ACT SIXTEEN
Empire: This mission is an utter failure! Hat man brought me nothing but trouble. Is this the very diamond we need to unlock the next mission and transport those drugs out of the country? Why does he always mess things up for me? It's undoubtedly because of that girl, Sekinat. Since she entered my empire, everything's been going south. Hat man never completes a mission without catching a bullet. She's a walking disaster for me, and I need to rid myself of her as soon as possible.
Empress: You must stop overreacting to every issue! Work on yourself first; you've grown weak since that girl entered our den. (her head was plastered) This isn't you! You've changed, dear. You don't spare sinners' lives like you did with Sekinat. She should have been dead long ago. So, don't blame the hat man; you are to blame for this. Look at how she slammed my head into the wall, and you let her walk away? This isn't you, and it breaks my heart.
Empire: (One of the guards walks in and bows) What is it this time?
Guards: We regret to inform you that Sekinat has died from an electrical shock, administered by one of the men you sent to deal with her.
Empress: (excited) Finally! Someone is giving me good news! You have no idea how long I've yearned for this. Serves her right. This calls for a celebration. (She begins to dance around)
Empire: How did you let that happen? Did I order you to kill her?
Empress: Honey, what are you saying again? Isn't this what we wanted?
Empire: (ignores his lady and walks out of the room) Show me where she was killed.
Empress: (notices his worried look as the guards pass the news) Now I'm sure he had some feelings for her. At least now, I'm glad she's dead, or wait! Let me go confirm it myself. (she follows them)
When they arrive, they find the first corpse of one of his men, and the Empire uses
his leg to push him out of the way. He finally spots Sekinat, thinking she had died for real. Many thoughts race through the Empire's mind as he watches her, and the Empress joins them in the room.
Empress: Finally! She is dead for real!
Suddenly, they hear the cry of a woman. The Empire instructs his guards to turn on the lights in the room and be alert for any attack, and they obey. That's when they realize it's Sekinat crying silently, unable to get up from the bathtub, leaving everyone in the room stunned.
Empire: (a light smile on his face) I thought you said she is dead?
Guard: Y-yes, sir! We even confirmed the death before passing the news to you, sir.
Empire: (roars at the guards) Can I leave anything with you done perfectly? I was so happy about the fake news, and now see!
Empress: (turns to the guards and slaps his face) How dare you pull our legs? You think this is all a joke, huh? You will pay for this.
Guard: (on his knees) Please, my lord! I am so sorry for the inconveniences, but we confirmed her death before... (the Empress hijacks one of his guns from his pocket) Please, your highness, give me one last chance. I'm sorry.
Empress: Any last words?
Guard: (already in tears) Please, ma, I'm sorry! Please don't kill me. Give me one
last chance.
Empress: (she turns her head to Sekinat's) But first, I will take her down before she makes an additional scene.
Empire: Stop!
Empress: What do you mean, stop?
Empire: (roars at everyone) I said stop! If you dare fire that trigger, my next move will shock you.
Empress: (forced to put down the gun but hurriedly fires at the guards) Son of a bitch! (She throws the gun on the floor and majestically walks out of the room, leaving the lifeless body of the guards)
Empire: Guards!
5 guards: Yes, my lord! (answering uniformly)
Empire: Find all means to keep her alive and healthy. By tomorrow, I want her back in the Hat Man's room. She is the only one that can help him recover quickly.
Is that clear?
Guards: Yes, sir!
Empire: (walks out of the room while they pay their respects to him uniformly) **************************
Alhaja Selimat: (her phone rings while she's in a deep sleep until she finally wakes up) Oh, my phone. (She struggles to get up and pick it up) Uhh! My back hurts. (The ringing stops and starts again) Who can that be now? Why can't they be tired of dialing? (She finally picks up the call) Walaykum Salam waramatulah... Yes, this is she... (shocked) Ehh! What did you say? My husband? (Instantly loses balance and faints, grabbing the attention of their housemaid)
Housemaid: As-Salamu Alaikum, Alhaji! I hope all is well? (She enters and finds Alhaja unconscious on the ground) Hajia!!! Wake up, please. What happened? (She notices the phone) What happened? Somebody help us, oh! Help!
