Act 2
Scene 2
Ahmad is sitting by the window of his apartment. The music is blaring from the stereo and he is taking sips of his coffee. After a while he lights a cigarette and starts smoking as he watches the sun set. There is a knock on the door.
Ahmad: Hi Ali
Ali: Hi bro. Why are you such a mess? And what’s with the long face? What have you been doing all day?
Ahmad: Nothing just sitting around, thinking, watching TV…
Ali: And smoking! Ahmad your place is stinks. How many cigarettes have you smoked today? I thought you quit ages ago!
Ahmad: Well, this is just for today. I am really stressed Ali, I don’t know for how long can I stand the shit in my life.
Ali: Oh come on, this is not going to continue for long. It’s going to end someday! You have bachelors in Business. You’ve got to keep searching; you’re bound to get a job someday. (pauses) I am assuming that you still haven’t gotten calls from the firms you interviewed for.
Ahmad: Well, not yet. (presses the butt of his cigarette against the ashtray)
Ali: Ahmad (pats his shoulder) it’s going to be fine. Don’t lose hope.
They walk in to the kitchen and Ali leans on the kitchen counter as Ahmad fixes dinner.
Ahmad: You know what Ali? Even Sara got the job she interviewed for. Even she is employed now. I feel like such an idiot. How am I going to marry her if I don’t even have a job?
Ali: You aren’t marrying her tomorrow! You still have time Ahmad! You still have time.
Ahmad: I don’t know Ali. I don’t want to talk about it today. (puts the food in the microwave) How was your day?
Ali: It was very productive. (Smiles) You won’t believe what happened!
Ahmad: What happened?
Ali: The editor in chief of the Magazine agreed to my proposal! He agreed. And Jeff doesn’t have a problem with it either.
Ahmad: Agreed to what? (scrutinizes Ali) Ali, are you talking about going to Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Ali: Yeah!
Ahmad: Ali, so you are going there? You are actually going there?
Ali: IS there a reason why I shouldn’t? This is a big opportunity Ali. You don’t know, in journalism everything moves fast. You do a top notch feature on Afghanistan or Pakistan and the next thing you know, you are working for Times or National Geographic.
Ahmad: Ali, career is one thing but risking your life for your career is different. Ali, I won’t let you do this!
The Microwave beeps
Ali: Ahmad, you are getting it all wrong! It’s not dangerous. And I was born in Pakistan. What could they possibly do to me?
Ahmad: Well, I was born in Afghanistan does that mean that if I return I would be immortal?
The microwave beeps
Ali: I am not giving up on this opportunity, Ahmad. This means a lot to me. I really do want to do a feature on Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Ahmad: You are being ridiculous Ali. You are not thinking straight. Have you thought about what the worry you would be putting mom and dad through if you do this? I mean, you don't live for yourself Ali, there are people who are a part of you friggin' life!
Ali: Ahmad I realize that and that is why I want to do this now. Do you think I would be able to do this is I have a family and children of my own? Mom and dad would understand, Ahmad.
The Microwave beeps
Ahmad: What can I possibly say that would convince you that this is a bad idea!
Ali: At this point in time (pauses) absolutely nothing.
The microwave beeps
Ahmad: THIS DAMN THING! (he takes the food out and slams the microwave door)
Ali: Okay Ahmad, enough. Let's just have dinner right now. We'll talk about this later. Alright?
Ahmad: (He takes out a cigarette and sticks it in the corner of his lips) Alright.
Ali: Get that thing out of your mouth. Ahmad, how long have you been doing this? Has this been going on for weeks now?
Ahmad: No no! I swear I just started this morning. And this is the last one!
Ali: Right, the last one. Like it's that easy. Ahmad, I thought you would never do this again! It will take you ages to get out of this now.
Ahmad: IT WON'T!
Ali: Okay, okay. End of discussion here. Pass me the plate.
The night is dark and the streets are deserted. Once in a while a car passes them disturbing the balance of silence that blankets the night. Ahmad and Ali stroll down the side walk enjoying coffee and the chilly night.
Ali: So, did you apply to that place that I told you about? They were hiring.
