2024-12-24 21:49:50The sun hung low in the sky as Amira and Khadija hurried home from school. They had begun returning from school on their own, laughter filling the air as they ran, chasing each other. School bags swung wildly behind them, their report cards clutched tightly in their hands.
Arriving at home, their faces lit up with excitement as they dashed through the front door, shoes scuffing against the worn-out carpet.
In the kitchen, Hakimi and Akashi were preparing dinner—masgouf, a traditional Iraqi dish of grilled fish, paired with tashreeb, a stew soaked with bread and vegetables. The savory aroma filled the small house, a rare moment of warmth and peace amidst the tension that had been building for weeks.
"Dad! Kashi!" Khadija called, her voice bubbling with happiness as she and Amira burst into the kitchen. "Look at our results!"
Both girls held out their report cards with pride, and Hakimi, wiping his hands on a towel, eagerly took them. His eyes scanned the cards, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"You both scored first in your classes!" he exclaimed, beaming with pride.
Amira giggled and nodded. "We did it, Dad! We worked really hard!"
Hakimi’s chest swelled with pride, the weight of his struggles momentarily forgotten as he looked at his daughters. "I’m so proud of both of you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Kashi, take this," he added, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some money. "Go buy juice—tamar hindi or qamar al-din, something the girls will enjoy. We need to celebrate!"
Kashi nodded and took the money, heading out to get the drinks. For a brief moment, everything felt normal—happy, even.
When Kashi returned, they all sat down at the small dining table, the grilled fish steaming in front of them, the drinks chilled, and the girls' laughter filling the room. It was a simple but joyful meal, a rare escape from the heavy burdens that often clouded their home.
As they ate, Khadija, in her usual candid manner, spoke up. "Daddy," she said, looking down at her plate, "I won’t be able to go to the next class unless we pay my school fees from last term."
The joy at the table faltered, and a heavy silence filled the air. Hakimi’s heart sank, the reality of his situation crashing down on him once more. Akashi noticed his father's sudden change of mood and threw a reprimanding look at his sister. Before Hakimi could say anything, Akashi, always the protective older brother, spoke up.
"Khadija, don’t worry," he said with a reassuring smile. "When I get my next salary, I’ll pay your fees. You’ll go to the next class."
Hakimi felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He looked at his son, who was far too young to carry such burdens. His hands tightened around his fork as frustration flickered in his chest.
"No, Kashi, Hakimi said, trying to keep his voice steady. You’ve worked hard enough. Use your salary for your own school fees. I will take care of Khadija and Amira's fees."
Akashi frowned slightly and shook his head. "Dad, I can—"
"I said I’ll take care of it," Hakimi interrupted, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. He hated seeing his son—still a child—bearing responsibilities that should have been his alone. Akashi looked older than his age, worn down by long nights of working odd jobs and trying to help the family make ends meet.
Hakimi softened his tone. "I’ve gotten a job, son. I’ll take care of things from now on. You focus on yourself, your school, and your future."
There was a moment of silence before Akashi finally nodded, though his eyes still showed concern. "Alright, Dad," the words came out grudgingly.
Hakimi let out a small sigh of relief, grateful that the conversation hadn't escalated further. "Khadija and Amira," he said, turning to his daughters with a gentle smile, "While we're out working, you both keep praying for us, okay? Pray that everything works out." He grinned, showing his teeth.
Khadija nodded eagerly, clasping her hands together, eyes full of innocence. "I’ll pray, Daddy. I’ll pray every day." She smiled at him.
The evening passed quietly after that, with the family finishing their meal and preparing for bed. The weight of Hakimi’s decision to work for Riqqo was still heavy in his mind, but for now, he focused on the small moment of peace he had with his children, as no one could tell what would happen the next moment...
A few minutes past eleven, Hakimi still sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes void of sleep. The house was silent. He was deep in thought, his mind racing with the risks of the job he had agreed to take. Could he really go through with it? Could he keep this secret from his children?
