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

by Rusul A. Altaay

  Chapter 22

  The Proposal

  Meanwhile in Estil, The team was getting ready to leave the village and head to Estil’s borders. The nearby country allowed thousands of people to live on their soils.

  “We are going to head north. There is a refugee camp over there. We just have to cross the borders. We can get the help from the locals and hopefully get the Burj back.” Yazan said.

  “Don’t you think it is kind of hard by now. We don’t just lack men. We also need weapons.” Samir said.

  “If you ask me. I’m tired of everything. I don’t want to fight anymore. Why can’t we just leave and … Why are you looking at me like that?” Mai asked.

  “Does it look like we are not tired? I’m sick of this too, but what choices do we have? Rain, what do you think?” Samir said.

  “We can’t afford to be like the rest of the people here. Everyone gave up. Who is going to give people the lives they should be living? How long do you think we can run exactly? Anyway, it is time to leave.” Rain said.

  After leaving that village, they had to walk for over three days to get to a refugee camp in the north of Estil. Thousands of people had to escape the terror and the explosions that got thrown at them on daily basis. Lots of people found refuge in a camp living in tents for God knows how long.

  By the time they got to the camp, Sidra had already been back in Estil. She had tried contacting her friends, but no one picked up. For security reasons, they had already disposed of their cellphones. It seemed impossible for them to know about each other’s locations in order to meet. Sidra tried emailing as well, but there was no internet at the camp for obvious reasons.

  Few days later, Sidra received a phone call from her mother, Jenna, who also made her way back to Estil.

  “Samir, Rain, and some other people are staying in a camp near the borders. I got the information from Rain’s father.” Jenna said.

  “What? Since when do you have contacts with that man?” Sidra asked.

  “I don’t like talking on the phone. I will meet you at the camp in three days.” Jenna said. “Be very careful and very smart about going to the camp. Choose your ways accurately.”

  “What does that even mean? Mom? ….. Mom?...” Jenna was disconnected immediately.

  “She hung up. That means the line is not as secured as I thought. But I wonder what she meant by choosing my ways accurately… Oh well, I will figure that out later.” Sidra thought.

  One day later at the camp:

  “Rain… Rain… Where have you been?” Yazan yelled.

  “Would you keep it down… The entire camp heard you. What do you want?” Rain said.

  “Is Sidra being back to Estil means they have finished the project?” Yazan asked.

  “What are you talking about? When I talked to her few weeks ago, she said they are months away from launching. Why do you think she is back?” Rain asked.

  “You didn’t know, did you? That’s what I thought.” Yazan said.

  “Know what?” Rain asked.

  “My receiver got a signal. Some of the alarm systems I have installed at the Burj were just activated. Sidra is the only one who knows about them. Sidra is back in Estil. Most importantly, she is at the Burj as we speak.”

  “That can’t be right. She is not that stupid. I need to make a phone call.”

  “You can use my disposable phone. I just got it. You need to leave the camp. You can have a signal if you walked 15 miles that way.” Yazan said as he pointed in the right direction.

  “Thanks…” Rain said.

  Later, Rain made a quick phone call.

  “Uncle… Please… Tell me that Sidra is there with you.”

  “You haven’t met with her yet? She left almost a week ago. She was worried about her brother. She heard about what happened at the Burj.” Shaheen replied.

  “That idiot… How can you let her go? And why is she so stupid? And if she did know about the Burj, why is she back there?” Rain was getting very frustrated.

  “Maybe she needed to retrieve some data.”

  “And you let her? God, how stupid can she be.”

  “You mean how dedicated she can be. She loves her country and willing to risk her life for it. Rain, do not even try and go there to help her. Stay where you are. She’ll be fine.”

  “I can’t go even if I wanted to. People need me at the camp. There was a reason I went there. I can’t help her if she decided to commit suicide. If you hear from her, please ask her to contact me using the satellite connections. We only use it for emergencies.”

  “I’ll be sure to let her know that.”

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  Back at the camp, Rain had a surprise waiting for him.

