Chapter 4: Smoke [FF: An Affair] - Page 3

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..Shweta.. thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#21

Part 2:

Top 'n Town

She used crawl under Abdul's "Femus Chai" stall, where I used to wait for her. It still amuses me how that Abdul never noticed the friendship that was brewing under his stall. We used to give ourselves a lot of credit for being so sneaky about it. However sometimes I felt like he always knew, but chose to be unaware. I liked our theory better though.

I never seemed to mind getting my uniform, or anything for that matter, dirty back then. Though I guess that was the bliss of being a 10 year old, where words like "danger" and "consequences" were just words mom's used to keep you from having fun. Though being the self-proclaimed "intelligent and mature" 10-year-olds we were, we did all agree it was because they loved us.

We'd meet under that chai stall, every day after school. It like we had our own secret club. And for the past month we had been working on a very important mission.

She opened up her tied up hanky to reveal and odd amount of coins. "I have 50 paisa. That took one whole week of no paani-puri. Better appreciate my sacrifices for our mission Mr. Khan." She didn't mask her irritation. I liked that.

"And I have 25 paisa" I took out my notepad to do some hard-core math, "That brings our total to 9 rupees and 80 paisa."

"That means we're still 20 paisa short. Mr. Khan I really thought we made it today. I even gave up a whole week of paani-puri for crying out loud."

I wasn't going to totally forfeit the mission, but her whining made it obvious what she wanted.

"Okay Ms. Farooqui, I'm going to put 9 rupees and 70 paisa back into the jar, and we can use the 10 paisa to get you your beloved..."

But I looked up to find that she was gone. She'd been strange like that, from the start. I put the 10 paisa back in the jar and thought of ways we could raise the last 20 paisa in a day.

***

Ayaan and I were done playing for the day and were retiring back home, it was Ayaan's turn to carry the cricket bats. Enjoying the sound of 20 paisa in my pocket, I was looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

It was then that the wall grew thin 10 year old arms and pulled me in between the gap of my house and Rahim Bhai's.

"I have good news!"

"Me too."

"Me first!" She raised her hand only to realize she was no longer in school.

"Okay Ms. Farooqui, go first."

She struggled to untie the knot of her handkerchief for some reason.

"Sorry I guess I tied in way too much excitement," she continued her battle with the cloth.

"Here let me do it,"

And that was the first time, I'd ever felt her hands. They weren't too soft, not rock hard either, they were just right. In a moment as innocent as our hands, I experienced those butterflies again.

Finally we got the knot open to reveal 10 paisa.

"I helped Salma with her homework," she confessed with a smile.

"Zoya!" I was mad. As mad as a mildly-irritated 10 year old could get.

"Ms. Farooqui!" She corrected.

I handed her my 20 paisa. "I promised to help out at Abdul's shop for a week. You didn't have to go and..."

"I think you're forgetting that this club is a 50-50 partnership. We share the fun parts and the hard parts. You can't go around arranging for the 20 paisa yourself because then that would mean we aren't partners." She simply explained.

She forced the smile I'd been fighting to finally show through.

"Ayaan! Tell ammi I'll be a little late. Yaseen wanted me to play one last match!"

I turned to her. She already knew the plan. The moment we heard the front door close "shut," we ran, with a million dollar smile on our faces fueled by 10 rupees an my extra 10 cents.

We were going to have that Top n Town's vanilla ice cream cone and in that moment, nothing could stop us. Nothing...

Nothing except for a big fat "Closed" sign on Top n Town's shop. It was when we got there disappointment hit our faces like a defective firecracker on Eid.

"That's lame," she kicked the door as if it were to make a difference as we turned back around towards home, mourning our excitement.

"We'll come here tomorrow," I tried to be optimistic.

"Ammi said she's taking me to Nani's house tomorrow,"

"When are you going to be back?"

"I don't know, maybe a week,"

"Well then Ms. Zoya Farooqui, I Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan promise you, that I will not experience my first Top n Town cone without you."

