Taqdeer

4. Away From You

I remember the time my mother picked up a stray dog from the street and brought it home. My father was not happy. He was always annoyed at the dog, but he loved my mother so he didn't do anything. And as if the dog knew, he always followed behind my father, without a sound, he simply trotted behind that man for eleven years before it unfortunately fell sick and eventually passed away.

I saw my father cry that day. He regretted not showing the dog enough affection. He wasn't fond of dogs but he liked this one.

Now I am by no means comparing the two, but she follows me around too much. It gets on my nerves sometimes. Most of the time.

I step out of the glass building, having just finished a business deal -to show on paper for legal purposes- where I spot her leaning against her car. She spots me, straightens and takes off her shades. She tries to smile sweetly. Emphasis on tries, because she looks like she has plotted the end of humanity and is just smiling at the thought of it.

I walk towards my precious car, atleast that's still with me. "Where are you going?"

"Away from you."

"Your ego is bigger than your height I swear." Then stay the fuck away from me? Nobody told her to follow behind me. She literally followed me to Italy. I don't understand this woman. She wanted to leave so bad and now she is back here to melt my brain, I guess.

I walk faster, away from her, and all the more closer to my car when she picks up her speed and stands infront of me. "What will it take for you to give me another chance?"

Both of your kidneys? End of global warming? World peace? Is there any other impossible thing to achieve?

"I don't want to give you a chance, I just want to be left alone. How hard is that to contemplate?" She narrows her eyes. Is this finally the moment she decides that she is done trying and just leaves? God I hope so.

"Chup chap maan jao, varna uthwa lungi tumhe."

(Just straight up agree with me or I'll kidnap you.)

I am genuinely impressed. Can't tell her that but still. "You don't teach the teacher, Siya."

"Enough is enough. What's with all this Siya and stuff? Where are all the cute Italian nicknames you had for me." Where they should be. Down the drain. I ignore her and walk past her towards my car to sit in it.

Flash news, it doesn't start.

I jump out of it to glare at her. I don't tolerate people messing up my car. "What did you do to it?!" She smiles. "Nothing."

"Siya don't annoy me more than you already have! My car-"

"Is precious, it's your baby, I know. Look I'll take it with me and I'll get it fixed. Till then why don't I give you a lift?" Clever but not enough. Like she said, I have an ego and it won't let me heed to her.