Published at 7th of August 2022 11:54 am

Chapter 888 - Epilogue: Ali (III)

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While Ali was wondering on what would be the best method to approach the subject, he saw Fleur looking in rapt amazement at a butterfly that was fluttering by. She ran after it excitedly, only to have it out of her reach every time.

Alex and Ziad tried to help and were running around the garden with Fleur, trying vainly to catch the butterfly. As they became breathless from all the running, the butterfly flew lower and landed on Rory's shoulder.

Rory, the only one who didn't run after the butterfly but was watching from the sidelines.

Everyone just stood still, looking at that butterfly that seemed to stand on its hind legs, it's front legs up in the air a bit while its wing was half folded. As if waving to Rory, it then spread its wings and flew off again.

No one moved this time, just looking at the butterfly that slowly disappeared.

"Why didn't the butterfly want me?" pouted Fleur.

Ali came by then, and smiled as he went on one knee to talk to Fleur, "Why do you think?"

She thought hard, her pretty face frowning as she said, "But I'm prettier than Rory."

Ali held back his laughter as he tilted his head, "So you feel the butterfly would only go to someone who is pretty?"

"The butterfly is pretty, so of course it would only like pretty things," Fleur said with confidence.

"What do you think, Alex? Ziad?" Ali asked, turning to look at them.

"It is as Fleur said," Alex replied, "Butterflies will go to what is pretty."

Ziad didn't answer immediately, looking at Rory's sullen face and then at Alex, "I do not know. Rory is pretty, and so is Fleur. But I don't know what the butterfly thinks."

"Rory?" Ali asked.

"It probably was just flying and running away from you," Rory said, "I just happened to be standing still."

"So what is the answer?" asked Alex, impatiently.

Ali just smiled, stood up and looked at the distance, "How am I supposed to know?"

All four of them just stood there, shocked, their mouths wide open.

Wasn't he supposed to know? He was an adult, right? He asked all those questions and he didn't know the answer himself?

"Ziad pointed out an important point," Ali said after a minute of silence, letting them stew over what had happened, "I do not know what the butterfly thinks."

He turned to them, saying, "I am not a lepidopterist, that is, one who studies moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies. So how can I say anything or make any conclusion?"

"I can only give guesses, and even then, those guesses will be based on what I believe," Ali continued.

"Fleur," Ali said, "You're a lovely girl who appreciates beauty. Your eyes see the wonder and excitement of all the beauty around you. Your thoughts are pure and simple. Pretty things go for other pretty things. After all, a butterfly is only seen around flowers."

"You know a butterfly goes towards flowers, so your thinking is based on what you see. And what you see is based on what you think," Ali said.

The kids looked so confused that Ali laughed.

"Let me give you an example," Ali said, "There are many rules in my religion. So much so that people who are non-Muslims, see it as being a controlling religion. Heck, even Muslims can feel that way as well."

"You can't do this, you can't do that … does it even allow you to breathe?" Ali said, mimicking something he had heard so long ago.

"People who do not understand, will see it based on what they are like," Ali continued, "For a person who is independent and used to making their own choice, they see the rules as being restrictive."

"But for a person who appreciates such rules, they see it as being a welcome structure to follow."

"What you see, or your perception, is based on your thinking," Ali repeated, "And your thinking, is based on how you are raised or rather, what you see."

"Or what you choose to see," Ali said softly.

"What do you mean, Papa?" Ziad asked curiously.

"There are many things that even I, your father, do not understand about the rules in our religion," Ali admitted, "And at first glance, it can look like it's horrible and bad."

"For example, it is forbidden to have two men getting married in Islam. People then see the religion as being inhuman, and not accepting pure love between two people. They just want to love each other, so why is that wrong? Also, God made them like people of the same gender, so why should they be punished for it?"

The four nodded vigorously. They all knew Uncle Xing Han and Uncle Nitocris. Everyone could see how much they are in love. Why is that wrong?

Ali smiled, "I do not know."

Again, they were shocked.

"But what I do know, is that God is All-Loving, All-Compassionate, All-Fairness. How then, can God make such a rule? There must be something to it, that has nothing to do with it being a bad thing, or unfair. At the end of the day, it must be because it is, ultimately, for our own good - whether we know it or not."

"Because I believe God to be so, I don't see any of His rules to be restrictive, or unfair. I only see it as me, being ignorant and not wise enough to understand fully. That, is my faith and that, is how I view things," Ali said.

"Is that why you and Uncle Xing Han can still be good friends even though he is gay?" Ziad asked innocently.

