2

— Z A H I R —

°°°

“Just look at her, she’s beautiful!” I hear my dad say and my head snaps in the girl’s direction. But I can't see her face because it is blurry. Well, a corner of my heart sighs because I am not getting to see her witch-like face but another corner clenched tightly when I do not get to see her face. 

Why am I sad? You want to know? Because my dad is forcing me to marry this girl. But unfortunately, I am not even able to see her face. 

I squint my eyes as I focus on her face but… fuck! It is still blurred. Did she do any crime? Because this usually happens with the faces on news channels when they are talking about some serial killer. 

Serial killer!  

My eyes lower on her and I find she is in a white gown. A white fucking wedding gown. A long veil is resting on her head but it is not covering her face. I feel restless all of a sudden and I am not able to see her face. 

I turn to look at my behind. My dad is grinning there and I pout like a small child on his first day at school. Today, he is being so cruel. 

“Dad, please!” I mutter and my brows corrugate. There is no way I am going to destroy my life. 

“What please, huh? Go and say ‘Yes I do’. Now hurry up!” He snaps at me and I feel like a child being scolded by his dad for not being able to tie his shoelaces. 

“No Dad, please, I don’t want to,” I murmur and he glares at me. He comes in my direction and then holds my hand. I frown as I do not understand what he is doing until he raises my hands to hold the girl's veil and push it back. 

How? Her face was already unveiled. When did she cover it once again? 

“No Dad! No!” I yell but he ignores me and pushes me from behind. I stumble forward and my palms land on the girl’s shoulders. I managed to stand still and not fall on that girl. 

This has me embarrassed. 

“Zahir! Do it! Kiss her!” I almost cry and look in my front. She is standing still, not doing anything. I cannot even see her facial expressions. But I hate it! 

“I won’t!” I yell.

“You will!” He yells back at me. 

“I won’t!” I yell louder. 

“But what, buddy?” My eyes snap open when I hear a calm and familiar voice. Not my dad's voice, thank goodness. Then who? My eyes widen and I look around myself. The panic inside me makes me look like an alert pigeon and I find Darsh looking down at me with an amused glint in his eyes. 

I sigh and close my eyes in bliss. I am relieved to know that it was just a nightmare. It was not true. God, it was not true! I am happy. I feel like crying in delight right now. Nobody can understand the level of happiness and satisfaction building inside me. I cannot be happier right now. 

“C’mon, now tell me,” Darsh insists but not because of concern. This man is amused right now. And he is amused because he can guess why I was murmuring in sleep. 

“Nothing.” I look away and take a deep breath. To divert this stupid topic, I look at my desk and sigh after seeing the documents. I cannot believe I took a nap while working. I am turning into a pathetic human now. 

“Hey! Don’t try to hide it! Just tell me directly that once again you saw a girl with whom you’re going to get married.” I huff loudly here. I grit my teeth and look up at him in annoyance. 

He is smirking. He loves to annoy me. What? Does he love it? For fuck’s sake, he is not my boyfriend who enjoys annoying me — his girlfriend? Ew! I want to puke right now. 

“Why do you ask then?” I roll my eyes and look at the screen. The market condition is good. Hmm, impressive unlike my condition. 

“You know why, just to annoy you.” I look at him and he sends a wink in my direction which I received unfortunately. 

Is he behaving like a gay? But I cannot forget he has a wife. A beautiful and kind one. 

“Idiot,” I mutter and get my attention back to Mac’s screen. 

“Hm, idiot… but what do you call yourself, huh? A mental patient?” His voice was monotonous but eventually, he got my attention. I look at him after turning the screen away. 

“I’m not,” I answered him straight. 

“Of course, you are. For the past month, your father has been telling you to get married but you are so afraid of marriage that even nightmares are flashing in your head.” He looks into my eyes after he sits right in front of me. 

I stare at him. I am frustrated. I do not want to murder my only friend out of frustration. 

“Could you please get me a cup of coffee?” I ask and raise my hand to massage my temples. I am sick nowadays. Sick as fuck! 

The reason narrated by Darsh is correct. I have indeed been depressed for the last month. I am being forced to marry a girl as soon as possible by my family. What a cruel family, right?

My aunt has filled my father’s ears. She told my father that I should get married and from that day I look at my aunt with the eyes of an enemy. She said I am becoming old, could you believe that? 

In fact, I am just twenty-eight years old and now I have had my whole life to get married, then why so early? By the way, to tell the truth, I do not want to get married at any age in my life.

No, do not make the mistake of understanding that I think wrong about girls, but my childhood did not pass like other children.

