Chapter2

Café in Istana

"I don't know what it is but this place feels so familiar to me," Sara said as she sipped

her coffee in the café in Istana outside the Arabian Capital.

"The place is amazing the architecture may be dated but it seems so natural," Jena said

as she sketched some of the local houses.

"You see arches and designs and I see passion and silent beauty," Sara said as she

started to write.

"A poet and an architect the perfect combination for us don't you think. Two girls

traveling the world for the first time and we are fortunate enough to see it through unclouded

eyes because we are artists," Jena said laughing making Sara laugh as well.

In the corner of the Café, Sayid sat watching the two American girls and smiled widely

as their laughter was contagious but also something about them seemed so familiar. And

though they wore Hijabs he could still tell they weren't from the Middle East. Suddenly

a riot broke out in the street and people were fighting. Sayid wasn't to surprised the

political unrest in Iran and Iraq was legendary and even when to the world they were

at peace inside their own borders small wars still ravaged the land. Sayid quickly

stood up and feeling for the girls ran up to them, "Come with me it isn't going to

be safe," Sayid said looking both girls in the eyes. Both girls though frightened nodded and

slammed their books into their bags and left with Sayid.

"You'll be safe here till the streets are again safe," Sayid said as they all went inside his

home. The living room was simple with a couch and oak cabinet that housed the tv. Sara and

Jena took a seat on the couch as Sayid went to heat up some tea.

"Thank you for the recuse," Jena said smiling and offering her hand, "I'm Jena and this is

Sara," she said as Sara offered her hand as well.

"I am Sayid," Sayid replied shaking both girls hands. "You don't have to wear those in

here my wife is with her family in the capital for a few days so no one will care," Sayid said

pointing to the hijabs. Both girls graciously took of the head wear and sat down on the

couch as Sayid poured them some tea.

"Where did you learn to speak English so well," Sara asked?

"Many places," Sayid replied not being to specific, "So what brings two young,

beautiful American girls to the desert," Sayid asked?

"We start college in the fall and Sara and I thought it might help if we saw some of the

world before we became contributing member. Sara's going to be a writer/teacher and I am

going to be an Architect and since we are both artists we wanted to see what made this region

so enticing," Jena explained.

"Found your answer," he asked?

"The moment I stepped off the plane," Sara said smiling widely. "My mother said this

land created people of truth and that it was in the utter simpleness of that truth that made this

land so enticing. She was right," Sara explained.

"Ok that just flew over my head," Jena explained. "I didn't know Shannon knew

anyone from here," Jena asked?

"What little she told me about my father is that he came from here. She said he saw in

her what no man had ever seen in her before," Sara explained and Sayid looked shocked for

before him sat his very own daughter.

"You ok. You look like someone just ripped your chest open," Jena asked?

"It was your words they took me by surprise. What is your mother like," Sayid asked

Sara?

"A motorcycle without breaks. She runs a huge travel agency and actually likes it.

Our mothers met when they were stranded on an island for five years. They have been best

friends my whole life like Jena and I. Clair and my mom run the agency together and enjoy it to

much," Sara said laughing and Jena joined in. Sayid listened to an announcement being made

on bull horns and shook his head.

"I guess you will be by guest tonight. No one is allowed back in the streets till morning

and if you are caught you will be taken to jail even tourists and that is not a place you want to

go," Sayid said.

"I'm sorry," Sara said.

"Your mother was right the simple truth of this land is what tears it apart. But do not

worry you and Jena can have my bed and I will sleep out here on the couch," Sayid explained

as he went into the kitchen to make diner.

"No way. Its your house and we may be guests but its not by choice and uprising is

causing it there fore Jena and I will take the living room. We can throw some cushions down

on the ground and it will be like it was when we were little and our moms took us camping,"

Sara explained taking a knife and chopping some vegetables.

"I wouldn't fight with her Sayid. I grew up with her and have yet to see someone

besides her mother win a fight with her," Jena tuned in as she got plates out and lined them

up to have the sandwiches and salad put on them. Sayid smiled widely Sara had inherited

Shannon's wondrous spirit that he had fallen in love with on the Island.