Summayah: So that’s why the assistant manager said…
Jamiu: Said what?
Summayah: Nothing… did you fight someone?
Jamiu: Yeah… my enemy.
Summayah: And who is that?
Jamiu: You don’t need to know.
Summayah: Please, take it easy… don’t pay evil with evil. It will come back to you. That’s all I’ll say.
Jamiu: This is why I like you… you’re so simple, so real.
Summayah: I need to get back inside now. Please take care of that injury. (she turns to leave)
Jamiu: Please… don’t go yet.
Summayah: I’m busy.
Jamiu: Just stay with me for a little while.
Summayah: I can’t… I’m sorry. (she walks away)
Jamiu: Summa… (he lowers his head, defeated)
(Curtain)
A few days later…
Alia and Ummu now live in a new home. No more standing by the roadside under the harsh sun, hawking fish. Khalid had given them one of his newly built three-bedroom flats.
Peace finally feels real.
A date has been fixed for Alia’s proper introduction. Two weeks away.
One quiet evening, around 4:30pm, Alia and Ummu sit in the living room, watching a movie. Laughter flickers faintly between them… then—
A knock.
Ummu rises immediately.
Alia: Hope it’s not my brother? He said he might come today.
Ummu: Maybe it’s him then. (she opens the door)
Ridwan: As-salamu alaykum, Ummu.
Ummu: Wa alaykum salam, my son-in-law to be.
Ridwan: (smiling as he greets her… then his eyes drift past her shoulder. He freezes. His breath catches) Ummu… is that Alia sitting there?
Ummu: Yes— (she turns… and her voice breaks) Alia!
Alia: (turns, confused… then sees him. Her heart skips. In a flash, she runs into her room)
Ridwan: (still staring, stunned) That… that is Alia? Masha Allah… but she… she told me… wow…
Ummu: You’ve seen her face today by mistake. Come in, my son.
Ridwan: Thank you, ma. (he steps in, still holding a shopping bag, his mind far away)
Ummu: Please, sit down. Let me get you something.
Ridwan: No, no ma… I’m fine. Thank you. (his eyes keep drifting toward the hallway, waiting)
Ummu: At least drink water.
Ridwan: Ummu, I’m truly fine. Shukran, ma.
Ummu: (sighs softly) Alia, you have a visitor. Why are you taking so long?
Ridwan: (murmurs under his breath) Abi oh…
Alia: (steps out, fully covered in her niqob) As-salamu alaykum.
Ridwan: (smiles, still overwhelmed) Wa alaykum salam, my dear. I called you several times… you didn’t pick.
Alia: I’m sorry… I left my phone in my room.
Ummu: You two can step outside and talk. People are around.
Ridwan: Alright, ma. Let’s go.
Alia: (quietly follows him outside)
They walk slowly along the street, side by side, silence hanging between them.
Ridwan: You told me something about your appearance…
Alia: Please… can we not talk about that? You’ve seen my face now.
Ridwan: I can’t get it out of my head.
Alia: (a soft smile escapes her)
Ridwan: You’re… beautiful. And you told me you were ugly.
Alia: I said that because I needed to know why you love me. Is it for my face… or for the sake of Allah? This face nearly destroyed me. It brought danger into my life… I almost got raped several times. Only Allah saved me. That’s why I had to test you.
Ridwan: (quietly) No wonder my cousins kept saying you were beautiful… I thought they were just trying to cheer me up. How many days left now?
Alia: (light laugh) Fourteen days.
Ridwan: I want to pay your dowry that day.
Alia: That soon? Is it because of what you saw today?
Ridwan: No… well… maybe a little. But truly, I just can’t wait to marry you.
Alia: Calm down. What if I really looked like that “ugly” friend I told you about?
Ridwan: I would still love you.
Alia: (studies him) It’s hard to trust words. If something happens to my face one day… will you still love me?
Ridwan: I will. I promise. (he hands her the bag) This is for you.
