Hospital Room – Morning
The room is hazy. Everything seems cloudy and white as AKEELAH slowly opens her eyes. She winces in pain as she tries to sit up.
Akeelah: Where… where am I? (groaning, touching her head)
Munir: You're awake! Alhamdulillah! How do you feel? (rushing to her bedside)
Akeelah: Munir? Is… is that you? (still disoriented)
Munir: Yes, it’s me. I came earlier, and they told me you passed out again.
Akeelah: (tears stream down her face) Munir…
Munir: Yes? Talk to me.
Akeelah: Will you finally find peace if I'm out of your life for good?
Munir: What? Why would you say that? You're all I've got in this world. I can't afford to lose you too.
Akeelah: Then get me out of here.
Munir: I'm trying. I swear I’m trying. Just hang in there. I promise, I will get you out.
Akeelah: My life is already ruined...
Munir: No... no, don’t say that!
Akeelah: (breaks down) I’m pregnant.
Munir: (a ringing silence fills his head) What? What are you… what are you talking about? I mean… (panicking)
Akeelah: Do you see now? I’m ruined. You know what? Don’t bother anymore. Just forget I ever existed. Move on with your life. I won’t let my broken life delay yours.
Munir: (still trying to process it) You… are… pregnant? No. Noooooo! That can’t be. You must be mistaken. Are you sure? How did you even find out?
Akeelah: That woman was right. I haven’t seen my period since I got here. I don’t know how she knew… but she was right. It’s okay, I’ll be fine. I’ve already lost hope in life.
Munir: (his hands shake as he lowers himself into a chair, looking miserable) This… this can’t be…
Akeelah: (crying bitterly, drawing the officer’s attention)
Officer: Ever since you got here, you’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass. I think it’s high time I put you in your place. And you, Mr. Man, it’s time for you to leave. Don’t come back unless you're summoned.
*******************************
A Few Days Later – 8:50 AM]
Lecture is in progress. Sefinat enters quietly, head bowed, and heads to her seat at the back.
Lecturer: Hey you! Why are you just coming?
Sefinat: (Clears throat) Uhmm... It was traffic, sir.
Lecturer: Is that your excuse?
(The class murmurs, some chuckling silently.)
Sefinat: No sir. I’m sorry, sir.
Lecturer: Now get out!
(Sefinat looks disappointed and turns to leave.)
Lecturer: Wait! Are you...? What’s your name?
Sefinat: Sefinat, sir.
Lecturer: Go have your seat. Now, back to our discussion, class.
(Sefinat, stunned, moves to her seat. The class is left in curiosity about why she was spared. She scans the class and notices Idris and his gang glaring at her. She responds with a calm, deadly smile. Her eyes meet Habibah’s.)
Sefinat: Hey… You. Good morning!?
Lecturer: Are you here to learn or distract my class?
(Sefinat bows her head. She stares at Habibah, who avoids eye contact.)
Sefinat: Hajia? Hey? (Whispering)
[After the Class]
Sefinat sits silently, prepared for any confrontation. Habibah occasionally glances at her.
Idris: (Standing on Sefinat’s desk) Looks like someone already taught you a lesson. That’s why you missed class for a few days. (Class chuckles) You don’t belong here, bitch. I’ll spare you—for your past sins. One last chance to live.
(Sefinat chooses silence. Then notices a guy entering, being hailed by students, shaking hands and grinning.)
Sefinat: Who is this one?
Idris: (Turning to see) Ugh! This guy again? Using his charm to take away my girls, huh? (He turns back to Sefinat, wipes his shoes on her desk, then steps down) Now the table looks just like you.
(His gang laughs. Sefinat calmly brings out tissue paper and cleans her desk.)
Khalid: (Settling into his seat) Can’t believe I’m back here... Feels good though.
(He notices Sefinat looking at him but ignores her, focused on his phone. Aisha and her clique gather around him, offering gifts and chatting.)
Sefinat: (Smirking) He must be the charming guy of the class.
(She glances tiredly at Habibah and sees her stealing a look.)
Sefinat: What is your own problem? If you have something to tell me, just say it! Stop acting weird!
(Her voice comes out louder than she meant. Everyone stares.)
Habibah: (Quickly lowers her head in embarrassment.)
(Sefinat rises to approach her, but A.Z blocks her path.)
Sefinat: get out of my way!
A.Z: Look girl, I don’t care who you are or what you want. Do your thing with anyone else—but not her. She minds her business, and anyone who messes with her, messes with me.
(Habibah is shocked.)
Sefinat: Oh really? (Thinking) He must be a good guy… and he really likes her. Alright then.
(She quietly returns to her seat.)
Aisha: Someone has a crush now. I thought religious girls were supposed to be holy. So Hajia sleeps around too, huh?
(A.Z is about to respond, but Khalid cuts in.)
Khalid: Watch your mouth, Aisha! Just because you're beautiful without a brain doesn’t give you the right to insult someone. I thought you had some sense. I was clearly wrong.
Aisha: (Fuming) What did you just say to me!?
