ACT TWENTY-SEVEN
Sekinat: (Rubbing her body) Gosh, it's freezing out here.
Hat Man: It is?
Sekinat: Yeah. How would you know when you are putting on all these?
Hat Man: You are also wearing hijab now.
Sekinat: Nevermind. (She takes some steps forward)
Hat Man: (Embraces her from behind and startles her) I'm definitely gonna miss you, your fight, your voice, your smile, your fearless actions.
Sekinat: (Trying to free herself) Why are you always doing this? Why? I said don’t touch me! Why are you deaf like this? Leave me alone before I kick you.
Hat Man: C’mon! You are now my wife. I have every right to touch you. Besides, this is not haram anymore. I paid your bride price. By the way, I opened an account for you and stored your money.
Sekinat: I don’t need your money, so get your hands off me! Before I descend on you.
Hat Man: It's not the 50k dowry but 50 million naira.
Sekinat: I don’t need your damn money, money made out of blood! No! Let me go!!
Hat Man: (Finally sets her free) There you go.
Sekinat: (Moves closer and tries to slap him, but he dodges it and embraces her, leaving her to scream out of anger)
Hat Man: That two days feels like 2 years. Also, don’t fail this our personal mission, okay? (He whispers to her) If it fails, that’s the end of us starting a new life.
Sekinat: (Pushes him in the chest and frees herself) I hate you so much.
Hat Man: You can't tell me you don’t love me or have the slightest feelings for me.
But you haven’t realized it, and you are not ready to accept the truth.
Sekinat: I don’t love you!
Hat Man: No, because you are lying to yourself. But don’t worry; I will help you realize the truth. Do you remember the day you risked your freedom to save my life? That’s evidence that you had fallen in love with me too, but you didn’t know it. Who would risk being free to save the one that once kidnapped her?
Sekinat: You disgust me! (As she tries to walk away, she hears large footsteps)
Hat Man: They are coming! (He drags her back and holds her hand)
Sekinat: What are you doing?
Hat Man: Shhhh! (Suddenly two exclusive cars park in front of them as some bodyguards step down from the car and open the door for the Empire and his Queen) Sir! (Bows his head) We are ready.
Empire: I can see that too! How were you able to convince her that she accepted so fast?
Hat Man: She is now my wife, and she must do as I say, and I promise her freedom, of course.
Sekinat: (Shockingly stares at him immediately)
Hat Man: (Winks at her)
Empress: You better behave yourself, or else you won't come back here alive to see your husband. (They get into the car while Sekinat is instructed to enter the second car)
Hat Man: (Holds her hand tight and opens the door for her) All the best, baby!
Sekinat: (Fake smile and gets inside)
Hat Man: Bye! Take care of yourself. (As he is about to close the door, he bends his head towards the car and gives her a surprisingly hot kiss, then slams the door, leaving Sekinat speechless) I love you!
Empress: (Watches the scene through the mirror and sighs heavily) On the bright side, I am happy for Hat Man, finally being happy in his life. But on the other hand, is that witch thinking she is now living a luxurious life? Well, she has no idea what's coming for her.
Empire: Quiet! Let me concentrate.
Empress: You always find fault in all I say.
Empire: (Focuses on his iPad as their car drives out of his den through a large gate) Sekinat still couldn't believe she was kissed by Hat Man. Throughout her presence in the car, she was thinking about the kiss until they finally opened the door for her to get down by the bodyguards. To her greatest surprise, as she got down from the car, a heavy breeze blew at her, and she sighted a private jet. Her jaw dropped in surprise.
Sekinat: Subhanallah! Empire has a private jet? (The bodyguards directed her into the plane, and she followed the Empire and his Queen. She was shown where to sit throughout the trip, and then she realized her section is different from the Empire's. She decided to use the opportunity when the bodyguards stood by the entrance to ask for the restroom, and she was directed to it. She performed ablution and stepped out ten minutes later. Finding a little space, she began to perform Salat Maghrib while the guards were dumbfounded by what she might be doing. During her prayer, the Empress decided to approach her. She was also dumbfounded to see her praying on the plane. She stared at her for some seconds, then headed back to her section.
After praying, she got up and resumed her seat, watching out the window. She realized they were about to take off. She began her adhkar in mind as the plane was about to take off. Throughout the flight, Sekinat stuck to supplicating in her mind until they finally landed. Instructed by the bodyguards, she got down from the plane and found herself surrounded by skyscrapers and beautiful views. The bodyguards led her into a large building. She wondered where they were until she realized it was a 5-star hotel.
Sekinat: (Turns to one of the bodyguards) I guess we are spending a night here?
Bodyguard: (Fails to respond to her question, instructs her to keep moving) Sekinat: Wait! Isn’t he the Minister of Finance? Oh my God! (She hurriedly covers her lips and is left standing as the Empire and his wife are offered a place to relax)
Empire: (Sipping a glass of wine) Are you just going to stand there or introduce yourself?
Sekinat: (Feels like disappearing as she is felt at the center of the living room) Uhmm! Hello, everyone. My name is Sekinat Sulaiman, and I am here as a representative of the Empire’s medical personnel. Thank you.
Empire: (Quite impressed) Take her to the place. (The bodyguards obey)
Sekinat: Where am I going?
Bodyguards: Just follow the instruction and come with us.
Sekinat: Oh, okay?
