Sekinat Amazing Stories

 (Fatimah is busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. Lukman enters the house after Asr prayer. As he opens the door, a delicious aroma hits him.) Lukman (thinking aloud): Hmmmm, now that’s my country food. Who is preparing this delicious aromatic food? Let me check. (He heads to the kitchen and sees Fatimah.) Lukman (thinking): So this girl is a good cook. I guess she must be our maid, but why is everything about her so perfect? She seems very religious…just like my parents. I wish I could talk to her… but I just can’t. I better go. Fatimah (noticing him): Brother Lukman. Lukman (shocked): Y…yes? Fatimah: Do you need anything? Lukman: Uhmm…no, just came to check who is in the kitchen. Ithought my mom was back. Fatimah: Ok, oh that reminds me… (she leaves what she’s doing and moves closer to him) Please, mom will be back from work soon, and I want us to surprise her. Lukman: Ok, but how are we going to do that? Fatimah: You, of course! You have no idea how long she has prayed to see y...

 ONE YEAR LATER In the morning (5:30 am) Fatimah (knocking on the door): As Salam alaykum waramatulah! Mum, Dad, it’s time for solat! Alh Ismail (waking up): Walaykum Salam waramatulah wabarakatuh. (Yawning) Ok dear, we are coming. (Tapping his wife) Honey! Wake up, it’s time for solat. Hajia Habibah (stretching and yawning): It’s morning already? Are you sure it’s time? Alh Ismail: Yes, wake up. Fatimah: I’m not leaving until I see you two awake. I want to always receive my morning blessings from Allah. Alh Ismail (smiling at Fatimah): Baby, you heard what she said, right? Oya, wake now. Hajia Habibah (still stretching): Ok, ok. (She gets on her feet and heads to open the door) Fatimah: Mum, good morning ma. You look so tired today. Oya, let’s go and pray. Hajia Habibah (smiling): At least I’m awake now. I will meet you in the living room—get all our praying stuff ready. Fatimah: I’ve done that ma. All we need now is you. Alh Ismail (trying to leave his room): Excuse me, ladies. F...

 Fatimah (happily entering her room, checking out different beautiful wears, khimar, and socks bought by Hajia Habibah): Wow, I love this gown! It's so beautiful. (She puts it on and checks herself in the mirror.) Wow, I look so beautiful. Thank you, Allah. I am deeply grateful. Hajia Habibah (knocking at Fatimah's door): As-Salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Fatimah: Come in, ma. Hajia Habibah (opening the door): Uhhmmm, I was expecting you to respond to my taslim. Fatimah: What is taslim? Hajia Habibah: Subhanallah! Yaa Allah… (takes a deep breath) Okay, taslim is a blessed greeting. I said earlier, "As-Salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh." It means peace be unto you. You are supposed to respond with "Wa alaykum as-Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh," which means peace be unto you too. Fatimah: Oh… Wa alaykum Salam waaa…ra… Kai, I don't think I can pronounce it properly, ma. Hajia Habibah: Okay, this is an assignment. Learn it. Learn ...

  (After 3 hours of doing house chores by Grace, which makes her sad, her kids finally wake up.)  Blessing: (yawning and stretching into the living room) I’m so tired. (She takes a seat in the living room and turns on the television.) Let me check if there is any sweet American movie to watch.  Abdulrahman: (walking into the parlour, yawning) You’ve woken up already? Let me join you. Put MBC 2; they usually have better action films.  Blessing: Okay. (Pressing the remote.)  Grace: (hearing the TV while mopping in the kitchen, she angrily drops the mop and heads to the living room) So as you two wake up, is it a film you want to watch, abi? You can’t even assist me with house chores. Before I opened my eyes, you had already turned on the TV! (She shouts angrily, but to her surprise they don’t respond, as if she’s invisible to them.) Ahh! Am I not talking to you two? (She angrily collects the remote from Blessing and turns off the TV.)  Abdulrahman: Ahh, mummy...

 At night (in the bedroom) Hajia Habibah: (dressing the bed) Honey? Alh Ismail: (pressing his phone on the couch) Yes, dear. Hajia Habibah: I want to discuss something with you. Alh Ismail: Okay, I’m listening. Hajia Habibah: Hmmm… yes, I see that. Can't you at least drop your phone for a few minutes? Alh Ismail: Okay, okay. (focuses his attention on her) Hajia Habibah: (sits next to him) Thank you. Uhhmmm… it’s about the girl we rescued yesterday. I was thinking… what if we let her stay in our house? Alh Ismail: Yeah, no problem. When she gets better, she can leave. Hajia Habibah: Uhmm… that’s not what I meant. I mean I want her to live with us permanently. Alh Ismail: What? You know that is not possible. What if her parents are looking for her? What if all she said was a lie about them? Or even, what if she did something really offensive that made her run away? Hajia Habibah: Oh honey, I never imagined you could think like this. I know she is telling the truth. I just don’t know ...

