Ameena had underestimated the power of surprises. Fear of the unknown gripped her, had Ahmad known her dad all along? What secret was he keeping from her? If he did, what does she called this, betrayal?

"I guess he didn't tell you then." She heard her father continue.

"He didn't." She replied slowly
______________________________________
New Orleans, Louisiana. (Ten months ago)

One midsummer afternoon, when the sun was at its full glory, customer traffic at Bloomsdale grocery, was slow.

Behind the counter, Brenda was lost in thought as she stared at her chipped nails. She blamed it on doing 'them God forsaken laundry'. The lord be praised that it was not a French manicure, not that she could afford one, but one can dream, she mused.

She was brought out of her reverie when a young man walked up to the counter and asked if he could see her boss. She scrutinized him, for several of his traits had grabbed her attention. He spoke with a foreign accent, with only a slight hint of new jersey accent in it.

Mr J.Mahmud, as he was known, or simply Mr J. to close friends, was not one to receive visitors, he had a close knit friends. His most recent friendship dates back to seventeen years ago when he had settled here in New Orleans, Louisiana, most of them were Amanda's (his late wife's) friends who had shared his grief and as a result they had become close...almost family like.

She went to the back room which doubled up as a store room and an office, she found him arranging some boxes with the help of Walter.

She had never seen a more hard working man. He seldom talks except when the situation demands it, but he was kind and generous. She had dropped out of school to look after her infant son and took a job at his store.

"Yes Brenda?" He asked when he noticed her.

"Someone's here to see you Mr J...said it was personal." She said with a thick southern drawl.

"Send him in... that would be all for today Walt." He said, dismissing his handy man.

He sat on the chair and wondered who his visitor was. Maybe Rashad has gotten himself in trouble, but that wouldn't be personal or is it?

A clean cut young man walked in saying the salam and offered his hand. Mr J's heart skipped a beat...he could recognised that accent any where, even with the light trace of new jersey accent. He braced himself, for he knew they had found him. He had left Lafayette a long time ago and moved with Amanda to her hometown, here in New Orleans.

"Wa alaikumussalam." He answered as he took the hand.

The young man's grip was firm, indicating a strong character. Mr J. offered him a seat and asked him to carry on.

He introduced himself as Ahmed .M. Abdulfatah. Mr J. raked his brain to find a link with him, but the name didn't ring any bell.

Ahmad stared at the tall, gawky middle aged man who looked a lot like Ameena. His complexion was a tad lighter than hers, he could see her in the man's forced smile and eyes.

"You wanted to see me?" He asked.

"Yes sir." Ahmad answered.

"It's about Ameena... Your daughter." He added.

The mere mention of his family brought his world to a stand still. His past was catching up with him.

"How did you find me.?" He said slowly in an almost inaudible voice.

"It's not that hard, when you have someone's name and the state he stays... I used truthfinder." Ahmad answered.

A dead silence enveloped the room. Ameena's dad stared at the table surface for a while, seeing nothing despite the array of bills, receipts and stationeries that adorned the table.

His throat felt dry and he struggled to swallow the lump that had accumulated in his throat, the result which was a slight upward movement from his Adam's apple.

His palms felt sweaty and he rubbed them together.

"I don't know what happened and it's not my place to ask...but your daughter...your family, they need you." Ahmad continued watching every move the man made.

"I have not met your family...yet. But I did meet your daughter and if there is one thing I can say I noticed about her is that, your absence have affected her in a...negative way. She doesn't deserve what she's going through, she..."

They were interrupted by Brenda who walked in with two cups of coffee. They both smiled nervously and thanked her as she placed the cups on the table and left. They went right back to their discussion, the coffee long forgotten.

"How do you know my daughter?" He asked.

"She is a... friend." Said Ahmad.

"I see...why are you doing this?"

"I just want her to be happy... I would give anything to see her happy."

Ahmad's genuine concern over his own daughter, made his failure as a father more pronounced. He felt suffocated by a sudden guilt that had engulfed him.

Here was a stranger across the table, who in a way undid the tight lid that he had screwed on the memories of his family, which he had put in a Mason jar and hid it in the darkness of the hole where his heart once was.

Slowly he found his voice, " I am far too gone, I can't come back...it's... It's too late. He tried to control his voice.

The pain in his voice was unmistakable and Ahmad caught every hint of it. He pitied the man. Whatever demons he was fighting, were strong.

"I learned from a wise man a long time ago that, it is never too late to try and make amends for a wrong we had done.

Regret is, when we decide to make amend to someone who is no more. But your daughters and wife are alive, it can never be too late." Ahmad said trying to help him fight the demons that were creating doubt in his mind.

That day, they had dinner together and Ahmad learnt that Ameena's dad had tried several times in the past to go back home, but the fear of coming back too late kept him away.

As time went by, he told himself he was in too deep to back out.

He explained to Ahmad why he needed time to prepare himself mentally and settle things over here before he leave the States for good.

Ahmad had agreed on the condition that, if a year passes and he doesn't show up, he is bringing her here himself, he is not sure how, but he sure as hell will bring an end to that gloomy part of her life, he vowed.

Ahmad took the late flight back to Dallas on that same day.
______________________________________

When her dad was finished, Ameena couldn't control her tears, she cried silently, the ache in her heart increasing with every breath she took.

"Can I?" He asked while enveloping her in a hug.

She cried in his embrace, she cried for Ahmad, for her and for the incomplete love they had. She cried in the confines of her dad hug; a gift from the love of her life.

From the kitchen window, Ameena's mom wiped a tear from her eyes as stood by the sink and watched her daughter and her father bond.

************************************
So lovelies, whatcha say bout this chappie? Hope u liked it. Love to hear ur views on it.

Thanks again for staying with me throughout this journey. Love u!

Happy new year to kowa da kowa.

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