My mother left my father for another man. Actually, before the divorce, I used to listen to their quarrels every day. Out of fear, I used to go to my room so that I would not hear their voice, but my mother had a habit of quarrelling in a loud voice so that the neighbours would get to know about the bad relationship between them. From this, she got a divorce easily. 

After the divorce, I lived with my father. It was not that I used to think bad about my mother, but she never chose me. Nothing bad was generated in my mind for my mother. After the divorce, my father never mentioned my mother again. Neither in good nor in bad he remembered my mother. He devoted all his attention to earning money and raising me. 

That is my life. 

I live with my dad, uncle and his family. He is my father’s younger brother. My family is very lovely but I do not know which witch’s black gaze fell upon it so that cursed idea came into my aunt’s mind. 

“Hm, sure.” He shrugs his shoulders and goes away. Finally.

But to disturb a second of peace I received after my friend-less-brother left, my mobile rang. A picture of me with my dad pops up on the mobile screen in which I was hugging him from behind. The corner of my lips tugs upwards slightly when I look at the screen. 

I stretch my hand to grab the mobile lying on my desk and answer him, dragging up the green button, “Yes, Dad?” 

“Where are you?” His voice is tedious and moderate. 

“At the bar.” 

“Oh, for a strip dance?” 

Guess he was ready with a bright insult. I scoff. “Dad! Where would I be except for my office at this time?” 

“Shouldn’t you have been in the meeting with Mr Singhania?” Oh no! My eyes widen at the realization. This was the first time I behaved this carelessly. But thank goodness the gasp was inaudible or else he would have gotten another chance to roast me. My dad should not know I forgot about it. 

“And may I know your reason behind calling me at this time, Dad?” I hide my shocked reaction in front of my dad. 

“Hm. Did you find a girl?” 

“What!!” I almost collapsed mentally. 

“Kidding!” He giggles, adding, “Actually, your aunt will have to stay at her mother’s house till this evening, so you go and pick up Ryan from school.” 

I nod as I knew that my uncle is out of state for some business purpose. 

“What? Are you nodding your head right now?” 

“Oh sorry, I just nodded my head.” 

“That’s what I said, boy. Stop dreaming in daylight, understand?” He chuckles once again. 

“You have made my life like a nightmare, so how can you expect that I will be dreaming in the daylight?” I am completely frustrated right now and to add to my frustrations, he giggles over the phone. 

“Please laugh when I disconnect.” I grit out. 

“With pleasure. When you come home I’ll laugh in your face.” 

I roll my eyes. I am surprised he is my father. He is not sympathizing with me right now. 

“Hm, very funny! Goodbye!” I utter and disconnect the line. I did not pick up my father’s call to hear my father’s laugh at my humiliation and sorrow. 

Shoving my mobile into the pocket of my pants, I get up. I take my jacket from my chair and tug it upon myself. I glance at the digital clock hanging on the wall and realize that it is time. I need to leave right now. 

I walk out of my cabin and my employees bow before me, showing their respect. I give my signature curt nods to everyone before making my way to my secretary’s cabin. 

I knock twice and her voice comes out low, “Come in.” 

I enter and she immediately gets up on her seat as soon as she finds me on the door. Why do these employees fear me so much, I wonder. 

“Yes, sir, did you need my help? You would’ve called me to your cabin for work, sir.” She bows slightly before stepping away from her seat. 

I gesture to her to stay there. “Postpone all appointments for the next half an hour. I just wanted to say this, so I did not bother to call you to my cabin.” I let her know and wait for her reply. 

She nods, looking down and I see her one hand clutching a corner of her pencil skirt. I sigh mentally. She is a shy person. Only around me. She confuses me sometimes, like literally. 

“Okay sir, will do.” She bows down again, smiling nervously. I nod and leave her cabin. I walk to the lobby, where the receptionist greets me. I only give her a nod and leave for my car. 

Getting inside, I drive it to Ryan’s school but unfortunately, in the middle, I get a traffic jam to annoy the shit out of me. 

“Just great! That’s what was missing!” I mutter, frustrated, and punch on the steering wheel but my punch lands in the middle and my car honks. 

“Argh!” I grit out even though I want to shout or break something right now. The person before me honks back. 

If he thinks I will play honk until you’re bored then he is wrong. Highly wrong. 

I check my wristwatch and ten minutes have already passed. I am probably going to die because of this frustration. 

I pull out my mobile and dial Ryan’s teacher’s number. She answers my call and I ask her to wait for me because I am going to be late because of this traffic jam. She sweetly answers that it is her duty. 

