EPISODE SIX
M.K: What really happened? How did it happen?
Hazeemah: My mum called me right after you left this morning, crying. She said Abu suddenly collapsed.
M.K: Oh my God! What's the name of the hospital?
Hazeemah: Al-Rahman Private Hospital.
M.K: Alright, I’m coming over! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?
Hazeemah: Tell you what? When you’re busy chasing after your father's whereabouts? M.K., face your family, and I’ll face mine. This is our new chapter of challenges after marriage. Let’s embrace it with faith.
M.K: What are you even saying? Anyway, I’m coming over! (Hangs up)
Hazeemah: No! It’s too late already! We’re in the middle of the night! (Realizes he’s hung up) Why does he always take risks like this? (Dials his number repeatedly, but it’s not reachable) For Allah’s sake, stop making rash decisions! Please pick up...
30 minutes later
M.K.: (Runs into the reception and approaches a nurse) Please, I’m looking for—
Hazeemah: (Spots him) Husband!
M.K.: (Turns and rushes to her) Where are they?
Hazeemah: Why do you always act like this?
M.K.: (Panting heavily) What are you talking about?
Hazeemah: By putting your life at risk like this! In the middle of the night! If you don’t value your life, remember you have a family—and a wife!
M.K.: Well, this wouldn’t have happened if you’d told me earlier! (Still breathing heavily)
Hazeemah: (Notices his condition) Come with me. (Grabs his hand and leads him to a seat in the reception) Have you eaten anything?
M.K.: (Realizes something) Oh... I... I forgot.
Hazeemah: You forgot to eat? Do you hear yourself?
M.K.: Oh, please stop nagging! I don’t have the strength for this. (Still trying to catch his breath)
Hazeemah: (Furiously stands and walks away)
M.K.: Hey! Where are you going? Hazeemah! What’s wrong with her? Why do women get angry over silly things? Ugh, I don’t have the energy to run after her... I need to rest. (Leans his head against the wall)
A few minutes later
Hazeemah: (Approaches and sees him dozing off. She gently lifts his head onto her shoulder and opens the food she bought) Baby... (Gently taps him)
M.K.: (Opens his eyes and lifts his head) When did you get back? And why did you run off like that?
Hazeemah: Less talking, more eating. (Brings a spoonful of rice to his mouth) Open up.
M.K.: Whoa! Where did you get that? Who made it?
Hazeemah: I bought it from the hospital restaurant.
M.K.: Hell no! I don’t eat just anything. I’ll pass—I’m fine. When we get home, you can cook me something healthy. I don’t trust how this was made, and you know I don’t even like rice.
Hazeemah: (Facepalms) Ya Allah, I forgot I married an ajebo! (Looks at him again) At least eat a little to regain your strength. Please—for my sake. I can’t stand seeing you like this.
M.K.: I wish I could, but I can’t! My system can’t handle this... a hospital meal? Hell no! You can eat it, but not me. In fact, you shouldn’t eat it either! (Grabs the plastic meal from her and drops it on the ground) It’s disgusting.
Hazeemah: (Tired, staring at him) What do you want to eat?
M.K.: Don’t worry. When we get home, we’ll eat. But for now, let’s focus on your dad.
Hazeemah: (Sadly rests her head on his thigh) I’m so exhausted... and depressed.
M.K.: (Pats her back) We’ll be fine soon, In Sha Allah. I just wish I could see your parents.
Hazeemah: No more visitors. The nurses said so. (Begins dozing off)
M.K.: (Also dozing off, resting his back against the chair)
*****************************************************
The next morning, 5:58 a.m.
Abdulrahman and his wife rush into the hospital. They approach one of the nurses, seeking permission to see their parents (the patients). As they discuss with the nurse, Ummu Fatimah notices M.K. sleeping with Hazeemah resting against his chest.
Ummu Fatimah: Uhnmm, dear... (Taps Abdulrahman and points at M.K.’s direction)
Abdulrahman: (Notices them and gently approaches) Mr. Abdulmalik?
M.K.: (Wakes up suddenly, realizing he’s still at the hospital. He hurriedly pulls Hazeemah closer to his chest, then recognizes Abdulrahman) Uhmm... As-salamu alaikum, sir. (Still groggy as he keeps Hazeemah close)
Abdulrahman and his wife exchange smiles and return his greeting.
Ummu Fatimah: Did you two sleep here? It must’ve been so uncomfortable on those chairs.
Hazeemah: (Still half-asleep, rubbing her cheek against M.K.’s chest while he whispers to her)
M.K.: Your brother is watching you.
Hazeemah: (Snaps awake and quickly gets to her feet, rubbing her eyes) Egbon... when did you get here? (Moves to kiss the back of Abdulrahman’s hand, but he pulls his hand back and kisses her forehead instead.)
Abdulrahman: I don’t know how to say this, but we’re so impressed with your husband. Please, never stop loving each other. I pray Allah (SWT) continues to bless your marriage with peace, love, and happiness. We’re heading in to drop off this meal and check on Abu. Have you two performed Solat Fajr?
Hazeemah: (Gasps, checking her wristwatch) Subhanallah!
M.K.: (Also checks his watch) Excuse me, please. (Gently stands and heads out, searching for where the adhan is coming from)
Hazeemah: Wait for me! (Runs after him, waving back at Abdulrahman and Ummu Fatimah) We’ll join you soon!
Ummu Fatimah: (Watching them leave) See how romantic her husband is. If I rest my head on your chest for a minute, you’ll start complaining that you can’t breathe. But somebody’s husband held his wife all night! Learn from him! (Walks off toward the patient’s ward)
Abdulrahman: (Smiling) Women and their jealousy... (Follows her)
*****************************
39 minutes later
The couple returns to the hospital and heads straight to the patient ward.
