THE NIGHT BEFORE... wondering who holds the power to break the strength and effect of a secret?

By Nnabugwu Chizoba

Sandra was a young, beautiful and charming girl. The type many would refer to as the cynosure of all eyes. As it is usual for girls of her age and beauty, many prying masculine eyes followed her about.

Just as each day comes with its own pressure, each male applicant that confronts her has his own unique approach and style. Every of the passes, and entreaties, made by the aspirants were defeated, due to a very stiff and formidable opposition arising from the unyielding and uncompromising stand of the young maiden, Sandra.  

While no one in his or her right senses, doubted or disputed Sandra’s respectful and obedient disposition, the same was not said about her dress sense and appearance; which many described as always provocative, amorous and very despicable. When it was not the revealing type, such that people in certain quarters describe as see-through, it was the very short ones, that hardly cover the vital areas: Upper Volta and Lower Niger regions of the human frame. 

A day came, the unfortunate and unexpected, happened, Sandra was raped. This inglorious and condemnable act of inhumanity was perpetrated by somebody she never knew; and never had the opportunity to meet again, after the incident. 

After many years, characterized by excruciating pain, agony, sorrow, starvation, self-imposed imprisonment, and the likes, Sandra, managed to put the experience behind her and pushed on with life. One secret, I must hide from you, throughout my narrative, is the fact that Sandra was a virgin, when she was raped at the age of 30.  
  

The rape incident brought out a new look in Sandra, and attracted different classes of suitors to her. Instead of the untamed, infatuated, disillusioned and disoriented young men that more often than not flocked around her for no other reason, than that battle of rod and hole; which comes with momentary sensation and occasional stress in-between the thighs, and around the lower Niger region, of the mid-western hemisphere. As a matter of fact, real suitors started coming for her. Among them, were those she found attractive, loving, and handsome, but for unspecified reason, at least friends and relatives said so, she was unable to settle for any of them.

Pressure was mounted by her Parents, relations and friends to ensure that Sandra, was speedily reintegrated into life, but to no avail. If there was any reason for her decision, she kept it to herself.

One day, after a very long, but heart to heart discussion between Sandra and her Father, she  became wholly transformed, discussed freely, exchanged visits and interacted more and better with friends, and potential husbands. However, not to the point of discussing her former life style or mentioning the rape incident.

Finally, she settled for one of the suitors she previously rejected. It did not take a long time, for the family members to observe a total change, a sort of turn around on their daughter. Before long, the traditional marriage rites were performed and the wedding date fixed.

At the eve of her wedding, the husband called Sandra for an introduction, to someone very dear to him. The person in question happens to be one of the husband’s younger brothers.

The moment she saw him, she felt some strange feelings, something extraordinary, and difficult to explain. The feeling brought back old memories, a flashback sort of. Suddenly, the husband’s attention was needed, and he quickly excused himself to attend to the caller, living the two of them where he had invited them, for the introduction.

Few Minutes, after the husband left, Sandra’s intuition took the better side of her. As if she was under a spell, she said to the person standing before her, “So it is you that did it”. Before she concluded the statement, the young man was already looking frustrated, weak, demobilized, and full of guilt,. In this state of mind, he altered some uncoordinated, incoherent and inaudible sounds, that eventually ended as “Pl..ea..se...”. 

In the midst of this, the husband returned.

QUESTION

1             If you are the Bride (wife) - What will you do?

* Tell your husband? If yes before or after the wedding?

*  If no, what will be your reason?

2             If you’re the rapist what will you do? 

*  Tell your brother? Before or after the wedding? Please give reason

*  Not mention it to him at all? Why?

*  Confront or not confront your victim? Please give reason

3             If you’re the Bridegroom (husband) what will you do if this comes to your knowledge, before the wedding?

*  To your Bride (wife)

*  To your brother

                If it comes to your knowledge after the wedding. What will you do?

*   To your Bride (wife)

*   To your brother 

Please give reason   
     

5             If you’re the parents of the rapist, what will be your reaction if this comes to your knowledge: before the wedding:

* To your daughter in-law

*  To your son (the Bridegroom)

*  To your son (the rapist) 

What will you do if the information got to you after the wedding?

Please give reason
 

6             If you’re the parents of the victim, what will be your reaction if this comes to your knowledge: before the wedding:
  

*  To your daughter

*  To your son in-law?

*  To the rapist?

What will you do if it came to your knowledge after the wedding?
Please give reason