The allure of forbidden love is captivating and intoxicating, weaving its enchantment until complete immersion is inevitable. Such was the fate of Oyin as she stealthily ventured out of her home in the dead of night, her heart racing and her mind pounding.
Oyin, whose full name was Oyinkansola, hailed from a lineage of Adeola, the esteemed village blacksmith, and Abike, a skilled basket weaver. Renowned for her captivating dance skills and striking beauty, she possessed a slender waist, shapely hips, and a captivating dark complexion. Her attire consisted of an Aso-Oke wrapped around her chest, another gracefully adorning her waist, cascading down to her knees. With an exposed flat stomach, her waist was embellished with vibrant strings of colourful beads. Simple braided hair elegantly framed her face, reaching the base of her neck, further accentuating her exquisite features. Her destination was the Osun River, the primary water source for the entire village.
As Oyin’s heart pounded, a radiant smile illuminated her face, reminiscing about his words from earlier that day, “Meet me by the riverside tonight at sunset.” She fervently hoped he was still waiting, rather than having departed. She inwardly cursed her brother, whose late-night wakefulness had delayed her and jeopardized their rendezvous.
Upon reaching the riverside, her heart fluttered with delight upon setting her eyes on his sturdy back. Akinjobi, her beloved, stood there. He was the son of Bayo, a formidable warrior in the village who had succumbed to madness during a conflict with a neighbouring village, allegedly due to the opposing village’s herbalist
Akinjobi had come into the world shortly after his father’s descent into madness, growing up without a conventional paternal figure. This unfortunate circumstance bestowed upon him a stigma within the village. Nonetheless, Akinjobi’s unwavering determination and strength propelled him to become a renowned warrior. Despite this, most individuals avoided him due to his father’s condition, believing that the herbalist’s curse would inevitably befall him as well.
However, Oyin refused to distance herself from him. On the contrary, she cherished him even more, admiring his valour and tenacity in pursuing his aspirations despite the village’s judgment. Their relationship had commenced several nights prior during the village gathering, following Oyin’s captivating dance performance in celebration of her coming-of-age ceremony, symbolizing her readiness for marriage.
Numerous young men within the village sought Oyin’s hand in marriage, yet she remained uninterested until she noticed him. His aloofness from the crowd caught her attention, and she couldn’t help but notice that his gaze towards her was pure and devoid of lust, a refreshing departure from the stares she had encountered that day. Initiating a conversation with him marked the beginning of their deepening bond. Upon discovering their connection, her parents warned her to distance herself, but these admonishments only fueled her affection for him.
To evade her parents’ watchful eyes and the prying gazes of the village, he softly instructed her during their encounter in the marketplace earlier that day to rendezvous with him at the riverside. The mere thought filled her heart with exhilaration, solidifying her realization that she loved him. Upon sighting him by the riverside, she rushed towards him, her hurried footsteps causing him to turn towards her just as she leapt into his embrace. In the moonlit glow, they stood entwined as if attempting to merge their souls. They began to sway gently to an invisible rhythm, a rhythm that only they could hear—the rhythm of their love.
“I missed you,” she softly spoke.
“As did I,” he replied.
They then found solace by the riverside, accompanied by one another throughout the night, their forbidden love ensnaring them deeper and deeper within its intricate web.
Read – Under the Veil of Darkness – A Short Story by Chitsanzo Changa, Malawi