A soft knock on the door broke his train of thought. Akashi stepped into the room, his expression serious and a little hesitant.
"Dad?" Akashi said quietly. "Can I talk to you?"
Hakimi looked up, surprised. "Of course. Come in."
Akashi walked over and sat beside his father, his gaze steady but filled with questions. "You know..." he began, "I’ve been thinking, seriously thinking." He paused and bit his lip.
"Thinking about what?" Hakimi asked, running a hand through his son's long hair.
"Okay, I just want to know, it’s fine if you don’t want to let me know, but... what job did you get?"
Hakimi’s stomach twisted. He hadn’t expected this. He stared at his son, struggling to find the right words. Akashi had grown up so fast—too fast. He had begun to notice things, to understand the struggles his father was going through. Hakimi had hoped to shield him from all of this, but it seemed that Kashi was more perceptive than he’d realized.
"Why do you ask?" Hakimi finally said, trying to keep his voice even.
Akashi shrugged slightly, though his eyes remained fixed on his father. "I just want to know. You’ve been struggling to get a job, and you told us when you get one, you’ll let us know. But you never mentioned getting a job before today, and I know things have been tough. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Dad. I just... I want to know."
Hakimi’s throat tightened. He stared at Akashi speechless, wondering how his son had matured so quickly, how he had come to bear the weight of their family’s struggles on his shoulders.
After a long pause, Hakimi finally spoke. "Akashi," he said, his voice soft but firm, "you don’t need to worry about me. I’ve gotten a job, and soon things will be better. You won’t have to carry these burdens anymore. I promise."
Akashi’s eyes remained searching, as if trying to read between the lines of his father’s words. Finally, he nodded, though the concern in his gaze didn’t fade.
"I just want you to be safe, Dad," Akashi said quietly. "I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re the only one we’ve got."
Hakimi’s heart clenched, and he looked away, unable to meet his son’s eyes. "Don’t worry about me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Akashi reached out and placed a hand on his father’s shoulder, his touch gentle but filled with an understanding beyond his years. "I’ll pray for you, Dad. Just like you told Khadija to pray for us. I’ll pray that everything will be alright."
Hakimi’s chest tightened, and he nodded, unable to speak. As Akashi left the room, closing the door softly behind him, Hakimi sat in the darkness, the weight of his choices pressing down on him more heavily than ever before... Was this a sign?
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CHAPTER 37: THE CONFRONTATION
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the small but cozy living room where Khadijat and Amira sat on the worn sofa. The scent of breakfast still lingered in the air-freshly made tea and the faint aroma of bread Bashir had toasted earlier. Akashi leaned against the wall, flipping lazily through a magazine, his long hair loosely tied back.Bashir entered the room, his sleeves rolled up and a playful grin on his face. "Alright, you three, coats on!" he declared, clapping his hands together.Khadijat frowned, looking up from the book she had been skimming. "Why? Where are we going?""To see your father," Bashir said simply, his smile widening.At those words, Khadijat's face lit up, and Amira let out an excited squeal. "Really?!"Akashi, too, straightened up, his expression softening. "To Dad's restaurant?" he asked, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.Bashir chuckled. "Yes, now hurry up before I change my mind."The room burst into movement as the siblings
CHAPTER 36: A THIN LINE BETWEEN ALLIES AND ENEMIES
The meeting with Malik was set for midnight. Hakimi and Laila arrived at an underground café hidden in the heart of the city, accessible only through a narrow alley flanked by decrepit buildings. A flickering neon sign above the entrance read "The Rabbit Hole." The café's air was heavy with the aroma of roasted coffee beans, mixed with a hint of tobacco and something metallic.Hakimi scanned the room, his sharp eyes catching every shadow and corner. The place was dimly lit, with heavy velvet curtains draped over private booths. The hum of muted conversations and the occasional clinking of glasses filled the air. Laila nudged Hakimi toward the booth in the far corner, where a blonde haired man sat hunched over a laptop. He was dressed in black and wore a dark gloves. Malik.He looked every bit the eccentric tech genius. His wiry frame was wrapped in a mismatched hoodie and cargo pants, his wrists adorned with bands of worn leather and tech gadgets. His thick glasses magnified his rest
