Ahlam (Dreams)

21-Leave

Him

I watched as Yazid spoke, a sharp pang in my chest. I was the cause of his condition if only I had dared to tell them what was happening. I watched Yazid close his eyes, and Saffiyah fall to the ground in tears. Abbas returned after hearing that Cyra had been found, only to meet a situation he couldn't understand. His eyes flickered the unconscious Yazid and I, trying to grasp what was happening. On the other hand, I noticed Cyra's injured neck.

Before I knew it I felt a strong push and I hit my head on the pillar. It was Sayyid Qais and his face was red with anger. He approached me again and slapped me. As he came closer again, Sufyan and Tariq held him and Asim tried to calm him down.

"You killed my son!! You killed my Yazid!!" Tears were coming down from his eyes slowly

"Sayyid your son isn't dead yet," Asim said still treating Yazid "And what you're doing is not helping matters"

Sayyid Qais turned around to face Asim "He's just as good as dead in this state. Why did he take that hit instead of you, I wish it was you in that position instead"

Just then Abbas came to his front "Sayyid I understand that you are angry, but I won't tolerate you saying such things to my brother"

Sayyid Qais scoffed "Even if it's true?"

Abbas's expression hardened "It wasn't his fault that your son took a fancy to her, and we all know that this wasn't on purpose"

Sayyid Qais gritted his teeth "If not for the respect I have for your fa..." He couldn't complete his sentence because of Yazid's groan

"He's stable, but not fully awake" Asim let out a sigh of relief

Sayyida Alba smiled and tugged Sayyid Qais's arm "Now you see, are you happy now? Can you stop tormenting the boy for what he didn't do?"

Sayyid Qais's facial expression didn't change "What about Hani? Everything is still his fault. That girl would have never suffered if he had not been stupid in his teenage years. Where is she?"

Sufyan itched his head and Tariq decided to be the one to speak "Sufyan struck her, she'll probably bleed to death"

Sayyid Qais's eyes widened and then he turned back to me "See what you had done, you still caused the death of someone today one way or the other, are you happy?"

Abbas walked closer to him "I think that's enough, your son is awake and after Asim's confirmation of Cyra being safe, I think that's all that matters"

Sayyid Qais opened his mouth to speak and it felt like something in me sparked "That's enough, I don't want to hear this anymore" I hastily climbed up the stairs and locked my room door

"Ibni, please open the door" I could hear Sayyida Alba calling from outside but I didn't have the heart to answer her.

After some repeated trials I heard Abbas's hushed tone "Leave him, he's going to be okay after a while."

After staring into space for a long time, I don't know when I fell asleep. Morning came, and after praying Subh, I resolved to leave. I stood up and started packing my things. "I can't be here for the next few days," I told myself. I'll come back on the last day.

After I had finished packing, I opened the door to see the faces waiting outside. Tariq looked at the bags and then at me.

"Niyyas you don't have to do this, it unnecessary" Tariq began

"No Ibni where are you taking these bags?" Sayyida Alba had deep hurt in her voice

Sufyan tried to take the bags from me but I refused "No Sufyan I have to go"

Saffiyah and Sundus protested but I started walking down the stairs

"Tariq go fetch Abbas, now," Asim said as he also tried to stop me

I smiled and ruffled his hair "Don't worry I'll be at your wedding"

I looked over to where Yazid was, lying unconscious and I frowned. It was my fault he was in that condition.

I was almost at the entrance when Abbas came. "Niyyas you don't have to go like this"

I shook my head "Akhi understand, I can't enjoy the hospitality of someone who doesn't even want to see my face.

Abbas held my arm "And what about Cyra?"

I closed my eyes, remembering what had transpired the previous night. "It's better for her if I go, her family will take care of her."

Abbas nodded "Fine I'll let you go, but where are you headed?"

"Imam Abdullah An-Nur, father's friend"

As I walked off, I heard Sayyida Alba's protest and Abbas was comforting her. I met Sayyid Qais at the gate, and he passed me without looking at me. I continued until I reached Imam Abdullah's house.

The moment he saw me his face brightened and he let me inside. "Assalamu alaykum Ibni, Kayfa Haluk? (how are you?)"

I smiled as I dropped my bags "Ana Bekhair (I am fine)" 

"What brings you here unannounced?" He passed me a cup of tea

I sat down and took a sip. He studied my movements "Niyyas, Is there something bothering you? You seem to be in a rather sorrowful mood today"

I sighed and placed the teacup on the table "It just... I did something bad. I feel like everything is happening all over again but with another scenario"

Imam Abdullah wrinkled his features "Care to share the full story Ibni?"

I was about to shake my head but I remembered my mother's saying

" A problem is better solved when it is shared with better people"

I glanced at Imam Abdullah "Do you remember Veeda, that girl I played with when I was younger?"

Imam Abdullah nodded "Yes, the one who used to call your best friend. You two were inseparable"

 I lowered my line of sight "Let's just say something happened, and I was the cause. That was the reason all that drama happened back then"

Imam Abdullah listened intently, nodding involuntarily.

 I continued "So I came here to Cordoba for a deal, and in my host's house, there was a young girl Cyra whom I had taken an interest in. Veeda didn't like that"

Imam Abdullah paused and looked at me "Was she there with you?"

I shook my head "I don't still understand it either. Maybe she was following me from Granada but I had no idea she was there, until a warning letter"

"The letters kept coming and soon, she took Cyra away. Her family was able to rescue her, but her brother, or rather her cousin got poisoned and is currently unconscious, Cyra is in that state as well. The host, Sayyid Qais, won't even look at me now"

"Where is Veeda now?" Imam Abdullah asked, leaning forward

I turned away "She was killed, or rather she would have bled to death. I had to leave the house, I couldn't stand looking at the man I hurt so badly, and eating his provisions"

Imam Abdullah rested his back on the cushion "You made the right decision, it is better to leave him for some time to cool down, maybe you will explain it to him soon"

"Yes, I was planning on staying here for 4 days"

 Suddenly, a man calls Imam Abdullah, stands up, and leaves. I stare at the wall, wondering how this will all turn out.