CHAPTER 21: MY DAUGHTER'SFUTURE (A WEAKNESS CALLED LOVE :MEMOIRS OF AN AFRICAN HOUSEMAID )

Kandala was unaware of what was happening. She was busy washing a pot, when she decided she needed more ash to scrub. She went to where her firewood stand was. She heard soft sobs. At first she taught her ears were playing tricks on her. But the sobs continued. She walked to their reception (zaure). She held the most disgusting site. There was Malam Dogo, his shorts pulled down, he was on top of Zakiyya, he cuffed her small hands in his large ones. He was busy, and did not hear Kandala. Kandala shouted. He tried to shush but She carried a stick that was beside them and started hitting him, while she cried, wailed and shouted for help.

Malam Dogo managed to escape and ran away. Kandala, took her two kids and set out for her in laws house. She was too shaken to explain what had happened. She was speaking incoherently. After a few minutes, she regained her composure and narrated what had happened. Enraged, her father and brothers in law, set out for Malam Dogo's house.

Malam Dogo was in his room, when they barged into the house and straight into his room.one of the men seized  and dragged him outside the room where he met the angry and intimidating eyes ofvMalam Murtala. The other men slapped him. Malam Dogo said nothing. He looked at the father in law and addressed him

"Malam Murtala forgive me, the devil took over any reason I have left. It is the work of Satan. Please, I beg of you."

He crawled to where Malam Murtala (the father in law) was standing and held his leg, weeping he continued

" Please Malam Murtala, shroud me from this shame just as God shrouded you from any shame. Absolve me, you have always been an understanding and kind man, extend that kindness to me.do not expose me .please" he pleaded

Malam Murtala Said nothing. Zaliha came running and asking what is wrong and what had happened. One of the men around said:

"you vile husband molested zakiyyah"

She turned to Malam Dogo, waiting for an explanation. But he only said
:
"Please forgive me, I did it for all of us. It was suppose to make me rich."

Zaliha dropped the calabash that she was holding and put both of her hands on her head crying and saying:

" Dogo you have shamed us. Why? I did not expect this even from you. Being a looser was okay but a paedophile, why. You have ruined us. Do you hate us that much. Why have you shamed your family. While all we ever do is love and support you. If people know, nobody will ever marry from our family. We will be shunned and disgraced."

Her son's have already gathered around.

She turn to Malam Murtala:
"Please sir, do not disgrace us. Do not punish us for his vile actions. Forgive him. If people ever find out we will be shunned forever. Have mercy on us. I beg you. Do what ever you think is right to him, but please don't expose him. I know what he did is despicable, but he is part of me, one does not cut off his arm just because its smelling. Please Malam Murtala, for the sake of God not for us. Be merciful to us and God will be merciful to you"
All of Malam Dogo's kids kept begging Malam Murtala.

Malam Murtala was in thought. He was one of those few men that were bestowed with wisdom and far sightedness.He wanted to make Malam Dogo pay. But, there was his grand daughter. He had to think of her.  She was the most important person in this case. She had had enough, she deserves better. it will be better for everyone to keep quiet otherwise she will be shunned. Nobody in town will ever marry her. She will be stigmatized. Her future will be very difficult if someone ever found out. Girls like her were never excused. They were Like a taboo. It will be in his granddaughter's interest not to talk of the incidence ever again.

Malam Murtala finally spoke:

" I will forgive you, but do not come near my grandchildren again. Nobody will know of this, except if you tell them yourself. Talk at your peril."
He was angry at what he had to do.
But it was the best thing for his granddaughter.

They thanked him profusely. Malam Murtala and his escorts went back home.

Malam Murtala called Kandala and said:
"Kandala, you have to be patient. I thought of the best way to deal with this and I concluded, it is better we do not speak of it to anyone. True Malam Dogo deserves to be punished but I love my granddaughter more. I had to think of her first. Think about your daughter's future. Be patient Kandala. Take care of your daughter. Know that whatever happens is predestined. It is written in the book decrees. It could not have been evaded. Do not blame yourself. It is nobody's fault. Take the path of our prophets, they were all patient when calamity befall them and God rewarded them amply. Calamities do not befall us because God does not Love us, no! They are only a test of Faith. Be firm Kandala so that we can all pass this test.
In the evening Dogo's son will bring some drugs for Zakiyyah. You will stay In this house until your husband comes. I have called him already."

