Modesty Is Beauty

Fixing Mistakes

Rayyan waited for three months before he went to Fareed's house. Meanwhile, he tried to think of some ways to help Fareed's family and how he would answer their queries. He was afraid. He didn't want them to know that he was responsible for their son's death.

Standing outside Fareed's house, he took a deep breathe and pressed the bell. He heard someone approaching the door and waited with his heart thumping fast in his chest. The door opened revealing Fareed's mother. He swallowed when he saw how weak and sad she looked.

"Hel-Assalamu Alaikum Aunty." He tried to smile at her but couldn't.

"Walaikum Assalaam, who are you?" Asma asked him scrunching her brows trying to remember who the guy was.

"I-I am Fareed's friend." He stopped swallowing the lump in his throat. The tightening of his chest made it hard for him to say anything else.

Asma smiled weakly and asked him to come inside. Rayyan took a deep breathe as she left the door open for him. With unsteady steps, he entered the house. He was holding a bag in his hands which had some clothes for the baby. He didn't know what else he could bring and he didn't want to go empty handed either.

"Assalamu Alaikum Uncle." He greeted Mr Ghazi who was sitting on the couch. He smiled at him and stood up from his position to give him a hug and a gentle pat on the back. Ghazi looked at his wife and she told him that he was a friend of Fareed.

Ghazi motioned him to sit and sat beside him. Asma went to kitchen to make something for her guest. Rayyan was quite for sometime not knowing where to start.

"How are you uncle?" He asked hoping to start a conversation.

"Alhamdulillah, my son. May I ask your name?" Ghazi answered giving him a half smile.

"I am Rayyan, Fareed's best friend." He told swallowing a lump because he knew what his next question would be.

"I wonder why you didn't come to the funeral. You two were really close." Rayyan had to swallow again before answering.

"I-I was away when-when he died." His voice broke at the end and he inhaled trying to keep his tears from falling. Ghazi patted his back and nodded.

"I am so sorry uncle. I couldn't come to his funeral. I still can't believe he is not with us anymore. He was my best friend, my only support. We were different in many ways but he never left my side. He was truly a gem." Rayyan said, his voice was hoarse and he was blinking profusely to stop the tears.

"I-I miss him so much." He said and a tear escaped his eye. He looked away ashamed to show his weak side. Ghazi hugged him from the side but he was surprised when Rayyan turned around and hugged him tightly. Clinging to him, he let his tears flow.

Ghazi was taken aback for a second but then he realised that Rayyan needed a shoulder to cry on so he gently rubbed his back while he cried mumbling incoherent words. When Rayyan let go, he handed him a tissue while examining him with his narrow eyes. Rayyan looked away, not able to look his uncle in the eye.

"Are you okay now?" Ghazi asked and Rayyan nodded.

"Is something troubling you, habibi?" Ghazi asked gently and he noticed how tense Rayyan became by his question.