THE NEXT MORNING AROUND 10:02AM
Mustakeemah’s POV
Throughout the night I could barely sleep — the mosquitoes and bad smells gave me morning sickness. I tried to be strong but it was very hard. I had to beg one of the female police officers to let me out so I could vomit, and she offered help. I guess she must have felt for me. When we got to the restroom — which was nasty as hell — the smell alone almost made me throw up my intestines. Luckily she offered me water to wash my face, but the vomiting didn’t stop easily. By the time I was done I couldn’t get up again. She quickly helped me to my feet and asked if I was pregnant. I said yes; she felt sorry for me and helped me back to the cell. She offered me some food and said, “That lawyer dropped this off this morning, so eat it ’cause I’m escorting you to the courtroom soon. Hurry — you will need the energy; you have no idea what you might face there.” I responded with a weak smile and opened the food flask. Behold, it was plenty and nicely arranged — it turned out to be a double food flask. I opened the bottom and found fruit salad. I smiled and tried to dig in, but the aroma of the main food made me lose interest, so I began with the fruit salad. When I turned to my left I found my fellow prisoners staring at me and the food, making me uncomfortable because some gave me deadly looks. I quickly stepped back and pushed one of the flasks forward to them. “You all can have this one.” I hadn’t finished the sentence when they grabbed the flask and began to fight over it. I shook my head in pity and watched them fight over food, moving away to avoid being hit. Their actions caught the police’s attention and they threatened to flog us all. They all yelled at me for giving them food and threatened to flog me harder, so I quickly pleaded for mercy — their words reminded me of my first pregnancy… how Mubarak killed my unborn child. I tried to force the fruit down but I couldn’t, so I put it aside and placed my hand on my stomach, thinking, Is this enough for you, my child?
Police woman: Hey you! Get up — it’s time for your verdict! (she opens the cell and handcuffs her) Move it!
Seeing those irons lock my hands made me realise I’m a slave to this world, a real slave — born to serve everyone. I struggled to walk but had to, because they pushed me to hurry without my slippers on. They opened the courtroom for me; I saw a crowd as people murmured when they sighted me. Some gave me deadly looks and some threw things. I couldn’t raise my head because I couldn’t see anyone by my side. The policewoman led me to my spot and the place was closed. My heart was beating fast; I had never been in such a crowded place full of people glaring at me. Immediately I heard the judge’s voice as he struck the table, but I had no idea what he was holding. I couldn’t understand exactly what was going on as someone began to read from a paper — I was so confused. My body shivered in fear and I held the table tightly so I wouldn’t fall. I kept staring at the ground until the judge called out my opponent lawyer’s name. The name rang a bell, so I raised my head to see who it was. To my greatest surprise it was the only man I’d waited for my entire life to come save me — the man I fell in love with, the angel I believed Allah sent to save me. It turned out he was the one fighting for Mubarak’s case. My heart raced even faster as I noticed he was in shock to see me. The papers he held fell from his hand and his hands were shaking. Everyone murmured louder as they saw his reaction. Tears rolled down his cheeks while people whispered and the judge tried to calm things, but no one listened. I looked down, then up again. I realised Lukman looked surprised to see his opponent in tears and was wondering what was between us. He continued to stare at me, which made my knees shake; I couldn’t control my body. That’s when my system started collapsing and my eyes began to close. I could see Abdulhakeem and Lukman rush to my aid — that was the last thing I could recall that day.
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The next day, at the hospital
Lukman: (narrates all her life story to Abdulhakeem’s family)
Abdulhakeem: (weeping) I swear to God this is fate… it’s fate that brought us together — but why this way? Why?
Mum: It’s ok… Alhamdulilah we found her… we will find all means to save her… let’s just pray she wakes up.
Taiye: (weeping) Mum… people are so wicked! How could they?
Idowu: (crying)
Lukman: That was how I found her by the roadside, and ever since then I tried my possible best to help her because she wanted to commit suicide several times. Luckily I was there to save her… so we need to find enough evidence to save her. Mustakeemah must not die after all she has been through.
