{"id":92287,"date":"2025-04-21T15:05:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2025\/04\/14\/hot-air-an-eid-story-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-04-21T15:05:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:05:52","slug":"hot-air-an-eid-story-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2025\/04\/21\/hot-air-an-eid-story-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot Air: An Eid Story [Part 2]"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Hamid takes a balloon ride at the Eid picnic, an accident throws all his beliefs into doubt.<\/em><\/p>\n

[This is part 1 of a two-part story. Part 1 is here<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p>\n

Do Not Desert One Another<\/h2>\n

\"View<\/a>Turning his back on Ali, Hamid gripped the top of the basket wall and looked out over the park. A smile crept over his face as they rose, and as the park began to shrink beneath them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids miss you,\u201d Ali said. \u201cThey ask about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

These words tugged at Hamid\u2019s heart. He missed them too. But there was nothing to be done. Ignore him, he told himself. He could see up and down the river now. Beyond it were miles of rice fields, and orange groves beyond that. It was stunning. His stomach was still grumbling, and he pressed into it with the heel of his palm, willing it to behave.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all the family we have,\u201d Ali persisted. \u201cIt\u2019s just you and me.\u201d Blessedly, Ali left the rest unsaid. That their parents had died when they were both nineteen, and they had no other siblings. And most of their uncles and aunts were still in Afghanistan, except for a few who had migrated to Iran. Hamid avoided thinking about all that.<\/p>\n

Hamid turned to face Ali. His nostrils flared. \u201cNo, you have a wife and kids. I have no one. You saw to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the more reason to stay close to us. The Messenger of Allah (\ufdfa) said, \u2018Do not desert one another, do not nurse hatred towards one another, do not be jealous of one another, and become as fellow brothers and servants of Allah. It is not lawful for a Muslim to stop talking to his brother for more than three days.\u2019”<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t apply. You\u2019re not my brother. You betrayed me. Brothers don\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Volcano Awakens<\/h2>\n

Ali exhaled loudly. \u201cI didn\u2019t betray you. You weren\u2019t involved with Hala. You weren\u2019t engaged; you weren\u2019t even talking to her. Am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew I was in love with her.\u201d Hamid heard his own voice rising even as the balloon continued to climb higher in the sky. He couldn\u2019t seem to stop it. He was a shy, quiet man who buried himself in books and research. He didn\u2019t shout or fight. But he knew himself. Deep down, he had a terrible, fiery anger. It was a dormant volcano, and it woke rarely and slowly. But when it did, it could tear his life apart like Krakatoa. Now it was awake, and he felt the lava rising.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stole her,\u201d Hamid said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is ridiculous.\u201d Ali waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a street urchin. \u201cThere\u2019s no talking to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuys,\u201d Jean cut in. \u201cThis stops now. This is NOT the place. You\u2019re closer to God up here, so act like it. Be quiet, face away from each other and enjoy the view.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid heard her the same way he heard the wind that rushed past the balloon at this altitude. It was mere noise. \u201cTell me why you did it,\u201d he insisted. \u201cThat\u2019s all. Tell me why you took the life I should have had. Why you robbed me of my happiness. Were you jealous because I had better grades in school? Is that why you took Hala from me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ali\u2019s face flushed deep red. \u201cHow dare you! That\u2019s my wife you\u2019re talking about. Have some shame! La hawla wa la quwwata illah billah.\u201d He stepped forward and jabbed a finger into Hamid\u2019s chest. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hear her name come out of your stupid mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The volcano erupted. Hamid felt his face grow hot, even as his vision narrowed. He seized Ali\u2019s shirt in both hands and began screaming curse words. He didn\u2019t even know what he was saying. He was operating on a level of pure rage, with no rational thought whatsoever.<\/p>\n

Over the Edge<\/h2>\n

\u201cStop this!\u201d Jean shouted. \u201cThink about where you are!\u201d She took a step forward to separate the brothers physically, but it was too late. Still gripping Ali\u2019s shirt, Hamid pressed forward with all his weight, driving Ali backward. He had no objective in mind. The volcano was in pure lava eruption mode, and Hamid was a puppet of his own fury as surely as if he were a jinn dancing to the commands of Iblis.<\/p>\n

