Habeebah: (returns back inside furious as she impatiently waits for him to enter)
Amir: (finally opens the door and finds her standing) Let me get this straight! This should be the last time you ever—ever in your life—call the police on me! I thought you were a wife! Despite being locked in there for days, you couldn’t even show up for me... Habeebah!
Habeebah: You know… one thing isn’t clear. You should have reported all of that to my parents. You should have told what really happened—everything. I wish you would… You know, I was kind of happy to see them. I thought you wanted to file for divorce, and I would expose the whole truth to them, and we’d both go our separate ways. You call yourself a man and treat me like trash? Look! At this stage of my life... whatever you do, I won't sit back and watch again. You try any shit with me, I’ll file for divorce. Marriage is not do or die. Only Allah knows what would have happened if not for those people. Ahhh... Amir! You are the real definition of a heartless man. And mind you, if you try any shit right now, you have no idea what’s coming for you. It’s better you return back to your hustling state while I live my single married life. Let’s keep it that way. (walks out on him)
Amir: Get back here! Habeebah, we are not done talking!
Habeebah: (enters the bedroom and slams the door, rests her back on it, panting heavily) Well, that wasn’t me. Did I just face him? (touches her chest) My heart nearly fell out of my body... I just don’t want him to notice that I’m scared to see him again… How am I going to cope with him like this? And now, he wants to start a family? An irresponsible man? Hell no!
Amir: (stands by the door, calm) Habeebah! Please... open the door, let’s talk like husband and wife. I should be the one getting mad at you right now, not you. I was bailed two weeks ago and had to return to work. Look, I know I was wrong for everything... I just want us to start over, please.
Habeebah: (surprised) Am… I… dreaming or something?
Amir: I don’t want us to continue like this. I’m ready to be the man you’ve always hoped I’d be. I’m sorry and I really want to make things right.
Habeebah: (opens the door and faces him) Just tell me your plans and stop the sweet talk already. I fell for this side before marriage, and I’m never going to fall for that ever again. Get to the point.
Amir: (takes a deep breath, grabs her hand gently and leads her to the living room, then puts her on the seat) Just hear me out. I know I was wrong and you don’t deserve any of this.
Habeebah: Wait! What changed your mind? Was it the torture at the police station or what?
Amir: It’s a long story! But I’m back to my senses now. I’m a changed person. Go and check the kitchen—I filled it with foodstuff. I even bought new niqab, socks, gloves, and jilbab. I’m a changed person now. I promise.
Habeebah: (exhales softly) Part of me doesn’t want to believe you. I don’t know why, but you're pretending so you can get something from me.
Amir: I just want us to start a family the right way. Pleeease. (holds her hand tight)
Habeebah: (scans him deeply) No. (gets up and moves to the bedroom)
Amir: Habeebah, please. (follows her in)
FEW DAYS LATER – AT THE HOTEL
Hotel Manager: So how much will you charge us for the repair?
Khalid: Just pay 50k and we’re good to go.
Hotel Manager: Mr. Khalid, you know we’re padi na… you shouldn’t charge us this much. You’re to repair these A.Cs, not buy new ones.
Khalid: (sighs) You think I charge too much to fix seven A.Cs? Maybe you should try someone else then.
Hotel Manager: Ahba, it hasn’t gotten to that now… just help us reduce it and you’ll get your cash.
Khalid: 50k or I leave.
Hotel Manager: (chuckles) You too like money jor… you no even smile at all.
Khalid: (suddenly his phone rings, he brings it out and sighs) Unknown number? (puts it back in his pocket) So as we were saying, do we have a deal or not?
Hotel Manager: We have no choice. You’re the only reliable man for this job. So, deal.
Khalid: Good. (carries his toolkit, about to enter the first room, phone rings again) C’mon! Who the hell is this? (brings out phone and picks) Hello?
Habeebah: As-salam alaykum sir, this is Habeebah, your coursemate.
Khalid: Wa alaykum salam, Hajia. How are you doing? I hope you’re okay?
Habeebah: Yes sir, I just want to ask if you noticed something lately. I’ve been unable to get in touch with Sefinat for the past few weeks. I’m currently at her apartment and the neighbours said she hasn’t been home.
Khalid: Well... maybe she’s returned to where she came from?
Habeebah: Please, I don’t think so. She would have informed one of us. I’m worried, please.
Khalid: I guess you’re right. We’re currently not in good terms, but I’ll see what I can do.
Habeebah: Thank you, sir. I’ll be waiting for your feedback.
