As she struggled to regain her composure amidst the cacophony of chaos, Akeelah took a deep breath, desperately trying to convince herself that the events that had just unfolded were nothing more than a terrible dream. Her eyes remained tightly shut, as if willing herself to believe that the harsh reality was merely a figment of her imagination.
But the illusion shattered when her name was called repeatedly, followed by a jarring bang on the table. Her eyes snapped open, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed around in terror, still reeling from the shock.
Judge: "You are hereby found guilty of the murder of Mr. Adekunle Ismail. However, considering that he was also involved in an unlawful act—sexual assault—your sentence has been reduced. You are hereby sentenced to five years of imprisonment with hard labor." (He strikes the gavel and exits the courtroom.)
Akeelah's body trembled as she clenched her fists, her breath hitching.
Akeelah: (falls to her knees, sobbing bitterly) "I don’t deserve this! I am innocent… please… all I did was defend myself! I am the victim here! Please, don’t send me to jail… I’m begging you!
The courtroom emptied as people dispersed, indifferent to her cries. Prison officers grabbed her by the arms, dragging her out. Akeelah’s desperate eyes scanned the room, searching for her twin brother—her last hope for comfort. But he was nowhere to be found.
Her heart sank.
With a sorrowful face and trembling hands, she was led away, shackled, towards her final destination—prison.
********************************************
LAGOS STATE POLYTECHNIC
The campus bustled with students moving in different directions—some heading to their next class, others making their way out after a long and exhausting day. Among them, Sefin found his way to an empty classroom on the fourth floor of a building. He positioned himself near the window, where the network signal was strongest, and settled in to take a video call.
Sefin: "Hey! Look who we have here…"
Sefinat: (chuckles excitedly) "Oh my God! Look at you… You look so mature now."
Sefin: (bursts into laughter) "Seriously? You’ve got to be kidding me! I should be the one saying that—you look so grown up now."
Sefinat: "Are you pulling my leg? Look at my neck… all bones! But as for you, your parents must have changed and started treating you well."
Sefin: (exhales softly) "Watch how you talk to me, I’m older than you, remember?"
Sefinat: "Oh really? Are you being serious right now?"
Sefin: (smirks) "Yeah, so show some respect. If it was easy, you would have come out first instead of me."
Sefinat: "Nice one… So, how have you been lately?"
Sefin: "I’m good! What about you? What’s your next plan?"
Sefinat: (hesitates) "Well… I was thinking…"
Sefin: (teasingly) "Hmm… hmm… Tell me about it."
Sefinat: "I was thinking of coming to Lagos next month to spend some time with you. Then we can figure out my next steps together. What do you think?"
Sefin: "That would be great! In fact, I can’t wait to finally see my younger sister again after all these years."
Sefinat: "Twin sister, actually."
Sefin: "Whatever, but I’m still your elder."
Sefinat: "All I need is accommodation because I really don’t want to stay at your so-called parents’ house."
Sefin: (pauses) "Well… in that case, I can help you get a place, but on one condition."
Sefinat: "Seriously? Bro! You won’t help me unless I agree to your condition? So you want me to sleep on the street, huh?"
Sefin: "Are you in or not?"
Sefinat: (sighs heavily) "You are unbelievable… Anyway, what’s the condition?"
Sefin: "My condition is that you must call me ‘Brother Sefin’ from now on."
Sefinat: (gasps playfully) "You can’t be serious…"
Sefin: "Tick… tock… tick… tock…"
Sefinat: "Fine! Please, Brother Sefin…"
Sefin: "Say it again, I didn’t hear you clearly."
Sefinat: "Stop now! Ugh… Okay, I’m sorry—Brother Sefin!"
Sefin: (grins) "That’s why I love you so much—you’re very
obedient." (Suddenly, he notices the door creaking open and glances toward it.) "Uhmm… Hold on a sec…"
Sefinat: "Okay." (She waits patiently, watching as he moves the phone away from his face, lowering it to the floor.)
Sefin swallowed hard as a shadow loomed over him. His palms became clammy, and sweat trickled down his forehead. He tried to steady his breath as the figure drew closer.
Sefinat: (still watching the screen, waiting to see his face again)
Without warning, a leg struck Sefin hard in the chest, shoving him backward. His phone slipped from his grip, crashing onto the floor.
Sefin: (eyes widen in horror, his heartbeat thundering in his ears as he plummets from the fourth floor—his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud, blood pooling beneath him.)
Sefinat watched as the screen momentarily tilted toward the ceiling before the call abruptly ended.
Sefinat: (frowns slightly, puzzled) "What just happened? He cut the call without saying anything? Anyway, he better have an update on my accommodation." (She dials his number, but it goes straight to voicemail.) "Well, that’s new… Maybe a lecturer walked into the class."
