Our Encounter

Chapter 2:Hidden pain

Kamal

My alarm rang through the room. My eyes were wide open, I couldn't sleep last night. Yesterday was a busy day and it ended way above everything I've expected. I dragged myself out of bed. It's time to pour everything out to my lord. I had been doing that since I could remember. I find solace and peace when I'm with him. I quickly prepare to pray. I entered the prayer room and the dim light inside greeted me with thesame warm welcome. I loved how I designed the walls with Arabic calligraphy. I feel at home when I'm in this room.

I prayed two rakaats, and at the last sujood I broke down. For a moment I felt alone but I remember the verse where the almighty says, "you're never alone, I'm always with you" and that verse cut the last string of what I was holding in my throat. I cried my heart out to Allah. I couldn't hold it anymore. All of it and nothing hidden. I stayed in that position for a long time before ending my prayer. I felt at ease, like a boulder had been taken off my back. I stayed silent for a very long time. This city is quiet in the morning. I went out to the gym with my car.

"Is that a G-wagon" I heard someone whispered. Yeap she's my baby alright. I smirked inwardly.

I walked out of the gym all sticky. I purchased an iced coffee before heading home.

I came out of the bathroom with towel around my waist and another for my hair. I decided to let it grow this time. My phone vibrated on the bedside locker. I ignored the message. I got ready for today and went ahead to have breakfast before work. Chips and fried eggs soon appear on my table. One bite and the taste melted in my mouth. I groan, "oh god bless my hands"

My little cloud nine got interrupted. My phone rang and my mood turned sour. I swallowed the food in my mouth.

"Why does it have to be when I'm eating" I grumble by myself. I haven't even tasted the sauce yet. I quickly scoop more chips with fork and dipped it inside the sauce. When I got enough sauce on the chips, the chips made it's way back to my mouth but only some inches away my phone rang again. I frowned and looked at the phone before switching it off. With hungry eyes I eyed the chips on my fork. I placed the chips in my mouth and it was ravishing. I ate my breakfast peacefully. Cleaned up the place before heading to the study. Now the day is about to start.

I sat behind my big brown table, the office chair welcomed me with a squeak as I sat on it. I went ahead to check my emails and messages. There were alot of them. I feel a headache coming. I rubbed my temples and started with the ones from yesterday. I slowly started with today's emails.

Half way through I turned on my phone. Many messages popped up. Too many to be normal. I checked the numbers of messages from a single contact. An unknown number. But this unknown number was once saved on my phone. The pain is visible in the texts. Immediately after reading all the texts the user sent a voice mail. I hesitated before playing the audio with the speaker on.

"K...mal...ah...um, y-you see...ah ..y-you left a year ago right...well um... God I cannot handle this on my own..." And there was silence. A long one. I thought the audio is done but there's a lot more.

"Kamal...wallahi I'm in so much pain right now. Dying will be much better. I can't bear it Kamal. I can't..I can't go to...Sophie" he said her name and broke down in cries. I bet he's sitting behind a closed door right now. He hates it when people see him cry so he locks himself in a room and would cry his balls out before coming out to talk things out. I guess he just finished crying before calling me. He sniffed before he continued

"Kamal I can't go to Sophie anymore, Sophie is now far from me. She's a star that has returned." He cried more harder. My heart changed it's rhythm. I quickly stood up from my chair.

"The doctors said Sophie is dead. But she can't die Kamal. S-she can't die. We slept fine yesterday. S-she can't die Kamal. Kamal come tell them to bring my wife out. K-kamal please help me. I can't live without Sophie. We have a daughter. She's still young. She can't leave her daughter like that." By the time he finished his last sentence my legs had already gone numb. I supported my weight with the table. I felt short of air and I quickly went outside.

"No, no, no, no-" the tears welled up in my eyes. It's been long that I've had tears. But they poured non stop.

....

I don't know how I ended up at the airport, or when I booked a flight back. It's all came back to me when I had already boarded the plane. The captain's voice sounded through the speaker. I had neither call orhan nor replied to his messages.

I closed my eyes, I wanted to sleep so bad to forget about this but I couldn't pass out for a good five minutes. We arrived quickly just as we boarded. I had no luggage with me. Just my wallet. I hailed a cab, told him where to drop me. The city used to be my home. I had alot of memories here. I had come to stay with Sophie's family. She's the youngest sister to my mum, which makes her my aunt. I had this bond with her the first day I saw her. We were of thesame age. It's normal in our society to be of thesame age with your aunt.

I looked through the street, things have changed around here but not very much to make a difference. There are now to plazas across the street to our house. I saw people by the huge gates. Standing with huge warmers. The condolences have started. But why are they outside. I paid for my ride and got off.

"Salamu alaikum everyone" I greeted. And they responded almost in unison

"Walaikumussalam" some whom recognized me got instant shock. My aunts had tears in their eyes.

"Kamal...ah Kamal" said the oldest of them. New fresh tears fell from her eyes. She's old to cry like this. I walked to her. She hugged me instantly.

"Ohhh my son. My son you're back.." she hadn't let go of me. The gates to the house jerked opened and I saw the face I hadn't seen for a year.

"Kamal?" His voice had turned hoarse.

"Why are they outside orhan?" I asked and he became quiet. "Orhan?"

"Im yet tell Amani. I know she have sensed something is wrong. She's been in her room the whole time. I don't know what to tell her"

"Tell me what daddy?" The voice rang in my ears. "Why are there so many people outside. "My grannies are also outside" she smiled innocently. Unaware. Well that's what she wanted us to think. Her nose tip is a bit red. And her eyes...
She did a perfect job with the make up but I've seen that before, Sophie did it countless times and I always find out.

"She knows" I whispered to orhan, his brows knitted in confusion. He turned to face her and realization dawn on him. The little girl knows but she's trying to hide her pain. She doesn't want anyone stating the obvious as she herself is denying it. She's just a child but she's handling it like an adult which is not good for her. Orhan walked to Amani. He stood before her, he fixed the hair on her face, sliding it behind her ears.

"Come with me my darling." He said. She couldn't have been doing alright or else she would've recognise me instantly. I looked at the others and requested they do it at the family house. I greeted them goodbye. I stood there for a long time before going into the compound. I can see my house from here. I walked into the building.

"You're being mean daddy, mama is out to work and will be coming home soon. Why are you saying that" her cries echoed through the house. I stood away from them by the stairs. She quickly stood up and stormed her way to the staircase. She looked at me and tears trickled down her face. She quickly wiped them. We made eye contact before she ran upstairs.

"Amani..." I called and she stopped, I heard her whimper. Yeap, like her dad.
"It's alright to cry Amani, just pray for her too"

------:)Hello reader,
Well, I just want to say hi, I really don't know how to start up a conversation. But ...hi...this is awkward for me.
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