I'd Tell You My Dreams but Then You'd Better Say Yes

Chapter 5 - Baby's growing up

And the grand dinner finally took place.

Her dad had made dad-like jokes endlessly about her efforts, for her to get up and eat something, that his chubby Ri-Ri was getting too skinny, for her to get some sleep or she'd turn into an owl, but with time, his eyes slowly opened to her seriousness.

He'd let her organise his event as a joke. A test. But now... well, this looks like this sh** just got real, he thought to himself.

He debated stopping her, telling her it was enough, she had dreamed to her fill now. To go back to real life, continue focusing on studying alone, and forget something that was fun but useless, that wouldn't help her in real life.

Just as he was about to open his mouth, he suddenly remembered something. Something blurry, from long ago.

"Hey, look who joined Boxing Club! It's fat Tariq!"

Their grinning eyes.

"Don't know why you bother, mate. What are you gonna do, sit on them?"

Uproarious laughter.

"It's not a stable job, beta." His father, Sulayman Zaid, advised him. But really, ordered him. "Look at cousin Harun. He became an engineer last year and is now working at a big company! His parents always ask us what you're doing, you know."

"What should I tell them? That my only son is unemployed, never been to college or university? Goes to the gym, does boxing, comes home, and sleeps? Lives completely off his parents?"

His father's thick-accented voice spoke to him, a man born in a different land, whose life had been spent doing back-breaking work to give his children a better life and education than he'd ever been offered.

"I know your dream, but open your eyes, mera bacha. See reality. It'll never happen. Go back to college, and do that diploma you were about to."

Tariq smiled, and then felt something wet in his eyes. Without knowing, he'd been on the verge of tears.

"Arifa, I have something important to tell you. Take a pen and paper and make note." Tariq directed in a deep, stern voice. Arifa's eyebrows knitted together, but she obeyed, picking up her pusheen notebook and pen.

"Tariq Zaid, The Esteemed and Mighty (Oh hear his name and tremble), Most Wilful of Winners and HRH Grand Champion of The World Boxing Cup 2018, henceforth has no problem with his daughter, Princess Arifa Sabrina Zaid, doing whatever the heck she wants. S'long as it's decent and fits our morals, cowabunga. Go and do it." Then he picked up his bag of Butter popcorn and walked away, leaving Arifa at the dining table looking bemused and amused in equal measure. 

Not sure what to make of that spontaneity but feeling all tingly and sparkly inside despite herself, she shrugged, before continuing to focus on the screen before her, preparing for the big day.

Tariq turned his head to look at his daughter with a pride she'd never seen.

His daughter would prove them all wrong.

Just like he had.