Prison Cell
Haneef: (quietly staring at the floor, his face covered in bruises) Ya Allah… all I need is just one last chance to make things right. Please, I’m begging You. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. I embrace this punishment, but please… help me reunite with my family once again. Give me another chance to make things right. Please, Ya Allah. (wiping his tears as they flow across his bruises) Please, Ya Allah… I’m now a changed person!
Prison Officer: Hey, you! You have a guest. (opens the prison gate) Hurry up and get out!
Haneef: (shakes his head) Please… tell them I don’t want to see anyone.
Prison Officer: Oh really? Alright then. (arrogantly locks the prison gate and walks away)
Haneef: (sighs bitterly) If they can’t help me get my family back, they shouldn’t bother coming for me. They landed me in this mess in the first place, and now all they do is visit—without helping.
(He suddenly hears the officer’s voice roar from a distance.)
Prison Officer: He said he doesn’t want to see you guys! So leave! Before we throw you out. And whether you’re his wife or whatever you call yourself, he said he doesn’t want to see any of you!
Haneef: (jumps to his feet immediately, panting heavily) My wife? Officer! Please! I want to see her! Please let me out, I beg you!
Prison Officer: (furiously storms back to him) What did you just say?
Haneef: Please, I’m sorry! I didn’t know it was my wife. Please, I need to see her! Please!
Prison Officer: Oh really? And now I’m your errand boy, huh? (exhales sharply, then opens the prison gate) Fine, get out!
(He lands a hot slap across Haneef’s face.)
Prison Officer: That’s for stressing me! And you’ve got five minutes—or else. Now move!
Haneef: (shocked, touches his cheek, then quickly walks ahead to the visiting room. The moment he sees Nusaybah holding the twins beside her mother, he breaks down in uncontrollable tears) Nnnnusaybah! My Angel!
(He rushes toward her and embraces her tightly, crying.)
Haneef: I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!
Prison Officer: (slams the door behind them) You have just five minutes!
Nusaybah: (stares in disbelief, asking her mother-in-law through tears) Is this… is this my husband?
Mrs. Gbenga: (weeping) Yes! He’s the one!
Nusaybah: (shocked, staring at his battered face) Who did this to him? See how miserable he looks!
Haneef: (holding her tightly, kissing her face nonstop through tears) My love! My love!
Nusaybah: (in shock, holding his face) What happened to you? Who beat you up like this? Talk to me!
Haneef: (suddenly falls on his knees, crying like a baby as he clings to her knees) Please forgive me! Please! I know I’ve hurt you uncountable times… but have mercy on me! I can’t live without you. Please, come back to me. All I need is just one last chance to make things right. Please, my love!
Mrs. Gbenga: (sobbing uncontrollably) My son…Haneef: (his cries increase as he clings to her legs, refusing to let go) Please, forgive me, my love! Please! I know I have offended you… I’m begging you! Forgive me!
Nusaybah: (tears roll down her cheeks, struggling to process everything) What did you do? What could you have done for them to punish you like this? Did you… did you kill someone?
Haneef: (sobbing uncontrollably, mucus dripping from his nose)
Nusaybah: Please, get up! Stop kneeling down like this. Mama, please help him! This is getting me scared.
Mrs. Gbenga: (wiping her tears, trying to lift him) Get up, son!
Nusaybah: (also helping, wiping her eyes) Please, get up now!
Haneef: (shaking his head firmly) Let me remain like this until she says she has forgiven me—and that she’s ready to give me one last chance in her life. I don’t want her to divorce me. Please!
Nusaybah: (shocked) Divorce keh? Who said anything about divorce? You know what? Just get up first. Get up, please! This isn’t right.
Haneef: (pleading) Forgive me, please.
Nusaybah: (sighs, wiping her tears) Okay… you are forgiven! I forgive you. Please, get up now. Look at your children crying. At least get up and carry them—they need you, and they’ve missed you so much.
Haneef: (in disbelief, trembling) Are… are you serious? You! Thank you! Thank you so much! (he breaks into tears again) Ahhh! You are such a marvelous woman. I’m so sorry for how I treated you in the past… Thank you! (he finally gets up and carries his children, showering them with kisses) My sons! My precious sons! I’m so sorry for everything.
