"Dad, please stop!"
"Dad!"
"Ahhh!!!!"
"No…."
Little Ahmed begged his dad to stop but his dad kept on hitting him with his belt.
"Why did you watch that?" His dad asked furiously.
Little Ahmed couldn't reply because of all the crying. He was catching breaths. His eyes turned red and his lips' color lightened up.
"I am asking you something! Will you answer me or not?!"
"I--- (sharply inhales breath) I… (sobs & sniffles) I--- (again inhales breath)" Ahmed fails to answer.
"Will you answer me or should I pummel you some more?" Ahmed's father shouted and raised his hand.
"Please, no!" Ahmed begged again.
"Then tell me! Why did you watch those videos online? And that too of two boys! Are you a eunuch?!"
"No…." Ahmed replies shaking his head rapidly. He couldn't hold his tears. He tried not to cry but his tears didn't stop.
"Then why did you watch that video?"
"I don't know. I…."
"Who told you the name of that site? You're 13 years old! Who gave you the name of that website?"
"I was browsing on youtube and there was this link. I uh---- clicked on that link and that website appeared."
Ahmed's father slapped him a few times more and said,
"No more youtube for you! You get it?!"
Ahmed nodded shakily. Suddenly they heard the doorbell.
"You listen to me. You'll never tell anyone about this. Do you get it? (Ahmed nodded) If you did, I will end you. Now go wash your face!"
Ahmed instantly got in the washroom and saw himself in the mirror. He heard his mom entering the home with his sister and his mom making a joke about what he and his father were doing home alone.
Ahmed looked in his mirror only to see his ruined face. He looked at his hand and saw the markings. His face was so red. Blood was coming too from his head. He slowly felt like crying. He controlled it but when he realized he is going to cry, he tightly covered his face with both of his hands. He screamed internally and wanted to do something bad to himself but stopped himself from doing it and instead just kept on crying and weeping.
Ahmed's father and mother were in a taxi reaching hospital. Both were equally stressed and tensed.
"It's been two hours!" His mother expressed deep worry and anxiety.
"It's not my mistake all the cab drivers are not wanting to go to the hospital!"
"I cannot imagine the situation our son would be in!"
"Please you calm yourself!"
"How can I? Our son is Allah knows in what condition and we are not there for him now. I have left the meal unprepared and there is already so much work at the house."
"So you should've stayed at home then!"
"And leave you with him alone?! Never! Believe it or not, we are seeing this day because you have not yet made up with Ahmed…."
Ahmed's mother said so much more but the dad stopped hearing anything else after that. He looked outside and felt guilty too.
"56%. You scored 56% in 9th grade. It's good that we no longer have to change places because of my work. Who would've given you the admission with such poor result?"
Ahmed said while looking down,
"I am sorry dad. I just lost my brain during the exams."
"Again? What happens to your brain? It goes missing every other day."
"Let it be this time. Next time he'll score in the '90s." Ahmed's mom tried to calm the situation.
"You say that every year but has the year occurred yet? No. This boy seems to know nothing but disappointing you, me, and everyone that cares about him."
"I try but…." Ahmed tries to answer.
"You only try but don't show any results! And I know why. Because you just roam around with your friends. Every day, every time! Arshad, Amaan, Danish, Faiz, Farhaaz, Karan, Owais, Ranbir…. Wait a minute. Why do you only have male friends?"
"Stop it!" Ahmed's mother came for Ahmed's rescue. "Ahmed dear, you go to your room."
Ahmed walked up to his room and his dad just kept on staring at him.
"The lady said room 309, right?" His mother asked worriedly.
"Yes, it is there, see. (The dad pointed to a room beside where Riyaz was sitting) See there?"
"Yes let's go." His mother replied and rushed off.
"Who's that boy sitting there?" Ahmed's dad wondered.
"Don't you start again!" The mother warned.
"I didn't… let it be." The father didn't want to start that topic again. Not after what happened last time.
"You've got to admit it. I shined bright today!"
"Ranbir, hitting a boundary in the second last ball doesn't keep you shining," Ahmed told to Ranbir when they were entering their society.
"Then what about the 40 runs I scored?"
"In 35 balls? That is not shine worthy."
"Bro, (Ahmed frowned) Sorry! Dude…?? (Ahmed nodded) Good! So dude, what about the sixer?"
