Chapter 8

Yushraf's POV

"Yushraf! Yushraf!!" Reedah yelled, bringing me back to reality. I wiped away the tears that threatened to fall on my cheeks.

"Reedah, let just go home. I can't stay here anymore please. " I beseeched.

"Yushraf, you want us to go home and we haven't even sold more than two bags of the bottled water here. Remember we really need money, especially now that our resumption day is already approaching and we need foodstuff and other things. We've been given scholarship doesn't mean they will provide for us. We have to struggle for our needs ourselves." Reedah said, getting pissed off.

"Reedah, you don't get it. I can't stay here and watch Bashar humiliate us like his father did that day." It was really unfortunate and unforgettable memory that will never be erased.

She turned back and saw Bashar leaning on his car, with a girl I assumed to be his girlfriend. Reedah was very shocked at first, but she pulled herself together and insisted we leave and go to another street. "We can't possibly stop doing our business for today, due to the presence of that obnoxious human being. We must sell everything before going home." Reedah said, adamantly, trying to suppress her tears.

I held her hand and turned toward another direction.

We were now walking on another street. There was traffic jam, which made people lots of people buy water from us and Alhamdulilah mine was already sold out and Reedah had only a bottle left.

I asked her to bring it, but she insisted on selling it herself, since I sold two and she hadn't finished one. Left with no other choice, I shrugged and went to a corner, across the streets to rest.

I suddenly heard Reedah's voice and quickly rushed to where she was standing with her hand on her cheeks.

I was baffled to see who it was, because the face looked familiar. It seemed to me she had ever bought water from me before.

I asked Reedah what happened and she told me the girl slapped her just because she knocked on her tinted car glass.

I felt a pang in my heart. I was so angry to the extent I slapped the girl back, without hesitation. "See, let me tell you, you're rich doesn't give you the right to slap my sister, because your father's money can't buy her in any way and this stupid car you're driving, that makes you feel big, is just trash in someone's house." I said through gnashed teeth and dragged Reedah out of the scene.

I turned around to see the girl crying, holding her cheek. "I will make you pay for this humiliation. You're going to face the consequences of slapping me, you lowlife!" She threatened and got into her car, furiously.

I sneered.

We reached home and I unlocked the door, getting Reedah in first, then closed the door. I made her sit on the ground, then went into the kitchen and brought a glass of water for her. I was really trying to console her, but my effort was futile.

"Yushraf, I feel suffocated. I wish I never existed on the face of earth anymore. Since Baba and ammi's death, I feel lonely. Yushraf is this just our punishment or is this my punishment for spending too much money on shopping and things that are not necessary? Is that the reason why I'm being punished, that I can't even shop like before and dress like before to the extend that the girl had the guts to say I'm rubbing my dirty hand on her car and even if she is thirsty, she will rather die than to buy water from me, because I'm stinky..... Yushraf why! why!! why!!! all this happening? Just why? I'm tired." Reedah burst into tears.

I couldn't hold my tears back anymore. Seeing the vulnerable side of

Reedah broke me. It was the hardest moment I ever experienced from Reedah. I pulled her towards me and hugged her. "Reedah, you don't have to give up in life. Allah knows the best, So he didn't create the world for nothing. It is all a test. Let's just be patient and strong. Let's face our problem head on and one day they shall be history in sha Allah. He is the one that gave us everything we have before and took everything from us with a good reason...Remember one thing, Reedah; in life, some people are meant to leave you. They are meant to hurt you, and then abandon you, so that you can get stronger and create another chapter of your life. It will be tough to endure, I know, but believe me, it would be worth it, Reedah. Let's just have faith and one day it shall all be in past, okay?"

"Thank you, Yushraf. Without you, I don't think I would be able to keep on living, because I'm no longer as strong as I used to be. Thank you once more. You're all I have." Reedah said, making me to nod my head and assuring her everything would be fine.

At least she smiled. It was enough for me. I wiped away her tears and drew her into an embrace. I felt relieved - happy, that I was able to comfort her and make her understand the purpose of life and how it works.