THE UNSEEN TEARS OF A YOUNG AFRICAN WOMAN

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Prologue:

She is young, she is beautiful, educated and smart.
She walks with such comeliness and grace but• • • she feels LOST.

20th October, 2020.

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It was past 6pm already, and Ade hadn't called her still. She kept staring at her phone she held firmly in her hands as if that will make it ring.

"Ade !! Not again" she whispered almost in an hush tone.

This is the eleventh time since their relationship they would be fixing a date without him showing up. No calls, no text, no explanation whatsoever, he just goes AWOL.
They have been dating for three months.

She was scared to call him, as Ade has warned her severally about beeping his phone unnecessarily.. The last time things didn't go well, so she lacked the fits for any more drama.

Maybe he is stucked in traffic, she assured herself and tried watching a movie series to keep her thoughts away.

Going through her library, she settled for 'Jenifa's diary' a funny Nigerian series, but still this series that always got her rolling the floor from the very start turned her into a 'mongol'.
Nothing appeared funny this time as she fixed her eyes on the screens without blinking• • •

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Before 20th October, 2020.

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[Scene opens in a typical Nigerian home, Baba Ajala is sitted in the living room with his wife, Iya and their first daughter, Yemisi having talk]

"Err my daughter, Yemisi, as our elders would say, there is no bush without fire" Baba Ajala began"

"That is why we have called you"...Her father was saying before Iya interrupted.

"Two years, Ahh Ye-mi-si, she stressed in the yoruba pattern, two years since you came back from NYSC and you have not gotten yourself a husband, Heiiiiiiii olorun ma je oooooooo"

She knelt on their terrazzo floor, and began chanting " God please, don't let my enemies laugh at me, do-n't.."

"Mu-mmmy" Yemisi cut her short, obviously disgusted by all the display.

"Mummy, what is it na, when the time is right God will bless me with a husband of my own"

"Will you shut up there, silly child, what do you know, see, i married your father at 18, gave him six children, see let me tell you, my mother saw my children before she died, so i must see my grand children too, she burst out uncontrollably in tears"

"Please mummy, don't cry, i will marry, i will marry, Yemisi consoled her mother who was already had her hands up in the air crying"

"Marry o, Baba Ajala concurred, see the pains you are putting us through, you are the first daughter, do not disgrace us, all the children in your age group have two children already and you are here talking about doing Masters, furthering education, bla bla bla, let me not hear that nonsense again."

"Yes sir", Yemisi responded walking out, trying to wrap her head around all of it. Her parents cease every opportunity to bring up this discussion and she was sick of it! tired!! exhausted !!!

Main reason why she moved out of the family house in the first place to her 'tiny little heaven' in Osogbo at least she could breathe there, the pressure was too concentrated

" what do i do dear Lord??? she screamed aloud. At 22, i still want to further my education.

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Back to the present day

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"Phone rings"

"Hello babe, Ade said dryly"

"My love, Yemisi replied anxiously, are you at the door?"

"Door? No! I am out with the boys, i can't make it"

"B-uttt Ade" Yemisi stammered

(Ade hangs up)

Yemisi throws herself on the bed soaked in tears, her makeup forming a colour palette on her face, she didn't deserve this kind of treatment but Ade was her only hope, at least he had given her an engagement necklace last month, so soon, she would be MRS

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The future

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Yemisi and Ade had tied the knots nuptially.
Ade is wayward, uncaring, lazy and insensitive, even worst a wife batterer.

Yemisi is wearied, weak, emotionally and physically bruised, unhappy, to make matters worse saddled as the bread winner • • •

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Postscript:

This is a facade of the challenges a young girl, Yemisi faces in the society, from family on the heated pressure to get married as it is with many young African women.

This issue needs to be revisited as it has done havoc and decayed promising dreams of young women.

Parents please, be guided !!

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Translations of strange words used:

NYSC - An abreviation for National Youth Service
Corps. A compulsory youth service call
for graduates in Nigeria.

Olorun maje - A yoruba word, meaning 'God
forbid'.

Na- Vernacular word in pidgin language used for
emphasis of something said.

Well i hope you enjoyed my insightful story, if you are reading this, hugs

Appreciation to our dear community @steemwomenclub, bye for now and expect to hear more from me, best regards @sikan-eyen 📝