HER GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

Chapter 5: Red flags

James had shown signs of hostility before. What they call red flags but she ignored them. It was their right as men to be harsh sometimes. Both her parents had taught her that. Even though she knew it was all bullshit but with James, despite the emotional torture and constant reminder that he didn't need her as much as she thought, it was totally different. Their love was growing but only from her end. She remembered the first time he laid his hands on her. It all started with a slap an equal of a s***k on her ass but kind off strong and on her cheeks. The next day he begged for forgiveness. Threatened to drawn himself if she left him. Then the slap grew into a punch in the face. Kicks and head butts followed the sequence and before she knew it his hands were not inflicting enough pain. Walls and drawers, even utensils were used as weapons of teaching her a lesson. Intoxicated or not as usual the next day he would beg for forgiveness. Cry his heart out yet it was a taboo in her village to see a man cry. Blame peer influence and alcohol for hurting her. He would do all the house chores rush to a chemist and get her some drugs to ease the pain. The latest episode that had brought them to the reverend was even worse. And in spite of all that, ironically some might call it madness-she loved him so much. Stockholm must be smiling in his grave for inventing such a nasty syndrome.

"Take your time cry it out. Psychologists say crying relieves emotional stress", He said scrolling through his phone. From a poor psychologists to a poor listener the man of God surely cheated in exams at theology school.

James was looking stressed. He also was not part of the "going to reverend" thing but his dad was working closely with Anita's mum. He had followed her to their home after she managed to escape at night hoping to solve their issues the usual way, privately -changing houses more frequently so that the neighbors could not get suspicious, weeping like a baby. Telling her she reminded him of his dead mother and he was not going to do it again. His problem was certainty-the enemy of growth and the father of all disappointments. Whatever can go wrong will and always goes wrong at the most unexpected of times. Murphy’s Law of combat applies in all spheres of life and life itself is a constant war of who is wrong and who is right, who is powerful and powerless, poor or rich.

"Am willing to talk now", Anita announced looking at James with a weak smile. Tears blocking her visual ability.

She let it all out. Not all but what she wanted the reverend to hear. She mentioned how she came from work late after being caught up in traffic. The house chores were overwhelming and the days seemed to be shorter. James was smiling at heart and planning his way out. She even lied for him. Apparently James threatened to beat her up and she ran fell off the stairs while running and that she was willing to forgive him but first he had to promise before God and his humble servant that he was not going to do it again. All of it before the vocal reverend and the protector of men. One final thing she suggested was moving back in town to live close to their parents. They were both getting old and needed their support.

"James can you meet the demands?" The reverend asked with some hostility.

"Yes sir" He said in a bereaved tone. He deserved an Oscar for that performance.

"Then it is settled. Though what you did was very wrong James and my daughter Anita", He paused to quench his thirst, "Learn to keep this fights private soon you will start having children and they will need a father and mother"

Anita just nodded in agreement to the worst advice a preacher could give.

"One last thing, this one doesn't need your presence son wait outside", He ordered.

For a punishment stepping out was fair. He did not trust the reverend. In fact he did not trust anyone around her. But James was not so in love with her it was just his ego. He didn’t like her that much and at the same time he did not want her to be liked by or like someone else. Sometimes it was just denial that indeed he loved her that was standing on his way. He once flashed her phone down the toilet when he found love texts from an unknown and unexplained male in her phone. Outside was even better. At least he had a shot at the secretary. Insatiable and promiscuous were two best words to describe him. And yet nature has a better way of ensuring balance. As he hit on Catherine the reverend was doing the same under the false impression of helping out. Registering her for their church Gender based violence victim’s recovery program. You and I both know it needs a lot of details; phone number, occupation, shoe size... the list is endless but so are the consequences.

*****

Ruth's idea was the best. Tania was in with all her heart. She only needed something and someone to believe in. and right on time her godmother had an answer. For long she had wanted to be part of something bigger than her. A group of people who instigate change by touching other people’s lives. Those willing to take the first step in addressing women empowerment and gender balance using necessary channels. She had also thought about the law suit like a bunch of other employees who had lost their jobs but Ruth enlightened her on seeing the bigger picture. A law suit was going to cost them much in terms of legal representation and when there was a snowballs chance in hell they could win. She had to meet with her the next week. It took losing a job at the toughest of times for her to realize that women could pull each other out of the mud. The mud created by stereotypes, cultural beliefs and illiteracy. Lack of opportunities that could salvage them. Make them independent and competing at the same level as their male counterparts.

