The Initiation
"Take care of Mustafa while I'm gone,"
She cups my face with her hands, her voice hoarse and face pale. Her tears falling like rain and her once sparkling eyes that I had fallen in love with were now painted with sorrow and despair. I envelop my hands with her's as tears fall out of my eyes ferociously. She cannot just leave me like that. I shake my head harshly. "You can't leave me, please,"
I sob loudly. She smiles as grief spreads across her face. The shine in her eyes is gone. My heartbeat accelerates--she never fails to make the butterflies in my stomach go mad. She shakes her head softly and deeply sighs with her smile still visible, and rests her head back on the pillow. I observe her actions closely with my hands not leaving her cold ones. I look at our intervened hands once more. I remember, my hands used to be the cold ones and her's; warm. It's the complete opposite now.
"I know that you can't accept it now, but whenever you are ready to do so, remember, I will always love you and am leaving Mustafa to you as payment for all my love."
I look at her again. My eyebrows crash together in torment. "Don't say that.", I squeak out. She sits upright and I take that as an opportunity to get closer to her. I attach my forehead with her's as our noses brush one another. My face turns crimson. I have never been the dominant one; showing affection is too much for me to handle--especially with her.
"We'll take care of Mustafa together along with our own family.", I correct her. She chuckles in amusement followed by a heavy sigh leaving her mouth. She wraps her arm around me as I mirror her actions shortly. The border of the hospital bed is our only barrier. She pulls away and wipes my tears with the back of her hand. I look into her eyes only to see mischief.
"You know Emir, your breath stinks.", I chuckle quietly. "Oh really?", I raise my eyebrow. She nods her head up and down innocently as if she hasn't said anything mean earlier. "Yes, really." I stare at her and she stared back at me quietly until I couldn't resist laughing. She laughed along too with her heavenly voice that never fail to make me blush.
We sit still for a while. "You should lie down.", I say, acknowledging the fact that she is sick and tired. She nods slowly.
I look at Mustafa standing on the other side of the bed, still not being able to process everything. Tears continuously dribble down his face with his nose smudged red and lips formed in a cute pout.
I look at her once more and help her to lay herself on the bed gently.
She looks at Mustafa and caresses his face softly with a smile. Her eyes shine as she looks at him. She rests her arm back on the bed and takes a long breath and puffs out the air, and closes her eyes. Beads of sweat form across my forehead--the ear-piercing beep of the heartbeat monitor resonates through my ears. I look at her in shock. My hands start shaking as my body starts to shiver. A nurse and a doctor barge into the room, panicking as they take a look at her.
I see them coming closer to us. With my sight getting more blur and a nurse pushing me and Mustafa out of the room--I black out.
It's been four years.
The quick falling raindrops pour down and decorate the sky. I smile lightly. These are one of the weathers I enjoy the most. I look at the window in front questioning whether I should head out or not. The running river in front hastens its pace as the rain above gifts it little hoops of its own which enlarge with time, eventually adding on to the quick-flowing waters. The scene in front truly looks marvelous--I believe I should head out.
"Emir! It's raining today--let's go outside."
I immediately turn behind and look at the excited Fifteen-year-old boy that I dearly love. I smile brightly in response.
"Come on then pal! Let's go but we have to get back inside before the sun sets."
I turn on my heels and march eagerly towards the door along with him. Excited, we jump off of the deck outside.
From the corner of my eye, I see Mustafa's foot get disbalanced due to the wet surface, and before we know it he falls face-flat onto the moist soil below. I can't help but whole-heartedly laugh at Mustafa and mock him. He picks his head up and glares at me with his fiery eyes.
"Just you wait Emir!", he yells with the pure desire of obtaining the beautiful feeling of revenge. He gets back up on his feet and quickly proceeds to run towards me, and I, being the competitive person that I am, accept his challenge and run away from him even faster. My feet splash the water below as he chases me like he is out for blood.
I laugh loudly, continuing to run like crazy as the wind softly hits my face.
The little plants standing firmly upon the grass shaded by the taller trees above were blessed with The Almighty's love and care, as he gifted them with a sky so wonderful and great, sprinkling water all over them that adorned each one of their leaves, stalks, and even the delicate petals of the brightly colored flowers. I notice the rain getting heavier. The blissful beads falling from the sky get closer to each other as their pace of precipitating fastens. The cool whisper of air suddenly passes me by, making me feel the eccentric rush of euphoria.
With my stamina getting weaker as I run farther, passing by some trees, I finally give up and slow down.
Mustafa suddenly hastens his speed. I stand in one place, looking at the marvelous scene around. I look behind to see Mustafa coming at me like a stray bull ready to devour its prey. My eyes widen in shock as I yelp;
"MUSTAFA--!"
Never mind, it was too late. My cries for help were interrupted by him falling down upon me.
He cackles in joy and pins me to the ground. I struggle in his hold and try to fight back but there is nothing to avail. This child has already grown up to be strong--too strong, might I add. I giggle in all honesty as he tries to tickle me adding fuel to my already riled-up embarrassment of failing against a literal child--I am a 36-year-old grown-up man for God's sake!
The noise of my laughter increases. I see him concentrate upon tickling me--to death most probably, and I, take that as a chance to push him off of me. I scornfully laugh at him and he laughs back. He falls to his side.
The droplets of rain dribble down on our faces as the cool whoosh of rain makes shivers go down my spine. The sky turns light purple as the sun takes a bright orange-ish shade. The dark clouds try their best to hide the view behind them but my eyes can't help but to keep looking at the sky beyond them. The rain slows down. The sun is about to set indicating that it is the time of Maghrib.
"Allah Ho Akbar (Allah (Muslims' God) is the greatest)
Allah Ho Akbar (Allah is the greatest)
Ash hadu Allah ilaha illallah! (I testify that there is no God except Allah)
Ash hadu ana Muhammadar Rusoolulah (I testify that Muhammad (PBUH) is the messenger of God) …"
The sound of the call of prayer for Maghrib resonates through my ears. I look at Mustafa and slightly tilt my head signaling him to go back inside the house.
I saw him get back up on his feet as the rain had now stopped completely.
"Mustafa, while the Adhan is going on, hurry back to the house and take a quick shower to get yourself cleaned up, hmm?"
He gently nods to my statement and hurries back to the house.
I look at the now clear sky. The sound of the Adhan reaches to my ears once more as I can't help but to focus on the beautiful wordings.
"Hayee ya alas Salah! (Come to prayer)
Hayee ya alas Salah! (Come to prayer)
Hayee ya Alal Falah (Come to the path of success)
Hayee ya Alal Falah (Come to the path of success)
Allah Ho Akbar (Allah is the greatest)
Allah Ho Akbar (Allah is the greatest)
La ilaha ilallah (There is no one worthy of worship except Allah)"
I realize that the Adhan has ended. I get back up on my feet and dust the dirt off of my clothes. As I walk towards the house an eerie scream echoes through my ears. My eyes widen. I turn my head in the direction of the voice--is it a woman?