Farhan closed his eyes and drifted into a dreamless sleep; he laid his tired head on the head rest of the soft sofa his legs spread across evenly. Few minutes later, Risha stood over his sleeping form, contemplating what evil plan to hatch from her mischievous head, she pondered for a few seconds, before tiptoeing to the kitchen. Seconds later, she returned, in her hand were the covers of two aluminium pots, her lips curved into a devilish smile as she savoured the feel of what she was about to do.
CLANG!!! CLANG!!! CLANG!!!....
“Subhnallah!!!” Farhan exclaimed springing up as if a thousand bolt of electricity had was coursing through his veins. Sitting up quickly, he heard a strange sound like the cackle of a chicken, which he supposed was to pass for an evil laughter.
“Get up, you disgusting lump of human flesh.” She said it in her usual harsh voice.
Farhan blinked few more times, realising what had happened. Slowly, he went back to his previous position, using his arms to make a pillow as he relaxed his head, his face looking up to her. As usual, a teasing smile on his thin lips, his calm sharp eyes were gentle as they met hers mesmerising.
Instantly, her anger began to surface, gripping her with its usual force. “Stop it” she warned through clenched teeth.
Farhan gave her sceptical look, the teasing smile spreading even wider, he shrugged as if ignorant of the reason for her anger.
“I mean it,” she said threateningly, her hands twitching due to the intensity of her anger.
“Good evening” Farhan spoke to her, his voice laden with humour. “Thank you very much for the melodious tune, have you considered joining an orchestra? Your talent will be priceless, priceless I tell you.” He brought his fingers to lips and kissed it as he made a whoopee sound. The teasing smiles never leaving his lips.
Risha’s nose flared with the height of her anger, turning to back him, she tried her best to calm herself while thinking of the right response to give the him.
Sitting up on the chair, he continued to speak as if they were having a really friendly conversion, “I would have suggested singing instead of ear deaf audio, but I can’t seem to figure out which is more pleasing to the ears, your voice or that beautiful sound you just made.”
Risha turned slowly a cynical smile on her lips. “You are very generous with compliments, since you like the sound so much, I guess you don’t mind waking up to it every morning for the rest of your miserable life?”
Still smiling and not the least affected by her implied threat, “You are so considerate, but I wouldn’t want to trouble you. But if you can recite the Quran every morning as I wake, that would be nice.”
Risha started to speak then stopped, she tried again then stopped. It was an unexpected statement and as usual, she couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious. “What?” she finally managed to say. When he didn’t answer, she continued, “why the hell would do that?”
“Because” he said, “I think you would make the most beautiful sound in the world if you did. Wallahi, your voice is one in a billion.”
Instantly she found herself blushing from the unexpected compliment, turning to back him in other to hide this she tried to control her emotions and the sweet sensation his words sparked in her. But when she finally spoke, her voice was surprisingly calm. “That is not true, and even if it were, I can’t recite the Quran very well, just a few short surahs.”
Thinking about what she just said, Farhan shrugged nonchalantly, “you can always learn,” he said in a gentle voice.
“Easy for you to say, you recite like a master.”
He smiled but said nothing to her compliment. Slowly, she came to sit on the sofa beside him, dropping the pot covers beside her and resting her head on the sofa
He just smiled, “this girl and her mood swings” he thought. “Not even close” he commented on her statement about his recitation, “but however accomplished I am, it didn’t happen in one day, it took years of practice and dedication.”
“Whatever, just mind your damn business” she smirked.
“I noticed you don’t pray,” he ventured cautiously.
At that, she flashed him an angry look, “hey, I told you to mind your business.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but I really think it would help you a lot. You seem depressed and sad sometimes. From experience, I can tell first hand that prayers are the best remedy for that, besides, it expatiates our sins, it the one practice that separates us from people of other faiths.” He said it in such a gentle way.
“Ok, so now I am a sinner, right? My soul is going to hell and yours to heaven huh?”
At a loss, he just stared at her then smiled but said nothing. His phone started to ring, he excused himself and went to answer it. Leaving her fuming with anger at the guilt his words had triggered. When he returned, he sat down but said nothing, she seemed deep in thought.
“Mummy used to say the same thing you know” she said, still deep in thought.
“Huh?” He inquired not getting her.
“About depression and sadness, she said the same thing, that praying was the cure. But she was always sad anyway, she said in a strange voice. She was always depressed and sad because of daddy, she tried to hide it from me but I knew, I always knew” her voice as shaking now.
Farhan just kept silent, this was the second time she had spoken about her mother and clearly, it was always painful and hard for her.
“Why didn’t prayers save her?” She was saying, “if it’s true, why didn’t it save her?” There were tears in her eyes now.
She looked sad all of a sudden, the pain and anguish evident on her face.
Farhan didn’t know how to reply, his own heart heavy with pity for her, clearly this girl had a rough past, he was sure of it.
“Prayers does not expel anger, sadness and depression altogether, we are humans and that is part of who we are, but it makes it easier to bear, the mountain may not become smaller, the road may not become shorter, but with faith, climbing becomes a lot easier. I am sure whatever made your mum sad, prayers made it bearable for her. As humans we can’t go through life without disappointments and sorrow, many times, it is test from Allah. By refusing to feel, we throw away our humanity, prayers and faith may not take away our pain altogether, but they give us the strength to endure no matter what.”
