Somewhere! (Hunaak!)

by Abbas, Ibraheem

  “You must be dreaming! There is no chance I would change while you are still here! Even if you were my mother!” — I responded.

  “OK! OK! Just be quick about it! I will wait for you outside next to the door” — she said with a laugh.

  I did not even touch the clothes until I was certain she had gone out and that the door was sealed shut. That made up serious look on my face quickly dissipated into that of a drooling idiot in awe as I was enjoying my new clothes and Yacht-Master watch.

  “Husam? Are you done?” — she yelled.

  “Don’t you dare enter!” — I responded quickly.

  I must change fast before this lunatic comes in again!

  “Hussssaaaam? Are you done yet? Should I enter?” — she insisted.

  I slid into the jeans in ease for the first time in my life, I did not need to jump around and perform my usual dance: “Stuff-me-in-these-damn-jeans”, I had no time to celebrate now! I buttoned up the jeans just at the same moment that impudent being stormed into the room.

  “Is the bride ready or does she need hel… oh wow how hansom you are!! But I like you more with your sleeves curled up!”

  She curled up my sleeves and latched on to my arm like a baby, the cabinet’s lights went out the moment we left, we walked in a crystal lobby covered with plants from the outside, some of which had snuck to the inside blanketing the floor with its flowers and the atmosphere with its aroma.

  “Husam, What color would you chose?”

  The question was sudden, she went down on her knees before I could answer. She picked up a flower and set in her left ear just as a second flower bud grew in place of the first and started to blossom.

  “So, what do you think? Does the purple flower suit my ear? Does it make me look beautiful?”

  In all honestly, it was the flower that became beautiful as if it was happy to be the lucky chosen one to reside in her left ear. I let down my cool a bit as I shook my head in approval with a calm smile. The cloudy mist that surrounded us would move around and at times engulf us. We arrived to the elevator that was also made of glass; its door opened when we approached it and closed after we entered. For the first time in my life I entered an elevator that had chairs formed from two velvet works of art hanging from the ceiling. We sat on them and the journey downwards began. It was really more like a drop but I did not feel dizzy nor nauseous, just a slight terrifying feeling as I see that ground approaching us fast but that slowed down when we got to the lobby of that building. The lobby was round with a very tall fountain at its center and there were three girls sitting around it, each playing a strange musical instrument that mixed in with the sound of the water that flowing from the fountain. This turned out to be the gentle music that I heard in my room when I woke up earlier.

  The girls looked at me with a shy smile as they clearly got excited with their music as we passed by. Each was flirting with her instrument with passion and gazed at me as if every one of them was playing for me alone. We exited the main gate of the building to find an amazingly white steed, its hear locks were golden braided and decorated with colorful beads, so long that they almost touched the ground.

  “So would you like to drive or should I?”

  How embarrassing! How on Earth would I control such a beast? My control and experience does not exceed my lifelong partner: the grey Camry! I must allude this situation gracefully:

  “All of this technology and we end up riding a Stallion? I was expecting a rocket!”

  My maneuver failed! As she called my bluff:

  “First, you need to differentiate between a Stallion and a Mare. Second, do you seriously want a rocket? Your first time out with a girl and you want her to ride a rocket instead of a horse? In any case we do not like to disturb the calmness of the city with machines, and do not be so quick to judge the Mare. Trust me, she will make you forget all about rockets!!” — She added.

  Only to be interrupted, I tried to explain — “Frankly the last time I got on a horse was…”

  “I know, I know. When your Father used to walk you on the coast line as a little boy and you would ride the midget horse.”

  Damn her! How did she know?! She unbuckled the strap that held the saddle in place and threw the saddle away, then she held on to her locks and jumped with clear skill on to her back, her silk dress did not impede her movement as it was open from both sides, and she pushed out her arm towards me:

  “I do not like saddles! Come on give me your hand! We are late!”

  The Mare’s back was as high as my eyes, how did such a sweet girl like her jump to its back that easily? I held her arm and jumped behind her, I was so embarrassed and totally not at ease, but when she pulled on the Mare’s locks; she sprung so fast I forgot my embarrassment and went directly to fear, forcing me to hold on to her tightly as her wild copper hear cover my face, we passed with speed next one of the water streams on our right and the gardens to our left just as the sky above us was in her purple dress brocaded with gold.

  If this was a dream, then my subconscious surely deserves an Oscar! When I awake I will reward myself with a long sleep vacation, I would keep my eyes shut the entire time so that this dream would last as long as it possibly can.

  But can a dream have all of these intricate details with such clarity? If this was a lucid dream, can it be so real that reality itself seems like a dream? If this was not a dream, what else can it be? How will I know where I am? And what brought me here?!

  No one had the answers other than her…

  (2)

  Somewhere with Malak

  My memories are like rain drops echoing in my head, each drop encouraging her other friends to jump after her and quench more of my memory cells.

  I am Husam; Husam Khaled Alshareef, my Father passed away five years ago from pancreatic cancer, may God bless his soul. My Mother is Afaf Alabdaly; I ask God to bless her with a long and healthy life; I live with her and my younger sister Maram. I graduated from King Abdulaziz University (KAU) with a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science. About nineteen months ago, I worked in a trivial job in a construction company. I live a humble life that only allows me to toil and dream without ever seeing any of my dreams come true.

