Lost

Chapter 49: Untangle and Tangle

Please vote and comment!

Salma's P.O.V.

"How can you be so foolish, kid?" Salma's father frowned at her.

Her eyes welled up with more tears. The lump in her throat restricted her ability to talk.

Salma's father was back home now that Karen was gone. Any other day, Salma would have been ecstatic to finally have him home, but that day she was dreading to face him after Zayn's antics has been brought to light. She was scared sick of how he was going to react and kept avoiding him. Every time they crossed paths, the weighing uneasiness settling in her stomach made it awkward for her to be around him, forcing her to leave his presence as soon as possible.

Atif Rahman was being his normal, jolly self and did not say a word to her, or anyone. Probably because it was too embarrassing to even address? Salma wanted to know how badly their relationship had been tarnished, but she could not bring herself to look him in the eye, let alone talk to him. The uneasy silence was killing her.

However, like the savior that he is, Asim decided to step in and told his father about Salma's unspoken fears.

"Seriously, how did you even work it out like that?" her father asked, pulling Salma closer.

The familiar feeling of his warm, loving embrace only caused Salma to sob harder. She could not bring herself to utter a word.

"She feared you were angry with her," Asim explained.

"Angry with her?" Mr. Rahman asked, incredulous. "Why would I be angry with her?"

Salma's father lowered his head trying to take a look at her face. She was crying pathetically into his shirt, soaking it with tears.

"Well, you know . . . how it is around here. With being a girl and all," Asim tried to voice her worries.

"What nonsense!" Mr. Rahman said. "I don't care how it is where ever it is. This is my daughter we're talking about. Not just any girl. People may have reasons to be mad at their girls, but I have none whatsoever. You hear me, kid? I have no reason to doubt you and every reason to trust you. So stop being silly."

Salma wiped her tears away, still sobbing. Her father put his hand under her chin and lifted her face up.

"You and your brother have done me and your mother proud." He smiled at her. "You've always stuck to what is right whether or not we were there to keep an eye on you. People worry about their kids going astray, we worry about you getting guys getting too psyched about sticking to the path. You two know the importance of staying righteous. May Allah help you stay steadfast on it."

Mr. Rahman poked her nose and gave her another hug.

"And here I thought my girl was clever," he joked. "Your brains are smaller than that toad sitting next to your mother."

"Dad!" Asim protested, making Salma laugh a little.

"That's right." Mr. Rahman smiled. "Smile and stay happy. We need you to recover fast. No wonder you crashed the other day with all these silly thoughts swirling in your brain. By the way, everything alright at the university?"

Salma sniffed. She knew her father wanted to know about Zayn giving her a hard time. Too overwhelmed to speak, Salma resorted to nodding.

"Good." He patted her back. "Off you go now. Don't drive yourself crazy with assumptions, and have fun."

"'Kay." Salma sniffed.

"And blow your nose." Asim snickered.

"Stop teasing her." Mr. Rahman smacked his head playfully as Salma walked over to her mother for a kiss.