Chapter 7

Chapter 7

 

It was Thursday evening.  Amaan walked dejectedly off Kennedy High's soccer field with his teammates.  After winning the first two games of the season, they couldn't maintain the streak.  No one was expecting such tough competition from Fremont High, but then again, they also couldn't have anticipated Fremont High to have a new player who was good enough to play professionally. 

 

As Amaan waited in line with his teammates for the water fountain, the Fremont High team finally stopped celebrating and joined them.  Their star player was directly behind him.  Amaan turned and smiled.

 

Amaan: Congratulations.  You were excellent.

 

Soccer Star: Thank you.  You were pretty good yourself.  That goal you made in the first half was brilliant.

 

Amaan: Thanks, but it was nothing compared to the four that you made.  I'm Amaan, by the way.

 

Soccer Star: Faisal.  Nice to meet you.

 

They shook hands. 

 

After quenching their thirst, both teams headed towards the entrance of Kennedy High.  As they walked back, Faisal went back to celebrating with his own teammates, and Amaan discussed the game with his team captain, Adam Taylor.

 

At the front of the school, Amaan immediately located his father's Mercedes.  He said goodbye to his teammates, walked over to the car and sat inside.

 

Zaheer: Hi Amaan.  Kaisa raha?  Hi Amaan.  How did it go?

 

Amaan: Hum is baar haar gaye.  We lost this time.

 

Zaheer: Oh, sorry to hear that.  Lekin don't worry.  Haar jeet to chalti rehti hai.  Oh, sorry to hear that, but don't worry.  You win some, you lose some.

 

While they waited for cars around them to move so they could leave the parking lot, Amaan told his father all about the game and Faisal's amazing talent.

 

They had driven about two blocks from the school when Amaan noticed Faisal walking.  He told his father to stop the car on the side of the road.

 

Amaan: Hey Faisal.  Are you walking home?

 

Faisal: Yeah.

 

He looked a little embarrassed.

 

Amaan: Where do you live? 

 

Faisal: Near Washington and Driscoll.

 

Zaheer: That's quite far.  I can give you a ride.

 

Faisal: Thank you Uncle, but it's okay.  I'll just walk.

 

Zaheer: It's okay.  It will only take us ten minutes to drive you there.  If you walk, it will take at least half an hour.

 

Faisal hesitated for a moment, then opened the car door and sat down.

 

Amaan: I was just telling my dad about what a great soccer player you are.  With you on the team, I'm sure Fremont High will be the champions this year.

 

Amaan wasn't usually so open with people he barely knew, but Faisal appeared to be a likable and modest sort of guy.

 

Faisal: Thanks, but I'm not sure if I'll stay on the team for much longer.

 

Amaan: What?  Why?

 

Faisal: Some personal reasons.  Not sure I can handle it.

 

Amaan: That's too bad.  Well, I hope things work out, and you don't have to leave the team.

 

Faisal: I hope so too. 

 

When they reached the intersection of Washington and Driscoll, Faisal told them to drop him off there.

 

Faisal: Thank you.  I'll walk from here.

 

Zaheer: I can drop you at the door of your house.

 

Faisal (sounding horrified at the thought): No no.  Please drop me off here.

 

Amaan's father did as told, and Faisal said goodbye.  On the way home, Amaan wondered why Faisal had acted so strange. 

 

After dinner that evening, Amaan went to bed early.  He was tired from the game and had been staying up late the past couple nights to work on essays for two of his classes.

 

Around two in the morning, Amaan awoke from the sound of the bathroom door opening.  He opened his eyes, peeked outside his door, and saw Rehan entering the bathroom.  Amaan was just about to go back to sleep, when he realized that Rehan's breathing was abnormal.  He got out of bed and walked to the door of his room.  From there, he could clearly see that Rehan was standing in front of the bathroom sink, breathing heavily, with both hands tightly gripping the counter tiles.  He looked as if he were about to throw up.

 

Before Amaan could react, Sabah came out of her room and walked towards the bathroom.

 

Sabah: Kya hua, Rehan?  Tum theek to ho?  What happened Rehan?  Are you okay?

 

Rehan (with some difficulty): Haan, baaji.  Aap so jaaiye.  Yes, baaji.  Go to sleep.

 

Amaan decided to stay back and listen to their conversation.

 

Sabah: Phir koyi bura sapna dekha na?  Another nightmare, right?

 

Rehan looked down at the sink and hesitated for a moment.  Finally after a few seconds, he answered her.

 

Rehan: Haan.  Yeah.

 

Sabah: Main samajhti hoon.  Jo tumne dekha, us ke baad to kisi ki bhi haalat aisi hi hogi.  Lekin please tum usko bhulaane ki koshish karo.  Ab hum wahaan se bahut door aa gaye hain.  I understand.  After seeing what you had seen, anyone would be affected the same way.  But you have to try to forget what happened.  We're far away from all that now.

 

Rehan: Main koshish to kar raha roon. Din mein to us haadse ke baare mein kam hi sochta hoon, par pata nahin kyoon, neend mujhe phir wahin le jaati hai.  Mujhe bura bhi lagta hai.  Meri hi wajah se hum L.A. se apna achcha khaasa ghar chhod kar yahaan aa gaye.  Aur phir bhi main us baat ko bhool nahin paa raha hoon.  I've been trying.  I barely even think about it during the day, but I don't know why when I sleep, it all comes back.  I feel really bad about it, too.  We all left our home in L.A. to move here because of me, but I still haven't been able to forget what happened.

 

Sabah: Rehan, is baare mein tumhen sochne ki koyi zaroorat nahin hai.  Hum sab yahaan khush hain.  Bas tum apna dhyaan kahin aur lagaado taake tumhen bhoolne mein aasaani ho.  Rehan, you don't need to worry about that.  We're all happy here.  Just try to distract yourself with something else, so it'll be easier for you to forget.

 

Rehan: Okay, I'll try.

 

Sabah: Ab tabiyat kaisi hai?  How are you feeling now?

 

Rehan: Behtar hai.  Ab main jaake so jaata hoon.  Better.  I think I can go back to sleep.

 

Sabah: Okay, feel better.  Good night.

 

Rehan: Good night.

 

They both went back into their rooms.  Amaan couldn't believe what he had just heard.  He had been told that they were moving to Fremont because his parents had found better jobs there.  In reality, they had actually moved because of Rehan!  But what had Rehan seen that had traumatized him so much?  And why had the family kept this from him?  Amaan returned to bed but these thoughts kept him awake for most of the night.