WORTH IT

Khadija Yousuf Motorwala

Daastan Publishing 2023

First Published in Pakistan by Daastan PVT LTD

House # A-41, Madni Street, Lala Rukh, Wah Cantt, Punjab 47040

www.daastan.com

www.meraqissa.com

Text copyrights © Khadija Yousuf Motorwala

Book Design copyright © Mariyam Ali Khokhar

Edited by: Mariam Rizvi

The moral rights of the writer, illustrator, and editor have been asserted.

All rights reserved

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN 978-969-696-186-4

To my family and all the other families, I have met along the way.

Preface 

I have written this book to educate others that family will always support you and never abandon or dishearten you. My teachers motivated me to write this book, and my family became my inspiration. It is not only about family, but also not to disappoint your family. Family is anyone you love; and I was always taught that: one Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You should also not do any deed to dishearten your teachers, your friends, and everyone or anyone in between.

Chapter 1

Another year, another month, another week, another day, another Monday. Yes, you read it right. Monday. For most people, Monday isn’t such a joyous day. But, what if there’s a pizzeria, where works a boy, who every day of every week, of every month, of every year, awaits this glorious day. A day when he gets a day-off from work and is able to gaze longingly at regular boys and girls, who go to school instead of a pizzeria, play outside instead of cooking, get scolded by parents and teachers instead of a manager, wear colorful, clean clothes instead of a dull, dirty apron, and eat freshly cooked food instead of scraps from others’ tables. But this chocolate-haired-boy did not care for all these luxuries except for one.      

The luxury of being loved; being someone worthy.

This chocolate-haired-boy envied all the children who were loved by their parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, neighbors, friends and so many other people. He was also, after all, just a little boy; didn’t he deserve love? Was he not worth it? Was there some sort of task or challenge in which he had to succeed in order to be loved? Were there certain criteria for being loved? Were his parents oblivious of him? Was he incomplete in himself?

Every Monday, this boy would roam the beautiful streets of Naisak, trying to find an answer. But the answer was not that shallow and you cannot dive in shallow waters. It was, in fact, a deep terrifying hole, holding dark deplorable secrets from which even the air around was abashed.

Then, one Monday, the chocolate-haired-boy took a wrong turn. His initial path was to take a left, so, that way he would reach straight to the pizzeria he worked at. But his bowed head lost deep in thoughts, misled him. He walked for some time and made random turns. At last his legs cramped up and when he lifted his head, he found an answer; a solution to his loneliness. It was right in front of him. It was just a touch away. But still so protected by an invisible shield that he could not cross. He must conquer it and take his right of being loved!

Chapter 2

Many of you have loving parents, who take you on vacations, play games with you, help you with your studies, teach you about life, allow you to visit your friend’s house for a playdate, make you understand the difference between right and wrong, host your birthday parties, calm your tantrums, and give you a shoulder to cry on and heal your wounds. Parents sacrifice their lives, their happiness, their needs, their wishes, their goals; in a nutshell, everything for you.

They sacrifice their today for their children’s tomorrow.

Unfortunately, there are some parents with a stone for a heart, metal running in their veins instead of blood and sand for feelings, who don’t care about their child and prioritize their child over other inessential necessities and leave them at the mercy of unkind relatives, like aunts and uncles, grandparents, or any other related person; leaving their responsibility on someone else’s shoulders.      

But does that mean they do not love their child? If they didn’t, they would have left the child on a road or in a dumpster, but they leave the responsibility on someone they trust. Of course, which child would love a parent like that? But still they do, because deep down somewhere, the child knows that their parent loves them.

Hence, some parents do leave their child on someone else’s shoulders, but those children don’t hate them, they aren’t even angry at them, but instead, love them and are proud to be their child.

One such child is a 14-year-old boy, with deep green eyes. A forest so dense, you would get lost trying to find a way in or out. He may seem gloomy, but when he shows his adorable dimples anyone would definitely fall for him. But, unfortunately, expressing his smile was not his cup of tea. He is Ajidahk (pronounced as Aji-dakh) Rotom.      

Ajidahk faced a traumatic past and was concealing it pretty successfully until a volcano erupted, burning every laughter of his to ash. If   inherited from his father. Under the magnificent hair, you’ll find a brain explored beyond limits. In his hands you’ll see scars of loss, wounds of betrayal, and scratches of recovery. In his smile, which is not only sweet and hopeful and elicited from his mother, you’ll see pride for his identity.

Ajidahk lives with his grandparents, who have retired from the army. He is a regular boy who goes to school and helps cook and clean around the house. He would talk to everyone and anyone he liked, care free. He had no worries of the world and could be himself. He didn’t need to hide his flaws as even his imperfections were exceptional. He was a lovely boy and always obeyed his grandparents. He was an average student, but not all teachers liked him; hardly any liked him at all.

