ACT ONE
6: 23AM
HAZEEMAH:(Waking up to chaos) Why can't I have a peaceful home like others? They won't stop yelling at each other after 33 years of marriage, for crying out loud. (Puts on her slippers and heads out to confront them.)
HAJIA SHUKROH: It's not going to happen this time. You know what? I've had enough of your complaints every single day. There's nothing I can do to satisfy you, and you won't stop threatening to marry a second wife. Who's stopping you? It's not like I'm going to feed or raise your kids. Do whatever pleases you, but I've had enough.
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: And that's exactly what I'm going to do. It's my choice, and if you can't grant me peace in this house after enduring your nagging for 30 years of marriage—
HAJIA SHUKROH: It's 33 years! Not 30!
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: You see! All you do is correct me!
HAJIA SHUKROH: Because you're never accurate! If you truly loved me, why wouldn't you know the exact number of years we've been together? Answer me.
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: What difference does it make? Tell me! Woman, you are frustrating me!
HAZEEMAH: (Hurriedly runs to interfere) Dad! Mom! Please, it's too early for this again. Don’t you two get tired? When will you rest? Look at the gray hair on your heads. This is frustrating, and the worst part is you'll still settle it between yourselves. All you do is cause noise pollution.
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: You have the guts to say that! Are you calling us a pollution? Can you see this girl?
HAJIA SHUKROH: You have grown wings and have the guts to talk back to us? I see we've tolerated too much from you, and it has to end right now!
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: Exactly, dear!
HAZEEMAH: Can you see? You’re already agreeing with each other. You just make me so confused at times.
HAJIA SHUKROH: This is why you should never interfere in our matters. You are not needed here, and when elders are talking, you keep quiet. It’s normal to have misunderstandings, and we are trying to settle it here, so kindly walk away. If you’re not okay with us this way, find a man and go to your matrimonial home. We've had enough of you here.
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: Exactly, my love! You graduated with first class, and we couldn’t be more proud. So, find a husband and stop this job hunting. You’re a woman and getting old. We want grandchildren from you too.
HAJIA SHUKROH: We've told you several times, people like us can't be employed. We're called all sorts of names like masquerade, old school, over-religious... When are you going to wake up and get a life? No one will employ you. We can support you if you want to start a business, but please, give up!
HAZEEMAH: I can't believe I came to settle your argument only to become the main topic. Anyway, I’m going to prove you wrong! I can get employed with my Islamic attire. You can't judge me by my dress but by what's in here (touching her head). Working in an office is my dream job, and you once told me I could achieve anything if I stayed on the path of Islam. I just want this one dream, Dad. Please don’t give up on me. I have an appointment at the third biggest company in Nigeria. I just need your support and belief in me. I'm never giving up.
HAJIA SHUKROH: (Sighs heavily and moves closer to her) What are we going to do with you? Hmm? May Allah (SWT) be with you. If you're not giving up, neither are we. Just be yourself and don’t stress too much. Right, dear?
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: Right! I am so proud of you, Hazeemah! Go get your dream job and remember, Allah comes first in every decision you make.
HAZEEMAH: (Bright smile on her face) Thank you so much for not giving up on me. As I was saying earlier, please learn to settle your matters quietly without waking the neighbors.
ALHAJI NURUDEEN: is your mother oh! I am just tired of her, I’m tired of her wahala every single day, she pissed me off.
HAJIA SHUKROH: can you hear your father? So I pissed you off?
HAZEEMAH: (roll her eyes) anyway, kindly excuse me while I go get ready for my appointment! Not even an hustaz can settle una matter (head back into her room and slam the door).
(CURTAIN)
MRS. SHOLA: (yawning as she comes down from bed and head straight to the bathroom) good morning.
Mr. OYEGBAMI: Morning! (brushing his teeth)
Mrs. SHOLA: (stand in front of the mirror checking herself out as she begins her morning face routine)
20 minutes after
MR. OYEGBAMI: SHOLA!!! (yelling her name from the dining table)
MRS. SHOLA: (finally join them) what is it?
MR. OYEGBAMI: So you heard me in the first place!
MRS. SHOLA: I’m here now, so what’s the problem?
MR. OYEGBAMI: (Nod this head angrily) why did she prepared this for breakfast?
MRS. SHOLA: (stay calm) so you don’t want it?
MR. OYEGBAMI: answer my damn question, Woman!.
MRS. SHOLA: I guess you are not hungry then.. (move to the dining table and join them while she peck her daughter on the cheek) you look so adorable my little angel.
NAJAT: thank you mummy (bright smile on her face)
MRS. SHOLA: I hope your nanny didn’t stress you much while dressing you up for school?
NAJAT: No!
MRS. SHOLA: That’s my girl (call out their driver) Suraju!!
