His Land Called

9] Take Care

9] Take Care

The days were getting hot. Summer was around the corner. The whole week was spent packing. I had helped Faaris to pack all his important stuff. However, the whole time I kept swallowing back my tears.

As I was taking Faaris's sweaters from the trunk, because it was going to be cold in Swat, Faaris called for me.

"Falak!" He called from the bedroom.

"Coming!" I called back and quickly closed the trunk that was placed on the back patio of the house.

"Yes?" I asked as I entered the room with my arms full of sweaters, jackets, caps and gloves. I put them all carelessly on a one seater sofa.

I spread out my arms and fell on the bed.

"Faaru, I got all your sweaters and stuff." I told Faaris, my voice muffled as my face was buried in the mattress.

"Thanks, Falak. Now get up. I wanna talk.'' He replied, slightly slapping my back. I turned so that I was lying on my back.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing serious. I just wanted to talk. It is our last day together.''

"No, it is 10th."

"Jaan, it's 11th."

"No! Really? Where did the day go?" I exclaimed, sitting up.

"It is gone. Let's cherish what's here." He replied.

"Yeah." I said softly. I closed my eyes and held back my tears.

"Falak, you once asked that why I never call you with any specific nickname like others. Remember?" Faaris spoke. I opened my eyes and nodded.

"Well, I need you to think of the answer. You will answer on our third wedding anniversary."

"Why?"

"It is something that I hold close to heart." He replied. I closed my eyes and forced the tears back.

"Okay." The urge to cry grew.

"Falak, are you okay?"

"Yeah." It grew even more.

"Why are your eyes closed, then? Open them."

"I have a headache." I lied.

I felt something soft tickle me just under my chin.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Faaris looking curiously at me. Once he saw my eyes, he sighed.

He got up and silently pulled me to my feet and guided my to the mirror. My dark brown eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"This. I don't want to see this, Falak. I don't want to see any tears from these eyes, unless they are of happiness." He pointed to my eyes.

He smiled broadly.

"I want to see this goofy smile on your face forever. An unhappy Falak brings dark clouds on my sky."  He said pointing to his smile.

A watery smile made it's way to my lips.

"That's more like it.'' Faaris said.

He lifted me to his height and kissed my cheek. I did the same.

He had not yet put me down when you burst into the room.

You had been play in the sitting room with your cars.

"Baba! Up me!" You exclaimed in joy.

Faaris set me down on my feet and picked you up.

"Wow! Babbar is bigger than Baba!"

"Babbar big!" You shrieked and slapped Faaris's face with both hands.

"No, Haider. Hitting Baba is bad!" I told you sternly.

"Bad!" You shouted and slapped Faaris again.

Faaris held your hands in one hand and said, "No!"

"No?" You inquired, tilting your head to the side.

"No." Faaris replied.

You silently looked at his face for a moment and then pulled both his ears!

You joyfully clapped your hands at the achievement.

"Look, Falak. He is just like you. He always finds ways to bug me!"

"I do not bug you!" I exclaimed.

"I'm the one who is effected." Faaris replied and all I could do was shake my head at him.

***

I was packing Faaris's last shirt. Faaris was putting on his cap. This time, he were dressed in a smart khaki uniform.

I was highly upset. It could be seen on my face. With my lips pursed, I zipped the last suitcase. Faaris carried it outside to the jeep that had arrived to drive Faaris to the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Once all the luggage was loaded in the jeep, he went back inside, calling me along with him.

He went to the bedroom and brought something that was wrapped in a khaki paper envelope and handed it to me.

With nimble fingers, I unwrapped it.

I discovered a beautiful family picture. You were in the middle while me and Faaris were on the sides. We all had huge smiles on out faces. Faaris was finding you and you had your arm around my neck.

Once again, tears rushed to my eyes, yet I held the back.

"Thank you." I told him and he grinned and kissed my forehead. He took it from my hands and hung it on the wall in the sitting room. With his hand on his sides and legs apart, he looked at it, and several others that were already there, with satisfaction.

Soon enough, be went outside again with me following him. You were in my arms.

On the patio, Faaris took you from my hand and kissed you good bye.

I was leaning against the door frame, looking at the scene. My lips were pursed and I was not looking forward to a life without Faaris.

Once Faaris had set you down, and saw me, he approached me. I smiled at him.

"Take care and call me whenever you can in sha Allah."  I told him, softly.

"I will." He smiled, looking down at me.

"And promise you'll come back."

"I promise, Falak. Nothing will

happen to me in sha Allah."

He was right. Nothing happened.

I looked at Faaris. I was proud of him. Too proud for words. It killed me to see him go, yet my heart soared with satisfaction and pride on the thought that he was fighting for Pakistan. For the welfare of Muslims.

He was exactly what his name meant. He was a knight. He was a knight, who was on the mission to make a difference. Small efforts can add up to make a huge difference.

There is a saying in Urdu, that goes, 'katray kartay se darya banta hai.'

Drops of water add up to make a river.

Seeing me, lost in my thoughts and staring at him, Faaris approached me and pushed my forehead back, with the tips of his fingers.

I snapped back to reality. With a watery smile, I waved him good bye. He gave me a lopsided smile and climbed into the jeep. The jeep drove away, leaving you and me on the patio.