fighting fear

25th May

Ayesha

The school bell rang. Ayesha approached her class and on the way scanned the posters for the various clubs. At certain point, sensations of voracity came flooding in when she halted at a specific club.

MUSIC SOCIETY  

In fact, all kinds of feeling entered her soul, the desire to sing, to make music she loved. The wish to go to a music school and dismember all shackles of culture and tradition in which her family had bound her: the Khans, sons become engineers and daughters become doctors. Fullstop.   She wanted to attain freedom, but there was a minor obstacle. Damn, she was too scared. What will be the response when she expressed herself? Was she really up to the task?   She turned to her classroom and, as always, pushed these thoughts aside.

Alina

  It was her birthday. She dressed voraciously for school and stepped out of the room.  

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!”

    Her  brother Faiz jumped in front of her with a lit cupcake and a present. She smiled gratefully, and said “Thanks, bro”, while ruffling his thick curly hair. However, he winced and moved away quickly. He said, “Don’t thank me until you have seen the present”.

Her mom came in behind her.   “Now do it like a lady, you are almost eighteen”.   She rolled her eyes and ignored her. She tore open the wrapping paper and gasped when she saw the present’s contents. She tried to scream but no noise escaped her throat. She couldn’t believe her eyes, Nike Magista Obra SG Pro! Those were the latest football boots! She roared “I am the happiest person alive!”.

  But, some moments later, the dark truth unveiled itself before her like a pure white dove transforming in a filthy black crow.   “But, I can’t really play, can I?” She stammered and hot tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She collapsed on the floor as her knees could no longer support her. Faiz looked down upon her sister, and said “No problem, sis, you can still play  here”. Her soft whimpers turned into violent sobs and she held on to her brother for dear life.