VICTIMS OF THE CUSTOM.
My father died when I was still a foetus in a womb of my mother. His brothers dropped home and took all of our belongings and left behind a pragnant widow with seven children. My father’s Friends pleaded them to think of the orphans but they didn’t care.
The widow did her best for the children’s education. They grew up with the help of the Almighty.
It happened that a gentleman popped in the life of my elder sister and swore to take her in marriage. Blinded by love she decided to quit school. The gentleman had to give an amount of money for the dowery, as required by the custom.
My sister was waiting for the wedding celebration to joint the house of her beloved when she noticed that at home there was no change at all though the family received the dowery. When she enquired on the dowery, the mother told her the money was not supposed to be touched at home but was to be sent to the Daddy’s village for them to use it.
Then my sister said, ”the uncles took all our belongings when Daddy died and left us with nothing. Now that I’m old enough to get married they are the ones to profit on my dowery. No. If it is so I ‘m not getting married. I will continue with my studies to come to the rescue of my mother, brothers”
She did so and completed her studied. She was hired in the national rail ways.
She could pay the school fees for us. Today I can work, I am married thanks to my elder sister.