ACT TWENTY-TWO
Sekinat: What did you see in me? And why did you fall in love with me?
Hat man: It's indescribable… hard to find the right rare word for it. But I'm ready to do anything just to see you happy and smiling again. That’s how much I love you, and I never wish you were out of my sight, but that’s not my decision to make.
Sekinat: If you really love me, and you said you would do anything for me… right?
Hat man: Yes.
Sekinat: How about if you convert to Islam and quit this nasty life of yours and start a new beginning?
Hat man: (Smiles) Is that what you want?
Sekinat: Yes.
Hat man: Done! (Bright smile on his face)
Sekinat: Really? Like you are just going to leave the empire’s den and go to the real world and start a new life there? And mostly become a Muslim and ask for forgiveness?
Hat man: Yes, I will. Actually, I am a Muslim.
Sekinat: (Shocked) You are? Wait, what's your real name?
Hat man: Smart woman! My name is Toheeb.
Sekinat: (Gasps) Masha Allah! But why didn't people call you by your real name?
They all grew up knowing me as Hat man because it's my nickname, as
I love wearing hats.
Sekinat: Yeah, we all can relate to your Michael Jackson hat! And you have no idea how happy I am to hear this… But you are a non-practicing Muslim, right?
Hat man: Right!
Sekinat: (Smiles) Now I'm loving your honesty. Now, are you ready to embrace
Islam? For good this time.
Hat man: Yes, and not yet.
Sekinat: Why?
Hat man: I know killing is halal, but to get out of this life for good, there's an incoming war, and I need to be prepared for it. I'm going to join once I enter the real world. But it doesn’t matter because I will have you by my side, right? You are all I want in return. I want you to be my Queen.
Sekinat: Me? As the MAFIA’S QUEEN?
Hat man: Once I'm in the real world, it won't be the Mafia's Queen but… Toheeb’s Queen.
Sekinat: If this is a joke, please kindly stop it! We don’t know what the future has installed for me or you. So don’t make wishes that aren't real. You need to wake up.
(The words hit him straight in the heart, but he responds with a fake
smile) If you don’t believe me, time will tell.
Sekinat: My advice for you is, since you are a Muslim, please learn to pray, okay? It will help you in this life and in the hereafter.
Hat man: But how would Allah forgive a killer like me? How do I face Him? No,
I can't do that. My sins are way bigger than just praying. Besides, I don't even know how to do it. I've never prayed in my life.
Sekinat: I will teach you; there is more to Islam than you could ever imagine.
Islam is beautiful. Don't think Allah will not forgive you because you have sinned. No! Allah is merciful. As long as you are still breathing, there is hope for a better chance in your life. Maybe Allah brought you back to life to give you one more chance and to be on the right path of Islam. In Islam, once a Muslim dies, that's not the end. In fact, that's where the game begins because this life has an end. It's where every life begins before we move into our permanent home, and you get to choose which one you want as a home: Jannah or Jahannam! I don't want you to be part of the misleaders. I believe you can be a better Muslim and preach to the world about the beauty of Islam. Let people see the beauty of Islam through you, just like you see it in me.
(amazed) Wow… amazing. My heart just melted like heated iron. I don't
even know what to say.
Subordinate: (stands by the door) Sir!
Hat man: What is it?
Subordinate: The Empire has called for you and your lady. You should be on your way right now.
Hat man: Got it. (In his mind) I guess it is time for the announcement.
Sekinat: What's going on? I swear I did nothing wrong this time.
Hat man: I'm sorry, it's not about you. Let's go.
Sekinat: (nervous)
Hat man: Come on! Don't be nervous. Everything will be fine if you don't make a scene.
Sekinat: (takes a deep breath and follows him out)
16 minutes later
The Hat man and Sekinat enter the hall filled with a crowd, which Sekinat doesn't have a good feeling about their presence.
Sekinat: (whispers) Are you sure nothing is wrong? I remember the last time I saw this much crowd was when the Empire ordered his guards to kill me.
Hat man: Just stay calm and don't panic. No one will hurt you unless I'm not here. So relax.
Sekinat: Okay. (Tries to stay calm and follows him until they reach the Empire's throne)
Hat man: My lord. (Bows and turns to Sekinat, hoping she does the same, but she looks away)
Empire: Welcome, Hat man. Please have a seat, while she stands over there.
Sekinat: (scared, looks at the Hat man) I didn't do anything wrong.
Hat man: Just relax. I'm here, okay? Just stand there.
Sekinat: (already in tears)
Hat man: Oh, please, do you have to cry?
Empire: What happened to your confidence? Did you sell it? (the crowd chuckles) Empress: I guess so too!
Hat man: (gives her a sign to calm down)
Sekinat: (crying)
Hat man: (can't stand to watch her in tears, he gets up and joins her, making the crowd murmur)
Empire: Hmm... Hat Man. I guess you can't stand to see her cry. Don't tell me you
like this girl?
Hat man: Yes, my lord! I do.
Sekinat: (shockingly stares at him) What are you doing?
Hat man: Maybe this time you will understand how I truly feel about you.
Empire: (stamps his feet) Impossible! How dare you say that?
Hat man: Believe I'm being honest and sincere in the presence of everyone that I'm madly in love with the most modest and beautiful woman in the world. (the crowd screams in surprise)
Empire: How dare you! Quiet, everyone! How dare you fall in love with her?
Empress: Of all the beautiful women in this empire? This is the one you choose?
Empire: You will not have her! I called for this gathering to make an announcement about the good news, which calls for celebration, and that is me making Sekinat my new bride. (the crowd becomes shocked to hear his own confession)
Empress: (jumps on her feet immediately) What! Why? Why would you do this to me?