Ahmad: Well, yes I applied but I don’t believe I am getting hired anytime soon.
Ali: So what if you don’t get hired? The world doesn’t end here. Give it some time Ahmad.
Ahmad: How much more time should I give things? Or should I just wait till I am sixty and then search for a job?
Ali: I didn’t say that. Well, it’s not like you’re broke! You know mom and dad have told you several times that they don’t have any problems against you borrowing money from them.
Ahmad: They pretty much paid for my whole life! Do you want me to ask them to pay for me till the day I die? (takes a sip of his coffee)
Ali: It was their decision, Ahmad! And they don’t regret it! I don’t believe you mentioned this here!
Ahmad: How can you expect me to completely ignore the fact that I have been brought up by people who are not related to me in anyway. How can you expect me to feel unburdened by their favours? I owe my life to them, I don’t want to ask for anything more. I want to be capable to give back Ali. It’s fucking high time now!
Ali: Ahmad! No one is asking you to return all favours. And favours, is that what you think mom and dad did for you? Do you even have the slightest idea how disappointed they will be if they hear this coming out of your mouth! (Shudders in frustration) Why are you acting like this? What is wrong with you?
Ahmad: Nothing! Nothing, but a lot has been on my mind lately. I am a man who doesn’t even know where his father is buried. I don’t deserve to take advantages from a family I am not even related to. I am getting married to a wonderful girl but I don’t have the money to support her. How are things going to work out in my life? From where I stand, death seems easier than this!
Ali: Oh yeah, I was just waiting for this line to come. Death is easier. How can you think that? Are you insane?
Ahmad: Whatever. What would you know anyway, you get everything! Anything you want. You got such a good job. You’ve got your parents with you. You have money! And now, you are willing to risk it all for that fucking travel feature. Ask people who have nothing. SOMEONE LIKE ME!
Ali: Oh yeah right! Obviously! I was waiting for this to come up too. I knew you were not going to let go of this that easy.
Ahmad: What am I just supposed to keep my mouth shut about it when I know that I lost my parents to the same land and soil? Am I just supposed to let you go?
Ali: Well the same land and soil made you. Ahmad, do you realize that there are still people living there? There is still life over there. There are women and children struggling for serenity!
Ahmad: I know Ali. And I understand there sufferings because once I was a part of it myself but I can’t let you go there. I just can’t!
Ali: Ahmed I know that you are being considerate but Ahmad I am not doing this just for my career. I want to go there. I want to meet my relatives, my extended family. I want to experience the life there. It’s been sixteen years, Ahmad. Do you have any idea what that means?
Ahmad: I understand Ali but I just (a car passes them drowning the intensity of Ahmad’s scream) WANT YOU TO STAY!
Ali: But I don’t want to Ahmad! I don’t want to! You know what, here is an idea. Why don’t you come with me? Take some time off your life here.
Ahmad: (glares right into Ali’s eyes) You (pauses) want me (pauses) to come with you? To Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Ali: I think you need to do this. See, if you want me to stay back, I am not going to do that. But I think you need to give those places a visit. You need to visit your mom and dad’s graves. And I will help you look for your family there, your relatives.
Ahmad: I don’t need to go there. I have been living without it for ages. (his voice turns teary) I don’t need to! I have my life here. I don’t need to!
Ali: Ahmad, it’s been ages now. You know, since the day I came back not one day has when you’ve acted like yourself. There is always something playing on your mind. There is always something disturbing you. And then you try to rationalize it. You say it was that speaker you heard at the university and then you say it’s work. Or you say it’s Sara. Ahmad, I am not naïve. I know what it is. You miss your mom and dad. And you miss Afghanistan. It’s bound to happen at sometime in your life!
Ahmad: Well, I do miss my mom and dad. But I don’t even know where their graves are. I know there were some people who buried my mom somewhere but I don’t know where she is Ali. Neither do I know about my dad. My memories are so blur. You know it’s pointless, right? (A tear escapes his eye)
Ali: I will help you look for them. We will ask people around, I am sure we will find them. Ahmad, I know you are confused and I know you don't know what to do next. But I also know, that you haven't said a 'no' yet.
