Later in the night.
Nusaybah: (strolling around the living room, trying to put her babies to sleep while her husband eats in the dining room) I just hope you two let Mummy sleep. Your small mummy has already fallen asleep from so much stress… let Mummy rest too, hmm? (waits patiently for her husband to finish eating)
Haneef: (finally done, rinses his hands, and starts scrolling on his phone) Yeeehhh… (smiles at what he sees)
Nusaybah: (tired, focuses on her babies) Dear!
Haneef: (ignores her)
Nusaybah: (moves aggressively toward him, snatches his phone, and drops it on the table; places one of the twins in his arms) Here. That’s what I called you for.
Haneef: What’s wrong with you, woman? This is exactly what you did at the hospital. Mind yourself in this house. Can’t you see I’m busy on my phone?
Nusaybah: They are your children too. Be a father for once and stop nagging.
Haneef: Are you talking to me?
Nusaybah: (tries to calm herself before things escalate) I’m sorry.
Haneef: Do you know why I despise you so much? Do you ever wonder why, despite your patience and endurance, I still do what makes me happy?
Nusaybah: (braces herself for harsh words)
Haneef: Do you know what led me into this mess? You drove me to find other women—women who are far better than you. You started it, and I’ll finish it. You could even sleep with men before we got married and still pretend to be a saint. Do you wonder why I treated you like a queen back then? Gosh! (rubs his face) You are my biggest mistake… ever. But it’s never too late for me. There’s a woman—the woman of my heart—that I’m looking for. Once I find her again, I’ll throw you out of this house. She’s the only one who deserves my honor and submission. I shouldn’t even be telling you this, but I need you to know what’s coming. So keep on with your waywardness—it’s just a matter of time. I’ll take my kids away from you and give them to a real mother.
Nusaybah: (face hardens, speaking in her mind) You wouldn’t dare separate my children from me. That’s when you’ll see the thunder in me. Despite all my patience—never!
Haneef: Still, I’ll try to take care of you and my kids. That won’t stop me from doing my duties, despite the pain you’ve caused me.
Nusaybah: (realizing her baby has fallen asleep) Please excuse me. (heads into her room)
Haneef: (patting the twin in his arms) I would have said these kids aren’t mine, but they look too much like me—and they’re identical. Gosh, I can’t wait to get rid of your mother and get you a better one… my dream woman. I’ll find her, no matter what.
Nusaybah: (returns from the room, empty-handed) Dear…
Haneef: What is it again? What?
Nusaybah: Can we talk?
Haneef: About what now?
Nusaybah: Let’s sit and talk calmly… please. Like mature new parents.
Haneef: What’s there to talk about?
Nusaybah: Please, at least have a seat and talk. (calmly)
Haneef: (aggressively gets up and moves to the living room with her)
Nusaybah: (sits and taps the couch) Please, sit with me.
Haneef: You won’t speak if I don’t sit next to you? (thinking) Who knows—maybe she finally wants to file for divorce.
Nusaybah: (takes the baby from him, sits next to him, and begins calmly) Dear… I know that in the past year of our marriage, it’s been nothing but pain for both of us. I’ve tried to understand your situation, but I can’t. Despite all my efforts to make this marriage work, it just keeps falling apart. I can’t bear the thought of continuing like this until our children grow up—it’s unbearable.
I want to raise them under their father’s roof because they’re boys, and raising male children without a father is not easy. Ever since I found out they were boys, I’ve been thinking of ways to solve our problems, but I couldn’t find any.
So… I’m here to say: why don’t you marry a second wife? Why don’t you marry the woman you’ve been dreaming about? That way, we both might find peace and be happy.
Haneef: (gasps, not expecting such words from her)
Nusaybah: And I’m sure my decision will be best for both of us. I just want you to do your duty as a father to your children—nothing more. It’s not compulsory for me, but your children should be your priority right now. That’s all I have to say.
Haneef: (clears his throat) Uhmm… alright then. If that’s what you want, no problem. I shall find myself a woman of my choice, and she will be a good wife and a good mother to my kids… and then we won’t have any issues.
