"hehehe.. Sharon nooo. A9lan he told me he will never do such things"
"how do you know tomorrow is Monday.... After the graduation of reema and 3aboody hell take you"
"la matwaqa3.. He knows I cant leave lamooya and '3azoy here all alone"
"they are not I'm here, its only 2, 3 days"
"madre well see"
.
.
.
"hayaween baba wainich?"
"kani 7abebe bas azahib akil lamoya"
"yalla na6renich 3ala ilryoog"
"kani kani" she sat on the chair on her right was '3azi and on her left was lama in a baby chair. The twins sat across from her. Rakan at the head of the table, Suleiman at the end of the table.
"7abebe bacher at 9 graduation, ok?"
"yah 3ayal bansa graduation il 7ilween hathoola, ish3alaik '3azooi bit9er ib middle school, 3ad i5th 3agl il banat haa"
"Rakaan! Wildik chithe it3alma?!"
"3ayal shagoola, lazim min al7een yit3alam i3amil il banat; ha saloom 97 kalamy wala la?"
"la '3ala6"
"waiiih int 6la3t mithil omik, tikana"
They all start laughing
"bbaaaa"
"3yoon baba" Rakan said carrying lama from her chair
"Rakan ma5ali9at" Haya said
Lama gave her dad a hug and a kiss filled with her slobber
"lamooyaa baba al7een aroo7 ilijtma3 kil sa3abelich il 7ilwaa" he faked a frown
"hehehehehehehehe.... Wooooooovvv uuu wayiiith" lama said shyly
"yala mama 5ala9taw?"
"eeee" they all screamed! They didn't wait for her; left there plates kissed there parents goodbye and ran down the stairs to the car.
Christie followed them. They were going to Mrs. Huda's house to swim with her two sons.
"Sharoooon" said Mr. Rakan
"yes sir?"
"ta3alay i5thay lamoy clean her up"
"yes sir" I took lama to get her ready she was leaving her mother.
.
.
.
.
"wa2a5eeran 9rna broo7na"
"rakaan bas il5adam ishofoona al7een"
"oo ya3ni! Mo murti kaifi. Ta3alai gi3dai ib 7thnee"
"t3afas dishdashtik"
"5eir ya6air ako '3airha tarseen il kabat! Intay makoo '3airich"
"ray"
"hay"
"heeey! Lat3ayib"
"ma3ayabt giltay ray gilt hay"
"baby?"
"hala 7obi"
"wain binroo7 ilyoum?"
"laish?"
"madre a7is ako shay special"
"laish ilthiqa mako shay special"
"shalbis?"
"walashay:p"
"rakooon!"
"hallaa"
"min9iji?!"
"kish5eelee baba, abeech ilyoum"
"ok"
"ok?"
"ee"
"a7ibich haya"
"ana a7ibik akthar"
Suddenly his voice became lower "garbay"
She sat closer, he lifted her head "a7ib shifayfich il wardiya"
Her cheeks reddened
"a7ibich lai sta7aitay"
She didn't say a word
"a7ib nafse lanich ib 7ayati oo om 3yali"
She was paralyzed
He kissed her
Every morning he would do that
For 14 years since she was 18 he would do that
They were a happy couple, they loved each other, they loved people, they envied no one; they cared less of the world and more of each other.
She leaned her head on his shoulder, he hugged her.
"7abebti ta3bana?"
"shwaya bas"
"namai baba"
"bas baroo7 3ind mama oo bawade lamooya tisba7 ma3a il yahal; mithlik itmoot 3ala il may"
"hehe shiqil 3adil banati mo li3ib, baba bas namay ib7thne 15 mins oo ingoom; mashi?"
"ok"
She dozed off, he then carried her to bed and covered her with the blanket. He quietly walked in the closet and changed his dishdasha.
He then came to me and said "keep the phone next to you, ill give you a call and ill wake up Madame Haya ok?"
"yes sir, sir the driver is waiting down stairs"
"ok thanks"
And after an hour exactly Mr. Rakan called
"halla Sharon"
"hello sir"
"where is haya?"
"one moment sir" "Julieee! Come sit with lama please"
Julie came and I went in there room, knocked the door no one answered so I went to Mrs. Haya.
"Madame.. Madame"
"hmmm"
"Mr. Rakan wants you"
"alloo.... Baby ilsa3a cham?...... 3ashir!.... Rakaan.... Ok ok.... Baroo7 3ind mama shway then ill go to Huda's.... Emm... Wat time tonight?... Ee lazim.. Aroo7 ib ily albisa wiyak?... Ok 5?.... Ok 7ayati.. Rabi i7athik... Ma3asalama... A7ibik"
"Sharoon"
"yes ma'am?"
"Lama's ready?"
"yes"
"ok please before you leave take my flowery blue chiffon dress oo put bi5oor, oo please I want a tracksuit and shoes for now"
"sure ma'am"
"waii ta3banaa!"
Everything was set, all ready. Mrs. Haya left with Lama.
At about 3:30 they all came back the children went to take a shower because they already ate, but Mrs. Haya got the lunch ready.
We set the table for two, the children went to sleep, Mr. Rakan came from work.
"asalamu 3alaikum"
"ahlan" she said
They ate lunch, they changed, and left the house. Every two hours they would call and check on the children.
