Ridwan: zainab (as he was about to take few steps closer to her she gets on her feet)
Zainab: dinner is ready sir.. let me go and set the dining table (she walk away)
Ridwan: zainab.. (sigh heavily and began to scan the living as everywhere was peaceful and quiet) Rasheedat!! You are my biggest mistake… you made me forgot how peaceful my home used to be (he fell on the couch and pull of his sock) Ridwan! I never realize how stupid I was until now.. and I think I am being punish for my stupid choice. I swear I don’t deserve Zainab.. at all…I just hope she will forgive me.
Zainab: the table is set (she pick her phone and was about to head to her room when ridwan run to catch up with her) what is it?
Ridwan: (panting heavily) uhm.. arnt you hungry? Come.. have dinner with me.
Zainab: no! because I have eaten.
Ridwan: (touch her hand) but I insist dear.
Zainab: (scan him for a while then speak) what of rasheedat?
Ridwan: (covers his ears immediately) please!! Don’t call her name ever again.. I don’t even want to ever remember her.. she is my past.. and you are my future..
Zainab: (sigh and chuckles) where is she?
Ridwan: please I don’t want to talk about her at all..
Zainab: kindly answer my question as I am asking politely..
Ridwan: (take a deep breath) well we’ve settled the whole thing and we both agreed to go on our separate ways from now on.
Zainab: what of Aisha’s corpse?
Ridwan: we went to buried her this evening.. that was why I came late.
Zainab: ok (about to head inside when he grab her hand while she glance at him) what are you doing?
Ridwan: touching my wife ofcourse.. look I know I have messed up badly.. and I don’t deserve to be forgiven but please.. I promise you, It will never happen again.. please just find it in your heart to forgive me.
Zainab: (scan him from head to toes then walk away as she throw his hand away aggressively)
Ridwan: baby!!!!
Zainab: (shut the door in his face)
Ridwan: (sigh heavily) baby please now… I know I have wronged you and I hurt you so badly.. but I wasn’t in my right senses.. but I have realized my mistakes. Uh? Please zainab.. open the door lets talk. Please my Queen.
10 minutes after
Ridwan: baby am still right here o.. just give me one last chance uh? I havnt had anything since morning and you still prepare dinner for me, so please kindly come and serve my food please..
Zainab: (she opens the door and head to the dining table while he run after her)
Ridwan: baby!!! please listen to me..
Zainab: (carry the serving spoon) I am doing what you asked for.. so please stop bothering me.. as you can see, I never for ones add to your family problem so please spare me those.
Ridwan: (he move closer to her when she gave him a deadly stare then he step back) I know I don’t deserve you, I don’t even deserve your kindness.
Zainab: (she finish serving his food then walk back into her room and lock the door)
Ridwan: pleaseeeee. Zainab! Please don’t punish me this way.. please.
*************************************
The next morning 8:28am
Ridwan spread his legs on the couch as he snored throughout the night, he slept like he had never had any sleep in his life while zainab was busy doing her house chores and preparing breakfast… she move to the living room to clean, she use a mopping stick to help him lift his leg from the ground to the couch back while continue her cleaning.. suddenly Ridwan wakes up and hurriedly jump on his feet.
Ridwan: good morning honey..
Zainab: good morning sir.. (resume to her cleaning)
Ridwan: (he move closer to her and take the mopping stick from her) I know you are so mad at me right now.. but please don’t punish me this way.. you are free to shout at me, hit me and insult me.. please. I just want you to forgive me.. and I want the old you back… I never realized how much blessing you are to me until I face the opposite of you.. please just hit me.. talk to me please.. I want my old zainab back.
Zainab: you did absolutely nothing wrong.. infact I am the one that should be sorry for your loss ok? and I promise to treat the next mistress you wish to bring into this house again.
Ridwan: (jaw drop) what are you saying? I reject it in the name of Allah.. ehnn!! Never again! you are all I need since the very first day but what did I give you in return? Pain!
