ZAKRIYA ISLAM
"Can you please fax these documents to the courier service. They need to know the exact time the shipments arrive from Egypt." I said and handed my secretary the documents.
"Of course sir." He said and left. I sighed and relaxed in my chair. I glanced at my wrist watch. I needed to pick up the kids in half an hour.
"Hey," I heard a knock and looked up to see my boss standing at the door. "Asalam alaikum sir," I greeted and jumped to my feet.
He nodded and shook my hand. "How have you been Zac?" He inquired.
"I've been good sir. What about you?" I inquired. It have been a few weeks since the last time I met with Shehzad. Even though we were good friends but that was outside of work. At work we maintained a good work relationship.
"Actually I wanted to inform you that you will be accompanying me to New York this year. I wanted my best financier to take part in the in annual conference this year." He informed.
"I'm honoured sir." I said and smiled. This really was good news.
"Good, then we need to leave within three weeks." He told and I nodded in acknowledgement.
"So, how are the wife and kids?" He said and I saw his strict professional expression fade away.
"They are good alhamdulillah. What about yours? How is the missus. I heard that she was sick."
He sighed. "Yes, she was feeling poorly so I had to had her admitted to the hospital. Apparently she had been over exerting herself that's why she had collapsed during work. She's alright now alhamdulillah. I had her take leave from work." He said. I nodded in understanding. Khadijah's health wasn't fainting well these days and I could easily see the affects it was having on Shehzad.
"I was about to leave to get the kids from the academy. Do you want me to pick up Hira and Haroon as well?" I asked.
He gave me a small smile. "Thanks but they didn't go today. They wanted to spend some time with their mother. I was also going to leave. Well I'll see you soon." He said and left.
I collected my things and wrapped up work and went straight to pick up my kids. As I approached the academy, I never fail to feel amazed and awestruck at Amber. She did an awesome job of making this academy into the prestigious institution that it is today. My heart swells with pride. The building of the academy were expanded over the years and soon, with enough funding, a university was also underway.
I got out of the car and went to the gate. The old guard recognised me and immediately opened the gate for me. I found my two little munchkins playing on the swings along with the other students.
"Daddy!" They both exclaimed and got their bags and ran to me.
I crouched down on my toes and opened my arms for them. Zeeshan ran quickly while Ayesha stalled because of her heavy bag.
"Hey there little man," I drawled and kissed his chubby cheek.
"Hey honey," I said and grabbed Ayesha's bag from her. "Daddy this bag is so heavy." She complained. I grinned at her and caught her hand.
"Well, books can be heavy."
"But why do we need so many books in the first place daddy?" She inquired.
"Because knowledge is very immense. That's why." I explained as simply as I could. Apparently Amber was better at answering my daughter's questions because she was just too inquisitive.
"Daddy can we please have ice cream?" Zeeshan asked.
"No son, we need to get home otherwise your mother will be upset." I said.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because she was all alone at home today. And if we don't hurry then she'll be upset with us." I elaborated. They nodded in understanding. I was glad that my kids were understanding. They never argued and tended to agree and trust with whatever their parents told them. And what's more, they weren't childish. They already looked at the world from a realistic perspective. They never believed in fairytales or even the tooth fairy when theirs first ever tooth fell.
When we got home, they rushed to their rooms to get cleaned up. I spotted Amber in the garden in the Garden and went up to her.
"Asalam alaikum," she greeted but it wasn't the familiar jocund greeting that I was used to. I glanced around and when I saw that no body was looking, I rushed to her and embraced her tightly.
"You still sulking? Abhi bi naraaz ho (are you still upset?)" I asked. She shook her head and created some distance between us and adjusted the dupatta that had fallen from head.
"I'm fine. Lunch is ready." She replied dryly and tried to walk away from me but I caught her wrist and pulled her back. She was taken aback but I wasn't done and quickly captured her warm lips.
She resists at first but when I feel her arms wound around my neck, I smirk against her lips and deepen the kiss. I can never get tired of her. She's the only woman for me.
"I love you; you know that right?" I mumbled and cupped her face. Her brown orbs stared at me with clarity and a slow small smile grows on her lips. It makes me so happy just to see that smile however small it may be and the way her eyes light up, that is enough for me. But she wasn't being herself today. My rejecting her request hurts me more then her then why doesn't she understand that I'm just not willing to send her in the jaws of danger.
That's fell she looked so crestfallen.
"Is this really that important for you?" I murmured to her ear. She nodded and her face fell.
I carefully lifted her chin and urged her to meet my gaze-- blue against brown.
"If you promise to call me everyday and come back within a week, then I'm okay with it." I announced. Her face brightened up and she gave me the most brightest smile that I had ever seen in a while.
And I smiled as well. That's all that needed.
************
She left within two days and the house wasn't the same without her.
I had to become the mom and dad both to the kids but it was fun. But I missed her.
Throughout these nine years of our marriage, we had never been apart. This was the first time. And I was getting anxious. I was glad that her father was there with the medical corps too. That gave me a little peace of mind.
It has been five days now. I talk to her everyday at night and tell her about everything that happens.
"And Zeeshan started crying today too." I informed her. She chuckled. "Oh my poor baby. Tell him that I'll be home in two more days." She said and this time it was my turn to chuckle.
"And what about me? I've been so lonely since you left." I whined and laid down my head on the pillow.
"Yes, so have I," she cooed lowly and I chuckled. "I can't wait to have you back in my arms." I drawled.
"And I can't wait either." She replied.
"Okay I have to go now. They are calling me to the emergency tent." She said and hung up. I smiled and shook my head. She can be so hard core at times. I went down to lock up the house and check up on the kids. They have been sleeping for an hour now so I carefully when in their rooms and kissed them good night.
The days were just passing by and I was glad that the last day was finally here. Amber was scheduled to fly back to Karachi in less then a day and I was so excited. It was like meeting with her after so long. This week felt like a lifetime and I couldn't wait to have my wife back.
I was going to pick her up from the airport in the morning by 9 so I was feeling pretty restless and anxious. I didn't even sleep that well even though.
As soon as I decided to go to sleep, I was rudely woken up by the sound of the bell. Groaning, I got up from the bed and headed downstairs. I pressed the intercom and called out. Who could it be at this time in the morning?
"Gee, kon hai? (Yes, who is it?)" I inquired irately.
"Zac, its us." Came the familiar voice of my father in law. I was taken aback and immediately invite them in.
They looked gravely pale and my mother in laws eyes were swollen.
"Asalam alaikum, what brings the two of you here? When did you get here from islamabad?" I asked question after question.
Brigadier Zaid looked at me straight in the eye and patted my shoulder. His face was dead serious.
"Son, please you need to sit down for this." He said. I was confused but did as he said and say down on the sofa. He helped my mother in law to sit down as well and I was beginning to worry. What brought them here out of nowhere?
"Son, it's about Amber." He started.
I became tensed. "What about her? She's scheduled to leave from the border in a few hours. How come you left so early?" I inquired. He pursed her lips tightly and stared at me dead in the eyes.
"A few hours ago, the emergency tent was bombed. Amber was in there helping the IDPs. She was one of the casualties. She died instantly. Her body will be arriving in two hours." He announced.
It felt as if my world came crashing down.
"What?"
Yes yes, I know you guys hate me now.
But this is the way how I envisioned this story.