It was 10pm and 3abood was fast asleep so was '3azi and reema.
"Saloomi you need to sleep"
"mabi ban6r omi oo obi"
"Suleiman, its 10"
"3adi no school bacher"
I stayed quite, and after 10 mins he was fast asleep. At about 10:30 lama slept too. Every Sunday they would sleep in the play room so when Mr Rakan and Mrs Haya would comeback they would carry them to there rooms'. They would usually be here at about 11, 11:30; but tonight they took a long time.
It was 12 am still not here
12:15
12:30
12:45
One hour passed and they were still out; I hope they are just having fun.
1:15
1:30
I started to worry, ill wait another15 mins and ill give them a call
1:45
I cant wait, I slowly put lama in her baby crib and went to search for the house phone in the room. 2 mins later I heard a lound sound, it sounded like a car crash; maybe its one of the teenager boys in the neighborhood. I thought. So i continued on walking; looking for the telephone.
"Rakaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnn.......... Rakaaaaaaaaaaaaannnn"
My heart fell; in a split second i found myself out the gate looking at her screaming like a maniac. The car was burning he was unconscious in the car. His side was damaged, anyone who would see this would think the person inside is already dead.
"Rakaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn" was all she screamed.
Mahmoud pulled her back; "ya Madame.. Ya Madame"
"wa5r 3aniiiiii 5ara 3alaaaik rayleee... Wa555r!!!.... Abe rayleee.... Rakaaaaaaannn"
The car was burning slowly Suleiman tried to go to his father; he saw the whole thing habibi.. He was only 12 years old and he had to see his dad burn slowly. Hameed was trying to get him out. He couldn't.
"rakaaaaaann..... Aaaaaaahh rakan 7abebe please goom"
"ya Madame.. Hadee balik ya madame"
"abe raylii" she cried weakly.
That's when she fell; she was unconscious. Suleiman stood there his tears falling silently.
"baby... Do you want to go inside?"
He simply nodded his head in disapproval.
Hamed stood next to Suleiman. That's when the Fire men came, they quickly took down the fire. At that time we had hope, I personally did. I waited anxiously. The ambulance came seconds later. They took Mr. Rakan, and Mahmud carried Mrs. Haya to the car. I headed to the car and Julie had come to take Suleiman. He pushed her away and said, "wa5rai baroo7 wiyahum".
We didn't argue, after all they're his parents.
I sat at the back; Mrs. Haya was laying down still unconscious. Suleiman was in the passengers seat, and Mahmud was driving. The ride to the hospital was silent. That's when I realized what had just happened. I cried silently. The scene was the scariest thing I have seen. I wanted to stop replaying it; but that's what I only did.
"Rakaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn"
Mahmoud pulling her back; "ya Madame.. Ya Madame"
"wa5r 3aniiiiii 5ara 3alaaaik rayleee... Wa555r!!!.... Abe rayleee.... Rakaaaaaaannn"
"rakaaaaaann..... Aaaaaaahh rakan 7abebe please goom"
"ya madame.. Hadee balik ya madame"
"abe raylii"
The car slowly burning.....
Suleiman silently crying....
The sound of the car crash...
The car slowly burning.....
Suleiman silently crying....
The sound of the car crash...
"wa5r 3aniiiiii 5ara 3alaaaik rayleee... Wa555r!!!.... Abe rayleee.... Rakaaaaaaannn"
The sound of the car crash...
"Rakaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn"
And it kept replaying... I cried helplessly.... I prayed all the way.... I was lost.
We arrived at the hospital..
His brothers and father were there..
Her only brother too..
Mr. Rakan's youngest brother took Suleiman..
Mrs. Haya's brother carried her and ran into the hospital..
We soon followed and waited in the corridors..
Mrs. Haya didnt wake up.
Mr. Rakan was still in the operating room.
After half an hour or so the Dr. came out from the OR, and gave us the devastating news, news that would kill Mrs. Haya, news that no one ever expected so soon, they were news that told us the sweetest most generous honest man I have ever met is long gone. He has left this world for another human to come. I physically fell down to the floor crying. After that all was a blur to me, next thing I remember that I was in Mrs. Haya's room.
"rakan.. Rakaan" she repeated his name in a very low voice. My heart ached as I heard her say his name.
His fathers eyes got watery; "ra7 yuba ra7" he whispered back.
She didn't hear him, she looked around searching for her husband; "a7mad abi rayli waina... Nada please" she told her brother.
He looked at her with sad eyes, "36ach 3umra yuba"
She didn't hear him, "a7maad shfeek ga3id?..... Abe raylee... Roo7 nadlee rakan.. Gola gi3adt 5al iye ya5thne abee"
All of them started crying silently, except for Suleiman. He stood in the corner; looking at his mother. No one said a thing her brother left, he couldn't tell her. That's when Suleiman headed towards his mother. He sat on the bed next to her. Not a single tear fell.
"mama"
"hala 7abebe.. Wain baba roo7 nada lee"
"Mama" he replied with a stern voice
"na3am"
"baba..." he paused
"shfee obok?"
"baba.. 36ach 3umra"
"shga3id t5arbi6!!"
"mama.. Baba tiwafa!"