  “Jenna…” Rain said surprisingly.

  “Hello Rain. Did Sidra make it ok?” She said.

  “You’re asking me? She is at the Burj. There is nothing ok about that.”

  “She is what? Where?” Jenna asked.

  “We received a signal indicating that she’s at the Burj.”

  “No, she did not… She went there? Is my daughter really that ignorant?”

  “I’m sorry. Who is the daughter of who?” Yazan asked as he jumped in the middle of the conversation.

  “This is Jenna, Sidra’s mother.” Rain said.

  “I thought her mother was dead.”

  “Do I look dead to you? Can we please focus on the subject? What on earth is she doing at the Burj?” Jenna said with an irritated voice.

  “I’m not sure. The only thing I am sure of is that she is a total idiot. Jenna, your daughter is so… She drives me crazy some times. Now, if you would excuse me, I have some people to help. They have not seen a doctor in months.” Rain said as he started walking.

  “Yes, of course, please help as many of them as you can.” Jenna said.

  “I’ll go help some people make some tomato soup. Everyone is so hungry.” Yazan said and left as well.

  “Why are you taking a picture? Help us instead of looking at us.” A kid told Yazan.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. One day, I want the whole world to know how we live, and what you guys went through. This picture will be a proof of that. Now, how can I help?” Yazan said.

  “Do you have food?” The kid asked.

  “No, sorry.” Yazan replied.

  “It’s ok. We will share.” The kid said.

  “Thanks… But I’m not hungry.” Yazan added with gratitude and started wondering, “I just ate my last energy bar. What are we going to do for food from now on?”

  Somewhere else in the camp, Rain was helping out people with some medical problems. He came across a little kid who would not stop crying.

  “What’s wrong?” Rain asked.

  “Leave him alone. He is ok. He will be fine. We all will be fine.” Another kid answered as she hugged the crying boy.

  “You must be his sister. May I ask why he’s crying?” Rain asked.

  “We lost our parents. We were out looking in the streets for something to eat few days ago, and when we came back… We found out that our house was destroyed with our parents inside. My parents were too sick to leave that day. So, we told them to stay in. After they died, someone brought us here, and my brother would not stop crying.”

  “I’m so sorry. Who destroyed your house?” Rain asked as he patiently listened to the girl telling her story.

  “Some people did that. We were told that they were people from a nearby neighborhood. No one knows for sure. Everyone kills everyone for anything.” The little girl said.

  “I also lost my mother when I was about your age. Things will be better. I promise you that. Here I have these two energy bars. They are really good.” Rain said and handed her something to eat.

  “No… Thanks. We’re good.” The girl replied.

  “Please, keep it for later. I have to go now.” Rain put the energy bars in her pocket and left.

  “This had become a daily se
en. Just how much longer do we have to suffer for? It is painful to watch them suffer and not be able to help them.” Rain thought as he walked towards the tent where some patients were waiting.

  The majority of people at the camp were kids. Most of them did not only need physical help, but also mental help. They had witnessed things no human can live through. Losing a parent, a son, a daughter, a friend, or any loved one is the most painful thing a human can endure. It was not just a war against the administration, it was a civil war where people killed their neighbors, and who they called friends and family. It was, it is, one of the most tragic wars history had ever known.

  Meanwhile at the Burj, Sidra had to meet an old friend.

  “Have you lost your mind? Why did you come back? This is not what we agreed on…” Rayan shouted at Sidra.

  “Yeah? And so was shooting my brother and Rain. What happened?” Sidra asked.

  “They’re fine. They will live another day. You can’t be seen here. You are going to ruin our plan.” Rayan said.

  “I told you that if we wanted to win this war, we have to work with the enemy not for them. I’m here making sure that you did not switch sides after you knew who really killed your brother.” Sidra said.

  “If I wanted to be with the winning side, I would NOT have chosen Orb’s. I have chosen the right side. The side where people do not have to live in poverty and ignorance is the one I’m choosing.” Rayan said.

