Assignments and Adult Talks

"Ugh man! Physics is so boring!" Jonas exclaims.

"Agreed!" Mariam shouts back from the kitchen.

"It's just about done, Nas. Just a bit of summary and references are left to add. Then we can move on to History. Please note down all the references while I prepare the summary"

"Fine fine." Jonas gives a loud sigh.

----The italicized part is spoken in Arabic.----

"Mariam! Mariam!!" Assad calls out while hurriedly rushing down the stairs to go see his wife in the kitchen.

"What? What is it Assad? You look worried."

"I was called to act as a translator to cross-check some refugees who might be terrorists and I'm currently the only one who's the closest to their location. It is apparently quite urgent to them."

"They should've called me."

"No, Mariam. I don't want you to have any contact with those savages. My family must stay away from filth like them."

Mariam gives him a long look.

"Will you be okay, Assad?"

"I'll be just fine. Plus they are going to compensate me to the tune of $6000. That's groceries for 3-4 months at the very least!"

"Money is not an issue for us anymore Assad. I've made enough to help our daughter go through college. You also have helped a lot to get us to that point, remember? You're no longer in Iraq, Assad. You no longer have to push yourself to do things you don't want to just so that you can feed this family."

"Then what should I be doing? Sitting at home all day like a woman twiddling thumbs?"

"Is...is that what you think I did all this time, Assad?" Mariam's voice was trembling as she spoke those words.

"I'm...I'm sorry. I'm sorry that's not what I meant. I'm really sorry about that. I immediately regretted it as soon as those words left my mouth. Please... let me have this Mariam. Let me feel useful for once. I'm tired of sitting at home all day reading books."

"Hmm..... fine. But before that, come with me upstairs."

"Why? I am already late? What more do you want to discuss?"

"It'll only take a minute." Mariam leaves the kitchen and goes upstairs into her bedroom. Assad follows her and stops at the bedroom door.

"What is this, Mariam? What do you want to show me or tell me? And why are the curtains drawn?"

"Just come inside Assad and close the door. It'll only take a minute or so."

Assad closes the door. In the time it takes for Assad to close the door and turn around, Mariam had closed the distance between them both.

"Mariam! What are you...unf.."

Mariam gives her husband a warm bearhug and pushes his face into her magnificent breasts. She holds him there for a while until she feels him reciprocate the hug.

"Mariam, is this what you wanted to do to me?"

"Do you think it is wrong to do so? Aren't you my husband?"

"I am."

"Then what's the issue?"

"......."

"Assad, I want you to know that no matter what happens in the interrogation room that you're going, your family loves you. I love you. Do you understand me?"

"It doesn't feel like Zara loves me."

Mariam breaks the hug to hold her husbands face in her hands. "Assad, she's a teenager who has grown up in America. You are trying to take away her freedoms which she took for granted all those years. Just like ISIS."

"I'm nothing like them!! We'll talk about this later!"

As he's about to leave Mariam grabs his hand and pulls him back.

"Do you love me Assad?"

"Mariam please stop your games..."

"It is a simple question, Assad. Do..you..love..me?"

Assad gives in and nods. "I do. Very much so, my love."

"Do you love Zara?"

"More than my own life. I would sacrifice everything for her."

"Keep those thoughts in mind then. We'll talk more later."

Assad nods and turns to open the door before he's pulled back again and given a big smooch on his lips by his wife followed by three more smooches, one on each cheek and one on the forehead.

"Tha..thanks..I'm leaving now." Assad quickly opens the door and runs downstairs to head out.

----Italicized Arabic ends here----

Jonas and Zara look up from the couch to see Assad hurriedly rushing down the stairs with a frown on his face. He gives them a quick disapproving look before heading out and closing the door behind him.

"Why was he so red? He looked furious."

"My parents probably had another fight. They always keep their fights hidden from me like I wouldn't understand what is going. He always gets red like that after his fights with mom."

"Dang. I'm always here if you want to talk more about it."

"I know."

Mariam walks down the stairs and smiles at them both as she proceeds to enter the kitchen. Jonas returns a polite smile back. Zara however has a slight frown on her face.

"C'mon, Nas. History time."

"Finally, something I really like!"