Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Drama

He stood there bewildered by sight; there weren't many terrorist looking people. Totally opposite to what he’d imagined the airport of the capital city would be. Most of them were wearing T-shirts and a pair of pants. The women were not at all covered like he thought every other woman would be, they were moderately dressed. People were talking and hugging each other like they were meeting after a long time.

He walked to the exit gate searching for a banner with his name on it. The person holding the banner was about twenty feet away, Adam Lambert didn’t stop, he paced up, and walked passed him but the guy followed behind, asking if he was Adam Lambert.

“Stop ok you’re not a coward, face it,”  he said to himself.

 The justification he had for his notion, was the guy’s appearance. He was completely looking like a terrorist, Adam had no doubt, as soon as he saw the man, that was it, for sure the man must have a suicide jacket right under the big shawl that he was wearing all over his body. He had a long black beard, his head was covered with some kind of white cap, which Adam was sure, he had seen one of the terrorists wearing in a TV report back home.

“Yes, I am Adam Lambert” he turned around to face that guy.

“Oh, Alhamdulillah, at last, we meet, Assalamualaikum, I’m Mujahid Khan. Nice to meet you, Sir," Mujahid greeted.

“Oh my, his name is Mujahid too, the terrorists here they call themselves Mujahid,” Adam whined softly, falsifying his fear with a smile. That man can be it. His brain was working faster then. Should he just run into the airport and get a ticket to fly back right away. If he goes with this man, all of Mark’s foresight could become true. That man was eligible for doing all the things his friend Mark had warned him about.

“Sir, are you alright? Is there a problem? I would love to help you, I’m here to help you” Mujahid said.

“You—you’re my problem” Adam wanted to say, instead he said “Have you arranged our seats to the domestic flight to Gilgit, that you promised you will, can I see the tickets please”

Mujahid took two printed sheets from his pocket and handed them to Adam.


“He’s wearing a jacket too, can he pass the security here at airport with all that” 

Adam’s head started to blow away from the aghast he was experiencing, he had only seen it in the TV screens before, it appeared more ghostly and dreadful, when that man wearing all that, a carbon copy from TV, yet real live, standing right in front of him. He dared to look at the papers this Mujahid guy gave him. They were the ticket, fine, but should he trust the guy.

“Pardon my appearance Sir, I didn’t get time to change, it’s Friday, it’s a very important day for prayers in Muslims, if you are having any second thoughts then this is my ID card here keep it, and I’ve also brought a recorded message from Dadi Jan, your Grandmother” Mujahid said and handed Adam his phone.

“This guy can read thoughts too, that’s a bomber” thoughts like these were making a permanent home in Adam’s mind. He played the message.

“Assalamualaikum, Dear, Grandson and welcome to a new world. I’m happy that you accepted my request. Mujahid is my dearest child, you can trust him with your eyes closed. He’ll guide you to my place. Please feel free to ask any questions from him, I’m sure he’ll satisfy your inquiries. Waiting for you,” her message ended with a beep. Adam handed back his phone.

His heart was beating hard, this time it was not fear or anxiety; it was something entirely new, which he couldn’t explain, yet he was sure that it was blissful and pleasant. In an instant, he decided to go with Mujahid, all his worries flew away. He proceeded towards the domestic departure with a light heart.

“We have to hurry, only fifteen minutes left for our boarding,” Mujahid said while following him.


***

Adam had never been so close to an elderly lady before. He could feel the heat inside him, it was extraordinary. Maybe it was the sensation to be with one’s family that was different, maybe he could feel the current between them. She was sitting right in front of him, on a sofa, a book on her lap and a stitching kit right beside it. Her clothes, nothing he’d seen before, some kind of a smock, with neatly embroidered panels at front, very colourful. Her wrinkled hands still looking beautiful, strong and confident. The instant his eyes met hers, he noticed that she had the same black eyes, same dark mysterious eyes, the ones he’d seen in his dreams. She was smiling, a very meaningful smile, as if his presence had made her speechless.  It looked like she was obscuring her overwhelming emotions with her smile. They both sat in front of each other for about ten long minutes, never uttered a single word, looking at each other, finding their own spirits among one another. It was warm inside, there weren’t any windows only one door, the one he had entered from, yet the room was brightly lit,  he glanced up to see the source as there was no electricity in that area, he saw a square opening right in the middle of the roof. Not just an opening, it had mirrors by its sides; reflecting light of the Sun inside the room. A very clever way to avoid the chilly waves and yet get the sun’s bright light in. Smiling at the roof, he moved back towards her, finally, the silence broke; she said the most enchanting words in the world. Words that could melt almost anything.


“Come! Dear Grandson, hug your ever-waiting Grandmother; it’s been a long wait for me. Come to me, together we’ll make all things right”