CHAPTER 35: THE SHADOWS CLOSE IN
The morning light barely seeped through the heavy curtains of Bashir's house. The air was quiet, almost too still, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Bashir shuffled to his front door, his old cat trailing behind him with a soft meow. He bent to pick up the morning paper but froze when his eyes caught a crimson-colored envelope resting on the doormat. What the hell was that? He silently prayed it was not what he was thinking.His hands trembled slightly as he opened it. Inside, scrawled in uneven red ink, was a single sentence:"You better stay out of it, or you'll regret it."The words seemed to leap off the paper, their menace almost palpable. Bashir's heart thudded painfully in his chest. He glanced around the empty street, the morning fog curling like ghostly fingers around the houses. There was no sign of anyone, but he felt like someone was watching him. Carefully, he folded the note and tucked it into his pocket, forcing himself to act normal as he turned back insid
CHAPTER 34: ALLIES AND SHADOWS
The cold night air was sharp and biting, slicing through Hakimi's coat as he stepped out of the truck. The streetlights buzzed faintly above, casting a dim yellow glow on the empty parking lot of a run-down diner. Hakimi stood still for a moment, his breath curling in front of him in pale clouds. Beside him, Akashi slammed the truck door shut, his movements sharp with bottled frustration."Why here?" Akashi asked, eyeing the flickering neon sign above the diner. The smell of old grease wafted faintly through the air, mingling with the faint hum of a passing car somewhere in the distance.Hakimi didn't answer immediately. His eyes scanned the lot, the shadows of parked cars, the dark alley to the left of the diner. His hand hovered near his coat pocket, fingers brushing the handle of the knife he had tucked inside. "It's quiet, he finally muttered, nodding toward the door. Let's go inside."The diner's door creaked as they stepped in, the bell above it jingling. Inside, the place looke
CHAPTER 33: ESCAPE BEFORE DAWN
Hakimi's blood ran cold as the words on his phone screen burned into his mind."It's today. Hope you'll comply with your part of the deal and bring what's mine."His breath caught in his throat, and he gripped the phone tighter, the edges digging into his palm. The weight of the threat sat heavy on his chest, making it harder to breathe. He felt trapped in his own body, paralyzed by fear and indecision. How had it come to this?He glanced at the dim glow of the clock on the bedside table. It was barely past midnight, the world outside cloaked in silence, but his mind was anything but still. His chest tightened as a flood of questions and regrets swirled within him. He had known the risks when he made the deal, but now, with his children's safety on the line, regret hit him like a tidal wave."Think, Hakimi, think!" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He couldn't stay here, not with the looming threat. His family came first. Always, and he certainly kne
CHAPTER 32: AKASHI'S SECRET INVESTIGATION
The morning sun streamed through the tattered curtains, casting a pale glow over the modest kitchen. Hakimi sat at the dining table, nursing a cup of tea as steam spiraled lazily upward. A worn newspaper lay open before him, but he wasn't reading. His eyes skimmed over the words without comprehension. His mind was elsewhere-on Riqqo's threat, the cryptic note, the stranger outside his house the other day, and the weight of keeping his family safe.The sound of lighthearted chatter pulled him back to the present. At the far end of the room, Amira was gently braiding Khadija's hair, something his wife has always done, her younger sister giggling at something she had said. The sight of his daughters filled Hakimi with a bittersweet ache. They were innocent, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them. He envied their ignorance.At the other end of the room, Akashi silently packed his bag, his expression stoic but his movements unusually deliberate. His mind wasn't on school. He h
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