True happiness

How is it that being alone in this world is so difficult? Is that because we have no one talk to or is it because we do not want to talk to others? What is it? Turns out confiding in someone is one of the most difficult things to do in one's life. Maybe we really aren't so lonely, maybe we simply do not want to open up to others. 

Therefore when we're cornering ourselves from others, it definitely means something's just not normal. And maybe the worst of it is when we block others from our lives people don't quite understand us and think we're just being scrubby. Being an extrovert I never had the opportunity to meet such people until I came across this guy called Iqbal. Once I was hanging out with some of my buddies at the university cafe, and suddenly my eyes fell on this lanky guy. By the look of his hair I thought he was a Japanese, but soon afterwards realized the Japanese don't have that stature.  

He looked drowned in such deep thought as if he wasn't living here and now. That moment I don't know why but I wanted to go up to him and ask him if I could sit on the vacant chair beside him. All of a sudden, without any preamble and circumlocution, he stood up and walked up to me. 

"Hello! Can I have a word with you please?" 

"Yes, sure", said I, recovering from my shock, and followed up him out the cafe. 

Outside it was quite sunny with no sign of showers. Seemed like a perfect day of reflection with a perfect someone, only the person I'm with isn't really the one I would want to be with in such a romantic weather. Though I still can't say a thing about the guy, and even it turned out he's a gay I couldn't be of any help. Tough luck buddy. 

The stranger asked me if I was okay if he lit up a cigarette. If I knew him I would have given him a hard time as it's quite clear that he would be at least 5 years younger than me. Still I almost yelled him, but then quickly checked myself and gave him my permission.  

" Why were you staring at me straight in the face?" said he, lighting up a Benson.  

" I don't know if you'd believe me, but I like observing random people. You looked drowned in thought, so I was trying to think what you were thinking so deeply about." said I. 

"What is it to you? You don't even know me, and even if you did you couldn't help me." he said. 

"You know what I think? I think you don't even ask people for help. You think the entire world is against you, and they don't give a hoot about you. There's a name for it you know. It's paranoia." 

"For a stranger you're quite frank, and thank you for being so. " 

"Pleasure. So you think you can tell me that problem of yours. Because as far as I'm concerned, you definitely do have something you're worried about." 

"Few seconds earlier you said I was paranoid, and I wouldn't ask people for help. Have you really been thinking so all this time?" 

"I just guessed so" 

"If I told you the reason why I'm so upset, i don't think you would have the same idea about me. In fact your confidence of being able to judge people can shatter forever. You think you can take it"

"Try me." said I. 

"Before I came to the cafe I committed my 100th murder. Each of the victims was young woman. First I stripped them naked, raped them, and then killed them in cold blood. So there you have it. Neither do I know how I confessed such a crime to you nor do I know if you even believed me." 

"I believe you alright. You don't seem the bluffing type to me at all. I'm just horrified and unable to say anything more." 

"Are you afraid that you're being asked to have tea with a killer? I'm not planning to kill you. No worries." 

"No I'm not afraid. But Mr what'syourname, what is your problem?"

"Sorry it's Iqbal. My problem is I want to repent to God and make amends for my sins. But I don't know if God would forgive me. And now that I confessed my sins to you I don't know if you'd report me to police." 

I violently shook my head, and looked at his face. Following the conventional wisdom I explored his dark eyes, and I saw sincerity. Our last prophet Muhammad (s) said: Regret is repentance. I shuddered when I thought about what he'd told me. But when someone repents it's as they have not committed the sin in the first place. 

"I would never report you. For people can't do more justice than God. And if you repentance is sincere, you have an easy account with Him."  

Iqbal started crying. The tears of happiness just rolled down his cheeks. It's as if 100 murders were 100 sacks of burden on his shoulders. Glory be to Him Who accepted those who returned to H

Reviews

[FaeryQueen]

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love your worrrrrds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo brilliant it issssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nahian Bin Asadullah]

Wow thanks! is it really that good though? :/

[FaeryQueen]

i loveed it! :)))

[Nahian Bin Asadullah]

Means a lot! I'll write more pieces soon in sha Allah, preferably short stories.

[FaeryQueen]

great! keep writing!

[GeekyGamer128]

I loved this. The story is powerful and it hooked me from the start. I enjoyed it very much.

[Marcella Bernadette]

Sorry, as a woman, rape creeps me out.

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

You are a good story teller.
Flow and plot is gripping and intriguing!

But Nahian, what I cannot digest is the part that even if paranoid, how can someone be burdened by regret and guilt after committing the same disgusting, inhumane crime for 100 times. Because if repentance had really any value to him then he would have come to senses after the 1st time itself.
I personally believe that God is merciful but humans tend to take Him for granted, like this Iqbal who expected forgiveness after his 100th TIME..!

[Nahian Bin Asadullah]

Thanks for the feedback, Jyoti! No if you notice the narrator, at first, thinks Iqbal was a paranoid man. But later he clarifies it with his confession of sins.

[Nahian Bin Asadullah]

As for the 100th sin/murder and what not, he just had the epiphany after committing so many sins. The guilt and regret was absent before.

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

Okay its clearer now. Paranoids can do anything. But why now, after so many murders..
But definitely a daring work by you in explaining the judgements of a criminal. Sorry can't make myself see him as human, but only a criminal.
Nice piece!

[Nahian Bin Asadullah]

I can absolutely understand why you feel the way you feel :)

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

:)…........

[Kay]

I liked the opening paragraph--it drew me in and made me continue reading because I related to it--I'm sure everyone can. Nice story! :)

[Nahian Bin Asadullah]

Thank you so much for the read and comment! :)

[Tom Ferlic]

Your opening paragraph is solid work. It drew me into the story and made me want to keep reading without thinking about anything else. It was like following a thought. The second paragraph is a little bit flat, especially when you begin with the research. I feel like you could have one sentence and scrap the rest of the paragraph starting with "When we block others..." Then instead of saying moody, give your time to really establish the narrator's voice here. "Iqbal was a scrub. Always sitting in the corner, mumbling to himself in that thin whispy way of his. Lips pressed so tightly together that..." Also it doesn't hurt to add a random detail in there are two about Iqbal. Then you seem to play it safe with the "beautiful girl." Really describe her and don't hold back. What is it that draws the narrator to her? Lastly why is Iqbal interesting to the narrator besides the fact that he's so reserved. There's a lot of potential here. Hope this helps man

[Nahian Bin Asadullah]

No really appreciate that, bro!
I can always change things around as it's work in progress. Your helpful feedback is precisely why I published it!