Get me some water!!!
I heard my mother bellowed at me, that was all I needed to ruminate on happenings surrounding me. I picked up my clay pot and headed for the stream. The stream was a ten kilometre journey from my house; oh! How I wish the journey could last for eternity.
Children, they say are blessings from Allah, thus, they must obey every wish of their parents in order for these blessings to rain upon their family. I was born into this so called PHILOSOPHY of life. Every now and then, my parents ensure I memorise this belief thereby making it my favourite quote. I recite it every morning just as I do the Arabic. I went to primary school just like every girl in my age grade and excel greatly in my studies. Being a brilliant chap got me favoured by both my headmaster and my teachers. My parents always rejoice whenever I bring my report sheet home and it’s always a celebration galore in my home since I always come first in every class I’m in.
I noticed every time I bring my report sheet, men always come in numbers to felicitate with my father especially. I never read any meaning to this, just celebration, I thought. So it happened one day when I met Balikis, one of my childhood friend at the stream weeping profusely. I move to pacify her and inquire what the problem was. She then told me her parents want her to be married off to one Alhaji. It sounds funny because I thought marriage is just for the adults since Balikis is just a teenager who just reach her puberty stage. Balikis further explained that her parents said that she needs to be married so as to fulfil the norm and order of the community and to serve as a blessing to them. This opens my eyes and made me read meaning to the so called philosophy. Balikis then left me to whatever fate awaits her and also to reminisce on my future too.
I’m a twelve years old beautiful Fulani girl with noticeable features such as a fair skin, pencilled nose, oval face and since I just reached puberty age, my breast had just started popping out. I aspire to be a doctor and I clearly remember while growing up whenever I say this my parents are always laughing which made me believe they are happy and would support my dream. I negated all thoughts welling within me and declared my parents won’t act like Balikis’s parents. Even with that, I felt insecure since my father had only gave birth to just three kids, myself and my two brothers. My dad was a farmer while my mum sells product from my dad’s farm. We might not be rich at least we can afford three square meals per day which was a great privileged unlike Balikis’s family whose dada was a polygamist. He married three wives and had eight children in all. Balikis’s mother was the second wife and she had two children. This made me think I had better chances of not being married off sine my own family was a monogamy family and there’s no struggle for anything.
Days passed, I finished my Primary School and got a scholarship to study in a private Secondary School. I was so happy when I received news of my Scholarship from my Headmaster and danced all the way home. When I got home, I met my Father in company of his long-time friend Alhaji Sambo, discussing. I greeted them and relayed the good news to them. He was very happy and his friend gave me some cash. My Father then asked me to get inside and dress up because he had something to tell me. I went inside still happy ignorant of the news yet to be told. After changing into a nice dress, I approached my dad. He asked if I recognise the person seated beside him. I was amused at this since I had known Alhaji Sambo being my Dad’s friend since I was a kid: he always brings gift for my parents and myself especially when I come home with my report sheet. I then gave the reply that he’s my dad’s friend. My dad then corrected me that he’s my husband and has been paying my dowry since I was little.
My world stood still and I gave in to tears. My mother then explained that I had been betrothed since I was a baby and Alhaji had been taking care of me which explains his frequent gifts and visit. She said according to tradition, a girl gets married at the first instance of puberty. She said it was a thing of honour and had been going on for years. I was embittered by her words since I’ve always shared my dream of becoming a doctor to her and I know the self-acclaimed husband already had four wives. My father then said just as I have learnt that am a blessing and it is time for me to seal the blessing. I stood there dumbfounded which explains my current predicament.
Nobody told me on our first night as a married couple, I would be raped and beaten by my husband in a bid for me to obey and fear him. Nobody told me that I would be scorned by my husband’s other wives. Nobody told me I would suffer stillbirths when I get pregnant due to the inability of my body to be fully grown before experiencing this fate. Nobody told me I would suffer VVF (Vagina vertigo fistula) which would enable me to smell and be treated as a leper. Nobody told me I would be abandoned till I die.
I got to the stream drenched with tears hoping everything happening to me was just a dream. Aishat!!! I heard someone call my name and snapped to reality. I turned towards the direction where I heard my name and saw my younger brother running towards me excitedly ignorant of the what’s happening since he’s a guy and the pressure is not on them. Oh! How I wish he was coming to tell me that the marriage had been cancelled. Each step he takes towards me made my heart skip a beat. He then told me that my husband’s family is around to settle my dowry. Like a cow bought at the market and taken to the abattoir to be slaughtered for festival, my fate was sealed.
