Inside the Prison
Prison Officer: (opens the gate for her)
Akeelah: (sighs heavily as she enters)
Prison Officer: (locks the gate and returns to his duty post)
Zatimah: What’s with the long face? I expected you to be happy.
Akeelah: I thought I would be… but what I found was unexpected.
Zatimah: Your brother wasn’t the visitor? I thought you didn’t have any family except him.
Akeelah: Yeah… it was my brother. But (sadly) I think he’s disappointed in me...for carrying this bastard child. What baffles me is that he kept saying “sorry,” like it was his fault. But it’s not. I’m ashamed of myself too. I wish there was a way I could get rid of this… thing. I hate it so much.
Zatimah: You and your brother are the most confused human beings I’ve ever seen. You should be mad that I took this long to check on you, but here you are, saying all this? Obviously, you don’t want the baby, but you have to accept your fate.
Akeelah: No. (bows her head) I don’t even know how I can carry on with my life… with this child.... this unfortunate… (starts hitting her stomach)
Zatimah: (rushes to her and grabs her hands) Are you insane? Are you nuts? Do you have any idea you're complicating your existence right now?
Akeelah: Just leave me alone! Let me end this once and for all. I’m sick and tired of it. I’ve accepted my fate...but I can’t move on with this thing. Never.
Zatimah: (looks up at the ceiling while holding her hands) God! What kind of dumb human did You attach me to? Is this a punishment or what?! (looks back down at her) I thought you were smart, but even a snail has more sense than you. Don’t you know this baby inside you is now part of you? It eats what you eat. It’s connected to you in so many ways. If you harm it, you put your own life in danger.
Akeelah: I don’t care! Auntie, I don’t care! Seeing him so helpless… makes me feel like a burden to him. I’m tired of this state. I’m tired! (breaks down)
Zatimah: (sighs heavily) You’re a piece of work, honestly.
*****************************
Scene: A Few Days Later – At Home
Habibah: (scrolling through her phone tiredly)
Come to think of it… is this how I’m going to keep living? A prison called marriage? Not moving forward, not starting a family… nothing. Even getting starved.
Maybe I should file for a divorce…
(Suddenly, she stumbles upon a TikTok video and gets carried away)
TikTok Voice-over:
“The 'I See You' Post
You cry in the shower.
You smile in public.
You carry burdens silently because ‘you’re strong.’
But strong doesn’t mean unbreakable.
And lately… you’ve been breaking. Quietly. Slowly.
Wishing someone—anyone—would ask, ‘Are you really okay?’
You’re not lazy. You’re not unserious.
You just need a door that opens.
And this is it.
No more sitting on the fence.
No more promising yourself ‘next time.’
You’ve postponed your breakthrough long enough.
It’s time to choose yourself.
The offer is still on the table… but not forever.”*
Habibah: (interested, she clicks on the bio and keeps watching)
**************************************
Scene: School Campus – Classroom
(The class is calm. Everyone is on their phones. Khalid enters, scans the room, and heads to his seat. He glances at Sefinat’s empty chair and sinks into his thoughts.)
Khalid: (sighs) Can’t believe she existed… and disappeared just like that. More like the worst vacation she ever had. School feels overwhelming now. (brings out his phone and earbuds)
(Aisha stands and bumps into someone on her way out.)
Aisha: Hey! Watch where you’re going! (pauses, then scoffs) Oh, it’s you. I wish you never came back! (hits her and storms off)
(Sefinat adjusts her dress, walks in confidently, ignores the whispers, and goes to her seat. She looks around.)
Khalid: (removes his earbud, stunned) When...? What are you doing here?
Sefinat: (forces a smile) Hey.
Khalid: I said, what are you doing here?
Sefinat: I owe you no explanation.
(Khalid stares, confused and searching for answers.)
******************************
Scene: Fancy Restaurant Near Campus
(Sefinat checks her wristwatch, impatient.)
Sefinat: What’s taking him so long? I don’t have all day. (spots a luxurious car arriving) That must be him. (clears her throat, straightens up)
(A man in black steps out with an envelope and walks into the restaurant. He sees her and approaches.)
Sefinat: (stands) Where is he? Why did he send you instead?
(The man remains silent, drops the envelope on the table, and turns to leave. Sefinat runs after him.