Stumbling backward, Ali seized a handful of Hamid\u2019s curly hair in one hand, while his other hand shot out, seeking something – anything – to hold himself up. His face registered sheer terror, no doubt at the prospect of being pushed out of the balloon basket, and plummeting to his death.<\/p>\n

\"Hot<\/a>What Ali\u2019s hand found was the burner cord. He seized it as he fell, all his bodyweight pulling it down. There was a loud roar as the burner released a large amount of fuel, sending a huge tongue of flame into the envelope. The balloon leaped upward. Ali lost his grip on the burner cord and fell flat on his back in the basket, throwing his hands out to break his fall.<\/p>\n

Hamid had been pressing forward into Ali. When Ali suddenly fell, Hamid stumbled forward into the basket wall. It was only as high as his sternum, and with his forward momentum, he tumbled right over the edge.<\/p>\n

He saw the world spread out before him like heaven\u2019s forecourt, all green and blue. His hands flew out, but there was nothing to hold. For an instant, time seemed to freeze. Hamid had read about this, how the brain sped up at the moment of death, so that subjectively, time came to a standstill. He was about to die. He saw the crowd of Eid-goers below, their faces tiny ovals peering up, and he heard their collective scream as they saw him go over the edge. He only prayed he did not fall on someone. That would compound his sin to the Nth degree.<\/p>\n

What a fool he was. His native country, Afghanistan, was suffering under the weight of so many problems. But his people were, mostly, farmers, and he was an agricultural specialist. He could have done some good for them, he could have helped, even if only in a small way. Besides that, he could have had a relationship with his brother, or at least with his niece and nephew. Instead his life would be wasted for nothing. Would Allah have mercy on him, even though he was the biggest fool in the world?<\/p>\n

Time un-froze, and Hamid began to fall.<\/p>\n

Struggle<\/h2>\n

A hand like iron seized his ankle, arresting his fall. Hanging upside down, he looked up. It was Jean. Her face was as white as if she had seen a jinn, but her hand locked onto his ankle like a vice. She must be incredibly strong, but there was no way she would be able to pull Hamid up. His body was lean, but he was tall and moderately muscular, and weighed over 180 pounds. He heard her screaming something but couldn\u2019t understand a word. The wind rushed past his ears as he swayed back and forth. It was a miracle she was able to hold onto him, but soon her grip would fail.<\/p>\n

La ilaha il-Allah<\/em>, he breathed. Muhammadun Rasul-ullah. O Allah forgive my sins, have mercy on me, and admit me into Your Jannah. Forgive my temper and my hard heart. Forgive my hatred of my brother and my envy. I know I\u2019m neither a good Muslim nor a good man, Ya Allah, but forgive me.<\/em><\/p>\n

A second pair of hands grabbed his other leg. His brother. A moment later he felt himself being pulled up, incrementally, inch by inch. He tried to help by pushing against the basket with his hands, but it was probably no help at all. A critical moment came when his waist crossed over the edge of the basket wall. Jean and his brother gave a tremendous pull, and he tumbled back into the basket.<\/p>\n

He lay there, gasping for breath, unable to believe that he was alive. Jean did not give him a moment, however. Her powerful hands hauled him up to a sitting position, with his back against the basket wall.<\/p>\n

Just Sit There<\/h2>\n

\u201cAre you okay?\u201d the pilot demanded. Her hands probed up and down her legs, then at his sides. \u201cAre you injured?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Hamid gasped. \u201cJust winded. Thank you so much, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jean slapped his face, hard. \u201cYou knucklehead! Lord have mercy.\u201d She stood and glared back and forth between Hamid and Ali, who – Hamid realized then – was seated right beside him, also gasping for air. Her blue eyes blazed with anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis balloon is governed by FAA regulations,” she went on. “You understand? What y\u2019all just did up here? That\u2019s a federal offense. Not some slap-on-the-wrist county fair nonsense. I\u2019ve flown through thunderheads and dust storms. But I ain\u2019t never seen anything as shameful as what y\u2019all just pulled. I oughta have both of you arrested the second we hit the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

