Choosing The Right Path

32)❤Rightful Renunion❤

👯 A A M I R A H👯

My alarm clock buzzed and I didn't realise it till somebody stomped into my room, muttering under their breath. My room had a blue tinge to it during most early mornings. It was so calming and peaceful. In fact, the early morning was my favourite part of the day. The air was always pure and still.

Something... Or someone, landed on my bed with a thud. Relucantly, I rolled onto my side to see what the commotion was all about.

"Aamirah, wake up; it's Thursday!"

"So what if it's Thursday?" I grumbled. "Can't a girl get a little sleep arou- Allah... It's Thursday!"

I sat up in bed to find Rubina nodding her head, confirming my fear; today was the day that Azlan would have had to face sooner or later.

✴ A Z L A N ✴

It was around midday when I arrived in the suburbs. The streets were quiet, except for the sound of a dog barking in the distance. Other than that, the neighbourhood was silent.

I walked up to the front door. I stood on the porch, contemplating life for a brief moment before mustering the courage to ring the doorbell. My mother would have opened the door in a few minutes. She would have invited me in for lunch and we would talk about our lives as if nothing had changed. Forunately, our lives were not completely separated. My father didn't wish to understand my plight and for that, I was beginning to hate him.

No feelings less, no feelings more. Pure hate radiated off of my very being when I thought about him. The one man I had trusted and looked up to had let me down. How could I ever forgive him for hurting me this deeply? Did he even realise what effect his actions would have on my life? Personally, I was deeply scarred. When society turn their backs on you, it's one thing; you know you still have people to fall on. When the people you think would understand you turn their backs on you, that's something else altogether.

And that could easily break you.

I refused to be broken. I wasn't going to let my father control my life and hurt me the way he did, ever again. I was stronger than that.

I pressed the doorbell and waited. I heard bickering and footsteps behind the door.

I came face to face with Imraan Jabbar, my father. My heart pounded in my chest and I could feel the blood rush to my head. Everything around me started to spin. This was not going to go well, I could just feel it.

》》》

Everything was as normal. The house was as it usually was. A bouqet of white roses decorated the usually boring coffee table and a foot stool was in line with Mom's usual seat. Nothing changed, really. It was as if I never left. The few memories I had in this house were to be treasured and to have had to leave my home was the worst punishment I could ever have been given. But for some reason, I didn't regret the choices that I made. Everything happens for a reason.

"Azlan?"

"Hm?"

"Would you like something to eat?"

I rolled my eyes. "Stop treating me like a guest, Mom. Just take a seat and relax."

"The boy is right, Nooria. We have a lot to discuss." Dad set his newspaper down and took off his glasses. He rubbed his eyes and it looked to me as if he'd aged fifteen years in the eight months that I had been gone.

"Mom, Dad," I gulped. "I just want to say that I am sorry for ever being a problem to the both of you."

"You better be."

"Imraan! He is your son, too. Why can't you show him some compassion too? Your heart has been breaking ever since he left but all you want to do is keep your pride. Honestly, if I was Azlan, I would never have come back here."

Dad... Dad was in shock, to say the least. So was I but I didn't let it show. Mom never raised her voice and normally took Dad's side. I guess the fact that I kept in contact with her through my difficult times and that she knew my struggle had also caused her to be more understanding. Nobody spoke for a good ten minutes. An air of finality settled around us like a blanket of fog that was difficult to see past. I didn't know what Dad was thinking but his face was a grim picture, not a sight that you'd choose to see. Mother stood at the kitchen counter, her arms wrapped around her chest as if she was trying to keep her heart from exploding. This situation made me feel worse. After all that we had been through as a family, I really didn't want to be the one to cause a rift between my parents. I didn't want to be my parents' biggest problem.

Surely, there is a solution to every problem, though? In my heart I was certain that this issue would finally come to a close. Thursday, 16 September was the day that my family issues would come to and end.

To Aamirah and Rubina, I would forever grateful.

》》》

"Azlan, sit down," Mom said, as she placed a steaming, hot cup of chamomile tea on my nightstand.

Yes, I used to have trouble sleeping. The nightmares would always return to haunt me but chamomile somehow knocked me out hard enough so that I could sleep peacefully.

I didn't have nightmares anymore and after the whole experience of being kicked out of my home, I think I grew to be more of a man than a boy. That's something that I wouldn't simply put out there for no reason.

I stood around awkwardly. Honestly, I hadn't entered my room since forever. The memories of waking up in panic, the night sweats, Mom hugging me and Dad stressing out over his twisted son came flooding back.

Difficult times.

It was for this reason that I could not imagine moving back in with my parents and sleeping in that awful room.

Besides, I couldn't leave Zak to fend for himself. Not when I paid half the rent.

"Azlan, come home, son. Your father is only being stubborn on the outside but we honestly both miss you a lot. We sometimes wonder if you miss us..."

"Mom!" Tears welled up in my eyes, "How could you say that? Of course I missed you both. You're my parents. The two people I will always love unconditionally. I was bitter towards Dad about this whole thing but I missed him too. There were moments when I'd remember how we used to play football every Saturday and my heart would just break and I would have given anything to go back in time and change things. Mom, you know this more than anyone..."

Mom began to cry. So did I.

Dad walked into the room and wrapped his arms around Mom and I. For the first time in about eight months, we felt like a family again.

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Thank you to those who have continued reading up to this point and have beared with me and my slow updates ❤🙈.

My life's been really hectic lately and so I put writing on the back burner.

I'm so happy that Azlan is back together with his parents!! Aren't you?

❤❤❤.