Edited:

Published: Monday, November 23rd 2015 4:15 pm

Ayah:

          "Thank you."

           I grabbed my change from the cashier and made my way to the table with Aunt Fatima, my food in hand. When we first came down here, I didn't think it would be this crowded, but it is. It's sad how many sickly people are here. Then again, it's a hospital. What should I expect.

        "I can't stand this food," Aunt Fatima took a bite of her food, a look of disgust on her face. "I think it gets worse every time I come down here."

        "It can't be that bad," I said and picked up my fork, ready to try it. Aunt Fatima looked at me in amusement as I took a bite and scrunched my nose. "Okay, I was wrong."

        "Salaam."

        "Wasim," Aunt Fatima stood up to hug her son, then they both sat down at the table. "Where have you been? You said an hour."

        "I fell asleep during my studying," He told her sadly, and she nodded in understanding. He then turned to me. "I see you tried their version of food."

        "If you can call it that," I put my paper towel over it and cleared my throat. "When does he get out?"

       "Not until a few more days," Aunt Fatima told me. "It's normal for him to be here for at least a week or so, but when he's home...."

       "That's tough. I can't even imagine it."

      Aunt Fafima nodded, her voice low. "No one should."

      "I wanted you all to attend Jafar's birthday party tomorrow. I was hoping he would be able to come."

      "You really thought that he would come now out of all these years?" Wasim asked, and I shrugged.

       "I was hoping. I know it would mean a lot to Jafar even if he doesn't want to admit it. Is there any way they could release him early?"

      "I can talk to the doctor on call, but don't get your hopes up. He's sickly, and they rarely let anyone in his condition leave earlier than necessary."

       "Well," I smiled. "We will just have to try then."

-*-

          Jake: I don't know about him being on the team. His grades are low, detention is his best friend, and he's just not a good kid.

         Jafar: Jake, how many times have you been rebellious in your youth? It's nothing new. You can't tell me one kid on the team is just...perfect.

         Jake: In the type of town we live in, the pressure of playing certain people is pushed. I'm not scared of some nosey, annoying parents, but if I put neck on the line for him, he has to make an effort.

         And I know all too well about what he's talking about. In the town we live in, everything is expected to go a certain way. You're expecting to play certain kids in sports, run the school a certain way, and kiss those same decision makers butts for your betterment. I had to to witness this first hand when I was on the team, but Jake and a lot of others didn't. He was the principal and the coaches son, his spot was reserved. The only reason why I played was because I proved my skills and stayed out of trouble. Mu'adh is a whole different story.

          Jafar: Why can't we just give him a chance? He's good. Let him prove it the same way I did.

         Jake: You want to be responsible for his screw ups if we put him on the team?

          I didn't hesitate as I replied back.

        Jafar: I'll keep him in check. If he messes up, it's on me.

        Jake: Okay, fine. Lets do it.

         "Nurse?"

        I sat my phone down immediately, stood up and walked towards the bed. My fathers eyes are slightly open, but he looks weak. He then turned to me.

       "Jafar...?"

       "Yeah," I said breathlessly. "What do you need?"

      He ignored me. "What are you...doing...here?" He said in between breaths.

        I frowned at him. I haven't seen him in over a year, and that's the first thing he asks. I couldn't help but feel hurt by that.

        "I heard you were sick and decided to visit."

       "Oh. Where's the nurse? I need water."

        "I'll get it," I went over to his counter and outed some water in a cup and gave it to him. "Feel better?"

       "Not really. I've been poked and prodded all day."

       I took his cup from him and sat down back in my seat. "I can't imagine. I know we haven't spoken in a year, but I at least wanted to check on you."

       "I appreciate that. But today of all days, I'm suprised."

        "It may be the day I was born, but I'm not selfish," There was a moment of silence in the room, before he looked up at me.

        "I was going to tell you and your sisters, you know?"

        I shook my head. "You're my father and I respect you for that, but you can't possibly expect me to believe that you were going to sit us down and explain to us your...situation."

        "I was," He said seriously, just looking out into space. "I know my actions in the past are unforgivable, but  they are also the past. I know you're still mad at me, I will have to live with that, but I also have to move on."

        "I was never mad at you," I said in all seriousness, and he raised an eyebrow at me. "Just dissapointed."

         And I really was. When something went wrong during my childhood until now, I was never mad, always dissapointed. I never understood the concept of just getting upset and taking it out on my fist or ranting nonstop. It all seemed so pointless.

        "Listen, Jafar, it's your birthday today and I don't want you to spend it sitting here and watching me fade away."

       "You want me to leave?"

       "Yes," He said bluntly, and I couldn't help but chuckle. "You should spend time with your wife. You won't have moments like this once the baby comes."

       At that I looked up at him in confusion. "How do you know we're having a baby?"

        "Well, technically Ayah is the one doing all the work, but you get my point. But, anyways," He smiled like he was remebering an inside joke. "I have sources."

      "Okay," I stood up and stretched. "I'll be back soon, okay. Whether you like it or not."

-*-

           "Today was a good day," I whispered to Ayah. We are now sat on the porch swing in the backyard, my arm around my wife as she's leaning on me. I never thought today would go like this. Everytime I thought of visiting my father, I imagined a cold visit with two moody people who wouldn't be able to stand each other. I was wrong.

