By Mujeeb Jummah
PROLOGUE
It was a long night. Ife had promised her the world. She was elated at the awe of the surprise; an engagement ring. It had spun her memories back to the times they chatted on every social media the world had to offer. He had written those words in the lines of “your smiles light up the darkness in my world. It is like the spirit of my dead mother had sent the love she never got to show while i was an orphan. Your physique is in apposition with the revelation God brought in my dreams that fortnight…”, and so on. A warm feeling on Tinu’s blossom brought her back to reality has she realized she was already on Ife’s bed. She had waited impatiently for that ring and her dream come true could not have come at a better time; February 14.
INTRODUCTION
The indecency that comes as a result of February 14 seem to be more than other days in planet earths revolution around the burning star. Valentines day they call it; the day to show love.
Love, however, have been misconstrued in the industrial century. Today, an X-rated activity has become the underage’s festivity. Everyone wants to be free even the foetus; after all, “it’s my life”. So love is defined by what we see on billboards and television, pioneered by on-air personalities and promoted by celebrities. So, a primary school “boo” learns the skill to ask his class mate’s “bae”, would you be my val? A secondary school student will send well packaged and sexy underwears to his new sets of girlfriends. Some end up dancing, long after the club’s music had been muted,on a hook up’s sofa. All these in a bid to show love. But this is not.
So then, what is love? The 8th edition of the Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary gives a detailed and explicit explanation. Of its numerous definitions, it emphasized one phrase; a strong feeling. Then you might be tempted to concur that the feeling between you and your val is strong. Therefore that is love. Agreed. But let us flip through the pages from the dictionary of conscience. Imagine your sister comes home with tears that some boys had violated her and in the process of explanation it turned out to be her val. Perhaps, another scenario would do. In your investigation about your origin, your mother confessed that you were the product of a val intimacy with a married man. In other words, you were the bastard of a Valentine’s day relationship. What will be your reaction. In the case that you might not possess conscience or have lost it, then let us meet in the court of spirituality and religion. In the Bible, Mark 12:31 precisely, the description was apt; love your neighbour as yourself. In the Islamic compendium, the prophet Muhammad had once said, he is not a believer until he wants for his neighbour what he wants for himself. So if choosing of vals for Valentine’s day is what you want from others on your loved ones, then let posterity be the judge.
At this juncture, let us take a look at the origin of the celebrations. From historical records, Valentine is a term used to refer to some martyrs in Christendom. The Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes July 6 and July 30 for the celebrations. A generally accepted account is that of Saint Valentine who according to J.C. Cooper, in The Dictionary of Christianity, was a priest of Rome who was imprisoned for succouring persecuted Christians. He was believed to have been buried on February 14. In light of these, it can be inferred that the Valentine’s day is just a commemoration of martyrs. And so, one might be curious to know how a remembrance day became love celebration day. A narration had put it that Saint Valentine had secretly married a couple which was against the norm of Rome’s pagan society. Another narration by Henry Ansgar Kelly explains that he had written a letter to the daughter of his jailer and signing on it “your valentine” before he was executed. These and many more formed the foundation of today’s Valentine’s day celebration.
And now to crack the nut;
should a day out of the 365 days in a year be the only day we celebrate love? If yes, then all marriages, engagements, birthdays and all forms of celebrations should be on February 14. And if no, the 21st century concept of Valentine’s day is flawed.
Dear readers, I am not totally condemning the cupid that shoots love into hearts of even the stone hearted on this day. On the contrary, I have my way of going about. However, too much of everything is not the only thing that is bad, hurrying to become 21 at 12 years of age is worse. But that is just my point of view. Make yours count.
EPILOGUE
Tinu surrendered to his every touch. But not until she opened her eyes to the horror that behold. Ife had transfigured into a beast. His handsome face had grown boils with drooling phlegm. His teeth turned fangs grinned and his once sexy pink lips were soiled in red liquid. His eyeballs were no longer brown but a formed ash from the rubbles of hell. His caressing hands were strangling snakes and his loving whispers were the enchantment from their hisses. The lights were out and her voice went dim. There was nowhere to run as she once more surrendered to her predator.
But that was 30 seconds ago. Tinu had felt a chill across her spine when she saw the missed calls from Ife as soon as she awoke from her nightmare. She suddenly remembered that they were to meet at the “Stupid Cupid” tonight. Her destiny was set. Should she go on as planned or heed the revelation at hand
