Haneef: (Still in shock) No!!!!! This can’t be! This can’t be possible! She is lying! This must be a made-up story since she knew her! She must be lying!
(Suddenly, the gate opens. He sees his mother and Nusaybah’s father. They are all shocked to witness what Folashade has just exposed.)
Haneef: Mum! D… Dad! (Nervously gets on his feet as tears roll down from his eyes.)
Mrs. Gbenga: (Tears flow from her eyes as she begins to plead with Nusaybah’s dad) Please, my in-law… please, let’s go in and settle this. Please, we might not be sure if what the lady said is true. Let’s go in and talk.
Dad: (Furious, clenching his fists) So you are the bastard that raped my daughter and still hurt her? (He roars angrily, taking steps toward him, forcing Haneef to step back little by little.)
You! Despite the fact she hid everything from me all these years, bearing the pain alone so she wouldn’t make me sad… you — this bastard — were the same man who almost killed my daughter! (He breaks down in tears and covers his face bitterly.)
Haneef: (Instantly goes on his knees, pleading for mercy) Please, I’m so sorry… please, hear me out! Please, sir—
Dad: (Furiously lands three hot slaps on his face) You can explain?! You still have the audacity to tell me to hear you out? You! If you say one more word, I swear by the name of Allah who made me, I will make your life so miserable that you will wish for death — and you will not see it!
Mrs. Gbenga: Please, hit him more and more! Despite all my warnings to you, Haneef, about treating your wife harshly, you turned a deaf ear! You disgraced her in the family meeting, saying you never met her as a virgin — not knowing you were still the monster who raped her? What kind of man are you?! (She furiously moves closer to him and begins hitting him.)
Dad: Who are you to talk in this situation? If you were a good mother and had raised him well, would all this have happened? Ehn?! Tell me! You are a bad mother, and you two must pay for all you did to my child. You all must pay.
And as for you, idiot! I’m coming for you! (As he tries to get inside, Mrs. Gbenga drags him back.)
Mrs. Gbenga: You think all this is my fault, ehn? You think I didn’t try my best as a mother to raise him well? He inherited all these bad sides from his father! I know what I went through just because I married his father… all the pain I went through is similar to your daughter’s.
Dad: Hold it right there! So because you went through pain, that’s why my daughter must suffer the same? This fool! (Tries to hit Haneef again, but Haneef dodges it.) Whatever happened in your past should stay in your past! My daughter doesn’t have to suffer the same. She is a strong girl with so much determination.
If I knew this is what she would go through because of this idiot, I swear I would never have approved him. I don’t even know how to tell her this… this news might affect her mentally and lead her into depression. (He wipes his tears.)
Aminah: (Enters through the gate) Baami! The truck is finally here, and I have arranged her room— (Notices everyone is weeping) What happened? What happened to sister mi? (Heart pounding heavily) Where is she?
(Curiously, she is about to move inside, but her dad drags her back.)
Aminah: Baami, what now? You guys are scaring me! And why is this person on his knees crying? I have never seen him cry before — he is always happy to see my sister in pain. So where is my sister? I hope nothing bad has happened to her, sha… because I won’t take things easy here oh!
.Dad: Nothing happened, just wait here for now. I don’t know how to break the sad news to her.
Aminah: What news? Tell me, what happened? Is it about divorce? Then let him divorce her now. With or without him, life will go on.
Dad: I know… but that’s not the case.
Mrs. Gbenga: (moves closer to Aminah) Please, my dear, just hear me out.
Aminah: (shrugs her touch) Hear wetin, ma? Despite all you’ve done to my sister? Or have you forgotten you were the one who poisoned your son’s mind to hate his ex-wife-to-be? And now I should hear you out? See, Baami, let’s start packing her things out of this hell called a house.
Dad: Please, listen to me, Aminah. I’m scared to go in right now. In fact, I’m scared to set my eyes on Nusaybah right now.
Aminah: (confused) What do you mean, Baami? Don’t tell me you’re about to ask her to forgive this evil man—this man with a heart of stone. If that’s the case, wallahi Baami, I’m ready to give my life for this matter. It’s a no from me.
Dad: (tears rolling down his cheeks) Relax… please listen to what I have to say.
Aminah: (anxious) Okay, I’m listening.
