Amin went to Safa’s house. He rang the bell and waited. Noor opened the door to find a handsome gentleman at the doorstep with bags full of fruits, vegetables and pulses.
‘Assalamu Alaikum. I am Amin, Fida’s father.’ Amin introduced himself with a sweet smile.
‘Wa-Alaikumusalam, I’m Noorudheen,’ said Noor, shaking his hand and greeting him happily. Noor invited Amin to take a seat. Amin spontaneously accepted the invitation and sat on the modest sofa. He handed over the bags to Safa.
‘Thank you, Uncle Amin,’ she said gratefully.
‘You are welcome,’ responded Amin. He smiled.
‘They look fresh,’ Mr Noor enthused softly, looking at the greens and fruits. He then turned to Amin. ‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said apologetically with an embarrassed grin.
Amin gazed at Noor for a while and said, ‘You don’t have to say a thing, except thank you if you want to say that.’
‘Thank you,’ Noor said in a choked voice. ‘Mr Amin, you have great kids,’ he added.
‘I know,’ Amin agreed with a grin. They seemed to like each other’s company immensely.
‘Mr Amin, are you a Bahraini?'
‘Yes I am,’ he said proudly. ‘Actually, I was born in India,’ he added.
Just then Zara came in with a cup of black tea. Amin took a sip of the hot tea and said, ‘Me and my wife Alya were brought up in an orphanage in Mumbai. But now we have Bahraini citizenship.’
‘How do you feel about being a Bahraini?’ Zara asked with a smile.
‘Great. India is my motherland. Mothers can only love their children, but Bahrain is our fatherland. All children are safe and well protected in the hands of our father.’
‘Exactly,’ agreed Noor.
After spending some more time in the house, and promising to visit each other often, Amin excused himself.
About an hour after Amin had left, Zara cooked delicious food. They happily had their meal and went to sleep.