The Trial of the Barren

By 'Bayo Fasunwon

The past haunts the present, which the future could have cured today. Yemisi is on the verge of emotional destruction through the medical revelation of her infertility, an outcome of an abortion in her teenage years. Tade, her husband, is torn between being faithful to his repentant wife and going back to his fruitful old flame, Dupe. The intrigues, plots, and manipulations that follow put Yemisi, the barren, on lifes trials. Can she win the battle against culture?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Jan 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482804881

'Bayo Fasunwon

‘Bayo Fasunwon is a scholar and passionate artist who expresses his thoughts through different genres of creative arts: poetry, plays, novelletes, scriptwriting, and movie productions. He also holds a doctorate in political science. He teaches at the Department of Political Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

T he high pitch laughter was unmistakably Taiwo – the first’s. She could recognize it anywhere, and at anytime. She has had the voice since the day she arrived on planet Earth. Her shrilling announcement of her arrival had woken up all the other infants in the nursery. Now, she knew, her laughter or is it scream could only have been provoked by her online chat, through Skype, with her hubby who is currently on a six months training in New York.

Such was the case, no communication gap, when she was also in Johannesburg in pursuit of her Masters degree. They were chatting on either Mobile phones, Viber, Whatsapp, or Skype. Their thoughts and pictures were always being exchanged via facebook, instagram, twitter, email or yahoo messenger. ‘What a lucky generation’, Yemisi thought.

In her days, not very far from the present, the means of communication were restricted to letters, which sometimes got missing or arrived too late, or analogue telephone lines with its attendant hiccups. ‘If only there were better means of communication like those available to this generation, in her time, maybe, just maybe, her marital story would have been written differently, and more joyfully’, Yemisi could not help thinking as Taiwo continued in her online conversation. ‘This generation may never know the value of internet connectivity’, she concluded.

With her eyes closed, she rested her head against the softness of the Sofa’s armrest, and took a deep breath. She counted from one to ten and exhaled the air with gusto. There and then, she went back in time; yesterday came to meet today.

CHAPTER ONE

T he wall clock gave out a beautiful melody announcing that it was already twelve in the night. She sighed for the umpteenth time since she came to the bedroom. Try as hard as she could, sleep eluded her. The burden on Yemisi’s heart was so heavy that all other worries seemed like comparing a bag of feathers to another bad load of lead. She was extremely troubled.

The bed on which she lay was a large one, covered with a beautiful white linen, attractive and inviting for a good night rest. A massive built-in wardrobe stood facing the beautiful bed. Therein lay her beautiful clothes and Tade’s immaculate wears. Arranged side by side were their wedding outfits. It has been there, untouched for the past seven years.

Also, quite a few meters away from the wardrobe, but equally facing the bed though alternately, was a twenty inches colored Shaisho Television mounted on a stand. Beneath it were a video and disc players, beside which were compact discs and videotapes neatly arranged. The bedroom was rugged from wall with a soft Bukhara rug. A mercury fluorescent bulb was at its best while a combined compact disc and cassette player, placed very close to the bed for easy access was unusually silent that night.

As she looked around the room blankly, her eyes fell upon the wardrobe and they suddenly felt alive. She fastened her gaze upon it and remembered their wedding day, seven years ago. That day, she had been very happy, the happiest person on Earth. Today however, her sadness and grief knows no bounds. For seven years, there had been no issues, not even a conception that gave way to miscarriage. For this reason, her mother-in-law had come to have a frank talk with her son, Tade - her husband.

That morning, mother and son had quarreled because of her. In defiance to her mother’s wish, Tade, who has been a regenerated and an uncompromising Christian of some years, refused to marry another woman and would not even concede to his wife going to the village for ‘care’. Yemisi remembered that her mother-in-law had concluded that her son had been fed with a love potion. Hence, she had packed her bag and left for the village in anger. ‘Poor Tade,’ Yemisi thought, ‘if only he knows the truth’.

The truth is bitter, yet it must be told. She knew the consequences her confessions might bring, but she was tired of playing this double game of hide and seek. She had practiced it now for the past ten years and she could go no further. ‘Let the consequences be dammed, let God take the glory while the devil takes the insults’. With these thoughts going through her heart, she awaited her husband who had gone for a night vigil. He had kissed her goodbye with a promise to write in a prayer request for her since she had complained of tiredness. Saturday morning would be the Saint Valentine’s day. What a day to reveal secrets and truth, she could not help thinking.

