Doctor: I need you to listen carefully to what I’m about to say. Okay? the result confirm that this is glioblastoma. It is an advanced and very aggressive brain cancer. In his case, the tumor has grown extensively and ahs spreaddeep into critical areaas of the brain. Becasuse of its location and how far it has progressed, surgery is no longer a safe or effective option. Even with radiation or chemotherapy, the disease has reached a stage where treatment would not stop it. at this point, medical intervention would only delay things briefly andit would come with significant physical burden. I wish I had better news. But medically speaking.. this is terminal.
Zainab: (couldn’t believe her ears tears gush out) inalililahi… (covers her mouth in disbelief)
Doctor: what we can do now is focus on comfort, dignity and making whatever time remains as meaningful and as peaceful as possible. he will not go through this alone. We will manage his pain, his symptoms, and support him throughout every step.
Zainab: (fall to the ground crying bitterly) so…. So whaat are you trying to say doctor?
Doctor: (he pauses, letting the weight of it settle) what I means… Is that we are no longer talking about recovery. We are talking about time. I cannot give you an exact number. No one can.. but medically, this is considered terminal (he lean forward gently) our focus now would be to keep him comfortable. To manage his pain. To make sure whatever tiem he has left is not filled with suffering. I know this is not what you wanted to hear. And I am truly sorry (her voice fractures, her shoulder began to shake) ahhhhh! I am doomed… what are I going to tell them? How do I call them? (her body convulses with grief)
Doctor: I’m really sorry madam..
*********************
Zainab: (enter the admitted room, stands by door and watch, crying silently) Anas! Why did you tell your family about your condition? Why did you hid this from them? (walk up close, sees him lay helplessly in bed unconscious.) how do I call your wife? How do i…. (gently touch his hands) ahhhhhh! Ya Allah… please don’t take his soul yet. Please (her knees weaken beneath her, her body convulse with grief) this tumor would have show it sign long time ago before It gets out of hand. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
**********************
That same day (night ( 7:20pm)
Haneefah: (in the kitchen, cooking and listening and reciting her evening adskar) atagfirullah waha ilay (repeat over and over)
Khalid: (enter the kitchen) ummi!!!
Haneefah: what is it again?
Khalid: why isn't dad home since morning? I didn't see him this morning.
Haneefah: (sigh heavily and lean towards him) your dad is with your second mummy okay? If he didn't come home today. I'm sure he will come tomorrow insha Allah.
Khalid: second mummy? (Confused) but... you are our only mom.
Haneefah: oh ya Allah! (Tap her forehead) don't worry, you will know her soon enough. Run along now.
Khalid: but I miss my daddy... it is almost time for ishai we go to the mosque together.
Haneefah: he will be back okay? (Face her chores)
Khalid: (stamp his feet arm folded about to cry as he mumur) I want to see my daddy!!!
Haneefah: am I the one you are doing that to? Abi you want me to (carry her small turning stick).
Khalid: (run out of her kitchen, crying)
Haneefah: big head... after a long day, you still want to stress me.. if I should enter your room without reciting your evening adskar.. you will hate yourself tonight.(thinking) but wait oo... come to think of it.. he hasn't called to check the kids oo.. is he that busy with her? Hmmm... anyways it her time..
Junaid: ( heading out then sighted her backside) ummu khalid... salam alaykum.
Haneefah: (turn around) walaykum salam sir. Good evening sir.
Junaid: good evening ma. Please is your husband back? I want to discuss something very important with him.
Haneefah: not really.. even if he comes this night won't you question him for leaving his bride all alone?.
Junaid: but... I still don't get it.. how are you so okay with him getting another wife? Like no woman can ever let that happened.
Haneefah: well because it what we both wanted sir. Women that committed suicide because their husband get another wife, please does it stop the husband from it? I am my husband's peace not his problem.
Junaid: interesting... anyways please just send Khalid to my room any time he arrives. Okay? Well done (exit the house)
Haneefah: alright sir (return to her cooking) human being and wahala ehn? ... hmmmmm.. abi I should call him ni? But I don't want to look desperate. He might even be making fun of me that I could live a day without hearing from himm.. abegi... whenever he is free, he will surely call.
