Zainab, the Eleven-Year-Old Mother (Part 2)

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Zainab tried to hide her face but Shehu, the driver already saw her. Ms. Grace tried to intervene but could not communicate fluently in Hausa.

Shehu sensed that something was wrong. He immediately called Zainab's Father and told them he found her trying to leave Katsina with a lady.

Baba Zainab hurried to the park with neighbours. He explained that the reason they were trying to run away was because of Zainab's marriage.

The crowd that had gathered lashed at Ms. Grace and Zainab. Ms. Grace was identified as her teacher.

She would have been beaten to death, if not for the intervention of a respectable man in the community.

Zainab received several cane lashes from her father and neighbours that night.

When the news got to the Principal the next day, Ms. Grace was suspended from teaching for that term.

One thing was clear now, Zainab was getting married.

Her father hurried the marriage process. Mallam Kazaure brought dowry items. The traditional rites were performed. All you could see on Zainab's face was a broken child. Even her mother could not hide her sadness.

By evening, Zainab was at her husband's house. She was welcomed by the older wives. She was shown her room where a bed was laid for her.

She was still in tears when Mallam Kazaure came in.

'Stop crying fa.I will take care of you kwo'. He began to remove his clothes.

Zainab stared at him wide-eyed.

'Mallam, what do you want to do?

'I want to have a taste of my wife. Lie down.

Zainab hurriedly stood up to leave but he grabbed her. She started to yell but he hit her to keep her shut.

She kept fighting but she was no match for Kazaure.

He eventually forced himself into her. 

'Zainab yelled from the pain of being disvirgined. Blood flowed freely from her legs.' Kazaure didn't mind, he went back to his room when he was done.

After that night, she felt nothing but hate for her husband. She refused to come out the next day.

While the other wives wondered if she was ok. Habiba, the oldest wife went to Zainab's room. She found the room scattered with Zainab curled up on the bed.

She looked at her with compassion.

'Yarinya me kyau. Tashi tsaye. Don't worry, everything will be fine.

She cleaned up the blood stains and arranged the room. Then she helped Zainab have her bath.

While Zainab managed to eat, Habiba told her story. She was 25. She was married at 14 and had children almost Zainab's age. 

'It seemed Kazaure liked them young', 

thought Zainab.

Habiba's father was poor, so marrying her off to Kazaure was the only way to assist her family financially. She didn't want it either. But had no choice. 

It was hard adapting, but she eventually learned to. She advised Zainab to do the same. As this was a reality she had to accept.

While the others envied her beauty, Zainab found a friend and mother in Habiba. 

Zainab got pregnant one month later. She struggled to understand her body throughout her pregnancy.

Elderly women who served as the village birth attendants came to handle her delivery. 

Zainab was in labour for over 13 hours. She had lost all her strength

The baby found it difficult to come through her small pelvis. Causing obstructed labour. The women had done all they could to get the baby out. 

Fortunately, with one last push, the baby came out.

Shouts of joy filled the atmosphere as the beautiful boy arrived.

But the joy was short-lived when urine poured out from Zainab's legs to the ground.

The women stared at her when she said she didn't do it intentionally. 

Because her labour had lasted longer than normal, the tissue between her vagina and bladder had died. There were holes in her bladder. Hence, her urine leaked.

This was a medical condition called Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF).

They thought they could manage it. Her mum cleaned her up. But it continued throughout the day. 

The worst was when she needed to defecate. As she got out the door, the feces poured out.

People had gathered in the compound to greet her and Mallam Kazaure.

Everyone in the compound watched in shock at what had happened. Zainab broke down in tears. It was a shameful sight.

Her mum rushed her to the toilet quickly. 

Her room was beginning to stink. The midwives mumbled among themselves and left. The new gossip was that Zainab had VVF. They knew the implications.

It was a sickness that they have seen some child brides suffer. They thought it couldn't be cured.

So many victims ended up homeless.

Zainab felt miserable. No one could console her. She mostly avoided her newborn.

People avoided her too. Including Mallam Kazaure. Only her mother stayed with her and her child.

When Ms. Grace heard about Zainab's condition, she quickly found her way to her. It was both a moment of joy and pain. Seeing Zainab wearing napkins.

Ms. Grace made calls to some of her colleagues serving in hospitals. With fundraising from family and friends, they were able to raise funds for Zainab to have surgery.

Ms. Grace, Zainab, her child and her mother traveled to the only specialist hospital in Katsina state.

She underwent the surgery successfully. Zainab took two months to recover.  She has asked Ms. Grace if she can go back to school. 

Ms. Grace told Zainab she could. 

Ms. Grace was leaving for the East next week. She was done with her youth service. It was a painful departure.

Before she left, Zainab held her and with tears in her eyes, she said 'Aunty Grace, thank you. I'll never forget you.

Zainab now 11, has returned to school. She and her baby now live with her mother's sister in Katsina, the state capital. Her aunt takes very good care of them. She looks after baby Nura, so Zainab can focus on her studies.

Her mum comes to stay with them on many occasions.

Zainab who wasn't sure what kind of doctor she wanted to become is now certain. 

She would become a surgeon who helps poor girls suffering from VVF in Northern Nigeria.

The End

P.S

Zainab was lucky. She had Ms. Grace. There are thousands of girls who don't have a chance at surgery.

Girls with promising futures whose dreams have been snatched. By harmful religious and cultural beliefs. Wishing their lives hadn't turned out the way they did.

How long is this supposed to continue?