At three thirty, in the early hours of the morning, Tade a young man of twenty-eight let himself in with his extra key, visibly tired. He gently turned the doorknob of the bedroom door and walked in gently so as not to rouse his wife whom he thought would be asleep. She however turned around to his surprise and welcomed him. He answered her with surprise clearly written on his face. Smiling, he got into his pyjamas and went under the bed covers to sleep beside his wife.

Happy valentine’s Day, he said as he planted a kiss on her lips and pulling her closer, fell asleep with her head placed on his chest. He was very tired.

The Sun had already risen up from the east before Tade and Yemisi, who had slept after resolving to tell the whole truth woke up from slumber. They started the day as usual, each helping the other keep the house spick and span. While Yemisi was busy packing their picnic bag, Tade whistling a chorus to himself was also getting their beachwear’s ready. They had planned to have a very nice time at Eleko Beach in order to celebrate and enjoy the Valentine’s Day. As he worked on the Beachwear he remembered that his wife had told him earlier that she had a confession to make that day. He kept himself occupied in his mental laboratory guessing what the confession would be. Try as hard as he could, he could not get it and the Holy Spirit also kept him in suspense.

At exactly nine O’clock, they drove out of the number ten, Mastermind crescent, in Yemisi’s sleek Daewoo Racer with Tade at the wheels. While they listened to Kunle Ajayi’s ‘Millennium Reflection’, little was said in between them. They had driven for close to an hour when he remembered the prophecy that came at the vigil, in the previous night. He explained that until then, he could not understand it in full. Thus, in between them, they forgot their different thoughts and tried to decode the prophecy, which in fact was a parable. By the time they succeeded at their task, they were already at Eleko Beach.

They had a swell time at the beach where they met other brothers who had also come to enjoy themselves. After a while, they separated from their friends, and retired under a tent where they unpacked their lunch bags.

While they were busy munching their sandwiches, he took a long look at the blue sea as the tides caused the waves to rise and fall.

This God is a very good God. A master planner, he said.

"Why did you say that? She asked following her husband’s gaze.

Look at how he created all these beautiful things for us, mere dust, to enjoy.

That is quite right my dear. More than anything, it reveals how much He loved man, good and bad alike.

You know something else my dear? he asked looking at his wife and the latter also gave him a questioning look.

I sometimes wonder what Heaven would really look life if this sinful earth could still be as beautiful as this

Hm m, that seems unimaginable but remember that the bible says that what eyes have not seen, what ears have not heard and what the mind could not even conceive is what the Lord has prepared for us.

Very correct dear, I can remember that one philosopher said that what we see now is just a counterfeit or just an edifice to represent what we have in heaven. I wonder how beautiful you would turn out to be when eventually you get over there, Tade replied with smiles as he looked at his beautiful wife.

She could not help smiling as she touched his nose with her forefinger.

How handsome you would also be, is also beyond imagination. But remember that there would no marriage in Heaven.

He laughed and put his arm round her shoulders and pulled her closer to himself. Don’t worry about that, I would be content with just sitting by your side and seeing your beautiful face in Heaven. She smiled, loving him the more.

With his arm still in place, he brought out an envelope and handed it over to Yemisi. On the back was inscribed the words "for you, dearest one". She took it and being encouraged by his smiles, proceeded to open it. Quietly and gently, she tore off the seal that held the envelope and brought out the hidden treasure. It was a beautiful home made card. The outside donning a black background was adorned with ribbons and flowers. Written in gold were the words. "This is to celebrate my love for you" and a love emblem was immaculately drawn at the back and in the middle of it lay a picture taken some seven years ago- that of their wedding. She forgot herself and clung to his neck in ecstasy. Her shout of joy attracted passers-by, but who cares? Tade was happy, that the card pleased his wife. It had taken him three weeks to produce that beautiful piece. His labours were quite forgotten as his wife planted a deep passionate and romantic kiss on his lips. He looked forward to a better night ahead.

Slowly, the Sun traveled to the West after a beautiful day at work. At around six O’clock, the couple bid the beach a goodbye and made for home, ready to eat their dinner and then listen to Yemisi’s confession, which she had hinted would be saddening, in comparison to Tade’s card.

That night, after dinner and having prayed concerning what they were about to share, the couple laid side by side on the bed. He was eager to hear the confessional statement of his wife of seven beautiful years.

Tade, what I am about to reveal today would shake you to the marrow, but please, try and understand and promise me one thing.

And what would that be he asked impatiently.

