I cry for help, do you hear me?

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

It was pitch dark, but I could see a figure of a man, his head in his hands, in disappointment. I walked up to him and I just didn’t know whether to ask if he was alright. I carried on walking and put my hand on his bruised shoulder and he screamed, I tried to calm him down and he went silent. I couldn’t sit here all night and not doing anything so I tried to make a conversation.

“Salam Alaikum uncle, I’m Muhammad” I said, with my head looking down at the dirty water. He didn’t say anything, but just sat there in muteness and stillness. I sat absolutely still, looking up at the corroded walls, the filthy muddy water coming up to my knees then I looked at this man, this stranger in front of me that I saw as a brother, as an uncle and as I sat there beside him I could tell there was sorrow in his eyes. I tried once again to make a conversation “So uncle, what’s your name?” I said. He looked at me and smiled, I smiled back and he started talking “You remind me of my son, his name was Fahad and he was only 10”, and I nodded and smiled. The conversation flowed and went on and on.

“So why are you here son?” he asked.

“I’m looking for my father’s friend” I replied back 

“What was your father’s name?” he asked confusingly.

“His name was Abdullah, he died when I were 7” I said calmly. The man looked at me confused, as if he had heard of this name before, and then he looked at me and said something that I wasn’t exactly expecting “Are you Abdullah Ibrahim’s son?” he said rising an eyebrow.  I just sat still, my mouth was wide with shock and my sour eyes were gaping. I gulped. I gave him a photo that my mother had given me to find this mystery man that they called my father’s friend and he started laughing out in full volume, and I just smiled nervously trying to figure out why he was laughing. He finally stopped and spoke “Oh son, this photograph reminds me of the old days, forgive me for laughing it was a funny day your father’s wedding, it was hilarious “, but I was still confused because was a wedding meant to be hilarious or emotional. I sat up straight “Why was it hilarious?” I said tensely and he replied back “Because your father was getting married and he ever did on that day was make everyone laugh and crack up jokes” he said sunnily and that’s when I started laughing “That’s father ha-ha!” my laugh was light, and laced with a hum of amusement at the matter. The conversation just easily flowed.

“Brother, why don’t we get out of this dirty sewer and go someplace else” I said thoughtfully.

“Just like your father” he said. I was kind of confused “What do you mean brother?” I said confusingly.

“Your father, he’d always call me brother but sometimes would call me by my name Hamza” he said.  I started to giggle and got a hold of his hand and lead the way out of the sewer. We made our way to the fragmented, shattered house and made our way the dusty doorway and Hamza sat on one of the mattresses as I poured him a glass of water. I sat next to him and gave him the water along with a piece of bread and he grinned. There was a bit of awkward silence but then we both started speaking again, “Muhammad, why have you come looking for me?” he said bafflingly. I looked up at him “Well, brother I mean Uncle Hamza my mother thought you could come live with us and help us out with things, like looking for food and also for protection that’s the main reason because we have Jasmine and were very scared” and then he interrupted me “Who’s Jasmine?” he asked surprisingly, I replied back confidently “It’s my baby sister, she’s 7” and he smiled tilting his head “Mashaa’Allah she must be beautiful, and I’d be honoured to come and help out Muhammad” and I took his hand and kissed it “Shokran Uncle Hamza” and he leaned in and kissed me on the forehead “Let’s go to sleep son”.