Zainab: (laughing out loud) Fine!! You caught me... (laughing uncontrollably as Ridwan tickles her) Please stop, do you want me to pee in my pants? Baby, stop! (still laughing)
Ridwan: (happily admiring her smile) I could watch you smile all day, my love. I can't believe I took away this angelic laughter of yours for so many years. I'm so grateful to have another chance. My queen, thank you. (stops tickling her as they fall onto the couch together) Please, let's stay like this for a few minutes.
Zainab: Do you want me to choke? Let go of me...
Ridwan: (obeys and sits very close to her, unable to take his eyes off her) Baby...
Zainab: Yes, Mr. Ridwan?
Ridwan: I'm so sorry for everything...
Zainab: It's okay. The past is in the past. Let's focus on the future.
Ridwan: I won't mind if we have a child or not; all I want is you.
Zainab: I never knew it would take you almost five years to understand me, but it's okay. I'm glad you're back to your senses. (takes his right hand and kisses the back of it)
Ridwan: Amazing. I've missed this moment. You always make me feel like a prince when you kiss my hand. Where did you learn that? Kissing the back of the hand is supposed to be my move, not yours.
Zainab: I learned it from Arabian couples. I love their movies because I learn so many ways to show love to a partner. I'm glad you like it. It's my way of showing how submissive I am and how I've accepted you as my husband, my leader, and my spouse by kissing your hand.
Ridwan: (overwhelmed with joy) Come here, baby. (kisses her forehead for a few seconds, then tries to kiss her lips, but she pushes him away) Baby, please... we've starved each other enough already. I need you...
Zainab: You better call Rashidat.
Ridwan: Are you kidding me? I don't want to hear her name in this house again. I want no one but you. Please, baby, I'm hungry for you. My body is dying to be with you more than ever. Please, baby...
Zainab: (smiles as she rubs his head, ears, and neck) Time will tell, but right now we need to sleep. Come on, let's go inside.
Ridwan: Alright, baby! (quickly gets to his feet and starts unbuttoning his shirt)
Zainab: You need serious therapy.
Ridwan: And that therapy is your body, baby.
_________________________________________
Scene: 4 Years Later
Narrator: After their reunion, Ridwan and Zainab's marriage has become better than ever. Ridwan showers Zainab with love and respect and never causes her discomfort, despite not having a child. However, Zainab worries day and night about her inability to conceive, especially since her younger sister is pregnant with her third child.
Scene: Bedroom, middle of the night
Narrator: Ridwan gets up to ease himself and is surprised to find Zainab crying silently in sujud (prostration). This breaks his heart as he understands the reason for her tears. He hesitates, then performs ablution and joins her in sujud. After several minutes of emotional prayer, they return to bed.
Ridwan: Ajoke, please stop hurting yourself over this. I am not complaining.
Zainab: But I am! I need to be called a mother. I need to grow a human in this tummy of mine. I want to experience the sweet pain of labor. I want to breastfeed my child. I want to be addressed as a mother in society, not just Officer Zainab. This is killing me, Ridwan. (breaks down in tears) Even if it's just one child... I just want Allah to hear me.
Ridwan: I understand how you feel, but seeing you like this is killing me too. I believe when the time is right, we will have a child. Come here. (welcomes her into his arms)
Zainab: Nine years of marriage and no child... people will start calling me a witch.
Ridwan: I don't care. When you told me about this world, I saw more reasons not to bother about having a child. Look at this world, it's coming to an end. It's so sinful. Can someone die and leave a child behind without them being lost in this world too?
Zainab: I know, but even if it's just one, I swear I will guide him or her.
Ridwan: I understand. I want that too, but we can't question Allah, you know.
Zainab: Abi, will you take another wife?
Ridwan: (shocked) Excuse me?
Zainab: I don't think I can ever give you a child. Time is passing, Ridwan. You're approaching 40 and I'm nearing 35.
Ridwan: Whatever happens, don't mention another wife. No woman can bring me the happiness you do. You make me feel like a king every moment we spend together. I'll never cheat on you or marry another. We'll have our child together. Just be patient, my love.
Zainab: (resuming her tears) I want a baby, Ridwan. I want our child.
Ridwan: Do you want to hurt yourself? It's okay. We'll get through this.
___________________________________________________
Mustakeem: Ummu Hazeemah! Hurry up! We'll be late for the naming ceremony.
Habibah: I'll join you soon. I'm struggling with my socks.
Mustakeem: (sighs) Pregnant women and their drama. (joins her in the room) Let me help.
Habibah: What about Hazeemah?
Hazeemah: Mommy!
Habibah: My baby! Did Daddy dress you nicely? Are you ready to meet your little sister?
Hazeemah: (nods happily) Let's go, Mommy.
Mustakeem: Even your daughter knows you're holding us up.
