At night (8:23pm)
Abdulhakeem: (he enter the house trying to off his shoes) as salam alaykum am home everyone! (he notice the house seems quiet then he raise his head up) why is everyone quiet? Whats going on?
Idowu: (rubbing her fingers together as her voice shaken) welcome brother.
Taiye: (she is about to enter the living and pause as she sight him)
Abdulhakeem: (still wondering whats going on) whats wrong? Why are you doing like a snake? And you why did you pause? Where is Mustakeemah?
Mum: (finally comes out of the kitchen) welcome my son, how was your day?
Abdulhakeem: alhamdulilha mum, although it was very stressful but ones I taste your food I will feel much better.
Mum: (fake smile)
Abdulhakeem: where is Mustakeemah? (he finally realizes everyone were acting strange which means something is wrong) where is she? Is she in the kitchen? Somebody say something! (he realizes their silence means something had happened) wait! Please don’t tell me she left?
Idowu: no she didn’t but dad did!
Abdulhakeem: excuse me!
Taiye: you better watch your mouth and keep that mouth shut!
Abdulhakeem: are you ok? Am talking to her and you order her to shut up? Are you nut? You guys better starting talking now or else you will pay for it.
Mum: (she sadly head back to the kitchen to get his dinner)
Abdulhakeem: mum wait! (he run after her) where are you going? If they can’t say it at least you explain what happened? Because am confuse (panting heavily).
Mum: (she notice his shot of breath) Abdulhakeem please calm down, I swear if I was at home am sure she will still be here but your dad sent her out of the house earlier today and no one was home except Mustakeemah.
Abdulhakeem: (he fall on the floor instantly without knowing)
Mum: Abdulhakeem! (she rush to his aid) are you ok? Please we are sorry but she is gone! Don’t worry she will be fine ok?
Idowu: (she move closer to him and break down in tears) I swear I was shocked as well when dad told me he sent her away, he should have wait for you before he carry out such act…. I just hope she is save.
Abdulhakeem: (tears roll down from his eyes) you guys have finally succeeded in ruining this girl’s life… what is her offence? All she wanted is a family why is that too much to ask? Why? How could you be so cold mum? What if she is your daughter wouldn’t you have done something about it? Who did she ever offend to deserve all this punishment?
Dad: (he enter the house) ekule oh! (try to off his shoes then notice scene going on in the living room) I said ekule o! (no one responded to his greetings) am I not talking to humans?
Everyone: (quiet)
Mum: (she angrily walk out of the living room)
Dad: (he move towards Abdulhakeem’s direction) look son, I know you’ve been told about what happened, so you just have to take it easy besides she doesn’t belong here… she deserve to be with her family just like you are with yours.. so is that why you are creating a scene? c’mon! get up and freshen up so we can discuss on your trip and the things you will need..
Abdulhakeem: (angrily raise his eye balls at him)
Taiye: dad what you did is totally unfair! How could you chase a homeless girl out of the house without bro Abdulhakeem’s awareness.
Dad: (he angrily turn to her) did you just talk to me like that?
Idowu: yes dad, what is bad is bad! How could you treat her that way? Someone gave birth to her now, even if she is an orphan doesn’t mean she is worthless or you think if her parents were alive will she come here in the first place? What if we happens to be in her shoes and they chase us like that, how would you feel? Or what if you guys are no more you think our lives would complete? Just because she is not your child doesn’t mean you cant treat her like one or even help her… honestly that’s totally unfair of you dad! (she sadly get seated and break down in tears) just the little time she spent with us had taught me a great lesson, she taught me to always value you and mum because life without parents is life a forest without a tree.. so now her forest is empty why cant you and mom fill in that part? Why is it so hard to love someone else’s child like your own? And you have no idea of the condition she is right now… how could you be so mean dad? How could you?
Taiye: (she break down in tears too) idowu is right daddy! If you are no more, what if you are up there, what if you are in your grave and people treats us just the way you treated Mustakeemah will you be happy in your grave? She is a good and hardworking girl! You have no idea why she ran away from her guidance? Just a little help might change someone’s life forever and a little hatred can destroy someone’s life as well… if she is happy with her guidance she won’t leave… Treat people good not because of today but for the sake of tomorrow! Because you don’t know where your children will be tomorrow..
Dad: (speechless)
Mum: (she finally join them in the living room with Kehinde) did you hear what your children said? Honey could you? How could be so cold and mean to her? Why on earth did you send her out of the house in the first place if you don’t hate her… you should at least give her a chance to prove herself to you…
Abdulhakeem: (sobbing as he use his sleeve to wipe his tears) where on earth will I find her this night? She is out there all alone in this cold, I just hope she is fine… she must be starving as well (he struggles to get up) I need to find her at all cost! I must find her before her guidance does.
Idowu: am coming with you, even if it takes sleeping outside tonight we must find her.
Kehinde and Taiye: we are coming too.
Abdulhakeem: (he responded with a smile) lets go (as he tried to wear his palm his dad called his name)
Dad: Abdulhakeem listen to me.
