Mrs. Shola: ok now you are deaf! Look babe lets go in to celebrate better.
Mustakeemah: (she screams in pain) noooooo!!!!! This can’t be! My father can’t be dead please tell me this is a joke please, he is the only one left for me please!
Mrs. Shola: am the one wasting my time telling you this, babe lets go jor.
Mustakeemah: (she speaks out of rage as she cries bitterly) what did I ever do to you people to deserve all this? What is my offence in this life? To the extent my father passed away for the past two years and I wasn’t informed to mourn him and none of you showed a sign of grief…
Mrs. Shola: well for your information you are reaping what your parents sow! Just take it like that… I could remember when I once lived with your parents especially your mother, she talked to me rudely and harassed me in front of the family, she accused me of what I knew nothing about several times… I was like her maid back then, and the worst part is I was related to your father but as foolish as his wife was he always supported whatever she said, not knowing you will finally land in my house! You must suffer multiple times more than me, your mom suffered for 20 years as a barren woman before she finally had you due to her wickedness, all the pain I went through in your mother’s hand you will be the one to pay for it.
Mustakeemah: please ma am sorry on their behalf, have mercy on me… and have mercy on them in their grave please forgive them and set me free! Please (she cries bitterly) please open the door please have mercy on me please… now I have no one… please I don’t want to marry that man.
Mr. Suraj: babe lets go inside I can’t stand her… lets go babe.
Mustakeemah: please! Don’t leave me here please open the door… (she began to hit the door)
Mrs. Shola: you are right lets go inside (they finally leave her doorstep)
Mustakeemah: (she cries and screams for help at the same time) somebody help me!!! please come save me, I think I will die here please yaa Allah save me! this pain is too much for me to bear, you took my mother from me, now my father… daddddd! Why did you leave me in this wicked world, when you know you can’t carry my responsibilities why did you give birth to me, why didn’t you kill me the day I was born! Why must you leave me all alone in this wicked world… (she falls on her knees as she cries bitterly) somebody help! Anybody!
Bolanle: (hurriedly enters the house as she hears the cries of Mustakeemah) Mustakeemah!! What happened? Where are you? (searching for her) where are you?
Mustakeemah: (finally hears her voice) am here please open the door and set me free, please am in my room.
Bolanle: (she walks fast) your room? (she tries to open the door but it’s locked) I can’t open it, did you lock yourself in? the door is locked.
Mustakeemah: your mom locked me up, please help me to beg her to set me free, I don’t want to marry that man please help me to beg your parents this pain is too much for me… (in a weak tone)
Bolanle: marriage ke? Who do they want to marry you off to? Where are they? (she climbs the stairs and heads straight to their room, she angrily pushes the door with her hands and finds them dancing together) mom! Dad! You two are here jubilating for no reason while someone’s child is down there crying for her freedom! If you don’t mind me asking why did you lock her up in the first place? What’s her offence again and who is she getting married to?
Mr. Suraj: lets continue our dance jare, this one doesn’t know anything.
Mrs. Shola: exactly! Someone that is in the prison not knowing who is bailing her out… see my dear I hope you have bought all you need from the market and I hope you’ve packed your things so daddy can drop you off at the park.
Bolanle: (angrily staring at them) what kind of heartless parents are you two? Someone is crying out of pain under your roof and you are happy to see her in pain? Fear Allah o! fear God oh! What if am in her shoes right now is this how you would treat me as well?
Mrs. Shola: I forbid it for you nothing like that will ever happen to you… come here (as she tried to hold her hands she angrily pushed her away) did you just push me away? Bolanle!
Bolanle: (searching for the key in their room) where did you drop the key? I must set her free today whether you two like it or not.
Mr. Suraj: (he yelled at her angrily) hey! How dare you push your mother’s hand like that, where are your manners?
Bolanle: (she didn’t listen to them, she continued searching for the key) where is it!!!? (he angrily held her hand) what dad?
Mr. Suraj: am talking to you! Where are your manners?
Bolanle: (she tried to free herself from his hands) let me go! You are hurting my hands dad! Leave me alone!
Mr. Suraj: (he angrily hit her face) when next time you talk to me, you use your number six.
Mrs. Shola: babe that’s enough! Do you have to hit her? (quickly held his hands) how can you be so irresponsible? (finally freed her from his hand)
Bolanle: I really regret to call you my parents and I regret the day I came out of you two (she angrily walked out on them and slammed the door)
Mrs. Shola: do you have to hit her? Now she is upset.
Mr. Suraj: did you see how she talked to me?
