When Men Began to Bear - by Farouq Umar

"That's the law" The doctor explained gesturing towards an ornate chair. Around it flicker lights from stationed displays manned by nurses wielding electrodes and sensory measurement and regulatory devices. Alhaji Tambuwal looks passed the ominous chair to the bedside. His wife in labour, looks to him with an expression he cannot read. She battles the heavy pangs to gift her husband a reassuring smile. It did not quell his unease. "Bu... But why?" Mr Tambuwal protested despite the thuds of boots from Aunty Hajara's policemen. "You cannot escape the law" She had reminded him. She had a part to play in It's foundation. "It's the new rule" Anty Hajara continued. Shared pain. Fathers and Mothers go in as one. Beautiful isn't it? You want seven children don't you? if I remember correctly. I'm sure you'll love them all the more knowing you toiled and battled unimaginable pain to bring them to this world" "I'm a man!" Alhaji Tambuwal insisted. "Then don't be a coward" She sent him off with two of her police guards to 'escort' him. This was no hospital room. This was a torture chamber deep in the bowels of a dungeon. Alhaji Tambual has beads dotting his forehead. He dips trembling hand into his _Shaddah's_ pocket. He dislodged his _hula_ from his head to wipe his shivering brow. "Is this really necessary?" "The health Ministry has made it incumbent sir, jointly with the Ministry of Women's affairs. Shared pains heighten affection, empathy and spousal understanding" "Bu...But" Alhaji Tambuwal stutters, frightened by the syringe wielding nurse awaiting him besides the wired chair. "But Allah did not intend man to... To go through this... This pain. There is no reward. No joy at the end of the toil. It is not in God's plan. This is... Uncalled for. This is a woman's burden to bear. There is no point to this wallahi" "Right this way" the doctor ignores his monologue. Alhaji Tambuwal hesitates but propels himself forward. The law stipulated jail time as a punishment for neglect of the pain of labour. Alhaji Tambuwal lays his Iphone 17 pro max on the drawer beside the flower vase and frees himself from his glistening shaddah. He gives his bottom to the torture device. The nurses wordlessly get to work sticking electrodes onto a belly so voluptuous one would think him pregnant with twins. Man and wife alike. "Baby" The wife turns mid battle gently reaching her dangling hand around his. She does not scream but her eyes were pits of hammered coal. She was sweating and panting like an athlete completing a marathon. "It's okay... It's alright my love. Do it for me" Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her fingers dug into the sheets, not out of fear, but a desperate plea for him to endure this with her. She winces from a sudden cramp. Alhaji was not reassured. "We'll go through this together" She stifles a scream. Alhaji remained wordless. The nurses were done decorating his barrel of a stomach with electrodes. They signal to the doctor who was attending to the laboring woman. He gestures his go ahead. He mutters calm instructions to Alhaji Tambual but non of it made any sense or difference to him.The nurse flicks the switch. _“Bala'i!”_ Alhaji howled as his muscles tensed. “One child… it’s one child then.”

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