Chapter 13: Father dearest except he knows too much. 

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"When a father gives to his son, both laugh. 

When a son gives to his father, both cry."

-William Shakespeare-

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The sound of dressing shoes tapping against the polished floors turned heads. People bowed slightly with a smile. A man, perhaps in his early 50's walked through the halls elegantly.

"Mr. Ahmad Reza-Ibrahim." Mrs. Zhan bowed slightly to him and he smiled at her.

"Nice to see you are doing well, Mrs. Zhan. How are the children?" he questioned. Mrs. Zhan grinned with pride.

"The oldest is situated at Maccinhen University Hospital currently as a doctor while the second one is in his final year of Medical school at McU," Mrs. Zhan told him and Ahmad nodded with pride.

"Thank you for supporting them, Mr. Reza-Ibrahim. Had it not been for you and Mrs. Lila, my children would-"Ahmad stopped Mrs. Zhan from speaking any more.

"Children deserve education and I am simply a bridge between them and their dreams. Don't worry about it. Is Islah in?" he asked and Mrs. Zhan nodded at him.

"He just came in from a meeting with the interns. Been giving them a hard time, he has" Mrs. Zhan told him and Ahmad laughed, his blue-gray eyes (much similar to Islah) shining with mirth.

"Typical Islah" he muttered and excused himself. Time to meet my filial son.

"Ahmad uncle!" Ahmad turned to see a familiar face walking over to him with a cup of steaming beverage. He grinned at his friend's daughter. Yusra Uz-Zaman grinned back.

"As salaam alaikum, uncle! How are you?" she asked him and he nodded at her.

"Good Alhamdulillah. How are you? How is your father?" he asked her. She is still the little ball of sunshine I met last summer.

"He is good Alhamdulillah. A bit busy but all is well. Are you here for a meeting?" she asked him. She doesn't know Islah is my son? Maybe she- oh. She doesn't know my surname. When I met her, I had told her to call me uncle Ahmad. Ah those were good times.

He smiled and shook his head, yes.

"The CEO" he replied and watched Yusra frown. He leaned towards her and questioned. "Why? Is he hot tempered? Bad? Evil?" Yusra laughed at his assumptions.

"He is diabolic. Even his brother agrees" she muttered the last part to herself but Ahmad heard it alright. Irav met her? When?

"Anyway, top floor. You can take the elevators or the steps. If he gets feisty, slam his head with the pen holder at his desk." When she saw Ahmad's face contorted with confusion, she added with a sigh. "The pen holder is marble. It will cause him to go unconscious for some time while you figure out a way to get out of there" Ahmad let out a hearty laugh, patting her shoulder. Yusra grinned at him. Such a lovely child. I like this one.

As he walked away, the cogwheels turned in Yusra's head. By the time she realized what she had done, Uncle Ahmad is Professor Bashar's husband and...... Islah Reza-Ibrahim is Professor Bashar's son. Ah damn it, you dimwit! Why couldn't you make sense before you blurted out all that to him?, Yusra thought in disdain.

She blamed the chocolate she had earlier for her boldness.

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No one knew about the little ice cream escapade of Islah and Yusra. To Islah, it felt like a little secret between them. The following days went by in a blur. He had meetings to attend, a whole lot of paperwork to get through and he had to make sure his woman was alright too. Lord knows if she knows how to operate the coffee machine now!

It was Thursday, a week after the ice cream escapade of the two. Islah knew his father was due in the country any day now and he was on the edge. His father was an amazing man but the moment he asks Islah about his life, Islah knew he would be caught. You see, dearest Islah had never been good at lying and his father knew that better than anyone.

"Markos?" he called his PA into his office. Markos walked into the place as if he owned it. Islah rolled his eyes. Count on him to be such a man.

"Yes?"

"I am in a predicament" he stated and Markos rolled his eyes. He took a seat in front of Islah's desk and crossed his legs over one another.

