Silent Screams - Season 1 - Episode 12

Episode 4 years ago

Silent Screams - Season 1 - Episode 12

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Leila stepped out of the car and walked to the gate, pushed it open and entered. Her father promised to pick her up later.

‘Leila,’ Mam Zyambo looked up at her with a smile. She was sitting on the verandah, both her legs outstretched, a plate of rice on her laps.

Leila walked over then she knelt in front of her and bowed her head.

Mam Zyambo placed her hand on her back and said some words under her breath before asking Leila to take a seat.
‘Welcome my child, I have been expecting you.’

She managed a weak smile, ‘Thank you.’
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Mam Zyambo spoke.
‘Do you know you are set to be married a few months from now?’ she asked
Leila nodded her head she hated talking about the upcoming marriage, she didn’t even want to think about it, deep down she hoped all this was just a bad joke.

‘You need to start behaving like a married woman. Sleeping out and wearing skimpy clothes is for women on the streets not a bride to be.’

‘Has anyone asked me if I want to get married?’ she asked in an angry tone, she was offended at the fact that everyone was forcing this marriage on her.
‘It’s not about what you want my child,’ Mam Zyambo smiled, ‘Your parents brought you into this world and they raised you into this beautiful girl, they have the right to find you a suitor when they see it fit.’

‘You think it’s fair that they want to force me into this marriage? Why should it be me?’
‘My child,’ she coughed, ‘some questions are better left unasked, don’t go around seeking for answers, the answer you get might not be pleasant to your ears, your parents know better why they chose a suitor for you.’

She stood up, ‘This marriage talk is just stressing me,’ she yelled
‘Hush! A married woman must always speak in a low and soft tone,’ Mam Zyambo said, ‘Marriage a beautiful thing I am sure in time you will learn to love your husband, stop stressing instead embrace your destiny.’
‘Oh please,’ she clicked her tongue.
‘I see there are a lot of teachings that you need to undergo before your wedding.’
‘ Wedding!,’ Leila exclaimed, she had no idea they were even planning a wedding. ‘What wedding are you talking about?’ she eyed Mam Zyambo with a puzzled expression.

‘You don’t expect to be married off without a wedding Leila, your marriage will bring honor to your family, your father will marry you off in a grand style.’
Leila shook her head in disbelief she had to find a way out of this one.

A while later, Mam Zyambo led Leila to a small hut at the back of her house where an older woman wearing a white robe and gloves was sitting on a grass mat. Leila looked at the woman anxiously, her heart beating really hard.

Leila got down on her knees, ‘Mwauka Bwanji,’ she greeted.
‘Nauka bwino,’ she responded with a serious face. This woman rarely smiled.
‘I will be outside,’ Mam Zyambo said before walking out.

The woman instructed Leila to take off her dress and made her lie down on her back with her legs spread out then she reached between Leila’s legs and opened her v----a with both hands before she inserting her fingers and pushing them inside.
‘Ouch! Owl! Ouch!’ Leila exclaimed loudly, it really hurt.

Leila hated being examined in such a way it was embarrassing, degrading and humiliating she felt like a w---e.
A few minutes later, the woman pulled out her fingers then she clapped and cheered with excitement.
This meant that Leila’s hymen was intact & she was still a virgin.

Mam Zyambo rushed into the room ululating as she danced, she danced around the room while the other woman clapped louder.
‘Congratulations my child, your father will be really proud.’
‘Can I get dressed now?’ Leila asked with her voice cracking as she fought back the tears.

‘Yes you can,’ Mam Zyambo smilingly responded, she was really proud of Leila if only own children could be like her.
Leila stood up and quickly got dressed she was feeling shameful and dirty.

*
He pulled up in front of the gate and hooted impatiently. Mam Zyambo opened the gate and walked towards the car.
‘Is it good news?’ He asked anxiously
She smiled, ‘You raised a great girl she is untouched.’

He let out a sigh of relief, ‘That’s awesome news I was really worried.’
‘You don’t have to anymore I have talked to her about a few things, she will come around soon.’

‘I hope so because these days she is becoming rebellious.’
‘Daniel, give the girl a little break allow her some breathing space this must be hard on her.’
‘It’s hard on everyone but what’s done is done, she has to accept her fate.’
‘She will.’
He got some money from his pocket and handed it to her, ‘Thank you very much.’
‘You are always welcome Daniel let me get her for you.’

Leila walked out a minute later she had a pained look on her face she didn’t even look at her father, she opened the door and got into the back seat.

The two rode back in silence, each one buried in their own thoughts.

As they neared home, Leila’s phone rang waking her from her reverie, she looked at her phone to see who was calling it was Chibuye. Leila didn’t feel like answering her phone so she cut the call and put the phone in her bag.

A few minutes later the phone rang again. She fished around her bag and pulled it out.
‘Hello,’ she answered
‘Thank God you are alive I thought the worst had happened. How are you?’
‘I am okay.’

‘You sound off, tsup and why have you been avoiding my calls?’
‘I am okay i am just a little held up with work.’

‘Is that so?’
‘Yes.’
‘Leila what’s going on?’
‘Nothing.’
‘You don’t sound okay.’
‘I am okay you don’t have to worry about me.’

‘Did someone pop the cherry and now you are feeling depressed for not giving it to me instead?’

Leila chuckled, ‘You are crazy.’
‘Crazy for you!’
‘Shut up,’ she laughed.
‘Can I see you today?’
‘Let me text you later, I can’t respond now.’

‘Please, pretty please.’
She laughed again and this made her father irritated but he kept his cool.
‘I will text you,’ she insisted.
‘I will just show up at your door step then.’
‘Please don’t.’
‘Then come and see me.’
‘Okay.’ She responded.
‘Can’t wait to see you.’
‘Bye,’ she hung up.
‘Who was that?’ Her father asked as he pulled into their driveway.
‘Haven’t you done enough, will you start monitoring my calls too?’
‘Don’t raise your voice at me young lady.’
‘I am really tired dad, I can’t deal with of this,’ she opened the car door and stepped out.

‘Leila.’
She walked into the house without looking back at him, slamming the door behind her.
‘Are you okay?’ Jada asked when she walked in.
‘No,’ she shook her head. ‘I am tired Jada, I just want to die.’
‘Don’t talk like that, come,’ she held her hand and led her to her room, surprisingly Daniel didn’t follow them.
‘How did it go?’
‘It went okay, I am still untouched and you would think that will make your father happy but no he still wants more.’
‘Forget about dad for a while. I have some good news.’

‘What is it?’
‘Mama Zuka is ready to see us.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
‘That’s great news maybe she can grant me the answers to the questions in my head.’
‘Hopefully.’
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