Traveling on Salma's leg

In the heart of a country rich in culture and breathtaking landscapes, three travelers became companions on a bus journey that would span a long 36 hours. Their destination was the city of Noor, a place that held childhood and adolescent memories for two of these passengers.

Rashid, the son-in-law, a 30-year-old architectural engineer, was on this trip alongside his wife, Noor, and her sister, Salma. The reason for this lengthy journey was to visit Rashid's in-laws, the family among whom Noor and Salma had been born and raised years ago.

Noor, Rashid's 30-year-old wife and an art teacher, gazed at the passing scenery outside the bus with a lively spirit and curious eyes. The excitement of seeing her family and stepping back into the familiar alleys of Noor was evident on her face. Always carrying a sketchbook, she would undoubtedly find inspiration in the landscapes and events of this long trip.

Beside Noor sat her sister, Salma, a 35-year-old librarian with a distinct calmness. Her kind and serene face hinted at a world filled with books and a deep quietude. Although not as outwardly enthusiastic as Noor, accompanying her sister and seeing her family held great importance for her.

Rashid, with a serious yet kind demeanor, remained mostly silent, lost in his thoughts. This trip was an opportunity to rest after demanding work projects and to finally meet his wife's family, whom he hadn't had the chance to see before. He felt a sense of responsibility, striving to make this journey comfortable and worry-free for his wife and sister-in-law.

The bus moved through the heart of the road, and the three travelers, with different motivations but a familial bond, looked forward to arriving in Noor and reuniting with those whose roots lay in that land. A long journey lay ahead, and many unspoken things awaited this young family.

Barely half an hour into the journey, a sudden murmur and a brief argument arose at the back of the bus. The driver, speaking loudly, asked a passenger for identification, and it became clear that due to a booking error or a similar issue, a passenger was left without a seat. Looking at the passenger list, the driver apologetically turned to Rashid and, with a tone of obligation, asked him to give up his seat for the stranded traveler.

Taken aback by this unexpected situation, Rashid stood up with a slightly furrowed brow and gathered his belongings. Noor looked at her husband with concern and said, "What's going on? Where will you sit now?"

Salma, who had witnessed the scene and noticed the distress on her sister's and brother-in-law's faces, said in a calm but firm voice, "Rashid, this won't do. Come and sit on my lap."

Noor looked at her sister with surprise and said, "Salma, are you sure? It's a very long way, you'll get uncomfortable."

Salma gave a kind smile and said, "It's alright, Noor dear. The important thing is that Rashid isn't left without a seat. Come on, Rashid, make yourself comfortable."

Rashid, still a bit hesitant, looked at Salma with gratitude and said, "Thank you, Salma, but are you sure you won't be uncomfortable?"

Salma nodded her head with a reassuring smile and said, "No, dear, make yourself comfortable."

And so, with **** and thanks, Rashid sat down next to Salma. Noor looked at them with worry, trying to find a way for her husband to sit more comfortably. Moments of silence fell over the bus, and the curious gazes of some passengers were fixed on this trio. Their long journey had begun with an unexpected turn.

Having settled next to Salma, Rashid bent down and took off his shoes before getting fully comfortable. He said to Salma with an apologetic look, "Excuse me, Salma, I don't want to get your clothes dusty."

Seeing her husband's gesture, Noor gave a small smile and said, "Rashid, you're so thoughtful."

Salma said kindly, "Please, Rashid, what are you talking about? Make yourself comfortable." But in her heart, with Rashid sitting on her lap, she was involuntarily reminded of her young cousin, Imran. When he was a child, Imran would sometimes sit on her lap, and she would bear it with patience and affection. There was a vague sense of familiarity in this situation for Salma, even though the circumstances were completely different.

Rashid, still looking somewhat awkward, tried to minimize contact with Salma's legs and sat up straight. Noor looked at them with concern, trying to ease the atmosphere by talking about the scenery outside.

A brief silence fell between them. Salma, noticing Rashid's discomfort, said in a soft voice, "Relax, Rashid. You don't need to be so tense. It's a long journey."

Rashid nodded his thanks and tried to relax a little. But a lingering feeling of causing trouble remained within him. This sudden situation had slightly affected the initial cordiality of the trip, and all three were trying to come to terms with the new circumstances.

Suddenly, Salma made an unexpected move. She gently leaned her shoulder against Rashid's and said softly, "Maybe you'll be more comfortable this way." Then, she gently wrapped her arm around Rashid's waist, not possessively, but more as a supportive and sisterly gesture.

Noor watched this scene with surprise and a silent mixture of doubt. In their culture, such a gesture between a woman and her brother-in-law was not very common, and she instinctively raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Rashid, completely taken aback, tensed up for a moment. The sudden warmth and closeness of Salma made him even more awkward. He didn't know how to react. Should he pull away? Was this gesture normal in their culture? Various thoughts raced through his mind.

But Salma, with the same previous calmness, whispered, "Don't worry, Rashid. I just want you to be comfortable. Like when Imran was little and I would hold him." The tone of her voice was so sincere and innocent that Rashid's tension gradually eased.

Noor, still a bit hesitant, remained silent, carefully observing the faces of her sister and husband. She knew about the close and affectionate relationship between her sister and her family, but this level of intimacy with her husband's brother was new to her.

Inside the bus, the murmur of passengers and the monotonous sound of the engine continued, while the three of them settled into a relative silence, dealing with the unexpected situation. Salma's unexpected gesture had created a more intimate but also slightly ambiguous atmosphere between them. Rashid gradually felt more relaxed, but a shadow of awkwardness still lingered. Salma, however, felt a sense of peace and innocence, reminiscent of her childhood memories with her cousin. And Noor, with a curious and slightly worried look, witnessed this unusual interaction.

The warmth of the bus and its rhythmic motion, combined with the increasing comfort Rashid felt from the contact with Salma, made his eyelids heavy. Tired from the journey and the sudden events, he involuntarily rested his head gently on Salma's chest.

Feeling the weight of Rashid's head on her chest, Salma gave a soft smile. The situation stirred a maternal feeling within her, the same affection she had felt for Imran in his childhood. She loosened her arm around Rashid's waist slightly to make him more comfortable.

Noor, noticing that her husband had fallen asleep, looked at them with a kind gaze. The doubt had vanished from her face. Salma's calmness and Rashid's tired expression evoked a sense of empathy in her. She gently adjusted her scarf and tried to lower her voice so as not to wake her husband.

Rashid's soft snores gradually filled the small space between them. Salma carefully adjusted his head to a more comfortable position. She looked at the peaceful, sleeping face of her sister's husband. In this moment, the formal distance between the brother-in-law and sister-in-law had faded, replaced by a sense of care and empathy.

Noor gently approached Salma and whispered, "He was very tired."

Salma replied with a gentle smile, "Yes, he seems to be. Let him rest a bit."

The long bus journey continued, and in a corner of it, a scene of unexpected peace and closeness had unfolded. A tired brother-in-law had fallen asleep in his sister-in-law's embrace, and a kind wife watched this moment with a grateful heart.