August / 28 / 14:00. Tehraraz
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Victory is an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition.
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"في مرحلة ما من هذه الرحلة تدرك,
لا أحد يمكن أن يعطيك حرية داخلية لكنك. ۔"
At some point of this journey you realize, No one can give you inner freedom but you.
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August / 28 / 14:00. Tehraraz
Warm breeze knocked me hard as I moved forward with the wind, in an incredible speed, tearing the air in the atmosphere away. Khabib whinnied loud whilst he ran ferociously, with his hoofs hitting hard on the ground. I patted his heated back in encouragement and he ran even faster than he did before.
The whole arena blew with cheerful screeches. Kids peered khabib's speed with their jaws fallen to the ground. 'Sulaimani' is all they cheered for. Sulaimani, an association I ran for racing horses. The audience yearned to see a strong battle between the racing horses. Khabib had only 20 more km to run, he already covered a distance over 80 km, effortlessly.
Crossing the endpoint khabib whinnied lifting his forelimbs high up in the air, announcing his victory yet another time. Exhaling hard I drank chilled water and poured a few drops on khabib's heated body.
Faaza, Qari and Furqan came strolling towards me whistling and hooting while throwing their arms high in the air. While all of the other participants completed their race, I exhaled and calmed my nerves with khabib on my side. The escort team pampered and treated khabib with a lot of water to fight against the desert heat.
While a few envied my victory, a few also admired my hard work. All the men who lost their money sat with their swollen egos, as I threw my hands up high in the sky with an alluring gold trophy. People hooted and appreciated Khabib by patting his back as we walked over, out of the grounds.
"Yet another trophy, Congratulations" Faaza yanked his hands over me giving a manly hug.
"Zaad, I swear I knew khabib is gonna make you win, yet another time" Qari joked while squeezing my form.
Zulqarnain (faaza) he shares similarities with me and my grandfather in many was.. serious stoic cold-hearted. But he is more of a solider than a leader. Outside of inking every visible inch of his body, he always followed the rules of the clan. Zulfiqar(Qari) on the other side, him running our business would turn it into a laughable fucking shit show.
"I can't breath" I complained.
"Namoos (Congratulations)" Furqan spoke in his thick Arabic accent and stoic posture, with his shoulders slummed and hands jammed in his pockets. After a few greetings and meetings with all the official members, we walked towards our motor-vehicles.
Furqan, is more of a private person unlike my loud brother . He's a dear friend of mine and also a business associate, Furqan can be associated with an intelligence officer who works more and communicates less. His brain works ahead of all the current scenario.
Honestly, both my brothers tend to enjoy their life out of business; They would turn their brains off when they were done by their latest job and appreciate normalcy until they were called back to work. I couldn't do that. Biologically Qari and Faza are twins but worlds apart from each others personality.
Unlike my brothers, my family always said that I'm a splitting image of my grandfather; unmerciful, unforgiving, hard-hearted. Although I have never seen him eye-to-eye, I'm proud to take my grandfather's place after my father, which eventually was the plan. This was my life.
"Zaad what are your plans for tonight" Qari entreated as he took over the wheels and I joined the passenger seat, while Furqan and Faza got seated in the rear deck. A lot of commotion could be heard and scroching heat could just burn my skin.
"I will be working and visiting the oil refinery tonight, whilst baba also asked for a talk. What about you ? " Baba, my grandfather who pretty much is in charge of all the business.
"Oh man! You should rest your speeding brain. I think ahead of all you people , and guess what?.... I have arranged an outhouse party tonight. " Outhouse is a place where men from our clan conduct extravagant parties with lots of women once in awhile, as it is impermissable to conducted in the main manor. My brothers are suckers for such things. Although, I try hard to avoid such audacious events and humans.
"Is your party approved by Baba, Qari?" He scratched the nape of his neck nervously, and it was evident that he didn't have the guts to do so. We loved to brag about his low valorous skills, especially when it comes to baba.
"He doesn't have the balls to do so, Zaad ..." Faaza joined sarcastically.
"Zaad you just won a trophy, you can sincerely ask him for sanction. He definitely wont refuse." He asked with pleasing eyes.
"Qari why don't you focus on your relationship with Rahma. That'll be beneficial for you" Furqan suggested with a sinful smirk on his face. Ahh! Rahma is a sensitive topic for my dearest brother.
"My relationships are much better than yours, You fucking loners." I could only smirk at his stupid thought.
Naming in our family is very diverse and distinctive. Zulfiqar is addressed as Qari because we thought qari was much easier to pronounce, but Zulqarnain is named Faaza because Ummi named his so, She also says the name FAAZA describes his personality the best.
In my case, my grandmother named me Arzad when I was a kid, but a few ulama (Muslim scholars), who had no other job, suggested her that my name had a lot of power and was the reason of my indisposed health those days. Hence baba changed my name to Arsalan, but still my brothers can't resist themselves from calling me Zaad which basically is an abbreviation of Arzad. Old habits die hard.
I entered the peaceful manor with my fist clenched and my head held up high with pride. Every foot I took was monitored by the people working around. My brothers and a few other members followed me hailing my name with a golden trophy in their hands, destructing the serenity within the manor. A festive vibe eloped the whole manor, with a lot of cheers and smiles.
