As the night started giving up to dawn, Osaro's only wish was that the day never breaks.
Finally, just as the saying; One can't cheat nature, the day has broken and Osaro was not sure what was coming her way or what her ordeal was going to be.
After concluding her morning prayer, Osaro quickly rushed out to the kitchen to make breakfast for her husband.
Ohh, you're here said Amina, who had heard a lot about Osaro from Mama Adana.
Yes, I'm here and you are? Osaro asked as she took the plate from the basket used for plate storage.
I'm Amina, the third wife of our husband. You probably did not know me because our husband has refused us proper introductions. I live in the other compound and I just moved here as our husband requested. I have heard a lot about you and I really feel sorry for you because you're a very young girl.
No need to feel sorry, Osaro said as she flashes back to the time she was sent forth.
I was naive and young too when I was brought here, Amina said as she explained her own ordeals; I was the last girl child in our family of five which includes my father, mother, and sisters.
My father saw us as not good enough to be called children and decided to seek advice from a seer who told him to get us all married to older men and disappointingly, he did, which mark the beginning of pains for me and luckily enough, one of my sisters got married to a very nice man which makes me wonder why my father did not just go for a husband like hers for us.
I was married to our husband at age sixteen and for these four years, none have made me rethink my father's decision as a good one.
After getting married to Mr Okhizu; our husband, I cried my eyes out and funny enough, he didn't notice my tears, rather he made me lay on the bed that night and had intercourse with me for almost till the time the cockcrows. After that night, I could not forget the pains and not long after I took in, became pregnant and I was happy because I thought that was going to be the end of the sexual harassment from my husband.
However, his thoughts were different from mine, Okhizu; Amina said without minding her words, that man made my life as his pregnant wife a living hell. He will call me into his chambers and make me lie with him even with my pregnancy, and he will end up beating me if I refuse even for a day. This continues till the seven months of my pregnancy.
Oh my God, Osaro said feeling so sympathetic towards weeping Amina.
No, no need for the pitiful words dear, Amina said with tears in her eyes as she continued her ordeal.
Just like you, I thought that week was the end of Mr Okhizu's sexual harassment not until one night, I heard him yelling at Mama Adana saying that there is always joy when he lay with me. He sent Mama Adana out that night and asked for me despite it not being my turn to warm his bed.
Mama Adana came to my room with tears in her eyes as she uttered my name.
I was reluctant but I had to go, getting there I saw our husband with a liquid which he gulped and handed the remaining to me.
Drink up he said as he removed his trousers and waited for me, I summoned courage that night, refusing to drink any substance for my baby's well-being but he didn't care even with my explanation, he made drink the liquid and roughly had his way with me, after hours of intimacy, I wonder how an old man like Mr Okhizu could have the strengths of a hundred men.
He later ordered me to remain in his chambers till the next morning but nature had its plans, I noticed blood in my thighs as I was trying to arrange myself that night and I immediately notify him but his reaction made me realized that Mr Okhizu only marry for pleasure, not for love and definitely not for children. He left me without saying a word and I had to use my last strength to bring myself out of the room. I later woke up in one of the midwife's compounds with Mama Adana and Mama Osaze staring at me like an outcast.
Where is my baby, I said with the first strength I regained. Your baby is still in your womb safe and sound, said one of the midwives who had already prepared some concoction for me to take.
But why did you not notice the presence of your baby, Osaro asked naively.
The midwife said it was because of what had transpired and I believed her, said Amina as she wiped her tears and continued.
I just want you to be brave and courageous enough to stand up to him and for us because this was just a fragment of my ordeal.