Rashidat: (Weirdly glances at him) Why do you look happy all of a sudden?
Edris: Obviously, I am.
Rashidat: So, you're happy he ended our friendship?
Edris: Obviously! Now my ears will rest, and my heart will finally be at ease that you might cheat on me with him.
Rashidat: Excuse me?
Edris: Yes! You think I was cool with it all these years? It's a one-sided pain I had to endure for love! And now he is finally leaving you for me. You can't imagine how super happy I am right now.
Rashidat: (Gasps) You are unbelievable! I didn’t know you were this selfish! How could you? I thought you loved me for me.
Edris: And you think if I don’t love you, I will tolerate such friendship? I endured for love, but now you will be mine. To be honest with you, I was planning on giving an order to you after marriage that I don’t want to see the two of you together ever again, but God saved me the stress.
Rashidat: (Can't believe what she is hearing) So this is who you really are? I thought you loved me? And you cared about me?
Edris: Well, do you care about my feelings? Watching you two giggle and be around each other all the time. You are the selfish one. And as a matter of fact, I don’t even have any female bestie, which is not like I can't have one, but because I was loyal to you, and you were not! How do you expect me to believe you guys didn’t have anything together, uh? Tell me!
Rashidat: (Furiously gets up and tries) You know what? I’m done! I’m done with you.
Edris: I knew you never loved me! You were just using me as a disguise, but now I can clear my doubt! You’ve been cheating on me with him! You can go to hell! I’m done too. Bitch!
Rashidat: (Her jaw drops) What did you just call me?
Edris: You heard me, bitch!
Rashidat: (Moves closer and lands a hot slap on his face) This will serve as a lesson to you never in your life call me such again. This same "bitch" was there for you when you had nothing! You’ve slept with this same "bitch" several times to please you. This same "bitch" was ready to kill for you. And you said I never loved you? Who are you to call me a bitch?
Edris: (About to hit her back when he cautions himself) If not for God’s commandment concerning beating women, I would have shredded you into pieces right now!
Rashidat: So, you wanted to slap me, abi? You want to hit me, abi? You wouldn’t dare! I will make your life a living hell if you dare me! Rubbish! (She furiously removes her engagement ring from her finger and throws it at him) To hell with you and your ring… and guess what? I am done! (She exits from his house and slams the door)
Edris: (Tightens his fist) Women are the real scum! Despite all the gifts she has, common sense wasn’t included in her body! I will make you pay for this! I will make you pay for breaking my heart! But wait oh! Is this how I will just lose this big yansh? Just like that? Damn it! Should I call her back? No! If I put the yansh aside, she's got nothing upstairs, and she is too proud to be submissive as a wife. Let me remove my eyes from her jare. But how am I supposed to face my family and friends now? Goddamn it! I should have thought this through before asking for her hand in marriage. This is a total mess.
******************************
Later in the night
Rashidat: Why isn’t his line reachable? Did he block me already? No, he won't dare! He definitely can't do without me. Let me try it again. (Suddenly begins to cry) Is this how it's just gonna end, everything? After many years spent together? How could he? Because of that bitch? He chooses her over me?
Rash’mom: Rashidah!!! (Searching for her in the entire house) Where can she be? Rash! (Finally found her at the corridor crying all alone) Okomi… what happened to you? Why are you crying by this time of the night? Talk to me.
Rashidat: It's nothing, Mum. I'm fine.
Rash’mom: If you can lie to others, that same trick can't work for me. C’mon! Talk to your mother.
Rashidat: Mum, I don’t think I really know what I want in life because I am so confused.
Rash’mom: Look at me. Just tell me what the problem is, and I will advise you on the next steps, okay? Open up before it's too late.
Rashidat: (Increases her crying voice) I don’t think I truly love Edris! I don’t love him, Maami. My heart never beat for him at all. And could you believe he tried to hit me today while having a serious discussion with him? I was ready to push it and force myself to love him, but I can't go any further anymore. What he did to me today makes it very clear that he is a total red flag for me. Maami! I don’t love him. (Wiping her tears as she continuously cries like a baby)
Here's an edited version of the dialogue:
Rash’ mom: Why didn’t you tell me all this? Why did you accept his proposal when you knew you aren't in love with him?
Rashidat: Because I’m just fed up and tired of you singing to my ears that I’m getting old in the house. You sing it to my ears every single day to go find a husband. But I can't do this anymore.
Rash’ mom: (Speechless)
Rashidat: I’m so sorry, Mum, that I made you spend and overspend on this wedding preparation. But what if he drops my corpse at your doorstep after getting married to him? I don’t want to die, Maami! I don’t want to die.
Rash’ mom: What am I going to tell people? We’ve shared invitation cards and many more. When your wedding is in 31 days. Why didn’t you open up to me sooner? How do you expect me to face the world?
Rashidat: Then, are you going to force me to marry someone I don’t love just because of what people might say? Do you care about people more than what I, your daughter, feel?
Rash’ mom: Why are you talking to me as if I forced you to bring him home in the first place? Or can you hear the rubbish you are saying out of your mouth? You brought him home as your fiancé, and now you want to put all the blame on me? If I were a bad mother, do you think I would care about all you are telling me now? I would have turned a deaf ear and forced you to marry him, but I am your mother! I can't watch you suffer. But first, I need to see Edris myself before making my final decision.
