Chapter 13

No Goodbyes

Part 1

After nineteen days of excruciating battle with the Sharias, col. Barnes and Major Ibrahim led their forces to victory. At the base camp, both the soldiers became good friends and when they departed, both promised to see each other again. Col. Barnes was elated to return back from the battle because there was someone waiting for him back in Belgarath. He had sustained some injuries here and there, but considering the number of soldiers who lost there lives, col. Barnes ignored his injuries and wept for them. When he retuned to Belgarath, Dr. Amir and Professor Lee were waiting for him at his house. Both of them had a proud expression on their faces and welcomed col. Barnes with a hug as soon as he stepped out of his jeep.

‘ Glad to have you back alive, buddy. ‘ Dr. Amir said patting col. Barnes's back. Professor Lee extended his hands for a shake.

‘Welcome back’. He said with a small smile.

‘Thank you for coming all the way to my House’. Col. Barnes said.

‘ Are you alright? You have a cut on your eye brows. ‘ Professor Lee said pointing his fingers.

‘That’s just one from many. You should see the rest of my body. It looks like a scored fish that’s about to be grilled. One of my fellow soldier said this. His words, not mine. ‘ Col. Barnes said grinning.

'You should take rest then. Come back to the hospital tomorrow. I will treat your wound for free. ‘ Dr. Amir said winking.

‘How kind of you, Doc!. ‘ Col. Barnes said smiling.

‘Only two of you came? ‘. Col. Barnes asked suddenly, a bit of disappointment in his voice.

‘Yes, you were expecting someone? ‘.Professor Lee asked.

‘ Umm.. No, not really’. Col. Barnes stuttered, looking away.

‘Don’t you think it’s unfair to still keep Professor Lee in the dark, Barnes? ‘ Dr. Amir asked and col. Barnes was left speechless.

‘What is it that I don’t know?. ‘ Professor Lee asked confused.

‘ He has a girlfriend. She is a trainee nurse at the hospital who has been pestering me for the last few days asking about your return. And.. She is a kid. ‘Dr. Amir said in a single breath.

‘For God’s sake, she is eighteen, doctor’. Col. Barnes whined like a child.

‘Oh'. Professor Lee said, a little surprised.

‘ I just elaborated a grand love story to you and just one syllable is your response?. You are no fun, Professor. ‘Dr. Amir complained.

‘Doctor, he needs to rest. Let’s go for now. Take care, colonel. We will see you later. ‘ Professor Lee said and dragged Dr. Amir along with him.

‘ Goodbye professor, see you later. ‘ Col. Barnes said and mouthed a silent ‘Get out' to Dr. Amir who replied ‘ I love you too' in the same manner.

Col. Barnes chuckled at his childishness and then went inside to get a good rest.

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The next day at the hospital, Dr. Amir broke the news of col. Barnes's return to Tamina who asked him permission to leave promising him to work overtime, but knowing about col. Barnes’s visit to the hospital, Dr. Amir denied her request. For the past nineteen days, she has been a headache to him, always asking him about col. Barnes.

‘ Is he alright? ‘. Tamina enquired with a rapidly beating heart.

‘ I am sorry kid. He lost a leg and an eye. ‘ Dr. Amir said hanging his head low and in a sad tone.

Tamina just stood there shocked and then suddenly started crying non stop. Dr. Amir was shocked at her unexpected behaviour and tried his beast to calm her down.

‘Oh my god! Girl, I was just kidding. He is fine, totally fine. Please stop crying. If you don’t stop, people might think that I did something to you and beat me up. So please stop crying. ‘.Dr. Amir said looking around.

Tamina was zoned out and didn’t hear a word the doctor said. Her mind was full of scenarios of col. Barnes with an eye patch and a prosthetic leg sitting on a wheel chair. Dr. Amir was flustered and was in a tight situation. He tried his best to calm her down, but she kept on crying. Suddenly someone walked into the cabin and Dr. Amir sighed in relief.

