Chapter 41 : Lahibu (A Weakness Called Love :Memoirs Of An African Housemaid )
For Lahibu a herculean task lies ahead of her. For how could she sway Dauda from his devoted habit, yes Asabe was a bad habit he needs to be ridden of. Lahibu was poorly equipped for such task. She was one of those girls that was always loved the least. The girls that were never noticed, the girls easily forgotten. She was loved the least in her family, not because she was bad or reckless or daring but because of her lack of peculiarity. She was too basic to be noticed. It wasn’t her looks that were the problem. Lahibu is not ugly but she is not beautiful either. She is neither tall nor short. She was of medium girth.
Every slip, omission or mistake she made was taken to heart and was exaggerated. It was as if she wasn’t lovable. Nevertheless, Lahibu was not a quitter she always fought to be noticed, not a single failure deterred her. She kept hoping and hoping. She persevered. Perhaps her marriage to Dauda will finally pay off at last.
Asabe had been very mean to her. She will come out and insult Lahibu using innuendos. When Lahibu sweeps, she makes sure she walks everywhere so she will disrupt her work. Sometimes she will kick some of the dirt backwards and will say “looks like you have a long way to go”.
Lahibu ignored her and was patient with her, afterall she is the mother of Dauda's children. Sometimes she sings songs that insults Lahibu’s fathers profession. Lahibu's father is a butcher. In our lands butcher’s are looked down on.
When its Lahibu turn to be with Dauda, Asabe will pretend to be sick, or she will claim one of her kids is sick. She will say she needs Dauda’s attention. Women who share a husband take turns to be with The husband. Usually a two day rotation is done. The other day after Lahibu had finished cooking, Asabe went to where she kept Dauda food and smeared the food with salt. When Dauda tasted the food, he spat it out and scolded Lahibu. Lahibu swore she had tasted the food and the food was okay. One of the kids saw Asabe coming out of the kitchen and he told on her. When confronted Asabe denied everything, she even had tears in her eyes.
She further exclaimed “I took Lahibu in with an open heart, I know in the beginning I was not on broad, but your holy matrimony changed everything for me. Lahibu is not my competitor, she is a junior sister to me, who I feel is my blood and flesh. For her to suspect me of this, really hurts me. I will never do anything to harm her in any way”
Dauda believed Asabe.
Lahibu had been a great wife. She cooked, cleaned and takes care of her husband with devotion.
I was outside singing one of those sweet romantic songs while Lahibu sweeping the compound. Asabe, the trouble maker came outside. Seeing Lahibu made her angry. She kicked the dirt to the already swept place Lahibu had already laboured. Lahibu remained silent. Asabe changed strategy and delved on indirect verbal abuse.
“all my life I had always been everybody’s favourite, my mother’s, my father’s and my husband’s. I had always been bestowed with this character that draws people to me. Some women can’t even attract cockroaches or flies. They are just bad luck. Just the plague everybody avoids, what sort of a child gets rejected by his own mother! I tell you what he is called ‘a tragedy’”
Lahibu looked hurt. Cleary Asabe had hit a nerve.
" at least my mother loves me, She is not ashamed of me. " Asabe sang.
Tired of Asabes constant harassment Lahibh asked
"Who’s mother doesn’t?"
"Yours" Asabe replied flatly
Happy that she had hit a nerve, she continued
" You are not her dream child, she tolerates you because she feels she is stuck with you. Give her another option she will take it, even if the child is a midget she will have them rather than you, has She ever for once sang your praise? No! Because you are just someone whom God has made your paths entwined. She considers you as one of God's test that she has to endure to gain reward. Nothing more. Who can ever love someone that his own mother forsaken?! Dauda only married you to make a fool of you. It is all a game he and I concocted. I see you are becoming too comfortable. I can end this stupid game anytime because honestly I am becoming bored, you are not a challenge at all. You are ...."
She was cut mid sentence with a heavy blow from Lahibu's muscular arms.
