Two weeks passed and Walija was recovering just fine. They had gone back to the hospital after two weeks as instructed by the doctor. Her arm healed properly and the cast was removed. She was just given some antibiotics and advised to be more careful on the arm for the meantime.

She had been in the mansion for over a month and today, she was set to go back to her husband's house. She had fully recovered and from the way Fawwad kept visiting them all the time, Mami decided to take his wife back to him since it was her idea from the very beginning.

Walija had just finished packing her luggage with the help of Hafsat and now, she was just waiting for Fawwad to show up. Mami wanted to send the driver to take her along with Hafsat and Maya to escort her but Fawwad declined that saying he'll come to pick her up himself. He chose to pick her after Magrib prayer cause it'll be late for Hafsat and Maya to follow them.

Immediately after Magrib prayer, he arrived at the mansion. When he entered the sitting room, no one was there. He knew they all went up to pray so he went straight to Mami's room.

Just as he thought, Mami had just finished praying and was folding her hijab when he entered the room with a salam.

"So, when you said after Magrib, you were really serious about it" Mami said as she placed her hijab on top of the praying mat.

"You know I don't joke with my time...I love being punctual" he chuckled.

"Come on shut up. Children of nowadays don't have shame"

"Mami, you know that I have shame" he protested.

"You can say that again" she said as she sat on the bed while he sat on the floor beside her.

She internally thanked God once again even though that's what she has and had always been doing ever since their son changed.

"You should see your father before you leave" she said after some minutes of the silence.

"Huh?"

"Yes Fawwad, you have to make things right with your father too. Both of you need that and I can see how each one of you needed one another. Your father needs you Fawwad"

From the way she spoke, he knew his mother was serious and the issue between him and his father was disturbing her beyond measure. What made him believe that even more was the fact that she addressed him with his name which is something she rarely does. She always addresses him as 'my son' and when she calls him by his name, he knew not to joke with whatever she has to say.

"But Mami..." And she cut him off.

"No buts please, he's probably back from the Masjid(mosque)...he must be in his parlor"

"Okay," he let out a defeated a sigh and got on his feet.

Not that he doesn't want to set things right with his father but there were fear and guilt that had been eating him up for the past years. He knew he had cost his parents too much pain after all the support they'd given him. And that made him believe that his father will never accept him like before.

He was deep in thoughts when his mother's voice pulled him out "don't be afraid...he will accept his only son" she smiled.

Did I say all that out loud? He asked himself because his mother just answered his thoughts.

He just smiled and left the room to his father's parlor.

*****

"Assalamu alaikum" he said in a soft voice as he entered the parlor.

He found his father on the couch reading a newspaper. He looked up and answered his salam. From the look on his father's face, he knew he was distressed. But what confused him more was why he was just seeing that and failed to notice it for all those years.

"Come and sit" his father's voice came and he suddenly felt a pang of guilt in his heart.

He slowly moved to where his father was seated and crouched down to greet him out of respect. He noticed the glint of surprise in his father's eyes and it broke his heart. How could a father be surprised when his son crouches to greet him? You might be wondering but in the case between Fawwad and his father, you shouldn't.

Ever since he came back from rehab, he totally changed and most especially to his father. He cut off all father-to-son relationship with his father. Even when his father wanted to put him into his business, he disagreed until Mami persuaded him to accept.

He blamed his father for taking him to the rehab center for no reason. Therefore, when he accepted the job offer, he dedicated himself to it and did the best he could to prove to his father he was responsible and there was no need for taking him to the rehab in the first place.

His father knew it was significant because the consequence of not taking him there could be drastic. So, he just ignored all the tantrums he threw.

"Abby...I...can we please talk" he stammered scratching his nape.

Abby closed the newspaper, removed his specs and placed them aside before he said, "yes, what's it?"

Fawwad crossed his legs and took a long breath before he started "I know I had wronged you immensely after all you'd done to me. I may not have the right to confront you with this after so many years but I still consider you my father and I know you still consider me your son" he heaved a sigh and continued "Abby...can you please find it in your heart to...to...forgive me. I'm really sorry for everything...for all the times I'd cost you pain knowingly or unknowingly.

I may sound stupid and may not be making any sense to you but please Abby...I need you, I need your love and support. I can't go on with life like this knowing that my father is in a state of misery all because of me..." He couldn't finished what he was saying when he felt the tears he was holding streaming down.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see his father smiling. He shifted closer to him and held his hands as he sobbed harder. "I'm really sorry Abby. Please forgive me"

"It's alright my son. I never held a grudge against you but I was heartbroken" and his statement made Fawwad even more heartbroken.

"I'm such a useless person" he cried.

"My son is not useless and don't ever repeat that again" he paused before he continued "I knew a day like this will come, and I had been waiting for it"

"Huh?" He asked confused.

"Yes and please wipe away your tears...let me know that I'm speaking to a man and not a baby" he teased and Fawwad sheepishly smiled wiping away his tears.

"I'd been waiting for the day you will finally realize your mistakes by yourself and Alhamdulillah I've witnessed such a day while I'm still alive"

"Abby...stop talking about death now"

"We shall all die someday and as a believing Muslim, you should always remember death. It increases your Iman (faith)"

"Yes, but you'll live long Abby, insha Allah"

"Long enough to see my grandchildren insha Allah"

"Abbyyy" he whined and Abby just smiled "you haven't said anything about that" he changed their topic back.

"I had forgiven you a long time ago" he sighed and said, "may the Almighty continue to bless you my son" he prayed and immediately Fawwad's face brightened. He felt a big burden being lifted off his shoulders.

Alhamdulillah, he muttered several times thanking God for how his life was slowly going back to normal.

"Your wife must be waiting for you" Abby said after much silence.

"I've totally forgotten about that" he laughed scratching his nape.

"You can say that again" Abby laughed shaking his head. He knew his son wasn't serious when he said he had forgotten about his wife but only Fawwad knew how delighted he was to have his father back. Yes, he was so delighted that he forgot about his wife.

"Thank you so much Abby" he said before he got on his feet. Abby nodded and smiled.

😄❤❤

💃

😄

😰😪😂😁

😿

❤