  My Mother had to be both Mother and Father at the same time. In the mornings, she is a teacher and at night she sells beakers. On top of it all, she is raising Maram and me as a full time job. Maram has just finished High School and she dreams of things that overlook her age, gender and circumstances.

  Everything I remember had nothing to do with this time, place nor even the person that I am talking to from within this mind and new body! I could only remember the broad lines of my life, but it was disconnected from where I find myself now. The palaces, gardens, rivers and a beauty queen snagging me on a white horse. Every dream that could ever occur to a human was embodied here.

  Yet, at this moment, I only dream of getting back to my mother & sister and to be me in my own body; the short and chubby, dark-skinned Husam who labors in his humble job to support his mother and sister. Husam who dreams of things that never happen.

  “Humans are truly weird.” — she interrupted my line of thought as she slowed down the mare, as if she was sitting inside my head while I was talking to myself when she completed my thought while ignoring my astonishment.

  “Nothing is ever enough! Always running after phantom dreams, and when they come true he turns his back on them to run after others!” — she added.

  I was astonished both from her interruption as well as the scenery that I just realized its details when the mare slowed down. We made our way through the city’s neighborhoods, assorted houses covered in glass and plants. Some of them even had red bricks and wood. While it had a modern design to it, yet it refused to overshadow the amazing nature around it, it did not even seclude itself behind walls.

  The mare was walking with pride in these alleys just as people began greeting us as if we were the King and Queen. Could all of these details truly be just a d
ream? What I see here is much clearer than my real life! She turned the mare towards the water stream passing through a pathway of trees that were covered with so many flowers that I could barely make out the green on its leaves. The pathway guided us towards the gates of a small floating island where there was a man wearing a dark purple velvet suit and a long brown leather jacket with golden embroidery. I would have been terrified had it not been for his welcoming smile. He held one of the mare’s locks and guided us calmly up five white marble steps to a long aisle where I could hear the slow knocks of the mare’s hooves on its polished floor all the way until we arrived to a huge rackety hall where we climbed down the horse as she stopped at its entrance.

  “Your table is reserved in Americano Grille”, said the giant as he led us through the hall that I would simply describe as an enormous food court with hundreds of five star or above restaurants surrounding it. She held my arm tightly and pointed at a restaurant with a gigantic burger wearing a cowboy hat sculpture hovering above it.

  “Husam, That is our restaurant.” — she added.

  At that moment, I remembered our small celebrations at every paycheck, as we would spend a nice chunk of it in Chilies then our nutritious choices would deteriorate afterwards as it dried out leaving us with frozen bread at the end of the month.

  We overcame the crowds and long wait lines to be seated on a special table overlooking the water canal. It seemed that the inhabitants of this city are obsessed about crystals and glass. The restaurant’s entire floor was clear and slightly above the water surface, looking around me I felt as if the table was firm on top of the waves and beneath it were flocks of fish and gardens of coral. I picked up the food menu and she fondly leaned towards me and said:

  “Here you will find everything you like.”

  I opened the menu and although I was not feeling hungry, the live holographic images of food almost smelt like the real meals. They were sure to make my saliva glands explode! Burgers… Nachos… Stakes… My eyes would usually just jump directly to the price tag and get temporarily blinded of any items that exceeded the fifty Riyal barrier, but this menu was even more fabulous as it had no prices whatsoever!

  The waiter approached us and asked politely:

  “Madam, Sir, What would you like to order?”

  “Would you like me to order your usual Nachos and a well done Burger?”

  Her knowing details about me no longer surprised me. I ignored the hunger that was building up as I played the role of a gentleman by asking her:

  “What would you like to eat?”

  “Turkey sandwich and a diet coke” — she replied.

  I turned to the waiter:

  “May I have one turkey sandwich, one homemade cheese burger with bacon, make it well done please. I would also like to have some nachos, and… the starter platter!”

  “What would you like to have for a drink?” — the waiter added.

  “A Diet Coke, a Lemon Ice Tea, and a bottle of still water please.” — I added.

  Although my English is very clumsy, I knew I was speaking to him in a fluent American accent, just as if I had grown up in a Texas suburb but not that accent of someone from the Samer district in Jeedah!

  A few seconds after the waiter left our table, our order was being delivered. It was being carried by a girl in a cowgirl outfit. In a brutal, savage and barbaric manner, I attacked that burger head on. My hands could barely keep a hold of it from it’s enormity. My fingers were forced to sink into its tender bun that had just escaped from the oven. The aroma of it and that of the barbecued meat had melted the cheese slice before it even melted me. I took a huge bite out of that while realizing that my mouth should have been smaller. All of my senses had joined my teeth on the journey through the layers of that glorious burger and overwhelming me with a typhoon of flavors and gave me a slight pain at the edge of my jaw just under my ear as a result of the bursting of saliva that it had caused. I did not give my digestive or respiratory system a chance to comprehend this burger attack. I picked up a warm nacho and dipped it into the burning golden cheese —only to top it off with a little bit of salsa — and then, I stuffed it all at once into my mouth that had yet not finished dealing with the burger bite.

