Habibah: Walaykum salam warahmatullah wabarakatuh. (Still standing at the door, a lot clouding her mind—she wasn’t expecting her.)
Hajia: Why are you still at the door? Won’t you welcome your mother in?
Habibah: (Lost in thought) Subhanallah! What if my mum finds everything? She will insult my life today because she warned me... Ahh, I’m so doomed today.
Hajia: Habibah!!
Habibah: (Snaps back to reality) Ma??
Hajia: What are you thinking so deeply about? Won’t you let your mother in?
Habibah: Oh! So sorry, Ma. (Steps aside) Where are my manners? (Takes her bag) Come in, Mum.
Hajia: (Enters) As-salam alaikum. (Scanning the house)
Habibah: (Nervous) Walaykum salam warahmatullah. (Drops her bag) So, what would you like me to prepare for you?
Hajia: I’m okay, my dear. In fact, I ate something before coming...
Habibah: Are you sure? You can’t come to your daughter’s house and be acting like a guest.
Hajia: (Removes her niqab) Let’s put that aside for now. It’s been months since I saw my Ajoke... Come here, sit next to me and let me see your face.
Habibah: (Swallows hard as she obeys) So how are my siblings and Abu? (Removes her niqab)
Hajia: (Notices her weight loss immediately but stays calm) So where is your zawj?
Habibah: You know my husband... He’s a busy man, always trying to make a living. (Chuckles, pretending)
Hajia: (Suddenly places a hand on her tummy and feels it) This place feels empty. What happened? Remove your khimar, let me see clearly.
Habibah: You don’t have to worry about anything. It’s just that, the times my husband returns from his trips, I’m either on my period or about to have it.
Hajia: (Focuses on her body) Remove your khimar first.
Habibah: Mummy, don’t let me... What if someone—
Hajia: Are you hiding your body from your mother? What’s there to hide? Just because you’re married? Of course I know your husband has touched everything, but open it. Let me check something.
Habibah: (Sighs heavily and removes it, feeling embarrassed as her collar bone is revealed)
Hajia: Subhanallah! What happened? You don’t look good at all. Is your husband not taking care of you?
Habibah: No! In fact, he’s the best husband ever. I’ve just been sick lately, that’s all.
Hajia: What type of sickness? I know my daughter well. You’re the strongest of my kids when it comes to health. Is your husband aware?
Habibah: (Stammering) Yes, in fact, he rushed over when I called him. We’ve visited the hospital. They said it’s just stress from school and all. He left three days ago.
Hajia: (Studying her) Really?
Habibah: (Fake smile) Yes, Ma. So you have nothing to worry about.
Hajia: But even when you were living with us, school didn’t wear you out like this.
Habibah: You can’t compare ND with HND, Mum. Don’t compare.
Hajia: Ehn ehn?
Habibah: Yes!
Hajia: Okay then... (Studies her for a few seconds) Go and get me a soft drink. At least if I won’t eat your food, let me take something refreshing.
Habibah: (Heart pounding) Umm... Which type of drink, Ma?
Hajia: You know my favorite. Or don’t you have money? Let me give you...
Habibah: Nooo! Haba, Mum. It’s time for you to eat the fruit of your labor. I’m not your responsibility anymore. I can buy you any drink of your choice now.
Hajia: Oh really? Okay then. Buy me Five Alive, and if that’s not available, buy Exotic—the big one.
Habibah: (Swallows hard again) Okay, Ma. I’ll be right back. (Puts on her khimar and niqab, then heads out)
Hajia: (Watches carefully, ensuring she’s out of the compound, then quickly gets up and begins investigating the house) Something doesn’t seem right about her... Why do I feel she’s lying to me? She doesn’t look good at all—like someone being starved. (Moves to the master bedroom and finds it neat) Seems okay here... (Moves to the living room and pauses)
(A few minutes later)
Habibah: (Enters and finds no trace of her mother. Her heart pounds heavily) Subhanallah! I am doomed today! (Searches around) Mum?!!!
Hajia: (Coming out of the bathroom) I’m here. What is it?
Habibah: (Panting heavily) I thought... I thought...
Hajia: You thought what? I only went to the bathroom...
Habibah: (Catching her breath) Your drink is on the table, Ma.
Hajia: You’re acting strange, oh!
(They move to the living room)
(Mother and daughter begin to chat and laugh for hours. For the first time in a long while, Habibah laughs hard with her mother and cherishes the moment. After 2 hours of chatting, her mother prepares to leave.)
Habibah: (Accompanies her out) Don’t forget to send my regards to Abdullah and Rofat. I really miss them a lot.
Hajia: They call you all the time, but you never pick. Even I called you before coming here—it said not reachable.
Habibah: Don’t mind me, jare. We barely have light here... And please, send my regards to Dad too.
Hajia: That reminds me... (Digs into her purse and begins counting money)
Habibah: Mum? What are you doing?
Hajia: (Hands her the money) This is thirty thousand from your father, twenty thousand from me, and another twenty thousand from my sister. That’s seventy thousand naira total.
