4. could he do it?

Narrator Days passed by. Jack tried his best to change his ways. He tried to control his anger and be a better person to his family. Alice was over the moon. She was glad that at least now he was trying. However Adira was still cautious around her father. She was still not accustomed to a soft and caring father figure. She had only seen a cold and hard hearted man who wouldn’t want to do anything with her. She had learnt to keep her distance from her father as she grew up. She had indulged herself in her studies and with helping her mother with the house work. Sometimes she spent time with her friends too. Unlike her, Levi was rather close to their father. They had bonded since Levi’s infant days which did not happen with Adira. Jack pov. It is the day Levi and Adira would come with their result slip. The final exams for the year was over and next year they will start their high school years. Yup. Middle school is over for them. My babies are growing up fast. I waited anxiously outside their school. Soon enough, I saw Levi sprinting towards me with a huge grin on his face. “papa look. I got scored the highest in accounting from the whole grade.” He exclaimed. I took his report card from his hand and studied it. I nodded with a smile on my face. He had scored relatively high in every subject. Accounting was his favourite. “That is great!” I told him. “Maybe you will become a great business man when you grow up.” I said. He grinned from ear to ear. Managing a business was always his dream. Perhaps he truly will attain that. I looked around. Adira had not come yet. “Where is your sister?” I asked. “I saw her talking with some teachers. I think she will come soon.” He told me as he climbed in to the car. He was right. Adira was walking casually towards us. She didn’t look as excited as her brother was. I frowned. Was her result not good? I took deep breaths and reminded myself to keep calm. Even if she did get a bad report card that is ok. I still have to teach myself not to loose my anger over every little thing. Specially when it comes to Adira. Alice is forgiving. But Adira...... I still have a long way to go. She approached us and I cleared my throat. “How was your results?” I asked, trying my best to sound as friendly as I could. She glanced at me, perhaps she was surprised that I asked about it. “Uhh... They are ok.” She said as she shrugged. “Can I see it?” I asked. She looked at me once a again with a frown on her face. “Ok. I guess.” She said and handed me her report. I sighed as I took it from her hand. I still remember how eager she was to show me her report cards during her first years of the primary school. She would try to beat Levi as both of them raced towards me at the end of the day when I came to fetch them. She would hand me her reports hoping that I would at least take one look at it. But, I used to ignore her. I just checked Levi’s card and congratulated him on his achievements. I didn’t see why I should make a fuss over her studies when I saw it as a waste of time. She would be a house wife anyway. Why does she need to be educated that much. But Adira had proved me wrong. Even if girls stay at home educating them is beneficial. She has proved me that girls are a blessing. She climbed in to the car as soon as she handed me her report card. She didn’t wait for my response. I opened it. She had passed all the exams with flying colours. I was shocked. I didn’t know that Adira was this good in her studies. I bit my lip. I never made an effort to find out anyway. My only focus was Levi. I climbed in to the driver’s seat and handed her report card to her. “You have done well Adira.” I told her. It was awkward. She didn’t respond and I didn’t know what else to say. It was Levi who broke the silence. “Papa, Adira had won the best student award in science.” He exclaimed. I raised my eyebrows. “Wow. That is amazing.” I said. I looked at Adira from the rear view mirror. She kept her looking out of the window, she didn’t care at all about what I had just said. She didn’t seem to be excited about her achievement. She didn’t look happy that I had complimented her. She just sat there. I gulped down the lump in my throat. It is my fault. It is all my fault. I should have know better. Being a girl is not her fault. When she tried to bond with me, I had pushed her away. I wonder if I had pushed her too far away, that now she will not return to me anymore. As soon as I halted the car in front of the house Adira rushed out of it, just like she would any other day. She would rush inside to look for her mother. I wonder what she did every day after school. Levi followed her. They will want to show her the results. I parked the car and went towards the house. All three of them were in the living room. I could clearly hear their conversation as I stood near the door, out of their sight. “Mama, I got the best student award in science.” Adira was telling her hysterically. “And I got the highest marks in accounting.” Levi told her, his excitement matching Adira’s. I felt my guilt eating me up. Both of them were equally eager to tell their mother about their achievements while Adira showed no interest in sharing it with me. I wonder what I had to do to bond with her. “That is great.” Alice told them. “Mama, do you think I can become a business man?” Levi asked, still