Such Peaceful Souls

Today


"Hi Ati, good morning." He walked in silently to the kitchen. I turned around - water streaming from the tap, and I gave him a wide smile. Good morning!, my voice sounded hoarse, it sounded so distant.

He reached for the refrigerator door, "How are you?", and suddenly he lifted his eyes and smiled a little, as if careful not to give away what he was thinking. He held his gaze, waiting for my answer.

Good! I'm good!, I blurted out, a tad too enthusiastically.

He didn't take away his stare. Was it a knowing look he gave me? Slowly he bent down and reached into the refrigerator - continuing his morning routine.

You're a good person. I let out a sigh. All of you.

Yesterday

We bade her farewell at the airport. She was anxious, I was anxious for her.

She's on her own little pilgrimage, as she puts it. When we walked out with her from the house in the afternoon, her Iranian friend came in to say goodbye. As we stepped out, he took out a glass of water and pour it onto the ground. For safe return, in sha Allah.

We had sat together beforehand, the three of us. We talked about the brief time we had shared together. A minute portion of each our life shared together in an experience which feels like forever, a lifetime really.

Take care of each other, was her words to us in her letter. I smiled at her before she finally stepped into the departure halls, we'll all be at home when you get back. Come back safely.

Funny how God send us a gift of life, love, and friendship in unlikely places, right?

The Day Before

"Alright, it's the last one", he turned around to us enthusiastically. He swapped the card, his hands in position.
The first block came, and the second, the third. He made it to the minor prize, all of us looked with giddy excitement. One block, another, and another. The last box to the major prize, I crossed my finger.

Aargh! All of us broke into a fit of hysteric laughter.

On our way home on the bus, he (the other he) blew his fingers several time. What for, asked she. For the money I had lost, we laughed again.

As we sat down later in the backyard, the midnight moon passed over us. Cigarettes at their hands, a glass of milk in mine - I listened and laughed with them as they recount their stories. This little family of ours, I smiled to myself quietly in the dark.