Liquidated

Chapter 7

Listen to Alan Walker's 'Different World' for this chapter.

*Flashbacks are in bold.*

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Note: These are not a part of Hamza's story but they are some very important flashbacks.

December, 2017.

Hamza was sitting in his room, listening to some old songs. In the past few years, his standards about music had become too high. Old classic movies, slow music and ghazals. He realized the worth of these things after a long time.

"Sahib?" Sadiq Baba knocked on his door.

"Yes Sadiq Baba." Hamza took his headphones off.

"Baray sahib wants to see you."

"Tell him I am coming in a minute." Hamza got up and put his headphones away.

Asad Shah was sitting in the lounge reading a magazine. When he saw Hamza, he put it back on the table.

"You wanted to see me Baba." Hamza sat infront of him.

"Yes Hamza I wanted to talk to you about something important." Mr Shah was looking really serious now.

"I am listening." Hamza sat up straight.

"Now that you have passed your Inter exams, I have decided something. You are 19 now my son, all grown up and capable to handle yourself. I have decided to send you to Manchester, UK for higher studies." He calmly explained.

Hamza raised his head. He was certainly not expecting something like this. Despite all that had happened in the past 3 years, he still managed to study further and yet his performance was remarkable in his college nonetheless. But thinking about leaving his parents and his country made his heart sink.

"Baba, you are my father and you must have planned something good for me. I trust you with all the decisions of my life but do you feel that I will be able to take care of myself?" He was referring to his inability to walk.

He had consulted many physiotherapists in these past few years and now he was able to walk with a crutch.

"Yes Hamza. I know you are a very strong boy. You need to believe in yourself and gain a little courage  for studying and living in not just another city but a western country." His father always encouraged him no matter what and he became his best friend in all the time during Hamza struggled with himself.

"If you say so, then I am ready Baba. I will apply as soon as possible." He agreed.

Hamza came back to his room. He could never thank his parents enough for what they had done for him. They had always been there for him whenever he needed them. Thats how parents are made. They can never see their children in pain or despair. They are the two people who can never turn their back on their children.

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Tayyaba folded her prayer mat and sat on her bed. Her husband was working on his laptop. There was a certain disturbance in his behaviour for the past few days.

"Do you think Hamza will be okay on his own in a totally different country?" She was still unstatisfied by her husband's decision.

"He is not a little kid anymore Tayyaba. If we don't give him his space now, he will never be able to take a step without us." He replied.

"This boy has gone through so much at such a young age. I am not gonna let him lose anybody else." Her eyes pooled with tears once again.

"I would not make any promises about that." Asad Shah took off his glasses and sighed deeply.

"What do you mean?" His wife grew curious.

After a few painful moments, he finally spoke.

"I've a brain tumor Tayyaba." He voice became low.

Tayyaba looked at her husband shockingly. She couldn't reciprocate the fact that her husband was so close to death. She finally gathered words to speak.

"We..we'll find something. A way to get you treated."

"I do not think that this can be treated as I am not so young anymore." Despair could be soon clearly in his eyes.

"We saved Hamza right? We found a way when there was no way." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I will do this."

He finally looked at her, "You
wanna do something for me? Keep this from Hamza. The last thing he needs is another grave to mourn."

"Is that why you are sending him away?" She asked.

"He needs to get on with his life. He has to get out of this city or else it'll haunt him forever. He'll never be able to study here. Besides, I can not watch him seeing me like this." He finally poured his heart out.

Asad turned towards his side of the bed to hide his tears as he switched off the lamp.

Tayyaba was lying down straight on her bed, staring towards the ceiling. As she wondered about the fate taking a turn yet again. She knew she was not getting any sleep that night.

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Hey folks. So this is the 7th chapter. Please share your feedback in the comments below.

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