Hamid

"Saif, come on, get ready. We're getting late." I told Saif once I was in his room.

"No.. i don't wanna come" he whined "Please dad. You go."

"Bilal uncle will be sad when he knows that you didn't come." I told.

"But dad I have a lot of homework" he reasoned.

"You can complete it when we return. Well be back before 9"

"No please...I don't feel like going out"he groaned.

"Okay fine. If you're not coming then I won't go either."
This silenced him.

I know he didn't feel like going anywhere but at least his mood will be enlightened by it. Bilal had told me to bring him along.

I received a call from Bilal and apologised for not coming. I couldn't leave Saif alone.

He asked me to give the phone to Saif. I didn't know what he said but after talking to Bilal, Saif was ready and was standing in front of me.

" Are you going somewhere? "I asked.

"Yes. We are going to Bilal uncle's wedding. Come on, get ready. We are getting late." He said.

"Oh. Someone is mimicking me" I teased as he giggled.

I am glad his mood changed.

What did he just say to him? I will ask him later.

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After the Nikah ,I was sitting beside Bilal when Saif came running towards me.

"Dad!" he came close to my ear and whispered, "Dad, that is my maths teacher, Miss Naureen" he gestured towards the lady sitting beside the bride.

Oh, so she is Miss Naureen who called me regarding Saif.

"So...what do you want me to do?" I asked.

"Just don't say anything to her and pretend we haven't noticed her" he whipered and walked away.

I shrugged and continued to talk with Bilal.

A few minutes later I saw Saif walking towards his teacher who was sitting beside the bride. I stopped him.

" Wait, where are you going?" I asked.

"Naureen ma'am is calling me. Dad, if she asks anything please don't tell her." he looked into my eyes.

I knew what he was talking about
"Okay. But son don't you think she need to know? After all she is your teacher." I asked.

"No" he stated.
I sighed and walked with him towards his teacher.

"Assalam wa alaikum. I am Saif's dad" I smiled and looked at Saif.

She replied to my Salam and
asked me if I came to the school that day. I look beside her and the bride and another young guy were busy bickering.

" No uh....I was busy" I told her I didn't even remember that I had to go there.

How busy life has become.

She sighed in relief and asked me if there's something wrong with Saif.

I stared at Saif contemplating whether to tell the teacher about our misery.

She'd help Saif..... maybe.

I pressed my lips in a straight line "um... it's actually", I sighed. " He is rather depressed lately because of his mother's sudden d-death." My voice quivered.

She flinched and Saif looked at me with disbelief. He didn't wanted to share this with anybody. He had not even told his friends about it.

He walked off with tears in his eyes.

" They were very close" I continued, wiping the stray tears from my eyes.

"H-how did she...?" she asked.

"Bus accident. She was heading to Mysore and the bus met with an accident. Nobody survived" I replied, staring into space.
Oh how we miss you Zia.

"I'm.. so..s- sorry...a-about it" she stuttered.

Why was she stuttering?

"No, You don't have to be.
And about Saif, he just couldn't move on. My wife,was everything to us." I blinked off tears.

"w-what w-was hh-her n-name?" she asked.

Why did she want to know her name?

"Razia. Razia Hamid" I replied.

Everything happens as per plans. And it was already planned for her." I said in a low voice.

"By the way let's not ruin this beautiful evening with sad stories of my life." I said wiping out his tears.

Why am I even telling her this?

"No...dont.. say like that.." she said.
 
"Hey, Hamid come let's have dinner." Bilal interrupted us.

"What..is everything alright?"  he asked staring at us.

"Yes.. I'm fine.. was just talking with Saif's teacher" I said shrugging.

"Oh..Naureen is Saif's teacher? I didn't know that Saif goes to same school where Naureen and Sidra teach" Bilal said with raised eyebrows .

"Yeah.." was her reply.

"Come on let's eat" Bilal said and we parted ways.

Naureen. There was a nagging feeling in the back of my mind but I shrugged it off and went for dinner with Saif and Bilal.

Saif didn't speak to me the whole evening. I'll apologise and explain everything to him once we reach home.

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love,
TheHijabQueen