Chapter 12: Cheeky Cynicism
Shaimaa recalls it clearly, as if it were yesterday. She was at a friend’s party in Rehab compound, one of the suburbs of Cairo, when she heard that the President has stepped down. She cried while everyone around her was jumping and dancing with jubilation; sorrow amidst celebrations. Her friends, mostly single men and women, well-educated elite dressed in tasteful clothes, who like to party and enjoy nightlife and are frequent voyagers abroad, were celebrating as they never have before. The joy transcended their high school prom party, graduation
party, managerial or director promotion and even their wedding celebrations. The loud music muffled her ears; in stark contrast with her friends, she felt as if locked in a dungeon with no windows and everything was pitch-black. Shaimaa felt a heavy weight burdening her heart and sadly foresaw the looming anarchy, which the nation has been
witnessing since the revolution.
Chapter 13: Condemned Captain
Almost all the police stations were under attack; it was like a domino effect, one fell after the other within an hour. The first station attacked was Masr El Adeema. These stations are normally loaded with weapons in addition to detainees, imprisoned for a short period awaiting prosecution. At the time, Captain Mo believed an organized group must have orchestrated it but he was not certain. However, today he
knows that Ikhwan were the mastermind behind this attack. He has heard that trained mercenaries from abroad lent them a hand. Demonstrating is one form of activism; but attacking a public institute like the police station is not activism. It is nothing but unlawful aggression. To attack the police stations was an act of treason. Some of the assailants were armed and charged with hatred.
Chapter 14: Blinding Bullet
Shortly after that, Sayed arrived home and slowly climbed up the stairway to his apartment on the fifthfloor. His wife was shocked to see her husband came in, with dirty and bloody clothes and with blood on
his forehead.
Scared Um Basma asked, “What happened?”
Sayed lied and said, “Nothing, I got hit by a rock.”
He lied, as he did not want his family to worry. Sayed showered, skipped his dinner and lay down on his bed, unable to sleep from the blinding pain. He was really exhausted after three active nights at Tahrir
and tried to rest. His wife and daughters were silenced by shock at the sight of his blood. That first night,Sayed was pondering how he would get money for the household with his wound and inability to work.
He imagined he would return to work after a fortnight or less.
Chapter 10: Frightful Fear
As Lina got furious with this growing resentment and disrespect, she joined the supporters of the ancien regime. With the insecurity looming over the country, it was not easy convincing her family to join a demonstration. She had to argue with her husband to get his permission for her to leave and of course, her mother was wholeheartedly against it as she supported the revolution.
Lina said, “I have to be proactive and go to the street to show
support to Mubarak.”
Her mother replied, “You must be out of your mind. Did you
not see the men and women who have been wounded or
killed?”
Her husband said, “Lina, it is not a good idea. The situation is
dangerous.”
Lina replied, “Well I have to go protest and get my point of
view heard. Not all of Egypt wants President Mubarak to step
down right away. We need to go to show our support that he
should finish his term.”
Her mother said, “I am not comfortable with this at all,” her
eyes swelling with tears scared for their safety.
Her husband said, “Well we need to go in a group.”