Oh! I did not know that, by the way. 

As the conversation is done, I push my mobile back into my pocket and right then, a little boy appears at the window of my car. 

I roll down the mirror as I recognize that he is a seller. Unfortunately a seller. 

“Sir, please buy this drink from me. I’ll be grateful to you for my lifetime.” 

I am sentimental now. Not only me but any human being in the world can feel pity on seeing the children who make their living by selling things on the streets. There are rich people in the country and poor people too. And in the urge to earn money, we forget the poor. He is also like us. Goes to his home by earning money on a small scale. 

I sigh and nod, even though I am not thirsty right now. I buy a drink and pay him. 

“Sir, it’s more than the price.” He tells me honestly. I smile. 

“Keep it. Eat something. Your face looks dry.” I advise him. He smiles but a bitter thing comes out of his mouth softly, “God bless you and your kids.” 

Bas yahi sunna baki tha?

(Was this the only thing left to hear?)

But I just hum at the kid and he dashes away with a grin. I feel like everybody here is entertained by troubling me. 

And what am I going to do with this drink right now? A soft drink. Whiskey was better. I sigh and open the lid before touching the rim to my lips and taking the sip. 

Enough! I push the drink back and roll down the window on my right side. It is on the side of the road and without thinking, I throw the packet out and then roll up the window. 

I should have feared the traffic police. 

But right now I fear the soft drink I gulped a moment ago. In such heat, after drinking that hot and sweet juice, even my hair follicles started releasing sticky sweat. 

Poor me. How many more troubles are there today waiting for me?

And right at the mention of trouble, someone knocks on the same window of my car.  

Now which beggar is there? I turn to look to my right and roll down the window. How many times am I going to roll my window up and down? 

Just when my eyes see out through the frame, I see a delivery girl glaring at me. Her hazel eyes shoot fireballs in my direction and the sunlight lands on her face — in her eyes — making those fireballs look even more real. Wow! Her eyes are so beautiful. 

“Mr, don’t you know where the garbage is thrown?” And her mouth is sharp. 

I notice her gritting her teeth but she is trying her hardest to control her anger. But why is she angry with me? 

Well, the question only makes me roll my eyes. I am already frustrated and this girl is asking me a stupid question. 

“But why are you feeling sad about this?” I ask her and my voice is completely tired. I think I just need a cold shower and a long plus deep slumber. I have not slept soundly for a month. All thanks to my dear dad and nephew who sets an alarm for me every four in the morning. 

“Because this juice of yours has fallen on my hand!” She says, a bit louder this time, and trust me, she did that like a lioness. Well, a lioness who is troubled by heart and my hot and sticky soft drink.

To be honest, I sincerely feel sorry for my mistake. I should not have thrown things like this. Poor girl’s arm is sticky because of me and I can understand her irritation in this blazing summer heat. But she is shouting at the wrong person. I do not say sorry. 

“Then keep this.” I take the tissue from my car and offer it to her. Just then, her eyes widened and I found her cute. She grits her teeth and yells, “Manners nahi hai? Mafi mangni chahiye apko! Ye tissue paper dekar ahsan karne ki zarurat nahi!”

(Don't have manners? You should apologise! No need to do a favour by giving these tissue papers!)  

Okay, I take my words back. She is not cute. She is scary. And what's with that attitude? I am being a gentleman with this girl and she is here yelling at me like an uncivilized person. I could not help but glare back at her. 

I take a deep breath, calming myself because I do not want to shout back. 

“You don’t have to teach me manners! If this is the problem, then pick up this garbage yourself and throw it away!” 

Her already widened eyes now widen even more. And I wonder how much more she will widen her eyes? Does she want to tear her eyes now? She sucks a deep breath and I can not help but notice her chest heaving up with utmost anger which is visible on her red face. 

“Mujhe kooda uthane wali samjha hai?”  She yells out very loud. Poor my ears. 

(Mistook me for a rag picker?)

But is she serious? Does she think I am blind? It is written on her T-shirt, she works in a shop. Why would I consider her a garbage collector? It is quite funny but I am not in the mood to laugh at her. I am angry. More than her! 

“If you were not a garbage collector, you wouldn’t have expressed your pain like this!” I mutter while gritting my teeth. 

“I’m in pain that you did not apologize!” She yells at the last part, tearing my ears. 

“No one apologizes for such minor things.” I roll my eyes. Of course, I am not going to apologise to her. Not especially after what she is doing to me. She is getting on my nerves. I only threw one juice on her hand, she is boiling so much on that tiny matter. 

