😘😘😘

"How are you doing?" My uncle asks from the other side.

"Doing alright...just worried," I replied .

" yes, I heard about everything that happened with Zaid and his dad...Nadia, it's up to you to bring them together, no matter how much he denies it...i am sure he misses his parents," My uncle replies through the phone.

"Yes uncle, I will try my best," I say with a small smile although i know he can't see it. "Uh I will call you some other time, salam alikum uncle," I say as Zaid walks into the room. He was on the phone.

I hang up and watch Zaid as he walks to the balcony still speaking to someone.

"Yep, I will see you tomorrow then," he says with a laugh. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his stomach and rest my cheek on his strong, wide back.

He turns around to look at me. I frown at him.

'What's wrong baby?"

"Tommorow is monday,"

"Yes...?" He replied.

"Uh...so you are going to meet...Noor?" I say hesitantly.

"Oh that...i was just on the phone with her...looks like i have to go tomorrow,"

"Oh," I look down at my feet.

"Uhh, you can come along if you would like...i am sure she won't mind,"

I thought about it and then slowly shook my head. "No...she is your old friend, you go and catch up...i trust you," I say with a smile.

Zaid smiles back at me. He pulls me in for a hug and then cups my face in his hands and presses his lips to my forehead.

"Love you," I say.

"Mmmmmm do I doe?" He says, my jaw drops as I stare at him. He laughs and suddenly I am swiped off of my feet and on his arms in seconds.

"Wha-," I start to say. He hushed me with a shhh.

"Have you gained weight?" He says.

"Arghhh," I whine. "Maybe a little,"

"Haha...you are more beautiful to me than ever,"

****************

"so far they have plans on going to a restaurant tonight for dinner," the guy tells me.

"Which resutarnt?," I ask Sham. Sham is a friend of mine from collage. He works at Zaids company, now his dad's since Zaid left. I had asked Sham to keep an eye on mom and dad and to inform me about any social gathering or place they are planning to go to.

"La cocina de Lina...the Spanish restaurant on 23rd street," he replies.

"Thank you so much Sham...now time to carry out step 2." I sa and hang up the phone.

*****

I wait for Zaid to come out of the bathroom. When he does, I spring to my feet and throw my arms around his neck.

"Oh wow...where is all the love coming from all of a sudden," he laughs. I take a deep breath.

"So zaid...i was thinking...its been a long time since we went out to dinner together...what do you say we go toniight?" I ask quickly.

He squints at me as if trying to figure out what i am getting at. I smile at him so he won't get suspicious. Looks like it worked because then he smiled.

"Sounds like a plan, where would you like to go my love?" He asks.

"La cocina De Lina..." I suggest.

"Alright... it's a deal ...but as of right now, I have to work. I will meet you later, be ready so we can leave as soon as I get home," He kisses my cheek and heads out.

I put of my burgundy long dress and heels. I do my makeup and wait for Zaid to arrive. I was really nervous.

When Zaid comes, we head out to the restaurant. It took about 20 minutes to arrive. We both go inside and Zaid asks for a Table for 2. We sit down and wait to order.

I look around nervously.

"You alright?"

Startled, I look at Zaid, he had a concerned look on his face. I nod.

"I am alright," I throw in a smile. Just as I was about to pick up the menu, my eyes land on a elderly couple. I realized it was mother and father in law.

Mom looked around the table. Her gaze stoped at me as I awkwardly looked at Zaid who was looking at the menu, his back towards them.

Mom taps dad and motions toward us. Dad's expression becomes sad as he stares at the back of Zaids head. Holding their gaze, I give a small smile. Mom was teary eyed. She started walking toward us when dad grabbed her hand. He shook his head at her so if telling her not to approach us. She looks at him , pleading.

He finally nods after what seemed like minutes and they both slowly walk our way. I sit properly.

"Zaid," mom says in a shaky voice. Zaid looks up shocked at the sound of his mother's voice. His expression goes dark...as if a dark cloud fell over him and like all sadness washed over him. He clearly wanted to hug her but was holding himself back. He looks down at the table not being able to hold her gaze any longer.

"Son..." dad says after so long. Zaid balls up his hand into a fist. I reach out to him and he relaxes. He looks at me with sad eyes and I nod at him to listen to what his dad has to say.

Dad clears his throat. "We should all get another table shall we?" He suggests. Zaid stays quite.

The waiter leads us to a bigger table and we all sit down.

"How have you 2 been?" Mom asks.

"Good, alhumdullilah," I respond, glancing at Zaid who was looking down at his lap. Mom and dad shared a look.

"Zaid...how are things going," Dad questions.

"Why do you care?" Zaid snaps.

"Zaid...," mom starts. "Please stop being like this...we miss you sweetheart,"

Zaid let's out a sarcastic laugh. "Miss?..my ass,"

Mom and dad frowns.

"Look son...i am sorry...please come back to us...the company needs you...our family is not complete without you...we werw your parents after all...will you really punish us like this?" Dad says. He was teary eyed as well.

Zaid seemed to have softened for a second when he met his dad's gaze. He quickly changed his expression.

"We have to go," he quickly stands up and grabs my hand to bring me up too. I try to resist a little but he harsh gaze forced me to follow him.

"Zaid..please," mom tries.

Zaid pulls me through the maze of the tables and out the entrance of the restaurant.

"Zaid...atleast listen to what they have to say,"

"Nadia...please...please," he seems to be holding back from bursting at me. I didn't push the matter. I look back at mom and dad with a apologetic look through the glass window of the restaurant. Both of them sat their looking at Zaid with sad expressions. It broke my heart to see this family broken into half.

Zaid gets in the car and slams the door shut. I follow and get in the passenger side. He was quite through out the whole ride.

This Zaid seemed different than the one from the other day when he broke his relationship with his father. Something about the Zaid now, his reaction, his expression and the emotions behind his cold expressionless face hinted something different. It was not anger. It seemed like frustration. I can tell he was fighting himself within. This is not the cold hearted Zaid...this was a boy, this was a son. This son missed his parents. It's visible in his eyes that he wanted to make things right but his ego won't let him.

I look ahead at the road. I can consider this step being successful. Although it did not solve their problem. Something withen Zaid did shift. His mother's tear and his dad's sadness definitely moved him atleast a little bit. No matter what, no son can stay away from his mom and dad and no parents can be apart from their offspring for too long.

I put my hand over his and offer a small smile. He gives me a brief look and nods, assuring me his alright and then continues to focus on driving.

**********

I sit on my bed with a notepad and a pen.

Next week is Zaids birthday and I wanted to plan something special.

Maybe a candle light dinner?

Uh no...its so over used

A surprise party?

YES! I can get some of my collage friends to help me plan and get everything done. I will also get some of Zaids co workers in on it. Zaid had introduced me to few of them when I went to visit him at work one day. Everyone seemed really nice and treated Zaid normally like a friend and not like a CEO of huge company or a very influential person, which Zaid seemed to like.

I stare off into space, thinking about all the possible things I can do, brainstorming about the decoration and the planning when a new idea poped into my head.

"YES!...Its the perfect time," I say excitedly.

I pick up my phone and dial a number. I bite my nail nervously as the phone rings, waiting for someone to speak up from the other end.

"Hello?" Comes the voice from the other end.