Habibah: Are you blaming me now? As if carrying this baby is easy.
Mustakeem: Done! Now, can we go? (They lock the door and head out.)
Habibah: This baby better not be twins. You won't stop bothering me since your sister got pregnant.
Mustakeem: If only you knew how seriously I take her. If her husband messes up, there'll be trouble. Big problem.
Habibah: And if you mess up...
Mustakeem: Never! I know a woman's worth because of Mustakeemah. I don't joke around with my wife.
Habibah: Aww, I love you, baby.
Mustakeem: I love you too.
Hazeemah: I love you, Mommy.
Habibah: Aww, my baby, I love you too.
Mustakeem: (chuckles) That's my princess.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
FEW MONTHS AFTER
MORNING
Ridwan came out of the bedroom, yawning as he headed towards the toilet. He nearly lost his balance when he found Zainab sniffing her own unflushed poop.
Ridwan: Baby!
Zainab: (startled) Don't come any closer! Just leave me alone like this.
Ridwan: What are you doing? Sniffing your own poop?
Zainab: Please, just leave me alone. If you want to brush your teeth, do it somewhere else. I need some privacy.
Ridwan: (still in disbelief) Zainab! Please come out.
Zainab: If I come out now and smell the room, I think I might pass out.
Ridwan: What? You've been acting strangely since last week. Yesterday morning, I found you in the kitchen eating cooked fish with mayonnaise. What's going on? Are you pregnant? (Their eyes meet in sudden realization) Wait! Are you pregnant?
Zainab: (processing his words, unable to stop staring at him)
Ridwan: Baby, are you pregnant? (Overwhelmed with joy) Have you been vomiting lately?
Zainab: Yes, it started this morning. I just don't feel well. I'm very sensitive to smells.
Ridwan: Do you have a pregnancy test with you?
Zainab: No.
Ridwan: Please come out first. I'll run to the pharmacy.
Zainab: I said if I leave this toilet and I don't smell to my satisfaction, I might pass out.
Ridwan: Trouble dey o. Okay, give me a few minutes. I'll be right back. (He picks up his trousers and rushes out of the house)
Zainab: (overwhelmed with joy) What if he's right? Am I really pregnant?
10 minutes later
The couple impatiently waits for the pregnancy test result, with Zainab resting her weak body on Ridwan's shoulder in the restroom.
Ridwan: Let's check it now.
Zainab: Yes!
Ridwan: (flips the test and sees the result) Yaaayyy! (Jumps up in joy)
Zainab: (her jaw drops)
Ridwan: Alhamdulillah! We're pregnant! We're pregnant! Ahhh!
Zainab: (uses her remaining strength to pull him out of the toilet)
Ridwan: Baby, we're pregnant! Oh my God, this is unbelievable!
Zainab: (tears rolling down her face) Am I dreaming, babe? Is this real?
Ridwan: Yes! We're not dreaming. It better not be a dream. We're pregnant! (He starts running around the house in happiness)
Zainab: (laughs) Baby, stop shouting now. Baby! Ridwan!
Ridwan: Yes, baby! We! You and I are pregnant!
Zainab: (laughs) Alhamdulillahi Robil Alamin. (She falls to her knees and performs sujood al-shukr) Alhamdulillah! (Tears of joy stream down her face) I am so grateful.
Ridwan: (still running around happily)
5 MINUTES LATER
Zainab: (enters the living room and finds him lying on the floor) Has your body finally calmed down now?
Ridwan: Abi now. I still have so much shouting to do, but my body doesn't want to cooperate. Baby! (Gets to his feet and runs to embrace her) We finally did it! Congratulations to us, my love.
Zainab: (panting heavily, tears in her eyes) I thought it would never happen.
Ridwan: But we did it. We're going to be parents, and we'll raise this baby together. Today, we're going to the hospital to make sure both of you are in good condition. I won't let anything harm either of you. So, tell me, what are you craving this morning?
Zainab: If I tell you, will you believe it?
Ridwan: Say it, baby. Just name it.
Zainab: I want to eat mango plucked directly from the tree, but the unripe one so I can eat it with ground pepper.
Ridwan: (jaw drops) Are you kidding?
Zainab: (tiredly stares at him)
Ridwan: You're not kidding! Baby, freshly harvested mango with ground pepper? (Laughs uncontrollably, while she gives him an annoyed look)
Zainab: Seriously? You're making fun of us?
Ridwan: Sorry, my love. But how will you eat it? Unripe mango with pepper? Besides, it's not mango season yet.
Zainab: Don't worry. I've had enough of your jokes. Let me sit down first. I'm so weak and hungry. (Suddenly smells the stew she prepared last night and runs back into the room to vomit)
Ridwan: Baby! Are you okay? (Follows her) Ahh! Ishe bere! (The work has begun)
THE END