A man dons a cassock after he has lived a hard life, probably one of crime. He is absolved of his sins and accepted into the fold. He is a new being and is no longer held back by the chains of his past. There is one tiny problem, however. His past is not quite past.
The swaying of the wind against the arse of the altar boy causes a slight twinge in his crotch. He tries to ignore it as he gives the Blessed Sacrament, but his mind wanders there. What if? He thinks. No one has to know, he figures. One evening, after prayers, and most occupants of the monastery have returned to their quarters, he corners the boy and forcefully has his way with him.
The defiled boy cries foul, however, he is quickly told off by the elders. Their word is the law. Shush, they say. Never breathe a word of this to another soul. With a stern warning, the priest is again welcome, with a promise that such would never again happen. But in fact, it does happen, over and again.
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On an idle afternoon in December, I am scrolling through my phone. Right then, I see a woman’s bloodied face. I only spare a half-hearted glance before I scroll away. It looks like a case of domestic violence, and I am not particularly interested in putting my mood on a dampener. Not long after, I think maybe the next day, I see her behind TV cameras. She is in her spouse’s (the abuser) embrace. A governor and his First Lady look on with smiles on their faces. They seem quite pleased with themselves. It has been a job well done, and a family is united again.
There is one obvious problem, however. Her face is still bloodied as she poses for the photo ops. She has a haunted look in her eyes. Well, as long as the family stays together, it is worth it. I mean, what would happen to the children if parents go their separate ways??
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“Without a man, a woman is nothing. I do not want to look like a failure in the eyes of society,” her mother says.
“Your father did much worse, but look at us today. We are still here. All of you have grown up now and are doing fine,” she continued. “Just keep praying that he would change and avoid inciting him to violence.”
“Mum,” she says, “I don’t do anything to provoke him.”
“The last time he hit me, it was because I laid out two ties for him to choose. He said I made him get late to work as he had to spend time picking one.”
“You too, you should have known that it will infuriate him now,” her mum chastises. “It is how all these men are. They are just big babies. Just try and study him well and avoid what will trigger him.”
The daughter protests, but her mother cuts in again. Divorce is a sin in the presence of God. You have to fight to make it work. Remember that you have kids. Who will take care of them? Is it his new wife? Hmm. She will maltreat them o. Nobody will pursue you from your inheritance, she concludes.
As a last resort and maybe to get a contrary opinion, the daughter decides to speak with her friends. She tells them of her many tribulations and the abuse she has sustained at the hands of her spouse. You better be glad that you are married, most of them say. Husbands are scarce in town. Do you want to leave just because he is slapping you? Some women have it worse. You better persevere and keep praying. Women’s biological clock ticks fast. He will bring in one small girl from somewhere, and she would take over everything that you have built together.
Only a handful of her friends advise her to get out of the marriage, and surprise surprise, they are single. And so, she returns to her husband because God forbid.
Society and religious leaders do not want her to go back to her parents’ home or even live by herself. It will be a thing of disgrace, they insist. And it is wrong in the sight of God. Sometimes she does return, albeit in a body bag. Sometimes, the little boy kills himself.
Patience is key until they send her lifeless body back home- Instagram user