Public Enemy... I stopped counting

[Saajida Al-Hasan]

It had been one of those weeks where Saajida just needed to get out of the house. None of her walks seemed to be bringing her any closer to finding sanity. Not since the dumpster incident. Saajida was on edge and was making a note of where she walked. Though she was getting the inkling that she was being followed and headed towards one of the security officers. She could see them and they could see her, but they were clear across the other side of the park. Watching from a distance, that was just their way of things. Saajida usually appreciated it, until now.

With her cellphone battery dead and no way to contact anyone she could only move towards the security team. Though she soon found her path was blocked. Who was this person and why was he following her? Her hijab was around her neck, more like a scarf. She'd learned the hard way after getting lost it was a bad idea. Well by hard way, she meant her husband taking it off and suggesting she not wear it "naql" (Move) she wasn't used to giving commands or instructions but she was scared, and this person was in her way.

Malachi Ben-Gidon | feel free to have kalila with saajida if you want and sorry its such a rough start.

ulla

[Malachi Ben-Gidon]

Malachi was tired of being diplomatic, he was struggling with the concept and the last meeting he had sat through he had spent it imagining all the different ways he could eliminate the problem. The problem being that person sat in front of him, intent on having him bend to their will when frankly Malachi just shook his head and refused. Diplomacy was a nightmare and frankly made his job a lot worse or in his head it did. He worked for Mossad, he solved problems the only way he knew how with force.

It wasnt that he enjoyed it he was just good at it, sitting and trying to work out a problem in his head without strangling someone. It was a new skill set and one he was trying to get to grips with every day though he knew he had orders to look into this new Palestinian diplomat. It was a number one priority and through some snooping and back channel bribes he had found out where one of the wives was going to be, the first one if his information was correct.

That in itself wasnt something Malachi was familiar with, one wife was more than enough for him. Two or more Lizzie’s and he wasnt sure what he would do. Still Malachi had managed to escape the confines of his office to get out to the park, he didnt need a detail as such as really anyone who thought he was just a diplomat would get a shock. His driver just waited at the entrance to the park and that was annoying in itself.

To him it felt like his freedom had been taken in just one assignment but however long he was assigned there he might as well do the job right. Entering the park dressed in his work suit Malachi could see the security officers at the other side of the park, honestly was this how her husband let her life. Out in the open so anyone could go after her, he could easily count the ten ways he could have taken her out already though he continued to walk towards her. His information told him she was more of the old ways though when he saw her hijab around her neck more like a scarf, well it wasnt exactly the picture he had formed of her.

“a'īd min fadlik!” (Please say that again?) Malachi asked as he smiled almost sweetly, “I believe al-ma'dirah, is the correct thing to ask a stranger Saajida. How are you?” (Excuse me) Malachi added as he simple stood out of her way but would keep a pace with her. He did nothing to attract the attention of the security officers, if anything it might have looked like old friends or so he hoped it would.

Tag: Saajida Al-Hasan

(Thanks, will see what I can do.)

[Kalila Al-Hasan]

Kalila had been caught by a vendor in the park, 100% cashmere scarves which to her looked a little off that but the sign and the seller said it was. Who was she to question it really? Kalila stayed behind a few steps as she bought two scarves from the small stall. To anyone else they could have seen the cheap knock off version but to Kalila she trusted things and what people told her. It might have been half her wages from the vet’s clinic but Kalila was still in the beginning stages of understanding the money system.

She knew that since Saajida had gotten lost she hadn’t been exactly herself. Kalila had been mail ordered to help out with the family so in tagging along for the day she felt she was doing just that. If it made Saajida more comfortable then a walk in a park was an easy thing to do. Plus two of them couldn’t get too lost could they? After all they had a security thing with them though Kalila found they made her feel awkward so she was glad to see then a way off. She wasnt used to half of what happened in the family, eighteen when she married her life experience had been that of her family and one that didnt have money or standing.

So when Shaahir spoke to her family about the arrangement, they jumped at the chance while she was too naive to know what else there was. It was like finding her feet in a family again though she looked up to both Shaahir and Saajida all the same. It wasnt until she saw a man talking to Saajida that she hurried herself toward them. She wore her usual skinny jeans and blue top with her black jacket as she held the bag she had containing the scarves. It had been made clear to her that she had to be more like a westerner so she was attempting it as she left her Hijab at home. Kalila stood off to the side to give them a little privacy as she heard the Arabic spoken. The man knew Saajida’s name so he must be a friend she guessed as really what else was there in the world?

Tag: Saajida Al-Hasan

[Saajida Al-Hasan]

Saajida was far from dumb. In fact, despite being traditional and having no sense of direction, she was fairly smart. After all, she was studying to be a doctor and was in the beginning years of her doctorate degree. The Israeli accent laced in his Arabic. Saajida didn’t like being harassed and that’s exactly what he was going. Her eyes looked for Kalila who soon joined them.

