Aishat: (folds her arms, staring at him) you can explain? You and I are seeing the evidence right in front of us and you still want to explain? (shakes her head) i knew something was fishy, I knew it! But the way you fight your brother over taking in another makes me want to trust you because you are the only one against his decision... so you are the snake? Junaid? (laugh sadly)
Junaid: (drops the phone and stands) baby... just hear me out, this is the work of the devil I swear... I can explain.
Aishat: (turns away, pacing the room and rubbing her head) i can't believe this...
Junaid: (moves closer, stretching his hand) baby please... I'm sorry.
Aishat: (steps back sharply, voice shaking) eh! If your hand touch me! If lau that filty hands on me lasan.. if I curse you, Junaid! Tell me! What exactly do you men want? What do you want that we don't give? Is it until we die? I am carrying your third child! I am heavily pregnant... and you still cheated? (getting emotional) ahhhhh! Junaid! It shouldn't have been you ooo. All the respect and love I have for you. You just destroyed everything. (sit on the bed, tears stream down her face) but it fine!
Junaid: (drops to his knees, trembling) baby... I am so sorry... it the work of the devil. I didn't even know what came over me, and I'm promising you it will never ever happen again....
Aishat: (throws a pillow at him angrily) don't let me curse you, Junaid! Stay away from me and leave my sight.. you know have been trying to compose so I won't break down in front of everyone, I waited till we entered our room.. leave me alone!!! (suddenly winces and clutches her abdomen) ehh!
Junaid: (rushes closer in panic) im sorry please don't do this... I still love you, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen.. I swear (tries to touch her) I love you so much.
Aishat: (pants heavily, pushes him away with her legs) i said don't touch me! Are you mad? I will scream for help if you won't leave me alone! Ashewo okurin. Oni jekuje! Thief!. This marriage is at stake.. and I will leave these kids for you.. and start over since you can do the same.
Junaid: (sweating heavily, still on his knees)
---------
Later in the night, Jamil’s matrimonial bedroom
Maryam: (scoops swallow toward Yusuf, leaning closer) open your mouth jare!
Yusuf: (crying and turning his face away) mummy... I don't want...
Maryam: (raises her hand slightly in warning) if I sand you... will you open your mouth?
Jamil: (opens the door and steps inside, looking around) oh! This is where you are.. have been calling your name downstairs.
Maryam: (without looking up) welcome..
Yusuf: (jumps down and runs to him) daddy oyoyo!
Jamil: (bends and lifts him slightly) my boy (welcome his embrace) how was school today?
Yusuf: (excited but still whining) it was fine! Daddy what did you bring for us.. I don't want to eat amala.
Maryam: (points the spoon at him sharply) Yusuf! If I get you!
Jamil: (waves his hand dismissively) leave the boy alone, he said he doesn't want amala. You can't force him now.. by the way, while the house quiet like that? Where is everybody?.
Maryam: (sits and eats the leftovers slowly) in the room i guess..
Jamil: (frowns, loosening his collar) I hope nothing happened today again..
Maryam: (suddenly bursts into laughter) yoy just remind me again...
Jamil: (unbuttons his shirt, confused) what happened again?
Maryam: (shrugs lightly) nothing much, just a fight between..
Jamil: (cuts in confidently) let me guess. Between iya beji and Rahmah!.
Maryam: (shakes her head, standing up) i guess you like gossips pass me. Why don't you find out yourself (get up ready to head out) I am going to set the dining for you.
Jamil: (scoffs loudly) obaje gan oo.. very rude at that.. wait is it that you are not properly trained at home? See the way you are talking to your husband. This is why men cheat on their wives.
Maryam: (chuckles dryly and turns back) there is nothing new under the sky, anyways, when will you introduce her to us?
Jamil: (freezes, staring at her) what do you mean by that?.
Maryam: (folds her arms calmly) my co-wife naa.. when? Because the way you are supporting your brother’s decision. Says alot about you.. The only man in this house that I can predict that he can never cheat is daddy Nusaybah.. if you see how he fight for his wife today.. and he is the only one against cheating. But as for the rest of you... hmmmmm .. let me go and set the dining, so we won't be cursed by the angel, because I am doing my own for Allah sake. After four children. What else am I looking for? (tries to leave)
Jamil: (voice raised, clenching his fist) ehh! Dont bother... I'm not eating your food.
