Destination Gauntanamo Bay

Rahim 7 

Paris was amazing I couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon. We were totally alone and Abdullah and his family didn’t interrupt our alone time at all. Paris was breath taking, the perfect place for two people to begin their love story. Salma and I enjoyed the sights and the selfies. I know people are always mocking women in niqab that take photos but they forget that the pictures capture the surroundings, moments and the very, very expressive eyes. One day we hoped to tell our grandkids all about the City of Love.  Salma was so much of fun. She was easy going, very passionate (which I will not elaborate upon for now) and super organised. She even woke  me up for Fajr in the morning. Our week in Paris ended too soon and I knew when we returned Fati would unleash a storm and a half on poor Salma. 

One Afternoon we went out to this little sidewalk cafe near the hotel for coffee. We chatted for hours and then I told her that my mother and sister-in-law Tasneem got along like a house on fire until Fati came between them. Suddenly they were at each other all the time and eventually my brother was forced to move out for the sake of all of our sanity. IT was awful, he was caught between his mother, sister and his wife and he is the sweetest guy ever , which made it so much worse. Fati never grew up. She always needs to be the centre of attention an if she isn’t then she causes a fight.  

Salma told me it was nothing prayer and little patience couldn’t solve. I though she was being far too optimistic but I didn’t want to break her confidence. Salma was too good to be true, we took a long walk and we even stopped along the way for some kisses, it was a honeymoon after all. All I wanted to do was make Salma happy, my life was just as I had always wanted. It’s strange how one person coming into your life can build it or destroy it. I thanked God for his mercy and for Salma.

I wish I could have stayed in that week forever, it was perfect. Salma would wake me up for fajr with her open smile, shiny brown eyes and curly hair all over the place. I could not get enough of this woman. For a long time I hated those who took her away from me. They destroyed my future. It’s hard to comprehend what’s going on when suddenly your happiness is snatched away without any explanation. Nothing can prepare you for the pain of your heart breaking into a thousand pieces, it gets difficult to breathe and nothing makes sense.