The return of Air Chief Marshall Ahmad Gidado a week earlier than expected came as a surprise to his family. It was hard to say it was all good news though, because although Ama and Asad were both glad to see him return, it also means the beginning of another never-ending issue.

Asad loves his father, although he missed certain parts of his life but still, they have a pretty good relationship. However, the man is as strict as they come. Perhaps, it's because he's a soldier, of the highest rank of the Nigerian air force to be precise, or maybe it's just part of who he is.

Nonetheless, Asad looked up to him growing up. He wanted to be like his father, minus being the soldier part. Hence, why he became a pilot. His father's occupation is the reason he and Aslam Abd Al-Rasheed became friends to begin with.

Considering the latter's father is currently the Chief of Army staff and former's father, Air Chief Marshall Ahmad Gidado being the Chief of Air staff. Yes, it's a soldier's something.

Asad loved the part of his father's work where he flies planes and whatnot, but not sacrificing his life for his country's part. No, thank you. He'd leave that to those who felt like that's how they want to spend their life.

Besides, he loves his career a lot more than he thought he would. And now, he couldn't see himself doing anything else.

"When are you going back to work?" Air Chief Marshall Ahmad Gidado questioned, after Ama had disappeared with the used dishes he had feast on. Despite his return being a surprise, his wife didn't fail in the aspect of at least, giving him a grand mini banquet to celebrate it.

As always. She's always prepared and quick when it comes to that.

Asad, whom the questioned was directed to looked up, his eyes falling on his father who is currently seated on one of the numerous Le Corbusier style sofa in the debonair living room. Legs stretched on the grey faux fur center rug he's seated, he answered. "In two weeks in shaa Allah" He is currently on break, and if not that Ama had disturbed him, he wouldn't have come to visit.

His father nodded, letting the information sink in. "I hope you know you'll be taking your wife with you back to Birmingham, right?" Ah, there it is. Asad knew this wife talk is bound to pop up sooner rather than later.

And truth be told, nothing could prepare him for it. So, he sighed; his shoulders slumping. "Abu..."

"Don't try to use your mother to get out of this" Abu pinned his narrowed eyes at his one and only child. "Nothing is going to make me back out of this, kana jina? You will get married before you return, and that will be it"

How could Asad forget? His father is one stubborn willed man. If he stands by something, nothing would make him waver. But, he was hoping Ama could talk to her husband and sway him. It won't be the first time anyway.

"Abu" Asad called out slowly. "Please don't make me marry Zoya. Anyone but her."

"Anyone?"

"Aalia excluded" He was quick to add, because he wouldn't fall for the trap of marrying that girl. She has done nothing to him personally. But, her brother did, and honestly, Asad doesn't see her as anything more than a young girl he considered a little sister.

A marriage talk is ridiculous. Ama simply brought it up hoping it would help mend the relationship between him and Rafael Ameen Gaya. She should've known that it wouldn't happen anyway.

Asad inherited his father's stubbornness. If he sets his mind on not marrying Aalia, then he would do anything to stop the ridiculous wedding from taking place.

Abu simply shook his head, not the least bothered by what Asad added. Truth be told, he couldn't care less whether Asad likes that girl or not, Zoya is the one he has in mind for a reasonable reason.

For a few seconds, he was quiet. And when his voice came again, Asad knew there's something his father must've kept to himself for a while. "Asad" He called out, his tone soft.

"Na'am, Abu"

"Do you know what one of the many problems we have in our society is?"

Asad could only guess. But knowing his father, it would probably turn out to be the wrong one. So, he opted to inquire on what the man possibly has in mind. "No. What is it?"

Abu released a small, barely noticeable breath. He took a few seconds to gather his thoughts, before he spoke. "When a woman does something shameful, everyone shuns her for it and makes her an outcast in the society. But, when a man does the exact thing, no one speaks of it. And when someone does, the man is either praised or said that it's nothing big." He paused, his gaze moving to Asad who is quietly listening. "But, I will not condone such attitude in my house. What is wrong, is wrong whether a man is at fault or a woman."

Asad looked down, his brows drawn in and lips tugged into a frown. He wondered what his father could be referring to. One thing came to mind, but he didn't want to believe it is the same thing.

Could it?

"Farrah, is it?" His father's voice came again.

That name the man just uttered, had Asad whipping his head up to look at Abu with slightly wide eyes. Abu's eyes were on him with a knowing look, though it doesn't look like good news.