Maryam: (turns back sharply) but you would prefer your mistres's own... abi you've branch her place.. my warm regards to her sha. Let me go and put my food. Yusuf! Go to your room since you aren't eating again.. (slams the door)
Jamil: (stands alone, furious and panting) you have no idea.
-------
10 minutes later (Dining table)
Haneefah: (adjusts her seat, watching him eat) Baby, what do you think of the food?
Anas: (smiles between bites) Lovely as always… I can never get enough of your cooking.
Haneefah: (blushes, sips her juice) Awwwnn shukran… so how was work today?
Anas: (leans back slightly) Alhamdulilah, stressful as usual.
Maryam: (joins them at the dining table, dropping into a chair) Welcome baba okomi.
Anas: (looks up warmly) As salam alaykum ummu.
Maryam: (waves her hand playfully) Walaykum salam alfa… it’s been two days I set my eyes on you… iyawo, have you been hiding him?
Haneefah: (chuckles softly, scooping food onto her plate) Haba! I will never…
Maryam: (moves her chair a bit away from theirs)
Anas: (glances around) What of your husband?
Maryam: (shrugs casually) Hmmm… you mean him… he said he isn’t hungry oo.
Anas: (nods slowly) Torr… may Allah be with us all. (steals a glance at his wife, notices how fast she’s eating, then returns to his food)
Maryam: Aba amin… hmmmm.
Haneefah: (pushes her chair back and stands up)
Anas: (looks up quickly) Wait! You are done?
Haneefah: (nods) Yes dear.
Anas: (concerned) Are you that hungry? Do you want from mine?
Haneefah: (smiles reassuringly) No dear, and even if I want more, there is more in the kitchen.
Chief: (enters the house grandly) Ekule oo.
Anas: (freezes, drops his spoon as he stands) Dad? We… we didn’t know you weren’t inside.
Chief’s P.A: (steps in and gently closes the door) Good evening sir.
Anas: (confused and worried) Where are you two coming from by this hour? And why didn’t you notify us?
Chief’s P.A: Actually, he instructed me not to keep you informed.
Anas: (frowns deeply) But why?
Chief: (hums slowly, walking toward the living room) Hmmmmmm my boy.
Anas: (follows closely) Dad?
Haneefah: (smiles faintly to herself) My husband is indeed daddy’s boy… he sure loves his father a lot. And come to think of it, we barely spend enough quality time with him.
Maryam: (follows them into the living room)
Anas: (supports him gently into a seat) Careful…
Chief’s P.A: (clears his throat) Well… we’ve been visiting the hospital lately and frequently.
Anas: (heart pounding) Subhanallah!!
Chief’s P.A: He is old and his body systems are weak… the doctor diagnosed him with high blood pressure which can result in hypertension any moment, and also he complained of back pain a lot. So we had to check that out.
Anas: (voice shaking) Without telling us? Even me? And you know how I ask of his state from you, being his personal assistant. How could you hide this from his family?
Chief’s P.A: That wasn’t my intention sir, but he doesn’t want to bother any of you… just look at the house, filled with commotion every week, and he knows how occupied you all are with one thing or the other and....
Anas: (cuts in sharply) Is that better than his health?
Haneefah: (moves closer, holding him as he bends toward his father’s knees) Hey baby… get it together… please.
Maryam: (ends a phone call abruptly)
Jamil: (rushes out of the room, running downstairs) What happened to dad?
Chief: (chuckles weakly) You all have nothing to worry about… I will be fine.
Jamil: (breathing heavily as he kneels closer) Dad?
Maryam: (turns toward the staircase)
Anas: (eyes reddening, fighting tears)
Chief’s P.A: This is exactly why he never wanted to tell any of you.
Jamil: (snaps angrily) Will you shut up!
Chief’s P.A: (bows slightly) I’m sorry sir.
Jamil: (voice trembling) Dad, how are you feeling?
Chief: (looks at him sternly) Since when did you care? When was the last time you visited me? All you do is call on the phone like we don’t live under the same roof. But here you are… come running.
Jamil: (shakes his head desperately) Dad, I would never… ever… please tell me you are fine.
Zainab: (joins them hurriedly) What happened?
Maryam: (supports Aishah down the stairs as she groans) Careful… sorry… someone should please get the car…
Chief: (struggles to his feet, stretching his neck) Is that Aishah?
Zainab: (rushes forward)
Haneefah: (follows quickly)
Junaid: (bursts out of the room carrying her luggage) Anas, get the car please… she is in labor.
Anas: (runs out immediately) On it!