Tania was cognizant of the gender issues worldwide she just never thought they were that real. While it didn't necessarily mean that men and boys were safe from mistreatment at their places of work or in opportunities, women were more vulnerable. Together with Ruth and other women who were going to join them. Those who were ready to be bold enough to go against the wind they were going to start a movement like one never seen before. To fight for inclusive decision making and a change in gender roles allocation and oppose the patriarchal systems of governance that were controlling the rights of girls and women in general. They were going to form community based support group for survivors of gender based violence both men and women in their own backyard. She was psyched up. The thought of putting a smile on their faces was enough to help her get through her own problems. Jobless and far from home, a relationship with no direction. But still she had some room for compassion. She was willing to give hope to the young girls even before they worked hard in school got employed and lost their jobs before they could even get enough money to support themselves and their own families. She wanted to tell them that there was no shame in being hated for speaking up. The shame was on keeping quiet when stepped on.

That evening alone in her one bedroom apartment. She went through the document Ruth has sent her, a glass of mango juice on her study table. She was dressed in a black vest top with shorts-Nicks shorts. Not that she needed them it was something she had read on a blog about how wearing a partners cloths strengthened the bond of love. Funny enough it only applied to females wearing men’s cloth not the other way round. She imagined nick in her dress-perfect for them but gay for the netizens. It was a thirty paged document and she had to go through it and edit some aspects of it. Ruth still trusted her competence. It explains why she was her favorite back at Tess international. Even though it made her look like a snitch to others. They could stop talking the moment Tania got in a room and picked up their conversation with renewed vigor the moment she walked out of the door. She read through the discussion section of the report shaking her head. Nodding and clapping smiling lazily at herself. Now it all made sense all of a sudden.

They were starting a non-governmental organization. None of a kind now that the existing ones were into business and under the control of political gurus. Solving abject poverty without looking at other issues that were leading to poverty in the first place. The novelty in what Ruth was proposing to some extended sounded like a seweven to Tania. A dream that even the audacity to dream required allot of hope digging deep and once in the dream no one could wake up from it. Ruth wanted to change the perspectives of people towards gender all the way from the individual to the community level. Then from there nature was to take its own course the people only needed to be showed the way forward and be given something to believe in. people needed someone to tell them it was possible to have a gender balanced society. She was also smart enough to list down all the obstacles they were to expect in their search for gender equality. Under recommendation she wrote.

"We already have some few women in leadership. Instead of fighting for two thirds representation we as women must ensure that the few women we already have in power have our best interest at heart. That's why I recommend that prior to running for office their community service background should be a major requirement rather than mere academic qualifications that most who meet never grew up in our societies in the first place"

The movement was going to include women and men from all walks of life. Lawyers, teachers and doctors media personnel and law enforcement, celebrities, the clergy and local administration which she identified as a priority because they interact with people on a daily basis. Only one group was excluded. They were to help but from a distance. The politicians. Political relationships are short termed and unstable. No one is never sure when they will change besides they were the same people she identified as obstacles. They were the gate keepers to social gates. One word from them whether a lie or the truth was enough to sabotage their dream. Politics are like a cancer and most politicians are opportunistic scavengers who thrive on the hopes and unknowns of other people. Information manipulators. Contrary to the belief and their constant reminder during political rallies that they serve the people their true master is their interest once there is nothing "in it for them" they will disappear in thin air. Unlike Ruth they could not be trusted to go against the wind. Especially when the wind was against their source of daily bread.

"Hey I've gone through it so when are you planning to register the organization?’ Tania asked filling papers into her printer.

“I already have some friends in working on it right now we should be talking about when to launch", Ruth said happily.

"Wow! That's good if it works we're going to help some if not many people"

"That's the idea I just hope it's worth quitting my job"

"Don't worry God will take care of you and me and all women that have lost their jobs"

"Amen. Goodnight next week? "

"Roger that, good night", Tania Said and hang up.

She switched off her laptop and went to bed. Sleep had evaded her like a plague. She checked her phone. No message from Nick. Even her social media. She dialed his number the phone went through but he wasn't picking up. She called again it was rude but she was desperate there's a thin line between love and madness. Tania called him ten times that night. When she got tired of calling tears started flowing. She was crushing even a superwoman needs a superman sometimes. Intimate relationships shouldn't only be about s*x at least Tania thought that was how it was supposed to be. They were all about being there for each other. According to her there's so much to relationships than s*x. Supporting each other but she forgot one thing; in any relationship the person who cares less has the power. Her control was only on s*x. Poor Tania cried her way to sleep. She didn't know whether it was time to let go or keep holding on. Giving up was not her thing but holding on was doing more damage.