NIRVANA

He would die that day. He wished the infidels that would die also knew.

“Allah has chosen you.” The man gave him the package.

For all his life no one had promised him a better life anywhere. For fifteen years he had chased survival in the streets. He did, barely. He was a frame of bones meanly covered with flesh.

“Atchoo!” A glob of snot dribbled down his chin. He wiped at it with the back of his hand. He had gotten a permanent cold from sleeping outdoors. Now he would live in opulence forever.

He smiled. Blackened teeth peeked from under thick lips. He felt delirious with importance; to be chosen amongst the swarm of Almajiris as the judgement of God.

The man had shown him where to go. The more the infidels the abundant his blessings. He wanted much more. He walked beyond the cluster of people at the gate. He walked deeper into the market, going for the heart.

He found eyes watching him, suspicious, inquiring. He stared back, defiant. He was answering a higher calling. What were they chasing after? His curiosity lent him eyes to look at those he would kill.
A boy with a tray of bananas on his head. A woman selling kunu from a gourd of calabash. A gang of labourers arguing what was fair with the overseer.

The noises became people. “The goat is for my child’s naming ceremony.” “W’Allahi! If I sold it for that price I would be out of business.” “Please, I’d pay you tomorrow. If you don’t give me the rice my children and I would starve to death.”

He frowned. He needed to distinguish the infidels from these people. He clutched at the cord of the package.

“Just pull,” the man had said. “And you would be in Al jannah with seventy-two virgins.”

He saw the faces of his victims. There was nothing different from his. He saw lines of past sorrows and anguish, yet there was joy of life.

How could one inherit eternity if one couldn’t appreciate life? No! The man was wrong. God had chosen him but not for this.

He froze as his nose twitched. He sneezed. His hand jerked, pulling the cord. He saw the light, a blinding flash before everything became nothing.

NIRVANA

He would die that day. He wished the infidels that would die also knew.

“Allah has chosen you.” The man gave him the package.

For all his life no one had promised him a better life anywhere. For fifteen years he had chased survival in the streets. He did, barely. He was a frame of bones meanly covered with flesh.

“Atchoo!” A glob of snot dribbled down his chin. He wiped at it with the back of his hand. He had gotten a permanent cold from sleeping outdoors. Now he would live in opulence forever.

He smiled. Blackened teeth peeked from under thick lips. He felt delirious with importance; to be chosen amongst the swarm of Almajiris as the judgement of God.

The man had shown him where to go. The more the infidels the abundant his blessings. He wanted much more. He walked beyond the cluster of people at the gate. He walked deeper into the market, going for the heart.

He found eyes watching him, suspicious, inquiring. He stared back, defiant. He was answering a higher calling. What were they chasing after? His curiosity lent him eyes to look at those he would kill.
A boy with a tray of bananas on his head. A woman selling kunu from a gourd of calabash. A gang of labourers arguing what was fair with the overseer.

The noises became people. “The goat is for my child’s naming ceremony.” “W’Allahi! If I sold it for that price I would be out of business.” “Please, I’d pay you tomorrow. If you don’t give me the rice my children and I would starve to death.”

He frowned. He needed to distinguish the infidels from these people. He clutched at the cord of the package.

“Just pull,” the man had said. “And you would be in Al jannah with seventy-two virgins.”

He saw the faces of his victims. There was nothing different from his. He saw lines of past sorrows and anguish, yet there was joy of life.

How could one inherit eternity if one couldn’t appreciate life? No! The man was wrong. God had chosen him but not for this.

He froze as his nose twitched. He sneezed. His hand jerked, pulling the cord. He saw the light, a blinding flash before everything became nothing.