Khalid: Alright ma’am. (ends call and places hand on waist) I thought she just didn’t want to see me… Something isn’t right. (dials her number but it’s unreachable) Yep! Something is definitely fishy. I knew this was going to happen. But she’s a stubborn head. (enters the room) Well... my job comes first.
THAT SAME NIGHT
Khalid: (roaming the street while dialing Sefinat’s line) C’mon! Sefinat, you shouldn’t die just like that... your generation shouldn’t disappear like this… (phone rings, he shows relief) Please pick it up!! Don’t act stupid, pick the damn phone, Sefinat.
Customer Service: "The MTN number you are trying to call is currently switched off. Please try again later. Thank you."
Khalid: What just happened? Wait! Maybe she’s fine and purposely doesn’t want to talk to me because of what happened last night. I guess she’s okay and has returned to where she came from. Oh well. (puts phone back, then gets a notification and brings it out again, slides it up, turns out to be a video clip sent to their class group. He opens and plays it) What the hell?! (tightens his fist angrily, puts phone in pocket and dashes off)
Habeebah: (eyes widen watching the video clip) Subhanallah! Sefinaaaat! (dials Khalid’s number again) Please pick up!! Ya Allah, keep her safe. (repeatedly dials Khalid’s line)
Amir: (lifts his backpack) Dear, I’m ready to move…
Habeebah: (puts down phone) Why can’t you wait till the next day? It’s late already. Why do you like late night journeys?
Amir: (drops backpack and grabs her close) Are you missing me already?
Habeebah: (feels uneasy as she tries to free herself) Not really. Just looking out for you, that’s all.
Amir: So you’re not gonna miss me, uh? Sometimes ehn… but never mind. (tries to kiss her but she steps back) Why are you avoiding my touch? You still didn’t let me make love to you. Habibah, are you cheating on me?
Habeebah: I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood to be touched at all. Do have a lovely trip.
Amir: I promise to be back soon, okay? Then we’ll have some fun and good times together. I promise I’ll make it up to you—for everything.
Habeebah: (irritably gazes at him) Alright. Don’t forget your adhkar, please.
Amir: Thanks, honey. As-salam alaykum. (heads out)
Habeebah: Wa alaykum salam… (watches him disappear, then shows a sign of relief) Habeebah, what is wrong with you? You should be happy he has finally changed. Isn’t this what you wanted? So why are you not happy about it? Awwwwwh! I don’t know… I don’t know why… Oh! Sefinat! (continues dialing Khalid’s line)
Khalid on his bike, speeding down a clumsy road covered in grass and trees late at night, determined to reach his destination. He increases speed.
One hour passes.
Inside an abandoned building, Sefinat is tied up, bruises on her face and body. She’s unconscious, slumped on the chair. She suddenly regains consciousness as voices grow louder. She opens her eyes, blurry at first, and then sees Khalid, Ziko, and his crew.
Khalid: I’m taking her with me. You have no right to kidnap her. She’s innocent—just a naïve girl trying to find her brother’s murderer.
Ziko: She isn’t leaving with you. She’s my criminal.
Sefinat: (stammers weakly) Khha… Khalid?
Khalid: (turns sharply and moves closer) Are you okay? (notices her bruises and furiously turns to Ziko) I thought you were man enough, but you hit a woman?
Ziko: Watch your mouth and leave us alone, Khalid!
Sefinat: You… you work with them? (getting emotional) You… you… (tears stream down her face)
Khalid: (turns in shock) What are you saying? I came to rescue you! You know what? (brings out small knife, ready to cut the rope when two gang members confront him)
Ziko: Let him untie her. He is one of us, remember? (his crew obey)
Khalid: I am not one of you. I only came here to save her and that’s all. (notices her sobbing silently) Sefinat, don’t worry. I’ll get you out soon. (tries to move closer)
Sefinat: Don’t! Don’t… (shakes her head in tears) Don’t touch me! How could you? I thought you were a good person. So you’re one of them.
Khalid: What are you talking about? Don’t you see I’m trying to save you?
Sefinat: I don’t need your saving. How on earth did you find me? How did you know where I was hidden? How come?!
Ziko: (laughs wickedly)
Sefinat: Answer me!
Khalid: (realizes the situation) Look, I can explain, okay? Let’s get you out of here first, then I’ll explain better.
Sefinat: (tears rushing down her face) I don’t need to be saved by you. Because you’re no different from them. All this while I thought you were God-sent to look out for me… Who knows if you don’t have a hand in my brother’s death?