The next morning. The sun has risen over the mountains of Yadar. The sunlight has fallen upon the window of Musa's room.
Musa woke up. His body is still tired, but there is peace in his heart. After telling the story last night, he feels lighter after many years. He got ready and came out of the room.
Outside on the veranda, Saeed and Husain are sitting. Tea in their hands. Seeing Musa, they smiled.
Saeed said, "Good morning, Commander. Did you sleep well?"
Musa smiled. "Good morning. I did sleep, but the memories of that childhood were still circling in my head."
Husain moved forward and said, "Please sit, Commander. Have some tea. Then today we will hear the story."
Musa sat down. Taking a sip of tea, he said, "Yesterday I told you about that morning. Today I will tell you about the rest of that day. Noon, afternoon, evening—that day, the day that was the last happy day of my life."
Saeed and Husain silently prepared themselves to listen.
Ikrak, Bahai'da Village
1985, Spring – That Day's Noon
Musa and Layla reached their aunt's house. Aunt Ayesha was standing at the door. In her lap, a small baby donkey. Golden in color. Big big eyes. Its two ears hanging down.
Layla screamed, "Oh my! How beautiful!"
Musa also stared in amazement. The baby donkey, seeing them, called out "Hee hee."
Aunt laughed. "I kept it for you two to give it a name. What will you name it?"
Layla immediately said, "Chanpa!"
Musa burst into laughter. "Chanpa? A donkey named Chanpa?"
Layla puffed her cheeks. "Yes! Chanpa is a very sweet name. Its body color is golden, like the moon. So Chanpa."
Musa said, "I will name it Bahadur."
Layla said, "No no, Chanpa!"
The two of them started arguing. Aunt laughed and said, "Alright, alright. Call it Chanpa Bahadur. Let it have both names."
The baby donkey wagged its tail happily. Layla hugged it. Musa patted it lovingly.
Then Aunt gave them food. Dates and milk. Musa said, "Aunt, why does the bread made by your hands taste the best?"
Aunt laughed. "Because I mix a little love into it. Your mother mixes love too. That's why it tastes good."
Layla said, "Then my bread will not taste the best. I don't know how to mix love."
Musa pinched her nose and said, "You just give your love to Chanpa Bahadur. Later you will make bread for it."
Everyone laughed.
Noon passed into afternoon. Musa and Layla are returning to the village. On the way they met friends.
Kalu called out, "Musa! Come play."
Musa said, "What game?"
Kalu said, "Hide and seek. You will hide, we will search."
Musa agreed. He went to hide. He stood behind a big date tree. But his belly was sticking out. Kalu immediately caught him.
Musa said, "That's not fair. Was my belly sticking out?"
Kalu laughed. "Your belly is so big it cannot be covered by the whole tree."
Everyone burst into laughter. Musa laughed too.
Then the game continued. Running around. Dust flying. The sun lowered. A sweet afternoon breeze blowing.
Layla could not play with the boys. She sat down and began to cry softly. Musa ran to her. "Why are you crying?"
Layla said, "I also want to play hide and seek. But they don't take me."
Musa said, "Play with me. I will hide, you will search."
Musa hid. This time in a very good place. Layla searched but could not find him. Finally she began to cry. Musa came out. "Why are you crying?"
Layla said, "I thought you were truly lost."
Musa hugged her and said, "I will never leave you. Whatever happens, however it happens, I will return."
Layla smiled. Her smile was like the afternoon sunlight.
Evening is falling. The sky glowing orange. Time to return home. Musa is walking holding Layla's hand. On the way an old woman is sitting. A cat in her lap.
Layla went and said, "Auntie, can I pet the cat?"
The old woman smiled. "You may, child. But carefully. It is a little naughty."
Layla petted the cat. Suddenly the cat scratched her hand. Layla screamed. Musa ran. "What happened?"
Layla showed her hand. A small scratch.
Musa got angry and chased the cat. The cat climbed up a tree. Musa tried to climb the tree, couldn't. He fell. His new pajama tore.
Layla started laughing. Seeing Musa's torn pajama she laughed. Musa said, "You're laughing? My pajama tore because of you."
Layla said, "You look like a beggar now."
Musa said, "You are my sister, so you can say that. But don't tell anyone."
Layla laughed and said, "I won't."
By the time they returned home, darkness had thickened. In the distance village lights glowing. The smell of mother's cooking floating in the air. Musa is very hungry.
He grabbed Layla's hand and ran. "Come, hurry. Otherwise the food will be finished."
Layla is running. But she stumbled and fell. Musa lifted her and said, "Why do you run so fast? See, you fell."
Layla said, "Because you were pulling me."
Musa brushed the dust off her clothes and said, "Alright. Now let's walk slowly holding hands."
Reaching home, they saw Mother standing on the veranda. "Why so late?"
Musa said, "We went to see the baby donkey. Then we played. Then a cat scratched Layla. Then I tried to climb a tree and fell."
Mother said, "Why did you climb a tree?"
Musa said, "To catch the cat."
Mother laughed. "Do cats not live in trees? Will you live in trees too?"
Musa thought. "That won't work. I have school."
Everyone laughed.
Father returned from the field then. He said, "Today I will go to the market. Who wants what?"
Everyone started saying their preferences. Musa said, "Bring me a fish hook. Big brother said he will teach me to catch fish."
Father smiled. "Alright. I myself will teach you to fish. Better than Karim."
Musa jumped. "Really?"
Father said, "Really. But first eat."
Dinner happened. All together. Mother made bread, vegetables, and milk. Musa ate so much that his stomach almost burst.
Layla said, "Musa brother ate a lot today. Because tomorrow he will catch fish."
Musa said, "You be quiet. You only drink milk."
Layla said, "I drink milk so I become beautiful."
Everyone laughed.
At night, time to sleep. Musa lying on the bed. Layla beside him. She whispered, "Musa brother, will we go see the baby donkey again tomorrow?"
Musa said, "Yes. Tomorrow morning we will go. Then at noon we will go fishing. Then in the afternoon we will play. Then in the evening we will return home."
Layla said, "I will go everywhere with you."
Musa said, "Yes. You are my shadow. Wherever I go, you go."
Layla smiled. She fell asleep.
Musa closed his eyes. Stars visible through the window. Very peaceful night. Very beautiful night. He felt, let the days pass like this. Let life pass like this.
But he did not know, this night was the last night. The last beautiful night of his life.
Musa stopped. His eyes are wet.
Saeed whispered, "Then what happened? What happened the next morning?"
Musa looked outside the window. The sun is rising over the mountains of Yadar. He said, "The next morning… it never came. That night everything ended."
Husain said, "Commander, if you do not wish to say…"
Musa said, "I will say. But tomorrow. Not today. Today only up to this morning. This morning, that never returned."
Saeed and Husain remained silent. They understood, to hear the rest of this story they must wait one more day.
Musa stood up. Zakia is playing on the veranda. Musa went to her. The little girl smiled. In that smile Musa found the smile of that afternoon in Bahai'da. Layla's smile.
After many years, far away, in a foreign land—that smile has returned again.