MUSTAKEEMAH’S POV
I opened my eyes and everywhere seemed so bright and white. Am I dead? Am I finally with my parents? I never realized I was smiling as tears rolled down from my eyes and I said out loudly, “Home at last.”
Nurse: Definitely home at last. Anyway, how are you feeling madam? Doctor, she is awake.
Mustakeemah: (she turned to her side and found a doctor standing with a man as they moved closer to her. She quickly sat up) What am I doing here? How did I get here? (about to stand up, then a sharp pain from her elbow drew her back) Auuuch! (she realized she was on drip)
Lukman: Are you ok? Don’t do that, you are on drip… you will be fine, ok? So how are you feeling now?
Mustakeemah: You again! What are you doing here again? They sent you ni? What is your problem? You know what— (she tried to remove the drip but the nurse held her) What! Please leave me alone and let me go, I can’t be stuck here again please… I don’t want to be indoor, please let me go, I’m ok now.
Doctor: Madam, take it easy. You know your condition, so you need to relax and stay calm for your baby’s sake… you are still on treatment and you are not fully recovered, so please calm down.
Mustakeemah: (took a deep breath) Ok sir, but I don’t want to stay here for long, not even with this stranger. He has been following me since, and I think he wants to kidnap me. Please don’t let him take me.
Lukman: (sighs) So up till now you think I’m here to harm you?
Nurse: Madam, he brought you here unconscious, shouting for help in this hospital… you should be thanking him for saving your life and your child’s life.
Mustakeemah: (faced down)
Lukman: I never knew you were pregnant, which means you are a married woman. Then why did you run away from home?
Mustakeemah: (he reminded her of Mubarak, which made her break down in tears and lose herself in thought at the same time) Oh my God! I can’t believe he is dead… I can’t believe I killed him… I’m sure the police might be looking for me. No! I need to get out of here! (she pulled the needle out of her hands instantly and tried to run away, but they quickly stopped her) Please, I beg you all in the name of your God, let me go! I feel like I’m in hell here… please let me go, please, I’m begging you all, please ejoorr! (cries bitterly) Please brother, let me go.
Lukman: We can’t leave you like this. I know something is bothering you and you are free to share it with me so I can help you, please…
Mustakeemah: (she sat on the floor making a scene as everyone gathered their attention on her) So now you won’t leave me alone… so now I’m stuck here too… ok then, I have accepted my fate… go and call the police, I’m ready to go to the police station. (she stretched out her hands)
Lukman: (shocked to hear her statement) Wait a minute… (thinking) Did she just involve the police in this? Definitely something is fishy about her. Look dear, (he picked her slippers) wear it… you want to leave this place right?
Mustakeemah: (she nodded in tears)
Lukman: So shall it be… Doctor, please, I will bring her back some other time but I need to take her out of here, please, just try to understand me.
Doctor: Alright then, if you insist… but you can’t leave until you pay the hospital bill.
Lukman: That’s not a problem. Madam, let’s go.
Mustakeemah: (she hurriedly put on her slippers and followed him) Thank you so much sir, I really appreciate your help… (panting heavily)
Lukman: (he stared at her and responded with a smile) You will be fine, ok? I’m here for you.
***************************
At a Restaurant
Mustakeemah: (rushing the food like a hungry lion) The food is delicious… thank you, sir.
Lukman: (smiling) You’re funny though… can we have a proper introduction now? Like you and I should get to know each other better.
Mustakeemah: (she paused a little and continued with the food)
Lukman: (chuckles) You’re very funny… I guess you must be really starving. (immediately she covered her mouth and got up, describing where she wished to go) Oh, you mean the restroom? Come with me. (he ran after her) Enter here. (stood outside the female restroom) I forgot she’s pregnant… gosh! What kind of man lets his wife leave his house while carrying his child? Some of my gender behave like idiots. Are you ok madam? Do you need anything? (he waited for about 5 minutes before she finally came out) Sorry dear, how do you feel now?
Mustakeemah: Better sir… I don’t think I can eat that food again, unless I want to vomit my intestines out.
Lukman: I understand… but you need something to eat, something that can stay inside you. You can’t starve yourself and your child.
Mustakeemah: (she paused as she cleaned her mouth with her clothes) Why are you being nice to me? What do you want from me?
Lukman: I just want to help you… nothing else.
Mustakeemah: (tiredly staring at him) Seriously? You just want to help me and nothing else.
Lukman: Yes.
Mustakeemah: And you expect me to foolishly believe that… hmm?
Lukman: Can we get back to our seat to discuss better? Because I know deep inside you something is bothering you, and I promise to try my best to help you. As you can see, I left all I was doing and gave you my full attention.
Mustakeemah: Mr. man, nothing is bothering me. Go to where you need to go and leave my life alone, na by force? (she yelled angrily)
Lukman: You need help! You need serious help. I don’t know what is inside you but please, give me a chance to help you and your child. What happened between you and your husband? Please open your heart and let me help you.