Ahmad covers his face with his hands.
Ali: (moves forward and squeezes his shoulder) Ahmad, come with me. We'll arrange for your tickets and everything. I will pay for your ticket. I will pay for the accommodation. We will talk to mom and dad. Come with me.
Ahmad: Ali, I can’t let you pay for me. No I just can’t!
Ali: Whenever did I give you a choice in that matter? I am paying for you. The decision is up to you, do you want to do this Ahmad? I know you feel for your land and your people. Ahmad, you finally have a choice to do something. And I would be there with you, through it all! I promise.
Ahmad: (leaps forward and collapses into Ali’s chest) Ali! I don’t know if I am ready to do this but for months I have been thinking and planning in my head that someday I will go back to Afghanistan. And I would lay flowers on my mom’s grave and I would visit my dad’s grave. They appear in my dreams so often. So often!
Ali: (rubs Ahmad’s back) I know Ahmad. I know! You know, mom told me that once you fell asleep on the couch at their place and you kept mumbling ‘mom’ and ‘dad’. She told me about it. Ahmad, don’t you dare feel that we don’t know what you go through or what you have gone through your entire life. You know when we brought you here, (sighs) you were so reluctant. You were so aggressive and... and mom.. she suffered with you. I suffered with you! We care for you, Ahmad and I don’t give a shit about the fact that the blood that runs through our veins isn’t the same. Ahmad, you are my brother and that is what matters over any blood relation that could’ve possibly existed!
Ahmad: I know Ali! I am a dipshit! A fucking dipshit! Sometimes I feel that I have taken so much from you guys that I won’t ever be able to give back anything.
They turn back and start proceeding towards Ahmad’s apartment.
Ali: but you don’t have to give anything back Ahmad. Whatever mom and dad did, they did it because they love you, like their own child! And their reward lies in the hand of God. Whatever they did for you, they’ll receive more once they die.
Ahmad: But what if God doesn’t give back either? What if they find out that God never existed?
Ali: Again with the same crap talk! Is that finding-something-to-believe-in shit still in your mind?
Ahmad: I don’t see why it shouldn’t be. Has anything changed?
Ali: You know, I don’t believe I am having this conversation with you. You were born in a Muslim family. You have known since birth that God exists and then I don’t know what the fuck happened to you and now you just don’t believe in God, to begin with.
Ahmad: Do you really think we ever were given a choice when we were young? It was almost like an imposition. Going to mosques, fasting, praying! Everything! It was like going to school. Something we just did, without putting our hearts and souls in to it and now that I am old enough to think and analyse, I see it makes no sense to begin with. Ali, tell me. What proof do you have that all of this is true?
Ali: Now you are asking for a proof? Search your heart, you’ll find a proof.
Ahmad: I did, I found nothing.
Ali: Ahmad! Come on! You are being unfair to God. He has been blessing you for years. He has blessed you with everything!
Ahmad: Yeah, maybe that’s why I am going back to Afghanistan to search for my mom and dad’s graves! (Snorts)
Ali: At least he gave you an opportunity to go. Many died with their parents. They never got to see the world.
Ahmad: Oh lucky them! They never had to go through this whole religion thing in their lives!
Ali: Ahmad! AHMAD! Stop uttering such atrocious things. You don’t believe in God. I get it, but don’t disrespect the religion. It still means something to me.
Ahmad: Alright then, I am going to shut up. Let just not talk about it Ali. Ever! (turns to him) Thanks Ali, thanks for doing this for me. Thanks for being a brother, a friend, a companion. I owe you so much man.
Ali: No Ahmad, you owe everything to Go... Forget it. (Pauses) I am glad I was there for you bro. We should visit mom and dad early in the morning tomorrow, I am sure they’ll be overwhelmed!
Ahmad: Early in the morning? (frowns) Oh whatever. Okay then! And maybe after we can visit Sara.
Ali: (grins) We can visit her first if you want!
Ahmad: (stops) That is why I hate mentioning her in front of you. I can’t stand you immature teasing! (walks ahead)
Ali: Not one joke when it comes to her! (laughs and follows him) Wait up!
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