Munir: (shivering) Are you angry because I haven’t been able to visit for three months? I’m sorry, Akeelah. I was just trying to make a living—please... stop scaring me with this drama. Please, put down the gun. Let’s talk. I have a great plan for us. Just come, let’s talk—I’ll make it up to you.
Akeelah: (wipes her tears with her wounded hand, wincing in pain) You don’t deserve to exist. You don’t deserve to be among the living... you deserve to be burned alive. But no—I won’t kill you just yet. I’ll give you a mark you’ll carry to your grave, something you’ll explain when you meet our parents.
Munir: (panting and trembling) Please… I… I can explain. Just… please…
Akeelah: This morning, I was excited to finally see my brother again. I went to your shop, only to find out you were the monster. You were the devil behind everything. (shakes her head as tears stream down her face) I’ve been roaming the streets for two days, shattered and lost. But now I know what I must do. I have no reason to live anymore, so I’ll take your life—then mine. And in the grave, let God be the judge.
Munir: (sobbing, drops to his knees) Please... please forgive me. I made a mistake—a huge mistake. Please!
Akeelah: You know the worst part? When I told you I was pregnant... I remember your face. I thought you were shocked or disappointed. I never knew it was guilt—guilt that I was carrying your child. My own brother’s child. I hated that baby... and I killed her. An innocent soul. But now that I know she was yours? I understand why she had to go back to God. She was forbidden. I will never forgive you. And I will haunt you. In your dreams. In your thoughts. In every breath you take.
(She raises the gun, shoots both his hands and both legs.)
Munir: (screams in agonizing pain, collapses as blood gushes from his limbs)
Akeelah: (coldly, shoots his leg once more) If you survive this... know that the real haunting has just begun. Watch your back.
(She leaves, slipping out quietly as neighbors begin rushing toward the apartment.)
Landlord: (bursts in and sees Munir bleeding on the floor) Yeeeehhhh! Ikúnlẹ abÃamo ooo! Somebody help!!!
FEW DAYS LATER – JABIR’S HOUSE
Aishat: (filming content with a selfie stick, walking through the house. Suddenly hears a phone ringing nonstop. Curious, she follows the sound, sneaks into Jabir’s room, and finds a phone on his shelf.)
Aishat: (picks it up and sees the name ‘D Khalid’ on the caller ID) Khalid? Why is he calling this idiot? But wait... (removes the phone case and looks at it closely) This… this isn’t Jabir’s phone. Whose phone is this?
(The phone keeps ringing. She hesitates... then answers silently.)
Khalid: (on phone, furious) Hello!? Who is this?! Why on earth is Jamiu’s phone with you?! Hello?! Don’t worry—I will find you. I will find you, you son of a—
(Aishat panics, quickly hangs up and switches off the phone. Her hands tremble.)
Aishat: This… this is Jamiu’s phone?! But he’s… he’s dead! How? Does this mean Jabir had something to do with his death?
(She suddenly hears footsteps. She hides the phone in her pocket, quickly exits, pretending to be calm. As she bumps into Jabir in the hallway...)
Jabir: (barely looks at her) Watch where you’re going, blind one.
Aishat: (furious) You should be the one watching it! Rubbish! (storms into her room, locks the door, pulls out the phone and stares at it) I knew something was off. So... Jabir is involved in Jamiu’s death. And now Khalid is searching too. But why? Abi is he doing it for that imposter? No… he better not. I’ll get to the bottom of this—myself.
NEXT MORNING – ON THE WAY TO THE MARKET
(Habibah and Sefinat walk side by side through a busy street, chatting.)
Habibah: Honestly, I’m going to miss you. In fact, I already do.
Sefinat: You have no idea. (holds her hand)
Habibah: What still amazes me is seeing you wear this long hijab. It feels like a dream.
Sefinat: (takes a deep breath) You know what they say: “You’ll never know what you’ve been missing until it finds you.” I didn’t realize how lost I was until now. I’ve enjoyed every single one of your reminders. It’s been... beautiful. Too bad I’m leaving tomorrow—I need to go plan my life further.
Habibah: Alhamdulilah for that. But… I’ve been thinking...
Sefinat: (laughs) What now?
Habibah: Maybe... maybe you could stay. Just for a while. In this city. I’d be the happiest.
Sefinat: Awww, I wish I could. But the only family I have left is waiting for me, praying I return in one piece—not in pieces. I really want to stay, but I have to go. I’ll visit often, in shaa Allah. And honestly, it’s safer there. I might’ve escaped that last kidnapping, but I might not survive the next one.
Habibah: Hmm... you’re right. I respect your decision. I’m just happy you’ve begun embracing Islam slowly and steadily. May Allah make it easy for you and for me.
Sefinat: (suddenly taps her arm and points) Wait—Habibah? Isn’t that the same woman we saw the other day? The one that tried to end her life?
Habibah: The one standing at the top of the bridge?!
