Nusaybah couldn’t take her eyes off her children for a single second as she continued cuddling them tightly in her arms while her family admired and sympathized with her. She later returned to her ward with her kids, resuming her treatment. Aminah stayed by her side throughout the day, feeding her and supporting her.
Aminah: (weak and tired) Sister mi, you need to rest too. Since they’re finally asleep, you should get some rest as well. At least you’re getting better and have finally gained your freedom of expression. You’re not going back into that monster’s house.
Dad: (interferes) Aminah!! (demonstrating)
Aminah: But Baami! I need to be sure she’s not going back into that house. Because sister mi can be very funny.
Nusaybah: Whose house?
Aminah: (confused) What do you mean by whose house? Your monster husband, of course!
Nusaybah: Monster? Husband?
Aminah: (stares at her, confused) Sister mi! Are you okay?
Dad: Aminah!!! Take it easy with her. She’s just recovering.
Nusaybah: I’m perfectly fine now! I just don’t understand what you’re saying. Or… is there something I should remember?
Aminah: (realization hits her) Subhanallah! Doctor!!! (she gets up)
Dad: (weirdly stares at Nusaybah) Asake mi! (he gets up to her and feels her temperature)
Nusaybah: (confused) Baami, I’m fine! Why are you doing this? Where are you going? And why are you calling the doctor?! Aminah!!
(Doctors and nurses hurriedly barge into the room)
Doctor: (puts on his stethoscope) Madam, how are you feeling?
Nusaybah: Obviously, I’m fine! Please, what exactly is going on here?
Aminah: (panting heavily) Baami… (stares at him)
Dad: I hope it’s not what I’m thinking…
Nurse: Please, you all need to excuse us so we can carry out some checkups on her.
Dad: What is going on, Doctor? Why isn’t she remembering her painful past?
Nusaybah: Painful? Nothing is wrong with me, Baami! Why are you acting like this? I’m totally fine!
Aminah: (worried) Baami, let’s excuse them. (slams the door)
Nusaybah: Aminah! Please don’t leave me here! Please! You promised to be by my side all the time!
---
Later that night
Aminah: Heeey! Sis, how are you feeling now?
Nusaybah: (stares at the ceiling as she lies down) Just stay away from me… just like you did this morning.
Aminah: C’mon sis, don’t say that now! You know I care about you.
Nusaybah: Just stay away from me.
Aminah: Okay o… Have you eaten the food I brought?
Nusaybah: (turns to her kids as she breastfeeds one of them)
Aminah: (tries to touch her) Sister mi, are you still mad at me for that?
Nusaybah: Don’t you touch me! And where is the father of my children? Why is everything blank about him?
Aminah: (drags her chair closer) What exactly do you remember about your love life?
Nusaybah: Well… I could remember that night I was raped and… uhmm, that’s all. Abi?
Aminah: Hell no! That rape didn’t lead to your pregnancy. You legally and halally married your man.
Nusaybah: Then what happened? Why is it so hard for me to think about my past? The more I try to remember, the more my brain hurts. Everything is just blank, and it worries me. Please, Aminah… I want you to tell me everything.
Aminah: (recalls the warning given by the doctor and her dad) Uhm… sister mi, don’t worry about that, okay? Nothing happened! But how did you remember your kids?
Nusaybah: I don’t understand you! Of course I gave birth to them. The thing is, I can’t remember who my husband is… or how he looks like. My brain is just so connected to my kids that when I was in a coma, their cries brought me back to reality.
Aminah: Unbelievable! I guess the pain you experienced was too much for your brain to endure. Your heart could endure it, but not your brain. So sad…
Nusaybah: Please, Aminah… you know how much I love you, right?
Aminah: Hmm, no! I thought you hated me ni.
Nusaybah: I swear I don’t hate you. I really do appreciate all you’ve done in my life, and I’m so sorry it took me this long to realize it. But please, don’t hide anything from me. If I could recall everything myself, I would—but I can’t! My head hurts whenever I try to remember. Please, don’t leave me in the darkness.
Aminah: (exhales softly) I understand how you feel. But even if I will tell you the whole truth… not now! You need to heal and move on with your life before you find out everything. The doctor said you will be discharged tomorrow. We will go home and start a new life, okay?
Nusaybah: Home? (chuckles) You know my home is different from yours now. I need to go back to my matrimonial home. And where is my husband? Gosh, this is driving me nuts!
Aminah: You’ll be fine when you stop asking too many questions, okay?
Nusaybah: Then where the hell is my husband?
Aminah: (yells angrily) Your husband is dead!
Nusaybah: (shocked) What did you say?
Aminah: (calms down) I mean… yeah, he’s dead. He died last year.
Nusaybah: (panting heavily) What did you say?
Aminah: Sister mi, calm down. You mourned him several times. Maybe that’s why Allah wiped his memories from your head—so you could start a new life.
Nusaybah: So, you’re saying my kids don’t have a father? How am I supposed to raise my male children all alone? See how you just said it as if he meant nothing to me! Aminah, is this how much you dislike me, eh?!
