Extract from "Happiness book 1 by Baha'a alFakih"

         Happiness                                                  

                                 Book 1           

                            

You never know what’s behind the most joyful smile, for it might hide a sad past. Yet on the other hand, this smile brings hope. Hope spreads, turning into confidence. This confidence turns into performance, and performance into results.

Robert Harden, small yet efficient employee in a completely normal business department, went for a jog near the beach with his friend, James, to get as far as possible from the sinister mood overwhelming in the company. A lot of projects were to be done due next week, which was both tiring and stressful. Thus, he chose to calm himself with the skimming breeze striking the shore, and found it useful as well to rub the sweat off his face.

- “Can’t keep up, James?”

- “There’s … no … bloody way… to…make you…stop.”, he took a deep breath “How come you never feel bloody tired?”

- “Remaining idle will waste your time. Hard work will bring you results”

- “Is that your… blasted motto or something?”

- “One of many. Come on, we still got a mile or two”

- “A mile or two?! A flaming mile or two?! I…”

Trying to finish his sentence, James fainted. Robert hurried to him and knelt beside his head.

- “Are you alright?”

- “I can’t…feel…my…bloody…legs!”

Robert burst out laughing.

- “Get up, I’ll get you to your car and continue home”

- “Well, you do owe me that you bloody machine.”

They both laughed. Robert held his friend by the shoulder and led him to his car. It was a jet black Mercedes. It was made for races, which somehow didn’t affect the company’s touch in luxury. James, taking the effort given in this long jog, could not believe the fact that Robert was going back home on foot, and so he asked:

- “So, where’s your flaming car?”

- “That’s a long story”

- “Well, I have all the time in the whole bloody world”

Robert gave a sigh.

- “It looks like this jog erased some memories of yours, hasn’t it?”

- “What do you bloody mean?”

- “Have you forgotten your duty as the CEO of our company?”

- “What are you bloody referring to?”

- “You should be behind your desk in not much time so I guess you should rest while you still have some”

- “You said it’s a long story, you haven’t mentioned it being a blasted novel”

Robert turned his back saying: “I shall see you at the office, then”.

Extract from "Oath By The Heron" Book 1 by Baha'a al-Fakih

                                                   Oath By The Heron
                                                            Book 1

 “His sword shone in the blizzard. His walk had a viperous allure. His shape seemed to blend in a crowd. His glare was death’s resonance in the bells of consciousness. His speed was of no match. With each twist of his hand, heads flew alongside limbs. While his surroundings boiled with anger and hatred, he did not seem to lose his frozen temper. When spotted, he gave no impression of a heartwarming greeting. Liar is he who denies envying that swordsmanship, that elegance in both fight and speech. No man of power has been able to count the number of men he was worth, actually no man at all. His moves were unpredictable, unstoppable and, sometimes, under no circumstances within human capabilities. In fact, he could blend so well in group of corpses, for nothing showed in him a sign of life. I often heard him being called a vampire, a monster, a freak. Sometimes I even participated in the naming, not out of jealousy, but because I wish to uncover whatever dark secret he may hide, the one he embedded, making him look like a corpse, and a fine one indeed. Before the battle we last had with the neighboring king, some soldiers tried to approach him. I admit, it was more a harassment than a friendly introduction, especially when they tried to reach for his third arm, that shining, sharp arm. But the fact that they were bullies is good enough to beat them up if you’re a man, to stay quiet and not report it if an idiot, but nowhere near being an excuse for butchering them. It is just absurd! At least, it was our commander’s opinion. He also added that if he doesn’t tear ten of the opposing team’s men for each limb he’s just chopped off, he will meet the heavens. A normal man, a rational one at least, would simply run away after the fight starts and still be considered a hero, while this madman did the exact opposite. He killed more than agreed and is till now chased for some sort of crime I bet my arse he knows nothing of. After the other army ran away afraid of meeting his blade, he did not participate in the loot, not considerably. All he took was a bloody spear’s head and a broken sword. Whence did he come, nobody really knows. I swear on my mother’s mercy the next time I meet the bastard, I’ll be the one to open his head and see what’s inside.”
                                            -witnessing of a court bard who’s seen the mysterious individual.

Speech about Mobile Phones

Greetings fellow colleagues,

Today, I speak to you of a threat we are all facing: cyber control. Nowadays, some people find it abnormal, others shameful, for someone not to be part of all the latest social networking sites, let alone not owning a phone. These two elements have been growing into a disease. Our virtual life is growing so strong in us that it began replacing our real lives. Now, you wave to people via “messenger”, talk to them using “chats” and see them in “video calls”. Not only does this affect our physical health, but it also touches our mental health. It lures us out of character, which is why parents often see changes in their children a while after handing them their first phones. Now one of these changes I have noticed watching my entourage and myself. Being an active phone user, you would feel as if you were deprived of a limb, or even of a part of your own heart once your phone is taken from you. This shows that today’s mobile phone makers have in fact made a parasite that nourishes on want we want instead of what we want. Of course, they couldn’t care any less about us since they are getting paid anyways. Now wouldn’t it be interesting if I would tell you that the problem and its own demise lie in us? We WANT them to affect us, to feel more… integrated and to feel more pleasure. But, on the other hand, if we DON’T WANT them to affect us, they can’t do anything about it. After all, they don’t force us to buy their products. Dear colleagues, do think about it.

                                                                                Thank you.