"Everyone hits a sixer. And don't forget, I was the one who took your wicket." Ahmed teased.
"Because I let you, Mr. Shoaib Akhtar. It would be my genuine pleasure to strike out by your balls." Ranbir teased.
Ahmed blushed so darkly. His face was a big tomato.
"I am all sweaty!" Ahmed whined.
"And I love that!" Ranbir again teased. "The smell of your sweat, I am mad for that."
Ahmed hid his face in embarrassment. "Oh, no….."
"I want a hug. And one of those hugs, mind you."
"What if somebody sees?"
"Is there anyone here?" Ranbir asked. It was true. Since it was a weekday and it was around 3 o'clock, there was no one.
"Come on! Just one hug. It'll be over before you know it."
Ahmed gave in to that cute face of Ranbir's and gave a hug. Ranbir tightly held onto Ahmed and smelled the nape of his neck and kissed it too. This was the kind of hug Ranbir asked for.
"AHMED!!"
Ahmed heard his father call him. He could swear he would die right then.
"What are you doing!"
His father came towards them.
"What were you doing, Ahmed?!"
When Ahmed didn't reply, his dad looked at Ranbir, and with the anger infuriated in him, he slapped Ranbir hard. Ahmed couldn't say anything or do anything. Ranbir was disappointed at that.
"Didn't I tell you to stay away from these infidels?!"
Ranbir walked away.
"Come now, come on!" Ahmed followed his father back to the elevator. The way to their apartment was very quiet. Ahmed was so scared. As soon as they reached home, his father closed the door, latched it, and slapped Ahmed. The mother came rushing at the sound of that. The sister came along too.
"What happened?!" Ahmed's mother asked.
"Look at what your son is doing! It was good that the compound was empty! If not then everyone would've seen your son doing filth!" The father replied disgustedly.
"Will you tell me what happened?"
"Your son shared an intimate hug with his dear friend Ranbir down in front of our wing!" The father replied.
The mother blinked a little and gulped down,
"So, what? Boys share intimate hugs all the time!"
"Do boys kiss each other's necks too?!"
The mother's face fell.
"I am sure there is a perfect explanation for all this, right Ahmed?"
"No! He is what I always feared. So scrawny, no female friends, so poor at sports; of course he is a eunuch!"
"What are you saying? He is right there!" The mother shouted.
"I know he is right here! He should also listen to who he is! He cannot be my son at all!"
"Quiet! Ahmed, dear? (Ahmed gives no response) Take Ahana with you inside." The mother said.
Ahmed took Ahana with him inside. He got inside the bathroom to wash his face. He couldn't even cry then. He broke Ranbir's heart. He'd never talk to him again. There were so many emotions flowing in his mind that he couldn't think properly. He could still hear his parents arguing.
"Yes! As always make him hide him in your arms!"
"What is wrong with you? He is your son!"
"No, he cannot be my son! I can't bear a eunuch like him!"
"Stop saying that word! It's rude. He has feelings too!"
"Are you listening to me? He was romancing with Ranbir!"
"You don't know that!"
"The truth cannot be hidden, Razia! He likes boys. He is a girl!"
Ahmed was living in hell. The things his father was saying for him completely broke him. All of his dad's statements stuck in his mind and also with Ranbir's smile. The smile he will never see again. He looked at the mirror and saw Ranbir's face smiling at him.
Then Ahmed started to cry,
"I am so sorry. (sobs) I am sorry I couldn't say anything. (couldn't look at his face) I know I should've said something back then but I just couldn't. My father just scared me! I love you, please forgive me."
Suddenly, Ranbir's hand stretched out of the mirror and held Ahmed's wrist.
"I love you…" Ahmed heard Ranbir saying in a faint voice. Then Ranbir slowly left his hold.
Suddenly he felt something dropping on his toe, he looked down and was shocked to see blood. Then he notices blood flowing from the same wrist Ranbir held onto. On the other hand, he saw his father's shaving blade covered in blood. He panicked and slipped on the blood, hurt himself from the wall and he blacked out.
Ahmed's father changed completely after that incident. He felt so guilty. Things have always been on the rock between him and Ahmed ever since that. He didn't dare talk to him and Ahmed was too hurt and damaged to even look at his father. His father knew he was at fault here and that whatever was happening to him was karma. But he couldn't help himself but miss talking to his son.