‘ Thank god that you came. You won’t believe me. Look and see for yourself then’. Dr. Amir said pointing behind Tamina.

‘ What’s going on here? ‘. Col. Barnes asked confused seeing a crying Tamina.

She was surprisingly shocked to see col. Barnes in one piece and suddenly ran to him with her eyes crinkling at the corner. She embraced him and then started touching him all over to see if he had lost any of his body parts.

‘ Are you alright? He told me that you lost an eye and a leg'. Tamina said crying. Col. Barnes frowned at the doctor, who stoood their feeling guilty.

‘ How loyal! I was just kidding’. Dr. Amir said rolling his eyes.

‘Maetuh'. Tamina mumbled in Arabic. Hearing Tamina, Jacob chuckles holding her.

‘ Did she just curse at me?. What did she say? ‘. Dr. Amir asked bewildered.

‘She called you an idiot. Now Leave us alone, doc’. Col. Barnes said chuckling.

‘But this is my cabin. ‘ Dr. Amir said as col. Barnes narrowed his eyes.

‘ Okay, fine, I will let you finish your business. And don’t forget to treat your wounds. I leave them to you, Tamina. ‘ Dr. Amir said and then left, on his way winking at col. Barnes who shook his head at his childish behaviour.

‘ You are hurt?. ‘ Tamina asked with teary eyes.

‘ Just nips and cuts. That’s all. ‘ Col. Barnes said.

‘Sit down, I will treat it. ‘ Tamina said forcing him to sit on a nearby bed. Then she went to get the treatment kit and returned after a few seconds. She then removed his shirt and started cleaning the wounds. Col. Barnes's eyes followed her every move and when she felt his gaze, she stopped and stared at him for a while.

‘ I missed you. ‘ Col. Barnes said in a soft tone. Tamina's amber eyes filled with tears.

‘ Do you know how the past nineteen days have been for me?. Each time we received the body of a soldier during the war, I prayed to all the gods in the world that let it not be you. I was so scared when they showed at the hospital with a lost arm or legs or with a bullet between their eyes, I had to look a hundred times and make sure it was not you and my eyes weren’t fooling me. I was so scared.’ She said and a lone tear left her eyes. Seeing her in pain, made him uncomfortable.

‘ Oh my Tami!. I am here, right here. Don’t be scared. I came back for you‘. He said hugging her tightly.

They remained like that for a minute and Jacob slowly made her sit next to him.

‘Now, please don’t cry. Let me see that pretty face of yours. ‘. He said removing her niqab and wiping her tears.

Tamina’s cheeks and nose were flushed due to all those crying. Jacob suddenly leaned and playful planted a kiss on her nose which brought a smile on her lips.

‘ We are at the hospital. Someone might walk in, probably Dr. Amir or Nurse Martha or any of my other colleagues. ‘ Tamina said cheching the doorway.

‘Let them know that you are mine. ‘.Jacob said smiling brightly.

‘ And then what? ‘. Tamina asked.

‘ And then.. ‘ Jacob was interrupted by the sound of someone opening the door to the cabin and Farah stepped in.

Seeing Tamina without her niqab holding hands with col. Barnes made her stop suddenly in shock.

‘ I.. I am… excuse me. ‘ Farah said and threw the medical tray in her hands on the bed and left, putting Tamina in an awkward position.

She was somewhat offended and felt betrayed at the same time. Till that day, she had no idea about her cousin’s relationship with the colonel, but now she knew there was surely something going on between them.

‘Farah.. ‘. Tamina called from behind, but she had already left the room.

‘Your friend? ‘. Jacob asked confused.

‘And my cousin’. Tamina said her voice full of concern.

‘ You should talk to her then’. Jacob said.

‘I will, but this is more important. ‘ Tamina said and started putting medicines on Jacob’s wounds. She finished quickly and ran to the dormitory, were Farah and she would usually hangout. Jacob was really concerned about the whole situation as it stressed Tamina a lot.