Nusaybah: (sadly stares at him) Okay, sir. (She gets up and heads into her room, finding Aminah patiently waiting for her) Hey, Aburo, you’re awake.
Aminah: Yes. Uhmm… I need to get going. I just remembered I have something to do for Baami.
Nusaybah: Alright then. (She puts her baby to bed) Tomorrow morning, you can leave.
Aminah: No! I prefer to go home tonight.
Nusaybah: Why tonight? Can’t it wait till daybreak? It’s late already.
Aminah: I know… I just need to leave here right now.
Nusaybah: What’s wrong? Did I do anything to upset you? Or did my husband insult you?
Aminah: And what if he did? You won’t do anything except still apologize to him for it…
Nusaybah: What’s that supposed to mean?
Aminah: (gets up and begins packing her things) All I know is, I’m going back to my father’s house—unless you come with me and leave this hell of a marriage.
Nusaybah: (finally understands her reason for leaving, then exhales softly) I know you’re so worried about me, which I truly appreciate, but for how long do you want to keep having the same conversation over and over again?
Aminah: You’re not tired of the same issues all the time, but I’m tired, sister mi. I’m tired! Despite all this cruelty, you still endure it in the name of “he will change”! You promised to deal with him silently, right? Then begging him to have another wife is your way of dealing with him? Ehn? Even the dumbest person in the world can’t think of that as a solution! He’s jobless, wicked, mean, selfish, ungrateful—an animal who treats his wife like garbage. But I don’t blame him… I blame you for giving him more chances to treat you this way.
Nusaybah: So now you’re going to leave?
Aminah: So that’s all you have to say to everything I just poured out, sister mi? (her eyes cloud with tears) You know what? You’re on your own now. But Baami must know about this—no more hiding the truth from him. He needs to know what his daughter is going through here.
Nusaybah: Go ahead! Tell him! But by the time you two get here, I would have taken my own life. So go ahead. I guess that’s the easiest way you can get rid of me. (She picks up a prayer mat) My regards to Baami. Take good care of yourself. I want to pray. (She enters the restroom)
Aminah: (shocked by her response, angrily hits the wall as tears stream down her face) I hate you!! I hate you so much! (she roars in anger)
Nusaybah: I love you too. (Her voice comes from the bathroom)
Aminah: (climbs onto the bed angrily and focuses her gaze on the twins)
---
*******************A Year Later
Rofat: Aminah, calm down jor… I’m sure you won’t fail this course, so just relax your mind. The man is a good person; all we need to do is beg him.
Aminah: Are you sure? Because I’m really scared. Despite all our sleepless nights of reading, nothing I read came out in the question paper.
Rofat: Don’t worry. I’m sure he will at least give you a pass. Let’s go. (She holds her hand)
Mubarak: (approaches them) As-salamu alaykum, ladies.
Aminah: Wa alaykum salam. (She drags Rofat, trying to leave)
Rofat: (smiles at Mubarak) Wait, Aminah. (Whispers) Look!
Mubarak: Uhmm… Aminah, do you remember me?
Rofat: If she doesn’t, I do.
Aminah: (weirdly stares at Rofat) Why are you acting like this in front of him? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for him already.
Rofat: (pinches her) What is wrong with you? Why would you say that?
Aminah: See, let’s go before the man locks his office.
Mubarak: Please, Aminah, for once, hear me out.
Rofat: Don’t worry. I will listen to you.
Mubarak: Uhmm… I’m sorry, sister, but I was referring to Aminah. Please help me talk to her. I really love her, and I’m not here to deceive her—I want to marry her. Please.
Aminah: Brother, do you want my honesty?
Mubarak: Yes, please.
Aminah: I’m not interested in you. In fact, I’m not interested in any man for now, so please don’t waste your time.
Rofat: Aminah! That’s harsh… why would you say that to him?
Mubarak: It’s okay. I understand. Thank you. Do have a lovely day.
Rofat: Aminah! What is wrong with you? Why would you do that? Why are you like this, for crying out loud? For how long will you continue to reject men’s proposals at your age?
