Suliyah: My dad will hear about this. (she hisses and walks away)
Halimah: Mumu. Instead of you to follow your mother, you chose to stay and block my way. I will deal with you, you hear me?
Later that night
(Bolaji returns from work and finds Suliyah sitting quietly by the doorstep.)
Bolaji: Suliyah? Is that you?
Suliyah: (rushes to him and hugs him tightly, already in tears) Daddy…
Bolaji: Ahh… what happened? Why are you crying like this?
Suliyah: It’s that woman you brought into the house. She has been treating me badly since you left. She slapped me… three times… and even beat me. Look at my body. (she wipes her tears, voice shaking)
Bolaji: She beat you just like that? What did you do?
Suliyah: She asked me to buy recharge card for her, and I told her I wasn’t feeling fine… then she started beating me. (sniffs)
Bolaji: Ahh… come, let’s go inside first.
Suliyah: I’m not going inside that house. Dad, warn her not to touch me again. In fact, send her out. She’s wicked… she’s only pretending.
Bolaji: (laughs lightly) You this child… come inside first. We will settle it. Your JAMB is close, I don’t want anything to distract you. Come.
Suliyah: (murmuring under her breath as she follows)
(Halimah walks forward immediately.)
Halimah: Okomi… (embraces him warmly) welcome. How was work? Hope it wasn’t too stressful?
Bolaji: It was fine. What happened between you and my daughter?
Halimah: (waves it off, smiling sweetly) That one… leave her. She doesn’t like me yet, and I understand. With time, she will.
Bolaji: She said you slapped her and beat her.
Halimah: (leans into him, gently rubbing his chest) Why would I do that to someone I’m trying to win over? You should understand me now… hmm? You look tired. Let’s go inside and rest… come.
(She pulls him closer.)
Bolaji: (smiles, giving in) Hmm… you’re tempting me. (turns briefly) Suliyah, sorry, okay? She won’t do it again. Go and sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.
(He follows Halimah into the room, completely distracted.)
(Suliyah stands there, watching… her face tight with anger and hurt.)
Suliyah: So this is how he lets her control him… when my mum couldn’t? My mum should be in that place… not her. (her voice breaks) I miss my mum…
(She walks into her room slowly and picks up her phone.)
Summayah’s p.o.v
Mum is laughing with Abdullah. For the first time in days… I see her smile. I think he’s trying to heal her, even if it’s just a little.
(Her phone rings.)
Summayah: Mum, your phone is ringing.
Adewunmi: Bring it.
(I pick it up… and freeze when I see the name.)
Oh… the witch finally remembers she has a mother.
After all these days… she’s calling now?
(Smirks slightly and hands it over.)
Summayah: It’s Suliyah.
Abdullah: Mum, please don’t pick it.
Summayah: Please, Mum… don’t.
(The phone stops ringing.)
Adewunmi: She will call again.
(The phone rings again.)
Abdullah: Please, Mum… don’t pick it. Let her stay there.
Adewunmi: Whether you like it or not… she is my child.
(She answers.)
Adewunmi: Hello?
Suliyah: Hello, Mum… good evening, ma.
Adewunmi: Evening. How are you… and your dad?
Suliyah: We are fine, ma. And you?
Adewunmi: Alhamdulillah. So… you remember you have a mother today? Why did you call?
Suliyah: (voice soft, holding back emotions) I’m sorry, Mum… I will start calling you often now.
Adewunmi: Hmm… okay. Have you written your JAMB?
Suliyah: Not yet. Next week.
Adewunmi: Alright. I wish you success.
Suliyah: (her voice trembles slightly) Ameen, ma. How is Summayah… and Brother Abdullah?
Summayah: Don’t even ask of me. Stop pretending like you care.
Adewunmi: Have you eaten?
Suliyah: Yes, Mum. I’ve eaten well. Dad is taking good care of me.
Adewunmi: Good. Greet your mum for me.
(She ends the call.)
Suliyah: (stares at her phone, confused) My… mum?
(Silence hits her. Then slowly… her eyes fill.)
Suliyah: She cut the call…
(She breaks down.)
Suliyah: I should have followed them… but my JAMB is close… (her stomach growls loudly) I’m so hungry… Dad didn’t even buy food tonight… what am I going to eat?
(Curtain)
Adewunmi: I know she’s not happy there.
Summayah: And who cares?
Adewunmi: I care. She is your sister.
Summayah: Let her stay there. I want you to myself. (she hugs her tightly)
Adewunmi: Don’t be selfish, Summayah. She came before you.
Abdullah: Mum… why are you still defending her after everything she did?
Adewunmi: You won’t understand. A mother cannot disown her child. No matter what that child does… it’s not possible. Some mothers may say it, but deep down… it’s a lie.
(She places her hand on her chest.)
Adewunmi: A child you carried for nine months… a child that came out of you… how do you erase that? You can’t.
(She looks at Summayah.)
Adewunmi: Just like I can never disown you… no matter what you face, no matter how you look. I will always love you.
(She turns to both of them.)
