At the airport, after completing all formalities, Rafiq had been waiting to board his flight at a designated spot for the departing passengers. Ajiz sat next to him. He had decided to travel to Medina with Rafiq on business purpose. He was going to hire Rafiq for his jewellery store. After ensuring his employment, he would go to Mecca for umrah. As he helped this helpless Rohingya youth, a sense of divine joy filled his heart. If he could arrange an employment for him in Saudi Arabia, it would save at least one life from the horrible situation in Myanmar.

Through the huge glass window of the lounge, Rafiq stared at the plane that would carry him a thousand mile flying over thousands of feet in the sky. He was amazed by the wit of the human race. He had conquered the sky, but he could not conquer his own self. What kind of progress was that? Sitting next to him, Ajiz told Rafiq to change the SIM card of his mobile. This reminded Rafiq that he wanted to talk to his parents using for the last time before he left the country.

In the meantime, in his hut Rahim was contemplating the miserable condition of the Rohingya Muslims. He tried to speculate how it would all end. Karim was busy picking potatoes from the field adjacent to their home. Earlier, he had placed a tin-shed over some bamboos so that it could be used as a kitchen in place of the burnt down kitchen. Later, he would rebuild the entire kitchen with canes and bamboos. Kulsum and Hajera were busy cooking under the shed of the newly built kitchen.

As he looked through the window, Rahim found the scorching sun outside his hut quite painful for his eyes. His white underwear under his armpits was already drenched in sweat. Usually at this time of the year, the temperature was not this high around ten in the morning. Instead of spending time lazily, he stood up and decided to help his son in the field. As he was about to get up, his mobile phone on the bed began ringing. Seeing Rafiq’s number, very swiftly he picked up the mobile, and said, “Yes Rafiq, how are you? Finally, we’ve heard from you. It has been quite some time.”

“Dad, I think of you all the time. I don’t feel like calling you because I’m afraid I might get bad news.”

“Life is full of troubles. Life cannot go on if we’re afraid of the troubles. Now tell me, when are you travelling to Saudi Arabia?”

“I’m at the airport waiting to board my flight. Ajiz Mohammad is also with me. He’ll also travel to Medina with me.”

“We can never repay the debt we owe to Ajiz. Give the mobile to him. I’d like to talk to him.”

Taking the mobile in his hand, Ajiz said, “Yes uncle, how are you?”

“The situation here in Arakan is very fluid. People are no longer human beings like the way they used to be. What you’re doing for Rafiq, we can never repay the debt. We pray that Almighty accepts all your prayers. Let me know if you need woods for your business. You don’t have to pay. I’ll arrange it for you.”

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“Uncle, we can talk about business later sometime. If we remain alive, we’ll have plenty of time for business. Over there, after the incident in Maung Dao, the situation has taken such a violent turn that I believe Rohingyas won’t be able to live safely in that country any longer.”

“You’re right. Nowadays in Arakan, Rohingyas have become the public enemy number one. Anyway, don’t worry about it. Please arrange a good job for my son in Saudi Arabia. Rest is in the hands of the Almighty.”

“Don’t worry about it. Once we reach there, we will contact you. They’re telling us to board the plane, so we must say bye now.”

“Alright, stay well.”

When Ajiz returned the cell phone to Rafiq, he bade goodbye to his father and quickly hung up before heading to board the plane.

Because of the rush, Rafiq could not talk to the other members of his family. Rahim beckoned to everyone to come to his room. Hajera Begum had been eagerly waiting to talk to his son but fate did not give her the opportunity or the time. She wiped her eyes with the end of her saree. When she asked Rahim Mollah about her son, he told her not to worry about him. Ajiz had given him his words that in Saudi Arabia, he would arrange a very good job for him. Everyone in Rafiq’s family was relieved to hear this. Finally, they had at least one good news. In pitch dark, even the light of the firefly seems like a huge source of light. The atmosphere in Rahim’s hut was pretty much like that. Only a couple of days earlier, thousands of rowdy people wanted to burn down their home. If Lee had not intervened by sending the security forces, everyone in the Mollah family would’ve been burnt alive. Considering what had happened that day, Karim felt like he should convey the good news to Rafiq’s wife. But before he could press the button of his mobile, another incident took place. Suddenly Kulsum ran out of the hut. Everyone could hear her throwing up in the yard. They were all struck by a question. “Was Kulsum expecting?” The smile in Karim’s face confirmed what they had suspected. Hajera took Kulsum to the washing spot in order to clean her up. Then everyone followed the two to her hut, and began giving advice to Kulsum who was by then in her bed. But instead of being inspired or encouraged, Kulsum was depressed. It was not clear why. When Hajera Begum asked, she would not respond. For a while she kept staring through the open window without uttering a word. Finally, she said, “The dark world we live in, how safe is it for my child?”

None said anything for they didn’t know what to say. In a speechless state, everyone stared at Kulsum. Her question had pointed out to everyone in the hut a very unpleasant truth.

Quietly, Karim was talking to Su, standing in a corner of their yard. Karim could tell that Su had got the news of Rafiq’s journey to Saudi Arabia. So, Karim did not talk about it with her. Su could not hide her sense of relief and also the pain inside her. Su struggled to suppress the noise of sobbing. Karim searched for words to console her. Suddenly, a noise of chaos interrupted Karim’s thoughts. He said goodbye to Su and quickly approached the source of the chaos.

Hamid’s seven-year-old daughter arrived with another bad news. When everyone was busy with Kulsum in Rahim’s hut, Anis’ youngest son had been on his way to the market along their teak grove when he saw two strangers cutting trees in their grove. He ran back home to inform his father about it. Both father and son hurried out of their home to stop those people. Anis had a stick in his hand while his son followed him. Both were struck by unknown fear. The assailants didn’t look bothered by Anis and his son’s presence even when they saw Anis and his son approaching them. They kept hitting the trees with their axes. After arriving at the scene, Anis held from behind the raised axe of one of the men and said, “Who are you people, and why are you cutting my trees?”

It seemed like the two men were ready for this moment. They were not nervous at all. The man with the axe had his axe released, and said, “Move away or else you might get hurt.”

“Why will I move away? First let me know who you people are.”

Then the other man lowered his axe, put his hand on Anis’ chest, and pushed him hard. He said, “In this country, you people are outsiders. This is our country. Therefore, the teak grove belongs to us.”

In order to help his father, Fajal raised his hand up to his chest and pushed the man who looked like a Chinese with a flat nose, round face and silky hair. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a dozen men appeared and surrounded Anis and his son. Anis cried at Fajal, “Run! They had been waiting for us! It’s a trap.”