Caged Nightingale

5 years later... saara

Tears. Angry, frustrated sobs.
"That little-"
I walked into the kitchen, to a huge open tub of ice cream, Asia and Aisha sat at the kitchen worktop with Atif pacing in-front of it, like caged animal.
He comes striding towards me, when he sees me enter. Pointing towards Aisha. Face red, eyes puffy and a plaster on her knee.
'"Tell the teacher!"you said -now look-' he can't even get his words out. He runs his hand through his hair, half ushering me to his daughter and I know he's about to lose his cool.
I sigh as I approach her, pulling her into a hug. She buries her head in my chest, and the sobs seem to seize. She takes a deep breath as if finally trying to calm herself.
"What happened?" I ask tentatively
"-that little -" Atif takes a breath here when he sees me looking pointedly at him- "-that little brat-" here he pauses as if to demonstrate he is reeling his control back in -"pulled her hair and chased her till she fell over!" Then gives me confrontational look with raised eye brows. "That's what happens when you tell the teacher!" He says mockingly.
I ignore atif's astonished look.
"Ok you need to calm down- and you need a spoon" I say taking one from the drawer and giving it to him, then shifting my eyes to the ice cream tub.
He ignores my attempt at humour.
"What happened?" I ask turning my attention to Aisha.
"We were in math, I answered a question on the board- Rayaan said "oh look Aisha poopy pants knows how to count" then everyone laughed! Even Ameer...."
"What?!" Atifs is already stalking towards the hallway, "Ameer get down here now!" He shouts up the stairs.
Silence
"Ameer! I said get down here now! Ameer!"
I roll my eyes. "He's got his ear phones in, he can't hear you!" I say quietly. "Call him! Then?" I prompt.
"The teacher told him to stop, but then at break time he came up to me and said "oh look aisha poopy pants is going to have a poop in the trees, I bet she poops numbers!" Everyone laughed and then I said "yes it must be hard for you because I actually know how to count!" And then he pulled my hair-"
Atif is raging, silently seething. Eyes bulging like he wants to put someone six feet under.
Ameer walks in completely oblivious to the drama and sits, taking the spoon from his father on route to the ice cream bowl.
"Did you know about this?" Atif asks standing over his son. His tone is full of accusation and disbelief.
Ameer's full attention is on the tub, he gives Aisha a cursory glance "yes!" He says honestly. And then turns his attention to the ice cream.
Atif's face turns a shade of crimson, I have never seen before. I have to commend him, not crushing under the weight of Atif's glare. He is either ignoring him or not aware of the dagger his father is giving him right now.
Asia has the distinct look of admiration in her eyes.
"What?! It was funny!" Ameer says eventually, mouth full of ice cream, "dad you would have laughed." Amer says shrugging his shoulders
"No, I wouldn't" he grinds out
"Yes, you would!" Asia and I say in unison. Atif looks at me in disbelief, as if I'm betraying him somehow.
"See!" Aisha says
Atif turns his attention to his daughter and buries her head in his chest. "I wouldn't, really!"
"Well, I think he likes you!" Says Asia thoughtfully.
We all turn to look at her.
"It's obvious!"
"Don't say that." I say "let's not justify boys hurting girls as a way to show affection!"
Atif is quiet and clearly processing this last piece of information. I can literally hear the cogs turning in his mind.
" that doesn't make sense" says Ameer, "if he likes her why would he make fun of her!"
"Because boys are stupid like that!" Says Asia.
"You don't hurt mom cause you like her?!" Says aisha.
"Obviously- not!" Says Atif, then giving me the side eye. Then he shakes his head as if to get back to the topic. "The point is, he shouldn't be hitting you! AND you-" he points to Ameer "you! Shouldn't let anyone look at your sister wrong -let alone humiliate or hurt her!"
"She needs to stop being a dweeb!" Amer says disgruntled "plus she can handle herself!" He says as if stating the obvious.
"Yeah it looks like it!" Atif says. And I give him the "really?!" Look.
Atif takes a breath as if to calm himself down. "Dude, if you want to be king You gotta lay down the law." He says in a low voice. "No one says anything to you or your sister. She's on your team!" He says leaning over the worktop towards Ameer. "No one messes with either of you!"
This is new for Ameer, I see him processing his dads words. He looks like a mini version of him. He's always been the younger one. Even if it is by twelve minutes. But Ameer is funnier, more easier going, and had kudos. He has "a way with the mob," Atif's right. If Ameer lays down the law, no one would question it.
"And if that doesn't work, you tell him who your dad is!" Atif says grimly.
"It doesn't work, if you have to tell them!" Asia says quietly.
"Fine, then I'll have a word with his dad. Educate him about what's gonna happen if he doesn't teach his son some manner!"
I roll my eyes.
Both kids are alert.
"It might work better, if you ask his mum!" Says Asia, then realising what she's said out loud, gives me a look of apology.
Atif's mulling this over when he sees the icy look I'm giving him and then abandons the idea completely.
" the point is you two have to looks out for each other. We don't break team! Ever!" Atif says and Ameer nods in agreement. "We're khans, when people think of us, they should know not to cross the line! No one! No one puts their hands on you or your sister!"
I let Atif give Ameer the talk, not because I fully agree with what he is saying, but on some level I think it might be good for the twins to forge alliances. Ameer had always been one step behind, it might give him a sense of responsibility, or duty of care for his sister. She's always looking out for him, but  verbal come backs aren't everything. A little kudos goes far.
Atif looks at me as if to check we are ok and I nod. We can talk about it later without the kids here.
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Sorry for the delay guys. I'm going to add some more parts