JUST WITHIN A NIGHT

 

            I belong to a society where women are lesser humans, if you don't talk, they say you're a dummy and if you speak, they say you're meant to shut up. This doesn't sit well with a lot of women while some women accept it, some of us still hasn't. Not to talk of me coming from a royal family, a lot of girls wish they come from one so they envy us so much that we could feel the stung of their eyes each time we're seen in the public. I often laugh at them because little did they know that we're only being well taken care of so we can be used in their political games.

     So, perfection is not 0ptional for us rather it is demanded. I committed a taboo that is against our culture, and it led me to sleeping in a cell right now. My secret came into the open the day before where my real identity was revealed, you see drumming was a taboo for women, but I dared to make a difference. I have always loved drumming, it was a hidden talent that our society has forbidden to be displayed by a woman. I remembered going far into the forest with my two closest hand maids several times to practice. They would sing and dance while I drummed. 

    Sometimes I get into my mother's trouble for coming home late, I started playing the drum outside the village and whenever I didn't make it home early my hand maids pretends to be me and lies on my bed. I always cover my face and my whole body and dress like a man whenever I was called to perform. I earned a lot from this and gave my hand maids their share. People often wondered why I never spoke on any occasion while some tried so many times to look behind my mask. I gave myself a fake name 'Ayanwale' some women even try to win my heart. I and my maids always laugh at this because of the impossibility.

            My secrets came into the open when my work as a drummer started affecting all other drummers, so they made a plan to expose me. As I was on my way home that evening, suddenly, I felt someone put something under my nose, I and one of my hand maids usually have a place that we meet. I made sure we don't go together to avoid getting them in trouble. But this happened as I neared the spot that we were to meet so I fell asleep immediately. I woke up and found myself in the middle of the council of Chiefs, I hadn't gotten over that when I received a slap from the king who is my Father.

            On that day, I poured out my mind and my views on how women were being maltreated and given no value.Before I could say Jack Robbinson another slap sounded on me, I looked around and I saw my mother,she was being scolded for not raising me well. She was threatened to be punished. My hand maids were also there,they were made to confess all they knew about the issue. After a lot of deliberation, one of the chiefs, who is the right hand man of the king suggested I should be beheaded to serve as a lesson for other women. This suggestion was supported by all the elders without a dissenting voice, my mother wailed, even my hand maids were not left out of the punishment. The three of us were dragged to the cell to be beheaded the following day. 

           I was awakened in the middle of the night by a gentle tap, I couldn't see clearly because I had cried a lot and also received a lot of beating from the guards, shhhhh! don't shout the person whispered, follow me, I gently followed, if this was a dream, I didn't care I just wanted to escape from here. My hand maids and I walked several miles in the middle of the night. We were taken into a hut in a place that didn't look habitable, I was surprised because it was impossible to know that a hut was there, it was carefully hidden by thick trees and bushes. On getting inside, I saw the face of the person I dreaded the most, Chief Otun, we wanted to run away, 'don't!' he said. I'm here to help you people escape. I and my hand maids couldn't believe it, the same person who suggested we should be beheaded.

           Thereafter, we were made to wear a costume and dress like men, our heads were shaved and then I asked 'why are you helping us and where are we being taken to?', 'to the place my daughter is',he said. 'Your daughter!?','but she's dead, you want to kill us!?' one of my hand maids said in horror. She isn't' he replied, 'she lives far from here, we only made it look like I beat her to death when she disobeyed by disguising as a guy and joining the soldiers', 'so Oyeronke isn't dead I said in disbelief?!' yes he replied. 'Adebunmi(referring to the Princess), I want you to know I'm proud of you and your hand maids that is why I want you to go far from here to become the woman you want to be' he said with all sincerity, and for the first time I felt like I have a Father. 'I already sent a letter to my daughter, don't worry about anything, you're in good hands'. 'What of my mother?', 'she is aware about everything  and she's proud of you'.

            Shortly, my mother came in and I immediately went to give her a hug. I'm proud of you sweetheart, she said. 'How did you get here? Are you alright?' I asked, looking over her. Don't worry about that, I'm fine and I'm going to miss you and you too she said hugging my hand maids. 'Let's go she said' then suddenly Chief Otun(who is also a disguised woman) gripped his stomach, are you alright? We chorused 'yes don't worry it's my time of the month.... I believe you will understand now.... mensural pain?', 'ookay.... your time?!!' It suddenly struck us 'you are a woman too?' 'Yes, a woman in disguise', 'oh my God!'. 'Mummy, did you?...I wanted to ask my mother, but her expression said it all, even she knows. My hand maids couldn't also believe it, how on earth did they do that without being exposed, I questioned.

           'You see Adebisi(pointing to the Queen), this is why I love your daughter, she's very smart'. Chief Otun said facing my Mother, we stood there bewildered wondering how many more secrets are looming in our society. 'Mother, I don't understand what is going on' my mother laughed 'that's a story for another day, right now you need to escape'. On my way to freedom, I couldn't help but think about what just happened. indeed a lot has happened just within a night. In all this I couldn't help but conclude that, THE MEN FOLKS IN OUR SOCIETY HAVE BEEN FOOLED.