^ Thanks Navi.
Here's the next one! Writing wise, this is not one of my favorite chapters, but I'm hoping that's just because I'm comparing it with the last one, which I really liked. Some secrets revealed! Let me know what you think, and please provide constructive criticism.
I'm not sure if the characterization of Amaan came off the way I wanted it to. He's supposed to be the kind of person who only speaks when necessary and spends more time thinking. He is very perceptive, so in the chapters that are in his point of view, you will learn more about other characters who he interacts with as well as about him. Please tell me if this sounds right from this chapter.
Chapter 15
It had been a long and exhausting Monday, and Amaan couldn't wait to get home. He waited for Sabah as she put her physics book in her locker. Imraan had left for his tutoring job, and Rehan and Samira were staying at school late to work on a project for their Spanish class, so it would just be the two of them walking home.
Just as they had started to walk towards the school's exit, Sabah noticed something that caused her to stop suddenly.
Sabah: Oh my God! Carissa and David baat kar rahe hain? Nisha ne sahi hi kaaha tha. Oh my God! Carissa and David are talking again? So Nisha wasn't lying!
Amaan shook his head and resumed walking. What was it with girls and gossiping?
Seconds later, Sabah stopped him again. She gestured towards a guy standing at his locker.
Sabah: Mujhe Peter se kuch baat karni hai. Bas ek second. I have to talk to Peter about something. Just one second.
She walked up to Peter.
Sabah: Hey Peter.
Peter: Oh hi, Sabah. What's up?
Sabah: I just heard from Rahul that your dad is a Nuclear Engineer. Is that true?
Peter: Yea, why?
Sabah: Well, I'm thinking of going into that field too.
Peter: Really. You?
He gave her a disbelieving look.
Sabah: Yes. I've been looking into it since 8th grade. I was wondering if it's not too much trouble….do you think you could try to get me an internship with your dad next semester? It doesn't have to be paid. I just want to see his work.
Sabah assumed an innocently flirtatious expression that Amaan had never seen on her before. Peter smiled back at her, clearly charmed.
Peter: Sure, I'll talk to him tonight.
Sabah: Thanks so much Peter. You're a sweetheart.
Peter: No problem. See you tomorrow.
Sabah: Bye.
Amaan was disturbed by his sister's coquetry. He waited until they were a block away from school before cautiously inquiring about it.
Amaan: Apa, don't you think you were giving Peter the wrong impression?
Sabah: Kya matlab? What do you mean?
Amaan: Usko aisa lag raha hoga ke aap us ke saath flirt kar rahi theen. I think he might have assumed that you were flirting with him.
Sabah: Flirt? Tum yeh kaise keh sakte ho? Flirting? What makes you say that?
Amaan: Aapne us waqt Peter ki shakal dekhi thi jab aapne us ko "sweetheart" kaha tha? Well, didn't you notice his expression when you called him a "sweetheart"?
Sabah: Amaan, there is no way. Main to sirf us se ek favor maang rahi thi. Aur waise bhi, agar us ko koyi ghalat fehmi huwi hai, to yeh uski problem hai. Main humesha is baat ki fikar nahin kar sakti ke meri baaton ko log kaise interpret kar rahe hain. Amaan, there is no way. I was just asking him for a favor. And even if he does think there was more to it, that's his problem. I can't be expected to always worry about how people interpret what I say.
Amaan did not respond, but he wasn't convinced. Although he was unwilling to tolerate anyone hitting on his sister, this was different. Sabah seemed to be initiating it. Finding this notion to be unsettling, Amaan decided to change the subject.
Amaan: Aapki neend poori ho gayi? Are you caught up on sleep?
Sabah and Rehan had taken the SATs just that past Saturday and had gotten very little sleep the week before. Fortunately, the test had gone well for both of them.
Sabah: Yes, finally…Kal poore din sone ke baad. Yes, finally….after sleeping all day yesterday.
Amaan: It must feel good to get that out of the way.
