Some days later, when Adesuwa had had
time to reflect on the discussion with Nosa, she shook her head in
despair. There was nothing she could do
but to obey Nosa. She began to feel fear
of the unknown future that would soon be opening before her. She had spent her childhood in Benin. She had attended her primary and high schools
in Benin City. She even attended the University of Benin for her diploma in
computer science.
How
could she get on with the strange people in Italy? In all her twenty four years, she had spoken
with only two Europeans, and had no experience of civilized life beyond what
she’d known in Benin. She could chop
wood, fetch water, and cook well enough according to her husband. Perhaps, she thought, some of this would be
of help in the new and frightening life awaiting her on the other side of the
world, she hoped so, but she did not know for sure.
She
then decided to meet Alero Dudu, her friend, to discuss the new
development. As wivies went, Adesuwa was
probably as good as any in the African traditional standard. She stayed home, looked after her husband’s
home, cooked his food, and was active in religious activities in the
church. Alero was a welcome respite from
the pressures she experienced in her own household. There were good reasons for
these pressures; Nosa’s extramarital flings; his growing financial problems and
the latest – the trip to Europe.
“Adesuwa,
you’re welcome. Long time! How are you?” Alero asked.
“I’m
fine.”
“And
your husband?”
“He’s
fine. Only we’ve been finding life a bit
difficult since his electronic shop got burnt down.”
“That was a tragedy. What is he doing right now?”
“Nothing.
He has been looking for loan from the banks, but none is ready to give him
because he has no collateral.”
“Banks
and collateral! What will he do, now, he
can’t obtain bank loan?”
“He
wants me to travel to Europe.”
“With
him?”
“No. Alone.”
“To
do what?”
“To
work.”
“What
type of work?”
“Housekeeping.”
“And
what did you tell him?”
“I’ve
accepted to travel after much pressure.”
“You
did what? Have you gone bananas?”
“How
can you say such a thing to me?”
“Could
be I’m your friend. Maybe your only true
friend. Nosa is sending you into
prostitution, half a world away from everything you’ve ever known, and you
accepted. You must be mad.”
“I
am not going for prostitution but housekeeping.”
“Who
told you that?”
“That
is the job Itohan Don Carlo has promised to find for me.”
“And
you believe that human trafficker? She is lying. That is how she has deceived many young girls
to Europe only to force them into prostitution.”
“My
case will be different. She knows I am
married.”
“Rubbish. Is she not married to that stupid Italian,
and still sleep around with other men.”
“I
know it must sound a little crazy, but I got interested because of the amazing
possibilities in Europe. I just have to
give it a try. Europe is a land of
opportunities.”
“Our
people paint over-glamorized picture of life abroad when they visit home
without mentioning the traumatic experiences they go through over there. Traveling to Italy from what I’ve heard is
studded with hazards. Many have died
trying to cross Sahara desert, some fell to death while climbing mountains, and
some drowned when the Boats they were traveling with from northern African
countries capside in the Mediterranean Sea or Atlantic Ocean. They have nightmarish experiences in foreign
cells when they are arrested for immigration offences. Many girls in this Edo State have been
tricked into prostitution abroad.”
“Alero,
I’ll not deceive you, I’m fed up with this country, with its melancholic
ambience. It is not a place to live.
Since Nosa’s electronics shop got burnt, we’ve been living in shadow of
starvation and destitution. And with
political instability, monumental economic tragedy, rising unemployment,
incessant pump price increases of petroleum products, which we fortunately have
in abundance and resultant inflation coupled with lack of electricity, this
country is now a hell.”
“I
can’t believe you’re willing to completely forsake your husband, your friends
and relations to go to do some odd job especially prostitution in Europe.”
“I
am not going into prostitution; I know some our girls in Europe especially in
Italy and Spain are prostitutes, but not all.”
“Fine. Well, explain to me my adventuress, what
you’ll do if you find yourself being forced into prostitution in a foreign
land?”
“I’ll
come back.”
