UNENDING

19- Peace

-ASIYA-

The sun streamed in through the modest kitchen window, casting warm golden rays on the worn wooden countertops as I stood beside Inna, stirring a pot of rice. In this simple, rural village, I had found a peace that had eluded me for years. Every day around noon, children from the neighbourhood would gather here. Inna, ever patient and kind, would teach them to read and write. Despite the poor quality of education in this area, these children speak almost fluent English now, thanks to her dedication. I felt grateful to Inna for letting me stay with her, so I did everything possible to help around the house.

"This is the most peaceful I've felt in years," I said, glancing at Inna.

She looked up from chopping vegetables and smiled. "I'm glad, Asiya. You've been a great help."

As I continued to stir the rice, my mind wandered. I loved taking evening strolls around the village, making friends with the children and their mothers. The mothers often visited Inna, bringing snacks or food, and I would join them, chatting for hours about the village's happenings. It had been a week since I arrived, and I relished the simplicity of Inna's home. It was such a stark contrast to my own house with its lavish furnishings and amenities. Here, the scarcity of electricity didn't bother me—I preferred to read anyway, and I had left all my devices behind.

Yet, despite the tranquillity, my thoughts often drifted to Al-Qasim. I felt a pang of guilt for leaving without a word or even a letter. Was he worried? Or was he relieved that I was no longer a burden? A part of me wanted to run back to him, to the life I had left behind.

"Asiya," Inna's voice broke into my thoughts. "How do you plan on handling things when you go back?"

I shrugged, unsure. "I genuinely don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Inna sighed, her brow furrowing. "How long do you plan on staying?" Before I could respond, she quickly added, "I'm not asking you to leave, just curious. You're here without your husband's consent, and that might cause problems in the future."

I remained silent, knowing she was right. The dread that had been creeping into my heart all week now surged forward. Inna continued, her tone gentle but firm.

"Asiya, you know that being here without his consent is a sin. As a mother figure, I should scold you and tell you to return to your husband's house. But I understand that sometimes, it's better to have space and then deal with the issue later. I just hope you've thought this through."

I bit my lip, feeling the weight of her words. I had been pushing these thoughts aside, focusing instead on the peace I felt here. But what awaited me when I returned? Was Al-Qasim angry? Was he searching for me? Or was he living carefree, waiting for me to come back or not at all? And what about Jamila? Had she left our home, or was she using this opportunity to get closer to Al-Qasim? The possibilities were endless, and I wouldn't say I liked many of them.

We finished preparing the food, and I took it out to the dining table alongside a stack of plates and cutlery. Right on cue, the children rushed in, greeting me with bright smiles. I responded to each of them, asking them to sit and wait for Inna. She turned to me when she came out with her portable whiteboard and marker. "Asiya, would you like to help with today's class?"

"Of course," I replied, my spirits lifting at the thought. I loved helping the smaller kids learn their ABCs.

After the class, we served the children their lunch, and they ate in silence, practising the manners Inna had taught them. When they were done, most of them left to go home, but two girls stayed behind, their parents not yet back from their outing.