Sabah: Haan, lekin ab phir wohi homework, applications, projects…Yea, but now it's back to the same homework, applications, projects…
Amaan: Projects! Oh no. Main to bilkul bhool gaya. Mujhe apne science project ke liye aaj poster board khareedna hai. Projects! Oh no. I completely forgot. I have to buy a poster board for my science project today.
Sabah: Main le jaaoongi tumhen. Ghar pahunch jaayen phir gaadi se Office Depot chalte hain. I'll take you. Once we're home, we can take the car to Office Depot.
They walked in silence the rest of the way home, and then Sabah went inside to get her car keys. Minutes later, Amaan was seated in the passenger seat of Sabah's Honda Civic while she cruised down Washington Blvd. Sabah turned on the stereo and pushed a CD into the player. The first song that played was one of Amaan's favorites. He soon forgot that he was supposed to navigate and began to focus on the depth of the lyrics.
kaise kisi ko bataayen, kaise yeh samjhaayen, kya pyaar hai
is mein bandhan nahin hai, aur na koyi bhi deewaar hai
suno pyaar ki niraali hai daastaan
Amaan looked up and realized that they had just crossed Driscoll Blvd.
Amaan: Oops, sorry. Apa, humein Driscoll pe left lena tha. Oops, sorry. Apa, we were supposed to take a left on Driscoll.
Sabah sighed, sounding slightly exasperated.
Sabah: It's okay. Main ghoom ke aa jaati hoon. It's okay. I'll just come back around.
She took a right at the next street, a narrow residential lane. Amaan was trying to read the name on the street sign when Sabah touched his shoulder.
Sabah: Hey, isn't that your friend?
Amaan turned to look where Sabah was pointing and saw Faisal walking up the driveway of a small, rundown-looking house. Amaan thought about opening his window and calling out his name but decided against it. Faisal walked to the front door and entered the house. Sabah kept driving and took another right at the next stop sign.
Amaan: Woh yahaan rehta hai? He lives here?
Sabah: I guess so. Shaayad woh yehi baat tumse chhupa raha hai. I guess so. Maybe that's what he's trying to hide from you.
Amaan: Ke woh ghareeb hai? Lekin mujhe is baat se koyi farq nahin parta. That he's not wealthy? But I don't care about that.
Sabah: Main jaanti hoon, lekin zara socho. Usne humaara ghar dekha hai, humaare driveway mein khadi paanch gaadiyan dekhi hain. It's understandable ke woh darta hoga ke agar tumhen uski ghareebi ka pata chal gaya to tum kya sochoge. I know that, but just think. He has seen our house and the five cars in our driveway. It's understandable that he would be afraid of what you would think of him if you knew where he lived.
As they finally made their way down Driscoll, Amaan pondered over this. Undoubtedly, wealth was the last criteria that he would ever use to judge a person. However, for the first time, he became conscious of how fortunate he was to have such a privileged existence. He also wondered whether Faisal's decision to quit the soccer team a few days earlier was related to his financial status.
After buying the poster board, Amaan and Sabah returned home. The Mercedes in the driveway informed them that their parents had returned from work. As they entered the house, they were greeted by their mother's excited voice. She was in the kitchen cooking while their father and Rehan set the table.
Fatima: Amaan, Sabah, tum ab aaye ho. Main kabse tumhaara intezaar kar rahi hoon. Amaan, Sabah, you're finally back. I've been waiting for you.
Sabah: Kyoon? Koyi khaas baat hai? Why? Is there something important?
Fatima: Ek khush khabri hai. Yaad hai maine tumhen bataaya tha ke humaari company ne ek naya assignment accept kar liya hai? Aaj mujhe usi ke project manager ki position mil gayi, which means a promotion and a raise! I have good news. You remember how I told you about the new assignment our company has taken on? Well I was just selected as the project manager for it today, which means a promotion and a raise!
Sabah: Wow! That's wonderful, Mummy. Congratulations!