Zainab: (forced a smile) you think you hurt me?
Ridwan: I know I hurt you.. you don’t to pretend to be fine anymore.. infact you are free to arrest me and punish me.. I just want you back into my life.. and for the better I will never in my life again call you all sort of mean names.. I will never remind you of bearing me a child again.. infact I don’t want any child again.. I just want you alone.. I am not hungry for any child again.. look at my life outside the window.. I am already being punished for my sins. But I don’t want to lose you, Zainab. Please forgive me.. hmmmm?.
Zainab: I have heard you, kindly give me back the mop so I can rest.
Ridwan: don’t worry I will mop the floor.. I just want you to forgive me.
Zainab: (she walk out on him) breakfast will be ready shortly and your shower is ready as well.
Ridwan: (shakes his head in regret) why is she being so good to me despite all I have done to her? now she is being scary.. she would have poisoned me when she got the chance but she didn’t.. uptil now she didn’t yelled at me.. I need to find all means so she could speak her mind. Or else things might get wrong.. (he squeeze the mop and began to mop the floor) I am mopping the floor baby.. look at me.
*****************************
Few days after
Morning
Mustakeem: come in!
Mustakeemah: daddy baby!! as salam alaykum.
Mustakeem: (chuckles) walaykum salam, my corpertion!. you have also join them abi?
Mustakeemah: why wont i? any moment from now.. our baby will arrive.. and I just cant wait to be an aunt.. feels like paradise.
Mustakeem: see your mouth! Ogbeni! No do fast go bring husband come house.. your mate her mothers of five you are shouting to be an aunt..
Mustakeemah: (she drop his food and slap him on the head) you just so rude, or you think because you are turning into a dad soon, you think I still cant beat you?
Mustakeem: (touch his head in shock) Taiye!! You think because you are now a copper you think I cant beat my own back?
Mustakeemah: (hit his mouth) shut up jor! Don’t you know that you need to put your bad behaviors aside now that you are about to become a father? You are still talking when I’m talking.. abi because we came to this world together.. you can talk to me anyhow?
Mustakeem: (look up the ceiling) ya Allah! please.. let her husband locate her soon.. she has frustrated me enough in this house.. please.
Mustakeemah: (hit his mouth again) I said shut up! I am not rushing.. allow my parents to eat the fruit of their labor before my husband locate me..
Mustakeem: (nodded his head and return to his pressing phone) ok oo.. i wont say anything.. anyway thanks for the breakfast in bed.
Mustakeemah: so you are not going to fight me back again?
Mustakeem: that’s the sacrifice of a father to be..
Mustakeemah: gbenulor! For your mind now you don dey call yourself daddy lagbaja.. for your mind.. like Kenny! How dare you? how dare you first me to bear a child?
Mustakeem: na that one I no fit answer o.. (about to carry his food when she dragg it away from him) give me back my breakfast in bed now.
Mustakeemah: so you want to eat my food? Call me aunty first..
Mustakeem: why you dey do like this na? uh? Oya no vex, sorry.
Mustakeemah: call me aunty first..
Mustakeem: oya sorry aunty mustakeemah.
Mustakeemah: kai! You done dey soft oo.. I want the old you back.. I expect you to chase me around..
Mustakeem: (he get up and embrace) you have no idea of how bless I am.. coming into this world enough would have been tougher without you.. but having you by my side forever brighten my existence..
Mustakeemah: awwwwnnn don’t make me cry..
Mustakeem: (suddenly his phone ring) give me a sec (pick up the phone) it Maryam (he pick the call) as salam alaykum! What? (panicking)
Mustakeemah: (worried) what happened!!! Talk to me..
Mustakeem: she is having my baby! they are all at the hospital.. she is currently in the labor room! (panick attack)
Mustakeemah: relax!! Breathe!!
