(Some months later)
Adekunle: (knocking) As-salamu alaykum ma.
Aisha: (excited) As-salamu alaykum, Granny!
Abu: Wa alaykum salam, my Aisha. (opens the door) Welcome… come in. (he lifts her up) How was school today?
Aisha: Alhamdulilah.
Abu: Masha Allah… that means it went well. (smiles) Abu Aisha, how are you?
Adekunle: (takes a deep breath) I’m fine, sir.
Aisha: Daddy, say Alhamdulilah… you will be rewarded.
Abu: (chuckles) That’s my smart girl.
Adekunle: (smiles softly) Alhamdulilah then.
Adekunle: Uhm… where is Ummu?
Abu: She went to the market. She’ll be back soon.
Adekunle: Sir… I need to talk to you privately.
Abu: Alright, my dear, go inside.
Aisha: Okay Grandpa. (runs inside)
Abu: Now I’m listening.
Adekunle: Today… this afternoon… I picked Aisha late from school. She was already upset. Then inside the car she suddenly broke down crying. She said she wants to see her mother.
(He exhales heavily.)
Adekunle: I wasn’t ready for that. I didn’t know what to say. And she said she asked you and Ummu before… but nobody really answered her clearly.
Abu: Subhanallah…
Abu: This was bound to come one day… but I didn’t expect it this early.
Abu: She is very intelligent, Lukman. Very sharp. She even started Madrasah yesterday, just two hours a day. She will learn a lot about life… and about Islam.
Adekunle: So what do I tell her when she asks again? I need something consistent… something she can understand without confusion.
Abu: Then we say it gently… we tell her her mother travelled very far away… to prepare a better home for her family.
Adekunle: (nods slowly) That might work.
Adekunle: Thank you, sir. I’m already late for work, but I needed this.
Abu: No problem.
Adekunle: Aisha! Daddy is going back to work.
Aisha: (runs out) Don’t forget my chocolate!
Adekunle: (laughs) This girl… okay, come give daddy a hug.
(Aisha hugs him tightly.)
(Curtain)
Later that night
(The house is quiet. Adekunle and Aisha are in the kitchen, finishing dinner preparations together.)
Adekunle: Let’s go to the living room. Help me carry the tray.
Aisha: Daddy… what about my chocolate?
Adekunle: You never forget anything, do you?
Aisha: But you promised.
Adekunle: Yes, I did. I won’t forget. But we eat first, okay?
Aisha: Okay…
Aisha: Daddy… when will we eat “house food”? And when will grandma from your side bring food for us again?
Adekunle: (pauses, thinking) Hmm… that’s true… it’s been a while.
Adekunle: Pass me my phone.
Aisha: (hands it to him) Here, daddy.
Adekunle: (dials his mother’s number)
Mom: (loud voice, noisy background) Hello son! How are you?
Adekunle: Mom… where are you? It sounds very loud.
Mom: I’m at a wedding party. Don’t worry, I’ll come tomorrow.
(She ends the call.)
Adekunle: Mom—hello? (lowers the phone slowly) She hung up…
Aisha: (quietly) Daddy…
Adekunle: It’s okay, baby. She said she’ll come tomorrow.
Aisha: (sadly) Okay…
Adekunle: What’s wrong?
Aisha: Daddy… why did you and Grandpa lie to me?
Adekunle: Lie? About what?
Aisha: Where is my mom? Why am I growing up without her? Where is she?
(Adekunle freezes.)
Adekunle: (thinking) This girl…
Aisha: Daddy… where is my mummy? (tears form)
Adekunle: (quickly carries her) Come here…
Adekunle: Your mummy is resting, okay? She is in a place where we cannot see her… but she can see us.
Aisha: Why?
Adekunle: (struggling for words) Because… because it is her time to rest.
Aisha: (pushes the food away) I don’t want food… I want my mummy.
Adekunle: (voice shaking slightly) Listen to me, Aisha…
Adekunle: Everyone has a time in this world… and when that time ends, we return to Allah. Your mummy… her time came.
Adekunle: If I could bring her back, I would have done it long ago. But I can’t.
Adekunle: Please… eat your food. You can cry… but eat first.
Aisha: (slowly nods, tears still falling)
Adekunle: That’s my girl…
(He watches her quietly, pain written all over his face.)
Later, 30 minutes
(Adekunle is on the bed working on his laptop, visibly stressed.)
Adekunle: What kind of secretary is this… why am I just seeing this document now?
(He notices Aisha standing beside him.)
Adekunle: Hey sweetheart… you want to sleep?
Aisha: (nods)
Adekunle: Okay, come.
Aisha: Where will I sleep?
Adekunle: Here, of course.
Aisha: That’s not where I sleep.
Adekunle: (confused) What do you mean? You’ve been sleeping here.
(Aisha gently takes his laptop away and lies on his chest.)
Aisha: Good night, Daddy.
Adekunle: (bursts into soft laughter, emotional) This girl will not kill me… honestly, you behave like a small old woman.
Aisha: (sits up) I’ll wait until you finish working. I can’t sleep yet.
Adekunle: No, no… come here.
(He closes his laptop.)
Adekunle: Let’s sleep.
Aisha: (rests her head on his chest again) Good night, Daddy.
Adekunle: Good night, my angel.
(Curtain)
TWO YEARS LATER
Adekunle: (coming out of a hotel with a lady) I really had a great time.
