2024-12-24 22:06:18It was the afternoon, and Akashi returned home with his siblings, Amira and Khadija, their footsteps echoing through the quiet house.
"Phew, the sun is quite hot . I got dehydrated fifteen times today." He said grabbing the bottle of water on the stool.
"True, the summer sun is at its hottest now. I might need a cold shower " Dija said peeling off her socks.
"Not the place to undress Dija. Akashi frowned lightly. Amira, take your sister upstairs, you both should freshen up, while I make dinner." He instructed them to go upstairs and change, while he wandered into the dining room. His gaze fell on his father's breakfast, untouched, stale, and sour. A frown crossed his face as he realized the time-almost three in the afternoon-and his father had not even come down for breakfast.
Akashi's mind raced with questions. Why hadn't his father eaten? Why hadn't he shown up all day? Something wasn't right. His gut churned as he headed upstairs, deciding to check on his father. As he approached Hakimi's door, he knocked softly, but there was no response. His heart pounded harder. He knocked again, more forcefully this time, and when silence greeted him once more, he opened the door slightly, peeking inside.
The room's atmosphere had changed. The once warm, inviting space now felt cold, distant, even foreboding. His eyes swept the room and fell upon a black coat draped over a chair, boots neatly placed by its side, a face mask, and gloves discarded near them. His pulse quickened.
Without thinking, he began searching. His hands trembled as he checked the wardrobe, the laundry basket, and then the bedside table. As he opened the drawer, his breath caught in his throat. There it was-a large stack of cash neatly bundled, and next to it, a shotgun and a dagger. His heart hammered in his chest.
"What is this?" he whispered, a wave of dread washing over him. Was his father back to his old ways? The dangerous lifestyle Hakimi had sworn to leave behind? His mother had once joked about how a medical doctor ended up with a street gangster. He waved it off as a joke, but now reality is beginning to kick in.
Before he could process the discovery, a soft voice broke the silence."Daddy? Daddy?" Khadija's small figure appeared in the doorway, her face pale, eyes red and watery. She looked sickly, her tiny hands clutching her head.
Akashi quickly closed the drawer, trying to steady his voice. "Khadija? What's wrong?"
"I don't feel well. Everything's spinning," she said in a small, childish voice, her body swaying slightly.
Akashi's heart softened, but panic gripped him. "Okay, okay. I'll take you to the pharmacy. Just... let me change first."
At that moment, the sound of water stopping from the shower echoed through the room. Hakimi emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He spotted his children and smiled weakly.
"Oh, you're back," he said, his voice casual but tired.
"Yeah, Akashi responded, eyeing his father with suspicion. Why haven't you had your breakfast yet?"
Hakimi looked momentarily caught off guard. "Ah... I fell asleep after you left. I guess I overslept. Just woke up now, thought I'd freshen up before heading down."
Akashi didn't entirely believe him but nodded slowly. "Alright... just seems odd you slept through the whole day."
Hakimi's eyes narrowed, sensing the interrogation. "What's with all the questions, Akashi? Am I on trial?"
Akashi held up his hands. "No, no. Just... making conversation."
At that moment, Khadija let out a small whimper. "Dad, I don't feel well. My head hurts so bad..."
Hakimi's expression softened as he looked down at his daughter. "Alright, let me get dressed, and I'll take you to the pharmacy. Don't worry."
Minutes later, Hakimi came downstairs, dressed casually, his long hair tied into a messy bun. He scooped Khadija into his arms, cradling her with a tenderness that belied the tough exterior Akashi had just seen.
"I've got an idea," Hakimi announced as he carried Khadija toward the door. Why don't we all go out for dinner after this? A nice meal out for a change."
Amira raised an eyebrow. "Eat out? We barely have enough money to cook at home, Dad."
"Don't worry, Hakimi said, smiling with a strange new confidence. I told you, I got a new job. Things are going to get better from now on. I promise you guys."
Akashi's suspicion deepened. "A job? What job?"
"I'll explain everything when things settle down. For now, trust me," Hakimi replied, his tone final.
