The Prison Cell Experience! (Part One)

20th February 2009 was a Friday. And i spent the night in a prison cell. I recount the moments freshly. I had never dreamt of sleeping in a prison cell. But the journeys of our lives can never be planned by any one except God. At some point i felt the Lord had betrayed me, he had put me to shame or has left me. And i can speak boldly that it taught me the importance of forgiveness because not for any thing can i let someone sleep in a prison cell.

A voice came in harshly. ''Officer, detain her! Take her statement and we are detaining her.'' Said the Assistant OC of Police. I had never heard about such words, but what i knew was that i was going to sleep in prison. I couldn't cry! My Mind was blank! The tears were with pain! Up to now, i tell people i can never explain the experience. The officer tried to drag on with time so that by the time i get into the cell, the male inmates would be asleep and so would not touch me and grab me or even sexually harass me. Yes, as you make your way to the women's prison cell, you pass through the male inmates cell. The atmosphere in the prison is like that of a boarding school but with denied priviledges of a bed, freedom, fresh air and the required number of meals a day.

I joined my fellow female inmates. We were three in the cell. Since the female inmates are clean, there is no bad stench from our side. Its just a big metallic gate that seperates the male and female inmates. ''Ngo olabye nebizibu bye kkomera,'' one of the elder inmates said to me. She quickly found me a mat and blanket all which had a slight urine stench. They also improvised for me a pillow which was folds of another blanket. I couldn't even rest my head on them. My fellow inmates seemed comfortable with the prison life. I sat and all i could do is stare blankly in the air. I didnot know what to think, i didnot know what to say to God. My mind was blank.

My heart wanted to hate everyone involved, but i couldn't. Instead i felt soo much love in my heart. I felt a sense of peace and a voice tell me everything is going to be okay. But my human flesh would not feel all this. Again i must say, my mind was blank. I rested my head on the improvised pillow, pulled my body together and tried to get some sleep.

To be continued......