Alh. Zubair . Bring my car key now.
Naheemah: (responding from inside, rushing) Sir, I am coming ooo. Ummu is the one…
Ummu: (steps forward quickly, covers Naheemah’s mouth, whispers harshly) Will you shut up. (raises her voice toward inside) Abu Haneefah, we are coming sir.
Alh. Zubair: (from the doorway, already restless) Please hurry up.
(pauses, squints toward the gate as he senses movement)
Who is there?
Anas: (from outside, calm and respectful) As salam alaykum warahmatullahi sir.
Haneefah: (gasps, voice breaking with excitement) Abuuuuu.
Alh. Zubair: (freezes for a second, then his face breaks into a smile) Ah ah ah.
(opens the gate wider)
Walaykum salam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Marhaban.
Haneefah: (drops her bag, rushes forward, throws herself into his arms) Abu mi.
Alh. Zubair: (wraps his arms around her firmly, pats her back repeatedly) You finally visited.
(voice thick with emotion)
Awwww.
(He raises his voice toward the house.)
Alh. Zubair: Ummu Haneefah. We have a guest. (turns to Anas, studying him briefly, then nods with approval)
Welcome, my son.
Ummu: (comes forward quickly, eyes already moist) My daughter.
Haneefah: (lets go of her father, moves straight to her mother, hugs her tightly) Mummy. (voice trembling) I have missed you.
Anas: (stands a few steps back, hands clasped, watching quietly with a soft smile)
Naheemah: (leans against the car, folds her arms, rolls her eyes slightly, pretending not to care)
Ummu: (turns to Anas warmly) Come inside, my son. Thank you for taking good care of her.
Alh. Zubair: (places a guiding hand on Anas’ back) Come in.
Haneefah: (suddenly turns, pulls Naheemah into a hug) I know you are mad at me.
Naheemah: (struggles lightly) Leave me jor.
Haneefah: (teasing through the hug) You are still my annoying sister.
Naheemah: (sighs, relaxes into the hug, smiles) How have you been?
--------
Later that evening. 5:02pm
Haneefah: (steps down from the car slowly, stretches her back, exhales) Ahhhh.
(shakes her head lightly)
Alhamdulillah. What a day.
Anas: (steps out, shuts the car door, nods) Alhamdulillah.
Haneefah: (walking beside him, adjusting her khimar) You know, sometimes I wonder. Anytime I step out of this house, the neighbours stare like there is something on my khimar.
Anas: (smiles, amused) Do not worry. You will get used to it with time.
(stops suddenly as raised voices echo from inside)
So there is nothing…
(frowns)
What is it again?
Haneefah: (peeks inside, eyes widen) Oh boy.
(instantly steps back)
Anas: Babe.
Haneefah: (already turning away, voice tight) Leave me alone please. I will be in the car once the fire is put out.
(walks away fast)
Anas: (watches her go, rubs his forehead, exhales, then walks inside and closes the door behind him)
(Inside, the room is chaotic. Voices overlap. Zainab sits on the floor, crying uncontrollably.)
Anas: (stops at the doorway, takes in the scene, closes his eyes briefly, then steps forward) Brothers, please. For Allah’s sake, stop this.
Junaid: (angrily) Abeg e don do jor. You sef get problem. You are elders and you cannot behave like one.
Jamiu: (steps forward aggressively) You see what he is saying abi. Abi you want…
Anas: (raises his voice sharply) Enough.
(points around the room)
Are you the only ones in this neighbourhood. Every time fight.
(points toward the window)
Your children are watching you.
(turns slowly)
And you call yourselves their fathers?
(The room goes silent.)
Anas: (notices Chief upstairs, voice softens but firm) What example are you setting for them?
Jamil: (clears his throat, embarrassed) Kids, go to your room.
(turns to Junaid)
Watch your tone.
Anas: (looks at Zainab on the floor) What caused this chaos?
(voice low)
And why is your wife on the floor like this?
Jamiu: (defensive) I said I am getting married to my second wife next week. That is all.