signs of excitement filled his voice. “papa said I can.” He added. Alice laughed. “Of course. I am sure you will.” She said. I smiled to myself. “Mama.” I heard Adira’s voice. This time, her voice was soft and there was a hint of sadness in it. “Why can’t a girl become a doctor in our village?” she asked, dejection evident in her voice. I heard Alice sigh. “Dear, it is just not our custom.” She told her. I decided that it was time for me to walk in. Adira’s head snapped towards me and her gaze instantly lowered. She stood up from her spot and walked away without a word more. “Hey papa. I’ll come to have dinner with you all after changing.” Levi said and walked in side. I smiled Alice. She returned a sad smile towards me. I walked in and sat down beside her. I leaned against the couch and closed my eyes. “Adira doesn’t talk to me.” I said softly. “It is as if she is avoiding me.” I told her honestly. “Will she ever forgive me?” I asked Alice. I felt her hand on my thigh. “I think she needs time. She will have to learn to trust you.” She told me. I looked at her. “What should I do?” I asked. She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe talk to her? Like you talked to me? And maybe keep trying?” she said. I placed my hand on my hand on my forehead and closed my eyes and I let myself indulge in deep thought. How was I supposed to have a conversation with her when she keeps ignoring me? Perhaps she was giving me a taste of my own medicine. I used to ignore her, no matter what she said or how hard she tried to get my attention. Now she was ignoring me. Alice squeezed my hand. I looked at her. “Talk to her.” She urged. I nodded. Maybe I should. Adira pov. I sat on my bed feeling dejected. I had scored high in every subject. I knew I could. After all I had worked hard for these exams. I knew I could do it. Studying was something I loved doing. But what was the use? I will be forced in to a marriage that most probably I wouldn’t want. It would be just a matter of time. I had seen so many of the girls in the neighborhood and my cousins being wed off as soon as a suitor came seeking for their hand in marriage. I am now thirteen, next year will be our first year of high school. Most probably by the time I am done with high school, someone will be here to ask for my hand in marriage. I scoffed. Marriage. I don’t want to marry. From what I have seen, men don’t have any empathy or compassion. Why would I want to be locked in a house with such a person? But what can I do? A weak, thirteen year old girl, who’s voice is insignificant? I hate this. I hate my life. I hate this community and their stupid customs. I want change. I threw my pillow at the door in my frustration. Just then, the door opened and walked in the person who I never expected to. My father. My frustration quickly changed to fear and i jumped to my feet. I kept my eyes lowered and waited for anything he had to say. He earned his throat. “Adira.... umm... What are you doing?” he asked. Oh no? Was he angry because my pillow was not on the bed? He definitely didn’t like when things are misplaced. “I... I’m sorry papa... I.. I will pick this up.” I said hastily and hurried to pick up the pillow that was lying at his feet. I bent down and picked it up. I was going to keep it on the bed when I was pulled in to a hug. I froze in my father’s hold. What happened? “Adira. Please talk to me.” He said. “ Don’t ignore me.” He added. What? I was not ignoring him. What was going on? “papa...” I managed to whisper. “I am sorry Adira. I had pushed you away. I am sorry.” He said and he slowly released me. I looked at him in complete confusion. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even understand what he was saying. Or why? I furrowed my eyebrows as I studied his worried face. He continued to tell me how sorry he was and that he wanted to change himself. Ok. So maybe he wants to change. What I didn’t understand was, what was he going to change. Wasn’t it normal for men to be emotionless? Isn’t that how men are? I couldn’t understand. However I listened to him without asked mg any questions. “Hey. Come and have dinner.” I heard mama call us. Papa eating. Whatever he was saying and stepped outside. He told me to join him and walked towards the dining room. I stood on my spot dumbfounded. What was going on? I slowly placed the pillow on the bed and made my way to the dining room. I had learnt not to ask too many questions. But I have started to notice little changes. He had started to treat our mother with some respect. We now no longer had to eat in the kitchen. I was grateful for that. It hurt so bad when he scolded mother over little things. Much worse than when he scolded me. I used to hug her as she cried bitter tears each time. She would try her best not to cry in front of me but will fail anyway. Ever since that fateful day Levi had fallen in to the river, and I had save this life, I had started to notice the changes. But I had started to avoid him as much as possible because I didn’t want to get scolded at all the time. Not because my love for him had decreased. It had not. Not even a little bit. But most certainly I love mama more than that. And when I saw that he was treating him better than he ever did, it really did mean a lot to me. Perhaps that is what he was trying to change. But could he do it?