SURAJU: yes ma!!! (Run into the house)
MRS. SHOLA: get my bags and put them in the car and make sure nothing is wrong with the car this morning; I don’t want a bad week.
SURAJU: alright ma’am (run into their bedroom)
MR. OYEBAMI: so you have nothing to say concerning what I just said? (Roar at her angrily)
MRS. SHOLA: so what do you want me to do? if you don’t like what she prepared then you send her to prepare another meal you desire, so why facing me? do I look like your chef?
MR. OYEGBAMI: so this is what you have to say?
MRS. SHOLA: (confront him) what do you want me to say then? Off my dress and move to the kitchen? You know what? (she gets on her feet) I don’t want anyone to ruin this new week for me.. baby girl… let me drop you off at school. C’mon! lets go baby. (majestically walk out of the house)
NAJAT: (wave at him) bye daddy.
Mr. OYEGBAMI: (furiously throw all the dishes on the dining table on the floor in anger as he was panting heavily) I’m gonna make you pay for always making my life a living hell, Shola! Aaaaahhhh! This woman is testing my patience!.
(LIGHT FADE)
7:29am
HAZEEMAH: (adjust her Khimar and dust herself and say to herself) I know the interview I gonna be worse as usual but (take a deep breath as she moves towards the gate) here goes nothing (as she was about to knock the gate she bump into the security man in uniform) oh! Good morning sir.
SECURITY MAN: (Scan her from head to toe) can I help you?
HAZEEMAH: (adjust her bag) good morning sir, I am here for the job interview.
SECURITY MAN: (scan her once again and chuckles) I can see you are mistaken, actually this is not a mosque okay? So you are at the wrong place. But I can guide you on the nearest mosques not far from here.
HAZEEMAH: (confused) I’m sorry?
SECURITY MAN: you see! If you go by your left here, just keep walking and you will see one nearby, It is painted blue.
HAZEEMAH: (still confused as she tried to clarify herself) I said I am here for the job interview, not asking for a direction.
SECURITY MAN: are you serious? So you are here for an interview and you dress like a masquerade?
HAZEEMAH: (to herself) I should have seen this coming.. (respond to him) look sir, you cant judge me by my appearance, kindly let me in, it almost time.
SECURITY MAN: (warmly welcome her fellow job seekers) you are highly welcome sir/ma. (Resume to her) look Hajia! I cant let you in.. You are not properly dressed and that alone can make you a total failure for this job.
HAZEEMAH: please sir, you are old enough to be my elder brother, if I happen to be your sister seeking for this opportunity, won’t you let me in? are you not a Muslim just like me?
SECURITY MAN: if I happened to be your elder brother, I won’t let you go for a job interview dressed like this, so you are your own enemy of progress.. and yes! I am also a Muslim but you over religious people on this earth won’t let us breathe.. can’t you use a veil? Or a cap like that lady used her own? But people like you always claim to be perfect.
HAZEEMAH: please sir, let me in.. look I have my evidence for the interview, it is about to start, so please don’t let me missed it (about to break down)
REEM: (interrupt them) good morning sir, I am here for the job interview.
SECURITY MAN: (admires his suite) good morning future leader, you look rich already (open the gate for him) please come in.
REEM: (about to enter when he notice Hazeemah and paused) excuse me sir, why is she prevented from going in? I noticed she had been begging to let her in.
HAZEEMAH: (takes few steps closer to him) please sir, help me to beg him, I am also here for the interview but he failed to let me in due to my dressing.. Please, it almost time.
REEM: (withdraw his leg from the gate) why are you stopping her sir? you are in no position to stop her from achieving her dream.. let the interviewer be the judge of that because I am aware you are crossing your limit here.
SECURITY MAN: so you want to be her hero uh? Don’t worry.. I promise you! if they offer you this job, I promise to resign from mine. that’s my promise! Go in!.
HAZEEMAH: (jaw drop as she steps forward) thank you so much sir (they both enter the company together.
SECURITY MAN: look at her! Rubbish people! Over sabi!! Mtwwww.
2 minutes after
(Hazeemah and Reem joined their fellow job seekers as they await their name to be called)
HAZEEMAH: Thank you so much sir, for helping me (smile)
REEM: (smile back) it nothing! It your right.. (Focus on his credentials)
HAZEEMAH: (heart panting heavily as she whispers to herself) yaa Allah! guide me! help me! protect me! if it mine! don’t let it pass me.. (suddenly notice others laughing at her dressing).
EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVE: (opens the door and began to call out their names) Funke Bello, Habeeb A. Suraj and Hazeemah Wuraola Ismail.
HAZEEMAH: yes sir! (hurriedly get on her feet as they proceed into the hiring suite) ya Allah help me.