Adewunmi: So don’t hate your sister. She is your blood. One day… you will understand each other. Look at me and my brother… when the whole world turned against me, he stood by me. That is the power of blood.
(Silence fills the room.)
Abdullah: You’re right, Mum… that’s why I can’t live without you. You’re strong… and kind. Thank you for everything.
(He rests his head on her lap.)
Summayah: (softly) I understand too… I’ll try. Maybe… we can be better.
Adewunmi: That’s my girl. Come here… you are special, Summayah. Very special. You just don’t know it yet.
Summayah: (smiles through tears) I love you, Mum.
Adewunmi: I love you both. Now go and finish packing. We’re moving tomorrow.
(Curtain)
The next day
Alia: Buy your delicious fried fish!
Ummu: Buy your delicious fried fish!
Alia’s p.o.v
After a long day under the sun, walking from street to street, we finally sold everything. My legs ache… but my heart feels lighter.
We return home together.
Ummu… she’s not just kind. She treats me like I belong… like I matter.
(As they prepare dinner…)
Alia: Ummu?
Ummu: Naam.
Alia: Please… don’t be offended. I want to ask you something.
Ummu: Bismillah. Go ahead.
Alia: Since I came here… I’ve been wondering… why do you live alone?
(Ummu pauses… then smiles softly, like someone remembering a distant life.)
Ummu: Where do I start? I got married twenty years ago… but I never had a child. I couldn’t conceive.
(She stirs the pot slowly.)
Ummu: People called us names… but my husband… he was kind. He loved me deeply. Even in poverty… he never made me feel less.
(She chuckles faintly through emotion.)
Ummu: He used to say, “Everything happens for a reason… every disappointment is a blessing.”
(Her voice softens.)
Ummu: He died five years ago… peacefully. I still had no child for him.
Alia: (softly) May Allah grant him Jannah.
Ummu: Ameen.
(She looks around the small hut.)
Ummu: This place… this little hut… it holds all our memories. Every moment… every laughter… every struggle. I stayed because of that.
(She turns to Alia.)
Ummu: And I’m happy. Truly. Because I believe… one day, I will see him again in Jannah.
Alia: (smiles, deeply moved) That’s… so beautiful.
Ummu: (smiles back gently) It is.
The next day, Adewunmi and her children moved into their new apartment. It wasn’t much… but at least it was theirs.
Abdullah didn’t waste time. He began taking any job he could find, anything that would bring in money, anything that could support his mother and still keep his dream of returning to school alive.
Summayah tried too.
She insisted on working as a house girl, but Adewunmi refused immediately. She knew the world too well. She knew how cruel people could be… and she couldn’t bear to watch her daughter be humiliated again because of her looks.
So Summayah stayed back… trying… hoping… waiting.
Alia still went to Summayah’s shop from time to time, hoping… just hoping she would see her there one day. But she never did.
Still… that didn’t stop her.
Hope became the only thing she held onto.
Alia worked hard. Very hard. She followed Ummu everywhere, helping her with the tiring work, learning… growing. Over time, they became more than just companions. They became family.
And Ummu didn’t stop guiding her… correcting her… shaping her. Slowly, gently, she led her toward a better path.
Now… she wasn’t just Ummu to Alia.
She had become her teacher… her guide… her light.
And Alia never resisted… because she loved her deeply.
The first month was hard.
Very hard.
Adewunmi struggled… but she was not a woman who gave up easily. She endured everything with one quiet hope… that one day, peace would find her.
Her brother visited when he could, once or twice a month, dropping whatever little money he had.
But it was never enough.
When things became unbearable… Abdullah made a painful decision.
He dropped out of school.
Not because he wanted to… but because he had to.
Because his mother needed him more.
Five years later…
Summayah is now twenty.
Abdullah, twenty-six.
For the past two years, Adewunmi has been battling her health. It started slowly… then became something they could no longer ignore.
They went from one hospital to another until it was confirmed.
Hypertension.
It explained everything… the weakness, the constant fatigue, the silent suffering.
Her children refused to let her continue hawking or doing any stressful work. They took that burden from her shoulders and placed it on theirs.
Abdullah worked harder.
Summayah searched… tirelessly.
Day after day… rejection after rejection.
No one wanted to employ her.
Not because she wasn’t capable.
But because of how she looked.
It broke her… slowly… quietly.
But she didn’t stop.
One day… while walking along the road, lost in her thoughts… she saw someone.
A girl… walking boldly around a hotel.
Something about her felt familiar.
Summayah: (squinting) This person looks like my sister… no… it can’t be. She should be in school. It’s not possible.
(She steps closer… her heart beating faster.)
Summayah: Wait… it’s her.
(She walks up and taps her.)
Suliyah: (turns, chewing gum) Yes? How may I help you? Are you lost?
Summayah: Modare! Suliyah!
Suliyah: (shocked, quickly covers her mouth) Why are you shouting? What is wrong with you?
Summayah: (pushes her hand away) Why are you covering my mouth? What are you doing here? I thought you were in school!
Suliyah: (pulls her aside quickly) What is wrong with you? Why are you shouting? Someone is waiting for me.