Asabe got the beating of her life while we all cheered. Watching the fight was exhilarating,
As fate will have it, Rakiya made her way in to the house at that very moment, she was the one who ended the interesting fight, she is such a kill joy. I don't blame her though, she and her husband are people afflicted with poor judgement and daftness. I am not being mean, all the people in the village acknowledge this. Only a brainsick person will insist his girl child go to a conventional School. Not all male children were taken to these western schools but they insist their daughter must go. It is believed that those who go to these type of schools don’t make it to heaven. It will be a miracle to find one who will repent and leave the evil ways of this so called western civilization. But they have sworn that their daughter must finish school by all means. The elder sister finance the younger daughter's studies by working in town. How tragic!
Asabe paced tirelessly and with bitterness. Her crushed ego adding to her humiliation. She never thought Lahibu can lay a finger on her. Alas! she was wrong because she did. I guess all people have their limits outside of which they cannot stretch. she swore, she hurled insults while she waited for Dauda. She was sure Dauda was going to divorce Lahibu for her misdeeds.
She shouted while she paced "today you go back to your father's house as a divorced woman, shamed!!!"
"This, is your last day as a married woman, you mark my words. Nobody, touches Dauda's Asabe and gets away with it "
She Waited for Dauda eagerly and bitterly. Today he must divorce Lahibu for she has crossed the line and there was no going back. She paced to and fro and kicked a small pebble on the ground. She was angry and hurt, but she knew Dauda will do the right thing. She also knew Dauda protects her no matter what.
When Dauda came back Asabe burst into tears and threw herself to the ground. She said
“today your wife had not only physically abused the mother of your kids, but had also insulted you in you absence. She Sat on me and hit me in front of everyone”
remembering the humiliation she went through, the helplessness she felt under Lahibu as Lahibu physically assault her, Her lost dignity made Asabe weeped like a bereaved. Tears of anguish forever flowing.
Her tear smeared face taunting Dauda to act.
Dauda called Lahibu to hear Her version of the story. Lahibu told him exactly what happened. Witnesses were called who retold lahibu’s version of the story.
Dauda kept quite for a while, he looked at Asabe compassionately. Then he did the unthinkable. He said
“Lahibu, I do not condone physical violence in my house. This will be your first and last. Apologize to Asabe. Then all of you can retreat to your rooms”
In between sobs Asabe suddenly became quite and dumbfounded, forgetting her ego and the tears she was shedding.
Suddenly, recovering from the shock she exclaimed “she is not divorced! She hit me and she stays. This is injustice” she stormed out wailing.
It was at this moment that Asabe’s young son told me someone wanted to see me outside our house. My heart knew it was him. For how wouldn’t it sense the presence of the man it crave? I quickly put my veil and head for the door. I would not dare make my future husband wait.
After my betrothal to Mudi, they was nothing holding me back in the village. There was no time to waste. We needed to raise money so I can be married as soon as possible. I will be going back to town in the next two days. Shatu was beside herself with excitement. She couldn’t wait to go. I was just happy. Nothing seem to annoy me. This morning when Likitas younger brother stepped on my foot, i only laughed and said “bless you” my normal reaction will have been a smack on his head, but these are happy times and joyous moments.
Today is one of the most important days of my life. Today I will meet my beloved knowing I am betrothed to him. Shatu had already told me that when she met Mudi in the market he said he was visiting in the night. To say goodbye to his future bride before she goes back to town. I was restless and excited. memories of our voyage of love invaded my thought, I could still remember the first smile he gave me, the first touch and the first declaration of love. Destiny has bonded us together. Soon we will also be bonded in the sacred institute of marriage. Shatu came for moral support that night.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, my giddy smile turning to a sensual half smile, my whole demeanour turning to that of a sensual woman. I stepped out hips swaying fluidly, like waves I glided towards the man who claimed my heart. I stopped a few steps away from him, hiding behind an old oak tree whose width was enough to cover almost all of me, I peeked from behind the tree to flash him a bright inviting smile.
His dark eyes followed my movement until I disappeared behind the tree. soon the sound of heavy footsteps followed me but immediately he stood in front of me. I darted behind the other Side of the tree playfully before peeking innocently at him which caused him to release a rumbling rueful laugh followed by a cheerful one of my own.
