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FATIMAH’S CHALLENGES: EPISODE EIGHTEEN

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(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, why now? Why did you turn off the sweet movie we were watching? 

Grace: You must be very stupid for saying that! You can hear and see me cleaning the entire house for the past 3 hours, and you can’t even assist me? Now, stand up and start sweeping the corridor! 

Abdulrahman: Me? Sweep where? The broom I’ve never touched in my life, and now you want me to start working? No way. Please, just give us the remote; we want to watch the film, please! 

Blessing: (doesn’t utter a word, but angrily leaves their presence and heads to her room.) 

Grace: (surprised) Blessing!!! 

Abdulrahman: I’m out as well. And mom, don’t ever call me to do any stupid work for you again. Shebi we have Fatimah, but you sent her out. You better look for her. (He heads to his room.) 

Grace: (shocked) I can’t believe what is happening right now! Why is this happening to me? My kids don’t even listen to me; they don’t pity me. After all I’ve done for them, is this how they will repay me? I should even be at my shop by now. Okay o, no problem, we are in this together. (She heads to continue her chores.) 

(LIGHT OUT)

(IN THE EVENING around 5pm, Hajia Habibah drives into her
house compound. Fatimah quickly comes to welcome her.)
Fatimah: (big smile on her face) Welcome back, ma.
Hajia Habibah: (looking tired but still smiling back) Thank you,
my dear. Please help me get those stuff from the car.
Fatimah: Okay, ma. So how was work? Hope it wasn’t stressful?
Hajia Habibah: It was, my dear, but Alhamdulillah, I’m back home.
(They enter inside and she perceives the aroma) Are you cooking?
Fatimah: Yes, ma. (She quickly drops the bags and heads to the
kitchen.) Let me get your food, ma; you really look tired.
Hajia Habibah: Let me come with you then. (She follows her to
the kitchen and is pleased to see how neat it looks.) Masha Allah!
(She opens the food) Masha Allah! Amala with egusi soup? How
did you know where I kept all the foodstuffs?
Fatimah: Firstly, ma, I’m so sorry for searching the kitchen
without your permission. But I found the yam flour in the next
room, which I’m sure is a store, and I found the soup ingredients
in the fridge. I just wanted to prepare food for you and Dad to
eat.

Hajia Habibah: (smiling) I am so proud of you. You are indeed a
wise child and very hard-working. I love that. But right now, I
need to take my shower. I’ll get back to you in no time; I can’t
wait to taste your food. So we can know whether we should open
a restaurant. Also, those bags you brought in—they are yours,
both the clothes and bags. Go and check them out.
Fatimah: (surprised) Wow, thank you so much, ma’am. Please, can
I hug you?
Hajia Habibah: Of course, come here. (They embrace each other.)
Take them to your room to take a good look at them, and I hope
you like all the khimar I bought for you. Thank you once again
for the meal.
Fatimah: I don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve
done in my life. Firstly, for saving me, and now catering for me?
You are my lifesaver.
Hajia Habibah: You should be grateful to Allah, not me. All
praises belong to Him.
Fatimah: Allah, I thank you.
Hajia Habibah: Oh, I forgot. Look, we shall talk better later. I
need to take my shower—I stink.
Fatimah: Okay, ma. (She enters her new room and begins to cry.)
Dear God, please forgive me. I have committed sins by
questioning my existence. Now I am ready to serve till the end
of my life. Please forgive me…
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