The Autumn Of Absence
“I finished my tiffin box, baba”
“Good”
“I drank water in three breaths too”
“Good boy”
“I did exactly what you said”
“That’s why I love you, you’re going to grow up strong, my Nafsam”
“Now will you come home?”
“You know I can’t, there’s a lot of work at the shop these days”
“Mother cries every day, you know, she misses you”
“You take care of her now, don’t you?”
“ I try telling her that you’re okay, she doesn’t believe me. She keeps crying. I try really, I do.”
“ You must look after her, you must look after your family”
“Okay.. baba… Are you still staying with the men in uniforms? The ones who took you that day?”
“Yes my dear, I stay with them now.”
“Are they your friends?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Then why did they chains on your hand and beat you”
“Oh isn’t that what old friends do? doesn’t Bilal smack you on your head every time you sip tea”
“He does… Mom says you are dead”
“…..”
“Why don’t you meet her once, she will stop crying. You know that.”
“….”
“I know you don’t like talking about this.”
“I must leave now, Marwan”
“Okay baba”
“You be good now, okay?”
“Okay, baba”
“And remember. You’re brave and I love you. Always”
“I love you too, baba”
“And if you ever want to talk to me, what will you do?”
“Close my eyes and sit under this Chinar”
“Good boy”
