{"id":331,"date":"2026-03-18T04:08:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:08:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=331"},"modified":"2026-03-18T04:08:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:08:39","slug":"chapter-13-ahmads-family","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=331","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 13 : Ahmad\u2019s Family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201c<\/strong>He doesn\u2019t understand our lives.\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              John Clooney was out of Peshawar on urgent business, and he asked Roddy and the group to proceed, and he would be in touch when he returned in a couple of days.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It was late evening when they were dropped off at Naseer Husain\u2019s house. Rafiq drove off with promises to return the next day. They were greeted by the chieftain\u2019s younger brother Basheer Husain, who explained, \u201cNaseer Sahib<\/em> has been called away on urgent business; he asked me to relay his apologies. He\u2019ll return as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cNot a problem,\u201d Roddy answered politely, wondering how soon was \u201cas soon as possible.\u201d His experience reminded him that time had a different meaning over here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cSorry, power failure,\u201d the man said as he led the group inside through the dimly lit entrance. Shahzad, the chieftain\u2019s son, lit their way with a lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThe electricity will be back shortly,\u201d the handsome young man smiled. \u201cThis happens all the time; either the transmitter has blown a fuse, or a troublemaker has cut the lines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Roddy hoped Naseer Husain would return before the electricity, which could take days to fix, was back on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               There seemed to be a lot of people milling around the large front courtyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d Ismail asked. \u201cAre you having a party or something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cNo, no! These are friends and relatives; a few live with us, but most are just passing through,\u201d Shahzad replied, and seeing the confusion on Phil\u2019s face, he added, \u201cWe must welcome visitors according to our traditions; our house is open to guests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cFamily and community are significant in Eastern culture,\u201d whispered Roddy. \u201c<\/strong>Having several generations living under the same roof is the norm.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThere must be about 12 men here; heaven knows how many women there are inside the house!\u201d Phil remarked. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine this happening at home; my folks get into a tizzy when we have six guests over for dinner!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cThat\u2019s because you Westerners are selfish,\u201d Zeina said irritably. It had been a long, tiring day, and jet lag was beginning to take over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cI beg your pardon?\u201d Phil was astounded by her accusation. \u201cHow can you say such things?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cEasily, buddy!\u201d Zeina snapped. \u201cCultures are different; why can\u2019t you realize this and deal with it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cSo, you\u2019d be comfortable with a house full of people invading your space?\u201d Phil shot back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cHappens all the time at home; not a problem and certainly not an invasion of any kind!\u201d Zeina replied shortly. \u201cI\u2019m an Easterner, after all!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cIs that why you run away from your customs? I sure hope Rebecca is enjoying this Eastern hospitality!\u201d Phil retorted.
               \u201cCome on, you guys; give it a break,\u201d Roddy intervened. \u201cThe mission hasn\u2019t even begun, and you\u2019re already at each other\u2019s throats. We\u2019ve got serious matters ahead, so get a grip and chill!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Shahzad called out to his sister Aisha, who came to take Zeina to the women\u2019s section, where she was greeted warmly by Safia, the chieftain\u2019s wife. The light-complexioned woman was tall and stately, with large green eyes, a feature she had passed to her sons and daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               After a shower and dinner, Shahzad showed Phil and Ismail their beds, which were the charpoys<\/em> with mattresses. Everyone slept under the stars, in their separate areas, the men in front and the women in the spacious walled enclosure at the back of the house. As tired as they were, they were more than ready to retire. The air was fresh and nippy, and Zeina wrapped herself in her cotton quilt and passed out the moment her head touched her pillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cIt\u2019s amazing out here,\u201d praised Phil. \u201cBut what happens if it rains?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cSee the enormous verandah?