The father and his mother stood in front of the despaired Riyaz sitting down. They couldn't recognize him but they felt that he recognized them. They were about to ask him who he was when all of a sudden, the doctor came out and they all stood facing him.
Luvraj's family was sitting having a normal night. His father was watching some a Telugu dubbed movie, his mother was peeling garlic for the lunch next day, his elder brother and sister were consumed in mobile and the younger brother was doing his homework.
"Do we know when Luvraj is coming back?" Dev, the elder brother asked.
"He said he'll be late and told to eat dinner." The mother replied not resting from her work.
"By the way mom, my stomach cannot handle lentil and rice for the second time in the same day, it just can't!" Maya whined.
"Yes, mom. Can't you cook something else?" Dev asked.
The mom was about to say but the dad intervened,
"Listen, they are saying correctly. There is some chicken stored. Can't you cook its curry?"
"Yes, mom. It's been so long we have eaten chicken! I want chicken!" Maya demanded.
"Yes, mom! Chicken works!" Dev demanded too.
"Shut up! Am I a robot? And leave things about me! It's 9. We usually eat dinner at this time and you are asking me now to cook chicken! By the time it will be cooked, it would be 11 and then if your father will eat dinner at that time, he'll shat in liquid all night and would cry on his upset stomach all day tomorrow. And if I will try to cook sooner, then the salt would be less or the masala wouldn't kick in hard. And from there, you two will complain and whine! (Maya, Dev and the father were quiet) That Luvraj is eating whatnot without informing us and also not informing when he will come! Boy's been screwed ever since he started college. (looks at the youngest kid doing homework beside her sitting down while she is sitting on the sofa) My dear Hiten is nice. Would never complain about anything." The mom's annoyed tone changed to a sweet smile towards the end. Hiten seemed to enjoy his praise.
"O mom, don't be so mother India just now! He was the one who came to us complaining about lentil and rice in the first place." Dev complained.
"Seriously?"
"Yes! Otherwise, how would we ever complain about lentils and rice which we eat so lovingly?!"
The mother hit Hiten's head and commented,
"No pocket money for you this month. (Hiten was about to whine but the mother intervened) Shut up! And you two listen! If you two love lentil and rice so much, then you eat it now and tomorrow also!"
"But mom, aren't we preparing something else for tomorrow?" Maya asked.
"You shut up! You are 27 years old! Have you thought about your wedding?!"
"Mom! Please don't start with my marriage again!" Maya whined.
"Why not? Soon your father and I are going to mark 30 years of our marriage and…."
"Soon?" The father asked and interrupted. When he saw the boiling look on his wife's face, he chuckled and said,
"I was joking! Of course, I know our anniversary is soon. You go heat the lentil."
The mother got up with her cloves of garlic and went inside. And Dev messaged his dad his wedding date. The father gave a thumbs up to Dev in real. Dev sent the emoji with the goggles one.
"Why send this emoji?" The father asked.
"Now father you haven't purchased me a real goggle yet so I can only send this emoji."
"You idiot! What is the meaning of this emoji?"
"It means that I am smart."
"So cant you tell me that in reality?"
"But father, I don't have the goggles!"
Suddenly the father's phone rang. He would've replied but just said,
"You cannot be my son man. (Dev was about to say something but his dad picked up the call) Hello? Oh, Nisha! Oh, yes I remember you. You are the daughter of the sister which is the daughter of my wife's brother….. Yeah, he told us he was going to the mall…. With who?..... You sure?.... But he told me he went with his friends…. You sure it was Luvraj?.... Okay. Okay, Nisha. Okay. Okay, bye. Yes, bye."
The father's face changed completely. He was terrified but also wrecked.
Maya looked at her father and asked in concern,
"What happened, father?" His father didn't reply. At this, Dev asked too but his father didn't reply. He was just silent. Breathing angrily.
The mother came into the living room and asked,
"Who was it? What happened?"
The father didn't reply to anyone and just dialed Luvraj's number. He waited impatiently for Luvraj to pick up while the family just kept on being confused.
"Where are you?"
"With whom?"
"With some friends? Telling lies to your father, huh? You are with a boy right?"
"How could you betray our trust like that, Luvraj? We send you putting faith in you and you just smash it with your legs just like that?! Thank God Nisha saw you with that boy doing… or else we would've never known my son was such a cheater!"