(CURTAIN)
Sefinat: Yes! (quickens her steps) She's really trying to die again?! Why on earth do we keep bumping into this woman? If she wants to die, let it not be in our presence! Hey you! Don’t you dare jump! (breaks into a run toward her)
Habibah: (chases after her) Are you out of your damn mind?! Killing yourself is like adding salt to your wound! Do you even know what you’ll face in the grave if you take your own life?! Please… come down. (reaches out her hand) For the sake of Allah, please. I don’t even care if you're Muslim or Christian…
Sefinat: Please! (both stretch their hands forward) We can help you. If we have the means, we’ll do all we can. Taking your life won’t fix this. Please!
Akeelah: (looks at them in tears) You can’t help me. The only solution is to die… to join my late parents. That’s the only peace I see.
Sefinat: (gasp) She’s an orphan? Please… don’t. I understand how you feel. Believe me, I’ve been there—I’ve been at that edge. It’s the worst feeling ever, but it’s not the end. Please… let us help you.
Akeelah: Trust me… (tears stream down her cheeks as a small crowd begins to gather) if you had been through what I’ve been through, you wouldn’t be talking—you’d join me and jump.
Habibah: We can help you, lillah! Believe me. You think you’ll find peace, that you’ll finally rest, but that’s when the real trials begin. If you can’t even wait for the Angel of Death to take your soul… and you take it yourself? What comes after death is far worse than anything in this dunya. Please… (stretches her hand, slowly moves closer) Please…
Sefinat: (suddenly grabs her during the distraction, pushing her off the ledge and onto Habibah) Gotcha!
Akeelah: (screams, sobbing) How does my life concern you?! Why can’t you just leave me alone and go your way?!
Habibah: (holds her tightly, placing her head on her chest) It’s okay… cry as much as you want. But we’re not leaving you alone. Never.
AN HOUR LATER – INSIDE SEFINAT’S APARTMENT
Sefinat: (walks in holding a steaming bowl of noodles) Here. Eat this. (drops a sachet of water beside her)
Habibah: (gently pats Akeelah’s back) Eat first. Then we’ll find something even better for you.
Akeelah: (looks at them, teary-eyed) Why are you helping me?
Habibah: Honestly… we don’t know either. I guess we were meant to save you. Or let’s just say… sent by Allah.
Sefinat: And this is the second time we’ve saved your ass. So, eat it before it gets cold.
Akeelah: I’m not hungry. Saving me doesn’t change anything.
Habibah: That’s what you think. Just eat first, please. Or… do you want a soft drink?
Sefinat: (scoffs) From your money, abi?
Habibah: Ah! Why are you casting us like this? We're in your house na.
Sefinat: If I punch you ehn—
(They all burst into soft laughter)
Akeelah: (smiles faintly, the first real sign of relief) Thank you… for helping me.
Sefinat: Madam, eat first… we can talk afterward.
Habibah: Or should we feed you? Are your hands still hurting?
Sefinat: Maybe the nurse didn’t treat all the wounds sha.
Akeelah: I’m fine. Thank you… for looking out for me. (stares at the bowl, then slowly picks up the fork) Thank you. (begins to eat)
10 MINUTES LATER
Sefinat: Do you want more?
Akeelah: No… I’m better now. Thank you.
Sefinat: Glad you are. (clears the table and walks to the kitchen)
Akeelah: (notices some boxes near the door) Are you moving out?
Habibah: Not me. She is—Sefinat’s moving out. I’m married.
Akeelah: Oh… I’m happy for you. Does your husband treat you well?
Habibah: (pauses) Well… I can’t really say. I’m stuck in confusion.
Sefinat: (returns and joins them) So… Akeelah, right? Tell us—what really happened? What made you think ending your life was the only solution?
Akeelah: (takes a deep breath) Where should I even start? (slowly removes her veil)
Sefinat: You know, you’re actually beautiful—even with your bald head. Why am I the only ugly one in this room?
Habibah: (removes her niqab) Let’s focus, please.
Sefinat: (grins) I’m serious. Look at her—glowing. And now look at you. Glowing and angelic too. Only me, like abandoned biscuit.
Habibah: (playfully nudges her) Madam! Let’s focus now!
Sefinat: Okay okay, sorry. (laughs) So, tell us.
Akeelah: (smirks slightly, then stares at them) You feel insecure about your beauty? You admire hers? You admire beauty? Well… that’s what destroyed me.
(Habibah and Sefinat exchange a quick glance, then hold her hands tighter.)
Habibah: Tell us everything. We’re listening.
Akeelah: It all started when I became the object of admiration. Admired by men… both young and old. (begins her full narration)
54 MINUTES LATER
(Habibah and Sefinat are completely silent, jaws dropped, soaked with tears as they listen.)
Akeelah: (also weeping) So… tell me, what’s my purpose? What’s left for me in this world except death? I just hate that you saved me. I hate it so much. You think you’re helping me, but you're just adding more problems to my life… because sooner or later, the police will come for me.
(CURTAIN)
Comments
Post a Comment