Amaan joined Sabah in congratulating his mother, but wondered what everyone was excited about. A raise meant more money, which they obviously didn't need.
Sabah: Ek second, is ka matlab hai ke ab Mummy Daddy ki boss hain Aap ko is baat se koyi pareshaani to nahin hai Daddy? Wait, that means Mummy is now Daddy's boss. You're not bothered by that are you, Daddy?
Zaheer: Tumhen lagta ke mujhe kabhi tumhaari Mummy se jalan ho sakti hai? Do you really think I can ever be jealous of your Mummy?
Sabah shrugged with an amused smile and sat down at the table.
Zaheer: Ab tumhaare aur Rehan ke SATs bhi khatam ho gaye hain. We should celebrate. Is weekend Lake Tahoe chalte hain. Now that you and Rehan are done with your SATs, we have two reasons to celebrate. Let's go to Lake Tahoe this weekend.
Rehan (excitedly): Haan, chalen! Samira bata rahi thi ke is time mein bahut khoobsurat hota hai. Yes, let's go! Samira was telling me that it's beautiful this time of year.
Sabah: Theek hai, lekin Sunday ko jaldi wapis aana hoga. Mujhe bahut kaam hai. Fine, but we have to return early on Sunday. I have a lot of work to do.
Zaheer: Sabah, tum humesha…achcha theek hai, is baar tumhaari baat maan lete hain. Lekin winter break ke liye kuch plan nahin karna. Hum poore do hafton ke liye Canada ja rahe hain. Sabah, you always…okay, just this once. But make sure not to make any plans for winter break. We're going to Canada for the full two weeks.
Sabah: Okay. Waise hum Canada mein kahaan jaa rahe hain? Okay. But where in Canada are we going?
Zaheer: Pehle Vancouver, Basheer Bhai ke paas, phir Calgary ghoomne ke liye. New Year's bhi wahin manaayenge aur Amaan ki salgirah bhi. First Vancouver to visit Basheer Bhai and then Calgary for sight-seeing. We'll celebrate New Year's and Amaan's birthday there.
Amaan, who had been lost in his own thoughts, looked up. He mother who was standing next to him, smiled.
Fatima: Haan, is saal Amaan ki salgirah yaadgaar honi chaahiye. Yes, this year Amaan's birthday should be memorable.
She brushed his hair out of his eyes, affectionately.
Amaan: Uski kya zaroorat hai? That's not necessary.
Zaheer: Zaroorat kyoon nahin hai? Tum school mein itna achcha kar rahe ho, apni soccer team ke sabse achche player mein se ek ho…We're all very proud of you. Why not? You're doing so well in school, you're one of the best players on your soccer team…We're all very proud of you.
Sabah: Seriously Amaan. Your soccer skills have really improved. That goal in the last minute yesterday was incredible.
Amaan: Thanks.
He followed with a contemplative pause before continuing.
Amaan: Main bas kabhi kabhi sochta hoon…agar Simon zinda hota to kitna khush hota. I just think sometimes…if Simon were alive, he would be so happy for me.
Simon had been Amaan's soccer coach and close friend in Los Angeles. In April, he was found murdered at the neighborhood community center, and police never caught the culprit.
As he gazed at his family to see their reactions, Amaan noticed his father and Rehan exchange a concerned glance. Sabah looked down at her hands nervously, and his mother returned to cooking.
Amaan: Kya baat hai? What's wrong?
Zaheer: Kuch nahin. Waise Amaan, agar tumhen ek personal coach chaahiye to hum hire kar sakte hain. Nothing. By the way, Amaan, if you want another personal coach, I can pay for one.
Amaan: Nahin. Koyi Simon ki jaga nahin le sakta. No, it okay. Simon can't be replaced by anyone.
They ended the conversation there, but Amaan couldn't help feeling that something was being kept from him. As they ate dinner, he wondered why his family was being so secretive. Did it have something to do with Simon's murder?
Edited by .:.Suhana.:. - 17 years ago