Abdulhakeem: (sadly stares at her as she lies unconscious in bed while the police stand by the door) It’s ok, I’m here now! I will find all means to save you even if it’s gonna cost my life. I will save you. I can’t believe I’m trying to fight for a monster — death is absolutely what he deserves, but not you. We are here for you now; I will find all means to save you… I can’t believe that monster could do all this to you…
Dad: (he barges into the patient room) Where is she? (he sights her) Subhanallah! I left everything I was doing immediately when I saw your call… how is she feeling now? (looks so worried)
Abdulhakeem: And since when did you care about her, Dad? Since when?... (he continues staring at Mustakeemah) You will be fine my dear, just come back to us… give me one last chance.
Lukman: (finds a place to sit and begins to think, while his chef sits next to him) Who is he to her? Why is he acting like her husband or something? Was there anything between them before we met? He said he is willing to lay down his life for her… does that mean she had someone in her life before she met me?
Chef S.K: Boss! I never knew Mr. Mubarak was a green snake under green grass… and I took him as my role model.
Lukman: See, just leave me alone for now, I don’t have time for this. (looks so worried)
Chef S.K: I’m definitely sure she will be fine….
Idowu: She is awake!!!
(Everyone moves closer to her)
Abdulhakeem: (sits next to her bed) Mustakeemah! You’re awake? Alhamdulilah, I’m so grateful…
Mustakeemah: (her body aches; she tries to sit up but Abdulhakeem stops her)
Abdulhakeem: Please don’t stress yourself… (stares at her without saying a word) My Mustakeemah…
Mum: My dear, how are you feeling now?
Mustakeemah: (she recognizes them) Mum? Aunt Taiye? Aunt Idowu? Is that all of you? Is that dad?
Mum: Yes, he is the one, my dear — he is the one. (emotional)
Mustakeemah: (her face is dry; the clothes she wore slip down from her shoulder while Idowu quickly helps adjust it) You are all here after you chased me away? (she breaks down in tears) Why did you come back?
Dad: Mustakeemah! Please I’m very sorry; please find it in your heart to forgive me. This isn’t their fault but mine. Remember I was the one who chased you out of our lives and I have realized my errors, which is why I’m here to ask for your forgiveness. Please forgive me. I know I hurt you so badly and I have hated myself for it… maybe if you forgive me my son will find it in his heart to forgive me too.
Mustakeemah: (she finally looks down to Abdulhakeem and bitterly closes her eyes as tears roll down)
Abdulhakeem: Please I’m sorry, please don’t cry. (he wipes her tears and embraces her tight) Ever since you left my life it has never been the same… please I’m here for you now, please I’m sorry…
Mustakeemah: (she pushes him away and looks away)
Abdulhakeem: I’m sorry. (he whispers sadly)
Taiye: We are all sorry. Please forgive our dad and us as well. We are not leaving you until you finally follow us back home, where you rightfully belong — with us, your family.
Idowu: (sits next to her) Hey sis… you remember me? (tears roll down her face as she speaks) I’ve missed you so much, sis… the little time you spent with us was one of the most memorable days of my life. There wasn’t a day I didn’t think and pray to God to protect you for us… (before she could finish, Mustakeemah hugs her, struggling to move her hands because of the drip) I thought I lost you, sis; I thought I would never see you again… (breaks down in tears, leaving everyone emotional)
Mustakeemah: (finally lets go of her but avoids eye contact with him)
Abdulhakeem: (weak) I’m hungry, please—I need food.
(Everyone begins to panic and move up and down.)
Mum: Idowu, where is the flask I gave you? I prepared a delicious meal for her—where is the bag?
Idowu: Aunt Taiye took it from my hand.
Abdulhakeem: Don’t worry, I’ll order food online… since you all are acting like kids. (he brings out his phone)
Lukman: (sneaks up to them and hands over his personal flask filled with different varieties of food) Here… have this.
Mustakeemah: Sir… (tears roll down her face again) Sir, I… I— (struggling to speak)
Lukman: It’s okay… it’s fine. I understand. Just make sure you eat—remember your condition; please don’t starve yourself. I will be right back. I’ve gotten some concrete evidence so I need to go check it out. Please take good care of yourself. I will be right— (he pays his respects to them and takes his leave while Mustakeemah tries her best to speak but finds it hard, and Abdulhakeem watches how she behaves around Lukman).