ACTS FIVE
Sekinat closed her eyes in shock, her heart racing. She couldn't fathom why she was still perfectly fine after the gunshot.
Sekinat (in her mind): Where am I? Am I in heaven already?
The hat man couldn't hold back his laughter. "You're such a funny girl. I can't believe you just made me laugh."
Sekinat cautiously opened one eye as she saw him lower the gun and touch his chest in relief.
Hat man: "You fell for that, didn't you?"
Sekinat couldn't believe her eyes, wondering why he was smiling over such an outrageous act.
Hat man: "You're stuck here with me, and there's no going back to your old life. Just get used to your new reality, and you won't encounter any problems. The better you listen, the easier it will be for you." He attempted to take his leave.
Sekinat, her heart still pounding heavily, stammered, "I can't believe you joked with my life like that. What if you had fired the trigger for real?"
Hat man: "Nah, I knew there was no bullet in it."
Sekinat: "But what if you had forgotten one inside? What if you had killed me in the name of a joke?"
The hat man scanned her for a few seconds. "I can see your confidence is showing now. That's what I love to see in you. If you want to survive, you need to face your fear." He then turned to leave.
Sekinat still couldn't believe her eyes. "What kind of people are these? Oh, where have I landed myself, dear God? Please guide me safely back home."
**********************
The next morning
Summayah entered the living room and found the entire family gathered.
Summayah: (greeting) As-salamu alaykum, everyone. I'm off to work. Have a lovely day!
She grabbed her husband's hand.
Suraj: (embarrassed) Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad.
The entire family watched in silence as Summayah tried to walk out of the house.
Alhaja Selimat: (furiously watching her) Police! Arrest her!
Summayah: (paused, shocked) Excuse me, Mom?
Alhaja Selimat: I'm sure she knows something about her sister's disappearance. They had an argument in the house before Sekinat went missing. So, please do your job.
Two police officers approached her.
Suraj: (in disbelief) Alhaja! My wife is innocent.
Alhaja Selimat: (adamant) I can see you want to join her. You know what, Officer?
Arrest the two of them.
Summayah: (incensed) What, Mom? What are you talking about? You think I kidnapped my own sister? Don't touch me! (she roared at the police officers)
Alhaja Selimat: (provoking) Oh! Is she really your sister? Are you sure about that?
Since when?
Summayah: (bewildered) Dad! Are you just going to stand by and watch this happen? They want to handcuff me and my husband for no reason. Dad, please do something!
Alhaji Sulaiman: (somber) Your mother is right, Summayah. Ever since your sister went missing, you haven't shown any remorse. You haven't contributed anything to this family. Even if you couldn't help with the search, you could have been there emotionally. You've acted as if you're not a part of this family. You leave in the morning and come back late, expecting dinner to be served.
Summayah: (frustrated) But Dad! Is that why she had to order them to arrest us for no reason? We're innocent. How could I kidnap my own sister? She's my blood!
Suraj: (pleading) Please, Alhaji! We're innocent. We know nothing about Sekinat's disappearance. Please believe us.
Summayah: (furious, watching her mother look away as they handcuff them) Today, I confirm that you aren't my biological mother! No, I mean you both aren't my biological parents!
Alhaji Sulaiman: (shocked) What did you say?
Summayah: (firmly) Yes, it's true. You aren't my parents. You've hated me since I was a child. Why? You've always treated Sekinat like a goddess, blaming me for anything that happens to her, even though I have no idea where she is. But that's okay. If staying out of your sight will make you happy, then I'll willingly go with the police. And guess what? Just know that I'm not your daughter anymore. You've lost me. Let's go, police.
Shuaib: (running to his grandpa) Grandpa, please don't let them take my parents away. Please, Grandpa. (He breaks down in tears.) Please, Grandma.
Summayah: (impatient) What are you waiting for? Take me away already.
Police Officer: We're waiting for Alhaja's order.
Alhaja Selimat: (defiant) Think whatever you like. But Allah knows I gave birth to you. I carried you in my belly for nine months and seven days. You suckled at my breasts, and you were my womb opener. But the fact that you show no concern for your missing sister is enough proof that you know something about her whereabouts. I demand an answer right now.
Summayah: (resolute) Just take me away already.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (giving a signal to the police officers)
Suraj: (pleading) I believe this is a misunderstanding. I swear my wife is worried about Sekinat's disappearance, but she just doesn't express it.
Summayah: (assertive) Will you please be quiet? I'm a lawyer, and I can defend myself. We'll take this case to court, and trust me, I will win.
Alhaja Selimat: (controlling) This same arrogance of yours also makes me wonder if I truly gave birth to you. I elevated you to your current position, and I can bring you down from it. I gave you comfort, and I can take your freedom away because I gave birth to you. You must bow to my toes because I brought you into this world.
Is that clear?
Alhaji Sulaiman: (clears his throat) Selimat!
Alhaja Selimat: (impatient) What?
Alhaji Sulaiman: Take it easy with her! You don't have to be harsh on her like that.
She isn't a child anymore. She's now a mother and deserves respect.
Alhaja Selimat: (defensive) How can she be given respect when she hasn't shown me any first?
Summayah: (impatient) What are you waiting for, officers? Take us away already.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (pleading) Let her go, please.
The police complied, releasing Summayah.
Summayah: (determined) Don't expect me to return to your house or your life again. (She rubbed her wrist and stormed out of the house.)
Alhaja Selimat: (angry) Get back here now! You don't walk out on me while I'm still talking to you! Summayah!
Alhaji Sulaiman: (firmly) That's enough! (He stood up.)
