ONE YEAR LATER
(Aisha is now a year and nine months old. Ever since she turned one, her father drops her at her grandparents’ house every morning before work and picks her up in the evening.)
Morning, 6:10 a.m.
Aisha: Dada! (hitting him) Dada!!
Adekunle: (turning to the other side of the bed) Aisha, please… I need to rest…
Aisha: Dadaaaa!! (she keeps hitting him)
Adekunle: (sits up suddenly, tired and irritated) Fine, I’m awake, madam… I’m awake…
Aisha: (moves closer and hugs him tightly) Dada…
Adekunle: (softens immediately, hugging her back) Good morning, my angel… how was your night? Because mine was not great, thanks to you.
Aisha: (smiling, holding him) Dada?
Adekunle: Yes, baby?
Aisha: Food…
Adekunle: You want to eat?
Aisha: (nods) Food.
Adekunle: It’s too early… (checks the time) it’s just after six…
Aisha: (pretends to cry) Fooood…
Adekunle: Okay, okay! No need for drama… but honestly, today is Saturday… don’t I deserve small rest? Or should I take you to Grandma? Hmm?
Aisha: No! I want food.
Adekunle: (sighs deeply) I haven’t even washed the dishes… I need a cleaner… I can’t keep up like this…
Aisha: Dada, food!
Adekunle: Alright… do you want Golden Morn? I can make that quickly.
Aisha: (shakes her head) I wan noodles.
Adekunle: (stares at her) Am I the only one that thinks this girl is too smart for her age?
Aisha: (about to cry for real) Dadaaaa fooood!
Adekunle: Okay, okay… come on… let’s go to the kitchen.
Aisha: Yaaay! (she follows happily)
20 minutes later
(Aisha sits in the living room, eating her noodles while watching cartoons. Adekunle stretches out on the couch, finally getting a moment to rest. Within minutes, he falls asleep.)
(Thirty minutes pass. The house becomes unusually quiet.)
(Adekunle suddenly wakes up, confused.)
Adekunle: Aisha?
(He looks around. No response.)
Adekunle: Aisha!!
(He checks the bedroom. The kitchen. The guest room. Nothing.)
Adekunle: This girl wants to give me heart attack… Aisha! Where are you?
(He rushes outside, scanning the compound.)
Adekunle: Where can she be…?
(He quickly heads to the gateman’s room and knocks repeatedly.)
Gateman: (opens the door) Good morning, sir.
Adekunle: Morning. Have you seen my daughter? I can’t find her—
(He stops abruptly as he sees Aisha walking out from inside.)
Aisha: Daddaa! Oyoyo! (she runs into his arms)
(Adekunle freezes, shock all over his face.)
Adekunle: What is this? What is my daughter doing inside your room? Are you mad?
Gateman: No, sir! I was inside when she knocked. She said you were sleeping and insisted I open the door.
Adekunle: And you couldn’t bring her back to the house? Instead, you locked yourself inside with her? Are you okay at all?
Gateman: I’m sorry, sir… I didn’t do anything, I swear.
Adekunle: Look at me… I can tolerate anything, but not when it comes to my daughter. If you ever try this again, I won’t just fire you… you won’t like what will happen next.
Gateman: I’m sorry, sir.
Adekunle: Keep your sorry. Come on, baby, let’s go.
Aisha: (waves happily) Bye-bye!
Gateman: (muttering under his breath) Don’t bye-bye me again…
(Adekunle carries her inside and shuts the door firmly.)
Adekunle: Angel… don’t ever go outside like that again, do you hear me? Not even to the gateman. We can’t trust anyone… I don’t even trust myself sometimes. Did you hear me?
Aisha: (smiling innocently) I want sweet… and Mickey Mouse.
Adekunle: (stares at her, exhausted) You must be joking…
Aisha: (about to cry) I want Mickey Mouse… and chocolate…
Adekunle: (rubs his face tiredly) You know what… I need to take you to your grandma before I lose my sanity. Come, let’s get ready. I’ll buy you chocolate on the way.
(Curtain)
At Ummu’s house
(Ummu opens the door.)
Ummu: Ahh! Who do we have here?
Adekunle: As-salamu alaykum, Ummu.
Ummu: Wa alaykum salam…
Aisha: (runs into her arms) Grandma! Oyoyo!
Ummu: Oyoyo, my beautiful girl! (she lifts her up) I hope you didn’t stress your father?
Aisha: (nods proudly)
Adekunle: (shakes his head) You have got to be kidding me… she almost finished me this morning.
Ummu: That’s my girl. So what brings you here this early? Come in.
Adekunle: Ummu, no need… your granddaughter is spending the weekend here. I’m going now. Her things are there. Bye. (he quickly rushes off)
Ummu: (laughing) Wait—Adekunle! (shakes her head, smiling) I wanted to tell him his aunt gave birth last night… he didn’t even wait. You must have stressed him, eh?
Aisha: Grandma, I want amala!
Ummu: Ohh, you want amala? You came at the right time, my dear. Let’s go inside.
