Read Blind to the unasked :: Three

Even the eyes often lie boldly, as if they carry the truth on their shoulders, dependent on their deception.

When the truth is hard to see because of personal bias or ignorance.

The passage of nights seemed to blur into one another, each one filled with its own tasks, responsibilities, and moments of reflection. Yet, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, a sense of profound immersion took hold, drawing them ever closer to the essence of their existence.

In a cozy café nestled on the outskirts of Rabat, overlooking the tranquil beach, Nadir and Marwan found respite from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives, relishing their day off with steaming cups of coffee in hand. The crisp winter air infused the atmosphere with a gentle chill, adding to the ambiance of relaxation and tranquility.

As they engaged in lively conversation, exchanging thoughts and enjoying each other's company, their attention was momentarily diverted to a nearby table occupied by a young couple. Nadir felt a pang of familiarity wash over him as he observed them, a sense of recognition stirring within him without fully grasping its origin.

It was Marwan who broke the silence, his casual observation sparking Nadir's memory. "Isn't that Hana's friend?" he remarked, prompting Nadir to connect the dots.

With a sudden realization, Nadir nodded in agreement. "Ah, yes, Ahmed's younger sister," he acknowledged, his memory clicking into place. Yet, her name remained elusive, lingering on the tip of his tongue as he turned to Marwan in expectation of assistance.

However, Marwan's response caught Nadir off guard, his indifference to the girl's identity overshadowed by his disdainful remark. "I don't know her name either. I never liked that girl," Marwan remarked dismissively, casting judgment without hesitation.

Nadir's brows furrowed in surprise at Marwan's abrupt judgment, defending the girl's character with a sense of conviction. "She's her childhood friend and also her neighbor. She's a nice person, unlike Hana," he countered, challenging Marwan's perception with a hint of frustration.

Marwan scoffed, saying, "Maybe you mean the opposite," and they both returned to sipping their coffee, without giving much thought to the two individuals. As the two friends resumed their leisurely afternoon, the presence of the young couple at the neighboring table faded into the background, and their significance diminished by the passing moment.

Just minutes after their conversation, Anwar and his fiancée, Reem, passed by Nadir and Marwan, their entwined hands and affectionate glances spoke volumes of their love, igniting a spark of curiosity and surprise within Nadir's heart. His initial astonishment soon blossomed into a joyful realization as he watched the couple, a smile gracing his lips in response to their shared happiness.

Marwan couldn't help but notice the sudden change in Nadir's demeanor, prompting him to question the shift in his friend's mood. Nadir's cryptic response left Marwan puzzled, his curiosity piqued by Nadir's enigmatic words.

Anwar, accompanied by his fiancée, passed by them after greeting the girl Marwan and Nadir had been talking about, heading towards a table at the far end of the café.

A smile graced his lips as he followed them with his eyes, prompting Marwan to inquire about his sudden change. Nadir replied, "The betrayed always experiences betrayal as well. I feel somewhat relieved." Marwan was puzzled by his words, staring at him in astonishment before returning to his coffee and the beautiful view outside the window.

Nadir's joy only intensified with the arrival of Hana, her confident stride and graceful demeanor a testament to her inner strength. She wore a gray dress and a long black coat, walking confidently and gracefully without paying much attention to those around her.

As she reached where Marwan and Nadir sat, beside them, the girl and the boy, she paused for a moment to greet them, saying, "Hello, Maram."

Maram responded, "It's been a long time." Hana nodded then turned to greet Marwan and Nadir, saying,

"You two are here too." She smiled, indicating her happiness to see them. Both Marwan and Nadir nodded in return, acknowledging the greeting. Then Hana walked away, heading towards where Anwar and Reem were sitting.

Nadir felt pleased, assuming that Hana would catch Anwar red-handed in betrayal and that he would witness her collapse. He began counting the seconds, expecting to hear the shouting that would erupt between them.

But, to his surprise, there was nothing. No shouting, no anger coming from the end of the corridor, only laughter and the scent of happiness filling the air.

Nadir was puzzled and began to shake his head occasionally. The joy quickly faded from his face as he muttered, "What's happening, damn it." For the second time, Anwar glared at him disdainfully, but this time he placed both hands on the table and stared at him intently, saying, "Are you okay? I think there's something wrong with your head today." Nadir stared back at Anwar, saying, "Sip your coffee, it'll get cold." Then he took a sip from his coffee, gazing ahead until his ears caught words linking him to the past. Nadir seemed to enjoy the view ahead, but most of his focus was on the conversation between Maram and the person next to her.

The young man with curly hair, wearing a red jacket, and with cold features and fair skin, spoke, "Wasn't the girl who passed by just now Hana?"

Maram responded with a gentle smile, adjusting her long black hair, then placed her small hand on her round, full face and said, "Yes, it's Hana. She's been turning her back on me for a long time. She's good at smiling to my face as if she doesn't matter at all."

The young man beside her was surprised and puzzled, "Aren't you two best friends?" Maram remained silent for a moment, tilting her head as if shy, then said, "We used to be, Moaaz."

Then she fell silent, saying, "I hurt her a little, or... I don't know. I'll never find someone like her again." Then she held the cup in front of her with both hands as Moaaz began to smile. "I remember the good old days now. I was so frustrated when I found out you were the one using her Facebook account at that time."

Maram was surprised and asked, "How did you know that?"

Moaaz replied, "Hana accidentally sent me her password. She quickly deleted the message, but I had already read it." Maram smiled, saying, "So you were the one who hacked her account and spread the rumor about her secret dates." Moaaz also smiled, saying, "As for the rumor, that was me behind it, but hacking her account wasn't me."

The two of them delved into the conversation about the matter and enjoyed it, while Nadir was shocked by what he had heard so far and almost shouted to himself, "What's happening? Was all that in the past, is my pain, hatred, and resentment just nothing now?" He turned and bumped into Hana, who was walking with Anwar and Reem side by side happily, while Reem held Anwar's hand. They stopped for a moment after being stopped by Maram. Saying, "Congratulations to both of you, I heard you're getting married!" Reem and Anwar exchanged glances and thanked her warmly, while Hana whispered to Marwan. As for Nadir, he still couldn't lift his eyes to Hana until she addressed him, saying, "What now? Aren't you breathing fire from your eyes, but from your cheeks now?" He was surprised by her words after lifting his head to look at her gently, she said, "Your cheeks are blushing."

Hana bid them farewell gracefully and was about to walk away when Moaaz stopped her, saying, "Hana, don't you remember me?" Hana stopped and looked sharply at him, saying, "I've grown up now. Do I still need to call you the king of rumors, sir?" She smiled as if she had slapped Moaaz, who smiled back, saying, "Hasn't that passed?"

Hana also smiled as her small eyes squinted, saying, "It's in the past, it's in the past. See you later!"

Then she caught up with Anwar and Reem, who had preceded her by a few steps, holding onto them as they left together. Meanwhile, Nadir stared at her back, which seemed to recede further from his sight with each of her steps, wondering, "Should I catch up with her, or has the past already passed?"

Nothing truly fades, even in jest; boundaries are redrawn each time someone is on the verge of crossing them.

As for Nadir, he hasn't crossed anything yet.