National Exile: A 21st Century Novel about Nobility, Poverty, and Cruelty

by Rusul A. Altaay

  Chapter 5

  The Arrest

  Sidra was just stunned hearing what Rain had to say. She could not believe that someone had figured out who she really was. Only had she known what the future was holding for her.

  “What do they have against you? Why are you still helping them? And how is Yazan ok with it?” Rain asked.

  “How did you know about him?”

  “Do you really want to know? I’ll forget it if you answer my questions.”

  “I can’t. You should have asked Yazan yourself.”

  “I need to hear your side of the story. Are you being black mailed?”

  “No, I’m working under my own free will. I had to pick a side, and I picked the winning one. I chose to stand by the administration of our country.” Sidra said.

  “You did NOT just say that… Have you forgotten the buildings that they destroyed? How can you be ok with this? I really thought you have changed. You are that same killer from eight years ago.”

  Tears just started to fall down from her eyes. Sidra left the room and walked outside. Apparently, he knew more than she thought he did. She was confused and had no one to turn to. She looked at the sky and asked God for help and guidance in her coming path. She thought that she was starting a battle on her own. She walked alone at night and stopped at a nearby river.

  “Rain was right. I am a killer, and I do not deserve any body’s forgiveness. Well, at least he did not throw me from the 2nd floor’s window. I would’ve deserved it.” She thought after wiping her tears with her long sleeves.

  A week had passed and no one spoke about it. Rain never mentioned it. She thought that he had just giving up on her. She always thought that it was only a matter of time before someone finds out the truth. Nothing worth mentioning really happened during that week. What happened afterwards was the turning point for everyone.

  On a shiny morning, Sidra walked out of the Burj. She walked towards the city. In her walk through the capital, she passed an old man who was working for a bread factory. She saw him holding a big bag of flour on his back. He was covered all over by the flour. He seemed very tried and about to fall down. She ran towards him and offered to help.

  “I’m ok, young lady. I’m used to this every day.” The old man said.

  “Sir, please let me help you. You look tired and about to fall any seconds. You don’t want your wife and kids to worry about you. Do you?” Sidra asked with a smile.

  “My 19 year old son was killed in cross fire a while ago. My ten year old son is very sick, and I work day and night so I can take him to a doctor. My wife died years ago.” He stopped talking for a second and said, “Ohhh… I’m glad she did not get to live. I wouldn’t want her seeing the world we live in today.”

  “I’m really sorry to hear this. However, Sir, where is your son now? I happened to know a very skilled doctor who can help.”

  “It’s kind of you, but my son and I live few hours walk east of here. We live under a bridge.”

  “Oh… Does it happen to be the same bridge that was fallen off because of the attacks about a month ago? “

  “Yes… My oldest son died in that attack.”

  “I can’t imagine how you must feel. However, let’s focus on saving your other son. I need to make a quick phone call.”

  Sidra got her phone and called Rain. He might still be young and not very experienced, but he is a very good doctor.

  “Rain, Listen, I know we have our differences, but now I need your help. There is a boy who lives under the bridge where we were a while ago. Do you remember the place?” Sidra said on the phone.

  “What about the boy?” Rain replied.

  “He is very sick and his father an old man and he …….”

  “OH… Now, you care about little boys and their survival. Aren’t you the one who is working for the administration who did that in the first place?”

  “Rain… Listen to me, I’m still a human. I am not justifying my actions, but I need you to believe that I know what I’m doing. Right now, there is an innocent child that needs help. I’ll meet you there in an hour.”

  Then, she just hung up the phone and turned to the old man.

  “Sir, Let us go to your place and see your boy.”

  On the other side of the phone, Rain was not very happy.

  “I did not even say that I was going. She knew I could not say no. I wonder why she cared about a random boy out of nowhere.” He thought.

  The old man was very grateful that Sidra was willing to help him.

  “I don’t know how to thank you. God bless you, God bless you my dear.” He said.

  “Please, I’m only doing what anyone should do. We live in a war zone. The least we could do is stand besides each other.” Sidra replied with a smile.

  On the road to the bridge, they came across a group of people that seemed like robbers. Sidra and the old man tried to avoid them, but they could not. When the robbers stood right in front of them, Sidra knew that they were not just random robbers.

  “What do you want? Please, let us pass.” Sidra said to one of the men.

  “Sure, give us everything you have. Then, we will think about letting you go.” One man from the group replied.

  As that man strongly grabbed Sidra from her arm, she managed to hit him back right on the face and said,

  “I swear, touch me again, and I will make you regret the day you were born…”

  “Why the attitude? My beautiful brunette… Come here…”

  In that moment, she found herself surrounded by three men that all tried to hurt her. The old man, that she was with, tried to help, but he was pushed away due to his weakness. He managed to get up and help Sidra fight the three men. It was a long fight. What the men did not know is that Sidra had extensive training and martial art skills.

