The Summer Snowflake

A Story For You

Aqdas swung her legs back and forth while her palms rested over both sides of her on the bench.

It was a little dull today. The sun hadn't risen and the sky was filled with dark clouds.

Although she didn't judge based on what she saw, sometimes it did end up being that way.

At times things were too convincing that she would end up believing in what she saw.

And sometimes she would hate what she normally loved to devour. Sometimes she judged People. Sometimes she cursed those who had caused her heart to bleed. Sometimes she didn't bother as much about what others thought of her. And sometimes she'd find herself feeling bothered about the way others thought of her.

But in the end, she was a human.

Humans tend to do that and she was nothing but another one of them.

And whether or not she decided to accept it, she'd have to move along in life. Life didn't cease at any such point.

It was on her to either just let go and live or stay fixated on every single issue.

She stopped swinging her legs and crossed her feet.

Maybe because it was her first pregnancy she felt so short of breath. She dealt with a lot of mood swings and often cried herself to sleep. The Qur'an was the only company that she had and she didn't mind it even a bit but — as everyone else — she desired human company too.

Some warmth, a little love and a dose of compassion.

She recalled how her mother used to hug her when she felt down. It was all a vague memory today but she still found it lingering in the darkest corners of her mind.

Maybe they weren't as comforting as they once used to be.

A tear slipped down her eye unknowingly and she quickly brushed it off.

Her father was a strict man. A man of divine knowledge and strength. He believed it was of utmost importance to bring up a girl just as freely as a boy child. And so she was — unlike many of her age — given the freedom of movement.

But the day they found out she was pregnant and she did everything to fight back for herself — knowing that her parents would atleast investigate the matter because of how much she insisted — she was disowned.

She wasn't her daddy's princess anymore.

He didn't necessarily beat her up or kill her as she had expected, but he certainly lost the light he had in his eyes.

It was unimaginable; discreetly heartbreaking and bothersome that they both refused to believe her words.

Perhaps they didn't believe her because he was her sister — Asma's — husband. Maybe they were too trustful that a married man would never do such a hideous act.

If she were in their shoes, she was sure she wouldn't believe her own words as easily.

Even then, all she had hoped for, was some trust. Just a little from both of her parents. Enough to give her the confidence to proceed with the case.

Even today, she could picture that scene in her head. The way her assaulter — her brother-in-law — acted as if he were trying to save her.

How disgusted she was with those fake tears.

How much she wished she was given one chance to prove herself right.

"Boo!"

She shrieked and covered her eyes with fear. But when a loud laughter boomed across the bench, she removed her hands and checked to find Aryeh laughing loudly.

"Oh my god, you scared me!"

He didn't bother stopping but kept pointing fingers at her.

"You were so engrossed in your thoughts that you didn't hear me call you out for like a million times."

Aqdas rested against the bench with relief and rolled her eyes at him. When he began to giggle at her again, she couldn't help but join him until the both were roaring with laughter and a few minutes sat gulping for air.

She turned her head slowly to look at him. He was laughing in the air, arms and legs spread out. His smile was unlike anything she had heard or seen before. It was fresh and sounded full of life. If not, she wouldn't have even cracked into a fit of laughter herself.

The slight wind blew through his tousled brown hair. He was rather tall and she grinned with amusement at how oddly he was stretching out on the bench.

"So how come you're here so early today?"

She asked and watched him shrug.

"Ah! I didn't have many classes today so I was able to take the rest of the day off."

"That was nice. So how was your day?"

He grimaced.

"It was terrible. I barely survived a major case of bullying."

She panicked and almost yelled at him.

"What do you mean?"

He sat up straighter and held up his palms as a way of asking her to calm down.

"No no don't worry too much. I usually have to take this bullying episode where I'll be asked to eat hot sauce until tears would flow down my eyes. I have been told that it makes my eyes look funny."

Although he gave a short laugh, she could still notice the little hurt in his eyes.

"You don't have to laugh if it hurts. It's not necessary to put up a strong front."

~~

Aryeh froze for a second before his eyes started to blink with uncertainty at her.

She was still looking at him with her eyes crinkled now.

"And I'm very sorry. You don't deserve that."

She said sympathetically.

He assumed she was smiling and even if she weren't, she looked radiant and pure. Such a beautiful glow she emitted just through the way she spoke and communicated.

And if he were to have the honour to see her smile, he knew it would be too infectious for him to control his happiness.

Maybe one day she would be comfortable enough to let him see her.

"Thank you so much. And what about you? I'm so sorry I forgot to ask you. How was your day?"

He quickly asked and sat back against the bench. With how she was smiling at him, he could feel his cheeks burn with colour. Her smile died as she sat back against the bench just as him and stared absently in the air before replying in a slow voice.

"It was good Alhumdulillah."

"Do you go to college too?"

She gently shook her head.

"No."

He frowned a little. She seemed a little nervous answering his questions and he wondered if he was making her feel awkward.

"I don't go to college neither do I work."

He pursed his lips tight. She kept fidgeting in her position and before he knew it, she had turned to face him with a few tears collected in her eyes.

"I.....you see, I was disowned by my family."