Qurban

•11• Gratitude / شکر گزاری

It was a pretty chilly day. The sun's heat wasn't scorching instead it was very warm. Like warm water in biting cold. It was a cozy and romantic weather. Zainab loved weathers like that. Chilly and cool. Warm and fuzzy. It elevated her mood every time. Brought her some semblance of peace and serenity.

She was standing in her open balcony feeling the cold air hit her skin and tingling her skin. Her hair swayed in waves easily escaping from her braid. Her hand went to her neck where she could feel the cold.

A different kind of cold. Like touching metal.

Gripping the chain with her hand she sighed and took in a deep breath. The cool air going past her nostrils and making her shiver just a little in her flimsy shawl. Her fingers tightened around the gold chain. She thought she lost it for good. Was sure she wouldn't find it again, lost like the many other things she had lost.

She was so glad she found it again. It might sound like a pretty silly thing to be so stuck on but she adored his gifts to her. Particularly this chain which was the very first gift she received from him from the ample he gave her after. They variated from small pair of earrings to random stuff like a book or a flower or anything. She still remembered how giddy and schoolgirl like it made her feel even after being married to him. She still felt like her crush was courting her.

And now she had lost it. Lost him.

Her eyes burn as the reality of the situation dawned on her again for the umpteenth time. He was no more and she was here. Living a life without him while he's buried six feet underground. She's breathing while he stopped almost two years ago. She had a life. He had none.

Tears trickled out of her eyes yet again and she didn't wipe them. She had heard people say that after grief there'll come a time where she would look back at memories with a smile and not end up breaking down.

But that's the thing.

She didn't want to smile. Not without him. Never without him. She was okay with living with his memories. With all the little gifts he gave her during their short amount of time together.

But she was grateful to Altamash for returning the pendant to her and that too repairing its lock. Due to the broken lock it must have fell right off her neck. That brought her to a conclusion of how much the unfamiliar man had helped her. First he dropped her off home then he agreed to help with the orphanage and then he repaired her jewelry. She needed to thank him in a better way. He had helped her a lot. 

But how could she repay the kindness?

There's no repaying kindness.

Words from somewhere came to her mind and she shook her head as if shuffle her thoughts. 

No, she couldn't possibly repay him back with money. He won't accept it. 

May be she could bake him something. Like a homemade delight or something. Both the men work hard. A homemade meal could do some good. 

She turned on feet as the idea fully settled in her mind. Closing the balcony gate, she headed downstairs and towards the kitchen. Shuffling through the cabinets, she took out the ingredients she could find. Eyeing the clock, she had only a few hours before the lunch time would start. She needed to be quick. Thinking hard on what she could make in a small amount of time, she thought hard. Finally, like a switch lighted in her brain, she took out the rolling pin and an apron. Tying her hair in a bun, she was immersed in work. 

Baking her speciality......

The almond butter cookies. 

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