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Chapter 12
Syed finally plucked up courage and invited his father over on Monday evening when the restaurant would be closed. To his surprise his father hesitated for only a moment before accepting, he wondered how his mother would respond to the news but wasn't quite brave enough to stay around and find out. He wouldn't have been surprised if they had had a call to cancel.
As it was, here he was laying the table in readiness for their arrival. His stomach was in knots worrying what the evening would bring. Christian on the other hand seemed annoyingly calm, had the kitchen in perfect order and was whisking cream ready to pour over strawberries for dessert, humming to the music on the radio. Syed rearranged the table for the fourth time, in doing so knocking over a chair.
"Calm down! It's only dinner. I promise I will behave, and I'll do a better job of toning down than I did the first time Tam came here."
"I am calm," he lied, "No need – just be you, and I want them to see us how we usually are."
Christian stopped whisking, his eyebrow shot up "Really!" Syed shot him a glance and then smirked at the shared memory of the last time when they had not just dispensed with eating at the table, but also with other niceties such as plates, he remembered the sensation of cold cream against hot skin. He walked over, swept up some cream onto his finger and offered it to Christian who sucked greedily.
"Well – at least usual for polite company." he tasted the cream himself, "I hope they aren't too hungry."
"Don't worry, I've kept some extra for later." Christian responded wickedly. They were interrupted by the door buzzer.
Masood entered first, as usually his expression was hard to read, Zainab in contrast didn't need any words to make it crystal clear that this was the last place on earth that she wanted to be. Christian went on a charm offensive taking their coats, thanking them for the delicacies that they brought, complimenting Zainab, serving drinks and making them as comfortable as possible.
"Who's looking after Kamil tonight?" asked Syed. "I can't believe how much he has grown; it won't be that long before he starts school I guess?"
"Tamwar has him; Kamil has already started at pre-school and is doing so well. They are good boys." responded Zainab pointedly.
Syed tensed. "You're lucky, all your children are bright, they are a credit to you both" interjected Christian.
Masood looked around the flat, his eyes drawn to the bed. "I didn't realise that this was a studio flat, I thought they all had two rooms like..." his voice trailed off as he realised what he was about to say.
"We do," said Christian easily "Sy uses the other room as an office, and it gives him a quiet place where he can pray without me lumbering around disrupting his thoughts."
"That's good" nodded Masood, as Zainab hissed under her breath. They turned their attention to the food that Syed was serving. The stilted conversation continued throughout the meal. Zainab rose to help Syed clear the table and make coffee.
"How is your sister really?" Masood asked," I didn't get much chance to talk to her; I always thought she and Ian would work things out. Ian did apologise."
"She's getting there, she did the right thing – Ian may have said sorry but it didn't translate into actions and he didn't respect her. Words alone are not enough."
"Some things are hard to forgive."
"I know, but sometimes love requires compromise."
They fell silent as coffee arrived.
"Tamwar's future in-laws seem very nice," said Syed.
"He is very respectable," enthused Zainab, "and he has friends in high places who will be very useful to Tamwar as he makes his way in the world. He has already introduced some of his clients to our business hasn't he Mas?"
"Yes he is very supportive and generous to the family, as is she."
"Yes she is, but ... well ... she is too liberal, if her daughter had not found the guidance of Allah I dread to think how she might have turned out, with a Mother like that who gives so little moral guidance." Christian automatically sprung to Angela's defence.
"Well you would think that," spat Zainab "you who take good people and corrupt them to your perverted lifestyle."
Christian's hand balled into a fist, his knuckles white as he bit his lip to avoid the obvious response. To his surprise Syed's hand curled over his and his voice remained calm as he admonished his mother.
"Mum, don't speak to Christian like that, one you are a guest in our home and its bad manners and two it isn't true and Christian deserves better."
Zainab mumbled an apology of sorts, Masood rolled his eyes and made that apology explicit and guided Zainab out of the flat before any more damage was done.
"Well that went as well as I expected" said Syed shrugging his shoulders.
"Went better than I expected" said Christian pulling Syed toward him "... my hero!"
"My superman"