That no matter how touched you are by this revelation, you would not interrupt me until I have finished the story. Would you promise that?

I promise, he said without thought.

First of all, I want you to forgive me for taking so long before I made this confession. It has not been easy. Besides, I never knew the importance until a few days ago. Although it has cost us a lot, but I still want you to forgive me in all sincerity.

With the assurance of forgiveness, she began the story on which she had fasted for three days in order to have the required courage to tell and also, to receive mercy.

CHAPTER TWO

"M ine was a wealthy family. Therefore as a child, I had nearly all that I needed. Although my parents were not religious, they were at least moralists. My father in particular was a great disciplinarian who ruled us with an iron hand. As far as I can remember, he never allowed us out of his sight for more than ten minutes. We lived our lives as prisoners in an army barrack.

The wealth of my parents enabled me to start school very early, thus at the early age of fifteen, I had finished my secondary school and also with a very good result. My success therefore endeared me to my father’s heart and thus, he allowed me to go to Lagos pending the release of my University Matriculation Examination results. I was elated because I felt like a bird let out of a cage after a long period of incarceration.

This freedom into life however is the bane of my misfortune up to this present day. While I was at the secondary school, I had no relationship with the opposite sex because of the fear I had for my father. Thus, I went to Lagos as an inexperienced virgin. Maybe, if I had a little knowledge about the antics of young boys, this evil would not have befallen me, only God knows.

My cousin was however more experienced although his father, my Uncle, was also very strict. She was a typical Lagos girl, who knew her ways around. Though she was about two years older than I, it was very difficult for people to believe, since I was taller and looked bigger than she was. Thus, we moved about like age mates- she exposed and I a learner. Bad company truly corrupts good manners. But I learnt a little too late.

She encouraged me to perm my hair and also taught me how to use lipsticks. By the time I finished dressing up for a party, I always looked like a twenty year old. The fact that she made a very good result in her final examinations also made her father to relax his hold on her. So, we became like the proverbial bird that had wanted to fly before a stone was thrown at it. Though we got on a fast lane, I enjoyed the fun, being the first time of tasting freedom. We made friends with boys and men as we continued to tantalize them with our youthful bodies. However, in all these, I was being very careful not to allow anyone see even my underskirt, and therefore I preserved my innocence until that fateful weekend.

My Uncle traveled to Ogun State with his wife to attend a weekend party and see to other business matters. The whole house was thus left to us since they believed that we were responsible enough to hold the fort for them. At least, we had proved ourselves brilliant. If only they had realized that intelligence, brilliance and being responsible are not synonymous. As their car passed out of the gate, we were so glad to have three days to ourselves. On Friday morning, we took a very good care of the house and its surroundings and also got her brothers and sisters ready for school. Kemi- my cousin, told me that some people would be visiting us that night, so we started making preparations for them. Unknown to me however, was the fact that these visitors were none other than two young men one of whom I knew to be her boyfriend. The other had wooed me unsuccessfully. Before they came, she gave me a gift to wear that night, a transparent nightgown. I should have known the implication, but I was too naive.

They arrived at around nine O’clock in the night. Kemi had given her siblings a hot cup of tea each after their meal and they had surprisingly slept off despite the airing of ‘Behind the Clouds’, their favorite television programme. The understanding however came when Kemi confided in me that she had put some drugs in their tea so that they would not disturb our guests. When Jide, Kemi’s boyfriend and Amos, his friend arrived, the children were too far-gone to wonderland. We welcomed them cordially, but I noticed that Amos was looking at me in an awkward manner. With the pleasantries over, we settled at the dinning table and feasted on the Fried Rice and roasted turkey. Jide brought out a bottle of wine, which we drank merrily from. I played along, not knowing the cause of our celebration. I left the table a little bit tipsy and I talked loosely. Amos noticed this and seized the opportunity to chat me up. I accepted his proposal to intimate friendship under the influence of alcohol.

By ten O’clock, they made no move to leave. I was surprised. It was at this time that Kemi motioned to me that it was time to put on our nightgowns. We excused ourselves, and went into the room to change. While we were changing, I asked her when the visitors would be leaving and I was surprised to hear that they would be spending the night and I became apprehensive. But, I could not argue with her since she was older than I was and besides, we were in her father’s house. When we got back to the sitting room, they had also changed and were now in their shorts. My heart pounded within me. I wanted to run back into the bedroom, but the spirit of alcohol alleviated my fears.

Now, there were two settees in the parlor, so while Jide and Kemi sat closely together on one, Amos and I sat on