Tentacles

Zahira woke up in cold sweat.

“This was the worst nightmare I ever had. I was encircled in the tentacles of an octopus, and the grip was claustrophobic. I was unable to breathe properly.”

“What else did you see?”

“I was slowly floating, and there was this huge crocodile in the front ….”

“And you were floating away from the crocodile …..” said Hussain, encircling his arms around her, “what you fail to see is that whatever holds you captive, also protects you.”

Her entire life spent in an Abaya, under strict supervision floated in front of Zahira’s eyes. She wanted to break free, and face the crocodile.