Anas: (stunned) So it is true.
(sits down heavily)
Subhanallah.
Zainab: (shedds tears bitterly) ahhhhhh! You have done this one ooo.. Jamiu... ahhhhh! Have all have sacrifice for you...
Jamiu: I have made up my mind and I love this woman.. she doesn't gives me trouble... like she does.. she is submissive and gives me peace of mind. If she wants to see my good side again. When her morenike enters this house. Learn from her and you'll have my old side back or else.. I'm done with you. I'm just keeping you because of my kids.
Cheif olakunle: ( finally speak) just to be clear... Are you done?
Jamiu: dad you know what have been telling you about this woman now.. she doesn't give me peace at all...
Cheif: I said are you done?
Anas: (patiently watching)
Jamiu: (lower his voice) yes sir.
Chief: all of you... in my room! NOW!!! ( return to his room, struggles with his staff)
Junaid: (gives jamiu a deadly glance) if not for dad...
Jamiu: oh! You would have beat me uh?
Anas: can you guys just stop this? At your age? I can't believe my wife and your wives had to witness this childishness from the three of you? Like God! ( walk pass them, climb the stairs heading to their father's mini apartment).
After they retreated to the Chief’s room, the wives slowly came out from their various kitchens. The house was suddenly quiet. They were shocked to still find Zainab sitting on the floor alone, her wrapper soaked with tears, her shoulders shaking as she cried. They exchanged looks and moved closer, cautiously.
Maryam: Ummu twins, please stop crying. (She bends slowly and reaches out, her hand hovering before touching her arm)
Zainab: (in a weak, broken tone, pulling back slightly) Don’t touch me please.
Aishat: But why now? We understand your pain. We know what you are going through at the moment, and we feel for you. We know it is hard.
Zainab: (wipes her tears with the back of her hand, her voice trembling) Please just stop the pretence. I know you are all smiling behind closed doors. I know. So stop.
(The two wives exchange surprised looks)
Maryam: Why would you even say that? Do you think we are happy? Like we don’t have our own problems? Like we don’t know these gender traits are in all men? Why on earth would you even think like that?
Aishat: Is that why you have been mean and avoiding the three of us in this house? Is that what you think we were doing behind your back?
Zainab: (breaks down again, sobbing uncontrollably) Whenever my husband and I have problems, I see how you three gossip together while the fight goes on. You think my problems are a joke to you? All of this wouldn’t have happened if we all lived separately. I would have had my private marital life like I deserve.
Maryam: (sits beside her, gently patting her back, her voice calm) Well, to me, all I see is benefit. Let us look at the bright side. If we had not seen your husband’s side today, his brothers would not have found out about his actions. Wallohi, I know it is hard. These our men are unpredictable. And if you think you are the only one going through hardship in marriage, then you are wrong. I also have mine. You know I have been married for seven years now. No marriage is perfect. We have a lot to deal with in our marriages than to see yours and be deriving joy in it. It does not make any sense. I have known you since I got married to my husband. You were not like this. You were sweet, kind, funny, and friendly. So seeing this side of you is fine. It means you are going through a lot, and now we see it.
Aishat: We are sorry if you ever think we are deriving joy in your sadness, but it is only a foolish woman that would think like that. I also have my flaws in my marriage, despite the fact that my marriage is just five years. My husband shows me shege as well. Seeing him ranting at your husband for trying to take in a new wife, all I see is pretence jare. I was even expecting him to bring in his own mistress too. They are all of the same feathers. So please do not think we have a perfect marriage. You need to be strong for your kids. If I start narrating my own, you will feel for me. (She gently wipes Zainab’s tears) You two have been sweet to me since I stepped foot in this house, and I do not want what you are going through to break us. What happened to you today means we should be prepared for our own as well. They are all the same.
(Even Haneefah…)
Haneefah: (hurriedly enters the house, takes two steps toward the stairs, then pauses when she sights her senior wives on the floor) Ahhh… uhmmm. (thinking, shifting uncomfortably) I cannot even hold my pee any longer. If I leave like this, I am creating a war. Kai. (She turns back, walks toward them, and lowers herself to the floor) As salam alaykum ma.