Aminah: Look sis, I understand how you feel.
Nusaybah: How would you understand how I feel when you can gladly say that without any remorse? Aminah! Are you telling me the truth about my husband? Please!
Aminah: (goes mute for a while, staring into her sister’s desperate eyes) See… I don’t know ooh.
Nusaybah: (sighs in relief) Thank goodness he isn’t dead. Then why did you say that before?
Aminah: Let’s just go home, please! Let’s go home and rest. Our family has been through enough already. Once you’re discharged, we’re going back home—where you and I came from.
Nusaybah: Well, I’m not following you! I’m going back to my matrimonial home. Their father owes me an explanation why he never visited us in the hospital.
Dad: (barges in) You are going nowhere but home, okay? Since you’ve lost your memories about him, it’s a blessing from Allah.
Nusaybah: But Baami, he is their father!
Dad: Of your children, I know. But I’m your father—and that’s my final say. (he exits and shuts the door)
Nusaybah: What exactly is going on?
Aminah: (gets up) Maybe I should excuse you too. I’m so exhausted and I need a huge rest. (she takes her leave)
Nusaybah: Aminah!!! Are you two leaving me all alone again? Aminah!! What exactly is going on, for God’s sake? I’m left in the darkness!
---
A Few Weeks Later
Haneef was sentenced to one year imprisonment with hard labor, despite the pleas of his family. All of this took place without Nusaybah’s awareness. She was desperate to find out the truth behind her memory loss and pleaded with her father to allow her to see him—just once. But she was denied.
She wasn’t even allowed to step out, as her family made sure all her basic needs were provided for. Nusaybah tried her best to recall her past, but the more she tried, the more she got hurt. Sometimes she even passed out during the process, and her family pleaded with her not to bother. “The past,” they said, “is more painful than you could ever imagine.”
Meanwhile, in prison, Haneef reflected on his life and the mistakes he had made toward his wife. All he hoped for was freedom and another chance to set things right. He endlessly made du’a and tawbah, waking up for tahajjud in the middle of the night, performing tayammum since his freedom was taken away.
He had lost so much weight, but that didn’t bother him. He cried day and night for another chance to make things right for his family, hoping his wife would forgive him again. His family visited, bringing him food and words of encouragement not to give up on life. This, they said, would serve as a lesson to him—and to men like him.
As weeks passed, months followed. Three months later, the truth had prevailed to everyone. Yet, Nusaybah remained locked in her own tunnel of brain-darkness. She had accepted her fate but was still desperate to see her husband, wondering why he had not found them until that very day.
One afternoon, Aminah was about to enter their gate after class when she heard someone call her name. She turned to check who it was.
Mrs. Gbenga: (runs up to her) How are you doing, my dear?
Aminah: (tries to recall where she had met her) Uhm… do I know you, ma’am?
Mrs. Gbenga: (forces a smile) Oh! You don’t remember me? It’s me, your in-law.
Aminah: (recalls suddenly) Oh! Good afternoon, ma. How may I help you, please?
Mrs. Gbenga: Actually, I’m here to see your sister. It’s very urgent, please.
Aminah: What for?
Mrs. Gbenga: Please, I beg your family—withdraw this case so he can be set free. He has realized his wrongdoings, and he’s ready to change. Please, give us one last chance.
.Aminah: (chuckles) Listen ma’am, I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I’ll advise you to kindly leave our house. Please. I won’t say more than that.
Mrs. Gbenga: Please, Aminah. I know we have hurt your family so dearly, but give us another chance to make things right. My son is living in regret, and as his mother, I can’t bear to see him in pain.
Aminah: Oh, but you could bear to see my sister in pain because you aren’t her mother, right? Where were you when she cried day and night for love and peace? Tell me! Life is full of difficulties, isn’t it? Then let him face his own. No sinner can go scot-free. My sister went through hell for your son. She bore twins for him, she was so committed to him, and despite everything, she endured it all. So let your son endure prison as well. He should have an enduring heart like she does. Have a nice day.
(Aminah tries to go inside. Mrs. Gbenga drags her hand.)
Aminah: What is it again?
Mrs. Gbenga: Please, I’m begging you. May you never cry over your child. I’m a mother, and I’m helpless in this issue. I know he deserves punishment, but wallahi, he’s now a changed person. Please. Just let me see your sister instead. Please, let me in.
Aminah: In where? Our own house? So you can threaten her, right? Not gonna happen. Please, just leave now before I call the police on you as well.
Mrs. Gbenga: Please, Aminah! You’ll also be a mother one day. Please, have mercy on me. (about to kneel)
Aminah: Please, what are you doing? Get up!
Dad: (stretching his neck, wondering who Aminah is speaking to) What’s going on here? Who are you talking to?
Aminah: It’s this woman, oh.
Mrs. Gbenga: (in tears, kneeling) Please sir, I’m begging you. Have mercy on my son. Withdraw the case against him. He has realized his mistakes and is ready to make things right for her. Please, have mercy.