Mustakeem: I cant! (gasping for air as he move around the room) what am I even waiting for? I should be with her! (wear a long pant and rush out while Mustakeemah followed him)
**********************************
Later in the night
Ridwan: (enters the living room old a rose flower when he bum into his wife in her uniform) baby!
Zainab: welcome sir… I forgot to tell you this morning that I resume back to work today and I am in the night shift (pretend not to see his hand)
Ridwan: but… okay then.. (he make way for her) or should I drive you?
Zainab: no thank you. by the way, I already prepared dinner, everything is set on the dining table.. so have a lovely night (about to leave)
Ridwan: zainab.
Zainab: sir (she turn around)
Ridwan: do you have to go? I thought you don’t need all these shift since you are now the D.C.O..
Zainab: I must go because there is a lot of work waiting for me on my desk… so have a good night.
Ridwan: zainab please..
Zainab: (tight her fist as she is getting pissed off) yes?
Ridwan: here (stretch out his hand)
Zainab: (scan him from head to toes twice) and what Is that?
Ridwan: it just a symbol of my love for you..
Zainab: well I don’t need it.. and never ever mention anything like love to me again (she walk out on him while he run after her)
Ridwan: baby!!!! please… (block her way) pleaseee..
Zainab: move out of my way please…please kindly leave my hand alone..
Ridwan: please… I have realized a lot!
Zainab: good for you (she tried to leave then he draw her closer to him) stop playing with me.. you are not seeing my teeth outside. Kindly let go of me, I am late already!
Ridwan: you still want me to eat despite all have done to you? I swear… I don’t even know what to say.. I don’t deserve you zainab.
Zainab: please! I am begging you.. i don’t need all these chitchat of yours.. (gently push his hand away) and don’t block my way again or we might have bigger issues.
Ridwan: (sigh heavily) Allah blessed me with a rare gem and I almost throw her away. How am I ever going to face you again?.. I was so stupid finding all means to have a child while.. kai.. I don’t deserve you Zainab, at all.
Zainab: (look away as tears clouded her eyes) move out of my way.
Ridwan: (instantly fell on his knees ) I was so stupid Ajoke.. I was so mean and selfish to you.
Zainab: (tries to hold her emotions)
Ridwan: I don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve your love and patience… kindly find it in your heart to forgive me and give me a chance to make things right.
Zainab: get up!
Ridwan: let me remain like this please.
Zainab: if you don’t get up I cant say anything.
Ridwan: (crawl to her knees) I know I have hurt you so badly. Zainab, please forgive me.
Zainab: (turn around and leave the house while he run after her again)
Ridwan: zainab!!!! Please wait! (quickly reach the gate before her) please… hear me out.
Zainab: (sadly smile as tears roll down) what do you want to say again? you still want to defend yourself? There is nothing to defend, it okay! I understand.. isn’t that the sacrifice your gender always want a woman to have? Understanding and patience despite the fact that you are hurting your wife? So there is nothing left to defend your stupidity for.. that’s the sacrifice I was meant to make. So it okay.. but I’m sorry to say this.. I was waiting for you to mourn your lost daughter, then I hand over a divorce paper to you.
Ridwan: (jaw drop and fell on his knees again)
Zainab: I said don’t knees! I am not your Lord! Get up! I said get up!
Ridwan: if you leave me my life will be meaningless without you.. I know that I don’t deserve you at all… I don’t even deserve your love.
Zainab: (help him get back on his feet) come with me.. (they enter the house back and she sit him down) Ridwan. Do you remember our wedding night?
Ridwan: (nodded instantly) yes!! I remember everything.
