chapter 3

Chapter 3MishalCan pets get coronavirus?I typed in the question in my Google browser and came across several results. Most of the sources told me there was no evidence the virus could be transmitted from cats to humans or vice versa.‘Baaaji, what are you searching for?’ Rayaan asked as he sat next to me on the couch with Brownie on his lap. Brownie was as close to him as she was to me. I closed my laptop and looked at him. ‘Just making sure our Brownie stays safe from the virus.’‘Don’t worry, Baaji. Brownie is immune to the virus,’ Rayaan flashed his toothed grin at me. ‘Hopefully.’The first wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan was dreadful. The virus was spreading all over the world and was rapidly spreading in our country as well. The Government tried its best to contain the virus by putting certain restrictions. The indoor dining of all restaurants and cafes was closed temporarily. Only takeaways and home delivery services were available. Even going out during these crucial times was risky and difficult. I did not let my Amma go out because she was older and was more prone to catching the virus. After seeing Nigar aunty’s condition, I was scared and had become more protective toward Amma. So, whenever I had to replenish my kitchen stock and collect groceries, I went out myself. With Abba’s meager savings in the bank account, we were able to get a small car. We owned a Suzuki Mehran that both Amma and I used to drive around the city to finish our chores. I drove the car to our usual grocery shop and bought all the items that I would need in the coming week for the upcoming orders. When I came back and pulled the car into my driveway, I spotted Khalid uncle out of his house, giving water to the plants in the mini garden they had set up in front of the gate. When his eyes met mine, he smiled at me with a small wave. I was not really fond of that man ever since I knew him. I always found him cold and arrogant. I never saw him smiling. I did not understand how such a generous woman like Nigar aunty chose to make him her husband. I never understood their bond. The only good thing about our neighbors was Nigar aunty. I did not have much liking for her husband and her stepchildren. That was why I always chose to maintain a considerate distance from him and his kids. Ignoring his judgmental gaze, I got out of the car and walked toward the gate to open it. ‘Seems like someone has forgotten their manners, huh?’ I heard Khalid uncle say that from behind me. I sucked in a long breath and pushed the wrought iron gate to open it, ignoring him in the background. ‘Won’t you even greet your neighbor uncle?’ he continued with a tease in his voice. That was why I did not like him. He always complained about the younger generation not being respectful toward their elders. I turned around to look at him. ‘Khalid uncle, I think you need to keep some distance. Six feet distance, remember?’‘Oh yes, of course, I know that,’ he said. ‘I don’t think so. You’re not even wearing your face mask.’‘Ah, it’s inside. Plus, I don’t need it out here. Wanted to have some fresh air.’‘Good for you then.’ I quickly got inside my car and drove it past the gate until it was inside, parked on the porch. I killed the engine and got out of the car. ‘How’s your YouTube channel going? And the business you’ve started?’ he continued bombarding me with questions, and I realized he had now stepped closer to our gate. I walked towards the gate, ignoring his questions. ‘Wouldn’t you even ask me about your favourite Nigar aunty?’ Khalid uncle asked, raising his brows. ‘I can contact her directly and ask her about her wellbeing. Goodbye.’ I closed the gate on his face and went back. I was surprised how he chose to have a conversation with me that day of all the days. He rarely spoke to me. He was the most notorious person in our neighborhood because of his arrogance, and nobody seemed to like him. He did not have a good reputation, and everyone knew that. Even Amma prevented me from speaking to him. I wasn’t even fond of his kids, especially the younger one—Fariha. Only Hammad was better among the two. He was reliable because he was mature and sensible. Despite being age fellows, I did not get along well with Fariha ‘Have you got all the things?’ Amma asked when I got inside. I set my dupatta on the back of the couch and removed the face mask. ‘Yes, Amma.’‘Go and wash your hands immediately,’ she ordered. I did what she said and then sorted all the grocery items inside the kitchen, putting them in their respective spots. ‘What was Khalid saying to you outside?’ Amma asked as she followed me into the kitchen.‘Nothing, just as usual. You know how sometimes he loves poking his nose into everybody’s business for no reason.’ ‘I feel bad for poor Nigar. I do not understand how she copes with him.’‘Maybe she finds him better than her ex-husband,’ I said with a shrug. ‘Hmm. Maybe.’‘Don’t worry, Amma. I won’t. Did you check on Nigar aunty today? How’s she doing now?’‘Yes, I did. She still has fever and cough.’‘Tch. Is she taking medicines?’‘Yes, she is,’ Amma said. ‘Amma, are we sure she doesn’t need hospital right now? What if the virus has spread into her lungs? What if she needs an additional oxygen supply?’‘I spoke to Hammad today. He told me they would give her oxygen supply if her oxygen levels went down. It’s normal at the moment.’I sighed. ‘I just hope she recovers soon.’Amma moved to the kitchen counter and set the things that I had forgotten to keep inside the drawers. ‘Hammad also told me that her son Daniyal was coming to Pakistan.’My heart skipped a beat when I heard his name. I quickly turned around to face Amma. ‘What? Really?’Amma looked at me and nodded. ‘But, Amma, he hasn’t come here in like eight or nine years.’‘I know, but Hammad told me he couldn’t stay back after knowing his mother’s condition.’‘Okay, so when is he coming?’ I asked, feigning disinterest because I did not want to let Amma think why I was getting so much interested in Daniyal all at once. ‘In a day or two, I guess. Why?’I shrugged and then grabbed the shopping bags to put them aside. ‘Just like that.’‘Okay. Would you like to have some tea?’I screwed up my eyes to consider the offer. ‘Yes, please!’***I finished preparing and packing the orders, and by the end of it, I was so exhausted that I could not even sit with Amma and Rayaan and watch some TV. Instead, I held Brownie in my arms, went to my room upstairs and hit the bed. As I sat on the bed, I put Brownie on the bed and watched her roam in the room. I untied my hair, let them loose, and removed the glasses from my face. I was sure to fall asleep as soon I hit the bed. However, when I lay down on the bed and nestled my head into the soft pillow, I could not fall asleep as I had anticipated. I felt restless, even anxious. Daniyal’s teen face flashed before my eyes. He was sixteen when I last saw him. Would he look the same now as he did when he was younger? Or did he look different now? Despite my best efforts, I could not find him on social media. Perhaps he never used it. My body shuddered as I remembered his face, his delicate, innocent features. I sat on the bed and wiped the sweat across my forehead. All these years, I had made up my mind and convinced myself that he would never return and I would never have to cross paths with him. But he was coming back. For real. I could not fathom how I was going to stay away from him. It was almost impossible yet necessary. I could not ever face him. I would not. How could I after what I’d done to him? DanielI had to catch a flight to Lahore in just eight hours. Before boarding the flight, I had to undergo a COVID-19 test and report positive. Only then could I board the flight. When I booked my ticket to Pakistan, I thought it would be nice of me to inform my Dad. So when I did tell him, he sounded a bit upset, which was kind of surprising for me. Without probing me with further questions, he invited me to his place for dinner. I realized it was high time I accepted his offer and went to his place. Stephanie or Steph, as my Dad liked calling her, opened the door and greeted me. She was Dad’s wife. Out of courtesy, I brought them a bouquet and a slab (a carton of beers). ‘G’day, Daniel. It’s so good to see you!’ She welcomed me with an animated hug and gestured for me to come inside. ‘Thanks,’ I whispered quickly as I walked past the door and stepped into the TV lounge. My Dad had recently moved to a new unit as he thought the older one was conspicuously small for his family. Dad appeared from the kitchenette when he saw me walking inside, a warm grin on his face. ‘Hey, Dad,’ I said as I met his gaze. ‘Son.’ He embraced me, and I realized he smelled of Barby (BBQ). I sniffed and made a face. ‘What’s that smell for?’ ‘We are having barby, just in your honour, mate.’ He grinned. I nodded, biting my lower lip. ‘That’s cool.’‘Why don’t you guys sit down? I’ll go and check on your sisters,’ Stephanie said to me pointedly. ‘Sure, missus!’ Dad said, smiling, and took a seat on the couch. I followed his suit and looked around his new unit. ‘Do you like it?’ Dad asked when he noticed me noticing the new place.I nodded. ‘It’s cool.’