Aminah: I can see you have more interest in him than your man… he can be your fiancé’s rival. But as for me, I need a break. My elder sister is living under the flame of fire called a matrimonial home. Please, let’s go jor and leave them alone. (She drags her away)
Rofat: (stares at Mubarak as he walks away) What a pity… enilori oni fila.
---
Nusaybah: (attending to customers in her compound) Thank you so much for the patronage. Jazakallahu khairan.
Customer: You’re welcome. You’re doing great. I love the parfait a lot, and as for the tiger nut juice—it’s amazing. Keep it up, madam.
Nusaybah: Thank you so much, ma’am. Thanks… bye. (She waves) Next, please!
Next Customer: Hajia! I need five cupcakes with two parfaits. Please hurry up.
Nusaybah: Alright, ma’am. Please give me a few minutes to pack it. (She heads back inside) Jamal! What are you doing? Why are you beating your brother? (She moves closer to separate them) Kamal, come with me. I will soon deliver the two of you to Grandma because you won’t let me rest. (She carries him and heads into the kitchen) Please, I’m coming o.
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Later in the Night
Nusaybah: (cleaning the kitchen) Subhanallah! I need to hurry up with this mixing before NEPA takes the light and my kids are starving.
Haneef: (enters the kitchen) Why are you starving these children? Give them breast milk now! Or what’s your purpose in this house?
Nusaybah: I’m coming… I’m almost done with the baking.
Haneef: Baking!!! Like a mad dog! So you won’t attend to your kids because of cake? Now leave that thing right this instant and attend to my children—or else!
Nusaybah: (switches off the mixer) Okay, sir.
Haneef: Is dinner ready?
Nusaybah: Not yet… we’re out of foodstuffs in the house, so I haven’t had the chance to go to the market while the kids are here. I’m sorry—I’ll do that right away.
Haneef: (jaw drops) Wait… you must be kidding, right? Do you know what time it is? This is half past six and you are yet to prepare dinner—while we are starving, both the kids. Nusaybah!
Nusaybah: I know… please, okomi, I’m sorry. Just let me buy tomatoes and pepper down the street. Please, dear, I’m sorry.
(The twins break down in tears)
Haneef: (furiously stares at her as she hurriedly wears her khimar and heads out)
Nusaybah: Jamal, I’m coming, please. Mummy will be back soon.
---
Five Minutes Later
Nusaybah: (enters the compound, tries to open the door, but finds it locked) Dear! Please open the door, I’m back. (Knocks continuously) I’m back, oh, please open the door. (She hears the cries of her kids) Jamal, I’m here, don’t cry. Please open the door. (Keeps banging) Please open the door, Haneef, I’m back. The kids are crying, they need me.
Haneef: Before you kill me, I will be the one to do that first. You starve us all? You’re punishing both me and your children? How could you be so cruel, Nusaybah? I transferred the money you asked for and you starve us all—just because of your stupid business. Abi? Your business is more important than your family, right? You haven’t seen anything… (Heads back into the kitchen)
Nusaybah: (panting heavily) Subhanallah! Please don’t do this again, Haneef, please. Okay, I’m sorry, please. It will never happen again. I didn’t realize time had gone. Please, don’t punish me this way—my kids are starving.
(She continues banging the door for almost 20 minutes before he finally opens it)
Haneef: If you ever try this nonsense again, wallahi, you will pay bitterly. Nonsense!
Nusaybah: (hurriedly enters and shuts the door, finds him feeding the twins noodles) I’m sorry, please. (Moves closer) Let me continue feeding them.
(As she tries to touch Kamal, he hits her hand away)
Nusaybah: Yeeeh!
Haneef: Don’t test me this night!
Nusaybah: I said I’m sorry.
Haneef: Go make me something to eat.
Nusaybah: Okay, sir. (She hurries into the kitchen but to her greatest surprise finds it totally messed up, with unbaked cake and the mixer smashed on the ground. She moves to the store and finds her bags of flour littered on the ground) Ya Salam!