Summayah: Waiting for you for what? Look at how you’re dressed… like— (laughs bitterly) no… it can’t be. Don’t tell me… you?
Suliyah: I’m in school. I just came to see a friend, that’s all.
Summayah: Do I look like a fool to you? Tell me the truth now!
Suliyah: You think I’m lying?
Summayah: Obviously!
Suliyah: Please just go. I have someone important to meet… someone that can change my life forever. We’ll talk later.
Summayah: I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what you’re doing here!
Suliyah: (losing patience) This girl… I will slap you. I said leave!
Summayah: (laughs) Try it. Hit me now and see what I’ll do to you here.
Suliyah: (quickly brings out money) Take this… just go, please.
Summayah: (slaps the money out of her hand, notes scattering on the ground) Now it makes sense… so this is what you’ve become? From the most intelligent girl… to this? Suliyah… you are very stupid!
Suliyah: (hurt, angry) How dare you! Do you know what I went through to get that money? I don’t have time for this. Please, just leave.
Summayah: I’m not leaving. What happened to you? You had everything… both parents’ love… everything! And now look at you… living like this… while Mum is dying!
(Silence.)
Suliyah: (voice breaks) What… did you say?
What happened to Mum?
Tell me!
Summayah: (coldly) Now you care? That’s what pains me. Mum still talks about you every day… still prays for you… still hopes to see you before she dies.
But look at you…
(She steps back, eyes filled with tears.)
Summayah: I’m done. Stay here with your clients. But hear this… you are not my sister anymore. Don’t ever act like you know me again.
Suliyah: (breaking) Please… Summayah… don’t tell Mum. Please…
Summayah: Don’t touch me! I swear I will slap you. You are a disgrace. Ashewo!
(She walks away, tears streaming down her face.)
Suliyah: Summayah! Please don’t go!
(Curtain)
Summayah returns home, her mind restless… heavy… burning.
But nothing prepares her for what she sees.
Adewunmi lies weak on the bed… barely moving.
Adewunmi: (weakly) Summayah…
Summayah: Mum! (rushes to her) Do you need anything?
Adewunmi: No… I just wanted to ask… how is the job search going?
Summayah: (forces a smile) I haven’t found anything yet… I’ll try again tomorrow. How are you feeling?
Adewunmi: I’m fine… (studies her face) what happened? Why do you look like this?
Summayah: Nothing, Mum. Just rest… I’ll go and cook.
Adewunmi: Your brother isn’t back yet?
Summayah: He will soon.
(Adewunmi coughs.)
Summayah: (quickly) Sorry, Mum… (turns away, tears falling) I don’t even understand this cough anymore… why do you have to go through all this…
Adewunmi: Are you crying?
Summayah: No… it’s just… something entered my eye. Please rest.
Adewunmi: This isn’t the life I wanted for you… I’m sorry… I ruined everything… please forgive me…
Summayah: Mum! Please… don’t do this. You want to worsen your health? The doctor said no stress, no crying. If you break down like this… what do you expect us to do?
Adewunmi: I’m sorry…
Summayah: It’s not your fault.
Adewunmi: I wish Suliyah was here too…
Summayah: (suddenly angry) Must you always mention her? Am I not enough? Why is it always Suliyah? She doesn’t care about you! Is it that everyone hates me?
Adewunmi: No, my child… I love you…
Summayah: Then why do you keep calling her name? Even in your sleep!
(She pauses… then blurts out.)
Summayah: The one you’re longing for is living a useless life!
Adewunmi: (sits up slightly) What? Did you see her? Summayah… did you see Suliyah?
(Abdullah enters quickly.)
Abdullah: Mum, please lie down. Rest first. We will talk later.
Adewunmi: Are you sure?
Abdullah: I promise.
(She lies back slowly.)
Abdullah: Summayah… come outside.
(They step out.)
Abdullah: What is wrong with you? Must you add to her pain? I’ve been listening to you for minutes now!
Summayah: (quiet, guilty)
Abdullah: Do you want her to die before her time? Whatever you’re feeling… tell me, not her. Please.
Summayah: I’m sorry…
Abdullah: Good. Now tell me… you saw Suliyah?
Summayah: (nods and explains everything)
Abdullah: (shocked) I can’t believe this… but don’t judge her yet. Something must have pushed her there. We will find out… but not now. For now, focus on finding work. We need stability first.
Summayah: Okay…
Abdullah: Let’s go inside.
(Curtain)
(Back at Bolaji’s house)
(Halimah and Bolaji are fighting violently.)
Halimah: Useless man! You will never succeed! You will perish!
Bolaji: (beating her) You want to kill me with stress? I will kill you myself!
Halimah: Kill me! Mad man! Somebody help me!
(Neighbours rush in.)
Neighbour: Ah! Do you want to kill your wife? Look at your child crying there!
Bolaji: (panting) She will kill me first! Every day, problem after problem! Since I married her, I have known no peace. My business is gone… everything is gone!
Halimah: (on the floor, crying, her eyes swollen) My eyes… I can’t see well… my leg… help me… please!
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