Cross-border Merger

Ice-cream and Invitation

"Are my eyes and my ears deceiving me or did you just really call me?"

These are the first words that come out of Ashar's mouth as soon as I call him.

"Wait, you saved my number? Sorry dumb question. Of course you did since you saved yours in mine too. You don't need to answer that."

Before I could continue to embarrass myself further, Ashar chuckled and asked, "So tell me,  to what  do I owe this pleasure?"

"Yes about that. I'm not going to preface it or anything since I am slightly out of my mind today, so, please don't judge me or anything but" as I continue speaking, I realise how weird must this sound but I'm already too deep in to backout , "I really want to have ice-cream."

"What?" Ashar asked a bit puzzled. 

"Yeah! I've just had a long day, I don't want to make anything, I just want to have ice cream and maybe make some Maggi or something but I really really want to eat ice cream", I basically pleaded on the phone.

"Wait what is Maggi?"

Did he really? He did not just. 

"Are you serious? You don't know what Maggi is? You are like me desi best friend here right and you don't know what Maggi is?", I almost half-yelled into the phone.

"Hey! Stop getting offended. I was born here and so how is it my fault that my parents never fed me whatever Maggi is", he defended himself.

"I'll tell you what... you get your ass along with a nice ice cream tub for me, anything except mint chocolate, and I'll show your taste buds what in the world they're missing on!"

"Aye aye captain! Be there in 15 minutes."

True to his words Ashar arrived while I was making sure I had everything to make a perfect bowl of Maggi for us. When I came to the kitchen, there were no signs of Michael and frankly I was a bit relieved because I needed a break from the awkwardness and tension that seem to develop whenever he is around.

"So, this is Maggi? It's just instant noodles?", Ashar asked raising his eyebrows when he saw the packet in the kitchen.

"Stop with that judgmental look on your face. It is not 'just instant noodles', it is the best vegetarian instant noodles that your taste-buds will ever have the honor of experiencing."

Ashar shook his head and laughed sligtly, "Okay tell me then what would you like me to do."

"You don't need to do anything." I thought for a second and then said, "Actually, why don't you go and put something 'feel good' on the TV."

Ashar nodded, "Yeah, I can do that" and left the kitchen. 

A few minutes later the two bowls were ready and I was losing will to even wait till I reach the TV room to taste Maggi. It's been so long since I last had and just that aroma was making me nostalgic. 

"Booldy hell! Why in the world is this so fucking good!!!" Ashar's eyes popped out as soon as he had his first bite.

"Told ya! It's the best instant comfort food in the whole wide world!" I said with the utmost pride.

Ashar decided that we would watch Beethoven and both of us were smiling so hard when the last good-nights rolled out in the movie that for a minute, with ice cream in my hand and the sweet smile of Beethoven, I was just free from all the stress that had occupied my mind.

"Do you know what? I love dogs so much on screen and in videos and from a distance but I'm so scared of them that I can't go near any of them", I voiced out.

"Seriously? You need to come to my place. I have the friendliest husky you'll meet and I promise you will lose all your fears once you let him close to you."

I laughed, "It's funny that you think that you will be able to invite me to your place now that I know that you have a pet dog."

Ashar looked at me with a dead serious look on his face, "You done?"

I stopped laughing. 

"Now listen to me. Even if not my place, why don't you come to my parent's place tomorrow. It's a Saturday so, your first holiday here and I don't want you spending it all alone. My family always spends the weekends together unless we have some other plans. I'll ask Mum to prepare something vegetarian for lunch and you could join us."

I almost teared up at the mere thought of this sweet gesture, "Ashar, this is so sweet but I really don't want to impose."

"Oh shut up! My family would flip happily to meet a pure bred desi", Ashar joked.

In the end, I gave in. Can't wait for tomorrow.