Two years later
Amin was lying on the bed reading a newspaper. Luke came and sat beside him. ‘Has your mama come home yet from the parent–teacher meeting?’
‘No, she hasn’t. But she will be back soon. She has gone with Aunt Zara.’
Amin looked at his son. ‘Are you nervous?’
‘Er … a bit,’ Luke responded, putting his head down.
‘Relax Luke!’ Amin said with a kind smile. Amin wanted to set up some business for Luke. He waited for Alya. Amin had decided to take the final decision only after Alya had returned from school with Luke’s result.
Luke tried to kill his anxiety with conversation. He asked, ‘Papa, can I ask you something?’
Amin looked at his son in surprise. He pushed the newspaper to one side and said, ‘Sure, what’s that?’
‘Who is the strongest man in the world?’
‘No, Papa. It’s a person who can control his anger. Look, fire is strong and powerful, but water is cool and calm.’ Then with a proud smile, Luke added, ‘Haven’t you noticed how easily water douses fire?’ Amin laughed.
‘Next question, Papa: Who is the richest man in the world?’
‘Bill Gates,’ answered Amin.
‘No … Papa. It’s a person who sacrifices his wealth for the benefit of the poor.’ Amin looked at his son in surprise and admiration.
‘All right, explain that, too,’ he challenged.
‘Papa, we are just travellers on this earth. A traveller should not carry the bulk of luggage with him,’ said Luke. ‘If he carries more than his requirement, he will find his journey very difficult. So, naturally, he will think of taking a shortcut and that will take him to hell. So he’s a loser. Others who travel without much luggage travel to heaven and live like kings.’
Amin admired his son’s thought but did not say anything. He smiled to himself.
‘Oh, Papa, imagine you are going to England from Bahrain, without much luggage. Through which channel will you go at the airport?’
‘Through the green channel,’ responded Amin with a broad smile.
‘And others with more luggage have to wait for customs clearance, face a lot of stress and finally pay heavy duty for the expensive goods they carry,’ explained Luke with pride.
‘I appreciate your thoughts, Luke.’ Amin smiled at him.
‘Papa, one more please?’
‘All right, what’s that now?’ asked Amin, a little bored.
‘What is the symbol of courage, love and shelter – and is one of nature’s wonders?’
‘Tree of Life,’ Amin said confidently.
‘Exactly, Papa. I knew you would answer that right.’
‘Papa …’ Luke started again.
‘Oh Luke! Now what?’ Amin asked, impatiently this time.
‘It’s about my classmate.’
‘What happened to him?’
‘His father was a businessman who always helped his friends during good times. But now when his business is not doing very well, no one has come forward to help him. Don‘t you think it’s unfair?’
‘Well, Luke, I think you have just given the answer for that question.’
‘I did? But what?’ Luke looked surprised.
Amin put his hand around his shoulders. ‘Luke, you said we are travellers in this world?’
‘Yes, Papa, I did say that,’ Luke concurred.
‘So, while travelling, if you find a thirsty person, what will you do?’
‘I will share the water I have with him,’ Luke said with confidence.
‘Exactly. And when you face a problem, he in turn will help you. But if you give your water to those who don‘t actually need it or those who already have it, do you think they will help you when you are in need?’
‘I don’t know, Papa – maybe … maybe not.’ Amin laughed at Luke’s frankness.
‘Help those who really need it – not the ones who don‘t deserve it,’ advised Amin.
Alya suddenly appeared in the doorway with a beautiful smile.
Amin stared at her. ‘Any good news?’
‘What made you to think that?’ Alya asked.
‘Well, you look cool and happy. What did the teacher say about Luke?’
‘I look cool because it’s a promise that I have given to my husband.’ She smiled. ‘And about Luke …’’ Alya turned to Luke. Luke’s heart was pounding as he returned the gaze. He tensed. ‘Your teacher admires your thoughts, behaviour, innocence, and honesty. But she is very disappointed about your studies. You have scored below average marks in all subjects.’ She stopped for a while, looking at the dejected face of Luke with sympathy. She then added, ‘The principal said that he cannot let you write the tenth board exam because it will affect the overall result of the school.’ Luke said nothing. He stood with his head down. ‘Amin! You don’t look worried? Why don‘t you say something?’ Alya said irritably.
‘Well, Alya, it’s not a big surprise; I am used to hearing this every year. Look Alya, I have planned a business for him. He is no good in studies; he has proved that many times before. We cannot force him to …’ Luke looked up with a jerk in hope and disbelief.
‘Do you really think so?’ Luke asked cheerily.
‘Amin! He is only 17. Don’t you think he is too young for it?’ Alya asked with raised brows. She thought for a while and said, ‘It’s the second time he is failing, and if this goes on, I don‘t think
he will ever write his board exam, but …’ Alya appeared confused. She remained quiet for a while, and then turned to Amin. ‘Well, what kind of business is it – this one that you are planning?’ Alya asked hesitantly.
‘Well, Alya, I visited my friend Ahmed yesterday. He owns a supermarket. Since he is in a managerial post at the Alpha Fire Service, he is mostly away from Bahrain for business purposes. So his son Adeeb is running that small supermarket, just opposite the main road. He was looking for a shop assistant. I mentioned Luke’s name and he accepted immediately.’
‘Employee in a supermarket? It’s hard work.’ Alya looked worried.
‘Alya,’ Amin said softly, ‘a supermarket is the best place for a person to learn business. Look at Adeeb. He’s just two years older than Luke. He started helping his father at the age of sixteen. Now he is an expert in the business.’ Amin turned towards his son and asked, ‘What do you say, Luke?’
‘I am interested in it, Papa,’ responded Luke. Then he looked at his mother and said, ‘Mama, no child will be directly in tenth standard; everyone has to learn from the first and finally reach tenth.’ Alya looked at him half in anger and half in surprise.
‘If you have this much knowledge, why don’t you show it in the exams?’ she teased.
‘Exactly!’ Amin laughed. Luke shrugged for an answer. Amin shoved one hand in his pocket and rubbed the back of his neck with the other. ‘Luke, if you are interested, you can work with Adeeb and later start your own business – say at the age of 25 or so.’ He stopped. After remaining thoughtful for a while, he turned to Alya and said, ‘The plot I bought from Rizwan is good for the business.’ He turned to Luke and added, ‘It’s your property, at the age of 25.’
‘Why not now?’ Luke asked, disappointed.
‘You are too young to start a business now. I think you have just given the answer to that.’ Amin winked at Alya and then looked at Luke in mock seriousness.
‘Yes I did,’ he said with a foolish grin.
***
Amin and Luke went to Adeeb’s supermarket the next day. Luke read the board: ‘Muneera Supermarket’. The shop was named after Adeeb’s mother.
Adeeb cheerfully greeted Amin and Luke. He told Luke to start work the very next day. His work would be from six o’clock in the morning to seven o’clock in the evening with a two-hour lunch break. Luke’s salary would be 150 Bahraini dinars[ML1] , which Amin thought was not bad for a beginner.