Mustakeemah: (seated on the floor in the kitchen thinking about her life)
Mubarak: (shouts her name from his room) Mustakeemah!!!
Mustakeemah: (quickly gets up) sir!!!! Am coming now (she dusts her dress and heads to his room) sir, you called for me?
Mubarak: (looking all set up for work) pack the plates and clean this room, am heading to work… but before you do that, where is the list I told you to write?
Mustakeemah: (confused) what list sir? I don’t remember you said anything as such.
Mubarak: did you just call me a liar?
Mustakeemah: no no!! sir, why would I ever do that? Ok then I will write the list but what should I write there?
Mubarak: (shakes his head in pity) you don’t know me, do you? If I bounce on you right now, you might pass out. Get your skull out of my room right now and list the things you will need for yourself.. I won’t repeat myself.
Mustakeemah: ok ok sir! I will do that right away.
Few minutes later.
Mustakeemah: (she barges into his room panting heavily) here it is sir..
Mubarak: (he stretches his hand to take it from her, but she seems scared to hand it over) give it to me! what is wrong with you?
Mustakeemah: (she stretches out her hands) here it is sir; but uhm… I don’t think you can read what I wrote in there.
Mubarak: (angrily drags it from her hands and begins to read it) what the hell? What is this? You don’t know how to write? (he hands the paper back to her) read it out yourself.
Mustakeemah: (shivering and scared to read it out)
Mubarak: (chuckles) so you are an illiterate? Unbelievable! But you know what? I think that’s an advantage for me… don’t worry, I will get it myself. Now clean the room and go freshen up, then keep yourself busy with something, but don’t you ever step your feet out of my house or else! I repeat, or else!
Mustakeemah: I won’t step out, I promise sir.
Mubarak: by the way, you sure know how to cook, keep it up ok? I will be back by 7pm, so make sure my dinner and shower is ready… do have a great day.
Mustakeemah: ok sir, bye sir (sighs heavily) so am left here all alone in this big house, nothing to do… honestly, I am ok with this new life of mine, at least I get to eat what I want and do what I wish to do! All I need to do is obey his rules, this is better oh, alhamdulilah…
---
(Mr. and Mrs. Suraj spend a night at the hospital)
Mrs. Shola: doctor, what happened to my daughter? Doctor please, say something!
Mr. Suraj: doctor, please I hope she is fine? Can we see her now?
Doctor: please stay calm! Madam… I will prefer we talk in my office, ok? Come with me when you are ready.
Mrs. Shola: (their eyes meet) is it that critical? Ehhhh my God, save my daughter! Please spare her life and all this wouldn’t have happened if you let her spend a night in our room last night. But due to your selfish interest, we are here today. What kind of a father are you? All you care about is yourself.
Mr. Suraj: (exhales softly) look, this is not the time to argue about anything. All that matters right now is my daughter’s safety. Keep that drama away for now. If you are that concerned about my daughter, you can come with me to the doctor’s office to know the state of our child’s health… am out of here. (he walks out on her)
Mrs. Shola: (she wipes her tears and faces her daughter) Ayomide! Come with me…
Ayomide: mum, I hope she is fine? I hope my sister is fine? I have never seen you and dad panic like this before? So please, what is going on?
Mrs. Shola: look my dear, that’s what we are about to find out. Let’s go.
*******************
Mustakeemah: (in the bedroom) dear Allah! Is this how I am going to be stuck here for the rest of my life? Marry a stranger? No, I can’t do that! I deserve to be free like everyone else. Abi should I run away? But he said I can’t leave this house? (telephone rings) what’s that sound? (searching for where the sound is coming from) oh! Is this a phone? How am I going to pick the call? But he never permitted me to touch it? (the ringing stops) oh goodness, it has stopped. What am I going to wear? (the telephone rings again) ohhh! What should I do? Should I pick it? Ok, here goes nothing. (she lifts it, presses a button, then places it on her ear) hello?
Mubarak: what took you so long to pick it? (he yells angrily) why were you parading before you picked the damn call?
Mustakeemah: (voice shaking) am… am sorry sir! You didn’t permit me to touch it, that’s why.
Mubarak: I see everything you’ve been doing since morning. I’m watching you right now on my laptop, even how you are about to take your shower, I see it.
Mustakeemah: (shocked) you see everything? How?
Mubarak: leave that to technology. I just want to inform you to go into the compound and take the deliveries. Someone is waiting for you outside. Make sure you sign on the paper given to you. Hurry up now!
Mustakeemah: (voice shaking) ok sir, should I drop the phone now so I can attend to the person?
Mubarak: no, drop it on my head. My friend, will you hurry up?
Mustakeemah: sorry sir. (she drops the telephone and heads out immediately) am coming, please. (as she opens the gate, she finds a man in the compound) good afternoon sir. (she bends down)
Delivery man: ohh, you don’t have to kneel down! I’m just a delivery man… (he notices she is not covering her head and turns his face immediately) please madam, you are naked. Find something to cover yourself.
Mustakeemah: (confused as she checks herself) but I am not naked! I put on something.
Delivery man: your head is not covered, which also means you are naked. Aren’t you a Muslim? You should please go back inside and wear your Hijab.
Mustakeemah: yes, I am a Muslim…
Delivery man: then please act like one… hurry up madam, I have many places to go.
Mustakeemah: ok sir, please excuse me.
Delivery man: subhanallah! How could a Muslim expose herself like that? Temptation under the sun.
