Belema, is a beauty to behold. A slim, tall glowingly black beauty with curves in the right places and graceful long legs that bear her elegant mien. Her entrance into any room usually attracts the attention of men and women alike, as heads always turn in her direction. However, on this rainy day, she was parked in the parking lot of a mall, miles away from her home, battling with a plethora of emotions ranging from anger to self-pity. “How in the world could Micky have treated me this way? ” She felt ridiculed.  Enraged by his actions, she had sped out of the driveway to their home and embarked on this long drive to keep a rein on her emotions. After walking through the mall, she felt better able to drive back home and have a much-needed talk with Micky, her husband to ensure that such a scene would NEVER repeat itself – sober or tipsy.

That evening, Micky had invited some colleagues and cohorts over to his home to watch an important football match over drinks. After guzzling down a couple of beers and with the euphoria of his preferred team taking the lead by halftime, in a loud voice, he summoned Belema and instructed that she put on bum shorts and strut before his friends to show off her figure and awesome legs. He was proud of his wife’s beauty and she is his prized jewel.

Belema, a very humble and private person who never wore shorts outside her home because she felt uncomfortable with the stares she often got even while clothed conventionally, was awestruck. In the twinkling of an eye, her emotions swung from embarrassment to feeling insulted and finally enraged. She swung around, reached for her car keys, and headed straight out of the door without uttering a word. If she had waited a minute longer, she would have inevitably engaged in a face-off with Micky. As she left, thoughts crowded her mind.” What does he take me for, a prized jewel? A chattel to be flaunted and paraded before his friends? Not even a consideration for my self-esteem?”

As she backed her car angrily out of the garage, Victor (Micky’s closest associate) patted him on the back and declared “Old boy, that was a very wrong move on your part…you had no business doing what you just did”. Micky snorted and replied sharply “I was just appreciating God’s handwork on her. She should be grateful that I appreciate her the way I do”. Some of the other colleagues nodded in agreement but Victor continued, shaking his head vigorously. “No Micky, that was uncalled for. Certainly not in public. If it were just the two of you, why not…but not with other men around”. Micky reacted with hurt pride, raising his voice “But none of you is a stranger to her. I am thoroughly disappointed with her behaviour. Imagine the disgrace – disobeying me before all of you!” Victor quietly decided to bury the discussion for another day when his friend would be sober.

While recalling the above episode, Havilah was reminded of the biblical character – Queen Vashti. The Bible records that her husband, King Ahasuerus of Persia (Xerxes the Great), had called for a feast that was not only lavish but well attended by nobles, Princes, and important men from all corners of his vast kingdom, in high spirits, he had called for his wife to parade herself with the crown on her head, to display her “beauty” before all and sundry. For refusing to obey the King’s orders, her action was interpreted as rebellion which was capable of influencing other women to disobey their husbands. Consequently, she was banished from the King’s presence and lost her place.

My guess is that if this had happened in our times, she would have received the support of Feminists and Human Rights activists and undoubtedly, the social media machinery would have risen to her rescue. However, on deeper introspection, my thoughts are that in those times (about 400 BC), very powerful Kings such as Xerxes were perceived and treated as Demi-gods. Their orders were Law and people severely punished and even killed for disobedience. Therefore, when Vashti chose to disobey the King’s instruction, she should have expected repercussions as the consequences of her action or in this case inaction. The lesson here is that in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, may we learn to apply our hearts to wisdom, especially in questionable circumstances.

Back to Belema, she got home to find Micky asleep on the living room sofa. Wisely, she allowed him to sleep out the drink before having the much-coveted discourse the next morning, by which time he was not only sober but more receptive to her view, and her anger too had dissipated. Needless to say, such indiscretion never repeated itself.

Love

Havilah