Zainab: I don’t think so.. but I will remind you every promises you made to me that night.. like I knew something big was coming.. Ridwan! (suddenly break down in tears and fell on the ground as she couldn’t hold her feelings again)
Ridwan: (tears roll down from his eyes as he couldn’t bear to see her crying that loud, he move closer to her and continue begging for mercy) I know!! I know how bad I have hurt you zainab.. I know I didn’t keep my promises. I know I messed up.. you gave me charms and I willingly use my own hand to search for challenges into my life.. and I promise to make it up to you.. I promise please just forgive me.. and I want the old you back (tried to embrace her)
Zainab: don’t you dare touch me! you already lost me ever since you could call me a barren woman.. like I choose not to give you a child? When was the last time we made love? A read couple love… more than a year now. How do you expect me to feel every time I heard you having sex with Rasheedat in my matrimonial home… I still endure because if she happens to be your legal wife there is nothing I can do about it.. but do you ever wonder how I feel? To share you? to share you with your mistress.. you don’t care about me.. you don’t care if am well or if ever fall sick in the past 2 years.. you never ask of how am doing but despite all that.. I still never watch you sleep hungry.. when Was the last time you bought something for me, when was the last time you made me feel like woman.. when was the last time you made feel like your wife? I take care of myself… and all these happened because I couldn’t bear you a child… atleast you got one…. And where is she? Forced into this world and forced back! Due to your selfish interest! You love yourself alone! Don’t care about anyone around you but you! please tell me.. if there is anything you are doing for me in this marriage! Absolutely nothing! And I’m done! I don’t you love you anymore.. but I was just waiting for you to settle your personal important and prioritized life first before I can hand over the divorce paper to you.. I have every right to file for this divorce both islamically and legally.. I derive no joy, no peace, no happiness.. every single day is filled with sorrow and I’m done! Ridwan… I’m done! I cant do this anymore… there is no different between being single but even worse… you still give me pain.. but I am grateful to you for one thing.. that you didn’t later succeeded in taking my career away from me.. so I’m very grateful (as she tries to take her leave her grab her hands while she fell on him )let me go!!! (hitting his chest) if you don’t leave alone you might get hurt at the end..
Ridwan: (tears gushing down his face as he failed to let go of her) I cant imagine my life without you please.. fine! I accept! I was so wrong.. I was so ungrateful for your love and everything.. please.. don’t leave me!.. I cant do without you plleeasssee.
Zainab: ofcourse you can leave without me, I am not oxygen neither am I food! You could live without me that’s why you choose another woman which you have every right to.. and I thought I couldn’t all these years because I wasn’t ready to accept that you can never love me again.. but I still hoped for the best.. Till you called me a cheater.. I think I’m like you? that I will sleep with another man just to punish you? no! I love and value my body so much not because of you but to protect my dignity.. you deflowered me! that should speak a lot about how much I respect my body.. and despite not having sex with me all these years.. my body is still intact.. that’s how much I can live without you… but do you know what I couldn’t? I couldn’t stand the depression.. I think I might die if I don’t leave this house.. depression is killing me.. Ridwan! I was emotionally traumatize and I wonder what I see in you that made me accept your proposal… thinking everything will be fine.
Ridwan: listen to me!!! (sigh heavily) I don’t even know what to say to just change your mind.. I don’t know.. but please give me one last chance I promise to make things right..
Zainab: that’s all you will say.. this isn’t about you alone.. it about your gender.. even if I leave you for another man, you guys are naturally good at hurting your wives thinking ones you married her she isn’t going anywhere.. but someone gave birth to me too.. I could remember the first time you told me about your late parents and siblings.. I was so determined to marry you.. I wanted to be your family, your everything.. to give you what was taken away from you .. that was why I was quiet. You know I don’t talk too much and you don’t even worth my explanations anymore.. I’m just so tired and I want to rest, far away from you. so let go of me, I don’t feel so good at all.. and I don’t have strength for all these.. please Ridwan.
Ridwan: (sadly let go of her and wipe his tears)
Zainab: thank you (walk away from him and enter her bedroom)
Ridwan: (break down in tears) ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Ridwan what have you done?
Zainab: (slam the door and fell on the bed in tears crying bitterly)