Homegrown Hero

by Khurrum Rahman

  ‘I ain’t playing Chinese whispers‚ mate. You’ve told me. I’ll sort it.’

  ‘Will Daniel be there?’

  ‘Obviously! Four-thirty. At Lampton Park.’

  ‘Yeah‚’ I said. ‘Lampton Park.’

  I headed downstairs‚ the television was tuned to MTV. A loud‚ brash‚ colourful music video assaulted my senses as I stepped into the living room. Idris was sitting on the sofa bopping his head to the racket. He’d always had shit taste in music. I turned down the volume and flipped the channel to the calm of BBC1 Breakfast.

  ‘We should go Ibiza this summer?’ Idris said. ‘Get out of Hounslow for a bit.’

  ‘I’m not going Ibiza.’ I picked up my coffee‚ murmured ‘Thanks‚’ and sat down next to him. ‘Besides‚ if I’m going anywhere‚ it’ll be Qatar. To see Mum.’

  ‘With that scar still across your throat? Are you sure? She’ll pack her bags and move back in before you could say Mum‚ it was just a misunderstanding!’

  I ran my fingertips over the scar. ‘Well‚ I ain’t going fucking Ibiza!’

  ‘Suit yourself.’

  ‘What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be –’

  ‘Got the day off. Thought I’d chill with you today.’

  ‘Crime rate is going go through the roof.’

  ‘Yeah‚’ he laughed. ‘Thought I’d give the bad guys a day off.’

  ‘Like that film‚’ I said‚ easing into the morning. ‘Where you’re allowed to commit any crime just for one day.’

  ‘Which film’s that?’

  ‘I can’t remember.’ I shrugged‚ not even attempting to recall. ‘Wanna come down Lampton Park with me later?’ I asked him. If Daniel did turn up with who I thought he would‚ then it might be handy to have some of that police training behind me.

  ‘Lampton Park?’ He arched an eyebrow. ‘Yeah‚ I’m up for it. What’s the occasion?’

  ‘Found someone’s phone. Just returning it.’

  53

  Imy

  I woke up late. I got into the office late. I arrived at my first viewing late. Kumar bit into me about my timekeeping and my appearance‚ telling me he had a good mind to keep me hidden away in the office and give Shaz my viewings. But Shaz hadn’t come in to work. Backache‚ apparently. Shaz often said backache was the cream of excuses. He once spent five days in Tenerife with backache.

  I knew the real reason why he wasn’t at work. I had hurt my friend and it was all I could think about.

  ‘Well‚’ the prospective buyer said as I followed him blankly around the two-bed flat‚ ‘how long?’

  ‘The lease?’ I said‚ tuning in.

  ‘Yes.’ He sighed. ‘How long is the lease?’

  ‘I’ll find out.’ I’d left the paperwork at the office.

  ‘The boiler‚ is it a combi?’ he asked as we stepped into the kitchen.

  ‘I think‚ yes.’ I scanned the boiler. ‘No‚ actually it’s not. Can I confirm?’

  I took him from room to room‚ failing to satisfactorily answer any of his questions.

  ‘I’d like to see this property again‚’ he said. ‘If you don’t mind‚ can somebody else show me?’

  ‘Sure‚’ I nodded‚ as my phone rang. ‘Excuse me‚ I have to take this.’ He made his annoyance clear as I stepped outside onto the front porch. ‘Stephanie.’

  ‘Imy‚ where are you? Her voice sounded strained‚ setting me on edge.

  ‘At work‚ what’s happened‚ Steph?’

  ‘The school called –’

  ‘Jack!’ My heart picked up. ‘Is he alright?’

  ‘No‚ he’s not alright –’

  My mind immediately shot to a dark place. I rushed onto the road towards my car‚ an oncoming van braked hard‚ its horn blaring through me‚ drowning out Stephanie.

  ‘Stephanie‚’ I threw open the car door and started the engine. ‘What’s happened?’ Tight in front of me was an SUV‚ tight behind me was a Jaguar. I was boxed in. I slipped it into reverse and put my foot down‚ forcing the Jaguar back a few feet.

  ‘You were supposed to pick him up!’ she said.

  I glanced at the clock on the dash. Jack finished school at three. ‘Steph‚ it’s okay. It’s only quarter past two.’ I let out a long breath and looked in the wing mirror. My client was inspecting the damage to his Jaguar.

  ‘Imy‚ it’s the last day. School finished at two today. We had this conversation.’

