Few days later
Abdulhakeem: (sits in his car waiting for someone) What’s taking her so long? She should hurry up, please. I have a lot of things to do… hurry up.
Asmau: (spots his car from afar and walks toward it, glancing around nervously to avoid being noticed)
Abdulhakeem: (sees her through the mirror) Finally… what took her so long?
Asmau: (sneaks into the car and slams the door) Sorry I’m late. (removes her glasses) So?
Abdulhakeem: Please don’t keep me waiting like that next time. Where is the flash?
Asmau: (opens her purse) Here, have it. Now, where is our agreement?
Abdulhakeem: (opens his bag and hands her an envelope) Thanks.
Asmau: (opens it) Cool cash. Thank you too. Nice doing business with you. Have a nice day. (puts on her glasses and gets out of his car)
Abdulhakeem: (starts the engine and drives away)
---
Lukman: (also waiting in his car) If he thinks I can’t get enough proof without him, then he’s absolutely wrong. I’ll show him that I didn’t choose this profession—this profession chose me for a reason.
Delivery guy: (knocks on the car window, waving) Hello!
Lukman: (unlocks the door) Come in, please.
Delivery guy: Good afternoon. How are you doing? And how is Mrs. Mustakeemah? I was shocked when I heard what happened to her, and I’m willing to do anything to help. Anyway, here is the evidence you need. Please turn on your Xender.
Lukman: Okay, sir. (after receiving the evidence) Thanks so much, bro. You have no idea how much you’re really helping. Here, take this. (hands him some cash) Please, manage it.
Delivery guy: Nooo, please, no! I’m doing this not for the money, but to get justice for that lady. She deserves to be free.
Lukman: Thank you so much, sir. Please don’t forget to show up that day—you’ll be one of the people giving her a chance to live again.
Delivery guy: Definitely, my brother. (shakes hands) Have a nice day. (slams the door)
Lukman: And you too.
---
Abdulhakeem and Lukman have been busy gathering enough evidence throughout the weeks, each trying to prove they could save her without the other’s help… while Mustakeemah spent sleepless nights praying to Allah to grant her one of two wishes—either to survive and find a better life, or to die a peaceful death. Throughout the week she focused her heart on deep prayer, while Lukman never relented in praying for her safety and that of her child.
A day before the court hearing, Abdulhakeem made every effort to reach Lukman, determined to settle their differences and work together again. After many attempts, he finally got the chance to meet him.
___
COFFEE SHOP
Lukman: (looks away without saying a word)
Abdulhakeem: (also looks away, but tries to start a conversation) Uhmm… I know we have our differences, but this isn’t helping Mustakeemah’s case. Okay, fine—I was wrong for not trying hard enough. This is totally my fault, I accept that. But I need a partner as good as you to help me fight this case. Please.
Lukman: (wasn’t expecting those words, clears his throat) Well… that was unexpected and convincing. I guess you’re right. I need you too. No problem—we’re cool. (shakes hands)
Abdulhakeem: (smiles) Thanks, bro. But! I’ll be the one to fight this last case, and I promise you—we’re going to win.
Lukman: Well, I can only accept that on one condition.
Abdulhakeem: And what condition is that?
Lukman: After winning the case, you’ll let her choose who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Whosoever she chooses between us wins. Deal? (stretches out his hand)
Abdulhakeem: (takes a deep breath) Fine. Deal. (shakes his hand and smiles) Nice knowing you once again. My name is Abdulhakeem.
Lukman: And my name is Lukman! I wish us all the best.
Abdulhakeem: And you too.
***********************
ON THE VERDICT DAY
Lawyer Aregbeshola: Your Honor, I would like to call upon Mr. Yemi Fabiyi to the witness box.
Judge: Permission granted.
Mr. Yemi Fabiyi: My name is Yemi Fabiyi, and I’m Mubarak’s close friend. We’ve been friends since high school, so I had the opportunity to know a lot about him. I’ve known him to be very picky when it comes to this gender. (points at Mustakeemah)
Lawyer Aregbeshola: (chuckles) So, Mr. Yemi Fabiyi, can you tell us how you got to know Mustakeemah?
Mr. Yemi Fabiyi: Oh, you mean her? She was my side chick before she ever met my friend. We had been dating and going out for some years, but we broke up because I couldn’t give her what she wanted—money. (demonstrates with his hands)
Mustakeemah: (covers her mouth in shock)
Abdulhakeem and Lukman: (tighten their fists)
Mr. Yemi: So, we went our separate ways. But about four years ago, I paid my friend a visit, and behold, I found my ex side chick in his house. I asked him how he got to know her, and he happily told me she was his newly wedded wife. I burst into laughter—this thing? But I kept her secret so as not to ruin her marriage or break my friend’s heart. Later that day, Mustakeemah called me and threatened me not to expose her, saying she had a mission to fulfill with him. I tried my best to warn my friend, but he was blinded by love. So, I stayed away from his house ever since. She later tried to make us get back together, but I told her I couldn’t betray my friendship by sleeping with her. What Mubarak did in my life, I could never repay him with such betrayal.
