“Baby is Achu’s favourite” I uttered
“Does that mean you don’t care about me?” asked Noah.
“No. Achu cares about you” I replied.
“Then why I’m not your favourite?” he asked again
“Well you’re my favourite number five, and baby is favourite number six”. I explained.
“Who’s number one?” Noah throws another question
I smiled then answered “Oh! That’s obviously Babel.”
“But who’s number two, three, and four? After Babel is me.”
“No, after Babel comes Hakim, then Ehsan and Sara Jahara”
“Oh! that means I’m Achu’s favourite number five?” not satisfied he’s looking for confirmation.
“Yes Noah, you are Achu’s favourite..” I paused, then continued “number five”
He hold my hand and smile.
This little boy always thought that I don’t love him.
Someday, when he’s big enough to understand I’ll tell him the story how I took a month away from home, leaving his “Awan” behind, skipped my “Corner Lot” sister’s wedding, flew thousands of miles away just so that I can accompany his mother to deliver him.
This Achu was there next to his mom, not knowing what in this world she’s doing in the labour room.
This Achu had to work at midnight due to different time zone, endured the freezing winter night so that she could be a good worker and Achu at the same time.
She cried buckets in the bus on her way to Dublin airport because she had to leave her sister, her favourite number one (Babel) and her new favourite baby nephew behind.
Not just that, but many more little stories behind that.
Achu loves you Noah.
I do.