The Dangers of Islam: The Terrorist

Chapter 9: Beginnings

     Dawood awoke with a start and rubbed his face. He was covered in a thin sheen of sweat that covered his body. "It was a dream," Dawood whispered to himself and ran a hand over his chest. He was okay now. He was alive and he was well. He survived that ordeal and needed to move on. Dawood stood up and looked around, trying to regain his senses. Where was he exactly? He noticed Ahmed sleeping in the bed across from him and also noticed the four posters of the bed. "Oh, right," Dawood whispered. He was in Lahore and was in his uncle's house. "I need to go for a run. That'll clear my head," Dawood whispered and quickly changed into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before lacing up his shoes and heading out of the room.

     It was pretty quiet in the house, Dawood noticed and wandered down the hall. He glanced at a nearby grandfather clock and noticed that it was nearly five in the morning. As he made his way to the front door, he was spotted by Faisal, the man who had taken his bags the day before. "Assalam alaikum, sir," Faisal began and continued in Pashto, "do you understand me?" "Walaikum assalam. Yes, I understand you," Dawood smiled and replied in Pashto as well. "Is it okay if I go outside for a run?" "To where will you go, sir? I will let your uncle know when he wakes up," Faisal said with a kind smile. Dawood smiled at the older man and said, "Not too far. I don't know the area yet." "There is a market nearby, sir. Perhaps you can go up to there and back," Faisal suggested. Dawood nodded and thanked Faisal before heading outside.

     "Where are you going?" Dawood heard a familiar voice call out. "Baba," Dawood smiled and gave his father a hug. "Assalam alaikum." "Walaikum assalam. Going for a run?" Harun asked with a smile. "Yes, sir," Dawood smiled. "Faisal Uncle recommended I go up to the market and back." "That sounds safe enough. This area is generally safe. Just don't get into any weird cars. You'll find that the average people here are more hospitable than the assumed rich people," Harun sighed and handed Dawood some money. "Take this. You might want to get a snack at the market. Get something for Rana and Ahmed as well." "Yes, sir. Thank you," Dawood smiled before holding up the money. "This is a five hundred rupee bill, right?" "Right," Harun smiled. "Go and explore."

     Dawood opened the front gate and took a deep breath. He didn't expect Lahore to be so green. He stretched before beginning his jog. There was a lot of dust, which was something Dawood knew would bother Jannat and her allergies. He continued jogging down the road and watched as a man swept his driveway with a makeshift broom. Dawood smiled and nodded at him in greeting as the man stared at him for a second before awkwardly nodding in response. There weren't many people out on the roads this early in the morning, a stark contrast from his home in America. He watched as birds chirped happily and took impromptu showers from the runoff on people's driveways. There was something so quaint about the city so early in the morning. It was refreshing being in such a quiet environment, especially after the dream he had.

     Why was he having dreams about the day he was injured? Dawood ran a hand over his head to clear his thoughts. Sure, that day was traumatic for him, but he was pretty sure he had moved past it. He was alive and well. He was getting married. Oh. He was getting married. Was that what was unconsciously making him relive his near death experiences? "Dude, that just sounds stupid," Dawood murmured to himself before chuckling. It was a tough time in his life and he hadn't shared it with anyone. That was why it was still weighing down on him. "Whatever makes you sleep at night, man," Dawood murmured to himself again before glancing at his feet. He pursed his lips and stopped to tie his shoes before closing his eyes for a second. He knew why it was still bothering him. He didn't want to admit it, but his mother's sickness reminded him of his own near death experience. He knew how it felt to think that he would never see his family again. He wondered how his mother had accepted her illness so easily. How could she? Why did she want to die? He knew that when he was teetering on the edge of life and death, he clung to life.