AMACon 3: Oikos - Children

Sacrifice - Morning

"In the morning stillness, when the world is just waking up and your conscious mind hasn't fully taken over, you may feel a connection or passageway to another world, and a feeling that something is about to happen in yours. It's like a quiet storm is coming. You can feel the distant rumble of thunder on the horizon, yet you have no idea of the deluge your life is about to experience."

It was exactly 9 years ago that young RJ had stepped into this part of the valley, holding his Baba's hand as they were welcomed by Ameer Shafeeq bin Malik to his tribe. Banu Badir was amongst the 4 tribes of the valley that worshipped the Qamar.

Recently all 7 tribes residing in Badar had unanimously accepted Sheikh Ahmed Bin Qavi of Banu Qavi, RJ's father, as their Ameer Al Umara. This meant that in matters that concerned the whole valley, his decision would be considered final and to be followed by every single member of each tribe. Once the treaty was signed by all Ameers, each had requested Sheikh Ahmed to visit their land as a way of honoring him.

The night RJ visited Banu Badir, was the night they were celebrating the full moon. It was the time of the month where all the natives would come together and rejoice. They would dance and sing and pray for their deepest desires to be fulfilled. For they believed that the one whose wish would be the purest would get his granted.

While his Baba was deep in conversation with Ameer Shafeeq, , discussing the valley's politics, RJ was busy enjoying the different shows the people had put up. They were seated among soft cushions and pillows in a large open area, underneath the starry sky.

He was watching a group of middle aged women, dressed in long skirts and shawls, perform a folk dance when his attention was caught by a girl, sitting a little away from him, her hair tied up in a long ponytail. She was busy making faces at a baby, looking at her up from his mother's shoulders.

Apparently the baby didn't find her amusing but RJ sure did. And in reaction to one of her crazy faces, RJ let out a big hearty laugh; so loud that the girl's head immediately turned in his direction. When she realized what the cause of his amusement was, her cheeks grew crimson and she hid her face behind the woman. He smiled a toothy grin at her but she didn't respond back.

Later he learns she was the daughter of Ameer Shafeeq, Mahana Binte Shafeeq, his eldest child. Who everyone liked to call Meng. When he would meet her over dinner, he would quietly approach her with a flower and apologize for laughing at her. Even then he was a perfect gentleman. Meng would shyly accept his apology, making his heart beat a little faster.

The next time, he would visit her, she would invite him to play and from then onwards they would become inseparable.

At that time, RJ had already begun his journey of following into his father's footsteps and become a great leader of Banu Qavi. Whereas for Meng, her training began two years later. She would spend her days learning the different household skills and when her Abi would come home from his duties as an Ameer, he would teach her the art of diplomacy. So when the time would come for her to be married of to another tribe, she could strengthen the bonds between the two.

But amongst their busy schedules, they would still find time to meet up and talk to their hearts content.

Despite being from opposite genders and belonging to different schools of thought, their friendship blossomed with time. They learned to respect each other's Gods, customs and traditions and help each other out in times of distress and vulnerability.

This was the promise RJ was fulfilling as they entered one of the cleared up areas where Meng was supposed to listen to the pleas of people of Banu Badir.