Have to move on..

It was the village of Dahmash, approximately 20 kilometers from Tel Aviv between the cities of Ramle and Lod in central Israel. There lived The family of Badra and Falak with there two children Husna and Hiyam. Husna was 17 and Hiyam was 10 years old. Like her name Husna was the most beautiful girl in the whole of the village. Her mother used to advice her every time she used to step out of the house “Wear your hijab Husna” to which she used to reluctantly reply “Let everyone see what they might never see again in their life.” Her mother used to murmur something under her breath and pull her back to herself and make her wear the hijab. She told her mother while stepping out “I am going to invite Farida khalah(aunty) and family to the feast you are organizing today evening ammi(mother) jaan.”

Then she used to rush through the muddy uneven path to Isar’s house where his mother used to welcome her with a huge hug and kiss on the forehead. Farida Isar’s mother asked Husna “would you mind having the Iftar(breakfast) with us?” She humbly said no-no I am full had my breakfast just now. And then racing her eyes all over the place finally asked Farida “Where is Isar, khalah?” She smiled looking at the young, notorious and yet innocent Husna and replied “there in that room make your way through.”

She stepped inside the way khalah pointed to her and she greeted Isar with a marhaba(Hello) to which he replied saying wa alaykum al salam(reply to hello) . So he said what brought you here my ameera ? She blushed at the way he described her as and said Amijaan  will be hosting a feast today evening and you are also to be there with your abbu(father) and ammi. He said “Husna today night I have lots of work from office that I have to finish.” She pouted her lips,making a face like a angry baby and sat on the corner of the bed. He set aside the paper and pen and said “Don’t be angry, If my ameera(Princess) is angry then how will I do my work?” and finally agreeing to what she said he bowing his head in front of husna said “ok I will come with my ammi and abbu, Now will you forgive me my ameera?” She looked at him through the corner of her eyes and said "Musaamah"(forgiven). He hugged her and bade her ma salaama(goodbye) with a promise of meeting her in the evening. Before closing the door behind for leaving the house she said to Farida “Khalah jaan do come to the feast tonight with amu(uncle) and Isar.”

And after going to home back She stood in front of the mirror and looked at her eyes. They were big and pretty with long eye lash. Her face was like a calm river flowing gently in light reflecting sun hues. A delicate pink lip ,sharp nose, skin like a fresh dough made out of flour, speaking eyes, and a oval outlining of the face.

She took out the best dress she had in her trunk and it was a long flowing ahmar(red) color gown of silk. She took out a necklace which was intricately designed with pearls gifted to her by her Jadd(grandfather). She applied Kohl on her eyelids, pink lipstick on her lips and that was enough for her to kill anyone. She then heard her ammi calling out to her “Husna would you help me with the desserts now, come fast I am waiting for you.” She went outside the house near the well that they had in the courtyard and took out a pail of water. She took some water cupping her hands from the bucket and splashed it on her face, then wiping away the remaining kohl and lipstick with the end of her duppata running to her ammi. They prepared exotic Baklava and halva. Husna said “ammi now can I leave I have to get ready for the feast, you also go get ready, I will get Hiyam ready and have you informed abbu to be back in time?”

Her mother bit her tongue and said “I forgot to inform your abbu to be back from work soon.” “Ammi now go nothing can be done we will manage the guests till abbu arrives.” Her mother goes into her and Badra’s room and simultaneously Husna goes into her and Hiyam’s room undressing herself out of the salwar kameez she had been wearing which was now very sweaty, then dressing herself in the attire she had chosen for the feast she looked ravishing, then as she did earlier she did now too applying the lipstick and kohl.Lastly wearing the exquisite pearl necklace. She began searching for Hiyam in the courtyard. As soon as she saw him, she goes to him and pulls him by his ears saying “You didn’t knew we have a feast today at our place, look at you how dirty you are looking covered in this mud. Now come over here near the well I will get you bathed and clean once again you dirty brat.” And she scrubbed him real hard splashing huge amounts of water and with each scrub he was saying “Husna akht(Sister) please have a little mercy on my skin.” She was going on doing what she was doing intently without feeling to have a need to answer his akh(brother). She Then wrapped him up in the cloth hanging beside for drying his body and took him inside. She then took out a bottle from the slab line on the wall and applying it to the skin of Hiyam she said “Look at you nawab zade(prince) Hiyam you are being applied with itr.” He looked up at her and said “Shukran(thank you) akht Husna.” She giggled and said “Hmm.. You are getting old and wise Hiyam akh.” Then she put on the best cloth of Hiyam on him according to her and he kept on complaining of not having his favorite this and that accompanying his dress. She looked sternly with her big wide eyes gravely at Hiyam and he became quite. As the sun set towards the west Husna checked the arrangement outside there house of the tables and chairs and the snacks with which the guests would begin. Her ammi also came out ready and looking tough competitor of beauty for the other middle aged ladies that were to join the feast today evening. As the guests started approaching Falak wished everyone with a marhaba. And after sometime Husna’s abbu also came in and changed and got out to greet the guests. Hiyam started to play with the children of his age-group. But Husna was eagerly waiting for the one’s whom she had personally gone and invited. Soon she saw Farida khalah coming with Azhaar amu. She welcomed them gladly asking where is Isar to which fairda khalah replied that "he would be a little late.” She was not happy with this news but did not let that sadness come on her face. Each guest talking with Husna’s ammi and abbu said “That husna was looking very beautiful and if they have any plan for her marriage.” To which pleasantly her ammi and abbu replied “no, not now, we will let our ameera choose for herself.”

