Mahmoud returned from his work at the candle shop on a gloomy evening, his worn-out coat bearing traces of red at the edges, indicating its age. He carried a basket filled with candles, a sign that his sales hadn't been successful. Mahmoud had lost his son, Younis, a month ago in a river accident, and he was trying to forget what happened. Younis had drowned in that river and passed away.
Mahmoud took off his shoes and greeted his wife Aaliyah, who noticed the basket full of unsold candles. It was clear that Mahmoud hadn't been successful in selling them.
She said to him, "Don't be sad, tomorrow will be better." Mahmoud smiled sadly, looking into her tired, red eyes, and asked, "What happened, Aaliyah? Were you crying?"
Aaliyah replied, "No, nothing. I was just cutting onions."
Mahmoud went over to check the potato soup and commented, "It doesn't have any onions. Why did you cut them?"
Aaliyah explained, "I found out they were spoiled, so I didn't use them in the soup."
Mahmoud smiled and said, "Well done, my dear. You take care of our health. How spoiled I am." He sat at the table, and Aaliyah served him the soup. "Wow, it's delicious, but it could use some onions."
Early in the morning, Mahmoud got up to milk the only cow they had. As he walked towards the barn, he saw his elderly neighbor passing by. He greeted her, and she responded warmly, swaying as if she were in her prime. She said, "Thank you, Mahmoud, for this compliment. Even my late husband never said such a thing to me. How is Aaliyah? Is she doing well?"
Mahmoud replied, "Yes, she's in good health. We're trying to forget what happened."
The neighbor then asked, "What about that scoundrel Shafiq? What did he tell her last night?"
Mahmoud was surprised and asked, "Shafiq was here last night?"
The neighbor confirmed, "Yes, he was here. He told Aaliyah something that made her cry."
Mahmoud was alarmed and asked, "What? What did he say?"
Aaliyah tried to evade, "He didn't say anything. Who told you he was here?"
Mahmoud grabbed Aaliyah firmly and shattered the plate in her hand, causing it to break on the floor.
Aaliyah, shaken, said, "He wants his money. He wants the debt we owe him for burying Younis. He said he'll dig up 'Sony'."
Mahmoud's eyes filled with tears as he looked at her. It seemed like a dam had burst.
She continued, "He called him 'Sony', the nickname he used to call our son, Younis, since he was born."
Mahmoud held Aaliyah's hand gently and said, "Don't worry. Everything will be alright."
In the evening, Mahmoud prepared to go back to the city to sell candles.
Aaliyah wished him luck, saying, "May God be with you."
As Mahmoud walked near the debt office, he heard Shafiq's laughter. He approached one of the passersby and said, "Do you need candles for sale?"
Mahmoud quickly responded, "No, no. They're not for sale."
He then entered the office but found only Shafiq's servant. She informed him that Shafiq had gone to the capital and might return at night.
Mahmoud returned home in a daze, and Aaliyah asked, "What did you prepare for lunch?"
She noticed his troubled state and asked, "What happened? Are you okay?"
He replied, "Nothing, nothing. Everything is fine." He smiled faintly.
Aaliyah served him the food, saying, "What's wrong with these people? Our only son passed away just a month ago. Why can't they wait a little longer? We, like these candles, burn for others, melt to light their streets, homes, and offices. These fools don't think, nobody thinks, nobody wonders if it hurts when we burn? They don't think..."
Aaliyah comforted Mahmoud, saying, "We'll pay his debt, don't worry."
Mahmoud looked at her, his eyes gleaming like a stormy sea of tears. "There's an insurmountable dam," he said.
The night fell quickly, and Mahmoud got up, saying, "Alright, Aaliyah, I'm going to work. The city needs candles."
"Good luck, my dear," Aaliyah said, watching him go.
Mahmoud left with the basket of candles, carrying an axe with him. Aaliyah asked, "What are you doing with the axe?"
He replied, "Oh, I... I'm going to collect some firewood on the way back to use in the fireplace. Don't worry, I won't do anything wrong."
Aaliyah looked at him with concern, but he left.
Mahmoud walked towards the city, passing by the debt office, and heard Shafiq's laughter again. One of the passersby asked, "Do you have candles for sale?"
Mahmoud quickly responded, "No, no. They're not for sale."
He entered the office, knocked on Shafiq's office door, and the same servant opened it. Shafiq, the greedy man, was sitting on his chair.
Shafiq greeted him, "Hello, dear friend Mahmoud. What brings you here, my friend?"
Mahmoud said, "May I speak to you privately?"
Shafiq agreed, and the servant left, closing the door gently.
Mahmoud asked, "Well, what do you have for me, Mahmoud? Are you here to repay the debt or to take another loan?"