"Pakka wala promise?"

"Pakka wala," I reassured.

"Mister! Are you going to eat that?"

I looked down to find a young girl pointing towards my Top n Town cone that had begun to drip. I smiled, "No" and tossed the useless cone out.

Before her face fell, I kneeled down to whisper, "That one was crummy, let's get you a new one."

I didn't change Ms. Farooqui, if only you hadn't.
***

Ok so I finally decided I wanted to tell the whole story behind that one little snippet you guys got. Can't write an extensive author's note, feeling sleep deprived. Did not edit, will check that later.
Tried to get this up ASAP for my Papaya.
-Shweta <3
Edited by -ShwSha- - 11 years ago
gossipgirlxoxo thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#22
Top 'n Town
I am feeling it. <3.
Shweta , You didn't even have a to ask me , you knew it... Yes I absolutely loved it.
This will remain the most special one for me, and we both know why.
You have beautifully captured the essence of the innocent friendship brewing under the tea stall.
Also their sneaky nature has been established from the start. I am looking forward to their changed perception of the words "consequences" and "danger" .
I guess a week turned out to be much longer than 7 days .
Asad thinks that he is still the same but Ms Farooqui changed. I would love to know why he thinks like that and what circumstances or events lead to a presumably changed Ms. Farooqui .
So they both are the same age and you have clearly established that Ms. farooqui was always the spirited one with an attitude to match.
Edited by gossipgirlxoxo - 11 years ago
Ankahee thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#23
Thank you to your papaya!!! At least we will read a story that should be told, and this one has the feel all over, it is begging to be read. 😊

Mr Khan and his cone have been melting awhile now. Ms Farooqui has probably not tasted vanilla since the same awhile. I want to know how they will finally share the cone.

Shweta thanks for continuing this one 🤗

Next chapter sooner than the melting cone please.
Edited by notagain - 11 years ago
TheAutumnFizz thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#24
First of all... Congratulations for winning the award... :)
And I loved the second part... So sweet... Zoya was adorable... Actually its always adorable to see 10 year olds getting all worked up... I really want to see what happens next and what happened to Miss Farooqui and Mr. Khan, the cuter ones... ;)
Looking forward to the next part... :)
OceanicHeart. thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#25
So u decided to continue !
I am so happy and i hope u will tell the whole story this time and not discontinue it 😆
I loved the last line of the chapter shows asad still cares about zoe 😳
I am all excited to know what happen's between them
Loved the chotu asad and zoe too :D
You got to upadate soon !
farz_parachute thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#26
This is just splendid! You continuing, us getting the back story, 10year old MrK and MissF, and them not eating the vanilla ice cream.

So cryptic, but crystal clear too! Such is the paradox of your story! You write so languidly making the story flow naturally. And you write with great warmth and earnestness too! Very intriguing!

Anyway, would like to read some on adult Zoya! Even mini Z. And adult Asad. Oh just give 'em all!

Take all the time you need to rest, but soon after, be sure to give us Part 3.

FaRz
MissAsian thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#27
I've been stalking! Oohh asad and zoyaa are childhood buddies and asad had feelings for Zoya since then
Linsie thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#28
Beautiful... the way you write about 10 year old mind set...
irock321 thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#29
AMAZING!!! Loved it! Adorable! Thank you for making it an SS!! :))) PM me for next update!
..Shweta.. thumbnail
13th Anniversary Thumbnail Rocker Thumbnail + 6
Posted: 11 years ago
#30
Part 2:
A Common Ground
Raziya Siddiqui, Awarded Bhopal Businesswoman of the Decade. Ceremony held at..." a few foul words escaped in whispers.

The newspaper made its way into The Drawer,' along with the flashdrive I had been holding onto for the past few months.
The flashdrive lay there in all its ironic glory. I felt like a fool but I didn't mind, for I was fooled by choice.
"Hands up."

I turned around to an empty room. I could have sworn I felt...something.

