The Truest Soldier-Islamic Life Story

Chapter Ten

During the one week break, Asima milled about the fields, practicing her workouts, and came back for a good shower and not-so-great meals. She'd also packed up her stuff ready for the move by the end of the break.

Mikey kept a distance from Asima –she overheard him telling Zaen his parents were divorced and he didn't want to go back to either– but never spoke to her. To watch over her most likely. Asima snorted at the idea. She didn't need protecting. With her toned body Asima could knock out Mikey if she tried.

But the thought of Zaen's instincts to always protect her made her chest ache. He was her Adil. Her big brother a home away. Asima knew it wasn't that she needed to be defended, it was because their protection made her realize the same thing: there wasn't a battle to fight if she didn't want one.

Asima vowed to keep the lesson at heart.

When Zaen did come back, she was asleep– after having moved into a new room, stayed up writing a letter to her brother and reading the one he'd sent just the day before. It was short, but brutal.

My baby sis,

Why are you running away from us? What have we done? I know your training should be over by now. Why haven't you come home? Are you scared? I'm here, Asi. Like always.

My condition got worse. Please let me see you again. May Allah bring us together. In'Sha'Allah.

Your bb, Adil

The letter was crumpled in her fist, and she awoke to a light shake.

"Asima, wake up or you'll miss Zuhr prayer." Asima's eyes snapped open at the voice, but she heard him walk out of the bunker to give her the privacy she needed.

It was the time of the month she didn't need to pray, but Asima got up in a hurry anyway. She poked her head out of the bunker, seeing Zaen and Mikey conversing out in the hall. She'd seen his stuff laying beside the bunk bed and couldn't suppress her happiness at seeing him again.

Zaen turned his head, almost as if he'd known she was there. He stood up, smiling, and began walking towards her. Asima ran up to him, throwing her arms around his neck and holding on tight. Zaen laughed, lightly wrapping his arms to embrace her.

"Haram, I know," she whispered, "but I missed you." She let go, smiling up at him. "It gets a little boring when there's no one to talk to except for a mute shadow," Asima said, referring to Mikey. Zaen opened his mouth to reply.

"Well if it isn't the sand monkeys' reunion. How sweet," Scar's loud voice cut through. Asima broke away from Zaen, rolling her eyes.

Sand monkeys. A new one.

Rather than a fiery retort, Asima went for a different approach.

"Good to see you, too, Scar-Face," Asima said, twirling the end of her hijab, giving him a smile as if she were pleased to see him. "Can't wait for Simba to come and dethrone you."

"Lame," Scar said.

"Did you say something?" Scar frowned, used to Asima's temper to flare after an insult. Asima smiled, liking the way her positive attitude was crushing his attempts at making fun of her and Zaen. "We have things to do, Scar-Face. Run along." Asima almost laughed aloud at the sight of a flustered Scar as he turned and left.

Zaen watched her in awe. Asima grinned.

"Look's like a week's changed a lot," he noted. Asima shrugged her shoulders. He had no idea. "I heard they're starting classes soon. Let's go check if we're on the list."

Mikey and Asima nodded. As the three made their way, Asima prayed if the two weren't on the list and were getting deployed, she would be able to go, too.

A sigh of relief escaped Asima's lips when she saw their names on the College Course sheet.

"Well, I think its lunch time," Zaen said, absently rubbing his newly shaven head. Asima was lucky she was exempt from it after seeing the other women get their hair turn into pixie cuts. "We meet at the auditorium tonight for the classes, right?" She nodded. "Let's go eat."

When Asima, Zaen, and Mikey entered the auditorium, most of the others were already seated.

Asima didn't know all of them very well, but what she did know of them wasn't very pleasant. Most of them were like Scar, which was why, she assumed, Zaen made sure he had her sit in between him and Mikey, rather than her usual seating of sitting at an edge. The chatter died down as a decorated higher officer made his way on stage, a sheet of paper in hand.

"Listen up," he started. "I'm going to read off a list of services we've got for any of you religious folk. If you go, you need someone to go with you. Got it?"

"Yes, Sir," Asima, along with everyone else in the room, chorused.

****

After a time, Zaen slumped in his seat, uninterested.

"Islamic Service," the officer said with a shake of his head, chuckling. Laughter rang out among the audience. Sitting upright, Zaen raised his hand. The officer furrowed his eyebrows, surprised. "You, come up here. What's your name?"

Standing before the officer, Zaen said, "Zaen Kawari, sir."

"Well you need a partner," the officer said, frowning. "Who wants to join this young man?"

Zaen's eyes found Asima's. Everyone was staring her way. Her face had reddened and she gripped the edge of the seat. Mikey cast his glance down. After several, deathly still moments, Asima stood up, her hand raised. Relief flooded through Zaen as she gave him a smile.

When they had all filed out, Asim had apologized to Zaen.

"No big deal. We came through in the end," he said, bumping shoulders with her. Asima smiled.

They'd spent the next several weeks learning tactics and skills.

As the days drew to a close, Zaen had begun to feel anxious at the deployment which would be after their classes ended. Asima was enthusiastic, saying they would finally be living their dreams. She had also added that they would all be going home after the experience training and two months of service.

Zaen watched Asima continuously tap her fingers on the suitcase in front of her, a mixture of happiness and anticipation in her face. Asima wore her army uniform and wasn't wearing a hijab –she'd been pestered not to because she had to appear in unison with the others– but she made sure her hair didn't show and the clothes as loose-fitted as possible. The two hadn't seen Mikey for some time, and they were waiting to meet up with him before their flight.

When they spotted Mikey come, they gave him strained smiles.

"Can't wait, huh?" He said, chuckling a bit. The two nodded. "I heard the Sergeant we're training under's a good guy." Zaen heard Asima say "hmm" and look away. He shook his head, knowing all too well why Asima was so skeptic. 'Good guys' were hard to find here.

After a few more anxious minutes, the other soldiers filed into the airport. The group was then escorted onto their plane. Zaen followed after Asima as she rushed to a window seat. He put up her luggage and took the seat beside her.

"You ready for this?" Zaen asked. Asima closed her eyes, settling her head back. She gripped the finger that still sported Adil's ring.

"Ready as you are."