(She carries Aisha in and closes the door.)
(Adekunle drives off, yawning.)
Adekunle: Finally… I can sleep like a human being for once… honestly, mothers are trying…
(Curtain)
3 YEARS LATER
Aisha: Daddy, let’s go now! (excited)
Adekunle: (rubbing his face tiredly) Mama, I’m already tired… thanks to you.
Aisha: Daddy, I’ll be late for school! (she holds his hand) Let’s go, dada.
Adekunle: (chuckles softly) Alright, alright… let’s go. I’m also late for work.
(They enter the car and drive off.)
Adekunle: Now listen, angel… when you get to Grandma’s place, don’t trouble her too much, okay? She’s old and needs rest.
Aisha: Okay… I won’t, insha Allah.
Adekunle: (turns slightly, surprised) What did you say?
Aisha: I said insha Allah.
Adekunle: Who taught you that?
Aisha: Grandpa and Grandma.
Aisha: And I also learnt some other words they always use when they talk. Do you want to hear them?
Adekunle: Of course.
Aisha: They say things like… Subhanallah, Masha Allah, Astaghfirullah, Alhamdulilah, Insha Allah… and Barakallah.
Adekunle: Wow… and what do they mean?
Aisha: I can’t remember everything. But Grandma told me it means we should always remember Allah in everything we do so He can bless it.
Adekunle: (stunned, smiling softly) Subhanallah… my daughter is really something else. At your age?
Aisha: (stretches her hand forward)
Adekunle: What is it?
Aisha: You said anytime I make you happy, I get chocolate… I’m waiting.
Adekunle: (bursts into laughter) So this is your goal in life?
(He kisses her forehead.)
Adekunle: Don’t worry… plenty chocolate is waiting for you at home.
Aisha: I want two chocolates.
Adekunle: Deal. We are here… go on, be good today.
Aisha: Okay daddy. Bye bye!
Adekunle: Bye my angel… be a good girl.
Aisha: Okay daddy! (waving happily)
(CURTAIN)
At the office, 2:30 p.m.
Adekunle: (going through files, exhausted) I’m so tired… and hungry… I need a break.
Secretary: (knocks)
Adekunle: (yawning) Come in.
Secretary: Sir, here are the remaining files and the document that needs your signature.
Adekunle: (leans back) Do you want to finish me?
Secretary: No sir… you asked me to bring them.
Adekunle: I know… I’m just tired. What time is it? (checks phone) Oh no… I’m late!
Secretary: Late, sir?
Adekunle: My daughter… I need to go pick my daughter. Just leave everything on the table, I’ll handle it later.
Secretary: Sir wait—
Adekunle: I said I’m late! (he grabs his jacket and rushes out)
Secretary: (sighs softly as he leaves) Every day… he just keeps making my heart restless. A man like this… I wish—
(She shakes her head and returns to work.)
(CURTAIN)
At school, 3:30 p.m.
Aisha: (sitting quietly, looking outside) Daddy… where are you?
Teacher: Lukman, your dad isn’t here yet?
Aisha: Yes ma’am… (sadly)
Teacher: I don’t even have his number.
Aisha: I know it.
Teacher: You do?
Aisha: Yes ma’am.
Teacher: Then tell me.
Aisha: 0…8…1…
(Outside)
Adekunle: (speaking to gateman) I’m here to pick my daughter, Aisha.
Aisha: (seeing him from afar, jumps up) Daddy! (runs out) Bye teacher!
Teacher: Wait—at least the number!
(But Aisha is already gone.)
Adekunle: There she is… thank you.
Aisha: (quiet, different from before)
Adekunle: Hey angel… I’m sorry I’m late. Traffic was crazy.
Aisha: I’m hungry.
Adekunle: I know… I brought fried rice on the way.
(They enter the car.)
Aisha: (still unusually silent, staring at him)
Adekunle: What’s wrong, baby?
Aisha: …
Adekunle: Talk to me… you’re scaring me with this silence.
Aisha: (low voice) All my classmates… their mums come to pick them up. I don’t have a mummy.
Adekunle: (goes silent, pain flashing in his eyes) Since when… have you been thinking like this?
Aisha: Since… and I asked Grandma and Grandpa. They looked just like you when I asked.
Adekunle: (voice breaking slightly) Why are you talking like you’re grown?
Aisha: (tears suddenly fall) I want my mummy… take me to my mummy… I want her…
Adekunle: (tears spill immediately) I’m sorry… I’m sorry, my angel…
(He pulls her into his arms, holding her tightly.)
Adekunle: I’m sorry… I didn’t know it hurt you like this…
(He wipes his tears quickly.)
Adekunle: Eat first, okay? Then I’ll take you to Grandma’s… and when we get home, I’ll tell you about your mummy… I promise.
Aisha: (nods slowly)
Adekunle: Good girl…
(He opens her food gently.)
Adekunle: I love you so much… and I’ll always make it right for you, okay?
Aisha: (soft nod)
(He starts the car and drives off.)
(CURTAIN)