Ahlam (Dreams)

7 - Memory

Him

I headed to Abbas. He was sitting down at a table. When I entered he smiled and said, "Well look who finally came, I just finished writing to Hajar."

I sat down by his bedside, "At this time? That's not so husbandly of you is it?"

He raised an eyebrow and said, "I've been busy, that's why."

I smirked. "You need to learn how to treat your lady."

Abbas scoffed, "Like the unmarried will teach a married man how to treat a wife. You will understand when you get one."

I grinned and then took a sip from the cup on the table. "I think I can find out her name."

Abbas paused, puzzled "Which name? who?"

"The one who we call 'Bint'."

Abbas nodded and then said, "I don't know why you're so interested in her name, but I'm all ears."

I took a deep breath, " I hear them call her Hani a lot, but it's most probably a nickname since that nickname is popular among households in Baghdad. So I decided to call her Alhani and let me see how she reacts. If it's her name, she would answer me, but If not, she would correct me."

Abbas grinned. "So no matter the truth, you would still get what you want, I like this plan."

"But I can't execute it now, maybe later."

Abbas smiled and turned back to the book he had in hand.

"I should leave." I said and I stood up, maybe I should get something to drink. As I was heading to the kitchen, I heard Sayidi Qais's voice;

"Why did you go to the bazaar?" His tone reflected anger but with a hint of passiveness.

I looked to the direction of his voice and I saw his chamber door open, with Hani sitting there with Saffiyah and Sayyidi Qais was looking at them, demanding an explanation.

"I went to get something and some marauders attacked." Hani replied with a low tone.

"And why couldn't you send a servant, you knew we had guests."

"I couldn't, it was too important. I had to go there myself."

"Was it so important you couldn't wait, what could be of such value to you than your life?"

"I didn't know I was going to get hurt!" Her voice rose steadily.

"But you did, out of your carelessness." Sayyidi Qais bit back.

Then Hani brought something out of her scarf, it was the box that had fell from her when she fainted.

She opened it and took out a ring, a man's ring.

"I went to get my father's ring. This was his favourite one and I couldn't risk losing it again." Hani already had tears in her eyes.

Sayyidi Qais's expression softened and it was replaced by one of guilt and sadness. "And how I got my injuries, I would have escaped had I not seen a family in the same position I was all those years ago. I rushed forward to help them, and that's all that happened."

I saw Hani stand up, so I left the door, hurriedly walking to the kitchen. After getting a glass of milk, I saw Sayyidi Qais on my way back.

"Ah Ibni, what are you doing here so late?" 

"I just wanted to get some milk. It feels better getting it yourself, without asking a servant."

He smiled, "You're a responsible man. You don't settle for luxury even when placed in it."

 Sayyidi Qais was about to leave when I turned to him "Sayyidi, that your niece, Hani right?"

He turned to me and laughed, "No, Hani is just what we call her. Her name is Cyra. Why do you ask?"

I smiled and said, "I just asked because she's very quiet. I never learnt her name."

"Don't worry, since you will be staying for a long time, she'll definitely have to talk to you. She wasn't always like that you know."

I raised and eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure she will like for me to tell you. You can ask Yazid, if he's willing to talk, he will."

With that final statement, he continued heading his way. "I have to go meet someone, you should go sleep." He called out as he continued walking away.

I went back to my room, and sat on my bed, thinking about the day's events. "Cyra," I chuckled to myself  "I finally learnt her name."

I picked up my unfinished piece of the Mushaf I was writing.

I wrote two more pages before finally  closing it and placing it on the bedside drawer "Alhamdullilah (Praise be to Allah)."

I sat down on my bed, after reciting suratul Mulk and  the three 'quls'. I blew on my hands and wiped my body and said, "Bismika rabbi wad'atu jambii wabika arfa'uhu fa'in amsakta nafsii farhamhaa wa-in arsaltahaa fahfazha bimaa tahfaz bihi Ibaadakas salihin."