The Shadow Ifrit
A Short Story

- What...? Who are you?
- I'm a human and my name is Rayyan. And who are you?
- My name is Shahbur. I'm an Ifreet from the kingdom of the Djinn. I've been trapped inside a copper flask and now you've set me free.
- Yes, I know.
- You know? How? Who told you where to find me?
- That's a long story... But what's most important is that you are here now.
- What do you want me to do?
- What do I want...?
- Okay, okay, I know. You freed me from my prison so I would be your servant and carry out your wishes. And I also know that humans have certain wishes again and again. How much money do you want?
- I don't want money. I've travelled a lot. I've lived in different societies and cultures. I think that the poor are better off than the rich. Maybe it's because they have to deal with life's basic necessities and have nothing to do with luxury that they became more warm-hearted and generous, whereas frustration and depression destroy the rich. They often kill themselves because they are rich but not happy.
- So it's power you're looking for. To control others is certainly appealing. So, control over others and their subjection is what you want? I could turn you into the most important person.
- No, I do not love power. I have felt its effects on me once too often. I've even been sent to jail once, only because I tried to express some of my political thoughts. And I'm telling you, I am proud, really proud of this time in prison.
- Well, then it's about women... the most fascinating creatures on this earth. I can lay them at your feet, as many as you want.
- And what would I do with all the women of this world? My heart only falls in love once. I think that loving more than one woman at a time is nothing but a dream.
- You confuse me. What do you want, then? Relieve me from my pain!
- I want you to answer a question.
- Answer? A question? What question?
- A question that I've been asking myself and that others before me have asked themselves. Because of this question I started a journey ten years ago to find an answer. And you, Ifrit, are one of the stations on my journey where I hope to find the answer to my question.
- What if I don't know the answer?
- Never mind. You'll still be free, then. I don't want anything else from you.
- Right, go ahead and ask.
- Where is happiness? All life on our planet revolves around this question and the answer to it. Each year, millions of pages are written about it and people come up with thousands of ideas, and I think everybody is looking for an answer to the same question. Armies conquer countries to expand their territory and their kingdoms. They are looking for wealth. But why? They are also searching for happiness. For most people, happiness is only about property and defending their homes, families and friends until they die.
- So why did you want to ask an Ifrit?
- This idea occurred to me one day. If humans don't know the answer to this question, why shouldn't I ask someone who is not human, then, an Ifrit for example? Since that day I've been on my way to find you... and there you are!
- You are strange indeed, you children of Man. What goes on inside your heads? Well, such is creation! Praise to the Lord! And you ask me where happiness is? How strange!
- Why?
- Because we - the society of Djinn - are much more lethargic than you. You on the other hand, you've got your intellect, you're able to think, create and invent. The Creator put into your brains everything he had to give.
- So not even you know an answer? But still, it's been an exciting experience. And now you may go wherever you want and I'll continue my voyage searching for an answer.
- May I ask you for something? May I accompany you on this voyage?
- But how? We are not of the same kind and cannot appear together. Oil doesn't mix with water.
- That's right. But I've got an idea. I will merge with your shadow here on the sand as if I myself were your shadow. I will do nothing but watch and listen until I understand. And then I'll return to report on what has happened.
- You're more than welcome. Let's go!

The End

Mohammed Megahed
Bern, 2009