Once In A Blue Moon

20 Maddeningly

Your hands were my decision. I had to take them and go away.

— Shams Langaroudi

☾

"Salam, Mughis. Welcome."

"Salam. Thank you."

Mikael greets his brother in law and steps aside to let him into his house. Mughis had called him last night and informed him of his arrival and Mikael had send him his address. Today, he was expecting him and knows why he's probably here.

They walk into the living room and Mikael gestures towards a couch. "Please, take a seat."

Mughis does so, and his hawk like eyes immediately scan his surroundings subtly.

"Can I get you a coffee?" Mikael offers. "Or anything else you'd like?"

"No, thank you," Mughis declines. "I won't take much of your time. I'm here only to talk about your wedding. Sit down please."

Mikael sits on the couch besides him, calmly locking his fingers together between his knees.

"When are you coming home, Aurang?" Mughis asks straightforwardly.

"It's difficult for me to leave behind my daughter currently. She's diagnosed with a heart problem that needs surgery. Her wellbeing comes first for me. I hope you understand."

Mughis's gaze flicks through the glass wall to the backyard where Zimal is playing with their cat. "That's her?"

Mikael nods. "Yeah."

He looks back at him. "I heard about her condition and I'm sorry about it. But the surgery should've been performed by now. What's taking so long?"

"There are certain prerequisites."

"If it's about the expanses, I'll arrange the money for you--"

"No," Mikael refuses sharply, helping himself not to sound bitter. "I'm her father; she's my responsibility. I can manage on my own."

"And Banafsha is also your responsibility, are you forgetting?" Mughis narrows his eyes at him. "If you cannot fulfill her rights, we can very well take her responsibility back from you. You just need to say the word instead of beating about the bush and delaying the matters."

"I remember very well."

"Then you need to get back home and settle the matters with your father. Assure us that you can provide for Banafsha. We cannot just send her with you without a guarantee, neither can we keep her waiting upon your name."

"I just need some time."

"We've already given you enough time. The wedding had been fixed by the end of the year and we still haven't seen any effort from you. We don't have forever. Also," Mughis fixes his gaze and he parallels it boldy, "the night of your nikah, you told us you needed to speak to Banafsha, but then left her on the rooftop without so much as saying a word to her. What do I gather of this attitude of yours, Aurang? If you had any problem with this marriage, you should've said so before signing the nikah documents (marriage contract)."

His airway constricts at Mughis's inquiry. Banafsha created a misunderstanding for her benefit, not knowing it could become a pit for both of them. And now, he's the culprit being target of Mughis's doubt.

"I'm satisfied with my marriage, and I don't regret my decision," Mikael stresses. "That night I only wanted to see my wife, that's all."

Mughis's huff out a laugh. "Do you see me as a fool?" He leans forward towards him, his voice dropping and becoming dangerous. "My sister is not some abandoned child, Aurang. You wrong her, you're answerable to us."