“Peace be upon the beholder of astounding beauty, kindness and virtue, your blessings have no bound, oh! you the very blood that makes my heartbeat.”
He called as his gaze found me, and from his words I was a goner. With new enthusiasm I walked towards him our eyes Locked on the other until I stopped.
He flashed me a dazzling grin which made my heart pound too hard I had to look away, my shy gaze found my dwindling fingers.
“May I be allowed by you, the every queen in the sacred kingdom of my heart to speak a few words?” HE ASKED ever the perfect romantic gentleman.
Not trusting my voice I nodded my head peeking at him from my nude lashes.
“I couldn’t help but seek you out the sun in my heart to see your face and bask in the glory of the knowledge that this whole ethereal beauty is mine as I am hers”
He said purposely speaking low which made his voice a majestic deep rumble.
Our discussion was brief but passionate. Half the discussions were made with the heart.
We fell silent for a brief moment. Our eyes finding each other, locked in an endless gaze. Longingly, i devoured his face with my eyes, wishing I could have the pleasure of feeling his mocha black skin on my fingers, or feeling the warmth of his manly calloused hands on my skin that will soon be his forever. but I succumb to the endless torture of having him so close yet denying myself the pleasure of the warmth of his touch or the pleasure of holding his hands. I craved his touch, i wished he will just touch me, even if it is a simple caress. Then I cursed myself for that sinful thought. Ashamed of my unholy inclinations I dropped my gaze.
Mudi told me that our wedding may be in the next 3months. We said our goodbyes.
When he turn to leave I stopped him, I wished I could run and steal an embrace from him, it took every once of self control I have left to deny myself that sinful pleasure, he turned around waiting for me to speak, i can feel myself getting emotional, so I chose two simple words to express myself.
“thank you” I finally say
“for what?” he asks
“for existing” was all I could say.
“I’m yours my love, its like being thankful to yourself” he said playfully
“regardless, I’m fortunate to have met someone like you, Privilege to date you and favoured among Mankind to be betrothed to you” shyness envelopes me as I let my lips reveal the truth in my heart. I looked away and covered my face with my henna painted fingers.
That night I stayed awake not because of anxiety or grief out of sheer joy. I slept feeling loved and chosen.
________________
Every slip, omission or mistake she made was taken to heart and was exaggerated. It was as if she wasn’t lovable. Nevertheless, Lahibu was not a quitter she always fought to be noticed, not a single failure deterred her. She kept hoping and hoping. She persevered. Perhaps her marriage to Dauda will finally pay off at last.
Asabe had been very mean to her. She will come out and insult Lahibu using innuendos. When Lahibu sweeps, she makes sure she walks everywhere so she will disrupt her work. Sometimes she will kick some of the dirt backwards and will say “looks like you have a long way to go”.
Lahibu ignored her and was patient with her, afterall she is the mother of Dauda's children. Sometimes she sings songs that insults Lahibu’s fathers profession. Lahibu's father is a butcher. In our lands butcher’s are looked down on.
When its Lahibu turn to be with Dauda, Asabe will pretend to be sick, or she will claim one of her kids is sick. She will say she needs Dauda’s attention. Women who share a husband take turns to be with The husband. Usually a two day rotation is done. The other day after Lahibu had finished cooking, Asabe went to where she kept Dauda food and smeared the food with salt. When Dauda tasted the food, he spat it out and scolded Lahibu. Lahibu swore she had tasted the food and the food was okay. One of the kids saw Asabe coming out of the kitchen and he told on her. When confronted Asabe denied everything, she even had tears in her eyes.
She further exclaimed “I took Lahibu in with an open heart, I know in the beginning I was not on broad, but your holy matrimony changed everything for me. Lahibu is not my competitor, she is a junior sister to me, who I feel is my blood and flesh. For her to suspect me of this, really hurts me. I will never do anything to harm her in any way”
Dauda believed Asabe.
