***
Tolulope has been facing abuse from
her family and boyfriend because of a mistake she made. She is about to be
pounced on by her brother in-law and her sister. Would she escape the beating
she is sure to get? Will her life get better? Find out by continuing the story.
Remember, all the events of this story are based on true events. Only the names
have been changed. If you haven't seen Part 1, start off here.
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Picture: MADAME NOIRE |
For 2 days
they beat Tolulope, punctuating each slap or kick or punch with the Bible
thrust into her face, reminding her that she could be free when she swore to
give up her boyfriend and their child. She lost consciousness several times and
as soon as she came to, the threats and subsequently beatings, continue.
By the third
day, she couldn’t take it anymore. She went to them while they breakfasted and
knelt down.
‘Uncle, Aunty, I have come here to apologize.
I have been a fool. I have been a disobedient child and I have been sinful. Today,
I want to swear before you and GOD that I have repented and I will never see
Femi or Ayo again. I will obey you with the whole of my heart and do anything
you want. If you still want me to swear with the Bible, I will do so’.
Aderopo smiled.
‘You have done well. If you had agreed
since, you wouldn’t have suffered all these things. But you know that GOD told
me to do that. Anyway, go and eat’.
For a week,
Tolulope was the picture of the perfect niece; waking up early, cleaning the
house, bathing the kids, prepping them for school, cooking the household meals
and doing the dishes and laundry. For one week Tolulope didn’t speak to Femi or
her daughter or anyone else for that matter. She was not allowed to go out of
the gate by the express instruction of Aderopo but she didn’t even attempt to.
Until her
opportunity came.
Friday, the
gate man, left the house every day at 1pm and 4pm to play draft at the top of the
street. He would return after 30 minutes and continue his work. He was like
clockwork.
He usually locked
the door from outside with a piece of stick instead of the padlock.
Her sister
had gone to the market and Tolulope knew she had time. Her uncle was not due
back until 6pm. This had to happen today or no other day.
As soon as it was 1pm, Friday set off for his
game. Tolulope gave him 5 minutes. She ran out to the gate and started shaking
it. Gently, gently she did to see if she could dislodge the stick. She continued on
for 15 minutes and with each push-and-tug, she despaired getting caught.
Finally the
stick fell!
She opened
the gate and looked out. There was no one on the street. She got out of the
house, put the stick back in place and walked away.
The street
was a typical upscale street in Abuja. There were no hiding places and getting
a bike or taxi was hard. She had to walk long distances to get one. She walked
as calmly as she could because she didn’t want to arouse attention.
She nearly
died when she saw a car coming her way. Was it her uncle? His wife? Was she
about to be caught? Her heart was beating faster than was healthy. Her legs
couldn’t carry her further and she just stood there. The car inched closer...and closer...
...and then it passed.
...and then it passed.
Phew! It wasn’t
her family!
That was her
cue. Damn any attention she would draw to herself. She had to run! And run she did!
When she got
to the top of the street, she saw a bike and used all her desperation to flag
him down. When he stopped, Tolulope saw, from the corner of her eye, the unmistakable
red of her uncle’s car and before she could tell the bike man where, she jumped
on, and shouted ‘Go! Go! Go!’
The bike man
roared with speed and passed Aderopo who wondered at the rough rider and
continued home.
There were
two car parks close to the estate and Tolulope asked the driver to take her to
the farthest. Her heart was still racing and she knew she was out of the loop
yet.
When they got to the park, she saw a vehicle going to Kaduna and they needed just one person to fill it. She jumped into it and the driver collected her money.
When they got to the park, she saw a vehicle going to Kaduna and they needed just one person to fill it. She jumped into it and the driver collected her money.
As he went
about looking for change, Tolulope kept praying she would escape. She just
wanted to leave; she just wanted to live.
When they
finally got on their way, they got caught in traffic. Maybe GOD wasn’t going to
help her after all. She knew that her uncle would come after her and he would
not stop at anything. She kept praying and praying until the red jaguar rolled
up and stopped right by their side; by Tolulope’s side.
It was her
uncle.
She was in
the back seat but if he looked, he would see her in the rearview mirror. Tolulope
ducked.
The Muslim
woman by her side asked why she hit her.
‘That man in that car is my uncle. He has
been raping me for years and beating me. I just escaped today. Please, help me’.
The woman
looked at him and looked at her. She looked at him again. She made up her mind, took off her veil,
covered Tolulope and put her hand on her.
The man in
the car looked at her and she could almost feel his malevolence. He looked away
and inched closer in the traffic lane.
After 15
minutes, the gridlock opened and they were on their way. Smooth sailing to
Kaduna.
And all
through, the girl she had just helped cried and cried.
***
When Tolulope
got to Femi’s, she was greeted by the biggest hug from her daughter. Everything
she had gone through was worth this very moment; this moment when the innocent
love of her child shone louder than anything she had had in years, that moment
when her hope was restored in humanity, that moment before she heard Femi’s
voice.
‘You prostitute, where have you been?’
And the
beating began.
***
Tolulope is
still with Femi. She doesn’t think she is good enough for anyone. She would not
risk being alone and a single mother just because she gets a few slaps. After all,
she brought it on herself for fornicating and giving birth to a child outside
wedlock. She deserves all she was getting.
Tolulope’s
friends begged her to leave Femi. They tried to remind her that she is a
beautiful 27 year old woman who would make any man lucky to have her. Many women
give birth out of wedlock and STILL marry great guys. Tolulope always has one
answer: ‘I love Femi. He will change soon’.
Her uncle
(brother in-law) is still mad he wasn’t the one to take her virginity. He had
been eyeing her since she was 11 and it irked him that he allowed his church
leadership prevent him from giving into the temptress. He could have slept with
her and cowered her into silence. Now he would never have that.
Shayo is
still mad that her husband was attracted to her sister. Oh! He thought she didn’t
know. Her sister had always being the beautiful one and Shayo had lost whatever
claim she had to beauty when she gave birth to five children and grew very
fat. She hated her sister for tempting her husband and making him transfer his
affections to her. It wasn’t her husband’s fault what happened to Tolulope…or hers.
After all, they
were all good Christian people.
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