        "I told you it would be," She smiled up at me, taking bites out of her sandwich. "You never told me about the visit. How did it go?"

        "Better than I imagined. I thought it would be all tense with us jumping at each other's throats, but it was all my imaginations doing; making me feel like nothing would go right. I think it was the bad experiences that made me think that anything I did with him would turn out badly. No wonder assumptions are a sin."

         "I'm so happy for you. This side of you--the happy kind--it warms my heart to know that you're finally done doubting yourself. How does it feel?"

          I let out a laugh. "Finally like I can breathe again. And I owe it all to you."

        "Me?!" She exclaimed and I laughed. "How so?"

       "That kiss you gave me did it," I told her, and she groaned and burried her head in my chest.

       "Can we not talk about that?" Came her muffled response.

       "Another one will take my mind off of it."

      "Yeah right," She brought up her head and looked at me. "I shouldn't have waited so long. It just didn't feel right."

       I began to lean down, whispering, "And what does it feel like now?"

       "It feels," She brought her hand up to the back of my neck and pulled my face down to hers, smiling the whole time. "Perfect," And then we sealed the deal.

-*-
October 4th

          "We need to talk," I said to my sister and walked inside to sit on the couch.

          Tehreem closed the door and came to sit down slowly beside me, looking at me warily, no doubt wondering why I just showed up out of the blue wanting to talk.

          "Is Zahrah here? We all need to be here."

          "She's upstairs with Rahil, but what are you talking about? What do you want to talk  about?"

         "That's why we need Zahrah, no one else. It only concerns us."

         Standing up, Tehreem pursed her lips. "I'll go get her."

         Just yesterday I realized how selfish I was really being. How I was obsessed with obsessing over my father even though I'm not his only child. I completely forgot to consult my older sisters, some bring I know they will be upset about. It was just the four of us for almost nine years, but when somethings like this happens, I completely forget.

         "What is this talk that Reemi was just telling me about?" Zahrah asked from the botttom of the steps. She and Tehreem came forward towards me, a look of concern on their faces.

         "It's about Abu...."

          "Oh," They both came to sit across from me, both with blank faces. You mean the fact that he's in the hospital?"

        I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. "You knew?"

       "Yes," Zahrah nodded. "We did. The reason why we didn't say anything was because, well, you were handling it differently."

      "What Zahrah is trying to say is," Tehreem came to sit next to me and shrugged. "We knew you were told, but we just didn't know how to approach the situation, Jafar. I'm sorry."

       "Did you ever go visit him?" I asked, and they nodded.

        "When you went to New York," Zahrag spoke up. "We made our peace with him. All the silly grudges we held are over, and now...we moved on."

        "Also," Tehreem sat up. "He told us something to explain his absence all those years. Have you seen him?"

        "Once."

         "Good. Because there is something that you both need to talk about."

        "Habibi," Ummi exclaimed as she and Abi walked into the room. "You're back. Yesterday you left without telling us. On your birthday."

        I frowned because I did leave without a word.

      "I had to take care of something. And actually, I need to do something now."

-*-

          "When you said you were going to come back, I didn't quite believe you."

        "I always try to keep my word," I took off my jacket and placed it on the back of the chair before sitting down. "Is there any news from your tests today?"

       H lowered his head with a small smile. "It's just procedure, the tests. How do you have all this free time to come here?"

       "I've only been here twice."

       "But why?" He asked. "You were gone for a while from everyone yet you're here. Why?"

       "You're my father. Whether I like it or not, I owe you respect. By the way, i was told that you would have something to tell me. What is it?"

        "You talked to your sisters."

        "Briefly."

        He sat up from his seat, the same blank stare in his face.

       "Abu," I said softly, and he winced. "What is it? Is it bad?"

        "It depends on how you look at it, son," He laughed. "It's just...complicated."

        "How--"

       "Excuse me, Mr. Ibrahim," The nurse said as she walked into the room. "There's someone here requesting to see you."

       "Who?"

       "He won't tell his name. He wants to speak to someone that knows you. Anyone."

       "Jafar?" He asked, and I turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Could you?"

      "Yeah," I smiled and followed the nurse to the elevators. "What can you tell me about him?"

       "He has a Italian accent, dark hair and striking eyes."

       "That could be a lot of people," I sighed. We got off the elevator moments later and walked to the front counter. When we arrived, a mins just as she described was leaning against the counter, a look of annoyance on his face.

       "Excuse me, sir?" The nurse spoke. "Mr. Ibrahim is not able to make it down here, but I brought someone in his place."

      "I've been waiting here for half an hour for you to bring me the wrong person?" He asked in frustration. "I just want to see him!"

       "Who are you?" I asked, but he waved me off.

        "I didn't come to speak to you. I came to speak to, Sadiq."

       "Well, I'm his son..." I trailed off, and he turned to me slowly, his eyebrows raised. "And he sent me down here. So, you mind telling me who you are?"

       "My name is Luca. I'm Ariana'a son."

        "Will he know who she is?"

         "Know her?" He laughed. "Believe me, he will know her."

        And then he left.
-*-

Random Question: When this story ends, do you guys want to do a one-shot competition?) I will only do it if there are at least three people who agree, no less)

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