Haneefah: Oh… which relative?
(Aisha answers without hesitation, prepared.)
Aisha: His cousin’s son. From Ilorin. You may not know him well.
(Maryam adds smoothly.)
(Maryam: It’s nothing too alarming. But Chief insisted the family should show presence.
(Aisha studies Haneefah carefully, not with pity, but with controlled gentleness.)
(Haneefah does not question further.)
Haneefah: As you wish, ma.
(As soon as she turns away, Maryam’s fingers tighten around her wrapper. Aisha’s breathing becomes heavier, but controlled.)
Maryam: (under her breath) This is not easy.
Aisha: (quiet but firm) We must be strong before she is.
(Haneefah returns, unaware.)
Haneefah: I’m ready. Let's go..
------
HOSPITAL ENTRANCE
(The car pulls into the hospital compound. The fluorescent lights are harsh. Ambulances parked at one side. The smell of antiseptic hangs in the air.)
(Aisha steps out first. Maryam follows. Haneefah comes out last from her own car, adjusting her khimar)
Haneefah: (trying to sound light) I hope we won't stay long.. I have alot to do when I get home. We will not stay long, in sha Allah.
(She walks slightly behind them as they lead the way toward the building.)
(Aisha and Maryam exchange a glance but keep walking.)
(They approach a corridor leading toward the emergency wing.)
(Suddenly...Aisha slows down.)
(Maryam stops completely.)
(They don’t turn immediately.)
(Haneefah almost walks into them.)
Haneefah: (softly, confused) ummu?
(Aisha finally turns.)
(Her face has changed.The composure is gone. Her eyes are heavy. Not crying, but burdened.Maryam’s lips are trembling.)
(Haneefah’s smile fades slightly.)
Haneefah: What is it, ma?
(Aisha steps closer. She takes Haneefah’s hands gently, something she rarely does.)
Aisha: uhmmmmm ummu khalidi… (That word lands strangely.)
(Maryam moves closer too, standing on the other side.)
Maryam: Whatever Allah does… He does it for a reason.
(Haneefah frowns deeply now.)
Haneefah: I don’t understand, ma… Is the person inside in a critical condition?
(Aisha tightens her grip.)
Aisha: You must be strong.
(Silence swells.)
(The hospital corridor suddenly feels colder.)
Haneefah: (voice rising slightly) Strong for what, ma?
(Maryam’s eyes fill.)
Maryam: Nothing happens without His permission. We belong to Him… and we must be strong
(Haneefah’s breathing changes.)
Haneefah: Belong to Him? Who belongs to Him? What are you saying?
(Aisha swallows.)
Aisha: please I need you to be strong for him... please.
(The words echo like a gunshot.)
(Haneefah freezes.)
Haneefah: No. (A beat.)
Haneefah: No, no, no… Who? Who are you talking about? (Her eyes move between them rapidly.)
Haneefah: Is it Father? Is it the cousin? What is going on?
(Maryam begins crying softly now.)
Maryam: Your husband… is extremely sick and his life is in danger as we speak.
(The world stops.)
(Haneefah’s ears ring. The fluorescent lights feel too bright.)
Haneefah: sick? Life in danger…? (She laughs, a nervous, broken laugh.)
Haneefah: No. That’s not possible. I spoke to him yesterday. He was fine now!! (Her voice begins to crack.)
Haneefah: Where is he? Which ward? Let me see him.
(She tries to move forward. Aisha holds her.)
Aisha: Haneefah....
Haneefah: (now panicking) Why are you holding me? Take me to him!
(Maryam shakes her head slowly, crying harder.)
Maryam: The doctors diagnose him with brain cancer
(Haneefah goes still.) (Too still.)
Haneefah: brain… what?
(Aisha’s voice breaks for the first time.)
Aisha: and he said he might not survive it... because as we speak, he is currently in coma...
(Silence.)
(The sentence hangs in the air like something alive.)
(Haneefah stares at them... unblinking.) (She shakes her head slowly.)
Haneefah: No. (Whispers.) No… you’re lying. This is not funny. Where is he? (Her voice suddenly rises.)
Haneefah: WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?!
(Her hands start trembling violently.)
Haneefah: I was just talking about cooking for him! I was just... (Her knees weaken.)
(She grabs Maryam’s arm desperately.)
Haneefah: Let me see him! Maybe he’s unconscious! Maybe they made a mistake!
(Aisha pulls her into an embrace.)
Aisha: please we need to be strong.. you need to stay strong..
(That’s when it hits.)
(The denial shatters.)
(Haneefah lets out a raw, animal-like cry, from deep inside her chest.)
Haneefah: AAAAAH!! (Her body collapses against them.)
Haneefah: No… no… no… you must be mistaken... Anas and I talked yesterday morning.. he called me! No...no...no...
(She begins sobbing uncontrollably, beating her chest lightly.)
Haneefah: He promised me… he promised…to call back..
