Merely one year had passed since young Sohrab, hailing from the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, celbrated his tenth birthday. The morning of an eventful day was spent playing a competitive football match for his local club against a rival team in the dilapidated stadium just a street away from his house. Sohrab's team proved to be a formidable opponent and won 5-1 easily with Sohrab, the team's captain, scoring a hat-trick to further add joy to a memorable occasion with Sohrab's father's eyes gleaming with pride for his promising footballer of a son, watching from the stands. After the match, his father hoisted him up onto his broad shoulders, Sohrab holding the matchball he deserved for his hat-trick dearly, and they walked home to celebrate Sohrab's win and also his tenth birthday with a birthday cake and a hearty meal for mother, father and son. That night, as father carried son to bed, he whispered, ''Happy tenth birthday, my son. Let it be in your knowledge that nothing could ever take my love for you away. I could never be more proud of you. Thank you, Sohrab. You shall to prove to be a great man when you are older.'' With that, a promise from father to son was made and young, coy Sohrab gave his dear father a kiss on the cheek and slept soundly.

A year and a half had passed. Sohrab wiped a tear from his cheek while looking out of his window as he pondered about what could have been. One incident that changed life as he knew it. Sohrab was completely unprepared for the impending turmoil that would afflict him. He was too young to understand why his mother was courting a man he had to address as Uncle Amir. How could his mother so easily overcome the loss of his father whom he loved dearly? Who was this man to simply walk into his life and be a replacement for his father? Unknown to Sohrab, his mother put his needs before her own, which in this case, his need for a new father to fill the void left by her late husband. As heart-wrenching as it proved to try and love someone new, Sohrab's mother stayed determined.

Sohrab peeked beyond his comfort zone, his room, and eavesdropped on the ongoing conversation between mother and Uncle Amir. ''Amir, Sohrab is too young to understand the situation and what needs to be done for the better of us as a family. As much as he needs a father figure, he is disapproving of your presence at the moment. You must remain patient and win his heart gradually...''. Sohrab's mother stopped, aware of Sohrab's presence. Sohrab's mother and Uncle Amir's head hung low as Sohrab slammed the door shut, proceeding to lock it.

Sohrab, with tears flowing uncontrollably, stood in front of the mirror. The eyes and nose that drew resemblance to his father. The thin eyebrows and long eyelashes. Sohrab carried on his father's legacy by appearance. If only his father did not die of grievous injuries after being knocked down by a speeding car. If only the driver were responsible and did not drink and drive. His father, died on the way after buying a sumptuous dinner for a special occasion, Sohrab's eleventh birthday. Sohrab questioned, '' I thought you promised, father? You said nothing could ever take away your love for me. Why did you have to go and leave me and never return? You broke your promise, father.'' Sohrab's mother knocked on the door. Sohrab opened it, with hesitation, and sat down on his bed. ''Sohrab, you are young and very unfortunate. However, you have to accept what has happened. Father will never return. Move on. Accept Uncle Amir, will you? We will rebuild our lives and it will be like before, I promise.'' Sohrab did not believe her one bit.

I need a shot of love like an arrow, through the heart.

Labels: -Arrow