Everyone: Walaykum salam.
Aishat: As I was saying, even Haneefah is learning one or two from you abi. (Turns to Haneefah) Are you happy with what is happening in this house?
Haneefah: Subhanallah. Never. Wallohi, we are not happy. And we know you are going through a lot, which brings fear into our hearts as well. It gives us signs that we should be prepared for what is coming for us too. Every time you shed tears shows how strong you have been. Ever since I got to this house, you have not been sweet with me like my seniors said about you, and that alone shows how much pain you are in. But I have always wanted to tell you this. I will never, ever derive joy in your sadness. Like for goodness sake, we married brothers. What do we expect next?
Aishat and Maryam: Abi o.
Haneefah: So please wipe your tears. This storm will pass. I believe so. Just keep being the good wife that you are, and wallohi, he will regret his actions. I promise you.
Zainab: So this is how my husband will reward me for all my sacrifice to be his wife. I could not even complete my education because of him. I was blind by love. I disobeyed my parents for him, and look at what I am facing now. Pain and sorrow every day. Why me? (tears stream down her face)
Maryam: Please stop crying. You are making us emotional too. (She pulls her into an embrace)
Aishat: (joins them, wrapping her arms around Zainab)
Haneefah: (sadly pats her back, her eyes moist)
--------
That same moment
Chief: (sits quietly, observing his sons. The room is heavy. Everyone waits for him to speak, but he allows the silence to stretch, hoping they will calm down)
Jamiu: (finally breaks the silence, his voice strained) Dad, I know I did not live up to your expectations, but I am not happy anymore with her wallohi. You have no idea the problems I face with her every night. Nagging. She gives nothing but problems. I should have divorced her a long time ago, but I am considering my kids. If not, and I am even doing her a favour by marrying again and she… kai. Now look at me. I turned into a laughing stock in front of my brothers and kids. I know none of you may understand my reasons, but whether you are okay with it or not, my mind is made up. Another wife is coming into this house.
Junaid: Can you even hear yourself? Can you hear what is coming out of your mouth? \
Anas: (shakes his head slowly) Yaa Allah.
Chief: (glances at Anas, studying his face)
Jamil: Dad, I know when you are quiet like this, it carries a lot of hidden pain, and I do not want you to be bothered about us. We will settle things among ourselves. As for me, I do not see anything bad in this honestly. If a woman does not give her husband peace, then he should get himself a second wife. Simple as that.
Anas: (thinking, rubbing his forehead) Yaa Allah. I am in the midst of fools. How on earth will I speak without causing chaos?
Chief: (finally speaks, his voice heavy with years) I really miss your mother a lot. Her absence in your lives has made you so heartless and senseless, till you do not even see her value through your wives. The sacrifice and everything. It is such a pity. And look at me, I am old, my head covered with grey hair. If you do not respect me at all, at least consider my grey hair. Have I not tried enough to ensure you four never lack anything? And look at what you are repaying me with at the end of the day. Just one wish, to die under the same roof with my entire generation. Is that too much to ask? For the past three months, it has been just you and Zainab. You have no shame. Even in the presence of the new wife and your kids? And you know the doctor said I should not think too much. You should have just said you want me dead before my time. Ehn Jamiu? What example are you setting for your kids? What example are you setting for your younger ones? You have no idea how much I suffered to give you the best life. Then why do you hate me so much, Jamiu?
Jamiu: (cuts in sadly, his voice low) Dad, please do not say that. You know this is not what I wanted. You know I would never do this intentionally, but I am unhappy in my marriage.
Chief: And that is because you chose to start your family under my roof?
Jamiu: What? No. Never. Where are you taking this to now? You know we all wanted to be here with you till your last breath. Living under this roof was not the problem. Okay, okay, fine. Please just bless this marriage, and I promise I will put everything under control.
Anas: (sighs deeply, closing his eyes)