Grant
Newcomer
- Jul 1, 2018
- 116
Farid stepped out of the halal takeaway, the warmth of the shop quickly replaced by the damp chill of the evening. The plastic bag in his hand swung lightly, its contents wrapped in paper, the aroma of seasoned chicken kebabs and freshly made falafel filling the air. He tucked his chin deeper into his jacket collar, glancing briefly at the faint glow of the takeaway sign flickering behind him before turning towards the estate.
The housing estate sprawled quietly through the London suburb. Rows of weathered council flats and stoic terraced houses stood beneath the dim, flickering glow of ageing streetlights. Farid’s footsteps echoed softly on the cracked pavement as he walked through the familiar, shadowed alleyways. The orange haze barely reached the edges of the narrow paths, leaving corners thick with darkness. The air was damp, mixing the scent of rain-soaked concrete with the lingering spices from his bag. Somewhere in the distance, a train rumbled faintly, its low hum blending with the occasional bark of a dog or the muffled thump of music from a flat overhead.
Farid turned off the street and approached a rusted gateway, the metal creaking loudly as he swung it open. The hinges' screech echoed into the night, cutting through the stillness before the gate clanged shut behind him. He walked towards the flat entrance, turned the handle, and entered the dim hallway. Though none of the lights were on, a warmth wrapped around him, a welcome contrast to the biting cold of the night air he'd just left behind. He shrugged off his coat and moved quickly through the hallway, his footsteps soft but hurried. At the end, he reached a door at a darkened landing. From the other side, he caught the faint hum of voices speaking in Dari—two men, their words flowing effortlessly in the quiet space between them.
Farid paused for a moment, listening. Then, he gently pushed the door open and stepped into the room.
"Salam Alaikum, Nasim. Salam Alaikum, Mahdi," he greeted them with a warm smile, his voice easy and familiar.
Both men looked up as he entered, their faces lighting up briefly before returning back to work. They were seated at a small table, surrounded by scattered electrical components, ball bearings, screws, and nails—each item being packed with meticulous care into small, organized bundles. The room carried the faint scent of metal and chemicals.
"As-salamu alaikum," Nasim replied with a brief nod. "I’m starving. Lay the food out on the table, Farid. We’ll be over shortly."
A few moments passed before Mahdi looked up from his work and raised his hand in greeting. "As-salamu alaikum. You’ve been gone for ages!"
Farid nodded at Nasim and flashed a grin towards Mahdi as he shuffled toward the table, following Nasim’s gesture. Gently, he set the food bag down with a soft rustle. "They were busy this evening, so they couldn’t get the order ready ahead of time. Don’t blame me—have a word with them if you aren't happy!". Farid opened the bag, and the rich aroma of seasoned chicken kebabs and falafel filled the room, cutting through the cluttered surroundings and offering a welcome distraction.
Moments later, Nasim and Mahdi joined Farid at the table, reaching for the food as they sat down. The small room, once heavy with the metallic scent was now filled with the rich aroma of their well-earned meal. Nasim called out into the hallway, muttering a few words in Dari. Within seconds, a woman appeared in the doorway, holding a baby in her arms. Nasim gently passed her a box of food, then quickly shooed her away, not wanting her to see or hear any more than necessary. He glanced around the table at the other two men, then leaned in, lowering his voice to a near whisper.
"My friends… it may be no surprise why I’ve called you here tonight and why we have been preparing our gear for the past few days. Tariq has informed us that we are being called upon. Our duty starts now. I have the targets and will share the details with you in the morning. For now, we must finish packing these bags and tie up our loose ends."
Farid and Mahdi fell silent, the weight of Nasim’s words sinking in. The reality of what they were about to do had settled into the pit of their stomachs. It had been years since their arrival in the United Kingdom as a sleeper cell, and for so long, their purpose had been buried beneath the routine of everyday life. The call had come, and everything they had trained for was about to become real. They both fell into deep contemplation, knowing that time was running out, pulling them into a quiet, shared reflection.
