Tarik Asaru

Tarik Asaru was born and raised in Al-Simhara by Murok and Salali Asaru. His father worked as a caretaker for the Temple of the Winds; resetting traps and cleaning up both mummy dust and the remains of sims who tread foolishly into the tombs without a guide or supplies. His mother was a care-giver to the elderly at the Al-simhara retirement home, and midwife for those women who chose to have their babies at home.

So busy were they that they had him very late in life; and he wasn’t really a planned pregnancy. He grew up as an independent child running the street and his parents worked hard to provide for him and he never went without the necessities and rarely without some luxuries. So dedicated they were, all the money they earned went to raising him and giving him the best they could afford.

By the time he was a young man and married to a woman his parents had retired from their respective positions and started spending more time together. They were married in the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut; as his father before and it wasn’t long before they had a child on the way. While the Elder Asaru’s traveled the world, seeing far off Twinbrook and Bridgeport, the child named Tanika was born and grew very quickly and to Tarik it was a small blessing that she took after her mom; marveling early at how smart the girl was. He worked as a scooter mechanic when not resetting traps and sweeping up mummy dust as him father had done; not a noble job, but a decently-paid one that allowed him to afford everything Tanika needed.

Tanika Asaru grew quickly like her father before her and was seemingly an independent spirit, always seen roaming the markets of Al-Simhara for the latest gossip from around the world, reading the newest books to arrive and always searching the skies using the telescope; even staying out to the early morning hours to do so. Most of all though, she enjoyed spending time with her parents, who quite often took her out for picnics or playing catch on the banks of the mighty Al-Simhuun river. 

Those were the golden years of their life together so far and it wasn’t long before things started to go wrong. First his parents returned from a planned trip to Champs Le Sims early, because Tarik’s father had gotten very ill after supper. “Must have been the frog legs… Yuck!” Tarik has thought with a shudder. He seemed to improve at first with plenty of bed rest and tender loving care from his wife, and Tarik and his wife Malina spent extra time at their house helping to clean, cook or just keep up with the bills, so what little his parent’s had could go for the doctor’s almost daily visits.  All the extra stress and activity took its toll on his mom Salali’s health and soon her health began to deteriorate as well.

On a good day, she came to him and told him they had no money left; they had spent all their savings on the trips that his father Murok has always wanted to take. She told him not to worry, but how could he do anything but worry. He convinced them to move in with his family and sell their old house, giving them money to live for awhile and even to improve a little. 

Tarik worked extra hours at work, tending the flame fruit plants and keeping the mummies in line, though they soon ran out of money for their medical care again and it was then that his father that had come to him.

”Don’t worry Tarik, we’ll think of something…” he said at first, beset by a fit of phlegm filled coughing. “I had considered asking my brother Henari for help, but I never liked the people he associated with or how he got his money.” Tarik was surprised, not that he had an uncle, but that his father hadn’t asked him at all. “He is family!” Tarik protested. “He should want to help you!” He growled angrily and set off to talk to his uncle Henari. 

To his surprise, his uncle lived in the most sprawling estate in Al-Simhara, the palace he had always dreamed about living in as a kid wandering the streets. Henari was surprised to see him, and was cordial at first; at least until he heard of Tarik’s reason for going to see him. “Money? That is what my brother wants? All these years I had given him the chance to make more money than the sultans of Al-Simhuun and he spurned the offer every time.” His uncle grumped loudly. “But he is family, and he is dying!” Tarik replied desperately. “Family doesn’t reject you and family doesn’t steal the love of your life.” Tarik is taken aback by his uncle’s statement, and before he could say a word, his uncle continued. “What do I care if he dies? I am soon to follow at any rate and nothing can stop death.”

Tarik is angry and hurt at the man’s words. “Please Uncle, I have never wronged you or yours; do it for me and I will do whatever you ask of me. I don’t want to lose my parents when they still have many years of life left and help is so close.” He said, nearly in tears and more enraged than any other time in his life. His Uncle is surprising mute at the outpouring of emotion from Tarik; who normally is a man who keeps a tight rein on his feelings. Henari asks for a couple days to consider, and asks Tarik to return on the weekend for his answer and when he returns, his uncle has a contract prepared for him to sign and after he reads it and pales with what was demanded therein. At first he considered abandoning this fool’s errand, but in the end asked for some time to consider for himself; promising to return in three days, needing time to consult with his family.  

Upon his return, he gave his uncle Henari the signed contract and turned without a word to walk home, determined and seemingly ready for what lay ahead. The contract stated that uncle Henari would care for his brother and step-sister for such time as necessary for Tarik himself to participate in the Last Sim Standing competition; the prize to the winner being one hundred thousand simoleons and a house of their choice in a city of their choosing. He spends the next five days with his family; not knowing if he will ever see them again; knowing this contest could mean his life.