Sefinat: No, wait! I need to see him. Please!
(The man blocks her quietly. She sighs and walks back to her seat, opens the envelope, finds money and a letter, reads it, then crumples it angrily.)
Sefinat: I’m not going anywhere. I’ll find them myself!
(She storms out.)
****************************
Scene: Later That Evening – Street
(Dark clouds cover the sky. Sefinat walks quickly, trying to beat the rain. It begins to pour. She runs and shelters at a closed shop.)
Sefinat: (shivering) Could this day get any worse? (glances up) But… the rain is kind of beautiful.
(She spots an elderly man walking without shelter.)
Sefinat: Poor man… he should have waited it out.
Khalid: (panting) Hey...
Sefinat: (startled) What? How—what are you doing here?
Khalid: I was heading to your apartment, and then I saw you.
Sefinat: Why? Why were you coming to my place?
Khalid: (glances away) I came to ask you a few questions.
Sefinat: (irritated) What’s your problem? Why can’t you just leave me alone?
Khalid: Because I need answers! You promised not to return. Now you’re here, and acting like nothing happened.
Sefinat: Stay away from me, Khalid. You’re crossing the line. What do you even want from me?
Khalid: Your safety.
Sefinat: (taken aback) Well... I’m fine. So stop stalking me.
Khalid: Are you sure about that?
Sefinat: Please leave.
Khalid: Under this rain? No. And most importantly, I won’t leave until you tell me why you came back to Lagos.
Sefinat: (furious) It’s none of your business! (runs into the rain)
Khalid: Yo! Sefinat!
Sefinat: (fuming) Everyone’s so annoying! First it’s him, now you. Why is my life anyone’s business?!
(Suddenly, someone grabs her hand. She almost slips.)
Khalid: (firmly) I know it’s not my business—but I care. Do you know why? Because of your brother. He had dreams, he was a good man—until tragedy happened. I don’t want the same for you. The world is more dangerous than you think. You’re the only one left in your bloodline. Live... to keep your generation going. Please.
(He releases her and walks away, soaked.)
Sefinat: (frozen in place, touched and speechless)
********************************
Same Evening – At Home
(Habibah enters, visibly drained. She locks the door and drags herself into the bedroom.)
Habibah: (undressing) What a day… (hears footsteps, quickly covers up) Who’s there? (pauses, thinking) The only person I’d expect in this house is him. Hello?
Amir: (suddenly behind her) Tell me where you’ve been.
Habibah: (startled, screams) Heeeey! You scared me! (panting) When
..when did you get here?
Amir: (roaring) I said, where are you coming from?
Habibah: From school, of course!
Amir: At this time?
Habibah: Exams are close. We have a lot to catch up on. (pauses) But I wasn’t even expecting you.
Amir: Oh, is that so? So you’ve got free will now? So you can bring a man into my house?
Habibah: (shaking her head, pleading) Please... (moves back to the wardrobe)
Amir: (furious, grabs her and pushes her onto the bed) You’re going to tell me who’s been filling my place while I’m gone!
Habibah: (shocked) Amir, what are you doing?!
Amir: Don’t worry, you’ll know. (removes his trouser belt) You don’t even feel my absence. So, who is it? Who’s taking my place now?! (shouts)
Habibah: (frightened) Nobody! Why are you doing this to me? You’re the one who left me—with no food, no care, and now you return with violence?! Please get off me!
Amir: You don’t even know what I’m about to do to you tonight. I wanted to teach you a lesson, but instead of begging for my return, you enjoy yourself with some lover. I want to know if there’s a man touching this(points at her) or not! (takes off his shirt)
Habibah: (devastated) If you want sex, there’s a way to ask for it,not like this! Are you trying to rape me?
Amir: (laughs) Rape? You? You’re mine. This ...(gestures) ....is mine. You have no right to deny me.
Habibah: (fighting back, tries to escape) Leave me alone, you pervert! I said, leave me! It’s been a long day, I’m weak, I’m starving!
Amir: I want it now. (presses down her hands) You’ll do as I say, or else. You won’t enjoy this as much as I will.
Habibah: (overpowered, breaking into tears) Amir, please don’t do this... Please! I’m begging you in the name of Allah! Amir!!!
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