Sekinat: (falls to her knees instantly, crying even louder while the hat man stands firm without uttering a word) No! This can't be happening.
Empress: You betrayed me! Why? Is this how you would repay me? Why would you want to replace me with her? Why? (cries in front of the crowd while they enjoy the scene)
Empire: I have made up my mind, and that is my final decision! We are getting married next week Saturday, so all the preparations should get to work.
Sekinat: (crawls to Hat Man’s legs in tears) Please, I’m begging you! I don’t want to marry this man, please. Do something.
Hat man: (pretends to be shocked too) I am as shocked as you are. This isn’t what I was expecting, and I don’t think I can face him on this because he has already made up his mind. So please, get up. I can't believe I am going to lose you to him.
This is my biggest defeat.
Sekinat: What are you saying? Are you saying you can't help me out of this? You can't do anything about this? (she gets on her feet instantly, hijacks a gun from his trousers, and points it at herself) If you won't do anything about this, then I will kill myself, and you know I am not afraid to do it because there is no purpose in living again. (everyone in the hall gasps in surprise)
Certainly! Here's the edited continuation:
Hat man: What are you doing?
Sekinat: Stay back! I guess this is goodbye.
Hat man: Please don’t do this... please.
Empire: What are you doing, Sekinat?
Sekinat: I would rather die than marry a monster like you.
Empress: (with a happy face) Just do it already.
Sekinat: Goodbye, Toheeb. (about to pull the trigger when Hat Man shouts) Hat man: I will marry her!!!
Sekinat: (shocked)
(uses the opportunity to hijack the gun from her hand) Yes! I will marry
her!.
One of the crowd: This is a plot twist.
Hat man: Please, my lord! Let me marry her because I really do love her so much.
Sekinat: (still in shock, wondering if she isn't dreaming to witness all this drama happening to her) You again?
Hat man: (looks her in the eyes) This is the least I can do to save you from him… please.
Sekinat: This can't be happening to me. (she stares at the crowd in shock and steps back one after the other before she picks up a pace out of the hall, but Hat Man signals to the guards to let her go)
Hat man: (bows to the empire) Thank you so much for this privilege, my lord. I shall take my leave now.
Empire: (responds by waving at him, leaving the crowd in a confused situation as they expect more chaos to happen at that moment, but the empire easily gives up on the fight) You may all dismiss. (he gets up and takes the exit room while his wife furiously follows him)
Empress: Husband!!!
Empire: What? At least wait until we get to the room before you start blabbing.
Empress: You owe me lots of explanations.
Empire: Okay! (he walks away)
Hat man: (barges into his mansion and finds some of his subordinates standing by the gate) Where is she?
Subordinate: (confused) Who, sir?
Hat man: You are asking me who? So you want to tell me you don’t know who I am referring to?
Subordinate: We didn’t see her, sir. You took her out like 30 minutes ago, sir.
That was the last time we set our eyes on her.
Hat man: (tightens his fist) Tell the rest to search for her in the entire community!
And make sure you alert me wherever you find her. Understood?
!
Subordinates: Yes, sir! (they run out)
Please, Sekinat, don’t take foolish steps tonight, please. (panting heavily
and deciding to search his entire house, but she was nowhere to be found) Where could she be? Please, Sekinat! Don’t hurt yourself. Please! Gosh, she is driving me crazy! (Suddenly, his mini telephone rings; he hurriedly picks it up) Yes?
Subordinate: Sir, she is at the exit gate! We were wondering how she got to know
the way out of here?
Hat man: Don’t touch or hurt her! Just don’t let her escape! I'm coming over there right now! (He runs out of the room, enters one of his cars, and drives away) Sekinat!!! Why are you doing this to yourself? Why? I know this is too much for you, but I just wish I could open my brain and heart for you to understand how things work here. (He finally reaches his destination, runs out of the car, and rushes to meet them, panting heavily) What were you trying to do? Escape? Uh? (He moves closer to her and tries to hold her hands, but instead, she begins to hit him in the chest while he stands still)
Subordinates: (shocked to see what is happening) Sir! She is.
Hat man: (gives them signs to leave)
Sekinat: Don’t touch me! You jerk! So this was your plan, huh? This is your mission? I thought you were different? I thought you could give me hope? And I trusted you.
(finally gets to hold her hands) Stop!! Come with me!
Sekinat: I am not following you to that stupid place you call a mansion! I regret the day I saved your life! I regret the day I risked my life to save yours, thinking you could help me escape out of here. But instead, your intention is to lock me in
here forever in your sinful world? You! Toheeb, you!! Uahhhh! (tears gush out of
her eyes) I regret the day I met you.
Hat man: (immediately lifts her and puts her in the car while she screams for help) You are stuck with me forever if you are not ready to cooperate with me. And I will do everything just to set you free. But before I could do that, you need to cooperate with me, okay?
Sekinat: (continuously hitting him while he tries to start the car) It's either we both have a fatal accident tonight, or you set me free this night because I am not going back into that house.
Hat man: (gets pissed off, gets down from the car, and carries her to the back seat, then uses a rope to tie her down and cello tape her mouth) Now this should do. And I am sorry for doing this to you, but it's for the best.
Sekinat: (uses all her might to set herself free but she couldn't; after several attempts, she breaks down in tears)
(finally back at his mansion) I am sorry I can't untie you yet. (He carries
her into the mansion until they get to his room, then drops her on the bed) You are so dangerous! Very dangerous! If I should untie you right now, you are going to kill me, right? But I am ready to fight you tonight. (He moves closer and unties the rope and removes the cello tape)
Without hesitation, Sekinat slaps him twice and is ready to deliver the third slap when he holds her hands to the wall.
Sekinat: Let me go!!! (she screams as she struggles to free herself)