3 MINUTES LATER
Hazeemah came out of the suite sadly as the interviewers couldn’t stop laughing at her dressing and she was disqualified immediately, this got her even angrier a she got to the awaiting section and found others laughing as well. She furiously walks out of the company angrily when she suddenly bumps into the security man again.
SECURITY MAN: (burst into laughter) I knew it!! you! (Majestically opens the gate for her) bye bye!!
HAZEEMAH: (Gives him a dirty look and walk out of the gate)
SECURITY MAN: She didn’t even last 10 minutes in the company, thanks for stopping by.. (Continue laughing)
HAZEEMAH: (dissolve into tears as she stopped a taxi)
(LIGHT FADE)
LATER IN THE DAY
HAJIA SHUKROH: (stand by the door step) where did he drop it now? Why is he always like this? (suddenly noticed there is a key at the door and sigh heavily) Hazeemah! (she enters the house) as salam alaykum, I’m home dear.. Hazeemah! (Caught a faint cry coming from the room) c’mon! not again! (she enters her room) my babyyyy… (Pat her back) this is your 11th time of being rejected, when are you gonna wake up and start something new in your life? You are so intelligent to be your own boss! Why are you letting this meaningless people pierce thousands of arrow into your heart.. you deserve so much better.
HAZEEMAH: just leave me alone and don’t say anything.. allow Allah to hear my pain! So, you are interrupting! (Resumed to her cries) please leave…
HAJIA SHUKROH: you know what? I’m gonna report you to your elder brothers.. I have hard enough of your stupidity! You are my only daughter but you stress me just like your father! And I wont let any of you rise my blood pressure. Get up now and eat something! And stop being worried about these worldly affairs.
HAZEEMAH: (sadly look at her in surprise and break down in tears again) I am never sure you are going to understand me, never ever! (Cries out like a baby).
(CURTAIN)
LATER IN THE NIGHT:
(ON A PHONE CALL)
KHALID: I know how hard this must be for you but can I be honest with you?
HAZEEMAH: go on!
KHALID: First of all, I would like to commend your work, your effort, your commitment towards your dreams, sometimes I feel like you are too innocent for that country called Nigeria, you deserve somewhere better like here in America, there is multiple job opportunity. In fact, I can help you work on your visa to Saudi Arabia where you can dream all you lives and no one criticize your dressing. I feel like you deserve better but you wouldn’t listen to me.. I don’t think you can be employed in Nigeria no matter how you try, don’t get me wrong! But your attire will be their main reason for rejecting you all the time and I am sick and tired of seeing you helpless all the time over rejections multiples time. Just listen to me and give me the permission to bring you here with me… but before that, I’m gonna fly to Nigeria and come ask for your hand in marriage so you can come here as my lovely zawjah.
HAZEEMAH: easy for you to say, I should have known where you are heading with whole motivations but guess what? Not gonna work out! I don’t know how many times do you want me to repeat this same statement.. I am not ready for marriage.
KHALID: and when will you ever be? It been 5 months we’ve known each other and I’m so eager to start a new family with you, Hazeemah. I know I haven’t seen your true face because you use Niqob.. but trust me when I say I fell in love with you for the very time i heard your voice, I just feel like you are the one.. please stop pushing me away. I promise you that I will make your dream come true.. I will give you the happiest life you’ve always wanted. Just let me come over to see your parents.
HAZEEMAH: and this is the main reason why I cant let you come over yet, don’t you understand? I said I want to do this on my own.. I want this struggles, it will make me value it when my dreams finally comes true. I just want you to understand me. You know damn well how much I appreciate your support, but! I need to do this all on my own and if you think I can’t achieve my dreams except if I become your wife then you are absolutely mistaken.
KHALID: please don’t get me wrong, all I want is the best for you.. I can’t watch get humiliated multiple times by people that doesn’t even deserve your attention. Please… if you let me come over.. I promise you I will not cross my limit. I will support every decision you make after then. Please just give me this last chance. I want to wake up next to you every single day. I am tired of living alone, I want us to plan this future together. Remember I once told you my dream too and you are part of it. Please Hazeemah!.
HAJIA SHUKROH: (suddenly barged into her room to interrupt her conversation) look Mr. Man! You are free to come over anytime you want! We are sick and tired of her already.
HAZEEMAH: (Jaw drop in disbelief) ummu!
KHALID: (Surprised too and smile) as salam alaykum ma’am.
HAJIA SHUKROH: Walaykum salam waramatulah wabarakatuh.. don’t listen to her, you are free to come see us.. She is getting old already! Enough of this Habibi!! On the phone.
KHALID: We are sorry ma’am. Since you grant me the permission then I’m coming, very soon.
HAZEEMAH: (Furiously end the call and glance at her mother) ummu!
HAJIA SHUKROH: What?