In life, everything someone does has a reward, be it good or bad. If many were aware of the consequences of their actions, perhaps they would tame their passions and wouldn’t be tossed to and fro by the latter. Karma is real and consequences of human actions are true and as sure as death. However, the consequences could be immediately after the deeds or a much later time in the future. No one can escape reaping the fruit of what they sowed. That is why humanity is encouraged by well meaning citizens of the world. Ignorance, as some people have rightly said, is not an excuse in the court of law so also it is in the court of karma. What is done in the dark will definitely find its way to the public glare. Things done in silence will come out bold, revealing themselves. Yeah, acts put up in dark chambers have a way of getting to mountain tops. Many have suggested that caution should be the keyword; moderation be given a pride of place in everything. Passions should be tamed in order for insanity not to take a hold of people. A great philosopher once said, “We all are prisoners of our passions”. But for how long should that be? People should be bold enough to set themselves free from the talons and grip of passions – passions so crude and animalistic. Discipline should have a better part of us lest we pay dearly for our actions. Some pay for their actions with their own blood, lives, property or something dear to them. Watchfulness should be observed and decorum shouldn’t take the backseat. We must kick out madness in our lives, odd thought and insane belief systems. Yeah, we must look at issues from the perspective of humanism with a view to drawing meaningful and sound decisions. We must shy away from acts so inimical capable of making us enmeshed in scandal so odious. Everyone should strive towards enthroning meliorism in all strata of our social life.
Sosa region was bubbling with life. It was a little sunny. The excited sun had just come out to dispel the cold weather.
Humans were already everywhere in Sosa, going about with their businesses. Some of them were gathering to go to the residence of the Mayor of Sosa to listen to his verdict on a rapist - a serial rapist who had devoured many young ladies, deflowered them and had always been on the run, wriggling free from the consequences of his actions. Some said he had voodoo and so he had overpowered the state machinery of justice with it. That was the reason he kept going scot free after each rape case.
This time, he was caught and couldn’t break loose as before. All eyes on him now. He must pay dearly for his actions – probably with his life or jail term. His name was James. He had a degree in English from one of the prestige ivory towers in the world. In fact, rumour had it that he graduated in flying colours. Instead of him to add values to society, he kept giving a boost to vices. In the words of the residents of Sosa, he was a disappointment to his ivory tower and society at large.
Everyone was seated in the Hall of Justice in the Mayor’s residence. The Mayor was on his seat. He had listened to the accused and his numerous victims. There were thousands of proofs against the accused. Some were real pictures of his actions and some video clips of all that he had done. The Mayor spoke now:
“Having found the accused guilty as a result of being found culpable by the police with evidence to establish his indulgence in series of rape cases which constitute a very serious offence in Uguru, Sosa and the world, here is my judgement,” said he adjusting his glasses and sitting up.
Everyone was attentive now. Silence perched on all and sundry present in the hall. Yes, deafening silence took over such that if a pin fell to the floor, the sound would echo everywhere in the hall. Just before the Mayor would continue with his verdict on the accused that now appeared sober and sorry, a woman stood up to speak.
Some police officers told her to sit or be thrown out and whisked away in a vehicle to their station. In fact, they would have done that but the Major instructed them to allow her pour out her mind.
“Woman, what have you to say to this? Speak up now,” ordered the Mayor.
“Thank you very much, my brilliant and highly intelligent Mayor. I hold you in high esteem,” praised the woman.
“Thanks, ma’am! We have no such time to waste here. I have other state affairs so crucial to attend to. So, go straight to the point,” ordered the Mayor.
Álright, sir! Did you know one lady named Brenda?”
“No!” replying sharply.
“Did you live in Oran region about twenty years ago?”
“Yes! But how is that related to the pressing issue at hand? Please, make your point,” said the impatient Mayor.
“Okay, why did you leave Oran?”
“I … I … I left for further education. I went to the University of Uguru for upward mobility in my career,” lied the Mayor.
“You are a liar, Mayor! Why are you lying?” asked the woman. One of the police officers there rushed at her and gave her three deft slaps. The woman staggered and would have fallen were it not for the men who came to stand by her.
“Let her be!” said the Mayor to the police officers.
“Let her talk, Mayor,” said one of the men.
“Speak up, woman. Hope you know the consequences of your accusation is punishable by five years jail term if such an accusation is baseless. Do you have any to support your claims?” Total silence descended on the hall like mist. The woman started shivering and hadn’t recovered from the slaps she received from the police officer.
”Yes, I do have”, asserted weakly.
“Where are the proofs? Let me have them!”
“You don’t have to. Everything will be displayed on the screen right away.
“Okay! Go ahead and show it!” said the Mayor now trembling. His mind immediately travelled to his past in Oran region. He quickly remembered he had raped so many a lady and Brenda was one of them. He was a serial rapist in his youth. Many ladies had fallen victims of his lethal appetite for sex. He always had his way and got away with his actions because his family was well placed and belonged to the ruling class almost in all regions of Uguru. They knew how to pull strings in order to get him out of every scandalous situation. He wept deep down. He wept inwardly for help. He wished the day had not come. He wished he could put the clock back.
He wished he hadn’t indulged in so stupid an action. Who would save him now? What would save him now? Money wouldn’t help. Not even his influence in high places. He raced to the present. Behold, the video clip of all that he ever did was out for all to see.
“Can you see things for yourself, Mayor? You have no moral standing to preside over this man’s case. You were a serial rapist in your youth. You always went scot free because your family is influential but now you are helpless and hapless! Someone with a clean record of their past life is the one eligible to preside over this affair. Does anybody have any contrary opinion to what I have said?”
“No!” chorused everyone.
There was commotion everywhere. The Mayor fainted and was attended to by police officers. He was taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The rapist who ought to be in police custody that day escaped, running. No one was there to arrest him as all the police officers were busy attending to the Mayor. While running, he was knocked down by a vehicle. He started bleeding profusely. His blood began to flow on the road like a river of water. Sympathizers would have rushed him to the hospital where the Mayor was being attended to but he couldn’t make it. He lost the battle to the grim reaper. Sorrow, pity and silence rent the air.
Later that day, news of the Mayor’s death was everywhere. He couldn’t withstand the humiliation. Karma had its way! Songs of sorrow was playing in the background as men, women, children, animals and nature went about mourning, downcast and sorrowful. Oh karma, are you so wicked that you can’t forgive the sins of man who has repented of his past deeds and now contributes so meaningfully to humanity and social life?