"I don't wanna hear it! I just want you to tell me the truth. Is Nisha telling the truth? Are you with a boy? (Luvraj doesn't reply) Luvraj, I want you to swear on my life and tell me the truth! Are you with a boy?" Luvraj says yes. His father grew more furious at that.
"Great! I had lived to see this day only. To see my son being something else."
"No! You come home right now! And don't make me repeat myself!"
Luvraj hung up the call.
"What happened?" Dev asked.
"Yeah, why were you losing it to my son?" The mother demanded to know.
"Don't underestimate your son! He does very shitty things!"
The father replied furiously.
"Like what?"
"Let him come home. He will tell you."
When the mother realized the father won't be saying anything more, she got in the kitchen babbling things.
The father switched off the TV and just sat there lost in his thoughts. Seeing that, Maya received a text from Dev who was just sitting beside her. He asked about what could've happened to make father go so crazy towards Luvraj. She asked in person why was Dev texting. Dev messaged that he was messaging so that father won't hear them with his owl-ish ears. Maya nodded and sent a thumbs up. He again asked the same question to which Maya replied:
'Maybe Nisha has caught Luvraj smoking. He may've started again.'
'That explains. Raj is in big trouble!'
'Don't you remember why Luvraj started smoking in the first place last time?'
To this, Dev gave a concerning look at Maya and she shared the same look. After that, they both diverted their minds onto doing different things.
"You can't be my son!"
Romit was speechless for a while. He wanted to snivel and wail but he controlled all of his emotions and said in the same indignant voice,
"And you think you can call yourself a father?!"
"Romit!" The mother tried to calm the situation.
"No, I can't call myself a father for someone like you."
"You can't call yourself a father at all! Because if you cant understand the normalcy in me, then you are incapable of calling yourself a man!"
"Romit!" The mother tried again.
"If being a man is accepting a filth like you, then you are welcome to think me as anything you want."
"Yes, you can call me not a man but can't claim your cowardness!"
"Romit!" Mother shouted.
"Why are you asking me to keep quiet? Isn't he speaking shit!" Romit was slapped by his mother. Romit didn't at all expect that. Tears finally released from his eyes. He gave a sad chuckle and went to his room.
When he entered the room, his sister was inside.
"Get out!" he shouted.
"Are you sure?" his sister asked in concern.
"JUST GO!"
At that instant, his sister got out of the room.
Romit lay on his bed and started crying. Sobbing continuously. His sobs were heard outside but no one talked to him.
After a while, when Romit was still awake; unable to sleep, his mother came in and sat on the bed beside Romit was just lying there face down.
"You knew. I told you before and you were okay with it. But why slapped me then?" Romit asked in a low hopeless voice.
His mother didn't reply to anything.
"What, is not explaining your unexplainable actions is your thing now?"
"Romit, I had to." Her mother replied in a calm voice.
Romit chuckled lightly,
"Oh, you mother and your 'had to'. Just put in anywhere and boom; it all makes sense!"
"I had to put an end to it!"
"Oh, so you slapped me?"
"You don't understand. Your dad wouldn't have stopped and so I did what I had to."
Romit sat up and turned to face his mom with the confused yet irate look,
"So let me get this straight. You stopped someone who was fighting for himself to indirectly stop someone who was being shitty…."
"He's your father, Romit!"
"Yeah, but we both knew he was being shitty. And you couldn't stop him so you stopped me when in the first place, he started it. He started with deciding to take me to some strip clubs or get me a hooker. And when I said that those things won't help, what he said to me? That I don't deserve to live then. And at that I just said that as a father, you shouldn't do this to your son to which he shouted in that indignant tone that I can't be his son. And all of this time, you were just standing there but when I said something, you started keeping me quiet!"
"Because I thought you would listen to me. I stopped expecting that from your father, you know that."
Romit wanted to say something but he didn't because he understood where his mom was coming from. He knew what she was saying was true and that she didn't expect his dad to listen to her. He inhaled a deep breath and said,
"You are okay with me right?"
"Of course, Romit! It is a big thing to wrap my head around but ain't big enough to surpass the fact that I love you no matter what. So what you would give me a son-in-law and not a daughter-in-law? At least I'd still have you!"
