Habibah and Sefinat finally reach the department, now filled with a large crowd.
Sefinat: Oh my God! This can’t be happening… (panting heavily)
Habibah: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un! Why is this happening to us? Why?
They push through the crowd until they reach the stairs and suddenly bump into Khalid, who is furiously coming down, not noticing them.
Sefinat: (blocks his way) Is it true? Is the rumor true?
Habibah: (worried) Subhanallah…
Jabir: (also descending the stairs, notices Sefinat, clenches his fist but composes himself) Hey guys. Khalid, what’s up?
Khalid: (angry) Sefinat, come with me!
Jabir: Actually, I wanted to see her privately too.
Sefinat: (confused)
Habibah: Please excuse me. (gently exits the scene)
Sefinat: (glances back and forth, worriedly)
(Curtain closes briefly and reopens to a quieter place)
Jabir: Thanks for choosing to see me first. I’m honored.
Sefinat: It’s nothing. Khalid can wait. The last time we met, you left angrily — I wouldn’t want to offend you again.
Jabir: Thank you for that. And I’m sorry for the stress I might’ve caused. My stepsister told me you came to my house… I was wondering how you even located us.
Sefinat: Actually, immediately after you left, I noticed your phone on the table. I ran out to give it to you, but you had already gotten into the cab. So… I followed you on a bike. I’m sorry.
Jabir: It’s okay… thank you. The main reason I called you is to beg you. I know you must be surprised that Aishat and I are siblings… well, by force. And I want you to keep it a secret. You’re the only one who knows.
Sefinat: But there’s nothing wrong with that…
Jabir: Can you just do this for us? Please?
Sefinat: Sure. My mouth is sealed.
Jabir: Good. Thank you for your time — have a nice day. (walks away)
Sefinat: (watches him leave) Why is he making a big deal out of it? (exhales deeply) I thought he had something to do with my brother’s death… but he’s way off my suspect list, to be honest. A real culprit won’t care about things like this… I guess the mastermind has shown himself since day one, but I was too blind to see it. (looks down at the crowd below and locks eyes with Khalid again)
Khalid: (gestures with his hand for her not to move as he climbs the stairs)
Sefinat: (rolls her eyes) Now what?
Khalid: (furiously walks up to her) Sefinat!
Sefinat: Look, I didn’t do anything this time. So what is it?
Khalid: Leave the city and go back to where you came from!
Sefinat: (surprised sigh) Are you for real? What exactly is your problem with me being here, huh? What do you want from me?
Khalid: That girl who was attacked by Idris… she was murdered in her house two days ago. And everywhere you go, chaos follows. They’re coming for you! You need to leave this city tonight and never come back.
Sefinat: And why should I listen to you, huh?
Khalid: (losing his cool) Because—! (controls his emotions, clenches his jaw)
Sefinat: (steps forward) You know… who knows? Maybe my brother’s killer is standing right in front of me. But every time I get close to catching him red-handed, he brings up excuses and tells me to go back to where I came from.
Khalid: (stunned, voice shaking) What did you just say to me?
Sefinat: You heard me! Sometimes you act like an angel… but now, I think it’s just a disguise. You’re hiding who you really are. And I’m not going anywhere — not until I gather enough evidence to lock you up for good!
Khalid: (rubs his head in rage) You know what? Go to hell! You die, you die for nothing. I’m done with your case! (storms off)
Sefinat: (in her mind, breathing heavily) What have you done?
In a dark, deserted bush, a car approaches. Rash stands firm, waiting nervously.
Rash: (hurriedly moves to open the door, but is slapped hard from inside) Ahhh!
Idris: (struggling to get out with a walking stick) You son of a b**ch! Is this what I sent you to do? You’ve put me in serious danger! (finally gets down with the help of a subordinate) You had just one job. One job! And you messed it up!
Rash: (lowers his gaze)
Idris: (furiously hits him repeatedly with the stick) As they are coming for me, I’m coming for you! You’ll pay for this. Now tell me — what do I say to Boss, huh? What?
Rash: I’m sorry! I thought you said—
Idris: (hits him again) You thought? You thought?! Get me my gun!
Subordinate: (obeys and fetches the gun)
Rash: No! Please, I’m sorry, sir! (drops to his knees) Please don’t kill me!
Idris: (takes the gun and points it at his head) When you get to hell, say hello to your parents for me…
Just as he’s about to pull the trigger, Rash is shoved violently to the ground.
Mask Guy: (deep voice) Which one of you killed the girl?
Rash attempts to fight, but Mask Guy knocks him down with a single brutal punch.