She ran a hand through her silver hair. \u201cNow stay there, hush up, and let me get this damn balloon back to earth. We are way too high.\u201d She turned away, unclipped a radio from her belt and began talking to the ground crew while she worked the balloon controls.<\/p>\n

Vindication<\/h2>\n

\"Hot<\/a>\u201cYou almost killed us both,\u201d Ali said quietly.<\/p>\n

Hamid glanced at his brother. Ali\u2019s shirt was torn, and his cap was gone. Hamid opened his mouth to apologize, but what came out instead was,<\/p>\n

\u201cJust admit that you stole her. That\u2019s all I want. I just want to hear the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ali\u2019s eyes flashed and his hands balled into fists, but only for an instant. The anger drained from his face, and he looked at the floor. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew that you wanted her. You asked me what I thought of her. I had never really noticed her. I knew how shy you were, and that you would never talk to her on your own. So I went to talk to her on your behalf, to tell her of your interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid let out a deep, shaky breath. He felt he might cry. Just to hear the truth from his brother\u2019s lips was such a vindication.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t expect her to be so captivating,\u201d Ali went on. \u201cI found out she could speak three languages, could tell a good joke, and had been volunteering at the hospital, reading books to sick kids, since she was fifteen. I fell in love. Look, you had never even spoken to her. I… I justified it to myself. I told myself you wouldn\u2019t care that much, that there were plenty of other women.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no other women,\u201d Hamid said. \u201cNo one else is remotely interested in me. Women avoid me like smallpox, and you know why? Because Hala was the one meant for me. She was my qadar<\/em>. You stole my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toxic<\/h2>\n

\u201cOh, stop it,\u201d Jean said harshly. Hamid hadn\u2019t realized she was following the conversation. \u201cDo you have any idea how idiotic that is? What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid pointed to himself. \u201cMe? Hamid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHamid,\u201d Jean repeated. \u201cLet me tell you something. You might be the most visually striking man I\u2019ve ever seen in my life. I seriously don\u2019t know that I\u2019ve ever seen a more handsome man. Even more than your brother. I mean, I can see that y\u2019all are identical, but he\u2019s a little too straight laced, while you got this whole Marlboro man thing going on, which is cute. You know why women avoid you? It\u2019s not because your brother married your one true love, or any such treacly nonsense. Do you know why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUhh…\u201d Hamid was still trying to process Jean\u2019s comment about his appearance. \u201cNo. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you\u2019re a jerk. You got a chip on your shoulder the size of Texas. You\u2019re bitter, angry, self-pitying and generally pathetic. I don\u2019t care how handsome you are. Even if I was your age, and I met you, I wouldn\u2019t touch you with a bee pole. You\u2019re toxic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you,\u201d she went on, pointing at Ali. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAli.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAli. Tell him the whole truth about your wife. Go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour wife – Hala was it? Hamid here thinks she\u2019s an angel. Flawless, like the Hope Diamond. That\u2019s because he doesn\u2019t know her the way you do. You need to disabuse him of that idiocy. Tell him the sordid details. I get that she\u2019s your wife, but he needs to hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sordid Truth<\/h2>\n

Ali nodded slowly. \u201cShe, uhh… You won\u2019t repeat this, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Hamid said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe picks her nose. Right in front of me. It\u2019s really disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid stared at his brother. \u201cNo way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. She doesn\u2019t like to pray, I have to cajole her to do any salat whatsoever. We fight about it all the time. She\u2019s a terrible cook.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the home cooked dishes you always send me on our birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat you\u2019ve never acknowledged or thanked me for? Catered. She leaves her dirty clothes on the bedroom floor, uses too much makeup, doesn\u2019t throw out old food until it molds, her father is the biggest jerk you\u2019ve ever met in your life, he calls me Tinker Bell because I don\u2019t do any sports. Hala doesn\u2019t always brush her teeth, so her breath stinks in the morning, she -\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he gets the point,\u201d Jean interrupted.<\/p>\n

