...the two faced nature of man...too bad!

Great work babes!