Gateman: (bursts into the living room) What happened? I thought I heard some noise. (He hears the voice again) Ehehn! What happened? (He rushes to the room and finds the situation they are in) What happened to Alhaja? (He rushes to their aid)
Housemaid: I heard her scream from the kitchen, that's why I came running to check on her, and I found her in this state. We need to go to the hospital right now.
Gateman: Let's carry her to the car. (They lift her up and head out) Alhaja, please wake up. I am yet to collect my salary, oh...
Housemaid: Open the door and stop uttering rubbish. Is that what you should be saying?
*****************
Later in the night, Summayah's house buzzed with a myriad of guests who had come to console her after the somber task of burying her husband. The air hung heavy with grief, the scent of incense mixing with the murmur of whispered condolences. Meanwhile, the police, draped in a solemn urgency, arrived to initiate an investigation into the mysterious demise of Summayah's spouse.
Summayah: (helplessly sits on the floor, cradling her son, tears streaming down her face. Nearby, hustaz offer solace with consoling preaches that dance through the room like a delicate breeze)
Police Officer: Uhmm, Mrs. Summayah! We extend our deepest condolences for the loss of your husband. Our intrusion at this late hour is unfortunate, yet imperative. We urgently require your cooperation to gather evidence and information tonight.
Suraj’s Father: (his grief-filled voice breaks the silence) Is this truly the opportune moment for such inquiries? Can you fathom losing someone dear to you?
I've lost my son! My cherished son, taken by the hands of unknown assailants. Ahhhh! I demand justice for my son's untimely departure. (Tears cascade down his cheeks, echoing the heartache in the room)
Police Officer: Precisely! Hence, our swift investigation.
Suraj’s Father: (accusingly) By interrogating his grieving wife? Do you suspect her?
Police Officer: Please, sir! Allow me to clarify. We seek her insights, her perspective. She is the closest to your husband, a potential source of vital information. We mean no disrespect. (He turns to Summayah) My sincere apologies for your loss, madam. Your cooperation is crucial as we strive to bring justice. (Noticing her silence) Madam!
Summayah: (lost in thought, tears flowing unabated, while sympathetic relatives surround her, offering silent comfort in their shared grief)
Police Officer: Madam!! (He taps the chair where she rests her head, but her response is breaking down in tears again. The room becomes heavy with emotion.
A few compassionate women move closer to Summayah. The police officer sighs
heavily, wondering if she is going to cooperate with him) Sorry, madam...
Summayah: (between sobs) Who did I offend? My husband isn't a bad person. You all saw how he behaved. He's quiet and gentle. Why would the world take away my joy and happiness, filling my house and life with sorrow? Why would the world turn me into a widow at my age? What was our offense? All I wanted was a peaceful life with my family. I know, Ya Allah, that I can't question you for this, but it breaks me into pieces. How can I move on? Life without my husband is an empty soul. Why me? Why? (She continues crying uncontrollably)
Police Officer: (talking to himself) This isn't the right time. We better come back next time. (He's about to take his leave)
Summayah: I have accepted my fate, oh. But I want justice for my husband! Whoever had a hand in my husband's death shall taste my wrath, and they must suffer so badly.
Police Officer: That is why we are here, madam! We just need to ask a few questions, please.
Summayah: Why didn't you talk since?
Police Officer: (unbelievably looks at everyone) Madam! You know what? Can we go on with the investigations?
Summayah: Please do! Do it, oh! Because I must fight for my husband's death till my last breath.
Police Officer: (confidently takes a seat and brings out his jotting booklet and pen)
Please, can you tell me if you noticed any strange things going on with your
husband recently? Maybe making phone calls and shouting on the phone? Or do you know any of his friends?
