ACT ELEVEN
Sekinat couldn't stop banging on the door, her voice pleading for help as she struggled to comprehend the chaos outside. The sound of gunshots and the terrified screams of men had her on edge. The moment they began to throw bombs at nearby houses, her determination to escape intensified, and she continued to pound on the door.
The empress, in a desperate bid for safety, hurried to the secured room with her daughter, following the emperor's instructions. The enigmatic figure, known as the "Hat Man," stood by the empire, risking his life to lead them to the safety room before confronting their adversaries. He gave orders to his troops to return fire.
Hat Man: "Keep moving, my lord! I've got you! Just keep moving..."
The emperor, his breath heavy with tension, continued with the Hat Man until they reached the concealed safety room.
Hat Man: "Don't come out, sir, until I say so."
Emperor: "Alright. Go out there and fight, and make sure we win!"
Hat Man: "You can trust me on that. Empress, stay safe, okay?"
Empress, trembling with fear, nodded in response.
Hat Man locked the door and then rushed back downstairs to confront their enemies. Before facing them, he made a quick stop at his weapon room, gathering an arsenal of weapons.
Hat Man: "They messed with the empire, now they've messed with me!"
With every determined step he took towards the battlefield, the ground beneath him shook, a testament to the devastation already wrought. The Hat Man fired his first shot and launched bombs into the midst of the enemy forces. In mere minutes, he managed to eliminate more than 30 adversaries. His eyes and body were wholly focused on the attack, and he roared in anger as he continued to fire, a one-man force to be reckoned with.
As Sekinat sat in the room, tears streaming down her face, she was overwhelmed with fear and worry. Suddenly, she noticed a window in the room. She moved closer and attempted to open it, but it was locked as well. She refused to give up this time and continued to strike the window until it finally gave way. However, what she saw outside left her in shock – a grim scene of lifeless bodies scattered on the ground.
Gasping in horror, she lifted her gaze to locate the source of the ongoing battle. To her astonishment, only the Hat Man and a handful of his comrades remained, fighting off their relentless attackers. Just as she was trying to make sense of the situation, someone approached the Hat Man from behind, attempting to stab him in the back. Fortunately, the Hat Man swiftly spotted the assailant and granted him his deadly wish. In the process, the Hat Man himself was shot in the side of his neck, causing Sekinat to scream out in distress. She quickly covered her mouth to avoid being discovered.
Desperate to aid the Hat Man, Sekinat scoured her room, hoping to find something that could help him. She realized that the Hat Man was in grave danger, weakened and on his knees. The leader of their enemies stepped forward, ordering his men to cease fire as they had the Hat Man in their sights.
Enemy Leader: "So, you think you can kill me, huh? You always flaunt your fleeting bravery, but you have no idea who you're crossing paths with. You're messing with forces beyond your comprehension."
The enemy leader lowered his head to his cutlass, intent on using the Hat Man as a message to the empire. Just as he raised his weapon to deliver the fatal blow, a shot rang out, instantly striking the enemy leader in the head. The shock of the sudden turn of events left everyone in disbelief, looking around to determine who had taken down their leader.
Regrettably for their leader, he passed away instantly, leaving the Hat Man's remaining men with an opportunity to chase and engage the retreating enemy forces.
The Hat Man, though lying helplessly on the ground and soaked with blood, managed to muster a smile as he stared in the direction from which the lifesaving bullet had come. His men rushed to his aid, rescuing him from the dire situation.
Sekinat, still panting heavily, set her gun down and sank to her knees.
Sekinat: "I can't believe I've taken another life... Oh no! Ya Salam... Sekinat, what have you done? Noooooo!" (She broke down in tears) "Why does the gun always seem to target the wrong part? I was aiming for his hand, not his head!" (She cried like a baby but was interrupted as two men burst into her room, carrying the Hat Man, covered in his own blood. She hastily wiped her tears) "But... but... why are you bringing him to me? I swear, he wasn't the one I shot! Please, don't punish me again."
The two men exchanged confused glances upon hearing her statement.
The Men: "Just shut up and treat him. He specifically requested that no one else attend to him except you. And another thing, he mustn't die. Consider that a direct order and get to work. It's at the empire's behest... Now, where are the surgical instruments?" (They placed him on the bed, where all the necessary equipment for the operation was arranged.)
Sekinat, jaw dropping in disbelief, muttered.
