Asabi
got married to the love of his life and every day is a blessing waking up to
Ademidiwurah by his side. He loved her like his whole life depends on her. One
cold morning in the winter, they sat close to the fire in their hut to get
warmth and Asabi looked at Ademi in the eyes, he clenched his fists to hers and
said to her “Ademidiwurah, my life without you is like a tree without a branch,
you rock and make my world sparkle and I will continue loving you till my last
breathe” Ademidiwurah was kind of shy, she bowed her head looking at how he
clenched her fists unto his and smiled saying “Asabi mi, Olowoorimi, ayo mi I
can’t imagine my life without you, you are a blessing to me and I will love you
eternally”
After
some months, Ademidiwurah started noticing some changes in her body, she feels
sick every morning, always tired and just feels like sleeping which makes Asabi
tease “Ademi don’t be a lazy woman” and she will just nod her head in
affirmation. This changes dint stop at the early morning sickness, Ademi
noticed her breasts became tender and swollen, her appetite changed totally,
she began turning her nose at certain foods and crave for some, her moods
swings she gets emotional easily and weeps at times, this change in behavior
got Asabi confused. He asked her countless times what the problem is but he got
no response. He decided to share his headache with his friend Adeolu, when
Asabi finished narrating his wife’s recent behavior to his friend, Adeolu could
not help himself, he laughed to the extent he feel from the wooden chair he was
sitting on under the palm tree. Adeolu’s action annoyed Asabi and he got more
confused “Adeolu, I thought I can confide in you, and you are here laughing at
me to the extent you are rolling on the floor” Adeolu rose from the ground,
removed his cap from his head and used it to dust his body, then he stretched
his hand to shake the confused Asabi “Oremi, iyawo re ti loyun” and Asabi could
not believe his ears, his mouth was open agape and hands akimbo.
Asabi
ran home as fast as he could to meet Ademi throwing up in front of the hut. He
held her tight by the shoulder, poured water on her head and took her in and before
she could open her mouth, Asabi hugged her, his love for her increased the more
and this is evident in his eyes, he uttered “Ademi will soon be a mother”. And
she asked “I thought I wanted to surprise you”. Then Asabi said “I surprised
you first!” they all laughed. Then Asabi continued, we will call our boy
Olamide, Ademi interrupted “What if it’s a girl?’. Asabi turned his face away,
he is not interested in having a girl, Ademi was confused and she decided to
calm herself with her voice shaking so she said if it’s a girl “We” will call
her Omowunmi, just then, Asabi said “You!” leaving the hut and Ademi got more
confused.
After
nine months, Ademi was heavy, weak and tired; she decided to go to the farm to
get some vegetables for lunch. As she got to the farm, she felt a sharp pain in
her and her water broke, as a young lady who has never given birth before, she
taught it was normal until blood started dripping from under her. Then she
called out to Asabi who was busy wetting his crops “OlowoOrimi” and he answered
“Kilode Ademi?” she replied “Eje” and he ran as fast as he could. He took her
home and with the help of the women in the community, Ademi was delivered of a
beautiful baby girl safely.
Asabi
heard the cry of a new born and was so excited, his excitement was cut short
when Darasimi, Adeolu’s wife came out of the hut and Asabi ran to her, she
smiled and said “Congratulations Asabi, it’s a beautiful…” before she could say Jack Robbinson, Asabi’s
voice was filled with anger and he said “I need a boy, who will take after me,
not a girl who will leave me someday to her husband’s house”
Ademi
named her daughter Omowunmi but Asabi decided to change her name to “Olokodana”
which means “Go to farm and cook”. Ademi was not happy with the change of name
and she continued calling her daughter Omowunmi. After the birth of Omowunmi,
Asabi’s love for Ademi became sour, he no longer loved her the way he used to,
he calls her names and nags at every little mistake she does without even
listening to her own side of the story.
Omowunmi’s
birth made Asabi take in a second wife called Lara, he treated Lara like a
queen and Ademi like a slave all because she gave birth to a girl. After nine
months, Lara was blessed with twins and they are all boys. Asabi could not hide
his excitement, it was all over his face likewise Ademi and her daughter, they
were all happy. Omowunmi said to her mum “Maami, now that I have two handsome
brothers, I’m going to cuddle and play with them”, then her father interrupted
“Gbenu soun”. His reaction changed Ademi and her daughter’s mood. Omowunmi
leaned onto her mother’s chest and stared crying, Ademi felt bad but there was
nothing she could do than console and clean her daughter’s tears.
The
glamour in Ademi has died, she is no longer the woman she used to be, she
taught of opting out since she is no longer loved but anytime the thought of
leaving strikes her mind, she remembers Omowunmi and what will become of her
when she leaves. Ademi sat under the tree in front of her hut when one of her
co-wife’s children, Taiwo splashed sand on her and ran away, Ademi taught he was
just a kid and was playing until he came the second time and called her “Omo
ale” meaning bastard, Ademi was shocked and decided to whip the child even
though she is not his mother. She gave him two strokes of the cane and he ran
to his mother crying.
His
father asked him why he was crying and he said “Mummy Omowunmi flogged me”,
without any inquiry, Asabi picked a long stick and came to Ademi, he held her old
Ankara shirt and was about landing the stick on her back when she looked deep
into his eyes with hers watery and she asked him…. Asabi, do men still beat their wives?” Do they?
Story by Khadija Lawal
No comments:
Post a Comment