The Oromo Man who chose the love of his people-over the love of his life.
''Meanwhile, over the last year or so, Sa'ada and Mohammed's warm friendship had begun to heat up. Sa'ada was growing more hopeful and dreamy-eyed with visions of love and marriage, while Mohammed wished to avoid making her unhappy. Impatient, she began to coax him into confessing his love for her.
''Do you love me?'' She would ask, her voice soft, her eyes lowered.
He could only look at her pretty face and say, ''It's alright.''
''Please,'' she said one day, ''I want you to kiss me. I want to touch you.''
She spoke to her brother. He came to Mohammed a few days later. ''Mohammed,'' he said, ''my sister has asked me to arrange for you to come to a Nik'ah (a Muslim marriage ceremony). Do you wish to marry her?'''
Mohammed's heart dropped. He excused himself and hurried to Sa'ada. She saw him approach and met him, smiling. ''I will be your wife,'' She said happily.
''No, Sa'ada. I cannot marry you. I am sorry.''
''Why not?'' She asked, beginning to cry.
Mohammed did not know what to say. What he wanted to say to her was: ''I left my family, because I could see that staying in the village would lead nowhere. A proper education was uppermost in my thoughts as a way to make a better future, to give me the knowledge I would need to improve the lives of my people. I came to a crossroads, where I had to decide whether an education in a Saudi college or military training in Somalia would further my dream, and I chose the military path Jaarraa chose. I see not it was the right choice. An armed defense of Oromo villagers must be mounted to protect them in the coming conflict between the Ethiopian and Somali Military forces as they fight over Oromo lands.
''Marriage is not an option at this time. I have promised to struggle for my people. The Hargeisa community awaits my return. I can't break my promise. I can't commit to marriage yet. I would only break your heart. I cannot leave you alone with babies if I must leave you. I will go back to my country one day.'' But Mohammed did not think Sa'ada was in a state of mind to understand.
Suddenly, she interrupted his train of thought. ''But, you love me Mohammed!''
''No, Sa'da. I do not love you. I cannot marry you. I am so sorry.''
She turned away from him. He left her crying. He knew she was hurt, and her brother was furious.
Mohammed was distraught. He heard she was sick with sorrow, and he cursed himself. No one understood why he turned her down. He couldn't stop thinking about her.
Her eyes are clouded with love, he told himself. She does not see the future. I must stay away.
She often asked her brother about him. She invited Mohammed for dinner, and he accepted, but he felt sick with worry. He went to her house, but when she went outside to get some water, he left. He couldn't bear to look at her.
It is best if she doesn't see me anymore, he told himself. He avoided her in the village after that. People told him she was devastated, that she wanted to leave the village. He gathered some money and asked someone to take it to her.
''For her to go to her parents' village,'' he said.
Later, he heard she had gone to her parents and was working in their village. They said she was happy. Mohammed was glad for her, but his heart is still ached. To this day, when he's in a crowd, he is often startled when a woman passes by, mistaking her for Sa'ada.''
[Mohamed's Mission
An Oromo boy, dedicating his life to the struggle for a free Oromiyaa, becomes a warrior for peace and justice in the Ethio-Somali War. by Mohamed Osmaan, Pages 84-87]
''Meanwhile, over the last year or so, Sa'ada and Mohammed's warm friendship had begun to heat up. Sa'ada was growing more hopeful and dreamy-eyed with visions of love and marriage, while Mohammed wished to avoid making her unhappy. Impatient, she began to coax him into confessing his love for her.
''Do you love me?'' She would ask, her voice soft, her eyes lowered.
He could only look at her pretty face and say, ''It's alright.''
''Please,'' she said one day, ''I want you to kiss me. I want to touch you.''
She spoke to her brother. He came to Mohammed a few days later. ''Mohammed,'' he said, ''my sister has asked me to arrange for you to come to a Nik'ah (a Muslim marriage ceremony). Do you wish to marry her?'''
Mohammed's heart dropped. He excused himself and hurried to Sa'ada. She saw him approach and met him, smiling. ''I will be your wife,'' She said happily.
''No, Sa'ada. I cannot marry you. I am sorry.''
''Why not?'' She asked, beginning to cry.
Mohammed did not know what to say. What he wanted to say to her was: ''I left my family, because I could see that staying in the village would lead nowhere. A proper education was uppermost in my thoughts as a way to make a better future, to give me the knowledge I would need to improve the lives of my people. I came to a crossroads, where I had to decide whether an education in a Saudi college or military training in Somalia would further my dream, and I chose the military path Jaarraa chose. I see not it was the right choice. An armed defense of Oromo villagers must be mounted to protect them in the coming conflict between the Ethiopian and Somali Military forces as they fight over Oromo lands.
''Marriage is not an option at this time. I have promised to struggle for my people. The Hargeisa community awaits my return. I can't break my promise. I can't commit to marriage yet. I would only break your heart. I cannot leave you alone with babies if I must leave you. I will go back to my country one day.'' But Mohammed did not think Sa'ada was in a state of mind to understand.
Suddenly, she interrupted his train of thought. ''But, you love me Mohammed!''
''No, Sa'da. I do not love you. I cannot marry you. I am so sorry.''
She turned away from him. He left her crying. He knew she was hurt, and her brother was furious.
Mohammed was distraught. He heard she was sick with sorrow, and he cursed himself. No one understood why he turned her down. He couldn't stop thinking about her.
Her eyes are clouded with love, he told himself. She does not see the future. I must stay away.
She often asked her brother about him. She invited Mohammed for dinner, and he accepted, but he felt sick with worry. He went to her house, but when she went outside to get some water, he left. He couldn't bear to look at her.
It is best if she doesn't see me anymore, he told himself. He avoided her in the village after that. People told him she was devastated, that she wanted to leave the village. He gathered some money and asked someone to take it to her.
''For her to go to her parents' village,'' he said.
Later, he heard she had gone to her parents and was working in their village. They said she was happy. Mohammed was glad for her, but his heart is still ached. To this day, when he's in a crowd, he is often startled when a woman passes by, mistaking her for Sa'ada.''
[Mohamed's Mission
An Oromo boy, dedicating his life to the struggle for a free Oromiyaa, becomes a warrior for peace and justice in the Ethio-Somali War. by Mohamed Osmaan, Pages 84-87]
