That Day

By: Muhammad Qasim

At that very moment, I thought Ahmad had completely lost it. It had been three days without food and water since we lost our trail in that God forsaken jungle. Considering the burning heat, choking humidity and extreme thirst and hunger, I was certain that when he lashed at me, I was dead meat…

He glared at me, completely horrified. I was frightened. I panicked. I saw myself as the punching bag to Ahmad’s frustration. ‘Ahmad kheriat tou hai?’ I said.

There was no reply. Just this terrifying silence. He pulled out his knife. ‘Ahmad yeh kia krr raha hai!’ I was freaked out. Still no reply but I could see his anxiety. He was sweating, panting and vicious. Eventually, without uttering a single word, he lashed at me with all his might. ‘Ahmad…’ I yelled and closed my eyes. This was it. This was finally it.

There was a familiar groan. Was that Ahmad? I opened my eyes. Where was I? In heaven? No… the heat, the stench and pain, this was hell… no, I was alive and still in this God forsaken island. ‘Aaaah!’ I heard. It was Ahmad. I turned around and what I saw was beyond any bravery I had ever seen.

Ahmad had stabbed a bear just behind me. He hadn’t lost it, nor was he mad at me for losing the map, instead he saved my life and was getting fiercely beaten by that meatball. ‘Usama bhago… main isko sambhalta hoon. Tum niklo yahan se.’  He ordered me. But I would never leave him behind. I couldn’t live with myself if I did. I grabbed a nearby twig and bluntly broke onto it, only to be thrown several feet away like… nothing.

As I pulled myself together, I could see the bear biting, scratching and throwing Ahmad wherever it possibly could. I got up. This will not be the end of us. I ran towards it and stabbed the only vulnerable thing it had, its eyes. The bear roared in pain, aimlessly striking the air. Without its sight, it was completely defenseless. Fortunately, the only thing it could do was to run away and finally, leave us alone.

A sigh of relief, I calmed my shivering body. No person deserved that. Not even a sinner. Ahmad… where was he. I couldn’t lose him. Not after this. I got up, turned around and saw him just lying there, bleeding…

That day I lost my friend forever because the person that survived, was much greater…