Abdulhakeem: don’t you dare call my name because am not your son anymore! Just like how you threw her out of your house just have it at the back of your mind you have lose a son… do you even have any idea of what that girl is going through? I have witness several harshness from her guidance in the public… I could remember that day she was struggling to eat and her guidance beat her till stupor… But she still struggles to eat the food thrown on the floor… due to your selfish reason you finally hand her over to a devil, just pray as am about to leave this house pray that I find her…
Mum: Abdulhakeem listen…
Abdulhakeem: (angrily raise his voice) mum don’t call my name! don’t call me! all she wanted is love, parental love, is that too much to ask? Did you even get to know her? no! all you care about is your children right? This same girl is enslaved and maltreated in different ways. Her guidance want to use her as an exchange to their debtor… a total stranger to use her anyhow he want! If any of your daughter should be in that position while you are in your grave how would you feel? I know her mother is in pain crying for someone to help her daughter, someone to save her daughter because she doesn’t have any power to save her child, but you have the power to save her but you misuse it… that same girl is in severe pain mum, why don’t you have the feelings of a mother towards her? Why? And as for you dad! What you did today (tears roll down from his eyes) what you…you did today makes me realize more reasons I need to stay far away from you… am so ashamed to be called your son! Do you know what I wish now? I wish am an orphan as well just like her so at least she won’t be in this sorrow alone….
Idowu: egbon stop crying that’s enough lets just go find her time is running out..
Kehinde: lets go (she wipe her tears)
Mum: (tears roll down from her eyes)
Dad: (his eyes turn red as he angrily tight his fist) son..
Abdulhakeem: don’t call me your son!
Dad: all I want to say is can I come with you to look for her? Lets take my car.. we all need to go find her..
Abdulhakeem: too late dad! Too late, I will find her with or without your help (he angrily walk out of the house while his sisters followed him)
Mum: what have you done? What have you done! Nothing must happen to my kids oh or else! You better find all means that girl will come back into this house.. thanks to you this family is splitting! All I ever dreamed of is getting ruined by your foolish act, how could you be so mean? I cant even believe I married you (angrily walk out on him leaving him all alone in the house)
Dad: (he tried to cry but tears couldn’t come out as he fall on the couch)
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Mustakeemah’ pov
In the cold night with my shred gown and with my empty stomach I walk along an unknown street praying to find a safe place to sleep and eat but few people that I begged for money to eat ignored me, some even yelled at me, I don’t even know my way back home anymore but am starving and I could barely move my legs again because they are shaking already, so I decided to find a safe place to seat and beg for money or food from people passing by the road side, I couldn’t shed any tears again because am weak and I realize I have no water left in my eyes, all I need is strength to continue my unknown journey hoping to find another helper, but I still hope I could find my angel as I fold my hands together, praying inside my heart that I should bump into him just like I always do but there is no sign of him and I realize the hunger could kill me since I have no strength left in me I lay by the road side waiting for the angel of death to come get me as i slowly close my eyes... suddenly I heard some whispering around me, saying “ I think she is the one” and a sound of a car but I was too weak to open my eyes, but my heart was relieved because that doesn’t sound like my aunt nor her husband’s voice, so where so ever they are taking me to is their problem because I have given up on life already…
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At the filling station
Mrs. Shola: (slept off in the car as she sleep talk) babe see am tired of searching for this girl oh, this is the third time you are buying petrol, let just go home…am tired already..
Mr. Suraj: you can continue sleeping but I must find this girl tonight or else! It will be the end of us and I wont let that happen (he angrily hit the steering wheel) I swear this girl must pay If I find her.
Mrs. Shola: honestly speaking… she must pay, my kids must be asleep.. honey we need to head back home… that’s enough for today!
Mr. Suraj: you go home but I must find her! I must find her at all cost.. (his phone ring immediately) who is that by this time of the night? (he check the phone screen and began to sweat) omg! Its Mubarak calling! Oh my God! What am I going to say to him? Abi he is at our house? Don’t tell me he had kidnap my children?
Mrs. Shola: (the sleep in her eyes vanish immediately) what did you say? No it cant be just pick the call first..pick it now! Before it cut.
Mr. Suraj: ok ok! (panting heavily) here goes nothing (he pick the call) hello sir I swear with the name of Allah she is the one I am looking for, am still outside with my wife all alone in the street searching for her please all I need is more time please sir.
Mubarak: don’t bother yourself again, she has been seen… infact she is in my room sleeping.
Mr. Suraj: yes sir all I need is more time… wait what? She had been seen? Where and when?
Mubarak: (explaining) so God bring her right to my house…. So don’t worry anymore, you are in safe hands… that’s all I want to tell you.. good night (hang up)
Mr. Suraj: (surprise) unbelievable.
Mrs. Shola: baby what did he said? Have they seen her? Baby talk to me am curious.
Mr. Suraj: yes baby she had been seen oh!! (Excitement) thank you God, finally we are free… this is call for celebration.
Mrs. Shola: (excitement) thank you God! Thank you for saving us! Babe first of all let branch a restaurant and eat then head back home because am so hungry and tired as well… finally…. So she get sense like this? She even make the work easier for us…
Mr. Suraj: lets go home baby!
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Abdulhakeem: (shouting) Mustakeemah!! Where are you??? Mustakeemah!!!!.
Idowu: Mustakeemah!!!!
Kehinde: Taiye lets go to the next street.
Abdulhakeem: Mustakeemah please show your face! Please where ever you are place be safe till I find you… (He shout her name in a weak tone) Mustakeemah!.