Habibah (shivering, soaked in tears, sitting by the door, covering herself with a towel, scared and cold, crying in deep regret).
Amir: (standing by the door) It's me and you tonight. You had the guts to lock me out of my own room? The apartment I paid for? Ahhhh Habibah, you’ll wish you never married me. You don’t know how to do anything! You’re just useless. All you do is eat and bill me. You can’t even get pregnant. Now I want to make love to you, and you lock me out? What I’ll do to you tonight ehn? Even your parents won’t believe it.
(Suddenly, he sees two people running towards him.)
Sefinat: Good evening, sir. Are you Mr. Amir?
Amir: Uhmm… who are you?
Khalid: (ready to hit him) Answer the goddamn question!
Amir: Yes, I am. So what do you want?
Sefinat: (shouts) Habibah! Are you inside?
Amir: Wait! Who are you again? I didn’t call you here!
Habibah: (hearing murmurs outside but too scared to open the door)
Sefinat: Habibah! It’s me...
Amir: (drags her hand) Where are your manners, young lady?
Khalid: (grabs his collar) You better let go of her hand before I punch you in the face!
Amir: (confused) Who do you think you are to grab my shirt like that? Do you know who you’re talking to?
Khalid: Whoever you are, you have no right. In fact, you don’t even deserve to be called a man.
Habibah: (unlocks the door, in tears)
Sefinat: (rushes in quickly)
Amir: (tries to force his way into the room but Khalid drags him back) See guy! I’ll fight you o. Leave me alone naa!
Khalid: You’re not going anywhere. The police are coming for you.
Amir: What?
Sefinat: (embraces Habibah, covering her up) I got you! I’m here now. So sorry.
Habibah: (cries bitterly) He wanted… he wanted to...
Sefinat: Shhh… don’t say anything. You’re safe now. (embraces her tightly)
Khalid: (angrier as he realizes what’s going on, then punches Amir in the face) You son of a…! How did she even end up with you?
Amir: (shocked, touches his bleeding nose) You… you punched me?! (gets ready to fight back) I’ll make you pay!
Khalid: (throws multiple punches at him until Amir can barely stand) C’mon! Be a man and fight! You can hurt a woman, right? But can’t face a man? You’re weak! (gives one final blow) Jerk! (turns to the door) Is she okay?
Sefinat: Yes. She just needs time to get better. Sorry, dear.
Habibah: (squeezes herself into Sefinat’s arms)
An hour later – outside Habibah’s apartment
Sefinat: (hands in her pocket) Thanks… for today.
Khalid: (looking around) Yeah, sure.
Sefinat: (smiles) I mean it, Khalid. Thank you… for always being there.
Khalid: (rubbing his head) Uhmm, it’s fine. We’re cool. Just take care, and don’t hesitate to call me if anything comes up.
Sefinat: (nods happily) Yes.
Khalid: Cool. I’ll see you tomorrow or call you while you stay with her. It’s getting late.
Sefinat: Yeah!
Khalid: Alright. Goodnight. (backs away and leaves)
Sefinat: (waves) Bye… (watches him until he disappears, then returns inside and finds Habibah dressed) You okay?
Habibah: Yeah… I thought you had gone.
Sefinat: I can’t leave you alone here. You’re still hurt and need someone around.
Habibah: (pauses, tears dripping down her face) Thank you…
Sefinat: C’mon, don’t start again. (embraces her) I’m here. But we need to talk when you get better. Have you had dinner?
Habibah: I’m not hungry. I’ve lost my appetite.
Sefinat: C’mon Habibah, you’re obviously weak.
Habibah: I said I’m fine. Please.
Sefinat: Okay, it’s alright. (keeps silent, watching as Habibah sits in the room)
An hour later – 1 AM
Sefinat: (in deep sleep, turns to adjust her position, opens her eyes and sees Habibah seated on the floor, lost in thought) Hey… (gets down from bed) I’m sorry, I didn’t realize when I dozed off.
Habibah: It’s alright. It’s okay to be tired…
Sefinat: Why aren’t you sleeping?
Habibah: I… I just can’t sleep, Sefinat. It’s hard to close my eyes. I hate myself for not listening to my parents… for being blinded by temporary love. Just look at me…
Sefinat: (sits beside her, places Habibah’s head on her shoulder) It’s okay… But speaking of your parents, why can’t you tell them what’s going on?
Habibah: Because I can’t. I just can’t.