My feet dragged me towards my biggest possession, My mother. Nothing in this world is more dear to me than my mother and her blessings. My mother sat by the window on a prayer mat, with her eyes closed and beads in her hand, praying peacefully for my victory and safety. I moved closer placing a warm kiss on her forehead, bowed my head and osculated her hand.
"Give me blessing Ya ummi. I returned from yet another victory." She opened her eyes blew a few ayahs onto me. Osculated my forehead pulling me closer into her arms.
"Ya Arsalan, You always have them. Now and forever" Her eyes screamed with love and blessings for her dear child.
I kneeled down with a hand onto my chest as my mother tightened her grip on the other hand. "Forgive me my mother, If I have ever wronged you or the ground you walk on." I spoke with my head hung low with lots of respect.
"Rest your heart my child. You have never been disobedient towards your mother. May Allah always be with you and bestow victory upon you" I strongly believe that my existence is a miracle of my mother's strong faith and strong connection towards her lord. I enjoyed the her warmth and love, while she only gazed me with a wave of triumph in her eyes.
"Abdul Aziz" She called out for a faithful servant. He came running on his toes, hearing his name being called out. "You will be sacrificing 10 animals tommorow, In my son's name" Polietly nodding his head he exited the peaceful room.
"Allow me to leave Ya ummi" Exchanging a few more beautiful words, I left my mother with happy tears in her beautiful eyes.
I escalated toward baba's study to inform him of my presence and recently attained victory.
The two men proudly sat on their chairs, talking to each other satisfied with power and status they created. They are the men of darkness, a world that is unknown to people. A world that is a myth to some people, A dangerous myth.
My father Khalfan Al Qoud sat opposite to my grandfather Saqar Al Qoud. I decently knocked twice and entered my grandfather's study- one of the most prestigious possessions he owned with the finest furniture in the world. Almost all the time, he is found in this peaceful place calculating and analyzing his business with Abuu( My father ) or any other of his men. He also claims of finding solace here, after my grandfather's embrace.
I moved toward baba and abbu bowing my head Osculating their hands and stood with my head held high with ascendancy or pride, as I announced my victory.
"Give my blessings baba and abbu, I returned from yet another victory." Baba smiled with pride in his wise grey eyes toward his grandson, He held me up from the ground patted my shoulder in encouragement.
"Bless you my child. You make me proud as your Grandfather. May Allah bless you with more victory. You have always proved yourself as the knight you are."
"اتبع نور الله ، ثم راقب نفسك تنير من الداخل"
(Follow the light of Allah, then watch yourself illuminate from within.)
I was named Knight in the dark world, after my achievements in various fields. People also related my persona to a famous Knight of Arabia, who also happens to be my Great-Great grandfather. My mastery in Swordsmanship have been a blessing and a reason for the title THE KNIGHT.
"Mashallah, Arsalan You make me proud as your father, more victory to you" My father spoke with spark in his eyes.
"Baba grant me permission to relish my victory tonight. I would like to celebrate in the outhouse with a few friends tonight." Baba pondered a bit as I stood patiently with an appeal that my brother requested me to make.
"I grant you the permission." He spoke coming back to the stoic business voice.
"Thank you baba. Grant me permission to leave now" I appealed.
"I think you have planned on meeting the Bakhtiar's tomorrow" I nodded nonchalantly "Plan appropriately and find some thing on Hayder. You may leave now." He drummed his fingers on the table in the front.
I sprinted my feet towards the hallway to exit when I hear abbu calling my with his resonant voice, appealing for my attention. I bolted and gazed the tension in his eyes and queried about it.
"What is it Abbu, is something bothering you. I will be glad to help you." He tugged on his collar uncomfortably.
"My son you have always proved yourself as a Good son, Good friend, Good grand son, Now I want you to act responsible towards your brothers Ya Arsalan" My jaw clenched observing the tensity his eyes.
"Surely ya wallid, I have always tried to be a good brother. Please state your hassle abbu." My brothers are my support system and they have proved themselves to be the best soldiers.
"Zulfiqar(qari) is stressed due to the current feud with The Bakhtiar's. He never speaks out loud. I want you be a strong brother and lend a shoulder to your brother in his crisis." I'm aware of this distress and was planning to solve it soon.
"Definitely abbu, I am, and I always will support my brothers and stand by their sides. You should not stress about this, Qari and Faza are as strong as me and will fight against the agony even better than I do." I spoke loud and clear, to diffuse the strain in him.
"I believe you, My son"
I could still see the concern for his children in his eyes. The love my parents hold within for their offspring can't be measured in any form of words or letters. Hence I restrain form doing so. I thank The Almighty Allah for blessing me with phenomenal ménage.
Along the side I hear an articulating sound of my brothers restlessly calling out my name. Patience in them is actually dead.
"Very well abbu, I'll see you later"
. . . .
Khabib : Arsalan's victorious horse
Faaza & Qari : Arsalan's twin siblings
Furqan : Arsalan's friend
Baba : Arsalan's Grandfather
Ummi (Mother) : Arsalan's Mother
Abbu (Father) : Arsalan's father
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Thought's on Arsalan...
I'm Eagar to hear from your side.
❤️ ❤️ ❤️