Romit chuckled and a sweet, true smile formed on his face.
"Now, go. I need to sleep."
His mom nudged his arm and said,
"I love you."
Romit blushed a little and smiled big,
"Mom, please go!"
"Okay fine, I am leaving." His mom got up and left the room and Romit laid on his bed with a gratifying smile.
It was 1 in the morning. Romit's father had some trouble sleeping due to the constant chest pains but he ignored it. His sleep was disturbed when the pain occurred again. This time, it was too painful. And so he got up to go eat the medication prescribed to him by the doctor in such situations. He didn't want to wake anyone as no one was quite happy with him plus, it was very late at night. And all he had to do was just go to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and eat his medication and come back to sleep. What could go wrong?
Romit's father walked slowly with his hand on his left chest suffering deep pain. He entered the bathroom and walked up to the medicine cabinet. When he was about to open it, his vision started getting all blurry. He was no longer able to stand and thus fell and his head hit straight to the tap. The noise created disturbed the mother and for a little while, she just laid there with her eyes closed. But when she noticed her husband's absence, she immediately got up and saw the light entering from the bathroom. She quickly got there and saw her husband lying there in blood. She screamed and this woke Romit and his sister. They immediately rushed to the bathroom and saw what happened.
"DAD!!!!!" Romit shouted.
Harshad Mehta was 22 years old when he first met eyes with Sharika Amin. He went to a movie with his friends and accidentally bumped into Shweta while finding his seat.
"I am so sorry!" Harshad said.
"Oh, it's okay! I was a fool too who was looking down while people are passing here and there." Sharika said.
"Did you call me a fool?" Harshad asked amusingly.
"Yes! I see your hand and you holding that ticket so tightly would make no sense because it is of no use. Unless you are facing a problem finding your seat and thus looking at it again and again." Sharika said with a cross smile.
Harshad chuckled mesmerizingly and said,
"Oh, you are a smart one!"
"Thank you. Um--- may I?" Sharika asked for his ticket. Harshad instantly gave her his ticket.
"Oh! I believe we are standing just beside your seat."
Then Sharika showed him the ticket. Harshad saw it and saw the seat beside them and they both laughed.
"Since you helped me with finding my seat, can I help you in finding what you're looking for?"
"How did you know I am looking for something?"
"Earlier you said you were looking down. You are neither crying nor blind. So there is only one explanation. You are looking for something."
"You're clever yourself mister."
"Ah, not more than you. (They both chuckled) So, what are you looking for?"
"A watch. It has a golden strap and a brown dial. (They both started searching for it) It's round in shape. It's a little old for my age but that was given to me by my grandmother earlier when she was alive. When she was on her bed ready for death, she gave me her watch."
"That's odd. Shouldn't she be giving it to your mother?"
"My mother's not with us."
"Oh, I am so sorry!" Harshad expressed his guilt.
"Oh, no! She is not dead! When I was eight years old, I woke up one morning and she was nowhere to be seen. And it wasn't like we were miserable or something. We were just fine. So I am just a girl having no idea why her mom left her. (Harshad was speechless)
Many would say that abandoning is better than dying. But I disagree. When someone is dead, you know where they are but when someone leaves you without any whereabouts, you don't know a thing about them. Where are they? Are they still alive?" Sharika chuckles sadly.
"Uff!! So stupid of me! Sharing my thoughts to a stranger!"
"Hey, we aren't strangers! You helped me with my seat and I helped you with your watch!"
"I don't see my watch anywhere."
"Oh? (Harshad revealed the watch in his hand) Then what is this?!"
Sharika takes the watch and gets so shocked,
"How long did you had it with you?"
"Probably the second after you described it to me, I found it."
"Oh, thanks! Sorry for all the blabbing!"
"It's nothing."
"Can't believe I told you all that! I mean I haven't even said that to my closest friends!"
"See. I don't think we are strangers, are we?"
Sharika chuckles.
"But I still don't know your name though, black shirt!"
"My name is Harshad Mehra; white top and violet gown."
Sharika giggles, "My name is Sharika Amin. Nice to meet you."
"The feeling's mutual."
"So are you alone here?"
"No. I came here with my friends but they excused themselves for the washroom. Don't know what is taking them so long!"
"Yes. Even my friends are absent!"
"So, why don't we see the movie together?"
