Sekinat Amazing Stories

  FEW WEEKS LATER  (Phone call between Jamiu and Fatimah)  Jamiu: (laughing) You’re so funny, baby. Gosh.  Fatimah: I don’t see anything funny in what I said. Besides, I’m speaking the truth—men can lie.  Jamiu: Well, not all men, sweetheart. I guess you’re referring to me as well?  Fatimah: Maybe.  Jamiu: I don’t know how much more I have to prove to you that I really love you.  Fatimah: Hmmmm…  Jamiu: Honestly, I’m already missing you. I can’t wait to see you again. Please… just once, give me your home address. Please!  Fatimah: I’ll think about it.  Jamiu: Think about what? Your home address? Are you kidding me? Look, dear, seriously… jokes aside, please give me your home address—for Allah’s sake!  Fatimah: Hmmm… well, for Allah’s sake, I will give it to you.  Jamiu: Finally! Thank you! At last!  Fatimah: I’ll text the address to you.  Jamiu: Ok, baby. You’ll see me in a jiffy.  Fatimah: What’s a jiffy?...

 At night – Fatimah and Blessing in the room gisting  Fatimah: But babe, what you did is really wrong and a big sin. All you have to do is ask Allah for forgiveness and never go back to that sinful life again.  Aishah: Okay, I hear you. So, tell me about your life since you left that rich people’s house. I’m still wondering what brought you back here after all you’ve been through.  Fatimah: Well… I don’t know exactly, but I feel more connected to this house than anywhere else. I think Dad never wanted me out of this home, even though he’s not alive. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus.  Aishah: Ameen, oh.  Fatimah: (looking sad)  Aishah: What’s wrong? Come on, talk to me.  Fatimah: Could you believe I found my biological mother?  Aishah: Are you serious? When? Where?  Grace: (tries to enter Fatimah’s room but pauses as she overhears)  Fatimah: (explains everything to Aishah) I couldn’t believe my mom had been a...

  Fatimah: Uhmm… good afternoon, sir. A woman gave me this address card.  Gateman: Say no more, dear. Just come in. As I said earlier, we’ve been expecting you.  Fatimah: Please give me a sec. (She quickly recites Ayatul Kursiyu) Okay… now I can go in. Please lead the way.  Gateman: Okay, ma’am. (He leads her into the palace. To her greatest surprise, the entire family is seated, waiting for her) Here is my princess… your highness.  Fatimah: Your highness?  Mr. Olowolayemo: Welcome to our family, my dear. I am Mr. Olowolayemo, head of this family.  Mrs. Olowolayemo: And I am Mrs. Olowolayemo, his wife.  Oyetunde: (adjusting his throat) And I am Oyetunde, the heir of this family and only son.  Ifeoluwa: And I am Ifeoluwa, the only daughter of this family.  Mr. Olowolayemo: Now that we have introduced ourselves, please introduce yourself.  Fatimah: Uhmm… good afternoon, everyone. My name is Fatimah Sulaiman. I am a Muslimah. I am nobo...

  A week later (Afternoon)  Grace: (in the kitchen) Fatimah! Don’t tell me there’s no more food in this house?  Fatimah: (entering the kitchen) Yes, Mom.  Grace: How are we going to manage now? My shop has run down.  Fatimah: I don’t know either… (thinking) Oh! I have an idea. What if I find a job where I get paid daily?  Grace: Where would you find such work?  Fatimah: I don’t know yet, but I’ll have to search for it.  Grace: Are you sure that kind of work still exists?  Fatimah: I have to try, Mom.  Grace: Okay, do as you please. (She heads to the living room.)  Fatimah: Let me get my khimar. ---  30 minutes later  Fatimah searches at different shops and houses, but everyone pays monthly. She doesn’t give up and continues until she sees a notice board.  Fatimah: (reading) “A… Cleaner… is… needed.” Sha! I hope they pay well. Let me try. (She walks to the company gate and knocks.)  Gate man: Who’s there?  Fa...

 At night  Hajia Habibah: (enters Fatimah's empty room) I can’t believe she’s gone… Why? Why didn’t she tell me what’s going on? I’m already missing her. (She begins to search the empty room.) What am I even searching for? Mtmm… I need a break. (As she’s about to leave, she spots a pile of money on the floor.) Wait! Don’t tell me she didn’t take this money with her? Subhanallah! How is she going to cope? (She picks up the money and heads to her room.) Baby!  Alh Ismail: (pressing his laptop) Yes, dear? What is it?  Hajia Habibah: (showing him the money) Can you believe Fatimah didn’t take this with her?  Alh Ismail: (raising his head) Are you serious? Let me see.  Hajia Habibah: (hands him the money) How is she going to cope at that wicked woman’s house?  Alh Ismail: (examining the money) Wait… I think she took some, but just a little. I would have counted it, but I’m too busy.  Hajia Habibah: Are you sure she took some?  Alh Ismail: Yeah… I ...

