Thump! Thump! Aisha's heart beat fast, racing in fact, as her mind whirled and different thoughts bombarded her mind. Her spin tingled with excitement and a mixture of anxiety. Beads of sweat formed little pools on her broad forehead. Aisha was nervous.
After years of planning, saving, anticipation and duas her and her husband Umar had finally made it to the blessed, holy lands of Makkah, eager and ecstatically looking forward to performing their first hajj. (Pilgrim)
Sitting on her battered, patched suitcase; its seams were undone and threatened to burst, Aisha's doe-like eyes dated everywhere scanning the massive crowd. The third hour had approached since Aisha had been willing to be allocated to the tent she would reside in the Mina Valley.
Throngs of people emerged from every entry and exit, sprinting, pacing and lugging boulder like backpacks with them all with identical keenness written all over their faces.
The crowd was ecstatic to perform this awe inspiring experience. The strong feeling of brotherhood was in the atmosphere and Aisha was awe inspired by the sight of so many Muslims of every hue and rationality who had gathered there and somehow managed to communicate across the barrier of language and culture.
All were united by the greatest bond of all, the love and worship of Allah. A wave of nausea passed over Aisha and she felt a gentle almost faint like kick coming from her lower abdomen. Looking down at her swelling belly she smiled placing a protective hand over it and waddling over to a tent that was signaled to her.
Aisha was of Somali descent, an attractive girl. Her red- black soon shone, unblemished and velvety. Her hazel, almond eyes were framed with a thick set of black lashes and she had the warmest, widest most welcoming smile imaginable. Her emotions swayed from nervousness, to excitement as she entered the tent, her rubber sandals squeaking under the pebble stones.
Entering, she prayed Bismillah ( by the name of Allah) and made short dua to Allah thanking the Almighty for enabling her and Umar to participate in the blessed pilgrimage. She remembered the days she would listen enthusiastically to her cousin talk about her experiences of hajj and how it was a test of her patience and kindness to others and she longed to go too, so unsure she would not make it due to her and Umar's declining financial situation.
Three plumpish ladies all dressed in similar shalwaar khameez (Indian/Pakistani dresses ) lay on mats on the floor, fanning themselves and swatting away eager flies as Aisha walked in. The youngest from the group glanced up as she saw Aisha enter and scowled, narrowing her small, beady eyes in disbelief. "Ham no somalian me sath rakhe hein, so tow kitne ghande hein!" (They have put us with somalian, they are so dirty!) She hissed.
Her fellow companions sat up to get a proper look at Aisha, all looking at her from top to bottom and their gaze lingering praticulary on her second hand, shabby abaya (black long dress worn by Muslim womens) and patched Burkah, (head scarf) " mujhe ummed he ke ye log hame takhleef nahi denge!" ( I have hope that she won't harm us!) The middle one piped up, tutting her tongue in disapproval.
Aisha sucked in her breath; she felt as if the weight of the woman's words had punched her in the face and left her breathless. Due to Umar's placement at work, Aisha and Umar had lived in Karachi for six years enabling them to understand and speak fluent Urdu. Aisha had understood every word. Every word seemed to Pierce her heart and tears sprung to her eyes.
She swallowed hard, a huge lump was lodged in her throat and a shiver ran down her spine. She tried to take a deep breath and reassure herself this was just a test of her patience and to remain calm during thus little ordeal.
Dragging her feet to her mattress she sat her little suitcase neatly besides her. Resting in one corner and started the recitation of Quran. Her heart was heavy and her body aching and swollen. The first day of hajj had begun... (to be continued )
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Genuine Gems (GRATITUDE)
Short StoryAssalamu alaikum, This is an Islamic magazine Based on Gratitude. it has short stories, lessons, health tips, and much more. ♡ NOTE: none of the stories are made nor are they mine!