Summayah: Well, my husband was a businessman who imported goods from other states and countries. He was always on the phone, directing his workers about incoming goods. He even made calls in the middle of the night, yelling at them about the goods that landed by that time. It's a normal thing to yell at workers, though. As for his friends, my husband had only one friend, Mr. Raymond. They happened to be business partners too.
Police Officer: (jotting down) Uhmm, madam! Can you give us his house address or any means we can reach him?
Summayah: I don’t have his number, but I know where he lives with his family.
Police Officer: Has he come here to console you about your loss?
Summayah: Actually, no! He should be aware, though.
Police Officer: (still jotting down) Now that’s our number one suspect.
Summayah: (thinking as she wipes her tears with her hijab)
Police Officer: Secondly, do you perhaps have any issues with anybody? Like someone you or your husband stopped talking to due to some issues?
Summayah: (finally remembering her parents) Yes! My parents!
Everyone: (confused, even the police officer)
Police Officer: Your parents?
Summayah: Yes, ever since my sister went missing. My parents have been suspecting me of kidnapping her, which I didn’t! And ever since then, they have turned me into an outsider.
Police Officer: (sighs heavily) Do you really think they had a hand in your husband’s death?
Summayah: I’m not sure, but you need to investigate everybody! In this life, no one is to be trusted.
Police Officer: And up till now, your sister is yet to be found!
Summayah: Yes!
Police Officer: Alright, ma’am. (He gets on his feet) That will be all for today. If we have any questions for you again, we shall come back. Once again, we are so sorry for your loss. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljanat Firdaus! (He walks out of the house)
Summayah: But whoever killed my husband shall have no peace for bringing sorrow into our lives. (She breaks down in tears again)
Sekinat: (opens her eyes) Am I dead? (She turns to her left and finds two women conducting checkups on an unconscious man. She hurriedly sits up) Who are you people? (She realizes the man is the Hat Man, gets down from the bed, and moves towards them, ignoring her own state) How is he?
Doctor 1: Go back to your bed and stop asking foolish questions. What do you know about what we are doing here?
Sekinat: (she realizes she is not stable either, hurriedly touches the wall) I only ask simple questions. How is he feeling? Is he out of a coma?
Doctor 2: (brings out her gun and points it at her) Go back to your damn bed or
you die right now!
Sekinat: (she scans them for a few seconds and looks around) So you won't fire the gun? What are you waiting for?
Doctor 1: (moves forward and points the gun right at her head) Speak, and you die!
Sekinat: (smiles) Just do it and stop blabbering!
(The doctors glance at each other in surprise. Sekinat maintains her defiant stance.)
Sekinat: What are you waiting for again? Shoot!
(The doctors put down their guns and continue their work.)
Sekinat: Since you can't kill me, now get out of this place while I take over!
Doctors: Don’t mess with us, woman! We are dangerous.
Sekinat: And I am deadly! Killing you two won't take a minute... and target right into your cerebellum.
Doctor 2: (whispering to her partner) I think she is the lady people were gossiping about!
Doctor 1: Yes, she is the one. We better step back.
Sekinat: I can hear you, idiots!
(The doctors step back and sneak away. Sekinat weirdly stares at them, shakes her head, then glances at the Hat Man and touches his hand.)
Sekinat: I want you to fight that coma! Get out of it and come back to life. At first, I thought I had lost you. But on second thought, I have the feeling you are coming back to fight for what is right. And I will be by your side until the end of everything. This is just the beginning of the war between the free world and the sinful world. I know this isn’t what you wanted either, and I could feel it. I’m sorry for not understanding you earlier! But now, I will fight by your side until the end of the war. So, please, wake up.
Empire: (watches everything going on in the room on CCTV and smiles) I know she is the only one that can bring him back to life. (He sips his wine) But hearing you speak out what's in you, I guess there is a war coming for me... and I better get prepared!