TABOO

For the umpteenth time, the elements made their presence known, unleashing their anger on mankind. The thunder ferociously clapped, warning man of the enormity of its strength. The lightning, not wanting to be outdone, unrelentingly flashed its brightness. It sent shivers down the spines of the adults. The young ones scuttled under the folds of their mothers’ skirts. The pregnant women uncomfortably shifted as their tiny babies jerked within them. Something eerie and sinister smelt in the air. The feeling was unmistakable. As expected, the lights were out, adding to the blackness which was only occasionally broken by the lightning.

Suddenly, the cry of a man’s voice in agony cut through the night. The old women shook their heads and grasped their breasts. They pitied the motherhood. The men spat on the brown earth, murmuring in their throats. The cry of pain went on for a while and abruptly came to an end. Almost as a signal, the raging storm stopped, and calmness was restored. Sad but relieved, the villagers began to open their windows and doors. They smell of death hung heavily in the air.

“Asake! Asake! Asake!" Iyadunni called as she re-tied her wrapper with one hand while picking up the farming tools with the other. When she got no answer, she put them in a basket she had fetched from a corner and balanced it on her hands. The day was almost breaking, and any further delay would mean getting late to the farm. On stepping out of the hut, she met Asake patiently sitting on the stool. She was grinning from ear to ear. Pretending to be annoyed, Iyadunni playfully poked her in the shoulders.

“Maami (my mother), good morning,” Asake knelt before her mother in the traditional way the female child greet the elderly ones.

“Good morning my dear, did you sleep well?” Iyadunni asked.

 That was the usual way the greeting started. It would eventually lead to a session of eulogies. However, this morning was not to be like that as they were already running behind schedule. After helping Asake with her basket, the mother and child made their way to the farm. It was only some distance from the village of Aromire.

They trudged home after a productive day. There were baskets full of yam to show for it. Iyadunni and Asake walked side by side. The times had quickly passed. It’s truly the healer of all hurts. Asake no longer missed her father.  He would have walked behind them, hurrying both of them while appreciating the graceful steps of her mother.

“Maami,” Asake called out softly.

“Yes, my mother,” Iyadunni replied fondly.

“This news that I hear about Adewale coming home, how true is it?” she asked.

Shrugging to denote her unawareness of such rumor, Iyadunni paused to look at her daughter. The expression was not lost on Asake as she prepared herself for the inevitable speech that was to come. Why do mothers fear for their daughters so much? It was unclear to her.

“I don’t want to see you ...”Iyadunni broke off mid-sentence as Asake completed it.

“…near that good-for-nothing boy. He is not only living in the city, but it has also swallowed him up."

“Maami, I have always promised you that I will be a good girl. I will make you proud. One day, I will go to the city myself, and return with my core values intact," she promised. She wanted to appease her mother.

“I know," Iyadunni said.

A noise and girly giggles distracted both of them. The rumor was a reality. Adewale was in the village. Nobody had expected he would come back quickly. The king of the girls liked to space his visits. Something must have brought him back so soon. Bright and handsome, he was every girl’s dream. Asake wanted him, but not for the obvious reasons. Her desire to go to the city was her driving force. Aromire held nothing promising for her. She was fifteen, and suitors had started asking for her hand in marriage. She knew it would be a mistake to yield to their demands. Beautifully crafted with full hips and budding breasts, it was a short time before her mother would give in to the pressures to get her married off to one of the successful farmers. The thought repulsed her. Some of the men were old enough to be her father. Asake was aware of her beauty. She knew it was the very thing that attracted them. She won’t waste her youth on anyone. Adewale, on the other hand, could take her to the city where she would carve out a name for herself, making her mother proud. Her father would beam on her from heaven. Adewale had no choice, but to take her this time. He had said so much the last time he visited.

With such pure thoughts, she dropped the heavy basket of yam and made her way to Adetoun’s place. It was unacceptable for a woman to visit a man alone. It meant wantonness. It was an abhorred behavior, and not tolerated by both the young and old. Fetching Adetoun was not a difficult chore as the latter was already expecting the call of her friend. Giggling, they made their way to Baba Adewale’s (Adewale’s father’s) compound. The young man in question sat on a low stool in front of a hut, presumably his mother's. There were other huts belonging to the numerous wives Baba Adewale had acquired. How could a man cope with many wives? No one knows. Surrounded primarily by love-stricken ladies, the young man recounted one of his numerous city-adventures.

Rumor has it that Baba Adewale sold one of his cocoa plantations to send Adewale to the city for the formal education. It was to compensate Mama Adewale (Adewale’s Mother) for the undying love she showed him. Adewale was an exceptionally bright child. Nobody knew for sure how true the story was. The man never volunteered that information, but it was not difficult to believe. The children of the other wives were stark illiterates.

“Pon, pon, pon, pon,” the rhythm made by the pestle against the mortar could be heard in the background. These sounds were lost to Asake as she sat with Adetoun, watching Adewale.

Adewale’s heart had skipped as he set his eyes on her.  She had no idea that she was the reason behind his coming home so soon. He had tried to get her out of his mind, but that seemed like a herculean task. He had thought she wouldn’t bother to make an appearance, but his bait had apparently reined her in this time. The only thing left for him was staging his agenda to have a taste of the bud. Smiling to himself, Adewale continued to entertain them late into the night.

Most of the children had gone home, but others hung around, waiting for a dose of attention. They were like puppies before their mother. However, Adewale was not to oblige them tonight as his attention was on another. If Adetoun had completed the assignment he gave to her on his last visit to talk to her, his job would be easy. If she didn’t, he had a long way to go.

