ASAKE, THINGS FALL APART!

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"Asakẹ... Kini mo n gbọ yi? Ọ loyun?" (Asakẹ. What is this I'm hearing? You are pregnant?"

The first thing that came to her mind was to shake her head. She nodded instead.

"O le sọrọ ni??? Olongbo jẹ etan rẹ? Da mi loun, iwọ ọmọ yi!" (You can't speak? Cat got your tongue? Answer me, you this child!)

Fear racked through her, genuine fear, so much that she trembled. As she began to speak, her voice shook and her words ended up coming out in bits.

"Be... eee...nii."(Yes). The tears she had been holding in finally dropped, breaking the dam. Her flow became uncontrollable, so much that she started racking with sobs.

Her father, confused and shocked to the bones, started pacing as though looking for something. After a while, he went back to his seat, arranging his damask agbada around him. As soon as he sat, he leaned forward to ask again.

"Asakẹ... O sọ pe o ni oyun?" (Did you just say you are pregnant?)

She nodded again and he heaved a very deep sigh. Her mother remained beside him, feet tapping the ground impatiently, repetitive sighing and hissing, as she continued to flex her eyes muscles. It had to hurt, Asakẹ thought, trying to distract herself, it just had to hurt.
Her father turned to look at her mother..

"Ta lo ni?" (Who's the father?)

"Hanhan. Sebi ọmọ rẹ ni yẹn? Bi lere!" (Isn't that your child? Ask her that question."

His face returned to her. He didn't have to ask. Praying that he would forgive her, she replied.
"Akin ni. Akinlabi, Ọmọ Ajani."

"Eh. Eh. Eh. Eh. Eh. Eh. Eh. Aye mi oooo. O tun parọ! How can you lie against an innocent man simply because he has gone to war and may never return?? You better say the truth!! What surprises me is how you managed to get yourself with child, upon all the chores I keep you occupied with. How? Who even thought you these things?" (My life! You still have the guts to lie!")

Something in Asakẹ snapped. She would welcome any consequences that came with this, but she would not be called a liar, concerning something as important as the identity of her child's father. Her child will never be a bastard and the gods forbid that Akinlabi dies in the war. Haughtily, she replied.
"Mi o parọ! Akinlabi ni baba ọkọ mi. He's the only man I've ever known and we love each other!" (I do not lie!")

"Argh. E gba mi! Ṣe emi lo n ba sọrọ bẹyẹn? It's not your fault! You have welcomed a man between your legs, you now carry his child, and you think us equals?" (Come to my aid! Am I the one you are speaking to like that?) As her mother finished her words, a slap landed on her face. Her father was too slow this time, but was fast enough to stop the second from landing. Her cheeks stunned where her mother's fiery hand had met her skin. She dropped her hands instantly, to cradle the tender spot.

"Mama Asakẹ. Get a hold of yourself! She's pregnant and hysterics is no way to handle this issue! Sit down." Her mother crossed her arms and resumed her tapping, stubborn, angry but Amọo would have none of it.

"Mo ni ko joko!" (I asked you to sit down!) At the sound of her father's raised voice, her mother immediately took her seat. He did too, again, and from the corner of her eyes, she could see Awero looking at her with eyes of pity. Bode was observing everything quietly and Asakẹ knew he scarcely understood what was happening. Her cheeks hurt less now, so she used those hands to wipe her face.

"Are you sure Ajani's son, Akin, is the father and your lover?" His voice was back to being calm and it threatened her water works again.
With strength, she managed to croak out without losing another drop more.
"Bẹẹni." (Yes)
"Does he knows?"
"Rara", she shook her head.
"Osu melo, nisin?" (How many months, gone?)
"Bi osu mẹta." (Like three months)
"Hmmmmmmm", was all he said as he bowed his head. Silence reigned for a long while as her father said nothing, while night stole upon them.
Finally, he raised his head. "Awon Ẹlẹja ma de lati ibi omi larọ ọla. Ma ba Ajani sọrọ, ka mọ iru ọgbọn ta le da si." (The fishermen will return tomorrow morning. I will talk to Ajani then, to know what can be done about this.)

"Akin ma fẹ. Ko si iyọnu to ba jẹ iyẹn. Sebi o sọ pe, wọn nifẹ ara wọn. Torh. Ko si iṣoro!" (Akin will marry her. There are no arguments about that. She said they love each other. In that case, there's no problem!"
Her father looked at her mother and shook his head. Then returned his attention to her. "E ji a ma gbadura si Ogun, pe ki a jogun ogun yi. As for you Asakẹ, hmmm. You have brought disgrace to this household! However, I understand youthfulness, and how it can be. Mistakes must be made, we can only hope to learn from them." (Let us pray to the gods, that we win this war.) "I do not know what punishment to give to you. It will not change what has happened and if you get married to Akin, it will not happen again. My only consolation is that, ọmọ ọkunrin to da ni. A good man, from a good home. Tọh. The deed has been done. Mana Asakẹ. E le fun ni isẹ ko ṣe. Sugbọn, Ẹ fura, kẹ ma fun ni isẹ to gara ju. Ẹ ma fẹ fọwọkan ọmọ yẹn. Ẹ fẹ, ẹ kọ, Ọmọ ọmọ rẹ, lo wa ni oyun yẹn. Tọh. Emi ti n lọ!" (Give her chores to do, but be careful not to give her anything too strenuous. Do not lay a finger on her either. Whether you accept it or not, that's your grandchild she's carrying. I shall be on my way now.)

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Asakẹ released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding that deep. She still couldn't believe that her father just let her off the hook. With his command, she started to get in her feet, thanking him profusely. There was so much to be grateful for. Her father's word was law in that house. No matter how much free hand he gave their mother. When he put his feet down, she listened. She was certain that she was off the hook, but she would have a hard time wrapping her head around it.
As she stretched on her two feet, a wave of vertigo blew over her, swaying her on her feet as her vision became hazy. She tried to grab on to something, but there was nothing nearby. Before she knew it, she was crashing down again, her eyes shutting close as she hit the ground.
The last thing she could remember was everyone shouting her name, and hands going around her.

To catch up on the story, please read Asake, A yoruba love story 1, Asake, a yoruba love story 2,, Asake, a while to tarr....,, Asake, a while to tarr 2..., Asake, Someone knows, Asake, Someone knows 2.