Dad: (shocked) Please, get up! What are you doing? Get up, madam! Okay, what exactly do you want us to do?
Mrs. Gbenga: (standing up slowly) Please, let me have a word with your daughter.
Dad: No! You can’t see her, let alone talk to her. Your family has caused more harm than good. I’ll call off the case, but you and your son must stay away from my daughter. Deal?
Nusaybah: (coming out of the house) Who should stay away from me, Dad? Who are you talking to outside the gate?
(Mrs. Gbenga quickly pushes her way inside the gate.)
Mrs. Gbenga: Nusaybah, please, I’m begging you! Forgive us! We know we’ve hurt you—please find it in your heart to forgive us.
Dad: (furious) How dare you push your way into my house without permission! For this, we’re not withdrawing any case! Get out now!
Aminah: Can you imagine!
Mrs. Gbenga: Please, Nusaybah, listen to me. I’m pleading for mercy. Please!
Nusaybah: What is going on here, Baami? And who is she? Why is she begging as if their only source of living is in my hands? What exactly is happening here? Somebody say something! This is driving me insane!
Aminah: Sister mi, just relax. There’s nothing to be worried about, okay? (tries to move closer)
Nusaybah: Don’t you dare take another step toward me today! I demand answers to all the mysteries!
Mrs. Gbenga: (confused) Wait… Nusaybah, you don’t know me?
Nusaybah: No, ma. I don’t.
Mrs. Gbenga: You must be joking…
Dad: Stay away from my family. Please leave.
Nusaybah: Baami, she’s not leaving until the truth comes out!
Dad: Asake, listen to me. Go inside. We’ll discuss this later, okay?
Mrs. Gbenga: Please, okomi. (kneels before Nusaybah) May you never know pain in your life. Spare my son from punishment. He has realized his mistakes and is ready to make it up to you and the children.
Dad: Enough, madam! Leave our house right now before I throw you out!
Nusaybah: Nobody leaves! (panting heavily, yelling) Baami! (stares furiously at the ground) Who is this woman? And how am I related to her son?
Aminah: Sister mi, please go inside! Please!
Nusaybah: Wallahi, if you come closer to me, I will sand your face! I said I demand an answer to all my questions. Where is my husband?
Aminah: (blurts out) Your husband is dead!
Dad: Aminah!! Get inside now!
Mrs. Gbenga: (shaking her head) No! He isn’t dead! Your husband is in prison, crying to see you and your children. He has realized his mistakes, and all he asks for is your forgiveness. Please… (breaks down in tears)
Nusaybah: (tears gush down her face, shocked) Baami! So you’re telling me… my husband has been in prison all this while, and you hid this from me? (furiously looks up at him) I could never imagine you being so cruel, Baami! Whatever he might have done to you, can’t you at least consider me your daughter? And your grandchildren?
(pauses, shaking her head in pain)
I’ve been so mad for months, thinking he abandoned us. But you locked him up? Why? Why, Baami!
Dad: It’s not what you’re thinking. You’re thinking the opposite! He hurt you so badly, it made you lose your memories about him.
Nusaybah: Then what exactly happened? I want to know!
Mrs. Gbenga, Dad, and Aminah: (cut in chorus) No!
Nusaybah: (shocked) What the—? Okay, anyway! Take me to my husband. I want to see him. Please.
Dad and Aminah: No! You are not going!
Nusaybah: Really? Really, Dad? Okay then—I’m not even interested in what he did to me anymore. I want to move on! Besides, we are all sinners. Whatever he did, he deserves forgiveness. Despite all our sins, Allah still forgives us! So who are we, not to forgive those who hurt us?
(Aminah and Dad exchange surprised looks. Mrs. Gbenga stares in disbelief.)
Nusaybah: Since he has realized his mistakes and is ready to make it up to us, then that’s a good thing! Please, Mom… (turns to Mrs. Gbenga) Take us to see him. I’m coming with my twins.
Mrs. Gbenga: (excited, sobbing with joy) Really? Oh my God! Thank you, Ya Allah! (embraces her)
Dad: (furiously) No! She is not going—and that is final! If you know that I am your father, step out of this house and I promise you, you will never enter again!
Nusaybah: Why would you say that? Just because I choose to forgive someone, you want to disown me? Honestly, I didn’t expect this from you, Dad! Weren’t you the same person who taught us to forgive and move on? What happened to you?
Aminah: Sister mi! If you take this step, wallahi, you will regret it!
Nusaybah: Then I will gladly embrace it with joy! Allah knows my intention. If I can live without him, can his kids do the same? No! So I’m going. And I will still come home. If you don’t want me, then kill me. But I am still your daughter, Baami. Please, let me go get my kids, then we’ll go.
Mrs. Gbenga: (nodding through tears) Thank you so much! Thank you, God! Thank you!
Aminah: Sister mi, you are making a big mistake!
Nusaybah: And as for you—don’t ever interfere in my marital life again! Because you were the first to announce his fake death to me.