With tears filled eyes, she looked at him, “do you think so? You think it made her feel better?” She asked like a little child.
“I do” he said affectionately.
“You know, when mummy was around, she never let me miss my prayers and she would teach me the Quran too.”
“Then what happened Risha, why did you stop?” He asked truly interested.
“She is not, here is she?” She said, beginning to get angry again, “she left me after all those promises, she left me alone in this whole world” despite her angry tone, the tears still poured freely.
“I don’t think she had a choice in that Risha, none of us do,” he said affectionately. “But do you think she would be happy to see you like this? That she would approve of the life you are living now?”
At that she glared at him angrily. “I already told you to mind your business,” she screamed. “How dare you say that to me? I am doing just fine, unlike mummy, I am not weak, no man can put me down, no man will get the best of me, you men are all the same, you want us women to be weak, feeble and powerless so you can do whatever you want right?” She continued to scream standing up now. “Mind your damn business or you will regret it.” With that, she went upstairs cursing.
He watched her go upstairs, taking a deep breath he rests his head on the chair and closed his eye, despite everything, he pitied her, understood her. Something was troubling her; something was causing that anger and she was taking it out on the world. He thought about what she had said about her mother, he could not understand everything but he made up his mind to help her if he could. If he was going to be in this house, however short, he would do whatever he could to show her a better way for despite all her atrocities, he could sense that deep down, this girl Risha wasn’t evil at all, just a lady with pent up anger and emotions she didn’t know how to express.
As for Risha, she was fuming upstairs, pacing. “How dare he say that to me? Who the hell does he think he is? Mummy disappointed in me? How did he know?” She kept muttering. But deep down, she knew he was right, everything he had said was true, she couldn’t imagine how sad mum would be to see what she had become and she never let her self-think about it. All she knew was that she liked the life she was living right now. But still, his words tormented her, forcing her to think. For two days, she avoided him, fighting with herself and her guilt. Finally, she gave in and decided to talk to him.
When she did however, she couldn’t find him in the house, she searched everywhere but he was nowhere to be found. It was past 4pm so he ought to be back from work. She thought she had heard him walk up the stairs, but he wasn’t in his room either.
Beginning to get angry, she went outside searching, finally, she saw him, he was sitting on the swing in her former playground, reading a book, occasionally, he pushed himself forward swinging slowly. Without even realising it she found herself staring. He was wearing Tee-shirt and three-quarter trousers, it made him look different from how he usually looked suits, he looked younger now, like some kid lost in his own world. She felt her heart skip and uncertain emotions she couldn’t place went through her being. As usual, it only added to her anger.
“Hey there”, she snapped walking to him.
He stopped and looked at her a little puzzled, but he said nothing, just waited for her to reach him.
“What do you think you are doing leaving the house without saying anything?” She asked glaring at him, “and what are you doing here by the way.” she asked as if she couldn’t see.
With his usual calm, he just smiled, “First and foremost, I am still in the house and second, I am reading a novel as you can see.”
“Don’t be stupid,” she snapped, “just shut up ok?”
He didn’t reply but she heard him whisper something under his breath.
“What’s that you are always whispering” she asked, coming to sit on the swing next to his.
“I said, I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan,” he replied still smiling.
“Oh, so I am now the devil huh?”
He laughed a little, “considering…” he said and winked at her.
Despite her anger, she couldn’t help smiling at that, few minutes past but still she was silent, he could tell she had something in mind but he just let her find her own words.
Finally, she spoke, “I have been thinking about everything you said about all that prayers and faith stuff, you know,” she said it with a little difficulty, like it was really hard for her to speak those words.
He just nodded in silence, letting her continue in her own way.
“And I have decided…I…I…uhm, I want to change?” She said it slowly, avoiding his gaze. “Don’t think I want to become a stupid fanatic like you, I just want to try out your way for a change.” She said and was silent, playing with her fingers.
Despite her last statement, her words did gladden his heart greatly. Taking a deep breath, he smiled and said, “I am glad you have made that choice; I don’t think you will regret it, but just for the record, Risha, it’s not my way, its Allah’s way. Do this for him and you won’t be disappointed.”
She kept silent, weighing her words before she said, “will you help me? She asked peeking at him.
He smiled broadly, “do I have a choice?”
“No, not really,” she said casually
He laughed now; “it would be an honour” he assured her seriously.
She laughed also, relaxing some more. “Push me” she said.
“Sorry?” He asked, not getting her.
“Why are you so dumb? Get up and push me” she snapped indicating the swing.
Shaking his head but getting to his feet any way, “will it kill you to say please every once in a while?”
A mischievous grin played on her lips when replied him. “You never know, I am allergic to many things”
He just laughed and started to push her.
The sun was setting over the fence casting a dim glow over the compound, the weather was dropping to its usual chill as the breeze blew gently.
She laughed enjoying herself, “Higher” she said. When he didn’t comply, she rolled her eyes and added emphatically, “please!”
That’s better, he smiled as he complied
She just laughed, truly enjoying the moment.