Hazeemah: (Tiredly holding his hand) You must be really starving.
M.K.: (Nods sadly) We’ll head home soon. (Spots her parents) As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. (Moves closer to her mother, lifts her hand, and kisses the back of it, leaving everyone in shock)
Hazeemah: (Smiles, surprised) What are you doing?
M.K.: I... thought this was your tradition?
Hajia Shukroh: (Smiles warmly and kisses his forehead) Wa alaikum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. You are blessed, my child. May Allah (SWT) continue to bless your marriage.
Hazeemah: Ameen. (Steps closer and does the same hand-kissing gesture) How is Abu’s health?
Hajia Shukroh: (Sighs heavily and sits down) No improvement. I’m just scared of losing him now. He has done nothing but bring me joy ever since you got married. I wish there was something I could do to extend his life. I am so afraid of losing him. (Breaks down in tears)
Hazeemah: (Moves closer to console her) In sha Allah, nothing bad will happen to him. But... what caused the heart attack?
Hajia Shukroh: You.
Hazeemah and M.K.’s eyes widen in shock.
Hazeemah: Me? How?
Hajia Shukroh: The last time he saw you was the night of your nikkah. Since then, he hasn’t set his eyes on you. When he heard you were back but didn’t visit us, it broke his heart. Yesterday, Abdulhakeem called Abu to pass on the news of your father-in-law being missing. But Abu misheard and thought you were missing. That’s when he had the heart attack.
M.K. and Hazeemah stare in disbelief, their jaws dropping.
M.K.: What?
Hazeemah: (Heart pounding as she realizes how much her father loves her, she collapses to the ground in tears) Abu, I’m sorry... I’m here now! Please, wake up. (Clutches his hand, crying)
M.K.: (Trying to stay composed, kneels beside her and consoles her gently) Don’t cry. Don’t make his condition worse. I’m sure he’ll come back to us, in sha Allah.
Hajia Shukroh: (Sobs quietly)
An hour later, outside the hospital.
M.K.: (Rushes toward his car, fumbling for his keys as Hazeemah chases after him)
Hazeemah: M.K., wait!
M.K.: (Gets into the car and prepares to start it)
Hazeemah: (Roars at him) I said wait!
M.K.: Babe, not now! I should be somewhere by now. I should be in Ghana right now, but I completely forgot because my mind was occupied with your family. I should’ve been on the flight already. I just hope it’s not too late.
Hazeemah: So, you’re seriously going to face terrorists? You’re just going to leave me here? In that case, I’m coming with you.
M.K.: What? No, you’re not!
Hazeemah: Watch me. (Grabs the car door and climbs in) Let’s go.
M.K.: (Furiously hits the steering wheel, breathing heavily)
Hazeemah: It’s okay, baby. There’s got to be another way. (Gently pats his back, but he roars at her)
M.K.: You’re getting on my nerves, Hazeemah! This is my father we’re talking about. If I don’t go, we might lose him. And I can’t trust that... Fool!
Hazeemah: (Softens her tone, calming down) Who?
M.K.: A man showed up at the mansion yesterday, claiming to be my dad’s first son.
Hazeemah: Really? How is that possible?
M.K.: (Gradually calming down) Long story. (Starts the car and drives out of the hospital)
Hazeemah: (Fastens her seat belt)
M.K.: So, you’re not even going to ask where we’re going?
Hazeemah: Wherever you go, I’ll go too.
M.K.: (Sighs) You’re such a pain in the ass.
*********************************
At the mansion, Mrs. Shola sees M.K. entering.
Mrs. Shola: (Fuming) Where the hell have you been? I’ve called your line thousands of times! I thought you’d already left. I even went to your house this morning, and your security guard said you left in the middle of the night.
M.K.: We’re here now. I hope it’s not too late to go.
Hazeemah: Good morning, ma’am.
Mrs. Shola: (Snaps angrily) Morning! And where have you been? The last time I saw you was two days ago. You can’t even show up for your husband’s family?
M.K.: (Cuts in firmly) Yoh, take it easy. Her dad was admitted to the hospital too.
Mrs. Shola: (Pauses, softening a little) Are you serious?
Hazeemah: I’m sorry, ma’am.
Suddenly, a soldier approaches them in haste.
Soldier: You need to see this. Please, come with me.
Mrs. Shola: (Alarmed) What is it this time?
M.K.: (Steps closer, tense) Do they want ransom instead? Or... do I need to go?
Soldier: Your brother is already there. But before he left yesterday, he gave us a tracking device and a voice recorder. Just come with me—you need to hear this.
M.K.: Where? Lead the way.
Soldier: Follow me. (Hurries toward a room, with them following closely behind.)
They all crowd into a surveillance room, listening intently to the recording. The audio captures intense moments—the kidnappers arguing, gunshots, and voices shouting. Suddenly, they hear their father’s voice, pleading with the kidnappers.
They hear the kidnappers drag him to their boss. The sound of shuffling papers follows as they force him to sign a document. Moments later, the audio cuts off abruptly.
Soldier: They must have discovered the tracking device.
Everyone in the room sinks into their seats, trying to process the tense recording.
Mrs. Shola: So, now there’s a 70% chance Dad is coming home?
M.K.: I think so... but what was in that document they forced him to sign? Was it about property? Or something else?
Hazeemah: (Glances at M.K., her voice trembling) All that chaos—the gunshots, the shouting—you could’ve been in his place.
Lead Soldier: For the record, that guy is really your father’s son. He risked his life to save him.
Mrs. Shola and M.K. exchange a long, silent glance.
Watch out for the next episode!!!!