To Our Doom (Paused)

Chapter 8: The Past That Made Us

Flashback

"Hasan Ahmed, do you take Sana Khalid as your wife, and do you promise to love her in sickness and health?" six-year-old Sarah asked, standing in between them. She held a big notebook to fit the role of the announcer she saw in the movies.

"I... do," seven-year-old Hasan mumbled, looking at Sana, who was smiling at him. The three of them saw a scene in a movie where two people were saying sweet things and promising their love for each other and there was an announcer in the middle who hosted it. Then when they stopped speaking, the crowd erupted in laughter and tears, which meant whatever the two of them were doing, was something celebratory.

"Sana Khalid, do you take Hasan Ahmed as your husband, and do you promise to... do whatever I said earlier for him as well?" Sarah asked, forgetting her lines. Sana glared at her friend when she forgot her lines but went forth with the ceremony when she realized she had forgotten what Sarah was supposed to say as well.

"I do!" Sana beamed, looking at Hasan with a determined expression. "Now comes the applause part!"

Sarah laughed and clapped aggressively, as hard as she could. Hasan and Sana laugh together with Sarah. "Awh, I was hoping for a crowd..." Sana pouted.

"We only have the plushies to play with us, Sana," Hasan consoled her. "Or I could bring the cats?"

"No cats!" Sana snapped. Hasan remembered that Sana was terrified of them. He had no idea until a week ago.

End of Flashback

Hasan sighed softly, as he remembered that day, and how focused Sana was to play her role. His small smile was replaced with a melancholic expression as he remembered how he had been distant from her without prior notice and out of the blue. She must have been shocked. He shook his head. The past was in the past. The fond memories and the bitter ones. All part of him.

"Akhi, stop sulking and come help me mop the house," Hussein barged into Hasan's room, holding a mop. "Why are you sulking anyway?"

Hasan stands up from his gaming chair and walks up to join his little brother at the doorway, "I was not sulking, Hussein,"

"You looked like Sawda when you give her cat food biscuits instead of tuna," Hussein raised a brow.

Hasan chuckled at the comparison. "You're saying I look as cute as a cat?"

"Okay shush and just come help me mop," Hussein scowled. Hasan laughed at his little brother and went with him to help him with mopping. He would do half the house, and his little brother would do the rest.

Sana was over at Sarah's house for the day. They were supposed to study the notes of their Tafseer class. Which, they of course did. Now, they were sitting on Sarah's bed and talking. More like Sarah was yapping Sana's ears off, but she didn't complain.

"Sana I just want to be six years old again," Sarah sighed and covered her face with both her hands, melancholically. "I was so carefree–"

"You were a nuisance, menace, and a feral animal and I'm glad you grew up," Sana said, staring at Sarah, unamused.

"That's what–"

"You still are, feral laughing machine," she added. "Just with a select few people,"

Sarah smiled nostalgically. She had indeed been a great nuisance and a menace as a kid. She was feral for sure. But she grew up. She now has responsibilities. She now has rules to follow. Her book of deeds has opened, and her deeds are being recorded. She is now accountable for every action she does. She grew up. She is not going to be able to turn back time. She can only grow up now.