Alhaja Selimat: (she obeyed, lowering her gaze.)
Alhaji Sulaiman: Please, officers, you may leave while we resolve some family matters.
Police Officer: (nodding) Alright, sir.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (turning to his wife) You know I've warned you about this girl.
She's not a child anymore.
Alhaja Selimat: (defensive) But she—
Alhaji Sulaiman: (cutting her off) Not another word from you! Stay quiet while I'm talking to you because I'm your husband.
Alhaja Selimat: (she lowered her gaze instantly.)
Alhaji Sulaiman: I've also warned you repeatedly to let her be for now. Now she's gone, and you're afraid of being alone. Do you think she doesn't have her own home? She's still under my roof because of our family rules, but you've chased her out. Thanks to you.
Alhaja Selimat: (apologetic) My king, you know that's not my intention.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (firmly) I said stay quiet!
Alhaja Selimat: (apologetic) I'm sorry, sir.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (bluntly) This is entirely your fault. You failed to raise them properly, to bond them together since childhood. Now you're blaming them? It's entirely your fault, and you need to fix this mess, or else. (He walked out.)
Alhaja Selimat: (pleading) Honey, please! Don't take this out on me. You know I'm trying. (She sighed heavily and slumped onto the couch.)
*******************
Afternoon, 4:23 PM
Sekinat: (performs Tayammum in her room and begins her prayer)
Personal Assistant: (He opens the door, furious) Hey, what are you doing over there?
He walks up to her, trying to grab her hand, but she pushes him away, staying focused on her prayer.
Personal Assistant: Did you just push me away? (He tries to hit her, but she halts his hand with hers, still praying.) What are you doing? What the hell are you doing?
Sekinat: (completes her prayer and rises, rubbing her face) Don't ever interrupt me while I'm praying. If you don't pray, then don't stop others from praying. Is that clear?
Personal Assistant: Are you talking back to me? How dare you! (He pulls out his gun and fires it into the air.) You want to die?
Sekinat: (shocked and frightened) Please!
Personal Assistant: You know what? I should have silenced you while you were performing that ritual of yours.
Sekinat: I said I'm sorry now… please.
Personal Assistant: You don't deserve to live. You have the guts to talk to me like that? You need to die! (He suddenly realizes someone has a gun pointed at the back of his head.)
Hat Man: Drop it! Or I'll blow your head off.
Personal Assistant: (raising his hands) Who is that? (He recognizes the voice.) Boss?
Hat Man: (revealing himself) What the hell were you trying to do?
Personal Assistant: (nervous and trembling) No, boss, I was just… I was just trying to welcome her into our ways, you know? I wouldn't have killed her. I was just playing around. (He bows his head.)
Hat Man: You should have! (He sets his gun down.) Find her something to eat; she must be starving.
Sekinat: (still unsure of the Hat Man's intentions) Why do you keep saving me? Just let me die once and for all. What's the point of saving me when you won't set
me free?
Hat Man: (exasperated) Shut up! Get out and do what I instructed you to do.
Personal Assistant: I'm sorry, boss! (He quickly exits.)
Hat Man: (turning to Sekinat) You mentioned something about freedom earlier. I do want to grant you freedom, but you're too stubborn to follow simple instructions. Do you really want your freedom? (He confronts her furiously.)
Sekinat: (nervous but sincere) I… I mean not freedom through death, but... What's the point of keeping me here? What exactly do you want from me?
Hat Man: (sits down and exhales) You know, the first time we met, on the bus? I was kidnapped by my enemies and was being taken to their headquarters when we saw you. Their leader was attracted to you and planned to harm you before taking your life. I wish I could have done something to stop them from letting you on that bus, but you were so desperate to get in. Seeing you enter that bus gave me chills. I wanted to get rid of you, and I wanted to save you at the same time. I still don't know why I keep saving you. Many lives have been lost just to keep you alive, and you have no idea. And now you want your freedom, and you expect it to be possible? (He hits the desk angrily.) Huh?
Sekinat: (startled)
Hat Man: (sighs heavily) There's no point in saving you all the time, and don't expect me to save you again. The door will be wide open for you to try and escape. I won't risk my life for you again. I don't even know what I see in you. (As he tries to leave, Sekinat calls out.)
Sekinat: I'm sorry!
Hat Man: (tightens his fist and slams the door)
Sekinat: (hurriedly moves toward the door to check if it's open) Alhamdulillah! He kept his word. Finally, I can escape from here. You don't have to worry about saving me anymore. I'll leave this place once and for all. (She picks up the gun.) No, wait! I can't just escape like that. I need to wait until night falls when everyone is asleep. Yes! That's a great idea, Sekinat! You are just so smart. He can't expect me to spend the rest of my life here
.*********************
The night is shrouded in darkness as Sekinat sneaks barefoot out of the house, her only ally in the quest for escape. The obscurity around her provides a comforting veil, offering a better chance at evasion. Each step she takes is fraught with danger
as she inadvertently steps on sharp objects, inflicting painful injuries on her toes.
However, she perseveres, determined to break free from her captors.
But the night has other plans. As she steps on yet another sharp object, an excruciating pain shoots through her legs, rendering her unable to stifle her cries of agony. Suddenly, the room is bathed in light, and the cruel reality becomes painfully clear. Sekinat finds herself surrounded by men, their guns pointed at her trembling form. The realization dawns upon her that she is trapped in a cocaine storeroom, a place of peril and uncertainty.
Sekinat: (screaming in pain and desperation) Ahhhhhh! Temi ti bami! (I'm in trouble!)