Nusaybah: (scans his body, horrified) What kind of person in his right mind would beat you like this? Ehn? You look so skinny. Even if I don’t remember you… (she gently touches his arms) you need to eat good and healthy food to recover. (turning to her mother-in-law) We need to bail him out, Mama! He must leave here today! He mustn’t spend another night in this place.
Haneef: (patting his children’s backs, his eyes locked on Nusaybah with disbelief and sorrow, still overwhelmed by her forgiveness)
Mrs. Gbenga: The only way he can be free again is if your father withdraws the case. Otherwise, it’s impossible. And you… you are the only one who can make that happen. Please, Nusaybah! Help us. If you do, I will forever be indebted to you. Please, my daughter!
Prison Officer: Time’s up!
Nusaybah: Ehn! Officer, please! Just give us two more minutes to discuss, I beg you.
Prison Officer: Sorry. Your time is up. Now move! (he handcuffs Haneef’s hands)
Haneef: (pleading) Please, just give me extra two minutes. Please!
Prison Officer: Move it! (drags him roughly toward the door)
Haneef: (crying out) Please! Nusaybah! Help me out of here, please! I promise you—this will never be your worst decision. Please help me, my love!
Nusaybah: (hugging her children tightly, crying helplessly as she watches him dragged away)
Mrs. Gbenga: (running after him, crying out) Please, take it easy on him! Don’t hurt him again, I beg you!
Nusaybah: (furiously staring at the ceiling, speaking through her sobs) Mama, don’t worry! I’m going back home. (she carries one child on her back and the other in her arms) Mama, see you later.
Mrs. Gbenga: Let me accompany you out.
Nusaybah: Don’t worry, Mama. I will handle this myself.
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Scene – Family House
(Nusaybah storms in, her heart racing, her face wet with tears.)
Nusaybah: Baami!!!
Dad: (emerges, frowning) What is it? Why are you shouting my name like that? What happened?
Nusaybah: (panting heavily, dropping little Kamal on the chair, then falls on her knees, sobbing uncontrollably) Baami! Please! Release my husband from prison! For Allah’s sake, please! Whatever he has done to me, I forgive him. I just want him free, Baami! Please… consider me and your grandchildren for Allah’s sake. Please, Baami!
Dad: (staring at her, shocked and confused) I don’t think you know exactly what you are saying.
Nusaybah: (looking up, her voice breaking) I know, Baami. I do!!
Dad: (cuts in firmly) No, you don’t! Because if you truly did, you wouldn’t be saying all this. If you knew what he did to you, I swear, you wouldn’t even want to hear his name—or anyone that bears it. Don’t think I sent him to prison for no reason. He is serving punishment for his sins. Besides, it’s just one year. Let him finish it!
Nusaybah: (shocked, gasping) One year? Baami?! (tears gush down as she crawls to his feet) Please, Baami! I beg you in the name of Allah (S.W.T)… I beg you in the name of the Qur’an revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)… please forgive him! No matter what he did to you—or to me—I forgive him.
Dad: But you don’t even know what he did to you!
Nusaybah: I don’t want to know! I never wish to know! (clutching his legs tightly, sobbing) I saw the pain in his eyes, Baami… pain filled with regret and sympathy. I want to forgive him for the sake of Allah… just like you want Allah to forgive Mama in her grave, alone. Please, Baami…
Dad: (sighs deeply, frustrated) But this is for your own good! Yes, we are all sinners, but some people need to be dealt with severely to reset their mendulla! If he wasn’t punished, he would never realize his mistakes. I did this for you—for your happiness.
Nusaybah: (crying louder) But am I happy? Are we happy? We are not happy without him in our lives. Baami, I was happy to see him—even in that condition.
Dad: (surprised) You saw him?
Nusaybah: Yes! I did. And I wasn’t happy at all to see him like that. His face, his entire body, bruised all over.
Dad: (leans forward, studying her face) And… you didn’t recognize him? You didn’t remember anything from your past? Then how did you know he was your husband?
Nusaybah: (firmly) My kids! They look like him ninety percent—their face, their eyes, their nose, their mouth. How can I not recognize him?
