Nusaybah: (pushes him back slightly, teary) I’m so happy you’re finally free…
Haneef: (wiping tears) I owe your family an apology for everything… I deserve all the punishment, but believe me, I’m a changed man. Please, baby, one last chance. Let’s go home together. Don’t divorce me, I promise to make things right.
Nusaybah: (serious, takes a deep breath) Dear… what exactly did you do? What happened that led you to prison? I’ve been so curious, but no one tells me. Can you?
Haneef: (shocked, jaw drops) Wait… are you saying you don’t remember anything? At all?
Nusaybah: Ever since I woke up, everything is blank. The harder I try, the more it hurts my head. Please, tell me. If everyone hides it, at least you wouldn’t.
Haneef: (speechless, overwhelmed) Unbelievable… Baabbyyy… The thing is—
Aminah: (interrupts, stepping out) Sister mi, who are you talking to? (sees him, freezes) What is he doing here? Who bailed him out?!
Haneef: (steps forward humbly) Aminah… I know I deserve your anger. Thank you for caring for my children while I was gone. Please forgive me.
Aminah: (laughs bitterly) Forgive you? Seeing your face makes me want to strangle you.
Nusaybah: Aminah! Are you alright? That’s my husband!
Haneef: (softly) Please, let her speak. I deserve it. Don’t be mad at her.
Aminah: (to Nusaybah, furious) Sister mi, who bailed him? I know it was you! After all the pain he caused us… why? Why did you even lose your memory?
Nusaybah: (trying to control anger) Get out of my sight right now!
Haneef: Honey, please… don’t fight your sister because of me.
Nusaybah: Then tell me, what exactly did you do?
Dad: (voice booms from inside) All of you, come inside. We need to talk.
(Nusaybah and Aminah glare at each other. Haneef takes a deep breath and follows.)
---
INT. FAMILY HOUSE — NIGHT
(Nusaybah glares at Aminah. Aminah stares coldly at Haneef. Dad sits calmly. Haneef lowers his head in shame.)
Dad: (finally speaks) Haneef.
Haneef: (quickly) Yes, sir.
Dad: You remember our discussion this afternoon?
Haneef: Yes, sir.
Dad: Then why are you here? Why break the agreement?
Nusaybah: (shocked) Baami! What do you mean? He’s—
Dad: (cuts her off, raises hand) When I talk, you stay quiet.
Dad: (back to Haneef) I gave you my word, and you gave me yours. Why betray it?
Haneef: (suddenly prostrates, shocking everyone) Please, sir! May you never know misfortune… I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep my promise. But I can’t live without my family. Please forgive me.
(Curtain closes with tension in the air.)
Dad: Get up! Get up, I said! Don’t ever prostrate to me — I’m not your Lord.
Haneef: (still on the ground) Please let me stay like this… If returning to prison is the price to get my wife and kids back, I’m ready. Have mercy. I’m a changed man.
Aminah: (hisses) Pretender.
Dad: (firm) Get up first!
Nusaybah: (rushes to lift him) Baami, please… I know you care for me, but the punishment is too much. He’s still my husband — he has rights over me.
Dad: (stern) And I am your father. I have rights over you too.
Aminah: Egbon, let me speak. You signed a divorce paper before your coma — with your own hands. Don’t you remember?
Nusaybah: (shocked) What are you saying?
Haneef: That’s a lie! I never signed it. She’s still my legal wife. Please, stop dragging the past!
Nusaybah: (confused, looks between them)
Dad: (to Aminah, firm) Enough! Go to your room. Stay out of this discussion.
Aminah: (protests) But Baami—
Dad: (glares) I said now!
(Aminah storms off reluctantly. Silence fills the room.)
Dad: (to Nusaybah) You truly wish to return to him?
Nusaybah: (tearfully) Baami, if staying under your care forever makes you happy, then I’m ready. Your happiness matters to me more than mine.
Haneef: (desperate) Sweetheart, no! Don’t do this. I’ve said I’m sorry. Please, don’t chase me away again.
Nusaybah: (broken voice) It’s too late… please, go.
Haneef: (crying) Don’t say that. I can’t go home without you.
Nusaybah: (shouts) Leave, Haneef!
Dad: (surprised by her tone) Nusaybah—
Nusaybah: (angrily) Baami, please! This is what you wanted, right? So I’m granting it. (turns back to Haneef) Please leave, Mr. Haneef!
Haneef: (tears streaming, voice shaking) Please, have some sympathy…
(Nusaybah pushes him toward the door and slams it shut. Haneef collapses against the door, sobbing.)
Haneef: (pleading from outside) Ife mi… pleaseeeee! One more chance!
(Inside, Nusaybah presses her hand on the door, crying silently.)
Nusaybah: (voice breaking) Go away, please. Find another wife. Start a new life. My family will never accept you. Go! (she collapses to her knees, sobbing)
(Haneef outside, still crying:)
Haneef: I’m not leaving… not until your father accepts me back!