Nasim’s voice broke the silence, soft yet firm, ensuring his words didn’t disrupt the moment of reflection. "We’ve sat idle for many years, dear friends. But now, we are finally able to fulfil our duty. Tonight, you must prepare yourselves and seek Allah’s strength and guidance for what comes in the next few hours. We'll meet at 6 am and go where we need to go. Tomorrow will be a dark day that London will never forget."
Jamie
The housing estate sprawled quietly through the London suburb. Rows of weathered council flats and stoic terraced houses stood beneath the dim, flickering glow of ageing streetlights. Farid’s footsteps echoed softly on the cracked pavement as he walked through the familiar, shadowed alleyways. The orange haze barely reached the edges of the narrow paths, leaving corners thick with darkness. The air was damp, mixing the scent of rain-soaked concrete with the lingering spices from his bag. Somewhere in the distance, a train rumbled faintly, its low hum blending with the occasional bark of a dog or the muffled thump of music from a flat overhead.
Farid turned off the street and approached a rusted gateway, the metal creaking loudly as he swung it open. The hinges' screech echoed into the night, cutting through the stillness before the gate clanged shut behind him. He walked towards the flat entrance, turned the handle, and entered the dim hallway. Though none of the lights were on, a warmth wrapped around him, a welcome contrast to the biting cold of the night air he'd just left behind. He shrugged off his coat and moved quickly through the hallway, his footsteps soft but hurried. At the end, he reached a door at a darkened landing. From the other side, he caught the faint hum of voices speaking in Dari—two men, their words flowing effortlessly in the quiet space between them.
Farid paused for a moment, listening. Then, he gently pushed the door open and stepped into the room.
"Salam Alaikum, Nasim. Salam Alaikum, Mahdi," he greeted them with a warm smile, his voice easy and familiar.
Both men looked up as he entered, their faces lighting up briefly before returning back to work. They were seated at a small table, surrounded by scattered electrical components, ball bearings, screws, and nails—each item being packed with meticulous care into small, organized bundles. The room carried the faint scent of metal and chemicals.
"As-salamu alaikum," Nasim replied with a brief nod. "I’m starving. Lay the food out on the table, Farid. We’ll be over shortly."
A few moments passed before Mahdi looked up from his work and raised his hand in greeting. "As-salamu alaikum. You’ve been gone for ages!"
Farid nodded at Nasim and flashed a grin towards Mahdi as he shuffled toward the table, following Nasim’s gesture. Gently, he set the food bag down with a soft rustle. "They were busy this evening, so they couldn’t get the order ready ahead of time. Don’t blame me—have a word with them if you aren't happy!". Farid opened the bag, and the rich aroma of seasoned chicken kebabs and falafel filled the room, cutting through the cluttered surroundings and offering a welcome distraction.
Moments later, Nasim and Mahdi joined Farid at the table, reaching for the food as they sat down. The small room, once heavy with the metallic scent was now filled with the rich aroma of their well-earned meal. Nasim called out into the hallway, muttering a few words in Dari. Within seconds, a woman appeared in the doorway, holding a baby in her arms. Nasim gently passed her a box of food, then quickly shooed her away, not wanting her to see or hear any more than necessary. He glanced around the table at the other two men, then leaned in, lowering his voice to a near whisper.
"My friends… it may be no surprise why I’ve called you here tonight and why we have been preparing our gear for the past few days. Tariq has informed us that we are being called upon. Our duty starts now. I have the targets and will share the details with you in the morning. For now, we must finish packing these bags and tie up our loose ends."
Farid and Mahdi fell silent, the weight of Nasim’s words sinking in. The reality of what they were about to do had settled into the pit of their stomachs. It had been years since their arrival in the United Kingdom as a sleeper cell, and for so long, their purpose had been buried beneath the routine of everyday life. The call had come, and everything they had trained for was about to become real. They both fell into deep contemplation, knowing that time was running out, pulling them into a quiet, shared reflection.
Nasim’s voice broke the silence, soft yet firm, ensuring his words didn’t disrupt the moment of reflection. "We’ve sat idle for many years, dear friends. But now, we are finally able to fulfil our duty. Tonight, you must prepare yourselves and seek Allah’s strength and guidance for what comes in the next few hours. We'll meet at 6 am and go where we need to go. Tomorrow will be a dark day that London will never forget."
Jamie
