Asake grimaced from the pain of sand grating into her knees as she stood on them, in their back yard. Her eyes brimmed with tears but she fought tirelessly to hold them back. Her mother had not laid a hand on her since her big secret got discovered. To both her and Awero's shock, she had simply asked Asake to kneel and wait for the return of her father.
Asake had a feeling that if she let a single tear drop, whatever was responsible for her mother's still hands would snap, and the barrage of beating will commence. She could not afford that now, could she? So she kept her lips held tight, and her hands high up in the air. She was already suffering so much discomfort- her back ached, her arms weighed a ton... She almost wished her mother had beaten her in the first place if that would have saved her from this punishment.
"Ah. Baba Asake. Ẹ ti de"
Her heart skipped a bit as she looked up to see her father approaching from the narrow passage way. She wanted to cry out in joy. Sweet relief! Certainly, her father would understand and end this suffering. Her mother must have read her thoughts for she immediately jerked around, to eye her powerfully. The strength with which she did, made Asake believe that her eyes must hurt from the exercise. She averted her gaze in that instant and kept them on the floor till her father arrived.
He said nothing as he took his seat on the big king stool that was exclusively his. She dared to lift her gaze in that moment. His expression revealed nothing. She couldn't tell if he knew already and if he did, what was he thinking? Her mother had sent for him upon her discovery and Mama Ireti too. Thankfully, the latter was in the neighbouring town with her brother's wife, who had just put to bed.
"Baale mi. Ekabọ." (My Lord, welcome) Her mother greeted, genuflecting in front of her father, so that he could pat her back in acknowledgement. She rose and Awero did the same, followed by Bode who prostrated. She too greeted and he looked at her warily, but replies her nonetheless.
"Ooo. Oseun. Iya Asakẹ. Ki le sọ pe o ṣẹlẹ? You are lucky that we were still preparing our medicines for the hunt. If I was already in Ogbo Ọdẹ, what would you have done? It is forbidden to call a man from his hunt, you know that. Whatever this is, it better be worth my time. Ṣ'o ye ẹ? (Thank you. Asakẹ's mother, what did you say happen? ..... Do you understand?) Asakẹ did not know whether to feel happy or sad. Her father has just confirmed he did not know what was happening. Now, she had to wait for her verdict when her mother finally tells him.
"Ọkọ mi, Ẹ ma binu. Kini mo ti ẹ n sọ gan. Argh. Baba Asakẹ. Ẹ ma binu ni o. Amọ, kii ṣe emi lẹ ma binu si o. Ọmọ rẹ ni."( My husband, don't be offended. In fact, Asake's father, you should get angry. However, that anger would not be directed at me. It will be directed at your child).
Her father turned to look at her again, the questions in his mind, evident in his eyes. She knew what was coming before it did. As always, her father would ask her of her crimes, wanting to hear from the horse's mouth. How? How does she tell him that that she's pregnant. A sudden chill crept down her spine and she immediately wanted to run and hide. She was certain Akin was having a better luck at the war front, in this moment.
"Asakẹ, ngbọ. Ki lo tun sẹlẹ?" (Asakẹ, tell me, what has happened again?"
Asakẹ broke out in cold sweat as her tongue twisted in a knot. She kept mute, her hands still held up above her head, her gaze in the ground, as everyone's remained on her, waiting for her confession. She said nothing, having apparently lost her ability to speak. A few minutes later, her Father seemed to have ran out of his patience, for he spoke, his voice as calm as ever.
"Asakẹ, eti dun ẹ ni, Abi ẹnu lo rẹ? O le sọrọ??" (Are your ears paining you, or is it your mouth that ails?) She shook her head, still unable to talk.
"Torh. Then why don't you say something? What has your mother decided you did wrong this time?"
She heard Awero chuckle at her father's words and wanted to do the same. Why was she always in this position, why??? Amọkẹ was not having any of those accusations so she spoke up..
"Hanhan. Baba Asakẹ! Ewo tun ni yẹn? What do you mean by that? Hmmm. Wait until you hear what she did. Asakẹ! You heard your Father. You had better talk right now before I raise my hands on you an hurt that innocent child!" (Asakẹ's father, what's that?)
Her mother's hands were already raised and inching towards her as she spoke. Asakẹ flinched, her reflexes sending her reeling backwards, even as her father rose to hold her mother's hands. She returned back to her kneeling position but at a good two feet distance between herself and her parents this time. The cat had already been let out of the bag. Now, it was time to see how much damage it would cost.
"What child?"
Trust her Father to have not missed the implication of that phrase. Her mother must have been glad things were finally out in the open, for she began clapping her hands together as she gave a mocking laughter.
"You sound surprised? Hei-hei! When you are always stopping me from dealing with these girl properly, how won't she end up ruining your name? Anyway, what has that got to do with me? After all, she's your daughter and now, she's pregnant with your grandchild."
"Pregnant?" Came her Father's stunned voice.
"Beeni! Asakẹ ti loyun. O to gbe ọmọ ale, wa'le." (Yes. Asakẹ has gotten pregnant. She has brought a bastard home."
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Slowly, her father started moving towards her and though she flinched again, she knew better than to move an inch. Her father rarely ever raised his hands on them. In fact, she could remember the only two times that had happened. Both had been worse than all the lifetime of her mother's beatings, combined together.
To catch up on the story, please read Asake, A yoruba love story 1, Asake, a yoruba love story 2,, Asake, a while to tarr....,, Asake, a while to tarr 2..., Asake, Someone knows