Transition....Just one dance

He was short of breath.

The running a mile this lovely summer morning had made him breathless. He was sweating too but then it was his daily routine. He loved the morning walks and jogs.


Reaching near the white picket fence around his small cottage, he was delighted to see the varying colored roses blooming. He loved gardening, flowers, butterflies and fragrance near him. He was a nature lover. The small lawn did not take him much to cross but when he reached the entrance of his cottage he sensed something different in the atmosphere. He stopped and concentrated. He heard some voice. A deeply engrossed voice in a language he could not understand. He turned back and moved towards the direction of the voice.


And there he found her. Tucked in the farthest corner of this small lawn just beneath the right far corner of the white picket fence, surrounded by the white sunflower plant, she was reciting the Holy book. It was the recital that mesmerized him. He knew it was Arabic and he was not familiar with the language. Her recital made him feel like understanding it. It was strange. He wanted to hear it more yet did not want to distract her.


Silently he moved towards where she was sitting on the grass and without making any noise sat beside her. Her concentration was immense, she did not even notice his presence. She was reading as if she understood each word.


 خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبْصَٰرِهِمْ غِشَٰوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ


He found his heart beating  faster.


Then as she reached this verse


يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ


He felt an unknown curiosity growing inside him.



فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ


He was watching and hearing her simultaneously. She was wearing a white hijab around her head over her night pajamas. She appeared to be a combination of purity and innocence. He was not sure what was attracting him more. Her presence or this recital. 


He never read Quran, although he was a Muslim by birth. He never truly believed in the verses too. He was not even ashamed of accepting the fact that without the denial he would never be able to find his true Lord. So he was still in the process of finding his own path that could lead him to the Almighty. Certainly he was not going to accept what was transferred to him through birth.


She finished reciting and kissed the Holy book and then gave him a sheepish smile. Probably she did not expect him to join in. 


"Do you understand what you read senorita?"


"I do to an extent. Or at least I make an effort to. That is why I have this version of Quran with the translation"


"Good. At least you are not reading and following blindly like many others." , he said.


"Do you know Arabic?" she asked


"No Amiga. And I don't even read Quran." He paused to see her expressions. She was annoyed. He smiled.


"Can you read me the translation of the verses you were reciting?" That made her happy. She obliged.


 خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبْصَٰرِهِمْ غِشَٰوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ


God has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. They will have a severe torment.


يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ


They seek to deceive God and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves, though they are not aware.


فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ


In their hearts is sickness, and God has increased their sickness. They will have a painful punishment because of their denial.



Something moved inside his heart. He was sure it was her voice and not the words she was repeating. He got up silently and left her where she was.


She, being left alone was thinking of this ever transitioning man she was so in love with and prayed silently for him.


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