Alia: What is it?
Ridwan: Open it when you get home.
Alia: Thank you.
Ridwan: What do you need for the introduction? Your personal things.
Alia: We’ll talk about that later… not today.
Ridwan: Why not now? I’m free.
Alia: (smiles gently) We’ll talk on the phone.
Ridwan: Alright.
Alia: Thank you for the gift. May Allah continue to bless your provision.
(Curtain)
One week later…
Suliyah has been unwell for days. Everyone assumes it’s because of the pregnancy. Her mother keeps asking her to bring the father of the baby… but she keeps asking for more time.
Until this morning.
A strange, painful morning.
Suliyah lies on the bed, groaning, her body twisting in pain. Summayah, already dressed for work, pauses at the door.
Summayah: Suliyah… are you okay?
Suliyah: (crying out, clutching her stomach)
Summayah: (rushes to her) What’s wrong? Is the baby?
Suliyah: (nods, writhing) My stomach… ahh!
Summayah: (tries to lift her… then freezes)
Blood.
Everywhere.
The bed… her clothes… her hands.
Fear grips her throat.
Summayah: Mami! Please come! Hurry!
Adewunmi: (rushes in) What happened? What’s wrong— (she stops, her voice shattering) Ahhh! Modaran… I’m finished! Suliyah, what did you do? Tell me!
Suliyah: (through tears, broken) I… I aborted the baby… because the father rejected it…
Adewunmi and Summayah: Ahhh!
Summayah: (voice trembling, eyes wide with shock) You… you killed the baby?
Adewunmi: Suliyah… you have killed me… ahh! Suliyah!
Suliyah: (weak, tears slipping down her face) My mum… please forgive me. I regret everything I’ve done… please… forgive me.
Adewunmi: Ahhh… what are we going to do now? (she breaks down) Who do we even call? Suliyah, look at what you’ve done to your life… and Abdullah is not even around…
Summayah: She needs to go to the hospital now, my mum. She’s losing too much blood. I’ll go and find a vehicle. (she rushes out)
(Curtain)
At the hospital
Suliyah lies still on the bed, her body weak, a drip running slowly into her veins.
Doctor: Are you her mother?
Adewunmi: Yes, sir.
Doctor: Please, come with me.
Adewunmi: (nods, following him) Okay, sir. Summayah, stay with her.
Summayah: Yes, my mum.
Inside the doctor’s office
Doctor: After our examination… your daughter attempted to abort the pregnancy using a very dangerous method. The drugs she used were extremely harmful. I’m sorry to say this, but… your daughter no longer has a womb. The drugs damaged it completely… along with the pregnancy.
Adewunmi: (a piercing scream escapes her) Ahhh! Moku!
Doctor: Please, calm down. I understand this is difficult, but how did it get to this? When you found out she was pregnant, why didn’t you support her? Situations like this can push a young girl into desperate decisions.
Adewunmi: (crying uncontrollably) Doctor… it’s not like that… I wasn’t harsh to her. Are you saying… she can never have a child again?
Doctor: I’m sorry… but yes.
Adewunmi: Suliyah has destroyed me… ahh! (she weeps bitterly)
Doctor: Please, take it easy. We almost lost her, but Alhamdulillah she survived. However, she needs blood urgently. You’ll have to find a donor immediately.
Adewunmi: I will donate. (through tears) I will… Suliyah!
(Curtain)
Summayah stays back at the hospital. She calls her supervisor to explain she won’t be coming to work. There is no one else to sit beside her sister.
Hours pass slowly.
Suliyah finally regains consciousness, but no one tells her the truth yet. They want her to regain strength first. Still, something feels wrong. Her mother cannot stop crying whenever she looks at her.
All Suliyah can say is, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” over and over again.
At the company
Jamiu is too busy to notice Summayah’s absence.
But Abdulhakeem notices.
