EPISODE TWENTY-NINE
M.K: (Enters the house looking exhausted. He takes off his shoes and collapses onto the couch, panting heavily.) What a day, man... Hazeemah, bring me some— (Realizes and pauses, then clears his throat.) I... I forgot she isn’t... (Gets up, removes his suit, and drags it to the ground as he climbs the stairs. Suddenly, he hears his sister's voice roaring from outside.) Oh my God! I guess she found out too...
Miss Shola: (Almost breaks down the door.) ABDULMALIK AREGBESHOLA! Get down here!
Mr. Oyegbami: (Follows her in, panting heavily.) Babe, what is going on? You barely told me why you’re so angry. What’s happening?
Miss Shola: (Ignores him and focuses her attention on M.K.) I said get down here!
M.K: (Sighs heavily.) What do you want this time?
Miss Shola: I thought there were levels to everything in life—except being stupid.
M.K: (Understands the insult.) So you’re calling me stupid now, huh?
Miss Shola: No... You’re not just stupid, you’re a fool. I thought you were smarter than this.
Mr. Oyegbami: (Whispers to her.) Hey, take it easy. What is going on? Why do you have to say such nasty words to him?
Miss Shola: (Yelling.) When I tell you what he did, you’ll know he deserves worse than that!
Mr. Oyegbami: What’s his offense?
Miss Shola: (Ignores him.) Despite all the claims of being intelligent, you scored zero on this. You’re just like that, and that gives me even more reason to want to hit you in the face.
M.K: (Walks away and starts climbing the stairs.)
Miss Shola: I’m still talking to you! Stop! (Runs after him.) Walking away—that’s all you do best! Walking away from everything, but you’ll never find joy in it. How could you file for a divorce? How dare you?!
M.K: (Can’t take it any longer.) I can’t believe this is coming from a divorcee, questioning why I decided to divorce Hazeemah.
Miss Shola: (Shocked by his statement.) What did you just say to me?
M.K: Just leave. I want to be alone, okay? We’ll talk later.
Miss Shola: Well, for your information, I divorced my husband for a genuine reason. I found no joy in that marriage because he cheated on me several times. Despite all that, I still regret my actions. Do you know why? Because I realized he was entitled to four wives. I regret letting my pride take over me. But Alhamdulillah, here we are today, trying to remarry, and it feels like a dream come true because I couldn’t love any other man the way I loved him. We both regret our actions.
The lesson I learned the hard way—I don’t want you to experience the same thing. That’s why I’m telling you all this. So don’t just stand there and judge me. This decision of yours is outrageous. You need to go back to her and claim what is rightfully yours. Sit your ass down and talk this out before everything gets out of hand—because you will never find a woman like her. She is strong, intelligent, and will definitely be a great mother. Just give her time—she isn’t the one in charge of childbearing. Take things easy on her, and whatever you don’t like about her, say it outright.
I came here today not just as your so-called sister, but as a mother. Don’t make a decision you will regret for the rest of your life.
Mr. Oyegbami: (Listening to everything, exhales softly with a smile.)
M.K: My decision is final!
Miss Shola: (Getting pissed off, she furiously grabs his collar.) You will, and you must go back and apologize before you both end up in court! You must! Because I’m not going to sit and watch you ruin your life out of arrogance. You will die of loneliness. The more you try to avoid problems, the deeper you fall into them. No marriage is perfect—pick your headache and take a pain reliever.
Mind you, if you fail to listen to me, I wash my hands off your case. Live your life however you want—the lonely life you deserve. I’m out of here! (Hisses and storms out. Upon reaching her husband, she grabs his hand, and they leave the house, slamming the door.)
M.K: (Watches her leave sadly as her words hit him. He turns around and enters his master bedroom.)
Mr. Oyegbami: (Opens the car door for her.) Milady...
Miss Shola: (Her anger is quenched by his actions. She grabs his collar and surprises him with an unexpected, long kiss.) Let’s go. (Enters the car with a bright smile on her face.)
Mr. Oyegbami: (Surprised by her actions, stands still, holding the door.)
Miss Shola: (Chuckles.) C’mon! What are you waiting for?
Mr. Oyegbami: (Gently closes the door for her.) Baby number two!!! (Sings it as he enters the car.)
Miss Shola: (Bursts into laughter.) Start the car now!
**********************************************
Few days later (morning)
Hazeemah is in the guest room, folding her clothes into the wardrobe as a means of exercise. Suddenly, she hears the ranting of her mother’s voice from the living room. Her heart begins to pound, wondering if her brother has informed her. Quickly, she gathers the clothes, summoning the courage to face her mother’s wrath.
Ummu Fatimah: (Opening the door, trying to prevent her mother-in-law from entering) Ummu, please, for Allah’s sake... she is just getting better. Please.
Hajia Shukroh: Leave us alone. I would like to have a word with my daughter.
Ummu Fatimah: Please, Ummu, I beg you in the name of Allah! Whatever it is, I swear she is not at fault.
Hajia Shukroh: Are you deaf? I said excuse us.
Hazeemah: (Ready to face her fear, forcing a smile) Ummu Fatimah, thank you. (Signals for her to leave.)
Ummu Fatimah: (Still worried but obeys) Please, just take it easy, Ummu. (Gently closes the door, sighs sadly) Subhanallah! And my husband went out to see a friend... I better call him right away.
Hajia Shukroh: (Locks the door behind her, then steps forward) So, is it true?
Hazeemah: (Sadly lowers her gaze and nods. Upon raising her head, she receives a hot slap, unexpectedly touching her face.)
