Ravaged souls

Trouble is my buddy

Zahra's POV

"Alfredo pasta or pizza?" I asked, peeking up from the menu card to admire him. God, he is so sexy, my mind drawled as he sat in front of me smiling. The black shirt showed outlines of his toned body, especially his biceps. I wish I could be that shirt.
"Well your choice is fine for me, but rather I'll have you to satisfy my appetite,"  He replied with the flirtiest look in his eyes and I smiled as wide as models do in toothpaste ads. I still couldn't believe I'm on a date with none other than THE NASEEM SHAH!

He came closer and closer until he was inches away from my face. I gulped as he leaned in deeper and then the strangest thing happened. He whispered in a feminine voice, "Zahra wake up!" I backed off and looked at him with surprise as he shouted, "Wake up idiot!" Huh?? What the hell? Next moment he threw a glass full of water at me and my eyes shot open just to see my mom with a furious expression holding an empty glass. That's how I come back to reality guys. No alarms, no way of waking up like heroines do in music videos. My mornings start like this.

My string of thoughts broke when my mom's fuming voice hit my ears, "It's 8 am already, you'll be fired already from the internship if you wake up at a time like this everyday." Smiling sarcastically, I said, "Mom, firing me is a wish of my oh-so-sweet boss." She rolled her eyes and went down the steps mumbling "Allah rehem". I giggled at her antics and started with my morning routine.

Reaching downstairs, I saw my mom yelling at Imran bhai in the kitchen with the signature spatula in her hand and my father sitting on the couch watching news on full volume. Typical Asian family. I greeted everyone with 'salam' and met with their replies smiling as we all settled down for breakfast.
"AUTO DRIVER'S SON TOPPED IN ENGINEERING COLLEGE!" I let out a chuckle knowing well that melodrama would start in the next three... two... "Wow, an auto driver's son became an engineer and what have you become Imran?" my father chided, looking at Imran bhai from the corner of his eyes.

"Dad," Imran put down his spoon on the plate. "At least I didn't jump off the cliff or poisoned myself. Anyways, I still earn enough money considering the situation of unemployed engineers in the country. Instead, I think about how many good deeds, those blessings I'm earning by educating young people and shaping their future." The teacher in him awoke and I was proud of him for standing up for himself.
"What about the fees I paid for Kota engineering college when you ran away?Have you seen 'Baghban'? Watch how obedient the kids were in the movie," Dad countered. At this moment I knew what great comeback my brother would bowl. "Have you seen '3 idiots'? Look how their passion took the main characters ahead in their field."

There is still something about Indian parents and their obsession with engineering and medical fields, even when their child has no interest in doing so. Imran bhai wanted to study arts but Dad wanted him to become an engineer. He sent Bhai to Kota Rajasthan for JEE preparation, but unfortunately he couldn't cope up with the vast syllabus. He got depressed day by day. So when his roommate committed suicide due to pressure and stress, he ran away with the fear of losing himself in all this. There was a lot of drama between the two men for days until Dad finally gave in. Imran studied arts with full passion and became a successful teacher in the college he works in, becoming everyone's favourite. But Dad was never happy with him since then, and we end up here watching them bickering for no real reason almost every morning.

"Dad, brother, please stop," I intervened since Mom was busy in the kitchen who was by now used to this. "And bhai, it's less than a month left for your wedding and preparations are nil. We better talk about our future now rather than grinding on our past."
"I admit she is right Imran, when are your in-laws coming for the confirmation?" my mom joined in the conversation with her breakfast plate.

"I guess they are coming tomorrow," Imran replied, blushing a bit. "Look at the new bridegroom blushing, you can be shy afterwards. For now, please drop me to office before Nawab Sahab kills me," I said, packing up my handbag and stuffing breakfast in my mouth.