Mask Guy: I’ll ask again. Which one of you killed the girl?
Idris: (suddenly recognizes the voice, startled) You… you! You’re the one who attacked me that night! You! (tries to stand on one leg, ready to fight)
Mask Guy: (chuckles and beats up both subordinates brutally) For the last time… who did it?
Idris: We owe you no explanation. You die tonight! (lunges for his gun)
Narration: Mask Guy steps on Idris’s hand with heavy boots, making him scream. Then he crushes Idris’s unhealed leg.
Mask Guy: You should’ve healed by now. But I doubt you killed her… not with this useless leg. (stomps harder as Idris screams)
Rash: (back on his feet) I did! I killed her! So what?
Mask Guy: (scans him coldly, then launches a furious assault — punches, kicks, until Rash is bloodied and groaning) Now, taste your own medicine. (grabs the gun from Idris and shoots Rash in the right leg and left hand)
Rash: (screams in agony, writhing in blood)
Mask Guy: Enjoy the pain… because I’m not done with you yet. (turns the gun to Idris’s leg)
Idris: Nooo! Please, I beg you! I’m still healing. Please!
Mask Guy: I know you can’t wait to heal and chase me. But I will haunt you to your last breath! The chaos you’ve caused ends now. Take this as your final warning. (walks away with the gun)
Rash continues screaming in pain, drenched in blood. Idris, limping, shouts to his subordinate.
Idris: Get me in the car… now! (furiously slaps the seat once inside) I will find you… and I’ll shred you into pieces!
FEW DAYS LATER – PRISON FIELD
Zatimah watches Akeelah from a distance. Akeelah sits silently, holding a cutlass while others work.
Prison Officer: (approaches) Hey madam! Why are you seated? I’ve been watching you for fifteen minutes doing nothing!
Narration: Akeelah doesn’t notice.
Prison Officer: (hits her furiously) Are you deaf?!
Akeelah: (snaps back, tears in her eyes, stands up slowly) I’m sorry, sir.
Prison Officer: Get back to work. (walks away)
Akeelah: (sadly watches him leave, shakes her head, resumes duty)
Zatimah: (approaches) Don’t worry. I’ll clear this part for you.
Akeelah: (ignores her, focused on her work)
Zatimah: I know you can hear me. Why are you avoiding me since the incident? I swear all I wanted was for you to love that child before bringing her into this world.
Akeelah: (silent)
Zatimah: Please talk to me. Your silence is killing me. I had no hand in your child’s death. I only wanted you to be happy, Akeelah. Allah knows my intentions from day one — I meant no harm. Please believe me. (emotional)
Akeelah: (drops the cutlass, tears falling) I’m not quiet because I hate you. I’m quiet because I hate myself… I didn’t realize how evil I had become — until I killed my own child… with my own hands. What kind of mother does that? Now she’s gone, and I’ll carry this guilt forever… (sobs) You warned me. So many times.
Zatimah: (moves closer, embraces her) It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself. You conceived in pain… no woman should go through that. Anyone in your shoes might’ve reacted the same.
Akeelah: No. Only a demon would. And I am one. I remember how I hit my stomach every night… just to punish her. And she died. I murdered her. I deserve to die too. I don’t deserve forgiveness. I don’t even deserve to be called a mother! (falls to her knees, weeping)
Zatimah: (tears flow) Don’t say that. This was destined. Please, Akeelah, I’m here for you. (places Akeelah’s head on her chest) Don’t cry, my child. Everything will be fine soon.
Akeelah: I can’t sleep. I dream about her every night. I remember the only moment I saw her — lifeless. And now she haunts me. She said she hates me… for punishing her for her father’s sin. I hate myself. I want to die and join her — maybe she’ll forgive me there. There’s no purpose to life anymore. I just want to sleep and never wake up. I’m tired of this world!
Zatimah: Stop it! Don’t say that. For God’s sake, I will not let you harm yourself. You are like my own daughter… and I’ll protect you with everything I have. So stop crying.
Narration: Akeelah cries even louder, drawing attention.
EXAM HALL
The hall is silent. Students are focused, some writing, others staring blankly. Invigilators walk around. Habeebah writes with focus; Khalid does the same.
Suddenly, a noise erupts outside the building, disturbing the quiet. Students start looking up.
Invigilator: Face your work! Or submit your empty sheets and enjoy the drama outside, since that’s why you came here, right?!
Khalid suddenly notices Idris and his gang wheeling past outside. He loses focus, stands up, submits his paper quickly, and hurries out — scanning the area in search of them.