With Mr. Haruki and Ahmed's father returning with the bus to the front of the house, the scene looked as if the trip to Socotra was just one step away. The bus was parked, the doors open, and laughter preceded the bags. Everyone was excited; the children were jumping in the yard, Mr. Haruki's daughters were listing the sea, the ocean, and the colors of the sky, while Ahmed's brothers were arguing over who would sit next to the window.
But Ahmed's mother, with the eye of a mother who sees what others do not, noticed something different. She saw the fatigue in her husband's shoulders, in Mr. Haruki's gaze, and in Ahmed's silence, who was hiding deep exhaustion behind a faint smile.
She said with decisive calm: "We are not going now."
A short silence prevailed... then an explosion.
All the children screamed, Ahmed's children and Mr. Haruki's daughters together: "Whaaat?! – We want to go now! – We want the ocean! – We want Socotra!"
Ahmed's mother smiled, then said in a tone that knew its way to the hearts: "How about I cook a meal that you all love?"
The screaming suddenly stopped, as if someone had turned off the volume button. The children exchanged glances, then said almost in unison: "And we want the sweets you always make for us!"
Ahmed's mother laughed: "Agreed."
The children entered the house laughing, led by Mr. Haruki's daughters:
Aiko – Yumi – Haruka – Emi – Sakura, and with them Ahmed's brothers: Sami – Yasser – Mazen – and Khaled, and they began arguing over which dessert was best.
Mrs. Sayuri stood at the door, looking at Ahmed's mother with sincere admiration, then said: "You are truly... a great mother."
Ahmed's mother smiled: "Thank you."
Sayuri entered with the children, while Ahmed, his father, and Mr. Haruki stood in the yard, exchanging looks of astonishment.
Mr. Haruki said, laughing: "If you worked for me in Japan, Japan's economy would be stronger than it is now."
Ahmed's mother replied calmly: "This is not politics... this is upbringing."
Then she turned to them: "Go, pray Asr (Afternoon Prayer), then sleep a little. Dinner requires rested minds."
Ahmed quickly said: "I will help you, Mom."
She looked at him and agreed, then said: "After the prayer."
Ahmed, his father, and Mr. Haruki went to the nearby mosque. They prayed Asr and returned. The father and Mr. Haruki went to sleep, while Ahmed's mother sat with Mrs. Sayuri in the kitchen, quietly exchanging ideas.
Ahmed approached, ready to help, but his mother said: "No... you and Misaki go."
He was surprised: "Me?"
She said: "Go to the Central Fish Market, buy fresh Dirak fish, and also take some tender shrimp.
Then to the vegetable market, and buy:
Tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, green chili, red chili, zucchini, carrots, eggplant, coriander, dill, parsley.
Then to the Central Market... dessert ingredients, but double the quantity, and don't forget the oil."
She took out her phone and sent him a long message. Afterward, Mrs. Sayuri took Ahmed's phone and sent him another message:
> "Watch over your future wife, and let her enjoy herself."
>
Misaki saw the message... and smiled.
Ahmed said: "I'll borrow my friend's car, there are too many things."
Misaki said: "Do you know how to drive?"
He smiled confidently: "Yes."
His friend arrived with the car, looked at Misaki in astonishment: "Who is this?"
Misaki said quickly and innocently: "His wife."
Ahmed quickly covered her mouth with his hand: "My re-la-tive! My relative! Goodbye!"
They drove off.
At the Central Fish Market, everything was fresh. Ahmed carefully selected the Dirak fish, and the shrimp shone as if they had just come out of the sea. He paid the bill, and Misaki watched him with genuine admiration.
Then to the vegetable market... everything was fresh, vibrant colors, and Misaki teased him: "This cucumber is longer than you."
He laughed for the first time with her without hesitation.
Then to the Central Market. He bought everything on the list:
Flour, sugar, vanilla, cocoa, chocolate, yeast, condensed milk, butter, starch, nuts, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, sesame, oil.
But he didn't stop...
He bought gifts for everyone: for his mother, his father, Mr. Haruki, Mrs. Sayuri, his siblings, Mr. Haruki's daughters, and Misaki.
And he bought for the trip: crackers, pickles, fruits, biscuits, chocolate, cake.
He looked at the bags and said: "My mother will scold me."
Misaki laughed... a pure laugh.
Ahmed stopped for a moment.
This was the first time he had seen her laugh like this.
On the way back, he sped up a little to scare her... she wasn't scared.
So he swerved in a sudden move.
She screamed and started hitting him: "Stop! Stop!"
He laughed as he drove.
They returned the car to his friend. He looked again: "Who is this, truly?"
Misaki said confidently: "His wife."
He froze.
Ahmed entered the house loaded with bags. His mother saw the quantity: "Ahmed!!"
She started scolding him. She noticed the extra bags: "What is this?"
He quickly said: "Don't open them!"
He grabbed the bags, ran to his room, and closed the door.
Outside, his friend was leaving, still in shock...
And inside, faint laughter was escaping from Ahmed's heart; the bags were the gifts he had bought without Ahmed knowing.