Over-looked Love

CHAPTER-14

A/N:The above song's lyrics are so damn related with Tuba's , Esha's and Amina's situation...No offence for the things said about India cause if you guys would be there in their place then you also would have felt the same ...and it's just a story so I am sorry if someone gets offended by that ...do comment and rate...

I woke up to the rumbling sound in my tummy , washed and ate a mayo sandwich . 

As we all were sitting in the drawing room and having snacks , dad received a call from his sister . After a few minutes of talk , there was a worried look on his face . "Inna lillahi wainna ilaihi rajioon ! " he exclaimed . "When did this happen and how.." he asked in a cracked voice . 

He held his head in his hands after disconnecting the phone . "What's wrong ? " mom asked . 

"Abbaji ka inteqal hogaya (my dad passed way) "  he said and broke down . 

"Don't cry...just pray for his maghfirah...when is the funeral ? " mom asked smoothing dad's back . 

"In a few hours . "

"What ? Why so soon ? We won't be able to attend the funeral . " mom said . 

"It's a heart attack , so they won't keep the body for long . " dad said .

As we all were consoling dad , his phone rang again and this time it was his brother-in-law . He spoke for some time and then said "Bhai is asking us not to come cause we won't be able to make it on time and children's exams are also approaching . "

"He is right , now stop weeping and let's pray . " mom said as we all did ablution and started praying for my grand dad . 

I couldn't sleep the whole night . Though I wasn't attached with any of my relatives but I felt some thing unusual , like a depressed feeling .

The next day , I woke up , didn't feel like going to school so went back to sleep .  I  freshened up and went to have some breakfast . Everyone were busy having their breads . After a while dad spoke up

 "From the time I came to Saudi , for the first time ever I hate my life over here . What kind of life is this ? We are staying away from the people we love . We can't participate in their happiness or sadness . We never experianced the feeling of staying in a joint family . We are not involved in any kind of events or occasions . "

"Yes abbu , let's shift to India this year . I will continue my 10th over there . " I said . 

"You people won't fit in there , life in India is really complicated trust me . All of you have been born and brought up here so continue your life here . " mom protested . Osaid and mom were against this idea . If I pressurized dad a little then I knew he would agree . 

Now and then I kept saying dad about the positive side of going to India .

The days went by and I hadn't said a single thing about this to Esha or Amina cause I knew they would slaughter me for provoking dad . 

As I was watching the T.V. , dad entered in a jolly mood , holding an envelope in his hand .

"Kis baat ki khushi hai ? (What's the reason for this happiness ? ) mom asked .

"Tantanaa.....I resigned . " dad said his arms wide open . 

"What ! How can you make such a big decision all by yourself ? " mom asked furiously . 

"It's time for us to live our life to the fullest . Enough of this isolated life . " dad said giving me a high five as I ran towards him , full of happiness . "We will be shifting in the first week of May , so let's start shopping and packing . " dad added . 

"Fine , at least you are happy . Now have a little patience and go change and come for lunch . " mom said pushing dad .

I was on top of the clouds , but some where I knew that this happiness won't last for long . 

Next day I went to school and informed Esh and Amy about the whole thing . 

"Tuba are you out of your mind ? Seriously you gonna shift to India ? It's a hell of a place trust me . You will surely regret your decision . " Esh said . 

"Now everything seems colorful , but later you will get to know that it was all just black and white . The surroundings there are completely different from here . The place is corrupted , it's people are corrupted . " Amy said . 

"Guys guys , it's not that bad and not all the people are corrupted , only a few are bastards and bitches . And after all we are Indians , we shouldn't speak ill of our country . " I explained . 

"No we are not Indians , we belong here and not to that shitty place . Only our parents are from India and anyways they all got their Saudi citizenship so India is not our country . " Amy raged . 

"OK whatever , but the decision is already made . " I said . 

"Please don't do this Tuba , don't spoil your life just for a guy with whom you don't even have a guarantee that he will stay with you . How are we suppose to accept this fact that you are going away from us . Don't make a decision for which you will regret later . You made such an idiotic decision and didn't even realize that once you shift to India we will never get to sit together in the same class and make fun of the teachers , eat during classes , use cell phone while the lecture is going on , hangouts an sleepovers , getting late for the first period and standing out , pull each other's legs and take a stand for each other whenever a fight occurred . " Esha said with eyes filling up . 

"Did you ever thought whether you will get another chance to go on a trip with us ? We were EFATH - Esha , Fatima , Amina , Tuba and Hana - H already left and now even you are leaving .It's really tough to imagine a life without you Tuba . please don't leave us and go . " Amina said with tears rolling down her cheeks .  

"Who will be there with Amy to plan a surprise for my next birthday ? Who will fight with me for chocolates ? Whom will I open to when I am low ? Who will save us when me and Amy get caught doing some nuisance ? We cannot deal with these bitches without you . " Esha said pointing at some mean girls of our class . 

After listening to them , I actually felt foolish on my decision . "Hmm...I will talk to dad and let's see what can be done . " I said .

I went home and while having lunch I asked my dad "Now that you have resigned , can't you join again ? If at all you change your mind then can't you continue your job ? " 

"I can but I wont . " dad said . 

While sleeping I said Muss about all of the India thingie . "Even if we shift to India , it will still be a long distance relationship , as you will be in Bangalore and me in Hyderabad . Par koi nai ( it doesn't matter) " he said . 

The evening went in studying . As I was lying on the bed , weird thoughts kept coming in my mind , like "what if Mustafa changes" "what if he ditches me" "what if  he cheats on me"....I slammed the back of my head for making this stupid decision .

The next day was a holiday . As I was lying on my bed with couple of blankets wrapped around me to save myself from the winter of Saudi , Ada burst into my room and said "Someone's at the door , go open it cause mum is sleeping . " 

I dragged myself from the cold bed to the cold doorway . I found our Christian neighbor standing with a box of sweets . "This is for you guys . " he said . "Thank you so much uncle , but what is the occasion ? " I asked . 

"It's new year dear , you are still sleepy I guess . " he laughed and went away .

"Oh it's 1st January , that's why we have a holiday today . " I thought . I kept the box on the table and went back to my cozy bed .