"Salamat was a victim of circumstance and was traumatized as a result of her past. She was willing to give life a chance but something seems to be missing.

The past came tumbling before her when she was already healing and could barely remember the pain. She became stigmatized and couldn't help but give in to despair.

Will she be able to overcome these troubles someday? Or will it affect her mental state and disrupt her matrimonial prospect? Will Habib's betrayal break her or make her stronger?"

THE STIGMA

　　Ayoade came out of the Amala joint, fully contented. He was with a toothpick as he sauntered home. The ogunfe (goat meat) and ponmo ( goatskin) were so sweet and there were patches of the meat in between his tiny teeth.


　　He felt exhausted all of a sudden as he strolled and he stopped a bike to take him home.


　　He alighted from the bike and felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He tried to withhold the urge to voice out his pain by groaning. He paid the bike man who was looking at him strangely and turned into the compound.


　　He didn't bother to look in the direction of Raliat's apartment because he knew she won't be back till the next day. He inserted his key into the keyhole, opened the door with his left hand on his abdomen and, went in. He quickly locked the door from inside and flopped heavily to the bed.


　　The pain he was feeling wasn't new to him. He knew what it signifies. It was overwhelming.


Chapter 43