On The Bosporus

Ameen took Petra to many mosques in Istanbul. In fact in this city there is a mosque at every corner. But the greatest of all is the Blue Mosque. That is what all the people say. So they both wanted to see that before going with the ship down the Bosporus. The building itself is indeed amazing, the six high minarets and the cupola of the mosque shows the power that the Ottoman Empire had. It was built by Sultan Ahmed, finished in 1616, that is why it is known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque too. Its decoration is made of blue mosaic, and when the sun shines on it, it all glitters in a strange blue, which, combined with the blue of the sea, makes it endless. I think the empire of God, the life after is something like that too.
But all she knew about mosques fell into pieces when they entered in the orchard of the great building. All kind of sellers were there, you could have buy anything from books, carpets to baklava or cheap toys for children. It was a huge crowd, all kind of people talking in all the languages of the world. It was a total chaos, the turn of Babel itself.
"What the hell is going on here?" - she asked.
"I do not know, but I do not like it at all."
"Well, if we came till here, at least lets go in ad see what is inside."
They left their shoes at the entrance, where there was a sea formed of shoes. The mosque was full of people, just like the orchard. They saw some locals praying, they were about 20, but the tourists about 200, walking all around the mosque, looking at everything and taking pictures.
"Ameen, look what they do. It is not fair. Some of the women does not have covered arms, covered head. And when a Muslim is praying, nobody has the right to stand in front of him/her, it is like cutting the relation between God and him/her, that is what I read."
"It is true hayaty. This is no longer a mosque, but a park where everybody can do what ever they want. We should go."
"It reminded me of something. You know, we have a holiday one week before Easter, it is when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and all the people welcomed him with flowers. Then He went in the church what was full of sellers and throw their tables and said: "My father`s house is not a market. Leave." It is the same here. I can not believe how the local authorities let this happen."
"It is all about the money hayaty. All about the money."
"Yes, you are right. We should just leave."


After they were finally out from that crowded bazaar called the Blue Mosque, they walked at the seaside because they wanted to cross the Bosporus. They both had to vanish from their mind all they saw at the mosque. It was a huge profanation of a sacre place. So they were thinking of other things.
"I always wanted to be in two places in the same time. And now it will be possible." - Petra said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in the middle of the Bosporus I will be in two places in the same time. I will be in Europe and Asia. It will be exciting."

Ameen smiled. He knew that in Petra`s mind was a huge mess, that she was very concerned about these two worlds she kept talking about. But as he was looking at her, he saw in her eyes that she was not really, truly from the world she said she was from. Her was sure that Petra would keep searching the answers she needed to find, that she would read and know many things even without his help. He felt that he did what he had to do, he made her understand that Islam is not terrorism, and in the same time, he made her understand that he did not want to change her either, did not want her to convert to Islam, he made her understand that for him she was the dream that came true, she was the princess from the fairy tale, she was the true mate. Simple and complicated, dreaming and wondering, as she was.

Petra stopped and looked at him. She had sadness in her eyes. Ameen knew that look, and was sure she would ask something again.
"What is it hayaty? What came into your mind again?"
"You would never go to war, right?"
Ameen smiled and said:
"I know this sentence. Ummi told it to Babba, and almost every Arab woman tells it to their husband. No hayaty, I will not go to any war. I will not put bombs on me and detonate planes, crowded places, kill people. Extremists do that. Shiite Muslims. You know, there are only three countries in the world where Shiite Muslims are in majority. Iran, Bahrain and Iraq. We are calm people. All we want is to live in peace and have normal life. There are people and people all around the world. You know me, you know who I am and what I want. Now can we make your dream come true, and be in two places in the same time?"
"Yes, lets go."

They got in a little ship and started their journey on the Bosporus. It was amazing. The sun was shining above them, they were smiling and their joy and happiness melted into the eternity of the sea. The water was blue and was glittering. Just like their eyes.
"I think we are in the middle now." - Ameen said.

"So we are in Europe and Asia, on my continent and yours. In two worlds in the same time. And we are holding each other. And nothing is happening. It is possible. We can do it. I am sure we can do this forever." - she said and the whole ship, the whole sea and two continents were fulfilled with her laugh.