Will she be okay?
Chapter 4
Arylan had her 18th birthday coming up. A can of adulthood and maturity knocking at her door. She would normally go camping on these days but this year she could not make it due to her hectic study routine at school with constant visits to the hospital. There wasn’t much that could be done, so a small intimate party was held with close family and friends, Tim had not shown up for the entire event and has been missing since Abdullah's arrival.
On the day of the party, Arylan was met with more confusion when Abdullah came knocking on grandmother's door with a gift for her and disturbing news, news that turned her entire world into something else. A word she never thought that she could own.
“ Here take this, ” Eric said handing her a chocolate
“ no, thank you.”
“ you haven’t eaten any junk food since your Birthday party…you have to take this.”
Aiden arrived and sat across both of them in the café, taking out the notes for a class that day.
“ she’s still a mute?” He asks
“ yes, unfortunately… it's understandable...but how dare he?”
“ She told us not to talk about it, so Eric let’s zip the lips.”
“ I see, any way you guys go ahead I need to get home my father's back from Germany," said Eric packing up.
Forget about talking to the boys, Arylan especially avoided her grandmother. She did not eat her food or respond to her.
“We have 3 hours left, do you want another latte?”
“ no, I don’t want anything thank you.”
“ noted. Your losing a lot of weight let’s have a huge meal before we get home?”
“ There is no need for that Aiden.”
“ yes, of course, some other time then.”
They sat across each other silently before heading home with the takeaways Aiden forcefully bought for her, on their way to the bus station she stopped, sighed before squatting down, releasing a huge scream before burying her head between her knees, trying to hide her tears. Aiden watched her, silently. You could hear the silent sobs come from the broken teenage girl.
“ is she alive too?” she asks lowering her voice
“Who?”
“ my mother is my mother alive…and my father. i mean if my so-called grandfather is alive I’m sure they okay as well right?”
He picked her up and sat her down near the bus stop. He handed her a tissue and a bottle of water “ I don’t know what you’ve been through as a kid, but I’m sure your parents are constantly thinking about you just as much as you are about them..they have their reasons.”
“ of course…I don’t blame them. I just wonder if they are okay. Are they eating well, do they have a roof over their heads, do they have debt, are they happy. I have no grudge against them…grandmother is the best thing that’s happened to me and I wouldn’t change anything, in this life and the next, but now grandmother lied to me about that man, what else could she be hiding?”
“ wow, normally teenagers would hate their parents for neglecting and abandoning them, buts it’s funny how you’ve made peace with it.”
" not like I have a choice, hating them won't change a thing. I'm already sick of what I have going on with my grandparents."
" well, I would be to if I were you...but things happen for a reason. Maybe grandmother is just as surprised and confused as you are..."
“ Yeah you're probably right, thank you for listening to me Aiden… I also apologize for my sour behavior since my birthday.”
“ don’t mention it, besides…there is no need to thank me you already do so much for me without realizing it.
" I'm glad, now where's that delicious double burger you ordered?"
" Right here milady."
After that night a new bond between the two was born and Arylan could easily be herself again which meant forgiving her grandmother but still not responding to her grandfather.
***
Tim was out for almost a month, no one’s heard from him. No message left behind, no call, nothing. The old man left without a trace or clue. Abdullah still on his knees for Biels' forgiveness.
“ I found you.”
“ walikumsalam to you as well old friend.”
“ drop the courtesy and tell me what do you want?”
“ can’t we have a drink with each other for old times sake?”
“ Tim, you’re wasting my time. I have better things to do, ” he said attempting to leave the room.
“ of course you do, but Abdullah deary, don’t you want to ensure the safety of your daughter in law and your missing grandchild?”
Abdullah stormed over to the counter Tim was seated at tossing his drink out of his hand.
“ Respect what you don't have," Tim said pouring himself another drink.
“ I killed them what do you mean?”
“ I protected them…I thought you’d have the heart to spare your kid as well but I was wrong,” Tim said.
“You're insane..they're dead! Dead! 6feet down!”
Uncle Tim left the room with Abdullah's jaw dropped. You could see the ex-gangsters veins popping, and his entire body shiver in anger and fear.
The same Abdullah who looked his only kid in the eye as he took his life, the same Abdullah who counted the number of limbs he collected in a week. Tim knew all his weaknesses, he knew how to touch the finest nerve in the man's brain, he always pushed the correct buttons, Tim was feared by many, the only man that Abdullah secretly feared.
Abdullah found himself paying for what he thought he would never.
***
" grandmother, are you going to keep on pretending as if the entire incident didn't happen as if my hospital fiasco was just a coincidence?i want answers."
Grandmother dropped the dishes she was washing and looked towards Arylan," I have no answers for you."
" Then who do I ask? Who do I turn to? Who!"
" Turn to your lord, for he is the only one who can guide you...and do not lose faith or hope for he will open doors for you...give it time my child, I am doing the best that can to guide, help and comfort you."
" of course. I apologize for getting upset."
How long would grandmother have to keep the truth to herself, how long would she have to keep on lying to the girl...to a woman, How long would she keep her in the dark?