Ezekiel revert back to his pleasure moment of writing, but for this time round his words were fill with secret love and hope. Ezekiel, decides to sharpen his pencil as he carefully stood up and pace towards his part of the closet to get his stationary set out. Standing on his toe, with his hands grapping towards the corner for his stuff, suddenly the corner of his elbow hit something, until it fell off from the edge of the closet. It was an old shoe box. Ezekiel, decides to place it back to where it belongs, however the old tattered shoe box, give way and tore up to few large pieces, spilling out most of the contains of it.
“Oh! Dear!” exclaimed Ezekiel, as he bend on his knees to pick those things up. Much to Ezekiel surprised, most of it were old photographs. Looking at one of the picture, soon Ezekiel figures out, that was the picture of Ashraf during his younger days. Ezekiel was amazed after seeing that picture, for Ashraf was a real stud. Ezekiel smile to himself and then in just few moment he turn solemn. “He was not born blind, but what could have happened?” thought Ezekiel to himself. Ezekiel, soon took the whole tattered box with the rest of the photos and sat upon the corner of his thin mattress. He begins to look at the rest of the other pictures. However, something had caught his notion in a stir moment, because one of the old photos contain the picture of his father, standing side by side with Ashraf. Both were still very young indeed and from Ezekiel’s perspective, they both seems to be very close. Ezekiel brings that photo closer to his side, with many significant questions running through his mind
“Assalamualaikum.” utters Ashraf as he enters the front door which was always kept unlocked.
“Wa’alaikumsalam.” replied Ezekiel as he stood up and greets the old man.
“I’ve bought some fried banana. We could have it together with some tea.” said Ashraf as he place the food onto the small coffee table.
“Sure. I know, I make the best tea here.” cracks Ezekiel.
“Hmmm….second to none.” chuckles Ashraf as he carefully sat on his stool with Ezekiel by his side.
“Wow, you are one good looking lad, way back in the past hmmm?” asked Ezekiel. Ashraf was astounded with Ezekiel’s remarks, however he just remain silent.
“Why this sudden question?” inquiry Ashraf somberly.
“Please forgive me. I do not meant to pry, but I found few photos of you, which you might have kept in an old shoe box. And also another photo of you and a young gentlemen.” said Ezekiel again.
“She left me after seeing that, I could no longer give her any future.” state Ashraf. Ezekiel begins to frown, as he quickly rummage through the old photographs, in search of any photos which could have include Ashraf ‘s sweet heart.
“You can never find any of her picture from there.” state Ashraf. Ezekiel remain still but with escalating doubts running in his thoughts, especially about his relationship which he had with his father. Are they both just friends or some kind of a distance relative.
“Both of us were best of friends, me and him, ever since our childhood days, for that I could remember.” said Ashraf. Ezekiel seems to be lost and then he realized, Ashraf was talking about him and his father.
“Joining the police force had always been our dream. And with Allah’s grace we both managed to embrace that dream without any faltering much to out delight.” continue Ashraf again.
Ezekiel however was stunned,” My father was a cop?” run shot that question in his thought, but he keep in still inside his heart.
“He was one of the best officer in our battalion and was quickly promoted to sergeant. In few months time, he was promoted yet again as an asp.” said Ashraf as he had his back rested against the wooden wall. “However, with a heavy price which he need to pay. He was to be an undercover cop, going underground, mixing with the highway bandits, the drug lords and the tribe gang, which were such a massive negative influence, way back from our hometown during that era. The heavy sacrificed which he needs to pay, is to shed his uniform and to play double life. A significant duplicity roles, which he had played very well. A compelling stage which he had crafted with his own guts and courage.” utters Ashraf with a smile on his face.
“How does he do it? I meant, he does not have any trouble to flip back to his origin attributes?” asked Ezekiel curiously.
“Hmmm, he does do get carried away with those negative behavior, but we always watch each others back. One fall, another is there waiting to catch. So when I’m down, he will always be there for me, without fail and when he’s down, he does know how to get to me.” mutters Ashraf, shaking his head as tears begins welling up in his eyes.
Ezekiel, too can’t contain his sorrow any longer. All those terrible things, which his mum had claim about his father, was it all just bunch of lies, so she can get herself to be with Riley? Was Riley been fool by her sweet innocent words of desperation of getting away, from the poverty, from his dad and from him? His father, seems to be a man with such a good flair of judgment. And to be able to play the double role, only certain individuals are gifted to be given that kind of flipping lives. But is that why he had this multiple personality disorder? Has he inherit this from his father? For his father, due to his duty but for his case….it seems so way out different. However, like what one of his spiritual counselor had mention to him before, whatever becoming of him is due to his traumatic past experience, right from the beginning of his childhood, right until the horrific incident between his mum and Riley.
