Ummu: Habibah!! (She follows her into the bathroom) What is going on?
Habibah: (still vomiting)
Abu: (joins them) What is happening? What's going on? And why do you keep interrogating her?
Ummu: (she drags her clothes and helps her to raise her face) Now, tell me, what is going on?
Habibah: (panting heavily) I... I don’t know...
Ummu: What do you mean you don’t know?
Abu: Can you just leave her alone? Didn’t you say we should stop this attitude towards her? So why now?
Ummu: This is a different case, dear. Answer me!
Habibah: (startled) Mum, I don’t know... I swear.
Ummu: When was the last time you saw your period?
Abu: What kind of question is that? Can someone explain what is going on?
Ummu: Can you just stay out of this for a minute? This is between me and her, and I will not hesitate to deal with you myself if you don’t come clean right this instant! Now, for the last time, when was the last time you saw your period?
Habibah: (scared, stammering) Last... last two... months.
Abu: Eh?
Ummu: (covers her mouth in disbelief) Subhanallah! Habibah, you've shocked me...
Abu: What does that mean?
Ummu: (furiously moves toward Habibah) Despite all my efforts for you, Habibah! You finally succeeded in putting yourself in danger? (She lands a slap on Habibah's face) After all I have done for you, even if you can't consider your father, couldn’t you consider me?
Abu: What is wrong with you? Why hit her? (He covers for Habibah without understanding what's going on) What happened to our last discussion?
Ummu: (sadly looks down as tears gush out of her eyes) Should I say your father being mean to you was a good choice? You have the audacity, Habibah!
Habibah: (already in tears) I am sorry, Mum.
Abu: Can you just go straight to the point here?
Ummu: She is pregnant!
Abu: Who is pregnant?
Ummu: Her! Habibah! She is pregnant!
Abu: (gradually steps back) She is what? (He furiously glances at Habibah)
Habibah: (gradually steps away from them) I am so sorry, Daddy! Mum... I am so sorry. Please... (She suddenly falls to her knees)
Abu: (tight his fist as he is furious with anger) this is why I said kids of now adays don’t deserve any sympathy, they need to be dealt with force! Now did you see? As I am staring at you right now I feel like strangling you… after all my effort! This is how you repay me? Habibah! Lailaha ilalah muhamadu rosulilah (s.a.w) after all my effort on you! (furiously take steps towards her about to pounce on her when her mother block him and fell on her knees in tears) so you are going to cover for her one more time? This same stupid up bringing land us in this mess.. Despite all my thrives to guide her.. she ended up putting us in a position fire in front of Allah! how? How can my own daughter get pregnant under my own roof? And what kind of a mother are you? that you didn’t notice all what is going on her with her? till she missed her period for complete two months without you noticing.. and if I asked if she had prayed, you always answer for her… now did you see the result? What kind of a mother are you? you know this is all your fault! The fault is all yours! now am I ever going to face the world again… a whole me who preaches so much against zinah, not knowing the huge sinner live under my roof and happens to be my own daughter, subhanallah! How could you let this happened? Can you even called yourself a mother?
Ummu: enough! I have had enough! You blamed me for everything in this house.. even despite not being a good father to our kids you still blame me for your own mistakes.. you put the owe responsibility of child upbringing on my head.. is it until I die before you see my effort? Abi just because you are mean to them then I have to be mean too? Do you even have any idea of what they called you in your absence? A MONSTER! A BEAST AND A DEMON! For them to give you such name you should have understand how much pain you have caused them… they never had any good moment with their own father.. they did question me all the time if truly you are their biological father! I have explain and explain and keep explaining that you are not a monster but an helpless father whose his biggest fear in life is seeing his children go astray.. they are still young and naïve… they have no idea of your effort but only I do.. but I realize no matter how much I had explain to them they can only hear the real statement and feel a father love through you yourself! You are alive and not dead but your children wish you were dead! I am sure Habibah purposely got pregnant so to teach you a lesson because she knows how much I do check on her monthly period more than my own. But it turns out she lied to me for the past two months.. but I still didn’t see you a monster, despite every pain you’ve caused me too.. I still see an helpless father whose biggest fear is his children and only claim to be tough whenever he is with them.. you just got all these wrong. You are good man Ayo! The fact that I still stay in this marriage means they don’t see what I see in you.. and it normal to make mistakes in life but if you believe you are perfect and is never too late to amend and make things right with your children.
Abu: (panting heavily) you don’t know anything… because if you did! you wont stand there saying all that.. I thought you are wise but I guess not anymore.. after all I told you about my parents? After everything I told you.. about how my parents died a very sinful death.. if not for Allah that guide me to the right path.. do you think I will be here today? After all I told you that my fear is seeing my children going astray.
Ummu: maybe if you had for once say all these to them in a calm voice, and fatherly tone.. maybe they would have embrace islam with an open heart. They would have love islam through you (roar back at him) I have had enough of this.. The did had been done… she is pregnant! And despite all that she is still our daughter!