Everyone was happy to see the dishes prepared –Aish Bel-lahm(Bread with Meat) , Yalanchi (Stuffed tomatoes), Ablama(Stuffed eggplant), Ruz bil-loz wa bil-tamar(Rice with almonds and dates), dajaj(Chicken), Blehat lahma(Lamb loaves with apricots and egg) etc.

No one knew what this feast was for actually and before everyone raised there Qahwa Arabeya(Arabic coffee) for the toast in place of “Jaam” as Husna had this rule built in her house that she wanted no drinking around, they asked what this feast was exactly for? They(Badra and falak) broke the paused moment of silence announcing that their daughter Husna has turned 18 after all and that called for this celebration. Husna blushed at the mention of it and partly cause she knew that she became a lady officially now. She was eagerly waiting for Isar but no trace was there of Isar as the guests were about to begin the feast. Finally as they were biding there ma salama to Husna’s parents Isar arrived half panting, half smiling his eyes searching for Husna. She saw him and called out to him as she knew for whom he was looking for. Isar now composed himself with his gait walk came to Husna and presented a sparkling diamond ring saying this is for my ameera. The guests who were left to go were stunned seeing such a priced jewelry being gifted. Isar looked at all and smiled to which others again focused there attention on what they were actually doing. Husna saw the ring in his hand which was slowly being pushed in her fingers to which she resenting said "Husna doesn’t take such gifts from the people who come late to a feast for whom she has personally invited them." He kneeling down on his knees said "My ameera this last time forgive me and I shall never give you a chance to complain." Husna giggled and said "okey well as I can see you are quiet intelligent and know that diamonds are a girls best friend so I pardon you and now you can stand up and wish me too." He looked at her face clueless, She said "so you don’t know what this feast is for and why you have brought me this gift?" He nodded his head disapprovingly and looked with his innocent eyes in her eyes. Tears began to flood in her eyes and she was about to cry on such a special day of hers when suddenly Isar said "oh no my ameera I was just pulling your leg please don’t cry. I know it’s your birthday and my ameera has turned 18 and adult officially." Hugging her he wished her Happy birthday young lady. Her face brightened up with a smile and they ate their dinner together and Isar and his family were the last to bid them ma salaama. When their parents weren’t looking Isar bend forward kissing husna on her forehead saying take care my ameera. They didn’t notice but Naughty hiyam was there watching all. As the dishes were cleaned tables and chairs put back in there normal positions back they retired to their room for some rest. Hiyam pulled at his akht’s duppatta’s corner and said I saw you and Isar when the feast was over.. He kissed you didn’t he akht?..She looked at him sternly and said badmaash(naughty)..What were you looking at us for?.. Hiyam laughed and said TisbaH 'ala kher(good night).

