ACTS TWENTY TWO
At the hospital
Later in the night
Hazeemah’s parents were having a heated arguments over hazeemah’s case while she sleeps which lead to them being chased to stay outside the hospital till they are done argueing while ummu Maryam stays by her side.
Ummu Maryam: (on a phone call) you need to come back to the hospital, your parents wont stop arguing and the nurses have chased them out of the hospital. Your sister is seriously mentally stressed over this husband issues.. ehn? We are practicing muslims for Allah’s sake? Where is our emaan? (listen to his response) please do something okay? I will be expecting you.. walaykum salam (end the call and exhale softly)
Hazeemah: (turn to her)
Ummu Maryam: (startled) you are awake ma? How… are you feeling now?
Hazeemah: I heard everything.. thanks for looking out for me.. but look at my life in the window… but it fine. This is my trial. (struggles to sit up suddenly her phone ring, she pick it up) boss.. (thinking then pick the call) heelo sir.
m.k: as saalam alaykum.
Hazeemah: walaykum salam waramatulah (surprised)
m.k: how are you feeling now?
Hazeemah: alhamdulilah sir. thank you sir.
m.k: you will be fine okay? you just focus on recovering okay?
Hazeemah: (still suprised) okay sir.
m.k: you can take three days off.. I will try to check on your tomorrow.
Hazeemah: alright sir. thank you so much sir (hang up) is that still abu and ummu shouting outside?
Ummu Maryam: (nod sadly)
Hazeemah: (forcefully remove the drip and work out of the room)
Ummu Maryam: iya okomi! What are you doing? wait now!! (run after her)
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Alhaji nurudeen: she must marry this year!.
Hajia shukroh: she is not! Unless she is willing to.. I don’t care what the outcomes might be but I’m tired of you punishing your own daughter like your enemy.. do you want to kill her? but before you.. I cant even let you succeeed.
Alhaji nurudeen: you are only blabbering your mouth. Whatever I will do is inside me.
Hajia shukroh: and whatever I will do is inside me as well!.
Ummu Maryam: (run up to them) abu!! Ummu! Did you see sister Hazeemah?
Alhaji nurudeen: what are you talking about? She is inside sleeping now.
Hajia shukroh: yes now.
Ummu Maryam: she just left the hospital right now.. hoping I would catch up with her and I lost her..
Hajia shukroh: is this a joke?
Ummu Maryam: (panicking) I am serious! Please do something.
Alhaji nurudeen: wait! She is not joking oh… how on earth did she leave the hospital and you let her? is she done taking her drip?
Hajia shukroh: (worried) answer us now!
Ummu Maryam: (forced to speak) she left because you guys wont stop arguing and fighting over her! that’s why!.
Hajia shukroh: (pick a race out of the hospital gate while they follows her)
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THE NEXT MORNING
Hazeemah’s parents barge into abdulrahman’s house, with full forces, ranting and searching the house
.
Abdulrahman: not even a teslim… parents?
Alhaji nurudeen: where is she? (panting heavily) I need to see her.
Hajia shukroh: tell us where she is?
Ummu Fatimah: (rush out of her room) as salam alaykum abu and ummu. What a pleasant surprise.
Alhaji nurudeen: walaykum salam.. where is Hazeemah? Answer me! (roar at them)
Abdulrahman: she is absolutely fine okay? she just need enough rest as the doctor instructed but before I show you where she is… Abu! Look at me please.. promise not add to pains in any way. Please.
Alhaji nurudeen: just let me see her first…
Abdulrahman: Abu please.. promise me.
Alhaji nurudeen; you better do as I instructed before you see my wrath.
Hajia shukroh: take it easy now.
Abdulrahman: alright then as you wish (he lead the way and point at the room door)
Alhaji nurudeen: (push him out of the way and stand by the door banging the door) open the door Hazeemah! Right this instant!.
Hajia shukroh: Hazeemah my dear, please open the door.. we just want to check on you.. please.