(Hospital staff begin looking.)
(Maryam holds her tightly.)
Maryam: yes.... don't cry please..…
(Aisha’s tears finally fall freely.)
-------------
[Dim blue hospital lighting. The steady mechanical sound of a ventilator. The heart monitor beeps slowly and rhythmically.]
[Anas lies motionless on the bed. Tubes in his mouth. Wires across his chest. IV fluids dripping.]
[Haneefah steps in.]
She stops mid step.
Her eyes widen slowly.
Her fingers loosen from Maryam’s arm and fall lifelessly to her side.
Her lips part, but no sound comes out. She stares at the ventilator tube in his mouth. Her chest begins rising too fast.
Haneefah: (barely audible) No…
(Her vision shifts to the wires attached to his chest. Her hands begin trembling violently. She takes one slow step forward. Her legs shake under her weight) Anas…?
(Her voice cracks on his name.)
(There is no response. Only the machine’s hiss.
She swallows hard. Her throat tightens visibly. Behind her, Jamiu lowers his head, fighting tears.
Jamil wipes his face roughly, unable to look at the bed for long.
Junaid presses his lips together, blinking rapidly to hold himself.
Zainab is seated by the bed, already in tears. When she sees Haneefah, she quickly stands, panic in her eyes. She looks guilty, helpless, afraid.
Zainab:(voice shaking) I am so sorry ummu khalid... I really am. ..(Her words break into sobs.)
Haneefah barely hears her. She takes another step. Her breathing becomes louder now, uneven, shallow. She raises her hand toward Anas… but freezes when she sees the tube taped to his mouth. Her hand hangs in the air.
Haneefah: Why is he not breathing by himself? (Her voice is fragile).
Jamiu: The machine is helping him.
(Haneefah slowly turns her head toward him.
Her face changes, confusion turning into horror.)
Haneefah: Helping… him?(Her eyes fill instantly.)
(She looks back at her husband’s still body.
She studies his face like she is trying to find proof of life.)
Haneefah:(voice trembling) Anas… it’s me…
(She forces herself one more step forward, but her knees suddenly buckle.)
(She grabs the edge of the bed for support.
Her entire body is shaking now. Tears stream down her face uncontrollably.)
Haneefah: (struggling to speak)You were fine… you were talking… you were laughing…
(Her voice breaks into a sob.)
Behind her, Zainab covers her mouth and cries harder, her shoulders shaking.
Jamil turns away completely, unable to watch.
Junaid wipes his tears openly now.
Jamil steps closer, placing a steadying hand on Haneefah’s back.
Jamiu: We need to pray. He needs strength.
(Haneefah slowly slides down the side of the bed until she is on her knees. She grips the bedsheet tightly. Her forehead nearly touches the mattress.)
Haneefah: (crying deeply) You hid this from me… (Her voice becomes heavier, raw.) You were carrying this alone? (She finally touches his hand.) It is cold.
(She flinches slightly at the temperature)
Haneefah:(whispers, shaking) Why didn’t you tell me? Please say something... we havnt raise this children like we wanted...
Zainab sobbing loudly, overwhelmed by guilt and fear.
Jamiu closes his eyes briefly, tears escaping despite his effort to remain strong.
The monitor continues its steady beeping.
Haneefah lifts Anas's hand carefully, pressing it against her forehead.Her shoulders shake violently now.)
Haneefah: (broken) Please… don’t leave me like this…
(She can no longer form words. Her grief fills the room. Even the brothers begin crying openly now. No one speaks. Only the machine breathes for him.
Lights slowly fade as Haneefah remains on her knees beside the bed, clutching his hand.
-----------
hospital reception – late evening
[After such an horrific moment of grief, the three brothers sit slumped in the empty hospital reception, lost in thought. The hum of the overhead fan and distant ICU beeps fill the silence.]
junaid: (leans forward, elbows on knees, staring at the floor) How… how are we going to tell chief?
jamil: (rubs his palms together, voice low) This… this could be a dangerous step.
jamiu: (nods faintly, eyes heavy) Very dangerous.
junaid: (voice trembling slightly) You know him… the last time he heard shocking news, his blood pressure...
jamil: (interrupts quietly, jaw tight) Exactly.
jamiu: (stares at the floor) If we tell him anas is in a coma like this… we might break him.
[They all fall silent, shoulders heavy, staring into nothing.]
junaid: (whispers, almost to himself) But he is his son.
jamil: (voice low) And this is not small news.
jamiu: (looking up, hesitant) There is no good way to say it.
[They pause, each retreating into memories.]
junaid: (softly) Maybe we wait till morning.
jamil: (nodding faintly) Or speak to the family doctor first.
jamiu: (shakes his head slightly) Or… prepare him gradually.
[They all know none of these options remove the fear.]
jamiu: (shaking his head, voice cracking) No… it’s not just about chief… I… I’ve lost a brother… the best brother anyone could ask for…