Ahlam (Dreams)

10 - Reminiscing

Her

"Um Ammi, he's someone from my childhood" I hoped my uncle would just let me go

"From your childhood, here in Al-Andalus? I don't remember anyone by that name, or was it before..." I nodded and he hummed "You can go"

I smiled and came down "And it was before I came to Al-Andalus, in Baghdad" 

Uncle nodded and I hugged him and kissed his cheek "Thank you Ammi, you're the best"

I went out and saw Asim. I knew he thought I was a servant because of what I told him that day. As I approached him, he smiled and said "When is Cyra coming? Does she know I'm here? " I smiled and shook my head "Anxious as always, you didn't change one bit, you still look the same way, just older"

Asim was about to speak when he paused and his eyes widened "Cyra!! It's you"

I smiled and nodded "I missed you, and I mean it. Let's take a stroll in the gardens"

As we walked, Asim looked at the trees "They are beautiful, I have some of them at home." Then he turned to me "Why did you lie yesterday?"

I turned to him "Well, I had to go home immediately and I knew we couldn't meet without talking. So I lied to shorten the conversation"

He nodded in response "I suppose it's a good reason, but you shouldn't make lying a habit Hani" 

I smiled "Of course, I wont. I'm more religious than you are"

Asim grinned "You've seen me only for a few minutes and your already judging. You haven't changed at..." Asim looked down before completing it.

"What happened?" I asked with a hint of concern.

Asim sat down at the edge of the brick pond "Hani my dad told me what happened to your parents, I found out only a few months ago."

My eyes widened and I turned away. Seeing my expression he said "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I know it would have been painful and I can't understand. I'm sorry"

I wiped my tears and smiled "It's not your fault, no need to apologize. So why are you here in Cordoba?"

Asim's sad expression was replaced with a smile "Well, I moved here about a week ago. I was so anxious to see you. It was too long since we last saw each other"

"That means we will be seeing each other often right?"

Asim's smile grew wider "Only if you wish."

I smiled and looked forward. I saw Saffiyah, Sundus, and my Aunt Alba spying on us. Sundus tried to run when she saw me looking at them but Aunt pulled her back and gestured for me to look away.

I shifted my attention to Asim. He was putting his hand in the pond "So tell me Hani, how did you get those injuries, you didn't have them when you came to the bazaar" He didn't shift his attention from the pond. I cleared my throat "Just some marauders in the bazaar, and I had to help someone"

He finally looked into my eyes and chuckled "You're always helping. You look like a modern mummy, except you're an Arabian one"

"They'll heal soon, they aren't that deep"

Asim looked back at the water "Hmm... they will" Then he looked back at me, this time removing his hand from the water and placing it in between his legs "But the ones that were caused that day won't. The memory seems to replay in your head. I hope you find a husband that will help reduce the burden. You have changed Hani"

I looked at the water "I guess I have, and for the husband part, Insha Allah" I then said "Asim, do you plan on getting married"

Asim froze and said "Actually the reason I moved here was because of that. I have a girl I wanted to marry, and I felt I should move here because she had relatives here, though she is also an orphan. And Cordoba is good for business"

I looked at him "Aren't you scared?"

He laughed and almost fell into the pond "Hani, you looked so scared right now. I am nervous and I have my fears, but it's something that is going to happen sooner or later. You'll understand when you'll get married. Besides you're already 19, you'll soon start receiving proposals"

I pouted "Then I'll decline them. Until I find a man suitable for me"

"And how will you do that? You didn't even talk to boys other than me and your brothers when you were in Baghdad, though every boy wanted to be your friend. Hani..."

Asim and Cyra were together. Cyra was holding onto the door frame while Asim was dragging her 

"Hani just talk to them, they are nice" Asim tried to pull me again.

"I won't, I don't want to. I only want to play with you" I whined, trying to strengthen my grip on the door frame.

"Why won't you talk to them, they also want to share their snacks"

"I'm not going, tell them to keep their snacks"

"No, I'm older than you by four years, you will have to listen and come with me"

"No, leave me. Abi told me that age doesn't matter when you aren't doing something right. I'm not going"

"But I'm not doing something wrong, you are just being silly"

"No, I'm not. I don't want to talk to them. They are big and scary"

Cyra jumped and tickled Asim, he rolled over and she ran away, sticking her tongue out before she did. Asim shouts "You are lucky you're not ticklish, I'll get you somehow"

"Hani" I turned to look at Asim "I'm sorry what were you saying"

He raised an eyebrow "I wasn't saying anything" He tilted his head "You zoned out, didn't you?"

I nodded and he chuckled. He continued to sway his hands in the water. I looked in the direction to where Aunt and the girls were looking but they weren't there. I was trying to locate them when Asim said "Are you looking for someone?"

I didn't respond when I saw Yazid and some servants pass by, holding an unconscious Niyyas. Saffiyah appeared out of nowhere "Hani, something happened to Niyyas. He's unconscious. The physician might not come anytime soon"

Asim sprang to his feet "Where is he?"

I looked puzzled "Why, what can you do?"

He smirked "I'm a physician, I can treat him"