***************
That same night
At the hospital
Zainab: (searching for the doctor’s office) i think it this one (move close to the door and knock)
Doctor: come in
Zainab: (enters slowly, her face pale and drawn, dark circles shadowing her eyes. She looks like she hasn’t slept in days. The spark that once lived in her gaze is gone. Tear stains mark her cheeks.) Doctor… please. I’m begging you, for the sake of God. About my husband’s condition… there has to be another way. Maybe we can travel abroad for better treatment. Maybe there’s a hospital, a specialist, anything. If there’s a price to pay, I will pay it. I will do anything… anything. I just don’t want him to die.
Doctor: (remains seated for a moment, then slowly stands, his expression heavy but controlled.) Mrs. Zainab… I understand why you want to search for another answer. Anyone in your position would. But this is not about the country. It is not about money. And it is not about finding a better hospital.
Your husband has Glioblastoma. This type of tumor does not grow like a normal mass that we can simply remove. It spreads like roots into the healthy brain tissue. By the time we discovered it, it had already infiltrated critical areas that control movement, speech, and vital functions. (He pauses gently.)
Looking at his scans, this tumor did not start yesterday. It has likely been developing for years. The headaches he ignored… the occasional confusion… the subtle personality changes… the brief moments of weakness — those were early warning signs. But glioblastoma is aggressive. Once it reaches this stage, it multiplies rapidly and overtakes the surrounding brain.
Surgery is no longer an option because there is no clear boundary to remove. If we attempt it, we would be cutting into essential brain tissue. He could lose the ability to speak, to breathe on his own… he may not even survive the operation.
Radiation and chemotherapy at this stage would not cure it. At best, they might slow it briefly, but his tumor has progressed beyond the point where those treatments would meaningfully extend his life. The cancer cells are already deeply embedded. (His voice softens.) Even if you take him abroad, the diagnosis would remain the same. The science does not change across borders. Medicine has limits… and this is one of them.
What we can do now is protect him from suffering. Control his pain. Preserve his dignity. Make the time he has left peaceful rather than filled with invasive procedures that will not change the outcome. (He lowers his gaze briefly.) I am truly sorry.
Zainab: (stands frozen for a moment after the doctor finishes speaking. The words seem to echo in her ears. Her lips part, but no sound comes out. Then suddenly, her composure shatters.) No… no, this can’t be…
(Her knees weaken; she grips the edge of the desk for support. A broken sob escapes her before she can stop it. Tears spill freely now, blurring her vision.) How… how do I call his family? (her voice cracks violently) What do I even say to them? That he’s dying? That there’s nothing left to do? (She presses her palm against her chest as if the pain is physical. Her shoulders shake uncontrollably.) They will ask me questions… they will expect hope… (she gasps between sobs) How do I tell his father and brothers? How do I look at his children and say their father is not coming home? How do I tell his wife?.(She begins to cry openly now, no restraint, no dignity left to protect. Her voice breaks into helpless fragments.) Ya Allah… what am I supposed to do? (She covers her face with both hands as the weight of reality finally crushes her.)
-------------
THE NEXT DAY...
AT JAMIU MINI OFFICE
Jamiu: (busy with the laptop) soo... hmmmm.. this order isn't that bad today now.. (glances at his phone, mildly irritated at the interruption. He answers casually.) Hello? Who is this? (Listen) Zainab? Which zainab is that? Ohhhh !!! The new bride... salam alaykum.... (paused and listen) what is it ma'am? Well... I’m in the middle of.... (His expression shifts. The color drains slowly from his face. His posture stiffens.) What do you mean… terminal?
(Silence. He listens. His jaw tightens. The pen slips from his fingers and rolls off the desk unnoticed.) No… no, that’s not possible. We saw him two days ago.. during your nikkah. He was fine!. (His breathing grows shallow. He stands abruptly, knocking his chair back.) I’m coming. I’m coming right now!. (He grabs his car keys with trembling hands and strides out, his controlled steps barely hiding the storm in his eyes.)
