From Aliya to Hafiz

Forty.

Hafiz.

For the first time, I was feeling torn.

On one hand, was Grandma, the one person who was always there for me since I was a kid, and on the other were my cousins, Father, Grandfather, and...though I hated to admit it, Aliya.

I didn't understand why it came to this. Honestly, I felt like there was no need to continue butting heads with Aliya, not when I knew how it felt to be on good terms and just...be...with her. This last week we spent together with my cousins was almost magical, comfortable, and I felt that if life with her was like this, it wouldn't be so bad.

There was something that kept eating away at me the longer we were together. I had been suppressing it but I heard what my heart was trying to tell me.

Is revenge really that important?

It wasn't like that woman was dancing around in front of me and most of the time I forgot she existed. Aliya had been nothing but amiable, a source of comfort and belonging for me, something I had never felt with anyone.

I didn't know when it started, but my mind and heart were at war. My mind wanted to proceed, saying it was good that we got along so well with Aliya these days, it meant she wasn't putting up her guard anymore and the strike would hurt all the more.

My heart on the other said to hell with everything. It doesn't matter what happens with her in the future, but right now, at this moment, we could continue the way we were. Everything else be damned.

Irritated, I took my phone out of my pocket but before I could dial Grandmother, Mom called.

"Hafiz, where are you?" She didn't sound very good.

"Home, are you okay?"

"Can you come to my place in the city centre? I have something to talk to you about."

"Can it wait? I have to go to Grandma's."

"That's good, she's here with me so just come over."

"Okay," I hung up the phone.

I jogged back to my place and headed to the garage to get my car. I arrived at Mom's penthouse in record time, feeling thankful the road wasn't packed. I wanted to speak to my grandmother when this feeling of irritation was still burning in my chest. If I let it dwindle, she might sweet talk herself out of this, like she always does.

I used my thumbprint to access Mom's floor and rode the elevator up. When it opened, it was to the familiar sight of her red and white open floor living room. I caught sight of the two of them sitting on the dining table by the glass wall overlooking the cityscape so I strolled towards them.

"Grandmother," I propped my palms on the dining table, scowl in place.

"Hafiz?" She blinked, her crowfeet becoming prominent. "Who upset you?"

"You. I told you to stop provoking Grandfather."

Her face chilled and a scowl formed on her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do! Why do you keep trying to aggravate his condition!? Do you want to kill him!?"

"Well it's all your fault isn't it!?" She slapped the table roughly. "Do you know that I can't enter your estate anymore!? My fingerprints were erased from the database! And have you been screening my calls!? What else was I supposed to do!?"

I stared at her in disbelief. "You have dozens of ways to get a hold of me, you could call Abir or come to my office. Why did you have to hurt Grandfather like that? What more do you want from him!?"