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?
Jamiu: Oh God! I meant I’ll see you very soon.
Fatimah: Ok, anyway, bye.
Jamiu: Ok, baby. Bye… I love you.
Fatimah: (ends call)
Jamiu: Ahh! She cut the call? I guess she didn’t hear what I said. Let me call her again. (phone ringing)
Fatimah: (picks call) As-Salamu Alaikum.
Jamiu: Walaykum Salam.
Fatimah: You’re calling again?
Jamiu: Yeah… you didn’t respond to what I said, and you’ve never responded.
Fatimah: What?
Jamiu: I said I love you.
Fatimah: Ok… I heard you.
Jamiu: You’re driving me crazy! Please reply to me now.
Fatimah: Is “I love you” a question?
Jamiu: Well… no. But…
Fatimah: See?
Jamiu: Just say it back.
Fatimah: I can’t… I’m sorry.
Jamiu: Why can’t you?
Fatimah: I just can’t.
Jamiu: Please… please… please!
Fatimah: Ok, ok! Ahhhhh! Your wahala is too much… fine, love you too.
Jamiu: Seriously?
Fatimah: What again?
Jamiu: Who loves me?
Fatimah: Me, of course.
Jamiu: Then say it completely, please!
Fatimah: (smiling) Anyway… oh, I love you too.
Jamiu: Yes! I love you more! This is the best day of my life.
(Fatimah ends the call.)
Fatimah: (smiling and pressing her phone)
Aishat: Hmmmm… someone’s in love, oh. (sits next to Fatimah)
Fatimah: It’s none of your business!
Aishat: Hmmmm… my sis is in love, oh! (begins singing for Fatimah) Ololufe… angel of my life… for the love I have is so reign…
Fatimah: Madam!! Enough already, thanks for the song.
Aishat: So… when is he coming to pay us a visit?
Fatimah: Today.
Aishat: Are you serious? Today? We must dress you well! Come, let’s do some makeover.
Fatimah: Aisha! No! No! I am not dressing to impress anyone.
Aishat: Fine! As you wish, boring human being.
Fatimah: Thank you. (she gets up) Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading to my room.
Aishat: Ok o, iyawo Brother JM.
Fatimah: You’re not serious. (heads to her room)
(Aishat hears a knock at the gate)
Aishat: Who is knocking at our gate? Wait… or is it… Fatimah’s boyfriend!? Who is it? (heads to open the gate, and sees lots of people and different cars outside the house, she checks for a moment until she spots a white man) Wait a minute! Are you…? (screams excitedly) Fatimah!!
Mr. Olowolayemo: Good afternoon, young lady.
Aishat: Good afternoon, sir. You must be looking for Fatimah, right?
Hajia Habibah: How did you know that?
Aishat: You don’t have to worry about how I know. (screams Fatimah’s name again) Fatimah!! Hurry up! You have huge guests!
Mr. Williams: I am looking for my daughter.
Aishat: (excited) I know, sir. Fatimah!! Come out now!
Grace: (rushes out with Abdulrahman) What happened now? Why are you shouting Fatimah’s name like that?
Aishat: Mom! These are Fatimah’s family—her biological parents.
Grace: (surprised) Are you serious?! Fatimah!! Come out, oh.
Abdulrahman: Wow! Good afternoon, everyone.
Wura: Afternoon, dear. Can we come in?
Grace: Of course, come in!
Fatimah: (rushes out, surprised to see them) Mom?
Wura: (in tears) Fatimah! My baby! (runs to embrace her while Mr. Williams embraces them both)
Mr. Williams: My princess…
Fatimah: (noticing her father’s embrace, she pushes his hand away) Don’t you dare touch me! You are not my father! My father is dead!
Wura: No… please don’t say that. He is your biological father.
Fatimah: I don’t care, Mom! Besides, how did you find out I am your daughter?
Hajia Habibah: I told them everything you told me, and how you were raised by these people. (points at Grace)
Fatimah: (runs to embrace Hajia Habibah in tears) Mom!
Hajia Habibah: My baby, don’t cry. Everything will be fine.
Grace: Please, everyone, come inside. (they follow her inside)
(5 minutes later)
Mr. Williams: (sits next to Fatimah) I don’t know where to start, but I know deep down that I hurt you and your mother. I was told you were dead, and I lost hope.
Fatimah: And you left my mom with these people to suffer! You were not there when you were informed about my death. What kind of father are you?
Mr. Williams: I know, and I’m so sorry, my love. There’s nothing I can do to undo my mistakes, but as soon as I found out you’re still alive, I came back to bring you and your mom to where you belong—your real home.
Fatimah: This is my home! And I’m not going anywhere with any of you.
Wura: Fatimah! Please forgive him. He is truly sorry.
Fatimah: (bursts into tears) Mom, he left you to suffer!
Wura: And I forgive him—not because of anything else, but because I still love your dad. I can’t afford to lose you again. Please, Fatimah, forgive us.
(Aishat goes to the gate)
Aishat: I’ll be back… someone is knocking at the gate. (opens gate)
Jamiu: Uhmm… good afternoon.
Aishat: Afternoon. Who are you?
Jamiu: Uhmm… please, I am looking for a lady named Fatimah.
Aishat: Yeah! Wait… are you Brother JM?
Jamiu: (smiles) Yes.
Aishat: Come in!
Jamiu: Thank you. (follows Aishat in, noticing lots of people—he hesitates, unsure whether to go in or step back, as all eyes are on him)
Fatimah: (sitting) Come here, have a seat.
Jamiu: Good afternoon, everyone.
Fatimah: Uhmm, this is Jamiu. Jamiu, this is my mom, my mom and my biological mom. Also, this is my annoying father. (everyone laughs) Moms and dads, this is… uhmm…
Jamiu: I’m her fiancé, sir. But wait a minute… are they your biological parents?
Fatimah: Yes.
Jamiu: That explains a lot! Uhmm… nice to meet you, sir. My name is Jamiu Balogun.
Mr. William: Nice to meet you too. So, you are to marry my daughter?
Jamiu: (with confidence) Yes, sir.
Mr. William: Well… sorry to disappoint you, but my daughter is moving out of this country soon with her siblings.
(Grace and Aishat exchange excited looks)
Fatimah: I am not going anywhere, and I am going to marry him.
Mr. William: You are truly my daughter… stubborn, just like your father. (faces Grace) Thank you so much, ma’am, for taking good care of my daughter. I am going to reward you for this.
Wura: Please, Fatimah! See, he promised to take all your family along.
Fatimah: Okay, I will accept—on one condition: he must bless us and formally approach our marriage in advance.
Mr. William: But…
Wura: (holds his hand) Please, honey, let’s respect her choice.
Mr. William: Fine.
Jamiu: (excitedly) Thank you so much, sir!
Mr. William: (referring to Grace) We shall prepare your visa as soon as possible.
Grace: Thank you so much, sir.
Aishat: Thank you so much, sir and ma’am!
Wura: (facing Hajia Habibah) Thank you so much, ma’am, for everything. May Allah reward you abundantly for your good deeds.
Hajia Habibah: You are always welcome. I will miss you, Fatimah.
Fatimah: (embracing her again) I will miss you so much, Mom. Thank you so much, Mr. Olowolayemo.
Mr. Olowolayemo: You are welcome, my dear.
(They all embrace one another.)
THE END!!!
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