  The Next Morning… Blessing: (coming out of Fatimah’s room, looking worried) Mom? Where is Fatimah? I can’t find her. Grace: (silent, avoiding eye contact). Blessing: (moves closer, impatient) Mom, I’m talking to you! Grace: Lower your voice! Shebi you’re better now? So why are you shouting? Don’t disturb my life, abeg. Blessing: (shouts angrily) Mom! Where is Fatimah!? Abdulrahman: (stepping out of his room, phone in hand) Ehhh, you’re disturbing me with your noise. I’m on a call, abeg. Blessing: (hisses) Mtteew! Mom, please don’t tell me you sent her out of this house. Grace: (calm but firm) Well, for your information, yes. I did. I realized she’s a bad omen in our lives. Because of her, I lost your father… I almost lost you last night because of her again. Before she kills us all, I had to send her away. Blessing: (shocked, staggers back and falls to the floor, covering her ears) You… you did what!? Nooooo! This can’t be happening right now! Noooooo!!! Grace: (snaps) You’re too...

  Grace: (screaming) Yeee! Blessing! (She pushes Fatimah away and quickly lifts Blessing up) Abdulrahman! Gbami o! Help me! Blessing! (She slaps Blessing gently on the cheek, panicking) Get me water, hurry up! Fatimah: (shocked to see Blessing unconscious, she quickly jumps up and runs to fetch a bowl of water, not minding her half-naked body). Abdulrahman: (follows her into the kitchen but avoids looking her in the eye, guilt written all over his face). Grace: (crying) Hurry up, please! Blessing, okomi! Please wake up. Have mercy on me. Fatimah: (rushes back with the water and hands it over). Grace: (snatches the bowl, shocked to see Fatimah but still sprinkles the water on Blessing’s face. Luckily, Blessing coughs and slowly regains consciousness). Ahhh Blessing! Okomi! Sorry, my dear. I’m so sorry. Abdulrahman, help her to her room! Abdulrahman: Okay, mom. Blessing, oya let’s go. (He helps her up and they stagger into her room). Grace: (watches them disappear into the room. She ...

  Fatimah: (continues preparing dinner, humming softly to herself). Abdulrahman: (stammering, fists clenched) Be… because… I’ve been playing… wi… with you too much, abi? No wahala. Just watch out for me! (He storms out of the kitchen angrily). Fatimah: (takes a deep breath, her chest rising and falling quickly) That was intense… (pauses, then smiles to herself) Fatimah… did you just face Abdulrahman? Wow… I can’t believe it. I’m so happy right now! Grace: (suddenly appears at the door, arms crossed, her voice cold) Why are you smiling? Fatimah: (startled, turns her neck quickly) N… nothing, ma. Grace: (steps forward, voice sharp) Are you done cooking? Because I am very hungry right now. Fatimah: (hesitant, stuttering) N… no ma.  It’s almost ready. Grace: (hisses, voice raised) What have you been doing since? Ordinary jollof rice and fried plantain! Are you normal at all?! Fatimah: (bows her head, voice trembling) I’m sorry ma, the rice is almost ready. It just needs to dry a l...

  FEW MONTHS LATER Fatimah and Blessing had become really close. They hung out together, played together, gisted, and shared secrets. The only thing they didn’t do together was house chores—Grace never allowed Fatimah’s “freedom of movement” easily. Ever since that day in the kitchen, Abdulrahman had started seeing Fatimah differently. He no longer bullied her. Instead, each time he set his eyes on her, he got lost in thought. But his strange silence and constant stares made Fatimah even more uncomfortable. --- In the kitchen Blessing: (embraces Fatimah from behind suddenly) Hey, sis! Fatimah: (startled, almost dropping the broom) You scared me! I thought it was someone else. Blessing: (grinning) Like who? You know nobody in this house treats you nicely except me. Fatimah: (smiling) Thank you, my good Samaritan. (They both chuckle.) So, what’s your plan for today? Blessing: Hmm… actually, I want to go to the market. I need to get some personal stuff. Oh! Let me help you with that s...

  Kitchen Grace: (frowning) I thought she asked you to help her. Now move to your room or find any other reasonable thing to do! Blessing: (innocently, with a spark of excitement) Like what, mum? Or should I go and wash our clothes? Grace: No! Besides, we have a washing machine. Blessing: (surprised, almost laughing) Really? Since when did you buy it, mummy? And you didn’t even show us? At least Fatimah won’t have to stress herself so much again. So, where is this washing machine? Grace: (pointing at Fatimah with disdain) Here she is—standing right there. Blessing: (stunned, voice trembling) Mum! That’s unfair. She’s a human being just like us. How can you call her a washing machine? You’ve never allowed me to do any chores in this house, and now look at me—I don’t even  know how to cook at this age! Don’t you have a conscience? Haba, mummy! Grace: (snapping, her voice thundering) If I hear one more word from your mouth, Blessing, you won’t believe what will come next! Blessin...

  EPISODE 12 (They enter Fatimah’s room. Fatimah sits weakly on the bed, still shaken. Blessing goes down on her knees beside her.) Blessing: (softly) I’m so sorry… for all the pain my family has caused you. I wish I could do something to erase it all. Words can’t describe what you’re going through right now, but I believe one day you’ll get out of this. Please forgive me… I’m truly sorry. Fatimah: (wiping her tears, voice trembling) It’s okay. Thank you for standing up for me… and for always covering for me. You remind me so much of Dad. You’re truly his daughter—you inherited his kindness. Blessing: (looking around the room, frowning) Let me get you something to wear. (She searches Fatimah’s small box and pulls out some torn clothes, shocked.) Are these the only clothes you have? Fatimah: (nodding shyly) Yes… just give me one. I’ll wear it. Blessing: No! These look like rags we use in the toilet. You know what? Wait for me. I’ll be right back. (She rushes out to her room. A knock...