Hazeemah: (opens the door and instantly she received and unexpected slap from her father which lead to abdulrahman holding his hands and confronts him)
Hajia shukroh: (in shock and hurriedly hold Hazeemah as she collapse to the ground instantly) subhanallah! Hazeemah!!!
Abdulraman: (rush to her aid and lift her up straight to the bed ) water!!!
Ummu Fatimah: (rush to the kitchen)
Alhaji nurudeen: (finally calming down and shock of the outcome of his action)
Hajia shukroh: (panting heavily) please hurry up.
Ummu Fatimah: (present the water as they sprinkle it on her face several times until she finally gain her conciousness) alhamdulilah!
Abdulrahman: (sign of relieve) alhamdulilah! (furiously glance at his father and excuse himself out of the room) abu! We need to talk!
Alhaji nurudeen: i.. i.. I was just worried and… I was angry..
Abdulrahman: what if she loses her life in that state! Just because you are angry? We might accept that her time has reached but what sort of names do you want the society to view you… a father that killed his only daughter because she failed to get married? Do you know how stupid that sounds? What is wrong with you dad? This isn’t her fault at all. You raised three male children and she is only girl and last born for that matter.. ofcourse she learn from us and how you brought us up. She still takes herself as a male.. she copied our steps.. assuming she isn’t the only female child amongst us? things would have been more easier but for the record.. where is your emaan dad? You hated your own daughter because she failed to bring a man home? Ready to commit a huge sin by forcing your daughter to marry out of her will to a total stranger of your choice? Do you realize your own sin? Yes we all know early marriage is good but have you forgotten how you scolded her in those to stay away from the opposite gender.. she almost lost her life in the process of obeying you.. and she accomplished your command. But now! You want the same opposite gender marry your daughter? Everyone on this earth, their spouse had been written thousand’s years before we were created.. so why stressing yourself? So far she is still alive ofcourse she will get married. Listen to me dad! I am your first child, your first son and no one can understand your strictness more than I do. but I am talking to you as a father as well. Give her some breathing space. She is making you so proud that gender of now adays couldn’t? all they do is sell their bodies for money but look at your daughter. You should be proud of her. you alreay had your grandchildren.. that should be enough. you are losing yourself in the process, you are turning into a monster in the name of being a father. Hazeemah will forever regret being your daughter if you continue this way. all the things she had achieved today, 80% of it is to please you dad! To make you proud. I could feel her pain and guess what? I am always so proud of her because she is fearless and chase her dreams despite the difficult road. If only you know how we brag with her in the society. Then maybe you will know her value. That’s all I have to say. The ball is in your court. Please excuse me while I attend to my sister (walk back into the room) how is she feeling now? Mum?
Alhaji nurudeen: (sigh heavily)
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TWO DAYS AFTER 4:50pm
Ummu Fatimah: (heading towards the door) I’m coming! (wearing her niqob on the way) just a second (opens the door )
Reem, abdullahi and salamah: as salam alaykum…
Ummu Fatimah: walaykum salam waramatulahi.
Reem: good evening ma’am. We are here to check on miss Hazeemah.
Ummu Fatimah: masha Allah! please come in.. (open the door wide)
Abdullahi: thank you Hajia (the proceed in as they look around the house)
Ummu Fatimah: please make yourself confortable. Have your seat please.
They obeyed.
Ummu Fatimah: so what would you like to drink or eat? Just name it.
They forced a smile and decline her offer politely.
Ummu Fatimah: c’mon don’t say that, okay then.. let me get you a chilled drinks with snacks then. Please excuse me.
Abdullahi: she Is very nice, masha Allah! I love that.
Reem: (smile)
Salamah: (still scanning the house)
Few minutes after, ummu Fatimah serve the guest with her exclusive drinks andsnacks, when Hazeemah finally show up. Immediately they sighted her, they felt for her as she has lost so much weight in the process of healing.
Hazeemah: (smile) as salam alaykum everyone (surprised to see salamah)
They answered chorus
Abdullahi: hajia na! what happened? Look at you? what happened?
Reem: (smile) how are you feeling now?