"Uncle Xing Han is not a Muslim, so he is not sinning," Ali replied, "And even if he was a Muslim, that is between him, and God. Not me and him. It is not my place to judge him for this is his path. Even if he was Muslim, all you can do is be there for him and guide him if he asks but never, ever, try to preach."

"You do not know what anyone is going through, and you do not know what it's like. Each person has their own path and their own tests."

"Remember, Ziad. Our religion never taught us to hate. It taught us to be tolerant, loving, and understanding. It is also never about force."

"Even our Prophet, peace be upon him, had an uncle who was always there by his side, protecting him and loved him sincerely. Yet, he never embraced Islam. The Prophet never spoke badly of him and supported him as well."

Ali looked at Ziad seriously, "Our religion is perhaps one that is most misunderstood and has the worst reputation. Movies always paint Muslims are terrorists - yet, they do not go deeper to the roots to find out why such people became that way. Some Muslims are also just too fanatical and create a bad image of the religion."

"Which is why, as I was growing up, I was ostracised, bullied, and grew up miserable."

"Until I met your father, Rory," Ali said with a wistful smile, "He was the first person that reached out to me, with a kind hand and a kind heart. With his actions, he set the pace and made people see me, for me."

"His eyes were the purest and brightest one of all, for he saw what is true," Ali continued, "He never let his own emotions cloud his judgment. Something not easy with the Smith Anger in his blood."

"You're just prejudiced because he's always been nice to you," Alex scoffed, though he felt rather uncomfortable at the moment.

A part of him felt what he was saying was rather petty, but he couldn't help thinking about how his mother had suffered because of his father. How can such a person be so good?

But another part of him … upon listening to Uncle Ali … was feeling that … maybe … he's wrong?

No.

His father was bad.

Ali laughed so loud at Alex's statement that Alex was perplexed. Was what he said so funny?

"Nice?" Ali said, "Amongst the Elite Five, I was always the last to know about anything. He had done so many things that I could punch him for. Your father is not perfect."

"But he is a good man. At the end of the day, he would bend over backwards and lay his life on the line for me, my family and any of the Elite Five. Just like how we would for him."

Ali looked at Alex, cocked his head a bit and shook his head, "When you let your eyes be clouded by hatred, or misunderstandings, you will never see the person for what they truly are. You will always judge them based on what you feel, making you blind to what it really is."

"I am NOT blind!" Alex shouted, "Only I can see what he's really like."

"What is he like?" Ali prodded.

The others were quiet, looking at Alex with wide eyes.

"He only acts nice because he feels guilty. Guilty for not protecting my mother when she had us," Alex declared, puffing up his chest, "He wasn't around and she got hurt."

Ali didn't say anything, but was rather surprised the hatred came from something so long ago.

Alex, seeing Ali not saying a word, didn't feel right. Something felt wrong.

Uncle Ali was silent but his demeanour didn't look like he was hiding something like covering up for his father, but rather, like he looked at him in pity.

Like, he was wrong ..

What?

He was not wrong, darn it!

Ali just shook his head and repeated, "You see what you want to see, and no one can tell you otherwise. Only if you want to hear, can you truly see."

"Can you stop talking in riddles, Uncle Ali?!" said Alex in exasperation.

"How could you possibly know what happened that day?" Ali said, looking at him in the eyes, "Do you know what your father went through? Your mother? Did you bother asking them? Or did you make the conclusion yourself, based on what you believed, and no one else knows better?"

Ali looked towards the direction the butterfly had gone, "Just like what you said about the butterfly. You did not know it, you do not know its thoughts or feelings - but you decided on it based on what you felt. But until you actually learn to listen to it, you will never know if what you said, is true."

"In these past four years, Alex, think of all that your father has done for you. For your mother and your sister," Ali said softly, "All because he felt guilty? Ask yourself. Really ask yourself."

Ali looked at Alex squarely in the eyes again, "Do you really believe in what you said?"

"I do!" Alex said stubbornly, his face stern and his stance clear.

Ali shrugged.

"Come on, children," Ali said with a smile to everyone, "Time to eat."

Like breaking out of a stupor, the other three silently followed Ali.

Rory walked up to Alex, her face showing her intense displeasure.

Alex already expected this, for Rory has always been the Princess. Daddy's little girl. He wouldn't take what she said seriously.

Well, normally.

This time, Rory looked different.

She actually looked at him in disdain.

"Uncle Ali is right. You blame Daddy for not being there for Mummy but from what I see, Daddy has always been there for Mummy. Even now, Daddy took leave to take care of Mummy. He's always pampering her. But you never see that. You always say he is acting. Really, Alex? You never considered that you may be wrong about Daddy."

"You may be my brother and I love you to death, but Alex ... you're a jerk."

Rory left in a huff, leaving behind a stunned Alex.

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