  ‘I’m on my way‚’ I said. ‘Five minutes.’

  She sighed and disconnected the call. I punched the steering wheel in frustration and manoeuvred out‚ leaving the front door of the flat open and my client gesturing angrily behind.

  *

  I parked my Prius and ran the short distance to Jack’s school. There were still parents and children milling about as I entered the playground‚ and I could see Jack standing at the door with Miss Hollis‚ waving excitedly at me. I smiled an apology at his teacher.

  ‘Dad!’ Jack waved. Miss Hollis smiled knowingly at me‚ recognising our relationship for what it had become.

  ‘Dad...’ A voice repeated to my right‚ as he took his position next to me. Entering my world again. I didn’t have to turn and face him. I didn’t even have to hear his voice. Pathaan’s presence alone was enough.

  I watched Jack struggling to get his rucksack on‚ then he came flying out‚ a week off school written on his face as he launched himself into my arms. ‘You were twenty minutes late‚ Dad!’ I reluctantly placed him down and his hand found mine. He looked past me and asked‚ ‘Who’s that man?’

  ‘He’s…’

  Pathaan knelt down in front of Jack‚ a dirty grin on his face. I gripped Jack’s hand tightly. ‘I am a very old friend of your dad‚’ he said. ‘You must be Jack.’

  Jack made the connection. ‘You were at Jump Giants.’

  ‘Yes I was. I was watching you‚’ Pathaan said‚ and with a quick glance at me‚ added‚ ‘Look how white you are.’

  Unable to comprehend‚ Jack looked up at me and even though my heart was hammering inside my chest‚ I smiled down at him and when he returned it‚ it near enough broke me.

  ‘Shall we go?’ I said.

  We‚ the three of us‚ walked back to the car. Jack dictated the pace‚ which was slower than I would have liked. I wanted to run. I wanted to carry him‚ his arms around my neck‚ his face buried in the crook of my neck‚ so he wouldn’t have to see my past. Just like Pathaan had carried me all those years ago away from my burning home.

  ‘What did you learn at school today?’ I switched to autopilot.

  ‘Um… I can’t remember‚’ Jack replied.

  ‘You should always remember every lesson that is taught to you‚’ Pathaan said. ‘Did you know that I once taught Imran?’

  ‘Really!’ Jack exclaimed. ‘You were his teacher?’

  ‘Yes. In many ways I was.’

  I could see the Prius in the near distance. I slipped a hand into my trouser pocket‚ wrapped my fingers around the car fob‚ and repeatedly pressed the button‚ trying to unlock the car from twenty yards away.

  ‘Is that true‚ Dad?’ Every time he said that word in Pathaan’s presence it made me want to vomit.

  ‘Yes‚’ I said. ‘A lifetime ago.’

  ‘And you know something else‚ Jack?’ Pathaan said. ‘He was my best student.’

  The Prius chirped‚ the indicator lights flashed. ‘Why don’t you go sit in the car‚ Jack?’

  ‘But I want to know more about –’

  ‘You can sit in the front seat.’ I quickly threw in the distraction.

  Without hesitation Jack happily ran the ten yards to the car. I watched him struggle with the car door handle for a moment before bundling into the front seat.

  I stopped in my tracks‚ wanting to keep a distance from Jack. Pathaan didn’t follow my lead and kept on moving towards the car.

  ‘Pathaan Bhai‚’ I said‚ putting my hand on his shoulder‚ stopping him. He
looked at my hand on his shoulder. I knew he would have seen that as a sign of disrespect. I dropped my hand. He quietly fixed me with a glare‚ amused slightly. Calculating. Calculated.

  My two worlds had overlapped and I was at a loss at what role I was supposed to play. The father figure‚ the man. Moving heaven and earth to keep the ones I loved safe. Or the jihadi.

  To be one‚ I had to be the other.

  ‘Silas is out of the way‚’ Pathaan finally said.

  I nodded‚ making it clear that news had reached me.

  ‘I’ve been watching Javid‚’ he said. ‘In a restaurant‚ with his friends. Not a care in the world. He has recovered well… He looks well.’ Pathaan smiled. His teeth were only slightly stained‚ not his usual coat of red from the constant chewing of paan. He would have resisted the temptation‚ not wanting to bare his red teeth in a school playground‚ scaring the children and attracting the attention of the teachers. The rest of him looked incongruously smart; ironed pale-blue shirt tucked tightly into loose black trousers‚ with a mobile phone clipped onto his belt‚ finished off with polished pointed black boots. It was how he would have envisaged a parent on a school run.