\u201d Ismail said. \u201cWe\u2019ll just drag our string beds over there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                It was still dark outside when Phil awoke to loud shouting that jolted him out of his nightmare. It took him moments to get his bearings as he looked around in confusion. Remembering where they were, Phil understood what he was hearing was not the plane crashing from his nightmare, but the early morning call for prayers. He laid down, hearing the shouts and singing from speakers calling out to people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Glancing over at Ismail and Roddy, he saw that they were fast asleep, quite undisturbed by all the ruckus. He lay back and watched the other men rise and go to perform their ritual ablution before the namaz<\/em>. Rolls of carpeting were unfurled to serve as communal prayer mats. The men took their places, and the prayers began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Phil was wide awake now. He got up from his bed and walked away from the worshippers to look around. There was a high wall all around the house, and Phil couldn\u2019t see a thing outside. The gate was locked; he tried to look through the gaps in the steel slats, but they were too narrow to afford a view. Phil walked around and on seeing a large rock, stood on top of it. Jumping up and down on it did not reveal any more of his surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                As far as he could tell, there were no other houses close to them.  He tried to jump higher and lost his balance, slipping off the rock and landing on his bottom with a thud. Getting up and dusting himself off, he heard a soft giggle coming from the part of the courtyard where they had taken their meal the night before. As he focused his eyes on the dark space, he saw a young boy wearing a shawl wrapped around him, crouched in the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               He was watching Phil curiously, as he tried to suppress his laughter with his hand across his mouth. Phil smiled and signaled him to come closer. The boy\u2019s long hair was tousled and stood out in different directions, and his eyes were still heavy with sleep. He got up, and as he came nearer, Phil remembered his 14-year-old stepsister Kayla. They were about the same age, and both their faces lit up when they smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cMy name is Phil. What\u2019s yours?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cHello! My name is Adnan,\u201d he replied in well-practiced, heavily accented English. \u201cYou want to see out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYes, please,\u201d Phil replied. \u201cBut I don\u2019t want to keep you from your prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cToo late now; I didn\u2019t wake up in time. Come!\u201d said Adnan, and motioned Phil to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               They explored around the house until they came to a grassy mound. The sun was beginning to spread its morning light, and from the top of the hillock, Phil could see a few settlements, but overall, the area looked mostly barren and hilly. As he studied the more distant mountain peaks, he wondered if Rebecca was out there. He was even more worried about her after what Hafeez had said but knew she would not be easily intimidated and, hopefully, could take care of herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Rebecca was a resourceful person and quick to see through people. She could not tolerate artifice of any kind, and yet her heart melted when she witnessed suffering. Phil remembered the time she had shaved her head just because her friend who had cancer was going through chemotherapy; she wanted to make her feel better. The laughter they shared every time they looked at their bald heads did help to cheer the patient up. Phil smiled sadly at that memory and then realized that Adnan was looking inquiringly at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cAre you Chief Naseer\u2019s son?\u201d Phil asked, and Adnan shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cMy father died 10 years ago. Chief Naseer is my uncle, my father\u2019s younger brother. Our family has lived here for many generations. Chief Naseer had gone to Afghanistan for business but came back here to take over after my father passed away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cDo you learn English at school? Your English is perfect,\u201d he asked, sitting down. Though the boy\u2019s English was broken and accented, he was very articulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cYes, from school and books,\u201d he said and added, \u201calso from films.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cOh, you watch movies?\u201d Phil was somewhat surprised to hear this in such a conservative place where movies were usually banned, and cinema houses were set alight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cShahzad Bhai<\/em> sometimes he brings movies, and we watch on the DVD player,\u201d he exclaimed gleefully. \u201cI love American movies; the superhero and fighting ones are the best; also, the Kung Fu; Bruce Lee is my favorite!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               You and most of the male population!<\/em> Phil thought, cheered to find a common link in the chain of humanity, even if the technology used to make the connection was outdated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cDo you know who lives over there?\u201d Phil said, pointing towards the houses he could see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThat house to the left is the one of Malik Rehman. Some days before, there was shooting, and he died,\u201d he said. Phil nodded. He remembered Hafeez talking about the attack. \u201cMy friend Iqbal lives there; Rehman Sahib<\/em> was his father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               The shooting so close by makes it seem so real<\/em>, he thought. I\u2019m actually where the action happened! It\u2019s all so senseless and sad!