----------
At jamil's office
Jamil: (laughing with a client moments earlier, takes the call with a smile.) Ah...mallam Adamu.. kai! You and your actions ehn... (chuckles) hello? Yes this is he? (Listen) .. Zainab! I don't know who that is? Ohhh! Our wife. how are.... (His smile vanishes mid-sentence. His eyes widen. He slowly lowers himself into his chair.)
No… no, no, no… what are you saying? Anas has what?. (His free hand covers his mouth. Tears well instantly.) Deadly? What do you mean deadly? (His voice breaks completely. A strangled sob escapes him.)no!! He was in a perfect condition now.. my brother… he can’t just... (He stands suddenly, wiping his face roughly, not caring who sees.) Uhmmm mal... mallam ... i... i...
Mallam adamu: (worried) is everything okay?
Jamil: I will have to Cancel my meetings. Cancel everything! My brother's life.... (He rushes out of the office blindly, nearly colliding with the door frame.)
------------
At junaid's office
Jamil: (leans back comfortably in his chair, laughing with his secretary.) Tayo, if this report is wrong again, I’m blaming you in front of the board.
Tayo: (laughing) Sir, you’re the one who approved it.
Jamil: Ah, details. Details are for serious people. (His phone begins to ring. He glances at the screen and smirks.) Who calls with unknown number? What if I choose to ignore it.. (pick the call) hello. Who is this? Let me guess ....
(He answers casually, still half-smiling.)
Yes I'm his brother... (He stops. The smile fades slowly. His brows knit together.)
What? (He sits upright now.) No, slow down. What are you saying? (Silence as he listens. His face tightens. He lets out a short, disbelieving laugh.) Brain cancer? Come on. That’s not funny. (His secretary notices the shift and stops smiling.) What do you mean no surgery? No treatment? That doesn’t make sense. (His voice rises suddenly.)
There must be something! It’s 2026! People travel abroad for these things! Wait are you sure you call the right number? ( check the phone screen again)
(He stands abruptly, knocking over a file on his desk. Papers scatter, but he doesn’t notice.) Anas can't be sick!! You must be mistaken!! Please! (His breathing grows heavier. His eyes begin to glisten, but he fights it.) No… no, this is not how this ends. He was fine. We spoke last week! We even met at your wedding two days ago. (A tear finally slips down despite his resistance. He wipes it away angrily.) I’m coming!!!.
(He ends the call but keeps the phone pressed to his ear for a few seconds, as if hoping the news will change.)
(Then suddenly the reality crashes in. His legs weaken; he grips the edge of his desk to steady himself.)
Oh my God… (He turns to Tayo, his voice no longer steady.) Cancel everything. I’m leaving. Now. (He grabs his keys with shaking hands and rushes out of the office, moving faster than he ever has. the joking, carefree man replaced by someone terrified of losing the brother he never imagined he could lose.)
----------
Roadside – Early Evening
(The sky is fading into orange. Vehicles pass. Traders shout closing prices. Haneefah pulls down the shutter of her mini supermarket and secures the lock carefully.)
(She dusts her palms and walks toward her car parked by the roadside. She opens the booth and begins arranging cartons of snacks neatly.)
(A black car slows beside her and stops. The engine hums softly.)
(The back door opens. Aisha steps out first, calm, dignified. Maryam follows, composed as always.)
(Haneefah quickly straightens her scarf when she sees them.)
Haneefah: (with respectful warmth) Ah ah! ummu Nusaybah … ummu yusuf… (She steps forward slightly.) Is everything alright?
(Aisha gives a controlled nod.)
Aisha: Good evening, iya Khalid. Yes… everything is fine. (Maryam offers a small reassuring smile.)
Maryam: We came to look for you.
(Haneefah closes her car booth gently.)
Haneefah: me keh?
Aisha: We were looking for you. Your phone wasn’t reachable.
(Maryam nods, keeping her expression neutral.)
Maryam: Chief sent us. One of his distant relatives was admitted this afternoon.
(Haneefah closes the booth gently.)