Once In A Blue Moon

02 Oblivious

"Nonsense," he waves him off lightly. "You're family now. This is only a small welcome."

He smiles. "Thank you."

"Our pleasure." He leans forward and rests his forearms on his thighs, locking his fingers. "Wish your family could join us too."

"My sister couldn't come. She's expecting and the delivery is due soon," he explains. "I thought Hurairah might have told you."

"He did, said his wife really wanted to come but couldn't get the doctor's permission." Mughis parallels his gaze. "I was talking about your father."

He refrains himself from frowning and stares back at him flatly. "I think it's already clear why he's not here."

"Aurang," Mughis drops his voice, "I'm well aware of your position, but this cannot go on forever."

"I suppose this a discussion for another time," he dismisses politely.

"Baba!"

A little girl, around four year old, runs to Mughis and clings to his legs. His tense demeanor instantly fades away as he grins at her and picks her up in his arms.

"Jaan zama (my life)." He kisses her temple. "What are you doing here out in the cold?"

"Mama and Pari are with Afsha so I came to you."

Afsha. Banafsha. He repeats her name in his head.

"Afsha looks beautiful, baba. I want a dress like her too," the child says and Mughis chuckles before looking at him.

"This is my daughter, Abeer."

He smiles at her and she only blinks at him.

"Hello, little one," he greets and now she grins.

"Abeer, this is your uncle, Aurang," Mughis tells his daughter and now she eyes him curiously. "What's her name?" Mughis asks him. He looks at his brother-in-law in puzzlement. "Your daughter, I mean," Mughis adds.

"Zimal," he answers briefly.

"How old is she?"

"Eight year old."

"Hurairah didn't tell us much about your past, neither did we ask, but assured us of your goodness," Mughis speaks. "Our family prioritizes lineage over everything else. And you, like us, have a strong background. For us, it was enough that you're Idris Khalil's son."

He assesses his response. It's clear to him he and his wife's family are on unparalleled track. He's not sure what Hurairah has told them about him, but what Mughis is telling him sounds repulsive to him.

"I can be a very bad man for all you know," he says lightheartedly.

Mughis laughs heartily, not minding him joking. "I've known Hurairah long enough for me to trust him with my life. So I trusted him when he said you're a good man." His eyes soften as he gazes at him. "My sister is dear to me, Aurang. But these principles we follow make us, can also break us. So we must honor them to live in this society."

"Society can be wicked so I prefer the principles of God instead."

Mughis's lips pull up to one side into an amused smirk. "I respect your values, whatever they may be. But let's just admit it: when things are crooked, you bend a little too. Now whatever life you're living currently, it has to change at some point. Time ain't stagnant. Yesterday, you were single. Today, you're married. Tomorrow, you'll have to take responsibility of your wife too. Then you'll have to make adjustments accordingly, will you not?"