Sekinat: "I... I... I thought... uh, I can't believe this." (She wiped her tears and asked them to excuse her. She approached the bed, and for a few seconds, she couldn't help but gaze at the Hat Man. Then, she checked his pulse) "He's still breathing! I don't know what kind of magic you perform on yourself, but you should have been dead a long time ago... yet you keep escaping." (She began her work, oblivious to the fact that she was being observed by the empire, who stood at the door with the empress, his attention focused on Sekinat's magical healing abilities.)
Empire: "Hmmmm." (He cleared his throat and watched Sekinat's skilled work.)
Empress, feeling a tinge of jealousy and insecurity, thought to herself.
Empress: "Look at how he admires her. When was the last time he looked at me like that? Is it because she's a surgeon, or am I not being useful to him?" (She cleared her throat) "I'm leaving."
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The next morning
Suraj barge into his apartment as he struggles to breath and walk.. but to his surprise he found his wife at home..
Suraj: (vomit blood) baby…. You… aare back!
Summayah: (run to his aid) baby! What happened to you? baby please talk to me?
Were you attacked?
Suraj: (fell on the floor) I need water!!!
Summayah: shuaib!!! Get your daddy water!.. baby talk to me.. we need to go to the hospital… you are bleeding seriously!
Suraj: I’m…. fine! I just need a first aid treatment.
Summayah: no you are not fine! You are bleeding too much.. shuaib where are you now? Whats taking you so long?
Shuaib: here mum!
Summayah: (hijack the water from him) take honey..
Shuaib: (gush the water down) I had an accident on my way back..
Summayah: how come? Why didn’t they rush you to hospital? Why did they let you go? Shuaib where is the car key? Hospital straight.
Suraj: (struggles to speak) no! I said no!! … I’m not going to the hospital.. I just want a first aid treatment.
Summayah: I’m not the one you will land into trouble! I’m not the one you will turn into a widow at young age! Shuaib help your dad up.. so we can put him in the car.. we are moving.
Suraj: (push their hand away) I said no!! are you deaf? I said I’m not going to the hospital and that is final!!
Summayah: what are you saying out of your mouth, for Allah’s sake? Do you want
to die? I cant give you any first aid treatment because I’m not a doctor..
Suraj: then watch me die! (losing balance) but don’t you dare take me to hospital… that is final.
Summayah: (panicking) what am I going to do bayi?
Shauib: don’t worry mum! I aready called our family doctor.
Summayah: good idea! My boy! Ok dear… lets get you change…
Empire: (He paid no attention to the empress, his gaze fixed on Sekinat.)
Empress: (Furiously walked away.)
Empire: "Killer!"
Killer: "Yes, my lord." (He bowed his head.)
Empire: "Is my army ready?"
Killer: "Yes, sir, but, umm..." (He scratched his head.)
Empire: "Speak!"
Killer: "Well, my lord, ten bags of cocaine and thirty million naira are missing."
Empire: "What?"
Sekinat: (She paid no attention to them, fully engrossed in her work.)
Killer: "I'm sorry, sir, but the attackers were responsible. While we were engaged with the main attackers, I suppose they sent some of their men to rob us."
Empire: "That was their mission, you idiot! So you're telling me that no guards were present to stop them?"
Killer: "The enemy killed them all."
Empire: (Panting heavily.) "No one dares steal my treasure and escape unscathed! I will ensure that you and the robbers pay for this. Their leader will learn what it means to cross me."
Killer: "I'm sorry, sir, but their leader has been killed by Sekinat."
Empire: "What did you say?" (Surprised.) "She's among my armies?"
Killer: "The situation is still quite puzzling, my lord. Whether she knows how to use a gun remains a mystery. There's no need to worry about the robbers any longer."
Suddenly, one of their subordinates rushed in.
Killer: "What happened?"
Subordinate: "We found all the missing treasure! The cocaine is back in its storage, and the money is here!" (He dragged in a Ghana-must-go bag.)
Killer: (A bright smile on his face.) "Well done!"
Empire: "You were all saved in the nick of time! No one messes with me... This calls for a celebration. No one enters my empire and leaves alive."
The subordinates joyfully cheered and praised the empire.
Empire: "Killer, come with me!"
Killer: "Yes, my lord!" (A bright smile on his face.)