Abu: (decline with his head) not anymore.. not my own child… who stood so low to open her two leg for a stranger.. (face Habibah) because of you! I am in a position where I wish I could disappear right now from the world… because of you! I wish I never made love to your mother that night to have you. don’t ever call me your father! And I will never put my hand in your case again.. go ahead and open your filty legs to as many strangers as you want.. but thank you for the pain and sorrow you set to this family and most especially to me and your mother. Because you… none of us will find happiness again. are you happy now? I am out of here! (he take his leave and slam the door behind him)
Ummu: (close her eyes as tears forcefully drain down, she fell on her knees and sob bitterly) ya Allah!!! please have mercy on my family… have mercy on us..
Habibah: (soaked with tears as she squeeze herself to the corner of the room while her siblings stand by the door watching her with disappointment tears on their face glancing at her) I am sorryyyyyyyyyy.
Ummu: (suddenly get back on her feet, remove her hijab and tie it around her waist) now tell me, who is responsible for this? And we are going there right this instant! Any more lies and I promise you.. I will make your life more miserable than it already is.
Habibah: (shivering)
************************************
Later in the evening
Zainab enters the house and is startled to find the entire sitting room engulfed in smoke. She rushes outside, struggling to breathe. Collapsing to the ground, she frantically searches her bag for her inhaler, her breath growing shallow. Finally locating it, she hastily administers a dose, gasping for air. She sits by the front door, gathering her strength before moving to the backyard to assess the situation. Peering through the window, she realizes the kitchen is empty.
Zainab: (still using her inhaler) This girl must be kidding me... She left the house with the gas on while frying something? What if the house exploded? (struggling, she quickly turns off the gas and rushes outside, coughing and nearly losing consciousness as she uses her inhaler again)
Five minutes later,
Rasheedat: (enters the compound and finds Zainab sitting on the doorstep) What are you doing here?
Zainab: (raises her head and stands to face her)
Rasheedat: (scans her from head to toe) What's wrong?
Zainab: You know what? You're not the one I should be talking to. It's the one who let you into this house. (enters the house)
Rasheedat: Excuse me? Who do you think you are? Just because you're wearing a police uniform now, you think you can talk to me like that? Zainab! (follows her inside and realizes she was frying plantains before leaving to buy snacks) Oh my God! (rushes to the kitchen and sees the burnt frying pan) What have I done? I can't believe I forgot I was frying plantains... (takes a deep breath) Now I've given her a reason to insult me today... Oh no!
***********************
Later in the night
[Ridwan enters the house and finds Zainab praying in the living room.]
Ridwan: May Allah accept your prayer…
[Suddenly, he bumps into Rasheedat.]
Rasheedat: Welcome back, baby. [She reaches for his bag, but he pulls away.] What?
Ridwan: [Sniffing the air] Who burnt the food?
Rasheedat: I did... I forgot.
Ridwan: [Concerned, realizing the smoke could affect his wife] What were you doing that made you forget you were cooking?
Rasheedat: I quickly went to buy snacks. It's not much burning, so don't worry...
Ridwan: What have you done, Rasheedat? Do you even realize what you’ve done? Do you have any idea my wife is asthmatic?
Rasheedat: Really? I didn’t know... No wonder she couldn’t get pregnant for you.
Ridwan: [Shocked, his jaw drops]
[Zainab folds her mat and quickly walks past them.]
Ridwan: Are you mad? Are you out of your mind?
Rasheedat: What's wrong with you? Do you have to insult me? All I said was the bitter truth.
[Ridwan furiously pushes her out of his way and races to Zainab’s room.]
Rasheedat: Ridwan!!!
[He finds Zainab lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.]
Ridwan: Baby, please forgive her... Please.
Zainab: [Doesn't speak, just stares at him]
Ridwan: You have every right to be mad at me and her for this.
Zainab: [Smiles] And why should I be mad at the two of you? Even if she insulted me and you brought her into this house, you would've said the same thing to my face. But I’m glad it didn't come from you...
Ridwan: Me? I would never!
Zainab: Please kindly leave my room... I have work to do.
Ridwan: Please, I'm sorry on her behalf.
Zainab: Please leave.
Ridwan: Please, baby...
Zainab: This is how you'll continue to beg on her behalf until she finally grants your wish... So I understand. Just know that maybe next time, you might not meet your bride under your roof again. I might have to use my power to deal with her. Maybe next time, you'll have to bail her out. I don’t talk much, but I perform actions better. Kindly leave my room, sir.
Ridwan: [Sighs heavily] We are sorry, please.
*********************
7:34pm
Mum: who is at the door knocking like that? Ok am coming now! (thinking) abi it my children? It might actually be them oo (she walk faster towards the door and open it) how may I help you?
Ummu: we are here to see your son.. whats his name again?
Habibah: (soak in tears) Mu Mustakeem!