A Thing, Beyond Forever

33.

I didn't imagine that my piece of imagination; my book would cross over thousands of peoples' heart.

I am SO OVERWHELMED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I know, thank you is just an understatement when it comes to thank you all. I am running out of words to say how much grateful I am.

Again, thank you so much.

YAZAN

"Yazan, I see you've changed"

I looked up from my plate of omelette and bread with an eyebrow raised at my dad. "Changed? for good or bad?" I asked, a little nervous chuckle escaped my lips like I was treading between fire and ice.

He kept his phone down on the handheld of the sofa and turned to look at me. "Of course I meant for good. I don't know what magic your Mom has done on you in India but Alhamdulilah...I am glad to see you like this" 

I nodded, taking in the appreciation I was getting for maybe the first time ever in my life. Ever since I could possibly remember. "LIke this? Like what?" I asked, perplexed.

"Well..." He sighed relief. "For starters, my friends at the Masjid seem to be very glad to know that the young boy who's helping around in the masjid and always the first one to be there at Fajr, to open the lights and the ACs, is my son" 

A smile involuntarily crept my face and he was smiling too but there was also something else. His eyes were sparkling with proud. "Alhamdulilah" I said and something clicked in my mind. Something I had been meaning to ask him since a long time. Strike the iron while it's hot Yazan!

I went to the kitchen with my empty plate, cleaned it and kept it on the rack then I braced myself to approach him..

"I had to discuss something with you, by the way" I spoke hesitantly as I made my way towards the sofa and sat across from him. 

"Go on" He gestured me to speak. "I'm listening" 

I leaned forward resting my elbows on my knees. "Dad, I wanted to distribute free food to all the workers working on the construction site of our restaurant and if possible, every once in a while free lunch to our employees from our restaurant" I paused, taking his body language into consideration. 

"Hmm...I see..." He nodded.

I took a deep breath and continued as I shifted in the sofa, "Dad, if you don't mind..I...I also wanted to suggest since we are making enough profit every month. We should consider installing a tent for the workers that work in the blazing heat. That tent will have a fridge and a resting couch or something so they can take a break, have something to eat and then work?

He listened to me with rapt attention, a stern look clouded over his face as if he was trying to do some difficult math calculations in his head.

"What do you think?" I asked, "I was thinking about this since a very long time. If Allah has given us the capability to do something, to help the poor and needy, we shouldn't take a step back, isn't it?"

"Of course, only if you are okay with it because you know these things better than I do" I added, my heart beat suddenly took a leap and started beating ferociously in my chest.  I could hear every beat of my heart thumping in my chest as the room fell silent after I spoke. The agitation and anticipation of his answer killing me inside. I'm much more comfortable speaking with mom about anything but when it comes to Dad, I don't know what it was but he was just the stricter parent amongst the two of them. 

"Yazan" He spoke sternly.

"Ji" my voice came out as barely a whisper. I kept my hand on the my knees because I couldn't stop shaking them out of nervousness. Heck, I didn't even know why I was feeling so nervous when I said or did nothing wrong but when you are young, you don't have much courage to stand up for what you believe in.