“Hello ladies, you look beautiful and radiant tonight," Adewale gushed.

“Thank you,' they chorused.

Adewale searched Asake’s face. He was looking for something. There should be a special look, batting of the eyelids, stylish pouting of the lips, shyness, avoidance of his piercing gaze, twisting of fingers, and twitching or subtle lifting of the corners of the mouth in a half-formed smile. He wanted anything that would spark a recognition and acceptance. He found none. He behaved like a man he was and hid his disappointment. Adewale offered to see the ladies off.

Sensing the note of disappointment in his voice despite his efforts, Adetoun made up her mind to arrange a meeting between the two. Even if she cannot get his attention, she would at least bask in her friend’s glory, and be content that he chose them. She had to work fast if she was to remain relevant.

Asake wanted to remind him of the promise he made during his last visit to the village. She needed to get him to talk about the city, but she said nothing. Her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth. It was getting too late, and mother would not like for her to get home late. If not for that, she would have let Adetoun go without her while she stayed back a little. However, that was an uncomely way for any Aromire lady to think. Sighing within herself, Asake bade her ticket to the city a goodnight.

She knew Adetoun would start gushing about Adewale once he was out of hearing, but was taken aback by her friend’s confession. “Adewale liked her? Not just as a friend? He wanted something she might not be willing to give?” Where did Adetoun learn all that? It sounded like one of the city-stories Adewale told them. She knew Adetoun would not let her go. So, she agreed to meet him. What are friends for, if not for the inconvenience? Asake was secretly happy. It only made her trip to the city fast. As long as she had Adewale gushing over her, she could make her demands. Fixing the meeting for two day’s time, the friends kissed each other good night.

The day finally arrived. Asake was restless and peeved. Her mother had chosen that day to send her unending errands. She wished for some of Adetoun’s stubborn streak. Then she could easily put her foot down, refusing to do any other chore. The time of the meeting drew nearer, and her agitation grew.

“What is the matter?” Iyadunni asked her daughter as she watched her silently hiss for the sixth time.

“Nothing”, Asake replied.

“Then you better stop hissing young woman, and get me the bowl of unshelled melon”, she reprimanded

Passing the bowl, Asake resigned to fate. It was impossible to tell her mother about the meeting, and she could not put her foot down. Anyway, it could always be rescheduled; Adewale was still in the village. If she could just finish this chore…Her prayer was not to be answered as the drops of rain started coming down. What a mess!

Adewale sat under the mango tree Adetoun had described to him. It was a good spot as the villagers would be back from the farm and not many feet would tread that site at that hour. He had been sitting there for a long time and was beginning to get irritated. He could have his pick of girls in Ibadan. It was the city Asake had been longing to go, but he chose to make a fool of himself over a village girl. It would be hilarious if his friends ever saw him in this situation. His patience was rewarded just as the drops of rain came down without a warning. He heard a rustle in the bush behind him as someone emerged. It was not Asake as he expected, but Adetoun. What kind of game was she playing?

“What is the meaning of this?” he asked in anger.

“I don’t know why she is taking so long,” she replied.

“What you planned together? If not, what are you doing here instead?” he tackled.

She stammered, failing to string her words into coherent sentences. Angrily, he began to walk away. He was to leave the village the following day. Thinking of the failed meeting and his intentions got him angrier. The rain came down strongly with occasional lightning. He was wet for nothing! Adetoun stumbled after him, trying to explain her presence. She had decided to see him just in case her friend failed to show up. She didn’t want him to get angry with her. At the same time, she had come as a self-appointed chaperone. She never meant to spy on them. Asake had failed to show as she had predicted. She barely caught herself from ramming into him when Adewale stopped walking and turned abruptly. Adetoun realized she was in danger when she saw the evil glint in his eyes. It was too late for her. In a bid to cover for her friend, she had left herself unguarded. Backing away, she shook her head to appeal to him. A peal of laughter came from him. It sounded inhuman. Adetoun realized it was his plan for Asake all along. She would have pushed her friend into the hands of a villain. His hands snaked around her in a swift motion she didn’t anticipate. Adewale pulled her against him, effectively stifling her cries.

Half pulling and half dragging her, Adewale located what looked like an abandoned hut to him. Adetoun shook her head. She twisted her body and jerked to obtain her freedom, but he was stronger than her. He easily overpowered her and laid her roughly on the floor. A strike of lightning showed him where he was. The abandoned hut was some sort of a shrine. He cared less, let the gods enjoy the view and moan in pleasure. He released her mouth. It was useless for her to shout. No one would hear her. A look at her face almost changed his mind, but the thought of the story he planned to tell his friends urged him to finish what he had started. It was just as well that she had on a wrapper. It made the work easy for him. He lifted it in one swift motion and got rid of other barriers. Adewale smiled to himself. He was a man after all. He thrust into her, making the dance that was both ancient and natural. Adetoun lay helplessly beneath him. She watched as he took away her pride. The clap of thunder drowned her cries.

Adewale knew he should climax in a few minutes, but he was not getting any pleasure. Instead, he felt pain which increased with each thrust. Out of agony, he cried. He tried to stop, but as one compelled, he could not. Each thrust brought agonizing cry from him. At the peak, he fell on her lifeless and instantly cold.

No one could explain what happened at the hut. It remained a mystery waiting to be unveiled. Adetoun was never the same again. She continued to live in a world where she alone understood her ramblings. The elders offered goats, chickens, and eggs at the hut. They were supposedly appeasing the god that was offended, and praying that death would not strike again.