SS - Concrete jungle of dreams Chapter 2 pg 5 - Page 3

Chapter 2 : The Big Apple

Zoya came into the kitchen, carrying a pizza box. "Ammi, why did you make dinner? I ordered pizza!" Asad looked at her, with her pizza sauce smeared all over her hands and mouth she looked like a little kid. "Zoya! We can't eat Pizza every day," Zainab said, scolding her. "Ammi, nothing tastes like NYC pizza, you should know that!" Zoya said dramatically. "I thought Pizza originated in Italy, Ms. Farooqi," Asad said, joining in the conversation and trying to keep a straight face. He really did find this girl very amusing and wondered if all the girls here were like her. Zainab smiled in amusement, Dilshad had mentioned that Asad had a hard time adjusting with people, but well Zoya had a way of getting to people as well. She would call Dilshad after dinner and let her know Asad was settling in well in just a few hours.

"By the way Zoya, I'll need you to show Asad around the city tomorrow. It'll be Sunday so you don't have class but unfortunately, I have an important meeting I can't postpone," Zainab told her daughter as she finally sat down to eat with them. Zoya sighed loudly, and was about to answer, but Asad quickly spoke up, "Its fine aunty, I'm sure I'll be fine." Zainab turned to Asad, "It's no problem Asad, I was going to show you around myself, but perhaps, Zoya will be a better guide. She knows what you young people like at any rate." Zoya put her spoon down, "Ammi, I don't think Mr. Khan here likes the things most young people like, he looks and acts like he was born in the 50s...But I'll try my best to figure out what people from back then might want to know." Zainab glared at her, "Zoya! Don't be rude!" she turned to Asad and was amused to see the half smile on his face.

"Anyways, I'll show you where to go Mr. Khan. I'll even show you how to get to campus and give you some tips on how to get around," she took a bite of her food before continuing, "Don't worry, you have the great Zoya Farooqi to show you around!" Asad was now fully smiling at her antics and Zainab decided it was a good time to go call Dilshad. It would be morning in Bhopal now. "Zoya, it's your turn to do the dishes. Don't forget again." She told a grumbling Zoya as she left the kitchen. "The best thing about pizza is that you don't have to do the dishes afterwards," she complained. Then turning to Asad, she sasked, "By the way Mr. Khan what food do you like?" Asad looked up at her, "My Ammi's home cooking." Zoya sighed, "I mean well you know like what's your favourite outside food..." Asad had now finished eating, "I don't like outside food much, I prefer my meals home cooked." Zoya was now done as well, and she got up with her plate. "You're so boring Mr. Khan! Don't worry though, I know all the good take-out places around here!"

"Hello Dilshad," Zainab said as soon as her friend had anwered the skype call. "Zainab, Asad already reached your house didn't he?" Zainab smiled softly, "Yes, he reached earlier, but I didn't want to disturb you, and he just had dinner with us. Try not to worry too much about your son, me and Zoya will take good care of him as long as he's here." Both women were quiet for a moment. "I'm so thankful to you for helping us out like this," Dilshad said quietly. "I know you would've taken Zoya in, hand the situation been the other way around. You don't need to thank me." Dilshad laughed, "Zoya must be all grown up now, and not the muddy little girl who used to run around my garden and make a mess."Zainab snorted, "You'd be surprised at how little has changed with Zoya." Both women smiled remembering how their children used to act back then.

"You know what, Mr. Khan, you remind of those olden days emperors...You know like in that movie...Mughal-e-aazam! Hey, we should totally watch that movie together sometime!" Zoya exclaimed, waving a wet soapy spoon in the air and dripping soapy water all over the floor. Asad grimaced watching the mess she was making... "Err...Do you need some help Ms. Farooqi?" Zoya who was now washing a plate turned towards Asad, dripping even more soapy water on the floor. "I'm Zoya Farooqi, and Zoya Farooqi can do anything! It's the 21^st century, men are not superior to women. You might be from the 19th century, Mr. Khan, but..." Asad sighed loudly as Zoya continued on with her empowerment of women speech. "Mr. Khan! Are you even listening to me? People like you really need to learn that women are not weak!" As she made her that final statement, she slipped on the soapy water that was all over the floor and shut her eyes quickly waiting for the fall, which never came. Instead of the floor, a strong pair of hands had managed to catch her. Zoya opened her eyes, and was met with Asad's stare.

"Asad, beta?" Zainab called out as she walked towards the kitchen, looking for him. This brought both Asad and Zoya out of their reverie and Asad quickly helped Zoya stand upright. "Asad, your Ammi would like to speak to you," she said, handing him the iPad she was carrying. She then turned to see all the water and on the floor and asked Zoya to clean it. Asad took the iPad and quickly put the earphones in before walking out into the living room.

"Asad, how are you? How do you find New York so far?" Asad smiled hearing his mother's voice. "I'm fine ammi. Zainab Aunty is very nice and I haven't had the chance to see the city yet." He said, before pausing, "Zoya is crazy though! Still very much a pagal ladki" Dilshad laughed hearing that, "Do you remember how she used to mess up all my books and toys?" He continued, remembering five year old girl who's visits he always dreaded.

Zoya wiped the wet counter under the watchful eyes of her mother, grumbling to herself. A little mess really didn't hurt anybody! It was just water, it would dry by itself. "Don't forget to take Asad around the city tomorrow, and please don't get into any trouble." Although Zoya had spent most of her life in NYC, Zainab still couldn't help but worry about her happy-go-lucky daughter who had the tendency of getting into trouble.

Asad walked into the kitchen at that point, and Zainab smiled at him. "Try and get some sleep, you're going to have to keep Zoya out of trouble tomorrow. Trust me, that's quite a task!" Zoya glared at her mother, "Ammi! I'm your daughter! You should always be on my side!" Asad and Zainab shared a look, and for one moment, Asad wondered how such a nice, polite and kind woman like Zainab aunty could have a daughter like Zoya.

At the same time, Zoya wondered why Asad had the tendency of acting like a middle-aged man.