Sefinat: Why? These are your parents. No matter what decisions you make, they’ll never hate you.
Habibah: (tears stream down her face) Not this one… not this one.
Sefinat: Why?
Habibah: Because they’ll disown me for it. They warned me, Sefinat. Countless times, they warned me before marrying this monster. They told me to wait — that the right man would come. But I was so eager to be called a wife… I was so eager. Now look at me.
Sefinat: Whatever you’re thinking isn’t true. Your parents still love you. Yes, they might scold you, but they won’t disown you. I wish I had parents who could scold me. I’m yearning for their voices — their anger, even if just once. You should be happy you have them. They might be angry for a while, but they’ll do what’s right for you.
Habibah: (bows her head sadly) You don’t understand.
Sefinat: Then make me understand. I want to understand. You can’t keep suffering like this. You need to file for a divorce and take your freedom back. Not a man who uses you like a sex toy and still starves you. You deserve love — real love. You deserve happiness. But not with him. He will starve you to death. Please… wake up.
Habibah: You don’t understand! (raises her voice)
Sefinat: Then make me! (roars, then realizes the time) Uhmm… I’m sorry for yelling. I didn’t mean to.
Habibah: (sadly looking at the floor) A month ago, I visited my parents…
LASHBACK – ONE MONTH AGO
Abu Habibah: So… you finally came home to visit your family?
Habibah: I’m sorry, Abu. School has been really draining lately. I planned to visit sooner.
Ummu Habibah: (approaches with drinks and snacks) Here, my child. (drops the tray on the table)
Habibah: Ahhh… Ummu! What was that for? You’re serving your daughter?
Ummu Habibah: Well, you’re now a guest in this house.
Habibah: But I’m your daughter.
Abu Habibah: So tell me, how is your marriage lately?
Habibah: (forces a bright smile) Alhamdulillah, Abu. My husband is trying his best not to break his promise.
Abu Habibah: Is that so?
Habibah: Yes, Abu. He’s been so occupied with work, but he still tries to come home for me. It hasn’t been easy.
Abu Habibah: (scans her from head to toe) If that’s the case, maybe your mother and I were wrong about him.
Habibah: (in her mind) No… I was wrong, not you. You were both right — so right.
Ummu Habibah: (joins them) Dear, do you remember Sefiyah? Habibah’s childhood friend?
Abu Habibah: You mean the one who always got home late from playing with Habibah?
Ummu Habibah: Exactly! You got it right.
Habibah: What about her?
Ummu Habibah: Haven’t you heard?
Habibah: (curious) No!
Ummu Habibah: S—
BACK TO REALITY
Habibah: (soaked in tears) So tell me… how on earth do I come clean to them? I don’t want them to hate me. I love them. I pray for their forgiveness every day. Even though I haven’t faced them yet, I regret everything. I hate this marriage! (breaks down in tears)
Sefinat: (pats her shoulder) It’s okay… Now I understand. This is harder than I thought. So, what are we going to do? You can’t stay here. Do you have any solution in mind?
Habibah: I don’t know yet… I just want a peaceful online business I can start. Something that brings money daily without affecting my studies.
Sefinat: What about that business you told me about?
Habibah: I really want to start. Those people gave me reasons to believe it’s for me. But I’ve spent all my money… I don’t even have ₦200 left.
Sefinat: (sighs) Shebi I told you to let me help…
Habibah: I don’t want to burden you. Look at us now — you left your home because of me. Isn’t that enough?
Sefinat: If only you knew how happy I am to help you. (holds her hands) Listen, Habibah… you deserve to be happy. Let me lend you the money. Pay me back once you start earning.
Habibah: (declines) No! I don’t want debt. Debt is worse than what I’m going through. I can’t even breathe well every day. I hate debt.
Sefinat: Then take the damn money! Take it as a gift. You said no? (sighs heavily) You’re a piece of work, honestly. (rubs her hands) I really like you from day one, I don’t know why. But I care about you and just want to help. Please… I’ll be rewarded by Allah for helping a fellow Muslim. Why won’t you let me be rewarded?
Habibah: (gazes at her, then looks down) You are Allah-sent. (embraces her) Thank you so much.
Sefinat: All thanks to Allah.
Habibah: You know… I wish you were more religious. It would suit you. You already have a good heart and good intentions.
