Abdullah lay staring at the ceiling, thinking about the trip ahead.
It's been two years now. That place still feels empty without you, Nano. If you're looking over me right now, I hope you're having fun up there with God. Life's been interesting since we lost you. But there were good parts too. Mr. Erik, Donal, and the others really helped me. I made new friends in first year as well. Still, I miss you. I know I can't hear you, but Mama says you can hear me and come to me in dreams. So I hope you visit me one day. Ameen.
"Abdullah! Get upstairs, you have to get ready. We're visiting my friend today," his mom called.
"Yeah, I'm coming. Just give me a second," he replied.
Abdullah followed his family inside the house they'd been invited to. As soon as he stepped in, he spotted a familiar face.
"Wow, you've grown so tall," Lina's mother said, smiling.
Oh no. Is she here too? Abdullah thought.
"I guess I have," he said awkwardly. "Uh… is Lina also here?"
"Yeah, she's outside with her friends. Do you want me to get her?"
"NO, I mean no, it's fine. Sorry," he said quickly.
Lina's mother laughed lightly as Abdullah walked away.
"Hey Aaliyah, what are you doing?" he asked.
No response.
"What are you doing?"
Still nothing.
"HEY, YOU IDIOT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"Oh my God, why are you shouting?" Aaliyah snapped.
"I'm bored. What are you even doing?"
"I'm watching."
"Watching what?"
"None of your business."
"Yeah, okay. Whatever."
Abdullah wandered through the house until he saw a kid playing Roblox.
"Hey, can I just chill here?"
"Uh… okay."
After a while, Abdullah decided to step outside for some air. As he walked, he saw her.
Okay, just act normal. That's your pal's girlfriend. No need to be weird. Just keep walking.
Lina looked at him.
"Tell Nadeem I said hi," she said.
"Okay," Abdullah replied.
That was it. The first thing she'd said to him in years and it was about Nadeem.
They've been dating a while now. Guess we just weren't meant to be. Be happy for your friend. She wouldn't like someone like me anyway. I don't even like her anymore… right? I shouldn't care. I couldn't do that to Nadeem. It's wrong. So why am I still thinking about it?
"ABDULLAH, WE'RE LEAVING NOW. GET IN THE CAR!"
His mom's voice snapped him out of it.
No point thinking about that now, he thought. I should be excited. We're almost going. I can't wait to see Aunt Amira, Abuji, all of them.
Soon, Abdullah landed in Pakistan.
Outside the airport, he spotted Aunt Amina, Arham, and Shanza.
"Amina Auntie, it's so good to see you," he said.
"It's so good to see you too, my beautiful boy. Come here," she said, pulling him into a hug. "You've gotten so tall, mashallah."
"Hey bro, what's up?" Arham said.
"It's been a while, man," Abdullah replied.
They soon arrived at Aunt Amina's house. Abdullah told Arham all about the game he'd been playing and how they should play together.
"Yeah, we'll play when you come again," Arham said. "You're going to Abuji's house soon anyway."
"Alright," Abdullah said. Then he paused. "Where's Aunt Amira?"
"Don't you know? She's pregnant right now," Aunt Amina said. "You'll see her eventually."
"Oh."
Abdullah felt disappointed but at least he'd see her soon.
Not long after, they were leaving again.
As the car stopped, Abdullah spotted Abuji waiting outside.
"It's been way too long," Abdullah said, running up and hugging him, holding on longer than usual. He then hugged Big Nano and Papa too.
He noticed new faces this time. Uncle Tariq now had two kids. four-year-old Musa and two-year-old Umar. Uncle Humza had Ayyan and Rayaan.
Everyone slowly got acquainted.
One day, Uncle Humza pulled Abdullah aside."Abdullah, want to come with me for a burger? Don't tell the others we'll sneak out."
"Yeah, okay," Abdullah said, grinning.
Rayaan, Musa, and Umar were always asking him to play or give them piggyback rides.
"My turn!""No, my turn!"
"I'll pick you all up at once," Abdullah laughed. He hoisted one onto his shoulders and held the other two in his arms.
"Guys, I don't know how much longer I can—"
"PSHHHT— KABLOOM!"