Rashidat: No! Don’t call him! Don’t even talk to him. I don’t want him to hurt you too. Could you believe he is an alcoholic and a smoker? I don’t want you to meet with him because I don’t want what happened to me today to happen to you as well. I can endure mine, but I can't endure seeing my mother being harassed by him.
Rash’ mom: (Covers her mouth in disbelief) Ya Salam! You wanted to marry an alcoholic in the first place? Or are you trying to tell me you knew nothing about this before accepting his proposal or even thinking to accept his love?
Rashidat: No, Mom! I found out all his secrets today! I swear I knew nothing about this before as well.
Rash’mom: We are calling off this wedding right this instant! But... but he doesn’t look like a bad person to me.
Rashidat: That’s what I also assumed until I saw his true self. (Breaks down in tears again) Please, Mom, I don’t want to marry him. (She embraces her waist) Please do something, and I’m sorry for the stress. Please forgive me.
Rash’ mom: (Unbelievably covers her eyes in disbelief) I can't believe this is really happening?
*********************
THE NEXT DAY (during the night)
Zainab’s family house was filled with a crowd as they all moved up and down for the preparation of Zainab’s wedding. Some relatives were at the backyard preparing the wedding meal, while the bride was in her room, surrounded by her fellow bachelorette friends and relatives. Henna was being designed on her palm when suddenly, they heard a knock at the door.
Misturah: Who is there? Remember, no males are allowed in the room!
Latifah: Yes, oh! So if you are a man, kindly go away.
Delivery Man: Actually, I’m a delivery guy. I was sent to deliver this gift to the bride.
Without any hesitation, Misturah opens the door.
Misturah: A gift, hmm?
Zainab: How did they let him in?
Delivery Guy: Actually, the gift is from the groom.
Misturah and Latifah gasp
Misturah: Awwwnnn, now she is blushing.
Delivery Guy: Please, can I give her the gift myself?
Misturah: Of course! Come in.
Zainab is scanning the delivery guy, dressed in all black with a nose mask.
Zainab: Your face looks...
Delivery Guy: (He drops the gift on her lap with a bunch of flowers, then whispers in her ear immediately, making Zainab’s eyes widen and gasp.)
Zainab: You are unbelievable! (Immediately, she grabs his hand and runs out of the room until they reach a place where no one will see them.)
Misturah and Latifah glance at each other and burst into laughter.
Misturah: Of course, we know that is him. We are not dumb.
Zainab: What are you doing here? I thought I told you not to come here.
Ridwan: (He pulls off his mask and puts down his hoodie) I just... I just couldn't wait for tomorrow. Like, I can't wait!
Zainab: (Laughs in disbelief) Is this the same love that lots of people are running away from? What is affecting you like this?
Ridwan: You know, love can make a gentle man like me go crazy at times. (Massaging his beard) The henna looks so beautiful.
Zainab: (Hides her hand as she realizes the design has been ruined) See what you’ve done! And I've stained your hand with it. Simple instructions you can't listen to. Besides, we are getting married tomorrow now.
Ridwan: Feels like forever, baby. (As he tries to touch her face, she hits his hand) Baby!
Zainab: What are you doing? You need to go before my family finds us here or realizes I’m missing. Please don’t create a scene.
Ridwan: And what will happen? Besides, you are with your husband.
Zainab: Husband-to-be.
Ridwan: HUSBAND!!
Zainab: Fine! So what?
Ridwan: (As he tries to take a step closer to her, his phone rings) Kai! Who is it? Please give me a sec?
Zainab: I’m going. (As she tries to leave, he grabs her hand) What are you doing? You have ruined everything! Why are you like this nitori oloun? Why?
Ridwan: (Still not letting go of her hand) An unknown number! (He picks up the call and puts it on speaker) Hello?
Rashidat: So you’ve been avoiding my calls, Ridwan? You think I’m just gonna let you go easily? After all we’ve shared? Uh? Tell me!
Ridwan: (Instantly cuts the call in shock) Baby, please don’t think this wrong.
Zainab: (Looks down and smiles) It's okay. Good night. (She tries to leave, but he grabs her closer to him)
Ridwan: Do you trust me? Please!
Zainab: (Light smile) It's okay; I understand. Just let go of my hand, okay? We will meet at the hall tomorrow, insha Allah. Good night.
Ridwan: Please, baby, listen to me. I can explain.
Zainab: Chill! I’m not mad at you, okay? Just let me go, please! (Suddenly hears her mother’s voice) You see! Now they are searching for me. Go!
Ridwan: Fine! I know I owe you lots of explanations tomorrow. I love you. (He walks away)
Zainab: (Walks back into the house)
*******************************
Midnight
Ridwan: (Lost in thought) I can't believe what I've been trying to hide from her will finally be out, and I did all this to prevent hurting her. Only Allah knows what might be going on in her mind. (Sighs heavily) This is all my fault; I should have ended this friendship a long time ago! And why on earth won't she just leave me alone? Not like we had anything for each other now. You know what? (He picks up his phone and blocks all her lines and social media) I want my new chapter to be beautiful, not filled with thorns behind my back. (Exhales softly) Now I can rest; I just hope my wife is okay.
Same Midnight
Rashidat: (Crying) I can't believe I lost two men in just one day. How could I be so stupid? And how could Ridwan ever think I would let him be after the memories we had shared together? A random girl will just come into the picture and ruin everything? Noooo! This shouldn’t be happening to me! Rashidat!! Think!!! You are way smarter than that. Think and stop crying.