Pervade and Faint

Chapter 43

Sophia gave birth to a baby girl the next day. Dad informed me early in the morning. He seemed all cheerful about it.
I found myself slouched on the couch, with my phone on my chest. Dad told me that he would be home in twenty minutes.
To kill the time, I went upstairs to take a shower. I didn't know whether I was supposed to be happy or what. As I allowed to hot stream of water to hit my body, I wondered whether Sophia was alright. Dad's tone didn't hint any sort of panic, which smoothed my unsteady thoughts. I closed my eyes and an unexpected and abandoned thought rushed in my mind. I completely forgot about it, my return. I had to return to the university. There were only a few days left for me. Despite the fact that Sophia was in safe hands, I was still anxious. I knew that I would leave her again. And I didn't want anything to happen to her again. With complicated thoughts hurdling in the forefront of my mind, I stepped out of the shower and changed my clothes.

As I descended the stairs, I realized that there were a bunch of bags on the kitchen counter, brimful of food. The aroma wafted in every corner of the house. The delectable aroma of the food reminded me that I was famished. I searched for dad in the living room. He wasn't there. He must be in his room, I thought.

I went over to his room and knocked. He replied abruptly, as if he was desperately waiting for me. As I entered the room, a misty air of loneliness descended. Alone, dad lay in his bed. The room was devoid of mom, which automatically made the room devoid of charm.
"I thought you were asleep", he said and sat up. I sat beside him.
"Everything alright?" I asked.

Dad told me about Sophia's whereabouts. Fortunately, she was fine. Although, there was a severe loss of blood during her operation, but auntie Shama had a donor prearranged ( Her blood group was B positive). Sophia was merely nineteen, young and healthy. Her immune system was strong, as every average teenager, which was a great chance for her health to ameliorate. The factor of age even contributes to variations in recuperation periods.
When I asked dad about uncle Qurashi, he took a deep breath.
"He's in jail", blurted dad. Dad worked in a close liaison with the judiciary and provisional constabulary. Dad told me that he put both, uncle Qurashi and Latif Bagri behind the bars. The news wasn't much of a surprise to me, because both of them belonged there. As a matter of fact, they should have been there a long time ago. So we wouldn't have to confront all of the chaos. But destiny is carved on stone. We receive each ache and each glee at its appointed time. And nothing can change that.

After a brief conversation, dad and I went into the kitchen to get something to eat. Auntie Shama was still in the hospital. That's probably why dad had bought a bountiful supply of food. I fixed plates for the both of us and we ate in the living room. Dad ate with his usual etiquettes. I paid careful attention to him as he ate. Dad chewed a lot, which was definitely because of the weakness in his gums. He even lost a lot of his appetite. I knew that it was hard for him to live without mom. I had never seen a couple stronger than my own parents. And watching the pair break really left oceans of agony. I couldn't see the depression on his face. I couldn't see the deep lines on his forehead. Watching him go senile broke my heart into a million pieces. Watching his wrinkled hands hurt more than a knife, more than a sword, more than any pain in this whole entire world. Dad's shoulders lost their strength. There was a time when his shoulders were full and broad, and now, they loss all of their strength. His hair once used to have a lustrous and healthy sheen. And now, there were many pecks of grey in his head. My dad, I couldn't believe that my dad was getting old.
"What happened?" asked dad, noticing a tear go down my cheek. He must have comprehended my feelings by my eyes. He took me in his arms, in his frail arms. They were weak, but I felt secure in them. I felt like the most vulnerable person in the whole world, safe in my dad's arms. My mom left this world. I was only left with my dad. And I didn't want him to leave me. He was my only hope. My oceans would go empty without him.
"I don't want to go", I cried. My tears dissolved in his shirt. Dad held me close to his chest. I heard the weak heartbeat in his chest. I wondered how it would beat for me.
"Last time I left...mom left...if I leave now..." I said and cried. Hot tears cascaded from my bare eyes and drenched dad's shirt.
"Amir, a man's agility is all in his happiness. My part of happiness has finished. You have the right to live more than I do. One day...I will...leave you. And you have to be ready for it. Amir, I'm getting weak as days are passing. And honestly, I'm on the verge of my life. As a matter of fact, I'm desperately waiting to meet your mother. Now, it's your turn...to start your life"
Our conversation lasted quite long. I never even thought that I would have such a conversation with my own father. But as time passes, things change.
I slept in the dad's room that morning. Both of us slept on his bed. My head was still placed in his chest, where I had cried for a long time. His arms were wrapped around me. And nothing in the world could have been more beautiful.