He dropped them dramatically onto the bed. They burst into laughter.
Another day, Uncle Tariq asked him for help.
"Hey, come help me with this. Or actually, call your dad."
"No, I can do it. We don't need my dad," Abdullah said.
They finished the job easily.
"Looks like you've gotten stronger," Uncle Tariq said.
At night, Abdullah slept in a different room with Big Nano and Papa. He often stayed up late.
One night, he noticed a photo.
"Who's that?" he asked.
"That's our daughter your Aunt Amira," Papa said. "When she was younger."
"Woah. Major bowl cut. Good thing she got rid of it," Abdullah joked.
Big Nano and Papa laughed.
"Back then, your mom and Amira were inseparable," Big Nano said. "Once, they came home running because they thought they were being followed. Your mom grabbed Amira's hand and ran straight to Papa's shop."
"What? When did this happen?" Papa interrupted.
"You already forgot? It was only twenty years ago," Big Nano replied.
Only twenty years? Abdullah thought. That's a long time.
"Wait, Papa had a shop?" Abdullah asked. "What happened to it?"
"My vision got worse," Papa said. "I grew weaker. I couldn't keep it running."
"Want to see some pictures from back then?" Big Nano asked. "The box should still be here."
They went through the photos Abuji when he was young, his mom beside Aunt Amira, Papa and Big Nano. Then he saw Nano.
Why couldn't I have been born earlier? he thought. I wish I could've spent more time with everyone… with Nano.
"Why the gloomy face?" Papa asked.
"I wish I was born earlier," Abdullah said. "So I could've spent more time with everyone."
"You can still spend time with us now," Big Nano said.
"Come on," Papa added. "Let's see a smile. It's late. Let's lie down together like before."
Most days after that, Abdullah did almost nothing. He stayed in his room, played games, called friends, watched things trying to pass time. The time difference made it harder to stay connected to Ireland.
One day, Ali walked in.
"Hey, how many weeks has it been since I last saw you?" Abdullah joked.
"Can we keep it that way?" Abdullah said. "Feels like I could go longer."
"Shut up. Why are you staying up here all day?" Ali snapped. "The whole world is downstairs. Go talk to someone instead of wasting your time. What the hell are Mom and Dad doing letting you sit around all day?"
"What do you want me to do?" Abdullah shot back. "I talk to them. I don't like cricket that's all you guys do. Just leave me alone."
Ali muttered something under his breath and walked away.
Later, Abdullah went to Abuji.
"Abuji, can you talk to Ali? I don't know why he's always like this to me."
Abuji chuckled. "That's just how kids are. He cares about you he just doesn't know how to show it. He's a hothead, like your dad."
"Yeah maybe," Abdullah said.
"Still," Abuji added, "he doesn't need to speak if he has nothing nice to say."
Time passed. One day, his dad said, "We're going to my hometown soon. We're packing tomorrow."
"Alright," Abdullah replied.
That night, lying beside Big Nano and Papa, he asked, "How's Aunt Amira doing?"
"She's feeling a bit sick," Big Nano said. "Just pray for her."
"She'll be okay, right?"
"Of course," Big Nano said. "God listens to your prayers." "your one of his favourite's".
"hey Allah what's up its me i mean you know its me you know everything so i guess you already know what I'm gonna pray for but i mean we still do it anyways that's kinda funny isn't it anyways I know your chilling up in heaven right now i just if you could make aunt Amira all better that would be really nice i just after nano don't take anyone else alright just take me first before the others. i know nano is really happy in heaven and all but i just i don't think i can handle losing another person again. so just keep everyone safe mama baba and Aaliyah and Zara aunt Amira all of them. even Ali even though he's super mean. anyways that's everything.
"You done praying, beta?" Big Nano asked.
"Yeah," Abdullah said. "He'll keep you all safe now, right?"
"Of course," she smiled.
The next day, during the car ride, Abdullah asked, "Can we see Noor first?"
"She ran away," his dad said.
"She got married. She's in Spain," his mom corrected.
"Yup," his dad said flatly.
Did she run away? Or did she get married? Abdullah wondered.
He didn't ask again.
for now Abdullah was just happy to be back
2 years later...