 At night.  Hajia Habibah: (enters Fatimah's room and finds her lying on the bed) Fatimah, how are you doing? I was told you weren’t feeling too well.  Fatimah: (sitting up) Good evening, Mom. Yeah… I’m better now.  Hajia Habibah: Alhamdulilah. Lukman told me he tried to help, but you were rude to him and his friend. I just wanted to know exactly what happened.  Fatimah: (looking down) I know what I did was wrong, but… (takes a deep breath) Mom, I am really grateful for everything you’ve done for me—for saving my life, bringing me closer to Allah, giving me shelter. I truly appreciate it. But… from now on, Mom, I want to leave this house.  Hajia Habibah: (surprised) Subhanallah! Why? Did my son do something wrong? Tell me, and I promise I’ll do something about it.  Fatimah: No, Mom. In fact, your son is so kind to me, but… I can’t live here anymore. I can’t tell you all my reasons, but…  Hajia Habibah: Wait—is this because I haven’t arranged your ...

  TWO WEEKS LATER (At Grace’s shop) Blessing: (dropping off her bike, dressed provocatively) Moma! How far now? Grace: (sitting, shocked) Blessing? Is that you? (Everyone in the shop stares at Blessing as she enters.) Blessing: (entering the shop, showing gum) Yes now, how far mom? How have you been? Grace: (mouth wide open, speechless) … Blessing: Mom, close your mouth now! Wetin happen? Anyway, I came to give you this. (She reaches into her handbag, pulls out a huge stack of money, and starts counting) Here, mom—manage it. Grace: (still staring, shocked) Wher… where did you get this huge money from? Blessing: I’m hustling now, mom. So… are you gonna take it or not? Grace: What type of work are you doing? Blessing: All I know is I’m hustling. You should be happy that I’m a grateful child, at least paying you back for your deeds. So, are you gonna take it or not? Grace: I’ll only take it if you come home with me. Blessing: Hell no! I’m not going home. Besides, one of my clients is ...

 Lukman: (making a call while about to leave the house) Guy, how far now? I miss you, men. ……: Miss you too, men! Ahhh, my guy, where you dey? Make I come meet you. Lukman: I’m on my way to my dad’s office, but I’ll let you know when I’m on my way back so we can meet at my house. Guy, I can’t wait to see you, dam! ……: Same here, men. Just let me know when you’re back, ok? Oya now. Lukman: Later. (ends call, about to enter his car) My guy… Fatimah: Sir, uhmm, when will you be back? Lukman: (annoyed) Why are you asking that? Do I need to ask for permission before leaving the house? Fatimah: No… I just wanted to know so I can prepare your lunch. Lukman: Cook whatever you want to cook. I don’t care. And don’t ever interfere in my personal matters, is that clear? (holding his ears) Fatimah: Yes, yes, sir. (she walks back in) Lukman: (drives off angrily) Fatimah: (entering the kitchen, talking to herself) I don’t know why he changed suddenly. Did I do something wrong? Let me cook somethi...

 At night, around 10 PM Lukman: (heading to Fatimah's room) I hope she will like them. Fatimah: (lying on the bed, looking exhausted) God, I am so tired… my whole body is aching. I need a pain reliever. (massages her leg and hears a knock at her door) Who is it? Mom? Come in! Lukman: Umm… it’s me, Lukman. Fatimah: Oh! I’m coming, please give me a sec. (jumps out of bed, searching for a khimar to put on) Please, I’m coming! Lukman: No problem, take your time. Fatimah: (finally opens the door, wearing a polite smile) Brother Lukman, good evening, sir. How was your journey today? I hope it wasn’t stressful. Lukman: (smiling) Alhamdulilah, thank you, dear. Uhmm, before I forget, I just want to thank you for everything—for taking care of the house and even my parents. I really appreciate it. Fatimah: Ohhh, it’s nothing. I do it out of love for the way they treated me. They are the best thing that’s ever happened to my life, and I’ll be grateful to them forever. Alh Ismail: (heading to t...