13 Boundaries of Tradition

Chapter 13

Boundaries of Tradition

Ahmed Farid was a fellow Algerian of French descent. But while Amina had spent her childhood in the bustling city of Ezzouar, Algiers, he had come from the ancient town of Constantine, Hamma.

The Cholera epidemic that had taken countless lives across North Africa had ravaged Constantine, Hamma. The deadly disease spread through polluted water and food, causing severe dehydration and diarrhea. The poor sanitation and health care conditions worsened the crisis.

Farid was a conservative and narrow-minded man who had always followed the traditional ways of dealing with such calamities. But his world shattered when his beloved younger sister contracted the disease, and he watched her perish in his arms. He was terrified that the disease had infected his parents and neighbors. The mere thought tormented him.

So when the Victorian scholarship opportunity came up, Ahmed Farid grabbed it and went to Harvard to study public health, defying his conservative upbringing.

Farid aimed to conduct epidemiological research, implement prevention strategies, and provide public health education for Constantine province, Hamma. But he struggled with conflicting emotions, torn between his sense of duty towards his family and community and his growing attraction to Amina.

Despite his determination to prioritize his responsibilities, his heart yearned for something more, something beyond the confines of tradition and duty.

Farid first noticed Amina when she dazzled everyone with her brilliant intellect, earning her a rare chance to present in a class of white students and lecturers. He saw her more closely when they met at the postal office to send letters.

Farid's letters contained public health tips that would improve the condition of Constantine province, Hamma. Meanwhile, Amina's letters gradually disclosed the truth about the three religions in Ezzouar, Algiers, to foster harmony.

Since then, he had decided to chase Amina and win her heart because he found her easy to converse with, based on their shared country and her modesty. But Amina had always rejected any admirer, and Farid was no different.

Even though Amina had gently shown her reluctance to his advances, he had firmly expressed that he was ready and willing to do anything to earn her love. To prove this, Ahmed Farid made it a point to come to the faculty of Divinity every day of the week. And to display his courtesy, he said he would only talk to Amina when she was available; he asked for her short time.

However, Amina observed that whenever she met him, he was traditional and narrow-minded, a complete contrast to her personality, and she found it funny how he assumed they would get along and match.

Amina was not unaware of his persistence as she had seen him for a whole month without fail. And most of the time, he would quietly watch her without bothering her, which Amina silently respected.

Still…, hmm.

So when Ahmed Farid saw Bayo conversing with Amina, a different thought crossed his mind, "They're having a deep discussion," He muttered this in an Algerian Arabic tongue, his face tense and his hand clenched.

Farid's remarkable stride, accentuated by his long legs and short torso, caught Bayo's attention as he approached. In a second, he stood in front of Bayo, towering and angry.

His tidy mustache and black beret were the most distinctive aspects of his appearance. Bayo felt a twinge of curiosity about what lay under the black beret, even though it had no relevance to him.

Farid shifted his gaze from Bayo to Amina and spoke in an Algerian Arabic tongue that Bayo couldn't understand. But from Farid's harsh tone and quick movements, Bayo could sense he was both furious and worried.

Bayo inferred that Farid's fury should have been directed at him, while his worry seemed more appropriate for Amina. And with this small deduction, he inferred what the guy said.

Amina stared at Farid with displeasure, "Farid, you know I can handle my situations, right?" She said this with slight irritation, hoping Farid wouldn't intimidate people.

Farid glanced at Bayo with a slight furrow in his brow, his gaze lingering on Bayo's unconventional hairstyle. His lips tightened imperceptibly, betraying his disapproval. "This fellow," he muttered under his breath, his tone tinged with a hint of disdain. "Quite the nuisance, isn't he?"

Amina shook her head impatiently, silently wishing Farid would drop his wariness and stiffness, feeling frustrated by his perspective on life as she exhaled. She felt her source of disconnect with him came from it.

Farid was about to say something, but she stopped him with her hand, "Please use English," her eyes subtly darting from Farid to Bayo. She had been hinting at Farid, but he wouldn't pay attention.

Amina didn't want Bayo to feel uncomfortable because they discussed him, but he couldn't speak for himself.

In the past — throughout their interactions — Amina couldn't help but notice that Farid was fluent in Algerian Arabic, French, and English. However, she sensed that his proficiency in these languages stemmed more from necessity than genuine interest. In a moment of candor, Farid had once mentioned to Amina that he had learned these languages out of practicality rather than passion. It was a detail that lingered in Amina's mind, shedding light on Farid's pragmatic approach to communication.

