Anas: (straightens up and pulls her into a warm embrace, laughing softly) Thank you… thank you so much. (lets her go, cups her face, kisses her gently) I love you so much.
Haneefah: (overwhelmed, eyes shining as she watches his happiness) I love you too.
Anas: So now it is time to plan how I will take good care of you and prevent any stress, okay? And how we will raise our children. This is another chapter of our story. (guides her to sit) And you still stressed yourself making pounded yam?
Haneefah: Actually, it is not stressful…
Anas: What if something happened to my child? You know it is still an egg…
Haneefah: Baby… what I meant was… I did not pound.
Anas: (cuts in, already pacing) From now on, no cooking stressful meals. No stress at all. Have you eaten? Any sickness? Nauseous?
Haneefah: Baby… baby! Listen to me…
Anas: Oh! I also need to adjust my working schedule so I can give you enough attention and...
Haneefah: (raises her voice) Baby!!
Anas: What? (pauses, finally stopping)
Haneefah: (takes a deep breath) I know you are only trying to help me and the baby stay strong and healthy… but I never expected this much excitement.
Anas: You have no idea, baby. I am finally going to be called a dad and raise my kids. (bends slowly, kisses her tummy) You just stay strong there. Daddy cannot wait to see you soon.
Haneefah: (smiles quietly, watching him)
(LIGHT FADE)
Haneefah’s POV
Ever since my husband found out about my pregnancy, honestly, it started getting out of hand. Even my co-wives noticed him in the kitchen making breakfast. He would not let me do anything and always came back home with goodies. But I did not want the world to see my happiness when, on the other side of the house, there was an unhappy family. I did not want them to feel intimidated by us. I spoke to my husband about it, and he adjusted a little, trying his best to keep his care subtle.
And I must say, he is the sweetest.
The new wife was kind of nice, sweet, and respectful to everyone. She was given her cooking space in the largest kitchen used for ceremonies and big occasions. Zainab tried her best to hide her pain and live her life, while her husband neglected her needs but still attended to the children.
Life was unbearable for her.
I could not move close to her, but I tried to show my support quietly. Aishat and I, being expectant mothers, did not do much around the house, and the Chief noticed. His joy doubled.
I thought maybe, just maybe, we could live in peace and face our hardships one at a time.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Aishat’s baby bump became obvious, but Alhamdulillah, mine was not. I left for my shop by 11 a.m. and returned by 4 p.m. so I could prepare dinner for my husband. I tried my best to give him no trouble, reminding myself that no matter what happened in this house, my husband came first.
It was past 5 in the evening when I returned from the shop. I struggled up the stairs, lifting my legs slowly.
Rahmah: (coming downstairs) Iyale mi… welcome ma.
Haneefah: (rolls her eyes briefly) Thank you ma. (climbs faster)
Rahmah: I hope my twins are kicking well?
Haneefah: (stops, turns slowly) Who told you I was pregnant?
Rahmah: Ahba! We are not children now. I know you are pregnant.
Haneefah: (chooses not to prolong it)
Anyway… thank you. (walks to her room)
Aishat: (storms out of her room) Ehn ehn… Rahmah or whatever you call yourself!
Haneefah: (about to open her door, pauses and turns)
Rahmah: Yes, iyale mi.
Aishat: (hands on her waist) What sort of nonsense did you try with me today? How dare you embarrass my sister when she visited me? You almost ripped her fingers with the door!
Rahmah: Oh! She is your sister? I had no idea. I was asking her who she was looking for, but she answered rudely.
Aishat: Can you imagine this girl? That is why you almost chopped off her hand by slamming the door? Her sister’s matrimonial home? Who the hell do you think you are? (steps forward angrily)
Rahmah: Ahah, I no understand. Is that why you are ranting? You wan beat me for your sister ni? Wa kilonshe e! Is it because I dey try dey posh? I go change am for you now!
Aishat: (shocked) Are you talking to me? You get nerve o. You want to beat me ni? Ahnn, never born you well! (moves closer) Is it because we have been watching you since you entered this house…
Rahmah: Ebo len be joh! Who you be? If not say you carry belle, I for don beat you black and blue before your husband come. I no get time for nonsense oo.
Maryam: (runs out) What is going on here?
Aishat: So you would have beaten me? I dare you! (grabs her shirt) I dare you!
Haneefah: ( gently grab aishat) please ummu... you shouldn't be doing this... considered your condition please.
Rahmah: na you get time dey tell her, she tell you say she blind? Na she wan kill herself na.. Look at me do I look like your rival? Even my rival no dare come near me. So try me oo.. wetin save you na your belle o
Zainab: ( comes out, shocked to see what's happening) whats going on here?
Aishat: I dare you see! You this prostitute husband snatcher!! Ashawo.
Haneefah: ummu Nusaybah, stop nowww... haba.. lets go to your room please.
Aishat: ehh... don't even tell me that, let me just deal with this slut here.
Zainab: Iya beji! Whats all this? You didn't even consider your condition? You want to harm yourself abi?
Maryam: tell her oo.
Rahmah: you see.. even my rival get sense pass you, you better listen to her.
Zainab: (glance at rahmah inshock) excuse you!? Are you okay? Are you mad? Is it because I have been quit in this house? It because I acted like you never existed because you never did? How dare you?