Habibah: (Shocked) No... No... No, I can’t take this. This is too much. Mum, I’m fine. Please...
Hajia: I’m not arguing with you. It’s your dad’s instruction—Alhamdulillah I almost forgot. You know how grumpy he can be. And the twenty thousand from me is just for your basic needs. Take the money. (Pushes it into her hand) You dare not reject your parents’ blessings. May Allah be with you.
Habibah: (Trying to hold herself together) But Mum... You shouldn’t have... (Tears stream down her face) You really didn’t have to do that.
Hajia: Just because you’re married doesn’t mean we should stop our responsibilities. Have you forgotten how we used to send you allowance back in school? So why get emotional?
Habibah: (Embraces her in tears) I thought... I thought...
Hajia: (Taps her back) It’s okay...
Habibah: Jazakumullahu khairan. Thank you, thank you so much, Ma. I’ll call Dad and your sister as soon as I get inside. Thank you once again.
Hajia: Is this how you thanked us when we sent you more allowance before? Ehn? Marriage has really changed you. And whatever you’re hiding from me, I pray Allah eases it for you.
Habibah: (Wipes her tears) It feels like you shouldn’t go again.
Hajia: Just take care of yourself for us, okay? We love you. May Allah be with you... (Waves) As-salam alaikum?
Habibah: Walaykum salam warahmatullah. (Sadly waves back until her mother boards a bus and disappears from sight. She holds her emotions until she gets inside and then breaks down in tears.
***********************************
At the prison
Zatimah: ( falls to the Ground) uhhhhh what a day?. There is no differences between us and a slave here. ( Notice Akeelah happily eating her cold meal) You look happy today...
Akeelah: uhmmmm yeah?
Zatimah: whats the good news? Abi you already had a miscarriage?.
Akeelah: please don't remind me of my sorrow.. you know if I could then I would.
Zatimah: I know!! Just surprised though, come to think of it.. my ears have now rest from your annoying cries every night and day, more like you are adapting to the environment.
Akeelah: is high time I accept my fate ..
Zatimah: oh really? ( Sit up) Who told you that?.
Akeelah: my instinct ofcourse, even my brother doesn't pay me a visit any longer, ever since I told him about this stupid child.. I know he is dissapointed. So I have accepted my fate.. since I cant get rid of this thing here.. once I bring it to this world, i will kill it with my bare hands.
Zatimah: why don't you just kill it now uh?.
Akeelah: because it has grown so big now... Now It hard to get rid of it.
Zatimah: anyway, being happy looks good on you. So don't stop smiling okay?. Come get some sleep, a lot of work is waiting for us.
Akeelah: ( sigh) okay ( lick the dirty plate with her tongue.
Zatimah: have mercy on the plate woman!
Akeelah: I just can't help it, everything just taste delicious now.
******************************
At the hospital
Khalid: (walking briskly through the hospital corridor, checking each room. As he passes one, he suddenly stops, reverses, and peeks through the door)
Ramat: (lying sadly on the bed, a drip connected to her arm. Her hand is bandaged.)
Khalid: (his eyes narrow, sighs heavily upon seeing her condition)
Mr. Badmus: (appears behind him, holding a small food flask) Who are you?
Khalid: (turns around quickly, startled by the old man) I’m sorry, sir... I didn’t mean to intrude. I... I came to check on someone.
Mr. Badmus: You’re here to see my granddaughter, aren’t you?
Khalid: (nods gently) Yes, sir... I am.
Mr. Badmus: (voice breaking) Look at what they did to her. A fellow student—just like her—cut off her finger. For what?! What did she ever do to deserve that? (tears begin to fall) She’s all I have left. Her parents are gone, and now this... (wipes his tears with the back of his hand)
Khalid: (moved by his pain) Sir, can we talk for a moment? Please...
Few minutes later – On a hospital bench outside
Khalid: Thank you for sitting with me. I’m truly sorry for what happened. And I want to help, if I can.
Mr. Badmus: I’ve reported to the police, but nothing was done. No justice. No arrest. They just waved it off like it’s nothing. Is this how we treat children in our country? Innocent students?!
Khalid: Unfortunately, it’s a widespread problem. School violence is rising everywhere, and many school authorities are overwhelmed. But we can't let that stop us. Did Ramat ever tell you who was responsible?
Mr. Badmus: Yes. She showed me his picture. She stares at it every night in tears. (shaking hands bring out his phone, struggling to unlock it, then shows him the screen) This one.
Khalid: (eyes widen in shock, whispers) Him?
Mr. Badmus: Yes. Please, if there’s anything you can do... please. My granddaughter has talked about ending her life if justice isn’t served. She’s all I’ve got. (grabs Khalid’s knees in desperation) Help us, please.
Khalid: (gently lifts his hands off) Don’t worry, sir. I’ll do what I can. You have my word. (stands) I have to go now... but I’ll be in touch.
Mr. Badmus: (relieved) Thank you! Thank you so much, my son. God bless you!
Khalid: (nods, walks away with clenched fists) Idris... You son of a bitch.
Watch out for the next episode!!!