It's been a hectic day, and I feel every muscle in my body aching. Retiring for the day, I took some pain relief, had a warm shower, and a light meal before finally embracing the warmth of my bed, feeling grateful that my children were asleep now, just as I was about to yield to the dreamland, the drama started
Ewoo! Mama Victor, my next flat neighbour, shouted from her apartment, disrupting the peace of the night. It was apparent that she was having another discord with her husband, as this wasn't the first time since I moved into this new apartment. I contemplated either minding my own business and tried to force my eyes and ears shut against the drama next door, but her cries kept increasing. I heaved a sigh of defeat, picked my sleeping rope to cover the armless one I had on, as it was definitely going to be chilly outside.
Sure enough, other neighbours had gathered around her front door, some I know were looking for a new topic to gossip about the next morning, and only a few like myself were genuinely concerned for her.
"Mama Victor, this thing still dey happen again? after the advice wey I give you last time?" Mama Chidi, the obviously oldest amongst us women, said to Mama Victor in pidgin English, who was sprawled on the floor crying her bitterness out, Victor, her 3-year-old son, held in one hand.
"Abi make I break this door," she continued, though she was robust and tall, a daring figure, but I doubt she would be able to break open the security front door, which was the same as all our other 5 apartments' doors in the building. When I moved into the house, it was on one of the things that got me attracted, everyone had their space and privacy, how I thought, that privacy is a past statement, if not, what was I doing, standing in front of my neighbour's door at almost mid night when i'm supposed to be sound asleep.
Mama Victor was married to a narcissist, he was too damn controlling, and she had no say and always yielded to his order, even when it included her staying outside her marital home while he brought in a side chick, the best she could do was cry herself out while her husband gets worst with new ways to hurt her, she had been adviced to file for a divorce and leave the wicked man, but she refused, wondering where she would start from with her son, she was a full house wife with no skill or certificate and had to fully depend on her husband for everything.
"Woman no dey live like this again o" Shade, a young new wife, inputted. Times are hard and you can't totally depend on a man for all your want even though if he is a billonaire, you also have to live for yourself, we all gathered around her, by this time, we were already in mama Chidi's sitting room as it was no use to try and force her door open, everyone inputting a word of encouragement to the bitter married woma, from all the advice given to her, it was obvious everyone had all faced one or more challenges in their home, even similar ones.
We didn't know our heart to heart discussion had taken so much time, as it was already 2 am, when I and the rest of the women decided to take a leave back to our various apartment, by this time, mama Victor had gathered courage and can only dream of becoming that independent woman that can stand up for herself and also protect her child and not having to tolerate her husband's excesses all the time.
From the unexpected meeting we had that night, someone had suggested to inform a human right activist concerning what Mama Victor's husband was putting her through and also take other actions agaist him tostop him from maltreating his wife, we also offered to gather certain amounts of money to help her secure a little space where she can start petty trading, luckily for her the human right activist got her introduced to a NGO that was looking to support helpless women, not only did she get the little token from us, she got enough capital to start up a foodstuff shop, with her shop having enough goods to sell.
And her husband was apprehended for some time and given a strict warning never to maltreat his wife again, and should, in case he tries it, he would be taken by the law enforcement agencies. You could see the shift in mood in mama Victor's face, the once sad and pitiful woman, was now glowing in joy, every morning, she would dress up nicely to drop her on in school and head out to her shop, she was now earning an income for herself, it's been 3 months now, since all eyes were on her husband, as a little maltreatment from him would send him to jail, he has now changed his ways, maybe he was pretending out of fear, at least it was a good pretense and a step ahead.
"Mama Victor, i'm happy for you o", I teased her, as she expertly tried to measure the paint of rice I was buying, "my sister, she replied, with a sincere look on her face, "I'm more thankful to all of you women that stood up for me that night, it's now like i'm living in a dream"
I smiled, knowing that it wasn't just a dream; it was a new reality, one that came through when women stand up for each other. As I took my package of rice and headed home, I felt grateful to have been a part of and witnessed that transformation. It was a beautiful thing to see someone's dream come true.
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