‘I’m sorry to hear about your Mum,’ Dad started, and suddenly, the atmosphere around us changed. I knew I had to react instantly. I shook my head immediately in the next moment, not letting him say anything further. ‘Nope. Don’t say like that.’He narrowed his brows in concern. ‘Don’t sound it like she’s dead. She’s not.’ I glared at him, blood rushing to my cheeks, my heartbeat increasing. ‘I… I didn’t mean it like that, mate.’ My Dad became scared, I could tell. ‘Of course, you did,’ I replied sharply. ‘Son, I…’‘You know what, Dad? You never have anything good to say about my Mum.’‘Daniel,’ he protested, but I stopped him with a wave of my hand. ‘I think I should…’ I paused midway, looking for words. ‘I should just leave. Coming here was a bad idea anyway.’ I stood on my feet and began walking away, Dad trying to stop me from behind. Just when I was about to reach the door, Stephanie came outside of a room with her daughters in tow. One of the teen daughters looked at me expectantly, and then she changed her expression.‘Where are you going?’ Stephanie asked, concerned. By then, Dad had joined us at the door, his hands resting in his pockets. ‘Hudson, did you upset him?’ Stephanie asked my Dad, to which he shook his head and shrugged. ‘I’m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to leave. I have to catch a flight tomorrow,’ I interjected. ‘Please have some food and then leave. We were so excited to have you here,’ one of my step-sisters said. I smirked at her and bent down to touch her cheek. ‘I’ll visit again, promise.’‘Hmph!’ She made a sound with a closed mouth, indicating annoyance. ‘I promise.’ ‘Pinky promise?’ she asked, waving her pinky finger at my face.  I grinned and then crossed my pinky finger with her. ‘Pinky promise.’I passed a thoughtful smile to Stephanie and then glanced over my Dad longingly before heading out. Sydney to Lahore. It was a long-haul flight. It almost took me 19 hours, including the layover, to reach Lahore. The last time when I came to Lahore, I was accompanied by Mum, and I was only 12 years old. As I glanced around the airport, I realized so much had changed in the last decade. With COVID-19 restrictions set in place, I could not see much crowd at the airport. Hence, it did not take me much time to collect my luggage from the baggage claim area once I disembarked from the flight. I had already informed Hammad about my arrival timings, so I was hoping he would have arrived when I exited the airport. I did not have much interaction with Hammad ever since I returned to Australia. I was friends with him on Facebook, but we never communicated. But I did know what he looked like now. I would not have recognized him if I had not seen his latest photos on Facebook. He waved at me when he saw me coming out of the airport. At first, I hesitated because I had great difficulty recognizing him with the mask on his face. It was only when he waved at me I realized that it was him. Dragging my luggage trolley, I walked towards him, and then we shook hands briefly. ‘Hi, it’s good to see you after so many years,’ Hammad commented through the face mask. ‘Likewise,’ I replied with a nod. ‘God…how tall you are!’ he commented. ‘6’5,’ I told him. ‘Wow, man. That’s great.’‘Shall we leave?’He nodded. ‘Let’s get you home.’He put my luggage in the car boot and then gestured for me to sit in the car. The sun had already begun to set in as we drove through the city, running past housing societies built near the airport. The city had changed so much in these last ten years, I reflected as I looked outside the window. Throughout the journey, Hammad tried to have a small talk with me, asking me about my work and routine. I replied to all his answers conscientiously. Back in the time when I used to live with them under the same roof, I did not have much interaction with anyone. I was not friends with any of my step siblings. They rarely spent any time around me, let alone talk to me. I came back from the reverie when Hammad pulled the car outside the house. I recoiled a little, looking at the house. A feeling of melancholy consumed me as I stared at the house, all the bad memories rushing back to me. Suddenly, I found myself back in the time when I used to live in that house. Despite living with Mum, I never felt myself at home. I always felt like I was out of place. Perhaps it was never my home. ‘Are you okay?’ Hammad asked, sensing my discomfort. I nodded quickly. ‘Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.’‘I’ll get your luggage out of the boot.’ He exited the vehicle while I kept sitting inside the car, struggling with my terrible past.Â