And in a literal blink of an eye, my hands were fixated behind my back and my weapon no longer in my possession. "Still a rookie at this aren't you?" The confidence in that voice, it wasn't even a question.
"Well good morning to you too,"
"I'd like to make it clear that my purposes for this meeting are not...hazardous,"
"And what makes you think I'll believe you?"
She let go. My gun placed back into my hands, as if it never left in the first place. And in front me, was a woman I'd met 6 months ago in the same oversized sunglasses and lengthy scarf.
"You may inspect me for weapons."
"That..." I replied to her earnest voice, "...won't be needed,"
"Still weak in matters of the heart aren't you Mr. Khan,"
"I..I do not know what you're going on about. Anyways..."
She rolled her eyes again, "Oh come on Asad, we both know you had major 10-year-old crush on me,"
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Fine I did, but I'm sure my childhood love affair isn't the matter of this meeting is it?"
"And so he admits it!" She clapped for a non-existent audience. "Anyways," she regained her composure, "I came here to do this."
And then came a jaw bending slap.
"What the bloody f-"
Opening The Drawer' she shoved the newspaper in my face. "Did you NOT read this? I risked my f**king life to get you that flashdrive and all I see you've been doing with it for the past six months is play freakin PLAY with its lanyard. I think you deserve another sl-"
"Ok hold it right there, you were the one that gave me this EMPTY flashdrive," I kept her palm at least a foot away from my face. I wasn't going to lie, that slap was well executed and it hurt...only a little bit though.
"Empty? What?"
"Oh don't act surprised, is this some trick to make me trust you against my better judgement again?"
"Ok Sherlock, sit down and listen. We're on the same side. We both have some debts to clear with her. For starters, Razia Siddiqui is not my family." She tossed me her phone, a whole file titled "Mr. Khan."
"Been keeping tabs on you since the moment you entered the city. Wanted to make sure it was really you. But it was when Humeira told me of your motives, that I stepped in with a personal interest."
"So you're telling me you want to kill the women who raised you? Ms. Farooqui, I made the mistake of trusting you once, but I feel insulted that you think I'd do it again. Our equation does not change the reality of our situation."
"There is a difference between raising and feeding Asad. And I don't want to kill her, that's far too dull for my liking, and too simple on her part. I want to ruin her."
"Why might I ask?" I was still far from convinced.
"I would have expected better from you Asad, tell me how do you think Razia became my guardian?"
"Your parents died in a car crash, she was your closest relative. You're not answering my question."
"Ah, so gullible! Did you ever bother checking? The car didn't explode, it crashed. Then why were the bodies reported to have clearly visible burn marks on them? It was staged. Before you ask, yes I broke into a police station. What else could have I done, everyone in this town worships my dear Razia phuphi."
"So you're saying..."
"Doll Factory Bombing. 1990. Six injured and five killed, not three. I know Razia's secret. And I know that you do too. And her count goes beyond those 5 murders."
"Then why didn't you take her down yourself? Why is she still alive? Why help me?"
"Because that's not how a team functions Mr. Khan, clearly time had no affect on your understanding of this concept."
"So you waited for me?"
"No, I waited for an equally able counterpart. I do the dirty work inside, you run the errands outside. Deal?"
A firm handshake sealed the agreement.
"This doesn't mean I trust you Ms. Farooqui,"
Her chuckle called out my bluff and she head for the window, "For the record, I thought you were a cute 10-year-old too."

I fought the boyish blush, till her shadow was out of sight.

And she said her intentions weren't hazardous.
***

A/N: Personally I feel my writing was shit here. I was going to hold off posting it until I edited it to a point I was comfortable with but honestly I think I've reached that point of saturation in life where I become pretty unextrodinary for a while, at least as a writer.
At least this part met its purpose which was to give you sort of a sense of the equations between the characters, past, present, and hints about the future.
-Shweta
Edited by -ShwSha- - 11 years ago

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