Mustakeemah: (covers her head with her torn clothes) am here sir, so sorry about that. So, where should I sign?
Delivery man: (finally turns and almost bursts into laughter as he sees what she put on) madam, what are you wearing? Anyway, that’s none of my business… here is a pen. Please sign here, madam.
Mustakeemah: (nervous) ok sir. (wondering what to write) can you please spell Mustakeemah?
Delivery man: excuse me? ohhh! Ok… M.U.S.T.A.K.E.E.M.A.H.
Mustakeemah: ehnn thank you sir!
Delivery man: (respond with a smile) do have a nice day maam… one more thing maam… please never knee down to anyone no matter who they are because they are not your creator… those actions belongs to your creator alone and no one else… do have a great day madam.. (he exit from the house)
Mustakeemah: thank you so much sir, byeeee; how did he open that gate? (she move to the gate and tried to open it then but it locked) ahhh! But how did he opened it? (sad face) ok then (she carries the deliveries and head inside then she head a sound of the phone again she hurried up to the living room and pick the phone) hello sir.
Mubarak: what the hell where you discussing with the delivery man? All I told you was sign on the paper and take the deliveries in, that’s all I asked for and you were gisting with a stranger? How dare you? (yelled angrily) don’t worry!! Just one more mistakes from you will lead to your grave try me! why are you such a pain in the ass, just have this at the back of your mind that I see everything going on in that house, get out of my line jor! Rubbish (he hang up)
Mustakeemah: (panting heavily) what have I done wrong again?
7:30pm
Mustakeemah: (place his dinner on his bed) why isn’t he back? He said he would be back before 7 but this is 7:30… I just hope all is well cus am so scared of how he would react.. I just pray everything goes well tonight (exhale softly) anyway let me head back to the kitchen (as she open the door she heard his voice down stairs shouting her name) sir!!!! Am coming sir (she rush to take his bag) welcome sir (as she tried to take his bag from his hands he land a slap on her face)
Mubarak: you!!! How dare you! How dare you tried to escape from my house after all I warned you! After my warnings how dare you! (he yelled angrily)
Mustakeemah: (tears roll down from her eyes as she touch her cheek in shock) but sir I didn’t…
Mubarak: if you say one more word I swear I will strangle you to death, you are mine, you are my property now and you have no right to go against my rules in this house… I am your boss your savior and I should be your number one priority.
Mustakeemah: but sir I swear I didn’t try to run away.. I was just.. (before she could finish her statement he yelled at her angrily hit her with bags and drag into his room as he removed his belt) sir please am sorry please I will never do that again please forgive me, I promise you with the name of Allah please am sorry don’t hit me with the belt pleasssseeee (she cried out bitterly pleading for mercy)
Mubarak: you!! You know I warned you, I warned you about my anger but you wake the demon in me, how dare you? This will serve as a lesson to you not to ever disobey me.. (he began to hit her with the belt which makes her scream in pain) shut up!! Do you know you are shouting? You know the neighbors can hear you.
Mustakeemah: (on her knees pleading for mercy in tears as she covers her mouth) sir please forgive me please am sorry have mercy on me please.
Mubarak: (he stare at her for some seconds and throw the belt away angrily, he began to hit the wall leading him to bleed) I hate this man! How could he do this to me? how could he? He betrayed me after all my sacrifices for that contract! (he continue to injure himself leaving Mustakeemah in tears to see his real self for the first time)
Mustakeemah: (screaming in tears) sir please am sorry please.
Mubarak: (he didn’t listen to her but he angrily throw the food she prepared on the floor) how could he?
Mustakeemah: (she continue to scream as he injures himself continuously, but then she get back on her feet and think of what to do as she wipe her tears) I better think of something before he pass out! Mustakeemah think… this is part of the rules to calm him down when he is mad (she had forgotten her pains and bruises but focus her attention on how to calm him down, then she take some steps closer to him and scream) sir please stop hurting yourself am begging you with the name of Allah!
Mubarak: (he finally stop; panting heavily and sweating)
Mustakeemah: (she beg in tears) please stop hurting yourself, no matter what happened at work doesn’t worth your pain, don’t let them take your happiness from you, if you are disappointed in this one something better is coming ahead but if you hurt yourself like this now how will you achieve the next one please sir, this is not the solution…please (she held his injured hands and realizes lots of scares on his body) please am begging you please calm down..
Mubarak: (her words calm his nerves)
Mustakeemah: (she sit him down on the bed and bend in front of him) everything will be fine sir, I don’t know you and you don’t know me but just please listen to what I have to say, getting angry never solve a problem but worsen it, i’m talking out of experience, all my life is hell but I keep hoping that one day I will be free.. that is enough to keep me calm and wipe away my sorrow and anger.. please what ever you are going through right now; hurting yourself is never the solution (she began to feel the pain of her swollen lnjuries).
Mubarak: (he also notice her pain and her swollen body) am sorry for hitting you so hard, I never mean to hit you but I was just angry, this is what I face anytime I’m angry.. am sorry (he bend his head in tears)
Mustakeemah: (she responded with a fake smile as a disguise of her pain) its ok sir, I understand… please give me sometimes while I go prepare another dinner for you but first I will bring you a glass of water to calm you down, please excuse me sir (she sadly get up and take her leave while he watch her as she could barely walk due to her injured body)
Mustakeemah: (as she slam the door, she break down in tears silently behind the door, crying bitterly) is this what am going to face for the rest of my life? Why is my life getting worse instead of getting better ya Allah? Help me I cant do this for how long?