It was about a 20-minute drive from Mr. Verma’s house.

  Chazra was tapping the steering wheel with his finger as if anxious.

  “Chazra… should I call Zaydan?”

  Asha, who was helping with design work at Zaydan’s company, asked carefully, glancing at Chazra.

  In truth, she couldn’t understand this situation either.

  It felt like a bolt from the blue just as they were starting their new life.

  ‘I thought we would greet our parents, go home, unpack, and rest….’

  Asha thought of the luggage in the back seat and trunk.

  And the dream honeymoon home they had prepared with Zahir’s help flickered before her eyes.

  “What?”

  Chazra realized he had reacted too sensitively to Asha’s words and felt sorry.

  “Ah… yeah, okay. Zaydan might know a little more.”

  A faint smile appeared on Chazra’s lips as he answered half-heartedly,

  but a serious energy still lingered in his eyes.

  Asha wanted to ease his tension even just a little.

  “Should we ask Artistea for help? It will tell us how to handle this kind of situation. Right?”

  Chazra’s brow furrowed slightly at those words.

  Memories of meeting Chapman in a hotel with his father as a child came back to him.

  That arrogant man throwing the paper his father had written into the air and insulting him.

  Because of the anger he felt then,

  Chazra had an instinctive rejection of Artistea,

  which Chapman had created.

  However, Chazra understood Asha’s sincerity in wanting to help him.

  “Yeah, okay. Let’s try anything. Call Zaydan first. If he doesn’t answer, send him a text.

  Tell him to come to my father’s house. While you're at it, could you also contact Ahmadi?”

  “Okay.” Asha immediately called Zaydan.

  “Asha! Are you back?” Zaydan’s voice came through the speakerphone.

  “Yeah, but we just went to my parents’ house and heard the news about Father.”

  Asha adjusted her grip on the phone with her trembling hand and began to speak carefully.

  “What? Ah… right. Is Chazra there with you?”

  Dismay filled Zaydan’s voice.

  Chazra gripped the steering wheel tightly and leaned forward to join the conversation.

  “Yeah, I’m here. What on earth happened? Did Father do something wrong?”

  “Sigh… I don’t know. Where are you now?”

  Zaydan’s deep sigh could be heard over the phone.

  “We’re on our way to Father’s house.”

  “Really? Then I’ll go there right away too. Ahmadi will probably be there as well. Honestly, we don’t know the details very well either. Talk to Ahmadi first.”

  “So it’s true that Father was arrested, right?”

  “…Yeah. I’ll be there soon.”

  “Zaydan, why didn’t you tell us sooner? We had roaming, so you could have contacted us anytime.”

  Unable to hold back, Asha asked in a resentful voice.

  Zaydan fell silent for a moment as if choosing his words.

  “Ah… that’s, we weren’t sure about the situation either, and since you two were on your honeymoon….”

  “Asha, it’s okay. Let’s ask Ahmadi. Zaydan said he’s coming soon too.”

  Chazra tried to end the conversation by gently taking Asha’s hand to calm her.

  “Yeah. I think I’ll arrive in about an hour. See you there.”

  “Okay. See you, Zaydan.”

  Not long after they hung up, they arrived home and rang the doorbell.

  “Mom, we’re home.”

  Raina ran out to greet the couple as soon as she saw them.

  “Welcome, welcome, Chazra, Asha. Mother! The kids are here!”

  When Raina told Bashira the news,

  Ahmadi came out from the first-floor room, supporting the grandmother.

  Raina’s eyes turned red as she looked back and forth at her son and daughter-in-law.

  She began to cry as she hugged them.

  “You're home. You're finally home.”

  Chazra felt her desperate sincerity in the way his mother held him tight.

  While Asha comforted Raina, Chazra hugged his brother and grandmother in turn.

  “Aren't you tired?” Raina asked.

  “No, we’re fine.” Chazra answered bravely.

  “Yes, come in and sit down, my grandson. You too, come in quickly.”

  At Bashira’s words, Asha stepped out of Raina’s embrace and greeted the grandmother and Ahmadi.

  As the family sat around the living room sofa to catch their breath, Raina stood up to prepare food for the guests.

  Seeing this, Asha immediately followed Raina to the kitchen.

  “You are a guest, sit down.” Raina stopped and gently chided Asha.

  “A guest? I’m Asha Al-Muradi now. We’re family!”

  Asha smiled playfully as she lightly grabbed Raina’s arm.

  At those words, Raina’s eyes turned red, and she hugged Asha tight.

  “I’ve been crying a lot lately. I’m sorry, Asha.”

