Until Now

Chapter 7: You and I, Flesh and bones

I once had a thousand desires, but in my one desire to know you; all else melted away.

Rumi

Unknown POV:

I don't know why I hate hospitals now. May be because I have been living in one for a week. There are way too many people in here, and before coming here I used to think that my friend Peter's grandfather was the only ill person on planet earth. But I was wrong. Mom has been ill for a while. She has this strange disease called.... (oh god what is it called?)

Nurse?

Yes.

Mom has what disease?

Endometrial Cancer.

Oh, ok I get it.

I copied the spellings from Mom's report card. I hope its not as stupid as its spellings. It doesn't make any sense though. Yesterday, grandma told Maddy that 82% people survive with this disease but mom is in other 18%. I don't know what that means but I don't think it's a good thing. Mom is on bed surrounded by tubes and devices and needle that is inside her hand. I think Mom's calling me.

Me: Yes mom.

Mom: (running hand through my hair) you look just like your father. You know when you were born your dad was away.

Me: Where was he?

Mom: He was at the war front.

Me: What is that?

Mom: A place where he was protecting million others like us. He was the bravest man I have ever met. You were only two weeks old when he got a leave only for three days and he came to meet us, to see his son, to see you.

Me: Did he like me?

Mom: (chuckles) He loved you more than anything he had ever loved in his life. He loved how your eyes look exactly like your grandmother's and your olive skin just like him.

Me: Why did he leave then?

Mom: Because he was a soldier. And soldier always love their motherland more than their lives. He never got to see you utter your first word or take your first step or hear your cries at 2:00 am. But his sacrifice made a lot of other people cherish their lives.

Me: I miss him.

Mom: I know you do. I miss him too. When he left, I felt like a piece of me died. I see him everyday in your smile, the way you talk reminds me of him. I didn't talk about him because it hurts, it hurt so much. After all, I am only human.

Me: How was dad? Did he like football and cricket? Was he also good at acting?

Mom: He loved cricket. He liked football too. He was strong, bold, funny, enthusiastic, but most of all he was daring. He was never good at acting. Whenever something was bothering him, his facial expressions would give it away. His face was never good at hiding his emotions.

Me: Do you still love him?

Mom: I will always love him. He is a part of my soul. A part of me. I still remember when I first met him. His eyes were the most mischievous and vivid eyes I have ever seen. He looked too good to be true in his uniform. You know what?

Me: What?

Mom: You'll look the same in your uniform, Breathtaking.I hope i live long enough to see you in Pakistan Military uniform.

Me: How did dad die?

Mom: He didn't die, love. He embraced shahadat. "Those who are killed in the cause of Allah: Do not call them dead. In fact! they are living, though you cannot perceive that life." He became a martyr. He saved millions of people. This is what soldiers do, they sacrifice their lives, leave their families behind, don't even see their children growing up so the country can thrive and everyone else can live peacefully. Most importantly, they do this in the name of Allah Almighty, Our Lord, who created us and to whom we belong. They love Allah so much that they don't hesitate, even for a second, before giving up their lives for Him.

You know in Quran it is written:

"For every virtue, there is another higher virtue except when a human being sacrifices his life for the sake of God-Almighty. And in that case, there exists nothing superior than that."

This is what drives a 25 years old man to sacrifice his life for Allah Almighty, to leave his family behind because he knows when he is sacrificing his life for Allah, he will surely take care of his family.

My son, there will be times when life will seem difficult and you might be alone. At that time only, Allah will be your savior, for He is the only one who can help you.

You belong to the country where you were born. That runs through your blood and that is the reason of your existence. Pakistan is our pride and much more important to us than our lives. When i die son, don't bury me here. Take me back to my soil, the same soil your father fought for.

And I want you to know that even when you can't see me and your father, we both will always be there for you and our prayers will also shelter you. 

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Assalmualikum people! 

Jumma Mubarik!

Writing this chapter was a roller coaster. I dedicate this chapters to all brave sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives for Allah Almighty and their country.

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