Hamid was shocked. \u201cBut…\u201d he stammered. \u201cWhy do you love her then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cS\"Imaginary<\/a>ome days I don\u2019t know if I do. But then she tells me about someone she helped at the hospital. Or I come home from a hard day and she puts an arm around me and kisses my cheek. Or I see her down on the floor, playing with the kids, all of them happy. And I remember that this is the reality of love. It\u2019s difficult, messy, and imperfect. But it\u2019s also sweet. Ultimately it\u2019s a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you get it now, Hamid?\u201d Jean said. She angled the burner slightly and pulled gently on the vent line. \u201cYou never loved the real Hala at all. You fell in love with a fiction you created. Real women are problematic. You have to be patient and kind. You have to let go of ego. And you know what? The world is full of real women, waiting for a good man to love them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ali put a hand on Hamid\u2019s shoulder. \u201cBakhana ghwaram warwara. I\u2019m sorry. I shouldn\u2019t have gone after Hala. I did you wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo…\u201d Hamid breathed deeply, then let it out. \u201cI\u2019m the one who\u2019s sorry. I\u2019ve been so stupid. I\u2019m starting to understand. So, so stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust never mention any of the things I told you,\u201d Ali said. \u201cNot a word. Or I\u2019m a dead man.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bargain<\/h2>\n

\u201cListen boys,\u201d Jean said. \u201cWe\u2019re almost down. The ground crew says the police are waiting to question you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my God,\u201d Ali said. \u201cI could lose my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid shrugged. \u201cI understand, Miss Jean. I want you to know how grateful I am to you. You saved me, and I\u2019ll never forget it. Not only that. You\u2019re so patient and wise. You\u2019ve changed my life. I\u2019m so sorry for the trouble I caused.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jean\u2019s eyes softened, and she sighed. \u201cListen. Maybe there\u2019s a way I could avoid pressing charges.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d Ali said. \u201cAnything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won’t be able to continue giving rides today. You\u2019ve damaged my business and reputation. You cost me a lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cName your price.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFive thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDone.\u201d Ali stood and extended his hand, and Jean shook it. \u201cI can transfer it to you right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I can\u2019t help, right?\u201d Hamid said. \u201cI could chip in two hundred dollars maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ali waved. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid stood and saw that they had arrived at the ground, or several feet above it. A huge crowd was gathered all around, with several police officers at the front. Hala was there as well, with the kids. She looked stricken and pale.<\/p>\n

Hamid descended the ladder on shaky legs. A man he did not know stepped forward and supported him. Ali went to his family, who embraced him. The strange thing was that Hamid wasn\u2019t jealous. He didn\u2019t look at Hala and see the most beautiful woman in the world, as he had for most of his life. Instead he saw an ordinary woman. He realized, incredibly, that he was happy for Ali. All his envy and anger were gone.<\/p>\n

SubhanAllah.<\/p>\n

Jean explained to the cops that they weren\u2019t needed. It had been a simple case of vertigo. The passenger lost his balance and fell over the edge. The cops looked unconvinced, but they took a report and departed.<\/p>\n

Judge People or Love Them<\/h2>\n

\u201cHamid,\u201d Hala demanded. \u201cIs that true? You lost your balance? It wasn\u2019t… something else?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ali answered quickly. \u201cThat\u2019s what it was. You know he can\u2019t handle heights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hala threw her hands out. \u201cThen why did he go up in a balloon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was stupid of me,\u201d Hamid admitted.<\/p>\n

People pressed in around them, asking questions, or clapping Hamid on the back. He didn\u2019t want to talk. He recovered his messenger bag, which had been heavily trampled. As he turned to leave, a strong hand gripped his shoulder. It was Jean. Hamid faced her, meeting her intense, still slightly angry gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne,\u201d said the pilot with the iron hands. She held up a finger. \u201cYou can judge people, or you can love them. It\u2019s hard to do both.\u201d This statement hit Hamid like a bullet, and he rocked back on his heels. Suddenly his entire life, his opinions about people, his attitude toward his brother – everything – was cast into sharp relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo.\u201d Jean held up a second finger. \u201cWhen we judge others, we\u2019re usually just judging ourselves.\u201d A second bullet, fired into the heart of his insecurities about his own self-worth. \u201cI gave you back your life today,\u201d the pilot concluded. \u201cGo and live it with love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid nodded silently, and turned away. Together with Ali\u2019s family he pushed his way through the crowd, and exited the park.<\/p>\n

