In the Shade of Sidrat. Maryam Nashkhoeva
started speaking, and that is already a gift for all of us! We are here for you; we are a family! I will be your father, if you allow me! – Akhmed said, hugging him tightly.
But Adam didn’t hear anything… He squatted down, covered his face with his hands, and quietly moaned, trying not to cry.
Everyone stood up from their seats and hugged him tightly. They felt his pain, as almost everyone in this basement had lost a loved one. The next day, from early morning, the bombings restarted. Planes dropped bombs on the city one after another. This time the children were very scared.
– Don’t be afraid, it’s very far from us, it will be all over soon, – Sonya wiped away her tears and spoke to her children.
They were crying from both fear and thirst. The children were thirsty, but there wasnot a single drop of water. Sonya was rocking them in her arms, trying to distract them, and they fell asleep to the sounds of exploding bombs. Magomed and Makka huddled close to Markha, closing their eyes, only occasionally flinching from the strong blasts. Vera wrapped her mother in a warm blanket and was softly singing her favorite song “Tenderness” by Maya Kristalinskaya.
Akhmed and Adam were sitting silently by the basement stairs, guarding the women and children. They tried not to show their inner fear, on the contrary, they tried to cheer everyone up. But it didn’t work out very well. Everyone was very tense, thinking that this was the end. After a few hours, everything quieted down, and no sound could be heard anymore.
– While it’s quiet, I’ll get water for the kids. There was a little snow last night, we’ll melt it, – Akhmed said, hurrying up the stairs.
– Don’t go anywhere, the kids are asleep. It’s dangerous outside, shelling can start at any moment, – Sonya said in a worried voice.
– Don’t worry, I’ll be quick in the courtyard and back. It won’t take long. We can endure, but the children can’t. And you can’t hide from death anywhere, – Akhmed smiled in response.
– I’ll go with you, – Adam said.
– We were missing you, stay in charge until I return, – Akhmed said, patting Adam on the shoulder. He swiftly lifted the basement cover and went out into the yard. Everyone nervously waited for Akhmed’s return. An hour, two… silence… Markha became nervous.
– Adam, did it really snow yesterday? Maybe he went to look for water? There are still citizens in the next block who have not left the city. Maybe he is there… or, as usual, he is helping them, – Markha said anxiously.
– Aunt Markha, it didn’t snow yesterday. When leaving, he whispered to me that he was going to look for water. But don’t worry, he may be staying with the neighbors. He’s sure to come back, – said Adam.
– Okay, I hope so. May the Almighty protect him for us, – Markha said.
More than three hours passed, but Akhmed did not return.
– I can’t wait anymore; I must find him. He might have got in trouble and need help! – Adam announced, without waiting for an answer. He rushed out of the basement. Upon entering the yard, Adam looked around. It was dark and quiet, and the only sound was dogs’ barking coming from a neighbouring
street. There was no snow, but the ground was muddy and slushy, and a piercing January wind was blowing his curly hair. He instinctively headed towards the gate, and over there, behind the gate, he found Akhmed lying on the ground with two buckets in his hands and a bullet hole in his head. His eyes were half-open, and his face wore that same kind smile that had warmed everyone during these harsh months.
Akhmed was lying in a huge puddle of water and his clothes were wet. He had finally found water and was carrying it to the children and women. Fatal sniper shots at his head and heart killed Akhmed. Bodies of other people killed by snipers were often found on the streets. Adam fell to his knees beside him, lifted him by the shoulders, and hugged him tightly, saying:
– I lost my father for the second time… forgive me for not lying here instead of you.
There was no time to be wasted – he had to bury Akhmed before darkness. Adam picked him up and carried him to his brother’s yard, where the others were buried. An hour later, Adam was sitting by his grave reciting a prayer, when suddenly lost consciousness.
When Adam came to, it seemed like an eternity had passed. He was trembling with cold, but then, gathering his wits, he recalled that they needed water! He remembered what had caused Akhmed ‘s death. It was already dark outside, and he quickly got up and headed towards the gate. There were the two buckets Akhmed had brought, and there was a little water in them.
– Praise be to God! There’s still a little left… I don’t know where to get water from. Oh, Almighty! Let it snow today, I can’t bear any other losses! Let the kids not suffer, they’re absolutely innocent, – Adam looked up at the sky and prayed.
Having collected the remaining dirty water, he slowly headed back to the house. Not knowing how to tell the others what had happened, and silently picking up words, Adam descended into the basement. The women and children were sitting there waiting. When Magomed saw Adam returning all alone, he jumped up from his seat with tears in his eyes and whispered:
– Dad will come back, right?
– Of course, Magomed. Dad will definitely come back, – Adam replied.
He didn’t want to cause the boy the same pain his own father’s death had brought him. Not today. Let there still be hope for him. He will wait for this reunion.
Markha understood everything right away from Adam’s tearful eyes… from his bloodstained clothes… and from his treacherously trembling hands… She slowly got up, walked over to him, and embraced him fiercely.
– Stay strong. You’re so young and you’ve already been through so much. Now is not the time for tears, no matter how much we might want to. The children shouldn’t know about this yet. Thank you for burying him. May the Almighty have mercy on him and forgive his sins! If something happens to us too, protect the kids, they are our future, our hope, – Markha whispered to him.
These words made Adam even more upset: he remembered his mother, the last time she hugged him, her gentle hands and loving gaze… and tears flowed from his big gray eyes. In this difficult moment for Markha, she had to support the boy, forgetting about her own grief, so that he wouldn’t break, so that he could continue to fight for himself, for the children and women, those he was responsible for from that day on as the only adult man.
– Aunt Sonya, give the kids some water. I hope there will be enough for tomorrow. Let’s wait for the snow, – Adam said.
Sonya covered her face with her hands and cried.
– What is happening in this world, when will this hell end… how can we go on without you, Akhmed! – she repeated again and again.
Vera and Alla were also crying quietly. Another difficult day and an equally difficult night. No one closed their eyes, only the children were sleeping soundly. The night was quiet, without explosions or gunfire. The next morning, fluffy white snow, everyone had been waiting for, starting falling from the sky.
– Stay here, Adam, I’m older than you and you have to listen to me. I’ll quickly gather snow for melting and come back while it’s still quiet, – Markha said in a commanding tone.
Then she quickly went out with two small baskets. Sonya gave everyone the leftovers: pieces of dry bread, a little water, and a jar of pickles found in the house. It was particularly cold that day, and the children were wrapped in warm blankets. Adam lit a small fire with the remnants of their supplies to warm the women and children a little anyhow. Then Markha ran into the basement, panting. She wanted to say something but was out of breath. It was clear that she had been running.
– Get ready! They’ve arrived! I caught up with their car, – she said quickly.
– Who