At the hospital (30 minutes later)
Abdulhakeem’s POV
I couldn’t stop staring at her; imagination kept flowing in my head about what she’d been through for the past four years. Only Allah knows the worse she suffered. I noticed she was avoiding our eye contact — I’m sure she’s mad at me, but she has no idea how much I suffered that night I searched for her. I slept outside with my siblings that night. I never want anything to separate us, and thankfully destiny brought us together again — which is a good thing. Since I left this country there wasn’t a day I didn’t think about you, Mustakeemah. I wish I could show you how much you mean to me and how super happy I am to be with you. Seeing you right in front of me is a dream come true. So please give me another chance to show you how much I need you in my life. I will fight this case like never before — this is my promise to you. Just please forgive me and my family and embrace me tight. Seeing you suffer like this is killing me, but first I need to get you out of this mess. I need to take over her case.
I didn’t realise as I thought all this that my focus was fixed on her face, which made her more uncomfortable as she tried to be fine in front of us. I watched how she ate and drank water — I should never let her out of my sight — but that reminded me of what Mr. Lukman said earlier; he said something about her condition. Is she seriously sick? What could it be? I hadn’t noticed my family staring at me until they tapped me.
Abdulhakeem: Ma?
Mum: What are you thinking about? You’re making her uncomfortable now.
Abdulhakeem: (adjusts his position) Oh, I’m so sorry, my dear. Are you okay with the food? Do you need anything else?
Police woman: Hello everyone. Hey you! It’s time to move back to the cell.
Abdulhakeem: (gets out of the chair immediately) Why? Please — can’t you see she’s still recovering and needs rest?
Policeman: I don’t think you know the case you’re fighting. Aren’t you late Mubarak’s lawyer?
Abdulhakeem: Well I was, because I withdrew from the case. So they should look for another lawyer — I can’t fight this case… I’m her lawyer now.
Policeman: Whatever, madam — move it! It’s time to leave.
Dad: Please, police, she needs to rest. Have mercy on her.
Mum: Please let her rest. She is not running away; she doesn’t belong there. We are begging you.
Policeman: If she doesn’t belong there, why did she kill him? I don’t think she has any idea what she’s playing with. Move it! (he yells angrily)
Mustakeemah: (gives a weak smile and stands) It’s ok. Besides, I’m gonna die soon. I’m so happy I could see you all one last time — now I can die peacefully. (she stretches out her hands; they handcuff her, leaving them in tears, but she doesn’t seem to care)
Abdulhakeem: Please, police — she is not running away. She is innocent. Don’t take her back to that horrible place.
Policeman: I thought you were a lawyer — you should understand the consequences of a murder case. If you really want to help her, you should be gathering enough evidence to save her life even if she must spend some years in prison. Mr. man, you are wasting our time. Let’s go, guys. (they take her away)
Abdulhakeem: (begins to hit the wall angrily, weeping bitterly) No! No!!! Ya Allah, why is this happening to this girl? Why? Who did she ever offend to deserve this cruelty? Ya Allah have mercy on her and please let me win this case for her — please, please. (he breaks down in tears while his siblings move closer to console him and his parents also weep bitterly for Mustakeemah)
**********************
At the prison
Mustakeemah’s POV: Immediately I got back to the police station they took me to another, darker place called prison. They gave me prisoner’s wear to change into and locked me up, but the people they put me with didn’t seem friendly at all. They all gave me deadly looks but looked away like I didn’t notice. One of them moved closer and began to yell at me, ordering me to get on my knees and bow to their leader. I turned and scanned the leader from head to toe, then faced front again. I thought to myself: you have no idea of the hell I’ve been through, so this is small—do whatever you want with me. Nothing is new.
They seemed surprised by my quietness. They yelled at me several times; one hit me and slapped me, but I acted like nothing was happening. My silence made their leader angrier. She got up, moved closer, bent down, lifted my face with her fingers and scanned me like a robot, but I stayed quiet without uttering a word.
Leader: (still scanning her face) Who the hell do you think you are to ignore us? Even a rich criminal has no position here. This is hell within hell, so if you don’t bow down to me now I will kill you and nothing will happen. You won’t be the first nor the last person I kill. So bow down to me or I start with your neck.
Mustakeemah: (says nothing)
Leader: (surprised at her quietness) Aren’t you the one I’m talking to? (she uses one of her hands to push Mustakeemah’s neck into the wall) Beg me or else you die right now!
Mustakeemah: (struggling to breathe but not moving an inch) Just kill me… at least I can finally rest. This is nothing compared to what I’ve been through. (she forces the words out as the leader strangles her neck)
Leader: (shocked to hear that) (she pushes her tighter into the wall so she can barely breathe, but Mustakeemah still stands still, which scares her and she quickly lets go) You are not human at all, oh.
Mustakeemah: (struggles to breathe as she falls to her knees, gasping and coughing)
Followers: (surprised)
Leader: (angrily hits the wall) I let you go out of pity because you have a pity face… I swear I would have killed you.
Mustakeemah: You should have gone ahead. (coughing heavily) You should have granted me my final wish. Me and my unborn child would have been so grateful for it, but you failed to help me too. (she rests against the wall, struggling to breathe and laughing out loud) Are you scared to grant me that wish? Then you shouldn’t be the leader if you can’t be a real killer.
Followers: (murmuring)
Leader: Silence, everyone!
Followers: (still murmuring)
Leader: I said silence — are you all deaf?
One of the followers: Yes, she is right. You shouldn’t be our leader — she should be. See how, even at death’s door, she fights you without moving a finger. She fought and won without physical injury. That explains the pain she’s been through and shows she’s strong enough to lead us. You are weak! (they move closer to the leader and go on their knees) Boss, please forgive us and be our leader. I promise we will teach her a great lesson for trying to strangle you… please be our leader.
Mustakeemah: (finally regains her balance but acts like she doesn’t see them; they get up, find another spot to sit, and begin to rub their bellies) I’m sorry, my child — she couldn’t grant us our wish.
Leader: Are you pregnant?
Mustakeemah: (nods) Yes… I’m carrying the child of the man I killed.
Everyone: (gasps) Wow — you are really a bad-ass bitch.
Mustakeemah: (sighs and faces the wall)
Leader: (moves closer and sits next to her) Hey. (she lowers her voice) I guess you’re going through a lot, right?
Mustakeemah: Maybe… but only death can free me from the pain I’m going through with my child. I’m tired. (tears fall without her knowing) I just want to die… and you almost granted me that wish. I’m dying. (she breaks down in tears; they all break down too, though they don’t yet know the reason for her pain)
Leader: (places her hand on Mustakeemah’s shoulder) So sorry, dear. Stop crying.
Followers: (they all surround her) We are sorry.