Mustakeemah: (helplessly crying) "My hijjjaaabb!!! I bought them with my sweat savings... nooo!"
Najat: (felt sorry for her) "Everything will be fine sis."
Mustakeemah: (pushes her hand) "Don’t you dare touch me! This is all your fault! Assuming you stayed out of my life, things wouldn’t have gotten to this extent! And I don’t want to ever set my eyes on you again… get out!"
Najat: (bows her head sadly) "I’m sorry big sis, I know you are hurt, and this is all my fault. I am so, so sorry. If only I could make it up to you. I see the beauty of Islam through you. You opened my eyes to the amazing part of Islam ever since you welcomed me into your arms. You are my role model, and I don’t want you to feel sad about this. Remember the preaches that say Allah only tests those he loves. He is using your parents to test us, and I believe you understand me better. So, don’t feel bad, okay? I will never leave your side, and I will support your choice in life. But please don’t chase me out of your heart. Please big sis."
Mustakeemah: "I don’t even know you! You are just my cousin but you... just leave! Pleeeasse." (wipes her tears) "Leave!"
Najat: (exhales softly and gets on her feet) "Please hang in there. Everything will be fine soon."
Mustakeemah: "I said get lost!"
Najat: "At least, can I hug you?"
Mustakeemah: "I said get out!" (points furiously)
Najat: (sadly walks away)
Mustakeemah: (resumes her sorrow)
************************
A week later
5:40am
Mum: (peeping through the door) "Taiye! Wait oh! she is not in… then where could she be? Taiye!!" (suddenly hears a sound coming from the kitchen) "Taiye!! Is that you?" (enters the kitchen and finds her washing the dishes) "So, your mouth is too big to answer my call?"
Mustakeemah: (turns to her and goes on her knees) "Good morning, maami."
Mum: (murmuring response) "Morning.." (notices her dress) "Why are you wearing bum shorts and walking around the house like this?"
Mustakeemah: "Are you having a problem with me not covering up again?"
Mum: "That’s not the point! And no one is saying you shouldn’t cover up... You know what? Carry on with your chores... and rice and beans with egg sauce, okay?"
Mustakeemah: "Yes, ma."
Mum: "Make it delicious, oh!"
Mustakeemah: "Yes, ma."
*****************
7:23am
Mustakeem: "Amazing! My twin is now a great chef! I want more!!"
Dad: "Young man! Behave yourself!"
Munir: "Same here, Dad. I want more."
Dad: "Will you two shut your dirty mouths? You know nothing but food! Your mates are graduating with first class, and you are here begging for more food! When will you take steps forward toward your career and dreams, huh? Remember, you will be the head of the house in the future! No food for lazy ass men like you, oh."
Mustakeem: (pays no attention to him) "Taiye!!! Please, I want more food!"
Munir: "Mum! We want more!"
Mum: (takes their plates and heads to the kitchen) "You two, nothing but food! FFOs."
Najat: (quietly has her breakfast)
Mum: "Here you go."
Mustakeem: "Thanks, Mum! You are the best!" (digs in) "But this is little for me now!"
Mum: "Kukuma come and eat the whole pot!"
Munir: (chuckles) "I'm okay with this, though."
Dad: (shakes his head as he also enjoys the breakfast)
Mustakeemah: (joins them) "Kindly excuse me." (she stretches out her hands to carry the bowl of fried plantain)
They all notice her dress.
Munir: (coughing)
Najat: (jaw drops)
Mustakeem: "Why are you dressed like this?"
Munir: "Damn!"
Dad: (scans her from head to toes and looks away) "Are you ready for school?"
Mustakeemah: "Yes, Daddy! Also, Dad, we were instructed to pay for our excursion fees, and the deadline is today."
Dad: (steps down with a glass of water) "I don’t have any money! Till tomorrow."
Mustakeemah: "But, Daddy! I told you two days ago, and you said I should remind you today."
Dad: "Really?"
Mustakeemah: "Yes, Dad!"
Dad: (dips his hand into his pocket) "There you go! I’m only giving you today because your meal tastes really good today."
