The bride,his business
I was locked up in that room for the next two hours. Even when I banged on the door, no one was willing to open it.
They kept me in there until I was sweating. I tried calling my husband—luckily, I still had my phone in my bag—but when I called, it went straight to voicemail. Even when I called my mother, the call couldn't connect.
I was restless, I was panting, and slowly, I started to get exhausted.
I thought I was going to be released, at least, but slowly... that night turned into three days locked up in an empty room with just one couch.
I slept, woke up, always hungry. And not once did they open the door—until on the fourth day, the door was finally opened and a man walked in.
I was already too weak to move, but I gathered my last strength and tried to run. I was grabbed by the same man and pushed onto the couch. My phone was taken from me.
He told me I was going to meet my first man for the night and that I was expected to make money the first night so I could be transferred to the main house to meet other ladies like me.
Everything he said sounded alien to me because what I knew was that I was a newly married woman—two weeks into my marriage—before my husband brought me here for a party, then told me he would come back and left me here. Now I'm being told I have my first client tonight.
"Failure to satisfy the first client, you will be left in this room for another three days before you will be let out, if you'd survive it."
I tried to protest, but the man's face alone shut me up. I burst into tears and told them I wanted to call my husband. I wanted to call my mother and tell them what was happening. This wasn't what I expected of my life after marriage. But no one listened to me.
I was taken out of the room and asked to have my bath and change my clothes. I was served a little plate of rice because I needed a little "strength" for the night test.
Then I was led through the club. I considered reaching out to someone in the club, but I was surrounded by two men. Even if I tried to move, I didn't know what could happen.
This is to say to all: that club—most of the people you see in the club are not what they seem. Some are just held there—helpless, hopeless.
I was taken into another room, tears clouding my eyes, and when the door was shut, I broke down and burst into tears. I could see a man in the room, and when I tried to look, I noticed it was my husband.
I rushed to him and gave him a heavy hug, crying into his chest and asking why he left me all alone in this place. I thought help had come. I thought my savior had come—yet I was wrong.
He pushed me away and said, "Get ready for the test so that you will start doing the needful for us."
I was totally shocked. Even him—my husband? What exactly is going on here? Who exactly is this man I married?
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Iwuji Amarachi Judith