1st November 2021
(Refer to the ending of the previous chapter for better continuity)
“Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Quran, 31:34)
Chapter 22
The Message
"Yup, it's me and before you ask, Yes, I'm secretly recording this from the bathroom stall with a woman's handbag,"
She could see his dramatic headshake again as he glanced at his watch.
"I haven't got much time so buckle up and listen...
Dear Miss A-cakes
I hope this finds you well
First of all, congrats on having made it so far without this exceptional person by your side. I know it's just been a day, but still, hey let me be a little dramatic! So, you go gurl! More power to you, sis!
Okay, so I would love to exhaust my vocabulary for you, but since mine happens to be very limited, I'd rather not. Let's cut to the chase.
So dear little A-cakes, here are the things I could never say to your face without making it awkward. Here we go,
Thank you for making my days a little less boring and adding a little more splash of colour and light to it. Thank you for making the unbearable more than bearable with your constant 'excuse of a joke' which I, of course, more than enjoy. Thank you for the headaches and stomach aches that I had by laughing with you; more like at you.
Thank you for teaching me a) to laugh at myself b) laugh at life and c) to fall in love with living again, teaching me to take it one day at a time.
Thank you for giving me my space and yet being there for me at the same time. I just absolutely love how you don't probe into people's business and mind your own yet you're available to anyone in need!
Moreover thank you for honouring me with this companionship and helping me see yet another beautiful stranger along this journey of life.
No, I'm not implying that you are Ms perfectionisto...I simply mean to say that, this year I have found the prettiest pearl among the thousands of shells I cross by daily. I mean to say that I've come to see a person who has so much goodness and potential, someone who could mark changes, someone who is yet to see the amazing person she is. Although the shell is hard, you're a softy inside and I can't wait to see you grow and unravel into the most amazing soul the world has seen.
Why don't we finish off with a piece of writing I never had the courage to show you?
For one moment
I wish you could see yourself through my eyes
For just one moment
I hope you could see what I see
Like a million brilliant stars enveloping the dark sky
Like the sun that shines on the brightest day
You set off a chain of sparks around you all day long.
I wish I could show you what I see
How there are a million different sides to life
And how we are yet to experience and discover those different shades
So much beauty
So much to look forward to
So much worth loving
So, live again, Shaz
Love again,
Don't be afraid to take the leap
My chapter in your life may be over for now
I'm just on the other side
Counting down the days until we finally meet each other again
And when we do,
I know it's going to be different and beautiful
So, let's wait until then
For now, live your wonderful life.
So buddy,
When the skies rend the Earth asunder, the Sun blazes over before the final darkness comes aforth and the Oceans brim about roaring over before it all ends, all that matters is the length of the beautiful curve your kind little heart has engraved on the souls of those around.
Be beautiful
Be kind
Be You
Find what's missing and the rest of the pieces will just fit in..."
"Zidan bhaiyya!" A voice interrupted, "that was beautifoool! But I can't go pee-pee cos I'm nervous and we are gonna miss our flight!"
"Hang on," Yazdan talked to the camera before speaking louder for the little boy in the toilet stall, "okay buddy, first of all, thank you. And secondly, answer this riddle. Why were there candles on a toilet seat?"
"Why?"
"Because there was a surprise birthday potty!"
The response was a series of giggles, followed by, "Oops, I think I peed a little, YES! I PEED A WIDDLE!"
"Okay, mission accomplished!" Yazdan faced the camera again, "But this was so not what I needed on record, anyhoo, I got one last thing to clarify. And don't even ask where I get my instant potty jokes from.
And get this, cos this is basically the entire point of the recording. I know I haven't been completely honest about this but I think it's finally time I let the cat out, the truth is...what I really wanted to say is...
I, in fact, have two dimples, but the other one is just less prominent and I tend to show the left side of my face more cos that's my pretty side, ya know. And because facial symmetry and muscular structure and stuff, I don't know.
Nah, just kidding, I got just one dimple cos my mama kissed me on just one cheek when I was a baby. There you go. Now you know it all.
And so, just like that one dimple, even if you see me or not, I'll always be there making a difference in your life, smiling and cheering for you from afar.
Alright, let's not be dramatic here, we will all be back together and partying before you know it!
Alright, gottago gottago!
And oh, take care of those amazing amazing people we call friends, will ya? Don't let anything come between those beautiful bonds you got, yeah? And ask Sam to keep an eye on Zac, please? Don't let him go crazy and finish up all the chocolates in the world. You guys are my home, my family. And family never really goes away, do they?
Always in my heart. All my love for y'all. Byeeee. Take care, Shaz. Move on. Don't carry the unnecessary burden of all that hate and guilt. I forgive you, you know, just in case.
I'm guessing, it would probably be around midnight when my wifi finally connects and you get the message, so I hope that I have disturbed your peaceful slumber.
So...this is it, I guess. The end of the line, or the beginning of a new day as I would like to call it.
Goodbye a-cakes...or should I say Goodnight, Shazin? And you better say it back this time!" He concluded the warning with a wink and the video came to an abrupt end.
And for the first time and the last, Shazin heard herself whisper back to the night as tears caressed her cold stinging cheeks,
"Good night, Z..."
YOU ARE READING
INFINITY
SpiritualMeet Shazin, an enthusiastic, sassy young adult looking forward to her last year of graduation. But what she did not expect was for fate to hit her with familiar faces and memories she had concealed in the deepest chambers of her heart, hoping never...