Nusaybah: (screaming in pain)
Dad: (rushes to her, kneels beside her) Asake mi… please stop crying. The children are crying with you.
(The twins run to their mother, holding her. She hugs them tightly, weeping.)
Dad: (to the door, firm) Haneef!
Haneef: (from outside, quickly) Yes, sir!
Dad: Go home. Just for tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Haneef: (shaking) Sir, please… my wife and kids are in pain because of me. Don’t send me away…
Dad: (stern but calmer) Go. Rest. I promise I’ll reach out tomorrow.
Haneef: (sobs, defeated) Ok, sir. (calls out) My love… please rethink. I’m begging.
(He finally walks away into the night, in tears.)
Nusaybah: (clutching her twins, crying) Come here… come to me…
… Dad: Asake mi! (he tries to carry Jamal, but she stops him) What happened?
Nusaybah: Leave them to me, I will take care of them. Besides, this is all you wanted, but I understand you, okay? I really do! (she struggles to get up while holding her kids)
Dad: Let me help you…
Nusaybah: No, thank you! I will take care of them, sir. They are my blessings. But I just want you to understand—once my kids grow up and they question me about why I left their father’s house, I pray you are alive to answer those questions. (she heads inside and slams the door)
Dad: (sits and sighs heavily) This is harder than I thought.
---
Throughout the night, Nusaybah couldn’t stop weeping over her sudden decision regarding her marriage. She had done it to prevent her father’s wrath, but her heart was heavy with the thought of her children growing up without their father. Even if she remarried, she knew no man could give them the same love and discipline their biological father would.
She spent the night sleepless, her eyes swollen from tears. At last, she rose for Tahajjud, pouring her heart out to Allah, begging for guidance over her life and her children’s future.
By morning, after Solat Fajr, Nusaybah remained in her room, caring for her children alone and locking the door to avoid further disturbance. She refused to come out or show her face.
Days passed, and soon a whole week went by. She withdrew completely, isolating herself and locking herself away from everyone in the house..
--------An hour later
Nusaybah: (breastfeeding her kids)
Dad: (knocks at the door) As-salaam alaykum, Asake mi! I know you are mad at me, but please don’t hurt yourself. You haven’t eaten anything, and remember you have children to feed. Please come out, let’s talk. I have a surprise for you.
Haneef: Hello baby… this is your husband. Your dad has finally blessed our reunion, so please open the door and let’s go home.
Nusaybah: (she hurriedly drops her kids and runs to open the door) Haneef! (she embraces him in tears) You finally came back.
Haneef: I would never leave you, nor let you be in pain again. (he embraces her tightly) I’m so sorry for everything.
Nusaybah: You don’t have to be! I’m sorry too, for how I chased you out of our house last week. (she touches his face and scans his body) I’m glad you finally came back for me… now I can confirm how much you truly love me.
Dad: (smiles, then clears his throat to be noticed)
Nusaybah: (she finally turns to her dad and bows her head nervously) Uhmm… Baami! I just want to say thank you so much for giving us another chance, and for giving me hope to love and be happy again.
Dad: You are the strongest woman I have ever seen… with a heart of gold! I’m so glad to be your father. Despite all you went through, you still forgave him. You are a rare gem—he didn’t know your value until today. I’m so proud of you, Asake Okin.
Nusaybah: (a bright smile on her face, she embraces him in tears) Thank you, Baami! Thank you so much… I’m glad to have you as my father too. (she finally lets go of him, then finds her husband already in the room playing with his kids. She admires her family as her children laugh and smile together. She doesn’t notice her father admiring how she smiles at them as well) Isn’t this beautiful? Finally, my children can smile again. (she enters the room and joins them to play)
Dad: Who am I to end what Allah has kept permanent? I never realized this was her reason for giving him a chance again. (he shakes his head happily)
---
The next day, Haneef finally drives his family back home.
Nusaybah: (comes down from the car and exhales softly) Finally! I’m back home…
Haneef: (carrying the twins inside) C’mon, honey! Come in, I have a surprise for you.
Nusaybah: (curious) Really? (she stares at the house for a few seconds before heading inside)
Haneef: (with a bright smile) Tada! What do you think?
Nusaybah: (confused) Why did you buy all these? How did you even know I was once a baker?
Haneef: (thinking) So she doesn’t even remember this as well? I’d better pack it away before she recalls anything.
Nusaybah: Anyway, thank you so much, honey… but I don’t need all these. I already have my job.
Haneef: (thinking) Oh my God! What am I going to do? I can’t let this conversation continue… she mustn’t know about her past. (aloud, forcing a smile) Uhm, babe! Why don’t we just go in and rest, hmm?
Nusaybah: (steps closer to him and gently touches his face) Dear…
Haneef: (panicking inside) Oh my God! Dear Allah, please don’t let her remember the past. Please! The way she’s staring at me like this… don’t let her recall anything. That’s the only way I’ll know You’ve forgiven me… please.
Nusaybah: (scans his face thoroughly, eyes narrowing with suspicion)