The Nearest Heaven

Part 42 - Dead Tired

Part 42 – Dead Tired

"Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought."

~ Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 42

"Dead and yet she still stirs up trouble wherever she is!" Faraaz grumbled to Fadiyah as he sat beside her. The comfy cushioning of the sofa had not alleviated any of his heartache. Unmindfully, his fingers traced patterns on the fabric as his mind raced with the bitter words of his cruel sister.

Fadiyah threaded her fingers through his and held onto his hand shyly, aware that Aasif, Waqqaar and Jacob were all in the lounge with them. The atmosphere was thick and tense. Despite the amount of people in the room, none of their breathing could be heard.

It was the light scratching of Faraaz's fingernails against the sofa that offered background noise, or the subtle sharp inhalations that Aasif would make when he read over the letter Ilham had addressed to him.

Each time that he read over the letter, Fadiyah felt her heart shatter as the light in her father-in-law's eyes dimmed.

"Faraaz, please," Aasif begged his son quietly. "She was your sister."

"Half-sister!" Faraaz pointed out angrily. "Her letter clearly stated that she never even thought of me as her brother, why should I be courteous to her memory? She was quick and constant to remind me that we were half siblings, why shouldn't I be angry?"

"Her last letters to us were nothing short of horrible, but why shouldn't we be better people, son? Have I not taught you to be the bigger man? Have I not taught you to be as merciful as you would want Allah to be on you? Would you not want Allah to show mercy to you over your faults?"

Faraaz scoffed angrily as his furious honeyed eyes glowered. "You have taught us both this, dad. Why do I have to be the one to carry your teachings? Why couldn't she?"

Aasif sighed in the face of Faraaz's fury. His son was hurting and in pain over his sister's words. Faraaz had loved Ilham in spite of all the horrid things she had done to him and Fadiyah. He was a generous person, someone with a big and loving heart. He deserved much better than the sister he had.

"I loved Ilham as if she were my own child, Faraaz. I taught her everything that I taught you. I tried to be patient with her. I tried to give her space. I thought by indulging her, that it would begin to soften her heart. The pain and hurt and the terrors and traumas that you and Fadiyah have gone through..." Aasif trailed off uncertainly.

Fadiyah's awareness prickled uneasily. An odd sensation rippled over her arms at Aasif's words.

"Please, my children, make me maaf for my role in the hurt that you two have suffered. It is my fault. Had I not tried to endear Ilham to me by spoiling her than we would never have faced the problems and challenges that we are facing right now. I am sorry, my children. This is all my fault!"

As the tears rolled down his weathered face, Fadiyah and Faraaz leaped into action, each settling onto a side of Aasif and comforting him with soft, soothing words. Fadiyah hugged him, her arm curled around his bicep as he wept for his mistake. "It's okay," she whispered. "It's all done and in the past. Nothing to worry over, Dad."

He covered her tiny hand with his older one, seeking the lacking comfort in his life. "I should worry, darling. The root of this issue is me. You have read her letters." His raspy voice was filled with tears. It made Fadiyah angry to see her father-in-law cry. How could someone with such pure intentions suffer?