“Things were getting good on the side of his job, but there seems to be always trouble in his marriage. He claims that his wife is seeing someone else. But I told him that could be just damn sick rumors. He does admits, he hit his wife when he felt like his losing his mind. I advised him to seek some help, talk to some professional people about this, but he just brushed it off, with a reason. “I have no time for all this.” sigh Ashraf.
So indeed, it was true after all. His mum was a victim too of spouse abuse, much to Ezekiel’s dismay.
“Few months later, they were both divorced. His wife left him with that guy.” continue Ashraf.
“He becomes more sober, but he begins to gets himself fully committed with his job. Always on the run and he hardly gets home.” said Ashraf again.
This has explain it all, on why his father is seldom around. He came back occasionally to see his grandma and play with him in just a short while, and then after his short nap, he left home again, until one day he never returns. Ezekiel, held on to the picture of his father, as he gently stroke it with his fingers, with silent tears streaming from his eyes.
“We took the wrong turn on that unfortunate day. There’s a rat among the cop, that had leak out his true identity to the leader of the gang. I came to know about this and I became frantic, for he was in the midst of ‘dealing’ some shady matters with the other tribe members. I confronted the rat, and without any forbearance, the rat had told me that, my best pal will be killed after all the dealings were done. Me and the rest of the police officer interrogated him further, asking him more details about this current secret operation which my pal was involved in. After few info we gather, soon we set up our team and headed down town to where he was gone too. However.” stall Ashraf as he wipes away the tears off from his face. “Upon reaching that grimy ship yard, he was already been surrounding by few of those thugs. Without thinking twice, I had speed off with my car towards them, knocking two of them off the pier. I told him to get in my car quickly and he did. Unfortunately, few gun men had almost surrounded our car, and begin terrorizing us with shots after shots. The glass shattered and those tiny bits of fragmented glasses had pierce right through my eyes…and I know, I’m bound to become blind. He help me with the stirring and maneuvering , our vehicle, shouting to me telling me to hang on. The rest of the cops, probably were exchanging gun fire, as that what I could sense and hear so clearly in my thoughts. And this is something which I can never erase off from my mind for the rest of my life. Soon, everything seems to calm down and I knew, victory is on our side. Though I’ve lost my sight, but I felt content.” utters Ashraf and then he remain unspoken in a while. Ezekiel bit his lower lips, as he tries to control his sobbing and emotions.
Ashraf soon begins to narrate back his past. “I was so excited as I keep on telling him, Hey! We have make it…no it was you that had done our battalion proud. However, there was silent from his side. I called out for his name several times, but it was just silent. Then I begin to came closer to him, and touch him….he was gone. Due to the severe gun shots which he had received from his side.” wept Ashraf.
“My dad is a hero.” cried Ezekiel’s inner soul.
“Sadly, his death was not recognized. News came out telling tales, that the right hand man of Dante was found dead in prison , which is simply so untrue. I rant my temper about this news, because I was too upset. He should be honored, not to be prejudiced. In fact, he died while he was carrying out his duty as an undercover, but my voice was unheard. I return my badge and left police force, and furthermore, what can a blind man be contributing anyway.” continues Ashraf, his heart is broken.
“He was my father.” utters Ezekiel desolately.
Ashraf held out his hand and place it onto Ezekiel’s shoulder. “I know.” mutters Ashraf.
“You do?” asked Ezekiel as he was stunned. “But how?”
“When I touch your face, I can tell, you do inherit his features and his character too.” explained Ashraf.
“I do?” asked Ezekiel again.
“His determination, gracious attitude, sense of humor, loyalty, trustworthy. There’s part of him, which I could sense in you.” continue Ashraf again. “Been close with you, its just like been close with him. I knew he had a son because he does mention to me about you, once in a while. He loves you so much. You are the apple of his eyes. I know, he never show his real affection towards you but he cares a lot for your well-being. He had always wanted to introduce his son to me, so I guess his prayer has been answered, for fate had actually brought us together in such an unexpected ways.” utters Ashraf again.
“Thanks old man, for sharing this significant part of my dad’s story with me.” cried Ezekiel solemnly. “But what about you and her ?” asked Ezekiel remorsefully.
“Okay, about me and that lady, is just an additional script for me to spice up my tale.” replied Ashraf with a glee.
“Haahaahaa!!!” Ezekiel giggles upon hearing that comment from Ashraf. However, Ezekiel knew, it was not just an additional script, but it was a secret love script which he had solely kept close to his heart.
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