Ahmad gripped the bat tightly in his sweaty hands. ‘This is it,’ he thought, ‘it’s now or never’. He saw the ball soaring towards him, felt it hit the bat as he closed his eyes and pushed it with all his might.

At first there was silence, and then a giant uproar erupted.

He felt it was safe enough to open his eyes. His friends were rushing towards him, their lips stretched into broad smiles as they cried “We won!”

Ahmad too, grinned as he hugged them and shook their hands.

‘It is a great feeling of exhilaration,’ he thought, ‘to help your team win the match when the situation is tricky.’

His team members quickly bade him farewell and started to depart their own ways. Ahmad, as well, packed his bag and began his journey back home.

It was getting quite late, he noticed, for the sun had set and the streetlights had been turned on. Ahmad felt a shiver run down his spine as frightening images passed through his mind. He heard a dog bark in the distance and fastened his pace. If nothing, he wanted to get home as soon as possible.

Ahmad kept on walking for a few more minutes, but then stopped abruptly. He realised he no longer recognised his surroundings and was in a totally unfamiliar place. His fingers fumbled in his pocket for his mobile phone, but stopped when he recalled that he had left it at home as he was getting late for his match.

All hope draining, Ahmad sat down on the footpath with his head in his hands. After a while, a car stopped in front of him and the driver rolled down the window. He was a bulky man, with small, beady eyes and a trimmed moustache. However, he had a kind and gentle face which did not show any sign of malice or greediness.

“What is a young boy like you doing on a footpath?” he asked. His voice was deep and steady.

“I…well, I got lost on the way back home and …”Ahmad trailed off, but the driver did not seem to want to hear more. Instead, he opened the passenger door and made a movement as if to say “Jump in.”

When Ahmad did not react, he said, “Come on boy, I’ll drop you home,”

Ahmad could almost hear his mother warning him about strangers, but what other choice did he have? He stood up, swung his bag over his shoulder and entered the car.

Ahmad had expected questions, but was surprised when received none. He and the driver, who had pleasantly introduced himself as Farid, sat in a comfortable silence throughout the journey. Ahmad was on the verge of falling asleep when the car lurched to a stop and Farid said, “We’re here!”

Ahmad had been dreading this moment, because he had nothing to pay Farid for his services.

The latter seemed to sense his discomfort, because he suddenly said, “Don’t worry, I don’t charge people in need.”

Touched by his kindness, Ahmad departed after saying a word of thanks and goodbye to Farid. He took in the fresh air of the night as he gazed happily at his house. He couldn’t wait to tell his family about the kind old man who had dropped him off, but even as he thought this, a strange realisation dawned upon him.

Ahmad realised that he hadn’t even told Farid the address of his house, yet here he was, safe and sound. Instead of being creeped out, he smiled knowingly at the place where the car had been, and knew that it wasn’t an ordinary person who had dropped him off, but an angel in disguise.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 13th, 2018