ACT TWENTY-EIGHT
The empire is busy enjoying a lively party with his friends, celebrating a successful surgery performed by Sekinat. Meanwhile, strippers entertain the empire and his friends. The empress, however, excuses herself and retreats to a private room to rest. Overwhelmed by her husband's apparent loss of interest and feelings for her, she can't contain her emotions and breaks down in tears, crying alone.
She decides to call her daughter, Viva, who is studying abroad, seeking solace.
Empress: Hey, Viva! What's up?
Viva: Hello, Mom! How are you doing over there? And what about Dad?
Empress: He's fine. Are you guys having a party? What's the occasion?
Viva: Is it something special? Why the party?
Empress: It's nothing. I followed your father on a business trip. I just wanted to hear your voice.
Viva: Glad to hear that! Alright, bye!
Empress: Bye, my baby! Make sure you eat good and healthy food.
Viva: Yeah, right! Bye. (She hangs up)
After the call, the empress takes a deep breath and resumes her cries. Suddenly, she hears her husband's voice and quickly wipes her tears to join the gathering in the living room.
Empire: What's going on?
Empress: (She hastily wipes her tears) Nothing, dear.
Empire: (Furious) A simple task, and none of you could do it properly? You let her create a scene in public. Do you even know what that means?
Bodyguards: (Prostrating) We are so sorry, sir. We didn't know she was losing balance. Please forgive us.
Minister: Just ignore the media. They will make noise and then calm down.
Empire: (Silently picks up his gun and shoots the three bodyguards, ordering their bodies to be disposed. Sekinat is still lying unconscious on the couch.) Get someone to treat her and wake her from her slumber.
Empress: (Steps forward) I will do it.
Empire: (Surprised) That's not your job! Get someone else.
Empress: I insist. I can handle it.
Empire: (Exhales softly, glancing at her) What if you mess up? You know I don't believe in mercy.
Empress: I will face the consequences.
The VIPs murmur among themselves as the tension rises.
Empire: Fine, get her out of here already.
Empress: (Lifts Sekinat with the assistance of a waiter and takes her to an empty room.)
The Next Morning, 6:29 am
Sekinat finally regains consciousness.
Sekinat: (Opens her eyes gently) Where... where am I?
Empress: (Standing by the glass wall) Now that you're awake, I can finally go get some sleep.
Sekinat: (Sitting up) Good morning, ma. Did you... what really happened? I was at the hospital; that was the last thing I remember.
Empress: (Makes a phone call) Kindly bring breakfast, please. (Hangs up and turns to Sekinat) You passed out last night after performing the surgery. Now, get up and hold yourself together. Your hat man is not here to take care of you. (She attempts to leave)
Sekinat: (Hastily gets on her feet despite her imbalance) Wait! Please... did you watch over me throughout the night?
Empress: No! (She tries to leave, then touches Sekinat's hand)
Sekinat: (Slight smile) Thank you, ma. That's very kind of you. You know, you remind me of my mom.
Empress: (Stares directly into her eyes and walks away)
Sekinat: Thank you, ma'am. (She returns to her bed while breakfast is presented, hurrying to get down from bed and rushing to the restroom to perform ablution)
Later in Another Scene
Summayah is resting in the living room, struggling with morning sickness. Suddenly, she hears a knock at the door but is too weak to get up, so she instructs her son to answer it.
Shuaib: (Opens the door and looks up at the tall guest) Who are you, sir?
Sultan: Good morning, handsome boy. Can I come in, please? I am looking for
Grandma and Mom.
Summayah: (Recognizing the voice) Son! Let him in.
Shuaib: Please come in, sir.
Sultan: (Smiles) As-salamu alaykum, everyone. Good morning, mummy twins.
How do you feel?
Summayah: Wa alaykum as-salam. Alhamdulillah, and thanks for the other day, sir.
May Allah accept it as an act of Ibadah.
Sultan: Ameen, ma'am. Please, where is Alhaja? I have just a few minutes to spend here. I need to be somewhere in the next 30 minutes. I just want to share the news based on my investigations.
Summayah: (Jumps to her feet, not realizing it) What's the good news? Mummy!
Alhaja Selimat: What is it? (Enters the living room) As-salamu alaykum, my son. How are you doing? Thanks for the other day.
Sultan: Wa alaykum as-salam, Hajia. I don't have much time left here. I have good news for you—Sekinat is alive. And I have the proof with me.
Alhaja Selimat: (Shocked) Are you being serious? Let me see!
Sultan: (Hands over a small envelope with two tiny photos) Here. She was found at Aso Rock Hospital last night where she fainted. And here is a video of the men who carried her unconscious body into the car. We are already tracing where they came from.
Summayah: (Jumps up in joy) Alhamdulillah! My sister is still alive! Ahah!
Alhaja Selimat: (Unable to control her emotions, breaks down in tears) My Sekinat is alive after all these months. Look at my daughter! (Admires her in the photos) Look how skinny she looks.
Sultan: I will find all means to locate the kidnappers' hideout. What baffles me is how she survived their den until this moment and what brought her to Abuja. Anyway, I better get going. You can keep the photos. I will fill you in better next time. Have a lovely day. (Exits from the house)
Alhaja Selimat: (Already on the floor, hugging the photos and crying heavily) I thought I lost you! I thought you followed your father and left me and your sister in this cruel world. Alhamdulillah, ya Allah!
Summayah: (Sits next to her, staring at the photos) It's really her, Mum. It's really
Sekinat.
