Ahmed stood before the two branches... the right... and the left...
He fell silent for a moment... No sound... except the echo of his breathing.
He looked to the right... then to the left... then said quietly:
"In the name of Allah."
And he headed toward the right branch.
He began to walk... his steps slow... cautious... The air here was heavier... and the darkness deeper... as if the place were hiding something. He continued walking... a minute... two minutes... then more... until he began to see something at the end of the tunnel. A door.
He approached slowly... his hand rose... but stopped for a moment. He hesitated... then placed his hand on the door... and pushed it very slowly... a faint creak... the door opened... and he entered.
The room was very simple... an old iron bed... a small table... some scattered books... and a dim light from a small lamp. And on the bed... Irina was sleeping.
Ahmed froze in his place. He looked at her... in silence. Seconds passed... but they seemed long. He took a step closer... then another... until he was near her. He looked at her face... her features were weary... but calm. His lips trembled... and he said in a low voice:
"Praise be to Allah... she is fine..."
He couldn't control his emotions. He sat beside the bed... his eyes shining. He fell silent... just looking at her. A long silence... full of everything.
He slowly extended his hand... hesitated... then shook her gently.
"Irina..."
She didn't wake up. He tried again...
"Irina..."
She moved slightly... then opened her eyes slowly. She looked ahead... not grasping what she was seeing. Unconsciously, she took the water bottle from Ahmed's hand... and drank. Seconds passed... then she stopped suddenly. She lifted her gaze to him... looks of shock.
"Ahmed...?"
He fell silent... then suddenly she screamed:
"How did you get here so fast?!"
Ahmed smiled faintly, despite his fatigue:
"Men are smarter than women."
She looked at him angrily...
"I will make you regret this deeply!"
But... the silence returned. They sat for a moment... without words. Just looking at each other. Many memories passed between them in those looks...
Ahmed took out some sweets and snacks... and placed them beside her. He said quietly:
"Eat..."
Irina sat up... took a piece... and began to eat slowly. Then he sat beside her... and began to eat with her.
She said in a low voice: "Do you remember...?"
He looked at her... "Yes..."
"The supermarket... and the park..."
She smiled faintly... but her eyes were filled with something else. She fell silent for a moment... then suddenly said:
"I want you to marry me."
Ahmed froze. He looked at her... then said calmly:
"I am engaged... I can't."
Irina fell silent... but her features didn't change. She didn't get angry... she didn't scream... she just... grew strangely calm. She said quietly:
"Alright... I have a gift for you."
Then she smiled a slight smile. "Just... close your eyes."
Ahmed hesitated. He looked at her... then said: "What are you doing...?"
She said quietly: "Trust me... just this once."
Silence... exchanged looks... then... he closed his eyes.
She approached him slowly... tore a piece of cloth from her clothes... and blindfolded him. Then she took his hand... and said:
"Hold this... and come with me."
Ahmed held the object in his hand... it was cold... circular... but he didn't understand. He held her hand... and walked with her slowly... they stopped in a corner of the room.
She said to him quietly: "Now... open your eyes, Ahmed."
He removed the blindfold... and looked. He froze. In his hand... a ring. And in her hand... another ring... of the exact same shape.
He looked at her... looks of shock... hesitation... slow realization... then... he understood the truth. He said to himself: "I have... fallen into her trap..."
He looked at the ring... then at her... then smiled a faint smile... as if yielding for a moment. And he said to himself: "Now... I am engaged to two..."
Then he sighed... and said:
"It seems that... women are smarter than men in revenge."
Advice:"In the battles of hearts and wits, never assume you have won just because you arrived first; sometimes, the softest traps are the most inescapable!"