Dad: (nodding slowly) I believe that. But… I expected you to at least remember some part of your past.
Nusaybah: (wiping her tears, voice trembling) Baami, sometimes I feel like this is a blessing… Allah wiped it away for a reason. (clutching his feet again) So please, Baami… forgive us. I want to return to my matrimonial home. Please… (she breaks down in tears)
Dad: (sighs heavily, hands on his head) I can’t believe this is really happening. Allahu Akbar! (softens his tone) Asake mi, get up.
Nusaybah: (shaking her head, refusing) Let me remain like this if this is the only way you will forgive us.
Dad: Get up! You know my teachings about bowing and kneeling. Get up!
Nusaybah: (pleading) Let me remain like this if it is the only way you can forgive him. Please, Baami. I can’t stay under your roof forever!
Dad: (sternly) Yes, I know! You will find a better man… one that will value you and your kids.
Nusaybah: (scoffs in disbelief, tears rolling) And you think getting a responsible man who will love me and my kids unconditionally still exists? Uh? A man that will cater for children who are not his?
Dad: There is! And I believe that.
Nusaybah: Okay, let’s assume there is—but he is hard to find! So does that mean I should spend my whole life searching for a “responsible man” until I grow old? Baami, life is more civilized than you think. No man will truly take care of another man’s children. And I cannot leave my kids behind for the sake of marriage. No!
(voice breaks, tears streaming harder) And here is their father—begging for us in his life. So why must we be so cruel, holding grudges of the past to determine our future?
Dad: Asake! You can’t understand! If you give him another chance and he hurts you even more, what will you do? What do you want me to do? What if going there again makes you lose your life… but nothing will happen to you, Insha Allah! So please, don’t go back into that house. If it’s to cater for you, I will do it! If it’s to go out there and work just to put food on the table for my children and grandchildren, I swear I will. And as for him… I will withdraw the case and set him free, but he should never come to me again. If he is ready to accept that, then he is free to go back home. Now get up! Get up now!
Nusaybah: (she sadly wipes her tears and sits on the couch) Baami! I understand you very well, even more than where you are going, but let me ask you this then… what if the next marriage I enter is worse than what I experienced in this first marriage, which I had no idea about what it was? What if the peace I was chasing after chases me back with a cutlass? What if things get worse than they are? You will be blamed for everything.
Dad: But what if he—
Nusaybah: I know! I’m ready to take the blame.
Dad: (surprised, staring at her) What exactly did he use on you? What kind of charm?
Nusaybah: It’s sunnah charm, Baami! Just please, have mercy on us and set him free… please. (she tries to go on her knees again but he stops her)
Dad: Fine! I will do it… but you will face the consequences of your action. Just remember my warning.
Nusaybah: It’s not good to be saying that. I’m your daughter, and you shouldn’t wish something bad happens to me. Let we the parents learn to have positive thinking, no matter the steps their children take in life. Fine! You have full right over me, but wish me well, because whatever you wish will surely come to pass.
Dad: (exhales softly) You have really become so matured mentally! Masha Allah!
Nusaybah: Please, let’s go to the police station now… please.
Dad: That will be tomorrow, it’s late already.
Nusaybah: No, it’s not. Please, Baami!
Dad: (he gets up and goes inside)
Nusaybah: Baami, now… you know how much I love you, na. Baami, wait! (she follows him inside)
(Few minutes later, Aminah barges into the house, sweating and panicking.)
..Aminah: I’m home, Baami! (she rushes to the restroom) Gosh, I’m so tired… Alhamdulilah, finally I’m done with my exams. Finally a graduate! Where is Sister mi? (as she is about to enter her room, she bumps into her) Sister mi!
Nusaybah: I heard your voice, that’s why I came out. How are you doing today? So now you are finally done with your exams…
Aminah: Yes! Finally… I’m so tired but so happy. Alhamdulilah.
Nusaybah: (she embraces her) I’m so happy and so proud of you for keeping your promise.
Aminah: Abi o… So, anything in the house? I’m starving.
Nusaybah: I’m about to prepare dinner. I also went out, that’s why.