Mustakeemah: Please I don’t want to say any word further… I just need to be free from people… I need to be far away from people for the rest of my life. People are scary, people are wicked, people are heartless. (she broke down in tears) I’m even tired of crying, I’m tired… all I want is peace of mind and freedom. And if no one can give me that, then please just kill me so I can join my family… I’m tired.
Lukman: I know you’re tired of life… but you need to be alive for your baby’s sake. You need to be strong for your child’s sake. And I’m here for you. How am I supposed to prove to you that I mean no harm at all? I don’t know why, but I just want to help you. I’m a Muslim—do you want me to swear with the Holy Qur’an before you believe me? I swear I will do it.
Mustakeemah: I find it hard to trust again… I don’t care about all you’re saying, just let me go please… (crying)
Lukman: The way you’re talking is out of pain and I know how depressed and tired you are about life. And as I’m seeing you, I know you’re capable of doing something funny because of what you’re going through… please…
Mustakeemah: Ok, I’ve heard you. Just let go of my hand, please…
Lukman: Ok madam.
Mustakeemah: (immediately he let go of her, she picked a race)
Lukman: Madam!! Oh my God, this lady is driving me nuts! (he ran after her as she continued nonstop… he begged her to stop but she didn’t listen until they reached a bridge. Lukman quickly realized what she was about to do, so he increased his speed. As she lifted her leg, trying to jump into the ocean) Heeeeeeeey! (he grabbed her waist as they both fell on each other) Yeh!
Mustakeemah: (she realized she was on him as they both panted heavily)
Lukman: (stared at her as she was on top of him)
Mustakeemah: I’m sorry. (she quickly got up and tried to pick another race, but then he yelled at her)
Lukman: Look madam, I’ve tried all my possible best to help you out of this and to prevent you from killing yourself, but all is in vain. Do you think I don’t have something more important to do? I left all I was doing just to make sure you’re fine, and do you know why I pitied you even more? That innocent child needs you to survive but you don’t even care about the baby. What kind of mother are you? If your parents did the same to you, do you think you would still be alive today?
Mustakeemah: well that would have been better you know? At least I won’t be in this mess I landed myself into… my life is in danger already and I won’t do anything that will make my child curse me while I’m gone just like how I once laid a curse on my parents for bringing me to this world… this world is bitter… ahhhh! My eyes have seen more than hell and enough is enough… I’m tired and frustrated; death is the only solution for me now, nothing else, so please stay out of this.
Lukman: but madam, I’m here to help you. Whatever it is, just open up to me and I promise to try my possible best to help you out… please (he places his hand on her shoulder as they stand next to the road) please madam…
Mustakeemah: (breaks down in tears again) where do you want me to start from? Where do you want me to begin? My life is a total mess… how would you react if I share my stories with you… how?
Lukman: you can start from somewhere please… I’m ready to listen to everything and make sure to find a solution for you… please, maybe Allah just sent me to protect you and this child… please, I’m all ears…
Mustakeemah: (she falls on her knees facing the ground as she weeps bitterly) I know you want to help but what if after you hear my story, you hand me over to the police? What if you do worse than that? Which is why I prefer to die now than to witness all that.
Lukman: ok then… think whatever you want, ok? But I promise to prove you wrong. Stop crying and please get up… let’s discuss better in my car… we are far away from it… please get up… (he tries to help her get on her feet) you will be fine, ok? Come with me…
Mustakeemah: I just hope following you won’t be the biggest mistake of my life again…
Lukman: I promise you it won’t… let’s go (he lowers his gaze and follows her)
Few hours later.
Mustakeemah: (narrates her life story to Lukman) that was how you met me by the roadside (soaked with tears all over her top)
Lukman: (sniffs as he didn’t realize tears had been rolling down from his eyes since) I can’t even believe tears have been dropping from my eyes… this is the most touching story I have ever heard. Are you sure you are telling me the truth? Like how did you even survive all this cruelty? This is so pathetic… Subhanallah! You have gone through hell, more than hell, my sister… subhanallah… (wipes his tears) that monster deserves it… this is called self-defense and nothing else… and I’m promising you today that I will protect you till my last breath… that’s my promise to you… I will bring you out of that tunnel and make your life worth living again for you and your child… I’m so sorry you had to go through all that… subhanallah! Life without parents is surely a forest without a tree… totally empty… I feel so sorry for you… please stop crying; I’m here for you now…
Mustakeemah: (wipes her tears)
Lukman: let’s go to my house (as he tries to kick the engine she stops him) what again? I won’t kidnap you or harm you in any way… I don’t live alone, I also have a servant, ok? Feel free.
Mustakeemah: (she nods)
Lukman: let’s go home…