Sefinat: (exhales softly) Well… I don’t know. Let’s just focus on getting you better and finding a way to protect you from that monster. I’m sure he’s receiving the beating of his life right now.
Habibah: (places her head on her shoulder) Hmmmm…
FEW DAYS LATER – MIDNIGHT – PRISON
Zatimah (sleeps soundly but hears someone crying. She thinks it’s a dream until it grows louder. She jolts up and sees Akeelah in labor, trying to deliver the baby alone. She rushes to her.) Are you crazy?! What are you trying to do?! (realizes the baby’s head is out) Oh my God!
Akeelah: (groaning, in pain) Get it out!!!
Zatimah: (focused) Breathe! Oya push! PUSHHHHH!
Akeelah: (screams as she pushes) AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Zatimah: (panting, sweating, sees the baby turning purple) Uhhh Akeelah? Please push harder. Something’s not right! Officerrrrrr!!! (wakes the others)
Akeelah: (screams like her soul is being dragged as the baby comes out with the placenta. She falls back, breathing heavily)
Zatimah: (holds the baby who’s silent and motionless, her heart pounding) Uhmmmm… (hits the baby’s back, but nothing happens)
Akeelah: (weakly, eyes on the baby) Is it a she or a he?
Zatimah: (hands shaking) It’s a she… but…
Akeelah: Awwww… she’s so beautiful. (voice fading) I didn’t realize I was about to kill this baby… She’s so innocent.
Zatimah: (tears stream down)
Akeelah: Can you bring her closer? I want to take a look.
Zatimah: (sobbing) Your baby is dead.
(Officers rush in.)
Akeelah: What?! (her smile turns to grief instantly. She collapses and loses consciousness)
Prison Officer: (opens the gate quickly) What’s going on here?! (pushes Zatimah aside) What the hell are you doing?!
THAT SAME NIGHT – SERAH’S ROOM
Narration: Serah is asleep in her small room. A masked man climbs through the window, looks around, then suddenly attacks her. He presses her neck to the bed.
Serah: (wakes in shock, fights back, but is overpowered)
Rash: Just die! (strangles her harder until she stops moving)
Serah: (goes limp — dead)
Rash: (releases her, checks no one is watching, climbs back out through the window)
DAYBREAK
Mr. Badmus: (knocks on her door) Serah, my dear? Why aren’t you up yet? You said you were getting better… that you’d make breakfast. (no answer) Serah? (opens the door, sees her lying on the bed, moves closer) Look how you scattered the bed. Wake up. (taps her three times) Serah!! (lifts her hand — it drops) Serah!! (panics, tears stream down) Serah please don’t do this. You promised to be with me till my last breath! Serah!!! (notices bruises on her neck) Ahhhhhhhhhh! Fire has burned me ooo!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!
FEW DAYS LATER – MORNING – SCHOOL CAMPUS
Narration: It’s a cloudy, cold morning. Students and staff head to their lecture halls.
Habibah: (enters the school gate holding a handout) How am I ever going to survive this semester? Exams are next week and I’ve barely read. Ya Allah, help me. I can’t fail in marriage and fail in school too.
Sefinat: (places a hand on her shoulder, startling her) As-salam alaykum, dear.
Habibah: (clutches her chest) You scared me. Wa alaykum salam…
Sefinat: Has he been released?
Habibah: I… I don’t know. Please, let’s not talk about him. Exam is fast approaching.
Sefinat: Oh really?
Habibah: How would you know, when you’re just a student in disguise? (suddenly notices Khalid arriving on his bike) As-salam alaykum, sir.
Khalid: (waves, turning the bike) Wa alaykum salam. (sees Sefinat) What’s up, troublemaker?
Sefinat: Are you for real right now?
Habibah: (chuckles) You two should not start again this week. (walks to his bike) Jazakumullahu khairan for the other day. I really appreciate it.
Khalid: It’s nothing. Do you need a lift?
Habibah: No, I’m good.
Khalid: You sure?
Habibah: Yes, sir.
Sefinat: (gives him a deadly stare)
Khalid: See you later, cupcake. (starts the bike) Later, beauties!
Habibah: (smiles) Hmm… I can sense something between you two.
Sefinat: Hajiya! Stop dreaming and focus on studying.
Narration: Some students pass by, whispering about Serah, describing her department. Sefinat pauses.
Sefinat: Did you hear that?
Habibah: This can’t be… it might be a rumor.
Sefinat: (grabs her hand, increases their pace toward the department)