Chapter 2

Hajia Zainab's surgery was successful and she was recovering smoothly. Imam saw the need to inform the elders and other members of his mosque about Aisha's pregnancy. Therefore, he called a meeting. All the members and executives of the mosque were gathered. After a short prayer, Imam Hussain started.

"Assalam 'Alaikum to you all. First, I must say Jazzakallahu khayr (May God reward you abundantly) to everyone for responding to this call. It has been a very critical time for me. As you all know, my dear wife just had a major surgery due to the gunshot by the armed robbers. Insha Allah (by God's grace), she is getting better. Thanks to you all for your love and support, prayers, visitation and care. You have been such a wonderful family and I'm so proud to have you all... Attakbir!"

"Allahu Akbar!" They chorused. "Alhamdulillah!!"

"Alhamdulillah, Thank you." He takes out a deep  breath.

"I know you would be all wondering why I called for this meeting. It's no news that robbers invaded my house. The news here is that... I didn't tell you Aisha, my daughter was... rapped."

"A'uzubillahi! Yaa Allah!! Astagfirullah!!!" and many other exclamation filled the air. Some broke into tears.

"It's unfortunate, indeed." Imam Hussain continued. 

'Through my daughter warned that I inform you all about the rape when she was in the hospital, I felt ashamed. I couldn't stand before you all and say my daughter was raped. I never knew a bigger shame was on the way."

One of the executives, Ustaz ladan asked.

"Imam, what bigger shame are you talking about? You're scaring me!..."

Tears gathered Imam's sad eyes ones again. Trying as much as he could to conceal it.

"My brother, it's with heavy heart that I say this... MY AISHA IS PREGNANT."

The whole mosque was filled with tears and wailings. 'O God, Why?! Yaa Allah! This can't be true!!' People were crying.

For an hour, there was deep sorrowing. Alhaji Aliyu, One of the executive of the mosque and also an elder decided to break the silence.

"Olorun oo!!!" He shook his head, painfully.

"This is too heavy for me. I don't know about the rest of you but... Imam Hussain. We are very sorry, we know that you travelled to Ekiti with your son, Ibrahim last week for your mother's fida'u prayer. This is not your fault or Aisha's, let's believe it's faith... It's the will of God Almighty, this could happen to anyone. Please don't allow this weigh your spiritual strength, our Iman. Everyone would agree with me that this is the time to practice sabr (patience). Now, the question is what do we do?"

Everyone took in a deep breath of fresh air. Thinking of the heaviness his last question..."WHAT DO WE DO?"

"Well spoken Alhaji." Mama Barakah popularly known as Iya owala (With her tribal marks as she hails from Oyo state), an elderly woman of about 56 years of age speaks in a low voice.

"Assalam 'Alaikum to everyone here. Wallahi, this is the saddest news I've heard and witnessed so far. It is indeed so painful and so unfortunate that this happened to our Aisha. Everyone here knows Aisha and everyday, I pray for her kind of Iman (faith) and Barakah (blessing)."

She paused for a while as tears fell from her saggy eye sacks. She wiped it away with the edge of her wrapper and sniffs silently. "I never imagined this would happen to our innocent and beloved daughter. Aisha will not keep that child, It has to be flushed. Allah would understand, this is my point."

Everyone in the meeting supported Mama Barakah except Alfa Luqman, the ladan of the mosque.

"Please and please, with due respect ma. I'm so sorry to say this but... We are in the mosque and Sin is Sin. There is no excuse that justifies sin before God Almighty. To my opinion, flushing that foetus is abortion! And abortion is second class murder, Aisha has always preached against this! In fact, I can say in strong confidence that the Aisha I know will never agree to abortion!" He turns to Imam Hussain.

"Imam! You know your daughter well enough, don't you? It's painful but she has to keep it to stop committing sins after sins. Her life is at stake here, please... Let her keep it!"

Alhaji Da'ud, the treasurer of the mosque stood up.

"Alfa Luqman, you are very wicked! Do you know what we stand to loose? The respect and fame of good work and hard work has brought us. Other mosques will make us a laughing stock, even the Christians! Imagine the shame and disgrace this will cause?! Our Imam will be on the news headline of blackmail and lot of souls would be lost! I'm not ready to be part of any shame o, let's just peacefully bury this within ourselves (as a family). Aisha must get rid of that pregnancy!"

Commotion reigned everywhere. Some were already threatening to leave and Aisha shouldn't keep the baby. Only few people supported Alfa Luqman, Mama Barakah and some walked out of the meeting angrily.

***   Hours Later  ***

Back Home

Imam Hussain called me and Ibrahim. 

"My children, I never foresee this evil temptation. It's too heavy that I can hardly bare and I'm at the verge of loosing everything." He paused for a while looking terribly sad.

"The police are still on this case, unable to find the robbers. How I wish I could.... Do something. Today, I gathered the elders, executives and other members in the mosque to inform them about your pregnancy, Aisha. It didn't go down well. Sorry to say this but Aisha, you can't keep that baby."

"Dad!" Ibrahim called. "I said it from the unset, now see?! We would have done this without telling them and nobody will know but your over-pure daughter in her selfishness decides to make us a laughing stock!"

A strange voice sounded in my heavy head...'What am I dreaming? Can someone just wake me up from this nightmare or tell me it's all a lie'...

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Translations 

Da'ud: David

Olorun o: O God 

sabr: Patience

Iman: faith or trust in God

Barakah: Blessing

Iya Owala : Iya, Mother. Owala, Person with tribal marks.

Ladan: A person who calls for prayer in the mosque.

Luqman: An islamic name.

Shaytan \ Ash-Shaytan : Devil or Satan

Fidau prayer: A special prayer after 40 days prayer made for someone's death.

Ekiti: A state in Nigeria where Aisha originally hails from. (In West Nigeria)

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