The Next Day
Hat Man is busy directing his subordinates when he notices the Empire's cars passing by. He quickly notifies his subordinates underground, drops everything, and gets into his car to follow them to the Empire's mansion. Upon arrival, he observes a crowd welcoming the Empire from his trip but chooses to stay in his car, studying the second car, waiting for Sekinat.
Hat Man: Sekinat, where are you? (He finally spots her, showing a sign of relief) I thought I lost you! (He gets down from the car, followed by his subordinate, entering the mansion)
After the welcoming, Sekinat is finally directed to Hat Man's mansion. She rests her head on the bed, attempting to take some rest before meeting up with Hat Man. Sekinat: I can't believe the Empress watched over me. It feels like a dream. But why the sudden change of intentions? That's what is confusing.
Hat Man: (Gently opens the door and moves closer to her without saying a word)
Sekinat: (Hurriedly sits up) As-salamu alaykum, Brother Toheeb!
Hat Man: (Grabs her and embraces her tightly)
Sekinat: Why are you always doing this? Why?
Hat Man: Because I missed you so much. (Notices she didn't push him away) I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me. This is totally my fault.
Why blame yourself? At least now I'm back. But I want you to explain
your secret plans. I want to know how you're going to help me escape this place now that the Empire is using me.
Hat Man: I will explain later. Right now, get some rest. I don't even wish to stay out of your sight ever again. I feel like staying with you forever.
Sekinat: (Smiling) It's okay.
Hat Man: So, gist me about the trip. (Sits on the bed) I want to hear everything.
Sekinat: (Yawning) There is nothing to gist about.
Hat Man: What's wrong? Talk to me, baby.
Sekinat: It's nothing. I'm just tired of the whole drama that happened there. Is that too much to ask?
Hat Man: Alright then. (He lays her on the bed and covers her with a blanket) Sleep tight. I will come back to check on you after rounding up today's schedule.
Sekinat: (Nods and is about to close her eyes when she suddenly can't breathe, as Hat Man continuously kisses her. She tries to push him away, but he also presses her hands to the bed. She finally uses her knees to hit him in his private area, causing him to groan in pain and fall on his knees.) Are you okay?
Hat Man: (Groaning) It's nothing.
Sekinat: What happened? (Quickly gets down) I only kicked your leg?
Hat Man: (Groaning) It's okay. Just go back to bed. I deserve that.
Are you sure you will be fine?
Hat Man: (Struggling to speak) Yes! (He struggles to get up and holds the wall until she finally exits the room)
Sekinat: But I didn't do anything wrong now. Besides, he caused it, and that's karma he got. And I only kicked his leg, right? (Gasps and covers her mouth) Oh no! Ya Salam. I was only... You know what, never mind. (She resumes to the bed)
But Sekinat, you are dangerous at times. Even I fear myself.
A Few Days Later
Hat Man's preparations for escaping with his wife were going according to plan without the Empire's awareness. He wished to open up to Sekinat about the plan but was scared she might not be happy. He intended to inform her when they were finally out of the Empire's den. As he had fixed a particular day for escaping, he chose to act normal, spending more time with Sekinat.
However, since Sekinat got married to Hat Man, she wasn't allowed to step out of the mansion freely. Bored one day, she decided to enter the Empire's mansion, surprising the guards. Though not called to the mansion, they let her in, making her part of them.
Sekinat: I don't even know where to turn to. Everything is so huge and big.
(Approaches one of the guards) Excuse me, sir. I am looking for the Empress.
Guards: (Without saying a word, one of them points in her direction)
Aww! Thank you. (She follows the directions and lands in an unknown
large living room) This mansion is just full of hidden rooms. Now, I'm lost. Where will I find the Empress? (Suddenly, she spots two guards walking towards her)
Guards: What are you doing over there?
Sekinat: (Stepping back) Uh, I'm just looking for—
Guards: You are under arrest for trespassing.
Sekinat: Wait, what? Leave me alone! I'm only looking for the Empress. You want to lock me up again?
Guards: (Without further argument, they drag her out of the empty room)
Sekinat: Put me down! Let me go, please. I swear I did nothing wrong. I promise. Empress: (Walking down the hallway with her maids behind her) What is going on? (She moves closer to them) You again! What are you doing here?
Guards: (Bow their heads) We found her trespassing, Your Highness.
Sekinat: No! I wasn't... I was just... just.
Empress: Just what? Let me guess. You are looking for my husband again? Or your husband?
Sekinat: No! I was looking for you!
Empress: (Surprised) Me? For what?
Sekinat: Nothing, but just to see you because I missed my mom.
Empress: (Signals the guards and maids to excuse them) Do I look like your mother?
Sekinat: But you remind me of her ever since you watched over me that night. I couldn't help it but think about my mom.
Empress: I am not your mother! So get that into your skull and go back to your husband's house. (As she was about to leave, Sekinat held her hand) What are you doing?
Sekinat: Please! I know you are not a mean person. In fact, you are a good person. I'm sorry I misjudged you lately. I just want to spend more time with you. Empress: I am not nice! I am mean and heartless. So don't be deceived just because I watched over you throughout the night. I did what I had to so you wouldn't die because we were using that day, okay? Now, get out. (About to leave her sight again, but Sekinat didn't let go of her hand) What are you doing? Should I call the guards on you?
Sekinat: (Sadly lowers her gaze) No, ma.
Empress: Then let go of me before I descend on you.
Sekinat: (Sadly lets go) Sorry, ma.
Empress: Good! Now get out.
Sekinat: Okay, ma. (She walks away while the Empress watches her, then she stops and heads back) Um, I'm sorry, ma, but I don't know the way out.
Empress: (Sighs heavily and hijacks her hand) Come with me.
Sekinat: (Smiles and follows)