  ‘He looks like a man who has his whole life in front of him‚’ Pathaan said. ‘But we know that is not true.’

  I wanted to take my eyes off him and glance at the car‚ just to catch a glimpse or a movement of Jack’s tiny head. But I knew that would be a mistake. I had to stay in the moment. Give nothing away. But it was impossible. This was not the broken streets of Gardez‚ Afghanistan‚ where hatred was channelled‚ fuelling an all-consuming hunger for violent bloody revenge. This was the suburbs of Hounslow.

  And just to hammer home the notion‚ the universe further conspired against me. I heard rapid footsteps behind me and I turned to see Clara‚ Jack’s classmate‚ skipping towards me‚ hand in hand with her mother. They joined us and my head started to swim. I could see Pathaan‚ I could touch him‚ but I still could not place him here. I couldn’t alter my mind-set. It was the most bizarre feeling. If I could just scratch my head. If I could rattle my brain. If I could just close my eyes.

  We stood in a tight triangle. Clara’s mother‚ Pathaan and I‚ with Clara at waist-level looking up curiously at the strange man.

  ‘We took Clara to Jump Giants. What a gem of a place!’ she said‚ breaking the tension with the most mundane statement. ‘It’s a little hidden away‚ though. My Satnav got itself in a right tizzy trying to find it.’

  I nodded‚ but so surreal was the situation‚ my head barely moved. So I nodded harder and it felt and probably looked unnatural.

  ‘Did you keep those little green socks that they give you? Hold onto them for Clara’s birthday‚ otherwise you’ll have to pay three pounds for another pair‚’ Clara’s Mum continued‚ whilst her daughter continued to look up at Pathaan. I had to move them along; the way Pathaan was hungrily looking down at Clara‚ I wouldn’t put it past him to eat her up right there and then.

  ‘We’re thinking a week Saturday‚’ she said. ‘I’ll send out the invites soon.’

  ‘Yes.’ I said. ‘The invites.’ I had no idea what she was saying to me.

  ‘Mummy‚ can we go now?’ Clara’s eyes were fixed on the monster.

  ‘Okay‚ must dash. Teatime awaits.’

  Pathaan and I stood in silence until they were almost out of sight‚ only stopping briefly to wave at Jack through the car window.

  ‘The time has come‚ Imran. This time‚ I expect results. And not just me. The Sheikh is losing patience. Do not make me lose mine.’

  ‘Sheikh Ali Ghulam?’ I was thrown.

  Pathaan nodded. ‘Al-Mudarris is no longer in a position to lead. The Sheikh has assumed control.’

  Sheikh Ali Ghulam was a highly successful and ruthless businessman. He lived his life almost as a recluse‚ located in the United Arab Emirates. It was common knowledge that he had been born into wealth‚ using that money to further cement his success with a string of luxury hotels in the Middle East. However‚ what wasn’t common knowledge was that he had also been funding Ghurfat-Al-Mudarris’ operations. But since the much-loved and much-respected founder and leader‚ Abdullah Bin Jabbar‚ was now a priority target for the world’s authorities‚ it would have been‚ without question‚ a simple decision for the Sheikh to take over operations.

  I never questioned why a fatwa had been issued on Jay – had been preoccupied with the task itself – but it was starting to make sense.

  ‘This is all down to Javid... How?’

  ‘You were always a bright one‚ Imran‚’ Pathaan said. ‘As I said to Jack‚ you were my best student.’

  The man I held in the highest regard‚ once. The man I loved‚ once. Now I wanted to rip his tongue out with a blunt blade. Saw at it until blood filled his mouth‚ so he could never again bring Jack’s name to his lips.

  ‘Javid Qasim has unstitched the very fabric of our organisation‚’ he said‚ addressing a question that I had forgotten that I had asked. ‘It is due to this Munafiq that our once great leader is running like a lamb hunted by wolves. There will be no questions‚ there will be no trial. History has shown us‚ like all the great leaders before him. If caught‚ al-Mudarris will be killed without hesitation.’

  They say that the truth is in the eyes. I let him look into mine‚ as I said‚ ‘Qasim must pay in blood.’