How could it be?

"Abu..." Asad started, wanting to explain before his father gets the wrong look at things. By the looks of it though, he had already painted a reasonable explanation in his mind.

"You didn't think you could hide her, did you?" Abu cut him off, his voice dropping and his now icy eyes narrowing even more. He then nodded slowly, as if confirming something. "But well, you've managed to hide her for years so I guess that was your plan all along"

Asad couldn't blame his father for believing such. But, he has his own reasons. "Abu..." He started again, but stopped himself.

What is he supposed to say? He can't exactly disclose his entire truth, especially not to his father or another soul.

Only a few people know, and he prefers it that way.

He made a promise, and he isn't one to break his promises. Besides, doing that will stir up things that should've long been buried.

Abu, having wanted to give his son the benefit of doubt waited for the younger man to give an explanation. But, seeing as he is unable to give one, the man sighed again and shook his head in disappointment.

Leaning back on the sofa slightly, with his eyes still fixed on Asad, he added. "She looks a lot like her mother" His voice was so low that if Asad wasn't listening attentively, he wouldn't have caught it. "Let's end this conversation here with you going to marry Zoya. I don't want to hear any more of this"

Asad folded his lips in, and then nodded. Not because he agrees and plans on doing just that, but because he knows arguing further is pointless. He wouldn't be able to handle this issue alone.

And as much as he didn't want things to get this far, there's only one person he could think of that will get him out of this situation for certain. She will soon get a call from him.

~*~

"You knew about it too, right?"

Ama placed the Qur'an she was reading aside, before turning around to look at her husband. "Knew about what?" She questioned, lips tugged into a slight frown.

Abu narrowed his eyes at her slightly, wondering whether she is really unaware of what he is talking about or she is playing dumb intentionally. Nonetheless, he decided to add something. "The girl" He stated. "The one your son is hiding"

She stared at him for a couple of seconds, before she sighed. Pushing herself off the prayer mat, she folded it. When she spoke again, her voice came out low. "So, he's my son now?" She knew that's not the point, but she couldn't help it.

It's so typical of the men to act that way. When a child does something wrong, then that child belongs to the mother. But, if he does something good, then they will be quick to take the credit.

"-Asad hid her for a reason" She added, keeping the prayer mat aside. She then made a move to take off the hijab and fold it too. "But, it's not what you're thinking"

"Of course you'll be quick to defend him" Abu shook his head, tsking slightly. He couldn't help but wonder whether he's the only seeing what's wrong here. Are they really that ignorant?

"Is that why you are pressing his marriage with Zoya?" Ama questioned, doing the last fold of the hijab before placing it on top of the prayer mat. Taking a seat on the couch there, she fixed her eyes on him.

"It's the right thing to do"

"But, Asad doesn't like her anymore" She tried to reason, just as Asad hoped she would. "A marriage between the two isn't a good idea"

"When I married you too, you didn't like me either" He stated, his tone holding no amusement whatsoever because he's simply stating facts. "Now if I ask you to leave on your own, I'm certain you won't. They'd get over whatever issues they have"

"It's not the same" Ama doesn't see how he can compare their situation back then with their son's. It's not the same one bit, and it will never be. "Asad and Zoya are very different from who we were back then. And besides, I don't think forcing him into this would change anything. Not to mention, Asad is already going through a tough time. He's not showing it but I know he is."

"And why do you say that?" He questioned, not because he plans to agree with whatever it is she will say. But, because he feels like there's more to all of this than she's letting on.

What more secrets are they hiding from him? Why can't they simply tell him whatever it is that's bothering them?

Ama sighed, her shoulders slumping as she looked down. Her lips were curled into a deep frown, and her brows were drawn in. Her heart feels like it's clenching tightly each time she remembers this.

He could see the distress in her posture, and expression and that only made him frown. When he spoke again, his voice came out soft. "Ama" He called out, as he always had. That's where Asad got the name too, he grew up hearing his father call her that and he picked it up despite knowing it's a short form for her name, 'Amatullah'. "What is bothering you? Is it about Asad, hmm?"

Ama swallowed thickly, before blowing out a shaky breath and looking up to meet his eyes. She didn't even bother to hide the worry clouding her features.

"What is it?" He encouraged, knowing that whatever is bothering her is at the tip of her tongue.

