Broken Birds

Two

I huff staring at my computer.
Something I've been doing for the past 15minutes.
"Damn" I curse.

"What's up? What happened?" Hashir asks peeping inside my room.
I look at him confused "When did you get here? And how did you get in?"

He chuckles "I know your code my man"
I nod and continue staring at my screen.
He walks in "Don't you think you need to take a break? It's a Sunday and you've been working on your laptop all day, that can't be healthy"

I groan but say nothing.
"Anyway, your mother asked me to bring you food. She said she made them herself and that if she called you you'd never come pick them up so they're in your fridge"

I nod my head "Thanks, how's the wife?"
He groans flopping on my couch "Stressing me as always. I wanted to spend the weekend with my boys but she keeps nagging me"

I look at him momentarily before looking back at my screen "Well, I think she's just taking her anger out on you"

He hisses "Its not my fault she got fired. She was the one who insisted on traveling for the sixth time this year. All she does is lazy around"
"That's why I don't want to marry a lazy woman"

He nods "And I made fun of you. We have people that do everything, taking care of the boys, cleaning, cooking but she can't even do the simple things"

I just keep staring at my screen.
"Aryan, I wanted a nag free weekend. Bro, i feel like jumping off a building but then what will happen to my boys? Just 4years and I'm sick and tired. I need space"

I nod "Just tell her you're going for a business meeting somewhere and come stay with me"

Then there was silence.
I abruptly stand "I need more coffee, I'm starting to feel drowsy".
I turn around and see him smiling at me.
"Hashir, what do you want?"

"What about the boys?"
"Are you going to go on a business trip with your two sons? And you know I don't really like kids and obviously my house is not child friendly seeing as everything is white and breakable" I walk out.

"Just so you know I'm accepting your offer" he shouts.

::

Most times I don't need to be at the company to get work done. I can work from home as long as I work but I prefer the office, my office.

It's already 7pm and I promised my mother I'd be present for dinner, I called to cancel but she didn't pick which I suspect was intentional and no one is picking up as well.

I huff looking at my wrist watch again.
It's 7:28pm and my mom said 8:30. I know she's probably at home hoping I won't be late and I honestly don't want to hear another lecture about 'the importance of family dinner'. It's something we do every two weeks but it's not really a family dinner when my sisters aren't home, right?

Can't they just cut me some slack? I'm trying to focus and work.

Someone knocks on my office door.
"Come in" I answer exhausted.
Kiki opens the door and peeps "You're still here"

I nod "I need to get this done. What are you still doing here? It's late"
"You're here too, aren't you?"

"Yes but it's not safe for you. Anything could happen"
She chuckles "You know men get molested too, right?"

"True but I can handle myself. Can you?"
"You make a point. So I'll take my leave"

"Wait, let's go together. I have somewhere I need to get to so the faster I make it there the faster I'll make it back"

She stands by the door looking at me with pity "Don't you get exhausted? Don't you have anything else to do? Friends to hang with? Girlfriend to take on a date?"