Chapter 32

Haidar Jega Never in my life had I imagined that I would lose Lailah to death. All I thought was that she wouldn't just love me. And then I'll have to forget about her. But death?, I never imagined it. I tried my best not to cry while we performed her jannazah (Funeral prayer). Imam Kasim stood in front of the body with a crowd of men at the back. I fought back my tears but I wasn't strong enough, I was weak and they came flooding out without sobs. My eyes were fixated on her wrapped body. I wished I could unwrap her and slap her real hard on the face so that she'll wake up. But then, I just had to accept reality. Lailah Dawud Khalid was no more and this was the end of her story. When the funeral prayer was done, four hefty men picked up Lailahs body. They placed it on their shoulders and put her in a Hilux which was already parked outside. "Imam Kasim, I will sit at the back of the Hilux along with her," I said to Imam Kasim who nodded pitifully. I climbed the Hilux along with