Aminah: (her face changes) Let me guess—
Nusaybah: (she cuts in) Don’t even guess! Keep it to yourself. And don’t you dare say any word about it. Swallow it.
Aminah: Okay o…
(knock at the door)
Aminah: Who is it again?
Nusaybah: Don’t worry, I will go and check. (she puts on her khimar)
Aminah: Okay o…
Nusaybah: (reaches the gate) Who is there?
Chorus: We are the one, oh… your in-law.
Nusaybah: (excited as she opens the gate) Oh! As-salamu alaykum.
Chorus: Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
Khalid: (a bright smile on his face) Uhmm… my name is Khalid Sulaiman, and we are here for Aminah. These are my parents and relatives, and we are here to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage.
Nusaybah: (surprised) Masha Allah! (she covers her mouth, smiling) Are you serious? And she never told me she had someone, despite her arrogancy… Aminah!!!
Dad: Who is it, Nusaybah?
Nusaybah: (a bright smile on her face as she turns to him) Uhm! These are… I don’t even know how to introduce them. Please, introduce yourselves to my dad.
Dad: (curiously stares at them)
Mr. Sulaiman: As-salamu alaykum, sir. We are here to ask for your beautiful flower’s hand in marriage, and her name is Aminah. We decided to come directly to you because we want her to marry my son.
Dad: (jaw drops) Uhmmm! Does she know about this? I mean… does she know your son? Or—
Khalid’s Mom: Of course she does! She knows us all… very well.
Dad: (exhales softly and smiles) Please, come in! Aminah!!!
Aminah: Sir! I’m coming. (she finally steps out of the house and is stunned)
Nusaybah: (walks up to her) Aminah! Do you know them? They said they are here to ask for your hand in marriage? And you never told us about him? Awwwwn, I’m so happy for you!
Aminah: (frozen, jaw dropped in shock) W-what are you doing here? (panting heavily)
Khalid: (enters through the gate) Please sir, can I talk to her?
Dad: Of course. (responds happily)
Khalid: (takes a few steps closer to Aminah) My Angel! Do you remember my promise—that I will come back for you? Here I am now! I’m here for you! Please, Aminah… will you marry me?
Aminah: (gasps)
Nusaybah: Awwwwn!
Dad: (smiles)
Nusaybah: Shebi you know him? And you love him, right?
Aminah: (stares at her sister in surprise) Y-yeah! I do! I just wasn’t expecting this today, or ever! This is so sudden and shocking and I…
Khalid: Will you marry me, Aminah?
Nusaybah: Say yes!!! Say yes!!!
Aminah: But this is too sudden… I can’t afford to lose you this time around. (she remembers all her sister went through in her marriage and sadly bows her head)
Dad: Aduke mi, do you wish to spend the rest of your life with him? Yes or no?
Aminah: (she raises her head, stares at him for a few seconds, then smiles. Everyone is eager to hear her response)
Khalid: Please don’t say no! Please. I promise to make you happy forever, that’s my promise to you… because I can’t afford to lose you again.
Aminah: (a bright smile on her face) Okay!!! I will marry you. Yes, I will marry you!
(Everyone rejoices happily as Nusaybah embraces her sister tightly.)
Nusaybah: I’m so happy for you and so proud of you at the same time. You are such a blessing.
Aminah: (smiles at her) And I wish you everlasting happiness, sis.
---
(An hour later.)
Dad: Girls! I’m heading out. I will be back in the evening, Insha Allah.
Nusaybah & Aminah: Okay, Baami! Take care.
(Later that night. The family is having dinner in the sitting room, sitting on the ground, gisting and laughing together, when they hear a knock at the gate.)
Aminah: Ohhh! Who is it this time around?
Nusaybah: Maybe it’s your husband-to-be. Who knows? Don’t worry, I’ll get it.
Dad: (smiles)
Nusaybah: (she reaches the gate) Who is it? Or is it Brother Khalid? (no response) Talk now! (she finally opens the door and is shocked)
Haneef: (tears uncontrollably flow from his eyes) My Angel!
Nusaybah: (shocked) You’re free? I can’t believe this! They finally set you free? (she holds his hand and checks him out) Have you eaten?
Haneef: (he embraces her tightly) I love you so much… Thank you for giving me another chance.