  She watched me with such astonishment as I moved my grinding mouth. My tongue twisted hardly in the mix all while she had not even touched her meal. I stopped for a second when she noticed my horrible table manners and she burstedwith laughter — “Enjoy the food Husam! This is the first time I see you eat like this!”

  I took a sip of the refreshing Ice Tea to end the burning festival in my mouth. The enormous bite slid into my tummy happily and I had now regained the ability to breathe and speak.

  “Ok…And then?” — I asked.

  “And then what?!!” - She yelled.

  “When are you planning to explain?” — I added.

  “Explain what?” — She said.

  “Explain what is going on here?!” — I asked.

  “What is happening is that we are enjoying each other’s company, and you are eating as if you had never seen food in your life!” — she added

  “Do not avoid my question…” — I interjected.

  “Just a moment…” — she said just as she was calling out to one of the cowgirl waitresses. She whispered in her ear as the waitress smiled and went towards the stage in the middle of the floor where the musical band was setting up. The band of five men and two ladies were wearing elegant velvet purple suits along with golden ties and cowboy hats. The band’s lead listened to the cowgirl waitress and nodded. The band started playing my favorite song, as if they knew the whole playlist that I played everyday on my phone and in my car by heart! However, they played it in a much more amazing tone than the originals.

  I noticed that the wind drifts had increased and strange movements in the clouds and waves began occurring. Shortly after, I actually realized that it was us that were moving. The entire island was moving! It raised above the water and started floating in the air. I saw the city’s lights, guardians and water paths get smaller through the clear crystal under our feet, the lights and towers were filling every point in my view, as mesmerized as I was by the view she was still unable to distract me away from my questions that I repeated with more assertion

  “I told you not to avoid my questions! Am I dreaming?”

  “Honestly, would an intelligent person expect a convincing answer from an imaginary girl in his dreams? Can you not see, hear and feel everything around us? Is this a dream? Have you ever had a dream this clear?” — She added.

  “Pinch me!” — I told her.

  “Excuse me!” — She exclaimed.

  “I said, pinch me!” — I said with a tense and serious voice just as she responded with a short laugh and as she looked around to make sure that people were not looking.

  “OK, OK.. take it easy! …there” — I felt her delicate fingers on my arm, she did not hurt me but I am sure I felt them, this feeling was not enough!

  “Slap me!” — I demanded.

  “No, no, no, you must have gone mad!” — She replied.

  “I said hit me!” — I reiterated.

  She slapped me joyfully and I shouted — “Slap me hard NOW!”

  This time she slapped me for real! I could feel a needle-like pain covering the area of the palm of her small hand that left a red mark behind along with some heat on my cheek.

  At that moment, everyone in the restaurant turned toward us in astonishment and within a few moments the majority faked smiles to avoid the collective embarrassment of the situation. My face was in pain. She gently took both of her hands around my face while almost crying, and said:

  “My love! Are you hurt? Please forgive me. I swear I did not mean to hurt you!”

  “I truly can’t be asleep. And I can’t believe that this was a girl’s slap! you reminded me of Mr. Ayid!”

  Her panic turned into a gentle smirk that she hid with her hand as she whispered — “Do not be
fooled by my looks, I am tough when I need to be!”

  “Swear that I am not asleep, swear that I am not in a dream!”

  “Why would you not assume that your other life is the dream and you just woke up? Can’t you see things here are clearer and better?”

  I said — “Do not avoid my questions! SWEAR IT!”

  She replied — “I swear to God that you are awake and everything around you is real and not a dream.”

  I could only elaborate further — “Even if you do swear. What assurances do I have that you are not lying? It seems to me you don’t know God, with all this freedom and flirty wear. You live in a society of mixed men and women and music playing everywhere!”

  What I said came as a complete shock to her that not only silenced her, but gave her face an instant transformation from the cheering and joyful to the upset with a hint of angry scolding. I felt bad and utterly stupid, I wish she would slap me a thousand times if it would only help erase my shameful comments from her memory.

  “May God forgive you Husam! For your information, we know God very well, and I do not need to swear to anyone! If you do not want to believe me you don’t have to! No one is forcing you!” — she added.

  “Are you upset by me?” — I asked.

  “The problem is that I can’t be upset with you. Firstly, because I know everything you have been through and the community you had lived with.” — she responded.

  “And Secondly?” — I asked.

  “Secondly… because I…” — She hesitated to respond.

  “You… what??” — I interjected.

  “Nothing. Didn’t you just say you had questions? Ask me anything under one condition…” — She said.

  “I am all ears!” — I exclaimed.

  “I can only answer you with either a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’. Trust me, I can’t give you any more details unless you agree to one thing.” — She explained.

  “And what would that be?” — I asked.

  “If you decide that you would never go back to your past, I can only then reveal everything to you. Otherwise, I can’t say a thing. All I will try to do is hint to you some of your life’s details so that you can remember and help you know how you got here and how you can get back.” — she added.