But Ajidahk was oblivious of the reason even though it was right in front of him. He would always ignore it as if it didn’t exist. At times, teachers do not like specific students, and in the same way, Ajidahk did not like one of his teachers.

He disliked this particular teacher due to his arrogant attitude towards other children and his boring lessons.  He was Mr. Gruez, the chemistry teacher. He had a well-trimmed and well-kept beard and mustache. He was tall and had thick brown locks and bright green eyes. Even with his attractive features, he was still the most hated teacher. He would always borrow lessons where the teacher was absent and would take sports and arts classes as well to teach his subject. Despite taking many classes, he was never able to finish his syllabus on time, and for exams, students would have to learn without understanding anything. The worst part was that Mr. Gruez would be teaching chemistry for all the school years.

Ajidahk, like every other student, despised Mr. Gruez, but if you hate the player, you do not necessarilyS hate the game. Ajidahk was interested in chemistry a lot.  . He hoped to find someone better than a friend.

Since he liked chemistry so much, he would call himself ‘hydrogen’ and  He thought that he had found his molecule but in vain; the molecule left him.

He knew for a fact that he would never find someone like that. He often wished that he hadn’t lost whom he had lost, and someone would be here with him and accompany him conquer the aspects of life. Someone to console him in his grief, someone to hear is screams and respond in return.

His Grandpapa always told him he could talk about anything with him. Ajidahk knew this but just didn’t know how to convey it to him. You see, little charming, innocent, naïve, Ajidahk was keeping a mystical secret. Something which was not acknowledged by everyone. But few knew about this and only those few could sustain it. A true beauty of the creator many would pass by the sight. But it isn’t what you think it is. After all, life is not exactly what you see and believe.

These mythical creatures were no illusion. Once you encounter them, there’s no second chance. No protection from its kindness, humbleness, and soothing voice. You would have to give in. And then they would devour the beast within you. Take away all your blacks leaving only pure yellows. But there should be some grief, some regret in life to learn from. To create, you must destroy. And to destroy, you must create. It’s like ointment on an open, fresh, wound which won’t heal that easily. Now, many of you who know people suffering from stress and depression would find this as an excellent remedy. But every cloud has shade and rain. Imagine faces smiling at a funeral. That is why not everyone has the honor of owning one of these. Ajidahk would like someone to let off his burden.

Chapter 3

‘Ajidahk, would you like to solve problem seven on the board when you’re done fantasizing?’ Ms. Urhaab, the Math teacher, suggested.

Ajidahk dropped back to the earth with a sudden thud. He      realized he hadn’t paid any attention to today’s math class. He was required to divide fractions which he didn’t know at all. About thirty-two massive, sleek and small eyes were goggling at him from all directions and Ms. Urhaab had a stone cold face which enhanced all her cheekbones to be even more sucked in than they already were and the utter silence was broken only by the rustling of the leaves.

All the students had an expressionless face and some even had their mouths open without realizing that saliva was about to collect and form a puddle on the classroom floor.

Ajidahk immediately looked at his knees. He was aware that if he stared at those absurd faces even a moment, an uproar would escape from his mouth.

‘Ajidahk, we don’t have the time to keep goggling at you just to indicate for you to come up to the board,’ Ms. Urhaab mocked.

Ajidahk still did not know the solution. He wanted to cry for help but he could not.

‘Ajidahk, did you do yesterday’s homework?’    

Ms. Urhaab capped back her marker and placed it on her desk without breaking eye contact with Ajidahk. The slight flaw was that Ajidahk was not meeting his eyes with hers. He managed to glance at her but immediately looked away as he saw her hazel eyes turn into a shade of blood.

Ajidahk hesitated, but still had to answer.

‘No,’ he replied bluntly.

‘No?’ asked Ms. Urhaab.

 ‘Do you realize the tone of your voice? Such a dull and simple ‘no’. Don’t you have any shame for disrespecting your teacher who has taught and known you for nine straight years?’

‘Yes, class please participate and tell me. Shouldn’t the Language Head of Koanvox Institute have some respect for his teacher?’

Ajidahk was fuming with rage but he had to restrain himself. He slid his spectacles up his nose as he had nothing else to do. He knew what Ms. Urhaab was going to say. And it happened like it always did     .

 ‘Oh, of course! Why would you, Ajidahk Rotom, son of the heroic Finn and Riley Rotom, who sacrificed their lives for saving this school and children by being shot when successfully rescuing all the teachers and getting them to safety, have any respect for not only me, but any teacher in this school as we are indeed indebted by their sacrifice. Accurate or not, Mr. Ajidahk- ‘whose parents saved us’- Rotom?’