Lahibu had been a great wife. She cooked, cleaned and takes care of her husband with devotion.
I was outside singing one of those sweet romantic songs while Lahibu sweeping the compound. Asabe, the trouble maker came outside. Seeing Lahibu made her angry. She kicked the dirt to the already swept place Lahibu had already laboured. Lahibu remained silent. Asabe changed strategy and delved on indirect verbal abuse.
“all my life I had always been everybody’s favourite, my mother’s, my father’s and my husband’s. I had always been bestowed with this character that draws people to me. Some women can’t even attract cockroaches or flies. They are just bad luck. Just the plague everybody avoids, what sort of a child gets rejected by his own mother! I tell you what he is called ‘a tragedy’”
Lahibu looked hurt. Cleary Asabe had hit a nerve.
" at least my mother loves me, She is not ashamed of me. " Asabe sang.
Tired of Asabes constant harassment Lahibh asked
"Who’s mother doesn’t?"
"Yours" Asabe replied flatly
Happy that she had hit a nerve, she continued
" You are not her dream child, she tolerates you because she feels she is stuck with you. Give her another option she will take it, even if the child is a midget she will have them rather than you, has She ever for once sang your praise? No! Because you are just someone whom God has made your paths entwined. She considers you as one of God's test that she has to endure to gain reward. Nothing more. Who can ever love someone that his own mother forsaken?! Dauda only married you to make a fool of you. It is all a game he and I concocted. I see you are becoming too comfortable. I can end this stupid game anytime because honestly I am becoming bored, you are not a challenge at all. You are ...."
She was cut mid sentence with a heavy blow from Lahibu's muscular arms.
Asabe got the beating of her life while we all cheered. Watching the fight was exhilarating,
As fate will have it, Rakiya made her way in to the house at that very moment, she was the one who ended the interesting fight, she is such a kill joy. I don't blame her though, she and her husband are people afflicted with poor judgement and daftness. I am not being mean, all the people in the village acknowledge this. Only a brainsick person will insist his girl child go to a conventional School. Not all male children were taken to these western schools but they insist their daughter must go. It is believed that those who go to these type of schools don’t make it to heaven. It will be a miracle to find one who will repent and leave the evil ways of this so called western civilization. But they have sworn that their daughter must finish school by all means. The elder sister finance the younger daughter's studies by working in town. How tragic!
Asabe paced tirelessly and with bitterness. Her crushed ego adding to her humiliation. She never thought Lahibu can lay a finger on her. Alas! she was wrong because she did. I guess all people have their limits outside of which they cannot stretch. she swore, she hurled insults while she waited for Dauda. She was sure Dauda was going to divorce Lahibu for her misdeeds.
She shouted while she paced "today you go back to your father's house as a divorced woman, shamed!!!"
"This, is your last day as a married woman, you mark my words. Nobody, touches Dauda's Asabe and gets away with it "
She Waited for Dauda eagerly and bitterly. Today he must divorce Lahibu for she has crossed the line and there was no going back. She paced to and fro and kicked a small pebble on the ground. She was angry and hurt, but she knew Dauda will do the right thing. She also knew Dauda protects her no matter what.
When Dauda came back Asabe burst into tears and threw herself to the ground. She said
“today your wife had not only physically abused the mother of your kids, but had also insulted you in you absence. She Sat on me and hit me in front of everyone”
remembering the humiliation she went through, the helplessness she felt under Lahibu as Lahibu physically assault her, Her lost dignity made Asabe weeped like a bereaved. Tears of anguish forever flowing.
Her tear smeared face taunting Dauda to act.
Dauda called Lahibu to hear Her version of the story. Lahibu told him exactly what happened. Witnesses were called who retold lahibu’s version of the story.
Dauda kept quite for a while, he looked at Asabe compassionately. Then he did the unthinkable. He said
“Lahibu, I do not condone physical violence in my house. This will be your first and last. Apologize to Asabe. Then all of you can retreat to your rooms”
In between sobs Asabe suddenly became quite and dumbfounded, forgetting her ego and the tears she was shedding.
