Bunker 77

4. Freedom

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.
- Martin Luther King Jr.

***

"Are you nervous?"

"Of course I am. Besides, I have to leave my beloved mother," I said, linking my arm with my mother's arm and leaning my head on her shoulder as we walked down the hallway.

My mother chuckled. "I will miss you, Amna. We ha-"

Before she could finish her sentence, a loud boom stopped everyone in their tracks. In the blink of an eye, Mum wrapped her arms around me, as if to protect me from the forthcoming harm. Crouching slightly from the impact, I looked around the hallway and saw a few people doing the same thing.

The air was still; no one spoke a word for a while. As the clock ticked and no signs of harm were visible, we straightened our backs and resumed our steps, but with more caution than before. I heaved a shaky breath while my left hand gripped my mother's arm. Her other hand was used to massage her chest.

The first time the bombing happened was on the day after General Kasem boasted about the success of our bunker. There were five bombings in the last three weeks, and it made everyone in the bunker, especially people in Division Two, worried for their lives.

The reporters said there was nothing to worry about and the army had everything under control. But it was clear that if the bombing continued for any longer, the situation was not on our side. I shuddered at the thought of what could happen if the enemy got control of our bunker. Would they keep us as slaves? or worse, kill us?

Shaking my head, I realised that we had arrived at my parents' room when Mum stopped.

Dad's snores could be heard from the room. He must have finished his work earlier today because usually he returned later than us.

"Okay, mum. Get inside your room and take a rest. Don't think too much about the bomb," I said, leaning to hug her slender figure.

She nodded, although the lines on her forehead were still visible. "Are you still going to meet Teratai?"

I bit my lip and nodded slowly. "Yes. I promised to meet her yesterday night. I don't want to keep her waiting. Perhaps she wants to talk about something important."

"Are you sure you'll be fine? You can just meet her tomorrow morning," my mother said, clutching my hand.

"Mum, I'll be fine. Besides, tomorrow morning is my turn to do the laundry. Mrs Sue will be angry if I'm late."

She let out a defeated sigh. "Fine. But don't go for too long. You need to rest too."

I nodded, feeling like I was a child. Ever since Fikree said he would take me out, my parents had been pampering me.
"See you tomorrow, mum."

After a peck to her cheek and a little wave, I walked towards the opposite route, passing a series of doors, and took a corner to the right. A flight of stairs leading to the Sector C dormitory came into my sight. I glanced at the piece of paper in my hand, where I had jotted down Teratai's room number.

No.256.

I passed some people with their backs hunched, entering their rooms, yawning as they got in. Some dirt and pieces of green leaves were scattered on the ground all over the highway. Unfamiliar smells of garlic and herbs lingered in the air. This was my first time in Sector C, although to be fair I had never been outside Sector D.

Before long, I reached the area where the rooms for No. 250 and up were. I knocked on Teratai's door, but no one answered until someone called me over my shoulders.