Tragedy Strikes 2002

Zainab heard Mohamed talking urgently and listened for any clues. She heard sante which was health. Then she heard sadr, chest. Her mind instantly thought of a heart attack so she listened for qalb, heart but heard nothing further.

“Mohamed, who hurt sadr? What wrong?” Zainab asked in confusion and horror.

“Is Lemine, my cousin. He have accident at factory. I need go Kentucky to see him. His parents ask me go. I must go.”

“Okay. Does Khalil and Karen know?”

“Yes. They go hospital now. Khalil tell me later.”

Zainab immediately dialed Karen to get the translation. Khalil spoke far better English than Mohamed. Lemine was working in the factory. He climbed inside the machine to clean it and it was accidentally started for a second. That second was enough though. He had multiple injuries and was still unconscious. Karen would call after they had eyes on him.

Zainab and Mohamed used the time to make plans for an emergency trip to Florence. The weather was turning ugly along their route. They would wait until morning when Khalil would call with an update to make their plans.

Khalil waited until almost sunrise to wake them. The reports weren’t good but they were still hopeful. Lemine’s wife Desiree was resting after he was finally stable. They just had to wait and see. Zainab packed quickly so that they could get there ahead of the storm. She’d call Ibrahim on the way.

They pulled into the hotel parking lot near the hospital and checked in. It would still be a few hours before Khalil and Karen would arrive. Zainab got them lunch as Mohamed called locals for updates. They just had to wait for everyone to get off of work and gather at the hospital.

When Khalil arrived, they went out to dinner before heading to the hospital. When Zainab entered the hospital, she just followed them. She sat down with Karen and tried to remain strong. It wasn’t long before Mohamed said that they could visit Lemine. She was happy to have eyes on him. She wanted to make sure that he was taken good care of.

The room was bright and clean. Lemine’s head was wrapped in a clean dressing. He was cleaned and his wounds tended to. Zainab noticed the beautiful flowers and smiled. She was happy that he was well taken care of by all.

“Talk him,” Zainab encouraged Mohamed.

“Why? He no talk.”

“It’s good to hear family.”

“He small cousin. What I say?”

“Talk about Mauritania.”

“He understand Mauritania.”

“Tell him you love him.”

“No.”

“Fine. I’ll talk to him.” Zainab thought about the few words that she understood before proceeding. “Salam alaykum, Lemine. Kayf haluk? Ana Drsy, zawjat Mohamed. Enchante. Inshallah you’re better soon. Ahaybuk, Lemine.”

Just as soon as she said that she loved the young man, his wife entered. Zainab blushed. She wanted to explain but Desiree didn’t seem to notice or care. The three spoke briefly and left her alone with her husband.

Zainab walked back into the lobby and finally realized that the entire space was filled with Mauritanians. She was amazed at the amount of people who drove from all over the eastern half of the country to visit him. She smiled brighter than ever. She was home.

They met with Khalil and Karen who had to return home. They’d be back the following night. As they spoke, Zainab slipped away to speak with the receptionist.

“Hi. I was wondering if there was a good place for breakfast around here.”

“Oh, yeah. That one in front of the hotel is good.”

“Thank you. Hospital employees always know where the good food is at all hours.”

“That we do.”

“I hope that we didn’t cause too much trouble. It seems we took over your waiting room.”

“We have actually been thrilled. I know a patient who has relatives right across the street who can’t be bothered. It’s sad.”

“I know. I have family like that. It’s so much easier to recover when you’re supported by loved ones.”

“Yeah. Lemine’s friends have been a Godsend. They’re so kind, supportive and grateful.”

“I’m glad. Thanks. Have a great day.”

“You too.”

Zainab and Mohamed had a good night’s sleep. They got ready to leave and Mohamed went out to start the car.

“Zainab. I can’t open door.”

She rushed outside and saw the iced over car. She tugged with Mohamed to no avail. “Fuck. Ok. Let me think.”

They went inside to stay warm while trying to find a solution. Locksmiths were expensive and would take forever. Zainab sat on the bed, ready to burst into tears. Then the coffee pot that they never used shone like a beacon. It took her a moment to figure out how not to make coffee.