Mustakeemah: (bright smile on her face) "Thanks, Dad! I’m off to school, bye!" (waves at them)
Mustakeem: "Dad!!!"
Dad: "What?"
Mustakeem: "Didn’t you see what she put on? A crop top with tight jeans trousers?"
Dad: "So what? At least now she is revealing her true self rather than wearing that Yeri."
Mustakeem: "But Dad."
Dad: "Not another word! Eat and get out of my house! Your mates are already in class, and as for you! What are you still doing here?"
Najat: (hurriedly packs the plate and disappears from his sight)
Few months later (7:34 pm)
Ridwan: (enters the house) "Ekule oo." (obviously tired)
Zainab: (welcomes him with an embrace and kisses the back of his hand) "You are welcome back home, your highness." (She takes his bag and unbuttons his shirt) "How was work? I hope it wasn’t that stressful?"
Ridwan: "Alhamdulilah."
Zainab: (holds his hands) "You are tired and you need a massage. Come with me." (They enter the master bedroom and try to take off his vest) "So, how was work today?"
Ridwan: (falls on the bed) "Work… work was so sooo stressful." (stares at the ceiling while she takes off his socks and trousers)
Zainab: "Sorry, my king. Now you are left with your boxers. The shower is all set. By the time you're done, your dinner will be waiting for you."
Ridwan: (smiles) "Okay, dear." (He heads into the bathroom)
Zainab: (heads to the kitchen) "Work must have been really hard on him."
10 minutes later
Ridwan: (comes out of the bathroom and spots his dinner filling the table) "You prepared my favorite?"
Zainab: "Yes, my love."
Ridwan: "Like you knew what I was craving for… damn!"
Zainab: (chuckles) "Here is your nightwear. Put this on."
Ridwan: (smiles) "Thank you, baby." (Gives her a kiss and gets dressed)
Zainab: "Also, I bought pain relievers for you! Your body must be aching."
Ridwan: (he gets seated on the bed while she pushes the table towards his knees and pours out the juice for him) "Thank you, my Queen." (He sips the juice and begins to dig in) "How refreshing."
Zainab: (climbs onto the bed and begins to massage his head, shoulders, and neck) "This should help relieve the stress."
Ridwan: "Awwwww! This feels like paradise! With your soft hands, baby… I’m in paradise."
Zainab: (laughs) "C’mon! Stay well with your head jor."
Ridwan: "This really feels like heaven on earth… I feel like sleeping... don’t stop, please." (he resumes back to his meal)
Zainab: "I hope you feel much better?"
Ridwan: "Better than ever, baby... awwwwwwww…"
Zainab: "Oga, stay well with your head jor!"
12 minutes later
Ridwan is already in bed, the fan placed at his directions.
Zainab: (enters the room) "Ayo! Are you sleeping?"
Ridwan: (snoring)
Zainab: "Seriously? It's time for Salat Isha! So better wake up."
Ridwan: "Give me a minute."
Zainab: "I have poured water in the kettle. Please get up and pray, then you can sleep."
Ridwan: "After you have loaded my body with joy and peace, how do you expect me to get up now?"
Zainab: "Oya, I’m sorry. It will never happen again."
Ridwan: "Nikini? It will happen again and again and again, Insha Allah… But baby, Wallahi, I’m too weak to get up."
Zainab: "I guess you don’t love me anymore, and you don’t want our love to last. I thought you said you will love me even after death and together in paradise."
Ridwan: "Yes now."
Zainab: "Then get up; let's work for the Jannah together!" (she draws his hand) "You are too heavy now. Get up."
Ridwan: (finally gets on his feet and grabs her waist) "I love you sooooo much." (he begins to kiss her)
Zainab: (smiles) "I love you toooo… now let me go! Let's pray first."
Ridwan: (he holds her tighter and pushes her to the wall) "I really mean it when I say I love you so so much, Zainab! You give me reasons why I always say Alhamdulillah for marrying you. I love you so much."
Zainab: "I love you more... and I pray you never change too."
Ridwan: (tries to kiss her again, but she dodges it)
Zainab: "Let's pray jor. I am not the one you will put in the mood… till we pray first." (she pushes him and runs to the bathroom) "Come and do your ablution, oh."
