Amin, having just arrived back from his day at work, sat down on his favourite black sofa. Luke ran towards him and hugged him. ‘Papa, you look tired,’ Luke said, staring at his father’s rugged features.
‘Yes, I am,’ said Amin, and he dropped his head back on to the back of the sofa. Luke went to the kitchen immediately, squeezed some oranges to make juice, poured it into a clean glass and came back into the living room to give it to Amin. ‘Thank you, Luke.’ Amin looked at Luke while he took a sip of the cool juice. Luke was massaging his father’s leg. ‘Have you finished your homework?’ asked Amin. Luke’s smile faded.
‘I … don’t have any,’ said Luke, putting his head down. Amin stared at his son in stunned amazement. Luke was helpful, caring, smart, and loving. His only problem was his aversion to studying. Alya and he had given Luke lots and lots of lectures, but nothing was working.
Just then Amin heard a sweet voice. ‘Amin! When did you come in?’ Amin turned his face and saw Alya standing near the door with a beautiful smile.
‘Just now. Where were you?’
‘In the bathroom; I was having a shower.’ She grinned. ‘How about something to eat?’
‘No, not now. Come and sit with me.’
Alya sat beside him. She turned to Luke. ‘Go and do your homework, and don’t forget to pack your school bag.’ Luke reluctantly went to his room.
Amin stared at his beautiful wife, admiring her elegant little nose and the enchanting dimple on her soft, stubborn chin. ‘You look tired,’ Alya said softly.
‘I was, but not now.’ He grinned.
‘Why?’ Alya asked, surprised.
‘Because you look fresh.’ He teased her with a naughty grin. He put his arm around her shoulders, kissed her forehead and said, ‘Thank you.’
‘Thank you for what?’ Alya asked in surprise.
‘Thank you for greeting me with a fresh and beautiful smile.’
‘I do?’ Alya shrugged to mean that she had never realised it.
‘Yes you do, you always do,’ Amin whispered. Burying his head in her hair, he said, ‘Most of the fellow workers in my company do not wish to be home early.’
‘Why?’ asked Alya, surprised.
He shrugged. ‘They say that their wives look fresh only when they go out. They do not dress up for their husbands.’
‘That’s ridiculous. I don’t believe it,’ Alya said.
He laughed. ‘It’s true. Every man wants his wife to greet him with a bright smile, and when she does that, the husbands would naturally think of returning home as early as possible.’
‘Is that the reason you come home early?’ Alya asked with a smile. He whistled. ‘Any doubt?’ He hugged her. She felt herself crushed against his hard chest.
After spending some time with his beautiful wife, Amin went to Fida’s room.
‘How was your field trip?’ he asked, sitting down on the bed. Alya stood behind them, listening to the conversation.
‘It was wonderful, Papa. I had a strange feeling when I went near the Tree of Life. I was sure that the tree was trying to say something to the people around. I mean … it said many things to me.’ Amin was both puzzled and surprised to hear that. He glanced at Alya. Alya shrugged.
‘What did it say to you?’ asked Amin in wonder.
‘The tree had fought so hard to live in the middle of the desert without water for so many years, Papa. Finally, it won the struggle, and it has now lived for 500 years. Now the tree is happy to give shade to whoever goes near him. It said: “I cannot talk like you or walk like you. I had no one to help me when I was small, and still I lived …” The tree says this to those who have physical disabilities, as well as to those who have no one to care for. It tells people to face difficulties courageously. It says: “One day you will surely succeed, and then give shade to others.” And finally it said: “Society needs you all. You might have suffered a lot when you were small, but don’t let anyone else suffer like you. Help them in every way you can. God is watching you. And may God bless you all.”’
‘Wow! That’s great! I mean it’s wonderful!’ Amin appreciated his daughter’s thoughts and admired her from his heart. ‘Me and your mother had no one to love or care for when we were small. But now I’m so proud that we have you both.’ Amin felt relief and contentment.
‘Wow, sis! I would love to hear that again. Did the tree actually talk to you?’ asked Luke, still in a trance.
‘Nope. I went near the tree, closed my eyes, and imagined myself as a tree. Then I had a strange feeling. Does everyone get this strange feeling? Well, I don’t know, Luke. I had it. It may be because we children are the future.’
‘Fantastic! You are excellent, sis.’
‘Thank you, and you too are excellent, my little brother.’ Fida kissed him affectionately on his cheeks.
‘I have got a great family,’ Amin said proudly, not knowing that some evil eye had fallen on his happy home, which would soon bring unbearable tragedy.