Dad: (struggling to speak) I don’t even know how to say it to you.
Aminah: Dad, please talk now. You’re making me scared. Please… say something.
Nusaybah: (comes out with one of her luggage, having left her children sleeping in the living room) Say what? And what happened?
(Everyone’s gaze turns to her.)
Haneef: (runs up to her and kneels, his eyes red) Baby… please, listen to me. (touching her knees) Please… give me a chance. I’m so sorry, please.
Nusaybah: (confused) Mr. man, why all this drama again? Or do you think I’m going to fall for this fake side of yours? Whenever we’re in public, you always claim to be the best husband. Better get out of my way. Weren’t you the one who brought in your mistress thirty minutes ago? So why these annoying acts now?
(she notices everyone is sobbing)
What happened now? Who died?
Mrs. Gbenga: (moves closer to her in tears) Please, my dear daughter, I know what we are about to tell you will break your heart so much… but please, find it in your heart to forgive your husband.
Nusaybah: Mum, I respect you enough, and I know this man more than you do. All these fake tears aren’t real. He’s just faking it. He’s a real monster when we are alone, and I can’t endure this pain any longer. I need to find my way out of here. I’m tired of your son, and if I spend another night under this roof, I might run mad. So please, I’m begging you too… let me go.
Aminah: I also wonder oh, as if he hasn’t caused enough pain in her life. Sister mi, let’s go and pack.
Haneef: (crying and pleading) Please, my love, I’m not pretending. I promise you, from now on, I will never ever hurt you again. I have realized my mistakes. Please forgive me. I know I’ve hurt you so much.
Nusaybah: Ogbeni, leave my hijab, please. (notices her dad weeping bitterly by the wall, walks up to him) Baami… what is wrong? Please don’t tell me you pitied him over me, Baami!
Dad: No, my child… that’s not it. But I don’t know how you will feel when you find out about that monster over there.
Mrs. Gbenga: (moves closer to her, Haneef following) Okomi, please forgive him… please.
Nusaybah: (yells angrily) What exactly is going on here? You all have been begging since I came out here. Somebody say something! You’re all getting me worried. Abi, did something happen to my kids?
(she tries to rush inside, but Haneef grabs her from behind and embraces her)
What is your problem, you this man? Leave me alone! (struggling to free herself)
Dad: If you touch her again, I swear I can strangle you. Look, my dear, nothing happened to your children.
Aminah: Then someone say something now, Baami! At least if their mouths are too heavy to talk, then you speak! Haba!
Dad: You are right, my daughter. The truth can’t be hidden forever. Do you know that fool over there was the one who raped your sister five years ago? He was the patient she treated that night, who used the opportunity to violate her.
Aminah: (shocked, her jaw dropping) Subhanallah! (finding it hard to believe) Nooo! Nooooooo! Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un!
(Haneef breaks down in tears again as they move closer to Nusaybah.)
Nusaybah: (confused, trying to process what she just heard) What kind of stupid joke is that, Baami? Why are you bringing back the past? (chuckles) I know you must be joking. I already told you I don’t want to have anything to do with him again, so why bring up my past with him? Let’s go, because I believe what you just said is a joke. Aminah! Come help me get my kids so we can leave.
.Haneef: (crawls toward her) Please, listen to me. Please, don’t leave me. Please forgive me… please. I can’t live without you.
Nusaybah: That mouth will explode if you make that same statement again! I know my dad was joking about my past, and I will let all you did go… because I believe it was a test. But please, I beg you—don’t stop me! Don’t even think about it, or else you will see crazy. (she pushes him away, but as she tries to enter inside, her legs start shaking as her brain begins to process what her dad just said; immediately, she falls to her knees while everyone rushes to her aid)
Mrs. Gbenga, Aminah, Dad, and Haneef: Nusaybah!!!
Nusaybah: Nobody should touch me! Just leave me like this. (she looks up at her dad) Baami! What you said a minute ago… you… you… you were joking, right?
Dad: No, my child. He is the rapist.
Aminah: (furiously pushes Haneef and grabs his collar) You are a wicked man… ahh! I wish I could strangle you right now. You are evil… ahhh! You will not go scot-free. You must pay for bringing our family into this pain, this sorrow—you unfortunate man!