The bell indicating the end of the lesson, rang, but for Ajidahk it was the bell of freedom from Ms. Urhaab’s cruel, agonizing comments upon his parents.

‘Good day, class.’ Ms. Urhaab greeted. ‘I won’t be assigning any homework today as some disrespectful, egoistic students only care about their martyred parents than a teacher’s hard work which is the key element to help you succeed in life.’ And with that last disgrace to Ajidahk’s parents, Ms. Urhaab left the classroom swishing her cinnamon ponytail.

Ajidahk arched back his seat forming an upside down rainbow. He licked the barbed line of his lower brace. This was a daily dose of medicine Ajidahk would get from most of his teachers. It was like sunlight, so hot and agonizing sometimes it would burn your skin but at the same time, it was a source of life. All of Ajidahk’s teachers commented these hot rays at him except Mr. Gruez. Indeed, Ajidahk did detest Mr. Gruez but for some unknown reason Mr. Gruez was always humble towards him.

There were numerous events at which Mr. Gruez had supported Ajidahk despite his omissions. Such a case had happened last week when literally his whole class hadn’t done their chemistry home work. Mr. Gruez had erupted.

‘Such an irresponsible class this is! Couldn’t even attempt five questions which I had already explained in class!’

‘Well, we would have completed the homework if you knew how to explain.’ Ajidahk whispered to his friend Harper who was sitting beside him and nodded in response.

And it wasn’t only Harper who heard him.

‘Ajidahk, would you like to speak out loud what you were interestingly telling Harper?’

The whole class was staring at the pair of them. They all knew that there was no escape when Mr. Gruez had you entrapped in his claws.

‘How about you, Harper?’

Harper flinched when his name was called by such a husky voice. It seemed as if a blob was about to form on the carpet in accordance to his wet ebony bangs.

‘HURRY UP, HARPER! I HAVE A CLASS TO PUNISH FOR NOT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK!’

‘Sir, Ajidahk was- t-t-t-telling me tha-’

Harper suddenly stopped and it was due a sharp pain he felt in his abdomen from Ajidahk’s elbow.

‘How about you come and confess here so you are not disturbed by the constant nudges of your friend.’ Mr. Gruez indicated towards his desk.

Harper was still hesitant and making his chair vibrate as well as with himself.

‘COME ON NOW. IF YOU HAD THIS MUCH SHAME THEN WOULDN’T HAVE AGREED WITH WHAT AJIDAHK HAD WHISPERED TO YOU! I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE AFTER THIS LESSON!! AND AS FOR THE REST OF YOU NUGATORY CREATURES, A SURPRISE TEST IS TAKING PLACE! OUT WITH YOUR NOTEBOOKS, NOW!!’

After the bell, the class rushed out and along with that a      cloud full of rumors and suspicions began raining in Ajidahk’s ears.

‘Isn’t it weird how Mr. Gruez only punished Harper when clearly Ajidahk was the one to be solely blamed?’

‘Indeed, I agree with you Marilyn.’

‘It was true, but it was Mr. Gruez’s decision upon whom to punish. In my opinion, both Harper and I were equally responsible, but I guess Mr. Gruez thought of Harper to be much guiltier than me.’ Ajidahk concluded.

‘Do you think that Mr. Gruez may be having a soft spot for Ajidahk? As he didn’t blame Ajidahk when it was completely his fault. Or is it just because he Is the Language Head?’

‘It is definitely not because of him with the position and also It’s not like this hasn’t happened like at least over a hundred times now.’

‘Remember when Mrs. Kymfist caught Ajidahk cheating on test? But Mr. Gruez vouched for him and managed to persuade Mrs. Kymfist to not take any serious action and he let him off with only a warning? If anyone else was in his shoes they’d wish their lungs to stop operating.’

‘It was the first time I was caught cheating! And it was completely Arianna’s fault as she just coughed too loudly resulting in Mrs. Kymfist to turn towards us. And little cunning Ariana acted as if she didn’t know that I was copying from her whereas she was totally involved in the crime. But since it was my first time being caught cheating, so a warning was a better decision than expulsion.’      Ajidahk thought.

But the fact could not be ignored that Mr. Gruez favored him. Ajidahk shrugged the thought away and was walking down the corridor. It had been a week since the test and today the test results were handed in. Ajidahk was perfectly confident in himself as he had done a wonderful job writing meaningless answers on his test.

Mr. Gruez was circulating the class distributing the papers. He had a cold smile engraved on lips. Every pupil knew that they had failed and would have to stay back for a week as punishment.

Mr. Gruez approached Ajidahk’s desk and his cold smile switched seasons.