  “...It’s alright, Mother.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Sigh, poor thing. She has no way of knowing where her husband went… tsk tsk…”

  Bashira, who was watching this from the sofa, muttered while clicking her tongue.

  Bashira felt deep gratitude toward her daughter-in-law, Raina, who had always stayed by her side since they moved to America.

  For Bashira, whose English was still awkward, Raina was a necessary presence.

  “Ahmadi…” Chazra called Ahmadi softly.

  “Yeah, I heard from Zaydan. I heard you found out about Father.”

  “Yeah. What on earth happened?”

  “He must have caused trouble again, that foolish boy.”

  Bashira had been against moving to America from the start.

  She missed her home and asked to return to Iraq many times after they moved to America,

  but Zahir always refused, saying he still had work to do.

  The relationship between Zahir and Bashira had grown so distant that they would not even speak to each other if Raina were not there.

  “Grandmother…” Ahmadi signaled Bashira to stop.

  “I’m not listening. I’ll just talk with my granddaughter-in-law bringing food from the kitchen.”

  Bashira snorted and replied.

  She rose from the sofa and tried to move toward the dining table where Raina and Asha were.

  “Shall we? I’ll help you there.” At Ahmadi’s words, Chazra also stood up.

  “I’ll support her.”

  Chazra approached Bashira and, before Ahmadi could, carefully wrapped his arm around her.

  “I’ll do it, you must be tired after the long trip. It’s okay.”

  Ahmadi tried to stop him, but Chazra shook his head.

  “Wouldn’t I, who has been trained, be stronger than you, who is always stuck in the lab?”

  Ahmadi burst into a hollow laugh at Chazra’s playful provocation.

  “Haha, it makes me happy to see both my grandsons trying to help their grandmother.”

  Bashira slowly took her seat at the head of the table.

  Her hearty laughter echoed, and Chazra felt as if the vibration was knocking on his heart.

  “So, I’d like to join in too.”

  Then, Asha, who was coming out from the kitchen with food, spoke.

  “Join in what?” Chazra asked.

  “Asha says she wants to join us for worship.” Raina answered instead.

  “Oh, really? Chazra never goes.” Ahmadi said, looking at Chazra.

  “My father is also an Indian Muslim, but he never showed a religious side.

  So I was always curious. Now that I’m an Al-Muradi, I really want to go to worship with you from next week.”

  Asha laughed as she moved the food onto the table.

  “You’ll definitely find it boring.” Chazra answered with a slight frown.

  “What a wonderful girl. So, will you come starting next week?”

  Bashira looked at Asha with satisfaction and then glared at Chazra.

  “This one and Zaydan should attend every week too.”

  Chazra avoided his grandmother’s gaze.

  “You’ll definitely regret it.”

  “Why do you say that? Ahmadi, do you think so too?”

  “I’ve been going since I was a child, so I don’t have much thought about it. I’m happy to go with you. Nice to have you, Asha.”

  Ahmadi was kind as usual.

  Chazra felt proud of such a brother, but also somewhat embarrassed.

  “Anyway, why is Zaydan so late?”

  Chazra expected Zaydan, who also did not go to worship, to take his side when he arrived.

  When they were children, Zaydan caused a stir in the house by being the first to say he didn't want to go to worship.

  Bashira was very angry at Zaydan’s words, but the problem was solved when Zahir allowed it.

  Thanks to that, Chazra was also able to avoid going by saying that he didn't want to go either.

  Chazra remembered the days when he ran away to avoid what Bashira said;

  she would say that whenever something happened, it was because Zaydan and Chazra did not respect God.

  “Right. He should be here by now.”

  Ahmadi said, looking at the clock on the wall.

  “Should I call him?”

  Asha took her phone out of her pocket.

  “Can’t you just tell me before Zaydan arrives? Or Mom or Grandmother? What happened to Father?”

  At Chazra’s words, the room that had been full of warmth instantly froze.

  “I’m here!”

  It was Zaydan who arrived just in time and broke the silence.

  “He must be here now.”

  Raina went out to the front door to greet him.

  Everyone welcomed Zaydan with happy faces.

  “Why are you so late?”

  Asha ran to Zaydan, gave him a light hug, and then asked crossly.

  “Work ended a bit later than I thought.”

  “Oh, really? Then I’ll have a lot of work when I return too?”

  “Well, there’s been a lot of work lately. Even recently…”

  “Zaydan.”

  Zaydan’s words were cut off by Chazra, who hugged him.

  “Did you have a good trip? Was it fun?”

  Zaydan spoke to Chazra with a face full of mischief.

  “Come in. Let’s talk inside.”