Haneefah: (steps in quickly, gently but firmly grabbing Aishat’s arm, voice tense and pleading) please ummu... you shouldn't be doing this... considered your condition please.
Rahmah: (folds her arms, leans forward with a mocking laugh) na you get time dey tell her, she tell you say she blind? Na she wan kill herself na.. Look at me do I look like your rival? Even my rival no dare come near me. So try me oo.. wetin save you na your belle o
Zainab: (rushes out of her room, eyes wide in shock) whats going on here?
Aishat: (points furiously at Rahmah, struggling to move forward) I dare you see! You this prostitute husband snatcher!! Ashawo.
Haneefah: (moves closer again, holding her back, voice shaking) ummu Nusaybah, stop nowww... haba.. lets go to your room please.
Aishat: (shrugs her off angrily) ehh... don't even tell me that, let me just deal with this slut here.
Zainab: (steps forward sharply, alarmed) Iya beji! Whats all this? You didn't even consider your condition? You want to harm yourself abi?
Maryam: (shakes her head quietly) tell her oo.
Rahmah: (smirks, lifting her chin confidently) you see.. even my rival get sense pass you, you better listen to her.
Zainab: (turns slowly to Rahmah, eyes blazing with disbelief) excuse you!? Are you okay? Are you mad? Is it because I have been quit in this house? It because I acted like you never existed because you never did? How dare you?
Junaid: (enters hurriedly, confused, scanning everyone) whats going on here?
Aishat: (breaks down suddenly, clutching her stomach, crying uncontrollably) honey!! Ahhhh! I have never been this molested in my life! If not that you entered this witch would have beat me...
Junaid: (stunned) I'm sorry what?.
Rahmah: (descends the stairs calmly, masking her expression) welcome sir
Junaid: (turns sharply, voice rising) hey you! Get back here!
Rahmah: (halts reluctantly)
Junaid: (furious) what happened between you and my wife? That you dare tried to even utter the statement of raising your hands on her?
Rahmah: (straightens defensively) I was on my own when she found my trouble and I know they never liked me ever since I stepped foot in this house. And that's normal but I will not tolerate to be treated like this in my husband’s house.
Maryam: (bursts into laughter) she said her husband's house.
Haneefah: (lets out a brief, restrained chuckle)
Junaid: (steps closer to Aishat protectively, anger boiling) that's why you wanted to hit my wife? Ahhhhh... God saved you today because if you had tried such... I will make sure you rot in jail.. lets go inside.. where are the kids?
Rahmah: (raises her voice, trembling) I know none of you liked me... but I never tolerate disrespect in this house! I will stand for myself and speak for myself whether my husband is home or not.
Junaid: (releases Aishat and steps toward Rahmah threateningly) what did you say? say that again?
Jamiu: (enters with foodstuffs, pauses mid-step) kehinde!!! Come and carry these foodstuffs to your mother! whats going on here?
Rahmah: (runs into his arms, crying, pressing her face to his chest) baby... thank God you come at the right time. I would have been beaten by your brother and his wife..
Jamia: (confused and alarmed) what? Junaid! Whats going on?
Zainab: (turns away silently and walks upstairs)
Jamiu: (points after her angrily) and you! Where do you think you are going? I know you are the root cause of this...
Zainab: (without turning back) mttwwwwww!
Maryam: (giggling softly) wahala...
Junaid: (softens, guiding Aishat away) come on! Let's go dear....
Haneefah: (quickly turns and rushes to her room)
Jamiu: (shouts after them) Junaid I'm still talking to you! You dare walk out on me..
Junaid: (without looking back) gbenu oshi soun jor!
(Silence settles. Only Maryam, Rahmah, and Jamiu remain.)
Maryam: (looks around, amused)
Rahmah: (rubs Jamiu’s chest softly) baby... just take me inside because I am having second thought of staying under the same roof with these people.
Maryam: (teasing) welcome sir
Jamiu: (ignores her, walks away with Rahmah)
Maryam: (laughs loudly as she heads to the kitchen) my belle ooo. This house never seaze to amazed and entertain me... latest couple indeed
---------
In the room
Junaid: (locks the door firmly, turns to her with controlled anger) and you... havnt I told you to stay away from anything that has to do with these people? I can't shout ooo. You are heavily pregnant and you want to fight abi? I am saying my own ooo tor.
Aishat: (walks to the wardrobe calmly, opens it, brings out a phone and stretches it toward him) sorry dear... please kindly unlock your phone for me.. that picture of our kids that you took 2 days ago. My sister said I should send it to her, so please unlock.
Junaid: (still talking, distracted and annoyed as he takes the phone) I am talking to you about my warnings, something important and this is all that matters to you? (places his thumb on the phone) you never listen and if you land yourself in...
(The phone unlocks. The screen lights up. A sex video of him and another woman begins to play. The room freezes.)
Aishat: (stares at the screen, then slowly lifts her eyes to him, voice tight with rage) if I could remember, this is the clothe you wore yesterday? (points at the phone) thats the same clothes you wore here while having sex video call with your mistress..
Junaid: (hands trembling as he hurriedly switches off the phone, panic written all over his face) baby... i.... I. Can explain.