Ummu Fatimah: (Hearing the slap from outside) Subhanallah!
Hajia Shukroh: I’m sure this is what you wanted. If your father were alive, he would have strangled you by now! I knew this was going to happen—I saw it coming! Mrs. Unstoppable Dream Chaser! Now you’ve sacrificed your marriage for your dream, huh? How dare you, Hazeemah? I never raised you like this! Were you exchanged at the hospital after I gave birth to you? Hazeemah Wuraola Nurudeen, are you cursed?
Hazeemah: (Tears stream down her face) I am sorry.
Hajia Shukroh: (Getting emotional) This isn’t how I raised you... No... Why? Why? Did you think I would never find out? Abdulrahman has some explaining to do for hiding this from me. If not for your sister calling to plead, I wouldn’t have known. Just look at yourself! You look so miserable despite chasing that stupid dream of yours! No rest, chasing after money you already have! I am highly disappointed in you. I support your husband’s decision—this is exactly what you deserve. Maybe this will open your eyes to realize there is more to life than just chasing a career!
You couldn’t bear a child for him in two years! None of our family members are barren! So, you intentionally avoided pregnancy so it wouldn’t stop your dreams, huh? Wallahi, you are wicked, Hazeemah! I can’t even believe I gave birth to you. You disappointed me badly. (Tears roll down her face.)
Now you are back to square one. He has left you so you can chase after your so-called career. No man will marry a woman like you! I thought you were wise, but you turned out to be foolish. Of course, he had to move on—he needs a real family with a woman who is ready.
Hazeemah: (Unable to control her tears) Mum, please...
Hajia Shukroh: Shut your mouth! Well, for your information, you are packing your things—big and small—and today you must return to your husband! Your brothers and I will go and plead on your behalf. Abdulmalik is such a great man, and I will not sit back and watch you destroy your life!
Hazeemah: (Surprised) What? No!
Hajia Shukroh: Oh, you will enjoy me today if you dare go against my order! You will enjoy me today! Me and you will wear the same trousers today! Oya! Start packing!
MEANWHILE…
M.K: (Currently making himself breakfast in the kitchen when he hears banging at the door. He sighs heavily.) Why can’t I have a private moment for crying out loud?
(The banging continues. He ignores it, but after several minutes, he finally leaves the kitchen, takes a deep breath, and opens the door. Immediately, he is grabbed by the neck and pushed inside by one of Hazeemah’s brothers, who locks the door behind them.)
Abdulsalam: (Pushing him against the wall) As-salamu alaykum, bro! (Aggressively) How have you been?
M.K: (Struggling) What... are you doing?
Abdulhakeem: I thought we warned you never to make our sister shed tears! But you had the guts to file for divorce after you promised to never let her go? How dare you? We might be buddies, but you’ve crossed the line!
M.K: (Struggling to breathe) Let... me... go!
Abdulrahman: Leave him, Abdulsalam!
Abdulsalam: I’m not ready to let go yet. He deserves a real Ajepako punch on that handsome face of his. Despite all your promises, you broke them! You aren’t a real man.
Abdulrahman: (Noticing M.K is losing his breath, he furiously removes their hands from him) I said, let go of him!
M.K: (Coughing heavily, gasping for air)
Abdulsalam: Allah saved your ass today! I was ready to fight you, man. How could you? You shattered my sister’s heart into pieces—she looks so miserable now. It shouldn’t have been you, bro! You really let us down.
Abdulhakeem: (Glaring at him as he gasps for air)
Abdulrahman: (Helping M.K up and assisting him to the couch, then sitting next to him) I’m sorry about what my brother did. You have every right to call the police, and we deeply regret it. But I came personally to have a man-to-man talk with you.
M.K: (Still coughing lightly) Kindly leave my house before I take action.
Abdulsalam: You see! This is why I should have— (Ready to punch him)
Abdulrahman: (Roaring) Abdulsalam!
Abdulhakeem: I can’t believe you destroyed all the sweetness in your marriage. I know Hazeemah can be stubborn, but she would never make a decision that would harm you—only herself. She prefers to harm herself. So what was her offense that deserved this punishment after just two years of marriage? We want to know.
M.K: (Finally calming down, distancing himself) Whatever happened gives you no right to attack me in my own house. If not for the bond we share, I would have taken action.
Abdulrahman: We are sorry. But please, tell us.
M.K: I owe no one any explanation.
Abdulhakeem: I might be the next to punch your face.
M.K: (Swallowing hard) But please, I would like to see her one last time… please.
Abdulhakeem: Why? You filed for divorce. You had all the rights freely, and now you threw them away. You don’t have any right over her anymore. Since you refuse to talk so we can settle this, don’t ever contact us again. If I see you near my family’s doorstep—lasan!—I will not hold back.
M.K: Actually, she hasn’t signed yet, so I still have access to her.
Abdulrahman: She is not a possession you can throw away and pick up whenever you like! You already lost her because you treated her like garbage. (Gets up.) I guess we are done here. Have a nice life.
(Suddenly, his phone rings. He signals to his brothers and they leave. He answers the call and suddenly freezes.)
Abdulrahman: What? What are you talking about? How did she find out? (Listening) Subhanallah! Stop her, please! Stall her until we get there! (Listening) La ilaha illallah! (Hangs up.)
Abdulsalam & Abdulhakeem: What is going on?
Abdulrahman: (Still in shock) My wife just called—Ummu is on her way to M.K’s house with Hazeemah’s luggage. She failed to follow her willingly, so Ummu is going to beg him to take her back!
Abdulsalam & Abdulhakeem: What?!
Watch out for the nex episode!!!