Abdullah got up, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Wow, look at you," Aunt Amira said with a smile. "It's been a while, hasn't it? I don't think I can even pick you up anymore."
Abdullah stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"You've really gotten scrawny," he said. "All I feel is bone."
Aunt Amira laughed.
He was then introduced to the newborn Mira. She was extremely small, even for a baby. Her entire body barely fit into Abdullah's two hands.
Then he saw Aunt Amira's son.
Zane.
Two years old.
Abdullah felt drawn to him instantly.
The next few days were busy and full. Abdullah and Arham played Roblox together, and they also played Brawl Stars nonstop. Ali didn't play Roblox, but he joined them for Brawl Stars.
"BRO, I'M FUCKING LAGGING," Ali shouted.
"I'M ON ONE HP, BRO HELP," Abdullah yelled back.
Most of the time, the three of them just got destroyed in matches, shouting at each other and getting mad. Abdullah and Ali got Arham's Snapchat so they could keep playing together once they went back to Ireland.
One day, Abdullah also got a chance to talk to Tomek.
"Hey, when are you coming back?" Tomek asked.
"I don't know. We'll be home soon though."
"Okay. When you come back, I'll come see you, alright?"
"Yeah," Abdullah said.
At night, Abdullah slept on the floor with Papa. They laid down blankets, while Big Nano and Aunt Amira slept on the bed with Zane and Mira.
Because of Mira, they were often awake late into the night. Abdullah would help Aunt Amira when he could and play with Zane.
"Bhai, look at this," Zane said, climbing onto the bed or up on desks.
"Get down from there," Aunt Amira warned.
"Abdullah, keep an eye on him, alright?"
"Okay, I will."
Abdullah and Zane stuck together most of the time. Zane was curious always learning, always touching and looking at everything.
"Look at all my toys," Zane said proudly. "They're my toys, okay?"
"Bhai, can you put me on your shoulders?"
Abdullah lifted him up, giving him little carnival rides around the room. Some days they played with cricket wickets, using them like swords and fighting each other.
"Ow, crap go easy on me," Abdullah laughed.
"I'm too strong for you," Zane replied, giggling.
Abdullah took pictures of him with different filters, watching his reactions.
"Oi, why's my face so big?"
"I don't know," Abdullah said, pretending to be confused.
"Mama, look he turned me into a monkey."
"Oh wow," Aunt Amira said enthusiastically. "That's amazing, isn't it?"
Abdullah loved how happy Zane always was always smiling, always laughing.
At night, Abdullah enjoyed sitting and talking with Papa, Big Nano, and Aunt Amira.
"It's just like old times, isn't it?" Papa said.
"Yeah," Abdullah replied. "It's nice again."
"Aunt Amira, how old are you?" Abdullah asked.
"I'm thirty."
"What about Big Nano?"
"I'm sixty, beta," she said with a smile.
"Oh, that's cool," Abdullah said. "So you're double her age."
"I guess I am," Big Nano laughed.
"You've grown so much, Amira," Big Nano said, looking at her daughter.
Abdullah watched the scene Mira in Aunt Amira's arms, Big Nano sitting beside her.
Three generations of women, all together.
"Abdullah, can you hold Mira for a bit? I need to go to the toilet."
"Alright."
Abdullah noticed Aunt Amira struggling to stand. Big Nano helped her walk.
"Are you alright?" Abdullah asked.
"Yeah," she said softly. "I'll be fine. Just need a little help."
"Is Aunt Amira okay?" Abdullah asked Papa.
"She's fine," Papa said gently. "The birth was hard on her, but she's a strong young woman."
"Don't you and Big Nano miss her, since she lives far away?" Abdullah asked.
"Of course we do," Papa said. "But that's part of life. One day you're holding them in your arms, and the next they're married, and you're wondering where all the time went. My little girl already has a little girl now."
"Why don't you go stay with them then?" Abdullah asked.
"This is our home," Papa replied. "We love our daughter, but we won't abandon the place we were raised, the place we lived our whole lives."
Why did we have to go so. Abdullah thought to himself.
"We do miss her," Papa continued. "But we're still happy. Every father has his day where he has to let his little girl go."
"Yeah," Abdullah said quietly. "You're right."
Aunt Amira walked back into the room.
"Why the serious faces?" she asked, laughing. "Did I miss something?"
Sooner than Abdullah expected, it was time to leave.
He hugged Papa and Big Nano goodbye. They headed to Aunt Amina's house Arham, Aunt Amira, Zane, Mira, and Abuji coming along as well.
When they arrived, Abdullah said his goodbyes.
"I'll miss you, beta," Aunt Amina said, hugging him.
He turned to Arham next.
"You better play with us when we're back, alright?"
"Yeah, of course."
Then he hugged Aunt Amira tightly.
"Can I take Zane with me?" Abdullah joked, holding back tears.
"If you can convince him," she laughed, "be my guest."
Abdullah crouched down in front of Zane.
"Will you miss me? I'm leaving now. I won't see you for a long time."
"Yeah," Zane said. "I'll miss you."
In the car on the way to the airport, Abdullah cried quietly.
"Oh, why are you crying, beta?" Abuji said gently. "Chanda, comfort your boy."
"Stop crying," Abdullah's dad said flatly.
Abdullah's mom wrapped her arms around him. "It's okay," she whispered.
At the airport, they said their goodbyes to Abuji but Abdullah suddenly ran back to him.
"Oi, get back here," his dad called.
Abdullah broke down, crying, and Ali ran over too, crying just as hard.
"I don't want to go," Abdullah sobbed. "I want to stay. Please just let me stay with my family. I'll go to school here, I'll do everything. Please don't make me go."
Ali cried beside him. "I want to stay with Abuji."
Abdullah's mom started crying. Abuji's eyes filled with tears too.
"We're going to miss the flight," Abdullah's dad said, trying to pull them away.
"Don't you have a heart?" Abdullah's mom said through tears. "Give them a moment."
Abuji wiped the tears from both of their faces.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "We'll meet again next time you come. Go now. Get on the plane and smile for me."
They wiped their faces and walked away.
The flight passed quietly. Back in Ireland, the house felt empty.
I want to see Zane and Aunt Amira, Abdullah thought.
Then his mom's voice broke the silence.
"Tomek's coming upstairs to see you."
"Oh yeah," Abdullah thought. "He said he'd come."
Abdullah looked up and froze.
A tall, pale boy stood in front of him. Thin. Extremely skinny. His hair was different. His face looked older.
Abdullah barely recognized him.
It can't be him. When did he lose so much weight?
"Tomek?" Abdullah asked quietly.
His friend smiled.
"Wow, Abdullah you look so"
different...