  She managed to use her self-defense skills by knocking one of them on the ground and causing damage to his head. However, someone from behind was able to get a knife and stab her in her right arm. They got the old man as well knocked down. They searched both of them. They could not find anything but Sidra’s cell phone. They took it and ran a way as quickly as they could.

  It was hard for the old man and Sidra to get up again, but they did. Sidra managed to cover her wound with a scarf she had. She asked the old man to keep walking to the bridge to see his sick son and get him some help. They finally arrived to the bridge about two hours late. They were very tired and barley able to walk.

  Rain saw them from far and ran towards them.

  “Finally, I was waiting for hours in here. I called you many times, but I guess you were not in the mood to answer. And what’s up with the …… Oh, My GOD, what happened to you? You’re bleeding.” Rain said.

  “I’m ok. You’re here to help this man’s son.”

  “Your arm is covered by blood. Let me have a look at it.”

  “No, please. I can take care of myself.”

  “Just exactly what care is that you are taking of yourself? It’s not the time to be stubborn. Let me help you.”

  “I’m fine. Look… I can move my arm freely. It’s nothing. Now, leave my arm alone. Just go help the kid.”

  Rain left her and went to help the kid in the camp with his father. After a while he came back and asked Sidra,

  “Hey, we are going to need a lot of supplies. I only have about $50 in my pocket, and I left my bank card home. Do you have any money on you?”

  “No, not a single dollar.” She replied while trying to hide her pain.

  “Did those robbers you came across stole your money? I thought the man said that they only took your cell phone.”

  “I only had few dollars. Nothing worth stealing. I am kind of broke.”

  “Why would you be broke? Never mind, take this and pour it over your wound. Otherwise, it will get infected. Also, cover it up with this.” Rain said as he gave her isopropyl Alcohol and some rag.

  “Fine, I’ll do that. How bad is that kid’s condition?”
She said.

  “Very bad. He needed to be in a hospital weeks ago. I’ll do my best to transport him to the hospital in the northern city.”

  “Do your best. Now, I want to sleep……” She said and walked a way to treat her wounds.

  As that day ended, Sidra closed her eyes and did not open them until the next morning. She opened her eyes and found herself in a tent. It was very loud outside. People were talking and working at sun rise.

  “What am I doing here? I can’t seem to remember.” She wondered.

  Some lady entered the tent and said,

  “Oh, good morning, glad to see you doing ok. Can I get you anything? Breakfast will be ready in no time.”

  “How did I get here? Are we still under the bridge?” Sidra asked.

  “Yes, we are. You passed out due to a low blood pressure. Some guy brought you here.”

  “Yeah, you idiot. The old man was able to carry you inside. He said he used to carrying heavy weights. I hope that you did not break his back.” Rain said talking to Sidra.

  “Are you saying I’m fat? Because I don’t care about your opinion.”

  “Haha… You two are funny. Let’s just go outside and join everyone.” The lady said.

  “What happened to the boy and the old man?” Sidra asked Rain.

  “I did what I could. Then, I called Rayan. He was able to get a car and take the boy and his father to the nearest hospital. He just called. I think they will be fine.”

  “Great… Thanks for helping them.”

  “As for you, how is your arm?”

  “The lady here just told me that she cleaned my wound and wrapped it up nicely. It was not a deep wound at all. I am as good as new.”

  “Right, glad you’re ok. I think we should get back to the Burj.”

  “You can go. I have something to take care of that I never got to yesterday with all that happened.” Sidra said as she tried getting up.

  “What’s that?” Rain asked.

  “Just some personal business. I’ll see you later. I’m just going to thank the nice lady before I go.”

  Rain left the tent and walked outside. Sidra and the lady continued their talk.

  “Thank you for your kind hospitality. I’m glad to see a really good nurse with the people here.” Sidra told the lady.

  “I’m no nurse, sweet heart. I just help around. Please do us a favor and ask your friend doctor to visit us every now and then. We could really use his help. He was very kind to us, and we just don’t want him to feel pressured or anything.”

  “Well, ahhh, I had to yell at him on the phone to drag him here to help the kid. You saw how he talks to me. We always fight, and I’m not sure how convincing I can be.”

  “You will be surprised. Just remind him how much people need him. He has a kind heart.”

  “I may not agree with that, but I will do my best. I have to go now. Please take care, and thanks again.”

  “You do the same, Sidra.”

  They walked outside where the lady gave Sidra and Rain some food. Rain was very nervous and asked if he could talk to Sidra privately.

  “Well, that was a long ‘thank you’. We’re going to the Burj now.” Rain said.

  “No, I told you I have something to take care of.” Sidra replied.

  “I’m sorry, but your business is going to wait. Yazan just called and said there is an emergency and we need to get back as fast as possible.”

  “Fine. Let’s go.”

  They finally got back to the Burj where Yazan was waiting in the main common area.

  “You’re very late. We have a problem.” Yazan said and continued, “I got a call from the Sargent Major of Estil’s army himself asking me to put you under arrest, Sidra.”