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Before Phil could ask further questions that were queuing up rapidly in his mind, Adnan went on.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cDo you know about the fair? We have planned a lot of fun activities. Will you be able to attend it?\u201d the boy said excitedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cI have heard about that; it seems very interesting. Bringing people together is always a good thing. What are you planning for the fair?\u201d Phil asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cIqbal and me, we\u2019re building a model solar-powered house,\u201d Adnan grinned proudly. \u201cWe\u2019re going to submit it in the science competition. I love to learn about solar panels. If I win the competition, Sheikh Sahib<\/em>, who\u2019s a friend of my uncle, says he\u2019s going to invest in my project to build solar panels for the area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWow, I would love to see that. You should speak to my friend, Ismail. He adores geeky stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cGeeky stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cYes, things like science and technology,\u201d Phil explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cSo, I\u2019m geeky stuff?\u201d Adnan asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cSomeone who loves geeky stuff is called a geek,\u201d Phil smiled and wondered what this boy could achieve with American education. \u201cYou\u2019re a geek! So, you enjoy school?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cYes, and no,\u201d Adnan frowned. \u201cIt\u2019s far away; I have to walk two kilometers to get there. I had a bike, but someone stole it. In winter, it\u2019s so cold and there\u2019s so much snow; taller than you; we cannot travel on the roads for days, and I have to stay at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cThat\u2019s too bad,\u201d Phil sympathized. \u201cBut, you must keep up with your studies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cJust one more year, and when I finish school, then I can do what my elder brothers do,\u201d the boy brightened up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cWhat do they do?\u201d Phil asked with a raised eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cThey go to town with friends. They help my uncle take care of the farm. The whole day they can do what they want. They also get guns,\u201d said Adnan, making a shooting motion with his fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cIs that what you want to do? I thought you wanted a solar-panel business?\u201d Phil looked disappointed. \u201cYou want to carry a gun?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Phil now understood how important ideas such as  the fair were. They offered something to bring the people together with peace and goodwill as the intent and to focus their minds on something other than guns and violence. The question caught Adnan unaware, and he thought for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cThat\u2019s just one thing; I can do lots of things,\u201d he whispered sheepishly. \u201cAll the men carry guns here; we have to protect ourselves. In America, you also have guns to protect yourself, no?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cWith your engineer\u2019s mind, you could do wonders in your region,\u201d Phil suggested, ignoring the question. \u201cGive me some time, and I\u2019ll try and find even more ideas. We\u2019re here to look for my friend, but I\u2019d love to spend time with you and figure out what you could be good at. You think about what you want to do, and I\u2019ll try to see how I might help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cI\u2019ll think about it, thank you,\u201d Adnan looked pleased with Phil\u2019s offer, but also seemed skeptical that improvement could include no guns. This is a nice man, but he\u2019s not one of us, and he doesn\u2019t understand our lives,<\/em>  Adnan thought to himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cA wise head on young shoulders,\u201d Phil mused, unable to put himself in the boy\u2019s shoes. \u201cLike Adnan, the 9\/11 terrorists must have been young once. If only they had been advised differently and given other options, would that have changed the course of events?\u201d      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

               Channeling youthful energy into worthwhile outcomes was typical of why he\u2019d wanted to go to Borders. What Phil\u2019s young mind did not fathom yet was that people\u2019s mindset was not subject to overnight change.  Change takes time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               \u201cOkay, let\u2019s check on the others and see if they\u2019re awake yet,\u201d offered Phil, getting to his feet. \u201cYou can meet my friends and talk about science with Ismail.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t understand our lives.\u201d               John Clooney was out of Peshawar on urgent business, and he asked Roddy and the group to proceed, and he would be in touch when he returned in a couple of days.         It was late evening when they were dropped off at Naseer Husain\u2019s house. Rafiq drove off … Continue reading Chapter 13 : Ahmad\u2019s Family<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-331","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=331"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":332,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/331\/revisions\/332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}