  ‘He must‚ Imran‚ Mashallah‚ he must!’ He patted me hard twice on my shoulder. ‘Every time that I see him I want to kill him myself. I cannot stand to see him alive anymore. But the honour is with you‚ Imran‚ and as my student I will bask in your light. Today is Friday‚ I will be leaving this filthy country on Monday morning. Understand this: I want Qasim to have taken his last breath before I leave. I want it done quickly and without hesitation. Do not test my patience any longer.’

  The truth is in the eyes.

  Without thought my eyes moved away from him‚ towards my car‚ towards Jack. Pathaan gently cupped my face with his hands and brought me back to him.

  ‘You are not to fail me again‚ Imran.’ He smiled. There was sadness there.

  A short sharp punch to the side immediately knocked the wind out of me. I tried to bend at the waist to recover‚ but he’d gripped me upright and pulled me closer to his chest‚ holding me in an embrace. His lips brushed my ear‚ and he whispered softly.

  ‘Do not let the Shaitan control your emotion‚ Imran‚ or I will take away everything you hold dear.’

  54

  Jay

  I hadn’t thought this through. Lampton Park at four-thirty. The fuck was I thinking? Lampton Park was located literally next to the Civic Centre where I worked. I was supposed to be at home recovering‚ not hanging about at the park. And half four! My timing couldn’t have been worse. Council workers are lazy fuckers. I know. I am. Unless they’re on rota to work fixed hours‚ they’re itching to leave in their droves between four and five. I was bound to get bagged.

  I pulled into the Bulstrode pub car park‚ opposite Lampton Park‚ just as a couple of colleagues that I recognised from HR were heading into the Bully. I slid low in my seat.

  ‘You haven’t thought this through‚ have you?’ Idris remarked from the passenger seat.

  ‘Was just thinking the same thing. Have they gone?’

  ‘No. They’re approaching the car armed with a clipboard and pen. Oh god‚ one of them is taking pictures.’

  I risked a look through the gap in the steering wheel‚ as they disappeared into the pub without a glance.

  ‘Jay. Calm down. Ain’t nobody going to pay attention to this shit-bucket.’

  ‘Yeah‚ well.’ I straightened up. ‘It’s better than your motor.’

  ‘What motor?’

  ‘That’s right.’ I pulled the door handle. ‘What motor?’ I stepped out of the car and quickly crossed the road towards the park‚ Idris keeping pace with me.

  ‘When am I getting my Beemer back? Did you find out?’
/>
  ‘I forgot to tell you. It’s been booked to be cleaned out later this week. A cleaning firm from Heathrow that we use from time to time for crime scenes.’

  ‘The police are sorting it out?’

  ‘Don’t be daft! It’s up to the victim or his family to pay for it. Or a friend.’

  ‘You sorted it?’

  ‘I did. Couldn’t have you see it in that state. Didn’t want you to have night terrors!’ Idris smiled‚ barging his shoulder into mine as we set foot into Lampton Park.

  Rather than express the gratitude that I was feeling‚ I replied‚ ‘You spend enough time in it‚ you may as well contribute towards it.’

  ‘Not been here in years.’ Idris glanced around the park. ‘K Cider‚ remember? Drop of blackcurrant.’

  ‘Snakebite! Yeah‚ I remember‚’ I said. ‘Looking for the saucepan constellation in the stars.’

  ‘Good times.’

  ‘Yeah‚ they were alright.’

  They were more than alright. Knocking up for Idris‚ exchanging pleasantries with his old man. His mum filling up our bellies and then we’d make our excuses and leave. Destination‚ Lampton Park‚ armed with cheap cider in our rucksacks. Getting drunk without much effort and fucking around on the swings and slides until we were sick and laid out under the stars‚ making plans and talking shit until the early hours.

  Yeah‚ it was good times. The fucking best. But we grew up. We were forced to open our eyes and face the fact that we live in a fucked up world. Back then racism was being called a Paki and the occasional dust up. Not like now.

  Daniel’s phone rang. The caller display flashed Anthony. I answered.

  ‘Is that you by the pond?’ Anthony asked.

  ‘Yeah. Where are you?’ I said.

  ‘Who’d you bring with you?’

  ‘He’s a mate.’ Idris narrowed his eyes‚ I shrugged at him.

  ‘Alright‚ spin around‚’ he said. ‘See the bench at the end of the park‚ by the hut?’

  I turned around and saw three figures in the distance. ‘Yeah‚ I see you‚’ I said and he ended the call.

  ‘Does this feel weird to you‚ Jay?’ Idris said. ‘It feels weird to me.’