Shrugging, she slipped her phone into her bag and continued on her way home, unaware of the tragedy that had just unfolded.
*******************************************
Scene: Computer Science Department, Lagos State Polytechnic
The entire department was in chaos. A crowd had gathered, murmuring in shock as an ambulance stood nearby. Students watched in horror as the paramedics carried a lifeless body into the vehicle. The air was thick with whispers and speculation—Sefin had been pronounced dead. The tragic event sent ripples of unrest across the campus, leaving an eerie tension in its wake.
*******************************************
TWO DAYS LATER – Night
Sefinat collapses onto her bed, exhaling loudly.
Sefinat: (groans) "Today was exhausting… I need a cold drink."
Maryam: (noticing her expression) "How was your day, baby girl? You don’t look too good."
Sefinat: "Don’t mind me, jare. It’s work oh… My boss won’t stop pressuring me, and it’s getting out of hand. Honestly, I feel like quitting."
Maryam: "Tell me about it. Mine is worse! Working under one rude fool who pays peanuts, yet expects us to worship him and chase his dreams while ours die? It’s overwhelming—I’m sick and tired."
Sefinat: "I really want to quit! And I mean it this time. I can’t endure any longer. Thank God I’m traveling soon to spend time with my twin brother so we can plan our future together. Speaking of him… I haven’t been able to reach him for two days now."
Maryam: "Maybe he’s just busy as always. You know how hard it is to get hold of him."
Sefinat: "You’re right… but something about our last conversation makes me feel uneasy. I don’t know why."
Maryam: "There’s nothing to worry about. He’ll call once he gets the chance. Right now, let’s focus on resting and figuring out how to survive after resigning from that awful job."
Sefinat: "You’re right. Will you come with me to the provision store? I need a cold drink."
Maryam: "Only if you buy mine too!"
Sefinat: (sighs) "Fine! Let’s go."
Maryam grabs her veil and happily follows Sefinat out of the room.
***********************************
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE STORY – THAT SAME NIGHT
Habeebah folds her prayer mat with a sigh and falls onto her bed. She picks up her phone and begins scrolling absentmindedly, seeking distraction before sleep takes over.
Habeebah: (mutters to herself) "I can’t believe I just started school not even a year ago, and I’m already tired… One tragedy after another—today a killing, tomorrow another crisis."
Suddenly, her phone rings. She answers.
Habeebah: "As-salamu alaykum?"
Munir: (deep voice) "Wa alaykum salam, dear. How was school today?"
Habeebah: (sighs heavily) "It’s fine, jare."
Munir: "What’s wrong? Do you miss me already?"
Habeebah: "Nothing…"
Munir: "C’mon, talk to me. Do you miss your husband already?"Habeebah: "Even if I say yes, that doesn’t change anything—you’re not coming back for another two months."
Munir: "C’mon, don’t say that. You know I truly want to stay with you, but I just can’t help it."
Habeebah: "It’s okay, I understand… I’ll be fine—just like you always say."
Munir: "Thank you for understanding. That’s why I love you so much. Wallahi, I’m always grateful I married you."
Habeebah: (rolls her eyes) "I’ve heard you."
Munir: "Is something else bothering you?"
Habeebah: "It’s school oh… This school is just getting so frustrating. There’s always one problem after another. Can you believe we lost one of our coursemates two days ago?"
Munir: (gasps) "Subhanallah! What happened?"
Habeebah: "From what I heard, some say he committed suicide, while others say he was murdered."
Munir: (sighs heavily) "That’s tragic."
Habeebah: "Wallahi, and that guy was actually a good person. Even when others disrespected me, he always stood up for me."
Munir: (tone sharpens) "So you guys were really close, huh?"
Habeebah: (shocked) "Noooo! We were not close oh… He was just my coursemate!"
Munir: "This is my problem with you. How can you interact with non-mahram men? A married woman, no less? How could you?"
Habeebah: (frustrated) "What are you saying? Look, you’ve started again! This is why I keep things to myself—you always twist my words."
Munir: "Tell me, should I be happy that he’s dead now?"
Habeebah: (horrified) "Munir!
Munir: (angrily) "Listen, Habeebah, I’ve told you before—I don’t like this whole schooling idea. If only you had listened to me. There’s no job out there for a niqabi. Just be a full-time housewife, and I promise to take care of you. I hate knowing that other men are looking at you—it makes me extremely jealous."
Habeebah: (voice trembling, but firm) "No! I will not be a full-time housewife. We’ve discussed this before—why are you bringing it up again? Why?"
Munir: (furious) "Is that why you’re yelling at me on the phone?!" (Hangs up abruptly.)
Habeebah stares at her phone in shock, her hands shaking. Her breathing grows heavy as she slowly lowers the device onto the bed.
Habeebah: (whispers, eyes welling up) "Why? Why can’t I have a normal conversation with my husband without it ending in chaos?"