Mehmal

Chapter 21( Emer and Mehmal)

Mehmal settled into her room, which was assigned to embassy employees and some UN staff. She heard a knock on her door. "Yeah, come in," she said. Thomas entered with a camera. "We'll go sightseeing. They're providing us with a jeep," Thomas said, and Mehmal nodded in agreement.

"I'll come down in a moment," she replied. Thomas nodded and left. Their first stop was the embassy, where they would get all the necessary permissions, including an ID card. When Mehmal came downstairs, she saw Thomas and some crew members gathered around, watching something. She saw a man on his knees, with another man standing in front of him.

"What's happening?" one of the crew members asked. Mehmal observed closely. One man was Jewish, dressed in a guard's uniform, while the other, a tall Muslim, was reciting the Kalma (the declaration of faith). The Jewish man was repeating after him. After they finished, they stood and embraced each other.

"What's this about?" Thomas inquired.

"The Jewish man has converted to Islam," Mehmal explained. The crew looked at her, then at the men.

The man approached them. "Who is he?" Mehmal asked.

"He's Emer Zaygil. He seems to be around 37-40 years old, maybe older. He's from Turkey and has significant influence in the foreign embassy here. You wouldn't believe it, Mehmal—he volunteered here from Turkey," Thomas said.

Mehmal's eyes widened. "He's Emer?" she asked, emphasizing the name.

"I read about him in London and even attended some of his conferences," Thomas said as the man came closer. Emer Zaygil had black hair, brown eyes, and a fair complexion. His Turkish identity was evident at first glance.

"Hello, I've just received the information from the embassy. You all have arrived. I'm Emer Zaygil," he said, extending his hand to Thomas, who shook it. They all introduced themselves. When Emer turned to Mehmal, he placed his hand on his heart and greeted her. Mehmal, unsure of how to respond, simply nodded and said, "Mehmal."

He nodded in return and addressed Thomas. "The jeep is waiting, and the security guard will take you for the tour. Please avoid restricted areas without my permission," he said, then walked away.

"He's handsome," someone remarked.

"He's just doing his job. Let's focus on our tasks and make our plans," Mehmal said, grabbing her camera.

After their busy schedule, Mehmal returned to her room. Exhausted and needing a break, she decided for a cold shower. It was late at night; having bathe, she faced her reflection in the mirror now. As she stood naked, she felt an unsettling sensation as if someone were touching her. She closed her eyes, walked to the shower, and cried. After two exhausting weeks, thoughts of Zaryab resurfaced.

"You need to keep yourself busy, Mehmal, to forget him," she told herself.

Mehmal performed her wadu (ablution) and prepared for namaz. Searching for a prayer mat, she realized they didn't have one. She spread a bedsheet on the floor and prayed.

Dressed in a shirt, pajamas, and a jacket, Mehmal went to the dining area to join her crew for dinner. As she passed by the VIP rooms, she saw a door open. It was Mr. Zaygil's room. He was offering namaz, his movements slow and peaceful, every sujood lingering for a minute. Mehmal observed for a moment before heading to the dining hall.

The next morning, her team went to the office to present their idea to some officers, Emer among them. Mehmal began her presentation.

"As you know, we're all connected through media or other channels. Why not convey these voices authentically to the world? Humanity should come first," Mehmal said. Though she wasn't particularly religious and rarely brought religion into her work, this project required a starting point. She chose to highlight voices from conflict areas like Syria, Palestine, and Yemen, aiming to positively depict the Muslim world, if not to the world, at least to the Muslim community.