In the evening Malam Dogo's son brought paracetamol, dettol antiseptic and vital c for Zakiyya.

Kandala and her children stayed in the family house and waited for Zakiyya's father Hamisu to come back. When he came, his father explained all that have happened and ordered him to move Kandala and her children into the family house, for protection. He made Hamisu give up his job in the town, so as to give his family undevided attention. He further gifted him a piece of land to farm.

Zakiyya's father Hamisu complied. They were moved back to the house.

Kandala's sister Husna came to visit her, against Malam murtala's advise, Kandala told her everything.

Her sister, told her she knew people who will help them. She continued:

"In the next two days, tell your in laws I am sick and that you will like to visit me. Leave your children with them and come to my place. We will then go the bigger village, Rambu village. There I know a woman who is part of a vigilante group. The vigilante group will help us. They deal with cases like this all the time."

They said their goodbyes and Husna left.

After a few days Kandala did as she was told. She went to Husna's house and they went to the woman who was a member of the vigilante group. These vigilante groups were the people who have direct access to the police.

Villagers like us fear the police. The police are a source of evil and injustice, It is better to avoid them at all cost. Disputes were settled by our village heads. Small villages like mine do not have police, neither do they have police stations. One has to travel to the larger towns which were recognised as Local Government Areas. But there are vigilante groups who occasionally come into small villages. These vigilante groups were people from those Local Government Areas and bigger Villages.

They went to the woman who was suppose to help them. They went to her house. The mud house was plastered with cement and it had aluminium roofing. The house have a courtyard. It further had 5 rooms and two toilets, one was for bathing and The other for answering the call of nature. The five rooms were occupied by different families. Each room were rented for a fee.

When they entered The house, they met the important woman in the courtyard, sitting on a carved stool made from the trunk of a big tree. They exchanged pleasantries. Then Husna said to Kandala
" I had already told her about the case, over to you. As the wise people say " a song from the mouth of the author is more pleasing to the ear."

Kandala was more ashamed than ever. She bowed and started stammering.
The woman, Jamila said

" Hajiya, like we say in English 'matter no joking por work and shy'"

When she saw how clueless and lost the two women were,
She smiled at her professionalism and wittiness and explained in hausa language

" it means in our line of work, we have to take things serious and there is no room for Shame' so, speak up, otherwise, I cannot help you."

It took Kandala all the courage in the world to speak up. In great shame, She explained everything briefly and poorly to the woman. Avoiding eyecontact at all cost.

Jamila said " this is a grave matter, but this is what our group specialise in. I will inform my fellow members tomorrow and we will tell you What to do next, but we will help you, we have solved cases like yours before. "

Kandala looked at the woman for the first time, Jamila is a woman in her late thirties or early fourtees. It was Hard to tell her completion, she was almost white, but have traces of black in part of her face. She is a very bold woman.

Kandala then said

" thank you very much for your help. Will my daughter's name be cleared? "

"Of course, if not what is the essence of this. Like I said, we have resolved cases like this and have brought men like this monster to justice. Leave everything to us"
Relieved, they thanked the woman and left.

Exactly two weeks after this incident, Asabe came running to kandala's house, she simply yelled

" Malam Dogo is being arrested by some police men, they came with Husna, your sister, come quickly"

Everybody in the household ran immediately to see the drama. Kandala was the fore runner.

On reaching to Malam Dogo's house, Kandala met Jamila and 2 other women, with police officers who were dragging Malam Dogo forcefully. Husna was watching with victory written over her contented face.

The police were saying 'molester, child abuser, today you shall meet  justice'

The  two other women and Jamila were hurling insults at him.

" they lie, I have done nothing. On my honour I will never touch a girl. I have a wife for Godsake, I have daughters, why will I do something I wouldn't like to be done on my daughters"

Zaliha followed saying
"Listen, he did no such thing, I know my husband and what he is capable of doing"

One of the police officers replied
" save it for the station"

They dragged him into a police van and drove off.
People now gather around Kandala, asking for more information. She was more that happy to narrate the incidence to them. They we exclaiming "oh my God, what an animal"

Malam Murtala was at the scene, he just looked at Kandala, a look that needed no words and walked back home.