“We are getting far away from here. We will be safe. No more killing. No more gunshots. No screams.” Amir said to his children and wife Kamilla. “You promise Baba?” Tariq at eight years old said to his father. The Javars were crammed in the back of a beat-up truck. driving through the dusty roads of Afghnistan. “I promise. We will be living the American dream in no time.” He brought his youngest son into a hug. They were heading to Pakistan so that Amir could figure things out. At eleven years old Tariq and the rest of the Javars would be in America.

Nassir (Marwan Kenzari)

It was the sound of his mother screaming as if she was stabbed in the chest that caused him and his sister Aryana to look at one another with a confused expression. Usually, nothing could tear them away from the television when wrestling was on. Standing up they practically stumbled over each other to head to the foyer to see what was going on. Two police officers were standing in the doorway. Their father kneeled on the floor holding his wife. The officers would eventually venture out of the doorway. “Baba? What’s going on?” Tariq asked, his father Amir would wave the sixteen-year-old off.

Later on that night Amir would call the youngest ones into the living room. The mood was off. Amir was not his usual self. Since being in America Tariq had never seen his father so happy. They were living this American dream. The older gentleman waved for his children to sit down. “Nassir…” He brought his hand up to his head, his facial expression showed that he was in disbelief. Their mother Kamilla was in her room, they had not seen her since the foyer. “Your brother was killed.” Nassir looked down for a moment then back up at his children. “He was leaving the Mosque when it happened.” It’s been a week since 9/11 happened. A lot of Muslims feared leaving their house. Attacks were all over the place. Nassir was a victim of a brutal hate crime. It didn’t take long for the news to hit that three officers watched it happen. Beaten by multiple men. By the time they had stepped in it was already too late. That day had changed the dynamic of the Javar family forever.

Kaiser (Jason Momoa)

“YOU LET HIM GO! YOU BROUGHT US HERE!” The now oldest Javar shouted at his father. “You filled our heads with lies! America is not what you said it would be. My brother is dead!” Kaiser said as he slid on his jacket. “Unlike you,” He pointed at Amir. “I’m going to go do something about it! The law won’t fix this. It won’t bring him back. Just like in Afghanistan our people are suffering here!” Amir stood up from his chair, he spoke in a calm tone. “I brought you all here to escape that war zone. I did what I thought was best for my family.” This was something Tariq knew he should stay out of. His brother had roughed him far too many times. Kaiser was seven years older than him and the size of a massive football player. No thank you. “Well, baba… You thought wrong.” Kaiser said before walking out of the kitchen and out of the house.

Hearing loud knocks on the door Adeel opened the door. Two police officers standing there and another cop outside in the car with the lights on. “Is Kaiser Javar here?” Adeel nodded his head with confusion. “Y- yeah… why?” Kaiser would find his way to the door. “What’s going on here?” He asked looking at his brother. “Kaiser Javar, you are under arrest for the assault of officer Fragim.” It started about a year ago. Kaiser started to get involved with some suspect folks. Those folks along with Kaiser assaulted an on-duty officer, one that allowed for his brother to be beaten to death. Kaiser was eventually sentenced to twenty-five years in Rikers Island.

Adeel (Tama Tonga)

Tariq looked over at his older brother, his eyes started to tear up. “You’re really going?” Adeel nodded his head. The male was always easy going. Seemed to always be at peace. “This is not where I see myself. This place is not for me.” He placed his hand on Tariq’s shoulder. “You are always welcome to come. Finish school first. I believe you are going to do great things.” Tariq cleared his throat and blinked a few times trying not to cry. “It’s okay to cry, brother. Don’t let baba tell you otherwise. Emotion is good.” Adeel patted his brother’s cheek. “You’ll have to come to Mecca sometime anyway. You were so young when you went. It’s a beautiful place.” Adeel grabbed his brother and hugged him tightly. “I love you. Look out for our family.” Even when Adeel tried to part from the hug Tariq held onto him tightly. At this point, he couldn’t hold back the tears. The two brothers stood there hugging a little longer before parting. “You’re special Tariq. Out of all of us boys, you are something special. You always carried leadership, passion, and love. The only promise I want from you is that you will never lose that.” Taking a few steps back Adeel grabbed his bags before heading off to say goodbye to everyone else.

Alim (Dev Patel)

“I rather have a dead son than a gay one!” Amir spoke in a harsh tone. Tariq, Alim, and Aryana were the only children still at the house. Nassir was dead, Kaiser in prison, and Adeel went off to Saudi Arabia. There was always something different about Alim than the other brothers and Nassir treated him differently for it. “Baba, how could you say that? You know the pain of losing a son already. You say these things to me?” Alim’s eyes were filled with tears. “I said it with no regrets. I wish you were the one who was dead. Beaten...” Amir looked at his son with disgust. “Killed for your sins. You are living in haram! I will not accept you for that.” At this point, Alim couldn’t take the verbal abuse. “Nassir is dead because of you! Kaiser is locked away like an animal because of you! YOU RAN ADEEL OFF! BABA! YOU ARE LIVING IN HARAM! TWO OF YOURS WIVES ARE DEAD! DEATH SURROUNDS YOU!” His words sounded more and more emotional as he spoke. “You…” Amir quickly walked in Alim’s direction. With no hesitation, he slapped Alim across the face then shoved him into a wall. “You get out of my house! GET OUT! GET OUT!” He had him by the collar of his shirt shaking him. “OUT! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!” He slammed Alim before letting him go.

Alim didn’t say anything to anyone before leaving. From this day Tariq had never heard from his brother again.

Aryana (Leah Van Dale)

Due to the rest of their siblings no longer being around Aryana and Tariq were very close. You’d never catch one without the other. That was until college. Tariq always pushed his sister to be the best she could be. Their father did not approve of her career choice. She was smart and wanted to become a wrestler? That made no sense to Amir.

“I can’t believe this!” Tariq looked at his sister who was holding the women’s championship. We were eleven when we first watched it. Now, look at you!” His hands moved in her direction. “I’ve never been more proud of anyone in my whole life!” His face was lit up like New York City at night. “Baba always talked about living the American dream back in Kabul!” His wide smile turned into a half one. “At least one of us is doing it right?” His brown eyes shifted down to the ground. “T! It’s not just me! Look at you! Everything you’re doing with your life! You’re helping so many people!” Tariq shook his head laughing. “Don’t say that. I’m not doing that. I wish.” Aryana stepped closer to her brother. “You’ve changed my life. You were the only one that had my back and pushed for me to accomplish my dream. If you weren’t there for me then I don’t know where I’d be. After Nassir died our parents weren’t the same. Our family wasn’t the same. You were the strong one. You didn’t care if I was a girl or not! You knew I would be an amazing wrestler and performer.” Aryana hugged her brother tightly. “You are special. You’re so important to this world, to me.” She squeezed her brother before pulling away. “Now! Enough of this sappy stuff! Let’s go celebrate! I’M THE SMACKDOWN’S WOMEN’S CHAMP BAYBAY!!!” She started to moonwalk with her title held high.