Nayab, a brilliant and meticulous MBBS student, possesses a mind built for calculations and precision. Her dreams are set on excelling in her medical career, leaving no room for frivolities or romantic distractions. Meanwhile, Danish, a vivacious an...
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Danish’s eyes were scrutinized as he focused on his laptop screen before he started typing a mail. It was nighttime and he was sitting in the backyard after dinner.
Mustafa padded out with two cups of coffee in his hand. “Here,” He kept a cup in front of Danish and took a seat beside him.
Danish was surprised. “Chachu, you should have asked me. I would have made it.”
Mustafa shrugged it with a wave of hand. “I thought of spending some time with you today. Ever since you’ve come back from India, we have hardly seen you.”
“Yeah, the workload has increased. The wedding in India showed us that Felicity can handle overseas weddings now. So just researching about the best markets and how to gain a network there.”
“Have I ever told you that I am proud of you?” Mustafa said out of the blue.
That made Danish pause and look at him. Mustafa nodded with a smile. “I was not even married when you were born. You were the first child I had seen in my life. And you had my heart at that very moment. And don’t tell this to Yousuf and Yahya,” Mustafa lowered his voice, “but you’re my favorite.”
Danish chuckled. “It is our secret.”
They shared a laugh at that. “And now when I see you, all grown up, making a successful and happy life for yourself, it fills my heart with pride. And I am sure your father, wherever he is, would be proud of you as well.”
That made Danish smile sadly.
“But do you know which quality about you I love the most?” Mustafa continued, “The way you balance your personal and professional life. You’re not afraid of hard work, but you also understand that work isn’t everything in life. The way you treat your family, the way you treat your employees..it is not easy.”
“But, son, lately, I have been noticing you. You’re always working. You leave early in the morning, come back late. It isn’t healthy.”
Danish moved his fingers casually along the rim of the coffee mug. “Chachu, I told you the workload has increased..”
But Mustafa cut him with a shake of his head. “Or is it a way of hiding from something?”
Danish opened his mouth to speak, but couldn’t find any right words. So he just looked away.
“It is okay if you don’t want to share it with me. Everyone goes through some personal stuff now and then. Just don’t lose yourself in it so much that it changes you forever. Running or hiding away from your feelings would do no good. Be brave and face it.”
They sat there for sometime, just sipping their coffee. It was when their cups were empty, Danish asked him, “Have you ever gotten your heart broken, chachu?”
Mustafa chuckled. “Once. She was in college with me. We wanted to marry each other, but her family didn’t agree.”
“Then? How did you deal with it?”
“It made me very upset for a couple of months. The fact that we both loved each other, but we had to separate only because of circumstances was most heartbreaking. But then I eventually realized that some things are just not written in your destiny, and the earlier you accept it, the better it’d be for you.”
“Then?” Danish asked.
“Then, your mother found Sumaya for me and got us married. And life has been beautiful ever since.”
They both smiled at each other.
“So are you also hiding a heartbreak behind all this work?” Mustafa asked.
“Not heartbreak, really.” Danish said, “Just the sadness of not being able to continue something because of circumstances.”
The elder man held the younger’s shoulder to give him strength. “Hey, things will get okay. It always does. Just never lose faith.”
Saying that Mustafa got up and left Danish alone to figure out his emotions. He looked at his laptop and his pending work. He had two options; he could continue finishing them or he could spend some time with his cousins, which he had not done ever since he had come back.
He decided to go with the later one, and shut his laptop.
Danish entered Yahya’s room and shouted excitedly, “Who’s up for a game?”
“Me,” Yahya jumped out of bed. They asked Yusuf to join them as well, and the three boys spent the next few hours in front of the TV screen with controllers in their hands.
“When was the last time we hung out like this?” Yahya asked while playing with the spatula. Danish was making mac and cheese and Yusuf was working on hot chocolate.
Danish shrugged and looked at Yusuf. “I guess it was before Yusi went off to college.”
“We should do this more often.” Yusuf commented pouring the rich, thick liquid into three mugs.
Danish too turned the stove off and brought out three bowls to serve. “Yes, I am sorry I’ve been busy with work lately. But we all will make a conscious effort to give each other time.”
They clinked their mugs to that and then enjoyed their delicious food.
Sumaya, who had woken up by some faint noises, left the bed and came out of her bedroom to check what’s going on. The sight of her three sons gathered around the kitchen table felt blissful. They were joking and laughing, their youthful energy filling the room with a sense of joy and vitality. She looked up and made a silent prayer to Allah to always keep their happiness intact before going back into the arms of her husband.