The pair went back out into the bitter cold. Zainab poured the boiling water on the seams of the door and had Mohamed give it a big yank. It only took a few attempts and they were in. Mohamed turned on the car to get it thawed as they went inside to finish up. Zainab once again had to wait impatiently for as-sulahfat to get ready. She tapped her fingers, hummed and then told Mohamed exactly how she felt.

“You are as bad as the Corps. Like Daddy said, you hurry up to wait. Enta sulahfat, Mohamed. Yallah, sulahfat. Ugh.”

“What wrong? Car need heat. We have time. Is early.”

Zainab glared before saying the only thing that might make him move faster, “I’m hungry. I want to eat.” It was an obvious lie. Zainab usually didn’t eat until 1pm or later at work. She hoped to fool Mohamed since they were traveling.

“Inshallah we go soon,” was Mohamed’s reply. Zainab had snuck past her lie but Mohamed was impenetrable. She had learned that Mohamed didn’t use inshallah as intended. It was usually his way of backing out of things. It was God’s will that he refused to follow through.

“Enta kadeb,” was Zainab’s way of telling him that he’s a liar and she knows it.

“Shinhoo?”

Zainab rolled her eyes and continued to wait impatiently. When his royal highness was ready, Zainab was relieved to be doing anything else. The restaurant was thankfully close and it wasn’t too crowded. Many people were already at work or on their way to parts unknown.

Zainab had to read the entire menu to figure out what Mohamed might like. She offered suggestions as he looked at the menu he couldn’t read very well.

“What can I get for you this morning?”

“Can we get some coffee? I don’t think that we’re ready to order just yet.”

“You no understand?” Mohamed replied.

“I do. Do you?” Zainab questioned as if to call him a liar.

“Yes.”

The waitress went over to him as he pointed to a picture. She said what it was, asked questions and was all set as Zainab kept questioning the decision. Once she was satisfied, she rolled off her order in a more panicked fashion.

When the order came, Zainab watched in amazement as her picky husband began chowing down on his breakfast. He rarely ceased to amaze her. She just ate her breakfast as best as she could, trying to forget the millions of similar meals that he refused.

When they returned to the hospital, Zainab found Desiree to see how she was doing and if she needed anything.

“Hi. I’m Zainab, Mohamed’s wife. I’m sorry for what happened. I know that the hospital is taking amazing care of Lemine. How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. I have my family and friends here.”

“That’s good. Mohamed said that if you need anything to just ask. The Mauritanian people are very good, kind people. They will help you out if you just ask. I know that we sometimes hate to ask and burden others. I just want to make sure that you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.” Desiree gave Zainab a queer look that told all but she didn’t understand her husband’s schemes. She was an average Middle Class woman with a solid family. She was obviously fine but Mohamed didn’t seem to understand that.

“Good. I’m glad. I will be going home but Mohamed will be here if you need anything. I’m sure that everyone else feels likewise. Take care of yourself and Lemine. It’ll be a rough road for a bit but inshallah he will recover beautifully.”

“Thanks.” Desiree gave her another queer look before she left to find Mohamed.

Zainab and Mohamed packed up, checked out and went to the car rental office. She made sure that he had a vehicle for the week and could drop it off in Detroit when he returned. They were finished loading up the car when they said their goodbyes.

“Do you have everything Mohamed?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay. Be careful. We will figure out how to pay for all of this when you get back, okay? Lemine is more important right now. We will find a way, inshallah.”

“I no worried.”

“Okay. Ahaybuk.”

“Ahaybik. Ma’salam.”

“Ma’salam. I call when I’m home.”

“Okay.”

Zainab got in her car and Mohamed closed the door. She smiled and waved as she drove off. Something felt very wrong about the whole situation but she didn’t know what.

Inshallah she would discover the truth before things got out of hand. The truth can be hard to swallow and admit to though. We can only pray for miskeena Zainab.

Until next time. Ma’salam.

Min sadiqatuk, Drsy.

From your friend, Darcy