  Zaydan hugged Raina and Ahmadi, then rubbed his face against Bashira, who was sitting, and acted cute.

  “Grandmother, I’m here.”

  “Oh, yes. You must be hungry. Let's eat first.”

  When Zaydan acted cute, Bashira’s anger would vanish in an instant, even when she was furious.

  ‘I really can’t get used to that workout-buff bro of mine acting like this every time.'

  Chazra looked at the family, frowning slightly.

  They were a truly good family.

  The reason he was able to endure the many bullies during his school days was because of his family and Asha.

  Everything was perfect, except for the fact that Zahir was missing.

  “Shall we? Wow, Mom made so much delicious food because Chazra and Asha are here!”

  As Zaydan made a fuss, everyone sat at the table to eat, smiling.

  “Then, shall we pray?”

  At Ahmadi’s words, Chazra, who had picked up his fork, slowly put it back down.

  “What? Again?”

  Zaydan gave a look that said 'please stop'.

  “We have never skipped a prayer. Fine. You do it today.”

  At Bashira’s command, Zaydan tried to act cute, but it didn't work.

  “Asha has decided to go to worship with us, Zaydan. Show her how it's done.” Raina added gently.

  “What? Really? Asha! What have you done?”

  A startled Zaydan shouted, and Chazra reached out to block Asha.

  “Hahaha, Chazra really cares for his wife. Zaydan, you have to pray this time.”

  As Ahmadi laughed while speaking, Raina and Bashira also burst out laughing.

  Asha’s face turned red in embarrassment, and Chazra also put his hand down, looking awkward.

  “No, I mean, that God or whatever….” Zaydan tried a final protest.

  “Zaydan!”

  Raina glared at him fiercely.

  Zaydan had no choice.

  “Okay. I’ll do it. Wow, I’m over thirty, is this for real?”

  Everyone burst out laughing once again.

  Zaydan put his elbows on the table and folded his hands.

  Chazra and Asha folded their hands on their laps.

  “Ah, it’s been a while.

  Great Allah, today our family has gathered for a meal after Chazra and Asha’s wedding.

  It would have been nice if Father were here too. Could you tell us where he is?”

  Chazra slightly squinted his eyes and looked at the reactions of the other family members.

  He felt bitter seeing everyone flinch the moment Zaydan mentioned their father.

  “If Father is alive and healthy, please bless him too.

  Thank you for always watching over us and for this delicious meal.

  It’s been so long since I prayed, so please excuse me even if it's a bit awkward.

  We will eat with gratitude. Prayer over!”

  When Zaydan’s prayer ended, everyone opened their eyes.

  Perhaps because Zaydan had mentioned Zahir, everyone’s expression was stiff.

  “Now, let’s eat.”

  Raina broke the silence and spoke to everyone.

  Chazra clearly saw his mother’s disapproving gaze directed at Zaydan.

  Zaydan also began to eat in silence, as if thinking about the impact of his words.

  “It’s so delicious.”

  It was Asha. At her excited voice, everyone started to eat.

  Only then did the conversation become lively.

  Naturally, questions were poured out to the newlyweds.

  “...So, he talked in his sleep and fell off the bed! It was so funny.”

  Asha led the warm and cheerful atmosphere by teasing Chazra.

  “Again? I wonder what he's always dreaming about. He used to do that often when he was young, too.”

  Ahmadi propped his chin on his hand and seemed focused on the story.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, it’s true. I wonder if he’s dreaming of fighting someone every day,

  but he would shout ‘Everyone die! I am the best!! Aaagh!!’ and fall off the bed more than once or twice.”

  As Zaydan teased Chazra by imitating him,

  Chazra, who was gradually getting angry, couldn’t hold it in and shouted.

  “Zaydan!”

  “Hahaha.”

  As the conversation ripened and time passed, Chazra now wanted to know what he was truly curious about.

  “It’s about time you told me. What happened to Father?”

  “Ahem….”

  As Bashira showed her discomfort and tried to get up from her seat, Raina immediately ran to her and helped her up.

  “Thank you. I don’t want to hear it. I want to go to my room.”

  “Yes, I’ll go with you. I want to know more about the worship, too.”

  At Asha’s words, Bashira smiled with satisfaction.

  While Raina and Asha took Bashira to her room, Ahmadi poured tea and handed it to Chazra and Zaydan.

  “Thanks, bro.”

  Chazra took a sip of the warm herbal tea.

  Zaydan sat in silence with his arms crossed and his head down, wearing a dark expression.

  “Yeah, where should I start…. Honestly, we don’t know much either.”

  “I heard briefly from Mr. Verma. What do you mean the CIA arrested Father?”

  Thank you for being here.