Sharika hesitates at first but then smiled,
"I could if you want it."
"It would be my pleasure," Harshad says with honor.
"But my seat is two rows ahead."
"So? No one will come. Come on sit with me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, if anything happens, I'll show them one of my friend's tickets."
Sharika shrugged her shoulders and sat beside him. And the movie started and so they exchanged warm smiles.
"Harshad!" The mom expressed her anger when he slapped the 12 years old Harsh.
"No! This is what he deserves!"
"He is 12 years old for god's sake! He didn't know what he was doing was wrong! And I don't think he was doing anything wrong….."
"Will you stop defending him 24/7? The second I start talking to him, I see you standing somewhere near us. I ain't gonna eat him, you know? And does he think talking to eunuchs is a good thing? (To Harsh who just kept his head low) Do you think what you did was right? (He remained unhinged) Harsh will you reply me?!"
"I---" Harsh began to speak but couldn't.
"What?"
"Harshad leave the boy alone!" Shweta asked in a low, calm yet demanding manner.
"Can't a father ask his son a question? Or is that out of the book for his protective mother?"
"He won't do that again just leave him." Shweta maintained her manner.
"Oh, are you the mouthpiece for our son now? Can't he tell me that?"
"Who could talk if they are slapped hard seconds ago?"
"Oh, so you are teaching me how to treat my son now, huh? Well, you are in no place…."
"I will not do this again!" Harsh shouted so that his parents could stop fighting.
His mom looked at him sadly and his father who was proud but hid the smile. He was proud of himself that he got what he wanted. As always.
"Well if you would've told us that before, could save my precious seconds. And you better not talk to them again. If I see catch you then I will hit you so hard that you forget to walk, you get me?"
Harsh shakily nodded. "Good!"
Harshad leaves and Shweta goes to his son who has started crying now. "Come let's go." She asks him softly with watery eyes and takes him to the bathroom. She washed his face and when she dried his face, a smile appeared on his face and so smiled the mother.
While they were in his room while she was preparing his bed, Harsh spoke, "Why dad became like this?" His mom stopped what she was doing and looked at him.
"A year before he was fine. But since he has got this promotion, it's like there are two persons! It feels like our dad has gone somewhere and we have got this person in return. This cruel, reckless, emotionless, vile creature is just some stone-cold person. Why do you think he has become this irritative creature?"
His mom exhaled a deep breath and sat on his bed and tapped beside her. He sat and looked at her and she at him.
"You father um---" She started to talk but was looking for words.
"He umm--- Uh… Any person be it the softest person on earth gets a stronger place in the world, they change. A little at least. But in the case of your father, he changed very much. He got this big mansion, his salary increased to heights and almost every decision in the company he works for will be taken by him. So now he feels like he has power because he does. But he has forgotten that the power he holds is outside this house. Outside our family where the power is shared between him and me. And in time will be by you too."
"Then why don't you talk back?"
"Because I… I love him! And I trust in him. I have faith in him. I changed my name for him. From Shakira to Shweta. Just for him. Because I have faith in him and so I believe your dad and my husband will return to us."
"He asleep?" Jacob's mother asked his father when he entered their room.
"No. His sister is discussing boys with him." The father replied with a smile.
"So tell me, how did you realize?" The sister asked Jacob.
"Realise what Rose?"
"Hey just because you've climbed Everest does not mean you could call me by my name. And you know what I mean. How did you realize you were gay?"
"Oh, shut up!" Jacob said.
"Tell me!"
"How are you?" The mother asked.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"The fact that we'll be getting no daughter-in-law does not seem to shake anything in you?"
"Well…"
"When I was in 6th grade, I realized that Edward from Twilight can create some feelings in me which were unexplainable at that time. Three years later I realized it was lust."
"Ew!! Edward! Seriously?!!"
"After that realization, Edward had that effect on me for a year only. After that, the white boy seemed to fade in when Chris Hemsworth entered in my life with his big, strong, hard hammers."
"Hammers? But he has only one hammer, right?"
Jacob gave a naughty grin.
Rose widened her eyes and was so shocked,
"Oh Jacob, you nasty!"
"Do you think we'll have it all easy?" The mother asked the father.
"No. Our relatives won't let it be easy."
"So how will we do this?"
"We'll do this how every parent like us does. We'll fight with him. For him."