Chapter 2: Desired Scholarship

"Sharika?" She was laying on my bed while checking her phone.

"Hey, bitch. Did you die or something?"

I couldn't suppress a smile. Sharika was my best friend who stood with me in my every difficulty. If she wasn't there for me, I would have entirely lost myself. It'd been long that I didn't contact with her. I was quite busy to take preparation for SAT, IELTS and Topik (Test of Proficiency in Korean).

"When did you come?"

"First answer me. Did you die or forgot me? How the hell can you forget your best friend? You didn't call, didn't meet. You didn't even attend my birthday party. And I deserve a damn explanation for this." She punched my pillow in frustration.

I rolled my eyes, "You're being dramatic. You know why I remained silent."

"Yeah, yeah. You are working your ass off to get a scholarship. I get it. But you are the one who is being dramatic."

"Care to describe your statement, Madame?"

"Duh, forget it. It's impossible to argue with you. Now come here." She squeezed the air out of me with a loving hug.

"Sharika, The way you are squeezing me I am gonna die out of suffocation girl!"

"That's what you get bitch, for ignoring your bestie."

"God, Sharika. What's with you and so much cursing? Your Granny will faint if she hears you cursing like this."

"I will tell her, 'fuck yourself Gramma'!" Both of us broke into giggle.

"And she will be in coma." I giggled again. I was staring at her. God, I genuinely missed her. She looked at me. I knew she saw the longing in my eyes. Her own eyes softened. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat because I didn't want to cry. I became selfish, so selfish to run away from this place.

"God, Sharika. I missed you." I closed my eyes for a moment to fight with the tears and then continued, "These exams totally sucked my peace out of me."

"I missed you too Babe." She took a deep breath before giving me an assuring smile that she forgave me, "Hey, what are the results? Did you get what you desired?" She asked me like child showing her interest.

I smiled and replied happily, "Yeap. I got 1430 in SAT, 8.5 in IELTS, level 4 in Topik."

"Whoa! Really? That means you can get a scholarship easily. Have you decided yet, where to apply?"

"I have applied in plenty. Now it's time to get the results." I sighed.

I knew why I was so desperate to get a scholarship. Sharika understood my silence, "Hey, let's cheer you up. It's been a while that you and I dated."

I broke into laugh and smacked her head saying "God! Sharika, people will assume us as lesbians."

"Why? Is that a problem?"

"Of course not. Being lesbian isn't a crime. I am just saying, we are straight. Why would you give them a false info?"

"That's why I call you a bitch. Oh, God! Fahami, arguing is like breathing to you."

I gave a silent laugh, "Okay, sorry. Where are we going anyway?"

"That's a surprise. Now let's go."

Two months later....

"Ma, you should eat something. It's time to take your medicines."

"I won't eat until you agree to the proposal."

I was getting irritated. Why was she so impatient to marry me off? "Ma, I don't understand why you want me to get married. You know I don't want to. You know about my dream."

"Is it your dream or do you want to elope?"

"Elope from what Ma?"

"You know very well."

Ever since Nabil's death this home was not home anymore. It felt like it was a zombie layout. Ever since Nabil was gone, Papa didn't talk, didn't eat or sleep properly. And Ma? Well, she had changed a lot. She wasn't that sweet, understanding mother anymore. A frown had taken place on her forehead permanently. All of these just suffocated me even more. This house was already filled with Nabil's memories. All of these were too much to drive me insane. I wanted to live, I wanted to forget everything.

"I am not running away, Ma. You know I have always wanted to study in abroad and have a good job to earn handsome amount of money."

"Don't leave me, Fahami. You know this home will be completely empty if you leave this too." Ma started crying.

As much as I would hate to stay here, I couldn't deny the fact that I loved my parents. But, I couldn't stay here. I just, couldn't.

"Sorry, Ma. But it's about my career and I don't want to sacrifice it by agreeing to get married to one of those suitors. Please, try to understand."

Stating that I left her room. I knew, it would be hard. But I had to clear my head and put a cork on the bottle of my past.

Later that evening I got a confirmation email from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, I had been selected as a student to complete my post graduate. I was happy. Maybe this was the beginning. A beginning of new start to forget past and move on. I loved my little brother but his disappearance was nothing but a pain.

"Papa, may I come in?"

Papa was looking at his laptop with a frown on his brows. This man looked nothing like that cheerful, happy father and husband anymore. He looked so grumpy and rude that it hurt me to look at him.

He replied in a commanding tone, "Hmm, come in."

"Papa, I got a scholarship from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology."

He removed his eyes from PC screen and looked at me.

"Where is that located?"

"Papa, it's in South Korea."

"Why didn't I know that you are applying at foreign Universities? Explain." He looked so serious that it was making me confused.

'Did he truly cared about anything, anymore?'.

"I am sorry for not informing you. But you know I have wanted to do it from a long time. I hope you won't disagree to this."

"If you really want to go badly, I won't stop you. But come back home safely. When are you leaving ?"

It took me two months to get South Korean Visa. I was glad that I was leaving. I decided to talk to Nabil. I wouldn't be coming back too soon.

"Hey, Nabs, how you are doing buddy? Yeah, I know you are mad at me cause I am leaving you but I don't have any other choice. You left me all of a sudden. And your absence is giving me a difficult time. It's very lonely here without you. You know I won't apologize for leaving. You are the one who left me in the first place. I don't know if you can hear me or not. Just be happy. Okay? I will be gone for a long time."

Trees around his grave were being my companions. As if the air, the movements of the leaves were speaking on behalf of Nabil. As if it was telling me, "I will be happy, Sis." I sighed in relief. I was feeling peace now.