“I
still feel that Nosa is out to use and dump you. Especially now, you’ve no child for him.”
“Nosa
is a nice husband. Don’t forget what he
did for me when I was attacked by that sick son of a bitch. He is only thinking
of how we can solve our financial problems.
I hope to visit twice a year.”
“You
think you’re going to Lagos? Some have
gone to Europe and didn’t succeed and so could not visit home in years. Many
people are trapped in countries in northern Africa, like Moroco, Libya, Egypt,
and Algeria; and some are even in West African countries like Senegal and Ivory
Coast, but their families believe they are already in Europe.”
“If
it doesn’t work I’ll come back. No
venture no success. But I think I can
really make a success out of this adventure.
Many of our girls have.”
“Why
are you so gullible to put up with Nosa’s rotten plots? Such a selfish man is
not worth being called a husband.”
“Don’t
tell me, I ought to leave him.”
“But
why not? A husband who decides to send
his wife to Europe for prostitution does not love her.”
“Are
you deaf? How many times do I have to
remind you I am not going into prostitution?”
“Adesuwa,
stop deceiving yourself. Leave Nosa now,
he has decided to used you for money, irrespective of what happens to
you.You’ve got the guts. Where’s your
backbone gone? I can’t understand why
you can’t just leave Nosa before he ruins you.”
“It
is not that simple.” Adesuwa shook her head.
“Don’t
say that! Why don’t you stop inventing
obstacles? Why don’t you decide to do
something, now? Adesuwa, there is nobody
that will save you. Nobody. You got to save yourself.”
“I
know you mean well, Alero,” Adesuwa said, “But I’ve decided to go.”
“Itohan
will break her words to you. This is the
biggest mistake you’ll ever make in your entire life, by trusting her. She’ll betray you. And I don’t think Nosa
means well, either, “Alero added. “I’ve watch him smash your
self-confidence. That’s not a
well-meaning thing to do.”
“Nosa
only criticizes me to be helpful. To
make me better. He means well. He is a
kind person.”
“There
is no such thing as being cruel to be kind.
People like Nosa are cruel to be cruel.
Don’t mistake that for kindness.”
“I
know he loves me. Really loves me.”
“A
funny sort of love! I can see that you
love him with your whole life – and you’ll make endless sacrifices for him.”
“Yes
and he loves me, too. If not for him
maybe I would be dead by now.”
“Maybe
he does, Adesuwa, I can’t speak for him,” she said. “But I don’t think so. Not the way he treats
you. And don’t you deny it. Yes, maybe in his own twisted way he does
love you. But what’s gone and what you’ll never get back is the protection he
used to win you over, and that’s what every woman needs. It’s an important aspect of every woman’s
life, and only a few men understand it, or respect it, for that matter. Many men think it’s silly. But it is not, and when it’s gone, it leaves
a vacuum.”
“You
know I can’t leave him. I’d walk into
fire for Nosa, considering what he did for me.”
“Italy
is not the kind of place a young woman of your delicacy should ever be exposed
to. It is a place where our young women
sell themselves to men. A woman can have
wealth and beauty but without reputation she has nothing. Going to Italy will destroy your reputation,
Adesuwa. Think about it. But if you decide to go, and this arrangement
with Nosa blows up in your face, do not say I didn’t warn you. I only hope that if somewhere down the road
when you wind up neck-deep in trouble, you’ll be able to find your way back.”
Alero
was the only person who dared criticize Adesuwa, and who wasn’t particularly
tactful about doing so. To each of the
women, these minor arguments were proof of affection. Their friendship could withstand the
arguments.
In
Adesuwa’s quiet moment, when she got home, she became confused. Her conversation with Alero had made her feel
as if she was about to do something extremely adventurous and had been unfairly
chastised by her friend. But what if she
was right? Was it safe to leave Nosa
behind and head for Europe? Where was
their relationship heading? It was Nosa that saved Adesuwa after she was
attacked by a rapist.
