Making the turn

A blue enveloped letter

“Have you seen Salma?” I asked passers- by. No one had the slightest clue, where the girl had been for the past week. Salma didn’t have any sort of social media account, stating the lack of intelligence on the web as the reason of not having one. The only way I could contact her was by calling her but her phone was off, I couldn’t help but be a little worried.

Using my best friend’s strong social connections to my advantage, I had requested Ali to find out Salma’s whereabouts. Ali and I were due to meet up that day as well. My focus shifted from finding the girl that made my heart pound to the guy who would always be there to hold that gooey little thing together. It wasn’t hard to find him, since he was a tall, dark figure whose hands were always occupied by all sorts of food. 

I soon spotted him, busy conversing with his team-mate.What I found alarming was the fact that he wasn’t munching on a samosa, a site that was seldom seen by anyone. I thought of surprising him but then decided against it.

As I approached the two young gentlemen, there was an unexpected change in their expressions, Ali’s team-mate soon took off and I was left with a very sympathetic faced Ali, something I was familiar with. No, no, no. This couldn’t be. Ali opened his mouth to say something but I wasn’t ready, I wasn’t ready to hear whatever he had to say because it was the same sympathetic face he made when he found out about my mother. “Just...tell me if it’s going to hurt.” I requested.

“I don’t know.” Declared Ali.

I bit my lip, “Okay, out with it then.” I said with a huge sigh.

“Well, umm...Salma is alive.” Said Ali, trying to be as cheerful as possible.

I took a sigh of relief, “Oh, thank the Lord! You just saved me from a whole lot of pain.”

In a much more sober voice, Ali began, “But...she tired to kill herself. Atleast that’s what people are saying.”

“What? When did this all happen, I mean why?” I questioned Ali, spontaneously.

“I’m not sure. I gathered information here and there. The main thing I’m concerned about is you.” Stated Ali with genuine brotherly concern, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“I don’t know how to react to this. Perhaps I’m a little hurt by her selfish act.” I said, lifelessly.

“Did you expect this somehow? Did something happen the last time you met her?” Ali inquired.

“Nothing happened, we actual had a blast. We were enacting Shakespearean insults Salma had stumbled upon.  The whole scene was pretty comical, I tell you.” I insisted, shrugging.

Ali raised his eyebrows, dubious.

“Okay four days before that, Salma sort of had a little episode...” and so I told Ali about Salma’s sudden need to question everything. After which I told him how the very next day she acted as if nothing had happened, how everything had went to normal and how I decided not to bring up the incident at all.

“Hmm...I see. Well, her friends gave me this note. They ordered me to give this to you. It’s definitely her’s, I’ve seen her handwriting before.” Ali uttered, handing out a blue coloured envelope, reminding me of the blue feather I had kept so safely but also had not felt in my hands in years for I knew it would sting and holding that envelope in my hands, I feared so once again.

Salma wrote:-

Dearest Jamil,

When it comes to you, there is a abundance of things I could write to you. Unfortunately, I shall limit myself as the rest I want to say when we reunite once again. Could we possibly meet soon? I took the liberty to write the venue and date on the back of this letter, you shall be awaited eagerly by me.

Your ever loving,

Salma

I looked at the back of the letter, I was to meet her in a park near our school the next day, around 4pm. I looked at Ali, “She wants to meet me. Tomorrow, four-ish, in the park near our school. Should I?” I asked.

“Definitely.” Ali remarked, perturbed by all that was happening. It made me feel all warm inside, I was touched. Ali was the closest to what being loved by your family felt like.

“You’re the best, you know that.” I remarked, teary eyed.

“Tell me something new, will you?” Ali said rolling his eyes.

“Come on dude! I mean it.” I declared, being all defensive.

“Nah, I’m just playing. Now, let’s get ourselves some chicken rolls from the canteen, shall we? Boy, am I hungry!” Said Ali, trying to cheer me.

“Yeah, why not?” I said, tagging along, forgetting everything else for a while and seeing only how simple life could be sometimes.