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 little.
Grace: (yells, eyes blazing) So now I should starve to death, abi?!
Fatimah: (pleading) No, no… it’s just ten more minutes and I will—
(Suddenly, Grace lands a hot slap across Fatimah’s face).
Fatimah: (screams in pain, holding her cheek) Yeehhh!!! Mummy, I said it will be ready soon now!
Grace: (furious, stepping closer) Are you talking back at me?! Since when did you grow wings in this house? Tell me!
(She grabs Fatimah’s ear and twists it hard).
Fatimah: (wails loudly, struggling) Ahhhhh! Yeehhh! My ear! My ear ohhh! Leave me! Leave my ear!!
(Out of desperation, she pushes Grace’s hand away).
Grace: (stunned, eyes wide, steps back) Did… did you just push my hand?!
Fatimah: (panting, eyes filled with tears but voice bold) Do you want to kill me ni?! If you kill me, who will do all your house chores? Who?! You always threaten to kill me… why don’t you just go ahead and do it now?! Kill me!!
(Her voice echoes as she screams, her tears falling freely).
Grace: (boiling with rage, grabs a turning stick and raises it high) You dare talk to me like that?! I’ll teach you a lesson today!
Mother-in-law: (a commanding voice from the doorway) Kuku kill her! Go ahead! When you’re done killing her, I’ll be waiting for you right here.
(Grace freezes, her hand shaking. She quickly drops the stick and turns in fear).
Grace: (stammering, shocked) Ma… mama… good evening ma.
Fatimah: (drops to her knees, her voice soft and respectful) Good evening ma.
Mother-in-law: (smiling warmly at Fatimah) Evening, my dear Fatimah.
Grace: (pointing at Fatimah, trying to defend herself) Mama, it’s not what you think oh! This girl insulted me and my children. She even cursed my late husband!
Mother-in-law: (frowns, raises her hand for silence) Enough! Do you think I’m a fool? I’ve been standing here for the past six minutes, watching everything. Don’t lie to me!
(She steps closer, her voice stern but calm).
Mother-in-law: Besides… she is right. When you kill her, who will take care of this house? Is it your lazy children?
(She shakes her head slowly, sighs, and gives Grace a pitying smile).
Mother-in-law: I pity you, Grace. I really
pity you. I still remember when my late son introduced you to me as his wife-to-be. I tried to advise him… but he turned a deaf ear.
(She pauses, eyes narrowing).
Mother-in-law: First of all, you are a kafir. And second, I saw from the beginning that you are a stubborn woman. But I kept quiet and watched him marry you, hoping you would change.
(Her voice drops, heavy with emotion).
Mother-in-law: And despite all that, I still showered you with love. Imagine if I had treated you the opposite way—do you think you would still be in this house?
(The room goes silent. Grace lowers her head, ashamed. Fatimah wipes her tears quietly, looking at her grandmother with gratitude).
Mother-in-law: (her voice cutting through the silence, steady and piercing)
Full of stone—that is what your heart is, Grace. Since the very day my son introduced Fatimah to you, I knew… one day, you would show your true colors. You hated this innocent girl so much. And now, look at you. My son—may Allah forgive his soul—died because of the life you forced him into. Yet I was not harsh with you. Do you know why I have kept quiet all this while?
(She steps closer, her eyes fixed on Grace).
Because when God begins to take revenge on behalf of this girl, you will pray for death… but death will refuse to come to you.
Since my son passed away, I can count how many times I have visited this house. But you—Grace—you never once paid us a visit. Instead, you train your children as you please, while this poor girl suffers under your roof.
(She turns to Fatimah, her tone softens).
And as for you, my dear… respect her, no matter how cruel she becomes. I believe one day, you will be free from this prison. Stay strong.
(She exits slowly, her last words echoing in the room).
---
Grace: (her face burning with shame, the words of her mother-in-law piercing her heart. She doesn’t reply. Instead, she quietly walks to her room, avoiding eye contact with Fatimah).
Fatimah: (sighs deeply, whispering to herself) Wicked woman… ahhhh! The food!