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Farther was fiddling her fingers and walking to and fo, in that small dormitory, replaying the scene that unfolded before her eyes a few minutes ago as Tamina walked in. Farah took a look at her cousin’s face and then sat down on the bed opposite to where Tamina was standing.

‘Explain’. Farah said in a calm voice and Tamina told her the entire story. After hearing it, Farah remained silent which irked Tamina.

‘Say something.’ Tamina said, a little bit scared of Farah's silence.

‘ Something like What? ‘. Farah asked in an offensive tone and Tamina knew that her cousin was not at all glad about her relationship with Jacob.

‘ I have a lot to ask you, a lot to advice you and a lot to scold you for, but before I waste my energy on that, let me ask you this. If I try to persuade you to give up on your relationship with him, what will be your answer? ‘. Farah asked.

‘ No'. Tamina said, her eyes tearing up.

‘ Then what’s the point of asking me Tami? You wanna know what I think? I don’t not trust him or any foreigner. I know he is different from others because he saved you last time from Owais, but that’s it, Tami. What if he is using you, or what if he might turn out to be like Eugene Carter later? Nobody knows. I am scared for you. Have you ever thought of khala and khal and what will happen if Khal finds out? You will become an outcast like other woman who got involved with the foreigners. You know that too and yet you dared to fall in love with him? Well, that shows how much you love him, but what about him? Whatever you plan to do, Tami, remember this. You are the only person your parents have got on this earth. Don’t forget that. ‘. Farah said standing up from the bed.

Tamina stood at the center of the room, heartbroken that her most trusted friend and cousin was against her relationship. Tamina had a little hope that Farah would understand her love for him, but she was wrong. Farah took a look at her cousin and was about to leave the room, when col. Barnes walked in.

‘ What does our relationship has to do with your aunt and uncle? You are trying to make her believe that loving me is a sin, isn’t it? ‘. Col. Barnes asked and Tamina was shocked to see him there.

Farah was also startled.

‘ You were eavesdropping?’. Farah asked offended.

‘ No, I heard it as I walked in.’ Jacob said calmly.

‘Are you playing with my cousin? ‘. Farah asked out of the blue.

‘ Farah. ‘ Tamina cried, her voice cracking at the end.

‘No'. Jacob answered.

‘Is that all you have to say? ‘. Farah said huffing.

Tamina was torn between the two people she cared most in the world.

‘ What more do you want to know? ‘. Col. Barnes asked. Tamina's eyes shifted between them.

‘ I want to know exactly what you are planning to do with my cousin. ‘ Farah whispered in an angry, low voice.

‘ I plan to love her for the rest of my life and live with her forever.’ Jacob said.

‘ Better said than done. How can I trust those words? ‘. Farah asked.

‘ You don’t have a reason to trust me because we both are strangers to each other. But you can chose to trust your cousin whom you had known since your childhood. Trust her and her faith in me. ‘Jacob said and Farah was left speechless. She stood there looking between Tamina and Jacob. Then she turn to Tamina who was silently crying.

‘ He is right. I trust you Tami and I always have trusted you and I am going to trust you on this one too. I will trust you and your decisions. Hope you make wise ones. And Don’t cry, I won’t tell anyone. ‘ Farah said to comfort her cousin. Then nodding at col. Barnes, she left the room.

Col. Barnes walked upto Tamina who stood there hanging her head. He pulled her to him and hugged her, comforting her. He knew Tamina was conflicted and needed someone to assure her that loving him was not something to feel guilty about. More than that he was afraid he might lose her if she made decisions out of fear of the society.

‘ I promise you, I love you sincerely with my heart and will never give up on you. So don’t doubt my love for you, because it hurts me so much. ‘ Jacob whispered on her ears.

‘ I have never once doubted you since I met you and never will. I trust you with all my life. ‘ Tamina said burying her face on his chest and sobbing quietly while Jacob hugged her tightly, so afraid that he might lose her.

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Hello guys,

this is my first note to my readers out there. Thank you for your support. Keep reading my novel and let me know what you think. Leave a review if you can. Comment and vote if you like the story. Thanks for all your support.