 She closed her eyes with sweet dreams in her eyes. Suddenly at 1:00 am she heard loud footsteps and someone breaking the latch of the door. She was alert and sat up on her bed. She stood up and peeked from behind the curtains she saw the gang of goons that were entering in the house of her ammi and abu. She looked back at hiyam and was afraid that they would eventually enter their room too. She covered Hiyam with a blanket so as he was not in the eyes of the goons. She took a heavy vase of iron and silently moved toward the room of her parents, She saw that they had kept her abu on gunpoint and instructed her ammi to take out all the valuables they had. She got behind one of the member of the gang and hit hard on the head with the vase and he cried with pain. This was enough to make the others notice the presence of Husna in the room. Three members moved towards her she was aiming the vase at one but how many she could hit with just one vase. She hit one and two approached her. Caught her hands and she screamed in pain. She tried hard to free herself. While her abbu was going restless and he saw the leader of the gang’s attention was diverted and he threw the gun out of his hand. And the one who was saying Falak to take out all the stuffs fired the gun at Badra . Falak cried in horror. And Husna became still at the site. Her mother moved towards Husna to get her free from the goons. The leader of the gang stopped her and caught her by the dupatta and she was out of breath. They strangled it hard on her neck. Husna tried hard to get free from there grip but in no vain she was not successful. Her ammi also dies and she cried out “ammi..” Falak’s vision blurred slowly and she saw the four member of the gang with the leader advancing towards Husna and two other were lying unconscious on the floor. Hiyam was awakened by the scream of her Akht. He walked up slowly towards his parent’s room and saw that Husna’s hands were being tied with the beds end and two held her legs. The one who was the leader stared at her and laughed bending down on her he was kissing her cheeks then lips and she was trying hard to remove him. She was helpless and tears ran down her eyes. Her Kameez was being torn from the shoulder and then ripped from between. She lay their bare and terrified. Hiyam was shocked and he knew nothing better than rushing to Farida khalah’s house. He ran as fast as he could in the dark through the muddy road. He reached their house out of breathe and banging the door with all the efforts he could. Isar opened the door saying “what’s the mater Hiyam you are here at this point of time?” Hiyam explained everything to him as fast as he could narrate it. There in the house Husna was touched everywhere by each member of the gang and she felt humiliated more and more with each touch. She felt as if her soul was being ruined bit by bit. Her flesh trembled and she could feel herself shaking with the disgusting feeling that she was attacked with. Her salwar was removed and the thing Husna was proud of , Her beauty she thought may it never had been there. She remembered when her mother used to say Wear the Hijab and she used to reply Let everyone see what they might not see ever. She was raped violently and cruelly by each goon. She screamed but slowly her screaming also started going faint. The necklace she had been wearing was now torn and the pearls lay on the bed scattered.

When Hiyam arrived with Isar they both saw the goons undoing the knots of her hand and she laid there shaking. Isar was livid with anger and he advanced with his pistol towards the leader that he assumed was one and shot the gun right through his head. The others looked back at him and Hiyam hid behind Isar. The three of them took out there weapons ad well. But he had aimed already at one and shoot him down dead. Hiyam looked on his side and found the vase which before Husna carried until there. He threw it with all his might at one of them and it hit right on his head and he fell down groaning with pain and then lost his consciousness. The left member shoot Isar on his left hand and at the same time Isar shot him in his chest and he died. Isar held his hand firm and moved towards Husna. She looked at Isar and “said You are late” and smiled. Then endless stream of tears rolled of Isar’s cheek and Husna wiped them with her hand. She breathed heavy and said to Isar “I cannot live with what I have received just now and I just want one favor from you in the name of Allah”. Isar said softly “I promise I would fulfill the favor you ask of me”. Husna said “Please take care of Hiyam as if he is your Akh. Will you Isar? will you?” Isar promised her and shifting her head towards his arms he said "I won’t let you die Husna you cannot die without me." But she had by then took her last breathe, the days happening flashed in front of her eyes and that was the day when she had achieved a big phase in her relation with Isar and now there was nothing, nothing at all > No life, No more moments she could have felt the emollient touch of her abbu and ammi, She could not hug her akh once more and scold him anymore but She felt the love in Isar’s arms  and died in arms of Isar with a unusual contentment. Her eyes were wide open looking at Isar and he closed the lids of her eyes with his hand and cried out. Hiyam was too shocked to react and stood where he was falling on the ground with bend knees He could not believe her Abbu, ammi and akht had died now and no one was there to call his own. But by now Isar had kept Husna on bed straight and covered her with a white blanket. Moving towards Hiyam he held his hand and said “now I shall be whatever you want me to be and I have loved your akht , My ameera. I have lost her but I will keep my promise and will take care of you. You will be my Akh from now.” And Hiyam started crying after such a long paused moment that he witnessed in his life for the first time. And one more love was being snatched away from the ruthless surrounding of the Dahmash village. A mother, a father, a sister, a lover were snatched Leaving the bottom of the heart with utmost bitterness and hatred for every fellow people they lived with and doubted them to be some goon of a gang. But they had to move on and they moved together hand in hand towards the rising sun on the horizon trying to forgive and forget what has made their life go empty in some moments of one night. . . . .

P.S-Completely fictitious ..Just the name of the place has been used.