(She rushes into the kitchen, checking the pot).
---
[LATER THAT NIGHT – Around 3 a.m.]
The whole house is asleep. The night is silent. Fatimah lies on her mat, deep in slumber, her breathing calm.
(Abdulrahman creeps quietly into her room, his eyes dark with desire).
Abdulrahman: (in his mind, admiring her body, whispering to himself) Hmm… Fatimah. See how beautiful you are. Ever since that day I saw you… I can’t erase the image from my head. The way you spoke to me yesterday, it made me angry. But tonight, I will have my revenge in a way you’ll never forget.
(He kneels beside her and begins touching her while she sleeps. Fatimah stirs faintly, but she’s a deep sleeper and hardly notices at first).
Abdulrahman: (smirking, whispering) I know you can feel it… and you like it. That’s why you’re not waking up.
Fatimah: (half-asleep, restless, muttering to herself) Why… why does it feel like something is crawling on me?
(She suddenly jerks awake and gasps in shock. Abdulrahman’s hands are on her, trying to undress her).
Fatimah: (screaming, horrified) What—?! Abdulrahman! What are you doing?!
(Before she can shout again, he forcefully covers her mouth).
Abdulrahman: (hissing in anger) Shhh! Don’t scream!
(Fatimah struggles fiercely, kicking and scratching, her muffled cries echoing. The noise wakes the others in the house).
(Hearing footsteps rushing towards the room, Abdulrahman quickly throws himself on the bed and pulls Fatimah on top of him, twisting the scene).
Abdulrahman: (yelling loudly) Let me go! Leave me alone, Fatimah!
Fatimah: (in shock, tears streaming) What… what are you doing?!
Grace: (bursts into the room, her eyes widening at the sight of Fatimah on top of Abdulrahman) What is this?! Fatimah!!! What did I just catch you doing with my son? Don’t tell me it’s what I’m thinking!
Fatimah: (jumps off him, panicking, crying uncontrollably) No… nooo! It’s not what you think! He… he tried to force himself on me!
Blessing: (rushes in behind Grace, her eyes darting between them) What’s going on here?! Abdulrahman, what are you doing in Fatimah’s room?!
Abdulrahman: (pretending to pant heavily, his voice trembling with fake fear) She… she tried to rape me!
Blessing: (eyes widen in disbelief) What?!
Fatimah: (screaming, shaking her head) No! No! He’s lying! I swear he’s lying! He came to my room! He tried to… to touch me!
Grace: (suddenly bursts into laughter, her voice filled with mockery) Fatimah!!! After all the prostitution you did in the past, it wasn’t enough, eh? Now you want to destroy my son too? Ahhhh, Fatimah… today, I will kill you with my bare hands!
Blessing: (steps in front of Fatimah, her voice firm) Mum! Wait! Please don’t judge her so quickly. I don’t believe Abdulrahman at all.
Abdulrahman: (furious, shouting) So you want to believe this worthless girl over me?! Didn’t you see her on top of me with your own eyes?!
Blessing: (pointing at him) And how am I supposed to believe you? Tell me—what were
you doing in her room in the middle of the night?!
Abdulrahman: (quickly lies, his voice shaking as he builds a story) I… I was passing by on my way to get water from the kitchen. Then I heard some strange noise in her room. Out of concern, I peeped in to check if she was okay. Immediately she saw me… she dragged me inside and tried to seduce me!
Fatimah: (shocked, screaming) Yeee!!! Moku o! Ahhh Abdulrahman, you are lying! He is lying! I swear he is lying!
Grace: (she slaps her hard) If you call his name again, I will skin you alive! You expired prostitute! Only God knows how many men have slept with you. Idiotic fool! Today, you will regret the day you stepped your foot into this house! (she moves closer and begins to tear her clothes aggressively).
Fatimah: (crying loudly, struggling to cover herself) Mummy please! Mummy! Blessing! Help me!
Blessing: (she quickly runs forward and tries to stop her mother, but Grace pushes her away violently. Blessing’s head hits the wall with a loud thud. She collapses to the floor instantly).
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