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“I’m allowed to be lonely and angry. I can’t walk, and my body looks like wolves had a field day with me” I raise my bed to stare at my dad. He pulls a chair and sits.
“You will walk, Naseer. It’s just going to take time, but I have hope it will happen.” It’s the same thing he always said, like he was reading a script, of a fictional plot that would never come true.
“You keep hoping, Dad, I’m done.”
“Can you at least speak with Brian? He feels terrible and stayed with you in the hospital for several days.”
“No, I don’t want to see him, Ken, Josh or Raheem. No one. I don’t want to speak with any of them. Do you know how painful it will be for me to watch them leave me here? They can stay away from me. I don’t need any friends.”
“Think about it, Naseer,” he urges.
“Nothing to think about. I’ve made my decision.”
“Can you not shout at your nurse? She’s the only one willing to work with you. The other one left because you called her sloppy and stupid. Rea is working round the clock to change your dressing and care for you. I’m still trying to convince the other one to return.”
“Fine.”
“You can do better than fine, Naseer.”
“I’ll try.”
“Good, I’ll go check on your sister now. I noticed she has stopped visiting you as well because you don’t talk to her, or you shout at her.”
“I don’t need to hear about her teenage activities.”
“You used to like to hear about it.”
“Well, things have changed, and I’m different now. Mani can stay away, too.” Listening to my younger sister yap away isn’t how I want to spend my solitude. I don’t need her teenage stories to cloud my space or information on what my exes are doing.
“Naseer, you need your sister just as she needs you. I’ll encourage you to talk to her.”
“Fine, Dad, I’ll try. Happy now?” I snap.
“Do try. Now, I’ll go find your sister and mother.”
I watch him leave, knowing he doesn’t get my predicament. He doesn’t understand what I’m feeling. He can keep hoping, but I know better. I can’t move. I’ve traveled the world and enjoyed women. Now. I’m just helpless and hopeless. All my wealth can’t get me out of this bed. I am stuck here, for an unforeseeable future without a chance of ever being my old self again.
JADE
It’snowtwelveweekssince I arrived. Uncle Ray is driving me to Taimani Darabi’s residence. The social class had put us in a group. Our assignment was to craft a plan that would help address women’s battery in Rhanaz and draw attention to the silent issue.
There are seven of us in the group, three girls and four boys. The groups decided to meet after school at each person’s home to work together. James’s group did not select me, they chose Lydia instead. It was a relief that I wasn’t in the same group as James and Lydia. I can only imagine how torturous that would be for me to watch them together. Guess it’s a blessing that the last group only picked me because I’m the last one standing and they are short one person. I can’t stand Lydia and I dislike her more now that she’s in James’s group. I’m not happy about meeting at classmate’s homes. We could work better in school, but I was outnumbered by the request to stay back at school.
So here I am, heading to Taimani's house for our first meeting with the group. Taimani has remained nice and friendly towards me in school. I’m glad to be in a group with her. We arrived at the house after passing through an enormous gate and driving to the entrance. Then navigate through an additional security process. We cross that and I get out and press the bell. A uniformed maid opens the door. I step into the grandeur of a large, open lobby. The flooring is marble, and I look up to see the massive chandelier, which looks like something I would only see in a movie with a grand curvy stairway.
Taimani is rushing down the grand stairs. She has changed into shorts and a t-shirt. I’m still in my school uniform. “Mariam, you are here early. That’s perfect. You and I can talk before the others get here. Come on,” she says excitedly. I follow her as she leads. I notice several nicely decorated living rooms and lots of expensive-looking decorations. One could easily fit five of Aunty Lara’s house in here and still have more room. It’s a humongous house and sumptuously decorated.
We finally got to the glass outdoor room with white beams and flowers surrounding its exterior. The room feels airy. We have a long table and chairs that seat ten and to the side is another table set with food and drinks. I set my bag on a chair and took a seat. I’m seeing an excess of food and drinks that could easily satisfy thirty people.I hope that I won’t have to feed them when it’s my turn. I doubt we can afford the kind of spread Taimani set today.
“I’ve been hoping to get you alone for a while, not sure you know this. You are being dubbed the smartest girl in Rhanaz International.”
“I didn’t know that, and I think they are wrong. I’m just brilliant at math and science,” she laughs.
“Come on, let’s eat before the others get here.” I rise and go to the set platter of food. Everything looks inviting.
“Stop being modest. You may not be the best in language art, but you don’t fail it either.”
“I study hard for it; I can’t afford to fail any class. I need to have excellent results, so I can get into a good university in the US, hopefully get a scholarship.”