Mustakeemah: (tears stream down her face) May Allah strike that mouth of yours! And you call yourself a Muslim? You’re lying while I’m alive, breathing! Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un!
Abdulhakeem’s family: (murmuring)
Abdulhakeem: (smiles silently) They have no idea what’s coming for them.
Lukman: (smiles as well)
Lawyer Aregbeshola: Thank you, Mr. Yemi. You may return to your seat.
Mr. Yemi: Thank you. (joins the audience)
Lawyer Aregbeshola: So, Your Honor, do you see now? Mustakeemah is not only a murderer but also a prostitute, a thief, and a destroyer of relationships. With all my concrete evidence, I hope I have convinced everyone that Mrs. Mustakeemah is guilty of the death of her late husband. That’s all, Your Honor.
Judge: Alright. Lawyer Abdulhakeem, do you have evidence to present to the court to prove your opponent wrong?
Abdulhakeem: (rises confidently to his feet) Thank you, Your Honor, for giving me the chance to show the world that it takes a lawyer to defeat a lawyer. Firstly, I would like to call upon my first witness, Mr. Shuaib.
Shuaib: (swears with his religious belief) My name is Shuaib Ayorinde. I work at Shoprite as a delivery man.
Abdulhakeem: So, Mr. Shuaib, what can you say about what you witnessed in that house anytime you came to make a delivery?
Shauib: Well, uhmm… coincidentally, I had been sent to that house like six times to make deliveries. The first time I saw Mrs. Mustakeemah, she was nice to me. All she had to do was sign my paper and take their order. But the second time I made a delivery to their house, she looked so different and scared, like someone was going to harm her if she spoke. I tried to get her to open up to me, but she never wasted time talking. She didn’t last more than three seconds in front of me. All she could say was that I should go away. Anytime she was around me, she was always scared to speak, but I felt she wanted to say something—someone was preventing her from doing so. I witnessed that behavior several times, until the fifth time I came to deliver. That day, she looked completely different—her face was swollen, with bruises all over her body. I tried to get her to open up to me…
Abdulhakeem: (trying to play a video)
Shauib: But she couldn’t. All she said was that I should stay away from her. So, I made up my mind that if I was ever lucky enough to be sent there again, I would make sure to know exactly what was going on and help her, no matter who was hurting her. Luckily, years later I got the chance. When I saw her again, she looked different—chubby, even more beautiful than before—but still always scared and sad. I used the opportunity to beg her to open up to me, that I could help her call the police. That day, she finally gathered enough courage to speak. She broke down in tears, crying, begging me to save her from her husband. She said he wanted to kill her just like he killed her first child. I was stunned by her statement. So, he was your husband all this while, and he treated you like this? I got furious and promised to come back and get her out. I wasn’t even done with my statement when Mr. Mubarak came into the compound and ordered her to go inside. I was furious, ready to punch him in the face for treating a woman like that. I faced him, and the next statement that came out of his mouth shocked me.
Abdulhakeem: And what was that, Mr. Shuaib?
Shauib: Immediately I set my eyes on him, I quickly put my phone on record and captured everything he said that day.
Abdulhakeem: Which I shall play right now. (he plays the recording while everyone listens) Can you all hear that? He threatened to kill my family if I ever tried to report him to the police.
Lawyer Aregbeshola: Objection, Your Honor!
Judge: Objection overruled! Please continue.
Shauib: (after listening to the recording, he speaks again) Because he threatened my family, I couldn’t do anything to save her. But at least what I recorded would help her one day—not knowing that day would be today.
Abdulhakeem: That will be all, Mr. Shuaib. You may take your leave now. So, Your Honor, with this little evidence I’ve presented, it is clear enough for everyone to understand that Mubarak wasn’t the hero people thought he was. Your Honor, I would like to call up my second witness to the stand. Please, if I may?
Judge: Permission granted.
Abdulhakeem: Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Suraj, please come in.
Mr. Suraj: (everyone murmurs as they see him in a wheelchair, pushed by his daughter) Good day, Your Honor. (he swears with his religious belief)
Mustakeemah: (her body begins to shake as tears roll down her face) What is this evil man doing here?