“And who made this rule?” She gritted out. 

“Me!” 

“A stupid man!” She mutters again. My King, she is hell irritating. Till today no one tried to talk to me in such a rude manner except my father. And this girl called me stupid! How dare she?

“Did you just call me stupid?” My eyes squint as I ask her and come out of the car. She goes silent and I follow the movement of her throat as she gulps down when she looks up at me. 

Am I intimidating right now? Hell yeah, I am! 

“And for your kind information, Miss, You are just being stupid here by shouting in vain!” I mutter out, letting her hear my voice as she keeps staring at me for some moments. 

She is scared. So the girl can be scared too? I thought she just scares others. 

“That’s right, isn’t it? You do the wrong stuff and put all the blame on me?” 

“Can’t you stop yelling?” I ask when I am completely done with her loud voice which is tearing up my eardrums. 

“Can’t you stop talking nonsense and just apologise to me?”

“I won’t!”

“Now who’s sounding sti-u-peed?” 

What was that? How strange is this girl! Making a mess of my mind by creating stupid words. Well, she just said stupid, right? 

I scoff. She is an idiot, that’s it. 

“Look, girl, you don’t know who I am so—,” I try to clarify that she just should not waste her time by asking me to apologise to her because that is not going to happen. Unfortunately! 

But this girl scoffed in my way and interrupted me, “I know… I know… you are a rich and bratty type of person who doesn't even know the meaning of the word sorry and increases global warming by using a car with AC!” 

Did she just call me a bratty person? And from where did my car’s AC participate in this quarrel? It’s not its fault either. My AC is innocent. And most importantly, I am using AC because I can fucking afford it but I do not understand why this girl is being angry with my AC right now? 

Actually, I part my lips to protest but nothing comes out. She got me speechless and I hate it! 

“Stop this feud and let us go! When that fight ends, yours begins!” I hear a man yelling from behind. Is this man stupid like the girl? Could he not see that I did nothing to this girl? Only this girl started yelling in the middle of the road and even made me step out of my car. 

Sitting inside frustrated but under an AC was better than arguing with this girl under this burning sun. 

“I won’t apologise!” I mutter, looking back at her. A moment ago, her face was like she got a trophy but when I said I would not apologise, the sparkles in her beautiful hazel eyes faded away. 

And now she is looking at me as if I stole her money. 

“Never learned to apologize?” Her voice falls now just like the big smile on her face. Ah, what a sight. Now it is soft and I like it. 

“I know, but I don’t want to apologize for wasting my time for no reason like this. You better get out of here and let me leave, too,” saying that I just climbed into my car. I am sick of arguing with her. I was already embittered and she just added fuel to my burning frustration. 

Sitting inside, I glance at her. She is still looking at me in amazement. My aunt said I am handsome, but that does not mean she will stare at me after roaring at me like a lioness.

“You wasted my time,” I mutter, averting my gaze. I roll my eyes because her beautiful face is like a needle pierced into my eyes. 

“You also didn’t stop me here and show me any circus show!” She gritted out. Okay, I am not in the mood to continue this stupid argument with this stupid delivery girl.  

“Fuck off!” I mutter and drive away. 

~~~~~~~~~

Reaching Ryan’s school, I get him. His teacher asked me where I was busy, to which I said I was dancing at a party. She does not mind my way of answering her madly because we are friends. We always stay playful around each other and she understands that I use mad words when I am annoyed. 

“Sorry sir, but you should avoid parties at this time.” She was amused and I rolled my eyes. Everybody likes to play with me. 

Ryan is also giggling, standing next to me. 

“Shut up, or I’ll throw all your toys out.” I threaten him and he goes silent. 

“Mrs, I should leave now,” I tell her and she smiles with a nod. She is happy that finally, Ryan is leaving. She does not have to babysit a naughty boy like him anymore. 

Holding Ryan’s hand, I walk out of his school building. 

He jumps while going to the car because it is his habit. He is always energetic, just like me. The difference is that he is a free kid and I am a responsible man. 

Once he settles inside, next to me, he asks me, “Why are you so late, buddy?” 

“Ek billi ne mera rasta kaat diya…” I murmur, turning the ignition on. 

( A cat crossed my path)

“A cat?” He giggles. I start driving and to my surprise, this kid does not ask me further about anything. Although he turns even the smallest thing into a ruckus, today he has calmed down by getting one answer. 

And when I look at him with this thought, I see that he had fallen asleep. 

Looks like his teachers made him clean the school along with studying Hindi and math only. Poor boy.