Hazeemah: (smile) alhmdulilah! As you can see.. I am back to my normal state.
The three of them eyes meets as once and shakes their head in disagreement.
Salamah: have you get yourself out in the mirror lately?
Hazeemah: anway,alhamdulilah I’m getting better now. So jazakumlahu khairan for chcking on me. may Allah accept it as an act of ibadah… so gist me.. how far with the company?
Salamah: (siping the drink and enjoying the snack) the company is bad. Look I know you and I don’t see eye to eye… but we need to see eye to eye. You need to recover fast and claim what is rightfully yours. because I don’t think I can last another day in that company.
Hazeemah: I don’t understand.
Abdullahi: what she was trying to say is that. Boss almost sacked her today..he asked her to replace you till you are back.. but she couldn’t meet up to his requirements.. infact she was shedding real tears by the elevator yesterday.
Hazeemah: (surprised) really? Are you serious?
Salamah: I am damn serious! Please get well soon and take back your position..i take back everything I said to you. I don’t know how you do it… but boss can never be pleased.. he complains of every little thing.. yesterday, he throw is coffee on my clothes.
Hazeemah: (not surprised) hmmm Mr. M.K indeed. (Stylishly stares at salamah) I’m still surprised to see you here. You are the last person on my list to come visit me.
Salamah: not like I care about you anyway.. I just want you to resume back to work and take your position back before I lose it.
Reem: is this your parent’s house?
Hazeemah: no, this is my elder brother’s house.
Reem: that’s good. concerning that project we are working on. Your idea actually worked. We were surprised honestly and we later realized your precautions concerning the dangerous risk we wanted to take. Infact, you saved this project with your mindblowing idea. You deserve a medal for this.
Abdullahi: that’s true wallohi! Mrs. Fashola also sent her regards, she couldn’t come with us becuasse she had to pick her kids from school.
Hazeemah: (smile) thank you all. I really appreciate your care and love.
Salamah: to cut the story short, when are you resuming to office. You seems better now. So tomorrow right?
Reem: madm take it easy, obviously she still need more time to heal. Stop being selfish. If you don’t want to work under him then tell him.
Abdullahi: exactly..
Reem: (turn to Hazeemah and speak in a low tone) I wish you could see your parents today, there is something iwill like to tell them.
Abdullahi: (understand where this is going) for what?
Reem: for none of your business.
Abdullahi: oh really? Hajia na! I was also hoping I could see your parents.
Hazeemah: please gentle men.. we don’t have to do this, you know… but like I said I earlier. This is my brother’s house. But luckily, you can meet them .
Abdulrahman: (enters the house as he off his booth) as salam alaykum.
Everyone responde to his teslim.
Abdulrahman: (raise his head up) oh! who do we have here? Hazeemah you have a guest?
Hazeemah: (get up to him and kiss the back of his hands) as salam alaykum big b.
Abdulrahman: walaykum salam.. (whispers to her ) I have told you to stop this culture.. this is for our elders.
Hazeemah: and you are my elder..
Abdulraman: my wife should be the one doing this (suddenly sight his wife running towards him)
Ummu Fatimah: (his the back of his hands and take his bag) welcome my love. How was work today?
(the guest couldn’t speaks as they were amazed with what they are seeing)
Abdulraman: here! (hand over customize leather to her) since you havnt gain your appetite yet. So I branch your favorite restaurant and got you this.
Hazeemah: (gasp and embrace him)
Ummu Fatimah: (notice his wife mood changing) don’t worry yours inside the back.. with your favorite drinks?
Ummu Fatimah: (bright smile) thank you habibi. (happily head back inside)
Abdulrahman: what of my kids?
Ummu Fatimah: still at the modrasat.
Abdulrahman: (turn to the guest) I hope you’ve had something? Please feel free. Thank you so much for coming. Please excuse me while I attend to my wife (head inside)
Salamah: (amazed) okay now I wish to marry!.
Reem: me too.
Abdullahi: me three!
They all glance at him immediately.
Abdullahi: what? I am entitle to four wives.
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