"You want my advice. Alright. What is it?"

"Yusra" Markos beamed at the mention of his favorite intern. As time passed, Markos began to like this girl a lot amongst other interns. She is a bright ray of many colors that Islah needs, he thought with a fond smile.

"And?"

"I like her"

"You like who?" Islah jumped up from his chair and stood straight staring at the man who looked like an older version of him. Markos spun around and bowed to Ahmad Reza-Ibrahim with repect. 

Ahmad Reza-Ibrahim stared at his son expectantly, awaiting an answer. Islah smiled at him uneasily. He then walked around the desk and stood in front of his father with a grin. Ahmad placed his arms around his oldest son and pulled him in a hug. Islah did not hesitate it. He is his father's favorite while Iravat is his mothers and everyone knew that. Despite this, both the sons were treated equally in their household. I missed you abbi. 

"As salaam alaikum, Abbi" he said and his father replied the greetings.

"When did you land here?" Islah asked him, when his father let go. Ahmads eyes sparkled with delight.

"About three hours ago. I went to meet your mother before heading here. So who likes who?" he questioned and Islah looked at Markos uncertainly. Markos smiled uneasily at the two before rushing towards the door, muttering he'll get tea. Islah stared after him. Traitor. 

Islah guided his father to the couch in his office and the duo took their seats. Should I? Should I not? He would find out eventually.

"There is this intern" Islah started and his father smiled. Ahmad knew what his son was going to say. He always does.

"You like her" he stated and Islah blushed a bright shade of red. Ahmad laughed at this, patting Islah's head. Of course he knows! He knows everything! 

"Good. When can I meet her?" he asked and Islah smiled uncertainly. Alright Islah. You can do this. Your father is your best-friend, remember?

"She is Professor Abideen's only daughter" this made Ahmad halt his actions and the smile fell from his face. Islah watched his father's reaction closely and when he saw it fall, he sighed. I guess he is not happy.

"She has some pretty bold points against you" his father finally said with a laugh lacing his voice. Islah sighed in relief, leaning back on the sofa.

"I know that. I just made it hard for her the first two days she was here. Hence the words" he explained and Ahmad laughed. Just then Markos entered the room followed by Mrs. Zhan who laid down two cups and a teapot. She then set on her hunches by the table and took out tea for the father-son duo.

"How do you know this is sure?" Ahmad asked him after Mrs. Zhan and Markos left. Islah sipped tea silently with a smile. Ahmad knew this smile.

"Is she the one-" he questioned and Islah nodded at him. Ahmad laughed even more. Who knew fates would act this way, he thought with that laugh.

"Have you told her yet?" he questioned and Islah rolled his eyes.

"She has strong points against me. I doubt she will believe me anyway. It'll take time" he told Ahmad who nodded at him. Ahmad was ecstatic. He knew his wife would be too for the duo have been waiting for such news for years now. 

"Does your mother know?" he questioned and Islah shook his head.

"Not yet" Ahmad only smiled slyly at his sons answer. Lila Bashar Reza-Ibrahim was not someone who wouldn't know things like this. In fact, Ahmad was sure she knew.

"I am sure your mother will have her own opinions about this" Ahmad told Islah, picking up the teacup of his. Islah frowned.

"Can we not tell her yet? I am sure she will try to intervene and I don't want that" Ahmad only laughed at this. Oh boy. If you only knew what your mother knows. She would never back down.

"Rabail is here"

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Dun. Dun. Dun. 

Update! :) 

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I feel like I should let you guys know how to pronounce their names. So here it is: 

1) Islah : Isss-lah.

2) Yusra: Yuss-rah.

3) Lila: Lie'e- lah. 

4) Iravat: Eye-rah-vat.

5) Rabail: Raa'bayl.

The rest is pretty much as written. :)

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How is Ramadhan going, my beautiful people? 

| R - C - V |

xx,

-Aalihha.