Farid squinted his eyes at Amina, not trusting his ears. He had never seen her like this before. His shoulder twitched as he pondered if Amina would defend him in a similar situation.

Farid gritted his teeth and fist; his fury had risen high. He fixed a piercing gaze on Bayo, his Algerian Arabic accent carrying a sharp edge as he questioned, "What brings you to Amina?"

Bayo's eyes narrowed slightly at Farid's implication, detecting an underlying accusation in his words. While he acknowledged Farid's proficiency in pronouncing "Amina," he remained dismissive of his possessive demeanor. Intent on resolving the situation swiftly and returning to the Computing Laboratory, Bayo maintained his blunt tone as he responded, "My intentions are clear. I have no ulterior motives." His straightforwardness reflected his confidence in his actions, refusing to conceal his words or motives under Farid's scrutiny.

Ameer Amina masked her anger under a quiet twitching of her pinky finger as she glowered at Farid.

She turned slowly to Bayo, her expression carrying a regretful smile as she motioned towards the exit. "We should go now," she said gently. Recognizing Farid's unwavering stubbornness and rigidity, she chose not to invest her time and energy in attempting to change him. She wondered what she would have endured if she was his sister. The thought made her shudder, her pinky finger shaking. She had to use her left hand to soothe it.

As Amina moved away from Farid, Bayo's gaze lingered on the tense exchange, his mind racing with thoughts of his own. He reflected on the confrontation, realizing that trouble always seemed to find him, no matter where he went.

As he stood alone, memories of one of the worst arguments he had back home flooded his mind. A guy had approached him, complaining about his girlfriend, and Bayo had responded with a raised eyebrow and candid honesty. His words sparked outrage in the community, resulting in a violent confrontation where Bayo was unjustly accused and beaten by the youths.

Reflecting on the incident, Bayo ridiculed himself for his cynical belief that fighting for others was akin to being trapped in a cage. He couldn't help but feel that his past experiences had reinforced his pessimistic outlook on life, leaving him wary of getting involved in others' troubles.

At this moment, Bayo lifted his brow because he had unexpectedly bumped into Amina, who suddenly stopped. Slowly raising his gaze, he saw Farid staring at him with a blaze of fire. 'This guy again,' he thought, his face twisting in anger. He felt like yelling at him about his limited time.

Farid's gaze briefly shifted towards Bayo, a shadow of concern passing over his features. "You know, Amina," he began tentatively, "our traditions, they... well, they dictate certain boundaries." His tone was careful, almost hesitant, as if reluctant to impose. "It's just... not customary for people to see a woman with…" He trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.

Ameer Amina rolled her eyes and asked, "Ahmed Farid, do you realize what you're doing?" She said this, her voice raised involuntarily, and her finger pointed.

Ahmed Farid instinctively stepped back, sensing that Amina calling out his full name was not a good sign. Her tone and voice indicated that things could escalate, causing him to blame himself for his hastiness.

Farid's mind raced as he sought a way to salvage the situation. He took a moment to compose himself, recognizing the error that had led to his loss of temper. He realized his conservative tendencies had caused another rift in his interactions. He inhaled deeply, determined to approach the problem with greater calm and empathy.

He quickly switched to Algerian Arabic tongue, "Amina," Farid began softly, his voice tinged with genuine concern, "I... I merely don't want to see you in any trouble." He hesitated, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his features before he suppressed it and swiftly regained his composure. "I mean, we both know how things can get, especially with... outsiders," he added, choosing his words carefully. He wanted to make her see how loyal he was. This time, he didn't directly accuse Bayo but focused on showing care.

As Farid approached, Bayo's heart sank. He had been so close to achieving his goal, but now, with Farid's unexpected interference, everything hung in the balance.

Frustration boiled as Bayo struggled to stay composed. 'Why does he have to ruin everything?' he thought bitterly, fists clenched.

The temptation to lash out at Farid surged through him, but he quickly pushed the violent impulse aside. Violence wouldn't solve anything, he reminded himself. Bayo took a deep breath and focused on finding a solution, his mind racing with possibilities.

However, the atmosphere was tense as they waited for Amina's decision. And Bayo felt that he might end up going to that library by himself.