RUN

chapter seventeen

"hanan get up, there's fire everywhere" a 4 year old irfan nudges his sister who had fallen unconscious after getting hit on the head by a ceiling fan while they were trying to get out.
The floor is getting hotter by the second and it scorches his poor knee. He tries to drag her by the hand but she's too much weight for his little self.
The fire keeps getting closer and it feels like it's about to consume them both .

The smoke gets too much and he starts getting dizzy before hearing voices shouting his name but all he can think of is hanan.

shaking the memories away, i finally gather enough to get out of my car. Meeting my dad was not on my agenda today and seeing my dad or any of my family only brings back memories of my sister which is why i prefer to stay away. I still can't help but feel like they blame me for her death, especially my mother. 

Like the saying goes, _we all have  demons that we're trying to fight.

I stride into the restaurant my dad had told me he'd be in.  The anxiety i always get when i see him comes back in full force. It's crazy how even after how many years,  even when I'm a grown ass 29 year old man, he still has that effect on me.

With my heart thumping loud, i walk over to the far end of the restaurant where he's seated. I wonder if people can hear my heart beat because i surely can.

Getting a call from my dad after leaving the bank was definitely what i had expected. i have a lot going on right now and my dad isn't and shouldn't be one of them.

The place is one of the fanciest restaurants around, trust my dad to always go for the expensive things even when it might not be the best. I remember how he'd buy us expensive shoes and clothes that never seemed to last. Good things are expensive but not when you don't have an eye for quality stuff. I remember the Jordan's my dad had bought when i was in high school. i had been so psyched to wear it to school but it had ended drastically after playing football with my friends after school. of cause my dad had blamed my recklessness instead of the shoe.

As i walk towards him, i feel a little underdressed in my plain top and jeans compared to the few people in here and I'm glad it's just past noon whereas their rush hour starts in the evening.

My dad _khalid bin Mohammed thani has always been a busy man righg from my childhood. He hardly had time to attend my football matches but we all got used to it in the end, and right now he's too busy typing away on his phone to even notice me standing awkwardly in front of him. 

I clear my throat and finally gain his attention .

"Assalam"(peace be unto you), i greet before taking the seat opposite him.

"waasalam(and unto you too) " he answers before dropping his phone in his suit pocket.

we sit awkwardly for some few seconds before he calls the waiter to take his order. he orders mashbus and I'm surprised they actually have it here.  i guess dad chose something with quality this time around.

"how are you irfan" he finally breaks the silence

"I'm good, what about you"

"I'm alright, alhamdullilah (praise be to God). why weren't you at your place? he asks.
There he is,  same old dad i chuckle inwardly

"i was at a friends place" i say simply not wanting to voice out what i was thinking.  "why are you here abba" i use the arabic word for dad so he'd drop the issue.

"well, i had a business meeting and i decided to drop by to see my son".

i nod as there's nothing else to say.

"when are you coming back home"

Arrrghh not this again

"soon dad, like i told you,  I'm just clearing up some things here"

"ok then. your mum sends her regards"

i feel a pang of guilt at the mention of my mum.  I should've called her back, she is my mum and one of the most important people in my life afterall my heaven lies under her feet.  I probably will when i get back to the hotel.

ah shit, i forgot about alena, she must be scared shitless by now.

"so when are you bringing our daughter in-law home? "my dad asks snapping me out of my thoughts.

I can't help but run a hand across my face. This is also one of those topics i try to avoid.

"soon dad, soon insha Allah (if Allah wills) " i reply so he'll  drop the topic.  I think of beth, but i know she's out of the question. First off we're not even dating and we have different faiths but i do need to call her. I'm sure she's worried sick or not, who knows.

"well i must be on my way now,  i have a flight to catch, you know i can't leave my wife alone for too long" he says wiping his mouth with the napkin and standing up. I do the same.

"ok dad, my regards to everyone, and safe trip"

i wave as he gets into a taxi, he does  the same and once they're out of sight,  i let out a breath i didn't know i was holding.  well that went better than i had expected.

so now what, i ponder.

"ah shit,  alena"

hey everyone how are y'all doing...... I'm so sorry for not updating..a lot has been happening but i haven't been idle. ive been reading a lot of books and learning and not cliche books with millions of reads but books that haven't been recognized yet just like mine. if you have a book you'd want me to read kindly drop it in the comments section... and ill try to update on a steady.

so a little insight on irfans past. what do you think of it?

.. thank you to d few pple reading my book i appreciate it.. dont forget to vote and drop a comment I'd appreciate that as well
bye 🤗