THE MANSION.
LATE AFTERNOON.
THE HOUSE IS CALM.
Zainab enters through the main door, dressed in a beautiful long khimar flowing gracefully behind her. She greets the women in the sitting area politely.
Zainab: (soft smile) Assalamu alaikum ma.
Rahmah: (responding warmly while eating at the dining table) Wa alaikum salam. You’re welcome.
Zainab: (looking around gently) thank you ma Please… where is ummu khalid?
Aisha: (pointing upstairs as she comes down stairs) She’s in her room.
Zainab: thank you ma.
Zainab nods and walks slowly toward the stairs, her steps calm but purposeful.
HANEEFAH’S ’s ROOM.
Haneefah is seated on the bed, arranging some folded clothes. A soft knock sounds on the door.
Haneefah: (without looking up) Come in.
[The door opens. Haneefah looks up. She freezes.]
Haneefah: (softly, surprised) aahhhh, who do we have here?...…
Zainab: (smiling gently) abi o.
[They both move toward each other at the same time and embrace tightly.:The hug lingers. Memories flood in. Anas. His laughter. His voice. His absence.Their shoulders begin to shake.]
Haneefah: (voice breaking) Every time I see you… I remember him.
Zainab: (holding her tighter) Me too.
[They slowly pull apart, wiping tears.]
Haneefah: (gently holding her hand) Come inside.
[She closes the door behind them and sit facing each other. ]
Haneefah: (studying her face) How are you?
Zainab: (calm but emotional) Alhamdulillah. And you?
Haneefah: (nods slowly) Alhamdulillah.
A pause.
Zainab: (softly) It hasn’t been easy.
Haneefah: (looking down) It will never be easy. But Allah gives strength.
Zainab: (nodding) Qadar.
Haneefah: (firm but gentle) Yes. What Allah writes… we cannot change.
Zainab: (sincerely) May He ease your heart.
Haneefah: (placing her hand on Zainab’s) And yours too.
[They exchange a small understanding smile.
Then Zainab’s expression changes slightly.]
Zainab: (shy smile, touching Haneefah’s hand) There is something I want to show you.
Haneefah: (curious) What is it?
[Zainab stands slowly. She removes the front part of her khimar carefully and gently rubs her belly.]
[Haneefah stares. Confused at first. Then shocked.]
Haneefah: (whispering) Wait… what?
Zainab: (smiling wider) Yes.
Haneefah: (standing abruptly) Zainab… are you…?
Zainab nods slowly.
Zainab: (soft but joyful) Six months.
[Silence fills the room.
Haneefah places her hand over her mouth.]
Haneefah: (in disbelief) Six months?
Zainab: (teary smile) Yes.
Haneefah: (shaking her head slowly) But… when..... how?
Zainab: (nodding, emotional) Our wedding night.
[They both fall silent.]
Zainab: (looking down at her belly) Allah turned that one night into this.
[Haneefah’s eyes fill instantly. Tears begin to roll down her cheeks.]
Zainab: (concerned) Why are you crying?
[Haneefah steps forward and gently places her hand on Zainab’s belly.]
Haneefah: (crying softly) Because… even in his short time… he fulfilled his duty.
[Zainab’s lips tremble.]
Haneefah: (voice shaking) He made your dream come true. You always wanted to be a mother.
[Zainab breaks down completely.]
Zainab: (crying) I thought Allah forgot me.
Haneefah: (pulling her into an embrace) He never forgets.
[They cry in each other’s arms. Not out of pain alone. But gratitude.]
Zainab: (through tears) He left us… but he left something behind.
Haneefah: (nodding) A blessing.
[They slowly sit again, still holding hands.]
Haneefah: (wiping her face, forcing a smile) [Tell me… what do you want to eat?]
Zainab: (small laugh) I’m fine.
Haneefah: (firmly) No. You’re eating for two now.
Zainab: (smiling shyly) Maybe… something sweet.
Haneefah: (excited) Done.
[She stands quickly, already planning.]
Haneefah: (grinning through tears) Congratulations my darling... this is a great news.
Zainab: (smiling warmly) Congratulations to us.
[They hold hands again. Two widows. One miracle. One reminder that even in loss, Allah still writes life.]
[Lights fade slowly.]
------
9 MONTHS LATER
Haneefah’s Mini Supermarket. Morning. Shelves stocked. Workers moving around.
Haneefah: (firm, pointing at a shelf) Tobi, arrange those cartons properly. They look squeezed.
Tobi: (quickly adjusting them) Yes madam.
Haneefah: (turning) Ayo, check the freezer. The drinks are not cold enough.
Ayo: (walking fast) I will do that now, ma.
Haneefah: (to Shola) Make sure every new product is recorded before putting it out.
Shola: (nodding) Yes madam.
Her phone rings. She checks the screen. She freezes slightly.
Haneefah: (softly, surprised) Zainab?
She answers immediately.
Haneefah: (slightly anxious) as salam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh?
