Sekinat Amazing Stories

  (The family gathering finally comes to an end. The formal discussions have been concluded, the wedding arrangements have been agreed upon, and the atmosphere has settled into a polite calm.) (Outside the Charles Mansion, the Badmus family is escorted toward their waiting vehicles. Chief Badmus exchanges a final handshake with Mr. Charles while Mrs. Badmus warmly embraces Hannah before stepping into the car.) (Ridwan gives Hannah a brief glance before following his parents.) Chief Badmus: Thank you for receiving us. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon. Mr. Charles: The pleasure is ours. Have a safe journey. (The vehicles slowly leave the mansion grounds.) (Mrs. Charles does not wait to see them off. She turns sharply and walks back into the mansion, her expression dark with anger.) (Mr. Charles watches the cars disappear through the gates before turning toward Hannah.) Mr. Charles: Well done, child. (Hannah gives him a small smile.) Mr. Charles: You handled yourself well...

  A spacious, glass walled conference room on the top floor. The city stretches beneath. A long polished table sits at the center. Seated around it are executives in tailored suits. Files, tablets, laptops,documents neatly arranged. The atmosphere is focused, disciplined, and powerful  Mrs. Badmus sits at the head of the table. Composed. Elegant. Commanding without raising her voice.  Mrs. Badmus: (calm, authoritative) let us proceed (She glances briefly at a document in front of her, then looks up.) the Abuja infrastructure contract… I want a clear update  Executive 1: (adjusting his glasses, confident) we have secured preliminary approval, ma (Pause)  however, there are still two competing firms attempting to undercut our proposal  Mrs. Badmus: (unmoved) on what basis? Executive 1: pricing, ma… but their delivery timeline is unrealistic (slight nod) then we do not compete on desperation (Pause) Mrs. Badmus: we compete on structure and results  Execut...

 ONE YEAR LATER (Aisha is now a year and nine months old. Ever since she turned one, her father drops her at her grandparents’ house every morning before work and picks her up in the evening.) Morning, 6:10 a.m. Aisha: Dada! (hitting him) Dada!! Adekunle: (turning to the other side of the bed) Aisha, please… I need to rest… Aisha: Dadaaaa!! (she keeps hitting him) Adekunle: (sits up suddenly, tired and irritated) Fine, I’m awake, madam… I’m awake… Aisha: (moves closer and hugs him tightly) Dada… Adekunle: (softens immediately, hugging her back) Good morning, my angel… how was your night? Because mine was not great, thanks to you. Aisha: (smiling, holding him) Dada? Adekunle: Yes, baby? Aisha: Food… Adekunle: You want to eat? Aisha: (nods) Food. Adekunle: It’s too early… (checks the time) it’s just after six… Aisha: (pretends to cry) Fooood… Adekunle: Okay, okay! No need for drama… but honestly, today is Saturday… don’t I deserve small rest? Or should I take you to Grandma? Hmm? Ais...

 The next day Ummu: (dressing her grandchild) Look at you… aren’t you the cutest baby ever? (The baby suddenly begins to cry.) Ummu: Shhh… sorry, my baby… let me finish dressing you, then I’ll prepare your food. Please, stop crying… Abu: (entering the room) Why is she crying? Ummu: She’s hungry. I just want to dress her first. Abu: Give her to me while you prepare her food… ahh, my grandchild… aren’t you the cutest baby? Masha Allah… look at you growing day by day… (pauses) that reminds me… her father is in the living room. Ummu: You mean Lukman? What is he doing here? So now he finally has the courage to come… after three months? Abu: Relax… you have no idea what he has been going through. He couldn’t face us… or even the baby. But Alhamdulillah, he is here now… and that is what matters. If you see him, you will pity him… he has lost so much weight… he looks completely broken. Let him see his child. And besides, we have not named her yet. We were waiting for him… let us do that to...

 The next day (Khadijah is laid to rest. The air is heavy with grief as her parents and loved ones mourn her deeply. Hours pass before they finally gather the strength to visit the baby in the pediatric ward.) Ummu: (moving closer to the incubator, her eyes filled with tears) Subhanallah… she’s a girl… she looks just like her mother… Barakallahu feekum… Habeeby, look at her. Abu: (bends slightly, peering through the glass) Masha Allah… I have never seen a premature baby before… are you sure she is breathing? Rasheedah: Of course she is breathing… I’ve been with her since last night. Ummu: Can I carry her? Rasheedah: The nurses said no… she needs to stay in the incubator. Abu: How long before we can take her home? Rasheedah: About two months, I think… but if she responds well, maybe next month. Edrees: (joining them, staring through the glass) Is that her? Inside there? Ummu: Yes. Edrees: Allahu Akbar… are you sure she is breathing? Rasheedah: (manages a faint smile) Yes, she is. Ed...

 Abu: (pressing his phone) Uhmm… Rasheedah, come and help me check what’s wrong with this phone. It doesn’t seem to be working well. Rasheedah: Abu, I’ve been telling you this phone is too old. Let me buy you another one, but you keep refusing. Abu: You won’t understand. I don’t want the kind of phone that if it falls, my blood pressure will rise. Rasheedah: (checking the phone) Honestly, this is outdated. You’ve been using it for six years now. Abu: Just do what I asked and give me back my phone. Rasheedah: Wait… you have a call. Abu: From who? Rasheedah: (picks it up) Hello… yes, good evening… (her voice suddenly trembles) What happened to her? (Her mother rushes out of the kitchen immediately.) Rasheedah: Inalilahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un… (The phone slips from her hand as she collapses to the floor. Her parents rush to her, panic written all over their faces.) Ummu: What happened? Rasheedah, talk to me. What’s wrong? Abu: Rasheedah, speak up, please. Rasheedah: (tears streaming ...

Adekunle: Come on, baby… it’s me. I’m sorry for everything and for the pain I caused you. (He tries to embrace her again, but she stops him) Adekunle: Please… I’m really sorry. Abu: Lukman. Adekunle: Yes, sir. Abu: Come here. Sit with me. Adekunle: (obediently) Yes, sir. (he sits) Abu: (smiles slightly) You seem calm… that is good. But first, she refused your embrace. It might be the pregnancy. Sometimes even a smell can irritate her. Adekunle: Oh… I understand now. Abu: Ashani, come and sit beside me. Khadijah: (quietly obeys) Abu: Habeebaty! Ummu: Yes, I’m coming. Abu: Let us wait for her mother. (Ummu enters) Ummu: (smiling) Ah, who do we have here? Isn’t this Ustaz Lukman? Adekunle: (stands quickly) Yes, ma. As-salamu alaykum. Ummu: Wa alaykum salam. Masha Allah. (Khadijah smiles faintly. Adekunle keeps looking at her with warmth, but she avoids his gaze) Abu: Come and sit, my dear. Ummu: (sits) So, Ustaz Lukman… what brings you here today? You finally came to check on your wife an...