He asks around, concern written clearly on his face. When he hears what happened, it unsettles him. He asks for her number… but they tell him she doesn’t even own a phone.
Three days later
Jamiu finally notices she’s gone. He starts asking questions, moving from one person to another… but no one gives him a clear answer.
Back home
Suliyah is discharged.
The truth is finally told.
The moment the words leave her mother’s mouth, Suliyah goes still… then collapses.
When she wakes, her cries fill the house.
She begs for time to turn back. To undo everything.
But time does not listen.
She locks herself inside her room, shutting everyone out. Her mother prays endlessly. Summayah tries… she really tries… but Suliyah avoids her completely.
One evening
Summayah and Adewunmi stand on the balcony, discussing what to cook.
A car pulls up in front of the house.
They pause.
Summayah steps forward… then freezes.
Summayah: Boss?
Adewunmi: Isn’t that the young man who dropped you that day?
Summayah: Yes, my mum… but I thought it would be Jamiu.
Abdulhakeem: (steps out, holding a ShopRite bag) As-salamu alaykum, ma.
Adewunmi: Wa alaykum salam, my son. How are you?
Abdulhakeem: Alhamdulillah, ma. How is Suliyah now?
Adewunmi: She is getting better, Alhamdulillah.
Abdulhakeem: Please take this. (hands over the bag) It’s for her. May Allah grant her complete healing.
Adewunmi: Ameen. Thank you so much, my son. May Allah reward you. Please, come inside.
Abdulhakeem: Okay, ma. (he moves to follow her)
Summayah: (whispers sharply) Do you really want to go inside?
Abdulhakeem: Yes… I came to see your mum, not you. (he walks past her)
Summayah: (stunned) What is really going on? (she follows)
Adewunmi: (brings water) Here, my son.
Abdulhakeem: Ahh, ma… you didn’t have to stress yourself. Thank you.
(She leaves them alone)
Summayah stands by the door, watching him.
Abdulhakeem: Why are you looking at me like that? Won’t you sit?
Summayah: (silent)
Abdulhakeem: Did I offend you?
Summayah: No… I’m just surprised to see you here.
Abdulhakeem: I came because I care about you… and your family. Sit down.
Summayah: (sits slowly, head lowered) You care about me?
Abdulhakeem: Yes, I do.
Summayah: Why?
Abdulhakeem: (pauses) I don’t even know… I just do.
Summayah: My mum, I’m going to the market.
Adewunmi: What about your visitor?
Summayah: He’s leaving too… right? (looks at him)
Abdulhakeem: Yes… I should be going. Thank you, ma. Please greet her for me.
Adewunmi: I will. Thank you, my son.
Outside
Summayah: My mum, I’m coming.
Abdulhakeem: (approaching his car, then stops) Why did you react like that when I came?
Summayah: (cold) What do you want from me?
Abdulhakeem: Nothing… trust me.
Summayah: Okay. Thank you for coming. (she turns to leave)
Abdulhakeem: Wait… let me take you to the market.
Summayah: No, thank you.
Abdulhakeem: Why? Are you still uncomfortable around me?
Summayah: (takes a breath) Yes… no… you know what, yes. You can’t just walk into my life and play with it. I have a heart too. Your level is far above mine… please, stay with your kind. Stop this.
Abdulhakeem: Do you know why I keep coming after you? Because I’ve started liking you… deeply. My heart chose you. You’re not after my money, and I’m not after your body… I want your heart. And I’ll do everything to win it.
Summayah: (stunned) What did you just say?
Abdulhakeem: You heard me. I mean it. So… will you see me tomorrow?
Summayah: (voice trembling) Y-yes…
Abdulhakeem: (smiles softly) Good. See you tomorrow. Oh… (he reaches into his car and brings out a phone box) this is for you. So I can reach you. There’s a SIM inside.
Summayah: (speechless, staring at it)
Abdulhakeem: Please take it… don’t say no.