  “Waseem, your brother, was working for the militias. He believed in Maki Lion and what he stands for.” Sidra said.

  “Forget about what my dead brother had believed. And focus your plans.” Rayan said, “You need to leave now. Go to the refugee’s camp. I have a car ready for you. You can get there in less than a day. We will be in touch.”

  Sidra left the Burj before anyone saw her. She had to take the risk of being held as a prisoner again just to make sure that who she trusted would not turn on her. The war had taught them not to trust but themselves. History had shown that countries fall because of its own people and not because of outside forces. If you truly want to change something, make sure you do not get betrayed by the same people you counted on.

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  Six hours later, Sidra finally reached the borders.

  “Please officers, let me pass.”

  Sidra said to the security grads who were grading the main gate to the refugee’s camp. A neighboring country was very sympathetic about the kids and people who had to escape the war, and offered to protect the people who sought refuge.

  “I’m just friends with some of the people in here. You can ask them.” She added.

  “Sir, please let her in.” Someone said.

  “Yes, Sir.” The grad replied.

  “You are such an idiot… You left your important work so you can go back to the Burj?”

  “Rain… It is not what you think. I just needed to do something.” Sidra replied.

  “Really… And what was that? Do you have any idea what it cost us to escape the Burj? I told you to not come back unless you are done. How useful do you think you can be here?” Rain yelled.

  “I’m sorry.” Sidra said looking at the ground.

  “I have had it with you. Jenna was sick worried about you.”

  “My mom? What is she doing here?” Sidra said after she raised her eyes.

  “I asked her to stay. She wanted to leave days ago.” Rain said.

  “But why?” Sidra asked.

  “You two need to stop fighting out in the open like that. Get inside the tent, now.” Jenna said.

  “I’m really sorry, Rain. But there are some things that had to be done. I will do as much of the work that I can in here. By the end of the day, I do have Estil’s future as my main goal.” Sidra said as they all walked to a tent.

  “I’m tired of this. I am growing tired of not knowing when… if even I will see the people I care about. Why do you think I insisted you leave Estil and go to a safe place?” Rain said.

  “What do you want me to say? Anyone can die at any time.” Sidra said.

  “Exactly, this is why I do not want to wait any more. Jenna, would you please do me the honor of giving me your daughter’s hand in marriage? I’ve already spoken to Samir about it.”

  “And I gave him my blessings.” Samir said as he entered the tent.

  Sidra was just shocked. That was neither the time nor the place for such a question. But he did have a good point. Living in Estil, there was no such thing as a good time for anything.

  “I would be honored having you as a son-law, Rain.” Jenna replied.

  “Sidra? I know when we talked on the phone I said…” Rain was interrupted.

  “Said nothing. I’m just going to go ahead and assume that you have a fever. You were just yelling at me for coming back.” Sidra said.

  “I told you about how I feel last time I spoke to you on the phone, so you should not be shocked right now. Sidra, we live in a world of uncertainty. When we eat, we don’t know if it would be our last meal. When we sleep, we don’t know if we would ever wake up. Right here and now, I do not know if this will be my last sentence. I don’t know if we will live another day to do the things we love. I don’t know if a random rocket would just fall on us and kill everyone around in an instant. Ever since I was born, I was sure of absolutely nothing in life due to the wars we always had. The only thing I was ever sure of is that I will die one day. Now, I know how sad this sounds, but it is the truth. The question was whether I die in an exploded building due to a random attack…Or die fighting for the future we always dreamed about. The only thing I want right now is to continue helping the people and build the country that we once called home. I want to change this world with you. I want my wife to stand beside me and share the dream with me. I have never met anyone who is more committed than you to helping others. The moment I found out that you spent every single dollar you made supporting an orphanage, I knew that you are the one for me. I just knew that the love people talk about was found in you. Your determination to helping others inspired me in ways I cannot even explain. I see you as my other half. Do you see me as yours?” Rain said with such emotions that made Sidra completely speechless.

  “----------------“Sidra literally said and did nothing for minutes.