Restraint And Denial (An Arabic Love Story)

Chapter 3.

Chapter 3

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Zaid sat comfortably in his car, nodding his head to a Nasheed that was playing on the radio as he drove. He kept the volume low just so he could hear himself think as he hummed to the Nasheed by his favorite reciter, Sheikh Mishary Alfasy. During the drive, an image of a young lady dragging a tool-chest like a weak little child played in his mind. He couldn't help but smile at the thought because he found it really amusing. After he had smiled to his satisfaction, he shook the image off his head and focused on driving.

After a couple of minutes, the family house was finally in his vicinity and almost immediately he remembered that he hadn't bought the Ice creams and chocolates he had promised his older sister's kids. Now he had to turn the car around and head to the nearest Ice Cream shop. He knew his nieces and nephew won't give him the peace that he deserved if he didn't get those Ice creams. Even if the kids didn't worry about it, his conscience would hunt him as he now carried the responsibilities of both an uncle and a father.

The children's father had lost his life to the cold hands of death two years ago in a fatal road accident and ever since then Zaid had been the one responsible for the kids and their mother, he provided them with everything they needed. He cared for them like they were his own kids, especially because his sister had decided not to remarry for some odd reason. Now that she had clocked thirty, Zaid didn't fail to notice that she was growing old and as such needed a man in her life but he had decided not to push the matter because she needed time to heal. He wanted them to be happy even though what he felt for them was genuine love mixed with pity.

He grabbed three tubs of ice cream, some candies, and a box of chocolates from a branch of Maryland Store along the street that only sold such. The children loved anything that had Maryland written on it because it was their favorite place of recreation, they would go to the Park sometimes during vacation for a family picnic.

He was now driving into his compound as the gate shot itself behind him when he flinched at a harsh scream that almost ruined his tympanic membrane:

"Uncle Khalo!" The children chanted in a voice louder than thunder itself as they rushed to him. And because the car was made of metal they couldn't tear it down as they each struggled to open the door, it was like a contest with each of them hustling to hug their beloved uncle first.

"Easy there." He chuckled as he couldn't hold his balance against the children clutching and engulfing him in a tight hug.

After the hug wrestling, one of the kids, Samir rushed to the other side of the car to grab the things his uncle had got for them. He always knew where to find them since it was their daily routine to bade their uncle welcome anytime he returned from work.

Samir was just six years old and the youngest of the kids so he didn't do more than hugging and grabbing ice creams, while his sisters Layla and Aisha were caught up in an interesting discussion with their uncle.

"Uncle Zaid, here is my report card. I have been waiting on you since so that I can show it to you." That was Layla talking. She was ten and their oldest siblings. And truly she had been anxiously awaiting her uncle's return just so she could show him her excellent grades. She knew he was already impressed by her brilliant performance every year but she always enjoyed the praises he gave her. She just couldn't wait to hear those admirable praises again.

"Let me see." He grinned widely, collecting the paper from her. "Wow, this time around you got an A in mathematics." He placed a hand around her shoulders and pulled her in to kiss her on the forehead. "I'm so proud of you Layla, you continue to amaze me with your grades."