The ferry notoriously swayed for the second time and the knot in his stomach tightened more. 'Huyo ni papa,' He heard some woman twitter. The thought of being fed on by some blood-thirsty shark was not welcome in his mind. He just assumed it was the incoming tide.
As the mischievous water vessel danced on water for the third time, something knocked its underbelly and the shark thoughts came back. Women rushed to the pillars and stare rails and held on tight. In case the vessel capsizes, they may hold on for a few more minutes. The ferry began mumbling incoherently and reduced speed as if it were afraid of its destination. Fear gripped every soul on the overloaded vessel.
He had not eaten anything since morning. He was fasting as his friends were in the holy month of Ramadhan. He was neither Muslim nor Christian. Whether Muhammad is the true messenger or Jesus the way to heaven, it did not matter to him. What mattered was the message they brought forth. Be good to others.
The waves ceased in synchrony to the Muadhin's call to other faithful Muslims for iftar. He saw some of them raise their palms and mumble "Alhamdhulillah." To break the day's fast, some of them, especially the women, made food materialize from their duffel bags. He had nothing on him. The men identified each other, by the wallahi's on they heads, and shared the dates given to them by the kind women. He had no wallahi. No one saw him as he looked like the rest of non-believers.
Once when he was a youth, prime in it, he had told his peers that the story of Jonah was a fable. He recalled how the ferry they were on groaked, engine stopped and waves started sweeping it away. Internally he had shook but outside pretended strong when his company lost in grief. It was happening again, years after, giving him a knot in the head.
The wounded vessel continued crawling towards Likoni. Hunger filled his stomach and poor memory in mind. If only one of them knew he was also paying respect to the Holy month. Should he borrow some food from the veiled women? No. He was no beggar. Tell no one you are fasting.
It docked safely and the passengers hurriedly alighted lest it changed its mind and capsized at the shore. He was still dazed and waiting for the others to get off when she tagged his hand. Through watery eyes, he saw the apparition of a small girl with two missing milk-teeth. She smiled and gave him two biscuits then went away giggling at the way he gobbled her generous gift. If only she had told him her name. He asked for blessings on her life.
Busy was everyone to alight that he looked to them a crazy man. His eyes gazed west, where the boat was to capsize, where none wanted to look. His toes were stepped on in the rush. The boat attendant did not ask him out. The man beheld the crescent glow, a sign from the heavens. It was too thin and a cloud was quickly moving towards it, hastening his heartily mumbles. It was time to jump out, hamdulillah!
Comments
Post a Comment