Zainab: (weak but happy, over the phone) walaykum salam warahmatullah wabarakatuh ma...
Haneefah: (notice) is everything okay? You sound dull..
Zainab: (smile faintly) yes.. I am fine..
Haneefah: (breathing out) Alhamdulillah You scared me. Why are you calling this early?
Zainab: (smiling through exhaustion) I did it.
Haneefah: (confused) Did what?
Zainab: (voice breaking with joy) I had him… it’s a boy.
Haneefah goes completely still.
Haneefah: (whispering) A… boy?
Zainab: (soft laugh) Yes. He’s healthy. We’re at the hospital.
Haneefah’s eyes fill instantly.
Haneefah: (tears forming, overwhelmed) Ya Allah… Alhamdulillah… Alhamdulillah!
Tobi and Ayo look at her in surprise.
Haneefah: (crying and laughing) I’m coming! I’m coming now. Ahhhh Alhamdulillah... you are now a mom.. I'm coming right now..
Zainab: (gentle chuckles) alright maa..
(Call ends.)
Tobi: (concerned) Madam, is everything okay?
Haneefah: (wiping tears, smiling widely) It’s a boy. My co-wife had a boy.
Workers: (excited murmurs) Congratulations, ma!
Haneefah grabs her handbag quickly.
Haneefah: (already walking out) I’ll be back later. Handle everything.
(Lights fade)
---------
The next morning
The Mansion. The atmosphere is lively.
Aisha: (excitedly) It’s true? Zainab delivered?
Rahmah: (whispering) A baby boy.
Maryam: (shocked but smiling) Just one night… and Allah made it happen.
[They exchange looks, some surprised, some quietly doubtful, but none voice it openly.]
Aisha: (softly) Allah is capable of all things.
[Downstairs, the three brothers enter together, visibly excited.]
Junaid: (smiling for the first time in days) Anas has a son.
Jamil: (proudly) His new bride delivered a baby boy.
Jamiu: (shaking his head in amazement) Subhanallah.
They head toward Chief’s private mini living room to share the news.
Junaid: (calling cheerfully) Father?
Jamil: (knocking lightly) Dad?
Jamiu: (smiling) Chief, we have good news.
[No response.]
They pause.
Junaid: (louder) Father?
[Silence. The room feels unusually still. There is a faint smell in the air. Heavy. Stale. The brothers exchange uneasy glances.]
Jamil: (frowning) Maybe he’s resting.
[They move toward his bedroom door.
Jamiu knocks gently.]
Jamiu: (softly) Chief?
[No answer. Junaid slowly pushes the door open.Curtains half drawn. The room dim.
Chief lies on the bed, covered neatly.
Too neatly.]
Junaid: (steps closer gentle) Father… wake up. We have good news.
[No movement.]
[Jamil moves to the other side of the bed.]
Jamil: (softly, forcing a smile) Dad… Anas has a son.
[Nothing.]
Jamiu swallows hard and steps forward.
Jamiu: (touching his shoulder lightly) Chief?
[Still nothing. The silence grows louder.]
Junaid slowly reaches for his father’s hand.
Junaid: (voice trembling) Father… dad...
[He lifts the hand gently. It drops back onto the bed. Lifeless. All three freeze.]
Jamil: (shaking his head) No… no…
[Junaid taps him lightly.]
Junaid: (voice rising) Father… father!
Jamiu: (panicking) Chief! Please!
[No response.The reality settles like a heavy stone. Junaid’s face collapses.]
Junaid: (screaming in pain) Nooooo!
[His cry echoes through the mansion. Jamil stumbles backward, then rushes out of the room.]
Jamil: (shouting down the hallway) Musa! Musa! Where is father’s assistant?!
[His voice cracks. Downstairs, wives and grandchildren rush out of their rooms.]
Maryam: (alarmed) What is it?
Aisha: (holding a child) What happened?
[The children look confused. Jamil reaches the staircase, panting heavily. He tries to speak. No words come out. Tears stream down his face uncontrollably. The silence of his mouth says everything. Maryam slowly covers her mouth.]
Aisha: (whispering) No…
[Upstairs, Junaid’s sobbing can be heard clearly. Haneefah steps forward slowly.]
Haneefah: (voice shaking, whispering) Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
[She covers her mouth in disbelief. The words hang in the air. The grown grandchildren begin to understand. One of them starts crying. Another whispers, “Grandpa?”]
[Aisha collapses into a chair. Rahmah begins wailing softly. Upstairs, Junaid kneels beside the bed, holding Chief’s hand tightly.]
Junaid: (crying deeply) You didn’t even wait… we brought you good news…
Jamiu stands frozen, tears falling silently.
Jamil slowly walks back upstairs, weaker now.
Jamil: (broken whisper) He’s gone…
[The house that had just received the joy of new life now drowns in another loss.
Anas had left. And now Chief has followed.
The mansion echoes once again with mourning. Two pillars. Gone.]
Lights fade slowly as the family cries together.