Summary: Aisha and Salim share a tradition with family...
Note: A day late because I was having a bit of trouble thinking of how i wanted to do this one. It's based on the answer I got from a 'trick or treat' post from @iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia (who is always inspiring me in this little fandom as well as in writing in general, thank you friend). I based this tradition on the very real celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights, which has a lot of meanings but one of my favorite's being 'Hope's light in the darkness'. I hope even in these crazy times you all find hope's light even in the darkest night.
The starlight glittered above them in the darkness of the night. Aisha looked up at them, having missed them for the time she and her husband had been trapped in the place beyond. But of course, that wasn’t all that she had missed in that time. She turned her head to look at the bank where all the people gathered. Amongst them was her son, Asra. She had missed it so much. He was no longer the little boy that had been left behind. She watched as he happily chatted amongst his found family who were Aisha’s family as well now. She would be forever thankful to all of them, for giving her son what she could not all these years. She then felt Salim’s hand on her shoulder.
“I think we are ready,” he said.
Aisha nodded. So, she gathered them on the bank, and they lit the little clay candles, reciting a little prayer of hope in the darkness. The little leaf boats carried the candles out into the water, glittering against the dark water.
Asra came to stand beside his parents. Aisha wrapped an arm around his waist while Salim placed one around his shoulders. Asra put an arm around both, as they watched the lights float down the canal.
They looked like stars glittering in the darkness of the night.