Suddenly, recovering from the shock she exclaimed “she is not divorced! She hit me and she stays. This is injustice” she stormed out wailing.
It was at this moment that Asabe’s young son told me someone wanted to see me outside our house. My heart knew it was him. For how wouldn’t it sense the presence of the man it crave? I quickly put my veil and head for the door. I would not dare make my future husband wait.
After my betrothal to Mudi, they was nothing holding me back in the village. There was no time to waste. We needed to raise money so I can be married as soon as possible. I will be going back to town in the next two days. Shatu was beside herself with excitement. She couldn’t wait to go. I was just happy. Nothing seem to annoy me. This morning when Likitas younger brother stepped on my foot, i only laughed and said “bless you” my normal reaction will have been a smack on his head, but these are happy times and joyous moments.
Today is one of the most important days of my life. Today I will meet my beloved knowing I am betrothed to him. Shatu had already told me that when she met Mudi in the market he said he was visiting in the night. To say goodbye to his future bride before she goes back to town. I was restless and excited. memories of our voyage of love invaded my thought, I could still remember the first smile he gave me, the first touch and the first declaration of love. Destiny has bonded us together. Soon we will also be bonded in the sacred institute of marriage. Shatu came for moral support that night.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, my giddy smile turning to a sensual half smile, my whole demeanour turning to that of a sensual woman. I stepped out hips swaying fluidly, like waves I glided towards the man who claimed my heart. I stopped a few steps away from him, hiding behind an old oak tree whose width was enough to cover almost all of me, I peeked from behind the tree to flash him a bright inviting smile.
His dark eyes followed my movement until I disappeared behind the tree. soon the sound of heavy footsteps followed me but immediately he stood in front of me. I darted behind the other Side of the tree playfully before peeking innocently at him which caused him to release a rumbling rueful laugh followed by a cheerful one of my own.
“Peace be upon the beholder of astounding beauty, kindness and virtue, your blessings have no bound, oh! you the very blood that makes my heartbeat.”
He called as his gaze found me, and from his words I was a goner. With new enthusiasm I walked towards him our eyes Locked on the other until I stopped.
He flashed me a dazzling grin which made my heart pound too hard I had to look away, my shy gaze found my dwindling fingers.
“May I be allowed by you, the every queen in the sacred kingdom of my heart to speak a few words?” HE ASKED ever the perfect romantic gentleman.
Not trusting my voice I nodded my head peeking at him from my nude lashes.
“I couldn’t help but seek you out the sun in my heart to see your face and bask in the glory of the knowledge that this whole ethereal beauty is mine as I am hers”
He said purposely speaking low which made his voice a majestic deep rumble.
Our discussion was brief but passionate. Half the discussions were made with the heart.
We fell silent for a brief moment. Our eyes finding each other, locked in an endless gaze. Longingly, i devoured his face with my eyes, wishing I could have the pleasure of feeling his mocha black skin on my fingers, or feeling the warmth of his manly calloused hands on my skin that will soon be his forever. but I succumb to the endless torture of having him so close yet denying myself the pleasure of the warmth of his touch or the pleasure of holding his hands. I craved his touch, i wished he will just touch me, even if it is a simple caress. Then I cursed myself for that sinful thought. Ashamed of my unholy inclinations I dropped my gaze.
Mudi told me that our wedding may be in the next 3months. We said our goodbyes.
When he turn to leave I stopped him, I wished I could run and steal an embrace from him, it took every once of self control I have left to deny myself that sinful pleasure, he turned around waiting for me to speak, i can feel myself getting emotional, so I chose two simple words to express myself.
“thank you” I finally say
“for what?” he asks
“for existing” was all I could say.
“I’m yours my love, its like being thankful to yourself” he said playfully
“regardless, I’m fortunate to have met someone like you, Privilege to date you and favoured among Mankind to be betrothed to you” shyness envelopes me as I let my lips reveal the truth in my heart. I looked away and covered my face with my henna painted fingers.
That night I stayed awake not because of anxiety or grief out of sheer joy. I slept feeling loved and chosen.
________________
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