Lady: Me too… I’d love to see you again. I want us to do this again.
Adekunle: Really?
Lady: Yes… I like gentle men like you.
Adekunle: Alright then… can I have your number?
Lady: Of course. (she takes his phone and types it in) Call me.
(She leaves.)
Adekunle: (watching her go, a faint smile) When last did I feel this kind of peace? And honestly… if I don’t do this again, I might just go crazy.
(He enters his car.)
(CURTAIN)
At the grandparents’ house
Aisha: Grandma, I want chocolate.
Ummu: (dressing her for Madrasah) No chocolate now. When your father comes to pick you, he will bring it. Turn let me fix your uniform.
Aisha: Grandma, I’m still hungry.
Ummu: Again?
Aisha: (nods)
Ummu: The food is finished… what am I going to do now?
Aisha: I’m fine, don’t worry Grandma. Let’s go before the teacher punishes me for being late.
Ummu: Okay, let’s hurry.
(CURTAIN)
Later that night
Adekunle: As-salamu alaykum. (he enters)
Aisha: Wa alaykum salam Daddy! Welcome! (she hugs him)
Adekunle: My angel, how are you? How was school?
Aisha: Alhamdulilah, Daddy.
Abu: Abu Aisha, you are welcome.
Adekunle: Good evening, sir.
Ummu: Abu Aisha… you came late today. Is everything okay?
Adekunle: Work was just too much at the office. Sorry.
Abu: I need to speak with you.
Adekunle: Alright sir. (he sits)
Abu: Ummu, join us.
Ummu: Okay.
Abu: Alhamdulilah… it’s been seven years since my daughter passed away. And you… you are still not moving on.
Abu: If there is someone you want to marry, you are free. Islam permits it. You should not fall into sin because of loneliness.
Ummu: Habeeby… listen to me too. You are allowed to remarry. We’ve accepted our fate. All we can do now is pray for Khadijah.
Adekunle: I appreciate your concern… really. But I can’t move on.
Adekunle: My life ended the day I lost my wife. And honestly… all women are the same to me now. I’m fine like this.
Abu: So you’re saying you won’t remarry… but you are okay committing sin?
Ummu: (quietly) Let me excuse myself. (she leaves)
Adekunle: Abu, I understand you… but I’d rather live with my guilt than marry again. I promised Khadijah.
Abu: Subhanallah… do you know the danger of what you are saying?
Adekunle: I will be fine. This is my punishment.
Abu: You still haven’t forgiven yourself, have you?
Adekunle: I will be fine. Thank you sir.
Adekunle: Aisha, let’s go home.
Abu: May Allah ease your heart.
Aisha: Good night Grandpa. Good night Grandma.
Ummu: Good night, my darling.
Adekunle: Good night ma.
(CURTAIN)
At home
(Aisha enters the house and suddenly slams the door. She walks straight to the bed without saying a word.)
Adekunle: Hey… what’s wrong with you? Don’t act like that.
Aisha: (silent, lying down angrily)
Adekunle: Aisha, talk to me. What is wrong?
Aisha: I don’t care.
Adekunle: What did you just say?
Aisha: Isn’t that what you say sometimes?
Adekunle: That doesn’t mean you should say it!
Aisha: Then why do you say it?
(Adekunle freezes.)
Aisha: Exactly.
Adekunle: Don’t talk to me like that. I’m your father!
Aisha: And I’m supposed to follow everything you do, right?
Adekunle: Your grandparents are pushing me to remarry… and if I do, you might suffer. I can’t allow that.
Aisha: Then marry! At least better than those women you bring home.
Aisha: Every time I call them “mommy,” they shout at me… I just want a mother!
Adekunle: Enough! You don’t understand anything!
Aisha: Then explain it!
Adekunle: Your mother is… (he stops, then slips) your mother is dead!
(A silence drops instantly.)
Aisha: (shocked) My… mummy… is dead?
Adekunle: (realizing what he said) Baby… I didn’t mean it like that—
Aisha: (backing away, shaking) Mummy is dead…?
Aisha: You lied to me… (tears burst out) my mummy is dead!
Adekunle: Aisha, please listen to me—
Aisha: (runs out crying)
Adekunle: Aisha!! No, wait!!
(He runs outside searching everywhere.)
Adekunle: Aisha! Please come out… I’m sorry!
Gateman: Sir, is she with me? No o! Even if she comes, I won’t open gate again.
Adekunle: Just open the gate!
Gateman: (opens) She’s not here.
Adekunle: Where is she then?!
(He rushes outside the compound.)
Adekunle: Aisha!!! Please don’t do this to me!!
(He suddenly sees her sitting near the gate, crying silently.)
Adekunle: (falls to his knees and pulls her close) I’m sorry… I’m sorry my angel…
Aisha: My mummy… (crying harder)
Adekunle: I’m sorry… please forgive me…
(He carries her inside.)
Living room
Adekunle: Do you want me to tell you everything? About your mother?
Aisha: (nods)
(Adekunle takes a deep breath… and slowly tells her everything.)
Adekunle: And that’s why she died… to bring you into this world… she loved you that much.
Aisha: So… mummy died because of me?
Adekunle: No, my angel… because of love.
Aisha: (crying softly) I’m sorry mummy…
Adekunle: And I’m sorry too…
(He pulls her into a long hug.)
(CURTAIN)