She sighed deeply, and then voiced out her worry. "Don't you think it's time we tell him the truth?" She inquired, her voice too low as if she's scared someone-precisely, Asad-would overhear them.

She could see it as his features instantly hardened. He didn't need to ask her to explain further, because he already understood what it is she's talking about. "No" He answered curtly, eyes narrowed at no one in particular.

"Abu Asad--"

"I said no, Ama" He cut her off, before she could even think she can convince him otherwise. Pushing himself off the bed, he approached her and took the spot beside her on the couch. When he spoke again, his tone remained the same as earlier. "Asad doesn't remember a thing, and it's better for it to stay that way"

Ama flicked her eyes close, before shaking her head. "He may not know but he's going through a tough time" She repeated the same thing she said earlier, her eyes flicking open to rest on him. Asad does well to hide it from everyone, and her too but she knows her son. She knows him better than anyone.

She can tell when he's hiding something and when something is bothering him.

"And how sure are you it's for the same reason, huh?" He doesn't see how she could associate whatever Asad is going through now with what happened in the past. "It's been decades, and he has no memory of what happened. It's as good as nonexistent is in his life, kin gane? Whatever it is he is going through, is something else and he is an adult who can handle this issues on his own"

Ama knew he's making sense, but she doesn't want to believe it. She has a reason for feeling that way, though she doesn't plan on sharing that reason with him just yet. "He could've found out" He needs to see things from her perspective. "Kai ma kasani. What if he found out already?"

"He didn't"

"But what if he does?" She pressed, her eyes widened. "What if he figures out the real reason he had to attend all those therapy sessions when he was just a little kid? You know what a relapse could do to him"

Abu sighed, before burying his face in between his palms. His fingers massaged his temples, trying to get rid of the headache that's about to form. His wife is making a big deal out of this situation. He thought.

How did Asad's marriage talk transition into talking about the past? What's the connection?

When he finally gathered his thoughts, though the headache is still there, he looked up to meet her eyes looking much calmer than he did earlier. "What you're worried about won't happen. And if it does, like I said earlier, he's an adult and he can handle his problems now"

Ama was quick to shake her head. He is not understanding her and she doesn't know how to explain the gravity of the situation to him. "I found antidepressants in his room" She stated. "What do you think could possibly be the reason for him to take antidepressants again?"

Abu was so close to simply walking away because she keeps bringing up things and seeing the worse in everything. At this point, he thinks she is the one who will need something to calm her nerves.

"Ama, listen to me" He started, using the calmest voice he could muster. "What you are scared of, won't happen. If it so happens that he needs to know about the past, then we'll tell him, okay? It the need doesn't come, then we'll bury this and leave it that way. No one will benefit from it turning up, okay? I know you are only worried about him, and I appreciate that but, I'm doing this to protect him, so I need you to trust me on this."

Ama still wasn't convinced, and he could see that in her eyes.

But, he doesn't know what else to do to convince her. When she sets her mind on worrying about something, getting her to stop caring about it is always a struggle. She simply zones out of it on her own on most cases.

"Trust me, okay?" He added, his eyes never leaving hers.

She held his gaze for a couple of seconds, before she sighed and looked away, nodding slightly. That was good enough for him. Because he gave her hand a small squeeze and then went into the en suite to gather his thoughts too.

Ama though still wasn't convinced one bit. With him out of sight now, she stood up and traipsed out of the room to hers next door. Knowing that it's late and no one would bother to show up, she didn't lock the door and simply went about to do what she's there for.

She headed towards her closet, and then pulled it open. Underneath her second row of clothing, she slipped her hand and then pulled out a book that was given to her a few days ago.

Her eyes took the cover for the nth time since the book came to her hold. And then, she flicked it over to the first page where a name was written;

Yasmeen Khalid.

~*~

A glimpse of Asad's not so perfect life. I guess his life isn't as simple as it seems😕

Ama, what are you worrying about? What is bothering you like this?🤔

Abu, why are you pressing this marriage like this? Let us rest nowwww😒.

Asad, what is this about your life ehn? Warris is?😞

Too many questions. And Jannah is just by the side taking gulps of wickedness. Say no to peace and yes to suffering!✌️😂

Are you reading Yours, Jannah by my writing twin Aishatu?? What are you waiting for if not 😁you're missing a lot!!!

Toh, sai whenever.

Love, Jannah Mia.