Dad: Aminah!!! Let go of him right now! You have no right to touch him or his clothes, and I never raised you to do that to a man.
Nusaybah: (struggles to get up and roars at them not to touch her) Don’t touch me! Baami! Don’t touch me! (she quietly walks out through the gate)
Mrs. Gbenga: Nusaybah!! Please, follow her. Please, she might hurt herself—please follow her, oh!
Aminah: Sister mi, please! (she runs after her but finds her nowhere) Sister mi!
Haneef: (follows her) Nusaybah!!
Dad: If anything should happen to my daughter, I will make sure all your family rots in jail.
Haneef: (tries to chase her, but a police car blocks his way)
Policeman: (steps out of the car) Mr. Man! And where do you think you’re running to? Arrest him!
Haneef: What are you doing? Please don’t arrest me, please hear me out!
Dad: You can narrate your life story to them when you get to jail. Police, please take him away.
Policeman: You are under arrest for sexual assault, domestic violence, and rape. Anything you say will be used against you in the court of law. Now, move!
Mrs. Gbenga: (runs out of the gate and sees her son being arrested) What is happening here? Police, please let him go. Please, we can settle this as a family—you don’t have to involve the police now.
Dad: Your family and I don’t have any issues again. Go and settle that at the police station. And mind you, nothing must happen to my grandchildren.
Mrs. Gbenga: You, this man—despite all our pleading for mercy!
Dad: Where were you when my daughter was pleading for mercy in the hands of your son? If anything should happen to my daughter, lasan!
Mrs. Gbenga: What am I going to do? Ikunle Abiyamo! Yeehh! My son… Haneef, see where you have landed me.
Dad: (heads back inside) I don’t even know if I should run after Nusaybah or stay with the kids.
************
Nusaybah: (furiously walking along the street without crying or showing any sign of pain until she reaches a certain point; suddenly, she screams loudly in an expression of deep pain as she continues walking)
Aminah: (searching for her whereabouts) Sister mi, please don’t commit suicide! If anything should happen to you, I will never forgive myself for this. Please, don’t hurt yourself… (she finally spots her walking into a bush) Sister mi!! (yelling) Please wait! (she runs to catch up with her and blocks her way) Sister mi, look at me! Look at me! (noticing that Nusaybah is not crying nor showing any expression of pain) Sister mi! (touches her face) Please, look at me… ya salam!
Nusaybah: (weakly staring at her like a stranger)
Aminah: Lailaha illallah! Sister mi, please cry! Cry out your pain, please! I’m begging you—please cryyyyyy! (she embraces her in tears) Please, cry.
Nusaybah: (staring at her and suddenly smiling) Aminah, is that you? (bursts into laughter) Could you believe what Daddy said earlier? That the man who tortured me for the past two years is the same man who raped me? Could you believe how hilarious that is? (laughing)
Aminah: (jaw drops as she screams) Nusaybah!!!!! Please don’t do this… please cryyyyy! Yes, he hurt you. He hurt you so badly! You need to cry! Please! Cry! You must cry… please, don’t do this to us! (crying bitterly and loudly) Somebody help us! Nusaybah!! Cry! (she begins hitting Nusaybah’s hands) Cry!!!! (she sits her down on the ground as passersby stare at them in confusion) Please, if you don’t cry out your pain, it will affect you mentally and emotionally. Please, have mercy on us, ya Allah! Please!!! (she continues hitting her hands)
Nusaybah: (screams so loudly that everyone around becomes scared) Haanneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeef!!! (she finally breaks down in tears)
Aminah: (sighs in relief, then embraces and consoles her) Yes, shout his name very well if that will make you cry… Please, sister mi, I can’t afford to lose you, please!
---
Nusaybah: (cries continuously for 30 minutes on the floor in her sister’s arms until she finally calms down)
Aminah: Please, let’s go back home. Your children must be crying and starving for your presence—please, let’s go home.
Nusaybah: (suddenly jumps up) My kids!!! My children! (panicking) Where are my kids?
Aminah: Let me take you to them.
Nusaybah: (panting heavily) My kids!! My kids!!! My twins! Take me to them right now!! (suddenly passes out and lies unconscious on the ground)
Aminah: Sister mi!!! Somebody help us!! Please, wake up!!! Help!!!!