Looping her arm through Kalila’s she steered her towards the security team. Saajida didn’t say a word to Malachi. There was little point. Telling Kalila what they were doing was also a bad idea. Saajida’s pace quickened. Anything to alert the security team at this point.

The Israeli made Saajida feel uncomfortable. She never allowed anyone to walk this close to her bar her husband the other wives. In fact, Saajida didn’t even associate with other men. That would probably be the biggest red flag her security team had at the moment.

Soon she saw a few of the detail coming down the hill. Arabic came from Jafar, Saajida’s guard. “You are both late. You have a flight to catch.” The others were not lingering far behind anymore. No, they were trying to be civil first but they would not going to endanger the wives. Taking her other hand Jafar placed himself between Malachi and Saajida as they headed towards the car.

Kalila’s detail reached for Kalila to take her hand. He whispered in her ear to just keep quiet and follow along. Saajida tried to instill confidence in Kalila. The third and fourth detail moved to engage with Malachi. “Sir, if you could. A word.” They were being civil and simply trying to start a simple conversation. Anything to get Saajida and Kalila out of the way.

Malachi Ben-Gidon | Kalila Al-Hasan

ulla

[Malachi Ben-Gidon]

Malachi watched the two women, honestly how Shaahir managed it he didnt know and didnt want to either. It was clear to see that Saajida was trying to steer the other wife toward the security team, what were the afraid of talking now? Well they weren’t exactly best friends sure but they could at least be civil without the requirement for security teams and so on. If he wanted them dead, he could have done that fifteen minutes ago and disappeared with no worry of retribution.

Malachi kept pace with the women as he heard the Arabic come from one of the guards. “Oh pitty, here was me thinking we could have had a nice working lunch in the spirit of diplomacy but as usual. Palestine cuts and runs.” He stated with a sigh, well he could at least make her feel bad for running off. A real plane or not he had no clue but it wasnt like Malachi had much else to do and anything that kept him from going back to the office he was grateful for. Even if it wasnt about to tell the wives that.

“Of course good sirs. I was just asking if the ladies would like lunch, all in the spirit of getting along. Public venue of course and you’re more than welcome to join us just to make sure the ladies are... safe.” Malachi added as he found himself still staring at the two women. Mostly to make them uncomfortable and take him up on the offer but still, if it worked it worked. “I might also give you some pointers regarding the distance between guard and the body they are guarding... all I’m saying is that there could have been a problem if I wasnt such a nice genuine person.” Malachi added grinning in that uncomfortable fashion, there was little relaxing about it.

After all smiling wasnt something Malachi often associated with work, no he was all business and gloom. Today he couldnt help but revel in the fact that maybe Shaahir’s wives weren’t as protected as he thought. Something to bring up later if the two spoke but for now, it was a simple observation. After all it might make his life more complicated if he had orders to kill one of them but where was the challenge in cake walk. “So what do we say to lunch and you can catch a later flight?” Malachi asked as he stared pasted the guard.

Tag: Saajida Al-Hasan

[Kalila Al-Hasan]

Kalila was glad to feel the familiar arm around hers, there was something about being close to Saajida that made her feel safe. The fact there was no response to the man made Kalila feel uncomfortable, she knew she was missing something but then what that could be. Well he seemed nice enough to her. It had to be a friend simply because he was walking to close and Kalila knew Shaahir was the only one to be able to do that.

The Arabic about a flight caused her to look confused. She had checked there was no business that day and she was with Saajida so if there was a flight she wasnt likely going. The business side was all Shaahir and Saajida, the finer points of diplomacy escaped her on the best days. She was too naive to see the politics that went into it all.

Kalila was used to the detail dragging her around though the whisper to do go along with things caused her to grin. She kept a hold of Saajida as being too far from her, no it wasnt right and something was wrong. The confidence that Saajida tried to instil worked to a point though when the fourth and third detail moved to intercept Malachi Kalila was worried. Had she got this completely wrong though the man was talking about lunch and diplomacy which was what the family did or rather two in the family.

Kalila wasnt entirely sure she understood it all yet, being nice to those who weren’t and not standing up to say something to them. Much safer she was at home for any meetings. “Saajida aren’t you hungry?” She asked her before looking at Malachi and changing her language to French in a hopes that the guy couldnt understand a word. “What trip are we taking?” Kalila asked, “What if Shaahir is mad we didnt meet with this man? It could look bad that we are ignoring him?” Kalila knew the rules but this, there wasnt a rule for this at all as she looked to Saajida for guidance.

Tag: Saajida Al-Hasan