Ridwan: (a bright smile on his face as he enters the bathroom, then he follows her in)
*********************
The next morning
6: 59am
Zainab: am on my way now!! Make sure he didn’t escape, is that clear? (setting the dining table) I will join you soon, and make sure you inform Tayo! To bail out that lady with the Hijab as well. (suddenly hear an explosion sound coming from the room) baby!!! (she run to the room, but to her greatest surprise the room was filled with smoke which got her coughing instantly and suddenly losing her breathe) baby…
Ridwan: (hurriedly push the inhaler into her mouth) breathe!!! (he carry out of the room) breathe!! I gash you!! sorry baby..
Zainab: (feeling better) what?? what happened?
Ridwan: the iron exploded with the socket and burn as well. I will be right back (as he tried to enter the room back she drag his shirt) what?
Zainab: don’t take a stupid step by touching the socket oh. you better stay here while we call the electrician.
Ridwan: (chuckles) you don’t have to worry.. I am a man.. nothing will happen to me. besides I have remove the wire from the socket.
Zainab: I don’t care what you have to say! Just don’t go there.. I don’t want to lose you ok? we will call the electrician and that is final.
Ridwan: nothing will happen to me, you are just over reacting!
Zainab: oh really? All I know is you are not going back in there.. let me call the electrician.
Ridwan: ok fine! Atleast let me go and change the line then.
Zainab: lets go together then.
Ridwan: seriously? Ife!
Zainab: yes! Seriously! Am not the one you will turn into a widow at young age.
Ridwan: (burst into laughter) my wife will not kill me ohh… atleast let go of my shirt now.
Zainab: (finally let go and follow him to the corridor) hurry up, breakfast is ready.
Ridwan: madam! Leave my shirt alone now.. you are still holding it.
Zainab: if the light shock you then it should shock us both.
Ridwan: (smile) is this how much you love me?
Zainab: (suddenly let go of his shirt and head back inside)
Ridwan: baby!!! Ife! (smiling) gosh! I am so blessed.. Alhamdulilah!.
Zainab: "I'm on my way now! Make sure he didn’t escape, is that clear?" (setting the dining table) "I will join you soon, and make sure you inform Tayo to bail out that lady with the hijab as well." (suddenly hears an explosion sound coming from the room) "Baby!!!" (she runs to the room, but to her greatest surprise, the room was filled with smoke, which made her cough instantly and suddenly lose her breath) "Baby…"
Ridwan: (hurriedly pushes the inhaler into her mouth) "Breathe!!! (he carries her out of the room) Breathe!! I gash you!! Sorry, baby."
Zainab: (feeling better) "What?? What happened?"
Ridwan: "The iron exploded with the socket and burned as well. I will be right back." (as he tries to enter the room again, she drags his shirt) "What?"
Zainab: "Don’t take a stupid step by touching the socket, oh. You better stay here while we call the electrician."
Ridwan: (chuckles) "You don’t have to worry. I am a man. Nothing will happen to me. Besides, I have removed the wire from the socket."
Zainab: "I don’t care what you have to say! Just don’t go there. I don’t want to lose you, okay? We will call the electrician, and that is final."
Ridwan: "Nothing will happen to me; you are just overreacting!"
Zainab: "Oh really? All I know is you are not going back in there. Let me call the electrician."
Ridwan: "Okay fine! At least let me go and change the line then."
Zainab: "Let's go together then."
Ridwan: "Seriously? Ife!"
Zainab: "Yes! Seriously! I am not the one you will turn into a widow at a young age."
Ridwan: (bursts into laughter) "My wife will not kill me oh… at least let go of my shirt now."
Zainab: (finally lets go and follows him to the corridor) "Hurry up, breakfast is ready."
Ridwan: "Madam! Leave my shirt alone now. You are still holding it."
Zainab: "If the light shocks you, then it should shock us both."
Ridwan: (smiles) "Is this how much you love me?"
Zainab: (suddenly lets go of his shirt and heads back inside)
Ridwan: "Baby!!! Ife!" (smiling) "Gosh! I am so blessed. Alhamdulillah!"