She nervously follows them out of the hotel again. Immediately she steps her feet on the road, she begins to look around, hoping to be seen by some strangers to take pictures or photos of her. However, the passersby just mind their businesses, and the bodyguards press her head back into the car and drive away. As the bodyguards notice her attempt to attract attention, they silence her with their AK47s pointed at her head.
Bodyguard: You messed up; we mess you up.
Sekinat: Sorry.
When they arrive at their destination, Sekinat is pulled down from the car and taken into a big hospital. She admires all she sees and can't stop looking around as they drag her into the building. She is carried away by the views, and the hospital is organized. They enter the elevator.
Sekinat: Pssst! Please, can I ask one question?
Bodyguard: Speak!
Sekinat: Please, who am I doing surgery for?
Bodyguard: You will know... Soon. And this should be your last question if you want to have a mouth to speak again.
Sekinat: Sorry.
They reach the destination floor, locate the room, and instruct Sekinat to go in while they guard the door.
Sekinat: You are not coming with me? Hell no!
One of the guards: Go in, or we push you in!
Sekinat: But I don’t...
Bodyguards: (Roar at her angrily) Go in!
Sekinat: Okay!!! (She enters the room, and the door is shut behind her immediately, leaving her to swallow her saliva in fear) As-salamu alaykum? (No response) I didn’t see anything!
Bodyguard: Just keep going and stop talking.
Sekinat: But I can't see anything. Everywhere is dark.
Bodyguard: Just keep going! Bitch!
Sekinat: (Jaw drops instantly) Did he just call me? (Suddenly the light is turned on and is directed into a special theatre room where she finds someone lying helplessly, fully covered, and also sees three people fully dressed for the surgery.) Nurses: Welcome, madam! We are here to assist you with the surgery. Please kindly follow to the changing room.
Sekinat: (Amazed and begins to study the patient from afar) What happened to him?
Nurses: (Narrating the patient's conditions as they enter the changing room while Sekinat listens attentively, fully ready for the surgery but hurriedly hides the drive into her underwear to avoid misplacing it.)
Sekinat: (She disinfects herself and sighs heavily as one of the nurses puts on her nose mask) Let's get to work. (She does the necessary checkup and leads the operation) A'uzu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim. (She begins to cut the patient open)
After 3 hours of surgery, Sekinat instructs the nurses to do the sewing as she almost loses balance due to a lack of energy. She heads back to the changing room, pulls off the surgical wear, and dresses back in her normal clothes, falling into one of the chairs, panting heavily.
Sekinat: Alhamdulillahi rabbil 'alamin!
20 minutes later
Sekinat opens the exit door and finds the bodyguards standing firmly, waiting for her. She touches the wall and moves towards them.
Bodyguards: Let's go.
Sekinat: Please... wait.
Bodyguards: Let's go! (They drag her back into the elevator and move out of the hospital. At this moment, Sekinat has no strength left; she continues touching the wall for support. Suddenly, the door steps at the exit close, locking Sekinat back into the hospital, while the bodyguards are outside. They run back to the door, hitting it, while Sekinat wonders what's going on. Suddenly, someone approaches her, stretching out his hand.)
Stranger: The flash!
Sekinat: Who are you?
Stranger: (Without wasting any time, he places a phone on her ears)
Hat Man: (On the phone) Give him the flash, baby. This is Toheeb! That’s the guy you will give it to.
Sekinat: Okay!! (She hurriedly digs her hand into her hijab and passes it to him. Then the man flees in a blink of an eye) Where did he go? Wow, he is fast! As she tries to take one more step, she passes out, attracting the people in the hospital as they begin to take photos and videos of Sekinat lying unconscious on the floor. Instantly, the door opens, and the bodyguards rush into the building. They notice people gathering, and suddenly some nurses approach them for help. They hit them, carry Sekinat out of the hospital, and drive away, but that doesn’t stop people from taking videos of the cars.
****************************************************
At the Undercover Headquarters
Sultan: (Invigilating his computer operators) Any clue yet? Give me good news, people! Why are you making your presence so useless? I need good news if you don’t want to be fired.
Suddenly, one of the operators raises his hand. Immediately, Sultan and his subordinate run to the operator.
Sultan: Yes! What do you got?
Operator: Just in. A lady fainted at Aso Rock Hospital here in Abuja… five minutes ago and was kidnapped instantly by some huge men and ran away with her.
Sultan: Can we see the victim’s face?
Operator: (Zooms in the picture)
Sultan: Stop! (Looks deeper into the picture) Locate the car and get the CCTV footage on how this lady got in here in the first place. I need an answer tonight.
Subordinate: Yes, sir. (Running up and down)
Sultan: Back to work, people! Back to work… we are getting some clues already!
Hat man lays on his bed thinking about his bride and the amazing moment he had planned for the two of them once she is back from the trip. He couldn’t get her out of his mind for a second, constantly thinking about her. Suddenly, his telephone rings, and he rushes to pick it.
Hat Man: Yes? (Raises his eyebrows in shock) What? So they failed to feed her?
Damn it!... Well, that’s a good thing people took photos. But! Anyway, thanks, man. I’m glad she cooperated with you; she is very hard to deal with. Alright, thank you. I will be expecting your feedback. (He hangs up and throws the phone on the ground angrily) And he promised not to harm her! (Panting heavily) Empire! You are giving me a reason why I need to go against you every single day, and I will not hesitate to fight you when I have the chance. Well, guess what, Empire?
You better watch your back.