Generalizations<\/h2>\n

In the parking lot, Hamid and Ali embraced, then Hamid went down on one knee and hugged the kids.<\/p>\n

Hala beamed. \u201cThis is wonderful to see. And all it took was you almost dying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid stood. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSay alhamdulillah,\u201d Ali suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlhamdulillah for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the way,\u201d Hala said. \u201cThere\u2019s something I\u2019m not supposed to tell you, but I think you might like to know. Do you know Esin, my old friend from school?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid nodded. \u201cMm-hm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe always asks about you. Are you still single, what\u2019s your work, what are your hobbies, that kind of thing. I think if you were to talk to her father, it would not be unwelcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid frowned. \u201cShe asks about me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, why not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI… I mean. That\u2019s surprising. But I don\u2019t want an Afghan girl. I want a convert.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hala raised an eyebrow. \u201cOkay. But why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell… It\u2019s just that the converts are sincere. Afghan girls are materialis -\u201d He froze, realizing that he was doing it again. Judging people. SubhanAllah, Jean was right. His entire worldview was tainted from top to bottom.<\/p>\n

\u201cLa hawla wa la quwwata illa billah,\u201d Ali muttered. \u201cHere we go again with the crazy assumptions and generalizations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid waved his hands. \u201cYou\u2019re right, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hala was visibly annoyed. \u201cYou know what? Esin has a law degree but she gave up corporate law to work as a public defender, because she cares about people. And I\u2019ll tell you something about convert sisters. Many of them are amazing, but most of them are carrying baggage. And not just one suitcase. Whole steamer trunks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe means,\u201d Ali broke in, \u201cthat people are people. This whole narrative you have going of, I can only love this person, I can\u2019t love that person, these people are shallow, those people are angels – it\u2019s all nonsense. Human beings don\u2019t come in bunches like grapes. We\u2019re all individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid rubbed his forehead. \u201cI have a lot to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blueberries<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s your car?\u201d Ali asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut of commission. I took the bus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll take you home. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid took a step, and a wave of vertigo rocked him. It was just hitting him that if Jean\u2019s reflexes had been a split second slower, he would be a pile of broken bones and splattered brain matter right now. Or he could just as easily have sent Ali over the edge, widowing Hala and leaving the children without a father. His vision grew gray, and he swayed on his feet. Ali leaped forward and caught him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re in shock,\u201d Ali said. He helped Hamid to a green SUV and sat him on the bumper. \u201cLet me get you some water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Blueberries\"<\/a>\u201cIt\u2019s alright. I have something in my bag.\u201d Opening it, Hamid took out the box of blueberries. They were half crushed and dripping juice, and had made a mess in the bag. He popped a few into his mouth, not caring. They were as sweet as a Mexican sunrise. The flavor burst on his tongue, confirming that he was indeed still alive. He ate more, his hands shaking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose look disgusting,\u201d Ali commented. \u201cThey\u2019re smashed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood things are sometimes difficult, messy and imperfect,\u201d Hamid said between bites. \u201cBut they\u2019re still sweet. Your words, remember? Glorious and sweet and beautiful. I never thought I would eat anything again. I thought I was dead.\u201d His lower lip trembled and he pressed a shaking, blueberry-stained hand to his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, it\u2019s okay.\u201d Ali put an arm around Hamid\u2019s shoulders. \u201cAllah decrees and does what He wills. It wasn\u2019t your time yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid nodded and held the blueberries out. \u201cEat some.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they\u2019re gross.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJean said I\u2019m more handsome than you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ali laughed. \u201cGet in the car, bro. I think you\u2019re going to be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE END<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reader comments and constructive criticism are important to me, so please comment!<\/em><\/p>\n

See the\u00a0Story Index<\/a><\/strong> for Wael Abdelgawad’s other stories on this website.<\/p>\n<\/a>\n

Wael Abdelgawad’s novels – including Pieces of a Dream, The Repeaters and Zaid Karim Private Investigator – are available in ebook and print form on his author page at Amazon.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Related:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Uber Tales: A Driver’s Journal<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n