(The class bursts into laughter. Aisha storms out, embarrassed.)
(Habibah remains silent.)
[Later That Day – At the School Gate]
Habibah walks slowly, filled with emotion. She dials a number again. It rings. This time, he picks up.
Habibah: Ola… why are you doing this to me? Why?
Amir: Why are you so mannerless, Habibah? A true Muslim starts with salaam.
Habibah: (Eyes clouded with tears) As-salamu alaikum.
Amir: Wa alaikum salam warahmatullah. What’s your problem? Do you want to kill me with calls?
Habibah: What you’re doing to me is unfair. You’ve been gone for over a week. No calls, no replies. I’m starving and you don’t care.
Amir: Because you’re always billing me. Even my siblings aren’t stressing me like you are. Didn’t I just pay your school fees?
Habibah: That was last semester—three months ago. You promised my parents you'd sponsor my HND. If I had known it would be like this, I would’ve listened to them. Do you know I eat once a day? Sometimes I fast—not for worship but because I have no food. I trekked home yesterday, and again today. You’re starving me… just because I don’t have an income?
Amir: (Sighs deeply) You're so stubborn. I told you to drop out and open a small shop. You refused. Education won’t get you a job. And if you keep giving me headaches in this marriage… then I’ll have to distance myself.
Habibah: (Breaks into tears) Amir! You’re saying all this to me? Me—your wife?
Amir: Oh, please. Just shut up. Get off the line.
(He hangs up. Habibah screams into her phone.)
Habibah: Hello!? Amir!!
(She drops to her knees, crying in the middle of the road.)
Habibah: This isn’t the life I prayed for in marriage… Why am I suffering like this!?
(Sefinat approaches quietly, squats beside her, and gently pats her back.)
Sefinat: It’s okay… Don’t cry.
Habibah: (Startled, stands quickly) Don’t ever come near me again.
Sefinat: It’s me… Sefinat, your course mate! Hold on! Wait!
(She runs after her. Khalid watches them as he rides by on his bicycle.)
Habibah: Stay away from me, please.
Sefinat: I swear, I mean no harm. I just want to help.
Habibah: Help? You embarrassed me in class! I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing in our class this semester, but I know you’re not one of us. You came to make trouble. Please, stay away from me.
(She walks away. Sefinat stops, watching her disappear.)
Sefinat: I guess I’ve been unfair to the good ones. I’m sorry, Habibah… for the pain I may have caused you.
[Forty Minutes Later – By the Gutter]
Habibah, tired from walking, sits beside a gutter. Her tears flow again.
Habibah: How long am I going to live like this? Look at my socks… my khimar covered in dust. I look miserable after just seven months of marriage… Why?
(She rests her head on her knees, sobbing quietly. Her phone beeps. She ignores it at first. Then, slowly, she checks. It’s a ₦2,000 credit alert from her husband.)
(Her eyes widen, and tears burst out again.)
Habibah: I am completely finished… ₦2,000 for a whole week!?
(She resumes crying, voice breaking in frustration.)
Habibah: Ahhh… Subhanallah!
**********************************
Later That Night – 10:56 PM | At the Corridor]
Ridwan: (Finds her at the corridor) You're still awake?
Sefinat: Oh! Yeah...
Ridwan: I need to talk to you, actually.
Sefinat: Oh! Okay... I’m listening.
Ridwan: I know this is none of my business, okay, but... going to your brother's class every day, trying to find his killer—it’s very risky.
Sefinat: Actually, they don't know I'm his sister.
Ridwan: Why can’t you just accept fate and let Allah be the judge of this?
Sefinat: Oh really? Well, I understand... because he’s not your blood. So it’s easy to say that. You have your mom. You have your family. Why wouldn't you say that? Look at me—I have no home, no one... no family. It's just me, left all alone in this cruel world. (Takes a deep breath) It’s hard to move on... I can't move on, knowing the fact that he's out there, ready to kill another human being. (Shakes her head) I don’t mind losing my life in the process. I have nothing to lose anyway.
Ridwan: Sefinat, please... I know you're still grieving, but this isn’t the solution. Think of another way. This... this is madness.
Sefinat: (Nods) I know... Then how about we let the police investigate? Uh?
Ridwan: The investigation has been closed—by Sefin’s parents.
Sefinat: Those are not humans, they’re monsters! Let’s give it a try. If the police can’t do anything... then I won’t sit back and watch.
Ridwan: If the school management finds out you’re an imposter in that class, you’ll have to face the consequences.
Sefinat: Don’t worry about that part. I have it under control.
Ridwan: You have so much confidence... I remember how Sefin wouldn’t stop talking about how brave you are. There wasn’t a day that went by without him saying your name. He even gisted me multiple times about your childhood. I think now... I understand why it’s hard to let go.
Sefinat: (Getting emotional) It’s hard... It’s really hard...
Ridwan: We’ll give the police one last try. And if it doesn’t work out... then I’m good with your decision.
Sefinat: (Can’t hold it in any longer, cries bitterly) Sefin… Sefin!!!