Choosing The Right Path

38) 😃 Welcome 😃

👯A A M I R A H 👯

*2 weeks later*

We stood around the Jabbars' car. I was still wary of Azlan's mother but I was going to be as respectful and kind to her as I was to anybody else, regardless of how much she disliked me. I was not going to stoop to her level. I didn't understand why she disliked me. She didn't have to like me but she didn't have to be as openly hostile as she was. She was not happy to see me when we arrived at the hospital. That was ok. I was here to support Azlan, not create a problem or deal with people and their politics. Besides, I was not in the best of moods, for some reason. It would just be best for me to keep my mouth shut for time-being. The only reason for me to be happy was that Azlan was being discharged.

"What's taking so long?" Rubina complained. "Azlan wouldn't mind if I wasn't here."

"Rubina!" Aunty Husna hissed, "Azlan is your friend. It would mean a lot to him if you were there."

Rubina folded her arms.

"Look, there's Zak!" Hamid called to us from Jared's car.

Yes, everybody was here to see Azlan get discharged. I knew that despite being a bad boy and feeling that he had to be emotionless and distant, he would appreciate everybody's presence.

Zak walked up to us and greeted Aunt Husna and Uncle Ismail before moving to join the boys. I hoped that time would moce faster.

✴ A Z L A N ✴

To have been forced to sit and be wheeled out of Seaview Hospital sucked. It was embarrassing but hey, it was a small price to pay for freedom. Being cooped up in the ICU was as boring as life could get. At least my life would now slowly get back to normal.

"Welcome back, Azlan!" Everybody shouted from around the car park.

By everybody, I mean everybody, even Jana, Jared's girlfriend. The security guards did not look impressed by the loud visitors, but I sure was. My friends and family really made an effort to pitch today. They truly touched my heart.

"Hey," Dad said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay to do this? If they're too big of a crowd, I could send them away-"

"No Dad, it's cool. I'm glad that they're all here.  Let's go."

The guys ran up to me and patted my back, yelling their encouraging words as if I was winning a game of football.

"C'mon, let's get home before it starts to rain. Your friends can visit anytime. I'll let them know."

》》》

Friends visited and updated me on the current world events that I might have known about if I was not stuck in bed all day thanks to Mom. For some reason, it was nice to be able to rest. I slept in the guest room in my parents' house. They insisted that I stay with them to recover. Zak agreed with them, after all, he would always be out working.

The day after I was discharged, Zak came over for supper. Dad invited him.

"Come on in, Mr. Greene."

"Hello, Sir. Hello Mrs. Jabbar."

I heard Zak greeting my parents from the dining room. Mom wheeled me around to the table earlier and believe it or not, I was playing sudoku. I was just that bored.

"Azlan! Hey buddy, how you been?" Zak sat down next to me and laid a box on the table in front of me.

"I've been better," I chuckled. "What's this?"

"Just a little get well soon gift from yours truly."

"Thanks Zak. It means a lot. How's things over at the apartment?"

"Boring. It's quiet without you around there, you know?"

"Don't tell my parents I said this but it's just as bad here."

Zak laughed.

Mom walked in carrying a steaming bowl of white rice.

"What's the joke, boys?" She asked as she put down the bowl.

"Nothing, ma'am," Zak replied slowly. "The food smells great. I can't wait to eat."

Mom smiled, pleased with the compliment. She took real pride in her cooking. I was sure that she got along well with Aamirah's aunt.

Once we were all seated around the table, Dad started to ask Zak a few personal questions.

"So you've never had a proper job?"

"Yes, until now. Mr. Giorvani pays me well at the  supermarket."

"The supermarket? Which one, exactly?"

"Real Grocer's. It's around Marionhill."

"And do you make a good income, Mr. Greene?"

"Dad!"

"Be quiet, son. Do you make a good income, Zak?"

My blood was beginning to boil. Why was Dad asking these questions? It was Zak's personal life and he didn't need to answer to my parents as if he was a little boy.  For a moment, it felt as if Dad had never changed.

One wrong move.

One wrong move and that would have been all it would have taken for me to pack my belongings and leave my parents' home, once again.

Zak was quiet for a moment before he answered. He kept his eyes fixed on the crisp, white tablecloth in front of him. "It's sufficient."

I glanced sideways at Zak. He was fidgeting with his hands. He was clearly uncomfortable and it made me feel guilty. Surely Mom and Dad didn't invite him over to interrogate him? Zak was my friend, they weren't going to treat him like a convict, not on my watch.

"Okay, Dad, that's enou-"

"We were wondering, Mr. Greene, would you like to join my business? Azlan says you make great business choices."

Zak's eyes widened and he turned to look at me. I don't think I had ever seen a man with such disbelief written all over his face.

"Excuse me, Sir?"

"Would you like to join our familg business? I could do with a partner. C'mon, you'll love this job and you'll undergo training, for free. On the condition that you will work with us for the next five years, at the least."

"Are you being serious, Mr. Jabbar?"

"Take this as a small incentive for being there for my son when I was not."

I guess Dad really had changed, in a way.

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

So this chapter is basicallg welcoming Azlan back into the world after his stay in hospital and welcoming Zak into the Jabbar family's business. 💪

And we're coming to a close of this story 🙊🙊x

❤.