Barakah

- Justice My Nemesis

Eid Mubarak :)!

21st/5/2021.
. . . . . . .

Jalal

Spring was flourishing, a breath of new life sparking in his eyes as warm light hit the surface of the cafe he was forced to come to.

"Your coffee's getting cold. The hell's going on in your mind?" His paternal cousin, Ahmad Jali was sitting right beside him with a glare of focus at his laptop.

Jalal paid him a glance of envy. Head wrapped around the plight he was in. Spring might have been an era of warmed-hearts but his was bitter and alarmed. Finding himself in a tight corner he thought he'd never be in. A tight spot he believed would never be his cup of tea only because he thought he would unfailingly do better than his parents.

"Don't mind me. Just don't get your panties in a twist with me later in a day about not getting your fix of coffee. You're not the only one who can be an ass."

Ahmad's speech had long been altered to that of a local American. He had lived overseas for awhile. Ever since graduating from the same secondary school, they had moved far from home to The States for college. When it was time to return home, Jalal was earnest about it but Ahmad was indifferent. Uninterested and unenthusiastic about it to a point of concern.

At that time in their lives, Jalal couldn't fandom why Ahmad preferred to remain in another man's soil rather than going back to his roots because his roots were not only part of him but it belonged to him. Fast forward to present day, Jalal wouldn't have minded living the bachelor life like his cousin.

He envied it.

Grunting, "You'll suck it up. I didn't ask to be here remember? You forced me out of bed."

"That's because I don't want whatever it is that's bothering you to consume you inside that dark room. Else, I'd feel a tad bit guilty for your depression."

Gulping down the coffee and nudging the cup toward his cousin, "Shut up now."

Knitting his brows, Ahmad looked ardently at Jalal. Waiting on Jalal to say something, just anything about why he had unexpectedly showed up to The States.

"I'll be fine A.J and besides, this doesn't concern you."

Ahmad leaned forward, hypocrisy in the hiss he'd aimed at Jalal, "Doesn't concern me when you unexpectedly show up at my penthouse at 3 a.m? Recall when you gave me a beating over my open disapproval of Jameela for you and now, you're reaping your seeds. Have a pleasant day brother, I have work to get done. I'll see you at home."

Gathering his stuff to get out, Jalal could only stiffly watch him in dejection.

"Don't be that loud of a bastard A.J. I can still beat your ass raw. I only came to your place because it was better than being alone here with the state of mind I'm in and not because you were my only option. You know well, money isn't a problem for us and even as I am now, I have enough to cater for my generation of kids and five more generations including yours as well."

"You're spoilt. Don't let Granddaddy's money get to your head. Besides you're second in line. Your father lives." Watching Ahmad walk out on him, Jalal was forcing his ass down on the urge for more of an altercation. His cousin was starting to look like an outlet to release all his aggression for Jameela.

Jameela.

His gravest sin.

That was what she was.

"I don't want this child Jalal. I want an abortion." That night between them was disastrously sober with sincerity.

Fear.