Sekinat: (Wondering what was causing the loud noise outside once again.) "One more bullet in your body will put your life in danger! Your body can't take another hit; it's covered in scars." (She shook her head.) "You are indeed a warrior." (She continued with her surgery.)
*******************
An hour later
After the surgery, Sekinat fell back into a chair, clearly exhausted.
Sekinat: (Exhaling softly.) "I'm so tired... Now all we need is for him to get better by the will of Allah... But wait, why on earth did he insist they bring him to me? As if the other doctors here are useless? What a peculiar man." (She relaxed in the chair, gazing up at the ceiling.)
Three old women barged into the room, clearly worried about the Hat Man's condition.
Three Old Women: "Where is our son? I hope he's feeling better now?" (They pushed Sekinat's chair aside, their attention fixated on the Hat Man.)
Old Woman 2: "Aww... my little boy. If only they'd let you rest from all of this... Look how helpless he looks in that bed."
Old Woman 1: "My boy..." (She rubbed his head.) "Don't worry, my boy. You will be fine. We can't just watch you die. We are your backbone."
Sekinat: (Staring at them in bewilderment.) "You old women are something else. Is that why you had to push my chair? Is this how you thank me for treating him?"
Old Woman 3: "We've saved your behind several times as well. I guess this is your way of saying 'thank you' by treating our boy. So, we're even. Aww, look at my little baby..." (The three old women surrounded the bed.)
Sekinat: "You can only help him get better by leaving him alone. He needs time to heal. You're not helping him like this."
Old Women: "Are you trying to teach us how to take care of him? We've taken care of him since he was a child. How dare you speak to us this way?"
Sekinat: (Rolling her eyes, then realizing something.) "Wait... you raised him?"
Old Women: "Yes! We are his mother, his caregivers, his doctors, his nurses, and the love of mothers he needs. We are all he has, and he can never heal without us. So, stay out of this."
Sekinat: "Oh, really? That explains a lot about the poor sewing of his scars..."
Old Woman 2: "I just hope my son will be fine... I hope she hasn't put something in his body."
Sekinat: (Feeling irritated already.) "You know what? I'm out of here! You can stay with him all night. I need some rest, anyway." (She tried to exit the room, but the door was shut right in her face.) "Seriously? Now you won't let me out?"
Old Women: (Clapping in the air, and suddenly, food was brought in.) "Give it to her. She must be starving."
Sekinat: "I never said I was hungry!"
Old Women: "And we're not giving you food just to survive; we're feeding you so you have the strength to take care of our son. Now, eat up."
Sekinat: (Chuckles.) "Really?" (She takes the food and sits on the floor.) "Thanks for not starving me." (She said somewhat assertively.)
Old Women: (Their focus remained on the Hat Man.) "You will be fine, our son. We will always be there for you till the end."
Sekinat: (As she dug into her food, she observed their behavior and felt a sense of relief and sympathy for the Hat Man.) "Now I understand why they're always around my neck. I never knew they raised him. So, he was born here? Such a tragic life." (She returned her attention to her meal.)
Old Women: (Finally moving to Sekinat's eating spot.) "We just want to say thank you for saving his life." (They said in a calm voice.)
Sekinat: (Suddenly coughing.)
Old Women: "We will forever be grateful for this. Please, watch over him throughout the night. I guess you aren't who we thought you really are. You are all we have to take care of our son. Have a good night." (They exited the room.)
Sekinat: (Sighing.) "Seriously? These old women are just full of surprises...
Unbelievable! They almost made me choke."
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Throughout the night, Sekinat had a sleepless vigil, watching over the Hat Man. Despite the temptation to succumb to sleep, she did her best to stay awake until daybreak.
The Hat Man finally regained consciousness, but he was still weak. He noticed that Sekinat had rested her head on the bed while sitting next to him. He couldn't help but stare at her and admire her for a long moment.
Sekinat: (coughing in her sleep)
Hat Man: (apologetic and too weak to move) Sorry...
Sekinat: (waking up, she was surprised) You're awake! Masha Allah! Alhamdulillah Rabbil Alamin! That was fast! (She jumped out of her chair and began to perform a quick check-up) How are you feeling? I know it must hurt, but you'll be fine. I'm just so relieved that you're conscious now.
Hat Man: (unable to take his eyes off her, he responded with a weak smile) Thank
you.
Sekinat: (shocked) What did you say?