Mrs. Shola: but you know she is still a child! Please don’t hit her like that next time, the face I’ve been taking good care of all this while…
Mr. Suraj: alright am sorry about that (about to touch her)
Mrs. Shola: that hand shouldn’t touch me or else! (she hissed and walked out on him) rubbish!
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Bolanle: (rushes downstairs) Mustakeemah!!! Am sorry but I don’t know where they hid the key… but I promise to set you free soon, please am so sorry for everything, I know what my parents did is totally unfair but please find it in your heart to forgive them.
Mustakeemah: (in a weak tone) please help me to beg them to set me free… am now an orphan at least they should let me mourn my dad peacefully, please beg them on my behalf this pain is too much oooo… (she breaks down in tears again)
Bolanle: (felt sorry for her) I will try my possible best… please hang in there, have you eaten? Lunch?
Mustakeemah: I’m not hungry, all I need is freedom, please Bolanle I beg you with the name of God set me free I will forever be grateful.
Bolanle: (tears roll down from her eyes) God! What type of parents did you give me? I swear I can’t find the key that’s why… I just received a slap from my dad for trying to save you… please hang in there till I find the key.
Mustakeemah: (she breaks down in tears again)
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3 days later.
At the office
Abdulhakeem: (busy with the system)
Dad: (barges into his office) hey son.
Abdulhakeem: (raises his eyebrows) sir!
Dad: (he gets seated) can we talk for a while? Like father and son discussion?
Abdulhakeem: of course! (he closed the laptop) am all ears.
Dad: (exhales softly) son, must you study abroad? There are better institutions here in Nigeria.
Abdulhakeem: (exhales softly) dad, do you know what passion means?
Dad: I do son.
Abdulhakeem: I’ll love to explore more about the universe and I was offered my dream course… but you insisted on destroying my future with your reasons, besides I was planning on rejecting the scholarship at least I will be your pet just like you wanted, I will live in your shadows and pursue your dreams together as your son, it’s fine… besides am living a life you’ve wanted and I expect you to be happy.
Dad: Abdulhakeem! Do you have to paint it over my face like am a bad father to you?
Abdulhakeem: obviously! Am trying my best to make you proud just like you wanted so what’s the big issue again? Trying to remind me of my pains again?
Dad: look son! You know nothing about out there… and I don’t want you to suffer at all… life over there is totally different from Nigeria!
Abdulhakeem: is that your reason why I can’t face my fear to achieve my success? Nothing comes easy we all know that, and if you want to achieve something in life you don’t have to care about all that, you have to take risks if you really want something, honestly speaking all these encouraging statements should be coming from you dad! Why are you so opposite from other dads?
Dad: I understand son, but am just worried about your well being… if I don’t love you I won’t be fighting for your safety like this, look at your mom, she is devastated right now.
Abdulhakeem: (dragged his chair closer to his dad) look dad! How did you get to where you are today? Are you living your father’s dream? For example just because my father is a farmer so that means I have to be a farmer as well? See dad all I need is your prayer, blessings and words of encouragement to keep me going and I promise to make you proud, but as for this country I don’t want to study in this country at all, my mates are out there jobless and I wasted 3 good years trying to make this dream come true now Allah has answered my secret prayers and you guys want to ruin it? I won’t say more than thank you for everything… thank you for raising me well and thank you for raising me just the way you wanted… (he finally sat back)
Dad: (went mute for a few seconds) ok then, do whatever pleases you, I promise to be there to support you whenever you need me.
Abdulhakeem: (raised his head up in surprise) are you serious?
Dad: (he nodded happily) yes son.
Abdulhakeem: (he got up and embraced him) thank you so much dad, thank you!!! You have no idea of how happy I am right now… thank you so much…
Dad: (smiled and patted his back) you are welcome son.
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Later in the night
Mrs. Shola: (finally unlocked her room) it’s been three days madam come out and do your chores… me locking you up here doesn’t mean you are free from chores.
Mustakeemah: (no response)
Mrs. Shola: (she entered the store room and quickly covered her nose) hmmm see how this store dey smell, so you this girl you didn’t eat the food I gave you, ohhh she even ate some and left the rest to spoil… my own food for that matter… (she found her lying unconscious on the floor) hey you! (she used her leg to hit her three times) wake up and pack all these plates to the kitchen… (she hit her with her leg again) are you deaf that am talking to you? (she slapped her butt) wake up jor smelly thing I don’t even know what that man sees in your stinky body… (she finally noticed she was not responding) hey am talking to you I said you should get up!! (she moved closer to her face and found her eyes wide open but not moving) ahhh! Abi this girl don die ni! Mustakeemah!!