Akashi kept quiet but couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.
--------------The Dinner Out
Later that evening, they arrived at a small, cozy restaurant. The lights were warm, the atmosphere buzzing with chatter and the scent of delicious food. For a moment, the weight of suspicion and secrets lifted as Hakimi's children sat at the table, scanning the menu excitedly.
"Order anything you like, bill is on your sugar daddy" Hakimi said with a smile, his eyes twinkling as if relishing this rare moment of happiness with his family.
Amira looked up in surprise. "But this place is expensive."
"Don't worry about that. Hakimi replied. Tonight is very special."
They ordered their favorite dishes-spiced lamb, rice, and an array of appetizers. As they began eating, the table was filled with laughter and chatter. For a brief moment, it felt like old times-before the struggles, before Ravishia's absence. Hakimi smiled, watching his children enjoy the meal, but in the back of his mind, the weight of what he'd done the previous night lingered.
Just as they were finishing their meal, a woman sitting at the bar glanced over at Hakimi, her gaze lingering a little too long. She smiled, sending a flirty wave. Akashi noticed, but it was Khadija who acted first.
With a stern expression far beyond her years, Khadija stood up, her small frame full of determination, and shot the woman a glare.
"What are you looking at lady?!". She pouted cutelyThe woman quickly turned away, embarrassed.
Hakimi chuckled softly, pulling Khadija back into her seat. "That's my girl," he said, ruffling her hair.
"You're married to me now Daddy." She said and grabbed his arm
"Of course my lady." He grinned and placed a kiss on her arm
-------------
Later that night, as they walked back home, Akashi couldn't shake the unease. The cash, the weapons, the mysterious job-it didn't add up. His father was hiding something, and Akashi intended to find out what.
As they approached the house, Hakimi's phone buzzed. He checked it quickly, his expression darkening as he glanced at the message.
Akashi watched him carefully, but Hakimi shoved the phone into his pocket, forcing a smile. "Alright, kids, time for bed."
As they settled in, Akashi lay awake, replaying the day's events in his mind. His father was slipping into something dangerous, and soon, Akashi knew he had have to confront him. Whatever Hakimi was hiding, it was only a matter of time before the truth surfaced.
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Hakimi felt his heart plummet. “What! What happened? Is she okay?” Panic seeped into his voice, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.“We don’t have all the details yet, but it’s critical. Please come as soon as you can.”The line went dead, leaving him clutching the phone like a lifeline. Akashi’s wide eyes reflected the same dread clawing at Hakimi’s chest. “Dad, what’s wrong?”“Your mother… she’s in the hospital,” Hakimi stammered, the words barely escaping his lips. “We need to go now.”He frowned lightly "Isn't that normal, she works there?""No! She has been admitted!" He raised his voice"Oh my GOD! Is she going to be okay?” Akashi’s voice trembled with fear.“I don’t know, son. We just have to get there.”The two dashed out of the house, the night air biting at their skin as they made their way to the car. Hakimi fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking, the world around him blurring in a haze of anxiety. As he started the engine, he stole a glance at Akashi, whose face w
CHAPTER 01: THE PHONE CALL
Laughter spilled through the door, shaking the quiet of the hallway. I paused, my hand hovering over the knob, drawn in by the infectious joy coming from my daughters’ room. My plan had been to wait downstairs for my wife, but their giggles pulled me in like a magnet, grounding me in the moment.Their carefree voices were a welcome contrast to the growing silence that had settled between my wife and me these past few months. Hesitation melted into curiosity as I leaned closer, shamelessly eavesdropping. Khadijat, my fiery four-year-old in sky-blue pajamas, was the ringleader as always, her commanding tone and dramatic hand gestures setting the stage for another animated tale.“This girl, Rajiv, thinks she’s the boss of everything,” Khadijat exclaimed. “She’s always showing off, especially when that new blonde boy is around. They think he’s the cutest in the class, but he looks like a monkey!”Amira’s laughter erupted, clear and bright. “A monkey, Dija? That’s terrible!” she teased, th
